5 minute read
THE IMPACT List
from June 2023 - California Leaf
by Northwest Leaf / Oregon Leaf / Alaska Leaf / Maryland Leaf / California Leaf / Northeast Leaf
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.
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