Aug. 2023 - Alaska Leaf

THE PSYCHEDELIA ISSUE

Forty Dollar Eighths

+ jar fee

All Catalyst Flower Throughout August

catalystcannabisco.com

Marijuana has intoxicating e ects and may be habit forming and addictive. Marijuana impairs concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under its influence. There are health risks associated with consumption of marijuana. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of the reach of children. Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breast feeding. License #3a-11638 • #3a-23821 • #3a-31418

WES ABNEY CEO & FOUNDER wes@leafmagazines.com

MIKE RICKER OPERATING PARTNER + AD SALES ricker@leafmagazines.com

TOM BOWERS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER tom@leafmagazines.com

DANIEL BERMAN CREATIVE DIRECTOR daniel@leafmagazines.com

MEGHAN RIDLEY COPY EDITOR meghan@leafmagazines.com

ABOUT THE COVER

This month's incredible cover comes to us from renowned psychedelic artist Chris Dyer. Writes Dyer, "I painted this image in Montreal back in 2001, as a college project. The teacher, Carmelo Blandino, didn't mind the illegal subject matter depicted, as he knew my art style was something unique and it deserved to be encouraged, not censored. He ended up buying the watercolour off me and we've stayed friends. When Leaf Magazines asked me to do the cover for the mag, I felt it was time to revamp this image, as it was neverdone correctly,sincemytechnicalabilitieswerestill growingbackthen. The image, named "Life," depicts an interdimensional creature of life, enjoying the electric blessings of the herb."

ART BY CHRIS DYER FOR LEAF NATION @CHRIS_DYER | POSITIVECREATIONS.CA

CONTRIBUTORS

WES ABNEY, FEATURES

OSCAR AVELLANEDA-CRUZ, PHOTOS

DANIEL BERMAN, PHOTOS

BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES

CHRIS DYER, ILLUSTRATION

JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION

TOM BOWERS, FEATURES

AMANDA DAY, FEATURES + PHOTOS

EARLY, PRODUCTION

STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS

MATT JACKSON, FEATURES

MIKE RICKER, FEATURES

MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING

WES ABNEY

Editor’s Note

Thanks for picking up The Psychedelia Issue of the Leaf!

Like Alice in Wonderland falling down the rabbit hole, it feels like society has tripped and awakened into a new age of enlightenment and acceptance for the developing world of psychedelic experiences. This new class of drugs are following the policy road paved by Cannabis – using a combination of science and personal testimonies to advocate for the medicinal and recreational use of natural, plant-based psychedelics and laboratory-derived drugs.

From mushrooms containing psilocybin to ayahuasca in the jungle, the research done via personal experience for decades with shamans and at festivals is shifting to clinical analysis – providing the legal basis for freeing these chemicals and entheogens. It’s all about changing perception, which is ironic given the ego-killing 20,000 foot view of life a good trip provides, and convincing mainstream America that shrooms are more than a hippy escape or the flashback to a bad trip. In a society where we’ve been taught that there’s a pill or doctor for everything, could repackaging mushroom trips into therapy sessions be the missing link?

Oregon is embarking on this journey with the first state-licensed psilocybin producers, therapy centers and facilitators of psychedelic experiences. I had the pleasure of touring Satya in Medford where the first patients have passed through the veil into a legal trip, complete with pre-trip intake analysis, and a reintegration process to take the experience and apply it into lessons for therapeutic healing back in the “real world.”

DAN VINKOVETSKY, FEATURES

NATE WILLIAMS, FEATURES

KAT WOLF, FEATURES

BRUCE & LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES

We are creators of targeted, independent Cannabis journalism. Please email us to discuss advertising in the next issue of Alaska Leaf Magazine. We do not sell stories or coverage. We can offer design services and guidance on promoting your company’s medicinal, recreational, commercial or industrial Cannabis business, product or event within our magazine and on our website at www.LeafMagazines.com. Email ricker@leafmagazines.com to get started advertising with Alaska Leaf!

CONNEC T WITH ALASKA LEAF

Whether we are discussing entheogenic drugs like mushrooms, ayahuasca or toad DMT, or looking at laboratory-developed drugs like MDMA, LSD and Ketamine, we are at the bleeding edge of exploration that is finally being allowed. Research that began in the ‘60s and ‘70s and continued under strict hospital conditions at Johns Hopkins, is now happening all over the world. While recreating Cannabis as medicine in the lab was a failure (search Marinol for more), we can learn a lot by isolating and synthesizing the chemicals that make us trip. In the search for acceptance, we must also search to provide experiences that are familiar in normal life – so that our parents, teachers, police officers and veterans can head to a therapy center, take a capsule or ingest a tea, and have the opportunity to experience the world through the lens of a psychedelic experience.

If we really want to change the world, it starts with shedding the ego and the manipulation of mainstream media and governments – returning humanity to a simpler state of mind that rewards connection, community and love for each other. And if we are really going to start with change in America, I recommend a heroic dose for every politician in the country. That’s the true melting pot that a new age of enlightenment can be spawned from.

“WE ARE AT THE BLEEDING EDGE OF EXPLORATION THAT IS FINALLY BEING ALLOWED. ”

DEPUTIES SEIZE $200K WORTH OF DRUGS AT THE GORGE

Thousands of grams of weed, psychedelics such as LSD, and even cocaine were seized in July during two Dead and Company shows at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington state. Officials said the street value of all the drugs seized totaled more than $200,000.

"The Grant County Sheriff’s Office said 13 arrests were made by detectives, who conducted nine different investigations."

The Grant County Sheriff’s Office said 13 arrests were made by detectives, who conducted nine different investigations, resulting in more than 15 felony drug distribution charges. Dead and Company is a band featuring several former Grateful Dead members.

“Many concert events attract narcotics users, as well as people involved in the distribution of illegal narcotics and controlled substances,” the sheriff’s office claimed on Facebook. “The types of controlled substances seized by law enforcement over the weekend ranged from hallucinogenics (psilocybin mushrooms, LSD), dissociative anesthetics (Ketamine), stimulants (MDMA, MDA, cocaine), and Cannabis.”

normalization

LEGAL CANNABIS HELPS COMPANIES RELAX DRUG TESTING

Businesses are at last cutting back preemployment marijuana testing as a condition for hiring. This happy news comes thanks to increased weed legalization, shifting attitudes and efforts to build more diverse pools of job applicants, reports Bloomberg Law.

Recreational Cannabis use in the work force hit “historic highs” in 2022, according to Quest Diagnostics – one of the largest American drugtesting corporations.

August marked Minnesota becoming the 23rd state, plus D.C., to legalize adult-use Cannabis. Most states, with a few benighted holdouts, now allow some form of medical marijuana.

