THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE
F RE E / L E A F M AGA Z I N E S . COM
# 8 3 | M AY 2 0 2 1
INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010
OREGON'S #1 SELLING OUTDOOR STRAIN * www.th3farms.com
[ WARNINGS: For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children. Do not drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana. ] * ACCORDING TO HEADSET ANALYTICS 9-14-2020. DIAMOND OVERALL #3, #1 OUTDOOR FLOWER
[ WARNINGS: For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.Do not drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana. ]
THE action ISSUE
#83
[
MAY 2021
issue
76 MIKE ROSATI
8 feature
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
54
EQUITY IN CANNABIS NULEAF PROJECT
FLETCHER WOLD
[
36
COMPANY PROFILE OREGON HANDLER’S FUND
CO-FOUNDER JEANNETTE WARD HORTON
COURTESY
20
SHOP REVIEW ELEV8 CANNABIS
AMANDA DAY
FOUNDER RAINA CASEY
50 Dear Biden-Harris... Leaf Nation Editor-inChief Wes Abney minces no words in an open letter to the Biden-Harris Administration, calling for those in The White House to follow their halcyon campaign promises and end the war on drugs, the policies of which many in their own administration created or enforced.
//////////
may 2021
feature
ADOBE
52
Huckleberry Hill Farms Founder Johnny Casali went from serving out a sentence in federal prison to owning a legal Cannabis business and thriving in the hills of Humboldt.
11 13 16 20 24 30 34 36 40 44 48 49 50 52 54 56 58 60 64 66 68 72 76 80 84 86
EDITOR’S NOTE N AT I O N A L N E W S LEGALIZED IT? SHOP REVIEW GROW TOUR STONER OWNER BUDTENDER Q&A C O M PA N Y P R O F I L E H I G H LY L I K E LY STRAIN OF THE MONTH THE ACTION ISSUE CHANGEMAKER DEAR BIDEN-HARRIS FROM PRISON TO POT EQUITY IN CANNABIS INSIDE EMERALD CUP S U S TA I N A B L E C A N N A B I S CANNABIS PHILANTHROPY EDIBLES C O N C E N T R AT E S PA I R I N G S RECIPES GLASS ART LEAFSHOTS CANNTHROPOLOGY STONEY BALONEY
JEFF DIMARCO
Waugh Street Glass
THE action ISSUE
Monique Ramirez SunBright Gardens
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
10
58 may 2021
GROWING SUSTAINABLE CANNABIS SUN + EARTH CERTIFIED CANNABIS BUSINESSES
STORY by BAXSEN PAINE @BAXSENPAINE for LEAF NATION
E S TA B L I S H E D 2 0 1 0
T H E E N L I G H T E N E D VO I C E
N O RT H W E S T L E A F / O R EG O N L E A F / A L AS KA L E A F / M A RY L A N D L E A F / CA L I F O R N I A L E A F /
A B O U T T H E C OV E R The globetrotting artist Joshua Boulet is renowned for his unique sketches and portrait work, which he has brought to more than two-dozen Leaf Nation covers over the last decade. Chock full of icons, moments and whimsy, Boulet’s delightful illustration for the cover of The Action Issue faithfully captures this powerful moment for our country. As the Cannabis industry reckons with change, and the future of legalization looks ever more promising, there has never been a greater need for our community to come together, rise up, and speak out!
ILLUSTRATION by JOSHUA BOULET @JOSHUABOULET JOSHUABOULET.COM
CONTRIBUTORS
WES ABNEY | FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
BOBBY BLACK, FEATURES JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION TOM BOWERS, FEATURES TYLER CAMERON, PHOTOS AMANDA DAY, PHOTOS + FEATURES ALEX DUBS, PHOTOS + FEATURES JEFF DIMARCO, PHOTOS WYATT EARLY, FEATURES EARLY, PRODUCTION STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS BEN NEFF, PHOTOS BAXSEN PAINE, FEATURES JEFF PORTERFIELD, DESIGN MIKE RICKER, FEATURES MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING MIKE ROSATI, PHOTOS ZACK RUSKIN, FEATURES PACER STACKTRAIN, FEATURES JAMIE VICTOR, ILLUSTRATION DAN VINKOVETSKY, FEATURES FLETCHER WOLD, PHOTOS BRUCE & LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES BARRON WOLFE, FEATURES
WES@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
CREATIVE DIRECTOR DANIEL BERMAN | VISUALS & DESIGN
DANIEL@BERMANPHOTOS.COM
STATE DIRECTOR MAX EARLY | AD SALES
MAX@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM 303-746-9067
SALES DIRECTOR MAKANI NELSON | AD SALES
MAKANI@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM 808-754-4182 We create independent, exclusive Cannabis journalism. Please email us to discuss advertising in an upcoming edition of Oregon Leaf. We do not sell stories or coverage. We can offer design services and guidance on promoting your company’s medicinal, rec, commercial or industrial Cannabis business within our magazine and on our website, LeafMagazines.com. For more information on advertising with Oregon Leaf, email max@leafmagazines.com or makani@leafmagazines.com.
