Jan. 2023 - Maryland Leaf

ussia has finally released Brittney Griner, the WNBA player held for months on marijuana charges. Russian authorities released Griner in December in a one-for-one prisoner swap for international arms dealer Viktor Bout.

President Joe Biden approved the one-for-one exchange agreement with Moscow, according to sources familiar with the deal. The swap took place in the United Arab Emirates.

Griner was convicted by Russian courts of possession of a small amount of hash oil in a medical marijuana vape cartridge she carried with her during a trip for a basketball game in Russia.

To secure Griner’s release, the president ordered Bout freed and returned to Russia. Biden signed the commutation order cutting short Bout’s 25-year federal prison sentence.

Griner told fans she will play in the upcoming WBNA season with her team, the Phoenix Mercury.

“Your letters helped me to not lose hope during a time where I was full of regret and vulnerable in ways I could have never imagined,” said Griner, who wrote a heartfelt note on her Instagram Dec. 21, 2022.

“Because of you I never lost hope,” she said.

”My family is whole and now... we are fortunate to get to spend the holidays together.”

COPS CLAIM RATS ATE HALF TON OF WEED

Police in India claim rats ate more than a half ton of seized Cannabis stored as evidence, reports CNN. The local cops admitted to a judge they can’t come up with the confiscated weed.

Police claimed the rampaging rodents ate 581 kilograms of marijuana stored at the Shergarh and Highway stations, reports India Today. Cops were responding to a court order asking them to cough up the marijuana they recovered in a case.

The prosecution said more than 700 kilograms of Cannabis stored in stations across Mathura could have been devoured by the stoned rodents.

This was (allegedly) not the first time the marauding party-rats had struck. The judge hearing the case noted Mathura police had already blamed the libertine rodents for destroying a total of more than 500 kilos of marijuana.

ADULT-USE SALES ENJOY BRISK FIRST WEEK IN RHODE ISLAND

RHODE ISLAND’S Cannabis shops saw brisk business during their first week of operation under adult-use legalization allowing retail sales, according to a state agency.

The state’s six licensed Cannabis dispensaries collectively sold more than $1.63 million worth of marijuana from Dec. 1 to Dec. 7, according to the Department of Business Regulation. About half of those sales were for adult-use marijuana, for an estimated $786,000, reports the Washington Examiner. The remaining $845,400 consisted of sales to medical Cannabis patients, the agency said.

The busy sales bode well for the state.

Rhode Island will take in an estimated $133,600 in taxes – about $23,500 of which will go to towns and cities where the weed stores are located.

The Rhode Island Office of Management and Budget is projecting $5.9 million in marijuana tax revenue in the current fiscal year, ending June 30, 2023.

KANSAS LAWMAKERS WILL INTRODUCE MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

IT’S BEEN a long (and so far at least, fruitless) journey for medical marijuana advocates in Kansas. Now, state lawmakers say they’re ready to take yet another shot at legalizing medicinal Cannabis, reports KCUR.

Republican Sen. Rob Olson chairs the 2022 Special Committee on Medical Marijuana. Olson said he plans to introduce a bill at the beginning of the January legislative session. He said passing legislation out of committee would be too difficult – so he plans to introduce it in the Senate as an alternative approach.

He encouraged lawmakers in the House to introduce similar legislation.

“I think that’s probably the best way forward,” said Olson.

VIRAL TIKTOKER “DOGGFACE” ARRESTED IN

IDAHO

NATHAN APODACA, a TikToker who went viral for skateboarding videos that were set to iconic Fleetwood Mac tracks, was arrested by Idaho State Police in December on charges of possessing marijuana. Apodaca was driving with an expired registration tag when the police pulled him over. Officers ended up finding THC gummies in the vehicle and took Apodaca into custody. He was released on a $600 bond.

wo New Hampshire lawmakers, one Republican and the other Democrat, share a common interest: legalizing marijuana.

House Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R) and Minority Leader Matt Wilhelm (D) joined forces to file a bill to legalize adult-use Cannabis for the 2023 session.

The bipartisan measure would allow adults 21 and up to possess or give away up to four ounces of Cannabis, and also clear records of past weed possession offenses. In addition, it taxes marijuana sales at 8.5%. The bill would set up a new market with state-approved retailers to sell pot, reports Benzinga.

The new legislation allows cultivation of up to six plants, including three of which may be mature, and possession of marijuana produced at home.

NEW YORK GROWERS HAVE WEED BACKSTOCK

date hasn’t been announced yet for retail marijuana sales in New York. And that slow rollout is creating a Cannabis conundrum, reports NBC New York.

Local growers were awarded the first licenses. And they bet the farm on legal weed. But now they have half a billion dollars worth of marijuana, ready to sell, without any buyers.

The first harvest for the state’s pot pioneers came with high expectations. But now, excitement has turned to fear for the 200-plus licensed Cannabis growers in the Empire State.

“It’s terrifying, because we just don’t know,” said Colin Brogan, who also works for Hudson River Farms in Dutchess County.

Stuck inside a secure storage room for weeks now is almost 2,000 pounds of fragrant weed. And that’s just this one farm alone. Nonetheless, there’s just no place to sell it.

“Until we have that final piece of the supply chain – the dispensaries that can actually sell to a consumer –everybody’s kind of in the same boat, and we’re just sitting around, waiting to sell it to somebody,” said Hudson River Farms’ Alex Keenan.

“Stuck inside a secure storage room for weeks now is almost 2,000 pounds of fragrant weed.”

of Missouri’s 322 licensed medical marijuana dispensaries applied for adult-use sales permits.

in fines were forgiven as part of Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s pardons of 45,000 marijuana convictions.

STORIES by STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK

east coast

east coast

states – Arkansas, North Dakota and South Dakota – rejected adult-use Cannabis in the November 2022 elections.

percent is the amount that Cannabis arrests decrease after legalization in states which have already decriminalized.

homes on one single block in Portland, Ore., were involved in untaxed marijuana cultivation.

debilitating medical conditions qualify patients in Mississippi for medical marijuana.

“The bipartisan measure would allow adults 21 and up to possess or give away up to four ounces of Cannabis...”

PRISCILLA RHOTON

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO GET INTO THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY? I am very passionate about this plant –discovering the medicinal properties of it at a young age is truly what led to me being in the industry. My mom got her medical card before I did. She has been suffering from complex regional pain syndrome since I was 16. Seeing how much pharmaceutical medicine she has replaced with medical Cannabis is amazing. My mom was the first person to briefly educate me on terpenes – now fast forward four years later and I’m the head trainer here at my job. When you see how much this plant can change someone’s life, it becomes that much more meaningful to you. I want everyone to have the chance to safely use Cannabis products medicinally if they choose to do so.

WE UNDERSTAND YOU’RE BIG INTO FLOW ARTS? Mainly hula hooping; I got into it about five years ago. I’m really big into the festival and music scene, which is where I picked it up. It has become a really big outlet for me. I actually tore my rotator a year and a half ago, so I use gentle movement to heal my body in a physical therapy type way. I also use silk fans and dragon staff, in addition to spinning fire and using LED props. There is a huge community of flow artists that I’ve met online and practice with.

RISCILLA HAS BEEN in the Cannabis industry for nearly two years, but her passion for the plant has roots that run far deeper. She brings a depth of knowledge from attending the Cannabis Training University online, where she completed a master certificate program, and also uses Cannabis to tap into a flow state in both her work and personal life. Art and plants – especially Cannabis – are her greatest passions, and you can find her bringing the fire to The Dispensary in Westminster.

WHAT IS THE REASON YOU

USE

MEDICAL CANNABIS? I use it to benefit my mental and physical health, and Cannabis has helped relieve a lot of the chronic pain I deal with. I have restless leg syndrome and get chronic leg cramps – using Cannabis along with flow arts has helped to heal my body. I’ve also struggled with severe depression my entire life, and Cannabis is the only medicine that has really worked for me. I tell people I want to be ‘my medicated self’ all the time.

