May 2023 - Northwest Leaf

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These products have intoxicating e ects 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.

This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Cannabis 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 the reach of children.

ESTABLISHED 2010 THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE NORTHWEST LEAF

/

LEAF /

Thanks for picking up The Fun Issue of the Leaf!

Over the last 14 years of publishing Cannabis magazines I’ve had a lot of fun moments, from throwing major parties like our Leaf Bowls with free tickets to smoke and revel in the best of Cannabis, to the early days of High Times Cannabis Cups and hot dabs in parking lots from Denver to Seattle. But as I look back on my personal history with weed, it occurs to me that most of the fun I’ve had with Cannabis was when it was illegal.

WES ABNEY CEO & FOUNDER wes@leafmagazines.com

MIKE RICKER OPERATING PARTNER ricker@leafmagazines.com | advertising sales

TOM BOWERS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER tom@leafmagazines.com

DANIEL BERMAN CREATIVE DIRECTOR daniel@leafmagazines.com

KATHERINE WOLF CONTENT DIRECTOR kat@leafmagazines.com

MEGHAN RIDLEY COPY EDITOR meghan@leafmagazines.com

ASHLEY HIRCHERT SOCIAL MEDIA LEAD ashley@leafmagazines.com

ILLUSTRATION

BY JOSHUA BOULET JOSHUABOULET.COM | @JOSHUABOULET

CONTRIBUTORS

WES ABNEY, FEATURES ATTABOY, ILLUSTRATION

DANIEL BERMAN, PHOTOS BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES

JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION

BORO PHOTOGRAPHER, PHOTOS

TOM BOWERS, FEATURES

HEATHER BOWLING, PHOTOS

CARLI CHRISTINA ART, ILLUSTRATION

AMANDA DAY, FEATURES

EARLY, PRODUCTION

STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS MATT JACKSON, FEATURES

JON KRAUSE, ILLUSTRATION

JESSE RAMIREZ, DESIGN MIKE RICKER, FEATURES

MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING TERPENE TRANSIT, DISTRIBUTION

DAN VINKOVETSKY, FEATURES

JERRY WHITING, EMERITUS CONTRIBUTOR

NATE WILLIAMS, FEATURES

BRUCE & LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES KATHERINE WOLF, FEATURES

Now don’t get me wrong – as someone who was arrested and charged for a single gram of weed in college, and harassed by cops and security for smoking many times – I don’t wish to go back into the dark ages. However there was something magical about getting a bag of weed, plotting a time and place to get high, and linking up in the woods to smoke mids that always brought laughter and friendship.

In the early medical days this feeling of fun was amplified. Farmer’s markets proliferated on the West Coast and patients had access to an unimaginable variety of strains, edibles, topicals, and later concentrates. Walking into a medical dispensary felt like winning the Golden Ticket to Willy Wonka’s Factory – where every month there were new strains or techniques making the plant better and helping to heal the patients needing relief. I would characterize the vibe of medical Cannabis as a hippie-rebel-healer movement that was unabashedly fun, helping others with a middle finger to the government and a lawyer on speed dial.

CONNECT WITH NORTHWEST LEAF!

“DO WE REALLY NEED TO TRACK EVERY PLANT AND EVERY GRAM OF WEED AT RISK OF PENALTY OR LOSING A LICENSE...”

Fast forward to the recreational phase of Cannabis that we are in now, and things have certainly become less fun for those on the industry side of the plant. With ridiculous tax structures and regulatory burdens, the industry is smothered in hoops to jump through that are largely meaningless. Do we really need to track every plant and every gram of weed at risk of penalty or losing a license, when beer companies can give away as much booze as they want? Today’s weed industry lacks the component that made it fun: the weed itself! But instead of smoking and celebrating as a community, most operators are struggling – which combined with the high turnover of the industry, has led to a very temporary and scary feeling inside the weed community.

It’s with that understanding that we decided to have our first ever Fun Issue, with the goal of highlighting how weed improves every aspect of life. We need to recapture the reverence of decades past for the freedoms we have now … as well as for the huge variety of options we have to consume the plant! There is no better time to be a Cannabis user or patient than now, and I believe that calls for a round of fun that doesn’t lead to a hangover.

So my challenge to our audience is to take a moment before your next sesh or joint and meditate on what it was like to wait for a dealer to show up, and the feeling of ecstasy that came with the first spark and inhale when it was finally safe to smoke. Focus on the moment as you inhale, and on how the smoke or vapor is going to make your day better, get rid of pain and help carry you through whatever challenges you might be facing. I hope you enjoy The Fun Issue of the Leaf and take a moment soon to reconnect with the plant we all share and love.

-Wes Abney

ABOUT THE COVER

BIPARTISAN BILL TO PREPARE US FOR LEGALIZATION REINTRODUCED

TEXAS HOUSE EXPANDS LIST OF CONDITIONS

AMERICANS SPEND MORE ON MARIJUANA THAN CHOCOLATE

U.S.

Democrat and Republican lawmakers have reintroduced a bill to prepare for the legalization of adult-use Cannabis at the federal level.

House Representative Dave Joyce and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries in April introduced the Preparing Regulators Effectively for a Post-Prohibition Adult Use Regulated Environment (PREPARE) Act.

The goal of the PREPARE Act is to bring together a diverse group of experts to collaborate on Cannabis reform. It would provide lawmakers with the information needed to establish a comprehensive federal regulatory system. Despite more than 21 states legalizing adult-use Cannabis, it remains illegal at the federal level via its continued classification as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act.

A BILL approved by the Texas House in April would expand the list of conditions that qualify for the state’s medical marijuana program.

House Bill 1805 passed the House and now heads to the Senate. The bipartisan legislation would expand the state’s 2015 Compassionate Use Law.

That law allows physicians to prescribe low-THC Cannabis to treat symptoms of epilepsy, cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder, among other conditions. The new bill would allow doctors to prescribe up to 10 milligrams of Cannabis for chronic pain cases that might normally warrant an opioid prescription.

Americans now spend more on legal marijuana products than they do on chocolate. The USA reached this milestone as a nation last year, according to MJBizDaily.

United States residents spent about $30 billion on legal Cannabis in 2022. That compares with roughly $20 billion spent on chocolate. Almost two-dozen states now allow sales of weed for adult use, with 19 more states allowing Cannabis for medicinal use. Americans also spent more on marijuana than they did on opioid medications ($22.8 billion) and topical pain medications ($2.8 billion) combined. However, legal weed sales are still dwarfed by sales of tobacco products. In 2022, tobacco sales totaled about $53 billion – but those sales are steadily dropping, whereas Cannabis sales are rising. By 2028, according to MJBizDaily, sales of legal weed could reach $57 billion.

states in the U.S. have legalized Cannabis for use by those at least 21 years or older.

21 months in jail is possible in Kansas with prior marijuana convictions.

