Maine Cannabis Chronicle Volume I Issue II by Maine Cannabis Chronicle

Maine Cannabis

SUMMER 2019

CHRONICLE

$4.20

CONTENTS

Maine Cannabis CHRONICLE

Straight to the Dome

B Y N I C K M U R R AY

Caregiver Spotlight: Paul’s Boutique Nursery

BY C H R I S B L A K E

Phish Tales: A Rock Legend on the Importance of Being Kind

BY D I A N E RU S S E L L

Device Review

BY C H R I S B L A K E

Faces in the Field: Nyeela Hueholt of Rooted Heart Remedies

BY D I A N E RU S S E L L

Maine Medical Cannabis Renaissance

BY E R I C B R A K E Y

Maine Summer Showcase

BY M C C T E A M

CBD Summer Chillout

BY A N D R E W D O O L I T T L E

What Roots and Culture Means to I & I

BY D O M I N I C D

David vs. Goliath: For the People

BY S C O T T H I N K L E

The Universe is a Donut

BY C H R I S B L A K E

Sour Summer Review

BY P U F F S E S S I O N S

Aphid Defense 101

BY C H A R L E S G I L

P H O T O G R A P H Y S E A N PAV O N E / S H U T T E R S T O C K

P H O T O G R A P H Y PA U L’ S B O U T I Q U E N U R S E RY

P H OTO G R A P H Y M AT T H E W B O U RG E O I S

P H OTO G R A P H Y RO OT E D H E A RT R E M E DI E S

P H OTO G R A P H Y M AT T H E W B O U RG E O I S

P H OTO G R A P H Y W I L L I A M MORGA N C ONA N T

P H OTO G R A P H Y S COT T H I N K L E

P H OTO G R A P H Y M AT T H E W B O U RG E O I S

I L L U S T R AT E D B Y R A C H E L F L E I S C H M A N

C OV E R A R T WO R K JA R E D M C K E N NA TO P L E F T P H OTO M AT T H E W B O U RG E O I S B O T T O M L E F T P H O T O PA U L’ S B O U T I Q U E N U R S E RY

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SELF-FLOURISHMENT

Maine Cannabis CHRONICLE

PUBLISHER JA M AC H R I , L LC FOUNDERS M AT T H E W B O U R G E O I S & C H R I S B L A K E M A N AG I N G E D I T O R S R AC H E L F L E I S C H M A N DIANE RUSSELL DAV I D B OY E R A RT DI R ECTOR J ESSE GEORGIA P RO D U C T I O N M A N AG E R SAR AH HARTFORD

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JAMACHRI, LLC’s publication of Maine Cannabis Chronicle features content about cannabis, hemp, CBD, and cannabis-related products and information. In addition, the magazine features articles, political editorials, legislative and regulatory updates, and medical news relevant to the cannabis industry. All content within our publication and on our website is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered personal, legal, or medical advice. Both the printed publication and website are intended for those over the age of 21. In the state of Maine, cannabis is intended for use only by those 21 and older, or 18 and older with a medical prescription. If consuming, please keep out of the reach of children. JAMACHRI, LLC assumes no responsibility for the advertisements within this publication. We strive to ensure the accuracy of the information published. JAMACHRI, LLC cannot be held responsible for any consequences that arise due to errors or omissions. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved.

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FOUNDER’S LETTER

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHELSEA BEAN

We write today humbled by the incredible response to our inaugural issue, and we’re excited to continue highlighting the Maine cannabis industry. Inside these pages you’ll find Nick Murray’s Straight to the Dome political report on the latest from Augusta, an interview with Rooted Heart Remedies, product reviews featuring Paul’s Boutique Nursery and Pot & Pan Kitchen, and more. Of course this is much more than just an industry – it’s a community forged through collabs and shared resources, passionate professionals banding together to show the world that Maine is a premium producer of cannabis. Meanwhile, here on the ground, laws are changing quickly. In fact, this issue has seen several last-minute rewrites regarding new regulations for out-of-state patients. Maintaining a solid and up-to-date understanding of green tape is more crucial than ever, and we are committed to tracking and sharing these developing stories. As we continue to creep toward full legalization, the MCC philosophy remains simple: keep the plant first. That means buying local, consuming local, and supporting local businesses that invest in our communal success. The exploding reach and popularity of the Maine beer scene is a powerful example of this communal approach. Brewers and bottlers came together to empower their peers and spread the good word. Maine loves its craft beer because breweries have shown citizens and politicians alike the power of homegrown entrepreneurialism, delivering economic

development to underserved locales ranging from mill towns to rural farming communities. Let’s ensure craft cannabis has a similarly positive impact. Summer—especially in Maine—means getting outside, getting dirty in the garden, and planting outdoors. It’s long overdue and always fleeting, but here’s to a vibrant season filled with sunshine and sweet relief. Whether it takes you to the mountains or the coast, to Kittery or Caribou, we hope you’ll bring along a copy of MCC and help build our community. Finally, a heartfelt thanks to our early and enthusiastic advertisers. We encourage you to support these businesses and reach out if you’d like to join them!

All the best,

M AT T B O U R G E O I S

CHRIS BLAKE

C o - Fo u n d e r

matt@mainecannabischronicle.com

chris@mainecannabischronicle.com

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POLITICS

Straight to the Dome Adult Use is on the Horizon B Y N I C K M U R R AY

P H O T O G R A P H E D B Y S E A N PAVO N E

If you came away from my last Maine Cannabis Chronicle legislative update with a sense of despair, worry not; some progress has been made since we went “Straight to the Dome” in the spring issue. The state of Maine, after dropping its first contract with METRC for adult-use seed-to-sale tracking, decided to take up the offer from the Florida-based biotech company to track the medical program instead. BioTrackTHC’s system will be used for the budding adult use market. These systems will be used to track Maine cannabis along the process from cultivation, to production, to retail. Now that the legislature and Governor have approved the rules package from the Office of Marijuana Policy, this process can finally begin in earnest. We are looking at early 2020, for the first adult use sales of legal cannabis in Maine. You’re not stoned, (well, you might be) but it’s taken a while to get here. Maine voters passed Question 1 in November 2016, to make cannabis legal for adults over 21. The legislature’s Marijuana Legalization Committee met for much of 2017, holding hearings, work sessions, and submitting two bills. Many were left to wonder what all the work was for when then Governor LePage vetoed both attempts to implement the adult use market. It seems like the only changes that came out of the long process were a reduction in the number of flowering plants in a personal garden from six to three, and a ban on social clubs.

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Now, not only are Mainers allowed to grow much less than they intended after passage of Question 1, they also don’t have a place to consume cannabis products legally outside of a private residence. It’s been frustrating for industry entrepreneurs and consumers alike. The sad part is that when all is said and done, Maine will be the state which took the longest to get its legal cannabis market up and running. The western states that legalized in 2012 and 2016 all had sales within two years of the vote. Massachusetts had its first adult use cannabis sales the week of Thanksgiving last year, barely more than two years following their vote. The absurd delay in Maine has harmed many folks who were ready to jump in feet first once legalization happened. Some entrepreneurs have been sitting on empty warehouse space waiting for the state to get its act together. Could you imagine paying rent on a building for two years or more before you could do anything with it? This was a gamble in itself since each town would have to approve every site along its own cannabis business guidelines. However, the state has been responsible for most of the headaches up to this point. Mainers are used to seeing cannabis stores, despite what status quo politicians and prohibitionists would have you believe. Since the legislature passed an expansion of the medical program last year, dozens of caregiver storefronts have popped up in our cities. Just drive down Portland’s Forest Ave or Lisbon Street in Lewiston for a micro-tour of boutique cannabis shops. Adding insult to injury, the Governor of Illinois just signed a sweeping bill making that state the first in the country to establish a legal cannabis market through the legislative process. Every other state has legalized cannabis at the ballot box.

Taxes The early stages of adult-use policy are the most crucial for holding space against the black market and eventually squeezing it out. For this reason, policymakers should stake out and hold a tax rate low enough to allow the new legal industry to gain a foothold.

Granted, delays in regulation are better than maintaining the ever-failing policy of prohibition. We’ve seen the horrible consequences that arise when people are arrested, property seized, and families torn apart because of outdated laws concerning a mildly psychoactive herb.

As new adult use rules coming into effect this September, Maine’s cannabis entrepreneurs will have to wrestle with a tax rate around 20%, with a 10% excise tax and another 10% levied on retail sales. Many say that consumers will only see the sales tax, but they will most definitely feel the excise tax as well.

We could revert back to that world if legal cannabis becomes too expensive, or regulations for business become too onerous. Since Maine has had a decentralized, lightly-regulated medical program for almost 20 years, consumers are used to having access (whether sanctioned or not) to high-quality, affordable cannabis. If the politicians and bureaucrats in Augusta overlook this fact, they will have failed to keep the new adult use market competitive with the black market.