HOW IS IT WORKING FOR A DISPENSARY CALLED THE DISPENSARY? Because it’s called The Dispensary, everyone remembers it. I remember being out in Colorado and someone telling me they would never forget where I worked because the name was so easy to remember. I’m still trying to break down the stigma of Cannabis, from my family members to other people in my life. Being in Carroll County is tough … we’re only the second dispensary here.

WHAT IS THE VIBE IN THE STORE? We are a momand-pop shop for sure – The Dispensary is privately owned. We are definitely bringing the personal homie vibes. You won’t see a tight, white-walled dispensary when you walk in – we have art everywhere. We have had local artists come and do murals in the store. I think being a mom-and-pop shop has a lot to do with the vibe we bring to patients entering the store.

WHAT SETS YOU APART? I started as a budtender and slowly worked my way up to head trainer, training any new members that join our team. We do a lot more than just budtending. I think the head trainer role has really helped me reach my potential and share my passion and education with my coworkers and patients. I put together first-time patient packets, so new patients can take home information to help them along with their medicating journey. I take a lot of pride in that, because people can take steps to really better their lives with Cannabis.

“I WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO SAFELY USE CANNABIS PRODUCTS MEDICINALLY IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO.”

ZENLEAFZENLEAF

Zen Leaf is no stranger to the Maryland market with their Towson and Pasadena stores

– but the new kid on the block is Zen Leaf Elkridge, which opened its doors at their grand opening on August 5, 2022. Located In the building of an old Capital One Bank, you can expect to see the presidential white pillars as you pull up, and you better believe they kept that drive-thru in working order. Whether you’re passing through Elkridge or coming to or from the airport, this is a store you’ll want to visit every time you get the chance.

SETTING & VIBE

This store is set up for volume, with a wide open floor plan that can accommodate a large amount of patients and keep things chugging. It has all the clean and clear feelings you’d expect of a medical Cannabis dispensary, but will also transition perfectly into adult use come July. The vibes were high, with employees joking around with each other and lightening the mood for anyone who may be nervous on their first visit.

FLOWER

Being under the Verano umbrella, you can expect to find a bunch of hot new strains from them here. That’s not to say they don’t have a whole slew of flower from other companies in varying potencies and price ranges, though. In fact, there were over 100 different options to choose from during my visit – making this a serious flower destination for Marylanders.

CONCENTRATES

Just as impressive as the flower menu, this concentrate menu goes on for days and has a little bit of something for everyone. Whether you are looking for strain-specific RSO from Verano or the newest strain of hash rosin from Evermore, they have both of those and everything in between.

EDIBLES

This edible selection has over 50 different varieties, proving to go above and beyond the classic model of 1,000+ different gummies dominating the menu. They have drinks, chewables, tablets, capsules, tinctures and more. The Encore chocolates have proven to be among my favorites in Maryland, so I loved seeing different flavors and variations of this chocolate on the menu.

ELKRIDGE

PATIENT OF THE MONTH

angelica rawls

CANNABIS FOR A BETTER LIFE

Being the single mother of three children is a full-time job in and of itself. Add in the difficulties of working 40 hours per week as a bank teller and coping with an auto-immune disease like lupus, and it’s no wonder why Angelica Rawls thoroughly enjoys retreating to Cannabis to cope with life’s challenges.

“I feel like an Octomom with eight arms,” laughs Angelica, who is currently studying at Baltimore City Community College (BCCC). “It’s because I’m always juggling 50 million things at once.”

Angelica, or Angel as she is known to her friends, was given an official diagnosis in 2016 after years of finding ways to explain away the symptoms. “It actually started when I was 16,” the 32-year-old from Howard County said. “There was a spot in my hair where it didn’t grow. At the time, I thought it might be from a fight I got in with a girl in school.”

Lupus is a disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own organs, causing fatigue, stiffness, muscle pain and much more. For some patients, the widespread inflammation can also extend to the skin, causing alopecia, the medical term for baldness.

“It’s taken a lot of my hair,” Angelica said. “That’s why you always see me wearing wigs.”

Stress can exacerbate her symptoms. So it’s important for Angelica to have a consistent schedule. She begins each weekday waking her three children: Amaya, an aspiring 12-year-old artist, Elijah, a 10-year old with visions of playing in the NBA, and Aliyah, a happy-go-lucky three-year-old with a penchant for singing and dancing. She’ll then medicate with a sativa-hybrid like Santa Cruz Blue Dream, relaxing her body and energizing her mind for a day of work. She then sends the kids off to school.

“I use Backwoods, or Good Times’ wraps, banana-flavored,” she said. “Blunts, joints, edibles, topicals, sweeteners – I’ve tried them all. Really, I’ll go with anything that can mellow me out and make the pain go away.”

Past lupus “flare ups” have left her debilitated, forced to walk by way of crutches. Cannabis helps her chase away these flare ups, which can include muscle pain in the neck, shoulders, arms and thighs. However, a strong mindset helps her overcome the inevitability of it all – good and bad.

“Lupus kills,” she said, adding that she wanted to leave a legacy for her kids. “Now I’m not saying I’m going to die tomorrow. Hopefully, it’s 40 or 50 years down the road. But when I’m gone, I want my kids to have something tangible to hold onto. These are the things that drive me.”

Angel has encouraged her children to try out for sports teams, and travel as often as time and money allow. Just last month, the four traveled to the Bronx together, seeing a region of the country they had never seen before.

“I want to make memories with them; that’s important to me,” said Angel, who currently resides in Owings Mills. “Some kids don’t ever leave Maryland. I want my kids to be different. I want them to travel abroad and have opportunities other kids don’t.”

Fearlessness is a trait she would like to instill in them.

She recently fulfilled a childhood dream, serving as an extra in the movie “Hell in My Life: The Stacy Staxx Story.” And her path to a college education was born out of a conversation with her kids when the pandemic forced them to take their schooling online. “I told them, ‘I’m never going to ask you to do something I wouldn’t do,’” she recalled. “So I jumped on the computer and started taking classes. Now they see Mommy doing virtual learning, too.”

“I just try to tell them to put forth their best effort,” she added. “If you love something, go for it.”

Angel is open and forthright with her oldest children about her medical condition and how Cannabis is beneficial for treatment. At 12 and 10, she believes they deserve to be informed.

“When they were younger, Mommy was just smoking her ‘brown cigarettes,’” she laughs. “But now they know it’s my medicine. We have conversations about it.”

From time to time, Angel also converses online with fellow lupus sufferers. Should time allow for it, one day she’d like to go on charity walks and raise awareness for those suffering in pain. For now, she is content in trying to make the most of each day – something her emotional support dog Precious and cat Midnight make all the easier.

“I show up on life’s terms,” said Angel. “Who else is going to do it? No one. It’s my life. I’ve gotta be the one to do it.”

A homeowner by 30, Angel has begun to take a long-term view of her family’s future, chasing a dream to become a diagnostic sonographer – one who takes medical images of patients like herself – before moving to Florida, where she would love to open up a family practice.

“I see it now … a nice house with a pool and palm trees in my front yard,” she smiled. “That’s my idea of an ideal life.”

No matter rain or Sunshine State, Angel is determined to push forward. The rain, she says, can negatively impact her lupus, so she prefers the rays of the sun. If it’s not in the sky, though, Angel promises her attitude will brighten the day.

“I take good days as they come,” she said. “But each day, I wake up and I push forward so that I can leave my mark on this world. I want my kids to be proud of their mom. And I want to be seen as an advocate for other single moms.”

“Blunts, joints, edibles, topicals, sweetenersI’ve tried them all. I’ll go with anything that can mellow me out and make the pain go away.”

