Mar. 2023 - California Leaf

THE FLOWER ISSUE

CANNA SUTRA

THE SEXY ACT OF CANNABIS COPULATION

PHOTO by ERIK CHRISTIANSEN @ERIK.NUGSHOTS @THEHUMBOLDTSEEDCOMPANY

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

On a sunny summer afternoon in Humboldt County, CA, photographer Erik “Nugshots” Christiansen and breeder Nat Pennington discuss innovative ways to share the beauty of Cannabis and the passion that goes into breeding at Humboldt Seed Company. The resulting image illustrates the birth of the Blueberry Muffin strain and all its potential. Erik has become well-known for his intricate macro photography of Cannabis flower and concentrates, and recently released a book of his favorite photographs. Be sure to visit our website, LeafMagazines.com, to see the other covers we released this month with Erik's work. As Lao Tzu once wrote, “To see things in the seed, that is genius.”

COVER & INTERIOR PHOTOS

ERIK CHRISTIANSEN @ERIK.NUGSHOTS

CONTRIBUTORS

WES ABNEY, FEATURES

BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES

JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION

TOM BOWERS, FEATURES

ERIK CHRISTIANSEN, PHOTOS

AMANDA DAY, FEATURES

STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS

MATT JACKSON, FEATURES

KATHERINE WOLF, FEATURES

SARA MILLS-GAINES, SALES

JESSE RAMIREZ, DESIGN

MIKE RICKER, FEATURES

MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING

MIKE ROSATI, PHOTOS

NATE WILLIAMS, PHOTOS + REVIEWS

BRUCE WOLF, PHOTOS

KATHERINE WOLF, FEATURES

LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES

Editor’s

Note

Thanks for picking up The Flower Issue of the Leaf!

Flower power might be a hippie concept, but it really hits the spot with a tasty toke of delicious Cannabis. How lucky are we as humans that our favorite plant has evolved to not only get us high, but feel better?

When you look at the natural world of plants and animals, most evolutionary traits have been developed to protect the species – usually at the expense of whatever unlucky animal comes along for a bite. From the poison dart frog to the stinging nettle, there are very few options that humans can eat and feel better from. This idea is especially prevalent in mushrooms, where similar looking fungi can either be edible or deadly. Thankfully, we have thousands of years of human development and experimentation to credit for our current ability to safely choose our plant-based medicines and recreational adventures.

Going back to Cannabis, it seems beyond lucky that the trichomes and terpenes the plant develops and expresses to keep deer and bugs away, actually light up the human endocannabinoid system perfectly. And if you really want to trip out, don’t forget that it’s the same limonene terpenes in Cannabis that are also in citrus fruits!

“IT SEEMS BEYOND LUCKY THAT THE TRICHOMES AND TERPENES THE PLANT DEVELOPS AND EXPRESSES TO KEEP DEER AND BUGS AWAY, ACTUALLY LIGHT UP THE HUMAN ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM PERFECTLY.”

I feel very blessed to have found our plant beneficial to my health needs, so much so that I started the Leaf in 2010 to share that truth and fight the war on drugs. Back then we didn’t have advanced extraction methods or even the science to isolate THC, let alone the amazing developments of today that have taken the plant into so many uncharted territories. Walk into a dispensary nowadays and you’ll see a whole pharmacy of options that’ll get you high and well at the same time … but what you won’t see in most states is the plant itself.

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That’s why we decided to revamp our strains/genetics-themed edition with the official Flower Issue of the Leaf – to talk about the plant, share beautiful photos, and reconnect with the gift that grows from the ground for all of humankind’s benefit. Thank you for reading and sharing the Leaf, and as we head into springtime, please consider planting your own flowers once the dreaded April showers have concluded. There are few greater joys in life than growing and consuming your own Cannabis – an experience every lover of the plant should have at least once. Flower power for the win!

-Wes Abney

SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES CANNABIS RESEARCH FOR VETS

AU.S. Senate committee approved a bipartisan bill on February 18 to promote Cannabis research for military veterans. It is the first piece of standalone marijuana legislation to ever advance through a committee in the chamber.

Because the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee did not have a quorum present to act on the bill, members instead approved the legislation in a more informal “off the floor” session later in the day.

The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act was sponsored by panel Chairman Jon Tester (D-MT) and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK). It is intended to mandate studies by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to explore the therapeutic potential of marijuana for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain.

SOUTH

MARIJUANA SALES BILL FAILS TO PASS IN VIRGINIA

Virginia won’t begin Cannabis sales by 2024 after the last remaining bill to set up the market failed, reports WRIC. A GOP-controlled House of Delegates subcommittee voted 5-3 along party lines February 14 to kill legislation from Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) that would have paved the way for adult-use sales to begin next year.

Under current law, people 21 and up in Virginia can have up to an ounce of weed on them or grow up to four plants in their homes. Virginians can also buy marijuana for medicinal purposes with a medical authorization, but there’s no way for adults to purchase it for recreational use.

“The axed bill would have paved the way for adult-use sales to begin next year.”

The bill passed in 2021 to allow marijuana possession included a reenactment clause, which requires the General Assembly to approve the measure again and set a framework for retail sales. Lawmakers set a 2024 target for legal sales – but the efforts to create a regulatory framework for the market have continued to fail in the Republican-controlled General Assembly.

MEDICAL POT DEBATE CONTINUES IN N.C.

DEBATE ON the legalization of medical Cannabis in North Carolina resumed in the state senate on February 15, reports WLOS. A very similar bill creating the framework for its sale and use passed the full chamber by a wide margin just eight months ago.

