Jun. 2024 - Northeast Leaf

NORTHEAST

Rock & Preroll.

UNMATCHED TASTE IN EVERY PUFF: FLAVORS FOR EVERY MOOD AND OCCASION

MAGNETIC CARTRIDGES

Swap out anytime, anywhere

CLOSED SYSTEM

Seamlessly integrated for all our vaporizers

BUILT-IN CERAMIC ATOMIZER

Custom-developed for pure cannabis oils

OUR OILS ARE PRODUCED LOCALLY BY AIRO PARTNERS IN EACH STATE

WE CAREFULLY SELECT OUR PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT YOU GET THE BEST AIRO EXPERIENCE FROM INHALE TO EXHALE

WES ABNEY CEO & FOUNDER wes@leafmagazines.com

MIKE RICKER OPERATING PARTNER ricker@leafmagazines.com

TOM BOWERS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER tom@leafmagazines.com

DANIEL BERMAN CREATIVE DIRECTOR daniel@leafmagazines.com

AMANDA DAY CONTENT DIRECTOR amanda@leafmagazines.com

MIKE GIANAKOS ONLINE EDITOR mikeg@leafmagazines.com

KAYL WOHL COPY EDITOR kayl@leafmagazines.com

MICHAEL CZERHONIAK ADVERTISING SALES michael@leafmagazines.com

PAIGE RICHARDS ADVERTISING SALES paige@leafmagazines.com

ABOUT THE COVER

For this year’s Impact Issue, we turned to frequent Leaf collaborator Joshua Boulet, who illustrated a whimsical, utopic scene unfolding on the lawn at the Capitol. In his visual commentary on the federal attention being paid the plant during this election cycle, you’ll find the government growing its own stash as people of all backgrounds share in the joy of Cannabis while they rally around the election box.

ILLUSTRATION BY JOSHUA BOULET

@JOSHUABOULET FOR LEAF NATION

CONTRIBUTORS

WES ABNEY, NATIONAL NEWS

ADHDDEAD, REVIEWS

BOBBY BLACK, FEATURES + DESIGNS

JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION

TOM BOWERS, FEATURES

AMANDA DAY, FEATURES

RYAN HERRON, FEATURES

REX HILSINGER, FEATURE + PHOTOS

MATT JACKSON, FEATURES

JAKE KERN, FEATURES

LEXI PADUSSIS, SALES

MIKE RICKER, FEATURES + PHOTOS

CHRIS ROMAINE, PHOTOS

MIKE ROSATI, PHOTOS

BRIAN SANNER, PHOTOS

JAMIE VICTOR, DESIGN

FLETCHER WOLD, PHOTOS

BRUCE & LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES

KATHERINE WOLF, FEATURES

WES ABNEY

Editor’s Note

Thanks for picking up The Impact Issue of Northeast Leaf!

It brings me great joy to highlight the people, brands and plants that are having an impact on the industry and our community. While this special issue focuses on positive impacts, I also believe that our plant is at a crossroads that will decide the future of our industry and community.

With potential law changes via Rescheduling Cannabis (see my coverage on this inside) coming that could hand our freedoms, industry and medicine over to government regulators and pharmaceutical companies, we must be prepared to resist and fight for our plant with full force. Changing Cannabis’ legal drug status from Schedule 1 (no accepted medical value) to Schedule 3 (some accepted medical value, to be viewed similarly to ketamine, testosterone and Tylenol with codeine) will put it in a category that requires a prescription at the federal level. While I discuss this further in my analysis, let’s dive into the way that Big Pharma controls America, from our media to our politicians. It hinges on the ability to advertise on TV, with only two countries in the world allowing pharmaceutical advertising on TV – the U.S. and New Zealand.

"WE MUST BE PREPARED TO RESIST AND FIGHT FOR OUR PLANT WITH FULL FORCE."

Through immense ad campaigns that literally fund networks, pharmaceutical companies are able to control the narrative, whether it’s on cable news or behind the scenes in the newsroom, where the largest advertisers always have the ability to influence the messaging of for-profit, captured media. This same flow of funding washes over our politicians, who are at the beck and call of their donor overlords, and not focusing on the will or best interests of their constituents, because money wins elections in today’s America. This is the drug of power, and it is readily taken in our country’s halls of power, where two-thirds of Congress cashed a Big Pharma donation check in 2021, according to STAT news analysis.

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 paige@leafmagazines.com to start advertising with Northeast Leaf!

Exclusive Cannabis Journalism

Even as Cannabis continues to heal without a single recorded death, Big Pharma’s products kill Americans at an astounding rate, from Tylenol to drugs like Zantac, that cause cancer instead of helping with indigestion. According to the science and health journal Mad In America, “Prescription drugs are the leading cause of death [in America], and psychiatric drugs are the third leading cause of death” with “315,000 hospital deaths, 390,000 psychiatric drug deaths, 70,000 synthetic opioid deaths, and 107,000 NSAID deaths. We get 882,000 drug deaths in the United States annually.” Why would we give the plant that heals and doesn’t kill to companies that deliver products with more lethality than alcohol and tobacco combined?

There’s a dark and untold history of medical experimentation in the last hundred years that can be marked by the graves of those who died during drug trials, from experimental medicines or vaccines, and from drugs their doctor assured were safe. The Cannabis activism community knew this long ago, as chemo and AIDS treatments like AZT killed faster than the disease itself, so we turned to the plant that is now at risk of being given to these same for-profit, bloody-handed corporations.

Without diving deeper into the conspiracy of why Big Pharma wants us unhappy and unhealthy and hooked on their profit pills, I ask a simple question. Can we trust multi-billion dollar for-profit pharmaceutical companies to have our best interests at heart? And perhaps more importantly, can we trust them with our plant that has provided medicine that’s been unchanged and protected for thousands of years? My answer is a resounding No!

-Wes Abney

NORTHWEST LEAF / OREGON LEAF / ALASKA LEAF / MARYLAND LEAF / CALIFORNIA LEAF / NORTHEAST LEAF / UTAH LEAF

CANADIAN SENIORS HAVING BAD TRIPS

Since legalizing Cannabis, hospital visits have increased in Canada, where seniors are more likely than ever to head to the ER after a few too many gummies.

CANNABIS PLANTS FOUND AT WISCONSIN CAPITOL GARDEN

Amodern-day Johnny Appleseed planted plants appearing to be Cannabis at the capitol garden in Madison, Wisconsin in an act of civil disobedience that caught the eye of the gardening team.

NO DRUG TESTING FOR

NEW MILITARY RECRUITS

“...it is suggested that special warnings be made for Seniors trying Cannabis for the first time.”

While Cannabis use has yet to cause a single recorded death anywhere in the world, it sure does freak people out when they get too high, especially when it comes to edibles. A study released last month by JAMA Internal Medicine found that ER visits increased “sharply” in the country following legalization. The study followed ER data from 2015, which had 55 visits, to 2021 where they peaked at 462 visits for what can be characterized as a bad trip. These findings were reported in the New York Times, who callously refer to these incidents as “Cannabis poisonings” in their coverage. While it’s clear that NYT is biased towards Big Pharma and the official narrative that Cannabis is unproven and still potentially unsafe, it’s vital to note that Cannabis overuse is treated with fluids and rest, which do not call for a trip to the hospital.

Planted amongst a colorful patch of tulips were Cannabis plants, which will undergo THC testing to see if they are a drug or a hemp plant. Assistant Professor Shelby Ellison told WMTV 15 News that the plantings looked “purposeful,” as the plants were “interspersed in the area,” and unlikely the work of an accidental seed dropping.

According to state law, a permit from the USDA is required to grow hemp in the area, which further highlights the disparity between the benefits of Cannabis and hemp plants and the laws that keep the plants hidden away from sun and public view. Planting Cannabis and hemp seeds as an act of civil disobedience is still a potent form of activism, as it highlights the absurdity of criminalizing a plant that once grew wild and free around the world.

FLORIDA LEGALIZATION BATTLE HEATS UP ON TV, RADIO

Anew defense bill considered must-pass by Congress contains a provision that would end the military's long-running policy of drug testing applicants for Cannabis use.

The military has long drugtested applicants, screening for hard drug use, but also ensnaring and preventing Cannabis users who want to serve in our country’s armed forces. At a time when recruitment numbers continue to drop, this could provide a new boost to those looking to join in an era where Cannabis is legal in over half the country.

