Mar. 2022 - Northwest Leaf by Northwest Leaf / Oregon Leaf / Alaska Leaf / Maryland Leaf / California Leaf / Northeast Leaf

THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

#141 | MAR. 2022

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

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This product has intoxicating eﬀects and may be habit forming. Smoking is hazardous to your health. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Should not be used by women that are pregnant or breastfeeding. For use of adults 21 years of age or older. Keep out of the reach of children. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgement. DO NOT operate a vehicle or any machinery under the innuence of this drug. This product may be unlawful outside of Washington state.

THE STRAINS ISSUE

PODCAST

M AGAZINE

MEDIA

MARCH 2022

issue

#141

[

feature

GUIDE

MODERN BREEDING STRAINS

BREEDER PROFILE

MAR. 2022

39 MZJILL GENETICS BREEDER PROFILE

GOING ON A PHENO HUNT COMPOUND GENETICS

MIKE ROSATI

38 RAYA BAMA / RUNTZ

HUMBOLDT SEED COMPANY

COURTESY

Humboldt Seed Company’s Nathaniel Pennington speaks with Leaf Nation’s Zack Ruskin on how the company is growing, evolving, and embedding their seed culture in some very unlikely places.

MIKE ROSATI

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

MIKE ROSATI

13 16 20 24 28 32 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 44 46 50 52 54 56 58 62

EDITOR’S NOTE NATIONAL NEWS HEMP INDUSTRY BUDTENDER Q&A SHOP REVIEW STRAIN OF THE MONTH STRAINS 101 COMPOUND GENETICS RAY BAMA / RUNTZ MZJILL GENETICS SHERBINSKIS DUKE DIAMOND PHENO HUNTING BREEDING STRAINS HYPE AND HEAT CONCENTRATE OTM WELLNESS PRODUCTS KIEF OFF THE SHELF HER-STORIC RECIPES CANNTHROPOLOGY STONEY BALONEY

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 EA F / O R EG O N L E A F / AL AS KA L EA F / M A RY L AN D L EA F / CAL I F O R N I A L EA F / N O RT H EAST LE A F

A B O U T T H E C OV E R For this month’s sticky, delicious cover, we partnered with famed macro photographer Erik “Nugshots” Christiansen of Nugshots Lab. Known for his gorgeous still photography and his ability to display a 360-degree view of the world’s finest Cannabis products, Erik provided epic photos of three strains with diverse physical properties for our Strains Issue cover: Ridgeline Farms x Humboldt Seed Company Vanilla Cream Pie, Rolen Stone White Truffle, and Good Lyfe Farms x Humboldt Seed Company Hella Jelly. Head online to watch our moving cover come to life!

PHOTOS by ERIK NUGSHOTS @ERIK.NUGSHOTS WES ABNEY C E O & F O U N D E R wes@leafmagazines.com

CONTRIBUTORS

MIKE RICKER O P E R AT I N G PA R T N E R ricker@leafmagazines.com | advertising sales

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

O’HARA SHIPE O N L I N E E D I T O R ohara@leafmagazines.com MEGHAN RIDLEY C O PY E D I T O R meghan@leafmagazines.com We are creators of targeted, independent Cannabis journalism. Please email us to discuss advertising in the next issue of

BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION TOM BOWERS, FEATURES ERIK NUGSHOTS, PHOTOS JIMI DEVINE, FEATURES EARLY, PRODUCTION EMILY EIZEN, PHOTOS STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS KANDID KUSH, PHOTOS JUSTIN MCIVOR, PHOTOS JEFF PORTERFIELD DESIGN JESSE RAMIREZ, DESIGN MIKE RICKER, FEATURES MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING MIKE ROSATI, PHOTOS ZACK RUSKIN, FEATURES ERIC SMITH, REVIEWS TERPENE TRANSIT, DISTRIBUTION JAMIE VICTOR, DESIGN JERRY WHITING, FEATURES

CONNECT WITH NORTHWEST LEAF!

Exclusive Cannabis Journalism @NWLEAF

@NWLEAF #NWLEAF

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Have a strain, product, feature idea or news tip that the Northwest Leaf staff needs to know about? Email us at Ricker@LeafMagazines.com!

ABNEY

Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up the Strains Issue of the Leaf! WE’VE COME a long way since the days of all Cannabis being weed, when the best weed ever was the pot we had in our pockets. I remember the struggle of simply trying to buy weed from a dealer who was honest and had tasty flower, which is what led me to buying and selling my own weed to friends in college. This inspired many stoned, youthful experiments to create flavors in the BC Bud we got by the pound – including dropping orange peels or apple slices into a turkey bag, along with a few tortillas to add moisture to the dried out herb.

In those early days, weed came in grades – not in strains – but occasionally a “flavor” profile would come along like Blueberry or Bubblegum that was the equivalent of finding gold in smokeable form. I’ll never forget when my plug handed me a couple ounces in a jar, for free, because he had accidentally spilled a bottle of artificial blueberry flavoring while intending to simply add a few drops. I tried so hard to smoke that weed and as pungent and artificial as it was, I gave up! Even back then I had standards for what I would smoke, and the blueberry experience was so bad that I avoided that flavor in candy and drinks for TODAY, THE TOP at least a year. BREEDERS ARE It wasn’t until I began working with medical Cannabis in 2010 and publishing the Leaf that strains became a concept. The paradigm shift happened in the collectives (dispensaries) that would offer 10-20 types of Cannabis, and through smelling and feeling each bud, it became clear that strains were more than just names given to sell bud – but representative of flavor profiles, growing structure and style, and the effects that were unique to each jar. This experience was like a trip to Willy Wonka’s factory for me, and it turned me on to the amazing world of Cannabis genetics, breeders and the strains that have defined the growth of our industry.

LIKE ROCKSTARS AND THE STRAINS THEY PRODUCE ARE THE TOP HITS – WHICH CAN LEAD TO FAME AND GLORY AMONGST STONERS WORLDWIDE.

Today, the top breeders are like rockstars and the strains they produce are the top hits – which can lead to fame and glory amongst stoners worldwide. But back in the day, breeding was a risk only undertaken by the dedicated and fearless. After all, having the courage to pheno hunt when simple possession was a felony was a rare attribute to be found in the underground grow rooms and distribution networks. But innovation and a passion for flavors and the search for the best new weed has driven generations of growers, and it’s because of those early entrepreneurial plant scientists that we have a wide range of genetics being developed and grown around the planet. In this regard, Cannabis is becoming like the wine industry, with select breeders (think labels/ vineyards) producing unique strains (like vintages/blends/varietals) that have demand around the globe – and a high value! And just like wine, Cannabis connoisseurs don’t want to smoke the same flavors every day, but instead chase new experiences and highs with unique flavors and attributes on a level that surpasses the wine or craft beer industry by far. Cannabis users love new strains and we have the breeders to thank for the countless hours and crop cycles that have led to our beautiful, diverse world of weed we enjoy today. On that note, it is an honor to highlight the world of breeding and strains in this issue of the Leaf. I hope it inspires you to try new strains and appreciate the breeders behind the scenes who put their blood, sweat and money on the line for our enjoyment.

-Wes Abney MAR. 2022

leafmagazines.com

Northwest 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 ricker@leafmagazines.com to start advertising with Northwest Leaf!

WES

IG: @treehawk.farms | W: treehawkfarms.com

Photos and Design: This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children. Marijuana products may be purchased or possessed only by persons 21 years of age or older.

All Things Cannabis For All People beardedlorax rickerdj stashleylynn

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MEDITATION & CANNABIS ( ) Taking Your Buzz to a New Level

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THIS MONTH: #157 CANNABIS & GAMES (From Beer Pong to Pass the Bong) #158 FITNESS & CANNABIS (Cannabis as a Catalyst) #159 THE POLITICS OF PESTICIDES (Why is it Controversial?)

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Marijuana products may be purchased or possessed only by persons 21 or older. This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit-forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.

cannabis NEWS nwlEAF.COM

global

politics

THAILAND IS FIRST IN ASIA TO DECRIM WEED

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER RENEWS FEDERAL LEGALIZATION PUSH

hailand has become the first country in Asia to approve the de facto decriminalization of marijuana. Unfortunately, law enforcement authorities have left a “gray area” around adult recreational use. Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced that the Narcotics Control Board had approved dropping Cannabis from the list of controlled drugs. The delisting will take effect 120 days after its publication in the government gazette. Thailand removed Cannabis – a plant species to which both marijuana and hemp belong – last December from the list of illegal drugs under the nation’s Narcotics Law. Police and lawyers said it was unclear if possession of Cannabis will still be an offense subject to arrest. Related laws mean production and possession of marijuana remain “regulated” for now. That, unfortunately, leaves the legal status of adult-use marijuana somewhat murky.

marijuana-related bills were filed in the Indiana Legislature’s 2022 session.

MAR. 2022

90% 400

of its Cannabis buyers come from Idaho, claims the city of Ontario, Ore.

untaxed marijuana greenhouses were recently busted in San Bernardino County, Calif.

enate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer renewed his calls for the federal legalization of marijuana, reports the New York Daily News. “Change has been urgently needed for a long time,” Schumer said, referencing the disproportionate impact Cannabis laws have had on Black communities. “The good news is we’re on the edge of getting change, because the opinions throughout America are changing. All across the country, states are legalizing,” Schumer “ AS MAJORITY LEADER, said. “All across the country, I CAN SET PRIORITIES. minds are changing.” He said he plans to introduce the bill in April. THIS IS A PRIORITY.”

