Conveniently located just seconds off of I-5 at exit 210
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.
SOOTHING
SUNDAY
40% Off Legends & Private Reserve and 30% off all CBD
PANDAMONIUM
MONDAY 30% off all Panda, Snicklefritz, Dabstract, Sticky Frog, and Hot Sugar
BEST BUDS
TUESDAY
20% Off all flower & 30% Off featured brand
CONCENTRATION
WEDNESDAY
20% off All dabs & cartridges, and 30% Off batteries
MUNCHIES
THURSDAY
20% Off All edibles & beverages
FLOWER POWER
FRIDAY
20% Off flower and joints when you buy 7g or more and 30% Blue Roots
SATURDAY
20% Off flower and joints when you buy 7g or more
10% Off Wisdom Discount to Guests over 65
30% Off All CBD topicals, tinctures, and capsules
30% Off - Daily rotating deals in every category
WE
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
ABOUT THE COVER
PHOTO BY DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS ASSISTANTS: @JOLOUISEVSTHEWORLD & KUNESHSTUDIOS
CONTRIBUTORS
WES ABNEY, FEATURES
DANIEL BERMAN, PHOTOS
BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES
JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION
TOM BOWERS, FEATURES
AMANDA DAY, FEATURES
EARLY, PRODUCTION
STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS
JOELY FISHER, ASSISTING
MATT JACKSON, FEATURES
JOE KUNESH, ASSISTING
JESSE RAMIREZ, DESIGN
MIKE RICKER, FEATURES
MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING
KELSEY STEVENS, PRODUCTION TERPENE TRANSIT, DISTRIBUTION
DAN VINKOVETSKY, FEATURES
MARGEAUX WALTER, PHOTOS
JERRY WHITING, EMERITUS CONTRIBUTOR
LAURIE & BRUCE WOLF, RECIPES
KATHERINE WOLF, FEATURES
Over the years, we have ranged from all wine pairings to exploring the world of craft beers, cocktails and seltzers, as we honed our tastes. Similarly, the weed world has expanded from simple flower pairings to a wide range of concentrates, cartridges and edibles that can enhance a boozy pairing, or replace it altogether.
While I’ve long considered myself a craft beer aficionado, I’ve spent the last six months sober from alcohol, which has helped me to see Cannabis in a new light. America has a drinking culture (problem) that pushes booze as a tool for celebration, mourning and everything in between. But as I grew in my publishing role and as a father to teenagers, alcohol became less of a helper for stress – actually creating more – especially as the Leaf worked to navigate the difficult Cannabis industry in 13 states. Since my break from alcohol, I’ve experienced a lot of personal benefits, and learned to lean on Cannabis fully as both medicine and recreation. It truly is an amazing plant to be able to provide for both areas of life – healing and pleasure – and I’ve fallen in love with it all over again.
“THE WEED WORLD HAS EXPANDED FROM SIMPLE FLOWER PAIRINGS TO A WIDE RANGE OF CONCENTRATES, CARTRIDGES AND EDIBLES THAT CAN ENHANCE A BOOZY PAIRING, OR REPLACE IT ALTOGETHER.
”
“MAYBE BUT
As this issue of the magazine has evolved, we’ve included new types of pairings, including Cannabis with coffee, energy drinks, kombucha and more. There are few things more satisfying in this world than a fresh cup of joe with a joint, and it brings me great joy to continue to pair tasty beverages with Cannabis, sans alcohol for this writer. I hope that these words can be an inspiration to anyone considering a break from alcohol, or any habit that causes more harm than health.
We are all fortunate to live in a time of legalization – where reconceptualizing sobriety includes the use of Cannabis (California Sober/Green Clean) and a huge community of people who have found health and happiness with pot, including many who are sober otherwise. So as we toast at our next pairing sesh, remember: It’s OK to talk about addiction and struggles, and the benefits of Cannabis. After all, you have to put down your drink to pass the bong.
Half of Americans have now tried marijuana, according to a new Gallup survey. This is the first time Gallup has found 50 percent of respondents saying they’ve tried Cannabis, reports The National Desk. But it’s been hovering just below that figure for a while now – having been over 40 percent since 2015.
A
coalition made up of marijuana reform organizations is calling upon regulators across the world to adopt a universal symbol for marijuana products in the interest of promoting safety in the evolving Cannabis market.
The symbol would make it easier to facilitate interstate Cannabis commerce if states choose to enact the policy, reports Marijuana Moment.
There’s a patchwork of marijuana laws from state-to-state in the U.S., as well as internationally. But the groups said in a letter to regulators distributed in August that there should at least be uniformity in labeling so that people know what products contain Cannabis – no matter where they’re shopping.
The International Intoxicating Cannabinoid Product Symbol (IICPS) – a yellow triangle with an image of a Cannabis leaf and black border – has already been adopted by Montana, New Jersey, South Dakota and Vermont, while other states like Alaska are also considering it.
20%
and higher THC raw flower is a primary growth driver in today’s adult-use marijuana industry.
500
grams of weed were taken during an August break-in at a Richmond, Virginia dispensary.
By gender, 53% of men and 44% of women said they have tried marijuana. By age, adults 35-54 showed the highest rate of past marijuana use, with 51% saying they had smoked the herb. Meanwhile, 49% of those aged 18-34 and 47% of adults 55 and older said the same.
Indonesian authorities in August burned a marijuana plantation in the northern province of Aceh after it was discovered by drones, reports the Associated Press.
A joint team of the National Narcotic Agency (known as BNN) and the National Research and Innovation Agency – using drones – detected 4.5 hectares (11 acres) of land with an estimated 21,100 Cannabis plants ready for harvest, said Wayan Sugiri, the deputy for eradication at BNN.
The aerial operation was conducted from August 3-13 in Teupin Reuseup village in North Aceh district. More than 150 officers from the police, customs and BNN were deployed to uproot the 20 tons of marijuana for burning, Sugiri said.
$60k
in marijuana products were recalled by the Missouri Department of Cannabis Regulation in August.
$48m
in community reinvestment grants funded by marijuana taxes will soon be available to California nonprofits.
$404m
could be added to Ohio’s annual tax coffers by marijuana legalization, according to one study.
The German government in midAugust approved a plan to legalize some recreational Cannabis use, paving the way to allow adults to legally buy and possess small amounts of marijuana, according to The New York Times.
“This is an important law that will represent a long-term change in drug policy,”
The legislation would allow adults to buy and possess up to 25 grams of adultuse Cannabis for personal consumption through nonprofit social clubs. It must still be approved by Parliament – but the endorsement from the three-party coalition’s cabinet was a crucial step toward Germany becoming the first major European country to legalize Cannabis.
“This is an important law that will represent a long-term change in drug policy,” said Karl Lauterbach, Germany’s health minister. He added that the legislation represented “a concept of controlled legalization.”
Under current German law, it is illegal to buy Cannabis, but not to consume it.
been street knowledge for some time, but now it has more scientific backing. A new federal study found Cannabis “significantly” reduces opioid cravings for people using them without a prescription, reports Marijuana Moment. This, of course, suggests that expanding access to legal marijuana could provide folks with a safer substitute – one that could provide a long-sought breakthrough when it comes to treating opioid addiction.
