THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE
THE HEALTH ISSUE
# 1 0 3 | JAN . 2 019
4 1 / W h a t M a k e s H e a lt h y C a n n a b i s ? 42 / Microdosing your Cannabis 4 4 / C a n n a b i s : n e c e s s a ry f o r g o o d h e a lt h 46 / The power of a little THCV 4 8 / Q & A : T h e K n o x F a m i ly o f d o c t o r s 5 0 / A G u i d e t o H e a lt h y D a b b i n g 52 / Q&A: the cannastamp visual guide
CANNABINDER CEO TOM HELLER FREE / NWLEAF.COM
INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010
THE harvest issue
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happy new year!
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11 Editor Note 12 Cannabis News 20 bring it to bonnie 22 jerry whiting 24 stoner owner 28 budtender 30 women in weed 32 Highly likely 36 strain of the month 40 the health issue 56 cannabis cookies 58 edible review 60 cartridge review 62 tincture review 66 sativas vs. indicas 70 patient profile
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STONER OWNER: DANIELLE ROSELLISON OF TRAIL BLAZIN’ PRODUCTIONS
THE HEALTH ISSUE
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WOMEN IN WEED: EMILY SKROBECKI TARUKINO MANAGER OF PROCESS ENGINEERING
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40-53
jan. 2019
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CANNABIS COOKIE RECIPES TO RUIN NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
NOTHING COMPARES TO
www.MammothLabs.com @Mammothlabs
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Warning: This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Cannabis can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of the drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of the product. For use only by adults twenty-one years or older. Keep out of reach of children.
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HOW PATIENT BRENT MCCARTHY USES CANNABIS TO BATTLE CHRONIC PAIN AND PROMOTE CANCER ADVOCACY
jan. 2019
STORY BY SIMONE FISCHER @SIMONEFISCHERR | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
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 FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Wes abneY | wes@NWleaf.com | 206-235-6721
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ON THE COVER Tom Heller is the CEO of Cannastamp, one of the companies and technologies covered in this month’s Health Issue special section! Heller’s company is working to establish a visual guideline system for showcasing terpene levels in marketing. Consumers will have clearer information and manufacturers can better convey the richness of their products. Learn more about the business on pg. 52-53.
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Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up the 1st Health Issue of Northwest Leaf! Health is wealth as the saying goes, and Cannabis plays a big role in the modern healthcare paradigm. From topicals to pain relief, cancer treatments to stress relieving dabs at the end of a work day, Cannabis can help in many ways. The most powerful part about this medicine is the fact that it is a plant. As big corporations and pharmaceutical manufacturers begin wading into the industry with billions of dollars, we can protect and preserve by growing our own. This is the most powerful thing we can do as Cannabis patients and consumers. Even as how we buy and use the plant changes, we can have our own in the yard, closet or garage. Holistic and practical, gardening for health is the truest form of wealth. By replacing half the medicine cabinet with Cannabis, we discover the true power we have waiting in a pot of dirt. So as you enjoy the new year and plan your resolutions, I encourage you to try growing your own Cannabis this year. Take your healthcare into your own hands, and connect with the plant that provides for us all. I promise you won’t regret it! Thanks for reading and sharing the Leaf, and happy gardening in 2019!
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AS YOU ENJOY THE NEW YEAR AND PLAN YOUR RESOLUTIONS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TRY GROWING YOUR OWN CANNABIS THIS YEAR.
-Wes Abney jan. 2019
nwlEAF.COM
photo by daniel berman @bermanphotos
ABNEY
national news
CULTURE
ECONOMICS
Pot Perfume Hits Oregon Market
Maryland’s Medical Cannabis Sales Hit $96 Million
WHAT’S BEING CALLED THE FIRST ever cannabis infused fragrance is now for sale in Oregon. Imeon is available in-store only at OLO Fragrance in Portland, reports WKRN. OLO teamed with vape pen company Quill on the project. The base for the fragrance is the Purple Hindu Kush strain of cannabis. Lemon, tobacco, and frankincense are also used. Imeon is described as “elegant, woodsy and warm.” It has no THC, meaning it won’t get you high. The price is the only high involved; it costs $95 a bottle.
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MARYLAND’S MEDICAL CANNABIS industry brought in $96.3 million in sales during its first year, reports The Baltimore Sun. Between 250 and 350 patients a day are applying to be certified by the state for medical marijuana. Nearly 52,000 patients bought 730,000 individual products from licensed dispensaries across Maryland since sales became legal in December 2017. First-year sales more than doubled one industry expert’s earlier forecast of $46 million.
POLITICS
CANNABIS CAN STILL GET YOU FIRED IN MICHIGAN
nwLEAF.COM
MICHIGAN CANNABIS USERS are adjusting to the reality of the situation, and they have little choice. It’s written right into the new state law legalizing cannabis. A section of the “Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act” explains that employers are still allowed to screen and dismiss employees and applicants for cannabis use. “This act does not prohibit an employer from disciplining an employee for violation of a workplace drug policy or for working while under the influence of marihuana,” the Act reads. “This act does not prevent an employer from refusing to hire, discharging, disciplining, or otherwise taking an adverse employment action against a person with respect to hire, tenure, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of that person’s violation of a workplace drug policy or because that person was working while under the influence of marihuana.”
jan. 2019
STORIES BY STEVE ELLIOTT / TOKESIGNALS.COM
national news
GROW
AW, MAN. DID OREGON GROW TOO MUCH WEED AGAIN? AFTER A BUMPER CANNABIS CROP IN 2017 SENT WEED prices plummeting in Oregon, some farmers were put out of business. Guess what? This year’s crop looks to be even bigger. The 2018 harvest increased by five percent over 2017’s, according to economist Beau Whitney of New Frontier Data. The increase came from new growers joining an already crowded industry, he said, reports Willamette Week. Wholesale cannabis prices fell about 50 percent last year, according to New Frontier. The tough market isn’t just challenging for legal growers, according to Whitney. It could also run black market growers into the ground, as consumers access cheap legal weed.
GROW
oregonlEAF.COM
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Cannabis Pesticide Contamination Worries Oregon Farmers OREGON FARMERS WITH CANNABIS-GROWING neighbors are increasingly concerned about pesticide drift, reports the Capital Press. Due to the state’s pesticide testing requirements for cannabis, growers of more conventional crops worry about getting blamed for contamination that renders cannabis unfit for sale. “I have neighbors growing marijuana, therefore I’m thinking about it,” said Tim Winn, a farmer in Benton County. Neighboring cannabis farmers have asked Winn about the possible source of contamination after their product tested positive for banned pesticides, he said. While Oregon allows pot farmers to use a few biopesticides, detection of conventional chemical pesticides will disqualify a crop from the commercial market. The best solution would be for neighboring farmers to work out problems amongst themselves, such as agreeing to plant buffer crops between their fields, said Tracey Liskey, a Klamath Falls farmer. “Do we want the state telling us what we can grow and what we can’t?” Liskey asked.
jan. 2019
MEDICAL
Connecticut Approves 9 More MMJ Dispensaries Connecticut has approved nine more medical cannabis dispensaries, doubling the number of shops in the state, reports the Associated Press. The state’s program has been “thoughtfully expanded” to 18 licensed dispensaries since its launch in 2012, according to Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle Seagull. The department received a total of 73 applications this year. There are more than 30,000 approved medical marijuana patients in Connecticut, according to officials. Thirty-one medical conditions currently qualify adult patients for cannabis. Democratic Governor-elect, Ned Lamont, said he expects recreational cannabis legalization to be a priority in the new legislative session, which begins in January. Lamont campaigned in favor of legalization during the election, reports The Washington Times. The first recreational cannabis shops in neighboring Massachusetts opened in November. BY STEVE ELLIOTT / TOKESIGNALS.COM
national news POLITICAL
oregonlEAF.COM
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Maryland Panel Bans Cannabis Advertising THE MARYLAND MEDICAL CANNABIS COMMISSION inDecember voted unanimously to ban billboard, radio, TV, and most online advertising by marijuana companies. Representatives for the companies said they would fight the move in the Maryland General Assembly when it convenes next month, reports The Baltimore Sun. The new rules also ban advertising in newspapers and magazines that cannot prove that 85 percent of their audience is over 18 years old. Leaflets and flyers are also banned in most public and private places. Internet ads must be accompanied by an age-verification page that users have to answer. Cannabis advocates claim that essentially bans online ads, since there’s no way to verify accurate ages. The commission’s move comes just as Maryland’s medical cannabis industry is rapidly growing. “This is a total ban on advertising,” said Mackie Barch, chairman of the Maryland Wholesale Medical Cannabis Trade Association. Barch said the commission banned advertising in response to the concerns of just two state lawmakers who got upset about a single billboard on Route 50 depicting Adam and Eve smoking a joint.
jan. 2019
NATIONAL
New York Could Go Legal In 2019 CANNABIS ADVOCATES EXPECT NEW YORK GOV. ANDREW Cuomo to call on the Legislature to legalize recreational cannabis during his first budget address in 2019, reports NBC News. “We’re drafting legislation,” said Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for the governor. Cuomo earlier this year launched a working group to make legislative recommendations based on a study on “regulated marijuana” unveiled in July. The study concluded, “The positive effects of a regulated marijuana market in New York State outweighs the potential negative impacts.” “There’s a lot of hope for it in the legislative session,” said Kassandra Frédérique, New York State director of the Drug Policy Alliance. “We’re ready with a checklist to hold them accountable.” BY STEVE ELLIOTT / TOKESIGNALS.COM
OBVIOUS CHOICE, RIGHT?
39C
39C
WAM Oil, pesticide tested because it matters washingtonsoriginal.com
This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgment. 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 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.
