THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE
#70 | FEB. 2022
E XC L U S I V E I N T E R V I E W !
BERNER How the rapper, mogul and iconic face of the Cookies brand is diving into new markets and elevating the Cannabis community. CANNTHROPOLOGY
BOB MARLEY HERBAN LEGEND FEATURES
CANNABIS COUPLES SHARE THEIR STORIES TRIXIE GARCIA AND GARCIA HAND PICKED RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE STAR LAGANJA ESTRANJA CANNABIS FASHION TRENDS AND DESIGNS F RE E / L E A F M AGA Z I N E S . COM
THE CULTURE ISSUE INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010
Enjoy your stay with your first 506 Merhar ave fairbanks ak
license number 20827
907-474-good www.goodtitrations.com
onsite consumption experience k next to walmart and lowe’s
Ask Your Budtender for that
Award-Winning Cannabis Wonder Woman
Black Rose
2020 Great Alaskan Cannabis Bowl WINNER!
ShnozBerry
Best Sativa Best Terps
SweetMatanuskaGreen@Gmail.com | SweetMatanuskaGreen.com Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming and addictive. Marijuana impairs concentration, coordination, and judgement. 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.
THE CULTURE ISSUE
#70
[
FEBRUARY 2022
issue
F E AT U R E
feature
LAGANJA ESTRANJA
feb. 2022
44 CANNABIS RECIPES FEBRUARY TREATS
50
CANNTHROPOLOGY BOB MARLEY | HERBAN LEGEND
BENNNYY BLANCO
In an exclusive interview, Leaf Nation’s Tom Bowers speaks with Berner — the indefatigable rap icon, fashion designer, Cookies Cannabis founder, and advocate, on his life, career, and the future of Cannabis.
CREATIVE COMMONS
20
GARDEN SPOTLIGHT QUINTESSENCE FARMS
32
BRUCE WOLF
BERNER O'HARA SHIPE
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
38 11 14 18 20 24 28 32 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 49 50 52
EDITOR’S NOTE N AT I O N A L N E W S BUDTENDER Q&A GARDEN SPOTLIGHT HEMP INDUSTRY STRAIN OF THE MONTH BERNER COVER STORY GARCIA HAND PICKED L AGANJA ESTRANJA CANNABIS COUPLES FASHION AND DESIGN RECIPES EDIBLES C O N C E N T R AT E S TA N N I N S & T E R P E N E S CANNTHROPOLOGY STONEY BALONEY
JON SAMS PHOTO
8
E S TA B L I S H E D 2 0 1 0
T H E E N L I G H T E N E D VO I C E
N O RT H W E S T L E A F / O R EG O N L E A F / A L AS KA L E A F / M A RY L A N D L E A F / CA L I F O R N I A L E A F / N O RT H E AS T L E A F
A B O U T T H E C OV E R In just the last ten years, Cannabis has undergone a radical shift in public perception, and the definition of Cannabis culture, naturally, has changed as well. The Leaf Nation team sought to present a wide range of Cannabis culture figures for this month’s special edition. On the cover is rapper, fashion designer, and the founder of Cookies Cannabis, the one and only Berner. Photographer Bennyy Blanco is well-known in the hip hop community for his photographs that offer an intimate glimpse at stars on and off the stage. Check out more photos and our exclusive interview with Berner inside this issue!
PHOTO by BENNYY BLANCO @BENNYY_BLANCO
PUBLISHER
CONTRIBUTORS
WES ABNEY | FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
OSCAR AVELLANEDA-CRUZ, PHOTOS DANIEL BERMAN, PHOTOS BOBBY BLACK, FEATURES BENNYY BLANCO, PHOTOS JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION TOM BOWERS, FEATURES EMILY EIZEN, FEATURES STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS JEFF PORTERFIELD, DESIGN JESSE RAMIREZ, ILLUSTRATION MIKE RICKER, FEATURES MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING O'HARA SHIPE, FEATURES + PHOTOS JAMIE VICTOR, DESIGN DAN VINKOVETSKY, FEATURES NATE WILLIAMS, FEATURES BRUCE & LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES
WES@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
CREATIVE DIRECTOR DANIEL BERMAN | VISUALS & DESIGN
DANIEL@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
STATE DIRECTOR JOSHUA STAHLE | AD SALES
JOSH@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM 907-317-2536
CONTENT DIRECTOR O'HARA SHIPE | EDITORIAL
OHARA@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
CONNECT WITH ALASKA LEAF Exclusive Cannabis Journalism @NWLEAF
|
@AKLEAFMAG
@NWLEAF
ISSUU.COM/NWLEAF FREE ONLINE ARCHIVE
EDITOR'S NOTE PHOTO by OSCAR AVELLANEDA-CRUZ @OKIAVE
ABNEY
Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up our Culture Issue of the Leaf! THIS IS OUR ISSUE that honors the culture of Cannabis consumers, from the rap and cultivating star Berner to Cannabis couples and high fashion. We’ve come a long way as a community from the days of stoner stereotypes being synonymous with “Dude Where’s My Car” to a point where our culture, community and plant are combining to become a mainstream lifestyle.
11
Cannabis has long been part of our society in an underground way – influencing artists and creatives, helping athletes and celebrities, and driving the emergence of hip hop – but without recognition, and has occasionally ruined a career instead of helping to create one. Today we can openly celebrate those that use Cannabis to enhance their lives, enjoy the fruits of the plant sprouting new ideas, and highlight the positive impact it has in leading our country out IT’S IMPORTANT of the war on drugs’ mindset, and into a new era of acceptance TO NOTE THAT THE and positivity. ONLY LIFESTYLE It’s important to note that the only lifestyle past stoners could expect was that of orange jumpsuits and 10x10 cells, and those who took risks to lead our community deserve to be remembered.
PAST STONERS COULD EXPECT WAS THAT OF ORANGE JUMPSUITS AND 10X10 CELLS.
While it’s likely that if you read my words you are in a legal state, weed can still lead to prison in many parts of the United States or around the world – which means we have more work to do! That’s why normalizing the decision to make Cannabis our recreational drug of choice as parents, professionals and even influencers, must be shared with the world. In normalizing Cannabis, we can also open the door for so many other forms of acceptance – from a new approach to drugs in healthcare to opening minds to all walks of life. Cannabis makes our human experience better in every way … even in the bedroom, where hopefully the commercialized St. Valentine’s Day will be bringing people together to reach new highs this year. So get down with the culture and your bad self, ditch the chocolate hearts for infused treats, and try a massage oil or personal lubricant to explore a new way for weed to make your life more enjoyable. After all, being a stoner is a lifestyle choice – and it feels good to feel good.
-Wes Abney FEB. 2022
leafmagazines.com
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, LeafMagazines.com. Email josh@leafmagazines.com for more information on supporting Alaska Leaf!
WES
A la s k a C a n n a b is E x ch a n g e
national news
politics
normalization
THAILAND PLANS TO DECRIMINALIZE CANNABIS
T
U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE FROM LOUISIANA SMOKES WEED IN CAMPAIGN AD
D
14
emocratic U.S. Senate candidate Gary Chambers, Jr. recently smoked marijuana in a field in New Orleans while talking about Cannabis reform in his first campaign ad. The Washington Post calls it a “highly unusual spot.” Chambers is seated in an open field, where he fires up a blunt and takes multiple hits. In a voice-over, he rattles off statistics about the herb. These include facts such as Black people are four times as likely as whites to be arrested for its possession. “For too long, candidates have used the legalization of marijuana as an empty talking point in order to appeal to progressive voters,” Chambers said about the ad. “I hope this ad works to not only destigmatize the use of marijuana, but also forces a new conversation that creates the pathway to legalize this beneficial drug, and forgive those who were arrested due to outdated ideology.”
hailand plans to decriminalize marijuana, moving a step closer to legalizing adult use of the herb. It was the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize medical Cannabis. Cannabis use in food and cosmetics is also legal in Thailand, according to Bloomberg. In January, the Food and Drug Administration proposed to the narcotics bureau that marijuana be removed from its status as a controlled drug. It only needs Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to approve the change and it will then take effect. Adults will be able to access marijuana without fearing lengthy prison sentences and hefty fines, according to Withid Sariddeechaikool of Thailand’s FDA. Currently, possession of Cannabis in Thailand could garner up to 15 years in prison. The plant is considered a Category 5 narcotic drug under current Thai law.
midwest
ARKANSAS AWARDS LAST TWO DISPENSARY LICENSES
R
egulators recently approved a rule change allowing issuance of two remaining medical marijuana dispensary licenses permitted under the Arkansas Constitution. The state will have a total of 40 dispensaries, reports Arkansas Online. The change issues the licenses to companies that previously applied for them and are next in line based on scores. It will go before the Arkansas Legislative Council in February. The licenses will likely be issued in March, according to Medical Marijuana Commission spokesman Scott ARKANSAS VOTERS APPROVED Hardin. Arkansas voters approved the constitutional amendment legalizing THE CONSTITUTIONAL Cannabis for medical use in the state in 2016. These are the last two liAMENDMENT LEGALIZING censes. Their distribution completes the medical marijuana program. Voters CANNABIS FOR MEDICAL USE IN THE STATE IN 2016. THESE passed an amendment that would allow 40 dispensaries and 8 growers to ARE THE LAST TWO LICENSES. do business in the state, reports THV11.
politics
the south
IOWA DEMOCRATS REVEAL LEGALIZATION PLAN
ALABAMA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE WANTS TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA
hree Iowa state senators revealed details of their proposed amendment to legalize marijuana at a January press conference, reports KCRG. The lawmakers called for the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division to regulate Cannabis sales to adults 21 and older. If successful, Iowa would join 19 other states in legalizing adult-use marijuana. The amendment would legalize growing, selling and buying of all marijuana products for adults 21 and older. The plan allows the state to tax sales up to 20 percent. Cities or counties can add on their own taxes, up to 2 percent. It would need to pass in both the Iowa House and Senate in two consecutive General Assemblies to get on a ballot. Once on the ballot, a majority of Iowans would need to vote for the amendment for it to become law.
