Dec. 2021 - NE Leaf

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THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

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INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010

the edibles issue

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#16

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DECEMBER 2021

N O R T H E AS T

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Learn more about Cannabis -infused foods in our first-ever Edibles Issue!

C H A K A G L A SS S T U D I O

GROW TOUR MAMMOTH INC.

dec. 2021

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GIFT GUIDE LEAF PICKS

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CANNABIS RECIPES HOMEMADE GIFTS

CHARLES TAGGART BRUCE WOLF

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DANIEL BERMAN

edibles 101 MAMMOTH INC.

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EDITOR’S NOTE N AT I O N A L N E W S LOCAL NEWS BUDTENDER Q&A GROW TOUR STRAIN OF THE MONTH EDIBLES 101 C H O C O L AT E S CANDIES DRINKS ADD-INS GIFT GUIDE RECIPES C O N C E N T R AT E S GLASS ART CANNTHROPOLOGY STONEY BALONEY

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CHARLES TAGGART

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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 Creative Director Daniel Berman commissioned the talented Las Vegas illustrator Cabin 7 Originals to create this month’s incredible cover. “Inspired by iconic classics like Willy Wonka and Candyland, the making of this design was a nostalgic adventure,” she said.

“I believe the purpose of art is to make people feel things, and I think that’s achieved here in a super fun way. With its ethereal glow and starry sky, it’s magic and cheer wrapped in a neat little bow. I like my work to remind people that cartoons, colors, and candy are things we can still enjoy as adults - plus now we can enjoy them with a little THC.”

ART by CABIN 7 ORIGINALS @CABIN7ORIGINALS

CONTRIBUTORS

WES ABNEY | FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES CABIN 7 ORIGINALS, ILLUSTRATION JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION EARLY, PRODUCTION MIKE GIANAKOS, FEATURES BAILEY JONSON, FEATURES + PHOTOS TAYLOR MARTIN, FEATURES DAN MCCARTHY, FEATURES + PHOTOS BOBBY NUGGZ, FEATURES + PHOTOS JEFF PORTERFIELD, DESIGN MIKE RICKER, FEATURES JESSE RAMIREZ, ILLUSTRATION PATRICK ROGERS, PHOTOS MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING CHARLES TAGGART, FEATURES + PHOTOS JAMIE VICTOR, ILLUSTRATION DAN VINKOVETSKY, FEATURES MARK WARD, FEATURES BRUCE & LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES

WES@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

SENIOR EDITORS MIKE GIANAKOS | DAN VINKOVETSKY

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

CREATIVE DIRECTOR DANIEL BERMAN | VISUALS & DESIGN

DANIEL@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY PETE THOMPSON

PETE@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

SALES DIRECTOR MICHAEL CZERHONIAK

MICHAEL@LEAFMAGAZINES.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, LeafMagazines.com. Email michael@leafmagazines.com to start advertising with NE Leaf!

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ABNEY

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

‘TIS THE SEASON for libations and yummy bites, and since edibles deliver the best of both worlds without having to consume any holiday spirits, we can trade a hangover for the munchies and hook Santa up with some real tasty cookies!

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I absolutely love our cover this month by Cabin 7 Originals, who breathed a whimsical and beautiful scene to life from our team’s direction. I’m a sucker for holiday decorations that are adult – and I definitely have a few bad Xmas sweaters that are not family dinner appropriate. While I may self-censor naughty jingles, one thing I definitely don’t hide is the help Cannabis gives me around the holidays.

We all have the judgey aunt or disappointed parental unit who will happily take pharmaceuticals, but give you dirty looks for getting more baked than the ham at dinner. And while I don’t recommend trying to convert any lost Qs at the grown up’s table, you can definitely spread good cheer by sharing Cannabis. Which is a big part of why we picked December for The Edibles Issue – the holidays are stressful, they bring out a need to get high in a discrete way, and they make great gifts or intros to Cannabis for friends and family in need of a holiday buzz.

“WHILE I MAY SELF-CENSOR NAUGHTY JINGLES, ONE THING I DEFINITELY DON’T HIDE IS THE HELP CANNABIS GIVES ME AROUND THE HOLIDAYS.“

While we all have a story about eating too many edibles or a random “XXX brownie” that came from a medical cooperative, today’s products are precision dosed and regulated to deliver an expected experience.

Learn more about this in our Edibles 101 piece, including how to read the label so you don’t end up overdoing it. But if you do, and you or a loved one find yourself melting and unable to function, fear not! Calling an ambulance will only get you an expensive bill for a rehydration IV drip, which can be acquired much easier in the form of Gatorade and snacks.

Whether you have a huge tolerance for THC or are just starting to explore this diverse world of scrumptious items that get you high, give our Edibles Guide a look through and go try one! With everything from mints to drinks, baked goods to tinctures, there’s sure to be a buzz that meets your preferences. And don’t forget to take care of Santa!

-Wes Abney DEC. 2021

leafmagazines.com

PUBLISHER

WES

N O RT H E AS T L E A F

national news

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midWEST

politics

POT SHOP OPENS 400 FT. FROM CHICAGO’S WRIGLEY FIELD

MOST LIBERALS SUPPORT LEGALIZATION; MAJORITY OF CONSERVATIVES OPPOSE

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seems obvious, on the face of it. Those who tend towards the liberal end of the political spectrum have always also tended to favor marijuana legalization. And those who lean conservative have tended to oppose weed.

But more and more, with the mainstreaming of Cannabis, we hear “both sides” arguments, and they have increasing merit. The bottom line is, though, that those who are most conservative in the American political landscape – still, after all these years – oppose marijuana.

Most folks know there’s growing bipartisan support for legalization in the USA. And a newly released survey from the Pew Research Center shows broad consensus across ideological lines that patients should be able to legally access marijuana for medical purposes. But when it comes to adult-use, “recreational” legalization, that coalition doesn’t entirely hold.

MOST FOLKS The poll, simply stated, shows Democrats are more KNOW THERE’S likely to support full Cannabis legalization than RepubliGROWING cans. To take examples from each end of the ideological BIPARTISAN spectrum, 91% of those classified as the Progressive Left SUPPORT FOR support legalization. Meanwhile, just 33% of “Faith and LEGALIZATION Flag” conservatives – thus farthest to the right – want weed IN THE USA. to be legal.

WEIRD

SUPER BOWL CHAMP ARRESTED FOR POT

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olice arrested Nigel Bradham, a linebacker on the Philadelphia Eagles team that won Super Bowl LII, in Florida on November 13. Troopers said they found more than three pounds of marijuana in his car during a traffic stop, reports the Philly Voice.

They charged Bradham, 32, with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of a firearm during a felony, according to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.

He posted $1,000 bail and police released him from Leon County jail November 14. The current free agent told a judge he intended to hire an attorney, but court records didn’t yet list one assigned to the case, reports WCTV. Florida Highway Patrol officers stopped the NFL veteran because the tag on his 2021 Chevrolet Corvette didn’t match records. Officers claimed there was a strong smell of marijuana emanating from the vehicle.

Bradham claimed to be a Florida medical marijuana patient, troopers said, however he was unable to produce identification to prove that.

Bradham’s name then didn’t come up after cops conducted a state registry search, reports TMZ. Medical marijuana is legal in Florida, but adult-use Cannabis remains against the law.

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grams of Cannabis would get you just a $100 fine in a decriminalization bill introduced in Wisconsin.

dec. 2021

health & science

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pounds of illegal weed were discovered on a Cali man

by Louisiana Highway Patrol officers.

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percent of Americans believe Cannabis should be legal, according to Gallup, similar to last year’s results.

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new Cannabis dispensary in Chicago opened just 400 feet from the legendary baseball venue, Wrigley Field, reports Fox 32.

Sunnyside Wrigleyville is located at 3524 N. Clark Street. According to shop owner Cresco Labs, it’s the closest dispensary to a national sports stadium in the United States.

The ganja shop will have an impressive 21 checkout counters.

Cresco said this allows employees to service thousands on “high traffic days when baseball games, concerts and other large-scale city events take place next THE GANJA door.”

SHOP WILL Longtime HAVE AN Chicago IMPRESSIVE barflies will 21 CHECKOUT recognize the COUNTERS. envied location: the former home of the John Barleycorn bar.

With top shelf flower going for $20 a gram and upwards of $50 an eighth (3.5 grams), shoppers should be ready to drop a few bucks.

The dispensary’s presence at such a prime retail location comes at least partially as the result of recent re-zoning by Chicago officials. Rules which prevented pot shops downtown were relaxed.

STUDY: LEGALIZATION DIDN’T INCREASE TRAFFIC INJURIES IN CANADA

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arijuana legalization did not result in increased traffic injuries in Canada, a new study has found.

In a study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, researchers sought to investigate claims that establishing Cannabis legalization in October 2018 would make roads less safe, as prohibitionists frequently claim.

But analyzing Ontario and Alberta data from 2015 to 2019, they could find no evidence at all to support that.

“Implementation of the Cannabis Act was not associated with evidence of significant post-legalization changes in traffic-injury [emergency department] visits in Ontario or Alberta among all drivers or youth drivers, in particular,” the study states.

The evidence doesn’t support claims that legalization might increase both marijuana-impaired driving and traffic injuries, said lead author Russ Callaghan.

