THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE
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# 5 1 | J U LY 2 0 2 0
INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010
Ceramic* tablets pre-dosed with full-spectrum THC for a convenient, consistent vaporization experience.
* Dab Tabs are made from 100% USA ceramic. (Not from China)
JUly 2020 8
THE CONCENTRATES ISSUE
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FEATURES
11 EDITOR NOTE 12 NATIONAL NEWS 13 CANNABIS EQUITY 14 BUDTENDER Q&A 16 HIGHLY LIKELY 18 FRENCHY CANNOLI 20 SCORPION GRASS 24 STRAIN OF THE MONTH 26 CONCENTRATES 101 28 HOW DABS ARE MADE 30 HYDROCARBON 32 INFUSED 33 LIVE RESIN 34 CO2 OIL 35 DISTILLATE 36 SOLVENTLESS 38 COOKING WITH CANNABIS 40 EDIBLE OF THE MONTH 42 COFFEE & CANNABIS 44 STONEY BALONEY ISSUU.COM/NWLEAF
TANGIE SUGAR WAX \PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
Creamy
Please Chews Responsibly Marijuana products may be purchased or possessed only by persons 21 or older. This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of reach of children.
E S TA B L I S H E D 2 0 1 0
T H E E N L I G H T E N E D VO I C E
WES CONTRIBUTORS
PUBLISHER
Michael Consalo Features Boom Media Photos Tom Bowers Features Steve Elliott National News Aniyah Lee Photography Brandon Palma Illustration Bria Price Features Meghan Ridley Editing Pacer Stacktrain Features Laurie & Bruce Wolf Recipes
WES ABNEY | founder & editor-in-chief Wes@nwleaf.com 206-235-6721
Thanks for picking up this special issue of Alaska Leaf!
Daniel bermaN | photography & design daniel@bermanphotos.com
Our Concentrates Issue is my favorite of the year for one simple reason: I love dabs!
STATE DIRECTOR AND ADVERTISING joshua stahle | ADVERTISING SALES Josh@AKLeaf.com | 907-317-2536
ABOUT THE COVER
Concentrates have come a long way and we wanted to showcase just how big of an impact the extract market has, with our 2nd annual Concentrates Issue cover. We tapped longtime Leaf contributor and frequent cover artist Brandon Palma for this beautiful and inspiring cover piece that makes us want to get right into it and heat up our torch. ILLUSTRATION by BRANDON PALMA for Leaf Nation | @8thDayCreate
CONNECT WITH THE LEAF
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@NWLEAF
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My first dab was around 2011 - in the century old boiler room below the now closed Northern Cross Collective Gardens in Bellingham, Washington. I remember feeling the oil touch the red hot nail as the vapor burst into my lungs with the force of a thousand bong hits. The world closed in around me and I felt the reverberation of raw THC as it pulsed through my blood and into my mind, sending me away for the next few hours - humming with a high that was unlike anything else.
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LOOK CLOSELY AND YOU’LL SEE THAT CONCENTRATES COVER EVERY ASPECT OF CANNABIS
Over the last decade of publishing and working in Cannabis, I have personally seen the concentrate world evolve from homemade Rick Simpson Oil and open-blasted butane hash oil, to highly medicinal mono-cannabinoid extracts and vaporizable concentrates of all kinds, to being the precursor to a new world of edibles, topicals, capsules and more. For our Concentrates Issue we sought out the best examples of the different types of extractions, to share how they affect the body and the science behind the scenes. Concentrating Cannabis means exactly what it sounds like: taking a full plant and using a process or solvent to extract the purest essence of it. This makes it incredibly important to only consume high quality, pesticide tested concentrates. Quality concentrates have the ability to impart healing values that Cannabis flower alone cannot replicate, delivering a pure flavor and experience that captures the taste and effect of fresh Cannabis in a perfect dab. Look closely and you’ll see that concentrates cover every aspect of Cannabis - every product beyond flower - from medical to recreational uses and benefits. Our comprehensive Concentrates Issue covers the different extraction methods, terminology, ways to consume and much more. So take a dab, flip through this beautiful and informational issue, and learn something new that you can share with someone in need of Cannabis - as a plant and a medicine. And as always, thanks for reading and sharing the Leaf!
-Wes Abney
Correction | Our June 2020 Budtender of the Month Q&A with David Johnson asked about his spirit animal, and he mentioned being a bear because his grandmother was a bear, meaning his familial totem of the bear was passed onto him through the lineage of the women of his family, also known as matrilineal, writes eagle-eyed reader Mary May. It was misprinted as nature lineal. Alaska Leaf regrets the error.
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Editor’s Note
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
We do not sell stories or coverage. We are happy to offer design services and guidance on promoting your company’s recreational, commercial or industrial Cannabis product or upcoming event. We are targeted and independent Cannabis journalism. Email or call to discuss advertising.
@NWLEAF
ABNEY
national news
policy & law
“In the midst of the many crises we face as a country, it is absurd that, under the federal Controlled Substances Act, marijuana is at Schedule I, along with killer drugs like heroin.”
NEVADA PARDONS THOUSANDS CONVICTED OF MARIJUANA POSSESSION
-Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders calling for legalized marijuana and police reform.
ECONOMY
Nevada in June became the latest state with legal Cannabis sales to pardon folks convicted of possessing small amounts of weed, reports the AP. The State Board of Pardons Commissioners voted unanimously on June 17 to unconditionally pardon anyone convicted in the past two decades of possessing an ounce or less. That was the amount allowed when Nevada began allowing adult marijuana sales in 2017. NORTHWEST
PORTLAND WILL STOP USING TAX REVENUE TO FUND POLICE
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ortland, Ore. Mayor Ted Wheeler in June announced the city will redirect $12 million of Cannabis taxes away from the police department, and pledged the funds toward supporting communities of color. The move came just one day after the Oregon Cannabis Association called upon Wheeler to stop sending Portland cops budget funding derived from Cannabis tax revenue, reports The Morning Call. According to the OCA, police budgets received more than $2 million from Cannabis tax proceeds in 2019.
CALLS FOR ENDING FEDERAL MARIJUANA PROHIBITION
R
aklEAF.COM
eforming police departments should be coupled with ending Cannabis prohibition in order to better foster racial justice, said Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.) during a Congressional hearing on June 17. At the House Judiciary Committee markup on legislation focused on policing, the congressman linked prohibition to some of the problems the bill seeks to address, reports Marijuana Moment. “One of the issues I’d like to take note of is our national drug policy right now federal Cannabis policy, essentially outlawing Cannabis,” Correa said. “As you know, when we talk about arrest disparities, over 650,000 Americans are arrested every year for violating Cannabis laws.” The Congressman added that black people are significantly more likely to be arrested for marijuana compared to white people, despite comparable rates of consumption.
San Francisco Cannabis dispensaries were robbed on the night of Friday, May 29.
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coveted Illinois dispensary licenses will soon be awarded to minority entrepreneurs.
