May 2020 — Maryland Leaf

THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

# 1 7 | M AY 2 0 2 0

The Seed to Sale Issue F R E E / L E A F N AT I O N M D . C O M

INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010

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Medical cannabis is for use only by a qualifying patient. There may be health risks associated with the consumption of cannabis or cannabis products. There may be additional health risks associated with the consumption of cannabis or cannabis products for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

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the SEED TO SALE issue

FEATURES 7 EDITOR NOTE 8 NATIONAL NEWS 10 CANNABIS LAW 12 HIGHLY LIKELY 14 HEMP INDUSTRY 16 PATIENT OTM 18 GARDEN OTM 20 SHOP REVIEW 24 STRAIN OTM 26 SEED TO SALE SPECIAL 34 PLANT PEOPLE PROFILES 40 CANNABIS RECIPES 41 CONCENTRATE OTM 42 DYSCO’S CORNER 44 ON THE ROAD 46 STONEY BALONEY ISSUU.COM/NWLEAF

MAY 2020

26 medford, oregon is home to urban pharms, which took us on a seed to sale exploration this month.

PHOTO by URBAN PHARMS @URBAN.PHARMS

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E S TA B L I S H E D 2 0 1 0

T H E E N L I G H T E N E D VO I C E

ABOUT THE COVER

For our first-ever Seed to $ale Issue, we set out with the noble task of documenting Cannabis at every step of the production process, literally, from the beautiful moment of sprouting from the ground all the way to the drying and curing and stocking at the retail store and eventually, in your hands at home. Enjoy the journey...

Photo by Professor P @ProfessorP420

CONTRIBUTORS

FOUNDER & EDITOR

Wyatt Early, features

WES ABNEY wes@nwleaf.com 206-235-6721

Steve Elliott, writing Samuel Farley, photos

PUBLISHER

Ariana Foote, writing

EARLY early@LeafNationMD.com

Eric Kayne, photos Taylor Martin, writing Matthew Newton, writing Brandon Palma, Illustration Jeff Porterfield, design Mike Ricker, writing Mike Rothman, writing Pacer Stacktrain, writing Josh Stifler, photos Laurie Wolf, writing Bruce Wolf, photography

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Daniel bermaN | photography & design daniel@bermanphotos.com AD SALES / PRODUCER/PROCESSOR/RETAILERS

wyatt early wyatt@LeafNationMD.com 410-961-8779 We do not sell stories or coverage.

We are happy to offer design services and guidance on promoting your company’s recreational, commercial or industrial Cannabis product or upcoming event. We are targeted and independent Cannabis journalism.

Email or call to discuss advertising.

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WES

ABNEY

Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up the Seed to $ale issue of the Leaf!

April showers bring May flowers, and while it feels like we have all been showered in bad news, there is hope for our future. We are still here, experiencing each day, quarantined or not. Life is a gift - that’s why they call it the present - and it’s one we should never take for granted.

I love that Cannabis is alive too! A plant whose purpose is to make us feel better. You can’t say the same for pharmaceuticals. And Cannabis makes me feel extra alive, especially in these strange times, which is worthy of praise and gratitude.

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THERE’S SO MUCH THAT HAPPENS IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING PEOPLE SUPERBLY BAKED, AND IT ALL BEGINS WITH A SEED.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the frontline Cannabis industry workers still showing up to bring medicine and relief to consumers around the country. While Cannabis is a humble plant, it takes a lot of people to bring it to market, and I salute every essential Cannabis worker as we help to make the plant, and planet, better. Please be kind to your budtender and support your local Cannabis retailer. You’ll be sure to leave feeling uplifted!

There’s so much that happens in the process of getting people their medicine, and it all begins with a seed. Join us as we track a seed all the way from the garden to the store to your bong at home, and check out our Plant People special as we profile amazing individuals who help turn plants into products across our five states of Leaf magazines.

A special thank you goes out to Nate Williams and Tom Bowers for spending the better part of a year documenting the process of seed to sale. Without Nate’s vision, we wouldn’t have this amazing story to share.

I hope that as you read this you can find a glimmer of hope, and it can be as simple as taking a toke while enjoying this magazine. Thanks for reading, please give us a follow on social media, and stay safe!

-Wes Abney MAY 2020

NATIONAL NEWS

covid-19

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northwest

CANNABIS LOBBY PRESSES FOR PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDS

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he Cannabis lobby is seeking aid for small businesses in the next coronavirus pandemic relief package, reports The Hill.

Marijuana businesses have already gotten some help at the state level. Twenty states, D.C. and Puerto Rico are allowing medical Cannabis dispensaries to stay open during the pandemic. Eight states allow both medical and recreational facilities to operate.

Cannabis industry groups are now pushing for more states to allow legal marijuana outlets to remain open and are seeking funds in state aid packages.

But the push for federal help, while the federal government still classifies marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance, hasn’t yet made any headway. The $2.2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill passed by Congress in March prohibits Cannabis businesses from receiving any small business loans.

That’s unfair, according to Cannabis groups - and they are pushing to change that in the next aid package.

OREGON POT SALES WERE HIGHEST EVER IN MARCH Sales data from the Oregon Liquor Control Commission show Oregonians in March bought $84.5 million worth of Cannabis products - the most in a single month since the state legalized marijuana back in 2015, reports Willamette Week.

The previous record, set in July 2019, was just under $80 million for the month. March’s sales are a 37 percent increase over the same period last year. Sales per retailer averaged $135,000 - a 30 percent jump. Flower accounted for more than half of total sales, while concentrates and extracts made up the second-highest market share. economy

HUNDREDS OF PENNSYLVANIA JOBS GOING UNFILLED

M

edical Cannabis organizations in Pennsylvania, designated ‘essential’ and ‘life-sustaining businesses’ by the state during the coronavirus pandemic, say a bottleneck has prevented them from hiring hundreds of employees, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Unemployment has hit more than one in six Pennsylvanians since the shutdowns began.

But legal Cannabis businesses say they are strugUNEMPLOYMENT HAS HIT MORE gling to fill jobs left open by quarantined workers who either may have the coronavirus, or THAN ONE IN SIX need to care for an ailing loved one.

PENNSYLVANIANS Hiring is frozen because prospective employees can’t get the required FBI criminal backSINCE THE SHUTDOWNS ground checks and drug tests. Many of the offices that processed fingerprints are closed BEGAN. due to being deemed ‘non-essential.’

health

east coast

D.C. ALLOWS MMJ DELIVERIES AND CURBSIDE PICKUPS

MARYLAND WOMAN ALLEGEDLY CAUGHT TRANSPORTING 100 POUNDS OF WEED

Washington, D.C. now allows Cannabis dispensaries to provide delivery service and curbside pickups to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Marijuana Business Daily. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a democrat, has signed an emergency rule allowing dispensaries to deliver and provide curbside pickups until August 12. Medical Cannabis businesses in D.C. were already considered ‘essential,’ so they were allowed to stay open during the crisis.

leafnationmd.com

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Maryland woman allegedly caught with 100 pounds of marijuana prompted authorities to remind the public that they continue to investigate crimes and make arrests during the coronavirus pandemic, reports the Philly Voice.

Upper Merion Police and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau investigated.

According to Montgomery County D.A. Kevin Steele, Kayla Messinese of Edgewater had tried to use the COVID-19 outbreak as an “opportunity to transport a large amount of marijuana.”

Detectives followed Messinese to a parking garage where she met with two people to allegedly complete the transaction and they arrested her, authorities said. Investigators said they found three duffel bags in her car, each filled with vacuum-sealed bags of Cannabis. Cops claimed the 100 pounds of weed had a street value of $200,0000.

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million dollars was spent by the Cannabis industry lobbying lawmakers on Capitol Hill in 2019 for access to banking, a rise of $2 million since 2018.

May 2020

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US Senators are requesting that Cannabis businesses be eligible for assistance in the next coronavirus aid package, efforts backed by nearly three dozen US House Representatives.

legalization

VIRGINIA DECRIMINALIZES CANNABIS

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irginia will be “a more fair, just and more equal place” now that simple marijuana possession has been decriminalized, according to state attorney general Mark Herring.

“Decriminalization is an incredibly important first step, and one that many thought we may never see in Virginia, but we cannot stop until we have legal and “DECRIMINALIZATION IS AN INCREDIBLY regulated adult use,” Herring said.

FIRST Gov. Ralph Northam signed the decriminalization legislation into law in April. The IMPORTANT STEP, AND ONE THAT new law does away with criminal charges for simple possession and creates a $25 MANY THOUGHT WE MAY NEVER SEE IN civil penalty. It also creates a workgroup to study legalization, which will eventually VIRGINIA...” release a report on its findings.

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billion dollars is the projected amount of retail Cannabis sales in the U.S. in 2020, according to BDS Analytics.

30

percent more Cannabis was sold in March 2020 than in March 2019, according to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.

63 10,000

million dollars is the amount spent by Arkansas medical Cannabis patients since the first dispensary opened in May 2019.

pounds of medical marijuana have now been sold in a new threshold for the still burgeoning Arkansas medicinal Cannabis industry, at a cost of more than $63 million, across 21 operational dispensaries.

By STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA

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Cannabis LAW

Maryland Law requires that licensed Cannabis growers, processors and dispensaries develop a plan for inventorying, safekeeping and tracking all medical Cannabis from seed-to-sale. All licensed Cannabis-touching businesses must participate in a unified security tracking system designed to uniquely identify each Cannabis plant from germination of the seed to harvest, and then to sale to the end consumer. The tracking system is designed to ensure the quality and purity of the final products, to track the chain of custody throughout the production process, and to avoid the criminal diversion of the legal production of Cannabis from the medical market to the black market and vice versa.

TRACING & TRACKING

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A deep dive into the companies regulating your Cannabis

leafnationmd.com

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states, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have passed laws legalizing Cannabis for adult and/or medical use, or have decriminalized it.

The majority of the states that have passed laws to regulate Cannabis mandate that any state-licensed Cannabis-touching businesses must incorporate product inventory management and tracing.The available trackand-trace systems, often referred to as seed-to-sale tracking systems, have been developed and marketed by third-party companies who license their software and technology to the various states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories.

