THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE
THE EQUALITY ISSUE F RE E / L E A F M AGA Z I N E S . COM
#74 | JUNE 2022
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COLD CITY CANNABIS
INSIDE PAKALOLO MARKET SHIVA BLACK COOKIES
EXPLORING KOSHER KUSH
P.16
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P.24
P. 40
SHOP REVIEW
GARDEN TOUR
STRAIN OF THE MONTH
CANNTHROPOLOGY
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COOKING WITH CANNABIS SUMMER RECIPE IDEAS
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BRUCE WOLF
TANNINS & TERPENES VAPE CARTS & MARGARITAS
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O'HARA SHIPE
THE EQUALITY ISSUE
#74
[
JUNE 2022
issue
6
COLD CITY CANNABIS
june 2022
20 MARKET BLACK'S MIKE LEE
FORMER PRO HOCKEY PLAYER TURNS GROWER
40
READ IT ONLINE!
CANNTHROPOLOGY JEWS AND CANNABIS
COURTESY
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
COURTESY
16 SHOP REVIEW
O'HARA SHIPE
CANNABIS COMEDY ICON CHEECH MARIN ZOOMS IN WITH THE LEAF’S BOBBY BLACK TO DISCUSS HIS LEGENDARY CAREER, HIS CANNABIS BRANDS, HIS LOVE OF CHICANO ART, AND THE NEW MUSEUM THAT BEARS HIS NAME.
O'HARA SHIPE
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
CHILLIN’WITH CHEECH
09 10 12 14 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44
EDITOR’S NOTE NATIONAL NEWS HEMP INDUSTRY BUDTENDER Q&A SHOP REVIEW GARDEN SPOTLIGHT STRAIN OF THE MONTH COOKING WITH CANNABIS CONCENTRATE OF THE MONTH TANNINS & TERPENES CANNTHROPOLOGY STONEY BALONEY
THE equality ISSUE
leafmagazines.com FEATURES SPECIALS NEWS PODCAST CULTURE REVIEWS LEAF PICKS
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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 / AL AS KA L E A F / M A RY L AN D L E A F / CAL I F O R N I A L E A F /
A B O U T T H E C OV E R For this month’s cover, we looked to Leaf Creative Director Daniel Berman to create an impactful image that could encapsulate everything we are feeling about equality in the Cannabis industry at this unique moment in time. Seattle-based Cannabis stylist Malina Lopez (@malinalopez) has collaborated with us on more than twodozen cover shoots, and really brought home this fun concept. Our thanks as well to House of Cultivar for supplying the fresh live Cannabis, and to our models @devon_manier, @yourflynessthrifts, @jessiesfitclub, @1208garcia and @malinalopez for their time and energy.
PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
WES ABNEY C E O & F O U N D E R wes@leafmagazines.com
CONTRIBUTORS
MIKE RICKER OPERATING PARTNER + AD SALES ricker@leafmagazines.com TOM BOWERS C H I E F O P E R AT I N G O F F I C E R tom@leafmagazines.com DANIEL BERMAN C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R daniel@leafmagazines.com
O'HARA SHIPE C O N T E N T D I R E C T O R + W E B ohara@leafmagazines.com MEGHAN RIDLEY C O PY E D I T O R meghan@leafmagazines.com
OSCAR AVELLANEDA-CRUZ, PHOTOS BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION TOM BOWERS, FEATURES EARLY, PRODUCTION STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS DAN LANKFORD, SALES MALINA LOPEZ, PROPS + STYLING KELLY PINNELL, FEATURES JEFF PORTERFIELD DESIGN MIKE RICKER, FEATURES MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING O’HARA SHIPE, FEATURES JAMIE VICTOR, DESIGN JERRY WHITING, FEATURES
CONNECT WITH ALASKA LEAF Exclusive Cannabis Journalism @NWLEAF
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EDITOR'S NOTE PHOTO by OSCAR AVELLANEDA-CRUZ @OKIAVE
Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up the 3rd annual Equality Issue of the Leaf! My intention for this issue’s cover was to highlight the many hands of our Cannabis community, all brought together by the plant that has helped heal us. Special thanks to House of Cultivar in Seattle for providing the plants, Malina Lopez for her creative styling and approach to bring my idea to life, and to Daniel Berman for nailing the shot. This issue is an expression of our whole team, and our commitment to telling stories that can open eyes and help usher in a new era for humanity. Sadly our country has a lot of healing to do in order to right the ravaging effects of the war on drugs. For the last century, Americans – especially minorities – have been systematically locked away, lost jobs or children, and been killed by police for using Cannabis and other drugs. While I go deeper into this history in my Endless War on Humanity piece (read it online at LeafMagazines.com), I bring it up here to illustrate my point in relation to this issue’s theme.
9
In the eyes of the Government and Law Enforcement, anyone who chooses to use Cannabis or other drugs is considered a second class citizen. I think it’s high time we address that situation by considering the very foundation of America – the Declaration of Independence – which guarantees “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Is there any greater expression of humanity than using drugs to expand and explore new forms of consciousness, emotions, feelings and experiences? The human condition can be wonderful, painful, and utterly boring in our modern journey. Why is it still thought of as morally wrong to use drugs when happy hour and pharmaceuticals dominate the culture? And is there no greater perversion of this statement in today’s context than the continued war on drugs? In today’s “free America,” those who use drugs lose their freedom.