7.6k $2.22b $27b

pounds of untaxed, processed weed was recently seized in a Lake County, Calif. investigation.

worth of Cannabis was sold in Colorado in 2021, the 3rd-most in the nation.

is the estimated size of the legal U.S. marijuana market by 2026.

normalization

COLORADO COULD PROHIBIT FIRING EMPLOYEES FOR CANNABIS USE

a measure introduced at the statehouse in February by two Democratic lawmakers passes, Colorado would soon prohibit employers from firing workers because of their off-the-clock Cannabis use. House Bill 1152 also requires employers to let their workers consume medicinal Cannabis while on the job. The bill includes exceptions for workers whose jobs are in dangerous fields or require fine motor skills, such as operating heavy machinery. “Marijuana is legal in Colorado,” said State Rep. Brianna Titone, a Democrat and sponsor of the bill. “And what people do in their spare time that doesn’t impact their work shouldn’t really be a problem for them. They should be able to enjoy the legal things that we have here in Colorado and not be penalized for it.”Titone is pitching the measure as a way for employers to find workers more easily in Colorado’s tight labor market.

weird

UNIFORMED COP CAUGHT SELLING WEED ON DUTY

eorgia Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Georgia police officer who they say sold marijuana while on duty, in uniform. Leon Mitchell, 32, worked for the Warwick Police Department near the southwest Georgia city of Albany. The GBI’S Southwestern Regional Drug Enforcement Office claimed undercover agents were able to buy weed from Mitchell in Worth and Lee counties. In what must have been a regular Kodak moment, drug agents arrested Officer Mitchell January 28 at the Police Department. Agents arrested Mitchell on two counts of sale/distribution of mariAGENTS SAID THEY juana and one count of possession FOUND MARIJUANA, with intent to distribute. For good SCALES AND PLASTIC BAGS RIGHT INSIDE measure, they piled on four counts THE CAR WHEN THEY of possession of a firearm during SEARCHED HIS VEHICLE. the commission of a felony, three counts of violation of oath of office and two counts of use of a communication device during the commission of a felony. Officers booked Mitchell into the Worth County Jail, where he remained after a judge denied him bail.

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

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GAME CHANGER

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EXPERT OPINION

HEMP INDUSTRY

SLIPSTREAMING HEMP INTO YOUR DIET

PLANT-BASED FOODS are the rage today. From grocery stores to fast food restaurants, Americans are embracing non-meat meals. The success of Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods is proof positive that people are rethinking what they eat. This is by no means limited to existing vegans or vegetarians. The dairy and meat industries are nervous about the redefinition of “milk” and “meat.” Some want to reserve those terms exclusively for animal products, but plant-based milks are a given in coffeehouses large and small. Heck, most offer two or more alternatives to cow milk.

PHOTO BY ADOBE

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

I’M

a big advocate for hemp as a food, however, I’m not advocating throwing out everything in your refrigerator and pantry and starting all over again. That would be foolish, as well as expensive. But how can you start shifting your shopping and eating? Think slipstreaming.

MAR. 2022

Jerry Whiting

for bread that has hemp in it for a new take on your morning toast or tuna sandwich. No big shift – just a lateral move to hemp foods. Dehulled hemp seeds, also called hemp hearts, are protein-rich, glutenfree and a healthy source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Most of the hemp hearts sold in this country are from Manitoba Harvest, with some sold under their label and others repackaged by other companies. Hint: Flip the package over to see where it’s grown. Canada? Probably Manitoba Harvest. Hemp hearts are one of the easiest ways to slipstream hemp into your family’s diet. Not only are they nutritious, they don’t have a distinct flavor of their own. Sprinkle a spoonful in your oatmeal or breakfast cereal. Baking cookies or edibles (infused or otherwise)? Toss in a quarter cup. Hemp hearts can be a salad topping just like croutons. Recipe call for breadcrumbs or panko? Add hemp hearts to either one. Bored with your favorite yogurt? Add hemp hearts for a change. Should you do all of the above right now? No. Take your time. Change at your own speed. And don’t be afraid to reject what you don’t like … eating is supposed to be one of life’s little pleasures. Is a carton of hemp milk or a bag of hemp hearts more than your budget or sense of adventure will allow? Split it with someone else who wants to experiment. Seek out friends and relatives who are already eating hemp and ask for suggestions. If you find a product you like, look at the company’s website for related products, recipes and other resources. Share your feedback with them. Ask questions. Follow them on social media. Once you’re well-versed, share your information and your food with those around you. Eating can be a social event and you shouldn’t keep new discoveries to yourself. Put it on your table…

THE NEXT TIME YOU GO SHOPPING, NOTICE THE NUMBER OF HEMP PRODUCTS YOU FIND ON THE SHELF.

Take hemp milk for example. It is not, I repeat not, a one for one replacement for cow milk. It doesn’t taste the same, nor should it. Dip your toe in the water by ordering a hemp milk latte the next time you order coffee. Better yet, order a half hemp/half cow milk coffee drink. Added bonus: hemp milk is almost always organic, unlike dairy products. The next time you go shopping, notice the number of hemp products you find on the shelf. Most stores intermingle hemp foods with what they already sell. Take breakfast cereal and bread: Most of us buy one or both during our regular shopping forays. Some cereals, especially granola, have hemp as an ingredient. Also look

EXCLUSIVE COLUMN by JERRY WHITING for LEAF NATION // LeBlancCNE.com/podcast

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

THE STRAINS ISSUE interview

Maria Monson NORTHWEST LEAF BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH

She has three guilty pleasures – playing poker, video games and watching hockey – and takes pride in her ability to create wonderful Arabic dishes for her husband, daughter and sisters. While they are never sure what will be on the table, there’s never a doubt that it will be delicious. Follow her on Instagram @tiamia1414 YOU LIVE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. HOW HAS CANNABIS IMPROVED YOUR LIFE?

With MS you take a lot of sleeping pills and antidepressant-type pills, because the medication they give you causes depression and sleeplessness – but I’ve been able to get off all the benzodiazepines they had me on. Fairwinds has been my go-to brand for that. Also, sometimes I walk with a cane – so I up my RSO and am able to walk again quite quickly. None of the drugs the doctors give me do that. HOW DO YOUR DOCTORS FEEL ABOUT YOU USING CANNABIS? They allow me to have a

medical card, so I can grow at home and buy three ounces at a time and not pay as much tax. My neurologist is great.

RSO IS A VERY POWERFUL INTOXICANT. HOW DO YOU MANAGE YOUR DAY BUDTENDING, GROCERY SHOPPING, WHATEVER, ON HIGH DOSES OF IT? I’ve been doing it for about six

years now. I do a full gram, but on days that I’m working, two-thirds of that will be CBD. Otherwise on my days off, I do the full THC dose – but I don’t drive and I wouldn’t be able to work.

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE DIFFERENT BENEFITS YOU GET FROM EACH? This is sort of

“I’M SAVORING EVERY MOMENT OF MY JOB BECAUSE I LOVE IT SO MUCH.”

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embarrassing, but I pee on myself sometimes because the MS causes the nerves to misfire. And the CBD helps prevent me from having those accidents. It also helps with my falling because I get unbalanced, and it seems to keep my vision from getting too bad for times like when I check IDs. The THC helps a lot more with my pain. Within an hour the lower back pain will be gone and my stomach calms down. One day I probably won’t be able to work, so I’m savoring every moment of my job because I love it so much. WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT THIS JOB OF WHICH YOU SPEAK? I love the people. I

really enjoy the medical patients. A lot of them are at the end of their life and they’re looking for something that will make them feel happy. And more than that, they’re looking for someone to talk to who can cheer them up because many of them don’t have family left. It’s nice to be someone’s friend for five minutes and get them to smile.

INTERVIEW by MIKE RICKER @RICKERDJ | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

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Marijuana products may be purchased or possessed only by persons 21 or older. This product has intoxicating ef fects and may be habit-forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.

E N FI D E N

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Official Cannabis and Hemp products of the Warning-May be habit forming. Unlawful outside Washington State and illegal to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana. Smoking is hazardous to your health.

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PAPER & LEAF

MAR. 2022

shop review

MUSIC MUSIC MAKERS MAKERS

S TA F F PICKS

FLOWERS Fire Bros I-90 Eric Skord Chocolatina Joseph Sub X Sinmintz Steve Lifted Wedding Cake Kristin Bondi Farms Obama Kush Alic

HALL OF FAME

Joints

There are some famous people associated with this store, beginning with Winston the Goldendoodle who will greet you with a wagging tail to let you know he’s ready to rock if you’ve got a tennis ball handy. And speaking of famous people ready to rock, the gents who set this highly unlikely license into motion seven years ago consist of film director Steve Kessler and Blues Traveler drummer Brendan Hill. So, how did these artistes pull this off? Steve and Brendan’s wives work together in an art studio and through conversation at kids’ sports events and the like, the idea serendipitously came about – turning this casual relationship into one of the finest pot shops in the state.

Lifted Marshmallow Sugar Cookie Duncan Cannavore It’z Tangie Shonna Lazy Bee Powderhound Steve Aurum Farms White Tahoe Cookies Jason Treehawk Farms Strawberry Diesel Cookies Kristin

AMPAGE Shadow boxes of record albums are mounted alongside the encased Cannabis offerings, providing a rhythmic vibe that is indisputable. With such slick ambiance, the budtenders are free to carouse for advice-curious consumers looking for the big hit. Face time is a huge part of the attraction on this stage, where unparalleled customer service (15 budtenders) is focused on conversations – long ones – where you can ask all the elementary questions and never feel pressured or rushed. That’s Bainbridge elegance.

ROAD TESTED The true test of pride is built through longevity and this crew is as loyal as any shop, anywhere. After all, Daniel Brown has been the coveted inventory buyer here for seven years. And most of the other staff have enjoyed the same tenure. In fact, GM Eric Smith @the_handicaps_lock is a verified cannasseur and contributor to NW Leaf (see Off The Shelf Review pg. 54). All employees get benefits and a true living wage, which keeps morale at a high level. And it’s hard to argue with their love for this special environment, as the curated selection is all about craft Cannabis with a lean towards high quality sungrown.

MERCH MADNESS Market Elevated is next door, where you’ll be able to grab some high-end glass, wellness products, and hit the delicious full-service coffee bar to get your volume cranked to 11. In addition, you’ll find fine art on the walls by artists like Sarah Gordon, Sir Paul McCartney (yes, him) and Storm Thorgerson, who created many of Pink Floyd’s album covers. I know, you’re thinking, “How is that possible?” Ahem, remember … this is Bainbridge.

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leafmagazines.com

PUDDLES

MAR. 2022

STRAIN OF THE MONTH

THERE’S A SAYING THAT A TRUE PNW NATIVE NEVER USES AN UMBRELLA IN THE RAIN, BUT THEY ALL WATCH OUT FOR THE PUDDLES THAT CAN SNEAK UP AND TOTALLY CHANGE THE COURSE OF A DAY.

