Alaska Leaf — Issue #4

ALASKA LEAF THE PATIENT’S VOICE since 2010

ISSUE 4

FREE

akleaf.cOM @AKLEAFMAG

Aug. 2016

Glass

Presenter

Lighting

Presenter

Cultivation Presenter

ANCHORAGE

AFTER PARTY! September 10 @ Pot Luck Events | Anchorage

FREE GIFT BAG FOR Cannabis sampling and take-home ALL ATTENDEES gifts

Medicated Smores Station

LIVE MUSIC AND DJ

FREE CATERED SNACKS & TREATS

Networking, fun and more!

CANNACON VENDORS: $15 Regular Tickets: $30 VIP Tickets: $100

cannaconafterparty.brownpapertickets.com TICKETS AVAILABLE AT POT LUCK EVENTS & SOUTHSIDE GARDEN SUPPLY

AK

LEAF

ALASKA LEAF

VISIT NWLEAF.COM |

FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

|

FOLLOW US @AKLEAFMAG

contents

| EMAIL NWLEAF@GMAIL.COM

AUGUST 2016

16 PRISONER UPDATE Another victim of the War on Drugs

42 CANNABIS WOMEN of

THE LAST FRONTIER

32

SARAH DALTON OATES

8-PAGE FEATURE

Profile 1 of 4 | An interview with the program coordinator and principal assistant to the director at the Alaska Alcohol & Marijuana Control Office.

Stories by Aliza Sherman Photos by Oscar Avellaneda-Cruz

TASTY RECIPES Cannabis-infused Chicken Satays

52 GROWTECH GUIDE How to safely power your grow EDITOR NOTE..............................7 NATIONAL NEWS.........................8 EVENT CALENDAR......................12 PRISONER UPDATE.....................16 THC FAIR ANCHORAGE..............20 HIGHLY LIKELY...........................24 CENTERFOLD........................28 PROFILES............................32 RECIPES.........................42 CONCENTRATES....................44 BOOK REVIEW............................46 HEALTH & SCIENCE.....................50 GROWTECH.......................52 BEHIND THE STRAIN..................54 Photo by Daniel Berman Styling by Malina Lopez

Chipper Gardens Cannabis BACK ISSUES/OREGON//ALASKA

WWW.ISSUU.COM/NWLEAF

ANCHORAGE'S 1ST LICENSED CULTIVATOR

contents

THC FAIR! Phot os by Os c a r Ave l l a n e d a - C r u z

20

by WES ABNEY

REHASHING educational ANCHORAGE EVENT

ALASKA LEAF

the truth about the plant you thought you knew, IN every issue.

editor’s note

AUG. 2016 ISSUE #4

Alaska is poised to become one of the nation’s leading legal Cannabis states — just you wait.

summer is peaking

here in the Northwest and so are the high hopes for the Cannabis industry. Licensing processes are moving forward and slowly but surely, momentum is building towards the fall.

Each month that I travel north, I see more new businesses and more energy heading towards the launch of the industry! This month’s issue features a set of profiles on women in the Alaska Cannabis industry that are making waves and building new businesses and opportunities. While there are many more great women (and men) in the industry, we chose to highlight these four this month for their unique professional pathways.

Don’t miss our first-ever feature on a local high-CBD strain, the super tasty Critical Mass grown by Alaska’s Natural Canna, whose team is focused on growing CBD-rich medicine with an emphasis on terpene and flavor profiles.

Their impressive flower proves that low-THC strains can still pack a delicious flavor punch. Check out the review in the centerfold and more by these growers as they continue to develop!

AS ALWAYS, This issue also features a national news roundup, THANK YOU FOR photographs from last month’s THC Fair in Anchorage, READING ABOUT three tasty Cannabis-infused recipes to test out on the grill, AND SUPPORTING a great concentrate of the month from local extractor Primo, THE ALASKA CANNABIS INDUSTRY a new health and science column from Dr. Rose and — one of my favorites — a Growtech guide from Dr. Scanderson that explores how to properly manage electricity in your grow.

As always, thank you for reading about and supporting the Alaska Cannabis industry and movement. It’s more important than ever that we continue to represent the industry respectably and keep on building as the preparations for legal sales get ever closer! For anyone in the process of getting a license, keep your head up and your plants pointed to the light. Good things are on the way.

Contact editor Wes Abney to place an

advertisement or become a drop-off location to display our magazine. You can also feel free to just share feedback, send pitches, articles, story ideas and hot news tips. This is all our plant.

NWLeaf@gmail.com // (425) 219-6155

FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Wes Abney

PHOTOGRAPHER & DESIGNER

Daniel Berman

CONTRIBUTORS Wes and Kori Marie featured contributor WOMEN OF CANNABIS PG. 32 Aliza Sherman is a freelance writer based in Anchorage who has contributed to Entrepreneur magazine and the Mashable news site. In her first piece for Alaska Leaf, Sherman profiles four locals to know.

OSCAR AVELLANEDA-CRUZ, PHOTOS STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL PAUL GRZELAK, EDITING MALINA LOPEZ, STYLING KORI MARIE, PRODUCTION SEAN O’NEILL, ILLUSTRATION DR. SCANDERSON, GROWTECH DR. SCOTT D. ROSE, HEALTH ALIZA SHERMAN, FEATURES ERIC SKELTON, DESIGN PACER STACKTRAIN, FEATURES LAURIE & BRUCE WOLF, RECIPES

ADVERTISING

nwleaf@gmail.com // (206) 235-6721 Please email or call us to discuss print and online advertising opportunities in an upcoming issue.

We do not sell stories or coverage. We are happy to offer design services with Kush Creative Group and can provide guidance on the best approaches for promoting any medical, recreational, commercial or industrial product and pursuit. We are targeted.

FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF FOLLOW US @AKLEAFMAG FREE DIGITAL ARCHIVES: ISSUU.COM/NWLEAF VISIT WWW.A K L EAF.COM

Department of Corrections

Nelson & Company Organics didn’t get credit for their well-reviewed Kosher Kush featured on pg. 43 in July’s Tannins + Terpenes guide ( p. 36-49). Text was also missing on the 2nd pairing. Go to Issuu.com/nwleaf for the fixed versions.

aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

/7

national

STEVE ELLIOTT is the editor behind tokesignals.com, an independent blog of Cannabis news and opinion

Portland Dispensary Investigated for Fraud Cannacea closes its doors following investigation.

Washington’s Medical Marijuana ‘Transition’ Off to Rough Start Patients and dispensaries are experiencing frustrations as they attempt to adapt to Washington’s new laws.

Washington state’s version of “folding” the medical

medical system, but many dispensaries didn’t seem interested in participating.

As of July 15, just 69 stores out of 341 in the state with medical endorsements actually had a medicinal Cannabis consultant on staff and were issuing patient recognition cards. A total of 1,665 patient cards have been issued so far for adults, and two for minors, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

Washington labs still aren’t ready to test for heavy metals and mycotoxins because those rules weren’t even finalized until recently, said Aaron Nelson, senior vice president of operations for 2020 Solutions, which has two recreational pot stores in Whatcom County.

No labs have even been certified to test for all of the state requirements yet, Rossellison said. “And certainly not one lab that could do all of it, so now you’re sending multiple samples to multiple labs, which just increases the cost to the patient even more,” she said. “The whole thing is so frustrating.”

Less than 17 percent of growers said they would have Cannabis that meets the state’s medical rules ready by the July 1 deadline.

“IT’S NOT AS SMOOTH AS ONE WOULD HOPE.”

8/aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

OREGON NEVER ISSUED A MEDICAL DISPENSARY LICENSE TO THE BUSINESS.

Photos via Creative Commons

marijuana industry into the legal recreational side of the business is proving rough going.

“It’s not as smooth as one would hope,” admitted Danielle Rosellison, co-owner of Trail Blazin’ Productions, a marijuana grower in Bellingham, reports Kie Relyea at The Bellingham Herald.

Medical marijuana dispensaries, which have existed in the state for close to a decade after voters approved a 1998 medicinal Cannabis law, are being shut down, and patients are being encouraged to enter a state database. While patients can be exempt from a 9 percent sales tax if they enter that database, they still have to pay a whopping 37 percent excise tax on their medicine.

While Rosellison remains optimistic that patients’ needs will eventually be met by the recreational marijuana system, she said, “it’s just not going to be timely, and there will be this murky period for the next few years.”

Dispensaries that couldn’t get approval from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board were required to shut down by July 1 on the supposed public rollout of a new recreational/

A Portland marijuana dispensary has become the first Cannabis business to be investigated for fraud since Oregon legalized weed in 2014.

Cannacea has shut its doors after it was learned that Oregon never issued a medical dispensary license to the business.

Tisha Siler, Cannacea’s founder, came to Oregon in 2014 to open the business after she got what she thought was a letter welcoming her to open up shop, reports Shaunee Flowers at The Inquisitr. It turns out Siler wasn’t licensed at all after paying $25,000 to Green Rush Consu l ti ng, de s pi te receiving an officiallooking letter that said she was awarded seven dispensary licenses.

The Oregon Department of Health began investigating Siler last year; that’s when it learned the letter was fake and that Green Rush Consulting had some real explaining to do.

Siler’s previous contact at Green Rush has prior felony convictions for financial schemes, and she’s accused the company of creating marketing materials with false information in addition to the fake letter she received.

The exact role Green Rush Consulting played with Siler and Cannacea is being investigated. She also has some very unhappy investors now that her Portland dispensary has been shut down.

Quoted “REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE SEE THE NEED TO REDUCE HARSH SENTENCES FOR DRUG OFFENSES, SO IT IS ESPECIALLY CRUEL TO DEPORT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, SOME OF WHOSE MOST SERIOUS OFFENSE RELATED TO A SMALL AMOUNT OF MARIJUANA.” — MICHAEL COLLINS (deputy director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance) on the benefits of the “Veteran Visa and Protection Act,” which will establish a visa program allowing certain deported veterans to re-enter the U.S. as lawful permanent residents.

