26 minute read
GLASS 38 SPORTS 40 FOOD
Jumbo Jetcycler with jumbo Jet Perc
The Toro Team
Custom Jetcycler with Jet Perc
Q&A | JP Toro & Wendy
TORO GLASS TORO GLASS
For glass aficionados, Toro has been a name that has been familiar for years, and that is certainly not changing anytime soon. Toro Glass was one of the first brands to truly make a name for themselves, becoming an internationally renowned company and innovating the way we all consume Cannabis. From Y2K on, collectors have been flocking to their local headshops for their shot at JP Toro’s bongs and dab rigs – and Toro’s latest creation, the Terp Slurper, has become one of the most sought after glass-related items this year. Here we find what gets JP’s gears turning and what it takes to keep a machine like Toro Glass finely tuned and running clean.
Terp Slurper
Illuminati over Syzygy Jetcycler Marbles
WENDY, CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE US AN IDEA AS TO It wasn’t until 2015 to keep trying to make a masterpiece that WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP A COMPANY LIKE TORO HIGHLY FUNCTIONING FOR THE PAST 15+ YEARS? A lot of hard work, customer service, that I started to fuck with quartz, but I makes me happy. I am always trying to outdo myself. Definitely, I am my own worst critic and never satisfied, which keeps me great employees and adaptability! We are a family-run business of 12 employees. Everyone who works here immediately became obsessed. going on and staying behind the torch every day – even after blowing glass for 22 years. we hired through word of mouth and through a friend of a friend. There are a couple WHERE DO YOUR INNOVATIVE IDEAS COME FROM WHEN of married couples, along with some of their close DESIGNING NEW PRODUCTS? Living life … it’s random. relatives and family friends. We are so blessed to I can be driving down the road and see a tractorhave the crew we have. Our families and children trailer with a certain color pattern on the side all grew up with each other, and we often even of the truck, which I may then incorporate into celebrate holidays together. Our bonds and respect my next piece. I spent a lot of my younger years for one another run deep. Luckily too, JP designed in downtown Philadelphia, where a crew of us Toro as a ‘classic.’ As the industry ebbs and flows designed and worked on comic books. I found that from flowers to hash, from titanium to domes to it allowed me to stretch my imagination because quartz, we are adaptable and luckily JP is always at it is not the real world and anything is possible/ the forefront. doable. This world/realm taught me that there are no boundaries, even when it comes to glass. JP, WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO CREATE? For function, the At first, when I started to create, people wondered desire to make the ultimate hitting piece. For art, what I was doing. Now today, a lot of the designs are industry standards and the building block behind so many pieces. Back at the beginning of this industry, there were tubes and hand and water pipes. When I first made ‘micro’ and ‘macro’ pieces, people were not sure what to think of these smaller styles of glass ‘rigs’ – and then when titanium was introduced onto them with glass domes in late 2006-2007, it was a serious issue and most stores thought I was nuts! They were scared to sell any sort of dabbing accessories – but time went on, people adapted to the change, and it all became industry standard. Mad props to Quave for bringing the quartz banger to the scene and increasing the dabbing experience by allowing for larger surface areas and cleaner dabbing all around.
It wasn’t until 2015 that I started to fuck with quartz, but I immediately became obsessed. In 2017, I remembered Bubble Man did some sort of burping terps for flavor, which got me thinking about how I could create a piece of quartz that caused terps to percolate. I closed my eyes and imagined percolation holes, and the hash bubbling and popping and creating flavor. It reminded me of slurping fine wine.
Through many different trials and errors, and R&D with a couple of my close boys, the Terp Slurper was created. It literally took almost three years for people to catch on, but today there is a super craze for the Slurpers and their function. Other innovations, such as the TempTech in 2018, which allowed people to dial in their dabbing temperatures, also helped the movement by not making it seem so intimidating to dial the Slurper’s temperature in.
CAN YOU GIVE US SOME INSIGHT ON YOUR RIGOROUS PROCESS OF MILLIE WORK? My new favorite art form at the moment is Millie work. I did a bunch years ago, but then got so busy with Toro and life, that I had to put some of my own passions on the backburner. But pulling from my Philly years and animation experience, I have been creating a lot of original images and characters and incorporating them into my art in multiforms, from glass millefiore to fashion, to producing music.
