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THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

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INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010

ERIC KAYNE

feature Leaf Nation’s Barron Wolfe interviews David Bryce Yaden, PhD, of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research in Baltimore, on his life and career.

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Canna Provisions Group CEO Meg Sanders

Exploring Cannabis’ psychedelic side

edibles

Testing Think High Creations’ Boss Bar

Ketamine Therapy and You

Dr. Radu Kramer shares his wealth of experience and knowledge on the emerging field of Ketamine therapy, and reveals how the psychedelic treatment can help with depression and creating new paths.

////////// story by barron wolfe photo by scott semler

MAR. 2021

profile

EMILY CEGIELSKI

feature

COURTESY

women in weed

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EDITOR’S NOTE N AT I O N A L N E W S LOCAL NEWS H I G H LY L I K E LY BUDTENDER Q&A WOMEN IN WEED MUSICIAN PROFILE STRAIN OF THE MONTH THE PSYCHEDELIA ISSUE PSYCHEDELIA 101 PSYCHEDELIC CANNABIS MICRODOSING JOURNEY E D D I E F U N X TA P R O F I L E JOHNS HOPKINS RESEARCHER KETAMINE INTEGRATIVE HEALING READING ENERGY F U T U R E L E G I S L AT I O N C O N C E N T R AT E O T M TOPICAL OTM EDIBLE OTM GLASS ART LEAFSHOTS CANNTHROPOLOGY STONEY BALONEY

BAILEY JONSON (ART BY JEFF CLUETT)

Watermelon Gelato Wax by Solar Therapeutics

MR. MELTY

the PSYCHEDELIA issue

#07

concentrates

“Cosmic Galaxy Egg” by Artist Andrew Logan at the American Visionary Art Museum.

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MARCH 2021

N O R T H EAS T

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ISSUE #7 LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

MAR. 2021

GLASS ART

41 STORY by MAX EARLY @LIFTED_STARDUST | PHOTO by SAMUEL FARLEY @THC_SAMUEL

Learn more about the inspiration behind this incredible glass piece by Eusheen & Darby.

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

N O RT H W E S T L E A F / O R EG O N L E A F / A L AS KA L E A F / M A RY L A N D L E A F / CA L I F O R N I A L E A F /

A B O U T T H E C OV E R This month’s intensely euphoric artwork comes to us from the highly tuned mind of New Mexico-based psychedelic artist Kevin Vigil, better known as Mr. Melty, whose illustrations appear throughout the magazine’s special section. The work is as colorful as it is explosive, and as beautiful as it is daring. In our 2nd annual Psychedelia Issue, we wanted to explore how these powerful experiences can help body and soul to reach their full potential. Who better to lead us on our psychedelic journey than Mr. Melty, an artist “inspired by the beauty and powerful grace of our natural surroundings paired with the metaphysical elements of our inner being.”

ILLUSTRATIONS by MR. MELTY MRMELTY.COM / @MR.MELTY

CONTRIBUTORS

WES ABNEY | FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

BOBBY BLACK, FEATURES JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION TOM BOWERS, FEATURES EMILY CEGIELSKI, PHOTOS EARLY, PRODUCTION MAX EARLY, FEATURES STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS BAILEY JONSON, FEATURES + PHOTOS ERIC KAYNE, PHOTOS DAN MCCARTHY, FEATURES BOBBY NUGGZ, FEATURES JEFF PORTERFIELD, DESIGN MIKE RICKER, FEATURES MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING MR. MELTY, ILLUSTRATIONS SCOTT SEMLER, PHOTOS O’HARA SHIPE, FEATURES PACER STACKTRAIN, FEATURES JAMIE VICTOR, ILLUSTRATION NATE WILLIAMS, FEATURES BARRON WOLFE, FEATURES

WES@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

SENIOR EDITORS MIKE GIANAKOS | DAN VINKOVETSKY

MIKEG@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM DAN@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM 844-4NELEAF

CREATIVE DIRECTOR DANIEL BERMAN | VISUALS & DESIGN

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DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY PETE THOMPSON

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SALES DIRECTOR MICHAEL CZERHONIAK

MICHAEL@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

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ABNEY

Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up The Psychedelia Issue of the Leaf! WHILE I DIDN’T listen to my DARE instructors about Cannabis, or a few other fun substances in college, one warning I always believed in through my college years was to beware of psychedelics. We had all heard the stories of the friend who took 10 hits of acid and wasn’t the same, or the horror stories of eating the wrong mushroom and dying. To be fair, these are true warnings – and I took them seriously until one fateful winter night.

I’d finally decided to indulge in magic mushrooms, and unknowingly ate about three grams of blue-tinged caps (this was before identification of mushrooms or weed strains was common) and proceeded to have an epic melt at a house party. I don’t remember much, except for walking around a house with a container of Quaker Oatmeal, repeatedly asking people, “Why is the Quaker Oats man so happy?” I also reportedly ate a lot of raw oats. Needless to say, this wasn’t my idea of a typical college party night and I went back to my weed smoking ways for nearly a decade, with the memory of eating too many mushrooms burned into my brain as a powerful warning against psychedelics.

“I FELT CONNECTED TO THE PAST AND PRESENT IN A WHOLE NEW WAY.”

Fast forward to my 29th birthday and I had tickets to see the Terracotta Warriors Exhibit at the Seattle Science Center on Friday, and chose to indulge in a little LSD at the suggestion of close friends. Standing in the immersive Augmented Reality exhibit with amazing color-changing, motion-triggered exhibits while in the presence of the 2,250-plus-yearold warriors gave me a feeling of connection unlike anything I’d ever felt. It was transcendental, and I knew in that moment I would have a new relationship with psychedelics. I felt connected to the past and present in a whole new way, which was heightened by the presence of ancient talismans meant to protect the Chinese Emperor in the afterlife. The experience changed my frame of reference in many ways, especially in regards to opening my mind and consciousness to new experiences.

Since that fateful trip I’ve had the pleasure of unlearning the DARE propaganda, and also ignoring the wooks at festivals offering drugs – instead finding a happy medium between research and controlled experiences, with much intention into the set, setting and those around me as I opened my mind with psilocybin, LSD and DMT in ceremonies that have had major benefit in my life. I went from scared to take a substance (for many good reasons) to being scared not to challenge my own frame of reference while confronting the issue of consciousness and my place in the universe. Today, that fear is what drives me to explore the final frontier of psychedelic therapies and substances. Over 2,000 years ago, Socrates famously said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” I believe that wholeheartedly, and that the use of entheogenic plants is a way to explore one’s life in a way that should be part of everyone’s life experience. We have but a short time on this planet, and finding peace and meaning within the journey will help us to find peace when we reach the destination. While I don’t plan to go out like Aldous Huxley, I have learned from his writings and plan to be in a happy place when my brain releases DMT for the final time, as I pass into the great beyond. I hope my words can inspire those with fear about psychedelics (or life itself) to explore, learn and live in the moment – and that this amazing Psychedelia Issue put together by our amazing Leaf team can be an inspiration and guide to your future experiences.

-Wes Abney MAR. 2021

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WES

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NATIONAL NEWS

politics

california

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER VOICES SUPPORT FOR CANNABIS REFORM, POT STOCKS BOOM!

enate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s commitment to reform federal marijuana laws sent Cannabis stocks surging in February, thrilling advocates – but experts warn high hurdles remain for legislation to pass Congress, reports Marijuana Business Daily. With 60 votes likely required for passage in the Senate, today’s hyper-partisan atmosphere on Capitol Hill could make that a real challenge. Banking reform, however, is a more achievable short-term goal, as it enjoys strong bipartisan support.

The South

ADVOCATES BACK SOCIAL EQUITY IN VIRGINIA MARIJUANA BILLS

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emocrats in the Virginia General Assembly say that social equity is important when ending the criminalization of Cannabis, and that includes ending the disparate criminalization of people of color. Separate bills approved by the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates in February would legalize possession of up to an ounce of weed for adults 21 and older. Both bills would also begin automatically AUTOMATICALLY expunging misdemeanor EXPUNGING marijuana offenses from criminal MISDEMEANOR records on July 1. MARIJUANA Reparations to people of OFFENSES FROM CRIMINAL color and communities hurt by RECORDS ON disparate Cannabis enforcement JULY 1. would include a program giving those who have been harmed preference for licenses to get into the marijuana business as cultivators, wholesalers, processors and retailers. Virginia’s new Democratic majority already decriminalized Cannabis last year, making simple possession of up to an ounce punishable by a $25 civil fine.

percent THC would have been the potency limit for Cannabis flowers under a now-abandoned Colorado plan.

MAR. 2021

debilitating conditions are covered under Mississippi’s medical marijuana law.

EMERALD CUP ADDS INDOOR AND GOES ONLINE FOR 2021 BY TOM BOWERS

| For nearly two decades, the Emerald

Cup has been the go-to festival and competition for people from all over the world who want to immerse themselves in California sungrown Cannabis culture. Historically focused on flower and products from the Emerald Triangle, the Cup packs out increasingly larger venues year after year, drawing huge crowds, legendary cultivators and killer mainstage entertainment. FOR THE 2021 EVENT, founder Tim Blake, his daughter Taylor Blake, and their team were excited to try something new by moving the competition to Los Angeles, and expanding the contest categories to include indoor cultivators for the first time in the event’s history. But, as with everything in this post-COVID world, the Emerald Cup has had “I’M REALLY GOING TO MISS THE IN-PERSON to reinvent itself in order to fit the new temporary pandemic paradigm. “I’m EVENT THIS YEAR,” really going to miss the in-person event this year,” founder Tim Blake said FOUNDER TIM BLAKE over a Zoom call in February. “Crisis is an opportunity. We have a crisis, and SAID OVER A ZOOM now we have an opportunity.” Blake sees this as a chance to develop new CALL IN FEBRUARY. judging procedures and categories, while also welcoming a broader, more geographically widespread audience with an online format. In order to make the event work, the Emerald Cup has partnered with Social Club TV for a digital broadcast of the awards. The Cup still plans to continue its tradition of complementing the awards ceremony with killer entertainment on the livestream, featuring a to-be-announced lineup of comic and musical entertainers on board to liven up the proceedings. Judging, much of which has involved in-person analysis and deliberation in the past, has moved to Zoom for everything but the initial flower assessments and a final assessment, which will happen in-person in a safe, socially-distanced fashion in Petaluma. Nearly 100 judges will weigh in on more than 40 categories, before the Cup selects winners in each contest. Aside from the temporary changes to the format, Blake says the Cup is making a significant alteration to the way it handles flower categorization. This year, flower entries will be grouped by their primary terpenes, with the best in each class heading to the awards. This change, coupled with the fact that this is the first year in history that the Cup will entertain an indoor flower category, means everyone’s favorite consumer-facing California Cannabis competition is only getting more interesting in the wake of 2020. Stay tuned for more updates, as we’ll follow the Emerald Cup as the team works to put together a celebration of harvest for the fall, and preps for the real live and in-person Los Angeles debut in 2022. In the meantime, we’ll catch you online. THEEMERALDCUP.COM HEALTH & SCIENCE

NEW STUDY OFFERS EVIDENCE THAT LEGAL CANNABIS LEADS TO FEWER DEATHS FROM OPIOIDS

ounties with more Cannabis dispensaries saw fewer opioid-related deaths, according to a new study recently published by the University of California, Davis, reports The THE STUDY’S RESULTS Sacramento Bee. While study co-author Greta Hsu cautioned that correlation is not SUGGEST A POTENTIAL causality, she said the results suggest a potential relationship between greater prevalence of RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN dispensaries and fewer recorded opioid fatalities. “Given the alarming rise in the United States’ GREATER PREVALENCE OF fentanyl-based market and in deaths involving fentanyl and its analogs in recent years, the CANNABIS DISPENSARIES AND question of how legal Cannabis availability relates to opioid-related deaths can be regarded as FEWER RECORDED a particularly pressing one,” researchers said in a statement released by UC Davis. OPIOID FATALITIES.

percent of North Carolina voters favor medical Cannabis according to a new poll.

percent more Cannabis was bought by Americans in 2020 than in 2019.

$300m $831m dollars in annual revenue is the estimated amount that would be added to Virginia’s coffers if adultuse Cannabis were legalized.

dollars in revenue was reported by Oklahoma medical Cannabis dispensaries in their first year (2020).

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

EXCLUSIVE CULTIVARS FROM CALIFORNIA’S CANNABIS CAPITAL SEEDS: Feminized, Regular, Autoflower, Photoperiod THC & CBD CLONES: Strain license agreements available from our 2018-2020 Unprecedented 10k Plant Phenotype Mega-Hunts!

