MIKE RICKER OPERATING PARTNER ricker@leafmagazines.com | advertising opportunities
TOM BOWERS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER tom@leafmagazines.com
DANIEL BERMAN CREATIVE DIRECTOR daniel@leafmagazines.com
BOBBY BLACK STATE CONTENT DIRECTOR bobbyblack@leafmagazines.com
KAYL WOHL COPY EDITOR kayl@leafmagazines.com
ASHLEY HIRCHERT SOCIAL MEDIA LEAD ashley@leafmagazines.com
ABOUT THE COVER
On the cover of our highly-anticipated Tech Issue is an array of innovative, ground-breaking Cannabis tech delving far and beyond the realm of the simple bong or pipe. These pieces, rigs and bud-bundles allow the Cannabis connoisseur to perfectly dial in the ideal dab or hit, and achieve a level of stoniness that past generations could only ponder. Styled and photographed by Creative Director Daniel Berman at the magazine's Seattle headquarters, this cover was a team effort of the highest magnitude.
PHOTO & STYLING BY DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS Assisting by @borophoto @mdgfilm @lena_b_sparked
CONTRIBUTORS
WES ABNEY, FEATURES ADHDDEAD, REVIEWS
DANIEL BERMAN, PHOTOS + DESIGN BOBBY BLACK, FEATURES + DESIGN
JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION
TOM BOWERS, FEATURES + PHOTOS
WYATT EARLY, NATIONAL NEWS REX HILSINGER, FEATURES + PHOTOS
MATT JACKSON, FEATURES
YOUNG KWAK, PHOTOS
JESSE RAMIREZ, DESIGN
MIKE RICKER, FEATURES + PHOTOS TOM SEARCY, PHOTOS
KELSEY STEVENS, PRODUCTION + STYLING
TERPODACTYL MEDIA, FEATURES + PHOTOS
KAYL WOHL, NATIONAL NEWS BRUCE & LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES
We are creators of targeted, independent Cannabis journalism. Please email us to discuss advertising in the next issue of California Leaf Magazine. We do not sell stories or coverage. We can offer design services and guidance on promoting your company’s medicinal, recreational, commercial or industrial Cannabis business, product or event within our magazine and on our website, leafmagazines.com. Email ricker@leafmagazines.com to start advertising with California Leaf!
Thanks for picking up the Tech Issue of California Leaf!
Our cover features the hottest ways to take a perfect temp dab or toke at the push of a button, and that’s a freedom that only technology by stoners for stoners can deliver.
We’ve come a long way from pop can tokes and simple pipes and bongs, and I, for one, am so grateful for the ability to take a dab without a torch. There’s no limit to the creativity when it comes to Cannabis and tech, which is why we drop globs and not bombs. As we look ahead to Christmas lists, any one of our cover-worthy p ieces would look great wrapped under the tree.
While it’s easy to get lost in the wizardry of new dabs and vaporizers, I want to once again make a plea for peace within our community and country. I’m counting down the days to the election, not because I want to see a particular candidate win, but because I cannot wait for us to unite as a country behind the choice of our people. We’ve got so much policy work and progress to be made, as Cannabis is far from truly legal or free in the state you’re reading this or around the country. There are still people being arrested right this minute for Cannabis, whi ch means we still have a lot of work to be done when it comes to ending the War on Drugs.
"THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE BEING ARRESTED RIGHT THIS MINUTE FOR CANNABIS, WHICH MEANS WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE WHEN IT COMES TO ENDING THE WAR ON DRUGS."
In many ways, the advancements in technology are helping move Cannabis toward normalization. Smoking a stinky blunt, which I love to do, is less palatable for most new-to-Cannabis thinkers than a sip of vapor from an e-rig. With new pieces looking sexier and sleeker, being a stoner doesn’t feel lowbrow anymore; it’s actually quite high-tech, pun intended.
So as we edge ever closer toward this election and daylight savings, remember that we are all likely struggling with some form of motion, fear, anxiety and possibly a little hope. Offer to share dabs and tokes with those you can and celebrate our freedom in the technology that we can use to share our planet and come together one hit at a time.
CANNABIS ON THE BALLOT
This November, voters in six states will decide on Cannabis-related measures on their ballots. Here’s what to expect:
ARKANSAS
Voters face the proposed Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2024 where Issue 3 aims to expand the medical Cannabis program. Licensed medical patients could soon grow Cannabis at home, with up to 14 (and up to seven mature) Cannabis plants. Issue 3 would also legalize telehealth appointments for medical marijuana certification and remove the initial application and renewal fees for certification. The bill would also extend the certification period from one year to three, affording patients less frequent renewals. Obtaining certification could become more accessible, as all health care practitioners — including physician assistants, nurse practitioners and pharmacists — could certify patients.
FLORIDA
Voting “yes” on Marijuana Legalization Initiative Amendment 3 supports recreational legalization for adults over the age of 21 and would allow individuals to possess up to three ounces of flower, along with up to five grams in the form of concentrate. “Expected retail sales of non-medical marijuana would generate at least $195.6 million annually in state and local sales tax revenues once the retail market is fully operational,” according to the Florida Financial Impact Estimating Conference. Despite these projections, Gov. Ron DeSantis said he doesn’t want Florida to “smell like weed,” while also leveraging a taxpayerfunded advertisement produced by the Florida Department of Transportation. The ad stated, “DUI crashes increase in states with legalized marijuana, putting everyone at risk.” Evidence of this correlation is inconsistent, and taxpayers could say that using state resources to amplify such a message also puts everyone at risk.
NEBRASKA
After a previous attempt in 2020 was removed by the state’s Supreme Court, Cannabis reaches the ballot once again. Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana announced earlier this year that it gathered about 114,000 signatures in support of Initiative 437 and 438, which
would allow medical patients to legally possess up to five ounces of Cannabis with a healthcare practitioner’s recommendation. For patients under 18, parental or guardian consent is required. Caregivers would also be able to assist patients in managing their medical Cannabis. These initiatives would adopt and enact the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Patient Protection Act, as well as establish the Nebraska Cannabis Commission to oversee the state’s medical marijuana program.
OREGON
Measure 119 — aka the United for Cannabis Workers Act — focuses on protecting labor rights within the Oregon Cannabis industry by ensuring workers can freely organize and join unions. It would require Cannabis retailers and processors to sign “labor peace agreements,” which prevent employers from retaliating against or otherwise opposing unionization efforts. This measure would bring Cannabis workers’ rights in line with other industries and aims to address concerns, such as workplace safety and the use of harmful chemicals. Non-compliance would result in penalties, including fines or the potential revocation of business licenses.
NORTH DAKOTA
Previous legalization efforts failed narrowly in 2022, but voters have another opportunity with Measure 5. Voting “yes” is in favor of legalizing recreational Cannabis consumption, allowing adults 21 and over to possess up to one ounce of flower, four grams of concentrate, 1,500mg of THC in the form of cannabinoid products and 300mg of edibles. The measure would also allow individuals to grow three plants with a limit of six per household.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Voters will make their third attempt to pass adult-use Cannabis reform this year after previous attempts at legalization were rejected in 2020 and 2022. Measure 29, proposed by South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws, would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of Cannabis flower, 16 grams of concentrate and six plants for personal use. However, it does not establish a commercial marketplace for Cannabis production and sales.
"An estimated 90% to 95% of hemp retail products are expected to be eliminated from sale."