More importantly, as the legal cannabis market takes root in more US states, consumers will be choosing state markets not just by the quality of product or the prevalence of reliable pot shops, but by the tax rates. Our regional neighbor, Massachusetts imposes a 17% tax on cannabis at the state level, while towns can tack on an extra 3% for themselves. This leaves Maine about equal to Massachusetts, in that regard. Compare that with a 30% effective tax rate in Colorado and 37% in Washington, the grass on this coast is looking greener and greener. Research on tax rates from organizations like the Tax Foundation regularly point to the counterintuitive effects of low tax rates. Lower rates are likely to bring in more taxes because of the way they stimulate consumers to spend and businesses to invest. As the saying goes, “if you want less of something, tax it,” but this does not occur in a vacuum. Short-sighted politicians will see the tax rates as a way to suppress the cannabis industry, but they forget that the old heads are used to operating outside of their system for a very long time. Hopefully policy makers will soon learn to welcome the newly legal market and bring entrepreneurs, investors, and consumers into the fold, not to push them away.

Many Mainers know a caregiver, or someone who cultivates their own stash. It won’t take much pressure for folks to fall back into old habits and purchase their herb untaxed and unregulated. Taxes that are too high will drive the price higher than black market dealers offer. It’s a simple economic equation. We must keep the new market competitive. It would help if it were open. N I C K M U R R AY lives in Auburn, Maine and works as a fundraiser in the nonprofit world. He has been an activist for causes related to drug policy reform and individual liberty since he founded the first chapter of NORML at the University of New Hampshire in 2010. Views expressed in his writing are his alone.

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PAUL’S BOUTIQUE NURSERY P H O T O G R A P H E D B Y PAU L’ S B O U T I Q U E N U R S E RY BY CHRIS BLAKE

CAREGIVER SPOTLIGHT

From a 20-year fascination and interest in the cannabis plant and its properties, Paul’s Boutique Nursery was created by a husband and wife team in 2015. Today, with the commitment of the entire Paul’s Boutique family, the company is one of Maine’s leading medical marijuana caregivers. What started out in a renovated automobile repair shop is now a 4,000 square foot, state-of-the-art grow facility. In the rapidly growing and ever-changing cannabis industry, not only here in Maine, but nationwide, Paul’s Boutique team has proven the future is bright. They are a company that focuses on providing a high level of products and services. By creating a vertically integrated business, with rigid quality standards from seed to sale, Paul’s Boutique has made a major commitment to being on the forefront of the Maine market. Paul’s Boutique’s quality, small-batch products have been recognized by the cannabis community in the form of several awards. They entered their first cannabis competition in 2017 and medaled in The Secret Cup, as well as the High Times Cannabis Cups. Their strains are clone only and will not be found anywhere else, despite the fact that others may sometimes share a common name. Their latest business expansion is the opening of a beautiful new storefront in Windham. This allows Paul’s Boutique to better serve the medical community of Maine, as well as many card-holding, out-of-state visitors who travel Route 302 while vacationing in Maine.

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The store stocks locally crafted items. Paul’s Boutique has carefully chosen CBD vendors that are local cultivators, extractors, and producers. The store will also carry a full array of flowers, concentrates, vape pens, and edibles. Paul’s Boutique apparel will also be available, as well as accessories such as functional glass art and rolling papers. The walls are adorned with in-house ‘pot’ography, which is attractively displayed and available for sale to those interested in artwork for their personal collection.

It is uncertain how and when the cannabis industry in Maine will change again, as local municipalities wrestle with the “opt-in” dilemma, the legislature works its way through implementation of adult-use cannabis, and the federal government debates its outdated position on marijuana.

Paul’s Boutique Kitchen is now licensed and running, producing a line of quality, fresh, cannabis-infused edibles. Starting with fine Belgian chocolate and local ingredients,

What is certain is that Paul’s Boutique Nursery will continue to provide the outstanding service and quality products for which it has become known.

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when possible, items include varieties of chocolate bars, truffles, hard candies, mints, and caramels. Soon to come is a line of sugar-free edibles for those with dietary restrictions.

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P H I S H TA L E S : A RO C K L E G E N D O N T H E I M P O RTA N C E O F B E I N G K I N D

Jon Fishman and his wonderful wife Briar own and run the Lincolnville General Store on the coast of Maine. PHOTOGRAPH BY MATTHEW BOURGEOIS

The middle school boy stood patiently in line, until he stood face-to-face with his hero, one of the most iconic drummers in rock history. He froze. Jon Fishman gave him a big smile and said hi. The kid gathered every ounce of courage and whispered, “Would you autograph my drumsticks?” Fishman had a condition, “I will, but only if you autograph mine.” The boy’s face lit up, fear gone, and suddenly it was just two drummers talking about their love of music. Performers deal with fame in many ways. For Fishman, the answer is now obvious: Just be kind. And like all fish tales, the story of how that came to be is a good one.

Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, Jon attended the University of Vermont right out of high school. Of all the colleges he could have attended, it almost seems fated that he would select the same school as his future bandmates. Had he attended Champlain College, also in Burlington, Phish might never have had its “once upon a time” moment.

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“Two months into being on campus, I was practicing my drums in my dorm room when Trey [Anastasio] walked in and said, ‘Oh my god, it’s you!’ which was funny because I didn’t know him and I didn’t know how he knew me.” Apparently, Trey and his friend had been sitting on the library steps during orientation week. As students walked by, they created fictional backstories of why each person was there. “A girl would walk by and they’d say, ‘oh she’s here to go to med school.’ A guy would walk by, and they’d say, ‘he’s here to play hockey.’ They would just make up stories. Apparently, I walked by, and they were just on the floor laughing. ‘That guy doesn’t belong here. At all.’” “It turned out they were absolutely right,” he recalled. “Neither Trey nor I belonged there - other than to meet, I guess.” After showing up in Jon’s dorm room one day, Trey went to grab his amp and guitar and brought his friend Jeff Holdsworth over as well. “We just immediately started playing. We never even had any conversations about ‘what kind of music do you like?’” They didn’t even bother to introduce themselves until they had been playing for some time that day.

INTERVIEW Shortly thereafter, Trey started hanging up signs around campus looking for a bass player. “He and our bass player Mike [Gordon] met at the same pole hanging up signs. Mike had signs looking for a band.” Mike had a formal musical education, while Trey had been writing songs since the eighth grade. With fate on their side and the basics in place, Phish was born.

Jon lives by the Dizzy Gillespie quote, “The only thing I take seriously is music; the rest is up for grabs.” He performs in dresses or his birthday suit and is known for his ability to turn an Electrolux into a musical instrument. With such a largerthan-life personality, it might seem that fame would come easily. In fact, it was a skill that had to be learned. Phish had always been disciplined about preserving their unique identity and sound, about not sounding too much like other bands. For that reason, one could forgive them for distancing themselves from the Grateful Dead, with whom they were closely associated in the public eye. In fact, they consciously chose not to play Dead songs for roughly two decades. “I remember the exact moment it happened. We were playing at a venue in Burlington sometime between ‘86 and ‘88; there were probably five people in the room. And there’s this guy. He’s fucking huge, like this bear of a man. The stage was about a foot high and incredibly small. That whole set, regardless of what we were playing, that guy was standing right in front of Trey just screaming, ‘Jerry! Jerry!’ The guy was high and screaming Jerry Garcia’s name in Trey’s face. Trey was so fucking mad.” Jon laughs while recalling the story. “So we get off the stage, and Trey is fuming. He goes ‘That’s it! We are never playing another Grateful Dead song as long as we live. Never.’” Thirty years later, in 2015, they finally broke the ban, for the 20th anniversary of Garcia’s death. They played “Terrapin Station” as an encore. “It was all in honor of this great musician who we loved, one of the most musical guys who ever lived.” “I’m really glad we did stop playing Grateful Dead songs so we could carve out our own career and be known for our music and be an original band. It felt good to play ‘Terrapin,’ knowing that we can do this now without it being a threat to our own existence.” Garcia, then 53, had died in August 1995, abruptly altering the Grateful Dead. While the band continued to perform without him, many fans began to be drawn to Phish. Both bands were known for their long solo performances and improvisational work, though Phish had its own style and sound. When Napster came on the market, the Recording Artists Association of America encouraged artists like Metallica to openly and aggressively oppose file-sharing. Jon noticed that a significant percentage of the file shares were Phish songs. While bands were lamenting lost revenue from the direct peer-to-peer file sharing, Jon was finding that Napster had suddenly boosted Phish’s fame. He broke from the industry and became an outspoken advocate for it, much to the chagrin of some of his fellow musicians. It would not be the

“The idea that human beings would look at a plant that’s been growing for millions of years before we existed and go ‘that’s illegal’ - that to me is a form of insanity.” first time Jon would use his outsized voice to advocate for causes he believes in. As it turned out, Napster made Phish exponentially more famous, and suddenly Jon was recognized everywhere he went. “I remember going through this period around 1997 where I was just a jerk for like a year because I didn’t know how to deal with a regular flow of people coming up to me. Of course everybody means well, and they’re only saying nice things,” but he still had to find a way to deal with this graciously. “I think psychologically human beings are not cut out for idol worship.” Some people, he noticed, are good at it. “I remember going out to see Tenacious D at this little theatre in New York City, and David Bowie and Iman came to see the show. I’m just sitting at my little table and in walks Bowie and Iman, and Bowie looked like he was about to go on stage. He was wearing this beautiful white suit, and she had a white dress. Meanwhile, I was wearing my sweatshirt and jeans. But they were coming out to see a band no one had ever heard of, and they were dressed to kill.” “The thing that struck me, it clicked in my brain – that’s a skill set. He’s good at that. I’m not good at that particularly.” Around that time, he received a letter from a young fan, Max, who asked if Jon might meet him and his grandfather – legendary author Kurt Vonnegut. “I don’t remember much of the conversation because the whole time, I was like ‘Oh my god, oh my god, I’m talking with Kurt Vonnegut’ – I was a total groupie! It was a good experience because it put me in the frame of what it must be like for some people when they meet me. I don’t think there’s any big deal about meeting me, but I’ve got to honor the fact that for some people, they’re probably going to have a hard time getting words out, and I need to be nice about that,” Fishman admits. “I remember being a blubbering idiot talking to Vonnegut, and he was so nice. Finally, I asked: How do you deal with fame?” Vonnegut looked right at him, “Well... you have to be kind.” Vonnegut’s grandson would later invite Fishman to do a talent show at his school. While the elder Vonnegut read lines from The Canterbury Tales from memory in Olde English, Jon was onstage running a vacuum. What started as an awkward intersection of prose and cleaning noises turned into a rhythmic comedic routine.

