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The largest Garden Superstore in the state with top brands you love, and the largest CBD selection in the country, all under one roof. Southside Garden Superstores isn’t just the largest garden supplier in Alaska, we also have a gigantic selection of CBD products. Our friendly staff of gardeners are seriously big on know-how. We offer special member pricing, 6-month exchanges for electronics and a price match guarantee. Stop by and we’ll help you find anything and everything you need for indoor gardening and hydroponics — and we’ll also send you home with the knowledge to succeed. Now that’s huge!
907.562.9997 2809 ARCTIC BLVD ANCHORAGE, AK 99503
907.357.9997 449 W PARKS HWY WASILLA, AK 99654
SGSAK.COM
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@greenjar.ak
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Sundays - 10% off CBD Mondays - 15% off Glass Tuesdays - 10% off Cartridges Wednesdays - 10% Accessories Thursday-Sunday - 10% off Reserve Batch Flower 2017
2018
Need Gift Ideas? Stop by Green Jar! 907-631-3800
Open 7 days a Week 9am - 9pm www.GreenJarAK.com 4901 E. Blue Lupine Dr. Ste. E Wasilla, Alaska 99654 MARIJUANA HAS INTOXICATING EFFECTS AND MY 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.
THE culture ISSUE
Coffee Shop Culture
aklEAF.COM
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7 Editor’S Note 12 NATIONAL news 14 alaska news 16 hemp regulation 20 bob snodgrass 24 budtender q&a 26 highly likely 28 denali dispensaries 32 strain of the month 36 it’s just a plant 38 building community 40 leaf goes to amsterdam 44 lowell’s café, hollywood 46 grassroots california 48 century of music & cannabis 50 cannabis & the visual arts 52 holiday cannabis recipes 54 edible of the month 56 concentrate of the month 58 on the road w/ jonah tacoma 60 stoney baloney by mike ricker
DEC. 2019
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Enjoying lunch at Prix D’Ami, a three-story Cannabis coffeshop in Amsterdam.
PHOTO by EARLY/LEAF NATION
Leaf Life Podcast is an entertaining exploration of All Things Cannabis For All People. @beardedlorax
@rickerdj
Join Ricker and The Bearded Lorax for insightful discussions with Cannabis industry influencers. THIS MONTH:
Show #37: Things To Do In Florida When You’re Stoned Show #38: The Controversy of Organic Show #41: Cooking With Cannabis
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THANKS TO OUR SPONSORSis
21+ 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 judgement. 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 twenty-one and older. Keep out of reach of children.
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
ABOUT THE COVER
For years, Northwest artist Joshua Boulet has wielded his considerable talents to create iconic holiday illustrations for Northwest Leaf, Oregon Leaf and Alaska Leaf’s December issue covers. His work is always surreal and full of humor, fun and cheekiness. See more of his beautiful work at JoshuaBoulet.com art by joshua boulet for alaska leaf @joshuaboulet
CONTRIBUTORS
PUBLISHER
Aimee Altman Features Boom Media Photos Michael Consalo News Shiela Dejarlais Features Steve Elliott National News Jeff Porterfield Design Eshom Reed Reviews Meghan Ridley Editing Pacer Stacktrain Features Laurie & Bruce Wolf Recipes
WES ABNEY | founder & editor-in-chief Wes@nwleaf.com 206-235-6721
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Daniel bermaN | photography & design daniel@bermanphotos.com
STATE DIRECTOR AND ADVERTISING joshua stahle | ADVERTISING SALES Josh@AKLeaf.com | 907-317-2536
We do not sell stories or coverage. We are happy to offer design services and guidance on promoting your company’s recreational, commercial or industrial Cannabis product or upcoming event. We are targeted and independent Cannabis journalism. Email or call to discuss advertising.
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ABNEY
Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up The Culture Issue of Alaska Leaf!
I AM A STONER. I want to start this by making that statement as a father, business owner, creative professional and overall happy person. I was a stoner as a college athlete, when I worked my first newspaper job, and when I had my first daughter. Cannabis helped her mother through the birth, and to celebrate our new life. But that wasn’t something I could always say with pride. I remember being arrested for pot, being called a drug user by the criminal justice system, and having to fight for freedom over a few grams of flower. I’ve had church members tell me that they pray for my THERE ARE family to escape the clutches of sin for using a plant that AMAZING I believe is a gift from God. I’ve seen cancer patients called fakes and stoners when testifying before legislature PEOPLE WHO for the right to treat their condition with a plant. GROW, SELL AND Over the last 10 years of publishing Leaf magazines, USE CANNABIS the narrative of Cannabis has evolved from the shadows to the mainstream as the healing and recreational EVERY DAY, FROM benefits are becoming undeniably accepted. But even as CELEBRITIES TO Cannabis generates billions in taxes, provides jobs and TEACHERS TO heals our people, the stigma of using it still exists. And that has got to change. POLITICIANS. Cannabis culture has come a long way since Cheech WE NEED TO and Chong and Pineapple Express, though those cultural BRING THE icons paved the way. Today, being a stoner is almost like being the wrong ethnicity or orientation in a culture. It’s CULTURE OUT OF okay to be you, just don’t show it or acknowledge it. But THE SHADOWS why should we have to hide our culture, our identity, and AND BE PROUD TO our medicine of choice? The simple answer is that we shouldn’t. Cannabis has PROCLAIM THAT long influenced culture, while developing its own lingo, WE TOO ARE attitude and vibe that touches many sub cultures and STONERS. genres. I’m here to proclaim loud and proud that it’s high time we celebrate our own culture! There are amazing people who grow, sell and use Cannabis every day, from celebrities to teachers to politicians. We need to bring the culture out of the shadows and be proud to proclaim that we too are stoners. Nobody should be afraid to share or use a healing plant, or have to hide their identity that is rightfully shaped by the plant we all know and love. That’s why we celebrate with our Culture Issue, to protect and share what is perhaps our greatest asset. The love for a plant that connects us through healing and recreation, art and music, and is fast becoming a mainstream influence on the entire world. That is why I’m proud to claim my title as stoner, and seek to share the truth about the most misjudged plant in history. Thank you for reading, sharing in our culture, and not being afraid to stand up for your right to be accepted.
-Wes Abney
DEC. 2019
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AKLEAF.COM
AL AS KA L E A F / N O RT H W E S T L E A F / O R EG O N L E A F / M A RY L AN D L E A F
WES
national news
WEST COAST
WASHINGTON STATE PUTS NEW BAN ON VAPING CHEMICAL
legalization
BIDEN STANDS ALONE AGAINST CANNABIS LEGALIZATION AMID DEMOCRATIC FIELD
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Joe Biden differs from his 2020 Democratic presidential rivals in at least one important respect: he doesn’t back the legalization of Cannabis. Biden in November claimed that the scientific community doesn’t know enough about whether weed is a “gateway drug” to harder stuff. “The truth of the matter is, there’s not nearly been enough evidence that has been acquired as to whether or not it is a gateway drug,” the former VP claimed at a campaign event in Las Vegas. “It’s a debate, and I want a lot more before I legalize it nationally.” The scientific debate on the gateway theory, of course, was over years ago. The mainstream source, TIME Magazine, even declared it scientifically dead almost 15 years ago. Biden does at least grant that marijuana shouldn’t be a crime. “Anyone who has ever been convicted of using marijuana and put in jail, they should immediately be released,” he said. “Their record should immediately be expunged.” Among the top tier of Democratic presidential candidates, only Biden has declined to endorse federal legalization. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have explicitly outlined plans to legalize Cannabis, with Sanders making it one of the central issues of his campaign.
West Coast
aklEAF.COM
WASHINGTON STATE TEMPORARILY BANS FLAVORED VAPE PRODUCTS Washingtonians are now in the second month of a statewide ban on flavored vape products. The Washington State Board of Health approved a 120-day emergency ban during its regular meeting, despite vocal opposition from a raucous audience which chanted “shame,” reports the Seattle Times. More than 350 people packed the meeting, with about 60 testifying during the public comment session. As ban opponents watched the vote, the ballroom at the SeaTac Marriott filled with the smell of vapor. The emergency ban leads into the 2020 legislative session, where the issue is all but guaranteed to arise. A law passed during last year’s legislative session, to raise the age to buy tobacco and vaping products to 21, goes into effect in January.
dec. 2019
A new regulation started November 20 in Washington state, expanding its ban on certain vaping products, reports KUOW. Health officials have had trouble pinning down exactly what it is about vape cartridges that’s caused hundreds of cases of severe lung disease across the nation. But the Centers for Disease Control in November found that vitamin E acetate was present in all 29 patients they reviewed. Products containing that compound are now banned in Washington state. “This new data shows that the vitamin E acetate is actually at the site of the injury deep in the lungs,” said Dr. Kathy Lofy, Health Officer for the state. “This does not prove that vitamin E acetate is causing lung injury, but it did strengthen the association.” The ban that’s already in place on flavored e-cigarettes and vape carts will remain, she said. Both bans last 120 days. An industry group, the Vapor Technology Association, has sued over the flavor ban, but hasn’t opposed the vitamin E acetate regulations.
ILLEGAL WEED SALES OUTPACE LEGAL POT IN CALIFORNIA California’s legal Cannabis industry is undergoing several growing pains. Almost two years after recreational weed became legal for adults in the Golden State, the black market still dwarfs legal sales. Owner Phil Blurton at All About Wellness in Sacramento says that means an uneven playing field. “Our city license now is $20,000 a year,” Blurton said. “The state license is $96,000. Then we pay 8.75 percent sales tax to the state.” Blurton said he also pays an additional four percent Cannabis tax to the city, on top of an additional 15 percent to the state, “which is making the cost of our product so expensive, the black market is booming now.” He’s not kidding. California’s illegal Cannabis market brought in $8.7 billion in sales this year - more than double the legal market, according to industry experts BDS Analytics. BDS found that there is just one legal Cannabis retailer for every 35,137 adults in California. That compares quite poorly with Colorado, which has one dispensary for every 4,240 adults, and with Oregon, which has one pot shop for every 5,567 adults.
