Apr. 2022 - California Leaf

THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

#24 | APR. 2022

CAL I F O R N I A

THE GLASS ISSUE COLLAB BY ANDY ROTH, RYAN FITT & JARED CORTLAND F RE E / L E A F M AGA Z I N E S . COM

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APR. 2022

DWRECK

SCOTT SOUTHERN

44

CANNTHROPOLOGY HISTORIC HEADSHOPS

COURTESY OF EAST-WEST NOVELTY

33 FEATURE

DWRECK

MIKE ROSATI

Our expansive special covers artists from around the country.

Be sure to check out our online archive at LeafMagazines.com to see other Leaf Glass Issues past and present!

09 10 12 14 16 18 20 24 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 36 38 40 43 44 46

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EDITOR’S NOTE NATIONAL NEWS CALIFORNIA NEWS NORTH BEACH PIPELINE SESSION GOODS PROFILE CHAMPS TRADE SHOW GLASS EVENT ROUNDUP STRAIN OF THE MONTH ANDY ROTH COLLAB EMILY MARIE SAKIBOMB HACKYSACK JOE PETERS MIA SHEA DWRECK DARBY HOLM THE GLASS INVESTMENT NORTHSTAR GLASSWORKS CONCENTRATE OF THE MONTH TECHNOLOGY REVIEW CANNTHROPOLOGY STONEY BALONEY

WIND HOME PHOTOGRAPHY

GLASS

THE GLASS ISSUE leafmagazines.com

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NORTH BEACH PIPELINE

#24

M I A S H E A G L AS S

ART BY JOE PETERS

14 SHOP REVIEW

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APRIL 2022

CAL I F O R N I A

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 / N O RT H E AS T L E A F

A B O U T T H E C OV E R ANDY ROTH X RYAN FITT X JARED CORTLAND “CLASSIC” COLLAB Ryan Fitt and Jared Cortland’s signature carving and gorgeous nickel inlays combined over Andy Roth’s distinctive shaping, color work, faceting and design send this collab into the stratosphere with a futuristic and complex, yet also timeless and clean look. This “Classic” piece was crafted in late 2021 and sold to a private collector. @ANDYROTHGLASS @RYANFITT @JAREDCORTLAND

PHOTO by JARED CORTLAND @JAREDCORTLAND WES ABNEY C E O & F O U N D E R wes@leafmagazines.com MIKE RICKER O P E R AT I N G PA R T N E R ricker@leafmagazines.com TOM BOWERS C H I E F O P E R AT I N G O F F I C E R tom@leafmagazines.com DANIEL BERMAN C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R daniel@leafmagazines.com BOBBY BLACK STAT E C O N T E N T D I R E C T O R bobbyblack@leafmagazines.com NATE WILLIAMS STAT E S A L E S D I R E C T O R nate@leafmagazines.com (415) 717-6985 O’HARA SHIPE O N L I N E E D I T O R ohara@leafmagazines.com MEGHAN RIDLEY C O PY E D I T O R meghan@leafmagazines.com

CONTRIBUTORS BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION JACKIE BRYANT, FEATURES TOM BOWERS, FEATURES MARY CARREON, FEATURES JIMI DEVINE, FEATURES WYATT EARLY, FEATURES STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS LILA HOLM, PHOTOS JESSE JUSTICE, PHOTOS JEFF PORTERFIELD DESIGN JESSE RAMIREZ, DESIGN ALEX REYNA, PHOTOS MIKE RICKER, FEATURES MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING MIKE ROSATI, PHOTOS ZACK RUSKIN, FEATURES SCOTT SOUTHERN, PHOTOS O’HARA SHIPE, FEATURES SLY VEGAS, PHOTOS JAMIE VICTOR, DESIGN NATE WILLIAMS, FEATURES JERRY WHITING, FEATURES FLETCHER WOLD, PHOTOS WIND HOME PHOTOGRAPHY, PHOTOS

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ABNEY

Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up the Glass Issue of the Leaf!

GLASS HOLDS a special place within Cannabis culture, as it both defines our movement through artistic expression and provides the tools necessary to consume our plant. Without glass pipes, bongs and dab rigs, we’d be stuck smoking joints and out of apples in a return to college shenanigans. Today, glass pieces regularly sell for five to six figures and a rig can define a stoner’s personality – the same way a cool car or pair of shoes do. It’s through the beautiful combination of fire and borosilicate that an artist shapes both how we smoke and how we perceive that act of inhalation, and this annual Glass Issue of the Leaf is dedicated to celebrating the artists and art that shape the visual arm of our industry.

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While I generally keep my editor’s note focused on the theme of our issue, I want to dedicate the remainder of this space to sharing a message of hope and world peace. Last month we saw humanity edge closer to world war and nuclear proliferation than ever before, something that simply cannot happen if our species and planet are to survive. My heart breaks for the millions of displaced Ukranians, the Russian soldiers sent to kill or die at the hands of their neighbors, and the whole of Europe waiting to see if war will spill across their “MAYBE THE borders. There is no justification for the aggression we are seeing in Ukraine, and HIPPIES OF I’m sure that the victims of other recent wars of aggression like Afghanistan and THE ‘60S WHO Iraq are having their own “Me Too” moment of grief as the global war machine THOUGHT PEACE, LOVE AND DRUGS shifts attention from the Middle East to Eastern Europe.

COULD SAVE THE

WORLD WEREN’T As much as global politics and media propaganda have bled into the societal JUST HIGH ON views of war and justice, it seems clear now that the powerful deciders of GREAT LSD, BUT humanity are bent on destruction. Whether it’s traditional war for power or WERE ACTUALLY resources, the genocides of religious divides, or the exploitation of the planet and ONTO SOMETHING.” the poorest humans, our species is rushing angrily into a century that many had high hopes for. Information technology has the potential to bring equality and awareness to all corners of the globe (no flat earth pun intended), but we continue to see those with the power using it for manipulation and profit.

This brings me to Cannabis and the role it might play in changing our collective trajectory.

Almost every industry in the world is built on profit at the expense of the people and the planet, but the Cannabis and hemp industries are breaking that mold. Not only is our industry shedding the old ways of one-percent wealth building and breaking the vestiges of the drug war, it’s also bringing enlightenment and peace with every gram and joint sold … and smoked.

I honestly believe that if Putin would smoke some weed, we wouldn’t be in this situation. Who gets baked and decides to invade anything other than the refrigerator? The same can be said for conflict around the planet, where one side profits at the expense of the other – not exactly your typical stoner behavior. Maybe the hippies of the ‘60s who thought peace, love and drugs could save the world weren’t just high on great LSD, but were actually onto something. It’s only once they swallowed the capitalist success that the boomer generation went from “we” to “me” – but it’s not too late for the coming of age millennials and Gen Zs to embrace the idea of world peace, one puff at a time.

Perhaps that’s just my high hopes for our future, but I’d like to think that Cannabis has the potential to save the world.

-Wes Abney

Have a strain, product, or news tip that the California Leaf staff needs to know about? Email bobbyblack@LeafMagazines.com!

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WES

national news leafmagazines.com

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sports

NCAA RELAXES MARIJUANA THRESHOLDS; REDUCES PENALTIES

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he NCAA announced last month that it will be relaxing its marijuana policies, raising THC threshold levels and reducing punishments.

Under current NCAA policy, one failed marijuana test gets a six-month suspension. The NCAA will raise the threshold for THC from 35 to 150 nanograms per milliliter. This change brings them in line with new World Anti-Doping Agency standards. There is no punishment or loss of eligibility for the first positive test, if the school “provides a management plan and education” for the athlete. For the second positive test, there could still be no punishment if they are compliant with the management plan. If they are not, an athlete would miss 25% of their games. Should a third positive test happen, there could still be no punishment if the athlete still complies with the management plan. If not, they will miss 50% of the games.

east coast

PENNSYLVANIA OFFERS FINANCIAL AID TO MMJ PATIENTS

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ennsylvania Department of Health has expanded its financial assistance program for state medical marijuana patients.

The program includes waiving annual fees for eligible patients enrolled in financial hardship programs such as SNAP, MedTHE STATE SAID IT PLANS TO icaid and WIC. “The departDISTRIBUTE CASH BENEFITS ment is pleased to be able to TO ELIGIBLE PATIENTS. expand assistance to medical marijuana patients and caregivers who may be experiencing financial hardships,” said acting Health Secretary Keara Klinepeter. “Patients deserve to have access to their medicine to treat medical conditions, and cost should not be a barrier.”

central america

middle east

COSTA RICA LEGALIZES MEDICAL CANNABIS

ISRAEL DECRIMS CANNABIS; EXPUNGES RECORDS

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srael has decriminalized the adult use of marijuana and is expunging the criminal records of those convicted of personal possession or use of the plant, President Isaac Herzog and Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced in March. Those with adult-use convictions can submit a request to have their records voided, and those with pending criminal proceedings can contact the police with a request to drop the charges. The move, said the statement, will “lift the criminal labeling and the stain that accompanies it” and “complement” decriminalization regulations published in February. The new regulations don’t apply to those also charged with other offenses alongside Cannabis use, including those possessing drug paraphernalia, those convicted during military service, and minors.

