Jan. 2021 - Alaska Leaf

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THE FUTURE ISSUE / where the Cannabis industry is growing /

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THE FUTURE ISSUE

#57

DNA GENETICS

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32 DNA Genetics

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24

Green Raven in Wasilla

48

Cooking with Cannabis: Comfort Food Edition

34 The Ganjier Program Leaf Nation’s Tom Bowers dives deep into the Ganjier Program which provides master class expert training on all things Cannabis, but getting into the exclusive program is no easy feat.

BRUCE WOLF

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Karma Grown Gardens, LLC

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recipes

shop review

TOM HOLOHAN

grow tour

Iconic Cannabis breeders “D” and “A” on what drives their continued evolution.

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EDITOR’S NOTE N AT I O N A L N E W S IN MEMORIAM BUDTENDER Q&A WOMEN IN WEED K ARMA GROWN GARDENS, LLC G R E E N R AV E N W A S I L L A STRAIN OF THE MONTH DNA GENETICS GANJIER TRAINING SCALING UP CANNABIS THE DAB RITE THE BELLO THE INDUX C O N C E N T R AT E O T M EDIBLE OTM TA N N I N S & T E R P E N E S COOKING WITH CANNABIS MAX CASWELL GLASS ART CANNTHROPOLOGY STONEY BALONEY

///////// story by tom bowers photos by ganjier

jan, 2021

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READ & SHARE THE FULL DIGITAL EDITION AND SEE ONLINE EXCLUSIVE FEATURES ON OUR NEW WEBSITE! >> LEAFMAGAZINES.COM ISSUU.COM/NWLEAF

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Justen Bright shines behind the counter at The Tree House

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[

JANUARY 2021

issue

the FUTURe issue

40

BELLO VAPOR TAP

The Future of Consumption

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jan, 2021

STORY by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

E S TA B L I S H E D 2 0 1 0

T H E E N L I G H T E N E D VO I C E

N O RT H W E S T L E A F / O R EG O N L E A F / A L AS KA L E A F / M A RY L A N D L E A F / CA L I F O R N I A L E A F /

A B O U T T H E C OV E R For The Future Issue and the first edition of the new year, we knew we needed a beautiful and iconic image to grace the cover. In came Leaf Contributor Danny Danko with a true ‘lightbulb moment,’ and a brilliant idea.

The fantastic concept was fully realized in the hands of the talented Portland, Oregon photographer Nicolle Clemetson, and Creative Director Daniel Berman, working from Seattle.

Utilizing a MAC 2 clone from Tao Gardens, real dirt, and an 18-inch tall lightbulb lamp, the Leaf team was able to craft the perfect message for our future: glowing bright, and built all around Cannabis.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

by NICOLLE CLEMETSON @NICOLLECLEMETSON CLONE by TAO GARDENS @TAOGARDENS

PUBLISHER

CONTRIBUTORS

WES ABNEY | FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

WES ABNEY, REVIEWS BOBBY BLACK, FEATURES JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATIONS TOM BOWERS, FEATURES NICOLLE CLEMETSON, PHOTOS MORGAN DEMETER, PHOTOS MAX EARLY, FEATURES STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS JEFF PORTERFIELD, DESIGN ESHOM REED, REVIEWS MIKE RICKER, FEATURES MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING O'HARA SHIPE, PHOTOGRAPHY PACER STACKTRAIN, FEATURES JAMIE VICTOR, ILLUSTRATION DAN VINKOVETSKY, FEATURES NATE WILLIAMS, REVIEWS

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STATE DIRECTOR JOSHUA STAHLE | AD SALES

JOSH@AKLEAF.COM 907-317-2536

CONTENT DIRECTOR O'HARA SHIPE | EDITORIAL

OHARA@SHIPESHOTS.COM

We are creators of targeted, independent Cannabis journalism. Please email us to discuss advertising in the next issue of Alaska Leaf Magazine. We do not sell stories or coverage. We can offer design services and guidance on promoting your company’s medicinal, recreational, commercial or industrial Cannabis business, product or event within our magazine and on our website, akleaf.com. Email josh@akleaf.com for more info on supporting and advertising with Alaska Leaf!

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ABNEY

Editor’s Note 2021 is here, and while we may not have flying cars or world peace, Cannabis and psychedelic plants are a lot more accessible around the country – a trend sure to change our lives.

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THE FUTURE has always been a funny concept to me, in the sense that every moment that we share is the collective “future.” Which means we have been living in the future our entire lives, as it rolls out one second at a time. So predicting the future is akin to looking at where we’ve come from and where we are, by taking stock of reality. It’s not a nebulous concept like the ‘50s version of 2020 (hint, there was no pandemic), but an understanding of what’s next.

After the dumpster fire year we just had, it’s understandable if the thought of the future is a little cringe-worthy, but I for one am feeling very optimistic for what’s next. America has a new President-elect, vaccines are being distributed globally, and voters have overwhelmingly swung towards social justice and drug war reform around America.

Five new states voted to add legal or medicinal Cannabis in 2021, and Oregon decriminalized all drugs in a policy about-face that could be a shining example for the entire world. By removing criminal penalties for minor drug possession, Oregon defacto “defunded” the police and the criminal justice system from targeting non-violent drug users, choosing to direct those funds towards rehabilitation and social services. This is change in action – in part funded by Cannabis tax dollars – that will save lives and treat drug users and addicts as people to help, not lock up.

THIS IS THE FUTURE WE WANT TO LIVE IN: ONE WHERE THE POLICIES AND POLITICS OF THE PAST ARE BEING REPLACED...

This is the future we want to live in: One where the policies and politics of the past are being replaced by a desire for the collective good of the people. Which is why I’m not surprised to see plant-based medicine at the forefront of this conversation. It’s pretty hard to be a ‘Moscow’ Mitch McConnell level dick when you take regular bong hits and the occasional psychedelic reset, which he obviously isn’t doing. But with Washington D.C. even voting to decriminalize psilocybin, could it be heroic dose time in the Capital?

Something tells me ‘Mushroom’ Mitch would put people before partisan politics...

All joking aside, my point is that as America wakes up – and wakes and bakes more often – we are starting to see ourselves more as humans and less as stereotypes or political categories. We all have the same wants, needs and desires – which makes it high time for us to vote and live like we all deserve a comfortable life, with the freedom to pursue happiness however we find it. This is why the future looks so bright from our perspective, and why we brought to life the concept from Danny Danko of a Cannabis plant growing in a lightbulb. As more and more lightbulbs illuminate around the world, I truly believe we are going to see a future in which we can all vibe and thrive.

I hope you enjoy our Future Issue of the Leaf – and as always, thank you for reading!

-Wes Abney JAN. 2021

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N O RT H E AS T L E A F

national news

northwest

THE SOUTH

TAINTED VAPES RECALLED IN OREGON AS REGULATORS EYE WIDER BAN

LOUISIANA RELEASES MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR $20 WORTH OF CANNABIS

O

regon Cannabis consumers are being advised to avoid legal vapes labeled with ingredients like “natural flavor” until at least April 2021, reports Leafly. The “natural flavor” could be skin moisturizer made from shark liver oil, also known as squalane. Burning it can reportedly result in lung damage. The Oregon Liquor Control Board in December moved to ban the cosmetics ingredients squalane and squalene, as well as a few more, from entering the legal Cannabis vape market and users’ lungs. The ban would be immediate.

It would be Oregon’s first big change in regulations since vaping-associated lung injuries killed 60 people and injured 2,711 more across the nation in the fall of 2019. That series of incidents exposed critical gaps in Oregon’s vape consumer safety rules.

northwest

POT TESTING LAB SELLS FAKE POTENCY RESULTS

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ne Washington Cannabis testing lab has had its license suspended after it was found to have falsified testing results and then tried to destroy evidence of the crime, according to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, reports The Olympian.

Praxis Laboratory of Centralia, Wash., lied about THC levels in “LABELING CANNABIS WITH Cannabis in 1,200 samples of marijuana, according to a news release from FALSELY HIGH THC POTENCY the WSLCB. The lab labeled the products as having more THC than was LEVELS IS A FORM OF CONSUMER DECEPTION AND IS PROHIBITED actually present, the agency said.

UNDER WASHINGTON LAW,” THE “Labeling Cannabis with falsely high THC potency levels is a form of PRESS RELEASE SAID. consumer deception and is prohibited under Washington law,” the release said. “Because of this, Cannabis users seeking more pronounced psychoactive results may choose to buy levels with higher levels of THC.” Praxis was quick to clap back at the agency. “We are extremely disappointed in the agency’s obscene behavior,” Praxis told McClatchy News. “We would like to thank the LCB for attempting a death sentence on a small local business employing approximately 20 local people right before the holidays, during a recession ... not to mention a pandemic. This is a clear-cut case of agency overreach and libel, and we will be pursuing legal action immediately and have already started the appeal process in the interim.”

The agency suspended the lab’s certification for 180 days. After that time period is up, it “will seek permanent revocation of the ‘marijuana laboratory’ certification due to fraud and the subsequent investigation obstruction,” according to the LCB release.

EAST COAST

F

ate Winslow has been released from Angola State Prison in Louisiana after serving 12 years for $20 worth of marijuana. Winslow, 53, said reuniting with his four children and three grandchildren — who thought they’d never see him again as a free man — is the most important thing to him.

“A life sentence for two bags of weed?

I never thought something like that could happen,” Winslow said.

Winslow was re-sentenced to time served after Innocence Project New Orleans Director and Lead Attorney, Jee Park, successfully appealed the case based on grounds of ineffective assistance of counsel.

“A LIFE SENTENCE FOR TWO BAGS OF WEED? I NEVER THOUGHT SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD HAPPEN,” WINSLOW SAID.

THE WORLD

U.N. RECLASSIFIES CANNABIS AS A LESS DANGEROUS DRUG

A

United Nations commission voted in December to remove medicinal Cannabis from a category of the world’s most dangerous drugs, reports The New York Times. The move is a highly anticipated and long-delayed one that could clear the way for expanded medical marijuana research and use.