GROWN BY

TREEHAWK FARMS T R E E H AW K FA R M S . C O M | @ T R E E . FA R M S | 2 2 . 7 % T H C , 2 % T E R P E N E S REVIEW by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

It’s perhaps fitting that this decadently beautiful and surprisingly powerful strain is named Puddles, because a bowl of this pungent bud isn’t just a day changer – it has the power to transform you into a puddle on the couch. Grown by Treehawk Farms in scenic Chimacum, this family owned and operated producer combines a passion for craft strains with the roll-up-your-sleeves attitude that comes with farming, aligning perfectly with the multi-generation dairy farm that the property once was. This specific cut was bred by Cannarado Genetics and grown from seed at Treehawk, where several generations of pheno hunting led to a unique expression of Puddles that can only be found in these jars. Peeking inside reveals deep purple flowers with beautiful contrast against the glistening trichomes, which give the buds a dripping-inTHC glow that is irresistible to look at. Opening the jar releases a pungent wave of flavors that are simultaneously sour, funky and creamy. It’s one of those smells – coming from your fridge would cause a panic – but oozing from fire weed presents a connoisseur’s dream. The first flavor notes to crash onto the palate are wet dog and rubbery fuel, with a sharp sour grape tang and a creamy musky honey that is the flavor equivalent of a car wreck. You can’t stop smelling this jar, even when you want to turn away from the sinfully attractive funk that captivates the senses. Overwhelmingly powerful and completely unique, our entire team of professional stoners at Leaf HQ were completely in love with the Puddles – jumping into the jar like a viral TikTok where a puddle is suddenly head deep. The buds are soft with a medium density and a perfect snap, showing the love of a full cure process and creating a perfect smoking texture in a bowl or rolled up. First tokes engage the senses with a berry-creamyfuel inhale that turns sour before exiting and leaving the lungs smoothly without any harshness, but lingering as a bittersweet funk with notes of anise and menthol puckers lips and flares nostrils. The flavors in this flower are completely unique, and so are the powerfully sedative and stoney effects that follow each toke. This strain overwhelms the senses all over again, crashing into the mind with a force that turns brain cells to jelly before melting into the body in waves of euphoria. Get ready to be glued to the couch, rewinding TV scenes three times, and calling your dog by your cat’s name in a baked bliss that makes the anti-drug ‘melting friend’ commercials make sense. Except you are the melting friend … and instead of being judgy, you pass the joint and share the stoniest cut of Cannabis we’ve tried in years.

THE STRAINS ISSUE

A BREEDING GLOSSARY

STRAINS 101 Making new strains in the world today takes everything you’ve got … or at least some good genetics and a proper understanding of the breeding terms and techniques for expanding and improving the Cannabis gene pool.

AUTO-FLOWERING

INDICA

A plant that flowers automatically when it reaches a certain size regardless of photoperiod. Breeders created these types of strains using Cannabis Ruderalis genetics from higher altitudes with short flowering seasons.

Indica-dominant plants grow short and stocky with wide leaves and shorter flowering times.

LANDRACE

Domesticated plants that have adapted to the conditions of their place of origin over many generations. These are used by breeders to create new hybrids by crossing them with distinctly different varieties (e.g., African sativa landrace x Indian indica landrace).

BACKCROSSING

This is a breeding practice in which hybrids are crossed with one of their parents in order to try to stabilize chosen traits to discover a unique genotype.

MOTHERPLANT

BREEDING

A female plant kept in the vegetative stage to produce identical clones (or cuttings) to root and flower out. A motherplant can be a source of clones for many years.

Applying pollen from male plants onto female flowers to produce seeds. This is done around the third or fourth week of flowering in order to give the seeds enough time to mature properly.

PHENOTYPE

A plant’s observable expression of its genetic material within its environment.

DIOECIOUS

Any plant with different and separate male and female specimens. Cannabis is a dioecious plant.

POLLEN

Fine grains released by male flowers to pollinate female flowers and produce seeds. Male pollen is carefully collected by breeders from flowering males and then brushed or dusted onto flowering females.

FEMINIZED

A type of seed that grows only female plants. Breeders use “male” pollen from hermaphroditic plants to produce feminized seeds for growers that don’t want to grow out any males.

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GENOTYPE

The stored genetic footprint held within a plant’s DNA.

HERMAPHRODITE

A plant with both male and female flowers. This can be a genetic trait or a response to stress. Either way, growers should discard hermaphroditic plants to avoid seeding their crops.

HYBRID

A combination of two genetically distinct varieties e.g., Sativa x Indica F1 Hybrid - The first filial cross. F2 Hybrid, etc. - Each successive cross. S1 Hybrid - The result of selfing (using pollen from a hermaphroditic plant on itself).

MAR. 2022

POLY HYBRID

The genetic result of crossing unstabilized hybrids with each other. The resulting plants can differ vastly in their characteristics.

SATIVA

Sativa-dominant plants tend to have thin long leaves and a longer flowering time.

SINSEMILLA

“Without seeds” in Spanish. These are the unpollinated female flowers we call buds or nuggets that don’t contain any seeds.

VIGOR

Some hybrids created from distinctly genetically different parents express quicker growth and increased hardiness and yields in their first generation (F1). This hybrid vigor, also known as heterosis, is how new varieties are created and discovered.

STORY by DAN VINKOVETSKY @DANNYDANKOHT/LEAF NATION P H O T O B Y E R I K C H R I ST I A N S E N @ E R I K . N U G S H O T S

“I honestly never focus on THC at all. I focus on the terps and the experience the plant could potentially produce.”

same year he did his first cross: a pairing of Fort Collins Cough with a Chemdog DD male (Chemdog x Sour Diesel IBL). While he felt like his pedigree was strong out the gate thanks to the people that helped him out in the first place, he did have to teach himself to be more selective in the breeding process. But he’d already been to Amsterdam Eventually, he realized less is more. years earlier in 2004 to link up with some “I was lucky to have access to the best friends he’d traded music with online, cuts from the get-go,” Lynch said. “Back where his friend Akko gave him a place then it was kind of more about who you to crash and an introduction to Holland. knew.” Many days Lynch would find himself at In the coming years, Lynch made the Amnesia – one of Ammove south to take Compound Genetics sterdam’s most famed to the next level, teaming up with Node coffeeshops and Labs and bringing in some folks to help on known for good Haze the business side, so he could focus on his – where he talked quest to keep finding the heat! And these to travellers from days – after bouncing around the cultivaaround the world as tion circles of Oregon to having people he enjoyed strains lined up for his latest creation down the like Lavender, MK block outside of Cookies – the trajectory Ultra, Cheese and remains solidly upward. the sorely-missed “It’s wild, wild,” Lynch said with a laugh. Nothern Lights Specifically on Cookies, he noted Bern#5 x Haze. er’s support was huge in helping to take Lynch notes Compound to the level it’s hit over the those cofpandemic. feeshops were Lynch went on to speak of his selection his first insight process these days, as the market contininto how professional weed ues to evolve. While many are very focused could be. The people running those shops on THC percentages, he’ll hear none of it. seemed like legitimate business people to “I honestly never focus on THC at all,” him. Eventually, he’d travel back to OreLynch said in his firmest reply of the chat. “I gon only further bit by the bug. focus on the terps and experience the plant The following years featured a could potentially produce. I’m worried significant step up in his collection about total potency – THC is important, of high-end genetics. He acquired a COMPOUND-GENETICS.COM but there is so much more going on in solid OG in 2007, which was also the @COMPOUND_GENETICS the terps.”

CHRIS LYNCH | COMPOUND GENETICS In recent Cannabis times, few breeders have captured the imagination of the community like Compound Genetics’ founder Chris Lynch.

STORY by JIMI DEVINE @THEJIMIDEVINE for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by MICHAEL ROSATI @ROSATIPHOTOS

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Time after time since 2017, when discussing where the best Cannabis on the planet got its start, Compound Genetics would be a name synonymous with those conversations. But behind all the hype cuts and ‘next big thing’ is a guy who loves Cannabis. Lynch has spent much of the decades prior chasing down the world’s finest Cannabis flavors. Like many, his dealer taught him to grow – first dialing in his cultivation skills in Oregon at a house his dealer bought and built out. As the scene matured into dispensaries and warehouses in the early 2010s, Lynch was along for the ride. The warehouses of Portland were also the first places Lynch came to understand what exclusivity in Cannabis meant when chasing top dollar. “It was the power of genetics,” Lynch told Leaf Mag during our interview at his San Francisco basecamp. A lot of the cuts he was working with were the classics of the moment sourced from Humboldt County, Calif. – including Headband, a solid OG pheno he worked, plus some Afgooey and Super Skunk cuts in the mix, too.

THE STRAINS ISSUE

FIVE YEARS AGO, Runts was still just a candy spelled with an “s” – until Ray Bama and his partners sprouted an epiphany that sparked the kind of hype marketing managers only dream of. And from that time on, Bama’s partners Yung LB and Nick would be called the Runtz Crew. Leaf Nation’s Tom Bowers connected with Bama about the birth of the phenomenon that is Runtz, his thoughts on the future, and his word on what it takes to succeed in the strain game.

LET’S GET RIGHT TO IT. TELL ME THE RUNTZ SUPERHERO ORIGIN STORY. My partner, Nick, he’s the head grower. Pre 2017, our claim to fame was having indoor Zkittlez. At that point, people didn’t have indoor Zkittlez – it was a unicorn. Everyone was looking for what was next. Having packs of it was unheard of … Nick asked me, ‘What should I cross it with?’ Gelato was the biggest thing at that time, Young Dolph had just dropped the album called Gelato … I was like, ‘Let’s cross the Gelato with the indoor Zkittlez.’ Nick dropped two phenos, it was a #7 and a #3. We had them in the car and we were like, ‘This is the thing.’ It was like a 15-minute drive and by the end, we had Runtz with a ‘z.’ Emerald Cup was coming up and we had three pounds of it. Me and LB stayed up all night trimming three pounds before the Cup. Berner was there at the booth, looking at us like, ‘What are you guys doing? You have all these people at the booth!’ We showed up with five girls, the Runtz and 1,000 t-shirts. Literally, that shit sold so fast – everyone at the Cup was like, ‘You’ve got something going.’

“To make a legendary strain, it has to be something new.”

WHAT MAKES A LEGENDARY STRAIN OR PHENOTYPE? WHERE DOES THE MAGIC COME FROM? It has to be something new, right? First and foremost. You gotta go back to pre-Runtz, you know? Pre-Runtz, there weren’t that many strains – now there are a million. To make a legendary strain, it has to be something new. You have to have innovation. You have to dial it in. You have to check all the boxes. It’s gotta have flavor, the power. It has to be different, man – some type of characteristic that makes it different. Gelato is like hazelnut gas, you know what I mean? I feel like Runtz took it to a whole ‘nother level of candy – now you have people who go only for that candy, you know? At the end of the day, we’re probably looking at another five to 10 years of the market being dominated by Runtz and Runtz crosses, Runtz sisters and stepchildren.