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eople across the U.S. continue to buy record amounts of Cannabis during the coronavirus pandemic. Almost all legal states declared both medical marijuana and adult-use dispensaries “essential businesses,” allowing them to stay open as lockdowns “THE MARIJUANA began, reports Dispensaries.com. Massachusetts, the lone exception, TAX FUND IS REALLY THE ONLY has since changed course. BRIGHT SPOT IN Oregonians bought a record-setting amount of Cannabis in May, THE STATE BUDGET according to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. RIGHT NOW,” Sales increased 60 percent compared to the same time last year. For the first time ever, sales exceeded $100 million in one month, according to TJ Sheehy of the OLCC. “The marijuana tax fund is really the only bright spot in the state budget right now,” Sheehy said, reports Oregon Public Broadcasting. “In terms of taxable sales it was about $15 million that’s going to go to the school fund, city and county governments.” Oklahoma had records sales for the fourth month in a row. Consumers spent $73.8 million in medical marijuana in April. In May, state lawmakers passed a bill allowing dispensaries to deliver Cannabis, and also allowing out-of-state people to buy marijuana with a 90-day temporary card. Alas, Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed that legislation. West coast
REPORTS CALL FOR CALIFORNIA TO SHIFT FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT FOCUS ON MARIJUANA
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FEDERAL LEVEL
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CANNABIS SALES CONTINUE TO BOOM DURING PANDEMIC
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ublic Health Advocates is citing two new studies to argue that marijuana tax revenue in California should go to community-led public health initiatives and investing in communities of color, rather than going to more law enforcement. LAW ENFORCEMENT “Unfortunately, three years after AGENCIES HAVE AN UNHAPPY HISTORY OF (California voters legalized marijuana), elected officials have made DISPROPORTIONATELY decisions that are failing to meet these expectations and to reverse the TARGETING course of the War on Drugs,” cites one of the two reports released by COMMUNITIES OF the coalition, reports The Sacramento Bee. COLOR The reports come as California lawmakers are considering a Bureau of Cannabis Control budget request to fund an 87-member police force dedicated to cracking down on the state’s billion-dollar unlicensed marijuana industry. Advocates, citing the two new research papers, say that law enforcement agencies have an unhappy history of disproportionately targeting communities of color when it comes to marijuana enforcement. The UC Davis study, examining Cannabis arrests from 1996 to 2016, found that black people were nearly four times more likely to be arrested and charged for marijuana-related crimes than were white people.
million dollars ($110 million Canadian) was lost by Aurora Cannabis before ending its partnership with Alcanna in June 2020.
95
percent of its former value was lost by beleaguered multi-state Cannabis company Med Men.
4k
medical marijuana patient authorizations have now been approved in Australia
$50m
dollars was the price paid by generic drug maker Perrigo for a 20 percent stake in Kazmira, a Colorado-based CBD manufacturer.
By STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA
cannabis equity
THE SCENT OF MEDICINE
Black Life in the Cannabis Industry
It’s June 2, 2020. Injustice is still happening all across the country to Black people. We’re dying by the thousands! Asking that justice be served to those who are accountable and laws are upheld to protect us. It’s done to no avail, but does it surprise me? No. Laws to protect the bodies of Black Americans have always been in question, even as Cannabis is being legalized at an alarming rate. Discrimination has no face and the Cannabis industry is no different.
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ANNABIS’ HISTORY OF LEGALITY is deeply rooted in racism. But because the white men who dominate the industry say it’s okay to smoke weed and capitalize off of it, it’s okay. Black people are still imprisoned by the hundreds of thousands - all across the country - for something a white person can do at their leisure. They sell it, smoke it, grow it. Light up outside. On private property. With their friends. At parties. At festivals. At restaurants. On TV. In podcasts. In music. By the beach. While driving. Doesn’t matter. They get to wear it proudly. Bob Marley t-shirts. ‘One Love’ blasting. A joint hanging square off their lips.They get a slap on the wrist. We get a knee to the throat.
STORY by BRIA PRICE @BRIACPRICE for LEAF NATION | PHOTO by ANIYAH LEE
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With furrowed brows, they’ll say you’re high. They don’t care about credentials or accolades. It won’t matter that you genetically engineered a strain. Or made it to the Cannabis Cup. Or that you’re a grower. Or a consultant. Your name won’t even ring a bell. Because less than a fifth of the people involved at an ownership or stakeholder level are black people. So, maybe they’ll ask you to step out of the car.
I am Bria Price. A gifted black, female writer from Baltimore, Maryland who proudly And it doesn’t matter uses Cannabis to heighten my creativity and battle anxiety. There’s nothing better if you’re Black and you than celebrating each day of creating and sharing stories, with soothing sounds, radiate the scent of weed a nice breeze and a fresh batch of Garlic Cookies. because you manage a dispensary, or that you can’t own on your own because you have a prior marijuana conviction. They’ll pat you down or slap you up. Which not only bans you from the industry Call the hounds. Invite some friends. but also limits your access to jobs, housJust to get a better whiff. Trash your car and ing and educational opportunities. So your when they find nothing - get angry. dream of operating one is lightyears away. Now, you’re resisting. For a “crime” that isn’t And that scent lingers with you to your car a crime and one that you didn’t commit. But you while you drive, although you haven’t inhaled were just committed to healing. The same freea puff since 7:00 that morning. But you dom for healing as everyone else. But now that needed that puff to battle the anxieties you same healing has cost you your life. knew you would face as you left your home They’ll draw a gun. Or a baton. Raise a fist. to enter America for the day. Or bury a knee. Slam you down. Or hem you up. It doesn’t matter that you were prescribed And when your family turns on the news the it. That it was by a proper doctor. Through next day, they’ll say you were just some thug with the right channels. Rehabilitated. Dosed it weed. Because your skin is Black and theirs is right. It won’t matter once you see those red white. Because to them it’s just “medicine,” but and blue lights creeping up behind you. for us it’s a “drug.” You’ll be forced to pull over. Even if it’s That is what we’re protesting about. And this for nothing, it’s something. When you roll is just a taste of what criminal injustice looks like your window down, even with your proper for Black people in the Cannabis industry and identification and even with both hands on around the world. the wheel, they’ll smell the scent. So for those of you asking what you can do, With furrowed brows, they’ll say you’re the answer is anything. Anything to end the high. They don’t care about credentials or systemic racism and injustice currently happenaccolades. It won’t matter that you genetiing. Donate to causes that are fighting these cally engineered a strain. Or made it to the injustices. Protest. Scream Black Lives Matter from Cannabis Cup. Or that you’re a grower. Or your rooftops. Spread the right information. Sign a consultant. Your name won’t even ring a petitions. Bail out the wrongfully accused and unbell. Because less than a fifth of the people fairly sentenced. Expunge minor drug convictions. involved at an ownership or stakeholder level Use your privilege as a shield against police are Black people. brutality. Expose the posers who don’t genuinely So, maybe they’ll ask you to step out of care for Black lives. the car. Chances are they’ll “need” to search Stop wrongfully accusing us. your car - without warrant. But you have to Stop judging us. Stop killing us. get out of it first. Maybe they’ll ask you to Let us live. Let us heal. Let us breathe. step out. Or they’ll yank you out.
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
interview
Mike Gould ALASKA LEAF BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH MIKE GOULD is the Procurement Manager at Alaska Cannabis Exchange and can also be found helping customers behind the counter, where he is a fan of concentrates and several of their in-house strains like Bear Berry and Purple Punch.
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"WHEN I DISCOVERED CANNABIS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I GOT A LOT BETTER GRADES AND IT WAS A LOT EASIER FOR ME TO FOCUS."