CONNECT WITH OREGON LEAF!
Exclusive Cannabis Journalism @OREGONLEAF
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@OREGONLEAF
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FREE ONLINE ARCHIVE
ABNEY
Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up The Action Issue of the Leaf ! EVERY PUFF IS A PROTEST, and we’re so full of smoke that we had to blow this Action Issue towards our beautiful Cannabis community.
11
Pot might be legal where we live, and it sure feels good to express that freedom, but we have not yet reached the promised land of Cannabis freedom around the world. Our cover highlights a fictional protest for this very reason – with amazing detail including hiding myself and a few Leaf team members by artist extraordinaire Joshua Boulet – but the message goes beyond a fun piece of art. We still have many items to take action on, starting with our community coming together and OUR PEOPLE returning to the roots that drove Cannabis from the underground HAVE SPOKEN, to the mainstream.
AND WE DON’T BELIEVE THAT ANYONE DESERVES TO BE LOCKED IN A CAGE FOR A PLANT.
When I began publishing Northwest Leaf in 2010, the Cannabis community was small, full of passion, and its members at risk of getting arrested on nearly a daily basis. It was activism that drove legalization from idea to reality, from the early pioneers in the ‘60s and ‘70s, to the MMJ pioneers I grew the Leaf with. It was the caucus of voices that led to Hempfest’s spirit of protestival, the enduring Boston Freedom Rally, and the cries of the masses who called for the end of prohibition for the plant we know and love. We stand on both a rich and sad history, as the true cost of our freedom was others losing theirs as victims in a battle on our own soil. As I state in my open letter to the Biden-Harris Administration printed in this issue, the war on drugs is quickly becoming a war on the American way of life. Our people have spoken, and we don’t believe that anyone deserves to be locked in a cage for a plant. Or any other drug. So we must keep raising our voices, acting as activists, and bringing the spirit of protest to every pulpit until this unjust war is ended – and we are all free to share our plant and voices as one. I hope that the stories within this issue inspire you to take action and give you pause when you take your next legal toke of Cannabis. And as you exhale, thank those that fought for us to enjoy that right – letting your spirit be filled with a desire to take action until everyone shares that same freedom.
-Wes Abney MAY 2021
leafmagazines.com
PUBLISHER
WES
N O RT H E AS T L E A F
ELEVATE
YOUR
SENSES [
]
WARNINGS: For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children. Do not drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana.
politics
TRENDS
legalization
NEW BILL WOULD ALLOW VA TO PRESCRIBE MMJ TO VETS
V
U.S.
Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) on April 17 reintroduced legislation to allow doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs to prescribe medical Cannabis to veterans in the 36 states that have established medical marijuana programs, reports Maui Now. “In 36 states, doctors and their patients have the option to use medical marijuana to manage pain – unless those doctors work for the VA and their patients are veterans,” Sen. Schatz said. “This bill protects veteran patients in these states and gives their VA doctors the option to prescribe medical marijuana to veterans, and it also promises to shed light on how medical marijuana can “...IT PROMISES TO help with the nation’s opioid SHED LIGHT ON HOW MEDICAL MARIJUANA epidemic.” CAN HELP WITH THE In addition to creating a temporary, five-year safe harbor NATION’S OPIOID EPIDEMIC.” protection for veterans who use medical Cannabis, the bill would also direct the VA to research how medical marijuana could help veterans better manage chronic pain and reduce opioid abuse.
west coast
UAE DETAINS LAS VEGAS MAN OVER CANNABIS
A
5
years have now passed since Pennsylvania legalized medical use of Cannabis.
MAY 2021
43
percent of the U.S. population now lives in states where recreational adult-use Cannabis is legal.
N
ow, it’s down to the few. Fewer than one out of 10 U.S. adults (8 percent) are still saying that Cannabis should not be legal for any purpose, according to the latest survey from Pew Research. An overwhelming share of American adults say either that marijuana should be legal for medical and recreational use (60 percent) or legal for medicinal use only (31 percent). 53 PERCENT OF ADULTS A separate AGES 65 TO 74 SAY question, asking CANNABIS SHOULD whether Cannabis BE LEGAL FOR BOTH RECREATIONAL AND use should be made MEDICAL USE. legal, has shown a “steep, long-term rise in support for legalization,” according to Pew Research. Older adults are far less likely than young people to favor Cannabis legalization for recreational use, according to the survey. This is particularly true of adults ages 75 and older, with just 32 percent saying marijuana should be legal for recreational/ medical use. By way of contrast, 53 percent of adults in the next-oldest age group, those ages 65 to 74, say Cannabis should be legal for both recreational and medical use. Among younger adults, there is even wider support for legalization for medical and recreational uses, including 70 percent of adults under age 30.