GAVIN NEWSOME’S EMERGENCY HEMP REGULATIONS TAKE EFFECT IN CALIFORNIA
INlate September, California’s State Office of Administrative Law enacted emergency regulations that seek to eliminate “health incidents related to intoxicating hemp products.”
An estimated 90% to 95% of hemp retail products are expected to be eliminated from sale, according to Jonathan Miller, general counsel for the U.S. Hemp Roundtable. Jonathan and his team have since launched a lawsuit against the California Department of Public Health in an attempt to block the ban’s implementation. The suit also claims that this ban is in direct violation of state law, the federal Farm Bill, and the commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution.
DIRECTOR OF NY’S SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM RESIGNS
Damian Fagon will resign from his position as chief equity officer for the state’s Office of Cannabis Management in November. According to the Times Union, this resignation was announced in light of a recent investigation into allegations that Fagon used his position to implement punishment on a Cannabis processor who was vocal about unlawful practices occurring within the industry. While Fagon’s name was cleared of any malicious intent or wrongdoing, he will remain on leave from the organization until his resignation date.
The total reported revenue of New York’s Cannabis program from January 2024 through the end of August. Weekly sales of $20 million were also surpassed in the month of August for the first time in the state’s history.
The cost of advertisements purchased by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's taxpayer-funded administration railing against Amendment 3, the measure to legalize marijuana that has strong support on both sides. $ 429.9m $ 15.5m
The number of people arrested in the last year in the U.S. for Cannabis. According to the FBI report, simple possessions made up a majority of those cases; 23% of all drug arrests listed in this report come from Cannabis possession arrests.
AUGUSTA, GA PHARMACY DISREGARDS DEA WARNING AND BEGINS SELLING MEDICAL CANNABIS OIL
About a year after a warning that came from the DEA, Living Well Pharmacy in Augusta began selling low-potency THC oil. The warning came as a reminder that pharmacies selling prescription medications must strictly abide by federal regulations. This is contradictory to the state regulation that permits lowTHC Cannabis oil to be sold at licensed pharmacies throughout the state. The DEA warning appeared to have stopped all sales of this oil until now, and it is unclear whether or not they will have a response to Living Well Pharmacy’s bold decision not to heed their warning.
SURVIVOR PINK AIROPRO
EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE
IN EVERY WAY IMAGINABLE
Enjoy smooth, potent draws with our built-in ceramic atomizer and discreet haptic feedback— no lights or buttons. The sturdy aluminum design and magnetic fitting make it easy to swap pods mess-free and on the go.
Discreet, with no LED lights.
KEY
FEATURES OF AIRO VAPORIZERS
CALIFORNIA LEAF BUDTENDER
SHANE SMART
“I’M AN INDICA MAN MYSELF...”
WHEN HE’S NOT DRIVING AROUND IN CLASSIC CARS, HE’S HANGING WITH POPS WATCHING PRO FOOTBALL OR TAKING HIS SON TO THE BALLPARK. ALSO, HE LOVES TAKING TRIPS AND SEEING NEW PLACES. FOLLOW HIM ON INSTAGRAM @PGL_PINT2N1.
TO WORK AT A SHOP WITH THE WORD “CAREGIVERS” IN THE NAME, YOU’VE GOT TO KNOW YOUR STUFF ABOUT THE MEDICINE. Yes, you’ve got to know the effects of the different cannabinoids and how they interact with most people. Some folks are just about getting high, but others need CBD for recovery or CBN for sleep.
WHAT’S THE VIBE LIKE IN YOUR MEXICAN AMERICAN FAMILY WHEN IT COMES TO CANNABIS? They’re happy that I’m happy with what I’m doing. I mean, growing up, it wasn’t nearly as accepted as it is now because it obviously wasn’t legal. Cannabis was looked down upon for many reasons, mostly because you could go to jail for it. At the time, there weren’t very many ways to get Cannabis without taking some type of risk, so the association at home and around the neighborhood was generally a negative one.
WHAT’S THE OPINION NOW? They have no problem with it. My parents actually partake in it themselves every now and then.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN HITTING LATELY? Aw man, I mess with the Bishop Boyz flower. I think it’s the best flower in the valley right now. I’m an indica man myself; it helps me chill and relax, and it’s great for allowing me to rest peacefully.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO GET INTO WHEN YOU’RE IN YOUR GOOD PLACE? I’m all about my son. I’m a full-time father, so pretty much everything I do is with my son. We’re always going to some type of game because I think sports are good for kids. I’ve taken him to some Dodgers games, and he just lights up with big smiles at the ballpark.
DO YOU WANT YOUR SON TO BE THE NEXT SHOHEI OHTANI? That would be sweet, but I think he’s gonna be more a football boy than a baseball boy. He’s sweet, but he’s tough.
PROCURING FOR THE PEOPLE
Gorgeous Grass Valley Provisions blends service with selection in Nevada County
HIDDEN IN THE HEART of storied
Cannabis farmland in Nevada County, Grass Valley Provisions encapsulates the dream of local partners Cameron Brady and Ryan Haley. The pair opened the pastoral pot shop earlier this year in an effort to bring an elevated, educated Cannabis retail experience to the town, and the result delivers on all fronts.
THE VIBE
Located in a renovated, reimagined historical PG&E gas plant building on the outskirts of Grass Valley, Provisions has retained the historical feel of the structure, which previously also housed Ag Natural, a cultivation supply shop where Haley worked in his younger years. The pair spent two years gutting and revamping the building, opening up the ceilings and floorplan. Now, hardy exposed wood and sturdy Carnegie Steel beams set the tone for the space, which has been refaced with poured concrete, subway tile, glass and antiqued mirror fixtures. The resulting feel is reminiscent of a rustic but high-end wine tasting room.
THE MIX
Whether you’re looking for a familiar edible label, a fire hash brand or a boutique local sun-grown, Provisions has you covered. The product mix, curated by Operations Manager Jared Williams, hits all the right notes.
The shop ensures it highlights not only the farms themselves but also the region of each producer so customers can make informed decisions.
THE STAFF
One of the most striking aspects of the shop is the staff — there’s a cohesive, friendly vibe between them that’s almost familial. They’re also well-versed in their inventory.
“We want to stand out for our product knowledge,” said Rose Purvis, head of merchandising. “We want to come with deep, accurate information, and if we don’t know, we want to be really humble and find out that information.”
Purvis has been a Nevada County farmer since the age of 16 and is more than familiar with the needs of the region’s residents.
“Some people prefer sun-grown, some people prefer indoor,” said Ari Benami, head of marketing. “Some people just come in looking for Alien Labs, and that’s what they walk out the door with. But a lot of people are into trying something new.”
The Provisions staff has a strong relationship with its farmers, many of which are local, and a large proportion of which are OCal and Sun + Earth Certified.
“We wanted to make sure to honor the farmers,” Benami said. “We have a little shrine dedicated to them. They’re rock stars, the way I see it. They’re doing the hard work, so it’s really great to be able to support them.”
“I’ve been a part of a lot of businesses in this county,” she said. “If you want to stand out in this county, you have to have exceptional customer service.”
It all comes down to putting human connection first.
“The Cannabis industry works well with family vibes,” she said. “Less corporate, more family.”
THE VISION
Provisions strives to provide a well-rounded, pleasurable experience for its customers, many of whom are regulars who live and work in the area.
“Our big initiative is to continue to break down the stigma of Cannabis in the area,” said General Manager Jordan Stratigakes. “We try to create a super-welcoming environment where all walks of life feel comfortable.”