Alabama businessman who calls himself a conservative Democrat said he’ll work to legalize marijuana if voters pick him as their next governor. Chad “Chig” Martin, 53, has qualified to run for the Democratic nomination in the May 24 primary. Martin said he believes marijuana is a safer drug than alcohol. He said he would like to see it legalized and taxed to boost Alabama’s economy and revenues. Chig is skeptical that Alabama’s medical marijuana industry, MARTIN SAID HE approved by the Legislature last year, will let businesses like his BELIEVES MARIJUANA Honeysuckle Hemp compete fairly when licenses are issued. IS A SAFER DRUG THAN A medical Cannabis commission is still working to set up that ALCOHOL. HE SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT program. Products won’t be available until next year. “I want LEGALIZED AND TAXED to open up the free trade of Cannabis in the state of Alabama TO BOOST ALABAMA’S without regulations, not just allowing certain groups or compaECONOMY AND REVENUES. nies to participate in this,” Martin said.
AN
T
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
ADULTS WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS MARIJUANA WITHOUT FEARING LENGTHY PRISON SENTENCES AND HEFTY FINES.
33% 70% 200
of computer programmers use Cannabis during work hours.
feb. 2022
is the amount prices for legal flower have fallen in California in the past year.
pounds of illegal weed were seized in a traffic stop near Lincoln, Neb. by the LCSO.
30k
additional signatures were submitted by organizers of an Ohio legalization ballot initiative after efforts fell short.
34k
arrest records still haven’t been processed for expungement in California.
$1.5m
in sales were enjoyed by Montana dispensaries on January 1-2, the first two days of adult-use sales.
STORIES by STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA
interview
ALASKA LEAF BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH
SANTANA HARRIS WHEN DID YOU FIRST BECOME INTERESTED IN CANNABIS? So, I've been doing black market stuff for at least 25 years. I started around when I graduated high school. YOU GREW UP IN ATLANTA. WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING IN THE BLACK MARKET IN A STATE THAT IS SO ANTICANNABIS? In Atlanta, [the police] will chase you down and tackle you for a nickel bag of weed. They'll put a ruler next to it, and if your bud is big enough, you're going to prison for five years. That's it. No questions asked. THAT MUST HAVE BEEN CRAZY! It was definitely a change coming up here where things were legal! WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO MOVE TO ALASKA? I wanted to detach from going to the club every weekend and buying the latest shoes. I needed to get my head somewhere more responsible. Alaska was a once-in-a-lifetime travel destination for people. But I'm not about vacationing in places, so I was just like … I’ll move and see what life is like. So, I settled in Fairbanks in a dry cabin, and it was really fulfilling fetching my own water and fire logs. You really have to rely on yourself when you live in a place like Fairbanks, but also the community is tight because it's not an easy place to live.
18
YOU WERE DOING PACKAGING FOR PAKALOLO IN FAIRBANKS. WHAT MADE YOU TAKE ON BUDTENDING IN ANCHORAGE? I initially moved to Anchorage after a bad car accident. My specialist was based in Anchorage, so I needed to move to continue seeing them. I was already with Pakalolo, but they needed a budtender, so I thought I'd try it.
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
AS AN OPENLY TRANS MAN, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE WORKING AS A BUDTENDER? I was trans when I [originally] got hired, but I didn't really express that side of myself because it can be really difficult being out. In other jobs, people will avoid you because they think something's wrong with you. Others get uncomfortable because they don't want to be called out for using the wrong pronouns. But as a company, Pakalolo has always been supportive and kind. I haven't had to hide who I am.
S
ANTANA HARRIS is living his best life. The Pakalolo budtender recently celebrated his 40th birthday by getting engaged and being selected to show his art at an upcoming Black Alaskan Art Matters (BAAM) exhibition. We caught up with the star budtender to talk about his journey to self-acceptance and the importance of representation.
feb. 2022
“ I THINK ME BEING PRIDEFUL OF WHO I AM GIVES CUSTOMERS THE CONFIDENCE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS THEY WANT TO ASK.” PAKALOLO
735 W 4TH AVE, ANCHORAGE PAKALOLOSUPPLYCO.COM | @PAKALOLOAK (907) 646-9000 10AM-10PM DAILY
WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING DIVERSITY IN BUDTENDERS? I haven't seen any other openly trans people in the four years I've worked in the industry. It makes me want to own and operate a dispensary one day. You know, one that caters to the LGBTQIA+ community. It would be great to see more trans people working in jobs where they interact with customers. A lot of times, we work in back-of-house labor jobs to avoid the difficulty of interacting with people who might judge us. There have been times where I’ve corrected somebody for using the wrong pronouns five times in a sentence, and they just keep doing it. I don't think people understand the harm something like that can do to someone. AND THAT'S WHY YOU WEAR YOUR PRONOUNS ON YOUR HAT? On my hat, my badge, and a button! Honestly, I've had some really great conversations with customers and they seem to be really receptive to it. I think me being prideful of who I am gives them the confidence to ask the questions they want to ask. They usually stay a lot longer and tell me personal things about themselves. It's been a way to break down barriers, and I'm proud of that.
STORY by ALASKA LEAF STAFF @AKLEAFMAG | PHOTO by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS
garden spotlight
Quintessence Farms owner Nicholas Gelinas.
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
20
QUINTESSENCE FARMS
TWENTY YEARS AGO, AN INTREPID KID FROM PENNSYLVANIA HOPPED ON A MOTORCYCLE AND MADE HIS WAY TO ALASKA. He didn't know anything about the Last Frontier except what he'd seen in the movies. Expecting to set up camp in an igloo and be greeted by polar bears, Nicholas Gelinas says he was surprised to encounter more Walmarts than wildlife. "I fully expected to be eaten by a moose," says Gelinas with a laugh.
feb. 2022
"Despite having a standard grow license, Gelinas approaches his beloved garden with the care of a limited, craft Cannabis grow." Despite having a standard grow license, Gelinas approaches his beloved garden with the care of a limited, craft Cannabis grow. Using living soil and hand-watering, Gelinas focuses on quality instead of quantity. "It's all handcrafted Cannabis grown with love. It's all hand-watered. Quintessence It's hand-trimmed. It's grown in living soil, which takes a lot of time to Farms GM Cameron make. So, it takes twice the amount of love and time and effort. UnforErickson climbs a tunately, you won't see that translated into the cost of a gram. It hurts ladder to survey the our bottom line, but it's really important to me that things are done garden's canopy. right," says Gelinas. He is quick to add that even though many people outside of the hile Gelinas didn't have to fight off any carnivorous moose, industry tend to think cultivators and dispensary owners are making he did meet another kind of Alaskan millions, the truth is that he is making a living natural wonder. and nothing more. "Actually, the first people I met when "At some point, the buck has to stop and I got here were stoners, and so I got in that circle cultivators need to do things to reduce overand started growing and never looked back," says head. I'm sure at some point, we'll get there Gelinas. too. But we want to keep crafting Cannabis Over the next 20 years, Gelinas continued to with love as long as we can," says Gelinas. perfect his growing style at home while honing his Part of the difficulty in maintaining a handspalate as a sommelier at the state's best restaurants. on approach, admits Gelinas, is the re-eduAlthough Gelinas was living what he calls "a good cation of consumers. lifestyle," he had dreams of chasing another path. "A lot of consumers are number chasers. So, in 2019 – just two years after legalization – You know, they want to come in, and they want Gelinas opened King Street Cannabis Co., and once to see a high [percentage of THC], regardless again, he's not looking back. of the price. You can put things on sale, but "The restaurant and Cannabis industries are exactly anything with low numbers is the slowest moving the same. Everything from flavors, customer service, branding stuff. Everyone wants a heavy hitter, or they want and sales, are present in both industries. If you know how to do a really good deal and nothing in between," says those things successfully in one industry, you'll be successful in Gelinas. Tommy Chong Cannabis' buds the other. So, getting King Street going was pretty easy for me," According to Gelinas, consumers are unknowgrown by Quintessence Farms. says Gelinas. ingly causing cultivators to start breeding out the But Gelinas never planned to stop at owning a dispensary. strains with the most medicinal properties because He wanted to produce his own products. "That was the plan from the beof low testing numbers and unsavory flavor profiles. ginning – you have to vertically integrate. But beyond the business side of it, I "Most people want the newer strains that are very citrusy or berry think you should have your own product. Cultivation is the heart and soul of because they're in fashion," Gelinas said. the industry. So, without your heart and soul, you're stuck relying on other peo"Now, a lot of strains that have been grown for a long time are getple to give it to you. It's nice to have your own heart and soul," says Gelinas. ting phased out because they are undesirable to the public. But those In April 2021, he found King Street's heart and soul in the form of Quinsuper gassy, earthy strains have the most medicinal value – which was tessence Farms. Built next to the dispensary, Quintessence Farms has a the original point of using Cannabis. Linalool, myrcene, caryophyllene 1,000-square-foot canopy space and currently supports 24 strains, including and pinene are the terpenes we need to keep going. We also need Gelinas' heavy-hitting indica, Snorlax. those lower testing strains to be grown." Gelinas won't be able to turn the tide on desirable strains overnight, but he intends to keep cultivating with love, heart and soul … until the rest of the world comes around. KINGSTREETCANNABISCO.COM
