THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE
THE INDOOR ISSUE Exploring Alaska Greenworks and more indoor Cannabis cultivation facilities across Alaska in this special issue! FREE /AKLEAF.COM
#46 | FEB. 2020
GLASS SLIPPER INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010
the indoor issue aklEAF.COM
8
A LOOK IN THE GARDEN OF RASPBERRY ROOTS / PG. 30
FEATURES 11 editor note 12 national news 14 eating hemp
FEB. 2020
16 highly likely 18 budtender otm 20 pakalolo review 24 strain of the month 28 alaska greenworks
30 32 34 36 38
raspberry roots will’s world q&a concentrates edibles recipes
40 cannabis museum 42 on the road 44 stoney baloney ISSUU.COM/NWLEAF PHOTO by BOOM MEDIA for ALASKA LEAF
Leaf Life Podcast is an entertaining exploration of All Things Cannabis For All People. @beardedlorax
@rickerdj
Join Ricker and The Bearded Lorax for insightful discussions with Cannabis industry influencers. THIS MONTH:
Show #50: Things To Do In Seattle When You’re Stoned Show #51: Cannabis and Hip Hop Show #52: Cannabis Prisoners
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Leaf Life is recorded at Mob Studios in Seattle
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORSis
21+ Marijuana products may be purchased or possessed only by persons 21 or older. This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence 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.
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
ABOUT THE COVER
This month’s cover takes a peek into the garden of Alaska Greenworks, offering a peak into one of the state’s finest indoor Cannabis cultivation facilities. This issue also checks out a new Cannabis museum sprouting in Amsterdam as well as tasty Cannabis edibles, concentrates and recipes to try out and add to your stock! Cover Photography by Boom Media for Alaska Leaf
PUBLISHER
Boom Media Photos
WES ABNEY | founder & editor-in-chief Wes@nwleaf.com 206-235-6721
Steve Elliott National News Simone Fischer Features Jeff Porterfield Design Eshom Reed Reviews Meghan Ridley Editing Pacer Stacktrain Features Laurie & Bruce Wolf Recipes
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Daniel bermaN | photography & design daniel@bermanphotos.com
STATE DIRECTOR AND ADVERTISING joshua stahle | ADVERTISING SALES Josh@AKLeaf.com | 907-317-2536
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.
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Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up The Indoor Issue of Alaska Leaf! INDOOR CANNABIS CULTIVATION began in the dark ages of Cannabis prohibition as a tool to avoid detection, effectively hiding a plant inside garages, closets and warehouses from prying eyes. As far as plants go, Cannabis is a happy girl with the right indoor environment, and over the last 30 years the technology and techniques for growing inside have expanded and caught up to the 21st century. Today’s indoor gardens are as much a work of science as they are agriculture, creating controlled environments perfectly suited to the plants cultivated within.
ISSUU.COM/NWLEAF FREE ONLINE ARCHIVE
As the Leaf has expanded, we’ve dedicated an issue each year to the outdoor harvest and the efforts of full sun-grown farmers, while leaving indoor gardens as something we featured occasionally as unique gardens popped up. So when we sat down to plan the 2020 editorial calendar, the idea for an Indoor Issue was again renewed. What makes it special? Is indoor Cannabis something we want to support?
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VISIT ISSUU. COM/NWLEAF TO SEE OUR TOURS OF INDOOR CANNABIS GARDENS IN WASHINGTON, OREGON AND MARYLAND!
Through exploring the modern realities of indoor growing - from Fairbanks, Alaska where temperatures can swing from negative 30 to 30 degrees fahrenheit in a single day, to the controlled environments of Oregon’s organic gardens - it is clear that indoor Cannabis is evolving and defining the craft Cannabis movement. I believe that we will always have indoor Cannabis on a business scale, and while it won’t touch the miles of greenhouses sure to dominate the future of our beloved agricultural commodity, we will always see incredible craft Cannabis being produced indoors. Our issues this month look through gardens in Washington, Oregon and Alaska, so check out the other Leaf’s online content for coverage outside of your state! We explore how farms are adapting to the unique challenges of growing indoors, creating a high-end product in markets that are flooded with mid-grade flower, and how they are using the controlled environments and inputs to grow some of the best examples of strains in the world. As an art, a science, a craft and a passion, indoor Cannabis is something that can be done sustainably and with truly spectacular results. Craft comes in all forms, big and small, and I encourage you to ask your favorite budtender for a craft indoor Cannabis recommendation, and to try the farms we feature this month! You won’t be disappointed.
-Wes Abney
feb. 2020
AKLEAF.COM
AL AS KA L E A F / N O RT H W E S T L E A F / O R EG O N L E A F / M A RY L AN D L E A F
@NWLEAF
ABNEY
For years I’ve heard Cannabis activists argue that one day all weed would be grown outdoors, or at least in greenhouses. Admittedly, that argument is built on logic. If weed isn’t illegal, why grow it indoors at all?
CONTRIBUTORS Tom Bowers Features
WES
national news
2 nd
Newly recreational Cannabis state Illinois has the second highest Cannabis taxes (Washington is #1).
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WA State lawmakers introduced HB2546 to limit Cannabis concentrates to max 10% THC potency, all but killing the recreational concentrates market.
40 1,800 $145k $3.2m
More than 40 U.S. states may have legal Cannabis in some form by 2020’s end, including Mississippi and South Dakota.
The raid of an illegal grow in San Jacinto, California last month yielded 1,800 plants and 50 pounds of dried Cannabis, after the power utility reported suspicious power readings.
A Southern California marijuana money courier was robbed of $145,000 in cash when thieves broke into his work truck parked at an area gas station and took two satchels full of money.
health
THE WA STATE SENATORS WHO WANT A STUDY OF STINKY CANNABIS
M
W
ashington State senators Judy Warnick of Moses Lake, Lynda Wilson of the southeastern area of the state, and Tim Sheldon of the sprawling 35th District, are seeking to create a task force on pot odor. Under Senate Bill 6089, the task force would bring together decisionmakers from the Liquor and Cannabis Board, Department of Ecology, Department of Health, the State Department of Agriculture, the state association of counties, the state association of cities, and those in the “recreational marijuana community.” The proposed task force would be charged with studying ways to “mitigate, mask, conceal, or otherwise address marijuana odors and emissions, and the potentially harmful impact of marijuana odors and emissions on people who live, work or are located in close proximity to a marijuana production or processing facility.” The task force would report its findings by December 31, 2020.
aklEAF.COM
WASHINGTON STATE REMOVES ONLINE MAP OF CANNABIS GROWERS & PROCESSORS AFTER RASH OF BURGLARIES
T
he map provided detailed
information on exactly where Cannabis growers and processors were located. Some business owners felt that those addresses publicly posted on the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) website made it just too easy to find and target them, according to LCB spokeswoman Julie Graham. The agency said it removed the map as a precautionary measure. The information is still available via public record requests.