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WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW THAT HAVE YOU THE MOST EXCITED? We’re doing collabs with clothing lines, record labels, artists – anything you can think of, really. We’re doing a collab with a comedian. We’re doing tastings with chefs. We have a breeding project with Seed Junky Genetics. We took the original Runtz and crossed it with some of the favorites of his line, like the Jealousy … He was like, ‘Hey, give me some cuts,” and he’s going to pollinate. His genetics library is crazy. We have a collab coming with Doja … we’re doing a breeding project as well with that. We’ll definitely have some merch and some media behind it as well.

RUNTZ.COM | @RUNTZ

RAY BAMA

RUNTZ MAR. 2022

DO YOU HAVE ANY PREDICTIONS FOR WHERE THE STRAIN MARKET MIGHT GO? I think we’re going to get a whole lot more Zkittlez crosses right now. I think that OGs are going to come back and we’re going to see a lot more green weed coming back. I think the market’s going back to a place where the end user is less trusting, so they’re going to want to see these breeding projects and how they do shit. I think that having real genetics and crosses is going to be important, rather than just ‘throw my name on the bag’ type of stuff. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO SUCCEED IN THE STRAIN GAME? Everyone tries to copy what the next person does. To a certain extent, you can – but you have to be unique. You have to see what you can do to shake the industry. … With Runtz, we brought the power back to our group of people. We gave everyone the strain. … Build on that and continue to innovate and create … do new things with it.

STORY by TOM BOWERS @CANNABOMBTOM/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by MIKE ROSATI @ROSATIPHOTOS

GENETICS

In an industry dominated almost entirely by men, MzJill stands out as a Cannabis breeder with integrity, longevity and some of the tastiest, unique and potent strains on Earth.

J I L LY B E A N B L A C K C H E R RY

PHOTO BY @NATIVE_CULTIVATOR

“MzJill’s work with TGA created some iconic Cannabis strains such as Agent Orange, Brian Berry Cough, Orange Velvet, Ace of Spades and her flagship – the multiple awardwinning, Jilly Bean.” She’s working on bringing back some of the original classic TGA strains such as Vortex, Dairy Queen, Chernobyl and Time Wreck. She’s also particularly excited about her new line of stabilized Jilly Bean crosses including Cherry, Orange, Lime and Grape flavors. MZJILL.COM @MZJILL420

STORY by DAN VINKOVETSKY @DANNYDANKOHT/LEAF NATION

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methods – building her own bubble buckets because she didn’t want to dispose of conspicuous bags of soil. Eventually, her medicinal needs and those of her patients drew MzJill to MzJill’s journey, like many pioneers breeding original strains and along of pot, began as a medical patient. with her partner, the late Subcool, She was born with scoliosis and only MzJill co-founded TGA (Team Green found real relief when she Avenger) in 2003. finally discovered CannaAlong with providing an bis. But that didn’t solve immense amount of free all of the problems for a cultivation information single mother of three young via online forums such as daughters during the throes overgrow.com, MzJill’s of pot prohibition, so she work with TGA created decided to homeschool her some iconic Cannabis kids and start growing her strains such as Agent Orown to avoid extra scrutiny ange, Brian Berry Cough, from buying medicine in the J I L LY B E A N Orange Velvet, Ace of @DIS_GREENROOM underground market. Spades and her flagship – She set up a discreetly the multiple award-winning, Jilly Bean. camouflaged, free-standing room in TGA became one of the first Amerithe garage and employed hydroponic can seed companies to provide beans

JOKER’S WILD

PHOTO BY @SHE_WHISPERS_TO_PLANTS

MZJILL

for purchase online and MzJill was certainly the first female from the U.S. openly breeding strains available in the marketplace. I inducted them into the High Times Seed Bank Hall of Fame and chose Jilly Bean as one of the Top 10 Strains of 2007. Together with Sub and the rest of the TGA team, they worked to breed potent and flavorful new varieties until a devastating fire destroyed everything they owned in 2017. MzJill decided to move on—parting ways with Subcool, starting up her own company (MzJill Genetics) and retaining the rights to use the TGA name and many of the strains she had helped to develop. “Thankfully, we had shared many of our mother plants with friends and I was able to recover the genetics,” she said. “CSI Humboldt was very helpful with strains such as Purple Urkle, which was a parent of our Querkle strain and now my Jilly Bean Grape as well.” MzJill also founded the charity MzJill’s People Helping People. Their work includes organizing holiday food, clothing and toy drives across Oregon and Northern California, fundraising for Veterans and children with disabilities, and empowering women in the Cannabis ecosystem. Even after decades of growing and breeding, MzJill still finds joy in cultivation and strain creation. Her advice to new growers? “Plant some seeds, keep everything clean and healthy to avoid pests. Mixing up a good soil is better than using bottled nutrients.” As for breeding, she emphasizes that it’s not just about crossing two elite strains. “Learn to grow well first. So many people have a room go hermaphroditic and suddenly, they’re a seed company. Make sure that you grow out and test your seeds before you release them. Take notes and keep track of everything.” As the owner and head breeder of MzJill Genetics, MzJill feels her journey is only just beginning.

THE STRAINS ISSUE

MARIO GUZMAN S HERBIN S K IS WHAT LED TO YOUR RECENT REALIZATION AROUND THE UNIQUE PROPERTIES OF THE CLASSIC ‘SKUNK’ PROFILE? I think being a dreamer and kind of a visionary, I bumped into some SoCal surf brothers who are also visionaries and we had dinner out one night and … we just formed a friendship. I liked what they were doing in terms of studying terpenes, but they were also investing heavily with their own money into licensed facilities – specifically to research terpene profiles and different cannabinoids. With federal laws prohibiting funding and creating a lot of barriers for research, it’s people like Max, Kevin and Jack that had the vision to put their money where their mouth is and know that there’s magic inside. They wanted to be part of the first ones to discover that and so did I.

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Mario Guzman is the legendary breeder behind some of the industry’s most groundbreaking strains, including the game-changing Sunset Sherbert, plus Gelato and its signature variants Bacio, Mochi and Acai Berry Gelato. We caught up with the man behind the Sherbinskis brand to learn more about his longtime passion for the plant.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU GET INTO THE CANNABIS GAME? I was living in San Francisco in the early 2000s and SB420 was introduced in 2004 – it created a legal framework for guys like me to start growing in their garages. AT WHAT POINT DID YOUR FOCUS SHIFT TO BREEDING AND GENETICS? It kind of went hand in hand. From the very beginning I was playing with pollen and had been popping seeds, and I didn’t know anything about it really. I just learned quickly through trial and error. I never considered myself, or, even now really … the

MAR. 2022

WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT FOR THE Sherbinski’s FUTURE? I’ve been worksignature ing for the last four years strains include just learning. I haven’t been WHAT’S THE MOST DIFFICULT out trying to make money Pink Panties, PART OF CREATING A NEW in seeds or clones or anySunset Sherbert STRAIN? I would say time. It thing. I’m just learning from and the Gelato line takes a lot of time and patience. people in Spain and different Nothing happens fast in this countries, and breeders and - Bacio, Mochi, game. From popping the seed to just people that get down and Acaiberry and Gello. letting that grow out, to cutting make seeds. We’ve got about the clone to flowering out that 100 moms of different geplant … drying it, trying it, netics that I’ve already tested sharing it, getting feedback … The people I’m two or three times. I’m confident that I’ve put in partnering with and seeking out are just looking to the work and I know what’s what, and I’m excited get back to the quality. It’s not about the biggest about starting to share some of the work I know buds or the biggest yields – it’s more about the I can stand behind that’s a lot more diverse than different medicinal effects of these different genetics what we’re seeing out there in the market. and opening up that gene pool a little more, rathSHERBINKIS.COM er than some of the narrow offerings that we’re @SHERBINSKI415 seeing. term breeder … I just learned to accept it. I just enjoy working with plants and experimenting.

STORY by NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415/LEAF NATION | PHOTO by @VISITHOLLYWEED

DUKE DIAMOND Duke’s advice to new growers is to first dial in your environment – and go low and slow with the nutrients.

Duke Diamond’s Cannabis career started early, when at around the age of 12, he decided to grow his own after the first time he blazed on a joint. Even in the dark days of prohibition in Virginia, he felt safer growing it than buying it. He tells me, “I thought my chances of getting popped would be lower from laying low and not associ-

ating with a bunch of people. I planted some seeds and, luckily, my older cousins caught me, took me under their wings and pointed me in the right direction.” “I ordered a bunch of seeds from Amsterdam, specifically Afghani, Skunk and Northern Lights x Skunk, and they performed so well. Real ass-stomping stuff! The Hash Plants were big, heavy yielders that finished up before the fall rains came in. It was all received very well and we felt we could compete with California or anywhere else. We started making hybrids, doing our farmer shit to speed up flowering time, boost yields and make the best selections. Potency was always most important.” Duke was active on the online Cannabis growing forums, sharing valuable information and helping many people learn to grow and breed

DOMINION G

P U R P L E DA H L I A

SCREAMING EAGLE

SEEDSHERENOW.COM @THEREALDUKEDIAMOND

STORY by DAN VINKOVETSKY @DANNYDANKOHT/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by DOMINION SEED COMPANY

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The South isn’t the first region people think of when talking about strains, yet many of the legendary varieties of the 1970s and ‘80s hailed from places like Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama and Virginia. To this day, tales of the Roadkill Skunk, Afghan, G-13 and Hash Plant strains light up the eyes of older tokers who swear it was the strongest they’ve ever smoked. A combination of proper climate, good genetics and outlaw gumption contributed to literally tons of marijuana growing in the hills each year.

their own. Eventually, in 2007, he was ratted on by an associate and busted by the DEA for growing, ultimately serving time in the Federal penitentiary. He ended up having to return to prison in 2019 over an unfortunate bust for possession of a firearm as a felon and was released in 2022 – now placing his focus on reviving Dominion Seed Company and releasing new genetics to the public. Varieties such as Figure Four, Screaming Eagle, Dominion Skunk, Skunkband, Burnout Chem, Sangria Punch, Polecat BX, Stashplant and more are now available for purchase. Duke’s advice to new growers is to first dial in your environment. Also, go low and slow with the nutrients. “When it comes to weed, everybody overdoes shit,” he says. “Don’t overwater. Even with organics – think of the microbes in your soil as your workers – they break the nutrients down into usable form, eating them and pooping them out. Focus on keeping them happy with proper moisture and temperature levels. Avoid using alfalfa and kelp after day 21 of flowering to keep your plants from tasting like grass clippings and burning improperly.” In addition to growing and breeding new strains, Duke has a few other projects in the works, including starting a podcast, putting out some YouTube videos to help growers learn organic cultivation and finishing writing his book – so you can look forward to consuming Duke’s work in more than just smokeable form.