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LOCAL NEWS

NEW YORK GOV’S POT PLAN

UNDER FIRE s reported here last month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has again submitted a plan to tax and regulate marijuana in New York State. However, the recently released text of the governor’s proposal has some Cannabis advocates pushing back on a number of potential problems with the plan. While Cuomo has backed legalization in his budget proposal for the third straight year, the governor’s latest pot plan once again does not allow for home cultivation. Cuomo banned recreational home grows in his proposal last year and was criticized when it was revealed that an association of New Yorkbased Cannabis businesses asked him to outlaw personal cultivation. A month before Cuomo announced his official plan last year, the New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association gave the governor a policy memo outlining the group’s thoughts on legalization. The memo included a chapter called “The Fallacy of Home Grow,” which argues against allowing personal cultivation. While last year’s plan did allow for medicinal home grows, Cuomo’s current proposal makes any home cultivation illegal. Cuomo’s latest plan also does not address delivery services or Photo by Elsa Olofsson on-site consumption. The proposal earmarks $100 million in tax revenue for social equity grants over four years, an amount that critics believe is inadequate. Additionally, jurisdictions with populations of 100,000 or more can opt out of the Cannabis industry by banning pot businesses in their area.

Photo by Next Green Wave

But perhaps the biggest point of contention for advocates reviewing Cuomo’s legalization plan revolves around increased criminalization for underage sales. The governor’s proposal would increase the punishment for selling Cannabis to anyone under 21. Currently, selling marijuana to someone underage is a misdemeanor. Under Cuomo’s new plan, such a sale would be a class D felony, punishable by up to two and a half years in prison. Previous attempts to legalize in New York have fallen apart in the legislature over disagreements on how to spend potential tax revenue generated by Cannabis. But this year, lawmakers could be fighting over other aspects of legalization. Cuomo isn’t the only New York politician pushing a legal pot proposal, as state legislators, led by Sen. Liz Krueger, have filed their own pot initiative. And unlike the governor’s plan, the senators’ proposal addresses personal cultivation. The bill would allow adults 21 and older to buy Cannabis and grow up to six plants. Advocates are quick to point out that the Senate’s supermajority, which gives lawmakers the ability to override the governor’s veto, could help in negotiations over pot policy issues involving home cultivation, social equity and penalties for underage sales.

The New

Psychedelic Revolution leafmagazines.com

Photo by Nick Kane

MAR. 2021

ambridge, Massachusetts has decriminalized psychedelics and adopted a number of other drug-law reforms. On February 3, the City Council passed a decrim resolution that makes the possession or use of psychedelic drugs among the city’s lowest priorities. The measure also calls for the county district attorney to stop prosecuting people for the use or possession of any controlled substance. Cambridge is the second city in Massachusetts to decriminalize psychedelics after Somerville passed a similar resolution in January. So, is the modern day psychedelic revolution upon us? Kind of. A number of cities around the country have enacted psychedelic-law reform recently, including Oakland, Santa Cruz and Ann Arbor. But for the most part, decrim efforts have been limited to the city level. However, voters in Washington, D.C. passed a decriminalization ballot measure in November. And voter-approved initiatives to decriminalize all drugs and legalize psilocybin for therapeutic purposes passed in Oregon on Election Day. In addition to decriminalizing psychedelic drugs, the measure passed by the Cambridge City Council bars the city government from using revenue to “assist in the enforcement of laws imposing criminal penalties for the use and possession of entheogenic plants by adults.” Interestingly, it also requires any of the city’s staff working with the state or federal government to push for decrim of psychedelics at that level. The measure acknowledges that “criminalizing users” is “neither a just or effective legal approach.” It states in part, “Drug policy in the United States and the so-called ‘War on Drugs’ has historically led to unnecessary penalization, arrest, and incarceration of vulnerable people, particularly people of color and of limited financial means, instead of prioritizing harm-reduction policies that treat drug abuse as an issue of public health.”

DELIVERY LAWSUIT DROPPED

IN MASS group representing medical and adult-use dispensaries in Massachusetts has dropped its lawsuit against the state over a new delivery business license available only to social equity applicants. Massachusetts’ Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) approved the new type of delivery license that allows marijuana companies to store inventory in a warehouse and deliver their own products direct to consumers. The new license differs from the courier delivery license that was approved last year, which allows third-party companies to pick up pot products from dispensaries and deliver them to customers. The CCC introduced the new delivery license to increase the state’s social equity efforts, which had largely underwhelmed. Delivery businesses were chosen as they allow entry into the Cannabis industry without the prohibitive startup costs or long-term overhead associated with a retail storefront. And the new license would be available only to qualified social equity applicants for the first three years. While the state’s established Cannabis companies had no issue with the courier license – which simply allows a delivery company to pick up product from an existing Cannabis dispensary and deliver it to customers – the new delivery model angered dispensary owners, leading to a lawsuit. The Commonwealth Dispensary Association (CDA), representing most of the

Photo by Artem Podrez

state’s dispensary owners, sued the CCC over the new license. However, the suit was met with criticism from advocates and industry professionals who believe that Massachusetts has already under delivered on promises of equity programs that never materialized. Many felt a lawsuit aimed at undoing a promising social equity plan was regressive. Facing backlash, many of the group’s members, including New England Treatment Access, Garden Remedies and In Good Health, left the CDA over the suit. Soon after, the group dropped the lawsuit, stating it had “determined it is in the best interest of the industry and our members ... We all need to be working together on achieving our many shared objectives, including increasing the participation of a diverse set of entrepreneurs in the industry.”

Legalization Elusive For

NewHampshire H

opes of legalization in New Hampshire this year appear to have faded. Members of the House of Representatives, led by Rep. Rebecca McWilliams, filed a tax and regulate bill last month that would allow possession of up to an ounce of pot and home cultivation of up to six plants. Unfortunately, legislators on the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted to kill the bill before it got started. After hearing testimony from both sides, the committee members decided to retain the bill, meaning that legalization is off the table for the rest of the year and cannot be reconsidered by the committee until 2022. A separate bill to allow home cultivation was also retained by the committee. New Hampshire representatives have been down this road before. The House has introduced legislation to legalize marijuana every year since 2014, only to be shot down each time. Pro-pot legislation faces an uphill battle in New Hampshire, as both the State Senate and Gov. Chris Sununu oppose legalization. Nonetheless, McWilliams refuses to give up hope and urges lawmakers to work toward a legalization plan that “could potentially get to the two-thirds vote needed to override the governor’s veto.” However, New Hampshire is still a long ways away from the opportunity to face down a veto from the governor.

Photo by Kym MacKinnon

STORIES by MIKE GIANAKOS @MIKEGEEZEEY

SYSTEMIC D

LOCAL NEWS

>> Continued from pg. 11

FAILURE

espite voters overwhelmingly approving a constitutional amendment legalizing Cannabis last November, marijuana is still not legal in New Jersey. As we reported last month, state lawmakers and Gov. Phil Murphy are in a stalemate over New Jersey’s Cannabis legislation. Murphy has refused to sign the bills passed by lawmakers, which would decriminalize marijuana and establish the state’s legal framework, until penalties for underage Cannabis use are included. Last month, lawmakers drafted a “cleanup” bill that addressed the governor’s concerns, but the revised legislation fell apart before a vote could be held when several representatives who objected to adding the penalties, pulled their support. While some lawmakers felt content to leave the ball in Murphy’s court and let him either sign or veto the original bills, others are attempting to salvage the legislation with another “cleanup” bill. The latest includes escalating penalties for underage use, starting with a $50 fine for people 18-20 possessing pot, and written warnings for people under 18. The revised bill also includes penalties for selling pot to underage people, starting with a $250 fine and escalating up to a $1,000 fine for subsequent offenses. Buying Cannabis for someone under the age of 21 is punishable by a $500 fine or 30 days in jail. Of course, this being New Jersey, nothing can be easy. The revised bill must make it through committee and receive approval from the Senate and Assembly by February 18 to qualify for Murphy’s approval. As we go to press, the revised bill remains in committee. If it fails to pass the legislature by the 18th, the governor will have to either sign or veto the original bills. Meanwhile, more than 6,000 people have been arrested for minor marijuana possession in New Jersey since voters legalized pot in November. In the six-week stalemate between the governor and lawmakers, more than 2,000 people have been arrested for Cannabis. A single signature can end all of that – but there doesn’t appear to be any reason to count on that happening.

Photo by Chase Fade

IS READY FOR REC leafmagazines.com

Photo by Add Weed

hode Island lawmakers are serious about legalizing Cannabis in 2021. So serious in fact, that Senate Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey has said a legalization bill will be introduced to the legislature in February. McCaffrey said he wants to move on the bill now so representatives have more time to figure out the specifics of expungements and how to distribute revenue from sales. While Gov. Gina Raimondo is on record advocating for a state-run adultuse Cannabis system, this proposal is for a traditional program run by private industry. However, the bill does not allow for vertical integration, opting instead to keep each area, like cultivation and dispensaries, “independent of each other.” The bill will also include an opt-out provision for jurisdictions that want to ban marijuana businesses. McCaffrey said the bill will include the option to expunge past marijuana criminal records and also a strong social equity plan. However, the majority leader is not sure how exactly equity will work in Rhode Island yet. “We want to make sure that we take care of people who may not be able to have the resources to get a license, so we’re going to set up a process where anyone can get a license. And we’re going to look at different criteria for those who apply,” he said.

MAR. 2021

Photo by Richard T

ADVERTISING MARIJUANA

IN MAINE new bill proposed by a Maine legislator could help Cannabis businesses struggling with restrictive rules around advertising. Rep. Colleen Madigan is in the process of drafting legislation that would simplify the state’s advertising rules and create an appeals process for business owners accused of violating Maine’s marketing guidelines. As states continue to refine their adult-use Cannabis laws, less attention is paid to rules for advertising. In Maine, where recreational pot sales launched last October, marijuana businesses can’t use images of humans or animals on packaging or labels. They’re also prohibited from targeting anyone under 21, as the law states that businesses can’t use advertising “that is attractive to persons under 21 years of age … including images and items commonly marketed toward individuals under 21 years of age.” Madigan, however, believes the rules are too vague. “There needs to be a broader look at it so that it’s not as subjective … We don’t want just one person making that decision,” she explains. “We want there to be an appeal

Photo by Terre di Cannabis

process [so] a person doesn’t lose their business because of this.” The current test case in Maine is SeaWeed Co. of South Portland. In December 2020, SeaWeed was found to be in violation of the state’s advertising rules because the company uses a mermaid in its logo. Maine’s Office of Marijuana Policy considers a mermaid to be both a human and an animal. OMP’s compliance director Vernon Malloch wrote that it “is generally known that mermaids are featured in a number of stories, movies, toys, costumes and other popular culture items and marketing aimed at young children and teenagers, and so images of mermaids have inherent and particular appeal to individuals under 21 years of age.” The state fined SeaWeed $10,000 and ordered the company to stop using the mermaid in its logo. SeaWeed, which was one of the first licensed adultuse shops in Maine, believes the rules are “open to interpretation.” Under Madigan’s proposal, an appeals process would allow the company to argue its case before a panel and fight to keep its logo.

ENDING POT TESTS FOR EMPLOYMENT E

Photo by Girl With Red Hat

mployers in Maine are changing with the times as many have done away with testing potential hires for Cannabis or rejecting applicants for testing positive for pot. With the state’s adult-use marijuana law fully implemented, more companies are doing away with preemptively screening for THC and instead are focusing on preventing employees from showing up to work while high. There is no law on the books in Maine protecting recreational marijuana users seeking employment. But many companies, including Bath Iron Works, which plans on hiring 2,700 workers this year, just don’t see the wisdom in excluding qualified candidates for using a legal substance. While BIW does currently screen applicants for opiates, barbiturates, cocaine and cannabinoids, the company policy states that testing positive for marijuana “will not be the basis for denial of a position.” MaineHealth, which employs approximately 22,000 people, stopped screening applicants for cannabinoids Photo by Gras Grün entirely in November 2019 “in light of evolving state law.” Naturally some positions – particularly safety-sensitive jobs involving driving or operating machinery, or positions requiring security clearances or the use of a firearm – still require pre-employment Cannabis screening. However, employers in Maine largely appear to be accepting the reality of legal marijuana.

STORIES by MIKE GIANAKOS @MIKEGEEZEEY

highly likely

EDROSENTHAL “I’M JUST A WRITER WHO LIKES TO GIVE ADVICE TO GARDENERS. I REALLY WISH THIS DIDN’T HAVE TO BE A LEGAL CRUSADE.”

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- Ed Rosenthal

URU OF GANJA ED ROSENTHAL has been making Cannabis cultivation secrets known to the general public for over 40 years. He has also been a staunch supporter of legalization throughout his career and saw the fruits of his labor realized in the middle of the last decade. Rosenthal was born and raised in the Bronx, developing his lifelong interest in plants throughout childhood. A smart and crafty individual, he worked as a Wall Street stock broker in the ‘60s after college, but soon grew dissatisfied with that work. An interest in marijuana beckoned - and as Rosenthal told the SF Gate in 2007, “If you were interested in plants and you grew up during hippie times, you sort of just gravitated to learning more about marijuana.”

