May 2020 — California Leaf by Northwest Leaf / Oregon Leaf / Alaska Leaf / Maryland Leaf / California Leaf / Northeast Leaf

THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

FREE / CALIFORNIALEAF.COM

# 1 | M AY 2 0 2 0

INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010

All Things Cannabis For All People

Vrickerdj

THIS MONTH:

Vbeardedlorax

Vleaaifepodcast

ď&#x2122;?54 Cannabis Nomenclature w/ Jonah Tacoma of Dabstars #55 Hawaii Cannabis

Leaf Life is recorded at Mob Studios in Seattle

#56 Cannabis: A Modern History w/ Bobby Black of High Times

Ad design by @chattercreative

LEAFLIFEPODCAST.COM THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

Marijuana products may be purchased or possessed only by persons 21 or older. This product has intoxicating eďŹ&#x20AC;ects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the innuence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of reach of children.

issue #1

FEATURES 6 ABOUT THE COVER 7 EDITOR’S NOTE 8 OUR HISTORY 10 NATIONAL NEWS 11 LOCAL NEWS 12 HIGHLY LIKELY 14 EXPERT OPINION 16 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 18 REDWOOD ROOTS 22 HISTORY OF CA CANNABIS 24 STRAIN OF THE MONTH 26 BERKELEY PATIENTS GROUP 28 BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH 29 PATIENT PROFILE 30 WOMEN IN WEED 32 CANNABIS RECIPES 34 EDIBLE OF THE MONTH 36 CONCENTRATE OF THE MONTH 38 TOPICAL OF THE MONTH 40 TANNINS & TERPENES 42 ICBC REHASHED 44 ON THE ROAD 46 STONEY BALONEY

caliFornialeaf.COM

ISSUU.COM/NWLEAF

CALIFORNIA LEAF’S DANIELLE HALLE INTERVIEWS OLD PAL TERRITORY MANAGER JESSICA KRANTZ.

may 2020

PHOTO by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY

CA L I FOR N IA

PODCAST MAGAZINE

MEDIA

California Leaf is dedicated to providing accessible, authentic, plant and people focused media to the world each and every month - with over 350 dropoff locations and more being added daily, California Leaf is your one-stop shop for Cannabis brand exposure!

Contact nate@californialeaf.com for more information today! CALIFORNIALEAF.COM | @CALIFORNIALEAFMAG | #CALIFORNIALEAF

issue #1

ABOUT THE COVER

THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

# 1 | M AY 2 0 2 0

OVERALL COVER DESIGN Inspired by the Golden State that is California, I wanted to take an artistic Cannabis angle on the state seal and integrate the plant into the scene, highlighting historic pieces. I also aimed to represent the various environments from the north to the south, connecting the story of the land here in California. 1) QUEEN CALIFA / ATHENA Representing the female being featured in the state seal, I integrated various stylistic Cannabis headpieces to represent royalty and high thoughts - third eye open. A golden foiled sun sits behind her with a sphere of the heavens above, representing balance. Sunbeams shoot out of the headpiece, sitting along a multi-colored California sherbet sky. The being sits on a rock ledge holding out a crown that is shaped like a city, representing community. A sacred geometrical egg sphere holds a Cannabis leaf and is surrounded by weed stalks with nugs. A golden star sits above the quartz egg, with a ladder of angels descending down - representing cities of angels. Below the female figure a grizzly bear sits to her left, looking up to her lovingly. A few oranges scatter the ground. Her protector spear of gold sits on the side of her.

09 07

FREE / CALIFORNIALEAF.COM

CALEAF_MAY_2020_v22.indd 1

caliFornialeaf.COM

2) CANNABIS IN CALIFORNIA MEMORIAL A classically designed memorial celebrating and highlighting Cannabis in California is featured below the female figure. The state bird, California Quail, is featured on the right with a peacock on the left, sitting on top of the structure, with an Emerald Triangle in the middle. The slab features writing that highlights significant moments in Cannabis for California. 3) JACK LONDON Jack London was a world famous writer during the turn of the last century, based in California. He was one of the first writers to describe the hashish experience in his book “John Barleycorn.” 4) BROWNIE MARY Mary Jane Rathbun was a medical Cannabis activist known for baking Cannabis brownies and distributing them to AIDS patients in San Francisco in the 80s. She was active in establishing the first ever Cannabis dispensary in the U.S. - the San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club. Her three arrests became a legacy of compassion as her image was campaigned across the globe in the 90s to a wider audience.

may 2020

INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010

4/21/20 12:50 PM

5) DENNIS PERON The American activist and businessman who became a leader in the legalization movement throughout the 90s. His influence was felt throughout California and changed the political debate on Cannabis in the United States. 6) JACK HERER Sometimes called the ‘Emperor of Hemp,’ the American activist and author of “The Emperor Wears No Clothes” - a book now in its 12th edition after being continuously in print for 31 years - is frequently cited in efforts to decriminalize and legalize Cannabis, as well as expand the use of hemp for industrial use. Herer also founded and served as the director of the organization Help End Marijuana Prohibition (HEMP). 7) GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE Representing NorCal, the Golden Gate Bridge is featured on the right side. Mt. Shasta rises in the background behind the bridge. 8) COASTAL CALIFORNIA Showcasing a few plants and the state flower, poppies grow alongside a coastal scene. A pair of men sit enjoying a Cannabis pipe session. Below them is a Meso-American inspired motif, representing the deep cultural ties California has. Palm trees line the coast, representing SoCal. 9) THE HILLS Along the hills are various builds of architecture representing the urban cities and cultural development of California. The sign “HOLLYWEED” is featured as a representation of Los Angeles.

STORY & COVER ART by BRANDON PALMA @8THDAYCREATE for CALIFORNIA LEAF

E S TA B L I S H E D 2 0 1 0

T H E E N L I G H T E N E D VO I C E

WES

ABNEY

Editor’s Note Thank you for picking up the first issue of California Leaf!

PUBLISHER

CONTRIBUTORS Tom Bowers Features Steve Elliott National News

WES ABNEY | founder & editor-in-chief wes@nwleaf.com 206-235-6721

Danielle Halle Writing Brandon Palma Illustration

STATE DIRECTOR

Mike Ricker Features Meghan Ridley Editing Pacer Stacktrain Features

NATE WILLIAMS | ADVERTISING SALES nate@californialeaf.com 415-717-6985

Jonah Tacoma Features Jerry Whiting Hemp Bruce Wolf Photography Laurie Wolf Recipes

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Daniel bermaN | photography & design daniel@bermanphotos.com

CALIFORNIA LEAF / NORTHWEST LEAF / OREGON LEAF / ALASKA LEAF / MARYLAND LEAF

CONNECT WITH THE LEAF @NWLEAF

@CALIFORNIALEAFMAG TAG US! #CALIFORNIALEAF @NWLEAF @OREGONLEAF @MARYLANDLEAF

@NWLEAF

ISSUU.COM/NWLEAF READ PAST ISSUES IN OUR FREE ONLINE ARCHIVE

-Wes Abney may 2020

californialeaf.com

We do not sell stories or coverage. We are happy to offer design services and guidance on promoting your company’s recreational, commercial or industrial Cannabis product or upcoming event. We are targeted and independent Cannabis journalism. Email or call to discuss advertising.

I AM honored to share this inaugural edition with our new community. Above all, I hope you and your loved ones are staying safe, positive and 7 healthy as we adjust to the new normal. In March, San Francisco made history by closing down the Bay Area ahead of any other city in America. They cemented this progressive step by initially closing, then declaring essential, Cannabis businesses. In a watershed moment for the entire Cannabis movement and industry - and during the only global pandemic in modern history Cannabis was declared essential by the first city to self quarantine. CANNABIS IS It is in that spirit that we bring the first California Leaf to your AN ESSENTIAL community. In my decade of publishing and activism, this is the MEDICINE AND first time a governing body has confirmed what I’ve known in my RECREATIONAL heart since my teenage experimentation with the plant. SUBSTANCE THAT HELPS MANY Cannabis is an essential medicine and recreational substance PEOPLE. that helps many people. In the past few months our entire country has shifted from being focused on a million different topics to a central one: healthcare. However you interpret the current pandemic, at the center of it all is our right to health. When all the cards are on the table, and material items or 21st century distractions are moved out of the conversation, health is all we have. For myself and our Cannabis community, our plant is a big part of our self care - and a healing tool through these times of uncertainty. Our mission with Leaf magazines is to spread the truth about Cannabis, to enlighten our readers to create change, and to end the war on drugs and persecution of nonviolent users of plant-based medicines. California has stood up to the world and said our plant is needed! And we follow, by declaring that truthful journalism and a voice for our community is equally essential. I hope to serve the patients, consumers, industry and the currently unenlightened members of the great state of my birth, and the birth of modern medical Cannabis, for many years to come. We have planted a seed, and with your support it will continue to grow and spread love. I leave you here with my favorite quote from Dr. Suess, for whom my persona is based upon. Thank you for reading, and sharing, the Leaf. “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” -Dr Seuss, The Lorax.

feature

HISTORY OF THE LEAF

caliFornialeaf.COM

Long before publishing Northwest Leaf, the first Leaf magazine we launched in Washington state, my passion for Cannabis was brightly evident. Of course, the introduction to getting baked in high school is a memorable cornerstone of anyone’s life, but when a college journalism professor asks, “Do you always do your homework when you’re stoned, Wes?” - you know you’re in deep. When my true love for the plant really sunk in, however, was upon hearing the district judge call my name for the charge of marijuana possession, to which my mother seated next to me responded, “Is this how you want to live your life?” In my heart the answer was an undeniable ‘yes,’ but with a deeper respect for the legal history that preceded me, and the Golden State pioneers who paved the way.

may 2020

wanted to be able to use Cannabis responsibly without repercussion. I wanted to be able to grow and share a plant that has brought value to people’s lives for thousands of years. I wanted to see the war on drugs ended and peaceful people freed from private prisons. I wanted to see children returned from CPS and I wanted to live in a world where an organ transplant list doesn’t preclude medical Cannabis use. Youth and passion often share the same lane, and this combination is what led me to become part of the lobby that urges positive change. So, in June of 2010 the first issue went to print at a time when Cannabis use was highly illegal and medical was a burgeoning fringe movement on the West Coast. And with the hint of a legal world brewing, an optimism spurned with the notion that by serving the community as a positive voice, we could be an influence on many levels and reshape the narrative that had been so misconstrued.

A decade later, the Leaf is currently publishing in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Maryland, and now very proudly, California - with other amazing markets on the near horizon. We have honored the original model of providing truthful journalism while still offering an entertaining lean. We never sell our content or compromise our values in the fight for freedom. Today it feels as though we have come a long way, but that our journey as a publication and as a global community of Cannabis consumers is still in its genesis. Many of our obstacles remain for us to overcome - wrongs to be righted and prisoners yet to be freed. With that purpose ensconced into my fiber, I am determined to continue the mission of the Leaf and forge through another decade, continuing to document, support and share the stories of our growing Cannabis communities worldwide. Thank you for reading and sharing, and for your love for a plant that has changed so many lives for the better. To offer this publication in the great state of California is a dream come true and I feel deeply blessed that you will be taking this journey with me.