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osta Rica’s Congress passed a bill in March which legalizes the use of Cannabis for medicinal purposes. The bill also allows marijuana cultivation for industrial use.

The cultivation and sale of adult-use marijuana for recreational purposes, however, will remain banned. Supporters of the bill say it will boost farmers and increase jobs. Costa Rica joins a host of other Latin American countries where medical marijuana is legal. weird

the south

MIKE TYSON’S WEED CO. LAUNCHES EAR-SHAPED GUMMIES

COPS PAY OUT $900,000 FOR BUSTING 64 AT POT PARTY

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his comes 25 years after he was disqualified from the World Boxing Association Heavyweight Championship for biting his opponent’s ear. Tyson’s marijuana brand, Tyson 2.0, named the new product with a smirking reference to what’s become known as “The Bite Fight.” That’s the 1997 bout against Evander Holyfield where the infamous incident took place. Tyson’s weed brand announced the news via Twitter on March 15. According to Tyson 2.0, the gummies will soon go on sale at dispensaries in Massachusetts, California and Nevada. The retired boxer and current weed dealer even put his stamp of approval on the marijuana-infused edibles, writing, “These ears actually taste good!”

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fines for marijuana were approved in March by the Green Bay City Council.

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untaxed grow sites were raided over the past five weeks by Calaveras County, Calif. deputies.

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aw enforcement has settled a lawsuit over the mass arrests of 64 Georgia partygoers on marijuana charges. Cops charged each of the 64 individuals at the 2017 lingerie-themed party with possession of under an ounce of marijuana. Police, who found less than an ounce of marijuana outside on the ground, arrested all 64 partygoers. They said they did this because nobody would claim the weed. Gerald Griggs, an attorney and past vice president of the Georgia NAACP, organized a campaign to get all the charges dropped. “It’s a very large settlement,” Griggs said, according to WSB-TV. ”So it sends a message to Georgia that if you violate somebody’s civil rights, the NAACP and civil rights attorneys will hold you to task and protect those young peoples’ rights.”

marijuana plants were seized when an indoor grow was raided in DeKalb County, Ala.

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voter signatures are needed in Gluckstadt, Miss. to overturn the city council’s decision to opt out of medical marijuana.

742 80k New York farmers are authorized to grow hemp.

Cannabis plants will fill West Virginia’s largest medical grow facility by 2025.

STORIES by STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA

L.A. Times Editorial Board Slams State Fair Over Potent Pot Category

Leave it to the L.A. Times to find a problem with good news. Last November, the paper struck an optimistic tone in announcing that the 2022 California State Fair would include new categories devoted to Cannabis.

But in a new op-ed, the L.A. Times’ Editorial Board came down hard against one specific award intended to recognize the state’s most potent Cannabis flower. Warning of the “potential danger of powerful pot,” they argue that legal weed should be treated more like alcohol. Citing existing California State Fair awards for low and no-alcohol entries, the op-ed’s authors fail WARNING OF to reference the higher THE “POTENTIAL DANGER OF taxes, minimal marketing POWERFUL POT,” avenues, and federal ban THEY ARGUE that Cannabis compaTHAT LEGAL WEED SHOULD BE nies – but not alcohol TREATED MORE companies – continue LIKE ALCOHOL. to face. There is also no mention of the medical efficacy of high-THC Cannabis flower, nor any consideration given to the tolerance any regular user will build to THC over time. Regardless, the real concern lies not with a category recognizing potent Cannabis, but with misunderstandings surrounding its purpose.

leafmagazines.com

San Francisco Office of Cannabis Has a New Boss

FLICKR/PRAYITNOPHOTOGRAPHY

local news

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CALIFORNIA Interstate Cannabis Commerce?

N ew CA Senate Bil l R ekin dle s Pipe Dre am There’s a lot that still needs to happen before we look forward to seeing semitrucks loaded with world-class Cannabis motoring across the country. Though interstate Cannabis commerce may remain a distant reality, there’s a new bill in California that should at least offer a fertile starting point. Introduced by Senator Anna M. Caballero (D-Merced), Assembly Bill 1326 provides a basic framework for how interstate Cannabis commerce in California could eventually look. As written, AB 1326 would allow California to enter into agreements with one or more states which allow legal Cannabis activity, putting the power to negotiate such deals in the hands

Former Staffer Reportedly Hot Boxes Feinstein’s D.C. Office Claims Senator ‘Cares More About Her Dog Than Black People’

San Francisco’s Office of Cannabis has found its next director. Filling an absence left by the recent departure of previous OOC head Marisa Rodriguez, Mayor London Breed has appointed Nikesh Patel to serve as her successor. In a statement, Breed touted Patel’s “long and dedicated career working to reform the criminal justice system and advance equitable policies, specifically for individuals with marijuana-related records[.]” Patel’s qualifications include a stint with the SF District Attorney’s Office, as well as his present role as Associate Director of Oversight for OOC. Patel’s appointment makes him the third person to hold the position, which was created in 2017 and originally filled by Nicole Elliott (who now serves as Director of the California Department of Cannabis Control). In a statement, Patel praised San Francisco for continuing to be “on the vanguard of social equity and commercial Cannabis.”

He later called his appointment to Director “both an honor and a privilege.” Ali Jamalian, Chair of the San Francisco Cannabis Oversight Committee and a local operator, voiced his support too – noting in the statement that “[Patel] and the OOC have been instrumental in ensuring that the Oversight Committee continues to be a meaningful San Francisco Office of space for the Cannabis community and industry and our Cannabis Director City partners to meet, collaborate, and build together.”

Nikesh Patel

APR. 2022

of the state governor. It HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS also allows for arrangeSOONER ments that range from THAN LATER supply chain support ONLY STANDS TO BENEFIT for medical-only states EVERYONE IN to the more alluring THE LONG RUN. prospect of outright export. The upshot is that it never hurts to be prepared and having these conversations sooner than later only stands to benefit everyone in the long run.

Hopefully, such will be the case with AB 1326. However, until we resolve the issue of federal prohibition, meaningful action on the interstate commerce front will remain a virtual impossibility.

Jamarcus Purley did not set out to make a viral video. In an interview with the outlet Latino Rebel, the now-famous former California Senator legislative aide to California Senator Dianne Dianne Feinstein and Feinstein shared that he was several hours into her former legislative a psychedelic mushroom trip when he decided aide, Jamarcus Purley. to blaze one in the unlikeliest of spots. Far from humorous, the allegations presented by Purley that led to his actions suggest a workplace hostile to Black staffers and one which dismissed his pleas for more urgency in providing Covid-19 pandemic relief to Black and Brown families. Boasting a resume that includes degrees from Harvard and Stanford (by way of Oxford), Purley’s grievances during his time working for Sen. Feinstein include having his hair touched repeatedly, without consent, by white staffers. Hoping to make a statement that would be “impossible to ignore,” Purley shot footage of himself smoking a joint – an “afghani, heavy indica” to be specific – and dancing around his ex-employer’s desk to “I Like It”

by DeBarge. “I thought about how special my mom and Black women would feel seeing me dance to that song, in particular, in a space where they aren’t welcome at all,” Purley said. “Then I started the video.”

STORIES by ZACK RUSKIN @ZACKRUSKIN for CALIFORNIA LEAF

shop review

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leafmagazines.com

NORTH BEACH PIPELINE

APR. 2022

North Beach Pipeline CEO Elric Neumann, left, with co-owner Jesse Henry.

Photo by Fernando Godinez

AFTER A STRETCH OF PAINFULLY SLOW YEARS, SAN FRANCISCO’S HISTORIC NORTH BEACH DISTRICT IS BUSTLING ONCE AGAIN. THOUGH DINING AL FRESCO IS NOTHING NEW FOR THIS AREA OF THE CITY, A STROLL UP GRANT AVENUE TODAY REVEALS A SLEW OF WELL-USED PARKLETS, A FRESH CROP OF LOCALLY OWNED STORES, AND ONE INCREDIBLY UNIQUE NEW DISPENSARY.

SAN FRANCISCO

THE MERE EXISTENCE of North Beach Pipeline is, it must be said, a victory. Now entrenched in a slice of the city revered as a bohemian utopia by the likes of writers such as Allen Ginsberg – no stranger to Cannabis himself – the debut of North Beach Pipeline earlier this year also doubled as the launch of an adjoining gallery and studio space overseen by local artist Jeremy Fish.

Frequently (and fairly) referred to as the “unofficial mayor” of North Beach, Fish’s art blends bunnies, skate culture, skulls and Bay Area iconography into numerous prints, murals, sculptures and clothing collaborations. Having previously taken residence in spaces like Coit Tower and a former bakery, Fish says he was overjoyed when the ownership group for North Beach Pipeline asked if he might want to partner on a space at 1335 Grant Avenue.