It was around this time that Rosenthal helped to found NORML (the National Organization for Reformation of Marijuana Laws). In 1972 he moved to California, eventually landing in Oakland. In the mid70s Rosenthal worked with his partner/ collaborator Mel Frank (last month’s Highly Likely subject) on what would have been considered a large-scale grow by the standards of our time. Along with Frank, Rosenthal was one of the founders of High Times - where he wrote many columns, including the famous “Ask Ed” column which helped to answer questions from readers around the world about Cannabis. While all of this was happening, Rosenthal also found the time to author many books that have become staples of Cannabis growing culture. His “Marijuna Grower’s Handbook” is a tried-and-true staple of home growers around the world. But he hasn’t only written about growing - you can find books he has authored about Cannabis culture, Cannabis as medicine, and editorials like the famous “Why Marijuana Should Be Legal.” Yes, Rosenthal’s love for the plant goes well beyond horticulture, as he’s been an outspoken activist for the legalization of the plant even before it was in vogue to do so. He has always had a sort of legal bend to his career, seeing the laws regulating Cannabis as important social issues. And the law has affected him personally more than once, notably in 1999 when he was appointed ‘Officer of the City of Oakland,’ directed to cultivate Cannabis for patients. Some three years later, the federal government shut down his city-supported facility. Rosenthal was arrested and put on trial twice for marijuana cultivation in federal court. These highly publicized trials shifted public opinion in favor of state medical marijuana laws - and eventually helped to pave the way for the state legalization we enjoy today. For that and many other things, those of us who enjoy and rely upon Cannabis owe Ed Rosenthal a debt of gratitude.

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 .

MAR. 2021

STORY by PACER STACKTRAIN for LEAF NATION | PHOTO by DABSEL ADAMS/CC

INTERVIEW

WH O ’ S YOU R FAVO R I T E B U D T E N D E R ? T E L L U S W H Y ! E M A I L N O M I N AT IO N S TO DA N @ L E A F M AG A Z I N E S . CO M

JOSEPH YOUNG NORTHEAST LEAF BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH

WHAT LED YOU TO YOUR LOVE OF CANNABIS?

Back in 2004, I was diagnosed with Leukemia. I was having a hard time with traditional pain and nausea medicine. Cannabis gave me the quality of life I was looking for. After I started treatment things went downhill fast, and my liver and kidneys were starting to fail. All I did was sleep and live in pain. One day, I decided I didn’t wanna take the pain meds anymore. I knew a friend who grew Cannabis for his dad that had cancer, and he told me I should try it and the rest is history. My liver and kidneys went back to normal and I felt healthier too. I would smoke before and after treatment. To this day, I’m a medical Cannabis patient and still find relief from various ailments.

WHEN YOU’RE HELPING A CUSTOMER, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS YOU ASK IN ORDER TO HELP THEM DETERMINE WHAT PRODUCT THEY NEED/WANT? I like to start by finding out what they

are suffering from. Trouble with sleep? Chronic pain? Lack of energy? With that information I am able to recommend medicine I believe can help them.

WHAT IS CURRENTLY YOUR FAVORITE STRAIN AND WHY? My favorite strain is always the last thing I

smoked! Honestly though, I’d have to say Scooby Snacks has been the most consistent strain for me – I enjoy the balanced effect it provides.

IS THERE A “MOST POPULAR” CULTIVATOR OR PRODUCT AT SUMMIT? There are so many good

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cultivators in the state – too many to name. One product that stands out and sells out is our own GG4. Hank’s Herbs Fuzzy Melon is also really popular when it’s on the menu.

HAS THE MARKET CHANGED POST-COVID? Yes! In the beginning we faced challenges, but after implementing proper safety measures and features like online ordering, we’ve become busier than ever.

“SCOOBY SNACKS HAS BEEN THE MOST CONSISTENT STRAIN FOR ME – I ENJOY THE BALANCED EFFECT IT PROVIDES.”

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO USE CANNABIS? I really got into concentrates when Mammoth Inc. started making rosin. I like the fact a very little goes a long way. I enjoy the effects as well as the terpene flavor profiles. DO YOU FEEL AS A BUDTENDER THAT YOU ARE IMPACTING THE CANNABIS COMMUNITY?

Everyday I get to meet someone new to Cannabis, and it feels good. When they come and tell me that the product is helping them, I feel accomplished. I’ve seen first-hand what this medicine can do. I plan on being in the Cannabis industry for a long time because this is my calling!

DJ Mighty Joe Young (@dj_mighty_joe) is a Cannabis activist, Leukemia survivor and beloved budtender at Summit Medical Compassion Center in Warwick, R.I. We caught up with him to chat about how the industry has changed the last year, and what impact a budtender can have on a patient.

SUMMIT MEDICAL COMPASSION CENTER IS TAKING ONLINE ORDERS – CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT HOW THE ORDERS ARE PLACED?

If you are an existing patient with us, all you have to do is register on our website. Once registered, you’ll be able to place your order online. We will pull the order and have it ready for you. The customer will receive a text to come pick it up – all you have to do is come in, pay and walk out the door with your meds. We also started doing curbside pick-up for patients with compromised immune systems or physical limitations, as well as anyone over 65.

SUMMIT MEDICAL COMPASSION CENTER 380 JEFFERSON BLVD, WARWICK, RI | (401) 889-3990 | SMCCRI.ORG | @SUMMITMCCRI

MAR. 2021

INTERVIEW & PHOTO by BAILEY JONSON @BADMSBAILEY for NORTHEAST LEAF

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women in weed

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MEG SANDERS CEO | CANNA PROVISIONS GROUP

MAR. 2021

POWER FROM THE PEOPLE Industry icon and female Cannabis executive powerhouse, Canna Provisions Group CEO Meg Sanders has the magic recipe for success. Hint: It’s not money. It was early spring 2010 in Colorado. Cold, snowy and typical of mountain desert conditions just after the Winter Solstice, Meg Sanders had just begun working with the attorney that represented a grow and dispensary group forming a new entity and Cannabis business. It would go on to become MindFUL, where Sanders would rise in time to become CEO. But at the time of that spring day, Sanders hadn’t even stepped foot into a dispensary or grow yet. “I remember at some point the attorney and I had a meeting in the grow. There were a lot of implications working in Cannabis at that time, even medical Cannabis, but it didn’t truly hit me how risky what we were doing was until we walked into our grow – and I use air quotes for ‘grow,’” she says with a laugh. “We walked into a very dimly lit, rundown warehouse. I remember this horrible carpet and old couches with a coffee table littered with dirty bongs on it, and thinking how very different this world was compared to me just working as a married mom with young kids, living in Boulder, Colorado. Very different.” And thus a career was born. Sanders, now CEO of Canna Provisions with stores throughout the Pioneer Valley and the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts, couldn’t match her mental picture of what a licensed corporate Cannabis cultivation was, and what she was looking at. She says she realized she was about to get a full tilt education on the culture, the industry, and where her future may reside. “That wasn’t what I was imagining in a corporate cultivation that was legal. I don’t even think that was really ‘corporate’ at that time, just basement growers doing what they’ve been doing with closet/ basement or legacy market grows. It was a different culture that I was never exposed to. That’s really where I realized a greater scope of the opportunity with legal Cannabis back then. Back then, the braver you were, the luckier you got. And that’s what we did.” If you’re sensing a touch of pride that only comes to those who have the scars to match the effort, it’s not just you. It’s what happens when you have worked with, consulted for, started or raised capital for well over 30 dispensaries and in five different states as Sanders has. And after launching and partnering with hundreds of different brands – from her initial work on the ground for legal Cannabis in Colorado, to her continued businesses and work in Illinois, or right in her current home of Massachusetts – hundreds of brands have equally benefited from the Meg Sanders touch. Observe the dossier: From Willie’s Reserve (they were the first group in Colorado to partner and sell them) to Cheeba Chews (they’ve been carrying them at their stores since they came into existence), to other notable brands still around today like Mindy’s Gummies, Incredibles and 1906, solid partners in previous markets have become the same for Sanders and her Canna Provisions crew in Massachusetts.

“That’s the benefit of experience and what time one should hire people smarter and more talented in the industry provides – lasting relationships than themselves. My partner, Erik, always says, ‘Be that we’ve formed over the years,” says Sanders. hiring your replacement.’ I think that’s a strong “Ultimately Cannabis is a very small world. Tiny. In strategy for building a business. The byproduct is Massachusetts alone we’ve worked with multiple financial success, with a goal of building a good different dispensary groups, and we’re still friends and thoughtful company underneath it. So that’s and partners – constantly talking together and really where we started with Canna Provisions, and working to solve problems together.” where we are … really looking at this with a holistic A Cannabis company working with a spirit of eye and treating the business as a living, breathing community and unison, versus entity. That is the approach Erik greed and detached empathy? and I support. If we were botSome may call that simple thinktom-line bosses, we would make ing. Others say it’s too difficult very different decisions.” once you’re in the game. Sanders says Canna Provisions Meg calls it “the magic.” is aiming to set a standard of let“Companies have become ting customers and clients know the new family,” she says. “As they are engaging with a comAmericans are all over the place, pany with a commitment to the especially in a pandemic, you legacy of Cannabis culture and spend time with your workmates righting the wrongs of the drug more than your own family. So war, while also fighting overultimately, don’t we want to make regulation of this industry. It is a that as holistic and nurturing of noble undertaking – it’s also one “That’s the benefit of an environment as possible, so that ultimately requires spending experience and what time money to do, but is also the right the outcome is a better human? Top line revenue is important thing to do. in the industry provides of course, and my role as CEO “Maybe we’ll be the bea– lasting relationships is to make money to build and con that lights a way for other that we’ve formed over manage a good business. Being companies to follow suit,” she profitable is a byproduct of that, says, noting that human beings the years.” and there shouldn’t be shame in America today have differattached to that. Weed is weed, but humans are ent ideas of work. “They want a fulfilling life, and special. And that’s the magic.” whether they are in their 20s or in their 70s (both In her previous life, Sanders was a Director of age groups are employed at Canna Provisions), Compliance at a small family office in Boulder. people want to work at a company that means Hers was a financial office trading money for more something when they put on their badge and walk money. That’s all they did, and that was the goal. through the door.” “Working in a purely money-focused office en“That’s what we’re creating, and it’s a journey,” vironment was just gross. We didn’t do anything to she says. “My calling is to inspire people to be bethelp people, it was just to make more money and ter people, and by leading a company that focuses the top received the lion’s share of the benefits,” on people first, I’m hopefully inspiring other leaders she says with an acrid tone. “I realized it wasn’t for to do the same. The magic is the humans, and me. If your only goal is to make money, and you while our high standards for customer service and leave out the taking care of people part, that is a accountability are not for everyone, our people are dark and shallow goal to strive for in life.” the asset and the investment.” Working with her first partner in Colorado, That’s a huge shift in business philosophy, and Sanders says, reinforced how important it was to it’s one that’s happened only relatively recently. take care of people, but also to be as thoughtful Sanders acknowledges that point, but also menas possible while being a responsible shepherd of tions that is the point. Sanders recalls looking that business. And ultimately, be what Meg calls across the room some years back at one of the first “a shepherd of human beings, helping them to be large MJBiz conferences in Las Vegas, and knowbetter and rise to the occasion of what you’re trying ing if she called any of them at 2:00 a.m., they’d to build.” answer. These weren’t small players, but major Which isn’t to say the road ahead becomes executives and founders in legal Cannabis. straight and easy to follow. Sometimes it involves It hit her like a ton of bricks, she pivots and twists and turns, and often it can even says, realizing it is about the people. Canna Provisions Group involve reassessing where one is at in a particular Cannabis, as an industry, is just Berkshires Location stage of a company’s lifespan. the moving sidewalk carrying people 200 Housatonic St., Lee, MA “I expect a time where Canna Provisions will along – but it’s the people, and a CannaProvisionsGroup.com outgrow me, which is fine – that’s the strategy,” she corporate climate of people-focused @cannaprovisionsgroup says. “If Canna Provisions turns into some giant business leadership, that continues to Pioneer Valley Location MSO, I don’t want to be the leader of that shop keep Sanders and her crew at the top 380 Dwight St. Holyoke, MA and am not the one to do it.” of the Mass Grass heap. “I’m an operator, not a finance person,” Sanders “I see payroll as an asset,” she says CannaProvisionsGroup.com @cannaprovisionsholyoke says matter-of-factly. “Ultimately, what has inspired defiantly. “When investors or other me this whole time – how do we do this thoughtfulbusiness owners hear me say that and ly, ensuring we provide good opportunities for upask, ‘Really?’ It’s like, of course it is! Do you know ward mobility for employees. I’m of the opinion that the caliber of people we hire here? Fucking A!”