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east coast
MEDICAL MARIJUANA BROUGHT MORE THAN $10 MILLION IN TAXES TO MARYLAND IN 2019
NORTHWEST
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The first day of legal recreational Cannabis sales in Illinois resulted in 77,000 transactions and $3.2 million in sales for the state’s 37 pot shops, which were legalized by legislative measure in 2019.
HOW CANNABIS LEGALIZATION IS REDUCING BINGE DRINKING FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
A
recent study by Oregon State University researchers found that at colleges and universities in states with legal recreational weed, students are reporting fewer instances of binge drinking (five or more drinks in one sitting in the past two weeks).
ore than $10 million in tax revenue for Maryland was produced by medical Cannabis sales in fiscal year 2019, exceeding the amount of money the industry brought to state coffers in the previous two fiscal years combined, according to data from the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission. Medical Cannabis brought about $3.5 million to Maryland in fiscal year 2018, and about $4.2 million in fiscal year 2017.
The study, published in the journal Addiction, analyzed data from seven states and 135 colleges where Cannabis was legal by 2018.
The latest numbers, covering the period ending on June 30, 2019, show total estimated revenue for medical marijuana for that fiscal year as $10,371,437, according to the Maryland Reporter.
Data from 41 states and 454 colleges where recreational weed was not legal was also analyzed. “After legalization, students ages 21 and older showed a greater drop in binge drinking than their peers in states where marijuana was not legal,” according to the study.
Maryland has licensed 87 medical Cannabis shops, mostly in population centers such as the city and county of Baltimore, along with Howard County and Montgomery County.
border crossings
I
IDAHOANS BUY A LOT OF OREGON WEED daho residents love Oregon Cannabis, according to a new analysis.
In the report, released in January by the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis, Oregon Cannabis sales per adult along the Idaho border are 420 percent (no joke) higher than the statewide average. Baker County was Oregon’s leader on a per capita basis. With a population of 16,820, sales totaled more than $30.1 million in 2019, working out to $1,794 per resident. But those sales were overwhelmingly to Idahoans, primarily Boise residents flocking to the tiny town of Huntington, 30 miles from the state line.
Just across the state line, small town Huntington, OR, has become a destination for Cannabis-consuming Idaho residents.
A new pot shop opened in Malheur County, right on the state line, and with $20.1 million in 2019 sales, Malheur appears poised to surpass Baker County in 2020. The “border effect,” which happens when two neighboring jurisdictions set different rules for the same product, often results in residents traveling to take advantage of relaxed restrictions. That’s particularly true of so-called “vice” products like marijuana, according to the analysis. The same analysis also shows stronger sales for Washington state Cannabis stores along its border with Idaho, than along its borders with either Oregon or Canada, reports the Idaho Statesman.
By STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA
SMALL BATCH CRAFT CANNABIS
AVAILABLE IN SELECT STORES IN FAIRBANKS AND ANCHORAGE
expert OPINION
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BY JERRY WHITING L e B l a n c C N E . c o m / N WL e a f
THE HEMP INDUSTRY
Eat Hemp!
T HE VAST M AJ O R I T Y O F US AG R E E T HAT H E M P I S AN E X C E L LE N T F O OD , B UT LE T ’ S B E HO N E ST - HOW M UC H HE M P D O YOU EAT O N A R EGULAR BAS I S ? SU R E YOU O R DE R YOU R C HAI WI T H HE M P M I L K WH E N EV E R YOU CAN , O R B UY S O M E H E M P G RAN O LA EV E RY N OW AN D AGAI N . B U T I S HE M P I N YOU R S HO P P I NG CART EV E RY W E E K ?
Today, American hemp farmers grow hemp for CBD extraction and not hemp to be eaten. That’s a problem. If no one eats hemp, farmers won’t grow it. But if farmers don’t grow hemp as a food crop, hemp foods won’t be on your grocery store shelves. It’s a classic catch-22. So the best way to get more hemp food in the market is to buy it and demand more. All of this starts in your very own kitchen. Dehulled hemp seeds and hemp seed oil are easy to find in many grocery stores. Hemp seed oil is pressed from hemp seeds and doesn’t contain CBD, or any cannabinoid for that matter. It does, however, have the perfect balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Hemp seeds are full of protein and fiber, as well as being rich in antioxidants. Both are healthy ingredients no matter what you’re cooking. If you’re going to eat, you sometimes have to cook. Working hemp seed oil and dehulled hemp seeds into your daily diet is like any other new habit - you have to do it on a regular basis until you don’t think about it anymore, because it’s your new norm.
aklEAF.COM
How to Have a Hemp-Rich Diet
Ease your way into eating hemp by adding hemp seeds on top of that takeout or leftover Thai food. Pad Thai already has crushed peanuts. Pasta? Drizzle hemp seed oil, especially if it’s pesto we’re talking about. Start slowly by adding just a little hemp oil or seeds to dishes. Think of them as seasonings or accents.
HEMP SEED OIL SALAD DRESSING S A L A D D R E S S I N G - YOU C A N B U Y I T O R M A K E I T. A B A BY S T E P I S AD DI N G H E M P S E E D OI L TO A L L T H E SA L AD D R E S S I N G B O T T L E S L U R K I N G I N YOU R R E F R I G E R ATO R . YOU ’ L L E N J OY YOU R S A L A D S E V E N M O R E K N OW I N G W H AT ’ S O N T H E M .
It’s worth mentioning that making your own salad dressing is easier than it sounds. Start with a simple vinaigrette using three parts oil to one part vinegar. Ease your way into it by using half hemp seed oil and half olive, grape seed, walnut, avocado, or other interesting oil. The vinegar you use doesn’t have to be boring. Try rice wine, sherry, balsamic, or apple cider vinegar. Add sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, and fresh herbs to taste. Shake, pour, enjoy! HEMP PESTO I F YOU L I K E P E S TO A N D H E M P YOU ’ R E I N L UC K . P E S TO I S U N I Q U E B E C AU S E YOU C A N M A K E I T W I T H B O T H H E M P S E E D O I L A N D H E M P S E E D S . A L L YOU N E E D TO D O I S M I X A N D B L E N D T H E I N G R E D I E N T S TO G E T H E R .