There is a story behind it all, but as with everything I have done thus far, it may take a minute for it all to make sense and come together. Hopefully, in this lifetime I am able to accomplish it, but ultimately, I am having a blast doing me for a change! It is hard to shake the ‘production’ stigma of Toro, but exciting to get to introduce myself in a different light that most people have not seen yet. Most importantly, experimenting, creating and designing for this newer body of work is what keeps me sane during these crazy times!
TOROGLASSGALLERY.COM | @TORO_GLASS | @JPTOROLIFESTYLE
STORY by MIKE GIANAKOS SPORTS SPORTS
Athletes are the new rock stars. Players from the four major American sports (well, three of them anyway) increasingly become major celebrities with massive social media followings, recognizable brands and, whether you realize it or not, a great deal of cultural influence.
Cannabis has long played a role in sports. Pitcher “Spaceman” Bill Lee was a loud and proud pothead in the ‘70s and old school NBA centers Robert Parish and Bill Walton were certainly known to partake. But as it’s become increasingly socially acceptable to consume, athletes have played a major role in bringing marijuana into the mainstream.
Likewise, the culture around Cannabis in professional sports is finally beginning to change as pot policies are relaxed. Of course, this shift coincides with changes in the legal landscape. There are 123 teams across the four major American sports (football, basketball, baseball and hockey) and 101 of them play in a state that has legalized recreational and/or medical marijuana (that’s over 80 percent).
Still, for a long time, the NFL was content to keep its pot policy in the dark ages, subjecting players to random tests and punishing them with suspensions.
Ricky Williams is probably the best-known example of an athlete embracing Cannabis –– and paying the price. The former running back used marijuana to cope with social anxiety disorder and to recover from workouts. But after failing a drug test, Williams found it difficult to navigate the NFL’s draconian pot policy. Testing became more frequent, so frequent that Williams says he was drug tested at least 500 times during his football career. He was also suspended for an entire season. Williams opted to retire rather than be governed by the league’s pot rules.
He got away from the NFL, traveled to India, studied Ayurveda and grew as a person before returning to football.
Williams ultimately had to toe the line in the NFL, but he never let the league’s ridiculous take on Cannabis change him. In fact, it’s pretty clear he changed the culture of the NFL, as players view marijuana in a different light thanks to Ricky.
Now, it’s commonplace for players to use Cannabis to recover from the wear and tear of the sport. Estimates indicate that anywhere between 50 and 89 percent of the league partakes. In fact, many players advocate for using marijuana in place of harmful opioids when dealing with pain. Ricky definitely has something to do with that. He was a pioneer. Unfortunately, as the saying goes, As it’s become increasingly socially Previously, players were randomly tested four times over the season and positive pot tests were met with escalating punishpioneers usually end up with arrows in acceptable to ments, including suspensions. Under the their backs. After years of forcing pot prohibi- consume, athletes new rules, players are screened for PEDs but not recreational drugs. tion on players, the NFL has at last have played a major Additionally, the NHL and more recently changed course: The new collective bargaining agreement does away with suspensions for pot use, limits the testrole in bringing marijuana into the MLB don’t ban Cannabis and treat its use as a health issue. MLB also did away with suspensions for minor leaguers who test ing window to the first two weeks of mainstream. positive. training camp and significantly raises Competitors in extreme sports and the threshold for a positive test. e-sports have largely embraced Cannabis.
Pot is also prevalent in the NBA. Despite esti- Yet as e-sports have grown to rival some traditional mates that as much as 85 percent of the league sports in viewership and ad dollars, drug testing is consumes Cannabis, the Association had banned becoming more commonplace. Still, Cannabis and pot since 1983. Change finally came this summer gaming are undeniably linked and testing in these when the NBA and the players union agreed on a leagues is certainly on the liberal side. But if you new drug policy prior to resuming play in Orlando prefer to watch stoned gaming, remember, some following the coronavirus outbreak. e-sports leagues make marijuana mandatory.
CUISINE cuisine
High Hospitality is the Culture We Deserve
By far, the most common way to introduce an American to a new culture is through food. Sharing food forms an instant connection, a long-standing way to bridge the divide between strangers. Coming together around a table to enjoy a meal initiates people into the etiquette, rituals and customs of different cultures, forming the basis of much human socialization in societies around the globe.