The vote, by the U.N. Commission for Narcotic Drugs, removed Cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. It was listed there alongside dangerous and highly addictive substances like heroin.

The vote won’t have an immediate impact on loosening international controls, because governments will still enforce their own prohibitions on Cannabis. But many countries are influenced by global conventions, and the U.N. recognition is a big symbolic win for advocates.

MARYLAND DISPENSARY LAUNCHES MEDICAL MARIJUANA DRIVE-THRU

B aklEAF.COM

uying medical Cannabis just got easier in Abington, Maryland.

Rev Canna, a dispensary in the town, launched a drive-thru lane in December to help protect patients, caregivers, and staff from the COVID virus and make shopping easier, reports The Daily Record.

The process, according to the shop, is a lot like picking up prescriptions at the pharmacy drive-thru window. Patients can order their products ahead of time through the Rev Canna website, then simply pull into the drive-thru once they’ve made their selections, according to the dispensary.

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years behind bars was the amount of time served by Richard DeLisi before his early release.

jan, 2021

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dollars is the price of hand-rolled joints in hip hop star Jay Z’s new line of products.

90

years was the sentence being served by Richard DeLisi before his early release in December 2020.

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medical marijuana dispensaries were open in Pennsylvania as of December.

450 3,100 30k

pounds of Cannabis was seized at the Canadian border by officials in Michigan.

Cannabis plants were seized by the Olympia Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team.

pounds of medical marijuana has been sold in AR dispos since opening May 2019.

By STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA

IN MEMORIAM alaska news

KIMORA LOVE BUSTER 13

Kimora wasn’t just a beloved budtender, cultivator, artist and friend, “I got her resume and remembered her from like 20 years ago when I worked with her at another company. I called her in for an interview and she was just a gem. She fit in with our team and it was like she was meant to be here,” says Arctic Herbery’s General Manger, Kim Thorp.

Kimora began her career with Arctic Herbery as a budtender in 2018, but it wasn’t long before Thorp recognized her immense talents. Before long, the budtender was assisting with everything from cultivation to keeping the books.

“She loved keeping our plants healthy and happy. I remember that she would talk to the plants all the time, it was very sweet,” says Thorp.

she was a devoted mother to her three young children.

On November 30, 2020, the Alaska Cannabis community tragically lost one of its shining stars. A lifelong Alaskan, 43-yearold Kimora Love Buster was described as a “gem” by her colleagues at the Anchorage dispensary, Arctic Herbery.

“Kimora was above all else one of the kindest, most generous people I have ever met. She was always willing to help you out, whether that be to a customer or coworker or friend. She was always someone you could count on.”

Kimora wasn’t just a beloved budtender, cultivator, artist and friend, she was a devoted mother to her three young children.

“Her love for her family was something that was so special about her. She often talked about her kids who were her world, and how she was doing this or that with a cousin or auntie. Family was so very important to her,” says Thorp.

Rest in peace, Kimora.

Kimora is survived by her youngest child and a GoFundMe account has been created to help the family. Visit GoFundMe.com/ Alaska-buster-tragedy to donate.

STORY by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS/ALASKA LEAF

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SOUR SLURRICANE #1

HARAMBE Lic # 12550 1) Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming and addictive. (2) Marijuana impairs concentration, coordination, and judgment. D o not operate a vehicle or machiner y under its influence. (3) There are health r isks associated with the consumption of mar ijuana. (4) For u s e b y a d u l t s t w e n t y - o n e a n d o l d e r. K e e p o u t o f r e a c h o f c h i l d r e n . ( 5 ) M a r i j u a n a s h o u l d n o t b e u s e d b y w o m e n w h o a r e p r e g n a n t o r b r e a s t f e e d i n g .

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W H O ’ S Y O U R FAV O R I T E B U D T E N D E R ? T E L L U S W H Y ! E M A I L N O M I N A T I O N S T O J O S H @ A K L E A F . C O M

JUSTEN BRIGHT

ALASKA LEAF BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH

Justen’s proudest creation is his son Kaydence, who he considers the best aspect of his life. He feels that “stoner” parents get a bad rap and he loves proving that stereotype wrong. He loves music and has been a part of the Anchorage hip-hop scene as JBeLoud for a minute, and aspires to one day have his own Cannabis business that is combined with his passion for positive notes.

Follow Justen on Instagram @j_be_loud

YOU HAVE REALLY DEEP, BARRY WHITE PIPES. IS THAT GENETIC OR HAVE YOU BEEN TRAINING YOUR BEAUTIFUL VOICE? It runs in the family. My dad and brother both have deep voices, so it’s definitely genetic.

16 "I’LL ALWAYS HAVE THAT MEMORY OF GOING TO GRANDMA’S HOUSE AND RECOGNIZING THAT IT SMELLED A CERTAIN WAY. THEN, WHEN I GOT OLDER I REALIZED, ‘OH, THAT’S WHAT THAT SMELL WAS.’."

HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE FOR CANNABIS? SORRY ABOUT ALL THE MUSIC REFERENCES, BUT YOU GOTTA LOVE THAT ‘70S VIBE. Indeed.

I believe I go deeper than most, as I consider myself a Cannabis aficionado and I try to purvey that in my work as a budtender in the industry.

WAS CANNABIS AROUND YOUR FAMILY WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP? It’s been around as long as I’ve been around. My mom and dad were big stoners. I’ll always have that memory of going to Grandma’s house and recognizing that it smelled a certain way. Then, when I got older, I realized, ‘Oh, that’s what that smell was.’

WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING ON CURRENTLY? All types of flower. We just had a cultivator called A Cut Above and they had a strain, Bayou Sunset, which is sativa – the flavor and high knocked my socks off. I always love Tanana Herb Company from God’s Gift to Colorado Chem, and we’ve got an up-and-coming cultivator here called Scorpion Grass who grows a lot of great stuff. One of my favorites right now is Ice Cream Cake. I’m an indica guy mainly.

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AS A NATIVE ALASKAN, DO YOU LOVE SNOW? I actually don’t. I’m not a lover of the cold. I do enjoy snowmobiling, but other than that, I am not a winter person and would prefer to live somewhere that it only snows a little bit, for a short period of time.

THE TREEHOUSE

341 BONIFACE PKW Y UNIT D341, ANCHORAGE (907) 229-2284 THETREEHOUSEAK.COM @THETREEHOUSEAK

jan, 2021

SO, IS IT SAFE TO SAY YOU’RE NOT A KINDRED SPIRIT WITH OLAF THE SNOWMAN FROM THE “FROZEN” MOVIES? Definitely not.

WOULD YOU TORCH THAT DUDE IF YOU SAW HIM? You know what, I’m a friendly guy. I wouldn’t do that unless he tried to freeze me.

INTERVIEW by MIKE RICKER @RICKERDJ | PHOTO by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS

672 E END RD #B HOMER, AK | 844-225-7600 | 907-299-1829 | SHAWN@FRONTIERCBDS.COM

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women in weed

What landmark events in your life led you to a career in Cannabis? Witnessing first-hand how

Cannabis can improve the quality of life in people who suffer from mental health and medical issues. … While working for the American Thoracic Society, a nonprofit organization responsible for the publication of some of the first favorable peerreviewed studies on Cannabis and lung health, I earned a master’s degree in social work from Fordham University. There, I studied harm reduction approaches for substance abuse and quickly became disenamored by the way in which our Western society has a tendency to pathologize and overprescribe – personality traits, phases and cycles in our lives, you name it – without looking at ourselves holistically.

Turned off by elements of the allopathic system as I watched patients suffering, repeating the same old patterns and stuck in the same old routines, I was inspired to dedicate my life to finding alternative ways for us all to thrive. That’s where whole plant medicine comes in.

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ZOE WILDER

aklEAF.COM

Cannabis Entrepreneur | Public Relations Guru Behind the scenes of every Cannabis brand, every party and every conference, the inner workings of the Cannabis community spread like tangled roots beneath the surface of the soil.

One of the most integral players behind the scenes is the public relations expert, the matchmaker, the person who “knows someone.” For many working in the Cannabis community, Zoe Wilder is that person. Over the course of her career, she’s amplified Cannabis brands, worked with celebrities, curated events and currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Last Prisoner Project. For this month’s Women in Weed column, Wilder carved out a moment in her busy schedule to answer some questions about her time in the industry and her hopes for the future.

People who know you consider you to be one of the most well-connected people in the Cannabis industry. What goes into being you? Effective PR

requires a certain skillset. It’s one I find appeals to my sensibilities. I also derive satisfaction helping people tell their stories and display their hard work.

I enjoy highlighting businesses and people I’m passionate about and helping them grow.

I love meeting new people and making meaningful connections.

What are the biggest challenges you face in your work? As an advisor to the Last

I enjoy highlighting businesses and people I’m passionate about and helping them grow.

Prisoner Project – a coalition of Cannabis industry leaders, executives and artists dedicated to bringing restorative justice to the Cannabis industry – one of our biggest challenges is freeing the 40,000 people in prison for Cannabis offenses that are now legal in most states.

What has changed in the life of Zoe Wilder in the past five years? I’m more adept at keeping

plants alive … and I’ve taken a bigger interest in regenerative agriculture.

If you could tell one story about your time in the industry, what story would you tell? As a collective, we created the first truly equitable industry that became the model for global commerce. In the process, we freed the plant(s), we freed every last non-violent drug offender, and we nourished local economies to assist in the delivery of critical funding to marginalized communities, and communities disproportionately affected by the war on drugs.

@ZOEWILDER ZOEWILDER.COM

jan, 2021

STORY by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS/LEAF NATION | PHOTO by HARLEE CASE/LADIES OF PARADISE

garden highlight

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aklEAF.COM

Stacy and Tom Holohan's Houston home is nestled deep within a magical winterland of snow-covered birch trees and winding residential roads.

Their cabin-esque home is stunning but modest in stature. The driveway is full of classic Alaskan vehicles like 4-wheel trucks and ATVs. It is precisely what one would expect to see when doing a Google search of Alaska.