With only 404 visits to the ER in 2022, it’s safe to say that the reefer madness driving fear of a plant legal to millions of Canadians is probably more dangerous than weed itself. As the writer poses the question “What can be done?” to prevent more situations, it is suggested that special warnings be made for seniors trying Cannabis for the first time. From a Cannabis harm reduction standpoint, it makes sense to offer warnings to all users. But from a common-sense perspective, it seems safer to warn users that too much Cannabis won’t kill you, but it might make you a little uncomfortable, and to avoid using emergency services that are needed for lifethreatening situations. Of course, writing that Cannabis is safer than pharmaceuticals doesn’t get the NYT as many clicks as warning of “Cannabis poisoning,” proving that reefer madness is still alive and well in the official narrative.

by the numbers

$270m

Amount of tax revenue collected by the state of Michigan in 2023 from recreational marijuana sales.

Floridians are set to see a barrage of ads both pro- and anti-Cannabis legalization as a high-stakes election year sets the stage for the future of the plant in the Sunshine State.

The first commercials funded by a $5M campaign by Smart & Safe Florida feature everyday Floridians including retired military and law enforcement members endorsing the legalization of the plant. Funded largely by Cannabis companies, including Trulieve, there has been minimal pushback against a campaign that The Guardian notes has attracted tens of millions of dollars invested by the industry in legalization.

“Medical Cannabis was passed in Florida with 71.3% of voters in support, signaling strong support for the potential legalization of the plant.”

Medical Cannabis was passed in Florida with 71.3% of voters in support, signaling strong support for the potential legalization of the plant. While there are no organized forces against the legalization effort, the last century of misinformation and fear against the plant is a burden that must be overcome to free the plant.

For Jeff Brandes, a former Republican State Senator, the issue is more personal than partisan this time around. “Most Republicans, quietly and once they’re able to vote their own mind in the privacy of the voting booth, will vote to support it,” he said to The Guardian. He went on to say that the future of legalization in Florida is not about if, but when. With an economic analysis in hand noting that 1.8 million Floridians currently buy their weed illegally, the economic and personal freedom interests are aligning in a chance for a firmly red state to embrace the spirit of legalization.

The provision in the National Defense Authorization Act is timed with the news of potential federal rescheduling of Cannabis, which is legal in 24 states and accessible in 38 states via MMJ programs.

Despite the majority of Americans supporting legalization, it’s still illegal federally, and the past use of Cannabis can disqualify a volunteer from joining the military. While the language inclusion has yet to be voted on, momentum is shifting in the armed forces towards tolerance of Cannabis use.

This announcement follows recent news that the Air Force will allow applicants who test positive for Cannabis to take a second drug test, and the Navy and Army are both expanding a waiver program for those who have used Cannabis.

The irony of these changes is the overwhelming body of evidence that suggests Cannabis is beneficial for PTSD, brain injuries, physical pain, and recovery, which are areas of significant interest for the modern military. Considering that military bases allow the sale of taxfree alcohol at gas stations, the choice to offer soldiers Cannabis instead of pharmaceuticals and booze is coming closer.

VERMONT SUNDAYDRIVE

Her efforts aimed at ensuring that the community understood the nuances of these laws and the potential impact of a dispensary in their locality. The opening of Sunday Drive in November of 2022 culminated these efforts, marking a significant milestone in the acceptance and understanding of Cannabis use in Woodstock. The store now stands as a beacon of empowerment and education, offering a wide range of products and serving as a resource for those seeking to learn more about Cannabis.

SUNDAY DRIVE is a woman-owned and -operated adult-use Cannabis dispensary that is a testament to the dedication and advocacy of its owner, PJ. In 2019, PJ joined the Vermont Cannabis Control Board, and this involvement was instrumental in educating the residents of Woodstock about Cannabis, its potential benefits, and the implications of allowing adult use of Cannabis in their community.

THE INITIAL JOURNEY

I just crossed the border from New Hampshire into Vermont, and I feel a sense of ease go over me. The air is fresh and the trees bright green. After a little bit of time goes by, I see my destination in sight: Sunday Drive. I pull in and make my way up the stairs and through the door. As I enter, I’m greeted by one of the wonderful team members and shown around the shop. I let my eyes wonder for a moment, overtaken by the vibrant colors and vast array of beautifully displayed products.

SELECTION IS KEY

As I walk around the store, I feel like a kid exploring a candy store. Whatever your canna needs are, Sunday Drive is here to help, from the immense rolling paper assortment and eye-catching glass to a range of edibles, concentrates and, of course, flower. The sniffer flower displays are a serious game changer – nothing beats seeing and smelling the available flower. The vast selection includes flower from growers such as Birdman (@birdmanvermont), Turkey Hollow Cannabis (@turkeyhollowcannabis), Rebel Grown (@rebel_grown_vt), Bushy Beard Cultivation (@bushy_beard_cultivation) and Pinnacle Valley Farms (@pinnaclevalleyfarms802). I had the pleasure of sampling all of these and have been back for more since my original visit.

INDULGING IN THE VIBE

Sunday Drive would not be Sunday Drive if it weren’t for the enthusiastic staff! Everyone fully enjoys what they are doing and who they are working with, regardless of being the greeter at the door, the inventory manager or a budtender. That, in my opinion, is one of the best parts of this industry and why I do what I do: to be with likeminded people. I had some great conversations about edibles, eating too many and laughing, as the staff helped me pick the flower I was choosing to sample.

WILL BE BACK FOR MORE

As I pull out of the parking lot and head down Route 4 toward Quechee and home, I reflect on my great time at Sunday Drive.

It’s really nice to go to a place and have an experience like I did. It also isn’t bad leaving with a nice collection of VT offerings!

If you are heading to the area or going to be in Woodstock, I highly recommend stopping by Sunday Drive. I’ll certainly be making a trip back there soon!

COLD-CURE HASH ROSIN BIO FLUX

Opening a jar of Bio Flux from Third Shift Resin reveals a pearlescent ivory orb of single-origin cold cure hash rosin. Catching the light and shimmering like a Silmaril on every facet, this precious jar will be coveted by connoisseurs who favor funkforward flavors.

“The dedication to honing their craftsmanship has paid off, with Third Shift taking first place in the inaugural U.S. edition of the Masters of Rosin competition, securing first place for Melt, and third place for Rosin during Mila the Hash Queen’s DabA-Doo Northeast in May.”

BIO FLUX has a unique aroma layered with crisp, sour flavors. When you open the jar to let it breathe, you can cut through the thick diesel outer layer to find a scent reminiscent of orange-spiced gingerbread, wafting out as if from a distant, open bakery window.

A powerfully sour, chem-heavy strain, Bio Flux bears some of the strongest characteristics from its pungent parents, Bio Hazard (Chem 91 x Dosidos) and Slime Flux (Sour Diesel x Teleforce OG).

The alchemical cross of these four lineages produces a strain that blankets your palate with the classic OG flavors and bursts with terps before revealing a tinge of sweetness on the exhale.

Expressing the importance of finding the highest quality breeders and genetics, Third Shift Resin looked across the country when hunting for the perfect genetics. Bio Flux originates at a Colorado breeding project led by @johnnyfindaseed and @gene_om_alchemy on Instagram.

Third Shift Resin team and owner Nick Burns are quickly emerging as some of the most skilled artisans producing single-origin hash; they grow using a coco blend and wash everything in-house in southern Maine. The dedication to honing their craftsmanship has paid off, with Third Shift taking first place in the inaugural United States edition of the Masters of Rosin competition, securing first place for Melt, and third place for Rosin during Mila the Hash Queen’s Dab-A-Doo Northeast in May. With Masters of Rosin returning for a West Coast competition this fall, Third Shift Resin is a brand whose national profile is sure to be on the rise, continuing to mark Maine as one of the country’s top hash-producing regions. While sweet and fruit strains continue to dominate the hype cycle, the strength of Third Shift Resin’s funk-focused winner could signal the start of a shift in the trending terps zeitgeist.

If we are entering into another age of OG, Third Shift Resin’s Bio Flux makes a strong opening salvo; it presents a modern update on familiar flavors that will have you salivating from the first inhale and reward you with a deeply satisfying finish.

BUBBY’S BAKED

BROWNIE BITES

BUBBY’S BAKED, known for creating the world’s biggest brownie (which weighed 850 pounds!), got me extra high and goofy when enjoying their delicious brownie bites. These edibles transport me back to a place and time when Cannabis was still so magical and mystical. They remind me of my teenage years, and honestly, brownies are probably my all-time favorite edible for as long as I can remember – which amped me up even more to try these for the first time.

THESE FULL-SPECTRUM MORSELS are labeled 5mg per “bite” and contain 25mg total in the entire container, which comes with five delectable pieces.

Bubby’s logo has fire lettering, and overall, the packaging is on point with visually eye-catching containers. When you hold it, you definitely feel excited to crack the lid and dig in.

“When you hold it, you definitely feel excited to crack the lid and dig in.”