Our free digital archive at www.issuu.com/nwleaf holds nearly 10 years of of our monthly magazines. So if you are just hearing about Leaf Nation for the first time, take some time to browse past editions and learn about our amazing Cannabis community — from Washington state to Alaska to Oregon and Maryland and more.

STORY by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX | DESIGNS by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

NATIONAL NEWS

covid-19

northwest

CANNABIS LOBBY PRESSES FOR PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDS

he Cannabis lobby is seeking aid for small businesses in the next coronavirus pandemic relief package, reports The Hill. Marijuana businesses have already gotten some help at the state level. Twenty states, D.C. and Puerto Rico are allowing medical Cannabis dispensaries to stay open during the pandemic. Eight states allow both medical and recreational facilities to operate. Cannabis industry groups are now pushing for more states to allow legal marijuana outlets to remain open and are seeking funds in state aid packages. But the push for federal help, while the federal government still classifies marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance, hasn’t yet made any headway. The $2.2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill passed by Congress in March prohibits Cannabis businesses from receiving any small business loans. That’s unfair, according to Cannabis groups - and they are pushing to change that in the next aid package.

OREGON POT SALES WERE HIGHEST EVER IN MARCH Sales data from the Oregon Liquor Control Commission show Oregonians in March bought $84.5 million worth of Cannabis products - the most in a single month since the state legalized marijuana back in 2015, reports Willamette Week. The previous record, set in July 2019, was just under $80 million for the month. March’s sales are a 37 percent increase over the same period last year. Sales per retailer averaged $135,000 - a 30 percent jump. Flower accounted for more than half of total sales, while concentrates and extracts made up the second-highest market share. economy

HUNDREDS OF PENNSYLVANIA JOBS GOING UNFILLED

edical Cannabis organizations in Pennsylvania, designated ‘essential’ and ‘life-sustaining businesses’ by the state during the coronavirus pandemic, say a bottleneck has prevented them from hiring hundreds of employees, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer. Unemployment has hit more than one in six Pennsylvanians since the shutdowns began. But legal Cannabis businesses say they are strugUNEMPLOYMENT HAS HIT MORE gling to fill jobs left open by quarantined workers who either may have the coronavirus, or THAN ONE IN SIX need to care for an ailing loved one. PENNSYLVANIANS Hiring is frozen because prospective employees can’t get the required FBI criminal backSINCE THE SHUTDOWNS ground checks and drug tests. Many of the offices that processed fingerprints are closed BEGAN. due to being deemed ‘non-essential.’

health

east coast

D.C. ALLOWS MMJ DELIVERIES AND CURBSIDE PICKUPS

MARYLAND WOMAN ALLEGEDLY CAUGHT TRANSPORTING 100 POUNDS OF WEED

Washington, D.C. now allows Cannabis dispensaries to provide delivery service and curbside pickups to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Marijuana Business Daily. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a democrat, has signed an emergency rule allowing dispensaries to deliver and provide curbside pickups until August 12. Medical Cannabis businesses in D.C. were already considered ‘essential,’ so they were allowed to stay open during the crisis.

caliFornialeaf.COM

Maryland woman allegedly caught with 100 pounds of marijuana prompted authorities to remind the public that they continue to investigate crimes and make arrests during the coronavirus pandemic, reports the Philly Voice. Upper Merion Police and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau investigated. According to Montgomery County D.A. Kevin Steele, Kayla Messinese of Edgewater had tried to use the COVID-19 outbreak as an “opportunity to transport a large amount of marijuana.” Detectives followed Messinese to a parking garage where she met with two people to allegedly complete the transaction and they arrested her, authorities said. Investigators said they found three duffel bags in her car, each filled with vacuum-sealed bags of Cannabis. Cops claimed the 100 pounds of weed had a street value of $200,0000.

million dollars was spent by the Cannabis industry lobbying lawmakers on Capitol Hill in 2019 for access to banking, a rise of $2 million since 2018.

may 2020

US Senators are requesting that Cannabis businesses be eligible for assistance in the next coronavirus aid package, efforts backed by nearly three dozen US House Representatives.

legalization

VIRGINIA DECRIMINALIZES CANNABIS

irginia will be “a more fair, just and more equal place” now that simple marijuana possession has been decriminalized, according to state attorney general Mark Herring. “Decriminalization is an incredibly important first step, and one that many thought we may never see in Virginia, but we cannot stop until we have legal and “DECRIMINALIZATION IS AN INCREDIBLY regulated adult use,” Herring said. FIRST Gov. Ralph Northam signed the decriminalization legislation into law in April. The IMPORTANT STEP, AND ONE THAT new law does away with criminal charges for simple possession and creates a $25 MANY THOUGHT WE MAY NEVER SEE IN civil penalty. It also creates a workgroup to study legalization, which will eventually VIRGINIA...” release a report on its findings.

billion dollars is the projected amount of retail Cannabis sales in the U.S. in 2020, according to BDS Analytics.

percent more Cannabis was sold in March 2020 than in March 2019, according to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.

63 10,000

million dollars is the amount spent by Arkansas medical Cannabis patients since the first dispensary opened in May 2019.

pounds of medical marijuana have now been sold in a new threshold for the still burgeoning Arkansas medicinal Cannabis industry, at a cost of more than $63 million, across 21 operational dispensaries.

STORIES by STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA

The testing of 25 illicit vape cartridges by San Diego’s Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs resulted in an 80% failure rate.

“

Platinum Vape company conducted a buyback program

CALIFORNIA SURPASSES $1B IN TAX REVENUES

in partnership with Mankind Dispensary and supplied the illegal cartridges for testing. The cartridges were run through testing for potency, pesticides, heavy metals and vitamin E acetate, which was the agent identified in the cartridges that caused illness nationwide. Most of the cartridges tested contained trace levels of vitamin E and five tested over 20%, indicating they were cut with this agent for profit. Half of the cartridges contained less than 50% THC. For the safety testing, 60% failed for pesticides like myclobutanil, and 11 of the 25 tested positive for cyano (aka nitrile) groups, which when heated, convert to hydrogen cyanide gas. The heavy metal testing resulted in 36% failing for lead content, likely as a result of the strong acidic nature of cannabinoid terpenes leaching the lead from inferior hardware.

local NEWS

80% OF ILLICIT VAPE CARTRIDGES FAIL FOR PESTICIDES AND HEAVY METALS

Most of the cartridges tested contained trace levels of vitamin E and five tested over 20%, indicating they were cut with this agent for profit. Half of the cartridges Story by contained less Michael Early than 50% THC.

California has now reeled in over $1B in tax revenues from legal Cannabis operators. CALIFORNIA DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES BAND TOGETHER AGAINST BAD ACTORS Netting $395.4 million in 2018 and $629.2 About 30 businesses across the state, including nearly 20 licensed distribution companies, have come together million in 2019, California to fight against the rampant practice of non-payment. has now collected $1,024,600,000 in its first istorically, bad actors have been dealt with in a very different fashion. But in today’s legal market, businesses are seeking above board two years of legal weed. methods to help combat unacceptable behavior in the community. Some estimates anticipate The Cannabis Distribution Association was formed in 2019 and includes some a mature market would of California’s largest Cannabis businesses, such as Flow Kana and CannaCraft. generate over $1B a year. The CDA has been working on developing a credit rating system to help keep After covering regulatory track of which businesses are paying their bills and which are not. Several of the group’s members have already developed internal rating systems, which costs, the bulk of those the CDA is now working to synchronize with their own. In addition to the revenues have been credit rating system being developed, a ‘blacklist’ of businesses and brokers spent on childcare for low who have a history of not paying their bills is also being compiled. The goal income families, cleaning of the formation of these tools is to help good actors in the community better understand the risks of doing business with certain entities, thus avoiding up trespass grows, potentially business-ending losses. public safety grants and Cannabis research. Stories by Nate Williams @Natew415

caliFornialeaf.COM

STORIES by CALIFORNIA LEAF STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS

highly likely

H i g h l y L i ke l y h i g h l i g h t s Ca n n a b i s p i o n e e rs w h o p a ve d t h e wa y t o g re a t e r h e r b a l a c c e p ta n ce .

DENNIS PERON

(19462018)

caliFornialeaf.COM

REMEMBERING THE LEGENDARY CANNABIS ACTIVIST

he modern medical Cannabis movement lost one of its greatest champions when Dennis Peron passed away. It’s safe to say that without his efforts, the current heyday we’re experiencing wouldn’t be possible. Peron worked tirelessly to normalize and legalize the plant. Peron was born in New York, but after serving in the military, he attended San Francisco City College on the G.I. bill. On the side, he sold Cannabis. Eventually, Cannabis became more than a hobby for Peron, who PERON WAS A TRUE started to recognize the non-recreational benefits to the plant. MEDICAL CANNABIS Around this time, he became friends with activists such as Harvey CRUSADER, A PERSON Milk, the future mayor of San Francisco, and longtime Cannabis THAT FOUGHT FOR ITS advocate Jack Herer. PALLIATIVE USAGE, In the late 1970s he started selling Cannabis clandestinely in an SAYING THAT ALL actual storefront out of what was known as the San Francisco CanWHO USED IT DID SO MEDICINALLY. nabis Buyers Club.

may 2020

By 1991, he’d founded it as the first public Cannabis dispensary—all this at the height of the U.S. Drug War in California. Peron was a true medical Cannabis crusader, a person that fought for its palliative usage—and he did not accept any recreational value in Cannabis, saying that anyone using it was using it as medicine. “They’re trying to shift it from medical to recreational. I personally don’t even know what ‘recreational’ marijuana is. There is no recreational marijuana. They made it up,” Peron said. “What they’re trying to do is separate us by saying there’s people having fun and there’s people medicating. But people who use marijuana don’t get high, they get normal. The government is trying to say that people are getting high. They’re trying to demonize these people because they’re having fun.” For Peron, the main medical reason his patients came to the club were symptoms related to AIDS. But over time, more patients with an array of other diseases joined the fold. Peron responded to the change he saw in the individuals he treated with a lifetime of activism—eventually culminating in a run for governor of California. Soon after his Cannabis Buyers Club was closed by a state judge in 1998, Peron retired to a farm in the community of Clear Lake, just north of San Francisco. From there, until the end of his life, he grew—and gave away Cannabis to those in need of it for medicinal purposes. Peron was an active opponent of Proposition 64— the legislation that legalized recreational use of Cannabis. He argued that it would hurt small farmers, in favor of big business. “It’s a culture war. Marijuana has always been the symbol of our culture,” he said. Some time after moving to the farm, Peron’s health started to deteriorate, likely due to the Agent Orange he was given in the Vietnam War. At age 72, he died of lung cancer in California on Jan. 27. “No person is more responsible for the legalization of medical marijuana than Dennis,” Dale Gieringer, state coordinator of California National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) said. May he rest in peace.