With a thoughtfully curated product selection, an airy and warm environment, and knowledgeable, charismatic staff, Grass Valley Provisions achieves success at every turn.
“WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO HONOR THE FARMERS,” -ARI BENAM
A brand new year and a new face for the popular California Cannabis event
hall of flowers 2024
LIKE THE MYSTERIOUS WONKA FACTORY, this year the gates of the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds were flung open to let the public come inside and taste the experience for themselves. Normally, it’s a closed event for brands and shops to meet and discuss what products they’re able to offer in the coming weeks. It’s a place where business deals and product unveilings happen side-by-side in the crowded halls.
For 2024, the organization decided to flip the script on day two and allow ticket sales so that anyone could come and meet with the brands face-to-face, and brands could sell directly to consumers who came from all over the country.
One major difference this year was the change in layout, particularly in the outside activation spaces. Often reserved for the biggest and most recognizable brands, these spots were instead filled with many equitable and small-batch brands that truly deserve to be put front and center. Ramon Garcia of Sanctuary Farms and the Equity Trade
Network told us that it’s been a long fight to get to this point, but he’s already seen people’s positive responses to their presence and the excitement about the products offered.
Connected and Alien Labs made their triumphant return to HoF, and crowds were rabid to try and secure one of their coveted buyer’s boxes.
“This is a critically important event for the industry,” said Caleb Counts, CEO of Connected. “We’re here to support the reemergence of what I’ve seen so far, which is the best Hall of Flowers yet.” Connected had many of the jars out from their Project Sativa Revival program, including Silver Spoon and Jack of Diamonds.
Ted Lidie, founder of Alien Labs, told us how it felt to come back this time as not just a brand but also as a presenter. He described how each of the one-on-one sessions he was hosting would outline a different aspect of the industry, giving people insight into everything from taking a brand legal to what it means
“...the best Hall of Flowers yet...”
-Caleb Counts | CEO | Connected
to expand into other states. When asked if more events were already requesting him to provide presentations, he said there’s been a lot of interest coming in nationwide.
Comedian and actor Tiffany Haddish was also on hand to help promote Cookie’s newest partnership with the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers. “There’s a product named after each character,” she told Leaf Magazines while pulling out a jar of mini joints. “But I think the Kitty Walkers are my favorite.”
Named for her feline animated character, it’s a pack of Legendary OG that even features a filter with the signature cat striping (move over, dog walkers). Haddish also spoke about her own brand Kloudz, which she launched in the spring of this year and was part of a healing journey she’s been on with Cannabis.
Many longtime attendees were nervous going into day two. Would things feel packed in the halls, and would the feelings of industry camaraderie be lessened by the crowd of customers? Would the carnival rides, live painting and dirt bike daredevils take away from the purpose of the plant? I think most will agree that what day two became is its own kind of party, one where HoF was able to include budtenders as well as community staples that, for various reasons, were never able to gain access to before. We kept running into friendly faces on day two, surprised to discover this was their first Hall of Flowers.
Day two also brought a whole culinary experience from Sonoma Hills Farms, an entire hall of games for people to play, and Jimi Devine’s Transbay Challenge competition. Over 20 flower entries and some incredible rosins were served up to a table full of industry heavy hitters including Terphogz’s Tony Mendo and guest judges from the Canary Islands. When the dust settled, MOCA Humboldt took home the gold for flower, and Feeling Frosty scored first in rosin.
There are still some adjustments and finetuning to be made in this new setup, but I think Hall of Flowers is off to a great start in pivoting toward becoming an event that serves both the past and the future.
ROYAL KEY BLACK RAINBOW PISS FRESH PRESS
Royal Key is a brand that’s always searching for the most unique offerings from its indoor, perpetual living soil garden. Based in Humboldt County, it’s known for dedicating space and time to pheno hunts that most brands would shy away from. This most recent batch of flavors is another stellar lineup with one outrageously named wildcard.
WHEN YOU HEAR the name Black Rainbow Piss, you can’t help but wonder what exactly you’re about to dip your dab tool into. I spoke with Josh and Erin from Royal Key during SF Hash Week, and they told me the name has nothing to do with genetics but instead refers to the musty, acrid kind of smell that’s often referred to as “cat piss.” Popping the top on a warmed-up jar, you’ll understand the name when you get hit by a blast that smells like a public bathroom at the beach.
BRP combines the popular RS11 with Geistgrow and Humboldt Seed Organization’s Geist OG, which is a complicated formula of [(Fire OG Kush BX1 x Diamond OG) x Emerald OG] x Fire OG BX2. After a long and extensive pheno hunt, Royal Key released this strain in both cold cure and fresh press.
Josh expressed how the latter holds “dank tropical notes” and how he was “taken aback by the loud funk and fuel that tends to dominate in cold cure and flower.”
Being a fan of the gassy, I went with the 70-149u cold cure, which has the color of manchego cheese and positively explodes out of the jar. At first, there’s this huge burst of something chemy, overpowering and musty that layers between a mild sweetness before coming back to a semi-offensive aroma.
If you get in there and take a whiff while it’s starting to smoke, you may notice those tropical notes Royal Key mentioned starting to blossom before being overshadowed.
“This Black Rainbow Piss is another example of them swinging for the fences ”
BRP has a flavor that settles fleeting sweet notes on the top of the tongue while heaping a crazy
mustiness onto the salivary gland areas of the mouth before spraying everything down with a lightly gassy aftertaste.
I’m a big fan of the work Royal Key puts out, and this Black Rainbow Piss is another example of them swinging for the fences and hearing the crack of the bat. Though the name may be off-putting, it could help ensure the product doesn’t fly off the shelf too quickly, giving you a chance to go back for another.
MEXICANFALL FLAVORS
I WILL BE SPENDING the next few months in Mexico, so I am taking this opportunity to share some recipes from my lovely neighbors who grew up here. The recipes are not complicated, and all the ingredients are available in the States. I’m learning a lot and eating well, whether in restaurants or street taco vendors. One of my neighbors and I are doing a recipe exchange. Cannabis is not fully legal in Mexico, so I am using a nameless strain that is a little skunky, high in myrcene I think, and there is a touch of sweetness. These next few months will be interesting! I’ll keep you posted. And remember, you can always reach out to me for cannabis-infused recipe ideas. Laurie@Laurieandmaryjane.com
MYRA’S GREEN SAUCE
Makes 2 cups
2 tomatillos, husked and chopped
2 medium green tomatoes, coarsely chopped
1 jalapeño, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
1 tablespoon canna-oil
2 sprigs cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup sour cream
1. In a medium saucepan, combine the tomatillos, green tomatoes, jalapeño and garlic. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Cool.
2. Place the cooled tomato mixture in a blender with the remaining ingredients. Blend until it is nearly smooth—or, how I like it, with a little texture.
PICO DE GALLO DE ODIN
Six servings
3-4 tomatoes, coarsely chopped
3 scallions, chopped
1 clove garlic, very thinly sliced
1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon canna-oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.
2. Cover and allow to sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour for flavors to develop.
ESQUITES MAGIC
Four servings
1 cup water
2 tablespoons sugar
1 frozen corn
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon cannabutter, softened
1 tablespoon sriracha
2 teaspoons lime juice
1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1-2 teaspoons chili powder
Lime wedges
Salt
1. In a medium saucepan, bring the water and sugar to a boil. When the water boils, add the corn, cover and simmer for 3 minutes.