TRULIEVE

Tucked away on just under an acre of land in historic Hancock, Maryland sits the locally-loved Trulieve grow facility. Maryland Leaf was able to sit down with their all-star staff and learn about what it takes to be one of the world’s largest weed companies, tour their beautiful facilities, and truly feel the homegrown love they’re so proud of. Ryan Krumpe, Cultivation Manager, described his four years of experience with the operation as a “huge explosion.” Krumpe spoke of the fulfillment that comes with introducing people to their first weed plant and cultivation practices –something Trulieve takes great pride in. >>

TRULIEVE

To understand the impact Trulieve has had on its community, it’s important to understand the history of Hancock, a town known for its manufacturing and agricultural background. This presented to be the perfect location for a growing site and was absolutely welcomed by local citizens and government officials alike. “The people of Hancock knew from the beginning that this would be beneficial to their hometown by adding value and jobs, while educating people on the craft of Cannabis cultivation,” beamed Barbara Ensor, Distribution Manager. Not to mention they provide benefits for their employees, a characteristic that sets them apart from certain other MSOs. After personal visits from Trulieve’s CEO and a moving pediatric patient testimonial, Hancock welcomed the operation with open arms.

Michael Goulding, State Manager, spoke very proudly of the culture that exists here at Trulieve. “We offer care from a medical-based perspective with a patient focus.” he said, “We have an extremely experienced team of growers that have been here for years.” Boasting different growing methods – such as a fully automated irrigation system that utilizes peristaltic pumps as well as a fully automated environmental control system that can be operated from the palm of your hand via an app – their passion and dedication to Cannabis cultivation is more than apparent.

With just under 20,000 plants in the building, this MSO maintains their commitment to craft Cannabis by constantly dialing in their strains and growing practices. Andrew Fischer, Production Supervisor, couldn’t contain his excitement when speaking about the inner workings of Trulieve.

He emphasized their “low and slow” approach to harvesting, which results in about 1 million dry grams a month. By slowing down the drying process and closely monitoring moisture levels, Fischer and his team are able to guarantee only the highest quality of product makes it to the shelves.

With adult recreational use becoming legal in July, Trulieve is very excited about their future. Although it’s hard to predict just how much this will affect their harvesting needs, Fischer is confident in his team. “We are absolutely ready,” he told us. “We are dialing in on strains and honing in on our craft.” They are also using this time to revamp their facilities to accommodate new state-of-the-art vegetation rooms. These updated growing practices have resulted in an entirely new brand line for Trulieve: Cultivar. Fischer emphasized that Cultivar will be a premium product line containing craft Cannabis tailored in small batches with hand-selected genetics. Rae Bae and Animal Face Kushmintz are just two Cultivar strains Andrew and his team are very excited about, laughing that, “Rae Bae’s smell will wrinkle your nose and curl your toes.”

Trulieve also has an exciting and potent partnership with Wiz Khalifa called Khalifa Kush, which just hit the shelves last December (read our review on page 24). Noting that Khalifa has family ties to Maryland, Krumpe and Fischer stressed their excitement for the collaboration, which will be exclusive to Trulieve locations only. Amidst their excitement, however, the team noted that this strain is a challenge to grow and they’ll continue to make adjustments to bring out its unique characteristics – a challenge they have no issue gladly accepting.

ANDREW FISCHER & RYAN KRUMPE

“We are absolutely ready. We are dialing in on strains and honing in on our craft.”

-Production Supervisor Andrew Fischer

STRAWBERRY COOKIES LIVE RESINBADDER

BEEZLE EXTRACTS has produced an absolutely luscious live resin badder from the exceptionally flavorful Strawberry Cookies by Evermore, where their team was able to capture the delectable beauty of the cultivar that Maryland knows and loves.

Noted for a quintessentially strawberry aroma with a sweet musky flavor profile, the Strawberry Cookies has earned a distinct and iconic place in the flavor lexicon of the industry.

Beezle Extract’s live resin badder iteration lives up to the legacy of the genetic and the prowess of the Evermore cultivation team. Boasting a flavorful 8.97% total terp profile and a creamy golden texture, this is a dab worth sampling.

Not only does it capture the musky strawberry aroma, but it is a terpinolene lover’s best friend.

Terpinolene-dominant profiles offer some of the most creative headspaces within the Cannabis spectrum and Beezle’s Strawberry Cookies has

3.86% overshadowing healthy doses of myrcene, caryophyllene, limonene and pinene.

Together these terpenes formed a sublimely euphoric and mentally stimulating high. All of the key hallmarks of a light stoney sensation were present but never overpowering, and each dab yielded relief and positive energy – sustaining my work session and reading for the day. Finding my focus and flow state was a wonderful reminder of why terpinolene-dominant profiles are my absolute favorite.

With a flavor profile so distinct and delicious, I dabbed this badder and rolled it with flower so I could sample it in a variety of mediums. The badder has a creamy berry flavor underscored by musky earthy notes – accentuating any flower variety you could think to pair it with. There’s no doubt that Strawberry Cookies has an iconic flavor and aroma, and Beezle Extracts created a live resin badder rendition that holds true to its terpinolene-dominant place in history.

REVIEW by TAYLOR MARTIN for MARYLAND LEAF

PHOTO by GREG MALCOLM

Trulieve has added Khalifa Kush to Maryland’s repertoire of big name Cannabis partnerships. Bred for the legendary artist Wiz Khalifa, the Khalifa Kush was released into the market in 2014 to the delight of fans and Cannabis lovers alike. The cultivar is the culmination of a breeding project that bred Durban Poison and Cherry Kush into the foundational OG Kush genetics – specifically at the request of Wiz Khalifa. Known as a top shelf daily driver, this flower is rapidly becoming one of the more popular varieties in Maryland.

The inspiration around the breeding project was Wiz Khalifa’s love of OG Kush and a desire to elevate the classic into a more euphoric, energizing headspace. The result is quite similar to the potency of an OG Kush high, but with more energy and citrus notes to boot. The terpene profile reads like a typical indica with myrcene, caryophyllene and linalool, but with a healthy dose of the euphoric and energizing limonene terps as well.

Pungent undertones highlight the citrus and lemon aromas that define the Khalifa Kush. At first whiff the nugs are reminiscent of a sweet orange tart, but as time progresses and the full complexity of the aroma registers in the brain, one is hit by the skunky fuel notes and earthy spices known to define OG Kush. The resulting whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts as the entire aroma profile melds into one rich, unique experience one can only find from Khalifa Kush.

The high for me was exactly as advertised. Wiz Khalifa knew what he wanted as an artist and Cannabis aficionado: a strain bringing the stoney effects of a quintessential high, but with enough energy and creativity to keep you going throughout the day. My experience puffing was defined by walking the exact razor’s edge between a heavy high and a light headspace. I hovered in a blissful state of pain relief and calm while still going about my full day’s work.

If you’re in need of a strain that’ll keep you on your grind while reliving your pain, the Khalifa Kush could be your daily Cannabis driver.

KHALIFA KUSH

REVIEW by TAYLOR MARTIN for MARYLAND LEAF

Find Your Flow

When it comes to Yoga and Cannabis, inhale the future and exhale the past.

you’re someone who wants to stay fit and focused without having to leave the comfort of your home, then yoga may be the option for you. Practicing yoga regularly not only increases flexibility and builds strength – it also helps manage stress by quieting the chatter of the mind, allowing us to be more present, and deepening our mind-body connection, which can improve sleep and overall mental health. Yoga can also help reduce chronic pain, which is what initially got me onto the mat and, eventually, into becoming a teacher: I have slight scoliosis and two herniated discs in my spine, and yoga has definitely helped ease that pain and strengthen my body.

Over the years, I’ve seen an array of funky yoga trends: goat, nude, aerial, underwater, and even paddleboard yoga. One trend that’s not so funky, though, is Cannabis-infused yoga. Now, I’ve been a certified yoga instructor since 2004, but I’ve been a certified stoner my entire life, so you can believe me when I tell you that Cannabis and yoga are a very complimentary combination. In the past several years, tons of online and in-person classes, teacher trainings and wellness retreats offering Cannabis-enhanced yoga have popped up – including a few of my own (I provide yoga at all of my Higher Way Travel retreats and events, and often offer my yoga clients a Cannabis option before classes).

