Feb. 2023 - Oregon Leaf

THE CULTURE ISSUE

SO WHO’S READY FOR ROUND 2?

FEB. 1 - MAR. 15, 2023

GENERAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

28 grams of flower, 10 grams of concentrate, 10 units of pre-rolls/carts/ edibles/topicals

$420 per entry, with $20 from each entry going to supporting a nonprofit TBA. All fees to be paid in full at time of dropoff.

Accepting entries starting February 1, 2023. Deadline for entry is March 15th, 2023.

2023 OREGON LEAF BOWL CATEGORIES

Enter based on how the flower is grown, then pick a category that best represents your flower’s flavor profile ... or put it in the Open Category for the ultimate head-tohead competition for a Leaf Bowl award!

FLOWER

PRODUCTION METHODS:

• INDOOR

• MIXED-LIGHT/GREENHOUSE/LIGHT DEP

• FULL-TERM SUNGROWN

FLAVOR PROFILES:

• FUEL, OG & CHEM

• EXOTIC FRUIT

• CITRUS & SAP

• PURPS & DESSERTS

• OPEN CATEGORY

• CBD-RICH (1:1 OR BETTER - NO HEMP)

PRE-ROLLS

TRADITIONAL INFUSED/ENHANCED

CONCENTRATES & EXTRACTS

FECO/RSO:

• HIGH THC

• HIGH ALTERNATIVE CANNABINOIDS

HYDROCARBON :

• PULL ‘N’ SNAP / SHATTER

• DIAMONDS & SAUCE

• BUDDER / BADDER

• CRUMBLE / SUGAR

SOLVENTLESS HASH:

• FULL-MELT / BUBBLE HASH

• ROSIN

• TRADITIONAL HASH

CARTRIDGES:

• LIVE RESIN

• SOLVENTLESS

• CO2

• DISTILLATE

• GENERAL HYDROCARBON

• ALTERNATIVE CANNABINOID (CBD, CBG, CBN, ETC.)

INFUSED PRODUCTS

EDIBLES:

• BAKED GOODS

• GUMMIES

• CANDIES / CHOCOLATES

• DRINKABLES / TINCTURES

• SAVORY / OTHER TREATS

• CAPSULES/TABLETS

• ALTERNATIVE CANNABINOID

TOPICALS:

• CREAMS / LOTIONS

• SPRAYS

• BEAUTY/SKINCARE

• TRANSDERMALS

SCAN CODE TO ENTER

BOOTHS & LIMITED SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE!

(Sponsorships available only to non-competing companies)

WES ABNEY CEO & FOUNDER wes@leafmagazines.com

MIKE RICKER OPERATING PARTNER ricker@leafmagazines.com

TOM BOWERS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER tom@leafmagazines.com

DANIEL BERMAN CREATIVE DIRECTOR daniel@leafmagazines.com

AMANDA DAY STATE CONTENT DIRECTOR amanda@leafmagazines.com

MAKANI NELSON STATE SALES DIRECTOR makani@leafmagazines.com (808) 754-4182

O’HARA SHIPE ONLINE EDITOR ohara@leafmagazines.com

MEGHAN RIDLEY COPY EDITOR meghan@leafmagazines.com

CORTNEY “BUBBLES” DONACA COMMUNITY & BRAND ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR bubbles@leafmagazines.com

ABOUT THE COVER

Our magazines this month feature incredible photos of the iconic stoner comedy duo that has graced our screens for decades: the inimitable Cheech and Chong, who are back and bigger than ever with new careers, new lines and new roles in an expanding network of Cannabis entrepreneurial spirit and ascent. Our sincere thanks to legendary photographer Emily Eizen for taking on this assignment and delivering a remarkable portfolio of portraits, and the Cheech and Chong team for their help in fully realizing this truly epic cover shoot. See more photos from their photo sesh on our website, and see the alternate cover too!

COVER & INTERIOR PHOTOS BY EMILY EIZEN @EMILYEIZEN WARDROBE AND STYLING BY TORENO WINN @TORENO__ LOCATION BY THE PINK DONA @THEPINKDONA

ART DIRECTION BY DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS

CONTRIBUTORS

WES ABNEY, REVIEWS

BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES

JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION

TOM BOWERS, FEATURES

KATELYN COLLINS, FEATURES

AMANDA DAY, FEATURES + PHOTOS

CORTNEY “BUBBLES” DONACA, REVIEWS

EMILY EIZEN, PHOTOS

STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS

SAM GEHRKE, PHOTOS

RYAN HERRON, FEATURES

MIKE RICKER, FEATURES

MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING

RYAN SANETEL, FEATURES

TONY SIMONELLI, PHOTOS

DIANA THOMPSON, PHOTOS

TORENO WINN, STYLING

BRUCE WOLF, PHOTOS

LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES

WE ARE CREATORS OF TARGETED, INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM. Please email us to discuss advertising in an upcoming issue of Oregon Leaf. We do not sell stories or coverage. We can offer design services and guidance on promoting your company’s recreational, commercial or industrial Cannabis business, product or event within our magazine and on our website, leafmagazines.com. Email makani@leafmagazines.com to learn more about our range of affordable print and digital advertising options to help support Oregon Leaf, the state’s longest-running Cannabis magazine!

CONNECT W I T H OREGON LEAF!

WES ABNEY

Editor’s Note

Thanks for picking up The Culture Issue of the Leaf!

This month’s cover is graced by Cheech and Chong, the iconic stoner humorists who’ve represented Cannabis culture since 1971. Crossing generations with comedy and electric screen presence, they pioneered the plant at a time when using Cannabis was highly illegal. With today’s access to pot stores verging on excessive, it’s easy to forget the risk that buying weed represented in the ‘70s – let alone smoking joints on camera in a form of public protest and entertainment.

Cannabis culture spread into the mainstream on the silver screen, rebranding the war on drugs with wit and taking the fear out of the weed equation. In many ways our current version of stoner culture can be defined by the vibe that Cheech and Chong created atop the echoes of the ‘60s hippie renaissance. Go to a weed event today and you’ll see plenty of tie-dye mixed in with friendly folks blending of all cultures, backgrounds and socioeconomic status. But while colorful clothes and glass define the look, the only thing needed to join the plant tribe is a smile and a bowl to smoke.

We’re entering the ‘Goldilocks Age’ of legalization: Icons and individual consumers alike remember the scars and costs of prohibition. A new generation of stoners turn 21 each month in a world where dispensaries are as ubiquitous as liquor stores. It’s magical to see the worldview of Cannabis shifting – bringing youthful energy and hope which has lit a fire that cannot be put out. Reaching escape velocity, Cannabis is slingshotting from criminal activity to vending machines in a lifetime – and its effect on the arts, entertainment and larger world, shouldn’t be underestimated.

As I wrote last year – if Putin were puffin’ – he probably wouldn’t have invaded Ukraine. I believe we will see a radical transformation in global politics and humanity’s view of responsibility for one another, and our shared planet, once the plant is free to heal. Just look at Thailand’s seemingly overnight drug policy change: Weed has gone from a death penalty offense to a scene of international press, as a Cookies dispensary opens to the blessings of monks and the community.

The energy is right for this movement to grow. And perhaps that’s what brought Cheech and Chong back together, and to the forefront of the movement they planted seeds for 50 years ago. We certainly need weed heroes and while they’re far too cool for capes, it’s an honor to share their presence on the cover of Leaf Magazines. Please enjoy our cover interview by our own Bobby Black and Mike Ricker, with amazing photos by Emily Eizen styled by Toreno Winn in Los Angeles, and the rest of our unique Culture Issue. As I’ve said since June 2010 when the first Leaf magazine went to print – thank you for reading and for being a part of our beautiful Cannabis culture!