HOW HAS CANNABIS INFLUENCED FOOD CULTURE?
Whether you’re eating THC or smoking it alongside meals, it’s important to know that for most of human history, Cannabis was food. There were no arbitrary laws separating it from any other useful plant, and its effects were wellknown among ancient cultures.
Simmered with milk and spices, Cannabis infuses bhang lassi, an Indian beverage that dates back to 2000 B.C.E. Mixed with melted butter, sugar, spices, ground nuts and dates, Cannabis imbues mahjoun with potent psychedelic effects, and this recipe for the first-ever edible originated in the Middle East in the 11th century.
These days, you might find people hot-boxing their car in restaurant parking lots, firing up their appetites before they eat.
According to research conducted by Giovanni Marsicano of the University of Bordeaux, it’s been scientifically proven that “THC – the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana – fits into special receptors in the brain’s olfactory bulb, allowing users to smell and taste food far more acutely while high.”
Cannabis is one of the few plants on Earth proven to enhance appetite, which has medical applications for patients suffering from AIDS wasting syndrome, anorexia, or the side effects of chemotherapy. For the rest of us, weed elevates even a humble meal into a taste sensation. Eating while high can help you notice more nuance in the taste and textures, conferring a newfound appreciation for even the simplest things, like sourdough toast slathered with butter.
HOW HAS FOOD CULTURE IMPACTED CANNABIS?
Chefs have long had an affinity for weed, as discussed by Anthony Bourdain in the 2010 New York Times article “Marijuana Fuels a New Kitchen Culture,” with the memorable quote “Everybody smokes dope after work … People you would never imagine.” uating various wines, “cannaphiles” rave about
Outspoken Cannabis aficionados like Eddie bud structure, trichome coverage, terpene profiles Huang bridged the gap, bringing an appreciation and cannabinoid percentages, devising systems for for how being high led to creative ideas for new pairing specific Cannabis cultivars with food and dishes at his acclaimed NYC bun shop Baohaus. wine. When I interviewed Huang for High Times in 2013, Someday, in a post-COVID world when the hoshe said, “I do discover a lot of flavor combinations pitality industry revives, we’ll see the full flowering when I’m high that I normally wouldn’t.” of the Cannabis culinary movement: a full-service,
Nothing epitomized this paradigm shift more infused fine dining experience. than the VICE series “Bong Appétit,” Previously only available through which transformed Cannabis cookery methods from a mindset of scarcity to abundance, revolutionizing how Cannabis is one of the few plants on Earth underground supper clubs, the full integration of Cannabis into a regulated dining experience will be an evolving Cannabis is perceived as an ingredient. Introducing chefs to the plant and teaching them how to integrate it into proven to enhance appetite, which has process, as evidenced by the OG Can nabis Cafe project in LA. A fully-realized Cannabis restausignature dishes, “Bong Appétit,” let the medical applications rant scene is the ultimate goal that all world know that those inspired stoners were going way beyond brownies. Today, as the Cannabis culinary for patients suffering from AIDS wasting weed-loving chefs continue to work towards – where you can indulge in a joint on an outdoor patio before being movement evolves, we see a level of syndrome, anorexia, seated, or pair vapes with each course connoisseurship comparable to wine. Just as oenophiles have developed a lexicon of their own devoted to evalor the side effects of chemotherapy. before finishing off the meal with a Cannabis-infused dessert. It’s a future worth looking forward to.
ROCK AND ROLL IS DEAD. You can blame American Idol for that, but let’s not get into it.
Let’s do get into, however, why it doesn’t matter to Cannabis people whether you’re playing a stage or staging a play — if you are a stoner, you’re cool. And the fact that someone notorious draws eyes for their talent, or lack of, is neat, but kind of ends there. Because what you do for work does not validate you as a viable influencer in the Cannabis community. There is no validation required to be a part of it. You either get weed, or you don’t.
Since the Green Rush that began around five years ago, many companies have learned the chilly truth that having celebrity status in Cannabis can get you recognition, but it does not guarantee credibility. And in any known movement that values credence over crap, credibility is paramount.
Cannabis lovers have learned the inherent differences between deception and authenticity because they very simply can tell good from bad. A con from a sucker. Fire from mids.