By PACER STACKTRAIN for LEAF NATION

C A L I FOR N IA

PODCAST MAGAZINE

MEDIA

POT MEDIC Matt Donofrio Glass

CALIFORNIALEAF.COM | @CALIFORNIALEAFMAG | #CALIFORNIALEAF

EXPERT OPINION

THE HEMP INDUSTRY JERRY WHITING for LEAF NATION L e B l a n c C N E . co m / N WL e a f

Visualize a map of the U.S. with an overlay highlighting where Cannabis is grown and where corn, wheat and soybeans are grown.

Sibling Rivalry

caliFornialeaf.COM

Hemp and Cannabis are like fraternal twins - closely related but not exactly the same. These are siblings who need to learn how to get along with one another. As both Cannabis and hemp become legal across the country, they’re bound to butt heads. It’s in everyone’s best interest to avoid a cattle versus sheep, Hatfields against McCoys clash among farmers with different objectives. There are two words that stop both hemp and Cannabis farmers in their tracks: pollen drift. Farmers growing female plants outdoors don’t want them pollinated by male plants upwind. This is especially true where THC-rich Cannabis has historically been grown, like California. Hemp farmers growing for the CBD market want to grow female plants outside, but don’t want pollen drift either. Meanwhile, industrial hemp cultivation is legal nationwide except in Idaho, South Dakota and Mississippi. Before you shout “buffer zone” - nix any idea that three, five or even 10 miles prevents pollen from drifting into neighboring farms. Nope. Not even close. I live in Seattle and we’ve enjoyed spectacular sunsets the last few summers thanks to forest fires as far away as Canada and California. If smoke can travel literally hundreds of miles, so can pollen. That’s its job. Some hemp farmers want seeds and it takes pollen to make them. This includes commercial seed farmers, those growing hemp for grain and fiber, not to mention anyone planting regular non-feminized seeds. The grain and fiber markets alone will scale to Big Ag proportions and tens of thousands of acres will be planted. Over time, hemp will replace a chunk of the corn, wheat and soy now being grown in the farm belt.

may 2020

There’s very little overlap between them and this is how the fraternal twins can get along. Cannabis gets first dibs where it’s being grown now. Hemp farmers are given priority in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas where outdoor Cannabis is rare, if not illegal. These potentially new hemp farmers already have big tracts of land, large farm machines and out buildings. Hemp for fiber or grain can be grown much like wheat or corn is, compared to growing flower for CBD extraction. Wheat or corn to hemp is a lateral transition. Good fences make good neighbors. Hemp and Cannabis farmers need to get to know one another. An open dialogue can avert potential conflicts down the road and both sides can share and learn from each other. There’s no reason to lock horns with your neighbors. America’s traditional bread basket will grow acres upon acres of industrial hemp. Hemp for paper, hempcrete, textiles - all of the things we’ve all been waiting for. Hemp food will soon be common in grocery stores and restaurants. Hemp pellets for wood stoves will be sold without fanfare. That hemp toilet paper people have been joking about for years? It’s going to happen, and when it does it has to be big in order to be profitable. Existing farms will grow large amounts of hemp like any other bulk agricultural commodity. When hemp expands, today’s existing agricultural infrastructure will need to adapt and catch up. Hemp will find its way into 4-H, farm stands, state fairs and ag schools. Miss Hemp beauty pageants will pop up in rural America. Will progressive cultural and lifestyle changes be far behind? Hemp and Cannabis, the fraternal twins, will learn to get along - perhaps even like each other. Squabbles aside, neither is going away. Each twin will have their side of the room, their own bunk bed. Hemp farmers and Cannabis farmers have a lot in common, and each will benefit when the other thrives.

PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

THE WORLDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FIRST PHARMACEUTICAL GRADE CBD NASAL SPRAY

INSTANT ABSORPTION, INSTANT RELIEF

NASADOL.COM

legislative update caliFornialeaf.COM

HOW THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO FIND ITS FOOTING

Cultivating a Path Forward The California Cannabis community stands on a constantly shifting patchwork landscape of state and municipal legislation - where every change can impact the lives of Cannabis consumers. We put together a primer on some current and proposed regulations and legislation that may affect how you enjoy your favorite flower. Prop 64 vs. Prop 215 Tensions between the well-established medical market (governed by Proposition 215) and the new order established by the regulated adult use market (governed by Proposition 64) continue to be an issue statewide. Vocal critics of Proposition 64 decry the damage caused to the medical market by the recreational industry, while many who made the jump to the adult use market claim that the system favors well-financed, larger companies, and that the tax structure hinders the ability of smaller businesses to thrive. A tale of three markets Due to what many in the industry believe to be an unfair regulatory structure that drives producers and consumers to the medical and illicit markets, the success of Proposition 64 has been hit-and-miss. According to an NPR report in August 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom adjusted down his tax revenue projections significantly for 2019 and 2020, from $355 million to $288 million and from $514 million to $359 million, respectively. That trails behind the established medical market - not to mention the illicit market - which a recent report from industry data analysts BDS Analytics and Arcview Market Research estimates still accounts

may 2020

for 80% of the total Cannabis market share. The report is mildly optimistic about the future of legal Cannabis in California, projecting that the illicit market’s share will drop to 53% of California’s Cannabis sales by 2024. Increased tax burden In January 2020, California made adjustments to the tax rates paid by Cannabis operators and consumers in the Prop 64 regulated sector of the market. Retail purchasers of Cannabis products currently pay an excise tax set at 15%. That amount is based on what’s called the mark-up rate, which is calculated by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) and reflects the average Cannabis sale mark-up, which determines the wholesale tax rate. The CDTFA increased the mark-up rate from 60% to 80% on January 1, 2020, which increased the amount of excise tax paid by retail purchasers. In addition, the State increased the taxes paid by cultivators by close to 5% over the previous rates. Add that to state and local sales taxes, and that means consumers in California may end up paying the highest tax rate in the country for their Cannabis.

Assembly Bill 1948 would “provide relief to an industry that’s clearly on the brink of collapse.”

Legislative Divide Considering it’s a state with the most robust economy, the largest population, and the

third largest land mass out of all 50 United States, the rollout of the legalized Cannabis industry has proven to be difficult to say the least. Many counties have been resistant to the rollout, and some still embrace prohibition. This map was created by BDSA (also known as BDS Analytics), which compiles and tracks data and trends in the Cannabis industry. You’ll notice that each region approaches the industry in a different way. For instance, the North Coast region, with its 1.2 million people, boasts the largest number of cultivators in the state (692), while South San Joaquin Valley, with nearly double the population, licensed only four cultivators and one retailer. The way all of these regions and legislative districts manage the continued implementation of Proposition 64 will be important, as the entire world is watching how the next few years play out in one of the largest markets in the global Cannabis industry.

In a press release regarding the increases, the California Cannabis Industry Association stated, “Widening the price disparity gap between illicit and regulated products will further drive consumers to the illicit market at a time when illicit products are demonstrably putting people’s lives at risk.” In January, Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration proposed a bill that would cut the state’s excise tax on sales from 15% to 11% for three years, while eliminating cultivation tax during that period, The Los Angeles Times reported. According to the Times report, republican assemblyman Tom Lackey said Assembly Bill 1948 would “provide relief to an industry that’s clearly on the brink of collapse.” Sources: CDTFA.com; TheMotleyFool.com, Forbes.com, California Cannabis Industry Association Regulatory consolidation on the horizon California Governor Gavin Newsom put forth plans in January to consolidate the regulatory enforcement for all entities - licensed adult use and medical - under the oversight of one regulatory agency. The aim of the move is to streamline licensing, oversight and enforcement across the Cannabis community. In theory, this move would create a more efficient system that would ease the burden on the state as well as producers, and by extension, consumers - as it has the potential to lower costs along the supply chain. According to the California Cannabis Industry Association, if this plan is approved in June, it will take effect on July 1, 2020. Moving in the right direction Legal producers and consumers aren’t the only parties that may benefit from legislation on the horizon, as the state continues to work through launch issues tied to Proposition 64. The legislation requires the eventual expungement of Cannabis convictions, and this process, while considered too slow by many, continues to make huge strides forward. In February 2020, NPR reported that Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey announced plans to expunge convictions for nearly 66,000 individuals, including 62,000 felony convictions - many of which date back 50 years. Considering that an appeals court in June 2019 decriminalized Cannabis possession within the walls of California prisons, the inevitable record expungement and release of those convicted of nonviolent Cannabisrelated crimes appears closer than ever. BDS analytics.com | @BDFSA_Insights

STORY by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS for CALIFORNIA LEAF

BUSINESS PROFILE

Avenue of the

caliFornialeaf.COM

REDWOOD ROOTS FOUNDER CHRIS ANDERSON

may 2020

Giants

The Humboldt fog rolls like smoke through the valley below, a ghostly river bathed in the rising morning light. Chris Anderson surveys the mist as it snakes through the redwoods that blanket the valley, and gestures to King Peak in the distance, where authorities raided a grow he was working on back when he was 19. He alternates between animated and withdrawn - a storyteller who gets lost in thought as the sun rises over the rolling hills. “We need to work together to survive and thrive,” Anderson says. “We need to drop our egos and come together to build something truly magnificent.” Now 45, Anderson comes up here to the switchbacks over Garberville every morning to catch the sunrise over his hometown in the heart of Southern Humboldt. Here, he sets his intentions for the day, reflecting on the past, present and future of his community. It’s a region with deep roots and a storied history, providing Anderson with a life rich in adversity and success. Now it’s his turn to give back. GROWING THE NETWORK

Redwood Roots unites Southern Humboldt Farms in the CA market

OPS MANAGER ROGER HARRELL WITH ANDERSON.