42

46%

percent of Americans say they have used marijuana, according to the latest longstanding survey from Pew Research Center.

88%

percent of Americans say Cannabis should be legal for adult or medical use, according to the same PRC survey.

20,000

people were arrested in 2021 for Cannabis possession in Texas, which may reduce the penalty for possession of Cannabis and Cannabis concentrates.

55,000

patients have enrolled so far in Virginia’s medical marijuana program. The state’s first medical marijuana dispensaries opened up more than two years ago.

STORIES by STEVE ELLIOTT | THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA

EXCLUSIVE CULTIVARS FROM CALIFORNIA’S CANNABIS CAPITAL

SEEDS: FEMINIZED, REGULAR, AUTOFLOWER, PHOTOPERIOD THC AND CBD

CLONES:

ONLINE

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BISCOTTI X JEALOUSY X SHERB BX1

CALEB BUNCE

NORTHWEST LEAF BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH

This month we’re chatting with Caleb Bunce of Elwha Peaks Cannabis out in Port Angeles, getting to the bottom of how he has fun – both in and out of the pot shop. You can keep up with Caleb at @washingtoncannabunce and check out what’s up at Elwha at @elwhapeakscannabis!

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A BUDTENDER AND WHAT DO YOU FIND FUN ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?

I’ve been a budtender for about three years now – two years in Oklahoma and a year here in Washington! I wanted to be a budtender because I was living in a medical-only state at the time, and I found other budtenders were lacking in knowledge. I took it upon myself to learn as much as I possibly could, so I could spread the knowledge I felt necessary.

WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO WAY TO CONSUME? I’m huge into vaporization – I’ve had a Volcano vaporizer for almost a decade now and I don’t see myself ever going back honestly. I also love to dab, rosin specifically. I’m all about solventless concentrates!

DO YOU HAVE ANY BRANDS, PRODUCTS OR STRAINS YOU’RE REALLY ENJOYING ON YOUR SHELVES RIGHT NOW? Oh jeez, there are quite a few. A couple of staples at our shop are Desert Valley and Mz. A, which are both smaller farms with exceedingly high-quality flower. I’ve been really loving Desert Valley’s HypoThermia bud … it’s everything I look for in Cannabis. We also just got Legendary Laboratories flower in for the first time, and my mind is properly blown at the quality they are putting out.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ACTIVITY TO DO WHEN YOU’RE STONED OR HAVE A DAY OFF FROM THE SHOP? Honestly, I tend to just laze about at home on my days off and get as high as I can. I like to chill out and relax by watching videos online or playing video games – that kind of stuff.

WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE BUDTENDER? TELL US WHY! EMAIL NOMINATIONS TO RICKER@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM

“I’M HUGE INTO VAPORIZATION – I’VE HAD A VOLCANO VAPORIZER FOR ALMOST A DECADE NOW AND I DON’T SEE MYSELF EVER GOING BACK HONESTLY.”

THE GREEN NUGGET

Pullman

PROSPECTOR’S PARADISE

FLOWERS

WA Grower Green Crack – Cheyenne

Rocket Wedding Cake – Carlos

Cultivator Collections Cookies Kush – Sam

Joints

Agro Couture Diamond Stix

Super Lemon Haze – Cheyenne

1988 Infused Flavored Blunts – Sam

Seattle Marijuana Co. Mango Mimosa

Shatter J – Mercedes

CARTS

Passionflower Blueberry Muffin – Cheyenne

NUGGETS OF JOY

Kermit the Frog had it all wrong because it is easy being green! These guys have been super-serving the Spokane market since opening the first shop in 2015 and have been off to the races ever since, now with this second little gem to add to the family in the proud city of Pullman. “It just goes to show that if you provide a diverse and exclusive experience, loyalty becomes the foundation for growth,” says Marketing Director Martina Graves. “And that includes our online ordering platform!”

GREEN AND GREEN

In this Pullman store, the college stoners may be on a budget … but they still know good weed. So, what do you do? You provide quality Cannabis at an affordable price – duh. And having the buying power of two legendary stores allows a shop to build lasting relationships with its vendors, which almost always equates to fun discounts and new, interesting strains to choose from. Hey, the proof is in the name – they are not known as THE Green Nugget for nothing.

IT’S ALL ABOUT FUN

The store manager at this crackin’ shop sums it all up in one poignant statement: “We’ve only been here a year, and are already known for our friendly, goofy, family-like atmosphere – it’s a real college-town vibe.” And with the exposed ceilings, cool concrete flooring and white subway tile wall, you know you’re in the land of the Crimson Cougars. It’s worth mentioning that cougars do have a great sense of smell … with these ones being especially attracted to the scent of terpenes.

RWWRARWWRR!

Farmer’s Market WA Apple Pie – Sam

DABS

Tasty Terps Tropical Zkittles – Tayla

Regulator Mount Up – Jackie

Farmer’s Market Blueberry Muffin OG – Sam

Tasty Terps Strawberry Poptarts – Carlos

EDIBLES

Hellavated Mango Dragon Gummies – Carlos

June’s BBQ Pretzels – Mercedes

Crystal Clear ATF Distillate – Jackie

daily specials

Vendor of the Week

25% off vendor products in stores daily

Military/Veteran Savings

15% Spokane, 20% Pullman, 25% Thursdays

Students

25% off purchase with student ID (Pullman only)

Birthday

20% off purchase on actual birthday (ID required)

THE GREEN NUGGET

1340 SE BISHOP BLVD. PULLMAN, WA

8:30AM-10PM | 509-334-9470

THEGREENNUGGET.COM | @THE_GREEN_NUGGET

THE GREEN NUGGET SPOKANE

322 E FRANCIS AVE. | (509) 309-2130

“We’ve only been here a year, and are already known for our friendly, goofy, family-like atmosphere – it’s a real college-town vibe.”

#picnicvibes

TOASTED & TASTY

Coming to the PNW from Denver, of course I knew of Cheba Hut – the “Colorado Classic” sandwich spot specializing in toasted subs for the toasted stoner. Thankfully, about a year ago, Cheba Hut made its way further west with its first location in Washington … right by the water in downtown Bellingham.

For the High Eats column in the Fun Issue, I figured nothing could be more fun than taking a little road trip up from Leaf HQ in Seattle to spend the day eating fire food and smoking on some even more fire rosin. I couldn’t make this plan happen without my trusty new Carta 2 from Focus V – a compact and convenient way to dab on the go (which I barely ever leave the house without).

I parked a couple of blocks away so I could take a stroll along the water and take a few puffs of my Carta to work up an appetite. Sure enough just a few minutes later, I arrived at the restaurant with a serious case of the munchies. I sat down at the bar and started with the Dirty Hippie – their signature drink made with vodka, lemonade and muddled fresh cucumbers.

