June 2023 - California Leaf

HIGHLIGHTING THE PEOPLE AND COMPANIES CHANGING THE CANNABIS LANDSCAPE

THE IMPACT ISSUE

WES ABNEY CEO & FOUNDER wes@leafmagazines.com

MIKE RICKER OPERATING PARTNER ricker@leafmagazines.com

TOM BOWERS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER tom@leafmagazines.com

DANIEL BERMAN CREATIVE DIRECTOR daniel@leafmagazines.com

BOBBY BLACK STATE CONTENT DIRECTOR bobbyblack@leafmagazines.com

NATE WILLIAMS SALES OPS & DISTRIBUTION nate@leafmagazines.com (415) 717-6985

MEGHAN RIDLEY COPY EDITOR meghan@leafmagazines.com

ESTABLISHED 2010

We are pleased to present the Leaf’s first AI-assisted photo illustration, crafted by the inimitable mind of Pete Gibson. Gibson’s surreal and creative works have become well-known in the Cannabis-fueled Instagram community, where it caught the eye of Leaf contributor Matt Jackson who connected him with the team. Leaf Creative Director Daniel Berman @bermanphotos and COO Tom Bowers @cannabombtom, worked with Pete over one intense week (ahead of its debut at the Oregon Leaf Bowl) to morph the piece and dial in the cover designs to fully capture the Impact Issue’s heart and soul: the peopleandbusinesses makingchangeinourever-evolvingindustry.

ILLUSTRATION BY PETE GIBSON @PETE.GIBBY PETEGIBSONCREATIVE.COM

CONTRIBUTORS

WES ABNEY, FEATURES

DANIEL BERMAN, PHOTOS

BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES

JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION

TOM BOWERS, FEATURES

MARIA CAVALI, PHOTOS

AMANDA DAY, FEATURES

STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS

PETE GIBSON, ILLUSTRATION

MATT JACKSON, FEATURES

KATHERINE WOLF, FEATURES

SARA MILLS-GAINES, SALES

JOSH MONTHEI, PHOTOS

JESSE RAMIREZ, DESIGN

MIKE RICKER, FEATURES

MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING

MIKE ROSATI, PHOTOS

TONY SIMONELLI, PHOTOS

DAN VINKOVETSKY, FEATURES

NATE WILLIAMS, FEATURES

BRUCE & LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES

KATHERINE WOLF, FEATURES

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

WES ABNEY

Editor’s Note

Thanks for picking up The Impact Issue of the Leaf!

We’ve decided to honor the people, organizations and trends that are having an impact on the Cannabis industry and culture, which touches all of our lives in an environment that’s constantly shifting. Just as the Earth developed its rich layers of minerals and water from countless impacts during the Late Heavy Bombardment, so has the weed world been shaped by those who have had an impact – changing the landscape for the future betterment of the Cannabis community.

This month also marks the thirteenth anniversary of the Leaf in print, which began printing in June 2010 with Northwest Leaf and hasn’t missed a month yet. I was only 22 years old when I decided to take my journalism skills and apply them to Cannabis – at a time when the biggest impact weed had on lives was the slamming of a cell door. But I’d had a taste of the injustice, having been arrested for a small amount of pot myself, and seen the impact firsthand of a friend who beat all odds through the healing powers of the plant. I knew in my heart that people could heal themselves with Cannabis instead of pharmaceuticals, and that the most dangerous thing about weed were the laws making it illegal – so I set out to tell a story that has lasted for over a decade.

“TODAY THE INDUSTRY IS ONCE AGAIN FULL OF PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THE PLANT AND THOSE WHO NEED IT, LARGELY BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONLY ONES LEFT.”

Along the way the Leaf has distributed millions of copies for free, now across 13 states and with a much bigger team than when it all began. I’m blessed to have been joined on this journey by a team of Leafers who care just as much about Cannabis journalism as I do, and many more who have helped along the way. We’ve told stories about patients healed through Cannabis, and those whose last days were improved by the plant. We’ve seen hundreds of companies come and go, high hopes become failed dreams, and witnessed the weed rising from the ashes as the green rush crested.

Today the industry is once again full of people who care about the plant and those who need it, largely because we are the only ones left. Everyone looking to get rich quickly either did or failed, and those who hoped for nothing more than a chance to grow legally are once again at the forefront of the cultural movement that is Cannabis. And just like the early Earth, it’s the sum of those who’ve had an impact that have built the layers we stand on today.

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This issue honors a lot of those people, but being the nature of a list, doesn’t include many of the wonderful contributors to our amazing movement – we’d probably need a whole year’s worth of issues for that. With that spirit in mind, I hope you enjoy our first Impact Issue. And if you have a nomination for a future list, please shoot us an email or DM on social!

-Wes Abney

NORTHWEST LEAF / OREGON LEAF / ALASKA LEAF / MARYLAND LEAF / CALIFORNIA LEAF / NORTHEAST LEAF

POST-ACCIDENT MARIJUANA TEST POSITIVITY REACHES RECORD

LEGALIZATION HEADS TO FLORIDA SUPREME COURT

ATTORNEY GENERAL Ashley Moody in May formally submitted a proposed adult-use marijuana ballot initiative to the Florida Supreme Court. AG Moody signaled she will argue the proposal doesn’t meet legal requirements to go before voters in 2024. The political committee Smart & Safe Florida is sponsoring the proposed constitutional amendment. The group has far exceeded the 222,881 petition signatures needed to trigger a crucial Supreme Court review. The Supreme Court reviews issues such as whether proposed constitutional amendments are limited to single subjects and whether the proposed ballot language is clear.

MONTCLAIR: JERSEY’S CANNABIS CAPITAL?

MONTCLAIR, N.J. , has granted four more licenses to Cannabis businesses – moving the city closer to becoming the “marijuana capital of New Jersey.”

In May, the town council awarded two more recreational licenses – bringing the total to three with Ascend, which opened last fall.

The percentage of employees in the general U.S. workforce testing positive for marijuana following an on-the-job accident increased to its highest level in 25 years in 2022, according to a new analysis released in May by Quest Diagnostics, a provider of diagnostic information services.

In 2022, post-accident marijuana positivity of urine drug tests in the general U.S. workforce was 7.3%, compared to 6.7% in 2021. The new peak follows a steady increase in post-accident marijuana positivity every year from 2012 to 2022. In that 10-year timeframe, postaccident marijuana positivity increased 204.2%. From 2002 to 2009, post-accident marijuana positivity declined.

"The new peak follows a steady increase in postaccident marijuana positivity every year from 2012 to 2022."

CANNABIS PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT HEALTH HELP

THE USE of medical marijuana is associated with “significant improvements” in quality of life for people with conditions like chronic pain and insomnia. Those effects are “largely sustained” over time, according to a new study published in May by the American Medical Association (AMA). Researchers carried out a retrospective case series analysis that involved 3,148 people in Australia. Patients were prescribed medical Cannabis for the treatment of certain eligible conditions. For all eight wellbeing indicators that were tested, marijuana appeared to help. Adverse side effects were “rarely serious,” according to the study.

These increases in post-accident marijuana positivity correspond with legalization of marijuana in certain states. In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize for adult use. Since then, 19 additional states and the District of Columbia have followed, while 38 states (plus DC) have legalized medical use. Either kind of use remains illegal under federal law.

"Intoxicating Cannabis products, including marijuana, can have a major impact on safety at work and have been proven to slow reaction time, impact memory and impair skills essential to driving. State legalization of the drug creates new challenges for employers," said Katie Mueller, a senior program manager at the National Safety Council focusing on Cannabis safety. "The Quest data provides compelling evidence that increased use of Cannabis products by employees can contribute to greater risk for injuries in the workplace. It is imperative employers take the proper steps to create and maintain a policy that addresses Cannabis use, build a safety-focused culture and educate the workforce to keep all workers safe on and off the job."

MINNESOTA ONE STEP CLOSER TO LEGALIZATION

LEGAL ADULT-USE CANNABIS is almost certainly coming to Minnesota, with lawmakers signing off in May on a final version of the bill. The conference committee agreed on a state tax of 10% on top of sales taxes – with 80% going to the state mainly to fund the Office of Cannabis Management and 20% going to local governments. Residents may possess up to two pounds in their home, and two ounces everywhere else.

N.M. ADDS INSOMNIA AS QUALIFYING CONDITION

INSOMNIA will soon be a qualifying condition to obtain medical marijuana in New Mexico. “From a health equity perspective, medical Cannabis can offer a legal alternative to the expensive medications sometimes utilized by those suffering with insomnia,” announced the state’s medical marijuana program. The Department of Health’s Medical Cannabis Program will allow the condition to qualify for enrollment starting in June.

One went to two Montclair entrepreneurs, George Marable and Eric Payne. They plan to open Night Owl at the site of the former DLV Lounge on Bloomfield Avenue. Marable owned the iconic jazz venue, which closed in December after 50 years. The second recreational license was granted to Kush Connections. Licenses for cultivation and manufacturing were granted by the council in April. Both of these businesses, Genuine Grow and TLEHL, will share space at 154 Pine Street, currently under renovation.

normalization

MICHIGAN MOVES TO END PRE-EMPLOYMENT TESTING FOR GOV. WORKERS

Michigan officials are proposing to end preemployment drug testing for marijuana for most government job applicants, while also giving people who’ve already been penalized over positive THC tests an opportunity to have the sanction retroactively rescinded.

The Michigan Civil Service Commission released the proposed amendments to the government’s employment code in May, opening a public comment period on the two policies.

