Sept. 2023 - Maryland Leaf

Page 1

THE TANNINS & TERPENES

#57 | SEPT. 2023 THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE FREE / LEAFMAGAZINES.COM INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010
THE ART & SCIENCE OF PAIRING CANNABIS & TASTY BEVERAGES
ISSUE
Kush
Mints
Flower by Curio Exclusive paired with Red Rooster Coffee Organic 4&20 French Roast.

SUN-GROWN & SWEET JUST LIKE YOU

SunMed’s signature line of chocolate edibles capture the richer cannabinoid and terpene profiles of cannabis grown in full-spectrum, natural sunlight.

Available in Milk, Dark, and White chocolate.

You must be 21+ or a qualifying medical cannabis patient in Maryland to use this product. Cannabis consumption may impair your ability to drive a car or operate machinery. Please use extreme caution. There may be health risks associated with cannabis use, especially during pregnancy or breast-feeding. Accidental consumption of cannabis by children or animals may result in sever adverse reactions. Keep cannabis out of the reach of children and animals.

SunMedGrowers.com @SunMed.Growers & @SunMed.Labs @SunMedGrowers
SUNNIES CHOCOLATES

To experience the freshest flower in the market and learn more about our strains, visit www.naturesheritagecannabis.com and follow us on Instagram @naturesheritagecannabisco.

This product name and accompanying statements are not intended to represent a medical or therapeutic claim. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. PLEASE CONSUME RESPONSIBLY. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Promotion is for medical patients only. For use only by adults 21 years of age or older. Keep out of the reach of children.
4 THE TANNINS & TERPENES ISSUE 07 EDITOR’S NOTE 08 NATIONAL NEWS 10 MOONRISE FESTIVAL 14 BUDTENDER Q&A 16 SHOP REVIEW 20 CONCENTRATES 24 STRAIN OF THE MONTH 28 CURIO EXCLUSIVE 30 GLEAF 32 COOKIES 34 GRASSROOTS 36 EVERMORE 38 FLAVORFUL FUTURE 40 SHELF APPEAL 42 THE STATE OF THE CRAFT 44 CANNTHROPOLOGY 46 STONEY BALONEY SEPT. 2023 leafmagazines.com JORDAN SABILLO WYATT EARLY 10 16 REHASHED SHOP REVIEW MOONRISE FESTIVAL 2023 COOKIES BALTIMORE SEPT. 2023 [ issue #57 THE ART & SCIENCE OF PAIRING CANNABIS & TASTY BEVERAGES THE TANNINS & TERPENES ISSUE PURPLE OBEAH FLOWER BY EVERMORE FOUNDATIONS PAIRED WITH LEMON STICK SOUR ALE BY ABBEYWOOD BREWING GREG MALCOLM
Medical cannabis is for certified Maryland patients or must be 21+ to purchase GROWWESTMD.COM
*Medical cannabis use is for certified patients only. ©2023 Roll One™. All rights reserved.

WES ABNEY CEO & FOUNDER wes@leafmagazines.com

MIKE RICKER OPERATING PARTNER ricker@leafmagazines.com

TOM BOWERS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER tom@leafmagazines.com

DANIEL BERMAN CREATIVE DIRECTOR daniel@leafmagazines.com

EARLY MARYLAND LEAF PUBLISHER early@leafmagazines.com

WYATT EARLY STATE DIRECTOR wyatt@leafmagazines.com (410) 961-8779

MEGHAN RIDLEY COPY EDITOR meghan@leafmagazines.com

ABOUT THE COVER

This month's lovely cover image was created by longtime Maryland Leaf contributing photographer Greg Malcolm, who captured the warm glow of a truly wonderful pairing: Red Rooster Coffee's 4&20 French Roast and Kush Mints flower by Curio. In this issue, you will find a variety of Cannabis and alcoholic and non-alcoholic pairings to read aboutandponder. The Tannins and Terpenes Issue is our annual examination of Cannabis and tasty beverages invites Leaf readers to take a closer look at how flavors and science can combine for a unique consumption experience. Be sure to safely try out your own combinations and look for even more inspiration in the pages of our five other local Leaf editions, available to read at LeafMagazines.com | Sip, Toke & Enjoy!

CONTRIBUTORS

BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES

JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION

TOM BOWERS, FEATURES

AMANDA DAY, FEATURES

EARLY, PRODUCTION

WYATT EARLY, FEATURES

STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS

MATT JACKSON, FEATURES

GREG MALCOLM, PHOTOS

TAYLOR MARTIN, FEATURES

BAXSEN PAINE, PHOTOS + FEATURES

JESSE RAMIREZ, DESIGN

MIKE RICKER, FEATURES

MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING

BRUCE & LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES

KATHERINE WOLF, FEATURES

We are creators of targeted, independent Cannabis journalism. Please email us to discuss advertising in the next issue of Maryland Leaf Magazine. We do not sell stories or coverage. We can offer design services and guidance on promoting your company’s medicinal, recreational, commercial or industrial Cannabis business, product or event within our magazine and on our website, leafmagazines.com. Email wyatt@leafmagazines.com to start advertising with Maryland Leaf!

CONNECT WITH MARYLAND LEAF

WES ABNEY

Editor’s Note

Thanks for picking up The Tannins & Terpenes Issue of the Leaf!

We began pairing wine and weed over 10 years ago in print, highlighting the similarities and differences between the flavors provided by tannins in wine and terpenes in Cannabis. These were the early days of medicinal access to the plant (when weed wasn’t even legal yet) and for many, the idea of flavor profiles or even calling pot medicine was considered questionable by mainstream standards. But I saw the brilliant smells and flavors that ooze from beautiful craft-grown Cannabis and knew that if we could convince people that the same flavonoids and terpenes were making the weed and wine taste good, that it could serve as an educational tool to change minds. After all, everyone knows there’s a million flavors in wine – even if they don’t drink it regularly.

Over the years, we have ranged from all wine pairings to exploring the world of craft beers, cocktails and seltzers, as we honed our tastes. Similarly, the weed world has expanded from simple flower pairings to a wide range of concentrates, cartridges and edibles that can enhance a boozy pairing, or replace it altogether.

While I’ve long considered myself a craft beer aficionado, I’ve spent the last six months sober from alcohol, which has helped me to see Cannabis in a new light. America has a drinking culture (problem) that pushes booze as a tool for celebration, mourning and everything in between. But as I grew in my publishing role and as a father to teenagers, alcohol became less of a helper for stress – actually creating more – especially as the Leaf worked to navigate the difficult Cannabis industry in 13 states. Since my break from alcohol, I’ve experienced a lot of personal benefits, and learned to lean on Cannabis fully as both medicine and recreation. It truly is an amazing plant to be able to provide for both areas of life – healing and pleasure – and I’ve fallen in love with it all over again.

“THE WEED WORLD HAS EXPANDED FROM SIMPLE FLOWER PAIRINGS TO A WIDE RANGE OF CONCENTRATES, CARTRIDGES AND EDIBLES THAT CAN ENHANCE A BOOZY PAIRING, OR REPLACE IT ALTOGETHER. ”

As this issue of the magazine has evolved, we’ve included new types of pairings, including Cannabis with coffee, energy drinks, kombucha and more. There are few things more satisfying in this world than a fresh cup of joe with a joint, and it brings me great joy to continue to pair tasty beverages with Cannabis, sans alcohol for this writer. I hope that these words can be an inspiration to anyone considering a break from alcohol, or any habit that causes more harm than health.

We are all fortunate to live in a time of legalization – where reconceptualizing sobriety includes the use of Cannabis (California Sober/Green Clean) and a huge community of people who have found health and happiness with pot, including many who are sober otherwise. So as we toast at our next pairing sesh, remember: It’s OK to talk about addiction and struggles, and the benefits of Cannabis. After all, you have to put down your drink to pass the bong.

