Nov. 2020 - Northeast Leaf

# 3 | N OV . 2020

THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

NORTHEAST

THE HARVEST ISSUE F RE E / N E L E A F M AG . COM

In mid-coast Maine, Mantis Medicine’s Kat Mascolo runs the whole show, solo.

INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010

NORTHEAST

CONNECT WITH YOUR AUDIENCE Affordable advertising available now!

email michael@neleafmag.com for details on including your brand and company in the December or January Northeast Leaf!

NORTHEASTLEAFMAG NORTHEAST LEAF MAGAZINE

#NORTHEASTLEAF

ISSUE 03

7 EDITOR NOTE 8 NATIONAL NEWS 9 PERSPECTIVE 10 LOCAL NEWS 14 MAINE LEGAL 16 HIGHLY LIKELY 17 BUDTENDER Q&A 18 PATIENT PROFILE 20 WOMEN IN WEED 22 THE SUMMIT LOUNGE 24 STRAIN OF THE MONTH 28 MANTIS MEDICINE 32 HOME GROW MASS. 34 WILDFIRE SEASON 36 STONER OWNER 38 GLASS ART 40 RECIPES 41 EDIBLE OTM 42 CONCENTRATE OTM 44 CANNTHROPOLOGY 46 STONEY BALONEY ISSUU.COM/NWLEAF

ADAM GLANZMAN

NOV. 2020

NORTHEAST

22 THE SUMMIT LOUNGE

neleafmag.COM

28

PATRICK HUGHES

VIBING, RELAXING AND HANGING OUT

36 STONER OWNER INTERVIEW WITH LONG ISLAND GLASS

STORY & PHOTOS by JEN BERNSTEIN @NYCJAMGAL for NORTHEAST LEAF

BRUCE WOLF

the leaf travels to mid-coast maine to tour the medical grow of mantis medicine and meet journeywoman grower kat mascolo.

40 CANNABIS RECIPES CELEBRATE THE HIGHLIDAYS IN STYLE

Search the good stuff Visit weedmaps.com or download the app

ISSUE #3

GROW TOUR

neleafmag.COM

6

32

northeast leaf HEADS TO springfield, massachusetts to tour a personal limit homegrow.

nov. 2020

STORY by GILBERT GJERSVIK for NORTHEAST LEAF | PHOTO by M. SCOTT BRAUER @MSCOTTBRAUER

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 “I loved spending the day at Mantis Medicine photographing Kat in her grow, surrounded by all the incredible and empowering feminine plant energy. Kat named her cannabusiness after the Praying Mantis because the female mantis devours the head of the male after mating. Growing beautiful buds and large plants isn’t easy – and growing organic, certified “Clean Cannabis”

by Maine standards is even tougher – so it was a real treat to spend time with someone like Kat whose cultivation of glorious ganja comes as second nature.”

STORY & PHOTOS

by JEN BERNSTEIN @nycjamgal

PUBLISHER

CONTRIBUTORS

WES ABNEY | FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

JEN BERNSTEIN, PHOTOS & FEATURE

WES@NWLEAF.COM

BOBBY BLACK, FEATURES

SENIOR EDITORS MIKE GIANAKOS | DAN VINKOVETSKY

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

JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION M. SCOTT BRAUER, PHOTOS EARLY, PRODUCTION MAX EARLY, GLASS ART STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS GILBERT GJERSVIK, FEATURES

DANIEL BERMAN | VISUALS & DESIGN

ADAM GLANZMAN, PHOTOS

DANIEL@BERMANPHOTOS.COM

RAYMOND W. HOLMAN, JR., PHOTOS

PETE THOMPSON

PETE@NELEAFMAG.COM

BOBBY NUGGZ, FEATURES, PHOTOS JEFF PORTERFIELD, DESIGN MIKE RICKER, FEATURES MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING

SALES DIRECTOR

PACER STACKTRAIN, FEATURES

MICHAEL CZERHONIAK

ROB WHITE, PHOTOS

MICHAEL@NELEAFMAG.COM

BRUCE & LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES

CONNECT WITH NORTHEAST LEAF

Exclusive Cannabis Journalism @NORTHEAST LEAFMAG

# N O RT H E AS T L E A F

Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up the Harvest Issue of the Leaf!

We’ve been publishing our harvest issues for many years now and it continues to be one of my favorites.

7

There is something truly special about outdoor Cannabis – and the people who put their livelihoods or medicinal needs on the line to grow a plant for six or more months – with no guarantee of success. Welcome to farming! On top of the sacrifices and risks they face, they also face stigma about the quality of the product they have worked so hard to create and nurture.

@NELEAFMAG

ISSUU.COM/NWLEAF READ PAST ISSUES IN OUR FREE ONLINE ARCHIVE

But let me tell you this: Cannabis is a plant. And the natural expression of terpenes and flavors that the plant produces when exposed to sunlight can never be replicated in an indoor environment.

I encourage all of our readers to flip through our scenic harvest special, read the stories of true farm life and enjoy this magazine that we worked so hard on. But I also challenge you to purchase sungrown Cannabis and experience the plant in a natural form. Believe me when I say that while it may look different than indoor flower, it’s no less beautiful – and much more tasty than the mid-grade indoor Cannabis flooding the market.

WHAT IMPACT DO WE WANT OUR FAVORITE PLANT TO HAVE?

On a sustainability note, our planet, societies and industries are all at a turning point, with our futures decided by us as enlightened consumers.

Do we want synthetic, harmful products for our bodies?

Do we want hothouse-grown and pesticide-sprayed vegetables or weed? My vote goes to organic fruits and veggies for our families, and an agricultural system that gives back to the Earth.

So, what impact do we want our favorite plant to have on our planet?

Society votes and decides its future with dollars, and I hope that everyone reading this gives outdoor Cannabis a try.

It supports both the farmer and the environment. Not to mention, both your head and your heart will thank you for it!

As always, thank you for reading – and please enjoy our Harvest Issue while sampling the bounty of this year’s crop!

-Wes Abney NOV. 2020

NELEAFMAG.COM

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

NORTHEAST| LEAF MAG

ABNEY

JENNMARIE CASTIGLIONE, FEATURES

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY

WES

N O RT H E AS T L E A F

NATIONAL NEWS

THE FEDS

northwest

U.S. AIR FORCE WILL NOT CHANGE CANNABIS STANCE

T

he U.S. Air Force has no plans to change its policies regarding marijuana use by airmen, reported Air Force Magazine on October 16. Any change, in fact, would require an act of Congress.

Chief Master Sergeant JoAnne S. Bass’ office released a statement that “although some state and local laws have legalized the medicinal and recreational use of marijuana, it is still prohibited for use by military members.”

“At this time, the Air Force does not plan to reexamine this policy,” USAF spokesperson Ann Stefanek said.

FEDS SEIZE MORE THAN A TON OF CANNABIS

U

.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of Buffalo in New York seized more than a ton of marijuana hidden in a commercial shipment on October 15.

Officers assigned to the Peace Bridge inspected a shipment of 20 pallets and discovered 2,410 pounds of Cannabis packaged in 2,145 vacuum-sealed pouches, according to a CBP news release.

The seizure is being investigated by Homeland Security, according to CBP. The Buffalo Field Office covers 16 ports of entry in New York State, and says it has seized more than 42,000 pounds of marijuana between October 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020.

legalization

8

ILLINOIS RECREATIONAL SALES BREAK RECORDS

MEXICAN SENATE TO VOTE ON LEGALIZATION

I

M

llinois’ adult-use Cannabis industry continues to surge, even as many other businesses struggle to survive during the pandemic.

Statewide marijuana sales surpassed $67.6 million in September, reports CBS Chicago.

Adult-use Cannabis sales in August climbed nearly 5.8 percent over July, when the state had nearly $64 million in sales, according to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Sales of recreational weed have increased each month since February, which saw a slight drop in sales from January, the first month of legal weed in Illinois.

exico’s Senate will likely vote on a bill to legalize Cannabis sometime in October, according to the chamber’s majority leader, reports Marijuana Moment.

Mexico’s Supreme Court in April granted a second deadline extension to give legislators more time to enact the policy change, after the court in 2018 declared marijuana prohibition unconstitutional.

If the Senate passes the legalization bill, it will still have to go before the other house of the Mexican Congress, the Chamber of Deputies.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in August voiced support for the bill.

LONG LINES AS MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES OPEN IN MISSOURI

neleafmag.COM

T

he first licensed medical Cannabis dispensaries opened in Missouri in mid-October and they received an enthusiastic reception from patients, with long lines forming.

The shops are opening almost two years after Missouri voters approved a state constitutional amendment to allow the sale of medical marijuana, reports The Washington Post.

PRICES ARE INITIALLY HIGH, Patients need a doctor’s approval and a state medical marijuana card to BECAUSE MISSOURI’S SUPPLY OF CANNABIS IS LIMITED. buy Cannabis at a dispensary. Prices are initially high, because Missouri’s supply of Cannabis is limited. N’Bliss, a dispensary with outlets in Ellisville and Manchester, was charging a whopping $125 an eighth for marijuana when it opened October 17.

The Missouri Department of Health and Human Services expects most of the state’s 192 licensed dispensaries to open by year’s end.

33

medical marijuana dispensaries are operated by the Cannabis chain CuraLeaf in Florida.

nov. 2020

60

patients in Pennsylvania must choose between going to jail or giving up their medical Cannabis.

192

medical marijuana dispensaries have been approved to open in Missouri by the end of 2020.

CHALLENGE TO WASHINGTON STATE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT RETURNED TO STATE COURT

A

federal judge on October 5 sent a legal challenge to the state’s residency requirement for Cannabis licensing back to state court, reports Marijuana Business Daily.

U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Settle wrote in his order that while he does have jurisdiction, case law indicates federal courts should abstain until questions involving state law have been resolved.

Idaho businessman Todd Brinkmeyer, the plaintiff, claims that Washington’s residency requirement violates the U.S. and Washington state constitutions, and that state regulators got a bit over their skis in exerting their rule-making authority.

The case sparked tension between the Washington CannaBusiness Association and the state AG after Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office filed a brief in the federal THE CASE SPARKED court case claiming “no protections exist for a TENSION BETWEEN THE WASHINGTON federally illegal marijuana activity.”

CANNABUSINESS That prompted a sharply worded letter from ASSOCIATION AND WACA Executive Director Vicki Christopherson.

THE STATE AG “Your position that our state’s Cannabis industry does not enjoy the same protections as every other lawful Washington business undermines the will of state voters who overwhelmingly approved the creation of a legal marketplace in 2012.”

politics

STATES INCLUDING N.J., ARIZONA, SOUTH DAKOTA AND MONTANA HAVE LEGALIZATION ON BALLOT

B

esides New Jersey’s initiative, which is expected to pass, three other states – Arizona, South Dakota and Montana – also have adult-use initiatives on their November ballots. Mississippians will vote on a bill allowing medical Cannabis sales.

If all measures pass, medical Cannabis will be legal in 38 states, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico, and adult-use will be legal in 14 of those plus D.C. In Arizona, a measure similar to this year’s Proposition 205 narrowly failed in 2016. This year’s measure has 46 percent support, with 34 percent opposed and about 20 percent undecided, according to a Suffolk University/USA Today Network poll. Montana’s I-190 and South Dakota’s Constitutional Amendment A would legalize marijuana possession and use for adults 21 and older.

Alongside tax revenue and job creation, social justice is another potent argument for legalization on both the state and federal levels.

“The war on drugs has historically and continues to disproportionately target communities of color,” said David Abernathy, Vice President of research and consulting for Arcview Group, based in Oakland.

6,400 $250k $431m transactions were recorded

by Maine’s eight adult-use shops in the first week of recreational sales.

worth of Cannabis was sold by Maine’s eight adult-use shops on opening weekend in October.

of Cannabis has been sold in Illinois since legalization was first enacted less than a year ago in January 2020.

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

perspective

by

MIKE RICKER

Gratitude is being thankful for life’s challenges, as it is overcoming them that makes the human experience so rewarding.

Shit’s fucked up. We all know it.

Please pardon my English. But don’t stop reading, because this is where we make it all better!

Now, it is not necessary to laundry list the details of why shit is fucked up – the current affairs to which this statement refers are glaringly obvious.

And the whole mess is depressing. Which creates the greatest paradox in human history: Although we have more conveniences and luxury time than ever before, it feels like there is less to be positive about. Our oceans are choking, our air is gaining color, and we are publicly prevented from expressing ourselves through smiles and hugs.

I know, it’s a lot. Even my laptop has a virus.

So, why is this happening? Well, I’m not a licensed therapist (just a professional stoner), but it is my opinion that we have become hostages of modern technology. And it’s happened at such an accelerated rate that there hasn’t been time to acclimate psychologically, because as this drivethru culture offers instant access to everything, we’re struggling to fully understand and appreciate it. We have become dangerously accustomed to easy food, shelter and companionship without acknowledging the cost of resources that have allowed us this proliferation. Meanwhile, the ticking time bomb is down to 007 with no James Bond to disengage.