KARMA GROWN GARDENS, LLC H owever, upon meeting the Holohans, it is apparent that this is not your typical Alaskan family.

Tom is a burly man with a plethora of tattoos covering his arms and hands – the most striking of which is a hyper-realistic owl on his right hand. His wife Stacy is a blond bombshell with colorful flower tattoos twisting up her slim arm. Reminiscent of members of a biker gang, they are intimidating at first glance – but just as Cannabis once received a bad reputation from those who had never given it a chance, the Holohans are a delightful, free-spirited couple when you get to know them.

jan, 2021

Both raised in the Matanuska Valley, the Holohans have been growing Cannabis for most of their lives.

"My grandma and mother were these big hippies that were out here growing Cannabis back in the ‘60s. I actually used to roll joints for my mom when I was like 10-years-old," laughs Stacy.

Tom's introduction to Cannabis, like many old-time Valley cultivators, was a little less offbeat. In the ‘70s, students were required to take classes at the Experimental Farm in Palmer.

There, students learned how to take cuttings and germinate seeds to grow produce.

"When I was at school, we were still having a hippie movement, so a lot of kids – my older sisters included – were taking classes and then applying that to Cannabis. So, kids began sowing seeds and growing in their crawlspaces and bedrooms," says Tom.

The result was the creation of a robust tradition of indoor growing in the Valley.

"Really, that's how we became famous for the [Matanuska Thunder Fuck] strain, but, in my opinion, there was never an MTF strain. We were all growing variants of Northern Lights No. 5, but pretty much anything coming out of the Valley in the ‘70s was always called MTF. It really ticks me off when I see people trying to capitalize on it," explains Tom with an agitated shrug.

The infamously budding scene led to what old growers refer to as "knock and talks" by local police.

Tom and Stacy weren't immune and once had to contend with a raid that involved a helicopter and a SWAT team.

"You know, initially, we were kind of scared about going legal because I knew how it would affect the

Both raised in the Matanuska Valley, the Holohans have been growing Cannabis for most of their lives.

Co-owners Tom and Stacy Holohan tend to their plants in one of the grow rooms.

incomes of a lot of people in our circle. But we jumped on the legal train, and it's really been a blessing. We do everything by the books and put in a lot of hard work – and take pride in doing things by the book," says Tom. His dedication to exactitude also extends to his current limited grow operation, Karma Grown Gardens, LLC. Under Alaska statutes, limited grows can have no more than 500 square feet of canopy space. Space is measured by the plants' height, which sounds like a logistical nightmare but, for Tom – who has a degree in computer science – figuring out the math has been a welcome challenge.

In the nursery, the Holohans typically have 10–12 mothers and 50 clones at any given time. The clones spend about 10 days in Tom's custom cloning units before being transplanted into five-inch pots and placed on a 2x24 foot tray that runs the building's length.

The growing plants will spend two weeks in the nursery before being replanted into three-gallon pots and moved into one of Tom's two growing rooms.

A year ago, the Holohan's relied on a recirculating deep water culture (RDWC) system to feed their plants to save space.

"I think I was the first person in the state that was really hitting [RDWC] hard. With those systems, you throw the plants in 28-gallon totes, and the root system fills up the whole tote. It's just pure hydroponics. So, we could grow 16 plants in each flower room instead of 44, and get the same amount of yield because each plant would just grow so fast," says Tom. However, the RDWC system comes with one major drawback: Entire grows are more susceptible to root rot and Pythium, which spells disaster for small grows like the Holohans. After losing a few plants, Tom and Stacy switched to coco coir, and they both say it has been a game-changer. But that's just one of two changes the Holohans have made.

"We're in the process of switching our light systems to the ROI series from Growers Choice. It's a new kind of LED that will allow us to scale down a little bit. So, we are going to be using 10 lights in each flower room and 16 lights in our vegetation area," says Tom. The ability to make micro-adjustments is precisely the reason that the Holohans opted for a small garden.

"Why did we decide to do a limited grow? That's an easy one to answer!” says Tom. “We can grow better quality by doing smaller batches. We can actually grow our plants and touch every single one of them every day."

While Tom's focus is on the technical aspects of the grow, Stacy adds her own secret ingredient to ensure each plant is of premium quality.

"I know it sounds cheesy, but when I'm taking care of the plants, I sing to them,” says Stacy. “I've even cried to them while telling them how grateful and appreciative I am of them."

You likely won't catch Tom carrying a tune in the garden, but he deeply believes that the secret ingredient to growing is love.

"I know people who are super technical, and sometimes the plants don't respond to certain people. The plants just respond to some people a lot better. If you're doing this strictly for money and you don't care about the plants, it's going to show," Tom says.

The Holohan's lone employee, Alaska-transplant Cory Barber, has also been indoctrinated into the Holohan's system.

"I just love growing things, and working here feels a lot like being a kid in a really cool candy shop," says Barber.

The care the Holohans put into their plants also extends to the companies that they work with.

"We are really selective about who we work with. There are some businesses that we avoid just because they don't have the same background as we do – they don't have the same perspective on Cannabis as we do," says Tom emphatically.

Karma Grown Gardens might not be the highest producing garden in Alaska, but according to their loyal customers, their Cannabis has the highest love quotient. At the end of the day, that's all Tom and Stacy aim for. @KARMAGROWNGARDENS

STORY by ALASKA LEAF STAFF | PHOTOS by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS & TOM HOLOHAN

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Open 7 days a Week from 9am-9pm www.GreenJarAk.com 4901 E. Blue Lupine Dr. Ste. E Wasilla, Alaska 99654 /greenjarak

@greenjar.ak

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

We have CBDs!

Frontier CBD * Hemp Bomb * Honey Root * Alaskan Healing Center

224 N Yenlo St, Wasilla, AK | 907-373-2839 | M-F 8a-10p, Sat 10a-10p, Sun 11a-7p

SHOP REVIEW

ENVIRONMENT & VIBE Walking into Green Raven is a close approximation of what it must have felt like walking into Cheers.

While everyone might not know your name, the dispensary's official shop dog, Max, will treat you like family. The Pascos have worked hard to create a welcoming, community vibe at Green Raven, which is best exemplified by the shop's commitment to community service. This year Pasco's team donated 580-pounds of canned goods to the Food Bank and organized a toy drive for the Mat-Su Special Santa Program, which brings the magic of Christmas to children and families in need living in the Mat-Su Valley.

GREEN

PRODUCTS

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With Mat-Su's reputation for growing some of the best Cannabis in the U.S., it's no surprise that Green Raven takes advantage of the local fare.

Nearly 80% of the concentrates and flowers that Green Raven stocks are Valley-grown. Although the shop is on the smaller side, that hasn't hindered their ability to stock a wide range of products from ThirdState, Greatland Ganja, Sunrise Gardens and Mr. Happy Farms. If edibles are more your pace, Green Raven has a stash of gummies, caramels, hemp-infused waters and cookies to satisfy every palate. They also stock a variety of topicals and bath bombs. And, of course, they have an impressive amount of Alaskana glassware.

HISTORY Green Raven officially opened their doors in April 2020, but plans for the dispensary had been in the works years before their ribbon cutting. The Pascos knew that they wanted to occupy a Valley landmark, and when an old gas station on Parks Highway showed up on the market, they jumped at the opportunity. The repurposed gas station has an annex building that the Pascos hope to convert into a coffee hut or a drive-up dispensary in the future.

But for now, they are content to use the brightly colored building as a beacon of warmth to weary travelers on the highly trafficked highway.

aklEAF.COM

BUDTENDERS Most of Green Raven's budtenders are new to budtending, but that doesn't mean they don't know their stuff. Amilee, who runs the dispensary, is proactive in her training methods and requires that all employees have a genuine passion for Cannabis. Incidentally, it was Amilee's love of Cannabis that encouraged her 80-year-old mother-in-law to begin budtending at the shop.

Amilee says that she views Cannabis newbies as the future, and she is dedicated to continuing to train the next generation.

5320 PARKS HIGHWAY WASILLA, AK 907-357-0755 GREENRAVENAK.COM @GREENRAVENAK 11AM TO 8PM DAILY

jan, 2021

NEARLY 80% OF THE CONCENTRATES AND FLOWERS THAT GREEN RAVEN STOCKS ARE VALLEY-GROWN.

Green Raven is a dispensary on a mission to give back to the Mat-Su community.

From supplying emergency gas to wayward commuters to organizing charity drives, co-owners Amilee and Chuck Pasco exemplify the Cannabis spirit of good vibes and love.

NRAVEN

Co-Owner Amilee Pasco, left, and Budtender Laraysha Gumfory hangout with Max, the shop pup.

REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF | PHOTO by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS

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KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. FOR USE BY ADULTS 21 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER. DO NOT DRIVE A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CANNABIS.

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aklEAF.COM

28

JUICYFRU

jan, 2021

STRAIN OF THE MONTH

Before long, the body high blossoms into a lotus of inner peace and tranquility.

NOW THAT THE SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR IS BEHIND US – NOT TO MENTION THE WORST YEAR EVER – WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SUNNY SUMMER DAYS. OK, WE MIGHT BE A FEW MONTHS OFF FROM BREAKING OUT OUR FLIP FLOPS, BUT THIS MONTH’S FEATURED BUD WILL TAKE YOU BACK TO THE SIMPLE PLEASURES OF SHARING A PACK OF JUICY FRUIT BUBBLEGUM WITH YOUR CHILDHOOD FRIENDS.

C

UIT

GROWN BY MATANUSKA CANNABIS CO.

M ATA N U S K AC A N N A B I S .CO M

aked in tiny bright orange pistils and shimmering with trichomes, this goliath of a hybrid has a dense bud structure that is sweetly sticky, just like its namesake. Bred by Red Beard Seed Co. and cultivated by Matanuska Cannabis Co., Juicy Fruit’s unmistakably tropical scent profile instantly transports you to sandy Hawaiian beaches.