The Senate Judiciary Committee debated but did not vote on new legislation, which was filed at the start of the new twoyear General Assembly session. Sen. Bill Rabon, a Brunswick County Republican, said he and his fellow sponsors wanted to review amendments before a committee meeting next week. Prospects for passage again in the Senate are strong this year. But the bill's future will likely rest in the House – which declined to take up the previous proposal before going home last summer. Speaker Tim Moore suggested recently that support was possible in his chamber this year for legalizing medicinal pot and would be particularly true with tight controls.

TWITTER CHANGES MIND ON POT ADS

TWITTER WILL NOW allow Cannabis advertising.

The change comes as the social media platform struggles for new revenue. The company updated its policies on February 5 to allow marijuana ads to run on its services in the states where weed is legal.

While other platforms have allowed marijuana-adjacent products, such as cannabidiol (CBD) to be advertised, Twitter has adopted the most explicit advertising opportunity for marijuana users within federal guidelines.

LEGALIZATION HAS CREATED 30K JOBS FOR ILLINOIS RESIDENTS

THE GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS says that the state’s marijuana legalization law has created more than 30,000 jobs since the market launched in 2020.

During his State of the State and Budget address on February 15, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, touted the job creation figure, adding that “Illinois is home to the country’s most diverse Cannabis industry and some of the largest companies.”

east coast

NEW HAMPSHIRE PANEL APPROVES LEGALIZATION

ANew Hampshire legislative committee put its finishing touches on a revised bill to legalize marijuana, approving it February 15.

Members of the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Liquor Subcommittee have been working on the legislation for weeks over a series of meetings. They debated a variety of provisions and amendments to the original measure that was filed by bipartisan House leaders.

The full committee accepted final amendments on February 15 and passed the bill in a 17-3 vote.

“...the state’s existing Liquor Commission will be in charge of regulating the marijuana market.”

A major change to the legislation from its introduced form would put the state’s existing Liquor Commission in charge of regulating the marijuana market, rather than create a new independent commission to do so, as was proposed in the original version of HB 639. The body would also be renamed the Liquor and Cannabis Commission.

NORMALIZATION

MINNESOTA D.A.R.E. READIES FOR LEGALIZATION

The D.A.R.E. program in Minnesota is preparing for the potential legalization of marijuana in the state.

“Illinois is home to the country’s most diverse Cannabis industry and some of the largest companies.”

He also included the marijuana company 4Front in a list of the “large businesses” that are “moving to and expanding in Illinois.”

“It’s becoming normalized, just like alcohol is and tobacco is by so many families,” fretted Executive Director Kathi Ackerman. “Other kids are going to do it.”

“Ackerman said the D.A.R.E. program will refrain from telling kids not to do marijuana, which they’ve found to be an ineffective strategy.”

Ackerman said the D.A.R.E. program will refrain from telling kids not to do marijuana, which they’ve found to be an ineffective strategy. They’ll continue to teach decision making habits that they hope will stray kids from early adoption.

“We want to delay, delay, delay the use of some of these chemicals,” Ackerman said.

U.S. states have legalized Cannabis. The first states to ever do so were CO and WA in 2012, and most recently in RI, MD and MO in 2022.

pounds is the amount of an Arkansas man’s illegal marijuana bust back in February.

53 increase in Florida medical marijuana patients has been seen in two years.

71%

$5.5m

$20m

was announced in grants for underserved marijuana retail areas in California.

STORIES by STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK

was the fine for an unlicensed marijuana store called Jungle Boyz, located in lower Manhattan, according to the New York Post.

$50k

was donated by Tallahassee, FL-based MMJ company Trulieve last month to the Florida adult-use legalization campaign for the 2024 ballot.

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

CALIFORNIA

MENDOCINO COUNTY LEGISLATORS FAILING FARMERS

Mendocino County legislators are failing their legal Cannabis farmers in epic fashion. With a state-mandated deadline of July 1 for permanent licensure looming, the County has issued these critical licenses to only six out of 841 registered legal farms – less than 1%. The Mendocino Cannabis Alliance issued a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom requesting state intervention and citing local licensing dysfunction as the primary cause of the bottleneck.

NEW CANNABIS BILLS INTRODUCED IN SACRAMENTO

Several dozen new bills have been introduced to the legislature in Sacramento that have potential to impact California’s recreational Cannabis industry in significant fashion. Keep the following proposed legislation on your radar, as they address the modification and expansion of laws in areas ranging from consumption to healthcare to consumer protections and beyond.

Senate Bill 374 would allow licensed Cannabis lounges to serve food and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as host live music events. Currently, lounges are unable to offer anything other than Cannabis products for consumption on site.

Senate Bill 302 seeks to amend an existing law that provides support for the legal use of Cannabis in non-smoke and non-vapor form, for terminally-ill patients in specific healthcare facilities – extending those same protections to patients 65 and older with chronic diseases.

Senate Bill 51 would allow the DCC to issue equity retail applicants a provisional license to operate – indefinitely. This key measure would support equity applicants’ ability to operate and stay afloat while awaiting permanent licensure.

CALIFORNIA AWARDS

$15M IN GRANTS TO

THE TASTE OF FREEDOM

STORY BY TOM BOWERS @CANNABOMBTOM

After spending more than 14 years in federal prison for operating a California state-legal dispensary in Modesto, Luke Scarmazzo is free. The release came as a surprise to Scarmazzo on an average morning in January.

“Friday morning I got up, and I was still doing 22 years,” he said on a recent call with Leaf Magazines and Scarmazzo’s friend and former prison-mate, trailblazing advocate Weldon Angelos. “I was getting ready to work out and make some coffee, and I checked my email and the subject line from my attorney said, ‘You’re a free man.’ Bam, I was staring at my computer, thinking, ‘Holy shit, this is over now.’”

While it seemed abrupt, the move came on the heels of years of work by Scarmazzo from within the prison in collaboration with Angelos – a staunch Cannabis advocate and founder of Project Mission [Green], which advocates for the release of all Cannabis prisoners victimized by the War on Drugs.