But here’s the deal: Shit can change. In fact, it will change. Because that’s all anything does, every moment of every day. This is universal law. And if you’ve paid attention, you know there’s always a calm before and after a storm until the next storm, ad infinitum. You aren’t going to change the course of history—let’s be real. And starting a revolution from your couch takes an awful lot of time and effort ,and you’re not in the mood anyway. So, instead of changing THE world, change YOUR world. Which will change THE world for YOU. And that’s all that really matters. The revolution starts in your head. It’s a personal revolution, a lifestyle change.

And this doesn’t necessarily mean adopting a new diet per se, it means

Here’s the drill: You begin your day annoyed by the rudeness of your alarm. Begrudgingly, you drag the body from the warm sheets with a full bladder. But before the garage door eyelids fully lift, you unfairly stub the big toe on the foot of the dresser, sending a shockwave through the system. There are two ways to react: positively or negatively. You either say to yourself, “Damn, what a lousy way to start the day. This hurts and bad things are always happening to me.” Or you take the position of, “Boy, did that wake me up. My toe needed a good crack and now that I’ve felt pain, I will have a deeper appreciation for pleasure. This is gonna be a great day!” The point is that your perception is all that matters. Whichever angle you take does not change the event, only the experience you gain from it.

9

You want positive experiences, so change your acceptance of what is.

There is no un-stubbing the toe and life is actually quite fair. Not easy, but fair. Transform anger into gratitude, because gratitude is transformative. It is that simple.

Gratitude is more imperative than ever right now. And in this time of giving thanks, remember that giving means getting. Reasonably doing your best in every situation brings light into your heart. Which stretches the heart.

Take a deep breath right now, slowly exhale and feel the tightness of the body’s most vital muscle melt away the claustrophobia, while the expansion of the chest brings the relief of open space. You are inviting quenching sustenance into your life and the subtle intoxication of positivity can become addictive. It begins with you, one moment at a time, one idea at a time, one brick at a time until you have a bridge built that is indefatigable.

The external tempest can be silenced. Make the investment. Become acutely aware of life — the wind coalescing with the leaves, a child’s giggle, the patter of a dog’s wagging tail, silence. And recognize your place within it, your importance. Why are you important? Because you emanate gratitude. You are becoming part of the solution.

Gratitude is being thankful for life’s challenges, as it is overcoming them that makes the human experience so rewarding.

Gratitude is infectious. Like a virus.

NOV. 2020

NELEAFMAG.COM

For thousands of years when the tummy rumbled, you had to work to fill it. Now, just about every basic human need is handled with one point of your finger, creating a surplus of idle time. And that can lead to boredom, which can lead to worrying about losing what you already have and the possibility of having to go without. And that can escalate anxiety and a lack of satisfaction.

reorganizing your mindset. It’s about approaching ideas differently, flipping the script, incorporating optimism for pessimism and making it a practice.

This is the philosophy. No matter what happens to you, the way you deal with anything is completely your choice. Change your perception and you change the outcome.

LOCAL NEWS neleaFmag.COM

10

Vermont Vermont has legalized retail sales of marijuana. Gov. Phil Scott announced that he will not veto the state’s long-awaited Cannabis commercialization measure, allowing the bill to become law.

After the state House and Senate approved the bill to legalize marijuana sales last month, Cannabis advocates anxiously awaited Gov. Scott’s decision. The measure that went before Gov. Scott is a compromise version of retail sales bills previously passed by both chambers of the Legislature.

The governor had expressed concerns about the bill, specifically how it handled impaired driving and taxes, but it remained unclear if he would veto the measure.

Ultimately, Gov. Scott decided not to block retail sales in Vermont and allowed the bill to take effect without his signature.

While the governor acknowledged efforts by legislators to tweak the bill to address his concerns, he also noted the measure’s “shortcomings.”

Gov. Scott stated that the legislation falls short in addressing public health and safety, as well as social equity, which he said is not “meaningfully incorporated into this bill.” The governor hopes to see these and other concerns addressed in the next legislative session.

Gov. Scott did sign a separate bill to allow automatic expungements of minor Cannabis crimes. The new law automatically clears convictions for pot possession of up to two ounces, as well as four mature and eight immature plants.

Vermont became the first state to legalize Cannabis through the legislative process in 2018, allowing possession of up to an ounce of Cannabis and five grams of concentrates, as well as cultivation of two plants for adults 21 and older. But that law did not establish retail sales of Cannabis. With this new legislation, Vermont becomes the second state to legalize adult-use sales through the legislature, after Illinois did so in 2019.

The marijuana sales bill will establish a Cannabis Control Commission that will issue licenses for retail shops, cultivators, manufacturers and labs.

The Commission will also oversee the state’s medical Cannabis program.

BERNIE BACKS BU D Photo by Michael Vadon

NOV. 2020

Legalizes Pot Sales

The new law also sets a potency cap, limiting flower to 30 percent THC and concentrates to 60 percent THC. Additionally, local jurisdictions must decide whether to allow pot shops to open in their town by opting in to the program. Those jurisdictions can then add additional fees to the retail Cannabis.

A financial analysis of the new law estimates that the state can bring in anywhere between $13.3 million and $24.2 million a year in tax revenue by 2025.

A timeline for the bill has the legislation officially taking effect October 1, 2020, however, retail sales are likely still a long way off. The law calls for dispensary licenses to be issued by October 1, 2022, with sales beginning some time after licenses are awarded.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders approves of his state’s latest legislative efforts. Sanders sent a congratulatory tweet after Vermont Gov. Phil Scott decided not to veto a bill legalizing Cannabis sales. The new law makes Vermont the 11th state to tax and regulate marijuana. Vermont also approved a measure establishing automatic expungements. However, pleased as he may have been, Senator Sanders couldn’t help including a little message for the feds in his missive: “Let me congratulate the state Legislature for making Vermont the 11th state in the country to legalize marijuana and also for expunging past marijuana convictions. Now, it is time for Congress and the federal government to end the war on drugs and legalize marijuana nationwide.”

Senator Sanders is a longtime supporter of legalization. Recognizing that the country’s outdated marijuana laws ruin lives, Sanders vowed to legalize Cannabis at the federal level on his first day in office if elected president.

Sanders has been outspoken about reforming marijuana laws and believes that legalization can help reform law enforcement. “State after state have moved to legalize marijuana, and it is time for the federal government to do the same,” he said. “When we talk about police department reform, we must end police officers continuing to arrest, search or jail the people of our country, predominantly people of color, for using marijuana.”

While Sanders hasn’t been able to convince Joe Biden to take up the legalization mantle, he remains an important voice in marijuana-law reform.

Vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris recently publicly committed to federal decriminalization and expunging Cannabis conviction records.

THINK OF TH E

CHILDREN! It’s about to get even more difficult for children to access medical Cannabis in Massachusetts. Most pediatric Cannabis patients in the state are treated

by Dr. Eric Ruby. However, Dr. Ruby announced he will retire at the end of October, leaving adolescent pot patients and their parents in a difficult situation.

The state medical Cannabis program requires pediatric patients to obtain recommendations for marijuana from two certified physicians. Additionally, one of the recommendations must come from a pediatrician. This process can prove difficult, as few doctors specializing in pediatrics are certified to prescribe pot.

The majority of children who use Cannabis to treat debilitating conditions in Massachusetts have obtained access to marijuana through Dr. Ruby. He is the primary caregiver for 54 pediatric Cannabis patients. Some of those children had been looking for a doctor to prescribe Cannabis for a year before they found Dr. Ruby. When he retires, those patients will need to find a new doctor qualified to recommend medical Cannabis.

Currently, only 12 physicians and three nurse practitioners are certified by the state and specialize in pediatrics, according to the Cannabis Control Commission. And, the state is required to keep the names of those caregivers confidential. Consequently, Dr. Ruby can’t even offer his patients referrals, as he doesn’t know which physicians are qualified to prescribe Cannabis and work with children.

Some parents who were lucky enough to find a new physician qualified to prescribe medical Cannabis and work with children reported doctor visits costing $200-$300. Dr. Ruby charged just $75.

New regulations could increase the number of state-certified doctors allowed to recommend Cannabis to children. The new rules would immediately allow 49 family care physicians and 30 specialists to work with pediatric patients. The Cannabis Control Commission plans to put the proposed regulations to a vote at the end of October.

Photo by Girl With Red Hat

INSIDE THE MASSACHUSETTS

MARIJUANA MARKET A new, detailed breakdown of Cannabis sales in Massachusetts in the month of August provides an inside look at the state’s booming marijuana market in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the report published by New Cannabis Ventures, recreational and medical marijuana in Massachusetts combined to bring in nearly $100 million in sales in August 2020. The $98.2 million generated by the state’s adult-use and medical Cannabis markets in August was seven percent higher than the previous month.

Flower remained the most popular category, accounting for 49 percent of sales for the month – generating $47.8 million. Concentrates were the second largest category with almost 26 percent of the market, as sales totaled $25.2 million. Vape products, which are counted as part of the concentrates category, brought in $18.5 million in revenue, good for 73 percent of all

concentrate sales. If counted as its own category, vape products would account for 19 percent of the marijuana market in Massachusetts.

The ingestibles category is made up of edibles and sublinguals. Ingestibles accounted for nearly 14 percent of all Cannabis sales in August, or $13.5 million. However, edibles made up the overwhelming majority of sales in this category, generating $11.6 million, or 86 percent of ingestibles. Sublinguals accounted for 14 percent of the category. Pre-rolls, which are tracked separately from flower sales, brought in $10.3 million, which is more than 10 percent of the total revenue for August.

Compared to July, sales of flower (up seven percent), pre-rolls (up five percent) and edibles (up 8 percent) all increased in August 2020. Year-todate sales of Cannabis in Massachusetts through August have generated more than $510.9 million.

STORIES by MIKE GIANAKOS @MIKEGEEZEEY

11

LOCAL NEWS

>> Conti nued from pg. 11

12

Maine Opens for Business After a delay of nearly four years, adult-use Cannabis sales officially began in Maine on October 9. Anyone 21 and older with a valid ID can now purchase pot products in the Pine Tree State.

According to the Office of Marijuana Policy (OMP), opening day of recreational retail sales brought in a total of $94,643.38. Six shops opened their doors to the public on October 9, as the first day of legal sales generated $9,464.34 in tax revenue.

Over opening weekend, the OMP reported $250,000 in Cannabis sales and roughly 6,400 transactions.

Despite long lines at retail locations, the launch of adult-use sales went smoothly. OMP director Erik Gundersen felt the opening “[Was a] success from our vantage point.”

However, the start of sales in Maine was not entirely without issue.

While nine retail shops had active licenses on October 9, only six were open on the first day of sales due to a shortage of tested marijuana.

State law requires adult-use Cannabis to be tested at a licensed facility before it can be stocked and sold.

The shortage caused retail shops to initially cap purchases at less than the state’s 2.5-ounce limit on flower. It also meant higher prices for recreational pot. An eighth of Cannabis sold for $55-$65 on opening weekend in Maine.

While that’s still lower than most retail prices in Massachusetts, it’s much more than the state’s medical patients pay.

However, officials and retailers anticipate prices dropping as the adult-use

Photo by Sharon Mccutcheon

program gets up to speed. As additional growers and testing facilities get licensed, shortages should be a thing of the past.

Overall, despite a long wait, the launch of retail sales was a success.

Maine was one of four states to approve a plan to tax and regulate Cannabis in 2016. But as the other states—California, Massachusetts and Nevada—all successfully launched retail sales programs, Maine lagged behind. Now, after nearly four years, the wait is over and the state can implement its adult-use plan in earnest.

neleaFmag.COM

NEW JERSEY Turns Tastemaker Photo by Kym MacKinnon

New Jersey voters will have the opportunity to legalize recreational Cannabis and implement a tax and regulate plan for the state this November. But there’s much more riding on the decision than simply having the option to legally purchase the occasional ounce. According to a new report from Marijuana Business Daily, billions of dollars in business opportunities hang in the balance this Election Day. Legal Cannabis in New Jersey is projected to bring in as much as $950 million in sales annually by 2024. But perhaps more importantly, establishing a recreational Cannabis industry in New Jersey could cause a domino effect that results in one of the world’s largest adult-use Cannabis regions.

NOV. 2020

Experts foresee four states—New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Rhode Island— joining New Jersey in legalizing pot. Those states boast a combined population of 37 million.

Roughly nine million people reside in New Jersey.

While the governors of New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut have all been vocal about their support for legalization previously, a regulated marijuana industry in New Jersey could motivate the surrounding states to act. Not only would they be missing out on potential adult-use revenue, but they’d also be forced to watch as their residents eschew local medical Cannabis programs to purchase pot legally in New Jersey.