A cross between Symbiotic Genetics’ Mimosa and Dark Horse Genetics’ Solomon Grundy, Juicy Fruit is a sativaleaning hybrid of a pure Afghani indica and a pure Thai sativa.

Because of its addictive flavor and 22.96% THC content, a little of this bud can go a long way.

After just a few tokes, Juicy Fruit evaporates every negative feeling you may have felt this last year and turns it into a beautiful little seed of hope.

Before long, the body high blossoms into a lotus of inner peace and tranquility.

Expect to feel the high start in your chest before enveloping you in a warm, comfy cocoon of positive vibes.

Admittedly, we found ourselves grinning ear to ear as we rocked out to Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds.” But this hybrid isn’t all irie. Once the initial high wore off, we experienced a major energy boost that powered us through a gaggle of Sunday chores.

Matanuska Cannabis Co. has only harvested this groundbreaking strain once before, but we are keeping our fingers and toes crossed that it will remain in regular rotation. Just in case, don’t sleep on giving this bud a try because we’re confident that it will quickly become one of your favorites!

22.96% THC | Euphoric Sativa Hybrid

REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF | PHOTO by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS

THE futurE ISSUE

THE FUTURE OF

DNA GENETICS 32

Since bursting onto the bud breeding scene with Cannabis Cup wins in 2004 and 2005 for their LA Confidential and Martian Mean Green, Don Morris and Aaron Yarkoni (The “D” and “A” in DNA) have been at the forefront of new, potent and stable genetics. At the time, they relocated from Los Angeles to Amsterdam in order to build their company and expand their genetic library under the relative freedom of Dutch pot policies.

DNA Genetics x Copperstate Kosher

aklEAF.COM

Magic seeds

dnagenetics.com | @dnagenetics Holy Grail

jan. 2021

T

LA Confidential

heir infusion of California’s finest varieties into the stagnant gene pool changed the game, and countless international victories over the ensuing few years led to me inducting them into the High Times Seed Bank Hall of Fame in 2009. Hundreds of award wins later, DNA Genetics is now established as one of the biggest seed brands in the world, looking into the future with strategic partnerships, new breeding technologies and legislative reform.

Behind it all is their abiding love for the Cannabis

D&A DNA Genetics is utilizing cutting-edge tissue culture techniques to bypass the old ways of cloning and propagation.

24k Gold

DNA Genetics Founders Don Morris and Aaron Yarkoni

plant and commitment to finding new flavors and sharing them with the entire planet. They’ve now moved back to their beloved Southern California and, working with friends and colleagues, the expansion of DNA Genetics is taking shape with their eyes on a legal landscape in which protecting intellectual property, genetic material and even their own likenesses, will be paramount to success.

While many brands were hampered by prohibitionist laws, operating as a Dutch seed company allowed them to ship genetics internationally with the proper paperwork and certificates of authenticity.

They also work with the Global Alliance for Cannabis Commerce to push sensible legislative and banking changes at the federal and international level, as government activities behind the scenes everywhere prepare for a legal worldwide marketplace.

Speaking of the strategic partnerships, Aaron tells Leaf Magazines, “We’ve always looked at working with our friends as a plus. Even way back, we created Reserva Privada as a line of seeds from breeders we admired back home, and that’s how we teamed up with Crockett Family Farms. These new deals are an extension of that process.”

President of DNA Genetics, Rezwan Khan, echoed that philosophy when I asked about how the international expansions began. “It started in Canada with Canopy, which at the time was Tweed. At the time, the deal we made was unprecedented and allowed us to test out a new model for the industry in which we trade exclusive regional use of our genetic library in exchange for royalty payments or long-term partnership. This type of licensing model was unheard of for Cannabis brands and bringing professionalism to the table allowed us to prioritize IP protections of strain names, standard operating procedures for cultivation of our varieties, as well as analysis of sales, data and marketing.”

With the Canopy deal as their “beta,” DNA was able to expand their operations into newly legal state markets as well. Their 2019 strategic partnership with Copperstate Farms gave them a foothold in Arizona’s quickly emerging market. As Rezwan explains, “When we first met them, they were going through literal growing pains in their massive 40 acres of greenhouses, having inherited legacy tomato farmers who didn’t get Cannabis. We came in and identified that they needed new genetics and new techniques.

We brought in our team and revamped the operation, increased yields at lower production costs with higher-quality products. We also helped train the frontline budtenders so that the end user receives a consistent and accurate experience.”

In Oregon, Don and Aaron partnered with Halo Labs to bring their strains and concentrates to the legal marketplace, in a deal that makes Halo the only grower and manufacturer of DNA Genetics brand flowers and extractions in the state. Halo also features cutting-edge product forms such as their unique “Dab Tabs.” The DNA deal with Halo also positions them as the exclusive provider of genetics to Bophelo Bioscience & Wellness in the Kingdom of Lesotho, a country within the borders of South Africa.

DNA Genetics expansion into Michigan runs through SKYMINT Brands, a vertically integrated company and the largest medical and recreational license holder in the state. The collab features DNA strains sourced and pheno-hunted in the medical

market in Michigan, so they could hit the ground running with the right flavors launched in multiple recreational SKYMINT locations, plus select retail partners.

Don and Aaron are excited to be “going back to Cali” by collaborating with Dr. Greenthumb – their longtime friend B-Real of Cypress Hill – to launch DNA Genetics x Insane premium Cannabis flowers at select Dr. Greenthumb, Cookies and URBN Leaf dispensaries. Southern California is their backyard and having their strains available there has been a lifelong dream. As B-Real says, “We are excited to finally have flower from the DNA Genetics family at Dr. Greenthumb’s. They are one of the most revered genetics companies in the Cannabis industry and we can’t wait for people to experience the flavors.”

Another flag was planted back home with their newest deal with Natura Life + Science, based in Sacramento. Their amazing brand-new facility boasts 290,000-square-feet of space for cultivation, propagation, concentrate production, edible manufacturing, a showroom, an education center and much more. It’s a massive curated Cannabis campus – the first of its kind to feature state-of-theart laboratories for the research and development of new strains. Sid Gupta, VP of Strategy at Natura says, “Especially exciting to us will be our ability to offer state-of-the-art technology for the cultivation of DNA genetics and the breeding of the next hottest flavors.”

Speaking of new technologies, DNA is utilizing cutting-edge tissue culture techniques to bypass the old ways of cloning and propagation. Using tissue culture – cloning on a molecular level under sterile conditions – allows them to streamline the breeding process and reinvigorate old strains that have suffered over time. “It’s not just about cleaning up the strains and relieving them of endemic stresses,” said Rezwan. “Gene mapping allows us to better understand our cultivars and their medicinal properties. And we can dispel the misinformation and expand knowledge on the terpenes, cannabinoids and flavinoids – that’s yet another goal for us.”

Rezwan continued, “If Bayer and Monsanto are doing it, we figure we need to do it based on what smokers want to smoke, for the right reasons with all the benefits of the science. Genetic marker identification can find PM resistance and higher yields, but not necessarily a better flavor. We’re still allowing Don and Aaron to guide the process by doing it the same way they’ve always done, but with more information. We’re about the flavors and telling the story better beyond just piney, gassy or fruity.”

With the future of Cannabis in the hands of larger and larger corporations, it’s important to maintain credibility at the top.

Having lifelong stoners like Don and Aaron and the rest of their team on board, companies like DNA and their partners can help to keep the industry honest to a set of ideals that favors the consumer.

As they develop markets throughout Europe, Africa, and North and South America, it’s reassuring to know that there are true believers at the helm. As Rezwan said, “We’re all about getting Don and Aaron’s genetics into grow rooms around the world. We want to continue to create amazing flavors and share them with the entire planet!”

INTERVIEW by DAN VINKOVETSKY @DANNYDANKOHT/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by DNA GENETICS | ICON by JAMIE VICTOR

THE futurE ISSUE

34

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GANJIER &

THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS No culture or community can thrive without a common language. Tribes, countries, industries – they all agree upon a shared vocabulary and a baseline for communication.

L

ong before the dawn of the modern Cannabis industry, the vernacular of weed started to take shape. But now, as we progress toward a future with pot shops in every neighborhood, the culture awaits a leader for defining and formalizing the way we talk about Cannabis.

aklEAF.COM

Ganjier intends to become that definitive source.

“The world has never developed a Cannabis palate before,” said Max Simon, CEO of The Ganjier Council, which this month will launch the Ganjier Certification Program, a robust curriculum geared toward training the next generation of Cannabis experts.

“In wine, they’ve developed a palate repertoire that’s been used for 100 years.

Nobody has ever done that in Cannabis.”

jan. 2021

The Ganjier Council CEO Max Simon

1. MAX SIMON CEO, Ganjier

2. JUSTIN CALVINO Co-Founder Emerald Exchange and The Mendocino Appelations Project

3. FRENCHY CANNOLI Master Hashishin

4. DR. AMANDA REIMAN VP, Community Development, Flow Kana

5. DEREK GILMAN Managing Director, Ganjier

6. OMAR FIGUEROA Founding Member, National Cannabis Bar Association

7. NIKKI LASTRETO Co-Founder, Swami Select

8. JEFFREY RABER Organic Chemist | Founder, The Werc Shop

9. SWAMI CHAITANYA Co-Founder, Swami Select

10. WILLIAM PEDRO Friend of Kevin Jodrey, not on Council

11. PATRICK KING THE SOIL KING Founder, Soil King Garden

12. WENDY KORNBERG CEO, Sunnabis Farms

13. KEVIN JODREY Founder, Port Royal | Wonderland Nursery

14. NICK TANEM AKA NIKKA T Owner, Essential Extracts

FACULTY NOT PICTURED: Genine Colman, Origins Council Exec. Dir. Alec Dixon, SC Labs Co-Founder Mel Frank, Legendary Breeder/Cultivator Kimberly Hooks, Frenchy Cannoli Brand CEO Aaron Varney, Dockside Co-Founder Josh Wurzer, SC Labs President

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While many organizations and educators over the decades have toiled to define the dialogue, the industry

hasn’t accepted a broad certification program similar to the Master Sommelier designation for wine and the Master Cicerone program for Beer, whose graduates are considered to be certified experts in the field. The Ganjier program seeks to become that ballast.