“Luke was the inspiration for even starting the Mission Green Alliance and the Mission Green Initiative to focus on these individuals,” Angelos said, “because we have a twotiered system of justice where, if you’re rich and you’re privileged, you can profit from this plant. But if you’re not, you go to prison, and you stay in prison.”

Now that both friends are on the right side of the bars, they plan on teaming up like Voltron to take on the system – with Scarmazzo planning to lend his efforts to help Project Mission [Green], as well as partner with Angelos on other endeavors.

“There’s still people getting federal sentences for nonviolent Cannabis offenses,” Scarmazzo said. “There’s still daughters and sons that are being raised without a parent in the house behind a non-violent Cannabis offense. And those things are just super wrong. They’re unjust. They’re something that has to change, because we can’t continue to do a status quo where we allow corporations and governments to make millions of dollars, but at the same time continue to lock up citizens.”

LEARN

For now, Scarmazzo is making plans and readjusting … while enjoying every bite of pizza and every Japanese hibachi meal, and being back with his daughter and the rest of his family.

“Missing all that time with her, that was like the hardest part of my incarceration,” Scarmazzo said. “So, being able to get back with her, and reconnect with her, and hug her, and tell her – ‘Hey, look, I’m home now. I’m not going anywhere like that again’ – was by far the best moment since I’ve been back.”

BACK AT HOME | Luke hangs out with his daughter.

“THERE'S STILL PEOPLE GETTING FEDERAL SENTENCES FOR NONVIOLENT CANNABIS OFFENSES,” SCARMAZZO SAID

NUG IS VERY INTENTIONAL WITH THEIR CULTIVATION AND PRODUCTION PROCESS, WHICH RESULTS IN HIGH-QUALITY AND CONSISTENT PRODUCTS. THEIR STRAINS ARE NOT ONLY DIVERSE BUT ALSO FRESH, POTENT AND FLAVORFUL, MAKING THEM STAND OUT IN THE MARKET.

– LENNY W., NUG BUYER

INDOOR PREMIUM FLOWER + PREROLLS + INFUSED PREROLLS RAPID ONSET FRUIT CHEWS + POPS

AWARD-WINNING CHOCOLATES

THCA DIAMONDS + THCA FROST

LIVE RESIN CONCENTRATES + VAPE CARTS

SORBET (CURED RESIN) CONCENTRATES + VAPE CARTS

BLUEBERRY PANCAKES

PREMIUM JACK

KUSH MONKEY

EAST OF EDEN

FARMING FOUNDATIONS

John Steinbeck’s 1952 “East of Eden” was widely regarded as one of his best works, and the success of the book eventually led to California’s agricultural powerhouse – the Salinas Valley – to be nicknamed as such. “For us, community means everything,” explains Grupo Flor CEO Mike Bitar. “The foundation of our company is based in Salinas.”

East of Eden is part of the Grupo Flor family of Cannabis companies, which also includes another East of Eden location in Moss Landing, White Fire dispensaries in Prunedale and San Jose, the Flor dispensary in Union City, the Paletas, Fire Sale, Litlz, Smoke Stacks and Hoodies flower brands, and a fully fledged in-house distribution company. The businesses have been built from the ground up by Bitar, his partners and their team starting with the East of Eden Salinas location, which opened its doors in 2018.

Bitar and his partners are from the area and their intimate understanding of the complex socioeconomic nuances of the region led to the decision to plant their roots in Salinas – a decision that’s paid off in spades and has fueled much of the growth that they’ve experienced since their inception.

HOME BASE

The Grupo Flor team was able to secure a prime location in Salinas on the corner of a busy intersection just off Highway 101 that was not only large enough to house their first dispensary, but also had the space to support their in-house distribution company with ample room to store and supply product. In all, there’s over 40,000 square feet of licensed space to support the incredible amount of volume they handle on a daily basis – on both the distribution and retail sides of their business.

The dispensary is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily (the widest margin for shop hours we’ve ever seen at Leaf Magazines in over 10 years in print) and the store operates in a unique fashion that focuses on both customer service and expediency. The dispensary staff utilizes technology that allows them to serve more than 1,000 customers in a day without overwhelming or burning out their team. East of Eden Salinas also has easy access to dozens of parking spaces in a spacious lot, which is a stark contrast to many retail locations and a huge bonus that adds to the overall shopping experience. Once inside, customers have access to one of California’s largest menus that boasts an impressive 900+ SKUs consisting of every product type and quality level imaginable – truly offering something for everyone.

A HIGHER PURPOSE

“We try to give back as much as possible,” Bitar says. “Our local community is incredibly important to us.”

The team at East of Eden Salinas is committed to elevating their business above and beyond the typical dispensary functions in order to craft something that serves a more intrinsic purpose. They contribute to nonprofits like food and toy drives, they are involved in local politics, they are long-time sponsors of the annual holiday Parade of Lights held in downtown Salinas, they provide career-oriented job training and they regularly host events that involve and help support other businesses in their community.

There are precious few operators in today’s market that take steps like these and the end result is a dispensary brand that feels like something you want to support. Most retailers’ aim is to pad margins and maximize profits, and East of Eden’s clear departure from that mentality sets them apart from the hundreds of others competing in the space.

However, beyond the extracurricular, being of service to and positively impacting each person that walks through their doors remains the ultimate goal. As Bitar puts it, “At the end of the day, the customer experience is all that matters.”

BANANA FLAMBÉ

SACRAMENTO’S Forté brand has been mostly flying under the radar since their launch in 2018. But their product has only gotten better and better, and in a wildly volatile market where many are failing and closing up shop … Forté is growing. The brand itself speaks to their mission: placing an exclusive focus on what they specialize in – the art of solventless extraction.

