July 2022 - Northeast Leaf

# 2 3 | J U LY 2 02 2

THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

NORTHEAST

THE CONCENTRATES ISSUE

F RE E / L E A F M AGA Z I N E S . COM

INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010

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Learn more at grassrootscannabis.com 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.

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THE GOSPEL OF HASHISH CHERRY BLOSSOM BELLE

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SOLVENTLESS REVIEWS TESTING LOCAL PRODUCTS

36

COURTESY

THE CONCENTRATES ISSUE

JULY 2022

issue

[

N O R T H E AS T

GLASS ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

JULY 2022

32 URBANXTRACTS EXCLUSIVE TOUR

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CANNTHROPOLOGY HASH LEGEND MILA JANSEN

DANIEL BERMAN

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COURTESY

20 MANIFEST STUDIOS

URBANXTRACTS

DABBING 101 BAILEY JONSON @BAILEYNNUGGZ

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

09 12 14 20 24 28 30 31 32 34 36 38 42 44 46

EDITOR’S NOTE NATIONAL NEWS LOCAL NEWS MANIFEST STUDIOS STRAIN OF THE MONTH CONCENTRATES 101 GOSPEL OF HASHISH TOOLS OF THE TRADE URBANXTRACTS PROFILE HYDROCARBON REVIEWS SOLVENTLESS REVIEWS CARTRIDGE REVIEWS EDIBLE OF THE MONTH CANNTHROPOLOGY STONEY BALONEY

CHARLES TAGGART @KINDBUD.PHOTOS

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PREMIUM CANNABIS - GLOUCESTER | EAST BOSTON - HAPPYVALLEY.ORG FOLLOW US

@HAPPYVALLEYMA

@HAPPYVALLEYMASS

T h i s p ro d u c t h a s n o t b e e n a n a l y ze d o r a p p rove d by t h e Fo o d a n d D r u g A d m i n i s t rat i o n ( F DA ) . T h e re i s l i m i t e d i nfo r m at i o n o n t h e s i d e e f fe c t s o f u s i n g t h i s p ro d u c t , a n d t h e re m ay b e a ss o c i at e d health risks. Marijuana use during pregnancy and breast-feeding may pose potential harms. It is against the law to drive or operate machiner y while under the influence of this product. KEEP THIS P R O D U C T A W AY F R O M C H I L D R E N . T h e r e m a y b e h e a l t h r i s k s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h c o n s u m p t i o n o f t h i s p r o d u c t . M a r i j u a n a c a n i m p a i r c o n c e n t r a t i o n , c o o r d i n a t i o n , a n d j u d g m e n t . T h e i m p a i r m e n t e f f e c t s 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 .

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 Maine-based writer and photographer Charles Taggart, a longtime contributor to Northeast Leaf, brings us this captivating closeup of multiple concentrates cultivated and processed by Brigid Lab, which also owns House of Hash in South Portland, Maine. The dab tools and bucket banger were supplied by Maine Daze Smoke Shop in Portland as well. The best part about using Cannabis concentrates is their potency — but don’t get so stoned that you forget to visit LeafMagazines.com and Issuu.com/nwleaf to see reviews, features and profiles from the other areas Leaf Nation covers around the country!

PHOTO by CHARLES TAGGART @KINDBUD.PHOTOS

CONTRIBUTORS

WES ABNEY C E O & F O U N D E R wes@leafmagazines.com MIKE RICKER O P E R AT I N G PA R T N E R ricker@leafmagazines.com TOM BOWERS C H I E F O P E R AT I N G O F F I C E R tom@leafmagazines.com

DANIEL BERMAN C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R daniel@leafmagazines.com MIKE GIANAKOS S E N I O R E D I T O R mikeg@leafmagazines.com DAN VINKOVETSKY S E N I O R E D I T O R dan@leafmagazines.com 844-4NELEAF MICHAEL CZERHONIAK S A L E S D I R E C T O R michael@leafmagazines.com O’HARA SHIPE O N L I N E E D I T O R ohara@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 this terpy issue of the Leaf!

I’ve watched the world of dabs evolve from sketchy backyard open-blasting and glowing-hot titanium globs into a huge segment of the industry, powering a diverse array of ways to get supremely baked.

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When I started the Leaf in 2010, the medical community really only had flower – and hash was more legendary than reality. As the years went on, I witnessed science and innovation meeting stoner ingenuity and creating a constant wave of new products, delivering specific cannabinoid and terpene effects that were the subject of dreams and “what ifs” a decade ago.

With that said, it’s an honor and a treat to taste all of the different terps and concentrate styles represented in this issue. From RSO/FECO to live resin and my personal favorite – the solventless rosin hash I THINK WE SHOULD ALL and carts – there are a million ways to get baked in 2022, and APPRECIATE THE I’m endlessly grateful for that. As someone who has been caught EFFORT AND smoking weed so many times (from the law to my parents and INNOVATION professors), the idea of hitting a ‘pen’ that produces fruity clouds of THAT HAS weed-soaked wonder minus the aroma, is nothing short of magical.

LED TO THE CONCENTRATES ON THE SHELF I think we should all appreciate the effort and innovation that has AT OUR LOCAL led to the concentrates on the shelf at our local dispensary. So DISPENSARY. as you puff on your pen or Puffco, or take a red hot glowie to the dome – remember how lucky we are to live in a time with legal weed. As the world continues to trend toward chaos and disconnection, we share a plant that brings humans together, connecting us with love and terps in a way no other substance can.

I truly believe we wouldn’t have the war in Ukraine (or anywhere) if our world leaders would slow down, get high and connect with their counterparts and constituents – instead of leading from on high (while sober or using alcohol or pharmaceuticals). If Putin chose powerful pot instead of power, where might the world be?

Sadly, even weed can only do so much. But I did review 34 cartridges over Father’s Day weekend … and got so high that for the first time in 15 years, my dad asked me if I had taken any funny drugs for the weekend. I just laughed and said, “Nope, just a lot of dabs.”

-Wes Abney JUly 2022

leafmagazines.com

MEGHAN RIDLEY C O PY E D I T O R meghan@leafmagazines.com

BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION TOM BOWERS, FEATURES JENN DOE, SALES EARLY, PRODUCTION WYATT EARLY, REVIEWS STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS GILBERT GJERSVIK, REVIEWS MIKE GIANAKOS, FEATURES BAILEY JONSON, FEATURES + PHOTOS BOBBY NUGGZ, FEATURES + PHOTOS LEXI PADUSSIS, FEATURES + SALES JEFF PORTERFIELD, DESIGN JESSE RAMIREZ, DESIGN MIKE RICKER, FEATURES MIKE ROSATI, PHOTOS CHARLES TAGGART, FEATURES + PHOTOS JAMIE VICTOR, DESIGN DAN VINKOVETSKY, FEATURES NATE WILLIAMS, FEATURES

WES

N O RT H E AS T L E A F

national news

NORMALIZATION

GLOBAL

CANADIAN MMJ PATIENTS SUBSTITUTING CANNABIS FOR OPIOIDS

GERMANY SET TO LEGALIZE CANNABIS FOR ADULT USE

G

ermany is about to legalize the sale of adult-use Cannabis. The historic move is likely to increase pressure on other European governments to follow suit.

German authorities plan to have legislation ready later this year allowing licensed shops to sell Cannabis to adults. They’re not wasting any time, either, as the health ministry began expert hearings on the issue June 14. More than 200 representatives from medical, legal and other fields took part in the hearings.

A

new survey showed nearly half of 2,697 Canadian patients with medical Cannabis access said they substitute marijuana for their prescription drugs. According to the “Journal of Cannabis Research,” half of those who acknowledged this said that the drugs they do so for are opioids. Meanwhile, a substantial number of patients are using Cannabis to minimize their alcohol intake as well. Interestingly, the survey also showed nearly one in three patients didn’t tell their primary physician that they substitute marijuana for prescriptions.

THEY’RE NOT WASTING ANY TIME, EITHER. A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF PATIENTS ARE USING CANNABIS TO MINIMIZE THEIR ALCOHOL INTAKE.

SPORTS

NBA’S MONTREZL HARRELL FACING FELONY POT CHARGES 12

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harlotte Hornets forward Montrezl Harrell is facing felony marijuana charges in Kentucky. Cops claim they found three pounds of marijuana in a car the NBA star was driving in mid-June, reports the Charlotte Observer. A Kentucky State Trooper pulled over Harrell, 28, at 9:58 a.m. on May 12. Traveling southbound on I-75, the trooper said he stopped him for following a vehicle too closely. Trooper Jesse Owens claims he “upon stop observed [the] odor of marijuana” from Harrell’s 2020 Honda Pilot, according to the citation. Harrell ”admitted to being in possession of marijuana and produced a small amount from his sweatpants,” according to Owens. The trooper then searched the vehicle, which Harrell said was a rental. The officer found “three pounds of marijuana in vacuum-sealed bags” in a backpack in the backseat. He charged Harrell with trafficking less than five pounds of marijuana.

ENTERTAINMENT

WEIRD

SNOOP DOGG GIVES HIS BLUNT ROLLER A RAISE

FOX NEWS CLAIMS MARIJUANA CAUSES MASS SHOOTINGS

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

S

noop Dogg’s blunt-roller wasn’t exactly underpaid. The legendary rapper, famously fond of weed, had previously been paying his blunt man $40,000 to $50,000 a year, but he tweeted in June that he has upped the salary to an undisclosed amount. Snoop, 50, said the blunt-roller job comes with the added perk of free Cannabis. Actor Seth Rogen, a smoking buddy of Snoop’s, said the employee can tell when someone “seems like they want a blunt.”