THE SOUTH

MISSISSIPPI GOV. ‘UNCOMFORTABLE’ WITH THC IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA

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hile voters approved a pretty good medical marijuana law in 2020, a year later, Governor Tate Reeves says he wants lawmakers to make yet more changes in a proposal to create a medicinal Cannabis program in the state. Voters approved a business-friendly medical marijuana program a year ago, but the State Supreme Court struck down the measure on a technicality. State lawmakers then drafted a measure creating a medical marijuana program and moved it through the legislature. The GOP governor said in November that he wants tighter limits on the amount of Cannabis patients could buy. He also wants to reduce the content of THC, the compound that produces a high and also has medical benefits. Reeves described the THC levels in current drafts of the bill as “higher than I am comfortable with,” without specifying actual amounts.

$150 $30k 67k

is the cost of the “Puff, Puff, Pass” Tour from Las Vegas Cannabis Tours, a 2.5 hr jaunt to creative local dispensaries.

in marijuana products were seized in local stores by police serving search warrants in Hendersonville, Ky.

pounds of MMJ have been sold under Arkansas’ program since May 2019.

STORIES by STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA

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Please consume responsibly. For use only by adults 21 years of age or older. This product has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks. Marijuana use during pregnancy and breast-feeding may pose potential harms. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. The impairment effects of Edible Marijuana Products may be delayed by two hours or more. In case of accidental ingestion, contact poison control hotline 1-800-222-1222 or 9-1-1. This product may be illegal outside of MA.

LOCAL NEWS

CONNECTICUT LEADS THE WAY

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onnecticut is now poised to beat nearby behemoths New York and New Jersey to the recreational Cannabis market. Despite being the last of the three states to legalize marijuana, regulators anticipate retail sales beginning in Connecticut before the end of 2022, and possibly even earlier. If that happens, the Constitution State could be the first in the tri-state area to offer legal pot sales.

After a rocky start in New York, as former Gov. Andrew Cuomo failed to create important regulatory boards charged with creating industry rules, the Empire State appeared back on track under the leadership of new Gov. Kathy Hochul.

However, New York’s Cannabis Control Board recently acknowledged that it would need another 18 months to create the pot program’s regulations. The

latest estimate puts off issuing business licenses for a year and a half, and it will likely be longer before sales begin – meaning Cannabis won’t be available for retail in New York until late in 2023.

“What we do control is getting [marijuana businesses] licensing and giving them all the tools so they can work within our systems … That’s what we are saying will be achieved in 18 months. Not that they’re open, not that they’ll be full-blown operations, because we don’t know that,” Control Board Chair Tremaine Wright said of the new timeline.

When New York does eventually get its retail pot program implemented, experts expect it will ultimately top $2 billion in sales annually.

While Connecticut’s estimated marijuana market pales in comparison to neighboring New York, analysts forecast sales reaching $750 million by the fourth year of the program. That’s in addition to an anticipated $225 million in medical Cannabis sales expected by 2025 – the state currently boasts nearly 54,000 registered patients.

Both New York and Connecticut placed an emphasis on social equity in their respective Cannabis laws. In Connecticut, 50 percent of adult-use marijuana businesses have been earmarked for qualified equity applicants.

And, in addition to other benefits, the first round of cultivation licenses will be reserved for equity applicants who open businesses in areas disproportionately impacted by prohibition.

: POT ALONE! STUDY F Photo by Rodnae Productions

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LEAVE POTENT

ear not, a cap on high potency Cannabis is not coming to Massachusetts. After looking into potential adverse effects caused by pot products containing high concentrations of THC, the state’s Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) has decided not to recommend setting a limit on potency. The commission’s researchers were unable to find sufficient scientific evidence of risks associated with high potency pot and therefore decided against recommending a cap.

The study fulfilled an obligation written into the state’s marijuana law. After Massachusetts voters passed legalization in 2016, the legislature approved a bill establishing an adult-use law. That bill called for the CCC to examine “the effects of marijuana and marijuana products with a high potency of tetrahydrocannabinol on the human body, and recommend whether there should be restrictions on the potency of tetrahydrocannabinol in marijuana and marijuana products.”

The CCC noted that THC levels in both the illicit and legal marijuana markets have been on the rise and that high-potency pot products have a large share of the adult-use retail market. However, the commission also acknowledged the difficulties in

studying Cannabis, as research involving pot is heavily restricted and the marijuana grown for studies at the University of Mississippi, “does not mirror the array of products and THC concentrations sold at Cannabis retailers (or in the illicit market), or the variety and regional differences in Cannabis.”

Ultimately the CCC did “not find sufficient evidence to recommend a concentration cap” for potent pot.

The commission also noted that creating such a potency limit would have the unintended consequence of encouraging those seeking such products to turn to the illicit market.

However, the research team did recommend that regulators improve data collection efforts for the adult-use industry for future studies.

The state currently caps THC potency in edibles, allowing no more than 5.5mg of THC per serving and a maximum of 20 servings per package.

Photo by Girl With Red Hat

DEC. 2021

PROGRESS IN NEW JERSEY

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fter several delays that have Garden State residents increasingly antsy, New Jersey officials have announced they will begin accepting license applications from marijuana cultivators, processors and testing laboratories on December 15, 2021. The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) also announced that the application process for dispensary licenses will begin on March 15, 2022.

The applications will be accepted by the CRC on a rolling basis. The law only caps the number of cultivation licenses allowed, as 37 grow-op permits will be awarded over a two-year period.

While New Jersey’s adult-use law called for the state to begin issuing licenses in September 2021, officials were unable to keep to that schedule.

Still, recreational pot business hopefuls are encouraged by the announcement, despite the delay.

The state’s recreational pot law also stipulates that retail sales begin by midFebruary 2022. But with the new timeline pushing the start of the dispensary application process back to March 2022, the launch of retail sales in New Jersey could still be a long way off.

The state’s adult-use pot law does allow for existing medical Cannabis dispensaries to sell recreational marijuana, provided they first prove to regulators that they have the necessary supply to provide for both patients and the public. Existing medical dispensaries must also pay a fee to change their license type.

Some of those current medical marijuana businesses have told regulators they’re ready to begin adult-use sales now, but the CRC has not signed off.

Ultimately, these dispensaries represent the state’s only hope of implementing retail sales by February as the legalization law stipulates. However, the commission has not committed to meeting that deadline. In fact, the CRC has

Photo by Rodnae Productions

declined to provide an estimate for when sales might begin in New Jersey.

Cannabis businesses owned by women, veterans or minorities, as well as people previously arrested for pot or those who are economically disadvantaged, will get priority in the application process thanks to the state’s social equity program.

Marijuana delivery, distribution and wholesale licenses are also on the horizon, but the CRC still needs to create the regulations for those businesses before it can set a date to begin accepting applications.

RHODE ISLAND ADDS DISPENSARIES R

hode Island will welcome five new medical Cannabis dispensaries after a long delay. The Rhode Island General Assembly approved increasing the number of dispensaries operating in the state nearly two and a half years ago.

The five companies were selected via a lottery after applying for a dispensary license back in 2020.

The lottery was designed to select one company for five different geographic zones, in an effort to provide better access for the state’s thousands of registered patients.

The lucky winners included RMI Compassion Center in Woonsocket, Pinnacle Compassion Center in Central Falls, Green Wave Compassion Center in Foster, Solar Therapeutics in Cranston and Plant Based Compassionate Care in South Kingtown.

While a lottery was considered the fairest way to award the new licenses, at a cost of $10,000 per application, the process clearly favored companies with cash.

Still, the five new dispensaries will be a welcome addition for the state’s medical Cannabis patients. Currently, only three dispensaries serve all of Rhode Island’s pot patients. Some have been forced to travel long distances to obtain their medicine.

The new locations are also welcomed by the state’s licensed cultivators.

There are currently 70 licensed marijuana growers across Rhode Island, so the additional shops will help move an increasing supply of marijuana.

The five newly licensed Cannabis companies will have nine months to open their new dispensaries. Each will pay a substantial $500,000 annual licensing fee.

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich

STORIES by MIKE GIANAKOS @MIKEGEEZEEY

BILL PUSHES FOR MORE INCLUSIVE NEW YORK

LOCAL NEWS

>> Continued from pg. 11

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new bill introduced in the New York Senate aims to include transgender and non-binary people in social equity programs under the state’s Cannabis law.

New York’s adult-use marijuana law has been lauded for its social equity component, as lawmakers made a concerted effort to craft legislation that would create an inclusive industry. And while we won’t know how successful the program will actually be until it is up and running, there are plenty of positives to point to on paper.

Sen. Jeremy Cooney (D) is hoping to add another positive to New York’s pot program with his new bill.

The legislation “will include transgender and gender-nonbinary individuals in the social and economic equity plan giving them priority in licensing … The social equity aspect of the [Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act] is meant to uplift historically marginalized groups through economic opportunities in the Cannabis industry and this bill furthers that effort.”

The proposed bill makes clear that, “Every New Yorker deserves the right to express and identify their gender as they choose.”

Sen. Cooney hopes the legislation will change an “unintended consequence” of New York’s recreational Cannabis law, which gives womenowned businesses licensing priority. Cooney’s concerned that the language prioritizing women will make it necessary for transgender or nonbinary people to either use the gender they were assigned at birth on applications, or forego social equity benefits. Or, as the bill states, the current law would “force certain individuals from choosing between their gender identity and receiving priority for a license.”

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Photo by Sharon Mccutcheon

Cooney’s legislation was filed in mid-November and was referred to the Senate Rules Committee.