People don’t like to be suckered and Cannabis people have been suckered for a hundred years. Whether it’s the fear mongering propaganda of Henry Anslinger, the failed war on drugs begun with the Nixon administration, or That’s show biz, Honey. simply buying a bag of black-market brick weed, Here’s the deal. The celebrity is the flower. Get everyone has gotten burned at least once. And used to it. It is not the trendy artist with the most just because a new celebrity brand has insert fuck you money and teardrop face tattoos. The retired professional athlete’s name here repping it, celebrity is Blue Dream, Wedding Cake and Green that don’t mean it ain’t bullshit junk CBD powder Crack. Because people and their influence are irrigated by some of the world’s gnarliest tertiary only as important as you make them to be, while treated sewer water in China. the plant will always endure. Its nature is pure and
We do not give a shit who is promoting it, just its identity true. make sure it works. Because the list goes on with Cannabis prospers. No earthquake, famine, the Willie Nelsons, Tommy Chongs, Jay Zs, Martha pandemic, or government will ever stop a weed Stewarts, Seth Rogens, Mike Tysons, Jimmy Buffetts, from growing. It will journey through all periods, etc. who have slutted themselves for a ticket on the and for as long as people inhabit the earth, it will passing bandwagon without first getting high on make itself available. It is the food of the gods, the their own supply. essence to our senses.
And just because people know your name does So, here at the end of the most reality checking not make you any more of an year of our lives, celebrity fatigue authority on quality Cannabis than Aaron Rodgers on car insurance, or Because people and is real. But it is possible that our stargazing tendencies could again Post Malone on prescription glasses. Anyway, Rock and Roll is dead (name one significant band in the their influence are only as important as you get the better of us. Because if Kanye manages to pull off a Hail Mary in 2024, Kim last 20 years) because no one cares who is playing the guitar, make them to be, while Kardashian will indeed be your first lady. You scoff, but stranger things they just want to hear the music. Mercury is stuck in retrograde, and the plant will always have happened. After all, there is still that swearing Kim Kardashian is off the air. And now she’s stuck in retrograde, too. endure. in bit in January that has yet to take place.
Ganja Gift Guide
You wouldn’t try to put a round peg in a square hole, right? So why would you try cleaning your banger with a rounded cotton swab? Proswabs has come through with the solution to keep your banger clean and chazz-free use after use! These swabs have Proswabs a pointed tip on one end, allowing you to reach the hard to clean spots in your nail — particularly the area where the wall meets the base. Available in bulk size (300 swabs) tubs and coming soon in travel packs (30 swabs), Proswabs are ready to keep your gear as fresh as possible, both at home and when out and about. $5.99/300pk, ProSwabs.com
Blazer GT8000 Big Shot Torch
For the analog dabbers of the world, heating up is a part of the ritual and there is no more ubiquitously used tool to accomplish that job than the Blazer Big Shot GT8000 Torch. Offering a powerful flame, the Big Shot heats up even thick bottomed nails quickly and with ease. The sleek frame is ergonomic and makes the torch easy to handle, while the base allows the torch to stand upright when not in use. The Big Shot is a must-have item for any concentrate enthusiast not using an electronic dab rig. $79.99, BlazerProducts.com
GIFTS Gifts FOR CANNABIS LOVERS
Puffco Peak Pro
Puffco’s revolutionary Peak made a lightning fast ascent to become the industry’s gold standard of electronic concentrate vaporizers since its release in January 2018. With a sleek design that’s on-the-go friendly (it fits flawlessly into your car’s cupholder, though we certainly don’t suggest you use it while driving) and an intuitive torch-free function, it’s no wonder the Peak has become the go-to tool for many dabbing enthusiasts worldwide. The new Peak Pro addresses the atomizer issue that plagued the original models, adds bluetooth integration for smart phone connectivity and control, and now has wireless charging capabilities — improving upon an already stellar platform. $399, Puffco.com
Kasher
Every lighter needs a Kasher and every ganja smoker needs a lighter. By the transitive laws of nature, this means every stoner needs a Kasher. And for good reason — these helpful little tools are great to help clean out finished bowls, pack down weed in your joint or blunt, and can even function as a skewer for your doobie when it gets down to the finger-stinger stage. As an added benefit, Kashers go a long way in helping keep lighters in their rightful owners’ pockets by adding a unique look and helping differentiate yours from everyone else’s. $7.99, MyKasher.com