New Section For 2019! Mission Statement To promote and foster the growth of the cannabis retail experience. To develop and enhance the Business 2 Business relationships between dispensaries and vendors in this emerging market. Our Vision Our vision is to bring collectives, vendors, growers and auxiliary companies together to create the synergy that was lacking in this area of the cannabis culture/industry. One of the biggest problems (which is universal in this industry) Is that the buyer or procurement agent is lacking time. This allows the decision maker, to meet, see and discuss products at their leisure. This allows the decision maker to see many compliant companies at once, and to create ongoing relationships. Justin, Hap and the Champs Dispensary+ team look forward to helping create an atmosphere that you can thrive and conduct business, at your LEISURE. We are also open to companies/vendors you want to see there. Feedback is important, and we are open to it. The industry is changing and helping you expand to a bigger market share is our goal. The Champs family of shows continues to grow and look forward to growing with you. For More Information Hap Kent- office: (818) 855-1528, cell: (818) 640-7010, email: Hap@ctsdplus.com Justin Wilson- cell: (509) 994-7051, email: Justin@ctsdplus.com
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OPINION
BRING IT TO
Howtoprotect yourstrains through trademarks andcontracts
BONNIE I By BONNIE FONG FOR NORTHWEST LEAF
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“What can I do if I do not like the strain name provided by a producer? Can I change it when I sell it? Do I need to worry about trademark infringement of the producer and/or processor?” Often retailers order a strain and they do not like the strain, or they believe it to be questionably close to another familiar product. Gorilla Glue, for example, is a common strain in the Cannabis field but also lends its name to an adhesive product that provides glue or tape products to the general public. It is not uncommon for retailers to find names that are potentially problematic and have questions about their responsibilities. First, you cannot change the name of a strain that you find suspicious. If you believe a strain is problematic for whatever reason – trademark infringement, vulgarity, misrepresentation, appealing to children, etc. – it is the absolute right of the retailer to reject the product. You are under absolutely no obligation to take product that a producer and/or processor sends. Under WAC 314-55-010(19), lots must consist of the same strain and cannot be mixed unless there is a Cannabis mix product made. Similarly, under WAC 314-55-077, producer and/or processor are the only licensees permitted to make packaging, not retailers. Under these WACs, retailers are not permitted to change the names of strains. Second, it is important to remember that retailers can be held liable for trademark infringement as well as product liability just as much as the producer and/or processor. Many retailers believe that because the retailer is not creating the name and product, and in fact, they definitionally cannot have control over such things, then that relieves them of liability. After all, under WAC 314-55-018, retailers cannot exert undue influence over producers and/or processors. However, retailers can be held liable for trademark infringement and product liability in civil matters, so it is crucial that stores keep a close eye on such products. Be sure to keep an eye on strains that come into your store. Some may be appealing to children, promote over-consumption or use a trademark that may be unlawful. You cannot change the name of a strain, so it is best to verify strains before they are sent to the store or enact protocol where your staff is examining strain names as they come in.
jan. 2019
often get questions about how to properly protect the strains and genetics created by growers. All too often do problems arise surrounding the consistency of strains, not just by name, but also of the quality of the strain. One then has the responsibility of providing a producer with the correct type of strain, but also ensuring that they are equipped with preserving the genetic quality of the generations of the plants to come. In other words, in order to protect one’s strain, one must take a hands-on approach to renewing the plants or replacing them with plants in order to keep the correct strain alive. First, you have to be prudent about properly contracting around the terms of the genetic license. This means that if you wish to preserve the integrity of your strain, you must establish at the beginning of the contractual relationship that you are entitled to test the clones, plants and flower, to make sure the plants and buds are being held to a satisfactory standard. Second, be sure to protect your trademark. Filing a state trademark means that you actually have to be in commerce in the state of Washington. Federal trademarks afford you broader protection geographically and also permit you to secure trademarks for marks that you intend to use. This means for federal trademarks, you don’t need to be in commerce at the time you file, but that you intend to. This may seem to make a secure case for federal trademarks, but the complexity of establishing a federal trademark opens you up to competitors in other states who might have a similar mark as yours. In this sense, you want to make sure that your mark is different enough from others in order to make a successful trademark. Finally, you may want to protect your trade secrets in any tissue culture procedures your company is using in order to ensure your strain is authentic. This means securing a series of non-disclosure agreements or confidentiality agreements in order to ensure that your methods of protecting your strains are proprietary and not publicly known. Those who fail to protect their trade secrets may find out later on down the line that such a failure waives their right to those methods. The information provided in this article is not legal advice and provided for educational purposes only. If you are in need of a criminal defense attorney, contact bonnie@c3.legal to schedule a consultation.
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OPINION
by JERRY WHITING for NORTHWEST LEAF
HEMP, HEMP, HOORAY?
HOW THE LAW HAS CHANGED
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New federal definition of industrial hemp: cannabis sativa L. with less than 0.3 percent delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol by dry weight. Not total THC, not even THC-A which is most of what the plant makes. Just delta-9-THC. Hemp has been removed from the Controlled Substances Act and therefore is no longer illegal under federal law. No more Schedule 1 status.
nwLEAF.COM
State laws will continue to define cultivation, but interstate commerce is a go! The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has “regulatory authority” over hemp used in food products or supplements, with the exception of hemp seeds, hemp seed protein and hemp seed oil. Hemp-derived products including CBD marketed as food or supplements or those making curative or therapeutic claims, will be regulated by the FDA.
jan. 2019
The passing of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (a.k.a. The Farm Bill) is a game changer of epic proportions. I’m not one to sing the praises of politicians, but we owe Mitch McConnell a special shoutout. Without his support, we wouldn’t be celebrating the loosening of restrictions on hemp at the federal level. With hemp cultivation legal and licensed in several states already, the rise of federally legal hemp means everyone will be jumping on their tractor this Spring. Challenge #1 With everyone planting hemp for CBD
extraction, where will all those seeds come from? Unfortunately, many hemp farmers will plant questionable cultivars that wander over 0.3 percent THC. Because most will plant regular, not feminized seeds, there will be acres of co-ed hemp across the land. Mary Jane’s and Mary John’s side-by-side. What will happen when all those male plants flower and spread their pollen far and wide? Ask the pot farmers downwind! Did you know pollen can travel 3 to 5 miles?
Challenge #2 Learning curve. Most new hemp farmers
don’t have previous experience growing marijuana. It’s a new crop to those used to growing corn, wheat, soybeans, etc. My advice? Read Jorge Cervantes book, “The Cannabis Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to Cultivation & Consumption of Medical Marijuana”. Your county extension agent won’t be of any help. My hope is that new farmers will do their homework, share notes with others, local or online, and strive to improve next year.
Challenge #3 Lack of harvest infrastructure. Growing
hemp is easy compared to harvesting it. Every farmer scoffs and ignores my advice: “Plant only what you can
harvest plus 10 percent in case you get lucky.” Ask yourself how you’re going to cut it, dry it, cure it and store it before planting 10, 20, 50 acres or more. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. If you don’t have an indoor facility that can maintain 60/60, 60 degrees and 60 percent humidity, you can’t dry your precious harvest correctly, let alone store it without mold and mildew ruining your crop. The more you grow, the harder it is to harvest it all correctly. Better a smaller, high-quality crop than a large, poor one. Buyers will become pickier as the CBD market grows, and large processors will want uniform plant material to work with. This means fewer cultivars with consistent chemical composition. The only way to scale efficiently is standardization throughout the whole supply chain beginning with the raw hemp. Big Ag isn’t interested in multiple strains, only the ones they can grow in bulk and dial in, time after time. Big Ag customers don’t want to deal with a gaggle of small family farms.
If I win the lottery, I’m going to invest in hemp as food. I dream of the day when hemp milk is an option at Starbucks. Why import Canadian hemp seeds to make hemp milk when farmers in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, et al. can not only supply our needs, but the export market too. Will we see USDA organic hemp farms? Let’s hope so. There’s no reason we can’t look forward to that familiar logo on a wide variety of retail products. Access to banking services for the hemp ecosystem? It’s no longer Schedule 1 so why not? My hope for industrial hemp in 2019 is that CBD-rich hemp will fill the void in states lacking access to recreational or even medical marijuana. When organically grown hemp is used to make whole plant a.k.a. full spectrum preparations, consumers and patients across the nation will finally have access to wholesome medicine. A wide range of cannabinoids, even without delta-9THC, is just what’s needed by so many who suffer in pain. Hemp to the rescue!
“I DREAM OF THE DAY WHEN HEMP MILK IS AN OPTION AT STARBUCKS.”
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STONER OWNER
DANIELLE ROSELLISON
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Founder & cHIEF OPERATING OFFICER TRAIL BLAZIN’ PRODUCTIONS nwLEAF.COM
I-502 CANNABIS PRODUCER AND PROCESSOR
president THE CANNABIS ALLIANCE NONPROFIT MEMBERSHIP GROUP FOR CANNABIS BUSINESSES AND AFFILIATES
jan. 2019
INTERVIEW by AJ OG @AJ.OG | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
STONER OWNER highlights individuals who have developed their love for Cannabis into a thriving business. This monthly column celebrates leaders and business owners who love and consume the plant, giving them real insight into the industry’s true roots and culture.
How did Cannabis come into your life? I was 22 when
I found out that the locked room I wasn’t allowed into downstairs was my pop’s grow. My dad was the first in his family to go to college and had to take a quarter off of school to save money and pay for the next quarter. During this small break he, unfortunately, was drafted to Vietnam. Like so many vets this moment changed his life and left him with internal scars we now refer to as PTSD. This is the reason why Cannabis became a part of our family household. It wasn’t until I was a young adult, pre-college, that I actually tried the plant for the first time. I was a straight-A student and a rule follower, and I remember the first time I tried Cannabis thinking to myself, “Oh my god, what else is the government lying to us about?” It was the first time that I thought critically or outside the box and challenged what our authority figures tell us.
What inspired you to start your company?
What does it mean to you to be a Cannabis business owner that consumes the plant? It means we deserve to be here. It means that people should support Trail Blazin’, the Cannabis Alliance, and all those who have made it this far and are here for the greater good—not just personal gain.
What is your favorite strain and way to consume? I have two favorite strains: Harlequin and 9# Hammer. I am the pinnacle of a soccer mom, with that said my favorite way to consume for daily use is to micro dab our Harlequin shatter BHO. I like to smoke it on a vape pen. Before bed, Juddy and I make a 9# Hammer tincture tea with fresh lemon and hot water, it allows us to sleep a full nine hours and I always wake up feeling refreshed.
how do you handle consumption during the work day for both yourself and your employees? The legally
correct answer is it is not allowed. However, our employee handbook states that you are not to be under the influence of any substance while at work unless you are a medical marijuana patient and we have a doctor’s note.
What is your biggest challenge and favorite part of owning a legal Cannabis business? My favorite part is meeting the people that share the same mission and values. Industry pioneers who blazed the trail in medical such as Jeremy Kaufman of The CPC (Center for Palliative Care), Laura Kaminsky with the Cannabis Alliance and Nick Mosley of Confidence Analytics. Meeting these people who can see five, 20 and 50 years down the road and realize that we have a huge responsibility to do this correctly and not blow it.
THECANNABISALLIANCE.US @THECANNABISALLIANCE
I also absolutely love working with my husband. It’s hard to find someone to put up with your crazy... I just love his crazy and he loves my crazy and I am so appreciative that we are in this together. Our employees and those we work with, who believe in us and what we are doing, and how unequivocally loyal they are, I am stunned by their faith in us. As far as challenges go, there are not enough pages in the magazine to cover all of the insanely unfair challenges and hurdles that we are forced to face on a daily basis. The bureaucracy of Washington’s government and how they determine what is a priority and what is not a priority is very disappointing. My biggest hurdle as a producer and consumer is that there is no mandatory pesticide testing and little to no enforcement regarding pesticide use. The fact that a human consumable good is not being closely scrutinized for pesticides, especially regarding concentrate production, is a serious health concern that should be of the utmost priority — bottom line.
