Sept. 2023 - California Leaf

WINE BOSS 2019 PINK KUSH PETIT VERDOT ROSÉ PAIRED WITH GARDEN SOCIETY CALM & FOCUS SPARKLING STRAWBERRY ROSÉ GUMMIES

WES ABNEY CEO & FOUNDER wes@leafmagazines.com

MIKE RICKER OPERATING PARTNER ricker@leafmagazines.com

TOM BOWERS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER tom@leafmagazines.com

DANIEL BERMAN CREATIVE DIRECTOR daniel@leafmagazines.com

BOBBY BLACK STATE CONTENT DIRECTOR bobbyblack@leafmagazines.com

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

MEGHAN RIDLEY COPY EDITOR meghan@leafmagazines.com

ABOUT THE COVER

Our annual examination of Cannabis and tasty beverages invites Leaf readers to take a closer look at how flavors and science can combine for a unique consumption experience. Be sure to try out your own combinations and look for even more inspiration in our other editions, available to read for free at LeafMagazines.com.

In recognition of Thailand becoming the first Asian country to legalize Cannabis, it’s an honor to feature PLUGplay’s Bangkok-born Peter Tang on this year’s Tannins and Terpenes cover. And with a drink as stylish as absinthe paired with the modern elegance of a golden vape cartridge, this shoot at Mama Lion in Los Angeles’ Koreatown was as seamless as Peter’s vintage smoking jacket. @iampetertang.

COVER PHOTO BY MARGEAUX WALTER @MARGEAUXWALTER | MARGEAUXWALTERCOM

STYLING BY MIKE RICKER @RICKERDJ

WES ABNEY, FEATURES

BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES

JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION

TOM BOWERS, FEATURES

AMANDA DAY, FEATURES

WYATT EARLY, FEATURES

STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS

MATT JACKSON, FEATURES

SARA MILLS-GAINES, SALES

JESSE RAMIREZ, DESIGN

MIKE RICKER, FEATURES

MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING

MARGEAUX WALTER, PHOTOS

NATE WILLIAMS, FEATURES

BRUCE & LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES

KATHERINE WOLF, FEATURES

WES ABNEY

Editor’s Note

Thanks for picking up The Tannins & Terpenes Issue of the Leaf!

We began pairing wine and weed over 10 years ago in print, highlighting the similarities and differences between the flavors provided by tannins in wine and terpenes in Cannabis. These were the early days of medicinal access to the plant (when weed wasn’t even legal yet) and for many, the idea of flavor profiles or even calling pot medicine was considered questionable by mainstream standards. But I saw the brilliant smells and flavors that ooze from beautiful craft-grown Cannabis and knew that if we could convince people that the same flavonoids and terpenes were making the weed and wine taste good, that it could serve as an educational tool to change minds. After all, everyone knows there’s a million flavors in wine – even if they don’t drink it regularly.

Over the years, we have ranged from all wine pairings to exploring the world of craft beers, cocktails and seltzers, as we honed our tastes. Similarly, the weed world has expanded from simple flower pairings to a wide range of concentrates, cartridges and edibles that can enhance a boozy pairing, or replace it altogether.

While I’ve long considered myself a craft beer aficionado, I’ve spent the last six months sober from alcohol, which has helped me to see Cannabis in a new light. America has a drinking culture (problem) that pushes booze as a tool for celebration, mourning and everything in between. But as I grew in my publishing role and as a father to teenagers, alcohol became less of a helper for stress – actually creating more – especially as the Leaf worked to navigate the difficult Cannabis industry in 13 states. Since my break from alcohol, I’ve experienced a lot of personal benefits, and learned to lean on Cannabis fully as both medicine and recreation. It truly is an amazing plant to be able to provide for both areas of life – healing and pleasure – and I’ve fallen in love with it all over again.

“THE WEED WORLD HAS EXPANDED FROM SIMPLE FLOWER PAIRINGS TO A WIDE RANGE OF CONCENTRATES, CARTRIDGES AND EDIBLES THAT CAN ENHANCE A BOOZY PAIRING, OR REPLACE IT ALTOGETHER. ”

As this issue of the magazine has evolved, we’ve included new types of pairings, including Cannabis with coffee, energy drinks, kombucha and more. There are few things more satisfying in this world than a fresh cup of joe with a joint, and it brings me great joy to continue to pair tasty beverages with Cannabis, sans alcohol for this writer. I hope that these words can be an inspiration to anyone considering a break from alcohol, or any habit that causes more harm than health.

We are all fortunate to live in a time of legalization – where reconceptualizing sobriety includes the use of Cannabis (California Sober/Green Clean) and a huge community of people who have found health and happiness with pot, including many who are sober otherwise. So as we toast at our next pairing sesh, remember: It’s OK to talk about addiction and struggles, and the benefits of Cannabis. After all, you have to put down your drink to pass the bong.

MARIJUANA GROUPS CALL ON REGULATORS TO ADOPT UNIVERSAL SYMBOL FOR PRODUCTS

Acoalition made up of marijuana reform organizations is calling upon regulators across the world to adopt a universal symbol for marijuana products in the interest of promoting safety in the evolving Cannabis market.

The symbol would make it easier to facilitate interstate Cannabis commerce if states choose to enact the policy, reports Marijuana Moment.

There’s a patchwork of marijuana laws from stateto-state in the U.S., as well as internationally. But the groups said in a letter to regulators distributed in August that there should at least be uniformity in labeling so that people know what products contain Cannabis – no matter where they’re shopping.

The International Intoxicating Cannabinoid Product Symbol (IICPS) – a yellow triangle with an image of a Cannabis leaf and black border – has already been adopted by Montana, New Jersey, South Dakota and Vermont, while other states like Alaska are also considering it.

GERMANY LEGALIZES!

The German government in mid-August approved a plan to legalize some recreational Cannabis use, paving the way to allow adults to legally buy and possess small amounts of marijuana, reports The New York Times.

INDONESIA BURNS MARIJUANA PLANTATION DISCOVERED BY DRONES

Indonesian authorities in August burned a marijuana plantation in the northern province of Aceh after it was discovered by drones, reports the Associated Press.

A joint team of the National Narcotic Agency (known as BNN) and the National Research and Innovation Agency – using drones – detected 4.5 hectares (11 acres) of land with an estimated 21,100 Cannabis plants ready for harvest, said Wayan Sugiri, the deputy for eradication at BNN.

The aerial operation was conducted from August 3-13 in Teupin Reuseup village in North Aceh district. More than 150 officers from the police, customs and BNN were deployed to uproot the 20 tons of marijuana for burning, Sugiri said.

HALF OF AMERICANS HAVE NOW TRIED WEED

Half of Americans have now tried marijuana, according to a new Gallup survey. This is the first time Gallup has found 50 percent of respondents saying they’ve tried Cannabis, reports The National Desk. But it’s been hovering just below that figure for a while now – having been over 40 percent since 2015.

By gender, 53% of men and 44% of women said they have tried marijuana. By age, adults 35-54 showed the highest rate of past marijuana use, with 51% saying they had smoked the herb. Meanwhile, 49% of those aged 18-34 and 47% of adults 55 and older said the same.

STUDY: MARIJUANA REDUCES OPIOID CRAVINGS

IT’S

been street knowledge for some time, but now it has more scientific backing. A new federal study found Cannabis “significantly” reduces opioid cravings for people using them without a prescription, reports Marijuana Moment. This, of course, suggests that expanding access to legal marijuana could provide folks with a safer substitute – one that could provide a long-sought breakthrough when it comes to treating opioid addiction.

Scientists at the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use surveyed 205 people in total. The study participants used weed and unregulated opioids from December 2019 to November 2021. The goal was to test the theory that Cannabis represents an effective harm reduction tool. That’s particularly urgent since we’re in the midst of an opioid overdose crisis.