2

percent or less of a state’s population typically enrolls in a medical Cannabis program.

GERMANY UNVEILS LEGALIZATION BILL

Germany’s Health Ministry has unveiled a bill to legalize adult-use Cannabis, submitting it to officials and the public for review, reports Marijuana Moment.

The legislation would allow adults 18 and older to cultivate three plants for personal use. It would also sort out rules for “social clubs” where they could buy weed.

Officials also plan to introduce a second measure establishing programs for commercial sales in cities throughout the country.

No extraction of oils or concentrates from Cannabis are allowed under the measure.

PENNSYLVANIA LAWMAKERS FILE LEGALIZATION BILL

A bipartisan duo of Pennsylvania legislators in July introduced a bill to legalize adult-use Cannabis in the Keystone State. Senate Bill 846 was filed by Sen. Dan Laughlin (R) and Sen. Sharif Street (D) on July 6.

“Legalized adult use of marijuana is supported by an overwhelming majority of Pennsylvanians and this legislation accomplishes that while also ensuring safety and social equity,” Laughlin said.

The 224-page bill would allow adults 21 and up to buy and possess up to 30 grams of flower. Registered medical marijuana patients could grow up to five plants for personal use. No recreational home cultivation would be allowed. Pennsylvania legalized medical marijuana in 2016.

MORE THAN 1 MILLION FLORIDA VOTERS WANT LEGALIZATION ON BALLOT

Over a million Floridian voters want to see an adult-use Cannabis legalization measure on the 2024 general election ballot, reports Forbes. The data comes from the Florida Division of Elections.

State officials in June revealed the proposal from Smart & Safe Florida got enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.

With the current count, the initiative has more than 120,000 signatures beyond the 891,000 required.

But it still must pass muster with the Florida Supreme Court, which must determine the measure is limited to a single issue and is not likely to “confuse voters.” The same court has already invalidated legalization bids on two separate occasions in 2021.

NORTH CAROLINA GOP RESISTANCE DOOMS MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Opposition from recalcitrant, regressive Republicans in North Carolina has likely doomed a move to legalize medical marijuana in the state this year, reports Marijuana Business Daily Legalization in North Carolina has been considered a long shot, reports the Associated Press. But the North Carolina Senate in March overwhelmingly passed what sponsors called the Compassionate Care Act.

The bill would have allowed patients with one of 15 medical conditions access to smokable flower in a tightly controlled, limited-license market.

But the North Carolina House took no action at all. That is, other than an emotional committee meeting in early June. According to House Speaker Tim Moore, there are too many Republicans who oppose the bill for it to move forward.

Quoted

-Tourist Zach West, visiting Neptune Beach, Florida last month with his mom, who called local police. The sandy, stinky scene revealed several tons of loose, unpacked marijuana washed up on the beach. Police warned the public not to try to pick up the marijuana or take it home, saying it was degraded and rotten.

MIDWEST

S.D. POLICE COMMISSION FORGIVES COPS FOR USING CANNABIS

Two law enforcement hopefuls in South Dakota were given forgiveness for past marijuana use by the state police commission in July.

One police officer and one sheriff’s deputy are now eligible for certification. Parkston Officer Kody Beckers had a seven-year-old guilty plea to THC wax possession during his freshman year of college in Minnesota.

A future Roberts County sheriff’s deputy now gets a shot at becoming certified despite using a tribal medical marijuana card, which isn’t recognized by the state.

She was treating pain with Cannabis last summer after a surgery.

12

states have medical CBD laws that forbid highTHC marijuana.

19

percent of U.S. adults say they have used Cannabis in the past year.

37

states have what Marijuana Policy Project considers effective medical marijuana laws.

60

percent of U.S. adults approve of recreational pot legalization.

91

percent of U.S. adults say Cannabis should be legal in some form.

“I did pick it up and smell it to see what it smelled like, and it was weed. So, I was like, ‘OK, that’s kind of crazy.’ ”

3rd Annual AWARDS PARTY

Despite a less than favorable forecast, Mother Nature blessed us with perfect weather for our first outdoor edition of the Alaska Leaf Bowl.

After hosting the Leaf Bowl at the Egan Convention Center in Anchorage for the past two years, it was nice to be able to take the party outside this time to enjoy the fresh air, sunshine, and beautiful scenery, and to actually be able to smoke freely throughout the day.

Hundreds of Cannabis enthisiasts from around the state came up to the Skeetawk Ski Resort in Hatcher Pass to attend the awards ceremony, check out the vendors, support the community, and ride the ski lift to catch the amazing view from the top of the hill.

Special thanks to Skeetawk for hosting us, our intake partner Green Jar, as well as all of our contestants, judges, vendors, and sponsors...and of course, congratulations once again to all of our winners! See you next summer, Alaska!

Leaf crew assemble! Wes, Kelsey, Joely, Ricker and Bobby prepare for first outdoor Alaska Leaf Bowl.

The Leaf Bowl trophies displayed on Skeetawk's beautiful outdoor stage.

Leaf Bowl judge Peter Vars fires up a custom rolled cannagar.

DC, host of "AK Keep Talking," representing with her passions for pot and purple.

The weather was perfect for our first outdoor event in Alaska.

Catalyst came out to represent and won runner up for Best CBD Flower.

Great Northern took home five Leaf Bowl awards in three different categories.

Christina greets attendees at the Uncle Herb's booth.

Attendees browse at some of the many vendor booths.

A total of 52 trophies were given out during the awards ceremony.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS!

FLOWER

CBD RICH

Lamb's Bread from Secret Garden (153)

WINNER

Critical Mass from Catalyst (151)

RUNNER-UP

FUEL / OG / CHEM

Sherb Cream Pie from Flower Mountain Farms (187)

WINNER

Cherry Gorilla from Alaska Herb Garden (171)

RUNNER-UP

PURPS / DESSERTS

Halle Berry from Flower Mountain Farms (184)

WINNER

White Rainbow from High North (182)

RUNNER-UP

CITRUS / SAP

Snorlax from Secret Garden (174)

WINNER

Sour Kush from Great Northern (172)

RUNNER-UP

EXOTIC FRUIT

Marmalade Kush from Great Northern (181)

WINNER

Dream Beaver from Tanana Herb Company (171)

RUNNER-UP

OPEN CATEGORY

Odin's Army from Alaska Botanical Farms (175)

WINNER

Super Boof from Cannabaska (174)

RUNNER-UP

PRE-ROLLS

TRADITIONAL

Strawberry Banana Bud Joint from AKO Farms (177)

WINNER

Blueberry Pre-Roll from Bonah-Fide (161)

RUNNER-UP

INFUSED/ENHANCED

Peaches & Cream Supercharged+

Pre-Roll from Goodsinse Extracts (180)

