THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE
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INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010
THE TRAVEL ISSUE
MAY 2022
issue
#25
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CAL I F O R N I A
the madrones of mendocino
14 SHOP REVIEW TIOGA GREEN
MAY 2022
28 CONSUMPTION LOUNGES
THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL SMOKING
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CANNTHROPOLOGY PAKALOLO IN THE PACIFIC
SUGAR HILL FARM
sugar hill farm
ADOBE STOCK
california leaf’s tom bowers visits this stunning cannabis retreat, farm, retail shop and vineyard in historic mendocino.
WORLD OF CANNABIS MUSEUM
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CANNABIS I N C ATA LO N I A
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EDITOR’S NOTE NATIONAL NEWS LOCAL NEWS CREATIVE SPARK TIOGA GREEN MADRONES OF MENDOCINO STRAIN OF THE MONTH TRAVEL DO’S & DON’TS TOP 10 DESTINATIONS CANNABIS IN CATALONIA CANNABIS LOUNGES CONCENTRATE OF THE MONTH EDIBLE OF THE MONTH TECHNOLOGY REVIEW CANNTHROPOLOGY STONEY BALONEY
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T H E E N L I G H T E N E D VO I C E
N O RT H W E S T LE A F / O R EG O N L EA F / AL AS KA L E A F / M A RY L AN D L E A F / CAL I F O R N I A L EA F / N O RT H E AS T LE A F
A B O U T T H E C OV E R Prolific illustrator Joshua Boulet has contributed to more than a dozen covers for Leaf Nation over the last 10 years, and is known as much for his distinctive pen and inkwork as he is the use of parody throughout his striking pieces. For this month’s special Travel Issue, we tasked Boulet with capturing an imaginative and playful scene envisioning what it might be like for a plane full of eager and happy stoners and patients alike to mingle together. Fasten your seat belts and prepare for departure, because this bird is cruising across the high skies of Cannabis, USA.
ART by JOSHUA BOULET @JOSHUABOULET WES ABNEY C E O & F O U N D E R wes@leafmagazines.com
CONTRIBUTORS
MIKE RICKER O P E R AT I N G PA R T N E R
JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION
ricker@leafmagazines.com
TOM BOWERS C H I E F O P E R AT I N G O F F I C E R tom@leafmagazines.com DANIEL BERMAN C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R daniel@leafmagazines.com
BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES JACKIE BRYANT, FEATURES TOM BOWERS, FEATURES MARY CARREON, FEATURES JIMI DEVINE, FEATURES EMILY EIZEN, PHOTOS STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS
BOBBY BLACK STAT E C O N T E N T D I R E C T O R
JEFF PORTERFIELD DESIGN
bobbyblack@leafmagazines.com
JESSE RAMIREZ, DESIGN
NATE WILLIAMS STAT E S A L E S D I R E C T O R nate@leafmagazines.com (415) 717-6985 O’HARA SHIPE O N L I N E E D I T O R ohara@leafmagazines.com
MEGHAN RIDLEY C O PY E D I T O R meghan@leafmagazines.com
MIKE RICKER, FEATURES MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING MIKE ROSATI, PHOTOS JAMIE VICTOR, DESIGN NATE WILLIAMS, FEATURES JERRY WHITING, FEATURES
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Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up the Travel Issue of the Leaf! IMAGINE stepping onto a plane as a flight attendant asks for your preference of dabs, to which you reply – “solventless” – as the captain’s voice comes over the speakers: “As we prepare to hit 420,000 feet mentally, please remember that only Cannabis smoking is allowed on this plane. And the crew takes the first hit when we land!” While this might seem like fantasy (and certainly the idea of me flying a plane while baked is just that), the spirit of the fictional Leaf airline is nothing like the terrible Spirit Airlines. If I have one piece of travel advice that’s not in our Do’s and Don’ts column, it’s don’t fly Spirit! But someday we should have the opportunity to dab on a plane and I don’t think it’s wishful thinking. Especially considering that we can drink and take pharmaceuticals on a plane, Cannabis seems the far safer way to travel.
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Alas, our new high-end transport is in concept form only, but that shouldn’t keep you from exploring a new destination this summer!
OUR NEW HIGH-END TRANSPORT IS IN CONCEPT FORM ONLY, BUT THAT SHOULDN’T KEEP YOU FROM EXPLORING A NEW DESTINATION THIS SUMMER!
After two-plus years of virtual reality travel and grifters trying to sell us vacation homes in the metaverse, the time is now to book a flight or rent an RV and go explore a new part of the country or world. Travel opens eyes and changes paradigms – and it’s fun! It’s easy to watch mainstream cable news and think that the world is full of different people, but in reality we’re more the same than different, especially when we come together over a joint or bowl. So fire up your favorite energetic strain and start looking for somewhere fun to go, in your backyard or around the world!
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Life is too short to sit behind a screen and miss a summer of fun, so get out and make a memory this year – just don’t get too baked to forget it!
-Wes Abney
Have a strain, product, or news tip that the California Leaf staff needs to know about? Email bobbyblack@LeafMagazines.com!
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national news
east coast
politics
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ew Jersey will allow police to buy and use marijuana once it’s officially and legally for sale. Acting NJ Attorney General Matthew Platkin issued a memo, telling police chiefs they “may not take any adverse action against any officers because they do or do not use Cannabis off duty.” That was codified in the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act. Cops are treated just like any other customers under the legalization laws passed last year. Officers still may not possess or use Cannabis while on the clock, or performing any work while under the influence.
he U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan marijuana scientific research bill on April 4, removing barriers to research on Cannabis, allowing scientists to access herb from dispensaries of legal states. The Medical Marijuana Research Act passed the House on an overwhelming 343-75 vote. All of the ”No” votes came from Republicans, reports The Hill. Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon introduced the bill in October 2021. It is co-sponsored by 11 Representatives, both Democrats and Republicans. Both the House and Senate passed earlier versions of the bill in 2020. The Senate also approved a separate marijuana research bill last month.
global
the feds
SPANISH POLICE DESTROY EUROPE’S LARGEST CANNABIS FARM
DOJ GIVES BACK A MILLION BUCKS IN SEIZED CASH
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he U.S. Department of Justice on April 13 agreed to return all cash seized from an armored car company used by legal Cannabis dispensaries during several traffic stops in California last year. The company, Empyreal, had filed a federal lawsuit in response. The seizures occurred during a May traffic stop. In that incident, Kansas officers stopped an Empyreal Logistics car. Conversations between state and federal law enforcement agencies stemming from the stop resulted in a series of events in which Kansas and California officers stole – we mean “seized” – more than $1.2 million. The company soon filed its federal lawsuit detailing how a deputy in Dickinson County stopped one of their vehicles transporting cash from licensed Cannabis dispensaries to banks and credit unions and “seized” more than $165,000 on Interstate 70. Empyreal said the cops issued no traffic citations to their drivers during any of the five stops mentioned in its complaint, but the company said it was forced to stop transporting cash through Kansas because of the seizures.
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HOUSE CLEARS WAY FOR CANNABIS RESEARCH
NJ WILL ALLOW OFF-DUTY COPS TO USE MARIJUANA
panish police destroyed 415,000 hemp plants worth up to 100 million euros ($108 million), dismantling Europe’s largest Cannabis farm. According to the Spanish Guardia Civil, the farm covered 1,025 acres. About 50,000 kg of Cannabis plants were drying in a warehouse for processing into cannabidiol (CBD). Located in the rural northern region of Navarre, Spain, the farm spreads across 11 fields. The hemp fields alone had a combined area of 166 acres. CBD sales and consumption are legal across Spain and most of Europe, but Spanish law still prohibits the cultivation of Cannabis plants for anything other than industrial uses like textiles and seeds, according to the Spanish Agriculture Ministry. Growing hemp for conversion into CBD or other derivatives, oddly enough, remains a crime. the south
healthcare
KENTUCKY GOVERNOR LOOKS AT EXECUTIVE ACTION ON MMJ
1 OUT OF 5 MEDICARE RECIPIENTS USE MEDICAL MARIJUANA
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entucky Governor Andy Beshear is a longtime supporter of medical Cannabis. And now the Democrat is going the extra mile: he’s dedicated to providing ailing Kentuckians access to medicinal weed and his comments April 8 showed his frustration, as the latest IF A BILL LEGALIZING medical marijuana bill is currently MMJ FAILS TO PASS, stalled in the Kentucky Senate. When BESHEAR SAYS HE’S READY TO CONSIDER asked if he could potentially issue TAKING ACTION HIMSELF. an Executive Order making medical marijuana accessible if the bill dies, the governor told reporters, “It’s something we will look at. Its time has certainly come.”
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states and D.C. have legalized the adult use of Cannabis.
MAY 2022
44%
of college students reported using marijuana in 2020 – a record number.
ne in five Medicare recipients use medical marijuana and two-thirds say it should be covered by Medicare. Thirty-seven states and D.C. have legalized medicinal Cannabis, but Medicare, the federal health insurance program for older Americans, does not cover it. Possession of weed remains illegal under federal law. Pollsters conducted the survey of 1,250 Medicare recipients in April 2022 and found: one in five use medical marijuana; 23% have used it in the past; and 21% said they currently use weed to treat one or more medical conditions. Two-thirds of patients – 66% – “strongly agree” or “agree” medicinal Cannabis should be covered.