The International Journal of Drug Policy published the study. It found 58 percent of participants reported their reason for using Cannabis was to reduce opioid cravings. Moreover, a multivariable analysis showed marijuana use “was significantly associated with selfreported reductions in opioid use.”

midwest

OHIO LEGALIZATION WOULD BOOST INDUSTRY

Ohio looks likely to vote on the legalization of adult-use marijuana in November. The move could improve the legislative and financial prospects for the Cannabis industry overall, reports Bloomberg. An Ohio State University study estimates legalization could add $275 million to $450 million to the state’s tax coffers in five years.

Quoted

“This is an important law that will represent a long-term change in drug policy,”

The legislation would allow adults to buy and possess up to 25 grams of adultuse Cannabis for personal consumption through nonprofit social clubs. It must still be approved by Parliament – but the endorsement from the three-party coalition’s cabinet was a crucial step toward Germany becoming the first major European country to legalize Cannabis. “This is an important law that will represent a long-term change in drug policy,” said Karl Lauterbach, Germany’s health minister. He added that the legislation represented “a concept of controlled legalization.”

Under current German law, it is illegal to buy Cannabis, but not to consume it.

$60k

in marijuana products were recalled by the Missouri Department of Cannabis Regulation in August.

On Aug. 3, a group called Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol turned in signatures to meet the state’s requirements to put the measure to a vote this November. Given that Cannabis stocks are still suffering after a lack of headway with national legalization –and they tend to surge even on mixed election results – the issue will be closely watched. It could turn Ohio into the 24th U.S. state to legalize recreational use. Meanwhile, federal law remains in limbo.

“An Ohio State University study estimates legalization could add $275 million to $450 million to the state’s tax coffers in five years.”

“There is a decent likelihood the initiative passes if it gets on the ballot this year,” predicted James Sandy, a lawyer in the Cleveland office of McGlinchey who works with the marijuana industry. Sandy said in an email exchange that Ohioans have become more comfortable with marijuana in the few years since medical pot was legalized. He pointed to a recent poll that suggests almost 60 percent of voters would favor adult recreational use.

$48m

in community reinvestment grants funded by marijuana taxes will soon be available to California nonprofits.

$404m

could be added to Ohio’s annual tax coffers by marijuana legalization, according to one study.

and higher THC raw flower is a primary growth driver in today’s adult-use marijuana industry.

grams of weed were taken during an August break-in at a Richmond, Virginia dispensary.

“Just the same way as you’re not allowed to cook moonshine in your bathtub and sell it on the street, you’re also not allowed to start a restaurant without having the right requirements and licenses in place.”

-Anthony Miranda of the New York City Sheriff’s Office, during an Office of Public Safety briefing on a citywide crackdown of unlicensed Cannabis edibles being sold by businesses without the proper permits or authorization to do so. The New York City Sheriff’s Office seized over $2 million in products last month and issued $4.5 million in fines to unlicensed vendors.

ROUND AND AROUND

INTERSECTION

Deep in Proposition 215 days, a couple of guys named Justin and Cliff banded together, knowing that the medical Cannabis era was ending and the chance to merge into the legal field would soon become a reality. The concept was to design a memorable floor plan that emulated the infamous Long Beach traffic circle right across from the shop – and this vision resulted in the creation of a circular replica of the famed intersection, now laden with tasty high-grade options called the Ring of Fire. Get it?

THE HEADY MAZE

It’s kind of like the sand meeting the ocean when you first step into these friendly environs. Because upon seeing the on-site grow operation that is visible through wall windows, you’ll swear you’re at an indoor farm. However, you’ll instead find yourself in a curved wonderland with favorably placed consumer goods—the kind that widens the eyes with excitement. Yep, this is a seed-tosale vertical operation that’s home to two in-house brands, MJ Ultra and Hex, both available in Southern California stores.

FEEL THE FLOW

With high-end gallery aesthetics, it’s an interactive and sociable scene for both the curious cannasuer and the fresh newcomer in mind. Simply place your order and take in the warm vibe while your friendly budtender brings you the goods and sends you home with a high five. There’s no ticket necessary for this entertaining stroll through a superbly-curated collection of goodies displayed, where class and fun intersect.

STAFF PICKS

FLOWERS

Hex Long Beach Cookies - Lucas

Tyson 2.0 Desert Toad - Hector

Fig Farms Animal Face - Kayla

JOINTS

Claybourne Frosted Flyers - Lucas

Jeter Bubble Gum - Hector

West Coast Cure Jeffries - Kayla

CARTS

Cold Fire Fuyu Paper - Lucas

Alien Labs Disposable Biscotti - Hector

DABS

Pistol Whip Papayarita - Lucas

710 Labs Banana Punch Live Rosin - Hector

Bear Labs Strawberry Tahoe Cookies - Kayla

EDIBLES

Wyld Sour Apple - Lucas

Whoa Milk Chocolate Bar - Hector

Shaman Extracts Sour Green Apple - Hector

Dedicated crew

“UPON SEEING THE ON-SITE GROW OPERATION THAT IS VISIBLE THROUGH WALL WINDOWS, YOU’LL SWEAR YOU’RE AT AN INDOOR FARM.”

ERIKA SCHWEITZER

CALIFORNIA LEAF BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH

COASTAL

CANNABIS

1084 LA MIRADA CT, VISTA, CA

COASTALCANNABISCO.COM

@COASTALCANNABISDISPENSARY OPEN 9AM-10PM DAILY (760) 734-7081

YOU LEFT YOUR HOME OF PENNSYLVANIA FIVE YEARS AGO TO CHASE YOUR DREAM INTO THE CANNABIS WORLD. HOW IS THAT WORKING OUT FOR YOU? I love it. This industry is so rewarding, and such a fulfilling job beyond what I could have imagined.

WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF THE DAY AS A BUDTENDER? Connecting with the customers. Each person who walks through the door is unique, and they have different needs. So, just being able to hear their story and hold space with them in determining what will change their lives for the better makes this special.

HOW IS COASTAL CANNABIS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER STORES IN VISTA? Honestly, we really pride ourselves on customer service. We listen and take a person’s needs into consideration, rather than selling them on what we’re trying to get rid of or the most expensive product. We’re a very chill shop. A lot of brand ambassadors tell us that. It’s a vibe.

YOUR OWNER IS A VETERAN, AND YOU HAVE A PARKING SPOT IN FRONT OF THE STORE RESERVED FOR VETERANS. HOW IMPORTANT ARE THESE PEOPLE TO YOU GUYS? Extremely important. We just held a Veteran event called an SB34 Drop, with more than 20 brands donating. We did a beach cleanup in Oceanside with a group of Veterans, then many of them came back to the shop afterward for a cool event with a bunch of different vendors from inside and outside the Cannabis industry. They each got a goodie bag from the vendors, who then educated them on what was inside and how the medicine might affect them.

IF YOU COULD SMOKE A BLUNT WITH ANYONE IN HISTORY, WHO WOULD IT BE? What a question! (laughs) I would smoke with a philosopher, either Alan Watts or Ram Dass. We would talk about philosophy and reincarnation … like consciousness and what happens when you die.

“WE’RE A VERY CHILL SHOP … IT’S A VIBE.”

Her passion is teaching and practicing yoga, which has become an obsession over the past year and a half. And she’s into electronic dance music and going to shows, between keeping busy with her second job at a dermatology office in Dana Point. Follow her on Instagram @erika.schweitzer.

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FLAVORS OF FALL

YOU’RE TOAST PANZANELLA

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 cups bread cubes, about 1 inch pieces

2 large tomatoes, cut in chunks

½ medium cucumber, cut in pieces

½ cup red onion, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons capers

¼ cup red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 teaspoons infused oil

BLUEBERRY PEACH PIE-FECTION

9 SERVINGS

1 pie crust, rolled to 11-12 in.