I first met Anderson at Emerald Cup in December 2019, as he and his company, Redwood Roots, celebrated significant wins in the festival’s competition. His farm partners took home eight of the top 10 in the flower category, and the positivity was so palpable it practically occupied physical space. Within moments of shaking Anderson’s hand, he pulled me into a photo op with his squad, all kitted out in Redwood Roots hoodies and hats, before inviting me and a colleague into his booth to look through Scott Holmquist’s legendary homage to the history of Humboldt Cannabis - “Chronic Freedom.” It was mere moments after we met, and here he was, drawing us in, sharing intimate stories of friends who had passed - either by murder or suicide - in the hard-fought battle for the soul of the Emerald Triangle. Fast forward to February. Anderson has farm samples splayed out on the table before him in his team’s office, in a converted home on the southern edge of Garberville. He and his operations wizard, Roger Harrell - an OG snowboarder with a Gandalf beard whose official title with the company is Swiss Army Man - are entertaining a stream of calls and visits from cultivators. Anderson agrees to move weight for two new farms that afternoon. “We’ll sell herb for one farmer,” Anderson said, “and in a couple of days, we’ll hear from their neighbor, saying, ‘Hey, we heard you moved their herb and they got paid right away. Can we work together?’” The way Anderson sees it, this is the way things should work in Humboldt. Small farmers should join forces to stave off the tide of outside money pouring into the California market. After all, Humboldt has a legacy to protect. The county claims 33% of the cultivation licenses in California. Southern Humboldt is home to 65% of those licenses. That means that roughly 20% of the cultivation from what may be the largest Cannabis market in the world comes from the area surrounding Garberville. “They’re the people who actually sacrificed their livelihood and spent time in prison to make this happen,” Anderson said. “First thing’s first. Let’s just take care of our people. (Consumers) are starting to see through all the plastic bullshit. ‘Oh, we’re all about the small farmer.’ Fuck you. No, you’re not. You can’t replicate this. You can’t fake this. … This is our story and we should be able to tell it.” >>

STORY & PHOTOS by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS for CALIFORNIA LEAF

BUSINESS PROFILE

REDWOOD ROOTS

CULTIVATING A COMMUNAL COMPANY According to Anderson, the only thing you can As of this writing, Anderson said that his rely on in a constantly shifting environment is the company has distributed for upwards strength of the relationships you forge. of 80 farms, many of which carry the “It’s gonna take time when you’re going against Redwood Roots label on their flower. these companies that have 200 million dollars to “We want to be the best first-mile distributor blow,” he said. “Money and flash don’t equal reknown to man,” he said of the business model. lationships. ... This is a fire drill for us. We have to Redwood Roots aggregates and manages the farm be smart and learn to compete with these fucks.” relationships on the cultivation side, and then deThe Redwood family tries to stay creative, focuslivers the product to the regional third-party distribing on guerilla marketing tactics and expanding its utors all over the state, who will then disseminate network of legit Humboldt farmers and statewide the packaged product to retailers. distributors and retailers. It’s not going to be easy. According to Anderson, his team currently “Marketing is a science, and it’s very developed moves a minimum of a couple thousand pounds right now,” he said. “My strategy is to co-brand of Cannabis flower and material per month. with the farmers. It will be a lot easier to grab The entire concept allows farmers that shelf space as Redwood to focus on what they do best - culRoots.” tivating stellar sungrown Cannabis. The goal is to build the “Anything that can help the little Redwood Roots family into a guy survive,” Anderson said. brand that stands the test of Listening to him talk, he feels a time - if the rising tide lifts all little like William Wallace unitships, Anderson and his team ing the Scottish clans against the want to be the water. AnderEnglish. It’s almost as if Anderson, son wants to help usher in an -Chris Anderson Herrell and their crew view themeconomic resurgence in the selves as protectors, responsible area and help build a robust for the well-being of those they represent. It’s their Cannabis tourism economy by marketing to young family against a new world that doesn’t necessarily outdoors enthusiasts. have the community’s best interests at heart. “As the market kind of opens up and becomes “They asked all of us to come out, stick our a microbrewery, winery-style environment, we can necks out, and get licensed,” said Harrell, talking start building up the individual brands. Eventually, about Prop 64 and the regulated recreational the farm will get the real estate on the label,” he market. “Then, before you know it, they change a said - and Redwood Roots will simply be an insigregulation, and all of the little guys who stuck their nia in the corner. necks out are gone, and new, big guys come in.” This aspect of the Cannabis community, particuSTAYING TRUE TO THE COMMUNITY larly in California, forces companies to craft what Talking over breakfast at Woodrose Cafe on Anderson and Harrell call ‘sandcastle business Garberville’s main drag, it seems like every person plans,’ where nothing can be built to last. who walks through the door knows Anderson. At “You build it, and then the wave comes and least half of them walk over to say hello and to knocks it over,” Anderson said, referring to the give him a hug. It’s a true small-town vibe. constantly shifting landscape facing business ownAnderson was born in Arcata and raised in Garers from a regulatory and competitive standpoint. berville, where he has lived for his entire life. “Cannabis isn’t a new industry, but the regulated His parents, Steve and Kathy Anderson, owned industry is brand fucking new.” Trees Restaurant in town.

“WE NEED TO DROP OUR EGOS AND COME TOGETHER TO BUILD SOMETHING TRULY MAGNIFICENT.”

caliFornialeaf.COM

FARMS CURRENTLY REPRESENTED BY REDWOOD ROOTS ALOHA HUMBOLDT, BIG SUN FARMS, BORN THORN, CACHE FARMS, CANNA COUNTRY, G-VERDE, GREEN LIGHT FARMS, HOGWASH FARMS HUMBOLDT FLOWER COMPANY, HUMBOLDT GENERATION, HUMBOLDT HERITAGE, HUMBOLDT REDWOOD HEALING, KINGS RANGE, LADY SATIVA, LOVE HUMBOLDT MUSIC MOUNTAIN FARMS, PALO VERDE FARMS, RIDGELINE FARMS, SAVAGE FARMS, SO HUM ROYAL, SUN LOVE, TRANQUILITY LANE, TRINITY VALLEY ORGANICS, WILD RIVER.

may 2020

“Everybody knows every little fragment of my business,” he said. Inspired by the culture and books like Jack Herer’s “The Emperor Wears No Clothes,” Anderson started cultivating Cannabis at age 16, unbeknownst to his parents. “I was definitely enamored by that lifestyle,” he said. “I always believed in the medicine.” Driving around Garberville, Anderson switches gears from long-time Cannabis hustler to wistful historian. “My first girlfriend lived in that house,” he says as we pass by a neighborhood bungalow. “We played soccer on that field,” he said, passing by the school. His pride for his community runs deep. Passing by the Mateel Community Center, where the Reggae on the River Festival was first held before outgrowing the venue and moving farther down the banks of Eel River, he discusses the past, present and future of Garberville. “This region has always been an extraction economy,” he said. “Money and resources have always been extracted from this region. There has always been a CEO somewhere else that has collected.” Rather than extract, Anderson and Redwood Roots plan to cultivate and propagate. “There’s only one place in the world that has all these Redwoods, and a history of Cannabis going back 60 years,” he said. “Pot needs to be extracted, but we want the money to stay here.” ROOTS OF THE INDUSTRY

It’s sunset, and Anderson soaks in the golden glow as his dog, Kenya, mingles with the canine residents at Lady Sativa Farms, which sits perched high on a hillside overlooking the valley. “From here you can see Alpenglow Farms, right over there,” said Rio Anderson, who owns and operates the farm, pointing to a neighboring hilltop. Rio and Chris aren’t related, but they’re family. Redwood represents Lady Sativa in the market. Panning across the horizon, it becomes apparent that just about everywhere you look, there’s likely a Cannabis farm tucked in among the Redwoods. Even if you don’t know they’re there, they’re there - and they have been for generations. The community roots run strong and deep here. “Knowing the importance of leaning in and growing together is a no-brainer,” Chris Anderson said. “This is a marathon, and we want to be here until the end of the race. … This journey is not for the faint of heart. Each little hurdle you jump should be celebrated.”

REDWOODROOTSFAMILY.COM FOLLOW @REDWOODROOTS.FAMILY

STORY & PHOTOS by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS for CALIFORNIA LEAF

feature

DEEP ROOTS STRONG STALKS

T H E H I S T O R Y of C A N N A B I S i n C A L I F O R N I A

1865 Samuel Clemens, AKA Mark Twain, was “seen walking up Clay Street under the influence” of hashish, according to a report in

The San Francisco Dramatic Chronicle, now known as The Chronicle. At this stage, Cannabis-based tinctures and edibles were becoming a sort of curiosity among the artistic community in the U.S. - particularly in California.

California has always walked its own path - and the world has often followed. The Wild West, the Gold Rush, the Golden Era of Hollywood - and, for the past 100 years and beyond, the Cannabis movement. Let’s take a moment to look back at California’s rich history and the state’s significant impact on Cannabis globally.

1913

Cannabis is added to the list of banned substances in California’s Poison and Pharmacy Act, which required prescriptions for the purchase of a number of substances, including cocaine and opiates.

1914 The first major event in a drawn-out assault on Cannabis occurs when two

caliFornialeaf.COM

dozen ‘Indian hemp’ plants are cut down and seized in the Sonoratown barrio of Los Angeles, according to a report by the L.A. Times. According to the report, “The toxic effect of the plant’s use sometimes induces mental exileration (sic) but at other times incides (sic) to murder.” The cost per ounce at the time? $1.

1937 The Marihuana Tax Act launched Cannabis prohibition in the United States.

1967

1969

Jack Herer moves from New York to Los Angeles, where he experiences Cannabis for the first time. Jack would go on to become one of the most recognizable figures in Cannabis, inspiring people all over the world into advocacy with his 1985 book, “The Emperor Wears No Clothes.”

may 2020

Dr. Timothy Leary challenges the Marihuana Tax Act, leading to the revocation of the law by the U.S. Supreme Court.

70-71 President Nixon’s Controlled Substances Act and Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act declare an aggressive “War on

Drugs,” filling the prison industry with non-violent drug offenders in California and across the United States.

1972 California attempts to independently legalize Cannabis with

Proposition 19, but 66.5% of votes came in against the measure.

1975 San Francisco mayor-to-be George Moscone proposes Senate Bill

95 (later dubbed the Moscone Act), which decriminalized the possession of less than an ounce of Cannabis for personal use, cutting a path toward legalization and saving hundreds of millions of taxpayer law enforcement dollars by reclassifying thousands of criminals as innocently stoned citizens. Moscone was assassinated in 1978 by a disgruntled former member of the city’s Board of Supervisors, Dan White, who also was a former officer with the San Francisco Police Department.

2003-2004 California SB-420 implemented, adding further detail and protections

related to Proposition 215. The bill included language protecting medical Cannabis cultivators from prosecution for transportation of medical Cannabis, and, most notably, language allowing for the establishment of medical Cannabis cultivation collectives - significantly increasing the scale to which farmers could grow their operations.

2014

1985 California-based Cannabis cultivator Ed Rosethal publishes

the “Marijuana Grower’s Handbook,” cementing his legacy as ‘The Guru of Ganja.’ He continues to advocate for Cannabis cultivation to this day.

1996 California passes Proposition 215,

allowing for the legal cultivation of Cannabis for medical purposes by licensed patients and caregivers. This triggers a significant rise in the availability of medicine for Cannabis patients, and kickstarts the national legalization movement.

2005

Oakland begins to regulate

and tax the sale of adult use Cannabis for medical patients via dispensaries and clubs via the passage of Measure Z.

2016

The U.S. House of Representatives passes

the Rohrbacher-Farr amendment, barring the U.S. Justice Department from allocating funds to hinder state medical Cannabis efforts. It was championed by California Representative Dana Rohrbacher. The legislation was a huge step forward for the legal Cannabis movement, though the legislation needs to be renewed annually.

California passes Proposition 64, which legalizes the cultivation, distribution and possession of Cannabis for recreational adult use.