So far, the majority of the third-party seed-to-sale software tracking contracts have been awarded to one of five companies: Franwell (based in Florida/Tennessee) markets its track-and-trace system known as METRC (Marijuana Enforcement Tracking Reporting Compliance) which operates in 13 states including Maryland and the District of Columbia; BioTrackTHC (based in Florida) which operates in eight states and Puerto Rico;

MJ Freeway (based in Colorado) which operates in three states; Microsoft, which has partnered with Kind Agrisoft (based in California) and operates in one state; and finally BioMauris (based in Oregon) which operates in one state, Iowa.

These third-party track-and-trace systems record the travels of a Cannabis seedling through the growing and harvest process, until it ends in a sale of a product to the final consumer. This security combines a mixture of manually tagging each seedling with a scannable radio-frequency identification tag bearing a barcode, as well as scanning the movement of each plant as it moves through the growing, processing and dispensing facilities. While this creates valuable data as to the location of the plants, it is easily manipulated because the RFID must be physically placed on each seedling.

After the flowers and any leaves are harvested, they are packaged for transport and again entered into the database. The

nicest buds will go to a distributor, from which a testing lab will select samples to check for contaminants such as mold or pesticide residue. Assuming the samples pass, the grower may then sell the remaining product to a processor, where it will be packaged, sent back to a distributor and transported to a dispensary for sale.

Information about each of these transfers, including ID numbers, business names, package weights and quantities, pick-up and delivery times, each get entered into METRC every step of the way. The same thing is true of less-attractive buds and other Cannabis parts, such as trimmed leaves, destined to be turned into Cannabis oil and ultimately used to infuse edibles, vape cartridges or other products.

Even crop failures must be documented. If a plant dies at any point in the growing process, it must be destroyed and the action recorded in the system.

Testing companies must destroy all of what remains of their samples. Slight differences in quantity received during a transfer must be documented in METRC. If the difference is too large, the recipient of the Cannabis is expected to refuse the transfer.

Each state has its own unique legal and regulatory regimen that guides the growing, processing and reporting of the data created by the process. Against the backdrop of those mandated reporting requirements, Cannabis is still prohibited federally. Consequently, each third-party seed-to-sale software provider must develop and tailor its software to meet the reporting and compliance demands specific to the state where it operates.

The level of regulatory oversight provided by this seed-to-sale technology is impressive by any measure.

For example, Franwell’s software solution known as METRC, the track-and-trace system chosen by Maryland, integrates all the functions of the business which includes data collection, communications, record-keeping, inventory control and every other function needed to run both the front end and back end of the business.

METRC also reports all that data to the State on time and in the proper form. Failure in the data gathering or reporting features of the software can expose the business or its agents to a simple fine, to a license revocation, or to criminal liability.

While seed-to-sale tracking has been adopted by most states as the means for reducing the risks associated with growing, producing and dispensing Cannabis, it has not been all smooth sailing for the industry.

For example, in 2018 in Maryland, a software error in the state’s version of METRC began rejecting patients and preventing new sales at dispensaries. In February 2018, the MJ Freeway’s track-and-trace software known as the Leaf Data Systems experienced a security breach yet again. Reports indicate that an “intruder” downloaded a copy of the traceability database associated with four days of marijuana deliveries, as well as other information.

But for the time being, seed-to-sale software is providing the security that the burgeoning Cannabis industry needs to expand its reach to new consumers, to provide security to the states so that the product is not being illegally diverted or resold, and to track how and when the various products are consumed. Given the broader acceptance of Cannabis in the various states, it is safe to assume that seed-to-sale software will continue to dominate any questions regarding security.

Since 2008, Mike Rothman has counseled clients regarding Cannabis laws and regulations as the founder and principal of the Medical Cannabis Law Group and the Law Office of Mike Rothman in Rockville, Maryland. Mr. Rothman has testified on Cannabis laws and regulations before the Maryland House of Delegates, taught classes, and lobbied the federal government on behalf of patients and businesses. Mr. Rothman’s Law Office focuses on criminal defense, including use of the medical Cannabis defense.

May 2020

COLUMN by MIKE ROTHMAN, ATTORNEY & PRINCIPAL | MEDICAL CANNABIS LAW GROUP | PHOTO by @BERMANPHOTOS

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highly likely

H i g h l y L i ke l y h i g h l i g h t s Ca n n a b i s p i o n e e rs w h o p a ve d t h e wa y t o g re a t e r h e r b a l a c c e p ta n ce .

K

nown affectionately as the ‘godfather of marijuana growers,’ Frank helped to popularize both indoor and outdoor growing methods during a time in the 1970s when little information about the process was available.

Prior to his time writing about and growing Cannabis, Frank was a shipboard electronics technician in the U.S. Navy in the mid-60s. In 1968, upon leaving the Navy and moving to New York City, he started growing Cannabis inside his apartment. His first published piece appeared in the New York flyer of Rolling Stone magazine in 1971. By 1974, he was one of the first writers for the burgeoning magazine High Times.

By the mid-70s, Frank was working with his collaborator Ed Rosenthal on a large-scale grow - by the standards of the time. Frank began collecting seeds from all around the world (many of which became the landraces of today).

IT CAN BE HARD TO FATHOM IN THESE DAYS OF EASY CANNABIS ACCESS AND STATEWIDE LEGALIZATION WHAT A RISK HE WAS TAKING IN THE SIMPLE ACT OF WRITING ABOUT A PLANT.

leafnationmd.com

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MELFRANK MEL FRANK is the pen name of James J. Goodwin, an author, grower and activist who has championed the therapeutic effects of Cannabis for his entire adult life.

May 2020

It was around this time that he also published his most popular book, “The Marijuana Grower’s Guide,” which would go on to become something like the Bible to the clandestine indoor and outdoor growers of the 1970s, 80s and 90s. The book became so popular that it put Frank and Rosenthal on the map of Cannabis culture in the late 70s and 80s, and their grow operation in Oakland continued to expand in size.

While Frank doesn’t consider himself to be an activist in regard to Cannabis prohibition, he certainly has been a fixture of the Cannabis legalization and cultivation movement.

In the 80s, he took a sort of ‘Johnny Appleseed’ approach to getting his landrace Cannabis seeds distributed around the country. It’s very likely that the Cannabis you’re smoking right now came from this stock.

Nowadays, Frank is still living in California and still helping people to grow the best Cannabis they can. It can be hard to fathom in these days of easy Cannabis access and statewide legalization what a risk he was taking in the simple act of writing about a plant. He survived the Reagan era, the Bush era - and even the strange era we’re currently living through. For all of that hard work and passion, we all owe Mel Frank a tremendous amount of gratitude.

In addition to all of this, Frank is still out there making great content.

His Instagram feed (@melfrank420) is a particularly good follow, consisting of over 40 years of photographs spanning the golden era of clandestine Cannabis cultivation and culture.

By PACER STACKTRAIN for LEAF NATION | PHOTO by MEL FRANK/M+B GALLERY LOS ANGELES

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S H OR E NATU R A L R X .C OM

EXPERT OPINION

THE HEMP INDUSTRY JERRY WHITING for LEAF NATION L e B l a n c C N E . co m / N WL e a f

This summer is the second year that LeBlanc CNE will grow industrial hemp in Washington state. The marketing opportunities I described were ones I considered implementing. No more.

leafnationmd.com

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HEMP IN THE AGE of COVID-19 May 2020 marks my twentieth column for Leaf Magazines.

Looking back, I stand by almost everything I’ve written.

But I now need to revisit my March 2020 column, “Hemp is Legal. What’s Next?” in which I explained farmers are the key to integrating hemp into the mainstream marketplace, because it all begins with the plant. I then suggested six action items farmers should consider, but now in the age of coronavirus, all but one of them simply can’t be implemented.

May 2020

Marketing involves introducing people to the goods and services you offer. It’s an outreach effort to drive commerce. Yes, it can be done online but nothing beats meeting and interacting with potential customers face to face.

It’s not all about Instagram posts or YouTube videos. Sales often begin and end with a handshake, a social practice now curtailed due to coronavirus.

Farmers Markets - probably won’t open this summer because of social distancing.

Christmas Trees - no the holidays won’t be cancelled, but family gatherings and traditions may be modified to meet local restrictions. Don’t expect a lot of holiday travel this year.

U-pick farms with hemp mazes - forget farm stands, u-picks and hemp mazes. Trick-or-treating may be curtailed this year (don’t tell your kids yet).

Florists - weddings, funerals and large social gatherings are prohibited.

Hemp at the state fair - What state fair?

Tours, terroir and appellations - tours no, but hemp farmers can still hype the uniqueness of cultivars grown in their specific location that differentiates their crops from the competition.

Branding - it’s still all about the brand.

Hemp farmers like all farmers had enough to worry about before the pandemic.

Forget the trade wars and tariffs. Small, rural communities are at a higher risk of infection because so few people share the same stores, churches, post office, ATMs, etc. On top of that, these communities have less access to advanced medical care when they fall ill.

Conventional farmers are trying to fit hemp into their existing crop rotation, but who knows how much corn, soybeans or other crops to plant in these uncertain times, let alone hemp.

It’s hard to plan for Summer 2020 when the states without mandatory quarantines tend to be farm states like North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, Iowa and Nebraska.

So what advice can I give hemp farmers? I struggle with these very issues myself. Just when something seems like a ray of hope, the headlines reveal another facet of the pandemic. I worry more about the supply chain than the weather.

I’m still committed to hemp. I will plant multiple fiber and medical cultivars this year.

I’m doubling down on my commitment as a hemp activist. To quote the song “Touch of Grey” I will survive, I will get by.

Again, please support your local hemp farmer any way you can. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel and it’s not a train. I promise.

PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

PATIENT OF THE MONTH

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ADAM ELLIS leafnationmd.com

(AKA BAXSEN PAINE)

“I CHOSE TO CREATE SOME MAGIC, AS I LOVE TO DO, WHILE KEEPING MY CAMERA SKILLS FRESH AND MY HEART OPEN.”