“Michigan voters legalized marijuana’s medicinal use in 2008 and recreational use by adults in 2018.”

“Michigan voters legalized marijuana’s medicinal use in 2008 and recreational use by adults in 2018,” John Gnodtke, the state’s personnel director, wrote in a memo.

“In light of these changes, commissioners have requested circulation for public comment of potential regulation amendments to end the pre-employmenttesting requirement for marijuana for classified employees hired into non-test-designated positions.”

$13m

$202m

of those between 18 and 30 say federal marijuana policies keep them from applying for jobs.

of the Earth’s population uses marijuana, according to the U.S. Government.

is the amount of growth in Florida’s medical marijuana patient count in the past two years.

71%

adult-use Cannabis outlets were operating in Pennsylvania in January 2023.

of Cannabis was sold in Missouri during the first weekend of legalization in 2023.

of adult-use marijuana was sold in Montana during the first year of the program.

W H E R E Y O U R

B U D T E N D E R S H O P S .

• B E S T M E N U I N S O N O M A C O U N T Y

• E D U C A T E D B U D T E N D E R S

• F I R S T T I M E S H O P P E R A N D

V E T E R A N D I S C O U N T S

• D A I L Y S P E C I A L S

w w w f o r m c o

• E X C L U S I V E D R O P S

• L O Y A L T Y P O I N T S

THE SOIRÉE ON THE BAY

A familiar and familial energy marked the return of the Emerald Cup awards to the Bay Area in May. Now in its nineteenth year, the storied awards ceremony moved to the Craneway Pavilion on the Richmond waterfront. Hopeful competitors and craft-conscious connoisseurs of the California Cannabis community filled the space with the cacophony of excited conversation as everyone waited for the ceremony to begin.

This time presented by rolling paper producer OCB, the Cup once again featured a deep bench of terpene-rich sungrown flower – a staple of the awards since the event’s birth in Mendocino nearly two decades ago. Some of the best indoor flower on the planet once again made its return, feeling more at home in its second year of inclusion in the Cup.

Adding a distinctly baller vibe to the proceedings, Guild Extracts supplied their legendary yacht to the event, serving as the VIP lounge for the competitors and sponsors, disembarking for occasional smokedout cruises around the Bay. Celebrated event producer and activist Alex Aquino earned the Trailblazer Award – one of a number of honorary awards given to those who’ve made significant contributions

Rebel Grown walked away with the coveted hardware for Best Sungrown Flower for its Double OG Chem #15, thrilling the fans of old school OG and Chem terps. The farm also won the Sungrown Breeder’s Cup Award with that strain.

The insanely delicious Ridgeline Lantz won both the Mixed-Light Flower Award and the MixedLight Breeder’s Cup Award, cementing the fairly new cultivar’s place in the ranks.

The vibe this year was one of hopeful anticipation tempered with battle-weathered weariness, as an ever-evolving community once again gathered to take stock after surviving another year of change.

The vibe this year was one of hopeful anticipation tempered with battle-weathered weariness, as an ever-evolving community once again gathered to take stock after surviving another year of change. New players and familiar faces mingled, the highlights were many, and one thing was for certain: The California Cannabis community still loves to party.

to the community over the years. Other honorary awards went to the Hash Queen, Mila Janssen, who received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, Weldon Angelos who was given the Social Justice Award, as well as Amber Senter (Visionary Award) and Soma (Breeders Hall of Fame Award).

Hash and other products made with Huckleberry Hill’s famed flower once again took the podium multiple times during the night, with their Heritage Hash collabs winning Best Ice Water Hash (Whitethorn Rose Live Bubble Hash) and Best Infused Solventless Pre-Roll (Whitethorn Rose flower x Whitethorn Rose Bubble Hash).

Space Gems’ Wendy Baker won the coveted Best Gummy Award for her Sour Spacedrops, and Moonstone Medicinals bested the beverage category with their Herba Mate Lemon Mint.

One of the biggest thrills of the night was seeing the legacy legends from Fig Farms win Best Indoor Flower, as well as overall Best in Show for their Blue Face – a cross between Face Off OG and Animal Mints.

As ceremony emcee El Rock took the show to a close and Tim and Taylor Blake prepared for the all-night party that’s the staple of the Emerald Cup experience, one thing was for certain: The Emerald Cup and the California Cannabis community had done it again.

EMERALD CUP AWARDS | POINT RICHMOND | MAY 12, 2023

NEW KIDS IN THE HALL

It was a time of change and new beginnings as Hall of Flowers, the Cannabis trade show for new and exciting products, combined its northern and southern editions this year to create one unified event. The Cannabis industry in California has undoubtedly changed, especially in the last few years. As its reflection, so has the Hall of Flowers. There were some notable absences at the 2023 show, creating room for the next class of stars to rise up at the changing of the guard. The last iteration was a short six months before and it felt like that was a sort of graduation for some of the household name brands we were used to seeing. Now, a whole new pack of faces have taken up positions on the varsity squad. This new era of Cannabis is still defining itself. It’s as if we’re watching a new iteration of Hall of Flowers take shape now that brands are faced with a fervent need to quantify ROI. Just like a new actor stepping into an established role, there’s going to be an episode or two required to create a new rhythm, new characters, and a slightly different appearance. Also missing were many of the overwhelming activations with their blinking lights, mascots and gimmicks –

replaced instead with a one-on-one outreach approach. The undeniable truth is that companies have less of a budget to wow retailers and consumers, and these days they need to know that every dart they throw hits a target. Talking with vendors about how they felt about this year, each one agreed that the event was quieter but seemed like a success from a business standpoint, as they found more time to devote to individual connections and less competition from flashy, over-funded booths. Instead, there was the addition of a smaller farm section that highlighted companies like Sol Shine and Bigfoot Cannabis Co.

Hall of Flowers is an amazing opportunity for the industry to get together, present our newest developments, and if nothing else, look around the room and see that there’s a considerable amount of people in this industry still pushing the rock. There will no doubt be an important dialogue between vendors and organizers as they continue to flush out how this next evolution should look. We at Leaf Magazine are excited to see how our industry, and Hall of Flowers, continues to adapt and change with the times.

HALL OF FLOWERS | SANTA ROSA | MAY 3-4, 2023

This new era of cannabis is still defining itself. It’s as if we’re watching a new iteration of Hall of Flowers take shape.

BLUNTS +MOORE BLUNTS +MOORE

“With multiple options for every type of product category imagi nable, Blunts + Moore has one of the heftiest and most thorough menus we’ve ever come across.”

OAKLAND ROOTS

Blunts + Moore is the first social equity licensed dispensary in the world – an accomplishment that has become the realization of a dream for Co-Founder and Owner Tucky Blunt after decades of boots-on-the-ground work selling Cannabis. Born and raised in Oakland, Blunt began selling weed at just 16 years old and like many, eventually caught a charge for the act – landing him on probation and putting his name on permanent record. In a twist of fate, what was originally intended to be a detrimental mark on his name ultimately became the key for Blunt’s ability to level up, go legit and open Blunts + Moore through Oakland’s social equity program. The dispensary was launched in 2018 in partnership with the well-known, top shelf, indoor flower brand Grizzly Peak Farms. This unique ownership structure of street-bred entrepreneur and legacy cultivator demonstrates the business’s grassroots approach and should give East Bay residents greater incentive to skip their closest dispensary and take a drive to Blunts + Moore to support tenured, local operators who are authentic members of the community making the leap to the legal market.

STELLAR STAFF

There is something about the energy of the staff at Blunts + Moore that feels unique – distinctly more fun and excited than most – and it stands out in a great way. There’s a certain type of pride one exudes when one loves their work, and it’s this joyful exuberance that permeates the air inside the shop. Upon every visit, their team seems genuinely stoked to engage, assist, recommend and guide me through their expansive menu. The budtending staff at Blunts + Moore seems to be well-educated and possess above average product knowledge – a big plus considering the size and scale of the menu here.

THE GOODS

Owner Tucky Blunt has been quoted as saying that he wants Blunts + Moore to be somewhat of a “Walmart of weed” – and the menu here certainly supports that statement. With multiple options for every type of product category imaginable, Blunts + Moore has one of the heftiest and most thorough menus we’ve ever come across. Not only do they carry every type of Cannabis product you could want, they also stock varying quality levels to satisfy everyone from the budget-conscious to the budconscious (and everyone in between). This sort of all-in approach to the menu means that Blunts + Moore is built to provide a quality experience with product options for all consumer demographics, including approximately 400 SKUs from brands such as Jetty, High Desert Pure, Ember Valley, Buddies and CAM.

THE FUTURE

With the departure of the Golden State Warriors to San Francisco, and now the impending departure of the Oakland Athletics to Las Vegas, Blunts + Moore’s proximity to a major sports destination could be coming to a close. However, when one door closes another door opens – and a new chapter for the business began with the launch of their consumption lounge late last year. They are one of the only active lounges in Oakland and one of only a handful in existence in the greater Bay Area. Additionally, the vacancy of the adjacent stadiums and massive parking lots means that bids for redevelopment are already underway. Low-income housing, retail space and even a single mega-stadium with accompanying shopping complex have been identified as appealing options for the 200-acre space that sits directly across the street from Blunts + Moore.

Despite the loss of the massive crowd the A’s and Warriors historically brought in, the future is bright for Blunts + Moore. Oakland continues to redefine itself as a city and community year over year. Moving in sync with the city in which it was born, Blunts + Moore continues to evolve, expand and entrench itself as one of the greats in California’s world-famous Cannabis community.