7 FREE ONLINE ARCHIVE @MDLEAF | @MARYLANDLEAF @NWLEAF ISSUU.COM/NWLEAF
Exclusive Cannabis Journalism SEPT. 2023 ESTABLISHED 2010 THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE NORTHWEST LEAF / OREGON LEAF / ALASKA LEAF / MARYLAND LEAF / CALIFORNIA LEAF / NORTHEAST LEAF
-Wes Abney

MARIJUANA GROUPS CALL ON REGULATORS TO ADOPT UNIVERSAL SYMBOL FOR PRODUCTS

Acoalition made up of marijuana reform organizations is calling upon regulators across the world to adopt a universal symbol for marijuana products in the interest of promoting safety in the evolving Cannabis market.

The symbol would make it easier to facilitate interstate Cannabis commerce if states choose to enact the policy, reports Marijuana Moment.

There’s a patchwork of marijuana laws from stateto-state in the U.S., as well as internationally. But the groups said in a letter to regulators distributed in August that there should at least be uniformity in labeling so that people know what products contain Cannabis – no matter where they’re shopping.

The International Intoxicating Cannabinoid Product Symbol (IICPS) – a yellow triangle with an image of a Cannabis leaf and black border – has already been adopted by Montana, New Jersey, South Dakota and Vermont, while other states like Alaska are also considering it.

GERMANY LEGALIZES!

The German government in mid-August approved a plan to legalize some recreational Cannabis use, paving the way to allow adults to legally buy and possess small amounts of marijuana, reports The New York Times.

INDONESIA BURNS MARIJUANA PLANTATION DISCOVERED BY DRONES

Indonesian authorities in August burned a marijuana plantation in the northern province of Aceh after it was discovered by drones, reports the Associated Press.

A joint team of the National Narcotic Agency (known as BNN) and the National Research and Innovation Agency – using drones – detected 4.5 hectares (11 acres) of land with an estimated 21,100 Cannabis plants ready for harvest, said Wayan Sugiri, the deputy for eradication at BNN.

The aerial operation was conducted from August 3-13 in Teupin Reuseup village in North Aceh district. More than 150 officers from the police, customs and BNN were deployed to uproot the 20 tons of marijuana for burning, Sugiri said.

HALF OF AMERICANS HAVE NOW TRIED WEED

Half of Americans have now tried marijuana, according to a new Gallup survey. This is the first time Gallup has found 50 percent of respondents saying they’ve tried Cannabis, reports The National Desk. But it’s been hovering just below that figure for a while now – having been over 40 percent since 2015.

By gender, 53% of men and 44% of women said they have tried marijuana. By age, adults 35-54 showed the highest rate of past marijuana use, with 51% saying they had smoked the herb. Meanwhile, 49% of those aged 18-34 and 47% of adults 55 and older said the same.

STUDY: MARIJUANA REDUCES OPIOID CRAVINGS

IT’S

been street knowledge for some time, but now it has more scientific backing. A new federal study found Cannabis “significantly” reduces opioid cravings for people using them without a prescription, reports Marijuana Moment. This, of course, suggests that expanding access to legal marijuana could provide folks with a safer substitute – one that could provide a long-sought breakthrough when it comes to treating opioid addiction.

Scientists at the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use surveyed 205 people in total. The study participants used weed and unregulated opioids from December 2019 to November 2021. The goal was to test the theory that Cannabis represents an effective harm reduction tool. That’s particularly urgent since we’re in the midst of an opioid overdose crisis.

The International Journal of Drug Policy published the study. It found 58 percent of participants reported their reason for using Cannabis was to reduce opioid cravings. Moreover, a multivariable analysis showed marijuana use “was significantly associated with selfreported reductions in opioid use.”

OHIO LEGALIZATION WOULD BOOST INDUSTRY

Ohio looks likely to vote on the legalization of adult-use marijuana in November. The move could improve the legislative and financial prospects for the Cannabis industry overall, reports Bloomberg. An Ohio State University study estimates legalization could add $275 million to $450 million to the state’s tax coffers in five years.

Quoted

“This is an important law that will represent a long-term change in drug policy,”

The legislation would allow adults to buy and possess up to 25 grams of adultuse Cannabis for personal consumption through nonprofit social clubs. It must still be approved by Parliament – but the endorsement from the three-party coalition’s cabinet was a crucial step toward Germany becoming the first major European country to legalize Cannabis. “This is an important law that will represent a long-term change in drug policy,” said Karl Lauterbach, Germany’s health minister. He added that the legislation represented “a concept of controlled legalization.”

Under current German law, it is illegal to buy Cannabis, but not to consume it.

500

$60k

in marijuana products were recalled by the Missouri Department of Cannabis Regulation in August.

On Aug. 3, a group called Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol turned in signatures to meet the state’s requirements to put the measure to a vote this November. Given that Cannabis stocks are still suffering after a lack of headway with national legalization –and they tend to surge even on mixed election results – the issue will be closely watched. It could turn Ohio into the 24th U.S. state to legalize recreational use. Meanwhile, federal law remains in limbo.

“An Ohio State University study estimates legalization could add $275 million to $450 million to the state’s tax coffers in five years.”

“There is a decent likelihood the initiative passes if it gets on the ballot this year,” predicted James Sandy, a lawyer in the Cleveland office of McGlinchey who works with the marijuana industry. Sandy said in an email exchange that Ohioans have become more comfortable with marijuana in the few years since medical pot was legalized. He pointed to a recent poll that suggests almost 60 percent of voters would favor adult recreational use.

$48m

in community reinvestment grants funded by marijuana taxes will soon be available to California nonprofits.

$404m

could be added to Ohio’s annual tax coffers by marijuana legalization, according to one study.

SEPT. 2023 leafmagazines.com 8 national news STORIES by STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA | ART by ADOBE STOCK THE NEWS IN BRIEF
science midwest
and higher THC raw flower is a primary growth driver in today’s adult-use marijuana industry. 20% grams of weed were taken during an August break-in at a Richmond, Virginia dispensary.
“Just the same way as you’re not allowed to cook moonshine in your bathtub and sell it on the street, you’re also not allowed to start a restaurant without having the right requirements and licenses in place.”
health & safety
-Anthony Miranda of the New York City Sheriff’s Office, during an Office of Public Safety briefing on a citywide crackdown of unlicensed Cannabis edibles being sold by businesses without the proper permits or authorization to do so. The New York City Sheriff’s Office seized over $2 million in products last month and issued $4.5 million in fines to unlicensed vendors.
global

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MOONRISE FESTIVAL

EDM fans have come to expect a lot out of Moonrise Festival, and they came back with a hot slate of artists for their 2023 bash at Pimlico Race Course.

WE HAVE BEEN blessed to attend several events thrown by Insomniac – and this is by far one of our favorites every single year. With Maryland Leaf being based in Baltimore, this festival is just a stone’s throw away from our offices and easily accessible from surrounding areas. After blowing down a few pearly joints and dabs of hash rosin, our crew was ready to take off for an unforgettable weekend.

SEPT. 2023 rehashed
leafmagazines.com
PHOTO BY PREET MADAVIA
10

FESTIVAL 2023

A fourth stage was added to the festival this year, making our options the Lunar, Solar, Stellar and Satellite. Solar was the classic rave tent we have come to know and love. The Lunar and Stellar were large-format stages on opposite sides of the venue. And last but not least, the new Satellite was a smaller stage in between it all – making sure you are hearing music everywhere you go in the festival. Having this many different options is awesome – as vibes can easily shift from wanting to rage in a huge crowd to chilling with your friends.