W
STORY & PHOTOS by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS/ALASKA LEAF
@greenjar_ak
Voted Best C in the annabis Mat-S Retai ler u Val ley
4901 E. Blue Lupine Dr. Ste. E Wasilla, AK 99654 907-631-3800
9am to 10am & 8pm to 9pm
Happy Hour
Save 20% off flower everyday
Order directly from our live menu
MARIJUANA HAS INTOXICATING EFFECTS AND MAY BE HABIT FORMING. MARIJUANA IMPAIRS CONCENTRATION, COORDINATION, AND JUDGEMENT. DO NOT OPERATE A VEHICLE OR MACHINERY UNDER ITS INFLUENCE. FOR USE BY ADULTS TWENTY-ONE AND OLDER. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. THERE ARE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONSUMPTION OF MARIJUANA. MARIJUANA SHOULD NOT BE USED BY WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING. #10008
EXPERT OPINION
HEMP INDUSTRY
Will hemp building materials catch on? How long before Starbucks sells hemp creamer? Will today’s CBD hemp farmers transition to fiber and food? Will they survive long enough to supply these nascent markets? The real question is: What will hemp farmers grow to foster fiber and food companies? Certainly not Charlotte’s Web or Cherry Wine. Where will the seeds come from? Who’s got the genetics that are the key to hemp’s future? Believe it or not, the U.S. government has a hemp seed bank. The Department of Agriculture has a large and growing collection of hemp genetics stored in The Hemp Germplasm Repository. This treasure trove will enable hemp farmers to grow the long forgotten heirloom varieties that may very well be suited to tomorrow’s hemp industries. Why is this effort so important? It’s cataloging what’s out there, preserving it for future use. Remember: Extinct is forever. Whatever we lose is gone for good. As new markets emerge, farmers need to grow cultivars tailored to each new niche. Moving forward, hemp farmers need access to as wide and diverse of a catalog as possible. Again, we’ve outgrown CBD and we need everything we can get our hands on. And here’s the best part: If we all agree that these new hemp markets like hempcrete and hemp foods are going to explode, farmers need all the help they can get. With the U.S. government’s mature, we need to think beyond IF THE HEMP MARKET help, one day hemp will be cannabinoids. Hemp pioneers IS TO GROW AND grown on the same scale as are developing and selling MATURE, WE NEED wheat, soy and corn are today. hemp building materials like TO THINK BEYOND Thousands of acres across CANNABINOIDS. hempcrete, hemp wood, hemp multiple states. Nothing less. insulation and other products aimed at the construction industry. Processing facilities require two things: proximity to hemp farms to reduce shipping costs and a constant, THE HEMP GERMPLASM REPOSITORY reliable supply of hemp – lots of it. Today there IS PART OF THE NATIONAL PLANT simply aren’t enough farmers growing fiber to GERMPLASM SYSTEM make this happen. Plant-based foods are now mainstream. Ask the The hemp collection’s mission is to conserve as much genetic fast food chains. Non-meat burgers and chickenand geographically diverse hemp genetics as possible and less chicken? Do you want fries with that? One distribute it to plant breeders, researchers and educators. doesn’t have to be vegetarian, let alone vegan or Their long term vision is to expand the collection to include more hemp varieties and catalog them for fiber, agronomic, keto or paleo, to eat plant-based meals without morphological, horticultural and secondary metabolite traits. The a second thought. No one is more amazed than Hemp Germplasm Repository would love for individuals with I, a vegetarian since the ‘70s. I never thought I’d interesting or unique germplasm to consider donating a seed live to see the day milk doesn’t necessarily come sample to the collection. Learn more at tinyurl.com/germplasm from cows, but plants instead.
THE USDA IS HEMP’S BEST FRIEND
24
IF YOU READ THIS COLUMN on a regular basis, you know I really want the hemp industry to grow and prosper. And for that to happen, we need successful and prosperous hemp farmers. While this seems obvious, way too many of today’s hemp farmers are failing. The primary reason is the overwhelming emphasis on CBD – resulting in an oversupply which reduced wholesale prices. Everyone is preoccupied with a very narrow slice of hemp’s potential. Whatever happened to the hemp activists’ mantra: “Food. Fuel. Fiber.”
H PHOTO BY ADOBE
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
Jerry Whiting
emp farmers are growing the wrong thing: hemp for CBD extraction. When the FDA does bless hemp as medicine, my guess is that the rules and regs will favor Big Pharma. Why? Because Big Pharma has more lobbyists with more money than the hemp industry. Hemp medical preparations could require licenses with expensive fees, inspections by multiple bureaucracies and other roadblocks that hinder small players. All is not lost. If the hemp market is to grow and
feb. 2022
EXCLUSIVE COLUMN by JERRY WHITING for LEAF NATION // LeBlancCNE.com/podcast
CONNECT WITH YOUR AUDIENCE Affordable advertising available now!
email josh@leafmagazines.com for details on including your brand and company in the March 2022 Strains Issue of Alaska Leaf! AKLEAFMAG
L E A F M AGA Z I N E S . CO M
LEAF MAGAZINES
#ALASKALEAF
We have CBDs!
Frontier CBD * Hemp Bomb * Honey Root * Alaskan Healing Center
224 N Yenlo St, Wasilla, AK | 907-373-2839 | M-F 8a-10p, Sat 10a-10p, Sun 11a-7p
SUNDAYS 15% Off Cartridges TUESDAYS Two for Tuesdays Two Grams of Concentrates for $90 (Exclusions Apply)
WEDNESDAYS $40 1/8ths on All Strains THURSDAYS 1/2gm Pre-Rolls for $5 + All CBD & Merchandise 25% off FRIDAYS Buy 3 Edibles, Get a 4th for a Penny SATURDAYS 10% Off All Silver Plate Concentrates
Now Open at TWO
Anchorage Locations!
Southside
9900 Old Seward Hwy
&
Eastside
317 Muldoon Rd
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
28
GARLIC STORM
feb. 2022
STRAIN OF THE MONTH
ACCORDING TO FOLKLORE, garlic is thought to protect people and homes from vampires and werewolves, as well as curing sickness such as colds and coughs. While we can’t confirm or deny garlic’s ability to achieve the aforementioned, we can confirm that Frontier Farmers’ Garlic Storm can make your night a whole lot better.
T GROWN BY
FRONTIER FARMERS WITH SO FEW GARLIC STRAINS ON THE MARKET, THE NOVELTY OF GARLIC STORM FELT A LOT LIKE SMOKING WEED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.
his dense little bud is covered in vibrant orange pistils and a light dusting of frost. While whole, the bud gives off a potent fruit scent with a hint of earthiness that foreshadows what’s inside. The crumbly bud broke down perfectly to fill the bowl of our brand new My Bud Vase. Our first toke filled our lungs with super smooth smoke and the distinctive earthy flavor we were hoping for. With so few garlic strains on the market, the novelty of Garlic Storm felt a lot like smoking weed for the very first time. Within seconds, we were smacked in the face with a heavy cerebral buzz that suddenly made all our worries dissipate. Before we knew it, the high stretched all the way down to our toes and left us so relaxed we may as well have been sitting on a beach in Hawaii. The relaxation was made even better as we felt our tight muscles loosen for the first time in months. Before we knew it, we were loudly snoring while endless episodes of Project Runway played in the background. In short, Garlic Storm is sleepiness, pain relief and a cerebral buzz – all mixed into one deeply satisfying smoke session.
FRONTIERFARMERS.COM FB.COM/FRONTIERFARMERSAK 30.3% THC INDICA HYBRID 1.06% LIMONENE .84% BETA-MYRCENE 0.31% BETA-PINENE
REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF | PHOTO by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS
MYBUDVASE.COM
“Why fly? When you can enjoy the most beautiful ride on earth”
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 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
VISITING ALASKA
Sights seen from the road
SEWARD TO HOMER June 1st – August 31st Mon Wed Fri
Locally owned and operated by a Departs Seward 100pm lifelong Alaskan, Stage Line offers call ahead for pick up point passenger transportation, freight, parcel, and courier service, between Cooper Landing Wild- man’s 200pm Anchorage and the Kenai Soldotna 300pm Peninsula. Our schedule includes, All times are approx Anchorage to Homer, Cooper Landing, Soldotna, Kasilof, Ninilchik, HOMER TO SEWARD Anchor Point. Homer to Seward, June 1st - August 31st Soldotna, Cooper Landing. And any The Stage Line PO Box 353 Anchor Point, Mon Wed Fri points in between! MP flag stops AK available! Private party charters Departs Homer 1242 Ocean Dr 900am The Stage Line 1242 Ocean Dr Homer, Ak available! Reasonable rates, saves 724 W International Anchorage, Ak of Commerce time and money for travelling or your Soldotna Chamber Staging points only 1030am 907-868-3914 907-235-2252 shipping needs. Cooper Landing Wildman’s 1130 E-mail: stage.line@yahoo.com One of the top 10 most scenic www.stagelineinhomer.com highways.
leafmagazines.com
32
FEB. 2022
B E R
THE CULTURE ISSUE
EVERY YEAR, our annual Culture Issue asks, “What is Cannabis culture?” For an increasing number of fans, the answer comes in two syllables: Berner. Powered by his globally recognized Cannabis brand, a fashion line, a staggering 38 albums to his name, and nearly 2 million Instagram followers as of this writing, any move by the 38-year-old founder of the Cookies empire tips the market scale like a fist on a triple beam. New store? Lines around the block. New Cookies-Starter jacket collab drop? People camp on the street for a place in line. New album? Nas, Future and Rick Ross step up to spit a verse. In 2021, Berner faced up to his toughest challenge to date. In the midst of opening new stores, launching new menus and blessing new business partnerships, he got hit with a cancer diagnosis. So he recorded an album. We connected with the man behind it all to discuss his brand, his future and his new album, “Gotti” – which seals his Mafia Trilogy with a lushly produced homage to Don John Gotti, Sr.