One of their latest offerings is this exquisite Banana Flambé 73-120u live rosin, bred in-house and selected by the Forté team, and cultivated by Chameleon Farms in Grass Valley.

It features a gorgeous off-white hue with a distinctly yellow tint, plus a beautiful texture reminiscent of moist cookie dough. It literally sweats terpenes just by being brought to room temperature.

Where most banana profiles in Cannabis lean heavily into the sweet, nearly-artificial and candy-like realm, this Banana Flambé offers the fruit a supporting role rather than the lead. The aroma is a mix of gasoline, fresh tennis ball rubber, gym sock and a subtle fruit funk –doing very little to show its hand and expose the profile lurking beneath.

Taking a low temp (sub500 degrees) dab reveals a cacophony of flavor – diesel fumes, barnyard funk, creamy cake-like vanilla, nutmeg spice and caramelized plantains – all harmonizing in unison. The vapor has a moderate heft and lung expansion that leaves your mouth coated in terps. The OG, while not overwhelmingly present in the aroma or flavor department, certainly shows up when it comes to this stellar rosin’s effects.

Somehow both savory and sweet, this Banana Flambé is a unique terp experience that would be in good company in even the headiest dabber’s rosin stash. If you haven’t tried Forté yet, it’s high time you changed that … as this soak and squish squad from the Golden State’s capital is currently firing on all cylinders.

“The vapor has a moderate heft and lung expansion that leaves your mouth coated in terps.”

A sy n e rg i s t i c b l e n d o f t h e h i g h e s t q u a l i ty s o l ve n t l e s s i ce h a s h

co m b i n e d w i t h s i n g l e s o u rce d a d a p to g e n i c w h o l e f r u i t i n g

b o d y R e i s h i m u s h ro o m s .

SNACK ATTACK

SPECIAL NACHOS

SERVES 8

3 cups tortilla chips

3 green onions (white and green parts), chopped

1 small tomato, seeded and chopped

1 cup cheddar cheese sauce

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.

2. Put the chips on a baking sheet and bake until light golden brown, turning once for 8 to 10 minutes.

3. Transfer the chips to a serving platter.

4. Top with the green onions and tomato.

5. Pour the cheese sauce over chips. Serve immediately.

This sauce is unbeatable on nachos, but it also has a myriad of other uses – which is good, because the recipe makes more than you’ll need for the nachos. We like to pour it on top of potato hash and a sunny-side-up egg for a weekend breakfast, or add it to a baked potato loaded with fresh vegetables for a quick and easy late-night snack. If you don’t have white pepper, black pepper works just as well.

Here are three of my favorite Cannabis-infused recipes that can serve as a snack, party food, or a fun night in front of a screen. For sure, I’ve had the nachos for dinner more times than I can count. I tend to cook the mushrooms a little longer than the recipe suggests, as I like when the mushrooms get very tender … with the melted cheese and crumbs they just melt in your mouth. And the bruschetta is a comforting combo of creamy ricotta and peas.

CHEDDAR CHEESE SAUCE

2 tablespoons butter

8 teaspoons canna butter

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt

1⁄2 teaspoon white pepper

1 cup (whole or 2 percent) milk

1 cup heavy cream

2 ounces cream cheese, slightly softened

1 ½ cups freshly grated sharp cheddar pinch of ground nutmeg

1. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and canna butter over low heat. Whisk in the flour, salt and white pepper, and cook for several minutes – stirring to remove the raw flour taste.

2. Slowly pour in the milk and cream, stirring constantly; this ensures a smooth and creamy consistency. Once the milk and cream have been added, add the cream cheese in three or four pieces, whisking between each addition.

3. Continue to cook the sauce over medium-low heat until it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 7 to 10 minutes.

4. Reduce the heat to low and add the cheddar a ½ cup at a time, whisking between each addition, 5 to 6 minutes.

5. Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the nutmeg, and serve immediately.

MUSHROOMS SEVILLE STYLE

8 SERVINGS, 2 MUSHROOMS/PERSON

16 extra-large white button mushrooms, cleaned

2 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for coating mushrooms

Salt (kosher or sea) and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

3⁄4 pound chorizo sausage (removed from casing if in links)

1⁄2 cup diced green onion (white and green parts)

2 garlic cloves, minced

1⁄2 small jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped

2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons canna-olive oil

1 Roma tomato, seeded and finely chopped

2/3 cup panko bread crumbs

3 ounces Neufchâtel cheese, at room temperature

1/3 cup cotija cheese, at room temperature

1⁄4 cup chopped cilantro, for garnish

1. Remove the stems from the mushrooms and chop.

2. In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the sausage, and cook, breaking it up with a spoon into small pieces until all the pink has disappeared, 4 to 5 minutes

3. Add the chopped mushroom stems, green onion, garlic and jalapeño, and cook until the stems are tender, 2 to 3 minutes more.

4. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the canna oil, mixing thoroughly for 2 minutes.

5. Stir in the tomato, bread crumbs, Neufchâtel, cotija, and a pinch of salt and pepper.

6. Fill the mushroom caps with 1 ½ tablespoons each of the sausage mixture.

7. Bake the mushrooms until they are tender and the filling is golden brown on top, about 20 minutes.

8. Sprinkle with the cilantro and serve.

BRUSCHETTA WITH RICOTTA & PEAS

SERVES 4, TWO PIECES

EACH

8 slices peasant bread, lightly toasted

4 teaspoons canna-olive oil

1 cup ricotta cheese

Ricotta is a totally underutilized cheese. It’s spreadable and creamy, with a subtle flavor, and its texture pairs nicely with the crunch of toasted bread and the sweetness of peas in this recipe.

3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided

2 tablespoons chopped onion or green onion

½ cup peas, fresh or frozen (thawed, if frozen) salt (kosher or sea) and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1. Drizzle or brush the toasted bread with the canna olive oil, using ½ teaspoon per slice.