OAKLAND

JAMES LANGILL

Blunts + Moore Owner Tucky Blunt.

At first glance, Punch Extracts’ new Half & Half series looks like an expensive deconstructed appetizer. Combining two different consistencies in one jar, this new round of collaborations between Punch and Sonoma County’s Valley Grove Farms creates a miniature terp-cuterie board, allowing you a chance to experience a strain in subtly different ways.

1987 PAKISTANI CITRÖEN HASHPLANT X DEAD HEAD OG

For this month’s feature, we quickly zeroed in on this Lem OG that had a fresh press and badder version inside. Bred by Lempire Farm Seeds in Mendocino, this well-known cultivar crosses a 1987 Pakistani Citröen Hashplant with Dead Head OG. It’s the strain that scored second place for rosin at the 2015 Emerald Cup, and third for ice hash in 2017 – known for dumping hash and having extremely expressive limonene terps.

The badder is soft and sticky with a look similar to natural sea sponges, and the fresh press is a seethrough amber with just a little bit of streaking in there – making the whole thing look like a course of sea urchin and gelatin. I personally loved watching little flecks of the badder get trapped in the fresh press like some kind of gelatinous slime creature taking over.

Alone, the fresh press has a flavor that’s light and lemony at the start, with an effervescent aftertaste and a decently expressive OG funk in the middle. Just the badder gives you about 80% of that lemon flavor, but trades the other 20% in for some OG terps on the back end that’ll light you up like some smelling salts. Together, it’s sweet lemon with a thick OG sidekick escorting the citrus through the crowd.

When we asked Punch Extracts what their favorite part of the collab was, they said getting to take those globs of flavorful badder and dip them into the cold cure – creating a super terpy experience they lovingly refer to as a “glazed donut dab.”

These consistency combos are a great way to diversify your stash or mix up your daily dab ritual. Similar to the way video game fans can switch out alternate skins for their favorite characters, you can now do so with your favorite concentrates as well.

“Together, it’s sweet lemon with a thick OG sidekick escorting the citrus through the crowd.”

Equity Trade Network

making the mark making the mark

When it comes to how we shop, a symbol can make all the difference.

WHAT I’M REFERRING TO is a little green circle called the Equity Trade Certification mark. It certifies that a jar of Cannabis was produced by a brand that qualifies for Cannabis Social Equity programs. The concept was created back in 2016 to help secure shelf space with retailers, as well as inform consumers about what supporting equity-owned brands actually means.

Equity Trade Network describes their certified member brands as businesses owned and operated by Black, Brown, Indigenous, LGBTQ, Veteran, or system-impacted people. Its dedicated board includes powerhouses like Ishaq Ali, Richard Ng, Chelsea Candelaria, Terryn Buxton, and co-founders Nina Parks and Ramon Garcia.

Parks is a consultant, Cannabis advocate, creator of the brand Gift of Doja, and a founding member of Supernova Women, which promotes women of color within the industry. Garcia, a second-generation activist and cultivator, has worked with the National Cannabis Industry Association, the Cannabis Distributors Association and the California Growers Association.

The project took shape around 2016 when Garcia, Parks and others were working with the city of Oakland to develop equity license types for communities that have been disproportionately wronged by the criminalization of

Cannabis. The next problem they faced was after they informed people of the problem, they had no clear suggestions to give them on how to support the cause when they picked up a jar at their local dispensary.

As more and more brands hit the market with a huge variety of marketing and packaging, consumers were faced with a constantly shifting array of options and no way to make sure their purchases were supporting the kind of farms and producers that aren't owned by large corporate interests. Garcia and Parks noticed that this was something consumers were already doing for their apples and coffee, so what was the barrier keeping that from translating into Cannabis?

Garcia points out that much of the organic and fairtrade movements came out of social justice issues and wanting to know where your money is going. Does your purchase support a living wage for members that are invested in their community and their commodity? Just like the green dot or the Fairtrade mark, what they needed was a recognized emblem that could help people identify these options, or lack thereof, in their local markets.

What they developed was a trademark to not only provide a visual representation for consumers, but also hold accountable anyone that was merely paying lip service to the community. In March of 2021, the U.S. Patent Office approved trademark registration for the Equity Trade certification mark. This federally recognized certification identifies businesses with 50% or more ownership by someone who's gone through a local city, county or state equity program.

As Parks highlighted, "What we're looking for is for folks to become more conscious as consumers. Being able to shop equity trade allows you to vote with your dollar to say you support equity networks, you support people who have been harmed by the war on drugs’ policies." Over 30 brands have become certified members and they’ve also had people pledge to become official allies to the network.

The organization itself has been an invaluable resource for smaller equity brands that are looking for resources, or just a community to talk to about the issues surrounding licensing, cultivation and distribution. Their impact is already creating lasting changes for brands all throughout California, but with this federally recognized mark, they’re impacting markets all over the country.

Thanks to the Equity Trade Network, we can tell what’s actually benefiting our community when we shop at a dispensary – and it’s as simple as looking at the symbol on the jar.

What they developed was a trademark to not only provide a visual representation for consumers, but also hold accountable anyone that was merely paying lip service to the community.

When it comes to how we shop for Cannabis, there’s something you should be looking for and it’s not the THC percentage.

Moves Major Marketing

Cookies & DC

The Dark Knight has appeared on a number of traditional cookies throughout the years, but when they dropped a series with Cookies using the iconic Bronze Age costume, the internet went wild. It’s hard to not have your jaw hit the floor when you see an icon like DC agree to share in stoners’ love for comic books, and really drops the bat-hammer on how crazy far we’ve come since “Shadow of The Bat,” Issue 56. @dcofficial | @cookiesenterprises

zig-zag & flowermill

alien labs huf

After getting their next-level merch into select Zumiez stores, Sacramento’s extra-terprestrials partnered with Kieth Hufnagel’s pioneering lifestyle brand HUF to launch a merch collection that includes a bomber jacket, basketball jersey, and custom porcelain UFO incense holder made by Yeenjoy Studios. The teams at HUF and Alien Labs dreamed up the apparel collection by infusing it with a healthy dose of ‘90s skateboarding and anime – a recipe that’s always been a part of AL’s impressive merch drops. @alienlabs | @hufworldwide

adidas & south park

While the name Zig-Zag has always been synonymous with stoner culture, it was only this year that they made any official moves to identify with it openly. While you could see it in their booth at the 2023 Hall of Flowers, it was most apparent when they partnered with Cannabis accessory company Flower Mill to drop a branded Cannabis grinder (though fans of the brand will be quick to point out it doesn’t exactly grind).

@zigzagworld | @flowermillusa

In 2021, Adidas partnered with South Park to drop a 420 version of their Campus 80 shoe – inspired by the character Towlie with eyes that turned red in the sun. In 2023, they dropped a “Crop” Campus 80 which was covered in a removable rolling paper that revealed a rich green suede. Vans, Reebok and other shoe brands have begun to embrace the stoner holiday with special models – something Nike first started back in 2004.

@adidas | @southpark

puffco & arizona iced tea

One of Puffco’s cult classic creations got a special 420 overhaul thanks to a partnership with AriZona Iced Tea in 2023. The coffee cup-looking bong known as the Cupsy was upgraded with a custom 420 colorway and pink-tinted glass base, styled with the unmistakable cherry blossom design from AriZona’s Green Tea can. The beverage giant says their customers are their biggest inspiration, and this showed an acceptance of stoners as a recognizable consumer base. @puffco | @drinkarizona

kiva & fatburger

Getting the munchies is part of the stoner identity and fast food chains have enjoyed our allegiance over the years, but in 2023, Fatburger created a special release for potheads with California’s edible champions Kiva. No stranger to thinking outside the kitchen, Kiva has released Thanksgiving Gravy and Holiday Hot Chocolate in the past. As a limited promotion, the pair created the first 10mg ketchup –dubbed a ‘canndiment’ – that you could use to spice up your burger or fries. @madebykiva | @fatburger

STORY by MATT JACKSON @ACTIONMATTJACKSON

A look at the iconic brands now catering to stoner culture. Because stoners spend money, too.

The impact Cannabis has had on marketing cannot be ignored. Even with the Super Bowl turning down the chance for a weed-themed halftime commercial, iconic companies have still crossed the aisle and formed historic partnerships with Cannabis brands over the last five years.

HIGH SIGNS

Sign language brought medical marijuana growers Angela and Jared Panks together. Now, this creative couple is

Cannabis community communicate.

FATE IS A CURIOUS THING … some people go their entire lives without ever truly finding their place in the world, while others are fortunate enough to have the universe show them a sign early on to point them in the direction of their destiny. Such seems to be the case with Jared Panks.

Jared grew up the son of a guerilla marijuana grower in southern Oregon – smoking by 13 and growing by 16. Besides weed, Jared’s other teenage hobby was playing hockey, which he learned by playing with several local adults, one of whom happened to be deaf. As the two that differed from the rest of the group, they formed a bond, and his new friend began teaching him some basic sign language. Little did he realize at the time how much learning the ASL alphabet would soon change the trajectory of his life – thanks to an unexpected encounter with a girl named Angela, who would eventually become his wife.

HEEDING THE SIGNS

Angela had quite a bit in common with Jared: She’d also grown up in southern Oregon, had started smoking weed around the

same age (sneaking joints at a hippie party in Keno near Klamath Falls), and also had family members who were guerilla growers – not only her dad, but uncle and grandfather as well. But there was one big difference between Angela and Jared (and, in fact, most of the other kids in their area) – Angela was born deaf.