Alaska Entrepreneurs Want to Show Tourists The Cannabis Industry New business venture Juneau Cannabis Tours hopes to guide visitors through the state’s marijuana attractions.

Keith Crocker and business partner Mitchell

Knottingham have created Juneau Cannabis Tours with the idea of giving tourists a look at the state’s new marijuana industry in action.

The company’s website encourages visitors to “live the Alaska high life.” Crocker said once the state’s recreational marijuana industry is operational, his company hopes to take people to see things like cultivation facilities, edibles manufacturing warehouses and Cannabis retail shops, with “an overview of what’s going on with the whole industry,” possibly combined with food and drink tours.

Crocker said tours with his company

might cost around $125, which is about what he paid for a similar tour in Colorado.

The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development expects the state’s bars, restaurants and hotels to add 300 jobs this year after gaining 700 last year. About one million of the state’s 2 million annual visitors visit the state on tour ships.

THE COMPANY’S WEBSITE ENCOURAGES VISITORS TO “LIVE THE ALASKA HIGH LIFE.”

Quick Hits!

1 14.9 Billion dollars worth of recreational marijuana sales have been made in Washington pot shops since July 2014.

Million dollars have been generated in tax revenues from recreational Cannabis sales since January, translating into about $60 million in sales.

100

cities and counties in Eastern Oregon have banned licensed marijuana businesses under a law approved by the Legislature in 2015.

aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

/9

national

STEVE ELLIOTT is the editor behind tokesignals.com, an independent blog of Cannabis news and opinion

Washington Marijuana Sales Top $1 Billion since rec legalization Washington state pot shops have sold more than a billion dollars worth of recreational marijuana since July 2014, generating more than $250 million for the state through excise taxes, reports the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

The amount of recreational weed sold since I-502 took effect passed the billion-dollar mark in June, which set a record of $86.7 million in pot sales, according to the report. June 2016’s yield of $20 million in taxes nearly doubled the amount generated in June 2015.

“There would have to be some fundamental things about the regulations as they are right now that would have to change in order to allow

Washington companies to succeed on a national scale,” said Seattle business attorney Andy Aley, reports the PostIntelligencer. “And I think one of the biggest disadvantages that we have, especially compared to Oregon, is the restriction on out-of-state actual ownership of the licenses. Probably the biggest problem that my clients have is access to capital.”

WASHINGTON STATE POT SHOPS HAVE GENERATED MORE THAN $250 MILLION FOR THE STATE THROUGH EXCISE TAXES

THE DEA HAS PUT UP BUREAUCRATIC ROADBLOCKS TO LEGITIMATE SCIENCE AND

SEVERELY LIMITED, IF NOT COMPLETELY OBSTRUCTED LEGITIMATE RESEARCHERS WHO WOULD STUDY CANNABIS’ BENEFITS.

10/aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

Whoopi Goldberg to Speak at CALIFORNIA Cannabis BIZ Event International star and Cannabis entrepreneur Whoopi Goldberg will appear at the San Diego Cannabis Conference & Expo as a keynote speaker at the San Diego Convention Center.

Rory Mendoza, the CEO and event producer of Let’s Educate a Future, made the announcement. “We reach for the stars and Whoopi is certainly the best representative we could ask for to represent the new face of Cannabis,” Mendoza said.

Goldberg recently entered the Cannabis industry with her company Whoopi & Maya‘s signature line of medical products designed specifically to help relieve menstrual discomfort.

Goldberg will take center stage from 6 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 7, in San Diego.

Whoopi is one of a very elite group of A-list artists who has won a Grammy, Academy Award, Golden Globe, Emmy, Daytime Emmy and a Tony.

“Whoopi exemplifies the high-quality individual who makes Let’s Educate a Future events stand out from other Cannabis conventions across the country,” Mendoza said.

Drawing Cannabis companies, experts, entrepreneurs and activists, conference attendance is expected to exceed 6,000 individuals and is open to the public. Attendees interested in entering the Cannabis industry will learn more about the laws affecting them and how the Cannabis industry is evolving in California.

Quoted — AARON SMITH (Executive Director of the National Cannabis Industry Association) during Senate Judiciary Subcommitte on July 13, where Senators heard from witnesses from the FDA, the National Institute for Drug Abuse and medical professionals about the pros and cons of medical marijuana.

ALASKA

CALENDAR

WEED WEEK ALASKA SEPT. 6-11 | CANNACON ANCHORAGE SEPT. 9-10 | ALASKA LEAF CANNACON AFTERPARTY SEPT. 10TH

WASHINGTON AUG. 19-21 SEATTLE HEMPFEST WORLD’S LARGEST POT PROTESTIVAL | NORTHWEST LEAF’S HERBIN CAMPOUT SEPT. 3 EVERGREEN FEST SEPT. 17 AT WHITE RIVER AMPHITHEATER | PIPE MASTERS COLLAB OCT. 19-29 | CANNACON SEATTLE FEB. 2017

OREGON INDO EXPO PORTLAND AUG. 6-7 | THC FAIR COMES TO MEDFORD/ASHLAND AUG. 20-21 THC FAIR ASTORIA SEPT. 3-4 | CELEBRATE HEMPSTALK IN PORTLAND SEPT. 24-25 CANNABIS SCIENCE CONFERENCE PORTLAND OCT. 4 | THC FAIR SALEM OCT.15-16 THC FAIR BEND OCT. 22-23 | EXPERIENCE THE 420 GAMES IN PORTLAND OCT. 29

ELSEWHERE AND INTERESTING HIGH TIMES CANNABIS CUP RETURNS TO THE AUTO CITY SPEEDWAY IN CLIO, MICHIGAN FOR THREE DAYS AUG. 26-28 THE INTERNATIONAL CANNABIS BUSINESS CONFERENCE COMES BACK TO THE NORTH IN VANCOUVER, BC OCT. 13-14 MARIJUANA BUSINESS CONFERENCE AND EXPO LAS VEGAS NOV. 16-18 | THE EMERALD CUP CALIFORNIA DEC. 10-11

12/aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

eoscreativemedia.com Travis Madden (907) 854-7547

A LA S KA’ S CA N N A B I S S E C U R I T Y LEADERS

Private Club Members Only 21+

Headquarters Come join Pot Luck Events today and enjoy a Cannabis friendly club where you can smoke with your BUDS! For upcoming events and more information follow us on facebook, email or visit our website: potluckeventsak@gmail.com www.potluckevents.com

420 W. 3rd Ave Anchorage, AK 99501

XNLV213575

PRISONER UPDATE

NEWS FROM THE FRONT LINES NORTHWEST NEWS

EUGENE A. FISCHER Remembering the life of a freedom fighter who truly walked the talk.

A couple of days ago, I was asked to write a memorial for a personal hero and man I would like to call a brother in arms, even though we never met each other in person. With a heavy heart, I write this for the greatest man ever arrested for pot, Eugene A. Fischer, Sr. Unfortunately, Eugene Fischer is a name not many know, yet should. Ordinarily, Eugene never made public qualms about what he was arrested for, which was against the law at the time; then again, so was marriage between interracial couples. Enlightened people see the world for what it truly is and in the case of marijuana law, it’s wrong. More than an outlaw, Eugene was a freedom fighter who truly walked the talk. After serving part of a life sentence for pot, which could have very well equaled a death sentence, he never forgot others entangled with the law regarding the non-crime of marijuana use.

Arrested at age 47, after five years of running what was the largest marijuana operation of its time, Eugene embarked upon his first fight, Eugene Fischer v. United States. His succeeding battle was even more histrionic, like that of a Hollywood movie.

In 2012, after serving 25 years in prison, Eugene won his freedom and immediately embarked on a mission to help all his brothers and sisters still locked up for pot. That’s how Eugene viewed everyone: a brother or sister.

I saw Eugene when he was volunteering for The Human Solution International, where every Sunday he would co-host, sharing his story and bonding with fellow prisoners of the Drug War such as Craig Cesal. I was moved by his voice and passion; I knew there was absolutely no shit this man would take. He held his head up by abundantly taking moral initiative and helping others that suffered like him. After his release, he assisted his old partner Randy Lanier in finding freedom via the same legal embarrassment for the government that freed Eugene.

Subsequent to his hard work at THSI, Eugene

OREGON

Photo by Tom Korby

founded VOW (Voices of the Cannabis War) with Kristin Flor and Mindi Griffiths, attempting to continue the efforts of ending the Drug War by bringing the greatest weapon: hope. Hope to prisoners already locked up, hope to those in the industry who may fall into trouble, hope that there are others out there who are like-minded, hope that you are not alone — instead, it’s we.

We are seeking justice, so we can have peace.

This man has been a hero and a guiding light to countless of whom there seemed to be terrible darkness. Eugene stood unwavered against the horrible machine known as prohibition. Displaying an invariant commitment to social justice not only on behalf of his and others’ personal freedoms, but for an overall social balance that would reduce carnage amongst minorities and police alike. The failed War on Drugs harbors real prisoners and victims, and they’re all Americans, just like you and I. Eugene Fischer needs to be remembered with the likes of Jack Herer and Dennis Peron, for these men have forged reform in the marijuana conversation by being living examples of why the war on marijuana is wrong. Notwithstanding, Eugene lived life to the fullest in his four years of post-prison freedom, as he recognized the value of time and how little of it we have to get this right. Rest in Peace Eugene, the Earth lost a brilliant mind and heaven gained another angel on July 7, 2016.

THIS MAN HAS BEEN A HERO AND A GUIDING LIGHT TO COUNTLESS OF WHOM THERE SEEMED TO BE TERRIBLE DARKNESS.

16/aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

According to reports, the first federal Cannabis case in Oregon since 2011 targets a local teenager. Nineteen-yearold Devontre Thomas can now be counted among those still facing lifelong consequences for consuming a miracle plant.

The case was filed in April, approximately one year after the supposed crime, for one count of marijuana possession. Reports state Thomas was not even in possession of Cannabis at the time, while his friend had only fragments and remnants; therefore, it is unclear why federal prosecutors are pursuing this case.