While New York is making progress standing up its adult-use industry under new Gov. Kathy Hochul, retail sales remain at least 18 months away. Notoriously impatient, New Yorkers have begun selling Cannabis in unlicensed pop-up shops, as well as through “gifting” promotions – which involve providing a “free” sample of marijuana with the purchase of an overpriced item like hats, t-shirts or snacks.

Recently, Cannabis Control Board Chair Tremaine Wright announced that such gifting promotions – or any unlicensed sales of Cannabis – are illegal, and those responsible will face “severe financial penalties.”

MESS IN MAINE

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major conspiracy case involving the illegal sale of medical marijuana in Maine has shined a light on the lack of industry oversight. Thirteen people, including a prosecutor, a politician, a town manager and current and former cops, stand accused of working with a licensed caregiver to illegally sell $13 million of marijuana.

Lucas Sirois is accused of running the operation that grew Cannabis in western Maine, which was sold to people outside of the medical pot program both in and out of state.

The magnitude of the case has caused some backlash, involving a decision earlier this year by the state legislature to shut down proposed regulations that could have prevented such an operation.

The Maine Office of Marijuana Policy (OMP) had recommended instituting a “seed-to-sale” tracking system for medical Cannabis plants that would have provided regulators with the tools to stem illicit marijuana sales. But the proposal was met with criticism from the industry and the legislature voted to kill the seed-to-sale plan. Additionally, moving forward the OMP would have to consult with caregivers and patients on any potential rule changes, and the state legislature would have the final say on any new regulations.

Maine boasts more than 3,000 licensed caregivers and over 65,000 registered patients. And while OMP Director Erik Gundersen believes most are following the program’s rules, he acknowledges that illegal activity is an issue in the industry. However, given the current level of oversight, there’s little regulators can do about it.

DEC. 2021

Photo by Rodnae Productions

Maine first legalized medical marijuana in 1999 and the program was expanded in 2009. In 2018, the state eliminated qualifying conditions from the MMJ law. The program has been extremely successful as sales of medical Cannabis through dispensaries have made marijuana the state’s most valuable crop. Medical sales exceeded $220 million over just a 10 month period in 2020.

HOME GROW IN THE GARDEN STATE? N

ew Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has announced that he is “open-minded” when it comes to allowing home cultivation of marijuana.

While Cannabis legalization proved popular at the ballot on Election Day in 2020, the state has endured some bumps in the road in implementing a tax and regulate plan. However, with the recent announcement that applications for marijuana businesses will soon be accepted, the Garden State appears on its way to launching an adult-use industry.

Still, home grow has remained curiously absent from New Jersey’s plans.

The legalization bill that Murphy signed into law earlier this year does not allow for adults to grow their own pot.

But in a recent interview, Gov. Murphy admitted that leaving out home growing might have been a mistake. When asked by News 12 why the state continues to prohibit home cultivation by recreational and medical marijuana consumers, the governor, who narrowly won a reelection bid in November, said he’s “not sure there’s a good answer.” Murphy then said that he is “openminded to considering adjusting” the state’s home cultivation stance.

While Murphy touted the nascent pot program, he acknowledged that “there was a lot of legitimate interest in allowing, in some form or fashion, home grow. And I would just say I’d be open minded to that discussion.”

Well, it’s better than simply shutting the discussion down.

Photo by Shelby Ireland

Legislation allowing recreational and medicinal home cultivation has been introduced in the state legislature, but those bills have failed to advance.

On the plus side, more than 362,000 Cannabis cases have been expunged in New Jersey since a decriminalization law took effect last July. Additionally, prosecutors were directed to drop marijuana-related cases after Murphy signed the state’s legalization bill into law last February.

FIVE YEARS OF LEGAL WEED IN MA I

t has now been five years since Massachusetts legalized adult-use Cannabis. Voters approved a tax and regulate plan for the Bay State at the ballot in 2016. Two years later, in 2018, the state offered the first adult-use retail sales ever on the East Coast.

Since then, Massachusetts’ marijuana market has grown into an industry leader. The state now boasts 176 Cannabis retail locations and has surpassed a whopping $2 billion in sales.

While the pot program has proven to be popular, it only passed with 52 percent of the vote in 2016. Still, residents have consistently backed Cannabis, as a medical program was approved in 2012 and the state decriminalized in 2008.

The Massachusetts adult-use program has faced issues, including host community agreements and impact fees that have been accused of encouraging Cannabis corruption, but the state has also innovated – introducing two delivery license types available exclusively to qualified social equity applicants. Continued efforts to level the playing field can help maintain Massachusetts’ status as a recreational marijuana mainstay.

“It’s been a success in creating new tax revenue and new jobs, and it’s been a success in giving local communities a new stream of tax money,” said Jim Borghesani, who helped campaign for the state’s adult-use pot law in 2016.

“We’ve seen no increase in teen use. We’ve seen not a single incident of a sale to a minor. We’ve seen no increased crime around the Cannabis facilities.

We’ve seen no diminishment in business value or customer access around the locations. In other words, we’ve seen none of the negative repercussions that opponents were advocating during the legalization campaign.”

Photo by Robert Nelson

STORIES by MIKE GIANAKOS @MIKEGEEZEEY

JOIN THE ORIGINAL GRASSROOTS CANNABIS ACTIVIST ORGANIZATION IN MASSACHUSETTS, 31 YEARS ON THE GROUND AND STILL GROWING TOGETHER! LEARN MORE AT MASSCANN.ORG

interview

W H O ’ S Y O U R FAV O R I T E B U D T E N D E R ? T E L L U S W H Y ! E M A I L N O M I N A T I O N S T O D A N @ L E A F M A G A Z I N E S . C O M

FINNHOPKINS-O’NEIL Over the past year of traveling throughout Maine, I’ve often stopped at Atlantic Farms in Portland, as it’s a one-stop shop for gas, coffee and Cannabis.

But it wasn’t until I chatted up one of the managers that I was introduced to Finn Hopkins-O’Neil – outdoorsman extraordinaire and top notch budtender.

WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BECOMING A BUDTENDER AT ATLANTIC FARMS?

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I’ve always lived in Maine and used to help my friends with their outdoor grows. I didn’t have a background in the industry, but I always worked at ski mountains and did tours for saltwater kayaking. For the past five years I have been a sea kayak guide – I take people out on the ocean for day tours and sometimes even overnight campouts. I worked full-time at Atlantic Farms until the summer, when I was full-time kayaking – often 60 hours on the water a week – and working part-time at Atlantic. My dad owns a small outfitter in Harpswell, Maine called Casco Bay Kayak and I also work for Portland Paddle here during the summer. Now I am back to full time at Atlantic Farms for the fall and winter. I fit in pretty well with the crew, since a lot of us are pretty outdoorsy.

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

HOW DO YOU HELP PEOPLE FIND WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR? The first thing I

Northeast Leaf Budtender of the Month ATLANTIC FARMS 460 WARREN AVE. PORTLAND, ME

THEATLANTICFARMS.COM | @ATLANTIC_FARMS | OPEN 10AM-7PM DAILY

dec. 2021

“I LOVE AYAHUASCA PURPLE AND I’M A BIG FAN OF ANY OF THE CHEM FAMILY STRAINS.”

ask is what their particular needs are.

Then I’ll inquire if they’re looking for an indica or sativa, because I’m trying to figure out if they want to knock themselves out or if they are just trying to go about their day in a stoney kind of way – or what I call ‘working weed.’ You don’t want to give a person that doesn’t like indicas a sativa, and vice versa – those who don’t like sativas really don’t like them, as it makes them too anxious, nervous, paranoid or their heart race. I let them guide me to what they want or need.

WHAT STRAIN IS YOUR FAVORITE – AND YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO CONSUME IT?

I’m a classic stoner – I like rolling my own joints! As far as a strain, I love Ayahuasca Purple and I’m a big fan of any of the Chem family strains.

STORY & PHOTO by CHARLES TAGGART @KINDBUD.PHOTOS for NORTHEAST LEAF

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Please Consume Responsibly. This product may cause impairment and be habit forming. For use only by adults 21 years of age or older. Keep out of the reach of children. This product has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks. Marijuana use during pregnancy and breast-feeding may pose potential harms.

It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product.

KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. The impairment effects of Edibles may be delayed by two hours or more. In case of accidental ingestion, contact poison control hotline 1-800-222-1222 or 9-1-1. This product may be illegal outside of MA.

CRAFT CANNABIS CULTIVATED IN THE BERKSHIRES

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT

MASSMOSA GREEN FINGAZ CUT AVAILABLE NOW

cannaprovisions.com Please Consume Responsibly, This product may cause impairment and may be habit forming. For use only by adults 21 years of age or older. Keep out of the reach of children.This product has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks.

Marijuana use during pregnancy and breast-feeding may pose potential harms. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AW AWAY FROM CHILDREN. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. The effects of Edibles may be delayed by two hours or more. In case of accidental ingestion, contact poison control hotline 1-800-222-1222 or 9-1-1. This product may be illegal outside of MA. | License #: MR281796 & MR281778

GROW TOUR

RHODE ISLAND

MAMMOTH INC.

A Small Business Cultivation Op with Massive Aspirations I FIRST MET Mammoth Inc. CEO Spencer Blier when my good friend Eamon O’Neill became the company’s solventless press technician. O’Neill is the embodiment of a Cannabis success story: In high school and college, he was an athlete who never quite fit in with the sporty crowd, and as the pressures of being a young athlete brought out an angry side of him that he didn’t wish to encourage, O’Neill had a difficult time transitioning from adolescence to adulthood.