4 cups blueberries, rinsed

1 peach, sliced

½ cup sugar

¼ cup orange juice

3 tablespoons infused oil

2 tablespoons cornstarch pinch of salt

1 egg, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons sugar

1. Heat oven to 340. Place the crust on parchment, on a baking sheet.

2. In a large bowl, combine the blueberries, peach slices, sugar, orange juice, infused oil, cornstarch and salt.

3. Place the berries on the crust, leaving a two-inch border. Fold edge of pastry dough up over the fruit, pinching folds closed. Brush the crust with the egg, and sprinkle with the sugar.

4. Bake until golden brown and bubbling, 35-45 minutes.

SEPTEMBER HASHTAGS // # DontFearTheEdible

# BacktoSchool

# BeKind # EatLocal

# LaurieAndMaryJane

# Herb+Spice

TOMATOES SHOULD BE ILLEGAL IN THE WINTER! Honestly, the tomatoes on salads in February barely resemble the lusciousness of a local seasonal specimen. Not even close. Frozen corn is not bad, but taking the kernels off the cob is a summer right of passage, and well worth it. The crostata – a free-form pie piled high with end of summer blueberries and peaches – is simple and quite attractive, if I do say so myself! The recipes are infused with Zookies by 7 Points, a hybrid flower with an upbeat vibe,

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard salt and pepper to taste

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the garlic, stir, and add the bread cubes. Over low to medium heat, lightly brown the bread cubes. Allow to cool.

2. In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumber, red onion and capers.

3. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, oils and Dijon, and add to the large bowl. Salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine. Allow to sit for at least 30 minutes so the flavors can marry, happily ever after.

A-MAIZE-ING CORN SALAD

4 SERVINGS

3 cups corn, from 3 to 4 cobs

3 scallions, sliced

2/3 cup chopped bell peppers, any color

½ cup mayo

4 teaspoons infused oil

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

salt and pepper to taste

1 cup corn chips

½ cup cotija cheese

2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped or torn

Optional CBD Taco Spice Blend

1. In a large bowl, combine the corn, scallion and peppers.

2. In another bowl, mix the mayo, oil, lime juice, cumin and chili powder. Salt and pepper to taste.

3. Add the mayo to the corn, along with the chips, cheese and cilantro. Stir gently to mix.

4. Divide the corn between four bowls. Top with optional CBD Herb & Spice Taco Blend.

leaving me relaxed and relatively happy. I really can’t ask for more than that. Although the recipes are infused with flower into coconut oil, the corn salad is topped with the newest product from Laurie and MaryJane – a taco spice blend with activated CBD – so just a sprinkle of CBD adds to the overall effect of the dish, as well as a hit of more south of the border flavors. If you want to try any of the CBD blends, they are available to order. Very soon, they will be joined by a 1:1 THC:CBD mixture. Need I say more? I think not.

Flashka Traditional Style Hashish

Floracy is a Nevada County-based brand with more than two decades of experience crafting traditional, Moroccanstyle hashish from sungrown Cannabis sourced almost exclusively from this unique region. The hash is crafted using a dry-sift technique applied to fully dried and cured flower, and is the company’s first in-house product offering for California’s adult-use market.

Harry Bennett is the company’s founder and for many years, was the sole proprietor of the Floracy brand. Per his suggestion, this hash is best enjoyed straight up – not as a bowl-topper or addition to flower as one might think. I don’t keep screens around as hash rosin is my preferred method of consumption, so I sampled the hash using a simple glass pipe and hemp wick.

This Tropicana Cookies hash was made from material cultivated by Nevada County’s Sky Tiger Ranch – a relative unknown by social media standards, but a cursory search online reveals them to be a member of the Nevada County Cannabis Alliance and they are, presumably, a fullterm sungrown cultivator.

With careful heat application, the hash actually bubbles and melts slightly, then cherries. Depending on the amount of hash used, it will stay lit and smoking for several minutes.

The hash smokes much cleaner than other versions of dry-sift I’ve tried before – burning thoroughly from a brown hashy crumble to an off-white gray residue.

The smoke is full-flavored and super smooth, despite feeling fairly hefty in the lungs. The bright orange rind and dark cherry notes of the Tropicana terpenes are vibrant and very much present, and are complemented and balanced by the addition of the heavier, earthier flavors of the hash itself.

The effects are pronounced and supremely stoney, leaving eyelids heavy and vibes mellowed. There’s a lot to like here: from the legacy-owner-operator status, to the fun and uniquely memorable gold flake lightning bolt stamp on each hash “puck,” to the excellent value in the bang-for-your-buck department.

In today’s world of high-tech everything, many industry standards have gone by the wayside in favor of more modern techniques that are made possible by newer, more efficient and purpose-built hardware. This certainly applies to the realm of Cannabis concentrates – with rosin and live resin taking the lion’s share of most dispensary menus today. However, there’s a lot to be said for the classic styles and techniques, and there’s something nostalgic – romantic even – about these increasingly rare forms of Cannabis extract.

With a full two grams of hash in each package and an out-the-door price tag of around $30 at most retailers, Flashka Traditional Style Hashish makes a fantastic offering for both flower smokers looking for something to level up their bowls and joints with, as well as for hash smokers looking for diversity in their wares or who just want a break from spending $60 per gram (or more) on their favorite producer’s latest rosin drop. | FLORACY.COM

“The effects are pronounced and supremely stoney, leaving eyelids heavy and vibes mellowed.”

French Laundry

Bred and Cultivated by Maven Genetics

If you’ve been paying attention at all in the California Cannabis scene, you’ve likely clocked Maven’s recent meteoric rise on the back of this cultivar – one of a number of stellar offerings from the SoCal cultivators.

A cross between The Soap (Animal Mints x Kush Mints) and Maven’s L.A. Rouge, this gorgeous flower has been tearing it up on the competition scene, with big showings at The Emerald Cup, and more recently Zalympix in Los Angeles – where it won Best Looking Flower and Most Unique Flower.

The jar appeal on French Laundry is intense, with frost coating every calyx and stem. When you open the jar, the aroma hits you with savory funk, soapy astringency, rich soil and a hint of sweetness.

The flowers are sticky and resinous. While it won’t gunk up your Flower Mill, it will definitely be hard to wash off your fingers if you tear it apart by hand.

The delicious, complex terp profile carries on through the smoke, leaning on the savory side of The Soap lineage and delivering a tickle in the back of the throat. This is for smokers with a discerning palate, and would be great with a salty, hard cheese.

French Laundry’s effects are chill and relaxing – without the heaviness. It’s easily an anytime smoke, and would make a phenomenal addition to any rotation.

Known for their dedication to breeding, Maven cycles through cultivars frequently and currently boasts dozens of strains on their menu. We’re excited to see what new heat their program produces – if it’s anything like the French Laundry, Maven will likely be feeding the hype machine for a long time to come.

“THE AROMA HITS YOU WITH SAVORY FUNK, SOAPY ASTRINGENCY, RICH SOIL AND A HINT OF SWEETNESS.”