Apparently, even in “legal” states, the government still locks up otherwise law-abiding and productive citizens for possession of a plant. Federal statistics indicate prosecutors charged 2,349 people with marijuana possession in the United States last year.

WASHINGTON

Every August, the most amazing marijuana event in the nation takes place in Seattle at Hempfest. This year, two former prisoners of the Drug War will Mizanskey speak at the event: Jeff Mizanskey and George Martorano, who each served over 20 years of their life sentences for pot. People on the outside continually uplifted both of these men. George was gallantly sponsored and supported by Seattle Hempfest during the last leg of his sentence.

Hempfest will also feature clips from the documentary “Lifers” by Jeff Eichen.

NO VICTIM = NO CRIME =

NOT GUILTY. NO ONE SHOULD BE CAGED FOR CANNABIS!

Reporting by

KRISTEN FLOR / Mindi Griffiths / Miggy 420 Becca Nichols / Danielle Vitale-O’Brien for Alaska Leaf, Northwest Leaf & Oregon Leaf

New Home Raid Hotline

On June 30, patient possession limits were reduced and many access points were closed in Washington. If you are a recently raided MMJ patient, you are urged to check out 420Leaks — they may be able to assist! The newly formed service has been set up to help you: - Find attorneys, paralegals, healthcare professionals and other victimized patients to consult for support.

- Learn how to obtain your own records, scout media contacts and draw publicity to a case if desired.

Determine if the case qualifies for emergency financial assistance through small grants from local nonprofits, businesses and individuals in an extensive statewide network.

-Enlighten yourself on the topic of government corruption by gathering public records.

420Leaks has been there and can offer support.

Find out more by calling 206-915-3450. You can also learn more about using public records to confirm the corruption of our government at www.420leaks.com.

KETTLE FALLS FAMILY

The family is still fighting for appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, however, their briefs are not due until December.

Moreover, the cases of Harborside Health Center and Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana are helping to set precedents at the federal district court level, accordingly giving their Section 538 amendment argument a considerable deal of strength.

chris williams

Chris Williams, an ex-Montana MMJ caregiver who is now a federal plant prisoner serving his time at the SeaTac Bureau of Prisons in Seattle, was recently sent to the “SHU” (Solitary Housing Unit, otherwise known as solitary confinement) as a consequence for a fight with another inmate. Chris cannot have visitors, talk to other inmates, make phone calls or leave his prison cell.

Chris can still receive mail and needs you to send him a letter to lift his spirits. His address is: Christopher Wayne Williams #11839-046, FDC SeaTac, PO BOX 13900, Seattle, WA 98198.

Similar to Lance Gloor and other non-violent inmates, Chris would not be in prison today if the jurors who may have believed the law was unjust knew that they could have voted not guilty, a judicial right known as jury nullification. To find out more about Chris, visit his website freechriswilliams.com, and for more information on what our plant prisoners go through in solitary confinement, listen to the VOW radio show at goo.gl/95NkUV.

JUDGE BIXLER: “THE POTFATHER?” As marijuana is increasingly grown, produced and regulated for profit, the faces of cultivators are changing. Gone are the small-timers who were once harvesting for the mere love of the plant and its medicinal properties, not the profit to be derived. Up and coming are the high-profile power hitters such as: Las Vegas’ very own Judge James Bixler, president of Southern Nevada Growers, Inc., with licenses to cultivate and produce Cannabis in North Las Vegas; Clark County attorney Stephen Pingree, who is heading Symbiosis, LLC with a cultivation license; and Assemblyman William Horne, who is receiving a license for production under C.W. Nevada, LLC. Of particular interest is Judge Bixler, who was publicly quoted as saying that he plans to recuse himself from a case that involves medical marijuana if his applications for cultivation and production are accepted, yet he made several rulings on the case in the summer of 2014, a few months after applying for the licenses. Despite stating, “our old War on Drugs is a farce ... we need to start treating drug addicts like drug addicts instead of prisoners,” Judge Bixler’s ruling was to set bail at over $100,000 and deny the medical marijuana

defense strategy. As a result, the defendant spent over seven months in jail.

These rulings appear to go against Bixler’s stated views on the need to approach drug cases in a different way. More recently, during this same defendant’s sentencing, Judge Bixler presided yet again, despite recusing himself from the case due to an obvious conflict of interest almost two years prior. Appropriately, members of The Human Solution International attended the sentencing to stand in solidarity and show support. Mike from THSI stated that prior to once again recusing himself, the judge said that he used to think medical was just an excuse to get high, but that he thinks differently now.

Nevertheless, this raises the question of why he altered his views on medical marijuana. Could Bixler’s personal investment in the newly flourishing industry be the reason? A judge holding cultivation and production licenses for medical marijuana is a blatant conflict of interest. A decision on whether a judge can hold licenses for the production, cultivation or dispensing of medical marijuana was due to be released at the time of the writing of this article.

Let’s hope the correct decision is made.

A JUDGE HOLDING CULTIVATION AND PRODUCTION LICENSES FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS A BLATANT CONFLICT OF INTEREST

aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

/17

g e t t h e p at i e n t’s v o i c e

deliv r i g h er e d yo u r t t o door

and never miss an issue!

$6/month or $60/year ALASKA LEAF ALASKA LEAF akleaf.cOM @AKLEAFMAG

THE PATIENT’S VOICE since 2010

THE PATIENT’S VOICE since 2010

akleaf.cOM @AKLEAFMAG

FREE

JUNE 2016

NORTHWEST CANNABIS CLASSIC

FREE

P. 12 FULL RESULTS & WINNER’S PHOTOS

may 2016

PROFILES

P. 16 ANDREW BAKER

PIECE OF MIND ALASKA BUYER & GENERAL MGR.

P. 40 HOW TO SMOKE POT (PROPERLY) AUTHOR DAVID BIENENSTOCK

INFUSED RECIPES P. 32 HEALTHY EATING FOR A MEDICATED SPRING

ORGANIC?

ISSUE 2

Bubba Berry

Arctic blue strain

by Arctic Blue Farms

THE FIRST ISSUE

POLITICS ROCK THE VALLEY VOTE & CITY SMOKING BANS

AK LEGEND GARDENS FEATURE PG. 22

PLUS DON’T MISS! -JUNE PRISON DISPATCH -BUDSHOT CENTERFOLD -JESSE VENTURA LIKES POT -HEALTH AND SCIENCE

ALASKA LEAF akleaf.cOM @AKLEAFMAG

THE PATIENT’S VOICE since 2010

FREE

TASTY RECIPES

JUly 2016

PROFILES

3 WAYS TO COOK WITH CANNABIS

JILL WILLIAMS, OWNER OF THE LOOK BOUTIQUE, ANCHORAGE

P. 16

SUMMER GRILLING

HEALTH

3 WAYS TO GET HOT AND COOKING WITH CANNABIS

P. 52

THE POWER OF BEING GRATEFUL

TAKING A TECH BREAK DR.SCANDERSON ON THE UNLIKELY CHOICE HE WOULD MAKE AGAIN

GROWING

From the team behind Northwest Leaf and Oregon Leaf comes Alaska's only monthly Cannabis magazine...

P. 58

tannins +terpenes

-NATIONAL NEWS -PRISON DISPATCH -BUDSHOT CENTERFOLD -HEALTH AND SCIENCE

HOW TO PAIR ALCOHOL WITH CANNABIS FOR THE KIND OF FLAVOR EXPERIENCES YOU NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE. p.36

14-PAGE SPECIAL FEATURE AND 12 PAIRINGS INSIDE

Gekkeikan sake melon cocktail +

maui wowie

PROFILES

FLOWERS

recipes

FE

AT U

RE

S

DR. SCANDERSON ON HOW TO BECOME A GOOD GROWER

AND IN EVERY ISSUE

ISSUE 3

ISSUE 1

P. 52 DR.SCANDERSON DISCUSSES THE DIFFICULT BUSINESS OF MANAGING AN ORGANIC GROW

free gift with year subscription Email subscribe@AKleaf.com to get signed up today!

rehashed

By WES ABNEY | PHOTOS by OSCAR AVELLANEDA-CRUZ

JUL. 23-24, 2016 | SHERATON ANCHORAGE | THCFAIR.COM

THC FAIR ANCHORAGE 20/aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

THC

Fair made its second stop in Alaska last month, bringing a steady flow of business and fun-seekers alike to the Anchorage Sheraton.

After a well-trafficked event in Fairbanks saw an enthusiastic local turnout, the newest incarnation of the show did not disappoint. The convention floor stayed busy with a constant flow of tourists, new business owners and consumers alike. For show organizer Naomi Forkash, the Alaskan experience has been exciting and encouraging.

“The best thing I heard all weekend was attendees saying thanks for the relaxed vibe,” Forkash said. “It felt great to take the time to walk slowly, meet each vendor personally and not feel pressured on time. Being able to give a platform to new and emerging cannabusinesses is just awesome.”

Booths at the show ranged from grow stores to nutrient companies, seed information, security and consulting, producers and more. “We want to make our shows affordable for vendors and attendees; I love hearing positive feedback!” Forkash said.

It was worth it, explained Sara Whitney, who provides CBD agave sticks with Gem Farms from Oregon. She said the chance to share CBD medicine was fun and rewarding.

“It was a very good turnout and so far, Alaska has been wonderful to us. In an atmosphere where everybody is so community-based, we were accepted, and it’s wonderful,” Whitney said.

Look for the THC Fair to return to Anchorage in 2017, and visit their website for more information about the upcoming Oregon shows!

BOOTHS AT THE SHOW RANGED FROM GROW STORES TO NUTRIENT COMPANIES, SEED INFORMATION, SECURITY AND CONSULTING, PRODUCERS AND MORE.

aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

/21

@NWLEAF #NWLEAF

/NWLEAF @NWLEAF

NW LEAF

NORTHWEST LEAF

highly likely

By PACER STACKTRAIN for ALASKA LEAF

Column # 4

Highlighting amazing Cannabis pioneers who helped pave the way to greater herbal acceptance.