“IT’S MAGICAL TO SEE THE WORLDVIEW OF CANNABIS SHIFTING –BRINGING YOUTHFUL ENERGY AND HOPE WHICH HAS LIT A FIRE THAT CANNOT BE PUT OUT. ”

LARROQUETTE WAS PAID IN WEED FOR ‘TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE’ MOVIE

John Larroquette’s very first acting gig was to provide the opening narration for Tobe Hooper’s 1974 ”Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” The actor did so as a favor, but a popular internet rumor has long claimed he also received a little weed for his troubles.

While speaking with Parade, Larroquette confirmed the weed rumor as “totally true.“

“He gave me some marijuana or a matchbox or whatever you called it in those days,” Larroquette recalled. “I walked out of the [recording] studio and patted him on the backside and said, ‘Good luck to you!’”

Larroquette returned to provide narration for several of the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies,” including the recent Netflix sequel – but he revealed that he’s never actually seen any of them. “I’m not a big horror movie fan,” he said.

NEW YORK CITY HOME TO 1,300 UNLICENSED POT SHOPS

ACCORDING TO THE NYPD, more than 1,300 illegal marijuana stores are selling pot without a license.

“I admit, I don’t think we ever talked about this scenario happening,” State Senator Liz Krueger said.

Senator Krueger worked on the state’s adult-use Cannabis legislation for about seven years, but admits that lawmakers never expected such an expansive untaxed market to pop up while the legal market was still being rolled out.

IS LEGAL CANNABIS COMING TO HAWAII? NEW BILL OFFERS HOPE.

HAWAII LAWMAKERS in January filed bills to legalize marijuana in the state. Advocates are optimistic that the reform may finally be enacted with a new pro-legalization governor in office.

Rep. Jeanné Kapela (D) and Sen. Chris Lee (D) sponsor the legislation in their respective chambers, alongside more than a dozen co-sponsors. The measures were partly informed by the recommendations that a state legalization task force developed last year. “We now have a roadmap for legalizing recreational Cannabis in our islands,” Kapela said. “Legalizing Cannabis is not just a matter of money, it is a matter of moralities.”

NEBRASKA SENATOR BACKS MMJ

A Nebraska senator is kicking off the start of the new session with another attempt to finally legalize medical marijuana in the state.

Sen. Anna Wishart, a Democrat, has been fighting to enact the reform over the past several years –pursuing medical marijuana legalization through both the state legislature and activistled ballot campaigns.

Now she’s filed a new bill to provide patients with qualifying conditions access to Cannabis if they receive a doctor’s recommendation.

Should the legislation make it over the finish line, smoking marijuana and home cultivation would remain illegal.

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS BREAKS NEW GROUND

global he U.S. Virgin Islands in late January legalized marijuana for adults 21 and older. This means the United States-owned territory joins several nations in the conservative Caribbean in finally relaxing their antiquated Cannabis laws.

T“We are bringing the opportunities to you, but you must also do your part to seize these opportunities,” said Governor Albert Bryan. Under the nascent industry, the cultivation, manufacture and sale of marijuana is legally allowed in the U.S. territory.

The Act improves upon the governor’s original proposal, with the inclusion of a robust social equity program and expansion of the expungement opportunities for marijuana-related arrests and convictions.

“Under the nascent industry, the cultivation, manufacture and sale of marijuana is legally allowed in the U.S. territory.”

During a signing ceremony, Bryan also issued a proclamation that allows persons convicted of simple possession of marijuana to apply for a pardon.

HEALTH & SCIENCE

DISPENSARY GIVES OUT FREE AUTHORIZATIONS FOR TEXAS VETERANS

Military veterans across the country struggle with PTSD and other ailments, and many are trying to find available treatment options. For some, rather than taking prescription medications, they’re opting for medical Cannabis, reports KXAN.

In Austin, goodblend – one of only three medical Cannabis operators licensed to operate in the Lonestar State – is giving away free Texas medical marijuana authorizations to veterans.

“these authorizations can cost between $200-$300.”

According to goodblend community relations manager Terrence Baugh, these authorizations can cost between $200-$300.

“It keeps them off the black market,” he said. “We want to make it very accessible and usable for them to be a part of this program – to energize and engage them in what Texas already has.”

65

percent of American voters now support the federal legalization of Cannabis.

patients are enrolled in Georgia’s long-awaited medical marijuana program, yet to be rolled out.

Oregon Leaf Budtender of the Month

ADAMFARRELL

In April 2017, Adam Farrell moved from California to Oregon. Just a month later, he found himself immersed in the new and ever-evolving industry of recreational Cannabis – where this bartenderturned-budtender was excited to play a role in the developing movement.

Southern Oregon has a deep-seeded Cannabis culture, and Adam explains that in the region “a lot of people work on farms or work in the industry.” He believes “people want the best products, experience and knowledge” and “want someone who knows what they are selling.”

His favorite part of the job is the guest interaction. Adam pointed out that a large demographic of their consumers are 55 and older. He likes explaining things to help them find the benefits of Cannabis to best suit their needs. And after five years, Adam is still bringing his knowledge and expertise to the consumers of Skunk RX in Grants Pass. Follow him on Instagram @professor619.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE STRAIN? I don’t have a single favorite strain – I like gassy-funk, that old OG-piney taste. I have a specific taste that I like that is hard to describe ... But I like all indica-heavy strains … they are going to put me back to normal.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF CANNABIS IN THE UNITED STATES? I think that the farms, and consumers even, thinking that higher THC numbers are doing them a benefit is a fallacy – but it definitely is going in the right direction. There just needs to be more education and it’s hard to educate people from our standpoint because they think you are just trying to sell them something. If we could figure out the number game – and stop playing the number game – I think it would be going in an even better direction.

“I DON’T HAVE A SINGLE FAVORITE STRAIN – I LIKE GASSYFUNK, THAT OLD OG-PINEY TASTE.”

WHEN YOU AREN’T HOOKING CUSTOMERS UP WITH CANNABIS PRODUCTS, HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR FREE TIME? I ride my Harley and I work on projects. I have projects and projects – car projects, motorcycle projects. I fill my time with those.

IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

A tropical paradise! Somewhere tropical and warm because I am Southern California blooded, and it’s wintertime here in Oregon and my blood still has not adjusted.

ADAM FACTS | If he could only eat one thing while stranded on an island, he would want California-style burritos.

IF THE WORLD WAS ENDING AND YOU COULD ENLIST THE HELP OF ONE SUPER-HERO, WHICH ONE WOULD IT BE, AND WHY? Doctor … the time traveler guy! Someone who can change time … DR. STRANGE! He could go back in time and fix the world from ending!

IF YOU WERE HUMAN BY DAY AND TRANSFORMED INTO AN ANIMAL AT NIGHT, WHICH ANIMAL WOULD YOU BE? I would be an owl. They are silent and majestic and wise. I think that describes me. Owls are rad.

IF SOMEONE MADE A MOVIE ABOUT YOUR LIFE AND ASKED YOU TO CHOOSE THE ACTOR TO PORTRAY YOU, WHO WOULD IT BE? Umm ... What’s that dude’s name? … Seth Rogen, for sure!

POTLAND POTLAND

WHEN YOU STARTED AS A DELIVERY SERVICE, WAS THE WALK-IN SHOP ALWAYS PART OF THE PLAN? Yeah, I think my goal was to eventually get into a brick-and-mortar. At first, it was just kind of the cheapest entry into the market. Just getting my foot in the door coming from the traditional market. Delivery was the easiest entry … we rolled that into having the store.

BEFORE WE STARTED, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU’RE TRYING TO CULTIVATE A QUALITY DISPENSARY HERE. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU? Yeah, I mean, to me having a quality dispensary … I think first and foremost is connecting with the customer and the patients. It’s kind of weird being recreational now, but in my opinion … the majority of Cannabis sales are still focused on the patient’s needs. So, I think connecting with the patients and getting them quality medicine and flower at an affordable price is our number one thing. Number two is staying up with fresh flower all the time. We always try and offer the freshest flower to the customer and make sure you’re getting the best quality for the price.