THE JOB COMES WITH ...

FREE CANNABIS.

25 %

drop in Colorado Cannabis sales was seen between April 2021 and April 2022.

JUly 2022

64 %

of Maine survey respondents said they obtain Cannabis products from licensed retailers.

$

2.5k

is the application fee to grow medical Cannabis in Oklahoma.

W

e’d say “You can’t make this stuff up, folks” … but Fox News sure can. Fox host Laura Ingraham knows exactly where the blame lies for the Uvalde elementary school massacre and other shootings: It’s marijuana. Nope, it ain’t the fact that military-style assault weapons are easily available for purchase all over the country.

It’s not the lax gun laws, sponsored by the NRA and its campaign contributions, allowing shooters to buy weapons legally. It’s reefer madness, Ingraham claims, as reported by Talking Points Memo. That’s right, folks.

It’s none other than the old “marijuana psychosis.” Ingraham complained in June that not enough people were talking about what she claims is “the pot psychosis-violent behavior connection.” The reason for that, she claims, is because of Big Pot perpetuating a “pro-marijuana bias” in the media.

It’s “so powerful because billions are on the line with it nationwide.”

IT’S REEFER MADNESS, INGRAHAM CLAIMS.

250k

pounds of marijuana were seized at the Mexican border in 2020, down from 2 million pounds in 2014.

$

1m

live Cannabis plants were given away by the Thai government in June.

$

123m

was the spectacular total amount of Cannabis sales in Montana as of June.

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

LOCAL NEWS

RHODE ISLAND LEGALIZED IT!

Photo by Kindel Media

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LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

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fter a lengthy legislative process, Rhode Island has legalized Cannabis.

On May 25, Gov. Dan McKee signed the Ocean State’s adult-use bill into law. McKee approved the landmark legislation one day after it passed both the Senate (in a 32-6 vote) and the House (in a 55-16 vote), which put the bill on the governor’s desk.

The country’s smallest state had big problems creating a compromise bill that both chambers and the governor would support. The well-documented struggles included months of negotiations and rewrites before ultimately arriving at this latest iteration of the legalization legislation.

Lawmakers originally considered three separate adult-use proposals – from the House, the Senate and the governor’s office. However, they had been stuck in neutral on legalization as legislators argued over several issues, including whether a currently existing agency or a new regulatory body should oversee the state’s Cannabis industry and whether the Senate should be allowed to appoint members to a regulatory committee (a power reserved for the governor under the state’s constitution).

While it appeared as if legalization would languish for the foreseeable future, a revised initiative advanced through Judiciary and Finance committees and was then quickly passed by the House and Senate. Now, with McKee’s signature, Rhode Island becomes the nineteenth state to legalize Cannabis.

The Ocean State’s legalization law allows adults 21 and older to purchase and possess up to an ounce of pot, with as much as 10 ounces permitted to be stored in a household. Home cultivation is also allowed, with a maximum of six plants for personal use.

The new law also includes automatic expungements of past convictions for Cannabis possession. The state must expunge those records by July 1, 2024.

Reports indicate that tens of thousands of past pot convictions will be eligible for expungement.

Initially, the state will license 33 adult-use retailers. Nine of those licenses will go to existing medical marijuana dispensaries that must be approved and pay $125,000 to become hybrid shops, selling both medical and adult-use Cannabis. The other 24 licenses will go to new, adult-use only retailers. And 25 percent of the 24 new licenses will be reserved for social equity applicants.

When it comes to public consumption of pot, local jurisdictions will be allowed to decide their own rules, which will be established through an ordinance.

The new law’s possession and home cultivation rules are effective immediately, meaning Cannabis is now legal in Rhode Island. However, adultuse sales aren’t expected to begin until December of 2022 at the earliest.

LEGAL POT HAS AN IMPACT IN MAINE O

fficials in Maine credit the state’s adult-use Cannabis industry with helping to bring down blackmarket sales. According to the Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP), which oversees Maine’s marijuana industry, the “current illicit market has diminished more than expected” since retail sales launched in October of 2020.

The OCP is basing this optimism on a new survey from Advocates for Human Potential, which found that 64 percent of Maine residents now purchase their Cannabis legally. The study, which surveyed 2,000 Mainers, states that “those who prioritize their source of Cannabis highly and those who are younger, are more likely to use adult-use stores for their Cannabis and to have shifted to adult-use stores from other sources since January of 2021.”

Somewhat predictably, the survey also found that people who live in closer proximity to a licensed retailer are more likely to buy legal Cannabis, rather than turn to illicit sources.

JULY 2022

Photo by manish panghal

For most states, creating a regulated market that eliminates illicit sales is a major goal of legalization. And Maine officials are certainly encouraged by this survey’s findings.

“Make no mistake, the findings of this report show that the implementation of the adult-use market in the state of Maine may be considered an achievement in both public health and Cannabis policy,” the study’s principal investigator, Dr. Michael Sofis, said.

Encouragingly, those who obtain their pot products from licensed retailers are no more likely to drive high or have a marijuana use disorder than those who purchase blackmarket Cannabis, according to the study.

While medical Cannabis is still king in Maine, adult-use sales are on the rise as the industry develops. “The findings of this report serve as an excellent baseline for us to measure the continued evolution of our programs,” OCP Director Erik Gundersen said in a statement.

MARIJUANA WORTH MILLIONS IN

NEW JERSEY

I

Photo by Richard T

n its first month of adult-use sales, New Jersey took in more than $24 million. The state officially kicked off retail sales on April 21 with 12 locations offering recreational Cannabis. Since then, the Garden State has averaged almost $5 million in pot sales weekly, for a total of $24,201,875 over 212,433 transactions, according to NJ.com.

While 13 locations were originally allowed to sell recreational Cannabis in New Jersey, the state now offers adult-use pot at 16 locations across the state as three additional shops began retail sales. The new shops, operating under the Garden State Dispensary banner, are located in Woodbridge, Eatontown and Union. Each location has been quite popular since starting retail sales, as lines consistently form outside the shops and customers wait to purchase legal pot.

The launch of retail sales has gone well for New Jersey, despite starting off with a small number of retail locations – particularly when compared to other states like Arizona, which kicked off adult-use sales with 125 stores, or Illinois’ 100-shop opening. Unlike New Jersey, those states had a much larger network of medical Cannabis dispensaries in place when legalization went into effect, which allowed them to convert so many storefronts into hybrid locations selling both medical and recreational marijuana. New Jersey launched its retail sales program under the same model, but at a much smaller scale. Nonetheless, the state is expected to eventually take in billions of dollars in sales annually when the adult-use program is fully implemented.

Regulators expect standalone licensed retail locations to begin selling Cannabis before the end of the year.

The recreational rollout has been so successful in New Jersey that some jurisdictions want to opt in. Originally, nearly 70 percent of the state’s towns decided to opt out of the legal Cannabis industry. In Paramus, Mayor Rich LaBarbiera is imploring the Borough Council to allow retail sales, having seen other municipalities reap huge financial benefits. “Once you get past the argument of whether it should be legal, you should embrace it,” the mayor said.

“Paramus is the retail capital of, not just the area, but the tri-state area, if not the country. If people sell stuff, they come here to Paramus … In addition to that, our voters spoke loudly - 60 percent of them voted in favor of [legal Cannabis],” Labarbiera said.

TIKTOK BLOCKS NY POT AD N ew York officials attempting to promote legal Cannabis on social media got shut down. Now, they’re asking an influential app to reconsider the Cannabis clause.

New York’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), which oversees the industry in the Empire State, is attempting to persuade TikTok to drop its ban on advertisements that use the word “Cannabis” and allow the OCM to run its pot-related public education ads on the platform.

According to OCM Executive Director Chris Alexander, the “Cannabis Conversations” promotion answers questions including, “who can purchase Cannabis, where can you legally use Cannabis, and how one can safely use Cannabis, including protecting youth.”

While the campaign can be seen on television and billboards around New York, TikTok is viewed as an incredibly valuable advertising tool, with 75 percent of the app’s one billion users between the ages of 18 and 34. “This group includes a critical age range – those over 18 but under 21, where brains are still growing – and our messaging provides information on the risks they face at that young age if they use it,” Alexander explained.

While the OCM sent a letter asking TikTok to “reconsider your current blanket ban on advertisements using the word ‘Cannabis,’” it has yet to hear back.

People who have promoted or advocated for Cannabis on social media know all too well how restrictive certain platforms can be. Facebook and Instagram users have long complained about “shadow bans,” which wipe their pages from public searches, as well as having their content outright deleted.

It is, however, strange indeed to see state government regulators petitioning a social media app to allow them to promote legal Cannabis.

“We ask [TikTok] to join us in the effort to make sure the end of Cannabis prohibition in New York is safe for residents of all ages,” Alexander writes in the letter.

Photo by Jakub Matyas

STORIES by MIKE GIANAKOS @MIKEGEEZEEY

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Massachusetts Collects Millions In Impact Fees

LOCAL NEWS

>> Continued from pg. 15

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C

annabis companies in Massachusetts have forked over more than $50 million in so-called “impact” fees since the state launched retail sales in 2018, according to a new study by Northeastern University.