RUNNIN’ DOWN A BLUE DREAM TOM PETTY IS A TRUE AMERICAN ORIGINAL. A world-class

Over the years, Petty has become more and more outspoken about his use of Cannabis, likely thanks to relatively relaxed tolerance in modern society.

TOM PETTY

24/aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

rock ‘n’ roll superstar that came from humble beginnings and brought the people he grew up with along on his amazing journey. He’s also a certified hit machine, creating a seemingly endless supply of catchy songs with the staying power to last decades in the public consciousness.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Petty has been a consumer of Cannabis throughout his career. He didn’t, however, really talk much about his love for the herb until recently — most likely due to a change in acceptance and attitude from the general public.

When Petty’s first producer/manager Denny Cordell was asked in 2007 about how difficult the band was to manage on the road in the late 1970s, he answered that they were easy, but that they “smoked way too much reefer.” By all accounts, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were a band that loved to get blazed.

There’s the tale of their first European tour in the early 1980s where they were so excited to be in Amsterdam, one of the few places in the world at the time where one could purchase Cannabis legally, that they bought blocks of hashish. The band planned on smuggling the goods to nearby Germany for the rest of the tour when they were pulled aside and searched at customs. Petty threw out his hashish in time, but knew bassist Ron Blair had not.

When the authorities went to search Blair’s bag, they only found a pipe. Astonished, Petty turned to Blair, who returned a toothy smile with black hashish all over his teeth.

That night, the band performed on German television and one can see a visibly glassy-eyed Blair playing his heart out on bass.

In a 2013 article with Rolling Stone, Petty noted that he’s not a medical user of Cannabis, at least not a licensed one. “I don’t have a prescription card, but I’m certain I’ve smoked medical marijuana, yeah. It’s everywhere. I don’t smoke as much pot as I did at one point in my life. But I think the cat’s out of the bag, it’s gonna be legalized.”

Over the years, Petty has become more and more outspoken about his use of Cannabis, likely thanks to relatively relaxed tolerance in modern society.

His most recent interview, a 2015 print article in Men’s Journal, tells the tale of a lifelong passion for American history and the herb.

According to the article, one of Petty’s favorite things to do is “wait until it’s really late, get stoned, go to the Jefferson Memorial and just sit there and read the walls. I’ve done that a few times.”

Which makes a lot of sense. Petty’s music personifies freedom and captures the wanderlust of the American soul.

“So let’s get to the point, let’s roll another joint. Let’s head on down the road.There’s somewhere I gotta go.”

Thepacerstacktrain@gmail.com Instagram: @ThePacerStackTrain

Go

www.gocbeed.com

R O O D R U O Y O T IP H S & ORDER ONLINE

CBD - THE SOLUTION IS REAL IT REALLY WORKS HIGH CBD POTENCY FAST ACTING WORKS WITH YOUR BODY NO “HIGH” NO CANNABIS ODOR QUALITY TESTED

S I G N U P F O R O U R N E W S L E T T E R TO R E C E I V E P R O M O CO D E S M O N T H LY

A MELLOW EUPHORIA SINKS IN THAT MAKES THE JOINTS FEEL LOOSENED AND THE WEIGHT OF THE DAY A FEW POUNDS LIGHTER.

GROWN by ALASKA'S NATURAL CANNA NICK HOFMEISTER AND TOMMY CORSCADDEN

C BD I S K N OW N TO H ELP TH E B ODY W ITH A VAR I ETY O F HEA LT H C ON DI T I ONS , INCLUDING M US CLE A ND JO I NT PAI N, IN F L A MM AT I ON , EP ILEP SY, DEP RESS ION & SO CI AL ANXI ETY

CBD Critical

ALASKA LEAF

STRAIN OF THE MONTH

By WES ABNEY | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN/ALASKA LEAF

Mass

13.79 % CBD 0.92 % THC

THESE PILLOWY NUGS of CBD Critical Mass exude bright citrus notes and a rich earthiness that takes the mind right to an orange grove.

The growers at Alaska’s Natural Canna have set out to show that high-CBD strains can be tasty and full of flavor, and this round of flower sure is proof.

“We grow to find the most medicinal properties to help patients,” said grower Nick Hofmeister, who produces the impressive flower in all-natural living soil with the help of co-grower Tommy Corscadden.

Their dedication is truly evident in the final product.

Ripping a bowl releases a mildly sweet smoke that whispers into the lungs with little coughing and a nice white ash. The effects are light and tingly at first, with deeper relaxation and medicinal benefits setting in after several tokes. The fully built high lasts for several hours with little head change, but a mellow euphoria sinks in that makes the joints feel loosened and the weight of the day a few pounds lighter.

Each bud is tightly trimmed and well-cured, with a thick bud structure and a light moisture content that leaves a light stickiness on the fingers. The flower is bursting with flavor and terpenes, and when opened, a small bag will slowly fill a room with notes of orange blossoms and sweet candy.

The test results are spectacular, with a 14-1 ratio of CBD to THC, making this strain extremely beneficial for a variety of medicinal effects. CBD is known to help the body as an anti-epileptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, neuro-protectant, an anti-oxidant and in many common conditions like chronic or other forms of pain, depression, anxiety and more.

Look for this flower and more in the upcoming recreational Cannabis market this fall, and Google CBD to learn more about its serious medical benefits.

aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

/29

GROW YOUR OWN.

myurbangreenhouse.com -Complete turn key systems.

-LED lighting reduces energy usage up to 70% -Completely automated, less than 15 min maintenance per week -High quality grow tent for sleek, discreet appearance.

-Harvest over 100 grams every 3 months.

-Just add your plants and the system does the rest!

My Urban Greenhouse manufactures and develops solutions for sustainable indoor growing systems. By combining innovative lighting and automation technologies with proven hydroponic techniques, we deliver cost eective, automated solutions that save users both time and money.

PROFILE

By ALIZA SHERMAN for ALASKA LEAF | PHOTOS by OSCAR AVELLANEDA-CRUZ

CANNABIS WOMEN of

THE LAST FRONTIER

Breaking barriers & stereotypes, these four women bring passion and perseverance to their work, facing down challenges with true Alaskan spirit and grit.

32/aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

SARAH DALTON OATES

THE REGULATOR

B

efore her role as program coordinator and principal assistant to the director at the Alaska Alcohol & Marijuana Control Office (AMCO), Sarah Dalton Oates worked for Alaska’s Division of Motor Vehicles in the Anchorage Driver Licensing unit. Today, her responsibilities include direct management of both Alaska’s alcohol and marijuana licensing programs and the development of all legislation related to AMCO licensing programs as well as drafting regulations. A far cry from marine biology, her initial major in college.

So, how did the daughter of wildlife biologists in Alaska go from dreams of a career in marine biology to dealing with the inner workings of alcohol and marijuana regulation?

“I was focusing a lot of my energy on other things like traveling all over the Pacific Northwest to ski, and I wasn’t 100 percent committed to my schooling at the time,” Oates admits. “There are so few marine biology jobs available, and I ultimately had to figure out if I really wanted to buckle down and devote myself to the marine biology field.”

Oates decided that she wanted to explore more and wasn’t ready to take on massive debt from student loans. She moved back to Alaska and shelved her marine biology dreams, although she still has two bookshelves in her house packed full of books about sharks — a personal passion along with a love of hunting and fishing.

When not battling 90-mile-per-hour winds and horizontal rain on a sheep hunt, she and her AMCO team tackle the enormous task of managing both alcohol and marijuana regulations in the state.

The AMCO consists of the director (and Oates’ boss), Cynthia Franklin, and 16 staff who serve the licensing, administrative and enforcement needs of the alcohol and marijuana licensing communities as well as two regulatory and quasi-judicial boards. Oates says that as a regulatory agency, AMCO hears from many members of the public, the Cannabis industry, local governments, public health and safety officials and other states who contact them regularly to voice discontent with new or proposed laws or with the amount of time it takes for

questions to be answered or documents to be processed.

“The addition of marijuana regulation to our staff ’s duties has more than tripled our workload the past two years,” Oates explains. “Many people don’t realize the enormous amount of work that comes along with implementation of a new, highly controversial, regulated industry. I certainly didn’t.”

As of July 2016, no businesses currently hold Alaska marijuana establishment licenses. However, 12 licensees have had applications approved by the Marijuana Control Board (MCB) and are in the “active” status, meaning they’re credentialed into METRC — Alaska’s marijuana inventory tracking system — and will be handed their licenses to begin operation once a preliminary inspection

by AMCO enforcement is complete. Oates says that so far, the board has approved all applications with delegation to the director, which means the licenses will be issued once all necessary approvals have been received and once a preliminary inspection has been performed.

Public misconception is a challenging part of Oates’ position. “I cannot believe how many times I’ve read and heard the AMCO staff being accused of intentionally delaying the licensing process so that it can be repealed by the Legislature, or of being ‘underworked, overpaid government employees,’” says Oates, who points out that the opposite is true and that her team takes pride in being efficient, effective and helpful.

“When Ballot Measure 2 passed, many of us in the office were excited for the task ahead of us. We were excited to help this industry get going and to make a difference in the lives of many Alaskans,” Oates recounts. “We thought it would be fun and that the people in this new industry would be laid-back and easy-going. We have met quite a few really great people who are applying for licenses. We believe that we’re going to have some amazing superstar licensees, and we’ll have some difficult ones, and that’s true in any industry.”

Oates’ advice to anyone interested in applying for a license to do business in Alaska’s Cannabis industry is to read up on the statutes starting on the AMCO website, attend some MCB meetings, contact your local government early for permitting, be a good neighbor in your community and, most of all, be patient.

“

MANY PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE THE ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WORK THAT COMES ALONG WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW, HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL, REGULATED INDUSTRY.