There’s every reason be believe Cannabis legalization will pass in the Garden State. Polling has consistently shown considerable support from voters. Most recently, the Stockton University Polling Institute found that 66 percent of likely voters were in favor of a “constitutional amendment legalizing marijuana in New Jersey” – with only 23 percent opposed.

Previous polls show support for the ballot initiative between 61 and 65 percent.

The Northeast currently has three recreational Cannabis states that allow retail sales: Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont. Assuming New Jersey legalizes in November and motivates New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Rhode Island to do likewise, the region will quickly become a pot powerhouse.

Photo by Terre di Cannabis

Green in the Garden State New Jersey’s Cannabis legalization ballot initiative is enjoying overwhelming support from likely voters. However, activists in the Garden State are not leaving anything to chance. According to campaign finance records, proponents of marijuana legalization have dramatically outraised opponents, to the tune of 130:1.

The two committees backing New Jersey’s tax and regulate measure have raised a combined $1.3 million. Meanwhile, the opposition – Don’t Let NJ Go to Pot – has raised a meager $10,000.

Supporters of the measure have used the funds to create pro-legalization commercials, aimed at bringing undecided voters over to their side.

Interestingly, the largest contributor to the legalization campaign is Scotts Miracle-Gro. The agro giant has so far dropped $800,000 into the effort to legalize Cannabis in New Jersey. And Scotts does have skin in the game when it comes to Cannabis – the company profits from pot through its hydroponics subsidiary, Hawthorne Gardening.

Another big name going to bat for legalization is New Jersey native Kevin Smith. The filmmaker, probably best known as Silent Bob, has officially endorsed the marijuana measure and is doing his best to convince his fellow voters on social media.

Connecticut

EYES HEMP So far, Connecticut has been unable to tax and regulate Cannabis like its neighbor to the north. However, the state is getting serious about Cannabis’ cousin – looking to expand its production of industrial hemp and recently aligning its pilot program with federal requirements. The move is a major step toward establishing a hemp industry in the Nutmeg State.

Gov. Ned Lamont extolled the virtues of hemp-derived CBD after signing a bill that conforms Connecticut’s hemp businesses to USDA standards. The state currently boasts approximately 170 hemp businesses and the crop is being grown on 500 acres of land. In order to legally be classified as hemp, and therefore not a controlled substance, hemp plants cannot contain more than 0.3 percent THC. Hemp farming produces the CBD in great demand for use in oils, lotions, candies and other products.

The federal requirements for hemp farming can make things difficult, and more costly, for smaller farms and businesses. However, legislators and businesses in Connecticut view compliance as the path to driving economic development and, eventually, establishing the state as the center of New England’s hemp industry.

Photo by Robert Nelson

STORIES by MIKE GIANAKOS @MIKEGEEZEEY

rehashed

Adult-Use Cannabis Sales Begin

sweet relief for maine!

OCT. 9, 2020 | NORTHPORT, ME

neleafmag.COM

14

>> Owner Johnny Lorenz, left, and Zak Hollingshead, who purchased the first legal Cannabis products that day, addressing a phalanx of media.

nov. 2020

J

ohnny Lorenz had a problem. It was two days before his adultuse Cannabis store, Sweet Relief Shop, was set to be one of the first six in the entire state of Maine to open on Friday, October 9 in Northport. Just one problem: His anticipated inventory for the day – two pounds of Alaskan Thunder Fuck – had just been snatched away by a bidder willing to pay twice as much.

Loyalty was hard to find on this day, especially when talking about the money a lobster fisherman could make in a month.

He turned 1 Priest Road into a source of pride among locals, with complete support for his Cannabis-related endeavors, which includes a small medical dispensary and medical grow.

Before Johnny left home that chilly Friday morning to open his store, I followed him down a path through the trees to the graves of his father and brother, where he laid down flowers and spoke to them. Sacred smoke from a moonrock-laced joint, all grown and made by Johnny, wafted through the air. Johnny was standing on the shoulders of giants: his father, who died almost two years ago to the day, and his descendants who could be traced all the way back to the Mayflower. There was a long history in his family of fighting and dying for freedom and independence.

The store was slated to open around 11:00 a.m. and the first customer arrived shortly after 9:00 a.m. ‘James,’ as he asked to be called, was BUT THIS IS ALSO MAINE. And the afternoon before a slightly disheveled 60-something white male he opened – as I sat in the dispensary parking lot who laughed and giggled nervously as he was bedoing a Zoom Cannabis speed networking sesing interviewed. A social worker, James has lived sion with a medical marijuana patient from Caliin Maine over 20 years and previously bought fornia – Johnny ran past in excitement saying the his Cannabis on the black market. “It would be deal was about to go down. His salvation came in ridiculous to travel to Massachusetts,” said James. the form of 230 pre-rolls of Gorilla Glue 4 sativa And for this adult-use opening day he chose and Mint Sherbert hybrid, courtesy of Cannabis Sweet Relief because, Cured Cultivation. as he said, “Portland’s “We are trying to find going to be swamped adult-use stores that need and I’m closer to here help in order to build long “IT’S A GREAT DAY FOR than Portland.” As news term relationships,” said MAINE, A GREAT DAY FOR media began to arrive Cannabis Cured CEO THE PEOPLE OF MAINE, AND for the grand opening, Mark Crockett. “I was born I’M REALLY EXCITED TO JOIN James disappeared from in mid-coast Maine and view. He did not expect grew up there. I’ve been THE NATIONAL COALITION nor want this kind of involved for seven years OF STATES THAT HAVE attention. in the Cannabis industry MADE THIS LEGAL AND However, Zak Hollingand my goal is to create DONE IT SUCCESSFULLY. shead, the Chair of the Maine jobs and revenue LET’S GET ROLLING!” Northport Selectboard, for Maine. I saw Johnny’s had championed Johnsituation as a way to help -ZAK HOLLINGSHEAD, CHAIR, ny’s efforts to open this a neighbor, nothing more NORTHPORT SELECTBOARD store and was proud to than that. It’s not a one be a visible symbol of time relationship, it’s a political support in this long term thing – prices region. He was also play a big role in the future. slated to make the first legal purchase of CannaWe’re going through growing pains right now but bis, but before he did so he spoke to a gaggle of ultimately we’ll find a place, an even keel where reporters, photographers and network TV affiliates everyone can benefit – and the state as well.” about this historic occasion.

History was about to be made at Johnny’s little “It’s been a long time coming,” said Hollings260-square-foot store in Coastal Maine. But head. “I think it’s great. I think it’s a shame it took Coastal Maine is not Portland. Before Johnny took so long for it to actually happen, but it’s hapit over, his location was known as one of the most pened! It’s a great day for Maine, a great day for run-down on Route 1, where they sold dead deer the people of Maine, and I’m really excited to join out of wheelbarrows – though it was also once an the national coalition of states that have made this antiques shop. Johnny changed all that.

legal and done it successfully. Let’s get rolling!”

Buyers on this first day were limited to six prerolled .75 gram joints at $15 each, which works out to about $560 an ounce – almost double the price of most medical Cannabis in Maine. As that first real customer ‘James’ left the dispensary, a reporter called out to ask a question and he ran away. James was followed by two other men. The first, seeing the media excitement over James, jogged away before he could be photographed or interviewed. The third man stopped and was willing to be interviewed. When asked how he felt about making his historic purchase, he blurted, “Shameful!” He was joking, but those were the first words out of his mouth. And so the stigma around Cannabis remains.

Jill Polster, Managing Partner at Cohen Law Maine, a law firm offering legal services to Maine Cannabis entrepreneurs, said, “It was a long time coming to say the least. Maine decriminalized marijuana in 1976. Possession of 4.5 grams of flower would have been a civil penalty and treated like a speeding ticket.”

So, how was the opening weekend of adult-use Cannabis for the state of Maine? According to Maine’s Office of Marijuana Policy, six marijuana stores were open to the public in some capacity over the long weekend from Friday to Monday, October 9 to 12.

Total sales dollars: $258,411.58.

Total number of transactions: 6,430.

Total sales tax collected: $25,841.16.

As for Johnny’s store? He was completely sold out of his 230 pre-rolls by 3:30 p.m. – total transactions: 68. And taxes on those 230 pre-rolls: $345. An inauspicious, but real start to the future.

On a side note, none of Johnny’s CBD products or stickers on display were sold. “No one even looked or talked about my CBD items!” said Johnny. “Just the pre-rolls.”

So, when will Johnny get his next supply and be able to re-open?

“I will have to open and close as I am able to get product,” said Johnny.

“It’s less than ideal. It will take months for plants to be grown exclusively in the adult-use program, and for the slow supply chain to catch up. We need many, many growers with bigger farms in order for fair prices to be attained, similar to the Maine Medical Program.”

And what did Zak Hollingshead do with his historic first purchases of pre-rolls at Sweet Relief?

“What else is there to do with them?” Zak asked.

“They were enjoyed, responsibly!”

S W E E T R E L I E F S H O P / 1 P R I E S T R D , N O R T H P O R T, M E / ( 2 0 7 ) 9 3 0 - 5 4 3 0 / M A I N E M E D I C A L M A R I J U A N A . B L O G S P O T. C O M

STORY by GILBERT GJERSVIK for NORTHEAST LEAF | PHOTOS by ROB WHITE @ROB_WHITE_PHOTOGRAPHER

15

highly likely

16

Highly Likely highlights Cannabis pioneers who paved the way to greater herbal acceptance.

Jack herer

OFTEN AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS THE ‘EMPEROR OF HEMP ’ OR THE ‘FATHER OF CANNABIS LEGALIZATION,’ JACK HERER WAS A TIRELESS SUPPORTER OF OUR FAVORITE PLANT. LOOKING BACK AT HIS LIFE HERE AND NOW – SOME FIVE YEARS AFTER LEGALIZATION HAS TAKEN HOLD FOR MUCH OF THE COUNTRY – IT CAN BE EASY TO FORGET JUST HOW RISKY IT WAS A FEW DECADES AGO TO STICK YOUR NECK OUT FOR CANNABIS FREEDOM.

neleafmag.COM

C

ONTRARY TO WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK, Jack Herer

was not an ‘early adopter’ of Cannabis. After a stint in the US military, he retired to civilian life in the suburbs. Herer was as conservative as they came back then.

In the documentary “Emperor of Hemp,” he says, “I had done three years in the military, I was ride-or-die. I believed that America was always the good guy. That we were always the most decent, right-on people on the earth.”

Of protestors and hippies, he said, “I thought they were the most un-American kids in the whole world.” Herer saw what was then known as marijuana as one of the primary culprits in radicalizing youth against the American establishment.

It was after a divorce in 1967, when Jack started dating again, that one of his girlfriends asked him if he’d like to try some Cannabis. The rest is history. “I was feeling sensations that I didn’t know a human being could feel – and I asked her, ‘How is this illegal?’ And she said, ‘I don’t know.’”

Thus began Herer’s quest for Cannabis knowledge. After a few years of study, he published the book GRASS (Great Revolutionary American Standard System) with friend and cartoonist Al Emmanuel. The book was a

nov. 2020

that the legalization of Cannabis started to enter secular culture in the 1980s and 90s. One of the book’s most impressive claims is one that resonates today: Hemp could replace fossil fuels as a way to power our modern life – and reduce the systematic destruction of our environment.

But beyond all of the scientific facts outlined in “The Emperor Wears No Clothes,” it’s the insidious, deceitful history of prohibition in the United States that truly resonated the most with readers. Here, laid out for the first time was the history of how the government of the supposed ‘land of the free’ had lied to its citizenry for almost a century. surprise hit, selling over 30,000 copies in its first These were the powerful facts and ideas that Jack printing. It made Herer into a sort of Cannabis Herer brought to the world through his writings. guru overnight – which soon connected him to Suddenly, those with ears to listen a whole community of people and eyes to see could perceive a whose knowledge of the plant His legacy world where Cannabis usage was far surpassed his own. He then lives on in normalized. Herer continued his quest began his serious research of the the books he’s for the next three decades – writing hidden history of Cannabis, which published and speaking to whomever would led him to his eventual campaign and, of course, listen to his plea for legalization. to legalize hemp – a plant Herer via the strain Herer passed away a few thought could save the world. of Cannabis days before 4/20 in 2010, from In 1979, he and his partner that bears his complications of a heart attack he ‘Captain Ed’ opened the world’s name. suffered after speaking at a Portland, first hemp store in Venice Beach, Oregon legalization rally. For California. In 1983, as Reagan’s Portlanders, his Third Eye Shoppe was one of the war on drugs raged, he was arrested under an places where one could still pay their respects to the arcane law for signing up voters after dark near ‘Father of Cannabis Legalization’ (it closed in 2017). a federal building. While in prison, he started to His legacy lives on in the books he’s published write his next book. and, of course, via the strain of Cannabis that bears That second book, “The Emperor Wears his name. And that’s what this column is really No Clothes,” provided a culture desperate for about: people who have the guts to say something information new knowledge of an ancient plant. in public that might go against overwhelming public The book (which is a must in any Cannabis-lover’s sentiment – because they feel that people need to library) is a sort of compendium of knowledge know. Jack Herer was that type of person, and we all about the history of the plant, disseminated in an enjoy our current freedoms with Cannabis because easy-to-digest manner. While the book extols the of his work. virtues of hemp, it is also one of the primary ways

STORY by PACER STACKTRAIN for LEAF NATION | PHOTO by MALCOLM MACKINNON | MALCOLMMACKINNON.COM

CANNA PROVISIONS

John Pitha is a true Berkshire’s original. As the resident Boomer and expert guide for Canna Provisions, his consultative and near inexhaustible encyclopedic knowledge of the plant makes him a valuable educator – not to mention the go-to inside man for the canna-curious hailing from his generation, looking for a peer to learn from and trust his recommendations, which almost always ends with repeat visits.