May 2020

As a photojournalist, it’s always easier being situated behind a camera, a laptop or a microphone. It’s in the role of Clark Kent that I find myself a superman - using the power of words and art to lift others to a better place. That was my calling for a long time and I loved it. I won national awards, had thousands of followers on social media, and was the proud, blushing recipient of chanting crowds across Massachusetts, including on the hallowed grounds of the Boston Garden. “AD-AM EL-LIS!” Nowadays, you’re my only audience. And if anyone is yelling, “Baxsen Paine!” well, it’s me, because my back has been in pain for quite some time.

THE MARYLAND LEAF CONTRIBUTING WRITER AND PHOTOGRAPHER SHARES HIS OWN MMJ JOURNEY

I

LEFT THE COMFORTS of that promising career to follow my longtime girlfriend, a Division I women’s basketball coach, to a university in Baltimore in 2016. A job is a job. And as spectacular as mine was, it couldn’t replicate what we have together. So, I chose love and moved some 400 miles down the East Coast. Or for those of you familiar with the Boston-based movie Good Will Hunting, “I had to go see about a girl.”

I didn’t find immediate work in the field of journalism, so I took my photography skills to the likes of Under Armour and Amazon.

Somewhere along the way, my back gave out.

Arthritis, two bulging discs, degenerative disc disease and sciatic nerve pain turned me into an old man at 33. But I didn’t want a life-altering spinal fusion, nor was I big on painkillers. I grew up sheltering my younger siblings from substance abuse, so I’ve always preferred the natural remedy of Cannabis. It alleviates pain, loosens tight muscles and lifts my mood when I’m not feeling quite like my happy-go-lucky self.

When I got my medicinal card, I immersed myself in the Maryland medical Cannabis industry. I served as a budtender at two dispensaries, becoming well-versed on products and more importantly, you - the patient. In 15 months of service, I brought a kind heart and listening ears, delivering more hugs than dime bags.

My belief that medical Cannabis saves lives was confirmed on a daily basis. I bore witness to that miracle for as long as I could until my back tired once more.

My spinal issues intensified this past winter, requiring the use of crutches to walk. So I turned my talents to impact the world around me, creating an animal sanctuary in my backyard that just so happens to make for an excellent Cannabis lounge. Residing just a few miles from Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium, it is aptly named Birdland.

He did what?

Yeah, you read that right. It’s still a rather strange story to tell.

I get some puzzled looks on the faces of family and friends when they hear about it. But as this nationwide lockdown persists, they’re gaining an understanding of the desire to do more than watch Netflix or turn to the news during darker days.

I chose to create some magic, as I love to do, while keeping my camera skills fresh and my heart open. And well, once people see it, the mood of the conversation changes to awe.

With a pair of anti-gravity chairs to recline in, guests can kick back and watch as over a dozen species of flying creatures breathe life into a quasi-deserted Baltimore neighborhood - and they arrive by the dozens!

The acoustics provided by surrounding row homes make for a beautiful symphony - a cacophony where wildlife and city meet. It is a peaceful oasis, an urban jungle that has the potential to serve as a lounge, a studio, an interview set and much, much more.

It was supposed to make its debut during the National Cannabis Festival’s CannaTank Contest this April, but that was postponed due to the coronavirus. Should good fortune allow, perhaps we’ll be revisiting this lounge again in the Fall.

The virus however, is why I jumped in as the Patient of the Month for May. We here at Maryland Leaf Magazine didn’t want to jeopardize the health of our patients, many of whom may be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill.

So we agreed it was a good time to introduce me as a writer, having been onboard since the New Year.

Next month, I’ll happily return to writing about another superhero I think you’ll find inspirational. I like sharing those comeback stories because they tell us what the view from the mountaintop looks like.

Like so many of you I’ve met over the past two years in this wonderful community, I’m still climbing that mountain, fighting to improve daily.

I’m still working on crafting my own comeback story.

And if it turns out to be about a nationally-recognized sportswriter turned Cannabis activist who runs a wildlife Cannabis lounge, well then, that sounds bizarrely brilliant.

And if it’s just about a guy who uses Cannabis to overcome health issues and helps others share their Cannabis story, that sounds fantastically wonderful, too.

Either way, as long as I’m here on this page, you have my promise that you have a Cannabis advocate, a friend, a fellow patient, and a guy who prides himself on making his corner of the world a little brighter. Be safe and stay awesome, Maryland.

STORY & PHOTO by BAXSEN PAINE @BAXSENPAINE for MARYLAND LEAF

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GARDEN OF THE MONTH

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leafnationmd.com

VIREO HEALTH INTERNATIONAL, INC. Vireo Health International, Inc. got a late start processing medicinal Cannabis in Maryland - but they’re making up for lost time. After a conditional renewal of its grow license in July of 2018, Vireo has expanded its reputation to include producing a high standard of Cannabis extracts. The Hurlock-based operations also became the first MMCC approved company to allow its employees to unionize this past January - joining the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 27 (UFCW27).

“As a ‘people-first’ business, Vireo is deeply committed to our employees and we are proud to be a union employer in Maryland and beyond,” said Kyle Kingsley, M.D., CEO of Vireo Health.

Now, Vireo is beginning to stock local dispensaries with some fresh flower: 1937 Cannabis.

The brand name, 1937, is a reference to The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 - the federal legislation designed to prohibit Cannabis use. As Americans across the country work to end

May 2020

Cannabis prohibition, Vireo claims its 1937 brand “proudly stands for social justice and equality for all.”

“It’s an exciting time for all of us,” said Maryland-based Cultivation Manager Chris Baqir.

Baqir, 27, has been the head grower for Vireo for the past six months. With a bachelor’s degree in plant science, Baqir previously spent his days as an agriculture consultant, helping Eastern Shore farmers get the best out of their corn and soybeans.

“I used to work the fields right here in Hurlock,” he laughed. “It’s been a big transition, but it’s been nice. I miss the sunshine a bit being indoors, but we’ve got some awesome grow lights and great people to work alongside.”

Upon arrival, Baqir was quickly charged with the task of manning the rollout of Vireo’s 1937 Cannabis line, taking over a staff of 15. And he has proved to be quite capable of handling the challenge.

“We wanted our production capacity to meet the market requirements. So, that means maintaining diversity in the strains we’re offering,” said General Manager Brendan Sweeny. “It’s just a rough outline. Chris takes it from there and

Vireo recently dove into some classic genetics such as White Widow, Maui Jack and Lamb’s Breath.

lays out a production schedule for everyone. He’s done an awesome job at arranging that and keeping us on track.”

Sweeny, 36, is also a newcomer to the Cannabis industry, leaving the seafood industry behind in 2018 to become Vireo’s first operations employee in Maryland. A native of the Eastern Shore, Sweeny finds the faster pace of a full-scale Cannabis operation more to his liking. And of course, the smell.

“When I arrived, we had no staff, no plants and no production,” he said. “We’ve built it up, so when you walk around the facility, you see all the activity going on and you see all the rooms filled with plants.

I take a lot of pride in seeing how far we’ve come and being an integral part in bringing that together.”

New practices have been put in place due to the coronavirus, with a premium being put on the safety of employees and patients.

Providing a visual tour due to the company’s altered operations, Sweeny refers to the operation as “boutique style,” estimating they have 120 plants in each of the eight rooms.

“Compared to other operations, that’s pretty small I think,” he said.

“But it lets us give more care to our grow process.”

Baqir takes the wheel, guiding the trip towards the mom rooms.

“I like to start here, because if you don’t have healthy mother plants, you’re not going to have a grow,” he said. “We like to keep our moms as healthy as possible, maintain those genetics and rotate those plants out every three months.”

Next up is the propagation room, which takes the plants through three phases, supporting the growth of clones and young plants. The 1937 line stays here for upwards of four weeks, before transitioning into the flowering room for the final three weeks, as Baqir and staff change the lighting to 12 hours on, 12 hours off.

“That’s when the magic really happens,” said Baqir, noting the process takes between 60 and 70 days - four months total when including the initial cut of the clones and the harvest.

Baqir prefers giving these tours in person, finding tremendous joy in seeing the faces of visitors light up looking at Vireo’s creations.

“When I was advising farmers, I’d go out, talk with them and come back to a finished product,” he said. “Here, we get to see that hard work growing in front of us every day. They’re Vireo’s [plants], but they’re mine, too. It’s a dream come true to come in here every day.”

Both Baqir and Sweeny’s passion for the industry has taken on a new meaning with the 1937 line, which now features 10 strains. Vireo recently dove into some classic genetics such as White Widow, Maui Jack and Lamb’s Breath. The operations also include newer genetics such as Ultimate Purple, Gorilla Girl and Candy Glue - with a promise of Jungle Wreck and Cream Caramel to follow in the coming months.

“I think the 1937 branding has really put a positive connotation on Cannabis and that’s a really good direction for us to go,” Sweeny said.

The choice to introduce genetics of the past was a hat-tip to older patients who made their way through the days of prohibition with strains like Moby Dick, as well as the aforementioned. The throwback grow also provides a chance for a younger generation to medicate with historical Cannabis strains.

“We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback on the 1937 [brand],” Baqir said. “I was at a dispensary and an older gentleman found out I was one of the head growers. He said he hadn’t had the Moby Dick strain for 20 years and was so excited to try it.”

This master grower knows a bad seed when he sees one, and has said that the racist roots of the 1937 initiative were as wrong as can be.

“It really means a lot for me to come back with that brand name,” he said. “Cannabis is not this devil plant that it was made out to be for so many years. And we’re trying to change that here at Vireo.”

STORY by BAXSEN PAINE @BAXSENPAINE | PHOTOS by VIREO | VIREOHEALTH.COM @VIROHEALTH

SHOP REVIEW

FLOWER 4/5 Hi Tide has a wide

range of nice looking flower to choose from. At the same time, there were a couple more companies I would like to see in the shop.

The flower is prepackaged, including some of my favorite strains from Curio, Sunmed, Grow West, HMS , Verano and more

EDIBLES 5/5 The edible selection is

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great here, with almost every form of edible you can imagine. RSO capsules from various companies can be found at Hi Tide, making it easier for patients who can’t make their own capsules. At the time of our visit, they had over 30 different edibles to choose from.