The marijuana industry is booming in Massachusetts, as officials recently announced the state has sold nearly $3 billion worth of pot since adult-use sales began. However, the Bay State’s dirty little secret continues to be the Host Community Agreements that Cannabis companies are forced to sign with cities and towns in order to open in their jurisdiction.

These agreements, which are part of the state’s legalization law, include impact fees. While initially intended to help offset any costs to the host community created by pot companies, impact fees have frequently been misused and are not currently subject to any oversight.

Municipalities can charge up to 3 percent of a Cannabis company’s annual revenue in impact fees. And despite the directive that the fee is “reasonably related” to costs created by the company, there is no process in place that requires jurisdictions to justify the fees they charge.

Northeastern’s study found that cities and towns have collected $53.3 million in impact fees since retail sales began in 2018. However, that number only accounts for 47 of the 88 communities that charge impact fees – so the actual number is much higher.

Additionally, impact fees are only part of the problem with Host Community Agreements, as local officials have also demanded Cannabis companies contribute to local charities and election funds, in what amounts to legal extortion.

Unfortunately, this isn’t exactly new news. A study by a Boston law firm back in 2019 found that nearly 80 percent of the state’s Host Community Agreements are illegal. And, of course, former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia was convicted of extorting cash from Cannabis companies and is currently serving a six-year prison sentence.

A bill that would provide oversight for Host Community Agreements is currently, slowly, working through the legislature.

Photo by Giorgio Trovato

NEW RULES IN CONNECTICUT

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

A

s Connecticut implements its legalization law, the state is making several changes on the fly. One persistent problem in Connecticut, as well as in New York and New Jersey, is Cannabis gifting – where weed is given away with an innocuous purchase or donation.

Gifting has become prominent in states where marijuana is legal, but retail sales have yet to begin. The lengthy wait for the launch of adult-use sales in Connecticut has led to impatient consumers and suppliers making use of the loophole. However, in late May, Gov. Ned Lamont signed a bill into law that bans gifting in Connecticut. Jurisdictions throughout the state can now punish ganja gifting with a $1,000 fine.

Originally, the Cannabis gifting bill called for potential prison time and a $10,000 fine. However, advocates pushed back, accusing state legislators of re-criminalizing pot. Ultimately, the measure passed with a far more reasonable punishment. New York and New Jersey have also taken a tough stance against Cannabis gifting, however, neither state has passed legislation, opting instead for cease-and-desist letters.

Connecticut lawmakers also changed a rule that capped the number of retail stores and micro-grows allowed in a municipality. Originally, the legalization law limited retail and cultivation locations to one for every 25,000 residents. The legislature has now eliminated that rule, which is considered a local zoning issue. “It’s up to towns to decide how many businesses are appropriate for their town,” Department of Consumer Protection Communications Director Kaitlyn Krasselt said. While not expected, lawmakers can bring the cap back in 2024.

Connecticut’s Cannabis changes have also impacted advertising, as lawmakers have made revisions to rules for billboards. A new law signed by the governor will only allow pot businesses licensed by the state to advertise on billboards. Prior to legalizing Cannabis, Connecticut had been inundated with billboard ads for Massachusetts marijuana shops. Now those businesses

JULY 2022

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont

must remove their billboards and make way for local advertising.

Additionally, billboards advertising Cannabis cannnot be visible between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.

According to Rep. Mike D’Agostino, “It’s not a complete ban on billboard advertising. It does place what are called time, place and manner restrictions about the type of advertising you can do for Cannabis restrictions – when you can do it, where you can do it.”

NYC MAYOR SAYS, DON’T WORRY, GET HIGH!

M

ayor Eric Adams wants New Yorkers to get high. And he’s not particularly concerned with how they obtain their Cannabis.

The mayor expressed his laid back attitude regarding “grey market” sales while attending the Cannabis World Congress and Business Exposition – a pot industry event held at the Javits Center in NYC. Despite legalizing marijuana over a year ago, New York is still implementing its pot program and has yet to announce a start date for adult-use sales. The delay has led to unlicensed vendors selling Cannabis out of stores or trucks on the street.

While marijuana possession is currently legal in New York state, sales are not yet sanctioned. Because of this, some officials see illicit sales as a serious threat to the soon-to-be regulated market. Adams, on the other hand, is unconcerned – telling reporters at the Javits Center that he doesn’t support a crackdown on unlicensed pot sales.

“There needs to be a system of not heavy-handedness, but going in and explaining to that store that, ‘Listen, you can’t do this’ – give them a warning,” Adams explained. He did acknowledge that “some form” of punishment could be considered if unlicensed vendors continue selling Cannabis after being warned.

“If they refuse to adhere to the rules, then you have to come back and take some form of enforcement actions, such as a summons, such as, you know, talking about their ability to sell alcohol,” Adams said.

The mayor hopes this laid-back approach will help push potential pot vendors to the regulated market when it eventually launches.

Intent on being the Cool Mayor™, ‘Irie’ Eric Adams even encouraged attendees at the Javits Center expo to smoke up. While addressing the crowd, the mayor mentioned he was “a bit disappointed” that he didn’t detect “a nice scent of weed” at the event. He then told the audience, “Enjoy yourself, light up, but most importantly,” he revealed, “spend some money. We want your money,” Adams admitted.

Photo by Paje Victoria

This is not Mayor Adams’ first controversial Cannabis stance. Earlier this year, he told reporters that he would like to see marijuana grow ops on the roofs of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) buildings, tended to by residents. Unfortunately for the mayor, NYCHA buildings are subsidized by the federal government, which still considers Cannabis a Schedule I narcotic. So the rooftop grow op idea was a nonstarter.

While the city has mostly taken a hands-off approach toward illicit pot sales, the NYC sheriff’s office did recently tow and impound 12 trucks and buses operated by Weed World. The ubiquitous vehicles can be seen throughout the city, selling pot products to passersby. However, the trucks were not towed due to marijuana vending violations, but rather because of unpaid parking tickets.

Weed World has racked up more than a half a million dollars in unpaid parking ticket fines.

VERMONT PREPARES FOR LAUNCH V

ermont regulators have approved seven additional recreational Cannabis licenses one week after the state awarded its first such license to Rutland Craft Cannabis in Brandon.

The newly-licensed businesses will begin cultivating Cannabis to help increase supply ahead of Vermont’s adult-use sales launch on October 1.

Vermont originally legalized Cannabis in 2018 – but that law only allowed for pot possession, as it did not include a retail sales component. However, the state revised the law in 2020 and has been working toward implementing a standalone adult-use retail program.

The Cannabis Control Board (CCB), which oversees the industry in Vermont, has received 208 applications for recreational pot licenses so far, according to VTDigger. The license allows businesses to cultivate and sell marijuana in the state.

All eight of the state’s licensed businesses were social equity applicants, as Vermont’s Cannabis law requires the CCB to give priority to social equity applicants in the licensing process. After

considering equity applicants, the board must then give priority to outdoor cultivators.

There is some pressure on regulators to include outdoor cultivators in the recreational Cannabis program. CCB Chair James Pepper acknowledged that the board was aware of advocates’ desire to license outdoor growers, saying, “We hear the urgency on outdoors.” Pepper also said that the board would interview additional staff to help process the new licenses.

The seven new businesses to receive a recreational Cannabis license are Arcadia Cannabis Co. in Essex, DP Holdings/VT Cannabis Organics in Danville, Epona Farms in Salisbury, Family Tree in Sheldon, Great Brook Homestead in Middlesex, Snowbird Botanicals in Barnet and Valley Organics in Jeffersonville.

Vermont also recently licensed two adultuse marijuana testing laboratories. Bia Diagnostics and Steep Hill Labs will test Cannabis for Vermont’s newly regulated industry. Bia Diagnostics has already been testing hemp in the state for the last three years, while Steep Hill has been testing commercial Cannabis since 2008 – with labs operating in 10 different states, as well as in Mexico and Canada.

To date, nearly 60 Vermont municipalities have opted-in to the new adult-use Photo by Grav Cannabis industry.

STORIES by MIKE GIANAKOS @MIKEGEEZEEY

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artist spotlight LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

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Manifest Studios Glass collector and af icionado Larry OG is teaching the art of crafting heady glass pieces at Manifest Studios in Massachusetts

As an admirer of all things glass, I’m a bit surprised that I’ve never made my own piece or even attempted to get behind the torch. Upon that realization, it certainly seemed time to right that wrong. And, considering my 10-year friendship with glass artist and collector Larry OG, it only seemed fitting that he would provide my first lesson at his new studio, Manifest Glass.

Located in a friendly and trendy artist mill building in Lowell, Mass., the studio is welcoming, professional and the perfect setting to get the creative juices flowing. Manifest Studio is indeed a place where people can come together, kick back, create and feel at ease.

For my first lesson, I set out to create a mushroom pendant. We started with heating a tiny piece of colored glass, rotating it quickly and then pushing gently to create the mushroom in a clear piece of glass. Next, with Larry’s assistance, I stretched a clear glass cane to make a hoop for the bale of the pendant. The whole process took less than an hour (even for a novice like me) and the finished product is a distinguishable mushroom that can hang on a necklace. I was very impressed with how rewarding (and painless) the entire experience was, and with how my good friend has become a talented and knowledgeable educator in glass art.