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What are your goals for the future of Trail Blazin’ and the industry in general? My goal for the future of Trail Blazin’ is world domination while leading by example. We will always be blazing the trail, one step ahead of the game. Leading by example, doing what is good and right by this plant and its consumers. As for the industry in general, my highest vision is to see this community of producer, processors and retail providers evolve into the first socially conscious industry. In turn, helping set an example for many other industries to follow.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Free time is a luxury that we don’t generally have. However, when Juddy and I find ourselves with some free time we love to take our family on adventurous trips and weekend activities. Our family enjoys skiing and snowboarding, seeing live music and reading books together.
“I WAS A STRAIGHT-A STUDENT AND A RULE FOLLOWER, AND I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I TRIED CANNABIS THINKING TO MYSELF, ‘OH MY GOD, WHAT ELSE IS THE GOVERNMENT LYING TO US ABOUT?’ “ jan. 2019
nwlEAF.COM
What inspired us to trail blaze was my husband Juddy’s brilliant idea in 2009. Our grower and provider for years let us know that she had completed her master’s and was heading into a high paying government job and would no longer be able to provide for us. She did, however, offer her methodology, equipment and prized mothers. I was pregnant with our firstborn, and lets be honest, having access to our own medicine and making money was the first motivation. Juddy’s brilliant idea was to transform our laundry room into our first small four plant grow. As the years moved forward, we went from our single room to our basement, to several other houses and basements. We were medical providers and proud of the community we had become a part of. As our journey continued and I-502 presented itself to our state, we did not support this bill mostly because the five nanogram limit for DUI infractions had no real grounds of reason. After [I-502] was passed, Juddy came home with another great idea and we called it operation 100 percent. We decided we would go 100 percent for this plant since we were already in medical. We would continue our pursuits and throw our irons in the fire on the retail side as well. Armed with a seasone, decade-long practiced
understanding of production/processing, Trail Blazin’ Productions officially stepped into the legal retail market. In 2014, we hired 15 people to take down our first legal harvest. While we were hard at work, my father became one of the 22 Vets that commit suicide every day. I mention this because his acceptance and understanding of Cannabis as therapy, and his lifelong pursuit to aid his PTSD with this plant, will forever be carried in the heart of Trail Blazin’ Productions. He will always be a huge part of the reason I choose to do what I do for this plant and society at large.
TRAILBLAZIN.NET @BLAZIN502
This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Smoking is hazardous to your health. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Should not be used by women that are pregnant or breast feeding. For use only by adults twe
enty-one and older. Keep out of reach of children. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. This product may be unlawful outside of Washington state. 21+ Recreational
BUDTENDER OF T HE MONTH
@MONLOVESLEMONS
MONICADAVIES “I HAVE WATCHED THIS INDUSTRY CHANGE AND GROW SO MUCH IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THAT I FEEL STRATEGIC AND MINDFUL BUDTENDER EDUCATION IS HIGHLY IMPORTANT. ”
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Situated close to I-5, this northern Washington access point is a quick stop that offers a great selection of top-shelf products backed by a truly welcoming staff. The Leaf team was pleasantly surprised by the true patients standing behind the counter. One such patient is Monica Davies, who has been a staff member at Top Shelf Cannabis since it opened in 2014. Davies now works as the Assistant Manager and lead Budtender at the shop. For all the right reasons, we are pleased to highlight this Lemon Kush loving patient-turned-provider as our featured Budtender of the Month.
What are your hobbies when you aren’t working at the dispensary? I am a hiker and I highly recommend this adventure. My fiancé and I love to get out into nature, take in the fresh air and spend time in the outdoors. We love Washington state. It really is the greatest place to live for an avid hiker. We literally went on 30 hikes last year and my favorite was Diablo Lake in Washington’s North Cascades National Park.
By September 2014, I started working as a budtender and I soaked up as much knowledge as possible in the months to come. In 2018, I was promoted to assistant manager.
What is your favorite part of the job? when did cannabis first come into your life? Helping people find what they really In college, I had a life-changing car need for lifestyle enhancement. It’s accident that resulted in a severe always rewarding to help a person head injury. For pain management, dealing with ailments find a solution doctors prescribed me a daily for therapy that is sustainable and regimen of heavy opiate prescription natural. I also love my co-workers. drugs. They numbed my mind, made We are like a family, and the me nauseous and I felt like a zombie industry at large is so kind, patient walking through life. and caring. It’s amazing really to be As I searched for alternatives in a service based retail setting and to prescription based therapy, experience so much laughter, joy and I realized that Cannabis was a gratitude on a daily basis. viable option for daily regimented pain management and an opioid What’s your favorite way to consume? replacement. At the time, I was In a bong, rolling a joint or smoking working at the courthouse and this a pipe. Every morning I wake up to made Cannabis as an option for choose the herb that will get my day therapy impossible to co-exist with going, set up my bong with clean my government contract. water, turn on the news and light up. It I had been a prior Cannabis user is a daily ritual for me and it truly sets with over 25 years of therapeutic me up on the right foot as I’m stepping use and had stepped away from out the door for the day. this lifestyle for a high paying government job. This realization favorite strains & producers? had me questioning my choice of I am a huge fan of Lemon strains. employment because I desperately Lemon Haze, Lemon Drop, Lemon needed a healthier option for pain Kush, give em all to me... I love all management. Lemon inspired fire! Some of my One day at the courthouse I had top favorite producers are Dawg the pleasure to help Tom (owner of Star, Western Cultured and Falcana. Top Shelf Cannabis), who came into Dogstar Cannabis grows the best my office and handed me $8,000 Lemon Drop, hands down. in $5s and $20s to pay his bill for his Cannabis retail shop. I sat there Why do you like working HERE? I have been and counted every dollar and in the working with Top Shelf Cannabis process, Tom told me his story. By since 2014. This is my home and it the end of our time spent together, has been very rewarding all of these he offered me an opportunity to help years working with my team and the open Washington state’s first-ever Cannabis community. I compliant Cannabis have the opportunity to retail shop. grow, learn and be of I took this alignment service to those in need as a sign from the of therapy. I myself being universe to step back top shelf cannabis 4712 Pacific Hwy a patient also experience towards a healthy Bellingham, WA an abundance of and natural lifestyle (360) 922-7749 therapy and healing that will offer the pain TopShelf-Cannabis.com from every retail management necessary @TopShelfCannabis_Pac exchange that leads to a for a productive day. positive outcome. How did you become a Budtender? WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ANY INDUSTRY CHANGES? I started off in the Cannabis industry I have watched this industry change helping Tom’s retail shop, Top Shelf and grow so much in such a short Cannabis with accounting. I was the period of time that I feel strategic and bookkeeper, after a few months of mindful budtender education is highly working behind the scenes I realized important. There should be monthly that I wasn’t fulfilled. I needed to coursework and mandatory education. work with the people and the plant.
GOT A FAVORITE BUDTENDER? TELL US WHY! NWLEAF@GMAIL.COM
jan. 2019
INTERVIEW by AJ OG @AJ.OG | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
WOMEN IN WEED nwLEAF.COM
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EMILYSKROBECKI Manager of Process Engineering | Tarukino, Inc. Emily spoke with me about her experience as a chemical engineer in the Cannabis industry and how failures make us successful. Tarukino represents several products in the Cannabis industry, such as the water-soluble THC and CBD that Skrobecki is working to develop. Some companies you may recognize that use the technology are Happy Apple, Pearl20, Utopia Sparkling Water and my personal favorite—Velvet Swing. New products are also in development, such as Reeb, which is a barley soda that is made with hops and is another exciting new project that Skrobecki’s work and the team at Tarukino has contributed to. With beakers of varying size in the brightly lit workspace, Skrobecki gave the grand tour, which included a look at her equipment and workstation, where machines and technology were covered in white cloths to protect their intellectual property. She gave me a first-hand look at the water solubility of Cannabis, a project she is excited to be working on because not many people understand the chemistry. The challenge of the unknown is what drives Skrobecki to search for knowledge and dive deep into this type of science. In her undergrad at Oregon State University, Skrobecki worked with botanical extraction, steam distillation and alcohol extraction as well. She graduated in 2015 with a degree in chemical engineering and a minor in biochemical processes. Additionally, She was a research and development chemical engineer for an edibles company, where she helped them with their internal quality assessment. Then she was a chemist for an analytical lab before she finally ended up as the manager of process engineering for Tarukino. As a woman in science, and more specifically, Cannabis science, Skrobecki laughed when I asked her if there were lots of oth-
jan. 2019
er women working in similar careers. She told me that she has yet to meet another woman who is a chemical engineer in the Cannabis industry. She explained that she is a lover of all things plants. She was inspired by another woman she knew who was working in botanical extractions. Coincidentally, she imagined herself maybe someday doing hop extraction for beer makers but eventually found herself falling in love with hops’ cousin, Cannabis. Her personal relationship to the plant goes beyond recreational consumption, and she describes to me the creations she’s experimented with at home. Skrobecki says that the essential oils found in Cannabis always intrigued her, while trying to un-wrench a part of the which led her to formulate her machinery. Some of them may want to own “bedtime aroma” of oils to diffuse realize that she could “probably beat at nighttime. them in an arm wrestle.” Although she recognizes that science Skrobecki said lab safety is among is typically male-dominated, she seems the biggest chalrelieved to say that this is lenges she has faced all changing. She notes COINCIDENTALLY, while working in the that she doesn’t see the SHE IMAGINED legal Cannabis world. Cannabis industry as HERSELF MAYBE “I don’t think [lab male-dominated. “There are two different SOMEDAY DOING HOP safety] is taken very seriously. There types of people on this EXTRACTION FOR are people workplanet,” she said. “We all BEER MAKERS BUT ing with high temp have our own different and high-pressure EVENTUALLY FOUND traits, any human has systems. And they any other type of ability. HERSELF FALLING IN don’t know what to If you’re creative, you LOVE WITH HOPS’ do if something goes can come up with an COUSIN, CANNABIS. wrong,” she said. “If awesome design. For there’s an acidic spill, someone who’s more not everyone is very conscious on how analytical, they’ll be really good at to clean up the spill.” perfecting that system.” Skrobecki believes there aren’t many Skrobecki recalls working with so companies practicing safe methods as many great men who appreciate well as they should. She shares with me women and their abilities, and who are excited to see women entering scientific her gratitude for her team at Tarukino, who values safety as their number one fields because they see the benefits of priority by empowering their employees working together. The only misconcepthrough up to date safety training. tion men have had about Skrobecki’s I asked Skrobecki if she thought the ability is that some men can underessafety issues in the lab were due to timate her physical strength. She jokes a lack of professional schooling and that they assume she will break a nail
training. “The internet is a glorious place these days,” she said. There is a multitude of resources available online, such as on OSHA’s website, to teach your staff and yourself about safe lab practices. I asked Skrobecki to think back on her school-age days of the science fair and beyond, and to share with me what advice she would give her younger self. “Never stop networking,” she said. “Go outside your comfort zone, even if you show up to an event and don’t talk to anyone.” She advises her peers and others looking to advance their careers in STEM and Cannabis to keep pushing. “Fail as many times as you can because that is your biggest learning experience,” she said. Modern science is facilitating change in the Cannabis industry at lightning speed. Terpene extraction, steam distillation, genetic sequencing – they seem like new technology, but scientists have been using these methods and tools for years in different applications. I’m amazed at all the different ways this technology has been applied to Cannabis, and I’m convinced that the world of science would benefit greatly if more women became involved in it.