CONCENTRATES 3/5 I always love to see

RSO from Nature’s Heritage on the concentrate menu, as it’s a personal favorite. They have extracts including sauce, kief, RSO, shatter, budder and more.

There were only a few of Maryland’s processing companies missing from the selection.

ENVIRONMENT

leafnationmd.com

5/5 The beachy vibes are

strong at Hi Tide, making it the perfect place to stop on your way to Ocean City for the weekend.

The budtenders and staff are knowledgeable about products and smoking accessories. You also feel good spending your money at a dispensary owned by three Maryland residents.

12600 MARJAN LANE OCEAN CITY, MD (410) 701-BUDS OCHITIDE.COM

May 2020

HiTide OCEAN CITY

HI TIDE is a Maryland owned dispensary helping patients

in Ocean City. In building this dispensary, they placed it as close to Ocean City as the town would allow. Being at the beach gives this dispensary a certain vibe that can only be felt on the shore, and the surfboard in the sign adds to that.

We all know how much pride Marylanders have for this beautiful state and this dispensary feels like home.

OC Hi Tide has an in-house pharmacist, Bob Davis, who helps many patients transition from other medications to Cannabis.

It is nice to see dispensaries around Maryland providing this service for patients, when some other states do not have this luxury in their medical program at all. By helping patients find their niche product(s), Bob is empowering patients to learn more about themselves and their bodies.

The large front lobby of the dispensary is used for Cannabis 101 classes in addition to cooking classes. There you can find a large selection of glass art from local artists, including everything from pendants to pipes. When patients need information about glass, or to snag a new piece, Hi Tide has them covered.

WE ALL KNOW HOW MUCH PRIDE MARYLANDERS HAVE FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL STATE AND THIS DISPENSARY FEELS LIKE HOME.

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The large front lobby of the dispensary is used for Cannabis 101 classes in addition to cooking classes.

STORY by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF | PHOTOS by HI TIDE

GREENHOUSE WELLNESS How this woman-owned dispensary led the medical charge and is now becoming a top destination for cannabis connoisseurs.

GET TO KNOW GREENHOUSE WELLNESS Greenhouse Wellness, conveniently located on the cusp of Ellicott City and Columbia, gained recognition as the state’s leading medical dispensary, specializing in patient experience and customized treatment plans. The dispensary, which was recently featured on the NBC’s the TODAY Show is now a hotspot for cannabis aficionados.

With minimal wait times, one of the state’s largest cannabis menus, mouthwatering dabbable concentrate selection, and aggressive daily specials, it’s no surprise why patients and customers from all walks of life are flocking to pick up

4801 DORSEY HALL DRIVE, ST. 110 ELLICOTT CITY, MD 21042

product from Greenhouse. This, paired with a warm and welcoming staff—inclusive of a medical director, nurses,

GREENHOUSEWELLNESS.COM

and other professionals trained in holistic medicine and pharmacology—make Greenhouse Wellness a dispensary not to be missed!

FOLLOW @TEAMGREENHOUSE ON INSTAGRAM

All products for use by qualifying patients only.

STRAIN OF THE MONTH

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grown by

VERANO THE LIMONENE AND BETA-PINENE HELP KEEP THE SPIRITS UP AND THE MIND FOCUSED, AS THIS PROFILE ENTOURAGES INTO AN ALL-PURPOSE, DAILY DRIVER TOKE.

G-WAGON May 2020

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G-WAGON IS A CROSS BETWEEN G6-JET FUEL AND GHOST TRAIN HAZE

BY VERANO, AND I THINK MOST OF MARYLAND HAS JUMPED ON THE G-WAGON!

Bringing a mellow good mood, this daily driver of a strain has 20% THCA and a relatively even distribution between terpinolene, myrcene, pinene, caryophyllene and limonene.

Together this forms a synergy between the quintessential indica and sativa profiles, delivering a mellow potency that really allows this flower to shine as a maintenance strain throughout the day.

Now we all have our own ailments and various strategies for using our Cannabis products to accomplish our goals, and a maintenance strain is an often overlooked and undervalued tool that is nevertheless essential to a patient’s endeavors.

Many of us seek out profiles that specifically target a certain symptomology or promise access to a specific state of mind, which in turn leads us to hunting around 20% THCA for the various niche flowers .47% THC across the market that match .08% A-PINENE .127% B-PINENE our needs. This is very fun .291% MYRCENE and of course essential to .09% OCIMENE the process of developing a .342% TERPINOLENE Cannabis treatment regimen, .123% LIMONENE but this can often be a .043% LINALOOL .159% CARYOPHYLLENE difficult task to do efficiently. .034% CARENE This is where the G-Wagon .037% HUMULENE pulls in - bringing a profile just subtle and versatile enough to touch on just about every type of symptom a Cannabis patient might encounter - with enough THC to do the trick, but not enough to impede the tasks of the day.

G-Wagon is a pleasantly mild and earthy smoke that can be puffed on all day to get through those moments when life might start to overwhelm you.

We often forget that stress is one of the most detrimental forces acting on our health, making a maintenance strain like G-Wagon invaluable. And I have seen many a Marylander turn to the G-Wagon for a break in the day.

Terpinolene tops off the profile, which ensures a decent amount of energy to keep the myrcene in check. Now, .29% myrcene is not enough to cross the threshold into couch lock land, but will absolutely synergize with the caryophyllene to provide a smidge of pain relief and additional anti-inflammation. The limonene and beta-pinene help keep the spirits up and the mind focused, as this profile entourages into an allpurpose, daily driver toke.

Able to gently touch all your needs, the G-Wagon is truly a flower for the coronavirus quarantine.

You can use it to endure the days of isolation, as well as combine it with your other more niche profiles to snowball their effects to new heights of relief.

Whether used as a reinforcement flower or a maintenance toke, Verano’s G-Wagon is the steady strain to keep you keeping on. Don’t forget to treat your stress and stay safe out there! Thanks again to Verano for providing the medicine we need to help us get through these trying times.

REVIEW by TAYLOR MARTIN @MDCANNAINSIDER | PHOTO by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF | VERANO.HOLDINGS

the SEED TO SALE issue

1 PROPAGATION/PLANTING 2 PLANT CARE 3 HARVEST 4 DRY + CURE 5 TRIMMING 6 PRE-ROLL MANUFACTURE 7 BHO & CO2 EXTRACTION 8 SOLVENTLESS EXTRACTION 9 EDIBLE PRODUCTION 10 TESTING THE PRODUCTS 11 PACKAGING & FULFILLMENT 12 EDUCATION & CONSUMPTION

Seed to $ale

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For most of its modern history as a medicine and recreational consumable, Cannabis remained shrouded in mystery. Patients and stoners alike found vague answers to prying questions: What strain is this? Not sure - the guy called it Purple Princess. How high will this brownie get me? One will get you pretty high, two will get you really high. Where did this come from?

BC, I think. Wait, no - Humboldt?

leafnationmd.com

Every step from behind Prohibition’s curtain offers clearer answers. Now, with two thirds of the United States employing some form of legalization or decriminalization, tracking systems and testing requirements have made it possible to follow - and track - a product from the geneticist who bred the seed all the way to the joint in a patient’s hand.

For more than a year, our editorial staff has been working closely with Oregon breeder Hermetic Genetics, cultivator Urban Pharms and distributor The Sweet Life, in order to track a locally bred strain from seed to consumption. It has taken a monumental amount of work and logistical wizardry to bring you the story package you see here. So heat up your banger, pop your gummy or spark up your joint, and give some love to the people that make it all possible.

May 2020

INTRO by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS | STORY by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415

Propagation and Planting

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Our story begins with seeds bred

by Oregon-based breeder Hermetic Genetics and popped by Seth Marsh, owner and founder of of Urban Pharms. The seeds spend 12-24 hours in a high moisture environment - wet paper towels in plastic bags in this case - which cracks the seeds open and begins the life cycle for the plant. The seed and its protruding taproot are then gently placed into four inch soil plugs, where they’ll reside for their infancy and toddler stages of life. Once they’re a few weeks old and about six inches tall, the plugs are removed from trays, planted into one gallon pots and transferred to the greenhouse to grow. After a couple weeks vegging in the greenhouse, they spend about a week living outside the greenhouse to begin becoming acclimated to the outdoor environment before being transplanted into custom made, 360 gallon pots for later vegging and flower.

Plant Care

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Upkeep and maintenance are absolutely critical to growing a successful crop. There are dozens of different techniques, but clipping fan leaves and interior nodes, and supporting a plant with trellis netting are two of the most widely practiced forms of maintenance.

Clipping fan leaves and interior nodes promotes airflow and helps defend against the development of powdery mildew. Plant upkeep has less agreed upon methodology, with essentially every grower implementing a slightly different strategy to keep their plants healthy and happy. These days, one of the most commonly practiced forms of plant upkeep is integrated pest management, which is the practice of implementing human-safe and ecosystem-friendly methods of pest prevention, instead of using offthe-shelf pesticides. Ladybugs are natural predators that feed on both aphids and mites - two pests that love to munch Cannabis.

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May 2020

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Harvest

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During Fall harvest season, when the leaves are changing and the Cannabis flowers have ripened into plump, chunky buds, life on the farm buzzes with an energy that can be best described as organized chaos. Dozens of seasonal workers descend on the property, where towering 12- to16-foot Cannabis trees are chopped down, deleafed, quartered, bucked and prepped to be hung to dry. It’s a sight to behold - the hum of activity, the positive energy and the exhilarating rush of bringing down thousands of pounds of flower as part of a well-oiled operational machine. At Urban Pharms, the teams constantly move the plants from one stage to another assembly line style, each step in the process fitting together efficiently like the gears of a clock. Harvest is, by far, the most labor-intensive stage in the life cycle of a Cannabis plant, and everything needs to happen within a narrow window of time to ensure peak quality for the resulting product.

