THE ENL IGHTENED VOICE
FREE / AKLEAF.COM
#42 | OCT. 2019
INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010
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The largest Garden Superstore in the state with top brands you love, and the largest CBD selection in the country, all under one roof. Southside Garden Superstores isn’t just the largest garden supplier in Alaska, we also have a gigantic selection of CBD products. Our friendly staff of gardeners are seriously big on know-how. We offer special member pricing, 6-month exchanges for electronics and a price match guarantee. Stop by and we’ll help you find anything and everything you need for indoor gardening and hydroponics — and we’ll also send you home with the knowledge to succeed. Now that’s huge!
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THE HEMP ISSUE
Hemp growing at East Fork Cultivars in Southern Oregon.
14 NATIONAL news 20 budtender Q&A 24 girdwood review 28 HIGHLY LIKELY
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32 STRAIN OF THE MONTH 36 hemp: the new age 38 hempire co. q & a 40 irie co. q & a 42 top hat concentrates 44 josh fryfogle q & a 46 Cbd product highlights 54 spooked & stoned recipes 56 edible of the month 58 concentrate of the month
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62 stoney baloney
HEMP
ocT. 2019
PHOTO by JOHN HYDE
THE HEMP ISSUE
10
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FROM CBD P RODUCTS TO HEMP EXTRACTIONS TO P ROCESSORS AND GLOBAL EXPORTERS — THIS SPECIAL EDITION IS A GREAT ENTRY TO THE WORLD OF HEMP.
the hemp issue
ocT. 2019
PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
E S TA B L I S H E D 2 0 1 0
T H E E N L I G H T E N E D VO I C E
WES
ABNEY
Editor’s Note ON THE COVER The Hemp Issue Hemp in this country has a storied history, and since the beginning of the United States, hemp has played an important role as textile, food source and more. Explore this issue for some of our favorite hemp-based products! art by brandon palma @8thdaycreate
CONTRIBUTORS Michael C Features Boom Media Photos
PUBLISHER WES ABNEY | founder & editor-in-chief Wes@nwleaf.com 206-235-6721
Max Early Reviews Wyatt Early Reviews Steve Elliott National News Jeff Porterfield Design
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Daniel bermaN | photography & design daniel@bermanphotos.com
Eshom Reed Reviews Meghan Ridley Editing Pacer Stacktrain Features Nate Williams Features Laurie & Bruce Wolf Recipes
STATE DIRECTOR AND ADVERTISING joshua stahle | ADVERTISING SALES Josh@AKLeaf.com | 907-317-2536
AL AS KA L E A F / N O RT H W E S T L E A F / O R EG O N L E A F / M A RY L AN D L E A F
CONNECT WITH THE LEAF @NWLEAF
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@NWLEAF
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Hemp is going to save the planet - that’s no exaggeration. It is a wonder plant that can provide everything from food to fiber to fuel, medicine to building materials, and so much more. Everything a petrochemical touches in our society for convenience items, we could be making with a renewable resource and healing the WE ARE AT earth, instead of poisoning it with carbon A TURNING emissions and more waste. POINT AS A The Pacific Northwest has been the epicenter for a rapidly expanding hemp SOCIETY AND A industry that is changing the face of this SPECIES AS WE industrial plant. REALIZE THAT When we first began covering hemp WE CANNOT farms in 2016, there were about 30 across CONTINUE the region. Last year that number was TO LIVE IN in the hundreds, and this year there are DESTRUCTIVE easily thousands of different hemp farms PATTERNS FOR across the country, ranging from backyard OUR PLANET, OR producers to massive agricultural setups. PEOPLE. Much like the Cannabis boom, hemp is spreading across the country and the impact is being felt worldwide. We are at a turning point as a society and a species as we realize that we cannot continue to live in destructive patterns for our planet, or people. Hemp and CBD wellness are big drivers of this, as we bring healing to our planet, and I feel honored to play a part in spreading awareness of the plant and the people doing amazing things with it. Check out our stories inside this issue for new ways to use hemp, and even live in it! Thank you for reading and enjoy this new issue of the Leaf!
-Wes Abney ocT. 2019
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We do not sell stories or coverage. We are happy to offer design services and guidance on promoting your company’s recreational, commercial or industrial Cannabis product or upcoming event. We are targeted and independent Cannabis journalism. Email or call to discuss advertising.
Thanks for picking up The Alaska Leaf Hemp Issue!
Marijuanahas intoxicating effects andmaybehabitforming andaddictive.Marijuanaimpairs concentration,coordination,andjudgement.Donotoperate vehicleormachineryunderits influence.Therearehealthrisks associatedwithconsumptionofmarijuana.Foruseonlybyadults 21andolder.Keepoutofreachofchildren.Marijuanashouldnotbeusedbywomenwhoarepregnantorbreastfeeding
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VA C A T I O N S W E E T S B O O K I N G D A I L Y
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 con consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.
national news
West Coast
CANNABIS 2.0: WASHINGTON STATE CONSIDERS OVERHAUL OF CANNABIS INDUSTRY RULES
legalization
WISCONSIN DEMOCRATS TAKE ANOTHER TRY AT LEGALIZING CANNABIS
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Almost the entire upper Midwest has either legalized weed or at least medical marijuana, but Wisconsin sticks out like a sore thumb. The state will be an “island of prohibition very soon,” said Rep. Melissa Sargent (D-Madison). Rep. Sargent is trying to change that by writing four bills which would legalize Cannabis for medical and recreational purposes, reports Madison.com. “Prohibition hasn’t worked for farmers who are unable to tap into a multi-billion dollar industry, nor for those sitting in prison for nonviolent pot-related charges,” Sargent said. “Plain and simple, I think the most dangerous thing about Cannabis in Wisconsin is that it is illegal,” Rep. Sargent said.
BUSINESS
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WHY THE EVERGREEN STATE HAS BEEN PLAGUED BY WEED THEFTS
An expensive series of Cannabis thefts have been occurring in Washington State, and growers aren’t just unhappy with the thieves themselves - they are also pointing fingers at the Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB). The agency is tasked with overseeing the state’s recreational Cannabis program, and some growers who’ve lost their market-ready crops to thieves say the LCB has been far too free in sharing insider information about the growers. Washington has strict reporting requirements for Cannabis industry participants, with an emphasis on growers. Growers, however, understandably want (and, due to ripoffs, actually need) to keep a low profile. When it becomes public knowledge that you are growing hundreds of marijuana plants worth thousands of dollars, bad things can and do happen. But the LCB requires grow sites to submit their addresses, along with extensive other data. Growers are required to provide much more information to the state than other businesses, including exactly how many plants they grow and harvest and how much inventory is on hand. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to view such data from a ripoff point of view. After all, if you can determine a particular grow site - with an address - has a crop ready for harvest, that is information upon which thieves are certainly happy to act. That’s probably a big reason why licensed Cannabis growers, especially smaller craft growers, are being hit so often. And unfortunately, crop thefts don’t seem to be a particularly high priority among law enforcement. While many growers are filing police reports, The Stranger reports that “no arrests have been made in any of the cases.”
OCT. 2019
Seven years after Washington state voters legalized recreational Cannabis, and five years after the state launched its retail market, officials are looking at overhauling rules for the industry. Plans call for boosting minority ownership of marijuana businesses, allowing home deliveries, and letting the smallest growers increase the size of their operations, reports Q13 FOX. Rick Garza, director of the Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board, along with members of the LCB, are calling it “Cannabis 2.0.” According to Garza, the agency has “been so challenged with the issues of the day, we haven’t been looking out long-term to determine what the future looks like.” The board is considering abandoning the state’s unwieldy seed-to-sale Cannabis tracking program, which has repeatedly succumbed to software issues, sometimes causing retail operations thousands of dollars. Under a proposed new system, businesses would report The board is considering their transactions to the LCB and then be audited. abandoning the state’s unwieldy Another proposal examines whether to allow seed-to-sale Cannabis tracking Cannabis to be exported out of state, as Oregon program, which has repeatedly lawmakers did this year, in the event the federal succumbed to software issues, government approves it. sometimes causing retail The board has proposed two new bills for the operations thousands of dollars. next session of the Washington Legislature in January 2020. The first would create a social equity program to encourage greater ownership of Cannabis businesses by minorities, women, and military veterans. Washington currently isn’t issuing any more Cannabis retail licenses, but 11 of the 500+ retail license holders have surrendered their licenses, according to Garza. Under the LCB proposal, these could be reissued to minority participants, or new licenses could be granted if cities or counties agree to increase the number of pot shops they’ll allow. Businesses would be eligible if they are owed by a woman, minority or veteran, or if a majority of its ownership group are a protected class under Washington state anti-discrimination laws. Another proposal would allow Tier 1 producers, currently limited to 2,000 square feet, to sell medicinal Cannabis directly to the state’s 36,000 registered medical marijuana patients. Patients often have a difficult time finding Cannabis free of pesticides and heavy metals in retail stores. Tier 1 growers could sell to patients onsite under the proposal, with other growers at farmers market style locations, or by delivery, according to Garza. Tier 1 growers could also expand to 5,000 square feet under the proposal, then possibly to 8,000 square feet. Many of the smallest growers are struggling because of their legally limited size.
EAST COAST
MARYLAND CULTIVATORS DRAMATICALLY ADDING CANNABIS PRODUCTION CAPACITY Maryland’s medical marijuana industry is dramatically expanding, with cultivators across the state adding major capacity to meet the demands of patients flooding the market, and to potentially supply a recreational Cannabis market in the future. Industry analysts had estimated Maryland’s marijuana market would gross $60 million in sales by its third year. But by the end of 2017, their very first year, gross sales surpassed $96 million. And that’s before edible products had even been allowed by lawmakers (now they are). Three new growers are entering the market alongside 15 businesses that got the initial cultivation licenses three years ago. Regulators are expected to approve another four growing licenses, bringing the total to 22 growers in the state. Maryland’s successful and stable medical marijuana industry could buttress arguments that the state is ready to embrace recreational legalization, according to some observers. Brian Lopez, chairman of the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission, said he believes growers are adding capacity in anticipation of “adult use coming.” Regulators note there’s still plenty of room for growth in Maryland’s medical Cannabis market, with 82 dispensaries opening across the state in less than two years. By STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA
national news
EAST COAST
CANNABIS MEGACORP HARVEST HEALTH TAKES OVER SECOND MARYLAND DISPENSARY
EAST COAST
MARYLAND MEDICAL CANNABIS COMMISSION DIRECTOR RESIGNS
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The executive director of the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission, which regulates the state’s marijuana industry, is resigning, reports the Baltimore Business Journal. Joy A. Strand, after serving 21 months as head of the 16-member board, announced in September that she will resign effective October 1. Strand has been on medical leave since August 12, according to Will Tilburg, who will now serve as the commission’s acting Executive Director. Strand joined the commission on December 1, 2017, the day medical marijuana sales began in Maryland. She oversaw huge growth during her almost two years as Executive Director. The statewide registered patient count has now grown to more than 100,000, including nearly 300 minors and nearly 400 hospice patients. Retail sales in Maryland have grown to $178 million overall, including more than $86 million since the beginning of 2019.