STORY & PHOTO by DANIELLE HALLE @SWEET.DEEZY
Over 500 Different Cannabis Sku’s Available Every Day!
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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 21 and older. Keep out of the reach of children. Marijuana products may be purchased or possessed only by persons 21 years of age or older.
The iconic talk show host has turned her focus to Cannabis, becoming both a documentary filmmaker and a vocal advocate for MMJ. Lake will deliver the keynote presentation at the Cannabis Science Conference in Baltimore, MD April 8-10, 2019.
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Michelle Andonian
highly likely #41
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RICKI LAKE ormer talk show host and actress Ricki Lake is the sort of celebrity that was made for the culture of the quirky 90s. Originally from Baltimore, Lake was a character in many of oddball director Roger Walters films of the late 1980s, but she rose to stardom through her appearance in his breakout cult-classic “Hairspray” as Tracy Turnblad, the film’s protagonist. Lake’s acting career eventually led to her hosting the popular daytime talk show, “The Ricki Lake Show,” which became a syndicated program on television in the 1990s and into the 2000s. Lake’s quirky-and-smart character and her terrific personality made her a natural in the role, as it seemed like she could get anyone to talk about anything. And, at just 24 years old, she was the youngest person to ever host a talk show on network television. For here on, she would be forever sealed into the zeitgeist of Generation X. She finally decided to hang up the microphone and cease production on “The Ricki Lake show” in the mid-2000s, choosing to work on documentary filmmaking. Her first film was directed with longtime collaborator Abby Epstein was a breakout hit. “The Business of Being Born” is an exploration of the maternity care system in America, which offered a critical look at the modern medical-industrial complex and its impact on society.
Learn more about Lake’s documentary >> WeedThePeopleMovie.com
Cannabis for people with chronic Now, over a decade later, Lake RICKI FINALLY illness – especially children. is back in the spotlight again for a DECIDED TO “Weed the People,” premiered at different reason – Cannabis activism. SXSW 2018 to rave reviews. She’s again joined forces with EpHANG UP THE Rather than look at the recreationstein to produce “Weed the People” MICROPHONE al benefits of Cannabis, the film crea film that truly looks at Cannabis ates the argument for the reschedthrough its health benefits – especialAND CEASE uling of Cannabis as a Schedule 1 ly for children suffering from chronic PRODUCTION drug by the federal government. conditions. “It’s not about legalization, regThe idea for the film came to her ON “THE RICKI ulation, or getting high,” Lake told because of her late husband’s reLAKE SHOW” IN Salon.com. search on medical Cannabis, which “It’s about children dying of he utilized because of several chronic THE MID-2000S cancer and the heroic docs and scihealth conditions. entists putting their time into this...Scientists can’t do Seeing how Cannabis helped her husband, and science because it’s a Schedule I drug. But [medical how it could help others – Lake became convinced marijuana] has been used to treat many innocuous that this medicine should not be a Schedule 1 ailments, such as anxiety and pain, and now it’s substance. She’s become a Cannabis advocate used to shrink tumors.” by making a case for the medicinal application of
Highlighting Cannabis pioneers who paved the way to greater herbal acceptance. jan. 2019
By PACER STACKTRAIN
Sativa
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A-LIST CANNABIS
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ALISTCANNABIS.COM
TRUE OG jan. 2019
REVIEW by WES ABNEY @NWLEAF | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
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EASY ON THE LUNGS, BUT AGGRESSIVE ON THE BODY AND MIND.
THIS PRODUCT HAS INTOXICATING EFFECTS AND MAY BE HABIT FORMING. MARIJUANA CAN IMPAIR CONCENTRATION, COORDINATION, AND JUDGMENT. 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 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER. KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.
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THE HEALTH ISSUE 4 1 / W h a t M a k e s H e a lt h y C a n n a b i s ? 42 / Microdosing your Cannabis 4 4 / C a n n a b i s : n e c e s s a ry f o r g o o d h e a lt h 46 / The power of a little THCV 4 8 / Q & A : T h e K n o x F a m i ly o f d o c t o r s 5 0 / A G u i d e t o H e a lt h y D a b b i n g
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52 / Q&A: the cannastamp visual guide
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the health issue
HEALTH C
ART BY BRANDON PALMA / 8THDAYCREATE.COM FOR NORTHWEST LEAF
WHAT MAKES HEALTHY CANNABIS? BY PACER STACKTRAIN FOR NORTHWEST LEAF
Since the first shops opened up over five years ago, I’ve been
1. grow practice Is the producer growing indoors, outdoors, or in a greenhouse setting? This makes a lot of difference not just in terms of structure, flavor and density of the Cannabis, but also in terms of the pest control management they use.
2. Nutrient regimen Is the producer using synthetic or natural nutrients? Are they a living soil producer or do they use cocoa? Are they using mineral salts or home-brewed teas?
3. Pest control Reputable growers will typically be up-front about their pest control management. Many are proud of the lengths to which they go to ensure clean Cannabis. You can look for certifications like Clean Green certified, DEM pure, or any of the other third-party certifications as well.
4. Cure This one you’ll have to judge for yourself at the point of purchase. Curing is one of the most overlooked aspects by growers. We’ve all had the experience of smoking “wet” weed. Often, if something smells fantastic but tastes terrible when consumed, this is an identifier of improperly cured Cannabis. Many disagree on the ‘white ash’ test, but I’ve found that with the growers I know that put the time into curing, the ash burns white every time.
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on a mission to try to understand what exactly is going into my lungs and body as I consume Cannabis. Even with considerable effort, I’m sad to say that I still don’t know. While it’s true that our testing and regulatory system is the envy of the modern Cannabis world, it seems like every month we see a new story about a supposedly reputable farm engaged in a less than reputable practice – selling tainted weed to customers. I’ve also witnessed a lot of shifting of blame when someone gets caught doing this. Yes, it’s true that the labs should catch pesticides or mold (or worse) before they hit the market, but producers shouldn’t be using illegal pesticides or trying to push tainted weed on the public. This problem presents an interesting dilemma for consumers: what constitutes healthy Cannabis? One could really get into the weeds on this issue, talking about the nuances of growing methods, pest control and cure. Though, at the end of the day, I think it comes down to producers being transparent. I encourage the Cannabis consuming public to put the heat on producers in this regard. They won’t tell you what nutrient system they’re using? Shady. They’ve moved facilities often? Funny business. Failed a few inspections? Definitely a red flag.
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When you’re learning about a producer, here are some critical things to consider
jan. 2019
the health issue nwLEAF.COM
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MICRODOSING YOUR CANNABIS
Consuming just a little bit of Cannabis used to be something we all just had to deal with from time to time. Less than a decade ago, most of us had a “dealer” and with them, a practice of procuring our herb in a manner that was often inconvenient, sometimes anxiety-inducing and, on occasion scary. Naturally, this had the effect of scarcity on the amount people consumed, and how often they consumed it. What I’m trying to say is – there were times when things ran dry – and when it did, we had to cut back on how much we consumed. Fast forward to today, a time in history where there’s more Cannabis being produced than ever before. We live in a time where we can walk into stores to purchase Cannabis, and do so in forms we never imagined before. With the sheer abundance of Cannabis in our daily lives, it can be hard not to gravitate toward a sort of macro-dosing. But there are questions to be answered – is all of that smoke healthy? Are huge, lung-crushing dabs hazardous to our health? We’ve all had the experience of consuming a large amount of Cannabis, only to find that the next time we smoke it takes more to get as high. This is especially true for edible consumers, where the tolerance builds quite rapidly. And with that tolerance comes a reduction in the offer effect, or therapeutic benefits of this miraculous herb. But how does one learn what the right amount for them is? How much is the right amount to consume? The answer really, is that your body knows – but your brain gets confused. We’ve all felt the therapeutic benefits of this herb, but our endocannabinoid system hasn’t been tested to the degree that warrants actual scientific, or medical conclusions, so all we can really do is try to listen to our own bodies to discover what feels right. And, because Cannabis is a non-physically addictive substance, the possibility of taking a break from consumption is a real benefit, albeit one that requires a bit of willpower. Many of us have had the experience of not getting high the first few times we consumed Cannabis. While we don’t truly understand why this happens, we do know that Cannabis tolerance works differently than other drugs like alcohol or tobacco. Scientists theorize a “sensitization period” when one begins using Cannabis, where it takes a few times for the body and brain to develop the CB1 receptors that allow us to feel high. That’s why sometimes it takes a person a few tries before they really experience being high. Then, there’s the nuance of the physiological and psychological effects of Cannabis. In general terms the idea of being “high” vs. being “stoned.”
tiny tokes for a try
1.
First, you’ll need a tolerance or “T” break. This can take place over two to seven days; what you choose to do is really up to you. But, a good way to judge how much time your receptors need to reset likely depends on how much Cannabis you consume and how often you do. Once you’ve gotten to the point that you feel your cannabinoid receptors have reset so to speak, you’ll be primed to try microdosing.
jan. 2019
2.
Take just one small hit off of whatever type of device or smoking apparatus you typically use. If you’re a concentrate-only user, take a little dab or a very light hit off of a pen or vaporizer. If you primarily use edibles, try a very low dose (say 2.5mg or under). Note: this can be really hard, especially if you were previously accustomed to, say, smoking a joint at a time. Try setting a timer for 5-10 minutes and notice what you feel like. This will be your gauge as to how much it takes to get you to the place you want to be.
3.
The beauty of microdosing Cannabis is that you introspect a bit. You get a good idea of how your mood, mind, and body are being affected. You’ll begin to be able to really discern the difference between what “high” and “stoned” means for you (hunch: I bet you’ll like “high” better) and start moving toward experiencing one more over the other.
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this very special herb can
actually allow us to have a sort of first experience all over again. Most of us never get to feel that because it’s so plentiful now, but it is absolutely essential and wonderful.