STORY by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS

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Drying & Curing

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Executing a proper dry and cure might be the most important step in growing a Cannabis plant. Dry too fast and your volatile (and highly desirable) terpenes dissipate, leaving you with buds that smell like hay. Beginning your cure with too much moisture left in the buds can cause mold and ruin a perfectly good harvest. Most commonly after harvest, branches are chopped from the plants and hung in a temperature and humidity controlled environment for 7-10 days before being moved into the curing steps of the process. Urban Pharms built a brand new 8,000 square foot drying and curing facility in 2019 no small investment and a testament to the importance of this step in the process.

During the curing process, bags are ‘burped’ in order to release evaporating moisture and off-gas CO2. This step is one of the keys to finishing quality flower.

May 2020

Trimming

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Trimming generally occurs twice for outdoor plants.

First, immediately at harvest, large fan leaves are removed either by hand or by machine - depending on the size of the crop. Then, after drying, the plants are ready to be more finely manicured and are cleaned up with more precise trim machines, by hand, and sometimes both.

Generally speaking on scaled farms, the second step occurs only for buds headed to market and not destined for pre-rolls or processing, as the cost of trimming is a significant portion of a farm’s annual overhead. This important step helps bridge the gap between a plant in a field and a finely manicured, purchase-ready product at a dispensary.

Rolling Deep

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Generating thousands of prerolls per day for statewide distribution takes a lot more than a Diamond hand grinder and a pack of RAW king size papers. Flower is milled to a fine grind - often using industrial machinery - before being loaded into joint-packing equipment. The industry standard cone-filler is the Futurola Knockbox - some of which can handle up to 300 pre-rolls at a time. One of the biggest challenges of this step in the process is ensuring that operators successfully fill each cone precisely to the desired level. At this scale, being a fraction of a gram off the mark adds up quickly.

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BHO & CO2 Extraction

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The art of solvent based extraction has come a long way since backyard blasting, but the end goal and fundamentals of the procedure remain the same: to extract the highly valued cannabinoids and terpenoids using a combination of precisely dialed pressure and temperature. In solvent based extraction, such as butane (BHO) and supercritical CO2 methods, a solvent is put in contact with the flower, drawing out the beneficial compounds. The resulting oil can be further refined using ethanol distillation and is often clarified through winterization, during which fats and waxes are removed using a combination of ethanol and sub-zero temperatures. Cartridge manufacturers have traditionally favored refined solvent based extraction, as it often results in clearer oils, which offer ‘shelf appeal’ for case-cruising consumers.

Solventless Extraction

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Solventless extraction relies on purely mechanical methods. Rosin, hash, dry sift - these comprise the old school.

They keep more of the plant’s overall profile intact, as they’re not winterized or distilled - the fats and waxes stay in the mix. Current trends in developed markets are showing that what’s old is new again - connoisseurs increasingly prefer solventless to solvent based extracts.

STORY by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS & NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415

the SEED TO SALE issue

Edible Production

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Differing types of extracts are added to edibles at various stages of production, depending on the product.

Some manufacturers use ethanol extracted FECO - which contains a significant amount of plant matter, and offers an extremely strong flavor profile and heavy, medicated effects. Most edible producers currently serving the market use nearly pure cannabinoid distillate or isolate, as these showcase little to no flavor or aroma though they sacrifice full spectrum efficacy in the process. Dialing in the process of adding extract to edibles is of paramount importance - batches undergo rigorous testing to ensure that each serving is dosed properly.

Just a fraction of a milligram off, and a producer can lose hundreds - if not thousands - of dollars to product loss.

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Testing The Products

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After cultivation and before consumption comes the most intricate and expensive stage in the entire process: testing. This is the step that separates the pro from the amateur, in terms of consumer confidence. Samples are sent to testing labs after any stage in the process where the product may end up in a consumer’s hand: after cultivation, after extraction and after extract is added to edibles. Each stage gets a separate test, which is undoubtedly costly. At the lab, scientists employ methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography to identify and measure the compounds in the plant or product’s chemical composition. This tells producers, regulators and consumers exactly what is in the product. All legal states require cannabinoid, pesticide and moisture testing. Some states also require terpene and heavy metals testing at an additional expense. Savvy producers in states where this additional testing is optional often choose to add these tests for greater transparency and marketability.

May 2020

STORY by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS

Packaging & Fulfillment

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Product is packaged and custom printed batch specific labels are affixed to each sales unit before the products are locked in the vault to await delivery. Each product can be traced all the way back to the seed using the state’s tracking system. Next, inventory managers update the state tracking system as products are secured for delivery to retailers. One of the keys to a robust market is a well maintained relationship between the sales representatives, drivers and retailers.

This relationship determines the product mix available to customers, and if the brands and retailers aren’t talking to one another, consumers miss out.

Education & Consumption

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Budtenders spend time educating their customers, finding the best products to suit each individual situation. Like the distributor-retailer dynamic, the budtender-customer relationship determines the quality of the overall experience.

So, now you’ve purchased your Cannabis - the best part. After arriving safely home, you open the childproof packaging. Whether you’re binge-watching Netflix, recording the next great album or tending to your own garden, one thing’s for sure - it took an army of people and a mountain of effort to bring you this experience. Savor the moment. And tip your budtender.

the SEED TO SALE issue

PLANT PEOPLE LOS ANGELES, CA

Compliance Officer CANBY, OR

Grower

MAX WHITE | AROMA CANNABIS DIRECTOR OF CULTIVATION AND CO-FOUNDER

leafnationmd.com

Interview by Mike Ricker @RickerDJ You were previously a vital part of the operation at House of Cultivar in Seattle, then you moved to California for a new role. What does a Compliance Officer do? I see that all our actions

How long have you been cultivating Cannabis?

are tracked and traced from seed to production to nursery to manufacturing, distribution and retail. If that’s tough to stomach, an easier way to explain it is I’m a detail coordinator for compliant actions within the facility.

Basically, what the Bureau of Cannabis Control wants is someone who is there to avoid product diversion and ensure product safety.

How would you describe your approach to Cannabis cultivation at Aroma?

How does it differ from other growing experiences you had in the past?

Having to deal with said governing body for Cannabis, what do you do to make your job enjoyable? It is great going back to a facility and see-

Interview by Tom Bowers @PropagateConsultants

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ARAKSI VARTANIAN

At the age of 12, I suffered an eye injury leaving me blind and with a condition ironically called chronic glaucoma. I became a medical marijuana patient in 1999 at the age of 16-years-old and immediately began growing for myself and other patients. I’m the ripe age of 37 today and there hasn’t been a year in which I wasn’t cultivating Cannabis.

When I started in the good ol’ Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) days, it was a vastly different arena. Prices were double or more what they are today. I had one employee - me.

I didn’t have to pay attention to operating costs or budgets because let’s face it, the margins were glorious. I only had up to 48 plants at one time, so I could give the ladies names if I liked.

As far as techniques and grow styles, I did it all growing up. I grew in outdoor fields, greenhouses, attics, basements, warehouses. The first grow I ever did was in the corner of our family room growing up. At 16-years-old, my dad helped me build an 8x8 plywood box. I threw a 1000watt China hat fixture in there and torched my crop - learned and moved on.

Today I find myself behind a computer screen a lot more. With my team, we watch numbers and data constantly. We prepare budgets and projections. The recreational market was a tough start. It has been a crash course in running a business as efficiently as possible. Naturally with scaling up into a more commercial approach, some of the personal intimate touches do not pencil in any longer, but I can say quality is still the main focus.

What is the most challenging part of running a Cannabis cultivation facility?

Learning to run a business. Whether you are selling kind nugs, shoes, cars or cheeseburgers, it’s all the same in regard to running a business. I don’t have any formal business education or degree. I was a simple Oregon dope grower with a drive to succeed. Learning to work with governing agencies, the county permitting process and the tax man has taken some practice - but a good challenge is always healthy and rewarding.

What advice do you have for cultivators (professional and amateur)?

Be open to learning more than one way of doing things. Ask a lot of questions from a wide circle of professionals. If you can, join community groups or volunteer in a field of desired expertise.

Become a good networker! I love the phrase “your network is your net worth” because it is absolutely true. Today, when I don’t know the answer, I do know somebody that does. And they are happy to share that knowledge with me, as I am happy sharing with somebody else in need.

May 2020

ing that the company is taking the appropriate measures that I incorporated. The fact is that people generally do what they want, but there are fiery hoops to jump through, so it makes my job enjoyable to see this function from the black market to a compliant market.

Where do you see the regulatory aspect of Cannabis heading? The biggest issue right now we

need to get resolved is banking. We have no banking in California. Other states have implemented financial security for the industry, but unless we go with some crazy, random Russian bank, we’re hung out to dry. We make a lot of money for the state and they need to take care of us. We are really scrutinized and our money is just as good as someone who is not playing the game as well, but they are a federally legal industry like insurance or liquor.

What is your preferred way to wind down after spending your day as the last line of defense against the pot police? (Giggles) I love going for a walk with the dogs, smoking a joint, and taking a good minute to appreciate where I am in life and that I’m a part on this revolution, because this is a time in history that is never going to happen again. This makes me want to go to work the next day.

A grateful look behind the scenes with a member of the Cannabis industry responsible for each step of the Seed to $ale process...

ANCHORAGE, AK

Trimmer

CHRIS CLARK | CODE GREEN

Interview by Mike Ricker @RickerDJ You have a trimming company which is unique to the Alaska Cannabis industry. What prompted you to start a business trimming flower for other companies? I saw a need. There were a lot of farms doing

everything right, but when the time came to handle the product, either the task was too overwhelming for them or the other options weren’t viable. So, that’s when I trained up a group of people and set a basic standard for the whole procedure. I have to say that there was a company before me, but in my opinion, they were ripping off growers and I just saw a much better way to do it.

What is your trade secret to making a successful business out of trimming? Consistency. I know what

I want to see when I go into a store. I know how I think bud should look. When the person taking in the product at a store sees 100 eighths that all look the same, I know we’ve done our job right.

Why is trimming a noble profession? I honestly believe that trimmers can make or break a product. You can do everything right on the grow end, but if your product isn’t handled properly at the end of the day, it can end up looking like shit - you know?