Scientists at the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use surveyed 205 people in total. The study participants used weed and unregulated opioids from December 2019 to November 2021.
The goal was to test the theory that Cannabis represents an effective harm reduction tool. That’s particularly urgent since we’re in the midst of an opioid overdose crisis.
The International Journal of Drug Policy published the study. It found 58 percent of participants reported their reason for using Cannabis was to reduce opioid cravings. Moreover, a multivariable analysis showed marijuana use “was significantly associated with self-reported reductions in opioid use.”
STORIES by STEVE ELLIOTT | THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA
“Just the same way as you’re not allowed to cook moonshine in your bathtub and sell it on the street, you’re also not allowed to start a restaurant without having the right requirements and licenses in place.”
USE THE SAME PROCESS AS OUR LIVE RESIN CARTRIDGES WITHOUT ANY DISTILLATE AND INSTEAD USE DECARBED THCA RECOMBINED WITH THE CENTRIFUGALLY SEPARATED TERPENES RESULTING IN A LIQUIFIED CONCENTRATE EQUIVALENT IN TASTE TO OUR COLD CURED SUGAR CRYSTAL DABS.
This 40-year-old Cannabis lifer lives out in the sticks for the sole purpose of enjoying space for his family to spread their butterfly wings. This includes two daughters and a wife who is an amazing baker and shares in his joy of the outdoors. In his spare time, the nerd comes out to play RPGs and fighting games.
WHERE DID THE NAME CUTIE JUDY COME FROM? So, our owner Dave Anderson wanted to honor his mother and she was all about it –as long as she got a t-shirt to wear down in New Mexico (laughs)
IS THIS YOUR FIRST GIG AS A BUDTENDER? No, I spent a year at 420 Elma … and the difference in culture is huge. They had a corporate environment where they push you to move people through the door as fast as possible. With us, it’s just about getting people what they need. Sure, some people are coming in just to get stoned – but there are also those who are looking for education with the intention of easing some of their ailments and getting off prescription meds. We love to give them the attention they need and deserve.
OUT OF ALL THE JOBS YOU’VE HAD, HOW DOES BUDTENDING COMPARE? There’s nothing more rewarding than this. It doesn’t even feel like work. I look forward to going every day so I can see my people, ya know? Sometimes it’s the only time you can see a smile on people. When they leave happy and they want to give you a hug, it’s pretty special.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE GROWING UP IN ABERDEEN? Boring (laughs) It’s a great small-town feel, everyone pretty much knows everyone – but you miss the diversity.
IF YOU COULD USE CANNABIS WITH KURT COBAIN, WOULD IT BE A JOINT, A BOWL, A DAB, OR AN EDIBLE? I would definitely smoke a joint with him under the bridge on the muddy banks of the Wishkah. My grandparents live a few blocks from there, so I’ve personally smoked a few J’s there.
WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE BUDTENDER? TELL US WHY! EMAIL NOMINATIONS TO RICKER@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
The Puyallup Tribe has a big impact on this area, so it sure helps that their Tribal Council is a huge advocate for medical Cannabis. Naturally, it made sense to enter into the recreational sphere as well. In fact, as part of the leadup to opening their first store, they established the Medicine Creek Analytics testing lab to ensure that tribal members and the public are consuming safe products.
Following this foray Cannabis in 2016, it made sense to enter the recreational market by opening the first Commencement Bay in Fife in 2017 and opening their fourth store in 2021.
PLAYING FAIR
They pride themselves in being an equal-opportunity employer while also providing stable jobs and careers for tribal members. In fact, over onethird of employees across the company are tribal members or spouses of members.
Many employees have remained with the company over
3509 72ND ST E, TACOMA, WA 8AM-11:30PM DAILY (253) 503-6824 | @CBC.GREEN
COMMENCEMENTBAYCANNABIS.COM
CBC RED ON PORTLAND AVE. IN TACOMA @CBC.RED
CBC YELLOW IN FIFE @CBC.YELLOW
CBC BLACK IN NORTHEAST TACOMA
You’ll immediately feel the warmth upon entering when a neon salmon sign catches your attention, with a gorgeous wooden panel made from natural cedar. The intention is to pay homage to the Native artwork and design while keeping a clean, sophisticated environment. To remind the staff that they are appreciated, they have the Going the Extra Mile Award each quarter highlighting a couple of exceptional team members voted on by their peers. They strive to give back to the community -- you may see them initiating an Adopt-a-Spot pickup in the neighborhood, cleaning the streets. The Rainbow Center of Tacoma was the beneficiary of Pride Month this year, as they generously raised funds for this organization.
Road Rage OG by Doc & Yeti – Brandon
Seatown Lemon Haze by Western Cultured – Jerry
Adonis by Blue Roots – Jeff
Lemon Slushee by Fire Bros. – Aiyana
Mint Milkshake by Torus – Kyle
Cereal Milk “Sauced & Tossed” by Canna Organix – Nugg & Trista
Rainbow Shaved Ice Infused by Aloha Fridays – Musa
White Truffle Sugarstix by Lifted – Ali
Raunchy Runtz Disposable by Fire Bros. – Gabby
Sour Tsunami by Pressed – Carlo
Divine Kush Breath by Skord – Tre
Yoga Pants Disposable by MFused – Jimmy Joe
Cereal Milk Sugar Crystals by Lifted – Tyler
Garlic Juice Rosin by Dank Czar – Elona
Grape Sundae by Fugu Farms – Casondra
Wet Betty by Flawless Extracts – Nicole
Mango Live Resin by Smokiez – David
Elderberry CBN by WYLD – Rob
Blackberry Mango Soft Lozenges by Binske – Alex
Grape Hash Rosin Moonshot by Constellation – Alex
“YOU’LL IMMEDIATELY FEEL THE WARMTH UPON ENTERING.”
Get rooted with the tasty lineup of terpy concentrates from Blue Roots, a heritage company out of Spokane that first sprouted in 2013 with a focus on people and plants that drives their product lines after a decade in the weed market.
THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY is a marathon, not a sprint, and the companies that last for a decade or longer have done so from a focus on quality products and a reputation for doing good business. Blue Roots has thrived in Eastern Washington by growing and processing legacy genetics, like the UW Purple that was our Strain of the Month in December 2022. So we jumped at the opportunity to dab some old-school Lambs Breath shatter, and experience the newer tech of the THC Bomb Terps and Diamonds. We started with the shatter, which we must say, really is an underappreciated form of dabs
in today’s market. The oil is translucent with a gorgeous light-golden color and the consistency of fragile glass (hence the name). This form of oil doesn’t have a huge nose before smoking, but we caught whiffs of warming citrus haze coming through in vapor form. First low-temp tokes are sugary sweet with lemons and Kush coating the lungs, while sending a glowing wave of euphoric energy to the mind and body. This thoughtful cerebral buzz is happy and peaceful – no wonder it was one of Bob Marley’s favorite strains!