IN TODAY’S ‘FREE AMERICA,’ THOSE WHO USE DRUGS CAN STILL LOSE THEIR FREEDOM.
And to be clear, this isn’t about weed only. I’m with Dr. Carl Hart (look up his work) in that all drugs should be legal for recreational and/or medicinal use, with their abuse treated as a social and mental health issue, not a criminal one. We should celebrate our humanity without criminalizing our pursuit of happiness, whether with Cannabis, entheogenic plants like peyote or psilocybin mushrooms, or even with harder drugs. Treating those addicted to drugs like humans – giving them safe-use sites and social services instead of criminalizing addiction – has reduced drug use in parts of Europe. In America, the difference between a good drug and a bad drug is if a pharmaceutical company can profit from it while advertising on TV. For-profit pharmaceuticals have got to end and legalizing Cannabis is only the beginning … especially with the controlled-commercialized-taxed form of “legal” weed that we accept today. In conclusion (mainly because I’m out of space), when the most dangerous aspect of possessing a drug is being caught with it, nobody who chooses to use it is equal. Ending the war on drugs could be the greatest step toward all of us being equal, and begin the process by which we can heal as one country, together.
-Wes Abney JUNE 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 ricker@leafmagazines.com to start advertising with Alaska Leaf!
N O RT H E AS T L E A F
national news
WEST COAST
10
GLOBAL
NEWSOM WANTS TO REDUCE CALI POT TAXES
C
alifornia Governor Gavin Newsom on May 14 proposed a temporary tax cut for the state’s struggling legal Cannabis industry, reports KTLA. But the plan falls short of what’s needed to revive a struggling adult-use weed market, according to some marijuana business owners. Adult-use Cannabis sales began in California back in 2018. But hefty taxes approaching 50% in some areas burden the nascent industry. It doesn’t help that there’s also costly regulation and stiff competition from a thriving untaxed market. Industry analysts estimate the untaxed market to be at least twice the size of the legal one. Meanwhile, a glut of Cannabis from corporate-scale farms has sent wholesale prices into a tailspin and left some growers unable to make a profit. Industry leaders warned Democratic Gov. Newsom in December that the state’s adult-use industry was verging on collapse. They asked for expedited tax relief and a speedy expansion of retail outlets to survive. Photo by Gage Skidmore.
THAILAND GIVING AWAY 1 MILLION FREE CANNABIS PLANTS
T
he government of Thailand announced this week that it will give away 1 million free Cannabis plants for home cultivation. Thailand’s public health minister, who has spearheaded the nation’s weed decrim, made a Facebook post in May with the plans. Industry analysts say the moves could help lure more international visitors to Thailand and strengthen medical tourism (tourism accounted for as much as a fifth of Thailand’s pre-Covid economy). But foreign tourists should exercise extreme caution: current Thai law forbids the THE GOVERNMENT IS DISTRIBUTING THE non-medical use of highly PLANTS WHEN MOST potent marijuana. Tourists conLEGAL RESTRICTIONS victed of possessing the herb can ARE LIFTED JUNE 9. face a draconian 15 years in prison.
MIDWEST
POLITICS
MISSOURI ACTIVISTS TURN IN LEGALIZATION SIGNATURES
SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICANS AXE MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL
egal Missouri wants adult-use Cannabis legalized in the ShowMe State. They turned in more than 385,000 signatures to put the initiative on the ballot — more than double the amount needed (the group needed only 171,592 valid signatures to get the measure on the November election ballot). The proposed constitutional amendment would allow Missourians who are 21 and older to possess, consume, purchase and cultivate marijuana.
arduous seven-year struggle to pass a medical marijuana bill ended with a whimper last month in South Carolina. A Republican House leader ruled the proposal contains an unconstitutional tax increase. South Carolina’s medical Cannabis law would have been one of the most restrictive in the U.S. Only residents with medical conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, sickle cell, autism and PTSD would be able to access marijuana. Smoking weed would be illegal; patients would be instructed to use oil, salves, patches or vaporizers.
L
AN
WEIRD
WEED VENDING MACHINE EARNS MAN UP TO $2K A DAY
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
A
uthorities say a man was making up to $2,000 per day by running a marijuana vending machine outside his house. Marcellus Cornwell used it to sell marijuana and pills, according to a criminal complaint. The tip also alleged Cornwell had numerous firearms and was selling weed and guns to minors. ATF agents conducted surveillance at Cornwell’s home, twice buying “suspected marijuana” from the vending machine in February and March, according to the criminal complaint. AGENTS WITH THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES GOT A TIP THAT HE WAS OPERATING THE MACHINE BESIDE HIS HOUSE.
2
Arkansas groups are sponsoring legalization signature drives: Arkansas True Grass & Responsible Growth Arkansas.
june 2022
7
of every 10 Biden voters support national marijuana legalization.
18 83%
states have legalized the adult use of Cannabis.
of Texans support medical marijuana legalization, according to a new poll.
THE SOUTH
CANNABIS TESTING LAB COMES TO MISSISSIPPI
C
alifornia-based Steep Hill recently became the first Cannabis laboratory starting the ISO accreditation process in Mississippi. Steep Hill, one of the oldest medical marijuana testing companies, already has laboratories in nine states, Canada and Mexico. Construction of the new laboratory, Steep Hill Mississippi, was completed in mid-May as testing instruments and equipment arrived. The laboratory will test marijuana for THC levels and terpenes, along with pesticides, fungus and bacteria.