WHAT’S IT LIKE HAVING A PHYSICAL LOCATION NOW? HOW MUCH WOULD YOU SAY YOU’RE CATERING TO THIS SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD? Quite a bit. We still stick with that mantra from delivery and carrying a wide variety of products. Since we’ve grown into the storefront, we’re carrying even more products and that helps cater to the neighborhood as well. It’s just nice having the space where we can stock everything we want to carry.

IT’S GREAT TO SEE A SHOP WITH SO MUCH QUALITY HASH AND ROSIN ON

THE SHELF. ARE THERE ANY PRODUCERS OR PRODUCTS YOU WANT TO SHOUT OUT? There are five that I have enjoyed a lot. And I’ve reached out to all of them to do collaborations. J&S has a box coming out with all five of these producers’ single-source flower and rosin rolled into donuts. We got Eastwood, Grape God, Archive, Nelson and Co, and B.A. Botanicals to all contribute. That’s the top of my list of people I enjoyed working with and products that I personally enjoy.

WHAT ELSE IS ON THE HORIZON THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OREGON LEAF READERS? We have a lounge opening soon next door where we’ll probably have a barista coffee lounge in the mornings and then open it up to private parties and events. We want to make it a community spot where people can come watch a game or get their daily cup of coffee. We’re gonna have a little outdoor patio that’s fully enclosed, so you can sit outside and enjoy consumption as well. We’re going to bring a vibe to our new space that we haven’t seen with any other private lounge.

ANYTHING ELSE THAT MAKES THE POTLAND STAND OUT FROM YOUR AVERAGE POT SHOP? I mean, I think really just getting it out there that we’re independent mom-and-pop owners –just myself and my wife. We have no outside investors. It’s just all the hard work and sweat equity that we put into it. We see it kind of growing into what it is and want to keep putting our energy into what is working. Hopefully, things keep flourishing and it allows us to branch out even more.

POTLAND 1761 NE Dekum St, Portland, OR

Open 12PM-8PM Mon-Sat | 11AM-8PM Sun

thepotland.co | @thepotland.co | (503) 432-8629

When one of Portland’s favorite weed delivery services opened their brick-and-mortar, we knew we had to stop in and check out the shelves. Potland surprised us with a curated flower selection, expert staff, and products aimed directly at fellow connoisseurs. We sat down with owner Jake Granger and got a closer look at what makes this a stand-out dispensary.

“I think connecting with the patients and getting them quality medicine and flower at an affordable price is our number one thing. Number two is staying up with fresh flower all the time. We always try and offer the freshest flower to the customer and make sure you’re getting the best quality for the price.”

Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. For use only by adults 21 years of age and older. Keep out of the reach of children.

Our products feel different because they are made differently. We specialize in lipid infusions of cannabis. Inspired by a traditional herbalist method of steeping herbs in fats or oils, our proprietary process produces a sparkling-clear, golden-colored infusion that is mild tasting and highly bioavailable without using unhealthy solvents or gimmicky tech. This pure process captures the exceptional phytochemical diversity of Oregon’s best regeneratively-grown cannabis, preserving a full spectrum of naturally-occuring cannabinoids and terpenes.

Luminous Botanicals is proud to be the world's first Sun+Earth Certified manufacturer. Sun+Earth certifies cannabis that is grown under the sun, in the soil of mother earth, without chemicals, by fairly-paid farmers.

Exclusively distributed by

Take care of the planet while you take care of yourself.

EVANS CREEK FARMS

THE FLANKS OF MT.

Evans Creek Farms gets its name from the creek, which runs through this locally-owned, single-operator farm. When Daniel and his wife first acquired the rugged 10-acre parcel in 2012, there was nothing but trees and brush. With the help of a single yellow excavator and a group of friends who work in construction, they’ve built a home, a grow facility, a dedicated three-person team, and a reputation for some of the best small-batch, high-quality weed in Oregon.

Their entire supply of flower comes from a single building on the property. Along the ground floor, three grow rooms and a clone room connect to the main space, and above, a loft area holds their processing and curing areas. “We like to think we’re small but advanced,” Daniel said. “We were part of the Clean Green program and even one of the first farms to go LED when we switched in 2010.” Now the farm runs a combination of HPS, metal halide and LED, in both the veg and flower rooms.”

OUT ON

HOOD, not far from the pear and apple orchards, you can look around, smell the crisp air, and even the hair on your arms will tell you there’s good weed growing nearby.

Thanks to each team member having at least 13 years of cultivation experience, Daniel was able to create an efficient, Voltron-like division of labor that allowed him to bring two people on full-time. He’s designed every inch of the 2,880-square-foot building to house some piece of equipment or stack of supplies.

“Right here is where we hand mix all the soil with earthworm casting as our main source of bacteria, then provide a top dress with stuff like compost and biochar to deliver the nutrients when it’s time to flower,” Daniel explains.

“It’s really as few amendments as possible. If you were to see how little you actually need to use thanks to all the natural bacteria and microbes, you’d be shocked. When I started, we used more natural fertilizers, but switching to teas helped us find the bare minimum we need to grow with the least amount of waste, and that kept producing better and better weed.”

Head garden technician Eric chimes in: “It’s like we always say – we want to hold its hand, not try to force it or baby it. Just provide those core needs and let it thrive on its own talents.”

There’s no wasted space or lack of intention to an area, and that same careful organization

carries over to the rooms. In each of the three cultivation spaces, Evans Creek has carefully dialed in a mix of strains retailers are waiting for and ones they’re sure will be the next hit. With only 48 lights and a dedicated following for their Nepalese Kush and Grandpa’s Gunchest, it takes a lot of work to find the space to develop something new. The GMO batch they did at the request of Archive Genetics became so desirable that they’ve had to make it a once-a-year release.

Dedicated to their craft, Daniel and the team somehow found a corner to devote to R&D, and later this year, Evans Creek hopes to drop a brand new strain called Blue Belle. This 11-week stunner mixes their house-developed cut of Southern Belle (Irene OG x Dosidos) from Archive Genetics with pollen from CalCo Genetics’ Blue Hawaiian (Kona Sunset x Blueberry Syrup).

Currently, Evans Creek Farms services a core group of 20 locations around that state and has existing partnerships with Echo Electuary and Happy Cabbage to produce extracts and concentrates using their flower. Though small, the iron-clad relationships that Evans Creek Farms has developed show how connected their facility is to the supply chain of top-shelf Oregon Cannabis.

“IT’S LIKE WE ALWAYS SAY –WE WANT TO HOLD ITS HAND, NOT TRY TO FORCE IT OR BABY IT. JUST PROVIDE THOSE CORE NEEDS AND LET IT THRIVE ON ITS OWN TALENTS.”

ERIC, HEAD GROW TECHNICIAN

A WARM WELCOME TO ECF

CARBON FIBER

THE TEAM DANIEL, JODY, PAUL & ERIC

RESINRANCHERS

WITH THE CANNABIS SCENE going through such rapid change, navigating today’s market is not for the faint of heart … but when you’ve been smoking weed as long as these two, you tend to develop more than just an iron lung. After 12 years in business, Resin Ranchers’ Will and Spencer have the same mission as day one: “We want to grow the best pot because we only want to smoke the best. The wonderful side effect to that is being able to supply others with it as well.”

Friends since high school, they each discovered their passion for Cannabis early on. After starting college, neither saw themselves fitting into the traditional school-job-career path. So in 2010, they decided to leave school and build something of their own. Will described how they kept wanting to see and experience a higher and higher quality of Cannabis, and that’s how they got into the idea of growing medically. Within two years, they were already scaling up production – and by 2015 they had officially entered the recreational market.

The name comes from an idea Spencer had of a ranch where cowboys bred and raised heads of resin like the great cattle ranches of the West. “When the market opened up to non-medical consumers, we were some of the first higher-end flower to hit store shelves, and we needed to have all this branding in place,” the team tells us. In a quick decision, they went with Spencer’s idea. And when the market blew up all the sudden, the name became a hit with excited consumers. “Before we knew it, we became Resin Ranchers.”