OCB Organic King Size Slim Hemp Papers + Tips
When it comes to rolling papers, there are really only a few factors you need to take into consideration — the thickness of the paper, the stickiness of the glue and the flavor. OCB Organic Hemp Rolling Papers deliver on all of these important aspects and provide a highly enjoyable smoking experience each and every time. After years of smoking through every paper on the market, OCB’s Organic Hemp line wins out as the thinnest, easiest to use and best tasting papers available from your local head shop. $4.99/32pk book, RollOCB.com Pax 3 Not everyone wants to smoke their Cannabis flower — some want a cleaner, more lungfriendly option and want to vaporize it. For these folks, we recommend the newest rendition of Pax Labs classic dry herb vaporizer: the Pax 3. Their new version offers a fleet of new colors, bluetooth connectivity for phone or computer-based temperature control, and upgraded battery life to make it the longest lasting unit on the market. Add in intuitive function, versatility in its ability to be used for both concentrates and flower plus a sleek design, and the result is an exceptional piece of hardware any Cannabis enthusiast would be thrilled to receive. $249.99, Pax.com
LADY GRAY MEDIBLES
The consumption of ice cream may be more closely associated with hot summer days and horrible breakups than with a winter treat, but Lady Gray Gourmet Medibles holds the key to changing that perspective. Their delicious Cannabis-infused ice cream comes in three decadent flavors – Peruvian chocolate, strawberry and vanilla – each with their own unique high.
OF THE THREE FLAVORS, the Peruvian chocolate is the most akin to digging into a classic pint of the good stuff. The rich, almost buttery texture scoops like a dream and tastes like some of the best chocolate you’ve ever had. But before you turn into Augustus Gloop and start shoveling this delicious treat into your mouth, be aware that the recommended serving size is about two-and-a-half teaspoons.
Like any edible product, you likely won’t feel the high for about an hour, but when it does hit, you’ll want to be near a bed or couch because sleep is inevitable. More of a body high than a head high, the Peruvian chocolate is infused with a potent indica strain that will, for lack of a better descriptor, knock you on your ass. To help with dosing, the gals at Lady Gray Medibles have conveniently marked the outside of This ice cream is their 50mg containers in 10mg increments. so good, you’ll The only problem is that this ice cream is so good, you’ll likely find it hard to stick to just one portion. So, you might want to consider having likely find it hard to stick to just something else sweet on hand to keep your sugar one portion.tooth satisfied.
For those who don’t bow to the altar of chocolate, Lady Gray’s strawberry ice cream is a great substitute. Made with freshly pureed strawberries, this pale pink treat gets its color LADYGRAYMEDIBLES.COM | 50MG THC from all-natural ingredients. Unlike its chocolate cousin, the strawberry ice cream has more of a sherbet texture, but it nonetheless packs a huge flavor punch.
Infused with a hybrid that seems to lean more towards a sativa dominance, the high you can expect is a combination of head and body. Initially, the high began with a subtle euphoric feeling, but soon turned into an energizing high marked by hyper-focus.
If you’re looking for a late-night Cannabis fix to help you sleep, you’d be better off opting for something else – but if you need something to help quell your anxiety while also giving you an energy kick, this is a great option.
Lady Gray’s final flavor is vanilla, but unlike its namesake, this ice cream is anything but boring. An intense vanilla scent gives way to an unexpected skunky flavor that any Cannabis purist will adore. The ice cream is similar to ice milk in terms of texture, so it tastes best after thawing at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before consumption. Texture and flavor aside, this ice cream has one more plot twist: The strong sativa infusion will leave you with an energetic, focused buzz that lasts for hours.
All in all, Lady Gray Medibles knocks it out of the park with their ice cream – they have a flavor, texture and high to suit your every need.
Hidden Hoarfrost
As Alaska creeps closer to the much-anticipated December 21 winter solstice, the days grow shorter and the weather colder. The result? Enjoying a toke outside so you don’t violate your lease by smoking in the apartment becomes a labor of love. Long story short, we could not wait to get our hands on Herban Extracts’ newest concentrate: Hidden Hoarfrost.