The first day started out with a heavy emphasis on hardcore dubstep, with a slight shift into some more melodic and housy vibes toward the end of the night. Sullivan King B2B Wooli absolutely tore the house down on the Lunar Stage, while Big Gigantic simultaneously rocked the Stellar Stage. It has been several years since we have seen Big Gigantic in concert, so hearing some of their new music brought nothing but smiles. Slightly different than I remember them playing in the past, they had a little more womp-y tones in between their live drumming and saxophone which sounded fresh. As the night came to a close, we finished things off with Above and Beyond – which ultimately proved to be one of the best acts of the weekend. Their melodies flowed into the night sky, bonding the crowd together under the stars in memorable fashion.

The heat was not nearly as bad as last year’s festival, and the additional shaded structures provided a solid amount of space to cool off during particularly hot moments. I might add that bringing a handheld misting fan is absolutely essential for any festival, providing us instant relief and comfort. Thankfully, as it has been one of the hottest summers on record, the festival did a great job of taking care of people and making sure everyone was comfortable and safe.

The food options were very similar to the previous years, with everything you would expect to find among festival food: pizza, Chinese food, loaded hot dogs and much more were on the menu. And yes, we’re eternally grateful for the popsicle and snow cone vendors that provided an additional way to cool off.

Day two featured a heavy focus on the side of house music, full of

throwback tunes that brought me back to my college days. We started the day with Wreckno, a cross between house and dubstep that has a truly unique sound. They also incorporated rap into their set, changing specific lyrics in popular songs and making it their own. Next was Sam Feldt, who kept the throwbacks coming.

To end our time at Moonrise, we saw Alan Walker followed by Louis The Child – both of which were unforgettable experiences. The production quality at these events continues to get better year after year – with visual components to artists' sets going off without a hitch and leaving the entire crowd mesmerized. We sat in awe, joints in hand, watching the crowd explode with excitement during each and every set – even running into some of the same people at different stages and forming a new crew by the end of the weekend.

A massive thank you and shoutout goes to the entire team at Insomniac from top to bottom. They have kept an open mind in expanding the experience of your average concert goer – now all they need to do is bring back the Ferris wheel!

moonrisefestival.com @moonrisefest
THE PRODUCTION QUALITY AT THESE EVENTS CONTINUES TO GET BETTER YEAR AFTER YEAR – WITH VISUAL COMPONENTS TO ARTISTS' SETS GOING OFF WITHOUT A HITCH AND LEAVING THE ENTIRE CROWD MESMERIZED.
PHOTO BY TANIA HAUYON PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER LAZARRO PHOTO BY JORDAN SABILLO PHOTO BY JORDAN SABILLO STORY by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF | PHOTOS by INSOMNIAC
Medical cannabis products are for use only by a certified patient. Consumption of medical cannabis may impair your ability to drive a car or operate machinery. Please use extreme caution. There may be health risks associated with cannabis use, especially during pregnancy or breast-feeding. Accidental consumption of cannabis by children or animals may result in severe adverse reactions. Keep cannabis out of the reach of children and animals. An individual must be at least 21 years old to view the content. Please consume responsibly. You’re not high. We changed our name. Same great budtenders. Same amazing selection. Offering one of the largest menus in the state, everyday low pricing, and great weekly specials for Thrive Rewards members. Scan to join Thrive Rewards and save 20% on your first purchase! www.thrivedispensaries.com 2061 Generals Hwy. Annapolis, MD 21401 Panacea is now Thrive Wellness Dispensary.

RAS FYAH

HOW DID YOU AND CANNABIS FIRST MEET?

In sixth grade when I was visiting family in Chicago, me and my cousin just rolled up a joint and got high. Blue Dream was the strain that I smoked – that strain was really heavy in the late ‘90s. I loved how it felt mellow even though it was a sativa. We got high that day.

SWEET BUDS

5312 NEW DESIGN RD FREDERICK, MD (240) 877-2837

MYSWEETBUDS.COM

10AM-8PM MON-SAT 10AM-6PM SUNDAY

BETTER KNOWN as Chef Penn, Ras Fyah is serving up orders for patients and customers in the dispensary and throwing down in the kitchen on his personal time. Odds are if you are in the industry, you have crossed paths with Ras – bringing a smiling face to the dispensary on a daily basis that you can trust and respect. Be sure to say what's up when you swing by Sweet Buds, and ask him how you can get your hands on some of his culinary creations!

WHAT TYPE OF ENERGY DO YOU TRY TO BRING INTO THE DISPENSARY? Awareness is the biggest key and changing people’s perception on things. A lot of people still buy into the indica/sativa thing, and don’t understand that those things are more of a biology structure versus capability of the plant. One of the first things I ask people is, ‘How can I get you high?’ That gets people thinking about the different consumption methods.

WHAT SETS YOU APART IN THE BUDTENDING WORLD? The people who have been around me and the knowledge I have picked up along the way set me apart … and watching YouTube to immerse myself in Cannabis information and culture. I have also seen the street side of things, and now I get to see a cleaner side of things. I’ve had friends who hustled and I’ve grown myself, so I really see and make myself a part of all sides to this industry.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR CATERING COMPANY… It all started when I was 14 and my mom made something that I was not feeling. I had to learn to cook for myself – and by the time I was in college I was hustling plates out of my dorm room. Curried chicken and jerk chicken were the two plates I was rocking with the most, and still do to this day. A lot of people like the jerk shrimp macaroni.

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR PASSION FOR FOOD? If I was going to be that picky about food, I had to figure out what I was going to eat for myself. I also make infused food, using RSO to medicate the dishes I already make on a regular basis.

HOW HAS ADULT USE CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE OF WORKING IN A DISPENSARY?

Some people got shook when it came in and weren’t ready for the whole rush. It was definitely rushed on the legislative side, and we didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for it. The recreational customers ask a lot less questions about the products than the medical patients. The rec customers mostly just want to get as high as they possibly can. Prices have skyrocketed as the market changed, which was a shock to many.

INTERVIEW STORY &
EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF SEND NOMINATIONS FOR BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH TO WYATT@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM 14 MARYLAND LEAF BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH
PHOTO by WYATT
SEPT. 2023 leafmagazines.com
"ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I ASK PEOPLE IS, ‘HOW CAN I GET YOU HIGH?’ THAT GETS PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENT CONSUMPTION METHODS.”
ABLE NOW THE NEW MEET Must be 21+ or an MCA patient to view this content let's connect!

COOKIES BALTIMORE

In a space we all know and love, formerly Pure Life Wellness in Baltimore, Cookies has opened up a poppin’ new store and decked it out in their trademark blue gear and decor. What better place for a Cookies store than the area of Baltimore City? City life has a need for a strong brand presence such as this one – and this is the perfect high-end company to do it. Located right next to the Cross Street Market, this store is perfectly located in the center of Baltimore. Be sure to swing by for the largest selection of Cookies flower in the state of Maryland!

SEPT. 2023 leafmagazines.com 16 SHOP REVIEW

SETTING AND VIBE

This store opened very recently, and they have already swagged the place out in that signature blue color we have come to know and love from Cookies. Branded apparel lines the walls, along with their colorful packaging always on display. One thing I loved about this store was the fact that they weren’t teasing us with packaging, only to let us down by not having it – they had the flower in stock of every single product that was on display. The knowledgeable budtenders were also completely honest and transparent about the things they recommended, ensuring confidence for patients and customers alike.

FLOWER

Simply put, the flower selection here is badass – with over 30 different Cookies strains on the menu, in addition to our favorite growers from around the state. They had The Doggy Bag, Mexican Flan, Pancakes, Purple Gummy Bears, Tequila Sunrise, All Time High, Bernihana Butter and way too many more to name during my visit. Be sure to check out their online menu for their latest product offerings, as it’s an ever-growing selection. My go-to on the menu was the Collins Ave, which has become a fan favorite from this brand.