When asked about how they’ve seen the culture change over the last decade, both men admitted, “We tend to keep our heads down in the garden, so when we do look up, it feels like weed culture is always exploding. There are so many more people smoking now, and people have a much higher

general knowledge about what they want. Back in high school and college, there weren’t giant Cannabis events, terpene education, or this level of celebrity status around being in the industry. Since weed’s become legal, there’s an oversaturation of hype.”

“For us, this has evolved from curiosity to a project to a job and now our career – at this point, it’s part of the fabric of who we are.”

Not content to run with the pack, Resin Ranchers stays out on the frontier by sticking to their guns and only growing the strains they enjoy. Recently, they’ve devoted an entire room to year-round pheno hunting so that they can give more time to developing in-house cuts and varieties no one else will have. Will put it simply: “Sometimes, putting out the best weed means looking outside the trends. People in Oregon are refreshed by seeing something with a reputation that’s been established through years of work and word of mouth.”

“We’re two stoners who are in this for life,” Spencer continues. “For us, this has evolved from curiosity to a project to a job and now our career – at this point, it’s part of the fabric of who we are. Through the good and the bad, we’re passionate about Cannabis being our future. This is what we do, and we’re staying with it.”

A Stoner Owner is a Cannabis business owner who has a relationship with the plant. We want to buy and smoke Cannabis from companies that care about their products, employees and the plant. You wouldn’t buy food from a restaurant where the cooks don’t eat in the kitchen, so why buy corporate weed grown by a company only concerned with profits? Stoner Owner approval means a company cares, and we love weed grown with care. Let’s retake our culture and reshape a stigma by honoring those who grow, process and sell the best Cannabis possible.

synergyskinworx

WE RECENTLY CAUGHT UP WITH MANDY PEARCE, owner of Synergy Skin Worx, to talk about the Cannabis scene here in Oregon and beyond. For a company that’s been established since the days before the plant was legalized for recreational use – and best known for their transdermal patches – they’ve always managed to support patients. We chatted about how they’ve managed to stay moving forward in the ever-changing industry.

What would you say has kept Synergy on the Oregon market, considering how much has changed in the last few years? I’m grateful and thankful to still be here. I honestly just think it comes down to hard work, and having an ethic of needing to supply the patients with good products. For me, we invested everything into this and so we had to make it work and we had to survive. It helps that all of our employees are either family members or our friends that have become family. Our core set of employees has worked for us for just under 10 years. I think also being around when dispensaries first opened gave us a push ahead of the curve. Getting to know the community, the patient base, and just honestly getting to know the other players has given us a huge advantage.

I know that it was not easy for anybody to make the switch from med to recreational. Tell us a little bit about the growing pains there… Honestly, like, the transition wasn’t terrible. I feel like it was more or less just deciding if we were going to be more attractive to recreational users, or do we try to stay to our roots and push our products as medical products. We try to be very professional and clean with our packaging. So it looks like something that’s more medicinal, and that seems to work well for everyone.

What is the exciting part of your day-to-day now that you’ve been doing it for a while? We have a lot coming up this year that I’m super excited about. Obviously, we’ve settled on our niche market. So with that, we have a couple of different new products that will be coming out that are something no one else has offered yet.

Let’s talk about how you’ve been expanding the footprint of the brand and how you’re helping people across the nation… It’s always been a dream of ours. We’re in a position where we’ve built our business and are offering our range in other states, using machines we’ve manufactured ourselves. We will actually travel to your facility. We want to work with like-minded people that are already established. We launched into Arkansas and Missouri just this last quarter and have about six more states coming on board. That’s a big part of my day-to-day right now. Not to mention something to look forward to here in the near future.

“We’re in a position where we’ve built our business and are offering our range in other states, using machines we’ve manufactured ourselves.”

THE SYNERGY SKIN WORX TEAM

ARTIFICIAL SOUR

CULTIVATED BY TRICHOME FARMS

CRACKING OPEN a jar of Trichome Farm’s Artificial Sour and I’m pleasantly surprised by the scent filling the room. Like tearing into a bag of exotic gummies, it’s a little bit familiar. Eye-opening candy sweet flavors, bright red strawberries, and tart peach rings over an unfamiliar earthy cologne. With such a spacey effect and striking bag appeal, the crew over at Trichome have outdone themselves with this stunning strain.

Trichome introduced this cultivar to the garden when they linked up with a friend of the farm, Stardust Cultivation and Genetics. “He came in and hooked us up with a bunch of his winning cuts, as well as a bunch of seed packs to hunt,” the team tells us. “Stardust personally selected this cut, so we were lucky enough to have the leg work done on this one. [It] really stood out because of the unique terp profile. Although it’s not the best producer, it makes up for it in the taste and nose, so it’s a definite keeper for us.”

The cultivar quickly earned a place in their garden.

The lineage is renowned Montana Silver Tip crossed with Blue Tang Clan, a Stardust Cultivation creation that’s a dead ringer for the scent of blue Pixy Stix. The flavor of both shines through to create a bouquet of strawberries, dank forest fruits and sour peaches. Funky and fruity (the whole profile is sweettooth satisfying) and sugary without ever verging into syrupy or cloying.

The effect hits quickly and is first felt right behind the eyes, before spreading slowly down the spine like a meditative body scan. Expect relaxation from head to toe without a clue of what we were just talking about.

Usually when we’re opening a jar of Cannabis labeled ”Sour,” we typically think Sour Diesel. But Cannabis offers us a dizzying array of tart flavors. The sharp, rich diesel of Sour D is not the same candy-forward pucker that Artificial Sour carries –though this expression is just as mouthwatering. Hitting shelves around Oregon now, this one is worth seeking out for anyone who craves those big candy flavors and nose-wrinkling profiles.

TRICHOME-FARMS.COM @TRICHOMEFARMS

25.51% THC

“The sharp, rich diesel of Sour D is not the same candyforward pucker that Artificial Sour carries, though this expression is just as mouth-watering.”

THCV, or Tetrohydrocannabivarin, is a rare cannabinoid that has been sought after by breeders for many years. THCV can reduce appetite and increase energy levels. It can also heighten the entourage e ect of THC.

VIVA THCV strains have been carefully bred for many years to isolate and magnify the natural production of THCV.

VIVA is an all natural THCV product. VIVA THCV has not been synthetically manufactured or chemically altered.

BENEFITS: THCV

THCV is an appetite suppressant and is e ective at curbing the munchies.

THCV can increase energy levels. It can be used for active daily use.

THCV can aid in relieving stressful or nervous feelings.

THCV can increase focus and promote a clear-headed state of mind.

THCV can help facilitate favorable function of the nervous system.

THCV can promote wakefulness and alertness.

This product is not approved by the FDA to treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

CARTS E D I BLES

still smokin’

THE REBIRTH OF CHEECH AND CHONG

Legendary Cannabis

LONG BEFORE Harold and Kumar, Jay and Silent Bob or Beavis and Butt-Head … before “Friday” or “How High,” “Half Baked” or “Pineapple Express” –there were the founding fathers of Cannabis comedy: Cheech and Chong.

In a series of irreverent films throughout the 1970s and early ‘80s, they portrayed a pair of silly, stereotypical stoners who perfectly captured the spirit of the ’70s and established them as cultural icons that have stood the test of time. During this exclusive interview with the Leaf, the legendary comedy duo reflect back on how their partnership has evolved over their heady and hilarious, half-century-long careers.

WHEN CHEECH MET CHONG

A Mexican-American from Los Angeles, Richard Marin (nicknamed “Cheech” as a baby by his uncle, who remarked that he looked like a little “chicharron” aka fried pork rind), grew up the son of an LAPD officer in East L.A. An anti-war activist in college, he moved to Canada after graduation to avoid being drafted, where he spent about a year working odd jobs: making pottery, delivering carpets and freelance writing.

“I was writing for a rock and roll magazine up there called Poppin, and the publisher said to me, ‘I got this guy you should meet – he’s doing some weird stuff,’” Marin recalls.