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20

O’Neill battled substance abuse and addiction until he found clarity in family, and eventually, parenthood. That proved to be a turning point for him – the catalyst that was needed to kick his harmful habits. Here, he turned to Cannabis to help the healing process.

O’Neill had contacted me about his employer’s father, who was very ill and in need of quality edibles. Eager to help, my wife and I went right into the kitchen and started on an assorted basket of our edible brand, EATs. Little did I know that his employer was Spencer Blier, the owner of my favorite Rhode Island cultivation facility. When we were invited to Spencer’s home to give him the basket of edibles, he offered to give us a tour of the Mammoth facility in return.

I happily accepted and just days later, had the opportunity to see what Mammoth was all about.

Spencer is a young entrepreneur who took an unusual path to marijuana. After two years at Quinnipiac University, he was expelled for smoking Cannabis in school housing.

GREEN FIRE

dec. 2021

While he waited to enroll in the University of Rhode Island, he took a few months to volunteer at a school for the deaf in Fiji. When he returned to the U.S. and began studying film in college, a close friend suggested he become a Rhode Island medical Cannabis caregiver. So Spencer, who was working as a campus groundskeeper at the time, set up his first grow in a tent inside a log cabin on school grounds where he was living.

Not long after beginning this grow, Spencer and his then partner contacted the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition and received their first five patients. Things were going well and Spencer was just about to get a co-op license, when such licenses became obsolete thanks to the new cultivator licenses introduced in the state. This is where Mammoth Inc. was born.

Walking into Mammoth Inc.’s cultivation and solventless extraction facility, I really didn’t know what to expect. This was the first legal Cannabis grow operation that I’d had the pleasure of visiting.

I have seen many well-organized and elaborate grow and garden spaces, but nothing could prepare me for the spectacle I was about to witness.

In the reception area, I was greeted by the smiling face of Mammoth’s General Manager, Jon Connors. Jon has a hand in pretty much everything that makes Mammoth the ganja Goliath that it is.

He went to URI for Psychology, where his roommate was Spencer’s brother, Connor Blier (who is now a partner at Mammoth).

Shortly after graduating, Connor invited Jon to live with him, so the two could build a grow in his basement. After working as a carpenter, Jon had developed just the right skill set for the job. The pair built two rooms and set out to learn the ins and outs of growing hydroponically in deep water culture.

During Mammoth’s buildout, the crew needed some help with the final construction. Jon got to work as the plumbing consultant, putting together the hydroponic systems, waterlines, airlines, the RO machine and all the little-but-necessary jobs for the intricate system. He quickly became assistant to the head grower and then moved on to administrative work. Eventually, as Mammoth grew, Jon also had a hand in compliance, sales, purchasing, packaging, planning, hiring and even started running special projects, including packaging and grow upgrades.

Five years later, Jon is the general manager of Mammoth. And as he handed me a new set of scrubs, I couldn’t help but feel giddy about the behind-the-scenes tour I was about to enjoy.

He used his access card to get us in and we walked through the secured inner workings of the facility. The first thing you will notice about Mammoth Inc. is how happy and kind their crew is.

They are all friendly and quick to assist or answer a question. The second thing you are sure to notice is how immaculately clean everything is from top to bottom. It is also readily apparent that Mammoth

ANIMAL GAS

THCA DIAMONDS

is a state-of-the-art facility, with a fully-automated system.

I was first brought to see their reverse osmosis tank station. This is where perfectly purified water is stored and transferred to fill feeding tanks. Food and nutrients are then carefully calculated and monitored for perfect PH, and water temperature is controlled for each of their hydroponically grown plants. It is also the same water that the humidity control system uses to mist their cultivation rooms with a spray so fine that it will not bead up on the plants, which can potentially cause the dreaded white powdery mildew or mold: also known as WPM. Next was the cloning room where all the mother plants are tended to, and all the babies come to be.

This is where Spencer met up with the tour and I got a distinct Charlie and the Chocolate Factory vibe, as he showed off his deep-water culture wonderland of a facility. He explained that even in this early stage of the plant, clones are treated with great care and meticulousness. Their cloning systems are set at a root spray temperature that mimics a perfectly cool soil environment and promotes healthy root growth.

It was plain to see Spencer was not a “plant it in a pot and see what happens” type of cultivator. Every detail was skillfully designed to imitate the most favorable climate for optimal growing potential.

Telemetry data is constantly monitored via a host of sensors and monitors.

The data is used to ensure the quality and consistency of all of Mammoth’s products, and each product is tested by an independent, third-party lab. Everything that was done was purposeful and explained as essential to the process.

It was plain to see Spencer was not a “plant it in a pot and see what happens” type of cultivator. Every detail was skillfully designed to imitate the most favorable climate for optimal growing potential.

Spencer seemed to have a gift of making sure each of these details is carried out with the highest standard of care possible. This extreme attention to detail should be viewed as a gift … the gift of a green thumb.

One could see the pride in this small-business owner’s face as we navigated through his world, and as he explained each of the lengths he took to set his products apart. I was taken through the veg room and able to see these extensive water systems in action with the gorgeous young plants. Next was the piece de resistance: the flower room where the aromas of budding buds danced in my nose and caused a euphoric feeling, without even having to light one up. I was told to gently rub and squeeze certain sugar leaves, testing buds to release terpy oils onto my fingers in order to smell each strain specifically.

Finally, I was taken to the trim, curing and processing areas, where the fruits of Mammoth’s labor were cleaned up. Here the flower is dried slowly to perfection, and either packaged as-is in the form of flower, processed by means of a water or bubble hash system and then squeezed by heat press extraction and made into hash rosin, or isolated into THCa and pressed into dabbing tablets.

It was wonderful to see the seed-to-sale process in its entirety – a truly gratifying experience that exemplified the “quality in, quality out” creed that every Cannabis cultivator should adhere to.

In an industry this high, Mammoth Inc. is only raising the bar.

MAMMOTHINC.COM @MAMMOTH_VIP @MAMMOTHMELTS

MEET THE TEAM

Spencer Company Founder

Jon General Manager

Eamon Solventless Extracts and Packaging Supervisor

Lucas Plant Operation Supervisor

Zoe Trimming, Packaging Inventory Manager

STORY by MARK WARD @READLEGALWEED for NORTHEAST LEAF | PHOTOS by MAMMOTH INC.

All Things Cannabis For All People beardedlorax rickerdj stashleylynn

PODCAST

maaryjwhite leaflifepodcast

#144

ALL ABOUT EDIBLES!

(From Pot Brownies to Nano-Infused Capsules) THIS MONTH: #143 THE FAST FOOD SHOW (Marketing to Stoners) #145 MORAL DILEMMAS (Battling the Moral Majority) #142 THE MIDS (The New Budweiser)

NOW ON LEAF LIFE PODCAST V2

LISTEN ON:

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

Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.

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24

GELATO 41

dec. 2021

STRAIN OF THE MONTH

NORTHEAST

As the saying goes, “There’s always room for pie.” And during pie season in the Northeast, I’m always on the hunt for strains that would pair perfectly with pies and cakes after a large holiday meal, or perhaps a weekend get-together with friends.

grown by

LANDRACE CANNABIS CO. HARD NUGS OF GOOD SIZE WITH A BEAUTIFUL MIX OF LIGHT GREEN AND DARK PURPLE LEAVES – ALL COVERED IN SPARKLING TRICHOMES.

23.7% THC | INDICA HYBRID

So when the budtender at Landrace recommended trying the Gelato 41 – an indica-dominant hybrid with 23.7% THC – I politely accepted the advice.

Opening the glass jar, I discovered hard nugs of good size with a beautiful mix of light green and dark purple leaves – all covered in sparkling trichomes. The smell of the nugs as I broke them apart had a lovely citrus and blueberry scent, plus a woody twist. Rolling up a fat joint, the flower seemed perfect in texture and dryness – easily broken up with my fingers instead of needing a grinder.

The taste featured a sweet berry and citrus, with a slight cedarwood overtone that matched the aroma perfectly. This is one great tasting flower, and I only wish I could enjoy puffing on it while working throughout the day. After just a few hits off the joint, it’s like I was almost becoming part of the couch. The normal back pain dissipated quickly, and I could feel a serious stoner mode setting in.

Newbies beware: Gelato 41 got this old stoner very high, which isn’t normally the case. Landrace’s Head Cultivator Mike Mattei has done stellar work with this strain and it will stone you to the bone.

This is one of the finest cultivars for holiday festivities — Whether hanging out with friends watching sports or a movie, or if you just want to get exceptionally baked with some fabulous tasting LANDRACECANNA.COM flower! And of course, it @LANDRACECANNABISCO goes great with coffee, 22 SMADA DR, SANFORD, ME pies and cake.

LANDRACE CANNABIS CO.

REVIEW & PHOTO by CHARLES TAGGART @KINDBUD.PHOTOS for NORTHEAST LEAF

The Premier Counter Culture Expo Since 1999 CHAMPS Has everything for your store!

Free Admission For Qualified Buyers.

the edibles issue

28

edibles 101

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

What is an edible

Decarboxylation

Emulsifier

Decarboxylation is a necessary pre-process in the creation of edibles that involves heating up your Cannabis product (flower or oil) to 220º F to break off carboxyl units from Delta 9 THCa, thus converting inactive THCa into active THC. This process happens naturally when smoking or vaporizing, however edibles require decarbing prior to product creation.