Ultra light and refreshing, it transported me to the tropics with my toes in the sand – even though it was a day more appropriate for hitting the slopes at nearby Mt. Baker.

After a few sips, it was time to get to grubbing. Cheba Hut has an extensive menu with a little something for every stoner. Wanting to taste them all - and being so baked I was literally unable to make a decision - I chose one sandwich from each of the three categories.

First I went for the White Widow, which is a take on the classic chicken, bacon and ranch combo you mostly see on pizza. Loaded with mushrooms, topped with ooey-gooey melted cheese and drizzled with house-made ranch, I scarfed this one down in two minutes flat.

Next, I tried the AK-47 – similar to a French Dip with roast beef, mushroom, onion and a hefty serving of provolone cheese.

Tasting like a bowl of onion soup in between bread, the meat was so tender and the side of hot au jus dipping sauce was exactly what I needed to warm up. Finally, I wrapped up with the Griefo –made for veg-heads and layered with cream cheese, guacamole and a whole slew of veggies. The star of the show here was the cream cheese, which is so fluffy because it’s handmade with olive oil (and if you like spicy, try the jalapeno flavor). The veggie sub was the sleeper winner and my overall favorite … I just couldn’t get enough of the cream cheese and guac on Cheba Hut’s signature garlic herb bread.

There’s also a variety of savory and sweet munchies on the menu from pretzel nuggets to chocolate chip cookies, as well as “Cotton Mouth Cures” like Kool-Aid and Tractor Tea. Leaving with my hash-induced munchies more than satisfied, I decided to take the longer route back to my car.

After a few more Carta rips and admiring some of the murals and art installations throughout the streets of Bellingham, I was headed back to Leaf HQ after a truly toasty and tasty trip!

“Cheba Hut has an extensive menu with a little something for every stoner. Wantingto tastethemall-and being so baked I was literally unable to make a decision - I chose one sandwich from each of the three categories.”

AK-47

GRIEFO

DIRTY HIPPIE

WHITE WIDOW

Best Pre-Roll

Double Lemon Cheesecake

Best Light-Dep Flower

Black Prussian

Best Sungrown Flower

Bubblegum

Best CBD Flower (all grow types)

Gilda

Best Bubble Hash

Blackberry Kush

Best Sungrown Flower

Mendo Diesel

Best Exotic Fruit

Grape Durkle

Best Purps and Desserts

Runner Up Purple Trainwreck

WWW.CANNASOL.COM

WARNING

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.

For those who choose to stand out, be di erent, and create their own path

PEANUT BUTTER BREATH HASH ROSIN

We sure do love an ode to Seatown, so we were excited to finally get our hands on these PNW-themed jars of hash rosin by North Sound Solventless – a small-batch processor cranking out “water-made, high-grade” craft concentrates.

EXTRACTED BY NORTH SOUND SOLVENTLESS

Owner and operator Spencer does all the washing and pressing in house, and says his background in commercial fishing and love for the outdoors inspired the recent rebrand. Beyond an updated jar style and fresh full-wrap label design, North Sound has also rolled out its new tier system that offers something terpy for every taste and budget.

Tier 1 is reserved for more limited, ultra-premium “special terps” while Tier 2 is still premium, just with strains you’ll see more regularly on the menu. Tier 3 is an affordable line designed to be a great entry step into the wonderful world of solventless smoking.

This Peanut Butter Breath was part of the first Tier 1 batch to drop, consisting of “unique cultivars and extremely limited runs that really stand out above the rest.”

Grown by Green Lion Gardens, an indoor organic living soil farm up in Bellingham, we can confirm that she sure is a standout!

PBB is a beloved yet hard-to-come-by cross of Do-Si-Dos x Mendo Breath, originally bred by ThugPug Genetics out of Michigan. It has a piney, woodsy aroma with some skunk in there –like how we’d imagine it’d smell if you left your loud stash in your hiking bag over the weekend.

The taste comes through even earthier with a flavor like sweet soil, thanks to undertones of chocolate nuttiness and coffee grounds on the exhale.

With an ultra-mellow and cerebral high, this strain has quickly become a fixture in our afternoon rotation around Leaf HQ. You can find the latest terps from North Sound Solventless around Washington in Euphorium, Forbidden Cannabis Club, Evergreen Market, HypeHerbally, Fweedom Cannabis and more.

“The taste comes through even earthier with a flavor like sweet soil, thanks to undertones of chocolate nuttiness and coffee grounds on the exhale.”

PHOTOS BY: KARRIE LUCKE

Cormorant Blueberry & Lemon Sorbet

When we first heard about an infused sorbet hitting the market, our Leaf review team had an intense coin flip sesh to see who got the pleasure of writing the review.

Luckily for this writer, a fridge full of infused sorbet was waiting to be eaten and mixed into smoothies in a dessert-gonehealthy twist.

Sorbet is the yummy, fruity cousin of ice cream that’s versatile and storable – and in the case with Cormorant, heavily infused. Made by combining fruit purée and fruit juice with flavorful ingredients like blueberries and lemon, sorbet is a healthy treat that’s great any time of day. We blended a scoop into a smoothie, which added an icy-creamy-fruity blast with a THC kick.

Digging into the blueberry flavor delivers sweet, rich berries that melt into the mouth with a hint of dank infusion –reminding the palate that each bite is adding cannabinoids to the body. The lemon is creamy with a sweet, mouth-puckering flavor of tart lemon peels and a hint of vanilla. As the sorbet melts on the palate, repeated bites fill the body with a relaxed and happy high.

In the end, sweets should be enjoyed whenever the moment feels right … and with a great infusion and tasty flavors, the only screaming about Cormorant Sorbet will come from a stoney brain freeze.

While the saying might be to “scream for ice cream” – the newest infused dessert from Cormorant will have you sighing in delight with each delicious spoonful.

“An icy-creamyfruity blast with a THC kick.”

Expand your mind like Mario with a magic mushroom, head into the race in star mode, and slap Bowser with a green-shell snipe shot of Jack Black dankness from Fire Bros.

Jack Black is all the rage now and in case you’ve been living under a rock, just google the new Mario Bros. movie that’s heading to 1 billion in sales at the box office worldwide. One of our favorite actors, Black plays Bowser – a character this writer has always related to. But the best part of his acting is the variety of roles he’s played iconically, from Shallow Hal to Nacho Libre, which are effectively the different strains of Jack Black the human.

So, is Jack Black actually weed in human form?

Luckily for us, we can enjoy the actor’s lineup of movies and the new heat from Fire Bros. that has earned the iconic actor and rockstar’s namesake. The Fire Bros. team has been growing top shelf craft Cannabis for over 15 years, and they’ve continued to push quality and care for the plant in each jar of flower – which is why they’ve endured as a brand to become a true leader in Washington’s weed scene.