First off, my taste buds respond well to the quality of chocolate they use to make the brownies. Moist, yet crunchy, they have a great mouth feel. It would be a disservice to yourself if you didn’t try to warm them up with a glass of milk or have them à la mode.

The effect of these edibles is clear-headed and cerebral, yet mild and slightly numbing. Doubling down, they aid in pain relief and balance my mood and anxiety. Perfectly dosed to get you through the workday without being overly stoned, I would recommend Bubby’s Baked Brownie Bites to any of my fellow chocolate lovers.

Let your palate be the judge and find some to purchase at Massachusetts dispensaries such as Rev Clinics, South Shore Buds and Fine Fettle, just to name a few. These small-batch goodies are usually priced around $12 for these five-packs and are worth every penny.

JUNE HASHTAGS //

#Don’tFearTheEdible!

#EatYourCannabis

#Bruce’sDay

#EnjoyJune

#PrufCultivar

#UrsaMajor

SUMMER DESSERTS SUMMER DESSERTS

JUNE is just about the best month: weather tends to be good, people are more relaxed, and hopefully, vacations are planned. My husband’s birthday is in June, and I always make matcha cookies – I think we’re going on 21 years now. He is a Cannabis teetotaler, so I infuse the cookies with 2mg of THC. That way, he can eat two and still be standing! I can eat eight, but I won’t! Probably… The scones are light and the almond/poppy flavor is dynamite. My friend Neva came up with the Rice Krispies Treat redo, and it’s kind of brilliant. She and her grown son have been bringing them to events for years, sometimes infused, sometimes not. I infused these three recipes with the Ursa Major strain from Pruf Cultivar. It’s uplifting and fun – an indica-leaning, hard-to-find varietal. Indulge carefully and enjoy! Laurie@Laurieandmaryjane.com

ALMOND-POPPY SCONES

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the work surface

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons poppy seeds

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt (kosher or sea)

1/4 cup cold cannabutter, cut into small or large cubes

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1/3 cup vanilla yogurt (non-Greek)

1 egg

1 egg yolk

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon almond extract

FOR THE GLAZE:

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

2 to 4 teaspoons whole milk 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

1. Preheat the oven to 340°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside. Dust your work surface with flour.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder and salt.

3. Using a pastry cutter or 2 knives, cut in the cannabutter and unsalted butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal.

4. In a small bowl, beat together the yogurt, egg, egg yolk, milk and almond extract.

5. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until the dough comes together.

6. Knead the dough a few times, and divide it into 2 equal balls.

7. Pat the dough balls into 6-inch circles, and score each into 6 wedges.

8. Cut out the wedges, and put them on the prepared baking sheets.

9. Bake until the scones are firm and golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes.

While the scones bake, make the glaze:

10. In a small bowl whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, milk and almond extract. If it seems too dry, add 1 teaspoon milk.

11. Let the scones cool completely on the baking sheet, then brush them with the glaze. Let the glaze set at least 1 hour before serving.

Gone are the days of dry, bland scones that were simply carriers for butter or jam. These scones are moist and full of flavor, and the poppy seeds provide a wonderful bit of crunch. They are perfect for breakfast or with a cup of tea for an afternoon snack. Just check your teeth for seeds in the mirror afterward!

TRICOLOR MARSHMALLOW TREATS

1. Coat a loaf pan with baking spray and line with parchment paper, allowing 2 inches of overhang on each side.

2. In a completely dry blender, or in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade, pulse the strawberries until they become fruit dust.

Baking spray

1.2 ounces freeze-dried strawberries

1.2 ounces freeze-dried blueberries

1.2 ounces freeze-dried mangoes

9 cups crispy rice cereal

1/2 cup (1 stick) plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

3 tablespoons cannabutter

5 ounces mini marshmallows

3. Transfer the pulverized strawberries to a medium bowl, clean the blender or food processor, and repeat, separately, with the blueberries and mangoes, placing each fruit into its own bowl.

4. Add 3 cups of the cereal to each bowl. Toss to coat with the fruit dust.

5. In a small saucepan, melt the unsalted butter and cannabutter over medium-low heat. Gradually add the marshmallows, stirring until they are melted and combined.

6. Divide the marshmallow mixture among the three bowls, stirring well to combine.

7. Using your fingers, press the strawberry layer into the prepared baking dish.

8. Press the blueberry and mango layers into the dish over the strawberry layer.

9. Allow the treats to set at room temperature for a minimum of 30 minutes before removing from baking dish and cutting into bars.

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt (kosher or sea)

2 teaspoons matcha powder, divided

1/2 cup plus 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

3/8 cup (6 tablespoons) cannabutter, softened 11/2 cups granulated sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 tablespoons buttermilk, divided

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

2-4 tablespoons milk

Decorations, such as colored dragées

1. Preheat the oven to 340°F. Have 2 cookie sheets handy.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and 1 teaspoon of the matcha powder.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or use a hand mixer or a wooden spoon in a large bowl), combine the unsalted butter, cannabutter and granulated sugar. Beat on medium speed until fluffy.

4. Reduce the speed to low and add the egg, vanilla and 3 tablespoons of the buttermilk. Beat until well mixed, about 1 minute.

5. Add the flour mixture and mix until just combined.

6. Form the dough into a ball, wrap the ball in plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for 1 hour.

7. Working with pieces of chilled dough, roll them between your palms into 11/2-inch balls, and place them on the ungreased cookie sheets 2 inches apart.

8. With your palm, flatten the balls and brush the tops with the remaining 1 tablespoon of the buttermilk.

9. Bake until the cookies are light golden brown around the edges, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for 2 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

10. Repeat with the remaining dough, cooling the baking sheets between batches.

11. In a small bowl, combine the confectioners’ sugar with the milk and the remaining 1 teaspoon of the matcha powder, stirring well so there are no lumps. Brush the glaze onto the cooled cookies and decorate.

MATCHA SUGAR COOKIES

BLUE STEEL IS SO HOT RIGHT NOW!

This absolutely stunning, gorgeous, all-eyes-on-me strain is deserving of the spotlight. Cultivated by Maine’s own Last Frontier, this cross between Rainbow Truffles (White Truffle x Jealousy) and Pink Lemonade (Lemon Skunk x Purple Kush) is a deceptively sweet, hybrid strain that will leave you uplifted, energized and creative while still locked into a relaxed, grounding high. Don’t let your guard down though, this strain has Mugatu-level power that will leave you so stoned that you may try to figure out how they got the files *in* the computer.

CULTIVATED BY

LAST FRONTIER MAINE

Owner and cultivator Cudo explained that finding this hidden gem was a stroke of luck. Bred by Red Eye, the seeds for this strain were gifted as testers right before Red Eye decided to take an extended hiatus from the game, meaning the seeds were never released to the public.

After an in-house pheno hunt, during which they found some keepers, Last Frontier knew they had something special on their hands that nobody else would have. With such a distinctively sharp nose and blue color, they jokingly landed on “Blue Steel,” a reference to the cult comedy classic movie “Zoolander.”

The bud structure resembles the White Truffle parent but has distinctively blue and purple hues flowing underneath springs of pine green; when prepped for a joint, the basin of my grinder was primarily filled with a beautiful dark blue color. On the nose, there is a clear candy sweetness, with a hint of berry and a faint underpinning of OG funk.

Once smoked, Blue Steel reveals its true personality: a balanced mixture of sweet candy blended into a surprisingly doughy, dessert cookie-like smoke on the exhale.

The high is experienced like a true hybrid strain with equal parts buzzing cerebral energy, creativity and euphoria mixed together with calming, relaxing full-body effects. A perfect strain for an afternoon hike or picnic, this one left me feeling present, dialedin and not too buzzy (sativa-leaning) or couch-locked (indica-leaning).

Not only is this strain a looker, but she smokes great as well, proven by Blue Steel’s third-place finish in The Billy Awards “Sweets” category earlier this year. And if there is anything that winning awards can teach us, it’s that high-grade Cannabis is a precious commodity. Just because she smokes great and has stunning features doesn’t mean she can’t also be louder than a freak gasoline fight accident.

Don’t miss your shot to feel like a winner and enjoy Blue Steel. I’m pretty sure there’s a lot more to life than smoking really, really, ridiculously good weed, but I don’t plan on finding out what that is.

@lastfrontier_me

CORY BOOKER

BY TOM BOWERS @MEGABOMBTOM

ANNA WILLEY

BY KATHERINE WOLF @KATADELLIC

As a former contender for the Democratic nomination for president, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker hauls political heft in Washington, D.C., and while the senator from New Jersey hasn’t always been entirely on the right side of the Cannabis debate, he has long been a supporter of decriminalization.