CONCENTRATES

>> PRODUCT

<< COOKIES ALL TIME HIGH

This strain has come to be known as a true 50/50 hybrid, and the gassy terpene profile shines through. It crosses OG Kush and Strawberry Diesel, and provided me with a relaxed and euphoric high that kept me rolling through a busy work day with a clear head. It can be described as heavy on the eyes, but light on the head. All Time High is a very exclusive strain – setting the Cookies store apart with its regular availability. 23.52% Cannabinoids | 1.07% Terpenes

Keep in mind that concentrates are still for medical use only, even though we hope to see the MCA make some changes on that in the near future. What do recreational customers think about not being able to buy concentrates other than vape pens? They are not thrilled to say the least. But for the medical patients, this store has badders, live sugars, live rosins and anything else you can imagine. I am personally very happy to see rosin becoming more widely available to concentrate users – clean medicine for the people!

EDIBLES

Maryland’s edible game has really begun to pop off over the last year or so in the variety of its offerings, and we can now expect to find baked goods, chocolates, gummies, tinctures, capsules and even drinks on the average dispensary menu. This store is the perfect example of a well-stocked selection, providing all of these options for both medical patients and recreational customers. I was excited to see Beezle’s new chocolate making its debut on the menu – one of my favorite new products to hit the Maryland market.

STORY & PHOTOS by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF
"SIMPLY PUT, THE FLOWER SELECTION HERE IS BADASS –WITH OVER 30 DIFFERENT COOKIES STRAINS ON THE MENU, IN ADDITION TO OUR FAVORITE GROWERS FROM AROUND THE STATE."
35
BALTIMORE,
BALTIMORE.COOKIES.CO @COOKIESBAL 10AM-10PM DAILY (443) 708-5683
E. CROSS STREET
MD
REVIEW

KEY CITY RUNTZ LIVE RESIN SUGAR

Key City Runtz live resin sugar from gLeaf is the perfect end of summer dab for Cannabis aficionados of all kinds. It is the perfect ratio of fruit to gas that blends eloquently with a late summer evening.

THE AROMATIC BOUQUET preserved by the team at gLeaf is exquisitely varied – heavy on the aforementioned fruit notes, but with a trickle of petrol underscoring the whole ensemble. Lime, strawberry, mango, jackfruit and guava notes compose what feels like a vein of lighter fluid just behind the tropical medley. In a nutshell, it’s a wonderfully delicious aroma that shamelessly seduces the senses. And as if its enticing fruits weren’t enough, the Key City Runtz boasts one of

the more rare and sought-after terpene profiles possible. If you have consumed enough Cannabis and paid attention to the numbers, you will have noticed that there are more common profiles than others and some terpenes show up a lot, while some seem to be hard to find. In the case of gLeaf’s Key City live resin, we have two rarities: Firstly, the profile has a near 1:1:1 triple dominance of linalool, myrcene and limonene. Secondly, the fact that linalool is dominant at all is

something of a unicorn in regards to terps – being calming without heavy sedative effects, and known to quell anxiety and aid with sleeping troubles – it’s a go-to for many modern-day ailments.

The endocannabinoid system is a vast array of biology that this plant taps into in so many diverse and varied ways. So, if you’re searching for a decidedly rare and flavorful experience, look no further than gLeaf’s Key City Runtz. It’s just the ticket for riding out the end of summer in high style.

OCIMENE .25% CAMPHENE .18%

SEPT. 2023 leafmagazines.com 20 concentrate of the month REVIEW
TAYLOR MARTIN for MARYLAND
|
@MARYLAND.CONNOISSEUR
by
LEAF
PHOTO by GREG MALCOLM
"LIME, STRAWBERRY, MANGO, JACKFRUIT AND GUAVA NOTES COMPOSE WHAT FEELS LIKE A VEIN OF LIGHTER FLUID JUST BEHIND THE TROPICAL MEDLEY."
THCA 75.24% LINALOOL 3.43% MYRCENE
LIMONENE
3.41%
3.28% PINENE .57% FENCHOL .41% HUMULENE .34% TERPINEOL .27%
GLEAF.COM | @GLEAF.MD
Text 'join' to (443)640-9808 to receive our texts! stay connected! Must be 21+ or an MCA patient to view this content
West Baltimore's Premiere Cannabis Dispensary West Baltimore's Premiere Cannabis Dispensary Huge selection Medical & Adult-Use Customers. Discounts Veterans, Military, SSDI, Seniors & Students! Daily Specials & Deals! Daily Specials & Deals! STORE HOURS: Monday-Saturday 10AM-8PM www summitdispensary com (443) 840-8287
All Things Cannabis For All People beardedlorax stashleylynn maaryjwhite rickerdj leaflifepodcast PODCAST THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS #235 HOMESCHOOLING #237 SUPPLEMENTS #238 THE HISTORY OF THE LEAF WATCH ON LEAF LIFE PODCAST V2 LISTEN EVERYWHERE THIS MONTH: Marijuana products may be purchased or possessed only by persons 21 or older. This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit-forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and 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. THE MUNCHIES #236
STRAIN OF THE MONTH 24 leafmagazines.com sept. 2023 Sunset
Sunset

Evermore Cannabis Company’s Sunset Sherbet is one of Maryland’s more exquisite examples of Cannabis cultivation – hitting the trifecta for quality points all at once by being a stunningly beautiful bud, having a deliciously enticing aroma/flavor profile, and bringing a striking high. While Evermore has been producing some of Maryland’s top-shelf Cannabis for quite some time, their Sunset Sherbet has stood the test of time and truly become a pillar in the marketplace. Whether you are a medical patient or recreational connoisseur, this cornerstone cultivar should be on your radar.

SUNSET SHERBET produces light meadow-green nugs with Christmas tree bud structures and strikingly orange calyxes that make the colors pop. Per the Evermore standard, our nugs were encased in a waxy, glittering layer of trichomes packed with the mouthwatering resin we know and love. The beauty of the bud draws in the eye, but it's the nose that really sells the desirability of the flower – featuring a distinctive mixed-berry fruit at the top of the nose, followed up with a conspicuous candied-orange citrus smell and a light skunky essence. Kind of like if a smoothie bar was set up in a forest clearing, and the aromas of the fruit medleys coalesced with the woods in all of the best kinds of ways.

The high lives up to a true hybrid effect profile. Led by a caryophyllene dominance that really touches the complete rainbow of medical symptomatology, and tempered by a limonene, myrcene and linalool tail – it’s the complete body high with an energetic mind. I was able to feel the effects and interact with my day seamlessly and effortlessly, while appreciating its delectable goodness throughout each moment. Evermore’s Sunset Sherbet is a pillar of the Maryland marketplace for a reason, and worth seeking out whenever you can.

Groiwn by Evermore Cannabis Company

“The complete body high with an energetic mind.”

THCA 25.56%

CARYOPHYLLENE .82%

LIMONENE .46%

MYRCENE .35% LINALOOL .28%

EVERMORECOMPANY.COM @EVERMOREBRANDS

Sherbet Sherbet

REVIEW by TAYLOR MARTIN for MARYLAND LEAF | PHOTO by GREG MALCOLM @MARYLAND.CONNOISSEUR

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RED ROOSTER COFFEE ORGANIC 4&20 FRENCH ROAST X CURIO EXCLUSIVE KUSH MINTS FLOWER

THE TERPENES

Bubba Kush and Animal Mints bring us this illustrious cross, being done justice by the team at Curio Wellness. This is a well-balanced hybrid strain, with strong notes of sweet and skunky flavors blending with mints on the nose. The minty flavor shines through on the exhale, giving a mouthfeel similar to eating mint chocolate chip ice cream. 39.84% Cannabinoids | 2.43% Terpenes | curiowellness.com | @curiowellnessbrand

THE TANNINS

These organic/fair trade beans are roasted in a small town in Floyd, Virginia – and done so in even smaller batches. Some tasting notes of this blend are of chocolate and spices, that left remnants of mintiness in my mouth. Balanced flavor would be the best way to describe a cup of this coffee. If you like intense coffee flavor with a little floral and minty note, this is the coffee for you. redroostercoffee.com | @redroostercoffeeroaster

THE PAIRING

At nearly 40% THC, a cup of coffee proved to be the perfect thing to pair with this strain. Personally, I found the little kick of energy from a cup of coffee put me in the perfect mental state to enjoy the mixed relaxation and calming effects of the flower. The aromas of both the coffee and flower truly came together in a symphony of smells.