There are several ways to incorporate Cannabis into your yoga practice. A great place to start is to apply a topical to areas on your body that might need some extra love before starting your session. You can try one with a 1:1 ratio of THC to CBD or even a CBD-only topical if you prefer. You can always take a few hits from a joint before you hit the mat as well. Or you could enjoy an edible or infused beverage beforehand … that way, the high will kick in gradually as

your practice progresses – making your savasana (the meditative relaxation time at the end of the session) extra sweet.

And if you’re feeling the burn after your practice, an infused bath bomb is always a great way to soothe sore muscles.

Does some stoney yoga sound like an enjoyable experience to you? Consider the following for getting comfortable and further enhancing your time on the mat:

– If you want to see how you feel first, try an online ganja yoga class in the comfort of your own home before attending one in person.

– You may want to adjust the type and amount of Cannabis product you use, depending on what kind of yoga you choose to do. For beginners, I recommend sticking to basic classes like Hatha or Yin yoga –two styles where you move slowly and deliberately. Think lots of floor asanas (poses), hip openers, twists and stretches. A more vigorous vinyasa (flow) style class while high could result in dizziness, a racy heart, or feeling lightheaded (so dabs and Sun Salutations may not be the best combo!).

– Remember: It all depends on the person and their individual tolerance and fitness level – everyone is different. But regardless of what/how you choose to imbibe, always follow the classic rule of thumb to go low and slow. You can always add more, but you can’t add less.

While not for everyone, a regular regimen of Cannabis and yoga can help us deal with life’s problems, make better choices in what we consume (such as news, food, negativity, mids, etc.), and lead to a better relationship with yourself, your loved ones, and the Earth. Most importantly, though, combining yoga and Cannabis should be fun – so don’t take yourself too seriously and just go with your flow.

STORY by APRIL BLACK @HIGHERWAYTRAVEL for LEAF NATION | PHOTO by KETI CHIKHLADZE

Seattle, WA-based model and Cannabis yoga enthusiast Kate Higby @mediiikate demonstrates the lotus pose. Props, Wardrobe and Set Design by Malina Lopez @artbymalina. | Art direction by Daniel Berman @bermanphotos

“There are several ways to incorporate Cannabis into your yoga practice. A great place to start is to apply a topical to areas on your body that might need some extra love before starting your session.”

Talkin’Terps

ASresearch advances and the Cannabis market matures, more brands are ditching broad decades-old classification terms like “indica vs. sativa.” Instead, today’s packaging comes with two more important words: dominant terpenes.

While more seasoned smokers may understand these scientific terms and their meaning, talking terpenes isn’t always an easy language to become fluent in. This type of higher education takes expert help and can quickly overwhelm rookie rollers or the newly canna-curious.

To get advice on how consumers can conquer these complexities, we linked up with Jamila Owens-Todd – a Naturopathic Doctor, Adjunct Professor of Cannabis Pharmacology, and Chief Science Officer of a medical Cannabis manufacturer.

The answer involves using aromatherapy to experience the wellness benefits of terpenes, and you only need one tool: your nose.

Aromatherapy is the practice of using chemical compounds called aromatics for therapeutic benefit. This link between scent and mood explains why a fresh pot of coffee brewing can wake you up in the morning or how the soothing smell

MYRCENE

Aroma: musky and earthy

Feels: soothing and sedative Found in: Granddaddy Purple, Grape Ape, OG Kush

LIMONENE

Aroma: citrusy and clean

Feels: uplifting and euphoric Found in: Do-Si-Dos, MAC, Sundae Driver

of lavender before bed makes you sleepy.

In the Cannabis plant, terpenes are one of the elements that impact not only a strain’s fragrance and flavor, but also the way it makes you feel.

“Terpenes are essential oils. They’re aromatic, volatile molecules, and the way we receive many of their benefits is through inhalation,” explains Jamila. “So I would just start there and let the nose lead you. The fact that you’re able to inhale, ignite those nasal passageways, and get the nervous system engaged simply from smelling the flower is really all you need. If you have five different types of strains in front of you, smell each one. The one that resonates with you the most, that is your flower.”

But what if you live in a state or shop at a dispensary that doesn’t allow you to smell the product before purchasing it? Jamila went on to explain how you can take the power of scent a step further to elevate your smoking experience once you’ve taken your haul home. By understanding the connection between scent and terpenes, you can actually guide your Cannabis consumption throughout the day based on mood, environment and desired effects.

Let’s say you wake up with a long list of tasks looming over

your head. You may want to start the day with a strain that immediately makes you feel uplifted and euphoric after taking a big whiff – this likely tingles the nostrils and is high in limonene. After powering through a few productive hours of work, you take another smoke break, this time with a cultivar high in pinene such as OG Kush. It smells fresh and crisp, and in turn helps you feel focused, cerebral and ready to crush the afternoon – much like a mental walk through the woods. After you finally look up from the laptop, the day has already turned to dusk and it’s time to unwind with a high-linalool strain like Lavender Diesel that is soothing, herbaceous and gentle on the exhale before hitting the hay.

Listening to our nose is a huge part of connecting your mind, body and spirit through Cannabis. This approach gives us a deeper relationship with the plant, allowing us to welcome all the wellness benefits it can provide. As Jamila put it, “Before you even start to spark up your flower, just take a good whiff. … Let the nose lead you … is the plant selecting you, or are you selecting the plant? If you allow yourself to be vulnerable in that way and just take that smell in, you’ve already engaged in terpene medicine. And then, once you ignite the flower, you get even more benefits of that aroma and those terpenes.”

LINALOOL

Aroma: floral and fresh Feels: relaxing and restful Found in: Lavender Kush, Amnesia Haze, Tropicanna Punch

CARYOPHYLLENE

Aroma: black pepper, cinnamon

Feels: calming and tranquil Found in: GG#4, Sour Diesel, Slurricane

PINENE

Aroma: sharp and woodsy

Feels: energizing and focused Found in: Critical Mass, Dutch Treat, Larry OG

STORY by KATHERINE WOLF

OCIMENE

Aroma: minty and zesty

Feels: refreshing and creative Found in: Green Crack, Golden Goat, Strawberry Cough

“In the Cannabis plant, terpenes are one of the elements that impact not only a strain’s fragrance and flavor, but also the way it makes you feel.”

Unlocking the Wellness Benefits of Terpenes Through Aromatherapy

On Your Grind

The unique terpenoids, terpenes and cannabinoids in Cannabis genetics impact how they will taste, smell and make us feel. Strains with bright, uplifting aromas such as lemon or mint have energizing effects that can help refresh the brain in between tasks on your to-do list. On the flip side, smoking a strain that is heavy and gassy on the nose will likely have you dozing off during your next meeting.

We sat down with the “Beerded Krakin,” co-founder of Krakin Seeds and partner at the legendary Washington brand PNW Roots, to get more insight into how particular Cannabis genetics can be used throughout the workday to give your brain a boost. “I smoke morning, noon and night,” he tells us. “On the farm, we work for about two or three hours, then will take a smoke break. That’s definitely part of my regimen.”

When asked if there are any particular genetic profiles or traits of certain Cannabis strains that lend themselves to creativity, he had this to say:

Using Cannabis to Infuse Your Workday With Creativity

MARY JANE HAS BEEN A MUSE

to a whole slew of creative geniuses –from Paul McCartney admitting “Got to Get You Into My Life” was written about weed rather than a woman, to Seth Rogen saying he smokes during script writing, to Steve Jobs claiming that hashish made him feel more “relaxed and creative” in the ’70s.

While Cannabis has had a reputation for being a creative juicer amongst musicians, artists and inventors since basically the beginning of time, modern professionals in a variety of roles and industries are now using weed to get through the everyday workday.