Larry OG began blowing glass in 2014, when he was “inspired by the scene.” He spent many years sourcing and collecting pieces from around the globe – with a personal collection worth hundreds of thousands of dollars – and he is not slowing down anytime soon.

In order to bridge the gap between artist and consumer, Larry decided to open Manifest Studios in early 2022 and the company is off to a terrific start. Between renowned flame-workers like C4 Glass, Dan Longden and Mike Macro gracing the torch, and everyday families attending classes and learning the craft, this studio is the hottest spot in town.

To visit and get a top-of-the-line glass-working lesson, simply visit @manifestudios on Instagram, or call the studio directly to inquire about upcoming classes, private lessons and studio rental time. Manifest Studios has plenty of torches to use, and all the materials and safety equipment needed for you to start your first glass piece.

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BOBBY NUGGZ, CENTER, WORKS WITH LARRY OG, LEFT.

WESTERNAVENUESTUDIOS.COM | @MANIFESTUDIOS | @LARRYOG508

STORY by BOBBY NUGGZ @BOBBYNUGGZ_OFFICIAL for NORTHEAST LEAF | PHOTOS by BAILEY JONSON @BAILEYNUGGZ

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theSTRAIN concentrates issue OF THE MONTH

NORTHEAST

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LILAC DIESEL

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CULTIVATED BY SMYTH CANNABIS CO.

JUly 2022

A ZESTY STRAIN, WITH ANCESTRY FROM ETHOS GENETICS IN COLORADO, MAKES ITS WAY TO THE EAST COAST AT SMYTH CANNABIS COMPANY.

GET READY TO PUCKER! This sour flower is ultra-lemony and hits you with a citrus punch straight out of the package.

Despite the initial zesty notes, Lilac Diesel also somehow manages a delightful and savory aftertaste with a smooth and complex finish – similar to a five-course meal. As a quite diverse and interesting strain, its numerous eclectic genetics – Silver Lemon Haze x Forbidden Fruit x NYC Cherry Pie x Citral Glue – create an enticing, sharp and potent terpene profile.

“REMINISCENT OF SPRINGTIME LEMONADE WITH A TWIST OF ORANGE AND LIME.” REVIEW & PHOTO by BAILEY JONSON @BAILEYNUGGZ for NORTHEAST LEAF

Smyth Cannabis Company’s packaging adds a cool vibe as well, with their graffiti-style logo in all-white on a blacked-out jar, giving it a high-end yet approachable vibe. The jar is easy to unscrew and allows you to get right to the product without the excessive protections found in some other pot packaging. And you could absolutely use this jar again for your storage needs.

The Lilac Diesel buds are spiky, bright and dense. Colored with a vibrant yellow hue throughout, this strain is reminiscent of springtime lemonade with a twist of orange and lime. Shiny trichomes decorate the flower in a full-coverage dusting, making it the best kind of sticky. Breaking into a bud gives off a robust and savory scent similar to a “Chem”style terpene profile when smoking. The gassiness is experienced on the exhale, leaving you with a full-bodied, well-rounded flavor.

Breaking up evenly with the perfect moisture content, this batch was well-cured by a cultivator that knew what they were doing. The joints practically roll themselves, with the sticky trichomes holding together compactly, but not too tight. You should end up with a perfect burn that keeps the J going for a long time.

The effects of Lilac Diesel are happy and energizing. The tangy zing of limonene produces a giddy hum of excitement SMYTH CANNABIS CO. and fun, making it the 683 ROGERS ST, LOWELL, MA perfect strain for early (978) 455-0186 @SMYTHCANNABISCO summertime activities SMYTHCANNABIS.COM and getting you out of 25.4% THC | 2.9% TERPENES the winter blues.

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the concentrates issue

LEAF NATION G U I D E

CONCENTRATES 101 When our neolithic ancestors first discovered the nutritious qualities of Cannabis seeds and began to forage for them regularly, they quickly noticed how sticky their fingers would get when they broke apart the flowers. It is from this sticky beginning that humans learned about Cannabis resin and began the process of refining and concentrating it into what we now know as hash. While generally speaking “hash” can refer to any number of concentrated resin products derived from the Cannabis plant, in today’s modern world we have developed a wide array of concentrated resin products that are worth understanding.

S T A R T I N G M AT E R I A L

COMMON CANNABIS CONCENTRATE CONSISTENCIES

Fire in, fire out. The quality and cure of Cannabis being turned into concentrates.

FRESH FROZEN FLOWER

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Generally labeled as ‘live’ – flowers cut and flash frozen immediately after harvest.

The quick cut and freeze time captures the resin at the point of harvest and is made directly from the fresh frozen resin. If the flower’s harvest was timed correctly, then this yields an extremely flavorful concentrate very true to the aroma of the living flower itself.

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DRIED FLOWER Flower that has gone through the normal drying process, but generally not the curing process. Many concentrates can be cured after extraction, and therefore many companies do not cure the resin beforehand.

BIOMASS Primarily in the hemp industry, but also in large scale Cannabis companies. The waste plant material that accumulates in the harvest supply chain and typically added to edibles or topicals, but sometimes in lower quality concentrates and cartridges.

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SHATTER

PULL ‘N’ SNAP/TAFFY

BUDDER/BADDER

HONEYCOMB

Hard, flat and glass-like. Very common due to their relatively cheap price point and ease of use.

Rigid oils that break apart like glass into chunks and can be dabbed or added to a bowl.

Similar to shatter, but instead of breaking apart they stretch in a manner similar to caramel or taffy candy. Slightly more difficult to work with due to its sticky nature, but can be dabbed, mixed into bowls, and are commonly rolled into snakes and placed into joints and blunts.

Oils that have not undergone the process of winterization – meaning that the fats, waxes and lipids of the plant still remain in the product. This creates a thick, moist and creamy oil that requires a tool to work with and is most commonly dabbed.

A dry and dense oil that crumbles to the touch and is relatively less sticky than most concentrates.

Often takes on a honeycomb or Swiss cheese-like structure and is generally more rare in the market.

SUGAR

DIAMONDS

SAUCE

Semi-crystalline oil that resembles an incomplete syrup or a thick, wet sugar substance.

Typically dabbed and requires a dab tool to use. Most oils will age into a sugar as the THCa will crystalize over time.

Pure THCa crystals that have been allowed to form from pure Cannabis distillates.

These achieve the highest potency of THCa, but generally lack any other type of terpene or cannabinoid.

Often mixed with terpene-rich sauces and dabbed.

Liquid oils left over as the THCa crystalizes out of solution.

Typically very terpenerich, flavorful and fragrant. Usually vaped in a cartridge or used as a dipping sauce for more solid dabs.

Generally the most difficult texture to work with.

WHOLE PLANT EXTRACT Also known as RSO, whole plant extract has not undergone any type of refinement process.

Deep green and almost black in color. Can be eaten straight, but often mixed with food or formulated into edibles. Robust and highly medicinal, this product is not often dabbed.

STORY by TAYLOR MARTIN for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by LEAF NATION STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS

SOLVENTLESS The resin is collected by mechanical means rather than chemical.

CHARAS

DRY SIFT

ICE WATER HASH

Created by running one’s hands along living plants in a field. Ripe and sticky trichome heads stick and accumulate over time, and the resin is then stuck together into larger masses that can be smoked on their own or mixed with flower.

Raw resin heads in their natural form.

Using fine micron bags and screens, resin heads are knocked off the plant and sifted into a form that looks like a fine beach sand. Generally mixed with a smoking herb, but can also be dabbed.

Utilizes cold water to knock off and collect the resin heads, rather than dry force. Plant matter is mixed with ice in large mixing containers and then filtered through micron bags to collect the resin heads. The hash is then dried to reveal the raw resin heads, then pressed and refined further, but can be smoked as is.

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TEMPLE BALL Hand-pressed hash that’s been heated and rolled into spheres with an airtight oxidized coating.

These balls are then aged to allow for slow chemical processes to occur which cure the resin and elevate the product. This process produces a terpene unique to hash called hashishene.

FLOWER ROSIN Raw flower that is squished under a press and through a fine micron mesh bag. Generally contains contaminants from the plant material itself, but is preferred by some flower lovers due to its purity.

HASH ROSIN Raw, sifted resin heads placed in a micron bag and pressed to squish out the oil under controlled amounts of heat and pressure.

Captures the most pure resin possible, as it leaves behind the waxy coating of the trichome.

Typically yields the highest quality resin concentrate product possible.

the concentrates issue LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

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PROFILE

HERITAGE-MENDOCINO.COM FRENCHYCANNOLI.COM

SPREADING THE GOSPEL OF HASHISH Cherry Blossom Belle @cherryblossom_belle holds the teachings of Frenchy Cannoli and she isn’t keeping them to herself. endary Cannabis grower and breeder, sugof Manufacturing at Heritage Hash Co. dispensary gested that he preserve his art by taking in Ukiah, Calif. It’s the first micro-business in the on an apprentice. He agreed and asked state that dubs itself a “hashery.” Belle compares Belle – who was a farmhand on Leo’s it to a brewery or roastery because visitors to the Cannabis farm at the time – if she’d take dispensary can watch professionals press hash and on the role. So why did Frenchy choose extracts right in front of them. Eventually, Heritage her? True, Belle had previously dabbled in Hash Co. will also have an on-site consumption hash-making as a teen, but according to lounge attached to its facility, giving people a her, his reasons were based place to taste the elegant flavor more on personal connection notes of the craft Cannabis extracts than experience. produced there.