If there was a salt-of-the-earth weed Yoda, it would look and sound a lot like John Pitha.

220 HOUSATONIC ST. LEE, MA (413) 225-4085 @CANNAPROVISIONSGROUP CANNAROVISIONSGROUP.COM

John Pitha

BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH

INTERVIEW & PHOTOS by DAN MCCARTHY @ACUTALPROOF for NORTHEAST LEAF

WHAT HAS CANNABIS DONE FOR YOU PERSONALLY ALL THESE YEARS?

It’s really helped me to manage myself and figure out who I was. I’m so happy to have an opportunity to help people manage their daily lives through Cannabis, without it being an intrusion. That’s how I view Cannabis – it’s another tool to manage your daily life. I’m pretty passionate about it, and about being an activist for Cannabis freedom.

HOW DID YOU ENTER THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY? (Laughs) I answered a job

fair ad in a local newspaper when Canna Provisions was about to open the Lee store.

Also, is there anything more 20th century than a job fair ad in paper? My wife saw it and said, ‘You have to go, this is made for you.’ And I thought: What do I have to lose? A week after interviewing they said I got the job and I immediately accepted. I didn’t even care what it paid.

SINGLE BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED ON THE JOB? Customer service is everything. Everything. Probably the biggest thing I learned about it I learned from (Canna Provisions founders) Meg and Erik, which is simple: Meet customers where they are in Cannabis use, and simply better their journey.

We ask, ‘Tell me about your Cannabis experiences.’ ‘What do you hope to get this time?’ ‘Let’s see if I can help you get that experience, or as close to it as I can guide you to.’

WHAT’S THE VALUE OF BEING A GUIDE VERSUS JUST ANOTHER POINT-OF-SALE BUDTENDER? I get to listen to other people’s Cannabis

experiences and compare and contrast with my own. When you share a commonality of experience, or an understanding of personal needs, that makes you a very approachable and trusted guide in Cannabis retail.

NORTHEAST LEAF

Budtender of the Month “CANNABIS TO ME IS A WAY OF MANAGING THE CONSTANT STRESSES OF LIFE.” I take that trust very seriously, and I won’t sell something to someone if I don’t think it’s right based on what they have communicated to me, effect or product-wise. I want to associate myself and my role as a guide as someone who is trusted and gives good advice. Period.

People that have come to the store curious and seeking Cannabis are already encouraged enough to come see me. I just have to help them get there through the noise and zero in on the best products from the best selection for the best customer experience. The world is a very, very stressful environment, much more so right now. Cannabis to me is a way of managing the constant stresses of life.

IT’S OFTEN SEEN AS A FAR SUPERIOR AND HEALTHIER CHOICE THAN ALCOHOL. My parents abused alcohol and I made my mind up early

that it’s not for me, and my wife had a similar experience. And we both have always used Cannabis to manage daily stress. Say when kids would go to bed, we’d take a couple hits and reconnect and unload the day’s problems, sleep a peaceful sleep, and get up and do it again.

THERE’S A PHILOSOPHY THERE, I THINK. That’s what life is. The act of figuring out how to get up each day and just do it again.

> > W h o ’ s y o u r f a v o r i t e b u d t e n d e r ? Te l l u s w h y ! E m a i l n o m i n a t i o n s t o d a n @ n e l e a f m a g . c o m

neleafmag.COM

WHAT’S THE SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS AS A GUIDE? People tend to gravitate to me because my consultative style is like that of a trusted friend.

And I respect that trust, and work very hard to get them the experience they are hoping for. I can’t promise it, because Cannabis is really about individual experience and response to the plant, but I can work hard to get them where they want to be. And if you just let people talk, they’ll tell you everything about themselves.

17

PATIENT of the month

Leo Bridgewater New Jersey Cannabis Activist | Veteran | Businessman

neleafmag.COM

18

In the days PC (Pre-COVID), if you went to a Cannabis event, symposium, march or rally in the Tri– – State area, it was very likely you would see Leo Bridgewater.

And if you didn’t see him, you would hear him, because Leo enters a room–– any place, actually – with a boundless enthusiasm and passion for Cannabis.

In particular, Cannabis in New Jersey.

Officially Leo – 45-years-old and a card-holding New Jersey medical marijuana patient – is the Chief Innovation Officer for CWCB Education, an outgrowth of the Cannabis World Congress Business Expo, for which he is on the advisory board. He is also the National Director of Veterans Outreach for Minorities for Medical Marijuana, sits on the social equity sub-committee for the National Hemp Association and is a member of the Cannabis Cultural Association.

“The times I get to be 100 percent right about anything are very few and far between,” said Leo. “So when it comes to this Cannabis thing, I’m 100 percent right and I conduct myself in such a manner. That’s why I charge into rooms like I do!”

The day that I met with Leo, though, was one of defeat. The war wasn’t lost, just one battle, but it was an important one. That morning at 9:30 a.m. the Supreme Court of the United States turned down a petition for a Writ of Certiorari in the case of Washington, Belen and the Cannabis Cultural Association v. William Pelham Barr. Leo, as a member of the CCA, was included as one of the petitioners in the case. “We were challenging the constitutionality of Cannabis being a Schedule I drug.

This was the closest shot that Cannabis came to being federally legal, probably ever, and most people don’t even know that shit was happening!”

nov. 2020

“ Thi s w a s the c l o s e s t s ho t tha t C a nna bi s c a m e to be i ng f e de ra l l y l e ga l , pro ba bl y eve r, and most people don’t even know t ha t s hi t w a s ha ppe ni ng!

Defeat, however, is not an option for Leo. “I’m a former soldier in the United States Army. I’m hardheaded, so the fight just continues. If I go down, I’m gonna give them hell on the way down,” he said.

Leo was born and raised in Trenton and now lives in the Mill Hill section, famous in American history for the Second Battle of Trenton – considered to be a turning point in the Civil War. But the years after he left Trenton upon graduation from Trenton Central High School have formed, and informed him, in ways he probably couldn’t have imagined. He went to college in North Carolina and was living there when 9/11 happened.

Less than two months later he had enlisted in the Army and would serve as a specialist fighting in Iraq.

“I have seen and done the worst that man can do to a man on a continuous basis,” said Leo. “And when

that happens it changes your value system real quick.

Money for me is not a motivator. I’m not into platinum and diamonds and the rings and Ferraris – that stuff is cool – but it’s just not for me.”

Leo did not try Cannabis until he was a sophomore in college. “I was a late bloomer and it was actually a blunt. I didn’t smoke cigarettes, so I was green-green! ... I was ignorant to the whole thing.”

Leo’s Cannabis education was put on hold during his time in the military, but it was a nighttime parachuting accident during Airborne School training in 2002 that brought him into the fold of using Cannabis medicinally. “I did the cardinal sin they tell you not to do: I clinched up. I tore my knees up and had to have a couple of surgeries.”

He didn’t receive his first official New Jersey medical

marijuana card until 2015, and it was at the time when a battle buddy of his was about to commit suicide.

“Somehow or another I was able to get him on the phone and was able to talk to him long enough, and the cops got to him and they got him checked into the VA. He started getting the help that he needed and what did me in was at that point, I realized this (Cannabis) actually wasn’t an option for him.”

Leo closes the door to his study and searches his phone, then hands it to me. I listen to the voicemail message left by this Army buddy, thanking him literally for saving his life. I hand Leo back his phone. “Now you get a little bit more insight as to why I talk the way that I talk, and do the things that I do,” said Leo. “That 22 veteran suicides a day, that shit’s fucking real. It’s five a week in New Jersey.”

Did I mention that Leo has his own strain of weed, BridgeH20, sold through the Harmony Dispensary in Secaucus? When we started the interview, Leo accidentally rolled himself a joint of it to smoke for some photographs.

“Oh snap, I made a mistake!” he said. His strain is very strong, and he was going for something a little less potent. At the end of the interview as he finished off a second joint of his strain, for the photographs of course, he was asked how he felt.

He said one word, and one word was enough.

“Righteous!”

STORY by GILBERT GJERSVIK for NORTHEAST LEAF | PHOTOS by RAYMOND HOLMAN, JR @RAYMONDLOVE2PHOTO

19

profile

women in weed

FOUN DE R & CE O | ARD ENT ATTOR NE Y A ND ADVO CATE

SHANEL LINDSAY

As a Cannabis attorney and businesswoman, Shanel Lindsay has been able to improve the lives of Massachusetts’ recreational pot users and medical patients alike.

neleafmag.COM

20

Lindsay began using marijuana recreationally in her late teens. She soon realized the medicinal value of Cannabis, however, after discovering its efficacy in treating a painful ovarian cyst. This life-changing realization started her on a quest to create the ideal preparation for pot-infused ingestibles.

Lindsay experimented with Cannabis edibles for over 10 years as she fine-tuned the process for preparing her medicine. As she diligently studied the edibles market, Lindsay found that many of the ingestibles she encountered lacked consistent dosages. Patients seeking reliable relief from Cannabis-infusions would often receive too much or not nearly enough medication to treat their aliments.

Understanding the importance of accurate dosage and recognizing the need for a simple and repeatable method for creating infused ingestibles, Lindsay founded her Cannabis company, Ardent. After teaming up with scientists at MCR Labs, she invented the NOVA Decarboxylator & Infuser. The NOVA was an important advancement in Lindsay’s mission to help patients and consumers create accurate, effective Cannabis edibles at home.

WHILE LINDSAY’S DESIRE TO IMPROVE EDIBLES FOR ALL CANNABIS CONSUMERS LED HER TO THE BUSINESS WORLD, SHE’S EQUALLY DEDICATED TO ADVOCATING FOR MARIJUANA-LAW REFORM. nov. 2020

Unlike some other infusion devices, the NOVA is a decarboxylator. This is a necessary process for making Cannabis edibles, as decarboxylation activates the THC and CBD in Cannabis. The NOVA’s decarb function is lab-tested to get the most out of your flower, kief and concentrates.

The device then uses the activated Cannabis to infuse butter or oil, which is used to create edibles or topicals to treat a variety of ailments – or for the user’s enjoyment.

Always striving to advance the edibles-making process, Lindsay recently unveiled the new Ardent FX, which fully activates a wide range of cannabinoids and allows users to decarboxylate, extract, infuse and even bake in one device.

While Lindsay’s desire to improve edibles for all Cannabis consumers led her to the business world, she’s equally dedicated to advocating for marijuana-law reform.

Lindsay came to understand the importance of fighting the injustices of the War on Drugs as a young attorney when she was arrested for simple pot possession.

While driving to work, Lindsay was caught with less than half an ounce during a traffic stop.

Massachusetts decriminalized Cannabis back in 2008, so her encounter with the cops should have resulted in nothing more than a ticket.

Unfortunately, the overzealous officer arrested Lindsay and impounded her car. She was about to be arraigned in the same court where she represented clients, but was able to talk her way out of the criminal charges thanks to her extensive legal training.

Lindsay recalls, “Basically, my whole career could have been over and that was a real wakeup call. I thought [the treatment of Cannabis users in Massachusetts] was getting better, but

obviously it’s not. So, how are we going to make an impact and improve things?”

Lindsay points out that decriminalization doesn’t provide the protections many believe it does. Ultimately, Cannabis remains against the law under decrim measures and it’s easy for authorities to get around those rules if they are so inclined. That’s all the more reason, she believes, people need to fight for real legislation that allows Cannabis use for all adults.

That run-in with the police “was the genesis of Ardent and my desire to both be a part of the Cannabis industry and change the laws around [pot possession].”

Lindsay had the opportunity to help change Cannabis law in Massachusetts as an author of the state’s adult-use marijuana law. Massachusetts’ voters approved the tax and regulate plan Lindsay helped write in 2016.

And Lindsay continued her advocacy following legalization. She was twice appointed by the state Treasurer to the Massachusetts Cannabis Advisory Board, which allows her to make recommendations to the Cannabis Control Commission. Additionally, she co-founded Equitable Opportunities Now with the goal of advocating for people of color to have a bigger stake in the legal marijuana industry.