Move on over, software platforms and high-tech devices – ganja is the latest gadget to hit the workplace. This mainstream movement of working with weed can be attributed to changes in both how we work and how Cannabis is perceived. The physical office went digital and this shift to remote work

also shifted our mindsets about work/life balance, giving us more flexibility and freedom throughout our workdays. Paired with the fact that nearly half of Americans now live in a state where Cannabis is legal in some capacity, more people than ever are exploring its relationship to their careers.

Whether you’re trying to bust through a case of writer’s block, come up with an attention-grabbing marketing campaign, or find an out-of-the-box solution to an old problem, getting a little stoned has been known to help get the ideas flowing.

So, can Cannabis actually boost your creativity? Well, research shows that employees who take frequent breaks are consistently more productive than those who don’t. This is because the human brain works in bursts of high activity before switching to low activity to rest and recoup for a while.

This is when it’s the best time to take a break and toke up … but it’s important to be strategic about which strain you’re choosing.

“You don’t want anything too heavy, so something on the fruit side, say with a tangerine, lemon or blueberry flavor profile. That has always helped me with my creative juices, whether it’s work or play. Our Tangelo Sno (Tangerine Power x Sno Cap) is my go-to strain in the morning. It’s got this great haziness and strong citrus flavor, which really wakes me up and is perfect for getting the workday going.”

There’s another hazy hitter in the Beerded Krakin’s creative lineup that their team has been smoking a lot of lately: Ghost Train Haze.

“It really keeps everyone awake and not burned out at all,” he explains.“

So I would say that’s my number one pick right now for getting the creative juices flowing versus a more couchlock effect. I would definitely go for anything on the Haze route if I was looking for motivation or creativity.”

“Ganja is the latest gadget to hit the workplace.”

ADOBE STOCK

Mary Jane, Medicine Woman

Exploring the ancient relationship between weed and women’s health with Dr. Celeste Saenz.

What inspired you to specialize in holistic women’s health care? My great grandmother was a midwife and a healer from Mexico City. She got her gynecology medical degree, but in Mexican culture it’s all about what I would call ‘kitchen medicine,’ because there’s not very much money or access. She would babysit me until I was about 10 or 12, and I was exposed to her way. She did the kind of midwifery thing: birthing children and stuff in her home, which is really cool. I know it was just a blessing to be exposed there. She would see her patients and always had food going … After seeing to their needs, she would sit her patients down and they would have a meal. She would take a couple of notes, and so it would almost just look like a traditional visit.

What gaps in women’s healthcare do you see in conventional or mainstream medicine? I think the most fundamental gap is the time that we spend with our patients. In women’s health especially, it is kind of detective work and very individualized care … every woman’s body is uniquely experiencing her hormonal shifts, or things like sleep and diet.

Have you had experience with pregnant patients using Cannabis? Most of my pregnant patients – I would say those that are Cannabis users – continue to use throughout their pregnancy in different ways and forms, especially CBD topicals. When I prescribe something to my pregnant patients, it’s mostly CBD topicals used on their hips, knees or back, or something to help them sleep. I have a lot of colleagues that are CBD advocates or marijuana advocates – and have been pregnant – and they use marijuana all the time throughout pregnancy.

WOMEN’S HEALTH holds a host of wonder and woe. You can wash these words down with a glass of confidence, knowing they’ve been penned by a person of the uterus-possessing persuasion – one writer that (ripening into her 30s and the pressures of modern society) is increasingly surrounded by the mysteries of Mary Jane and the female body. So, we sat down with Dr. Celeste Saenz of Vitalis Naturopathic Centre in Seattle – a primary care physician and naturopath with a doctorate from Seattle’s renowned Bastyr University and 15 years of experience – for a little perspective.

For the last five years, Dr. Saenz has seen 20-40 patients per week at her clinic Vitalis. While she welcomes all clients, her specialty is in women’s health with a focus on “foundational medicine like food, sleep, nutrition and counseling.” Her day-to-day practice involves bloodwork, functional analysis, homeopathic and energetic medicine, but as we learned quickly, Dr. Saenz draws from a rich history of holistic and matriarchal medicine.

VITALIS NATUROPATHIC CENTRE, INC. 5020 MERIDIAN AVE N SEATTLE, WA VITALISINC.COM | @SHELLESTE

What women’s wellness issue needs more attention? I think the sleep issue is getting pretty bad these days: sleep, detox and stress management. Rounding out stress needs to be addressed on a kind of spiritual and personal level. I think women have, in some ways, lost the artform of de-stressing. I think the rounding out of the stress, or the lack of valuing that, has really made a huge difference in women’s PMS, menstrual cycles, sleep and weight. It changes the rhythm of a woman’s body. Sleep is the first thing that a lot of my new patients are coming in to talk about. They come in like, ‘How do I get to sleep? I’m so stressed out!’ It’s sort of common right now. Biochemically, their cortisol levels are too high.

Do you incorporate Cannabis into any of your practices or treatments? Most people, especially in Seattle, come in and Cannabis is a part of their repertoire, so I’ll sort of help to tweak that or communicate to optimize their experience. And the old school treatments of putting marijuana in some alcohol and using it as muscle rub is something I used to prescribe for many years. But now we’ve got so many amazing local topical products, it’s incredible!

Cannabis use and pregnancy still stir up some controversy, but the plant has been a tool in ‘kitchen medicine’ kits like your great grandmother’s for ages. Why do you think that is? It’s the most ancient medicine. This is an old herb. This is a female ovary plant and we’re using this medicine with lots of oils – it’s almost like a milk (laughs) and we’ve been using it as pain relief and emotional support for so long. It’s old and so is mothering! They’ve been evolving together for a while and go hand in hand. My great grandmother was using that [Cannabis] topically, and I’m pretty sure she would use some of it internally when necessary with nausea or even psychosis. Pregnancy can bring a lot of emotional components out. So a little bit of internal use is valid when necessary. Again, it’s so individualized but I’m not shy about that. It’s a taboo topic for some, so I don’t start there unless the patient is already there. Then I help triage that further.

“When I prescribe something to my pregnant patients, it’s mostly CBD topicals used on their hips, knees or back, or something to help them sleep.”

Beyond THC

Diving into the wonderful world of alternative compounds in Cannabis.

While this Cannabinoid might be the most famous in health circles, there’s a reason for the positive press that this compound receives. Originally found in THC flower as a minor Cannabinoid, this wonder drug is now extracted from hemp – making it much more accessible to the world, as it’s time consuming to grow CBD-rich Cannabis. But if you have the chance to smoke true CBD-rich weed (not hemp flower), we recommend it for a relaxing feel-good buzz.

Today you can find CBD in almost everything from tinctures to creams to lubes, with varying effects depending on dosage and the product. Generally speaking, CBD is fantastic for anxiety and depression, as well as for minimizing pain and inflammation, and for stopping seizure disorders. It also helps regulate mood and memory, and may be helpful in the fight against Alzheimer’s (which THC has also shown to reduce symptoms of in studies on rats). CBD should be a part of any Cannabis user’s regular diet, and we recommend at least 25mg per serving to get your endocannabinoid system flush with this helpful compound.

CBD CBC

CBC is an often overlooked Cannabinoid that has major potential benefits and no psychoactive effects, which is likely why the weed industry has largely ignored it. CBC is known to work synergistically with other Cannabinoids (the aforementioned Entourage Effect), helping the body as it battles ailments ranging from cancer to inflammation. CBC has shown in mouse studies to slow tumor growth by stopping new cancer cells from generating, and could hold the key to stopping certain types of the disease altogether. CBC is also good for the brain – helping to regulate homeostasis, and

could help to prevent neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s. It’s also great for acne, so look for CBC in a topical form for happy skin.

CBG

CBG is really the wonder Cannabinoid that is helpful and doesn’t get you “high” – although we always find getting a good buzz to be beneficial! CBG binds to both the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the brain, which are the gateways to the endocannabinoid system – delivering a wide range of benefits, including fighting cancer cells, combating inflammation, treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease, helping with nausea and even acting as a powerful anti-bacterial. While CBG is known to actually counteract the effects of heavy-THC doses (meaning it can calm a high down), we found a mild euphoria accompanied the wonderful medicinal effects that we now refer to as the CBG giggles.