Diving into the THC Bomb next, we reveled in the piney citrus gas, reminiscent of a terpy PNW
forest in dab form. The HTE diamonds and sauce vaporize smoothly at low temps, amplifying the citrus with a sappy, earthy-Kush exhale that tickles the nose while flooding the senses with a relaxing burst of bliss. These are two stress-free, high-inthe-sunshine concentrates that are perfect for a trip into the woods for a dose of fresh air and good vibes.
BLUEROOTSCANNABIS.COM | @BLUEROOTSWA
Lambs Breath Shatter / 84.26% THC
THC Bomb Terps & Diamonds
High Terpene Extract / 64.74% THC
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups bread cubes, about 1 inch pieces
2 large tomatoes, cut in chunks
½ medium cucumber, cut in pieces
½ cup red onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons capers
¼ cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 teaspoons infused oil
9 SERVINGS
1 pie crust, rolled to 11-12 in.
4 cups blueberries, rinsed
1 peach, sliced
½ cup sugar
¼ cup orange juice
3 tablespoons infused oil
2 tablespoons cornstarch pinch of salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons sugar
1. Heat oven to 340. Place the crust on parchment, on a baking sheet.
2. In a large bowl, combine the blueberries, peach slices, sugar, orange juice, infused oil, cornstarch and salt.
3. Place the berries on the crust, leaving a two-inch border. Fold edge of pastry dough up over the fruit, pinching folds closed. Brush the crust with the egg, and sprinkle with the sugar.
4. Bake until golden brown and bubbling, 35-45 minutes.
SEPTEMBER HASHTAGS // # DontFearTheEdible
# BacktoSchool
# BeKind # EatLocal
# LaurieAndMaryJane
# Herb+Spice
TOMATOES SHOULD BE ILLEGAL IN THE WINTER! Honestly, the tomatoes on salads in February barely resemble the lusciousness of a local seasonal specimen. Not even close. Frozen corn is not bad, but taking the kernels off the cob is a summer right of passage, and well worth it. The crostata – a free-form pie piled high with end of summer blueberries and peaches – is simple and quite attractive, if I do say so myself! The recipes are infused with Zookies by 7 Points, a hybrid flower with an upbeat vibe,
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard salt and pepper to taste
1. Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the garlic, stir, and add the bread cubes. Over low to medium heat, lightly brown the bread cubes. Allow to cool.
2. In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumber, red onion and capers.
3. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, oils and Dijon, and add to the large bowl. Salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine. Allow to sit for at least 30 minutes so the flavors can marry, happily ever after.
4 SERVINGS
3 cups corn, from 3 to 4 cobs
3 scallions, sliced
2/3 cup chopped bell peppers, any color
½ cup mayo
4 teaspoons infused oil
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup corn chips
½ cup cotija cheese
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped or torn
Optional CBD Taco Spice Blend
1. In a large bowl, combine the corn, scallion and peppers.
2. In another bowl, mix the mayo, oil, lime juice, cumin and chili powder. Salt and pepper to taste.
3. Add the mayo to the corn, along with the chips, cheese and cilantro. Stir gently to mix.
4. Divide the corn between four bowls. Top with optional CBD Herb & Spice Taco Blend.
leaving me relaxed and relatively happy. I really can’t ask for more than that. Although the recipes are infused with flower into coconut oil, the corn salad is topped with the newest product from Laurie and MaryJane – a taco spice blend with activated CBD – so just a sprinkle of CBD adds to the overall effect of the dish, as well as a hit of more south of the border flavors. If you want to try any of the CBD blends, they are available to order. Very soon, they will be joined by a 1:1 THC:CBD mixture. Need I say more? I think not.
EXCLUSIVE CULTIVARS FROM CALIFORNIA’S CANNABIS CAPITAL
SEEDS: FEMINIZED, REGULAR, AUTOFLOWER, PHOTOPERIOD THC AND CBD
CLONES: STRAIN LICENSE AGREEMENTS AVAILABLE FROM OUR 2022 UNPRECEDENTED 10K PLANT PHENOTYPE MEGA-HUNTS!
ONLINE SEED SALES NOW AVAILABLE, ORDER NOW BEFORE WE’RE SOLD OUT!
WWW.HUMBOLDTSEEDCOMPANY.COM
“Who spiked the punch bowl?” seems to be a universal party laugher, but that’s with alcohol, which is easy to avoid and wears off quickly. When the punch bowl is spiked with Cannabis, liquid LSD, or even a saboteur putting PCP in the lobster chowder on the film set of “Titanic” – that’s when things can get weird.
Luckily for us, this Poisoned Punch is totally smokable and full of beautiful terpenes and cannabinoids. No poisons or hallucinations involved.
Subdued Excitement, or SubX, have been cultivating fire craft Cannabis near the Canadian border with a focus on unique genetics, hand-trimmed buds, and a passion for tasty flower and concentrates. When we saw the beautiful purple-frosted plants on Instagram, we knew we had to taste this fruity fire. Twisting open the glass jar releases a wave of fizzy-fuelly dark berries, with a tang of lemon-vanilla cake frosting that smells dankly delicious.
Each nug is completely coated in frosty trichomes, with purple-frosted tips and a sticky center that leaves fingers coated. First tokes are sweet and bright, coating the palate with an effervescent berries and cream flavor that swirls in the lungs before a super clean exhale – delivering relaxing and euphoric effects with each puff.
Repeated bowls relax limbs and lower inhibitions, as sounds and colors enhance and pop with extra sparkle. The perfect weed to get a hesitant dancer to get footloose to the next DJ set, this tasty punch can also be enjoyed solo for a happy and reflective time in the woods or with a good book. While it may not be recommended to drink alcohol alone, this Poisoned Punch is perfect for sharing, or keeping to the private top-shelf stock for moments of personal celebration and enlightenment.
A WAVE OF FIZZY-FUELLY DARK BERRIES, WITH A TANG OF LEMONVANILLA CAKE FROSTING THAT SMELLS DANKLY DELICIOUS.
with a concentrate and cocktail pairing with a twist! Americans love a gimmick (and so do stoners), so we worked up a lemon drop pairing that doesn’t look like your typical drink. But first, we must get stoned … and the Strange Lemons with THCA from Dabstract’s Curated Collection is oozing with a creamy and sour citrus gas that ignites the senses.
The combination of high-terpene extract with THCA diamonds produces a spectacular high that crushes the body and mind in an overwhelmingly powerful buzz. The terp sauce brings the flavor and the diamonds pack the power, so taking low-temp dabs combines the best of both worlds.
First puffs are bright and citrusy, with a bold head rush that numbs the frontal lobes while melting the mind into the body in a puddley, heavily stoned euphoria.
Paired with the Unicorn Butterfly Pea Vodka – a tea-infused color-changing spirit that goes from clear to purple with the addition of citric acid – the Lemon Drop tastes like the real thing, even if the sugary tart treat is playing games with the color. Together, the pairing delivers a euphoric, high-class buzz that feels sophisticated and glowy – perfect for a post-Labor Day party. If you’re a white-wearing rulebreaker, just don’t spill that purple drink!
I N
“A EUPHORIC, HIGH-CLASS BUZZ THAT FEELS SOPHISTICATED AND GLOWY.”