GT’S WATERMELON WONDER KOMBUCHA X BEAR LABS WATERMELON Z LIVE RESIN

THE TANNINS

Founded in Southern California in 1995, GT’s has been bottling and selling their tasty fermented teas for more than a quarter of a century. Today, GT’s is one of the most prominent kombucha producers in the country and currently valued at somewhere in the neighborhood of $1B. Kombucha’s tannic properties can range significantly and GT’s Watermelon Wonder has decidedly mild tannins – accentuated by additions of cherry and lime and balanced by the inherently sweet nature of watermelon. The resulting kombucha is a highly crushable and tasty summer treat. gtslivingfoods.com | @synergykombucha

THE TERPENES

Los Angeles-based Bear Labs have been crushing the exotic, small-batch live resin game for years, and this Watermelon Z budder is yet another example of their proficiency in this arena. The jar is filled with an extremely terpy sauce that can only be homogenized temporarily – with so many terps present, they inevitably leak out and form an intensely aromatic separate fraction. Upon cracking the jar, notes of menthol, candy canes, roses, sugar and citric astringency rush to overtake the senses. Surprisingly, when dabbed at low temp (sub-500 degrees), the watermelon profile makes a big splash. getbearlabs.com | @bearlabs_ca

THE PAIRING

Bringing these two delightful watermelonbased offerings together is a winning warm-weather matchup.This particular fruit is always a summertime favorite, so when I cruised by Sacramento’s Mainstage dispensary recently to see what was new, the only thing to do after finding it on the menu was to grab a few grams – then set out on a mission for the tastiest watermelon beverage available to pair it with! The Bear Labs Watermelon Z live resin is super loud and equally flavorful as is, but is kicked up to another level when coupled with the Watermelon Wonder kombucha.

“BRINGING THESE TWO DELIGHTFUL WATERMELON-BASED OFFERINGS TOGETHER IS A WINNING WARM-WEATHER MATCHUP.”

THE TANNINS

Kush Cups is a company that infuses roasted coffee with Cannabis using a proprietary formula to create around 5mg of THC in every eight ounces of joe. They have a blended dark roast and a single-origin medium roast available in ground half pounds, or Keurig cups for on-the-go. The flavor on these coffees smokes what you might pick up at a corporate roastery, and with a low dose in each cup, you won’t worry about serving it with a nice fat joint.

Our pairing for this issue highlights their single origin Los Santos, which uses beans from a region in Guatemala just above Antigua – considered by some to produce the most extraordinary coffees in the country. The smell is rich dark chocolate with something fruity and earthy behind it. Full-bodied and heavy on the sides of the mouth, a lemon peel bitterness rests at the front of the tongue as you sip. These beans have a delicious, smokey flavor that gets compared to Assam tea. Alone, Kush Cups has created an experience that wows even your coffee-snob friends and provides a nice buzz when you brew a whole or half pot. kushcups.com | @kushcups

THE TERPENES

There is nothing like a bakery-fresh treat with your coffee, so why not pair this with something special Ember Valley has been putting the icing on? This Shasta County brand works overtime in the flavor department, striving to represent both the classics and the new across its three different flower lines. Over the last year, we’ve watched them cracking the code and dialing in on this conqueror from Compound Genetics’ Apples & Bananas line. Purple Churro mixes Cinnamon Horchata with A&B to make a strain that’s fruity … but also hits your nose like a sniff from the spice rack. Not as outwardly purple as that name would have you assume, this is one of those ube cream-filled churros with hefty nugs that carry a different color and a whiff of sweetness inside.

As we mentioned before, flavor is an important factor for Ember Valley – and it feels like they sacrificed some color to pull out a lot of the subtle and spicy earthiness from the plant – helping your nose identify the cinnamon and vanilla notes that play through the smell as you break it down. ember-valley.com | @ember_valley

THE PAIRING

The fruity taste of the weed works well with the dark chocolate notes from the coffee. The sweetness in the flower plays with the citrusy bitterness of the beans to extend that flavor note – calmly and effortlessly threading the needle and transitioning into that full-bodied chocolatey taste. But, what makes this a perfect partner to pitch the ole hippie speedball is how this strain keeps your senses sharp but muscles relaxed. As the caffeine kicks in (instead of a jittery feeling), you get a powerful sharpness of mind that can cut you if you aren’t careful – so give your hands something to do before your brain starts racing.

THE SWEETNESS IN THE FLOWER PLAYS WITH THE CITRUSY BITTERNESS OF THE BEANS TO EXTEND THAT FLAVOR NOTE – CALMLY AND EFFORTLESSLY THREADING THE NEEDLE AND TRANSITIONING INTO THAT FULL-BODIED CHOCOLATEY TASTE.

Coffee and weed are a power couple that has captured people’s attention for generations. They are the Jay-Z & Beyonce of the stoner morning routine. This time, they’re bringing something extra to the party thanks to a little nano-infusion and some sweet spice.

WINE BOSS 2019 PINK KUSH PETIT VERDOT ROSÉ X GARDEN SOCIETY CALM & FOCUS SPARKLING STRAWBERRY ROSÉ GUMMIES

THE TANNINS

Based in Paso Robles, Wine Boss is owned by Thomas Booth – an entrepreneur with a B.S. in Viticulture from Cal Poly and an obvious passion for reggae and 420 culture. The company has white-labeled wine brands for several prominent reggae artists, including Pepper, Collie Buddz, Fortunate Youth and Rebelution. Their Pink Kush Rosé is the first in a series of wines that Booth is naming after popular Cannabis strains. This Pink Kush is dry, acidic and refreshing, with slightly higher tannin content than you’d expect in a typical rosé. On the nose, I found subtle aromas of rose (the flower, not the wine), peach and even leather. It has a very tart, minerally flavor with notes of cranberry, peach and a hint of strawberry. Honestly, it’s one of the strongest, most unique rosés I’ve ever tasted … which is probably why it was awarded a Gold Medal by the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition in 2020.

@wineboss_pasorobles

THE TERPENES

When considering which Cannabis product would pair best with vino, Garden Society’s Wine Country Gummies was a no-brainer. Based in Sonoma County and owned by two women with a history in the wine industry, the company is well-suited to craft these delectable wine-inspired edibles.

They come in four flavors, each infused with its own unique wine varietal taste and cannabinoid combination. For a perfect pairing with the Pink Kush, I selected the “Calm and Focus” Sparkling Strawberry Rosé (their CBD-forward variety).

The small, pink, flower-shaped gummies appear dusted with a light powdered sugar coating, are made with all-natural ingredients, and are infused with full-spectrum nano CBD oil. They’re soft and chewy, with just enough firmness to give a slight bounce back when you bite them. They have a sweet-tart strawberry flavor, with a rosé aftertaste that lingers long on the taste buds. 20mg THC & 100mg CBD per pouch | 1mg THC | 5mg CBD per piece thegardensociety.com | @grdnsociety

THE PAIRING

Garden Society advertises that their gummies are made using a proprietary, fast-acting technology that has you feeling the effects kicking in around 15 minutes after consumption. Since their cannabinoid content is pretty low, I started off with two. Though the wine and gummies are both rosé flavored, their tastes are actually quite dissimilar, yet complement one another rather well. The wine’s extreme tartness all but cancels out the tartness in the gummy – amplifying its sweeter strawberry side while simultaneously syncing with its rose infusion to bring it to the foreground. I didn’t notice much effect from the gummy at the 15-minute mark, but about half an hour (and half a glass of wine) in, I definitely felt that full-body high creeping up in the background. By the time I’d emptied my glass (about an hour in), the CBD had caught up with my booze buzz – my back aches were gone, my mood was mellow, and I was ready to rosé the day away.

REVIEW & PHOTO by BOBBY BLACK @THEBOBBYBLACK/CALIFORNIA

“...AMPLIFYING ITS SWEETER STRAWBERRY SIDE WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY SYNCING WITH ITS ROSE INFUSION...”

LA FÉE PARISIENNE ABSINTHE & PLUGPLAY SLYMER LIVEST POD

EMBRACE the sultry past of absinthe with the nuevo high of PLUGplay’s vaporizer pods for a pairing that fully embodies the strain name of Slymer.

Before cocktail or happy hour was the L’Heure Verte, the green hour, when the workers of London and Paris would turn to the wormwood-infused concoction for escape and a buzz unlike any other alcohol. Absinthe was regarded as both the drink of poets and artists, and the scourge of the lower class. How ironic that a green-tinted drink was blamed for society’s ills, much like Cannabis would be blamed several hundred years later.