PROVED TO BE THE PERFECT THING TO PAIR WITH THIS STRAIN.”
28 REVIEW
WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF |
MALCOLM @MARYLAND.CONNOISSEUR THE TANNINS & TERPENES ISSUE SEPT. 2023
by
PHOTO by GREG
KICKED BACK & CAFFEINATED
leafmagazines.com

HEALTH-ADE PASSION FRUIT TANGERINE KOMBUCHA X GLEAF MONKEY BERRIES FLOWER

THE TANNINS

Being a relative novice to kombucha, this was a great starting point for me in picking one with fruits I already know and love. I tasted several kombuchas in order to land on a flavor that resonated with me. The taste is light and citrusy, with strong notes of passionfruit dominating the flavor profile. It tastes like a fizzy tea and is loaded with probiotics intended to aid in digestion, boost your mood and drive energy. health-ade.com | @healthade

THE TERPENES

A strain brought to us by Exotic Genetix, Monkey Berries is a cross between Strawberries & Cream with Grease Monkey. The result is a sweet citrusy strain with underlying aromas of gassy baked goods. gLeaf knocked it out of the park with this batch, with every single nug being a trichomecoated light green. I found this strain most useful to help with my daytime anxiety, providing me with a smooth mental feeling that alleviated stress.

32.57% Cannabinoids

3.08% Terpenes gleaf.com | @gleaf.md

THE PAIRING

When smelling this strain, I couldn’t get the thought of passionfruit out of my mind. I wanted to bring a beverage to the table that had natural health benefits to go along with the Cannabis – and these two were perfect together, giving me mental clarity while making my gut and energy level both trend in a positive direction. The flower had nearly 1% limonene in this batch, and I bet the limonene testing on the kombucha would be even higher.

FIZZED-UP FUEL
WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF | PHOTO by GREG MALCOLM @MARYLAND.CONNOISSEUR THE tannins & terpenes ISSUE
“THESE TWO WERE PERFECT TOGETHER, GIVING ME MENTAL CLARITY WHILE MAKING MY GUT AND ENERGY LEVEL BOTH TREND IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION.”
leafmagazines.com sept. 2023

BIGELOW BOTANICALS COLD WATER TEA X COOKIES BLOOD MOON MIXED LIGHT FLOWER

THE TERPENES

Cookies’ mixed light flower is grown by SunMed Growers, who is doing a phenomenal job putting out quality products for this brand. Ripping into the bag unleashed a blend of tropical sweet and fruity flavors, with citrus dominating the profile. The buds are coated in frosty trichomes with an undertone of purple and dark green beneath. This strain crosses EmergenC and Kush Mints, and coming in a 7g bag allows us to get more bang for our buck. cookies.co | @cookiessf

23.29% Cannabinoids |1.28% Terpenes

THE TANNINS

Different from traditional tea brewed in steaming hot water, these tea bags can be infused into cold water in around 10 minutes. I like to leave the tea bag in my on-the-go water bottle for an entire day to get as much flavor as possible. Blood orange and tangerine are a sweet and tangy combination that produces an almost berry-like medley in the glass. This tea is also zero calories, making it the perfect satisfaction for a munchiesinduced sweet tooth. bigelowtea.com | @bigelowtea

THE PAIRING

Oranges for days in this pairing provide an uplifting and energizing combination, even with the tea being caffeine free. Something about the terpene profile of citrus-rich strains always puts me in the mood to get things done, at work and personally. Rolling up a fatty of Blood Moon and getting an ice-cold glass of tea proved to be the perfect way for me to start a busy day.

“ORANGES FOR DAYS IN THIS PAIRING PROVIDE AN UPLIFTING AND ENERGIZING COMBINATION, EVEN WITH THE TEA BEING CAFFEINE FREE.”
32 REVIEW
WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF | PHOTO
MALCOLM @MARYLAND.CONNOISSEUR leafmagazines.com THE TANNINS & TERPENES ISSUE SEPT. 2023 SUNDRENCHED CITRUS
by
by GREG

THE TERPENES

Ray Charles has become a favorite of the Maryland Cannabis world, from the flower to the various forms of concentrate it has been released in. The consistency of this batch is a perfect sauce, with ideally-sized diamond clusters for dabbing. Unscrewing the lid unveils a blend of mango-like terpenes that coats my nostrils every time I open it. I found this most useful on my days off or before bed due to its heavy sedating properties.

84.72% Cannabinoids 11.42% Terpenes

grassrootscannabis.com

@grassrootscannabisco

GOYA MANGO NECTAR

X GRASSROOTS RAY CHARLES

LIVE SUGAR & SAUCE

Mango Nectar from Goya is a thick and almost pulpy beverage, absolutely bursting with sweet flavors and aromas. The mouthfeel from drinking it reminds me of a smoothie, best served very cold on a hot summer day. I like to freeze this nectar into ice cubes and then blend it in with a variety of different drinks to stay cool. It comes in cans and box-like bottles, and for some reason I prefer the taste of the boxed version over the can. goya.com | @goyafoods

THE PAIRING

The thickness of the mango nectar combined with the thick smell of sweet mango terpenes in the oil makes this a match made in heaven. Both smoking the oil and drinking the juice feel like consuming a smoothie. I love it when terpene profiles feel natural, and this sauce is a perfect example of something that tastes fruity in a natural way.

34 REVIEW by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF | PHOTO by GREG MALCOLM @MARYLAND.CONNOISSEUR THE TANNINS & TERPENES ISSUE SEPT. 2023
“THIS SAUCE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT TASTES FRUITY IN A NATURAL WAY.” THE TANNINS
leafmagazines.com
MARRY ME, MANGO

ABBEYWOOD BREWING VICE LEMON STICK SOUR ALE X EVERMORE FOUNDATIONS PURPLE OBEAH FLOWER

THE TANNINS

Brewed right here in Baltimore, Abbeywood is paying homage to the classic Baltimore dessert – the lemon stick. A sour ale brewed with lemon and peppermint comes together at 7.5% ABV, a bit higher than some comparable sour beers we have seen. This beer is not quite as thick as some of the smoothie-style sours we see on the market today. Perfect for a hot summer day in the city, hon! abbeywoodbrewing.com

@abbeywoodbrewing

THE TERPENES

If you have been around the Maryland Cannabis market, chances are you have crossed paths with Purple Obeah. Cherry Pie x Tangie tap dance their way into this fruity combination where the citrusy Tangie terpenes really pop off. This is one strain that I feel your average Cannabis consumer could easily identify with a blindfold on 10 out of 10 times. These orange and purple buds are almost certain to give me a boost of positive energy every time I smoke them. 19.28% Cannabinoids | 1.582% Terpenes evermorecompany.com @evermorebrands

THE PAIRING

It was almost difficult to identify a beverage that could match the citrus level given off by the Purple Obeah, but we found it. The lemony notes of the beer combine beautifully with the strong Tangie smells and flavors given off by the flower. The sweetness of the peppermint combined with the underlying Cherry Pie terps also created a blend that made this pairing feel nothing short of perfect.

BRIGHT & BOOZY
WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF | PHOTO
GREG MALCOLM @MARYLAND.CONNOISSEUR THE tannins & terpenes ISSUE
“THE LEMONY NOTES OF THE BEER COMBINE BEAUTIFULLY WITH THE STRONG TANGIE SMELLS AND FLAVORS GIVEN OFF BY THE FLOWER.”
by
leafmagazines.com sept. 2023

FLAVORFUL FUTURE

As each emerging “adult-use” market takes shape, one thing remains clear across the country: Consumers want options. And in case you’re already so lost in the literature that you’ve forgotten, let us remind you: This is America, the capital of capitalism.