Decarbed Cannabis can be infused into an edible product.

Because Cannabis is infused into oil/butter and many edible recipes require the use of water, emulsifiers are used to create many edible products. As you probably remember, oil and water do not mix. An emulsifier is a compound that is added to oil/water concoctions so that they can blend together in a homogenous solution, and is an essential step for many edible products.

Edible Infusion

Nano-emulsified

Food that incorporates a variety of Cannabis infusions to create a product that tastes as good as its effects are. These products are orally ingested and metabolized through the liver, which is a distinctively different mechanism of action from inhalable products. Expect a slower onset, more robust body effect, and significantly prolonged duration compared to other consumption methods such as smoking or vaping. These products include anything that can be made using oil or butter.

11-OH-THC (11-hydroxy-THC)

When Cannabis oil is mixed with an oil or butter, this is considered an infused product. Generally THC is infused into an oil or butter in a known quantity, and then that butter or oil is incorporated into a chef’s favorite recipe to create an edible Cannabis product. Ethanol can be used to extract THC and then evaporated directly onto sugar, salt or pre-made products to create infused products, however these are not as stable or consistent compared to something infused with butter or oil. Infusions are most commonly made from solvent-based extractions like hydrocarbon, CO2 and ethanol. The quality of the infusion is a direct result of the quality of the extraction process, as well as the extraction input material.

This compound is a metabolite that is derived from the metabolization of Delta 9 THC within the liver. Enzymes in the liver convert the Delta 9 THC into 11-OH-THC when we orally ingest Cannabis, and this conversion accounts for edibles exponentially high potency and prolonged effects when compared to inhalation. 11-OH-THC is approximately five to 10 times more potent that Delta 9 THC, and is only created via liver metabolization.

Dosing Guidelines

Low and slow is the rule for all Cannabis products, and this rule is even more important for proper edible dosage. Due to the notoriously potent effects of edibles that result from the conversion of Delta 9 into 11-OH-THC, dosing recommendations start at 1mg for first time users. From there it is recommended to slowly increase your dosage until you find the dose that is comfortable for you and your needs.

Consumers often get too high from edibles because they try to match their smoking dosage to their edible dosage, without realizing that eating a gram of Cannabis is significantly more potent than smoking a gram of Cannabis. Your lifestyle, medical needs and product access will help you determine the best dosing regimen that supports your personal relief, with regard to your daily schedule.

dec. 2021

Solventless Infusions

A trending subset of infusions that utilizes Cannabis oil derived from a solventless process. These products typically contain the most robust amount of cannabinoids and effects possible, particularly compared to their solvent-based competition. These are typically infused with hash and rosin products, and are generally considered to be a FECO product (full spectrum extract Cannabis oil).

There are hundreds of types of emulsifiers that can be used to create products, depending on the nitty gritty details of your product development. A sonicator is a tool that utilizes ultrasonic frequencies to break up particles on a molecular level. When utilizing a sonicator with an emulsifier, you can lower the amount of emulsifier needed, as well as increase the bioavailability of the cannabinoids in the product. Thus you create a nano-emulsified product that, in theory, produces a higher quality effect with less active ingredients used.

Edible vs. Ingestible

‘Edible’ typically refers to a food-based product, whereas ‘ingestible’ can refer to any product that is consumed orally. Ingestibles include drinks, tinctures and tablets, which are also processed through the liver and share the same mechanism of action as edibles, just with varying degrees of potency/onset. An edible is more traditionally thought of as a brownie or cookie, but today can include anything from a gummy, to a jerky, to a savory pie, to a steak dinner.

STORY byTAYLOR MARTIN for LEAF NATION

BAKED GOODS 29

BOURNE BAKING CO. REVIEW BY DAN MCCARTHY @ACUTALPROOF

MEDIBLE DELIGHTS CANNABIS CO.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES & PEANUT BUTTER BROWNIES REVIEW & PHOTO BY CHARLES TAGGART @KINDBUD.PHOTOS

Available at Medible Delights dispensary in Lewiston, and other medical dispensaries throughout Maine, these cookies and brownies are some of the tastiest we’ve ever had! And it’s no surprise that Medible Delights won second place in the 2021 NECANN Portland’s Edible category with their caramel infused candies. These are delicious and potent, must-try treats.

10mg THC/cookie serving, 100mg THC/package | medibledelights.com @medibledelights

Combining the ingredients that make up a traditional snickerdoodle cookie is a time honored one when making treats to bring a smile to one’s face. Using these snickerdoodle bites put out by Bourne Baking Co. means you’re getting small 5mg dosings per cookie, and thus makes it both easy to track how much full-spectrum Cannabis you’ve consumed, but also how many more snickerdoodles you can potentially fit in your mouth before it becomes unsightly. Snack well, friends. Available from Canna Provisions.

5mg THC/cookie serving, 25mg THC/package panaceawellness.com | @bournebakingco

REVIEWS by NORTHEAST LEAF CONTRIBUTORS

leafmagazines.com

SNICKERDOODLES

the edibles issue

CHOCOLATES BHANG

DARK CHOCOLATE REVIEW BY DAN MCCARTHY @ACUTALPROOF

BOBBLEHEAD BARS

INFUSED CHOCOLATE BARS REVIEW & PHOTO BY CHARLES TAGGART @KINDBUD.PHOTOS

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30

Available at many medical dispensaries in Southern Maine on WeedMaps, Bobblehead Bars are a very popular medical Cannabis-infused chocolate bar in Maine. The Cannabis-infused chocolate goodness melts in your mouth! These chocolate bars come in a variety of flavors as well as dosage levels of 100mg, 300mg and 420mg. I personally enjoy a piece with my coffee or hot chocolate! 100mg/300mg/420mg THC per bar @bobbleheadbar | Bobbleheadbar.com

The fact that this is a multiple award-winning dark chocolate isn’t always enough to convince hardened edibles consumers that another dark chocolate delight is what their arsenal needs. However, when you have a company with sustainable sourcing in its DNA, using 74% cacao that captures the depths possible of unctuous texture that brings consistent dosing experiences, it’s hard not to have some of this in your tasty time tackle box. Available from Canna Provisions in Massachusetts.

5mg THC per square, 100mg THC/package. bhangnation.com | @bhangnation

NOVA FARMS

MELTDOWN COOKIES & CREAM BAR INSA

DOUBLE CARAMEL SEA SALT BAR REVIEW BY DAN VINKOVETSKY @DANNYDANKOHT

It’s not difficult to see why Insa’s Double Caramel Sea Salt Chocolate Bar has won awards. It’s made using an artisanal process to caramelize the pure ivory chocolate sourced from Europe and continues to be a top seller at Insa’s dispensaries and other locations throughout the Commonwealth.

The unique color and creamy flavor is accented by bits of salted caramel sugar for a delightful crunch. Be careful not to eat too much of this deliciousness. Available from Canna Provisions in Massachusetts.

5mg THC per square, 100mg THC/package | Insa.com | @insacannabis

dec. 2021

REVIEW & PHOTO BY BAILEY JONSON @BAILEYANDTHEWORLD

Nova Farms, with locations in Massachusetts and Maine, is setting the bar high for grassroots Cannabis dispensaries. And they’re also manufacturing, distributing and selling their very own line of infused chocolate bars in four different flavors.

The Meltdown Cookies and Cream Bar comes in a gold-gilded chocolate bar, child-proof hard box, and has eight simple ingredients: sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, soy lecithin, natural vanilla, Cannabis extract oil, MCT oil, and cookie pieces with a delicious and complex flavor that’s buttery and smooth.

4.59mg THC per 1/2 square serving, 91.8mg THC/package Novafarms.com | @novafarms

REVIEWS by NORTHEAST LEAF CONTRIBUTORS

CANDIES ZZZZONKED

SLEEPY GUMMIES REVIEW & PHOTO BY BAILEY JONSON @BAILEYANDTHEWORLD

RIVER DRIVER CANNABIS CO.

HARD CANDIES REVIEW & PHOTO BY CHARLES TAGGART @KINDBUD.PHOTOS

River Driver Cannabis Co. has some of the best recreational infused sweet hard candies in an assortment of flavors. I personally enjoyed the maple flavor in the morning and their root beer flavor in the afternoon! Beautifully branded, zip-sealed packaging can be found at both their dispensary located in Brunswick, Maine and sold by many local recreational dispensaries throughout the state. 10mg THC per candy serving, 100mg THC/package | riverdrivercc.com | @riverdrivercc

Do you toss and turn at night wishing for a Cannabis edible that will leave you snoozing? Nova Farms has developed a gummy infused with melatonin – a naturally occurring hormone released by the pineal gland – to help you fall asleep. The idea is to help individuals get zonked with an herbal supplement pairing that is effective and non-habit forming. Find these gummies and more at Nova’s three locations: Attleboro, Mass., Framingham, Mass. and Greenville, Maine, as well as Canna Provisions.

4.4mg THC/gummy serving, 88mg THC/package.

Novafarms.com | @novafarms

INSA

RASPBERRY ENERGY DROPS REVIEW BY DANNY VINKOVETSKY @DANNYDANKOHT

Sometimes, we all need a pick-me-up … and what better way than with a Cannabisinfused gummy that also contains caffeine?

The Energy Drops from INSA are made with real fruit puree and a light dusting of sugar for a flavorful, discreet and lively effect that’s sure to put some pep in ya’ step.