“It’s very cool,” Fish shared. “I went to college down the street from here. If someone had said to 20-year-old me that if I hung around for 25 years, I’d find myself with a studio on one of the oldest commercial thoroughfares in the city, connected to a pot shop, with a giant outdoor parklet in front of it, on a street full of up-and-coming, art-related businesses, I’d have been like, ‘What the fuck? How am I going to survive here until that happens?’”

In fairness to Fish, it is almost too good to be true.

Owned and operated under an equity license from North Beach Pipeline CEO Elric Neumann, the dispensary space is small but nonetheless eye-catching. The far wall is adorned with custom wallpaper designed by Fish, featuring local landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Transamerica Pyramid.

Past the check-in area, a shelf prominently displaying local equity brands gives way to the full-length budtender counter.

But if you step back outside and then enter the door to the left, you’ll find yourself in Jeremy Fish’s new digs. In the front is the “Fish Tank”: an intimate gallery space.

The debut of North Beach Pipeline earlier this year also doubled as the launch of an adjoining gallery and studio space overseen by local artist Jeremy Fish.

Behind another wall lies Fish’s new studio. And even if some of his North Beach neighbors were skeptical at the beginning, the way Fish sees it, the complaints are going silent in a hurry.

“There was some opposition to it,” he conceded, “but right now, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a neighbor, no matter how they feel about marijuana dispensaries or bars or art galleries, who doesn’t appreciate the fact that there are now people coming to this district, who don’t live around here, and with money in their pockets.”

What thrills co-owner Jesse Henry is the fact that everyone involved with this project has deep San Francisco roots. Having already proven his ownership group’s ability to get a local dis15 pensary up and running (with the past success of Barbary Coast), Henry shared that he takes great pride in having a spot that unites legal Cannabis and art in North Beach.

“This is one of the most historic neighborhoods in the city,” Henry said, “and it’s an exciting opportunity to even have the chance to be over here. It’s really been a win-win in the sense that our ownership group and Jeremy share the same perspective and community focus of really wanting to give back, not only to the city, but to the neighborhood that we’re in, too.”

To that end, an open-air parklet that spans the width of both storefronts will serve as a space where brands and organizations can engage and educate customers. Though you won’t see any product or consumption in the parklet, Henry noted that it still offers an immense opportunity for North Beach Pipeline to connect to the local community.

“With the parklet,” he said, “people who are walking down the street can see what we’re doing and choose to take part in it. They’re able to get information about these brands, whether they go into NORTH BEACH PIPELINE the store or not, which offers a great opportu1335 GRANT AVE, nity for us to educate individuals who may have SAN FRANCISCO, CA some trepidations about what Cannabis is and 10AM-10PM DAILY NORTHBEACHPIPELINE.COM aren’t ready to enter a dispensary yet.” @NORTHBEACHPIPELINE What’s clear in talking to the team behind (415) 915-5588 North Beach Pipeline is the genuine joy they all share in having an opportunity to blend Cannabis with art in true San Francisco fashion, with an owner-operator team that is strictly locals-only.

“Building a dispensary in North Beach, with an artist of Jeremy Fish’s caliber, has been a dream come true,” said Neumann.

“I’m excited to educate the neighborhood about everything Pipeline has to offer and appreciate the opportunity to bring our amazing local Cannabis products and service to the masses.”

STORY by ZACK RUSKIN @ZACKRUSKIN for CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTOS by MIKE ROSATI @ROSATIPHOTOS See more photos of the shop and gallery at LeafMagazines.com

company profile leafmagazines.com

16

EDGY ELEGANCE Session Goods

CEO ESTHER LENOIR RAMIREZ

What do you get when you put a weed-loving female fashion designer in a headshop? An iconic brand of smokeware that’s pushing the boundaries of traditional smoke paraphernalia.

APR. 2022

SESSION GOODS bills itself as a company that provides “Pipes for People who like Pretty Paraphernalia,” and with good reason: CEO Esther LeNoir Ramirez began her career at the international fashion company Everlane, where she developed a passion and keen eye for aesthetically pleasing design. Ramirez has always curated the details of her life and as an avid stoner, she found herself tucking away her pipes as they didn’t fit with her modern interior. This predicament inspired the creation of Session Goods.

R

amirez first shared the Creative Director Roze Volca continidea of a designer smokeuously innovates strategies to engage ware line with a colleague their 42,000+ following while staying … and before long was on brand and ahead of the curve. Imintroduced to Vinh Pho pressively, 75 percent of Session Goods’ (COO), Sam Bertain sales are direct-to-consumer via e-com(CCO) and Camden Foley (CPO) in merce, proving that investing in cre2016. The team side hustled to develop ative marketing is not only a conscious prototypes, and in 2018 they sold out advantage the brand has leveraged over of their first batch of 200 bongs in just its competitors, but a necessary tactic for three weeks. The four creatives continbecoming an established leader in the ued to bootstrap, eventually building a smoking accessory space. full product suite including pipes, bongs, Though initially founded in San stash jars and more – all currently sold Francisco, Session has since pivoted its throughout North America and Europe. primary focus to Los Angeles, where the After years of Ramirez managing most larger market and event culture deepof the daily operations, the group raised ly resonates with the brand’s values. funding last fall that will The company recently enable them to nearly celebrated its fourth an“The company double their diverse and niversary in LA with the recently celebrated talented team of eight. release of a limited-ediits fourth anniversary tion Designer Series In admiring the Session in LA with the release that introduced a subtle Goods’ digital presence, their pristine facade leads yet powerful thematic of a limited-edition observers to believe the redesign: The standard Designer Series brand is bigger than clear borosilicate glass that introduced a they are. In an industry was replaced with both subtle yet powerful wrought with fraud and black and frosted white thematic redesign.” theft (both in IP and IRL), options. This duality of the strategy of creating darkness and light was a professional-looking brand early on explored throughout the advertising was intended to prevent entities from campaign; partnering with Tylor and copying the proprietary designs before Tevin Bailey, they crafted a spectacular Session had the recognition and patents visual journey that spanned all media to protect their art. (including photography, video, street Not only is the branding exquisite, posters and billboards) – taking Sesbut each aspect of Session’s marketing sion’s portfolio and reach to an entirely strategy incorporates social relevance, new level. design trends and historical references As Session continues to grow, they – all the while staying aligned to their are constantly ideating how to be more brand story and consumer desires. authentic and social impact is always at This artistic vision succeeds in building the top of their minds. community, creating customer loyalty, In speaking with Ramirez about the and ultimately selling the product to social responsibility of brands within this those for whom it’s intended. controversial industry, it became clear

that Session Goods cares about more than simply impeccable design. The company routinely offers flash sales in which 100% of the proceeds are donated to nonprofits focused on remediating damage to victims of the War on Drugs. They have also invested in The Floret Coalition and Freedom Grow – two volunteer-run organizations that provide funding to release prisoners and support their daily needs (such as phone fees and commissary), as well as to procure holiday gifts and meals for families.

It’s apparent that every decision at Session is made with meticulous thought and deliberation that delves outside the realm of the traditional Cannabis market – gleaning inspiration from external design mediums such as architecture, art history and social movements. The brand represents a lifestyle focused on destigmatizing and normalizing Cannabis usage in a way that is both elegant and edgy. With a vision as eccentric and revolutionary as Session’s, we’re excited to see what comes next.

SESSIONGOODS.COM @SESSIONGOODS

STORY by ALEXA JESSE @ALEXAJESSE | PHOTOS by EMILY EIZEN @EMILYEIZEN

stoner owner

Hirschfeld’s events remain a must-stop for anyone in the headshop game – enabling them to completely stock their shelves under one roof and see what’s new and hot in the business.

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CHAMPS Trade Show

leafmagazines.com

Founder Jeff Hirschfeld

For the last 22 years, Jeff Hirschfeld has run one of the biggest hubs of glass and Cannabis culture in America: CHAMPS Trade Shows.

A former accountant from Brooklyn who relocated to Sherman Oaks in 2011, Hirschfeld got his start in the trade show game when a client of his with a printing business asked him to attend one to help boost sales.

“I ended up selling more equipment than his employees, so he hired me to manage his traveling sales team,” Hirschfeld recalls. “That’s how I became familiar with how trade shows operated.”

A few years later, Hirschfeld – who’d loved weed since he was 16 – partnered with friend Peter Gage to start their own smokeware company, Gage Water Pipes. Utilizing his past expertise, he secured a booth at a national trade show and got his products into nearly 300 stores.

But then, in 1998, he received a letter from the convention’s organizers saying that his company was no longer welcome because they were selling drug paraphernalia.

So Jeff and his partners (Gage and a third partner, Josh

APR. 2022

Weitz) did what any savvy entrepreneurs would do – they started their own damn trade show.

The smokeware convention we know today as CHAMPS began in 1999 under another name: Contemporary Tobacco Accessories, or CTA. The first CTA show was held at Gold Coast Hotel in Las Vegas and had just 32 booths. Over the next several years, the shows ran successfully twice a year in Vegas … but all of that changed in February 2003 when the Bush Administration executed their sweeping sting on the paraphernalia industry known as Operation Pipe Dreams. In a press conference, Attorney General John Ashcroft reportedly referenced CTA directly (though not by name).