2018 The first legal sales of recreational-use

Cannabis occur in California in January 2018.

STORY by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS for CALIFORNIA LEAF

2020 Two years after legalization, legal Cannabis sales revenues reached a staggering $1 billion in March 2020.

SOURCES: NORML, THE CHRONICLE, THE L.A. TIMES

STRAIN OF THE MONTH

CAL I F O R N I A

Forum Cut GSC x Tangie ALLCALIFARMS.COM @ALLCALIFARMS

caliFornialeaf.COM

BRED BY ONI SEED CO., Tropicanna Cookies blew up the scene in 2018 and has remained one of the most popular cultivars to this day for good reason. The plant matures with a stunning, deep purple hue and develops a thick, shimmering coat of trichomes that makes for one of the most visually appealing flowers in existence today. This F2 pheno was grown by All Cali Farms - organically indoor in soil utilizing aquifer drawn water and filtered woodland air. The grow is situated in the hills in remote Sonoma County and their cultivation practices include elements of the native area, a unique approach for an indoor cultivator. The nose is a mix of doughy cookie terps and rich citrus, leaning towards the GSC side of the lineage. The flowers smoke smoothly with minimal lung expansion and after only a couple puffs of my joint, I began to feel lifted, motivated and creative. Interestingly enough, despite the flowerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clearly GSC dominant profile in looks and aroma, the effects were more in line with Tangie. A great daytime smoke, the high was clear-headed, energetic and cerebral. All Cali Farmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s small batch flowers can currently be found at Organicann in Santa Rosa, Mendocann in Hopland, and Oakland Organics in the East Bay.

may 2020

A GREAT DAYTIME SMOKE, THE HIGH WAS CLEAR-HEADED, ENERGETIC AND CEREBRAL.

All Cali Farms

TROPICANNA COOKIES F2

STORY by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415| PHOTO by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY

SHOP review

BERKELEY PATIENTS GROUP

caliFornialeaf.COM

ENVIRONMENT

HISTORY & VALUES

SELECTION

Since 2012, Berkeley Patients Group (commonly known as BPG) has called a former A&W distribution facility in Berkeley, California home. Despite the area’s reputation for being progressive, BPG’s move from their first location was necessitated by the city of Berkeley, which was unable to successfully run BPG out of town, but did force the collective to seek a new address. Soon, they’ll be on the move once more to a more prominently located spot. One reason? The potential for an on-site consumption lounge. For now, the decently-sized store floor is elegantly arranged with waist-high display cases that group like products together. BPG offers a welcoming atmosphere, in part thanks to the local art and Goldleaf infographics on the walls. Nice lighting and dedicated parking spots further complement the experience of visiting BPG. At present, plans are to move into the dispensary’s newest location within the next year.

The history of medical marijuana in the United States cannot fully be told without the story of BPG. Founded in 1999, BPG holds the distinction of being the nation’s oldest medical dispensary. Co-owner Etienne Fontan - who is also one of the founders for the advocacy group Americans for Safe Access - is an Iraq War veteran who discovered Cannabis as an alternative to prescription opioids. At the time, he was desperate to find something that would effectively treat the wasting syndrome he’d contracted during his service. Cannabis was the answer. In his role with BPG, Fontan has strenuously advocated and innovated on behalf of better testing for Cannabis. Even in the days prior to Prop 64, BPG has always been extremely focused on the safety of their products and the patients who consume them. Fontan has also overseen the use of BPG as a blueprint for numerous other dispensaries, as well as a valuable source of educational information for government officials, prospective operators and their faithful clientele.

BPG has an excellent inventory that reflects the premium the operation places on safe and consistent products. One area of special focus are the CBD products for sale. BPG is very careful about what they’re willing to sell, offering a comforting base level of scrutiny that takes the burden off of their customers (for what it’s worth, Fontan himself enjoys Care By Design). On the flower front, a consumer’s cornucopia of Emerald Triangle delights are readily available, with eighths ranging in price from $22 to $60. BPG’s enviably robust menu also includes a wide array of topicals, concentrates and edibles, in addition to a selection of beverages and other specialty items.

may 2020

BUDTENDERS All new budtenders at BPG are offered a manual in hopes of helping them navigate the myriad questions, concepts and standards that come with employment in the legalized Cannabis industry. The customer-to-employee ratio is helped by BPG’s sufficient staffing, which means less waiting and more personal attention. All staff are further encouraged to engage in active listening, which can make a huge difference in ensuring patients feel both heard and welcomed. BPG also embraces open and inclusive hiring policies, which reflects the diverse demographics of their namesake city. Last, but certainly not least, they also offer their employees benefits and 401k plans.

QUICK HIT It is no exaggeration to suggest that Berkeley Patients Group is the most important single dispensary in the legacy of California’s medical marijuana movement. Far from being but a historically relevant institution, BPG continues to lead by example today. From their hiring policies to the quality of the flower they’re selling, this pot shop is truly a gold standard for all other dispensaries to follow.

2366 SAN PABLO AVE, BERKELEY, CA 94702 (510) 540-6013 9AM-9PM DAILY MYBPG.COM @MY.BPG

“Founded in 1999, BPG holds the distinction of being the nation’s oldest medical dispensary.”

BPG Owner Etienne Fontan

STORY by ZACK RUSKIN @ZACKRUSKIN | PHOTOS by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY

interview

W H O ’ S Y O U R FAV O R I T E B U D T E N D E R ? T E L L U S W H Y ! E M A I L N O M I N A T I O N S T O N A T E @ C A L I F O R N I A L E A F . C O M

Casey Kay TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE WITH THE APOTHECARIUM?

I am a Senior Cannabis Consultant — I answer questions from our guests and give consultations on products, dosing, strain choices and different methods of consumption. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE COMPANY? I’ve

worked for The Apothecarium for about three years, but I first started coming to the dispensary five years ago and made a lot of friends on the team - which is how I started working here.

caliFornialeaf.COM

Budtender of the Month

I love letting the fresh terp profile linger, while my chest fills slowly. I do enjoy all different products however, from topicals to tinctures. WHAT HELPS TO SET THE APOTHECARIUM APART FROM OTHER DISPENSARIES? WHAT CAN A PATIENT EXPERIENCE HERE THAT THEY WON’T FIND ELSEWHERE? The Apothecarium

is all about relationships and education - because we have such a beautiful space and our staff are so highly trained - a lot of people feel comfortable coming in who may not feel comfortable at other dispensaries. WHAT SPARKED YOUR Every day I have the chance INTEREST IN CANNABIS? HOW DID YOU BECOME to help people and make a ACQUAINTED WITH USING difference in their lives. As CANNABIS AS MEDICINE? a consultant I can go from My first toke was many moons recommending a pre-roll to ago, a passion that never went someone who hasn’t smoked in away. I got my first years, to a member “EVERY DAY job in the Cannabis who is coming back I HAVE THE industry through a to ease discomfort CHANCE TO friend I’ve known from a serious HELP PEOPLE since middle school. medical ailment. AND MAKE A Having consumed DIFFERENCE IN CAN YOU TELL Cannabis for many years THEIR LIVES.” ME ABOUT YOUR recreationally, I looked MOST MEMORABLE back and realized it INTERACTION WITH A may have always been a way to PATIENT? My favorite is when self medicate. Today, I’m helping guests feel confident and people on the same journey. comfortable bringing in parents, grandparents, or even their DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE own adult children. It means TERPENE PROFILE OR a lot to me and the other staff CULTIVAR? I don’t think I could when guests feel good about choose a favorite cultivator or bringing their loved ones to The brand - I enjoy trying new products Apothecarium! too much! I need to know what I’m talking about with our guests, WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE right? Stay true to the plant and it’ll TO BECOME A BUDTENDER? be true to you. I look for growers Honestly, I was a Cannabis and companies who remain consultant before I had a title at a humble. Myrcene and linalool are dispensary. I would have friends, probably most prevalent in most of family and other acquaintances my strains at home. reaching out knowing that I took a lot of time to study different HOW DO YOU LIKE cannabinoids and how they work TO USE CANNABIS? I’m a flower with the body. For me, it’s natural girl through and through. My to now be doing this inside a preferred method of consumption is dispensary. from a clean, clear bong.

may 2020

CALIFORNIA LEAF

The Apothecarium 2029 Market St, San Francisco, CA | (415) 500-2620 | Apothecarium.com

patient profile

“Once I had an understanding of who I was, and what I feel and go through, I knew Cannabis was the way I wanted to combat my symptoms.”

ALYSSAWHARTON I’M A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE EFFECTS THAT A GOOD ATTITUDE HAS ON HEALING, ESPECIALLY FOR MENTAL HEALTH. HERE WE FIND ALYSSA, A CANNABIS AND CBD ADVOCATE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, A SELFPROCLAIMED “NEIGHBORHOOD HOPE DEALER” - WHICH IS EXACTLY THE MEDICINE NEEDED IN THIS WORLD.

CANNABIS AS TREATMENT “I medicate all day, every day, but the difference now is I do it with intention and purpose - where before I would smoke just to get high. I typically start the day taking a dropper of a full spectrum CBD tincture. This helps kick start my day and rid myself of any anxiety and jitters I may have woken up with. Then throughout the day I will take a few rips from my bong, and take a few dabs from my rig. Smoking throughout the day really

STORIES & PHOTOS by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY for LEAF NATION

caliFornialeaf.COM

Alyssa has battled some issues of her own and has used Cannabis to self medicate for anxiety and depression. It’s one thing to take control of your mental health and learn what it takes to heal yourself, but it’s another thing entirely to then use your experiences to advocate for mental health in such a public way, which is what Alyssa is doing online. She uses her message to help uplift and encourage others, no matter what it is they’re going through. Alyssa’s journey with Cannabis began ten years ago when she was introduced by her fellow student athletes. The plant intrigued her, and she was fascinated by how it affected her. “Now as an adult I consume Cannabis a lot more consciously, and don’t abuse it as I would say I did in the past. In college, I almost got kicked off the basketball team when my coach became aware of my use. Now my relationship with Cannabis is holistic and my natural way of medicating for various ailments like anxiety, depression and chronic pain.”