STORY & MAIN PHOTO by DAN MCCARTHY @ACUTALPROOF | ADDITIONAL ART by CANNA PROVISIONS

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Performing at Electric Forest Festival

HONEYCOMB Gable Johnson a.k.a “Honeycomb” astounded me at a music festival 10 years ago. Walking up and introducing himself with a dab rig and torch in hand, he proceeded to bust out with the craziest noises and sounds I’ve heard in quite some time. Bringing me back to my days of listening to KRS-1 and Rahzel, Honeycomb had some serious talent. Little did I know, this hippie with humble roots would become one of the most recognizable faces and voices in New England hip hop. MAR. 2021

Of all things, beatboxing is your calling. What has it been like for you to travel down this road? As a musician do you play any other instruments? I’ve been beatboxing about 18 years (I’m 28 now) and never did I think this would be my career when I first started out. If I could tell my younger self that later in life you’d be performing beatbox for thousands of people on stage, I wouldn’t believe it. And before we get into anything, I want to shout-out one of my best friends, Christian Pelletier, for being the first person to show me beatbox on the bus in fourth grade and giving me that drive as a young kid to be better than your best friend at everything. Love you brother! The first time I performed on stage was in 2012 at a music festival in Stephentown, NY called Bellaterra. One of the sound guys overheard me beatboxing backstage with this electronic act called Dirtyphonics, and asked me if I wanted to beatbox in between Liquid Stranger and DJ Dara. I accepted, and that was the beginning of my beatboxing career! Flash forward to now, and it’s been a crazy, amazing and unforgettable ride! I’ve done three direct support national tour runs, played so many festivals and shows, and I’m so grateful for all the places and people that I’ve met through beatboxing and music. The Honeycomb project was originally a multi-instrument project with a guitar, bass and a few synths. I would loop my beatbox and then play the instruments over it. People weren’t vibing as much with that, so I decided that I would just push the solo beatboxing act until I could get more comfortable with the other instruments. Now I’m happy to say I’m back using all of those instruments and implementing even more things into my live act!

NEW ENGLAND

Have Cannabis and concentrates always been a muse for you and your musical ambitions? What is your definition of true Cannabis freedom? It’s always been a part of my order of operations when I’m doing anything, but especially for the creative process! It’s like wake up, take a dab, eat food, take a dab, make music, take a dab – and repeat until dabbing myself to sleep, or not, because whenever it’s late is when I get more creative. I feel like I’m able to let go more musically when I’m medicated and things flow more freely, which is great for me when I’m performing, because everyone is on-the-fly. There’s nothing like ripping a huge dab and then flowing with some beatboxing without knowing what you’re going to make – it’s an incredible experience. My definition of “true Cannabis freedom” would be when you can just medicate wherever and not have to worry about getting in trouble for doing something that’s part of your existence. It sucks to travel on tour when you’re going through certain states and you have to either ditch your stuff or drive with paranoia until you get to a legal state. I feel like we’re going in the right direction, but it’s gonna take time to get there. Until then, I’m grateful to live in a legal state where I am free to medicate! How did it feel to win Boston Music Awards Dance/Electronic Artist of the Year in 2020? It feels amazing! It’s like a reminder that you’re on the right track. To win “Best Dance/Electronic Artist” as someone who makes noises with their mouth feels pretty weird, but I’ve never won anything in my life – except for maybe $100 on a scratch-off – so adding some sort of validity to the path you’ve chosen is dope! I feel like this is a big step for beatboxers because, as I said before, I felt like I’ve been in a constant battle to prove that a beatboxer can do the same thing as a DJ or band. What’s it like to be a performer and have a 4/20 birthday? I feel like it’s ‘the best day EVERRRRRR!’ (remember that SpongeBob song) and the day was made for me! My mom is such a huge stoner, so I feel like it only makes sense that I was born on that day. My mom loves dabs and she can smoke me under the table any day, and I say that with confidence. I can remember when I found out growing up what 4:20 meant, and knowing that it was ‘stoner day’ made it such a special day to celebrate Cannabis and get medicated with my mom and my friends all day. Every year I stay up until 4:20 a.m. on my birthday to rip what was a bong, that later turned into a dab, and then I wake up before the next 4:20 p.m. to repeat the process! I feel like it is my duty as a 4:20 baby to carry on the tradition. What are your plans for 2021? Can you hint on any upcoming projects or collaborations? My plan for 2021 is to continue to develop my live show and stream to its fullest potential. I’m working really hard right now getting my setup roadready, so when the time comes, I can just pack it up and go! I’m so excited to finally be able to put together a show for myself and I can’t wait to show everyone! I’m working on releasing another beatbox album – I’m unsure the direction I wanna take with it, but it’s going to be another play-through style like my first album “What’s Inside My Head.” With the new setup, I’m looking forward to releasing songs I’ve created from my live streams and then eventually put together a whole looping album. I’m not going to spoil too many collaborations because I like to keep those a surprise, but I might have given into my guilty pleasure and made a few trap rap songs over this quarantine that I wanna release, but we’ll see. I can assure you though that I’ll be releasing some tracks with my cousin Entellekt, and my brother Tonio Sagan and I will probably do another EP called “SOME ‘MORE’ LO-FI BEATS” – which would be the second installment of that series that we are doing!

“Cannabis has always been a part of my order of operations when I’m doing anything, but especially for the creative process!”

You can find me on Twitch in THE HONEYCOMB HIDEOUT every SUNDAY at 4:20 p.m. EST! The show is called “4:20 SUNDAY SESSIONS” and we’re gearing up for our second season. The show is an Eric Andre-esque-randompodcast-music-show-thing, I don’t really know how to describe it, but it’s a lot of fun! Every weekend I have a different special guest, who either contributes a live or pre-recorded set, in addition to giving me some of their time for an interview and to make songs up on the spot with them. The entire show from beginning to end is unscripted and all the music I make up is from that moment, unless I play something I made from a different stream. We hit all types of genres as well – one moment we’ll be in some liquid DnB, then we’re into some deathcore riffs, and we end up throwing some wubs down with some dubstep – you never know what you’re gonna get! Streaming has been my life ever since shows stopped happening, so I’m HONEYCOMB grateful for anyone who stops by! HONEYCOMBEATBOX.COM @HONEYCOMB

STORY by BOBBY NUGGZ @BOBBYNUGGZ_OFFICIAL for NORTHEAST LEAF | PHOTOS by TREEVALDS PRODUCTIONS @TREEVALDS & ALIVE COVERAGE @ALIVECOVERAGE

GROW BUD YOURSELF IS YOUR SOURCE FOR CULTIVATION INFO, INTERVIEWS, NEWS, ACTIVISM AND REVIEWS!

Grow Bud Yourself podcast is available on all streaming platforms and where ever you get your podcasts! Send your questions to info@growbudyourself.com Danny Danko teaches you everything you need to know to get growing now!

Featuring some of the most important people in the cannabis industry

Jorge Cervantes, Kyle Kushman, Tommy Chong, Aaron from DNA Genetics, Jenn Doe, Milo from Big Buddha Seeds, Swerve from The Cali Connection, Ed Rosenthal, Chemdog, Adam Dunn

Past guests include

and many more!

Growing your own marijuana can be both a liberating and political act. Former HIGH TIMES Magazine Senior Cultivation Editor and author of the book “Cannabis: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Marijuana” Dan Vinkovetsky (Formerly known as Danny Danko) and co-host former HT Editor-in-Chief Mike Gianakos provide news, activism reports and cannabis cultivation tips for connoisseurs, aficionados and medical patients alike. Bonus: Interviews with expert growers and professional seed breeders, ‘Strain of the Fortnight’ and ganja growing questions & answers.

Follow along! @dannydankoht @mikecheckg @growbudyourself

Are you

Interested in fighting against the racist legacy of cannabis prohibition? Interested in helping to create an equitable marketplace for those seeking to run cannabis operations? Looking for a way to meet new people interested in cannabis activism? Self-motivated and willing to work as a volunteer within a fast paced and consensus driven environment? For $30 per year, members receive * A MassCann T-Shirt * Membership and voting rights within the organization * The ability to participate in MassCann Committee Meetings * Volunteer opportunities through the calendar year (both digital and in-person, if allowed) * Participation in steering groups to help prepare for and run the annual Boston Freedom Rally * Access to educational programming related to the cannabis plant and cannabis reform (lawmaking and regulations)

JOIN THE ORIGINAL GRASSROOTS CANNABIS ACTIVIST ORGANIZATION IN MASSACHUSETTS, 31 YEARS ON THE GROUND AND STILL GROWING TOGETHER!

Join MassCann today at MassCann.org

STRAIN OF THE MONTH

NORTHEAST

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GARLIC MINTS MAR. 2021

grown by

NOVA FARMS

A SYMPHONY OF SAVORY TERPS ON YOUR PALATE.

Garlic Mints took us to a special place. Let’s just say, if you see a strain on your local dispensary menu that has a reference to garlic, that’s a good sign it is some really dank weed. Taking the 10 minute trip to North Attleboro, Mass., I had time to wait in a short line outside Nova Farms to grab myself some nuggets for my head. Greeted by a very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful staff, I was able to find a digital menu to scroll and ultimately chose the Garlic Mints. With great packaging, Nova Farms certainly knows how to brand. Their jars are blacked out, with a stickered testing label stuck to the side and a beautiful mandala symbol. Right as you pinch the bottle cap, aromas of skunky gas pour out. This cultivar’s scent profile leans more toward the diesel-y, burnt rubber spectrum of gas, with hints of woody spice. This cross of G.M.O. and Animal Mints brings a very cerebral head stone, providing a heady high with a nice fuzzy sensation, followed by intense cottonmouth. Each exhale packs huge flavor, akin to roadkill skunk and diesel fuel. It’s a symphony of savory terps on your palate. As expected from an indica-dominant variety, I was floored by relaxation, comforting effects and a soothing, calming high. I caught myself zoning out a couple of times, focusing deeply on whatever I was thinking about. Followed up with a wave of the munchies, I really enjoyed my first experience with Garlic Mints smoke-ability. In Latin, Nova means “newly visible star,” and Massachusetts certainly has a shining new star among the dispensary community doing big things. Nova Farms was a really cool place to visit – I felt at home there and wanted to stay and hang out. They have a great selection of genetics on the menu, with a lineup of prerolls and other amenities, plus every accessory you need to consume properly.

25.8% THC / 1.56% CBGA / .079% CBD NOVA FARMS 34 EXTENSION ST, ATTLEBORO, MA (833) 420-6682 / NOVAFARMS.COM / @NOVAFARMS

REVIEW & PHOTO by BOBBY NUGGZ @BOBBYNUGGZ_OFFICIAL for NORTHEAST LEAF

the PSYCHEDELIA issue

HAVE A SEAT AND STEP INTO * THE *

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In 2010, my inspiration for publishing a Cannabis magazine was the esoteric nature of a hidden medicine that had the power to heal and change the world, and it is that same drive that has led the Leaf to publishing this second annual special issue. What more noble a cause is there than freeing the truth? Especially when it brings healing for our minds, consciousness and spirits – which have been completely ignored by Western medicine for the last 50 years. In 2010, I asked a simple question that the Founding Fathers of our great country would have resonated with: If a law governing a plant is unjust, should I be willing to break it? My answer was yes – to bring freedom and knowledge to people suffering, and most of all, to provide hope that a plant could deliver revolutionary medicine that a laboratory-made pill could not. Just as Cannabis’ path to legalization came from decriminalization and activism, so is the march towards the legalization of psychedelics via entheogenic plants and synthesized therapeutics like Ketamine and LSD. The field of psychedelic research is exploding as laws loosen, allowing scientists, therapists and psychonauts alike to explore how these substances can provide huge medicinal benefits – including alleviating depression and PTSD, helping confront death in end-of-life therapy, and even regrowing neural pathways that can help unlock the true potential of human consciousness and the brain’s ability to heal.

MAR. 2021

PSYCHE*DELIA *

ISSUE * *

So, here I am in 2021 asking the same question I asked in 2009 as I was being arrested for Cannabis. Should we criminalize nature? Should we deny substances that heal, both clinically and in personal use? I believe the answer is a resounding, NO! The time is now to explore, learn and heal our species as we grapple with the realities of a digital society on a warming planet, spinning at 1,000 miles per hour in a huge cosmic expanse. As we continue to progress this movement, knowledge and empathy will be our most powerful tools in undoing the Drug War and the misconceptions of anti-drug propaganda. Showing the lives that are helped through education will lead to enlightenment, at which point our society will be unable to ethically condone criminalizing any type of drug use, especially when it is beneficial and brought to us by Mother Earth. I hope that you enjoy this Issue, and learn and share the knowledge you find with those you love – for it’s only by circulating seeds of knowledge that we grow into better people, communities, and together as a species.

Story by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX | Illustrations by MR. MELTY @MR.MELTY for LEAF NATION

Story by MAX EARLY @LIFTED_STARDUST

COMMON PSYCHEDELICS cannabis Cannabis Sativa is a plant that contains the psychoactive compound of THC, as well as 500 other compounds, including 113 cannabinoids. Effects are traditionally euphoric, mood-enhancing, and known to reduce pain and nausea. It is the combination of these various chemical compositions that produce different reactions in humans consuming Cannabis. When consumed in higher doses, Cannabis is known to have psychoactive effects. Where is it produced? Indoor, outdoor and greenhouses Common amounts consumed: 1g joint 25mg edible serving 10mg of concentrate/maximum .1g Therapeutic usages: Anxiety reduction, mood elevation, depression, chronic pain, neurological conditions

LSD LSD is an indispensably powerful synthesized psychoactive compound. When consuming even the smallest amount, the effect on humans distorts all sensory perceptions. Visual and auditory hallucinations are known to provide sights of fractals, visualized sounds and changing colors. Where is it produced? Synthesized in laboratories. Common amounts consumed: Micro-dose = 1 ug (1/100 tab) Therapeutically = 100 ug (1 tab) Therapeutic usages: PTSD, repressed psychological trauma, anxiety, depression, psychosomatic diseases, addiction

psilocybin Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychoactive compound found in many different species of mushrooms. Many patients have noted that psilocybin has helped to provide a deeper connection with the self and inner peace in therapeutic settings. Reports have shown that many patients of therapeutic psilocybin experience visions of patterns or faces that may appear warped. Where is it produced? Naturally occurring and grown in laboratories. Common amounts consumed: Micro-dose = .1-.25g Therapeutically = 2g Therapeutic usages: Depression, anxiety, addiction, OCD, end of life therapy

Ayahuasca Ayahuasca is a psychoactive plant-based brew or tea, containing MAOI and dimethyltryptamine. In recent decades, researchers have been discovering usages of

ayahuasca for treating substance abuse and other disorders. This mind-altering psychedelic helps individuals deal with past traumatic events, providing a sense of clarity. Typical dosages are still unknown, as this substance remains illegal within the U.S. Where is it produced? In South America by tribes. Dimethyltryptamine is extracted from Mimosa tree bark and other plants. Common amounts consumed: Unknown

Therapeutic usages: Aids with overall psychological wellbeing and substance dependence.