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marijuana cultivation licenses – the first in the state – have been awarded to hemp farmers in New York.
61%
of Wisconsinites favor adult-use legalization of Cannabis.
$93k
worth of marijuana was found on a group of Guatemalans – including a 4-year-old boy – entering the U.S.
4/21 saw the first legalized adult-use marijuana sales in New Jersey.
STORIES by STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA
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CALIFORNIA
Sonoma Hills Farm, Airbnb Partner for ‘One-of-a-Kind’ Experience
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If your dream vacation involves a trip to the Emerald Triangle, look no further. In the most mainstream collaboration on Cannabis tourism we’ve seen to date, Airbnb is partnering with reputed Sonoma County craft Cannabis cultivator Sonoma Hill Farms to offer three, one-night stays this spring. Billed as a first-of-its-kind opportunity, the experience includes a chance for guests to tour the farm’s spacious acreage alongside its VP of Cannabis cultivation and production, Aaron Keefer. Unfortunately, ongoing legal limitations mean those who book this exclusive overnight stay will be unable to visit the “THOSE WHO BOOK THIS area of the farm where EXCLUSIVE Cannabis is grown or OVERNIGHT STAY otherwise directly interact WILL BE UNABLE TO VISIT THE AREA with the plant during their OF THE FARM stay. On the plus side, WHERE CANNABIS IS GROWN.” the Airbnb package does include unique amenities like access to a wood-burning pit and private pool, a gift set of locally-made CBD products, and facetime with the farm’s numerous animals. Priced at $60 a night in honor of Sonoma Hill Farms’ acreage, this small-scale foray by Airbnb could be but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to realizing the full potential of Cannabis tourism.
Operators Raided Over Unpaid Taxes I n a b lo w to the p er c ei ved p r o gr e s s pr o m i s e d by leg a li za ti o n, tw o s ep a ra te ra i d s o n l i c e n s e d Ca n n a bi s o p era to r s i n S o uther n C a li fo r n i a t o o k pl a c e i n Ma r c h .
“THE CALIFORNIA Operating in conjunction with the California Department of Tax and HIGHWAY PATROL Fee Administration (CDTFA), the California Highway Patrol may have given MAY HAVE GIVEN some industry veterans a bad case of déjà vu by conducting so-called SOME INDUSTRY VETERANS A BAD “till tap” civil warrants on both Santa Ana’s Super Clinik and TLC in Boyle CASE OF DÉJÀ VU Heights. In the latter instance, law enforcement officers were alleged BY CONDUCTING to have entered with guns drawn before ultimately removing more than SO-CALLED ‘TILL TAP’ ” $100,000 from TLC’s cash registers. In essence, till taps allow entities like the CDTFA to seize cash from businesses that, following multiple warnings, continue to owe outstanding sales tax to the state. In the case of TLC, a dispensary operated by the popular Jungle Boys collective, the dispute appears to stem from an appeal over a total of $60,000 in penalties and interest. In a video posted to Instagram, Jungle Boys shared that they paid $18 million in taxes in 2021.
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CannaCraft will Merge with San Diego Dispensary Chain March and Ash Are Northern and Southern California Cannabis interests finally prepared to play nice? One new combo of notable companies is betting on it. Last month, Santa Rosa powerhouse CannaCraft announced a merger with the San Diego retail dispensary chain March and Ash. Uniting CannaCraft’s suite of popular in-house brands (including Farmer and the Felon, Care by Design, and AbsoluteXtracts) with March and Ash’s seven retail locations across San Diego “MARCH AND ASH and Imperial counties, the new combined entity will operate CURRENTLY HAS under a newly formed holding company, Groundwork Holding SEVEN RETAIL LOCATIONS Inc. As first reported by Forbes, both companies are expected ACROSS SAN to retain the current organizational structures of their respective DIEGO AND c-suites, though March and Ash co-founder, partner and general IMPERIAL COUNTIES.” counsel Bret Peace will be adding a new title as he steps in to serve as CEO for Groundwork Holding Inc. A new board is also being appointed for the purpose of overseeing the new combo enterprise. Notably, the workforces of both CannaCraft and March and Ash are both unionized with representation from United Food and Commercial Workers.
MAY 2022
Long Beach City Council Mulls C ul t i v a t i o n Ta x C u t Though tax talk may sound boring, a forthcoming decision by the Long Beach City Council could have far-reaching ramifications for operators across the state. In March, the City Council voted to take a closer look at how Cannabis cultivators in Long Beach are taxed. The decision came on the heels of outcry from local “LONG BEACH operators who claim they’re being placed at a CURRENTLY TAXES disadvantage in efforts to compete with both growers CULTIVATORS AT A from other cities, as well as unlicensed operators. By RATE OF $12 PER SQUARE FOOT.” way of evidence, opponents of the current structure pointed to a lack of consistency between jurisdictions. Long Beach currently taxes cultivators at a rate of $12 per square foot, which is compounded by a state charge of $162 per pound. By contrast, Los Angeles charges $20 for every $1,000 of gross receipts, Santa Ana taxes $10 per square foot, and San Francisco charges between 1% and 1.5% based on sales’ volume – except San Francisco has temporarily frozen the collection of this tax. In short: There’s no consistency. Thus, should the Long Beach City Council opt to push the issue, it could have a ripple effect throughout California.
STORIES by ZACK RUSKIN @ZACKRUSKIN for CALIFORNIA LEAF
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company profile
SPARKING UP YOUR CREATIVE SPIRIT
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Through a combination of unique live resin blends and curated thinking journals, Pilgrim Soul founder Shawn Gold is hoping to help people get back in touch with their creative side.
MAY 2022
SHAWN GOLD can still remember the day he borrowed four lines from a W.B. Yeats poem to flirt with his future wife: “How many loved your moments of glad grace / And loved your beauty with love false or true / But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you / And loved the sorrows of your changing face.” That was 25 years ago … but the concept of the “pilgrim soul” is one that’s stuck with him, so much so that he made it the name of his company. In a career that’s seen him at the helm during pivotal marketing and sales junctures for trendsetting brands ranging from MySpace to Rihanna’s SavageXFenty, Gold shared that Cannabis has long served as a cornerstone of his creative process. “Even when I was developing ad campaigns for Butterfinger and Hot Wheels,” he said, “I was using Cannabis to help me imagine different ways to connect with consumers.” Eventually, Gold would make the pivot to the Cannabis industry, advising major outfits like MedMen and Charlotte’s Web before serving as CMO for Lowell Herb Co. in 2019. It was at that point that Gold decided to go all-in on his ultimate vision: a vertically aligned creativity company that counts Cannabis among its featured products. For the full Pilgrim Soul experience, you’ll currently need to live in California – but part of the brilliance behind Gold’s latest venture is that it is able to reach an audience that extends far beyond the borders of state-legal Cannabis markets. In addition to offering a California-only line of vape pens and cartridges featuring live resin blends curated to pique creativity, Pilgrim Soul also sells a range of guided journals that everyone is welcome to purchase. Packed with handpicked puzzles and exercises, Gold says he’s already moved 6 million copies of his refined take on a stoner activity book. “We borrowed from some of the top creativity and innovation books,” he added, “so many of the exercises are based on classic techniques like observation, imagination, abstract pattern recognition and analogies. We put this out as something to potentially give away or, at the very least, as a loss leader, and it became a global hit.” Ostensibly offering legitimate appeal to both fans of Cannabis and to those who abstain, Pilgrim Soul’s journals are complemented by a quartet of proprietary live resin blends created in conjunction with Long Beach’s Abstrax Labs. Now available throughout California, all four formulas came as the result of a complex strain survey Gold and the Abstrax team conducted in search of the ideal blends for unlocking creative mindsets. Relying on user survey data from Leafly and likeminded sources, Gold and Abstrax Labs were able to identify roughly 100 unique, readily available strains associated with both creativity and desirable tertiary traits such as relaxation, uplift and focus. “From there,” he said, “we bought flower and Abstrax Labs made 3D models of the cannabi-
noid and terpene profiles for those To that end, Gold noted that a “This brand is about 100 strains. Then we mapped that series of adult coloring books is reawakening the back onto various states of mind and also in the works. Most recently, Pilgrim Soul within built a matrix of strains that we could Pilgrim Soul released a new edition everyone. You blend together to spark nuanced types of its flagship journal, this time could almost say of creative thinking.” reimagined with contributions from we’re a creative The results are four formulas, each famed comedian Martin Lawrence. performance company and geared to stimulate a different subAdditional non-Cannabis items – Cannabis is one of sect of creative thought. While Focus including silver holographic ‘scratch’ the products we features a fusion of Durban Poison, notes and a set of elegant pick-up specialize in.” XJ-13 and Lemon Jack, Imagination sticks – round out the company’s relies on a combination of Gelacurrent THC-free options geared at to, Chemdawg and Lemon Cake. getting your creative juices flowing. Rounding out the offerings are blends targeting Reflecting on the road that led him to Pilgrim Awareness and Reflection, with a fifth option – Soul, Gold underscored his desire to share with Lucid Dreaming – slated to drop shortly as well. others what Cannabis has long provided in his There is also the matter of Pilgrim Soul’s own life. unique approach to packaging. Available in “Throughout my career, I’ve used Cannabis limited editions, you’ll find the brand’s vape pens to enhance my creativity,” he said. “It helps me and standalone cartridges sold in collectible tins to empathize with the people I’m trying to reach, which highlight the work of various up-and-comto make nonlinear connections, and to put ing artists. The first round of tins, for example, previously existing ideas together in new ways. features work from female street artists. IntendI use it for divergent thinking and brainstorming ed to be sturdy and stylish enough to serve and, more than anything, I consider it a second as souvenir stash boxes after fulfilling their opinion from myself. I’ve gotten so many benefits primary purpose, Gold notes that there’s even from it that now what I want is to help more peoa hidden message in the packaging for intrepid ple experience that too.” users to uncover. Ultimately, it all ties into his desire to spark peoples’ creativity in every way possible. “This brand is about reawakening the Pilgrim Soul within everyone,” Gold explained. “You could almost say we’re a creative performance company and Cannabis is one of the products we specialize in. Great Cannabis lights up the frontal lobe. It gets neurons firing in a more uninhibited way, which makes it amazing for idea production. That doesn’t mean all your ideas will be good, of course, but it does mean that you’ll very likely have a ton more of them.” In a sense, that’s the Pilgrim Soul mission in a nutshell: encouraging creativity not for its possible payoff, but for the benefits of the experience itself.