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.
of stoned energetic perfection with the heady combination of a Collab joint with the zero sugar, high energy fuel that Reign’s the bake-and-gym day.
There’s two general philosophies on smoking weed before exercise: Some pregame, while others celebrate in the post-workout glow. However, the high-functioning stoners will do both. That’s why we paired the Collab by PICC pre-roll – the high-tech infused joints with a concentrate core –with a supreme energy drink. Being active and on the go requires energy, and serious pow-pow when it comes to joints.
What we love about Collab is the combination of a craft farm with a craft processor. PICC is the joint rolling technology that powers the Collab to deliver a technically precise and consistent smoking experience with a variety of flower and hash. This Mac & White Gummy hash rosin infused joint reeks of fuelly lemons and warming earthy citrus when the signature orange stopper pops out, while a fizzy grape tang adds to the flavor when dry puffed. The patented spiral tip/roll tip burns clean – delivering a heady and hashy joint that’s incredibly smooth.
The tech behind the joint creates a vapor point within it for the concentrate, delivering the flavor of the hash with the smoothness of the flower burning – resulting in heady effects that redefine how stoned a pre-roll can get you. This is where the energy drink comes in: Caffeine and Cannabis are so popular, we did a Leaf Life Podcast about it! The White Gummy Bear flavor is a nostalgic twist on the taste – with a pineapple note that's a little sour, sweet without being overpowering, and hits the classic flavor that captivates taste buds.
Combined, the Collab joint and Reign send the head floating high above the body, sitting on a mental throne above the galactic meat suit we call our bodies, ready for activity in the gym or the virtual world.
2 ounces Unicorn Butterfly Pea Tequila
½ ounce triple sec
1 ounce lime juice (about 1 whole lime) Kosher salt for rim (optional) Lime wedge (optional)
Fill a shaker with ice. Add
Butterfly
PLAYING PRETEND is not just for kids, but as adults we get to do it better! That’s why we love this pairing between Microbar and Unicorn Tequila – both look like something they’re not, and both have a delicious surprise hidden inside.
Microbar has ignited the disposable vaporizer market with a compact look and brilliant colors that match flavors – bringing a fun aesthetic to the market. While we love their flavors, we had to feature the new Liquid Gold Live Resin lineup with silver and gold packaging that absolutely pops.
Sexy, sleek and discrete, the Microbar sends a gust of Golden Pineapple to the mind – delivering smooth clouds of sweet gas and Kush that uplift and brighten the senses.
Preparing the margarita after a few puffs, the tea-infused tequila starts out a hazy-blue color before transforming into a beautiful light purple as the citric acid from the lime juice hits the drink. It’s fun to pour and make in front of friends – watching the colors morphing as the Microbar changes the mindset from sober to euphorically stoned.
Alternating sips between the margarita and the Microbar feels classy and heady, especially with the top-shelf live resin in the vaporizer sending warming waves of euphoria and a cerebral, creative high. Perfect for socializing and dazzling friends with high-potency THC, plus a fun twist on a classic drink – this pairing was made for the last hurrah of summer.
MICROBAR.US | @MICROBAR.US
UNICORNDISTILLERY.COM
@UNICORNDISTILLERY
“CLASSY AND HEADY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE TOP-SHELF LIVE RESIN IN THE VAPORIZER SENDING WARMING WAVES OF EUPHORIA AND A CEREBRAL, CREATIVE HIGH.”
Unicorn
Pea Tequila and triple sec. Squeeze in lime juice – but don’t toss the lime. Shake for 10 seconds. If you’d like a salted rim, grab the juiced lime and rub along the rim, then dip into kosher salt. Pour the shaker contents into the glass. Garnish with lime.
“THIS FLOWER SMELLS LIKE SUMMER.”
23% THC | 2.98% CBG | 2.7% TERPENES | 6% ABV IRONHORSEBREWERY.COM | @IRONHORSEBREWERY LAZYBEEGARDENS.COM | @LAZYBEEGARDENS
SUMMER AND FALL are the seasons for yard sales, as the last warm days shorten and the piles of unused nicknacks in the garage scream to be rehomed. And for those pickers who never miss turning for a sign know, yard sales have the potential to bring hidden gems to new owners for pennies on the dollar – surely eliciting a high-five when a big score happens.
That’s why we chose to pair Yard Sale, the heady sativa from Lazy Bee Gardens, with the High Five Hefe from Iron Horse Brewery. Starting with the gorgeous full-bud, on-stem flower in the glass container from Snow White, this sativa was given the longer growing period needed to produce the effects we love – all the while being nurtured by Clean Green Certified growing practices. The buds are light green and covered in orange hairs and trichomes, releasing a warming citrus-honey-haze that teases the senses as the sticky flower is broken up for smoking.
This flower smells like summer, with first tokes delivering a sweet floral haze that burns slowly – sending waves of tingly, cerebral euphoria with each hit. Whimsical and magical, like the last warm days, this strain brings the open creative buzz it takes to rummage through strangers’ belongings. That’s where the High Five Hefe can provide some liquid courage and refreshment, with a golden light-bodied beer brewed with ginger and honey for a refreshing and bright sip that amplifies a buzz between tokes.
Let this be the easy pairing decision … so the hard choices between a “Friends” DVD set, outdated fashion and camping gear can be made in a proper state of mind.
EMBRACE the sultry past of absinthe with the nuevo high of PLUGplay’s vaporizer pods for a pairing that fully embodies the strain name of Slymer.
Before cocktail or happy hour was the L’Heure Verte, the green hour, when the workers of London and Paris would turn to the wormwood-infused concoction for escape and a buzz unlike any other alcohol. Absinthe was regarded as both the drink of poets and artists, and the scourge of the lower class. How ironic that a green-tinted drink was blamed for society’s ills, much like Cannabis would be blamed several hundred years later.
As the absinthe magician Paul Nathan said in 2006 (shortly after importing the green fairy was made legal again in the U.S.), “People are rediscovering their chronic craving for ritual and magic in life. Absinthe has it all.” We feel this quote encompasses the same wonder we have with legal Cannabis – and nothing embodies this more than the ability to vaporize on the go.
PLUGplay’s innovative battery and pod design allows for easy on-the-go vaping, and switching between strains for the perfect buzz. We picked the Slymer strain to pair with our absinthe, a sativa phenotype of the Chernobyl and Trainwreck strain. Puffing on the pod sends big clouds of hazy citrus vapor that tingles the palate with a gassy, sour-lime exhale – sending a wave of thoughtful euphoria to the mind. If only the poets of the past could have hit a PLUGplay Livest fresh frozen live resin pod to amplify their absinthe buzz.
The ritual of pouring absinthe over the sugar cube and diluting it into water reminds us of preparing a dab, but that’s too much to do at the same time, so we puffed on the Slymer to continue our meteoric rise into a spacey head high. The bitter anise (black licorice flavor that’s in most absinthe) pulls us back to reality before the high potency alcohol sends a shockwave through the body – enveloping senses in a buzz that is both modern and of the renaissance at the same time. As Oscar Wilde noted, “A glass of absinthe is as poetical as anything in the world.”
The addition of Cannabis is leveling up into uncharted territory.