THE STRAINS ISSUE leafmagazines.com

GOING ON A PHENO HUNT COMPOUND GENETICS’ CHRIS LYNCH, THE COMPANY’S SELF-PROCLAIMED CHIEF EXECUTIVE WIZARD, TAKES US THROUGH GROWING AND SELECTING FOR THE BEST CANNABIS TRAITS.

MAR. 2022

After a monster 2021 where Compound Genetics picked up more steam than arguably anybody in Cannabis, 2022 looks to be even crazier. Last December saw one of its biggest seed drops at The Emerald Cup with the Apples and Bananas line. It was also the premiere of the flowers they’d been working to get to market after years of development. The star of the show for the flower launch was Jokerz #31. With all the heat they’ve found over the years and dynamic varying flavor profiles, the White Runtz x Jet Fuel Gelato pairing reigned supreme. It was first hunted down at one of the grows Compound works with to do big propagations they don’t have room for in San Francisco. In the two years since the pheno hunt that found Jokerz #31, it has been tested and retested – always continuing to be wildly exotic Cannabis.

THE WORK currently going into 2022 started long before the calendar hit January. Compound Genetics’ Founder Chris Lynch noted he has a lot of strains that are doing well in the market right now and he’s planning to work those Jokerz, Pave, and Apples and Bananas lines even further. “[We’re] incorporating new tricks, new profiles,” Lynch told the Leaf. “And then having the collaboration with Berner will help get those out there. He sees strength in the building blocks we’re working with too.” These efforts will require large scale pheno hunts to find the best versions of whatever Lynch comes up with. But what is a pheno hunt? Not all plants are the same, and a pheno hunt is about finding the best expressions of the seeds from the particular pairing of genetics. First, Compound will pop the seeds at a larger partner facility. In the process, they’ll take cuttings so they’ll have whatever ends up winning at the end. The second round will feature all the ones that are still in the running. In some cases, that number could be a few … in other instances, it might be 80 plants from 10 strains. That will whittle the number down further and they’ll run them again to make sure the first two weren’t a mistake. Maybe a little bit under a year from when the first seeds were popped, just how commercially viable the end results are should be evident. Just like parents can have a child that can slam dunk and one that can’t walk straight, not all the seeds are going to be a home run. The ultimate hope is finding a true outlier of the plant’s expression. Most of the seeds in the pheno hunt will lean towards one of the parents, but in the middle where it’s harder to decipher the characteristics, you can find the real magic and flavors you’ve never seen before. Outliers have the most differentiation from the expressions of the parents people are most familiar with. Compound Genetics works with a few partners to try and hunt down that magic – to the extent that Lynch’s title is Chief Executive Wizard. As for what he’s looking for, Lynch noted advice he received from MAC breeder, Capulator: “He told me, ‘Just do what you think is going to be hot and just follow your taste. And if people like it, they like it. And if they don’t, they don’t.’” One plan for the breeding work of 2022 is to move away from Gelatos. It’s not that it isn’t timeless, Lynch just wants to offer consumers new flavor profiles. When asked if he was ever concerned about the way hype moves certain strains, and how it could lead to narrowing down the genome, Lynch agreed. “We need to open it up,” he said. Another change for 2022 and the Compound Genetics team is their exposure to a higher level of scrutiny. The seeds have been heat for years and many have had success with the line, but with the flower they’ll have access to a much larger consumer base. “Where we’re at, we’re trying to move methodically, strategically,” Lynch said.

JOKERZ 99 #2

Just like parents can have a child that can slam dunk and one that can’t walk straight, not all the seeds are going to be a home run. The ultimate hope is finding a true outlier of the plant’s expression.

“Make sure everything is tested thoroughly in multiple runs and checks all the boxes. I anticipate the scrutiny, it comes with the game … take it slow, as long as you stay true to your core values and the things that got you where you are … don’t forget those things.” With the new flower line dropping, we mentioned that Lynch might have to tell some of the A-list rappers he’s been collaborating with like Berner from Cookies, Wiz Khalifa, and Quavo from Migos that he’s keeping the new family jewels. Lynch laughed at the sentiment, but didn’t deny it. Lynch currently has a few major projects in the works, on top of three planned seed drops this year. The first is California’s Wine Country – where one of the farms Compound works with is hunting down new males to help Lynch freshen thing up. Solid studs are a critical part of any genetics company and plenty have been built off of one good male over the years. Lynch hopes to collect a few rockstars with the traits he’s wanting to carry on into future generations of heaters. Back in San Francisco, the pollen is flying right now. This includes some Zkittlez crosses sure to get the universe excited. Lynch also plans on tapping into the genetics he fell in love with during his adventures in Amsterdam. This effort will feature a variety of Cheese crosses to keep an eye out for. 2022 will also see the Compound show hit the road. While people are already growing Lynch’s gear in every legal market, the plan is to personally bring the Jokerz #31 into a few new states – the first two markets being Florida and Michigan. COMPOUND-GENETICS.COM @COMPOUND_GENETICS

STORY by JIMI DEVINE @THEJIMIDEVINE for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by MIKE ROSATI @ROSATIPHOTOS

THE STRAINS ISSUE

GSC A balanced hybrid boasting a long-lasting high, GSC, formerly known as Girl Scout Cookies, is parent to a wide swath of popular pot strains. The unique flavors of vanilla and mint cookie dough, plus a light lavender scent, are passed onto the offspring resulting in many beloved crosses.

GELATO Gelato #33 a.k.a. Larry Bird, is a Bay Area Cookies/Sherbinski staple named for its sweet and creamy scent and flavor. This strain is relaxing yet uplifting, and those effects along with the bright orange hairs and unique frosty purple tint make it perfect for breeding new berry-flavored varieties with euphoric qualities.

L INE AGE / OG KUSH X DURBAN POISON F 1 DOMINANT TE RPE NE S / CARYOPHYL L E NE , MYRCE NE , LI MO N EN E PARE NT OF / SHE RBE RT, GMO COOKIE S, ORANGE COO K I ES , D O - S I - D O S , B I RT H DAY CAK E, O R EO Z, GRE ASE MONKE Y, THIN MINT COOKIE S, PL ATINUM COO K I ES

L I N E A G E / S U N S E T S HERBET X THI N M I NT C OOKIES D O M I N A N T T E R P E N E S / C A RYOP HYLLENE, LIM ONENE, HUM ULENE PA R E N T O F / R U N T Z , BISC OTTI

ZKITTLEZ

MODERN BREEDING STRAINS

Bred by 3rd Gen Family, Zkittlez burst onto the scene with a tropical punch of lemon, grapefruit and ice-creamesque bouquet. Anecdotal evidence shows the indica-dominant effects help treat PTSD and depression. As a forerunner of the Runtz line, Zkittlez’ legacy as a wellspring of wonderful weed is undoubted. LI N EAG E / ( G R APEFR U I T X G R APE APE) X MY S T ERY MALE D O MI N AN T T ER PEN ES / CARY O PH Y LLEN E, LI N ALO O L, H U MU LEN E PAR EN T O F / R U N T Z, W H I T E R U N T Z, MELO N AD E

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Cannabis breeding started thousands of years ago in Central Asia when seeds from the best plants were chosen every harvest year after year. The resulting plants spread throughout the world via human migration and eventually acclimated to different altitudes and environments. These became the original landrace Afghan, Indian, Southeast Asian, African and South American varieties used for flower and hash production over millennia.

IN THE U.S., crackdowns on imports of marijuana spurred aspiring farmers back home to plant their own seeds. Hippie travelers collected magic heirloom beans to bring home and used those plants, as well as various bagseeds, to create the original building blocks of the modern Cannabis gene pool including Skunk, Northern Lights and Haze. Further law enforcement operations forced a few enterprising bud breeders to the relative safety of Amsterdam, where the first seed companies were born in the 1980s using just a few distinct bedrock strains to create the hybrids that fueled the indoor growing revolution. The descendants of those strains became the building blocks of our present day poly-hybrids, but an ever-more-sophisticated clientele of connoisseurs, aficionados and medical patients demanded new and improved terpene profiles, flavor palates and potency levels. These days, a new breed of genetic material is being utilized to create flavorful strains for discerning palates and a marketplace constantly chasing the new heat. Whether gassy or fruity, the breeders of today are taking things to the extreme – making new and improved varieties using the following modern breeding strains.

MAR. 2022

DO-SI-DOS This amazing indica-leaning strain from Archive Seed Bank has a calming effect and provides pain relief for people with migraines and nausea. Cannabis expert TH Caeczar describes the singular scent as “freshly baked lemon curd and mint pastry aroma with shortbread cookie undertones.” Do-Si-Dos and her descendents tend to pair well with a couch or bed. L INE AGE / OGKB CUT OF GSC X FACE OF F OG BX1 DOMINANT TE RPE NE S / L IMONE NE , CARYOPHYL L E NE , LI N ALO O L PARE NT OF / DOL ATO, PE ANUT BUTTE R BRE ATH, DOSI S H ER B ET, W H OA- S I - W H OAS

GG4 Bred by the late great Josie Wales of GG Strains, the awardwinning GG4 (formerly known as Gorilla Glue #4) tests at an astonishing 30% THC! The earthy and piney buds announce themselves with a pungent and tangy smell that fills the entire room. A few puffs of these greasy nuggets is perfect for light sleepers and insomniacs seeking a full night’s sleep. L INE AGE / ( SOUR DU B B X CH EM S I S ) X CH O CO LAT E D I ES EL DOMINANT TE RPE NE S / CARY O PH Y LLEN E, MY R CEN E, LI MO N EN E PARE NT OF / ZOOKIE S , G R EAS E MO N K EY

STORY by DAN VINKOVETSKY @DANNYDANKOHT/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by JUSTIN MCIVOR #JUSTINCANNABIS

PHOTO COURTESY ARCHIVE

FACE OFF OG Another Archive legend, this indica-dominant strain has been known to make beginner tokers dizzy, with a psychedelic power and a strong body buzz. The lime green nuggets sparkle like diamonds but it’s the unparalleled diesel fuel funk that make this such a prolific producer of prominent progeny.