PROGRAM COORDINATOR AND PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR AT THE ALASKA ALCOHOL & MARIJUANA CONTROL OFFICE

aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

/33

PROFILE CANNABIS WOMEN of

THE LAST FRONTIER

THERESA COLLINS

By ALIZA SHERMAN for ALASKA LEAF PHOTOS by OSCAR AVELLANEDA-CRUZ

“I

THE ENTREPRENEUR

had not smoked in years until the summer of 2014,” recalls Theresa Collins, owner of Pot Luck Events, a private events club in Anchorage where members can bring their own Cannabis to share and consume. “I had medical issues, and Cannabis had been a natural medication for several family members so I tried using it medicinally as I am completely opposed to prescription pills and have not had any since I was 18,” Collins says.

The first time Collins smoked again, her pain level was around an “eight” and within three minutes it dropped to a “three.” “I started crying from the relief and I knew right then and there that I wanted to help people and educate them on the medical benefits of this amazing plant.”

By March of 2015, Pot Luck Events, “Alaska’s 420 Headquarters,” opened its doors to provide Alaskans a safe place to consume.

Before Collins started her Cannabis business, she was the regional sales manager for a satellite communications company managing seven offices in Alaska and Hawaii.

Collins prepared for her new venture researching Alaska’s state Cannabis laws and consulting an attorney before moving forward. In the last year, there have been several failed attempts to create regulations to ban the club, but Collins and her colleagues have worked closely with city and state officials to make sure they are compliant with statutes to continue operations.

“I think we’ve done a good job of dispelling any misconceptions, but at first people thought we were using the club to sell Cannabis,” Collins says.

“The biggest misconception is that people have this idea of what a typical ‘stoner’ is. When I meet people,

and I tell them what I do, I can see on their faces that they are surprised. I love breaking the barriers of the stereotypes out there.”

Pot Luck Events hosts a number of events each month, including comedy nights, a monthly dab and edibles contest, and showcases of local growers with samples of their recent harvests. They also hold large events for 420 and July 10 and throw a monthly birthday party for their members.

As part of her business, Collins has been very active in the regulatory process, attending meetings and disseminating information.

She has updated and educated people with social media and through several meetings and classes at her venue.

In addition to Pot Luck Events, Collins also has a company that works with Cannabis businesses, TC Consultants, and she will soon be co-owner of a cultivation facility and retail store. Collins is extremely busy running her two active businesses and starting up another. Her typical day is spent at the computer in the morning, meetings in the afternoon, and at the club until closing at 11 p.m. When not working, Collin says she tries to spend as much time with her friends and family as possible with activities ranging from camping, fishing and hiking in the summer to snowmachining in the winter.

“When I have a conversation with someone and educate them about Cannabis and watch the shift in perception, it is very gratifying.” Collins says, “I think our biggest challenge in this industry is breaking the barriers and educating the misinformed. Unfortunately, they have been fed the prohibitionist propaganda for a long time, so it will take us a while to break the stigma.”

“

I KNEW RIGHT THEN AND THERE THAT I WANTED TO HELP PEOPLE AND EDUCATE THEM ON THE MEDICAL BENEFITS OF THIS AMAZING PLANT.

OWNER, POT LUCK EVENTS, PRIVATE CANNABIS CLUB Theresa Collins IN ANCHORAGE

PHOTO 34/

aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

PROFILE

CANNABIS WOMEN of

THE LAST FRONTIER

JANA WELTZIN

THE LAWYER

“A

rctos is my little spirit animal,” says Jana Welztin of her handsome, extra-large Siberian husky, golden retriever and German shepard mix who reclines silently beside her office desk.

“I adopted him in Phoenix, Arizona, because he looked like he needed to be with Alaskans who understood him.”

Weltzin, who grew up in Fairbanks, is back in the state with her beloved dog after time away at college in Chicago and Reno and law school plus several years at a law firm in Phoenix. Weltzin’s interest in law started at a young age.

“I was a lawyer at age 12,” Weltzin says, referring to her experience as a founding member of the North Star Youth Court that trains young people between the ages of 12-18 to represent and judge their peers in actual criminal cases. Weltzin admits she didn’t do well in elementary school, high school or college, and it wasn’t until law school that she started getting A’s.

Weltzin spent her early childhood traveling with her dad, a tribal grant writer, to Alaska Native bush communities, inspiring her to later enter the federal Indian Legal Program at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Weltzin says studying the jurisdictional issues of Indian law was a good segue for navigating the complex legal and jurisdictional issues of Cannabis law.

“Understanding that framework really gave me the basis that I needed that I don’t think a lot of Cannabis lawyers had because a lot of them came from criminal law and jumped into business law,” she explains.

Before returning to Alaska, Weltzin worked for a law firm in the Lower 48 representing developers and Cannabis companies in land use processes and handling business transactions for Cannabis companies. Almost a year ago, she left the firm and established her own practice, JDW, LLC, in Alaska, a step she felt compelled to make because of the advice she was giving her own clients.

“I figured if I’m going to encourage my clients to quit day jobs and start their own business, I better know what it

By ALIZA SHERMAN for ALASKA LEAF PHOTOS by OSCAR AVELLANEDA-CRUZ

takes to start a business, because it takes a lot,” Weltzin says.

“If I should expect all my clients to take all these huge risks, I better put my balls on the line too … if I had balls.”

Starting out on her own with her laptop and her experience, she worked from her home then rented a room at The Boardroom, a coworking space in Anchorage, hired an assistant who is now her paralegal, then moved more recently into her own office.

While in the shared workspace, people quickly figured out what Weltzin did.

“Some of them would come up and say, ‘oh, I think it’s really cool what you’re doing.’ But others would come up and say, ‘so, you’re like the weed attorney, right? So … what other kinds of drugs do you want to see legal?’” Weltzin recounts, adding, “that’s okay. I just have to remind myself that if I were taught that something was evil since the day I was born — and that was engrained in me — and then one day somebody said ‘all that time and energy you spent thinking this thing was inherently evil was a complete waste of time because that’s wrong,’ I think I’d be a little resistant to it as well.”

Weltzin encourages Alaskans to be active in the political process, to show up at local community council meetings, write letters to legislators and letters to the editor and share their positive Cannabis stories with others who don’t know its benefits.

“You don’t have to support the plant as much as support small, sustainable, local businesses and business development, especially given our potential economic downfall here in Alaska,” says Weltzin. “We want sustainable businesses in Alaska that will generate employment, revenues, tourism, increase property values. Show up and support those issues.”

Weltzin says she is in the Cannabis industry because it’s “the right thing to do.”

“We shouldn’t be putting people in jail for a plant. We shouldn’t be allowing the pharmaceutical companies to push around our legislatures to stop the development of natural remedies for cancer, epilepsy and other diseases. If we stop doing the right thing out of fear, we’re never going to evolve.”

“

WE WANT SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES IN ALASKA THAT WILL GENERATE EMPLOYMENT, REVENUES, TOURISM, INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES.

ATTORNEY SPECIALIZING IN REAL ESTATE AND CANNABIS LAW

aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

/37

PROFILE

KIM KOLE

CANNABIS WOMEN of

THE LAST FRONTIER

By ALIZA SHERMAN for ALASKA LEAF PHOTOS by OSCAR AVELLANEDA-CRUZ

U

THE EDUCATOR

ntil May 2015, Kim Kole taught biology, chemistry and AP Environmental Science at a high school in Anchorage.

Today, she is taking a temporary leave of absence for the 2016 school year to build her cannabusiness. She also serves as secretary on the board of the Alaska Marijuana Industry Association (AMIA). Kole’s personal Cannabis use started in ninth grade, but her professional Cannabis journey began in the spring of 2014.

“I encountered the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) tents at various events in Anchorage,” Kole says. “Each time, I spent about an hour talking to the people there until they asked if I’d be willing to volunteer at the booth.”

Kole’s booth duties quickly turned into a volunteer role as head of The Yes on 2’s Parent Coalition responsible for press releases and advertisements for the campaign in Alaska. Two days after the vote to legalize, she held her first local chapter meeting for the national business organization Women Grow to help educate women — and men — about the Cannabis industry.

Her work on the Yes on 2 campaign led her to volunteer with the Coalition for Responsible Cannabis Legislation (CRCL), an advocacy group for the campaign for the legalization of marijuana in Alaska.

She worked to help with communications about the development of Cannabis regulations in the state between legislators and Alaskans by creating surveys and public comment guides. That important work led to her current secretary position on the board of the AMIA, focusing more on the economic aspects of the nascent Alaska Cannabis industry.

Kole is also the founder and CEO of her own venture Handle Alaska, a state-approved course for obtaining the required Handler’s Permit for all people working in the Alaskan Cannabis industry.

“This is the only course created by someone with a master’s degree in education and 15 years of classroom and online teaching experience,” Kole says of Handle Alaska.

“This is also the only course that gives back to the Cannabis industry. A portion of the proceeds go to AMIA to support lobbying efforts during future legislative sessions,

which will be essential now that the two-year waiting period is over, and the legislature can now alter the original initiative.”

The challenges Kole lists for Cannabis-related organizations and businesses in Alaska mirror those experienced by entrepreneurs in the industry in other states that are in various phases of legalization: startup pains, growing pains and banking issues. Her application for a Stripe online payment account was rejected because her company educates about Cannabis even though there is no actual Cannabis involved.

“They didn’t even want to look at a letter from the state indicating that this is a state-approved, required-education course,” notes Kole, adding that the inability for Cannabis startups to obtain small business loans has created a lack of early capital, forcing entrepreneurs to scale down their initial business ideas and preventing many people from entering the industry.

Despite the challenges, Kole stays busy.

With two teenage daughters and three dogs at home, she has a lot more going on besides a day job and multiple other ventures. When not working, she and her girls are skiing, hiking, playing card games and the board game “Catan,” and watching “The Walking Dead” together on Sunday nights. Then it’s back to work.

When Kole speaks about Cannabis and being involved in the industry (especially when talking to the media), she makes it clear she is speaking as a citizen and not as a teacher and does not speak for the school or the school district, in accordance with advice given to her by her school’s principal.

Although a slew of angry letters arrived at her school district the first year demanding she be reprimanded or fired, and a few parents pulled their kids from her class this past school year, Kole continues to work at her day job while spending her evenings and weekends educating Alaskans about Cannabis and the emerging industry.