We spoke with Simon over a video call in November to learn more about The Ganjier Council and its plan to revolutionize the future of Cannabis via standardization. Simon’s energy and excitement about the program was palpable, as he shared soaring stories about the process of collaborating with the rest of The Ganjier Council to build the program.

Assembling the Council

If you’re going to create a program to identify and train the future experts of an industry, you’re going to have to bring in some seriously heavy hitters. Simon, along with renowned cultivator, program co-founder and Ganjier Managing Director, Derek Gilman, did just that.

“What we decided from the very beginning was that we didn’t want to take any shortcuts,” Simon said. “We got Frenchy Cannoli to join, who is probably the most experienced hash maker on the planet right now. … He joined the council because he was really dedicated to the fact that The Ganjier Council would be something that would last for 1,000 years.”

After Frenchy joined on, the pieces started to fall into place. They sought out the most experienced in each Cannabis field – cultivation, botany, law, chemistry, sales, education – and started gathering the minds. “We really understood that one of the most important criteria levels here was experience,” said Simon.

“We were going to be doing things that require a level of experience to understand, and more importantly, to be able to define. We pulled the most experienced people we could find in each category.”

In the end, Ganjier ended up comprising 18 renowned names in the industry. Names like Swami Chaitanya, Kevin Jodrey and Mel Frank. “They (see sidebar for full list) collectively span about 600 years of Cannabis experience among those 18 people,” said Simon.

THE ONLINE PORTION WILL BE THE FIRST TO LAUNCH AND WILL CONSIST OF 10 COURSES FOR A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 30 HOURS OF ONLINE CURRICULUM. THE LEAF HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PREVIEW THESE COURSES, WHICH COME ACROSS LIKE INTIMATE, ONE-ON-ONE CLASSROOM LECTURES FROM PROFESSORS OF POT.

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9 11

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Building a Common Language

With the team built, the Council could begin the real work.

Logging more than 8,000 hours over a span of two-and-a-half years, the Council’s Cannabis cognoscenti debated, deliberated and delivered the first level of the program: The Certified Ganjier.

The way Simon describes it, the process must have been an experience.

“You see Swami and Frenchy, face-to-face, debating vigorously with a piece of hash in Frenchy’s hand,” he said. “It’s the fucking best.”

Like the Sommelier and Cicerone programs that inspired it, the Ganjier program will consist of three levels: Certified Ganjier, Advanced Ganjier and Executive Ganjier.

The first level, Certified Ganjier, seeks to establish the green standard for knowledge for those operating on the Cannabis front lines – the budtenders, sales reps, consumption lounge sherpas.

The online portion will be the first to launch and will consist of 10 courses for a total of more than 30 hours of online curriculum. The Leaf had the opportunity to preview these courses, which come across like intimate, one-on-one classroom lectures from professors of pot.

Ganjier defined what they refer to as the “Systematic Assessment Protocol,” which sets a baseline against which all Cannabis products should be judged and discussed.

It considers four different factors which will be familiar to anyone who has spent time judging Cannabis competitions: Appearance, Aroma, Flavor and Effects.

The classes and coursework cover everything a budding Cannabis expert needs to know, from history, hash, cultivation, chemistry and science, to sales, law and everything in between. As the program materials state, the goal isn’t to teach people how to cultivate Cannabis, rather, it’s to teach them everything they need to know about cultivation.

“It’s putting all the Cannabis knowledge on the table that exists, and then defining what a Cannabis sommelier needs to know,” Simon said.

Kevin Jodrey | Wonderland Nursery The program culminates in an assessment that students must pass to earn their certification. If it’s anything like the programs in the wine and beer industries, this process will no doubt be rigorous. It has to be.

As Simon is quick to point out, if the industry is to grow, it must establish a baseline of trust and clear communication. “Everything in Cannabis comes down to customer service,” he said. “This is about serving consumers in the most effective way.

Frenchy Cannoli, Swami Chaitanya & Dr. Amanda Reiman.

Ganjier defined what they refer to as the “Systematic Assessment Protocol,” which sets a baseline against which all Cannabis products should be judged and discussed.

It considers four different factors which will be familiar to anyone who has spent time judging Cannabis competitions: Appearance, Aroma, Flavor and Effects.

Millions and millions of people are looking for trusted guidance about what to buy. … They haven’t been exposed to the diversity of what’s possible with Cannabis, and that’s because no one has broken it down.”

Get with the Program

As of now, Ganjier expects to launch with a suite of online courses this month, with the in-person portion rolling out in June, COVID-willing.

They plan to accept 156 hopefuls out of the first round of applicants.

According to Simon, they’ll likely have to increase that number fairly swiftly. Additionally, you will be able to take just the online portion of the curriculum as a standalone option.

“The demand is really high,” he said. “I’ve got some of the largest organizations in the country right now asking if they can bring 50 people in to be a Ganjier, and my answer is that I can’t service them that quickly.”

With the amount of experience and expertise on staff, Simon believes that demand will only increase as people realize the weight of the opportunity. “I can’t tell you the hundreds of times I would turn to Derek, and we would just look at each other, and think, we’re the luckiest people on planet Earth — to be in this room with these people, who are arguably the most knowledgeable people about Cannabis on planet Earth.”

STORY by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by GANJIER | GANJIER.COM | ICON by JAMIE VICTOR

THE futurE ISSUE

It’s an iterative move - Zusman has the ability to scale

SCALING UP

CANNABIS 36

The Cannabis industry is ripping through the atmosphere, a half-built rocket to the stars. With every passing moment, every quarterly report, every election – everyone on board has the same question: What’s this going to look like once it’s finished?

A aklEAF.COM

nd that leads to another question. Who’s going to survive?

Who’s going to be able to scale to meet future demand?

Who out there is building the Anheuser-Busch, the Sierra Nevada, the Lagunitas of Cannabis? For years, Brad Zusman has watched as would-be titans of industry begged and borrowed their way to vast, industrial-mega-scale manufacturing capabilities, only to be met with diminished demand and stifling legal and regulatory hurdles.

As the owner of Mellow Vibes, a multi-line confectionery company broadly distributed in Oregon and Nevada, Zusman has been watching – and all the while, he’s been building his own rocket. He and his company – run largely by family and friends Zusman gathered during his decades as a restaurant and Cannabis business operator in Portland – got a start in the medical days, building retail and then manufacturing from the ground up.

“We started with one induction burner, one pot, and one table, pouring jelly into a square mold and cutting it with guitar strings,” Zusman said.

At the first taste of success, Zusman didn’t immediately run out and jump on rounds of capital raises. He kept building the thing.

This month, Mellow Vibes is flipping the switch on a new setup in a facility south of Portland that should allow them to The Mellow Vibes crew, and Brad Zusman, center. manufacture 72,000 units per shift.

jan. 2021

up much faster, but with the THC market for that facility confined to Oregon, he must be creative.

“I don’t see that there’s going to be a huge need for largescale production until we have interstate commerce,” he said.

“We can only scale up so much, so there’s only so many people and so many ways of indulging. I do see an explosion when interstate commerce comes around.”

It’s that pending explosion that makes scaling up tricky. Build too large now, and you run the risk of suffocating like a fire starved for oxygen. Wait too long, and when the regulatory curtain between the states disappears, so will your ability to compete with the scaled-up players.

Zusman’s company is approaching the issue from multiple angles, and not just by building to suit the CBD market – which he is doing.

Zusman is currently working to license the Mellow Vibes brand in multiple markets around the country. He will manufacture all of the non-medicated materials – the confectionery slurries, syrups, and other pre-made ingredients – in his own facilities and ship them along with packaging to licensees.

“We want to be His company also will offer able to produce a line of pre-made confecup to 2 million tionery ingredients, along with recipes and SOPs that they gummies per day.” will distribute to companies -Brad Zusman, across the country in the Mellow Vibes Owner THC, CBD and nutraceutical industries.

Between those plans, manmellowvibes.com ufacturing his own brands, @mellowvibesedibles and contract “white label” manufacturing brands for companies without their own facilities, Zusman’s growth is starting to pick up speed.

“I have a 3,500-square-foot THC kitchen, and a 3,000-square-foot CBD ingredients kitchen, and we’ve already grown out of both buildings,” he said. “And that’s just doing our brands and a few other white label brands.”

Next, Zusman plans to build a 40,000-square-foot-plus nutraceutical manufacturing plant. And then another. Both will serve the CBD and vitamin markets until THC becomes federally legal. “We want to be able to produce up to 2 million gummies per day,” he said, in addition to tinctures and raw ingredients for confectioners who want to be able to replicate their product.

“Just like Sysco Foods has ready-made muffin mixes, we want to have ready-made ingredients and mixes for jellies, for people to mix however they want, and add their own CBD or THC. Anyone who wants to do small to mid-level manufacturing, we’ll have a ready-made product. The beauty about this model right here is that any white label manufacturer on the market that makes dry mixes, can make this product for you.”

For Zusman, it’s about building the supply chain to meet future demand for a federal THC market that doesn’t yet exist.

Get the machines up and running, get the processes in place and when the time comes, flip the switch.

“The reason these big companies aren’t coming in is that we don’t have the supply chains completely set up,” he said.

“Once it’s all set up, and they have large-scale supply chains built from field to cupboard, then the large global companies will come in and buy them up.”

Either that, or the smartly-scaled Cannabis companies will be the ones doing the buying.

STORY by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by MELLOW VIBES | ICON by JAMIE VICTOR

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THE futurE ISSUE

“Utilizing science and ingenuity, the Dab Rite has taken all of the guesswork out of dabbing. With adaptive goose neck design, the unit is universally capable of reading the temperature of any style of rig.”

