EDITOR’S NOTE

THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

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

ABOUT THE COVER

Odds are if you’ve been around Maryland’s Cannabis scene, you have met Daniel Simmonds of Georgetown Hemp. From pioneering his brand to helping write proposed legislation surrounding Cannabis, Daniel’s roots are deep in the Cannabis industry as an insider. This photoshoot took place in the processing lab where his formulations are made in Baltimore, surrounded by top-tier lab equipment. Photographer Greg Malcolm, otherwise known as Maryland Connoisseur was able to truly capture Daniel in his element doing what he loves most. The passion that these guys share for the Cannabis industry proves to be an inspiration to many.

PHOTO by GREG MALCOLM @MARYLAND.CONNOISSEUR

FOUNDER

WES ABNEY | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

WES@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM PUBLISHER

EARLY

EARLY@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

DANIEL BERMAN | VISUALS & DESIGN DANIEL@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

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WYATT@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM 410-961-8779 CONTRIBUTORS

BOBBY BLACK, FEATURES JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION TOM BOWERS, FEATURES MAX EARLY, FEATURES EARLY, PRODUCTION STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS GREG MALCOLM, PHOTOS TAYLOR MARTIN, FEATURES BAXSEN PAINE, FEATURES JEFF PORTERFIELD, DESIGN MIKE RICKER, FEATURES MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING MIKE ROTHMAN, LAW COLUMN CHARLES TAGGART, PHOTOS JAMIE VICTOR, DESIGN JULIO VISUALS, PHOTOS

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WES ABNEY Editor’s Note

Thanks for picking up the Insider Issue of the Leaf!

AS OUR Northeast Leaf Director Danny Danko recently tweeted, “I’ve been in the ‘Cannabis Space’ so long that when I got started, the ‘Cannabis Space’ was just a part of your home you didn’t talk about.” While the beloved Mr. Danko started in Cannabis long before I did, I still remember that same feeling in 2010 – where working in the weed industry was less a talking point than a risk factor, and even working in publishing for pot was taboo.

Fast forward to today and society is starting to get used to the idea of Cannabis as an industry with legitimate jobs, which allows us the chance to peel back the layers and highlight some of the insiders who are making the Cannabis industry a better place to be. With this issue we hope to show that the world of Cannabis is much more than just “stoners growing weed” and offer a unique perspective on companies large and small that are doing it right.

As those of us on the inside know, working in the Cannabis industry is often harder than taking a mainstream gig. I’ve met plenty of ex-professionals, and I don’t mean athletes, who left careers as lawyers, nurses, managers, executives and beyond for a chance to follow their passion. Most would say that they work much harder for less money and stability, but the thing they all have in common is their continued commitment to the plant. Those working in the industry, especially the entrepreneurs and heritage members, have risked everything to make sure we have the opportunity to go to a store and buy a pre-roll. With that said, we should never take our freedom for granted, or assume that those on the inside are rolling in money or living the sweet life.

While there are many influencers on social media who would portray working in weed as a Hollywood dream, the Cannabis industry is really full of dedicated, resilient and strong-willed people who would again risk their freedom or security to defend a plant that helps so many lives. People who work hard, stay late … all to have a chance to work with our plant. And that’s the way we like it – and what it means to really be an insider in our beloved Cannabis community. “WE SHOULD NEVER TAKE OUR FREEDOM FOR GRANTED, OR ASSUME THAT THOSE ON THE INSIDE ARE ROLLING IN MONEY OR LIVING THE SWEET LIFE.”

Whether you’re easing gently into a series of deep asanas or feeling fired up for an intermediate vinyasa flow, practicing yoga can be markedly enhanced with the right strain of cannabis. There are several cannabis cultivars that are excellent bronchodilators, supporting the deep, even breathing that yoga compels. Other strains are superb muscle relaxers, helping even the stiffest among us maneuver into a prolonged Utkatasana. But, more than physical support, many phenotypes can help quiet the mind, opening up pathways to deeply meditative flows and an unimpeded stream of prana.

For consumers practicing yoga in the safety of their own home, partaking in a bit of cannabis pre-pose can transform an already valuable, restorative workout into a transcendental cosmic adventure. Next time you pull out the mat for some traditional Hatha work or even some tantric exploration, consider one of these strains to help you get the most of your session, both physically and spiritually.

Find these strains and more at

weedmaps.com/strains

Zkittlez

Zkittlez was bred from a cross of Grape Ape and Grapefruit, and though its genetics lean toward indica, its effects can skew mildly energetic, depending on the consumer’s resting state. This strain’s effects are strongly cerebral, with fans reporting a bright, creative euphoria that tapers neatly into a calming body high. Zkittlez has a relatively low THC percentage, in fact, the median is about 15%. If you’re flowing through poses with the intention of shuffling into relaxation soon after, a puff of Zkittlez may make the transition that much smoother.

Zkittlez is a highly awarded strain often noted for its intense candy-sweetness. Expect dark green, finely sugared nugs with strong, complex layers of tropical fruit, citrus, and ripe berries in both the fragrance and the exhale.

Kush Mints

Aspiring yogis who prefer a milder indica vibe may want to consider Kush Mints, an indica-leaning hybrid with a precise parity of calm physical relaxation and vibrant creative bliss. This cultivar was bred from a cross of Bubba Kush and Animal Mints, and the resulting flowers are dense and crystally. Consumers report highs that are manageably weightless and euphoric, working to both uplift moods and calm the superficial aches and pains that might impede a body from truly relaxing into a fully satisfying flow.

Kush Mints, as the name suggests, features a minty terpene profile with subtle notes of citrus and sweet herbs, though many swear they taste cookies as well.