550
pounds of marijuana were seized in Utah on May 15, after troopers pulled over a tractor-trailer for expired registration.
$1.9m of marijuana was sold on the first day of legal adult-use sales in New Jersey.
STORIES by STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA
EXPERT OPINION
HEMP INDUSTRY
chemically equivalent. Each has its own ratio of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose. Wood is ground into small pieces in order to make paper. X percent of hemp can probably be added to wood in existing factories. On the other hand, cotton is spun or woven, so any hemp fibers need to work without new machines. Hemp is known for its long, strong fibers – if farmers grow tall plants, the resultant fibers could be blended without a whole new factory. The first question anyone in the textile or paper industry will ask is: “Yes, blends are great – but can you guarantee a steady supply of hemp once we commit to integrating it into our product line?” From a business point of view, this is a key question for farmers on the front end and existing manufacturers on the receiving end. Farmers and processors need to make long-term commitments to grow the industry together. The good news is that shifting away from cotton and wood is good for the planet (and possibly cheaper too), but the only way the hemp fiber market is going to grow is if farmers have customers. Nothing will spur them to grow more hemp than signed purchase agreements in-hand before they plant. I agree that what I’m saying is a classic chicken-and-egg conundrum. No big company is going to introduce a product line that will run out of materials once they start selling. The bulk of the hemp being grown today is for CBD extraction, not fiber. Hemp farmers need to plant fiber cultivars and lots of them, too. The only way the fiber industry can scale up profitably is if the farms are close to the manufacturing plants. I love small family What if hemp replaced farms, but my guess is WHILE BLENDS MAY NOT a fraction of cotton, wood that 50 acres of hemp BE AS SEXY AS 100% HEMP, or plastic? We all want is the smallest profitable EACH INDUSTRY LIKELY HAS to wear hemp jeans and harvest size. t-shirts. Can I interest you The marketplace will A SWEET SPOT WHERE A in clothing that is 20% or be the final arbitrator. HEMP BLEND WOULD REQUIRE Farmers who grow even 10% hemp fiber? ONLY MINOR RETOOLING OF Would you feed your lots of fiber will seek printer paper that was a out customers, just as EXISTING MANUFACTURING post-consumer recycled enlightened companies FACILITIES. paper and hemp fiber that want to use hemp blend? Building a deck or will look for suppliers. shed? What if you could buy plywood that wasn’t The rest of us need to be patient and from trees, but a mixture of hemp and wood? support the hemp industry in all of its forms While blends may not be as sexy as 100% and guises. And if that means blending hemp, each industry likely has a sweet spot where hemp into wood and paper and other a hemp blend would require only minor retooling existing materials, then so be it. After all, of existing manufacturing facilities. Hemp stems a little hemp here and there can make a may resemble wood at first glance, but they aren’t big difference.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ALL HEMP...
12
WE PHOTO BY ADOBE
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
Jerry Whiting
all love hemp and we want more of it in our day-to-day lives. Whether food or paper or clothing, we can’t get enough of it because the U.S. market is still very small and fragmented. I’m not suggesting we give up on hemp, but perhaps all of us – farmers, manufacturers and consumers alike – should think about the transition to a hemp-filled world. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not backing away from my vision of how hemp can be used for so many different things. Let’s be honest: We’re not going to wake up one morning to see hemp in everything we encounter. Or will we?
june 2022
EXCLUSIVE COLUMN by JERRY WHITING for LEAF NATION // LeBlancCNE.com/podcast
interview
ALASKA LEAF BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH
JENNIFER GOCHENAUER BEFORE BUDTENDING YOU WERE A SERVER AT RAMEN HOUSE. WHICH JOB DO YOU PREFER, TENDING BUD OR TENDING RAMEN? (laughs) Budtending for sure. It was fun working at a restaurant, but it wasn’t a good long-term thing for me. DID YOU EVER GO TO WORK STONED? No! I was always the kid who never broke the rules during school hours, or work hours even. Work hard and play harder after, right? I use Cannabis after work.
“THAT’S WHAT DO YOU TAKE YOUR I LOVE ABOUT PAST EXPERIENCES OF RETAIL, OR LOVE THE ALASKAN FOR ANIME, INTO SUMMER – YOUR BUDTENDING YOU HAVE THE PRACTICES? I do. UNIQUE ABILITY I’ve been in the service industry for about 13 TO MEET NEW years and every job FRIENDS FROM I’ve had has given me EVERY CORNER the tools to prepare OF THE GLOBE.” me for the awesome job of budtending. I think being personable – by listening to them and paying attention to their body language – is very important. You can tell if they want to chat, or not, because it is important to give them their necessary space.
14
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
THESE ARE QUALITY SKILLS TO HAVE FOR THE NEW TOURIST SEASON, YES? That’s what I love about the Alaskan summer – you have the unique ability to meet new friends from every corner of the globe. Cannabis is the thread that gives us something in common. People who come from the UK tell me how much American weed is over there versus the weed they're buying here, and it puts me in shock. They say the weed is cheaper and better in Alaska. YOU’RE A NATIVE ALASKAN, RIGHT? I am Holikachuk Athabascan. I grew up in Grayling and always played outside with friends. But I also loved to tag along with my grandpa when he needed to check his snares, go for a boat ride or blueberry picking.