2 cups fresh basil leaves (no stems) Try using all hemp oil, ½ 1/4 cup hemp seed oil spinach ½ basil, adding 1/4 cup olive oil pistachios as well as hemp seeds, and a dash of grated 2 tablespoons hemp seeds 2 large garlic cloves lime peel. Skip the basil 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese and use parsley instead, sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste swapping romano or aged asiago for the parmesan cheese, throwing in a few fresh mint leaves or whatever strikes your fancy. Make a lot and freeze half.
If you’re reading this, it’s because you support hemp. And if you do, consider this your formal invitation to eat your words. Hemp activists around the world need to eat hemp. Cook it for yourself, serve it to your family and friends, share recipes with your neighbors. Hemp food will only become mainstream when we eat it. The hemp revolution begins in our kitchens.
feb. 2020
PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
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 .
NORMANMAILER THE PULITZER P RIZEWINNING W RITER WAS OUTSPOKEN ON A LOT OF THINGS... INCLUDING CANNABIS.
16 Jan. 31, 1923 – Nov.10, 2007
on his appreciation of music. “I’d been listening to jazz for years, but it had never meant all that much to me. Now, with the powers pot offered, simple things became complex; complex things clarified themselves,” he said. It seemed that this started Mailer’s course of being an outspoken Cannabis consumer in mid-century America - a place where it certainly was less accepted than it is today. Here, Mailer would sometimes utilize his sharp writing to describe the benefits of Cannabis to the masses: “One’s condition on marijuana is always existential. One can feel the importance of each moment and how it is changing. One feels one’s being, one becomes aware of the enormous apparatus of nothingness - the hum of a hi-fi set, the emptiness of a pointless interruption, one becomes aware of the war between each of us, how the nothingness in each of us seeks to attack the being of others, how our being in turn is attacked by the nothingness in others.” He also spoke of the effect that Cannabis had on his writing, saying “I began to write for the sound of what I was writing, but also noted that I’d have brilliant insights on pot, but could hardly remember any of them later.” He also noted that he preferred to edit, rather than write, while consuming. Later in life, he offered a critique of modern-day Cannabis consumers, comparing them to religious fundamentalists. “There’s too much dead-ass in the thinking of pot smokers now,” he said. Whatever one may think in terms of these opinions, one thing is for sure – Norman Mailer opened up our world to the idea of Cannabis as a benefit to artistic invention at a time when that opinion wasn’t very popular. For this and many other reasons, we can regard him as a true pioneer for greater Cannabis acceptance in our world.
“ONE’S CONDITION ON MARIJUANA IS ALWAYS EXISTENTIAL.” A FAMED JOURNALIST, NOVELIST AND ESSAYIST, Norman Mailer was perhaps one of the first ‘celebrity writers’ of the 20th century.
aklEAF.COM
F
irst published in 1948, Mailer’s novel, “The Naked and the Dead,” based on his experiences as a soldier serving in World War II, quickly started him on the course of fame. But from there, he went on to publish several other novels – eventually becoming renowned as an essayist for many a publication. The accolades he acquired were many throughout his life. Some of these accolades included winning major awards, most notably the Pulitzer Prize in 1968 and 1980. In 1955, he helped to cofound the famed Village Voice weekly newspaper. There, he helped to invent a new form in journalism called creative nonfiction, which applies the narrative style of the novel to real events. This style would
feb. 2020
be adopted by many writers – most notably by Hunter S. Thompson. Mailer’s life was lived large. He spent his time with celebrities in the worlds of art and politics, even running for Mayor of New York City in 1969, but the campaign was unsuccessful. As one can imagine, an author of this esteem who covered this subject matter had a distinct connection to what was called the ‘counter culture’ of the 1960s and 70s. This was certainly true in Mailer’s case, as he was an ardent fan of art and music - especially jazz. In the mid 1950s Mailer discovered Cannabis, and noted its effect
By PACER STACKTRAIN for LEAF NATION
(1) "Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming and addictive;” (2) "Marijuana impairs concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under its influence;” (3) "There are health risks associated with consumption of marijuana” (4) "For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children;” and (5) "Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breast feeding;”
Budtender
W H O ’ S YOU R FAVO 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 AT I O N S T O J O S H @ A K L E A F . CO M
Noah Huseman ALASKA LEAF BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH
aklEAF.COM
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Our Feb. 2020 Budtender of the Month has a background in customer service and is always looking to help customers find the products that will work best for their specific needs. Noah is a fan of sativa strains, flower from the bong, and enjoying the outdoors across this beautiful state — that is, when he isn’t chilling at home “being a huge gamer.”
“I LOVE WHEN CUSTOMERS COME BACK AND TELL ME HOW MUCH THEY ENJOYED SOMETHING I RECOMMENDED FOR THEM.” taste, personal preference, and the wants/needs of a customer can all come into play. The only way to find out is to ask! WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WORKING AT GREEN DEGREE?
Family. I come to work and love the people I’m next to, feeling genuinely cared for and appreciated G R E E N DEG R E E 2301 S K N I K - G O OSE BAY R D UN I T # 1, WAS I L LA / (907) 376-3155 / G R E E N DEG R E E . N E T in whatever capacity or role I fill. The people sativa that I love from the GD at GDFOC care deeply, not FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB? WHEN DID CANNABIS FIRST cultivation, same with the Pink only about their employees and I love when customers come COME INTO YOUR LIFE? Gorilla on the indica side. As for business, but also what direction back and tell me how much Cannabis first entered my life other cultivations, I really enjoy they’re leading the industry, their they enjoyed something I through my parents. They’ve both The Connoisseur’s bud, especially customers and other professionals. recommended for them. It’s been consumers since I was younger, the SnowCapped Romance, and I’m incredibly proud to be a part always fun to watch them gush although they kept it away from me Frontier Farmers has been putting of and help grow this company. and rave about how they liked it, until I was older. out amazing strains as of late. and I’m glad knowing I gave them I just can’t get enough of their WHAT AR E YOU R H O B B I E S a great experience they enjoyed. HOW DID YOU BECOME Lemon Harembee or their new 3 WH E N YOU AR E N ’ T A BUDTENDER? I was reintroduced Beans Bowser. WO R KI NG AT T H E WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WAY to marijuana right around the time DI S P E N SARY ? TO CONSUME? of the birth of the recreational HOW DO YOU FIND THE RIGHT I’m a huge gamer at home. I have Classic flower in a bong, you can market. I had tried it growing up, but CANNABIS FOR A CUSTOMER? a gaming PC I play on most of never go wrong. I love dabbing never got too involved in the culture Questions are your friends. the time. I also love keeping my too, typically in a rig - but old and industry. An old girlfriend of I used to work at AT&T, where we product knowledge up to date school is still cool. mine actually got me reinterested in called them ‘qualifying questions.’ and smoke a lot as a result. Being how Cannabis could offer me the Things like what they like, what WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE born and raised up here as well, means to free myself from pain and they do, and what kind of person STRAINS AND PRODUCERS? I love to get out and go fishing, anxiety, and how beneficial it can be they are. Cannabis is a personal Our in-house strains of course! camping, and just enjoy this for people. experience, social or not - and Mr. Clean is a powerhouse of a beautiful state when I can.