A heady cross between Black Domina, Jack Herer and Melonade/MAC, the plant produces thick and juicy nugs that fill out the distinctly metal-themed jars, holding the sweet terpenes that beg to be released like a screech from a guitar. Side note: Jack Black is also in Tenacious D, a rare combo of rockstar and actor. Blending both worlds – just like the strain which blends the heavy indica vibes from the Black Domina with the uplifting, cerebral sativa effects of the Jack Herer and the Melonade – for a stoney and euphoric flower worthy of a stage dive.

The bountiful buds are light lime green and completely frosted in thick trichomes, with individual ones sparkling like concert lights as the flower breaks up for a bowl – coating the fingertips in sticky terps, releasing waves of lemon cream and gassy haze with a hint of effervescent apples, pepper and citrus. First tokes are fresh and bright, like a hit of spring energy with a syrupy lemonade tingle that coats the palate with each clean hit.

Effects rush into the frontal lobes, releasing the head from the shoulders to float above happily in a cerebral euphoria that delivers real meaning to the term ‘high.’

As the mind drifts freely the body relaxes, unclenching from tension and loosening muscles in a chillaxed body buzz. Continued tokes maintain an amazing level of citrus-haze inhales, staying sweet from start to finish in a bowl or joint, slowly wrapping you in a swirl of joyful terps.

And just like Shallow Hal learned in his fateful movie, life and happiness are all about perception … and we love the mind-altering hilarity of Jack Black, strain and human.

"WAVES OF LEMON CREAM AND GASSY HAZE WITH A HINT OF EFFERVESCENT APPLES, PEPPER AND CITRUS."

ENHANCING THE EVERYDAY

Simply doing nothing is always a solid option when you’re stoned … but while we love a lazy day, this is the Fun Issue! There are so many activities that can be enhanced by Cannabis, helping you to get even more out of your high – whether you’re looking to get out on the town, get creative or get active – opportunities abound.

HANGING OUT FARMER’S MARKET

Fresh air and fire snacks? Count me in. My absolute favorite thing to do on a Sunday morning is roll up a joint, smoke on my walk to the market, and stock up on local goodies for the week. It’s a great way to get outside, meet people in your community and support small businesses.

CONCERT

Music just sounds better stoned … especially live music. Look up a local show, light up and get out on the dance floor! For added fun, try going to a show for an artist you don’t know or a genre you wouldn’t normally listen to. You just may find your new favorite band out there.

STAYING CREATIVE PUFF AND PAINT

Interested in getting really high at a guided painting class? These events are all the craze these days with classes popping up in cities nationwide. Perfect for a dank date night or group hang, using Cannabis allows you to get out of your comfort zone and can result in some seriously trippy art.

DAY AT THE MUSEUM

When I’m looking for creative inspiration (or something stoney to do on a rainy day), I like to drink an infused beverage or eat a gummy before hitting a local museum. Whether it’s science, modern art or natural history, it’s easy to get lost in an edible-infused exhibit of any kind.

GETTING ACTIVE NATURE TRAIL

Mother Nature is even more magical with Mary Jane. Personally, I love to hit the trail after hitting a nice uplifting sativa strain with a piney terpene profile like an OG Kush. Don’t forget to leave no trace and dispose of any joint roaches or product packaging properly.

STONED SEX

All your senses are heightened when you’re high, making stoned sex a more intimate and pleasure experience. Sharing a joint, using THC or CBD lube, or giving a massage with infused body oil can sure shake up sexy time – just be sure to keep the communication open with your partner.

HIGH &SEEK HIGH &SEEK

THERE IS A DAY when mushrooms grow from ink and clay, through cracks in walls and walkways springing up on our streets and stores – creating a worldwide scavenger hunt for everyone who loves art. Called Game of Shrooms, it’s a global holiday that Hi Fructose Art Magazine co-founder Daniel Seifert, known as Attaboy, unintentionally created in 2019 “as a way to change the narrative of my day.”

KEVIN THE RACCOON by Carli Christina

QUAGMIRE CLUSTER by Attaboy

In the mini-documentary filmed in 2022, Seifert describes how he started hiding mushrooms after a sudden bout of existential depression caused him to turn to a familiar kind of art therapy.

As a child, he and his grandmother would paint ceramic mushrooms together in her studio and place them all over her garden, living room and kitchen, so making mushroom art has always been a soothing source of inspiration. Creating and hiding little pieces of art gave him a sense of purpose. He felt not only some control over his own day, but a secondary joy thinking about the positive effect it might have on someone who found one. After all, understanding that you have the ability to make others happy through art is something people strive for their entire lives.

The inspiration caught on with others who were going through their own struggles, especially during the Covid-19 lockdown. Seifert began seeing other artists hiding mushrooms across galleries and museums, and after a moment, he understood this was becoming something larger than just his own road to wellness – it represented a whole highway that could be mobilized into an insane art caravan.

Since launching that first official game in 2019, Seifert told us the hunt has become larger than he could have ever imagined. In Poland, Mexico, Russia and all over the United States, people are sharing their locations to the website www.yumfactory.com/gameofshrooms and adding to the global map, with Antarctica even getting into the mix for 2023.

Playing is easy. Along with the site, you can follow #gameofshrooms on Instagram to see which artists are participating – that way you have some idea of what you want to start hunting for.

On the official day, watch each artist’s stories for clues to where they’ve hidden their shrooms. Follow the clues, and if you’re lucky enough to recognize where it’s hidden, take a picture and tag the artist so others know the piece has been found.

Finding hidden artwork is like fol lowing an Indiana Jones adventure to a priceless treasure. There are the emotional highs and lows of winning and losing, the spark of competition, and the thrill of the hunt. This holiday doesn’t care how artistic you think you are, it encourages everyone to create and hide their stuff in order to spark a connection between people and art, but also one that is person to person. Once you get that rush of emotion from finding one of these mushrooms, it’s hard not to want to pay that feeling forward. The rolling thunder has gotten so loud that last year Seifert rented out Fairyland Children’s Park in Oakland to throw an adult-themed meet-up where participants could gather, celebrate a job well done, and maybe hide some last-minute mushrooms.

For anyone who’s interested, visit the website for all the details, or check out the tag on Instagram #gameof shrooms to see examples from past years.

On June 10, there will be a bigger crowd than ever looking to hit those streets and they’re going to need all of us spores. So break out your pens, paints, construction paper, 3D printers, crayons and clay… because the Game of Shrooms is on.

yumfactory.com/gameofshrooms

@gameofshroomsofficial #gameofshrooms

PHOTO BY HEATHER BOWLING

Since launching that first official game in 2019, Seifert told us the hunt has become larger than he could have ever imagined.

Art by Attaboy.