As it happened, the two teens ended up in the same church youth group but never officially met until one fateful afternoon when the group went out wakeboarding and Angela started having trouble.

“I went in the water trying to wakeboard, and I was struggling, trying to get up,” Angela recalls. “People were trying to yell at me to tell me what to do, but I couldn’t hear them.”

Seeing her start to panic and realizing her situation, Jared instinctively sprang into action.

“I jumped out, swam over to her, and started finger spelling everything that she needed to do, trying to communicate for the first time while I was treading water,” he explains.

“Thanks to his help, I was able to get onto the board … and after that, I had a crush on him,” Angela confesses.

Since the two teenagers were in relationships with other people, nothing came of the encounter and they continued on separate paths – Angela later got married and had kids, while Jared studied to become a firefighter paramedic in Salem. But the experience in the lake never left him.

“It gave me a different perspective on life,” he reflects. “I remember praying, and God putting that image in my mind of being in the lake interpreting for Angela because she needed it. I started thinking about how useful it would be in emergency services, so that became my second language.”

Just two months into his classes, Jared used his knowledge to help paramedics save the life of the infant of a deaf couple who’d accidentally ingested heroin. He took it as another sign from above. “After that, I was like, ‘OK, I hear you, God.’”

LOVE CONNECTION

Fast forward to 2013: Angela was divorced and single for two years, and Jared was working for the forest service in California. Having never forgotten that girl in the lake, Jared

developing their own new sign language specifically to help the

TONY SIMONELLI

“There's no sign language for regenerative farming or Cannabis or natural sciences. So we decided to build a foundation and create our own language."

HOW

TO SIGN

looked her up on Facebook and sent her a friend request.

“I wasn’t looking for a relationship. After my divorce, I didn’t trust anybody – I just wanted to be on my own,” explains Angela. “So when I got his friend request, I almost deleted it … but I thought he looked familiar, so I said ‘fuck it’ and I accepted it. As soon as I did, he sent me a message saying, ‘Do you remember me from back in the day?’ And I was like, ‘Oh yeah.’”

“I told her that I went to college and studied sign language and how she’d changed my life,” Jared says. “Then we FaceTimed, and as soon as we started talking again, she just fell in love with me right there.”

HOME GROWN OREGONICX

By this point, both of them had been separately working on Cannabis farms for several years: Jared, running his dad’s grow after his debilitating spinal surgery in 2006, and Angela helping at a farm as part of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program since 2005. Eventually, Angela started a medical grow of her own on her one-acre property in Grants Pass — supplying Cannabis just to herself and her deaf friend Brandy at first, then later selling to local dispensaries. After the couple got together, they expanded their cultivation efforts, started driving to dispensaries all around the state together soliciting business, and building their own sustainable medical Cannabis brand: Home Grown ORegonicX. Sadly, that dream ended for them in 2015 with the passage of Measure 91, legalizing recreational adult use.

“Rec killed that opportunity for us,” Jared laments. “We were in 70 stores all over Oregon, and then they suddenly closed our access to sell legally to those stores. There’s no justice for the medical farmer.”

says Jared. “It’s about the need, and giving people opportunities to live a better life.”

“Deaf people come from all over the country to learn and do hands-on farming here because they want to learn, and they trust us,” Angela adds proudly.

DEAFINING CANNABIS

This caring couple now devotes their lives to educating deaf people about Cannabis and regenerative agriculture – not only on their farm, but online as well. In February 2020, they started a Facebook group for deaf growers called Deafining Cannabis where they answer questions, offer advice and post educational videos. It was this name and concept that they adopted for their latest and most impactful project yet: developing their own Cannabis-related signs.

“We’d go to different Cannabis events and we’d see that there were no interpreters, so I would interpret for Angela and our team,” Jared explains. “But we’d lose our train of thought since I had to fingerspell so many words because there were no signs for those words.”

its own name – one that’s more positive.”

To determine what that sign should be, they launched the “Three Words Project” – walking around at Cannabis events with a video camera asking prominent people in the Cannabis industry/community what three words best defined Cannabis for them.

“A lot of people would say community, love, inspiration, healing, mission – it was all about coming from the heart,” Angela says. “So when we were thinking of the word to appropriately represent the inspiration behind Cannabis, it’s a letter ‘C’ tracing the outline of your heart, because a lot of it comes from love.”

DEAFINING.ORG

“We wanted to do educational videos for our deaf community, but how can you when you don’t have language?” Angela asks. “There’s no sign language for regenerative farming or Cannabis or natural sciences. So we decided to build a foundation and create our own language.”

Without the ability to legally sell to dispensaries, they did the only thing they could do: scale down their grow (from 80 to 48, and now just 12 plants) and provide medicine only for themselves and their patients in the deaf community, even though it meant operating at a loss.

FB.COM/HOMEGROWNORX ANGELA IN THEIR GARDEN.

In developing their new sign language for our culture, they naturally started with the most obvious word: Cannabis. There were already two signs for marijuana in ASL, but both had derogatory drug connotations to them – so the Panks decided to come up with a better one.

The couple has since developed signs for sativa, indica, hybrid, terpenes, extract, cannabinoids, endocannabinoid system and mycelium, as well as starting a nonprofit and website – Deafining – planning to eventually use their many hours of footage to produce a documentary and educational video series. They also hope to someday revive their Cannabis business in the modern legal market using the new 60-acre plot they purchased five years ago, so they can once again provide their dank medicine to the masses. Unfortunately, though, all of these projects require funding – which has been in short supply lately.

“Money’s been a struggle,” Jared reiterates. “We’re making it work, but it’s crucial for us to find sponsorships and do some fundraising to help with it.”

“We’ve kept going and providing for our patients because it’s not about the money,”

“We really wanted to create a sign that represents Cannabis well – gives it its own identity,

SIGNING ON STAGE AT THE EMERALD CUP.

PLEASE VISIT LEAFMAGAZINES.COM FOR MORE SIGNING EXAMPLES AND VIDEOS OF THE DUO AT WORK.

HOW TO SIGN " TERPENES " 1 2 3 4 5 STORY

by BOBBY BLACK

STARBERRY

CULTIVATED BY SAFFY

Sungrown flowers can have some of the most pronounced effects of any kind of Cannabis. With the Emerald Cup, California’s yearly celebration of sungrown just behind us, there’s no better time than to focus on some of the incredible outdoor flower options that are coming out of the Emerald Triangle.

The first Jamaican-owned equity brand in Humboldt County, Saffy operates a five-acre farm in Northern California not far from the Van Duzen River. They grow in light-deprivation greenhouses to produce Cannabis using natural conditions, but with a smaller ecological footprint.

This special cultivar crosses the legendary Strawberry Cough with Stardawg for a sativa-leaning strain featuring a wild takeoff that drops into a smooth ride. While it’s not harsh, you do find it lives up to the name with a fruit flavor that seems trapped in the exhale. After a couple of healthy coughs in the beginning, everything starts to lazily sway down the river like a boat in a Disneyland attraction.

Light on the aroma, you can pick up a little hint of chem straight out of the bag or jar – but once you squeeze the buds, you get waves of fruit that start to emerge. These nugs, while not fluffy, have that elongated shape with segmented bud sites that snap off into bowl or bong rip-sized pieces.

After you’ve ground it up, the smell is spicy and peppery with a little fruit on the back, but it’s more of a barely-ripened, semi-sweet kind of fruit. Getting into the dry inhale increases that up to about 50% of the flavor, but it’s not until you light up that the two halves start to mix together in the sauce.

Almost from the jump, the fruit will hit the turbo boost and start leaving the spicy, chemy flavor in the dust … until it burns up in the atmosphere and gets trapped in the cough and exhale. With nothing in its way, the rest of the flavor wraps your tongue and taste buds in a rich fullness that manages to soak up the fruit flavor like a sponge cake. As you smoke, that fruit just keeps living in the back while the full-bodied flavor remains dominant and the high creeps up.

Saffy’s Starberry Cough is the total package: pleasant high, nice flavor, good looks – and still leaves you with enough left over for lunch. All good reasons to take a moment to experience some sungrown Cannabis.

REVIEW by MATT JACKSON @ACTIONMATTJACKSON for CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTO by TOM BOWERS @CANNABOMBTOM HAVE A LEAD ON SOME SERIOUS FIRE? EMAIL

HIGHLIGHTING THE PEOPLE AND COMPANIES CHANGING THE CANNABIS LANDSCAPE

dr. amanda reiman

CHIEF KNOWLEDGE OFFICER

NEW FRONTIER DATA/FOUNDER | PERSONAL PLANTS

Northern California-based social ethnobotanist Amanda Reiman, PhD MSW, has been a Cannabis patient, advocate and educator for decades while pioneering the study of the therapeutic value of plants, earning her PhD from UC Berkeley. Dr. Reiman was the first to explore the use of marijuana as a substitute for alcohol and other drugs. Her groundbreaking work in the field of psychoactive plants and social science led to her founding of Personal Plants in 2020, with an emphasis on mindful consumption and a healthy lifestyle. mypersonalplants.com | @personalplants | @dr.amandareiman

stephanie landa

FOUNDER & PRESIDENT | FREEDOM GROW

Sen. Chuck Schumer

U.S. SENATOR

ed rosenthal

A lifelong pot pioneer and activist, Ed Rosenthal’s massive contributions to Cannabis cultivation knowledge helped “Overgrow the Government.” Ed’s books, first published in 1981, and his grow column in High Times in the 1980s and ‘90s, enlightened many thousands of prospective pot farmers. As Tommy Chong said, “Ed holds the distinction of turning more people onto pot than Cheech and Chong.” Ed’s arrest and trials in the early 2000s galvanized the movement and he continues to release new grow books – with his recently revised “Cannabis Grower’s Handbook” being the definitive Cannabis cultivation guide. edrosenthal.com

@edrosenthal420

tom angell

PUBLISHER & EDITOR | MARIJUANA MOMENT

As the creator and curator of the Marijuana Moment website and daily email newsletter, Tom Angell provides vital up-to-the-minute information for the Cannabis culture and industry.