BY PACER STACKTRAIN FOR NORTHWEST LEAF | ART BY BRANDON PALMA / 8THDAYCREATE.COM FOR NORTHWEST LEAF
nwlEAF.COM
I really enjoy the feeling of being high.
the health issue
WHY CANNABIS IS NECESSARY FOR GOOD HEALTH Cannabinoid Deficiency Syndrome (CDS)
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is a progressive concept in Cannabis research that shows linkages between common illnesses and diseases like migraines, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, Celiac Disease, ADHD, and many others afflicting large populations in the U.S. Dr. Ethan Russo MD, a leading scientist, has been hypothesizing concepts of CDS and been a part of the research conducted by GW Pharmaceutical--all under the supervision of the FDA, NIDA, DEA, and other governmental organizations at the only legal Cannabis cultivation and research facility in the U.S., located at the University of Mississippi. Research surrounding CDS and the described illnesses and diseases involve a relationship with our endocannabinoid system (ECS), a network of ligands and receptor sites that exchange information between our body systems. Via the ECS, our bodies naturally produce endocannabinoids such as Anandamide, which mimic externally ingested cannabinoids known as phytocannabinoids - including THC and CBD - to carry information or activate receptor sites to stimulate a reaction. The ECS is innervated throughout all systems of the body and is the modulating system that creates homeostasis or equilibrium. Due to the unique structure, actions and innervations within all body systems, the ECS is not well understood. However, it is known to play a role in key functions of the body, which helps to maintain homeostasis. Current medical theories suggest a clear linkage between being deficient in cannabinoids and the prevalence of prominent diseases and conditions. There is a major impediment to conducting research
jan. 2019
BY JAMES SCHWARTZ RN, BSN, LNC CEO | CASCADEHIGH
on this topic: Cannabis is classified as a Schedule source of a wide variety of pharmaceutical 1 drug under the Controlled Substances Act, which treatments originated from naturally means that a substance has been deemed to have no occurring plants, animals, and other therapeutic value and a high risk of abuse. natural sources. So, the healing power of As such, research organizations are banned from plants is a well-documented fact and one studying the substance. I embrace. As a health scientist, I am a This creates a problem to either prove its firm believer in evidence-based medicine effectiveness and safety, or disprove false claims. and science. Without the ability to study For scientific health research, large group, longCannabis and its many therapies, it’s term, variable controlled studies impossible to prove its are critical to providing concrete effectiveness. evidence in clinical trials. However, what the These studies are referred to preliminary evidence as double-blind randomized and working hypotheses control trials, or RCTs, which strive around CDS proves to suggest a clear to eliminate bias and control me is that Cannabis is a variables. linkage between “wellness drug”, similar If research can’t be done, it to daily vitamins, that being deficient is extremely difficult to provide we should all ingest in in cannabinoids evidence or conduct RCTs. Data one form or another. and research on Cannabis is That said, there are and the extremely limited and has only been many ways of ingesting prevalence conducted under direct government cannabinoids, including of prominent control and supervision, or has THC, that would not been completed with privately cause any psychoactive diseases and funded companies with limited effect because it has not conditions. resources and a few small-group, been decarboxylated. human clinical trials. One example is As a parent, a healthcare professional, a Cannabis juicing. There are also other methods that user, and a licensed “adult use” Cannabis producer, I prevent the occurrence of psychoactive recognize I have a bias. effects and other cannabinoid compounds When using critical thinking, we need to recognize that are not psychoactive to begin with. our own bias and preconceived ideas about a These compounds and methods have been subject. I realize my opinions on Cannabis come demonstrated to be safe, even for children. from a true belief in the power of this plant, which is Cannabis is safe, has many medicinal the reason I am not only a proponent of Cannabis benefits, and appears even necessary for but also a producer. As a nurse, I know very well the good health. If you don’t believe me, seek healing power of plants; as most know, the primary the truth for yourself.
Current medical theories
ART BY BRANDON PALMA / 8THDAYCREATE.COM FOR NORTHWEST LEAF
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the health issue
THE POWER OF A LITTLE THCV BY WILL FERGUSON @710DENCIES
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THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin)
is often referred to as the sports car of cannabinoids. The compound is composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms that follow the usual phytocannabinoids structure of being insoluble in water, but extremely soluble in fat/lipid-based solvents. Interestingly, THCV becomes psychoactive exclusively in high doses, as it acts as an antagonist of the CB1 receptor in lower doses. Smoking a high THCV strain results in a clear, and focused high, which is sadly shorter-lived than the effects of THC. THCV is also an appetite suppressant, whereas THC is an appetite stimulant. Smoking strains higher in THCV can cut the munchies while also delivering a powerful, yet functional high.
nwLEAF.COM
What are the benefits of THCV?
THCV has been proven to regulate blood sugar levels and reduce insulin resistance, making it a good option for those with diabetes. THCV has antioxidant properties, which can slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease. Surprisingly enough, THCV also counteracts anxiety and is often sought out to quell panic attacks. People suffering from PTSD may also find some relief by smoking or ingesting THCV, as it does not suppress emotions entirely. It also stimulates new bone cell growth, making it a great option for osteoporosis, osteogenesis and other bone conditions.
THCV has antioxidant properties, which can slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease.
jan. 2019
ART BY BRANDON PALMA / 8THDAYCREATE.COM FOR NORTHWEST LEAF
the health issue
INTERVIEW BY NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415
MODERN\MEDICINE Q&A WITH DR. RACHEL KNOX
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With legal Cannabis federally on the horizon, we will soon see mainstream medicine begin to incorporate, synthesize and otherwise utilize this plant within their practices. Until that time, our current medical system ensures there are only a few doctors who have studied the plant and are knowledgeable about its applications not just anecdotally, but on a clinical level. jan. 2019
Meetdr.JaniceKnox,Dr.rachelknoxanddr.davidknox,
mother, daughter and father, three members of a four-member family of MD doctors who have not only adopted Cannabis into their regular practice, but have quite possibly developed our country’s first legitimate Cannabis-friendly clinic since before prohibition. The American Cannabinoid Clinics was brought to life in Portland, Oregon after Janice was asked to cover shifts at a Marijuana Card clinic and was exposed to vastly different types of patients than she anticipated. It didn’t take long for the family to make the realization that a truly non-discriminatory clinic didn’t exist and that they were perfectly poised to step up and fill a gap. Both Rachel and Jessica Knox (not pictured) graduated from Tufts University in 2012 with MD and MBA degrees, and they have been steadily developing their professional medical careers while simultaneously helping their parents establish the American Cannabinoid Clinics. This brilliant family is truly an asset to the Cannabis industry. Never before have we had medical professionals on our side in such a fashion, with skin in the game in the form of their own practice. These individuals are serving patients and spreading knowledge among Cannabis consumers. They are also helping educate and change the minds of other medical professionals. Northwest Leaf was fortunate enough to catch up with Dr. Rachel Knox to learn more about the American Cannabinoid Clinics and get her perspective on this industry and its future.
PHOTOS BY DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
How long have you and your family been practicing medicine and at what point was Cannabis incorporated as part of your curriculum?
My parents, Dr. David and Janice Knox, have been practicing medicine for 40 and 39 years respectively. Dr. David is retiring from the field of emergency medicine at the close of this year, and Dr. Janice spent 32 years in anesthesia before her shifting focus into Cannabis Medicine. Dr. Jessica and I have been practicing for three years after completing our residency programs in preventative and family medicine. After several years of writing Cannabis authorizations independently, Dr. David and Janice introduced Cannabis medicine to my sister and I. The four of us, fascinated by the science of Cannabis and the physiology of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), came together to form the American Cannabinoid Clinics where we could provide patients with much more than an authorization to use Cannabis, but with comprehensive guidance and integration of Cannabis into their care management plans.
As a medical professional, what do you believe is the biggest hurdle for our industry to reach acceptance by the majority of others in your field? Conventional medicine finds
itself beholden to a standard of medical evidence rooted in the peer review of rigorous clinical trials. The “gold standard” is the double-blinded, randomized and placebo-controlled trial. While there exists tens of thousands of scientific and preclinical trials in Cannabis and endocannabinology, there are fewer clinical trials, and very few “gold standard,” “phase 3” trials providing sufficient evidence that Cannabis is beneficial or clinically meaningful to humans. This is the kind of evidence that institutions can get behind. And until they do, the clinicians who are licensed and employed by these institutions - even those who believe Cannabis might be effective for their patients - are limited in their abilities to offer it.
What is your personal relationship with the plant?
When and how was the American Cannabinoid Clinic established? The
American Cannabinoid Clinic was formally established in the spring of 2017 after two years of providing integrative cannabinoid care in our former collective practice. It was established to deliver patient-centered, integrative cannabinoid care to every patient looking for a personalized approach to addressing their health and healing. This is our mission. The goal of the ACC is to provide patients with direct access to providers who are not only extensively knowledgeable in Cannabis therapies, Cannabinoid Medicine and Endocannabinology, but compassionate in their approach and commitment to supporting patients in their pursuits of achieving optimal wellness through Cannabis therapies and other natural, lifestyle modalities. To this day patients continue to struggle with health care providers who don’t support their use of Cannabis, or who either cannot or are not comfortable doing so. ACC providers are happy to provide such support.
What have you seen in the way of successful treatments and what are some that did not work? All ACC patients find success with Cannabis therapies to varying degrees. The degree to which a patient reaches that success is dependent on so many factors: the Cannabis product used, the method of use, the frequency of use, the chemical profile of any given Cannabis product used, the therapeutic strength of any product used, adherence to non-Cannabis modalities and lifestyle changes necessary to tone the ECS, the state of their medical condition or disease, and more.
How do federal and/ or local regulations affect your practice?
At the ACC we adhere to the standard of clinical medicine as defined by our licensing
lab-based research on Cannabis? Where do I start? At this very
moment, there are multiple clinical trials underway to advance what we know about the benefits of whole plant Cannabis in PTSD, cancers, CTE, seizures and more. There are multiple clinical societies focused on Cannabis therapeutics, and myriad medical Cannabis conferences are held throughout the year each year globally that are well attended by healthcare professionals. While it might not be apparent to the general public, the climate is changing amidst the medical community.
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How can you speak to pesticides and their role in any potentially adverse side-effects from Cannabis? When we consider Cannabis
as medicine, we must demand that it be held to the highest standard. Medical grade Cannabis is free of pesticides, meaning that pesticides should be non-detectable in any Cannabis product tested, from raw plant to concentrates and everything in between. Pesticides, heavy metals, microbes, mycotoxins and molds can be extremely dangerous, especially to immunocompromised patients. They certainly aren’t healthy. And for anybody wanting to use Cannabis with the intent to prevent or treat disease, they should be mindful to use only the purest Cannabis products that have been thoroughly tested for toxic substances, and that is as close to organic as possible.
In your opinion, would there BE a difference in the medicinal value of two plants, cloned from the same mother, one grown organically in soil in the sun and one grown using synthetic nutrients in a soilless medium indoor? The more natural the better. Despite all our advancements, even come 2019, we have yet to prove that the human mind can outdo nature.