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“Weeks later, I get this big box in the mail – a big framed picture. I open it up, and there’s this beautiful piece of art that Vonnegut did because he was getting into silkscreening.” The top had the band name Phish, and on the bottom it read, “Hook, Line and Sinker.” In the margin, Vonnegut wrote, “Jonathan, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame asked some of us to do artwork for cover art for real bands for albums that never existed. This was my submission, a silkscreen print, and here’s a copy for you.” The art adorns Fishman’s home today, a constant reminder to just be kind.

When Phish broke up in 2004, Jon faced a new challenge: What next? At roughly 40, he had more than achieved his dreams. “I had 21 great years doing exactly what I wanted to do. All my dreams have come true. Not a lot of people can say that in the course of their entire life, let alone having a lot of life still in front of them.” He now had a young family, and he started asking, “What does my wife want to do?” Jon’s wife, Briar, had fond childhood memories of a family camp in midcoast Maine. Her dream was to buy a farm and homestead and see how much food they could grow for their kids. Jon knew Maine as a welcoming place, having played in Limestone for many years. They found a farmhouse and settled into Lincolnville where their family continued to grow. A few years later, they purchased the Lincolnville General Store, which Briar runs. Their general manager, Dawn, also happened to be the chair of the selectboard in Lincolnville. She joked with him, “Jon, you have a big mouth and a lot of opinions, why don’t you run?” As a strong Bernie Sanders supporter, Jon is passionate and vocal about putting power back into the hands of real people. Fishman ran for office and now serves on the selectboard, and Briar serves on the school board. “Part of the process I went through in deciding to run is that I realized that I had not been part of a community since I was 18, other than my band. My band was my community. Phish was rooted in Burlington, but I wasn’t rooted to a location.” He had purchased houses and was a resident of various Vermont communities, but he never felt grounded in those communities or engaged in them. One of his homes served as the after-party spot for a local venue. While he was on the road, performers like Wu-Tang Clan stayed at his place. Once, he came home late from a long tour and woke up to two adult circus performers casually cooking pancakes in the nude. Lincolnville has been different. He and Briar have consciously invested time in the community. Meanwhile, now that most of the band members are parents, the nine-month tours have thinned down to five weeks at a time, including two shows in Boston and two in Bangor this summer. In 2016, Maine voters created numerous new laws at the ballot box, only to watch politicians in Augusta repeal one after another. Or, in the case of adult-use marijuana, slow the process down to a snail’s pace.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY CARA MCCORMICK

While Phish is linked in the public imagination to weed, Jon notes the smoke hurts his lungs. Still, he said, “The idea that human beings would look at a plant that’s been growing for millions of years before we existed and go ‘that’s illegal’ – that to me is a form of insanity.” Another referendum, Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), was essentially repealed by lawmakers just as Maine’s gubernatorial race was heating up. Jon’s face lights up when he talks about the election reform, which allows voters to rank their candidates in order of preference, operating as an instant runoff. “Ranked choice voting is a more democratic way of voting, which gives more power back to the individual voter ... It is a more neutral, more unbiased way of voting, which puts more voice and power back into each individual voter’s hands. It is a unifying force.” After lawmakers repealed the people’s referendum instituting RCV, Jon stepped up to help with the people’s veto to block the legislative repeal. The weather got too frigid for the signature collectors’ pens to work, so Jon hosted a jam session in Portland. Phish fans lined up to sign petitions while Jon extolled RCV’s impact and importance between sets. That boost helped get RCV back on the ballot, where Mainers overwhelmingly voted to protect it for primaries and federal elections. That night was also the chance of a lifetime for one boy who went home with an autographed pair of drumsticks and a huge Phish tale about how his favorite drummer had been kind enough to ask for his autograph. Diane Russell is a former state lawmaker who built and shepherded the movements to legalize marijuana and create Ranked Choice Voting in Maine. She serves on the national board of NORML.

DEVICE REVIEWS

It’s Electric!

Sometimes traditional smoking apparatuses just don’t fit the situation. Whether you’re up enjoying the mountains or pre-gaming for a big event, a battery operated rig mig be what you need. We took time to review some of the top electronic smoking devices. BY CHRIS BLAKE

Puff Co. Peak

Pax 3

$379.99

$249

Smart Dab Rig • • • • • • •

Removable glass mouthpiece disc bubbler Silicone base Removable dish Protective carrying case Single-button control Four temperature settings (450 F, 500 F, 550 F, 600 F) 20-25 second heat-up time (depending on setting)

The Puff Co. Peak is a pro rig – in fact, we consider it the best vape for concentrates. The Peak uses a ceramic atomizer that is designed like a banger-style nail. The atomizer is replaceable and can be easily taken apart for cleaning. You can really taste the terpene profile of each strain, and the Peak doesn’t burn your dabs thanks to a constant heat. Single-button control allows users to choose between four different temperature settings (marked by LED lights), and it takes only 20 seconds to heat. It’s a high-quality kit that comes with a travel case and dabber.

• • • • • •

1/2 pack lid Concentrate insert Single-button control 3x faster than Pax 2 Four heat settings Fully charges in 2-3 hours

Good vapor and flavor for a conduction vape, with four temperature settings. The Pax 3 is slim and chic, great for users on the go. It’s easy for anyone to use, and the company has great customer service, including a 10-year warranty. The 90-minute battery life is a pleasant surprise, considering the size of the unit. A mobile app gives users more control, including the ability to change temperatures. If the user wants to solely vape dry herb, there is a version ($199) that comes without the concentrate attachments. The Pax 2 ($149) is another great option for those seeking a flower-only alternative.

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Mighty by Storz & Bickel - $349 • • • • • •

German-manufactured Hybrid heating conduction and convection 2x lithium ion battery LCD digital screen shows temperature and battery life 20-minute battery life Comes with grinder, built-in poker

Made by the company behind the famous Volcano Vaporizer, the Mighty does it all and allows the user to vape both ganja and concentrates. The flavor when using this vape is unmatched, and the air flow is just perfect, with little restriction. We feel this is the best flower vape on the market. While it will handle concentrates just fine, this vape is truly best for bud. Made in Germany, it has a solid design and an LCD screen that displays temperature and battery life. With 2x lithium ion batteries, users report up to 20 minutes per charge. This masterpiece comes ready to work with a grinder (with bowl loader) and poker.

Crafty by Storz & Bickel - $279 • • •

1x lithium ion battery Bluetooth connection Mobile app

Made by Storz & Bickel, Crafty functions exactly like the Mighty and comes with the same kit. There are obvious differences: the Crafty is much smaller, with only one lithium battery. There’s no LCD screen, but the Crafty does connect via Bluetooth to an app that allows the user to adjust the temperature. Once the temperature is set, the app is rarely needed. Another good differentiator: the Crafty powers up with a micro-USB charger, while the Mighty requires a charger specific to the device.

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FAC E S I N T H E F I E L D N Y E E L A H U E H O LT O F R O OT E D H E A RT R E M E D I E S BY D I A N E RU S S E L L P H OTO G R A P H E D BY RO O T E D H E A RT R E M E D I E S

For Rooted Heart Remedies, the CBD difference is in the mountain soil. 18

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Despite its centuries-old support of the tobacco industry, Virginia continues to have harsh penalties for possession of marijuana. When Maine expanded its medical marijuana program and inched closer to full cannabis legalization, Nyeela Hueholt uprooted her life in the South and put down some deep roots in western Maine where she felt safe building a cannabis business as a caregiver, and later as a purveyor of CBD products. For Nyeela, CBD isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just a product to sell to her customers up and down the East Coast. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After two years of living in Maine, I was introduced to CBD and started taking it myself. It helped alleviate my Lyme disease symptoms, addressing the brain fog, fatigue, and arthritic pain. It even helped with mood

FACE IN THE FIELD

stabilization. THC helped, but I’m very sensitive to it, and CBD allowed me to take larger doses and really got to the root of the issue.” Hueholt and her partner, Chris DiMascio, decided to expand beyond caregiving to grow hemp so they could oversee every aspect of quality control. Last year, they grew 180 hemp plants, and they hope to grow 800 this year, with Chris focusing on the farming side of the business. “My first year of owning a CBD business, I was outsourcing extracts and hemp flower. I noticed that, even though it was organic, the quality was not as high as I wanted. It sparked me to want to do things myself so I could be 100% certain the quality was there,” explained Nyeela. Rooted Heart Remedies is now an MC3 certified hemp farm that focuses primarily on CBD-infused herbal topicals and infused tinctures. It is expanding into the world of CBD concentrates, including CO2 extraction and RSO. The small business provides a full spectrum of CBD products, with flower infusions and hemp flower. Ingredients are local or organic, and Nyeela credits the western Maine mountains for providing high-quality soil for their farm. “I focus primarily on salves, a fat-rich topical for more serious ailments with up to 500 mg of CBD per two ounces. My warming salve has turmeric, ginger, and cayenne in combination with hemp CBD to increase circulation and stop inflammation.” Earlier this year, the FDA modified a rule around CBD marketing and food. Ostensibly to reign in the bad actors in the market, the rule created an earthquake of fear overnight. Rooted Heart doesn’t sell much that would be considered food, so it didn’t really impact the product line directly; however, they added “not intended for human consumption” to their tinctures just to be safe. Nyeela credits Maine’s emergency CBD fix bill for alleviating any concern that Maine might be poised to take a step backward.