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WHEN DID CANNABIS FIRST COME INTO YOU R LIFE? Cannabis first came into my life when I was in high school. As a child it was hard for me to focus, and in elementary and middle school I had bad grades consistently. When I discovered Cannabis in high school, I got a lot better grades and it was a lot easier for me to focus. I also use Cannabis for my Crohn's disease - it helps me and relieves a lot of daily pain. HOW DID YOU BECOME A BUDTENDER? I lived in Seattle for a couple of years and met some good friends from a dispensary I would shop at frequently, and it got me curious about working in the industry. I returned to Alaska Summer 2019 and worked a restoration job for a bit, then decided to get my marijuana handler’s card and then started applying for budtending positions. I am now the Procurement Manager over here at Alaska Cannabis Exchange and really enjoy the job so much! We love being able to provide our customers with quality products from some of the best brands around the state at affordable prices.
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FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB? I really enjoy being able to help customers find what strains and forms of marijuana work best for them. I also love to hear feedback from customers and employees on those products, and if it worked for them or not. WHAT’S YOUR PREFERRED WAY TO USE CANNABIS? My favorite way to consume Cannabis would be concentrates, and Loud Resin from Refine is my favorite! I recently won this really cool 3D printed custom Refine e-nail from a contest they held on Instagram. I also really like my Focus V Carta for easy and convenient dabbing. ANY STRAINS AND PRODUCERS YOU WANT TO SHOUT OUT? Purple Punch and Bear Berry by Alaska Cannabis Exchange, GMO by DYZ Alaska, Cupcake by Green Go and Purple Berry Kush by Aurora Blaze. My favorite concentrate producers would definitely be Refine and AKO - they are making really great tasting quality products in Alaska.
HOW DO YOU FIND THE RIGHT CANNABIS FOR A CUSTOMER? First couple of questions I like to start off with are what form of Cannabis they are looking for, and if they are looking for indica, sativa or hybrid. From there I give them knowledge on things I enjoy and what I've heard others enjoy. If a customer happens to ask if we have a specific strain or item and we don't, I will try my best to find them something similar or something new they haven't tried before. WHY DO YOU LIKE WORKING AT ALASKA CANNABIS EXCHANGE? I love being able to work at Alaska Cannabis Exchange. Our crew is a hard working family. My GM Rina is amazing and has already taught me so much. The owners, Aaron and Geneva, are some of the smartest and most hard working individuals I've met - they really care about our consumers and products. I'm honored to be at ACE as the Procurement Manager and just a part of the team! Everyone at ACE works hard and I'm very proud of them. Shout out to Justin - I love being able to work with him and learn more about the industry and the people we work closely with. WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES WHEN YOU AREN’T WORKING AT THE DISPENSARY? I try to hang out with my daughter and wife as much as I can. We have a son on the way this month - love you Max! My other hobbies besides terp hunting would be building Gundam models and streaming/ playing Escape From Tarkov on PC with my buddies.
ALASKA CANNABIS EXCHANGE CANNABISACE.COM @CBDACE (907) 744-4429
INTERVIEW & PHOTO by JOSHUA STAHLE/ALASKA LEAF
highly likely aklEAF.COM
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H i g h l y L i ke l y h i g h l i g h t s Ca n n a b i s p i o n e e rs w h o p a ve d t h e wa y t o g re a t e r h e r b a l a c c e p ta n ce .
The argument could be made that Bob Marley was one of the most important driving forces in creating our modern Cannabis culture and ideals. And for that we should all be thankful, because Marley is possibly the best role model a culture like ours could ever hold up. That’s because he was as close to a pure musician and human being that we’ve seen in the modern era - with much of that owed to his spiritual practice.
There’s the age-old joke about stoners having ‘deep conversations about meaningless subjects,’ but this actually speaks to something intrinsic to Cannabis’ effects on the human body, emotions and mind. That’s because alcohol and other drugs don’t necessarily cause one to introspect, to look inside, in the way that Cannabis does. So often, we tend to disregard this important sensation that could be called ‘religious’ - because that term falls woefully short and carries Spirituality is often divorced from THE FACT THAT MARLEY along with it all sorts the zeitgeist surrounding Cannabis. CONSUMED AND WAS of inappropriate Considering what this herb can do for SOMEWHAT OUTSPOKEN connotations. us as people, this is a mistake - and ABOUT HIS OWN LOVE And yet, there’s that Marley in many ways exemplified that. FOR CANNABIS, LIKELY special something in Because he imbued such a heavy the music of Marley LED MORE PEOPLE TO dose of soul and such a potent that even people who WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT message into his unique reggae don’t use Cannabis sound, Marley helped to popularize IT WAS ALL ABOUT IN THE have felt, perhaps the ideas and religious concepts of FIRST PLACE. helping them to Rastafarianism in the world. And understand on an he accomplished this in sometimes abstract level some of the feelings or sensations hidden, metaphoric ways through song. that Cannabis users achieve when they consume In Rasta culture, Cannabis is considered to the herb. be a sacrament - something that is used as a And, while there’s no concrete evidence of it, holy tool in ceremonies to bring people closer the fact that Marley consumed and was somewhat to God. The purpose for consuming the herb outspoken about his own love for Cannabis, likely isn’t to have fun, relax or party, but rather to led more people to want to find out what it was all concentrate one’s attention on higher things. about in the first place. It could be said that real Rastas do not For these and many other reasons, today we believe in using Cannabis for recreation, still regard Marley as a pure artist and someone considering it to be a superficial purpose. integral to our eventual acceptance of Cannabis as This is an interesting concept that we can all the holistic healer we see today. I hope you agree, explore. For example, many of us have likely but even if you don’t - it’s probably not a bad felt this gravitation toward thinking on higher idea to listen to his music the next time you light things in both subtle and overt ways when something up. we’ve been under the influence of Cannabis.
BOBMARLEY B EFORE WE BEGIN, we must acknowledge that much of Marley’s image and religious philosophy have been perverted. There’s the cliched scene of his posters hanging in the dorm rooms of college freshmen, a large joint in hand and smoke wafting through the air. His name has been exploited by opportunistic capitalists in countless ways, marketing products to make money off of his image. Not to mention, the famous ‘greatest hits’ album LEGEND is the butt of many a music snob’s jokes. Taking a look a little under the surface and we see that Marley was in many ways a once-in-a-lifetime phenomena - an artist who single handedly embodied a nation, a musical genre and a religion at the same time. More importantly for our purposes in this column, he helped to define a different cultural mindset around consuming Cannabis. In the West, because of the clandestine nature of consuming and producing Cannabis, our way of thinking about this simple herb has evolved to mirror the way we think about alcohol. One consumes for fun, personal pleasure, to get ‘messed up’ in an (often vain) attempt to avoid thinking about life.
The iconic musician stands out in Cannabis history as a global beacon of positive Cannabis use JUly 2020
By PACER STACKTRAIN for LEAF NATION | ILLUSTRATION by DANIEL ALVARADO SILVERA/CREATIVE COMMONS
LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE
• 317 MULDOON RD •
NEW STORE!