Plus, they’re 100% vegan and gluten-free!

2.5mg THC/drop serving, 50mg THC/pkg. insa.com | @insacannabis

GUMMIES REVIEW & PHOTO BY BAILEY JONSON @BAILEYANDTHEWORLD

Selling out of Commonwealth Alternative Care Dispensary in Brockton, Mass. for $30 per container, this product line goes above and beyond with their ingenuity and knowledge, using time-release technology to create a soft and tasty vegan gummy. The packaging is simple and clean – white stackable cubes with easy-to-use, child-proof pop-tops. The graphics are unassuming and professional. Each respective flavor tastes exactly as described and they all have a nice tangy zing. 5mg THC/gummy serving, 100mg THC/package. | Wanabrands.com | @wanabrands

REVIEWS by NORTHEAST LEAF CONTRIBUTORS

leafmagazines.com

WANA BRANDS

31

the edibles issue

DRINKS

LEVIA

POMEGRANATE PUNCH SEASONAL SELTZER

32

REVIEW BY DAN MCCARTHY @ACUTALPROOF

Take everything you love about flavorful seltzers, the likes of which have swept the land in recent years, but make it a local-company-makes-good story. Now add consistent, low Cannabis dosing and a limited-edition seasonal offering like this Pomegranate Punch. Then add the dosing normally used in their Celebrate line (hybrid, uplifting and happy vibes). You get this. And after trying it, you’ll probably want to get it many times over. Available from Canna Provisions, Stem Haverhill and The Botanist. 5mg THC per container serving Levia.buzz | @leviabrands

KEEF BRANDS

KUSH CLASSIC SODA

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

REVIEW BY DAN VINKOVETSKY @DANNYDANKOHT

HI-5

INFUSED CANNABIS DRINK REVIEW & PHOTO BY CHARLES TAGGART @KINDBUD.PHOTOS

Hi-5 infused Cannabis drink is a fast-acting seltzer beverage with zero calories and comes in a variety of flavors. It’s supposed to take effect in under five minutes, with dosages of 5-9mg. I found the three flavors I tried to be very refreshing and highly recommended for new Cannabis edible consumers with low tolerance levels. You can find this THC infused beverage at Theory Wellness Dispensary in Maine or Happy Valley Dispensaries in Massachusetts. 5-9mg THC per container serving enjoyhi5.com | @drinkhi5

dec. 2021

Nothing beats an ice-cold orange soda, except of course one that’s infused with 10mg of CO2 extracted THC oil.

Keef Brands proprietary emulsification process ensures a longer shelf life and great flavor profile without any “grassy” taste to ruin the experience. This caffeine-free soda with just the right amount of carbonation will have you buzzing with delight. Available at Fire on Fore and Grass Roots Marijuana in Maine. 10mg THC per container serving keefbrands.com | @keefbrands

REVIEWS by NORTHEAST LEAF CONTRIBUTORS

TROPIZEN

PIQUE HOT SAUCE REVIEW BY DAN VINKOVETSKY @

DANNYDANKOHT

From the island of Puerto Rico comes a traditional hot sauce with a twist. Made with three different kinds of peppers, a blend of fresh herbs and Cabo Rojo salt infused with full spectrum Cannabis, this amazing tasting sauce will add substantial spice to any dish and liven up your camping trip or cookout. Try their Avocado version for a milder “green” flavor or their Pique Diablo for an even stronger bite. Available at Stem Haverhill. 5mg THC per half teaspoon serving, 120mg THC per container Tropizen.com | @tropizenmed

1906

GO ENERGY DROPS REVIEW BY BAILEY JONSON @BAILEYANDTHEWORLD

1906 (a company named for the year of the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act, which marked the first attempt to federally regulate marijuana in the U.S.) presents their line of edibles in the form of tablets made with formulated plant medicine. Their GO Energy Drops combine Cannabis and caffeine, as well as other extracts, for a gluten-free, dairy-free and calorie-free boost.

All tablets are sealed in sleek, brightly colored tubes that are vibrant and cool. Available from Caroline’s Cannabis. 5mg THC & 5mg CBD per drop serving, 100mg THC & 100mg CBD/package.

1906newhighs.com | @1906newhighs

33

HOWL’S TINCTURE

SPECIAL EDITION: EARTH REVIEW BY DAN MCCARTHY @ACUTALPROOF

OLD MAN GOODIES

FRESH & DELICIOUS MAPLE SYRUP REVIEW & PHOTO BY BAILEY JONSON @BAILEYANDTHEWORLD

LEVIA

DREAM WATER SOLUBLE TINCTURE REVIEW BY DAN MCCARTHY @ACUTALPROOF

Look around the next time you’re in a grocery store and happen to be in the aisle brandishing non-dosed, flavored seltzer of every sort. Now picture having a tincture that instantly turns that regular old seltzer into a Cannabis-dosed seltzer in the best way possible – by using water-soluble delivery to provide THC dosing that better disperses and absorbs, and is processed in your body as well as any liquid beverage. Available at Canna Provisions and Stem Haverhill.

5mg THC per dropper serving, 300mg THC per container.

Levia.buzz | @leviabrands

INGREDIENTS, SAUCES & TINCTURES

REVIEWS by NORTHEAST LEAF CONTRIBUTORS

leafmagazines.com

Female-owned and operated, holistic healthcare brand Old Man Goodies LLC – founded in 2016 by Danielle McQueen – brings us maple syrup infused with 100mg of CBD. Containing riboflavin, zinc, magnesium, calcium, and potassium with a higher concentration of minerals and antioxidants yet fewer calories than honey, maple syrup can be a wonderful sugar substitute for all kinds of things, from baked goods to your morning coffee. Sweet and aromatic, they taste every bit what you would expect from pure maple syrup from Maine – plus a CBD accompaniment to help you heal and recover. 100mg CBD/package.

Oldmanfarms.com | @oldman_goodies_llc

Howl’s Tinctures – known for using a time-honored, 3,000-year-old, wholeplant infusion technique to capture the full beneficial properties of a plant – has become synonymous with quality, fullspectrum cannabinoid tincture products in Massachusetts. This special limited-edition tincture using Cannabis flower (and seeds!) was grown organically on a regenerative sustainable farm in West Stockbridge, Mass. Wiseacre Farm is the first line of annual collaborations between the two – resulting in a unique plant tincture that fuels your endocannabinoid system where you need it, bringing the full range of available benefits. Exclusively available at Canna Provisions. 5mg THC per serving.

Howls.com | @howlsmedicines

Danny Danko teaches you everything you need to know to get growing now!

YOUR SOURCE FOR CULTIVATION INFO, INTERVIEWS, NEWS, ACTIVISM AND PRODUCT REVIEWS! Grow Bud Yourself podcast is available on all streaming platforms and whereever you get your podcasts!

Send questions to info@growbudyourself.com

Past Special Guests Include

Follow along! @dannydankoht @mikecheckg @growbudyourself

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

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 cohost 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.

the edibles issue

Holiday GIFT GUIDE 1 MyBudVase Artisan Vase/Bong

Smoking made beautiful, this South Carolina-based company adds a chic element to your stoney lifestyle. With a wide selection of tasteful designs, the hardest part will be deciding if you want to put it to use, or simply keep it on display. @mybudvase - $125-$225

2 Wokeface Magnetic Lid Rolling Tray 36

You won’t be using a boring tray again anytime soon. This artfully adorned magnetic lid and rolling tray go together like peanut butter and jelly. Mobile joint rolling optimized! @wokeface - $20

1

3 Pax Era Life vaporizer

Airy and diminutive with 2.5x the battery life, you’ll top this unique vape battery with an oil-filled pod for a pint-sized powerhouse puff. With so many color designs to choose from, it’s a stoney extension of your personality. @pax_official - $35

4 Blazy Susan Spinning Rolling Tray

The ultimate home base for all your weed things. If your life requires more organization, this will keep every dab accessory right where you left it. Spin to win! @blazysusan - $80-$145

2

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

5 Phoenix Art Project Natural Resin Art

This handmade desk art is designed from pieces of nature collected in New England and cured in eco poxy, environmentally-friendly resin. Framed, on the desk, or hanging from the tree – Cannabis enthusiasts will cherish the uniqueness. @pheonixartproject - $30-$89

6 Dynavap Battery-Free Vaporizor

The innovative design allows clean air flow, which equates to an old school meets new cool experience. With more control over the temperature, you’re distinctly in charge with ultimate access to the true flavor of your weed and oil. Dynamite! @dynavap - $87-$225

7 sitka hash dome

High end smokeware is few and far between, but this old school hash company is bringing the dome to your home. Bucket list complete! @sitkagold - $150

dec. 2021

8 tOTEEZ MINI BINS

Who needs a nug jug when you’ve got a tiny tote? Now you can match your weed stash with your garage stash with this cute, durable box. @toteeztinytotes - $10

9 Puff Puff Pass Card Games Put the drinking games back in the closet for a stonified replacement.

Thought provoking cards allow players to modify the rules as they go, making the fun virtually limitless. @playpuffpuffpass - $15

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10 EZ Pipe Ooze Lighter Pipe Combo

Take your entire show on the road with the Swiss Army Knife of weed pipes.

Inexpensive and practical, it’s an all-in-one compact device that keeps all your vital tools in one handy place. @ezlitepipe - $9.99

11 Powerhitter 12 Vessel Touchless Smoking Vape batteries Since the 1970s, this squeezable tube has been letting you rip it without lipping it.