GANJA GUYS
S
HE’S A big fan of practicing yoga and riding bikes, but an even bigger fan of anime. Right now, she’s into Demon Slayer and she’s always looking for the next big story arc to take her away! Follow her on Instagram @cosmic.fancy
june 2022
101 E INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT RD ANCHORAGE, AK AKGANJAGUYS.COM @GANJAGUYS.AK (907) 206-4420 11AM-11PM SUN-THURS 11AM-MIDNIGHT FRI & SAT
STORY by ALASKA LEAF STAFF @AKLEAFMAG | PHOTO by O’HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS
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
shop review
COLD CITY CANNABIS ENVIRONMENT & VIBE Cold City Cannabis is located in an unassuming industrial neighborhood on E 70th Ave in Anchorage, but don’t let that fool you – it is easily one of the busiest dispensaries we’ve seen in the city. With a steady influx of customers throughout the day, it’s impossible not to get swept up in the excitement. Of course, the effortlessly cool Southern California vibe created with brick facades, clean display cases, and hip-hop tracks blasting on the loudspeakers add to the cool factor.
PRODUCTS 16
This dispensary is small but mighty. If you’re looking for a wide array of flower from different cultivations, you won’t find them here. What you will find is premium bud lovingly grown in small batches to ensure the kind of quality that will have you coming back again and again. We’d recommend picking up a gram of Cheetah Piss – grown in the store's onsite garden. This strain is selling like hot cakes, so don’t delay on stopping by to pick some up for yourself. While there, be sure to check out Cold City’s rocking swag and glass offerings.
BUDTENDERS
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
Cold City’s budtenders are outstanding. Each has come to Cold City from other dispensaries, so they have a wealth of knowledge. Even more exciting, they are obsessed with terpenes and can help anyone find the perfect flower for every purpose.
SPECIAL PERKS By the time this edition prints, Cold City will be stocking their parent cultivation’s concentrates. If it's anything like their flower, this is going to be a must-try for any concentrate enthusiast. Looking for a screaming deal? Leave a review of the dispensary on Weedmaps, Google or Yelp, and be rewarded with 1 gram of flower or a 1 gram pre-roll for a penny. Don’t want to leave a review? No problem. New customers can still snag 1 gram of bud for $1.
QUICK HIT Watch out Anchorage, there’s a new shop in town and it’s poised to be your new favorite spot for small-batch, craft Cannabis!
june 2022
COLD CITY CANNABIS 1210 E 70TH AVE, ANCHORAGE OPEN 11AM-MIDNIGHT DAILY COLDCITYCANNABIS.COM @COLD_CITY_CANNABISAK (907) 222-9988
Budtender Amber Bennett
THE EFFORTLESSLY COOL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VIBE CREATED WITH BRICK FACADES, CLEAN DISPLAY CASES, AND HIP-HOP TRACKS BLASTING ON THE LOUDSPEAKERS ADD TO THE COOL FACTOR.
REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF @AKLEAFMAG | PHOTOS by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS
@greenjar_ak
4901 E. Blue Lupine Dr. Ste. E Wasilla, AK 99654 907-631-3800 Open 7 days a week 9am-9pm 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
“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.
garden spotlight
MARKET BLACK the former pro hockey player talks cannabis and growing while black
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
20
"It took me 20 years to save up the money to open my own legal cultivation. It's something I am really proud of because I self-funded the operation. That's not something that everyone can say," -Mike Lee
june 2022
STANDING AT an imposing 6 feet tall, with hands as big as a catcher's mitt and a wicked wit, Mike Lee is used to standing out in a crowd. Not unlike Brian Mills in the movie franchise "Taken," Lee has acquired a very specific set of skills over the years – skills that took him all the way to the USA Hockey Junior National Team in 1997. But Lee doesn't dwell on the past and is reluctant to talk about his years as an elite hockey player. "I got into hockey when I was like nine years old. I think I saw it on TV or something," says Lee curtly. Although Lee doesn't don a pair of skates anymore, he's still considered a local legend by anyone in the Alaskan hockey scene. His status is fitting, considering he played in the most elite junior hockey league in the world, the WHL, and was under contract with the NHL's Vancouver Canucks as a teenager. While he didn't make it all the way to the NHL, he played 274 games during his six-year professional career.. "Hockey was tough back in the day because I was a fighter. Getting paid to fight eventually takes a toll on you because you're getting your head beat in, night after night. Psychologically and physically it's a tough job," explains Lee. When Lee hung up his skates for the last time in 2006, it was the ending of one legacy and the beginning of another. "Even when I was playing pro, I was growing and selling black market weed. It's something that I've always been passionate about, and I knew I was always going to be involved in it one way or another," he says. "I just didn't know when I'd be able to openly grow and sell." When Lee hung up After five years of legality, Lee's dehis skates for the cades of underground growing experilast time in 2006, it ence are finally going to be savored. "It took me 20 years to save up the was the ending of money to open my own legal cultivaone legacy and the tion. It's something I am really proud beginning of another. of because I self-funded the operation. That's not something that everyone can say," friends to do pickexplains Lee. ups," explains Lee. With standard grows costing tens of thouIt was a smart sands of dollars to get off the ground, Lee's Marstrategy considket Black is a testament to his love of the plant. ering one of the biggest barriers to entry in the "I've seen what weed can do for people, and legal market is a prior conviction. Sadly, outit's one of the reasons I am so passionate about right discrimination and racism have caused the it. For me, I'd get beat up all hockey season, African-American community to be imprisoned and team doctors would give you painkillers at the highest rate of any ethnicity. Accordlike candy. It could have been easy to get ading to Statista.com, the incarceration rate of dicted to that stuff," says Lee. African-Americans in 2020 was 465 per every But Lee's love of Cannabis could have easily 100,000 of the population. turned sour. As a bi-racial man, he was lucky to "You know, just like in the hockey communihave been spared the infamous police "knockty, there's a stigma around being Black in the and-talks" that put many people behind bars. industry. In Alaska, you rarely see a weed busi"Back in the day, you couldn't order lights and ness owned by a person of color," says Lee. growing supplies without arousing suspicion. So As an aspiring business owner of color, the guys were selling stuff out of the back of their cars. obstacles don't stop at having a clean record. The cops would tail people and wait for them to "Well, it just comes down to money and pull their lights or weed out of the car and then opportunity," says Lee. "The first rule is that the – bang – you're arrested. So, I'd always send my property you grow on has to be paid for. That
right there eliminates about 95 percent of people. The powers that be make it almost impossible." Unlike many others, Lee was lucky enough to secure a limited-grow license transfer from Green Degree. "I got lucky that I was able to secure an incredible deal and didn't have to pay for the building. The transition process has been long, but it doesn't matter; I'm getting to live out my dream," says Lee. However, Lee doesn't plan on being content with just reaching his goals. For him, the dream is to provide financial capital, training and mentoring for the next generation of BIPOC growers. "What I am doing right now isn't enough. I want to create opportunities for people to be in this industry. It might be a while before I can set things up the way I want, but rest assured that I fully intend on making the industry accessible to the disenfranchised," says Lee.