In Hirschfeld’s words: “A reporter asked, ‘Why now, after a 13-month investigation?’ Ashcroft responded, ‘There is a pot trade show going on next week in Vegas and we want them to know we know about it!’”

Operation Pipe Dreams had a chilling effect on both the show and the industry as a whole. Of the 260 vendors that had signed up to showcase at CTA, 190 canceled overnight – costing the show around a quarter-million dollars in booth sales. To keep the event afloat, Hirschfeld needed to take two drastic actions: To offset the enormous financial loss, he was forced to take out a second mortgage on his home;

and to distance themselves from the scrutiny associated with CTA, he and his partners decided to change the name of the show to the Contemporary Hand-crafted American-Made Products Show, or C.H.A.M.P.S. Still, for many years after, the word “bong” remained verboten both at headshops and at the show, and Hirschfeld refused any media coverage of the event in an attempt to keep it under the radar of law enforcement. Thankfully, those days have long since ended.

“I would say around 2005 to 2006, it seemed to start loosening up,” Hirschfeld says. “By that time, people didn’t care as much about words, and the world started to understand that reality is reality.

But again, it’s dependent on the state you’re in … obviously, we do our shows in progressive states.”

The transition of language isn’t the only thing that’s changed since the early days. What’s surprised Hirschfeld the most has been the diversification of products featured in the booths. In the early 2000s, CHAMPS was essentially a bong show, with an estimated 70 percent of its wares comprised of various water pipes. But these days, thanks to more

states becoming legal for recreational and medical use, the breakdown is quite different.

“Today, a smoke shop makes on average maybe 30% of their profit on glass,” says Hirschfeld. “It used to be higher, but there are so many other categories in the industry now that a shop counts on – whether it be CBD, vaping, e-juices … but the demand for glass is still holding strong.”

That demand only increased during the pandemic.

Thanks to the global shutdown, it became difficult to get shipments from China, bolstering the U.S. glass scene.

“Most of the blowers we know are doing very well,” Hirschfeld attests. “The combination of people all staying home and smoking more, along with less stuff coming from overseas, kept blowers busy … many were even sold out.”

Hirschfeld’s events remain a must-stop for anyone in the headshop game – enabling them to completely stock their shelves under one roof and see what’s new and hot in the business.

“If you’re buying for a group or a retail store, CHAMPS is the place to go—no question,” Hirschfeld boasts. “We have the finest high-end American Glass in the world … but there’s also a market for a $10 or $12 pipe. We pride ourselves on the fact that we have both and everything in the middle. We don’t stick our noses up or try to tell the retailers what they need – we put everything out there for them.”

As Cannabis becomes more and more normalized and headshops continue to pop up across America, the number of vendors and attendees at Hirschfeld’s events has grown exponentially. Their last show at the Las Vegas Convention Center this past February got up to 380,000 square feet with over 1,600 booths – a far cry from its humble 32-booth beginnings. Part of that expansion has included the formation of their own glassblowing competition – the CHAMPS Glass Games – as well as the addition of multiple CHAMPS satellite shows

around the country, including CHAMPSTRADESHOWS.COM a second Vegas show in July, @CHAMPSTRADESHOWS two shows a year in Orlando, two in Atlantic City, and fall shows in both Denver and Chicago, with a second, summer show in the Windy City coming this June.

Still, the show’s booming success is bittersweet for Hirschfeld: after tragically losing Weitz in 2011, he also lost his longtime friend Gage in 2019 – leaving him the last surviving partner.

“In our third year, after just finishing the show with 1,600 booths at Cashman Field, the three of us were driving home smoking a fatty,” Hirschfeld remembers. “We hooted and hollered and thought, ‘We did it … we hit it big!’ We could never have dreamed of 16,000 booths at the Las Vegas Convention Center like we have now. I’m sure they’re both up in heaven now, smoking a fat one and smiling with approval of how far CHAMPS has come.”

STORY by JIMI DEVINE @THEJIMIDEVINE for CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTOS by SLY VEGAS PHOTOGRAPHY @SLYVEGAS

California Leaf Content Director Bobby Black contributed to this article.

THE GLASS ISSUE

CHAMPS VEGAS

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GLASS EVENT ROUND UP

Historically, the functional glass industry has never been huge on mainstream publicity and the spotlight that comes with it. Perhaps this residual apprehension is the result of the feds turning the industry upside down during the Operation Pipe Dreams era, or maybe it’s the continued treatment of functional glass artists as fringe and of lower class – but whatever it is, it means that most glassfocused events today happen in small circles, where private studios will open up to host invite-only shindigs for limited numbers of friends and family.

There are, however, a number of highly respected glass events that are well worth attending should you get the opportunity…

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Northern Light Slain Dragon

by Hicdogg, Windstar, CHaka and Dupolux.

DEGENERATE FLAME OFF Founded by Abe Fleishman and Libby Goettelman of Northstar Glass in 2009, DFO is an annual celebration of glass, live glassblowing competition, and boro-derby event held each year in Oregon. It is family friendly and feels more like a festival than anything else, with the headiest of the heady showing out to witness an incredible lineup of artists do their thing live and in-person. Celebrated for many years in Eugene, the event relocated to Portland in 2018 where it has been held annually (with exception of 2020 and 2021) ever since. dfoportland.com @dfofamilyreunion

GLASS VEGAS Glass Vegas appeared on the scene in 2016 when Jack Long built a platform to expose up-and-coming artists, helping them get established in the industry and gain more recognition for their craft. This B2B-focused event brings out heady glass artists, smoke shop owners and dispensary owners each year for a unique networking opportunity and competition in a variety of categories. glass.vegas @glassvegasexpo

CHAMPS Founded by the legendary Jeff Herschfield, CHAMPS is one of the largest trade show-style events serving the glass and smokeware industries.

It holds multiple events each year in markets all over the country including Las Vegas, Chicago, Atlantic City, Denver and Tampa. These huge shows often clock over 1,000 vendors, making it one of the largest annual alternative culture events the industry has access to. While the event itself is an impressive production, the afterparties are renowned for being equally grand in scale and presentation. champstradeshows.com @champstradeshows

THE AMERICAN GLASS EXPO This massive festival of glass is currently on hiatus, with their most recent show being 2019 in Las Vegas. Founded in 2007, it was quite possibly the longest running glass-focused event in the country until the pandemic hit in 2020. AGE has historically drawn out some of the best in the game, with some of the biggest names in the functional glass art world representing with a booth space, selling their work directly to collectors, shop owners and other artists. ageshowusa.com @ageshow

PHOTO BY ALEX REYNA @AREYSOCAL

PHOTO COURTESY GLASS VEGAS

PHOTO BY SLY VEGAS PHOTOGRAPHY @SLYVEGAS

PHOTO COURTESY AGE

APR. 2022

STORY by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415 | MAIN PHOTO by SLY VEGAS PHOTOGRAPHY @SLYVEGAS

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PINK

CERTZ

apr. 2022

STRAIN OFGLASS THE MONTH THE ISSUE

CAL I F O R N I A

cultivated by SENSE

P

op a jar of Pink Certz, and the first thing that hits you is the aroma. Notes of mint, coriander, cherry cola and fuel spill forth, making your mouth water in impatient anticipation.

The second thing you’ll notice, as you turn the jar upside down over your palm, is the absence of cascading chunky nugs tumbling into your hand. The buds are stuck together. They’re stuck to the side of the jar. It takes effort to wrench them free, and then they’re stuck to your fingers.

At this point, as the room fills with a scrumptious, sweet and savory aroma, it becomes obvious: This flower is phenomenal.

After winning the third TransBay Challenge at the end of February, this cultivar – bred by Compound Genetics and produced by San Francisco cultivator Sense – lives up to every bit of hype it’s been garnering. A cross of The Menthol (Gelato 45 x (High Octane x Jet Fuel) and Grape Gasoline (Grape Pie x Jet Fuel Gelato), this particular phenotype definitely has the genetic lineage for greatness.

In the hands of Sense, it realizes delicious potential.

Twinkling, powdered-sugar trichomes mingle with nebulous orange hairs set against a dark green backdrop. The gorgeously cultivated, expertly trimmed and perfectly cured buds retain enough of a hefty squish to break up without falling to crumbles.

The smoke is smooth, “Twinkling, with lush, powdered-sugar savory trichomes mingle fuel notes with nebulous tempered by orange hairs sweetness on set against a the palate.

The impact is dark green backdrop.” immediate, and potent.

If it’s possible for something to be simultaneously inebriating yet not at all debilitating, this flower has that effect. Prepare for the mellow.

After our experience with the Pink Certz, one thing is for certain: We can’t wait to see what else Sense ends up cultivating in its renewable energy-powered facility.

BRED by COMPOUND GENETICS

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THE GLASS ISSUE

ANDY ROTH

If you’re familiar with the work of Andy Roth, then you’re already aware of the stunning, simple elegance and flawless symmetry of his art. His unique vision translated and brought to life through the glass medium results in expertly crafted artwork with intense aesthetic appeal and fantastic function.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM, AND WHERE ARE YOU CURRENTLY BLOWING GLASS NOW? I was born in

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Pennsylvania, but grew up in California.