National Cannabis company Harvest Health & Recreation Inc., which already operates one dispensary in Maryland, will be operating a second shop in the state under a new deal, reports the Baltimore Business Journal. Harvest signed an agreement on September 9 to take over operation of the Your Farmacy medical Cannabis dispensary in Lutherville-Timonium. Harvest’s first dispensary, already in operation, is in Rockville. The company also operates a Cannabis growing and processing facility in Hancock. Harvest, based in Tempe, Arizona, now operates 210 Cannabis facilities across the nation, including about 130 retail stores. The company employs more than 1,700 people across 18 states and territories, with revenue of $47 million in 2018 and a market capitalization of $1.4 billion, according to Yahoo Finance. Your Farmacy’s 3,000 square foot dispensary will become a Harvest House of Cannabis store, pending approval by regulators at the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission.
WEST COAST
NEW STUDY SUGGESTS CALIFORNIA’S GROWING CANNABIS BLACK MARKET DWARFS LEGAL SALES
WEST COAST
aklEAF.COM
41 BALES OF MARIJUANA FOUND ON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST In something of a flashback to the 1970s, 41 bales of Cannabis were discovered on the Southern California coast on September 14, reports KCRA 3. A report of a beached boat came in just before dawn, and deputies found a 35-foot panga boat on the shore below Pacific Coast Highway Malibu and Point Mugu, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators found 577 pounds of marijuana floating in the water and on the beach, as well as 37 large containers filled with gasoline in the boat.
OCT. 2019
California kicked off legal weed sales on January 1, 2018. Initial projections were that the Golden State would bring in $643 million in pot revenue in its first year of recreational sales. But when the numbers were tallied, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration had collected only $345.2 million in 2018. Data from Arcview and BDS Analytics show that legal spending actually declined in California in 2018, from $3 billion (all for medical Cannabis) in 2017 to $2.5 billion in 2018, reports The Motley Fool. What on earth happened? Experts point to the state’s onerous taxation of legal Cannabis, the highest in the nation. Cannabis users are being asked to pay state tax, sales tax, a weed excise tax, and a wholesale tax on either leaves or flower. That can add up to an effective 45 percent tax rate. Since extensive laboratory testing and other regulatory costs are also built into Cannabis pricing in California, that means big differences in per gram prices between legal and black market weed. It doesn’t take Einstein to figure out that illicit dealers are easily able to underprice the legal shops. Another factor is that despite the state legalizing weed, cities have the option of refusing Cannabis shops. Of California’s 482 cities, just 89 places (only 18.5 percent) allow Cannabis retailers. That means black market dealers have the upper hand in the other 82.5 percent of cities in the Golden State, simply by default. By STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA
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Budtender of the month
GOT A FAVORITE BUDTENDER? TELL US WHY! JOSH@AKLEAF.COM
RED RUN CANNABIS COMPANY WHEN DID CANNABIS FIRST COME INTO YOUR LIFE? I first tried weed the summer after I finished the 8th grade...sorry Dad. I grew up in Texas so all we smoked was mid-grade [Cannabis] until Colorado was legalized. HOW DID YOU BECOME A BUDTENDER? I met one of my coworkers through the black market and they told me I had pretty good knowledge of marijuana and thought I would be a great budtender. So, I got my handler’s card and got the job at Red Run Cannabis, and it has been my favorite job I’ve ever had! what do you like about being a budtender? My favorite part of being a budtender is being able to truly connect with my customers, and not just sell them any weed, but what would best fit their current mood. It’s like a game to me, I love to try and read the customer and really see what they’re in the mood for. FAVORITE WAY TO CONSUME cannabis? I’m a bong type of guy. No blunts, no joints - but a nice clean bong rip will set me straight! Also, I do love a nice Hashade to sip on throughout the day to maintain.
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“MY FAVORITE PART OF OF BEING A BUDTENDER IS BEING ABLE TO TRULY CONNECT WITH MY CUSTOMERS, AND NOT JUST SELL THEM ANY WEED, BUT WHAT WOULD BEST FIT THEIR CURRENT MOOD.”
FAVORITE STRAINS AND PRODUCERS? Favorite strain is probably Strawberry Banana Sherbet. I love its fruity undertones and it just gives me such a blissful and relaxing cerebral head buzz. My favorite cultivators have got to be Tanana Herb Co. and Great Northern Cannabis, they put love into growing those plants!
red run cannabis company 5455 KENAI SPUR HWY, KENAI REDRUNCANNABISCOMPANY.COM (907) 283-0800
EDMOND CORCORAN ocT. 2019
HOW DO YOU like to help people in the store? Like I said, it’s a game to me. I start off by asking if you prefer indica or sativa, what kind of high you’re looking for, and what kind of taste and terpenes you prefer. If they don’t know, then I go on to ask what their plans are for the day. The main thing is I listen intently to what the customer has to say before picking something out for them. WHY DO YOU LIKE WORKING AT RED RUN CANNABIS COMPANY? Red Run is the only job I’ve had where I can honestly say we’re family. Everybody is connected, there’s extremely positive energy and a great homey atmosphere. We also have awesome quarterly meetings to set the vibe and energy in the work place, and we have awesome owners, HR and managers. WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES WHEN YOU AREN’T WORKING AT THE DISPENSARY? I love video games. I love to play Fortnite competitively, go longboarding, listen to music, go to concerts, and just spend time in nature in my free time.
INTERVIEW by JOSHUA STAHLE/ALASKA LEAF | PHOTO by BOOM MEDIA
SHOP REVIEW
THE
HERBAL
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THEY ALSO CARRY A VARIETY OF CBD PRODUCTS WITHIN THE STORE, INCLUDING A FEW ITEMS FOR OUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS! ocT. 2019
CACHE
This last summer has seen the triumphant return of Girdwood’s only retail shop, The Herbal Cache. Having closed down over the previous summer, the shop has made its return over the last two months to serve the community once again. Just in time for winter too! As I am writing this, the mountains around Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley have been recently coated in a fresh layer of termination dust, which has led a few of my friends to once again talk about buying season passes down at Alyeska. What better time to check out the store that serves the masses on the mountain? ENVIRONMENT & VIBE
5/5
This retail shop carries with it the small town Girdwood attitude. Down to earth and a friendly place to walk in to, I absolutely love it! The building itself is nestled in the heart of Girdwood, just a short distance from the Alyeska Resort, which makes it amazingly accessible for anyone who will frequent the town any time of the year. While inside, the aforementioned enthusiasm from the budtenders makes it an enjoyable experience all around.
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PRODUCTS
5/5
Carrying a good selection of flower, The Herbal Cache has something that will tickle everyone’s fancy. Having a well balanced selection of sativa to indica, there will be a strain that suits your mood. On the edible side of things, they carry a wide selection from a variety of manufacturers around the state, including the brand new Moose Milk from Stoney Moose Kitchens, a product we are excited to review in an upcoming issue! They also carry a variety of CBD products within the store, including a few items for our four-legged friends!
HISTORY & VALUES
3/5
Originally opening in 2016, The Herbal Cache is the first Cannabis retail in Girdwood. It is fantastic to see the store back up and running after a brief shutdown over the 2018 winter season. You will no longer need to stock up before heading down the highway, these guys have got you covered. Their absence last year was definitely noticeable for those frequenting the mountain, and it is nice to have them back.
BUDTENDERS
158 HOLMGREN PLACE GIRDWOOD, ALASKA 907-783-0420 GIRDWEED.COM OPEN 12-8PM DAILY
While we were in the shop to take some pictures, I had fantastic conversations with the two wonderful individuals that were behind the counter. Their knowledge and enthusiasm boiled over into their interactions with their customers, and this makes for a genuine interaction each and every time. This is invaluable for those who don’t frequent the stores daily, as with each visit you are likely to walk out knowing more than you did when you walked in.
REVIEW by JOSHUA STAHLE / ALASKA LEAF | PHOTOS by BOOM MEDIA
AKLEAF.COM
5/5
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H i g h l i g h t i n g Ca n n a b i s p i o n e e rs w h o p a ve d t h e wa y t o g re a t e r h e r b a l a c ce p ta n ce .
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ANDYCOHEN
TALK SHOW HOST & CANNABIS ENTHUSIAST
aklEAF.COM
AS THE HOST OF WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE, ANDY COHEN IS A RECOGNIZABLE CELEBRITY FOR ANYONE WHO HAS EVER BEEN INTERESTED IN, WELL – A CELEBRITY. THAT’S BECAUSE HIS PROGRAM IS A POP-CULTURE LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW WITH A PENCHANT FOR GETTING THE INSIDE SCOOP ON CELEBRITIES FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. But talk show host isn’t his only job - he has held virtually every position imaginable in the entertainment industry throughout his lengthy career. Cohen started his career in journalism working for CBS News as a producer for shows like 48 Hours and CBS This Morning. On his way up he has worked as everything from show host to game-show host to actor to touring comedian, eventually becoming an executive producer on various television programs. Most recently, Cohen became Vice President at the Bravo Network. Cohen’s affable persona is hard to miss. He’s an energetic person, who always seems to have the ability to be ‘on’ in any situation.
ocT. 2019
WHILE COHEN DOESN’T LIKE TO BE HIGH ON CAMERA, HE DID NOTE IN AN INTERVIEW THAT HE WAS ONCE CAUGHT DOING SO.
This personality stamina has obviously helped him immensely through his entertainment career. He’s also been a longtime Cannabis user, and has often talked about his love for the plant unabashedly. He often discusses it on his feature program Watch What Happens Live, though he does note that he doesn’t perform while high on the show. On the program, he once confided to John Mayer that he’d smoked with Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg, and Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead. While Cohen doesn’t like to be high on camera, he did note in an interview that he was once caught doing so. The incident occurred when he was invited to throw out the first pitch at a St. Louis (where Cohen grew up) Cardinals game. He said that af-
terwards, he’d consumed an edible and that later in the game a camera crew approached him. “I forgot that they were going to be pulling me into the broadcast booth. They came to get me and I was like - oh shit,” he told the interviewer. In May of this year, Andy had his first child. He told Howard Stern on his XM Radio show (a network where Cohen also hosts) that fatherhood has led him to giving up Cannabis for the time being. “No, not since the baby,” Cohen told Stern. “I don’t feel comfortable. It’s not the time for that.” Whether Andy Cohen currently consumes Cannabis or not isn’t the issue at hand though. By being so open about his Cannabis usage throughout his career, this performer and executive has helped to pave the way for a more normalized perspective on the herb that we all love so dearly.