Delta 8 THC | Over the last few years, Delta 8 THC products have exploded across the country, with edibles and vapes filling head shop shelves. Delta 8 THC can be found naturally in Cannabis, although the extracted version is a hemp-derived isomer of CBD, which converts the CBD into a more playful Cannabinoid. Generally viewed as both safe and delivering a less psychoactive high, many users report happy effects when vaping or eating Delta 8 THC. As with all alternative Cannabinoid products, the brand matters when it comes to product safety and testing – so look to a trusted brand that’s already in the THC game to find your Delta 8 buzz.

THC-O & HHC | With weed still illegal in many places, those with a love for science and pot are working to find new ways to get high that don’t come from traditional Delta 9 THC, and can be questionably sold at gas stations and smoke shops. THC-O is considered three times more potent than normal THC, and is made in a lab by adding Acetic Anhydride (an ingredient in Aspirin) to produce this not-found-in-nature Cannabinoid. Users report heady euphoria and a strong body high.

HHC is a similar lab-created Cannabinoid that adds a hydrogen molecule to hemp-derived THC (which makes it technically legal), and has very similar effects to traditional THC. With questionable testing and no regulation, there’s no replacing good ol’ THC from mother nature.

A Word to the Weed Wise

While we don’t recommend trying gas station synthetic weed, or any gas station energy or sexual potency pills, a world of Cannabis products does exist that you might not find at your regular weed shop. The best advice for finding quality alternative Cannabinoids is to start at your dispensary and ask the staff for a specific Cannabinoid like CBD or CBG, and inquire as to which brands that make THC products might have other options. Many have full online stores with CBD and other infused products that you can mail to your house legally.

So as we head into the unknown of 2023 and beyond, look to Cannabis for new ways to help you and your friends and family. We all have health issues that could benefit from this amazing plant

in

“The best advice for finding quality alternative Cannabinoids is to start at your dispensary and ask the staff for a specific compound like CBD or CBG.”

… and

that sense, it really is a wonderful new world we live in.

THE NEW YEAR/NEW YOU FAD IS IN FULL GEAR, and while major lifestyle changes can be elusive, working alternative Cannabinoids into your wellness protocol can be easier than quitting your favorite vice. Although there are over 100 minor Cannabinoids that researchers have yet to study, we’ve put together a primer on the ones most commonly found in products today. Together with terpenes and THC, these lesser-known chemicals work in concert to achieve what’s known as the Entourage Effect – where the elements of the plant work in harmony to create wellness. While none of this should be read as medical advice, our modern world offers plenty of emerging research on these Cannabinoids and surrounding topics, and we encourage everyone interested in integrating Cannabis into their health and wellness routines to explore the world of alternative Cannabinoids!

Replacing The Ritual

How Cannabis can be a healthier alternative to regularly consuming alcohol.

For many people, Cannabis helps with everyday issues. It can ease social anxiety, spark creativity, fight pain, calm nausea. For others, Cannabis can be a literal life saver. Sean Scott is in the latter camp.

A few years back, the New York-based photographer found himself facing a tough truth about his lifestyle. While working at a tech company, what started with casual drinks after work developed into a self-destructive spiral.

“It was a great social lubricant,” Scott said. “It wasn’t a problem until it was. I always showed up to work, I didn’t drink on the job, I didn’t get into a fistfight. There were all these things that made me actually believe that it isn’t as bad as it actually is.”

He started experiencing blackouts. Still, he continued to tell himself that he was fine, and that he was able to maintain. Then a roommate showed him a video of himself that changed his life.

“I’d gone down to the bar, had about five or six cocktails, cashed out, came home, fell asleep on the couch,” he said. “I remember being really proud of myself [for not drinking that much].”

Later, he found out he’d woken up, blacked out.

“My roommate caught video of me screaming my head off, about what I have no idea, because I had a great week. … Then I take a right turn and try to launch myself out of a 40-story window like an Avenger. No memory of it. … Luckily the windows are hurricane proof.”

Seeing that video woke Scott up to the stark realization that he needed to change his habits. He adopted a lifestyle that an increasingly large number of people are calling “California sober” – utilizing Cannabis and microdoses of psilocybin to help reprogram his mind, leaving alcohol behind.

“It’s not enough to create a psychedelic effect, but what it did do, was that it allowed me to deal with the issues of alcohol addiction in real time, rather than becoming a victim to this state of despair,” he said. “Alcohol really trains the brain to look at all the negatives. … Poor me, poor me, pour me another drink. [Psilocybin] especially allowed me to peel back the onion layers of what was going on with me internally that was driving me to go and drink. I’m talking about the ritual of going down to the bar to have just one.”

For Scott, it wasn’t only about consumption of Cannabis and psilocybin and the physical effects they provided. It was about transference of attention. It was about replacing the ritual.

“If you’re doing the ritual of going to the bar after work, and you’re drinking, over a period of time the neurons in your brain – that whole pathway – is getting stronger,” he said. “It’s like building a bicep. What will eventually happen is that you will find yourself saying, ‘I don’t want to go to the bar, and I don’t want to drink.’ But then five o’clock on Friday comes around, and now I have the pull of that ritual, because it’s five o’clock on Friday, that’s where everybody is. … Having a ritual to come home to – cleaning out the bowl, washing the bong – that’s a way to interrupt that whole cycle of going out to the bars.”

Because the Alcoholics Anonymous program would not allow for Cannabis consumption – they only allow for sugar, caffeine and nicotine – Scott turned to Instagram, posting his “Days Count” and started building a support network there.

Scott also took his interest in the bar life and poured it into a love for Cannabis photography and cultivation.

“For Scott, it wasn’t only about the consumption of Cannabis and psilocybin, and the physical effects they provided. It was about transference of attention. It was about replacing the ritual. ”

“Growing Cannabis was the thing that kept me sober,” he said. “Hand in soil.”

The act of caring for plants kept him steady. So did the fear of blacking out while caring for Cannabis plants then waking up in a holding cell.

Now, more than three years later, Scott is more than three years sober. He’s rediscovered a profound love for the plant that has only deepened after decades of being a Cannabis consumer. His love for life has been renewed. He’s able to go to bars with his friends without considering a drink. He’s found a Cannabis-assisted sobriety community online.

“There have been hundreds of Cannabis cultivators from around the country who have reached out to me and said, ‘You know what? I had a problem with alcohol, too. Cannabis helped me stay sober, and I’m celebrating 25 years this month,’” he said. “Hundreds. I don’t know what it is about growing the plant. I don’t know. All I know, from my personal experience, is that maybe it’s plant therapy. Maybe it’s keeping something alive. Maybe it’s the routine. Maybe it’s a combination of all of that. All I can say is that it’s made me a better person.”

Sean Scott, left, and one of the detailed bud shots he’s known for, right.

Clear The Chaos

In a University of Chicago study in May of 2022, scientists tested brain function while under the influence of Cannabis and it showed that there was increased activity of alpha and theta waves after consuming THC. So, when you’re meditating on Cannabis, you’re activating both of those brain waves simultaneously, heightening the experience.

Motion. Can you hear it? It’s everywhere. Everything we know is in constant movement … and movement creates noise. This is part of modern living, and without it, you become suspicious.

If you ask just about anyone, their Shangri La is somewhere quiet, devoid of distraction – a place where they can escape the rigors of life’s constant activity. At home, even if you turn off the television, draw the curtains and attempt to remove anything in your immediate vicinity that makes a sound, the HVAC unit will unexpectedly break the moment.

As you stay on point with the daily patterns that equate to your survival and growth, the basic human need for serenity, on some level – a place to center your existence – gets lost in the shuffle.