OPENS MID-JUNE
Now Hiring!
stoner owner
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HASHMAKER
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FRENCHY CANNOLI
DESPITE HIS GEOGRAPHIC PROXIMITY to the innovators of Silicon Valley, hashmaker Frenchy Cannoli prefers to look to the past. We spoke to the French-born, Northern California transplant about the appeal of hashish, the importance of terroir and affinage, and some of his favorite non-pot related ways of passing the time.
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“IT IS LIKE A PROTECTIVE BUBBLE FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD, A MIND SPACE THAT MAKES YOU IF NOT IMPERVIOUS, AT LEAST MUCH LESS VULNERABLE.” -FRENCHY CANNOLI, ON SMOKING HASH
WHAT’S YOUR PROCESS FOR MAKING HASH?
I offer a workshop called “The Lost Art of the Hashishin” to teach everyone how they can make their own hashish using an inexpensive mini-washer and a set of sieving bags. The process, in a nutshell, is to collect Cannabis trichome glands using an ice water sieving methodology based on the traditional dry sieving technique and botanical science of glandular trichomes. Once the glands have been thoroughly dried, I press them with a source of heat into a mass of resin, which then goes through an aging process. The end product is hashish. I am very much like a winemaker who collects grapes to create wine. TELL US ABOUT YOUR NICKNAME, ‘THE HUNTER OF THE MELT’?
The melt is a U.S. term to define the amount of resin formed inside a trichome gland. Every one of us working with Cannabis resin is a hunter of the melt, whether it’s someone with a CO2 or BHO extractor in a cutting-edge lab or someone in the mountains of the Himalayas collecting resin on the palm of their hands. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER TRIED HASHISH, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT? The effect will be
somewhat different, depending on the cultivar and on the person smoking or consuming, but the experience is like being encompassed by a feeling of warmth and an energy of simple wellbeing. It is like a protective bubble from the outside world, a mind space that makes you if not impervious, at least much less vulnerable. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO OUTSIDE OF CANNABIS?
Traveling would be on top of that list. I gave everything to be a nomad for 18 years of my life. There was nothing more magical than being in a place where everything was new, where your awareness is on constant overdrive from the daily novelty of living within a foreign culture. I am fascinated by ancient history, art and cultures, so I love libraries, museums and ancient ruins. My ultimate stress releaser is dancing. To dance and really get lost into the beat has been a favored pastime STUCK AT HOME AND WANNA MAKE HASH? since forever. However, to tell the CHECK OUT DIY VIDEOS truth in ‘normal times’ there is little AND WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS I do that it is not connected to YOUTUBE.COM/FRENCHYCANNOLI Cannabis. I have little time left and FRENCHYCANNOLI.COM there is still so much to learn. WHAT IS THE CONCEPT OF TERROIRS AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR HASHMAKERS? Terroir is more than
a concept - it represents respect and love for the land and its diversity. Terroir is a philosophy based on the combination of the land, the climate, the cultivars and the farmer. It is a dedication to quality and exclusivity exemplified in the culture of food and wine. The word expresses the uniqueness of every region and its products. It is the delicate symbiosis between the environment, the plant kingdom and the humans who nurture and enhance the characteristics of the land. Our planet is an abundance of terroirs that have been lost to a great extent due to agricultural industrialization and the globalization of the food industry. A Stoner Owner is a Cannabis business owner who has a relationship with the plant. We want to buy and smoke Cannabis from companies that care about their products, employees and the plant. You wouldn’t buy food from a restaurant where the cooks don’t eat in the kitchen, so why buy corporate weed grown by a company only concerned with profits? Stoner Owner approval means a company cares, and we love weed grown with care. Look for the Stoner Owner stamp when purchasing fine Cannabis, and let’s retake our culture and reshape a stigma by honoring those who grow, process and sell the best Cannabis possible.
INTERVIEW by ZACK RUSKIN @ZACKRUSKIN | PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
SHOP REVIEW
Opening their doors
WAS I L L A
for the first time in mid-May, Scorpion Grass is one of the newest players to enter the market in the Mat-Su Valley. Yes, the sign has been hanging on the building for a good while now, but after a fire ravaged the facility last year, I’m happy to see these guys finally get those doors open to the public. And what a store it is.
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SCORPION GRASS CANNABIS CO.
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PRODUCTS 5/5 One of the first things you will notice upon
entering, aside from the beautiful lighted logo hanging on the wall, is a display table in the middle of the room with every concentrate and edible product that they carry in store. It is quite the selection. Carrying products from too many manufacturers to name them all, they will no doubt have something up everyone's alley. On the flower side, at the time of this writing, they carried 25 strains on their menu - expecting to add their in-house flower in the not so distant future.
BUDTENDERS 4/5 I stopped into the store at multiple
different times to try and have a short chat with every budtender on staff. This is definitely a friendly bunch that makes you feel welcome in the store, taking care to not overwhelm any newcomers to the Cannabis world. They were able to answer just about every question I threw their way about the products that they carry, and if someone didn't know the answer, they were able to call upon each other's knowledge. Some budtenders tend to favor flower or concentrates - but that willingness to lean on each other goes miles when it comes to customer education.
ENVIRONMENT & VIBE 5/5 Upon entering, my eyes were immediately
drawn to how the building is lit. The backlighting along the shelves, as well as the big scorpion centerpiece, immediately draws you to the counter. However, the live edge concentrate display table in the middle of the room may sidetrack you with its plethora of products on the way over. One thing that I really like about this layout is that it naturally disperses customers through the store, making busy times seem less crowded. On the back wall is a very aesthetically pleasing fireplace and an open area that I’m told will have seating after Covid-19 has passed.
HISTORY 5/5 I am incredibly happy to see these guys
finally open their doors. In 2019, the building was close to being public-ready before a fire tore through the facility. Getting to this point shows a passion and perseverance that is second to none. Alaska's Cannabis market is almost all family businesses, and something this drastic could have easily been the end of a dream. They didn’t let the dream die - and now that the doors are open and the plants are growing strong - I am excited to see what comes next for everyone at Scorpion Grass.
266 S MCCALLISTER DR, WASILLA, AK (907) 373-4777 SCORPIONGRASSAK.COM INSTAGRAM @SCORPION_GRASS
“THE LIVE EDGE CONCENTRATE DISPLAY TABLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM MAY SIDETRACK YOU WITH ITS PLETHORA OF PRODUCTS…” REVIEW & PHOTOS by JOSHUA STAHLE / ALASKA LEAF
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STRAIN OF THE MONTH aklEAF.COM
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Nothing celebrates Summer like a tasty snowcone, and this adult friendly version brings all the happy sunshine vibes with a tasty and clean smoke that delivers the sweet treat of a sativa buzz. Popping open a can of this floral and aromatic flower releases a warm and fresh wave of berries, featuring an aroma of spicy and sappy pine that tickles the nose and lingers in the air. The flowers are beautiful, with a golden green dense bud structure and a nice balance of red hairs and frosty crystals coating the outside. Snapping a bud open reveals bright skunky strawberry notes hidden, covering the fingers in a light stickiness that is worthy of a lick to taste the flavor. Loaded into a bong, the first tokes of the Strawberry Snowcone are incredibly smooth. The love and care given to these plants, especially in the flushing and curing portion of the growth process, is evident. This is one of the easiest smoking strains we’ve come across recently, with a fresh berry exhale that leaves the lungs like a whisper following big tokes. The effects from this strain are very pleasant and euphoric without being overwhelming. A more classic high, it doesn’t overwhelm any one area of the body or mind - instead seeming to wrap the whole package in a lovely THC induced hug. This is definitely a sativa buzz that can be enjoyed from the start to the end of the day without being too stoned to function, while definitely staying happily ripped and ready for whatever adventure heads your way. 15.45% THC, 3.02% Terpenes Find it at Laughing Salmon
JULY 2020
This is one of the easiest smoking strains we’ve come across recently, with a fresh berry exhale that leaves the lungs like a whisper following big tokes.