Load a joint inside and watch the smoke pour into your mouth like fog rolling over the hilltops. Now you can smoke a joint in the shower! @powerhitterco - $25

Where discretion meets style, these beauties are at the top of their class. With sleek designs and high-end functionality, you’ll feel spoiled with every taste. If you’re spending on quality oil, it makes sense to invest in the best. @vessel_brand $45-$60

13 stACHE RIO DAB RIG

Whether at home or away, this cold-start device will get you properly ignited. With a built-in torch, dead batteries and burnt coils are a thing of the past. @stacheproducts - $199

REVIEWS by LEAF NATION STAFF | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS & MIKE RICKER @RICKERDJ

COOKING WITH CANNABIS

R EC I P E S b y LAU RIE WOLF | P HOTO b y B RUC E WOL F

food gifts To see what works for your dog, try a half biscuit first.

Some dogs will need more CBD for treating pain, or if they are very large, experiment starting low.

H

OMEMADE FOOD GIFTS ARE THE BEST. Since most of the folks who give me presents love eating as much as I do, there have been some pretty remarkable gifts. You too can be the giver of “special” extraordinary treats.

The white chocolate bites are lightly infused, filled with dried cherries, sliced almonds, coconut and a dusting of chili powder. A little different and they travel well (unless it’s in the middle of the summer). And this fudgy, chippy, toffee-laden brownie may become your new favorite. Last but not least, the CBD-only dog biscuits will help your anxious pet get in a good head space for holiday entertaining. My little dogs have a lot to say when people come over; the treats chill them out so they seem well-adjusted.

I’ve infused all these recipes with my absolute favorite strain: Forbidden Fruit, from the talented folks at Sugar Tree Farm.

This fragrant strain never disappoints. I like to keep doses pretty low this time of year – be mellow, enjoy and take it easy!

Makes 50, 10mg CBD biscuits

FIDO’S FRIENDS 3 cups rolled oats 1/2 cup coconut flour 2 eggs 1 cup peanut butter, nothing but 1/3 cup CBD oil 1/2 cup cooked vegetables, i.e. broccoli, peas, corn, green beans, carrot (chopped) 1 tablespoon no salt bouillon, chicken, beef or vegetable 1 cup hot water 2 teaspoons turmeric

1. Heat oven to 300.

2. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients. Press into a greased 9x9 inch pan. Using a sharp knife cut into 30 pieces.

3. Bake biscuits for 50-60 minutes. The biscuits should appear dry. They can be cooked longer, dogs are not gonna care.

Leave the biscuits in the oven for a couple of hours after the oven is turned off. Keep frozen, they will last longer.

38

Makes 4 dozen bites

TOFFEE CHIP BROWNIE BITES 1 pkg. fudge brownie mix 1 cup water 3 eggs 1/4 cup oil 1/4 cup canna-oil or butter, melted and cooled 1 cup chocolate chips 1 cup toffee bits, plus extra for topping

1. Heat oven to 340. Spray mini muffin pans.

2. Prepare the brownies according to the package instructions. Replace 1/4 cup of the regular oil with 1/4 cup canna-oil or cannabutter. Add the chips and toffee, stir to combine.

3. Fill the 48 muffin cups two-thirds full.

4. Bake the brownies for 21-25 minutes, or do the toothpick test.

5. Remove the brownies and sprinkle with more toffee bits. Do not operate heavy machinery.

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

Makes 32, 5mg THC bites

SPICY WHITE CHOCOLATE BITES 2 1/2 cups white chocolate chips 1/8 cup canna-oil or butter 1/3 cup chopped dried cherries 1/3 cup sliced almonds 1/2 cup shredded coconut Chili powder

1. Line mini muffin pans with paper liners.

2. Place the chocolate and oil in a microwave safe bowl. Melt in 20 second intervals, stirring every time.

3. Stir in the cherries, almonds and coconut.

4. Drop the mixture into the muffin liners.

Sprinkle with a tiny pinch of chili powder.

5. Allow to sit at room temperature to set, at least an hour. Serve with or without paper liners.

dec. 2021

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EXTRACTED BY TRADE ROOTS

40

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

LEMON SKUNK X LSD WAX Marrying these two heavy hitters was no mistake.

Lemon Skunk proudly sits as one of Good Chemistry’s most popular strains, with its bright orange hues, sweet taste, and an aroma of lemon and skunk. Mixed with the long-lasting high of its sister strain, LSD, results in a concentrate that packs a cerebral and euphoric punch to liven up your daytime fun.

Good Chemistry Nurseries was founded by Matthew Huron. Matthew’s father and father’s partner both suffered from HIV/AIDS, and Matthew witnessed firsthand the symptomatic relief HIV/AIDS patients found with Cannabis – as well as the plant’s potential to make life better for a wide range of people.

With cultivation and retail operations in Colorado and Massachusetts, Good Chemistry Nurseries is arguably the only multistate vertically integrated breeder, cultivator and retailer that’s independently owned and operated.

Founded by Massachusetts’ native and longtime legacy market participant Jesse Pitts, and his undoubtedly more “square” friend Carl, Trade Roots is making waves in the Massachusetts market by focusing on producing small batch concentrates using only the best Cannabis available in the state.

Trade Roots is preparing to open their retail location in Wareham, this winter, and will offer a variety of high-quality products, with cross-branded options that give craft growers the opportunity to get involved in making a variety of products with their flower.

TRADE ROOTS 6 THATCHER LANE WAREHAM, MA

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dec. 2021

REVIEW by DAN VINKOVETSKY @DANNYDANKOHT/NORTHEAST LEAF | PHOTO by PATRICK ROGERS @GIGGLEGRASSACHUSETTS

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This product has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks. Marijuana use during pregnancy and breast-feeding may pose potential harms. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. The impairment effects of Edible Marijuana Products may be delayed by two hours or more. In case of accidental ingestion, contact poison control hotline 1-800-2221222 or 911. This product may be illegal outside of MA. Please Consume Responsibly. For use only by adults 21 years of age or older. Keep out of the reach of children. Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

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GLASS ART

42

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

I RECENTLY stopped by Chaka Glass Studio in Portland, Maine to talk with Cristian Gazmuri – a veteran glass-blowing artist known as Chaka with over 16 years of working with molten glass. His career started with figurative glass sculpture classes from Milon Townsend in his studio, as well as more recently at Corning Glass (about eight years ago). I’ve always enjoyed his mastery of snow and ice themes within his rigs, pipes and pendants.

dec. 2021

@CHAKAGLASS

CHAKA GLASS STUDIO “First and foremost, I’m a craftsman. What I really enjoy is the process.”

How did you get your start in glass?

I started out doing craft shows and jewelry. I always did pipes as a side thing, which is why I had the name ‘Chaka,’ so as not to get busted.

You were making pipes before Cannabis started becoming legal – when just getting caught with a pipe could get you arrested? Yeah, back then as pipemakers, we all had to be in the dark and not be too loud in what we were doing. It was a really grey area with headshops – they had to say it’s for tobacco only, while it was obvious it wasn’t for tobacco. People tend to smoke tobacco out of wooden pipes – not fancy, heady glass pieces.

What inspired you to start doing your cold, wintery, ice themes in your functional glass pieces? I was just messing around in my studio in the middle of summer – cooling myself off with an ice cube – and I thought it might be cool to make an ice cube out of glass.

I was already making these little penguins and was getting closer to doing more conceptual work.

What excites you as a glass artist? First and foremost, I’m a craftsman. What I really enjoy is the process. A lot of my work is a reflection of what I do with the torch. Much of the art arises out of doing the process. And I just love working with glass – it’s really the best medium. We’re in the Glass Age, or at least that’s what some say. There

was the Iron Age, the Bronze Age. At Corning Corporate Headquarters, we’re developing all the glass we use in all of our phones and tablets – glass fiber.

How important is understanding the chemistry of glass? I’m really into meteorology and minerals – I have a pretty decent collection at home. A lot of the same elements that give color in minerals are the same elements that give glass its color. Glass blowers do need to know chemistry – the flame chemistry will affect the colors – if you add more oxygen to your flame, you’ll oxidize the colors. And if you take it away, it gets much more greasy and will reduce the colors and have streaks of copper appear.

But that might not be a mistake – it really depends on what you want, or are looking for.

STORY & PHOTOS by CHARLES TAGGART @KINDBUD.PHOTOS for NORTHEAST LEAF

Cannthropology

44

WORLD OF Cannabis PRESENTS

Legalizing The Last Frontier

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

How the second-to-last state to join the Union became the second US state to decriminalize marijuana.

Activist attorney Irwin Ravin—known as the grandfather of If you asked the average American which states Alaska’s Cannabis legalization movement. were the pioneers of Cannabis legalization, off – eventually opening a law they’d likely answer California and Colorado. practice together in AnchorBut in reality, Oregon was actually the first state to decriminalize marijuana age and getting high together way back in 1973, followed soon after by Alaska in 1975. And unlike the often. It was during one of their former states, who legalized Cannabis through voter initiatives, both Oregon smoke sessions in late 1972 and Alaska did so through their state legislatures. In Alaska’s case, that law that the duo began plotting to was undoubtedly influenced by an iconic act of civil disobedience by the overturn what they viewed as man who would become known as the grandfather of the state’s marijuana the state’s unjust Cannabis law. movement: Irwin Ravin.