PILGRIMSOUL.COM PILGRIMSOULCANNABIS.COM @PILGRIM_SOUL_CREATIVE
STORY by ZACK RUSKIN @ZACKRUSKIN for CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTOS by EMILY EIZEN @EMILYEIZEN
shop review
TIOGA GREEN THE DISPENSARY FOR ADVENTURE SEEKERS
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MAY 2022
Tioga Green is arguably one of the most conveniently located dispensaries – complete with a built-in clientele of outdoor adventure seekers.
OWNER CORY ZILA, A FORMER PRO SKIER
Tioga Green looks like it’s in the middle of nowhere. It’s easy to miss it when you’re driving along US Route 395 on your way to South Lake Tahoe, Mammoth, June and Mono Lakes, or off into Yosemite National Park. It looks like a typical rest stop or a place to ask for directions. In fact, if there wasn’t a sign saying “Cannabis” positioned along the highway facing drivers heading north and south, most people would never know a dispensary existed there.
LEE VINING, CA
BUT WHILE its immediate surroundings may seem desolate, Tioga Green is arguably one of the most conveniently located dispensaries – complete with a built-in clientele of outdoor adventure seekers. The shop’s location couldn’t be more on-brand for owner Cory Zila, a former pro skier who’s traveled around the world to ride fresh mountain pow. During the winter, he says, the dispensary gets a lot of passersby traffic from LA on the way to Tahoe. In the summer, Tioga gets business from tourists visiting from all over the country – even from overseas. “It’s a unique location in terms of who comes to this store,” Zila says. “We definitely have a great local following – including many people from Nevada – but we are definitely a tourist destination.” In addition to the tourist traffic, Zila says the dispensary has also become a hub for locals. But for him, “locals” account for people living as far away as the military town of Hawthorne about an hour east of the shop. “People from Nevada, particularly Hawthorne, are our bread and butter,” says Zila. “We get so many people who come in from Nevada and we love taking care of them – that’s why we give them the locals’ discount.” Making customers and patients feel safe and cared for is the vibe Zila is going for at Tioga Green, which is why budtenders are required to undergo months of training through the Trichome Institute before stepping foot onto the sales floor. Budtenders get homework and must pass several tests (including a final exam) before finishing the program, and according to Tioga’s former budtender and manager Jason Tausig, they’re also encouraged to test all of the shop’s products to gain experiential knowledge. “When I was there, Cory and/or I tried every product on the shelves because we wanted to make sure the customers were going to be satisfied and given a true, honest retail experience.”
The product menu is vast for a small shop. Their most popular products are ounces of top shelf outdoor flower, but they offer every type of product. “People are blown away by our selection,” Zila boasts. “We really focus on the medicinal side of things, which means we get people coming in with all kinds of ailments, many of which Cannabis can help.” It’s no wonder that Tioga Green has so many return customers. If you’ve ever been to Yosemite, you know how much power radiates from the soil, waterfalls, trees and massive granite rock faces. Situated at the park’s eastern entrance, the shop emanates whispers of the area’s natural forces – a perfect pitstop before heading in to enjoy all the natural splendor. While Yosemite is a non-smoking park, that doesn’t mean you can’t eat an edible or enjoy a few puffs before entering. As for where to go, Zila recommends the Cathedral Lakes hike near Tuolumne Meadows (just off the Tioga Pass) or the Mount Dana trail if you prefer a more challenging trek. TIOGA GREEN 51005 HWY 395 “Hiking Mount Dana is an ass-kickLEE VINING, CA er,” Zila emphasizes, “but I call it ‘the 9AM-7PM DAILY highest hike’ because it’s one of the TIOGAGREEN.COM tallest peaks in Yosemite.” FB.COM/TIOGAGREEN Getting high before hiking Yosem(760) 709-2587 ite’s “highest hike” seems almost obligatory. Thankfully, Tioga Green is there to supply you with the goods to fulfill that commitment to yourself and the universe.
STORY by MARY CARREON @MARYYYSTARDUST | SHOP PHOTOS by @ROSATIPHOTOS | AERIAL PHOTOS by @KEVINWESTENBARGER
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THE TRAVEL ISSUE
16
the madrones of mendocino exploring the stunning multi-faceted retreat home to a cannabis farm, cannabis retail shop, wine tasting room and more
leafmagazines.com
THE MAJESTY of Mendocino County, with its rolling hills, towering redwoods and craggy coastline, has inspired Cannabis cultivators and winegrowers to plant roots for decades. Legacy farms nestle next to legendary vineyards in its famed agricultural regions, benefiting from the unique microclimates created by the varied landscape and sunny inland weather colliding with the coastal patterns blowing in from the western shoreline. It’s this breathtaking confluence of characteristics, along with the romance of nature, that inspired Jim Roberts and Brian Adkinson to create their own experiential enclave here. That, and the fact that the area is great for producing two of their favorite things: Cannabis and wine. “The position of the Valley is east-west, not north-south, and because of that we pull the fog in from the coast at night, and it goes back out in the day,” Adkinson said. “So we have cool nights and hot days that make it perfect for growing Pinot Noir.”
MAY 2022
As self-described “partners in work and life,” Adkinson and Roberts founded an ensemble of boutique businesses just outside the town of Philo, in order to offer an array of opportunities for visitors and locals alike to enjoy the flavors and beauty of a region famed for its heritage apples, sheep, Cannabis and wine. Operating two retreats with overnight accommodations, the 5,000-square-foot Sugar Hill Cannabis farm, a Cannabis retail location, a wine tasting room, and an events facility all next door to one another – the pair are basically collecting everything they love about the region under their own umbrella. It’s an obvious but rare concept to create a Cannabis tourism destination in a region famous for wine tourism. After all, though it’s still not legal for members of the general public to simply tour Cannabis grows, it’s the natural progression for the community to start to act more like the analogous wine and beer industries as it wades into the mainstream. “There are a lot of things to do up here,” Adkinson said. “Hiking, wine tasting, cheese
upcoming events June 3: Mendocino Film Festival screening of “Lady Buds” June 5: Cannabis Farmers Market at The Brambles July 16: Dinner and Cannabis Live Auction at The Brambles Aug.13, Oct. 1, Nov. 5: Infused dinner with Bronson Macomber and farm tour weekend
More info at Mendocinofilmfestival.com & themadrones.com/the-brambles
owners jim Roberts and Brian Adkinson
Since it’s in an area surrounded by tasting and great restaurants, and Cannabis traditional wine tourism and coastal vacacan really help elevate that experience.” tioners, their spot often attracts people who The flagship of the operation, The Madrowouldn’t otherwise find themselves stepping nes, is a Mediterranean-inspired collection of into a dispensary. nine guest accommodations, two wine-tast“Sometimes we call ourselves “The ing rooms, The Bohemian Chemist Cannabis Gateway Hotel,’ because we have people retail shop, and Wickson – a restaurant pop into the dispensary and tell us that they named after a local heritage apple that haven’t used pot since they were was in turn named after a pro“Sometimes young,” Adkinson said. They are fessor at Berkeley. we call more than happy to reintroduce After operating The Madrones ourselves the wine-tasting clientele to the for a couple of years, Roberts and ‘The Gateway joys of Cannabis. Adkinson fell in love with anothHotel,’ Together, the pair and their staff er 12-acre parcel of land fewer because we play host to weddings, business than 500 yards away that was have people retreats, wellness retreats and at home to a forest of beautiful oldpop into the long last, Cannatourism events. growth redwoods. They decided dispensary Roberts, who is on the Board to purchase the land in 2015 and and tell us of Directors for the Mendocino create The Brambles, an event that they Cannabis Alliance, is particularly space and retreat with five guest haven’t used excited about the events planned accommodations. pot since for the summer. “We just wanted to be the stewthey were They’re screening the Menards of these magnificent beings young,” docino Film Festival’s first-ever for a short period of time,” AdkinCannabis themed film – the locally produced son said of the redwoods on the property. “Lady Buds” – teaming with Nikki Lastreto and Swami Chaitanya of Swami Selects for a Cannabis auction, and also collaborating with San Francisco Chef Bronson Macomber for a series of Cannabis-infused, seven-course meals as part of three weekend-long farm tourism escape packages. They hope that people continue to visit and fall in love with the region and its distinct flavors, just as they have. “I think we have a unique property, and the Anderson Valley’s such a stunning area anyway,” Roberts said. “We have first class wineries around us, amazing Cannabis, and we’re so happy we could pull it all together.”