2. Spread 2 tablespoons of ricotta on each slice.

3. In a small skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Add onions and sauté until they wilt slightly, 3 to 4 minutes.

4. Add the peas and sauté until they soften and are no longer vibrant green, 3 to 4 minutes more.

5. Divide the pea mixture among the bread slices.

6. Drizzle each slice with 1 teaspoon of the remaining olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

MARCH HASHTAGS | #OutLikeALamb #BeKind #GoWomen #DontFearTheEdible #EatYourCannabis

P lea z ure

CULTIVATED BY WOOD WIDE HIGH CRAFT

MENDOCINO COUNTY’S WOOD WIDE

HIGH CRAFT HAS BEEN MAKING WAVES FROM THE MOMENT THEY ARRIVED ON THE SCENE IN THE FALL OF 2022. One of the region’s only indoor cultivators, they have been ripping through harvests and delivering incredible quality for such a young brand. And one of the first cultivars to come out of their newly-licensed, state-of-the-art facility netted them a big win: the award for highest terpene content for flower at the 2022 Emerald Cup. Going by the name PleaZure, the strain was selected from a single pack of seeds gifted to the team at Wood Wide by John at Crane City. The buds are a classic light-green hue and sport a shimmering coat of dense, sticky trichomes, interspersed with bright orange hairs. The nugs themselves are moderately chunky with a very slight sponginess to them –there’s a touch of moisture left, which is a good indication that the flowers are nice and fresh. The waves of terps off-gassing from a freshly-milled gram of PleaZure are intensely aromatic and deliver a deeply satisfying candy, fruit-and-funk nose that does a masterful job of splitting the difference between the three flavor profiles. The aroma leads with freshly-zested lime over candied oranges, peach rings and golden raspberry –before giving way to a funky, cheesy affair. Sparking up a hand-rolled joint produces a moderately expansive smoke that’s bursting at the seams with flavors of sugary-sweet fruit intertwined with a musky, wet, horse blanket funk. A distinct departure from the most-hyped cultivars of the day which are candy-gas driven, the PleaZure puts on a master class and demonstrates what a candy-funk profile should taste like. After delivering some fantastic offerings to date, we’re keeping our eyes on Wood Wide High Craft to see what flavors they roll out as they continue to build a reputation for quality in a market filled with quantity.

“The PleaZure puts on a master class and demonstrates what a candy-funk profile should taste like.”

PHOTO by TOM BOWERS @CANNABOMBTOM

CALIFORNIA

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MOONSTRUCK GUMMY Pain

GANJA GLOSSARY

BAG APPEAL The look and attractiveness of a finished flower. This element plays a significant role in how a product will sell – even if the product itself doesn’t smoke as good as it looks.

CALYX Leafy cocoon-like petals in which seeds typically form.

CMH Ceramic Metal Halide. A commonly used type of lighting for indoor Cannabis cultivation.

COCO Refers to shredded coconut husks, which is a commonly used grow medium that splits the difference between soilless and living soil.

CULTIVAR A more scientifically accurate term for “strain.”

FULL TERM A Cannabis plant that has been grown outside to full maturity – also commonly referred to as full sun, sungrown or outdoor. Also a designation for method of cultivation.

HASH STRAIN A cultivar selected particularly for its ability to yield commercially viable volumes of bubble hash when processed. Thanks to the continually increasing interest in and sales of solventless concentrates, these sought-after cultivars are guiding growers’ decisions on what to produce.

HID High Intensity Discharge. A commonly used type of lighting for indoor Cannabis cultivation.

HPS High Pressure Sodium. A commonly used type of lighting for indoor Cannabis cultivation.

HYDRO Short for hydroponics – a method of cultivation in which soil is not used. This style of growing sparked a wave of innovation for indoor cultivation hardware and techniques after the discovery that hydroponically-produced buds displayed bag appeal the likes of which had never been seen before.

HYPE STRAIN Any cultivar that is new and gaining popularity quickly –a simultaneously complimentary and derogatory term.

INDOOR Cannabis cultivated in a fully enclosed, indoor environment, allowing for an unmatched degree of control by the grower.

LED Light Emitting Diode. A rapidly growing type of lighting for indoor Cannabis cultivation that offers lower power usage than other indoor lighting options.

LIGHT DEP Short for light deprivation. A style of cultivation that utilizes greenhouses with the ability to block out light – tricking Cannabis plants into entering the flowering cycle. Psych!

LIVING SOIL Biologically-active grow medium filled with living microbial organisms – it’s alive!

MEDIUM Refers to the type of material a Cannabis plant was grown in. Generally, the more natural it is, the better the end product. But don’t take our word for it … find out for yourself!

PHENOTYPE Scientifically speaking, it’s a set of observable characteristics resulting from the interaction between an individual’s genotype and the environment. In layman’s terms, it’s the unique expression of a particular plant.

PISTIL The female organs of a flower.

ROCKWOOL A soilless inert grow medium made from rock and other minerals that have been melted down and turned into a fibrous wool-like material.

SINGLE SOURCE Applies to inhouse vertical integration in terms of product production on at least two levels. Most often, this term is applied to concentrates that were produced by the same group or individual that grew the material that was processed. When applied to flower, it tends to mean that all the flower found under that label was produced in-house.

SMALLS Cannabis buds from the lower portions of a plant that don’t receive as much light, and therefore don’t grow into large, full-size colas.

STIGMA The part of a pistil that receives the pollen during pollination.

TERPENES Terps for short. Organically occurring compounds largely responsible for a cultivar’s smell and taste.

ZAZA OR ZA Slang for exotic. Largely used by trappers and traditional market cultivators to describe “high grade” or “top shelf” Cannabis that is very often not “high grade” or “top shelf.”