As the absinthe magician Paul Nathan said in 2006 (shortly after importing the green fairy was made legal again in the U.S.), “People are rediscovering their chronic craving for ritual and magic in life. Absinthe has it all.” We feel this quote encompasses the same wonder we have with legal Cannabis – and nothing embodies this more than the ability to vaporize on the go.

PLUGplay’s innovative battery and pod design allows for easy on-the-go vaping, and switching between strains for the perfect buzz. We picked the Slymer strain to pair with our absinthe, a sativa phenotype of the Chernobyl and Trainwreck strain. Puffing on the pod sends big clouds of hazy citrus vapor that tingles the palate with a gassy, sour-lime exhale – sending a wave of thoughtful euphoria to the mind. If only the poets of the past could have hit a PLUGplay Livest fresh frozen live resin pod to amplify their absinthe buzz.

The ritual of pouring absinthe over the sugar cube and diluting it into water reminds us of preparing a dab, but that’s too much to do at the same time, so we puffed on the Slymer to continue our meteoric rise into a spacey head high. The bitter anise (black licorice flavor that’s in most absinthe) pulls us back to reality before the high potency alcohol sends a shockwave through the body – enveloping senses in a buzz that is both modern and of the renaissance at the same time. As Oscar Wilde noted, “A glass of absinthe is as poetical as anything in the world.”

The addition of Cannabis is leveling up into uncharted territory.

PLUGPLAY.COM | @PLUGPLAY LAFEE.COM | @REALABSINTHE

“IF ONLY THE POETS OF THE PAST COULD HAVE HIT A PLUGPLAY LIVEST FRESH FROZEN LIVE RESIN POD TO AMPLIFY THEIR ABSINTHE BUZZ.”

DIOS AZÚL AÑEJO TEQUILA X E4P GMO SUNDAE CANNABIS CIGAR

THE TANNINS

The top-shelf Añejo offering from new tequila brand Dios Azúl offers an approachable, highly-sippable take on the traditional style of wood-aged tequila. A wiser, more mature cousin to Plata (silver, unaged) and Reposado (aged in oak barrels for two months before bottling) – traditional Añejo is aged for up to two years and features complex character more befitting a rocks glass than a cocktail or shot glass. The Dios Azúl is distilled in Jalisco, Mexico from 100% blue agave (their name translates to “Blue God”) and matured for 18 months in whiskey barrels – giving it a sweet, robust flavor with a hint of smokiness. This is a rich dram to savor at sundown. @diosazultequila @diosazul_tequila

THE TERPENES

Doinks and hash holes are awesome, but there’s something about a high-end Cannagar that marks an occasion like nothing else. SoCal Cannagar producer E4P offers a line of all-Cannabis cigars, wrapped in organic hemp and filled with curated flower from San Diego area cultivators, plus a boost from a quarter gram of diamond sauce. They burn slowly and evenly, with a thin hollowedout core through the middle allowing for smooth, easy draws. We stacked the ash on a 6g GMO Sundae Cannagar, and before you knew it, our heads were filled with dreamy delusions of grandeur. E4pcannabiscigars.com @e4pcannagarcigars

THE PAIRING

It doesn’t get much better than a topshelf tequila and high-end Cannagar on a Friday night … or any night for that matter. The kicking back and watching the California sun give way to California stars – with a weighted glass of Dios Azúl Añejo in one hand and a fat E4P stoney stogie in the other – is an experience we’d recommend to anyone. Seriously, try the GMO Sundae. The sweet stank of that strain properly complements the smokey, confectionery notes in the tequila. Salud!

“IT DOESN’T GET MUCH BETTER THAN A TOP-SHELF TEQUILA AND HIGH-END CANNAGAR ON A FRIDAY NIGHT … OR ANY NIGHT FOR THAT MATTER.”

FLAVORFUL FUTURE

As each emerging “adult-use” market takes shape, one thing remains clear across the country: Consumers want options. And in case you’re already so lost in the literature that you’ve forgotten, let us remind you: This is America, the capital of capitalism.

Unless you’re looking for a new internet provider, political party, or doctor – you’ll always have options here.

FOR YEARS, options in Cannabis simply revolved around what was available. With harsh regulations, high costs and limited resources, things seemed to be moving slowly. Some producers flocked to new methods that promised low costs and high yields. The damage of hot dog water distillate and vitamin E acetate was done, and botanical terpenes bore the brunt of it.

Back then, a product con taining botanically-derived (non-Cannabis) terpenes was a surefire way to a few fake flavors and a sore throat. But this was also a time when the community’s understanding of Cannabis-derived terpenes was still limited and lab results didn’t offer much in terms of recreating a cultivar’s aromatic characteristics.

Today, while we’ve still barely scratched the surface of terpene potential, a wider understanding of plant profiles is emerging, and a consumer base interested in a variety of products is growing larger by the year.

The power of the Entourage Effect finally has some footing among the masses – leaving folks from all levels of experience looking to terpenes when shopping for products.

Most of these products can be broken down into three terpene categories: synthetic, Cannabis-derived and botanically-derived. Many legalized markets have cracked down on synthetic terpenes and since botanical derivatives are quite literally all around us, it seems that we’re headed toward a future with two main options. To learn more about what each has to offer, we talked to Shea Ryan of GenX Terpenes in California and Andy Lunsmann of White Label Extracts in Oregon.

GenX Terpenes is a relatively new company on the scene, but Ryan comes from the Cannabis industry and knows that quality and consistency can be hard to come by. So GenX is focusing on Cannabis-derived terpenes that mimic classic cultivars and can be sold in bulk. “Let’s be real, vapes are a big part of this industry,” says Ryan. “And a lot of those vape companies, there are a plethora of areas for them to get their terpenes from.” Ryan expresses no malice for botanical terpenes, but does share a quality concern for those producers only interested in low price points. While prices may drive some producers, companies like White Label Extracts simply seem focused on offering consumers options. Lunsmann explains that the company still specializes in full-spectrum Cannabis extracts, but they’re even rolling out a new line of cartridges with botanical terpenes.

“We want to offer something for everyone,” explains Ryan. He tells me that botanical terpenes not only offer more affordable price points, but also provide new consumers with familiar flavors (like Washington Apple) that are less intimidating than classic Cannabis cultivars. Lunsmann says that tobacco vape users are also a growing share of the botanical terpene consumer base, with many gravitating toward the strong flavors.

Whether you’re a connoisseur or a new consumer, one thing is clear: The future of Cannabis is all about flavor.

WHITELABELEXTRACTS.NET

@WHITE_LABEL_EXTRACTS_

"TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT EACH HAS TO OFFER, WE TALKED TO SHEA RYAN OF GENX TERPENES IN CALIFORNIA AND ANDY LUNSMANN OF WHITE LABEL EXTRACTS IN OREGON."

White Label Extracts creates cartridge options with botanical and cannabis-derived terpenes.

SETTING THE SESH TABLE

A Look Into Dabbing & Fine Dining Across the Nation HAVE YOU EVER TASTED TERPS?

We often think of terpenes in terms of smells, but these chemical compounds are also closely tied to flavor. Understanding how things taste or how to blend different profiles is essential for any serious chef or hashmaker – like someone dedicated to cuisine, anyone looking to create good hash is on a pilgrimage for flavor. Putting the two together is something that the scene has experienced a noticeable uptick in over the last five years, with groups creating a variety of supper clubs, pop-up kitchens and luncheons, all tied to the hash scene. This wave of events presents dab-loving diners with a unique experience, while challenging chefs to cook for Cannabis instead of with it.