STORY & PHOTOS by O’HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS/ALASKA LEAF At the time of print, Market Black's license transfer was pending.
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IF
your question is – “What would be the perfect summertime buzz?” – our answer is Pakalolo Supply Company’s Shiva Cookies. This true sativa comes in at a tasty 16.78% THC that leaves one smiling and happy to exist in this beautiful state … and state of mind. Upon first popping the container open, we were immediately impressed by the large, well-formed buds we received. Each bud looked like a miniature bush – with equal parts green leaf and red-haired stigmas blended in perfect harmony. As we dug deeper into the firm nuggets, we released a light but distinct citrus aroma that marked this offering from Pakalolo Supply Co. with a trademark sativa quality. The buds were consistent throughout, a good sign of proper cultivation and curing. It’s easy to tell that there was a lot of care put into this unique strain. We loaded the bowl while eagerly awaiting
the first taste. After some debate, we finally came to the agreement that it could best be described as a smoky/spicy lemon flavor that sat heavily on the tongue. The smoky taste we were getting reminded us of a quality scotch. That flavor settled in quietly and made room for the delicious lemon pepper overtones to put on their show. Our taste buds applauded at the performance and called for an immediate encore. The initial high came on fairly quickly – with a feeling of elation that brought summer-wide grins to our faces. Slowly creeping in (after about 20 minutes of bliss) came a very focused energy that begged to be harnessed. This would be a great offering to enjoy before a backyard badminton game or a day of yard work. You’ll have the ambition to be productive and a lightness in your heart that might have you singing just a little too loudly for the neighbors' comfort. If they complain, you can always start the lawn mower.
PA K A LO LO S U P P LYC O.C O M @ PA K A LO LO A K | 14.71% THC
REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF | PHOTO by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS
cooking with cannnabis
tastes of summer JUNE ROCKS. And it’s Pride Month. The weather tends to be good … hopefully warm, not crazy hot. From Alaska to SoCal to the East Coast and beyond, we all should be able to enjoy some outdoor merrymaking. My strain of the month is Life Coach from Noble Farms. First of all – and I hate to be shallow – it’s pretty. But more importantly, as the love child of Orange Cookies and Biscotti, it’s sweet, fruity and quite uplifting. Oh Cannabis, I love you.
Serves four | 5mg THC per serving
ARUGULA SALAD EXTRAORDINAIRE 4 strips bacon 1 large shallot, peeled and minced 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced 2 tablespoons brown sugar 6 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 3 tablespoons orange juice 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 2/3 cup olive oil 4 teaspoons canna olive oil 4 large handfuls of arugula 4 large handfuls mixed salad greens 20 large cooked shrimp, cut in pieces if desired 1 red onion, thinly sliced 20 grape tomatoes 1 avocado, pitted, peeled, cut in chunks and tossed with lemon juice salt and pepper
1. In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain off grease, reserving the fat in the pan. Chop bacon. 2. Heat the bacon drippings in the skillet, over medium heat. Add shallot and garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add brown sugar and stir to dissolve. 3. Scrape the contents of the skillet into a blender. Add the vinegar, juice, mustard and oils. Blend well. 4. In a large serving bowl, toss the greens with the shrimp, red onion, tomatoes and avocado. Add the dressing and toss again. Season with salt and pepper.