In May, he reintroduced a Cannabis decriminalization bill that he previously put before Congress a decade ago and has been making the rounds in support of the initiative. Leaf Magazines caught Booker in May on his visit to Natura, a cutting-edge Cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facility in Sacramento, California.

Booker was there to speak on decriminalization and to take a tour of the large-scale facility.

“[Cannabis is] an important plant that has been a godsend to people who are suffering from everything from PTSD to insomnia to more serious challenges, like Dravet Syndrome, and other things

that make people fall into seizures,” he said.

“We are in a weird place in our country where we’ve had this Prohibition that has lasted for generations, that has really punished folks, and especially punished folks like in the community I’m from in Newark, where marijuana enforcement has been disproportionately focused on low-income people, people of color, people who are suffering, people who are struggling,” he said. “We have this perverse reality in America where we have people with criminal convictions for doing things that presidents, and congresspeople, and senators have admitted to doing. The hypocrisy of that is maddening, and it’s hurt our economy.

There are billions of dollars that we could be having in a regulated business that could be helping a lot more communities.”

Unlike some of the less fortunate in his home community, Booker attended top-tier universities. After that experience, moving back to New Jersey cast the disparity in

MIKE TYSON

BY WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX

attitudes surrounding Cannabis into stark relief.

“When I was going to places like Stanford and Yale, I saw lots of people using marijuana and selling marijuana with no consequence. But then, back 25 years ago, I moved into a low-income neighborhood below the poverty line, [where I see] people who’ve been punished by this Prohibition and had their lives destroyed. We are in a country that prides itself on freedom. And this is one of those things where the people are ahead of the politics. So I’m going to continue to fight in this space,” Booker said.

Whether his efforts will move the needle remains to be seen, and it will take hard work beyond the boundaries of a fiercely contested election cycle for his words to transmute into real political progress. But hearing someone of his stature make these points while visiting a 12-acre California Cannabis campus certainly feels like an impactful step in the right direction.

@CORYBOOKER

Anna Willey was the first woman to open a dispensary in Colorado when she founded the original CAM (Colorado Alternative Medicine) in 2009. In 2018 when California legalized adult use, Willey brought her expertise west and relaunched it as California Artisanal Medicine. Since then, she’s spearheaded CAM’s meteoric rise through the ranks, becoming one of the most beloved flower brands in the country's most competitive market. Anna is widely regarded for her ability to cultivate highly sought-after old-school Cannabis genetics but with modern potency levels and flavor profiles. CAM is known for classic hits like Lemon Cherry Gelato and Permanent Marker, as well as newer, on-trend iterations like Lemon Cherry Z. In the last year, Anna continued making epic moves that will expand the brand, most notably, building out a new 2,500-light facility in Sacramento. Once they flip the switch, it will make Anna one of the highest-producing female cultivators in California’s recreational scene. And as if that wasn’t badass enough, she’s also the general contractor on all of her own projects. Anna has truly paved the way for women working in any area of the Cannabis industry, from retail and cultivation to construction and leadership. @CAM_INCALI

Landing knockout punches made him famous, biting the ear of Evander Holyfield made him a cultural legend, and making an edible gummy in the shape of an ear with a missing bite gives Tyson the ultimate troll crown, but in a fun way! Beyond his fighting for titles, the Champ continues to speak out in support of psychedelics, sharing with the world how psilocybin and DMT saved his life. Using his fame to share the truth about Cannabis and entheogenic medicines makes Tyson worthy of an impact, but hold the punches, please! @ITSTYSON20

Sen. Cory Booker, middle, listens as Natura co-founder and CEO Ori Bytton explains the company’s trademark infused pre-roll brand, Sluggers. From left to right: Natura COO Craig Powell, Natura VP of business development Josh Schmidt, Sen. Cory Booker, Sacramento City Council members Shoun Thao and Lisa Kaplan, and Natura co-founder and CEO Ori Bytton.

EMANUEL COBAIN FOR NATURA

Scan the QR code for an interactive map of locations.

EMILY EIZEN

BY KATHERINE WOLF @KATADELLIC

Emily Eizen is a multimedia artist and creative director working across painting, sculpture, photography, home decor and more. Her signature psychedelic-inspired style is reminiscent of the ’60s, featuring crazy colors, trippy textures and groovy graphics. With common themes of tolerance and self-love appearing in her art, Emily can adapt to different styles and aesthetics across the wide spectrum of gender and sexuality. Her works are said to showcase the “beauty, freedom and diversity Eizen considers essential to establishing equity in the Cannabis space and beyond.”

Dr. Miyabe Shields is a trailblazer in the world of cannabis education and research, known for a dynamic approach that merges modern consumption with scientific rigor.

Holding a Ph.D. in endocannabinoid pharmascience, Dr. Shields’ current work can be boiled down to something like “Cannabis & psychedelics risk reduction educator and consultant,” or even selfsummarized by their latest science fiction book title, “High Hopes: Quest of a Queer, Neurodivergent, Stoner, Scientist.”

But neither description does this dynamic educator justice.

As an influential associate professor at Northeastern University’s Center for Drug Discovery, and with an equally influential presence on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, Dr. Shields' reach is growing far beyond the research community. This presence can be felt especially among a particular subset of Cannabis consumers where Dr. Shields welcomes discussions and facilitates studies from a “neurodiversityaffirming perspective.”

In their latest groundbreaking endeavor, Dr. Shields co-founded the Network of Applied Pharmacognosy, where they serve as chief scientific officer.

The organization is focusing its current projects on “collecting and amplifying the lived experience of the Cannabis community, the effects of chemodiversity on the endocannabinoid system, the science of smokability, and seeding science advocacy.”

Beyond making an impact on inclusivity in Cannabis media, in the last year, Emily spoke on a “Greening the Cannabis Industry” 420 Panel at Coachella (goals, right?), took behind-the-scenes photos of tokers at Hall of Flowers, and shot campaigns for powerhouse brands like Puffco. She’s also contributed to publications including Insider, Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone and Forbes and graced the cover of Cannabis Now’s Women of Influence Issue. Oh, and we can’t forget about our February 2023 Culture Issue, where Emily shot legends Cheech & Chong for one of the most iconic covers in Leaf Nation history. @EMILYEIZEN

CARMELO ANTHONY

On its face, equity in the Cannabis industry may look better than it does in many industries. The messaging of equitable business operation certainly is loud, but there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done. The cause needs a champion. Enter NBA superstar Carmelo “Melo” Anthony.

Partnering with Jesce Horton – owner of powerhouse Oregon brand LOWD and founder of the Minority Cannabis Business Association – and marketing guru Brandon Drew Jordan Pierce, Melo is using the star power he built during his 19 years in the NBA to fuel Grand National, an agency to give equity business operators, well, agency.

The first project out of the gate for the Grand National group is Melo’s own brand, STAYME7O, which is launching in Oregon this year in Black- and Native-owned dispensaries Natural Wonders and Green Muse.

The launch takes place in partnership with NuProject, the nonprofit led by Jeannette Ward, who seeks to help marginalized communities build generational wealth in the Cannabis industry. A portion of the proceeds of all STAYME7O sales will go to fund NuProject’s efforts. For more information, visit grandnationalagency.com and stayme7ocannabis.com @CARMELOANTHONY

RHIANNA COOPER

BY TOM BOWERS @MEGABOMBTOM

DAVID DOWNS

BY MATT JACKSON @ACTIONMATTJACKSON

A FORMER WRITER FOR WIRED, ROLLING STONE AND THE NEW YORK TIMES, DAVID DOWNS HAS BEEN DELIVERING THE LOWDOWN FOR CANNABIS NEWS WEBSITE LEAFLY AS THEIR SENIOR EDITOR SINCE LEAVING THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

BACK IN 2018. Downs has traveled the world reporting on exciting new genetics/products and interviewing industry leaders. This year, Downs created SF Weed Week, a seven-day-long celebration kicked off by city mayor London Breed. He’s currently working on the follow-up, SF Hash Week. Recently, Grove Bags released “The Reporter’s Notebook”, a mylar bag designed by Downs and released during his curated art show on Cannabis packaging. @DAVIDDOWNS

DR. MACHEL EMANUEL

Dr. Machel Emanuel is a man of many accomplishments (of note: a bachelor’s degree in zoology and botany, a master’s in plant production and protection, and a Ph.D. in botany).

But it’s his passion for reviving and preserving unique Caribbean landrace cultivars and Cannabis culture that originally caught our attention.

As a lecturer and researcher at the University of the West Indies (Mona, Jamaica), he’s been studying and collecting cultivars like the legendary "Lambsbread,” which are deeply rooted in Jamaican culture and Rastafarian tradition. His work not only sheds light on the cultural significance of these plants but also explores their health benefits and the best practices to maximize therapeutic potential.