Using ingredients like imported sushi, expensive coffees, fresh fruits, edible flowers, fine chocolate and Kobe beef, chefs craft thoughtful pairings that complement flavors from a list of hashmakers –matching each jar with drinks and dishes inspired by their culinary perspective. Even if you think you know the flavor profile of Sour Diesel like the back of your hand, you’ll be amazed at how differently your taste buds receive that information when you try it with some uni or a golden raspberry.

A full range of these dining experiences has emerged, from buffet-style brunches to 10-person dinners. Hash sommelier Sarah Jain Bergman provides the most accessible example of this by traveling the country, showing people how a square of chocolate can transform your trip to the dab bar –offering small bites that synergize with the taste of each particular dab. Resin Tree Collective, which hosts dinners in New York, says menu opportunity is wide open now that people are beginning to understand not just what terpenes are, but how they interact with flavor.

Access to some of these involves membership or a secret sign-up list, while others are as easy as buying tickets. To help you get started, we’ve rounded up a few of the innovative groups putting on these hash-based culinary experiences and encourage you to look and see when one of them might be popping up in your area.

GROOVY GRAVY

Groovy Gravy is “bringing terps to the table” in Denver with a calendar of private popups including Fresh Off The Press – matching fresh-pressed rosin with flavor profiles ranging from sweet to savory with juices and coffees (also freshly pressed, of course), seasonal Supper Club dinners – featuring locally acclaimed hashmakers and chefs, and Cocktails in the Clocktower – pairing parties of infused aperitifs and dank desserts. Sign up for their newsletter, because you’ve got to be in the know to get on the gravy train.

@itsgroovygravy

itsgroovygravy.com

FURLOUGH

A Bay Area activation group that caters to very exclusive events, fusing the hash world together with experienced chefs like Anthony Yang and Chris Ratcliff. Available for private bookings, they’ve created menus with Helios Hash, Feeling Frosty and Ogre Farms. Past events include a VIP dinner at the MINS glass tour in San Francisco this year.

@furlough__

RESIN TREE COLLECTIVE

Based in New York, this crew has been throwing a series of immersive dinners called Terps and Sushi. R.T.C. wants to make your evening a guided experience that inspires conversation between diners, hashmakers and the chef. Founding member Tyler is also part of Terrapin Productions, which launches its first Terps & Tapas event in Chicago on September 9. Advanced purchase ticketing is available through links on their socials.

@resintreeco

WORKBENCH DINING

Workbench hosts ultra-luxurious, intimate fine-dining experiences capped at just 14 guests. Held in their private kitchen in Downtown Denver, the secret location is only revealed to attendees the day of service. An open kitchen and counter-style seating help create an immersive, multi-sensory, communal experience as guests sit at “the workbench” to watch chefs prepare A5 Wagyu, homemade pasta, locally-grown veggies and more. The group hosts multiple dinners a month and each has a completely original prix-fixe tasting menu featuring hyper-seasonal ingredients, hand-crafted cocktails and local rosin.

@workbench_dining

COLD CURATED

Out in California, Cold Curated creates a private, fine-dining atmosphere with dishes highlighting local ingredients from Sonoma County paired with a different hash for each course. Its mission is to feature “the most sought-after hashmakers in the world.” Past events have matched dishes to terps from Pure Melt, NorCal Organix, Exclusive Melts, West Coast Alchemy and more. Tickets to Cold Curated events can be purchased online through Instagram. @cold.curated

CANNABIS CULTURE CLUB

With experience in entertainment, Cannabis and catering, this group has thrown a wide variety of events with California producers. Examples of their past work include Kush and Kaiseki with Terp Mansion, Flower In The Garden with Kalya Extracts, and a sixcourse solventless pairing to honor the Emerald Cup – with a menu designed by SF’s Big Bad Wolf and featuring Tim Blake as guest speaker.

@cannabis.cultureclub

COFFEE & DONUTS

Put on by Ego Clash winner Simplee Adam and popular podcast The Hashish Inn, these events go from coast-to-coast connecting people with farmers and makers to tell the story behind the hash. In Colorado they worked with Groovy Gravy, inviting a trio of chefs to create three specific pairings each. After the success of that show, they’re developing a morning brunch that would bring together espresso and dabs.

@coffee.donuts.adam

“THIS WAVE OF EVENTS PRESENTS DABLOVING DINERS WITH A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE WHILE CHALLENGING CHEFS TO COOK FOR CANNABIS INSTEAD OF WITH IT.”

ABOVE: Groovy Gravy Supper Club at Explore Glass Gallery in Denver, Colorado. Photo by Erin Woolf @erinbwoolf

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SHELF APPEAL

Comparing Cannabis and Alcohol Packaging

WHEN IT COMES to the current state of the Cannabis industry, there is no debate that product packaging plays a large role in the aspect of marketing. The same can be said for the many heady beers hitting shelves on a regular basis. But in a world where an eye-catching package can distract from the actual quality of the product it holds, or a dull design may not adequately represent the product’s high quality – a watchful eye can make all the difference

The colors employed in a company’s marketing have a significant influence on how people will perceive a product, and can ultimately affect whether or not they buy it or recommend it to others. And given the many Cannabis companies flexing on their Instagram pages, the visually appealing packaging provides the opportunity to spread awareness of their brand and increase the bag appeal of their product. Keep in mind: There is no industry standard for how far companies can take this – with different compliance laws in every state limiting artistic design in some cases. We have seen packaging be discontinued around the country due to such issues.

Cookies brand products are a great example of colorful Cannabis packaging that pushes the limit on compliance, while staying within the boundaries. It is pretty rare to find a Cannabis consumer who isn’t familiar with those little blue mylar bags, often adorned with a creative spin on the strain inside. For example, Georgia Pie comes in a bag with a peach-colored text and a peach instead of an “o” in the word Georgia. Or maybe you’ve seen The Soap – with sudsy bubbles spelling out the strain name in an almost robin’s egg blue. In any case, the Cannabis industry should be able to do whatever they want with their packaging and let consumers be the judge on what appeals to them, or doesn’t.

Is beer different? In fact, beer packaging standards are generally much more lenient. There are some areas of crossover, such as potency and manufacturing information (where it was made/ grown) needing to be included on the outside labels. But we constantly see double standards like product packaging that can appeal to children being OK for beer companies, but not for Cannabis companies. Many sour beers today are made with copious amounts of fruits and sometimes even candy. I have seen everything from cartoon-style, candy-like fruits, to straight up cartoon images of sweets on the outside of beer cans. I think it goes without saying that this would not fly in certain states’ Cannabis industries. Many people in liquor stores are shopping for a creative label that speaks to them, so why limit Cannabis companies in their creative expressions?

In the beer world, RAR Brewing is among the top dogs – from the quality of their brews to the packaging it comes in. Their “Out of Order” series is a play on the Slush Puppy dog, and they do a series of five to six different smoothie-style sours on every drop. In-house artist BJ Wheatley crafts up their vibrant designs, putting his all into every can. 450 North Brewing is another prime example –with cartoon-like color blasting out of their smoothie cup surrounded by fruit, candy and baked goods on every single can. Many people swear by the fact that these are two of the best beer makers in the world – and the packaging certainly doesn’t hurt in conveying that message to new potential customers.

Packaging can surely have its pros and cons, but overall, the community seems drawn to artistic renditions of existing packaging – as long as the product inside backs it up. With the way the markets are changing nationwide, we can definitely expect to see companies expand upon their current designs, for both Cannabis and alcohol industries. And while judging a book by its cover is never a good idea, it’s fair to hope it’s a proper representation of its contents.

“MANY PEOPLE IN LIQUOR STORES ARE SHOPPING FOR A CREATIVE LABEL THAT SPEAKS TO THEM, SO WHY LIMIT CANNABIS COMPANIES IN THEIR CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS?”

Cookies Cannabis has bold packaging.

WYATT EARLY COURTESY

ADOBE STOCK

450 North Brewing offers stoner-inspired can designs.

THE STATE OF THE CRAFT

The lawmakers. The law breakers. The plant and the people caught in the middle.