TURN ON, TUNE IN, VIBE OUT EXPLORING PSYCHEDELIC MEDIA... Thinking about prying open your third eye by experimenting with some psychedelics? Or perhaps you just want to be better educated about entheogens? Whatever your trip, here are a few mind-expanding media recommendations to help get you in the right headspace for your journey toward enlightenment.

Fantastic Fungi

(2019)

fantasticfungi.com

Filmed in glorious 4K by the filmmakers behind “Moving Art,” “Fantastic Fungi” seamlessly switches between mind-blowing time lapses, stunning CGI graphics, and in-depth interviews with mycological mavens like Paul Stamets, Michael Pollen and Dr. Andrew Weil. This comprehensive documentary explores every aspect of mushrooms and their unique role in the cycle and evolution of life, including how their underground mycelium networks enable trees to communicate, how their psychedelic properties may have kickstarted human consciousness, and how their enormous medicinal and psychiatric potential is finally being studied after decades of demonization via the Drug War. A must-see for mycophiles. –Bobby Black

Entangled Life / Merlin Sheldrake

(2020)

merlinsheldrake.com/entangled-life

Written by tropical biologist and fungal researcher Merlin Sheldrake, “Entangled Life” is an incredible book dedicated to providing a further understanding of mycology and how fungal networks operate. For those of you yearning to learn more about mushrooms, their unique relationship with the environment around us and how they could potentially help save the world, this book is for you. Pick up a copy today and grow your knowledge on mycelium, microbiology and much more! –Max Early

Lonerism / Tame Impala (2012) official.tameimpala.com

If the Beatles were to make Sgt. Pepper today, this is what it would sound like. With Lennon-esque vocals and fuzzy riffs pounding along with sweeping synth star sails, your musical soulmate awaits through the mind of Perth, Australia’s Kevin Parker. Released in 2012, this is no new news for longtime fans who’ve seen the band headline festivals worldwide, but nothing has rivaled the impact on guitar-driven music since. The psychedelic highlight is Endors Toi, where the anxious mind is reassured that the safety of dreamland is only one long blink away. Yes, this was their commercial breakthrough, but for good reason: The ‘60s splendor matched with third eye imagination leaves something hidden in every note for the intrepid tripper. – Mike Ricker

the PSYCHEDELIA issue LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

ommonly associated as an intoxicant or a depressant, Cannabis has a long history of being wrongly allied with laziness, procrastination and “burning you out.” More importantly, many have disregarded the fact that this sacred herb is much closer to being an entheogen and a psychedelic more than anything else. In our March Psychedelia Issue, we seek to expand your minds to the use of Cannabis as a tool to help with mood balance, increased creativity levels, and show you how to utilize the plant as a perspective-changing medium. Like other plant-based psychedelics, Cannabis is an excellent way to help us view the world through a different lens, giving us an appreciation for all of the little pieces that influence our scope of life. Smoking a bowl can help you smell and view the flowers in an entirely new way than you have ever encountered them before, or maybe make your favorite meal taste that much better. Both Cannabis and psychedelics can help us identify new instrumentals on a track that we’ve heard a million times, or provide a deeper connection to the lyrics in a song. Unlike inhaling Cannabis, when you orally ingest it, your body breaks it down in an entirely different way, creating a longer duration of effects. Once you have eaten an edible, the Delta-9-THC enters the liver and undergoes first-pass metabolism. This process removes some Delta-9-THC and metabolizes a huge percentage into 11-Hydroxy-THC. Once this has happened, the remaining Delta-9-THC and 11-Hydroxy-THC flood our bloodstream and penetrate vascular tissues like the brain and other muscles. Due to the increased 11-Hydroxy-THC, the effects are far more profound than any other way of consuming Cannabis, providing a more psychedelic experience overall. We are all familiar with the look on a baby’s face seeing something or experiencing a new sense for the first time. Plant-based entheogens like Cannabis and psilocybin can inspire that feeling of being a kid again – helping us further take in our surroundings, seeing them in a new way, and appreciating them for everything they have to offer in more depth. It is easy to go throughout life and not take a second to slow down to appreciate all that our short experience here has to offer. Plant-based medicines are a way to realize the beauty within every day, and feel the interconnectedness with Mother Nature and our fellow human beings.

Like other plant-based psychedelics, Cannabis is an excellent way to help us view the world through a different lens. MAR. 2021

CANNABIS IS A REAL PSYCHEDELIC

STORY by MAX EARLY @LIFTED_STARDUST/LEAF NATION | ILLUSTRATION by MR. MELTY @MR.MELTY

A JOURNEY OF MICRODOSING MUSHROOMS

CHASING SUNSHINE

am beyond grateful for having discovered the healing power of earth derived medicines at a young age. It’s entirely possible I wouldn’t be here today if the universe had led me in a different direction.

Growing up in California’s Bay Area in the ‘90s, Cannabis was available in abundance and if you knew where to look or who to ask, other substances weren’t hard to obtain either. I first tried Cannabis around 16 and instantly recognized its ability to make me feel more comfortable in my pubescent and rapidly changing skin. Like many during this challenging period of life, I struggled with a feeling of extreme discomfort living in my own body, which manifested itself as depression. At that age, I wanted to be a professional skateboarder and was pushing myself to my limits on the regular, sustaining frequent injuries as a result. I realized that I would heal much faster when I used Cannabis as part of my recovery regimen, and I became a believer in the plant’s healing ways – knowing deep down that what I had been led to believe about Cannabis was false. I had only ever taken a very small amount of mushrooms a couple of times while partying as a teenager – very much for recreational use – before meeting a now ex-girlfriend at the age of 21 who opened my eyes to the power of the fungus. After splitting three-and-a-half grams made into tea, I felt “better” in a way that is hard to describe – like taking a weight vest off that you had forgotten you had on. I knew somewhere deep within me this was medicine and another substance I had been misled to believe wasn’t good for me. We would brew tea a couple times a year, always using between two and five grams of Cubensis mushrooms. Because we were taking larger doses, these experiences were certainly what I would classify as “trips,”meaning they were intense, emotional, moving and certainly at times psychedelic. The resulting post-trip effects would last for months and felt like a mental breath of fresh air, leaving me feeling rejuvenated and thoroughly happy with a renewed lust for life. I maintained my same source and relative frequency of consumption for several years, until I made a significant discovery. Over the last five years, the culture around and mainstream acceptability of psychedelics and plant medicine had changed fairly drastically. More and more, I began to see articles

It was like that little gray cloud that always put a damper on things dissipated and I could feel the sun begin to shine brightly once again. and hear stories about techies at some of the largest companies in Silicon Valley microdosing psilocybin and LSD to operate at their fullest potential. This intrigued me. Then, one day, I happened upon one of these editorials and something clicked. I realized that much like my evolution in understanding of Cannabis and how to use it, my approach with mushrooms was not wrong per se, but I could consume them differently to take better advantage of their benefits. So, at 29-yearsold, I bought a new coffee grinder, a basic capsule-making machine and empty vegetable glycerin caps, and began teaching myself how to microdose psilocybin.

My goal was to harness the positive effects of the mushrooms without dealing with the somewhat negative side effects of having to go through a mildly hallucinogenic and moderately intense experience to do so. It took some dialing in to find my titrated dose, but what I discovered through the process was miraculous and freeing. In less than a year, that depression that had never really gone away and had been with me for the last 14-plus years simply fell away. It was like that little gray cloud that always put a damper on things dissipated, and I could feel the sun begin to shine brightly once again. Altering my delivery method and frequency ended up being a life-altering decision and has made all the difference for me — with knowledge, comes power.

STORY & PHOTO by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415/LEAF NATION | ILLUSTRATION by MR. MELTY @MR.MELTY

the PSYCHEDELIA issue

INTERVIEW WIT A MEDICINE MA

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

42-year-old Cannabis cultivator and cactus collector, Funxta has tripped out hundreds of times on everything from psilocybin, peyote and ayahuasca, to MDMA, LSD and DMT. He’s authored numerous articles on psychedelics and helped lead the 2016 effort to legalize mushrooms in California. He’s studied under legendary Cannabis activists like Jack Herer, Ed Rosenthal and Rick Simpson, as well as renowned Sonoran toad expert Dr. Gerry Sandoval Isaac. MORE IMPORTANTLY, though, he’s helped thousands of patients with Cannabis oil and mushrooms – making him one of the most experienced alternative healers in Southern California. But whatever you do, don’t call him a shaman. “I don’t consider myself a shaman – I prefer to call myself a neo-medicine man,” Funxta clarifies. “Shamans do some hard, heavy work – they can draw deep demons out of people. I’m not comfortable doing that … I’m still fighting those demons myself.” For Eddie, those personal demons arose from a difficult childhood.

MAR. 2021

For millennia, indigenous healers known as medicine men or shamans have utilized psychoactive plants to treat ailments and cultivate a deeper understanding of the universes both inside us and around us. In recent years, a movement has been building to rediscover the therapeutic potential of these ancient plant medicines, led in part by modern-day medicine men like Eddie Funxta. Growing up in the projects of East LA, he was denied knowledge of his Native American/Mexican heritage by his family over fears they would be ostracized. When he was seven, his parents divorced and he lost touch with his father’s Yavapai side, leaving him to be raised by his mother’s “hardcore Catholic” side of the family. Living in the ghetto, disconnected from his Native heritage, under an intense Christian dogma that he rejected, he was in his words, a “very bad kid.” But Eddie’s angry trajectory started shifting at age 15, thanks to the influence of a history teacher who assigned his class a research project on a controversial topic of their choosing. “Everybody was picking Hitler and other crazy shit,” he recalls. “Since I grew up listening to psychedelic rock like The Doors and Jimi Hendrix, I picked magic mushrooms and shamanism.” Eddie headed to the library, looked up psychedelics and found three books: Aldous Huxley’s “Doors of Perception,” an installment of Carlos Castaneda’s “Don Juan” series, and a cultural book about Mesoamerica that recounted tales of ancient shamanic mushroom ceremonies. “The stuff I was reading was amazing to my young mind,” he says. “I was blown away – I felt like a curtain had been pulled back on my reality.” A week after his class presentation, his friend Johnny showed up at school with a sheet of acid. Eddie and his friends threw a party, tripped out for the first time and had a life-changing night filled with “dancing, laughter, colors, compassion and connection.” In the following months, Funxta immersed himself in the new world that had opened to him – tripping on acid or mushrooms two to three times

a month and even selling them at school. After dropping out in 1996, he began growing weed and selling it to celebrities and dispensaries around Hollywood. It was at one such dispensary that he met a woman named Sister Somalia, who first opened his eyes to marijuana’s medicinal value – instigating Eddie’s transformation from a thuggish drug dealer to a compassionate caregiver.

Funxta began visiting homes, hospitals, hospices and clinics, offering Cannabis to cancer and AIDS patients, as well as addicts trying to kick methadone, meth and heroin. BEFORE LONG, he realized that many patients were unable or unwilling to smoke joints, and recognized a huge gap in the medical market. “We had flowers, dabs, topicals … but Phoenix Tears – or Rick Simpson Oil as most people know it – wasn’t being produced on an adequate scale in SoCal.” So in 2010, he set out to fill that need. Through mutual friends, he connected with Rick Simpson himself, learned how to properly produce the potent full-plant oil, and started to distribute large quantities of the product under the name Native Healing Oil. “I know Rick Simpson was upset with people calling it RSO,” Funxta explains. “I’m not Rick Simpson, so it’s not RSO – it’s NHO.” While his NHO was effective in treating many patients’ physical ailments, Funxta knew that emotional/psychological wounds required a deeper

TH AN

eddie funxta “Jack was microdosing a gram or two of kind of medicine. He recalls one particular patient Amanita muscaria a day,” he says. “Within six to that he helped transition from physical to meneight months, he’d regained his speech.” tal healing: A 57-year-old former beauty queen Of all the substances he’s taken, Funxta says who’d used NHO while battling breast cancer, but his most healing trip came from a combination was left with scars inside as well as out. of ayahuasca and yopo – a powder made from “She’d had a double mastectomy, lost her hair the dried seeds of a South American tree that’s and teeth … she didn’t recognize herself in the traditionally blown up into one’s nostrils. Taken mirror anymore.” Suffering from depression and together, these two substances panic attacks, she asked Eddie for produce a prolonged, profound help and he recommended mushshamanic experience. rooms. Though initially resistant, “For 12 hours I was in the deepshe eventually gave it a try. est, heaviest psychedelic space I’d “The very first dose I gave her ever been in,” he recounts. “I was shook her out of her depression carried away by the spirit world, I instantaneously,” he remembers died and was reborn, and gained proudly. “She called me the next a deep understanding and peace day with a completely different with myself and the universe.” outlook, saying she felt great. She Over the past decade, Funxta ended up starting a breast cancer has used Cannabis and other support group and becoming an entheogens to assist over 2,600 advocate for plant medicines.” sick and dying patients to recover Fungi aren’t just capable of or transition. In 2019, his career altering one’s state of consciousThe inspiring 2019 documentary of compassion drew the attenness – they can actually alter the on Eddie by Jeremie Norrie tion of filmmaker Jeremy Norrie, brain’s structure itself by rebuilding is available on Amazon Prime. who featured Eddie and several cognitive connections. of his patients in the film “About Cannabis and The late activist icon Jack Herer (whose family Cancer” – one in a trilogy of medical marijuana Eddie has worked with) medicated with mushdocumentaries produced for Amazon Prime. rooms after suffering a debilitating stroke in 2000.