“That guy” was a half-Chinese, half-Scotch-Irish musician from Calgary named Thomas Chong. Throughout the 1960s, Chong made a living managing nightclubs around Vancouver while trying to make it big as the guitarist in a band called Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers. The group signed with Motown in 1965, released an album and a hit single (which Chong co-wrote), and even played with top acts like the Jackson Five and Jimi Hendrix.

In 1967, while on tour in Chicago, he happened onto the Second City comedy club and was “mesmerized” by his first exposure to improv. So when he was fired from the band after being late to a gig (because he didn’t have a green card), Chong switched gears: In 1969, he took over the back room of his brother Stan’s strip club, The Shanghai Junk, and launched his own improv group called City Works.

Then, one fateful day, after delivering a carpet next door, Cheech walked into the club and introduced himself to Tommy. As Marin’s publisher predicted, the two immediately hit it off.

“He was running this improvisational theater troupe in Vancouver’s first topless club, and he invited me to join,” says Marin. “I started out

writing for the group but eventually started doing all the parts. Eventually, when the troupe fell apart, Tommy and I stayed together.”

When asked what inspired him to become a comedian, Marin jokes: “The strippers!” then adds sarcastically, “It was either that or go into politics.” CONTINUES NEXT PAGE >>

comedy duo Cheech and Chong are back – and this time, they’re finally making a new movie together!

THE REBIRTH OF CHEECH AND CHONG

POTHEAD PERSONAS

It was while doing sketch comedy at Shanghai Junk that the two aspiring comics began developing the stoner characters that would become their trademarks: Cheech, the Chicano vato “Pedro,” and Chong, the burnout known only as “Man” – a character he based mainly on a homeless hippie named Strawberry (a name they later appropriated for Cheech’s shellshocked cousin in their first film) that he sometimes let sleep in the lighting booth at the club. Though neither of them smoked as much as the bumbling burnouts they played on stage, they’d both loved Mary Jane since their first dance with her in their late teens.

“I was 19, in my first year at college,” Marin recalls of his first time getting high. “I was a straight arrow: altar boy, choir boy, straight-A student … and then one time at a party in my apartment, my roommate passed this cigarette to me. ‘What is this?’ ‘It’s weed, man.’ ‘Oh, OK – how do you do it?’ He showed me how to do it, and after I took my first hit, the music sounded better, and I said to myself, ‘OK – so what else have they been lying about?’”

It was a similar circumstance for Chong.

“I was 17 years old, still trying to get through high school,” he recounts. “I used to hang out at this jazz club because even though I didn’t play jazz, I could get in free if I brought my guitar. One night, the owner of the club – a Chinese bass player named Raymond Ma – handed me a Lenny Bruce record and a joint. I put the joint right in my pocket, so he said, ‘Oh, OK’ and lit up another one, and we got high. I remember the music I was listening to when it hit me was “Lonely Woman” by Ornette Coleman. I’d never heard music like that. I could even see the woman in the window waiting for her lover.

After I got home, I listened to the Lenny Bruce record, and the next day, I quit school.”

“I THINK OUR PARTNERSHIP IS BETTER TODAY THAN IT EVER WAS,” MARIN SAYS CONFIDENTLY. “I THINK EVERYTHING CHANGED WHEN WE GOT OUR OWN ACCOUNTANTS,” JOKES CHONG, THEN ADDS MORE SERIOUSLY, “NO, BUT WE … WE GREW UP.”

The duo spent a little over a year honing their material, and after City Works disbanded in February 1971, they toured down the West Coast back to Los Angeles – where their pothead personas were better received than in Vancouver.

“The audience back in L.A. liked those characters right away because we reminded them of people in their neighborhood,” says Chong. “You know, because they didn’t have Chicanos in Canada.”

FLYING HIGH

Later that year, they signed a record deal with famed producer Lou Adler’s Ode Records and recorded eight albums over the next several years – most of which went gold and were nominated for Grammys – including 1972’s “Big Bambu” (designed to look like a giant pack of rolling papers) and 1973’s “Los Cochinos,” which won them their first and only Grammy.

In 1978, Adler directed the duo’s first feature film: the now classic “Up in Smoke.” Much like their live act and albums, most of the movie’s dialogue was improvised – reportedly using only a yellow legal

pad with what Chong once described as a “loose roadmap” written on it as their guide. Though not well received by critics, the film was wildly popular with hip, young audiences and became a huge financial success.

In the decade to come, the duo went on to release seven more films, including “Nice Dreams” (1981), which featured cameos by Paul “Pee-wee Herman” Ruebens and LSD guru Timothy Leary, and “Still Smokin” (1983) – a combination of sketches and live performances shot mainly in Amsterdam.

“I wanted to do a Cheech and Chong film festival, but Paramount wanted us to do a live concert,” Chong explains. “Eddie Murphy had just done “Raw,” so they wanted us to kind of copy that.”

“So we did both instead,” Cheech chimes in.

Of all of their films, Chong admits that “Still Smokin” was his favorite one to make.

“I think ‘Still Smokin’ was the most fun because we did quite a few classic bits, like ‘The Invisible Wrestler’ that we had only done live, and I knew we’d never do again,” he explains. “I figured, this is our one chance to see our live act on screen, so we did – we got ‘em on screen.”

“And it was in Amsterdam,” Cheech chuckles, “so we had a great time.”

BREAKUP & REUNION

Despite their fun times during filming, tensions had been rising between them for some time. Their sixth film, “The Corsican Brothers” (1984) – in which they played 18th-century French swashbucklers instead of their usual stoner characters – flopped. And Chong, who had directed four of their six films, was reportedly exerting ever more control over the team’s creative direction. Sadly, in 1985, things came to a head – and Cheech and Chong decided to split up.

For the next two decades, each pursued their own solo career: Appearing in dozens of films and television shows, as well as countless cameos and voiceover roles (including several animated Disney characters). And though their friendship had severely soured during that period, it managed to endure.

“We’d talk, but it was intermittent because there were a lot of bad feelings on both our parts,”

Cheech says. “But I always knew that we’d eventually get back together in some form, because the connection was just too strong, and the people wanted it so much.”

It took over 20 years (and a generous offer from Live Nation), but that reunion finally happened in 2008, when they put their differences aside and agreed to embark on a new standup tour, “Light Up America.”

“It was a nice way to get back with Tommy in a format that we didn’t argue about,” says Marin, who joyously recounts the first time they shared a stage again. “He said, ‘I’m doing this gig with my wife Shelby at The Comedy Store down in San Diego … why don’t you just show up and come out of the audience as a special guest,’ and that’s what I did. It was amazing – we had no rehearsal whatsoever, but it’s such a part of our DNA that after all those years being apart, I walked up on stage and it was like we had performed the day before.”

The “Light Up America” tour was followed by the “Get it Legal” tour, a concert film and an animated movie. There was even talk of them doing a new feature film together – something like a stoner version of “Grumpy Old Men” – but that project never materialized, thanks to some of the same creative differences that first drove them apart.

Putting aside their past issues, though, both men feel that the dynamics of their relationship have improved significantly since then.

“I think our partnership is better today than it ever was,” Marin says confidently.

“I think everything changed when we got our own accountants,” jokes Chong, then adds more seriously, “No, but we … we grew up.”

HEADY HORIZONS

Their reconciliation has paved the way for three exciting new projects. The first is their new Cheech and Chong’s Cannabis Company launched in California in August of last year – which not only brings their individual, existing weed brands (Cheech’s Stash and Tommy Chong’s Cannabis) under one banner, but introduces several new “joint” product lines named after aspects of their films, including Love Machine, Low Rider, StaDank-Ohh, and their most popular release, Cruise Chews.

The second project is an upcoming documentary about their careers that’s recently wrapped filming after decades of work.

And the third? That long-awaited new feature film, which they say is already written and set to begin filming within the next few months. When asked what it’s about or whether they’ll be reprising their

classic stoner characters in it, the duo is uncharacteristically tight-lipped.