Four years ago, Leaf Magazine Founder Wes Abney asked me to write an analytical piece drawing comparisons between two craft industries – Craft Beer and Craft Cannabis – for the 2019 Leaf Magazines Tannins & Terpenes Issue. It was the very first assignment he handed me for the Leaf – long before he asked me to lead the team.

AT THE TIME, I focused on differences between the current Cannabis scene and the well-matured craft beverage industry, outlining the chief changes we would need to see before the sprouted legal industry could bloom into something resembling its closest craft analog: beer.

Now, nearly half a decade later, I’m taking some time to revisit that column, to ruminate on where our community stands and where it needs to go. We’ve traveled far since 2019, but not always in the right direction.

A CASE OF CONFUSED IDENTITY

One thing that will hopefully come with time and effort is the development of a cohesive identity for Cannabis. Craft beverages have one distinct advantage going for them – there’s no argument about what they are, or what they do. They’re far simpler than the complex plant we all love.

Conversely, weed’s identity changes from region to region. Depending on where you’re trying to blaze, Cannabis means something different – at least from a regulatory standpoint. In some markets, it’s a medicine only. In other areas, such as New York, it’s like cigarettes – you can spark a J anywhere you can light up an American Spirit (except for in cars).

Advocates for consumption lounges treat Cannabis more like booze. It has the potential to be a social catalyst, providing a reason for people to gather and imbuing public conversation with life and vibrance. But that’s not without its complications. No one gets a contact-buzz when sitting next to a drinker, and it’s hard to stay 100% sober in a consumption lounge – presenting a conundrum for the designated driver who gets stopped on the way home from a sesh.

(For sake of argument here, let’s forget about the longstanding tradition of rolling up a J specifically for a drive with a well-curated soundtrack.) Those arguments against public consumption are temporary road blocks, and not an excuse to hobble an entire industry.

Back to identity. Is Cannabis a medicine, an intermittent mood-adjusting respite (like cigarettes), or a social catalyst for public consumption?

In short, yes. It’s all of them, and they’re not mutually exclusive. And just because the people writing the laws seem to be confused about that, doesn’t mean consumers should be subject to more restrictions. If anything, they should benefit from less stringent legislation and place the burden of public safety on the people and organizations developing the machinations of enforcement. Let the smokers smoke – while the law develops robust field testing to judge impairment. After all, people were allowed to legally drink and drive for decades before someone developed the first breathalyzer.

THE REGULATORY TRAP

The one constant in the weed world is that lawmakers continue to get it wrong. Whether they’re acting out of complete ignorance, confusion over conflicting interests and information, or just plain greed – not one jurisdiction has rolled out proper Cannabis legislation.

Alcohol didn’t thrive without its own post-Prohibition hurdles, but for Cannabis, aside from punitive tax rates, the core of the matter ties into public consumption and direct sales. Combined, these embody the highest hurdle for Cannabis to clear before it’s treated like every other similar and reasonably regulated consumer product. The traditional market is crushing the licensed market in this regard. Pop-ups, seshes and all-out trap festivals have taken center stage on the legacy market – most of the time out in the open. Damn it feels good to be a gangsta.

Meanwhile, licensed cultivators are having their dogs shot by law enforcement on their own property while being taxed into extinction.

Set aside the fact that the prohibitive laws shouldn’t exist in the first place, it makes one wonder what endgame the political and financial

stakeholders prescribing rules for the licensed market have in mind. On the current regulatory high seas, those with a true craft product – meaning high-quality goods made in small batches with limited distribution – continue to drown, with the only option being either to return to the trap or sell to a larger company with more financing. Big bank takes little bank. End of story.

The simple ability to sell directly to the consumer, with no legal loopholes or mandatory third-party delivery services necessary, is the quickest path to survival for the licensed craft scene. After all, at least 25% of a craft brewery’s revenue comes from direct on-premise sales at the brewery. Just imagine a world where you could tour a grow and walk out with half ounces of the best strains you sampled in the tasting room.

CANNAOUROBOUROS

With the way things are, the Cannabis industry is acting like an Ourobouros, or a snake eating its own tail. Licensed, compliant companies see their friends succeeding in the traditional market while they drown in taxes and overregulation, and the resentment starts brewing.

In some markets, people are out here dry snitching on people they would have been seshing with a few years ago, because they’re tired of having to fight for the last spot on a sinking licensure lifeboat.

Cannabis companies are acting like tuna fighting over a school of baitfish, oblivious to the sharks circling just outside the periphery. Those sharks have lots of money and want the best brands to struggle, so they can waltz in on the heels of federal legalization, buy up all the distressed assets, and let the federal government go after the enterprising entrepreneurs who chose to go back to the trap.

At least that’s one possible future. It could cut another way. One thing’s for certain: Until the Law treats Craft Cannabis at least as fairly as it treats Craft Beer, we’re all going to be duking it out in the primordial soup, fighting to see who’s going to grow legs and walk.

“THE ONE CONSTANT IN THE WEED WORLD IS THAT LAWMAKERS CONTINUE TO GET IT WRONG.”

PRESENTS

Rainbow Farm Remembered

Twenty-two years ago this month, two gay Cannabis activists – Tom Crosslin and Rollie Rohm – were gunned down by police on their farm in Vandalia, Michigan, after a five-day siege that some have called “The Waco of Weed.”

Grover “Tom” Crosslin was open about his love for weed from an early age. After first getting high with his brothers when he was just 14, Cannabis quickly became a normal part of their family life. His sexuality, however, he was more private about.

After dropping out of high school, Crosslin worked various blue-collar jobs before becoming a real estate developer – fixing up run-down properties and flipping them or renting them out for profit. It was through his construction company that he met the love of his life: an easy-going young crewmember named Rolland “Rollie” Rohm. Though the two men were very different – Rollie, a slim, quiet, longhaired hippie, and Tom, a burly, bearded hothead nearly 20 years his senior – they instantly connected and began a romantic relationship.

Though barely 17 when he met Crosslin in 1990, Rohm had already been married and fathered a son named Robert. In 1993, after helping Rollie gain custody of Robert, Crosslin purchased a 34-acre farm in rural Vandalia, Michigan to serve as his new family’s home. During one of the countless weeks they spent renovating the property, they saw so many rainbows that they decided to name their new home Rainbow Farm.

OVER THE RAINBOW

Tired of managing his many properties, Crosslin decided to turn Rainbow Farm into “an alternative campground and concert arena” and spent

the next few years (and nearly half a million dollars) transforming the farm’s open spaces and overgrown cornfields into one of the top pot destinations in the nation. Crosslin and his team constructed several structures, including an outdoor stage, a ticketing booth, a large main building to house their offices and shops, and amenities for campers. They then set about bringing his dream of a stoner utopia to life.

Starting in 1996, Rainbow Farm began hosting two annual festivals: Roach Roast on Labor Day weekend and Hemp Aid on Memorial Day weekend, as well as other various events in between. Described as “part Woodstock, part union picnic” by “Burning Rainbow Farm” author Dean Kuipers, these festivals included food, drink, activism and entertainment. Among the prominent performers and activists who attended these events were Tommy Chong,

Big Brother and the Holding Company, The Byrds, country music star Merle Haggard, High Times editor-in-chief Steve Hager, and activist legends John Sinclair and Jack Herer. In addition to speeches and voter registration drives, they collected thousands of signatures for the Personal Responsibility Amendment in 2000 – a ballot initiative to legalize possession of three plants and three ounces of Cannabis for adults. Soon, Rainbow Farm became the center of Cannabis activism in Michigan.

LEGAL HARASSMENT

Unfortunately, Crosslin’s propot protestivals encountered serious pushback from law enforcement – namely, Cass County’s conservative prosecutor, Scott Teter, who launched a vendetta of litiga tion and intimidation against Rainbow Farm.