PLUGPLAY.COM | @PLUGPLAY LAFEE.COM | @REALABSINTHE
“IF ONLY THE POETS OF THE PAST COULD HAVE HIT A PLUGPLAY LIVEST FRESH FROZEN LIVE RESIN POD TO AMPLIFY THEIR ABSINTHE BUZZ.”
We often think of terpenes in terms of smells, but these chemical compounds are also closely tied to flavor. Understanding how things taste or how to blend different profiles is essential for any serious chef or hashmaker – like someone dedicated to cuisine, anyone looking to create good hash is on a pilgrimage for flavor. Putting the two together is something that the scene has experienced a noticeable uptick in over the last five years, with groups creating a variety of supper clubs, pop-up kitchens and luncheons, all tied to the hash scene. This wave of events presents dab-loving diners with a unique experience, while challenging chefs to cook for Cannabis instead of with it.
Using ingredients like imported sushi, expensive coffees, fresh fruits, edible flowers, fine chocolate and Kobe beef, chefs craft thoughtful pairings that complement flavors from a list of hashmakers –matching each jar with drinks and dishes inspired by their culinary perspective. Even if you think you know the flavor profile of Sour Diesel like the back of your hand, you’ll be amazed at how differently your taste buds receive that information when you try it with some uni or a golden raspberry.
A full range of these dining experiences has emerged, from buffet-style brunches to 10-person dinners. Hash sommelier Sarah Jain Bergman provides the most accessible example of this by traveling the country, showing people how a square of chocolate can transform your trip to the dab bar –offering small bites that synergize with the taste of each particular dab. Resin Tree Collective, which hosts dinners in New York, says menu opportunity is wide open now that people are beginning to understand not just what terpenes are, but how they interact with flavor.
Access to some of these involves membership or a secret sign-up list, while others are as easy as buying tickets. To help you get started, we’ve rounded up a few of the innovative groups putting on these hash-based culinary experiences and encourage you to look and see when one of them might be popping up in your area.
GROOVY GRAVY
Groovy Gravy is “bringing terps to the table” in Denver with a calendar of private popups including Fresh Off The Press – matching fresh-pressed rosin with flavor profiles ranging from sweet to savory with juices and coffees (also freshly pressed, of course), seasonal Supper Club dinners – featuring locally acclaimed hashmakers and chefs, and Cocktails in the Clocktower – pairing parties of infused aperitifs and dank desserts. Sign up for their newsletter, because you’ve got to be in the know to get on the gravy train.
@itsgroovygravy
itsgroovygravy.com
A Bay Area activation group that caters to very exclusive events, fusing the hash world together with experienced chefs like Anthony Yang and Chris Ratcliff. Available for private bookings, they’ve created menus with Helios Hash, Feeling Frosty and Ogre Farms. Past events include a VIP dinner at the MINS glass tour in San Francisco this year.
@furlough__
Based in New York, this crew has been throwing a series of immersive dinners called Terps and Sushi. R.T.C. wants to make your evening a guided experience that inspires conversation between diners, hashmakers and the chef. Founding member Tyler is also part of Terrapin Productions, which launches its first Terps & Tapas event in Chicago on September 9. Advanced purchase ticketing is available through links on their socials.
@resintreeco
Workbench hosts ultra-luxurious, intimate fine-dining experiences capped at just 14 guests. Held in their private kitchen in Downtown Denver, the secret location is only revealed to attendees the day of service. An open kitchen and counter-style seating help create an immersive, multi-sensory, communal experience as guests sit at “the workbench” to watch chefs prepare A5 Wagyu, homemade pasta, locally-grown veggies and more. The group hosts multiple dinners a month and each has a completely original prix-fixe tasting menu featuring hyper-seasonal ingredients, hand-crafted cocktails and local rosin.
@workbench_dining
Out in California, Cold Curated creates a private, fine-dining atmosphere with dishes highlighting local ingredients from Sonoma County paired with a different hash for each course. Its mission is to feature “the most sought-after hashmakers in the world.” Past events have matched dishes to terps from Pure Melt, NorCal Organix, Exclusive Melts, West Coast Alchemy and more. Tickets to Cold Curated events can be purchased online through Instagram. @cold.curated
With experience in entertainment, Cannabis and catering, this group has thrown a wide variety of events with California producers. Examples of their past work include Kush and Kaiseki with Terp Mansion, Flower In The Garden with Kalya Extracts, and a sixcourse solventless pairing to honor the Emerald Cup – with a menu designed by SF’s Big Bad Wolf and featuring Tim Blake as guest speaker. @cannabis.cultureclub
Put on by Ego Clash winner Simplee Adam and popular podcast The Hashish Inn, these events go from coast-to-coast connecting people with farmers and makers to tell the story behind the hash. In Colorado they worked with Groovy Gravy, inviting a trio of chefs to create three specific pairings each. After the success of that show, they’re developing a morning brunch that would bring together espresso and dabs.
@coffee.donuts.adam
“THIS WAVE OF EVENTS PRESENTS DABLOVING DINERS WITH A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE WHILE CHALLENGING CHEFS TO COOK FOR CANNABIS INSTEAD OF WITH IT.”
100% Flower - Live Resin + 97% THCa 100% Flower - Live Resin + 97% THCa Flower Live 97% Crystal Infusion Crystal Infusion
100% Flower - Live Resin - HTE
Flower - Live Resin - HTE
Flower - Live Resin - HTE
Infusion
Infusion 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.
WHEN IT COMES to the current state of the Cannabis industry, there is no debate that product packaging plays a large role in the aspect of marketing. The same can be said for the many heady beers hitting shelves on a regular basis. But in a world where an eye-catching package can distract from the actual quality of the product it holds, or a dull design may not adequately represent the product’s high quality – a watchful eye can make all the difference
The colors employed in a company’s marketing have a significant influence on how people will perceive a product, and can ultimately affect whether or not they buy it or recommend it to others. And given the many Cannabis companies flexing on their Instagram pages, the visually appealing packaging provides the opportunity to spread awareness of their brand and increase the bag appeal of their product. Keep in mind: There is no industry standard for how far companies can take this – with different compliance laws in every state limiting artistic design in some cases. We have seen packaging be discontinued around the country due to such issues.
Cookies brand products are a great example of colorful Cannabis packaging that pushes the limit on compliance, while staying within the boundaries. It is pretty rare to find a Cannabis consumer who isn’t familiar with those little blue mylar bags, often adorned with a creative spin on the strain inside. For example, Georgia Pie comes in a bag with a peach-colored text and a peach instead of an “o” in the word Georgia. Or maybe you’ve seen The Soap – with sudsy bubbles spelling out the strain name in an almost robin’s egg blue. In any case, the Cannabis industry should be able to do whatever they want with their packaging and let consumers be the judge on what appeals to them, or doesn’t.
Is beer different? In fact, beer packaging standards are generally much more lenient. There are some areas of crossover, such as potency and manufacturing information (where it was made/ grown) needing to be included on the outside labels. But we constantly see double standards like product packaging that can appeal to children being OK for beer companies, but not for Cannabis companies. Many sour beers today are made with copious amounts of fruits and sometimes even candy. I have seen everything from cartoon-style, candy-like fruits, to straight up cartoon images of sweets on the outside of beer cans. I think it goes without saying that this would not fly in certain states’ Cannabis industries. Many people in liquor stores are shopping for a creative label that speaks to them, so why limit Cannabis companies in their creative expressions?