ART OF

ART OF

GRASS HOPPA

Luxe Rolls and Luxe Roll Bar Founder and renowned creative joint-rolling artist Grass Hoppa, is a professional roller sponsored by top brands including The Flower Mill, Organitips, Caligar Rolling Glue and Raw Papers. She specializes in live joint-rolling services and custom smokeable art, and she can be found twisting up expertly-rolled joints and shocking onlookers with her machine-like precision at well-known industry events like The Emerald Cup, The Secret Session and The Trans Bay Challenge. Her services have given her behind-the-scenes access to high profile parties across the country, and she has been commissioned to roll joints for some of the biggest brands in Cannabis. Grass Hoppa is an accomplished competitive roller, and currently serves as one of the judges for Raw Rolling Papers’ annual worldwide rolling competition. @thegrasshoppa

STURT DOINKS

An OG in the scene with a couple decades of experience at every level of the industry, Sturt has the connections, quality assessment expertise and rolling ability to create some of the loudest, most flavorful hash holes anywhere. In fact, Sturt is credited with proliferating the “hash hole” nomenclature beginning in early 2018. The sourcing often comes from top quality flower brands like Blueprint, GreenDawg Cultivators, SureFire Selections and NorCal Gardens, and the hash is usually from Hash Assassins or one of West Coast Alchemy’s many collabs – all elite companies producing some incredible products, which Sturt then artfully pairs to create stunningly flavorful and hard-hitting bars.

@sturtsdoinks_official

SPLIFF WIZARD

JUNE DA GOON

June Da Goon is a Stockton, Calif. based roller with some impressive accolades. Raw Papers holds an annual worldwide rolling competition, and June Da Goon holds four championship titles. In fact, he is now a judge for the event and sits on a panel with Raw Brands’ Founder and CEO, Josh Kesselman. With nearly a decade of experience in creative rolling under his belt, coupled with eight years of competitive rolling, he has honed his craft and earned himself a spot as one of the top joint rollers in the world. One of his most notable works of late was a 3D replica of the goat on the cover for Berner’s “El Chivo” album – which he personally gifted to him in 2020. @xxjune_da_goonxx

Ryan Dawley is a self-described “natural born roller,” whose unique skills have led him on a journey from Miami to Europe to the West Coast and beyond. In addition to his self-taught joint-rolling talents, he is also a graduate of Full Sail University and a professional photographer and social media manager currently freelancing for a number of brands in both Oregon and California. Dawley has done it all, from winning rolling competitions to teaching and training crews of joint rollers how to properly roll infused joints, plus aspects of cultivation, extraction, security and more. It’s safe to say that Dawley’s life revolves around the plant, and his passion for the art of the roll has elevated his status to legendary in the tightknit and highly-exclusive rolling scene. @spliffwizard

THE ROLL

THE ROLL

BRUNO’S ROLLS

Bruno is an absolute joint surgeon capable of producing perfectly hand-rolled doobies stuffed to the brim with unmatched precision and consistency. He began his love affair with the plant as a cultivator in Tuolumne County in 2012, and after years as a grower, he met his now wife who encouraged him to follow his dream of mastering the art of the roll. Pursuing that passion has led him to become one of the top rollers in the country, and perhaps the world. Last year, Bruno hand rolled more than 18,000 joints, which earned him some notable recognition, including the title of “Joint Rolling Champion” at the 2022 Emerald Cup and two 1st Place wins at Lumpy’s California’s Finest 2022 competition. @brunosrolls

THE JOINT

began as a simple, filterless Cannabis cigarette, but has evolved into something very different. Today, joint rolling is both a profession and an artform –producing a modern era featuring standout talent with a variety of skill sets.

Some are practitioners, technical joint-rolling samurais, focusing on cleanliness and consistency. Some are visionary artists who transform everything from cultural icons to everyday objects into certified smokeable art.

MARCOS SURITA

Entrepreneur, certified award-winning joint roller and CGO Lyfestyle brand Founder Marcos Surita is a Sacramento native and an absolute beast with the bars. A free agent with his own brand renowned for fire hash holes and limited apparel drops, Surita collaborates with top tier cultivators and flavor curators like Emerald Queen Farms, Champelli, Prodigal Company, Doja and Bay Area Flavors, and hash artists from across California to create his carefully constructed and extremely exclusive wares. Surita’s joints, crafted with Organitips, are usually made by order and have created a demand for his skills taking him all over the country. @cgo__lyfestyle

We’ve scoured the country to find out who’s got the best joint-rolling abilities, and we caught up with a few of them to learn more about their history in Cannabis and how they discovered their passion for the art of the roll.

TONY GREENHAND

One of the original joint artists in the game, Greenhand is wid ely renowned for his creativity and imagination, where he’s been crafting art-forward joints professionally for almost 15 years. Greenhand has worked with some of the biggest stars in the world, including Rihanna, Snoop Dogg, Juice WRLD and Tommy Chong. Smokeable Space Needle? Greenhand has done it. A quarter-pound replica dab pen joint? Check. Pizza, Pokémon, guns and grenades? You bet. Greenhand has done it all, and continues to produce standout work with unmatched detail and intricacy. When asked about his style of rolling, he replied, “I enjoy the technical challenges involved in engineering never-before-seen joints and plan to continue to blend new concepts and designs into future art.”

@tonygreenhand

PROPER DOINKS

Proper Doinks is an up-andcoming, brand-forward rolling company with eyes on the recreational market. Having just locked down space for their own grow, distro, delivery and production studio, the brand is hoping to bring their properly produced products to discerning California consumers this summer via a members-only delivery service. While the team at Proper Doinks certainly maintains a significant focus on a precise roll, their ability to judge flower quality and only put the top 1%-level herb in their Doinks is second to none. In addition, they’ve done a service to the community with their entertaining and educational Instagram reels that help push consumers towards better smoking technique and etiquette. If you’re lucky (and follow their Instagram closely), you can score one of their limited edition reusable glass tips. @properdoinks

PHOTO BY JOSH MONTHEI @CAPTURECANNABIS

Today, joint rolling is both a profession and an artform.

PHOTOS BY EMERALD MOUNTAIN MEDIA

FOLLOW US @RAYS INFUSED LEMONADE

This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Cannabis 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 the consumption of this product. For use only by adults over the age of 21. Keep out of reach of children. We are a legal recreational dispensary in Washington State.

FUN-SIZED

From baby blunt wraps and tiny torches to entire sesh table scenes, Levelheady has carved out a notable niche in the world of Cannabis miniature art. We sat down with the Denver-based artist, who has been putting out small resin replicas that are making big waves, to find out what’s so fun about finger-sized art.

In the world of Levelheady, loud art comes in little packages.

What was your journey to working with resin as a medium? Art has always been an escape for me, but I started working with resin in 2016. I was doing a ceramics project in college and wanted to incorporate mixed media – my art teacher recommended I try out this thing called ‘resin.’ I bought some, watched tutorials online and was like, ‘Woah. This is kind of cool. I want to do this.’ I suddenly was no longer interested in ceramics at all and actually dropped out of college during that time because I became so focused on working with resin.