TOP OF THE POTS

WITH ALL OF THE NEW HEAT BEING HUNTED BY BREEDERS AROUND THE COUNTRY, WE COULDN’T HELP BUT BE CURIOUS: WHAT ARE THE MOST POPULAR STRAINS BY REGION?

So we teamed up with the data analysts at Headset – a company that tracks and aggregates retail sales data for the Cannabis industry – to take a look at the current trends in Cannabis cultivars. There’s some overlap (hey there, Runtz crosses) and a few not-so-surprises (Blue Dream was still in the top 10 in almost every market). It’s worth noting that the top cultivar in every state was actually classified as “Other” because many retailers don’t always input the strain data into their systems –something that will continue to evolve as the industry matures. Check out the top five strains from each these seven states, ranked by sales and market share.

@CANNABOMBTOM/LEAF NATION

WASHINGTON

1. Wedding Cake

2. GG#4

3. Runtz

4. Gelato

5. Blue Dream

OREGON

1. Runtz

2. Bananas

3. Ice Cream Cake

4. GMO Cookies

5. Blueberry Muffin

CALIFORNIA

1. Gelato

2. Wedding Cake

3. Runtz

4. Cereal Milk

5. Garlic cookies

NEVADA

1. Wedding Cake

2. Runtz

3. GMO Cookies

4. Gelato

5. Head Cheese

MICHIGAN

1. Runtz

2. Kush Mints

3. Crescendo

4. Garlic cookies

5. Wedding Cake COLORADO

1. Blue Dream

2. MAC

3. GG4

4. Durban Poison

5. Glueball

MASSACHUSETTS

1. Wedding Cake

2. Runtz

3. Garlic cookies

4. Zkittlez

5. Cheese

ARCHIVE SEED BANK

EXOTIC GENETIX

One of Oregon’s most famous Cannabis brands and the creators of the Moonbow (Zkittlez x Dosidos). Smokers outside the Beaver State may recognize them from their partnership with Connected and Alien Labs. Archive has an unnatural talent for breeding stunning pairings that bring out the best in their parentage. In 2022, they caused heart palpitations by dropping their newest hit, Oishii. Essentially a Moonbow backcross, they described it as “a Damascus blade of candy gas.” Watch out for the next big advancement, as they work on a whole line of hybrids involving Oishii pollen, including a Zkittlez x Oishii cross.

archiveseedbank.com

@archiveseedbank

You can’t put out a Flower Issue without talking about breeders. And you can’t talk about breeders without mentioning the following heat seekers responsible for some of the biggest breakthroughs in Cannabis genetics.

Mike from Exotic Genetix started breeding after seeing the medical patients at the grow shop he worked at having to deal with round after round of substandard, or worse, tainted genetics. The journey that began in a tiny hydroponic store in Tacoma, Wash. has given rise to a brand that’s put out a non-stop playlist of hits like Purple Lambo, Buckin Runtz, Whipped Cherries and Red Pop. That first one was the strain behind California Leaf’s last concentrate of the month. On the future horizon, expect to see people tripping out on new Falcon-9 crosses like Lazer Fuel, Red Rager, Neon Sunshine and Yikes.

exoticgenetix.com

@exoticgenetix_official

HEAT SEEKERS

TIKI MADMAN

A Michigan grower who’s been lighting up the Pacific Coast, Tiki’s been breeding for the last decade – but he popped his first seed when he was only 13 years old. The brand has a reputation for its own outstanding work and collaborations with other legends Cannabis Corey and Mosca Seeds. Tiki Madman has always had a focus on growing for developing strains instead of bag appeal. One of their major heaters is the Devil Driver (Tiki’s Cut Sundae Driver x Melonade). In June of 2022, they dropped the Devil Driver Fems collection, mixing it with Snowman, Lazy Lemon and Toaster Strudel. Tiki Madman has always had a focus on growing for developing strains instead of bag appeal.

tikimadman.com

@tikimadman

SEEKERS

Few breeders are out on the scene like Compton, California’s Masonic. When not running his shop, recording an episode of a podcast, or helping out at an industry event, he’s hard at work in his backyard tending chicken and breeding new hits. Famous for creating Wilson (Banana OG x Papaya) x Tropicana Cookies, his newest accolade is Banana God – a Banana OG x Wilson that’s been gaining attention after winning the gold at Ego Clash 2022. On April 15, he’ll be hosting his third annual Free Seed Day in L.A. Last year saw 1,000 people gathered together to share the joy of cultivation.

masonicseeds.co | @masonicsmoker4.0

MASONIC SEED CO. LANDRACE PRESERVATION SOCIETY

This nonprofit collective is all about being the most authentic and reliable source for heirloom and landrace cultivars from around the world. As more and more hybrid strains come onto the market, this group wants to make sure some of the unique strains that are part of our history aren’t lost to time. One example of this is their Pure Magic, a Himalayan cultivar from Northern India which is bred for Charas production. LPS lines are primarily bred and acclimatized in Oregon’s North Coast and Willamette Valley regions. Selected over generations, their genetics “strive to recreate the mystery and magic of the Cannabis world of the ’60s and ’70s.”

landracepreservationsociety.org

@landrace_preservation_society

AN ODE TO

Walk into nearly any supermarket these days, and you’ll find organic options for products like produce, meat, coffee and wine. Now, the Cannabis industry is finally starting to follow suit.

Organic Cannabis is grown naturally, without the addition of man-made pesticides, chemicals or genetically-modified organisms. This eliminates the risk of inhaling toxins lingering from the growing process and results in flower that is richer in cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids. With reduced health risks, stronger effects and more developed flavor profiles, it’s no wonder why organically-grown ganja is in higher demand

than ever before. And as more consumers are seeking out organic flower in dispensaries, more cultivators are starting to adopt organic and regenerative farming practices in their grow. Wanting to learn more, I linked up with Michael Jie-Shen Fang – one of the most prolific breeders, growers and entrepreneurs in the organic Cannabis space known by most simply as “Fang” – to find out what originally sparked his own obsession with organic flower.