A 20-year veteran in the marijuana law reform movement, Tom has his finger on the pulse of pot policy and politics – and always links primary source documents. Politico called Marijuana Moment “One of the nation’s leading trackers of developments and news in the Cannabis industry,” largely due to Tom and his team’s timely, unique and unbiased approach to reefer reportage. marijuanamoment.net @marijuanamoment | @thisistomangell

A longtime supporter of Cannabis law reform, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is the highest-ranking pot proponent in Washington. He recently labeled federal legalization a top priority and joined Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., to introduce the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act – a measure to decriminalize and deschedule marijuana. Chuck has also been a speaker at the NYC Cannabis Parade for the last three years, saying, “I’m proud to be the first Senate Majority Leader ever to say it's time to end the federal prohibition on Cannabis and bring justice to so many Americans whose lives have been ruined by the War on Drugs.” schumer.senate.gov @senschumer

Stephanie Landa knows firsthand the price paid by those who fell into the hands of law enforcement during the height of pot prohibition. It was during her five-year stint in federal prison for Cannabis cultivation when she learned the importance of money for prisoners to purchase essentials such as socks, stamps, clean drinking water, medicines, etc. She’s now the founder and current president of Freedom Grow Forever, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that works directly on prisoner outreach to help them maintain their dignity while incarcerated and most importantly, regain their freedom. freedomgrow.org @letfreedomgrow

robert "baby boi" jeffrey

PRESIDENT | MASSCANN

evan nison

FOUNDER & PRESIDENT

NISON CO.

Evan got his start in Cannabis law reform early on as a student in Ithaca, New York in 2008. He’s been active and effective ever since as the youngest member of the NORML National Board of Directors. In 2012 he founded Nison Co., and the PR and SEO agency has since become an industry stalwart –representing some of the biggest brands in bud. Marijuana Venture included Evan in their “40 under 40” and The Observer listed Nison Co. at the top of their “Cannabis PR Power List.” nisonco.com @nisoncopr | @nis022

Robert’s activism began as a volunteer at the Boston Freedom Rally, getting an inside look at local legalization efforts and events. As a medical marijuana patient, cultivator and educator, he became a member and then the director of MassCann – the decades-old nonprofit organization that puts on the rally. He was recently voted in as President of the embattled org and pledges to continue the fight, saying, “I’m hopeful that all the work done today will bring a better tomorrow for the community.”masscann.org | @robert_babyboi_jeffrey

jeremy silva FOUNDER | BUILD A SOIL

Over a decade ago, Jeremy Silva started Build A Soil in his Colorado garage with the dream of providing the best growing mediums and natural fertilizers, as well as educating people on the benefits of cultivating Cannabis in living soil. Since then, Build A Soil has become a mainstay in the “back to the future” growing movement that promotes no-till farming, cover crops, oxygenated compost teas and many more sustainable products and natural techniques. buildasoil.com | @buildasoil

“THE GURU OF GANJA"

CHRISTIAN PEACOCK

BY DANNY DANKO @DANNYDANKOHT | TOM BOWERS @CANNABOMBTOM | KATHERINE WOLF @KATADELLIC | BOBBY BLACK @THEBOBBYBLACK | MATT JACKSON @ACTIONMATTJACKSON | AMANDA DAY @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA | MIKE RICKER @RICKERDJ

THE IMPACT List

HIGHLIGHTING THE PEOPLE AND COMPANIES CHANGING THE CANNABIS LANDSCAPE

Eugene Monroe

FORMER NFL PLAYER | FOUNDER OF HEART COMMUNITY

Chosen as the eighth overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Eugene Monroe had a brief but eventful, seven-season career as an offensive tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens. He was the first active player to publicly challenge league policy on Cannabis for pain relief and brain injury treatment in March of 2016, and also championed the plant as an alternative to highly addictive opioids. Monroe was also named chairman of the "Yes on 4" campaign that legalized Cannabis for recreational use in Maryland and formed Heart Community Capital to “build the leading Black-owned MSO.” heartcommunity.com | @eugenegreenmonroe

luke scarmazzo ADVOCATE

As a young father who was sentenced to 22 years under the Kingpin Statute for operating a state-legal Cannabis dispensary in Modesto, Calif., Luke Scarmazzo immediately became a lightning rod for the emancipation and legalization movement. The Cannabis advocate worked from within the system to fight to end the harassment and imprisonment of people for the plant, and advocacy group The Weldon Project (run by Scarmazzo’s former prison mate Weldon Angelos) worked with the White House on commutation of his sentence. After more than 14 years in prison, Scarmazzo was finally freed and has since rejoined his family. He and Angelos’ Project Mission Green continue to fight for the rights of Cannabis consumers and for the emancipation of Cannabis prisoners. @lukescarmazzo

weldon angelos

FOUNDER | THE WELDON PROJECT & PROJECT MISSION GREEN

Advocate Weldon Angelos embodies the concept of impact, both in how he benefited from powerful people who advocated for him, and how he then passed along the power of that advocacy in his work for others. The music producer was sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence of 55 years after a confidential informant testified that he possessed a weapon in the commission of a Cannabis sale – serving 13 years before pressure from his friend Snoop Dogg, other celebrities and high-powered politicians, led to a commutation of the remainder of his sentence. These days he’s a tireless advocate for law reform and clemency for Cannabis prisoners, founding both The Weldon Project and Project Mission Green. projectmissiongreen.org | theweldonproject.org | @weldonangelos

brian "box" brown

CARTOONIST & ILLUSTRATOR | LEGALIZATION NATION

Brian “Box” Brown wondered why legal Cannabis in his native Pennsylvania didn’t hold up to the stuff he found in his travels among other “legal” states. He decided to use his background in visual arts to create a relevant and sometimes scathing comic strip that depicts the pitfalls of over-regulation and consolidation in the licenced industry. Box speaks truth directly to power, simplifying complex topics into easy-to-digest cartoons. His Legalization Nation strip is now syndicated by Hearst Media’s King Features. boxbrown.com | @boxbrown

"fab 5 freddy

brathwaite DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER GRASS IS GREENER DOCUMENTARY

Iconic hip-hop elder statesman, first host of Yo! MTV Raps, video director and Cannabis advocate, Fred Brathwaite has been at the cusp of major movements since the late 1970s. Better known as Fab 5 Freddy, he recently teamed up with pot prisoner Bernard Noble and Curaleaf to create the social equity brand B Noble – drawing attention to the disproportionate impact of the drug war on minorities. His documentary film “Grass is Greener” further articulates the injustice and brutality of prohibition on disadvantaged communities. fab5freddy.com | @fab5freddy

Julio Zenil

EDITOR, REVISTA CÁÑAMO MÉXICO | EVENT PRODUCER, EXPOWEED MÉXICO

Julio Zenil has been at the forefront of Cannabis legalization efforts in Mexico for many years and organized the first Million Marijuana March there 23 years ago. As the editor of Revista CÁÑAMO México and producer of the Expoweed México event, he educates the Spanish-speaking public and politicians on the medicinal and spiritual benefits of marijuana, as well as the excessive negative effects of global prohibition on the Americas. He’s also the founder of Museo del Cáñamo y la Marihuana de México and proprietor of Cañamo Shop – a Cannabis museum and hemp store in Mexico City. canamo.mx | @juleszengram

jackie bryant

HOST, THE PLANT LADY PODCAST | MANAGING EDITOR, SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE

Based in California, Jackie Bryant is an acclaimed journalist, the managing editor of San Diego Magazine and host of The Plant Lady – a podcast about modern Cannabis culture. Bryant's bylines include The New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar, Forbes, and Cannabitch, her very own newsletter with more than 2,000 subscribers. A frequent panel speaker, moderator and judge at conferences and events – her unique voice touches every aspect of the industry. jackiebryantwriting.com | @jacqbry

Garyn Angel FOUNDER & CEO | MAGICAL BRANDS

A thought leader and entrepreneur in the Cannabis industry, Garyn Angel created Magical Brands to transform the way people perceive and use the healing flower. His first development, the Magical Butter machine, streamlines the extraction process and allows consumers to create their own infused Cannabis edibles. Their Magical Gummy Maker transforms extracts into delicious, easy-to-dose Cannabis gummies. The newest arrival, Magical Grow, is an AI-powered smart garden designed to simplify the process of cultivation. Altogether, Garyn Angel’s vision and innovation revolutionized home growing and processing for everyone. magicalbutter.com | @magicalbutter | @garynangel

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THE IMPACT List

HIGHLIGHTING THE PEOPLE AND COMPANIES CHANGING THE CANNABIS LANDSCAPE

cannabis marketing association

INDUSTRY TRADE GROUP

Founded by Lisa Buffo in 2016, the Cannabis Marketing Association is an industry trade group with a mission to bring a positive perception to, and authentic understanding of, Cannabis and its consumers around the world. By supporting industry professionals through career resources, educational events and networking opportunities, the CMA has contributed to more approachable and informative marketing in the Cannabis space. thecannabismarketingassociation.com @cannamarketing

ricardo baca

JOURNALIST | FOUNDER, GRASSLANDS

Ricardo Baca is one of the most widely respected ganja journalists in the game. As a 20-year industry veteran, he was appointed as the first-ever Cannabis editor of The Denver Post in 2013 and founded the news vertical The Cannabist before launching Grasslands in 2016. This “journalism-minded” marketing and PR agency based in Denver empowers brands in highly regulated industries, from Cannabis to psychedelics and spirits – earning him a spot on Fortune’s 7 Most Powerful People in America’s Marijuana Industry and Marketer of the Year by AdCann. mygrasslands.com | @bruvs

40 tons

CANNABIS ACTIVISTS | SOCIAL JUSTICE REFORM

In 2013, Corvain Cooper was sentenced to life in prison for a nonviolent Cannabis offense while states across the nation began to decriminalize possession and personal use. He received a “winning lottery ticket” on the last day of Donald Trump's presidency in 2021: clemency.