LINEAGE / OG KUSH PHENO DO MI N A N T T E R P E N E S / M Y R C E N E , LIM ONENE, C A RYOP HYLLENE PA R E N T O F / D O - S I - D O S , A N I M A L M INTS, HELLRA I SER OG

WEDDING CAKE A powerhouse cross coming from the breeding wizards at Seed Junky Genetics, Wedding Cake a.k.a. Triangle Mints #23 or Pink Cookies, is an indica-dominant strain known for relaxation and appetite stimulation. A stunner when it emerged on the scene – so wildly popular it earned Leafly’s 2019 Strain of the Year – think movie marathons and well-stocked munchies when smoking on this tangy, creamy chronic. LI N EA G E / S E E D J U N K Y G E N E T I C S T RIA NGLE KUSH X A NI M A L M INTS D O MI N A N T T E R P E N E S / L I M O N E N E , M YRC ENE, C A RYOP HYLLENE PA R EN T O F / I C E C R E A M C A K E , W E D DI NG C RA SHER

TANGIE A multiple award-winner and breeding legend, Tangie from Crockett Family Farms tends to impart its citrus orange aroma and acidity on offspring. The effect tends to creep up on you but once it takes hold, Tangie supplies a blissful and euphoric impact. Sativa-dominant, with no ceiling to the buzz, you can keep smoking and continue getting higher. LINEAGE / SKUNK #1 X CALI ORANGE DO MI N A N T T E R P E N E S / M Y R C E N E , TERP INOLENE, P I NENE PA R E N T O F / T R O P I C A N A C O O K I E S , FORBIDDEN FRUIT, P U TA NG

CHERRY PIE Another award-winning Cookie Family hybrid strain, Cherry Pie made its name in the Bay Area with an earthy-yet-sweet berry scent and flavor. The effect is uplifting and giggly, perfect for a day in the park with friends or a night out at a comedy club. Several noteworthy varieties inherited their strong genetics from this stalwart species. LINEA GE / GRA NDA DDY P URP L E X DURBAN POISON F 1 DOM INA NT TERP ENES / MYRCENE, CARYOPHYLLENE, PINENE PA RENT OF / FORBIDDEN FRUIT, BIRTHDAY CAKE, ANIMAL CAKE

THE STRAINS ISSUE

feature

HU MBOLDT SEED COMPANY

leafmagazines.com

Genetically Gifted If you don’t think fish and Cannabis share something in common, you haven’t met Nathaniel Pennington. Possessing an expertise seemingly perfectly suited for the wilds of Humboldt County, Pennington says his past career as a fisheries biologist is not at odds with his current role as the founder and CEO of Humboldt Seed Company.

Damian Marley’s new Cannabis brand, Evidence, purchased the site of an abandoned prison in Coalinga, California for their latest Cannabis grow — and filled it with 30,000 Humboldt Seed Company seedlings, yielding a productive harvest in Summer 2021.

MAR. 2022

“It's funny,” he observes, “because it makes perfect sense to everybody in Humboldt. There's this community that’s evolved here which is all about caring for the environment and for our ecosystems, and Cannabis was never, ever at odds with that. In fact, they went hand in hand.” But for outsiders, some may wonder how a fish-focused researcher became a leading provider of world-class Cannabis genetics, helped turn a prison into a legal grow site alongside reggae star Damien Marley, and still manages to devote plenty of focus to the local watersheds and environment that make Northern California a little slice of heaven on earth.

As a conservationist, Pennington was part of a successful effort to have endangered species protections put in place for salmon in Humboldt. Additionally, he was also heavily involved in a 2006 Klamath River dam removal deal – believed to be the world’s largest river restoration project to date. Though Pennington still holds several Board of Directors roles tied to his work with fish, by 2017 the impending enactment of California’s Prop 64 had inspired him to press the gas pedal on a Cannabis-focused venture he’d first sown the seeds for back in 2001. Struck by the idea that genomics – integral to his studies of salmon – would also be of major importance to Cannabis (especially in a legalized world), in 2001 Pennington headed down to Humboldt County’s courthouse and asked a clerk if there was any business registered as Humboldt Seed Company already. “They looked at the state record,” he says, “and there wasn't anything under that name, so I started one. It was like, ‘I'm growing seeds, but don't worry about which ones.’ You had to walk a fine line.” It was a line that became much easier to walk in the wake of California’s choice to legalize adult-use Cannabis sales in 2016. The following year, Pennington and his team began to plan for a pheno hunt of unprecedented scale. Based on advice from geneticists at UC Davis, Humboldt Seed Company was told that an ideal database on Cannabis genetics would include at least 10,000 plants from a diverse array of lineages. Part of Pennington’s motivation for this project was to create a sharable database of phenotypic information at a time when most Cannabis had become, in his words, akin to a mutt. “At this point, in Cannabis, there's almost no such thing as purebred,” he says. “If you were to compare it to dog breeding, everything in Cannabis is a mutt now. The difference is that you can't clone a dog, but you can clone Cannabis – so it doesn't matter as much if everything is genetically variable and mixed up. But to do actual breeding and to conduct breeding experiments that are repeatable, you need to be able to use more purebred lines.” To accomplish this monumental task, in 2018 Humboldt Seed Company found farms willing to collaborate with them – mostly in the Emerald Triangle, but also in Central California as well. In total, 10 farms participated on different levels, with six or seven cultivating hundreds – and in a few cases, thousands – of plants as part of the effort.

“We planted 10,000 plants throughout farms all over Central and Northern California,” Pennington recalls. “And then we curated a tour with a diverse group of industry professionals and Cannabis enthusiasts. We handed them all data sheets and iPads and everybody just walked around the fields. We did a fourday weekend and covered 6,000 of the 10,000 plants.” These annual pheno hunt tours have become a staple for Humboldt Seed Company, though Pennington acknowledges that things have been scaled back for the last two years due to pandemic concerns. Nonetheless, four years in, the results still yield some incredible surprises. For example: mint terpenes. “For 20 years,” Pennington says, “I didn't think Cannabis could smell like peppermint, but we recently got some seeds that had mint terpenes and it just shocked me.” Naturally, Pennington’s respect for the plants and animals of Humboldt also extends to the indig“An old prison that used to incarcerate people enous populations who have resided in who had grown, possessed or sold Cannabis the area since long is now the location for a massive grow. And before that name was they had a ton of success! The grow was just given to the region. unbelievably productive. If anything, they To that end, Humboldt Seed Company were like, ‘Holy shit. We don’t know if we’re has co-founded ready to process this much weed!’” the Nature Rights Nathaniel Pennington | Humboldt Seed Company Council (NRC): a Founder & CEO nonprofit led by members of local indigenous communities. Featured in the recent “An old prison that used to incarcerate documentary “Gather,” Pennington says he people who had grown, possessed or sold appreciates the extra attention the NRC has Cannabis is now the location for a massive enjoyed as a result of appearing in the film. grow,” he marvels. “And they had a ton of “They didn't exactly mention Humboldt success! The grow was just unbelievably Seed Company,” he laughs, “but we're not productive. If anything, they were like, 'Holy doing this to get mentioned. We're doing it shit. We don't know if we're ready to process to get the word out about Native American this much weed!'” culture and to get people talking about what It’s an exciting moment and one that we're going to lose if we just continue forging Pennington sees as even further proof that the ahead and not caring.” various spokes of his professional interests A similar sentiment inspired a recent effort are all undeniably connected. by Damian Marley’s new Cannabis brand, “Ultimately,” he says, “it’s about sowing Evidence, to buy an abandoned prison in the seeds of social justice however you can. Coalinga, Calif. and turn it into a grow Whether that means uplifting indigenous operation. Purchased for around $4 million, communities, protecting the land on which we Evidence co-founder Dan Dalton worked with all live, or working to reverse the pot-to-prison Humboldt Seed Company to secure 30,000 pipeline – it all comes from the same place.” seedlings, which were grown last summer. With part of the proceeds pledged to support the Last Prisoner Project, Pennington HUMBOLDTSEEDCOMPANY.COM describes the undertaking as one ripe with @THEHUMBOLDTSEEDCOMPANY irony – the good kind.

STORY by ZACK RUSKIN @ZACKRUSKIN for LEAF NATION | GARDEN PHOTOS by MIKE ROSATI @ROSATIPHOTOS | PRISON PHOTOS by KANDID KUSH @KANDIDKUSH

THIS PRODUCT HAS INTOXICATING EFFECTS AND MAY BE HABIT FORMING. MARIJUANA CAN IMPAIR CONCENTRATION, COORDINATION, AND JUDGMENT. DO NOT OPERATE A VEHICLE OR MACHINERY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THIS DRUG. THERE MAY BE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CONSUMPTION OF THIS PRODUCT. FOR USE ONLY BY ADULTS TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER. KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.

concentrates of the month

HERE COMES

THE SUN

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

SOLSTICE ZKITTLEZ X MARGY MINTS SINGLE SOURCE CARTRIDGE LEGENDARY MINTS HONEY CRYSTAL SPRING IS IN THE AIR and so are the terps wafting from Solstice’s tasty lineup, filling our lungs and spirits with energy. This month celebrates the return of the sun, or at least the light, as we say goodbye to daylight savings time and break free from our winter depression. Weed really is the best way to get through the dark, rainy hellscape that PNW residents endure in return for the glorious spring and summer. Getting through the season is definitely worth celebrating, and a switch from stoney, sedative strains to those with uplifting, euphoric qualities is a great way to do so. This is the beauty of being a modern stoner: We can choose our own adventure – and there happens to be no better company to start getting baked with than Solstice.