In the beer world, RAR Brewing is among the top dogs – from the quality of their brews to the packaging it comes in. Their “Out of Order” series is a play on the Slush Puppy dog, and they do a series of five to six different smoothie-style sours on every drop. In-house artist BJ Wheatley crafts up their vibrant designs, putting his all into every can. 450 North Brewing is another prime example –with cartoon-like color blasting out of their smoothie cup surrounded by fruit, candy and baked goods on every single can. Many people swear by the fact that these are two of the best beer makers in the world – and the packaging certainly doesn’t hurt in conveying that message to new potential customers.
Packaging can surely have its pros and cons, but overall, the community seems drawn to artistic renditions of existing packaging – as long as the product inside backs it up. With the way the markets are changing nationwide, we can definitely expect to see companies expand upon their current designs, for both Cannabis and alcohol industries. And while judging a book by its cover is never a good idea, it’s fair to hope it’s a proper representation of its contents.
“MANY PEOPLE IN LIQUOR STORES ARE SHOPPING FOR A CREATIVE LABEL THAT SPEAKS TO THEM, SO WHY LIMIT CANNABIS COMPANIES IN THEIR CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS?”Cookies Cannabis has bold packaging. WYATT EARLY COURTESY ADOBE STOCK 450 North Brewing offers stoner-inspired can designs.
Limonene Linalool
Caryophyllene Myrcene
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.
Four years ago, Leaf Magazine Founder Wes Abney asked me to write an analytical piece drawing comparisons between two craft industries – Craft Beer and Craft Cannabis – for the 2019 Leaf Magazines Tannins & Terpenes Issue. It was the very first assignment he handed me for the Leaf – long before he asked me to lead the team.
AT THE TIME, I focused on differences between the current Cannabis scene and the well-matured craft beverage industry, outlining the chief changes we would need to see before the sprouted legal industry could bloom into something resembling its closest craft analog: beer.
Now, nearly half a decade later, I’m taking some time to revisit that column, to ruminate on where our community stands and where it needs to go. We’ve traveled far since 2019, but not always in the right direction.
One thing that will hopefully come with time and effort is the development of a cohesive identity for Cannabis. Craft beverages have one distinct advantage going for them – there’s no argument about what they are, or what they do. They’re far simpler than the complex plant we all love.
Conversely, weed’s identity changes from region to region. Depending on where you’re trying to blaze, Cannabis means something different – at least from a regulatory standpoint. In some markets, it’s a medicine only. In other areas, such as New York, it’s like cigarettes – you can spark a J anywhere you can light up an American Spirit (except for in cars).
Advocates for consumption lounges treat Cannabis more like booze. It has the potential to be a social catalyst, providing a reason for people to gather and imbuing public conversation with life and vibrance. But that’s not without its complications. No one gets a contact-buzz when sitting next to a drinker, and it’s hard to stay 100% sober in a consumption lounge – presenting a conundrum for the designated driver who gets stopped on the way home from a sesh.
(For sake of argument here, let’s forget about the longstanding tradition of rolling up a J specifically for a drive with a well-curated soundtrack.) Those arguments against public consumption are temporary road blocks, and not an excuse to hobble an entire industry.
Back to identity. Is Cannabis a medicine, an intermittent mood-adjusting respite (like cigarettes), or a social catalyst for public consumption?
In short, yes. It’s all of them, and they’re not mutually exclusive. And just because the people writing the laws seem to be confused about that, doesn’t mean consumers should be subject to more restrictions. If anything, they should benefit from less stringent legislation and place the burden of public safety on the people and organizations developing the machinations of enforcement. Let the smokers smoke – while the law develops robust field testing to judge impairment. After all, people were allowed to legally drink and drive for decades before someone developed the first breathalyzer.
The one constant in the weed world is that lawmakers continue to get it wrong. Whether they’re acting out of complete ignorance, confusion over conflicting interests and information, or just plain greed – not one jurisdiction has rolled out proper Cannabis legislation.
Alcohol didn’t thrive without its own post-Prohibition hurdles, but for Cannabis, aside from punitive tax rates, the core of the matter ties into public consumption and direct sales. Combined, these embody the highest hurdle for Cannabis to clear before it’s treated like every other similar and reasonably regulated consumer product. The traditional market is crushing the licensed market in this regard. Pop-ups, seshes and all-out trap festivals have taken center stage on the legacy market – most of the time out in the open. Damn it feels good to be a gangsta.
Meanwhile, licensed cultivators are having their dogs shot by law enforcement on their own property while being taxed into extinction.
Set aside the fact that the prohibitive laws shouldn’t exist in the first place, it makes one wonder what endgame the political and financial
stakeholders prescribing rules for the licensed market have in mind. On the current regulatory high seas, those with a true craft product – meaning high-quality goods made in small batches with limited distribution – continue to drown, with the only option being either to return to the trap or sell to a larger company with more financing. Big bank takes little bank. End of story.
The simple ability to sell directly to the consumer, with no legal loopholes or mandatory third-party delivery services necessary, is the quickest path to survival for the licensed craft scene. After all, at least 25% of a craft brewery’s revenue comes from direct on-premise sales at the brewery. Just imagine a world where you could tour a grow and walk out with half ounces of the best strains you sampled in the tasting room.
With the way things are, the Cannabis industry is acting like an Ourobouros, or a snake eating its own tail. Licensed, compliant companies see their friends succeeding in the traditional market while they drown in taxes and overregulation, and the resentment starts brewing.
In some markets, people are out here dry snitching on people they would have been seshing with a few years ago, because they’re tired of having to fight for the last spot on a sinking licensure lifeboat.
Cannabis companies are acting like tuna fighting over a school of baitfish, oblivious to the sharks circling just outside the periphery. Those sharks have lots of money and want the best brands to struggle, so they can waltz in on the heels of federal legalization, buy up all the distressed assets, and let the federal government go after the enterprising entrepreneurs who chose to go back to the trap.
At least that’s one possible future. It could cut another way. One thing’s for certain: Until the Law treats Craft Cannabis at least as fairly as it treats Craft Beer, we’re all going to be duking it out in the primordial soup, fighting to see who’s going to grow legs and walk.
“THE ONE CONSTANT IN THE WEED WORLD IS THAT LAWMAKERS CONTINUE TO GET IT WRONG.”