WINNER

Peaches N' Cream Sundae x Creme

Rozay Double Trouble Hash Joint from Stoned Cold Cannabis (169)

RUNNER-UP

CONCENTRATES / EXTRACTS

BUDDER / BADDER

Dream Factory from Northwest Concentrates (162)

WINNER

Lazy Lemon Budder from Fireweed Extracts (161)

RUNNER-UP

CRUMBLE / SUGAR

Honey Banana from Northwest Concentrates (168)

WINNER

Matsu Blue Terp Sugar from Fireweed Extracts (165)

RUNNER-UP

DIAMONDS & SAUCE

Sunset Sherbet Diamonds from High Society Lab / The Noble Dudes / Bodhi Tree Wellness (151)

WINNER

CO2

Midnight Madness CO2 Oil from Herban Extracts (161)

WINNER

Sunset Zkittles from Secret Garden (158)

RUNNER-UP

SOLVENTLESS - ROSIN

Wilson Zero Cold Cure Live Rosin from Polychrome Grass (195)

WINNER

Deep Fried Oreo Rosin from The Frost Frontier Manufacturing (182) RUNNER-UP

SOLVENTLESS - FULL MELT/BUBBLE HASH

Wilson Zero Full Melt Water Hash from Polychrome Grass (181)

WINNER

SOLVENTLESS - TRADITIONAL HASH

GMO Temple Ball from AKO Farms (117)

WINNER

FECO / RSO

FECO from Goodsinse Extracts (157)

WINNER

VAPE CARTRIDGES

ALTERNATIVE CANNABINOIDS

Strawberry Cheesecake CBD Cartridge from THC Alaska (136)

WINNER

CO2

Flower, Pre-Roll, Concentrate & Edible scores shown are out of 250 maximum points. Topicals, Cartridges, and RSO/FECO are out of a 200 point maximum.

CANDY / CHOCOLATE

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels from Great Northern (190)

WINNER

The "Denali" Dark Chocolate Bar from Great Northern (180)

RUNNER-UP

Poddy Mouth Sativa CO2 Cartridge from THC Alaska (146)

WINNER

Midnight Madness Vape Cartridge from Herban Extracts (140) RUNNER-UP

DISTILLATE - FLAVORED/BOTANICAL

Cherry Cola Cart from Goodsinse Extracts (144)

WINNER

Watermelon OG Cartridge from Northwest Concentrates (128)

RUNNER-UP

DISTILLATE - CANNABIS TERPS ONLY

Honey Banana Premium Loud Cartridge from Refine Alaska (147)

WINNER

LIVE RESIN

Wedding Pie Premium Ceramic Cartridge from Refine Alaska (156)

WINNER

SOLVENTLESS

Wild Animals Live Hash Rosin Cartridges from Gold Star Concentrates (152)

WINNER

White Truffle Live Rosin Cartridge from Enlighten Alaska (147) RUNNER-UP

GENERAL HYDROCARBON

Purple Berry Kush Loud Resin OneTime Disposable Cart from Refine Alaska (120)

WINNER

Tangie BHO Cart from AKO Farms (117) RUNNER-UP

EDIBLES

BAKED GOODS Ube & Toasted Coconut White Chocolate Chip Cookies from Enlighten (202)

WINNER

Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies from Lady Gray (182) RUNNER-UP

DRINKS / TINCTURES

Blueberry Mojito from Tundra Brewing (167)

WINNER

High Raspberry Tea from Lady Gray (151)

RUNNER-UP

GUMMIES

POG Gummies from Enlighten (192) WINNER

Watermelon Gummies from Dosed Edibles Alaska (184)

RUNNER-UP

SAVORY / SNACKS / OTHER TREATS

Peruvian Chocolate Ice Cream from Lady Gray (190)

WINNER

Garden Pop from Secret Garden (180) RUNNER-UP

TOPICALS

TRANSDERMALS

Transdermal Liquid Patch from Herban Extracts (131)

WINNER

BEAUTY/SKINCARE

Siren's Secret Rose Oil from Pure Plant by Great Northern (155)

WINNER

Lemon Sugar Scrub from Goodsinse Extracts (150)

RUNNER-UP

For the complete list of entries and judges' scores head over to our website at LeafMagazines.com

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS & PARTNERS

SOLVENTLESS EXTRACTS USING PURE, ALASKAN GLACIER WATER FOR EXTRACTION

WARNING Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming and addictive. Marijuana impairs concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under its influence. There are health risks associated with consumption of marijuana. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children. Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breast feeding.

BLUE RASPBERRY YUMMYGUMMIES

"With a rich history of top shelf concentrates, we were stoked to hear that Good Titrations had a new gummy in town: the Yummy Gummy!

Dive into a rush of blue raspberry with the newest gummy to hit the market from Good Titrations.

CAN WE ALL AGREE – or get “abong” – on the fact that gummies are the best form of edibles in the world? There’s no other preparation of Cannabis into treats that’s easier or more versatile, plus it’s the adult version of a fruit snack. Could the argument be made that nothing beats a brownie? Or that pot ice cream is an indulgent treat worthy of angels? While these arguments hold no fallacy, the simple truth is that gummies are a delicious and

consistent way to get high – and the weed lovers of Alaska choose them often.

With a rich history of top shelf concentrates, we were stoked to hear that Good Titrations had a new gummy in town: the blue raspberry Yummy Gummy!

It has a spongy mouthfeel that is fun to chew on – releasing a bright rush of colorful flavor with a hint of sour and an earthy, terpy note that reminds the mouth that this treat is definitely for adults only!

Effects hit quickly, but thankfully with individual gummies it’s easy to dial in the perfect buzz – navigating your way to your desired vibration, 10mg at a time. Look for new flavors from Yummy Gummies in the future, and stop by to say ‘high’ at the Good Titrations lounge in Fairbanks.

GoodSinse Black Cherry Punch & MAC Sugar Wax

GoodSinse Black Cherry Punch & MAC Sugar Wax

Awaken your inner child with these syrupy soda shop sips of vapor from GoodSinse.

Taking a dab is the adult version of a treat that thankfully, is calorie free. We love the fizzy flavors and feelings of euphoria that come from a terpy dab, which is why they pair with and compare to soda so easily. But don’t hate if you don’t drink pop or consume sugary drinks, because nothing beats getting high and guzzling a delicious carbonated beverage.