“We can’t talk too much about it because we don’t want to give anything away,” says Chong. “All we can tell you is that it’s going to be incredible. We got some surprises, man.”

Although they haven’t made a film together in decades, they’re confident that they’ll be able to connect with today’s younger audience — particularly Chong, who’s portrayal of Leo in “That ’70s Show” introduced his classic character to a whole new generation (a role he’s recently reprised in the new sequel, “That ‘90s Show”).

“The zoomer generation, they love the old Woodstock, peace and love mindset … and when you go back to the ‘oldies but goodies’ types, we’re at the top of the list,” says Chong. “Because when you think about it, really what we were doing was young guys playing like old guys. And so now, we’re old guys playing young guys.”

“We have a unique brand of humor that’s simultaneously really dumb and really smart in the same thing,” Marin offers. “It appeals to everybody on the intellectual spectrum at the same time.”

“Yeah – we’re kinda like Charlie Chaplin,” Chong adds. “He was a clown who became the lowest common denominator in American culture, and as a result, everybody could look down on him. But he could hobnob with the richest or the poorest – it didn’t matter. And I think that’s what’s happened with Cheech and Chong. When we first did it, it was shocking – but eventually, we showed the world how a Chicano and Hippie could be very lovable, and that connected everybody to us.”

So if you happen to be one of those rare stoners who have never actually seen a Cheech and Chong movie, do yourself a favor – go get as high as possible and watch “Up in Smoke.” You’ll be glad you did.

CHEECHANDCHONG.COM | @CHEECHANDCHONG

Location by The Pink Dona | thepinkdona.com @thepinkdona

See more exclusive photos on our website at LeafMagazines.com.

“WE HAVE A UNIQUE BRAND OF HUMOR THAT’S SIMULTANEOUSLY REALLY DUMB AND REALLY SMART IN THE SAME THING,” MARIN OFFERS.

Cheech and Chong’s iconic 1978 film “Up in Smoke” made the pair stars. (ALAMY STOCK)

As one of the first celebs to sink their teeth into the legal landscape back in 2015, Leafs by Snoop came out of Colorado and a partnership with Canopy Growth. He continued to solidify his colossal status in Cannabis with Casa Verde, an investment company with a deep client deck ranging from edible and cultivation companies to media and METRC. These days, the Doggfather is digging into Death Row Cannabis – a brand new endeavor with renowned Cali cultivator AK.

berner

Cookies began as a clothing and lifestyle line but Berner had bigger plans. He cornered a cultural shift in the community, impacting everything from branding to breeding and paving a path to a billion-dollar empire. Now, his brands boast nearly 60 retail locations around the globe, where Cookies and sister brand Lemonnade partner with local producers in each area to cultivate their Cannabis products.

HIGH NOTES

Taking hits and making hits with the stoniest folks in music.

Musicians have been humming a melody to Mary since someone strummed the first guitar. But these days, a shifting legal landscape means artists can make money getting loud in more ways than one. A bounty of branding opportunities brought a wave of celebrity-backed Cannabis companies and (love it or hate it) new ones are cropping up regularly. But not all celeb brands come from seasoned supporters. Let’s highlight a few hit makers with a legacy of lighting up long before legalization.

B-Real

Stoniest Album

“Black Sunday”

Cypress Hill is synonymous with the sesh. B-Real has backed the bud since day one of his career and since 2018, he’s been busy bringing Dr. Greenthumb to life. The aptly-titled dispensary chain has stuck close to its L.A. roots, with five California locations and its own brand of in-house cultivation (Insane) powered by the same TRP LLC crew that has its hands in Cookies and Death Row Cannabis.

wiz khalifa

Wiz’s 2010 mixtape “Kush & Orange Juice” seemed to solidify a place in many toker’s tracklists and inspire a new generation of cultivar-curious consumers.

method man

“Kush & Orange Juice”

Khalifa Kush (KK) is rumored to have been Wiz’s personal puff of choice for years before his endeavor to brand the bud. But in 2016, he entered the market debuting a partnership with Tryke Companies under the fan-famous strain name. The brand has since expanded to include a full lineup of infused offerings that spans six states.

Stoniest Album

“Tical”

As a group, Wu-Tang wove a legendary part of hip-hop’s history. Clan members like Method Man had a masterful presence in more than just music. Cult classics like “How High” cemented his place in the po(t)ulation and inspired terms like “TICAL.” It’s a term Mr. Meth coined for Cannabis that, since 2020, has doubled as an acronym for his brand’s vision: Taking Into Consideration All Lives. You can find the full line of flower and infused goods in six states.

“The scientifical, mystical one. Growin’ my crops with the rays of the sun.”

“Look up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a pLAne. It’s the Funk Doctor Spot smoking buddha on a train.”

“And I’m gonna re-up as soon as the fire’s gone. Smokin’ OG Kush from another time zone.”

Stoniest Album

snoop dogg

Stoniest Album “Mac + Devin go to High School”

“Can we get a motherfuckin’ moment of silence for this small chronic break?”

Stoniest Album

“Light it up, what it taste like?

Lemonade, when it’s made right.”

Stoniest Album

“Worldwide Underground”

erykah badu willie nelson

Her eccentric style, soulful songs, and free-flowing artistic expression exude an unmatched energy. But Badu’s bringing a bit of her vibe to viewers like you, in her latest creative collaboration with the folks at Cookies. A recently released video on Berner’s page shares a conversation in which the pair look forward to the lemony traits of “That Badu” – the company’s very first female-backed brand featuring Mad Cow Genetics.

DAMIAN MARLEY

Stoniest Album

“Stony Hill”

mendo dope

Stoniest Album

“Heroes”

To nearly no one’s surprise, Willie Nelson was not far behind Snoop in securing a multi-state operation when things began to legalize back in 2012. Willie’s Reserve spread through several states with rapid succession, sharing flower, pre-rolls and carts grown by over 20 independent farms in Colorado, Washington, Oregon and California. Like Berner, Willie looked to his community to spread the plant’s promise, pairing up with fellow country stars like Merle Haggard and Margo Price.

Jr. Gong jumped into the ganja scene with the social justice-oriented company, Evidence. The brainchild of Ocean Grown Extracts, Evidence operates out of a Coalinga, California facility that makes focusing on their mission mandatory. That’s because the former prison now plays home to plants grown with purpose, as Evidence has partnered with The Last Prisoner Project to donate one dollar from every bag sold. But Damian is no stranger to this cause and has acted as an LPP advisor since 2019.

GRIZ

Michigan EDM artist GRiZ isn’t a stranger to the sensi and by 2017, he’d already released a self-titled strain. His bright, saxed-up, musical makings set the stage for any solid sesh. If you’re in the state of Michigan, you can even tune in and toke up with something selected by the man himself. Pure Options, an established local brand has partnered with GRiZ to provide four custom cultivars for his latest flower enterprise: Astro Hippie.

Stoniest Album

“Planters of the Trees”

Mendo Dope is about as grassroots as our list gets. Brothers Old E and Bleezy started their Cannabis culture journey back in 2013, frequently filming in their own California garden or with the late legendary breeder Subcool for YouTube. They built a fan following and since then, have had their hands in everything from community growing classes to a seed company (Planters of the Trees) and flower line (Mendo Dope Farms).

margo price

Stoniest Album

“All American Made”

Margo Price’s strain with Willie’s Reserve isn’t the only reason this Tennessee toker has made our list. Listen to “All American Made” (a song title that now doubles as a strain) a little closer and you’ll catch her calls to Reagan’s War on Drugs. For a country singer/ songwriter, she’s surprisingly candid about her Cannabis use. Recently, she’s even announced an edible endeavor with the independent, family-owned-and-operated Illinois company Nature’s Grace.

slightly stoopid

The stony, summer sounds of Slightly Stoopid pair perfectly with their sub-brand of curated “Cannabis, wellness, and spirits.” Stoopid Strains offers several Cali Cannabis collaborations with established companies for a variety of products. Seabright Farms’ “Stoopid Hammerheads” offer fans a flower, diamond, oil and kief-coated pre-roll. But the band also collaborated with Cali companies Space Coyote Cannabis and Humboldt Seed Company, as well as Washington’s Playa Grande Cannabis.