While Lindsay believes Massachusetts has largely failed to live up to equity programs in the legalization bill, she continues to speak out for those most adversely impacted by the drug war. At the state level, she’s currently fighting to implement Cannabis delivery in Massachusetts as an exclusive equity pathway for the first two years of the program. Additionally, she works with communities by advising towns throughout the state on how to include equity plans at the local level.

Lindsay realizes how important it is to implement social equity programs at the start of a new legal Cannabis industry, as those opportunities disappear quickly once officials begin awarding business licenses. While Massachusetts didn’t deliver on a promising equity plan, Lindsay’s excited about the Northeast’s interest in enacting equity programs, as five states in the region could potentially join the Cannabis industry in the coming years. She remains hopeful other states will learn from Massachusetts’ shortcomings.

STORY by MICHAEL GIANAKOS/NORTHEAST LEAF | PHOTO by ARDENT

GET NORTHEAST LEAF

delivered right to your door

AND NEVER MISS AN ISSUE!

SUBSCRIBE TODAY FOR $6/

GLASS ART SPECIAL ISSUES

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT * FREE GIFT WITH 1-YR. SUBSCRIPTION *

PATIENT PROFILES

CANNABIS RECIPES

FE AT U

RE

S

MAGNIFICENT FLOWERS

EMAIL SUBSCRIBE@NELEAFMAG.COM TO GET SIGNED UP

company profile

WORCESTER, MA

THE SUMMIT LOUNGE

neleafmag.COM

22

Few have positively impacted the New England Cannabis region like The Summit Lounge. As the first of their kind to allow social use in the state, the private club has faced numerous challenges since the birth of their business and being shut down from the pandemic in March.

I hashed things out with Founder and Chief Operations Officer Kyle Moon, to hear his story.

We’re the first to discuss how the club has adjusted since just recently reopening their doors under more strict guidelines in August.

nov. 2020

Finally, a classy Cannabis social lounge on the East Coast. For those who may be unfamiliar, how does something like this work?

Well, it’s been an interesting road. It took about a year of planning and figuring things out. We started the process in January of 2017 and back then we really did not have another business model to work from. We were the first business of our kind in this state, so it was a lot of trial and error in the beginning. Our goal was, and still is, to create an environment for like-minded people to come together and enjoy everything the Cannabis community offers. We wanted to capture the essence of an Amsterdam cafe, but with a look and feel that is unique to New England. The way it works is similar to that of an Elks Lodge or VFW membership.

We offer recurring plans to those who want to make use of the club regularly, or you can pay per visit, but everyone who comes through the door is a member for life. When you come in, you are greeted by a staff member immediately. We check you in and then you’re free to enjoy all the amenities the club offers – a fun and

safe environment to consume, snacks, food to order, games, music, events, and the recently added coffee and tea. It’s always a good time and we enjoy providing a space for the community to come together.

What types of challenges have you faced as a business since COVID-19 hit?

COVID has been tough. We closed on March 15 with the government mandate and were really unsure of if or when we would be able to open up again. We were lucky enough to receive some aid from the federal government, but that did not come until a few months after we closed. It was actually the support of the community through donations and raffles that we were able to keep afloat initially – without them our doors would have been closed for good. We’re very grateful for that support. We were able to open back up on August 1, but the recreational/ entertainment/nightlife landscape has changed drastically. People are afraid to come out. Because we’re a small business, we really need to be operating at

full capacity to break even, which we are unable to do with the COVID-19 restrictions. It has been tough, but we’re happy to have the support of the community and our members through it.

A variety of social events revolve around Cannabis. What atmosphere and entertainment has The Summit been known for?

The Summit is known for first and foremost being a safe and comfortable atmosphere for those in the Cannabis community to meet, hold their events, collaborate and network. With the re-opening we hope to draw in those outside of the community who are curious about Cannabis and the benefits it offers, in an effort to break the stigma around it. We’re excited to move in this new direction and break into a more mainstream market where everyone feels welcomed and connected.

As a consumption lounge, in what new ways have you been able to pivot during these more difficult times? Has social media helped you stay afloat?

We knew that we could not sustain our daily operations after being closed during our peak time, so we actually had to pivot and introduce something new. It was vital to our ability to re-open. So, we ripped out the front of the lounge and remodeled it into a cafe. We’re happy to offer espresso drinks and tea in addition to the selection we had pre-COVID. Social media definitely played a huge role in our survival. We were able to offer some of our events online still so that helped, on a smaller scale of course. The ‘Save the Summit’ raffle hosted by the community was run exclusively on social media, and like I said before, was a huge factor in our survival during the pandemic.

What do you think the future of social consumption will look like now that we’ve faced a pandemic? Do you have a prediction or course of action to continue to draw in more customers and foot traffic?

I think the same rules apply – you always have to be ready for change.

With the shifting landscape surrounding Cannabis, we were always ready for a new challenge or another hurdle.

The best course of action – not only in this business, but this life – is to be adaptable to any change that comes your way. We are not currently trying so much to increase foot traffic, because with the restrictions we are already at capacity most of the time.

What we really need is the ability to operate at full capacity, in order to keep the lounge in business. We plan to keep doing what we’ve been doing, and hope to continue to provide a safe space for the community to come together.

You’ve tread some uncharted waters in Massachusetts. Can you let us know how you continue to impact your local community and ways our community members can do the same?

I grew up in the area, so it is also very important to us to give back locally where we can. We’ve worked with the Worcester Food Bank, NEVA (New England Veterans Alliance), Canines for Disabled Kids, and hope to do more in the future. Our goal moving forward is to continue to hold events around education and advocacy, contribute to the community, and create a safe and welcoming environment to both the seasoned Cannabis consumer and newcomers alike. We hope that we’ve created a community

“The best course of action – not only in this business, but this life – is to be adaptable to any change that comes your way.”

that will continue to thrive and evolve through the pandemic and inspire the community to keep going, especially when the going gets tough. When all is said and done: push limits, stay curious, educate yourself, be solid and consistent in your beliefs.

We have endlessly had to face adversity in the wide world of Cannabis. Always being pushed aside and looked down upon for choosing this lifestyle, so it’s few and far between when it comes to safe places for Cannabis consumers to truly feel welcome, hang out and chill.

From Colorado, Los Angeles to Barcelona, I’ve been blessed to travel and visit many social clubs and they’re all memorable and unique.

When you do find yourself visiting Massachusetts, take note that The Summit Lounge is a Cannabis friendly destination. Drop in and become a member, grab yourself a freshly made latte or cappuccino, and support local businesses in a time of need.

THE SUMMIT LOUNGE 116 WATER ST, WORCESTER, MA (774) 420-2261 @THESUMMITLOUNGE_MA THESUMMITLOUNGE.COM

STORY by BOBBY NUGGZ @BOBBYNUGGZ_OFFICIAL | PHOTOS by ADAM GLANZMAN @GLANZPIECE for NORTHEAST LEAF

STRAIN OF THE MONTH

NORTHEAST

24 Sour Dubb x Chem Sis x Chocolate Diesel

neleafmag.COM

60/40 indica-dominant hybrid | 18.8% THC

Having heard great things about the flowers and other Cannabis products from Nature’s Remedy in Millbury, I was excited to stop by their new location in Tyngsborough on the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border to try out some of their freshest buds. Their ample parking lot, simple online ordering procedures and curbside delivery worked like a charm – and I was in and out in just a few minutes with my package of earthly delights.

Their GG#4 did not disappoint.

The dense and beautiful nuggets are super frosty and covered in greasy trichomes.

The piney and peppery diesel fuel aroma reminds me of the original Chem D and Chem 91 in their supremely gassy glory. Upon grinding, subtle notes of anise and cedarwood are released, with a dry toke on a joint revealing hints of fennel and licorice.

The effects of GG#4 are strong and immediate with the onset buzz bringing happiness and smiles, followed by calmness and relaxation.

Typical of indica-dominant hybrids, this strain induces “couch-lock” – making it perfect for leisures such as gaming or watching a movie at home. Medicinal Cannabis patients seeking relief from body pain, anxiety or insomnia will benefit greatly from the impact and effectiveness of the GG#4.

NOV. 2020

THE DENSE AND BEAUTIFUL NUGGETS ARE SUPER FROSTY AND COVERED IN GREASY TRICHOMES.

Nature’s Remedy 420 Middlesex Rd Tyngsborough, MA (888) 586-1452 naturesremedyma.com @naturesremedyma

GG 4 #

STORY & PHOTOS by DAN VINKOVETSKY @DANNYDANKOHT for NORTHEAST LEAF

three

The top reasons to choose Fusion CBD.

We grow and produce our own products. All made in the U.S.A. The highest quality full-spectrum, whole-plant CBD at low prices.

No isolates, no fillers. Just what you need in a potent and effective product.

Visit our retail market in Warwick, NY!

Interested in the CBD business? Distribution, wholesale, white labeling and vending opportunities available: email contact@fusioncbd.com or call 845-988-4367

All Things Cannabis For All People

Vleaaifepodcast

Vbeardedlorax

Vrickerdj

#87 PETS AND CANNABIS Leaf Life is recorded at Mob Studios in Seattle

AVAILABLE NOW: #86 FEAR AND THE MEDIA #88 HIGH FASHION #89 DEATH OF A TRADESHOW #90 WEALTH AND INEQUALITY

LEAFLIFEPODCAST.COM THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

Marijuana products may be purchased or possessed only by persons 21 or older. This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgement.

Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the innuence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of reach of children.

the harvest issue

KAT MASCOLO Mantis Medicine | Maine

neleafmag.COM

28

nov. 2020

A LEAGUE OF HER OWN It's

a wondrously beautiful autumn day and the wind is billowing through the trees at Mantis Medicine in mid-coast Maine. The one-woman show of Kat Mascolo is beginning her harvest of 36 plants in her 35 foot by 96 foot greenhouse.

Though it’s only her second season growing in a colder, and more damp climate than she’s previously used to, Kat’s already making a name for herself on the East Coast – earning the honor of being the first woman cultivator to achieve the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners “Clean Cannabis” certification for her organic practices. >>

STORY & PHOTOS by JEN BERNSTEIN @NYCJAMGAL for NORTHEAST LEAF

the harvest issue neleafmag.COM

30

K

AT’S COME A LONG WAY from pulling her little red wagon and weeding in her mother’s garden, in fact, she’s honed her growing skills while studying permaculture around the globe. “At four or five-years-old, I would have friends come over wanting to play and here I was pulling weeds in the garden,” laughs Kat. “I never saw gardening as a chore, it was always just fun.”

While golden and amber leaves cluster around the outer entrance to her greenhouse, Kat’s showing me how she harvests her plants from the top down. Starting with the highest plump colas, she leans into the trellis off her 10-foot ladder and snips away. As she prunes away the big fan leaves, she meticulously hangs branch after branch in front of her before filling large 30-gallon plastic storage bins.

Kat’s thoughtful attention to detail puts her in a special league of her own. When she first got her hands on Cannabis out west, she was living in a tent by day and working at night to avoid the “drama trimmers” who were tightly packed 15 in a room all at once. Kat ended up staying past that first harvest for the winter to help the owner of a Southern Oregon Cannabis farm – working in the mother and clone “baby room” on strains like Dead On Arrival (DOA), Sour Sage and Sour Diesel.

Kat’s boss told her, “One day you may have a bunch of hungry mouths to feed – you should learn how to grow weed.” So Kat, being a fast and natural learner, quickly picked up how to cut clones and keep a grow room healthy by being regimented with her work and keeping it super clean.

“I pulled out the largest crop in that room that they’d ever seen, plus it was the first time that they didn’t have a spider mite issue. I was working with all older men and here’s this young female who blew the record out,” she says.

“Women are just more intricate with the details. I think I spent more time with the plants. For my first time growing weed, I was happy and surprised to have the biggest yield – it’s not like I had a secret potion.

It’s just something that came super natural to me.”

Soon after Kat moved to a different farm – where women grew the food and the dudes grew the pot

MANTIS MEDICINE | CONTINUED FROM PG. 29

nov. 2020

– but as she explained: “When it came to harvesting, the guys weren’t showing up to do it and since I had some indoor experience, I got put in charge of the harvest. It just fell into my lap. I went from being the ‘chick who grows the food,’ to the person who saves the whole crop.”

Kat’s plants have always yielded max results. “Previously the average per plant on this medical farm was five-and-a-half pounds, and I was getting seven pounds.

Then the following year, I was put in charge of three gardens and expanding the garden to 155 plants. I’m still known in that valley as producing the biggest plants – we’re talking 12 foot by 12 foot plants, some producing as much as 14 pounds.

My records still haven’t been broken!”

Growing for the first time on the East Coast last year had its challenges. Kat spent weeks digging rocks out of the garden and since she grows right into the ground, she spent a lot of time getting the soil right – bringing in 28 yards of compost by wheelbarrow on her own. “Next year I’m getting a tractor!” she exclaimed.