Unless you’re looking for a new internet provider, political party, or doctor – you’ll always have options here.

FOR YEARS, options in Cannabis simply revolved around what was available. With harsh regulations, high costs and limited resources, things seemed to be moving slowly. Some producers flocked to new methods that promised low costs and high yields. The damage of hot dog water distillate and vitamin E acetate was done, and botanical terpenes bore the brunt of it.

Back then, a product con taining botanically-derived (non-Cannabis) terpenes was a surefire way to a few fake flavors and a sore throat. But this was also a time when the community’s understanding of Cannabis-derived terpenes was still limited and lab results didn’t offer much in terms of recreating a cultivar’s aromatic characteristics.

Today, while we’ve still barely scratched the surface of terpene potential, a wider understanding of plant profiles is emerging, and a consumer base interested in a variety of products is growing larger by the year.

The power of the Entourage Effect finally has some footing among the masses – leaving folks from all levels of experience looking to terpenes when shopping for products.

Most of these products can be broken down into three terpene categories: synthetic, Cannabis-derived and botanically-derived. Many legalized markets have cracked down on synthetic terpenes and since botanical derivatives are quite literally all around us, it seems that we’re headed toward a future with two main options. To learn more about what each has to offer, we talked to Shea Ryan of GenX Terpenes in California and Andy Lunsmann of White Label Extracts in Oregon.

GenX Terpenes is a relatively new company on the scene, but Ryan comes from the Cannabis industry and knows that quality and consistency can be hard to come by. So GenX is focusing on Cannabis-derived terpenes that mimic classic cultivars and can be sold in bulk. “Let’s be real, vapes are a big part of this industry,” says Ryan. “And a lot of those vape companies, there are a plethora of areas for them to get their terpenes from.” Ryan expresses no malice for botanical terpenes, but does share a quality concern for those producers only interested in low price points. While prices may drive some producers, companies like White Label Extracts simply seem focused on offering consumers options. Lunsmann explains that the company still specializes in full-spectrum Cannabis extracts, but they’re even rolling out a new line of cartridges with botanical terpenes.

“We want to offer something for everyone,” explains Ryan. He tells me that botanical terpenes not only offer more affordable price points, but also provide new consumers with familiar flavors (like Washington Apple) that are less intimidating than classic Cannabis cultivars. Lunsmann says that tobacco vape users are also a growing share of the botanical terpene consumer base, with many gravitating toward the strong flavors.

Whether you’re a connoisseur or a new consumer, one thing is clear: The future of Cannabis is all about flavor.

WHITELABELEXTRACTS.NET

@WHITE_LABEL_EXTRACTS_

38 STORY & PHOTOS by AMANDA DAY @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA/LEAF NATION | ADDITIONAL ART by GENX EXTRACTS leafmagazines.com THE TANNINS & TERPENES ISSUE SEPT. 2023 LET'S TALK TERPS
"TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT EACH HAS TO OFFER, WE TALKED TO SHEA RYAN OF GENX TERPENES IN CALIFORNIA AND ANDY LUNSMANN OF WHITE LABEL EXTRACTS IN OREGON."
White Label Extracts creates cartridge options with botanical and cannabis-derived terpenes.
GENXTERPENES.COM
@GENXTERPENES
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SHELF APPEAL

Comparing Cannabis and Alcohol Packaging

WHEN IT COMES to the current state of the Cannabis industry, there is no debate that product packaging plays a large role in the aspect of marketing. The same can be said for the many heady beers hitting shelves on a regular basis. But in a world where an eye-catching package can distract from the actual quality of the product it holds, or a dull design may not adequately represent the product’s high quality – a watchful eye can make all the difference

The colors employed in a company’s marketing have a significant influence on how people will perceive a product, and can ultimately affect whether or not they buy it or recommend it to others. And given the many Cannabis companies flexing on their Instagram pages, the visually appealing packaging provides the opportunity to spread awareness of their brand and increase the bag appeal of their product. Keep in mind: There is no industry standard for how far companies can take this – with different compliance laws in every state limiting artistic design in some cases. We have seen packaging be discontinued around the country due to such issues.

Cookies brand products are a great example of colorful Cannabis packaging that pushes the limit on compliance, while staying within the boundaries. It is pretty rare to find a Cannabis consumer who isn’t familiar with those little blue mylar bags, often adorned with a creative spin on the strain inside. For example, Georgia Pie comes in a bag with a peach-colored text and a peach instead of an “o” in the word Georgia. Or maybe you’ve seen The Soap – with sudsy bubbles spelling out the strain name in an almost robin’s egg blue. In any case, the Cannabis industry should be able to do whatever they want with their packaging and let consumers be the judge on what appeals to them, or doesn’t.

Is beer different? In fact, beer packaging standards are generally much more lenient. There are some areas of crossover, such as potency and manufacturing information (where it was made/ grown) needing to be included on the outside labels. But we constantly see double standards like product packaging that can appeal to children being OK for beer companies, but not for Cannabis companies. Many sour beers today are made with copious amounts of fruits and sometimes even candy. I have seen everything from cartoon-style, candy-like fruits, to straight up cartoon images of sweets on the outside of beer cans. I think it goes without saying that this would not fly in certain states’ Cannabis industries. Many people in liquor stores are shopping for a creative label that speaks to them, so why limit Cannabis companies in their creative expressions?

In the beer world, RAR Brewing is among the top dogs – from the quality of their brews to the packaging it comes in. Their “Out of Order” series is a play on the Slush Puppy dog, and they do a series of five to six different smoothie-style sours on every drop. In-house artist BJ Wheatley crafts up their vibrant designs, putting his all into every can. 450 North Brewing is another prime example –with cartoon-like color blasting out of their smoothie cup surrounded by fruit, candy and baked goods on every single can. Many people swear by the fact that these are two of the best beer makers in the world – and the packaging certainly doesn’t hurt in conveying that message to new potential customers.

Packaging can surely have its pros and cons, but overall, the community seems drawn to artistic renditions of existing packaging – as long as the product inside backs it up. With the way the markets are changing nationwide, we can definitely expect to see companies expand upon their current designs, for both Cannabis and alcohol industries. And while judging a book by its cover is never a good idea, it’s fair to hope it’s a proper representation of its contents.

40 STORY by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/LEAF NATION SEPT. 2023 leafmagazines.com THE TANNINS & TERPENES ISSUE BRANDING & MARKETING
“MANY PEOPLE IN LIQUOR STORES ARE SHOPPING FOR A CREATIVE LABEL THAT SPEAKS TO THEM, SO WHY LIMIT CANNABIS COMPANIES IN THEIR CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS?”
Cookies Cannabis has bold packaging. WYATT EARLY COURTESY ADOBE STOCK 450 North Brewing offers stoner-inspired can designs.
gLeaf Medical Cannabis 4606 Wedgewood Blvd. Frederick, MD 21703 301-662-2222 Rockville, MD 20850 301-917-3665 Order online at gLeaf.com MEDICAL CANNABIS IS FOR QUALIFIED MARYLAND PATIENTS ONLY. FREE DELIVERY MAY REQUIRE MINIMUM SPEND AMOUNT BASE D ON DELIVERY LOCATION gLeaf Rockville gLeaf Frederick

THE STATE OF THE CRAFT

The lawmakers. The law breakers. The plant and the people caught in the middle.

Four years ago, Leaf Magazine Founder Wes Abney asked me to write an analytical piece drawing comparisons between two craft industries – Craft Beer and Craft Cannabis – for the 2019 Leaf Magazines Tannins & Terpenes Issue. It was the very first assignment he handed me for the Leaf – long before he asked me to lead the team.