“Chasing the Golden Hour Pt. 3”

“Gettin’ high and havin’ fun.”

“A shifting legal landscape means artists can make money getting loud in more ways than one.“

“You’re the prettiest of flowers, girl me can’t complain. When I’m with you I feel so high I rise above the rain.”

“So I took it in my hand and headed home to grow this ‘juana. I put it in the soil and became a ganja farmer.”

“But I was just a child, unaware of the effects. Raised on sports and Jesus not the usual suspects.”

“No explanation needed. When I’m high I don’t conceal it.”

Stoniest Album “Chronchitis”

“And we would ride around the park ‘til it’s after dark. Pumpin’ the trunk with the windows rolled up, puff.”

“Roll me up and smoke me when I die.”

Stoniest Album

Super Boof rosin

With names deeply rooted in Oregon’s Cannabis subculture, the folks over at Lofty have been working on something new. Beginning with their first day of sales in December of 2021, they brought to market several cultivars sourced in-house, including a novel strain to many Oregonians: Super Boof.

SUPERBOOF, bred by Blockhead Buds, offers a sweet combination of pine and grapefruit that accelerates your mood from the smell alone. The look – creamy and sticky – is reminiscent of fresh white fondue. Upon consumption, you will feel it taking over your senses. It starts with an alertness and ends with watery eyes and the desire to continue consuming – not only for the rich sweet mixture of stone fruit and citrus flavors, but because the effects are astounding as well. There’s a sharp sense of spatial awareness that’s somewhat clouded by blurry-eyed staring spells. It offers hints of cherry only tasted at higher temperatures, but the pine from the Tropicana Cookies is present throughout.

New advancements in Cannabis science and research show the respiratory benefits of the terpene known as pinene, commonly found in pine trees and peeking through the Tropicana genetics mentioned above. One can only assume that, with a pandemic on our heels and this wave of colds and cases of flu, it may be a great item to add to your wellness checklist. This is easy to consume, no matter the time or place and without affecting dayto-day errands and activities. It’s sure to be a favorite among hash heads and canna sommeliers.

Look out for upcoming products from @Loftygrowers, sure to gain popularity among Cannabis consumers seeking high quality, consistent hash in unique flavors.

@LOFTYSOLVENTLESS 83% THC | 4.4% TERPENES

“There’s a sharp sense of spatial awareness that’s somewhat clouded by blurry-eyed staring spells.”

CHOCOLATE MAKES US HAPPY

DOES CHOCOLATE MAKE YOU HAPPY? Wait, let me answer that: Yes, it actually does. Dark chocolate has significant health benefits, both mental and physical. In fact, the darker the better is a significant source of antioxidants and lowers blood pressure. Chocolate also boosts serotonin levels, which helps with depression. It’s like what Cannabis does … although Cannabis does it better!

Fun to make and easy to eat, there is an infused chocolate bark out there for everyone.

CHOCOLATE BARK SERVES 9

1/3 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

2 cups dark chocolate chips or melts

3 tablespoons canna butter

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup chopped dried apricots

When I first became a Cannabis lover, my favorite treat was sitting in front of the record player, listening to cool music and eating, from the container, a healthy serving or two of “cool and creamy pudding.”

CHOCOLATE PUDDING

SERVES 4

1/2 cup sugar

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 3/4 cups milk

2 tablespoons canna butter or oil

2 teaspoons vanilla

1. In a saucepan, combine the sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt. Add the milk. Heat on medium. Bring mixture to a boil and stir constantly until the pudding coats the back of the spoon.

2. Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the infused butter and vanilla. Divide between glasses. Chill.

CHOCOLATE CANNA CLUSTERS

MAKES 36 CLUSTERS

Creamy, crunchy and chewy, and the tender raisins add a touch of sweetness.

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

3 tablespoons canna-butter or canna-coconut oil, melted

1 cup toasted slivered almonds

1/4 cup chopped cherries

1. In the top of a double boiler, heat the chips with the canna butter. When fully melted, add most of the almonds and cherries, stirring to blend.

2. Place a piece of parchment on your work surface. Drop the mixture, by the tablespoon, on the paper. Sprinkle the still-not-set clusters with the remaining almonds and cherries. Allow to set for 60 minutes.

1. In a small, dry skillet, toast the coconut flakes.

2. In the top of a double boiler over simmering water, melt the chocolate with the canna butter. Mix well.

3. Place parchment on your work surface. Turn the chocolate onto the paper and form a 5x7 inch rectangle.

4. Combine the coconut with the pecans and apricots. Sprinkle the toppings on the just-poured chocolate. Allow to set until completely dry, at least an hour.

STRAIN: CHERRY CHEESECAKE

CULTIVATOR: FROST FACTORY

GEN: CHERRY DOSIDOS × COOKIES & CREAM

BREEDER: LIT FARMS

PHOTO: TOM MIDAK

INDICA LEANING HYBRID

THC: 21.94% CBD: 0.07%

EFFECTS: MIND AND BODY CALM WITH SLIGHT UPLIFT

If you’re like us, you’re obsessed with tracking down the most fire flower on the market. That’s why we continue to team up with the best of the best in cannabis cultivation to bring Oregon’s finest to chronisseurs all across the state.

See what’s available in your area by visiting topcropor.com/bestbuds

With a Little Help From My Friends

THE SETUP

On August 28, 1964, The Beatles played the first of two sold-out shows at the Forest Hills Music Festival in Queens, New York. After the concert, they headed back to The Delmonico Hotel on Park Avenue near Central Park. There, throngs of overzealous fans restrained by barricades awaited them out front, while inside, police patrolled the lobby and corridors to prevent any incidents.

Once in their suites on the sixth floor, the band was relaxing and enjoying some dinner with their manager Brian Epstein and personal assistant Neil Aspinall. Soon to join them was folk rock superstar Bob Dylan, who was being driven down from Woodstock by his road manager Victor Maymudes for the occasion. On the way, they’d stopped to pick up writer Al

It’s one of the most legendary seshes in history: the night that Bob Dylan got The Beatles stoned for the first time and changed the course of their career – and by extension, popular music – forever. Here’s how that historic encounter allegedly went down, as compiled from the various perspectives of those who were there.

Aronowitz – a mutual friend of Dylan and The Beatles – who had arranged the momentous meeting. Upon arriving at the hotel, Dylan’s posse was stopped by police, who – having no idea who they were – wouldn’t allow them into the elevator until Beatles’ road manager Mal Evans came down to escort them up.

McCARTNEY’S MEMORY

According to quotes compiled from his memoir “The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present” and different interviews he’s done over the years, here’s how McCartney remembers the meeting:

“We were in a hotel suite … and Bob Dylan turned up with his roadie. …We’d ordered drinks from room service – scotch and Coke and French wine were our thing back then – and Bob had disappeared into a back room… we thought maybe he’d gone to the toilet. But then Ringo

[Starr] came out of that back room looking a bit strange. He said, ‘I’ve just been with Bob, and he’s got some pot!’ And we said, ‘Oh, what is it like?’ And he said, ‘Well, the ceiling is sort of moving, coming down.’ And that was enough. We all ran into the back room, going, ‘Give us a bit, give us a bit!’ … And he gave us a puff on the joint.”

ALTERNATE ACCOUNTS

According to others in attendance, however, events unfolded a bit differently. In his Beatles biography titled “The Love You Make: An Insider’s Story Of The Beatles,” Epstein’s assistant Peter Brown gives a more detailed account. According to Brown, after their introduction, Dylan was offered the drinks they had on hand, but only wanted cheap wine – which Evans was then asked to procure. They also offered Dylan and Aronowitz

account. According to Brown,

Poster and ticket for the 1964 Forest Hills Music Festival.

some “purple hearts” [a type of upper], which they politely declined – instead, suggesting they all smoke some weed. Upon hearing Dylan’s offer, The Beatles all looked at each other, then at Epstein, who timidly admitted, “We’ve never smoked marijuana before.”