This year, one of the things that Kat learned is that she doesn’t want to grow big strains. “It’s a lot more manageable for me to have smaller plants, not go up and down the ladder, plus moving it, and not grow so big. It’s a lot of work and typically the sativa crosses are the ones growing bigger and don’t do as well here in Maine, so I’m growing more indicas here.”

One of those strains that she’s had a lot of success with is Butter Cheese – a shorter plant that’s basically mildew resistant and Certified as Maine’s first female Clean Cannabis cultivator, Kat’s challenge isn’t going to be keeping up with the organic growing, but with the tracking and paperwork.

“IT’S NOT LIKE I HAD A SECRET POTION. IT’S JUST SOMETHING THAT CAME SUPER NATURAL TO ME.”

less worrisome to grow than other strains.

“It’s a great strain for the greenhouse and outdoors,” she says.

Brewing her own concoction of compost tea is one of Kat’s specialties. “I get kind of witchy with it,” she says, “including lots of ingredients that plants love and need like fish, kelp, blood, bones … you know, all the good, nasty smelling stuff.”

Her biggest gardening tip is something Atlantic Farms Dispensary and Gas Station in Portland, Maine have deemed the “Mantis Method.” By planting in the ground at a 45-degree angle, she’s able to grow larger, bushier and more fruitful and flowering Cannabis plants.

“I’ll plant 45-degrees facing north so all the branches will reach for the southern sun – rather than growing straight up like a Christmas tree. I’ll continue to stretch and train the branches throughout the growing season, which results in a wider, stronger plant and with more surface area for the bud to grow on.”

Excited for her certification as Maine’s first female Clean Cannabis cultivator, Kat’s challenge isn’t going to be keeping up with the organic growing, but with the tracking and paperwork. “Record keeping is something I’m not used to practicing,” she laughs. “It’s just getting used to getting my hands out of the dirt and on the computer.”

When it comes to women cultivators in the Cannabis industry, Kat hopes more women will join her in the garden. “Truthfully, I don’t think there’s any reason why men can do a better job at growing weed than women. That’s just a ridiculous idea. I think it’s fun because it’s different – and to make heads spin when as a woman I say, “Yeah, I grow weed and I come from a background of organic farming.” Women should just go for it – it’s no different than any other plant you’ve grown!”

STORY & PHOTOS by JEN BERNSTEIN @NYCJAMGAL for NORTHEAST LEAF

the harvest issue

Exploring a Massachusetts

Home Grow STORY by GILBERT GJERSVIK for NORTHEAST LEAF | PHOTOS by M. SCOTT BRAUER @MSCOTTBRAUER

I

neleafmag.COM

32

met Mike in the parking lot of the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was a Sunday afternoon in October and only a fifteenminute drive to the home of Mark and his small oasis of legal Cannabis – seven plants to be exact – growing in his backyard. Platinum Punch, Strawberries and Cream, Hulk Angry, Meatbreath, Banana Split, Runtz and Platinum Punch Mints – all of it perfectly legal…sort of. Mike had been hard to find. For the past weeks I had been contacting grow shops around the state looking for someone who would want to talk about their legal home grow, but no one was interested. A classic example given to me by one store owner was the botanically-inclined school teacher who might be fired if their personal hobby was exposed.

Home cultivation of Cannabis in Massachusetts has been legal since 2017, and it is the state’s Cannabis Control Commission that has been developing and enforcing the regulations related to medical and adultuse markets.

With regards to home grows, a Commission spokesperson noted that: “State law allows an individual over 21 years of age to grow up to six plants in their home. If there are other individuals over 21 years of age living in the residence who wish to grow, the maximum number of plants that may be grown in a residence is twelve plants. The plants must be grown in an area that is equipped with a lock or security device, and cannot be visible from a public place without the use of binoculars, aircraft or other optical aids.” The prescribed civil penalties for not following these guidelines can be a fine of not more than $300 and forfeiture of the plants.

Mike and Mark have been a team for the past three years. Mark provides the land – a space in the back corner of his yard behind a shed.

Mike provides the plants and expertise. “It’s a joy, it’s a hobby,” says Mark, who – since there is another adult in his house – could actually grow up to 12 plants, but for space reasons only has seven.

“I have to give it to Mark for actually doing a lot of the watering,” said Mike. “Some people get lazy and just don’t bother watering and they let nature do its thing.”

In return, at the end of the season, they split the harvest 50/50. Mike has taken on up to four outdoor grows in a season, and every year he learns something new. The growing season starts for Mike as early as January or February, when he selects the strains of clones that will be vegged indoors under ceramic metal halides until springtime, when they’re about two-and-a-half to three feet tall.

nov. 2020

SPRINGFIELD, MA

When the last of the frost hits around April or May, he will then dig ditches about three feet deep and plant the clones using soil from his indoor grows – as well as other commercially available soils like Fox Farm Ocean Forest, Happy Frog and Nectar for the Gods Number 4.

As he describes, “I put in some Great White microbes that are good for root cover and then I finish it off by using a top dressing of Nectar for the Gods One Shot.” This year they ran into trouble around mid-summer, when the plants started to grow too tall.

By the time I saw them, the tallest plant was over 12 feet high with buds so large that Mike said, “A friend of mine used to call them donkey dicks.” But big and tall also means more visibility and odor, leaving them vulnerable to neighbors who might complain.

“You know it’s all brand new,” said Mark. “We’re just learning – if that lady behind us calls the police and says it stinks, I don’t know how the cop’s going to react when I say I have six legal plants.”

Mike and Mark have been a team for the past three years.

Mark provides the land – a space in the back corner of his yard behind a shed.

Mike provides the plants and expertise.

Mike trimming some fan leaves

As for what they will do with their Cannabis, Mark said, “I will use my harvest to smoke, share with friends, and hopefully this year make some edibles.

I have no plans to increase the size of my garden, and I feel that the taxes at the recreational dispensaries are way too high. I will be really interested to see this fall what happens with retail prices in a couple of weeks when all this hits the streets.” This year Mike plans to make Everclear-based tinctures, and might test out a friend-of-a-friend’s $5,000 heat press to make rosin.

For now, the biggest problems they have to deal with are botanical.

“Here in New England, we’re in a serious drought,” said Mark. “The first year we did this we had a big problem with mold, so last year, our second year, we decided…” He stopped and pointed to the defoliated lower branches of the plants, “I’m short but I can walk in there. It puts more airflow in there and hopefully the thought is that it will eliminate the mold problem.”

As for the neighbor problem, Mike said, “I think we can improve next year, where we might not want the plants to get so tall, we’ll try to keep them lower and use more netting and spread them out – like maybe we can spread this whole canopy.” They’re also planning to add some trellis and camouflage netting to make things more discreet. “We don’t really want to have the neighbors seeing it all,” said Mike. “And out of sight is out of mind!”

“The only thing that is discomforting is that we’re in New England and we have to deal with these problems,” said Mike.

“I was saying to somebody the other day, ‘I don’t want to come here and lie and say everything’s great in New England. Like we don’t have problems with mold and bugs, but the truth is, in New England, those are some of the problems we’re dealing with.’”

“Exactly,” said Mark. “Oh but the rewards!”

“Yeah,” agreed Mike. “The rewards!”

the harvest issue

34

FIRE ON THE MOU Roganja and Massive Seeds suffered massive crop losses when water lines melted.

P

eter Bustch ignored the evacuation order at first.

He stood his ground, gripping a fire hose hooked up to his irrigation line, saturating his life’s work as a beast of smoke and flame lurched toward his family farm. “It looked like a raging monster, man,” Bustch said. “Loud, roaring, coming fast through the trees and the brush. Scary, man. You could feel the heat.” He watched as one after another, dark columns of smoke rose swiftly, starkly offset against the lighter plumes engulfing the area surrounding the farm and facility in Oregon where he and his brother, Patrick, own and operate Massive Seeds and Roganja.

neleafmag.COM

As the dark plumes grew greater in number and marched ever closer to where he stood soaking his crop, the terrifying, heartbreaking realization hit him. Every column of black smoke was another one of his buildings going up in flames.“I knew it was my Mom’s house going up, and then the main house at Roganja, and then another,” he said.

Like so many on the West Coast, Peter and Patrick were hit head-on by the September wildfires that ravaged the nation’s premier Cannabis cultivating regions.

“We were devastated by the fires,” Bustch said. “We lost three homes, three barns, three shops, a double-wide trailer, a single-wide trailer, pump houses, sheds. It burned almost every single structure on the property. … My dad pioneered the land that we grow on now in the ‘70s. He built one of the houses that burned down.”

nov. 2020

THE FIGHT For Cannabis cultivators, minimal-grid living keeps you off the radar. It’s enriching, liberated living – that is, until wildfire comes tearing over the hill next to your farm. At that point, it often means you’re on your own.

The terror was visceral when Jeff Ghidella got the call to evacuate his farm, Little Hill Cultivators, in California’s famed Trinity County.

Ghidella ignored the evacuation orders because he knew if he didn’t, the farm would be a total loss. The firefighters in the area were spread thin, and as Ghidella says, they may have been prioritizing other interests over craft Cannabis farms.

“Ridges started getting bulldozed, fire lines started getting cut,” Ghidella said via phone from his farm in mid-October.

“If you get evacuated, your crop dies.

That kind of got us into preparation mode. I spent 10 days without leaving the hill, without really having access to get back. That’s really why you can’t

leave – they won’t let you get back. …

You can’t get supplies in. You can’t get gas for your generators. You can’t get food. So, you just have to live with that.”

Ghidella bulldozed a fire line around his property and started using what water he had to soak the crop and the structures. Then he watched the fire close in around him.

“I was hoping it would hit the dozer line and just melt,” he said. “It got close to my property, and then it just blew up. It went from calm to chaos in 10 minutes.

I saw my exit evaporating. We had sprinklers and fire hoses going, and had generators going. We got everything set and the fires were coming in, the sprinklers were going, and we left.”

The play worked the first night. The second night the wind picked up.

“It ripped through,” Ghidella said.

“It burned my barn down, it burned my hay storage. It burned a trailer we had on the property.” His water system melted. He suffered severe crop loss. “It wouldn’t be such a big deal if I could get

OUNTAIN

Endless heartbreak as wildfires devastate Cannabis farms across the west coast at the peak of their harvest.

STORY by TOM BOWERS \@PROPAGAGECONSULTANTS for LEAF NATION

At Roganja, some staff have moved back onto the property and are living in trailers, attempting to bring in the surviving crop and begin the long, arduous rebuilding process.

“It’s a big hit, man,” Bustch said. “It’s amazing the number of things you start reaching for, like a tool or whatever, and you don’t have it anymore.”

Staff at East Fork Cultivars worked alongside firefighters to save their crop.

out and buy what I need, and get moving again,” Ghidella said. “But these mandatory evacuation zones, they set up roadblocks. In a way, I’m stuck on my property.”

THE FALLOUT

Ghidella lost some infrastructure, but lost even more in harvestable product – with only about 20-30% of its 10,000 square feet of Slurricane, Ice Cream Cake and Back to the Triangle, a Kush cross, surviving.

But the true fallout is just beginning to take shape. Retailers and processors are concerned about the implications for product quality and supply, both of which undoubtedly will be impacted.

Then there are the operational factors at play. Many farms are simply trying to regain traction after fighting fires for weeks – when they should have been harvesting Cannabis. “The main way we will expe-

H

oward and his partners were forced to furlough their staff during the busiest season of the year, and instead focus on working with firefighting teams from the U.S., Mexico and Canada to protect their land. And while they were able to keep the beast at bay, for them, the danger lies ahead.

“We have so much Cannabis in the field that looks just glorious, but there’s so much out there, and the rains are coming in a week,” Howard said via phone in mid-October. “We have hundreds of thousands of dollars in the field, and I’m concerned we’re not going to be able to get to it in time.”

THE EFFORT Despite significant worries as to what the future holds for the community in the wake of this disaster, Cannabis farmers are proving to be as resilient as the plant itself.

“We had to get water to the plants,” Bustch said. “They were in shock and needed a lot of love. We had to totally focus on plant health, you know, because our crop made it. … We’re lucky that about 80% of our crop survived and finished really well.”

Ghidella remains on his farm, despite there being a current stage three evacuation order still in place for his region at the time this article was written.

“I have to protect my farm from looters,” Ghidella said. “I have to protect it from the elements. Whatever crop I have remaining, I need to try to bring it home, even though I don’t know how much of it I can salvage. …

At least the infrastructure is still there. You can always grow your way out of whatever financial hardship you’re in, if you’re just willing to work. That’s what got me here.”

Many farms are simply trying to regain traction after fighting fires for weeks – when they should have been harvesting Cannabis.