AT THE TIME, I focused on differences between the current Cannabis scene and the well-matured craft beverage industry, outlining the chief changes we would need to see before the sprouted legal industry could bloom into something resembling its closest craft analog: beer.

Now, nearly half a decade later, I’m taking some time to revisit that column, to ruminate on where our community stands and where it needs to go. We’ve traveled far since 2019, but not always in the right direction.

A CASE OF CONFUSED IDENTITY

One thing that will hopefully come with time and effort is the development of a cohesive identity for Cannabis. Craft beverages have one distinct advantage going for them – there’s no argument about what they are, or what they do. They’re far simpler than the complex plant we all love.

Conversely, weed’s identity changes from region to region. Depending on where you’re trying to blaze, Cannabis means something different – at least from a regulatory standpoint. In some markets, it’s a medicine only. In other areas, such as New York, it’s like cigarettes – you can spark a J anywhere you can light up an American Spirit (except for in cars).

Advocates for consumption lounges treat Cannabis more like booze. It has the potential to be a social catalyst, providing a reason for people to gather and imbuing public conversation with life and vibrance. But that’s not without its complications. No one gets a contact-buzz when sitting next to a drinker, and it’s hard to stay 100% sober in a consumption lounge – presenting a conundrum for the designated driver who gets stopped on the way home from a sesh.

(For sake of argument here, let’s forget about the longstanding tradition of rolling up a J specifically for a drive with a well-curated soundtrack.) Those arguments against public consumption are temporary road blocks, and not an excuse to hobble an entire industry.

Back to identity. Is Cannabis a medicine, an intermittent mood-adjusting respite (like cigarettes), or a social catalyst for public consumption?

In short, yes. It’s all of them, and they’re not mutually exclusive. And just because the people writing the laws seem to be confused about that, doesn’t mean consumers should be subject to more restrictions. If anything, they should benefit from less stringent legislation and place the burden of public safety on the people and organizations developing the machinations of enforcement. Let the smokers smoke – while the law develops robust field testing to judge impairment. After all, people were allowed to legally drink and drive for decades before someone developed the first breathalyzer.

THE REGULATORY TRAP

The one constant in the weed world is that lawmakers continue to get it wrong. Whether they’re acting out of complete ignorance, confusion over conflicting interests and information, or just plain greed – not one jurisdiction has rolled out proper Cannabis legislation.

Alcohol didn’t thrive without its own post-Prohibition hurdles, but for Cannabis, aside from punitive tax rates, the core of the matter ties into public consumption and direct sales. Combined, these embody the highest hurdle for Cannabis to clear before it’s treated like every other similar and reasonably regulated consumer product. The traditional market is crushing the licensed market in this regard. Pop-ups, seshes and all-out trap festivals have taken center stage on the legacy market – most of the time out in the open. Damn it feels good to be a gangsta.

Meanwhile, licensed cultivators are having their dogs shot by law enforcement on their own property while being taxed into extinction.

Set aside the fact that the prohibitive laws shouldn’t exist in the first place, it makes one wonder what endgame the political and financial

stakeholders prescribing rules for the licensed market have in mind. On the current regulatory high seas, those with a true craft product – meaning high-quality goods made in small batches with limited distribution – continue to drown, with the only option being either to return to the trap or sell to a larger company with more financing. Big bank takes little bank. End of story.

The simple ability to sell directly to the consumer, with no legal loopholes or mandatory third-party delivery services necessary, is the quickest path to survival for the licensed craft scene. After all, at least 25% of a craft brewery’s revenue comes from direct on-premise sales at the brewery. Just imagine a world where you could tour a grow and walk out with half ounces of the best strains you sampled in the tasting room.

CANNAOUROBOUROS

With the way things are, the Cannabis industry is acting like an Ourobouros, or a snake eating its own tail. Licensed, compliant companies see their friends succeeding in the traditional market while they drown in taxes and overregulation, and the resentment starts brewing.

In some markets, people are out here dry snitching on people they would have been seshing with a few years ago, because they’re tired of having to fight for the last spot on a sinking licensure lifeboat.

Cannabis companies are acting like tuna fighting over a school of baitfish, oblivious to the sharks circling just outside the periphery. Those sharks have lots of money and want the best brands to struggle, so they can waltz in on the heels of federal legalization, buy up all the distressed assets, and let the federal government go after the enterprising entrepreneurs who chose to go back to the trap.

At least that’s one possible future. It could cut another way. One thing’s for certain: Until the Law treats Craft Cannabis at least as fairly as it treats Craft Beer, we’re all going to be duking it out in the primordial soup, fighting to see who’s going to grow legs and walk.

42 STORY by TOM BOWERS @CANNABOMBTOM/LEAF NATION SEPT. 2023 leafmagazines.com THE TANNINS & TERPENES ISSUE LEAF EDITORIAL
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PRESENTS

Rainbow Farm Remembered

Twenty-two years ago this month, two gay Cannabis activists – Tom Crosslin and Rollie Rohm – were gunned down by police on their farm in Vandalia, Michigan, after a five-day siege that some have called “The Waco of Weed.”

Grover “Tom” Crosslin was open about his love for weed from an early age. After first getting high with his brothers when he was just 14, Cannabis quickly became a normal part of their family life. His sexuality, however, he was more private about.

After dropping out of high school, Crosslin worked various blue-collar jobs before becoming a real estate developer – fixing up run-down properties and flipping them or renting them out for profit. It was through his construction company that he met the love of his life: an easy-going young crewmember named Rolland “Rollie” Rohm. Though the two men were very different – Rollie, a slim, quiet, longhaired hippie, and Tom, a burly, bearded hothead nearly 20 years his senior – they instantly connected and began a romantic relationship.

Though barely 17 when he met Crosslin in 1990, Rohm had already been married and fathered a son named Robert. In 1993, after helping Rollie gain custody of Robert, Crosslin purchased a 34-acre farm in rural Vandalia, Michigan to serve as his new family’s home. During one of the countless weeks they spent renovating the property, they saw so many rainbows that they decided to name their new home Rainbow Farm.

OVER THE RAINBOW

Tired of managing his many properties, Crosslin decided to turn Rainbow Farm into “an alternative campground and concert arena” and spent

the next few years (and nearly half a million dollars) transforming the farm’s open spaces and overgrown cornfields into one of the top pot destinations in the nation. Crosslin and his team constructed several structures, including an outdoor stage, a ticketing booth, a large main building to house their offices and shops, and amenities for campers. They then set about bringing his dream of a stoner utopia to life.

Starting in 1996, Rainbow Farm began hosting two annual festivals: Roach Roast on Labor Day weekend and Hemp Aid on Memorial Day weekend, as well as other various events in between. Described as “part Woodstock, part union picnic” by “Burning Rainbow Farm” author Dean Kuipers, these festivals included food, drink, activism and entertainment. Among the prominent performers and activists who attended these events were Tommy Chong,

Big Brother and the Holding Company, The Byrds, country music star Merle Haggard, High Times editor-in-chief Steve Hager, and activist legends John Sinclair and Jack Herer. In addition to speeches and voter registration drives, they collected thousands of signatures for the Personal Responsibility Amendment in 2000 – a ballot initiative to legalize possession of three plants and three ounces of Cannabis for adults. Soon, Rainbow Farm became the center of Cannabis activism in Michigan.

LEGAL HARASSMENT

Unfortunately, Crosslin’s propot protestivals encountered serious pushback from law enforcement – namely, Cass County’s conservative prosecutor, Scott Teter, who launched a vendetta of litiga tion and intimidation against Rainbow Farm.