How did you get your start in your niche of making miniatures? I started focusing really hard on the scale model aspect in 2020. I had been serving tables and doing art on the side forever, and I would have a breakfast shift, come home and work on a project, then post whatever I did that day. I didn’t even think of it. I was just consistently sharing with the world, ‘Hey, this is what I'm working on. This is something I'm excited about.’ One of my pictures went viral and I think other people saw what I was doing and thought it was unique – so they would share it, and it just kept growing from there. Then the pandemic hit and I didn’t want to serve anymore, and thought maybe it was time to just focus on my art. I bought a website and started posting like crazy. That’s when companies started noticing me and being like, ‘Hey, this is cool. Would you make minis of our product?’ I had this moment where I was like, ‘Oh, I can do this!’ So that's kind of how it all started.

Where do you draw inspiration from, and how does Cannabis play a role in your artistic process? Almost everything I've done has had something to do with a small version of weed stuff. I’ve always been really intrigued by Cannabis. These days, I’m inspired by Japanese resin techniques because they’re a lot more in-depth than the ones here. In the U.S., a resin pour is just one thing in a mold – but in Japanese culture, they’ll be inspired by all these little details. It’s about as much detail as you can put into one little space. It’s almost gaudy. And I was like, ‘I like that. I want to do that, but I want it to be inspired by my own stuff.’

What would you say is fun about you and your art? I just love fun! I genuinely believe magic is real and want to bring a little bit of that feeling to people through my art. I want them to feel transported, and I think that’s the really fun thing about my minis – people can look at them and be like, ‘Oh my god, this is my smoke table at home!’ There’s also the connection we all have to miniatures from our inner child. It brings you back to being like, ‘This is so small, I would have played with this when I was a kid. But I like it as an adult because it’s my torch?’ It’s kind of a paradox … it’s silly and there’s no reason for it, other than to look at it and smile or think or show someone. Even if your only response is to laugh at my art, that makes me happy because I brought joy out of someone by doing something that I enjoyed.

levelheady.com | @levelheady

“I just love fun! I genuinely believe magic is real and want to bring a little bit of that feeling to people through my art.”

MEME DREAM

From accounts with millions of followers like @weedhumor and @fourtwenty to niche industry creators like @sourwavez and @trulyredpanda, Cannabis is having what I like to call “a meme moment.” Around these parts of Washington, though, there’s really just one meme maker who matters: Boof Confit. We sat down with Ryan (known to most just as Boof) for an exclusive interview with the BHO-buster about what goes into making a viral meme and how poking fun can actually lead to positive change in the industry.

How did you get started in the Cannabis industry and what are you doing in the space now (besides memeing, of course)?

Cannabis has always supplemented my income in some way or the other for the last 30 years. I’ve been in the legal space for four years as the Director of Operations and Purchaser for Euphorium. I oversee the marketing, operations and purchasing from the ground up for all four locations.

What’s your favorite part of your role? Sourcing good product – setting goals for myself and acquiring new farms or products that are hard to obtain. Some of our partners took years of persistence for me to build relationships with. I like looking for new stuff, especially hash, and finding things that other stores don’t have. I love the hunt.

That “hunt” that you love … would you say hunting for a good meme is similar? For sure, those go hand in hand. Sometimes I know exactly what I want, but sometimes I just stumble upon it and it’s more grassroots.

Do you have a meme-making process? If I have an idea or I want to go after something, I’ll hit creative spurts. Some nights I’ll be sitting in my jacuzzi smoking a blunt, and I’ll pump out like six or seven memes. But other days, I struggle more to keep up. I like to have a couple in my arsenal.

Memes are obviously fun, and we all love a good laugh – but how can they actually start a conversation in our industry?

Memes can really be used to educate the public in a funny way. And I love to do this, particularly with hash and BHO. It’s a fun way to educate on better ways to shop, better ways to look for products beyond just THC percentage, and the benefits of solventless versus solvent-based products. Memes are good for all of that, big time. They’re short and sweet and highly targeted. In my role as a purchaser too, I’ve always tried to educate and point people toward consuming better products. That’s really my end goal with all of this, and the memes have just become something super fun.

@boofconfit

“Memes can really be used to educate the public in a funny way. And I love to do this, particularly with hash and BHO.”

whitney harmon the Cast Away Set

The natural world embodied in Whitney Harmon’s glass is an echo of the elements, an ode to the ocean that’s been both an anchor and inspiration all his life.

“I feel like I need water near me to feed my soul,” says Whitney, a native of the Northwest. “The barnacles in my work evolved from my love of beach glass and millefiori slowly coming together over the years. They are made up of many layers of glass – cut off hot, then cold-worked with a rotary bit – before it's all blasted to look like it's from the beach. These have become one of my favorite concepts, as I can apply them to almost any form. It's challenging to accomplish realism in glass – I feel this is as close to it as I have come in my 24 years on the torch!”

Documenting the Cast Away Set was equal parts studio and action shots, with the right time for tide and lighting being essential to the texture of the Birch Bay photo, which photographer Rex Hilsinger describes as “mesmerizing” and “as real to the touch as they look in photos!” Having photographed many of Whitney’s works, Rex says, “His dedication to originality always inspires me to capture images that reflect the story he's trying to tell.”

"The barnacles in my work evolved from my love of beach glass and millefiori slowly coming together over the years."

Stay true to your roots.

Dutch Treat

Northern Lights x Haze

with the finest hand crafted for you by

Blue Roots Cannabis

Limonene Linalool

Caryophyllene Myrcene

Relaxing Calming Creative

Uplifting

Warning: This product has intoxicating e ects and may be habit forming. Cannabis can impair concentration, coordination, and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery while under the in uence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with the consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of reach of children.

MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE

SPICED &STONED

This May, I’m bringing a little south of the border love with these easy and yummy, infused recipes. I’ve been craving Mexican food a lot and loving the bold, strong flavors. As luck would have it, I was able to find one of my favorite strains – Acapulco Gold – for this month’s recipes. This spectacular blast from my past is a sativa dominant, hard to find, potent plant. And it’s real pretty too.

Rich, spicy and elegant, this hot chocolate is one of our favorite indulgences. And it’s not just for winter – we drink it year round. For extra glam, top it with whipped cream and serve it with a cinnamon stick for stirring.

6 tablespoons dark chocolate hot cocoa mix

1 ½ tablespoons chocolate syrup

2 teaspoons canna butter, at room temperature

2 small pinches of chili powder (optional)

½ cup whole milk, heated until warm

1 ½ cups water, heated until warm

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon or two pinches of cayenne pepper (for garnish)

SERVES 2 | 5MG THC/SERVING

1. In a saucepan, whisk together the cocoa mix, chocolate syrup, canna butter and chili powder, if using, over medium-low heat until the butter has melted and the mix has dissolved.