467
pounds of Cannabis were seized by Texas Dept. of Public Safety troopers last month near the Rio Grande River.
19.9k black market Cannabis plants were seized by the Riverside County, California Sheriff’s Department in April.
GOP: WISCONSIN WON’T LEGALIZE MEDICAL CANNABIS
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T
he Wisconsin Legislature won’t be legalizing either medical or recreational marijuana during this legislative session, the Republican leader of the State Senate said. Although Gov. Tony Evers and Democrats have for years urged legalization of both medical and recreational Cannabis, they’ve not had any luck in convincing the GOP-controlled Wisconsin Legislature. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Ooostburg) ruled out even the possibility of recreational or medical marijuana becoming law any time during the next year. “First of all, we don’t have support from the caucus, and that’s pretty clear,” LeMahieu said. “We don’t have 17 votes in the caucus for medicinal purposes or recreational purposes.” LeMaheiu claimed Republican senators have “societal concerns” about Cannabis legalization. He also claimed states shouldn’t legalize medical marijuana before the federal government does.
$342m dollars is the estimated size New Mexico’s recreational Cannabis market will be one year after legalization.
$1.2b
Canadian dollars (about $950 million American) were lost by Canopy Growth during the first nine months of its current operating year.
By STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
Las Vegas man who consumed Cannabis before he visited the United Arab Emirates has been detained for almost two months, his lawyer and officials confirmed to KLAS. Peter Clark, 51, flew to Dubai in late February for a business trip, according to his lawyer. After Clark became ill with pancreatitis and was hospitalized, a test found traces of marijuana in his system. Clark was detained and jailed. While recreational marijuana use is legal in Nevada, it’s definitely not in the UAE. Clark now faces a prison sentence of several years according to his attorney, Radha Stirling.
AMERICANS OVERWHELMINGLY SAY CANNABIS SHOULD BE LEGAL FOR RECREATIONAL OR MEDICAL USE
irginia lawmakers voted in April to move up the legalization date of recreational Cannabis in the state to July 1, 2021, reports ABC 3 News. Both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly had in February passed legislation legalizing marijuana for adult recreational use. The legalization date had initially been set for January 1, 2024, but Gov. Ralph Northam added amendments to existing bills to fast-track the legalization. Northam, when proposing the accelerated timeline, THE LEGALIZATION said many Virginians DATE HAD INITIALLY BEEN SET FOR would be on board with JANUARY 1, 2024. speeding up the process. “While not everybody is in favor of moving this forward, the great majority of Virginians are and that’s what this is about,” Northam said. “When you’re in public service, you listen to Virginians and then move their thoughts and initiatives forward.”
NATIONAL NEWS
LEGAL CANNABIS ARRIVES EARLY FOR VIRGINIANS
www.exoticblendzpdx.com
. . . n o o . n S o o g n g i S n i m o m C Co
Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. For use only by adults twenty-one years of age and older. Keep out of reach of children.
DOT COM WE ARE ONE
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national news
LEGALIZED IT? Wha t ha pp ens whe n th e wil l of the p eople i s over tur ned ?
On November 3, 2020, marijuana advocates celebrated a clean sweep on the ballots as voters approved legalization in all four states considering the reform. Yet while the Cannabis community enjoyed the spotlight on Election Day, prohibitionists have been working in the shadows ever since. The result has been a muddying of democracy as we know it. // NULL AND VOID //
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
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A voter-approved constitutional amendment legalizing Cannabis in South Dakota has been overturned. The amendment, passed by 54 percent of voters, would have allowed possession of up to an ounce of Cannabis and implemented retail sales. It also established a 15 percent tax on pot and permitted home cultivation. While the amendment included a provision allowing local governments to ban Cannabis sales in their jurisdictions, state officials felt the need to ban legalization altogether. Governor Kristi Noem (R), who opposed Cannabis legalization in South Dakota from the start, instructed Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Rick Miller to file a lawsuit challenging the amendment on her behalf. Unsurprisingly, the Circuit Judge hearing the case, who was appointed by Noem in 2019, agreed with the governor and ruled that the amendment passed by South Dakota voters was unconstitutional. Judge Christina Klinger wrote, “Amendment A is unconstitutional as it includes multiple subjects in violation of [the South Dakota constitution] and it is therefore void and has no effect…” Essentially, Klinger found that the amendment went beyond a single issue – making it a revision to the constitution and not an amendment. In other words, several powerful prohibitionists came up with a bullshit technicality that allowed them to suppress the will of the voters and keep Cannabis illegal. And, despite Noem denying her role in the suit to void voter-approved marijuana-law reform, an executive order signed by the governor in January states that on “November 20, 2020, I directed Rick Miller to commence the Amendment A Litigation on my behalf in his official capacity.” Noem is also on record asserting that voters in South Dakota – the same voters that elected her – made “the wrong choice” when they approved the legalization amendment. The issue will now be heard by the state Supreme Court after attorneys representing marijua-
MAY 2021
Montana residents approved legalization with 57 percent of the vote in November. However, the state’s adult-use law is still up in the air.