SUGAR WAX carries terpenes and flavors with a glistening consistency that’s easy to dab and super flavorful, so we couldn’t wait to go back to back with some golden high-terpene extracts. Starting with the bright citrus and sharp gas of the MAC (which was a hot strain a few years back that remains extremely popular today), an effervescent vapor fills the mind with a stoney burst of orange soda flavor and a garnish of lavender and chamomile – creating a sensory experience that swirls through the cells leaving a trail of terps in its wake. While probably not replicable outside of Cannabis, the MAC dazzles senses and delivers a heady buzz that’s pleasantly sedating and very giggly – basically perfect for getting couchlocked on comedy movie night.

Ready for a heavier hit of indica? The next dab comes from the Black Cherry Soda strain – known for its stoney but functional characteristics. First flavor notes from the glistening globs are sugared cherries with a fizzy Sprite and citrus-lemon tang that smells yummy enough to lick. Dabs at low temp deliver sharp notes of orange and fuel that send waves of relaxation tingling throughout the mind and body – providing stress relief that is perfect for the end of the day, but clear enough to be used during the daytime (depending on what you’re up to).

We found the combined effects of the MAC and Black Cherry Soda doubled down on indica euphoria – with a relaxed (but not couchlocked) body and a happy mental state perfect for throwback flicks and sugary sips.

GOODSINSE.COM | MAC SUGAR WAX | 71.83% THC | 4.58% TERPENES // BLACK CHERRY PUNCH SUGAR WAX | 76.39% THC | 3.57% TERPENES

"WE COULDN’T WAIT TO GO BACK TO BACK WITH SOME GOLDEN HIGH-TERPENE EXTRACTS."

NO OVENS ALLOWED

AUGUST HASHTAGS |

# DontFearTheEdible

# NoOvensAllowed

# BeKind # StayHydrated

# LaurieAndMaryJane

TUNA CORN SALAD

4 SERVINGS

2 6oz cans of tuna, drained and flaked

12oz bag of frozen corn, defrosted

3 scallions, sliced

½ English cucumber, cut in small pieces

4 fresh basil leaves, shredded juice from ½ lemon

½ cup ranch dressing

4 teaspoons canna-oil

salt and pepper to taste

1. In a medium bowl, combine the tuna, corn, scallion, cucumber and basil.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, dressing and canna-oil.

3. Combine the tuna with the dressing and toss gently. Season with salt and pepper and toss again.

AVOCADO LOVE

2 SERVINGS

1 tablespoon cooking oil

2 corn or flour tortillas

1 cup guacamole, smooth or chunky

2 teaspoons canna-oil

2 eggs, room temperature ¼ cup salsa

1. In a medium saute pan, heat the tablespoon of cooking oil. When hot, saute tortillas until they begin to get golden, turn and repeat.

2. Add the canna-oil to the guacamole and mix well. Spread each tortilla with ½ cup of the avocado mixture.

3. In the same pan, fry each egg until set. Place each egg on the guacamole and top with the salsa. Serve immediately.

HIGH-QUALITY QUESADILLAS

2 SERVINGS

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

4 flour tortillas

2 teaspoons canna-oil

2 cup shredded chicken

The too frequent, impossibly hot days are really pissing me off. There’s no way I’m turning on the oven – I’m keeping it simple and keeping it infused. This time I am infusing with my favorite CBD strain, Wesley’s Wish, from East Fork Cultivars. Their flower is outstanding – so relaxing and tasty. The yogurt bowl is the perfect refreshment on a hot day, and the tuna salad is great for a cool noontime meal – at home or on-the-go. I love putting it in a mason jar to keep all the flavors combined until I’m ready to eat. And no one will stop you from putting it in a pita, if you are so inclined. Finally, the fried egg atop a guacamole-topped tortilla really gives you a spicy zing. And who doesn’t want a zing?!

You’ll probably have to prepare these one at a time. Just keep the first one in a 300 degree oven until the second one is done.

1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup shredded cheddar

2 teaspoons chili powder

½ teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon garlic powder

1. In a medium saute pan, heat the olive oil. Place the first tortilla in the pan. Divide the toppings in half and place the chicken, beans and cheddar on the tortilla. Sprinkle with half the spices.

2. Place the top tortilla on the cheddar and cook slowly, 5-7 minutes, on low heat until the cheese is melted. Once the cheese melts, press down slightly on the top of the tortilla and carefully flip. The melted goodness will hold in the fillings.

3. Place finished tortillas in oven and prepare next.

4. When done, cut the quesadilla into wedges and enjoy along with your favorite salsas, hot sauces and condiments.

cannahiba

by grizz weed

cannahiba

INthe famous words of Pink Floyd, but rewritten for a modern application, we implore – “Come here dear reader, and have a Cannagar” – from local Cannabis enthusiast and Leaf Bowl Judge, Peter Vars.

Known for his beautiful apparel infused with bouquets of Cannabis, Vars was wearing a brimmed hat laced with fresh-cut Cannabis flowers – creating a weed-halo that was both beautiful and intoxicating.

As a Cannabis artist, he’s also been developing his cannagar skills, which he calls Cannahibas, and presented this ceremonial ‘gar at the 2023 Alaska Leaf Bowl. Made from 22.3 grams of flower and infused with hash oil, the entire Cannahiba came sealed in a glass jar with wax – ready for a special moment to be sparked.

In honor of his craft and to share the knowledge of what goes into making a cannagar, we decided to make this unique roll our honorary Strain of the Month for The Psychedelic Issue of Alaska Leaf!

Cannagars are like the unicorns of the weed world. Often talked about but rarely seen, they are a whole plant product that smokes like nothing else on a dispensary shelf. What makes them unique is the rolling material, as well as the rolling and curing process. A cannagar is rolled in dried fan leaves from a Cannabis plant, so the quality of the grow is very important. You want as organic of methodology as possible, so that the leaf smokes clean and smooth. The fan leaves are layered and spread out, while a mixture of flower and hash are rolled into an incredibly dense and tight cylinder, often using a separate tool to create the shape.

Once the weed and hash has been rolled into the aforementioned tube (think of the weed inside a blunt or pre-roll, but not inside the paper yet), it’s ready to make its home in the fan leaves. This is a very delicate process requiring skill and attention to detail. Once rolled and sealed using either concentrate or a smoke-friendly, organic adhesive, the cannagar must be cured so that the leaves are dry enough to smoke.

Lighting this Cannahiba required the use of a torch, with gentle application of flame to get the whole tip burning. Once lit, small repeated puffs are the ticket – releasing a thick cloud of smoke that tastes like a rainbow of terpenes and flavors. This Cannahiba was made using multiple strains of flower and oil, so the effects were mentally and physically powerful – verging on overwhelming. The smoking experience was also exceptional, reminiscent of a cigar, but much healthier and natural.

"Once lit, small repeated puffs are the ticket – releasing a thick cloud of smoke that tastes like a rainbow of terpenes and flavors."