Ravin’s legal partner/defense attorney and The political conditions there seemed ripe for change: Earlier former state NORML rep Robert Wagstaff.

THAT’S SO RAVIN that very year, Alaskans had amended their state constitution to include an Irwin Ravin was born on June 20, 1939 in Newark, New Jersey, and grew explicit right to privacy (Article 1, Section 22). Plus, the justices on the state’s up in a traditional Ashkenazi Jewish home in the nearby suburb of Hillside.

Supreme Court were among the youngest and most liberal in the country. All Irwin, it seems, developed a fondness for marijuana at an early age – as the partners needed was the right test case to mount their legal challenge. evidenced by the recollection of his younger sister Deena, who claimed that Luckily for them, fate would soon intervene on their behalf. he was growing his own plants by the time he was 16 years old. At age 20, On the evening of December 11, 1972, Ravin was pulled over for a he dropped out of college to join the Army, serving an 18-month stint in broken tail light in Anchorage. It was just a routine traffic stop, but it providKorea (1959-1960). After his tour was up, Ravin returned home to complete ed him the perfect opportunity and he decided to act: Knowing he had two his education: first graduating from Rutgers University, then NYU Law School. joints in his coat pocket, he refused to sign the ticket and deliberately got Upon passing the bar exam, he went to work for his uncle Morris as a law himself arrested – allegedly even holding up the weed in his hand until he clerk at the family firm of Ravin and Ravin. But after the Newark race riots in was taken into custody.

July 1967, Ravin chose to flee the dangers of the inner city; within a month, “It wasn’t even my car,” he recalled in a 1990 Homer News article. “I he moved his wife and two young sons up to Fairbanks, Alaska. made them arrest me, and then gave them the pot.”

It was there in Fairbanks that he met a fellow pot-smoking lawyer (and Ravin’s arrest provided him and Wagstaff the perfect vehicle to attempt to assistant district attorney) named Robert Wagstaff. A jazz fan originally from overturn the existing Cannabis law.

Kansas City, Wagstaff had been smoking reefer since 1961. The pair hit it

dec. 2021

“It wasn’t about pot – it was about the right to privacy,” Ravin told the Homer News in October 1990. “It was a philosophy of freedom from government intrusion into personal life.”

Ravin was charged with violating Alaska Statute 17.12.010 – possession of Cannabis for personal use. At a District Court hearing in early May 1973, Wagstaff (and another lawyer they brought on by the name of R. Collin Middleton) filed a motion to dismiss the charge. Ravin’s team put forth a two-pronged legal strategy: First, they argued that in light of the constitution’s right to privacy guarantee, there was no legitimate state interest in prohibiting possession of marijuana by adults for personal use; second, they argued that marijuana’s classification as a dangerous drug was irrational and prohibition was irrational: The court – citing the separation of powers therefore denied Ravin due process and – deferred to the legislature to address it … which, it just so happened, equal protection under the law. they were in the process of doing.

Before long, Ravin’s case was being championed by both NORML (of which DECRIM WIN Wagstaff was now the organization’s Serendipitously, while Ravin’s case was being state coordinator) and the ACLU, whose deliberated by the court, the Alaska State LegAnchorage chapter president Sally Coegislature had begun moving forward on a new hom expressed her support to the press.

Cannabis reform bill. Sponsored by young Re“The circumstances of arrest have publican state senator Terry Miller of Fairbanks, no relevance to the issue,” Coeghom SB 350 decriminalized possession of up to one said in an article in the Fairbanks Daily ounce of marijuana for adults 18 years or older, News-Miner (on, of all days, April 20th). reducing it to a mere civil infraction punish“The state cannot constitutionally declare able by a fine of $100 or less. Fearing that its a substance illegal unless it is proven to passage might dissuade the court from rulbe harmful. The clear evidence is that On May 16, 1975, ing in their favor, Wagstaff actually testified marijuana is harmless, period.” against the bill – a position that justifiably the personal NORML flew in several expert witnessdrew ire from his NORML colleagues. Nevuse, possession es to testify on Ravin’s behalf, including ertheless, on May 16 – just 11 days before esteemed Harvard psychiatrist (and godthe court’s ruling – the bill passed, and with and cultivation father of medical marijuana) Dr. Lester Governor Jay Hammond’s declination to of Cannabis Grinspoon, who attested to the relative neither sign nor veto it, became the law of had effectively harmlessness of the plant. Together, the land.

Ravin, NORML and the ACLU mainWhether the legislation had any effect on become legal in tained that the burden of proof lied with the court’s decision or vice versa is uncertain Ravin at work in his office.

Alaska. the government to show that there was a … what was certain, however, was that the “compelling public interest” in prohibiting personal use, possession and cultivation (thanks to a subsequent ruling the drug. Unsurprisingly, the state didn’t agree. by the state attorney general) of Cannabis had effectively become legal in AlasOn Nov 17, 1973, the District Court ruled that ka. What’s more, this new law essentially nullified the charge against Ravin, who the law was indeed constitutional and denied was now basically off the hook. their motion. Undeterred, Ravin’s team ap“He won,” his sister was quoted as saying, “and he became a Paul Bunyan, a pealed to the Superior Court (which upheld the folk hero up there.” prior decision), and then finally to the Alaskan Supreme Court.

LEGALIZATION LEGACY The Supreme Court took up their case on In the years that followed, Cannabis law in Alaska was liberalized even further: October 16, 1974. After hearing two hours of first in 1982, when the $100 fine was removed, and again in 1986 when the oral arguments and testimony from the expert maximum possession amount was raised to four ounces in the home and one witnesses, the court adjourned to deliberate. ounce in public. Then in 1990, in a remarkable reversal of course, Alaskans Six months later – on May 27, 1975 – they passed Ballot Measure 2 which re-criminalized possession of small amounts of announced their unanimous verdict.

Cannabis – making it a misdemeanor punishable by a $1,000 fine or up to 90 Regarding the first question, the court condays in jail. But thanks to the precedent set by Ravin v. Alaska, that initiative was cluded that Alaskan’s right to privacy “would ultimately struck down as unconstitutional. encompass the possession and ingestion of As for Ravin, he eventually retired from the legal profession and ended up substances such as marijuana in a purely perdriving a taxi in Homer. On April 7, 2010, he suffered a heart attack and was sonal, non-commercial context in the home.” sent to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage where he died four That landmark decision made the Alaska days later. He was 70 years old.

Supreme Court the first and only court in the Though Irwin Ravin didn’t live to see Cannabis fully legalized for adult use in history of the United States to recognize a Alaska in 2014 (another Measure 2), he did live long enough to see it legalconstitutional right to privacy in regard to Canized for medicinal use in 1998 (Measure 8), and was also around to see his nabis. Granted, those protections were limited landmark ruling survive another challenge in 2003 (in the case of Noy v. State).

NY Times article announcing the to within an individual’s private residence – but More importantly, though, Ravin’s legacy as an Alaskan icon of personal liberty Alaska Supreme Court decision this was nevertheless a monumental victory for remains as solid and enduring as the great Denali.

May 28, 1975. the pro-Cannabis and libertarian causes.

“It wasn’t about pot – it was about the right to privacy,” Ravin later told the Homer News in October 1990.

For more about legalization in Alaska, listen to Episode #17 “It was a philosophy of freedom from government intrusion into of our podcast at worldofCannabis.museum/cannthropology. personal life.”

Regarding the second issue, as to whether or not marijuana’s Story and photos originally published on worldofCannabis.museum and reprinted with permission.

STO RY b y B O B BY B LAC K @ CAN N T H RO PO LO G Y for LEA F NAT IO N

DEENA OKSENHORN

RAVIN V. ALASKA

stoney baloney

LET’S BE FRANK, getting a shitty gift that is only going to end up in the garage stuffed inside a plastic bin for the next eight years is a burden you didn’t ask for. Yet, you’re forced to choke out a smile while pretending that a jigsaw puzzle of a flower garden somewhere in Germany has been the missing piece to completing your own life puzzle.

Unexpectedly, you are thrust into an acting role, forced to exemplify the positive attributes of an item for which you not only have zero interest, but resent for even being categorized as someone who would. You first comment on the colorful packaging, secretly hoping that grandma accidentally farts and deters the attention of the room so you can slide it aside in hopes that the distraction will direct the party onward to the next present in line.

You summon grandma’s bowels through the manifestation of positive thinking. It works.

She is oblivious while everyone cringes, awkwardly ignoring the robust rip that just filled the delicate air. Except for Uncle Ernie, who busts out in a gargled gut laugh and you think the gin blossoms on his nose are going to pop.

“Weather reports say beware of breaking wind!”

The room eventually settles. There is a moment when you meet eyes with the benefactor of said gift, as the person calculates your guise. You are uncertain of how to react, measuring their nuances for a tick, looking for a crack in their façade in the attempt of determining the level of excitement that is expected. You wonder how they could have possibly concluded that this gift was a personal fit for you, but fuck it. For the sake of pleasantry, you play the role and tell them it’s perfect.

Your cousin Tara, who gets it, takes a hit from her vape pen and nods with a subtle smirk.

Funny how we never get re-gifted Cannabis products.

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

46

Dec. 2021

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Please Consume Responsibly. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug.

There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. This product has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks. Marijuana use during pregnancy and breast-feeding may pose potential harms. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgement. The impairment effects of Edibles may be delayed by two hours or more. In case of accidental ingestion, contact poison control hotline 1-800-222-1222 or 911. This product may be illegal outside of MA.