If you handed off your earbuds to the person next to you right now in the middle of a trimming sesh, what would they hear? They’d be getting into some Mike

Love or Nahko Bear. That’s Nahko and Medicine for the People.

Since you’re in Alaska, have you ever considered opening a beard trimming company, and if so, would you consider trimming a Bearded Lorax?

I’ll trim anything you put in front of me, brother (laughs).

Hear “Bearded Lorax” Leaf Nation Editor Wes Abney on the Leaf Life Podcast

IRVINE, CA

Lab Technician

MIKE TUNIS & ADAM FLOYD THINK20 LABS

Interview by Wyatt Early @ErrlyWyatt What is the process a bud or concentrate takes from entering to exiting the lab?

When a sample enters our laboratory it is first weighed, received and accessioned into Metrc and our internal tracking system. Then the sample makes its way over to our photography lightbox, where we take high-resolution images of the sample and its packaging to be displayed on the certificate of analysis.

For a full panel regulatory compliance sample, the first analysis conducted is the foreign material inspection. Here, we inspect the sample under a digital microscope, looking for adulterants such as dirt, mold, insects, fibers, hairs, etc.

Once the foreign material inspection is concluded, the sample is then homogenized - the process of making the sample uniform throughout, so that any sub-sample taken from the homogenized sample will be representative of the entire sample.

Proper homogenization is especially important when it comes to testing Cannabis flowers, primarily because they are very inhomogeneous - with the largest percentage of cannabinoids residing in the trichomes and the lowest amount coming from the leaves and stems.

Once all the analyses required for a sample are completed, the compiled data package is reviewed by senior lab personnel to verify values are correct and that all the analytical instrumentation quality control checks are within specifications pursuant to internal and external acceptance criteria.

Following this final quality assurance check, the certificate of analysis is uploaded to Metrc, the BCC, and released to the distributor who submitted the sample for testing.

>>

INTERVIEWS by LEAF NATION CONTRIBUTORS

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PLANT PEOPLE Continued from p. 35

EUGENE, OR

Extraction Lab Processing Manager REGIS PHILBURN | ECHO ELECTUARY Interview by Amanda Day @Terpodactyl_Media Dealing with the plant up-close must provide a unique perspective. What have you learned about Cannabis through your processes? For the purpose of extraction, we seek out different traits such

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as unique terpene profiles, specific trichome morphology and lower THC to terpene ratios. There has been some breeding done specifically for extraction strains, but we hope to see this develop further in coming years into two distinct subtypes of varietals, similar to wine and table grapes.

What qualities do you look for in extraction source material?

Complex and unique terpene profiles, and clean growing practices and down to earth people/companies are essential factors in choosing our grow partners.

Within our own grow we feel that organic sungrown Cannabis produces some of the most complex terpene profiles, but we also enjoy the range of flavor and repeatable results that come with the tight environmental control of indoor gardening. Cannabis enthusiasts are always looking for the next hot strain, so it is important to be aware of, and cater to, new strain trends.

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Echo Electuary has been a staple of the Oregon market since before recreational legalization. What procedures have you utilized to provide your customers with consistent products?

We have developed our own methods for flash freezing using dry ice (CO2) and/or liquid nitrogen, in order to best preserve the ‘live’ terpene profile. In our extraction process, we utilize sub-zero temperatures, passive recovery, and precision flow control to achieve a variety of different hydrocarbon extract consistencies. Every batch goes through our dewax/winterization process to remove lipids and other unwanted components. Cleaning is an integral function of making consistent extracts and we rigorously clean our equipment and purify our solvents between batches to keep the extracts pure and free of cross-contamination.

Modern consumers have many options when it comes to dab products. Do you have a favorite type of extract? What do you enjoy about that form or consistency? I enjoy variety and could never be

satisfied with just one consistency or type of extract, but in general, I prefer consistencies such as budder (badder) because of its well-balanced THC to terpene ratio, and its ease of use. Homogeneous extracts like budder tend to dab more evenly, with the THC and terpenes vaporizing simultaneously, which is the best all around effect for me personally. I am enamored by well-grown THCA crystals and enjoy vaporizing those as well, usually towards the end of the day.

May 2020

FREDERICK, MD

Packaging Manager NIKIA HARRISTON | GLEAF

Interview by Wyatt Early @ErrlyWyatt What is your daily life like as a packaging manager?

Once we get the buds from harvest that have been manicured and trimmed, we start the packaging process. So, we start off with 10 pound batches and my team will package as much as they can from those batches into 3.5 gram drams. Depending on how light or heavy the different strains’ buds are, it can be anywhere from two to five pounds per batch going into eighths. We use a packaging machine we call Bimba, which funnels large amounts of Cannabis into small and precise amounts.

After being packaged, we place the containers into boxes of 224 grams (half of a pound). Each box must be labeled by hand with strain name, cannabinoid profile and terpene profile. To account for this Cannabis being prepared

to go to a dispensary, each box must be entered into Metrc. Then we can seal everything up and place them on the shelves for specific dispensaries to receive them.

What is left from that batch is called small bud, which is used for pre-rolls. All of our trim is sent to the lab to be processed into all of the concentrates we make. We have

a Futurola grinder to grind the buds, and use a Futurola machine to make pre-rolled joints and phillys. We have a ‘travel sheet’ that shows us which employee completed which process in packaging our products, for accountability and quality control. We track every single gram that leaves our facility, from seed to sale in the Metrc system.

Whether it’s fresh bud, product that dropped on the floor, green waste or anything else, everything must be accounted for.

TACOMA, WA

Product Sales CHRISTA DANTINI MINGLEWOOD BRANDS

Interview by Mike Ricker @RickerDJ Selling Cannabis takes patience and the ability to read individuals. How did you build this expertise?

I have been in retail my entire life, since I was old enough to work at the age of 16. And I’m a people person. I’m more about building relationships with the individual than I am with getting the sale, and when you do that you get a keen ear to listen, which leads you to find what they are really looking for. Then figuring out what they need is super simple. When people feel that you are naturally interested in them, you create relationships that last.

You have children. Does selling Cannabis sometimes feel like negotiating with your kids? It used to

back when I was selling shittier products (laughs). But now that I sell the best brands in the Cannabis market, it’s easy - at least in my opinion. The people who were assholes back in the day, giving me the runaround, are now wanting to do business and are more flexible, which is kinda cool.

What is the most gratifying part of being in this business, compared to doing retail? I think people are really chill and kind overall in this industry. For me, having the flexibility to be a mom and take care of kids and still smash out work is everything. And I love Cannabis. It has so many healing properties and it’s so much more than just a recreational thing.

I feel good about what I’m doing at the end of the day.

How do you feel about the new Trolls movie? I haven’t seen

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the new Trolls movie (laughs again). I think it’s the only one I haven’t seen yet.

ELLICOTT CITY, MD

Store Buyer

BRANDON COLEMAN | GREENHOUSE WELLNESS

Interview by Wyatt Early @ErrlyWyatt What do you do as a buyer for a dispensary? As a buyer, you are tasked with many re-

sponsibilities outside of purchasing Cannabis for your store. To start, I am always keeping track of the inventory of the store in an effort to keep stocks high. I base my buying decisions on a variety of factors. Sometimes it’s feedback from patients wanting more of a certain product or producer, and my relationships with producers helps me do just that. Patients give me feedback routinely, sometimes multiple times daily - everyone has their favorites and wants to be able to buy them.

How do you decide what products to buy? When it comes to flower and concentrates, I

have personally used a vast majority of the products I bring in. I spend a majority of my time managing relationships between myself, growers, processors and patients. Almost everyone uses a different wholesale platform to showcase their product. The biggest systems used are Leaf Trade and LeafLink, as well as individual email blasts with certificates of analysis.

Why does a dispensary need a buyer? Not every dispensary has a singular person set as the buyer.

A lot of times the owner of the dispensary will be buying the products for the store. I have autonomy to make buying decisions without approval from anyone, which I believe gives me a leg up. Combining all of these factors into a patient facing brand/dispensary is really what wraps up my job.

>>

INTERVIEWS by LEAF NATION CONTRIBUTORS

the SEED TO SALE issue

PLANT PEOPLE Continued from p. 37 COCKEYSVILLE, MD

Patient Consultant

DR. ALEX DIX | KIP CANNABIS DOCTOR OF PHARMACY, B.S. CHEMISTRY

Interview by Wyatt Early @ErrlyWyatt What is your typical consultation experience like?

38

When a patient comes in for a consultation, whether new or old to Cannabis, I always introduce them to our handbook and a few key concepts within that are crucial for them to understand. The handbook contains various basic topics about medicine, the endocannabinoid system, plant components, dosage forms of Cannabis, pharmacogenetics and a journal they utilize for their personal experience.

We will begin the healing process by locking in their goals. Are they aiming to relieve pain? Sleep throughout the night? Sense happiness? Leave pharmaceuticals in the past? Regardless, once the goals are established, we then dive into the educational scope of Cannabis. With its multiple active ingredients/compounds - cannabinoids - and its terpene properties, the various patient goals are achievable due to the unique structure of the plant. I emphasize drifting away from buying decisions simply based on sativa or indica. Trust the terpenes they enhance the psychoactive components in Cannabis. The active ingredients and terpenes present in each strain allow for the potential to better target the release of specific neurotransmitters in our nervous system that regulate many processes within our body.

leafnationmd.com

Shortly following, we discuss dosing. Each patient starts with the smallest possible dose first, ensuring sufficient time to yield the full effect. Once analyzed, we can decide if more or less is needed. Different products have different optimal doses and we work together to find the most suitable, safe and convenient method for that person. It may fluctuate, but the journal allows for record keeping and efficient modification, if needed.

The journal at the back of our handbook contains three sections: type, cannabinoid/terpene profile, and a number scale. The type section contains information about the method of ingestion - inhalation, sublingual, topical - dosage form, and information about the provider. Usually for the terpene profile/cannabinoid section it’s best to rip the label off or write down required information. The number scale is used before each dosage and after to assess the effect of each medication and its alignment with the patient’s goals. Additionally, the journal contains space for information regarding the time taken and technique - bowl, inhaled for three seconds, exhaled for two. Overall, the journal contains beneficial information to manage symptoms, track progress and modify accordingly.