na-law reform advocacy groups appealed Judge Klinger’s ruling. Normally, the South Dakota Attorney General’s office would defend such a challenge to a state law. However, AG Jason Ravnsborg dropped his defense of the amendment. Gov. Noem stated that she’s “confident that the South Dakota Supreme Court” will uphold the Circuit Court’s decision. The governor personally appointed two of the high court’s five justices. South Dakota’s new medical marijuana law, approved by over 69 percent of voters on Election Day, isn’t safe from the governor either. Noem tried to push the program’s implementation back a year, from July 2021 to July ‘22 and, when that failed, she attempted to change the law to add restrictions. / / M O N TA N A / /
Montana residents approved legalization with 57 percent of the vote in November. However, the state’s adult-use law is still up in the air. Three separate Republican-sponsored measures are currently being considered. Unfortunately, all three bills change the original proposal that was laid out in the ballot initiative and approved by voters. The legalization bill favored by Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte would create a system where local jurisdictions have to “opt in” to the legal Cannabis industry. The original law approved by voters allowed for an “opt-out” provision. This change makes the state’s default position “out” of legal Cannabis, and is sure to have a negative impact on the success of the program.
The bill would also delay the start of retail sales and reroute the majority of pot tax revenue to a fund proposed by the governor for substance abuse treatment. And while the state’s recreational pot law is somehow being rewritten by the very people who opposed legalizing pot in the first place, at least one state senator has proposed a referendum for the ballot to repeal legalization. But, at the moment, Montana appears to be moving forward with some version of a taxed and regulated system with retail sales. // NEW JERSEY //
Gov. Phil Murphy clashed with lawmakers, refusing to sign a bill establishing the state’s regulatory framework until amendments were made detailing penalties for underage possession. During the resulting two-month stalemate, people continued to be arrested for pot possession in the Garden State. Legislators ultimately passed a cleanup bill that satisfied Murphy. Shortly thereafter, on February 22, the governor signed the legal framework bill into law, legalizing Cannabis. Murphy also signed a decriminalization bill that ends pot possession arrests. Unfortunately, in the three and a half months between legalization passing on Election Day 2020 and the governor signing the Cannabis bills in late February ‘21, more than 6,000 people were arrested for minor marijuana possession in New Jersey.
STORY by MIKE GIANAKOS @MIKEGEEZEEY/NORTHEAST LEAF | ART by ADOBE/FRESHIDEA
-go rai
le
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tic
to
exo st
ns - rol
www.TKOreserve.com
@tko.oregon
SHOP REVIEW
ENVIRONMENT & VIBE The calm, laid back and welcoming wooden showroom floor of Elev8 Cannabis instantly greets you – inviting you to come on in and stay awhile. After strolling towards the back, I observed their lovely fireplace, mantle, and royal blue and gold chairs. Directly above the fireplace, you will find their slogan proudly displayed: treat everyone like gold. This bright and sunny shop is home to a handful of aloes and other varieties of houseplants, accompanied by display cases showcasing psychedelic works of art by Heather Petty, as well as various glass pipes and rigs – pulling together the very modern and simplistic vibe found here at Elev8 Cannabis.
ELEV8 CANNABIS
HISTORY & VALUES
20
Founder and CEO Seun Adedeji originally opened up Elev8 Cannabis with a multitude of goals in mind. He and his team aim to empower individuals to live their best lives. Through the consumption of Cannabis, their mission is to elevate, love and awaken the human spirit by treating everyone like gold. Adedji has made groundbreaking connections in this industry by simply believing in himself and having faith during trying times. His admirable attitude to make this industry more inclusive for the BIPOC community – and all walks of life – is beyond inspiring. And their eight core values – love, inclusion, authenticity, empathy, generosity, growth, ownership and hustle – summarize the spirit of this amazing shop.
PRODUCT SELECTION Their team certainly has their fingers on the pulse when it comes to in-demand brands. Whether you are looking for something cost-effective or the latest and greatest strain, Elev8 Cannabis will have you covered. Elev8 works closely with companies like SAG City, offering the Eugene area exclusive flowers like Glazed Gelato. They also provide unique sodas from Houston’s Exotic Pop that pair wonderfully with Cannabis syrups like Cannabull and Saucey Farm. Should dabbing be your preferred method of consumption, you’ll enjoy the selection of diamonds, live resin and badder from Viola, Oregrown and Chalice Extracts. It is also important to note that this company goes out of its way to support other brands that align with their vision, providing more equality in our industry.