“I do think that CBD companies who have no background in cannabis - who just hopped on the train to make a dollar - my hope is that those companies will start to die off. And, that the people who have a background in cannabis, and are doing it to provide an all natural medicine for people are really going to shine. Hopefully, the people who are really putting in the effort from seed to finished product will be the ones that outshine those other companies.”

For Rooted Heart’s full product line, visit www.rootedheartremedies.com or call (207) 319-5430.

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OPINION

Maine Medical Cannabis Renaissance BY ERIC BRAKEY

Maine medical cannabis is flourishing. After sweeping, common-sense deregulation of the marketplace, Maine people are opening small business storefronts all across our state, and abundant competition is giving patients unprecedented access to great varieties of high-quality, affordable cannabis products. For the last four years, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve overseen medical cannabis policy as Maine Senate Chairman for the Health and Human Services Committee. This has allowed me to meet many Maine people whose lives have been restored by medical cannabis. Knowing their stories and struggles, increasing access for patients became a passion during my time in office. Working with mothers of children with severe epilepsy disorders, we eliminated state laws restricting access to smokeless forms of medical cannabis in Maine hospitals. Working with patients in recovery, we became the first state in the nation to authorize medical cannabis therapy as a treatment for opiate addiction. Despite these positive changes, factional fights within the medical cannabis industry created gridlock anytime we sought to increase patient access by reforming the structure of the industry. The passage of the first Maine medical cannabis referendum in 1999 created the caregiver program, allowing Maine people to grow for up to five patients. When originally conceived, the caregiver program was not intended as a commercial model, but as a legal system for neighbors to help neighbors.

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The need for a more direct commercial system led to the passage of the second Maine medical cannabis referendum in 2009, which directed the state to license a minimum of eight tightly regulated dispensaries across Maine. The state issued the minimum number of licenses, but despite growing market demand over the last decade for a wider commercial market, more licenses have never been issued. As a result of these artificial restrictions on dispensary licenses, Maine entrepreneurs looking to enter the medical cannabis market were forced to register as caregivers. For many, this simply meant making the most of serving five patients. In some cases, however, by pooling resources with other caregivers and using legal gray areas to push beyond the five-patient cap, some caregiver businesses came to rival dispensaries in both size and scale. Under this system, patients were required by state law to designate a single caregiver or dispensary provider, severely limiting their ability to shop around for the highest quality and most affordable products that fit their individual needs. This system clearly wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t benefitting patients. Competing for the business of these patients under two different regulatory structures, toxic suspicions developed between dispensary and caregiver factions, and every effort to make change was sabotaged by infighting. Like clockwork, if a legislative measure was proposed to increase access for patients to caregiver businesses, dispensary lobbyists argued it promoted unfair competition on an unequal regulatory playing field. And for every legislative measure that would increase patient access to dispensaries, caregiver lobbyists would argue it was an attempt by dispensaries to monopolize the market. For

years, this turf war spoiled all attempts to streamline the laws governing the marketplace, but following the passage of the 2016 adult-use cannabis referendum, there was a renewed desire to try again. Telling both factions that we wouldn’t be able to move forward on anything unless they sat down and worked out their differences, we found enough common ground to develop a sweeping reform package that would dramatically increase access for patients. There were many components to this bill, but some of the most important were granting patients the right to shop among multiple providers, authorizing doctors to recommend medical cannabis for any condition, phasing in more dispensary licenses, eliminating the patient cap on caregivers, and authorizing the establishment of caregiver storefronts in compliance with local ordinances. Despite long-standing suspicions, for a moment we found a relatively united front from the medical cannabis community, which enabled us to pass these reforms into law with bipartisan supermajorities. These free-market reforms have been in place for less than a year, but we’ve quickly entered a Renaissance for Maine medical cannabis as the diversity of the marketplace has exploded. Broad competition has allowed stores to specialize on a scale we haven’t seen before; some are in the race to be known for their gourmet edibles or infused lemonades, others for the highest quality flower or the best tinctures and salves. All parties benefit when the market can develop in a free and competitive environment. And for patients, lower prices, higher quality, and more choice means they benefit the most.

Available at: AWEAR Glass Emporuim 370 Fore Street Portland, Maine 04101

There will always be infighting, but these free-market reforms should be remembered as a moment the medical cannabis community came together, found common ground, and made great steps forward for patients and the industry. The results are all around us. Many challenges still lie ahead. Federal prohibition looms over us all to this day. Legal businesses are still unable to access banking. Cannabis patients are being denied their fundamental Second Amendment rights. But if we managed to work together to achieve last year’s great victory, I am confident we can work together to overcome the challenges ahead of us.

E R I C B R A K E Y is a former two-term Maine State Senator from Androscoggin County who served as Senate Chairman for the Maine Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee. During his last term, Brakey led the legislative reform effort for Maine’s medical cannabis program, which expanded access for patients and gave legal businesses more freedom and flexibility to operate. In 2020, Eric Brakey is running for Congress to represent Maine people in the 2nd Congressional District.

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SHOWCASE

MAI N E SU M M E R S HOWCAS E H I G H L I G H T I N G M A I N E ’ S B E S T C A N N A B I S P RO D U C T S . T H I N K YO U R P R O D U C T B E LO N G S I N H E R E ? S E N D U S A N E - M A I L TO E D I T O R @ M A I N E C A N N A B I S C H R O N I C L E . C O M A N D L E T U S K N O W.

All Kind Salted Blueberry 100mg Full Spectrum CBD

Best Friend Farms 75-100μm Hash

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Pot & Pan CBD 250mg Hemp CBD Salve Available in unscented, lavender, and peppermint

Paul’s Boutique Nursery Candyland Grown and extracted by: Paul’s Boutique Nursery Breeder: Ken Estes

Pot & Pan CBD for Pets 250mg Hemp CBD Tincture For both dogs and cats

All Kind 300mg THC Infused Honey Cannabis ethanol extract infused with local honey

Portland Cannabis Co. Memory Loss loud resin extracted by Refined New England

All Kind 300mg CBD Infused Honey CBD ethanol extract infused with local honey

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Portland Cannabis Co. Starfighter Guava loud resin extracted by Refined New England

Portland Cannabis Co. Headbanger Rosin

Mega Raw Melts Strawberry Guava Rosin

Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boutique Do-Si-Dos Rosin

Communitas Grown by Portland Cannabis Co. Breeder: Gage Green Genetics

Triangle Mints Grown by Katahdin Breeder: Seed Junkie Genetics

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RECIPES

CBD Summer Chill Out B Y A N D R E W D O O L I T L E C O - O W N E R P O T & PA N K I T C H E N

These simple recipes from Pot & Pan Kitchen are sure to keep you cool and refreshed all summer long. Perfect for picnics, backyard grilling sessions, or days at the beach, these CBD-infused recipes will give you some extra relief on a hot summer day.

Baked Strawberry Mint Lemonade YIELD: ABOUT 6 CUPS (20 mg of CBD per cup) Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes Total time: 35 minutes

Easy Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta YIELD: 4 SERVINGS (20 mg CBD per serving Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 1 minute Total Time: 11 minutes Ingredients 3 cups watermelon, cubed or balled 1 1/2 cups sliced cucumber, seeds removed 2 tablespoons mint, thinly sliced 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon lime juice Salt and pepper to taste 100 mg of CBD tincture (feel free to increase or decrease the dosage as desired) Instructions Place the watermelon, cucumber, and mint in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the CBD tincture, olive oil, lime juice, and salt and pepper. Drizzle the dressing over the melon-cucumber mixture and toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with feta and serve.