2. Pour the warmed milk into the pan and whisk until well combined.

3. Pour the warmed water into the pan and whisk to combine. Reduce the heat to low and warm the chocolate until hot, 2 to 3 minutes.

4. Divide the hot chocolate between two mugs, and garnish each mug with 1⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon or cayenne pepper. Serve immediately.

CHORIZO–COTIJA CHEESE QUESADILLAS

2 SERVINGS | 1/2 QUESADILLA PER PERSON

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 green onions (white and green parts), chopped

1 link chorizo, removed from the casing and crumbled (or ¼ cup bulk chorizo)

¼ cup cotija cheese

2 teaspoons canna oil

2 flour tortillas (6-inch)

Sour cream, for serving (optional)

Salsa, for serving (optional)

1. In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.

A quesadilla can be so much more than just melted cheese in a tortilla. This version pairs spicy chorizo with the salt and tang of this Mexican cheese.

2. Add the green onions and chorizo, breaking the sausage up with a spoon into small pieces. Sauté until the onions are tender and all the pink has disappeared from the meat.

3. In a medium bowl, stir together the cheese and canna oil. Add the chorizo mixture and mix thoroughly. Don’t wash skillet.

4. In the same skillet, heat one of the tortillas.

5. Spread the filling across one tortilla, leaving a ¼ inch border around the edges, and place the second tortilla on top.

6. Cook the quesadilla, turning once, until golden brown – 5 to 7 minutes total.

7. Let the quesadilla rest for a few minutes before cutting it in half and serving it with the sour cream and salsa, if using.

GUACAMOLE

MAKES 2 CUPS

½ CUP SERVING

2 large ripe avocados, peeled and seeded Juice of two medium limes

4 teaspoons canna oil

½ small red onion, diced

¼ cup finely chopped cilantro leaves

½ teaspoon kosher salt

1 small tomato, seeded and chopped (optional)

1. In a medium bowl, mash the avocado.

2. Add all the other ingredients and mix thoroughly.

Avocados have tremendous health benefits and they also taste great, especially when made into guacamole. To keep your guac from turning brown, drizzle it with citrus juice and press plastic wrap snugly into its surface (this limits the oxygen exposure that leads to browning). We like our guacamole chunky, so we mash the avocado only enough to break it up a bit … but you can make yours as smooth as you like.

without a heavy price

100% Flower - Live Resin + 97% THCa 100% Flower - Live Resin + 97% THCa 100% + Crystal Infusion Crystal Infusion

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2x 0.5g Infused Joints 2x 0.5g Infused Joints 2x 0.5g Infused Joints 2x 0.5g Infused Joints

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

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Reefer Madness Revisited

Since the early days of American cinema coincided with the dawn of Cannabis prohibition, it makes sense that some filmmakers would look to the sensationalized stories of marijuana mayhem and madness portrayed in the “yellow journalism” of the era as inspiration for their films. In the 1930s and ‘40s, a number of low-budget, anti-pot propaganda films were produced that were hysterical in both senses of the word: Originally, they were intended to induce a “hysteria” (overwhelming fear and panic) among the American public about marijuana; in modern times, however, they’re hysterical in the humorous sense due to their campy delivery and absurd exaggerations of the dangers marijuana purportedly posed.

Here’s a look back at history’s most infamous “drugsploitation” flicks.

“MARIHUANA”

The first of the pot propaganda flicks to make it to the big screen in May 1936, “Marihuana” (a.k.a. “Marihuana: The Devil’s Weed,” a.k.a. “Marihuana: The Weed With Roots in Hell”) tells the tale of a high school girl named Burma who’s “led to ruin after befriending a drug dealer who invites her to a party at his beach house.”

After Burma and some other girls get drunk and smoke weed at the party, one ends up drowning while Burma becomes pregnant. After she pressures her boyfriend to marry her, he gets hired by the

dealer to unload some smuggled drugs at the docks and ends up being killed by the cops. Upon hearing the news, Burma runs away from home, has the baby and puts it up for adoption – then becomes a drug dealer herself. After graduating to heroin and becoming a junkie (the classic “gateway drug” theory), she tries to kidnap her sister’s new baby and hold it for ransom, only to find out it’s actually her own.

“Marihuana” was produced by the pulp fiction power couple of Dwain Esper and Hildegarde Stadie. Stadie spent her childhood traveling around the country in a horse-drawn wagon with her opium-addicted uncle – a doctor turned snake oil salesman who shamelessly used her to hawk his cure-all, Tiger Fat (including having a pre-teen Hilde appear in front of customers nude except for a python). In 1920, she married Dwain Esper, a former carnival barker who, in 1932 – despite having no training or experience in filmmaking – began a new career as a movie director after acquiring a small studio in a loan default settlement.

With Hilde as his writer and co-producer (and often in cameo roles), Esper began cranking out outlandish B-movies designed to entice and frighten, including 1933’s “Narcotic” (a tale based loosely on Hilde’s uncle) and 1934’s “Maniac” (a.k.a. “Sex Maniac”). Esper not only side-stepped the Hollywood movie industry and their decency standards, but the theater system itself by forming his own distribution company, Road Show Attractions, in 1936.

The Espers would travel around showing their films in pop-up theaters and tents like a circus sideshow attraction, then hightail it out of town before local law enforcement could slap them with obscenity or indecency charges. This practice led Esper to crown himself the “king of the celluloid gypsies.”

In addition to their own films, the Espers occasionally bought the rights to other low-budget films, which they would then spice up with more sex and drug scenes and re-release under new titles. One such film was the one we’ll examine next—twas the drugsploitation classic, “Reefer Madness.”

“REEFER MADNESS”

Originally entitled “Tell Your Children,” the film that came to be known as “Reefer Madness” was first released on July 12, 1936.

The story begins with a high school principal telling a PTA meeting about a group of students lured by pot pushers to a “reefer house” where they smoke marijuana, become immediately hooked, and begin hallucinating and going mad. Under the influence, they commit various violent crimes, including running over a pedestrian, shooting a teenage girl, beating a man with a stick, attempted rape, and suicide. The film ends with the principal cautioning the parents in the meeting (as well as those watching through the camera lens) that “the next tragedy may be that of your daughter ... or your son ... or yours!”

Profiling pot’s most preposterous propaganda pictures.

Directed by Louis J. Gasnier, the film was financed by a Christian church group to “educate” parents about the supposed dangers of Cannabis. But in 1936, shortly after its release, it was acquired by Esper, who added some salacious new shots (naturally) and screened it on his underground film circuit until the early 1950s under different titles in each region of the country: In the South it remained as “Tell Your Children;” in the West he called it “Doped Youth;” in Pennsylvania and West Virginia it was known as “The Burning Question;” but it was in New England that was given the name it would be remembered by, “Reefer Madness.”