helps combat the chronic pain I deal with from past car accidents and helps ease my ‘self-diagnosed’ anxiety and depression.” Many individuals who struggle with their mental health have chosen Cannabis as their medication of choice, rather than opting for SSRIs or similar mood-regulating pills. As she further explained, “One promise I made myself in this lifetime is that I would stay away from pills. One way I’ve done that is by tuning into my self and my vessel, and understanding what it is I am feeling and growing through. Once I had an understanding of who I was, and what I feel and go through, I knew Cannabis was the way I wanted to combat my symptoms. With experience and research I have found what works best for me and what doesn’t benefit me.” So, what works for Alyssa? She enjoys primarily relaxing cultivars that slow down her mind and alleviate the pain in her body. One of her favorites is Lemon Larry OG (OG Kush x SFV OG). “It has a very clean, piney aroma that allows you to feel relaxed, but you can still get stuff done and feel happy,” she explained. “Two of my favorite terpene profiles found in this flower are caryophyllene and limonene. Caryophyllene is the only terpene known to directly activate WHAT’S cannabinoid receptors. I love it because it works so WORKED good at reducing immediate pain and inflammation. FOR HER Limonene is an amazing terpene that helps reduce my > RELAXING STRAINS anxiety. Mix these two terps together and you have a > FLOWER HIGH IN CARYOPHYLLENE AND beautiful blend of lemon and piney scents and a high LIMONENE TERPENES that makes you feel out of this world good.” FOR REDUCING Now, she uses her education of Cannabis to share INFLAMMATION AND ANXIETY her knowledge with others via her social media account, @awheedy, in the hopes of helping them heal. “My health journey has changed drastically now that I incorporate Cannabis in all aspects of my life,” she said. “Not only do I consume Cannabis for its medicinal benefits, but I also use it for my overall wellness journey. I believe Cannabis is for everyone because of the various ways you can incorporate it in your life. From grinding flower into my bong, to eating a gummy edible, to taking a CBD bath, I can say with confidence that Cannabis has improved my life in various aspects, and plays a major role in who I am as a person and as an advocate for this amazing plant.”

women in weed

women in weed Krantz loves to paint and cook in her free time.

caliFornialeaf.COM

JESSICA KRANTZ has been a positive influence in my life for the last few years upon our introduction in Seattle. I have reminded her many times of my gratitude to have her as a role model in my life, as a mentor and most importantly, a friend. Her impressive career inspired me to expand my horizons in both the Cannabis industry and as an artist, having completed my very first art show with her encouragement. She even helped me land my first job in the California Cannabis industry, giving me every single tool I needed to be successful in that position. Her work ethic is like nothing I have ever seen before, where she rises to every challenge that is set before her.

may 2020

JESSICA KRANTZ TERRITORY MANAGER | OLD PAL

“I love a good challenge and one of the biggest challenges that I face as Territory Manager is getting that face-to-face time with dispensary buyers. They’re a tricky, fickle bunch and the challenge is real - but I’m also insanely persistent and truly believe that my authenticity, drive and belief in Old Pal will outshine even the biggest skeptic.” How did your journey into the Cannabis industry begin? Getting into the industry actually started as an art show for me. At the time, I didn’t have any connections within the industry and although I was very knowledgeable, I didn’t have any experience behind the glass. Knowing this, I devised a plan to convince the local dispensary owners of Hashtag in Seattle to let me have an art show. I was already showing my art in San Diego and Los Angeles, so to me, it seemed like a great opportunity to use my talents and put me face-toface with the connections that I needed to land a job within the industry. I was given permission to have my art show, was introduced to five of my favorite Cannabis brands, and worked with them closely to create pieces of art based on the strain effects of the strains that they were currently growing. On Aug. 12, 2015 my show “Cultivate and Create” opened and was a huge success. I made 25 original pieces for the show and sold every one of them, cementing my invitation into the industry. About two weeks later, I was offered a position at Have a Heart’s flagship location in Belltown as a budtender, but then was quickly promoted to Social Media Coordinator. The rest is history. What was the transition like from the Washington market into California’s? How did your experience in Washington help you land roles in California? Coming to California from Seattle was quite different. At that time, Seattle had already gone through the recreational movement, whereas California was still only medicinal. This was an advantage as well as a disadvantage. The advantage was that I had already gone through the recreational movement, so I was a little bit more prepared for the madness once California did transition to recreational sales. The disadvantage was that I didn’t know anybody in the California market and even though my resumé was killer - showing that I had worked with companies like Have a Heart, Dope Magazine and Berner - the likelihood of me landing the sales position I wanted was unlikely. This industry is very much about connections. At the time, I didn’t have those in the San Diego market, so I knew that I needed to get my ass in gear and start making them. I applied for a budtender position at Urbn Leaf, and

worked extremely hard to become one of their top sales employees within a matter of months. I knew going into my job at Urbn that I didn’t necessarily want to be there forever, but that I did want to learn from them, make great connections and use that as a stepping stone towards my larger career goals. Which is exactly what I did. I owe a lot to Urbn, and appreciate them for the experience and connections I was afforded while working there. What are your current responsibilities as Territory Manager for Old Pal? My job is to get quality, affordable weed to the people! I travel between San Diego, Perris and Coachella Valley, visiting dispensaries to develop and maintain individual relationships with them. Each dispensary that Old Pal partners with is very individual and comes with its own unique set of challenges and opportunities. By visiting each of these dispensaries, I’m not only visiting with my buyer and learning of their needs and concerns, but I’m also providing my team with feedback, ideas and insight to improve products, services and sales. My favorite responsibility, however, is getting to educate, train and hang out with my fellow budtenders. I miss being behind the glass at times and thoroughly enjoy interacting with them. We talk about Old Pal, we talk about politics, we talk about their future, the future of this industry - we pretty much talk about everything! Most people agree that budtenders and retail staff are essential employees to the Cannabis industry at all times, not just during a pandemic. Why is that? How does your team work to support retail staff and vice versa? Having been a budtender for quite a few years I definitely agree with this. Budtenders are not only essential, they have the ability to make or break your brand. They are the first line of information when a customer comes into a dispensary. If they don’t know anything about you, your brand or what you stand for, you might as well just assume you’re going to be collecting dust. Although they are not doctors, they are educated informants. In a dispensary, customers don’t select their orders from a shelf, then pay a cashier.

They approach the counter and speak with a budtender. Some customers know their order, others need to ask questions. A good budtender will have an extensive understanding of the inventory available, and can help guide patients towards products that can be used recreationally and/or will help aid them in their search for medicinal relief. A budtender’s experience and recommendation carries weight and should be treated as such. At Old Pal, we recognize this and are always thinking of ways to help support our fellow budtenders. We provide educational days, deliver weekly snacks, lunches, give out special gift packages, and are working on future incentive plans to help reward those who go above and beyond for our community. Will you explain some of your greatest accomplishments within your career? Your biggest challenge so far? My ad campaign “Meet Your New Connects” was published on the back of Dope Magazine in 2017 and I even got to work with Berner on a few occasions. But my greatest accomplishment so far in my career has been working for Old Pal. This is absolutely the kind of job that individuals like myself dream of having. I not only can take care of myself, but I am able to take care of my family, which is very important to me. Having your dream job, though, comes with hefty responsibilities and I don’t take them lightly. I have hundreds of people counting on me daily, which can be a little daunting at times, but also something I find exhilarating. I love a good challenge and one of the biggest challenges that I face as Territory Manager is getting that face-to-face time with dispensary buyers. They’re a tricky, fickle bunch and the challenge is real - but I’m also insanely persistent and truly believe that my authenticity, drive and belief in Old Pal will outshine even the biggest skeptic. What do you hope to achieve in the future? I have this motto I follow: Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Till your good is better, and your better is best. In the future I want to be better. I am a firm believer that there’s always room for improvement - always. The Cannabis industry is constantly changing and being flexible is imperative in being able to survive and thrive within this industry. Working in Cannabis is not for the faint of heart, it’s for the hustlers, go-getters and do-ers. Although I have a few years of learning to do, in the future, I absolutely see myself wanting to be a sales director in some capacity, while still working for Old Pal. Right now I’m focused on expanding my current territory, being the best that I can be, while still aspiring to be better. What are some of your passions outside of Cannabis and how do they work together? I have a very wide umbrella of talents and having been everything from an up-cycler and painter, to a published writer and favorite auntie, I’d like to think that they all coincide and don’t necessarily rest outside of each other. I love to paint, love to cook, love my family and I love to smoke. Each of these interests are individual, yet intertwined into my daily existence. I’ve been smoking Cannabis medicinally since my early 20s and have since also discovered that I smoke to create, and I create to smoke. I also smoke to maintain my sanity and help with my own medicinal issues. I cannot have one without the other. They each make up a part of myself that would be incomplete if one were missing. I’m perfectly OK being a passionate stoner and Jill of all trades.

STORY & PHOTOS by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY for LEAF NATION | OLDPAL.COM | @OLDPAL

r than r less

cooking with cannabis

with

Ramen noodles are pure comfort. I was introduced to them by my son Nick when he was in college. Clearly a simple package of ramen needs no directions, but I have ramped up the ingredients and added a little canna-love. When you mix the cannaoil with sesame oil, a totally awesome flavor combination emerges. Check your fridge - there is bound to be something there to add to your soup. I like to get the packages of ramen noodles that don’t have MSG in the ingredients. It makes me feel weird and it’s pretty simple to avoid. If you feel the same way and can’t find the noodles without it, don’t use the flavor packet and add some tamari sauce, and use chicken or vegetable broth instead of water. Make it a bigger meal by adding tofu, shrimp or chicken.

HUNKER DOWN AND EAT WELL

ur, low. °F, a p the d be

SUPER RAMEN FOR ONE 1 PACKAGE RAMEN NOODLES ¼ CUP PACKED, RAW WATERCRESS 1 SCALLION, SLICED 6 SNAP PEAS, HALVED ¼ CUP SHREDDED CARROTS 1 SOFT BOILED EGG, PEELED/HALVED ¼ CUP SPROUTS CILANTRO LEAVES 2 TEASPOONS SESAME OIL 1 TEASPOON CANNA-OIL INSTRUCTIONS Open the package of ramen and remove the flavor packet. Add two cups of water or stock to a medium size saucepot and bring to a boil. Add the watercress, scallion and noodles to the pot and simmer 3-4 minutes. Add the peas and carrots along with the flavor packet from your package of ramen, and cook an additional minute. Pour the soup into a bowl, add the egg, sprouts, cilantro and the oils and serve.

WEEDY BUCATINI

I INTENDED THIS SPRINGTIME RECIPES COLUMN TO BE CELEBRATORY. P a r t y f o o d , t o h o n o r o u r f a v or i t e p l a n t . H o w e v e r , t hi s M a y , i t l o o k s l i k e a n o t h e r m o n t h o f h u n k e r i n g d o w n a n d e n j o y i n g o u r o w n c omp a n y . T h er e ’ s a l o t g o i n g o n a nd a l o t t o t h i n k a b o u t . I m p o r t a n t d e c i s i o n s t o m a k e . I f y o u a r e h e a l t h y b e h el p f ul , a nd t a k e g o o d c a r e o f y o u r s e l f , t o o . T h ese recipes make one serving, but they can be doubled or tripled easily. # D o n t f e a r t h eed ib l e

may 2020

caliFornialeaf.COM

4 CHERRY TOMATOES, HALVED IF LARGE 1 CUP FRESH SPINACH, PACKED

3 OUNCES BUCATINI PASTA PARMESAN, OPTIONAL

In a small bowl combine the tomato, pepper, scallion, parsley, radish and avocado. Add the oils, salt and pepper and lemon juice and toss well. Chill.