After his release, Cooper, along with his team, Loriel and Anthony Alegrete, started 40 Tons with the sole purpose of fighting for social justice and diversity in Cannabis. In addition to their CPG line in California, New York and other states, the brand puts on career conferences, offers educational programs and mentorship, and has set up a foundation to help provide second chances for those who have been impacted by the War on Drugs to work in the legal industry. 40tons.co | @40tonsbrand

nba ATHLETIC LEAGUE

The National Basketball Association recently announced a revolutionary move allowing players to promote and invest in Cannabis companies – one that we can only hope other sporting leagues will soon follow. With Cannabis removed from the league’s drug testing program, players will no longer be penalized for personal use and will also be able to promote and invest in Cannabis companies. Talk about a slam dunk for stoners. nba.com | @nba

women employed in cannabis

FOUNDER | KYRA REED

Founded by Kyra Reed in 2017, Women

Employed in Cannabis is a safe place for all women working with the plant to participate in the mission of creating a fair, just and equitable industry. With a Facebook Group to share resources and support as well as virtual networking events, in-person meetups, and “Women’s Lounges” at Cannabis conferences across the country, WEIC is working to create a more inclusive industry for the next generation of women in weed. womenemployedincannabis.com

rick simpson

MEDICINAL CANNABIS ADVOCATE | FULL EXTRACT CANNABIS OIL

Rick Simpson is the man who first made the extraordinary claim that super-potent, whole-plant Cannabis oil could actually shrink tumors and cure cancer. Though not a doctor or scientist, the humble Canadian engineer began producing the full-spectrum extract Cannabis oil (FECO) that eventually came to be known as “Rick Simpson Oil” (RSO) or “Phoenix Tears” in 2001 – at first, to treat his own skin cancer, then later to supply to thousands of other patients free of charge. For this, he was convicted and forced to flee North America and live in exile in Croatia. It’s not an exaggeration to say that everyone who’s used Cannabis oil to treat their cancer in the past two decades owes Rick Simpson a debt of gratitude.phoenixtears.ca | @ricksimpsonoil

champs trade shows

CANNABIS INDUSTRY EVENTS

CHAMPS was the first trade show of its kind in the Cannabis industry, paving the way for modern-day events like Hall of Flowers (also mentioned on this list) and our very own Leaf Bowls! Since 1999, CHAMPS has been hosting annual trade shows in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Denver, Orlando and Chicago – bringing together some of the most innovative brands, manufacturers, distributors and artists in the space. champstradeshows.com @champstradeshows

EMILY EIZEN

ADOBE STOCK

THE IMPACT List

HIGHLIGHTING THE PEOPLE AND COMPANIES CHANGING THE CANNABIS LANDSCAPE

the emerald cup

GROUNDBREAKING CANNABIS EVENT

Nowadays referred to as the “Academy Awards of Cannabis,” the Emerald Cup started in 2004 as an underground sungrown Cannabis competition among the Emerald Triangle’s outlaw farmers. Run by founder Tim Blake and his daughter Taylor, the Emerald Cup has continued to set the standard for modern-day Cannabis competitions by enlisting the industry's top experts as judges, establishing terpene profile-based judging subcategories, and honoring sustainable farming practices and legacy cultivators. theemeraldcup.com | @theemeraldcup

ana willey OWNER | CAM

In 2018, Anna Willey moved her brand CAM from Colorado to California. Since then she's worked to cement the name and in 2022-23, she became the largest female Cannabis producer in the country when she activated a 2,000-light facility in Sacramento. In May, the company went multi-state by expanding into 30 Pharmacann stores in Colorado – where they first started. Her firm stance that price shouldn’t keep someone from access to quality is why the M in CAM still stands for Medicine. camdispensary.com | @camstr007

laganja estranja

ADVOCATE & ENTERTAINER

Laganja Estranja

is a transgender advocate for Cannabis use and LGBTQ rights. As a professional choreographer and dancer, she believes Cannabis motivates and challenges your creativity. Since first gaining national attention as a contestant on “RuPaul's Drag Race” in 2014, she's gone on to have appearances on “Bong Appetit,” “Now This” and “Getting High with Doug.” She's also created education and outreach with her medicated dance classes, her World of Wonder show “Puff Puff Sessions,” and as co-host of the Twitch streaming series “Misters & Marys with Adam Ill.” laganjaestranja.com

last prisoner project

DRUG REFORM ACTIVISTS

The Last Prisoner Project was founded in 2019 by drug policy reform activist Steve DeAngelo, Cannabis entrepreneur Andrew DeAngelo, and music industry veteran Dean Raise. The organization was born out of the belief that no one should remain incarcerated for Cannabis offenses and focuses on three core criminal justice reform initiatives: release, record clearance and reentry support. LPP has given micro grants to over 300 constituents, matched over 80 with pro-bono attorneys through its Cannabis Justice Initiative, and been involved in freeing over 70 Cannabis prisoners nationwide. lastprisonerproject.org

@lastprisonerproject

jimi devine

JOURNALIST | FOUNDER, TRANS BAY CHALLENGE

Bringing both the hype and the heat via bylines in every major pot publication and weed website, journalist Jimi Devine has emerged as one of the most popular and prolific voices in marijuana media in the past several years. In addition to his editorial endeavors, Jimi is also the man behind one of Northern California’s hottest new happenings: the Trans Bay Challenge – a one-day connoisseur Cannabis competition/party launched in the fall of 2019 and designed to determine the best bud in the Bay. jimidevine.com | @thejimidevine

grassroots california

CLOTHING BRAND | DESIGNERS

When it comes to the headiest of hats, there’s no topping the team over at Grassroots California. Founded by former real estate financier Ryan "Ruga" Connolly in 2008 as a passion project born out of his love for music, fashion and weed, the Denver-headquartered company quickly became renowned for their high-quality, custom-embroidered ball cap designs – including countless celebrity collabs and limited artist editions. Today, what began as a mere backpack trap on the Venice Beach boardwalk is a multi-million-dollar streetwear brand in 300 stores worldwide. grassrootscalifornia.com | @grassrootscalifornia

@laganjaestranja

Ali Jamalian

OWNER, SUNSET CONNECT | CHAIRMAN, SAN FRANCISCO

CANNABIS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

Successful businessman, equity operator, Owner of Sunset Connect, Chairman of the San Francisco Cannabis Oversight Committee, and former plug for half of SF – these are all ways to describe Ali Jamalian. With 20+ years of experience, Ali is a rallying force for Bay Area Cannabis producers, dispensary owners and industry personalities alike. This year he helped gain national attention for the plight of Bay Area shop owners and dispensary workers who have seen a dangerous rise in armed robberies. sunsetconnect.co | @jahmillion415

cannabis media council

CANNABIS MEDIA/PR

Just formed in September 2022, the Cannabis Media Council is a nonprofit group comprised of an impressive roster of media, marketing and PR professionals from prominent publications, organizations and corporations whose mission is to foster a positive public perception towards Cannabis. Their inaugural campaign, entitled “I’m High Right Now,” targets older Americans with the message that contrary to the myths of harm, Cannabis can actually improve their daily lives. cannabismediacouncil.com | @cannabismediacouncil

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THE IMPACT List

HIGHLIGHTING THE PEOPLE AND COMPANIES CHANGING THE CANNABIS LANDSCAPE montell williams

TALK SHOW HOST | CANNABIS ADVOCATE

Famous for his daytime talk show, Montel Williams gives a voice to Cannabis patients all over the country. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999, doctors suggested Cannabis for pain in 2001. Williams has said it was the medicinal use of Cannabis, not traditional medications, that allowed him to continue the show until 2008. Since then, he's spoken on behalf of patients in front of state legislatures, created his own brand of products, and started the informational show "Let's Be Blunt." letsbebluntmontel.com | @montel_williams

origins council

CANNABIS ADVOCATES

In 2019, this Northern California-based nonprofit advocacy group was created to help promote legacy Cannabis farmers and the areas they live in. Key to their mission is establishing a nationally and internationally recognized map for regions that have a long history of producing Cannabis. They’ve developed partnerships in Massachusetts, Maine, Oregon and Vermont, as well as a regional council made up of six different counties in California. In 2023, they partnered with scientists, researchers and the Cannabis Equity Policy Council to launch a two-year study surrounding legacy Cannabis in California. originscouncil.org | @originscouncil

thc nyc

ART GALLERY

hall of flowers

CANNABIS B2B EVENT

Started in 2018, Hall of Flowers is a business-to-business event focused on presenting the latest offerings and innovations from the Cannabis industry. Over two days vendors present at their booths, interacting directly with dispensary purchasers and industry professionals, while the surrounding spaces are made into comfortable lounges to take meetings and sample products. In 2022, they opened up second-day attendance to budtenders. Since launching in Northern California, it's expanded to include shows in Las Vegas and Toronto.