N E R
STORY by TOM BOWERS @CANNABOMBTOM/LEAF STORY by AUTHOR NATION @INSTAGRAM | PHOTOS by BENNYY | PHOTO BLANCO by PHOTOG @BENNYY_BLANCO @INSTAGRAM
BERNER
THE CULTURE ISSUE
Continued from prev iou s page
34
“YOU’RE LOOKING AT THE OWNER ALL THE TEAMS PLAY FOR ME.” Legacy
Born Gilbert Anthony Milam, Jr., Berner started small in the early 2000s, trapping and stacking. He dreamt of launching simultaneous careers – Cannabis, fashion, music. He wanted it all. So he pushed. Hard. He made enough money to start his own fashion brand, naming it Cookies after the now-legendary strain he and his partners brought to market. He started releasing albums at a frenzied pace of multiple drops per year. Fast forward to today, and there are more than 40 Cookies-branded stores across 17 markets in four countries. If you’ve bought Cannabis anywhere in the past five years, there’s a good chance it was crossed with Cookies genetics – some of your favorite cultivators likely grow for the Cookies brand. If there’s a magic recipe, Berner has it. “Without a good team, none of this shit would be possible – from leadership, all the way down,” he said. “My main focus is making sure that what I want to happen for Cookies is happening, everywhere we expand. Whether it be the menu, or the look for the store, the experience in the store, new strain names, branding, keeping the clothing line popping. I focus on mostly creative stuff, and let my partners handle the business. Once the business is at the finish line, I come through and overlook, and give my approval, and my blessing, and boom – it’s done.”
leafmagazines.com
“PRESSURE MAKES DIAMONDS AND BERN WILL NEVER FOLD.” Legacy As summer turned to fall, Berner received the news so many fear. It was colon cancer. But it was operable. He decided he had to get into the studio. He called his old friend and collaborator, Cozmo, to set it up. Next he flew out to meet with John Gotti Jr. to ask permission to name his album after Gotti Sr. Not only did Gotti Jr. offer his blessing, but he provided previously unreleased audio of his father from the federal case against the Mafia Don. “For me, it kind of felt like it might be my last body of work, and I was paranoid with the cancer situation,” Berner said. “... Music’s always been therapy, it’s always been my journal for me. I was looking to make a really good body of work, but also, I wanted to prove my work in the music space.” Berner brought in a stacked deck of heavy hitting collaborators for the effort, and they brought the heat on their verses draped over the lush instru-
FEB. 2022
“HAVING A STRONG FAMILY IS EVERYTHING. AND MY KID IS MY MOTIVATION TO KEEP ROCKING, AND KEEP FIGHTING.”
mentation of Cozmo’s beats. It took a month, from diagnosis to finished album. “There were a lot of emotions,” Berner said. “I didn’t really allow myself to get stressed out about the cancer thing, because I was stressed out about having to figure out how to finish the album in time, and make sure it sounded great – and I had the album artwork, and everything lined up for the release. So it was good, and it kept me distracted.” In addition to serving as a welcome distraction from his diagnosis, the music, like every project Berner endeavors, helps build up the rest of his enterprises. “I feel like the brand makes the music special, and the music makes the brand special,” he said. “They both organically promote and big-up one another. And I feel like the fashion, the music, and the bud is a powerful combo. And we’re kind of the first ones to pair that and pull that off. It was all things that I really loved and wanted to do, and they all complemented each other.” “DO WHATEVER IT TAKES IT’S ALL GAS, NO BRAKES CAN’T SLOW DOWN.” Slow Down It’s a week into December and Berner is calling in from the road, on the way from his Bay Area home to L.A. and Palm Springs for a music festival and the Cookies company Christmas party. He’s pushing hard to cram everything in before starting his cancer treatment after the holiday. Famous for his insatiable need to build and create, Berner has only stepped harder on the gas pedal since his diagnosis. “If you really put it in perspective, I found out I had cancer, I recorded ‘Gotti’ for a month, I came home, I did surgery,” he said. “I had to recover for two and a half weeks, went to New York, did a 10day press run. I only came home yesterday for one day, spent the whole day with the family, watched a movie, had dinner, enjoyed the day. Hopped on a bus at 7 a.m. today, driving all the way to L.A., do a radio interview as soon as I get there, do a listening party for the press, kind of like a meet and greet for the press, do a music video until about 3 a.m., wake up at 7:00, get on a bus to the company party, come back … perform at Rolling Loud (music festival). The shit doesn’t stop. So the point is, you just gotta know how to enjoy the time you have in between those moments.” I share an old axiom, “The tall tree gathers the most wind.” I ask if he’s feeling the pressure of the strong winds, now that he’s outgrown the protection of the treeline. “Shit, I definitely feel that wind, like a motherfucker,” he said. “I feel it this morning. I’m tired as hell, I’m lost, I haven’t been home in hella long. But I feel like life is all about leaving something special behind, and I’m working really hard toward that.” It’s an intense schedule for anyone, let alone a guy battling cancer. For him, there’s no choice. He has to keep building. “That’s just like the last month or two,” he said. “That’s how it always is. The best thing about living
like that, when you’re building a company, is like, I only ask my employees to work as hard as I’m working … I can’t demand that everyone’s grinding hella hard if I’m not. So, by me moving like this, people know, ‘Shit, if he’s doing it, we gotta do it.’ I’m not one of those bosses or CEOs who sit back and call shots from my phone. I’m in the field, and they know that.” “NO ONE WILL EVER BE TWO STEPS AHEAD OF ME. NAH, THEY AIN’T FUCKIN’ WITH MY LEGACY.” Legacy
“MUSIC’S ALWAYS BEEN THERAPY, IT’S ALWAYS BEEN MY JOURNAL FOR ME.”
Berner credits his insatiable drive to his parents. “My dad passed me the crazy genes of work ethic,” he said. “I don’t think I could ever slow down.” His father owned his own Mexican restaurant, and his mom had her own business. They imbued him with a hustle that he brings to everything he does. “They both told me when I was growing up that you’ve got to be your own boss,” he said. “You don’t want to work for nobody.” For Berner, family is the main motivator. He spends as much time as he can imparting knowledge to his daughter, and he married his longtime girlfriend in January. “A good household is everything,” Berner said. “Having a strong family is everything. And my kid is my motivation to keep rocking, and keep fighting. And I feel like I’m leaving a really good example for her, about being an entrepreneur, being a businessperSMOKE SESH Berner drew an eager crowd to the Cookies dome son, and also being a leader. So I’m at the 2021 Emerald Cup at the Santa Rosa, California fairgrounds. just glad to be able to show her what I’m doing, and how I’m handling (the cancer diagnosis). I could have been at the house, working on some scripted series stuff. That would all bummed out and not doing anything. I think it’s be my ultimate goal. Not to sell Cookies, but maya great example for her on how to handle things, be find a partner who brings a little liquidity to the when things like this come in. I always joke with her table in the near future that would allow me to kind that I want her to be the CEO of Cookies one day. of do what A24 is doing right now. I would love I always game her up.” to produce quality, real content. If I had it my way, and cancer doesn’t take me down … the next thing “LEGENDARY MOVES ONLY.” I would do is take whatever money I made and put Zoning it into film.” As he continues to pile lofty goals on his plate, With chemotherapy setting to fade in the rearthe most important challenge lays ahead – and view, Berner continues to push hard, aiming to Berner seems to be approaching the cancer fight build Cookies’ cultural influence past the point of with the same unstoppable forward momentum he immortality. takes to everything. “I think what’s next for me is trying to make sure “After my mom died from cancer, I spent time Cookies lives forever, and plan out the menu for going to Children’s Hospitals, and seeing kids that the next 100 or 200 years,” he said. “It sounds a were suffering from cancer,” he said. little crazy to say that, but it’s definitely possible “... It’s always been something special to me with tissue culture and the amount of breeders we to try to fight cancer with good energy. So that’s have.” what we’re doing. If people want to know how I’m As huge as that dream sounds, it’s still not fighting it, I’m fighting it with good energy. And that enough for Berner, who’s already looking at anothenergy comes from music, weed, and good people er cultural conquest on the horizon. – and that’s it.” “I think the next thing for me is film. That’s always been my biggest passion,” he said. COOKIES.CO “I’ve already written like two or three films, and I’m @BERNER415
STORY by TOM BOWERS @CANNABOMBTOM/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by BENNYY BLANCO @BENNYY_BLANCO & COURTESY COOKIES
THE CULTURE ISSUE
ROOTED IN REALNESS
THE LEAF CHATS WITH GARCIA HAND PICKED’S TRIXIE GARCIA
GARCIA HAND PICKED is a creative partnership between The Garcia Family and Holistic Industries, also known for brands including Liberty, Strane, and Do Drops. Because Trixie grew up as a Cannabis user in the community, it is very meaningful for her to fight for Cannabis legalization and normalization. She refers to this brand as a labor of love and is adamant regarding how much she cares about the
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Jerry Garcia is shown performing on stage during a Grateful Dead concert appearance.
Jerry was an avid consumer of the plant, smoking socially and embracing the integral role Cannabis played the community. When he envisioned creating his own little chain of cafes that he would play music in, his vision included coffee, wine and weed. He smoked joints throughout the day, and enjoyed smoking and sharing weed often. So much so that after family meals, sparking up a joint became a tradition. Garcia’s hand has become an icon and is the focal point of the branding of Garcia Hand Picked – from the name to the logo – with Trixie working with Kyle Barich and Rachel Genderson of Holistic Industries to create the colorful and psychedelic packaging we see on their flower and edibles today. Starting with an image of Jerry from the Grateful Dead’s trip to Egypt, they then played around with different ways to use that photo. The design they landed on is reminiscent of smoke, but it also reminds people of the early tie-dye days with an enticing psychedelic pattern.
PHOTO BY NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415
leafmagazines.com
36
Garcia Hand Picked’s Sour Bubble OG was highlighted as the Strain of the Month in the March 2021 Psychedelia Issue of California Leaf. tinyurl.com/caleafmar2021
FEB. 2022
CONCERT PHOTOS / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
fans – never wanting to let them down.