INSTRUCTIONS In a small skillet over medium-low heat, heat the oils. Add the garlic and cherry tomatoes and sauté for three to four minutes. Add the spinach and sauté until wilted, three to four minutes. Stir in the crushed pepper, and add salt and pepper to taste.

Place beaten egg in a shallow bowl. On a plate combine the breadcrumbs, parmesan and parsley.

Be sure to make the salsa before you cook the chicken. You can even make it the night before, just add the avocado as close to dinner as possible. You want the contrast of the hot chicken and the cool vegetable topping.

2 GARLIC CLOVES, PEELED AND SLICED

SALT AND PEPPER, TO TASTE

INSTRUCTIONS

In a medium skillet heat the canola oil. Dip chicken breast in the egg then into the breadcrumb mixture and place carefully in the skillet. Cook the chicken breast in the oil until crisp, about four minutes/side. Transfer to a plate and top with the vegetable mixture.

1 TEASPOON CANNA-OLIVE OIL

PINCH CRUSHED RED PEPPER

CRUNCHY CHICKEN WITH SALSA ½ ROMA TOMATO, CHOPPED ¼ YELLOW PEPPER, CHOPPED 2 TBS THINLY SLICED SCALLION 1 TBS CHOPPED FLAT LEAF PARSLEY AND WHOLE LEAF 1 MEDIUM RADISH, CHOPPED 2 TBS AVOCADO, TOSSED WITH ½ LEMON 2 TBS OLIVE OIL 1 TEASPOON CANNA-OLIVE OIL SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE JUICE OF ½ LEMON 1 EGG, LIGHTLY BEATEN 1 POUND BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST ½ CUP PANKO BREAD CRUMBS ¼ CUP PARMESAN 1 TBS CHOPPED PARSLEY 2 TBS CANOLA OIL

2 TABLESPOONS OLIVE OIL

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. When tender, drain and place in a bowl.

Bucatini is a thick spaghetti-like pasta that is extremely satisfying. If it’s not your cup of tea, feel free to use any other shape. In summertime an angel hair would be delightful. Again the ingredients can be changed to suit your taste. Adding shrimp or chicken could be a nice way to go.

Add the sauce to the pasta and sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan, or add a couple of tablespoons of goat cheese and some fresh or frozen peas. Awesome flavor combination.

RECIPES by LAURIE WOLF | PHOTOS by BRUCE WOLF

All Things Cannabis For All People

Vrickerdj

AVAILABLE NOW:

Vbeardedlorax

Vleaaifepodcast

ď&#x2122;?60 Coronavirus Crisis Part 2: Coronaspiracy

Leaf Life is recorded at Mob Studios in Seattle

#61 Coronavirus Crisis Part 3: Essential Business #62 High Times w/Danny Danko

LEAFLIFEPODCAST.COM THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

ediblE OF THE MONTH

DÉFONCÉ

MATCHA TEA WHITE CHOCOLATE Matcha seems to be one of the most popular trending flavors of the last 10 years. And for good reason, too! Providing powerful antioxidants, boosting metabolism, burning calories, and balancing mood and concentration are just a handful of reasons why people who love to feel good are becoming obsessed with matcha. Now, take all of those superpowers, and then blend in fine belgian chocolate with California’s finest green herbal good - Cannabis. Défoncé is hitting every mark with their 90mg matcha white chocolate bar, offering 18 five mg servings that took me three sittings to take down.

“I found it a very enjoyable way to wind down after coming home from a busy traveling workweek.”

caliFornialeaf.COM

BREAKING INTO THE BAR, the aroma combined the perfect blend of bitter matcha with the sweetness of white chocolate. Flavor was incredible and not too sweet. Creamy, with just the right amount of matcha infused. No Cannabis taste in these, so be careful not to get them mixed up with your other chocolates. Not that you’ll really have any issue with that, because there’s nothing like these beautiful chocolates out on the market. The geometric bars aren’t all beauty and no brains - Défoncé tests each batch and product for pesticides, solvents and microorganisms at every level of production. That’s six times! Quality and cleanliness is their key when it comes to being purveyors of pure chocolate cannabliss. The final two ingredients to their secret recipe are precision dosing and expert tempering, providing a consistent high that feels as good as these fine confections look. The taste is surprisingly refreshing, like an after dinner mint minus the mint, and add matcha tea. They satisfy a sugar craving without feeling like too sinful of an indulgence. I know it takes awhile for edibles to kick in, but I sped up the process by falling into a social media wormhole of recipe videos. Granted, I was already tired when I took these, but I passed out within 20 minutes of laying down. I found it a very enjoyable way to wind down after coming home from a busy traveling workweek. If you find yourself having trouble sleeping, I highly recommend taking edibles at least an hour before bed. For myself, I’ve found that THC can inhibit the REM sleep that causes intense dreams, which disturbs my restful sleep. These chocolates provided me with a sound night of sleep, and helped me stay awake in the morning rather than waking up too early. As always, start with a low dose if you’ve never tried edibles before, because the precision dosing on Défoncé’s chocolate bars gets the job done. 90mg THC/bar

DE FONC E.COM | @DE FONC EC HOCOLATI E R

may 2020

STORY & PHOTOS by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY

concentrate OF THE MONTH

GMO LIVE ROSIN

SUPRIZE SUPRIZE X ROYAL KEY ROYALKEYO RGANIC S.COM | @SUP RI Z E_SUP RI Z E

Do the phrases ‘small batch,’ ‘living soil’ and ‘live rosin’ pique your interest? If so, then look no further than this awesome collaboration by Suprize Suprize and Royal Key. Royal Key grows organically indoor in living soil beds and pushed this choice cut of GMO to full maturity - with over 11 weeks in flower - giving the resulting resin a deeply complex terpene profile, atypical of most examples I’ve come across. Even right out of the refrigerator, this rosin is packed with aggressively funky, garlic-esque and fuel-laden aromas. Dabbed at a low temp off clean quartz, the flavor is a whirlwind of profiles — sharp chem, garlic, bad breath, gas and rotting berries blend in delightfully unique and diverse flavors. The effects are swift and significant and the high is both heady yet functional and brings forth a noticeable relaxation felt throughout the body. This is truly a standout example of GMO that fans of the strain should seek out - available at finer legal retailers across the state. 78.49% THC | 0.26% CBG

caliFornialeaf.COM

ski // ill Barmin B y b k r o rize will // Artw rize Sup p u S y b n st. aboratio erent arti Each coll k by a diff r o tw r a ne-off feature o

PACKED S I N I S O “T H I S R SSIVELY E R G G WITH A RLIC-ESQUE GA FUNKY, -LADEN L E U F D AN S.” AROMA

may 2020

STORY by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415 | PHOTO by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY

Make Evri moment count EVRI by Dip Devices is a multi-functional consumption solution. EVRI features a battery that connects magnetically to continuously evolving attachments so that you can easily dip, dab, or vape anytime and anywhere you want.

UNLIMITED POSSIBiLITIES

DIPDEVICES.COM

topical OF THE MONTH

W hen I first saw this product, I was curious about it, but I assumed it was another one of those poorly formulated products aimlessly marketed toward women. The side of the box boasts “a light and emollient, yet potent eye and neck cream, with powerful cannabinoids and soothing calendula. Leaves your skin smooth and soft.” Upon further investigation, I realized just how wrong I was to misjudge Green Bee Botanicals. I’m not proud. But, on the bright side, I now know of one of the most badass women-owned, operated and funded companies in California! There is so much more than meets the eye when it comes to the product underneath the beautiful packaging.

“The incredibly hydrating avocado oil and shea butter work together with vitamin E to leave a radiant glow on even the most neglected, dried out skin.”

caliFornialeaf.COM

GREEN BEE BOTANICALS BRIGHTENING EYE CREAM GREENBEEBOTANICALS.CO M // @GREENBEEBOTANICALS

may 2020

I applied the eye cream after my normal skincare routine: cleanse, tone, and then moisturize. After applying my all-over face moisturizer, I took a very tiny dab of the brightening eye cream and gently tapped it around my lower eyelids. I then smoothed the remaining cream onto my upper eyelids, and was left with an extra bit to even out my neck. The incredibly hydrating avocado oil and shea butter work together with vitamin E to leave a radiant glow on even the most neglected, dried out skin. It’s worth noting that a little bit goes an incredibly long way if you are applying on top of a standard moisturizer. You may need a slightly larger dab of cream if applying solo. After hours of working, running errands in the dry California sun and cooking meals in my home, I can safely say my skin is still feeling silky and smooth. I liked the addition of caffeine in the mix of ingredients - it was almost as if I could feel my skin tingling and tightening from it in the application. Their site notes that Founder Bridget May, “formulated this eye cream for herself many years ago and gave it as gifts to her friends, who promptly told her she should bottle it up and share it with the world. It’s the product that inspired her to launch Green Bee.” Not only is Bridget the in-house product formulator, but she’s also a botanist and chemist who parted ways from the biopharmaceutical industry to pursue her passion for Cannabis medicine. You can truly feel the difference when love goes into the products, as the quality of ingredients and efficacy of the solutions is physically tangible. This is a product I’d use even if there weren’t cannabinoids infused, although I prefer them to be. And the buzz doesn’t stop there - the team at Green Bee Botanicals gives back via philanthropies to “fight climate change and social injustice, and to support wildlife and clean water for all.” Nothing warms my heart more than supporting this tenacious group of women, while also knowing that this company gives back to the community.

STORY & PHOTOS by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY

tannins &terpenes

T H E A RT OF PA I R I NG C A N N A BI S W I T H A L C OHOL TANNINS | RUSSIAN RIVER BLIND PIG IPA

6.25% ABV - Hopped with Amarillo and Simcoe

Russian River is a world renowned brewery famed for setting the craft beer industry’s gold-standard of Triple IPAs, Pliny the Younger. Founded in 1997 in Santa Rosa, this brewery has been producing standout barrel-aged sour beers and aggressively hopped ales to consumers in California for over two decades. Russian River’s Blind Pig IPA is a full-bodied brew with medium bitterness and drinks with notes of citrus and wood, rounding out with a dry, resinous and dank finish. With a relatively modest ABV for IPAs these days - clocking in at 6.25% - Blind Pig has just enough kick without going overboard. This beer has stood the test of time, essentially unchanged for 15+ years in a brewing industry where the current hot trend is to throw anything and everything in the mash tun making this accomplishment that much more impressive.