MIDWEST
EIGHT MORE ILLINOIS SHOPS APPROVED TO SELL RECREATIONAL WEED Illinois in November awarded eight more Cannabis dispensaries licenses to sell recreational weed in the state starting January 1, 2020, reports the Chicago Tribune. That brings the total number of stores licensed around the state to 22, including four in Chicago, approved to start selling marijuana to adults. Two of those licenses, however, are for stores in Naperville and Arlington Heights, which have banned recreational sales. Under Illinois law, municipalities have the Dispensaries won’t be allowed along Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, the Loop or large chunks right to ban sales. o f t h e R i v e r N o r t h a l o n g t h e l a k e f r o n t. Illinois has 55 medical marijuana dispensaries. All were able to apply for licenses to sell recreational Cannabis from those locations. They can also apply to open a second shop, but the state hasn’t yet started to award those secondsite licenses. Dispensaries won’t be allowed along Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, the Loop or large chunks of the River North along the lakefront. Chicago’s recreational Cannabis rules created seven zones for marijuana sales, with no more than seven dispensaries allowed in each zone. By STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA
Marijuanahas intoxicating effects andmaybehabitforming andaddictive.Marijuanaimpairs concentration,coordination,andjudgement.Donotoperate vehicleormachineryunderits influence.Therearehealthrisks associatedwithconsumptionofmarijuana.Foruseonlybyadults 21andolder.Keepoutofreachofchildren.Marijuanashouldnotbeusedbywomenwhoarepregnantorbreastfeeding
alaska news
2ND ANNUAL
GREEN CHRISTMAS
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Alaska is a place known for its natural beauty and its people, which come together when it counts. Families like the Comans have been here through the harsh winters and earthquakes, financial hardships and times of abundance. And that’s why people like Cody Coman spend their time helping our community experience great entertainment and support with Trich Productions.
Cody Coman / Trich Productions Chief Productions Officer
in Hatcher Pass. “It was the first time the City of Trich Productions, a branch of the Green Degree family of businesses, has helped promote Cannabis Wasilla and Cannabis came together to benefit the community,” Cody mentioned. in a positive light throughout Alaskan communities Guests enjoyed live music, silent auctions, with events like the Coat Drive at the Extreme dancing, food, and a presentation from Skeetawk, Fun Center, The Green Spring Concert and Expo, discussing the phase one plan. The Great Alaskan Cannabis Bowl, and Green They also announced that they had raised Christmas for Skeetawk. enough to begin construction on the lift. “Skeetawk is an Athabaskan word meaning where Since this event, serious progress we all slide down,” said Cody Coman, has been made, with installation of chief productions officer of Trich Productions, LAST YEAR, the towers and completion of the first describing the new Hatcher Pass ski area. TRICH PRODUCTIONS phase.The parking lot is now four “The company involved worked with local HOSTED A PARTY times larger and the site is home to Alaskan tribes to name the mountain, and the largest yurt in Alaska. Engineering it’s 100% locally funded up to this point,” AND FUNDRAISER for electrical, plumbing, and snow Coman said. FOR SKEETAWK AT making have all been completed. “I got involved because my whole family THE MENARD CENTER They even installed the ski shack. loves to snowboard and we wanted to make IN WASILLA TO “The lift should be operational in sure that the community didn’t lose the February or March,” a positive Cody traditional Hatcher Pass Truck Run.” RAISE FUNDS AND me with a huge smile. Moving Last year, Trich Productions hosted a AWARENESS FOR THE tells forward is phase two and a larger lift. party and fundraiser for Skeetawk at The POTENTIAL SKI AREA Sponsorship spots are available for Menard Center in Wasilla to raise funds IN HATCHER PASS. chairs, trails, and a few other things. and awareness for the potential ski area
dec. 2019
Looking forward to this year’s event, Trich Productions will host the 2nd Annual Green Christmas on December 28th at the Anchorage Native Heritage Center. Doors open at 5:00 PM, with live music from Element 47, a silent auction, dinner and stand-up comedy. “It’s moving from a Cannabis mixer to one that is open to all businesses interested in helping support the mission of Skeetawk,” said Coman. “And there will be another presentation with some exciting news.”
The sponsorship for a chair is 30 years and those interested should contact Skeetawk. Moving forward, when they go to name the trails they will meet with most of the state recognized tribes to preserve the history of Alaska.
STORY by MICHAEL CONSALO for ALASKA LEAF
VA C A T I O N S W E E T S B O O K I N G D A I L Y
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 con consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.
expert OPINION
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BY JERRY WHITING LeBlancCNE.com/podcast
In 2019 American farmers grew over 90 million acres of corn, 90 million acres of cotton, and 80 million acres of soybeans. What makes you think hemp won’t be grown on literally millions of acres of farmland in the next few years?
With Legalization COMES REGULATION
H E M P WAS L E G A L I Z E D AT T H E F E D E R A L L E V E L I N D EC E M B E R 2 0 1 8 W H E N P R E S I D E N T T R U M P S I G N E D T H E AG R I C U L T U R A L I M P R OV E M E N T AC T O F 2 0 1 8 , A K A T H E FA R M B I L L . T H I S WAS H I S TO R I C B E C AU S E I T N O T O N LY D E F I N E D I N D U S T R I A L H E M P AS C A N N A B I S S AT I VA L . W I T H L E S S T H A N 0 . 3 % D E L TA - 9 - T H C BY D RY W E I G H T, B U T I T M OV E D H E M P F R O M T H E CO N T R O L L E D SU B S TA N C E S AC T, R E C L AS S I F Y I N G I T F R O M S C H E D U L E 1 TO S C H E D U L E 5 , A N D S H I F T I N G H E M P F R O M T H E D E A T O T H E F DA . T H E COU N T RY C H E E R E D A N D FA R M E R S P L A N T E D .
aklEAF.COM
Hemp at Red Wing Farms in Oregon
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) published interim final rules covering hemp October 31, 2019 (yes, Halloween). Let me give them credit for not instituting a seed certification program. That said, their recommendations are still potentially disastrous to the hemp industry. The USDA assumes that hemp will only be grown for cannabinoid extraction and therefore focuses on restricting the amount of THC allowed. Their obsession with restricting the trivial amount of THC in hemp threatens to choke the entire hemp industry before it matures. It’s almost 2020 and two out of three Americans want Cannabis legalized, yet the FDA treats hemp as if it’s pot. THC isn’t harmful and they don’t need to protect us from it. A more enlightened approach would use hemp rules and regulations as a stepping stone to full legalization at the federal level, which is coming sooner than the USDA seems to think. The individual states’ Departments of Agriculture are perfectly capable of doing testing and enforcement without the federal government’s involvement, especially the DEA. Sampling can be done by state agencies and testing labs can be state certified, not DEA certified. Hemp plants that test above 0.3% THC need to be destroyed. This too can be done by state authorities, unlike the USDA interim final rules which mandate it be destroyed by law enforcement, not state Deptartment of Agriculture staff. While policing hemp farms that grow for CBD extraction may be doable, what happens when farmers grow for food, fiber, textiles and uses we haven’t discovered yet? Yes, the 250,000 acres of hemp grown in 2019 can be inspected, but what happens when literally millions of acres of hemp are
DEC. 2019
needed for hempcrete, the textile market, and food? Sound outlandish? In 2019 American farmers grew over 90 million acres of corn, 90 million acres of cotton, and 80 million acres of soybeans. What makes you think hemp won’t be grown on literally millions of acres of farmland in the next few years? THERE ARE NUMEROUS RIDICULOUS PROVISIONS IN THE FINAL INTERIM RULES:
A lot is defined as “a contiguous area in a field, greenhouse, or indoor growing structure containing the same variety or strain of Cannabis throughout the area.” What if I grow on multiple parcels that aren’t contiguous? Farmers lease land down the road all the time. “Testing methodologies under this part will refer to the presence of ‘phytocannabinoids’ as either THC or CBD.” Oh please. What about CBG and other cannabinoids, of which there are literally dozens? The proposed licensing process is from Aug 1 to Oct 31, with outdoor farmers in mind. What about indoor and greenhouse farmers not bound to a summer growing season? “...the total potential delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol content, derived from the sum of the THC and THCA content…” What about the other cannabinoids like CBN, THC-V, THC-VA, etc.? Should we breed hemp varieties with total THC above 0.3% based on two and only two specific cannabinoids? RESTRICT INDUSTRIAL HEMP CULTIVATION and processing in America and the industry will flourish in other countries. Does the USDA want to encourage foreign competition at the expense of Americans? To quote one of my favorite memes: Make America Hemp Again. Ultimately the Farm Bill itself is flawed. It lumps all forms of THC together in an effort to establish hemp as non-intoxicating and in doing so puts a genetic ceiling on what can be grown. Worse yet, by not breaking with the past, the Farm Bill of 2018 continues the myth that THC is evil and to be avoided. The USDA’s final interim rule builds on the Farm Bill, and in doing so perpetuates the War on Drugs. Apparently the USDA didn’t get the memo. The failed War on Drugs is over. Spoiler alert - we won!
PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
When a green thumb meets the worldwide green rush. Welcome to the boom. The masses are clamoring for premium CBD products, and we hold the keys to a new green future in our hands. Why? Because we’re expert medical farmers who’ve dedicated our lives and careers to the highest-quality, sustainable farming. With our GreenFarms Consultancy Program, we’re looking to share our passion for going beyond organic with farmers like you. Soon, a new generation of hemp farmers committed to high-quality, sustainable medical farming will obliterate substandard growers and oversee a world in which everyone has access to the purest CBD products.