AMERICANCANNABINOIDCLINICS.COM
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First, let me set the context that I believe that the health of any organism is wholly dependent on that organism living a natural lifestyle. While lifestyle implies an amalgamation of multiple habits and behaviors, the most imperative is the consumption of food (i.e. fuel aka nutrients). And not just any food, but food naturally designed for it. Whole human bodies require whole foods that are meant for human consumption. What does this mean? This means unprocessed foods in their natural state, unadulterated by pesticides, heavy metals, antibiotics, hormones, toxins, preservatives, fillers, and other unnatural chemicals. While much of our conventional foods are designed and intended for human consumption, they aren’t appropriate for it. I believe the same is true for medicine. Traditional medicine depended on whole botanicals (i.e. plants, herbs and oils) to promote health and induce healing. Whole plant medicines have wider therapeutic and safety windows because they are full of vitamins, minerals and a myriad of other compounds that work synergistically to do so. Not only this, but the human
body recognizes these “This is the kind of evidence that constituents as natural, institutions can get behind. And until as it, too, has evolved to they do, the clinicians who are licensed depend on many of these constituents to maintain and employed by these institutions homeostasis or internal even those who believe Cannabis might be balance. Take the ECS, for example. The ECS of effective for their patients - are limited every mammalian body in their abilities to offer iT.” responds much more dynamically to the whole Cannabis plant than any authorities. We do not prescribe, distribute or isolated constituent from it, and this is to no handle Cannabis. So we do not violate any state surprise. That being said, Cannabis holds a or federal regulations. special place in medicine and in the hearts of this family of doctors because it lead to the What is being done within discovery of the ECS — the most important the professional medical physiologic system of the human body, and community to expand the focus of our clinical practice. access to clinical or
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BY MATTHEW MEYERS FOR NORTHWEST LEAF
OIL
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wipe off, wet a cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol and wipe again ONLY once the banger is mostly cooled down. If you are using a laser, wait until it’s below 200 F or until the isopropyl doesn’t sizzle when applied. Health conscious dabbing might be a bit more work and money but it’s well worth it. We only have one body; get the most out of it during your precious time here on this beautiful earth!
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Use a cleaner burning butane torch as opposed to cheaper propane options, like the Blazer Big Shot, which we also featured in our Dec. 2018 issue Stoner Gift Guide. Make sure to properly clean your banger before reheating it. If you notice smoke during the reheating process, your banger wasn’t fully clean. It’s easiest to wipe out when the banger is still warm, if you need added strength to your cotton swabs use two at once for added stability. If you still notice some oil that won’t
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the health issue
the temperature
that you vaporize your extracts at is important when considering health and enjoyment. Terpenes can convert into more harmful vapors at higher reaction temperatures, so it’s all about patience and timing. The traditional method involves using a timer to count the heat up and cool down times (which vary depending on the banger). This can be less accurate if you want to take multiple dabs in a row, which is when a laser thermometer comes in handy. You can use these infrared lasers to ensure that every dab is at a consistent, low, healthy temperature. We featured an amazing tabletop hands-free laser thermometer called the Temp Tech in our Dec. 2018 Stoner Gift Guide. There are also great electronically heated nails that ensure your rig is always ready to dab! Gadgets like the Temp Tech and e-nails will inevitably make hitting the perfect temp easier, allowing us to make the most out of all these delicious concentrates and extracts on the market! Without the proper temperature, it’s also much harder to judge flavor and overall quality of the oil you’re dabbing. Last month, I discussed the importance of learning what your Cannabis was fed and treated with all of its life. This point is even more relevant when considering concentrates as whatever qualities the starting material has will be amplified in the extraction process. Extraction is science, not magic, and therefore it’s always worth looking for higher quality over the cheapest prices! We are also witnessing an evolution of more solvent-less extracted concentrates hitting the Washington market. I recommend trying a solventless option to see how it compares to hydrocarbon, CO2 or other solvent extracts. Everyone has their preference, but health-wise there is a strong argument towards using extracts that don’t use any solvent to concentrate the product. Some certification standards like DEM Pure even forbid any hydrocarbon extraction for their certified farms! Another important factor of healthy dabbing is using a high-quality dabbing surface. There are many different grades of quartz. I recommend bangers made from GE 214 or Herdus Quartz to avoid impurities in your dabbing surface. There are also some amazing inserts coming onto the market that can instantly upgrade the dabbing surface of any banger! These inserts are mainly made from quartz, silicon carbide, or lab-grown ruby and sapphire, although other technologies exist. It’s also essential to note that it’s unnecessary to hold in the vapor from a dab like you might with a bong rip. Extracts are rapidly absorbed into the lungs and also can expand the longer they stay in, so it’s good to exhale promptly (sometimes a couple extra times on a larger dab).
DABS
HEALTHY DABBING
ART BY BRANDON PALMA / 8THDAYCREATE.COM FOR NORTHWEST LEAF
the health issue
CANNASTAMP CEO & FOUNDER | TOM HELLER Tom Heller is the passionate CEO behind Cannabinder and Cannastamp. avisual guideforinterpreting cannabistestresults. Heller’s passion for Cannabis has combined with skills in coding and engineering to create a visual way of translating the terpenes inside a Cannabis product. A self-labeled Midwestern escapee, he moved to Seattle in 2016 and fell in love with the city and legal Cannabis. Cannastamp was born out of a personal experience with strain variability, and today the company has big goals for their stamp as an educational tool for consumers and businesses alike. We sat down to talk about how Cannabinder started, how to understand the Cannastamp, and what the future of terpene education looks like.
What inspired you to start thinking about terpene profiles and how they cause strain effects and variability?
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It has a connection to the first few months of legalization. That first holiday season after legalization we visited Seattle for Thanksgiving. My partner and I thought, Oh pot’s legal, let’s go buy some! This was really eye-opening and shocking from a midwestern mindset. We went and bought a product called Dirty Girl, and really really loved it! So when we moved out here later I went to find Dirty Girl, and this is when the saga began of not being able to find the same strain. I found myself driving large distances to try and find it, and realized that there had to be a way to solve this with data.
So, you were frustrated that the strain didn’t have the same results you were looking for? How did you translate this into a positive motivation? And how do you view Cannabis in your world?
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From the perspective of an engineering background, I knew that the problem had to be fixed with data. I had to be able to find out what’s in the Cannabis, so it evolved from this simple idea that this issue was fixable. Thinking of the plant as a whole, I came up with the concept and data, did the math and it worked! I want Dirty Girl but I can’t find it, but I can find whatever is on the market that has the same terpene profile! As far as how I view Cannabis personally, I see it as a plant that can have a lot of really powerful impacts in different ways, and so it presents the opportunity to really improve things in a wellness fashion.
you found a way to translate the science and data into a simple way for consumers and budtenders to translate experiences without overwhelming them with science? I would say it’s the visual representation of the experience you’ll have with the product. It’s hard to interpret the visualization of chemistry or to think about the percent of humulene in
jan. 2019
Showcasing a product with the Cannastamp. a strain, and you don’t necessarily know what it means. But if you’ve seen something like a Cannastamp, you can remember the shapes and colors. The problem with Cannabis is that once it’s in a bag it’s abstract. You can’t experience it or even smell it! So Cannastamp can be the visual nose.
As a visual nose and real life tool, how do you see the Cannastamp helping with Cannabis as a health and wellness tool? I’ve come to view this as there are certain chemovars and phenotypes that make me feel a certain way. There’s a time and place where I like to smoke pot and code, but some strains send me to space camp. I don’t want to have to deal with inconsistency, and once you’ve found what really works for you we can repeat that. Once that data is in place, we can look at what other Cannabis products can help with different aspects of life. It comes back to the origin story, and what happened when I wrote the data and needed to visualize it. The idea that resonated was the concept of playing cards or stamp collecting. To look at things side-by-side, the visual terpene data translates into experiences that become repeatable.
What problems do you see with how people buy pot currently, and how does Cannastamp help the budtender and consumer at the same time? The consumer experience right now is walking into a dispensary and asking for indica, sativa or hybrid strains, but what does that mean? Everybody is reaching for terms that aren’t defined, and many stores are interested in volume and speed. The Cannstamp tools give them an easy way to
INTERVIEW BY WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX | PHOTO BY DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
talk about experiences with a customer, where budtenders can talk about products visually and increase the speed of sale, as well as increase the likelihood of the customer coming back. Instead of handing someone a strain and saying it’s an indica, you can make a suggestion, and when they come back ask how the strain made them feel. Now we have a way of visually talking about effects, and next time the experience will be even better.
How can producers and processors participate in Cannastamp?
“As far as how I view Cannabis for my own personal consumption, I see it as a plant that can have a lot of really powerful impacts in different ways, and so it presents the opportunity to really improve things in a wellness fashion.”
This is a free tool! Please use it. If you want to put up data about your strains, we’ll make good use of it. And if you want to put icons on packages or products, we are happy to give it to you for free. For producers, this is an ethical tool that adds value to their products and helps consumers and budtenders connect with their Cannabis.
when shopping. We’re rolling out other tools to help consumers connect previous experiences with something that’s on the shelves in a shop. The odds of selling a bad product to a customer based on a strain name or terms are pretty high. If we can empower that experience, it will be better for businesses and consumers overall.
How will this help retailers?
I would love every consumer in every market that has access to legal Cannabis to use it as a tool to make their purchase, resulting in an overall better experience with Cannabis. I would go so far as to not just have a better experience, but the experience they want to have. Using Cannabis can improve your life in some way; that can be hard to figure out, and I want to make that jump easy.
We’re working on lining up partners for point-ofsale integration for more direct, streamlined work, and offering visualization tools. A retailer can have a photo of a Cannastamp for every product in the store, making for a complete visual experience
hopes and goals for the future?
What’s this all about?
The Cannastamp is a visual guide to understanding the terpene profile of a strain, and understanding how that correlates to effects. Cannabis is an agricultural product, which means that the same strain from a different farm or harvest could have different effects, and other strains that may seem different could have the same profiles! Using the stamp as a guide to experiences with Cannabis strains, users can look to a stamp profile to find similar Cannabis experiences across the variable world of strains and products.
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How a Cannastamp is made Cannastamps are made by taking the analytical data from testing Cannabis for Cannabinoid levels and terpene levels, and translating them into a visual aid. The product’s chemical profile is processed by the Cannabinder software to translate the data, which is broken down into potency, terpenes and Cannabinoids.
Interacting with Cannastamp
Cannastamp Categories Thinking / Working / Relaxing Sleeping / Romance / Socializing Exercise / Medicinal / Other
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Beyond the stamp on a package, consumers and growers alike can visit the Cannabinder website and record their experiences with strains. This allows users to build an understanding of which strains and Cannastamp profiles lead to the best results for a variety of activities, and can help patients track their Cannabis use to get the most desired effects. Filling out a strain review online includes these categories for an easy indicator of what a profile is best used for, and allows for future Cannabis purchases and experiences to be guided by science and data, not the advice of generic strain effects.
VA C A T I O N S W E E T S B O O K I N G D A I L Y M A K E A D A I L Y VA C A T I O N B Y V I S I T I N G T H E S E L O C A T I O N S
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GOLD BAR MARIJUANA This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be he health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.
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This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. 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 the reach of children. Marijuana products may be purchased or possessed only by persons 21 years of age or older.
RECIPES
by laurie wolf Photos By Bruce wolf
BAKED GOODS
MAKING COOKIES is one of my favorite ways to spend a chilly, rainy afternoon. Especially when infusing cookies is incentive to make a few of my best loved recipes. You can even eat and freeze the rest for months of munching and gift giving. Why wait until next Christmas, your friends will love you more if you gift year-round! All of these cookies were infused with the indica strain Candyland from Eco Firma Farms. This euphoric strain manages my anxiety quite beautifully. #DontFearTheEdible!