Beyond the lab, Dr. Emanuel is a strong advocate for sustainable farming and ethical practices in the Cannabis industry, even striking a recent landmark partnership between the University of West Indies and Biobizz Worldwide Organics. His efforts are helping to ensure that, as the Cannabis market grows, it does so in a way that respects both the environment and the rich heritage of these unique strains. @MACHELEMANUEL

JAIR VELLEMAN

BY TOM BOWERS @MEGABOMBTOM

Whether he’s storytelling around a Michelin-rated table or showing off his hash collection, Jair Velleman lives and breathes Cannabis. The boisterous behemoth of bud built a reputation as the founder of Gavita, a leading lighting company for Cannabis cultivators, before selling that company and taking a break from the business. Before jumping back into lighting with his new company Dutch Lighting Innovations (DLI), he started a passion project devoted to the plant. Dubbed the World of Cannabis Museum, the endeavor seeks to collect and collate the history of Cannabis through artifacts and storytelling. He brought on Bobby Black – former High Times and current Leaf Magazines legend – and the rest, you can say, is history. You can find the fruit of that cooperative cultivation in the Cannthropology column in the pages of the Leaf and also within the minutes of the podcast of the same name. While Velleman continues to add to his collection with the dream of one day opening the doors of a grand museum to the public, he simultaneously strives to build DLI into a beacon of boutique, quality lighting for growers like himself. WORLDOFCANNABISMUSEUM.COM | DLI.NL

is a recognized entrepreneur, public speaker and thought leader focused on the California

Cannabis market. Active in policy and regulation reform, she’s collaborated with numerous state associations and received recognition as one of the “100 Most Influential People” by Global Cannabis Times. At the heart of Jocelyn’s work is a focus on fostering community development — by hosting interactive events and building a following of nearly 30k across social media, she’s become beloved for her unique ability to bring Cannabis brands and consumers together. As a co-founder of Budist, she recently launched the world’s first social review platform for the Cannabis industry in early 2024. Currently live on the App Store and Google Play, the platform is groundbreaking as it centralizes and shares product reviews from Cannabis experts — a team of certified Ganjiers (like a sommelier of Cannabis), competition cup judges, journalists and connoisseurs referred to as the “Budists” — and mainstream consumers with a 100-point rating scale. Some are even dubbing it the “Rotten Tomatoes for the Cannabis space.” This approach is so impactful because it empowers consumers to make informed decisions while creating a space for open conversation and community building. @JOCYBOSSY | @BUDIST_OFFICIAL

BY KATHERINE WOLF @KATADELLIC

Jocelyn Sheltraw

MIKE ROSATI

INTRODUCING

EXTREMELY TASTY & POTENT

Whole bud flower is infused with a proprietary process that combined diamonds, natural botanical terpenes and pure kief all contained within the pre-roll to produce a potent flavor explosion and high THC content for that desired Lift o or couch lock without the mess and burn of a traditional pre-roll.

SHAWN KEMP

BY WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX

THE REIGN MAN WAS KNOWN FOR SLAMMING DUNKS AS A MEMBER OF THE LEGENDARY SEATTLE SUPERSONICS, BUT HE'S ALSO RETURNED TO THE RAINY CITY TO BUILD A DISPENSARY AND CANNABIS BRAND. An exceptionally kind and gentle soul, Kemp is larger than life and is setting an example by sharing how Cannabis helped him in the NBA and continues to help as he hits new high scores in life. And don't miss the wonderful interview about his career and the evolution of sports on the Leaf Life Podcast — Show #182 – NBA and Cannabis. @THEREALSHAWNKEMP40

ABSTRAX TECH

BY TERPODACTYL MEDIA @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA

ABSTRAX TECH IS A COMPANY SPECIALIZING IN THE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION OF STRAIN-SPECIFIC CANNABIS AND BOTANICAL TERPENES. Its production model provides a multifaceted perspective and platform for the research side of the company, which in turn allows it to analyze well over 400 compounds found in Cannabis. This invaluable collection of data has been put to use for the greater good, as Abstrax publishes publicly available studies that send our understanding of the plant in fresh directions. In January, we wrote about one piece of groundbreaking research released by this team (see our online archives for “The Stinky, the Sweet and the Science of Cannabis Compounds”). It details an entirely new class of compounds responsible for some of the most popular aromas and flavors found in our favorite flowers. This discovery of volatile sulfur compounds (among other things), altered the entire community’s understanding of the plant’s previously presumed terpene-predominant profiles and cemented Abstrax firmly in our timeline of impactful Mary Jane moments. @ABSTRAXTECH

LUNA STOWER

BY KATHERINE WOLF

A LIFELONG ADVOCATE FOR THE PLANT AND PEOPLE, LUNA STOWER BRINGS 20PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN BUILDING CANNABIS COMPANIES TO THE TABLE WITH DEEP ROOTS IN COMMUNITY ACTIVISM.

She’s played a vital role in growing some of California's most successful legacy brands and now serves as the Chief Impact Officer at Ispire Vape Technology, the first vaporizer hardware company to initiate an IPO on NASDAQ.

With a master's in teaching and a bachelor’s in social justice, Luna also travels the world sharing her knowledge and works tirelessly to normalize and decriminalize all forms of plant medicine.

Luna has been a panelist, speaker and moderator at B2B events and consumer expos worldwide, appeared on podcasts and shows, and judged events from the Emerald Cup to the Women's Canna Awards.

Among many other accolades, she’s been named the 2021 "Cannabis Culture Advocate of the Year" by the Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, made Green Entrepreneur’s list of "100 Most Important Women in Weed" in 2020, and won “Best Activist” at the California Cannabis Awards in 2023. Most recently, Luna traveled to Columbia and South Africa to discuss innovation in vape technology, drug policy and social equity in our industry. @LUNA_STOWER | @GETISPIRE

DR. RILEY KIRK

BY TERPODACTYL MEDIA @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA

DR. RILEY KIRK IS A NATURAL PRODUCT CHEMIST WITH A PH.D. IN PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES. She brings a robust background to her research that has often focused on antibiotic resistance and alternative pain options like Cannabis. On her personal education and advocacy Instagram platform @Cannabichem and her Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Kirk gracefully guides viewers and listeners alike through the science behind “Cannabis, psychedelics, and other bioactive substances.”

Among many distinguished roles, Dr. Kirk is a Cannabis educator and research scientist working alongside Dr. Shields as co-founder at the Network of Applied Pharmacognosy. Together, their research rallies around “unique formulations in Cannabis smoke, writing theory and dosing protocols.”

Much like Dr. Shields, Dr. Kirk’s work has wide reach and she’s continuing her commitment to harm reduction through education as an assistant adjunct professor at the University of Rhode Island’s College of Pharmacy. As we mark more years of modern consumption trends and a move toward global medicinal acknowledgment, Dr. Kirk is looking closely at aspects of Cannabis that provide important insight. Her focus on the plant’s secondary metabolites and how they’re affected by the process of smoking has great potential to impact our ability to predict pharmacological outcomes.

@CANNABICHEM

CANNABIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN POPULAR IN THE HIP HOP WORLD, AND REGINALD NOBLE, BETTER KNOWN AS REDMAN, IS NO STRANGER TO THE CULTURE. Better yet, he has been making strides with his organization the National Cannabis Party to shift the narrative in the nation's Capitol surrounding Cannabis and the rights of the people. In an interview with HipHopDX, Reginald said, “The reason why you never see a Redman product, a Redman vape pen, a Redman strain, anything, [is] because I’ve been holding my brand for the bigger purpose, which is NCP, the National Cannabis Party. We are about giving the plant back to the people. We are about the structure of this Cannabis industry. We are about education for our people. Don’t matter who it is, black, white, or green. If you an alien and you need education, we are about having the right platform to deliver that to you.” So far, the NCP has been meeting with politicians and even created a bill surrounding Cannabis regulations in New York that has been accepted by the state. It's exciting to see someone trying to put the power back in the hands of the people especially when it comes to the Cannabis industry.

@REDMANGILLA

BRYAN HOROWITZ

HASH HOLES

BY ADHD DEAD @ADHDDEAD

“HASH HOLES” (AKA “DONUTS”) RECENTLY SKYROCKETED IN POPULARITY AMONGST HIGH-GRADE CONNOISSEURS. SETTING ABLAZE THE CANNABIS MARKET IS NO EASY FEAT, AND THESE SLOW-BURNING PARTY STARTERS OFFER DISCERNING ENTHUSIASTS A UNIQUE AND PREMIUM SMOKING EXPERIENCE.