MAR. 2022

olstice became the first fully-licensed medical Cannabis producer in Seattle in 2011, where they’ve been curating craft Cannabis ever since for patients and the medical community. Known for unique strains and tasty flavors, we were stoked to try their fresh lineup of cartridges and concentrates to help power our springtime buzz. We started with the Legendary Mints honey crystal, which has a beautiful sappy consistency and a candy-coated, orangey-mint flavor. Stirring up a glob releases a deeper kushy undertone that balances the sweetness well, with the zing of mint present and leading our mouths to salivate in anticipation as we heated up a low-temp dab. First inhales rush into the lungs, coating the palate in a syrupycitrus with a hint of Kush Mints and exhaling with a whisper as the effects grip the chest in a euphoric hug. Immediately uplifting, within minutes our late afternoon doldrums were replaced with a stoney, happy high that relaxed mental strain and made our body feel a little lighter with each step. Energized and fully stoned, this strain had us longing for an outdoor adventure and ready to face the bipolar spring weather. Following our buzz, we went for a walk around the block at Leaf HQ in Georgetown, taking big puffs of vapor from the Zkittlez x Margy Mints. The Margy Mints is a cross of Kush Mints and Frozen Margy, which is known for calming effects and a fuelly flavor profile that brings diesel to the party with the Zkittlez (Grape Ape x Grapefruit) to create a powerful strain classifying as indica dominant, but feels more gleefully baked than couchlocked – perfect for on-the-go vaping. The vapor from this translucent golden oil is bright and light on the lungs, with a creamy citrus fuel that brightens senses and clears nostrils, exhaling with a kiss as refreshing as a sunbeam in Seattle. With the happy-go-lucky power of these two Mints strains, you’ll be skipping through rain or shine this spring with Solstice Grown concentrates.

SOLSTICEGROWN.COM @SOLSTICE_GROWN

REVIEW by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX/NORTHWEST LEAF | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

wellness spotlight

“The lineup of products from Edge 4 Athletes is a perfect addition to help ease the pain of working out.“

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

The sunshine is calling to us in the PNW … and with it a reminder that we’ve spent the last two years in a lockdowninduced haze that has likely been lacking in self care.

SOMETHING TO TAKE THE EDGE OFF BETWEEN the gyms closing and the general state of anxiety surrounding people and activities, it’s no surprise that Americans have become unhealthier and frustrated with life during the pandemic. These last two years have tested our ability to hunker down and survive, but the tapering of the Omicron wave and the allure of a summer of fun with friends and family is causing many of us to start thinking about our beach bodies again. If you’re like this writer who has suddenly found himself back in the gym and feeling it, the lineup of products from Edge 4 Athletes is a perfect addition to help ease the pain of working out. We like to have a little CBD every day, and the Orange 1000 CBD Oil has 1,000 mg of CBD and zero THC, with benefits that cover everything from anxiety about cough-

MAR. 2022

ing on the treadmill guy, to inflammation from a lifetime’s worth of working from home (google CBD benefits to find all the ways this cannabinoid can help). We chose to add this tincture to our morning orange juice or smoothie to help loosen up our day. Shaking off aches and pains is also easier with CBD and the mint pain salve was great either pre or post workout, rolling on for direct relief that is great for swelling. Of all these products, we enjoyed the body moisturizer the most, as it really served a purpose after winter had done its work on our skin. From dry hands to sore necks, this CBD moisturizer is fabulous on many areas of the body. This product would also be great before getting into the sun, and if you forget the sunscreen or burn easily, as

a post-sun exposure lotion that will re-energize the skin with the benefits of CBD. With a lineup of multiple wellness products including gummies, Edge 4 Athletes is a great way to incorporate CBD into your wellness routine and help as we all get back into the swing of a hopefully normal summer!

THEEDGE4.COM @EDGE4ATHLETES

REVIEW by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX/NORTHWEST LEAF | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

reviews

off the shelf

CANNASOL

CASHY’S HONEY

Clean Green-certified producer Cannasol’s Cashy’s Honey kief is a perfect way to add a little CBD into your smoking routine. CBD flower isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but getting a little CBD in you is never a bad thing. Drop a pinch of this Cashy’s Honey kief on your favorite flower to deliver your endocannabinoid system a special CBD surprise – along with a little boost of THC, too. A functional and balanced high makes Cashy’s Honey a versatile addition to any smoke. 15.9% THC | 19.8% CBD @cannasolfarms

BURNWELL

TANGIE

Known for its bright highs and sweet orange terpene profile, Tangie kief is a great way to add some lift and flavor to your bowls. Burnwell is a grower out of Pullman who prides himself on sustainable practices using light-assisted greenhouses and producing high quality flower at an accessible pricepoint. Their kief is some of the best on the market and the Tangie will turn that sad flower frown upside down – plus add a little turbo to your smoke. 38.6% THC | 0.41% CBD @burnwellco

KAI’DRO

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

HAWAIIAN DUTCH

Kai’dro has a variety of appropriately priced kief options and one of our favorites is the Hawaiian Dutch. Tossing a little of this kief in a joint produces a smiley and good-natured high that lingers in the best of ways. The Dutch Treat flavor comes through well and shakes up what might otherwise be a dull smoking experience. 27.3% THC @kaidro_olympia

KIEF TO THE RESCUE ONE OF the luxuries of an adult-use market is the diversity of choices. It’s fun to try new products and it seems like there are new items popping up with every trip to the pot shop. However, those new options aren’t always what you expected – and instead of a fresh jar of the new new, you’ve got a slowly degrading paperweight in your head stash. So, rather than let that flower go to waste, you can put some life and flavor back into it with a little sprinkle of magic dust called kief.

MAR. 2022

HAIL TO THE KIEF

KAYA’S KOFFEE

KIEF CONSISTS of sifted trichomes and generally has a sandy composition. Legendary hashmaker Frenchy Cannoli would be disappointed if I didn’t acknowledge the original Moroccan term “kif,” which was a chopped flower and tobacco mixture that goes way back. Today’s kief is more like what is left behind in the bottom of your grinder after multiple uses, but with higher quality and strain specific options. In short, kief is a wonderful and cost effective way to revive the flower that falls a little flat on its own.

Hail to the Kief is part of American Hash Makers line of solventless products and makes a great bowl topper. The Kaya’s Koffee strain, originally from Washington producer Pacific NW Roots, is just the thing to add an extra heavy punch to a bedtime bowl. A cross between Alien OG and Alien Kush, this strain brings some out-of-this-world cozy effects that are welcomed with wide open arms after a long day. 58.2% THC | CBD 0.2% @americanhashmakers

REVIEWS by ERIC SMITH @THE_HANDICAPS_LOCK for NORTHWEST LEAF | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

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10 slices | 5mg THC/slice

cooking with cannabis

Her-sTORIC EATS

BUTTERMILK MARBLE CAKE Baking spray 6 tablespoons butter, softened 3 tablespoons canna-butter, softened 1 1/2 cups sugar, plus 2 tablespoons 3 eggs, room temperature 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 3/4 cup buttermilk, room temperature 2 1/4 cups flour 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate 2 tablespoons melted butter, cooled 1 teaspoon vanilla

1. Heat oven to 340. Spray a 9-inch loaf pan, or butter and dust with flour. 2. In an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time and then mix on high speed for five minutes. Beat in the salt, vanilla, almond extract and baking powder. Add the flour, alternating with the milk, and ending with the flour. 3. In a microwave safe bowl, heat the chocolate in 10-second intervals until just melted. Add the remaining sugar and two tablespoons of hot water. Stir. Add one cup of the batter and stir until combined. 4. Pour the vanilla batter into the loaf pan. Top the vanilla batter with the chocolate batter. Drag a knife through the batter, distributing the chocolate throughout the pan. 5. Bake the cake for 60-70 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool before removing from the pan.

Serves 4 | 5mg THC/serving

SASSY SPRING ASPARAGUS SALAD

1 pound asparagus, rinsed, patted dry and trimmed 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced Zest of 1/2 a fresh lemon, thin strips 2 tablespoons good quality olive oil 4 teaspoons Cannabis infused oil Juice of 1 lemon 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar Salt and pepper to taste

1. Using a vegetable peeler, shave the asparagus into long thin strips. Place the asparagus in a serving bowl with the sliced onion and lemon zest. 2. In a small bowl, whisk together the oils, lemon juice, vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. 3. At serving time, pour the dressing into the serving bowl and toss to combine.

LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

R EC I P E S b y LAU RIE WOLF P HOTO b y B RUC E WOLF THIS WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH seems more weighted than others. There’s quite a bit at stake here. Since food is my bailiwick, I have chosen recipes from three women chefs who have created change politically, socially and culturally. I don’t have a clue if any of these women enjoyed Cannabis … I am using my take on their recipes to make a dish hopefully worthy of their immeasurable talents.

I have actually had the pleasure of meeting all of them and Edna Lewis – the first Black woman to write a Southern cookbook using her own identity – was the caterer at my wedding. The recipe for her marble cake, which I had the opportunity to eat by her own hand, inspired this recipe. The raw shaved asparagus salad from Alice Waters is a dish I have been making for years. We have her to thank for the “farm to table” movement in this country. Through her wisdom, we were able to understand the

MAR. 2022

importance of eating seasonally and locally. Waters was not alone in this movement, but she has certainly had the greatest impact in my cooking world. I met Julia Child briefly, many years ago. She was instrumental in bringing French cuisine to America and she had a relaxed, fun style that made people feel comfortable in the kitchen. My dad didn’t cook much, but he learned to make her vichyssoise (usually served cold) and that got him a reputation in the neighborhood. He achieved other reputations, but no one wants to know – trust me. I infused these recipes with Cannabis I grew this past summer. Woman grown, the strain is J1 – a clone from a close friend who has sadly left the world of weed. Not the world, just the business … not necessarily a bad idea.

Serves 4 | 5mg THC/serving

VICHYSSOISE (POTATO LEEK SOUP) 1 1/2 tablespoons butter 4 teaspoons infused oil or butter 1 1/2 cups peeled, sliced russet potatoes 1 1/2 cups sliced leeks, well rinsed, white part only 1 quart chicken stock, vegetable stock is also fine 1/3 cup heavy cream Salt and pepper Sliced scallion or chives for garnish

1. In a medium soup pot, melt the butters. 2. Add the potatoes and leeks to the pot, stir and allow to cook gently, covered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. 3. Add the stock of your choice, along with heavy cream and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer uncovered until the vegetables are tender, 15-20 minutes. If the potatoes are hard, simmer gently for an additional few minutes. 4. Carefully pour half the contents into a blender and puree until smooth. Really smooth. Pour into the soup pot and blend the remaining half of the soup. Return to the soup pot. 5. If the soup is to be served cold, allow it to cool at room temperature and chill in the fridge overnight. If serving hot, heat through and serve garnished with scallions or chives.