Ingredients 3/4 pound fresh strawberries (tops removed and sliced) 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 4 1/2 cups cold water 1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice 6 sprigs fresh mint 120 mg of CBD tincture (feel free to increase or decrease the dosage as desired) For garnish: Lemon slices Whole strawberries Fresh mint sprigs Instructions Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a shallow baking dish, toss the strawberries with 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar. Arrange them in an even layer and bake for 25 minutes until the berries are soft, slightly darkened, and juicy. Remove from the oven and let cool. While the strawberries are roasting, make your simple syrup. Place 3/4 cup sugar and 3/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring regularly until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Transfer your cooled strawberries to a blender or food processor (make sure you get all the roasted strawberry juice in there) and purĂŠe until smooth. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a pitcher. Add the CBD tincture, lemon juice, mint sprigs, and remaining 3 3/4 cups cold filtered water to the strawberry puree and mix well. Stir in the simple syrup 1/4 cup at a time until you reach your desired level of sweetness. (If your strawberries are very ripe, you may only need about half of the syrup.) Refrigerate the lemonade for about 30 minutes to allow the mint to infuse. To serve, pour lemonade into ice-filled glasses. Garnish with lemon slices, strawberries, and fresh mint. Please think of our planet and use paper, compostable, or reusable straws.

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CULTURE

What Roots and Culture Means to I & I BY DOMINIC D

P H OTO G R A P H E D BY W I L L I A M M O RGA N C O NA N T

A message from the founder of Green Woods Roots & Culture Revival, a reggae and positive energy powered (by Maine Standard Biofuels) roots music festival, now in its fifth season, held this year August 9–11. Green Woods is a celebration of One Love, One Heart sharing in the Irie summer vibes of Maine and infused with the flavors and sounds of the Caribbean. Reggae music is in part an expression of the tireless fight for freedom from the universal struggle, as a mindset and framework for free thinking. Along with the spiritual/medicinal consumption of cannabis, this state of open mindedness helps us to overcome great obstacles individually and as a collective people. ORIGINS The seed for Green Woods was planted in early 2015, when Joshua Gates of Avenue Media shared a lead on a sweet venue looking to host a reggae fest. Green Woods Reggae Revival was born, named in homage to the hosting town, the green vibe of the event, and the green forest of our great state of Maine. Mt. Abram, a small, 100% renewable energy ski resort in Greenwood served as our first home. It was a rugged yet stunningly energizing natural arena to germinate our event. As we grew, we found a larger venue at Thomas Point Beach which brought a refocus of the vision and an evolution of the name to the Green Woods Roots and Culture Revival honoring both the roots and culture of reggae along with the roots and culture of the place, a kind and warm, family friendly environment connected beautifully to both nature and music. Who could ask for a better location to feature an up-andcoming vibe like we have here in Maine with a swiftly emerging industry and social acceptance soaring? ROOTS Roots can refer to music, especially reggae, that is strongly influenced by the traditional music of the culture that it originally came from. Reggae finds its roots in Mento, R & B, jazz, blues, ska, rocksteady, and soul. Roots music also describes American folk music, Americana, early blues, country, folk, R & B, and rock influences. Roots rock looks back to rock’s origins in folk, blues, and country music. Roots Revival has also become popular in various genres that include young performers reviving the traditional musical styles of their ancestors. Reggae Revival is a musical and cultural movement of rising consciousness originating in

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JESSE ROYAL LIGHTING UP THE STAGE WITH HIS ENERGY AND MUSIC.

Jamaica. Jamaican-born DJ Kool Herc is considered a founder of hip-hop music. Dutty Bookman observed, “We are all Revivalists simply because we are alive in this era of human history, endorsing and ushering in this new consciousness. The true ambassadors of the movement are not selected by any individual or committee. They are obvious to everyone simply because their strengths are on display. They humbly and dutifully fulfill their roles in the collectively acknowledged mission to fill the moral void manufactured by the Babylonian system that has prevailed to this day. Look around and figure out who is who, and who is true. If you are honest with yourself, your spirit will tell you that you too are a Revivalist, and you will know how to identify the fellow Revivalists among us.” Roots is essentially a folk music, or music of the people. Just like the roots of a plant can be tangled and intertwined so are the musical roots of reggae and Americana… all coming from one source, one heartbeat, one love. CULTURE Maine has a proud culture of standing up for the people. The Underground Railroad passed right through Brunswick, home of Thomas Point Beach. They say the Civil War started and ended in Brunswick. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was written while her husband taught at Bowdoin. Her book led her to meet President Lincoln in 1862, where he reportedly greeted her saying, “so you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war.” The war ended as the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment,

GORILLA FINGER DUB BAND PLAYING A LATE NIGHT SET.

led by Joshua Chamberlain who had been moved when listening to passages Stowe read from her book while he attended Bowdoin, defended against the charge up Little Round Top at Gettysburg, effectively ending the war. As a fervently abolitionist state, Maine contributed a higher proportion of its citizens to the Union armies than any other. Further, when Maine officially became a state in 1820, it did so as a free state, having never allowed slavery. We honor those from Jamaica who have also stood up for their rights, struggled, and ultimately broke free — many say under influence from Bob Marley, who symbolically held the hands of the opposing party leaders together on the stage. They found their independence in Jamaica, yet still struggle to find equality. We unite behind other once or still colonized nations in the Caribbean with hopes to move forward as one. We recognize the families and solo travelers who have joined us from the islands — whether to work the land with us or to seek refuge. Please know we recognize how hard you work for your people. We respect your values and hope we may raise families side by side with you for generations.

Thomas Point Beach and Campground is a special place blessed by the heart and soul of a family positively committed to music culture and community. It is nestled in an oceanside, groomed yet natural “wilderness” just minutes from all the amenities. Brewery tours or family activities and sights abound within miles. Past headliners include Jah9, who even through the early fall cold brought fyah down from the stage and blessed us all, Organically Good Trio, The Mallett Brothers Band (bringing those local roots), Jesse Royal, Kabaka Pyramid, and Sister Carol and Prezident Brown at our premiere held in 2015. Thanks to all of those who have supported us through the years! We hope you will join us this year, for the first time or again, to enjoy the Roots and Culture of this place we call home and its heartbeat that is reggae and roots music. Bless Up, Dominic D

This is what we celebrate at Green Woods — acts of kindness and recognizing abundance through hard work and a bit of love from nature. Bring your family, your friends, your positive, Irie vibes and enjoy all that Maine has to offer — fresh food, fresh beer, fresh cannabis, and so much subtle and vibrant beauty. Find yourself at the Roots and Culture Revival! GROWING THE FESTIVAL As the festival grows, we hope to continue to sprout and cultivate the interconnected causes and celebrations the Revival encompasses — from the continuation of the permaculture garden started last season by East and Eye to the workshops and demos, including surfboard shaping, live art installations, and vendors of local crafts and goods. Live reggae bands and sound systems will fill the air all day long while craft beer and medicinal cannabis will be in abundant supply from wonderful local purveyors.

YARDIE TING BRINGING THE JAMAICAN FLAVOR. MAINECANNABISCHRONICLE.COM

Roots, Rock, Reggae! GREEN WOODS ROOTS & CULTURE REVIVAL August 9-11, 2019 www.greenwoodsreggae.com info@greenwoodsreggae.com Thomas Point Beach & Campground 29 Meadow Road Brunswick, ME 04011 (207) 406-3420 Gates: Open 3:00PM Friday 8/9, Close 11:00PM Sunday 8/11 Friday Main Stage: 4:30PM - 10:30PM Friday Late Set: 10:30PM - 12:00AM Saturday Main Stage: Noon - 10:30PM Saturday Late Set: 10:30PM - 1:00AM Sunday Main Stage: Noon - 10:00PM TICKET INFO $65.00 - Weekend Pass w/Camping $25.00 - Friday Admission w/Camping $30.00 - Saturday Admission w/Camping $20.00 - Sunday Admission $200.00 - Family Weekend Pass (4 tickets w/camping) $100.00 - Family Saturday Pass (4 tickets w/camping) Children 12 and under get in for free. Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Green Woods Roots & Culture Revival is a biofuel and reggae powered roots music festival, now in its fifth season, showcasing locally harvested and produced foods, goods, craft beer, plant-based technology, and herbal medicines, with an ongoing permaculture installation open to attendees, living soil demos, and a live mural artist. In the spirit of reggae, the revival celebrates a mindset of unity and one love. Come together and share in a broad range of musical styles and culture in an open-minded and laid back atmosphere. Enjoy a plethora of activities on the site, including disc golf, kayaking, stand-up paddle board rentals, a yoga workshop, a full playground, games for kids and adults, corn hole, horseshoes, and Ludo (a Jamaican board game similar to Sorry!). Relax in the beer garden or on the beach, or stimulate your mind, body, and soul with healing arts, eco-awareness, and social justice exhibits. ARTISTS/EXHIBITORS Headlining artists traveling from Jamaica as well as from around New England and beyond. Musical styles range from reggae and related genres ska, world, dancehall, dub to roots Americana.