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
BUDTENDERS & SPECIALS Their passionate and embracing staff is certainly something to write home about. As soon as our team entered their shop, the budtenders quickly let us know how much they enjoyed their jobs, helping customers find the exact products desired. Monday through Sunday, Elev8 has a deal for you! Munchie Mondays offer 10% off select edibles, Terpy Tuesdays provide a BOGO 20% off all cartridges, and Wednesdays are your day to load up on $2 house pre-rolls. Thrifty Thursdays are an excellent opportunity to grab a high-quality ounce for $100-$140, Fridays promote $7 grams off the Gold Tier ($5 discount), Shatterdays offer all concentrates (excluding RSO) for BOGO 20% off, and Sunday Funday showcases a happy hour from noon to 4:20 p.m. where you receive 20% off any flower on the shelf, excluding any ounce deals. EUGENE
MAY 2021
Rogue Farmer Gummy Bunz 22.12% THC | 3.83% terpenes | $12/G Bred by Exotic Genetix, this cross of Biscotti and Grease Monkey is a great way to take a load off after a long day. This sungrown organic flower offers a petrol-like terpene profile accompanied by a strong sedative effect. Hats off to Rogue Farmer for growing some of the best Cannabis in the state! @roguefarmer
Viola Papaya Live Resin 81% THC | 5.28% terpenes | $31/G Owned by Al Harrington, Viola has been a huge hit here in Oregon over the past few years. This chunky and delicious live resin certainly lives up to all the positive responses this company has received. Notes of Japanese candies filled my palate after taking a handful of dabs. Start your day on a high note with this uplifting cross of Citral x Ice. @viola_oregon
THROUGH THE CONSUMPTION OF CANNABIS, THEIR MISSION IS TO ELEVATE, LOVE AND AWAKEN THE HUMAN SPIRIT BY TREATING EVERYONE LIKE GOLD. ELEV8 CANNABIS 1409 OAK ST, EUGENE, OR ELEV8CANNABIS.COM | (458) 210-2810 OPEN MON.-SAT 9A-10P / SUN. 10A-10P @ELEV8CANNABIS @ELEV8EUGENE
REVIEW by MAX EARLY @LIFTED_STARDUST /OREGON LEAF SHOP PHOTOS by AMANDA DAY @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA PRODUCT PHOTOS by @BERMANPHOTOS
21
Introducing fresh, feel-good, vibe-worthy skincare
scan & shop
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
24
garden
may 2021
grow tour
(L-R) Director of Sales & Outreach Garrett Leon Lead Cultivation Manager Shawn Derock Director of Finance & Administration Darren Cloud Director of Cultivation Operations Andreas Hero
CORVALLIS
With a passion for the cultivation and culture of the Cannabis industry and an overall business mindset, Garden First Cannabis Owners Darren Cloud, Garrett Leon and Andreas Hero all provide diverse skill sets that help make Garden First Cannabis one of the most sustainable and commendable grows in Oregon. With Leon majoring in horticulture/soil science, Cloud with a business administration degree, and Hero offering an economics degree focused on media and advertising, it’s no wonder this owner-operated company became so dialed in.
first
>>
STORY by MAX EARLY @LIFTED_STARDUST/OREGON LEAF | PHOTOS by FLETCHER WOLD @FWOLD_PHOTOGRAPHY
grow tour
garden first cannabis
26
Rocky Mountain Moonshine
Continued from pg. 25
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
A
lways putting the garden first, their team is constantly going the extra mile to take care of their plants – showing up early and staying as late as needed to get the work done. Their “one leaf at a time” philosophy encourages their staff to be present in the moment, bring their best every day, and not get too ahead of themselves. With everyone on the same wave of energy and playing their part in the garden, their business flows and operates better as a whole. It is clear here that quality and efficiency are the names of the game, as Garden First Cannabis is proud of doing a lot with a little. Every round, they spend over 100 hours pruning each room with sterilized scissors to maximize airflow and light penetration, which then prevents mold, mildew, and pests. This overall creates an environment that helps them pull incredible yields per square foot. Heading into the garden, we witnessed one of their gorgeous rooms in week three of flower, showcasing strains like Strawberry Cough, MAC 1 and Motorbreath. All of the plants were glowing with a vibrant
MAY 2021
strains 10
plants 700+
employees 20+
pounds harvested annually 1 metric ton
Primary grow style Blend of Organic and Synthetic Nutrients
Lighting Metal Halide and Gavita DE
Nutrients Down to Earth, Key to Life, and Cyco Nutrients
Canopy size 2,000 sq. ft.
