Alaska Leaf — Jan. 2018

ALASKA LEAF Wishing you a blessed & blazed new year!

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T H E S T R AI N S & G E N E T I C S I S SU E

around the nation News 8-10 weed yoga is here with marijuasana Feature 18 budtender of the month Profile 20 how cannabis helps battle lyme disease Profile 22 wake and bake for breakfast Recipes 46 traveling high & tripping hard Reviews 52

pg. 32-43 Going behind the scenes at the tissue culture lab of House of Cultivar, which grows robust buds with cutting edge methods.

LOCATED IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN ANCHORAGE AT 541 W. 4TH AVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE ANCHORAGE VISITORS CENTER The Great Northern retail store is one of Alaska's finest. The design of our upscale Cannabis store blends history, contemporary architecture, and an Alaska theme to create a memorable cannabis shopping experience. Great Northern Cannabis produces quality cannabis at its state-of-the-art cultivation facility, which supplies its retail store. Choose from a dozen or more cannabis strains! The Great Northern retail store also includes a section dedicated to apparel, glassware, handbags, accessories, and more. Stop by and visit Alaska's finest cannabis store. Our friendly budtenders look forward to assisting you!

BROAD INVENTORY SELECTION, INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL COOKBOOKS, BOOKS ON GROWING & ACTUAL PLANTS! CONVENIENT, DOWNTOWN LOCATION, JUST ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE VISITOR CENTER CABIN LOTS OF EDIBLES, INCLUDING COOKIES, COFFEE CREAMER, CHOCOLATES, ETC FRIENDLY, INFORMATIVE STAFF (907) 929-9333

OPEN LATE 10 AM - MIDNIGHT 7 DAYS A WEEK LOWEST PRICES IN TOWN!

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THIS IS A MARIJUANA PRODUCT. MARIJUANA HAS INTOXICATING EFFECTS AND MAY BE HABIT FORMING AND ADDICTIVE. MARIJUANA IMPAIRS CONCENTRATION, COORDINATION AND JUDGEMENT. DO NOT OPERATE A VEHICLE OR MACHINERY UNDER ITS INFLUENCE. THERE ARE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CONSUMPTION OF MARIJUANA. FOR USE ONLY BY ADULTS TWENTY-ONE AND OLDER. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. MARIJUANA SHOULD NOT BE USED BY WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING.

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JANUARY 2018

cheM Mint Cookies

Grown by House of Cultivar

14 SHOP FEATURE

Great Northern Cannabis | Anchorage

20

BUDTENDER PROFILE Charles Tice of Satori Alaska

54 BUDSHOT Send us your best Potography

THE STRAINS & GENETICS ISSUE

Features | Profiles | Strain Guide | pg. 32-43 Reviews by Alaska Leaf staf f | Photos by Daniel Berman

07 08 10 14 18 2O 22 24 28 46 50 52 54

Editor’s Note National News Alaska Update Great Northern Cannabis Marijuasana Yoga Budtender of the Month Patient Profile Highly Likely Special Section Tasty Recipes Glass Art Book Review Budshot

ON THE COVER Photo by Daniel Berman

Close-up of a young plant cultivated by House of Cultivar at their tissue culture lab. More pg. 36

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

contents

TASTY RECIPES

Wake & Bake for Breakfast

By Laurie Wolf | Photos by Bruce Wolf

46

ALASKA LEAF

the truth about the plant you thought you knew, IN every issue.

editor’s note Contact editor Wes Abney to place an

advertisement or become a drop-off location to display our magazine. You can also feel free to just share feedback, send pitches, articles, story ideas and hot news tips. This is all our plant.

NWLeaf@gmail.com // 206-235-6721

FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Wes Abney

PHOTOGRAPHER & DESIGNER

Daniel Berman

CONTRIBUTORS STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS SIMONE FISCHER, HEALTH & SCIENCE NESSE PHOTO, PHOTOGRAPHY DR. SCANDERSON, GROWTECH DR. SCOTT D. ROSE, HEALTH ALIZA SHERMAN, FEATURES ERIC SKELTON, DESIGN PACER STACKTRAIN, FEATURES BRANDON VOSIKA, ILLUSTRATION LAURIE & BRUCE WOLF, RECIPES NATE WILLIAMS, PRODUCTION ANNIKA WOLTERS, EDITING

ADVERTISING Nate@ORLeaf.com // 415-717-6985 Please email or call us to discuss print and online advertising opportunities in an upcoming issue.

We do not sell stories or coverage. We are happy to offer design services with Kush Creative Group and can provide guidance on the best approaches for promoting any medical, recreational, commercial or industrial product and pursuit. We are targeted.

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No news is good news, but if we have made an error you would like us to address in the next issue, please reach out.

JAN. 2018 ISSUE #21

Thanks for picking up this very special issue...

Genetics is the basis for every dank puff or toke we’ve all ever taken,

and it is exciting for us to take a look inside the world that defines the strains we smoke.

I personally have the utmost respect for the people who’ve taken the risk to breed and develop strains over the last 40 to 50 years, when breeding and growing was highly illegal and risky. Nothing compares to the passion required to breed Cannabis in the black market, and because of the risks growers took, we now have strains such as OG Kush, DJ Short Blueberry and more. We owe the breeders who’ve built this industry a thanks, and this is our tip of the hat to those putting in real work.

Our issue explores the House of Cultivar tissue culture lab, where plants are being grown from a cellular level in a lab. Tissue culturing of Cannabis is going to revolutionize how companies grow and store Cannabis in the future, and we are proud to share the new technology with the industry. Plus, House of Cultivar produces some serious fire, and I definitely recommend checking out the product when in Washington.

This month I also sat down with the infamous James Bean, the founder of Seeds Here Now, whose genetic preservation kits have helped spread strains across all 50 states. Learn how he earned his name, what inspired him to start a seed bank before it was the cool thing to do and hear his opinion on “pollen chuckers,” hype strains and more.

We also compiled a great set of lists this year with all the strains that you should grow, kill off, throw outdoors and more. Check out new breeder profiles, a great budtender and patient story and hot reviews all wrapped up into this sweet edition of the Leaf as well. I hope that the New Year blesses you with plenty of ganja and good company, and that you get the chance to try out one of our genetic recommendations!

Our issue explores the House of Cultivar tissue culture lab, where plants are being grown from a cellular level.

—Wes Abney jan. 2018 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

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national

STEVE ELLIOTT is the editor behind tokesignals.com, an independent blog of Cannabis news and opinion.

‘First Marijuana Overdose Death’ Debunked In November, the world’s “first marijuana overdose” supposedly took place. Sensationalistic media stories and public panic notwithstanding, it seems that a couple of poison control doctors had their quotes taken out of context. When media outlets started reporting on the “first marijuana overdose” of an 11-month-old as if it had actually taken place, lots of folks didn’t know any better than to believe them.

The infant in question died in 2015 after he was admitted to a hospital in Colorado. He was unresponsive, with no gag reflex, following a seizure. The baby had been “irritable” and “lethargic” in the days before and, after the seizure, eventually went into a cardiac arrest.

After a predictable controversy arose—after all, Cannabis would have waited at least 12,000 years to kill someone—the doctors involved stepped up to clarify that they never said a child overdosed on marijuana.

Both doctors who worked on the case report, Thomas M. Nappe, DO, and Christopher O. Hoyte, MD, work at the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center in Denver.

According to the first two lines of their “WE ARE ABSOLUTELY report, “since marijuana legalization, NOT SAYING THAT pediatric exposures to Cannabis have MARIJUANA KILLED THAT CHILD,” SAYS DR. increased. To date, pediatric deaths NAPPE, DIRECTOR OF from Cannabis exposure have not been MEDICAL TOXICOLOGY reported.”

Now, to a careful reader, you’d think that would be enough to establish that kids have never died from weed. But a little bit of ambiguous language a little later in the report is what created the confusion, “as of this writing, this is the first pediatric death associated with Cannabis exposure.”

All the breathless, downright misleading headlines associated with that story appear to have had their genesis in that unfortunate line. But the key word is “associated.” To a medical doctor, that doesn’t mean “caused.” It just means that when the child died, due to myocarditis, not because of Cannabis, there was marijuana in his system.

There’s no evidence that one had anything at all to do with the other, or, beyond that, that an “overdose” ever occurred.

“The only thing that we found was marijuana. High concentrations of marijuana in his blood. And that’s the only thing we found out of the ordinary,” Dr. Hoyte said. The official cause of death was declared to be due to heart muscle damage.

“We are absolutely not saying that marijuana killed that child,” Dr. Nappe, director of medical toxicology at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania’s St. Luke’s University Health Network, told The Washington Post.

Due to the confusing choice of words in the report, people and journalists took things way out of context.

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Quoted “THERE’S A POTENTIAL FOR SOME CURRENT BEVERAGE ALCOHOL CONSUMERS TO MIGRATE AWAY FROM THAT CATEGORY AND TOWARD MARIJUANA WHEN IT BECOMES LEGAL.”

Teen Marijuana Use Now Lower Than Before Legalization in Washington and Colorado The federal government in December published survey data showing the rate of current marijuana use among Colorado and Washington teens decreased significantly last year and is now lower than it was prior to both states’ legalization of Cannabis for adult use.

The rate of past-month marijuana use by Colorado individuals ages 12-17 dropped nearly 20 percent, from 11 percent in 2014-2015 to 9 percent in 2015-2016, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) performed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It is now lower than it was in 2011-2012 (10.47 percent) and 2012-2013 (11.16 percent).

Cannabis became legal for adults 21 and older in Colorado in December 2012, and legal adult marijuana sales began in January 2014.

The rate of past-month marijuana use among 12- to 17-year-olds also dropped in Washington, from 9.17 percent in 2014-2015 to 7.93 percent in 2015-2016, and it is now lower than it was

prior to legalization in 2012, which was 9.45 percent in 2011-2012 and 9.81 percent in 20122013.

“Colorado is effectively regulating marijuana for adult use,” Brian Vicente said, one of the lead drafters of Amendment 64, co-director of the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol and a partner at Vicente Sederberg LLC. “Teen use appears to be dropping now that state and local authorities are overseeing the production and sale of marijuana.”

There are serious penalties for selling to minors, and regulated Cannabis businesses are being vigilant in checking IDs. The days of arresting thousands of adults in order to prevent teens from using marijuana are over.

“These survey results should come as welcome news to anyone who worried teen marijuana use would increase following legalization,” Sederberg said. “As a proponent of Amendment 64 and a parent of two young children, they certainly came as welcome news to me.”

— UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT STUDY, which found retail sales of beer and wine dropped 13 percent in states that legalized medical marijuana within two years.

Quick Hits!

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Million joints worth of seized marijuana were burned by German officials at a waste incineration plant, so it could be turned into power.