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Featuring: EarthKry Roots of Creation Mighty Mystic & The Hard Roots Movement Iba Mahr Dub Apocalypse Green Lion Crew Satta Sound DIS-N-DAT BAND Royal Hammer CatchaVibe Adwela & The Uprising Merther The Midnight Riders DJ RUSH The Feel Goods Our vendor village will offer an array of food and craft vendors from around the region. Vegetarian, vegan, and omnivore options will be available for patron enjoyment. MASH-UP COOKOUT Celebrate the bounty of Maine’s summer with our Mash-up Cookout, a series of experimental and culturally inspired feasts prepared by culinary artists from around the globe. These eclectic dinners are served in a casual Maine backyard BBQ style. This year, we will be expanding the cookout to three days: Friday and Saturday dinners and a Sunday afternoon picnic. These fusion-style presentations will highlight chef favorites “mashed up” with another complimentary cuisine. Made with locally grown foods and highlighting cultured and fermented foods and beverages. VENUE Thomas Point Beach and Campground, long-time home to the world renowned Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival, is seaside and secluded yet minutes away from convenient services and hotels. The highway is just as close, and train and airport access are nearby for those traveling from further down the road. The Green Woods Revival gives respect to both the roots and culture of reggae along with the roots and culture of our place, wherever that may be. We foster a kind,warm, fun-loving, family-focused environment interconnected with nature, music, and community. We share the same passion as our hosts for high-quality live entertainment appreciated amongst friendly folks, creating positive vibrations and long-lasting connections for all involved. We hope to see you there, feeling irie on the beachside.

OPINION

David vs. Goliath: Can Local Growers Keep Big Business at Bay? BY SCOTT HINKLE OWN ER AN D MASTER G ROWER FOR W HITE ASH CA NNABIS

FOR THE PEOPLE Our state, unlike others, has given us cultivators a chance to get our own jump in the game by giving upcoming licensing to Mainers only, for the first fouvr years of recreational production and sales. It’s what we do with these next four years that will determine if big business sets up shop here. If we build a strong community of cultivators and pair that to well-informed consumers, we will create an unbreakable chain that could very well send the big guys elsewhere. How do we win this battle? Well, it’s quite simple. As a cultivator you keep growing different strains, testing seeds, breeding, and above all else, simply keep the plants you enjoy alive. As a consumer, continue to demand new flavors. Don’t get overwhelmed by the choices out there. Make it a personal goal to try everything. It’s up to you to find the flavors and highs you enjoy. By doing so, know you are helping to preserve this diversity for future generations. Not allowing goliaths to set up in our state will allow our own people to start businesses. It will allow us to build something we can be proud of. It will also spur innovation amongst cultivators to discover new growing techniques as we push further and further to create more sustainable ways to garden. It will ultimately lead to cleaner, safer, and more diverse cannabis for the consumer.

The variety of cannabis is simply astounding. With constant breeding going on under this umbrella of freedom we enjoy, the potential of this plant is limitless. It will take hard, seemingly endless work by consumers and cultivators alike to push this into reality. The only thing that could hinder this evolution is, you guessed it, big business. In a big business approach to gardening, our beloved plant will suffer. These companies care about one thing: making money. This means if there is a corner to be cut, they will cut it. Some will grow only plants with higher yields, so you can say goodbye to your cookies and other strains that are mediumto-low yields. My llludium (editor’s note: wicked good strain) would fall under this; personally, I cannot imagine a life where llludium does not exist. Some companies will, and in some cases already have, eliminated different strain names all together, instead going with five nameless varieties categorized only by the high they give you. This amounts to a slap in the face for all of us who have devoted our lives to exploring what this plant can do and preserving genetic characteristics by naming them. Big business will also limit the consumers’ choices, denying them of the millions of varieties they deserve. Simplifying the genetic cannabis pool is not a healthy way to preserve and explore this plant as we bring it into the future. MAINECANNABISCHRONICLE.COM

THE UNIVERSE

IS A DONUT I N T E R V I E W E D B Y C H R I S B L A K E P H O T O G R A P H E D B Y M AT T B O U R G E O I S MCC sat down with Brian Owoc, owner of KGB Glass in Portland, to talk glass, donuts and, of course, glass donuts. MCC: How long have you been blowing glass? Brian: I think I started around 2002. I’m not totally certain. Right after the Phish hiatus I had more time on my hands as life calmed down and had to find something to do. So I started spending time with friends from Phish a lot that lived in Vermont and were blowing glass, and I would just go there and just watch. I never planned on doing it myself but I would learn while watching and thought it was amazing to see. I don’t have any art schooling or artistic background. I didn’t spend time when I was younger drawing or anything like that. There was something about the flame and making items from glass. When they offered to teach me, I just jumped at it. I wasn’t sure it would turn into a career, but at the same time I enjoyed it so much I thought this could be my jam. At the time I was younger and working as a baker at a few donut shops and enjoyed doing that. I was considering becoming a baker as a career, and then I discovered glass blowing. It seems the more you put into it the more you get back. At first, I was putting like 3000% percent effort into it and just hoping to get 100% satisfaction back. At first it was tough, it was super tough; I would trade for my meals at the Wake and Bakery. I would trade onies for food and drink. Or I would go to Awear and trade for a pair of pants. I got by, but it was tough. Thankfully, the Portland, Southern Maine area shop owners were always there to help out, and the Ace. It was a very cool scene. I think for beginning glass blowers you might think it will be really easy or that you will coast into it because you see people that are successful doing it, but there is so much that goes into it, so much hard work and failure. Not being able to afford the electric bill, phone getting shut off, but finding

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money for color and oxygen and just trying to keep it moving. I think it’s a mix of luck and determination that have got me to where I am now. There are a lot of hard workers that still struggle. I feel very lucky and fortunate to be where I am now, but I also know I work almost everyday. I’ve worked every Christmas for the past 10 years, I’ll work on Thanksgiving. Sometimes I’ll take a month off to gather my shit, but I just love working. It’s a life, not a job. You have to work at it a lot. For some people, they don’t want this as a life, they want to come in for a few hours, work on it and leave the work there. The donuts have given so much to me, I feel like I should be giving back. It’s amazing, who would have thought it would have gone this way? MCC: Where did you first start working blowing glass? Brian: When I was renting a house from Steve-O. That’s when one of the guys from Vermont, Jim Bigs, told me his girlfriend was going to MECA and I’m going to move up there too, but I need somewhere to blow glass, can I set up in your garage? So I asked Steve-O if I could blow glass at the house. The baker that taught me how to make donuts came over with a sawzall, and we found a window by the side of the road that we cut a hole in and installed it into the garage with a fan and insulation made of old Dunkin’ Donuts bagel boxes. It was pretty insane but that’s how it all started. I worked there for a year or so. Jim Bigs moved out and got a studio elsewhere. Later on, I ended up working with Jim and W.C. Stearns, but I still didn’t have a permanent spot. At this point, I’m still working at Domino’s in an effort to keep up with the bills and keep blowing glass. I still wasn’t making a lot of profit blowing glass; I was still learning the craft, breaking items, and growing as a glassblower. The guy working with me at Domino’s was a photographer, and one day he offered me a space over off Persumscott in a big bay area in the back of the shop. I ended up quitting

MAINE GLASS ARTIST Domino’s that day. That was the last job I had working for somebody else. I was like, I’m just going to see what the fuck happens. I worked so hard at Domino’s and so much, and they didn’t really appreciate shit. I couldn’t thank them more for not appreciating me, because I would have stayed there. I realized my value when I wasn’t given the respect. I enjoy work, I’m not afraid of work. I decided I’m going to do something I love for work and that should be a formula for success. So I jumped in, and it was scary. I knew my next paycheck had to come from selling pipes. No matter what else was going on, I had to sell some pipes to make the rent and keep the ball rolling, and I did. It was sink or swim, and thankfully I swam. I did that in that studio for two years. I started working out of Mr. Gray’s garage in Cumberland, which was pretty sweet. I was on the waiting list for Royal River in Yarmouth, which was my end goal. But the waiting list was long; it was the premier studio. I did finally get in parttime at first and then ended up working there full-time. That’s when things really kicked into overdrive. I learned so much working there about glass, the glass industry, just everything. So many talented artists were working there, that was when the ball really started rolling. It was my huge “aha” moment. I worked at Royal River in Yarmouth and Portland for somewhere around seven years. I worked there until we opened up this shop four or five years ago. It was a tough decision to leave, but I had to grow, and I needed much more space. Thankfully this spot was close by, and it all worked out really well. MCC: You were talking about when you were at Royal River, that was such a big hub at the time. That’s where I met all you guys as well. Can you speak about some of your influences and who was teaching you new stuff at that time? Brian: Mr. Gray really took me under his wing. In earlier years, he would give me his materials for his prep and show me how to do it, I would punch out the prep work, and we would split the prep materials. In exchange, I was learning how to do a lot of prep and huge pieces of glass work, and do it right. I would try harder for him that I would even for my own work, and it ended up paying off and transferring as learning experiences in my craft. He was definitely a huge influence on me. Everyone that was working at Royal River had an impact on