green and healthy hue, thriving with life. With the use of predatory insects like cucumeris, nematodes, pirate beetles and Swirski mites, they can keep their rooms pest-free. Next, we ventured into the most mature flower room – currently in week eight. Our eyes widened and our mouths watered at the sight of the towering juicy colas reaching up towards the double-ended lights. Walking in, potent citrus-forward aromas buzzed throughout the room and instantly filled our noses. It’s safe to say that some of these fruity smells were attributed to their unique genetics, including a Colorado cut of Rocky Mountain Moonshine (Moonshine Haze x Star Dawg) and the all-mighty and classic Golden Goat. Additionally, this room displayed genetics like Gelato Cake, 818 Headband and another Colorado masterpiece, Chiesel (NYC Diesel x Big Buddha Cheese). Another praiseworthy facet of Garden First Cannabis is that they take all of their strains till week 10. Genetics like Strawberry Cough and Golden Goat need a bit of extra time for their genuine terpene profiles to shine, and they make sure that they give their ladies precisely what they need to flourish. Up next, we took a look behind the scenes at their hustling and bustling pre-roll department. Our team had the pleasure of meeting five hard-working individuals who crank out approximately 3,000 to 4,000 pre-rolls per day!
Bagging up Kush Mints
Always putting the garden first, their team is constantly going the extra mile to take care of their plants.
27
Chiesel
All of the joints are placed in biodegradable plastic and inserted into a recyclable paper box. Their Puff Packs are the perfect on-the-go scoop from the dispensary, as they offer a total of 10 joints! Garden First is constantly looking for ways to limit their waste streams, such as biodegradable gloves, partnerships with industrial composting facilities for plant waste, and soil recycling programs with local farms. With oversight for quality control, all of their products are checked three times before heading out to the dispensary. Once by a trimmer, once by a trim manager, and once by an inventory manager. Overall, this ensures that each dispensary receives the most prime nugs possible – with no shakey buds. Cloud, Leon, and Hero created this business to form a workplace that provides career opportunities, not just another job. They want their employees to love where they work, and we could feel that energy radiating from their staff. Every team member is covered with full health insurance and makes
a minimum of $15/hour. Each department has incentive programs to motivate its staff to reach that next level in life. And to make sure their staff can try all of the incredible products they produce, Garden First Cannabis has a partnership with Tangent Farmacy, where their employees can purchase an ounce of flower a month at cost plus tax. Another impressive aspect of Garden First Cannabis: 1% of total revenue gets donated to an approved environmental charity each year. This year, they are contributing towards One Tree Planted and Conscious Growth. Their team recently helped build garden beds and a greenhouse at Conscious Growth’s community space called EARTH Space PDX. These stoner owners are without a doubt in tune with both the culture and business side of the Cannabis industry. By investing in their employees and focusing on the garden first, is it without question that this excellent brand has carved its name out in the Oregon industry.
Gelato Cake
Pre-Roll Department Manager Markus Norville
Gardener Marshall Wollman and Garrett Leon, Director of Sales and Operations. @GARDENFIRSTCANNABIS | GARDENFIRSTCANNABIS.COM
STORY by MAX EARLY @LIFTED_STARDUST/OREGON LEAF | PHOTOS by FLETCHER WOLD @FWOLD_PHOTOGRAPHY
new product. same performance. Enjoy the journey with the same award-winning performance technology and design you expect from Airo Brands. Engineered to deliver 3X more vapor than any other brand on the market, Airo Brands delivers a cannabis experience that’s already in a class of its own. Ask your dispensary about AiroSport today!
THE NEW AIROSPORT FEATURES: FOUR V I B R A N T C O LO R OPTIONS
L I G HTW EI G HT & SCRATCH- RESI STAN T DESI G N
airobrands.com // @airobrands Keep Out of Reach of Children. For Use Only by Adults 21 Years of Age and Older.