CULTIVATED BY Kenai Peninsula gardeners get-up-and-go Cottonmouth Road, Hidden Hoarfrost has the high-THC percentage the Kenai Pen is known for. Its 72.5% THC content is mixed with a feeling – ideal for trying to forget 5.9% terpene profile that includes high levels of that the sun now limonene, caryophyllene and myrcene, making this sativa-leaning hybrid perfect for an easy-bake, sets at 4:00 p.m. all-day smoke session.
Hidden Hoarfrost’s flavor profile is more on the subtle side. Still, the experienced smoker will detect the delicate flavors of dried figs and raisins, 907MARYJANE.COM in addition to the concentrate’s more dominant @HERBANEXTRACTSALASKA earthy flavor. The cartridge’s CCELL technology 72.5% THC boasts a 360° heating coil, ensuring that the atomizer is uniformly heated, preserving Hidden Hoarfrost’s unique flavor. For sophisticated flavors like this strain, the non-burning cartridge is a huge asset.
But enough about the flavor, let’s talk about the high! After a few long hard puffs on a pen, you are swept away into experiencing a lovely tingling, blissful headband that slowly trickles down your face before creeping its way down to your toes. Although you’ll initially experience a comfortable body high, it isn’t long before the sativa and limonene show up to the party. The nice boost of euphoric energy adds a little pep in your step and a fantastic get-up-and-go feeling – ideal for trying to forget that the sun now sets at 4:00 p.m. We definitely hit the pen several times throughout the day to keep this lovely buzz alive, but with varying cartridge sizes of 0.3g and 0.5g, you have some dosing flexibility.
Bottom line, Herban Extracts is one of the top names in the Alaskan Cannabis industry for a reason – and Hidden Hoarfrost lives up to the hype.
FREEDOM 49 FARMS VANILLA BEAN PAIRED WITHZIP KOMBUCHA BURIED BLACK LABEL BOOCH
ZIPKOMBUCHA.COM @ZIP_KOMBUCHA @FREEDOM49FARMS
*Alaska Leaf Warning* Anytime you combine two substances of any kind, you have to be extra vigilant of the effects. We strongly recommend conducting pairings in a safe and private space, in small quantities with friends. Always use a designated driver or have a plan to get home safely. AS FALL GIVES WAY TO THE FIRST DUSTING OF SNOW, WE AT ALASKA LEAF ARE REMINDED OF THE SIMPLE PLEASURES OF CLASSIC HOLIDAY FLAVORS AND SCENTS, WHICH IS WHY WE COULDN’T WAIT TO GET OUR HANDS ON FREEDOM 49 FARMS’ VANILLA BEAN FLOWER.
The flower’s bright green coloration is the perfect backdrop for the snow-like trichome layering that accentuates its tightly curled pistils. Although the flower is a hybrid, the heavy, compact bud structure hints at its indica dominance.
At first, the flower gives off a subtle citruslike scent, but as with any good dessert, the real magic happens when heat is added. Vanilla Bean’s smoke features the undeniably seductive scent of vanilla, reminding us of fresh baked vanilla cake. With 17.7% THC and a touch of 0.9% CBD, the high is of the lovely couch-lock variety that will creep up on you, so tread lightly.
But what is a weekend toke without a refreshing beverage?
When you add in a sip of Zip Kombucha’s brand-new Black Label Booch, the enjoyment of the high is only amplified. Although Black Label Booch has six tantalizing hard kombucha flavors, any of which would pair beautifully with Vanilla Bean, we opted for Buried. The tea’s notes of tart blueberry and raspberry helped cut the overall sweetness of the drink, allowing it to seamlessly mix with Vanilla Bean’s delicate flavor. Of course, we also enjoyed the kombucha’s 6% ABV, tempered with an increasingly euphoric high provided by the Vanilla Bean.
If you’re looking for the perfect weekend toke to help you shed the stress of another workweek, this is the strain for you. Just don’t plan on lighting up and binge-watching The Tiger King, because Vanilla Bean’s sedating effect will have you drifting off to sleep before we find out if Carole Baskin really is responsible for 2020.
Full-extract ethanol hash oil expertly crafted into a cannabis tincture, ready for edible consumption. Glass dropper for precise THC micro-dosing. Enjoy under the tongue or swallowed.