A Hash Hole is a Cannabis joint filled with a core of solventless hash or rosin. When burned (best with a torch), it creates a distinctive burning pattern of a ring of ash around the hole, resembling a doughnut shape. This unique construction enhances flavor and potency and, if enjoyed properly, ensures a smooth, consistent smoke.

In the U.S., Hash Holes were popularized by brands like Fidels, Dan’s Roll Ups and Connoisseur Grade Only. Fidels sparked this new wave of product after founder Shant Damirdjian brought the smoke to the 2018 Spannabis trade show and soon after to the Bay Area market. While not the first to put hash in a joint, Fidels props Bobby Trill and Lorenzo at Terps Army for inspiring his approach. This rising popularity reveals consumer demand for high-quality, artisanal Cannabis products that offer aesthetic appeal and superior effects. As consumers continue to seek out luxurious Cannabis experiences, the Hash Hole stands out as a symbol of premium craftsmanship and design.

TURNING POINT

As the Biden Administration and the DEA undertake a historic restructuring of laws classifying Cannabis, the industry and world watch breathlessly, waiting to see if there will be impactful change to the largest market in the $50 billion global trade value or simply more hot smoke from a disjointed federal enforcement approach.

"Cannabis is suddenly at risk of capture by the Big Pharma web of profit, lies and control."

C

CANNABIS HAS BEEN FEDERALLY ILLEGAL FOR OVER A CENTURY SINCE IT WAS DEMONIZED AS A DRUG AND REMOVED FROM PHARMACOPEIA AS A MEDICINE. Pre-1920, Cannabis was present in over a third of pharmaceutical formulations and celebrated for its pain-relieving properties and pleasant medicinal effects. Illegal but largely ignored until the ’60s, Cannabis became connected with the hippie movement and was viewed as mostly harmless by law enforcement of the era. This changed with the inception of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (CSA) when Cannabis was placed in Schedule 1, the harshest of drug categories with “no accepted medical value,” and subject to the harshest of the new drug laws.

The CSA was pushed by the Nixon Administration to fundamentally curb the anti-war movement and give law enforcement a tool to arrest peaceful protestors, activists and agitators, which the government felt was associated directly with drug use. The CSA directed massive federal resources towards a new war on drugs, one that would last 50+ years and ruin lives as viciously as any hot war in a foreign country. This Drug War was revitalized by the efforts of then-Senator Joe Biden in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which included the disastrous Three Strikes rule.

From the Center for Law and Social Policy, “In 1986, then-Senator Joe Biden authored the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 – a critical component of the broader War on Drugs that devastated low-income communities of color through mass criminalization and systemic police violence.

The law strengthened carceral disparities between Black and white drug users by mandating a five-year minimum sentence for trafficking five grams of crack cocaine while requiring 500 grams of the chemically-equivalent powder cocaine to incur the same conviction. Later in 1994, Sen. Biden spearheaded a deeply controversial crime bill that funded 100,000 new cops and accelerated mass incarceration by increasing federal funding to states that impose harsher sentences.”

While much has been recently written praising the Administration for taking the historic step of rescheduling Cannabis, this rescheduling is fraught with peril from the perspective of both activists and members of the Cannabis industry who have fought against the Drug War for decades.

Just as Biden’s first Presidential run in 1987 was ended after journalists uncovered plagiarism, mistruths and exaggerations, when Time magazine called him “a shallow vessel for other people’s ideas,” we now face a Biden Administration that is high on their own supply.

When Biden announced his intent to “pardon thousands of federal Cannabis convictions,” the country and mainstream media celebrated the plan, and everyday folks envisioned real change. To date, according to justice.gov, the Department of Justice has issued pardons to only 206 people.

While Biden stated that rescheduling is “consistent with his belief that nobody should be jailed over Cannabis possession,” the move to Schedule 3 does not end the criminalization of Cannabis at the federal level. Much like the hollow promise of thousands of pardons, the shift to Schedule 3 is fraught with negatives and potential sinkholes that could hurt or end the current industry, paving the way for corporations and Big Pharma to swoop in like vultures on the remnants of decades of activism and an industry that rose from the ashes of the War on Drugs. Given the track record of Biden, the DEA and the War on Drugs, should trust be placed to handle this transition with respect to patients, industry and the plant itself?

LOWERING THE BAR FROM SCHEDULE 1 TO 3

The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 established a classification system for drugs, putting them in categories based on their propensity for abuse, and with more than a small hit of bias from the establishment.

How else can it be explained that Cannabis, MDMA and LSD are considered more dangerous than cocaine and meth? LSD and MDMA have well-documented medical applications, from end-of-life therapy to treatments for PTSD, depression and more.

By dropping Cannabis into Schedule 3, a category of drugs that requires a pharmacy to dispense and a prescription to use, Cannabis is suddenly at risk of capture by the Big Pharma web of profit, lies and control. This has been a fear within activist circles for the last 20 years, knowing that drug companies would love an advantage to exploit within Cannabis.

Simply put, rescheduling could allow the federal government to assign control of the Cannabis industry to Big Pharma, shuttering dispensaries and small growers in favor of a pharmacy-based system of dispensing Cannabis.

STATES’ RIGHTS, RIGHT?

CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ACT

SCHEDULE OF DRUGS

1 Heroin, LSD, MDMA, Cannabis (currently)

This unique approach is what makes America the greatest country in the world, as we have a diversity of states with unique approaches to living the American dream. Today that includes 24 states that have legalized Cannabis and 38 total with medical programs. While there are still states where Cannabis is illegal, most places have lowered criminal penalties around simple possession.

No accepted medical value, high potential for abuse.

2 Opiates, Cocaine, Meth, Adderall

Drugs with a high potential for abuse with some medicinal value.

3 Ketamine, Steroids, Tylenol with codeine, Testosterone

Drugs with moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.

4 Xanax, Valium, Ambien

Drugs with a low potential of abuse and low risk of dependence.

5 Low-dose cough

medicines with codeine

Our Founding Fathers understood that absolute power absolutely corrupts, so they envisioned a democratic republic where the federal government had limited power, and states had their own rights to set laws, regulations, taxes and more based on the will of voters and their elected officials.

Lower potential of abuse than Schedule 4 and contains limited quantities of certain narcotics.

Each state that has legalized has built its own regulatory system from scratch. Licenses, rules and taxes all differ from state to state. Additionally, states like Washington that tax Cannabis at 46% and higher at the register receive hundreds of millions in tax revenue annually. These state-run systems are poised for a potential conflict with the federal reclassification. Will the federal government allow states to continue running their Cannabis programs independently?

This question needs to be considered as we head into rescheduling and look toward a future of decriminalization or

full federal legalization. The last thing our industry deserves is to be swept aside for big corporations to inherit the marketplace that has taken decades of sacrifice and risk to emerge.

WASN’T THERE GOOD NEWS?

As with all legislation, the pathway to passing is paved by money, and there is a major tax change that is dangled in the shift to Schedule 3.

The Cannabis industry has long been smothered in taxation, surviving under a tax code known as 280E, or the Al Capone tax law. 280E prohibits any “illegal or unlawful business” from writing off ordinary business expenses and losses, things like rent or employee costs or the electric bill. This forces the Cannabis industry to have a 20-40% increased tax burden depending on the type of business. Removing 280E is the single shining light in the rescheduling proposal, as it would ease taxation on businesses, and take struggling companies from breaking even to profitability. All the investor and industry optimism assumes that there won’t be passage of a new federal tax on Cannabis, which given the history of taxation without representation for the Cannabis industry, is highly likely.

FINAL THOUGHTS

We must remain engaged and hyper-vigilant as this process unfolds, or unravels. As an industry and community of people who all benefit from the plant, whether as patients or for our livelihoods, our futures depend on the ability of our plant to remain free and out of the hands of pharmaceutical corporations. As with all political processes, the health of the process comes from engagement, and for the betterment of Cannabis and our country, we must embrace the spirit of activism that legalized Cannabis and once again raise our voices for the plant.

THE LONG BEACH BULLHORN THE LONG BEACH BULLHORN THE LONG BEACH BULLHORN

Catalyst CEO Elliot Lewis is giving it everything he’s got.

Every good script needs a villain. But that’s Hollywood, and this is Long Beach.

Elliot Lewis grew up in this city where there exists a certain disdain for the association often made with its glitzy neighbor, Los Angeles. That megalopolis is about an hour north, where fictitious narratives are not only tolerated but often celebrated. Down here, in this culture built around one of the world’s largest maritime ports, the OGs are wise to the actors, and credibility is earned.