Each and every lid is unique on the packaging, and even the edibles produced by this company are shaped like guitar picks. The Grateful Dead family continues to inspire the brand even today, including paying homage to the strains that became famous on the Dead lot. They receive influence from Steve Parish and even Trixie’s mother Carolyn Garcia, who wrote a book called “Primo Plant” on organic gardening. In addition to Trixie, other members of The Garcia Family are giving guidance to the brand on a regular basis, and are very happy with the level of control they are able to maintain. When asked if Cannabis played a large role in the Grateful Dead’s psychedelic experiments, Trixie said, “I bet there is a whole history book that could be written about that. It was having the freedom to expand your consciousness in whatever way works for you. This was a whole generation of people coming out of war in Vietnam, and being totally traumatized by all of those things. Everyone is looking for more GARCIAHANDPICKED.COM @GARCIAHANDPICKED
purpose and deeper meaning to everything, and Cannabis is one of those things that once you try it, your perspective is broadened. That is the parallel between the music and everything like that, it’s all about expanding your consciousness and the human experience. The bonding between people sitting around and smoking joints helped to temper some of the psychedelic experiences occurring. Pot was the main constant throughout that whole thing.” Oftentimes, celebrity Cannabis brands get a negative connotation. In the case of Garcia Hand Picked, however, their authenticity is imbued and their organic approach to holistic medicine is done with all Cannabis consumers in mind, from the medicinal to the recreational. With or without Jerry’s name on the brand and the support of his family, these products would be highly sought after and head stash worthy.
EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR MORE PURPOSE AND DEEPER MEANING TO EVERYTHING, AND CANNABIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT ONCE YOU TRY IT, YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS BROADENED. STORY by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/LEAF NATION | PORTRAIT by GARCIA HAND PICKED
THE CULTURE ISSUE
LAGANJA ESTRANJA SHOWS UP WITH A MAJOR PENCHANT FOR POT, THE “RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE” STAR DISHES ON HER TRIUMPHANT YEAR AND WHAT SHE HAS PLANNED FOR 2022. LAGANJA ESTRANJA has built a career from taking leaps of faith. In many cases, these leaps are literal – featured as showcase moments in the high-octane, jaw-dropping choreography fans have come to expect from her videos and live performances. A contestant on the sixth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Estranja’s reputation for delivering seismic, sickening death drops as a drag artist is as much a signature of her craft as her well-documented affinity for Cannabis.
PHOTO BY JON SAMS @JONSAMS
leafmagazines.com
38
FEB. 2022
Last year, Estranja returned to the spotlight with a celebrated appearance on the “Drag Race” spin-off series “RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars.” Prior to that performance, Estranja publicly came out as a transwoman in an interview, the combination of which has led to a breakneck year of bookings and special projects for the L.A.-based artist. “I feel like I’ve really earned this,” she said. “I’ve been jumping off crazy platforms into the splits since the beginning, so the fact that people are now beginning to fully recognize me for it, as I’ve started to transition – it just feels right. It feels correct. It feels like the timing is finally on my side.” A seasoned Cannabis consumer, Estranja’s stage name is an ode to her medicine of choice and proof positive that she’s long been vocal about her love of Cannabis. Remember: Back in 2014, when her season of “Drag Race” first aired, being so openly pro-pot was still quite the gamble. Thankfully, things have finally evolved, allowing Estranja to seize her chance to celebrate Cannabis in the form of an innovative, print-on-demand merchandise line. Featuring several Cannabis-focused prints as well as other options like a Sailor Jerry-inspired design, Estranja says her new merch line has been a huge hit so far. In many ways, it takes its inspiration from the drag star’s own fashion, which often pays homage to pot in some form. For instance, in Estranja’s latest music video, “Poison Ivy,” she donned an outfit equal parts Uma Therman and OG Kush.
PHOTO BY AARON JAY YOUNG @AARONJAYYOUNG
“I wanted to create a look that was an ode to Mother Nature, to my favorite plant, and to one of my favorite comic book characters,” she explained. “I specifically love Uma Thurman’s version of Poison Ivy because she ends up becoming a show girl and obviously, I can relate to that. I also really wanted to have an outfit that had Cannabis on it but that was still within the Poison Ivy vibe, so I had my incredible designer, Howie B, design the look.” While you won’t find Howie B originals for sale on Estranja’s site, the colorful, largely weed-focused options one can purchase deliver an arguably similar blend of chic and sativa. Estranja also recently made the jump into paraphernalia, debuting a line of signature grinders she hopes to supplement soon with a larger size and rolling trays.
“My big dream is to get my merch into headshops,” she added. “That’s something I’m really focused on because, eventually, I want to see this become a lifestyle brand that revolves not around Laganja the drag artist but rather Laganja the brand and the name, much like how Versace does it.” Before taking the next step in her Versace aspirations, however, Estranja plans to spend the near future focusing fully on her transition. To that end, in the coming weeks, she has decided she will begin the process of hormone therapy. “I’m finally at a point in my life where I feel comfortable as myself and I feel ready for that next step,” she explained. “But I want to take it slow. A lot of girls go straight to injections but I’m looking at going the pill route, which is a lot less potent. I just feel like there’s no rush. I waited until I was 32 – which in a lot of
people’s minds is late – to come out, so why rush now?” As for whether Estranja expects Cannabis to play a role in that process, she admits she isn’t sure, though she certainly isn’t ruling out the possibility. “I really won’t know until I start experiencing Estranja was a breakout it for myself,” she said. “I’ve talked to many star on of my sisters and every single person had a RuPaul’s different experience. Truly. For some, Cannabis Drag Race All-Stars. absolutely helps and can be integral to using hormones but for others, because the hormones are already making them feel so emotional and off the chain, Cannabis can make it worse. I don’t think that will be the case for me. Cannabis has always helped me, so I have a feeling that will continue to be the case.” With dates across the planet scheduled for February, March and April, and a new EP (“Daily Basis”) also on the way – Estranja won’t be keeping a low profile for long. And after such a lengthy journey spent steadfastly committing to herself, who can blame her? Looking back at a year packed with big moments, it’s this truth, she says, that stands above all others. “I came back to television, and I came back as myself. Any time you can be yourself, you’re going to succeed.” LAGANJAESTRANJA.COM @LAGANJAESTRANJA
STORY by ZACK RUSKIN @ZACKRUSKIN for LEAF NATION
PHOTO BY ALEXANDER FOST @ALEXANDERFOST
A SEASONED CANNABIS CONSUMER, ESTRANJA’S STAGE NAME IS AN ODE TO HER MEDICINE OF CHOICE AND PROOF POSITIVE THAT SHE’S LONG BEEN VOCAL ABOUT HER LOVE OF CANNABIS.
OAKLAND, CA | 2 YEARS
THE CULTURE ISSUE
CHAOS GIBBONS
Co-founder, The Farmaceuticals Company
JEI SHEPHERD
Professional jeweler, artist, tattooist
HOW/WHEN DID YOU MEET? In New Orleans about 14 years ago. Chaos was working
in the traditional California Cannabis market, and Jei was at a mutual friend’s house when Chaos stopped by with some flower.
FIRST TIME YOU GOT HIGH TOGETHER? On our second date – we went to the Hella Gay
dance party. We met outside and walked to Chaos’ car to smoke some weed before going in. FAVORITE THING(S) TO DO TOGETHER WHILE HIGH? Hosting dress-up-themed dinner/
dance parties in our living room, or hiking with our pup in the Redwoods.
WOULD YOU BE WITH YOUR PARTNER IF THEY DIDN’T SMOKE WEED? Absolutely not
– we both find it difficult to connect with folks who are anti-Cannabis.
GREATEST CHALLENGE YOU’VE FACED TOGETHER? Navigating the shifting landscape
of regulated Cannabis as a small, queer-woman-owned business in the land of giant corporations.
PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT(S) IN THE CANNABIS SPACE? Winning the High Times
Cannabis Cup for Best CBD and sweeping the WeedCon competition this year!
HIGHER LOVE CANNABIS COUPLES SHARE THEIR STORIES
40
IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE finding one’s stoner soulmate – someone you can grow with (both figuratively and literally), who not only tolerates your daily dab habit but can actually go toke-for-toke with you. For hardcore heads, true romantic chemistry, it seems, must include THC as part of the formula. Because as those lucky enough to find their perfect pot-smoking partner will tell you, there’s nothing quite like that “higher love.” I would know – my wife April and I met (then three years later, got engaged) at the Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam and held a weed-themed wedding before that became a “thing.” For us, like so many others, Cannabis has been both the catalyst that brought us together and an invaluable ally in WASILLA, AK | 15 YEARS
JOSIE & ROB GUSTAFSON Owners, RockHardNugzAK Cannabis
On match.com – we were both super excited that the other smoked weed!
leafmagazines.com
WHAT ROLE HAS CANNABIS PLAYED IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP? Cannabis
allows us to relax together. Being able to relax after a very stressful day is so important to maintaining a healthy relationship. Josie has a very hard time winding down, and Cannabis helps. FAVORITE THING TO DO TOGETHER WHILE HIGH? Let’s be real – sex while
high is awesome.
WOULD YOU BE WITH YOUR PARTNER IF THEY DIDN’T SMOKE WEED? Proba-
bly not. We’ve both had relationships in the past where the other partner didn’t smoke and what can I say … I’m with Rob now.
FEB. 2022
BRAD & CHRISTINA ZUSMAN Owners, Mellow Vibes & Blaze Edibles
maintaining harmony in our relationship. So to celebrate Valentine’s Day this month, we asked some of our favorite Cannabis couples to weigh in on how their love of the plant relates to their love for one another. RUTLAND, MA | 30 YEARS
HOW/WHEN DID YOU MEET?
GRESHAM, OR | 30 YEARS
JENN & JEREMY BORJESON Owners, The Harvest Cup Competition & Tradeshow
WHAT ROLE HAS CANNABIS PLAYED IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP? Cannabis has played
a huge role. Jeremy is a grower and I’ve always used Cannabis medically for just about everything – from alleviating nausea due to migraines to treating my ulcerative colitis. WOULD YOU BE WITH YOUR PARTNER IF THEY DIDN’T SMOKE WEED? I doubt we
would’ve ended up together. Cannabis was always a huge part of our lives, so I don’t think either of us would have lasted with a partner who didn’t use it. GREATEST CHALLENGE YOU’VE FACED TOGETHER? Dealing with all of the arrests, threats of taking our
children away, having our names published in the paper, having our homes raided three times, etc.