38

FUTURE OF

aklEAF.COM

CONSUMPTION Make hot dabs a thing of the past with the most modern, versatile and inventive digital IR thermometer to be found: the Dab Rite.

dabrite.com | @thedabrite

jan. 2021

I

ndustry experts, glass collectors and owners Dr. Seuscio, Dan Wynick, Cody Johnson and Bryan Berc joined forces in January of 2020 to bring this revolutionary commodity to market.

After an intensive year of research and development, their team turned the Dab Rite from a concept to prototypes, ultimately helping their product become the gold standard in the industry.

Utilizing science and ingenuity, the Dab Rite has taken all of the guesswork out of dabbing. With adaptive goose neck design, the unit is universally capable of reading the temperature of any style of rig.

Unlike other companies that have products that are only useful for banger hanger style rigs, users can bend the flexible neck in any direction to accurately read the heat of the quartz nail on their unique piece of glass art.

After getting the goose neck dialed in, users can set the temperature anywhere from 200 to 800 degrees fahrenheit. We would recommend 500600 degrees, depending on your nail. Dabbing your favorite concentrates at lower temperatures results in the most pronounced terpene expression achievable.

You will never miss another dab again, as the Dab Rite lights up, flashes and beeps whenever it has reached the set temperature, making this an ideal product for those hard of hearing. This fabulous feature will save you a ton of butane in the long run. With replaceable silicone guards on the temperature gauge and above the screen, users can mix and match silicone inserts to customize their Dab Rite units.

With over 50 years of combined industry experience, their company’s goal is quite simple: To provide a high-quality product that lives up to its own high standards and expectations – something that their entire team can confidently stand behind.

They believe that whether or not you are dabbing top shelf concentrates and extracts out of a higher-end piece, that the experience should be as tasty and enjoyable as possible. The Dab Rite is here to help take your sesh to the next level and the creators are honored to have their products included in your dab shrines, or as Dr. Seuscio calls them, “The Terpification Station.”

As a philanthropic group of individuals, their ownership stepped up last year and found creative ways to give back to our community. After the horrendous forest fires in Oregon, the Dab Rite team offered their second drop of product to the public with a necessary donation of at least $15 to $50, ultimately raising $4,000 so far for a great cause.

Keep an eye out for their recent collaboration with 710 Labs, as well as their official launch party later this month at Lifted Veil Gallery on January 30 with Toro Glass. Make sure to grab yourself a Dab Rite ASAP – your future seshes will thank you!

High Tech continues next page

STORY by MAX EARLY @LIFTED_STARDUST/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by MORGAN DEMETER @MOOGANPHOTO | ICON by JAMIE VICTOR

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Marijuana products may be purchased or possessed only by persons 21 or older. This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgement.

Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the innuence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of reach of children.

THE futurE ISSUE

FUTURE OF

CONSUMPTION

H

ailed as “the future of vaping” by 2Chainz, whose Most Expensivist show has covered a lot of Cannabis related products, we couldn’t agree more. The Bello is the most unique way to get a group of people high, period. Called the Vapor Tap, the Bello works by loading a cartridge of your favorite concentrate into the center. A vapor-sipping glass gets placed over the cart, and when lightly pressed the internal mechanics cause a hit to fill up the cup.

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aklEAF.COM

THE BELLO The future of Cannabis is vapor being sipped at your favorite Cannabis lounge, and it’s closer than you think to reality. While Cannabis lounges aren’t yet legal in every state, anyone can enjoy the experience of passing a glass of tasty Cannabis vapor around a room with the innovative and sexy Bello. B Y W E S A B N E Y @ B E A R D E D L O R A X bello.love | @bellotogether

jan. 2021

The vapor swirls around as it fills and holds within the cup for easy passing – or the ability to hold it for a short time before consuming the vapor. You sip it like a drink from a glass or with a straw, filling the lungs with Cannabis goodness that takes vaping to a whole new level.

The effects of consuming Cannabis vapor in this way are different from a typical puff of a cartridge, and the vapor is less expansive while retaining full flavor, making it easy to take several glassfulls.

We enjoyed high end solventless rosin carts through the Bello, but any cartridge will work easily.

This includes CBD-only or e-cig carts in the 510 thread format, which are perfect for the upscale hookah user. Bello is also working to release cartridges with herbal formulas that can deliver energy or help with sleep – and it’s worth noting that the possibilities are really endless in terms of what you can vape from a cartridge.

We found ourselves clinking glasses and feeling quite classy as we sipped vapor from straws, sharing the glasses around a room, trying different cartridge flavors and enjoying the sensation of sharing weed in a super literal form.

Perfect for at home, a cocktail party or your future favorite dab lounge, we expect to see Bello all over the world LISTEN TO LEAF LIFE PODCAST as people EPISODE #98 “THE WIDE WORLD embrace the OF CANNABIS TECH,” AVAILABLE opportunity ON ALL MAJOR PLATFORMS to cheers with AND LEAFLIFEPODCAST.COM Cannabis.

“We found ourselves clinking glasses and feeling quite classy as we sipped vapor from straws, sharing the glasses around a room, trying different cartridge flavors and enjoying the sensation of sharing weed in a super literal form. “

F

rom concept to design, to production and marketing, Indux Labs aims to provide the most advanced and modular concentrate vaporization hardware in the world to those who are looking to get the most out of their resin. “The inspiration for the project came from the desire to produce the highest quality of vapor using the precision and purity of electromagnetic heating,” explained Indux Labs Founder, who wishes to remain anonymous.

INDUX LABS

The world of concentrate vaporizers is not lacking in competition. There are hundreds of brands all over the world that are all clamoring to get to the top of the pile with the best hardware. For the past several years, brands like Puffco and PAX have dominated the market by gearing their products towards the mainstream. But, what’s available for the more invested enthusiast?

Enter the Indux Labs Reflux vaporizer. B Y N A T E W I L L I A M S @ N A T E W4 1 5

REFLUX

induxlabs.com | @induxlabs

The Reflux vaporizer is hands-down the most impressive piece of consumption paraphernalia we have come across to date. Each unit is hand-built with incredible attention to detail in Austin, Texas.

The Reflux is the world’s first Slow-Temp™ vaporizer, which slowly builds the temperature and intensity of the vapor to reveal layers of flavor in your concentrate previously undiscovered. The Reflux is designed to deliver a range of control unavailable with other units on the market, and definitely delivers.

The oil is loaded into a borosilicate glass vial along with the user’s choice of titanium heating element.

It comes with a variety of designs for the user to experiment with, including both larger, thicker, single elements, as well as thinner ones, which Indux Labs suggests you use multiples of.

The larger elements heat faster while the smaller ones get to temp more slowly, which is just one of the uniquely modular aspects of the Reflux. As one might suspect, the smaller elements produce a thinner, wispier vapor and the larger, thicker ones produce a more robust and expansive vapor. In addition, there is a “key” that is used to control airflow, further allowing the user to dial in exactly how they like their concentrate vaporized.

The dial on the left of the unit controls how long the heating cycle is, and the buttons on the right turn the coil inside of the unit on and off. The combination of heating element(s), airflow and cycle time results in complete user control. This allows the user to slowly ramp up the temperature, dissecting the concentrate and exposing layers of flavor you’d just flat out miss from the same concentrate in dab form.

Both the look and function have a simultaneously new wave, yet classic feel – like a throwback to the future. The analog manipulation of the unit provides a nostalgic kick as you sit back and enjoy a next-level terpene experience. It does take a little dialing in to fully master, but it is fairly intuitive and once understood, becomes second nature.

Comparatively speaking, if a traditional dab taken off a quartz nail is like doing a shot, consuming concentrate out of the Reflux is like pouring yourself a high-end whiskey and allowing yourself to sit and enjoy every nuance of flavor that develops as the spirit opens up and oxygenates.

Between the flavors achievable with this unit, the efficiency it offers and the complete modulation (I can even run it through my dab rig for a smoother, water-filtered hit), my quartz nail, terp pearl and spinner cap will be riding the bench for the foreseeable future.

STORIES by LEAF NATION CONTRIBUTORS | PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS | ICON by JAMIE VICTOR

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

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

VISITING ALASKA

Sights seen from the road

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

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

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

concentratE OF THE MONTH

Reviews

44

MIDNIGHT SUN

WIDOW MAKER aklEAF.COM

Vape Cartridge

Imagine walking through a dense forest of snow-covered pine trees. The sun is hanging low in the sky and illuminating the freshly fallen snow. Do you feel a sense of calm? If so, then Midnight Sun’s Widow Maker may be the cartridge you’ve been dreaming of.

jan, 2021

AN EVENLY BALANCED HYBRID, Widow Maker is a delightful cross between AK47 and White Widow. Its terpene profile is predominantly pinene, giving it a strong piney flavor mixed with hints of earthiness. With Midnight Sun’s focus on single-strain batches and premier CO2 extraction process which preserve the natural CO2 terpenes, they have unlocked the door to truly flavorful cartridges.

The benefit to consumers is a full spectrum oil that accentuates the high of the flower.

Not to mention the winterized, wood-tipped mouthpiece also lends a sophisticated edge to what is an already sleek-looking cartridge.

Of course, Widow Maker’s appeal is much more than skin deep. Its smoke is silky smooth and remarkably, didn’t cause the back-of-thethroat burning sensations that some cartridges do. But don’t mistake Widow Maker’s elegance for weakness, because this cartridge packs some serious punch.

The mix of AK-47’s Silky and smooth smoke long-lasting cerebral … cerebral buzz with buzz and White Widow’s relaxing undertones relaxing undertones. come on hot and heavy, and might overwhelm the inexperienced or casual smoker.

AKMIDNIGHTSUN.COM What starts as a 70.6% TOTAL THC, 1.37% CBD euphoric body sensation that has your muscles feeling like they had the massage of a lifetime, quickly transforms into an intense head high. As the waves wash over you, you’ll find yourself taking pleasure in the simple things – such as watching water slowly drip out of a faucet as you attempt to finally tackle that pile of dishes that have been sitting in your sink for days. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself joyfully playing with the suds instead of scrubbing.