I have spent some time living in Washington state, but have landed back in California near family.

“ I D R AW A LOT O F I N S P I R AT I O N F R O M ARCHITECTURE, WHETHER IT BE FROM A BUILDING, S KYS C R A P E R O R ANY INTERESTING S T R U C T U R E .”

WHO OR WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GET ON THE TORCH? I would see beautiful

glass pipe art on the internet, and knew nothing about how they were made.

After finding out the glass was melted with a torch, I couldn’t not try my hand at blowing glass. The process of controlling the flow of molten glass has held my attention ever since.

HOW DID YOU HONE IN ON YOUR SIGNATURE STYLE – WHAT MAKES AN ANDY ROTH PIECE AN ANDY ROTH PIECE? Architecture and simplicity. I draw

TUBE DESIGN, S H A P I N G , CO LO R WO R K A N D FAC E T I N G BY A N DY R OT H

a lot of inspiration from architecture, whether it be from a building, skyscraper or any interesting structure. And I like to live my life in simple ways, so I think that translates into me designing pieces that are clean of distractions – simple, but sometimes architecturally complex at the same time.

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N I C K E L I N L AYS

BY RYA N F I T T A N D JA R E D CORTLAND

IF YOU COULD COLLAB WITH ANY ARTIST OUT THERE, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY? There are too many

great artists I would love to collaborate with. Both inside the glass world and of other mediums.

WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT ASPECT OF BEING A FULL TIME GLASS ARTIST? I would say the most difficult

CO L L A B S W I T H RYA N F I T T & JA R E D C O R T L A N D @ A N DY R OT H G L A S S | @ RYA N F I T T | @ JA R E D CO R T L A N D

APR. 2022

part would be the ups and downs of productivity. Which I think can be said for any path in life. Being inspired or having motivation isn’t always going to be there, so it is important to remain disciplined and keep moving forward. And eventually the inspiration or motivation will flow back.

STORY by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by JARED CORTLAND @JAREDCORTLAND

EMILY MARIE E M I LY M A R I E G L A S S .CO M | @ E M I LY M A R I E G L A S S

Unfortunately, she faced a major setback after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Struggling to battle through the heat exhaustion that comes with shaping molten glass into art, Emily Marie was uncertain what her future would hold. But even a debilitating chronic illness like MS couldn’t keep her down.

Once recovered from her first bout of sickness, she leaned even harder into her art.

“Having MS made me a lot braver because I realized how fragile life is. It gave me the courage to put myself out there,” she said.

Only one year removed from her diagnosis, Emily Marie performed a miracle by winning gold at her first live glassblowing competition at Champs. She would end up walking away with fourth place in the Masters’ Final.

“I think that may have been a sign that I should have started getting out there sooner,” added Emily Marie with a laugh.

Although she has since transitioned from pipe making into the world of artisanal dinnerware, her work is no less awe-inspiring.

Using playful colors and a complex sandblasting technique, she has once again left her stamp on the glassblowing world.

the glass issue

In 2008, Emily Marie had the best date of her life – but it wasn’t the conversation that had her swooning. Instead, it was the heat of fiery glory holes and torches that piqued her interest. While her date had planned to woo her with his glassblowing prowess, Emily Marie discovered she had chops of her own and thus began her illustrious career in the artform. For the next seven years, she worked with legendary blower Kristian Merwin to perfect her craft.

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STORY by O’HARA SHIPE @SHIPESHOTS/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by JESSE JUSTICE @JESSEJUSTICEPHOTO

leafMAGAZINES.com

“ H AV I N G M U LT I P L E SCLEROSIS M A D E M E A LOT B R AV E R B E C AU S E I R E A L I Z E D H OW F R AG I L E L I F E I S .

I T G AV E M E T H E CO U R AG E TO P U T M YS E L F O U T T H E R E .”

THE GLASS ISSUE

S A K I B O M B H AC KYS AC KY.CO M @ S A K I B O M B H AC KYS AC KY

“CHIICHII” CALM COLLAB

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“ LOV E LY T E A P OT ”

SAKIBOMB HACKYSACKY

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“ P O P U S SYC L E ”

The glass artist known as Sakibomb Hackysacky is a quirky Japanese gal with a penchant for all things feline and feminine. Though she first started smoking weed when she was 17, Saki (as her friends call her) didn’t smoke out of glass until nearly eight years later and was immediately taken with the medium.

“I started wondering how it’s made and thought it would be wonderful if I can make my own pipes and also be able to fix what I break.”

Sakibomb arrived in America in 2001 and five years later, at the age of 30, began her new career as a “DUCHESS” glassblower. She quickly picked up new techniques JOE PETERS and approaches to the business by working alongside some COLLAB of the top artists in the game – nearly all of which were men.

“The industry is growing very fast, but one thing that never really changes – and I wish it would – is that it’s still a male-dominated business,” she points out. “We need more ladies who actually make pipes!”

APR. 2022

“ WO R D P L AY I S Saki puts her unique brand of feminism on A N OT H E R T H E M E full display in her art: Among the most prominent T H AT R U N S themes expressed in her work are pussies – both the THROUGHOUT animals and the genitalia (think Hello Kitty meets H E R B O DY Georgia O’Keefe).

O F WO R K .”

“I make popsicles with vaginas that I call ‘popussycles,’ she says. “And I make vagina rings, so you’re literally ‘fingering’ them when you wear them.”

This kind of wordplay is another theme that runs throughout her body of work.

“I made a ‘six-foot’ bong, but instead of it being six feet tall, I put six human feet on it!” she giggles. “Or like my nose pipe … flower is ‘hana’ in Japanese, but hana is also nose, so my flower pipe is a nose.”

In addition to vaginas, Saki’s art also frequently incorporates animal prints, the color pink, and lots and lots of cats. In fact, the care and rescue of furry felines is one of the primary passions in her life.

“If everyone on this planet could adopt one cat each, we could make a world with no stray cats … and I would be so happy!”

STORY by BOBBY BLACK @BOBBYBLACK420/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS COURTESY ARTIST

the glass issue

JOE PETERS

J O E P E T E R S G L A S S .CO M @ J O E P G L A S S

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The glassblowing world had a special way of capturing Joe’s attention unlike his other dabblings in painting and pottery. This artform gave Joe a sense of urgency to get things done and finish pieces, placing them in the kiln before they had time to break. He was also intrigued by the fact that with glass, you can’t directly touch the art you’re making.

While a longtime lover of weed and passionate about pipe-making, the mid-2000s weren’t exactly the best years to be blowing glass for weed-centric purposes. Rather than risk getting busted making pipes in his parents’ garage, Joe honed his craft and made a name for himself and his glass sculptures in the art show and craft fair scene – even doing an installation in a children’s hospital that he describes to this day as some of the most meaningful work of his career.

In 2010, Joe couldn’t ignore his dream of pipe-making any longer and

decided to take his glassblowing skills to the Cannabis world. The honeycombs and honey drips on his pieces drew countless admirers out of the gate, and he took the time to perfect these elements while blowing glass alongside some of the world’s most respected artists.

This all led Joe to the realization that sculpting was his speciality, and both the functional and non-functional glass worlds could benefit from his skillset.

“It’s finding out what your strengths are and what you enjoy doing, and going from there,” said Joe. “I’m just a human being. I like to make cool stuff. I want to make the best work that I can. I want to survive and make a good living – and that’s it. The best is just an opinion.”

These days, you can expect to see glass art from Joe in the form of aquatics, robots, dragons, spaceships, aliens, bees and honey (of course) and much more, all coming to life in vibrant and masterfully-sculpted fashion – for both your smoking and non-smoking pleasures.

STORY by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by SCOTT SOUTHERN @BORO.VISION

leafMAGAZINES.com

Joe Peters was immersed in an artistic environment for the entirety of his youth, but it wasn’t until he found the flame at age 19 that his passions found the perfect outlet. “Oh hell yeah, I get to play with fire,” he reminisced. “It was the easiest decision I ever had in my life.”

T H E S E DAYS , YO U C A N E X P E C T TO S E E G L A S S ART FROM JOE IN THE F O R M O F AQ UAT I C S , R O B OT S , D R AG O N S , S PAC E S H I P S , A L I E N S , BEES AND HONEY (O F C O U R S E ) A N D MUCH MORE.

THE GLASS ISSUE leafmagazines.com

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MIA SHEA @​​M I A S H E AG L A S S @ T H E A R TO F M I A S H E A

If art is a reflection of who a person is, Mia Shea is a muse of the goddess – alchemizing glass into exquisite Venusian statues, vases, candle and incense holders, pendants, pipes and chillums.

Based in Seattle, Mia has a studio in the Old Rainier Brewery where there are three rooms dedicated to making glass art.

She’s the only female glassblower amidst the 20 or so men in the building, but she’s used to the male energy; the glass industry is overwhelmingly male-dominated (as most industries are).

“I don’t think women’s bodies are meant to be machining over torches all day long,” says Mia, who gained her experience at Zen Glass in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2011. “But when glass is flowing and melting and blending, it’s all very therapeutic and feminine in nature.”