C O M PAT I B LE WITH AIROPOD C A R T R I D GE S
stoner owner
PDX Dabs Lewis Davidson
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
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“My motto is THC: Truth, History, Consciousness.” may 2021
INTERVIEW by AMANDA DAY @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA | PHOTOS by ALEX DUBS @WORKDUBS for OREGON LEAF
PDX Dabs owner Lewis Davidson launched the alter ego Captain Cannabis after writing a rap song in 1993. He later became the host of “Captain Cannabis Show,” a Florida-based, live radio and YouTube program. But his passion for advocacy and entertainment didn’t stop when he left this position – Davidson continued to create Cannabis-inspired music, comics, cosplay and even a video game before beginning his path in Oregon’s concentrate industry. Today, Davidson brings that passion into production as he works alongside team members Brandon, Stevie and (his wife) Ashley. PDX Dabs is a small, family-founded, owned and operated company striving to bring Oregonians “a better product at a better price.” In this exclusive interview, we chat with Davidson about his alter ego, honoring old hash traditions and more. HOW DID PDX DABS COME TO FRUITION? I’ve been in the Cannabis industry since 1993 and PDX Dabs is going on three years old. I was growing medical marijuana in Arizona for two years, but I didn’t really like the heat and the high desert, so I moved to Oregon in 2015. WHAT DOES YOUR COMPANY SPECIALIZE IN? We make hash, hash rosin and temple balls. I make the temple balls by hand to honor the original Cannabis concentrate (finger hash and temple balls) that were made in the Hindu Kush region, near Tibet. They were originally made by monks who would harvest Cannabis by hand and when it was time to go and meditate, they’d have all of that resin on their hands and they’d roll it into a ball. It’s like the original Cannabis concentrate. The original holy sacrament. When I did my research on the traditions of hash and how this plant has been used historically and medicinally, it made sense to me to make temple balls. I make them by hand and it’s a labor of love, but they’re a unique product that old-schoolers know. They’re just delicious and they store the hash well! IN A MARKET WITH MANY PRODUCERS, HOW DOES PDX DABS STRIVE TO STAND OUT? We offer our products at what we believe is an incredible value to consumers. We want everyone to be able to try convenient medicine that represents the past and future of this industry! My background is serving the needs of the medical Cannabis community. I’m not in this for money. I’m in this because I’m Captain Cannabis! This is my life’s purpose. Our product honors the love of the farm and I love making it at a great price point. We want to make premium concentrates that are available to all budgets and our terp numbers, the quality of our material, our farm partners and the packaging – everything speaks for itself. Currently, we’re distributed by GreenSea and celebrating a new farm partnership with Rosebud Growers. WHO IS CAPTAIN CANNABIS? How do you carry this persona through your day-to-day life? Portland went through a tilling (I call it) – a revolution, you know? Even before COVID, people were resisting and fighting for equality. That’s my background. That’s who Captain Cannabis is: someone who’s been fighting for equality for the plant and the people who use it. To be able to make products that incorporate our past, giving respect to Eastern and African cultures. We wouldn’t have legal weed if it wasn’t for Black and gay people. I honor the truth, you know? My motto is THC: Truth, History, Consciousness. To me, finding the best plant and making the best product at the best price is staying true to that vision.
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.
PDXDABS.COM | @PDX_DABS_LAB
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MADE WITH FRESH FROZEN FLOWER. THE “LIVE” PRODUCT BRINGS FORTH THE TRUE CULTIVAR REPRESENTATION MADE WITH CERTIFIED KIND FLOWER ONLY CERTIFIED KIND CONCENTRATE IN OREGON SINGLE SOURCE. FROM SOIL TO OIL. PACKAGED IN SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING USING HEMP, RECYCLED MATERIALS, AND VEGETABLE INK
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BUDTENDEr of the month
W H O ’ S Y O U R FAV O R I T E B U D T E N D E R ? T E L L U S W H Y ! E M A I L N O M I N A T I O N S T O M A X @ L E A F M A G A Z I N E S . C O M
SIMPLE LITTLE THINGS CAN MAKE A BIG IMPACT. WE DON’T HAVE TO SAVE THE WORLD, WE JUST HAVE TO BE THAT ONE SPARK THAT WILL SPARK ANOTHER.
can pick up on cues to see someone may not want to smile, but want to just unload and share something that’s bothering them, or just to vent in general. As budtenders and humans, we just need to listen. We all need that one safe place we can go and know that we won’t be judged. Our goal here is to be a judgefree zone. We’re such a small community here; our customers become our families and friends. I look forward to making that personal connection every day. HOW DO YOU HELP KNOTTY LEAVES PROVIDE A UNIQUE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE? Knotty Leaves has such an amazing
crew. My teammates all have their quirks that make coming in for myself, and the customer, a unique one. My contribution is trying to make each interaction a personal one. We open at 7:00 a.m., so I get up early and watch the news, read the headlines, and kind of get an idea as to what’s going on in the area and world. Again, making that connection can be as simple as noticing someone’s a Laker – BOO! – and commenting on last night’s game (I’m not personally a Laker fan, sorry Mike and Dylan). Simple little things can make a big impact. We don’t have to save the world, we just have to be that one spark that will spark another. Those sparks can create a flame. Okay, getting a little philosophical. WHAT DOES BEING A BUDTENDER MEAN TO YOU? HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PREVIOUS JOBS? I’ve been very
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CINDY GOWEN OREGON LEAF