#gi r l po w e r #w o m enrule #bebold #just w omen #bet onw omen #R BG #ha p p y womensd a y | La uriea nd Ma ryJa ne.com

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cannthropology

WORLD OF Cannabis PRESENTS

The Original

44 5 8

King of Cannabis

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Presenting the seedy saga of Nevil Schoenmakers— one of the most courageous, controversial and consequential Cannabis breeders in history. BORN TO BREED Born to Dutch parents in Perth, Australia on February 2, 1957, Nevil Martin Schoenmakers was a rebellious youth with a passion for biology and genetics – breeding parakeets as early as eight years old. He began smoking weed in high school and after graduating, started working in a university biology lab. There, he gained access to harder drugs – including morphine, to which he soon developed an addiction. After getting busted on drug charges, Schoenmakers first fled to Thailand, then on to live with an uncle in the Netherlands in 1976. It was there, while using Cannabis to help kick his heroin habit, that he discovered a copy of the legendary “Marijuana Growers Guide” (by Mel Frank and Ed Rosenthal) and was inspired to grow pot professionally. In 1980, he was approved for a business loan from the Dutch government designed to help recovering addicts, then used the money to set up a small commercial grow and started selling marijuana to the Dutch market. Only problem was, the strains he was growing – mostly from Nigerian, Colombian and Mexican seeds – weren’t very popular. So in 1983, he made the fateful decision to switch from selling weed to selling seeds and founded The Seed Bank of Holland.

MAR. 2022

In this never-before-published photo taken in 1985 near the Russian border in Hungary, Nevil first discovers the legendary “roadside ruderalis” plant he would later breed with other strains to shorten their flowering times.

THE SEED BANK OF HOLLAND In July 1984, Schoenmakers released the seed bank’s first “catalog” – a one-page listing of seed varieties offered for just 25 cents apiece. The following year, he took out a small classified ad in the back of High Times magazine where he offered American growers an opportunity to order the catalog for two dollars. Since he was only advertising the catalog rather than the seeds themselves, the ad didn’t violate any laws. For his business to be really successful, though, Nevil knew he needed to get his hands on better genetics. As fate would have it, some of the best Cannabis strains in the world were about to fall into his lap. In the summer of

1984, legendary Santa Cruz breeder “Skunkman Sam” Selgnij of Sacred Seeds traveled to Amsterdam, bringing with him over a quarter-million seeds of California’s best genetics, including Skunk #1, Cali Orange, Hindu Kush and Original Haze. Schoenmakers allegedly purchased half of Skunkman’s varieties, as well as a few other popular strains from West Coast growers (such as Northern Lights, Afghan #1 and Durban Poison). He also acquired a few landrace strains while adventuring in Asia, including the rare ruderalis species. It was from this dank, diverse gene pool – as well as his brilliant and ballsy entrepreneurial acumen – that Nevil would build his seed empire.

WORLD OF CANNABIS

Though a few other Dutch seed companies were operating at the time, none were brazen enough to mail seeds to America for cash and then brag about it in the pages of High Times.

The back of the 1987 Seed Bank of Holland catalog, featuring the infamous photo of Nevil in a room full of hashish—the same image later used on his wanted poster.

In September 1984, Schoenmakers purchased an old 18th century estate in the Dutch countryside, which he christened the “Cannabis Castle,” then proceeded to transform the property into a veritable seed factory – erecting greenhouses on the land and filling the catacombs beneath the mansion with grow rooms. By 1986 he was running display ads in both High Times and Sinsemilla Tips, offering the catalog for free and the seeds for $5 each. Soon, the Seed Bank was distributing hundreds of thousands of seeds globally and raking in millions of dollars a year. Nevil’s operation was so impressive that it drew the attention of High Times editor Steve Hager, who paid him a visit in 1986. In the now-infamous interview “Inside Cannabis Castle: The Man Who Would be King of Cannabis” (High Times, March 1987), Schoenmakers openly discussed his life, location and operations. Though a few other Dutch seed companies were operating at the time, none were brazen enough to mail seeds to America for cash and then brag about it in the pages of High Times. OPERATION GREEN MERCHANT Unfortunately, growers weren’t the only ones reading High Times and Sinsemilla Tips – it was no secret that the DEA were among the mags’ biggest subscribers. Seeing the numerous ads for growing equipment and Cannabis seeds in their pages, the Feds decided to build a case for criminal conspiracy between the pot publications, their advertisers and their customers. They started purchasing seeds from Nevil when his first ads ran in 1985; two years later, they launched the official investigation known as Operation Green Merchant.

In our November 2021 GREEN HOUSE & MR. NICE edition (“Sinsemilla Story”), we Though he’d escaped extradirecounted how OGM raided tion and prosecution, Nevil’s Sinsemilla Tips and dozens of days of shipping seeds to the horticulture shops across the U.S. were over and he was still country on “Black Thursday” under scrutiny by Interpol, so he in October 1989, but that was knew he needed to keep a lowonly half the story – the other er profile. Which is likely why, half of the investigation was during his stint in the Australian High Times news article about Nevil centered on shutting down the jail, he negotiated a deal to sell skipping bail (Nov. 1991). Holland Seed Bank. Luckily for his entire operation – the HolNevil, the Netherlands wouldn’t land Seed Bank and Cannabis extradite him for something that wasn’t considered Castle – to Ben Dronkers, who then merged it with a crime there. But in 1990, when he returned to his Sensi Seed Club to form the Sensi Seed Bank. Perth for the birth of his son, the authorities were Despite selling his business, Nevil kept on breedwaiting: On June 24, Australian police arrested ing – at first, working for the very company he used Schoenmakers on behalf of the to own. Then in 1994, he and fellow Aussie breedU.S. Government. Then, on July er Scott Blakey (aka Shantibaba) co-founded the 13, the Justice Department handed Green House Seed Company with Green House down a 44-count indictment with coffeeshop owner Arjan Roskam. Together, they potential for multiple life sentencdeveloped several Cannabis Cup-winning strains, es – charging him with the sale of including White Widow, Super Silver Haze, White marijuana seeds, as well as criminal Rhino, and his signature strain, Nevil’s Haze. But conspiracy to violate the Controlled as the decade drew to a close, a change in Dutch Substances Act. law outlawing the production of seeds – as well as Schoenmakers spent the next 11 conflicts of interest and egos – led Shantibaba and months in an Australian prison while Schoenmakers to sever ties with Arjan. his lawyers appealed his extradition After leaving the Greenhouse, the pair connect… until June 1991, when he was ed with infamous smuggler Howard Marks (a.k.a. unexpectedly granted bail, paid the Mr. Nice) to form Mr. Nice Seed Bank. Soon after, $100,000 and skipped town to the Shantibaba moved his operation to Switzerland safety of the Netherlands. while Nevil remained in the Netherlands, continuing his work under the radar and out of the spotlight. SEEDS OF BETRAYAL Of the 42 customers listed in Schoenmakers’ LONG LIVE THE KING indictment, only five were undercover agents … Around 2003, Schoenmakso how did the DEA get ahold of the names and er learned that the Justice addresses of the rest? Unfortunately, based on Department had dropped its rumors that have never been substantiated, Nevil case. With no more outstandaccused Skunkman Sam of being an undercover ing warrants against him, he DEA agent. But as it turned out, the snitch was acwas finally free to travel again. tually Nevil’s friend and business partner, Raymond He returned home to AustraAnthony Cogo. lia, where he settled in New Ray Cogo worked as one of the Seed Bank’s South Wales, dropped out of U.S. distributors from February 1988 until June the Cannabis scene entirely, and lived for over a 1989 – receiving bulk shipments of seeds from decade in relative seclusion. He resurfaced briefly in Nevil in Michigan, then mailing individual orders 2015 when it was announced that he’d joined the out to customers hidden inside soup cans. In a board of an Australian medical Cannabis compasworn affidavit to the DEA that didn’t surface until ny called AusCann. Sadly though, his Cannabis 2018, Cogo admits that despite Nevil’s explicit comeback would be short-lived: Two years after instructions to destroy all customer information being diagnosed with cancer, Nevil passed away on after shipping the orders, he nevertheless kept it March 30, 2019, at the age of 62. all. So when he got busted attempting to sneak Many of those who’ve worked with Schoenmakers hash to a friend in prison, Cogo cut a deal to over the years speak unfavorably of his character, save his own ass – turning over an alleged 360 and perhaps justifiably so. But opinions about his pages of the Seed Bank’s customer information personality aside, there’s no denying the tremento the DEA in June 1989. Four months later dous worldwide impact he had on Cannabis cultivacame Black Thursday, then the warrant for Nevils’ tion. Without Nevil and his Holland Seed Bank, arrest the following year. many of the strains we enjoy today might not exist. STO RY b y B O B BY B LAC K @ CAN N T H RO PO LO G Y fo r LEA F NAT IO N | M AI N P HOTO b y STEV E N CU RT I S

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WHEN VENOM IS COURSING THROUGH YOUR EMBROILED VEINS, it feels good to let out an exultant FUCK. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find any single word in the English language so versatile. Call us unrefined, but when you have such an effective expression – so interchangeable simply by the tone and cadence with which it is spit – why reach into that bag of expletives for anything else? With fuck as the signature example, swear words can be some of the most impactful of all expressions – the exemplary embodiment of absolute emotion. They are the sprinkles to your sentences. The punctuation to your pronouns. The gravy on your mashed potatoes. And when you study how we might’ve arrived at this era of artful articulation, it seems plausible that this breakthrough gained momentum when the 1940’s war children came of age a decade later. After having their mouths washed out with soap enough times in the cookie cutter order of row housing, they grew weary of the conservative austerity it took to defeat the Nazis, ready to adopt their rock and roll identity – ripe for a cultural rebellion. And rightfully accentuated by bad words in back alleys with cuffed jeans and cigarette-fueled observations. If you think about it, language is a peculiar vehicle for communicating. And since the advent of our grunts toward a more competent connection, shunned words have had a place on the periphery of the dictionary. And when it comes to the word fuck: Why would you insulate the most foolproof remark that pinpoints your fiery feelings, when it specifically flavors your fervor? Doesn’t it feel liberating to let it out… Just like a giant, breathy bong toke.

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CANNTHROPOLOGY

KIEF OFF THE SHELF

HER-STORIC RECIPES

WELLNESS PRODUCTS

HYPE AND HEAT

CONCENTRATE OTM

BREEDING STRAINS

PHENO HUNTING

RAY BAMA / RUNTZ

STRAINS 101

DUKE DIAMOND

NATIONAL NEWS

STRAIN OF THE MONTH

MZJILL GENETICS

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