The Madrones & The Brambles 14 guest rooms | Wickson restaurant Wine, cheese, and Cannabis tasting Events space themadrones.com
The Bohemian Chemist Herbal Apothecary Shop 9000 CA-128, Philo, CA Open Thursday-Monday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Wednesday, 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. | Closed Tuesdays thebohemianchemist.com
Sugar Hill Farm 5000-square-foot full-term sungrown Cannabis cultivation specializing in landrace strains and the stretchy sativa cultivars that succeed in the Mendocino climate, sold under The Bohemian Chemist brand. Strain highlights: African Orange, Pineapple Sorbet, Sour Cookies, Snowy White. thebohemianchemist.com/sugarhill-farm
STORY by TOM BOWERS @CANNABOMBTOM/CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTOS by BOBBY BLACK @BOBBYBLACK420 | FARM PHOTOS by SUGAR HILL FARM
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20
CULTIVATED BY NO TILL KINGS
MAY 2022
CAL I F O R N I A
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rowing and selling popular Cannabis cultivars can be a bit of a gamble for brands. On the one hand, it can mean instant bag appeal: When faced with a variety of options, many of which a customer may be seeing for the first time, chances are the average shopper will reach for something they’ve seen before. Instant recognition can translate to instant sales.
The flipside to that coin is that by picking a cultivar with significant market history, the product will instantly be held to a set standard – meaning that if the grower screws up, it’s going to be pretty evident in the final product. It’s with that perspective that I tore into a jar of No Till Kings’ Cookies and Cream #2, fully expecting a sweet, earthy-smelling and tasting smoke with a deep relaxation to accompany it. Reader, believe me when I say that this living soil expression of this cultivar is perfect. The smell and taste are exactly what one would expect – instantly sweet and nutty, with a hint of vanilla, an undercurrent of earth and a little bit of bread flowing underneath. The buds are dark green with flecks of deep purple, marked by bright orange pistils. It’s nothing new, but that’s the beauty of it – it’s something recognizable and familiar. One puff of this and it’s clear what’s being smoked, which is a hat tip to the Long Beach-based cultivators for selecting and bringing to market a perfectly dialed-in rendition of Cookies and Cream. The resulting high is balanced, as it should be. Those looking for a buzzy head change will find it alongside a nice body high that’s relaxing but not too stoney. Cookies and Cream buds tend to clock in somewhere “One puff of this around the and it’s clear mid-20s for what’s being THC persmoked.” centage and this was no exception. With this batch at 26% THC, I found it ideal for an evening toke – with a cerebral upstart helping me process the day behind me and a slightly weighted body high removing the tension and helping transition me into a state of relaxation. It tasted so good that I smoked almost the entire eighth in one sitting – mostly through a bong to maximize flavor, but also one very tasty pinner as a nightcap. REVIEW by JACKIE BRYANT @JACQBRY/CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTO by TOM BOWERS @CANNABOMBTOM HAVE A LEAD ON SOME SERIOUS FIRE? EMAIL BOBBYBLACK@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
NOTILLKINGS.COM | @NOTILLKINGS 26% THC
THE TRAVEL ISSUE
22
travel do’s & don’ts
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leaf nation’s wes abney offers a word to the wise on weed travel
While many of us are longing for a super stoney vacation this year, nobody wants to end up on an episode of Locked Up Abroad, or find themselves having to return to some ill-fated destination in Anywhere, USA for a court date. The following recommendations for traveling with or without Cannabis are purely anecdotal and not meant as legal advice. Always remember to be safe and follow the rules wherever you may travel. MAY 2022
Don’t Spark in National Parks
While there’s not much better than getting high in the great outdoors, think twice before you spark up in a park run by state or federal government. National parks are federal property regardless of the state they’re located in, so state Cannabis laws don’t apply there. You can get serious fines and real time for being caught with weed in a national park. The penalties in a state park can vary – unless you’re in California, where smoking in state parks and on beaches is permitted.
security stumbles
Know Before You Go
Familiarizing yourself with the laws of your destination is an absolute must. Depending on where you are going, Cannabis can be completely legal, somewhat legal or entirely illegal – especially if you are traveling internationally. And the places that do offer legal weed in some form, often have confusing laws and policies surrounding the purchase and consumption. Always do your research before packing anything that could potentially lead to trouble. If in doubt … throw it out.
Never Buy Illegally (Especially Overseas) While this might seem like obvious advice, there’s almost nothing worse than being out of weed on a vacay … and it can lead you to do irrational things. What is worse, though? Getting robbed or busted for buying weed illegally. Chances are the guy offering you a “drug” hookup is just as shady as the street vendor selling “authentic” Rolex watches and “licensed” Gucci gear. Avoid the trouble (and the best case mids scenario) and wait to bake until you get home.
Going through TSA is painful, but it’s worth being smart so you can get your buzz on when you land. My first time going through airport security with a couple vape pens in my backpack was gut wrenching, complete with sweaty palms and an irrational fear that I would be going to prison for a small amount of weed. This was 2013 and while weed was legal in Seattle and my destination of Denver, I had no clue what would happen if I brought my stash with me. Years later I heard a quote attributed to a senior TSA official, which I share in paraphrased and off-the-record format: If we stopped every bag with a personal amount of drugs in them, the planes would never take off. When it comes to a more official statement, TSA policy says: “TSA’s screening procedures are focused on security and are designed to detect potential threats to aviation and passengers. Accordingly, TSA security officers do not search for marijuana or other illegal drugs, but if any illegal substance is discovered during security screening, TSA will refer the matter to a law enforcement officer.” Generally, checked luggage and carry-ons are only screened at your point of departure – so if weed is legal where you fly out from, you shouldn’t have a problem getting your bag where you land. This is not the case for international flights, so don’t risk it. We recommend putting anything sensitive in your checked bag and to only take what you plan to consume. And don’t forget: Never smoke or vape on a plane (there is one Leaf team member I’m thinking fondly of as I write this). Also remember that eating edibles before a flight might seem like a good idea, but it can be just as bad as taking a hit of LSD if that 100mg nano-emulsified beverage hits a little harder than expected.
don’t drive high
My advice regarding weed and cars is simple: Never drive high and don’t smoke while driving. As a general rule whenever I rent a car on vacation, I always get the walk-away (full coverage) insurance. I won’t risk driving in a new place without it, and I certainly wouldn’t add weed to the already stressful mix. So if you plan to party, take a rideshare and be aware of your surroundings. Driving in a new city statistically increases your odds of an accident, so don’t make it worse by being impaired.
My first time going through airport security with a couple vape pens in my backpack was gut wrenching, complete with sweaty palms and an irrational fear that I would be going to prison for a small amount of weed.
Stoners & Scooters Don’t Always Mix
While this writer once had an epic group scootering experience while on a lemon-tech dose of psilocybin in Denver (great street graffiti, highly recommended), it’s important to remember that anything with wheels can lead to a DUI. This is more of a concern for happy hour drinkers bar-hopping on scooters, but be careful if you rent something – especially if it has an electric motor and you don’t know your way around town.
STORY by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX/LEAF NATION | PHOTO by ADOBE STOCK | ICONS by THE NOUN PROJECT
THE TRAVEL ISSUE
top
10
cannabis destinations
From smoke lounges and spa treatments to bus tours and bud and breakfasts – there is no shortage of ways to satisfy your weedy wanderlust.
boston
As the birthplace of the American Revolution, Boston is known as the Cradle of Liberty – a promise they lived up to for pot smokers when Massachusetts legalized Cannabis for adult use in 2016. There are now nearly 180 dispensaries across the state, at least 20 of which are located in the greater Boston area. Beantown is home to the original Chemdog strain and the Boston Freedom Rally – the annual “protestival” held at Boston Common park each September, thanks to the activists at MassCann NORML. When visiting the Common, stop by the bench on “Mount Malta” dedicated to the late, great Cannabis activist Michael Malta – aka the “King of Pot” (KOP) – and pay tribute with a joint. After blazing in the Common, you can grab a quick beer across the street at the famous Cheers bar (from the TV show), then head out on the Freedom Trail – a 2.5-mile walking tour (marked on the road by a line of red paint) that leads to 16 of Highest Attractions Freedom Trail, Sam Adams Brewery, Boston Common, Boston’s most important Revolutionary Boston Freedom Rally (September), Faneuil Hall War sites.
AMSTERDAM
The original Cannabis tourism destination. Long considered the Cannabis capital of Europe, Amsterdam was the seat of Cannabis activism and cultivation for decades. Though not legal, Cannabis has been “tolerated” in the Netherlands since the early 1980s. In addition to the 160-or-so Cannabis coffeeshops, the Dam offers visitors many outstanding museums, a rocking nightlife and of course, the infamous Red Light sex district. Unfortunately, though, the government there has been clamping down in recent years – closing nearly half of the city’s Cannabis coffeeshops and threatening to ban tourists from them by next year. So if you’ve ever dreamed of going, now’s the time.