Let’s grow together. GreenFarmsCBD.com
THE CULTURE ISSUE
We built Cannabis culture on a foundation of glass. Since day one, a well-crafted piece has stood as more than a mere implement -it was a conversation piece, a point of pride, a signal that you’re not a tourist. Glass helped create the “head” community. It was the most underground thing you could buy legally, even if you had to lie and say it’s for tobacco. Fading are the days when head shops had to post signs that said, “If it rhymes with ‘song,’ we don’t sell it.” Bongs, spoons, sidecars, steamrollers, dab rigs - they’re now ubiquitous. It’s easy to take for granted, but it wasn’t always like this. All this beautiful glass had to come from somewhere. And that somewhere is Bob Snodgrass’ studio.
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Bob SNODGRASS From Eugene, the pioneering glass art legend chats with Oregon Leaf about his esteemed career, The Grateful Dead, and what’s next. STORY by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS | PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
dec. 2019
“I believed pot was something that was good for you from the get-go. This is mental health food. This is something that makes you better.”
LONG TOPHAT SIDEBOWL, MR. HAPPY, AND DEADHEADS
BORO FUMED #20 CRUCIBLE DIPPED SKULL
R
everently referred to as the “Godfather of Glass,” Bob Snodgrass developed new techniques for lampworking and glassblowing and invented pipe styles that now seem commonplace. He’s credited with the “sidecar” pipe (“I was tired of setting my pipe down on the bed and having it roll over,” he says), and perhaps most notably, with developing a coloring process called “fuming,” which involves the melting of precious metals between layers of glass. The effect is a pipe that looks transparently translucent at first, but develops rich color patterns as it is used. “I started trying to improve my glass work by using a little bit of color, and that’s how I discovered fuming,” Snodgrass said over the phone the morning after a late night spent at the premier of “Pipetown, USA” - a new documentary featuring him. “Putting down silver vapor on a piece of glass, I put down a dot and melted that flat, so I could put another piece of glass on top of that without trapping air. A dot on top of a dot was the beginning of what is now.” The method opened up a world of design possibilities. “I like to draw pictures in the glass,” he said. “As I stack up layers, I like to make a decorated can on a pipe. It’s not about the shape of a pipe as much as it’s about the art that goes into it.” Like so many people in the evolving Cannabis community, Snodgrass applied ingenuity to existing products and invented something greater. But unlike a lot of people in the industry, who protect such breakthroughs behind teams of intellectual property lawyers, Snodgrass shared his discovery. “I had a flashback back to algebra class when our algebra teacher used man’s learning as a way to explain the bell curve,” he said. “Our teacher said that during man’s lifetime, we’d reach the time when the bell curve was going straight up. I asked, ‘What do you mean?’ And he said, ‘An end to the time of secrets.’ So when I thought of keeping my discovery a secret, I had a flashback to that, and decided to share it with everyone.” He and the culture at large have come a long way from the early days, when he learned the art of lampworking from his friend Chuck. Like most in the then-nascent Cannabis world, Snodgrass said he had to find the friendly spots. “I met Chuck in early ‘71, and he had been selling to local record stores,” he said. “Head shops were a thing, but they weren’t a niche that was easy to find. You had to go look in the phone book for boutiques and record stores. We would travel to different cities and find places that were selling tie-dyes and pipes, and whatever else was considered hippie gear.”
“When I traveled around the country, I’d blow glass in my workshop that was in a bus,” he said. “We started traveling away from home and doing small events back in the end of the 70s. And by the early 80s, I’d do carnivals, I’d do little festivals, arts and craft shows, and I’d even do flea markets. We did that for about a decade before I went to my first Grateful Dead show. I’d have a handful of pipes on a table in the corner, and I’d have marbles with a sign that said, ‘No two alike. Genuine replacement parts for those who’ve lost a few.’” Touring with the Dead, Snodgrass would set up shop in the parking lot and show off his skills. Back then, there was always an element of danger to being part of the culture. “We used to be so paranoid,” he said. “You’d think it was the weed that was making us paranoid, but it was the laws around it that were making us paranoid.” That was when his reputation really started picking up steam, and the culture was never the same. The entire Cannabis community, especially the lampworkers, owe Snodgrass a debt of gratitude for sharing his discovery. His influence can be found everywhere - especially in his family. Snodgrass and his wife Marie live on their land in Eugene, where they share two houses and three workshops with their daughter Ginny, her husband Jonathan, Ginny’s son Ryder, and Ginny’s dog and cat. Both Ginny and Jonathan blow glass, as do the majority of Snodgrass’ other children and grandchildren. “My 5-year-old grandson, Ryder, he’s even made a marble,” he said. “My oldest son blows glass, his son blows glass. My oldest daughter’s two sons both blow glass. One of them, that’s how he makes his living. So I’ve got my whole family involved … They all at one point had an income coming in through glass.” Snodgrass sees his own contribution as being part of a larger movement, and sees the legalization and normalization of Cannabis culture as largely positive. “I’m just so impressed that there are so many strains, and so many effects that help people,” he said. “There’s just so much research that was hushed up. And the fact that the research is now happening and people can release the information … I believed pot was something that was good for you from the get-go. This is mental health food. This is something that makes you better.” The key to the future, he says, is for those who truly care about cannabis culture to preserve the positive nature of what he and other pioneers have built. “We’re always going to make some kind of change,” he said. “Whether it’s a progressive one, that’s our question. I’m always hoping we’re going to make things better.”
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Budtender
W H O ’ S YOU R FAVO R I T E B U D T E N D E R ? T E L L U S W H Y ! E M A I L N O M I N AT I O N S T O J O S H @ A K L E A F . C O M
ALASKA LEAF BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH
Matt Fishinghawk AK J OI N T / 78 0 1 S C H O O N S T, A N C H O R AG E / ( 9 0 7 ) 5 2 2 - 5 2 2 2
A K J OI N T. CO M / O P E N 1 0 A M - 1 0 P M DAI LY
HOW DI D YOU F I R ST E X P E R I E N C E CAN NAB I S ?
Like most people, Cannabis came into my life earlier than it probably should have. I was introduced to it by an older neighbor that lived down the street from me early into high school. Although at first it was just fun to sneak out and do something I knew I shouldn’t, eventually I took the time to learn a little about it and new that it was something special that I needed to be a part of. HOW DI D YOU B ECO M E A B U D TE N DE R ?
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I got my first job as a budtender in San Jose, California, at a medical Cannabis dispensary. I was going to college learning game design and originally only got the job to help pay for my tuition. After working there for several months, I found that I was having a lot more fun working with Cannabis and the people I was meeting then I was while in school, and decided I would be much happier working in the Cannabis industry. Eventually my family wanted to move to Alaska, and I decided to take a chance and follow them here in the hopes that I could find success in a brand new Cannabis industry.
aklEAF.COM
“I ALWAYS TRY TO ASK AS MANY QUESTIONS AS POSSIBLE ABOUT WHAT KIND OF HIGH THEY ARE LOOKING FOR, AND WHAT FLAVORS THEY PREFER.”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF BEING A BUDTENDER?
Our Budtender of the Month for December is the friendly Matt Fishinghawk of AK Joint in Anchorage. The ornate Cannabis shop is known for their distinctive penny-covered flooring as well as a curated selection of high-quality products. And who better to walk you through the newest products than Matt, who enjoys concentrates, OG Kush crosses, and helping customers to navigate right to the kind of high they are looking for.
dec. 2019
For sure, the people I meet and interact with on a daily basis! I’m really happy with the relationships I’ve developed with my customers and wouldn’t trade it for anything else. FAVO R I TE WAY TO USE O R CO N SU M E CAN NAB I S ?
It’s hard to pick a favorite because I’m always switching it up, but I have to go with dabbing concentrates. I just think they have the best flavor and effect while being easier on the lungs.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE STRAINS AND PRODUCERS?
I am always looking out for some really good OG Kush crosses. It’s what I grew up smoking, and anytime I find a good batch it’s very nostalgic. There are so many good producers it’s hard to not list them all! I would say Green GO and Stoned Salmon are two of my favorites the variety of quality Cannabis they both produce is fantastic and never fails to satisfy my taste. H OW D O YOU F I N D T H E R IG H T CAN NAB I S P RODUC T F O R A CUSTO M E R ?
Everybody is different when it comes to what flavors and effects they like, so helping them pick the right strain isn’t always so easy. Currently there is a trend of buying whatever has the highest percentage of THC, which I don’t think is necessarily best when finding something that is right for you. I always try to ask as many questions as possible about what kind of high they are looking for, and what flavors they prefer. Also showing what the Cannabis looks and smells like is very important. WH Y D O YOU L I K E WO R KI NG AT AK J OI N T ?
Always staying busy is awesome - here we wear many hats! From budtending to rolling joints to packaging and labeling, there is always something to do, which makes the days fly by. When decisions are being made, everyone’s opinions are taken into consideration, which really makes you feel like what you’re doing is important. HOBBIES WHEN YOU AREN’T WORKING AT THE DISPENSARY?
I live a pretty simple life outside of work. I enjoy spending time with my wife, going out shopping and dining at the local restaurants Anchorage has to offer. I like to play video games with my buddies, and occasionally going on a hike can be really fun. Family time is also really important to me - I pretty much drive out to Wasilla weekly on my days off to hang out and relax with the family.
INTERVIEW by JOSHUA STAHLE/ALASKA LEAF | PHOTO by BOOM MEDIA
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Sights seen from the road
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highly likely
H i g h l y L i ke l y h i g h l i g h t s Ca n n a b i s p i o n e e rs w h o p a ve d t h e wa y t o g re a t e r h e r b a l a c c e p ta n ce .