It’s important for our patients to understand how products relate to the learning points crafted in our handbook. This influences more knowledge and in turn confidence about the medicine regularly consumed.

PALMER, AK

Budtender

SHELBY SWANSON | MATANUSKA CANNABIS COMPANY

Interview by Mike Ricker @RickerDJ Budtending is a profession. Where did you gain your expertise before entering the Cannabis industry?

In Alaska we have vertical integration, so I first began as a trimmer for the Matanuska Cannabis Company before coming on as a budtender.

Before that I was in the service industry for a long time as a janitor, and worked at the post office and elementary schools. I like working with people and I felt like I’m more comfortable in this type of environment than being in a type that is, how do you put it…normal?

Where do you see the Cannabis industry heading in Alaska? What amazes me most is the amount of people in the com-

munity who use Cannabis as medicine, as opposed to recreationally.

Especially with the virus going on, being considered essential business, I see this having a ripple effect in the community - but I’m not sure if it will improve anything moving forward with federal legalization. We don’t really know what it’s going to take to change the laws, so we just keep on doing what we’re doing, which is presenting Cannabis in a positive light. The fact that we are essential business is a great move in the right direction.

If you were to run for the Governor’s seat in Alaska, what would be your main selling point for getting elected? Oh man (laughs). I don’t know if it would be any one thing, but more like just changing the goal posts. I would rather take care of everybody in our community to make sure they are all provided for before giving big tax credits and free money to the oil industry. There are people out here who are really struggling to even make it to the next day. Our leaders tend to forget about the small people.

What strain would you recommend to a melancholy moose, if one were to mosey into the shop one day?

Ooooh, the Honey Banana by Althea’s Morning Bear. It’s a nice sweet indica that isn’t too dense, so you don’t have to grind it and you can just pack it into a bowl and hit it there.

Listen to Leaf Life Podcast show #61

May 2020

Coronavirus Crisis Pt 3: Essential Business

BELLINGHAM, WA

Distributor

AMBER VAUGHN |TERPENE TRANSIT Interview by Mike Ricker @RickerDJ Distribution is an integral part of a moving society. What is different about doing it in the Cannabis industry compared to making deliveries for a company like Amazon Prime? I think it always boils down to the regulatory nature of what we do, in always having to remain compliant. And we do it with a smile! Comparatively speaking, the big difference is delivery schedules. With a big company like Amazon, you know you’re going to get your delivery sometime before 8:00 PM tomorrow. For us, every store, every situation is a little unique, so being flexible and being able to adapt to each store’s unique quirks is a challenge. But we are not just robots, either. It’s important to us to create a pleasant experience because we know that customer service is the name of the game. So, that is an area that we truly feel differentiates us from the corporate drop and go delivery services. We create relationships, we network, we make friends.

Are you worried about contracting COVID-19 by having contact with numerous people daily? It is

a concern and the best we can do is the best for ourselves. As long as people are doing their due diligence to prevent it, we are happy to be out on the road making this happen. We provide gallons of ISO, gloves and masks, follow protocol to sanitize every day, and everything is UV lighted every day. We just go above and beyond for the prevention of COVID.

Has anything noteworthy happened on a delivery that you would like to entertain us with? The first year that we started, we got

pulled over by the state patrol and we told him we had 1,000 pounds of Cannabis in the back. We asked him if he wanted to see it and his response was, “I want to see it, but I don’t want to go through it.” Then he took a photo of it, which I assume he sent to all his buddies, then sent us on our way.

What is your preferred method for transiting terpenes into your body? Dabs all day. Except when it’s time to drive, of course.

SEATTLE, WA

Creative Director

MATTHEW MIKULSKI | CHATTER CREATIVE

Interview by Mike Ricker @RickerDJ You were a sponsored skateboarder in your younger days.

Where is the creative correlation between the two? I’ve always been influenced by

Thrasher Magazine and TransWorld, so a lot of my inspiration comes from the wheels, the skateboards and the graphics - that old school look and feel. Everything that Powell and Peralta was doing, Steve Caballero, Bones Brigade, Tony Hawk, that whole crew.

I know there is something special about marketing Cannabis compared to ordinary brands. What is it? Cannabis is different - wide audience - so you can’t really

hone in on one particular person because everybody’s different. So you have to cast a wide net.

Keeping my designs simple and clean is important. I’m always thinking about the 21-year-old to the 75-year-old person, male and female. So, the challenge is not having one particular person you’re designing for. Another thing worth mentioning is 11 years ago when I started Chatter Creative; a lot of corporate clients were shunning me for taking Cannabis clients and it feels like some of them are coming around. And even with aunts and uncles, there is a degree of acceptance you can feel more and more of. The perception of Cannabis is changing and it’s cool.

Could you ever work in another field now that you’ve realized your dream of being in the Cannabis game?

I’ll always be a designer. I love to illustrate, so if I wasn’t dealing with brands and marketing, I would probably shift into illustration.

In fact, I could see myself doing children’s books.

INTERVIEWS by LEAF NATION CONTRIBUTORS

39

RECIPES

CANNABIS ESSENTIALS You may be stuck at home or you may be at work, but I know you are being careful and keeping your distance. It’s hard, sometimes sad and sometimes scary - often both. This month, instead of celebrating berries and asparagus, I am offering three basic recipes that you can make and keep in the fridge or pantry, and infuse at will. I always have these three items ready to go.

Three easy ways to infuse your favorite cooking methods with a little Cannabis!

CANNA-FLOUR ONE OUNCE TOP QUALITY SHAKE, DECARBOXYLATED 1. Place the Cannabis in the bowl of a food processor or in freshly cleaned coffee grinder.

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Not a method I use often, canna-flour involves baking with the actual plant. This means more of that Cannabis flavor than you would get from the other infusions. But, it also means less steps! Canna-flour works for baking if it comprises no more than 20% of the recipe.

When baking with canna-flour, keep the oven at 340°F or below.

For recipes that call for 350°F, just lower to 340°F and cook a few minutes longer. Ramp up the spices a bit and there should be no harsh taste of Cannabis.

2. Process the Cannabis until it becomes a very fine powder.

3. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

4. To use, replace up to ¼ the amount of flour in a recipe with Cannabis flour. Sift together the prepared Cannabis powder with the flour for even distribution. For flavor and consistency, try to stay at or below the ¼ substitution rule.

THESE THREE DRINKS will keep you high and happy while waiting for Spring.

leafnationmd.com

Well, waiting for 4/20. It can be a long wait - may these recipes

CANNA-CREAM

help pass the time.

2 CUPS HEAVY CREAM 2 TABLESPOONS VEGETABLE GLYCERIN ½ OUNCE FINELY CHOPPED, DECARBOXYLATED CANNABIS

The syrup can be added to smoothies, ice pops, granitas, and other tasty spring treats,

SIMPLE CANNA-SYRUP - 3 CUPS FILTERED WATER

1. In a double boiler or a medium bowl on top of a saucepan with water, heat the cream.

2. Add the Cannabis and glycerin, whisk like crazy, and gently simmer for one hour.

1. In a large saucepot bring water to a boil. Add the sugar and stir until dissolved.

2. Add the Cannabis, cover, and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 30 minutes.

3. Carefully pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth.

3. Reduce the heat to low, whisk in the glycerin, and simmer for 10 minutes.

- 3 CUPS FINE GRANULATED SUGAR

4. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 20 minutes.

- 3 TABLESPOONS VEGETABLE GLYCERIN

5. Place the cheesecloth or fine strainer above a heatproof bowl and carefully pour the syrup into the bowl.

- ½ OUNCE FINELY CHOPPED

6. Strain the Cannabis from the syrup and pour into a container.

AND DECARBOXYLATED CANNABIS

7. Once you allow the syrup to cool at room temperature, cover and store in the fridge for up to three months.

May 2020

4. Allow to cool at room temperature for 20 minutes before covering and refrigerating. Keeps for about a week in the fridge, depending on the state of your heavy cream.

RECIPES by LAURIE WOLF | PHOTOS by BRUCE WOLF

CULTA.IO | @CULTAIG

LATHUNDER

LIVE RESIN SAUCE Cu l ta ’ s e n e rg y - p a c ke d LA T h u n d e r l i ve re s i n s a u ce b r i n g s a b o l t o f e n e rg y a n d fl a vo r t h a t ca n b r i g h t e n a ny p a t i e nt ’ s d a y . I t s p ro fi l e re p re se n t s t h e p e r fe c t s a t i va - hyb r i d b a l a n ce , w h e re i n yo u ca n a c h i eve ca l m a n d re l a xe d p a i n re l i ef, w h i l e a l s o re m a i n i n g m e n ta l l y a l e r t a n d e n e rg i ze d t h ro u g h o u t t h e d a y . I wa s pu l l e d i n by t h e 1 8 % t o ta l t e rp e n e p ro fi l e a n d s o l d w h e n I s a w t h a t i t co nta i n e d a ve r y g o o d c h u n k o f m y rcen e a n d ca r yo phy l l e n e , t e m p e re d by a ro b u s t a m o u n t o f t e rp i n o l e n e , b eta - p i n e n e a n d l i m o n e n e .

BASICALLY, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE MOST POWERFUL INDICA AND SATIVA TERPENES COMING TOGETHER INTO ONE GLORIOUS DAB. The top of the nose on the LA Thunder carries a strong terpinolene odor that is quickly mingled into an almost cheesy amalgamation of floral, spicy and fruity effervescence. With such a complex profile, I honestly feel like the smell shifts with each inhale, as if to tease me with a nuanced smell at every opportunity.

The flavor is that of a spicy forest that floods the palate with a woody b-pinene dollop and some spicy caryophyllene taste on the inhale, with the more fruity and sweeter limonene and terpinolene notes becoming prominent on the exhale.

Each dab left me with a complex cycling array of flavors and aromas that truly feel as diverse as a blooming, tropical forest. In fact, the effects of the dab definitely reminded me of my visits to such tropical foresty places, taking me to the headspace of my nostalgic memories.