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Highest Attractions Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, The Bulldog, Greenhouse Coffeeshops (Cookies Lounge), Barneys Farm & Uptown, Sensi Hemp Museum, Smokeboat Canal Tour, Amsterdam Light Festival (Dec).
barcelona
Similar to Amsterdam, Barcelona has 200 quasi-legal lounges/clubs where one can buy and consume Cannabis – the difference being that, to enter, you need to be a member (and technically, a resident). But like most other prohibition laws, there are always gray areas to exploit. Aside from the Cannabis clubs, Barcelona also offers delicious tapas, decadent hot chocolate, spectacular cathedrals and architecture (most notably by Anton Gaudi), hip graffiti and skater culture, museums, nightlife and more. Barcelona is also home to Spannabis, the world’s largest Cannabis convention each March. Highest Attractions Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Parc Guell, Sensi Hemp Museum, Bulldog Barcelona, Picasso Museum, The 4 Cats Café, Spannabis, Hop On-Hop Off bus tour.
MAY 2022
denver
They don’t call it the Mile High City for nothing! After becoming the first major city in America to legalize Cannabis for adult use in 2012, Denver saw a mass migration of Cannabis lovers. With over 200 dispensaries, multiple Cannabis bus tours and consumption lounges, a smorgasbord of gourmet restaurants and craft breweries, killer street art and a number of 420-friendly hotels (some of which even offer complimentary vaporizers in their rooms) – not to mention the glorious Rocky Mountains, Red Rocks Amphitheater, world-class mountain sports, hot springs, and sister stoner city Boulder all just an hour or so drive away – Denver remains a popular getaway destination for tokers. Highest Attractions Meow Wolf, Red Rocks Amphitheater, Illuzion glass gallery, International Church of Cannabis, Patterson Inn (420 Hotel), 4/20 Rally - Civic Center Park
the emerald triangle
Comprised of three counties in Northern California (Mendocino, Humboldt and Trinity), the “Emerald Triangle” has been considered the Cannabis cultivation capital of America (if not the world) for half a century now – ever since the hippies of Haight Ashbury moved up there to live amidst nature and escape the eyes of the law. But thanks to legalization, decades of suspicious and seclusionary attitudes towards outsiders have given way to an embrace of history and hospitality. Today, the region is exploding with new venues, shops, spas and tours designed to educate the public about Cannabis culture. Sample some of the legacy strains, then explore wineries, the majestic Redwoods and rugged coastline.
NATE WILLIAMS
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Highest Attractions
The Lost Coast, Avenue of the Giants.
Madrones Hotel, Papa and Barkley Social, Fern Canyon,
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For those on the more adventurous side who don’t mind the cold, we present our wildcard entry on the list: Fairbanks, Alaska. The Golden Heart City is home to 17 Cannabis dispensaries – including Good Titrations, which also features a cultivation facility and the state’s only legal on-site consumption lounge. After you snag yourself some of the region’s famous Alaskan/Matanuska Thunderfuck to puff on, enjoy some of the city’s craft breweries, local delicacies (such as fresh salmon, reindeer and yak), and cool attractions like Pioneer Park, Wedgewood Wildlife Sanctuary and the Ice Art Park. And after freezing your buds off all day, warm up in the local hot springs and gaze up at the awe-inspiring Aurora Borealis. Staring at the Northern Lights while smoking some Northern Lights … what could be cooler than that?
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Highest Attractions Good Titrations, Aurora Ice Museum, Ice Art Park, Chena Hot Springs Resort, Castner Glacier Ice Cave, Fairbanks Ice Museum, World Ice Art Championships (Feb-Mar)
negril, jamaica
For half a century now, visitors from around the world have flocked to the Caribbean paradise of Jamaica to enjoy the pristine beaches, reggae music and (of course) the ganja. The island has been inextricably connected with Cannabis since the mid-20th century, when the rise of the Rastafarian faith and their sacramental use of the herb helped fuel the reggae revolution. Thankfully, after decades of prohibition, Jamaica finally legalized Cannabis in 2015. Negril remains one of the island’s top tourist hotspots – renowned for its pristine, resort-lined Seven-Mile Beach, raucous nightclubs and local flavor. Here, you can dine on fresh grilled Highest Caribbean lobster or jerk chicken, rent a jet ski or a glass-bottom boat, or just lay around in the Attractions sun smoking spliffs and drinking dirty bananas all Rick’s Café, Bob Marley Museum, Coral Cove Wellness Resort, day. In the nearby town of Little Bay, where things Zimbali Retreats are a bit quieter, you’ll find Coral Cove Wellness – Jamaica’s premiere Cannabis resort, complete with its own private reef, on-site dispensary and ganja-filled greenhouses, as well as a full array of spa services. Not far from there in Orange Hill is Blue Hole Mineral Spring, home of Wabba’s Weed Adventure, where you can tour the fields of award-winning ganja.
LAS VEGAS
In addition to gambling and prostitution, Las Vegas also legalized weed for adult use in 2017. Since then, a slew of dispensaries have popped up in Sin City, most of which are located far from The Strip. But much like its extravagant casinos and clubs, the pot shops in Vegas tend to be over the top. Case in point, the city’s two most famous spots: billing itself as the world’s largest dispensary, Planet 13 is a 112,000-square-foot interactive superstore that’s open 24/7 and will soon be the new home of the Cannabition Cannabis Museum. And then there’s NUWU – the 16,000-square-foot dispensary located on tribal land just two blocks from Fremont Street that features a 24-hour drive-thru window and the state’s only legal Cannabis consumption lounge (The Vegas Tasting Room) located inside. Meow Wolf at Area 15, Jammin’ on Vegas,
Aside from being the entertainment capital of the world, LA is also one of our nation’s stoniest cities – particularly West Hollywood, which aspires to become America’s answer to Amsterdam. Over the past five years, the city has passed ordinances authorizing licenses for on-site consumption, making it one of the only places in SoCal to allow Cannabis smoking in lounges and restaurants. The most famous example of these is the Original Cannabis Café (formerly Lowell Café), where patrons can order Cannabis (and various smoking apparatus) from a menu along with their food and drinks – and enjoy it right at their table during their meal. There are also an array of stoner sightseeing and grow facility tours available, or you can just wing it: stroll down the Hollywood Walk of Fame or the Venice Beach boardwalk, peruse the vintage stores along Melrose, or spend a night on the legendary Sunset Strip. Highest Attractions
Walk of Fame, Original Cannabis Café, Comedy Store, Nostalgia,
Gusto Green, Rainbow Bar and Grill, Whiskey a Gogo, Cookies Melrose, Alternative Herbal Health Services (AHHS)
vancouver
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Los angeles
With nicknames like “Vansterdam” and “The Big Smoke,” it’s no wonder that Vancouver, B.C. has been Canada’s Cannabis capital for decades (long before weed was actually legalized in 2018). The city hosts the world’s longest-running 4/20 event, the Vancouver Smoke Out, every April. It’s also home to Canada’s most notorious activist/seed merchant Marc Emery – founder of Cannabis Culture magazine and the city’s oldest headshop/vapor lounge, Cannabis Culture HQ (formerly known as Hemp BC). “The Couve” also features several other consumption lounges (such as the iconic New Amsterdam Café), guided Cannabis tours and crawls, as well as numerous compassion clubs and dispensaries (including the city’s first legal marijuana dispensary, Evergreen Cannabis), where one can acquire some of the area’s famous BC Bud. Then, get high and go out hiking, snowboarding, mushroom hunting or whale watching, eh?
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Highest Attractions
Jerome Baker’s Dream Factory, NuWu Cannabis Marketplace, Planet 13, Stratosphere.
Highest Attractions
Cannabis Culture HQ, New Amsterdam Café,
Studio 710, Museum Of Anthropology, Vancouver Aquarium, Capilano Suspension Bridge
STORY & PHOTOS by APRIL & BOBBY BLACK/HIGHER WAY TRAVEL @HIGHERWAYTRAVEL for LEAF NATION
THE TRAVEL ISSUE
Dank Destination
cannabis in catalonia
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ThispastMarch Iwas in Barcelona,
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LA SAGRADA FAMILIA AND THE SURROUNDING BARCELONA AREA
sitting with European street artist Soklak and puffing on a joint apparently filled with Runtz from somewhere in California … if the label is to be believed. “You look like the Daniel Craig of weed right now,” I blurted out, which is just the kind of icebreaker that could either kill the conversation or take it to the next level. Thankfully, we were all pretty stoned – so we had a good laugh and talked about Soklak’s vision for the future of Cannabis hospitality in Europe. Soklak is the art director for CRTFD in Europe. CRTFD is a California-born plant medicine-centric lifestyle brand that does everything from providing artists with regularly paying work, to operating Cannabis social clubs and producing high-quality streetwear. The brand’s Barcelona location is in the city’s old Gothic Quarter, which is a labyrinthine neighborhood with dark, twisting streets. Roman ruins, bars and nightclubs, Modernist architecture and medieval landmarks are the aesthetic markers of the quarter, making it a popular destination for tourists due to its history and proximity to the port, though many tried-and-true locals live here, too. During high season, large cruise ships dock in Barcelona (considered the
MAY 2022
Mediterranean hub for the world’s cruising industry) and in their limited hours on shore, many of the boats’ inhabitants end up exploring the Gothic Quarter’s narrow avenues. The streets were uncharacteristically empty on the drizzly Sunday morning I walked through the city and across La Rambla to CRTFD from the stylish and affordable Hotel Brummell in Poble Sec where I was staying. It’s a route I’ve walked many times before. I actually used to live in Barcelona – I got married, did a lot of restaurant, wine and travel writing, and spent a lot of time partying and hanging out in the capital city of Catalan culture. The city’s Cannabis culture wasn’t new to me, either. I have been a member of Circulo, which is just around the corner from CRTFD, for around five years.