STEPHENJAYGOULD SCIENTIFIC AUTHOR, PALEONTOLOGIST & CANNABIS ADVOCATE
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IT’S A FUNNY THING HOW WRITING A COLUMN LIKE THIS CAN TRULY DEMONSTRATE HOW CANNABIS CROSSES ALL OF OUR IMPOSED RACIAL, CULTURAL, AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC BOUNDARIES AS HUMANS. CASE-IN-POINT, OUR SUBJECT FOR THIS MONTH. UNLESS YOU’RE A SCIENCE BUFF, YOU PROBABLY HAVEN’T HEARD THE NAME STEPHEN JAY GOULD - BUT HE WAS A RATHER FAMOUS PALEONTOLOGIST, EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGIST, AND HISTORIAN OF SCIENCE. In fact, Gould is regarded as one of the most widely read scientific authors of his generation. He spent most of his career teaching at Harvard, and the Library of Congress called him a living legend in his field. His crowning achievement was a sort of revolutionary theory regarding evolutionary biology. Called the theory of punctuated equilibrium, Gould hypothesized that most biological evolution is punctuated by long periods of stagnation or stability, and that real changes in evolution,
dec. 2019
“Marijuana worked like a charm. The sheer bliss of not experiencing nausea - and then not having to fear it for all the days intervening between treatments - was the greatest when they happen, occur in swift periods. boost I received in all my years of treatment, This theory changed the way we look at and surely had a most important effect upon evolution, since it was normally thought to my eventual cure.” be a sort of long, drawn-out, almost unnoAs he recovered, Gould paid it forward by ticeable phenomenon. becoming an advocate for medical CannaObviously, this is a bis until his death in high-minded scientific 2002. He frequently “IT IS BEYOND MY concept, but Gould untestified on behalf of COMPREHENSION THAT derstood the importance medical Cannabis of interpreting science to prosecutions in the ANY HUMANE PERSON the general public. He United States and WOULD WITHHOLD SUCH wrote some 300 essays Canada, saying, “It in the popular magazine is beyond my comA BENEFICIAL SUBSTANCE Natural History on a prehension that any FROM PEOPLE IN SUCH wide range of subjects, humane person would campaigned against crewithhold such a benGREAT NEED, SIMPLY ationism, and was even eficial substance from BECAUSE OTHERS USE IT featured once on the people in such great Simpsons as a character. FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES,” need, simply because In 1982, Gould was others use it for differ—STEPHEN JAY GOULD. diagnosed with a form ent purposes.” of mesothelioma cancer. In our age of the In order to cope with the greater acceptance radiation treatments, he started smoking of Cannabis, it can be easy to forget just Cannabis after researching the herb’s effect how demonized this herb was just a few on those suffering from the side effects of short years ago. For this progress, we have chemotherapy. Of his experience, he said, pioneers like Stephen Jay Gould to thank!
PHOTO BY ULF ANDERSEN/ GETTY IMAGES
Gould on a 1991 visit to Paris to lecture, gracing the cover of Newsweek in 1982, and making a cameo on The Simpsons episode “Lisa The Skeptic,” in 1997.
By PACER STACKTRAIN for ALASKA LEAF
(1) "Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming and addictive;” (2) "Marijuana impairs concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under its influence;” (3) "There are health risks associated with consumption of marijuana” (4) "For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children;” and (5) "Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breast feeding;”
SHOP REVIEW
DENALI DISP
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OWNER BRANDEN BARTLETT
dec. 2019
SPENSARIES Denali Dispensaries has been in operation for just over a year at their well-designed 5th Avenue shop in downtown Anchorage. ENVIRONMENT & VIBE
5/5
The store has a fantastic look. A completely revamped interior from the previous business to occupy the location, the store has a rustic look that I personally enjoy. With the ample room available as well, you will not feel crowded at this store, even during a busy time of the year. To top it off, the personalities behind the counter make the store a location that you will most definitely want to return to.
PRODUCTS & SELECTION
5/5
This location always has a great selection of flower from a variety of gardens. Well balanced between indica and sativa strains, there is always something to suit everyone’s needs. They also carry flower from their own garden, which is always a fantastic smoke. On the concentrate side of things, they carry products from Babylon, Midnight Sun, Kreative Konfections, Top Hat Concentrates, Frog Mountain, and Cold Creek Extracts. For edibles, expect to find products from Frontier Manufacturing, Momo’s Bakery, and Wakin’ Bakery.
HISTORY & VALUES
4/5
Celebrating their one year anniversary at the end of the summer, Denali Dispensaries has been at the forefront of downtown Cannabis in Anchorage. While also having their own cultivation, Denali has done a great job with helping to break down Cannabis barriers by making their store a friendly venue, and I look forward to seeing what they have in store for the future.
WELL BALANCED BETWEEN INDICA AND SATIVA STRAINS, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO SUIT EVERYONE’S NEEDS.
BUDTENDERS & KNOWLEDGE
5/5
I always leave this location with a smile on my face. The main reason, aside from the delicious products in my pocket, are from the conversations I have had with that staff. They are willing to engage in almost any conversation, and always in a friendly manner. They are also on top of their game - always able to easily describe the many facets of Cannabis to a first time smoker, or go into some more in-depth details with a connoisseur.
225 E 5TH AVE, ANCHORAGE (907) 646-4200 @DENALI.FARMS DENALIDISPENSARIES.COM OPEN 8AM-11PM DAILY
REVIEW by JOSHUA STAHLE / ALASKA LEAF | PHOTOS by BOOM MEDIA
STRAIN OF THE MONTH
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BLUEBERRY HILL’ S MATSU BLUE IS SIMPLY A GREAT SMOKE. From the first whiff of pine and spiced, fruity earth, to its dense, deep forest green and orange hues, it fills every smoker’s pipe with sweet delight. It takes a few squeezes to coax that fruity flavor out of it, but it hints at what’s to come. It’s only after a few times that the spice flavor fades to accommodate for more floral aromatics. With test results at 17%, it’s not the heavyweight hitter for your evening smoke, but more the light, daytime functional stone needed throughout the day.
MATSU
aklEAF.COM
Available at Green Jar, Alaska Buds and other retailers across the state.
dec. 2019
U BLUE REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF | PHOTO by BOOM MEDIA
907.683.2633 @DENALISCACHE
DENALISCACHE.COM
the culture ISSUE
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IT’S JUST A PLANT
LEARNING TO EMBRACE CANNABIS FOR HEALTH & WELLBEING
T
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yongke, Damo, Singhot. Growing up, I heard it called many names. Being born and raised in the Philippines, I used to believe that if I’d smoke weed, I’d die. Not that anybody sat me down and told me this it was an implied belief system passed on within families and communities about the dangers of marijuana. So, like any obedient child, I stayed away from it and never even spoke any of its many names. Looking back, I realize it’s because I was subconsciously afraid of being associated with it. Fast forward to today. The younger me would not even have a speck of imagination that I’d be sitting in my living room, in Alaska, with a bowl ready to fire up - all the while picking up the scents of pinene wafting from the Jack Skellington strain growing in my garden, writing about Cannabis. Cannabis. I’ve learned to call this magical plant by its proper name. Because as cute as nicknames are, finding out why it was called marijuana made me cringe. Though I must admit that ten years ago, when I first realized that a human can live past the first hit (and thousands after), I simply tried it for the heck of finding out what it’s all about. Needless to say, I loved what it did for my existence, and became a regular consumer for the mere side effects of “getting stoned”. The real evolution of my perspective occurred about five years ago, when I was chosen to be the lucky winner of my first ever clone of Jack Skellington. My husband, the biggest pothead I know and also my greatest mentor, did not have a clue what to do with this plant. We knew that it could be rocket science to harvest a premium quality product. Yet, the simplistic nature of it being a weed gave us courage to ensure that this plant lives on. And live on, it did. Through cultivating, many wonderful people became a part of our lives, and that became the catalyst of this radical change. I found myself surrounded with advocates who continue to bring about change and correct the stigma of being a “stoner.”
DEC. 2019
And then we met Rachel Lake, the founder of Canna Care, helping veterans make the switch to alternative healing. Through her, we met Cissy Buck, Cannabis advocate and founder of HOPE, a support group for Ehlers Danlos Syndrome patients and their families. EDS is a rare chronic pain condition that has long been misdiagnosed and misunderstood. She pointed us in the right direction and brought about the discovery that my husband has had this condition, unbeknownst to him and his family. This was yet another spin in this colorful Alaskan adventure I was destined to create.
“I FOUND MYSELF SURROUNDED WITH ADVOCATES WHO CONTINUE TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE AND CORRECT THE STIGMA OF BEING A “STONER.”
W
e started talking to medical professionals. Referrals to meet with specialist after specialist came, many medical procedures and everything else in between. Sometime three years ago was when I decided that we needed to switch roles - I need to be the one working and he needs to stay home and be able to tend to his health. I found myself picking up hours as a waitress while waiting to get a call from an application I sent to a credit union. After jumping from the food to the financial industry, life was hectic. Stress and anxiety became a usual companion and only Cannabis helped push us through. As successful as I was working as a financial representative, it occurred to me that I was in the wrong field utilizing my customer service skills. When I found out that I could find a niche in the Cannabis industry, I took a leap of faith and left my position as a financial service representative. Probably the riskiest move I have ever done after finding out about my husband’s medical condition. Yet it is also the most rewarding, being here and now as a budtender, sharing the wondrous effects of this plant, and enjoying every single minute spreading awareness and sharing the growth I have experienced getting to know the real effects of Cannabis. The greatest lesson I’ve learned is that Earth has many medicines naturally occurring on and within its surface. It only takes wisdom and the eagerness to learn to identify which ones are most beneficial to us. Cannabis would never kill me, or you. After all, it’s just a plant.