me; people were always cycling through. I learned fuming from Bobby-O, for example. I used to do a lot of fume work and Bobby was kind enough to show me, “hey this is how you do that, this is how you get this kind of purple and green to show up.” That was pretty amazing. But even some of the technical side of business I learned from others as well. Johanna was working Quickbooks, and that’s how I learned how to work a desk. With glassblowing, you end up with so many different situations that you have to learn and really retain each day. That’s how I came away with so much knowledge on this trade. I’ve heard people say that glassblowing leads to carpentry, because you’re always building something for the studio. It’s fun, it changes the pace of things. MCC: Who officially taught you how to blow glass? Brian: Jim Biggs. Jim Biggs was the first person to show me the ropes. I was self-taught really in the beginning until Jim showed me some things. It was working at Royal River that really taught me the most. Although, great story, I did learn how to make the glass donut in the Melting Pot, the online glassblowers forum. He sent me a doodle and instructions, and I made a donut. Also shout out to Steve Bates who taught me how to do a blow in, and he taught me how to do a monster blow in. I can’t even imagine the millions of things he has shown me along the way. The dude is just a fucking genius. I remember the first time I met him, he was just a legend, it was the folklore of Steve Bates before I met him. He was so humble and so talented, but his name was definitely one of legends. Steve has changed Maine glass pipe blowing forever. MCC: When did you have that moment when you kinda switched over from just making pipes into just making glass donuts? Brian: I think it was right around 2012 was the first year I was able to go just making donuts, that was the first year of the donut bag too. The first donut was made in 2007; it was pretty janky. I’m pumped that people even bought them because they were so bad. When I see them now, I try to buy them back for my own personal collection so I can show people, this was back then. I believe it was right around 2011, 2012 when the fine-tuning happened. When they went on display in the front case at the Blazin’ Ace, that definitely elevated it. It was MAINECANNABISCHRONICLE.COM

great exposure, and I am thankful to them for displaying them in the forefront. It brought a lot of people in. Some people were covering their kids eyes and running out, and others would think they were awesome that you could smoke out of them and buy them. I like that, over the course of time, the more people I talk to, the more I find my pieces are their first artistic glass pieces. I think it’s beautiful to be a part of that. When people compliment me and say the donuts look so realistic, I really appreciate that. MCC: Do you have any other influences outside of glass? Brian: Being a baker was a big influence. The repetition of making a quarter million edible donuts really prepared me as well. It wasn’t tedious for me, it was training of getting the donuts right and working with your hands. In glass blowing, I think there really are influences everywhere, I feel influenced by everything. When Sarah came into my life, she influenced me a lot in matters of the business side, keeping everything together in a more tight-knit, organized way. I’m so fortunate she came into my life, her influence on the business has been very helpful. It goes a long way to have a partner who has your back and can support you in your business. There are so many influences. I think struggling and being broke for so many years has also been a big influence. MCC: Can you elaborate a little more on the struggles you had as an artist? Brian: Struggling and starting out being broke for so many years can make you motivated to say, “I don’t want that ever again.” If it’s working harder to avoid ever having to go through that again, then so be it. The struggle is inspiration. MCC: Which other artists are influencing you? Brian: Gateson has always been influential because his space scenes and the marbles and the planets are so realistic. I’ve always strived for that realism with my donuts. Same thing with Salt. Salt’s creatures and his eyes, they speak to me. Although, I could probably name 30 glass blowers right now

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that influence me where I’m like, that’s beautiful work, I wanna make beautiful work. So, I think just glass pipes, in general, influence me. MCC: How was it working with Salt? Brian: We’ve only done mail collaborations for the most part. We’ve hung out a few times in person but haven’t had a chance to work together in person. The mail collaborations were about five years ago and then two Donutfests ago. MCC: Who are some of your favorite artists to collaborate with? Brian: I love working with Danny Camp. Obviously it’s close, but he is just such a pleasure to work with. The way he plans everything out so meticulously and the picture he draws of the piece we are going to make, the piece always looks just like the picture. I tell him, the drawing should come with the piece because it’s so frickin’ dope. He’s very encouraging, I’ll be like, “I don’t know if we can do this,” and he’s like, “Nah, we can do it.” When I was working with Steve Sizelove, it was a blast. I was out at his place this past summer, we really clicked. I think Muller might be one of my favorites. It’s really fun working with him, and the pieces we’ve made are some of my favorite pieces I’ve ever made. I love his style so much. He inspires me just by what he does. His pieces speak to me with their realism. Shout out to Muller. MCC: How do you design your stuff? Brian: A lot of times I start with a crude drawing and just jump in and try to make the piece and see where it goes. Sometimes, the pieces find their own shape, and I’m just playing around and seeing where roads lead me. Other times, I think about function and how I could improve function and by trying to achieve the function that I want will naturally determine the design. If this donut here is gonna stop splash, and this is gonna help it perc, and this makes it so it’s a good angle, then maybe this shape is good.

MCC: Form or function? Brian: I think function is first. If you’re getting water in your mouth, I don’t care how pretty it is. So function is first, but art and form is right after it. MCC: Talk to me about the upcoming Donutfest and who you are excited to work with? Brian: It’s going to be another good year. Great time of year, I don’t really do too many collaborations throughout the year, and I really hammer them all out this month and next month. Pumped to say Steve Sizelove is coming in, and we’re going to have an extensive collection. I’ve recently purchased a lathe, which is sitting behind us, and I’m hoping to get over the learning curve quickly and add the lathe into the donut repertoire. Steve Sizelove is a nasty with the lathe so he should help me learn and perhaps even open up a class on the lathe here. I’m so excited to learn from him, great guy making great glass. MCC: Have you guys done many classes here? Brian: We’ve done one group class and a few smaller individual classes. But we’ve only done one major group class with Acadian Glass and that went really well. Benji is a great teacher, he’s a great guy. That’s Maine for you, helpful guy and known him for many years. He’s the man. During that class, the focus was opal. I did a blow in demo and Sarah did a marble demo, so you got three different concepts in a 13-hour class. That will be something that we focus on more in the future, one-on-one classes, smaller classes, beginner classes, and then bringing in guests for larger classes. We have the space, and this is a direction we are going. Sarah and I will probably both teach classes. MCC: What else do you have planned for the rest of the year? Brian: I’m excited to learn what I can do with this lathe and trying to figure out some new products and mixing them in. I expect a learning curve, but I’m focused on expanding. I’ve always done benchwork but it would be nice to try to learn new techniques.

MCC: Do you get to take much time off? Brian: Yes and no. I could take off way more time than I do. I take time off when I really need to. Years ago, I used to take off the months of July and August and not work at all and reset and enjoy life. But I do enjoy life doing what I do, so I enjoy my work. Some days, I’ll only work three hours, maybe I’ll get those three hours in, and then go golf. I like to mix work and play, the productivity adds up. I don’t do good sitting around doing nothing, I enjoy spending time getting stuff done. MCC: Any shout outs? Brian: Donutfest! Thank you to all the collectors, Blazin’ Ace, shop owners, thank you all for the support over the years. Maine has been so supportive of me and my passion, I really appreciate it. I’m trying to give back when I can to places in Maine, such as Good Shepherd Food Bank. I do charity auctions for them. I feel very thankful of where I am now, and I know a lot of that has to do with the support of the local people in Maine and other parts of the country that I’ve met along the way and who have bought my artwork. Everyone came through to help everyone else, a big thank you to you all. MCC: Talk a little more about the fundraisers you have done over the years? Brian: Probably for the past eight years I have done auctions on my Instagram page where I’ll make pendants and donate 100% of the proceeds to a good cause. Good Shepherd is who I do the most with, but there was a woman bowler who was injured in an accident, so I did a GoFundMe to help out. We made two pendants to go towards that GoFundMe. Certain things come up during the year, there was a reptile facility that takes in animals for rehabilitation. If I can make a pendant or two to help out, I’ll do it. I feel like everyone wins. I think it’s a great thing to do something I enjoy and can generate some help for people in need.

MCC: Have you traveled recently? Brian: It was great to go out to Chicago for my clothing drop MAINECANNABISCHRONICLE.COM

with Grassroots California. Got to spend a few days in Chicago, that was beautiful. We go down to New York City any time Phish is in town. That is my favorite place to go - New York City. I fucking love it. It’s amazing where glass blowing has taken me over the years. Out to Cali, here and there. I was recently able to blow glass in Syracuse, NY with Hollinger. I’ve never blown glass in New York, let alone near my home town. Glass is amazing in what it gives back if you allow it.

MCC: What are you smoking on right now? Brian: High Seas Provisions, their Super Lemon Haze and their Cheese, depending on the time of day. They’re my go-tos right now for the past month and a half, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. They really enhance my quality of life. MCC: Do you prefer flower over concentrates? Brian: Yeah, I’m a flower guy.

Favorites: MCC: Favorite glass color? Brian: Chocolate Crayon MCC: What do you use when you’re not using glass? Brian: I like joints, I grew up on blunts, but joints. MCC: What kind of papers? Brian: Raws MCC: Who’s your favorite artist outside of glass? Brian: Jae Yong Kim, he’s amazing, he makes these donuts all over the world, and they’re huge, and they’re ceramic, and he just does walls of them, and they’re all different. He’s in museums all over the country and does shows in New York City. He’s baller as fuck, I’m a huge fan. MCC: What’s in your personal glass collection? Brian: Sarah Marblesbee dry pieces, Voorhees, Toro. A lot of donut pieces I don’t use. A Mr. Gray nugget piece I like to use. The Will Condon tube is my daily driver.

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MCC: Indica versus sativa? Brian: I’m a sativa guy. MCC: Do you vape at all? Brian: When on vacation. MCC: What’s your favorite sound? Brian: The sound of a strike.

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purchase or possess more than 2.5 ounces of harvested cannabis in a 15-day period. Visitors are also not permitted to cultivate or transfer/furnish harvested marijuana to another person. The penalty for possessing more flower than the legal limit is a hefty fine, which depends on how far over the possession limit one is..