Widely considered one of the worst movies ever made, “Reefer Madness” passed into the public domain and was largely forgotten … that is, until it was rediscovered in the early 1970s by NORML founder Keith Stroup – who began hosting screenings of the absurd propaganda pic at colleges to raise money and interest in the budding legalization movement. Today, it’s the most well-known drugsploitation movie by far.

“ASSASSIN OF YOUTH”

Directed by Elmer Clifton, “Assassin of Youth” (a.k.a. “The Marijuana Menace”) is another “cautionary tale” about a young journalist named Art who’s tasked by his editor to investigate the death of a rich old woman killed in a car crash with a “marijuana-crazed youth.” Posing as a soda jerk, the reporter infiltrates a gang of “dope fiends,” attends their wild parties and falls for the woman’s virtuous granddaughter Joan, who’s set to inherit her fortune. Joan agrees to help him but is framed as a degenerate by her promiscuous, pot-dealing cousin Linda, who drugs her and sets her up in compromising positions to get her disinherited through a “morality clause” in the will. Spoiler alert: Art ends up saving Joan’s reputation at the last minute in a dramatic courtroom scene in which he exposes Linda and her suppliers and reads aloud from his article in which he decries the evils of marijuana, which he calls the “assassin of youth” and the “scourge of our country.”

Released in January 1937, the film shares its name with the infamous anti-pot propaganda article published in The American Magazine in July of that same year – an article written by Federal Bureau of Narcotics director Harry J. Anslinger (see our Oct. 2020 edition). The article details various marijuana-related crimes drawn from Anslinger’s “gore files,” similar to those portrayed in this film. While not as overtly absurd as some of its counterparts, “Assassin” shares their paranoia-inducing purpose – apparently effective, since Anslinger’s Marijuana Tax Act (essentially outlawing Cannabis) was signed into law later that year.

“DEVIL’S HARVEST”

Released in 1942, “Devil’s Harvest” is a lousy gangster movie that uses marijuana as a gimmick to drum up an audience.

Directed by Ray Test, this flick tells the story of Kay O’Farrell – a high school girl who gets sucked into the underworld of organized crime. On the promise of a dancing gig, Kay is lured to a wild party, where gals strip down to their undies to dance and get busy after smoking the “loco weed.” After a brawl breaks out and a girl dies, police question all the “kids” from the party (who all look 40 years old) and manipulate Kay into helping bust the marijuana ring. She’s soon recruited by the racketeer suppliers to dance at their nightclub, where the top mobster Larry falls for her. It ends with a showdown in Larry’s office between him and a rival gangster named “Snuffy,” in which they both end up dead. Through it all, Kay remains bizarrely calm and unaffected by everything going on around her. With its flimsy plot, cheesy dialogue, goofy acting, bad lighting and sloppy editing, “Devil’s Harvest” more than earns its place in the drugsploitation Hall of Shame.

“THE DEVIL’S WEED”

Directed by prolific B-movie maker Sam Newfield (a.k.a. “Sherman Scott”), “The Devil’s Weed” regurgitates the same tired tropes of its predecessors: a dancing girl who gets corrupted by marijuana at a wild party, becomes

romantically involved with her dealer, and ends up in ruin. In this case, it’s an orphan chorus girl named Anne Lester who is pressured by a dealer named Markey into smoking reefer at a “tea party.” After Markey seduces her and gets her hooked, she loses her job and goes to work for him selling “tomatoes.” When her younger brother Bob discovers what’s going on, he – ridiculously – hangs himself. Soon after, Anne is arrested, shown a few druggies and the asylums where they end up, and spends a couple of months in jail before cleaning up her act and helping the cops nail Markey.

Like others in the genre, this movie also had many titles: It was initially released as “Wild Weed” in July 1949 through Eureka Productions and was not well-received (“Never did vice seem so devoid of enchantment.” - NY Times). It was later acquired by Hallmark Productions, who made some changes and re-released it – first, as “The Story of Lila Leeds and Her Exposé of the Marijuana Racket” (more on that in a minute), then later as “She Shoulda Said No!” and “The Devil’s Weed.”

Hallmark had more success with it, thanks to new promotional posters featuring racy photos of its leading lady and some fabricated letters to community leaders claiming it was a public service sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department.

The most interesting thing about this film, however, is that it was purportedly inspired by the life of its lead actress, Lila Leeds. On September 1, 1948, the stunning 20-year-old starlet was busted smoking weed with actor Robert Mitchum in her home, charged with felony narcotics possession and sentenced to 60 days in jail plus five years probation. Unfortunately, the stigma of her arrest led to her being blackballed; broke and desperate, she reluctantly agreed to star in “The Devil’s Weed” – which alas, turned out to be her final role.

After that, her life tragically ended up mirroring those depicted in drugsploitation films: she went to prison, became a heroin addict, was involved in a car accident, had parole violations, and eventually turned to prostitution. All of which shows once again that what truly ruins lives is not using Cannabis, but getting arrested for it.

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

Widely considered one of the worst movies ever made, “Reefer Madness” was largely forgotten … that is, until it was rediscovered in the early 1970s by NORML founder Keith Stroup. Today, it’s the most well-known drugsploitation movie by far.

News clipping of Leeds’ & Mitchum’s conviction.

Mobile billboard advertising “Assassin of Youth” circa 1937.

Publicity photo for “Devil’s Harvest.”

WOC MUSEUM

WOC MUSEUM

WOC MUSEUM

I FEEL LIKE BEING BAD. Therefore, I am going to find a sign on the side of a building that prohibits me from hanging out and purposefully look like I don’t belong. I’ll don a feather boa, sparkly and ridiculously-oversized sunglasses, and a t-shirt that says FUCK CORRUPTION.

I think this is what they mean by NO LOITERING. Because I’ve never used the word ‘loiter’ once. Like, did the government pull this one from the archives of the The Old Farmer’s Almanac or something? I know they say ignorance of the law is not an excuse for breaking it, but are they trying to trick all passers-by by using a Portuguese word?

Maybe I’m being profiled. Maybe dudes who appear to be up to something other than spending money are automatically categorized into the class of ‘loiterers.’ Because I had no intention of loitering until you told me not to. And now that I’ve been offended, I’m going to loiter purposefully.

This is my protest.

I will stand here and not spend money until someone arrests my loitering ass. In fact, I will start a club full of people who do nothing but loiter. I will transform the word loiter into the antithesis of the word lawyer. I will run for office, and my campaign slogan will be MAKE AMERICA LOITER AGAIN.

This is all about freedom, people! We only want to hang out, and they have the audacity to put up a sign that says NO LOITERING.

Where the fuck are we supposed to loiter, in the woods? Right next to the sign that says NO LITTERING?

This post-pandemic era of division, isolation and detachment has hit a fever pitch – and loitering is exactly what we need to be doing, you assholes!

So, I’m gonna smoke a joint to calm the nerves.

Hopefully, that too falls into the classification of loitering.