2. Drain the corn and place in a bowl. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.
3. In a small bowl, combine mayo, sour cream, cannabutter, sriracha, lime juice and salt.
4. Add mayo mixture to the corn and mix well.
5. Top with the cheese, cilantro, chili powder and squeeze on some fresh lime juice. Stir before serving.
Danielle Guthrie
On a warm, sunny Seattle summer day in 2012, Danielle was walking to Hempfest. On her way to the event, she walked past an artist known on Instagram as @danigirlglass who got her attention and insisted she check out her case of line-worked bubblers. She told Dani her name was Danielle, and Dani gave her an oil tray. That was the day that started Danielle’s journey into the current world of contemporary glass art.
Orange Joystick Cap
CARTA Trombone Recycler
IT’S ALWAYS NICE to catch up with a previously featured artist. This month we have the extremely talented Danielle Guthrie. Hailing from Issaquah, Washington, and starting on the torch in 2013, she was fortunate to mentor under the highly acclaimed PNW artist Sean Witschger (@gl_asshole). From there, Danielle moved on to 7 Point Studio where she helped out around the studio, taught classes at the Boro School and had the fortune to learn more than a thing or two from the legend that is Nate Dizzle (@swissperc). Danielle spent a little over the next two years at 7 Point before moving on to work with another wizard in our industry, Phil Siegel (@philsiegelglass). Currently, Danielle works out of a studio at her home in the North Cascades at the base of Mount Baker. This is where you’ll often find her looking for every last stash of powder during the ski season! When I asked her how her views on glass may have changed over the years, she said, “Nowadays I approach glass more artistically. I want to create a certain vibe and feeling with my work. I lean more toward finding designs and aesthetics that are palatable to our current market. But my construction methods have changed a lot over the years. Instead of making a section and seeing what I can put together with it, I come up with a design on paper and execute it from start to finish.” As Danielle says, “You have to be able to adapt because things change. That’s just the lesson of time.”
RECENT WORK
The Trombone attachment featured here is made for both the current versions of the Puffco Peak and the Focus V CARTA. They feature water percolation with a recycling function to make operation as smooth as possible.
The joystick carb caps are functional for both the CARTA 2 and the New Puffco as well.
You can find these new additions and other great works for all walks of life on her website, danielleguthrieglass.com, or on her Instagram @danielleguthrieglass.
Trombone Recycler attachment, $500
Orange Joystick cap, $33
Korok Joystick cap, $124
Puffco
Trombone Recycler
Korok Joystick Cap
Strudels Strudels
Coming in hot out of Oakland, Fig Farms earns its reputation as one of the premier breeders and cultivators of indoor flavors on the NorCal scene.
OWNERS KEITH AND CHLOE HEALY started the grow in their garage nearly a decade ago, and Mike Doten joined in to help. Together, they run a craft Cannabis facility that turns out some serious heat, easily competing with anything on the top shelf.
I stopped in for a recent visit, and Doten laid out a number of flavors on the table, showing off some new phenos. One particular stunner was the International Orange, a take on Cali Orange, which gave off vibrant, pithy citrus peel aromatics and beautiful bud structure.
But as Doten took to the whiteboard, enthusiastically giving an impromptu and unprompted run down on their approach to pheno hunting and breeding, I couldn’t stop gazing at one strain in particular.
THE
STRUDELS
A cross between (Zkittlez x Gelato 41) x Pink Apple, the substantial dark green flowers sparkle like the night sky if it were dusted with seemingly unending trichomes. The myrcene and linalool-laden terpene profile gives off bright, crisp fruity aromas stacked with spice and ripe, dank undertones of funk in complex layers. One pinch and the buds leave a resinous residue on your fingertips, stamping you with the mouthwatering scent of the Strudels. It’s an energetic but heady conversational smoke, and its flavors linger on the lips.
Strudels is the perfect flower for the arrival of fall, reminiscent of baked apple pastries cooling on the windowsill of a just-cleaned kitchen. It also happens to be Doten’s favorite strain at the moment, and that’s saying something. If you know him, you know he has a platinum palate and excellent taste in flower.
While at the grow, I also had the chance to check out a number of phenos in a current project that Fig Farms plans to release in the coming months. I won’t talk much about that here, other than to say it’s exciting, and that fans of the Fig will be stoked.
In the meantime, go get yourself some Strudels, and enjoy the changing seasons with a little help from your friends at Fig Farms.
“...BRIGHT, CRISP FRUITY AROMAS STACKED WITH SPICE AND RIPE, DANK UNDERTONES OF FUNK…”
CANNATECH
BOMB E-RIG
With a minion-esque look and a beautiful black and yellow color scheme, the Bomb E-Rig is ready to blast off your next dab sesh. Dropping globs in the Bomb is easy and consistent, with a bright LED screen and internal color-changing light. We loved the deep bowl, full 360-degree heating, and a rotating carb cap for easy airflow. At less than half the price of other top-of-the-line options, the Bomb feels pro when getting a dab ready and consistently delivers explosive tokes. With top-shelf features at a budget price, this is a great starter rig or travel addition to any stoner’s lineup. $179
PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
FOCUS V CARTA 2 &SABRE
Sleek and sexy with the soft touch white surface, the V CARTA lights up the mind with each tasty temperature-controlled dab and adds a trippy sensory light show that stands out through the new look.
The CARTA lineup has been improving each year, with better functionality and looks while maintaining the core value and simplicity that makes them amazing e-rigs. The new CARTA 2 boasts a bigger Intelli-Core that can handle bigger globs of concentrate and features improved airflow and a freshly updated heating element.
live resin? The CARTA 2 will dial in your dab and deliver a beautiful strobe show as the effects light up the mind and body. With new, fast wireless charging capabilities, it’s easier than ever to take precisionquality dabs on the go or in the comfort of your home with the new CARTA 2. $350
If you’ve ever struggled with getting a dab off a metal tool or had the displeasure of dropping an oily tool on the ground to be instantly covered in carpet and pet fur, this new Saber is the tool for you. With a replaceable ceramic tip and the gorgeous new clear outer skin, the Saber heats up almost instantly to allow a glob or small dab to slide off the tool, keeping it clean for future use. It avoids the need to scrape or push a tool against the chamber to get a dab ready. The Saber charges quickly with USB-C technology, holds a long charge, and even has a built-in spotlight to shine a light on your terpy dab as it’s dropped into a banger. We can confidently say that, like a choice between a hammer or a nail gun on a construction job site, the next time you’re working on building a buzz, the Saber will be the tool of choice. $40
by DANIEL BERMAN
PHOTO
This sleek red case looks like it could be holding earpods, but it’s ready to get you blasted with vapor! Discreet and easily hooked to a bag or slipped in a pocket, this battery is ready to rock, no tunes included. yocanvaporizer.com @yocanvaporizer
Sleek and solid, this battery feels classy and is super easy to use. With easy voltage settings, an LED screen with a battery indicator, and a solid metal design, this pen battery is made to last. yocanvaporizer.com @yocanvaporizer
$29.99
With bright colors and clear plastic parts reminiscent of the OG iMac or the clear Game Boy, the Turtle 510 thread vape is inhale-activated, features a manual mode for unclogging carts, and carries a longlasting charge. lookah.com @lookahglass
Power up like Mario with these adorable mushroom batteries that fit a 510 cartridge, with three voltage settings, an LED battery meter, and a variety of colors for your next vape adventure.