HOW/WHEN DID YOU MEET?
At the LGBTQI+ festival at the Portland waterfront in 1991. Christina was contracted to assist Brad’s catering company vending at the festival. FIRST TIME YOU GOT HIGH TOGETHER?
It’s crazy to think it took 12 years together before Christina used Cannabis! It was the first medical crop we grew together in our house … Christina got so stoned from two bong hits she slept for 15 hours! DID YOU HAVE A WEEDY WEDDING?
We set up a smoke station in the gazebo with assorted Cannabis and infused homemade wine provided by Christina’s parents. MOST ROMANTIC DATE/TRIP INVOLVING CANNABIS? Brad took me to Hawaii for our
anniversary once, and we snuck over some Cannabis and edible treats. We were told not to indulge on the property, so we walked over to some trees on the beach, sat down on a blanket, drank wine, and smoked while watching the waves crash into the rocks.
PORTLAND, OR | 6 YEARS
JESCE HORTON
CEO/Co-founder, LOWD; Co-founder, NuProject & Minority Cannabis Business Association
JEANNETTE WARD HORTON Co-founder/CEO, NuProject
HOW/WHEN DID YOU MEET?
As co-board members on the MCBA in 2015. WHAT ROLE HAS CANNABIS PLAYED IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP? The Cannabis industry definitely
brought us together.
SEATTLE, WA | 11 YEARS
LO & DANIEL LUEBKE
WOULD YOU BE WITH YOUR PARTNER IF THEY DIDN’T SMOKE WEED?
Founder & CEO/Director of Marketing Heylo Vapes
No – a non-smoker wouldn’t have time for Jeannette’s many weed breaks. LOL.
HOW/WHEN DID YOU MEET? On move-in day at
GREATEST CHALLENGE YOU’VE FACED TOGETHER?
Northwestern University. We lived in the same dorm and were instantly attracted to each other.
Being parents to two boys. Parenting has required more growth, adaptation and frayed nerves than any job, and Cannabis definitely helps.
DID YOU HAVE A WEEDY WEDDING? We couldn’t
PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE CANNABIS SPACE? We’ve launched two organizations
together: Minority Cannabis Business Association and NuProject, helping to fund $1 million to historically excluded entrepreneurs – over half of them black-owned businesses.
make Cannabis a big part of our wedding, but we had hemp leaves in the bouquet and boutonniere – and we had plenty of Heylo vapes to go around. WHAT ROLE HAS CANNABIS PLAYED IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP? Cannabis has always helped us amplify
life experiences – whether it’s getting creative in the kitchen together, melting into the music at a concert, or celebrating after reaching the peak of a hike.
FAVORITE WAY TO GET HIGH? Sharing a vape on a
walk or a celebratory bong hit. Oh, and our Cannabis lube is always a good time.
SEBASTAPOL, CA | 15 YEARS
ELISE MCDONOUGH Brand manager, Binske, and Cannabis cookbook author
BALTIMORE, MD | 5 YEARS
KELLY LOGIUDICE
Dec. 2019 Maryland Leaf Patient of the Month 710 Budtender Award nominee
JASON MORGAN
Former dispensary owner/manager
FIRST TIME YOU GOT HIGH TOGETHER? It was
within minutes of meeting each other! Cannabis was really the reason we were meeting in the first place. Before we had legal Cannabis in Maryland, seshes and pop-ups were how we connected in the Cannabis community.
HOW/WHEN DID YOU MEET? Working together at High Times in 2002.
We were work friends for a long time before we got romantically involved. FIRST TIME YOU GOT HIGH TOGETHER? At the HT office!
HOW DID YOU FALL IN LOVE? We started road tripping up and down the East Coast with our
dogs, going to glass shows and pop-ups in D.C., and having fun.
MOST ROMANTIC DATE/TRIP INVOLVING CANNABIS?
WHAT ROLE HAS CANNABIS PLAYED IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP? Cannabis was there from the
beginning, and it will always be there. It’s much more than just something we do for fun – it’s an essential part of our lives. It makes us better people, so we can be better people to each other. FAVORITE THING TO DO TOGETHER WHILE HIGH? Order snacks on GoPuff and watch horror
movies, go to an art gallery, or take the dogs hiking.
DAVID BIENENSTOCK
Co-host, Great Moments in Weed History podcast, and Cannabis author/journalist
In 2010, I proposed to Elise in front of the fountain outside the American Hotel in Amsterdam because that’s where we first kissed after working together behind a booth at the Cannabis Cup. WHAT ROLE HAS CANNABIS PLAYED IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP? Canna-
bis is a way to enhance the good things in our lives and relationship, and also helps us see through life’s challenges in a mutually supportive way.
STORY & INTERVIEWS by BOBBY BLACK @BOBBYBLACK420/LEAF NATION
THE CULTURE ISSUE
VIDAKUSH
VIDAKUSH.COM | @VIDAKUSH
Founded in 2011 by LA jewelry designer Rhianna Cooper, VidaKush is the definition of the cool-girl aesthetic. Fueled by modeling and collaborations with some of the most creative women in LA, VidaKush has been a defining staple of the modern, trendy Cannabis user. Using subtle yet recognizable Cannabis motifs in her work, Cooper has found a way to balance style and message. Her intention nearly a decade ago was to transform Cannabis apparel from tacky to chic. Back in those days, even in her hometown of LA, there was still a heavy stigma associated with Cannabis use. Through her accessories, Rhianna quickly discovered that the small gold or silver weed leaves adorning her rings and necklaces helped change the image of the stereotypical smoker. In addition to being gorgeous and intricate, her accessories also act as a type of secret signal – connecting with fellow Cannabis enthusiasts based on a single piece of jewelry, without having to say a word. During the early days of recreational Cannabis, Rhianna connected to the masses of women and femmes who didn’t feel seen by the mainstream, male-dominated Cannabis world. Through curating formal events, chill creative kickback sessions and fun weed-fueled photoshoots, VidaKush has played a unifying role in femme Cannabis culture.
42
IN ADDITION TO BEING GORGEOUS AND INTRICATE, HER ACCESSORIES ALSO ACT AS A TYPE OF SECRET SIGNAL
leafmagazines.com
BLAZING A TREND
Besides the plant, Rhianna also draws inspiration from her heritage: half Indian and half American. The combination of her parents’ cultures and the mesh of traditions she experienced growing up influence her love of bold colors and accessorizing every part of the body. Using bright, shareable and high fashion editorial shoots, VidaKush has successfully changed the image of Cannabis fashion from tacky weed socks and corny t-shirts to a more refined and fashionable motif.
FRESHEN UP YOUR WARDROBE WITH NEW CANNABIS FASHION IN AN AGE when self-expression through art and fashion is available at our fingertips, it is no surprise that the modern Cannabis user is more likely than ever to proudly rep their favorite plant – using weed motifs as a mode of doing so. Both Cannabis and fashion brands alike are entering the marketplace looking to help their consumers embrace this healing plant as a style choice, elevating the culture along the way.
SEVEN LEAVES AIMS TO PROMOTE AN ACTIVE AND CREATIVE LIFESTYLE.
SEVEN LEAVES SEVENLEAVESSTYLE.COM | @SEVENLEAVES_CA
FEB. 2022
Seven Leaves entered the California Cannabis market in 2017 under Proposition 215 with the intention of turning premium Cannabis into an artform. Their indoor flower is grown in a state of the art facility without the use of pesticides. Through the use of targeted sponsorships with extreme athletes, DJs, musicians and artists, Seven Leaves aims to promote an active and creative lifestyle. Fast forward to today’s current legal landscape, and Seven Leaves Cannabis is a top seller in California’s recreational dispensaries. Going across state lines as a Cannabis brand is impossible until federal legalization, so Seven Leaves decided to sell lifestyle products such as sweatshirts, skateboards and other branded items – which are often inspired by one of their premium Cannabis strains. By expanding their brand into apparel, Seven Leaves has noticed major expansion in their social following and brand awareness, even gaining an international customer base. The goal behind their merchandise is to set the stage for brand awareness once federal legalization allows for a national operation.
AINTNOBODYCOOL
AINTNOBODYCOOL.COM | @AINTNOBODYCOOL
For their recent collaboration, streetwear brand Aintnobodycool joined forces with Green Dawg Cultivators, well-respected Cannabis farmers in Los Angeles. Their strain, inspired by Aintnobodycool’s recent collection, is called America’s Most Wanted. A streetwear stoner’s dream in which the packaging matches the print of the clothing, this collaboration truly takes the meaning of high fashion to the next level. In the ever changing worlds of hip hop, streetwear and Cannabis, Aintnobodycool aims to “level the playing field” by making accessible fashion that unites these three cultures. Upon first glance, one might not grasp the direction of this seven-year-old brand, but that’s what its founders, Serp and Alex Diamantakos aim for. Their driving brand force is the “freedom to have no rules” – reflected in their humorous, often troll-level marketing. Playing on humor, mystery and youth as their main themes, Aintnobodycool uses mostly graphic-based screen printing, but the brand also explores the resourcefulness of skate culture through techniques such as cut and sew. Aintnobodycool’s Cannabis collaboration with Green Dawg Cultivators is available at select retailers, including Cookies and Lemonnade.
SACKVILLE & CO.