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Serves four | 5mg THC per serving
FANCY FISH TACOS
R EC I P E S by LAU RIE WO LF P HOTOS by B RUC E WO LF
Serves four | 5mg THC per serving
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2 tablespoons olive oil 4 teaspoons canna olive oil 2 ounces pancetta or lardons of bacon, cut in small pieces 2 cloves garlic, minced 3 large eggs ½ cup freshly grated parmesan, plus more for garnish 1 pound spaghetti salt and pepper
1. In a large saute pan, heat both of the oils over medium heat. Add the pancetta and cook for 2-3 minutes, until starting to get crisp around the edges. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute. 2. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs with the cheese. 3. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and cook according to the directions on the package. The pasta needs to be hot for this dish to be successful. Drain the pasta and immediately add to the saute pan. 4. Remove pan from the heat, add egg mixture to pasta and stir fast to coat pasta. 5. Season with salt and pepper and serve with additional cheese, if desired.
june 2022
¼ cup cooking oil 8 small flour tortillas 4 radishes, thinly sliced 3 scallions, sliced ½ yellow bell pepper, cut in chunks 1 avocado, cut in cubes and tossed with lemon juice 2 tablespoons chopped red onion 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced ½ pound cod or other white fish salt and pepper 4 teaspoons canna olive oil 1 tablespoon olive oil parsley, cilantro, lemon slices to garnish
1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, heat the oil. Saute the tortillas quickly on both sides and place on paper towels or a clean dish towel. 2. In a medium bowl, combine the radishes, scallions, pepper, avocado, red onion and garlic. 3. Place the fish on your work surface. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. In a medium saucepan, combine the canna and olive oils. Break the fish into pieces and saute quickly, about 3-4 minutes, tossing to cook evenly. 4. Add the fish to the vegetable mixture in the bowl, tossing gently to combine. 5. Place two tortillas on each plate. Top each tortilla with some of the fish mixture. Garnish with the parsley, cilantro and lemon slices. Salt and pepper to taste.
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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.
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REFINE ALASKA
LOUD RESIN WEDDING PIE After chewing on the overdone steak of a long work week, we all deserve a little dessert to make it worthwhile. Refine Alaska’s Loud Resin Wedding Pie is the perfect treat to enjoy when you just want to unwind – and it’s not only OK, but highly recommended that you go back for seconds.
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This excellent offering from Refine is part of their award-winning Blue line of hash oils. The product also carries the brand’s ‘Loud’ designation – reserved for premium products, so you can be sure you are getting their very best when you pop their signature blue lid. Opening the small jar revealed a bright golden resin that was clear and consistent throughout. The concentrate was soft and tantalizingly gooey. The aroma carried a tangy scent that tickled our noses with anticipation. We spooned out the perfect dab, loaded the rig and began our journey. The flavors of the concentrate opened up nicely on the first intake. We found the taste to be very enjoyable, with hints of pepper and spice mixed with wholesome earthy undertones that formed the foundation of the flavor. The exhale turned up the dial to 10 on the tasteo’-meter and had us cutting in line for our turn at the next draw. This 70.6% THC, 6.74% terps, indicaleaning hybrid hit us almost immediately. The sensation of having just finished a full body massage (without the pain or discomfort of having someone grind on your muscles for half an hour) washed over us like a gift. As we sank a little deeper into the couch, our mind began to settle in right behind it. A rush of euphoria hit us soon after, leaving us blissed out about just being able to let everything go and focus on a genuine feeling of happiness. The high lasted well into the evening and we actually lost track of time due to our completely relaxed mind and body. This is a powerful antidote to the stresses that get thrown at us on a daily basis and a great way to unwind the ropes that bind us. Go grab yourself a slice (or two) of Wedding Pie today – trust us, you’ve earned it.
REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF @AKLEAFMAG | PHOTO by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS
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june 2022 june 2022
With sips of the margarita nestled between pulls, our palates were blissfully abuzz.
No one in their right mind would leave Alaska in the summertime, at least not in our opinion. Why else do we fight our way through the long dark winters if not to enjoy the 20-plus hours of daylight we get during our fantastic summers? Thankfully, by pairing the Frog Mountain Herer Haze cartridge with the favorite summertime beverage – a margarita – you’ll feel like you are sitting on a beach in Mexico with your toes in the sand and your head sailing through the deep blue sky. When we first pulled the cartridge out of the package we were intrigued. Ketchikan’s Frog Mountain, in their continuous quest to bring the cleanest and most natural products to the industry, has hit one out of the park with their new cartridge design. By the time of this publication, they will have converted to using the Sirius Pod as their sole delivery mechanism. The pods are compact, self-contained delivery systems (product/battery/charging port) less than 3 inches in height and 14 millimeters in diameter – the perfect size to fit snugly into the downstem of your favorite bong. The main advantage to this cartridge is that it is wickless. Whereas most vape carts contain a cotton wick as part of their design (which Jason at Frog Mountain equates with “hitting a dab off a Q-tip”), their cartridges use a porous ceramic wick to deliver the concentrate from the chamber to the heating element. This results in a much cleaner draw. The cartridge, being self-contained, does not rely on glues or adhesives to seal openings like a traditional threaded cart would. All of this, combined with their CO2 extraction, makes for a very pure Cannabis experience. For the best results, this style of cartridge should be hit in a long, slow draw rather than a quick, deep hit. Made from King Street Cannabis Co. flower, this 76.98% THC offering is also high in terpenes (9.32%), resulting in a very flavorful taste. The dominant terp is terpinolene at 3.87%, which is common, but usually found in low quantities in most strains. Tasting a terpinolene dominant strain was a real treat and the first two words we all used to describe the taste were “fresh and clean.” The initial inhale gave a newly-chopped citrus and herb flavor that left us licking our lips, while the exhale amplified the experience and added to its complexity. We soon began to notice a pleasant aftertaste of a more earthy nature, reminiscent of nutmeg and other deep-flavored spices. With sips of the margarita nestled between pulls, our palates were blissfully abuzz. The high came on in a very quiet manner that left us feeling the same, and there wasn’t much conversation as we began to feel the effects. The sensation was a bit of a paradox, in that it could be described as being intensely relaxed. If that wasn’t a thing before, it is now. The high lasted well into the second hour. Our smiles lasted all day.
REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF | PHOTO by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS
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cannthropology
PRESENTS
The ruins of the temple fortress at Tel Arad in Israel’s Negev desert. Below: Tokin’ Jew seder plate.
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Kosher Kush leafmagazines.com
Highlighting the history of Jews and Cannabis.
It’s well established that, for Grav Labs’ menorah bong. millennia, Cannabis has been used as food and fiber, as well as for medicinal and sacramental purposes by many ancient cultures … but would it surprise you to know that the Hebrews were among them? Now, a new exhibit at New York City’s YIVO Institute for Jewish Research is showcasing the age-old relationship between the Chosen Cairo Geniza fragment. TEXTS & TEXTILES People and their apparent drug of choice. Titled “Am Yisrael But these are hardly the High: The Story of Jews and Cannabis,” the exhibit contains only references to Cannabis in ancient Hebrew a number of contemporary items – including a shofar pipe, a Yiddish translation of the book “Hashish” and a menorah texts. The Talmud (the primary source of Jewish bong by Grav Labs, which curator Eddy Portnoy says served religious law) discusses growing hemp and how as the inspiration for the exhibit. It also features a sampling it should be kept separate from other crops. of documents from the Cairo Geniza: a collection of around There are also references to Jews using hemp 400,000 Jewish manuscript fragments discovered in the textiles to make religious garments such as tallitot (prayer shawls), tzitzit (knotted fringes Ben Ezra Synagogue in Old Cairo in the 1800s. Among the or tassels), and even burial shrouds. gems found in this treasure trove of material are song lyrics “It’s most prominent in clothing and about a Jew high on hashish and wine with a severe case of is considered to have a form of spiritual the munchies, and a “purchase order” for protection, so it was used very comhashish in exchange for silver dating from monly in burying the dead in Israel,” the 13th century CE.
JUNE 2022
Tokin’ Jew shofar pipe.
says Rabbi Yosef Glassman, MD, who spoke at the exhibit’s opening. “It’s believed that when there’s resurrection of the dead in the future, people will be wearing Cannabis clothing.” Hemp was often used to build Schach (Sukkah roofs), and in the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) it’s also recommended as the preferred material for wicks in Shabbat lamps and candles. KANEH BOSEM There are also several places in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) that refer to a spice called kaneh bosem, which may or may not be Cannabis. The Aramaic term (also referred to as kanabos) appears five times in the Old Testament – most significantly in Exodus, where God lists it among the five spices in the recipe for holy anointing oil he dictates to Moses. Historically, most sources have translated kaneh bosem as “sweet cane” – a vague description that makes identifying it difficult. Some scholars have interpreted it to be calamus, while others even believe its identity was purposely kept a secret because it was so sacred.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF YIVO ARCHIVES (4)
ISRAEL MUSEUM
TEL ARAD TEMPLE In May 2020, the academic journal of Tel Aviv University’s Institute of Archaeology published an article revealing that Can- Above: Tel Arad’s “Holy of nabis residue had been Holies.” Inset: Cannabis discovered on one of two resin residue on the altar. altars in the 2,700-yearold Judean temple known as Tel Arad (located in the Negev Desert about 59 miles south of Tel Aviv). The two limestone altars, which contained traces of burnt offerings, were located at the entrance of the temple’s inner sanctum – also known as the “holy of holies.” The larger of the two altars contained remnants of frankincense, while the smaller was found to contain traces of Cannabis resin (including cannabinoids THC, CBD and CBN) and animal dung, which archeologists believe was likely used to heat the hashish. Researchers also noted that since Cannabis wasn’t typically utilized for its fragrance, it was almost certainly burned for its psychotropic effects. “It seems likely that Cannabis was used at Arad as a deliberate psychoactive, to stimulate ecstasy as part of cultic ceremonies,” they wrote. “If so, this is the first such evidence in the cult of Judah.” MEDICAL USE & THE MIDDLE AGES There’s ample evidence that Jews continued to use Cannabis spiritually and medicinally throughout antiquity and the Middle Ages. In 1992, an archaeological dig in a cave at Beit Shemesh (about 35 miles west of Jerusalem) uncovered evidence of hashish in the stomach of the 1,623-year-old
remains of a 14-year-old girl who was nine months pregnant – leading researchers to conclude it had likely been used as an anesthetic during childbirth as early as the 4th century CE. In the 12th century, Maimonides – the most influential Jewish scholar/physician of the Middle Ages – recommended using Cannabis oil for colds, headaches, respiratory problems and clogged ears. In the 13th century, a Kabbalistic grimoire called the “Sefer Raziel” suggested Cannabis as a preventative for keeping demons away. And in the 16th century, the chief rabbi of Cairo, Rabbi ben Solomon ibn Abi Zimra, stated that the “leaves of Cannabis make one happy.” And then there’s Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer (aka Baal Shem Tov), who founded the Hasidic sect in the 18th century. A mystic and kabbalist whose teachings emphasized the importance of joy and direct connection with God, Eliezer was reported to “pray ecstatically,” make medicines from wild grasses and barks, and smoke from a water pipe which he claimed produced aliyat neshama (ascension of the soul). In fact, his biographer once said, “he would give his entire portion in this world, Hasidism and in the world to come, founder Baal just for a taste of what the Shem Tov. Ba’al Shem Tov got from his pipe.” MOROCCAN MERCHANTS Though it’s always been claimed it was tobacco that Eliezer was smoking, it’s certainly possible there was some hashish sprinkled in. After all, Jews were among the biggest tobacco and hash merchants in the Middle East at the time. Yiddish translation of When Morocco became “Hashish” (1911). one of the world’s largest YIVO LIBRARY producers of hashish in the 17th century, it was the Jews who brokered most of the export deals between the farmers in the Rif Mountains and the Arabic-speaking city dwellers. “The Jews, in general, did not grow Cannabis … but they received a monopoly from the king for the sale of tobacco in Morocco, and that included sales of the Cannabis plant and the hashish produced from it,” explained Moroccan Jewry expert Dr. Doron Danino in a 2019 interview with the Times of Israel. “Jews used to speak several languages, and they had a business sense, which made it a mutually beneficial partnership.” According to Dr. Danino, some Jews were even sprinkling hash into their shakshuka dalashubh — a couscous dish served as part of their preparation for celebrations and events.