From 1997-1999, Teter filed several injunctions against the farm, but Crosslin managed to keep one step ahead of him. Unable to stop the events through the courts, Teter established a drug task force and set up roadblocks leading into the farm to stop and harass festival goers – a move that scared many potential attendees off.

TOM & ROLLIE

The Rainbow Farm campground.

Rainbow Farm owners Tom Crosslin and Rollie Rohm with their famous tractor. Handbills for the Hemp Aid

He also sent his narcs into the events (who made numerous drug buys there), but were never able to tie Crosslin or his employees to anything illegal. Nevertheless, in March 1999, Teter sent Crosslin a letter stating that he had evidence of drug sales on the property and that as soon as he could link Crosslin to them, he would take his farm away (under the Drug War’s civil forfeiture laws). The threat of losing his land infuriated Crosslin, prompting a heated and foreboding reply:

“We are all prepared to die on this land before we allow it to be stolen from us,” Crosslin wrote. “Are you planning to burn us out like they did in Waco, or will you have snipers shoot us through our windows like the Weavers at Ruby Ridge? You will have the blood of a government massacre on your hands.”

RAID & REBELLION

Finally, in 2001, Teter found his excuse to bust Crosslin. Apparently, a woman who’d worked for them told authorities that Crosslin was paying employees off the books – allowing Teter to get a search warrant on a trumped-up tax fraud charge. In the pre-dawn hours of May 9, state troopers in tactical gear and automatic weapons raided the farm. Once inside the house, they found over 200 young Cannabis plants in the basement and several loaded firearms, which Crosslin wasn’t permitted to own due to a past gun conviction.

Tom and Rollie were both charged with felony cultivation and weapons possession, as well as running a “drug house.” Altogether, Tom was facing up to 20 years in prison. The court also issued an injunction banning any more events on the farm, and Teter filed a request to seize the property. And cruelest of all, on May 15, Teter also had their 12-year-old son Robert taken away and placed in foster care.

Despite everything, or perhaps because of it, Crosslin announced on their website that they’d still be hosting their annual Labor Day party, as well as another small gathering on August 17 – both in defiance of the court order. Two of the few dozen people who showed up to that gathering were undercover cops who were allegedly offered weed. This prompted Teter to petition to revoke the couple’s bail, and a hearing was scheduled for August 31.

UNDER SIEGE

The end was drawing near for them, and Crosslin apparently knew it – confessing to his property manager Doug Leinbach: “I’m going to die on my farm, not in prison.”

During the last week of August, Tom and Rollie composed handwritten wills – leaving all of their possessions to Rollie’s son Robert – then started giving away stuff from the shops.

When August 31 arrived, Tom and Rollie never showed up in court for their hearing. Instead, they went around the property

kicking out the remaining campers and setting fire to the farm’s structures – reasoning that if the government was going to seize his land, he’d “make sure there was nothing left on it.”

Around noon, when a local TV news chopper flew overhead to get footage of the fires, Crosslin – possibly thinking it was a police copter –allegedly shot at it. After that, the FBI was called in, along with SWAT teams, helicopters, surveillance planes and light-armored vehicles, all of which surrounded the property – including three FBI sniper teams in camouflage laying in hiding in the woods to monitor the house.

Throughout Labor Day weekend, Tom and Rollie continued burning down structures until the only building left standing was the farmhouse, where they hunkered down for the standoff.

LABOR DAY MASSACRE

On the afternoon of Monday, September 3, Crosslin walked to a neighbor’s house for supplies. On his way back, he spotted one of the snipers lying on the ground and allegedly raised his rifle (though his friends and family dispute that claim), at which point two snipers opened fire, killing him instantly.

After informing him that his partner was dead, authorities maintained a dialogue with Rohm into the night … until just after 3:00 a.m., when he presumably fell asleep. At that point, they decided to “wake [Rohm] up” by firing a few “dummy rounds” through the windows. Rohm resumed negotiations and agreed to surrender at 7:00 a.m. on one condition: that his son be brought to the farm so he could say goodbye before being taken into custody, which police agreed to. But sadly, that peaceful resolution was about to go down in flames – literally.

Around 6:00 a.m., a fire somehow broke out on the house’s second floor. Authorities blamed Rollie for the blaze, supposing he was finishing what Tom had started … but friends and family accuse police of starting the fire by shooting a flashbang grenade in there to flush Rollie out. In any case, Rohm emerged from the house half an hour later wearing fatigues and allegedly

holding a rifle. Through the smoke, officers claim they saw him pointing the rifle toward them and fired several rounds – one of which went right through the stock of his rifle and into his chest. Friends claim that despite having an ambulance sitting at the ready just outside the farm, police allowed Rollie to lie on the ground for over 40 minutes and bleed to death.

When they were killed, Tom Crosslin was 46 years old and Rollie Rohm was just 28.

AFTERMATH & LEGACY

Unfortunately, the story of Rainbow Farm never got the national press it deserved since the terror attacks of 9/11 happened one week later – eclipsing all other news stories for many months after.

So what happened to Rainbow Farm after Tom and Rollie’s deaths? Instead of going to their son Robert as the couple intended, it was confiscated, broken up into six parcels, and auctioned off to various buyers with the stipulation that they couldn’t turn the land into campgrounds or throw events there. But in 2012, after changing hands several times, the property was purchased by a farmer/engineer named Gary Healy – who has since reopened it under the name the New Rainbow Farm.

Though Tom and Rollie are now honored with memorial sites on the property, the greatest tribute to their courageous lives is the continuation of their legacy: Rainbow Farm is once again hosting 420-friendly concerts and festivals (with help from their son Robert and Tom’s nephew Boss) with vendors selling Cannabis that – thanks in part to their sacrifices – is now legal in the state of Michigan.

To read the full, unabridged version of this story and listen to the interview on our podcast, visit worldofcannabis.museum/cannthropology. Visit the new

Rainbow Farm website at rainbowfarms.info.

“We are all prepared to die on this land,”

Crosslin wrote to prosecutor Scott Teter. “You will have the blood of a government massacre on your hands.”

Poster for Hemp Aid 2000.

Original protest sign.

Rollie with son Robert during happier times on the Farm.

Poster for Hemp Aid 2021.

Tom and Rollie pose with activist icon Jack Herer (left) and country music star Merle Haggard (right).

RELIGION IS A MESS. Can’t we just consolidate the roughly 4,200+ doctrines of belief into one handy little guidebook that reflects something like the Ten Commandments and call it a day? And if it pisses you off, we don’t even have to call it the Ten Commandments. I don’t care what you call it, just don’t call me late for dinner.

Because when you think about it, all denominations pretty much preach the same thing. And those tenets are to simply believe in a higher power, honor that higher power, practice good faith and get rewarded with 72 virgins … or at least one soulmate.

I mean, everyone’s paradise sounds so goddamn appealing that I’m feeling uncertain about which stairway leads to heaven. And it’s becoming a bitch pulling the trigger on which lord almighty best suits my lifestyle. I don’t want to pick the wrong one – this is an eternity in hell we’re talking about and I hear the air conditioning units are old and squeaky. And it’s a good thing temperature rises, because then melting the polar caps will make things much cooler down there.

I’m just an imperfect person trying to make the perfect choice.

Maybe it’s like this. Maybe you go to the heaven that represents the deity you choose to worship – which means there are up to 12,000 different versions of heaven. Wouldn’t that be divine? Because then there is no wrong choice.

Anyway, I suppose I better pick my horse while I still have time to place a wager. I could be swept away by the angels at any given moment, and I sure as hell don’t want to miss my boat across the river Styx.

OK, I think I’ve made my choice.

I choose Rastafarianism.

Does this mean I will get to smoke with Bob?

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