“I think [Frenchy] saw me The Heritage team recently won as someone who was young first place in this year’s Emerald Cup’s and motivated and wasn’t set Solventless category for its Whitethorn in their ways yet,” says Belle.

Rose live ice water bubble hash. The “We also both had a culinary team also earned a second-place background that we really trophy for Whitethorn Rose live rosin. connected on and had many “Whitethorn Rose will be the flavor similar cultural values and of the decade,” Belle predicts. “People ways of doing things.” are going to remember it for a hot Remarkably, Frenchy and minute. It made a huge impact, and BELLE & HASHMAKING ICON Belle had both lived in Japan it’s all because of the quality of HuckFRENCHY CANNOLI at the same time before they leberry Hill Farms’ genetics.” knew each other: That’s where Belle grew Since Frenchy’s untimely passing last summer, up during the first 10 years of her life, Belle has begun co-hosting workshops with Mawhile Frenchy was a fashion designer dame Cannoli. She is also doing a series of collabthere making designer stingray purses. orative classes on the road with Byrd Extracts (most HASHISH MAKING is a form of ancient alchemy.

After leaving Japan, Belle lived in Southeast Asia for recently in St. Louis, Missouri). Belle believes that The people who study this fine art are knowledge the following eight years. Frenchy also spent several part of her role here on Earth is keeping the art of keepers of a proud tradition that’s sadly fading years of his life in Southeast Asia. Living abroad hashish making alive by passing on the knowledge away in the United States. An extraordinary young impacted how they both approached their work – Frenchy bestowed upon her to others. woman who goes by the name Cherry from cleanliness to dedication to the style of “Frenchy gave me the skills to become a great Blossom Belle is one of these rare wisdom apprenticeship – which she says resembled hash maker,” she says. “But teaching me was to keepers, and she’s helping Heritage Hash traditional Japanese culture. ensure that there will be other great hash makers Co. produce some of the best concentrates Belle studied under Frenchy, honing the in the future. He always said, ‘You can either be on the market. art of hashish for nearly a decade, four known as the person who shared [this information] Belle was the apprentice of late master years of which she lived with him and his wife to the world, or you can be known as the person hashishin Frenchy Cannoli. She first met Kimberly (who goes by Madame Cannoli). who hoarded it. Who do you want to be?’”

Frenchy in 2012 through her brother, Leo “I started backing him in his workshops, Based on the number of workshops Belle has Stone of Aficionado Mendocino, who had and I instantly assumed the position,” she already taught and her desire to spread the gospel connected with him after Aficionado won says. “It was this unsaid thing between us, of hash to the world, it’s clear how she wants to first place in the flower category at the Em- BELLE AT THIS YEAR’S and that’s where we vibed. We didn’t have be remembered: as a teacher. In the future, she’s EMERALD CUP erald Cup – a victory that would ultimately to talk to each other – of course, we did, hoping to dabble in international markets and focus AWARDS. change both siblings’ lives forever. Frenchy about all kinds of things in life – but we more on pressed hashish. and Leo initially bonded over the importance of didn’t need to talk in terms of him telling me what “My art and my love will always be pressed branding and aesthetic presentation. he needed. For instance, he didn’t have to tell me hash,” she confesses. “I won’t have to fight the “Frenchy and my brother were like long-lost he needed ice – I already knew. And it was just like market as hard for pressed hash on the internationfriends from a past life,” Belle recalls fondly. “They that between us.” al level. Here, I feel like I keep trying and trying and were spiritually so connected and were instant Belle’s infatuation with the plant and its array of trying. But the market already exists in Europe and friends as soon as they met.” expressions is the force driving her to deepen her Brazil. They want pressed hash there. So why not Frenchy quickly became the resident hash maker practice as a hash master. Belle is now applying play in the markets that welcome you, instead of the at Aficionado. That’s when Subcool, the late legher years of training with Frenchy as the Director one that makes you fight for it?”

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STORY by MARY CARREON @MARYYYSTARDUST for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by MIKE ROSATI @ROSATIPHOTOS & COURTESY CHERRY BLOSSOM BELLE

LET’S FACE IT: Puffco’s Peak forever changed the world of Cannabis concentrate consumption as we knew it. And if you’re as reliant on it as I am for your daily dabs, you’re likely looking for ways to maximize its functionality and ease of use.

Introducing the Hot Knife and the Journey Bag – two accessories that are affordable and essential to expressing your Peak’s highest potential.

DABBING TOOLS OF THE TRADE AN ULTRA-MODERN TAKE on the old-school, do-it-yourself method of heating hash from which it takes its name, the Hot Knife is an electronic dab tool that does one simple but incredibly useful thing: It heats your dab to precisely the temperature needed for it to drip off the tool’s ceramic tip and into your Peak chamber without causing it to vaporize – eliminating the messy, AVAILABLE annoying chore of trying to scrape IN BLACK the sticky extract off into the botOR INDIGLO tom (or heaven forbid the side!)

INCLUDES USB-C of the chamber. Simply hold down CHARGING the button and three seconds later, CORD $59.99 ta-da – your dab is in the bowl and ready to smoke.

Puffco Journey Bag

Puffco Hot Knife

INCLUDES PUFFCO ICEPAK | $59.99

PHOTOS BY BOBBY BLACK @BOBBYBLACK420

PUFFCO.COM | @PUFFCO

PHOTOS COURTESY DAB RITE & STACHE

Stache DigiTül AVAILABLE IN BLACK AND PURPLE | $29.99

IT’S NO SECRET that dabbing technology is constantly evolving into wild new territories, and in our never-ending quest for accessories that convey this growing sophistication, we found the DigiTül

by Stache Products. A dabber running off of AAA batteries in the handle, it features a detachable metal tool and can literally tell you the exact weight of the concentrate you have scooped onto the end of it. The process is simple: Place the dabber on a flat surface, turn it on, scoop your concentrate, and put it back on the same flat surface. The digital screen will read the exact weight of the concentrate down to double digits. After testing out the dabber versus a traditional scale, it consistently weighed the correct amount and was more accurate than a single-digit scale. The DigiTül absolutely pushes the envelope for concentrate accessories into an exciting new realm, developing a tool that’s sure to find its way into the hands of many looking to fine tune their dabbing experience.

STACHEPRODUCTS.COM | @STACHEPRODUCTS

REVIEWS by BOBBY BLACK @BOBBYBLACK420 & WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/LEAF NATION

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DABRITE.COM | @THEDABRITE

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FOR DABBERS ON THE GO, nothing beats Puffco’s new Journey Bag. Think of it as a padded purse for your Peak that resembles a low-slung gun holster (though far less menacing). Made of durable, water-repellent nylon, this stylish black shoulder sling features four main compartments: the Peak pocket, which keeps your device easily accessible and upright so the water in your glass attachment doesn’t spill out; a large storage pocket for other essential items, inside of which are two smaller pockets (including a thin one to slide your dab tool into); a cushioned screen-safe phone pocket; and coolest of all (literally), a small, thermal-lined “chill pocket” at the bottom that’s equipped with a tiny freezer pack to keep your jars of concentrate cool. It also features an adjustable strap with a magnetic buckle and a slip-proof pad under the base. Whether hiking through the woods, strolling the beach at sunset, trekking around town or cruising around a Cannabis festival, the Journey Bag is perfect for keeping your Peak portable and protected.

Dab Rite

ONCE THE WORLD got tired of taking hot dabs, BLACK AND LIMITED stoners began to innovate. The original way we could EDITION COLORS tell if a banger or titanium nail was too hot, was to AVAILABLE. $249.99 hold a finger an inch or so away and go off of feeling.

Needless to say that is not only a safety hazard, but also kind of archaic. I mean, we are smoking out of pipes that have five-figure price tags – why not make the dabbing experience a little more sophisticated? The Dab Rite is an infrared thermometer that tells you the exact temperature of your banger, nail, swing-arm, or whatever surface you are dabbing off of. The first thing you’ll want to do is set the material of your banger, with options including quartz and opaque quartz for those extra-heady worked pieces. Next you can set your temperature – and play with the flexible arm that enables you to place it at any angle underneath your banger – where it’ll read the temperature and display it on the small screen of the device. You’ll be able to watch the temperature decrease until it reaches the number you have set it to, and it’ll beep and flash when it’s time for you to dab (you can choose to silence it as well). Hands down, the Dab Rite completely changed the game for me – ending the days of burning my throat with hot dabs and ensuring I can actually taste the flavors I am chasing with dabbing concentrates. Thanks to this device, my precious terps are finally safe.

the concentrates issue

T E C H N O LO G Y

the concentrates issue

E X T RAC TO R P R O F I L E

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urbanXtracts

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The revitalization of New York State is underway and Cannabis is the key.

Learn how urbanXtracts is forging a path towards a greener future in the Empire State.

COMING FROM MANHATTAN, urbanXtracts is just an hour or so up the Palisades Parkway along the mighty Hudson River. You know you’re getting close when you see two copper-topped grain silos poking out above the trees. Less than four years ago, those silos and the surrounding buildings were in a state of disrepair, and the town of Warwick was looking for an industry to replace the recently decommissioned prison system, which had been its primary source of income and employment for nearly a century.