feb. 2020
INTERVIEW by JOSHUA STAHLE/ALASKA LEAF | PHOTO by BOOM MEDIA
SHOP REVIEW
PAKALOLO
REVIEW by JOSHUA STAHLE / ALASKA LEAF
Located in downtown Anchorage, Pakalolo Oceanside is Fairbanks-based Pakalolo’s second store in the state. Bringing their tropical flavor to Anchorage, you can expect to find all of their fantastic products in one convenient place. If you have yet to try their Palms, I highly suggest you do so.
HAVING BEEN AROUND SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE INDUSTRY, PAKALOLO HAS BEEN PUTTING OUT A FINE CANNABIS PRODUCT TO THE STATE SINCE THE START.
ENVIRONMENT & VIBE
5/5
Every trip into this store is a good one. The staff is consistently friendly and willing to engage in conversation of all kinds. There is an undoubtedly professional, yet laid back, vibe from the people that work here. The menus make browsing a breeze, and I always leave with a smile on my face.
PRODUCTS
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5/5
Carrying a wide selection of flower, Pakalolo is sure to have a strain that meets just about everyone’s preferences. The store tends to be well-balanced in their stocking of sativa and indica strains, which is always a great thing to see. They also carry some of their own flower from their cultivation, which consistently puts out high quality strains. Did I mention to try their Palms? For concentrates, the store stocks products from Top Hat Concentrates and Einstein Labs. On the edibles side, look for products from Northern Delights, Fire Eater, Momo’s and Wakin’ Bakery.
HISTORY
5/5
Having been around since the beginning of the industry, Pakalolo has been putting out a fine Cannabis product to the state since the start. Hearing that they were opening a store in Anchorage was a welcome addition.
BUDTENDERS
aklEAF.COM
5/5
I am a big fan of several of the budtenders that I have interacted with at this location. Always on top of their game, they are able to give me breakdowns on flavor profiles of different strains consistently. Their knowledge is both reliable and accessible, as I have seen many first time users in the store being given accurate crash courses regarding Cannabis - invaluable information for those new to the scene. The laid back vibe definitely helps ease these new users into the culture, and helps prevent an overwhelmed feeling for the customer.
735 W 4TH AVE | ANCHORAGE, AK 99501 907.646.9000 | PAKALOLOSUPPLYCO.COM 10AM - MIDNIGHT DAILY
feb. 2020
TYLER HOLLISTER
OCEANSIDE
KEENAN HOLLISTER
PAKALOLO PALMS
KONA Benjamin English, and Co-Owner Nicholas Gelinas Budtender Keon Dunn, Founder/Co-Owner GOLD
REVIEW by JOSHUA STAHLE / ALASKA LEAF | PHOTOS by BOOM MEDIA
/greenjarak
@greenjar.ak
LIC. 10008
Check out our February Deals!
Sundays - 10% off CBD Mondays - 15% off Glass Tuesdays - 10% off Cartridges Wednesdays - 10% off Edibles Thursday-Sunday - Rotating Flower Specials 2017
2018
907-631-3800
Open 7 days a Week 9am - 9pm www.GreenJarAK.com 4901 E. Blue Lupine Dr. Ste. E Wasilla, Alaska 99654 MARIJUANA HAS INTOXICATING EFFECTS AND MY BE HABIT FORMING. MARIJUANA IMPAIRS CONCENTRATION COORDINATION, AND JUDGEMENT. DO NOT OPERATE A VEHICLE OR MACHINERY UNDER ITS INFLUENCE.FOR USE BY ADULTS TWENTY-ONE AND OLDER. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. THERE ARE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONSUMPTION OF MARIJUANA. MARIJUANA SHOULD NOT BE USED BY WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING.
aklEAF.COM
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SUGAR COOKIES
feb. 2020
STRAIN OF THE MONTH
S
I ALWAYS ENJOY SEEING PRODUCT FROM THE CONNOISSEUR. I AM CONSTANTLY DELIGHTED WITH THE WORK THEY PRESENT, AND THE SUGAR COOKIES HAS CERTAINLY IMPRESSED.
SITTING ATOP dense, lightly colored flowers are peaks of deep frosted sugar, with a sweetness in the aroma to match its visual attraction. The flavor is earthy, pungent and deeply rooted in the Cookie profile. The smoke seems to steep in those super earthy aromatics and continues with a sweet, yet very pungent afternote that lingers on the palate. The high begins light and lucid, with it increasing intensity slowly - leaving you eventually locked to the nearest sitting arrangement. Testing at over 19%, it definitely hits hard. And with 1.3% terpene content, the flavors it leaves behind after smoking a nice quality hand roll are amazing. Try some out before it’s gone!
Available from AK Slow Burn
GROWN BY THE CONNOISSEUR REVIEW by ESHOM REED for ALASKA LEAF | PHOTO by BOOM MEDIA
+
The largest Garden Superstore in the state with top brands you love, and the largest CBD selection in the country, all under one roof. Southside Garden Superstores isn’t just the largest garden supplier in Alaska, we also have a gigantic selection of CBD products. Our friendly staff of gardeners are seriously big on know-how. We offer special member pricing, 6-month exchanges for electronics and a price match guarantee. Stop by and we’ll help you find anything and everything you need for indoor gardening and hydroponics — and we’ll also send you home with the knowledge to succeed. Now that’s huge!