WYLD MONDAYS ° 30% OFF ALL WYLD PRODUCTS TUESDAYS ° 20% OFF ALL CBD PRODUCTS WEDNESDAYS ° 20% OFF
SOLVENTLESS CONCENTRATES THURSDAYS ° 20% OFF SELECT TOP
SHELF BRANDS SATURDAYS ° 25% OFF ONLINE ORDERS
SUNDAYS ° 30% OFF OUNCES RUSH HOUR SPECIALS ° MON- FRI ° 25% OFF EVERYTHING 8am-10am ° 25% OFF ALL PRE-ROLLS
4pm-6pm ONLINE & APP ORDERS SAVE 15% EVERYDAY
IN ADDITION TO OUR DAILY LOW PRICING YOU CAN ALSO SCORE
DAILY DEALS FROM OUR SLAM DUNK VENDORS INCLUDING
NWCS // FORBIDDEN FARMS // WA GROWER // MAMA J'S // AGRO COUTURE // EDGEMONT // WYLD // PHAT PANDA // BINKSE & MANY MORE
2764 1st ave s
seattle, wa 98134
THERE MAY BE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CONSUMPTION OF THIS PRODUCT. SHOULD NOT BE USED BY WOMEN THAT ARE PREGNANT OR BREAST FEEDING. FOR USE ONLY BY ADULTS TWENTY-ONE AND OLDER. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. MARIJUANA CAN IMPAIR CONCENTRATION, COORDINATION, AND JUDGMENT. DO NOT OPERATE A VEHICLE OR MACHINERY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THIS DRUG. WARNING: THIS PRODUCT HAS INTOXICATING EFFECTS AND MAY BE HABIT FORMING. SMOKING IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR
OF
As each emerging “adult-use” market takes shape, one thing remains clear across the country: Consumers want options. And in case you’re already so lost in the literature that you’ve forgotten, let us remind you: This is America, the capital of capitalism.
Unless you’re looking for a new internet provider, political party, or doctor – you’ll always have options here.
FOR YEARS, options in Cannabis simply revolved around what was available. With harsh regulations, high costs and limited resources, things seemed to be moving slowly. Some producers flocked to new methods that promised low costs and high yields. The damage of hot dog water distillate and vitamin E acetate was done, and botanical terpenes bore the brunt of it.
Back then, a product con taining botanically-derived (non-Cannabis) terpenes was a surefire way to a few fake flavors and a sore throat. But this was also a time when the community’s understanding of Cannabis-derived terpenes was still limited and lab results didn’t offer much in terms of recreating a cultivar’s aromatic characteristics.
Today, while we’ve still barely scratched the surface of terpene potential, a wider understanding of plant profiles is emerging, and a consumer base interested in a variety of products is growing larger by the year.
The power of the Entourage Effect finally has some footing among the masses – leaving folks from all levels of experience looking to terpenes when shopping for products.
Most of these products can be broken down into three terpene categories: synthetic, Cannabis-derived and botanically-derived. Many legalized markets have cracked down on synthetic terpenes and since botanical derivatives are quite literally all around us, it seems that we’re headed toward a future with two main options. To learn more about what each has to offer, we talked to Shea Ryan of GenX Terpenes in California and Andy Lunsmann of White Label Extracts in Oregon.
GenX Terpenes is a relatively new company on the scene, but Ryan comes from the Cannabis industry and knows that quality and consistency can be hard to come by. So GenX is focusing on Cannabis-derived terpenes that mimic classic cultivars and can be sold in bulk. “Let’s be real, vapes are a big part of this industry,” says Ryan. “And a lot of those vape companies, there are a plethora of areas for them to get their terpenes from.” Ryan expresses no malice for botanical terpenes, but does share a quality concern for those producers only interested in low price points. While prices may drive some producers, companies like White Label Extracts simply seem focused on offering consumers options. Lunsmann explains that the company still specializes in full-spectrum Cannabis extracts, but they’re even rolling out a new line of cartridges with botanical terpenes.
“We want to offer something for everyone,” explains Ryan. He tells me that botanical terpenes not only offer more affordable price points, but also provide new consumers with familiar flavors (like Washington Apple) that are less intimidating than classic Cannabis cultivars. Lunsmann says that tobacco vape users are also a growing share of the botanical terpene consumer base, with many gravitating toward the strong flavors.
Whether you’re a connoisseur or a new consumer, one thing is clear: The future of Cannabis is all about flavor.
WHITELABELEXTRACTS.NET
@WHITE_LABEL_EXTRACTS_
"TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT EACH HAS TO OFFER, WE TALKED TO SHEA RYAN OF GENX TERPENES IN CALIFORNIA AND ANDY LUNSMANN OF WHITE LABEL EXTRACTS IN OREGON."White Label Extracts creates cartridge options with botanical and cannabis-derived terpenes.
Twenty-two years ago this month, two gay Cannabis activists – Tom Crosslin and Rollie Rohm – were gunned down by police on their farm in Vandalia, Michigan, after a five-day siege that some have called “The Waco of Weed.”
Grover “Tom” Crosslin was open about his love for weed from an early age. After first getting high with his brothers when he was just 14, Cannabis quickly became a normal part of their family life. His sexuality, however, he was more private about.
After dropping out of high school, Crosslin worked various blue-collar jobs before becoming a real estate developer – fixing up run-down properties and flipping them or renting them out for profit. It was through his construction company that he met the love of his life: an easy-going young crewmember named Rolland “Rollie” Rohm. Though the two men were very different – Rollie, a slim, quiet, longhaired hippie, and Tom, a burly, bearded hothead nearly 20 years his senior – they instantly connected and began a romantic relationship.
Though barely 17 when he met Crosslin in 1990, Rohm had already been married and fathered a son named Robert. In 1993, after helping Rollie gain custody of Robert, Crosslin purchased a 34-acre farm in rural Vandalia, Michigan to serve as his new family’s home. During one of the countless weeks they spent renovating the property, they saw so many rainbows that they decided to name their new home Rainbow Farm.
OVER THE RAINBOW
Tired of managing his many properties, Crosslin decided to turn Rainbow Farm into “an alternative campground and concert arena” and spent
the next few years (and nearly half a million dollars) transforming the farm’s open spaces and overgrown cornfields into one of the top pot destinations in the nation. Crosslin and his team constructed several structures, including an outdoor stage, a ticketing booth, a large main building to house their offices and shops, and amenities for campers. They then set about bringing his dream of a stoner utopia to life.
Starting in 1996, Rainbow Farm began hosting two annual festivals: Roach Roast on Labor Day weekend and Hemp Aid on Memorial Day weekend, as well as other various events in between. Described as “part Woodstock, part union picnic” by “Burning Rainbow Farm” author Dean Kuipers, these festivals included food, drink, activism and entertainment. Among the prominent performers and activists who attended these events were Tommy Chong,
Big Brother and the Holding Company, The Byrds, country music star Merle Haggard, High Times editor-in-chief Steve Hager, and activist legends John Sinclair and Jack Herer. In addition to speeches and voter registration drives, they collected thousands of signatures for the Personal Responsibility Amendment in 2000 – a ballot initiative to legalize possession of three plants and three ounces of Cannabis for adults. Soon, Rainbow Farm became the center of Cannabis activism in Michigan.
Unfortunately, Crosslin’s propot protestivals encountered serious pushback from law enforcement – namely, Cass County’s conservative prosecutor, Scott Teter, who launched a vendetta of litiga tion and intimidation against Rainbow Farm.
From 1997-1999, Teter filed several injunctions against the farm, but Crosslin managed to keep one step ahead of him. Unable to stop the events through the courts, Teter established a drug task force and set up roadblocks leading into the farm to stop and harass festival goers – a move that scared many potential attendees off.