Shea regards the artistic “IT’S ABOUT COMING medium of glassblowing as I N TO A H E A LT H Y a practice of healing the O R I E N TAT I O N O F mother – as in the earth, the THE MASCULINE womb, the feminine.

AND FEMININE, “Almost all of the women RECONNECTING in the glass industry are TO O U R B O D I E S sculpting the female body,” AND THE EARTH, she says. “I get it … we’re A N D R E S TO R I N G all healing our connection to B A L A N C E F O R A L L .” the feminine.”

Shea isn’t solely focused on channeling the divine feminine into her art, though – the juice behind her primal, psychedelic glass work requires tapping into the divine masculine as well. Channeling the power of both the yin and yang energies allows her to plant seeds for healing and change through the medium of glass, to cultivate love and trust, and to breathe life back into our bones.

For her, blowing glass is an expression of her spirituality and revolves around a deep integrity for what’s natural. Every piece she makes is infused with these noble intentions.

“It’s about coming into a healthy orientation of the masculine and feminine, reconnecting to our bodies and the earth, and restoring balance for all,” Shea attests.

No doubt the world needs more of that right now.

APR. 2022

STORY by MARY CARREON @MARYYYSTARDUST for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by WIND HOME PHOTOGRAPHY @WINDHOME

DWRECK @ DW R E C KG L A S S

Once he graduated high school, he moved to the city of Ithaca in New York State to attend film school, where he met some of his closest friends who would all go on to become notable glass artists: Gasp, Ease and Slinger.

White spent the years that followed developing his skills, eventually participating in several glass competitions (including the Degenerate Flame Off and The Pipe Classic) and winning first place in the marble category at the 2nd annual Eugene Glass School Flame Off. But it wasn’t until he learned to sandblast from Slinger about a decade ago that Dwreck would develop his devilishly dark design style.

“I immediately began blasting skulls, pentagrams, nude women, etc., onto my pieces,” he explains. “I wanted my work to appeal to the heavy metal community. I love metal, and I love challenging social norms regarding spirituality and eroticism.”

The pentagrams aren’t just for shock value, though – instead, they reflect his genuine philosophical beliefs.

“I consider myself more of a Luciferian than a Satanist,” he explains. “Satanists exist in opposition to Christianity and believe in the pursuit of carnal experiences, while Luciferians are indifferent to Christianity and value enlightenment.”

Granted, his affinity for occult imagery isn’t for everyone … but he does have (pardon the pun) a “cult” following.

“My art may come across as low-brow to some, but I’m fine with that – I think of myself as the Pabst Blue Ribbon of marble makers,” he snickers. “My name will live in infamy because of my work. What else can I ask for?”

So to all those dark-side dope smokers out there who appreciate his artistry, Dwreck offers this sinister salutation: “Hail Satan … and may the force be with you.”

the glass issue

If one were to regard glass artists as Jedis, Derek “Dwreck” White would unquestionably qualify as a Sith Lord. After smoking his first joint at a Metallica concert in 1989, Dwreck quickly became a pothead as well as a metalhead.

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“ I LOV E C H A L L E N G I N G SOCIAL NORMS REGARDING S P I R I T UA L I T Y AND EROTICISM.”

leafMAGAZINES.com STORY by BOBBY BLACK @BOBBYBLACK420/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS COURTESY ARTIST

DARBY HOLM

THE glass ISSUE

@ DA R BY H O L M G L A S S

“ D R E A M I T, B E L I E V E I T, BUILD IT”

With deep Oregon roots originally emerging from Eugene’s OG glass scene back in the mid-’90s, Darby Holm remains one of the most talented, respected and celebrated glass artists of his generation. Though his

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creativity is boundless, Darby is perhaps best known for two trademark design elements – the first one being the cactus, which he uses in a majority of his pieces.

“It’s actually kind of funny because most people assume I’m from Arizona,” he chuckles, “but what brought those out is my traveling. I’ve spent a lot of time driving through Arizona, and when I’m out in the middle of nowhere, I like to stop and hang out for a while … eat a sandwich, burn a bowl, or whatever. So one day, I was staring at this big old gnarly cactus, and I was like, ‘Whoa, that looks like a Sherlock pipe!’ So when I got home, I tried to make one – that’s how it all got started.”

The other concept he returns to time and time again is the ray gun.

“The ray guns, they definitely come from my childhood,” Darby reminisces. “Marvin the Martian, Buck Rogers, Star Trek, and all of that. I really like ray guns because I can “ I R E A L LY L I K E get futuristic and all R AY G U N S of that weird kind of B E C AU S E gadgetry just comes I CAN GET out of my head.”

FUTURISTIC Today, this lifelong AND ALL OF Oregonian works out T H AT W E I R D of a shop at his home KIND OF in Grants Pass, where G A D G E T RY he’s passing the JUST COMES torch (literally) to his OUT OF oldest son Caleb (@ M Y H E A D.” shurlockholm). And after a quarter-century in the glass game, he still appears to be as inspired as ever.

“I’m constantly blown away by all of these artists’ ability to keep upping their own game, and how the function keeps up with all of the amazing ideas brewing in their heads … ideas that are just waiting for the proper time to flow through their hands to bring another beautiful creation to life.”

apR. 2022

“MUSHROOM G UA R D I A N ” CO L L A B WITH M I K E LU N A

“DESERT CAMO”

STORY by BOBBY BLACK @BOBBYBLACK420/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by LILA HOLM @HOLMMADEGLASS

#1 ONE & DONE

THE glass ISSUE

The rarity of glass art being produced today is perhaps the most significant aspect that increases its value. As opposed to a mass-production bong company with dozens of glassblowers producing pieces, many high-end glass artists operate completely on their own. In the same time a production company could make 100 bongs, an individual artist will make one completely unique piece comprised of endless collective hours of work. Because of these time constraints, glass blowers are only able to produce a limited amount of pieces per year – and with the same amount of fans as production companies or even more, that creates a very high demand for a small amount of art.

THE HIGH COST OF GLASS ART

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#2 HIGHLY SPECIALIZED

There are dozens of techniques that glassblowers employ when making a piece. These can include sculpting, disk flips, dot implosions, wig wags, cold-working (faceted glass surfaces) and many more. What makes a certain artist’s work sought after is usually a mastery of one or more of these – whether they make the most clean and well-functioning Klein seal, or they have specialized sculpting techniques – all of the skills are extremely difficult and executing them properly is seen as a highly valuable attribute in the eyes of collectors.

#3 COST OF COLLABORATION

In the process of collaborating with other artists, geography is a significant factor that greatly contributes to the cost.

Some of the world’s best glass artists live in Japan and other countries outside the United States, and travel is not always easy. In order for those artists to collaborate with a U.S.-based artist, sections of glass need to be shipped back and forth – which is not only expensive, but risky. Imagine an artist completed their section of a piece and sent it out, only to arrive broken at the other artist’s studio. That sends both glassblowers directly back to square one, with time and materials wasted in the process.

#4 EXCLUSIVE ACQUISITION

Hands down, acquiring one of these pieces is not as easy as one may think. When buying a high-end painting or any other medium of art, would you simply order it online and wait for it to arrive in the mail? No … you would go to that gallery in New York City. You would hit up that artist’s exhibition, no matter where you were in the country or world.

With such a diehard group of glass collectors out there, this is your best bet for acquiring glass art that is as exclusive as we see today.

leafmagazines.com

#5 FUNDS & FUNCTION

The materials used in making high-end glass art can be finicky and expensive. When experimenting with new colors, an artist will order a large amount of colored glass rods without knowing if they will react similarly to other colors when put under the flame. For example, a certain color may bubble or be more difficult to work with than others. The rarity of specific glass colors like “rozay” and “lemon drop” also increases as the hype for them grows, and many artists do custom pulls to achieve a desired color unique to their fans like “Deppes Darkness.” When buying a mass-produced piece with coloration, you don’t know if they used materials safe for inhalation, or just a very thin layer of paint (which has happened in the past with these pieces).

IN TODAY’S DAY AND AGE, we are constantly seeing glassblowers push the boundaries of their craft to never-before-seen heights.

And alongside these mind-boggling innovations and intricacies, typically comes an eye-popping price tag. But should a single piece command five to six figures? Why does high-end glass art come at such a high cost? The answer is yes. And the reasons are many.

apR. 2022

STORY by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/LEAF NATION | ART by @LACEFACEGLASS | PHOTO by @AREYSOCAL

THE GLASS ISSUE

WO N KA AT D F O

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LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

CARLSON AT D F O

FINDING YOUR NORTHSTAR The Degenerate Flame Off started in 2010 with an advocacy of collaboration and encouragement of creativity, but most importantly, it built a community of functional glass artists often confined to the fringe. On the surface, it’s a competition – but DFO also allows artists to transcend the constraints of their normal work and actualize another level in their personal artistic journey. Put on by the team at Northstar Glassworks, not only do they have the most diverse color spectrum in the industry matched with top-tier quality, they’re a fierce ally of the artists who use their glass.