Open 7 days a week 8am - 11pm

4901 E. Blue Lupine Dr. Ste. E Wasilla, AK 99654

907-631-3800

Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit-forming and addictive. Marijuana impairs concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under its influence. There are health risks associated with the consumption of marijuana. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children. Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. #10008

MARIJUANA HAS INTOXICATING EFFECTS AND MAY BE HABIT FORMING. MARIJUANA IMPAIRS CONCENTRATION, COORDINATION, AND JUDGEMENT. DO NOT

PHOTO

Many people believe that when we consume psychedelic entheogenic medicines, we tap into both an inner space as well as an interdimensional, shapeless plane of existence too vast and complex for us to describe or define with our limited human capabilities. Through his art, Chris Dyer attempts to give a physical, visual form to concepts, beings and feelings conjured to his mind in part from his many experiences as a spiritual psychonaut. We had the chance to tap in with the Canadian-Peruvian skateboarder and psychedelic visionary to learn more about his life, his artistic process, and what he’s seen and felt during his many experiences with various journey-inducing substances all over the world.

ON THE INFLUENCE HIS PERUVIAN UPBRINGING HAD ON WHO HE’S BECOME:

Peru’s tricky. When people think of Peru, it's like, ‘Oh, it's so beautiful with the llamas running around the mountains and the ruins and the Incas, and then you go to the jungle and you drink ayahuasca – la la la.’ But no, for me, growing up in the ‘80s and the ‘90s in Lima, Peru was terrorism and blackouts and getting mugged four times a year for being white. I went to an all-boys school, so it's just like hyper-masculine scenarios where everyone's fighting over power, and me being a sensitive artist, I had to build a bunch of armors to protect myself from getting too energetically robbed. It gave me a lot of challenges that I've had to work through in my life. I'm better now, but I recognize where the wounds started.

ON THE INTERCONNECTED EXPERIENCES AND VISIONS REFLECTED

IN TRIBAL ART THROUGHOUT

GLOBAL HISTORY:

from ancient times, they were all tapping to the same place. And I'm tapping to the same place. Yes, I am Peruvian and I grew with a certain influence, but I've also traveled to 45 different countries around the world and observed the similarities. Then I go into that place of oneness and try to understand what these interdimensional consciousness beings are and what they're trying to tell us, and how they're trying to help humanity throughout time. They're in a place past time, so they're just waiting for us there. In that other dimension, they exist. If I were to go into an Ayahuasca ceremony today, I’d tap into that place. It's the same exact time and place –since it's timeless – that the pre-Inca cultures tapped into, and many other cultures around the world.

“What is this fractal consciousnessreality thatfeelslikemany soulsinone,that wantstohelpmeand wantstohelpus?It's almost like the elders arecheeringusfrom theplacebefore and after life.”

Cultures around the world somehow had access to the portals that take you to … the same center of creation, and it comes out and it manifests as a head in Mexico, or a carving in Nepal, or some motifs on textiles in Peru. This tribal artwork

ON THE EXPERIENCE OF AYAHUASCA:

When I'm there, I'm like, ‘What the fuck's going on here? What is this place? Is it alien? Is it collective consciousness? Is this an aspect of God? Is this God itself?’

A couple weeks ago, I did my 45th ceremony in Willow Creek – I was sitting in the other dimension for a few hours just observing it and letting it teach me how to fix my own corrupt coding so that I can shine more and help empower others to shine more. And thus, together we shine together and create a flame of

humanity that is so strong that we'll break through the darkness that's trying to hold us down as a humanity. … What is this fractal consciousness reality that feels like many souls in one, that wants to help me and wants to help us? It's almost like the elders are cheering us from the place before and after life. That's where I go with Aya.

ON THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AYAHUASCA AND OTHER ENTHEOGENIC MEDICINES:

When I did Bufo, I went somewhere else. Bufo took me to a white place where I wasn't even there anymore. And thus, I don't have many memories of it. There wasn't even a ‘Chris’ left to observe because I had dissolved into everything-slash-nothingness, and there's a subconscious part of me that remembers that place of expansion in my positivecreations.ca | @chris_dyer

dreams. With mushrooms, you can get to that place that Aya takes you, but you gotta take like, a lot, of mushrooms. … I think all of these medicines open different portals, and really, once the portal's open, those places are so big it makes the physical plane that we live in – with our planet, our solar system, our galaxy, the universe – look small compared to the astral plane where there's no up and down and it just goes on into infinity or eternity. Once you're there, it seems like that's the real place and this is the fake little video game that we play to kind of like experience physical reality, and all this array of human emotions and pain and joy. In the end, we're from beyond, and these places that we go through these medicines are closer to our real self. I would say our true, pure, real self is what we understand to be God –that oneness, the absolute energy of love and expansion. But that's just my personal belief.

"NATARAJA SHIVA"

"GOLDEN BOY, LET IT GO."

"PACHAMAGO"

"THE PROCESS OF EVOLUTION"

"MURAL AT MENDOJA FARMS"

ICONS ICONS PSYCHEDELIC PSYCHEDELIC

ALBERT HOFMANN

The Swiss chemist who first synthesized LSD while working with the ergot fungus in 1943. After purposefully taking a dose of acid, his historic afternoon bike ride on April 19, 1943 has become a revered psychedelic holiday. The author of “LSD: My Problem Child,” Hofmann believed LSD could be used to increase society’s respect for our place in the natural world.

MARIA SABINA

Posters of the famous mushroom shaman of Mexico still line windows in Oaxaca where Sabina lived until 1985. She famously used mushrooms – which she called “the children” – to cure sick members of her community and communicate with the divine. This ritual, or velada, was reported in LIFE Magazine and was responsible for an explosion of interest in psilocybin research.

ALDOUS & LAURA HUXLEY

Authors of numerous cornerstones of psychedelic literature including “The Doors Of Perception,” “Islands” and “You Are Not The Target” –the Huxleys believed using psychedelics could unlock the secrets of the mind, and perhaps existence. Aldous believed psychedelics help us achieve a spiritual and philosophical experience that has benefits for everyone. Laura – a self-described "restrained investigator of LSD" – believed acid and mescaline could help you navigate the heavy jungles of the human mind. In 1963, she helped her husband pass peacefully, administering 100 micrograms of LSD to him on his deathbed to ease his journey.

TERENCE MCKENNA

He’s been called a mystic, ethnobotanist, pioneer, and even “the Timothy Leary of the ‘90s.” Throughout McKenna’s travels in Jerusalem, Mexico and Nepal, he experimented using plant-based psychedelics to increase the spiritual connection to a combined consciousness. In 1976, he and his brother wrote “Psilocybin: Magic Mushroom Grower's Guide” outlining spore cultivation techniques for the home enthusiast.