STRAWBERRY SNOWCONE GROWN BY HIGH TIDE FARMS
REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS | @HIGHTIDEFARMS0420
the concentrates issue
Dabbing101 The Tools
Technique
RIG: pipe or water vessel for consuming your Cannabis concentrate or extract.
Choosing a dab setup will come down to personal preference, but water filtration will enhance almost any session. Be sure to thoroughly clean and rinse your rig frequently for the safest and smoothest smoke. ISO alcohol (or bong cleaner) and some warm water should do the trick!
BANGER: the quartz, cup-like device used to hold and heat your Cannabis concentrate or extract. CARB CAP: a lid-like device used to trap heat and move air around in your banger or nail. This provides a more regulated draw from each dab.
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TERP PEARLS: tiny, quartz balls used in your banger when dabbing. These aren’t essential, but may enhance your experience by spreading around the warm extract. E-NAIL: an electronic device used to keep your nail or banger at a continuous temperature without the use of a torch. TORCH: used for heating up your nail or banger. TEMPERATURE GUN: used to monitor your nail or banger’s exact temperature and provide a personalized dabbing experience.
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DABBER: the tool to scoop and serve a dab with. COTTON SWABS: swabs (like Q-tips) are essential for cleaning your nail or banger after each dab.
Quality titanium, borosilicate glass or quartz tools are a must to avoid breakage and potential off-gassing when touching your warm nail surface. Similarly, it’s smart not to skimp too much when picking out your nail or banger. For an effective carb cap, make sure it covers the top of your nail or banger and includes a hole to pass air through. A heat source will be required to put all of these tools to work. If you’re just getting started, try looking into different types of creme brulee torches for an affordable option. Top of the line torches, heat wands and E-nails offer added customizations if you’re ready for the next step. Temperature is king when it comes to taking high quality dabs. THC is thought to vaporize at normal atmospheric pressure in the range 250-400º F. Terpenes will vaporize at a range of different temperatures, but are generally thought to have boiling points in the ballpark of THC. This dab devotee recommends starting out around 350º F. Temperatures as high as 550º can yield substantial vapor with minimal flavor loss, so just work your way up to a satisfactory experience based on flavor, vapor and overall effect.
Terminology FRESH FROZEN: material that has been flash-frozen fresh off of the plant to preserve the ‘live’ profile and/or potency. LIVE: a term used for products made with fresh frozen material and in reference to the plant’s potency and terpene profile while still living. FULL SPECTRUM: the ‘full’ range of cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and other compounds present in a particular cultivar. FULL MELT: also referred to as ‘melt,’ this term is used for hash of the highest quality. The melting reference pertains to the product’s cleanliness and ability to ‘melt’ fully without leaving plant residue on the nail (see Six-Star). SIX-STAR (6*): a numerical hash rating system from one through six developed to determine quality. The system is based on how factors like cure, contaminant, water content and more affect the overall ‘melt,’ with six-star being the highest quality. CRC: an abbreviation for color remediation column (or cartridge) used in reference to an added process some producers employ to filter extracts of color and other compounds. HTFSE: an abbreviation for high terpene full spectrum extract.
Types of Extracts BHO: an abbreviation for butane hash oil, this type of extract is pulled from the plant using butane as a solvent. PHO: an abbreviation for propane hash oil, this less common type of extract is pulled from the plant using propane as a solvent. CO2: an abbreviation for carbon dioxide, this type of extract is pulled from the plant using supercritical CO2. DISTILLATE: a high-potency, essentially odorless extract that’s been stripped of plant compounds like terpenes and waxes through further refinement after original extraction. HASH: resin (mechanically) collected from the Cannabis plant. Hash can range from smokeable to dabbable, depending on quality and presence of plant matter in the final product. ROSIN: generally made from hash, rosin is the product of heat, pressure and a system of screens to filter waxes and plant matter. Rosin is the product of further hash refinement for a cleaner dab.
jUly 2020
STORY by AMANDA DAY @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA
It’s no surprise, either, as new products emerge monthly featuring bright packaging and bold claims. If vaporgate and the flavored vape scare/ban has taught us anything, it’s that we should all be more conscious about what we inhale and allow inside our bodies. Many of us look to Cannabis to help medicinally and the last thing we want is for our harmless plant to become a negative input for a healthy life. Looking to take a deeper dive into the golden pool of concentrates? Study up on these more advanced topics to make sure your dabbing experience is safe, healthy and happy. Temperature is critical.
Think of dabs like Goldilocks with her porridge. She didn’t want to go too hot or too cold - but right in the middle. Taking a dab at the right temperature is important for both flavor and effect. Terpenes and cannabinoids break down at high temperatures, so too hot of dabs taste burnt and cause unwanted harshness and coughing. We recommend starting at a low temperature and slowly working your way up to a comfortable range for your dabbing setup. The perfect dab can be broken down based on desired effects. THC boils at 315 F, CBD at 356 F, and THCV (diamonds) at 428 F. Terpenes are combusted in all of these ranges. Low temperature dabbing is generally 350-450 degrees, with medium temp dabs running 450-600 degrees. The perfect zone depends on personal preference and type of concentrate, but we never recommend getting hotter than 600 degrees - that’s harsh! Advanced dabbers will use a laser thermometer to dial in their heat, but don’t feel like you have to get super scientific to get high. If it’s red hot, don’t do it! Wait until the temperature on a banger feels warm to the hand when held a few inches away, not hot. This is a good rule of thumb for taking a low temp dab. Remember: If it’s too cold, you can always reheat!
Don’t hold that hit!
Contrary to the old adage, you don’t have to cough to get off! It’s actually bad to hold dabs in and you definitely don’t get any higher. When taking a dab, the recommended inhalation time is one to five seconds. But an easy way to think of it is like taking a deep breath. Breathe in deeply and breathe out naturally, without an unnatural pause. The reason? The vapor released as concentrates expands and then quickly compresses after being heated and cooled, a process you don’t want to hold into your lungs. Holding your breath for longer than five seconds also deprives the body of oxygen - and you’ll be needing that oxygen to breathe through that big dab you just took!
When Cannabis is processed for concentrates it is being concentrated into a pure form. Think juice concentrate as a condensed version of a bigger jug of fresh juice. When concentrates are made, the end goal is to refine cannabinoids and terpenes for effect and flavor, but any residual pesticides or chemicals will be concentrated as well. We recommend only dabbing concentrates that have been pesticide tested in a laboratory. Most states require this, but some like Washington do not require pesticide testing. Never dab or consume concentrates from a black market or non-laboratory tested environment! Consuming chemicals, pesticides or solvents could definitely cause health complications.