“I have gotten much more support than negativity from colleagues and parents at school. I know that this is indicative of the public’s general changing attitudes toward Cannabis,” Kole says. “Even my dad said that after I told him my plans, he started noticing Cannabis in the news more frequently. The tide is changing for the better.”

“

I HAVE GOTTEN MUCH MORE SUPPORT THAN NEGATIVITY FROM COLLEAGUES AND PARENTS AT SCHOOL.

CANNABUSINESS OWNER, CANNABIS ACTIVIST AND EDUCATOR

38/aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

CELEBRATING CELEBRATING CANNABIS CANNABIS COMMUNITY COMMUNITYWITH WITH EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EXPERIENCES EXPERIENCES & & IDEAS IDEAS

ONE INCREDIBLE WEEK WEEK IN

SEPTEMBER 40+ 40+ SEMINARS SEMINARS

15 15 ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES

MIDSUMMERHARVEST HARVEST MIDSUMMER

GROWERS CUP CUP GROWERS

ENTREPRENEURPITCH-FEST PITCH-FEST ENTREPRENEUR cannabisrelated relatedidea ideaforfora acompany, company,service serviceororproduct? product?You Youneed needbebeaapart partofofour ourPitch-Fest.

Pitch-Fest.

GotGota acannabis Individualswill willpitch pitchtheir theirideas ideastotoa apanel panelwho whowill willjudge judgewho whohas hasthe thebest bestconcepts. concepts.Then Thenififyour youridea idea isis Individuals chosenasasa atoptopidea, idea,other otherparticipants participantswill willbebeput putononyour yourteam. team.These Theseteams teamswill willwork workthroughout throughoutthe the chosen weektotorefine refineand andexpand expandtheir theirconcept. concept.They Theywill willthen thenpitch pitchtheir theirideas ideastoto"The "TheMarijuana MarijuanaShow" Show" week investorsand andmay maybebeawarded awardedfunding fundingatatinvestors investorsdiscretion. discretion. investors

GoWeedWeek.com GoWeedWeek.com WEED WEEK IS AN EVENT COORDINATED BY PACIFIC SUN WEST, LLC | MUST BE 21 OR OLDER TO ATTEND | 907-331-0506 WEED WEEK IS AN EVENT COORDINATED BY PACIFIC SUN WEST, LLC | MUST BE 21 OR OLDER TO ATTEND | 907-331-0506

By LAURIE WOLF for ALASKA LEAF | PHOTOS by BRUCE WOLF for ALASKA LEAF

Grilling requires patience.

Back when I was at the Culinary Institute of America we used to have a little grilling joke: “when it’s black, it’s done!” Don’t forget about what’s on the barbie and you can grill your food to perfection. Summer is a great time to relax, be outside, get a buzz and have a blast.

If you have some fresh or dried herbs, you can throw them on the fire just before cooking.

Don’t turn things too fast: it ruins everything.

I S S SE

GRILLED PORK TENDERLOIN with PINEAPPLE + PEACHES IN A BALSAMIC ROSEMARY MARINADE INGREDIENTS

½ cup orange juice concentrate 3 tablespoons pineapple juice 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 1-2 tablespoons canna-oil 1 minced garlic clove 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary 1 teaspoon ground allspice Salt and pepper to taste 8 thin boneless pork loin slices, about 1lb.

8 thick slices fresh pineapple 4 peaches, cut in quarters, pit removed 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

*

1. In a dish that will hold the meat and the fruit, combine the orange juice, pineapple juice, vinegar, canna-oil, garlic, rosemary and allspice, salt and the 8 slices of pork.

Mix and allow to marinate for several hours or overnight.

2. Let the meat come to room temperature for an hour.

Add the fruit to the marinade, turning once. Prepare your grill. When medium-hot, place everything on the grill at the same time. Cook the pork and the fruit for 4-5 minutes per side. Sprinkle with mint and serve.

42/aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

///

E K SMO N O recipes

GRILLED PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS

CHICKEN SATAY INGREDIENTS

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut in strips

2 tablespoons lime juice 1 tablespoon canna-canola oil 2 teaspoons soy sauce ½ teaspoon grated ginger 4 tablespoons roasted peanuts, no salt 1 tablespoon lite coconut milk 2 tablespoons lime juice 1 teaspoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon brown sugar Pinch cinnamon 1 tablespoon chopped scallion 1 tablespoons sesame seeds 6 cups lettuce 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons lime juice

*

1. In a medium bowl, combine the chicken, lime juice, canna-canola oil, soy sauce and ginger. Marinate for 2 hours. Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry. Thread the chicken on bamboo skewers that have been soaked in warm water for at least 30 minutes.

2. In a food processor or blender, combine the peanuts, coconut milk, lime juice, soy sauce, brown sugar and a pinch of cinnamon. Add the scallions.

3. Prepare the grill. When the grill is ready, cook the chicken on the skewers for about 3-4 minutes per side. Divide the greens on 4 plates and drizzle with the olive oil and lime juice. Place the skewers on the greens and sprinkle with the sesame seeds. Serve with the peanut sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

*

Eight 4-5 inch Portobello mushrooms 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup good-quality mozzarella, cubed 2 med.-ripe tomatoes, seeded & chopped 8 tablespoons shredded basil 2 cups arugula, cleaned and dried 3 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons canna-olive oil 14 walnut halves 1 teaspoon oregano ½ teaspoon salt

1. Brush mushrooms with 2 tablespoons olive oil and grill for 4-5 minutes per side. Remove to a plate.

///

All recipes serve four

INGREDIENTS

2. In a medium bowl, combine the cheese, tomato and basil and allow to sit while preparing the pesto.

3. In a food processor, combine the arugula, lemon juice, oils, walnuts, oregano and salt. Process until smooth. Spread the pesto on the inside of the grilled mushrooms. Top each mushroom with the cheese-tomato mixture and serve.

aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

/43

concentrates

By WES ABNEY | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN

THE SCORE

Val ue : taste : E f f e c t: labels: total : 19/20

WHITE WIDOW SHATTER This delicious and stable shatter won

Energetic & Uplifting

Cerebral High processed by PRIMO FARMS

44/aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

best concentrate at the Pot Luck Events contest last month and it’s easy to see why.

Processed by Primo Farms in Alaska, this sweet but earthy concentrate is a real treat.

Slabbed out, the shatter is thin and stable with a classic Swiss cheese look of well-purged and processed concentrate. Dabbing this concentrate is a taste sensation, DABBING THIS with sour, earthy notes hitting the CONCENTRATE palate first with a bright and sour IS A TASTE citrus finish. Effects of the BHO SENSATION are felt quickly, with an energetic and uplifting cerebral high that is perfect for daytime use. With each dab of the sweet and tingly vapor we felt the euphoria build, peaking into a warm and fuzzy high that imparts a smile on the user, whether wanted or not. But who doesn’t want to be happy after a dab? This will be a great oil when the days start getting shorter, injecting a little bit of sunshine into each flavorful dab.

White Widow is considered a middle-of-theroad hybrid, although the phenotype processed is definitely on the sativa side in effects. We found the powerful high lasted solidly for several hours, with a mellow come down and a flavor that had us reaching for another dab.

AVAILABLE FROM Primo Farms | Dab of the Week at Pot Luck Events 479 W 3rd Ave, Anchorage | PotLuckEventsAK.com

Reviews

By STEVE ELLIOTT Editor, Tokesignals.com

MARIJUANA HORTICULTURE FUNDAMENTALS B y K O F T R ICHO ME T E C H N O LO G I E S, 4 4 2 PAGES, $30

A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO CANNABIS CULTIVATION AND HASHISH PRODUCTION

W

hen discussing the most renowned marijuana cultivators in the world, names like Jorge Cervantes and Ed Rosenthal come easily to mind. Not so much “K from Trichome Technologies” (also known as Kenny Morrow), but this book could change that.

“Marijuana Horticulture Fundamentals” teaches beginners how to get it right from their very first grow, and how to speed up harvests while reducing production costs.

Covering hydroponic, soil and organic marijuana gardening, the book explains and explores many different systems, from your basic hand-watered soil garden to industrial-sized hydroponic cultivation facilities — and everything in between.

K presents Trichome Technologies’ symbiotic rotation cycle grow system, which he says will allow any grower to achieve industrial-grade yields efficiently. As the founder of Trichome, Morrow has combined his scientific knowledge with three decades of

46/aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

Kenneth “K” Morrow

Cannabis cultivation experience to produce an easy-to-follow guide.

This isn’t a slim, sketchy collection of knowledge we’re talking about here. “Marijuana Horticulture Fundamentals” has some heft to it, with 442 pages and hundreds of gorgeous color photos. There’s an entire chapter on cloning, another on pests and diseases and one chapter each for cloning, vegetative growth, flowering, harvesting and curing.

As an added bonus, the reader learns Trichome Technologies’ advanced hash-making techniques, providing easy methods of extracting THC and CBD from your plants and producing hash and hash oil for medical and recreational uses. That chapter alone contains 30 bucks worth of information, and is thus worth the price of the book.

THIS BOOK TEACHES BEGINNERS HOW TO GET IT RIGHT FROM THEIR VERY FIRST GROW, AND HOW TO SPEED UP HARVESTS WHILE REDUCING PRODUCTION COSTS.

AK

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE PLANT YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW, IN EVERY ISSUE! AKLEAF.COM

ALASKA LEAF

LEAF PURPLE DIESEL

@AKLEAFMAG #ALASKALEAF

/NWLEAF @NWLEAF

Residual Solvent

Potency

Cannabis Testing Second to None CannTest provides all required testing for cannabis producers across the state.

To ensure public safety, CannTest offers fast and thorough testing performed with the latest and most accurate scientific equipment.

Our connoisseur Terpene Analysis provides detailed profiles of aroma producing compounds to give cannabis cultivators a competitive edge and enhanced product quality control.