As far as weed culture in Spain is concerned, Barcelona is definitely the country’s epicenter. In fact, I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to say that, thanks to a crackdown on weed tourism in Amsterdam, Barcelona has emerged from Covid as the clear titan of European Cannabis. The distinction is based on the city’s evolving and growing cultivation and hash cultures (still illegal and therefore underground), along with its positively buzzing private social club culture that operates in
CRTFD’S SOKLAK AND THEIR CLUB.
top barcelona bud bars Like the skate culture vibe displayed at CRTFD, each club in Barcelona has a unique flavor to it. Here are some of the best.
PHOTOS BY TOM BOWERS @CANNABOMBTOM
THERE’S HQ, which ended up being designated the home base for others in town visiting from the United States for the Spannabis conference, as I was. Located in the central L’Eixample neighborhood, HQ featured some of the best locally grown and “imported” weed the city had to offer, as well as a crew of customers dedicated to the evolving California-style hash culture currently taking Barcelona by storm. COOKIES BARCELONA is no different from Cookies outposts all over the globe, which is exactly what makes it special – especially for enthusiasts who aren’t able to visit California or anywhere else in the United States. This club, which is a favorite of young men in particular, is right up the street from Antoni Gaudi’s famed Sagrada Familia cathedral, making it the perfect stop to toke before taking in the truly psychedelic-looking wonders from one of Spain’s most famed architects. The club is also one of the only places in town to feature Fidel’s famed hash hole joints, which are sold exclusively at Cookies locations.
FIDEL AND JOSH SCHMIDT OF NATURA AT THE HASH HOLES AND DONUTS PARTY AT COOKIES BARCELONA DURING SPANNABIS.
TERPS ARMY, near La Rambla, is a more bare-bones Cannabis enthusiast experience from the famed Amsterdam club by the same name. Lorenzo, the owner, is the OG who invented the hash hole joints and who eventually taught Fidel what he knows. Terps Army is where the hardcore stoners convene, especially those who are particularly into hash. Expect lots of European tourists.
a precarious legal gray area, but results in a comes from California, as well as from cultisemi-permanent scene nonetheless. vations across Europe and probably beyond. It’s exactly that rich Barcelona subculture It’s a striking change from even just a few that CRTFD has tapped into, so it’s no suryears ago, when it was significantly harder prise the club appears to be flourishing. Even for someone from the United States to find on a dreary weekend morning, the couches passable weed – even in the clubs functionare filling up, coffee cups are being poured ing mostly as safe spaces for those wishing and joints are being lit. to toke up in peace with other like-minded The club is at once stylish individuals. The weed’s and comfortable, but not quality was important, Barcelona snobbish – exactly what the of course, but secondhas emerged cosmopolitan city is about. ary. While the quality of from Covid Plus, Soklak and the rest of Cannabis found in Baras the clear CRTFD’s team is pretty damn celona still has a ways to titan of near certain that Cannabis go, there were genuinely European and art in all its various decent buds to be had forms go hand-in-hand. at every club I walked Cannabis. “We want to reflect and into. This never used to represent subculture around be the case. the globe,” Soklak told In many ways, what’s me, mentioning that street and skate art are happening at CRTFD and other clubs around cornerstones of the brand’s image. He is prithe city is indicative of Barcelona’s Cannabis marily based in Paris, but spends a lot of time world coming into legitimacy. working in CRTFD’s Amsterdam and BarceStreet art and skate culture have been lona clubs – the latter of which is decked out strong for a long time in Catalonia, the in spray-painted murals by the artist featuring separatist-friendly region of Spain of which his signature script. Barcelona is the capital. The dedication to creativity shows up These subcultures dovetail with a robust, throughout the club: The Cannabis jars are politically-left presence in Barcelona, which is made using a special printer and unique particularly exemplified in the city’s squatter graffiti tags, while the clothing features art and anarchist scenes. They have always fed by different kinds of graffiti artists. The weed into one another – with street art, skate cul-
ture, Cannabis use and the squatter lifestyle becoming TINYURL.COM/BCNLEAF @CRTFD.BCN markers of an alternative, more off-the-grid style of living. So, it’s fascinating to see them becoming sought-out spaces, with more public access and a wider mix of people. These things were always cool, but up until recently, you had to be a certain type of person to access it. I used to live in Barcelona and very much consider it one of my homes, yes … but that’s not how I ended up in that club. I have Cannabis to thank for that. To me, it’s just one more example of how Cannabis culture fosters community among those who choose to indulge. Just as Soklak and his crew at CRTFD identified, there’s a thread running through all of these subcultures, even though they each have their own thing going on. Once again, Cannabis is the thread tying everything together – even (and especially) in Barcelona right now. CRTFD BARCELONA
STORY by JACKIE BRYANT @JACQBRY for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by JACKIE BRYANT & CRTFD
THE TRAVEL ISSUE
Dank Destination
HAZE FILLS THE AIR AT ORIGINAL CANNABIS CAFE IN WEST HOLLYWOOD.
28
smoke scene Inside America’s Cannabis Consumption Lounges
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FEW THINGS are as sweet as getting stoned with a group of friends. But nothing beats sparking up in a public lounge where you’re surrounded by strangers who feel like friends due to one common interest: Cannabis. At one table people are smoking and playing cards. At another table people are sipping coffee, passing joints and chatting up the table next to them. On-site consumption lounges are more than just smoke dens where stoners go to get high – they’re hubs of sovereignty, where Cannabis smoke is a physical manifestation of freedom.
MAY 2022
For the past 50 years, Amsterdam coffeeshops were the holy grail of public consumption. They were some of the only places in the world where people could freely buy and smoke weed, though Amsterdam is now moving to ban tourists from visiting coffeeshops. Vancouver came online in 2001 with a consumption lounge called Cannabis Culture, which is still open for business. Oregon also had a lounge that opened in 2009 called Portland’s World Famous Cannabis Cafe, but it closed in 2016. And the Hitman Coffeeshop that opened in Downtown LA in 2017, though a happening spot, was also sadly short lived. On-site consumption culture has had a difficult time taking off in the West. We can blame prohibition for that. But even as more states legalize Cannabis, bars and cigar lounges still greatly outnumber public consumption venues for pot.
The tide appeared to be shifting at the end of 2019, when numerous cities around the country announced they’d open smoke lounges in 2020. But then Moe Greens the pandemic hit San Francisco and those plans were foiled. Pending and existing consumption businesses were forced to close (like most restaurants and bars) for the foreseeable future. “For destination businesses like ours, we were really hurt by [having to close] because consumption is a part of the experience and feel of our places,” says Nate Haas, owner of Moe Greens and part-owner of Barbary Coast – two popular smoke lounges in San Francisco. “It’s a very genuine, old-school experience. To have the attraction of our businesses taken away was very difficult.” Barbary Coast and Moe Greens (both of which are now open again) have dispensaries attached to their tasting
rooms. Despite closing the lounges, both businesses kept their weed shops open. But not all on-site consumption lounges have dispensaries attached to them. West Hollywood’s OG Cannabis Café (better known by its original name, Lowell Café) was a standalone 420-friendly restaurant that when lockdowns went into effect, had to lay off employees and shut down the business. Despite this setback, they’re now making a comeback. “At the start of the pandemic, the only on-site consumption business in LA temporarily closed due to the stay-at-home orders issued,” says John Leonard, West Hollywood’s Director of Economic Development. “The location has yet to reopen, but is currently working on reopening plans.” In New York, the Happy Munkey had to close down its consumption lounge and instead pivoted to a lifestyle brand. Now it hosts 420-friendly events at various locations throughout the city. “New York State allows Cannabis consumption anywhere you can consume tobacco products, so we’ve stepped in with creative events that celebrate Cannabis culture in a way that presents the community in a totally different light,” says Stu Zakim, spokesperson for the Happy Munkey. “One example was our series of consumption-friendly events at the immersive Van Gogh exhibit last summer.” Living in a world with legal weed but no on-site consumption creates a dilemma: Where the hell are people supposed to get stoned? Not every green region has smoking laws like New York. In fact, most Cannabis laws make consuming the plant only legal inside a private residence. But for those who live in apartments or federal housing, using Cannabis at home could result in eviction. “Our events also provide a safe haven for those who live in public housing where smoking is not allowed, or face the consequences, even though it’s legal,” says Zakim. Rich Eaton, co-owner of the Vault dispensary and lounge in Cathedral City, Calif. shares this wavelength. The dispensary became the primary source of revenue, but the lounge didn’t fully close. “During the pandemic, we realized how many people don’t have somewhere to smoke,” he says. “We stayed open for the people who aren’t allowed to smoke in their apartment or house, or can’t smoke at home because they live with their family and their wife or husband won’t let them, or their kids are there.” As far as new Covid safety measures go, it’s up to the individual cities and venues to implement the precautions they see fit. San Francisco and West Hollywood have vaccine mandates for venues with indoor seating.