Take hits of dabs from this keychain nectar collector, which has a heated tip ready to dip into a jar of your favorite oil. This is the dopest on-the-go way to take a quick dab, and it’s easily rechargeable, totally discreet, and ready to send a dab straight to the brain quickly and effectively. theconnectbrand.com @connect.brands $30.99
$19.99
CANNATECH
GOLDEN CEDAR WHOLESALE, a Washington-based company, provides custom batteries and offers white-label opportunities for those looking to create their own pen battery. Founded by brothers Mohamad and Ali Karaouni, they moved to the PNW from California after a vacation-inspired them to join the Cannabis industry up north. Their beautiful website features a variety of vaporizers, wraps, cones, and a dope clearance section for those on the hunt for deals! The two brothers are chasing their dream of operating a wholesale business that caters to stoners and the companies that bring the fire with each puff of a pen. With a huge variety of batteries to match your vibe, we’ve selected a few of our favorites to highlight! goldencedarwholesale.com | @goldencedarws
Compact and magnetic, with the cartridge tucked inside the battery compartment, this fun gradient-colored case is perfect for discreet hits that keep the cartridge ready for action. yocanvaporizer.com @yocanvaporizer
$23.99
The name that began so many memes, the Penjamin is both a name and the style of this battery, which looks like a classic writing device from the presmartphone era. You see, pens were once for writing, not smoking, so we love this unique throwback. With three voltage settings and a variety of colors, this pen will get people talking, ink and cartridge not included. smylelabs.com @smylelabs
It’s hard to pinpoint the moment when the 510-threaded battery simply became a standard, nofrills baseline tier below a new premium vape battery category. Still, Airo’s arrival on the scene as a luxury-tier item is definitely a contender for a seminal moment. The sturdy, sleek energy docks were the first to feature haptic feedback and provide a stylish home for the proprietary cartridge pods, which mate with a satisfying magnetic click. Working with different oil producers in each market, the Airo team finds high-quality concentrate for the pods, and together, the battery and pods produce huge, potent clouds. Airo continues to grow and plans to add a lineup of edibles to its offerings in some of its markets later this year, but their battery continues to be the foundation on which the company was built.
Review by
Tom Bowers
@megabombtom
CANNATECH
FOCUSVAERIS
While the V CARTA is truly an on-the-go dab rig, the new Aeris is a pocket-friendly answer to the Puffco Proxy that allows for simple, waterfree dabbing with the click push of a button. The best and worst part of bongs and rigs is their watery requirement. A little H2O acts as a filter for the smoke and helps temper the warmth of a dab, but it gets oily fast; both filling and emptying create opportunities for messes that are not ideal when traveling. This is where the Aeris shines, with all the technology of a V CARTA but without the water chamber to complicate the act of quick dabbing. The Aeris features the new Intelli-Core from the CARTA 2 and can also be used to vaporize flower. With a soft-touch ergonomic design and swirling lines that look great on a desk or coffee table, the Aeris fits perfectly in a pocket, cup holder or bag to transform any moment into a heady one. $199
FOCUSV.COM @FOCUS.V
DAVINCI IQ3
Don’t burn your flower or favorite extract — heat it with the highbrow DaVinci IQ3, a high-capacity, compact vaporizer that’s worthy of the name. The new IQ3 improves upon previous designs with more airflow, cooler vapor and a larger oven to load up to 0.7 grams of material into. Sleek and stylish, the outside of the device is made with brushed aircraft aluminum, giving it a beautiful feel. Temperatures are controlled with simple plus or minus buttons, with a dial on the bottom to adjust vapor density and airflow. We found it useful to play with the flow until the vapor was thick and satisfying, but not too harsh, thanks to the Cool Core system that circulates the vapor without overheating for a smoother experience. The temperature lights up on little dots, and while it feels a little low-tech, there’s also no screen to break. A quick 30-second heat-up to the desired temperature and this vaporizer will turn flower or oil into art-inspiring vapor, one hit at a time. $299
FOCUSV.COM @FOCUS.V
CANNATECH
PLANET OF THE VAPES LOBOVAPORIZER
Wolf out in time for Halloween with the Lobo, a powerful handheld vaporizer that combines health and stealth into a streamlined device ready for seshing under a full moon. Vaporizing Cannabis used to require lots of tools and bags, but the beautiful minds behind vape superstore Planet of the Vapes took years of experience and, we’re assuming, lots of puffs to deliver a new portable vaporizer that hits hard. Powering on brings a simple screen with temperature control at the click of a button, readying a 0.2-gram chamber for a perfect bowl of ground flower. From start to first hit is only 40 seconds, sending a few minutes and around a dozen full tokes to the mind with smooth and flavorful effects. The Lobo is easy to clean and reload, and using the swappable batteries, you can keep a sesh rolling, or pack it for extended trips. Vaporizing flower delivers full effects without the need to burn or smoke, which can be easier for those with conditions that prevent smoking, and allow for discrete use in situations where smoking is not appropriate. With a full selection of vaporizers from new to classic, including the Lobo, visit their website for a new way to experience our favorite plant. $159.95
PLANETOFTHEVAPES.COM @POTVLIFE
Experience new highs for less money with the New Peak, a refreshingly simple upgrade to the intro-level e-rig market. Puffco set the standard for the electronic dab rig with their original Peak, which dominated the scene for years with advanced temperature control through a screen, flawless functionality, and a design that was built by stoners for stoners. But at $420, not everyone can afford the gorgeous new Storm Peak Pro, which makes room for the New Peak to entice with simple settings and classic looks. The New Peak is all Puffco, featuring the 3D Chamber and Joystick Cap for consistently excellent performance on dabs. What’s new is the easy four option heat settings, just like the Proxy, and a quick two-click function that means a perfect dab is only 25 seconds away. While purists and snobs might aim for the Peak Pro, we find the New Peak perfect as a travel rig and see big value and elegance in the simpler design. $220
PUFFCO.COM @PUFFCO
CANNATECH
The Venty is a heavy-hitting dry herb vape that is impressive straight out of the box. It’s built like a tank, with the same top-notch craftsmanship that made the Volcano a household name. You can tell right away they didn’t skimp on materials, and like previous Storz & Bickel products, it feels sturdy and built to last. With adjustable airflow, on-device temperature controls and the fastest heat-up time of any S&B vaporizer, the Venty is all about versatile efficiency. This device was built for convenience and precision with its multiple settings and smart connectivity. What separates the Venty from the rest is the way it hits. This thing produces dense, flavorful clouds that rival most desktop vaporizes. Whether you’re after a smooth, mellow session or want to turn things up for a bigger punch, the Venty lets you fine-tune your experience to get your high dialed in exactly how you like it. It’s rare to find a portable vape with this kind of power, but the Venty manages to pull it off. It’s a bit on the larger side for a handheld but really hits. So, if you’re prioritizing performance over portability, this could be the vaporizer to scoop in 2024. $449
The latest innovation from Stündenglass brings a new level of versatility to your Modül setup, evolving it into a sleek handheld rig. The Dok station magnetically attaches to the anodized aluminum base, with the Stündenglass valve stem glass on one side and your concentrate or flower-fueled Modül on the other. Right out of the box, the clean, thoughtful design and solid build are evident, with each piece fitting perfectly in the matching travel case. Within 90 seconds of opening the package, I was already dabbing, which speaks volumes about the ease of setup. While the Modül has already made waves with the popular Stündenglass Gravity Infusers, this latest attachment takes things up a notch. It’s clearly designed with hash lovers in mind, offering a more versatile, handheld and functional experience. What really sets this apart is the smart product design — sturdy, intuitive and incredibly user-friendly. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or “hash curious” and just getting into the game, the Stündenglass Modül + Dok combo checks all the box es and offers a seamless, enjoyable experience for both concentrate and flower users. $449
IN THE 1980S, Richard Stoner (no, we’re not kidding) developed a revolutionary plant-growing technique known as aeroponics. This exciting growing method used only air and a fine mist of nutrients to cultivate crops with extraordinary efficiency. Naturally, NASA took notice when looking to sustain space crews with crops — dirt doesn’t exactly fit into a zerogravity scenario.