CannTest. No Contest.

canntest.com

• THC-A • CBD-A • Δ9-THC • CDB • THCV

• CBN • Δ8-THC • CBG • CBC • CBGA

Microbial

• Escherichia coli (E. coli) • Salmonella • Aspergillus • • •

Fumigatus Flavus Niger

620 E Whitney Road Anchorage, AK 99501

June 1st-Aug

31st

Monday – Friday Departs Anchorage Arctic & International – 724 W. International - Garrett’s Tesoro Cooper Landing Wild- man’s 300pm Soldotna Chamber of Commerce 500pm All times are approx. Stage Line Summer Schedule HOMER TO ANCHORAGE June 1st-Aug 31st Monday – Friday Departs Homer 830am 1242 Ocean Dr

Soldotna Chamber of Commerce 1015am Cooper Landing Wildman’s 1115am

SEWARD TO HOMER Locally owned and operated by a lifelong Alaskan, Stage Line offers June 1st – August 31st passenger transportation, freight, Mon Wed Fri parcel, and courier service, between Departs Seward 100pm Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula. Our call ahead for pick up point schedule includes, Soldotna to Homer, Seward, Anchorage to Cooper Landing, Cooper Landing Wild- man’s 200pm Homer to Seward, Girdwood to Moose Soldotna 300pm Pass, Kasilof to Sterling, Homer to Clam All times are approx Gulch, Anchorage or Seward to Kasilof, HOMER TO SEWARD Cooper Landing to Ninilchik, Soldotna to Anchor Point. Any points in between!

June 1st - August 31st MP flag stops available! Private party Mon Wed Fri charters available! Reasonable rates, saves time and money for travelling or Departs Homer 1242 Ocean Dr 900am your shipping needs.

Soldotna Chamber of Commerce 1030am One of the top 10 most scenic highways.

Cooper Landing Wildman’s 1130

• Toluene • Hexanes • Xylene

Terpene

• Limonene • α-Pinene • β-Myrcene • Linalool • Camphene

info@canntest.com

“Why fly? When you can enjoy the most beautiful ride on earth”

ANCHORAGE TO HOMER

• Butanes • Heptane • Benzene

• Nerolidol • β-Pinene • Plus 13 additional Terpenes

907-258-6878

Sights seen from the road

The Stage Line PO Box 353 Anchor Point, AK MONDAY - FRIDAY 8:00AM - 5:00PM The Stage Line 1242 Ocean Dr Homer, Ak 99603 724 W International Anchorage, Ak 99518 Staging points only Phone: 907-868-3914 Phone:907-235-2252 E-mail: stage.line@yahoo.com www.stagelineinhomer.com

SECURITY Security

|

Fire Protection

|

Building Automation

|

Audio/video

|

Controls

PROVIDING SECURITY IN ALASKA FOR 15 YEARS

ATS Alaska partners with military, state and local government, financial, oil and gas, commercial, industrial, and health care facilities providing facility systems contracting services which include engineering, installation, integration and service for security, fire protection, building automation, audio/video, and controls.

ATS Alaska

|

Anchorage (907) 868-5100

|

Fairbanks (907) 374-2940

|

www.atsalaska.com

health & science

EAT RIGHT FOR THE SEASON

IN HARMONY WITH THE HARVEST

L

the road or two power plants. More than 6,000 tons of smog-formiving in modern times affords most people the abiling nitrogen oxides were released into the air — the equivalent of ity to walk into a grocery store and purchase just almost 1.5 million vehicles or 263 power plants. And 300 tons of about any fruit or vegetable they want regardless

BY ALASKA LEAF sooty particulate matter were released into the air — the equivaof the time of year. Food processing and worldSPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR DR. SCOTT D. ROSE lent of more than 1.2 million cars or 53 power plants. The typical wide distribution make supermarket shelves look American prepared meal contains, on average, ingredients from at the same in December as they do in July. Converseleast five countries outside the United States! ly, eating foods when nature produces them is what One of the biggest tangible benefits of eating seasonally is that you’ll people the world over have done naturally through most of history, before save money on food. Out-of-season foods are much more expensive because mega-grocery stores and processed foods became ubiquitous. Seasonal eating of the time, the distance, and the number of people involved in getting those is not just the newest foodie trend; it is a cornerstone of several ancient and food items to the grocery store shelves. When you buy produce in season, you holistic medical traditions that view it as integral to balanced health. While it buy food that’s at the peak of its supply, and costs farmers and distribution may seem like a luxury to have any food we want any time we want it, eating companies less to harvest and get to the grocery foods in season offers many benefits, and buying local foods in season offers store. Better yet, purchase your items directly from even more. the farmer at a farmer’s market. Get to know your The costs associated with shipping and handling food through global disfarmer and where your food comes from. It suptribution networks are staggering. Environmental impacts of our food choices ports small and midsize local farmers and the local are real. It takes a lot of energy and associated carbon emissions from boats, economy. planes, trains and trucks to transport foodstuffs from around the world. Food Produce picked and eaten at its prime has more miles are a way of discussing and quantifying the environmental impacts of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants than foods the distance traveled in the shipping of a food item. A food mile is defined as harvested before they’re ripe and then shipped long a mile over which a food item is transported from producer to consumer, as a distances. Seasonal food is fresher and so tends to unit of measurement of the fuel used to do this. Food miles — and the resultbe more flavorful. Local food doesn’t spoil on a ing pollution — increase substantially when we consider produce and goods long-distance trip. And just because you buy seaimported from halfway around the world. In one year alone, approximately 3 sonal doesn’t mean that a huge food distribution million tons of fruits, vegetables and nuts were imported from overseas into company won’t harvest early and keep your food in California. That equates to 250,000 tons of global warming gases released — a warehouse for a while. You may get that food for the equivalent amount of pollution produced by more than 40,000 vehicles on

SEASONAL EATING IS NOT JUST THE NEWEST FOODIE TREND; IT’S A CORNERSTONE OF ANCIENT AND HOLISTIC MEDICAL TRADITIONS.

50/aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

Photos courtesy of Creative Commons: flickr.com/jansgate & pixabay

PRODUCE PICKED AND EATEN AT ITS PRIME HAS MORE VITAMINS, MINERALS AND ANTIOXIDANTS THAN FOOD HARVESTED BEFORE IT’S RIPE. less money, but there’s no guarantee that food is at peak freshness, flavor and nutrition.

If you buy locally, you’ll have a better chance at getting foods that are seasonal, fresh, and support local farmers. Farmers’ markets are a direct link to the farmer but there are other options besides shopping at the mega-grocery store. Food co-ops are usually consumers’ cooperatives where the decisions regarding the production and distribution of its food are chosen by its members. Puget Sound Cooperative (PCC) is an example of a successful co-op in the Seattle area. Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) projects are a particular network or association of individuals who have pledged to support one or more local farms, with growers and consumers sharing the risks and benefits of food production. CSAs provide a unique relationship between you and a farmer, where the farm benefits directly from your financial support by offering “shares” of a seasonal harvest, while you reap the rewards of helping small farms stay viable and enjoy good food, grown with care. Then there are the many fresh food delivery services that will deliver a box of seasonal produce to your door every week.

Many of those farms and businesses also likely offer organic or sustainable options if you’re looking for them. You may wind up spending more to put your money where your taste buds (or personal ethics) are, but it may be a tradeoff that’s worthwhile to you in the long run.

To date, little research has been conducted in the area of seasonal eating. In one research study conducted in 1997 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the United Kingdom, significant differences were found in the nutrient content of pasteurized milk in summer versus winter. Iodine was higher in the winter; beta-carotene was higher in the summer. Researchers in Japan found three-fold differences in the vitamin C content of spinach harvested in summer versus winter. More research could be done, but the evidence put forth about the environmental impacts alone should persuade the decision to trust the age-old practice of seasonal eating.

One ancient and holistic medical tradition that adhered to seasonal eating was Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). According to TCM, the world

is a harmonious and holistic entity where all living beings are viewed in relation to the surrounding environment. People are part of the holistic entity, and take their cues from nature.

One common way to prevent disease and maintain health in TCM is to consume different foods according to the season. By consuming seasonal foods that are similar in nature to the external environment, you can remain in harmony with the environment and better adapt to changes in the seasons and maintain and strengthen your health.

Eating seasonally is a great way to reconnect with nature’s cycles and the passing of time. It connects us to the calendar and even to one another, reminding us of simple pleasures ... apple picking on a clear autumn day, the smell of a juicy red tomato in the heat of summer, celebrating winter solstice with root and squash vegetables (yams and pumpkin pie?). In the winter, we tend to gravitate

toward foods that are going to ground us and give us the warmth we need during colder months like root vegetables that grow under the ground. In the summer time, eating these foods can be taxing and make us feel heavy. That’s when we seek out lighter foods, such as berries, fresh salad greens, tomatoes and peppers.

Eating seasonally isn’t a new idea, even though it sounds trendy. Before global transportation was as speedy and commonplace as it is today, eating seasonally and locally were just things everyone did.

No one assumed you could get peaches in the winter or potatoes in the summer. Those things were part of enjoying that season. Another function of the food mile is to get you to think about where your food has come from and what environmental effects were had. At first glance, eating seasonally may seem simple — you eat foods that are in season, or being grown and harvested at the time of the year when you buy and cook them. There are real benefits to eating foods that are available at their peak right now. So determine what’s in season right now and dig in. You’ll be rewarded with high-quality produce, packed with nutrition at a lower cost. And your taste buds will definitely thank you for it!

Please remember that 1 in 7 people struggle with hunger in the U.S., one of the richest countries in the world. And those who consume the Standard American Diet — the “S.A.D. diet” — are calorie-rich and nutrition-poor.

A GENERAL GUIDE TO SEASONAL EATING IN SPRING, focus on tender, leafy vegetables that represent the fresh new growth of this season. Swiss chard, spinach, romaine lettuce, fresh parsley and basil.

IN SUMMER, stick with light, cooling foods: fruits like berries, pear and plum; vegetables like summer squash, broccoli, cauliflower and corn.

IN FALL, turn toward the more warming autumn harvest foods. Carrots, sweet potatoes, onions and garlic.