Shiela DeJarlais is a new contributor to the magazine and also works at Green Degree, Hilltop Premium Green Branch. STORY by SHIELA DEJARLAIS for ALASKA LEAF | PHOTOS by BOOM MEDIA
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“The Alaska Cannabis industry is unique in the fact that it has such a tight community of business owners and entrepreneurs.� aklEAF.COM
Marie Gaze. Irie CBD.
dec. 2019
Finding Community in the Cannabis Industry 15 years ago, I remember getting into my car one day and seeing my neighbor across the street, with a giant grin on her face. “Happy Holidays!” she yelled. I t w a s S p r i n g . For a moment I had to think about what holiday she was referring to, then it hit me like a freight train. 4/20! Back then, 4/20 was like a secret code amongst stoners. I knew if one was 4/20-friendly, they were part of my tribe, no questions asked. In Washington state in the early 2000s, finding weed was like going on a scavenger hunt. Finding quality weed was like searching for the holy grail. In 2005, I moved to Alaska. I remember driving around with my best friend, trying to hide the fact that I was taking tokes in the passenger seat as she rallied down the highway, when she looked at me and said, “Nobody here cares if you smoke weed.” It took me by surprise the first few times I saw people openly smoking in public. Even though I was completely accepting myself, it seemed strange to see others openly enjoying a joint, or puffing on a pipe, casually driving down the road. Fast forward to 2019, where Cannabis use has become almost mainstream in Alaska. People are catching on to the potential health benefits, ditching the weekend beer and instead picking up an 1/8th of their favorite flower. The times are changing, however, one thing remains the same: the sense of community.
The Cannabis community is closely knit in Alaska. If one is in the industry, they’re welcomed with open arms. There’s a sense of everyone being cool until they prove themselves to be otherwise, unlike other communities in which you have to slowly build your credibility. In the Cannabis world, one is good enough just showing up at the game. Last winter I was invited to Juneau to attend an MCB meeting. Chelsea Foster, owner of Keefin’ it Real, happened to come by my work one afternoon, letting me know she and a few other women had gotten an Airbnb, in which I was more than welcome to stay. Although Chelsea and I barely knew each other, I was welcomed into the circle wholeheartedly. Once in Juneau, that same spirit of connection appeared throughout the entire weekend. Industry folks from all over the state gathered together, supporting each other, listening to stories. It seemed as though everyone I met that weekend became a fast friend. The Cannabis community is by far the most welcoming group of people I’ve come across. Most people involved in the industry truly want to see one another succeed. I reached out to a few other industry friends to see if they felt the same way. “I’ve made more lifetime friends since starting in this industry than in my whole life previously,” said Tina Smith, host of the YouTube show “Through The Looking Glass” and CEO of Midnight Greenery.
”Fierce friendships that make me believe in humans again,” Tina said. “The Alaska Cannabis industry is unique in the fact that it has such a tight community of business owners and entrepreneurs,” said Marie Gaze, owner of Irie CBD. “Because of that, it creates a family dynamic where we all want to see each other win. The relationships built not just in business, but in our personal lives are irreplaceable and some of my strongest connections. I’m so proud of how far we have collectively come.” It turns out, living a Cannabis lifestyle isn’t just about consuming weed. It’s about pioneering a new industry, working hard to pave the trail and change how the public perceives what was once considered a lazy person’s outlet. The Cannabis users I know are actually some of the hardest working people I have come across. For Keefin’ it Real Founder Chelsea Foster, whose company develops artisan Cannabis products and helps support veterans’ projects, the Cannabis industry has been a real source of personal evolution. “The Cannabis industry has helped me grow and develop in ways I wouldn’t have imagined,” Foster said. “I have such a strong circle of support, and that is because of the Cannabis industry.” It takes a certain charisma to shift the paradigm of this once taboo substance, and the folks I’ve had the pleasure of meeting seem to have just that.
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TINA SMITH
MIDNIGHT GREENERY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
CHELSEA FOSTER
KEEFIN’ IT REAL FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
MARIE GAZE
IRIE CBD OWNER & FOUNDER
STORY by AIMEE ALTMAN for ALASKA LEAF | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
Coffee Sho
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THE DOLPHINS
dec. 2019
THE BULLDOG
op Culture The Leaf goes to Amsterdam STORY by MIKE RICKER @RICKERDJ | PHOTOS by EARLY/LEAF NATION
Continues next page >>
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The first thing they tell you when you get to Amsterdam is to watch out for the silent killers. Because where cars have little authority in a city bound by canals, bikes dominate the passageways and there’s no engine noise to forewarn you when stepping into the crosshairs of a bustling society.
A
couple times of casually meandering into the designated travel lanes, only to be narrowly whiffed by an upright cyclist or two, and you realize that when you step foot into this brick dominion, hearing is a vital sense to keeping you out of the impact zone and safely in the fun zone. It is this that attracts most of the 20 million visitors to this rare air annually. And that air is scented with the perfume of the Red Light District and the incense of Cannabis wafting over the bent streets and raised bridges. Prostitution is more legal than weed here, and far more regulated. In fact, much to many people’s surprise, Cannabis is not legal at all, only tolerated. Meaning you can still be arrested and prosecuted. Some will say that it was the counter culture rebellion, led by the hippies in the 1960s, that got the Cannabis conversation of tolerance started - when it appeared that the propaganda of the first half of the century began to show a figurative crack in the leaking dike of Cannabis misinformation. And like the lore of the Dutch boy who saved his country by putting his finger into the
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hole, it could be argued that a guy named Henk de Vries - and his risky endeavor of selling marijuana over the counter - had the same effect, unknowingly creating an epicenter of Cannabis tourism in this unlikely city. But why not Amsterdam? It would make sense that a smaller country with less conflicting politics would be the ripe place for the ruling governance to look the other way for the benefit of leading its population into a new realm of global attention, not to mention benefit from the taxation of a growing number of visitors. However, since the early days of 1975 when de Vries opted to call his weed dealing hub a coffee shop, rather than the standard tea shop, the city has made very few changes to keep pace with the international legal Cannabis movement. And this befuddles those in the Amsterdam Cannabis industry. In fact, many would tell you it has gone backwards in some ways, as the number of shops has dwindled from its peak of over 300, to the current number of around 170. And legalization is no closer than six years away, as the government has elected to undertake an experimental trial. You see, currently under Dutch law, although it is legal to sell Cannabis over the counter in licensed coffee
Henk de Vries founded The Bulldog, Amsterdam’s first Cannabis coffeeshop, way back in 1975.
Canal Life
Prix D’Ami
Taking a seat at Prix D’Ami, a three-story Cannabis coffeeshop in the heart of Amsterdam. shops, it is illegal to produce and supply the drug. Which makes getting the product grown and delivered a tenuous problem. Any one coffeeshop is allowed a maximum of 500 grams of any form of Cannabis on the premises (concentrates are still illegal in Holland), which leads to a quagmire, because in a busy establishment like the Bulldog Café, the bins have to constantly be refilled. How do they do it? Illegally, through a system of black market growers and runners who make the pick-ups and deliveries. As for the “weed trials” starting in 2021, cafés in 10 cities will get a legal supply of “quality” Cannabis as part of a four-year experiment. In this experiment, Cannabis will
be cultivated by growers who are approved by the government, and the coffee shops in these cities will be obliged to participate, unallowed to procure their flower from illegal growers. The culture, however, is as thriving as ever. One visit to the three-story Prix D’Ami - with a countenance of 450 people at any given time - will tell you everything you need to know about Cannabis’ popularity. Seeing enthusiasts basking in the hazy glow of modern lighting and vintage furniture proves to any bystander that by the look of relaxed comfort on the patron’s faces,
they are fully confident of facing no reprimand for their pleasures. And it is this languid body language that tells the story of how when Cannabis is enjoyed in the comforts of a non-threatening, communal situation, everyone benefits. The government makes money that people are happy to spend. Crime goes down, health improves, and the world becomes a better place. And what you’ll find in these holy places of Cannabis immunity is a plethora of delicious treats like homebaked cakes and muffins, tropical smoothies and crafted milkshakes. The parched tongue will revel in a tall glass of fresh squeezed orange, or pear juice. Also, the décor is carefully curated to attract the fancy of those in an altered state of friendliness with smooth liquid, soft electronic music, afro jazz, or dancehall reggae. Meanwhile, the craft of rolling joints or vaporizing flower from attractive pieces designed specifically for this eagerly accepted art, is employed through the many available devices strewn about the rooms. Here, it’s easy to see that the future of Cannabis is in good hands, as
Seeing enthusiasts basking in the hazy glow of modern lighting and vintage furniture proves to any bystander that by the look of relaxed comfort on the patron’s faces, they are fully confident of facing no reprimand for their pleasures.
Edibles at The Dolphins millennials make up the majority of those who frequent these establishments - therefore ensconcing the fact that the demand is growing and hugely viable. And although the vibe is conscious and consistent from shop to shop, aesthetics vary. Pop over to the Green House and you’ll see pictures on the wall of celebrities like George Clooney and Mike Tyson who’ve partaken in the local fare. At a shop called The Dolphins, you’ll find a scheme that imitates a world through the perspective of the respective finned mammal. There’s a finely crafted coral reef that persists throughout the place along the walls and bar, designed by an imaginative Australian artist who has been adding to his creation over the years with each brief residency. These shops are proud of the heritage and unique signature they leave, and this shines through the veil of dangers they’ve faced over the years and, as it appears at present, will continue to face for at least six more. But then, nothing seems to be a safe endeavor in the city of Amsterdam - especially crossing the street on foot.