GOFUNDME | TINYURL.COM/REBUILDROGANJA

P H O T O S C O U R T E SY FA R M S | A R T B Y A D O B E / W A L D W I E S E

Cultivators all up and down the West Coast lost significant amounts of what would have been stellar Cannabis. Roganja was lucky enough to recoup roughly 80% of its crop, while losing nearly all of its infrastructure.

rience the damage from these forest fires, I think, is from the impact it has on the operations, and the increase of the stress fractures that already existed,” said Nathan Howard, co-owner of East Fork Cultivars in Takilma, Oregon.

The first focus for Roganja was the water supply. As with Ghidella’s farm in California, Roganja’s water tanks were destroyed and the drip lines melted, so the Bustch brothers had to prioritize the survival of the remainder of their crop.

STONER OWNER neleafmag.COM

36

LONG ISLAND GLASS A lifelong love of glass art led Brian Gonzalez to open Long Island Glass in 2012. He and his partner Joe Pecoraro, himself a glass artist, created a unique space that houses workstations, a gallery and an event room. After nearly two decades working with pot paraphernalia, Brian believes New York is ready for legalization.

When the state finally does go green, Long Island Glass is ready to provide the pieces.

STORY by MIKE GIANAKOS/NE LEAF PHOTOS by PATRICK HUGHES

nov. 2020

BRIAN GONZALEZ

ISLANDQUARTZ.COM @LONGISLANDGLASS LONGISLANDGLASS @GMAIL.COM

TELL ME A BIT ABOUT LONG ISLAND GLASS.

I’ve owned a headshop in Patchogue, New York – called Shakedown – for the past 17 years. One of the local glass blowers, Joe Pecoraro, would often come in with really cool and unique glass pipes. His creations were always some of my best sellers. Through the years, we developed a friendship and would often discuss opening a glass blowing studio for artists of all levels, from beginners to masters. We also envisioned having a gallery that would feature the finished work and a place where the public could come in and watch a piece being created from start to finish.

After many years of searching, we finally found the right place to bring our visions to fruition and Long Island Glass was created – eight years ago in 2012.

Our studio is over 4,200-square-feet and features 15 workstations where independent artists can rent a workspace to create their art.

The studio also includes an area for students of all experience levels to take lessons and a gallery that displays our in-house and guest artists’ work. LIG also features an event room for art shows, fundraisers, camps, school field trips and a vast array of other activities. It is a unique space that can be transformed into anything that can be imagined.

HOW DID YOU FIRST BECOME INTERESTED IN GLASS?

At a very young age I discovered that I could not roll a joint, and I got turned on to bongs and glass pipes as an alternative. I thought the high and the taste were better from a fresh piece of glass. Then I got into collecting glass like Graffix and Jerome Baker. This love of glass led to a position as a headshop manager, where I was the head buyer.

Being the head buyer offered me the ability to meet and talk with most of the industry’s top glass artists.

After a couple of years working for someone else, I decided to take a risk and open my shop. Once I had my place, it was off to the races. My love for glass just kept growing until I felt the need to open our studio. It indeed has been inspirational to have a place where I can observe the creative process of my partner Joe – and all the other artists creating unique smoking devices.

WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST GLASS PIECE YOU’VE HAD IN THE SHOP?

”The Dab-A-Lot” by Chandler “Purdy” Ellis and LIG Joe. It was the first time that Joe’s real picture image tech was used in collaboration with another artist. A number of difficult techniques and maneuvers were involved in creating this wild, one-of-a-kind sculpted rig.

“WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO BUSINESS AND BECOME FRIENDS THAN SMOKING SOME FIRE TOGETHER?”

WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED OPERATING A CANNABIS-ADJACENT BUSINESS ON LONG ISLAND?

BRIAN GONZALEZ

We always have to explain that our glass is functional art. There is nothing illegal about the glass until something illegal is put in it. We have to go through the word-play game often, like explaining that pieces should be called water pipes and not bongs. Thankfully, as the law has loosened, we can stop pretending that pipes are for tobacco use only.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH CANNABIS LIKE?

My first time smoking was behind a shady parking lot carnival, where I bought a dime bag off an older kid.

Once we rolled one up and passed the joint around a few times, my best friend at the time – who talked me into smoking – accidentally hit the wrong end of the joint. I yelled, but it was a little too late and when he pulled it away, the lit part was stuck to his lip. Thirty years later, my buddy still has a scar on the inside of his lip. I will never forget the first time I got stoned. We still laugh our asses off about it today. Technically it was the second time, but the first time didn’t get me high.

HOW HAS CANNABIS IMPACTED YOUR LIFE?

I smoke Cannabis daily, so there are a lot of areas of my life that it helps – from chronic pain to sleep and stress. I also truly enjoy the flavors and feelings I get each and every time I partake.

DO YOU THINK THAT MARIJUANA HAS HELPED YOU AS A BUSINESSMAN?

Yes. Being a weed smoker definitely helps. Most of our industry is relationship-

based and what better way to do business and become friends than smoking some fire together?

It loosens the mood, helps form bonds and shows that we are all on the same page.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE STRAIN TO SMOKE THESE DAYS? HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO THE CANNABIS WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED SMOKING?

Zkittlez is my favorite flower. I also still enjoy a good OG. When it comes to concentrates or dabs I like Rainbow, Motorbreath and anything really gassy. Growing up, I was blessed to have a good friend who grew Northern Lights and Sour Diesel (hint, hint…the burnt lip guy). The difference between now and then is the weed I used to smoke just seemed more pungent compared to what’s around these days. I also liked the fact that there seemed to be more pure breeds around and fewer hybrids. But, I love the potency of today’s products.

THE NORTHEAST CURRENTLY HAS THREE RECREATIONAL CANNABIS STATES. DO YOU THINK NEW YORK WILL LEGALIZE SOON?

I think with all the loss of revenue due to the pandemic, the state will be motivated to legalize it finally. It will be an easy way to raise money without having to raise everyone’s taxes.

The customer base will be tremendous and bring a windfall of cash that is so desperately needed.

I think the public is ready, after years of yearning, for it to be legal – and to be allowed to make their own decisions.

The public has been educated enough to know that marijuana isn’t the boogie man that it has been made out to be. They know it is less dangerous than alcohol and tobacco, and has a wide variety of beneficial uses. I can’t wait to celebrate the day when all of us New Yorkers who love herb can finally come out of the shadows and show everyone we are just like them.

A Stoner Owner is a Cannabis business owner who has a relationship with the plant. We want to buy and smoke Cannabis from companies that care about their products, employees and the plant. You wouldn’t buy food from a restaurant where the cooks don’t eat in the kitchen, so why buy corporate weed grown by a company only concerned with profits? Stoner Owner approval means a company cares, and we love weed grown with care. Look for the Stoner Owner stamp when purchasing fine Cannabis, and let’s retake our culture and reshape a stigma by honoring those who grow, process and sell the best Cannabis possible.

glass art

RAINBOW MUSHROOM SHERLOCK

38

Art by DEREK ALLISON & DYLAN KOSZEGI @dekalglass @diligent_glass

Where did you two draw inspiration from to create this piece?

neleafmag.COM

Our inspiration for this piece stems from the love of Earth and life itself. Vivid color refraction is how we perceive life as we know it. Mushrooms and mycology are vital to our ecosystems and insanely beneficial for the human mind, in many ways!

What is the most fun part about collaborating? Being able to

mesh our styles together perfectly in the areas we excel the most.

Each day is a surprise as to where our imaginations will go.

There is never a dull moment in the studio!

What is your connection to mushrooms? All of our connections

to mushrooms as a whole go very deep. From a young age, we were both blessed to be born in Michigan into some of the best mushroom foraging lands in the country. Dylan would spend much of his free time in nature foraging as a kid, which catalyzed a passion for mycology and nature – while Derek just loves their shape and abundance of color!

nov. 2020

STORY by MAX EARLY @LIFTED_STARDUST/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by THE ARTISTS

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

Tra ce R e s e arch I n s ti tute

NEED GOOD HAND SANITIZER? • FDA Approved - Quality Products • Safety Tested • Full Range of Sizes • EASY Online Ordering

NO BAD SMELL Visit our website

TR-institute.com or call

509-993-2417

cooking with cannabis

R EC I P E S b y L AU R I E WO L F | P H OTOS b y B R UC E WO L F

DANKSGIVING CANNA-CRANBERRY MUSHROOMS

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees.

2. Clean the mushrooms with a paper towel. Remove the stems and finely chop. Place the mushroom caps on a sheet pan.

3. In a sauté pan over low heat, add 2 tablespoons oil and cook the shallots, garlic and celery until translucent.

Sprinkle with the salt and pepper.

4. Add the sausage and poultry seasoning and cook until the sausage is done, 9-11 minutes. Place the mixture in a bowl. Add the cranberries, cream cheese, panko bread crumbs, canna-oil and cornbread. Mix well.

5. Fill each mushroom with the mixture, about 2 tablespoons, and place in the oven.

6. Bake the mushrooms until tender, about 25-30 minutes. Top with the cranberry sauce before serving.

Makes 16 mushrooms, 8 servings.

40

16 extra large white mushrooms 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large peeled and diced shallot 2 minced garlic cloves 1 stalk celery, chopped 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper ¾ pound turkey sausage 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning 1 tablespoon chopped dried cranberries 3 ounces cream cheese, softened 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs 8 teaspoons canna-olive oil ¼ cup crumbled corn bread 4 tablespoons cranberry sauce

Happy Thanksgiving, I guess. It’s hard to wrap my head around the turmoil these days, and I know that for many this won’t be anything like previous holidays.

If you are able to be safe with family or friends, enjoy your meal and be thankful.

If you are not, keep the faith and hope for some positive changes coming our way.

I have infused the recipes with the East Fork Cultivar strain Wesley’s Wish.

My almost constant state of anxiety is lessened and I love the rustic notes.

WINGED VICTORY

1. Pulse the beans, paste, ketchup, garlic, lime juice,

1. Heat oven to 340 degrees.

chiles, cumin, cayenne and the oil in a food processor.

neleafmag.COM

2. Rinse and pat the wings dry. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Transfer mixture to a serving bowl and top with the

3. Place the wings on a parchment covered sheet pan. Bake for 45 minutes.

scallion, tomato, cilantro and the optional queso.

4. In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Whisk to combine. Add

3. Serve with chips, crudite, or both.

the wings to the sauce and toss to cover evenly. Return to the sheet pan.

Serves 8-9.

5. Sprinkle wings with the cheese and bake an additional 15 minutes.

Top with the fresh parsley as garnish. Makes 36 wings and 9 servings.

36 chicken wings

2 teaspoons Italian seasoning blend

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon red pepper flake

1 teaspoon lemon pepper

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice

3 tablespoons canna-oil

1 tablespoon lemon zest

¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

½ tablespoon honey

Chopped fresh Italian parsley

3-4 large cloves minced garlic

nov. 2020

BLACK BEAN DIP

3 cups canned unsalted black

2 teaspoons ground cumin

beans, drained and rinsed

½ teaspoon cayenne

5 teaspoons tomato paste

3 tablespoons canna-oil

2 teaspoons ketchup

2 green onions, chopped

2 cloves garlic, peeled

1 tomato, seeded and chopped

Juice from one lime

¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

2 tbs canned green chiles

Crumbled queso (optional)

<< Using canned beans makes for an easy starter.

No one will ever know – except me, and I’ll never tell.

This dip is also a great sandwich spread.

#WearA M a sk # D ontFea rTheEd ib le # Ea tYourCa nna b is

CARAMEL APPLE PIE The seasons have gone and changed up on us and every autumn in New England we’re hit with our favorite seasonal fall flavors. I’ve bragged during my travels abroad about my mother’s apple pie and strudels.

If you’re from here, you can admit you love it – and nothing compares to homemade goods this time of year. We also have our staples like pumpkin spice, pecan pie, hot chocolate, fresh apple fritters, local apple cider and caramel apples.

WHITE CHOCOLATE > > 100MG THC / 10-SERVINGS

BAR

edible of the month

AFTERGLOW EDIBLE CO.

Flipping the bar over exposes an underneath encrusted and dusted in a nice layer of cinnamon toast crunch.

F I R E O N F O R E / 3 6 7 F O R E S T, P O R T L A N D , M E / F I R E O N F O R E . C O M ( 2 0 7 ) 8 0 5 - 1 8 7 0 / @ A F T E R G LO W E D I B L E C O @ F I R E O N F O R E S T R E E T

REVIEW by BOBBY NUGGZ @BOBBYNUGGZ_OFFICIAL for NORTHEAST LEAF | PHOTO by AFTERGLOW EDIBLE CO.

41

neleafmag.COM

Having encountered Afterglow Edibles in the past, I knew I’d be in for a nice fall treat by trying out their Caramel Apple Pie chocolate bar. Caramel and apple pie is a unique flavor for a chocolate bar and Afterglow is thinking outside the box in bringing their customers this delicious and festive edible.