“The stuff I was reading was amazing to my young mind,” he says. “I was blown away – I felt like a curtain had been pulled back on my reality.”

Another film about psychedelics is already in the works. “The last American witchhunt is plants,” he testifies. “Cannabis, mushrooms, holy cactus … any plant that alters your state of consciousness has been made illegal or portrayed as detrimental to society, when in reality they are what first brought people together to create societies and build civilizations.” Unfortunately, due to a bitter divorce that placed him in potential legal jeopardy, Funxta was forced to abandon his NHO brand indefinitely as of 2017. Nevertheless, after spending some time backpacking through Yosemite (hiking, vision questing and dancing under the stars), he’s rededicated himself to his spiritual mission – only this time, without the drugs. “I’m creating a natural healing space in the California desert … sound bath and singing bowl ceremonies, yoga, meditation – but zero illegal plant medicines,” he explains. “You don’t always need a hit of acid – you can find that healing space without it … it’s already inside you.” @FUNXTAZ_VISIONARY_COLLECTION

STORY & PHOTOS by BOBBY BLACK @BOBBYBLACK420/LEAF NATION | ILLUSTRATION by MR. MELTY @MR.MELTY

the PSYCHEDELIA issue

JOHNS HOPKINS CENTER FOR PSYCHEDELIC AND CONSCIOUSNESS RESEARCH david bryce yaden, PhD

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

The psychedelic experience is one that many people have pondered, but is still beyond full scientific understanding. That lack of understanding by our culture has been a key factor in impeding these fascinating substances from going mainstream for therapeutic use – until now. As the landscape around psychedelic research continues to evolve, Leaf Magazines caught up with Dr. David B. Yaden – a postdoctoral psychedelic researcher at Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, and, full disclosure, this writer’s cousin, for a behind the scenes look at the latest developments in the emerging field – and how he found himself immersed in the world of psychedelic science. Follow him on Twitter, @ExistWell. I know it has been a long journey to attaining the position you hold today – could you give us some background info and a breakdown of your education? Where did the motivation come from to make it this far in your field? My journey to becoming a scientist studying psychedelic drugs started with an experience I had in college, that actually had nothing to do with drugs. It was an experience that seemed to come completely out of nowhere – of total unity and feelings of love for everyone and everything. I learned later that people call this kind of moment a ‘peak experience’ or ‘mystical experience,’ and I was lucky enough for it to happen to me spontaneously while lying on my dorm room bed. It left me wondering, ‘What the hell just happened to me?!’ That experience was so important and so positive in its effects, but it only

MAR. 2021

lasted for a few minutes at most. Afterwards, I became fascinated with how brief experiences can have a long-lasting positive impact. For a while, I studied comparative religions, philosophy, neuroscience and psychology, just to see if I could find something to help me understand my experience. The most important book that I found with all of this reading was one by William James called “The Varieties of Religious Experience.” By the way, if you’ve had one of these kinds of experiences, you can help our research by describing it at www.varietiescorpus.com. I got my PhD in psychology, which trained me in how to measure and conduct studies on these

kinds of experiences. You can ask people to think back to their experiences and describe them, but to do good scientific work, you really need to be able to cause these experiences in a controlled setting. That’s where psychedelics come in – they provide a tool that researchers can use to trigger these positively transformative experiences in the laboratory. Researchers are currently finding all kinds of benefits (as well as a few risks) associated with using psychedelics to treat disorders like depression and addiction.

I know Johns Hopkins is a global leader in the field – can you give some insight into the program itself? What drugs have your team been researching?

“We have an opportunity as a society to treat psychedelics with more respect this time around.”

findings, describing a new theory or summarizing previous research findings. In the afternoon, I analyze data from studies that we’ve already run or work on launching new studies, which involves a huge amount of paperwork and thinking through safety issues. I try to schedule meetings later in the day, after I’m fried from writing and analyzing data. In the evenings, I usually go for a walk by the river to decompress. I work pretty much every day. I should say that this is how life looks for me during the pandemic – once it’s safe for the lab to return to normal, I will be administering psilocybin to study participants and helping to guide psychedelic sessions.

What are some of the greatest challenges to progress you and your colleagues have faced in your field?

Yaden stands outside of the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore.

The Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins is currently the world’s largest lab studying psychedelics. Researchers like Roland Griffiths and his colleagues have been studying psychedelics since around 2000, but this new center (funded by Tim Ferris and a group of philanthropists) will allow a lot more psychedelic research to happen. We have studied many psychedelics like DMT, 5-MeODMT, and especially psilocybin. Psilocybin has shown a great deal of potential as a treatment for mental illnesses while also being pretty safe when administered in clinical settings. There are so many open scientific questions about psychedelics. First, how does this substance change the brain to produce such a substantially altered state of consciousness? Second, how do set and setting influence this altered state of consciousness? Third, how does

the experience (and associated brain changes) from psychedelics tend to result in such positive psychological changes for so many people? Last but not least, what are some of the risks of taking psilocybin and when should some people avoid taking it for safety reasons? These are just a few of the kinds of questions that we’re conducting research to address.

Walk us through the average day of a psychedelic scientist? I love being a scientist and I feel incredibly grateful that I can spend my time trying to understand psychedelics and other questions about how the mind works … but it’s not very glamorous! I start my morning by making coffee and practicing meditation for about 20 minutes. I make sure that I write every day, so I usually spend the rest of the morning writing about new

I wrote an article with my advisor (Roland Griffiths, PhD) and my wife (Mary ‘Bit’ Yaden, MD) that describes a bunch of my worries about psychedelic research and use. Basically, I’m worried that there will be a lack of the necessary amount of care with psychedelics. These are really powerful psychological experiences that we’re talking about. The biggest challenge that I see is getting people to slow down and think carefully and realistically by paying attention to what the scientific evidence has to say. In general, we’ve already seen during the 1960s how psychedelic research and recreational use can go wrong and lead us to a dead end. We have an opportunity as a society to treat psychedelics with more respect this time around. My recommendation is to stick to what the science says. The full article is available at by visiting JamaNetwork.com and searching for “Psychedelics in Psychiatry—Keeping the Renaissance From Going Off the Rails”.

What has been your most shocking or unexpected finding in your work at Johns Hopkins? One of the early findings from psychedelic research at Johns Hopkins continues to blow my mind. Roland Griffiths and his colleagues found that in a sample of people who were given psilocybin in a supportive setting, twothirds of them reported that the experience was among the top five most meaningful experiences of their entire lives. In other words, people who took psilocybin and laid down on a couch with eyeshades for a few hours said that the experience was almost as meaningful as events like graduating, getting married, or the birth of a child. That, to me, is an absolutely amazing fact and the findings have been replicated in many studies since.

STORY by BARRON WOLFE @BARRON.WOLFE/LEAF NATION | PHOTO by ERIC KAYNE @PHOTOKAYNE | ILLUSTRATION by MR. MELTY @MR.MELTY

the PSYCHEDELIA issue LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

MAR. 2021

INTEGRATIVE AND HEALING KETAMINE THERAPY dr. radu kramer

onsidered a wonder-drug since its origins as the most common anesthetic used by our soldiers on the battlefields of Vietnam, Ketamine has been utilized to save the lives of people and animals for decades – but has also received criticism for its illicit recreational use. As mentioned in The Harvard Health Blog, when it comes to modern day psychiatric therapy, intravenous Ketamine treatment is the proverbial “new kid on the block” for depression management, and even suicide prevention.

Dr. Radu Kramer is a nephrologist and internist who began incorporating Ketamine into his practice in 2019, and has practiced integrative medicine as a medical doctor for more than 25 years. Integrative medicine, or in Radu’s mind, “just medicine,” is considered to be a broader approach to evaluating and treating a person. As he explains, “Physical, genetic, immunologic and psychological elements must be diligently evaluated in order to identify a correct diagnosis. The treatment will focus on the cause of the disease whenever available, and will expand to involve the whole person. Mental health disorders alter the balance of the immune system. A less competent immune system does not resist or fight infectious diseases as well, generates inflammation, allows autoimmune conditions to develop and increases the risk of malignancies.” Many patients, close family members, and even Dr. Kramer himself suffer from depression and anxiety at times - which makes these exciting developments crucially important in more ways than one. “It’s a pleasure talking with you about Ketamine, as it has gained reputation in the management of treatment-resistant mental health disorders,” Dr. Kramer told The Leaf. “The intense pain associated with these conditions cannot be appropriately understood by those who have not experienced it. Unfortunately, the current conventional psychiatric therapies, while initially effective, tend to have limited and inconsistent long-term benefits and come with side effects, sometimes difficult to tolerate.”

HERE TO HELP HEAL

To better respond to those asking for his help, Dr. Kramer has taken several courses in psychopharmacology, participated in numerous meetings on newer therapeutic modalities in psychiatric disorders, and has attempted to remain current with any significant advances in this field. “When the studies on the effect of Ketamine performed in major universities and hospitals were released, it became clear that its new mechanism of action comes with an advantage in the outcome of those suffering from treatment-resistant depression (TRD), chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), addictions and chronic migraines,” he said. For over 20 years, he and his team have been providing intravenous infusions with antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins and glutathione to decrease inflammation and enhance the function of the immune system. Plugging Ketamine into the equation was a turn-key process, but as Dr. Kramer explained, it needed slight modifications. “We prepared the office for Ketamine infusions by creating an environment where patients have additional privacy, and at the same time, can be monitored.” Potentially there could be serious side effects with anesthesia inducing drugs that’s why it is important to have such infusions performed in the presence of a medical doctor, other trained professionals, and in an appropriate environment.” The therapy also may not cure everyone’s depression and anxiety, as Dr. Kramer discovered through his own personal trials. In his case, his unpleasant feelings actually increased – but he admits he didn’t follow through with the same protocol he gives to his patients. “My personal experience is a constant reminder that everyone needs an objective guide through the therapy,” he said.

REDEFINING KETAMINE

For the past two years, Dr. Kramer and his team have conducted hundreds of Ketamine infusions for all the conditions previously mentioned. As he explained, “Ketamine is an anesthetic, but when used in subanesthetic doses, works more like a psychedelic substance and

has been proven beneficial in several mental health disorders, where conventional treatments were not nearly as effective. The fact that this represents over 50% of patients treated for depression, in the 21st century, is scary.” While there can be confusion over what to call Ketamine, it is officially classified as a dissociative – still, the inner workings of the substance remain elusive. “The precise mechanisms of action for “I believe that the reintroduction of Ketamine remain the other psychedelics, under the unknown,” Dr. Kramer explained. “We undersupervision of well-trained therapists stand that it stimulates and physicians, will forever transform glutamate, which is a the rudimentary modalities still in use neurotransmitter, meaning that it contributes today to manage mental illness.” to the transmission of a nerve impulse – like serotonin, dopamine, GABA and acetylcholine. The most common side effects are drowsiness, nausea, muscle spasms, blurred vision, hallucinations and confusion. Generally these effects resolve spontaneously over a few hours following an infusion.” At a time when we are being faced with increasing suicide rates, Dr. Kramer specifically noted the Harvard study that showed Ketamine’s ability to treat suicidal levels of depression, highlighting the instantaneous effect of the substance on the patient. “The impact on depression is practically instant, unlike any other treatment, and that is the reason it can change the desire to leave this world due to the enormous pain and hopelessness that often is associated with depression,” he said. “The fact that one can experience painlessness within minutes, gives those desiring an end of their sufferance by ending their lives a sense of hope, and their perception actually changes. The initial effect may last from a few hours to a few days. That is why we recommend building up a more predictable response, which requires six infusions over a period of two to three weeks. If the response is positive, we transfer the patients to Esketamine, which is a nasal spray and has essentially the same effect as intravenously-infused Ketamine.”