From 1997-1999, Teter filed several injunctions against the farm, but Crosslin managed to keep one step ahead of him. Unable to stop the events through the courts, Teter established a drug task force and set up roadblocks leading into the farm to stop and harass festival goers – a move that scared many potential attendees off.

leafmagazines.com sep. 2022 cannthropology
TOM & ROLLIE The Rainbow Farm campground. Rainbow Farm owners Tom Crosslin and Rollie Rohm with their famous tractor.
44
Handbills for the Hemp Aid 99 event.

He also sent his narcs into the events (who made numerous drug buys there), but were never able to tie Crosslin or his employees to anything illegal. Nevertheless, in March 1999, Teter sent Crosslin a letter stating that he had evidence of drug sales on the property and that as soon as he could link Crosslin to them, he would take his farm away (under the Drug War’s civil forfeiture laws). The threat of losing his land infuriated Crosslin, prompting a heated and foreboding reply:

“We are all prepared to die on this land before we allow it to be stolen from us,” Crosslin wrote. “Are you planning to burn us out like they did in Waco, or will you have snipers shoot us through our windows like the Weavers at Ruby Ridge? You will have the blood of a government massacre on your hands.”

RAID & REBELLION

Finally, in 2001, Teter found his excuse to bust Crosslin. Apparently, a woman who’d worked for them told authorities that Crosslin was paying employees off the books – allowing Teter to get a search warrant on a trumped-up tax fraud charge. In the pre-dawn hours of May 9, state troopers in tactical gear and automatic weapons raided the farm. Once inside the house, they found over 200 young Cannabis plants in the basement and several loaded firearms, which Crosslin wasn’t permitted to own due to a past gun conviction.

Tom and Rollie were both charged with felony cultivation and weapons possession, as well as running a “drug house.” Altogether, Tom was facing up to 20 years in prison. The court also issued an injunction banning any more events on the farm, and Teter filed a request to seize the property. And cruelest of all, on May 15, Teter also had their 12-year-old son Robert taken away and placed in foster care.

Despite everything, or perhaps because of it, Crosslin announced on their website that they’d still be hosting their annual Labor Day party, as well as another small gathering on August 17 – both in defiance of the court order. Two of the few dozen people who showed up to that gathering were undercover cops who were allegedly offered weed. This prompted Teter to petition to revoke the couple’s bail, and a hearing was scheduled for August 31.

UNDER SIEGE

The end was drawing near for them, and Crosslin apparently knew it – confessing to his property manager Doug Leinbach: “I’m going to die on my farm, not in prison.”

During the last week of August, Tom and Rollie composed handwritten wills – leaving all of their possessions to Rollie’s son Robert – then started giving away stuff from the shops.

When August 31 arrived, Tom and Rollie never showed up in court for their hearing. Instead, they went around the property

kicking out the remaining campers and setting fire to the farm’s structures – reasoning that if the government was going to seize his land, he’d “make sure there was nothing left on it.”

Around noon, when a local TV news chopper flew overhead to get footage of the fires, Crosslin – possibly thinking it was a police copter –allegedly shot at it. After that, the FBI was called in, along with SWAT teams, helicopters, surveillance planes and light-armored vehicles, all of which surrounded the property – including three FBI sniper teams in camouflage laying in hiding in the woods to monitor the house.

Throughout Labor Day weekend, Tom and Rollie continued burning down structures until the only building left standing was the farmhouse, where they hunkered down for the standoff.

LABOR DAY MASSACRE

On the afternoon of Monday, September 3, Crosslin walked to a neighbor’s house for supplies. On his way back, he spotted one of the snipers lying on the ground and allegedly raised his rifle (though his friends and family dispute that claim), at which point two snipers opened fire, killing him instantly.

After informing him that his partner was dead, authorities maintained a dialogue with Rohm into the night … until just after 3:00 a.m., when he presumably fell asleep. At that point, they decided to “wake [Rohm] up” by firing a few “dummy rounds” through the windows. Rohm resumed negotiations and agreed to surrender at 7:00 a.m. on one condition: that his son be brought to the farm so he could say goodbye before being taken into custody, which police agreed to. But sadly, that peaceful resolution was about to go down in flames – literally.

Around 6:00 a.m., a fire somehow broke out on the house’s second floor. Authorities blamed Rollie for the blaze, supposing he was finishing what Tom had started … but friends and family accuse police of starting the fire by shooting a flashbang grenade in there to flush Rollie out. In any case, Rohm emerged from the house half an hour later wearing fatigues and allegedly

holding a rifle. Through the smoke, officers claim they saw him pointing the rifle toward them and fired several rounds – one of which went right through the stock of his rifle and into his chest. Friends claim that despite having an ambulance sitting at the ready just outside the farm, police allowed Rollie to lie on the ground for over 40 minutes and bleed to death.

When they were killed, Tom Crosslin was 46 years old and Rollie Rohm was just 28.

AFTERMATH & LEGACY

Unfortunately, the story of Rainbow Farm never got the national press it deserved since the terror attacks of 9/11 happened one week later – eclipsing all other news stories for many months after.

So what happened to Rainbow Farm after Tom and Rollie’s deaths? Instead of going to their son Robert as the couple intended, it was confiscated, broken up into six parcels, and auctioned off to various buyers with the stipulation that they couldn’t turn the land into campgrounds or throw events there. But in 2012, after changing hands several times, the property was purchased by a farmer/engineer named Gary Healy – who has since reopened it under the name the New Rainbow Farm.

Though Tom and Rollie are now honored with memorial sites on the property, the greatest tribute to their courageous lives is the continuation of their legacy: Rainbow Farm is once again hosting 420-friendly concerts and festivals (with help from their son Robert and Tom’s nephew Boss) with vendors selling Cannabis that – thanks in part to their sacrifices – is now legal in the state of Michigan.

To read the full, unabridged version of this story and listen to the interview on our podcast, visit worldofcannabis.museum/cannthropology. Visit the new

STORY by BOBBY BLACK @CANNTHROPOLOGY for LEAF NATION
MEMORABILIA: COURTESY WORLD OF CANNABIS MUSEUM. PHOTOS: COURTESY BOSS CROSSLIN JR.
Rainbow Farm website at rainbowfarms.info.
“We are all prepared to die on this land,”
Crosslin wrote to prosecutor Scott Teter. “You will have the blood of a government massacre on your hands.”
Poster for Hemp Aid 2000. Original protest sign. Rollie with son Robert during happier times on the Farm. Poster for Hemp Aid 2021. Tom and Rollie pose with activist icon Jack Herer (left) and country music star Merle Haggard (right).

RELIGION IS A MESS. Can’t we just consolidate the roughly 4,200+ doctrines of belief into one handy little guidebook that reflects something like the Ten Commandments and call it a day? And if it pisses you off, we don’t even have to call it the Ten Commandments. I don’t care what you call it, just don’t call me late for dinner.

Because when you think about it, all denominations pretty much preach the same thing. And those tenets are to simply believe in a higher power, honor that higher power, practice good faith and get rewarded with 72 virgins … or at least one soulmate.

I mean, everyone’s paradise sounds so goddamn appealing that I’m feeling uncertain about which stairway leads to heaven. And it’s becoming a bitch pulling the trigger on which lord almighty best suits my lifestyle. I don’t want to pick the wrong one – this is an eternity in hell we’re talking about and I hear the air conditioning units are old and squeaky. And it’s a good thing temperature rises, because then melting the polar caps will make things much cooler down there.

I’m just an imperfect person trying to make the perfect choice.

Maybe it’s like this. Maybe you go to the heaven that represents the deity you choose to worship – which means there are up to 12,000 different versions of heaven. Wouldn’t that be divine? Because then there is no wrong choice.

Anyway, I suppose I better pick my horse while I still have time to place a wager. I could be swept away by the angels at any given moment, and I sure as hell don’t want to miss my boat across the river Styx.

OK, I think I’ve made my choice.

I choose Rastafarianism.

Does this mean I will get to smoke with Bob?

46 LEAFMAGAZINES.COM sept. 2023 stoney baloney
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