907.562.9997 2809 ARCTIC BLVD ANCHORAGE, AK 99503
907.357.9997 449 W PARKS HWY WASILLA, AK 99654
SGSAK.COM
the indoor issue
Alaska Greenworks is a limited cultivation in South Anchorage that has been bringing some real fire to the market. We had the opportunity to sit down coowner Shawn Clark to learn more about their Cannabis.
aklEAF.COM
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ALASKA GREENWORKS GLASS SLIPPER
FEB. 2020
GALACTIC JACK
CREAPPLE
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GLASS SLIPPER
CO-OWNERS MELISSA CLARK AND SHAWN CLARK
What strains are you growing currently?
What started your relationship with the plant? I started using
Cannabis as a young adult to alleviate anxiety and stress. Now that I have gotten older, I also use it for pain relief.
What inspired you to open up a cultivation? I have had a little
experience with growing Cannabis and am always looking for new business opportunities. The day it became legal in Alaska, I started looking into the permitting process - what it would take to get into the industry, and then applying for our limited cultivation license.
What made you choose to grow hydroponically? I like to grow hydro
Tell us about your farm! Our farm is a limited cultivation which
is owner operated. My wife and myself work at the farm on a daily basis and we strive to provide craft Cannabis.
We have 10 strains as of right now that we are running, and we are always doing R&D looking for new strains. Strains include our Blueberry Frost (coming soon to market), Creapple, Galactic Jack, Glass Slipper, Killer Goat, Kenai River Kush, Orange Dream, Pineapple Extreme, Wedding Cake (coming soon to market), and last but not least - White Diesel.
“My wife and myself work at the farm on a daily basis and we strive to provide craft Cannabis.”
because of how quick the plant’s growth is in hydroponics, and the numerous types of hydro systems that can be used, depending
on room and plant size, etc. What goals do you have for the future?
Our goal is to always provide clean and high quality flower. I would like to see our flower available in retail stores throughout the great state of Alaska.
If there was one thing that you would like the public to know about your flower, what would it be? We will
always strive to provide a top notch product at a fair market price. @AlaskaGreenWorks
INTERVIEW by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX / ALASKA LEAF | PHOTOS by BOOM MEDIA
the indoor issue
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RASPBERRY
ROOTS Located in Anchorage, Raspberry Roots is a vertically integrated Cannabis cultivation facility and Cannabis retail shop, committed to the highest-quality products and service.
Q&A|
HEAD CULTIVATOR TEDDY SAYLOR
aklEAF.COM
What brought Cannabis into your life?
I was a little kid growing up in Michigan, and there was this weird looking plant in my uncle’s backyard. It had about seven leaves. I had no clue what it was, so I ended up taking one and took care of it. By the time it was full grown, it was giving off this funny smell. That was my first grow! I grew back in high school even more, off and on. Then when medical went legal in Arizona, I found my way down there. After a little while there, I was connected with the guys here at Raspberry Roots. I had a good enough reputation and they offered to bring me up. I got here one year ago and haven’t looked back!
FEB. 2020
What is it like working for a grow the size of Raspberry Roots?
I am happy they offered me the opportunity. I had a good reputation before I got here for growing very clean Cannabis, and we go out of our way to follow through with that. We wear protective suits when we are working with the plants, and have a different suit for each room. I do not use anything on the plants other than the nutrients we feed them, and we mix those ourselves too. We use nothing that comes out of a bottle. This way,
we can adjust per each plant’s needs, instead of being locked in with a pre-purchased mix. We also have to be very flexible. The system we have put together is just as flexible as well - a very versatile and adaptable system. Each and every plant is different, so why lock in your methods to just one style? We have everything planned out on the calendar, and the guys that we have get it done. We have one of the best crews in the state. We do as much as we can to get everyone trained up to the best that they can be, and everyone is so reliable. Doing everything by hand like we do, it’s good to know that everyone is able to handle it.
“We have one of the best crews in the state. We do as much as we can to get everyone trained up to the best that they can be, and everyone is so reliable. Doing everything by hand like we do, it’s good to know that everyone is able to handle it.”
What strains do you guys currently have?
We have quite a bit. We have our Koko Puffs, which has been quite popular as of late. Our Lemonade is one of my favorites that we have. Raspberry Kush, OG Kush, Wedding Cake, London Pound Cake - and we also have an incredible seed bank to pull from that gives us some added diversity when we need it. Really looking forward to when all of the expansion is finished and we can really open up the gates.
PURPLE PUNCH
TRIPLE RASPBERRY COOKIES
What goals do you have with Raspberry Roots in the future?
To finish our expansion and to be able to keep providing this top notch Cannabis. I really enjoy smoking it, and want to keep putting out flower that people enjoy to smoke. When we have that extra room, we are looking forward to getting some of those seeds popped and getting more flavors into the rotation. I’m usually in the grow seven days a week, checking on the plants - it’s nice to see the overall progress. If there was one thing that you would want the public to know about your flower, what would it be?
CREWMEMBERS JAMES RHEAULT AND CODY FROST WITH TEDDY.
We pride ourselves on providing the best possible product that we can. Very clean - we take the time to properly flush the plants, take the time for the proper cure. Why rush the end when it took months for the plant to get there, you know? We care so much about what we do, and we take so much pride with how the flower turns out RaspberryRoots.org
INTERVIEW by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX / ALASKA LEAF | PHOTOS by BOOM MEDIA
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the indoor issue
Q&A|
EXTRACT FACILITY MANAGER JASON LITTLE Will’s World is a cultivation and extract facility in Palmer, providing BHO concentrates like diamonds, terp sauce, wax, and more to retail facilities across Alaska.
WILL’S WORLD
What made you decide to start an extract facility?
I felt like the market was unfair to the cultivators and consumers. Lowball pricing on trim, and long wait times for extracted product were just a couple challenges for cultivators. Plus, consumers were paying upwards of $90 to $100 for a gram of concentrates. I saw an opportunity in the market and seized it. What makes your extracts unique? We work hard
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to make our products appealing to the eye, but the flavors are what we take pride in! To ensure quality, we hand pick all of the product we run from cultivators. We make sure we find the best Cannabis available and we build relationships with facilities like Green Degree, ECO, Frontier Farmers, Green Life Supply, and more.