Starting back at the very beginning, he tells me about growing up in a little pocket of Orange County that was mostly “concrete jungle and fast food” with health struggles that left him constantly in and out of the doctors and on medication. It wasn’t until moving from SoCal to the Bay Area for college that he learned what the term “organic” even meant.

“Being at UC Berkeley, there were a lot of good natural influences,” Fang tells me. “It was the first time I was exposed to Whole Foods,

Berkeley Bowl and all these co-ops, and the farmers market scene was popping. It was really the culture of the Bay Area that influenced me and opened my eyes to things I didn’t know existed. When I discovered there was even a concept of being holistic and regenerative – relying on your own immune system, using herbs and mushrooms and all this goodness – I was blown away.”

Fang continues to explain more about how the culture of the Bay Area changed his mindset and inspired him to go all in on organic. “I was always so sick and I couldn’t figure out why. It wasn’t until I started this holistic lifestyle and doing the organic thing that I was freed from a lot of those ailments,” he explains. “I felt a lot of my pain and discomfort fade away and was actually healthy for the first time. As soon as I became more intentional about my consumption, and stayed away from anything that wasn’t grown holistically by people that cared – that’s what changed everything.”

PORTAL (CAKE X CPKB)

ORGANIC

This commitment to the organic lifestyle quickly extended far beyond just food and into Fang’s Cannabis garden. “When I started focusing more on nutrient density and knowing where my food came from, it made me realize I should do that for my plants, too,” he tells me. “I’ve grown in every different way, and it just became obvious through trying different methods that organic was the best way forward. It was a natural progression.”

A natural progression indeed … one that eventually led him to co-found Gage Green Group, a Cannabis collective focused on furthering organic breeding and fostering collaboration amongst the organic community. A trailblazer in the space and household name amongst any organic OG, Fang’s work now has numerous facets: GGG Natural (a line of adaptogenic mushroom and herbal formulations), Seed

Bank International (an elite genetics catalog featuring some of the most renowned breeders across the globe) and Genetic Designer (his newest passion project for genetic research and seed drops).

He’s also gone into event production, starting The Organic Cup – the only Cannabis competition and trade show dedicated exclusively to natural gardeners – because as he puts it, “Nobody really focuses on organics. It’s basically an afterthought. But for me, it’s my lifeblood, so it just felt logical to start an organic-focused event. Even though not everybody understands it, this lifestyle is the only thing I can really stand behind. Everything I do has an organic or natural aspect to it.”

With Organic Cup events in Michigan, New York and now Barcelona, Fang continues to empower organic breeders and growers all around

the world. When I ask how he envisions the future of organic farming and the Cannabis industry, his eyes light up and we eventually end up back at the supermarket analogy.

“I started from a place where I’d go to the store and there’d be nothing for me. And now there might be a whole section of local or organically-sourced foods,” says Fang. “Cannabis is starting to look the same, and the fact that most new growers are starting as natural farmers shows that the future is trending in that aspect. It’s really awesome to see that slight shift, even though there’s a lot more work to do.”

@f4nggggggg

@therealgagegreengroup

@seedbankinternational

@geneticdesigner

"This commitment to the organic lifestyle quickly extended far beyond just food and into Fang’s Cannabis garden."

For Michael Jie-Shen Fang, organic farming is about more than just flower – it’s a way of life.

JUICY (RS-11 X CPKB)

GUACAMOLE (OREOZ X NYCSD)

GENETIC DESIGNER SEEDS

EXPLORING THE SEXY ACT OF CANNABIS COPULATION

AH, CANNABIS.

We can’t think of another plant on earth that is more coveted or revered. Its practical uses are too numerous to mention, due at least in part to its biodiversity. What other plant inspires devotees to wait in lines longer than city blocks just to sample new variations in its genetic potential? At the same time, stalwart stewards care for individual living genetics for a quarter century or more, just to preserve the legacy and exact breed that may one day prove to be the elixir, flavor, or antidote we always needed.

All of this magic springs from the simple, sexy act of Cannabis copulation. In the wild, this birds and the bees story might seem pretty traditional.

A male plant pollinates a nearby female plant, usually with the help of the autumn

for breeding “super plants” was possible, Cannabis was illegal. Pioneered by brave stoners over the past 60 years, the legacy of guerrilla breeding is unprecedented and the heritage and oral history should be studied. No other plant has ever been bred in thousands of garages and basements all over the world, each breeder having their own easel of local genetics, working with the canvas of their regional terroir and the demand of their local Cannabis enthusiasts.

Conventional plant breeders might not view the work of our outlaw community over the past 60 years as a real breeding program, but there is no denying that the sheer number of participants, the love for the plant, and traditional breeding practices are responsible for almost all of the major advances in Cannabis genetics. Popular strains known the world over have come

CANNA

breeze. But for Cannabis, sex is actually the exception of the plant kingdom, not the rule. Only six percent of plant species have separate male and female individuals, so most plants can just take care of themselves when they’re in the mood. Sounds a bit lonely (and boring). With Cannabis, the amazing diversity and fast transformations breeders see can be attributed to having two parents – while most plants often have just one.

Beyond the two sexes, Cannabis coitus and evolution have been influenced by humanity. We know for sure that people have used Cannabis medicinally for at least 5,000 years. It’s more than likely that plants with better qualities were selected for survival and propagation and over time, were shared by nomads around Asia, Europe and Africa.

Humans have been self-motivated matchmakers for millennia, and the evolution of the alluring Cannabis flower progressed slowly for eons through both natural and human influence.