A MATTER OF ACCESS

Due to the fact that so few doctors are offering this treatment to their patients, medical Ketamine therapy can be difficult to gain access to – yet its availability on the black market makes it common at festivals and in clubs around the globe. When asked about recreational Ketamine use, Dr. Kramer said, “As a physician who pays a lot of attention to the Ketamine dosing, tolerability and benefits to patients with mental health disorders, it is difficult to endorse unsupervised use of Ketamine – as the risk of more profound anesthesia exists and the availability of life support mechanisms does not.” In other words, if you took too much, it could lead to needing medical attention that might not be available. “It is unfortunate that not enough physicians are open-minded enough … I believe that the reintroduction of the other psychedelics under the supervision of well-trained therapists and physicians will forever transform the rudimentary modalities still in use today to manage mental illness,” he concluded. “I have to point out how important it is to put an end to the primitive stigma associated with mental health that is quite alive in society and in families. The shame of being judged or ridiculed has prevented too many from getting help, and pushed them to suicide as the only solution to end the unbearable pain associated with major depression.” ComprehensiveHealingMD.com

STORY by BARRON WOLFE @BARRON.WOLFE/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by SCOTT SEMLER @SWEATER.BOY | ILLUSTRATION by MR. MELTY @MR.MELTY

the PSYCHEDELIA issue LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

READING ENERGY

he world has spent the last year on house arrest. But instead of wearing a tracking collar, your ball and chain is a face mask. And if we’ve learned anything from watching horror movies for the past several generations, concealing one’s identity is a practice utilized by bank robbers, guerrilla taggers and Marvel villains. Some heroes wear masks, but at least you can see their mouths. And you can learn a lot from a person’s mouth. BUT WE ARE currently at a social disadvantage, unable to access the cues that facial gestures afford us in public interaction. Having become accustomed our entire lives to relying on our eyes as code sensors, determining true meaning through language is a vital nuance for accurate interpretation. So, hearing only a person’s voice offers limited perspective, and therefore, without the telltale crease in the corner of a mouth, the slight flare of the nostrils or the brightness of teeth, it is difficult to harmonize the limited data for an authentic read. What we are missing is subtle punctuation that relays intent. Because we lean heavily on the subconscious to guide our judgement, whether we are aware of it or not, these are the clues that lend comprehension to the charge of people’s words, be it negative or positive – which is paramount to our success as a species. And although there is a range of tactics we employ (albeit many dysfunctional), the one common goal we share is to procure love. Love directs everything we do – the way we dress, the way we work, the way we communicate. Love is as vital to our existence as food and water. It is what drives people to thrive. Without it, life is pointless. From the moment we enter the world, conditioning is imparted, marginalizing the spirit with borders and barriers, rules and institutions. Boys wear blue, girls wear pink. Go to school to learn the system, worship a higher power, work, provide, pay, repeat – until you get your Social Security and an RV to see the country roads of president carved

BY MIKE RICKER

These are the Soaring ‘20s, where open minds will save the planet.”

MAR. 2021

mountainsides and other national monuments that reinforce your indoctrination. Die and pass along your savings in hopes that your legacy will one day jump socioeconomic classes. We are born on the farm and the fences are high. There are some, however, who insist upon knowing their personal truth. That with which they were born – to rediscover the genuine soul inside the skin suit that needs a deeper meaning to reality prior to being manipulated into a societal role. And the more perceptive we become to the natural world, the more the answers to living a happy, fulfilling life will be revealed. And what connects everything we know is magnetism. Reading energy is the attempt to understand magnetism, or to harness the flow.

Flow is being in the zone, fully conscious and optimal, and this is where your potential shines. Psychedelics (Cannabis arguably being a light one) can heighten our ability to observe this magnetism from a place of humility, allowing the mind to break free of the perpetual static and oblige the instinct to interpret the language of the universe from the conscious level. This can relinquish the tension of the subconscious, which is what we all want – for this to get easier, lighter, less stressful. This is the reason we call Cannabis medicine. In the Amazon, ayahuasca is referred to with the same respect. And we know that much of the world’s sail is catching the wind of this plant-based decriminalization movement, as the galvanizing of fresh thoughts returns us to the origin from which we were originally derived – that being the soil. So, don’t worry too much about the mask. Because this is the beginning of a change. These are the Soaring ‘20s, where open minds will save the planet. And the more adept you get at letting go of your preconceptions – the dogma you’ve been saddled with since birth – the more the intuition will supersede the bad habits of applying useless labels and definitions to your world. Everything you need is here. You are provided for, just as a mollusk attached to a rock in the surf is brought the sustenance it needs. Your perception is what is holding you back and natural medicine can be a valuable tool to assist in breaking down walls that are blocking the view to the double rainbow. And when you see it, you will cry with joy.

ILLUSTRATION by MR. MELTY @MR.MELTY

PSYCHEDELIC LEGISLATION

ike mycelium branching out beneath the damp forest floor, the movement to legalize entheogens and psychedelic compounds continues to propagate across the country. Sparked, no doubt, by the fact that Cannabis ended up being a zero-downside game for the public health and for the states’ tax revenue streams in legalized markets, the concept of plant and mushroom based recreation and therapy continues to lose its stigma. The movement has thrived beneath the surface for decades. Spiritual seekers and merry pranksters have fought this fight ever since the U.S. Government sought to criminalize and weaponize psychedelics in the 20th century.

IN RECENT YEARS, those underground tendrils started popping up above the surface, bearing fruit and spreading spores on the winds. In 2019, Oakland, Calif. and Denver, Colo. became the first cities in the country to decriminalize psilocybin-producing mushrooms, scoring a huge victory for myco-nauts and practitioners of entheogenic therapy. Then, in 2020, Washington, D.C. – the heartbeat of the country – voted to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms, meaning a person could arguably trip out while wandering around the Washington Monument without worrying about being arrested. On the other side of the country, Oregon decriminalized all drugs, and – even more importantly for entheogenic therapy – voted to legalize psilocybin for use in a therapeutic setting. That’s the big word here: LEGALIZE. In decriminalized areas, psychedelics remain illegal but law enforcement is directed to not pursue arrests or convictions. Legalization means that not only will you not be arrested for psychedelics, but you can’t even get a “no tripping” ticket. That wedge in the door means the legalization movements for psilocybin and other psychedelic compounds are ripe for huge gains in the coming years. In the wake of those pioneering states and municipalities, other regions are starting to look at decriminalization as a first step toward building acceptance of entheogenic compounds. California State Senator Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, told the SF Chronicle that he plans to introduce legislation in 2021 that will effectively decriminalize psychedelics throughout the state. On the East Coast, lawmakers in New York are fighting to decriminalize psychedelics, as Assemblymemeber Linda Rosenthal introduced legislation in 2020 to remove psilocybin from Schedule I of New York’s list of controlled substances. On a hyper-local level, the City Council of Somerville, Mass. voted to decriminalize entheogenic plants and fungi in January of this year.

While the fight for legalized Cannabis continues to rage on, it’s becoming clear that psychedelics are the next thing. Larger and larger companies within and without the Cannabis industry are starting to move beyond the exploratory phase, and into the non-psychedelic mycological therapy space – no doubt in a move to set up standards, build out supply chains and begin to gauge consumer interest in mycological products. A Bloomberg report in December 2020 showed that the psychedelic market has been gaining traction with the venture capital sector, attracting many of the same investment firms that seeded the Cannabis industry. And powerhouse Cannabis companies are starting to enter the mycology space, such as Cookies in California, which recently released its Caps by Cookies line – which blends terpenes and cannabinoids with non-psychedelic, organic mushrooms. When looked at on the whole, all of these pieces add up to give us a view of where the entheogenic movement is going, and where it’s taking us. And that looks to be a bright, shimmery, trippily beautiful future.

While the fight for legalized Cannabis continues to rage on, it’s becoming clear that psychedelics are the next thing.

STORY by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS/LEAF NATION | ILLUSTRATION by MR. MELTY @MR.MELTY

concentrate of the month

SOLAR THERAPEUTICS IT’S HARD TO MISS SOLAR THERAPEUTICS

in Somerset, Mass. Their massive facility is covered with solar panels, not to mention the huge mural of their logo on the outside of the building – catching the eye all the way from the road. And the steady flow of traffic outside hints at the popularity of this artsy and hip establishment. The Cannabis from Solar Therapeutics is grown with a strong emphasis on sustainable practices. They offset over 50% of their carbon emissions, collect and reuse 90% of their water runoff and condensate, and use top of the line Fluence by Osram LED lighting – powered by the solar panels throughout their 100,000-square-foot canopy. Their eco-friendly packaging furthers their commitment to reducing their carbon footprint as well. Solar Thera doesn’t have things up and running yet for their single source rosin, so we opted for some outsourced Watermelon Gelato (Watermelon Zkittlez x Gelato #45) wax from Commonwealth Alternative Care in Taunton. With a whopping 89% THCa potency level, this is what we love to see in a hydrocarbon extraction. Light on the flavor, this is a quality concentrate, but doesn’t smack with the terps like I would expect for a Gelato variety. Inklings of jellybean and lemon shine through on the nose, with a hint of earthiness as well. This concentrate had a yellowish, off-white color and appeared to be clean. Wax to the max, you can handle this concentrate with your fingers to dunk in the nail, or use a wider tool when dabbing, because it doesn’t have a sticky consistency. Watermelon Gelato was a nice treat to pair outside with nature, leaving me with a great improvement in my attitude and outlook. For me, dabbing on this wax was a lot like drinking a cup of coffee – where a wintery walk was accompanied by a happy, tingly effect and hazy head-buzz that was intensified by sunlight. This enjoyable stone made up for the lack of terpenes, and I would recommend this strain to anyone in need of a pick me up.

WATERMELON GELATO WAX

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

M O O D-B O OST I NG DAB A nice treat to pair outside with nature, leaving me with a great improvement in my attitude and outlook. SOLAR THERAPEUTICS 1400 BRAYTON POINT RD, SOMERSET, MA SOLARTHERA.COM @SOLARTHERA (508) 300-3366

mAR. 2021

REVIEW by BOBBY NUGGZ @BOBBYNUGGZ_OFFICIAL for NORTHEAST LEAF | PHOTO by BAILEY JONSON @BADMSBAILEY | ART by JEFF CLUETT

REVIEWS

Transdermal Lotion 250mg full spectrum CBD

This lotion is unscented with a light and airy texture. I applied this directly to my face after the shower and found it to be moisturizing with no lasting residue, which was perfect. This product is gentle enough for the most sensitive skin and can be applied multiple times throughout the day. With ingredients like aloe barbadensis and evening primrose oil, you can absolutely feel the results of this lotion. Dry skin became moisturized and flakiness became plump, even within a few day’s usage.

Lemongrass Salve 500mg full spectrum CBD

TRANSDERMAL LOTION & LEMONGRASS SALVE

A therapeutic, lemony salve with top quality ingredients, East Coast Herbalist gets right to the point with this topical that has only five ingredients: full spectrum hemp extract, organic coconut oil, organic beeswax, shea butter and lemongrass extract. The shea butter is unexpected and provides a lighter, non-greasy application to this powerful salve. Meant for deep skin relief in smaller areas like elbows and knees, this product is also great for therapeutic massages for tired and tense muscles. Pro Tip: After rubbing the salve into the affected area, wipe away any residue that hasn’t been absorbed into the skin. Apply several times throughout the day and see results immediately. **Their phytocannabinoid rich full spectrum hemp extract is tested at the East Coast Herbalist production facility and at ProVerde Laboratories, Inc. in Milford Mass.** EAST COAST HERBALIST / MY CBD RELEAF 900 VICTORY HWY STE 11, NORTH SMITHFIELD, RI EASTCOASTHERBALIST.COM | @EAST.COAST.HERBALIST (888) 745-4367 MYCBDRELEAFCENTER.COM AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT: 421 PULASKI BLVD. BELLINGHAM, MA 375 PUTNAM PIKE, SMITHFIELD, RI 143 ELMGROVE AVE., PROVIDENCE, RI 9 CHURCH ST., PASCOAG, RI 1341 WEST MAIN RD., MIDDLETOWN, RI

REVIEW & PHOTOS by BAILEY JONSON @BADMSBAILEY for NORTHEAST LEAF

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

This full spectrum CBD cosmetic line looks, feels and provides the results of a professional medicalgrade dermatological treatment! We tried the Transdermal Lotion and Lemongrass Salve during the harshest winter months in order to discover the true results of the East Coast Herbalist line. The day after a huge New England snowstorm, I noticed that my skin was extremely dry. I messaged my friend Samantha Tavares, who is one of the sales reps at CBD Releaf Center, and she knew just the thing to help: the therapeutic and high end East Coast Herbalist lotion and salve. Initially, the packaging looks expensive – all white with gold trim and clean lines. And let me tell you, the first impression does not disappoint.

Lotion and salve that are as high quality and therapeutic as they look.

TOPICAL of the month

EAST COAST HERBALIST

edible of the month

THINK HIGH CREATIONS Maine-based Think High Creations offers 10 flavor options for their Boss Bars, ranging from popular candyinspired offerings like Kit Kat and Twix, to classic treats like cookies and cream and strawberry shortcake.