SPACE WEED
Zero Gravity Gardening
IN 1997, NASA partnered with Stoner’s company, AgriHouse, to develop an experiment for the Mir space station. With his years of experience and a patent under his belt, Stoner helped NASA bring space gardening to life, focusing on ways to grow food in zero gravity. According to NASA Spinoff, this research opened the door to aeroponics as a viable, futuristic farming method. But space tomatoes were only the beginning.
Tech probs
Fast forward a few decades and aeroponics has found its way back to Earth. This space-age technology, once reserved for astronauts, is slowly seeping into greenhouses across the globe, offering growers a highly efficient, sustainable way to cultivate their crops. So what exactly is aeroponics, and why does it have the potential to change the way we grow Cannabis?
Magical Mist
Aeroponics ditches the dirt altogether. Instead, plants are suspended with their roots freely dangling in the air rather than directly into soil or water. A nutrient-rich mist is sprayed directly onto those exposed roots. The setup typically includes energy-efficient LEDs, an intricate misting system and a closed-loop environment to recycle water and maximize nutrient efficiency. Unlike traditional soil-based growing or even hydroponics, aeroponics uses significantly less water — up to 98% less than soil growing and 40% less than hydroponics. That’s a massive deal for cultivators in water-strapped areas like California, where every drop counts. But it doesn’t stop there. The roots’ exposure to maximum oxygen means faster growth rates — up to three times faster than soil — and potentially higher yields. This method isn’t just sustainable; it’s a powerhouse for production.
Water Wise
Water conservation is just one of the perks. Aeroponic systems are often fully enclosed, creating a controlled environment that’s practically tailor-made for Cannabis cultivation. Pests? Not here. Diseases? Hardly. By eliminating the risk factors that soil can introduce, growers can skip the pesticide aisle altogether, and that’s a win for everyone (except the chemical companies).
And when it comes to nutrients, aeroponics allows growers to control exactly what the plant absorbs. There’s no guessing game in nutrient delivery, which can significantly reduce fertilizer use — by as much as 60%, according to NASA research with BioServe Space Technologies and AgriHouse Inc. In short, aeroponics lets Cannabis cultivators dial in their process to a degree that simply isn’t scientifically possible with traditional methods.
While aeroponics might still seem like tthe shy new kid on the block, we’ve already seen companies making waves in the Cannabis space with this technology. Enter Aeriz, one of the largest aeroponic Cannabis farms in the U.S. They’re perfecting the art of combining sustainability with high-quality Cannabis production with a focus on reducing environmental impact, all while still churning out award-winning strains. Going green doesn’t have to mean sacrificing quality.
Like any new technology, aeroponics comes with its own set of challenges. The cost of setting up an aeroponic system is no joke. An aeroponic system requires high-tech sensors, specialized misting nozzles, and automated controllers to ensure the whole process runs smoothly. While automated systems aren’t new to big production facilities, that initial investment can be steep, and for many smaller growers, it might be unreachable — especially in an industry battling big financial burdens due to continued federal inflexibility. But for those willing to take the plunge, the long-term savings on water, nutrients and labor can offset the startup costs over time.
Then there’s the technical knowledge required. On top of plant biology and nutrient management, aeroponic growers must rely on system engineering skills to keep things running smoothly. This is precision farming, and even a small mistake could lead to big consequences. If the misting system fails for a short time, the plants’ roots can dry out, and the entire crop could be lost. That’s why backup systems and redundancies are crucial to avoiding catastrophe, but they also pose an extra cost.
Flavor Fuel
Critics might question whether aeroponic-grown Cannabis can deliver the same flavor and quality as traditional methods, but they’re in for a surprise. Companies like AeroFarms, which focuses on food production in a culinary niche, have demonstrated that this method can actually produce a fuller flavor spectrum, thanks to the strict control over nutrients. But Cannabis consumers will have to be the judge of whether that translates to smoke.
sustainability
For all its challenges, the future of aeroponics in Cannabis still shines bright, if only dimmed a bit by the distance… Technological advancements are slowly but surely making these systems more accessible, with automation, sensors and AI integration taking much of the guesswork out of the equation.
As these innovations continue to roll out, aeroponics could become more financially feasible for growers at all levels, not just those with big investors. And then there’s the sustainability factor. In an industry that’s increasingly focused on its environmental footprint, aeroponics offers a way to grow Cannabis more sustainably by conserving water, reducing fertilizer use and eliminating pesticides. For growers who want to do right by the planet, aeroponics is an attractive option.
So, is aeroponics the future of Cannabis cultivation? It’s got all the right ingredients: water efficiency, faster growth, better yields and sustainability. But, like any industry, Cannabis has its traditionalists who might be slower to adopt this space-age technology — and we can’t blame them. From the initial costs and the technical demands to ditching generations of gardening practices passed down, the shift to this tech will certainly be slow.
However, the potential to revolutionize cultivation is undeniable. As more companies look to push the boundaries of Cannabis farming, aeroponics might just float to the top, offering a cleaner, greener way to grow the plant we love.
The robust pre-roll market continues to evolve as consumer tastes develop and mature, and production capabilities rush to keep pace.
Once a market segment primed for production leftovers and the much-maligned destination for “floor scraps,” the commercial pre-roll category is now the hottest and fastest-growing category in Cannabis.
Thanks to the rise of convenience-purchasing at retail, as well as new commercial trends around the newer ultra-premium pre-roll category dominated by the hash hole, pre-rolls accounted for $4.1 billion in annual sales (394 million units), according to a recent data survey conducted by the analysts at Headset in collaboration with Custom Cones USA. Infused joints make up more than 43% of those sales, and that figure is growing.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? Well, first, it means that consumers are willing to pay more for a premium pre-roll product. Second, it means the pre-roll segment will need to find a way to scale.
The demand for premium hand-rolled products is on the rise, as is the field of amazingly talented hash hole artists such as CGO, Proper Doinks, Sturts Doinks, Bruno Rolls, and other craft connoisseurs, many of whom companies commission to roll batches of branded hand-rolls.
But that craft segment can’t scale to serve the mass-market consumer. That’s where machinists and robotics manufacturers come in.
These are companies that undergo rigorous research and development in order to bring efficiency and scale to the rolling and infusion process. If we’re ever going to see packs of infused hash holes offered at an affordable scale, these companies will likely be the ones behind it.
Co-founded by former NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineer Nohtal Partansky, Sorting Robotics has been working for years to increase margins and efficiency in pre-roll automation.
Starting with the company’s Aura One machine, which the company says can roll up to 18 joints per minute and also roll blunts, the company has added multiple machines to its lineup that handle different types of infusions. The Jiko injects concentrates down the center of the joint, aiming for the hash hole sector, and the Jiko+ can inject any meltable concentrate, including live fresh-press rosin. According to their data sheets, one operator can inject 115,200 infusions per month.