SACKVILLE.CO | @SACKVILLE.AND.CO
Sackville & Co. is a contemporary Cannabis brand designed by women who like to smoke weed, and Lana Van Brunt and Hayley Dineen are the Brooklyn-based duo behind the style-focused Cannabis lifestyle brand. The pair bonded over their shared frustration of not being able to find chic Cannabis products to fit their personal style. Dineen cut her teeth at the world-renowned arts and design college Central St. Martin’s in London, going on to design for high-end brands including Yeezy, OVO, Vivienne Westwood and more. Van Brunt employs her marketing genius to the Sackville brand from her time as a director at VICE Media and ATTN: Media. From crystal ball pipes to their “weed out the bad vibes” hoodie, this brand is made with the creative consumer mind. They believe that Cannabis has been a hidden catalyst for creativity and exploration within fashion, art and music since the beginning. Being artists first, their aim is to build a diverse community that brings together creatives across these disciplines worldwide. Sackville & Co. collaborates with artists and brands who love to create unique work that reflects modern consumption. “To us, fashion is a modality of individual expression. Both Cannabis and fashion are uniquely personal journeys, with no right or wrong way to express yourself. We aim to design products that allow people to express their own aesthetic through uniquely curated Cannabis rituals. Evolving and having fun with your sense of style in all areas of life is what we’re about!”
BOTH CANNABIS AND FASHION ARE UNIQUELY PERSONAL JOURNEYS, WITH NO RIGHT OR WRONG WAY TO EXPRESS YOURSELF.
GLASSHOUSE FARMS X EMILY EIZEN CANNABIS ARTIST and Leaf Contributor Emily Eizen collaborated with Carpinteria, California’s Glasshouse Farms on a t-shirt design that reimagines the farm’s logo and benefits the Transgender Law Center. tinyurl.com/eizenwear
STORY by EMILY EIZEN @EMILYEIZEN for LEAF NATION
cooking with cannabis
R EC I P E S by LAU RIE WOLF | P HOTO by B RUC E WOLF
Sip, Dip & Cluster I don’t know about you, but come February I need some food love. I live in Portland, Oregon – it has been rainy and chilly for months now – and I want some sun. And no, I won’t get sun for weeks and weeks, so I am treating myself to three recipes that help soothe my winter gloom. Nothing hard, nothing not delicious. Share your treats and share the love … now more than ever.
44 2mg THC each | 2 per serving
DIPPED MANGO 1 cup dark chocolate chips 1 tablespoon canna butter or oil, 24mg THC 12 large pieces dried mango
Some say that mango, full of the terpene myrcene, adds to your Cannabis experience. That rocks.
1. Line a sheet pan with parchment. 2. In a small, microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate on 50% for 30 seconds. Check, stirring the chips, and if not melted continue melting at half power in 15 second intervals. When melted, stir in the infused oil or butter. 3. Dip the mangoes into the chocolate, then lay on the parchment for at least 30 minutes to set.
24 clusters | 2mg THC each
leafmagazines.com
Serves four, 5mg THC per serving
PINK SMOOTHIES 2 cups almond milk, or any other milk 1 cup frozen strawberries, sliced 1 small frozen banana, sliced 1/2 cup strawberry yogurt 1/4 cup pineapple juice 4 teaspoons canna oil or butter, 20mg THC total 1-2 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons crushed dehydrated strawberries, garnish
1. In a blender, combine all ingredients except for the dehydrated strawberries and process until smooth. 2. Divide between four glasses. Garnish with the dehydrated strawberries.
feb. 2022
IT’S A CLUSTER 2 cups white chocolate chips 2 tablespoons coconut oil 2 tablespoons infused oil or butter 48mg THC total 1 cup granola 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1. Place a 24-cup mini mold on your work space. Place paper liners in each cup. 2. In a double boiler, over low heat, combine the chips and the oils. When almost fully melted, remove from the heat. Spoon the white chocolate into each cup, and top with a teaspoon or more of granola. 3. In a double boiler, over low heat, melt the semisweet chips. Top the granola with the melted chocolate, immediately followed by the remaining granola. Allow to set for at least an hour.
#lov emont h #eat yourCannabi s #calli ngallt erpenes # b oycottha te | La uriea nd Ma ryJa ne.com
edible of the month LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
46
CHAI IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT!
Drinkables are all the rage in the Alaskan market right now, and with the new 100mg per package allowance, there’s never been a better time to plunge into the world of liquid edibles. And a great way to dip your toes in the water is Higher Altitude Manufacturing’s Chai Apple Cannbucha. Admittedly, there are times when kombucha can taste like unfiltered vinegar. Or in other words, it can be an acquired taste. However, that is not the case with Cannbucha. From the second you crack open the lid, your nose will be filled with the scent of fresh apples and cinnamon – think your mom’s fresh-baked apple pie. The scent is so alluring you might find yourself sneaking sniffs in between swigs.
feb. 2022
Then again, you might find yourself taking swigs in between deep inhales because Cannbucha tastes just as good as it smells. Musky black chai adds a beautiful base to tangy apple and spicy cinnamon, coating your tongue with an exciting blend of flavors. Super potent, the remnants of Cannbucha linger on the tongue well after each sip – much like the high you’ll experience. There is 100mg of THC per bottle, but there are bold serving markers on the side to prevent you from overindulging. The heady high was surprisingly fast-acting and robust, so definitely tread slowly until you find the proper dosage for your needs. Luckily, you won’t have to wait long to feel the initial effects.
“Musky black chai adds a beautiful base to tangy apple and spicy cinnamon.”
10MG SERVING | 100MG/BOTTLE @HIGHERALTITUDEMFG
REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF @AKLEAFMAG | PHOTO by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS
STONEY MOOSE KITCHENS' COCKTAIL SQUARE GUMMIES KEY LIME MOJITO
WE STARTED our beach-inspired pairing by making a delectable jug of homemade key lime mojito featuring Bacardi Rum. To make the cocktail, we combined the following simple ingredients in a large pitcher: 2 1/2 cups of rum, ¾ cup of lime juice, ¾ cup of key lime juice, ¾ cup of confectioners’ sugar, and 3 ¾ cups of club soda. Typically, you’d want to garnish with fresh mint, but when mixed with the gummy squares, we found the extra mint to be unnecessary – especially when paired with the Watermelon Mojito Gummy Squares. These small, sugar-coated gummies were bursting with spearmint flavor! In truth, we didn’t pick up much else tastewise, but the mint was a really lovely contrast to the sweet and sour profile of the key lime mojito. However, the robust flavor is only one part of the one-two punch you get from these gummies. Made with full spectrum CO2 extract, we got to reap the full sleepy benefits of the indica-leaning hybrid gummy. But beware, even a single 10mg serving and a few sips of cocktail had us comatose on the couch for most of the day. For our second round of pairings, we dipped back into the fridge for another glass of mojito to go with a Lemon Drop gummy. Unlike the Watermelon Mojito variety, the Lemon Drop had a more complex flavor. A dominant lemon profile was met with spicy notes of turmeric that made the gummy taste just like its cocktail inspiration. Paired with the citrus of the key lime, this was a home run of sour flavors that really delighted our taste buds. In contrast to the sleepy Watermelon Mojito, the Lemon Drop was bright, uplifting and energizing. The high slowly crept up in waves of bubbly happiness that made us let go of all the stress we’d been lugging around. Although we couldn’t utilize the energy kick to knock out chores around the house, finding happiness in the dark winter months was an unexpected pleasure. Bottom line, both of Stoney Moose Kitchens' cocktail-inspired gummies are standouts. Just make sure you clear your calendar before imbibing.
stoneymoosekitchens.com | @stoneymoosekitchens 10mg/serving | 100mg/package
REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF | PHOTO by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS
47
leafmagazines.com
“These small, sugar-coated gummies were bursting with spearmint flavor!”
Wine and chocolates for Valentine’s Day are so ho-hum. That’s why this year we’re shaking things up (literally) with Stoney Moose Kitchens’ Watermelon Mojito and Lemon Drop Gummy Squares – plus a side of homemade key lime mojito.
tannins & terpenes
T H E A RT OF PA I R I NG C A N N A BI S
THE CULTURE ISSUE concentrate of the month
GOLDEN GOAT LIVE RESIN
A super sticky live resin with a beautiful golden hue, Golden Goat leaves heavy notes of pine and gas on your fingertips. The diamonds quickly melted in our dab rig, releasing a pleasant lemony fragrance. The smoke was equally fragrant and is best described as a delicate combination of sweet, sour and spicy. And with the touch of lemon lurking in the background, the inhale had a distinctive bite that might be a bit rough for the unseasoned concentrate consumer. The effects took hold almost instantaneously and continued to build over the next 30 minutes. What started as an energetic body high switched to a massive cerebral buzz that was borderline disorienting. “A super sticky You know the drill: walking live resin with back and forth a beautiful from the kitchen multiple times golden hue.” and always forgetting what you went there for. And then repeating the process several more times, just for good measure. You definitely won’t be able to complete any tasks requiring a focused mind for a few hours after even a tiny toke. However, it’s a great time to do some sketching, painting, pottery, freewriting or making the world’s most incredible sandwich – as creativity is set ablaze with this resin. An energy boost this potent could even compel you to craft that killer sandwich, before painting it in the style of Picasso. Really, the possibilities are endless.
48
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
It takes an army to craft an award-winning concentrate, but that’s exactly what the crew at AK Frost did. Named the 2020 Best Sativa Concentrate at the Great Alaskan Cannabis Bowl, Golden Goat marries the cultivation expertise of Isidore, LLC and the manufacturing genius of AK Rime.
EXTRACTED BY AK FROST jan. 2022 Feb.