Residual Solvents
If you are consuming a concentrate made with a hydrocarbon like butane or propane, be sure to check the parts per million (PPM) info on the packaging. We recommend consuming concentrates under 500ppm of residual solvents, although the best amount is less than 50ppm. While many regulations allow up to 5,000ppm of solvents in recreational concentrates, we know that rules don’t always protect consumers. Also, never dab homemade concentrates or oil that has not been tested! It’s not worth the risk of consuming solvents that have not been properly purged and lab tested.
Cartridges
Advanced dabbers will use a laser thermometer to dial in their heat, but don’t feel like you have to get super scientific to get high.
MANGO JELLY BY GREEN RUSH
From everyone who first heard about dabbing as a dance move, to the absolute stoniest of Cannabis consumers, there are endless questions about the world of concentrates.
Pesticide Testing
There are a couple basic rules to enjoy the best experience with a cartridge. First, ask the budtender if it is cut with any solvent or look on the packaging. We recommend avoiding anything cut with propylene glycol, especially for patients, because there are safer and healthier options available. Also, avoid anything with an artificial sounding flavor like blue raspberry or waffles. Look at the vape package to see if the flavor is naturally derived, and if so, go for it. While there are no rules currently governing flavors in e-cigarettes or Cannabis cartridges, we feel that strain specific and naturally processed options are the best! Vaporization can be one of the most desirable and pleasurable ways to consume Cannabis, especially when discretion counts. You should not vape indoors wherever it is specifically prohibited, such as on an airplane or bus. Feel free to use outdoors when your vapor will not bother others or be near children. Consumers will find a variety of battery options, from disposable types that have a non-rechargeable battery and last about 200 hits, to ones with USB charging capabilities and adjustable temperatures.
Check out Concentrates Issues from around the Leaf Nation this month Issuu.com/nwleaf
STORY by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
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the concentrates issue
DABSTRACT LAB TOUR | SPOKANE, WA
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aklEAF.COM
How Dabs Are Made As you exhale those tasty terpenes from your last dab or vape pen hit, do you ever wonder: How did some genius turn a green plant into a beautiful golden oil? The following is an attempt to explain this Cannabis complexity in the most basic terms possible.
jUly 2020
Step 1
The extract process refers to pulling the THCA, CBD and terpenes from the plant matter. This process typically uses a mix of butane and propane to break the trichomes - tiny little sacs that form on the leaves and buds that contain the THCA and terpenes - from the plant. This is done by basically freezing the plant and snapping off the trichomes. Butane and propane drop below freezing when exposed to air facilitating this process. The Cannabis is frozen and then poured into large sacks that fit into long extraction chambers.
Step 3
When completed, processors end up with a large pyrex pan filled with several hundred grams of concentrates. From here the product can go in two directions...
These large chambers are carefully bolted into an extraction machine that will allow the gas to travel through the Cannabis, removing the trichomes, fats and lipids.
If it is high quality and desirable to be dabbed, it heads for packaging where a jar is placed on a scale and a weighing technician carefully weighs out one gram, seals it up, and packages for sale on your local rack. At Dabstract the scale was hitting 1.2 grams on every jar! If it is not of high quality, the oil will be further purified using distillation. This process involves running the oil over a heated glass cylinder. At different temperatures, certain compounds are able to be removed including THCA. However, when exposed to the heat of glass walls, the THCA is converted to THC and all the terpenes dissipate. The oil is run through this process several times until the desirable level of clarity is achieved.
Step 2
After the gas has traveled through the Cannabis long enough to extract the majority of the THCA and terpenes, crude oil is expelled. This crude oil needs to be winterized, which is done by combining the crude oil with liquid ethanol, and then frozen or run through a roto-Vape, a device that winterizes at a faster rate. The freezing process separates the fats and lipids from the THCA and terpenes. After winterization is complete the final process begins, called purging. The oil is placed into vacuum ovens that heat at very even rates throughout and purge the extraction gas from the final oil. This process takes several days and will result in a dabable product containing less than 500 parts per million of residual solvent, or in many cases, zero parts.
This final product can be used in the production of edibles as well as vape pens. At Dabstract they use HTE, High Terpene Extract, which is strain specific and blended with the THC to make pure Cannabis vape cartridges and pods. The blended liquid is heated a little so it is more viscous, using calibrated machines and injected into the cartridge for your vaping pleasure. DA B S T R ACT.C O M | @ L A B S _ O F _ DA B S T R ACT
STORY by EARLY @M3EARLY | PHOTOS by YOUNG KWAK @YOUNGKWAK for LEAF NATION
the concentrates issue
hydro cro a
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AK Babylon Company
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Yumulak Haze Sugar A complex cross of Candy Cane Kush, Aurora Haze and Snowcapped Romance, this is a complex flavor profile dominated by peppermint cookies and earthy-piney fuel. A bright exhale and a happy cerebral high crash into the body with relaxing waves.
AKO Farms LLC
Tangie Sugar Wax Like a sip of fresh orange juice, the Tangie leads the way into a carmaley-fruit exhale and invigorating, mind clearing sativa effects. @akofarmsllc | 74.95% THC, 6.29% Terpenes
AK Babylon Company
@babyloncompany_ | 73.53% THC, 0.19% CBD
Blue Beast Wax Bright and earthy wax with a blue raspberry citrus flavor, bringing expansive and cloudy vapor before dropping a beastly stoney high on the body and mind. @babyloncompany_ | 71.59% THC, 0.16% CBD
AKO Farms LLC
aklEAF.COM
Pedro's Gold
God’s Gift Badder Deep and rich notes of chocolate citrus kush ooze out of this wet badder, melting into huge clouds and a relaxingly mellow and pain-free high. @goodakcannabis 67.71% THC , 0.22% CBD
jUly 2020
lue Kush Wax Sugar Warm citrus kush notes waft out of this juicy sugar wax, with a piney kush exhale and noticeably energetic sativa effects.
Yerbert BHO Cartridge High terpene full spectrum oil carts deliver full plant flavor and a powerful high, and this Sunset Sherbert x Y-Life cart hits the mark with its deep and sour, funky earthy flavor and a head rushing, body slamming indica high.
@goodtitrations | 84.38% THC
@akofarmsllc | 63.80% THC, 5.48% Terpenes
b
Good Titrations
Will's World
Cannalope Kush Shatter Sappy, sweet and sticky - plus a tropical and fruit forward flavor with a fresh kushy finish the syrupy exhale and heady mind-fogging high will leave you with a multi-hour silly smile. @willsworld_ak | 69.68% THC
AKO Farms LLC
GMO Cookies Sugar Wax Heavy heady terps assault the nose with gluey sour funky notes that get stronger when dabbed, exhaling with Garlic Cookies lingering on the palate and a time warping, heavy indica high. @akofarmsllc | 78.45% THC, 4.35% Terpenes
AK Babylon Company AK Babylon Company
Krishna Kush Wax Thick and golden with creamy kush notes that lead into a hint of floral lavender, featuring a fresh mountain exhale and a stoney, relaxing high. @babyloncompany_ 69.56% THC, 0.28% CBD
Good Titrations
Sour Diesel Crumble Batter Sticky badder is rich with classic sour earthy fuel, featuring a warm earthy exhale and a rush of giggly energy that lifts the mind while chilling the body in a lovely hybrid experience.