WHITE DARKSIDE DIAMONDS
What challenges have you faced in your first year that you didn’t expect? Sourcing product
was tough at first, as we learned more and more about the industry and who to work with. However, I feel like navigating the business side of things was the biggest challenge. Unlike other industries, we’re put in a weird bracket of extra taxes and paperwork. Not coming from a background of office work, I’ve learned a lot this year in regards to taxes, employees, and red tape. Fluctuation in pricing was an adjustment as well, but it really comes back to establishing and maintaining relationships. What does the future hold for Will’s World?
aklEAF.COM
We have new packaging and products hitting shelves now! We’ve really worked on our brand this year and making sure we stand out, and the new packaging is part of that effort. We are about to launch cartridges as well, which is really exciting since we plan on bringing that same Will’s World value and quality. We are also about to drop Alaskan Original, our CBD company that is really going to help Alaskans get quality CBD options. That’s gonna be huge! Where can we find your products now?
Green Degree locations, Green Life Supply, Pipe and Leaf in Fairbanks, Green Jar, Bad Grammar locations, Kushtopia, Uncle Herbs locations, Arctic Herbery, Catalyst, Great Alaskan Cannabis locations, House of Green and if we forgot anyone, we’re sorry! WillsWorldAlaska.com | @WillsWorld_AK
FEB. 2020
DARKSIDE DIAMONDS UP CLOSE
“We make sure we find the best Cannabis available and we build relationships with facilities like Green Degree, ECO, Frontier Farmers, Green Life Supply, and more.”
CLEAR POUR
INTERVIEW by MICHAEL CONSALO for ALASKA LEAF | PHOTOS by WILL’S WORLD
Marketing / Consulting Trusted Transport CBD Retail & Wholesale Banking Services Point of Sale Systems, Debit & Credit Card Processing Ask about I Heart Jane and Springbig!
CONNECTING GREAT PEOPLE WITH GREAT CANNABIS ALL OVER THIS
Training, connecting and educating consumers with the current industry!
GREAT STATE OF ALASKA
AMY JACKMAN / 907-398-4326 MELISSA MARTIN / 907-394-4294 AKCANNABISCONNECTION@GMAIL.COM LIKE & FOLLOW US!
concentrate OF THE MONTH
PROCESSED BY FIREWEED EXTRACTS | CULTIVATED BY MERCY TREE OF ALASKA
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DARK
COOKIES FIREWEED EXTRACTS HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN FOR THEIR QUALITY CONCENTRATES, AND THEIR RECENT BATCH OF DARK COOKIES FROM MERCY TREE IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THAT QUALITY.
aklEAF.COM
I
nitially opening the container, you’ll note a sweet aroma that fills the air as soon as the lid has been lifted. On a deeper whiff, you get that really positive Cookie fragrance that we as smokers love. The texture of the hash is like raw granulated sugar, almost falling apart as you scoop it in little tiny grains. Smoking was quite the enjoyable experience - with having that nice sweet aroma follow through to the hit - you also get quite a bit more of that gassy Cookie flavor lingering. Testing at just over 75%, it can be a very light high. However with almost 3% terps, I found it heavy and starting in the shoulders, working its way up my neck and into the back of my head. It made for a pretty relaxed high - great for lounging or an evening with friends. Available at Catalyst. MercyTreeAK.com
feb. 2020
ON A DEEPER WHIFF, YOU GET THAT REALLY POSITIVE COOKIE FRAGRANCE THAT WE AS SMOKERS LOVE. REVIEW by ESHOM REED for ALASKA LEAF | PHOTOS by BOOM MEDIA
edible OF THE MONTH
BY BAKED ALASKA
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BAKED ALASKA’S MANY PRODUCTS ALWAYS HIT HIGH MARKS FOR QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY.
GINGER
SNAPS
aklEAF.COM
AVAILABLE AT ALASKAN BLOOMS AND GOOD AK A TREAT THAT ALL YOUR SENSES WILL APPRECIATE!
I
think I’m sensing a trend with this month’s sample platter cookies. And with all this talk of cookies and their flavors and aromas, it’s only right to finish off with a proper cookie. Enter the ginger snaps from Baked Alaska in Fairbanks. Baked Alaska’s many products always hit high marks for quality and consistency. These ginger snaps take it up a notch, with their sweet yet tangy flavor, and a soft pull before the snap, finishing out in a rich and buttery symphony. As cookies go, they are excellent. Sold in five packs across the state, these average-strength edibles are easy to ‘misplace.’
feb. 2020
REVIEW by ESHOM REED for ALASKA LEAF | PHOTOS by BOOM MEDIA
“Why fly? When you can enjoy the most beautiful ride on earth”
ANCHORAGE TO HOMER June 1st-Aug 31st Monday – Friday Departs Anchorage Arctic & International – 724 W. International - Garrett’s Tesoro Cooper Landing Wild- man’s 300pm Soldotna Chamber of Commerce 500pm All times are approx. Stage Line Summer Schedule HOMER TO ANCHORAGE June 1st-Aug 31st Monday – Friday Departs Homer 830am 1242 Ocean Dr Soldotna Chamber of Commerce 1015am Cooper Landing Wildman’s 1115am
VISITING ALASKA
Sights seen from the road
SEWARD TO HOMER June 1st – August 31st Mon Wed Fri
Locally owned and operated by a Departs Seward 100pm lifelong Alaskan, Stage Line offers call ahead for pick up point passenger transportation, freight, parcel, and courier service, between Cooper Landing Wild- man’s 200pm Anchorage and the Kenai Soldotna 300pm Peninsula. Our schedule includes, All times are approx Anchorage to Homer, Cooper Landing, Soldotna, Kasilof, Ninilchik, HOMER TO SEWARD Anchor Point. Homer to Seward, June 1st - August 31st Soldotna, Cooper Landing. And any The Stage Line PO Box 353 Anchor Point, Mon Wed Fri points in between! MP flag stops AK available! Private party charters Departs Homer 1242 Ocean Dr 900am The Stage Line 1242 Ocean Dr Homer, Ak available! Reasonable rates, saves 724 W International Anchorage, Ak of Commerce time and money for travelling or your Soldotna Chamber Staging points only 1030am 907-868-3914 907-235-2252 shipping needs. Cooper Landing Wildman’s 1130 E-mail: stage.line@yahoo.com One of the top 10 most scenic www.stagelineinhomer.com highways.