The first “urban extracts” to come to Warwick were underprivileged and troubled youth who came up from New York City in the 1930s to experience and learn from life working on a farm. It is the legacy of that initiative by Eleanor Roosevelt almost 100 years ago (including the grain silos!) that is now part of the founding story of urbanXtracts, a

JUly 2022

company that is among the first seed-to-market growers and processors of hemp in New York State.

CEO and founder Eran Sherin said, “It was the town’s initiative to revitalize and create new economic opportunities here and find the right industry that has a future to it, and hemp became that initiative.” In 2018, Sherin’s was among the first companies to put down roots here, and for good reason.

“If you want to get into farming, you want to have good soil,” Sherin explained, “and some of the best soil in the world is right here in Orange County and it’s black dirt.” There are approximately 26,000 acres of this soil here in what is known as the Black Dirt Region, and it is so unique that it’s actually illegal to remove and sell. And it is this soil that makes the hemp grown by farmers here so special.

Sherin said that for the last four years they’ve

been building an ecosystem of a supply chain.

“Grow, process, develop, market,” said Sherin.

“And in that ecosystem, we try to be a company that sits on the infrastructure level – so we don’t grow ourselves, we empower farmers to grow by supplying them with genetics that are proven, and we can further downstream them into products and capitalize on that.”

Among a number of framed OCM (Office of Cannabis Management) certificates on a wall near their sample store display is the first-ever license awarded by the State of New York for the production of food and beverage products with hemp extracts. “That is the uniqueness of the hemp program that we have,” said Sherin. “The core aspect of the whole process from turning flower into end-products is the extraction process. We’ve always seen it as a craft and we’ve always wanted it to be a craft.”

“THE CORE ASPECT OF THE WHOLE PROCESS FROM TURNING FLOWER INTO END-PRODUCTS I S T H E E X T RAC T I O N P R O C E S S . W E ’ V E A LWAY S SEEN IT AS A CRAFT AND W E ’ V E A LWAY S WA N T E D I T T O B E A C R A F T. ” CEO & FOUNDER ERAN SHERIN.

2 1 2 - 92 5 -1 070 | U R B A N X T RAC TS .CO M | @ U R B A N X T RAC TS

The master craftsman at the extraction helm is Jonathan DeMart, Director of Operations. DeMart started working with Cannabis in Colorado and realized he needed further education. “I got a degree in biotechnology, cell biology, I did some research in organic chemistry, and in the process I learned about laboratory facility design,” said DeMart. “I saw that as being the main focus of how this was going to move on. There’s going to be big grows getting built, there’s going to be extraction labs getting built – how do I figure out how to do this safely and on a scale that would match something at a university level?” DeMart then returned to Denver.

“I regrouped with a bunch of those same people and here we are 10 years later,” said DeMart. “I can’t believe it!”

For urbanXtracts, DeMart said, “We decided to go with ethanol extraction because of the necessary throughput. We’ve got 100 acres we did one year, and that’s just so much biomass! We are also fully scaling up a water extraction process to go all the way through to live rosin. We’re preparing to navigate for what will be the most stringent regulatory framework for processing and manufacturing in the whole country.”

On a tour of their facilities we walked down a hallway with lab rooms on either side.

“Each lab room has a different objective,” said Sherin.

“Like this one’s our Kosher room, where we make all of our Kosher products.” Steve Bate, Vice President of Business Development and a member of the International Jewish Cannabis Association, noted, “That’s the highest certification you can get.” It also means inspections by a rabbi several times a year.

Other lab rooms support both entrepreneurs and large companies in the development of new products like a transdermal CBD product for animals and new types of gummy edibles.

For now, farmers working with urbanXtracts grow two strains of genetics – Tangerine and New York Royale – that are compliant with New York’s hemp program. But the elephant in the room is the looming Cannabis certifications.

“We’re ready to move forward as things change,” said DeMart.

“One of the things that’s critical for this industry to be successful is education,” said Sherin. To that end they have been building relationships with SUNY (State University of New York) Orange and developing internship and educational programs around cultivation, extraction and retail.

“My point to the people at the university,” said Bates, “is look, you’re talking about fifty thousand jobs in just three years in the Hudson Valley, and we are creating the curriculum right here.”

“I see those silos as the keystone now when this becomes the Silicon Valley of Cannabis,” said Bates, whose words were supported by the sounds of Cannabis businesses under construction on different lots nearby. Thinking back to a time when he met with the heads of the communities in the region, Bates recalled, “They said Steve, there’s not anybody in the community that’s not for what you’re doing.”

STORY by GILBERT GJERSVIK for NORTHEAST LEAF | PHOTOS by URBANXTRACTS

the concentrates issue

hydrocarbon HAZE CANNA CO DOSIDO #22 EHO HAZE CANNABIS CO. brings us an old-school honeycomb wax with their Dosido #22 EHO concentrate. The “E” stands for ethanol, which is a lesser-known method of extraction, but still makes for a supreme end product. This oil gives a subtle scent of sweet ripe fruit and a tart flavor when smoking.

Expect a hazy head high that lasts for a good while.

77.10% THCA | hazecannaco.com @hazecannaco_

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Review by Bobby Nuggz @bobbynuggz_official & Bailey Jonson @baileynuggz Photo by Bailey Jonson @baileynuggz

KIND TREE CANNABIS RAINBOW ROZAY LIVE BADDER RELENTLESS GENETICS created their Rainbow Rozay strain using Cherry Cookie and Sunset Sherbet, and the result is an outstanding sativa-dominant hybrid with delicious flavor and an uplifting effect. The live badder made by Kind Tree for The Apothecarium Dispensary in New Jersey glistens brightly and boasts a pungent aroma of cookies and ice cream, as well as an intense energy boost. 75.5% THC | 1.21% CBGA | 2.69% Terpenes apothecariumnj.com @apothecariumnj @kindtreecanna

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Review by Dan Vinkovetsky @dannydankoht Photo Courtesy of The Apothecarium Dispensary

NATURE’S HERITAGE DOUBLE KRUSH DIAMONDS AND SAUCE

EARTH AIR ORGANICS SUNSET SHERB BADDER SUNSET SHERB is an indica-dominant hybrid strain that’s a cross of Girl Scout Cookies and Pink Panties. This badder, made from chemical-free and pesticide-free organic Cannabis, tastes like sweet berry ice cream with a citrus candy terpene profile that people looking for fruit-forward flavors will adore. The effect is cerebral – with an elevated energetic buzz that encourages creativity and wards off anxiety and depression. You can find Earth Air Organics’ products at local medical dispensaries throughout Maine. 85% THC | earthairorganics.com @earthaircannabis Review & Photo by Charles Taggart @kindbud.photos

JUly 2022

THE AWARD-WINNING Nature’s Heritage does it again with their Double Krush diamonds and sauce. Huge chunky diamonds are coated with a gorgeous terp sauce that’s practically dripping out of the jar. This strain smacks with forward notes of gassy Chem Dog and a cheesy funk on the exhale. To grab some of this skillfully made hydrocarbon extract, visit their website and find a dispensary near you. Available at Panacea Wellness in Middleborough Mass.

76.2% THCA | 1.1% CBN | naturesheritagecannabis.com @naturesheritagecannabisco Review by Bobby Nuggz @bobbynuggz_official Photo by Bailey Jonson @baileynuggz

REVIEWS & PHOTOS by NORTHEAST LEAF STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS @NORTHEASTLEAFMAG

the concentrates issue

solventless HIDDEN FOREST FARMS ZCUBE SINGLE SOURCE LIVE ROSIN

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HIDDEN FOREST FARMS promises “sustainable Cannabis grown with love” and delivers with this Zkittlez x OZkush strain. Zcube is an indica-dominant hybrid with a terpene profile of myrcene, beta-caryophyllene and pinene. The flavor starts out fruity, with strong notes of the Zkittlez flavor, and finishes sweet like caramel or butterscotch candy. The hue is the perfect pale orange color and the effect is low and slow. This batch has a wet badder consistency with puddles of glistening terpenes. hiddenforestsoil.com @hiddenforest_farms Review by Bobby Nuggz and Bailey Jonson @bobbynuggz_official @baileynuggz Photo by Bailey Jonson @baileynuggz

PAUL’S BOUTIQUE BLACK CANDYKUSH BUBBLE HASH Paul’s Boutique crossed their Black Dog Kush strain with their Candyland Kush to create Black Candykush. Cutting into the soft puck, the scent of sweet blackberry candy is revealed. Upon heating, it melted nicely and the initial syrupy taste is followed by a chocolate-flavored exhale. An immediate calming feeling ensues – perfect for chronic pain or sleepless nights. You can find many amazing concentrates at Paul’s Boutique in Windham, Maine – soon opening their adult recreational dispensary. paulsboutiquenursery.com @paulsboutiquenursery

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Review & Photo by Charles Taggart @kindbud.photos

(COLLAB WITH NEW HORIZONS LLC)

EMERALD LEAF ORGANICS LLC GARLIC KNOTS #3 LIVE ROSIN GARLIC KNOTS #3 is a cross between Gorilla Butter and GMO, with the dominant traits coming from the GMO – a gassy flavor that smells of diesel fuel and finishes with pungent garlic notes that linger on the palate. Emerald Leaf Organics LLC uses the ice water extraction method to craft this dry-cure with a waxy consistency and golden color. The smoke hits pretty hard and you can certainly feel it in your chest. A strong “head changing” high will serve to uplift your mood at the end of a long day. 70.06% THC | elorganics.com @elo.main Review & Photo by Bailey Jonson @baileynuggz