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BOSSBAR

The glossy cardboard packaging clearly indicates the presence of pot, but also includes a photo of the mainstream snack the bar imitates – which could arguably cause some confusion for uninitiated consumers. While these bars are sweet and delicious treats, they should only ever end up in the hands of consenting adults. The “Kit Kat” Boss Bar is made with premium Belgium chocolate. A flaky crumble coats the bottom of the bar and adds a texture and flavor reminiscent of the edible’s namesake. The bar contains 500mg of THC per package. It consists of 15 squares with 33.5mg of THC per serving, which is defined as a single piece of chocolate. Consuming just a square and a half is enough for a mellow evening, however, two or more pieces can be fun if you have a reasonable tolerance for ingesting THC, and space it out a bit. Of course, as with all Cannabis-infused consumables, it’s best to start slow and allow plenty of time to feel the full effects – especially when trying a new edible. The Boss Bar provides an excellent body high that comes on gradually and reaches a crescendo after about 45-60 minutes. The happy high lasts for several relaxing hours and includes a nice mental buzz too. You won’t be contemplating the meaning of existence, but you might find yourself drifting off in a pleasant haze. This tasty THC treat is the perfect way to end a long, stressful day and, best of all, it works well as a gentle sleep aid that doesn’t leave you feeling groggy the next morning. But before dozing off, you can expect the Boss Bar to elevate your mood and take your mind off a difficult workday. While these bars do not produce an energetic high that will have you joyfully cleaning the house, you will definitely enjoy curling up on the couch and feeling the stress melt off your relaxed limbs.

> > 500MG THC / 15-SERVINGS

Yo u c a n e x p e c t t h e Boss Bar to elevate your mood and take your mind off a difficult workday.

THINK HIGH CREATIONS’ BOSS BARS ARE AVAIL ABL E AT DIS PENS ARIES ACROS S MAINE AND COME IN A VARIETY OF FL AVORS.

MAR. 2021

REVIEW by MIKE HUGHES for NORTHEAST LEAF | PHOTO by EMILY CEGIELSKI

When and how did you two first meet?

glass art

EDM(ENERGY DISC MIB Darby and I met in 2000 at Studio G, which is the shop that I started glass at. About six months in, in June 2000, I got invited to watch Darby work at his home studio. He was making a rad bong and a slide. We may have met before that also, because our parents were friends.

What sparked the idea to create this EDM collaboration? Darby and I have made at

least one of almost all of the designs I currently make, and we hadn’t made an EDM until this one. EDM stands for Energy Disc Mib – it’s three of my designs in one.

How have psychedelics helped you achieve a higher level of consciousness? How have they inspired your bodies of work? I have a special connection with mushrooms because of a life-changing trip I had when I was 17. I would most definitely not be the man I am today without them.

@eusheen | @darbyholmglass

-Eusheen

ART BY EUSHEEN X DARBY INTERVIEW by MAX EARLY @LIFTED_STARDUST/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by SAMUEL FARLEY @THC_SAMUEL

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“I have a special connection with mushrooms because of a life-changing trip I had when I was 17.“

LEAFSHOTS

APE

Albino Penis Envy, commonly referred to as ‘APE’ in the myco-naut community, is a high potency psilocybin mushroom known for its phallic-shaped fruits, pale white to blue hued stem, and pale blonde cap.

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

Stronger and harder to come by than standard cubensis, this special cube strain is known to produce deeply euphoric and introspective experiences. APEs are more challenging to cultivate due to a relatively slow maturation period and the difficulty in collecting their spores, as the caps rarely show their gills and the spores are transparent.

#LeafShots celebrates the high art of incredible Cannabis photography. Tag us for your chance to be published.

MAR. 2021

STORY & PHOTO by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415/LEAF NATION

PHOTO BY @SONDERFELTLLC FOR LEAF NATION

Contact michael@neleafmag.com for ADVERTISING RATES & INFO! NELEAFMAG.COM | @NORTHEASTLEAFMAG | #NORTHEASTLEAF

Northeast Leaf is dedicated to providing accessible, authentic, plant and people focused media to the world each and every month - with over 360 pick-up points and more added daily, Northeast Leaf is your one-stop shop for Cannabis brand exposure!

Cannthropology

WORLD OF Cannabis PRESENTS

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

The Hippie Mafia It’s impossible to overstate the influence and impact of The Brotherhood of Eternal Love when discussing the history of Cannabis or psychedelics in America. Between 1965 and 1972, the Brotherhood emerged as the largest soft drug syndicate on earth – earning them the notorious nickname “The Hippie Mafia.” They smuggled tons of weed and hashish, then used the profits to produce and distribute tens of millions of doses of LSD – including the infamous Orange Sunshine, for which they’re best known. And it all began with a handful of teenage stoners in Laguna Beach… THE BROTHERHOOD BEGINS Travis Ashbrook was an enterprising young surfer from Orange County who loved weed so much that by the age of 17, he was smuggling kilos in from Tijuana. In 1964, he met a fellow pot dealer named Johnny Griggs. Griggs was a well-known boozer, brawler, and heroin user … but after robbing a stash of LSD from the home of a Hollywood producer and taking

MAR. 2021

The Brotherhood of Eternal Love was a group of sacred psychedelic warriors on a mission to turn on the world.

his first trip, he had a spiritual epiphany. He returned the stolen acid, gave up his gangbanger ways, and became a psychedelic evangelist. Believing that LSD was the ultimate tool for human enlightenment, Griggs – along with his wife Carol, friends Michael Randall, Ricky and Ron Bevans, Chuck Mundell, Travis and a few others – formed a new religion dedicated to peace, love and turning on the world – which Mundell christened “The Brotherhood of Eternal Love.” In October 1966, the Brotherhood incorporated as a nonprofit, rented an old stone house in Modjeska Canyon, and began holding psychedelic ceremonies. The following year they opened a huge psychedelic emporium on South Coast Highway called Mystic Arts World, soon dubbed by locals as “Haight Ashbury South.” With the hordes of hippies moving into the area, they took over a small neighborhood off Laguna Canyon Road, which Griggs nicknamed Dodge City. The area became such an LSD hotspot that by winter 1967, even acid guru Timothy Leary came to live there with them. To achieve their sacred mission of turning on the world, the Brotherhood would need to make a ton of acid – and to do that, they’d need money. The fastest way to fund their psychic revolution, they decided, was by smuggling marijuana and hashish. That’s where Travis came in. “I was the hash guy,” Ashbrook attests with a smile. “That was my thing.”

ORANGE SUNSHINE In spring 1968, Griggs moved their inner circle (including Leary) to a big ranch he bought near Idyllwild. That August, the Brotherhood handed out dosed juice at the Newport Pop Festival and was visited by counterculture celebrities like Ken Kesey and The Moody Blues. But the most consequential connection they made that summer was with chemists Nick Sand and Tim Scully, who enlisted the Brotherhood to become the exclusive distributors of their ultra-potent new LSD, which Griggs named Orange Sunshine. Within a month, they cranked out over 4 million hits, and demand showed no sign of slowing. Practically overnight, Orange Sunshine became a household name … and the Brotherhood’s new trademark.

DION WRIGHT

THE HASH GUY In winter 1967, Travis and Ricky left on an epic two-month hash quest: flying through New York to Luxembourg, hopping a train to Munich, then driving through Austria, Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey and Iran, before finally arriving in Afghanistan. There – at a fruit stand in Kandahar – they met the Tokhi brothers, who offered them the deal of a lifetime: four dollars per kilo for the best hash in the world. “We’d come there planning to get 10 kilos, but ended up trading them the car for 50 kilos,” Ashbrook says. “We bought a bunch of antique musical instruments and stuffed them with the hash, then packed it all up with some furs in a big crate and shipped it back to California as unaccompanied baggage.” Once back home, a single pound of the hash sold for four times what they’d paid for the entire 88-pound haul! The deal was so lucrative that Travis started shipping loads back from Kandahar every six months. That went on for years, with loads eventually reaching up to 500 pounds per run.

On August 5, the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs executed “Operation BEL” – the largest drug raid in American history – resulting in 57 arrests and the seizure of around $8 million in drugs. The Hippie Mafia was no more.

Timothy & Rosemary Leary with Brotherhood founder John Griggs, 1968.

Brotherhood and friends at Mystic Arts World reunion, 2015.

The Brotherhood’s wanted poster.

JERRY KRECICKI

1,300 pounds of hash in Portland, OrAshbrook was egon – the largest quantity ever seized inducted into in the U.S. A month later, another 729 To achieve their sacred High Times’ pounds were seized in Vancouver. DECLINE AND FALL Counterculture mission of turning on Then on August 5, the Bureau of NarIn 1969, however, their utopian hippie Hall of Fame cotics and Dangerous Drugs executed dream began to disintegrate. First, the world, the Brotherhood at the 2011 “Operation BEL” – the largest drug raid Travis got busted when Customs agents would need to make a ton of in American history – resulting in 57 Cannabis Cup. discovered 20 pounds of hash inside two acid – and to do that, they’d arrests and the seizure of around $8 hollowed-out surfboards he’d shipped need money. The fastest way to million in drugs. The Hippie Mafia was back from Afghanistan. Then, that no more. summer, Mystic Arts World was mysterifund their psychic revolution, After 11 years on the lam, the law ously burned to the ground. After that, they decided, was by smuggling finally caught up with Travis on October Ricky’s underage girlfriend accidentally marijuana and hashish. 16, 1980, when he was arrested at drowned while tripping – causing Leary to Houston International Airport on a flight be arrested for child endangerment and to the Cayman Islands carrying $270,000 in cash. He was charged the ranch to be raided. Worst of all, though, on August 3, under the RICO “Kingpin” law for 36 counts from Operation BEL Griggs suddenly died of an accidental overdose of synthetic – carrying a penalty of life without parole and confiscation of all psilocybin, calling the future of the Brotherhood into quesproperties. After cutting a deal, he received just 18 years, of which tion. Five months later, Leary was sentenced to 20 years on he served 11 before being released in 1991. pot possession charges. (The following year, the Brotherhood enlisted the help of leftist radicals the Weathermen to bust EPILOGUE him out of prison). Travis and the surviving Brothers are all free and fine now. In November 2011, they With their two spiritual leaders gone, and a prison term flew to Amsterdam where they were inducted into High Times’ Counterculture Hall of pending, Ashbrook and a few other Brothers skipped town Fame at the Cannabis Cup. A book about their exploits entitled “Orange Sunshine” was and migrated to Maui, where he continued smuggling – sailpublished in 2010, followed by a documentary of the same name in 2018. A dramatic ing 5,000 pounds of weed in from Guadalajara on a schooseries about the Brotherhood by the same director (William Kirkley) is also currently in ner called the Aafje (pronounced “Affie,” like Afghanistan). It the works. Despite all of the trials and tribulations, Ashbrook remains proud of his past. was from this load of primo Mexi weed, crossed with seeds “We wanted to turn the world on, we were dedicated to our cause, and we knew time from an Afghani load, that the legendary Maui Wowie strain would prove us right,” he affirms. “We were true outlaws, and we made our mark.” was later bred. Travis had a second load planned, but was again forced to flee when he learned he’d lost the appeal on his surfboard conviction. For more on the Brotherhood, listen to Episode #7 of our podcast at worldofCannabis.museum/podcast. In 1972, the last of the Brotherhood’s entheogenic empire Story and photos originally published on worldofcannabis.museum and reprinted with permission. came crashing down. In January, the Feds busted a load of

STORY & PHOTO ILLUSTRATION by BOBBY BLACK @CANNTHROPOLOGY for LEAF NATION

stoney baloney

by Mike Ricker

THE BODIES EXHIBIT

ON SHROOMS Y

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ou want to know if I did it. Of course not, are you out of your fucking mind? I understand that the title may have revved your imagination, but no person of sound mind would, or should ever, attempt such a psychotic journey into the darkest recesses of one’s essential nature for any reason. The mental stability of a thrill-seeking individual bent on this ultimate experiment would have to be seriously questioned, save for maybe that deranged whack job from “The Human Centipede.” I mean, if you have some morbid desire to screw yourself up with self-inflicted behavior modifications that are way beyond normal rationale – so that for the rest of your life when you look at a sandwich what you really see is a bummed-out prisoner’s dissected cerebellum between two slices of bread – be my guest. But this is something not even recommended for sickos like Marylin Manson. Throughout history, people have purposefully endeavored ridiculous feats – like Evel Knievel attempting to jump the Snake River Canyon on a rocket cycle, Hunter S. Thompson infiltrating a District Attorney’s convention on a full dropper of liquid LSD, and the insurgent QAnon guy in the horned fur cap charging the Capitol to steal the vote back for the Donald. But thankfully, instinct has provided a built-in dipshit button that prevents most of us from doing irreparable damage to mind, body and soul. So, understand that in the attempt at heightening your misadventures by way of dual integration, realize that there are some things that will never mix: whiskey and ice cream, Jeffrey Lebowski in Malibu, and The Bodies Exhibit on mushrooms. A sneaky, succulent vape toke of Green Crack before a rip through Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride? You already know.

mar. 2021

F O L L OW @ R I C K E R D J | G E T T H E AU D I O V E R S I O N & EV E RY E P I S O D E AT S TO N EY- B A L O N EY. C O M