By PACER STACKTRAIN for ALASKA LEAF
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STRAIN OF THE MONTH
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ODIN’S
WILD LEMONADE Grown by
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THE SMOKE IS SMOOTH AND FRAGRANT, WITH THAT REFRESHING LEMON ZEST SPLASHING YOU IN THE TASTEBUDS, FOLLOWED QUICKLY BY THE LIGHT AND WOODY MINT FLAVOR, AND A LIGHT PINE AFTERNOTE. The aroma off Wild Lemonade is certainly other worldly, with your first whiff being of thick juicy lemons, followed by a pine scented and woody aroma with a touch of mint. The smoke is smooth and fragrant, with that refreshing lemon zest splashing you in the tastebuds, followed quickly by the light and woody mint flavor, and a light pine afternote. The high is cerebral without being too spacy, and also provided a significant case of the munchies. It hits all marks for a quality strain, testing in at just over 21% and providing a flavor filled smoking experience with a high to match.
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REVIEW by RUSTY SHACKLEFORD | PHOTO by BOOM MEDIA for ALASKA LEAF
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ANCHORAGE TO HOMER June 1st-Aug 31st Monday – Friday Departs Anchorage Arctic & International – 724 W. International - Garrett’s Tesoro Cooper Landing Wild- man’s 300pm Soldotna Chamber of Commerce 500pm All times are approx. Stage Line Summer Schedule HOMER TO ANCHORAGE June 1st-Aug 31st Monday – Friday Departs Homer 830am 1242 Ocean Dr Soldotna Chamber of Commerce 1015am Cooper Landing Wildman’s 1115am
VISITING ALASKA
Sights seen from the road
SEWARD TO HOMER June 1st – August 31st Mon Wed Fri
Locally owned and operated by a Departs Seward 100pm lifelong Alaskan, Stage Line offers call ahead for pick up point passenger transportation, freight, parcel, and courier service, between Cooper Landing Wild- man’s 200pm Anchorage and the Kenai Soldotna 300pm Peninsula. Our schedule includes, All times are approx Anchorage to Homer, Cooper Landing, Soldotna, Kasilof, Ninilchik, HOMER TO SEWARD Anchor Point. Homer to Seward, June 1st - August 31st Soldotna, Cooper Landing. And any The Stage Line PO Box 353 Anchor Point, Mon Wed Fri points in between! MP flag stops AK available! Private party charters Departs Homer 1242 Ocean Dr 900am The Stage Line 1242 Ocean Dr Homer, Ak available! Reasonable rates, saves 724 W International Anchorage, Ak of Commerce time and money for travelling or your Soldotna Chamber Staging points only 1030am 907-868-3914 907-235-2252 shipping needs. Cooper Landing Wildman’s 1130 E-mail: stage.line@yahoo.com One of the top 10 most scenic www.stagelineinhomer.com highways.
the hemp ISSUE
NEW AGE HEMP
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aklEAF.COM
WH AT
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Hemp seed, grain and fiber have been utilized for thousands of years. As a food source hemp seed is very nutritious. It provides one of nature’s richest sources of easily digested protein, essential fatty acids, fiber and minerals. The seeds are also used to make hemp seed oil. Hemp fiber is used to make clothing, rope, biofuel, construction materials and many other products as well. It has been primarily produced in Canada and Asia, but now with the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp is poised to become a major agricultural product in the U.S. as well.
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T H E
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WHEN MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES became legal in some states, and opened offering Cannabis products, consumers were mainly concerned about how much THC was in what they purchased. Most people were not even aware that marijuana contained other cannabinoids. Soon a variety of different strains were developed, essentially with the goal of increasing the THC content as much as possible. Some strains had different effects, even though they contained the same amount of THC. Research was begun to determine the chemical profiles of different strains and soon it was discovered there were a lot more cannabinoids that contributed to the total effects of any specific strain. And not just a range of cannabinoids, but terpenes and flavonoids as well. All which contribute to the different entourage effects delivered by the specific genetic profiles inherent in individual strains. In the Cannabis plant, THC is the predominant cannabinoid. The second most dominant is CBD. THC is psychoactive, but CBD is not. In fact, CBD can lessen the effects of THC and has been found to provide a multitude of health and wellness benefits. Upon discovering the benefits of CBD, cultivators began
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breeding different strains to achieve genetic profiles with varying ratios of THC and CBD. By breeding hemp with Cannabis cultivars, they have produced numerous Cannabis strains that are CBD dominant or that have high percentages of CBD. CBD products have seen a huge upsurge over the past few years due to the health and wellness benefits they provide. The demand for hemp derived CBD has spurned tremendous demand for the cultivation of hemp. CBD can be produced from hemp, which has such low levels of THC, its production is not constrained by federal regulations. Growing hemp is being promoted as a crop that is many times more valuable than soybeans, corn, wheat, and other more traditional crops that are often subsidized by the federal government, or have such narrow profit margins only huge agricultural conglomerates can compete. Many of the small farmers growing traditional crops have been pushed aside and they are now hoping that hemp will be their savior. But to compete with industrial hemp they will need to offer a product that corporate hemp doesn’t. CBD oil is a liquid product that contains cannabidiol, which is a cannabinoid that doesn’t contain any THC. It is found in both marijuana and hemp. To create the oil the CBD
in the plant material is extracted and infused in an oil that contains fatty triglycerides, to which it binds when infused. Virgin olive oil, grape seed oil, coconut oil and hemp seed oil are all used.The oil can be used in vapes, edibles, tinctures, oral sprays and smoked as well. What many people don’t realize is that much of the potency of CBD oil is lost when eaten (up to 90% can be destroyed by your stomach acids before it can be absorbed and enter your blood stream). The most effective methods of delivery are oral sprays and tinctures that dissolve sublingually and are absorbed almost immediately. Smoking is also an effective delivery system and topicals are only absorbed through the skin where they are applied. Presently, there are no real legal standards regarding the listing of specific contents in CBD products. CBD products can contain other cannabinoids such as CBN, CBG and THCV (inactive THC), as well as a variety of terpenes and flavonoids. They can also contain specific flavors infused into the carrier oil. CBD products which conform to the legal limits set by the 2018 Farm Bill can be distributed nationwide and are not restricted to the regulations of individual states, so distribution isn’t regulated. A farm in Kentucky can sell its products in Alaska. The strength of a CBD product and how it will affect the consumer can be very misleading. Labeling stating that a product has 95% CBD isn’t an accurate description for potency. The only way to determine the potency of a CBD product is to list the milligrams of CBD per liquid volume. For instance, 3000 milligrams per 30 milliliters. However, the effect of 100 milligrams of CBD for one person may be quite different for another. Since CBD is not considered psychoactive it is even more difficult to determine what the appropriate dose is for any one person, for any specific objective. Most people can handle 500-1000 milligrams without any side effects, but may require a lot less to benefit from its use. Some people may not receive any additional benefit from consuming more than what works best for them. It’s all relative. CBD can be extracted as an isolate, using solvents or super critical gasses to extract CBD only from the entire plant. This is the method used by industrial agricultural producers. CBD can also be distillate or full spectrum. Distillates contain CBD as well as other cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids that weren’t lost during the processing, but they are more refined than full spectrum. Full spectrum CBD products contain all the original components of the plant strain they were made from, and are generally accepted as the most effective because they all work together to produce an entourage effect. The entourage effect takes into consideration the full complement of components working together to enhance their individual effects. CBD isolates by themselves are less effective than distillates and full spectrum CBD oils. CBD concentrates made from isolates can be infused with additional cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids after processing. However something is lost in the process that isn’t with less refined products. CBD made from hemp cannot contain more than .03% THC. CBD oil made from Cannabis usually contains more than .03% THC, so distillates and full spectrum products are available in dispensaries for medical or recreational use only where legal Perhaps the most pressing concern is the lack of regulations concerning product safety. Dispensary distributed products must pass screening for contaminates such as pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, heavy metals, mold, fungus and other contaminants. But CBD products sold outside dispensaries are still unregulated with no restrictions on the sale of products that haven’t been lab tested. Testing standards need to be addressed and developed so consumers can purchase products without health risks. For instance, vape pens are being investigated for health issues. It has been determined that the vape cartridges which have been contributing to these health concerns have been produced on the black market. They were never analyzed in
a lab. The original plant material itself has not been tested and the products produced from that haven’t been either. Many contain solvents and mixers that are not approved for human consumption by the FDA. For instance, vitamin E, when used in a vape pen is converted to a toxic gas when heated, but when consumed orally can be a valuable supplement. Hemp derived products need to be lab tested for pesticides, herbicides, mold, fungus and other biological contaminants to ensure the products are safe. When you consider that CBD products are meant for human consumption, they should be regulated for product safety by the FDA. Standards need to be addressed and developed so consumers can purchase products without the health risks introduced by producers who disregard such concerns in favor of economic ones. They need to be backed by legally enforceable restrictions. WILL THE SMALL CRAFT HEMP FARMER BE ABLE TO COMPETE WITH INDUSTRIAL HEMP OPERATIONS? The craft beer, wine and spirit industry has taken hold in a big way and now commands a significant percentage of their markets, competing successfully with the industrial alcohol beverage industry. This should be inspiring to the fledgeling craft hemp and Cannabis folks as well. Just as craft beer, wine and spirits have, craft hemp operations will need to apply the same marketing strategies to succeed. For instance, when you cruise the beer aisle there are a lot more choices of craft beer than commercial ones. Sometimes it’s hard to decide what to get if you’re looking for something different. Even if you’re looking for a specific type like an IPA, amber, stout, wheat, ale, etc. Good labeling that describes taste can help. This one has a hint of citrus, this one a strong hop flavor, etc. People are obviously willing to pay for the different options that craft beer, wine and spirits offer them over the more standard commercial products. Premium micro beer can sell for about 70% more than mass produced beer. Craft spirits can sell for ten times what the more commercial products do. The popularity and resulting success of the craft beer industry took hold after consumers decided they wanted something new and different. A product that catered more to their individual tastes. Something made locally by people they knew and trusted. A product with a sense of place. A product with something more than what they had been consuming in the past. Craft hemp producers will benefit by following the same objectives and by building a loyal customer base, one that will follow them into the future and will help ensure their success. They must offer specific cannabinoid and terpene profiles that target specific objectives for the treatment, performance and wellness advantages offered through genetics dominant in certain strains. Those purchasing craft products will continue to choose them because they feel the extra consideration for quality and safety are worth the additional cost. Once this all falls into place, a larger divide between craft hemp products and the mass produced products will differentiate one from the other. Just like what has evolved in the beer, wine and spirits industries. Then there is the anti-establishment / anti-conglomerate / anti-industrial crowd that simply won’t support the efforts of those types of producers. These people will purchase from craft producers for that reason alone. Craft growers must build brand loyalty, quality and value together to survive. The way states handle the dispersment of licensing can also be vital in the survival of the craft industry. Any economic incentives that can be offered to craft growers will help promote small businesses who employ residents where employment opportunities are presently restricted. The Oregon Department of Agriculture Hemp Pilot Program furthers the mission of the craft hemp farmer to grow