RUSSIAN RIVER BLIND PIG IPA LUCID BOTANICALS AFRICAN QUEEN

TERPENES | LUCID BOTANICALS AFRICAN QUEEN

Durban Poison x Malawi Gold x Swaziland Sativa

Both the beer and the herb boast big flavor, yet

African Queen is a landrace mashup of several well-known African cultivars grown from seed in the heart of Mendocino County in Willits, California. Lucid Botanicals is a fully licensed sun-grown farm utilizing organic growing practices, including planting in native soil and feeding strictly organic inputs. Lucid Botanicals produces specialty narrow leaf strains that are rarely found, thanks to the significant difficulty in cultivating them. African Queen is strongly aromatic with over 3% terpenes and a pronounced nose of decomposing oranges and lemon-lime. The flowers boast a bright green hue, with equally bright orange hairs and a visible coat of trichomes. The smoke is light and minimally expansive, giving way to a wonderfully euphoric, uplifting and heady high.

are restrained enough in effect to make the overall pairing a largely approachable combination.

caliFornialeaf.COM

THE PAIRING

What could be better than bringing a couple classics together? We’re thinking not too much. The flowers lift and enhance mood, while the brew relaxes the tongue and diminishes worries. The African Queen’s orange-y bouquet complements and enhances the citrus notes in the brew. Both the beer and the herb boast big flavor, yet are restrained enough in effect to make the overall pairing a largely approachable combination. This pairing is worthy of busting out anytime whether you want to wow casual consumers or your heady terp-hounding friends - this Russian River and Lucid Botanicals combo is sure to impress.

*California Leaf Warning* Anytime you combine two substances of any kind, you have to be extra vigilant of the effects. We strongly recommend conducting pairings in a safe and private space, in small quantities with friends. Always use a designated driver or have a plan to get home safely.

may 2020

BLIND PIG IPA AFRICAN QUEEN 6.25% ABV

22.5% THC

STORY by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415 | PHOTO by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY

E S TA B L I S H E D 2 0 1 0

T H E E N L I G H T E N E D VO I C E

STAY UP TO DATE AT CALIFORNIALEAF.COM Contact nate@californialeaf.com for more information today!

FREE DIGITAL ARCHIVE ISSUU.COM/NWLEAF

CALIFORNIALEAF.COM | @CALIFORNIALEAFMAG | #CALIFORNIALEAF

rehashed

2020 ICBC HILTON UNION SQUARE | SAN FRANCISCO

caliFornialeaf.COM

B R I N G I N G B U S I N E S S & C A N N A B I S TO G E T H E R

may 2020

he 2020 International Cannabis Business Conference took place this February 6 and 7 at San Francisco’s Hilton Union Square. The first of five conferences taking place internationally this year, the San Francisco event is the only conference in the event series held in the U.S. Taking place soon after will be their conferences in Barcelona, Berlin, Switzerland and Vancouver, B.C. Attendees traveled from every corner of the country to showcase their products - from the East Coast to the West Coast, Washington, Texas and even as far as Germany! Our team had the opportunity to network and build bonds with some new and old faces over the two-day event. Day one of the conference began on the eve of the 6th, as attendees trickled in to the VIP reception in the Hilton ballroom. Conference master of ceremonies and comedian Ngaio Bealum led the evening by thanking us for joining, and his jokes had the entire room smiling in laughter.

This was an ideal start to the event and provided a way to break the ice with new friends, as well as warm up closer to those we may still be getting to know. It’s true what they say - that the most business happens at the after parties. Ironically enough, the after party sometimes can happen before the conference itself, and it certainly did in this case! We enjoyed ourselves at both the official and unofficial mixers, and it was comical to see our peers rally the next morning to tend to their booths for the actual event. Fueled up on coffee and CBD, our team took to the conference center in the Hilton to represent our magazine and learn about all of the other businesses in attendance. There seemed to be an even mixture of Cannabis organizations, product and packaging innovations, and ancillary businesses spread throughout the conference hall. As we made our rounds from booth to booth, there was a sense of innovation that excited us for the future of Canna-

“Feeling the support of the industry fueled our love and passion for the plant and people even more than we could have dreamed of.”

bis, not only in California, but across the world. We not only connected with industry pioneers, but had the opportunity to provide a preview of our publication to these attendees. It warmed our hearts for our work to be so well-received by the Cannabis community in California, having our journalism appreciated for how authentic we remain in this ever-changing and growing world of Cannabis. Some of the most memorable booths were those designed with physical samples of the product, and those that were interactive, such as Cryo Cure’s booth. They came prepared with big round jars full of cryogenically cured Cannabis buds. It was also interesting to see some of the packaging companies and all of their different clients’ designs. The evolution of beautiful Cannabis packaging truly helps us appreciate the craft products inside - especially now that more sustainable options are being offered for producers. And now to the highly regarded speakers that ICBC lines up for the event. First up on the docket was Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who appeared virtually via Skype to discuss federal Cannabis law reform. Regardless of your political preferences, it is telling of the times to see politicians participating on panels at Cannabis conferences. Panels covered topics ranging from communicating with industry stakeholders, technology steering the Cannabis industry, differentiating in the crowded CBD industry, branding and marketing, and much more. This event was definitely geared toward those who are more serious about building and maintaining a strong business presence in the industry and learning how to apply these principles and topics - which is what will really separate the industry leaders from those who wish to let their business fall into the hands of fate instead of their own. Our choice to take our fate into our own hands starts with building lasting bonds and connecting with the true pioneers in Cannabis. The ICBC event really helped to solidify the first few steps we took as we began to break ground in launching our California publication. Feeling the support of the industry fueled our love and passion for the plant and people even more than we could have dreamed of. We can’t wait to see everyone’s smiling faces again at next year’s International Cannabis Business Conference! www.InternationalCBC.com Follow @internationalCBC

STORY & PHOTOS by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY

Bugging Out S T R A N G E D AY S E D I T I O N

STORY by JONAH TACOMA @DABSTARS2.0 for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by JESS LARUE @JESSICALARUE_420

JESSICA AND I went over a mental checklist as we stared at the packed 8x5 tow behind trailer. I had a flight to Holland in only a few hours, but traveling to Europe was out of the question. COVID-19, dubbed the coronavirus, was all the rage - literally. Schools everywhere were shut down indefinitely and parents across our state were suddenly thrust into the position of at home teacher. My gut was telling me we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to stay in town, and we had spent the last few hours prepping and packing the small trailer and the Tahoe that would tow it.

may 2020

The trailer itself had been converted into a clandestine camper with full amenities, complete with a 55-inch TV screen that matched the curve of the rear wall. Well-insulated and fitted with both propane and electric heat, she was able to suffice as a basecamp for extended trips and we often used her around harvest time - deploying a canvas cabin with portable bunkbeds for trips with the kids. I had always considered myself something of a prepper, not for anything specific, but for the eventual calamity that might befall humanity as nature tried to correct herself. Dehydrated food stacked in large buckets and sealed in nitrogen had been moving with me from house to house for the last decade or so. I had suffered plenty of jeers from friends who wondered at my 500-roll industrial box of toilet paper or the gallons of hand sanitiser on standby. As both of these things had been quickly wiped out by the first flood of worried consumers, I was glad to have sustained the ridicule. We had ceremoniously purchased the last can of soup at the local Walmart an hour earlier. The shelves were beginning to look barren and the things that most Americans took for granted were now in short supply. Milk, eggs, bread - the staples seemed to be the first to go. Washington itself seemed to be a bit of an epicenter and people were already on edge. We loaded the family into what little space remained in the now overpacked Tahoe, which bristled with all manor of survival gear and armaments acquired over the years. Traffic was light as we pulled onto I-5 South bound for Capital Forest, the largest chunk of green on the Washington map. Growing up, camping was a way of life and I always tried to instill that in my kids, often by regaling them with stories about how much harder it was when I was a kid. My dad was a purist and often camped without the benefit of a tent, in spite of the Colorado mountain weather which could be frigid almost any time of year.

“I HAD ALWAYS CONSIDERED MYSELF SOMETHING OF A PREPPER, NOT FOR ANYTHING SPECIFIC, BUT FOR THE EVENTUAL CALAMITY THAT MIGHT BEFALL HUMANITY AS NATURE TRIED TO CORRECT HERSELF.” My own outlook towards the virus was somewhat dubious. The threat was real but the public’s reaction, or overreaction, seemed to be largely fueled by sensational news coverage and distorted social media messages. Either way, now was as good a time as any to get the family out of dodge. And we were doing just that. Whatever the course of this now famous pandemic, one thing was certain: For most of us this was a once in a lifetime event. Years from now, when people asked what you did during the coronavirus, at least my kids would have a good story...

californialeaf.com

by Mike Ricker Check Your Temperature It was the hot dab that did me in.

Thank you, my airheaded, rookie administrator, for enlightening me to what the inside of a barrel of a flame thrower is like when delivering a mechanical dragon’s demonstration of unbridled fury. And just when I managed to inhale something that resembled actual air, the entire experience was deepened upon identifying the sensation of having swallowed a sleeping porcupine into my lungs who, upon awakening in the cramped space, was overcome with fear - causing it to instinctually employ its quills in order to defend itself. Suddenly, I was the porcupine - anxiety ridden from the torturous enclosure of a war prisoner’s hurt locker, teetering on the brink of panic, gauging whether the extreme discomfort would cause claustrophobic madness before having the luxury of first offing myself. And then came the bong spins. At least that’s what they used to call it long before concentrates with 110% THC existed. So out of the place I fled, incapable of explaining myself. Not only because of the inability to formulate and convey a cohesive word, but also for the complete lack of oxygen flowing through my gills. The night had instantly taken a “Fear and Loathing” turn, forcing the retreat from the madness into the safety of the car where a judge from Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” hammered down his gavel for the crime of a meaningless existence. That’s when the dizziness proved a harsh catalyst - churning the stomach into a pressurized brew of witch’s stew - conjuring the recently eaten food truck kung pao calamari and projectile launching it onto the misty pavement in the back alley. This was the worst Cannabis experience of my life. Thank goodness for cool dabs. And the cool mother fuckers who know how to heat a dab. But if you don’t, that’s OK. That’s why the good lord gave us the vape cart.

May 2020

Get the audio version and every episode at Stoney-Baloney.com

@RickerDJ

SAFE. POWERFUL. EFFECTIVE. Think20 Labs provides clients with a compliant laboratory testing experience that is consistent and transparent, with industry leading turn-around-times. Try it now! Use your phoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s camera to scan the QR code, then select the pop up banner for engaging creative combined with powerful results. SCAN TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE. Look for T20 interactive QR codes on your favorite products.

IN HERE OUR CONSUMERS ARE SAFE, OUR PARTNERS ARE PROTECTED, AND THE SUPPLY CHAIN IS SECURE.

Want to have your products tested by Think20 Labs? Call 323.379.9003 for more information or to schedule a sample pick up. think20labs.com | Product intended for use only by qualified patients ages 18 and up

May 2020 — California Leaf

Articles inside

STONEY BALONEY

ICBC REHASHED

TOPICAL OF THE MONTH

WOMEN IN WEED

EDIBLE OF THE MONTH

BERKELEY PATIENTS GROUP

STRAIN OF THE MONTH

BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH

PATIENT PROFILE

HIGHLY LIKELY

NATIONAL NEWS

REDWOOD ROOTS

ABOUT THE COVER

LOCAL NEWS

HISTORY OF CA CANNABIS

EXPERT OPINION

OUR HISTORY