STORY by MIKE RICKER @RICKERDJ | PHOTOS by EARLY/LEAF NATION
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In West Hollywood, Leaf Nation’s Danielle Halle explores Lowell Farms,
the country’s first recreational Cannabis café
The high-end interior is cozy and also elegant
Server Koi is ready with all the flower recommendations
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ulling up to the valet in the West Hollywood parking lot, I half expected to see smoke billowing from the roof of Lowell Farms’ Cannabis Café. We were greeted by young, attractive staff members at every corner as we made our way through the entrance and bar area, where we were led to a lush green patio radiating with the excitement of smoking Cannabis in public. While my friends settled in at our table and began pouring over the 22-day old menus, I pulled aside my friend Koi, who had just clocked in as a flower server for the day. I had to know, was this place completely full of tourists, or was it mostly Cannabis consumers who knew how to handle themselves? Koi said that, at the moment, it was about 50/50 split, but lots of people who were passing through town and looking for something to do came in to check it out. “I even see some of my old patients from Greenhouse Herbal Center on Hollywood Boulevard,” Koi remarks, telling us that the other half of guests she has seen so far are connoisseurs who have been following the brand for years. Even a few of the more eclectic guests Koi has served have come from the entertainment industry, but I couldn’t pry any
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celebrities’ names out of her. Girl knows how to keep things on the DL. Koi and I met while she was working at one of my local Cannabis shops, Leaf and Lion in Long Beach, so I knew she’d have amazing recommendations on Cannabis, but I wanted to test her server knowledge as well. She also has a background in hospitality, which is incredibly important and an asset to those looking to get into any type of guest-facing Cannabis job, such as at a retail location or a consumption lounge. “I always recommend the pulled pork, that’s my favorite,” she proclaims - although the vegan nachos are a widely popular item as well. Naturally, prerolls are at the top of the list for popular Cannabis menu items, and for first-time smokers, Koi suggests trying the Caliva preroll packs which tested at only 8% THC, to ease into the experience. For those newbies who want to dip their toes into the world of edibles, Koi pointed out the Social Tonic as an excellent option. Containing only 2mg of THC and 4mg of CBD per tonic, Koi notes, “You’re not getting the psychoactive feeling, just a relaxed body high. So, you can enjoy with your friends.” One of the biggest differences between Lowell Farms Cannabis Café and other
restaurants, as observed both by myself and described to me by Koi, is the fact that you have two different servers coming to the table to take separate orders for food and Cannabis. “It’s different because you have a lot more hands-on customer service in that aspect. When was the last time you went to a restaurant and saw ashtrays on the table? Besides the Cannabis, there’s not too many things that make this restaurant different than any others.” Okay, hold up. Two servers coming to my table? I’ve worked in restaurants before. If there are two servers coming to the table, who gets the tip? Do Cannabis consumers tip well, does anyone tip in weed, and do I pay cash for weed and card for food?! I had so many questions. Koi explained that the tipping practice in the café hasn’t exactly been standardized. “I don’t think people understand that we don’t pool tips. So, whatever the flower server gets, that’s theirs to keep. And whatever you leave on the table at the end is going to be for the [food] server. It’s new, so people don’t realize they can tip us too.” Aside from the confusion on how to tip multiple servers, Koi is excited for the opportunity to be a part of history in the making. She says it’s the best part about working for Lowell Café.
Stoner grub elevated for Cannasseurs
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Take a seat, hang out and relax awhile A lot of her coworkers, including herself, comthe Cannabis menu prices to be slightly inmute for at least an hour from all over Southern accessible, especially when you include the California to be a part of history. $30/person fee that you’ll be charged if you “West Hollywood traffic is murder anyway, but decide to bring your own greens to smoke. other than that, I love it here.” There were, luckily, plenty of amazing Now I bet you’re wondering what it was like brands to choose from, so bringing your as a guest to experience the history that is Lowell own isn’t really necessary when the menu Cannabis Café. My first thoughts upon writing this is packed with high-quality products such review were that I knew I had to state the facts. as 710 Labs, Space Coyote, Stone Road This may be the first licensed Cannabis café in Farms, Maven, and more. We wanted to be the U.S., but we can’t talk about making history fancy and rent the gravity bong, but it was without going back in history. just slightly out of our millennial budget. Cannabis cafés in Amsterdam have We stuck with our Sour Diesel been around for years, but, only in Ameighth and were brought compli“We wanted sterdam. That’s fair. But, what about the mentary rolling papers and tips, to be fancy Northwest Cannabis Club in Oregon? plus a grinder to borrow. Maybe Lowell’s isn’t the ‘first’ Cannabis For a swanky Cannabis café in and rent the café, but they’re technically the first West Hollywood - an incredible gravity bong, legal one. You don’t have to be a memnovelty experience - the price but it was just is completely justified. Because ber to attend, and there are licensed products from other legal producers slightly out of honestly, where else are you available for purchase. The menu and going to be able to have both our millennial atmosphere is completely cultivated to Cannabis and food delivered to budget.” give you an unforgettable experience your table and enjoy them toand peek into the future of public Cangether without getting in trouble, nabis consumption. or offending the people at the table next to Speaking of the menu, I was initially a bit disyou? Chef Andrea Drummer’s creations are appointed to find the Lowell Farms Sour Diesel I genius, with the vegan nachos starring as originally ordered was out of stock, and instead I the epitome of LA stoner munchies, which was presented with a replacement Sour Diesel by a has been proven by the orders in the first different brand. For the average consumer, I found month that the café has been open.
I honestly cannot speak highly enough about the visual experience of both the inside and outside areas of the café. I encourage you to go and see this piece of history for yourself, because no matter what, you’ll leave knowing you just experienced something that people across the country are dreaming of one day being able to do. Those of us in legal states are so incredibly lucky to witness the change firsthand and take part in the molding of our industry and community.
Although the atmosphere is incredibly relaxed and laid-back, you must realize that visiting the Lowell Café is a luxury treat, one where everyone can feel like they’re having a special experience. I sincerely hope it becomes more accessible for the average Cannabis consumer and patient. For now, I’ll be visiting only if my out-of-town relatives want a truly unique experience and an inside look at California Cannabis culture. LowellCafe.com
STORY & PHOTOS by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY for LEAF NATION
the culture ISSUE
TEN YEARS OF
GRASSROOTS CALIFORNIA Max Urquhart is Chief Operating Officer of Grassroots California, a Denver-based company that has been producing counterculture apparel since 2009, with roots in Venice Beach. What began as a documentary project and pop-up hat sales on the boardwalk, has evolved into a powerhouse apparel design company producing at least one new design daily for their limited run model. We hopped on a phone call with Urquhart to hear about the history of Grassroots, how Cannabis culture has shaped their past, and how the company is defining it into the future.
WHAT INSPIRED CREATING GRASSROOTS CALIFORNIA?
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The inspiration for Grassroots was from founder Ryan “Ruga” Connoly, who had moved to California from Colorado when California’s medical Cannabis scene was blowing up and MMJ was spreading across the country. If you visited California back then, they were the first with the big weed culture where it was acceptable, and what Ryan was really doing was creating a documentary film about the grassroots movement in California.
HOW DID A DOCUMENTARY PROJECT BECOME A CLOTHING COMPANY?
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Ryan always had this idea that he would make merchandise for the movie too, so he had a design mocked up of our original California green hat. That was the first Grassroots hat that was ever made. Unfortunately while filming, a stranger attacked them and ruined their camera equipment, so Ryan decided to try and earn back the money he had purchased hats with and got a permit to sell on the Venice boardwalk. The hats sold out in two weeks and he realized that selling clothing might be a better idea.
WHAT WERE THE NEXT STEPS FOR BUILDING THE COMPANY, AND BARRIERS TO GETTING STARTED? One of the initial things that drew us in was rejection. We went to New Era and they said “Sorry, we won’t make hats with marijuana leaves on them.” Right there we saw a huge opportunity because the weed culture was about to take off. Now it’s a completely
dec. 2019
different game with companies like Huff or Cookies that are doing a lot of weed merchandise, but back then we were super early in that game, and lucky that in 08/09 Facebook and Instagram weren’t pay to play. So we were able to use social media to not only grow the brand, but also not pay for ads. So we spent our resources traveling the country to every concert and event to show people Grassroots.
TELL US ABOUT THE COMPANY’S ROOTS IN CANNABIS CULTURE, AND HOW THAT VISION DEVELOPED. First and foremost, myself and Ryan have always smoked weed. For our entire lives. From when we were in high school through college it has played a major role in our lives. From being one of the first people to open a smoking club in Denver, which did unfortunately get shut down, to throwing weed events and loving the plant. The main thing with us is that we really felt that we were part of the weed culture because that’s what we like. So we tried to bring the music culture and hip-hop culture, plus a bunch of other scenes, and bring all those cultures into one: Cannabis. So when we would throw events we would have our friends with Nightmare Snowboards or Dab Logic come set up booths, and we’ve done a lot to combine those elements into our brand.
The company designs and creates environmentally-friendly hats you won’t find anywhere else. WHAT ROLE HAS ART PLAYED IN THE SUCCESS OF GRASSROOTS?
Art is a lot like music, in that it can show the culture of weed in a real-time, general way. Art has always shaped culture, from back in the biblical days to the 60s, and especially today. With us we want to make more than quality merchandise, but we also want to show respect and love for the artists who create the styles and fashions. We are big supporters of artists from glass to music to visual, and we find ways to grow together by combining our fan bases and showing that these are our people.
WHEN IT COMES TO MERCHANDISE, YOU GUYS ARE NONSTOP! HOW DO YOU KEEP DESIGNS MOVING, AND WHY DO YOU ONLY PRODUCE LIMITED RUNS? We started out as a limited edition company, partly because when you do a full run of something it can take months for production, so once it sells out, you can’t reprint and wait to restock.