Out of 20 central Oregon Cannabis dispensaries passed a recent sting operation by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, refusing to sell marijuana to minors.

Million Dollars worth of marijuana plants were seized in late November from 50 locations in the bust of an illegal marijuana growing operation in Grays Harbor County, Washington.

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political update

By ALIZA SHERMAN for ALASKA LEAF | ILLUSTRATION by BRANDON VOSIKA

CANNABIS LEGALIZATION NEWS AROUND ALASKA

JANUARY C A N N A B I S J O B FA I R R E T U R N S TO A N C H O R AG E

The Anchorage Cannabis Business Association (ACBA) will hold its second annual Job Fair for the Cannabis industry on Jan. 20 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Anchorage-Midtown.

Attendees can meet with dozens of Anchorage-based Cannabis businesses including retailers, cultivators and manufacturers.

Classes and presentations will take place in a room adjacent to the Expo floor. More information about this free event can be found at Facebook.com/AnchorageCBA. CANNABIS EDIBLES MAKER LICENSE REVOKED

The Alaska Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office (AMCO) revoked the license for Frozen Budz, the Fairbanks-based With Cannabis edibles manufacturer, in December. Allegations of violations prices coming included selling product with excessive levels of THC and down in Alaska, selling edibles contaminated with mold. The company may cultivators are frustrated that have sold more than 100,000 untested edible products to taxes remain at the retailers across the state. same level...

The company also allegedly used untracked Cannabis, made products that were not approved by the Alaska Marijuana Control Board (AMCB) and allowed consumption on the premises. A company spokesperson disputed the allegations and pointed out in statements that they never received any warnings prior to being suspended. Frozen Budz also operates a retail license and was still selling flower at press time. The company was fined $500,000 according to the Juneau Empire.

PRODUCTS SEIZED FROM ANCHORAGE-BASED CANNABIS DELIVERY SERVICE

Late last month, the Anchorage Police Department raided and seized Cannabis from Absolutely Chronic Delivery Co. (ACDC).

ACDC, a nonprofit organization, is not licensed by AMCO, and Cannabis delivery to individuals is prohibited in the state.

The former owner of ACDC, Michael Crites, was charged in 2015 for multiple felony counts related to running a Cannabis delivery service. As of press time, no arrests had been made.

CANNABIS STOLEN IN ANCHORAGE CANNABIS BRINGS IN THE GREEN

Since the regulated Cannabis industry launched in October 2016 with its first legal sale in Fairbanks, the state has collected $4.7 million in tax revenue.

In October 2017, the Alaska Department of Revenue received $953,591 in marijuana tax revenue. Tax revenues came from the sale of 1,004 pounds of flower by cultivators to retailers and 626 pounds of other plant parts (trim) were also sold.

Tax revenues in September 2017 topped off at $723,757. There are more than 70 tax paying Cannabis cultivators across the state.

Municipalities have collected millions of dollars, however, the exact figures were not available at press time. Cultivators are still paying a $50 tax per ounce on Cannabis that they sell to retailers, that comes to $800 per pound of bud and $260 per pound for trim.

With Cannabis prices coming down in Alaska, cultivators are frustrated that taxes remain at the same level, making it challenging to turn a profit. Proposals for new tax regulations will be up for public comment in early 2018.

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Anchorage-based cultivator Danish Gardens was robbed last month when our intruders broke into the cultivator’s grow in South Anchorage in the early hours of the morning and made off with 36 pounds of dried marijuana worth more than $150,000.

Video footage of the robbery shows three men and a woman breaking the locks off the property gates and breaking through bulletproof glass to gain access. Owner Dane Wyrick stated that while the suspects were not employees, they appeared to have intimate knowledge of the 20,000-square-foot building because they seemed to go straight for an upstairs drying room.

Alaska Cannabis companies are urging AMCO to remove sensitive details about businesses from the website, including floor plans and the placement of security cameras and alarms.

Danish Gardens is offering a $10,000 reward for any information leading to arrests.

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FEATURE

By WES ABNEY | PHOTOS by NESSEPHOTO

GREAT NORTHERN CANNABIS Great Northern Cannabis is a beautiful naturally lit storefront gracing the downtown Anchorage shopping district with a classy and professional Cannabis retail experience.

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W

alking into Great Northern feels like stepping into a high-end boutique, but instead of jewelry it's beautiful Cannabis in tastefully arranged display cases.

“In terms of curb appeal our store is a very beautiful environment to shop in, it’s safe and conveniently located downtown, with an Apple Store or Nordstrom shopping experience,” Aaron Morse, VP of Sales and Marketing for the dispensary, said.

“We've trained our staff to be super friendly, and we try to emphasize education over sales. We want people learning and coming in with questions, to have good experiences with Cannabis.”

Display cases are on the rear wall, along with easy-to-read TV menus showcasing prices, strain names and testing results.

There's a selection of clones too, and books for those looking to learn how to grow their own Cannabis. At the front is a row of budtending stations, with products laid out by type and producer.

The staff is happy to answer questions about strains and products, and they focus their budtenders on terpene percentages and strain effects, not just THC. It’s a sophisticated way to buy Cannabis, something that customers enjoy about the store.

In a black market environment, there wasn't a lot of room to be a sophisticated consumer, and as we’ve transitioned into recreational consumption there's more sophistication as people learn the basic differences between strains.

There is still a lot of emphasis on highest THC percentage, and, as an industry, the situation in Cannabis is analogous to someone going into a wine shop and saying “what's your cheapest and strongest wine?” which is how many consumers make decisions now.

“We want to get to a broader understanding of how Cannabis affects people, and the educational process with that,” Morse said.

The dispensary is more than just a classy storefront, it's a vertically integrated producer and process getting set to open a second retail location in 2018. The cultivation aspect of the store has been a big driver for growth, allowing in-house strains to provide the core of the selection.

“Now we are diversifying, and it’s exciting, we want to carry a broad selection of featured growers from all over the state. We just got our first high CBD strains in from Permafrost, and are always looking for more products to put on the shelves.”

Among their in-house strains, the Chernobyl and the Super Lemon Haze are fan favorites.

Customers will find products from Good LLC out of Fairbanks, Parallel 64, High Tide Farms and the new offerings from the good folks at Permafrost. They also carry Einstein brand products, with Leaf Chews and e-blunts as well as concentrates like the Klear.

The Great Northern cultivation arm works with Top Hat concentrates, who processes trim into Super Critical CO2 oil. It’s just one of the many partnerships they hope to build as the industry grows.

“We're really interested in collaborating with other players in the industry, this is a new market and a growth market, and we're looking for ways to work with other companies and find mutually beneficial relationships,” Morse said.

“We’re following kindergarten rules, play well with others, and believe that will produce the best outcome for the industry. And our main motto is 100 percent compliance, 100 percent of the time.

We’re absolutely committed not just in the letter of law but the spirit of the regulatory environment.”

With a positive attitude and a quality model, the Great Northern team is growing quickly. With 40 employees between the different parts of the operation, they are quickly becoming a major employer, as well as a provider of quality Cannabis and education.

Look for their second location opening this year, and exciting products and strains to come as they continue to innovate and grow.

THE CULTIVATION ASPECT OF THE STORE HAS BEEN A BIG DRIVER FOR GROWTH, ALLOWING IN-HOUSE STRAINS TO PROVIDE THE CORE OF THE SELECTION.

Great Northern Cannabis 541 W 4th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501 (907) 929-9333 GreatNorthernCannabis.com

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This is a marijuana product. Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming and addictive. Marijuana impairs concentration, coordination and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under its influence.

There are health risks associated with consumption of marijuana. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of reach of children. Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

FEATURE

By WES ABNEY | PHOTO by NESSEPHOTO

DOWNWARD DAB

18/jan. 2018 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

Q&A WITH FOUNDER STACEY MULVER Stacey Mulver is a passionate Cannabis activist and leader, having worked in the industry in Colorado before taking her passion on the road as she teaches her yoga classes in Washington, Washington D.C., Massachusetts, Alaska and soon to be in Oregon and California. She left a corporate job to pursue her passion of yoga teaching and combined that with her love of Cannabis for a truly unique experience!

How did you get started with Cannabis and leave the mainstream job world?

Cannabis education is JUST AS IMPORTANT AS consumption in your classes?

I spent the last six years working in the Cannabis industry after I quit my IT career to become a Pilates teacher. It was an abrupt change! I realized I hated my job, I wasn’t happy and I went through a big transformation. I went into training, and during that time I realized the innate compatibility between Cannabis and mindful movement, and I discovered that was my true passion.

My goal is to help people who have resistance to Cannabis or yoga to take the class out of curiosity, and to learn about how beneficial cannabinoids are. This class opens hearts and minds.

And it’s a chance to try something new, meet new people and have a fun activity that speaks for itself. That’s my master plan, to help shift the attitude around Cannabis.

What do you mean by mindful movement?

How does cannabis enhance yoga?

I consider that an umbrella term for exercises like yoga and Pilates that engage your concentration and mind to move your body. This isn’t jumping on your treadmill to tune out, it’s taking time to move with consciousness. It makes a huge difference on a physical and emotional level, and paired with Cannabis, it opens up a lot of opportunities for personal transformation and expanded consciousness.

you’ve sold us on the idea, what does a normal MARIJUASANA class look like?

Marijuasana Yoga showcases the power of Cannabis + exercise

Cannabis is going to help you with yoga. It’s directly related to movement systems in the body, and with circulation and inflammation. In yoga you go through each body part as each pose is designed to test the range of motion, and work several joints and muscles at the same time. Cannabis will help blood flow into new areas, as circulation is cut off and expanded through poses, and help the body flow blood and cannabinoids into new areas.

It's about an hour and a half, and the actual yoga we do takes about an hour. We start by drinking tea, which is important for the social aspect, and taking some CBD samples. I always include CBD because it’s part of education and reversing stigma about Cannabis as something that is only recreational; and that CBD is legal, and has tremendous benefits for something that doesn’t get you high. Of course, people can vape or roll a joint then too. Then we do 30 minutes of yoga, take a break in the middle for more tea and weed and talk, and then come back to the mats for another round. After another 30 minutes class is over, and by then people are pretty high from both the stretching and the weed, and we all wrap up and exchange cards and info.

Is Cannabis something the mainstream yoga community recognizes?

Do people need yoga experience to come to the class? And same for weed, do they need to be smokers?

I feel that the industry is on the verge of something really big, once we start tapping into the fact that we are a big community and what that really means. There's a chance for a huge shift.

I started in Colorado, and then went to all the places I've taught since then, and finishing the year in Alaska of all places feels good. I’m seeing how widespread and connected the Cannabis community is, and we need to realize it and act as a community to make positive change.