LSD Shatter Gorgeous golden translucent shatter with fruity and earthy tones, the LSD melts quickly into sugary clouds that leave a devastating high for the body and mind. @babyloncompany_ | 72.39% THC, 0.31% CBD
@goodtitrations | 74.66% THC 4.76% CBD, 5.42% Terpenes
Pedro's Gold
Bruce Banner Wax Bright notes Hulk out from this wax, featuring citrus and lime leading into an earthy kush background. An undoubtedly powerful indica, the high hits hard from the first exhale for hours of sedative bliss. @goodakcannabis | 68.80% THC, 0.2% CBD
AK Babylon Company
Trailer Park Bitch Wax Funky earthy-raspberry and floral pine notes lead this chunky wax, which is high in CBG and leaves the lungs with a cheesy sweet exhale and a giggly, clear-minded and euphoric buzz.
AK Babylon Company
@babyloncompany_ | 62.48% THC,
@babyloncompany_ | 69.21% THC, 0.25% CBD
6.42% CBGA, 0.17% CBD
Colorado Chem Sugar Deep chem notes ooze out of this drippy looking sugar wax, gripping the lungs in a fuel-y Chemdog embrace before exiting with a rush of happy, stoney energy.
REVIEWS by ALASKA LEAF STAFF | PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
the concentrates issue
d e s u f In
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Good Titrations
aklEAF.COM
Double Tang Banana Moon Rocks Moon rocks combine the best of both flower and oil into a unique high with tons of flavor. The buds are covered in hydrocarbon oil before being rolled in kief, and they smoke slowly to allow the oil to melt in the flower and release huge clouds of smoke. The flavor is on point, with the rocks oozing a creamy banana kush flavor and a perfect kiss of Tangie - leaving one with robust layers of stoniness. @goodtitrations | 32.47% THC
jUly 2020
Will's World
Super Silver Haze Sugar Diamonds Translucent sugary crystals with a bright, creamy-lemon front and darker haze notes in the background - leaving you with a clear mind and stress-free buzz. @willsworld_ak | 75.2% THC
LIVERESIN Will's World
Will's World
MAC Sugar Diamonds Golden and delicious diamonds with a rich, earthy and peppery citrus flavor and a classic Cookies high - sending chill, euphoric and relaxed vibes.
Rain Dance Diamonds The only clouds you'll summon with the Rain Dance are stoney, with a fizzy lemon-lime flavor and a Chem OG finish leaving you with a sedative but happy indica high. @willsworld_ak | 84.5% THC
REVIEWS by ALASKA LEAF STAFF | PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
the concentrates issue
Herban Extracts
Amnesia Lemon CO2 Oil Dispenser Golden citrus notes cover a deeper earthy haze for a complex and delicious flavor, with a fresh lemon-cherry exhale and a smiling-while-drooling sativa high. @herbanextractsalaska | 68.5% THC 6.7% Terpenes
Top Hat Concentrates
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co2 oil
Mango Haze Sativa 2:1 CBD:THC CO2 Cartridge
Lovely high CBD oil with a sweet and earthy inhale and notes of tropical cherry-mango, featuring a relaxing, happy and worry-free high. @thc_alaska | 18.36% THC 45.32% CBD, 9.85% CBG
Herban Extracts
Cosmic Candy CO2 Cartridge High in terpenes like all the Herban Extracts samples, the Cosmic Candy shines with a vibrant citrus-sweet inhale and an eye sharpening, inthe-moment sativa high. @herbanextractsalaska | 67.4% THC 7.6% Terpenes
aklEAF.COM
Herban Extracts
Summer Elixir 1:1 CO2 Oil Dispenser Easy use click dispenser for precise dabbing releases a sweet tropical hazey oil, with a sweet fruity exhale and chillaxed sunshiney high. @herbanextractsalaska 32.8% THC, 32.8% CBD, 7.1% Terpenes
jUly 2020
Herban Extracts
Super Lemon Haze CO2 Disposable Vape Pen Convenient disposable pen that hits easily with big clouds of sweet lemongrass and earthy haze vapor, leaving you with an uplifting, clear-minded and happy high. @herbanextractsalaska | 73% THC 8.2% Terpenes
Will's World
Limeade Delta 8 THC Cartridge Delta 8 THC is the precursor to Delta 9 THC, the normal type we love to smoke. D8 provides a unique high that is clear-minded and heavily psychoactive, as well as great for medicinal uses to relieve pain and nausea. The crystal clear Limeade produces thick clouds of sour lime kushy flavors that settle into the chest and mind with a relaxing, happy and certified stoned buzz unlike any other cannabinoid profile. @willsworld_ak
Will's World
Mr. Clean Distillate Cartridge So fresh and clean, featuring bright tropical waves of citrus and lemongrass. This uplifting and invigorating clear-minded high is absolutely perfect to start the day with. @willsworld_ak | 85.72% THC
e t a l l i t dis Good Titrations
Bubbleyumz Hybrid Cartridge Blowing out a big cloudy hit of Bubbleyumz is like popping a perfectly sweet bubble of gum, with heady and relaxing hybrid effects perfect for a Summer day.
Good Titrations
@goodtitrations | 75.05% THC
@goodtitrations | 67.57% THC
1.29% CBD, 2.47% Terpenes
2.14% Terpenes
God’s Purple Gift Hybrid Cartridge Beautiful golden oil full of the rich God’s Gift flavors of hashy citrus and grape, with a syrupy exhale and a heavy, glowing and smiley buzz.
REVIEWS by ALASKA LEAF STAFF | PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
the concentrates issue
Cold Creek Extracts Platinum Huckleberry Cookies x Starduster Hash Rosin / Dab Tabs
Small and sleek with zero mess and easy on-the-go application, these stashable dab tabs are an excellent way to get a flavorful and precise high. The oil is layered into the tab and a low temp on a banger will release the oil for a measured dab - with vapor bubbling lightly out of the tab. The rosin has a sugary-sappy huckleberry cookie flavor that puckers the mouth and fills the mind and body with a chillaxed and carefree high. @AK_COLDCREEKEXTRACTS
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sOLVENTLESS AK Babylon Company OG Kush Nepalese Hash
Classic Nepalese hash involves hand rolling and pressing kief and trichomes into blocks or balls of hash. This full plant hash smokes best on top of a bowl, with gentle hits to allow the hash to melt. The hash smells like a room full of skunky-citrus kush, with a rich and heavy smoke that rolls through a heady balance of euphoria and sedation.
aklEAF.COM
@BABYLONCOMPANY_ | 68.07% THC, 0.74% THC
jUly 2020
REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF | PHOTOS & ART DIRECTION by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
Search the good stuff Visit weedmaps.com or download the app
cooking with Cannabis
STRANGE SUMMER DAYS
A strange summer this is sure to be. There are lots of things to think about important things that may actually make the world a better, safer place. Whether you are staying home or safely venturing out, the right strain of Cannabis makes a world of difference. I’ve been enjoying Roasted Garlic Margy from Noble Farms. For me, this strain is a combination of staying clearheaded yet remaining calm. Particularly these days, I can get uncomfortably racy from a strain - but not this one. It’s the best of both worlds. #DontFearTheEdible #BlackLivesMatter
CHOCOLATE SMOOTHIE
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BAHN MI
In a small bowl combine the water, lime juice, fish sauce, canna-oil,
In a blender combine all ingredients except the chocolate syrup. Pour into glasses and stir in a heaping tablespoon of chocolate syrup. 2 cups chocolate milk 1 banana, peeled, sliced and frozen 4 tablespoons malt powder
BAHN MI is a Vietnamese street snack made with a baguette and filled with a variety of ingredients. When I am in a rush, I toss the chicken with soy sauce, lime juice and canna-oil, then pile on the veggies. This sandwich is light, yet satisfying. Pro-Tip: Get the best bread you can find.