terpene rich, CBD dominant, low THC varieties at lower costs to the farmer. It also has opened up new research opportunities for CBD rich products to the small farmer who hasn’t been able to access them previously. Craft growers can also band together forming coops that will help reduce harvesting, storage, packaging and distribution costs. They must team up with partners in the industry that place quality, efficacy, craft, organic certification and sustainability, while adhering to environmental standards that preserve the integrity of the land, not destroy it. Patents can also be a means of protecting the interests of craft growers. Receiving a federal patent can be essential to protecting the interests of producers of any product, whether it is derived from hemp or Cannabis. Marijuana products are not eligible for federal patents because plants containing THC are not legal under the Controlled Substances Act. Presently, patent requests for products such as strain names, edibles and concentrates are not being approved. However, the 2018 Farm Bill has no restrictions on the registration of patents and trademarks for hemp products. This makes it especially important for companies to avoid having a potential customer purchase a product made by a different producer because they couldn’t tell one from the other. Or be able to reliably compare the contents or strengths of different hemp derived products. Eligible trademarks include logos, company names, web sites, consulting services, etc. Branding is a way to achieve individuality. Branding needs to be uniquely designed and documented according to federal standards to protect a specific brand. Labeling needs to address manufacturing methods, product potency, contents, ingredients, growing methods, organic certification (or not), and the distribution of cannabinoid and terpene contents. Marketing efforts must be designed to promote the benefits or uniqueness of the product(s) so customers can differentiate a specific product from similar ones being offered by other producers. Finally, the industry as a whole needs to address the dangers inherent in monoculture. Extensive fields of hemp will be monocultural by design, ignoring nature’s needs for biodiversity, endangering the health of the land itself. In the future, as more and more acreage becomes devoted to the cultivation of hemp, environmental concerns will need to be addressed. Very large fields of hemp require large amounts of irrigation, which will put pressure on those resources, particularly in areas where water may not be very plentiful. The midwest has been seeing huge impacts to its ground water supplies over the past 50 years, due primarily to industrial agricultural operations. How will industrial hemp production affect ground water supplies in such areas? What about effective controls from the pollution of land and water from herbicides and insecticides? The future of the hemp industry (and Cannabis as well) needs to address these concerns if it is going to survive and benefit the craft farmer, as well as industrial agribusiness. Success will depend on producing products that conform to standards that make it easy for consumers to select the most appropriate products for their needs, and most importantly that protect the health of those purchasing these products. In Alaska, it’s just not viable to grow hemp. Foremost because it can be sun grown in the continental United States, Canada and South America much more effectively and with considerably less overhead. Cannabis farmers in Alaska currently enjoy a “captive” consumer situation since legal restrictions on importing Cannabis products containing more than .03% THC keep the supply within the state. But the importation of CBD products conforming to federal laws is open to anyone who can develop a marketing and distribution network. What will the future bring? That will depend on how willing private enterprise, state and federal agencies are to work together to develop this young but burgeoning industry, so it can succeed on all levels.
STORY & PHOTO by JOHN HYDE for ALASKA LEAF
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the hemp ISSUE
HEMPIRE CO.
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Alaska Leaf interviewed Hempire Owner Kerby Coman, to learn about how the Wasilla business is educating consumers about the benefits and varieties of CBD. ocT. 2019
HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN THE WORLD OF CBD?
My mother passing away from cancer in 2009 had a huge impact on my life. She turned to Cannabis in her later days to find some relief and possible healing, but by that time it was too late. You know, a lot of people diagnosed with a terminal illness, for them Cannabis ends up being their last resort - while I believe it should be in everyone's daily diet regardless of their medical condition. I got involved with CBD after learning about the overwhelming medicinal value that CBD, as well as other constituents in the Cannabis plant, has to offer. Understanding that CBD could have helped my mother’s fight against cancer, and the fact that at the time I was almost clueless of the true science behind the plant and its medicinal value, I made it a personal objective to educate myself on just that. Only to come to the conclusion that there is so much more to Cannabis than CBD or THC. I felt inspired, like I was being called to be a voice for the plant - taking the wealth of knowledge produced through more recent studies and research being done on Cannabis - and sharing those things with the public. It truly is amazing the things I have witnessed first hand that this miraculous plant has to offer this world.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO OPEN UP HEMPIRE?
The Director of AMCO at the time only wanted to target those selling CBD products that had also applied for a license with AMCO to sell marijuana. Although they refused to pay any attention to head shops, health food stores and even grow stores that also were selling CBD products. Knowing that AMCO would not come after someone or an entity that was not also on a marijuana license application, I had a bright idea to partner with one of my best friends, Anthony, who was woking for me at the time to file for a business license solely in his name. That way there was no legal action AMCO could take against us or that particular entity, since Anthony was not on any kind of marijuana license with the state. Our landlords had a vacant trailer on the lot that was previously used for a used car lot sales office. We moved the trailer directly next door to Green Degree, decided on the name Hempire Co. and opened up shop. We have been pushing education, providing quality products, and even developing our own line of products ever since. So I guess the inspiration to open Hempire truly stemmed from a poorly written definition of the word marijuana within our great state. At the time marijuana was defined as "all parts of the plant Cannabis genus" - meaning that on a state level all hemp products were looked at as if they too were marijuana products. Ironic that they would come and seize hemp products that have no psychoactive abilities, and give me a license to grow Cannabis plants that carry a healthy amount of THC.
The whole reason Hempire Co. came about was actually a blessing in disguise. On Feb. 9, 2017 the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Board’s enforcement HOW DOES MANAGING A CBD officers came into Green Degree, where STORE DIFFER FROM RUNNING we were successfully providing education to the public on the Cannabis plant, and A CANNABIS RETAIL? providing a wide variety of hemp derived Although they both carry a lot of the CBD products to happy customers. same agendas, as much as you may It was an establishment at which we think the two go hand-in-hand, the were also seeking a license to legally differences may surprise you. On one cultivate and retail what the state calls hand you have a customer base lack“marijuana.” It was on that same day ing any kind of education on Cannabis that the AMCO enforcement came to do coming into Hempire only because a final inspection of the premise and give somewhere or at some point they heard me my license to grow, that they also that CBD would help them, and you also seized all of our CBD products, claiming have some who are highly educated on that they too were Cannabis and are all in fact marijuana for consuming it for products, and we its therapeutic and I FELT INSPIRED, LIKE I WAS BEING CALLED were prematurely medicinal value. TO BE A VOICE FOR THE PLANT - TAKING selling untaxed, On the other hand untested, illegal at our Cannabis THE WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE PRODUCED substances. dispensaries, a lot THROUGH MORE RECENT STUDIES AND We received a of patrons come in Notice of Violation seeking whatever RESEARCH BEING DONE ON CANNABIS - AND our very first day as strain has the highest SHARING THOSE THINGS WITH THE PUBLIC. a licensee. concentration of THC
because they want to get blitzed, and typically you will also find a lot of those who pay no attention to positive attributes the plant carries. Although I must say, we are starting to see a more recent shift in the way people are both looking at the Cannabis plant as a whole, and the way they shop for their Cannabis products.
HEMPIRE HAS BEEN EXPANDING BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE STATE, WHAT MADE YOU PICK HAWAII AS YOUR FIRST LOCATION OUTSIDE OF ALASKA?
I love visiting Hawaii. In fact I love it so much I purchased some undeveloped property near Hilo on the big island five years ago, without ever even setting foot on the island of Hawaii. Also, it was a business tactic to market our brand to the tourism industry - to not only help with national branding, but also to capture a healthy e-commerce clientele base since people can order our products online. Alaska and Hawaii both seem to have a huge synergistic relationship. There are many things that set us apart from the lower 48, other than our geographical independence from the rest of the United States.
WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW ABOUT CBD?
CBD belongs in everyone's daily diet no matter the age. We are reversing the negative impact that the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 had on the world. Before this, most farmed animals such as cattle, swine, and poultry were fed hemp. It was a huge part of their diet and in turn the phytocannabinoids found their way into our bodies through the consumption of meat. Hemp was also a very well known and consumed superfood in those days. Putting CBD back into your diet on a daily basis is feeding your endocannabinoid system - that’s what we believe in. HEMPIRE CO.
322 Main St, Wasilla Open 10a-7p Mon.-Sat. Hempire-Co.com (907) 357-4367
INTERVIEW by JOSHUA STAHLE/ALASKA LEAF | PHOTOS by BOOM MEDIA
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the hemp ISSUE
IRIE CO I N T E RV I E W
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expunged, so I was only technically a felon for a year and a half. Irie kept me in the industry to some degree by doing CBD and being a part of this awesome community of people I love. It also allowed me to deal with my legal stuff, and now I’m back in the green light if I wanted to get into Cannabis, but Irie has been growing and doing all right.
YOU STARTED OUT AS A CBD COFFEE STAND AND NOW ARE MOVING INTO SATORI ANCHORAGE TO CREATE A CBD CAFE EXPERIENCE. TELL US ABOUT THE PROCESS?
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HOW DID CANNABIS COME INTO YOUR LIFE? I grew up in the Matsu Valley and Cannabis was introduced to me at a young age; Growing up in a household where it was around on a cultivation level. When I turned 18 I moved to Washington State, and I signed up for classes at the local community college while working at the mall. That lasted for about six months and I thought, wow this sucks, this is not going to make me happy. So I had a skilled trade I had learned at a young age, and this was 2008 when the medical community was booming down there while the economy really sucked, so I rented a big house in Olympia [WA] and borrowed a couple grand and blew up the garage. Soon after I had my daughter and that’s how I provided for her.