Clockwise from left 1/ Grassroots California Chief Operating Officer Max Urquhart, left, with Owner Ryan Connolly. 2/ Sales representative Gianni Betoni fills a wholesale order 3/ A flat bill hat designed by GC. 4/ Sales manager Chase Brasher, and sales representative Gianni Betoni look over product manager Christian Ameling’s shoulder to see a new design last month. 5/ Fourth year designer Curt Holzer works on a pin
But mainly it was a desire to be unique and know that when you buy a hat it’s not one that every kid on the block has. It’s crazy - just three years ago we hit 365 designs in a year, and now we are over that number with clothing and hats in the 7,000 piece design range. We are also able to work with companies to have lower minimums and can produce designs as limited as 100 units, with our hat runs bumped up to 420 units because it’s a convenient number. We are at a total of 16 employees, with three in-house designers and our art director. We also have a group of independent designers we use to keep up with projects and demand for fresh flavor. We also have a warehouse team and two flagship stores, one in Denver and one in Chicago. When we aren’t working festivals or events, our sales team also pitches in at the warehouse.
HOW IS CANNABIS CULTURE SHIFTING NATIONALLY, AND WHAT TRENDS DO YOU SEE HEADING OUR WAY? It’s a huge shift,
where it’s so acceptable now. It’s not just Cheech and Chong or the movies, it’s almost corporate. And it’s becoming so much more mainstream that we are starting to see the big mesh of skateboard and streetwear intertwining with the weed scene now. So weed culture is becoming a streetwear influencer culture.
DO YOU THINK IT’S GOOD THAT WEED IS GOING MAINSTREAM?
It seems like every day there is another celebrity with a weed or CBD company, so it really has shifted, but there is still that diehard weed fan base. Those are the people who know dispensaries and strains, and for those people, Grassroots will always be there. But what’s also great is that
a lot more people are starting to come into the weed scene, and we are able to help those people with merch or events and develop the culture further. We have major production companies asking us how to throw weed events now. So we are seeing the major shift we need, from the hush-hush to mainstream.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE OF GRASSROOTS CALIFORNIA?
The goal is to be more influential and to be a bigger name in the streetwear scene. We are waiting for the day we can open another smoker’s club and have a retail environment as part of that. We are ready for weed to be a lot more free than it is here or now, but we are going to wait and be there when it is. This would be our lives whether we had a business or not, so we’ll see what happens. Us being there originally and not changing who we are is in our roots, and I’m hoping in the end, it will pay off for all of us.
GrassrootsCalifornia.com
INTERVIEW by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX | PHOTOS by DANIEL BRENNER @DANIELJBRENNER
the culture ISSUE aklEAF.COM
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1920s
1930s
1940s
It all started with jazz - the first type of “popular music” which coincided with recorded, and thus mass-produced music. In the mid-20s, clarinetist Sydney Bechet wrote a song called “Viper Mad” - a hit that had a long shelf life. The lyrics sing the praises of Cannabis, but one line “wrap your lips around this stick of tea, blow this gage and get high with me” reads like a sort of proto-hip-hop anthem if you substitute some of the words for modern slang around Cannabis.
In the early 30s Cannabis had yet to be made federally illegal, and one of the greatest jazz musicians of the time, Louis Armstrong, was a fan. He travelled with a lot of Cannabis, and was eventually busted by police in Hollywood on tour in 1931, spending nine nights in jail for possession. On the East Coast in Harlem, Fats Waller’s concerts were quite the scene, fueled by the high-grade weed of promoter and impresario Mezz Mezzrow (who’s namesake still graces the club “Mezzrow’s” in Manhattan to this day). Cannabis was federally banned by 1937.
With Cannabis federally illegal, the 40s became the era of the “reefer songs” as the prohibition of the herb led to more usage among the subcultures in society. Specifically speaking, more ‘lingo’ entered the lyrics and titles of songs. Barney Bigard’s take on the jazz standard “Sweet Georgia Brown” - which he renamed as “Sweet Marijuana Brown” showed how Cannabis was still very much in use in the jazz and blues scenes.
1950s
1960s
1970s
The United States was at its conservative zenith in the middle of the 20th century. This decade was about as white-bread as it got when it came to artistic expression. Even a home-run Cannabis song like Ray Charles’ “Let’s Go Get Stoned” was at the time said to be “all about gin.”
This was the decade dominated musically by the The Beatles, who went through their own transformation as they experimented with mind-altering drugs. This is the decade that gave rise to hippie culture. Songs like The Fraternity of Man’s “Don’t Bogart Me” is a typical example of a song singing the praises of Cannabis with a tinge of humorous sarcasm.
If the 1950s were the most conservative decade, then the 70s were most druggedout decade in America over the last century. So much so, that it seemed like the U.S. was on a trajectory to legalize Cannabis. Inside the counter culture, songs like Brewer and Shipley’s “One Toke Over The Line” and Rick James’ “Mary Jane” emerged as anthems nodding to the social acceptance of Cannabis. Bob Marley’s “Kaya” and Peter Tosh’s “Legalize It” were also notable.
1980s
1990s
2000s
While the 1970s were a time where spirituality and tolerance seemed to be gaining ground in American life, it took one president, Ronald Reagan, to wash it all away. Reagan’s “War on Drugs” still continues to this day. In the 1980s, music about Cannabis became more and more scarce, and limited to underground genres and artists. At the end of the decade it was Tone Loc’s “Cheeba Cheeba” that would set the stage for what was to come in the hiphop scene.
The 1990s saw advancement after advancement in technology, from the personal computer to the widespread use of the internet at the end of the decade, but it was hip-hop and rap culture that truly cemented Cannabis as something that was becoming more socially acceptable. One could say that Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” was the real turning point. Released in 1992, the album is a tribute to high-grade Cannabis. And like the jazz musicians of the 1920s, Dre and his partnerin-crime Snoop Dogg were more than happy to wax poetic about their favorite herb. The album is a classic, going platinum three times over in the past 30 years.
By the new millennium, the secret was out. More people were consuming Cannabis than ever before and public acceptance was on the rise. The failing drug war was everapparent, and people could (for the first time) use a resource like the internet to find out how un-harmful Cannabis really was. Whole musical movements like the freak-folk and dance-punk scenes celebrated ties to Cannabis counter culture. And, music started to tout a connection to weed in a more explicit way, with songs like Afroman’s “Because I Got High” and Amy Winehouse’s “Addicted.”
dec. 2019
STORY by PACER STACKTRAIN for LEAF NATION | PHOTO by ALEKSANDAR PASARIC
2010s
And here we are. In 20% of America, Cannabis is fully legal. In 41 states, it’s at the very least decriminalized. Only nine states remain where it’s illegal. These statistics are wonderful to celebrate as we prepare to enter the 2020s. This decade has seen the tide of public opinion turn back to where we were almost a century ago before Cannabis prohibition. And in music? Now we see pop artists celebrating their love for the herb in song and in public, like Justin Timberlake’s “Pusher Lover Girl” and Rihanna’s “James Joint.”
A CENTURY CANNABIS of
in
MUSIC W
hen it comes to culture, there are many ways that humans choose to express themselves in order to develop ideas that transcend daily life. Perhaps the most important of the devices in which we attempt to communicate this transcendence through is music. Music and Cannabis have enjoyed quite the relationship throughout the history of humankind. Sometimes this relationship has been sacred, and sometimes it has been secular. Here are some examples of how Cannabis influenced and inspired musical culture over the past century.
the culture ISSUE
Cannabis +Visual Art 50
It’s time to elevate stoner culture from the couch and into the world of visual arts. However, modern museums and galleries have the potential to intimidate those who aren’t privy to contemporary art or its history. Alas, I write to you dear reader, as a gentle guide with advice on how to orient yourself within an art space and build your visual vocabulary. Screens and devices have provided access to visual art from the comfort of our homes, but I beckon you to build a relationship to arts and culture deeper than your screens. Participate in the physical experience of art - you’re gonna love it high. High Culture
How to View Art
new experience for viewing it. The elevated state or “high” of Cannabis allows you to be more receptive and absorb the work in a novel way. It takes the edge off of being around people in a busy gallery and stimulates your mind - the optimal mix. Nothing complements a gallery walk like a joint in hand.
How does the color make you feel? What do the painterly gestures tell you through their application and composition? Is the paint thick and sculptural, or thin and glasslike? How does the composition speak to you on an emotional level? There is no wrong or right answer in art.
Cannabis is an ideal pairing for art because it provides a
Most writers will start with dry art history and direct you to stuffy
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museums, but I beg to differ. I advise you to support local living artists, instead of the dead ones. Not to say that both aren’t important, but dare to immerse yourself in the contemporary world of art. Skip the museum and peruse gallery spaces. Galleries are run by curators who have their ears to the ground when it comes to finding local talent who eventually end up in those fancy museums we previously spoke about. Galleries put you in conversation with local, national, and sometimes global artists around the world.
Cannabis is an ideal pairing for art because it provides a new experience for viewing it. dec. 2019
When it comes to viewing art, let’s start with a painting.
At best, art reveals the artist’s subjective experience, while allowing you to have your own. I find it helpful to view art through an emotional lens because you don’t have to rationalize anything. If a particular piece strikes you, learn more about the work through an artist statement, if provided.
Abstract art and sculpture can be especially difficult for people to enter the work because it seems more difficult to relate to. Instead of trying to earnestly figure it out, again, begin with how it makes you feel. How does the size of a sculpture speak to you? What does the texture tell you about the object? Is it shiny, dull, rough, smooth or sharp? Enter the work through the evocative breakdown of the form. Absorbing art in pieces allows you to build your visual prowess.
You don’t have to have an MFA or even be an artist to experience
the world of art. Art history serves its purpose, but don’t let it intimidate you out of the art community. All you truly need is an exempletory joint, a few good friends, and the urge to immerse yourself in visual culture. Cannabis further elevates these moments, while alleviating the stresses that come along with public interaction. An open mind and heart doesn’t hurt either, but be okay with not understanding everything. Not all art will speak to you, but when they do, for a moment the chasm of the universe will reveal itself. And in this moment, you will begin to know more about yourself or your perception of the world.