1 tablespoon cocoa 2 teaspoons canna-coconut oil Chocolate syrup
aklEAF.COM
[Serves 2]
GUACAMOLE AVOCADOS have become popular because of the tremendous health benefits, as well as the great taste. Guacamole is a great way to showcase this wonderful fruit, yes fruit, and medicate at the same time. Remember to keep the pit in the guac, drizzle with lemon juice and keep covered tightly with plastic wrap to preserve it.
jUly 2020
garlic, soy sauce and sugar. Place the bread on your work surface. Drizzle the cut sides with the dressing. Lay the sliced chicken breast on the sandwich and top with the shredded vegetables and any remaining sauce. 2 tablespoons water
2 six-inch pieces of baguette,
1 tablespoon lime juice
sliced in half horizontally
2 teaspoons fish sauce
2 chicken breasts from rotisserie
2 teaspoons canna-oil
chicken, cooked, or thinly sliced tofu
1 teaspoon sesame oil
½ cup shredded cabbage
1 small clove garlic, minced
½ cup shredded carrots
1 teaspoon soy sauce
Sprigs of cilantro
1 tablespoon sugar
[Serves 2]
In a medium bowl mash the avocado. I think leaving it lumpy is a good thing. Add all the other ingredients and mix well. 2 large ripe avocados, soft when pressed 2 limes, juiced 4 teaspoons canna-oil ½ small red onion, diced ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro 1 small tomato, seeded and chopped (optional) Salt [Serves 4]
RECIPES by LAURIE WOLF | PHOTOS by BRUCE WOLF
edible of the month
5MG THC/COOKIE | 25MG THC/BAG
After ingesting two we enjoyed a well rounded sativa buzz, proving to be the perfect complement to an afternoon cup of coffee.
aklEAF.COM
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BAKED ALASKA
JUly 2020
VEGAN OATMEAL COOKIES
Taking us back to a simpler time when a cookie could be the best part of a day, these delicious oatmeal cookies deliver nostalgia from the first bite - and a reminder of just how sweet a treat can be. Of course, once you put weed in a cookie, it’s usually the high point of a day. These tasty little one or two bite cookies are flavorful and feature a crunchy bite and moist mouthfeel that is nicely balanced. No dry cookies here! It’s hard to eat just one of these, but after ingesting two we enjoyed a well rounded sativa buzz, proving to be the perfect complement to an afternoon cup of coffee. Baked Alaska really hit the mark with their vegan and healthful approach to this edible. The care put into each organic ingredient is evident, highlighting that this company cares not only about selling edibles, but offering a healthy and quality option in a tasty cookie form. Check out the other delicious offerings from Baked Alaska, including Rosemary Sea Salt Crackers and a classic lineup of delicious cookies to tease the tastebuds this summer! B A K E D A L A S K A E D I B L E S .C O M
REVIEW by ALASKA LEAF STAFF | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
Grown in a proprie ary coco blend Fed wi h an in-house nu rien mix Whole plan hang dried Hand- rimmed Cured for 4 weeks t
SMALL BATCH CRAFT CANNABIS
t
t
t
t
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Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming and addictive. Marijuana impairs concentration, coordination, and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under its influence. There are health risks
AVAILABLE IN SELECT STORES IN FAIRBANKS AND ANCHORAGE
associated with consumption of marijuana. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children. Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. icense
coffee & cannabis
When grown with care and roasted properly, black coffee is much like weed and wine.
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aklEAF.COM
BLACK COFFEE & LODI DODI Brewed coffee has been a fuel to the masses for centuries. Since the first coffee shops opened in the pre-enlightenment era, coffee has been a beverage that has been gathered around, stimulating discussion and camaraderie. Brewed by The Reef
JUly 2020
THERE IS NO QUESTION that coffee has long been a source of erudite thinking and creative expression. It is with this consideration of cerebral calisthenics that this month we pair Lodi Dodi with that delicious black brew. When grown with care and roasted properly, black coffee is much like weed and wine. With even just a little bit of consideration, the consumer can experience any number of tasting notes. And geography plays a large role as well. African coffees can take on a much more juicy or hearty flavor, like stew or ripe berries. Latin coffees are often bright and citrusy, while Asian coffees tend to be more earthy and spicy. A Latin American coffee would best pair with Lodi Dodi. The crisp, neat flavors of the coffee complement this strain’s aroma - and while undoubtedly odiferous - is fresh and almost artificially fruity. It’s a smell best described as ‘clean,’ though not chemical-esque like cleaning supplies. Lodi Dodi’s smoke is effortless and mild with a flavor that is both floral and vaguely tropical. Lodi Dodi is a cross of Trainwreck with Haze, and it’s a safe assumption from its superstar lineage that this strain is an incredibly cerebral sativa. It is legitimately difficult to get through a bowl without setting it down and getting distracted with other pressing matters. This is a great duo to get summer days started and to keep you energized through the trials and tests of this year. As we all emerge from our homes and into the streets, Lodi Dodi is exactly the strain to keep us motivated and dynamic, ready for change and heady conversations over a classic cup of coffee.
STORY by TJ GAGNIER | PHOTOS by JESSE CODLING | MARKETING
& CREATIVE DIRECTOR, THE REEF SEATTLE
“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.
44
by Mike Ricker The Shituation Remember that dude on Jersey Shore who called himself The Situation? Well, this has absolutely nothing to do with him. So, now that we have gotten that out of the way, let us pontificate. As kids, it is safe to say that for most of us the proverb ‘Waste Not, Want Not’ was stuffed into our mushy little brains as much as the Cookie Monster stuffed Oreos into his stoned mouth. In fact, cookies is now as much of an imperative word in the Cannabis vernacular as wedding cake, which makes a lot of sense. Weed gives you the munchies. And the word munchies is synonymous with cookies and cake. Man, I’ve gotta get a handle on my life. I am getting way off the subject. That mushy brain has become quarantinged. Anyway, people are broke. They are lonely and depressed. There will be no festivals to attend, no sporting events, no nightclubs. And who in the hell would have ever predicted a juggernaut in wearable masks and hand sanitizer as positions suggested by your portfolio manager? These are the least sexy stocks on the market, but there is nothing sexy about a pandemic, so it makes a lot of sense. Is anyone having sex? Anyway, if you ask me, I think what may have gotten us in this mess is the fact that we are wasteful. Yes, we all love the convenience of pushing a button on your hand-held pocket partner and having products magically appear at your doorstep a day later, but we seem to have lost sight of where the waste ends up. It is awfully nice to pull the toilet handle and watch everything vanish into oblivion or toss your recycling into a bin and bid a fond farewell, but this ecosystem can only handle so much of our shit. Have they opened the beaches yet? At this point, I would take the Jersey Shore.
July 2020
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