For the past couple of years, we’ve been impressed with what we’ve seen from the PICC Platform. Created by a production machinery firm out of Spokane, Washington, the PICC Platform’s end-to-end rolling and infusing capability automates the entire process with one system. Their machine mills the flower, layer-packs the cones, and then injects them with concentrates precisely down the center, creating perfect infused cones that the company claims never canoe and always burn all of the material evenly. (The Leaf team has tried a few, and from what we can see, those claims are correct.)
To those of us who remember when infusing a joint meant rolling up a ball of finger hash, lighting it on fire, crumbling it and sprinkling it over your hand-separated flower, the Cannabis industry has become an amazing technological wonderland. And while there will surely always be a market and a desire for a freshly rolled hash hole filled with a custom flower and hash combo by an expert in the craft, we can’t help but be wowed by a future that promises infused, kief-rolled hitters manufactured for the masses. Being able to scale and automate such an intricate process showcases the ingenuity and invention of the minds in the Cannabis industry, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.
Sorting Robotics also introduced the Stardust, which coats the joints in kief and concentrates, and also can automate the creation of moon rocks at scale using dry sift, bubble hash, crushed THCa diamonds, or powdered Cannabis.
PICC Platform
PICC Platform
RelocatingTHE PRIME MERIDIAN
THE PORTLAND ART MUSEUM recently hosted a captivating showcase, “Te Moana Meridian: How the Prime Meridian Shapes the World and the Case for Relocating it,” presented by interdisciplinary artist Sam Tam Ham, also known as Sam Hamilton. A New Zealand-born artist of working-class Pākehā descent, Hamilton is known for his multifaceted, immersive approach. His eclectic, boundary-pushing artistic practice spans across sound, film, visual installations, creative writing, painting and movement performance. In this exhibit, Hamilton proposes a daring re-establishment of global time and space, as we know it.
AS I PREPARED FOR the performance, I reached for the creatively stimulating and visually enhancing effects of a homegrown Durban Poison, securely preserved in my RE:STASH jar. After grinding, packing, blessing and hand rolling this hemp paper joint, I set out on an evening stroll to the museum. Two inhales and one exhale later, I was quickly greeted by the zesty, pungent pinene and linalool flavor notes that stimulated my palate and uplifted my mind. This potent sativa is the perfect paring for a night of thought-provoking, earth-conscious visual art.
Set on tribally recognized grounds, the Portland Art Museum honors the Indigenous peoples of this region, on whose ancestral lands the museum now stands, invoking a sense of appreciation for the community that continues to shape the city’s vibrant tapestry.
As the doors opened on this private debut, I was instantly struck by the illuminated grid lines parceling up the space coupled with the intentional sound vibrations reverberating through the museum walls and into the chambers of my body. I stepped into the room with a meditative reverence; this was not a typical performance — this was ceremony. Presented as an experimental opera, this work boldly reimagines one of humanity’s oldest constructs: the Prime Meridian. Viewers are
immersed in a space that bridges colonial histories and Indigenous futures. The operatic performance invites the audience to question the colonial and Eurocentric influences within global geography. Is the placement of the Prime Meridian a lingering symbol of systemic injustice?
“... THIS WAS NOT A TYPICAL PERFORMANCE — THIS WAS CEREMONY.”
Could moving it represent a move toward Indigenous sovereignty and the reclaiming of spatial narratives long dominated by Western power?
The multi-sensory journey weaved together sound, lighting, movement, language and critical inquiry. As sacred song filled the air, vocalists Holland Andrews in English and Mere Tokorahi Boynton in te reo Māori stood as mirrored vessels of ancestral wisdom, educating the audience of the Prime Meridian’s historical purpose and guiding viewers toward a vision of what the future could hold if the Prime Meridian were restored to the South Pacific. Their voices, like ceremonial incantations, carried the weight of Hamilton’s radical proposal, urging us to reflect on the deep colonial histories embedded within our maps.
This idea, presented operatically in both languages, fosters an inquiry that extends beyond the geographic — a movement towards decoloniza-
tion, guided by the very languages of the colonized and the colonizer.
Boynton’s rich, emotive Māori vocals, paired with Andrews’ haunting English delivery, create an echo of shared histories and future visions.
Reverberating with ancestral tone, this performance serves as both a tribute to Indigenous sovereignty and a question posed to all who bear witness: Could the act of moving the Prime Meridian be a symbolic reclamation of systemic justice — an act of the decolonization of Mother Earth as a living body?
This ceremony of sound and inquiry invites us to envision a world where sovereignty is not just reclaimed but fully realized. Through Hamilton’s vision, the opera isn’t just a performance; it’s a statement. Viewers are invited into a new ecological and philosophical space — one where sovereignty of global space is reevaluated.
As I exited this opera, the question lingered: Is the Prime Meridian simply a line, or does it serve as a representation of deeper systemic imbalances?
Could shifting this line open a path toward justice and Indigenous autonomy?
Puffing Proto
When it comes to stoner tech, it doesn’t get much more historic than the Proto Pipe. Often referred to as the “Swiss Army knife of paraphernalia,” the Proto Pipe was essentially the first smoking device explicitly designed with the Cannabis consumer in mind.
EARLY INSPIRATION
The Proto Pipe is the brainchild of an artist and self-taught machinist from Denver named Phil Jergenson.
“As kids, we used to build slot cars,” Phil’s brother Richard recalls. “That’s where we learned how to solder metal, which later became instrumental in birthing the Proto Pipe.”
As a teenager in the late 1960s, Phil got turned on to Cannabis after a neighbor brought some back from a visit to San Francisco. A short time later, while riding a ski lift, Phil had what he calls his “Eureka moment.”
“I was trying to light a pipe … and I realized I didn’t have any of the implements that you needed,” he told the LA Times in 2021. “That’s when I decided I was going to design a pipe.”
THE PIPE DREAM
At that time, there weren’t many pipes for weed smokers — only pipes made of corn cobs, wood or cheap, screwed-together metal components. With the Space Race and James Bond all the rage, Jergenson aspired to create as cool and futuristic a pipe as possible. As a stoner earning his living drafting detailed architectural models, he was well equipped to do so.
brass, which solved the problem. With each iteration, he added more features, such as a permanent screen, a swivel bowl lid, a tamper, a steel-tipped poker, a resin trap, and a storage pod to keep your “combustibles” in. Finally, after countless hours, he came up with a device he was satisfied with, called “The Contrivance.”
PROTO PIPE TAKES OFF
With a cool new pipe to sell, all he needed now was to connect with his market. And so, in 1970, Jergenson moved to the countercul ture capital of San Francisco to find his fortune. After securing a warehouse in the Mission District, he summoned his brothers, Kent and Richard, to help him get the business off the ground.
The brothers began selling the Contrivance to hippies on the street for five dollars apiece. But things got off to a rocky start: their drill wasn’t creating precise-enough holes, making many of the pipes unsellable. As a result, they didn’t earn enough to cover their expenses and had to get day jobs. For Phil, that unfortunately meant moving down to Fullerton to work a carpentry gig.
After a year or so of lackluster results, Jergenson feared his pipe dream might go up in smoke. Then, in June 1972, he took a gamble and spent $120 to place an ad in an up-and-coming magazine called Rolling Stone. A few months later, their post office box was overflowing with orders. Now living in SoCal, Phil had to take commuter flights up to the Bay to make pipes on weekends. It would take nearly a year before they’d earn enough for Phil to move back to San Fran and make pipes full time. By 1973, business was so good that they were able to open a second workshop in Berkeley. But the real game changer came in the fall of 1974, with the premiere of High Times magazine. The Jergensons placed an ad for The Contrivance in HT’s second issue (Spring 1975), and the response was so overwhelming that they continued to advertise in the mag for nearly a decade.