Lots of people come in doing yoga for the first time, but who have smoked weed but were intimidated by the idea of yoga. It’s an icebreaker, an opportunity for people who smoke to get to know one another and do a fun and healthy mindful activity that contributes to wellness. It’s a way to cast Cannabis in a light beyond ‘it just gets you fucked up.’ Which is also great for people who don’t smoke, to see our community in a different light. So you don’t have to smoke, or do yoga, just have an open mind.

It's not something the yoga community talks about or embraces with open arms, a lot are anti-Cannabis. There are a lot of degrees of opinion, but being within the industry inspired me with all the growth and innovation. Why not this yoga and Cannabis idea? I just kind of started doing it, and it quickly became the focus of my life. I only started the company in November 2016, it’s really taken off, people have been really receptive.

How does it feel to be changing the yoga industry and the stigma of Cannabis and what are your hopes for the future?

Learn more about the classes & schedule at Marijuasana.com jan. 2018 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

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FEATURE

By WES ABNEY | NESSEPHOTO.COM for ALASKA LEAF

FIRST CANNABIS EXPERIENCE? I’m a very inconsistent smoker, but one of the first times I remember smoking it I was laying of the living room floor with my cousin getting stoned listening to deep melodies from Stabbing Westward. That kind of dates me a little bit, they’re a 90s band with killer base, harmonic melodies, and it was pretty trippy.

I definitely liked it, but I’ve always been an infrequent smoker . Personally I can go long periods of time without smoking, but I’ll also never turn it down!

Each month, the Alaska Leaf magazine crew meets to select one special budtender that stands above the rest!

Tell us who you think should be the next Alaska Leaf Budtender of the Month and why they deserve it!

CHARLES TICE

It’s some trial and error, most the strains in the store I’ve tried myself, and I think everybody is different in how a particular strain will work for you. I had someone come in and say my personal favorite strain didn’t do anything for the customer, and got them too high, but I control my dosage to get just the effect I’m looking for. So, the point is everybody is unique, but I start people off with a question like “What are you planning to do after smoking? Sitting on the couch or out socializing and hanging out? Here’s my experience with the strains we carry, here’s what I would recommend.”

I joined with Satori in May though we didn’t open until late July, and I think my favorite part of being a budtender is talking to people from all walks, socializing and finding out about people. I also like learning about the industry and where it’s going, and I appreciate the transparency of the product you get now. Some highs hit me perfectly and others give me weird social anxiety and I get paranoid, so being able to identify the Cannabis or the flowers I like that work well with me has been super beneficial, and I pass that on to other people.

WHY DO YOU LIKE WORKING AT SATORI?

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO CONSUME?

In 2015 I did a tour up and down the west coast — I started in Seattle and hitchhiked all the way to the California Redwoods

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Black Lab’s Laughing Buddha — I don’t know what it is with that strain, it’s 21.87 percent THC, but every time especially for writing it just hits me. Other ones include Headband, I’ve been enjoying Paradise Nubla from Danish Gardens, you can smell that right through the bag and it crumbles perfectly. Catalyst has also been doing good stuff, they grow in soil and have great terpene profiles.

HOW DO YOU HELP CUSTOMERS FIND THE RIGHT CANNABIS FOR THEIR NEEDS?

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A BUDTENDER AND WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB?

I go for effect, so if I want to hit the gym and have great focus, I hit my pre-workout and a sativa and have a sick workout, every time. If I want to sit down with my typewriter and punch keys, I’ll sit with Laughing Buddha, to get me in a creative thought process.

For smoking I prefer joints, I think they are classic, and I like the feel and getting to burn it over 2 or 3 settings, because I go for effect not overload.

Recently I’ve really liked the vape pens, they’re discrete, have no smell, and get you where you need to be.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE CANNABIS STRAINS, EFFECTS AND TERPENE PROFILES?

budtender of the month Charles Tice is a passionate activist who entered the Cannabis industry to learn more about the plant and how the industry is growing. He is a photojournalist who has hitchhiked across the country, telling stories and experiencing life on the road, and now he uses his Cannabis experiences to help find customers the best Cannabis possible.

I was looking to get into the industry, and looking at other stores, I like everybody, but I like the potential we have at Satori, the space, I love Andrew Baker and the people who work here, and I like the possibility of the growth that the company has. I’m also fascinated by the industry, by the pulse and how fledgling it is. I was in the tech industry before, and I love the startup world, and this is the ultimate startup industry. I want to see more activism, and I do hope we get onsite consumption for our industry.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOBBIES? I’m a politics junkie. Photojournalism is huge, and I’m an avid hitchhiker. I’ve hitchhiked across America in 2012, and in 2015 I did a tour up and down the west coast — I started in Seattle and hitchhiked all the way to the California Redwoods over a couple weeks.

As a photojournalist that was one of the benefits of doing that along with meeting people and telling stories. Aside satori alaska from that, I actually like SatoriAlaska.com just being out on the open 221 E 5th Ave, road, riding in the back of Anchorage a truck bed through Navajo country, there’s a freedom there you can make up. To me it’s like living.

Send your suggestions for Budtender of the Month to NWLeaf@gmail.com

pATIENT Profile

By SIMONE FISCHER | PHOTO by @BERMANPHOTOS

JULIO DILAN MANAGING CHRONIC LYME DISEASE THROUGH THE POWER OF CANNABIS

Approximately 20 percent of people diagnosed with Lyme disease are living with chronic pain even after receiving antibiotic treatment — Dilan among them.

His experience with Lyme began in late childhood.

“I

never found a rash, but I could feel my brain pulsing like a really bad headache. I started showing signs of Lyme when I was in school.

Chronic fatigue, neck and shoulder pains, body aches, cold and hot sweats, body and facial twitching, brain fog, bad nausea and my vision started to change like if I’m in a dream state,” Dilan said.

“I was sensitive to lights too, especially florescent ones. I was dealing with panic attacks and I didn’t want to get out of bed. These were all symptoms of Lyme Disease that I did not know at the time.”

After looking at a map of the United States on where Lyme disease is most reported, the East Coast has the highest amount of reported cases, according to the CDC. However, toward the southern end of California there is a concentrated area of Lyme reports. Dilan believes 30,000 cases reported each year is not accurate.

The CDC uses a data collection technique called a “surveillance system” that doesn’t capture every illness and only focuses on “concentrated areas” of Lyme disease reports in the Northeast and Midwest.

Family Trauma Dilan believes Lyme is under-reported because not everyone has the telltale rash. Although the Dilan family did the best they could to clear tics from their property, it still wasn’t enough.

“My siblings were being bounced around to group homes back then, but from 1990 to 1994, my mother was well enough to take care of me and my two brothers. She had been dealing with mental illness all her adult life and was constantly in and out of mental institutions. But towards the end of 1994, things took a bad turn after living in a house with a bad tic infestation. Suddenly, she wasn’t normal,” Dilan said.

“She was showing all the symptoms of Lyme, and I remember seeing the “bull’s eye” rash on her leg but none of us knew. Her doctors weren’t Lyme-lit-

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fer to humans. Long-term antibiotics are the erate and she had already been in the system for only thing Dr. Miguel Gonzales can recommend so long, they assumed her symptoms were mental which would be extremely expensive: $50,000 to health issues.” $100,000 out of pocket. The treatment would reWhen his mother had become too unstable and habilitate me for at least five years, and there is sick again, Dilan and his older brother went to live no guarantee it would work,” Dilan said. with his estranged father, who had just recently recovered from a life-long addiction to heroin.

“It was so hard as a teen watching my mother try Relief through Cannabis and Faith to get well as she went from outpatient facilities to mental institutions. My mother died in 2001, the Years after his diagnosis, Dilan still deals with year I graduated high school. I feel Lyme disease persistent pain and fatigue. was a huge contribution to her becoming unsta“I use strains with high CBD. I deal with inflamble again. She was never diagnosed with Lyme mation and I need to reduce it, so smoking Candisease, and my belief that whether she did have nabis gives me the best relief. For inflammation, Lyme is highly controversial within my family. I’m I prefer strains 2:1 strains with high CBD and low the only one that believes this.”

THC like: Canna-Tsu, Cannatonic, Critical Mass Despite his late mother’s history with mental (2:1) because THC helps CBD work better. For health, it was Lyme that drove her over the edge in rest and sleep, I like Phyre Glue, Silver City Diethe end, Dilan believes. Dealing the death of his sel, Star Dawg.” mother at such a young age was immensely trauDilan chooses living soil Cannabis due to its matic, and affected the nature of his organic cultivation practices pushing Lyme disease is caused by Lyme diagnosis. When Dilan began Cannabis plant genetics to its full pothe bacteria Borrerlia burdorferi, showing many of the signs of Lyme tential, resulting in the best medicine. and transmitted with tic bites.

The Centers for Disease Control in school, his family thought he was Antibiotics are the first thing docestimates that 30,000 people dealing with mental health issues like tors recommend, but the out-of-pockcontract Lyme disease every his late mother, Dilan said. et expense is too great for chronic year in the United States.

If left untreated, severe headDilan saw a psychiatrist who told conditions. Cannabis allows Dilan to aches, arthritis with severe joint him he was experiencing symptoms fight inflammation without the risk of pain and swelling, inflammation of depression, when the truth was he creating any superbugs. of the brain and spinal cord and problems with memory can was experiencing symptoms of Lyme.

“I want to bring down inflammaresult. Lyme is classified as a “Three doctors later at the age of tion in my brain and the pain I feel bacteria and treated with heavy 20, I saw a Lyme-literate doctor by in my shoulders. I use edibles when antibiotics such as Amoxicillin. the name of Dr. Miguel Gonzales out it comes to getting really good rest. of Thousand Oaks, California. I had to pay out of I don’t do edibles during the work day because pocket to see him, which was very expensive, and it’s too heavy, or maybe I just haven’t found my I was tested. It came back positive, but I could not daytime dose yet, but my job is demanding and I afford further testing at the time to see if it was still must be mentally alert.” active, and what co-infections I may still have.”

Dilan said Cannabis helps him control his inIt is a difficult diagnosis for doctors to make. flammation so he can continue to work full-time “There are other bacteria’s that tics can transand support his family.

Dilan said Cannabis helps him control his inflammation so he can continue to work full-time and support his family.

Dilan is the assistant garden manager at Phyre Farms, an OLCC-licensed recreational grow. The job demands his best work and he must stay sharp despite lingering fatigue.

“Everybody is different, so I don’t expect what works for me will work for everyone else with Lyme. I deal with chronic fatigue, so a balanced diet is extremely important too. What you consume and put in your body either helps you or makes it worse. I also use hydrotherapy to help reduce my chronic pain,” Dilan said.

“I used to surf back in California and I think it really helped me being in nature and talking to God while the waves came in. Surfing and the beach helped me, but I don’t have that kind of access in Oregon, so hydrotherapy is a solid substitute.”