hallofflowers.com | @hall_of_flowers

mary pryor

CO-FOUNDER, CANNACLUSIVE | OWNER, SHEBA BABY!

spannabis

INTERNATIONAL CANNABIS TRADE SHOW

The largest Cannabis gathering in Europe, Spannabis is held yea rly in the city of Barcelona. Twenty-five thousand people attended in 2023, traveling from over 50 different countries and uniting a worldwide passion for the plant. While the show has live music, food vend ors, on-site tattooing and tons of prize wheels, there are also hall s full of nutrient companies, accessory brands and seed vendors from around the globe. It's estimated this year's event had an over 8 million euro fiscal impact on the city. spannabis.es | @spannabisbcn

alice reis

FOUNDER & CEO | GIRLS IN GREEN COMUNICAÇÕES

Alice Reis is the Brazilian Founder and CEO of Girls in Green Comunicações, one-half of Wooksauce Winery, and Content Manager at Weedmaps. Reis brings a background and passion for psychology and harm reduction –“the biggest pillar of Girls In Green” – to the Cannabis space, all while casually crushing the concentrate scene from Cali to Spain. Her skills and perspective (from gardening to drug policy) have been gathered around the globe as one of a small group of women paddling and pressing their way to hash history. @aliiiiiice

@girlsingreen710 | @wooksaucewinery

The House of Cannabis is the first-ever immersive Cannabis experience and art gallery. It’s a multi-level, “transportive, multi-sensory journey” stretched out over 10 exhibits. In this revolutionary look at Cannabis, viewers can find a new perspective of the plant through exhibits like Kandid Kush’s “microverse” of macro photography, educational works about the War on Drugs, or even peruse the plants in a real indoor grow. Overall, the concept is a significant step for Cannabis art and the continued normalization of the plant. thcnyc.com | @thcnyc

Mary Pryor is a “multihyphenate” making waves in the digital strategy, marketing and business side of Cannabis and hemp. Her portfolio includes New York brands like Tricolla Farms and Tonic CBD, and her very own Sheba baby! brand. Pryor has poured years into making space for more all-around inclusivity in Cannabis – as a co-founder of Cannaclusive, she helped create a network for accountability, outreach and advocacy. InclusiveBase is a tool for “collaboration and communication” that allows the community to find Cannabis-related products and services through a categorized and searchable database.

@iammarypryor | @cannaclusive

The Hashish Inn

CANNABIS PODCAST

When it comes to community education and connection, social media and podcasts have become an invaluable tool. Shoragim Amir of The Hashish Inn has embraced this concept to create a unique community of hash heads looking to talk terps and techniques.

Episode One aired in 2019 featuring Oregon’s Pua Extractions and since then, the show has only continued to cater to some of the finest and freshest events, companies and individuals on the scene. It’s even picked up Rosin Evolution as a main sponsor, with others rolling in to support.

thehashishinn.com | @thehashishinn

THE IMPACT List

HIGHLIGHTING THE PEOPLE AND COMPANIES CHANGING THE CANNABIS LANDSCAPE

bubbleman

CREATOR, FRESH HEADIES LTD. | HASH CHURCH

After some time looking for a “safe, compact and portable trichome extraction kit,” Fresh Headies Ltd. was born. Here, Marcus Richardson made his name and mark in the world of water extraction with the invention of the “first three-bag multitasking filtration kit”

– earning him the name Bubbleman. In the early 2000s, Richardson and Skunkman Sam dreamed up an exclusive, invitation-only hash event spanning four countries and 21 years later, Legends of Hashish was born. In 2014, Richardson began building what would become a staple in concentration education and community building: Hash Church. The web series made it to its fourth iteration (“Hash Church 4.0”) after almost 10 years and has boasted experts from fields far and wide. @bcbubbleman

Mila "Hash Queen" Jansen

INVENTOR,

THE POLLINATOR

This royalty of the revolution didn’t just pave a path for women in hash – she led the march in modernizing mechanical separation methods with her invention of the Pollinator in 1994 – a move that would take timely, traditional hash techniques into a new era of dry sift automation. Some even say Jansen jump started the beloved coffee shop culture Amsterdam is so famous for when her fashion studio-turned-teahouse started attracting an atmosphere of global ganja visitors sharing hash from far and wide over cups of tea. These days, she’s keeping her crown polished by producing more equipment for mechanical separation methods and organizing events like DabA-Doo. All hail the queen! pollinator.nl | @milahashqueen

humboldt seed company

SEED PRODUCERS

Humboldt Seed Company has produced regular, feminized and auto-flowering seeds since 2001, with origins in breeding for patients under California’s Prop. 215. Today, they’ve established themselves as the state’s largest seed provider, with a global reach spanning multiple U.S. states, Spain, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, Colombia, France, Portugal, Greece, the UK, Malta and Thailand. The team also dedicates their time to making an impact in the world around them with endeavors like the Nature Rights Council, the company’s environmental nonprofit arm that’s led by Humboldt’s Indigenous youth. humboldtseedcompany.com @thehumboldtseedcompany

ellen komp

ADVOCATE & AUTHOR | DEPUTY DIRECTOR, CALIFORNIA NORML

Activist, author, advisor and all-around leader, Ellen Komp currently serves as the Deputy Director of California NORML. In the early ‘90s, Komp held rallies for hemp advocacy in LA that ran 20,000 strong. In the late ‘90s, she began her era as Deputy Director of Community Outreach and Communications at the Drug Policy Alliance. She’s authored articles in multiple major Cannabis publications and put out her own book, "Tokin' Women: A 4,000-Year Herstory.” Komp was even acting editor on the ninth edition of the legendary book, "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" by Jack Herer. canorml.org

mj bizcon CANNABIS BUSINESS EVENT

MJ BizCon is entering its twelfth year influencing the business side of Cannabis as the top industry trade show around the globe. It’s held annually at the Las Vegas Convention Center, so companies can flex their latest concepts and network with over 1,400 exhibitors, 100 speakers, and “more than 30,000 Cannabis executives from around the world.” It’s a place to make moves and stay up to date on the latest industry innovations, and an undeniably momentous mechanism for moving forward. mjzbizconference.com | @mjbizdaily

MIKE ROSATI

CEO NAT PENNINGTON

MARIA CAVALI

THE IMPACT List

HIGHLIGHTING THE PEOPLE AND COMPANIES CHANGING THE CANNABIS LANDSCAPE

woody harrelson

ACTOR, ADVOCATE

OWNER, THE WOODS

Few pro-Cannabis advocates have the star power of Woody Harrelson. Many of us remember when he first came out in the ‘90s as a pot smoker, alienating much of his weed-hating audience and cementing the fandom of the rest of us. In the years since, the Oscar-nominated actor has fought alongside small farmers in the Emerald Triangle, spoken out on the need for clemency for prisoners, and even entered the business space in 2022 with The Woods, his own dispensary and consumption lounge in West Hollywood. thewoodsweho.com | @woodyharrelson

you, the reader

LEAF NATION AUDIENCE & THE CANNABIS COMMUNITY

Thank you, our beloved reader, for you are taking the time to educate yourself about the plant that we all love. You deserve credit for becoming an enlightened stoner, and hopefully you share the good news about our plant the way you share tasty strains from your favorite dispensary. We can change the world, one person and toke at a time, for as the Lorax said, "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.” leafmagazines.com

greg james

FOUNDER | MARIJUANA VENTURE

From a career making big bucks in software, James found himself in Seattle with an idea to show the Cannabis industry a professional approach to doing business. Taking from his experiences in software, he launched Marijuana Venture to publish on the expanding business world of Cannabis, and started Interchange – an event which allows speed networking between brands and retailers in multiple states. marijuanaventure.com | @mjventure

dragonfly earth medicine

CANNABIS GROWING STANDARDS

The team at Dragonfly Earth Medicine long ago established their authority in the Canna-certificate scene. A “DEM Pure” commitment goes deeper than superficial certifications to examine a producer’s full practices – right down to their inputs, treatment of employees and pricing ethics. They offer a holistic approach to preserving the integrity of Cannabis medicine while acting as a steward of the earth. When you see a DEM Pure certification, you can rest easy knowing the producers have rallied around regenerative practices and earthbased formulas. DragonflyEarthMedicine.com | @dragonflyearthmedicine

honorable mentions cap 'n crunch

CEREAL AFICIONADO

This Merchant Marine of Marijuana secured his place in the Stoney Cereal Hall of Fame when he added Crunch Berries to the already phenomenal peanut butter bonanza.

the cannabis alliance

INDUSTRY GROUP

A trade organization with an eye on highlighting the best of Washington’s Cannabis community, and a focus on bettering policy through collective efforts – the Cannabis Alliance has worked for years to make the Washington industry a better place for businesses and consumers alike. thecannabisalliance.us | @thecannabisalliance

matthew mcconaughey as david wooderson in dazed and confused

FILM ICON This was potentially the turning point for all adolescents back in the day who discovered that even though possession could get you in trouble with Mom and the Fuzz, having a joint on hand when in the presence of an older, seasoned stoner would make you cooler.

elliot lewis

FOUNDER & CEO | CATALYST CANNABIS

Elliot Lewis is the man behind one of California’s most prolific and fastest growing retail empires. He opened the first Catalyst location in 2017 in his hometown of Long Beach, Calif. – which is now up to 18 stores and counting. Much of Lewis’ notoriety comes from his outspoken approach to business ownership, his “bring-the-fight-to-their-door” mentality, relentless hustle and impassioned persona, earning him the reputation of a force to be reckoned with in the ever-evolving California market. catalyst-cannabis.com | @catalyst_ceo

bailey stuart

COO & O-OWNER | THE GREEN JAR

A tireless advocate for the plant and legalization, Stuart is a single mom running two retail locations, while also finding time to serve on the Alaska Marijuana Control Board as an advisor and advocating for the Alaska Cannabis industry through AMIA. Her stores – the Green Jar locations – are also the official Intake Partner for the Alaska Leaf Bowl! thegreenjarak.com | @greenjar_ak

shaggy

STONER DETECTIVE

The biggest mystery of the machine was that he kept his stash in the dash. With his wake-and-bake regimen and Scooby gobbling down CBD snacks, there’s no wonder they were the ones catching the ghosts.