56 GINGER PISTACHIO THINS Makes about 24 cookies 2 tablespoons canna-butter 1/4 cup chopped skinned pistachios, rinsed if salted ½ cup sugar 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons crystalized ginger, finely chopped 2 large egg whites 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1. Heat oven to 325 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats. 2. In large bowl, stir together confectioners’ sugar, cocoa, flour and salt.
1. Heat oven to 300 F. Coat two baking sheets with cooking spray or parchment paper. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
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2. Add pistachios and stir until the butter is lightly browned, about 2-3 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Stir in sugar. Add flour, egg whites and both gingers and whisk until smooth. 3. Drop the batter by heaping teaspoons, about 2 inches apart, onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake, one sheet at a time, until golden, 12 to 15 minutes. 4. Immediately transfer the cookies with a spatula to a rack to cool. 5. If the cookies begin to stick before all are removed, return the pan briefly to the oven.
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3. Beat in egg whites, one at a time, with an electric mixer on low. Add vanilla extract and beat for 1 1/2 minutes on high speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl several times.
CHOCOLATE WEED DREAMS Makes about 28 cookies 2 1/8 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar 8 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour Pinch of salt 3 large egg whites 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 ½ cups almonds, toasted and chopped * ½ cup walnuts, toasted and chopped* 2 tablespoons canna-butter, melted and cooled 1 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, grated 4 teaspoons cocoa nibs
4. Fold in almonds, chocolate and the cocoa nibs until evenly distributed. Spoon the dough by heaping tablespoons onto the baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. 5. Bake the cookies in batches in the center of the oven, until dry and glossy on the surface but still soft in the centers, about 12-15 minutes. 6. Let cool on the pan for 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.
* Toast nuts by baking in a 350 F oven for 5-7 minutes. Chop when cool.
ORANGE CHOCOLATE LOVIES Makes about 30 cookies 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour 1/3 cup cornstarch 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder 3/4¼ teaspoon salt 3/4 cup sugar, divided 2 tablespoons canna-butter, softened 2 tablespoons canola oil 1 large egg white 2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 tablespoons orange juice 2 ounces dark chocolate, melted 1. Heat oven to 350 F. Coat two baking sheets with cooking spray. 2. Whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl; set aside. 3. In a mixing bowl cream 1/2 cup sugar, butter and oil with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. 4. Add egg white, orange zest and vanilla; beat until smooth. Beat in orange juice. Add the dry ingredients and fold in with a rubber spatula just until combined. 5. Drop the dough by teaspoons, 2 inches apart, onto the prepared baking sheets. Place the remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a saucer. Roll the dough into small balls, dip in the sugar and place on the sheets sugar side up. Press down gently.
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6. Bake until the cookies are just starting to brown around the edges, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a flat surface (not a rack) to crisp. 7. In a microwave safe bowl melt the chocolate. Drizzle over the cookies. Allow chocolate to set.
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Honu is Hawaiian for Sea Turtle, meaning longevity, peace, good luck, humility, and “the spirit within.”
Honu Edibles
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DARK CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT COCONUT SNOWBALLS EGGNOG DELIGHT CHOCOLATE TURTLES
C
RAFT MEETS CANNABIS inside the Honu Inc. kitchens, where they have been pumping out delicious edibles since 2015. Honu is one of the few companies in the entire state whose products I will personally eat uninfused. Their edible experience begins and ends with quality, delicious recipes. This truly sets Honu apart as they continue to develop fun and tasty ways to enjoy Cannabis edibles. I had the pleasure of sitting down with four fun flavors to try, all infused with 10mg of THC per piece. ‘Tis the season for peppermint and eggnog, so I began with those two.
jan. 2019
The Dark Chocolate Peppermint is a two layered treat of rich dark chocolate and silky smooth peppermint, with a nice snap and mouthfeel, easily eaten in one delicious bite. Next came the Eggnog Delight, which smelled delicious before the first taste. Made with a white chocolate base and filled with seasonal tastiness, if you like eggnog you will love these. Feeling the sugar rush and the building levels of THC, I bit into the Coconut Snowballs next. Winner of the 2016 Dope Cup, these coconut truffles are delicious even if coconut isn’t your favorite flavor! The layers of truffled chocolate melt into the firm mouthfeel of raw coconut, coming
10MG THC PER PIECE (SERVING) together in a perfect wintery-themed bite. Ready for an epic finale, I dug into the Chocolate Turtle. Honu is Hawaiian for Sea Turtle, meaning longevity, peace, good luck, humility, and “the spirit within.” Those values permeate the Honu brand and come to life in the Chocolate Turtles. My personal favorite edible from their line, the sweet salty combination of the pecan, caramel, pretzel and chocolate can’t be beat. With a delicious crunch and perfect ratios of flavor, the turtle definitely helped fill my spirit with THC, leaving me with a smile that can only come from eating something so delicious. Honu-Inc.com
REVIEW by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
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Mfused Cartridges
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FUSED BLENDS A MEDICAL CANNABIS LEGACY into
the developing recreational marketplace to deliver a family of products with natural flavors, potency and transparency. Founded in 2005 and operating in medical Cannabis from 2009 to 2016, Mfused is a Cannabis company that existed before brands or even cartridges were on the market. As one of the early extraction pioneers in Washington,
jan. 2019
Mfused began working with Co2 and hydrocarbon extraction - with a focus on high CBD options in 2010. By the time the brand Mfused officially launched in 2015, they had a solid reputation for delivering high CBD oils and concentrate options to patients. Today, Mfused drops a variety of products around the state, from their glass tipped cartridge line, to shatters and waxes by the legendary extractor, Knotty. We sat down with a fully charged battery to try these three tasty cartridge options, preparing for an epic high with three different delivery styles. The first cartridge we puffed on was the Tropical Passion distillate cartridge. Coming in at 91 percent THC, this heavy-hitter is infused with
fruit terpenes for a sweet tropical fruit flavor that isn’t overwhelming while taking heady, fat puffs of vapor. Smooth and strong, the distillate cartridge is perfect for users who prefer flavored vapes and high THC content. Next we dove into the full spectrum Co2 UW Purple, a heady indica with all the natural terpenes and flavors intact. Full spectrum Co2 delivers an extremely satisfying high that is minimally processed, revealing strain specific flavors and effects. From the first puff of earthy-berryhashy vapor we couldn’t stop, with thick clouds of indica high filling the mind and relieving pain and anxiety. Thoroughly high at this point, we
DELIVERS
AN EXTREMELY SATISFYING HIGH THAT IS MINIMALLY PROCESSED, REVEALING STRAIN SPECIFIC FLAVORS AND EFFECTS. switched to the 1:1 CBD to THC cartridge to level off the heady effects. CBD is a great tool to balance a high, as well as deliver a myriad of medicinal benefits. This bright golden oil has a lighter expansion and a sugary citrus flavor, with a quick onset of calming and relaxing effects. Perfect for those seeking a lighter high or medicinal values, the 1:1 cartridge is a quality option for patients and recreational users alike. Hands down the best part of the Mfused line of cartridges is the transparency. It’s clear what type of concentrate is in each pen, with no additives or glycol cutting the oil down, and all processed with patient values in mind. From meeting the team behind the pens and tasting their concentrates, it’s clear that they care about Cannabis! That care translates into their heritage brand as delicious dabs and vapor, and it helps Mfused stand apart as a company worth experiencing. Look for Mfused products at your favorite dispensary! MFused.com
REVIEW by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
P e r f o r m a n c e | VA p e | T e c h n o l o g y
Vape Different7 Los Angeles | San Francisco | Denver | Detroit Follow us @ikrusher
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“Made with a vegan base and no artificial flavors or sweeteners, the tincture is as close to natural as it gets.”
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Azure CBD
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CBD-INFUSED COCONUT OIL / FULL-SPECTRUM CBD TINCTURE
IN
THE WIDE WORLD of CBD products to choose from, we like to find companies that are locally owned and operated, and Azure CBD is a family owned and Northwest operated company. The team behind Azure is focused on delivering high quality CBD products that deliver consistent, quality Cannabinoids (their background dates to the medical Cannabis days). With a full line from isolates to tinctures and capsules, we decided to try out a tincture and their infused coconut oil and give them a try! Azure offers tincture in a variety of potencies and
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sizes, including the option for full spectrum hemp oil or isolate infusions. Their hemp is non-GMO and sourced responsibly, and the full spectrum tincture offer a more rounded medicine for those seeking CBD treatment. Made with a vegan base and no artificial flavors or sweeteners, the tincture is as close to natural as it gets. Lightly sweet, the drops taste of hemp with notes of pine and earthy plantyness that feels real, and melts onto the palate without fake flavors or a weird aftertaste. With high potency options, this CBD is relaxing and helpful for a variety of conditions. The first product that caught our eye from Azure was their CBD infused coconut oil, and we
were not disappointed when the samples arrived! Coconut oil is a versatile option to infuse CBD in, but is rarely seen available from companies. It’s perfect to use as a topical for skin, to be eaten directly, or used as a cooking ingredient to infuse a meal with CBD. We love the many uses of this product, and the benefits of coconut oil as a healthy cooking oil and great topical that moisturizes skin and kills bacteria and fungus. Combined with the power of CBD, their coconut oil is a great product to keep in the medicine or cooking cabinet. Look for these products and more from Azure CBD online, or at their mall kiosk inside Everett Mall! AzureCBD.com
REVIEW by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX | PHOTOS COURTESY AZURE CBD
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LOCATE THE STORE NEAREST YOU ( } } * WARNING: This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Smoking is hazardous to your health. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Should not be used by women who are pregnant or breast feeding. Keep out of reach of children. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgement. It is illegal to operate a vehicle or machinery while under the influence of marijuana. This product is unlawful outside Washington State.
LEADERS IN CANNABIS LAW SINCE 2013
MARIJUANA PRODUCTS MAY BE PURCHASED OR POSSESSED ONLY BY PERSONS 21 YEARS OF AGE 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 WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE. THERE MAY BE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT. FOR ADULT USE ONLY. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.
CHALLENGE AUTHORITY MARIJUANA PRODUCTS MAY BE PURCHASED OR POSSESSED ONLY BY PERSONS 21 YEARS OF AGE 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 WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE. THERE MAY BE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT. FOR ADULT USE ONLY. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.