Opulent lounge vibes at The Vegas Tasting Room
At the Vault in Cathedral City, no glass is used twice in the same day, even if it’s doused in alcohol. And consumption lounges are required by law to have odor control systems in place (basically industrial air filtration and circulation units), which are also helpful for mitigating the dangers of contagion. “We had a mechanical engineer come in who works on odor control systems in cigar lounges at casinos and lab environments to design a specific system for our on-site consumption space,” says Lauren Fontein, founder of the Artist Tree 420-friendly art gallery and dispensary in West Hollywood. “You’ll feel the airflow. We’ll see how it goes, but between that and the fact that we are an indoor and outdoor facility, I think we’ll be fine.” Regardless of how you felt about the pandemic lockdown, tourism is back now and Cannabis companies are ready. The Vegas Tasting Room at NuWu dispensary in Las Vegas is going strong, Illinois just opened their first consumption lounge at
Sunlight pours into The Artist Tree in West Hollywood.
Rise Dispensary in Mundelein, and celebrity stoner buddies Woody Harrelson and Bill Maher are partners in a new lounge opening soon in West Hollywood called Monica’s House. The fact is, people are dying to smoke weed in social settings more than ever before … and since Amsterdam is about to be off the map for coffeeshop tourism, onsite consumption lounges in the U.S. are on deck for filling that void in a big way. “So many businesses have been in limbo wanting to open up their lounges,” says Fontein. “Thankfully, the wait is finally over.”
Living in a world with legal weed but no on-site consumption creates a dilemma: Where the hell are people supposed to get stoned?
STORY by MARY CARREON @MARYYYSTARDUST for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS COURTESY LOUNGES
concentrate of the month
WHEN THE HASH IS THIS GOOD, YOU KNOW THE INPUT MATERIAL MUST HAVE BEEN THE REAL DEAL.
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EXTRACTED BY CRYOTRICHOME LABS BRED BY COMPOUND GENETICS
GRAPE GAS ROSIN leafmagazines.com
Grape Gas has been the foundation of some of Compound Genetics’ most significant new crosses over the last year and our experiences with Cryotrichome’s rosin version certainly lived up to the enthusiasm. WHILE MUCH of the solventless market is flooded with similar terpene profiles backboned by Papaya and GMO crosses (because of their commercial viability), it’s easy to tell you’re dealing with something special when you crack open a jar of Grape Gas. The pairing of Grape Pie and Jet Fuel Gelato hits many different notes in the aroma, all merging to create something undoubtedly unique. The first thing you’ll likely be able to pick up is a pinch of the nose that made GDP and Mendo Purps all the rage in the mid to late 2000s in Northern California. Although never quite as dominant a terpene profile in the L.A. marketplace, people certainly appreciated it when switching up from OG Kush to well-done purples (which tend to be some of the heavier hitters to this day).
MAY 2022
The Gelato terps pair well with the Purp’s grape notes, creating a weird sensation that almost tickles your nostrils the same way mint does. “Not many people have these kinds of terps right now,” Cryotrichome Founder Skyler Schrein told the Leaf, noting he finds it similar to a breakfast pastry. You can understand that argument a lot more once you taste the flavor, as all the differences you can pick out in the aroma merge into something that leans a bit to the sweeter side. Given that one of the most telling signs of any great hash is the aftertaste on the exhale, this flavor shines as it carries all the way through in that check-all-the-boxes kind of way. Schrein told us the candy terps are a direct result of cultivation quality, explaining that the farmer (who usually white labels product to companies that don’t produce their own flower)
has been developing his organic soil technique for over 15 years in San Luis Obispo. That level of experience is believable: When the hash is this good, you know the input material must have been the real deal. As for the effect, don’t let the sweeter-thanaverage terps fool you. While some would argue that all dabs are for sitting and chilling out, the Grape Gas definitely leans towards the fullbodied side more so than the cerebral. While it’s functional, Grape Gas is more for relaxing – so if you choose to take a fat rip and head out into the world, be prepared for a stoney pace to your day. @CRYO.LABS @COMPOUND_GENETICS COMPOUND-GENETICS.COM
REVIEW by JIMI DEVINE @THEJIMIDEVINE | PHOTO by TOM BOWERS @CANNABOMBTOM
OVER 1 MILLION CLONES SOLD TO LICENSED CULTIVATORS IN CALIFORNIA AND OREGON!
edible of the month
MAMMAMIA
CAPRI LEMON CAKE BITE TRANSPORTS THE TASTE BUDS OF THOSE EATING IT TO THE ISLAND OF CAPRI ITSELF, WHERE LEMONS AND SUNSHINE RULE.
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When it comes to sweets, admittedly, I fall squarely in the pro-cake camp. I especially love more savory varieties (like olive oil cakes) that you can add sweet elements to – kicking them up a notch. Enter Mammamia, whose new Capri Collection of edible cakes is inspired by two iconic Italian desserts. THE CAKES were created by Los Angelesbased Italian chef Simone D’Antonio, who grew up as the son of a chef and trained at Italy’s most prestigious culinary school, ALMA. He also earned his chocolatier’s degree at Accademia Cioccolatieri, honed his craft at Sud (a Michelinstar restaurant in Naples) and founded an Italian bistro in Bali named Zibiruan – which now has eight locations. The Capri Collection includes the Torta Caprese, which is basically a flourless chocolate cake, and the Torta Bianca – another flourless cake consisting of lemon and white chocolate. Unlike the classic recipes, which were developed on the Italian island of the same name over 100 years ago, these adaptations are vegan and don’t include butter. These versions also happen to include infused ice water hash – a far departure from the original.
MAY 2022
I enjoyed the Caprese the most, mainly because it combines my two favorite flavors: chocolate from the cacao, and orange in the form of a dried slice placed on top of the cake. If I think about it a little harder, though, it also includes a third favorite flavor: the faint taste of Cannabis from the hash. Being able to actually taste the plant is a serious marker of quality in a world of legal edibles awash in THC distillate, which to me produces a very one-note high that isn’t nearly as pleasurable as something more full spectrum. And citrus lovers will also delight in the Bianca version, which is bright and lemony and transports the taste buds of those eating it to the island of Capri itself, where lemons and sunshine rule. What I like most about the cakes is that they’re not just good for being edibles – they’re just delicious, period.
As a big fan of these types of desserts, I found that I saved these round cakes (which come two per box and are about the size of the bottom of a soda can) for after-dinner experiences when I genuinely wanted a satisfying dessert. Mammamia’s Capri Cakes are a sorely needed addition to the legal edibles market currently dominated by gummies. I understand their popularity, considering gummies are favored for medicinal applications and are a more discreet, turnkey way to consume Cannabis without much fanfare. But edibles are food and food should be delicious … why shouldn’t we have both in one product? Thankfully, there’s a cake for that. WEAREMAMMAMIA.COM @WE_ARE_MAMMAMIA
REVIEW by JACKIE BRYANT @JACQBRY | PHOTO by TOM BOWERS @CANNABOMBTOM
reviews
TECHNOLOGY The Gen. 3 Valorian Slurper from Victory Glassworks incorporates some of the latest tech in specialty quartz nails. Designed to spin your terps and not splash them, the unit is built from the ground up with efficiency in mind. THE UNIQUE DESIGN features taller walls in the main chamber, which provide more surface area for a dab to spread out over and vaporize from. The unit performs amazingly and is an absolute joy to shred. The tall and tight walls of the main chamber, combined with the nail’s unique airflow, provide an ultra-rapid spinning action that effortlessly crushes through large dabs. When asked what separates the unit from others in the market, the team at Victory Glassworks stated, “The biggest difference is the intake geometry. D-Nail and Pukinbeagle spent months refining the intakes, and we use their specs. It majorly transforms how much rotational energy you get and less splash.” Comparatively, the Gen. 3 Valorian is much more affordable when stacked up against other high-end branded “terp-slurper” style quartz, and clocks in at $130 where others in the field “...the Gen. 3 range from $250-$1,000. For someone not interested in flexing Valorian is a brand and merely seeking a quality, USA-made nail, the Gen. 3 Valorian is a much more perfect option. affordable The bottom dish has a gorgeous carved laurel wreath style pattern that is not funcwhen stacked tional, but adds some eye-catching appeal up against to the piece. The nail’s heat retention is excellent and holds the temp for much other high-end longer than one would expect, especially branded ‘terpgiven the thickness of the walls. Overall, this wallet-friendly option is a slurper’ style winner and strikes an ideal balance bequartz.” tween aesthetics, function and price point – leaving all the boxes checked.
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
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GEN.3
VALORIAN SLURPER VICTORY GLASSWORKS
MAY 2022
VICTORYGLASSWORKS.COM | @VICTORY_GLASSWORKS REVIEW & PHOTOS by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415/CALIFORNIA LEAF
PHOTO BY @SONDERFELTLLC FOR LEAF NATION
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cannthropology
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WORLD OF Cannabis PRESENTS
Pakalolo in the Pacific
leafmagazines.com
With its mineral-rich volcanic soil, tropical temperatures and abundant rainfall, the Pacific paradise of Hawaii has the ideal conditions to grow some of the most stellar weed in the world, including iconic strains like Puna Budder, Kauai Electric and of course, the legendary Maui Wowie. But exactly how and when cannabis first arrived on the isolated islands remains one of history’s little mysteries.