HOW DID GROWING MEDICAL CANNABIS HELP LEAD YOU TO STARTING IRIE CO?
As a medical patient, I had a couple of really great teachers. I didn’t realize it then but it was the beginning of my business career.
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I was definitely running a business from home with a baby on my hip, because there was no way I could have raised her with the lack of formal education. Cannabis provided a great life for us, which I will always be grateful for.
WHAT LED YOU BACK TO ALASKA? In 2014 I-502 (Washington legalization) passed, and I could see the price per pound going down and the power bill staying the same. So I knew I had to try and change my way of thinking about my approach to being in the industry. I ended up working for several different big companies like Artizen and Northwest Cannabis Solutions, and it was exciting working in these 70,000 square foot warehouses. It was a dream for me to help in the build-outs and learn so much, before deciding that I wanted to come home to Alaska in 2016 when recreational Cannabis passed.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START IRIE CO?
Irie was a very random project, I helped start a couple big grows up here too in the recreational market. To be honest I ended up getting busted in 2016 because I had a black market grow going. I had five Cannabis felonies which have been
It was great having the drive thru to be able to talk to people in a friendly face to face manner. People ask all the time, “Will this get me high?” The general public doesn’t know what to think and with all the overload, walking into a Cannabis shop can be intimidating to people. After going into CBD and working with hemp, I really believe it needs to come out of the closet! So I decided to close the drive thru indefinitely and I am opening a new location inside Satori on 5th. I think it will be more of my culture. I don’t come from coffee, I come from Cannabis - so to be in a Cannabis retail setting and still offering product that’s not heavily regulated is more of the niche I want to be in.
CBD AND COFFEE GO REALLY WELL TOGETHER IN OUR EXPERIENCE. YOU’LL STILL BE SERVING COFFEE AND SMOOTHIES IN THE CAFE?
People want to try CBD but they don’t want to spend $60-$100 on a tincture to try it out. So offering it in a coffee or smoothie for five dollars to give it a try has proven to be beneficial for getting CBD out to the general public. After the Health Department said I couldn’t add CBD directly to drinks, I decided to create condiment packages with 15mg of CBD inside. I make the product myself, buying crude oil from a certified organic hemp farm in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, and I bottle and label them myself. I’ve seen the farm and know it has sustainable and conscious growing practices. I value the Health Department and they have an important job, and everyone is trying to navigate this new industry, and so am I. I’m trying to find solutions for consumers who want CBD, I want to run a business and create jobs. Let’s make everyone happy and make it a controlled package that’s tested and sealed.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS WITH IRIE CO FOR THE FUTURE?
I’m really trying to highlight the 15mg CBD condiment packages alongside my full spectrum tincture line, so
MARIE GAZE IS A MOTHER AND
CANNABIS INDUSTRY ENTREPRENEUR WHO HAS DONE EVERYTHING FROM GROWING CANNABIS IN THE WASHINGTON MEDICAL CANNABIS MARKET TO STARTING A CBD COFFEE COMPANY IN HER HOME STATE OF ALASKA. SHE IS A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR PLANT BASED MEDICINE, AND SHARED WITH US HER HISTORY AND MOTIVATIONS FOR STARTING A NEW CHAPTER AND BUSINESS WITH CBD FROM HEMP. IRIE CO WILL BE OPENING INSIDE SATORI ON 5TH AS AN INCLUSIVE CBD CAFE SERVING INFUSED COFFEE AND SMOOTHIES ALONGSIDE A HEALTHY DOSE OF CANNABIS INFORMATION AND CULTURE.
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that every coffee hut in town can have Irie CBD packets available. I want it to be a mainstream thing for people, as it should be. We all have Endocannabinoid systems and a need to feed that. A lot of people don’t like to smoke and get high. My products are all full spectrum and high in CBD, and all single strain, so there’s uniformity in it. Someday I’d like to see Irie Co Cafes in dispensaries, as a place where people can hang out and get food, drinks and eventually THC. It’s about protecting the culture.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE A MAINSTREAM BUSINESS OWNER THAT CONSUMES AND SHARES THE PLANT? To be honest, I don’t consume Cannabis anymore in the traditional sense. I believe wholeheartedly in the plant and what it does for people though. I consume my CBD, use the balm and salve, and I use THC topically. But ingesting it isn’t for me, and it’s because it’s a plant that’s good for different things for different people. I love the diversity in that and that I can offer something to people who aren’t regular consumers. They can come into Satori and get their regular latte with CBD in it, be more open to Cannabis culture and see how multi-faceted this plant is, and that you don’t have to be getting high to reap the benefits from it.
INTERVIEW by JOSHUA STAHLE/ALASKA LEAF | PHOTOS by BOOM MEDIA
the hemp ISSUE
TOP HAT
CONCENTRATES
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Other cultivators we buy from use similar growing practices. Many of them are smaller license types. We cross brand our products with the cultivator so the consumer knows where the product is coming from, as well as promoting the cultivator and getting their product on the shelf in a form they otherwise wouldn’t have.
WHAT MAKES YOUR TEAM PASSIONATE ABOUT CREATING CONCENTRATES?
It’s exciting to be a part of a new industry in general. Especially when things are changing almost daily. Learning of new innovations also keeps us excited and motivated. As well as, the ability to create different means of consumption that appeals to all types of consumers.
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WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS AS A BRAND AND COMPANY?
HOW DID CANNABIS COME INTO YOUR LIFE?
I have been a daily consumer most of my adult life. I suffered a tremendous accident where I broke both of my legs and many other bones. Opioids have always made me sick and Cannabis helped me through this hard time. It has stayed with me recreationally and been beneficial in many ways.
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HOW DID YOU START IN THE WORLD OF EXTRACTING?
I was partnered with Ben Wilcox and John Nemeth two years before our operations began. A love for all machinery and science motivated me to learn as much as I could from other great extractors
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around the country. I am working every day to innovate and develop new methods and proud to create a product of superior quality for the consumer. I only make what I myself would consume!
WHAT KINDS OF PRODUCTS DO YOU MAKE?
Primarily, whole cannabinoid CO2 extracted Cannabis oil in genuine CCell vaporizer cartridges. But there’s also Stoned Age Cannaroons (a vegan, gluten free, paleo, all real organic food ingredient cookie), Magical Mist (an oral spray made from our CO2 oil and organic coconut oil), and Bare Spray (a massage oil).
WE CULTIVATE IN LIVING KIS ORGANICS SOIL USING ONLY OUR HOUSE-MADE COMPOST TEA AND “VEGANIC” NUTRIENTS WITH ABSOLUTELY NO PESTICIDES. OTHER CULTIVATORS WE BUY FROM USE SIMILAR GROWING PRACTICES.
WHERE DO YOU SOURCE THE MATERIAL THAT YOU PROCESS?
A majority of our material is grown by our own cultivation, Top Hat Cannabis. We cultivate in living KIS Organics soil using only our house-made compost tea and “veganic” nutrients with absolutely NO pesticides.
To provide the consumer with an efficient means of consumption that is free of harmful ingredients. Our goal is to keep the consumer connected to the plant, providing single strain extracts containing only what that strain provides. Its whole cannabinoid profile, original terpenes, and oil from the plant itself. Absolutely no fillers, additives, or artificial flavors. This is why you’ll feel a well-rounded effect that is different with every strain. The entourage effect is very important to us. It’s part of what makes Cannabis enjoyable and new with every strain! Sure there are lots of products out there with extremely high THC, but you’ll get the same, overly intense effect with all of them. We’d rather the consumer feel different with every cartridge and receive the full benefit of each strains’ unique profile. In a time where vaping is all over the media, the negative sources, ingredients and black market are being called out. We have always been 100% transparent with our ingredients and informing the consumer. We would like to see concentrates better regulated and requirements for ingredients to be listed, as well as tested for pesticides.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF CONCENTRATE? FAVORITE WAY TO CONSUME?
Our whole cannabinoid CO2 extracted oil. Sativa strains are my favorite! Preferably in one of our cartridges with a “DabCap” on my dab rig or bong.
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“OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP THE CONSUMER CONNECTED TO THE PLANT, PROVIDING SINGLE STRAIN EXTRACTS CONTAINING ONLY WHAT THAT STRAIN PROVIDES. ITS WHOLE CANNABINOID PROFILE, ORIGINAL TERPENES, AND OIL FROM THE PLANT ITSELF.”
INTERVIEW by JOSHUA STAHLE/ALASKA LEAF | PHOTOS by JOHN HYDE
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JOSH FRYFOGLE
ocT. 2019
INTERVIEW by MICHAEL C for ALASKA LEAF
ON
a gorgeous morning in the middle of a string of great days, I was able to sit down and have breakfast with Josh Fryfogle. Longtime owner and editor of Make a Scene Magazine, creator of the Weed Out Campaign, and new owner of the radio station 95.5 The Pass, Josh has been a hemp enthusiast since his teens. In an effort to help others gain an understanding of hemp and Cannabis, Josh started the Weed Out Campaign shortly after recreational Cannabis became legal.