AK-FROST.COM | @STAYFROSTY907 SATIVA DOMINANT HYBRID 76.77% THC | .47% CBD
REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF | PHOTO by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS
cannthropology
WORLD OF Cannabis PRESENTS
Bob Marley Herban Legend
leafmagazines.com
44 5 0
When it comes to the great global icons of Cannabis culture, few figures loom as large as the immortal king of reggae himself, Bob Marley. RISE & SHINE Born February 6, 1945, in the small Jamaican village of Nine Mile, Robert Nesta Marley was the only child of Captain Norval Marley (a 60-year-old British plantation manager) and a 17-year-old Jamaican girl named Cedella Malcolm – who he reportedly seduced, impregnated, then largely abandoned. After Norval died in 1955, Cedella and her son moved in with her boyfriend Thaddeus Livingston and his son, in Kingston’s notorious Trench Town tenement yard. There, tweenage Bob and his new stepbrother Neville RASTAMAN VIBRATION (nicknamed “Bunny”) started hanging with a During Marley’s absence, Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie, who Rastafarians local street gang called the Rude Boys, who worshipped as the new messiah, famously visited Jamaica – inspiring a masnicknamed him “Tuff Gong” and turned them sive surge in the popularity of Rasta culture. By the time Bob returned to the on to the hot new sound known as ska. island in early 1967, his wife and bandmates had all converted to Rastafari Around the age of 14, Marley dropped out and he quickly followed suit – embracing the faith’s rituals of growing the hair of school to pursue his passion for music. out into dreadlocks and smoking ganja as a sacrament. Under this new Rasta He and Bunny started singing together and influence, the popular ska and “rocksteady” genres morphed into a mellower, were soon taken under the wing of a famous more political musical style with an offbeat “riddim” known as reggae … and Debut album from the clean-cut Jamaican singer named Joseph Higgs. Later the clean-cut vocal trio transformed into the rebel rude boys we know today. looking Wailing Wailers. regarded as the “Godfather of Reggae,” it was Reflecting this rebirth, Bunny changed his last name to Wailer and the band Higgs who taught the duo how to sing and shortened its name to The Wailers. play guitar, as well as introduced them to two pivotal figures in their lives: producer Clement “Coxsone” Dodd and a young guitarist CATCH A FIRE known as Peter “Tosh” McIntosh. After numerous lineup and name After a falling out with Dodd, the group teamed changes, their group solidified as The Wailing Wailers – a vocal trio up with producer Lee “Scratch” Perry to produce comprised of Marley, Livingston and Tosh. The group recorded over two albums: “Soul Rebels” in 1970 and “Soul 70 songs for Dodd’s Studio One label, which released their eponyRevolution Part II” in 1971. Then in 1972, The mous debut album in 1965. Wailers hooked up with soul singer Johnny Nash It was during those sessions that Marley met his first love, Rita Anfor a European tour. But when the tour fizzled out derson – a teenage mom who sang in a group called The Soulettes. and left them stranded in London, they decided to The two were married in February 1966 … but just days after the meet with Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, wedding, Bob left Jamaica to live with his mother in Wilmington, who sent them home with £4,000 to record a new Delaware (where she’d moved four years earlier). album. The result was “Catch a Fire” – the first
feb. 2022
“Herb is the healin’ of the nation. Everyone on earth is supposed to smoke herb. God created herb for man ... one’s supposed to smoke freely and be free.”
Contemplation in a cloud of smoke: Bob Marley relaxes with a spliff between interviews at a press junket in a West Hollywood hotel in 1976.
album produced under the band’s new label Tuff Gong and their first with major label distribution. Released in April 1973, it was, according to one Rolling Stone article, “the first wholly formed, cohesive reggae album.” The initial 20,000 pressings were cleverly designed to look and open like a Zippo lighter; after that, the cover featured a close-up of Bob smoking a huge joint. Their next album, “Burnin’” (released that October), eventually went gold – thanks in part to guitar god Eric Clapton, who helped put the band on the map in 1974 when his cover of “I Shot the Sherriff” hit number one. Despite the group’s rising success, however, Bunny and Tosh were allegedly unhappy with Blackwell’s commercial vision for the band and chose to leave the group later that year. Marley quickly assembled a new lineup, rebranded the group as Bob Marley and The Wailers, and powered on toward stardom – releasing “Natty Dread” in 1974, then “Rastaman Vibration” in 1976 (his first album to reach Billboard’s Top 10 list).
EXCUSE ME WHILE I LIGHT MY SPLIFF ATTACK & ILLNESS Exploding into the international spotlight, MarEventually, though, ley was beset by the press, which predictably some of Marley’s focused their questioning on his then-contropolitical activism would versial religious beliefs and ganja habit (which come back to bite him. On December 3, was rumored to be up to a pound a week). 1976 – two days before he was set to perform In interview after interview, Bob blazed and at the Smile Jamaica concert organized by the praised the sacred herb (with a hard “h”). People’s National Party – seven gunmen hired “Herb is the healin’ of the nation,” Marley by the rival Jamaican Labour Party shot up preached in a 1975 Ann Arbor Sun article. Marley’s home/rehearsal studio in Kingston, “Everyone on earth is supposed to smoke injuring him, Rita and his manager. Miracuherb. God created herb for man, mon … lously, no one was killed … but the incident one’s supposed to smoke spooked Marley enough that herb freely and be free.” he fled to England, where he In July 1976, shortly after remained for nearly two years. a show at LA’s Roxy Theater, While in self-imposed exile Bob invited former Island there, he recorded “Exodus” – Records publicity chief Jeff an album that, over 20 years Walker and his wife Kim Gotafter its June 1977 release, tlieb-Walker to his hotel room would be named the best in West Hollywood to do a album of the 20th century by photoshoot for his upcoming Time magazine. interview with High Times. That same year, Marley was “Bob normally didn’t like diagnosed with a malignant to pose for photos, but he melanoma in his toe. He was thrilled to pose for the refused doctors’ recomcover of High Times,” recalls mendations to amputate on Gottlieb-Walker, whose religious grounds; as a result, iconic images of Marley are the cancer spread throughout compiled in the phenomenal his body – causing his health photo book “Bob Marley and the to severely deteriorate in the years Golden Age of Reggae.” When that followed. Tragically, Bob the interview was published in Marley died on May 11, 1981, at the magazine’s September 1976 a Miami hospital while en route issue, Marley became the first home to Jamaica. He was just 36 musical artist to ever be featured years old. After a state funeral aton the cover of High Times. tended by over 100,000 adoring In 1978, The Wailers released fans, he was buried with his guitar their mellowest, stoniest album – and a stalk of ganja – near his Back of the Kaya album. yet entitled “Kaya” (another birthplace in Nine Mile. nickname for ganja). In the album’s first song, “Easy Skanking,” Bob sings: THE LEGEND LIVES ON “Excuse me while I light my spliff / Oh God Since his passing, Marley’s status as a cultural I gotta take a lift.” And in the title track he icon has only grown – through his music, which sings, “I’m so high, I even touch the sky … has transcended all barriers of race, religion Got to have kaya now.” and age to sell more than 50 million records Though often difficult to understand due to worldwide; through his 11 children, who carry his thick patois accent, Marley became the on his legacy; and through the Cannabis brand most open, unapologetic public advocate for that now bears his name. He’s ranked 11th on Cannabis the music industry had ever seen. Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 greatest musical “Herb is a sacrament,” he explained in one artists of all time. Like John Lennon and Jerry famous 1979 New Zealand interview. “When Garcia, Bob Marley has surpassed mere rock you smoke herb, herb reveal yourself to you … stardom to become a living embodiment of because herb make you meditate. Man makes peace, social justice, and the power of music to laws against it. But how is what is natural and unite and elevate human consciousness across made by God illegal?!? I think government the globe. And, of course, one of the greatest action, that illegal.” ganja evangelists in history.
STO RY b y B O B BY B LAC K @ CAN N T H RO PO LO G Y fo r LEA F NAT IO N | M AI N P HOTO b y KI M G OT T L I E B - WAL K E R / LE N SWO M AN . CO M
stoney baloney LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
52
LADIES, YOU’VE GOT IT ALL FIGURED OUT. All Hell could be breaking loose, but so long as you’re armed with that imperative satchel that keeps your vitals accessible, you’ll always be ready for the world. This is your most necessary accessory, accentuating the confidence that proves you’re an irreplaceable bad ass. And one purse is not enough. Only one cannot ensure your command of any room’s attention. Because with reasons and seasons in constant flux, your ability to adjust to any given outing is critical for your interchangeable persona that presents your unavoidable qualities to the scrutinizing public. In your woman cave, there hangs the quiver of handbags that typify extensions of your character – different exciting versions of you that either offer cohesion or contrast with the varying surroundings. Sometimes you will blend, other times create distinction to an otherwise bland landscape. Either way, these carryalls help you to turn super into superlative. And when it’s time to turn things up, like the stitching in and of itself, your look is seamless. It is usually with great intention that this wing-thing is chosen, as if each was specially designed for your evolving moods. It exemplifies your womanly power, completing the statement that you’re always intending to make. It is the cherry that perfects the sundae. The rabbit on the moon. Mona Lisa’s smirk. Like her, you hold your mysteries close. And should anyone attempt to ambush you into divulging the wondrous secrets that are yours alone, the lips will slightly pucker while the stunned onlooker futilely wonders how to tap the hidden spring that spouts your charm. What lies inside this clutch is part of that mystery: the perfect shade of lipstick, the dramatic mascara, a feminine product. But almost more importantly, the cartridge of vaporizable oil which lights the wick to the Roman candle that explodes into the eager night, sprinkling your unique stardust into the otherwise flat black sky.
feb. 2022
FOLLOW @RICKERDJ // GET THE AUDIO VERSION & EVERY EPISODE AT LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
All Things Cannabis For All People beardedlorax rickerdj stashleylynn
PODCAST
maaryjwhite leaflifepodcast
#152
CAFFEINE &CANNABIS (Is it Addiction or Love?) THIS MONTH: #153 PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING & CANNABIS (Fake Props/Real Pain) #154 ROLLER DERBY & CANNABIS (Rolling Joints and Rolling Wheels) #155 CANNABIS & CHOCOLATE (The Art of Chocolatiering)
LISTEN ON
WATCH ON LEAF LIFE PODCAST V2
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
Marijuana products may be purchased or possessed only by persons 21 or older. This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit-forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.
THE CULTURE ISSUE
CHOCOLATE BAR
FEEL THE GOLD RUSH
Keep up with cannabis Find local deals, products, and reviews
Visit weedmaps.com or download the app