FROM RABBIS TO RADICALS During the rise of America’s counterculture, Jews were consistently at the forefront of Cannabis activism. Jazz musician Mezz Mezzrow, aka the Muggles King, was Louis Armstrong’s reefer dealer and one of the plant’s earliest public advocates. It was allegedly Mezzrow who first turned on Beatnik icon Allen Ginsburg, who later “Am Yisrael High” exhibit poster co-founded America’s first featuring Allen Ginsberg. marijuana legalization advocacy group LeMar in 1964 and led the first pro-marijuana march in New York’s Lower East Side. Ginsberg, in turn, helped mentor the Yippies in the late ’60s, most of whose prominent members (Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, A.J. Weberman and Aron “Pie Man” Kay) were also Jews. Even President Richard Nixon acknowledged the connection between Jews and Cannabis in his infamous 1971 racist Oval Office recording: “You know, it’s a funny thing, every one of the bastards that are out for legalizing marijuana are Jewish.” In addition to activism, Jews have also led the way in Cannabis science via Israeli scientist Dr. Raphael Mechoulam – considered the “father of Cannabis research” for discovering THC, CBD and the endocannabinoid system in the 1960s – as well as the “godfather of medical marijuana,” Harvard professor/psychiatrist Dr. Lester Grinspoon. Other prominent Jewish marijuana advocates have included “The Emperor Wears No Clothes” author Jack Herer, grow guru Ed Rosenthal, and Drug Policy Alliance founder Ethan Nadelmann, among many others. EDUARD GUREVICH
Despite the similarity in phonetics, it wasn’t until 1936 that a Polish etymologist named Sula Benet first put forth the theory that kaneh bosem might be Cannabis. In her paper “Early Diffusion and Folk Uses of Hemp,” Benet argued that, after analyzing numerous ancient texts and comparative etymologies, she was convinced that the term had been mistranslated – explaining that the root “kan” actually translated to “hemp” and bosem meant “aromatic.” If Benet’s theory were correct, it would mean that ancient Jews not only used Cannabis as a textile, but also in their religious ceremonies – a hypothesis recently borne out by archeological evidence. Sula Benet (1936).
MODERN MITZVAH So, where does Jewish religious leadership stand on Cannabis in the modern age? Though it was declared forbidden under Jewish law by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein in 1973, that stance has since softened significantly. In 2013, Rabbi Efraim Zalmanovich stated that Cannabis was permitted for medical use and three years later, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky ruled that it could be consumed during Passover. Since then, several brands have been certified as Kosher by the Orthodox Union, including Vireo, Mitzvah Herbal, and Mazel Tov Farms (who co-sponsored the YIVO exhibit). “There is no question that the plant has a holy source, God himself,” says Glassman. “Marijuana usage…is an aspect of Jewish law and tradition that had long been buried, and one that deserves resurfacing and exploration.” For our podcast & more Cannabis history content visit worldofcannabis.museum/cannthropology.
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NO MATTER HOW WELL you take care of your body, gravity will eventually pull you back to earth to be reclaimed by the soil. And although very smart people on this planet have developed stunning scientific methods to prolong the everlasting blink, when your train is whistling into the station, you’ll need to politely disembark to clear space for new passengers. This is the end of the line – no pill, no surgery – and no more birthdays. But you can’t be mad. Being atop the food chain doesn’t mean you live forever – just that you live well, longer. In fact, you’ll most likely dwell here about five times longer than the average caveperson ever did, so be grateful that you don’t have to be worried about being eaten by a razor-toothed land shark. That poor hairy dude didn’t have a gun, a car, or an electric razor … much less a Home Depot. Yes, there are clams that live over 500 years and there are some trees that live thousands of years. But for you, large brain or not, 120 loops around the glowing orb are what you get – give or take a decade or 10 depending on how well you attract lightning. And that’s a generous estimation, mostly reserved for women living on some isolated island in Japan or Italy with simple diets and a daily glass of vino, sequestered from our instant gratification society of processed foods and secondhand smoke. So, there’s no denying that some people have temporarily circumvented death. But just as there are clever roundabouts and shortcuts en route to your final destination, the tick of the almighty timepiece will eventually come to a halt. And when that clock finally stops, let’s hope it gets stuck on 4:20. After all, the best way to go is up in smoke.
june 2022
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