hemp industry in Alaska, since it can’t be regulated. Especially considering it has been two years already and there was little to no movement, before this decision. “It makes sense in some respect to limit Cannabis growth, but not hemp,” said Josh. Think of the possibilities that hemp still has to offer! Livestock can be fed a nutritious, protein rich resource, with the resulting meat ultimately more beneficial. The shelf life is longer and it’s a good source of CBD, which could also be consumed by people in a more organic form, by consuming those animals. As we take a step back and look at how food is affecting people, it’s becoming more true than ever that you are what you eat. CBD Aimed at removing the idea that hemp, Canstrains could also be more developed if we nabis, and marijuana are the same things, Josh can do more research on the whole plant attended local events, wrote articles, and even and get farms growing. Why are we regutraveled to Juneau to discuss the future of hemp lating this harmless - not to mention helpful and Cannabis in Alaska. In his words, “From roots - plant? to flowers the plant is the plant. The goal is to We looked closer at how Alaskans can weed the misinformation.” benefit from hemp, he discussed that the Marijuana is not a real term, we’re weeding that taller the plant, the more valuable the prodout. Marijuana can’t have intoxicating effects, it’s uct. As a state with countless hours of sun in non-toxic. Weeding that out. the summer, our plants grow tall and strong, Familiar with the power of the press, Josh says which means we should have the potential that the plant was actually common until the meto grow some of the most valuable hemp dia helped spread 80 years of propaganda put in worldwide. place by William Randolph Hurst Exporting hemp could be an awesome “The power of the press crushed the Cannabis business expansion for Alaskans. Even complant and differentiated it. So as a news print jourpanies like Levi’s are releasing soft, hemp nalist, my goal is to bring the truth to the people,” jeans. If Alaska could said Josh. get an early jump, we “Hemp is a product from HEMP IS A PRODUCT FROM A PLANT. could hold a cornera plant. Marijuana is a name stone in the market that creates an argument. MARIJUANA IS A NAME THAT CREATES AN before it grows nationBy changing the name of ARGUMENT. BY CHANGING THE NAME OF THE ally by other companies the plant, it literally changes and states. Plus, it’s the product in the eyes of PLANT, IT LITERALLY CHANGES THE PRODUCT lightweight and easy people. Look at how many IN THE EYES OF PEOPLE. to ship. So what’s the names Cannabis has gained solution? It’s easy to since this change - weed, discuss problems, but solutions are harder to pot, smoke, dope - all words making the product come by. One idea is to get people involved seem invaluable and dangerous, when in fact the on both sides of the aisle. research shows otherwise.” As Josh said, “If Dunleavy is a true conserIt’s interesting how marijuana’s name change vative, he should be interested in deregulatmade it seem as if it was from another place and ing the industry. Needless laws and adminnot originally from our country. But you simply istration are the opposite of the goals of need to look at the number of towns in Americonservatives. The regulation of hemp should ca named “Hempstead”. Obviously, this was a also bother liberals, since a social injustice product that was already in use across the world has occurred through years of disinformation and grown freely everywhere before the name and penal punishment over a plant.” change. The name being different literally changDeregulation won’t solve all the issues, es our ability to access the unlimited amount of but at least it could get Alaska off to a good information online and in our history books. Isn’t it start instead of being behind the times, like amazing how versatile this plant is, but we’ve been everything else - including music, technology swindled by one word change. and services. When it comes to hemp in Alaska, two problems I have to agree. It seems that too many come to mind for Josh. First, the nationwide hemp times the agenda of a few gets pushed bill has regulations of how much you can grow. onto the general public. As we see law“Why are we limiting the amount someone can suits arise in pharmaceutical companies grow? The crop is not different than cabbage or and countless addictions being pointed carrots,” he said. You should be able to grow as back to pills, we have to wonder how much as is needed. What’s the rationale here?” long they have known about the true Second problem, Dunleavy just defunded the potential of this little green plant that you regulation of the industry, causing confusion and can grow on your own. lost time. This will ensure little to no growth in the
AS WE LOOKED CLOSER AT HOW ALASKANS CAN BENEFIT FROM HEMP, HE DISCUSSED THAT THE TALLER THE PLANT, THE MORE VALUABLE THE PRODUCT. AS A STATE WITH COUNTLESS HOURS OF SUN IN THE SUMMER, OUR PLANTS GROW TALL AND STRONG, WHICH MEANS WE SHOULD HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GROW SOME OF THE MOST VALUABLE HEMP WORLDWIDE. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michael C is a father, husband, small business owner, and community organizer in the Matsu Valley of Alaska. Owner of Michael C Marketing, Michael wears many hats as a photographer, graphic designer, social media manager, website designer and advertising agent.
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SAINT JANE 500MG CBD LUXURY BEAUTY SERUM StJaneBeauty.com
Skincare
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CBD PRODUCT I was immediately impressed (and suspicious) of the opulent packaging. In my experience, the best product packaging is often a cover-up for a shit product. Lipstick on a pig if you will. But, I am a huge advocate for Cannabis skincare and I was curious to see how well this product performed. The feel of the serum is silky and absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving you with a clean glow. SJ’s contains active ingredients like sea buckthorn, calendula, CBD and rosehip boost radiance, while pomegranate and helichrysum deliver rich antioxidants. My skin was left feeling supple without becoming greasy. Nevertheless, I am a fan of this product, but the only downfall I could find is that it’s cost-prohibitive at a whopping $125 for one ounce of “luxury” CBD. -SIMONE FISCHER
HIGH SOCIETY HAIRCARE BOMB SHAMPOO + LOUD CONDITIONER HighSocietyHaircare.com
NEW DAY REJUVENATING NIGHT CREAM 200MG CBD, 50ML NewDay-Wellness.com
aklEAF.COM
High Society Haircare’s mission is to utilize CBD to help beautify and fortify hair while cutting down on frizz with a “no bad stuff, no bad days” attitude. Perfect for hair of all types, beards included, and a whole line of skin/body care products coming this fall, High Society Haircare delivers skin and hair wellness with an extra dose of good vibes. -WES ABNEY
EXTREME TERPZ TATTOO CARE ExtremeTerpzCBD.com
Tattoos and Cannabis go hand in hand. From pre-ink sesh to recovery, the plant has you covered. Extreme Terpz Tattoo Care is perfect for the healing process, combining organic healing oils with CBD isolate to preserve color and cut down on pain with fresh ink! -WES ABNEY
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DELTA BOTANICAL RELIEF SERUM DeltaCBD.com
This skin serum is a revolutionary product from Delta Botanicals, combining the power of CBD with the science of skin care. Screwing the lid off reveals a rolling metal ball, allowing for easy application with no mess. I used this serum in an attempt to clear up rough and bumpy patches on my arms. Two days after applying the serum once daily, the patches were clearing up and my skin was feeling as smooth as ever. This product has wonderful applications in targeting chronic acne and recurring dermatitis. -WYATT EARLY
As a skincare fiend, I am obsessed with Cannabis beauty products. The New Day Night Cream boasts 200 mg of CBD in every jar, and although I’m not a huge fan of the bland packaging and plastic container, I do love the consistency of this product. It’s thick and luxuriously creamy - making it the perfect candidate for night creams. As the season moves into fall and winter, my skin dries up faster in the cold than in the heat of the summer. After cleansing, I applied the cream (which feels more like a moisturizing mask), leaving my skin feeling like velvet. The next morning was hectic and I had to skip my skin regimen, but the product worked so well, I didn’t need to moisturize the next day. In my experience, it gave me 24-hour moisture, which I loved. The smell is mild and nearly unnoticeable, and the CBD helped reduce inflammation stemming from a hormonal breakout. -SIMONE FISCHER
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Pain Inflammation EXTREME TERPZ EXTREME SALVE ExtremeTerpzCBD.com
In extreme need for CBD pain relief? Look no further than the Extreme Terpz all-purpose salve, which is perfect for pain, inflammation, or any other topical application with the full benefit of CBD and natural terpenes. -WES ABNEY
FAIRWINDS FLOW TISSUE & JOINT GEL AND FLOW ROLL ON FairwindsCBD.com
Fairwinds Flow is renowned for its ability to penetrate the skin and deliver targeted pain and inflammation relief with fast acting effects. Available as a gel, cream or a roll on, Flow combines essential oils and a Fairwinds exclusive ingredient, Canna Vera from Cannabis lipids to provide support and wellness for all topical applications. -WES ABNEY
SUZI’S EASY ROLL ON PEPPERMINT HEMP OIL SuzisLavender.com This sleek little bottle of hemp oil is infused
with peppermint and makes for a perfect travel-sized topical pain reliever. The product is simple but effective, and contains only three ingredients - full spectrum (a must when talking about CBD products) hemp oil, coconut MCT oil, and organic peppermint. After applying some to my tendinitis-ridden elbow following a workout, it only took a few moments for the peppermint’s cooling effects to kick in. Backed by a solid dose of CBD, the normal post-workout flare-up that would occur was halted in its tracks. -NATE WILLIAMS
COLORADO CURES HEMPHREEZE MUSCLE FREEZE PAIN RELIEF GEL CBDplusUSA.com
Neck pain is no stranger to anyone spending long hours in the office, and this gel is the perfect remedy. After applying the gel, my neck and back pain immediately vanished due to the gel’s strong cooling agent. Hours after application, my pain was still gone despite the cooling effect having gone away. Each pump is nearly 5 mg of CBD, so I found myself using between two and three pumps to reach my desired dosage. -WYATT EARLY
CBD PLUS USA MUSCLE & JOINT CAPSULES CBDplusUSA.com
At 25 mg CBD per capsule, I take two of these every day as soon as I wake up, and experience all-day relief from my muscle and joint pain. Along with CBD, you can find other dietary supplements in this capsule like glucosamine, cat’s claw, curcumin, white willow and more. I found these were a great way to take in dietary supplements already in my diet, while adding CBD into the mix. -WYATT EARLY
REVIEWS by LEAF NATION CONTRIBUTORS | PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
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POT-O-COFFEE WAKE N BAKE DARK ROAST COFFEE Isodiol.com
I often already put CBD tinctures in my coffee and tea in the morning, but it’s not so easy to know exactly how many milligrams is going in each cup. There also comes the issue of whether or not your CBD tincture is water soluble. These k-cups made it easy to know exactly how many milligrams of CBD is in each cup. Another benefit to these is that the taste is not altered in any way from regular coffee. The flavor was rich and dark, and I really enjoyed making these to wake up each morning. I felt energized from the caffeine, but any anxiety or jitters were alleviated by the CBD. -WYATT EARLY