Without question, Dilan is a man of conviction. He is passionate about his faith and the relationship between God and Cannabis.

“I am a man of faith, and I am a Christian. When my mother went through all of her craziness, she would still wake up and listen to Spanish Christian radio. She loved God with her whole heart and soul. I used to have conflict between my faith and my feelings about Cannabis, but it all went away when I started using it for my symptoms. I would get instant pain relief. I believe God created this plant to heal our bodies, and even to use recreationally in a responsible and not abusive way (Genesis 1:29, Genesis 9:3),” Dilan said.

“Anything can be abused. Food can be abused and become an addiction. Those that knew me best in the conservative circle knew I was sick. It took courage and trust in God for me to step away from ignorant fearbased Christians. I use this plant as medicine to find relief from my symptoms, and find freedom from unhealthy convictions,” Dilan said.

Dilan believes there is a divine correlation between faith and Cannabis. After all, Cannabis is natural and comes from the earth. Even beyond the realm of Christianity, Cannabis is not tolerated in most religious spaces. Despite the relentless shunning of Cannabis from the religious right, Dilan said he owes his healing to Cannabis and God. “Logically, in my heart and spirit, I know God supports Cannabis. There is an agenda to the conservative Christian community that runs this nation, and I believe many Christians’ understand the plant, but don’t want to go against the agenda or lose positions of power,” Dilan said.

“I asked God if he supports my Cannabis consumption and the answer is simple: Cannabis takes away my pain so I can play with my son and treat my wife right. What more evidence do you need?”

“I deal with chronic fatigue, so a balanced diet is extremely important too.”

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highly likely

By PACER STACKTRAIN for ALASKA LEAF

Column # 21

Highlighting amazing Cannabis pioneers who helped pave the way to greater herbal acceptance.

ANTHONY BOURDAIN I KNEW IT! That was the silent exclamation inside my THC-induced brain as I watched Anthony Bourdain, one of America’s prominent food personalities and the host of CNN’s Parts Unknown, roll, then light up a joint, all while overlooking the magnificent Puget Sound in Seattle from his swanky downtown hotel room.

Many know Anthony Bourdain through his former program No Reservations which aired on the Travel Channel for 13 seasons. He exemplifies that sort of brash, New York swagger with a punk rock attitude and unflinching honesty tossed in for good measure. But Bourdain can also be a divisive character and his sometimes antagonizing interactions—often leading fans into a “love or hate” relationship with him. But his contributions to modern travel and food shows can’t be denied.

Bourdain created something new with his personality-driven take on food culture.

It all started with his best-selling book Kitchen Confidential, where Bourdain describes a drug-fueled work environment in the kitchens of lower Manhattan that included copious amounts of Cannabis usage on a nightly basis. Sure, there were also heavier substances used and described in the book, but I’d always wondered, given Bourdain’s personality, if he’d continued to use Cannabis.

As he moved into television, there were signs over his 17 seasons on-air that Bourdain might still use Cannabis.

On an episode of No Reservations filmed in Cambodia, Bourdain orders a restaurant’s “Happy Pizza” which he notes had been enhanced with a “powerful herbal compound.”

On Parts Unknown in Amsterdam, just before heading into CNN’S LEGAL the infamous redlight district, he says “The use of any conDEPARTMENT trolled substance by me or any member of this crew would be absolutely forbidden according to network standards and all HAD TO GET rules of human decency,” he told the camera while arriving at INVOLVED WITH the airport. “Remember kids: don’t do drugs. We don’t.”

THE DECISION TO Bourdain throws the camera a long, pronounced eye roll.

His style is full of white knuckle honesty combined with sharp SMOKE CANNABIS satirical snark—and it carries over to his writing for television.

ON CAMERA...

An extended segment of Parts Unknown’s show on Morocco was dedicated to showing how hashish-laced Majoon is made by combining keif with honey.

“Of course, network standards and practices prohibit me from even tasting this mind-altering treat. So until I see Christianne and Wolf doing bong rips in the Situation Room, I will, of course, abide by these rules. That’s. The. Kind. Of. Guy. I Am.” So, Bourdain has consumed plenty of edible Cannabis on his programs. But the question still remained—did he ever smoke it? While it took almost two decades, the latest episode in Seattle put the debate to rest: “I’ve smoked weed since I was 13,” he told a brother-sister Cannabis entrepreneur team over dinner.

Bourdain later broke down the program with CNN’s Anderson Cooper.

“I smoked a hell of a lot of bud on the show and looked straight at the camera and said, ‘This is CNN.’ And I got to tell you, it made me happy,” Bourdain said.

Bourdain noted that CNN’s legal department had to get involved with the decision to smoke Cannabis on camera and that it was ultimately allowed on the network since it was legal in the jurisdiction where he smoked it.

“I’m very proud of my joint-rolling skills, so it was nice to roll a joint on camera.

It was a highlight for me—getting ripped on some high-powered, high-test bud.”

America’s favorite bad boy chef & travel host has been cooking up a love affair with Cannabis 24/JAN. 2018 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

Thepacerstacktrain@gmail.com Instagram: @ThePacerStackTrain

This is a marijuana product. Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming and addictive. Marijuana impairs concentration, coordination and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under its influence.

There are health risks associated with consumption of marijuana. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of reach of children. Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

ALASKA LEAF

THE STRAINS & GENETICS ISSUE 28/jan. 2018 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

HOUSE OF cULTIVAR

Profile by Wes Abney Photos by Daniel Berman

MATT GABOURY

IN A QUIET CORNER of House of Cultivar’s massive tier 3 grow facility in an industrial area of Seattle sits a sealed laboratory changing the world of Cannabis genetics.

As the Cannabis industry transitions into the mainstream world of agriculture, new technology is both disrupting and enhancing the marketplace as research and science take control from basement technology and classic growing methods. Tissue culture could be the biggest game changer of the next ten years, and it isn’t even on the radar of big Cannabis.

Tissue culturing is the art of plant stem cells, giving a lab the ability to revert strains to the most basic genetic form, and fit 10,000 of them into a cryogenic freezer the size of a decent mini-fridge. The future of strains and genetic preservation intersect in a Petri dish full of weed cells and a new world of technology, and the roots are being laid in the Northwest. >>

Vice president of operations

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ALASKA LEAF

THE STRAINS & GENETICS ISSUE

Continued from pg. 37

HOUSE OF cULTIVAR

Path to the Lab For Mike Hydro, the company’s lead lab technician and strain aficionado who provided the basis for the process, the project began as a work of passion.

A medical grower for the last decade, he started experimenting with tissue culturing in his personal garden after reading about the technique in traditional agriculture. But like any new startup industry, there was almost no information in the beginning.

“For me to start, there was nothing to look up,” Hydro said. “There were a few articles on orchid and bamboo propagation, but for specifically what I was trying to attempt, I threw darts at the wall until something stuck.”

Through trial and error, Hydro was able to develop methods that worked. He began culturing his own strains in a homemade environment. The failure rate was high, as the chances of contamination run rampant outside a professional lab environment. Around that same time period, he started working with the House of Cultivar team, who built out a shipping container as an initial lab.

When the success and implications of that became readily apparent, the step toward a full-size lab was taken. At a cost of more than $350,000 it was a serious investment, one that paid off for the team, and is soon to help the greater industry.

Genetic Preservation In a world of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

That’s been the story of Cannabis genetics for the last several decades. Breeding was underground and risky, and those who bred were rightfully careful about sharing strains. A select group of people globally represented the majority of the cutting-edge strains. For breeding to be successful, the key issues are protecting strains from leaking and becoming diluted while

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simultaneously protecting Tissue culture enters the scene as a technology was generated from genetic lineage and keeping that allows sterile, lab-grade plant growth to tissue culture, which create unlimited generations of new plants, strains alive. The concept has proven our viabilall with the exact same traits and features. of a seed vault meets the ity. Now I’m passionHouse of Cultivar project. ate about opening Most people have heard of the “doomsday” seed this up to other people and starting a true bank,” vault in the Arctic, meant to hold humanity’s seeds Gaboury said. safe in event of calamity. Ironically, it flooded after “Once we begin the bank we will be able to help less than a decade in existence, a product of global save heirloom strains, and discover the phenotypes warming. The point is simple—there was previously of future.” no way to create a living vault of Cannabis genetics.

In 2018 the team hopes to begin accepting The cost to maintain a sample in a cryogenic storage samples for companies that want to protect freezer is minimal, meaning strain banks can and will strains or phenotypes that they can’t keep in the become a new part of the Cannabis breeding world. garden, and helping companies reset genetics with It’s that passion that led Matt Gaboury, co-owner the tissue culture process. of House of Cultivar to fund the project. Gaboury has Eventually, House of Cultivar hopes to build a been growing for ten years and around Cannabis his database of strains that will be unlike anything else entire life, always building grows and helping expand in the world. upon his formal education in architecture. His main “We have the ability to hold 10,000-plus strains contribution to House of Cultivar was designing and in one lab, with plant cuttings and cells stored managing permits and construction of the facility, indefinitely, in the truest form of a genetic bank. We which took more than two years and $4 million. want to fill the whole lab with strains, to collect and “We spent the last year running our 60+ strains store and preserve,” Gaboury said. through the system, to where our entire mother stock “We’re pioneers of this industry.”

Profile by Wes Abney Photos by Daniel Berman

Tissue Culture Explained To understand the process of tissue culturing, it’s best to start with a basic understanding of the Cannabis plant, and the simple way people have been spreading genetics since pot became modern.

Traditional growing takes a cutting of a mother plant that’s been kept in a vegetative state perpetually, producing baby clones of a specific strain. Over time, the mother will pass generations of new cuttings, until she reaches a point when the cuttings are no longer producing value. A clone becomes a new mother as the process continues. The upside to this process is it’s simple, and it works, but the downside can be massive. From passing bugs or pesticides to genetic drift, when the strain loses the properties over the passing of generations. Cloning is an imperfect art that doesn’t always produce desired results.

Tissue culture enters the scene as a technology that allows sterile, lab-grade plant growth to create unlimamount of effort put into that, from any standpoint— ited generations of new plants, all with the exact same money, ecological, labor—a strain vault is inevitably traits and features. where we need to go,” Hydro said. “It doesn’t have to The process for making a tissue culture starts by be rational then, people have attachments to plants taking a genetic sample of a plant, which can be any that aren’t viable, but you don’t want to lose the cut. piece of leaf or stem, but is best taken from the center Put it in a freezer, stop the genetic degradation, and stem: a piece about one centimeter large. hold onto the essence of the cut for years.”