Above: Original ad in Rolling Stone.
Proto Pipe creator Phil Jergenson circa 1974. Below:
RIPOFF & REBRANDING
One day in 1975, while selling pipes on Telegraph Avenue, Phil was propositioned by a so-called record promoter from SoCal named Israel Juda, who flashed him a briefcase full of cash and made him a dubious offer:
“He said, ‘Look — this is going to go one of several ways,” Richard recounts. “You’re either going to sell me the business for $30,000, or we’re going to be business partners fifty-fifty, or I’m going to make these without you.”
He also had an odd, Andy Warhol-inspired marketing shtick in mind to sell them.
“I’m going to call them The Tomato,” he reportedly pitched. “We’re going to etch the name ‘Tomato’ on the top of the pipe and put ’em in a can with a tomato label on it.”
Hoping to utilize his money rather than get ripped off, Phil reluctantly agreed to bring him on as a partner. A short time later, he showed up at their warehouse with 10,000 cans, which he’d scammed from the American Can Company. However, after Richard met him and talked it over with his brother, they decided to back out of the deal.
Sure enough, about a month later, tomato cans containing cheap forgeries started showing up in shops around the Bay. To counteract these knockoffs, the Jergensons changed their product’s name: One night, a friend who meant to say “prototype pipe” mistakenly called it a “proto pipe,” and the name instantly stuck. They registered the new name and began etching a pair of interlocking “P”s (inspired by the Rolls-Royce logo) onto all of the new Proto Pipes they produced.
They also brought in some more trustworthy partners — including an underground cartoonist named Larry Todd, who’d made a name for himself with his Dr. Atomic comics. Todd helped them rebrand the Proto Pipe by drawing up fun new ads and lending them one of his characters to use as their mascot: a trash can-shaped robot they renamed “Probot.” They even made a life-size Probot costume to promote at trade shows. In fact, at the NY Fashion and Boutique Show in the winter of 1979, Probot became the hit of the show.
“Our timing was perfect because Star Wars had recently come out,” Richard remembers. “Everybody was saying, ‘Look — it’s R2-D2!’ And we were like, ‘No, it’s Probot!’”
DRUG WAR DOWNERS
By the early ’80s, Proto Pipe was employing around a dozen staffers and churning out nearly 500 pipes a week. Unfortunately, they were also facing new challenges. First, in 1979, their warehouse in Berkeley was sold, and their rent was doubled overnight. As a result, they moved their operations to a former car dealership in the small Men-
With the Space Race and James Bond all the rage, Jergenson aspired to make as cool and futuristic a pipe as possible.
docino town of Willits. But apparently, the city council wasn’t too happy with them being there, even though everyone knew the town’s economy was Cannabis-driven.
“We were the only visible tip of the underground economy that was keeping all these communities in Northern California alive for decades … and we weren’t out in the hills — we were right on Main Street,” Richard explains. “We were harassed, so we ended up moving to another side of town.”
In 1986, President Reagan pushed through the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, which, among other things, banned the interstate sale and transportation of drug paraphernalia. Not wanting to end up in prison, the brothers sold the business to a friend named Michael Lightrain in the winter of 1987, with the understanding that whenever legalization came about, they could buy it back. Rebranding it as a tobacco pipe, Lightrain ran the company for the next three decades.
Meanwhile, the Jergensons moved on to other pursuits, founding a “life-sized Erector set” company called Grid Beam. Richard also devoted more time to his other passion: cannthropology. Over the years, he curated thousands of pieces of counterculture memorabilia and artifacts. This impressive collection would eventually inspire the Jergensons to reclaim the brand they built.
REUNION & RECLAMATION
Fast forward to 2014: After surviving a battle with cancer, Richard was reexamining what he wanted to do with the rest of his life.
“I’ve got this astonishing archive of counterculture material,” he thought. “Why not do something with it?”
Richard contacted Emerald Cup organizers Tim and Taylor Blake, who, after visiting him and seeing his collection, offered him a space at the event that December.
“I invited Phil and Larry, so it was the three horsemen back together again after three decades,” Richard recalls. “We had a great showing. The reception was just fantastic.” Impressed by how legit the Cannabis community had become, the partners were inspired to get back in the game. The only problem was that Lightrain was less than cooperative.
“We had an agreement that when legalization came, we wanted the business back. However,
when that day came, the agreement was not honored,” he says. Unable to reclaim their brand as promised, Phil decided to move forward without the Proto Pipe name, designing a new pipe with a larger, round bowl and other new features, which he dubbed the Mendo Pipe. Lightrain’s mismanagement of the company would soon work in the brothers’ favor.
“He ultimately drove the business into the ground because he was an absentee owner and was never really a part of the culture,” Richard says.
As a result, the company fell into debt, and by 2017, Lightrain was so far behind on rent that the landlord evicted him and offered the he warehouse back to the brothers. Moreover, Lightrain had let the trademark and patent lapse, enabling the brothers to reclaim them. After nearly 30 years, the Jergensons finally had their Proto Pipe back.
THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME
Since then, the Jergensons have rejuvenated the brand, renaming the Mendo Pipe the Proto Pipe Rocket and enlisting Phil’s daughter, Rona, to build their website. The website enabled stoners around the world to access their products and garnered some free marketing, courtesy of LA Times journalist Adam Tschorn, who wrote a feature on them in 2021. Today, they’re producing about 1,000 pipes a month and have sold more than 1.5 million units worldwide.
“The numbers aren’t quite what they were back in the heady days,” Richard admits. “But the quality of the pipes is off the charts. And everyone is so happy that the founders are back.”
“In many ways, [Proto Pipe is] the Levi Strauss of Cannabis,” noted Tschorn.
As the company’s official archivist and historian, Richard is currently working on a book that will tell the full story behind Proto Pipe’s colorful history — one that, as a fellow cannthropologist, I look forward to reading someday.
To read the full, unabridged version of this story and listen to the interview on our podcast, visit worldofcannabis.museum/cannthropology.
The Jergenson brothers with life-sized Probot in Willits.
Richard displays his archives at the Emerald Cup.
Phil selling pipes on Telegraph Ave in 1975.
PEOPLE tell me this sometimes. But am I narcissistic or just eager to be recognized? A little of both, methinks. Aren’t we all guilty of wanting attention at some level? I mean, at what point are you self-absorbed or just looking to feel relevant in this glorious human experience of lightning strikes and rolling stones? Because let’s be honest, every one of us, from an instinctual level, is looking out for numero uno as much as any other living organism. And some of you would argue that you always put your child before yourself, but if that’s really the best means for your DNA to reach the next millennium, then why does the flight attendant instruct you to put your life vest on first?
Because the kid ain’t gonna make it without its momma.
I get it, drawing too much attention to yourself can always be a means for criticism in this environment of acceptance where all people are welcome to share the stage equally. But all people aren’t equal, physically or mentally. Just like weed.
And I’m not claiming that I or my country, race, religion, gender or candidate is better than any other person or living thing on the planet, just that it seems silly that we should consider ourselves the same. In kindergarten, they told us we are all unique in our own special way, like a snowflake. Right about the same time, they told us how to dress, which god to worship and which football team to root for.
Contradictions are everywhere.
I understand that global equality is basically in reference to civil rights, which I’m down with. And I believe we all deserve the same opportunities. And I believe in following a dab with a bowl of flower and maybe chasing it with an edible.