WAYNE MASER

NATHAN AVILA

dennis peron

MEDICAL CANNABIS ADVOCATE | (1946-2018)

Known as the “Father of Medical Marijuana,” Dennis Peron was a passionate advocate for the people and the plant. After experiencing Cannabis in Vietnam during his time in the Air Force, he decided to smuggle some back and begin a career. This legend led the way to medical legalization in California when he saw the benefits of Cannabis use surrounding him in a community coping with AIDS. It was his persistence in the early days of campaigning that pushed the 1996 Compassionate Use Act (also known as Prop 215) into fruition and with it, the nation’s very first public dispensary: the San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club.

alaska marijuana industry association

PRESIDENT | LACY WILCOX

As President of the Alaska Marijuana Industry Association –a collective of Cannabis businesses that work together for the betterment of the industry – Wilcox works around the clock on everything from legislative or municipal changes in regulations, to running a network of canna-businesses that are unifying to better the industry as a whole. She’s also a partner at Top Hat Alaska, an award-winning CO2 processor. alaskamia.org thcalaska.com | @thcalaska

Doctors Knox

ENDOCANNABINOID SPECIALISTS

frenchy cannoli

HASH INNOVATOR & ADVOCATE (1956-2021)

Frenchy Cannoli was born in Nice, France but left at a young age to explore the world. On the road to becoming a hashstorian and master hashishin, he lived nomadically from “Morocco to Mexico, to Nepal, Pakistan, and India,” taking in the historic hashish techniques of many cultures. Cannoli dedicated his life to teaching students from far and wide the philosophy of his craft. His workshops (“Lost Art of the Hashishin”), brand (Very Special Olde Press), videos, writings and presence on this earth left a mark on the minds and methods of many hash makers. @frenchycannoli

This family of doctors is a pioneering force in Endocannabinology. With a diverse background in medicine (including Emergency, Anesthesia, Family, Integrative and Preventive), the talented Dr. Rachel, Dr. Jessica, Dr. David and Dr. Janice have been breathing hope into the healthcare scene. The Knox Docs are knocking down barriers in healthcare with endeavors like Pivotal EDU and The Association for Cannabis Health and Equity Medicine – a brainchild of Drs. Janice, Jessica and Rachel Knox, alongside Dr. Ogadinma "Oga" Obie – aimed at “serving the needs of BIPOC healers and health and medical professionals in the advancement of health equity.” doctorsknox.com

rep. earl blumenauer

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, OREGON

Rep. Earl Blumenauer has been a force in plant politics since 1973 when he first voted in Oregon to decriminalize possession in small quantities. Since then, he has been stirring up and supporting movements like Cannabis research (The Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act), banking access (The SAFE Banking Act), veterans' access to Cannabis (The Veterans Equal Access Act), and much more. Recently, along with Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, Rep. Don Young and Rep. Jared Polis, the congressman announced his founding and co-chair position in the Congressional Cannabis Caucus – a bipartisan Cannabis workgroup focused on research, veteran access and Cannabis business needs. blumenauer.house.gov

O'HARA SHIPE

SUMMER INFUSIONS SUMMER INFUSIONS

June is here – and since it’s not yet too hot to turn on the oven – it’s a wonderful time to bake this delectable crostata with the first local cherries of the season. Yum. The “all season” mozzarella and tomato is as pretty as it is delicious. And since Pet Appreciation Week is the first week in June, you should hook your pooch up with these CBD biscuits! They have tamed some pretty hyper pups … a nice way to say “I love you.” I infused the crostata and the olive oil with the strain Sunburn, a delicious smoking and tasting strain from Noble Farms. The CBD is from East Fork Cultivars, a superb flower that’s grown with a lot of love.

CANNABIS CHERRY CROSTATA

SERVES 9 | 5MG THC/SERVING

This flaky crust pairs beautifully with the sweet and tart cherry filling. A crostata is a free form pie, and it’s forgiving and fun to make. You can pick your fruit seasonally, or go with frozen. Another favorite of mine is peach and blueberry.

DAMN GOOD CBD DOG BISCUITS

40 BISCUITS | 2 PER SERVING | 5MG CBD PER SERVING

1 cup pumpkin or sweet potato puree

½ cup peanut butter

2 large eggs

2½ cups oats

¼ cup grated or shredded carrot

3 1/3 teaspoons CBD infused coconut oil

¼ cup water

Optional ingredients: chopped bacon, grated cheese, liver powder, grated apple

1. Heat oven to 340º. Line a baking sheet with parchment.

2. In the bowl of a food processor, combine all the ingredients. Pulse until mixed, but still a bit chunky.

3. Press the dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Alternatively, scoop the mixture into 40 portions.

4. Bake as a whole for 30-35 minutes, cutting into 40 portions while still warm. If baking in individual treats, bake for about 9-11 minutes. Most dogs seem to like them crunchy.

This is a good starting dose for most dogs, regardless of their size. If your dog requires a stronger dose, keep the recipe the same but add more CBD oil. As I suggest for people, start with a low dose and work your way up.

5. If you have a dog with no teeth (like my five-pound rescue named Bisou), either bake them for a shorter time, or crumble and serve.

1¾ cups all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons sugar

½ teaspoon cinnamon

12 tablespoons cold butter, divided

1½ tablespoons cold canna-butter

5 tablespoons ice water

1 pound cherries, pitted (frozen works too)

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

2 tablespoons orange juice

2 teaspoons lemon juice

pinch of salt

zest of one orange

coarse sugar

1. In a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Add 8 tablespoons of the unsalted butter along with the canna-butter and pulse until pea-sized crumbs form.

2. Add ice water and pulse until the dough comes together. Wrap and chill for an hour.

3. In another bowl, combine the cherries, sugar, cornstarch, orange and lemon juice. Toss with the orange rind.

4. Heat oven to 340º. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a circle, ⅛ of an inch thick. Place the fruit on the crust, leaving a 1½ inch border. Fold the crust up around the fruit, and dot with the remaining butter and coarse sugar.

5. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the crust has browned and the fruit is bubbling.

6. Once cooled, slice into nine pieces and serve.

SERVES 3

FRESH MOZZARELLA WITH CANNABIS DRIZZLE

9 slices good quality fresh mozzarella cheese

6 basil leaves, shredded

2 strips bacon, cooked until crisp and chopped

2 tablespoons toasted walnuts

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon Cannabis olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced coarse black pepper

1. Layer the mozzarella slices on a small plate. Sprinkle with the basil, bacon and walnuts. Combine the two oils with the garlic and drizzle with the oil.

2. Serve with crusty bread.

This use of mozzarella does not require a perfectly ripe tomato, so it has no season. I make this as a starter year round and everyone loves it. If mozzarella only speaks to you when combined with tomato, during the cold months roast cherry tomatoes in olive oil and add them to the rest. Tasty!

WE ARE PREOCCUPIED WITH SEX. Since each of us first exited the womb, the genitalia has drawn our fascination by the irreversible magnetism that’s built into our DNA.

But as the system of indoctrination has been designed to control our natural urges through guilt and shame, there is still no proven method of turning off the salacious thoughts that occupy much of our attention – no matter how hard we try. Because like any animal with the propensity to propagate its lineage, the compulsion to unveil the object of our reproductive options hiding behind those undergarments is undeniable. And make no mistake about it, were we armed with the intensity of a dog or a bear’s ability to determine the signals of varying bodily scents, we would probably be sniffing each other’s backsides, too.

Thank God for perfume and cologne.

But then again, those are a creation for the modern age, as our innate senses seek to gauge one’s virility by taking stock of the current state of natural bacteria that we foolishly wash away and subsequently mask with these pheromones of other mammals.

They call this evolution.

Hence, the mind and body will negotiate, often subliminally, to direct our senses to determine what we favor the most based on our biological needs. Just as the nose knows when it dips into a jar of finely-cured Cannabis bud or a saucer of freshly-pressed rosin, the subconscious directs our senses to the favored terpenes to best stimulate the body’s endocannabinoid receptors. They are females, the givers of life, and their sensuous allure is only a different manifestation of what instinctively draws us to the loins…

We want to see the flowers in full blossom. It satisfies our voyeurism.

Because we are naughty.