C3.LEGAL
health & science nwLEAF.COM
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Sativa vs. Indica ativa for the mind, Indica for the body—that’s a general rule of thumb anyway. Here we find the plant species Cannabis sativa L. and its two main sub-species used for medicinal purposes: Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa. The type chosen will greatly influence the medicinal outcome, as each has its own distinct set of characteristics. Cannabis sativa is often characterized as uplifting and energetic, with the effects of sativas being more cerebral. Cannabis indica offers an effect often described as a pleasant body buzz. Indicas are great for pain relief and for an overall sense of calm and serenity. Let’s compare and contrast the differences between these two types of Medical Cannabis, and also meet a third--Cannabis ruderalis—who many are starting to become more familiar with. First off, there is debate in the scientific community on the question of whether indica and sativa represent two distinct species, or whether they represent subsets of the same species. In other words, two different species may have evolved from the same genus, or perhaps one species split along geographic lines. Regardless, Cannabis divided into two easily distinguishable plants. Sativas are found growing wild in almost all equatorial regions of the globe, while indicas thrive in southern Asia and the Indian subcontinent. The two species have traditionally been cultivated and bred for specific uses—sativas more for straight smoking and indicas for making hashish. These practices continued for thousands of years, without the two lines ever crossing paths. A combination, or hybrid, was created by man to garner the best effects of both for improved medicinal outcomes. These hybrids are commonly called strains, and typically represent some varying percentage of Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa genetics. Through selective breeding techniques and hybridization, new strains are created to select for and perfect certain desirable attributes while diminishing the less desirable. These attributes can range from optimizing the plant for certain growing environments (indoor vs. out), to the potency and medicinal effect of the end product (varying ratios of active constituents). The varying ratios of the hybridized genetics influence the medicinal outcomes through the expression of the uniqueness of the parent plant’s chemistry. The plant’s chemistry is dictated by Cannabinoids and terpenes, which are the active compounds found in Cannabis. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) are two of more than one hundred known Cannabinoid compounds that are center stage for medicinal activity. THC is the only psychoactive compound in the medicine, and CBD seems to have much more to offer Medical Cannabis patients. Indicas are higher in CBD than THC, and sativas are the opposite with higher THC than CBD. Therefore, many hybridized medicinal strains are indica-dominant. Terpenes are the aromatic compounds of Cannabis, giving rise to the distinctive odors. Sativa plants are generally sweet and fruity, where indicas are stronger smelling with a stinkier, skunky odor. Cannabis contains over one hundred identified terpenes, with 20 commonly found in higher concentrations. These odor compounds have unique smells and known physiological effects. An association of the individual odoriferous qualities and known effects can lead to better choices in medicine, and more predictable outcomes.
jan. 2019
Explained “MEDICAL CANNABIS PATIENTS NEED TO ARM THEMSELVES WITH THE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO MAKE MORE TARGETED CHOICES IN THE SELECTION OF THEIR MEDICINE, AND PROPER DELIVERY FOR THEIR CONDITION.”
BY DR. SCOTT ROSE
Cannabis INDICA
SATIVA
PLANTS ARE SMALLER IN STATURE, RELATIVELY SHORT AND BUSHY. THE LEAVES ARE MUCH MORE WIDE AND BROAD. SHORTER PERIOD TO GROW, MATURE, MORE BUSH-LIKE WITH HIGHER YIELDS MAKING INDICA A MORE POPULAR CHOICE FOR INDOOR CULTIVATION. BUDS GENERALLY MORE PUNGENT AND SKUNKY ODOR.
PLANTS ARE TALL AND ROUND, TO LEAN AND SPINDLY. THE LEAVES ARE LONG AND THIN. TAKES LONGER TO GROW, MATURE, AND REQUIRES MORE LIGHT THAN INDICA. YIELD IS USUALLY LOWER THAN INDICA, BUT QUITE POTENT. BUDS GENERALLY SMELL SWEET AND FRUITY.
MORE LIKELY TO HAVE HIGHER PERCENTAGES OF CBD
GENERALLY HIGHER IN THC THAN CBD.
EFFECTS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS A PLEASANT BODY BUZZ, MORE RELAXING, STRESS RELIEVING, AND AN OVERALL SENSE OF CALM AND SERENITY.
EFFECTS ARE UPLIFTING AND ENERGETIC. MOSTLY CEREBRAL, OFFERING A FEELING OF OPTIMISM AND WELL-BEING, AS WELL AS PROVIDING A GOOD MEASURE OF PAIN RELIEF.
GOOD CHOICE FOR NIGHTTIME USE
GOOD CHOICE FOR DAYTIME USE.
EFFECTIVE AS A RELAXANT FOR ANXIETY, PAIN, NAUSEA, SLEEP, APPETITE STIMULATION, MUSCLE SPASMS AND TREMORS, AMONG OTHER SYMPTOMS. THEY ARE KNOWN TO INDUCE “COUCH LOCK” AND MANY FIND THE SEDATIVE EFFECTS UNDESIRABLE DURING THE DAY.
EFFECTIVE IN APPETITE STIMULATION, RELIEVING DEPRESSION, MIGRAINES, CHRONIC PAIN, LACK OF FOCUS AND NAUSEA. THEY CAN HAVE A SPACEY EFFECT, AND THE HIGHER THC CAUSES SOME INDIVIDUALS PARANOIA AND ANXIETY.
SOME POPULAR INDICAS : OG KUSH, PURPLE URKLE, AFGHANI, ROMULAN, BLUEBERRY, NORTHERN LIGHTS
RUDERALIS FLOWERS EARLIER THAN C. INDICA OR C. SATIVA, NOT AS TALL, CAN WITHSTAND MUCH HARSHER CLIMATES. INDIGENOUS TO CENTRAL ASIA, CAN BE FOUND WILD IN MIDWESTERN NORTH AMERICA. BUDDING BASED STRICTLY ON AGE AND NOT ON CHANGES IN LENGTH OF DAYLIGHT. LOWER THC CONTENT THAN EITHER CANNABIS SATIVA OR CANNABIS INDICA. FREQUENTLY CROSS-BRED WITH CANNABIS INDICA TO PRODUCE PLANTS WITH HIGHER THC CONTENT, AS WELL AS THE HARDINESS AND REDUCED HEIGHT OF CANNABIS RUDERALIS. KNOWN AS AUTO-FLOWERING.
SOME POPULAR SATIVAS : SUPER LEMON HAZE, HEADBAND, JACK HERER, SOUR DIESEL
HYBRIDS CREATED BY CROSS-BREEDING TWO OR MORE DIFFERENT STRAINS TO CREATE A NEW STRAIN. CREATED TO RETAIN CERTAIN DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS. MOST CANNABIS VARIETIES AVAILABLE TODAY ARE HYBRIDS. BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, VARYING THC TO CBD RATIOS, AND BLENDED TERPENE CONTENT . MANY PATIENTS BENEFIT FROM THE USE OF HYBRIDIZED STRAINS. SOME POPULAR HYBRIDS : BLUE DREAM, WHITE WIDOW, GG #4, GIRL SCOUT COOKIES
Through limited research and anecdotal report, we are now aware of specific strains that are effective for specific medical conditions and symptoms. Strains are being mixed and matched to select and enhance desired medicinal effects for the benefit of patients. And this body of knowledge is ever increasing. Here, Medical Cannabis patients need to arm themselves with the information necessary to make more targeted choices in the selection of their medicine, and proper delivery for their condition. Efficient, effective, proper use will further help shift the paradigm away from “the smoking of pot”, to the use of Cannabis as the important medicine it is.
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CBD is an excellent cannabinoid for those dealing with chronic pain. CBD is recognized as an anti-inflammatory ally for those who want to skip opioids, but still keep pain levels under control. by SIMONE FISCHERR @SIMONEFISCHERR
USING CANNABIS FOR CHRONIC PAIN AND BECOMING A CANCER ADVOCATE Brent McCarthy is a long-time
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Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) patient advocating for Cannabis consumption for chronic pain and cancer. After he lost his aunt to cancer and his fiancé was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma (a type of kidney cancer), he uses his voice to help others who might be in the same position. McCarthy is an avid Cannabis-user and supporter of furthering the research of the plant’s healing potential. He smoked a few times a kid but was more into drinking at the time. It wasn’t until McCarthy was 32 when he started using Cannabis consciously. The legality of Cannabis made it difficult to consume consistently and the threat of punishment after consumption kept many potential users at bay. He started using Cannabis medicinally later in his adult life, after an industrial accident while working as a commercial construction worker. He broke his T-12 and T-1 vertebrates, and additionally broke his hip and femur. To top it off, McCarthy was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a common issue that affects a person’s GI tract - often related to stress. After dealing with chronic pain stemming from brutal accidents on the job, McCarthy opted for an official OMMP card in 2002. In McCarthy’s experience, Cannabis strains with the cannabinoid CBD work best to manage his chronic pain. “I prefer some CBD in there. Stephen Hawking’s Kush by Alphakronik has been a godsend – or, a hard indica. I love purples and Grand Daddy Purple [GDP] is one of my favorites. I’m a big fan of the old strains like God Bud or Panama Red too,” said McCarthy. CBD is an excellent cannabinoid for those dealing with chronic pain. CBD is recognized as an anti-inflammatory ally for those who want to skip opioids, but
still keep pain levels under control. The Cannabis genetics company Alphakronik created an entire CBD seed line for medical users like McCarthy. McCarthy sticks to full-extract Cannabis oil, or FECO and dabs mostly. Full-extract oil is an excellent choice for patients who are on a budget but still want a powerful dose of Cannabis. McCarthy said he relies on “FECO for long-term pain issues and dabs for acute pain relief.” After he lost his aunt to cancer almost five years ago, McCarthy became an outspoken advocate for Cannabis treatment in cases of cancer and helps patients with accessing the medicine they need to heal. His fiancé Marissa, was diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma, a kidney cancer that originates in the lining of the proximal convoluted tubule, a part of the very small tubes in the kidney that transport primary urine. RCC is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults, responsible for approximately 90 to 95 percent of cases. “She has been fighting this cancer for six years and moved to Oregon from Chicago for Cannabis access. She and I just had a child by surrogate, so we can harvest stem cells from the umbilical cord
and hopefully save her life and get rid of the cancer for good. I never thought in my wildest dreams at 46 I’d be a father again. But you’ll go to any length for someone you love,” he said. Despite McCarthy’s success with using Cannabis, there are challenges to using Cannabis as a treatment option in today’s climate. McCarthy said access is much more difficult nowadays when you need large amounts of material for daily medicine. The limit of one ounce (28 grams) of flower per day that was changed back in August of 2018, has affected OMMP in Oregon dramatically, pinching their access to higher quantities when buying from local retailers. When dealing with massive amounts of chronic pain or cancer (like McCarthy’s fiancé), OMMP patients must have access to the amounts of Cannabis they need to heal themselves. Recent draconian changes ushered in by the OLCC at the expense of medical patients, who are unfairly blamed for “unregulated market activity” in recent months. Patients like McCarthy, his fiancé Marissa and patients in similar situations, are put at a serious disadvantage due to the state’s insatiable regulatory greed on all things Cannabis.
HE STARTED USING CANNABIS MEDICINALLY LATER IN HIS LIFE, AFTER AN INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT AS A CONSTRUCTION WORKER. jan. 2019
PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
visit :us 2121 Auburn Way S. Auburn, Washington 98002 order online : jointrivers.com judgment. 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 the reach of children.