This plant matter is then placed into a sterile test Breeding of Cannabis is another area that will tube with an agar gel that becomes the plant’s new change with tissue culture. When a plant is first home. The gel tricks the plant cells into popped from seed, there are These cells are genetic gold, thousands of potential phenotypes. believing they are still attached to a the essence of the plant on plant, and causes the plantlet to grow When true breeders develop and a cellular level, free of pesti- search for a strain, they pop thoucallus cells — the stem cells of the plant cides or chemicals and world. These cells are genetic gold, the sands of seeds. ready to be transformed essence of the plant on a cellular level, Currently accepted methodology into new plant matter. free of all pesticides or chemicals and requires a clone for every plant ready to transform into new plant matter. flowered, with tracking and data, so that at the end of The cells are grown out into small plantlets that the breeding run the plant that performs best can be resemble seedlings, and can then become grown out traced back to a clone. into full plants. While it might seem like a lot of work This means keeping double the plants alive and to end up back with a clone, the benefits are tremenhealthy, labeled and tracked, all to select a handful dous. Stripping the plant down to the most basic level out of thousands. With tissue culture, a small piece preserves the genetic code and refreshes it, stripping of each plant could be harvested and labeled, and away any pests, disease or environmental stressors at the end of the test the chosen cuts can be picked that change the plant. The new growth is vigorous out of a shoebox sized freezer instead of a vegetation and fresh, with the original traits of the plant, and reproom with thousands of clones. resents the full genetic potential of a specific strain.

“It’s not magic, it’s just a large sample population of cuttings, where taking full-size clones takes space Greater Implications and biological risk,” Hydro said.

“What we can do is take large samples, isolate for the Cannabis Industry the cleanest, and then populate large lots from those As the Cannabis industry continues to grow, hard clean samples indefinitely. The risk and effort of questions are being asked about every aspect of culbreeding is essentially cut in half with tissue culture.” tivation, from pesticides and chemicals to the energy By making breeding easier, and storing the gefootprint it takes to grow. netics that make the strains we love, the potential to While nothing can solve all the industry’s myriad of save our legacy is solidified, and the ability to spread problems, tissue culture offers a solution for a couple Cannabis worldwide becomes exponentially easier. of them. Tissue culturing removes all pesticides from Science intersects with agriculture, and centers on a the plants workup, even systemic ones that linger plant that’s gone from illegal to one of the world’s for years such as Eagle 20, a banned chemical that largest commodity crops. caused gardens to fail pesticide tests. It also elim“We came from basements and garages to cominates the space, energy and resources needed to mercial industrial, and it’s amazing that we have this keep mothers alive. opportunity,” Gaboury said. “It’s tremendous and “Energy wasted just to keep a mother alive or a definitely surreal sometimes, as we are shaping the cut alive, what’s the footprint of a cut like that, the future of Cannabis one tissue culture at a time.”

RYAN STECKLOFF

Watering some Honey B

Stages of Tissue Culture 1. Collect X plants—a very generic term for plant parts, taking one-centimeter cuttings cut from the main, center stem 2. Plant parts are sterilized in a series of washes, then placed into jars for inoculation in a sterile environment. Wait a few weeks to determine the sterility— pathogens turn up immediately in the first couple weeks.

3. Identify the keepers, then transfer into a medium for multiplication of cells, that is either a root-grow media or a shootgrowth media, which creates branches or material to re-culture.

4. Repeat step one with new material, developing more plant material that becomes rooted.

5. Hardening off— Once they’ve grown and produced a root or shoot, they’re still susceptible to the environment outside of the test tubes, because the test tube provides high humidity in a sealed environment, so the plants are weak at first. Hardening eases them into new homes by opening jars and exchanging oxygen. Once the plants stop wilting, they’re ready to be potted and treated as a seedling.

6. Once it’s rooted, now you have an A1 mom, a beautiful plant to grow and then propagate clones or flower out.

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ALASKA LEAF

THE STRAINS & GENETICS ISSUE

sEEdS hERE Now james Bean is the passionate founder behind SeedsHereNow.com, the country’s largest provider of genetic preservation kits. With more than 40 breeders and hundreds of strains represented, SHN helped redefine the seed game with proper customer service, true genetics and a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee.

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that became my opening pitch,

‘we have seeds here, now, 100 different strains’ and I

wrote it on a whiteboard

at CannaCon and put

it in the corner.

INTERVIEW by WES ABNEY PHOTO by @EATUMUPPHOTO

‘‘

When did Cannabis come into your life and how did you get the name James Bean?

You’re known for having a satisfaction guarantee. Was that challenging in a business as unstable as seeds & genetics?

I was slinging herb before I was smoking it. I played high school football so I didn’t smoke until I was 17, but I was selling joints as a sophomore, stealing my mom’s shake. I liked smoking as it became a community thing with friends, a camaraderie thing. I earned the name James Bean in Boise, Idaho, when I dropped five units of the seediest brick I’d ever seen. People would call and beg hoping I had something else to sell, and I went from James Dean to James Bean.

I’ve said since day one if I can’t guarantee it I won’t sell it. I have 100 percent satisfaction guarantee, it’s not a germination guarantee like some seed banks, its satisfaction guaranteed. If you aren’t happy I’m going to give you a new pack. Because I’ve learned it’s a lot easier to give you a free 5-pack and say have a nice day, try it again.

How did you start selling seeds intentionally?

I met Alpha Chronic around 2010 and get a lot of knowledge from him, and helped him sell his 28-strain line. At that time, I didn’t to take on more breeders, because I’d have to give each half. But after three years I ran him down to four strains, and I had to start adding selection. At that time, there were 1,000 cuts of ACDC floating around, and I hated that and wanted to put that out of business. I met with LaPlata (a breeder), he had a Harlequin and Cannatonic cross, Harlechronic, with 25,000 seeds. He was my first new vendor as I started selling CBD strains, and in 2013, I bought all 50 states’ seedbank.com, WAseedbank.com was the very first. That was when I knew it could be bigger than just Washington, and at the time it was rent money or domain money, and I chose the websites.

What’s the story behind the name, Seeds Here Now?

But you don’t sell seeds directly, so what do you sell?

We sell genetic preservation kits, they’re for novelty use only. Do not get them wet or dirty, they will explode! The information about the strain is the real value, we cover lineage and flowering time and other info, and of course the connection to the breeder. It’s very humbling to work with the breeders I get to, it’s my pleasure.

How do you choose your breeders?

My first question is always “How long have you been in the business,” because you need to have started before me to work with you. I want to work with the guys that paved the road I now drive on, the original guys taking the chances when they didn’t need to, putting their freedom at risk to breed strains and work genetics, illegally and without the technology we have today. The guys I work with are chosen, if you made the strain, you built it, I work with you. If you’re a “chucker,” you cross other people’s work, I can’t work with that.

The weekend of the first CannaCon and Hempfest we had booths at the same time, and it was the first time I had teams in two places. And sitting at CannaCon, people kept asking “You got seeds? You got seeds here, now?” Finally, that became my opening pitch, we have seeds here, now, 100 different strains, and I wrote it on a whiteboard at CannaCon and put it in the corner. The next day I took it to Hempfest, and Darcy drove by and said “This is Hempfest, not felony-fest,” and pointed at my sign.

So, I thought about it, and put .com next to the name, and the next time she drove by I said it’s all brooches and marketing info and I’m only promoting a website, and she said that’s fine! We bought the website that day, and the rest is history.

What’s a “pollen chucker” to you?

A pollen chucker is someone who takes a 10-pack of Crocket’s Tangie and crosses it with someone’s gear and calls it Tangie Cream, so I ask, what did you go for, what traits, when you bred, other than the name. It’s like Brad Pitt and Angelina, you’re going have pretty kids, you can take two popular things and cross them, but it doesn’t mean you did something special or should be awarded for. Guys like that take money out of breeders’ pockets, and spread bad genetics to unsuspecting people, which is wrong all the way around.

Why are some strains more valuable than others and how much of it is hype?

How many breeders are represented on the site and how do you choose them?

We have 42 United States breeders, and only work with people from the states. In my mind that’s there the best breeders are, in the 80s and 90s a lot of U.S. guys sent gear to Amsterdam, but the quality development was always done here.

Helping growers connect with breeders

Your model is different than a lot of other seed banks so how do you spread genetic preservation?

First off, if a rapper raps about your strain, it’s worth so much money! You have to always factor the rapper equation. But really, a lot of it is hype, but about 75 percent of the time the hype matches the breeder. There are breeders out there with up to $800 for a 10-pack, but they’re only putting out 100 packs, and those will all sell out instantly. Put that in a safe and in five to ten years that’s doubled or tripled in value.

How much should people spend on their genetics?

We don’t do shipping, but we do have couriers in every state, couriers that take care of orders, all 50 states. I’m a broker, I don’t make seeds, I’m a middle man. I tell my breeders the day I start making seeds is the day you should pack up and leave. When I think about seedbanks that make or grow seeds I get upset, I think it’s a definite conflict of interest. It’s shady, and it’s too close to the actual game.

How much do people invest in their gardens? How much do you spend on a bulb? One hundred fifty bucks just for a bulb, but people will complain about $150 for a pack. You’re talking about the genetics that will build the future of your company, a proprietary money tree, and nobody has that copy of that seed you have. You want the same thing as everyone else, go transplant a clone.

Do you see problems with the seed game in general?

What is the future for Seeds Here Now?

The seed industry has been shady in the past, and continues to be. Anyone can sell you bag seeds, and you’d never know the difference. We have all sent money to Amsterdam, waited months for our $150 pack, and popped seeds only to have two viable starts and they both end up males. It sucks, and if you call them and complain you get nothing. Having been on the losing end, I thought how can I fix that. Shit can happen though, which is why we have our guarantee.

My second play is licensing breeds. I work with every breeder personally, and we’re coming up on a time where strains will begin to be trademarked and licensed. I keep the breeders’ interests in mind, and the breeders deserve to protect their rights and their strains. California will be the first to start enforcing and accepting Cannabis trademarks, which is huge. We can’t federally trademark because of the Controlled Substances Act, but someday strains will be extremely valuable.

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ALASKA LEAF

THE STRAINS & GENETICS ISSUE

INTERVIEW by SIMONE FISCHER | PORTRAIT by @BERMANPHOTOS

When did you start growing?

Matt: I started officially growing for medical patients in 2007 with 36 plants, and expanded the following year to 96 plants, the biggest garden in Takilma and the greater area for that matter, at the time. My dad, Matthew Chalon Miller, went to prison for 18 months in 1999 for growing Cannabis. That was in impressionable experience for myself as the eldest of eight that drove to Coos Bay every other Sunday to see him. He died from a heart attack in 2015, while doing his pack-test for wild land firefighting.

Rhea: We are both second-generation growers, learning mostly from our fathers. And what’s super cool is since the industry has become legal, we’ve been able to teach them a thing or two!

I understand your late father was around for the legendary creation of Jager. How did Jager come to be?