In reality, that wasn’t entirely true: The boys had actually tried smoking pot a few years earlier in 1960 but apparently didn’t get high from it, as George Harrison would later recount in “The Beatles Anthology”: “We first got marijuana from an older drummer with another group in Liverpool. We didn’t actually try it until after we’d been to Hamburg. I remember we smoked it in the band room in a gig in Southport. … Everybody was saying, ‘This stuff isn’t doing anything.’ It was like that old joke where a party is going on, and two hippies are up floating on the ceiling, and one is saying to the other, ‘This stuff doesn’t work, man.’”

In any case, Brown makes it clear that The Beatles’ lack of herbal experience took Dylan by surprise:

Dylan looked disbelievingly from face to face. “But what about your song?” he asked. “The one about getting high?”

The Beatles were stupefied. “Which song?” John managed to ask.

Dylan said, “You know …” and then he sang, “And when I touch you, I get high, I get high …”

John flushed with embarrassment. “Those aren’t the words,” he admitted. “The words are, ‘I can’t hide, I can’t hide, I can’t hide …’”

At that moment, Dylan no doubt realized it would now be his historic duty to get The Beatles high for the first time. Luckily, Maymudes had brought along a “sizable bag” of weed for just such a situation. Wary of the substantial police presence in the halls, though, Dylan suggested the group adjourn into one of the adjoining bedrooms.

THE SESH

When it comes to who rolled the joints, once again, accounts vary. According to some, it was Maymudes who did the rolling. According to beatlesbible.com, however, it was Dylan: “Aronowitz was unskilled in rolling joints, so asked Dylan to do the honours; Dylan wasn’t much better, and much of the grass ended up in a fruit bowl on the room service table.”

“Bob hovered unsteadily over the bowl as he stood at the table while he tried to lift the grass from the baggie with the fingertips of one hand so he could crush it into the leaf of rolling paper which he held in his other hand,” Aronowitz wrote in his book “Bob

Dylan and The Beatles.” “In addition to the fact that Bob was a sloppy roller to begin with, what Bob had started drinking had already gotten to him.” Regardless, most seem to agree it was Dylan who lit the first joint, then handed it to Lennon, who declined – instead passing it on to his ‘royal taster’ Ringo. Unaware of stoner etiquette, Starr allegedly smoked the entire thing himself rather than passing it around the circle, prompting Maymudes to then roll everyone their own joints. They all began smoking, and before long, as Starr told Conan O’Brien in 2012, “We got high and laughed our asses off.”

“We expected something instantaneous, so we kept puffing away and saying, ‘It’s not working, is it?’” McCartney wrote in his memoir. “And suddenly, it was working. And we were giggling, laughing at each other.”

“I don’t remember much what we talked about,” Lennon later said in “The Beatles Anthology.” “We were smoking dope, drinking wine, and generally being rock ‘n’ rollers and having a laugh, you know, and surrealism. It was party time.”

Here’s how The Guardian’s Andrew Harrison set the scene: “Ringo Starr … collapsed in a giggling mess. Brian Epstein became so stoned he could only squeak, ‘I’m so high, I’m up on the ceiling.’ Paul McCartney believed he’d attained true mental clarity for the first time in his life and instructed Beatles’ roadie and major-domo Mal Evans to write down everything he said henceforth. Dylan, meanwhile, lost his cool and began answering the hotel phone by shouting, ‘This is Beatlemania here!’”

In the 1997 biography “Many Years From Now,” McCartney elaborates on his perceived pot-induced profundity, during which he repeatedly declared that he was “thinking for the first time, really thinking.”

“I’d been going through this thing of levels during the evening,” McCartney writes. “Mal gave me this little slip of paper in the morning, and written on it was, ‘There are seven levels!’ […] And we pissed ourselves laughing. I mean, ‘What the fuck’s that? What the fuck are the seven levels?’”

In his book “Another Side of Bob Dylan: A Personal History on the Road and Off the Tracks,” Maymudes reported that McCartney enjoyed the experience so much that “The following morning, Paul came up to me and hugged me for 10 minutes and said, ‘It was so great … it’s all your fault because I love this pot!’ He went into his thoughts on music while on it and how it made him feel. ‘It was just magical,’ he said.”

“We thought, ‘Wow, this is pretty amazing, this stuff,’’’ McCartney’s memoir reads. “So it became part of our repertoire from then on.”

UNDER THE INFLUENCE

From that day forward, The Beatles began consuming Cannabis on an almost daily basis – using the expression “let’s have a larf” as a 420-like code for “let’s get high.”

“The Beatles had gone beyond comprehension,” Lennon once confessed. “We were smoking marijuana for breakfast. We were well into marijuana, and nobody could communicate with us; we were just glazed eyes, giggling all the time.”

The band’s newfound love for the herb quickly manifested in their music – crediting both Dylan and marijuana as influences on their next record, “Rubber Soul,” with Lennon going as far as referring to it as their “pot album.” Their follow-up, 1966’s “Revolver,” included the song “Got to Get You Into My Life” – which McCartney eventually admitted was “entirely about pot.”

“This song is my ode to pot,” Paul said on BBC Radio in 2021. “What we had to get into our lives, it seems, was marijuana … it was something that entered our lives, and I thought it was a good idea to write a song. Only I’d know that I was talking about pot.”

Marijuana’s influence was even more blatant in their 1967 masterpiece “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” – with Ringo signing about “getting high with a little help” from his friends, and McCartney singing about how he “had a smoke” and “went into a dream” in “A Day in the Life.”

“Do you know what caused ‘Pepper?’” McCartney once told a reporter. “In one word: drugs. Pot. ‘Sgt. Pepper’ was a drug album.”

with a little help” from his friends, and McCartney singing about how he “had a smoke” and “went into remain a bit foggy, one thing appears crystal clear:

Though the exact details of their first sesh may remain a bit foggy, one thing appears crystal clear: Cannabis affected The Beatles in a profound way – infusing their music with introspective complexity and transforming the lads from Liverpool from mere pop performers into the revolutionary artists they were destined to become.

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

“We were smoking marijuana for breakfast,” Lennon once confessed. “Nobody could communicate with us; we were just glazed eyes, giggling all the time.”

I KNOW, HARSH TITLE – BUT SOMEONE HAD TO SAY IT. Because we’ve all found ourselves subjected to that annoying jackal of a song. And the melody is so phenomenally irritating, that it has now become a guaranteed way to jack someone with an unsuspecting prank. Just play Baby Shark when their attention is completely preoccupied with something of actual significance in their life … and watch their temperature rise.

What once was cute is now diabolical and far from funny. Because the moment it embeds into your mind, you’ll swear it’s a glitching computer chip that you can’t locate to destroy. Kinda like getting chased by a swarm of singing bees.

Baby Shark makes nails on a chalkboard sound like a guided meditation.

Now, for me this is personal because I suffer from an affliction called repetitive thought loops. This is where an idea, or a sound, will uncontrollably replay in your head. And with Baby Shark, I become incapable of prying myself from this playschool of plinking keyboards and perpetual repetition where the “doo doo doo doo doo doo doos” ricochet off my brain borders. I go to sleep with it.

I wake up with it. It affects my conversations. It creates insomnia sadness.

And there are no baby steps with Baby Shark. Sure, there’s the Jaws soundtrack lead in, but once the first note hits, it becomes heavy metal for kids. It’s like the audio version of one of those infinity mirrors you see in a fun house. But with a fun house, you can leave it where you found it. Not Baby Shark. It preys on you like an unapologetic spam call.

I’ll bet even sharks hate Baby Shark. In fact, I’d like to cover the creators of Baby Shark with chum and throw them into a Baby Shark tank. And by the way: Everything is NOT awesome! Unless we’re singing about weed.