And there’s more good news: After two long years, functional glass art from the underground is back in the PNW! Check out the return of DFO on May 20-22, where you’ll have the opportunity to watch these wizards twist beams of molten light in a delicate dance between states of order and chaos. Leaf Nation caught up with Northstar’s president Abe Fleishman for his thoughts on the glassblowing world and what to expect from the event after the two-year hiatus.

APR. 2022

N O R T H S TA R G L A S S .C O M | D F O P O R T L A N D.CO M @ D F O FA M I LY R E U N I O N

“ WATC H I N G T H E CO LO R R O D S T U R N I N TO WO R K S O F A R T IS THE MOST R E WA R D I N G PA R T.”

What have been some of the highlights of your career in the functional glass art community?

The most exciting part of being the world’s premier colored glass manufacturer is seeing the works of art that artists make with our glass.

It takes a large team to produce the quality and volume of colored glass … I am always excited to see new colors that we develop for artists to use.

I have been in the game for more than 25 years, so watching the industry become a community has been so heartwarming. When I started out, we had a very limited palette of colors and now we produce almost 220 different and unique colors for the lamp-working community to use. It’s like we are collaborating with each artist that uses our color glass.

Watching the color rods turn into works of art is the most rewarding part.

Glass pieces are becoming more and more valuable, fetching prices well into the six-figure range. Where do you think this will all lead?

Will functional glass art merge with the mainstream art world? Since I have

been in the industry for so long, I have had the chance to watch the price threshold change over the years. Seeing pipes sell into the six figures is one of the most exciting parts. The artists and collectors have a symbiotic relationship that helps drive the prices higher. For

example, one of my good friends Buck Glass has pushed the boundaries of size, scale and details.

His works of art have been sought after by big influencers and as his work gets better and better, the eye of the collector changes. Collectors pretty much control the prices, so that relationship is key with the artists. I would envision pieces going for close to a million dollars in the right setting.

But that’s going to be very select people selling that. I don’t really see a need for functional art pieces needing to go mainstream because they are already there. The artists have created a collector base that is supporting the movement. Most galleries that try and sell functional art don’t really offer the artists a new clientele – they usually just fall back on what the artists have already built.

What are the three most important pieces of advice you’d give a novice glass blower? For the

novice glass blower, I would recommend perfecting the fundamentals of how glass works first – this will allow you to put what’s in your head into the piece you decide to work on. Try and create pieces of work that are unique to you and your personality. Build a strong network of

stores or collectors that follow your work and demand pieces to sell or hold in their collection.

The novice artist really needs to work hard to get their name out there. Make sure your Instagram, Facebook, and any other social media platforms are always full with new content. Go to trade shows to meet the other artists and store owners – this will help you get to see and understand how the community works. But my true advice is find something that resonates with you to show the client base! Try not to copy other artists’ styles – this can ruin your career before you start.

With Degenerate Flame Off coming back after the Covid-19 restrictions, can you share with us a bit of the exciting things we might see at this event? Well this year you will see our new venue

that we are excited about! Plus, the layout will be different than years before. What I am excited about is seeing the community back together after a two-year break of no DFO. Which artists are you particularly stoked to see in action? I am always excited to see all the artists

at DFO. It’s like a family reunion, for real. I only have so much time, so it gives me a chance to finally say hello, give a hug or just a chat. I am overly excited to see everyone.

Do you have any tips you would like to share for those who want to have an amazing time at DFO?

The number one tip is to meet as many artists as you can. DFO has always been the event that starts lifelong friendships and collabs! Be respectful of the venue rules and others around you. Covid is still a thing, so also be respectful of others’ views about the matter. But last and foremost, have fun!

STORY by DAVE MCDOWELL for LEAF NATION | NORTHSTAR PHOTOS by FLETCHER WOLD @FWOLD_PHOTOGRAPHY | DFO PHOTOS by ALEX REYNA @AREYSOCAL

concentrate of the month

“Sweet and complex with an extra slice of funk.”

40

HAVE HASH

HAVEHASH.COM @HAVEHASHH

RAINBOW BELTZ leafmagazines.com

HEADSTASH LIVE ROSIN As Rainbow Beltz continues to gain steam in the marketplace, Have Hash’s Headstash rosin makes it easy to understand why.

WHILE THERE ARE already heater renditions of this strain out there that have taken home trophies, the particular phenotype selected and grown by Talking Trees is among the finest. And it’s no surprise that once that material ended up in the hands of Have Hash founder Jacob Stockwell, you were going to be dealing with some serious heat.

Founded in 2015, Have Hash is a small legacy brand based in Humboldt focused on quality and transparency. They primarily work with Talking Trees and other local, sustainable farms to acquire and process unique cultivars to produce a diverse lineup of commercially viable live rosins that taste wildly good. They achieve this using a tiered pricing system: Value (the most accessible cultivars and

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pricing), Private Reserve (above average cultivars, moderate pricing), and Headstash (exotic cultivars, top-shelf pricing) – which is what we wanted to sample, naturally.

Rainbow Beltz was created by Archive Seed Bank after they decided to breed the Z and Moonbow. It features the Moonbow #75 that was hunted down from 200 seeds. When they backcrossed it to Z, it resulted in a bunch of Z-dominant phenotypes that are real hitters. Z is still king for many people when it comes to solventless, especially in regard to flavor and impact. A lot of the strains that hit harder than Z don’t wash well, so if you want to experience them, you basically need to either grow them yourself or be the R&D guy in the washroom at the hash

company that delivers the bad news to the chief and sneaks a dab on the way.

This Rainbow Beltz rosin hits on that amazingly sweet and complex Z terpene – strong, but there’s this extra slice of funk going on that feels like it traces back to the Face-Off OG (that helped create the Dosidos) from which the Moonbow was bred. It’s definitely not a Z terp, but once they all get blended together during consumption, it leans a bit more toward the candy terps than the funk. As for the high, it had some decent body to it, but I found the cerebral aspects to have a bit more kick.

My bottom line: Rainbow Beltz is more of a “watch the fireworks” dab than a couchlock dab … and in my opinion, that’s a great thing.

REVIEW by JIMI DEVINE @THEJIMIDEVINE | PHOTO by TOM BOWERS @CANNABOMBTOM

OVER 1 MILLION CLONES SOLD TO LICENSED CULTIVATORS IN CALIFORNIA AND OREGON!

When the average stoner hears the words “joint rolling machine,” they imagine themselves having to grind weed and manually operate an uninspired piece of plastic with a cone stuck on the end.

And who can blame them? Over time we have seen a massive amount of these hit the market, but many lack features that set them apart from the crowd … that is, until the first-of-its-kind OG OTTO rolled up on the scene with an automatic process unlike anything we’ve seen before.

THERE’S A wondrous simplicity to the OTTO, which requires you to do nothing more than put unground flower in the top, place a cone in the bottom, press a button and watch it work its magic. You’ll be presented with a perfectly stuffed cone in approximately 10 seconds.

The list of people this device could work weed wonders for is endless: joint smokers who live their lives on the go, people that can’t roll joints or have yet to learn, people with disabilities that prevent them from rolling comfortably or with ease, people who simply love smoking cones, all the way to those who want to impress their friends with badass technology.

I have read numerous stories and reviews online about this product changing the lives of people who cannot physically roll joints without discomfort, and without this device there would not be many viable options on the market.

It’s recommended to start with a little less Cannabis than you think you may need. You can always add more to the top of the device, but if you overfill, you may see some spillage around the base.

For that reason, I would still place the OTTO on top of a rolling tray during use.

One of the more impressive aspects of the OTTO is the uniformity of the joints produced. The top of the device is an expandable grinding chamber, which slowly grinds your buds into a uniform consistency. This is key to a smoothly burning joint. After the flower is ground up in the top chamber, the OTTO evenly spits out Cannabis in short bursts into the cone sitting underneath. Say goodbye to the days of joints that can canoe and need to be re-lit 10 times.

Of course, rolling your own joint can be rewarding sometimes – but don’t we all have enough going on these days that we could use a little break? I know for myself, after one week of using the OTTO, I could never envision going back to the old days of an archaic device made of plastic.

The top of the device is an expandable grinding chamber, which slowly grinds your buds into a uniform consistency.

BANANABROS.COM | @BANANABROS.LLC

REVIEW & PHOTO by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/LEAF NATION

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TECHNOLOGY

OGOTTO

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PRESENTS

Historic Headshops Profiling the pioneering purveyors of paraphernalia.

BOBBY BLACK

cannthropology

44

WORLD OF Cannabis

leafmagazines.com

Before the advent of the internet, there was only one place to find all of the stoner essentials: a headshop. From blacklight posters to bongs (excuse me …“water pipes”), records to roach clips, vibrators to vaporizers – the classic headshops were not only emporiums for all things sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, they were also hubs where counterculture art, ideas, information and publications could be disseminated.