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LIGHTHEARTED FARMER CBD + CBG TINCTURE TheLightheartedFarmer.com
Boasting 2000+ mg of hemp extract, Lighthearted Farmers has combined a hefty amount of CBG and CBD to create an extremely effective and overall balanced product. After opening up the lovely gold bottle and taking half a dropper full, I felt my level of concentration greatly increase. CBG offers benefits to the brain, bladder and bowels, making this an ideal way to stay sharp for those aging - or anyone for that matter. -MAX EARLY
NASADOL FAIRWAY FOCUS BiospectrumCBD.com Perfect for
on-the-go usage, Nasadol’s Fairway Focus is a sleek and convenient way to stay alert while efficiently getting your daily dose of CBD. Being that this product is used nasally, you are able to take much smaller doses than oral routes, with the same if not greater effects. Pharmaceutical grade CBD is blended into their saline-based suspension using patent pending proprietary technology to create this revolutionary product. I personally use Fairway Focus before every meeting to stay engaged and keep a clear head! -MAX EARLY
ENTANGLED BIOME ENERGY + IMMUNITY TINCTURE EntangledBiome.com While most CBD
products typically tend to offer calming and relaxing properties, Entangled Biome’s Energy and Immunity Tincture leaves you with an uplifting and energetic effect. Their combination of Organic Chaga, Reishi, Cordycep mushrooms and full spectrum hemp oil work in synergy to provide an astounding amount of health benefits. With their treatment pump dispenser, you are assured the same dosage each time (4 mg), eliminating the guess work of dropper tubes. Find this tincture alongside a wide variety of topicals, bath products, pet products and more at their lovely shop located in Eugene, OR! -MAX EARLY
Anxiety NANA’S LEMONADE 25 MG CBD + 10 MG FRUIT CHEWS NanasSecret.com
Nothing brightens a day better than lemonade and a piece of candy, which is why we chose to include the Nana’s Secret Fruit Chews and Strawberry Lemonade in our anxiety/depression category. Nana’s Secret products are made with love and combined with CBD to deliver happy vibes with a sweet taste. -WES ABNEY
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MAUI CBD KAVA AKALA MauiCBD.com
For the last 3,000 years, Kava has been used by many in the Pacific Islands for its numerous positive benefits. Maui CBD has taken this incredible root and combined it with full spectrum CBD oil and MCT oil from coconuts, all grown organically on their beyond organic permaculture farm located in Hawaii. This formula works together to offer a perfect way to relax, rejuvenate, and stay balanced. -MAX EARLY
EXTREME TERPZ EXTREME CARAMELS 100 MG/5 PACK ExtremeTerpzCBD.com
Another fantastic offering from Extreme Terpz are their blueberry flavored Extreme Caramels! These delectable morsels melt away in your mouth, leaving you wanting more, all the while melting away anxiety with a solid 20 mg dosage of full spectrum oil per caramel. The blueberry flavor puts a unique twist on this classic sweet and buttery treat! -WES ABNEY
DELTA BOTANICALS HEMP OIL SUPPLEMENTS CBD GUMMIES DeltaCBD.com What better way to combat
anxiety and depression than with delicious and effective CBD gummies? Delta Botanicals uses no corn syrup in producing these gummies, and the flavor and consistency reflect that in clean, natural flavors. At 300 mg hemp oil per 30 gummies, these make it easy to get a significant dose off of just a few. I used these throughout my entire day, and found them very effective for treating ongoing anxiety. -WYATT EARLY
CENTRAL OREGON CBD PREMIUM HEMP OIL CBDcentralOregon.com
My first time trying Central Oregon CBD’s products was earlier this year in Redmond at the THC Fair. Dealing with general anxiety my entire life, large crowds can often overwhelm me, throwing my anxiety into overdrive. After taking a 100 mg capsule provided to me by owner Tim Fratto, I felt all stress and worries start to melt away. Their full spectrum products are created using natural processes, and are additionally activated and purified to help enter the endocannabinoid system quickly. -MAX EARLY
REVIEWS by LEAF NATION CONTRIBUTORS | PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
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CHARMED HEMP ROSIN TINCTURE CharmedHemp.com
Charmed Hemp delivers a truly unique product in their Rosin Tincture. Sourcing high grade hemp flower, the company presses it into rosin using heat and pressure to create a solvent free concentrate that is blended into the tincture. High in CBD and natural, full spectrum terpenes, this lightly sweet tincture is perfect as a pre-adventure tool for preventing aches, pains and anxiety. -WES ABNEY
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MT. MARATHON MUSCLE SALVE RenewCBDStore.com
After long sessions at the gym, I often find myself sore and depleted. With 907 EMU’s Mt. Marathon Extra Strength Muscle Salve, I feel a total sense of rejuvenation. With an easy application method, I am able to directly target wherever I am feeling soreness. While other salves only offer immediate pain relief via cooling agents, 907 EMU has packed 250mg of CBD into this incredible formula to provide long lasting pain relief. -MAX EARLY
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FAIRWINDS DIGESTIFY CBD TINCTURE FairwindsCBD.com
Recovering from a late night spicy food mistake? Fighting heartburn or a stomach condition? Digestify is a proven blend of essential oils and full spectrum CBD and terpenes to clear nausea and calm the digestive system. -WES ABNEY
TOPICAL WAY MUSCLE CREAM TopicalWay.com
Topical Way is a time tested, organic natural remedy that is safe for all ages and the environment while delivering comfort and relief for injuries, ailments and pain relief. -WES ABNEY
NANA’S SECRET COMFORT PATCH NanasSecret.com
Nana’s Secret Comfort Patches are the perfect way to discreetly handle pain all day in a targeted delivery system. Apply the patch to where it hurts, or along a heavy blood flow area like the underside of the wrist, for relief that goes right into the bloodstream and quick, effective results. -WES ABNEY
HEMPIRE FULL SPECTRUM SALVE Hempire-Co.com
Hempire is an Alaskan born company providing CBD relief all over the country, with quality products like their Full Spectrum Salve. Made with 1,000 mg of full spectrum CBD with emu and coconut oil, beeswax and vitamin E, this salve is useful for everything from burns to daily aches and pains. -WES ABNEY
CHARMED HEMP CBD BATH BOMB CharmedHemp.com
Shoutout to Francesco and his team at Charmed Hemp for another locally made, high quality CBD product. After running around all day with magazines, my back, neck, and feet can feel the consequences. I threw a 100 mg CBD bath bomb into a nice hot bath, and let my worries soak away. After about 20 minutes in the bath, I got out feeling rejuvenated and pain free. My skin felt soft as well, which was a nice surprise for my usually irritable skin. -WYATT EARLY
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Sleep FAIRWINDS DEEP SLEEP FairwindsCBD.com
Fairwinds Deep Sleep tincture blends proven herbal compounds with CBD and CBG oil to deliver restful relief without habit forming compounds found in over-the-counter sleep aids. An all natural night’s sleep is only a dropper away with Fairwinds Deep Sleep tincture. -WES ABNEY
COLORADO CURES GSC CBD + TERPENES 1G VAPE CARTRIDGE CBDplusUsa.com
TERPIN STATION CBN TINCTURE TerpinStation.com
These vape cartridges were the perfect way to get a large dose of CBD quickly, which was perfect for bedtime. At 432 mg of CBD and 23 mg of CBG, it was easy to intake a significant dosage quickly. My main qualifying condition is trouble sleeping, and this cartridge combined with my daily smoking regimen helped me fall asleep fast. Cannabis derived terpenes give this pen a natural and clean flavor. We sampled GSC, but these are also available in Banana Kush, Super Sour Diesel and Blue Dream. -WYATT EARLY
CBN is a wonderful cannabinoid beneficial for sleep and pain, all without the addictive qualities of opiates or over-thecounter sleep supplements. The CBN tincture by Terpin Station is a natural sleep aid that can also help alleviate pain and deliver sleepy vibes at the end of a long day. Naturally derived from hemp and produced in Baltimore, this CBN tincture is a perfect way to ensure a dreamy night’s sleep. -WES ABNEY
SACRED FLOWER FARMS NIGHTY NITE ROLL ON SacredFlowerFarmsCBD.com
This easy application roll-on from Sacred Flower Farms is a must have for your night side table! With a sensational combination of full spectrum CBD, MCT, chamomile, ginger, lavender, ashwagandha, mandarin, sandalwood, and moringa oil, this product really comes in clutch to help me unwind and relax after a long day at work. -MAX EARLY
HEMP KETTLE TEA CO. NIGHT BLEND W/ HEMP HempKettleTea.com
As a big fan of nighttime teas, I was really excited to see a tea with some similar ingredients to the ones I already drink. Everything in the tea mixture is organic, including ingredients like valerian root, which is known for helping with sleep. Each bag contains 1000mg of CBD rich hemp, and such a high number gave me confidence I could get a significant dosage with a small amount of tea. I was able to sleep through the night uninterrupted, and the taste with some honey added was sweet and enjoyable. Tea ball or reusable tea bag is needed to use this tea! -WYATT EARLY
REVIEWS by LEAF NATION CONTRIBUTORS | PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
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Furry Friends SUN GOD MEDICINALS CBD AJA PET OIL SunGodMeds.com
When your furry friend is in pain or distress, you want a product that brings relief rather than uncertainty. The CBD Aja Pet Oil comes with a comforting supply of information to ensure appropriate dosing and organic origins. Their product starts with USDA certified organic hemp and uses a whole plant extraction process for full spectrum benefits. St. John’s Wort and skullcap are added for a complementary effect aimed at inflammation, pain and anxiety. The included oral applicator made accurate measurement and administration easily doable by mouth or treat, although my pup enjoyed the olive oil-based tincture all by itself! -AMANDA DAY
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ACE PET TINCTURE CannabisACE.com
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ACE’s pet oil is designed to help all pets feel more vibrant, achieve wellness, and may treat many types of illnesses such as joint pain, inflammation, neurological disorders and anxiety. It is also especially useful as a preventative measure against future disorders. -WES ABNEY
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FAIRWINDS COMPANION FULL SPECTRUM CBD OIL FairwindsCBD.com
Fairwinds believes that our furry friends deserve a happy and healthy life, and their Companion CBD is perfect for a variety of purposes - with a pet tasty beef flavor. From pain to stress to anxiety, treat your puppy well with a dose of the Companion tincture. -WES ABNEY
REVIEWS by LEAF NATION CONTRIBUTORS | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
Silver Mountain Hemp Guitars MORRIS BEEGLE BELIEVES ROCK ‘N’ ROLL CAN SAVE THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT ROCK ‘N’ ROLL IS MADE FROM HEMP. THAT’S WHY HE STARTED SILVER MOUNTAIN HEMP GUITARS, A COMPANY THAT SPECIALIZES IN HEMP-CRAFTED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND EQUIPMENT.