California is a vast state with varying cultures from one county to the next divided into three regions (northern, central, and southern), which creates a logistical and cultural division that presents numerous challenges for creating a cohesive industry. The size and scope of the state are only part of what causes the mess; a steely government, which Elliot publicly berates for the smoke and mirrors trickery, makes public revenues, like the $20 billion allocated toward the homelessness crisis, magically disappear.

This is the guy we want in our boxing ring corner – the Cannabis worker’s ally – because he understands implicitly that to win at this game, you’ve got to hustle. And that means working hard and earning the respect of your citizens by following through. He is a man of many words, dangerous ones, but when you back them up by walking the walk with integrity, no adversary can find a chink in the armor, making him a realistic threat to the establishment.

It’s the rare watchdog approach whose megaphone exemplifies what it means to be American. With unapologetic gravel in his voice, through the medium of social media, he exercises his polarizing right to freedom of opinion that is reinforced by a chip on his shoulder and gassed up with intellect bred by a University of California, Berkeley education and a highly successful attorney dad. All this bombast could be misconstrued by the casual troll as being attentiongrabbing rants meant to hoist his company’s exposure, but there’s a tactful humility in his messaging that he knows is necessary to galvanize the frustrated, yet too-trusting stoner that needs a poke in the ass.

As the CEO of Catalyst, one of the largest Cannabis retail chains in the world’s biggest Cannabis market, he’s just the “loudmouth” we need to lead this community of outcasts into the global discussion.

To some, he’s a villain, to others he’s a warrior for the people and the culture of Cannabis –primed for the battle of his life.

With a long list of lawsuits and disputes, catching up to his string of rants and confessions is easy to do on Instagram. Here is where we get into the head of the man behind the controlled chaos. It’s not a coincidence, after all, that the bellwether company he leads is driven by a word that means impetus for change.

What do you like getting into when the hat is hung at the end of the day? Just family or work. I don’t have time for hobbies, so any time I get free, I’m hangin’ with the wife and kids, attending to my most important role of being a father and a husband.

They say that highly motivated people are satisfied 2% of the time. When is that 2% for you? Two percent seems high, man. When everything’s going good, and I’m in the backyard playing catch with the boys, I’m satisfied. As a matter of business, you take your victories, but they’re short-lived, and the losses always feel worse than the achievements. I’ve gotten pretty good at coming back from the defeats, but I think that if you just read the press clippings or look at your scorecard and you’re not looking ahead, you’re going about it all wrong. 4/20 was a great day for me because we made it to 19 stores where I got to see the people who work for us, the total number of products sold and the number of people who came in – it felt really cool. But if you get complacent, it’s the kiss of death. Like a shark, if I stop moving, my mind will start going to bad places.

Do you have an ultimate goal with Catalyst, or are you already achieving it?

It would be nice if it lasted past me. It would be nice if we could hold onto it and not sell it one day. With Schedule 3 coming on board, it’s gonna be interesting to see how that shakes out. It’s a good question, we’ll probably expand to other states. Not to get too spiritual about it, but I feel like God will show me the next path, and we’ll step into whatever that next role is. What I’ve learned over the years is you can’t predict it. We just wanted one store in the beginning. Hopefully, now we can survive and keep the workforce fed as we grow.

“If you get complacent, it’s the kiss of death.”

Did you accidentally find your calling in life with Cannabis, or are there politics in your future? I don’t know. I don’t really aspire to politics. This whole public figure thing happened as an accident. We didn’t really have a marketing department when this started; our current marketing guy just told me to flip the phone on, and now I kind of like it. Instagram is a small platform, but the real interesting stuff happens off-camera – how deals get put together and how crises get solved. In 10 years, who knows what it’s

gonna look like. ‘Calling’ is a strong word, and I’m trying to find my calling every day. Nobody’s trying to be a saint around here, but if I’m always intending to do the right thing and being a good husband and father, it feels like there’s a power greater than myself moving the pieces in the direction it’s supposed to go.

What is your preferred way to use Cannabis? Mostly bong rips. I’m ancient as far as some of these new products go. I mostly smoke OG at night – not really a day smoker. I’ve had some stomach flare-ups recently, so I’ve been getting into RSO, which reduces inflammation, and it helps me sleep at night.

What historical person would you most like to share a bong hit with? Sun Tzu, Niccolò Machiavellior Marcus Aurelius. I’m into the Art of War. You take parts of each; I’d want to pick the brains of the old philosophers. Those men were of a different time. I’ve been known to quote Sun Tzu. The ability to articulate ideas thousands of years ago that are still relevant is beyond impressive. His thing was to stay out of prolonged warfare, being strategic instead of using brute force, and knowledge as a weapon. I’ll bet they smoked some weed. If he were around, I’d like to pick his brain and get the essence of some of his more famous quotes and strategies. Philosophy was my major in school.

catalyst-cannabis.com @catalyst_ceo

BURTONI

Ben Burton aka Burtoni got his start on the torch in 1999. He’s won the world over for his creative reimagining of exotic sometimes tropical flora and fauna. Some of his most recognizable pieces might be his flamingos, pelicans and other amazingly accurate renditions of avian species and sea life.

HIS UNIQUE COLOR PALETTE is often created by mixing existing colors to get the hues he seeks. Furthermore, his use of complementary aesthetics like UV or CFL reactive glass, crushed opals and dichroic glass always feels natural while very eye-catching. This really adds depth to his pieces. The coral reef scenes, clown fish, octopi and so much more of his realistic work will keep your eyes entertained for as long as you have time to gaze upon them.

A notable fact when looking at the timeline of Ben’s library of work is the amount of collaborative efforts he’s been a part of. His well-known epic sculptural abilities naturally inspire others to want to make art with him, his personality and humor make you want to hang out with him! As he’s stated many times, he feels extremely fortunate to continue creating with so many talented artists and friends.

Another one of Ben’s favorites to make is marbles. These spheres are a captivating way for the artist to work with many different application methods to create unbelievable images and scenes. From crazy milli implosions, fumed work, galaxies and opal encasements to the current line of Paradise Marbles, Ben’s work always stands out in a crowd.

He was raised in SoCal but began his glassblowing career in Hawaii.

Since then Ben has been a long-time staple of the glass scene in Denver, Colorado. Ben has always been a consummate traveler, constantly sending pics of his extensive travels –at the time of writing, I believe he was contacting me from Tokyo!

You can find Ben’s work on Instagram @burtoniglass, and he also frequents Champs Glass Games and Glass Vegas.

“From crazy milli implosions, fumed work, galaxies and opal encasements to the current line of Paradise Marbles, Ben's work always stands out.”

The Life & Legend of John Sinclair

This April, the Cannabis movement lost one of its founding fathers with the passing of the “Hippie King of Michigan,” John Sinclair.

ORIGIN OF AN ACTIVIST

When it comes to marijuana activists and advocates, beatnik badass John Sinclair was as OG as they come.

Growing up in a middle-class Republican household in the small town of Davison, Michigan, Sinclair was first turned on to jazz, poetry, and marijuana in 1959 while attending Albion College. He then moved on to graduate school at Wayne State University in Detroit, where he quickly ingratiated himself into Motor City’s bohemian leftist community.

In October 1964, Sinclair was arrested for selling $10 of weed to an undercover cop and sentenced to two years’ probation. Weeks later, he dropped out of college and co-founded both the Detroit Artists Workshop and the Artists’ Workshop Press. Then, in January 1965, he founded Detroit LEMAR (LEgalize MARijuana), a chapter of the nation’s first Cannabis advocacy group originally formed by the Yippies in New York. As the head of Detroit LEMAR, Sinclair organized meetings and printed pamphlets in support of marijuana, establishing himself as one of the true founding fathers of the legalization movement.

In August 1965, Sinclair was busted again for weed and sentenced to another two years’ probation and six months in the Detroit House of Correction. Rather than be deterred by his incarceration, however, Sinclair only became more determined in his activist efforts.

TRANS-LOVE ENERGIES

After his release from DeHoCo in August 1966, Sinclair — along with his then-wife Leni, a friend named Lawrence Robert “Pun” Plamondon, and others — expanded the DAW into the counterculture commune, Trans-Love Energies (TLE). In addition to their artistic and educational endeavors, the group now offered fellow hippies housing, transportation, and even a legal defense fund. To bankroll these efforts, TLE planned several events, starting with “Guerrilla Love Fare” — a concert at Detroit’s Grande Ballroom scheduled for Jan. 29, 1967. Unfortunately, days before the event, police intervened to stop it.

Just before dawn on January 24, police raided their commune as part of a four-month-long sting operation, during which an undercover officer persuaded Sinclair to give her two joints back on December 22. Of the 56 people arrested, only 14 were charged, including John and his pregnant wife. Leni’s case was later dismissed on a technicality, and the rest pleaded out to avoid jail time. John, however, chose to fight (more on that soon).