The combination of myrcene and caryophyllene is at once an amazing pain reliever and a notorious couch-locker.

Typically when I see high concentrations of these terpenes, I can anticipate a cloudy, heavy and deeply relaxed high.

However, with the LA Thunder I achieved a deeply relaxed and pain free body - sans the cloudy and heavy aspect one might associate with the myrcene/caryophyllene combo. This, I think, is due to the dominance of the terpinolene - a terpene that I find very energizing - and the temper of beta-pinene and limonene.

Limonene is always a little bit of sunshine in any smoke, going a long way toward producing energy through a positive mood, but the beta-pinene was a particularly excellent note. The beta-pinene is responsible for clearing the fog of a high and exemplifies a sativa effect.

Often when I use beta-pinene dominant products, I get the clear-headedness and focus I desire, but with no hints of manic energy. In the case of the LA Thunder, I have a clear-headed high from the beta-pinene and a vigorous amount of energy catalyzed by the terpinolene and limonene duet. The overall result is a dab that works for my deepest pain levels, that I can also use in the morning to go to work or school and maintain my best self!

REVIEW by TAYLOR MARTIN @MDCANNAINSIDER | PHOTOS by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT

concentrate of the month

“THE FLAVOR IS THAT OF A SPICY FOREST THAT FLOODS THE PALATE WITH A WOODY B-PINENE DOLLOP AND SOME SPICY CARYOPHYLLENE TASTE ON THE INHALE.”

41

DYSCO’S CORNER leafnationmd.com

42

musings from aparent &Cannabis consumer You need a plan b

Since I had been carrying a low level fever for a few days, my husband and I had agreed that I should self isolate where I was staying, out of state, until we had more information.

I had not, until that moment, considered the fact that I was “TRUST ME, SIS. I KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING sequestered in a state where Cannabis use is illegal. I had no way ABOUT. A FEW YEARS AGO, WE GOT STUCK WITH to legally obtain the medicine I needed to treat my chronic pain THE KIDS DURING A HURRICANE IN COSTA RICA. and anxiety once I ran out. I couldn’t go home - and just like my EVERYONE WAS STRANDED AND THEY CLOSED brother during the hurricane - I was staring down the barrel of a ALL THE LIQUOR STORES. WE WERE DEFINITELY rapidly dwindling supply.

NOT PREPARED. FIVE DAYS WITHOUT ALCOHOL, Plan B definitely needed.

ISOLATED WITH YOUR FAMILY - TRUST ME WHEN I I thought about my conversation earlier that day with my TELL YOU THAT YOU DEFINITELY NEED A PLAN B.” parents. They had already been in lockdown at their retirement community for two weeks.

It was late March and I was talking with my brother about the When I asked how they were handling it, my mother sighed, unlikely possibility that liquor stores would be closed during the “Oh, fine. We’re all fine. They deliver our meals and the wine cart pandemic response. We had both been traveling when the stay at is still doing regular rounds throughout the day.” My father added home orders began, but he and his family had the foresight to get thoughtfully, “They’ve started stocking it with those liquor minia‘stranded’ at their vacation rental in the Florida Keys. tures in addition to the wine selection. Yes, we’re fine.”

“As soon as they started talking about non-essential businessAt that moment, I finally understood how my parents had es closing, I did some research,” he said. managed to stay together for 50 years. I also “Apparently, there’s only one liquor store on understood why their retirement community is I had not, until this island, so I took the golf cart down there so expensive. It has a built in Plan B for things that moment, and slipped the owner some extra cash - just like the zombie apocalypse. No matter what, in case the governor doesn’t agree with our considered the your food and booze will be delivered on view of ‘essential services.’ The owner was schedule. fact that I was great. He gave me his cell number and said Since then, I have been talking to the sequestered in he’d keep us stocked through any crisis in people I know who rely on medical Cannabis the future.” a state where in states where it is not legal. Many say their My brother is brilliant in this way. He’s almedical Cannabis is becoming more and Cannabis use is ways thinking ahead and solving the problem more difficult to procure under the current illegal. before it actually exists. social and travel restrictions, and they are “We already extended our lease another struggling to maintain their normal dosing. couple weeks. Who knows how long we could be stuck here in The inability to obtain the medicine your body needs is an addiparadise? You definitely need a Plan B.” I laughed with him, but tional stress we don’t need. If there were ever a time we deserved there was a nagging voice in my head, growing louder, echoing. the choice to legally treat our collective mounting anxiety and “You need a Plan B.” depression with Cannabis in the safety of our own homes, I think Suddenly, I realized I had a big problem. the present reality definitely qualifies.

My brother drinks Ketel One and tonics. My mom sips on wine.

My dad likes martinis with a twist. I prefer half a pre-roll of Dead Head OG. When’s that cart coming around?

May 2020

SUBMITTED

-Dysco

to MARYLAND LEAF

44

Virtual 4/20/20 CHRONIC RELIEF EDITION

D O N AT E TO F E E D I N G A M E R I C A | FARECHILD.COM/CHRONICRELIEF STORY by JONAH TACOMA @DABSTARS2.0 for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by JESS LARUE @JESSICALARUE_420

I GRIMACED LOOKING AT MY WATCH. Traffic was light due to COVID-19, which had most of the nation on lockdown, but we were running behind. Both Cannabis and media had been deemed essential businesses and we were headed to Atomic Studios in Seattle to shoot what would be a first for us: a five and a half hour long, live 4/20 celebration

may 2020

Many Cannabis enthusiasts, including myself, had been looking forward to this particular 4/20 for several years.

For only once every hundred years did the celestial alignment culminate in a perfect 4/20/20. For all but a tiny few, this would be the first and last time any of us would ever see it.

I went over the show notes from the passenger seat as Jessica put the pedal to the floor, dancing THE BRAINCHILD OF FARECHILD EVENTS around the sparse FOUNDERS DAVID TRAN AND JAMES ZACHODNI, This was a first for all of us, especially traffic in an attempt CHRONIC RELIEF ITSELF HAD BEEN BORN OF THE the Atomic Studio guys who were used to to make up time. She COVID-19 VIRUS - A DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE a more corporate tenor and were openly had made a Magical CANCELLATION OF CANNABIS EVENTS AROUND bemused by the goings on in the studio Butter pizza for a bit THE WORLD, FROM SPANNABIS TO HASH BASH that day.

AND DOZENS OF CELEBRITIES HAD AGREED TO we were doing during The production coordinator’s voice PARTICIPATE. ALL PROCEEDS WOULD BE DONATED the live show, and broke the silence in my earbuds.

TO FEEDING AMERICA AND MOST OF US HAD the bake time had “Three minutes! Butts in seats!” Steven DONATED OUR TIME TO THE PROJECT us running late. The said urgently. I took my place next to studio was buzzing as Fred, professional auctioneer and my cowe arrived. The city host for the auspicious live reveal of “Chronic Relief.” of Seattle had been gracious enough to make parking in The brainchild of Farechild Events founders David Tran the entire city free during the pandemic and we hurried and James Zachodni, Chronic Relief itself had been to unload the various props we had brought along for the born of the COVID-19 virus - a direct response to the day’s festivities. cancellation of Cannabis events around the world, from I shouted a warning as I hauled a gigantic peli case Spannabis to Hash Bash - and dozens of celebrities had over the studio threshold - the largest case the company agreed to participate. All proceeds would be donated to produced and it was packed with marijuana paraphernalia Feeding America and most of us had donated our time of all types and sizes. to the project, including myself.

Jessica took her place in front of a large green screen As the producer announced go time and the cameras where she would be doing her commentary for the day, went live, the adrenaline and weed took over. The next while a dozen or more production staff busied themselves five hours were a blur as we partied in 4:20 across three tweaking and tuning the main set, which was being given a different time zones. From Whoopi Goldberg to Tommy 4/20 makeover.

Chong and Dub FX, the star studded show went off without a hitch. For most of us we just wanted a way to be together - to us, Cannabis was community.

A cheer went off in the studio as DJ Cide played us out and Stephen called cut, ending what for many had been weeks of preparation and hard work. The virus may have had us in lockdown but technology was helping to bridge the gap.

With matching funds we raised over 100,000 meals for Feeding America. At a time when the nation was strapped for cash, Cannabis still had something to give.

Maybe we weren’t just so-called ‘stupid stoners’ after all...

leafnationmd.com

46

by Mike Ricker Check Your Temperature It was the hot dab that did me in.

Thank you, my airheaded, rookie administrator, for enlightening me to what the inside of a barrel of a flame thrower is like when delivering a mechanical dragon’s demonstration of unbridled fury.

And just when I managed to inhale something that resembled actual air, the entire experience was deepened upon identifying the sensation of having swallowed a sleeping porcupine into my lungs who, upon awakening in the cramped space, was overcome with fear - causing it to instinctually employ its quills in order to defend itself.

Suddenly, I was the porcupine - anxiety ridden from the torturous enclosure of a war prisoner’s hurt locker, teetering on the brink of panic, gauging whether the extreme discomfort would cause claustrophobic madness before having the luxury of first offing myself.

And then came the bong spins. At least that’s what they used to call it long before concentrates with 110% THC existed. So out of the place I fled, incapable of explaining myself. Not only because of the inability to formulate and convey a cohesive word, but also for the complete lack of oxygen flowing through my gills.

The night had instantly taken a “Fear and Loathing” turn, forcing the retreat from the madness into the safety of the car where a judge from Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” hammered down his gavel for the crime of a meaningless existence. That’s when the dizziness proved a harsh catalyst - churning the stomach into a pressurized brew of witch’s stew - conjuring the recently eaten food truck kung pao calamari and projectile launching it onto the misty pavement in the back alley.

This was the worst Cannabis experience of my life.

Thank goodness for cool dabs.

And the cool mother fuckers who know how to heat a dab.

But if you don’t, that’s OK. That’s why the good lord gave us the vape cart.

May 2020

Get the audio version and every episode at Stoney-Baloney.com

@RickerDJ

We’re working to make sure you have what you need. Because wellness is always essential.