Based in Fort Collins, Colo., Silver Mountain creates special order guitars and ukuleles, along with guitar speaker cabinets, guitar picks, straps and volume knobs, all either partially or completely made from hemp fiber. For Beegle, the musical instrument company is a way to merge his past with his present and build a new future. After a long career on the distribution side of the music industry, Beegle entered the hemp industry when Cannabis legalization appeared on the horizon in Colorado. “Everyone has a different entry point to this plant,” he said. “A lot of it is through the medical side or the recreational side, and a lot of people have gone to jail for this plant, when they shouldn’t.” Though he didn’t jump into the industry until until 2012, Beegle’s path to Cannabis sativa began back in the 1990s, the same way it started for so many people - when he read “The Emperor Wears No Clothes,” by Jack Herer. “It’s been a huge part of human history, with building materials, and clothes, and rope,” Beegle said. “It’s been a part of society for a long time, and a lot of that information had been buried and hidden away by the government. The Jack Herer book opened up a lot about this plant, and what it can do.” For Beegle, the hemp plant can
53 do quite a bit. He’s currently building a number of companies in the hemp space, including the Colorado Hemp Company and NoCo Hemp Expo, along with Silver Mountain. Replacing modern conventional materials with hemp isn’t just a business move for him - it’s a call to action coming directly from the environment. “The industrial revolution introduced us to the world of synthetics, and now, over a hundred years later, we’re realizing what these synthetics are doing to the rivers we fish in, and our soils,” he said. “There’s toxic shit everywhere. You can walk along the beaches and see these micro-plastics everywhere. And the fish are eating that, and we’re eating the fish.” The way Beegle sees it, the future of manufacturing will rely on bio-plastics from hempcorn composites rather than the petroleum-based plastics humans have been using for decades. That’s not just one possible future, either. He says it’s the only possible future. “We’re here for a finite period of time, and our species is destroying the home that we’ve been given,” Beegle said. “We’re fortunate to be here, and we’re destroying it. We’re shitting where we sleep, and instead we should be better stewards of the Earth.” Making hemp-composite electric guitars and ukuleles alone may not spark the revolution, but for Beegle, SIlver Mountain is just one piece of a larger mission to replace everything possible
with hemp and other renewable, sustainable resources. “The guitar thing is more of a novelty than anything,” he said. “But you can make pretty much anything out of hemp, and that’s something that we should take seriously as we move forward with society.” Beegle’s guitars could become more of a novelty, and they’re certainly continuing the conversation. He has a waiting list for his made-to-order guitars and ukuleles, which use U.S. grown hemp. His guitar speaker cabinets, picks, guitar straps, and volume knobs are all readily available. “It’s still small and boutique, but we’re dialing in the supply chain, which has been work,” he said. Once everything is dialed-in, he plans to carry actual inventory of guitars and ukuleles and fill orders immediately as they come. For now, his company currently offers pre-orders on electric guitars in an SG-style, Telecaster style and Les Paul Jr. body style, with a Stratocaster-body style on the way. Prices range from $2000-$3000. Ukuleles range from $200-$225, and speaker cabinets range from $1000-$2250. Think about it - a guitar player could pick up one of his guitars, a strap, some picks, and one of his speaker cabinets paired with ToneTubby Hemp Cone and Cannabis Rex speakers. That’s probably as close as anyone has ever gotten to an all-hemp rig. “With climate change, and all of this, I don’t think our species is going to be around much longer,” he said. “I think that we need to make a change.”
New & Cool SWEET SKINS
The Emperor may wear no clothes, but you do. The ladies at Sweet Skins hand-make their hemp-blended clothing lines in Eugene, Oregon. Their product lineup is fairly extensive, ranging from outerwear to underwear and everywhere in between. They even offer baby clothes and a range of hemp and non-hemp accessories. See more at SweetSkins.com
ROLKAZ COLLECTIVE SKATEBOARDS
If rock ‘n’ roll is going to save the world, they’ll need some help from the skaters. Slovenia-based Rolkaz Collective makes hemp composite resin-pressed skate decks and wheels. Decks cost around $100, and wheel sets are in the $40 range, available via their Website, Rolkaz.co.
INTERVIEW by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS | PHOTOS by @BACKSTAGEFLASH
RECIPES
HALLOWEEN
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SPOOK UP YOUR OCTOBER! DEM CANNA-BONES The pirate head and the crossbones are lying on a bed of crumbled brownies. The white chocolate and salty pretzels are a fantastic flavor pairing, and everyone gets four. Makes 24 bones, six servings
24 pretzel sticks 48 mini marshmallows 10 ounces vanilla melts or chips 2 tablespoons canna-butter ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 1. Place pretzels and marshmallows on your work surface. Stick a marshmallow on the ends of each pretzel.
GROWN-UPS DESERVE TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN. In fact, I think it helps us stay young. You can be anyone you want to be. And you can be pretty darn high, as long as there is no driving or operating of heavy machinery. Keeping things mellow, we used the 1:1 strain Bliss Berry from our friends at East Fork Cultivars. This candy reminiscent strain smells sweet, with aromas of berries and the tropics.
2. Place the melts in a microwave safe bowl along with the canna-butter. Heat the melts on 50% power in thirty-second intervals. The melts may not appear melted, but they may be. Stir to check. Continue melting at twenty-second intervals until fully melted. 3. Using a fork or tweezers fully immerse the pretzels in the melted chocolate. Tap off excess chocolate and place the “bones” on parchment to set. With any remaining chocolate, pour onto parchment, using a cookie cutter or free hand to cut out a pirate shape. And give that face some eyes. It’s only fair.
MICRO-MUG CAKE If you haven’t tried making a mug cake you should get on this. It’s the perfect way to take care of and infuse the oh-so special you. Serves 1
CANNABIS CORN BALLS Makes eight, four inch balls
You can make your own popcorn or buy already popped. No cheddar popcorn this time. Making this recipe with caramel corn and a hit of sea salt will be a mind blower, in the best way possible. 2 tablespoons coconut oil or butter 2 tablespoons canna-oil or butter 1½ cups candy corn 1 10 oz. bag marshmallows 6 cups popped popcorn 1. In a large skillet melt the oils or butters. Add a half cup of the candy corn and melt with the marshmallow. When that candy corn is melted, add the next half along with the cereal. Stir well and remove from the heat. 2. Stir remaining candy corn into the cooling treats. The mixture will be hot, so wait until it cools a bit. With damp hands, form the mixture into balls about the size of lemons. Allow to set for at least an hour.
1 tablespoon plus two teaspoons butter 1 teaspoon canna-butter 2 tablespoons milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 egg yolk 2 tablespoons white sugar ¼ cup all purpose flour ½ teaspoon baking powder 2 tablespoons sprinkles, any size or color Pinch salt Optional sprinkles for garnish 1. In an 8 or 10 oz. microwave safe mug or ramekin, melt the butters. Allow to cool for one minute. Stir in the milk, vanilla and egg yolk, mixing well. 2. Add the dry ingredients, including the two tablespoons of sprinkles, until just mixed. 3. Microwave on high for 60 seconds. Check for doneness. You may need an extra 20 seconds if the cake appears unset in the center. That said, the cake should appear moist when done. 4. Sprinkle with remaining sprinkles if desired.
RECIPES by LAURIE WOLF | PHOTOS by BRUCE WOLF
edible of THE MONTH
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GOURMET
GUMMIES
Created by GREAT NORTHERN CANNABIS
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It’s always fun seeing what the edible market in Alaska can come up with, and these vegan gummies from Great Northern Cannabis are are a hit. Made with pectin and natural juice
flavors, they are guilt-free and delicious. You get three flavors per package - white grape, raspberry and passion fruit. The gummies are sugar coated nicely and flavored to perfection, and seeing as how they’re made with real fruit juice, it certainly shows. The texture is almost like a gum drop, thick and chewy at first, yet quickly dissolves while leaving a lasting flavor. Overall, these hit all points for a delicious candy — Available at Great Northern Cannabis, be sure to try these gourmet confections while you can!
Guilt-free and delicious edible options
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G reatNorthernC annabis.com
REVIEW by RUSTY SHACKLEFORD | PHOTOS by BOOM MEDIA
Leaf Life Podcast is an entertaining exploration of All Things Cannabis For All People.
Join Ricker and The Bearded Lorax for insightful discussions with Cannabis industry influencers. THIS MONTH:
Show #28: Things To Do In Denver When You’re Stoned Show #29: Craft Beer vs. Craft Weed Show #30: Mindful Cannabis Use
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THANKS TO OUR SPONSORSis rican Ame ct Co. a tr x E
21+
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 twenty-one and older. Keep out of reach of children.
concentrate OF THE MONTH
THIRD EYE HIPPIE CARTRIDGE “The flavor is as described, very floral but also very herbal and earthy with an almost incense like flavor kinda like a hippie.”
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Created by
MIDNIGHT SUN MANUFACTURING The first thing I noticed about this particular cartridge from Midnight Sun Manufacturing was the package. To open, one must press a button on the side and slide out, which I hadn’t seen in the Alaskan market yet and thought was innovative and fairly child-resistant.
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Packaged inside this is a .5 gram CO2 extracted cart, filled with Third Eye Hippie from the fine growers at The Frost Farms. The flavor is as described, very floral but also very herbal and earthy with an almost incense like flavor kinda like a hippie. What can I say, it’s true to its roots. The high is super euphoric, being centered primarily in your forehead. I must say, the name made more and more sense as I burned through the cartridge in an evening. Testing in at 70% THC and 2.7% terpenes, it has the flavor and effect to match. Available at retail locations from the peninsula to Fairbanks, try one out from your local retailer!
AKMIDNIGHTSUN.COM SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION & AVAILABILITY
ocT. 2019
REVIEW by RUSTY SHACKLEFORD | PHOTO by BOOM MEDIA
(1) "Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming and addictive;” (2) "Marijuana impairs concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under its influence;” (3) "There are health risks associated with consumption of marijuana” (4) "For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children;” and (5) "Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breast feeding;”
Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming and addictive. Marijuana impairs concentration, coordination and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under its influence. There are health risks associated with consumption of marijuana. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children. Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. License 14432.
SMALL BATCH CRAFT CANNABIS
AVAILABLE IN SELECT STORES IN FAIRBANKS AND ANCHORAGE
STONEY BALONEy
62
The Roaring 20’s
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Cannabis got cheated. About a hundred years ago, prohibition was passed “to cure the ill society” by eliminating liquid courage and other sinful excesses, making the 1920s the decade where wetting the whistle got replaced by the crossword puzzle and Charlie Chaplin. Being an alcoholic must have sucked. Being a stoner would have been worse. Because, although they couldn’t make liquor go away, they sure put the kibosh to marihuana by labeling it as a poison. What a bunch of assholes. But you know what they also couldn’t make go away? The weirdos who loved the madness of reefer. Maybe they loved ragtime and jazz music and Kerouac along the way, and trippy tapestries and Hendrix and Cheech and Chong and Half Baked and Harold and Kumar and Tame Impala. Maybe they loved a lot of things about the way it makes us feel healthy and happy. We love it. And love is a powerful phenomenon. You can’t kill love. Because it will survive (just as the cockroach survives) and evolve into something indistinguishable. After all, it is a weed. And if there is sun and water...it will grow. The freaks flags are flapping in the wind and inmates are the new CEOs of the asylum. This is the beginning of the globally recognized, legally empowered culture of Cannabis where anything goes as long as you’ve got an open heart. Everyone’s welcome. Be prepared to be blown away. It’ll mend your untethered sail. Cheaters don’t win in the long run. Sometimes a hundred years. 2020 is the year of vision. We’re gonna dance the Charleston.
oct. 2019
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