Though adult-use cannabis consumption has been legal in Maine since voters said yes to Question 1, until lawmakers enact a full adult use program, we are still required to have an authorized medical cannabis patient card to patronize the many retail stores that are popping up all around the state. With the passage of adult-use marijuana rules, sales could start in late 2019 or early 2020. What does this mean for out-of-state qualifying patients hoping to medicate here in Vacationland? Don’t fret, you won’t have to wait until next Spring to visit retail stores since Maine has reciprocity for out-of-state cannabis patients who are at least 21 years old. Maine’s caregiver storefronts are still able to provide people with the finest craft cannabis flower and cannabis products, not to mention the expert knowledge tourists crave. Here in Maine, caregivers pride themselves with providing the best and highest-quality medicine to their patients—the way life should be. For visitors who do not have a medical marijuana patient card from their home state, they can still stop in the stores for hemp-derived CBD products or to simply chat with a local caregiver. Anyone entering must bring a valid government-issued photo ID or driver’s license when they visit a store. Recently passed laws have made it easier for visiting patients to purchase, possess and consume marijuana in Maine. Previously, patients needed written certification from one’s medical provider, but that is no longer necessary. For qualifying medical patients, there are some key legal rights regarding purchasing and medicating in Maine: •

Tourists possessing a medical cannabis patient card from their home state healthcare provider can “engage in conduct authorized for a qualifying patient” (MaineLegislature.org). (Proper ID must be presented at the time of purchase, and one must retain their medical card at all times.) Medical patients can then purchase harvested cannabis or cannabis product from a state-licensed caregiver and possess paraphernalia to consume it. Likewise, a visiting patient cannot

P H O T O G R A P H B Y M AT T B O U R G E O I S

•

Maine patients are able to possess up to eight pounds of harvested marijuana while non-patient Maine residents are able to possess up to 2.5 ounces of harvested cannabis.

•

All Maine 21+ residents, patient or not, are able to cultivate up to 3 mature plants, 12 immature plants, and an unlimited amount of seedlings; possess paraphernalia; and furnish or offer to furnish up to 2.5 ounces of harvested cannabis to another in-state patient for no compensation in return.

•

In-state patients are no longer to designate a caregiver or dispensary in order to receive harvested cannabis.

•

Remember, smoking in public and anywhere that tobacco is prohibited is not allowed. This applies to medical and adult-use. The safest option is at home and on private property. Maine also has a “drugged driving” law, so if you’re pulled over and suspected of being under the influence, you may be asked to submit to a sobriety test. So medicate safely and smartly.

For folks visiting the Old Port in downtown Portland, stop by Fire on Fore for a killer collection of Maine’s finest. The staff are friendly and incredibly knowledgeable. And don’t forget to stop in to Blazin’ Ace, The Higher Concept, and Awear for smoking accessories, glass, and local art . Each shop is unique and offers different options for the consumer to enjoy. For a complete list of the many cannabis retail stores scattered all around Maine broken down by individual town, visit weedmaps.com.

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PRODUCT REVIEW

Sour Summer Review BY PUFF SESSIONS

P H O T O G R A P H E D B Y M AT T H E W B O U R G E O I S Just in time for summer, the Maine Cannabis Chronicle editors came through with a full salad bar of flower, edibles, tinctures, and treats. The abundance detailed below treated everything from pulled muscles to mood disorders—a tasty showcase for the talents and ingenuity of local Maine growers and producers.

CONCENTRATES

Looking to blast out some spring cleaning cobwebs? I’ve seen dab hits barrel through the lungs and brains of hardened daily smokers, leaving faces melted and eyes bleeding, so I sipped and spit like a proper critic, savoring the taste on my tongue, the ghostly burn, the developing flavors of the Pie Dough rosin by Mega Raw Melts, Paul’s Boutique Nursery’s Candyland rosin, and Orange Cookie rosin by Kind & Co. On the walk home, there were unexpected echoes as rain pounded my hood. Edges softened, strangers seemed familiar. Meanwhile, my own heavy machinery reverted to autodrive, clearing the way for extra room between thoughts, drops, and curly fries.

TINCTURE & SALVE

EDIBLES

Medicubez - Pot & Pan Kitchen Medicubez Sour Gummies from Pot & Pan provided a smooth ride, thoughts only slightly tilted. Everything peaked at the beach, even after paying something like $12 for parking. I found myself moved by the sandy families filling their trunks with gear, the sun breaking through fast-moving clouds. Just a damn good mood.

Later, after soft serve, I cracked a Gourmet Truffle from Paul’s Boutique Nursery, sacrificing an impressive exterior to reach rich, melty goo. The immediate sensation went wide: these truffles are a case for cosmic justice. Eventually my mind swept itself back up, enveloped by a warmth that pulled me back to rainy days in the kitchen, licking batter from my mother’s spoon.

DOG TREATS

Mindful Earth Cool & Calm put some grit in my morning shrub with a secret garden’s worth of herbal tonics, including full-spectrum hemp extract and kava kava. I mixed mine with apple cider vinegar and lemon for a boost that left me balmy and balanced, even on slick gray days. Sometimes deep sleep leaves everything sore. White Willow + Kava Kava Muscle Rub, a small-batch salve, eased cramps and awakened restorative energies, with cooling hints of childhood chest rubs.

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Pot & Pan The Pot & Pan CBD Dog Treats are sweet potato-based and easy to crumble over less-enticing foods. These left my 22-pound mutt sleeping upside down, the PTSD from her shelter days dimming as she sunk between the couch cushions for a heroically pretzeled snooze.

FLOWER

MEMORY LOSS (Grown by: Portland Cannabis Co. Breeder: Archive Seed Bank) had me grappling with time, brain folds suddenly yawning like those ocean chasms where we dump decepticons.

MENDO BREATH (Grown by: Katahdin Breeder: Cookie Fam) landed hard, furry buds roasting slow and smelling like sap.

DOG PATCH (Grown by Stoney Hill Cannabis Breeder: Lucky Dog Seed Co.) had me wagging with a steady, predictable lift.

PEPPERMINT SAPPHIRE (Grown by: Sunday Morning Farm Breeder: Geist) tuned me right up, everything cackling and colorful.

SPACE CANDY (Grown by High Seas Provisions Breeder: TGA Subcool Seeds) turned my brain nice and brittle, like astronaut ice cream.

DOUBLE DRAGON (Grown by High Seas Provisions Breeder: Irie Genetics) was most refreshing, with flaky flower, icy patterns, and a lemon hue.

KOSHER KUSH (Grown by Portland Cannabis Co. Breeder: DNA Genetics) hit hard, like something bigger than myself.

STRAWBERRY FROST COOKIES (Grown by: East & Eye Breeder: Best Friend Farms) really ruffled my feathers, recalling colorful glints of formative crushes, warm nights, and wine coolers.

TIMBER WOLF (Grown by: Sunday Morning Farm Breeder: South Fork Seed Collective) was highly roastable, with a nutty flare that left me prowling, sniffing corners.

STAR FIGHTER GUAVA I enjoyed errands on STAR FIGHTER GUAVA (Grown by: Portland Cannabis Co. Breeder: Alien Genetics), gaming my way through grocery aisles. MAINECANNABISCHRONICLE.COM

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GROW PRACTICES

Aphid Defense 101 BY CH ARLES GIL I L L U S T R AT E D B Y R AC H E L F L E I S C H M A N An Aphid Bank Introduction It has been my experience that outdoors, with a little Aphids are one of the most common plant pests. This holds

patience and strong nerves, you can count on

true for cannabis grown both indoors and

natural predation to control populations. Ladybugs,

outdoors. Because they can give birth to pregnant young,

lacewings, and wasps will often clean up an outdoor

aphid populations can grow very fast in a short time.

grow within a few weeks. You must be patient and believe in

There are many aphid species that can attack cannabis, and

the natural world for this to work. Do not

it only takes a few of them carried in on your

just spray at the first sign of an aphid.

clothing or through air intakes to infest a crop. Aphids are a sucking insect and can compromise a crop

For indoor grows, other techniques are needed early, and

very quickly, as well as spreading viruses. Early warning

prophylactic control has given me the best

signs include leaf stippling and the honey dew,

results. I have been using an aphid banker plant system with

actually their poop, showing up on leaves.

great success. This method employs parasitic wasps to control aphids. These wasps, Aphidium colemani, work all day and night, searching the entire plant and laying eggs in the aphids. Once hatched, the young wasp consumes the aphid from the inside. Exit holes in the aphid mummies are a telltale sign the system is working. Please contact Charles Gil with more questions at: kffn@comcast.net

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INDUSTRY

Lobster Baked E V E N T Maine Cannabis Chronicle Industry Mixer.

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B E S U R E T O S TAY T U N E D F O R M O R E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S .

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Maine Cannabis Chronicle Volume I Issue II

Articles inside

Sour Summer Review

David vs. Goliath: For the People

Phish Tales: A Rock Legend on the Importance of Being Kind

What Roots and Culture Means to I & I

Maine Medical Cannabis Renaissance

CBD Summer Chillout

Device Review

Faces in the Field: Nyeela Hueholt of Rooted Heart Remedies

Caregiver Spotlight: Paul’s Boutique Nursery

Straight to the Dome