RECIPES
IN LOVE WITH MARY JANE
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THIS MONTH we infuse and celebrate with dark chocolate, tater tots and chili. And there’s a red rose for Valentine’s Day. February is a good food month. Make it a good love month too. We need it. #Dontfeartheedible
DANK DRINKING CHOCOLATE for two
leafnationmd.com
1 ½ CUPS HALF AND HALF 2 TEASPOONS CANNA-BUTTER 7 OUNCES DARK CHOCOLATE 1 TABLESPOON SUGAR 2 TEASPOONS CORNSTARCH PINCH OF SALT ½ CUP GRAHAM CRACKER CRUMBS ½ CUP MINI MARSHMALLOWS INSTRUCTIONS 1. Heat the half and half on low in a small saucepan. 2. Add the canna-butter and the sugar, stir well, heat but don’t boil. 3. Add the chocolate and stir well. 4. Add the cornstarch and salt, whisk for 3-4 minutes. 5. Divide between two cups and top with crumbs and marshmallows.
CANNABIS-INFUSED CHILI SERVES 6
2 TABLESPOONS CANNA-BUTTER OR OIL 1 LB GROUND BEEF OR CHICKEN/TURKEY 1 SMALL WHITE ONION, CHOPPED 2 15OZ CANS DICED TOMATOES 1 CAN BEANS, DRAINED, KIDNEY OR BLACK 3 TABLESPOONS CHILI POWDER 1 TEASPOON GROUND CUMIN 1 TEASPOON GROUND SMOKED PAPRIKA CHIPS, AVOCADO, RED ONION
feb. 2020
INSTRUCTIONS 1. In a large saucepot heat the butter or oil. Add the meat or chicken and sauté until just cooked, 10-12 minutes. If there is a lot of liquid, carefully pour it out. 2. Add the onion and cook for 7-9 minutes. Add the tomatoes and the beans, along with all the spices. 3. Simmer gently, stirring every 10 min. for 35-40 minutes. 4. Divide between the bowls and top with crushed chips, avocado and red onion.
TATER TOTS TO LEAVE YOUR LOVER
INSTRUCTIONS
SERVES 3
1. Heat oven according to directions on the package. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream and the butter. Chill briefly.
½ CUP SOUR CREAM 1 TBS MELTED CANNA-BUTTER, COOLED 2 CUPS TOTS, HOT AND CRISP 3 SCALLIONS, TRIMMED AND CHOPPED 3 STRIPS BACON, COOKED & CHOPPED
2. Place 3 bowls on your work surface. As soon as the tots are ready, place them in the bowls and top with scallion, bacon and the infused sour cream. Dig in.
RECIPES by LAURIE WOLF | PHOTOS by BRUCE WOLF
Feature
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
A NEW CANNABIS CULTURE MUSEUM
WHEN I FIRST BEGAN MY CAREER IN CANNABIS AT HIGH TIMES IN 1994, THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS MEDICAL MARIJUANA, A SO-CALLED LEGAL STATE, AND CERTAINLY NO CANNABIS INDUSTRY—ONLY A BLACK MARKET AND AN UNDERGROUND MARIJUANA MOVEMENT. BACK THEN, IF YOU SMOKED POT YOU WERE A CRIMINAL. AND IF YOU GREW, SOLD OR EVEN ADVOCATED FOR IT, YOU WERE AN ACTIVIST AND AN OUTLAW.
aklEAF.COM
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The only place in the world to buy and smoke weed legally was in Amsterdam. During my two decades at the magazine, I got to travel to Amsterdam nearly every November for the Cannabis Cup, where I was fortunate enough to meet, learn about, and even hang out with many of the great pot pioneers and counterculture heroes. I didn’t realize at the time I was living through Cannabis history in the making. So, it’s ironically fitting that now, four years after leaving High Times, I find myself back in Amsterdam in November, photographing and cataloguing classic issues of my old magazine and memorabilia of those pioneers for a new Cannabis museum that I’m helping to build. Talk about coming full circle. It all started this past July when I began seeing these interesting little Facebook posts by ganjapreneur Jair Velleman, showing off various reefer-related antiques he’d been acquiring, and claiming that he planned to use this growing collection to start a Cannabis museum. “I’ve been a collector all my life,” he admits. “And after selling my company, I had a little bit of time and money on my hands, so I started finding and purchasing a lot of beautiful Cannabis artifacts. Then I started looking at the different Cannabis museums out there and thought that I could do it better.” Marijuana museums had been suddenly popping onto my radar in a big way. I’d just visited Sensi Seeds’ Hash, Marihuana and Hemp Museum in Barcelona a few months earlier, and there was a building buzz around the upcoming opening of Weedmaps’ Museum of Weed in Los Angeles. At that time, I happened to be looking for a new professional project to tackle and was intrigued by the prospect of Jair’s idea. I realized that if he planned to display his artifacts in a museum, he’d need someone to write about them and their significance to visitors, by
FEB. 2020
putting them into historical context. I sent him a message, and he expressed interest in possibly hiring me as a freelance writer or consultant when the time came. I thanked him and went about my week - that is, until a few days later, when he called back with an exciting and unexpected offer. “I’ve been thinking about it, and actually I need help with more than just writing about the items,” he confessed. “I can’t build a museum all by myself - I need someone to help me with the whole project. And when I thought about it, I realized that you’re actually the perfect person for that job.” A few weeks later, I was on a plane to Amsterdam for a five-day job interview, at the end of which I’d found a kindred spirit in Jair and been officially named the new Executive Director of the World of Cannabis museum project. In the two months that followed, I set to work researching museums, test driving software and ordering equipment. Then at the end of October, I returned here to Amsterdam to begin the first phase of our epic endeavor: the lovingly laborious process of cataloguing the nearly 500 rare and obscure posters, books, collectibles, and antiques in Jair’s vault. Each and every item must be dated, classified, coded, tagged, measured, photographed, and input into our museum database. Once the collection has been fully archived, we can begin phase two of the project: sorting through it all to decide which items we want to include in the final exhibits. As for the location, we’re still unsure where the museum may end up opening. Jair’s original vision was for the museum to be mobile and pop-up in select cities across the U.S. and Europe, but that could easily change if we find a perfect permanent home for it. Regardless of where the museum ends up, however, its mission will remain the
same: to celebrate the history of modern Cannabis culture by collecting and preserving some of its most significant artwork and artifacts, and displaying them to the public in as engaging and educational way possible. Now you may be thinking: If there are already several Cannabis museums out there, why start another one? Well, because ours will be different than the existing museums in several ways. Our vision is to focus on modern Cannabis culture, primarily in the Western world, from the early days of prohibition and reefer madness, to its modern day mainstream influence and everything in between. From the legendary growers and breeders who propagated all of the popular strains we smoke today, to the brave smugglers who helped distribute them across the globe. From the earliest activists who first fought for legalization, to the smoking celebrities who have come to embrace it. From the birth of the counterculture in the 1960s and the excesses of the 70s, to the Drug War hysteria of the 80s, the advent of medical marijuana in the 90s, and the march toward mainstream acceptance in the new millennium. Ultimately, the driving concept behind World of Cannabis is an all-encompassing educational endeavor that will eventually span all media. As we embark upon this unprecedented journey, we’ll be documenting the entire process as we go through a video series, a podcast, and a syndicated column by yours truly that highlights various objects in the collection, explaining their origins and significance