There is a solution. As much as your activities equate to a lifestyle that is filled with distractions demanding your attention, it’s not as much about relocating to somewhere you can hide from it all. It’s about a change in mindset. It’s about identifying your sanctuary, a place where you can recalibrate and begin again with a fresh outlook.

Because when it’s finally “me” time, you want to maximize the reward you’ve earned that equates to healing and improving your overall mental health. It’s not necessarily about entirely changing your vibration – it’s about tapping into a different frequency.

According to Nina Wasankari – a Certified Meditation Teacher, in addition to being Marketing Director at Canna West Seattle retail shop – the best way of getting to that place where you can clear the chaos starts with improving your ethos. And that begins with finding a way to create balance in your hectic life: balance within yourself and the over stimulation, tapping into a personal sense of calm.

“It’s about achieving stillness,” she says, “we all want it, and we all need it.”

For many it is so difficult to shut out the racing thoughts. So how can Cannabis be a factor in finding your own little sliver of nirvana?

“The word meditation is a Latin word that means ‘to ponder,’” says Wasankari. “And the practice of meditation goes back 6,000 years. The purpose was and still is, to alleviate suffering and to attain spiritual enlightenment. Cannabis has been around for 12,000 years for medicinal and spiritual purposes. The two combined can be a very effective combination.”

Coincidentally, when you’re meditating, alpha and theta brain waves are increased. The alpha waves put you in a mentally and physically relaxed state. Theta waves bring about inner concentration, awareness and focus, like daydreaming.

“There was a point where I didn’t feel like I was achieving the deep meditative state I wanted to get to,” says Wasankari. “After practicing for a while, I found that it was improving my mental and physical health. At the same time, I had been learning about high level meditation, but still, that deeper experience seemed to be eluding me. Then I tried combining the two and experienced something remarkable.”

She certainly wasn’t the first person to attempt this wonderful feat, but like with anything to do with Cannabis, the effects may vary depending on the person.

“It allowed me to achieve stillness,” she gleams, eager to further validate this discovery. “There’s this yoga/meditation called Kaya Sthairyam, which means body stillness. It’s being able to remain still for at least 30 minutes without moving the body. Well, Cannabis helped me achieve just that. After I ate an edible, I ended up in a very deep spiritual meditation for over an hour. I totally lost track of time. Since then, I’ve incorporated it into my practice.”

So, what about the beginner who loves the idea of disappearing into the ether for a quick reboot, but has difficulty even getting started? Begin by sitting still for at least five minutes a day. As you get more comfortable with the routine, you will gradually move forward to higher meditation levels. In fact, there are wonderful, guided meditations online that will direct you through the process, helping you to become the peaceful, calm, enlightened person the world wants to see. And if you need some help getting in the mood, you should begin “to ponder” the perfect strain to usher you into the right headspace.

STORY by MIKE RICKER

Photo by Nina Wasankari @guiltyartmusic

“It’s about achieving stillness. We all want it, we all need it.”

When I worked in a restaurant in New York years ago, this soup was the most popular. It’s creamy, rustic and quite hearty.

BROCCOLI & CHEESE SOUP

ALL RECIPES SERVE 6

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons canna-butter

1 small onion, chopped

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups vegetable stock

1 large head broccoli, cut into florets

2 cups milk

1 cup half-and-half

3 cups freshly-shredded sharp cheddar cheese, plus extra for garnish Salt (kosher or sea) and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1. In a large pot, melt the butter and cannabutter over medium-low heat.

2. Add the onion and sauté until translucent, 4-5 minutes.

3. Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring for 1-2 minutes to eliminate the raw-flour taste, not letting it brown.

4. Add the stock and broccoli and cook for 9 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the soup cool slightly.

5. Working in two batches, puree the soup in a blender or food processor. Or, if you have an immersion blender, you can puree the soup directly in the pot.

6. Return the blended soup to the pot. Over medium-low heat, add the milk, half-and-half, and cheddar, stirring until the cheese melts.

7. Season the soup with salt and pepper, and garnish with more cheddar before serving.

SOUL WARMING SOUPS

IT’S THE START OF A NEW YEAR. Hey, let’s try to make it a good one! My goal is to be nice, do a tiny bit of exercise at least monthly, talk my husband into letting me get a squirrel, and do a little book ab out soup. I love making soup … and these three are soul-warming and will give you a delightful buzz. Because everyone has a different tolerance, I keep the soups lightly infused. However, I make infused croutons so people can dose their soup to the perfect potency. Just cut up some crusty bread and saute it in canna butter or oil, maybe with a little garlic.

JANUARY HASHTAGS | #perfectpotency #happynewyear #bekind #Oliver #Dontfeartheedible #infusedcroutons

LENTIL SOUP

2 tablespoons canna-olive oil

1⁄2 medium onion, diced

1 medium carrot, diced

1 stalk celery, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 quart chicken or vegetable stock

1 (15oz) can diced tomatoes

1 1/4 cups yellow or red lentils, rinsed

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon sherry vinegar

4 strips cooked bacon, chopped, for garnish

1 cup croutons, for garnish

1. In a large pot, heat the canna-olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery and garlic, and sauté until tender, 7-9 minutes.

2. Add the stock, tomatoes, lentils and cumin, and simmer for 45 minutes.

3. Stir in the vinegar and serve garnished with the bacon and croutons.

CIOPPINO

Cioppino is an Italian-American stew that originated in San Francisco in the late 1800s. It was originally made by fishermen to use up their catch of the day … we recommend you use whatever fish and shellfish looks best at the market. Serve with pita or bagel chips or croutons, and pass the hot sauce!

1 tablespoon canna-oil

1 medium onion, cut into wedges

3 garlic cloves, mashed

1 (28oz) can crushed tomatoes

1 (8oz) jar clam juice

1⁄4 cup red wine, such as a cabernet or pinot noir

1 pound fish of your choosing, skinned, cut into chunks

1⁄2 cup shucked mussels

1. In a large saucepan, heat the canna-oil over medium-low heat. Sauté the onion and garlic until translucent, 4-6 minutes.

2. Reduce the heat to low. Add the tomatoes, clam juice and wine, and simmer until hot – 12-15 minutes.

3. Add the fish and mussels, and simmer until the fish is cooked through – 5-7 minutes. Serve hot.

tasty terpenes

Over the past century, science has made enormous strides in identifying and understanding the hundreds of chemical compounds in the Cannabis plant and how they affect our physiology. And no man has done more to advance that noble cause than the internationally recognized “Father of Cannabis Research,” Israeli chemist Dr. Raphael Mechoulam.

THE CHEMISTRY OF CANNABINOIDS

EARLY CANNABIS RESEARCH

During the birth of modern medicine in the 19th century, scientific study of the chemical composition of Cannabis began to take off.

In the 1840s, researchers like French pharmacist (and Club de Hashischin affiliate) Edmond DeCourtive began making Cannabis extracts using ethanol – a concentrate he dubbed cannabin. From these kinds of extracts, chemists began identifying the molecules that would later come to be known as cannabinoids. In 1895, researchers Thomas Wood, W.T. Spivey, and Thomas Easterfield discovered and isolated the first cannabinoid, cannabinol (CBN) – publishing a paper about it in the Journal of Chemical Society in 1899 (though its chemical structure wasn’t fully identified until the 1930s, by British chemist Robert S. Cahn).

Unfortunately, the enactment of America’s Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 stymied Cannabis research for decades, with one notable exception: A Harvard-trained chemist named Roger Adams, who, in 1939, was actually tasked by the newly-formed Bureau of Narcotics with exploring the plant’s composition. In 1940, using the wild Minnesota hemp supplied by the Bureau, he became the first person to identify, isolate and synthesize cannabidiol, or CBD. Adams – who published 27 studies on Cannabis in the American Journal of Chemistry throughout the 1940s – also synthesized CBN and even identified tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), though he lacked the technology or technique to isolate it. It would be 20 years before another scientist would grab Adams’ academic baton and run with it: That scientist was Dr. Raphael Mechoulam.