THE PSYCHEDELIC SHOP The very first headshop in America opened its doors to the public on January 3, 1966 – in precisely the location you’d likely expect: at the center of the drug-fueled hippie revolution in San Francisco. Called the Psychedelic Shop, it was founded by Army Vet Ron Thelin and his brother Jay, who used $500 of savings to lease a storefront at 1535 Haight Street, then plastered the walls with burlap, mandalas and hallucinogenic art, and stocked it with esoteric books, beaded jewelry, incense, pipes and other paraphernalia.

Almost immediately, the Psych Shop became a hub of the emerging hippie scene – selling tickets to concerts and other happenings, serving as a meeting place for the Diggers activist group and distributing underground literature. The Thelins even used some of the shop’s revenue to start their own counterculture newspaper, which later became the San Francisco Oracle.

Predictably though, their establishment drew unwanted attention from law enforcement; that November, the SFPD vice squad raided the shop and arrested one of their employees for selling a copy of “The Love Book” (a compilation of graphic sexual and religious poetry) to an undercover officer – charging him and Ron Thelin with distribution of obscenity.

Their subsequent court case became the longest-running criminal trial in San Francisco’s history and a nationwide cause célèbre for freedom of speech.

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Above: The archetypal headshop—Captain Ed’s Smoke Shoppe. Left: Jay and Ron Thelin in front of their Psychedelic Shop on Haight Street, 1966.

Despite this setback, the shop continued to thrive throughout the Summer of Love … but by the fall of 1967, the crowds and commercialization had become too much for the Thelins. Believing the hippie ideal had gotten lost in the circus sideshow of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, they decided to close the Psychedelic Shop. On October 4-6, Thelin and the Diggers organized a “Death of the Hippies” happening – giving away everything in the shop, placing the store’s sign in a casket and leading a symbolic funeral procession through The Haight. And just like that, after less than two years, America’s first headshop was history.

VILLAGE VANGUARDS While the Psychedelic Shop was the first ostensible headshop, it would be a similar store which opened four months later in New York City that would give the new industry its name.

In May 1966, an ex-architect from the Bronx named Jeff Glick and his wife Betsy opened an alternative smokeshop on East Ninth Street in the Lower East Side called simply the Head Shop. Though Glick never officially explained the reason behind the name, common wisdom assumed that the word “Head” referred to the colloquial term for a drug enthusiast, such as a “pothead” or “acid head.”

Though there are a few other urban Trippy promo for the legends about the Head Shop in NYC. origin of the name, Glick’s shop is, to my knowledge, the first official use of the term and therefore deserves the credit.

Psychedelic Shop’s first anniversary poster (1967).

BOBBY BLACK

CAPTAIN ED’S In 1967, stoner buddies Edwin Marsh Adair III and Bob Silverman rode from Venice Beach up to a little underground headshop on Van Nuys Boulevard to score a “Captain Ed” Adair & his pack of rolling papers (which, smoke shop in Van Nuys. in those days, weren’t as easy to find). While there, Silverman inquired about what it might cost to open a similar shop, to which the owner reportedly replied: “Why do you have to open one? This one’s for sale.” Well, the two friends did just that – they bought the shop and renamed it Heads & Highs.

Thanks to Silverman’s business acumen and Adair’s welcoming personality, the store became such a success that by 1969 they’d opened a second location in Reseda. In fact, Adair was so adored by his patrons that they gave him the nickname “Captain Ed” (a reference to the Walt Whitman

In 2017, Captain Ed’s Smoke Shoppe celebrated its 50th anniversary and is now the oldest continuously operating headshop in America. poem “O Captain! My Captain!”). One such customer was a veteran around Adair’s age named Jack who had only recently gotten high for the first time, so Adair took him under his wing – encouraging him to seek out as much information on Psychedelicatessen Cannabis as he could. storefront (above) Jack embraced his menand one of their ads tor’s imperative, gradfor pipes (left). ually compiling all the historical information he collected into a definitive Cannabis reference book. That book was “The Emperor Wears No Clothes,” and that vet was Jack Herer.

Herer went on to become a headshop owner himself, opening High Country in Venice Beach in 1973. A decade later, he became the first proprietor in the Valley convicted under state law for selling drug paraphernalia. After a brief stint in jail, Herer moved up to Portland and opened another headshop called The Third Eye. Like Jack, Adair Jack & Ed: The faced his own legal worries Hemperor and with Heads & Highs. Under his Captain. the Reagan Administration’s hardline drug policies, the Feds targeted the shop over its name, which they insisted implied illicit drug use. Under legal pressure, they renamed the store Captain Ed’s Smoke Shoppe. Despite having to change its name, being busted and having its inventory seized multiple times, and the eventual death of its founders in the 1990s, this legendary shop has managed to survive. In 2017, Captain Ed’s celebrated its 50th anniversary and is now the oldest continuously operating headshop in America.

EAST-WEST Captain Ed’s might be the longest operating headshop on the West Coast, but back East that distinction falls to an eccentric little “rock ‘n’ roll superstore” in Union City, New Jersey called East-West Novelty.

After being turned on to weed by his Army sergeant in Vietnam, Cuban-American Veteran Alex Savino returned to New Jersey and began working at a headshop in the West Village called the Thieves Market. Tired of commuting,

he eventually decided to open his own shop closer to home.

“I opened it so that people like me didn’t have to travel into NYC,” he explains.

“There was no headTop: Alex Suvino behind the shop in New Jersey yet counter at East-West Novelty … the Village was rein 1974. Above: Suvino & son ally the only place that Luke circa 2015. had anything at all.”

With just $900 startup money, Savino opened the shop in 1971 and began selling posters, pranks, t-shirts, records and smokeware. He named it East-West, after his favorite album by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Initially, the shop was only pulling in less than $50 a day … but that changed drastically, Savino claims, once High Times hit the scene.

“When High Times came out in 1974-75, that was the explosion,” this colorful character recalls.

“To see that lifestyle and culture mass-distributed to America, it opened up the door to major things. We really flourished.”

Despite the paraphernalia crackdowns of the 1990s, East-West managed to endure by strictly enforcing the ban on words like “marijuana” and “bong” within the store and by bringing in new, non-drug-related products like skateboards —the suggestion of Alex’s son Luke, who has now expanded the family business. In 2019, Luke officially put the “West” in East-West when he moved out to Colorado to open a second location in Steamboat Springs.

“A headshop is more than just a store … it’s almost like a museum,” Luke observes. “There’s so much to look at, there’s always good music playing … people often come in and don’t even buy anything, but they always come back.”

Speaking for us old stoner outlaw types, I find it comforting to know that the magical, taboo places known as headshops still exist...and as long as they do, we’ll keep coming back.

STO RY b y B O B BY B LAC K @ CAN N T H RO PO LO G Y for LEA F NAT IO N

BOBBY BLACK

Glick’s initial $500 investment soon blossomed into a $3,000-per-week revenue stream, allowing him to open a second location in the West Village. Before long, more headshops began sprouting up all around – most notably on St. Marks Place, where smokeware artists and vendors began to line the street (and still do today), and on Avenue A, where another infamous institution also opened its doors in 1966: Psychedelicatessen.

Like the Psych Shop in San Francisco, Psychedelicatessen served as a hippie hub in NYC. Located just up the block from Tompkins Square Park, it became a hot spot for all things underground, controversial and cool – luring in counterculture icons like Allen Ginsberg and Timothy Leary and even getting written up in the February 24, 1967 issue of Time magazine. But alas, like its SF counterpart, it was gone in less than two years. It seems that owners Rick Southworth Swede and his wife Susan – who were also the leaders of a psychedelic drug cult (similar to the notorious Brotherhood of Eternal Love) called the Church of Mysterious Elation – were allegedly dealing drugs out of the shop. As a result, on June 22, 1968, Psychedelicatessen was raided by the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and permanently closed.

stoney baloney LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

46

IT SURE SEEMS like everyone has a trigger or 50 these days. Not to say that people haven’t always been fragile, but now we have classified the proper terminology that pinpoints that moment where something clicks like a slipped disc in your mind and propels you down a rabbit hole of displeasure.

Obviously, the term generates from the trigger of a gun – activating an emotional response that equates to a heightened reaction. The catalyst kind of hits you like a bullet, too, creating an abrupt shock to your mood. You may not be entirely aware that your reaction to the incident stems from something traumatic in your past that is affecting your attitude in the moment, but either way, your current state is altered and provoking an immediate reaction.

In this modern age of psychology, we’ve become very efficient at analyzing nuances in the human temperament and identifying how drastic changes can exacerbate symptoms. Like a hundred years ago, people just called it rattling the nerves. But once you place a validated medical term on it, people can clutch onto the diagnosis like a life preserver … a safe zone. But the problem with that is we’ve become accustomed to having a technical explanation for everything we feel, raising expectations that because it is well-defined, there must be a simple way to resolve it.

And it’s usually with a pill. Or a drink.

Or a fit of rage.

And the misunderstanding from which most people suffer is thinking that acting out negatively is the most effective way to resolve the situation. But as we all have learned from experience, these confrontational reactions only exacerbate the problem. And therefore, I would like to share my philosophy on settling an issue before reacting in a way that could prove irreparable.

My lighter is a trigger.

And my bong is my gun.

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