Rhea: Jager was born in 2009 in Takilma, Oregon. Takilma is a small, hippy community outside of Cave Junction, known since the 70s for some of the highest grade Cannabis in the nation.

Matt: I got Hindu Kush seeds from the Farmacy in California. I was getting into cross-pollination and exploring genetics at the time, while trying to find a strain that would set me aside from everybody else. But most of all, the high and the terpene profile I was chasing was gas and purps terps, like Purple Urkle. Sour Diesel was my favorite strain of all time and I wanted something semi-sour like that too.

I needed a strain that would stand out in a competitive market. I popped 30 different strains, with five up-to 30 seeds of each strain. Once I began, I was really surprised with how much irregularity there was in the phenos once the seeds popped. I planted all of my Hindu Kush seeds I had in the pack. I liked the variance because it’s like a mystery that never stops giving. It’s a true hunt to find the perfect pheno. It’s a real adrenaline rush!

It’s like gold-panning with plants. I wanted to see what the best was for myself.

I was, and still am, very passionate about discovering the best phenos in strains.

After I cracked all of my Hindu seeds, I crossed the specific pheno that I felt was the one back onto itself, which gave us the Jager.

Was there any push back from the Cannabis community or the company Jägermeister?

Getting a whiff of some Jager

Millerville Farms

MATT MILLER S I G N AT U R E S T R A I N : J A G E R

Soon after the strain’s birth, Jager quickly became a staple crop among full-season (outdoor) southern Oregon growers. Jager prefers natural sun, plus she has a hearty resistance against molds and mildews to boot. The Jager pheno-expressions are cloaked in deep purple hues, with a sour but earthy-anise aroma. Naturally, Jager became popular among Oregon growers, even prior to the start of rec sales.

Jager creator Matt Miller and CEO Rhea Miller of OLCC-licensed Millerville Farms break down one of the finest strains to emerge out of Oregon.

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Matt: I’ve been drinking Jägermeister for some time, and I was passionate about drinking my Jäger. I was doing a lot of Jäger bombs back when we were in cross-pollination during the creation of the strain. My brother and I were wrestling on the porch, and things got heated. Once we calmed down after the fight, we decided to roll one up to keep the peace.

We all picked our own smoke, and I rolled up what was to be the strain we dubbed Jägermeister. I told my brother, “It’s like Jäger in a bottle, and Jäger in a spliff!” and that’s how we named it.

It was all medical back then, so this was before legalization and branding. We called it Jägermeister in the early medical days, but a dispensary in southern Oregon got a cease-and-desist from the Jägermeister company. We personally have never been contacted by the company—ever. But to protect ourselves, we changed the strain name from “Jägermeister” to “Jager” to prevent legal action.

Rhea: Back in the medical days, there was pushback from the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) community because we named Cannabis after an alcohol.

But the complaints were pretty minor. To this day, especially after going legal, we don’t hear as much, if any, opposition anymore.

Why do you think people conflate your strain Jager with the strain Purple Hindu Kush?

Can you set the record straight on the subject?

Rhea: Purple Hindu Kush and Jager are not the same thing. I’m not sure why people think it’s the same genetic. Both Jager and Purple Hindu Kush come from the same origins, but they are completely different phenos. Think of it like this: similar to Girl Scout Cookies Forum cut versus Girl Scout Cookies Thin Mint. Both strains are from cookie genetics, but they’re two totally different phenotypic expressions. It’s like siblings.

They have the same parents, but are two totally different people. The two probably get mixed up because they are from the same lineage, but they are different genetics.

Jager is a specific, stabilized phenotype not to be confused with Purple Hindu Kush.

Known for Dogwalker

INTERVIEW by MATTHEW MEYER | PHOTOS by @BERMANPHOTOS

What got you interested in working with, cultivating and eventually breeding Cannabis? Specific strains?

My interest in cultivating Cannabis began in the summer between 11th and 12th grade. This would be the first of several failed attempts to grow a small number of plants from bag to seed outdoors. A couple of years later, during my sophomore year of college, I had my first successful crop. It was a small closet grow under a 250-watt HPS. At the time, the Virginia Beach Afghani cut was very popular amongst many of my friends. Although I never had the honor to cultivate her, her dominance in our market inspired me to explore the potential of various seeds I had collected over the years. To be honest, nothing too exciting evolved from this but my passion to explore continued to evolve. I was introduced to Four Way in 1996. For several years this strain became the standard by which all others were judged. She was a perfect balance between sour and skunky and she was LOUD. This was the same Four Way that is referred to as the Fairfax Four Way today. This is the strain that really inspired me to start breeding. I moved to the West Coast in 1999. My first breeding efforts were to meet or beat the Four Way. It took a few attempts but eventually I got there. If I remember correctly, it was a Northern Lights, Big Bud, Haze cross that finally met the mark. From that moment, I knew the path with Cannabis that I was intended to follow. Moving to Portland enabled me to access amazing genetics to breed with.

Can you provide some insight on the selection process?

Many growers buy seeds to “pheno hunt” for the best flower expression. Not me. I am constantly looking at new crosses to see how they might integrate into my own breeding program. I ask myself, “What can this cross do to enhance another? Can it add depth in flavor? Will it help to stabilize? Is this a new foundation that I can build off of?” If I don’t check the “yes” boxes for any of these questions, then I generally pass on those seeds. During the selection process, I am looking for complex flavor expressions. There has to be the right combination of different inhale-exhale experiences coupled with evolving layers that linger on the pallet after the exhale.

No one-trick ponies allowed. Potency is also of significant interest to me. I want to produce chemovars that are rich in secondary metabolites. I believe these are the best resources for medicine.

What advice do you have for recreational growers?

Don’t lose sight of quality as you pursue higher yields in order to meet your bottom line. Focus on creating a balance between the two.

Photographed at Roots Garden Supply in Portland

oNE eYE S I G N AT U R E S T R A I N S : D O G WA L K E R , S C O O BY S N A C K S

OneEye is a kind, passionate and wise individual who embodies all the positive elements of the Cannabis industry. After meeting him I could tell that OneEye intends to improve the world around him however he can!

On one hand, OneEye is known for his adept breeding skills and, on the other hand, as an expert cultivator. He’s consulted for some of your favorite farms, and also helps a wide variety of growers on a daily basis working as a master grower at Roots Garden Supply in Portland. His creations are revered for their gassy bag appeal and, most importantly, knockout effect!

What about for patients and consumers?

Do your best to be an educated consumer. Whether you’re a medical or recreational user, product awareness is crucial.

What is your favorite strain to grow and what is your favorite strain to smoke?

For the last few years my favorite strains to grow are DogWalker OG and her sister The Bizz. The Bizz has only been released to a few, but be on the lookout for her and her offspring in 2018. In addition, I really enjoy my Scooby Snacks (DogWalker OG x GSC Forum Cut) and most recently Black Lime Reserve. At this year’s Emerald Cup, I was gifted some pure Land Race Thai from Bodhi. This is amazing smoke! The flower was seeded. I can’t wait to see how these seeds might integrate into future breeding projects.

Hopes for Cannabis breeding ten years from now?

Hopefully ten years from now we, the breeding community, will have stood together long enough to protect our genetics from falling into the hands of greedy corporate Cannabis pirates. We must do everything we can to prevent these giants from claiming ownership of our genetics that we have spent decades trying to create.

There are several entities out there who are currently pursuing utility patents and genetic modification of Cannabis for self-serving interests. Scotts Miracle Gro and Phytec are two of these companies. Stand together, we must.

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ALASKA LEAF

THE STRAINS & GENETICS ISSUE

INTERVIEW by WILL FERGUSON | PORTRAIT by @BERMANPHOTOS

What are you currently smoking on?

There are about ten strains in the head-stash at the moment: Kali Snaffle, Ms. Universe, Cherry Vanilla Cookies, Pineapple/C99, Super Silver Haze F4, Bubba Kush and a few more, but I’ve mainly been smoking on the Sour Peach Cobbler.

What originally sparked your interest in breeding Cannabis genetics?

When I first started growing back in 1996, it was from seed. I made my first batch of seeds to become self-sufficient. I made seeds for years before I ever grew from a clone. Seed reproduction evolved into a strict selection process, which eventually became Dynasty Genetics.

What strains are most effective for your medicinal needs?

Pineapple Fields has been amazing for me personally. Its functionality allows me to keep up with my busy schedule but also subsides pain.

When working on new crosses, what traits do you look for?

It really depends on the goal for the breeding project, but ultimately testing the offspring will determine if the male is suitable for use. When I chose the Blue Heron #111 male for the Blue Magoo Bx2, I tested two “finalist” males for a side by side grow of the offspring. The male that looked identical to the Blue Magoo actually did not pass on the recessive-dominant traits I was looking for, but it was actually the taller one that passed on the dominant Blue Magoo traits to all offspring. This is also one of the reasons I test the offspring before committing to a particular parent plant.

Are there any strains or projects that we can expect a release of soon?

The Sour Peach Cobbler is one of the new upcoming releases in extract, bud and seed form.

Chris Petriwsky at Oregon Leaf’s Portland studio

Dynasty Genetics

PROFESSOR P

What’s your opinion on testing out crosses?

It seems many breeders select an elite male and cross them with elite females without growing out the offspring.

Testing is a necessary part of the process in my opinion. If we are not testing offspring, we are not doing a big part of our job.

What does “breeding with intention” mean to you and why do you feel it’s important?

Building a stable foundation is one of the most important factors that are determined when I begin a project. I believe breeding with intention is part of what differentiates “breeders” from “pollen chuckers.” I am conscious of setting goals when beginning a project due to the amount of work I already have cued up, this helps keep things organized and efficient.

S I G N AT U R E S T R A I N S : B L U E M A G O O, P I N E A P P L E F I E L D S

“Professor P” is one of the best breeders in the industry. The love and passion he has for the plant is apparent in every strain he creates. Professor P has been growing and breeding quality genetics since the early 1990’s, most strains were grown from seed and had never been cloned before. Professor P’s work will be available in seed and flower form through Deep Creek Gardens as they continue unveiling new genetics.

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SR OG

Photo by Professor P

P L AT I N U M H U C K L E B E R R Y C O O K I E S A N D S TA R D U S T E R

Archive Seed Bank

Mac laws

Known for DoSiDos

S I G N AT U R E S T R A I N S : FA C E O F F O G, O R E G O N L E M O N S D O S I D O S , W H I T E TA H O E C O O K I E S A N D S A M O A S

INTERVIEW by NATE WILLIAMS | PORTRAIT by @BERMANPHOTOS

How was Archive formed and when?

Archive was formed around 2011 by Fletcher Watson in the great Pacific Northwest. The first seed packs were released around this time using the Albert Walker crossed with Manic 32 male. The idea was to create a male as close to the infamous Albert Walker to be crossed to many other cultural classics that have been collected for well over a decade.