IN WINTER, turn even more exclusively toward warming foods. Remember the principle that foods taking longer to grow are generally more warming than foods that grow quickly. Fish, chicken, beef and lamb. Carrots, potatoes, onions and garlic.

For help in finding what is currently in season in your area, go to LocalHarvest.org or sustainabletable.org/seasonalfoodguide, or find farmers’ markets near you and seasonal produce guides.

Dr. Scott D. Rose has written about Cannabis and health for years in the pages of Northwest

Leaf and Oregon Leaf. He is an acupuncturist with a pain resolution clinic in Seattle.

aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

/51

growtech

Creative Commons images via Pexels

PLAN YOUR

ELECTRIC

I

ELECTROCUTE

YOUR PLAN

n setting up new growing spaces, I recommend doing as detailed plan as early as possible — especially before materials have much as you can by yourself, and I encourage adherbeen purchased — allows many aspects of your build to go smoothing to a “try it yourself first and see” sort of approach. ly and quickly. When you know what sort of electrical loads and

BY ALASKA LEAF Electrical is the exception. infrastructure you will need in advance, you can better inform SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR Here, the potential for dangerous circumstances your electrician of your needs, which will maximize the operating DR. SCANDERSON and errors that result in hazardous environments is simefficiencies of your grow space. This will save you time and money. ply too great to risk, in my opinion. Notwithstanding the Another advantage of planning your room’s schematics in detail potential for injury and equipment damage, working with a licensed is the ability to plan the maximum capacity of each circuit and ensure professional will give you access to a coveted knowledge base that can creplenty of residual capacity for small changes in room design during conate shortcuts and tools that will save you costs, increase ease of use and limit struction, as well as future upgrades that only become apparent after working potential failure points. A good electrician is an essential and valuable resource in the room for a round or two. By keeping the running load for most devices for anyone running rooms that extend beyond a tent. at 50-60 percent of the maximum capacity — as opposed to minimum safety Setting up new gardens further demonstrates tried and trusted rules folrequirements that allow up to 80 percent — you will have fewer capacity islowed in the garden. For instance, it’s always best to take the build as far as you sues and the flexibility to improve the load in the future. can, as fast as you can take it given your resources and materials. Laying out a When you know the intended end result and have the flexibility of cre-

52/AUG. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

ating your own electrical infrastructure, you can centralize devices and limit or eliminate hazards like extension cords and hanging wires. Centralizing your devices that perform the same function will save you money and increase efficiency. For instance, devices that adhere to the same operating schedule — such as oscillating fans, reservoir pumps, passive air scrubbers and dehumidifiers — can be controlled on a single dedicated timer that can be placed outside the growing space. This reduces the need to enter the garden to test the devices or change their programing.

Climate and CO2 regulation equipment can also benefit from your detailed schematics. Where probes and measuring devices are needed to control the devices they are connected to, you can eliminate long extension cords by hardwiring the devices and their regulators into different spaces. This way you can, for instance, separate your CO2 monitor — which actually reads the concentration of CO2 in the garden — from the box that interprets the reading and tells the solenoid valve when to open and release CO2 into the grow space and when to shut it off and place the tank and valve itself all into separate and appropriate spaces.

You may want your CO2 tank and regulator outside the grow space altogether, and have the brain that reads and displays the level of CO2 in the garden in a control area and the monitor dead set in the middle of the canopy or where you believe concentration is likely to fall fastest. The CO2 valve can be placed outside the grow space and plugged into an electrical receptacle, which can be controlled by the brain set in the control area that plugs into an adjacent receptacle, telling the CO2 valve what to do. From there, a low-volt wire can control the monitor itself so that you can easily place it in the grow space as far from the brain as you like.

You can install override switches that will automatically shut the lights down should a certain temperature be exceeded, fan overrides that can evacuate an open room regardless of climate conditions and have an automatic generator for backup power that will kick on in case the grid line power goes down for any reason. This is all made possible when the gardener plans out the space in as detailed a manner as possible and a qualified electrician is dedicated to created an ideal growing area.

While all this may sound super advanced, it’s actually a lower-cost way to set up a garden. I felt so conditioned by the world of do-it-yourself “garden specific” grow equipment designed to

be easy to install. I never stopped to think that you wouldn’t need a box of outlets to plug all your lights into if you just plugged your hoods into an outlet that was powered by the ballast outside the garden. With some inexpensive parts and minimal additional labor, you can circumvent the need for any “specialized” grow-specific electrical equipment that is expensive, prone to failure and nowhere near as safe as a standardized installation.

Last and certainly not least, it’s imperative that you include time to have your electrician on-site or at least available and on call for your initial firing up with all your equipment running. Not only do boxes or circuits commonly need adjustments of some sort, electricians can see things that may not be apparent.

Even if all your devices appear to be running properly, your electrician can use tools like their voltage meter to ensure that the proper load is being delivered and carried by each receptacle and circuit. They can look for any surges or unanticipated loads that can come from small changes during construction or unanticipated draws.

ELECTRICAL IS A ONE-TIME INVESTMENT THAT WILL NOT NEED MAINTENANCE WHEN PROPERLY INSTALLED

Having an electrician on-site provides an additional layer of safety and protects your equipment from needing early replacement due to being run under less than ideal conditions. It’s also a good idea to have them back after a month of running the rooms just to ensure the longer-term electrical load is being carried safely and effectively. Any good electrician will insist on these sorts of integrated safety checks and rechecks in addition to providing efficiency and ease of use of your garden.

Having a trustworthy and knowledgeable electrician in your life is essential if you intend to pursue indoor gardening at any serious and long-term level. In general, good work isn’t cheap and cheap work isn’t good, but electrical is a one-time investment that will not need maintenance when properly installed and provides the essential lifeline to run your garden.

To my personal electrician (you know who you are), who has helped me well above and beyond the call of duty and assisted me to elevate my growing and knowledge base to a higher level, I offer my infinite gratitude.

As always, Happy Gardening!!!

Follow along

Instagram @DrScanderson_gT

Drop me a line

thegreengardengroup@gmail.com

AUG. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

/53

BEHIND THE STRAIN

Drop me a line

thegreengardengroup@gmail.com

Watch a video

YouTube.com/DrScandersonGt

KOSHER KUSH

Flowers in 68-70 days

BAG APPEAL & SMOKE REPORT like many of my favorite Kushs, Kosher has a decent but not

overwhelming look to it. Average amounts of frost coat very tightly formed light green calyxes interrupted only by the ample amount of deep red hairs. When the jar cracks, the hype is immediately on you.

Unheard of potency in scent pours into the room the jar enters.

The sharp acrid scent of skunk and ammonia create an almost tearjerking response. Razor-sharp cleaner tones only lay the foreground for the more sophisticated Pine-Sol and earth scent with a touch of sulfury kush to it. The blooms’ smell lets you know you’re messing with something requiring a warning label; bring your protective outerwear.

HOW IT GROWS

A quick onset would seem to be the most accurate description but more than 40 minutes later, I found myself in the shower shampooing for the third time

BY ALASKA LEAF SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR DR. SCANDERSON

GENETICS: Kosher Kush (clone) x Kosher Kush (rev’d) BREEDER: DNA GENETICS SUMMARY: Although intrinsically difficult to grow, Kosher Kush is

something that will quickly move to the top choice for most who are able to enjoy properly run and flushed blooms of this flower. The overwhelming connoisseur kush flavors and smells combined with a shockingly potent cannabinoid profile makes learning to grow this plants an ongoing and often educational experience whose spoils far surpass its requirements.

LINEAGE

Initially, this famed cut of OG Kush was held tightly by a Jewish group of growers in the Los Angeles area who called the cut Jew Gold. The cut was reportedly procured by Don and Aaron of DNA Genetics who used it in future breeding projects that placed first at several Cannabis Cups under the more politically minded renamed variety Kosher Kush. The precise genetic lineage of this Kush is not confirmed but by my estimation, it seems to be a ghost cross of sorts.

54/aug. 2016 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

this variety has all the notoriously difficult characteristics of the most elite cuts of OG Kush when selecting for the Kosher Kush pheno. Slow to veg, this lady wants to throw tightly grouped multi-tops of stretchy, lanky nodes and that’s all before flower.

Experience in height mitigation techniques including topping and very frequent training is necessary to establish a shape and structure that will produce a moderate yield. Nutrient-sensitive and with a high thirst for calcium, the classic balance of low-nutrient concentration combined with nutrients that tend to increase conductivity found in many Kush grows is present in spades with Kosher Kush.

She will increase in stretch approximately 100-150 percent and I have found that LSTduring stretch maximizes yield and creates a moniker of stability to the otherwise shoestring stems.

Proper thinning and site selection will avoid the smaller popcornstyle flowers this OG can be notorious for producing when training and branch selection are not optimized. Once stretch has completed, be sure to have ample support and watch the flower sites bulk themselves right into a medium-light to medium yielding finish.

EFFECTS

the All Murphy Oil/Pine-Sol cleaner flavor absolutely

explodes off a spring board of sharp pepper and hashy spice as soon as I clear the tube’s chamber. No subtle flavors to distinguish here; terps relentlessly pound your taste buds with a heavy chemical, ammonia, pine, and lemon cleaner, leaving a spicy, earthy taste. The simultaneous sensation of my eyes inflating like a balloon while my lungs contract to the size of marbles lets me know I’ve just ingested something that tests wicked high in THC. I can feel beads of sweat forming on my brow as pillows of kushy, piney, eggy smoke bellows from my face. The pressure in my eyes deflates into my mind as my lids sink comfortably into a relaxed position. Confused at first, I swear I feel like I’ve been smoking concentrates, but all I can see at my station is the remnants of the mouth-pleasing, heart-racing Kosher Kush blooms. A quick onset would seem to be the most accurate description but more than 40 minutes later, I found myself in the shower shampooing for the third time ‘cause I simply forgot about the first two, realizing I could contribute all of my symptom relief to one (just one) extra-large water pipe ingestion session with Kosher Kush.