Simply put, from the first puff to the last, Widow Maker is one hell of a ride!

REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF | PHOTO by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS

edible of the month

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aklEAF.COM

FIRE EATER EDIBLES

HIGH DIVE SODAS

Cherry Cola, Grape & Lemon-Lime

A LITTLE KENAI-BASED COMPANY by the name of Fire to the effect. As expected, the drink's texture is a bit thicker Eater Edibles created one of the first THC-infused sodas in than a traditional soda, but still well within the limits of what the Alaskan market all the way back in April of 2019. you might find in a mixed drink. With a prominent limonene Their test batch of 50 sodas sold out in one day, and terpene profile and a low dose of 0.65mg of CBD, the high they've been going gangbusters ever since. But Fire Eater eased a few minor aches while also giving us a huge energy Edibles wasn't content to rest on their laurels. boost that was perfect for a late-night workout session. An Now their original four flavored offering – orange cream, added bonus of the soda was that we didn't experience the lemon-lime, ginger ale and root beer – has taken an exciting intense cottonmouth that often accompanies many edibles. turn towards the more exotic. Now soda lovers can buy High If the lemon-lime flavor were a car, it would probably be a Dive Sodas in eight delectable flavors, including cherry cola, souped-up minivan. It has the chops to draw some attention, grape, strawberry kiwi and mango pineapple. While any of but you won't catch it riding in the left lane. these potent 50mg bottles will leave you feeling energized, By comparison, Fire Eater Edibles' High Dive Soda in refreshed and absolutely stoned to the bone, we decided to cherry cola is a flashy sports car. The aroma is unmistakably narrow in on a mix of classic soda flavors: cherry and it socks you right in the nose Energized, refreshed lemon-lime, cherry cola and grape. from the first sniff. The flavor is equally When we popped open the lemon-lime and stoned to the bone. robust, with a distinctly weedy aftertaste that the first time, we heard the satisfying hiss will likely appeal to those who enjoy earthier of carbonation escape from the bottle. flavor profiles.

Just like Pavlov's dog, the audible had us Although the packaging only indicates FACEBOOK.COM/FIREEATERFOODS drooling. The soda's subtle citrusy aroma that the cola is a hybrid, our best guess is 49 – 54MG THC PER 50MG BOTTLE and pale white coloration only added that it is a sativa-dominant strain.

jan, 2021

A 10mg serving of the soda gave us the energy kick of a 5-Hour Energy Drink, and the house has never been cleaner.

The cola's 2.11mg of CBD also gave us a pleasant little surprise when we finally tired out.

Continuing with the vehicle metaphor, the grape soda is a good mid-level car with enough get-up-and-go to stay out of the right lane, but not quite enough to occupy the fast lane.

Containing the lowest dose of THC of the three sampled flavors – 49.04mg – we found the grape soda gave us a very soft and comfortable body high.

As the grape is also a hybrid, we expected an accompanying stoney head high, but instead found that the high stayed primarily in the body. The most notable thing about the grape is definitely its distinct flavor.

Unlike the lemon-lime and cherry cola, the grape didn't have a noticeably weedy taste – making it the most palatable to those who don't enjoy the taste of Cannabis.

Fire Eater Edibles' has made it relatively convenient to keep track of dosing by printing 10mg serving notches on the side of the bottle. That said, when it comes to enjoying High Dive Sodas, remember that a little goes a long way.

REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF | PHOTO by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS

RASPBERRY ROOTS’ RASPBERRY KUSH PAIRED WITH CLASSIC TANG

tannins & terpenes

T H E A RT OF PA I R I NG C A N N A BI S

47

IN 1962, NASA USED

14.8% THC CITRUSY-INDICA RASPBERRYROOTS.ORG

*Alaska Leaf Warning* Anytime you combine two substances of any kind, you have to be extra vigilant of the effects.

We strongly recommend conducting pairings in a safe and private space, in small quantities with friends.

Always use a designated driver or have a plan to get home safely.

Although Raspberry Kush has a relatively low THC content at just 14.8 percent, this strain is guaranteed to have you space-trucking in no time with just a few pulls from your favorite piece of glass.

The high starts with a subtle tingle as it spreads across the bridge of your nose, wrapping around your head like a, dare we say, astronaut's helmet. As you continue partaking of its wondrously fruity pleasures, it shrouds you in a pain-relieving euphoria. Before long, this lovely little creeper had us spooning our couch pillows while binge-watching “Space Force.”

To balance Raspberry Kush's sedating effects, we topped off our final toke with a tall glass of the orange stuff. Tang's unmistakably orange flavor, intermingled with a respectable 22 grams of sugar, was the ideal energy boost we were looking for.

While it might not have gotten us off the couch long enough to take out the trash, it did give us the kick we needed to make it to season two. And hey, in the middle of hunkering down, spending a day on the couch isn't exactly the worst thing ever.

REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF | PHOTO by O'HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS

alaskalEAF.COM

TANG ON JOHN GLENN'S MERCURY FLIGHT, GARNERING THE DRINK A LOFTY REPUTATION AS A SPACE-AGE DRINK. SINCE THEN, TANG HAS OCCUPIED THE LOWLY BOTTOM SHELF IN GROCERY STORES AND THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE MISSING OUT ON.

With that in mind, we are donning our homemade paper astronaut masks as we blast off into the new year with the dynamic pairing of Raspberry Roots' signature Raspberry Kush and a hot glass of orange Tang.

Raspberry Kush's terpene profile is a dream mixture of Cherry Pie's musky, candied-cherry undertones and Tangie's in-your-face tropical flavor, resulting in a delicious raspberry aftertaste that’s perfect for pairing with Tang. The bud has hints of deep purple coloration and the chunky bud structure we'd expect from any great indica. Its moody undertones are the perfect backdrop for the bud's long, curly red pistils of goodness.

With deep space on our minds, we decided to see what this beautiful bud looked like under a spotlight – and we were not disappointed. Raspberry Kush's coating of trichomes shines like stars in the night when you hold it up to the light.

cooking with cannabis

R EC I P E S by LAU RIE WOLF | P HOTOS by B RUC E WOLF

Comfort Dishes six servings

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP 1 (2-3 lb.) butternut squash, peeled and seeded 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons canna-butter 1 medium white onion, fine dice

5 ½ cups chicken stock ½ cup heavy cream ½ teaspoon nutmeg Sea salt Finely ground black pepper

1. Cut squash into one inch chunks. 2. In a large pot, melt the butters. Add onion and cook until translucent, about eight min. 3. Add squash and stock. Bring to a simmer and cook until tender, about 15-20 min. 4. Allow mixture to cool to the touch. Hot liquids in a blender could end in a gigantic mess or even injury. 5. Add half the soup mixture at a time, and puree in a blender or food processor. 6. Return all the blended soup to the original soup pot. Warm over medium-low heat. Season with nutmeg, salt and pepper, and serve.

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four servings

BAKED PASTA WITH ARTICHOKE PESTO 1 9-ounce pkg. artichoke hearts, defrosted 1 cup fresh parsley, packed ½ cup walnuts 1 lemon, zest and juice 3 cloves garlic, minced Salt & Pepper

1/3 -2/3 cup olive oil 4 teaspoons canna-olive oil 1 pound pasta, cooked al dente according to package instructions. ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese ½ cup panko breadcrumbs 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

1. Heat oven to 340° F. 2. In a food processor or blender combine the artichoke hearts, parsley, walnuts, lemon, garlic, salt and pepper. When mixed, drizzle in the olive oils. 3. In a large bowl, combine the pesto with the cooked pasta. In a medium casserole or individual ramekins, place the pasta mixture filling to the top. 4. Combine the cheese, breadcrumbs and parsley and place on top of the pasta. Bake until the cheese and breadcrumbs have turned golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.

two servings

GOLDEN DELIGHT

aklEAF.COM

2½ cups coconut milk 3 tablespoons honey 1-2 teaspoons curry powder ½ teaspoon turmeric ¼ teaspoon cinnamon 2 teaspoons canna-butter 1. Combine all the ingredients in a blender and process.

2. In a medium saucepan, heat the mixture from the blender, stirring until very warm but not simmering – about 5-7 minutes.

3. Divide the mixture between two mugs. Place a teaspoon of butter on top of each serving.

Serve immediately.

jan, 2021

Another month of Cannabis comfort food, because we need it. Still.

Though there is a light at the end of the tunnel, the next few months are going to be rough. Stay home when you can, wear your mask, no hugging, lots of Zooming. But it’s going to be okay – we’ll get through this. Thank goodness for Cannabis, it has made a huge difference in my mental health! You too? This month I am infusing with the strain Life Coach from Noble Farms. Sadly, I am at the end of my supply and will miss this uplifting, fruity herb. I look forward to one day sharing this sublime strain again with Will, the owner of this awesome farm. I miss my farmer friends. I miss all my friends.

Hang in there and we’ll see you next month.

#We a rA Ma sk #Dont FearT heEdi ble #EatYourCannabi s #CallYourParents # Comf orting Ca nna b is # WeWillSurvive

glass art

HYPERLOOP How do you draw inspiration from nature?

It’s difficult not to – nature has done so many things exquisitely. Whether it’s the connection point flowing together for two pieces of glass or a larger, more powerful concept being translated, there are so many examples of highly refined processes and shapes. It’s incredible to see what natural selection has determined after all those years. While most of my work doesn’t literally translate or attempt to mimic nature, I think that there are many subtle cues taken from it. I’ve always loved the way nature handles its color and transitions or contrasts between them. Most recently and perhaps most noticeable within my work, I saw geysers first-hand for the first time in my life. Their raw power and the display they put on is magnificent! Since then I’ve been playing with similar effects and the potential for displaying that power within my functional work.

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What pushes you to create new mind-melting designs? What’s the point

@maxxswell.ca

“All the designs I make seem to come from seed questions, and the finished pieces are in their own way an answer to the question asked. The answers are always evolving – I don’t feel constrained by the way I’ve done things in the past.