He also sent his narcs into the events (who made numerous drug buys there), but were never able to tie Crosslin or his employees to anything illegal. Nevertheless, in March 1999, Teter sent Crosslin a letter stating that he had evidence of drug sales on the property and that as soon as he could link Crosslin to them, he would take his farm away (under the Drug War’s civil forfeiture laws). The threat of losing his land infuriated Crosslin, prompting a heated and foreboding reply:
“We are all prepared to die on this land before we allow it to be stolen from us,” Crosslin wrote. “Are you planning to burn us out like they did in Waco, or will you have snipers shoot us through our windows like the Weavers at Ruby Ridge? You will have the blood of a government massacre on your hands.”
Finally, in 2001, Teter found his excuse to bust Crosslin. Apparently, a woman who’d worked for them told authorities that Crosslin was paying employees off the books – allowing Teter to get a search warrant on a trumped-up tax fraud charge. In the pre-dawn hours of May 9, state troopers in tactical gear and automatic weapons raided the farm. Once inside the house, they found over 200 young Cannabis plants in the basement and several loaded firearms, which Crosslin wasn’t permitted to own due to a past gun conviction.
Tom and Rollie were both charged with felony cultivation and weapons possession, as well as running a “drug house.” Altogether, Tom was facing up to 20 years in prison. The court also issued an injunction banning any more events on the farm, and Teter filed a request to seize the property. And cruelest of all, on May 15, Teter also had their 12-year-old son Robert taken away and placed in foster care.
Despite everything, or perhaps because of it, Crosslin announced on their website that they’d still be hosting their annual Labor Day party, as well as another small gathering on August 17 – both in defiance of the court order. Two of the few dozen people who showed up to that gathering were undercover cops who were allegedly offered weed. This prompted Teter to petition to revoke the couple’s bail, and a hearing was scheduled for August 31.
The end was drawing near for them, and Crosslin apparently knew it – confessing to his property manager Doug Leinbach: “I’m going to die on my farm, not in prison.”
During the last week of August, Tom and Rollie composed handwritten wills – leaving all of their possessions to Rollie’s son Robert – then started giving away stuff from the shops.
When August 31 arrived, Tom and Rollie never showed up in court for their hearing. Instead, they went around the property
kicking out the remaining campers and setting fire to the farm’s structures – reasoning that if the government was going to seize his land, he’d “make sure there was nothing left on it.”
Around noon, when a local TV news chopper flew overhead to get footage of the fires, Crosslin – possibly thinking it was a police copter –allegedly shot at it. After that, the FBI was called in, along with SWAT teams, helicopters, surveillance planes and light-armored vehicles, all of which surrounded the property – including three FBI sniper teams in camouflage laying in hiding in the woods to monitor the house.
Throughout Labor Day weekend, Tom and Rollie continued burning down structures until the only building left standing was the farmhouse, where they hunkered down for the standoff.
On the afternoon of Monday, September 3, Crosslin walked to a neighbor’s house for supplies. On his way back, he spotted one of the snipers lying on the ground and allegedly raised his rifle (though his friends and family dispute that claim), at which point two snipers opened fire, killing him instantly.
After informing him that his partner was dead, authorities maintained a dialogue with Rohm into the night … until just after 3:00 a.m., when he presumably fell asleep. At that point, they decided to “wake [Rohm] up” by firing a few “dummy rounds” through the windows. Rohm resumed negotiations and agreed to surrender at 7:00 a.m. on one condition: that his son be brought to the farm so he could say goodbye before being taken into custody, which police agreed to. But sadly, that peaceful resolution was about to go down in flames – literally.
Around 6:00 a.m., a fire somehow broke out on the house’s second floor. Authorities blamed Rollie for the blaze, supposing he was finishing what Tom had started … but friends and family accuse police of starting the fire by shooting a flashbang grenade in there to flush Rollie out. In any case, Rohm emerged from the house half an hour later wearing fatigues and allegedly
holding a rifle. Through the smoke, officers claim they saw him pointing the rifle toward them and fired several rounds – one of which went right through the stock of his rifle and into his chest. Friends claim that despite having an ambulance sitting at the ready just outside the farm, police allowed Rollie to lie on the ground for over 40 minutes and bleed to death.
When they were killed, Tom Crosslin was 46 years old and Rollie Rohm was just 28.
Unfortunately, the story of Rainbow Farm never got the national press it deserved since the terror attacks of 9/11 happened one week later – eclipsing all other news stories for many months after.
So what happened to Rainbow Farm after Tom and Rollie’s deaths? Instead of going to their son Robert as the couple intended, it was confiscated, broken up into six parcels, and auctioned off to various buyers with the stipulation that they couldn’t turn the land into campgrounds or throw events there. But in 2012, after changing hands several times, the property was purchased by a farmer/engineer named Gary Healy – who has since reopened it under the name the New Rainbow Farm.
Though Tom and Rollie are now honored with memorial sites on the property, the greatest tribute to their courageous lives is the continuation of their legacy: Rainbow Farm is once again hosting 420-friendly concerts and festivals (with help from their son Robert and Tom’s nephew Boss) with vendors selling Cannabis that – thanks in part to their sacrifices – is now legal in the state of Michigan.
To read the full, unabridged version of this story and listen to the interview on our podcast, visit worldofcannabis.museum/cannthropology. Visit the new
“We are all prepared to die on this land,”
Crosslin wrote to prosecutor Scott Teter. “You will have the blood of a government massacre on your hands.”Poster for Hemp Aid 2000. Original protest sign. Rollie with son Robert during happier times on the Farm. Poster for Hemp Aid 2021. Tom and Rollie pose with activist icon Jack Herer (left) and country music star Merle Haggard (right).
RELIGION IS A MESS. Can’t we just consolidate the roughly 4,200+ doctrines of belief into one handy little guidebook that reflects something like the Ten Commandments and call it a day? And if it pisses you off, we don’t even have to call it the Ten Commandments. I don’t care what you call it, just don’t call me late for dinner.
Because when you think about it, all denominations pretty much preach the same thing. And those tenets are to simply believe in a higher power, honor that higher power, practice good faith and get rewarded with 72 virgins … or at least one soulmate.
I mean, everyone’s paradise sounds so goddamn appealing that I’m feeling uncertain about which stairway leads to heaven. And it’s becoming a bitch pulling the trigger on which lord almighty best suits my lifestyle. I don’t want to pick the wrong one – this is an eternity in hell we’re talking about and I hear the air conditioning units are old and squeaky. And it’s a good thing temperature rises, because then melting the polar caps will make things much cooler down there.
I’m just an imperfect person trying to make the perfect choice.
Maybe it’s like this. Maybe you go to the heaven that represents the deity you choose to worship – which means there are up to 12,000 different versions of heaven. Wouldn’t that be divine? Because then there is no wrong choice.
Anyway, I suppose I better pick my horse while I still have time to place a wager. I could be swept away by the angels at any given moment, and I sure as hell don’t want to miss my boat across the river Styx.
OK, I think I’ve made my choice.
I choose Rastafarianism.
Does this mean I will get to smoke with Bob?