STORY by SIMONE FISCHER @SIMONEFISCHERR
RECIPES
HOPEFULLY you will have a little extra time this holiday to make a couple of these infused treats. But remember that less is more, and don’t operate heavy machinery. The folks at Laurie and MaryJane wish you a happy and healthy holiday. #Indulgeresponsibly #Dontfeartheedible
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HOLIDAY
TREATS SALTY CARAMELS 1 lb ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) canna-butter ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) butter 2 cups packed brown sugar ½ cup dark syrup / 2 cups heavy cream ¼ teaspoon salt / 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 tablespoons smoked sea salt
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1. Line a 9-inch square pan with parchment paper. 2. Melt the canna-butter over low heat in a medium saucepan, with a candy thermometer. Add the brown sugar, corn syrup, one cup cream and salt. Bring to a boil and stir occasionally for 12 to 15 minutes, until temperature reaches 224 degrees. 3. Slowly add the remaining cream. Cook until it reaches 250 degrees, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle with salt. 4. Cool for a minimum of four hours. With a sharp knife, cut into 48 pieces.
DEC. 2019
I make these every year for my friends. They love white chocolate and agree that the hint of Cannabis is a delightful addition. I rarely enjoy the flavor of Cannabis, but for some reason, this combo is fire. And they’re delicious just out of the freezer, too.
WHITE CHOCOLATE POT PATTIES Makes 32 pieces.
2 lbs white chocolate, chopped 2-3 tablespoons canna-butter ½ cup dried cherries 2/3 cup crushed peppermint candy 1. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. In a microwave safe bowl combine the chocolate and canna-butter and process on high for 30 seconds. Stir and return to microwave for and additional 30 seconds. Continue until the chocolate is just melted, the melting process will continue after cooking. 3. Using a ¼ cup measure pour the chocolate onto the parchment paper. Sprinkle with the cherries. 4. Heat the remaining chocolate the same way. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the cherries and sprinkle with the crushed peppermint. Allow to sit until fully set, at least an hour.
S'MORE ON A STICK Makes 30 pieces.
2 cups dark chocolate, chopped 2-3 tablespoons canna-butter 30 marshmallows 1½ cups crushed graham crackers
Though these look a bit complicated, they are incredibly easy to make. You can use any type of chocolate, and the dipping can be changed to include chopped nuts, sprinkles, or cookie crumbs.
1. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Making your own infused caramels is quite the thing. They’re not hard to make, though they do require a candy thermometer and your full attention. Maybe don’t be high when making your first batch. I don’t know about you, but when under the influence I am quite easily distracted. Caramels keep for three weeks in an airtight container, stored in a cool place.
Makes 48 pieces.
2. Using a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate and canna-butter in microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir and return to microwave for an additional 30 seconds. Continue until the chocolate is just melted, the melting process will continue after cooking. 3. Using a fork, dip each marshmallow into the chocolate, completely covering the marshmallow. Immediately dip one side of the covered marshmallow into the crumbs. Place on the parchment on the graham cracker covered side. Place a skewer or popsicle stick in one side of the marshmallow. Allow the marshmallows to set completely, at least an hour.
RECIPES by LAURIE WOLF | PHOTOS by BRUCE WOLF
EDIBLE OF THE MONTH
YOU’RE GIVEN DIFFERENT FLAVORS SO YOU CAN TRY THEM ALL AT ONCE, AND AT 2.5 MILLIGRAMS OF THC PER GUMMY, YOU DON’T HAVE TO FEEL GUILTY...
54
GANJA
GUMMIES aklEAF.COM
BY FRONTIER MANUFACTURING
THESE FRONTIER GANJA GUMMIES WERE A WELCOME ADDITION TO MY DESK (OR COUCH RATHER) AND PROVIDED A VARIETY OF FLAVORS IN A SINGLE PACKAGE.
W
ith flavors like strawberry, cherry, berry blue, and my favorite, lime, they are soft and chewy but not overly sweet. You’re given different flavors so you can try them all at once, and at 2.5 milligrams of THC per gummy, you don’t have to feel guilty about being heavy handed with these.
dec. 2019
REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF CONTRIBUTORS | PHOTOS by BOOM MEDIA
Get your
MoMo’s Going (1) “Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming and addictive.” ; (2) “Marijuana impairs concentration, coordination, and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery while under its influence.” ; (3) “There are health risks associated with consumption of Marijuana.” ; (4) “For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of reach of children.” ; (5) “Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breast feeding”... License #10903
concentrate OF THE MONTH
BY WILL’S WORLD
STRAWBERRY
SNOWCONE
56
WILL’S WORLD HAS SEEN SOME HEAT COME OUT RECENTLY AND THIS STRAWBERRY SNOW CONE IS NO DIFFERENT.
aklEAF.COM
T
hick and chunky amber globs of terps fill the container, and when opened, releases a torrent of strawberry and almost ginger/nutmeg spice from the obviously high amounts of a-pinene. When smoked, the strawberry flavor is potent, with the subtle spice on the exhale present only in light amounts. And just as potent as the flavor is the effect, giving pulses of cerebral euphoria and elevating your mind. Not sure on the cross, but it certainly seems sativa to me.
Follow @WillsWorld_AK
dec. 2019
RELEASES A TORRENT OF STRAWBERRY AND ALMOST GINGER/NUTMEG SPICE FROM THE OBVIOUSLY HIGH AMOUNTS OF A-PINENE. REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF CONTRIBUTORS | PHOTO by BOOM MEDIA
dec. 2019 DEC.
58
Amsterdam
T H E C U LT U R E I S S U E E D I T I O N STORY by JONAH TACOMA @DABSTARS2.0 for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by JESS LARUE @JESSICALARUE_420
I
adjusted my Oakleys and pulled my headphones down over my ears in preparation for the long flight from Philly to Amsterdam, a few more minutes and the half a Xanax I popped in the ticket line would be kicking in. Home to the original Cannabis Cup, Amsterdam had been a mecca for Cannabis enthusiasts since before I was born, many traveling thousands of miles to openly partake at the coffee shops that dotted the
akleaf.com
Red Light District. We were here for something equally ambitious. If things went well this voyage would mark the beginning of an important endeavour, one that could change our lives forever‌ I had been angling to do proper business in Holland for almost a decade, but in spite of all the freedom in Holland, dabs were scheduled like heroin. RSO and even
“WE WERE HERE TO L AUNCH T H E A M ST E R DA M L E A F A N D IF WE WERE SUCCESSFUL, IT WOUL D BE THE FIRST BIG C A N N A B I S M AGA Z I N E TO M AKE IT OVER FROM THE S TA T E S S I N C E H I G H T I M E S H AD L AUNCHED OVER 40 YE A RS AG O . ”
tinctures were strictly prohibited across the board. That said, you could still find some decent dabs if you knew where to look. Walk into the right coffee shop and ask for some dabable “isolator” with a wink, and you’re likely to see a small selection of budders and waxes being sold by the gram for a 100 euros plus. As the giant passenger jet lumbered down the runway I drifted off to sleep, still daydreaming of the events to come. We were here to launch the Amsterdam Leaf and if we were successful, it would be the first big Cannabis magazine to make it over from the states since High Times had launched over 40 years ago. This was a passion project paying homage to our city of birth and I was excited to be a partner in such an undertaking. The Dutch had always acknowledged that certain vices were always going to exist and had agreed that an ever shrinking part of town, affectionately named after the red lights glowing in the windows of the sex workers, would house them all. From mushrooms to
MDMA, anything could be found in the twisting and turning alleys of the Red Light. As long as you stayed in the boundaries and didn’t affect anyone else’s good time, it was anything goes and the tourists were lapping it up in spades. As the capital city of Holland, Amsterdam itself was a miracle of old world engineering. Built five feet below sea level, the city had grown from a small group of houses built up along the mouth of the river Amstel. Eventually, the Amstel Dam was created to manage the water, and Amsterdam as we know it was born. A smiling customs agent greeted me at Schiphol Airport. “Business or pleasure?” he said politely with one eyebrow raised. “Well it’s Amsterdam, so always a bit of both,” I replied, laughing in spite of myself at his good nature as he waved me in without further question. “Welcome to Holland!” he shouted as I passed through the gates.
STONEY BALONEy
60
Karate Kids
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I’ll tell you something, in about 10 years, you bullies better watch your asses. That’s because you do not want to mess with a dude who has been well-trained in martial arts. And these days, it’s awfully popular with the youngins who aren’t too down with team sports. Some of them are nomads, riding solo, hanging in the shadows - maybe a little anti-social. At face value, they can appear to be easy prey. And the prima donna skilled in the practice of intimidation may want to swallow a pill of caution when the Saturday Night Fever is brewing. He has been at it since happy hour and now midnight is approaching. His blood is carbonated from the fiery liquid that’s loading the bulging trapezoids and it’s fueling his arrogance. He’s got his swagger in power mode, feeling alive, looking to step up the excitement, ready to entertain - an easy ass-whipping guaranteed for the primed crowd. But there are no guarantees in life, we all inevitably learn. And for some, the lesson comes hard. Everyone loves an underdog. Some of the most memorable events in history have featured a reluctant participant pushed to the corner with no alternative but to defend what is right. He is surprisingly prepared. And if you’ve never seen a skinny, undersized dude who’s trained to box handle a bodacious, drunk asshole until he’s beet red-faced and gassed, it is truly a delight to witness. I mean, I’m all for peace and love, but sometimes you get a meathead who feels compelled to put all his gym hours to use. And he fucks with the wrong guy. What he leaves with is called an epiphany. It’s when the lion learns that he no longer rules the pride. He just had to have that last shot. Dipshit should’ve smoked a bowl instead.
DEC. 2019
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