What strains were involved at the beginning, and how were they chosen?

The first strains used in breeding after the Manic crossed with Albert Walker line was the Face Off OG line. Face Off OG female was old bag seed found from OG from SoCal in the early 90s. The Face Off was back crossed to find a number of tested males that made the cut.

These males were used to make the first Face Off line, which consisted of many heirloom genetics including Purple Urkle (Grimace OG), San Diego Catpiss (Code Blue), Pacific Northwest Dog Shit (Poochie Love), Skunk crossed with Chem 91 (Hazmat OG), Irene Kush (RudeBoi OG), as well as some more current hype Cultivars like Forum Girl Scout Cookies (Samoas), OG Kush Breath (Dosidos), Ghost OG (Casper OG), Sour Diesel (Sour Face) to name a few.

The goal in all these crosses is to use the finest heirloom genetics and best new age genetics to create a line that offers the best of both worlds and helps preserve the classics. We have always been about the flavor and effects and we’re always looking for unique profiles and high THC strains. The goal is to open the door to new varieties and flavors instead of remaking things already in existence.

How does the selection process work at Archive?

The selection process comes with a lot of smoking of female cultivars used, rigorous stress testing and flowering of the males. Once the desired attributes are found, then the crosses are made and tested before release.

The Face Off males tend to help stabilize some of the more unique and unstable varieties along with adding some of the desired growth traits for commercial operations.

Archive has grown to include a retail store

Archive Seed Bank is a name that needs no introduction among growers in the Pacific Northwest. They’ve been an Internet seed phenomenon and have brought forth amazing strains such as Face Off OG, Oregon Lemons, White Tahoe Cookies and Samoas. Archive is comprised of a team that stretches across both Oregon and Washington, with the Portland retail store that opened in June 2016. Meet Mac Laws, who helps run Archive Portland, the nursery’s clone production, genetic preservation and exploration and consults on Archive’s flower production.

How do you see the breeding world changing with Cannabis legalization?

We see seeds as the future of Cannabis. Breeding for consistent varieties that can be grown from seed. The vigor and sterile start of a seed plant is hard to compete with on a commercial level. We will continue to push the bar to create unique cultivars looking for every flavor and smell imaginable.

Why is DosiDos the favorite inhouse strain?

The DosiDos is a plant that has it all. Looks, smell, flavor and potency. It is a homerun and we have heard from many people that it has effects that are unmatched in its potency and ability to not have a tolerance build-up to its specific profile. The new line of DosiDos crosses is an amazing chance to once again take old classics with varying viability and turn up the modern day bag appeal, potency, flavor and commercial viability.

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ALASKA LEAF

THE STRAINS & GENETICS ISSUE

NEW MOTHERS

KILL IT

BEGINNER BUDS

COLOSSAL COLAS

BAG APPEAL

WILDERNESS WEEDS

STRAIN GUIDE Reviews by Nate Williams Photos by Daniel Berman

Alaska Leaf comes across hundreds of strains per year with plenty more submitted by growers for potential review every month. For this first-ever Strains and Genetics Issue of the Leaf, we dove in and broke down some of our favorites, least favorites, and everything in between when it comes to cultivars, phenotypes, and all things strains and genetics.

These lists were cumulative from our entire writing staff and unsurprisingly there was fairly minimal overlap section to section. Our staff was more or less in agreement about which list these strains should be landing on, though it should be known that this was not the case in every instance.

With more than 1000 strains available and more constantly emerging, each winter growers must make the difficult decision of what genetics to grow the coming season. The hope with these lists (and our breeder profiles) is not only to educate both our consumers and the growers, but to help bring them closer together through a better understanding of each other.

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Sour tangie

forbidden fruit

Grower Million Elephants Co. Breeder Unconfirmed, potentially Libra Seeds Lineage Cherry Pie x Tangie Effect This amazing strain blends two unique terpene profiles and opposite effects for a one-of-a-kind hybrid. The effects are relaxing and mood enhancing, just as one would expect when crossing a couch-locking indica such as Cherry Pie with an uplifting sativa such as Tangie. We can’t wait to see more growers get hold of this amazing strain!

Black Mamba #3

Grower Fidus Family Farms Breeder Exotic Genetix Lineage Mint Chocolate Chip x The Cube Effects This incredibly potent strain has an amazing minty hashy and Kush forward terpene profile — frosted all the way down to the fan leaves. This strain shows vigor in every notable category, and each phenotype exhibits different strengths and weaknesses. Just as it’s not for first-time consumers, she’s also not a great choice for first-time growers. Be prepared if you’re hunting for that perfect Black Mamba!

Grower The Plant Farm Breeder Crocket Family Farms Lineage East Coast Sour Diesel x Tangie Effects The high from well-grown Sour Tangie, such as this elite sample, has strong creative and mood elevating effects. This energetic, motivating strain is perfect for making art or music, going for a hike and making household tasks a breeze. From our staff’s encounters with Sour Tangie, the strain’s best expressions come from soil-grown mediums. koala cookies and Cream scooby Snacks Banana Split OG Pie Breath lotus Larry Sonic Screwdriver Blood Durban

NEWMOTHERS The Alaska Leaf staff selected a few of their favorite strains that emerged in 2017.

Cheers to all the breeders with strains in this category for creating something great!

Dutch Treat Cherrygasm Head Dawg Astral OG White Tahoe Cookies true Blueberry tardis

KILL IT These are great strains already growing abundantly, but it’s time to shelve a few of them until their popularity dies down.

Blue Dream

cookies tangie Blue City Diesel zkittlez Gummy Bear cheese Photo by Allie Beckett

pURPLE pUNCH BEtA PHENO

Grower TKO Reserve Breeder SuperNova Gardens Lineage Larry OG x Grand Daddy Purple Effects This strain, when sun-grown like this example, has a relaxing yet creative high well suited for stress relief and killing writer’s block. The high is body forward and mentally it’s mellowing and chill with low psychoactivity, making it a good option for newer users. This strain made our Kill It list due to its nearly exclusive tendency toward being grown indoor, which produces an extremely frosty and sexy looking bud that lacks any “punch” whatsoever.

honey Bananas lemon OG bruce banner rude Boi OG

Photo by Josh McHale

gg 4

Grower Midnight Trich Farm Breeder GG Strains Lineage Sour Dubb x Chem Sis x Chocolate Diesel Effects GG4 is a potent, new-classic strain that exploded in popularity in 2017. It’s in most every grower’s stable and almost every dispensary.

If you’re a fan, keep an eye out for Midnight Trich Farm’s flowers from-cut phenotype of the legendary Glue. This strain profiles notes of chocolate, fuel and chew-funk and provides strong effects typical of both the sativa and indica varietals.

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ALASKA LEAF

THE STRAINS & GENETICS ISSUE

AC/DC Sour Tsunami Harlse-Tsu Cannatonic papaya Pennywise Ringo’s Gift Stephen Hawking Kush Pineapple Express Blackberry Kush Charlotte’s Webb Kosher Tangie Marionberry Kush

Critical Mass

Grower Green Dragon Gardens Breeder CBD Crew Lineage (Afghan x Skunk #1) x Cannatonic Effect Critical Mass is an amazing 1:1 strain, meaning it balances its THC and CBD values nearly equally. The result is a balanced high that provides amazing medicinal benefits due to its bolstered CBD content. The smell is completely unique and is a mix of overripe fermenting fruit and earthy funkiness. The strain is relaxed and focused, and makes for a great daytime smoke or is a good option for new users or those with a low tolerance.

Blue Dragon

BEGINNERBUDS Perfect for low tolerances and those new to Cannabis, these strains have more CBD than THC content. Some fall closer to a 1:1 ratio, but all will offer an easy smoke.

Reviews by Nate Williams | Photos by Daniel Berman

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Desert

Frost

Grower Yerba Buena Farms Breeder Unknown Lineage Unknown Effects The Blue Dragon Desert Frost is a high CBD cultivar that consistently tests at around 1 percent THC, while boasting CBD content from 17 percent to nearly 20 percent. This strain provides wonderful muscle relaxation and noticeably diminishes stress and anxiety. It’s a perfect strain for first timers, due to its low THC.

Sunset Sherbet Grand Daddy Purple jager Banana Kush Samoas Blueberry Northern Lights Mango Kush og kush cherry kush Grape Ape Green Crack

Lodi D odi

Grower Sugartop Buddery Breeder Smokey Point Productions Lineage Proprietary/Undisclosed Effect Lodi Dodi is a unique hybrid, its effects can lean in an up or down direction, depending on the user’s body chemistry. Lodi has a delightful limonene and pinene forward profile, which tends to create a euphoric, uplifting high. This terpene forward strain consistently clocks in around 25 percent THC.

Cinex

Black BETTY

Grower Gnome Grown Organics Breeder Unknown Lineage AK47 X Sour Diesel Effect Black Betty is a great post-workday smoke with an amazing flavor profile and the high to match. Subtle notes of fuel combine with rich, earthy, slightly fruity aromas to offer a unique smell you can revisit and get something different each time. The AK47 brings a relaxing body high and cerebral buzz, while the Sour Diesel kicks up the psychoactivity and overall potency of the strain. She is well-known as a grower’s favorite, and is parented by two hearty producers to create one of the heaviest yielders out there.

COLASSAL COLAS A grower’s dream come true. When product weight has everything to do with the success of your crop, finding genetics that can consistently throw down heavy colas is critical.

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ALASKA LEAF

THE STRAINS & GENETICS ISSUE

Reviews by Nate Williams Photos by Daniel Berman

gg12 ogkB Mimosa Blood Wreck the White Cherry Pie Golden Cobra jack Herer

Nepalese kush

Grower Mindful Canna Breeder Unknown Lineage Nepalese Landrace Effect Nepalese Kush produces a deeply relaxing yet clear-headed body high. Boasting a hash-y and complex profile that may not be for new school flavor hounds, this strain is perfect for night time relaxation, or just a potent smoke for those with a high tolerance. This strain is great for pain relief, anti-anxiety and can help combat insomnia.

Durban Poison Obama Kush Designer OG Mendo Breath

BAG APPEAL Exquisite, unique, sexy, we think these buds have some of the best looks around. Great genetics are easy to recognize.

Super Silver Haze Platinum Girl Scout Cookies Platinum Huckleberry Cookies

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Montana silvertip

Grower Bull Run Craft Cannabis Breeder Lionheart Caregiving Lineage Most likely “rogue pollination” of Grand Daddy Purple x Silver Kush (Purple Kush x Super Silver Haze) Effect The cross of the heavy duty indica in Grand Daddy Purp and the caffeine-like buzzing high of the Super Silver Haze brings forth one powerful smoke best left for the afternoon, evening or days when no work needs to be done. The high is very psychoactive, great for pain and is an excellent distraction from physical and mental ailments.

jager

WILDERNESS WEEDS Just like their human counterparts, these plants love to be outdoors in the sun. Some genetics struggle with our moisture-heavy Pacific Northwest climate, but the following strains have proven well suited for full-season and greenhouse environments.