INTRO TO THE ISLANDS The first recorded reference to Cannabis in the Hawaiian Islands was published in the Honolulu newspaper Ka Nonanona in 1842, where it was referred to as “pakalolo.” Though probably meant as a derogatory term at the time, pakalolo – which roughly translates to “numbing tobacco” or “crazy weed” by some accounts – remains the name Hawaiians use for the herb to this day. There’s no doubt that Cannabis had been in Hawaii long before 1842, but how it first arrived there is unclear. Issue of Ko Nonanona newspaper, 1842. Some claim the original Polynesian settlers (who had previously migrated from Asia) brought it with them when they first sailed to the islands as early as the fourth or fifth century, but there doesn’t seem to be any proof of that. Others claim that Cannabis may have been brought there by the Mexican cowboys (known as vaqueros or paniolos) who came to Hawaii to work on King Kamehameha’s cattle ranches starting around 1793, or by
MAY 2022
Britain’s Royal botanist, Sir Joseph Banks.
sailors on whaling ships around 1820. While either of those groups may have brought Cannabis with them, there’s no evidence that they were actually the first. Rather, the most plausible explanation, according to my research, is that Cannabis was introduced to Hawaii by the first European explorers who visited the archipelago in the late 18th century – thanks to a hemp-loving horticulturalist named Joseph Banks. SIR JOSEPH BANKS Sir Joseph Banks was the head botanist for the British Empire and an adviser to King George III. He also happened to be a well-established
Cannabis enthusiast who encouraged the monarchy to grow hemp for practical and strategic purposes (essential to use for sails and ropes for the Navy’s ships and to make parchment for writing letters and documents) and urged the King to underwrite voyages of discovery to new regions of the globe, so that he could collect and study samples of any new flora and fauna they discovered. In 1766, the 23-year-old Banks was elected to the Royal Society and embarked on his first sea voyage, which took him to Newfoundland and Labrador. Then two years later in 1768, he was appointed to a scientific expedition to the South Pacific aboard the Royal Naval ship HMS Endeavor, commanded by 39-year-old Captain James Cook. Later dubbed “the man who mapped the world,” Cook had been commissioned by the British Admiralty to sail to the Pacific Ocean to record the transit of Venus across the Sun – an astrological phenomenon that, if correctly observed and recorded, could help determine the distance of the Earth from the Sun. On both of these voyages, Banks brought with him an array of various seeds with which to trade (at that time, seeds could be used as a sort of universal currency), and this extensive seed bank undoubtedly included several varieties of Cannabis.
Main photo: A View of Karakakooa, in Owyhee — color print of HMS Resolution’s arrival in Hawaii by John Webber (1784).
Banks continued to evangelize for Cannabis for the remainder of his life, and his interest in the plant was in no way limited to its industrial uses.
During his three-year Above: A period map journey aboard the Endeavor, of the Hawaiian (aka Banks visited Brazil, Tahiti, Sandwich) Islands. New Zealand and the eastern shores of Australia, where he Banks may not have collected over 30,000 plant been on board that specimens and named over expedition to Hawaii, 1,400 new species. In fact, but his seeds almost Australia’s Botany Bay is so Engraving Engraving of of the the HMS HMS Endeavor Endeavor off off the the coast coast of of certainly were. He named because of “the great eastern eastern Australia Australia by by Julian Julian Ashton Ashton (1770). (1770). was still the Crown’s quantity of plants Mr. Banks horticultural advisor … found in this place.” and was known to require that a wide variety of When Banks returned home to London in 1771, he beseeds be brought along on all voyages – includcame an instant celebrity in the scientific community. ing Cannabis, which the Brits would’ve wanted to plant on the islands so they’d have hemp THE SANDWICH ISLANDS crops waiting for them upon their next visit. Banks had planned to accompany Cook on a second voyage to the Pacific in 1778, but was denied permission BOTANY BAY to sail by the Admiralty after a fierce disagreement about Though Banks never the lodgings, provisions and equipment he required for returned to the Pacific, the journey. It was on that expedition aboard the HMS he continued to advise Resolution that Cook would “discover” the Hawaiian the Crown regardIslands (which he named the Sandwich Islands, after his ing policy there for friend John Montagu, the Earl of Sandwich). decades to come. It In 1779, the Resolution made landfall at Kealakekua was allegedly Banks Bay on the Big Island, where the Brits first made contact who convinced the with the Natives. Upon their arrival, Cook was perceived British Government as a divine emissary of the Polynesian god Lono, whose to colonize Australia festival the Hawaiians happened to be celebrating when and turn Botany Bay the ship arrived. Because of this, Cook’s initial interacinto a penal colony – tions with the inhabitants were overwhelmingly positive – later earning him the so much so that he and his crew remained on the island, Old botanical illustration honorific “the Father trading and interacting with the Hawaiians peacefully for of cannabis plant. of Australia.” nearly a month. Unfortunately, Cook later ran afoul of In 1788, Banks reportedly gifted a bag of the Natives after attempting to kidnap their king, Kalahemp seeds to the First Fleet before they set out ni’opu’u, in a dispute over a stolen cutter boat and was to find the penal colony. A letter he received stabbed to death along with several of his men. from the East India Company in 1801 provides evidence that his bags of hemp seeds were still The Death of Captain James Cook, by the Indians of being handed out in the Australian colonies 13 O.Why.ee, one of the Sandwich-Islands - an engraving years later. Throughout that time, Banks continby George Carter. ued to exercise his influence over the colony’s governors to expand hemp production there. In fact, many scholars believe that the growing of hemp was the primary purpose of the New South Wales settlement and that shipping the convicts there was merely a cover to deceive Britain’s rivals.
CANNABIS CODA In closing, it should be noted that Banks continued to evangelize for Cannabis for the remainder of his life and that his interest in the plant was in no way limited to its industrial uses. In addition to the sativa variety commonly used for hemp fiber, he apparently acquired some of the more exotic indica varietals from British sailors Portrait of the multifarious Mr. who’d traveled to Banks by Benjamin West (1773). India and came to enjoy their medicinal and recreational benefits. It was eventually revealed through his personal letters that Banks even received shipments of hashish from a British consul in Tangiers named James Matra. And in 1803, he provided some of it to his friend, the Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, along with a note saying that its effects included “almost frantic exhilaration” – making Mr. Banks, on top of everything else, England’s first de facto hash smuggler and weed dealer.
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ALL IMAGES IN PUBLIC DOMAIN
A painting of Joseph Banks (second from left), Captain James Cook (center), the Earl of Sandwich (right) and other nobleman by John Hamilton Mortimer (1771).
THOSE WHO CAME AFTER Even if, for whatever reason, Banks’ Cannabis seeds didn’t make it onto the islands during Captain Cook’s visit, they could just as easily have been brought by one of the other European explorers who began trading with the Hawaiians in the years that followed. The two next most likely candidates would be Frenchman Jean François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse (or simply Lapérouse), who became the first European to set foot on the island of Maui in 1786, and British Naval Captain George Vancouver, who visited both Australia and the Hawaiian Islands in 1792. Top: the French Regardless of the exact year explorer Lapérouse. it arrived or by whose hand, it Above: Captain seems clear that Joseph Banks was most likely the true progenitor George Vancouver. of pakalolo in the Pacific. In fact, it’s even rumored that the fruit of one of Banks’ seeds later evolved into one of Hawaii’s most famous landrace strains, Hawaiian Duckfoot.
stoney baloney LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
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WHO DOESN’T LOVE TACOS? I mean, this juggernaut of Mexican culture easily rivals the hamburger when competing for “most delectable” item in the food pyramid. And whether you like your fillings grilled, deep fried or sauteed, all it takes is herding the ingredients into a tortilla and wrapping that baby up to convert your hand into a flavor shovel of extreme awesomeness! Think about it: Tuesday would be Bluesday if not for the amazing taco. And not just because the two are alphabetically compatible, but because tacos are so damn cheerful, they turn an ordinary meal into a downright fiesta. And with the deliciousness well in hand, all you need is a bottle of to-kill-ya to quickly transform a mundane weekday into a Satur-type-day. So vamanos on those happy hour margaritas amigo, because we’re going to need some tang to punctuate the party. Tacos aren’t just yummy for the tummy – they give the meal personality. It’s the rare food item that can relocate your dinner table to a barstool smack dab in the middle of a pinata-filled cantina. Suddenly you’re stoned on some pressed brick weed surrounded by a handful of gleeful hombres with frilly tuxedos and giant sombreros strumming guitars, squeezing accordions and singing like angels, and you’ll swear you’ve been transported somewhere south of the border. Every country has their own version of a taco, right? Poland has the pierogi, Italy has the pizza, and Israel has the falafel. And the United States has the taco pizza. But back to the food pyramid. I wonder if that originated in Tenochtitlan – that’s where they used to conduct human sacrifices. Those were some evil bastards. But then, they didn’t have Cinco de Drinko.
MAY 2022
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