TIMOTHY LEARY

Referred to as the “father of the psychedelic movement” of the '60s, Leary was a psychologist who studied psychedelics and personality at Berkeley and as a faculty member at Harvard. He inspired young people everywhere to experiment with acid. Famous for the phrase "tune in, turn on, drop out" – he co-founded the Harvard Psilocybin Project and the League for Spiritual Discovery. President Richard Nixon called him "the most dangerous man in America."

RICHARD ALPERT (RAM DASS)

A researcher at Harvard who was fired in 1962 for giving psychedelics to his undergraduate students, Alpert worked with Timothy Leary to found the infamous Millbrook Commune – aka the League for Spiritual Discovery. Later, he’d journey to India and be renamed Baba Ram Dass by a guru, before returning to become a spiritual leader and write the influential book “Be Here Now.”

ALFRED M. HUBBARD

ANN & ALEXANDER “SASHA” SHULGIN

Together, this husband and wife team created and tested over 200 psychoactive compounds in their home laboratory. The process was documented in their 1991 book “Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved” and its follow-up “Tryptamines I Have Known and Loved” – commonly referred to as “PiHKAL” and “TiHKAL.” While not the inventor, Alexander’s work introducing MDMA throughout the ‘70s and ‘90s earned him the nickname “The Godfather of Ecstacy.”

HUNTER S. THOMPSON

Author, journalist and psychonaut who defined the literary style we now call “Gonzo.” Throughout his career, Thompson notoriously supplied the first psychedelic dose to influential artists, writers, actors … and even Hells Angels. He often used psychedelics to invite the unknown to write his next paragraph. “As for LSD, I highly recommend it. The feeling it produces is hard to describe. 'Intensity' is a fair word for it."

AUGUSTUS OWSLEY STANLEY III

“Clandestine chemist” is the best way to describe this pivotal figure in the ‘60s psychedelic scene. It was his talent for manufacturing acid that helped iconify the Monterey Pop Festival and fueled the Merry Pranksters’ Acid Tests. The Oxford English dictionary defines Owsley as a noun for a particularly pure form of LSD.

KEN KESEY

PAUL STAMETS

Over the last 40 years, Stamets has become one of the most famous mycologists of our time – spreading the message that mushrooms have the power to save the world. His stance that psilocybin mushrooms are a non-addictive, life-changing substance has helped him discover new types of hallucinogenic fungi and even inspired a character in “Star Trek.”

The Johnny Appleseed of LSD, it’s estimated that Hubbard dosed six thousand people between 1951-1966. Hubbard wanted to change the world by dosing influential and prominent figures in society. Using LSD he obtained from Hofmann himself, Hubbard preached the key importance of “set and setting” during an acid session and felt promoting psychedelic therapy was his angelic calling.

After volunteering in a 1959 government program that studied the effects of psilocybin, amphetamine, LSD and other psychoactive drugs, Kesey used the experience to write “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.” With his group of Merry Pranksters, he sought to defy conformity and promote psychedelic discovery. Their exploits were documented in Tom Wolfe’s novel “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.” (For more on Kesey and the Merry Pranksters, check out this month’s Cannthropology).

HEADY THREADS HEADY THREADS

THE BINDLE CONSPIRACY

Luke started The Bindle Conspiracy in 2016 after exploring Europe, Southeast Asia and Central America, then driving his van across the United States, Mexico and Canada. “A few things sparked my interest as potential careers while I was traveling,” he explained, “but really one thing stayed constant for me: my love for clothing.” So, he decided to learn how to make it from scratch and has been cutting and sewing every single piece by hand since. Currently based out of Boulder, Colorado, his one-of-a-kind wearables feature fun fabrics, trippy textures and playful patchwork. thebindleconspiracy.com | @thebindleconspiracy

KILLER ACID

Rob Corradetti has been making art for over 25 years and launched Killer Acid in 2010, which specializes in screen prints, t-shirts and psychedelic accessories. While the brand is based out of Santa Cruz, California, Rob’s style blends “head shop and punk rock” inspired by the technicolor coming-of-age in New York City – full of cartoon characters, bright colors and subtle references to classic art. So far, Killer Acid has done some killer collaborations with brands like Meow Wolf, Zumiez, VICE, Adult Swim and Santa Cruz Skateboards. killeracid.com | @killeracid

BROKEN PROMISES CO.

Founded by Mandee Bence and Jason Blake, Broken Promises Co. is “rooted in the expression of human emotions, with products that allow people to express their feelings by wearing them when sometimes itʼs hard to talk about how you feel.” Based out of Southern California, the brand has its own app where it drops an exclusive new collection every Saturday morning and has collaborated on capsules with Hot Wheels, Beetlejuice, Mountain Dew, Death Note and others. brokenpromises.com |@brokenpromisesco

A ROUNDUP OF ARTISTS AND CLOTHING BRANDS MAKING THE MOST WONDERFUL WEARABLES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP.

SKULLY VIBES

Skully Vibes has been making art his whole life but started drawing skull characters in high school. He continued to evolve his spooky-stoney style, and the Skully Vibes brand was officially born in 2021 with a passion project called Smoking Skulls – a collection of 710 different hand-drawn skull characters with a poem to go with each one. Now, the skulls are a staple throughout his multimedia art including prints, stickers and t-shirts –each embroidered to order in Denver.skullyvibes.com @skully.vibes

GRASSROOTS CALIFORNIA

Grassroots began making hats for a documentary film in 2009 and has since hooked up artists like Method Man, Jerry Garcia and Griz with the headiest headpieces. They’re known for their signature holograms and designs on the interior of the hats, made with environmentally-friendly materials such as hemp. The company donates 1% of all sales to charity and has done limited-time collections with psychedelic artists such as Vincent Gordon and The Frank Brothers. grassrootscalifornia.com @grassrootscalifornia

Michelle started Wook Wear a couple of years ago to create stash bags for all her friends, specializing in “prizedpossession pouches” that are perfect for terp pearls or marbles. She designs her own patterns, cutting and sewing everything from scratch by hand, and says she “loves making insulated bags for hash or your favorite glass and psychedelic supplies – just about anything you can dream of!” Don’t miss the drops on her Instagram at 4:20 p.m. on #wookwearwednesdays. @wook.wear

STRAIGHT TRIPPIN CO.