Berry White Durban Poison Strawberry Cough Ak47

f ire OG Sour Diesel Trainwreck Black Cherry soda Lemon Kush Afghani Hash Plant Pinkleberry sour diesel Grower Oso Verde Farms Breeder Unknown Lineage Mass Super Skunk x Original Diesel Or ChemDawg x Mass Super Skunk/NL Effects The Sour Diesel has long been a sativa-lover’s favorite for its classic sour gas funk profile and its strong cerebral effects and uplifting energy. This strain stood the test of time, and has been used to create many new amazing varieties. To boot, she prefers to be grown in a greenhouse under natural light, making her availabile in Oregon in winter and spring.

kush

Grower Green Source Gardens Breeder Green Source Gardens Lineage Blackberry Kush F5 IBL Effects The Pinkleberry Kush is a special plant bred in-house by Green Source Gardens. The strain’s most prevalent terpene is called terpinolene, which brings an energizing effect and a spacey, almost trippy high when consumed in quantity. Pinkleberry is great to pair with activities such as seeing a show or going out to a movie. The profile is floral with hints of berries and spice. A distinct earthiness is also present, underlying the more prominent floral and fruity notes.

Dutch Treat Panama Red Headband vietnamese Black Lambs Breath Sour Diesel jan. 2018 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

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HEMP

CBD

THC FREE !

ReLeafHempProducts.com

Our CBD ReLeaf products include new, Hemp CBD-only, fun and tasty vapes and drops. All CBD products are THC free! and use only natural avor oils.

Vapor products are made with gluten free, food grade, natural flavors and solvent-free, terpene infused, hemp-derived Canaibidol isolate.

Vapor Dosage: 3 small puffs on a vapor pen. Total approximately 300 puffs per Slim Top and 150 puffs per Casino.

Our tincture drops are made with organic, sugarfree flavors and organic MCT oil with solvent-free, terpene infused, hemp-derived Cannibidiol isolate.

Drops Dosage: 1-3 drops. The tincture drops come with a 1ml eyedropper.

CBD takes approximately 48 to 72 hours to build up in your system, then when you take your daily dosage it activates the CBD in your body. Small doses throughout the day keeps the CBD active in your bloodstream.

We make no medical claims.

These statements have not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Keep away from children. Not suitable for consumption if you are pregnant or breast feeding.

This is a marijuana product. Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming and addictive. Marijuana impairs concentration, coordination and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under its influence.

There are health risks associated with consumption of marijuana. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of reach of children. Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

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

recipes

By LAURIE WOLF | PHOTOS by BRUCE WOLF

STUFFED FRENCH TOAST STARTING YOUR DAY WITH CANNABIS INFUSED FRENCH TOAST IS ALMOST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. THE RICOTTA AND THE JAM COMBINE TO MAKE THE PERFECT LEVEL OF CREAMY, TANGY SWEETNESS.

INGREDIENTS

4 slices white bread 2 teaspoons canna-butter, melted 1/4 cup ricotta cheese 1/4 cup jam, any flavor 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1 tablespoon milk 3 tablespoons butter confectioner’s sugar for garnish*

1. Brush two slices of the

bread with the melted canna-butter. Layer the two slices with ricotta and then jam. Top off the sandwich with the remaining bread.

2. In a wide, shallow bowl

beat the eggs with the milk.

Dip the sandwiches in the egg mixture.

3. Melt butter in a large

skillet. Add the sandwiches when butter starts to foam.

4. Cook sandwiches until

golden brown, three to four minutes, turn and cook on the other side until golden.

5. Place on two plates, cut in half, and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

*For perfect confectioner’s sugar sprinkling, use a small tea strainer or sifter.

WAKE AND BAKE

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INGREDIENTS

4 6-inch flour tortillas 4 teaspoons canna-butter, melted 4 bacon strips, cooked and chopped 4 large eggs, room temperature 1 cup shredded cheddar salt and pepper

1. Heat oven to 340° F. 2. Press the flour tortillas* into four depressions in a muffin tin. Brush with the canna-butter.

3. Take ¾ of the cheese

and divide between the tortillas. Top with chopped bacon.

Carefully break eggs and place in each tortilla.

4. Top with the remaining cheese. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper.

5. Bake the eggs until

set, about 10 minutes.

A WEEKEND-ONLY TREAT, ON A DAY WHEN YOU CAN HUNKER DOWN AND THINK ABOUT LUNCH.

BACON & EGG MUFFINS INGREDIENTS 3 ¼ cups water 2 cups steel cut oatmeal pinch of salt 1 banana, peeled and sliced ¼ cup pecans ¼ cup walnuts 2 tablespoons dried cherries 2 tablespoons honey 4 teaspoons canna-butter

1. In a large pot bring the

water to a boil. Add the oatmeal and salt and gently simmer for five minutes.

Remove from the heat and let rest for two minutes.

2. Divide oatmeal between four bowls and top with the remaining ingredients.

* If the tortillas seem brittle heat them in the microwave for 10 seconds to soften them. If you don’t have time to let the eggs come to room temperature, place them in a bowl of tepid water for 20 minutes.

TRY TO USE THE BEST QUALITY OATMEAL YOU CAN AFFORD, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. STEEL CUT OATS ARE NICE AND CHEWY. SUCH A COZY WAY TO START THE DAY.

OATMEAL WITHTHE WORKS jan. 2018 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

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ALASKA LEAF AK

/NWLEAF

AKLEAF.COM

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

ANCHORAGE TO HOMER June 1st-Aug 31st Monday – Friday Departs Anchorage Arctic & International – 724 W. International - Garrett’s Tesoro Cooper Landing Wild- man’s 300pm Soldotna Chamber of Commerce 500pm All times are approx. Stage Line Summer Schedule HOMER TO ANCHORAGE June 1st-Aug 31st Monday – Friday Departs Homer 830am 1242 Ocean Dr Soldotna Chamber of Commerce 1015am Cooper Landing Wildman’s 1115am

VISITING ALASKA

LEAF

Sights seen from the road

SEWARD TO HOMER June 1st – August 31st Mon Wed Fri

Locally owned and operated by a Departs Seward 100pm lifelong Alaskan, Stage Line offers call ahead for pick up point passenger transportation, freight, parcel, and courier service, between Cooper Landing Wild- man’s 200pm Anchorage and the Kenai Soldotna 300pm Peninsula. Our schedule includes, All times are approx Anchorage to Homer, Cooper Landing, Soldotna, Kasilof, Ninilchik, HOMER TO SEWARD Anchor Point. Homer to Seward, June 1st - August 31st Soldotna, Cooper Landing. And any The Stage Line PO Box 353 Anchor Point, Mon Wed Fri points in between! MP flag stops AK available! Private party charters Departs Homer 1242 Ocean Dr 900am The Stage Line 1242 Ocean Dr Homer, Ak available! Reasonable rates, saves 724 W International Anchorage, Ak of Commerce time and money for travelling or your Soldotna Chamber Staging points only 1030am 907-868-3914 907-235-2252 shipping needs.

Cooper Landing Wildman’s 1130 E-mail: stage.line@yahoo.com One of the top 10 most scenic www.stagelineinhomer.com highways.

glass art

GLASS BY KUSH UNLTD

SABORTOOTH 3.0 REVIEW by @NATEW415 | PHOTO by @BERMANPHOTOS

50/JAN. 2018 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

Kevin “Kush” Lindsay has been blowing glass since 1993 and began his career in the Pacific Northwest in Olympia, Washington. Ignoring the “micro” glass trends of late, this rig stands at 9.5” tall and has a 14mm joint to produce an impressive chug with no splash. This wig-wagged heady is truly a special piece and features tons of Illuminati and BlueV, marbles, and horns.

It absolutely pops when hit with a blacklight and would be a worthy addition to any enthusiast’s collection.

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“the greatest ignorance is to reject something you know nothing about.”

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Reviews

By STEVE ELLIOTT Editor, Tokesignals.com

TRAVELING HIGH & TRIPPING HARD

By JOSEPH DAVIDA, DARK PLANET PRESS, 2018, 211 PAGES

W

hat happens when you take a musician on a quest to find the meaning of life, facing the herculean task of trying to save the world, all while stoking an insatiable wanderlust?

Throw in liberal doses of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, and what results is Traveling High & Tripping Hard.

The story of one young man’s quest to find meaning through a series of altered states and high adventures, Traveling High & Tripping Hard is highly unusual, highly unorthodox and highly entertaining.

Davida, a former rock musician, isn’t exactly what you’d call an “everyman.” After accidentally ingesting a large dose of PCP at just 8 years old, Joseph had an apocalyptic vision that altered the course of his life forever. He started a voyage of self-discovery that led him both inward and outward. From exploring the jungles of Traveling High Central America, the pyramids of Egypt and & Tripping Hard the Buddhist and Hindu temples of Kathmandu, Davida never wavered in his mission, even serves up a when faced with hardships, doubt and despair. grand reminder A memoir like no other, Traveling High & that the truth is Tripping Hard serves up a grand reminder always stranger that the truth is always stranger than fiction. than fiction.

Resplendent with laugh-out-loud moments, awe-inspiring travel tales and staggering stories certain to induce slackjawed disbelief, this is one bold, balls-out, bodacious book.

What shines through in this buoyant memoir is the fact that despite Davida’s unusual back story, the concepts, questions, qualms and quandaries he faces are real, relatable and universal. While some may find his particular methods of discovery outrageous, few can deny that at a certain point, we’ve asked the very same questions. And while most of us will probably never pursue such a rigorous quest with quite the same vigor, ultimately Davida’s journey is one that we are all on together.

At its heart, a story that approves such universal themes as loss, sense of place, purpose and belonging, Traveling High & Tripping Hard covers the highs, the lows and all the interesting points in between. An engaging, self-aware and often self-deprecating narrator, Davida provides a glimpse into those strange places that lie somewhere between darkness and light, hope, despair, spirituality and madness.

A consummate storyteller with a keen eye for detail and unmistakable appreciation of the absurd, the sublime, and the downright inexplicable, Davida delivers a confident and un-put-downable debut. And it turns out, the high cost of traveling is nothing like the cost of traveling high.

Davida (the pen name of a successful Nashville-based entrepreneur, former rock musician, and New Yorker) is currently at work on his next book.

52/JAN. 2018 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

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This is a marijuana product. Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming and addictive. Marijuana impairs concentration, coordination and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under its influence.

There are health risks associated with consumption of marijuana. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of reach of children. Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

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