Afterglow’s packaging is very durable and you can feel that they use high-grade cardboard for their boxes. Front facing on the box shows off their logo and insignia, as well as the type of chocolate bar. I like that Afterglow’s products have such a detailed ingredient list including allergy warnings and storage instructions – very professional, detailed and clear to read.

As I slid out the box of chocolate from its container, I felt like I was opening a gift for my birthday or some great surprise. Ten square white chocolate pieces feature little chunks of caramel bits, which really excited me. They’re individually stamped with a “Contains THC.” warning label, which added a cool visual appeal. This bar is a total of 100mg and each piece of chocolate contains a 10mg dose of THC. Flipping the bar over exposes an underneath encrusted and dusted in a nice layer of cinnamon toast crunch, which adds that cinnamon-y flavor you’re looking for in a traditional apple pie.

This is one tasty chocolate bar. I enjoyed the buttery, milky, caramel sweetness, and distinct apple pie flavor.

The white chocolate really allowed the ingredients to shine through, so you can taste the layers of enjoyment that would come with eating a nice slice of apple pie.

I decided to save a few pieces of the chocolate bar to add underneath some apple crisp I had at home, and this brought my taste buds’ experience to an entirely new level.

For me the high from this particular batch of edibles was very motivational and energetic.

I started my dose off with 10mg and decided to add 50mg, and by the end of my day I had all of my housework and writing done and could sit back and enjoy some dabs. I recommend this bar to anyone who likes to eat their edibles in smaller doses throughout the day, preventing fogginess and helping to maintain alertness.

concentrate of the month

In the Cannabis world, our region of New England has always been an underdog.

The reality is that we have some of the best growers and breeders, and some of the finest strains obtainable – with Maine on the forefront of our Cannabis scene for years.

42

neleafmag.COM

STONEY STRAIN

GREENFELLAS CANNABIS

Not for the greenhorns, this extract packs a heavy high.

EARLY GLUE BADDER nov. 2020

Nowadays you can find locallygrown cultivars, as well as single-source rosin and hydrocarbon extractions sold at local dispensaries. And recently, I was fortunate enough to get my hands on some of Greenfellas Cannabis Company’s Early Glue badder.

First of all, the type of jar you decide to use for your concentrate can really make it stand out. Goodfellas went for the square bottom and lid, which I liked better for grip, as each one has a safety lock. The Goodfellas logo is clean and sleek, sporting a silhouette of a gangster with a fedora and a green capital letter G. They have their Instagram tag, 21+ warning labels and everything in compliance with Maine state law.

Upon inspection, I was taken aback by the beautiful yellowish color and mouth-watering terpiness of the wet badder, which is one of my all-time favorite concentrate consistencies.

Properly made, this specific extract is what a patient should be spending their money on.

With the name Early Glue, I was expecting something gassy and was not disappointed. Although this badder leans more on the sweet, candy side of the gas spectrum to me, with underfunks of pine and light notes of sour, it passed the test.

Tasting this concentrate is a delight – palate-coating but not pungent, if you know what I mean. Early Glue’s flavor matches the scent and I would suggest a cold start dab for optimal flavor. My palate experienced more of the sweet profile as I previously mentioned, but still held a slightly reminiscent terpene profile of a true Gorilla Glue lineage.

Not for the greenhorns, this concentrate does pack a heavy high.

I’d avoid the wake and bake if you don’t want to feel a little too stoned.

As the seasons change, I tend to suffer through a lot of chronic pain, so this benefited me quite a bit throughout a few days of workouts.

Long lasting effects and a positive, heightened mood were both noticeable and much appreciated!

GREENFELLAS CANNABIS 9 RENAISSANCE WAY #1 SANFORD, ME SALES@GREENFELLASCANNABIS.COM GREENFELLASCANNABIS.COM @GREENFELLASCO

> > TESTING THC 70.13% CBD 0.19%

REVIEW & PHOTO by BOBBY NUGGZ @BOBBYNUGGZ_OFFICIAL for NORTHEAST LEAF

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

Cannthropology

WORLD OF CANNABIS PRESENTS

Back to NORML A brief look at Keith Stroup, the man behind 44

America’s foremost cannabis advocacy group and its 50-year fight for your right to party.

neleafmag.COM

NORML’S BEGINNINGS

This year marks the golden anniversary of our nation’s longest-running cannabis legalization association: the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws—or, as it’s better known, NORML. Comprising thousands of activists and lawyers, NORML’s mission is to advocate for the rights of cannabis users by mounting legal initiatives, defending and testifying for the accused, starting petitions and boycotts, appealing to the media and lobbying politicians.

At the heart of this vast effort is a man who has devoted his life to the struggle of changing America’s unfair and outdated drug laws; one who has not only gained the respect and friendship of most of the counterculture’s greatest icons, but ended up becoming one in his own right—earning him the nickname “Mr. Marijuana.” That man is NORML’s founder, former executive director and current legal counsel, Keith Stroup.

A southern Illinois farm boy turned Washington lawyer, Stroup started out working under consumer advocate Ralph Nader before forming NORML in 1970. One of the group’s first endeavors was to pressure Nixon’s National

nov. 2020

Stroup speaks at the 2001 Hash Bash.

Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse to allow NORML activists to testify at their hearings.

Stroup publicly challenged the old lies first put forth by the yellow journalism and exploitation films of the 1920s and ‘30s, such as Marijuana—Assassin of Youth, and his testimony helped sway the panel, with the president’s commission finally recommending that marijuana be decriminalized. Unfortunately, Nixon completely disregarded that advice.

REEFER MADNESS REPURPOSED

Those early propaganda pictures were largely forgotten ... buried in archives to collect dust for decades. That is until 1972, when Stroup’s lecture agent made him aware that the films had recently entered the public domain. Stroup procured a copy of Reefer Madness from the Library of Congress for $297, streamlined it down to 35 minutes and began showing it after his lectures.

“It was so overdone, I knew the students would love it,” Stroup chuckles. “And of course, they did!”

The screenings were a big hit—not only increasing ticket sales and educating the students about the absurdity of prohibitionism, but also giving them an opportunity to spark up once the lights went down.

World of Cannabis has three items from this historic 1972 college tour in our museum collection: a promotional poster for the film with the NORML logo in the top corner, and two pages with various sized print ads for the screenings (all black and white).

PLAYBOY

Also from that period, we have a limited edition art print of NORML’s square “Liberate Marijuana” logo, numbered and signed by artist Fairchild Paris, with a stamp designating it as part of the Playboy Enterprises VIP Private Edition. This was an item that had been auctioned off at fundraisers for NORML in the Playboy Mansion during the 1970s. In the organization’s early years, Playboy and its provocative publisher, Hugh Hefner, played a crucial role in getting NORML off the ground.

“The first dollar that ever came in the door came from Playboy,” Stroup recalls.

“During the first 10 years of our existence, they were by far our largest funder.” An initial $5,000 donation from Playboy quickly blossomed into a $100,000 a year bankroll, two free full-page ads in each issue of the magazine, and several fundraisers at the Playboy Mansions—leading to a lasting friendship between Stroup and Hef.

HIGH TIMES & HUNTER THOMPSON

Over the years, however, another magazine would eventually eclipse Playboy as NORML’s top supporter: High Times, founded by pot smuggler and radical activist Tom Forcade. Stroup met Forcade in 1972 during the Democratic National Convention in Miami, when Forcade sold him weed from his perch up in a eucalyptus tree in “The People’s Park” –– located a few blocks down from the Convention Center.

Throughout the mid-70s, Forcade made a number of large cash donations to NORML, including an infamous satchel filled with $10,000 in small, worn bills that was left on the doorstep of their Washington D.C. offices.

The bag was accompanied by a typed note claiming that the cash came from a group of weed growers and smugglers calling themselves “The Confederation,” but it was Tom. After Forcade’s suicide in 1978, Stroup was one of a select few privileged to share a joint containing some of Tom’s ashes at a memorial party atop the old World Trade Center –– the “highest” structure in the world.

On the same day Stroup met Forcade in Miami in 1972, he also met and blazed with the Yippie leaders Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, as well as an up-and-coming journalist from Rolling Stone named Hunter S. Thompson. Stroup introduced himself and shared Thompson’s joint after he smelled weed smoke wafting up from under the bleachers inside the convention center.

Like Hefner, Hunter became one of Stroup’s lifelong friends –– serving on NORML’s board of directors until his death in 2005.

By 1978, NORML helped get marijuana decriminalized in 11 states and was inching towards nationwide decriminalization.

Hugh Hefner and Keith Stroup in the 70s.

THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION

Hunter and Hef weren’t the only cannabis icons Stroup counts among his BFFs though: legendary activist John Sinclair; political cartoonist Gary Trudeau; godfather of medical marijuana, the late Dr. Lester Grinspoon; and country music star Willie Nelson are all old friends. Stroup was also close with then-President Jimmy Carter’s son Chip, which helped engender a surprisingly amiable and productive relationship with NORML while the Carter Administration was in office. By 1978, NORML helped get marijuana decriminalized in 11 states and was inching towards nationwide decriminalization. Sadly, that all ended after a falling out occurred between Stroup and Carter’s drug policy adviser Peter Bourne. The ensuing scandal led to both men having to step down from their powerful positions.

Stroup and Hunter S. Thompson became close.

Like Hugh Hefner, Hunter S. Thompson became one of Stroup’s lifelong friends –– serving on NORML’s board of directors until his death in 2005.

BACK TO NORML

Stroup didn’t return to NORML for 15 years –– until he finally rejoined the Board of Directors and resumed his position as Executive Director in 1994.

In the decades since, Stroup has spoken at countless cannabis events, including numerous NORML conferences, the historic Hash Bash in Ann Arbor, the Seattle Hempfest and of course, the Boston Freedom Rally –– where in 2007, he and former High Times associate publisher Rick Cusick were pinched for smoking a joint together behind the NORML booth on Boston Common.

Despite offers to drop the charges, the duo insisted on taking their case to trial to make a political point and push for jury nullification.

Today, NORML boasts 135 chapters across all 50 states and seven nations. And though marijuana is now legal for adult use in 11 states and for medical use in another 33, NORML’s fight is far from over.

» For more on Keith

and NORML, listen to his interview in Episode 3 of our Cannthropology potcast at worldofcannabis. museum/cannthropology or wherever you get your podcasts. To join or donate to NORML, visit norml.org.

This content was originally published on worldofcannabis.museum and is reprinted with permission.

STORY by BOBBY BLACK @CANNTHROPOLOGY for LEAF NATION | ART COURTESY NORML & WORLD OF CANNABIS MUSEUM @WORLDOFCANNABIS.MUSEUM

45

GROCERY BAGS ARE THE PROBLEM hen are we going to get it? When is it finally going to embed somewhere in the collective psyche that we only have so many trees to burn until there is a sad Lorax shaking his finger at us from atop a crispy stump, reminding us that he warned us 50 years ago?

Dr. Seuss was ahead of his time.

You do know that trees are a bioremediator, correct? That means they clean the air and soil. So, not only do we cease to exist on this planet without them, but we get to enjoy forest fire bongloads of burnt bark and sizzling squirrel tail in the meantime.

How much more evidence do we need?

Because it doesn’t get much clearer than waking up to an ash-covered car in the morning. Yet the fine face-covered folks who are cluelessly checking and bagging my groceries do not register the fact that it takes trees to make the paper ones, and plastic to kill the trees that make the paper ones.

I grabbed a few items at the grocery store and the checker still found it necessary to double bag the items. God forbid the handle should rip, sending the satchel to the ground to potentially dent my tuna can.

What the fuck, people? Figure it out!

And it’s not that grocery bags are the real problem, but the fact that no one is saying anything. Why do I have to be an asshole for giving a shit? Am I a nuisance by requesting a single bag, or a weirdo for supplying my own reusable ones?

Think of us in a fish tank. The water has got to be exchanged fairly frequently, or it begins to turn green and the fish get choked out. That is what’s happening to us.

One fish, two fish, red fish, dead fish.

W

46

neleafmag.COM

by Mike Ricker

nov. 2020

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

It’s no easy feat creating an image that unifies the diverse region covered by this publication.

Owen has made a name for himself producing concert posters for the likes of Dead & Company, Slightly Stoopid, Billy Strings, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Twiddle. Tasked with designing a cover that represents the Northeast, Owen hit on the ocean - a common thread shared by most states in this part of the country. His cover image depicts a lighthouse watching over the region with a bountiful crop of Cannabis on shore, representing the Northeast’s growing marijuana industry.

OWN THE LIMITED EDITION 1ST ISSUE COMMEMORATIVE COVER POSTER S i gned a n d n u m b e re d by Ma ry l a n d ’ s ow n Owen Mu rphy of O ne Dro p Des ig n Stud io.

1 6 ”x 2 0 ” s i lk - s c re e n e d o n h i g h - q u a li ty p a p er | lim ited run of only 1 0 0 copies.

E m ai l e ar l y @ l e af n at i o n m d.co m t o ge t your cover p ost er! $60 ship p ed !

­

­

­