Ironically, prohibition may have actually saved Cannabis from the monoculture we see in today's “Big Ag” settings and helped preserve landrace varieties. As we all know, weed has been vilified by racists and greedy businessmen since the early 20th century, so by the time transcontinental world travel and the communication necessary

from unwitting hobbyists, a random seed in a bag of bud, or an overlooked male plant that turned out to be a blessing in disguise. After all, anyone who plays can win the lottery, and judging weed is a pretty subjective effort – with conflicting opinions on what's dank happening as often as consensus. More often than not, if a specific terpene profile or cannabinoid ratio doesn't speak to you, it's just that you haven't tried it in the right context. Who knows? Maybe having the best kind of Cannabis is as simple as having a lot of different kinds of Cannabis…

We think that the smartest breeders would seek to preserve just as often as they create. Just a few years ago, nobody wanted purple flowers … now they're the bee’s knees, fetching top dollar. Suddenly those purple strains stashed in the back of the seed vault are pretty important. Breeding techniques could easily take Cannabis in the direction of corn and soybeans (where one variety makes up 98% of the market), but if we choose a different path and embrace variety, we can use these powerful tools to create an economy that’s diverse – while protecting the individuality of the plant, as it speaks to each of us.

They say happiness held is a seed, but happiness shared is a flower. And it turns out, love is just like wildflowers – often found in the most unlikely places.

STORY by TOM BOWERS @CANNABOMBTOM/LEAF NATION, NATHANIEL PENNINGTON @THEHUMBOLDTSEEDCOMPANY, AND ERIK CHRISTIANSEN @ERIK.NUGSHOTS

SUTRA

“No other plant has ever been bred in thousands of garages and basements all over the world, each breeder having their own easel of local genetics, working with the canvas of their regional terroir and the demand of their local Cannabis enthusiasts.”

Rico“Phone Homie” Valderrama

In 45 years, Rico accomplished more with his brand than many dream of accomplishing in a lifetime. Born Rico Valderrama, he was often known to his friends and fans as “Phone Homie.” He traveled the world meeting and sharing his love for the plant and this industry.

AT A 2012 CONCERT in Amsterdam, Ghostface Killah was performing with the Wu Tang Clan. Rico was in the crowd and was offered a chance to get on stage. He pushed forward, enamored with excitement. Once on stage, Ghostface asked him his name, to which he quickly replied “Phone Homie.” It was the birth of his brand and soon, became a lifestyle that will live on as his legacy.

The mainstream media’s anti-Cannabis spin in regard to Rico’s cause of death felt typical. But friends and family who were present at the hospital said that his condition was complicated due to side effects of Covid-19 and over a year with ECMO treatments – a form of life support used only in critical situations

involving the lungs and heart.

“I remember visiting him in the hospital and there were 21 IV drugs hooked together running into him at the same time and it was like that for months,” explained Brian Schottenham, a close friend and New York local who spoke with us about his late friend. “The meds and treatments are what truly burned out his liver, not the Cannabis use,” he added.

But before his illness, Valderrama had the presence to change the energy of entire halls

holding thousands of people and he brought that home with him. That’s because his biggest accomplishment was not his brand, but his children. “He was the greatest dad, and everyone around him could feel the love he gave his kids,” shared Franco, a close friend of Rico’s.

Rico had the power to push the positivity of any room and replaced any pessimism present with new opportunities and a comedic change of subject. At every turn, he was a booming voice of fun and comedy with a dab cough that echoed through canyons. He will be forever missed and remembered for his passion and presence in the community. @phonehomie

“He was the greatest dad, and everyone around him could feel the love he gave his kids,” shares Franco, a close friend of Rico’s.

Rico on the Slab Hour podcast.

Holding an award at the 2018 High Times Cannabis Cup.

For those who choose to stand out, be di erent, and create their own path

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THE PHRASE “FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD?” It means that you’re searching your vocabulary to find the most applicable language that best represents what you’re trying to convey. Sometimes you don’t have the exact word, but by using this phrase, you make it known that your intention is to communicate your thought effectively. And it’s totally cool. Because it is understood by the person with whom you’re interacting that although you don’t currently have the best articulation, you are also not trying too hard to impress.

And that is what’s wrong with how the word “perfect” is wielded today. People overuse it believing they are demonstrating wisdom by applying it where a less fabulous word would normally go – thinking that it boosts their ability to elocute “perfect” words. Which makes sense. Because the current “me” society that displays their filtered flawlessness on the internet as a quantified representation of who they are, is hiding from the word “imperfect.”

That’s one you won’t hear them use.

It’s absurd. A trigger. How dare you!

The overplay of the word “perfect” is an encapsulation of this artificially intelligent future we are doing “The Robot” into. Perception is largely reality, and the word accentuates the image people pretend to possess. There’s this idea that if you say something “perfect,” then “perfection” will materialize – which realistically doesn’t happen. Just because you use the word to describe something as “perfect,” doesn’t make it “perfect.”

So, when the woman who answers the phone in customer service gleefully uses the word more than twice for the figurative cherry on the sundae, she is in essence informing herself that not only did she resolve the issue, but it couldn’t have been handled any more “perfectly.”

But no, I’m sorry … the last four digits of my Social Security number are not perfect. They are just OK. You know what’s perfect? Cannabis. And Agnes, my pet gerbil.

RAPPERS, RIDES AND RAPPERS, RIDES AND REDNECK VIBES. REDNECK VIBES.

2 2 ' E m e r a l d C u p 1 s t P l a c e I c e W a t e r H a s h - W h i t e t h o r n R o s e

2 2 ' E m e r a l d C u p 2 n d P l a c e R o s i n - W h i t e t h o r n R o s e H

2 ' E g o C l a s h I n v i t a t i o n a l 1 s t P l a c e R o s i n - R i d d l e z