Next time I make that style I can mix things up.“

STORY by MAX EARLY @LIFTED_STARDUST/LEAF NATION | PHOTO by SHERLOCKS GLASS GALLERY @SHERLOCKSGLASS

caliFornialeaf.COM

Art by MAX CASWELL

of creating if you just make the same thing as everybody else? I wasn’t drawn by or interested in the ability to remake things that have already been made – I much prefer to attempt to make things in a different light. I was drawn by the potential to put my own spin on things. All the designs I make seem to come from seed questions, and the finished pieces are in their own way an answer to the question asked. The answers are always evolving – I don’t feel constrained by the way I’ve done things in the past. Next time I make that style I can mix things up. That freedom is one of my favorite things about glass – it’s incredibly easy to try out new proportions or shapes within designs. Nothing has to be like it was before, I don’t have to remake a mold or rewrite a program to get different shapes for new parts. There’s an amazing amount of freedom within this medium.

cannthropology

WORLD OF CANNABIS PRESENTS

50

Adam “Mr. Hash Bash” Brook

The History of Hash Bash

The origins and evolution of Ann Arbor’s annual reefer rally

aklEAF.COM

This is the story of how a small Midwestern college town became the home of America’s longest-running Cannabis event and a legendary legalization location.

It all began in December 1966, when prominent poet, pot activist, and White Panther John Sinclair unknowingly gave two joints to an undercover policewoman from the Detroit Narcotics Bureau. A month later he was arrested, tried, and in 1969, sentenced to a shocking 10 years in prison.

This disproportionately draconian penalty (no doubt intended to make an example of Sinclair), drew widespread outrage among the counterculture community—particularly with the Youth International Party, or “Yippies.”

In December 1971, they helped organize a massive rally on Sinclair’s behalf at the University of Michigan’s Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor. Known as the “John Sinclair Freedom Rally,” it included Yippie activists Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, David Peel and future High Times founder Tom Forcade, as well as beatnik poet Allen Ginsberg and NORML founder Keith Stroup. More importantly, though, it featured performances by top musical acts like Bob Seger, Stevie Wonder and most impressively, former Beatle John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono. Just three days after that concert, Michigan’s Supreme Court ordered

jan, 2021

Sinclair’s release on bond pending appeal after serving only two-and-a-half years of his sentence. At the appeal hearing, that same court dismissed his case—ruling that he’d been entrapped and that his sentence was “cruel and unusual.” Moreover, the court declared that the 1952 state law used to convict him—which classified Cannabis as a “narcotic”—was inaccurate and therefore unconstitutional, and overturned it.

The state legislature quickly drafted and passed a replacement, but enforcement of that new law didn’t take effect until April 1. This meant that for about three weeks, marijuana was technically legal in the State of Michigan.

Taking full advantage of this unique window—and inspired by the action that had set Sinclair free months earlier—local activists organized a pro-pot political rally on the very day the new law was set to take effect. And that, my friends, is how Hash Bash was born. Held at high noon on Saturday, April 1, 1972, at “The Diag” (the central Diagonal Green) on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor, the original event—called simply “Hash Festival”—was reportedly attended by somewhere between 150-500 people and had no arrests.

The Democrat-led city council in Ann Arbor had already debated downgrading marijuana possession from a felony to a misdemeanor in 1971. In May 1972—just a month after the rally—they passed an ordinance reducing the penalty for possession to a mere five dollar fine, followed by another in September allowing those fines to be paid through the mail, rather than

For the first decade and a half of its existence, Hash Bash was little more than a gathering of people smoking pot in public.

However, from the early ‘90s on, it became a platform for some of the most prominent voices in the marijuana movement.

having offenders appear in court. This gave Ann Arbor the dubious distinction of being the city with the most liberal pot laws in America.

When April Fool’s Day rolled around again the following year, so did Hash Bash—this time drawing 3,000-5,000 attendees. Outraged, conservatives fought back—repealing the lenient law in 1973. But less than a year later, the quarrelsome issue made it onto the ballot as a voter referendum and was voted back into law in April 1974 — just in time for Hash Bash number three, which was now officially an annual event.

Thanks to the “Just Say No” Reagan era, attendance and interest in Hash Bash saw a steep decline in the 1980s— leading some local officials and newspapers to prematurely celebrate its seeming demise. But all that changed in 1988 with the arrival of High Times; then Editor-in-Chief Steve Hager and his Freedom Fighters (including columnists Ed Rosenthal and Chef Ra, among others) rolled into Ann Arbor sporting Colonial tricorn hats and musical instruments— drawing a crowd of nearly 2,000 and reinvigorating the faltering festival.

A further effort was made to increase attendance in 1991, when the annual date of the event was changed from the first of April to the first Saturday in April. In the years that followed, the University made several attempts to shut the rally down by denying permits and such, prompting five lawsuits from Hash Bash organizers, NORML and the ACLU—all of which the University lost.

For the first decade and a half of its existence, Hash Bash was little more than a gathering of people smoking pot in public. However, from the early ‘90s on, it became a platform for some of the most just heard the police had 200 officers waiting in prominent voices in the marijuana moveriot gear,” Brook recounts. “Every April Fool’s Day ment, including Tommy Chong, authors we’d publish some sort of claim … Bill Clinton was Jack Herer and Gatewood Galbraith, showing up, Sasha Obama … and sure enough, hippie icon Stephen Gaskin, Yippie Dana the media shows up.” Though no longer serving as Beal, and of course, John Sinclair, who its emcee, Brook still attends each year and hosts a returned to the event (and to Michigan) private event called the Hash Bash Cup the weekend in 1996 after an almost 20-year absence of the rally. living in New Orleans.

The new millennium brought many changes to Other than Sinclair, no one has become Michigan’s marijuana laws. In November 2008, votmore associated with the event than ers passed Proposal 1 legalizing medical marijuana.

Sinclair’s personal manager, Adam Brook.

In 2016, State Representative Jeff Irwin (D) attended Legalization Icon John Sinclair Nicknamed “Mr. Hash Bash,” Brook Hash Bash and announced that he was sponsoring started hosting the rally in 1993 and cona bill to legalize marijuana for adult use. That September, medical tinued to do so for almost two decades, until 2011 when he topicals, edibles and dispensaries were legalized. passed the mic on to other prominent Wolverine State weed In 2018, gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer (D) came to warriors. Brook’s specialty was getting media coverage of the speak at the rally and on Election Day that November, voters approved event by playing the press. another Proposal 1—this time called The Michigan Regulation and “In order to get the TV cameras to show up at Hash Taxation of Marihuana Act—which finally legalized Cannabis use for Bash, I’d call them on Saturday morning and tell them we’d adults statewide.

“In order to get the TV cameras to show up at Hash Bash, I’d call them on Saturday morning and tell them we’d just heard the police had 200 officers waiting in riot gear."

-A DA M B RO OK

The following April, Ann Arbor celebrated that monumental victory with their biggest Bash ever—boasting well over 10,000 attendees and zero arrests.

“Welcome to legalization in the state of Michigan!” Sinclair announced to the cheering crowd in 2019. “You haven’t been here before unless you were here in 1972 when we started it. We went three weeks without any marijuana law, and believe me we took full advantage of every minute of it. Then when the Michigan law went into effect on April Fool’s Day, we said, ‘Fuck you—we’re going to go into the Diag to smoke some weed!’ That’s how it started and I’m proud to see it continuing in full force.”

Last year, due to COVID-19, organizers were forced to replace the rally with a virtual Zoom event. Hopefully, Hash Bash will be able to return to The Diag this April to celebrate its milestone 50th anniversary.

Tommy Chong

For more on Hash Bash, listen to Episode #6 of our podcast at worldofcannabis.museum/ podcast or visit hashbash.com.

Published originally on worldofcannabis.museum and reprinted with permission.

STORY by BOBBY BLACK @CANNTHROPOLOGY for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by RICK THOMPSON | ART COURTESY WORLD OF CANNABIS MUSEUM @WORLDOFCANNABIS.MUSEUM

YOUR GPS LIED TO YOU he tragic miscalculation of digital driving directions can be the cause of great stress. Because when you’re lost, everything appears foreign. Your surroundings are unfamiliar, you find yourself flustered and exposed. This is a dark and confusing place where suddenly every turn, every sidewalk and every streetlight looks identical. Your sense of security vanishes, leaving you vulnerable and frightened, the anxiety heightened.

You feel betrayed by the soothing, relatable personality inside of your electronic device, as their lack of sound decision-making seemed almost purposeful. The voice you once believed is now a clueless idiot and you are determined to get even with a brazen scolding. You will belittle it, call her a bitch or him an asshole, condemning their actions with caustic flare while detailing the irreparable hassle and embarrassment you’ll endure due to their lack of focus. At some point you may forgive them, but now is not the time. You are lost and late – and the world is in a state of utter peril that may take years to repair.

However, although it doesn’t feel like it, this is no one’s fault.

You do feel a sense of responsibility, though, for having blindly trusted what used to be a credible source. So, to rectify the blunder of placing your faith in this digital confidante, you will take uncharacteristic chances in the attempt to absolve yourself of any further regret.

There is no time to waste in getting to the original course. So, you will make illegal U-turns across center-dividers and irresponsibly hit the brakes on a busy thoroughfare. You will knowingly break the law, nervously cursing while backing up on a one-way street to return to the exit passed.

Ninety-five percent of the time, however, this device is correct. Therefore, you should reward your GPS system.

I recommend a digital blow job.

You take a puff from a vape pen and exhale it into the screen.

T

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aklEAF.COM

by Mike Ricker

jan. 2021

F O L L OW @ R I C K E R D J | G E T T H E AU D I O V E R S I O N & EV E RY E P I S O D E AT S TO N EY- B A L O N EY. C O M

Full-extract ethanol hash oil expertly crafted into a cannabis tincture, ready for edible consumption.

Glass dropper for precise THC micro-dosing. Enjoy under the tongue or swallowed.

THE futurE ISSUE

CHOCOLATE BAR

FEEL THE GOLD RUSH