Armed with his friend's printing press and his mom's old embroidery machine, Tyler started Straight Trippin Co. in 2021. Today, he makes shirts, hats and beanies that are each dyed and embroidered by hand in Austin, Texas. He draws inspiration from his own psychedelic experiences and says he started the brand to “challenge the prevailing stigma associated with substances often frowned upon in society.” straighttrippinco.etsy.com | @straighttrippinco

SHELTER CULTIVATION PROJECT

The Shelter Cultivation Project is an experimental retail space and apparel brand in Burlington, Vermont featuring zines, clothing, artwork and home goods by a collection of makers. Founder Shawn Dumont says, “This is really just a weird art experiment, and we only make something new when we have an idea worth pursuing or find an artist that we really want to work with.” Shelter has done a few group gallery shows, created a toll-free hotline for talking to exotic plants (give it a call at 1-844-Plant-Talks), and recently held a concert with Michael Nau and Benny Yurco. sheltercultivationproject.com | @sheltercultivationproject

Further Education

Despite being “too young to be a beatnik, and too old to be a hippie,” author Ken Kesey and his band of Merry Pranksters played a pivotal role in transitioning between the two subcultures and launching the psychedelic revolution.

MK ULTRA

After earning a BA in journalism from the University of Oregon in 1957, aspiring author Ken Kesey moved to the hip Perry Lane neighborhood of Palo Alto, California to enroll in Stanford University’s graduate writing program. There, he forged friendships with fellow writing student (and future BFF) Ken Babbs and a psych major named Vic Lovell – who informed him that the nearby Menlo Park Veterans Hospital was paying volunteers $75 a day to participate in a series of drug experiments, which Kesey immediately signed up for.

Codenamed Project MK Ultra, it was a military research program designed to study the effects of mind-altering substances. Over several weeks in 1959, Kesey ingested various psychedelics – including LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, peyote and others (all of which were still legal) –then underwent physical and psychological testing afterward. Through these experiments, Kesey realized the potential of psychedelics to transform society.

Kesey landed a job as a night attendant at the hospital so that he could smuggle the drugs out to share with his friends and the rest of the world. His interactions with patients there (often while tripping) inspired his best-selling novel, “One Flew Over the

Cuckoo’s Nest.” Published in 1962, the book was an instant success – adapted into a Broadway play, then an Oscar-winning film. The money he earned from “Cuckoo’s Nest” funded the next phase of his life as a counterculture icon.

MERRY PRANKSTERS

Word about MK Ultra soon made its way to Beat legend Neal Cassady (the basis of the Dean Moriarty character in Kerouac’s “On the Road,” which Kesey loved) – who, in 1960, also came to Palo Alto to partake in the experiments.

The growing influx of bohemians, coupled with psychedelics Kesey was supplying them, led to huge orgiastic parties in Perry Lane (aka “Sin Hollow”).

But in summer 1963, Kesey relocated to nearby La Honda – buying a ranch in the mountains and starting his second book, “Sometimes a Great Notion.”

By the time it was finished in 1964, he’d attracted an entourage of beatniks and freaks to his property –including his buddy Babbs, who after returning from Vietnam, allegedly came up with the moniker “Merry Pranksters” for their menagerie of miscreants.

The core cadre of Merry Pranksters consisted of 14

people, each of whom adopted new Prankster nicknames: Babbs became “Intrepid Traveler,” Cassady became “Sir Speed Limit,” and Kesey took on the title of “Captain Flag.” Kesey’s goal was to “explore what would happen when hallucinogenic-inspired spontaneity confronted what he saw as the banality and conformity of American society.” To manifest that vision, the Pranksters would embark on an epic entheogenic odyssey.

ON THE BUS

With the release of his second novel and the World’s Fair both happening in New York in the summer of ‘64, Kesey decided to lead his band of Merry Pranksters on a cross-country road trip. To accomplish this, he purchased a 1939 International Harvester school bus converted into a camper, and Pranksterized it: installing cameras and microphones, placing a stage on the roof, and painting it inside and out with psychedelic Day-Glo artwork. They christened their new magic bus “Further” (or “Furthur”) – a reference to their expanded consciousness.

On June 17, 1964, with Cassady at the wheel, the Pranksters set off with a lysergically-laced jar of orange juice on their own madcap version of “On The Road.” Along their trip, the Pranksters dosed as many willing recipients as possible, played a bunch of improvised pranks, and filmed the entire experience. Their mantra became: “You’re either on the bus, or you’re off the bus.”

Ken Kesey, from the film “Magic Trip.”

A poster of the Merry Pranksters cruising down the highway in their psychedelic bus “Further.”

Further arrived in “Madhattan” on June 29, where Cassady introduced the Pranksters to his beat buddies Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. Kerouac was apparently unimpressed with their antics and distanced himself from the group. Ginsberg, however, embraced them –even making arrangements for them to drive upstate to meet fellow LSD pioneers Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert in Millbrook. Unfortunately, like Kerouac, Leary was not “on the bus” – he’d not yet embraced the dissemination of acid to the masses, still believing it should remain a controlled scientific pursuit.

By August, Further was back in La Honda with 40 hours of footage. Their two-month, cross-country sojourn – immortalized by several books and films, including Tom Wolfe’s 1968 classic “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test” – is rumored to be the inspiration for The Beatles’ “Magical Mystery Tour” and is considered by many to be the beginning of the psychedelic 1960s movement.

THE ACID TESTS

Once home, Kesey launched the next stage of his plan to turn on America: a more inclusive version of the MK Ultra experiments they dubbed the Acid Tests. The Acid Tests were multimedia “happenings” featuring spoken word, art, music, projected video, fluorescent paint, funky lighting and of course, loads of acid (courtesy of the their personal chemist Owsley Stanley) distributed in cups of Kool-Aid. The goal was to “usher in a societal paradigm shift” – away from egoism towards what they called “intersubjectivity.” After a few trial runs – including a three-day party in August 1965 at La Honda at which Hunter S. Thompson and the Hells Angels first tripped on acid – they were ready to take their message to the masses. The first semi-public Acid Test occurred on November 27, 1965 at Babbs’ ranch in Soquel, known as “The Spread.” The gathering was promoted via handwritten handbills asking “Can YOU pass the Acid Test?” distributed at Babbs’ Santa Cruz bookstore, The Hip Pocket. Around 50 attendees were dosed with acid and treated to hours of sensory stimulation – including live music by a local bar band called the Warlocks (who, mere days later, would change their name to The Grateful Dead).

The following year, more Acid Test parties followed at various locations around California (then later Oregon, Canada and Mexico). The Grateful Dead became the unofficial house band of these events, although other psych rock legends (such as Jefferson Airplane and The Doors) also made appearances – as did other counterculture figures who quickly became part of the Prankster entourage, including performance artist Wavy Gravy and Carolyn “Mountain Girl” Adams (who would eventually have a daughter with Kesey, then later marry Jerry Garcia).