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MAINE PURE XTRACTS RAINBOW CHIP X GELATO LIVE ROSIN EXOTIC GENETIX created Rainbow Chip as a combination of Sunset Sherbet and Mint Chocolate Chip, then bred it with Gelato, a cross between Sunset Sherbet and Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies. The live rosin has a flavor reminiscent of blueberry and lemon candy and an earthy aftertaste I found very enjoyable. My sore muscles relaxed and a giggly talkative buzz ensued. Pure Xtracts is Veteran-owned and their products can be found in many quality medical dispensaries throughout Maine. purextractsme.com @mainepurextracts Review & Photo by Charles Taggart @kindbud.photos

REVIEWS & PHOTOS by NORTHEAST LEAF STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS @NORTHEASTLEAFMAG

LIVITY FARMS STRAWBERRY CREPES LIVE ROSIN ONE OF RHODE ISLAND’S boutique cultivators, Livity Farms hit a grand slam with this seductively sweet Strawberry Crepes live rosin. Loaded with medicinal value, this concentrate boasts a 70.73% THC level and embodies full-flavored notes of freshlypicked summer strawberries. First and second pull 90u fresh frozen, this is the apex of quality and checks off every box from looks, taste, effects and smell. Available at Slater and Summit Compassion Centers. 70.73% THCA | @livityllc Review by Bobby Nuggz @bobbynuggz_official Photo by Bailey Jonson @baileynuggz

FIRE GANJA PURPLE CHERRY POPPER FRESH PRESS LIVE ROSIN THIS CROSS of Runtz x Purple Cherry Cookies is the perfect palate cleanser for anyone looking for delicious fruity flavors and a high-potency effect. Elev8 is the California breeder behind this strain and the East Coast has done it justice as an indicadominant solventless concentrate that packs a punch. This is fresh-press live rosin with a light yellow color and gooey composition. Distinctive notes of sour berries with a creamy citrus smoke create a complex terpene cocktail.

77.73% THCA | fireganja.com @fire.ganja Review by Bobby Nuggz and Bailey Jonson @bobbynuggz_official @baileynuggz Photo by Bailey Jonson @baileynuggz

BOUNTIFUL FARMS CHEESE WIZ LIVE ROSIN CHEESE WIZ is a cross of Queso Perro and OZ Kush bx1. The phenotype chosen by the Bountiful Farms team reeks of fresh berries and sweet soft cheese, with a unique and complex terpene profile. They whip their rosin into a light soft badder that’s smooth and creamy and a pleasure to dab.

The effects hit quickly with a burst of energy and vigor, followed by a serene and dreamy quality that’s calming and cozy – perfect for sharing with a special friend before bed.

87.96% Total Cannabinoids | 5.64% Total Terpenes | bountifulfarms.care @bountifulfarms Review by Dan Vinkovetsky @dannydankoht Photo Courtesy of Bountiful Farms

the concentrates issue

cartridges KIND TREE CANNABIS CHEMLATTO 33 LIQUID LIVE RESIN VAPE CARTRIDGE BRED BY crossing the hybrid 707 Chem Dog with Gelato 33, Chemlatto has a very pungent skunky aroma with citrus (limonene-dominant) and gassy fuel flavor. Extracted from indoor-grown Cannabis, this cart hits hard and tastes earthy and spicy on the inhale with a sweet taste that lingers on the tongue for a while afterward. The effect is strong and fast-acting with an immediate calming feeling and a protracted, pleasant buzz.

75.72% THC | 1.46% CBG | 6.12% Total Terpenes apothecariumnj.com @apothecariumnj @kindtreecanna

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Review by Dan Vinkovetsky @dannydankoht Photo Courtesy of The Apothecarium Dispensary

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ZERO GRAVITY CANNABIS KIMBO KUSH LIVE RESIN VAPE CARTRIDGE ZERO GRAVITY CANNABIS features some amazing full spectrum live resin carts that have great flavors!

Their Kimbo Kush hit the spot with a comfortable relaxed high and a rich Kush taste at both the low and high settings – feeling more like smoking than vaping on a pen. You can find Zero Gravity Cannabis extracts at fine medical Cannabis dispensaries, and for delivery in central and southern Maine. zerogravitycannabis.com @zerogravitycannabis Review & Photos by Charles Taggart @kindbud.photos

JUly 2022

GAGE CANNABIS KUSH MINTS LIQUID LIVE RESIN VAPE CARTRIDGE SEED JUNKY GENETICS breeder JBeezy crossed Animal Mints with Bubba Kush to create the unique minty “camphor” flavor of Kush Mints. Dominant in caryophyllene, these carts from Gage Cannabis and available at The Apothecarium Dispensaries in New Jersey hit quickly with an uplifting, exhilarating effect that stimulates the senses along with the appetite. 74.85% THC | 1.12% CBG | 7.54% Total Terpenes apothecariumnj.com @apothecariumnj @gagecannabis Review by Dan Vinkovetsky @dannydankoht Photo Courtesy of The Apothecarium Dispensary

REVIEWS & PHOTOS by NORTHEAST LEAF STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS @NORTHEASTLEAFMAG

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www.posh.vip/e/into-the-backwoods The

Chat & Nibble

edible of the month

EDIBLE BY TEAM OOPS

LEGALLY LIT DELTA 8 GUMMIES

42 D E LTA 8 – A D E R I V AT I V E AND ISOMER OF CBD AND THC D E LTA 9 - I S A CONTROVERSIAL YET EXCITING P R O D U C T T H AT I S TA K I N G T H E CANNABIS WORLD

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“IF YOU’RE SEEKING A SUBTLE BRAIN-BREAK, OR WOULD LIKE TO FEEL SLIGHTLY CHILLED OUT WITHOUT ANY PSYCHOACTIVE CHANGES, THESE ARE THE GUMMIES FOR YOU.” TEAMOOPS.COM @TEAMOOPSPRODUCTS 9 M G P E R G U M M Y | $ 2 0 P E R PA C K A G E

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HAVE CHEMISTS created a product on par with the celebrated and beloved Delta 9 THC? Most Cannabis consumers would object to such a blasphemous claim. However, some users report feeling more confident and “in-control” when consuming Delta 8, which doesn’t produce the psychoactive effects of Delta 9. I personally wonder, what is the point without a little intoxication?

So, I decided to test out this relatively new cannabinoid and keep an open mind throughout the experience.

Connecticut-based Team Oops, a brother and sister-run company, makes Legally Lit Delta 8 gummies containing 9mg (per gummy) of hemp-derived Delta 8 THC as tested by MCR labs. Unlike Delta 9, Delta 8 is currently legal at the federal level, however, some states have passed bans on the THC derivative so it may not be available where you live.

With an assortment of three flavors – Tart Strawberry, Citrus Punch and Blue Slushie – these gummies pop, both visually and on the taste buds.

Legally Lit makes a solid first impression thanks to professional packaging with appealing pink and green colors that make you feel excited to try the product. The plastic pop-top is sealed on three sides, each with an easy push-tab that you must press to unlock. The innovative packaging itself is something of a marvel – especially if you are familiar with other legal hemp packaging current-

JUNE 2022

ly on the market. Many companies have gone a bit overboard with child-proofing precautions and concealing the product. Legally Lit splits the difference by being both effective and easy to use.

Covered in sugar, the gummies look appetizing and fun. They are perfect little cubes that appear to be just the right portion. I started off by eating two of them and planned to wait an hour or so before consuming more. The flavor was good enough, although I’m not sure that there’s much distinction between the assorted flavors and there is a definite hempy/earthiness in the aftertaste.

The gummies are a bit on the hard side, but still pleasant and palatable. After consuming a couple, I immediately felt a bit calmer. I am typically outgoing and positive without much anxiety, but I still noticed a vibe of overall wellness with these. After eating two more gummies, and having tried each

flavor, the Blue Slushie emerged as my favorite.

The calming effects grew stronger as I started to zone out, but not in a disconnected way – more of a feeling of contentment. After 20 minutes or so, the subtle feelings wore off without any after effects and left me productive enough to type this review and even answer an email or two. Having taken Delta 9 THC edibles for over 10 years, I can tell you that I don’t normally have the ability to be very productive after consumption. It’s a good change of pace, but not exactly comparable to the normal edible high.

If you are looking for uncontrollable laughter, visuals, and strong pain relief, Delta 8 is not the answer. However, if you’re seeking a subtle brainbreak, or if you’d like to feel slightly chilled out without any psychoactive changes, these are the gummies for you.

REVIEW & PHOTO by BAILEY JONSON @BAILEYNUGGZ for NORTHEAST LEAF

cannthropology leafmagazines.com

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PRESENTS

Hail To The Queen Dutch entrepreneur, inventor, and adventurer Mila Jansen has been smoking, smuggling, and making hashish for over a half-century. Along the way, she’s revolutionized how it’s made, established herself as an international Cannabis icon, and more than earned the title by which she’s best known—the Hash Queen.

EARLY LIFE Mila Jansen was born in Liverpool on December 5, 1944. The daughter of a Dutch oil executive, she spent her childhood traveling between England, Indonesia, and the Netherlands before settling in Amsterdam in 1955. She worked in greenhouses during her teens before getting pregnant at 18 and dropping out of school. It wasn’t until 1964 that she first tried hashish—thanks to her boyfriend, who was studying medicine and wanted to observe its effects.