within the greater context of Cannabis history. Since anthropology is defined as the study of human history and culture, I’ve coined a new term to describe this pursuit that Jair and I are now engaged in CannthropologyTM - the study of Cannabis history and culture (and the name of my upcoming column and podcast). In today’s new legalized landscape, when marijuana media is shifting its focus from OGs to CEOs, it’s more important than ever for us to memorialize the counterculture icons and outlaws whose audacity and activism created the thriving Cannabis community we’ve all grown to love. For aspiring “cannthropologists” such as Jair and myself, World of Cannabis is a true passion project - one that we hope will provide a valuable resource and lasting legacy of education and enjoyment for generations to come. By preserving and honoring our history, we become a part of it. We invite you to join us on this fascinating exploration into the origins and evolution of our culture. Bobby Black is the executive director of the World of Cannabis Museum project. He’s also a former senior editor, columnist, and 21-year veteran of High Times magazine, host of Blazin’ With Bobby Black on Cannabis Radio, and cofounder of Higher Way Travel. If you have an item or story of historical significance that you think is worthy of inclusion in the museum, let us know at worldofcannabismuseum@gmail.com. Look for Bobby’s new column Cannthropology coming soon!
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STORY & PHOTOS by BOBBY BLACK for LEAF NATION
on the road
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Reflecting on the Journey THE INDOOR ISSUE
STORY by JONAH TACOMA @DABSTARS2.0 for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by JESS LARUE @JESSICALARUE_420
T
he scenery blurred by as we made our way down Hwy 16 towards the Canna Organix farm in Sequim, Washington. My story for The Leaf was overdue and I’d convinced Jessica to drive so I could write on the two hour journey north. As long as I could remember I had wanted to be a writer. As a kid we would take long road trips from Colorado to California to see my dad’s
FEB. 2020
extended family, and I would consume my time creating elaborate works of fiction in the back of his fiberglass topped Chevy traveler van. I grinned at the similarities decades later as I pecked away at my Note 9 from the passenger seat. I had written a tech column for the local college when I was younger and had even made the cover with a piece titled “Marijuana. Crime or American Pastime?” in 2007.
Perhaps it was fitting that I now found myself chronicling tales from the inner workings of the Cannabis scene. From California to Iceland we followed the trail, exploring the cathedrals of Rome, getting lost on the canals of Amsterdam which we now knew like the backs of our hands. Or at least liked to think we did. The last few years on the Cannabis circuit had been one beautiful blur. Jamaica, Spain, Holland
THE LAST FEW YEARS ON THE CANNABIS CIRCUIT HAD BEEN ONE BEAUTIFUL BLUR. JAMAICA, SPAIN, HOLLAND AND A HALF DOZEN STATES IN THE U.S. ALL VYING FOR THE CANNABIS SPOTLIGHT WITH NEW EVENTS POPPING UP EVERY MONTH. and a half dozen states in the U.S. - all vying for the Cannabis spotlight with new events popping up every month. I looked up as we passed over a large floating bridge, the grey winter water capping slightly in the brisk breeze. We were headed as far north as you could go and still remain in the States. A thin strip of water a few miles wide was all that separated the United States from Canada. You didn’t need a microscope to see I was getting older, the miles showing in the gray hairs that dotted my groomed beard. At heart I was still the fresh-faced kid who had stood on trash cans, rallying troops to the cause at a time when the cause still mattered.
From my view in the trenches, legalization had seemed to lead to pacification for the many who saw the battle as over, and were now ready to quietly hand the reins over to corporate Cannabis. These times would inevitably be harkened back to as the glory days of Cannabis. Not unlike the glory days of alcohol prohibition, big change was in the wind and not all of it was good. Cannabis was a commodity. But for many, Cannabis was a community and both were in flux. I paused to roll up, depositing the ground up tobacco into an old coffee cup. The robotic voice of the GPS chimed in announcing our arrival, but I knew we still had a long road ahead of us...
Akleaf.com
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by Mike Ricker One Night Stand With A Carnie The whole thing was a Whirlwind. Literally. That was the name of the fabulous traveling amusement ride she so deftly operated. Sometimes the energies of the heavens are in complete synchronicity and a bolt of lightning can change your trajectory. There was an actual graphic of a bolt of lightning on the side of the structure, you see, and it was the bad-assedness of this bolt that I commented on before she picked the ticket from my fingers, spit into her cup and flashed that crooked smile. “Wanna party?” she said slyly. “Don’t ask twice,” I responded. And into the gorgeous August night we went - first dashing to the shooting gallery to claim the stuffed minion that was my marksman’s prize to behold and gift to the new apple of my eye. Aboard the Ferris Wheel we shared a blunt, hovering over the shrieks and bells that further beckoned the unbridled impulses. The fun kept coming at the Giant Zipper, where the twists and spins made us drunk with the lust of maniacal whimsy. In the wee hours of the crisp morning, the shocks of Third Wheel squeaked back and forth like a rocking chair on a creaky front porch.
Feb.2020
And then off she went into the sunrise, down that lonesome dusty road to the next Walmart parking lot several miles from some random Main Street. She would impress a new crowd in a forgotten town, where the tumbleweeds saunter in the footsteps of Tom Joad. The lonely romantic life isn’t for everyone, I thought. And I may never forget her precious companion, Muffy, wearing her torn, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles t-shirt, bravely battling that pesky case of mange. I think of Travolta in the movie Grease as the summer sun fades south, my curious eyes gleaning for some explanation on the peaks and valleys of life’s roller coaster. “Wonder what…she’s doin’ now…”
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