MARIJUANA BUSTS & TRIPS FESTIVAL

Unfortunately, their parties attracted the attention of authorities, who began surveilling Kesey’s home. On April 23, 1965, DEA agents raided Kesey’s ranch, where they caught him flushing a jar of weed down the toilet. Ultimately, 14 people were arrested on marijuana charges, including Kesey, Cassady and Mountain Girl. Kesey was later found guilty and sentenced to six months at the San Mateo County Jail. Just two days after his sentencing, Kesey and Mountain Girl were again arrested on marijuana charges while smoking a joint on the roof of a house on Telegraph Hill. Kesey posted bail and returned to preparing for their biggest Acid Test yet, set to take place two days later: the Trips Festival at San Francisco’s Longshoreman’s Hall.

Held on January 21-23, 1966, the Trips Festival featured mime and acting troupes, dancers, avant-garde artists, light shows, and live music from The Dead and Big Brother and The Holding Company in their debut performance (pre-Janis Joplin). Over 10,000 people reportedly showed up, drank the Kool-Aid, and partied with the Pranksters. Considered the first true hippie event, the Trips Festival is credited with kick-starting the psychedelic scene in San Francisco.

Of course, since Kesey had just been arrested two days prior, he was forced to attend in disguise – wearing a spaceman suit and helmet. And with fears of a possible five-year sentence now hanging over his head, Kesey made a desperate decision.

FUN-LOVING FUGITIVE

On January 31, 1966, Further was found abandoned on a seaside cliff outside Eureka, along with what appeared to be a suicide note. Kesey hadn’t actually committed suicide – in another

prank to misdirect police, he’d jumped bail and escaped into Mexico. The media seemingly bought into the ruse; the FBI, however, did not – they launched a manhunt for the “fun-loving fugitive” but couldn’t locate him.

Meanwhile, the Pranksters were hosting more Acid Tests in Los Angeles, where Wavy Gravy filled trash cans with LSD-laced fruit drink and began handing out 300-microgram-dose cups – coining the term “Electric Kool-Aid” for the beverage (hence the title of Wolfe’s book).

After the LA tests, the Pranksters – along with Kesey’s family – drove Further down to Mexico to meet up with him. It wasn’t until after making their clandestine return to the Bay in the fall of ‘66 that authorities finally apprehended Kesey. Luckily, he was offered a plea deal that allowed him to spend only six months (including the Summer of Love) in a work camp, but the deal reportedly had one unfortunate stipulation: Kesey allegedly agreed to publicly disavow LSD.

GRADUATION & DISSOLUTION

With LSD becoming illegal in California on October 24, 1968, the Pranksters planned their last big hurrah for Halloween night at a warehouse in San Francisco: The Acid Test Graduation. They all wore caps and gowns, Cassady handed out “Acid Test Diplomas,” and Kesey delivered a “commencement address” in which he encouraged attendees to “graduate” beyond needing LSD. It was essentially an Acid Test party without the acid, which predictably didn’t go over very well: Only a couple hundred attendees showed up, and many reportedly grew bored and left early.

Sadly, the Acid Test Graduation party proved to be the Merry Pranksters’ swan song. They held a few more minor events and even took Further to Woodstock in 1969 … but after that, Kesey disbanded the group, took his bus and moved back to Oregon, where he spent the remainder of his life on a farm with his family. Kesey died of complications arising after liver surgery on November 10, 2001, at the age of 66.

While Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters may not have ushered in the utopian America they envisioned, the impact of their exploits created countercultural shockwaves that still reverberate to this day.

The Merry Pranksters’ epic entheogenic odyssey— rumored to be the inspiration for The Beatles’ “Magical Mystery Tour”—is considered the beginning of the psychedelic movement.

LSD pioneer Timothy Leary “on the bus” with Further driver and beatnik icon Neal Cassady

*ALLEN GINSBERG

Ken Babbs in a superhero mask at one of the Acid Tests.

Acid Test flyers.

#

ANCHORAGE TO HOMER

June 1st-Aug 31st

Monday – Friday

Departs Anchorage

Arctic & International – 724 W. International - Garrett’s Tesoro

Cooper Landing Wild- man’s 300pm

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Summer Schedule

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Monday – Friday Departs Homer 830am

1242 Ocean Dr

Soldotna Chamber of Commerce 1015am

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VISITING ALASKA

Locally owned and operated by a lifelong Alaskan, Stage Line offers passenger transportation, freight, parcel, and courier service, between Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula. Our schedule includes, Anchorage to Homer, Cooper Landing, Soldotna, Kasilof, Ninilchik, Anchor Point. Homer to Seward, Soldotna, Cooper Landing. And any points in between! MP flag stops available! Private party charters available! Reasonable rates, saves time and money for travelling or your shipping needs.

One of the top 10 most scenic highways.

SEWARD TO HOMER

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Mon Wed Fri

Departs Seward 100pm call ahead for pick up point

Cooper Landing Wild- man’s 200pm

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All times are approx HOMER TO SEWARD

June 1st - August 31st

Mon Wed Fri

Departs Homer 1242 Ocean Dr 900am

Soldotna Chamber of Commerce 1030am

Cooper Landing Wildman’s 1130

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

Sights seen from the road

PEEK INTO SOMEONE’S FRIDGE, AND YOU GLIMPSE THEIR SOUL. Because what one chooses to store in the crib’s chilliest place provides clues to those with inspective impulses while grabbing a glass of water. Are there indications of plans for the unexpected (or expected) Armageddon, or is it a bare bones, protein shake and salad with raspberry vinegarette affair?

Food lends definition to our existence. And what we choose to stock in the container of cool mirrors our personality. This inventory often reflects how we manage our bodies, entertain people, and what we stand for as members of society.

And the volume speaks volumes.

For instance, if you find frozen Salisbury steak television-ready dinners amassed on the freezer shelves, chances are good that the person bathes at least once a week – whether he needs it or not. If the veggies appear visibly abundant and there’s oat milk and faux meat, she most likely keeps a yoga mat close by. And if a tub of Ben and Jerry’s Chunky Monkey ice cream and leftover Domino’s pizza is evident, then it’s obvious they are a stoner. However, some may find that contradictory because a stoner probably wouldn’t have any Ben and Jerry’s ice cream left. So, let’s pretend they just made a grocery run.

And by the way, the Cap’n Crunch that sits on top of the refrigerator does indeed deserve inclusion.

It’s almost like the refrigerator is your butler. It stands ready at the guard; you chat with it. You audit the innards and shuffle the contents accordingly.

Its interior reflects a calendar of sorts, most items categorized by preference while others stay static – the capers, the horseradish, the sauce you took a chance on –accessibility based upon frequency.

This cold cache is an indirect barometer of your success. It’s important that you’re content with the contents.

And it’s where you stash your quality dabs. Right next to the Devil’s lettuce.