“I rolled my first joint [tobacco and hash], and I remember just lying on the floor rolling with laughter,” Jansen says. “It was love at first toke.”

Mila Mila presents presents the the Best Best Nederhash Nederhash trophy trophy at at the the 2010 2010 Cannabis Cannabis Cup Cup in in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam.

by some to be a precursor of the Cannabis coffeeshops that would follow.

“We might have been the first coffeeshop, apart from the fact that we never sold anything,” Mila chuckles. “We just traded and shared whatever hash might arrive from Turkey, Lebanon, or Afghanistan.”

Their hip hangout attracted all kinds of people from around the world who came to drink tea, have a smoke, and trade goods. It became Mila & partner Henk at their so popular that neighbors complained about it, boutique Kink 22 (1966). and within a year, the police had shut it down. What’s worse, they KINK 22 threatened to take Mila’s daughter away from In 1965, Mila got a job at a local fashion studio, where she her, so she decided it was time to go. befriended a gay designer named Henk Koster. Before long, “I was about to travel to Mexico when this guy the duo opened their own clothing boutique called Kink 22. walked into the teahouse who’d been to India, Employing custom designers, they began churning out mod and within two hours, my whole plan changed. and hippie style clothing and were the first shop in Holland to No more Mexico—I was heading for India!” sell miniskirts. At the height of the counterculture revolution, In 1968, with only $600 in her pocket, Mila Kink 22 attracted creative spirits from all over the world—inand her daughter set out for India. cluding Tina Turner, who once bought a dress there. And in 1967, a Dutch filmmaker shot an art film there (“De VerloederPASSAGE TO INDIA ing van de Swieps”), in which Mila had a role. But the boutique Mila’s six-month-long journey to India took her became so popular that they soon had trouble keeping up with through much of Europe and the Middle East. demand, so in November 1967, they switched the boutique Along the way, she spent nearly a month in into a teashop. And since the cups of tea often came with a Mazar-I-Sharif making dry sift with the locals, free joint (again, tobacco and hash), the shop was considered

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Mila in 1967.

A scene from the film “Deterioration of the Swieps Family” (1967).

smoked a hookah with cops at the Iranian/Afghan border, and rode in the back of a truck atop boxes of dynamite. She finally arrived in India in December 1968—just in time for her 24th birthday. From there, she also ventured to Nepal, where she traveled with nomads, visited Buddhist monasteries, and learned to make charas.

Mila loved India so much that she spent the next 14 years there—summering in Manali and wintering in Goa (a popular destination for hash-loving foreigners). During that time, she made a living by mailing items back to Holland to sell, including Tibetan jewelry, dresses from Delhi, and blocks of hash hidden in hollowed-out books.

In 1971, she fell in love with a fellow Netherlander named Hans Swart, whom she married and had two children with. Though Mila had many adventures hiking through the Himalayas—some of which included meeting the Dalai Lama and being attacked by wolves—only one was documented on film: a three-month-long odyssey with Hans in 1976 that he hoped to turn into a documentary someday.

Mila and Hans trekking through Ladakh in the Himalayas (1976).

Mila and Hans’ wedding (1971).

RETURN TO HOLLAND In 1988, Mila finally returned to Amsterdam for good— but unlike before she’d left, the city was now filled with Cannabis. So as a single mom with four kids to support, she rekindled her passion for gardening to earn a living growing weed for coffeeshops. Within a few years, she was running 13 gardens all across the city. But in 1992, her largest grow—a greenhouse with 24,000 plants— was raided by police just 10 days before harvest. Other busts followed, forcing her to reassess her career. Fortunately, though, a new opportunity was about to present itself—one that would establish her as the new hash queen of Amsterdam.

HEMP HOTEL In 1998, Mila invested some of her newly acquired capital from the Pollinator into another marijuana-relatOriginal Hemp Hotel sign & ed venture: the other Mila memorabilia.

Hemp Hotel—a small budget hotel dedicated to hemp education that featured five rooms, each decorated to re-

flect a different exotic region they’d visited. They also incorporated hemp into the hotel’s amenities—including soaps, shampoos, curtains, and mattresses. Their onsite bar/café even served 11 kinds of hemp beer and hemp rolls with breakfast. And once a month, their “Hemple Temple Nightbar” hosted a “ladies’ hash night” gathering. Sadly, in 2013, their landlord chose not to renew their lease, and the Hemp Hotel was closed.

MILA’S JOURNEY After the death of her former husband Hans in 2007, Mila decided to recreate a portion of their original Himalayan trek, film it, then combine that with Hans’ old footage (which had been collecting dust) into a new documentary. The result was “Mila’s Journey” (2011)—a retrospective of Mila’s life and adventures, and a touching tribute to Hans.

DAB-A-DOO After serving as a celebrity hash judge at California’s Chalice festival in the early 2010s, Mila was inspired to create her own concentrate competition. On her 69th birthday, during the 2013 Cannabis Cup, the Hash Queen hosted a party at Dab-A-Doo - Amsterdam her Pollinator shop she 2014 with hash experts Doug dubbed Dab-a-Doo—an Dracup, Mila, Robert Connell invitation-only event Clarke and Todd McCormick. focused on dabbable concentrates. Since then, she’s now hosted 30 Dab-A-Doos all around the globe, including Denver, Miami, Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, and Jamaica.

AWARDS & ACCOLADES Time has not slowed down this beloved marijuana matriarch.

In 2017, she launched her own line of live resin called Hash Queen extracts. The following year, she released her autobiography, “Mila: How I Became The Hash Queen.” And this fall, she’s doing another Dab-A-Doo tour through South America.

Over the past decade or so, Mila has been showered with accolades from every corner of the Cannabis world—receiving numerous lifetime achievement awards and being included in several “most influential people in Cannabis” lists. Yet, there’s one honor we still owe her: an official coronation. Because, after all, every queen must have her crown.

For our podcast & more Cannabis history content visit worldofcannabis.museum/cannthropology.

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IMAGES COURTESY OF MILA JANSEN

Left: With basket of weed in Kullu, India; above: with daughter Miloes in Manali (both from 1968).

THE POLLINATOR Since she didn’t care much for smoking flower, Mila made her own hash, which she did by dry-sifting the leftovers from her various grows—a slow, tedious process best done in the cold. She did that for a couple of years… until one night in 1994 when, while doing some laundry, she had an epiphany.

“I was standing in front of my clothes dryer, and it suddenly hit me: what those clothes were doing inside the dryer, waffling around like that, is exactly what I was doing with this dried [plant] material. So the next morning, I went and got an old clothes dryer, put a screen around the drum, took away the heating, threw my leaves in, and lo and behold—the crystals were lying in the bottom of the dryer! I had invented the Pollinator.”

Simple yet brilliant, the Pollinator was the first device ever designed to separate the trichomes With early Pollinator machines. from dried Cannabis mechanically rather than by hand (how it had been done for thousands of years prior).

“I had 5,000 guilders (Dutch dollars) left after all those years of growing, so I used them to build the first three Pollinators,” she says. “Robert Connell Clarke unveiled it at the Cannabis Cup that year, and it’s taken off from there.”

The invention of the Pollinator led to the creation of what’s known as “nederhash”— a style of dry pressed hash made in the Netherlands. (Before this, almost all hash in Amsterdam was imported.)

With their catchy slogan of “Hash from Trash,” Mila and her team started selling the machines like hotcakes (or, should I say, pannekoeken). The Pollinator was soon followed by her Ice-O-Lator bags in 1998 and the Bubbleator in 2005 (both used for ice water extraction to make “bubble hash”). Her extraction machines’ success earned Mila a handsome living and a regal new honorific: the Hash Queen.

Unfortunately, in 2015, the Dutch government informed Mila that her Pollinator shop in Amsterdam was considered the equivalent of an illegal grow shop, and she was forced to go to court.

Thankfully, she won her case—but not before making the difficult decision to sell the shop.

stoney baloney LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

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I THINK IT’S TIME we rebranded these planets. I’m thinking Penis and Mons.

I don’t know.

A guy named John Gray wrote a bestselling book in 1992 called “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus” and the term quickly became a popular catchphrase that captured the world of differences between the two sexes. I never read the book, but it would be assumed that there’s a distinction made between the two planets that align with the tendencies of gender.

And planets aren’t the only inanimate objects that get assigned masculine and feminine attributes, because boats and cars are usually referred to as female. I don’t know of many items referred to as male, but surely someone somewhere has a butcher knife named Butch, or a Sherman tank named Sherman.

And while we’re rebranding planets, just for the record, I’m not cool with calling Pluto a dwarf planet. It’s not fair. You can’t just disqualify a planet in the middle of the game as if it just wiped its ass with a penalty flag after a touchdown. The system taught us that there are nine planets and now we’re just simply expected to shift to eight. That’s bullshit. And the reason it pisses me off is because if you’re not entirely sure about something you’re going to teach in schools, then don’t teach it. And besides, Pluto is my favorite dog. He’s got his shit together a lot more than Goofy, that’s for sure.

Anyway, Mr. Gray ain’t wrong. I mean, it doesn’t take long once you’ve hit puberty to understand the chasm between how the brains of men and women work.

For instance, when she is thinking “I wonder what he is like…” – he is thinking “I wonder what she is like in bed…”

By the way, if Cannabis genders are also to be associated with a planet, the females are from Mercury and the males are from Uranus.

JUly 2022

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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.

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