THE WHITE PANTHERS

In the following months, TLE faced negative press, vandalism, and continued police persecution, which only grew worse following the Detroit Riots that July when dozens of African Americans were killed by police and 400 buildings were burned down. In solidarity with their Black brothers and sisters, TLE hung a banner outside the commune reading “Burn, Baby, Burn!”, provoking riot police to once again raid the building. To escape this harassment, TLE left Motor City in May 1968 and relocated to the liberal college town of Ann Arbor.

That fall, inspired by an interview with Black Panther Party co-founder Huey Newton, John, Leni, and Pun formed a new, radical-left political organization called the White Panther Party (WPP) — a sort of hybrid between the Black Panthers and the Yippies. The group’s ten-point platform included free access to all basic human needs; demands for an end to war, money, and racial injustice; and the “total assault on the culture by any means necessary, including rock and roll, dope and fucking in the streets.” This agenda was seen as so radical that the FBI considered the group “potentially the largest and most dangerous of revolutionary organizations in the United States.”

KICKING OUT THE JAMS

To deliver their mission to the masses, the White Panthers began hosting free concerts in Ann Arbor, featuring performances by a local rock band called the Motor City 5. Sinclair had first met MC5 in August 1966 at an event held by the DAW, called the “Festival of People,” honoring his release from prison. Forming an immediate connection, the band quickly hired Sinclair as its manager and even incorporated the WPP’s logo into its artwork. Sinclair eventually booked them gigs as the house band at the Grande, and at the Yippies’ “Festival of Life” rally outside Chicago’s Democratic National Convention in the summer of 1968, where they were forced to flee after playing just a few songs due to a police-instigated riot.

By that fall, the MC5 had moved into Sinclair’s commune and recorded their first album, “Kick Out the Jams,” for Electra Records. However, the label recalled the original pressing after the album’s profanity and Sinclair’s liner notes caused a backlash among retailers. The controversy caused the band to part ways with Electra … and in the summer of 1969, after signing with Atlantic, they unfortunately parted ways with Sinclair as well.

TEN FOR TWO

In the years following his third arrest, Sinclair’s lawyers engaged in a protracted legal battle with the Michigan courts to challenge the constitutionality of the state’s draconian drug laws, arguing that marijuana was not a narcotic and that the mandated sentence of 20 years to life represented “cruel and unusual punishment.” After numerous defeated motions, the case finally went to trial on July 22, 1969. Three days later, the jury found him guilty of possession, and on Monday, July 28, he was sentenced to a staggering nine and a half to 10 years in state prison.

Sinclair’s outrageous sentence made national headlines and galvanized the entire counterculture community under the rallying cry “Ten for Two” (ten years for two joints). Leni and John’s brother David orchestrated a massive campaign to free him by organizing benefits, selling “Free John Now!” merch, sending letters to Congress with joints in them, and recruiting celebrated activists on John’s behalf. Famously, Yippie leader Abbie Hoffman even stormed on stage at Woodstock during The Who’s set and gave an impromptu speech about Sinclair’s plight (while allegedly tripping on White Lightning) before Pete Townsend reportedly hit him with his guitar and sent him packing.

JOHN SINCLAIR FREEDOM RALLY

In the summer of 1971, The Committee to Free John Sinclair organized their largest benefit yet — securing the University of Michigan’s new Crisler Arena for December 10, and booking a lineup of prominent activist speakers and performers, including Bob Seger, Stevie Wonder, and even former Beatle John Lennon, who— after talking with Yippie pals Ed Sanders and Jerry Rubin — agreed to headline the event for free. John and Yoko’s participation was announced

The White Panther Party’s ten-point platform included the call for a “total assault on the culture by any means necessary, including rock and roll, dope, and fucking in the streets.”

at a press conference two days before the event, and tickets sold out within three hours.

“It was like God was coming to Ann Arbor,” WPP member David Fenton remembered.

The eight hours of activism, entertainment, and marijuana smoke climaxed with Lennon’s performance (his first since the Beatles’ breakup) at three a.m. He and Yoko played a four-song acoustic set, closing out with an eponymous new anthem he’d written for Sinclair:

“It ain’t fair, John Sinclair / In the stir for breathin’ air… They gave him ten for two / And what else can the judges do? / They gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta … set him free.”

Three days later, on December 13, that’s exactly what they did.

HASH BASH & DECRIM

As it happened, the day before the rally, the Michigan Legislature had passed a bill removing marijuana from the state’s narcotics code and drastically reducing the penalties associated with it. Given this development, the State Supreme Court ordered Sinclair to be freed pending the outcome of his appeal. Three months later, the court granted his appeal, overturned his conviction, and declared the state’s marijuana laws unconstitutional.

Since the original Cannabis law was struck down in early March 1972, and the new law didn’t take effect until April 1, marijuana was effectively legal in Michigan for about three weeks. To both celebrate this victory and protest the new penalties being adopted, Sinclair helped organize a smoke-in at “The Diag” on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor on the day the new law was going into effect. That rally — later renamed “Hash Bash” — has been held the first Saturday of April every year since (see Cannthropology - January 2021).

During his incarceration, Sinclair’s communal collective evolved once again: turns out, the name “White Panther Party” sounded to some like a white supremacist group — the very opposite of their purpose. So in 1971, the WPP essentially disbanded and reconstituted as the community-oriented Rainbow Peoples Party and the politically-oriented Human Rights Party. The following year, HRP got two candidates elected to the City Council, enabling them to pass an ordinance making marijuana possession a civil offense carrying a fine of just $5 and making Ann Arbor the first city in America to decriminalize Cannabis.

LATER LIFE & LEGACY

After successfully reforming Michigan’s marijuana laws, Sinclair retired from activism and shifted focus back to creative pursuits. First, he moved back to Detroit, where he became an arts editor for the Detroit Sun and hosted a radio show at WDET. Later, in 1991, he moved to New Orleans, where he spent 12 years DJing at WWOZ, writing about music, and forming his own spoken word/jazz band, John Sinclair and His Blues Scholars. Then, from 2003 to 2008, he lived in Amsterdam, where he launched Radio Free Amsterdam (broadcasting live from the 420 Café each week), and created The John Sinclair Foundation — a non-profit dedicated to preserving his artistic legacy.

And what a legacy it was: over his lifetime, Sinclair released over 20 albums and wrote countless books, essays, and articles — including the long-running column “Free the Weed” and the seminal pro-pot manifesto “Marijuana Revolution” (in 1971).

After moving back to Detroit in 2008, he opened the John Sinclair Foundation Café in 2018 and became one of the first people in Michigan to purchase weed legally in December 2019 after the passage of Measure 1. Despite his declining health, he remained a revered figurehead, appearing and speaking at Hash Bash each year.

John Sinclair died of congestive heart failure at the Detroit Receiving Hospital on the morning of Tuesday, April 2, 2024. He was 82.

Visit worldofcannabis.museum/cannthropology.

Original Freedom Rally poster designed by MC5/White Panther artist Gary Grimshaw.

RICK THOMPSON

Speaking at the 2018 Hash Bash.

Yoko Ono and John Lennon perform at the John Sinclair Freedom Rally.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS | U. OF MICH. YEARBOOK

I’LL TELL YOU SOMETHING: you bullies better watch your asses. You do not want to mess with a dude who was well-trained in martial arts as a kid, which is awfully popular with the youngins who aren’t too down with team sports. Some of them are nomads, riding solo, hanging in the shadows, and maybe a little anti-social.

And standing outside the bar, they can appear to be easy prey.

The prima donna skilled in the practice of intimidation may want to swallow a pill of caution when the “Saturday Night Fever” is brewing. He’s been at it since happy hour and now midnight is approaching. His blood is carbonated from the fiery liquid that’s loading the bulging trapezoids, and it’s fueling his arrogance.

He’s got his swagger in power mode, feeling alive, looking to step up the excitement, ready to entertain, an easy ass-whipping guaranteed for the primed crowd. But there are no guarantees in life, we all inevitably learn.

And for some, the lesson comes hard.

Everyone loves an underdog. Some of the most memorable events in history have featured a reluctant participant pushed to the corner with no alternative but to defend what is right. He is surprisingly prepared. And if you’ve never seen a skinny, undersized dude who’s a skilled fighter handle a bodacious, drunk asshole until he’s beet red-faced and gassed, it is truly a delight to witness. I mean, I’m all for peace and love, but sometimes you get a meathead who feels compelled to put all his gym hours to use. And he fucks with the wrong guy. What he leaves with is called an epiphany. It’s when the lion learns that he no longer rules the pride. He just had to have that last shot.

Dipshit should’ve smoked a bowl instead.

RESCHEDULING CANNABIS