FROM REFUGEE TO RESEARCHER

Raphael Mechoulam was born in 1930 in Sofia, Bulgaria, where his physician father was the head of the Jewish hospital. At the start of World War II, his family was forced to flee and move from village to village to escape the Nazis (his father later spent time in a concentration camp but survived) until emigrating to Israel in 1949. A student of organic chemistry, Mechoulam got his first experience with scientific research while studying insecticides during his stint in the Israeli Defense Forces.

After his service, Mechoulam earned a Master of Science in biochemistry from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1952), followed by a Ph.D. from the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot (near Tel Aviv), and postdoctoral studies at the Rockefeller Institute in New York before returning to Israel to begin what would become his life’s work: the exploration of Cannabis chemistry.

CANNABIS CURIOSITY

Why Cannabis? According to Mechoulam, it was simply the lack of existing information on the topic that drew him to it. As he explained in a 2016 interview with Vice: “I realized the scarce chemical knowledge about the compounds in Cannabis. I found it very surprising: While morphine had been isolated from opium and cocaine from the coca leaf, no one had studied the chemistry of the marijuana plant. It was very odd.”

Due to prohibition, academics couldn’t get research grants involving Cannabis

The scientists who first discovered and studied cannabinoids.

and even feared prosecution for studying it. Luckily, that didn’t deter Mechoulam – despite the fact that Cannabis was illegal in Israel, he came up with an idea on how to get some. In 1962, he asked the director at the Weizmann Institute – where he was working as a junior faculty member – if he knew of any police who could supply hashish for research. As it turned out, the head of investigations at the national police happened to be one of the director’s old army buddies … and after vouching for the young scientist, the officer agreed.

Mechoulam hopped on a bus to a police station in Tel Aviv, where he was given five kilos of Moroccan hashish that had been intercepted while being smuggled in from Lebanon. He thanked the officers, put the hash in his bag, and got back on the bus. Of course, his parcel made for an interesting bus ride home, as he amusedly recalls in the award-winning 2015 documentary about him – “The Scientist” – saying, “People on the bus after 15, 20 minutes started asking, ‘What the hell is this very unusual smell?’”

Soon after, Mechoulam and the police learned that any requests for illegal substances required a permit from the Ministry of Health and that their transaction could actually land them all in prison. Nevertheless, after apologies were made, the matter was forgiven and Mechoulam continued to obtain hashish from the police (with a permit) for decades thereafter.

CBD, THC & THE NIH

After procuring the hash, the next step was to secure some funding. Mechoulam applied for a research grant from the National Institutes of Health in America but was rejected out of hand.

“They told me, ‘It’s not relevant. Nobody smokes marijuana in the U.S. – people do it in Mexico,’” he recalls.

Nevertheless, Mechoulam and his colleagues (Dr. Yehiel Gaoni and Dr. Haviv Edery) began their in-depth study of the hash’s various compounds and cannabinoids (a term which Mechoulam coined). First, in 1963, they isolated CBD and mapped its molecular structure. Then, the following year, using a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, they were able for the first time to isolate and map the structure of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, better known as THC – which, as their experimentation on monkeys soon revealed, was the only compound that produced a psychoactive effect.

To be sure, though, they’d need to test it on humans. So Mechoulam took a bunch of pure THC powder home and invited a group of friends over for cake – dosing some of the slices with 10mg of THC. While the effects on each individual differed, there was little doubt that they’d identified the correct compound.

On April 1, 1964, they revealed their findings in a paper entitled “Isolation, Structure, and Partial Synthesis of an Active Constituent of Hashish,” published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. After that, the NIH was suddenly very interested in their “irrelevant” research – sending representatives to Israel to meet with them, observe their work, and take 10 grams of pure THC back to the U.S. with them (which fueled most of the organization’s early research).

comprised a complex, pervasive, and previously unknown network within human anatomy that Mechoulam’s team aplty named the endocannabinoid system, which is believed to be responsible for maintaining homeostasis (regulating the stability of all of the body’s other systems).

“The endocannabinoid system is very important,” Mechoulam told Vice. “Almost all illnesses we have are linked to it in some way or another. And that is very strange. We don’t have many systems which get involved with every illness.”

Mechoulam was also the first to propose the concept of the “entourage effect” in 1998 – the hypothesis that the combination of various cannabinoids and terpenes act synergistically to provide benefits they wouldn’t necessarily offer alone.

FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE

THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM & THE ENTOURAGE EFFECT

In the following decades, Mechoulam and his team at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem continued to make groundbreaking discoveries about Cannabis – identifying and synthesizing over 100 compounds, including cannabinoids like cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabichromene (CBC), as well as Delta 8 and 10 THC.

In the early 1980s, they conducted the first experiments with CBD oil for epilepsy. In the mid‘80s, their research led to the discovery of two cannabinoid receptors in the human body (dubbed CB1 and CB2) by neuroscientist Dr. Allyn Howlett … which, in turn, led to their discovery of the first endocannabinoid (a cannabinoid-like chemical produced internally by the human body) in December 1992, which they named anandamide (aka the “bliss molecule”).

These discoveries eventually led to the game-changing realization that those receptors

Thanks to Mechoulam’s work, Israel has become the global leader in medical Cannabis research. In the early 1990s, their Ministry of Health began offering medical marijuana to patients suffering from certain debilitating ailments. And in 2004, they launched an experimental program to study the effectiveness of Cannabis on veterans suffering from PTSD.

Dr. Mechoulam has now published nearly 400 scientific articles and has been awarded several honorary degrees. He’s a founding member of the International Cannabinoid Research Society and the International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines. He’s been nominated for over 25 academic awards, several of which he won – including two lifetime achievement awards and the esteemed Harvey Prize –widely considered a precursor to the Nobel Prize, for which he’s rumored to be in consideration.

Still, the legacy that the now 92-year-old “father of Cannabis research” seems most concerned with is ensuring that Cannabis is fully accepted and integrated into traditional Western medicine.

“I have spent the better part of my life decoding the mysteries that lie within this incredible plant,” Mechoulam has said. “I believe that cannabinoids represent a medicinal treasure trove which waits to be discovered.”

For our podcast & more Cannabis history content visit worldofcannabis.museum/cannthropology.

Mechoulam hopped on a bus to a police station ... where he was given five kilos of Moroccan hashish. He thanked the officers, put the hash in his bag, and got back on the bus.

Dr. Mechoulam & colleague Dr. Gaoni examining some data.

Illustration of Mechoulam observing the various reactions of his guests after eating THC-laced cake.

Speaking at a medical Cannabis conference in Israel in 2018.

VOLCANI CENTER

SINCE THE FIRST Caribbean pirate washed down his minnow stew with peppercorn spiced rum, the mouth mane has stood as a solid sign of masculinity. However, as hair trends wane and wax, the last 30 years or so have not been friendly to the man stache. Like, if you donned a thick one and a person caught a glimpse in their periphery, they might do a double-take, curiously considering if they’d just witnessed a caterpillar nesting under a stranger’s nose.

But the moustache is cool again.

Now, this is not to be confused with the molestache. A dude rocking a confident, purposefully maintained lip wig has nothing to hide. But when a dandruff filter protrudes over the orifice like a warning label to hide anything that’s pretty, you wonder if twisted thoughts may be at play.

This also does not include the Saddam Hussein. That’s the abundantly flourishing frown fur that seconds as a push broom.

A good example is the wiry-haired Baby Boomer whose peach fuzz began emerging in the 6th grade, eventually blossoming into a thick black pipe cleaner that is as much a part of his appearance as the brown teeth.

We’re talking about guys who draw attention with intention, celebrating the bro-grow as a statement. Be it in defiance to conformity or absolute ownership of his gender identification, he boldly brandishes his face flag as a male human recognizing gallantry as a virtue. It is proudly presented as part of his personal brand.

It’s different this time. Call it a comeback.

The stigma is ending, and we are entering a new era of acceptance. Kinda like Cannabis.

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