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Budtender of the Month Beloved by her coworkers and the locals of Independence, Cindy Gowen is a notably kind-hearted and welcoming budtender. In her work at Knotty Leaves Dispensary, she provides a safe space for customers to come in and take a load off or share their latest good news and accomplishments. This small town has regular customers that come from all over to see Cindy – take a visit to Knotty Leaves and see for yourself just how comforting this shop and its employees are.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THE MOST ABOUT COMING TO WORK EACH DAY? My family
has always worked in the service of others. We each have our strengths, and try to use our strengths to help make someone’s day a little better. My brother’s a nurse, my mom a master gardener, I’m a goof. Sooooo, it’s my goal each day to try and make at least one person smile. Even behind the mask, you can see the sparkle in someone’s eye when they’re smiling. On the flip side, you
fortunate in the variety of jobs I have had. Working for three of the state’s largest employers has allowed me to encounter a diverse population. After college I worked for the Department of Revenue, Spirit Mountain Casino and Salem Health, working in one of the busiest Emergency Rooms on the West Coast. Being in these industries gives you a perspective on how things can be. I feel all jobs have a common thread: the human factor. You can’t work in any of these places without having compassion towards others. Being a budtender means I get the opportunity to provide products that can help the insomniac sleep, give the anxious a sense of calm, and those looking to be a little happier or uplifted something to get them headed in the right direction. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOBBIES AND INTERESTS ASIDE FROM CANNABIS? I love learning new things. It seems pretty
lame, but shows like “Curse of Oak Island” and “Beyond the Unknown” shed light on how things could have been done in the past, and stories you never knew existed. However, I also love a great episode of “Bob’s Burgers,” “Family Guy” or most cartoon-based comedies. One of our customers Jeremiah, gave my boyfriend Jason and me a German Shepherd-Pitbull puppy right after my dad’s passing. Sadie, our new puppy, has given Jason, our other Pit Maui, and myself a new look at life. She takes such joy in everything. Maui, the 12-year-old Pitbull now thinks she’s a puppy. Sure, none of us but Sadie can move at the end of the night, but she’s a handful. Jason does all the work with her, but I am fortunate to have her spend cuddle time with me. Finally, if my nieces and nephew are all together, I used to love something we call ‘Slicefest’ – we have a slice of pizza somewhere, a slice of pie, and a slice of fun. They are grown and have their own lives, so any time is special. My family is amazing and I am so lucky to have such incredible influences in my life. My friends, coworkers and family are the reason I get up. I am so honored to have been considered to be highlighted. Thank you!
K N O T T Y L E AV E S D I S P E N S A RY 7 6 9 N M A I N S T, I N D E P E N D E N C E , O R | @ K N O T T Y L E AV E S | ( 5 0 3 ) 8 3 7- 0 0 4 8
May 2021
INTERVIEW by MAX EARLY @LIFTED_STARDUST/OREGON LEAF | PHOTO by FLETCHER WOLD @FWOLD_PHOTOGRAPHY
www.reupfarms.com
@reupfarms
Runtz
Soil Grown Limited Batch Craft Cannabis
Runtz | Oreoz | Bacio | Mint Chocolate Gelato | White Runtz | Wedding Cake | Frosted Zkittles | Rainbow Cake | Peanut Butter Breath | Melonaid | Apple Fritter | Kush Mintz | Horchata
Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. For use only by adults twenty-one years of age and older. Keep out reach of children.
company profile
OREGON HANDLER’S FUND
Founder | Raina Casey
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aina Casey is no stranger to serving others. As a veteran, and as a death doula, social justice advocate and Cannabis consultant, she centers her life‘s work around doing just that – while bringing a unique perspective from many battles. Her bright spirit and inspiring strength were tangible through the phone as we chatted about the struggle of losing a father to AIDS at age 11, growing up with a grieving mother, and surviving a list of life-threatening events.
Casey has traversed the trials of a stroke, abdominal aneurysm, brain surgery and CNS Lymphoma – experiences that she says left her with a severely diminished quality of life. “I was 30-years-old and had a son. He would spend his days watching me sleep under the horrible influence of these medications.” As she thought about her future and that of her son’s, she concluded, “This is not the quality of life that I want for myself. And it’s certainly not the quality of life that he deserves.” That’s when Casey turned to Cannabis and saw a drastic change in her health. She became increasingly involved in the community and eventually, looked to make Cannabis a part of her professional path. But she faced yet another obstacle: the price of permits. Casey had watched the industry thrive throughout the pandemic. As many folks looked for employment opportunities, it seemed one of the few to present them. But at a considerably higher cost than Oregon’s alcohol or food handlers permits, she noticed that the Marijuana Handlers Permit presented a unique problem. One that was painted into a much bigger picture. In legalized states like Oregon, a white-washed market failed to find space for people of Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander descent.
For more information, to make a donation, or apply for assistance, head to oregonhandlers.org and follow them on Instagram @oregonhandlers.
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In their brief time of operation, the OHF has already raised $4,676.31 and funded 16 worker permits, with many more lined up.
Casey contemplated this while watching the events following the murder of George Floyd and finally, something her aunt said sunk in: “You better do what you can while we’re still in style.” While many were calling for the support of Black-owned Cannabis businesses, Casey saw a “whole class of mostly Black people,” (well over a few thousand, according to her data) that were waiting to work in the industry. Permit fees were their only obstacle, so Casey decided to do something about it. She enlisted the expertise of friend and sales professional Casey O’Keefe, Rare Industries’ Christopher Schiel, and Realistic Consulting’s Justin Lipchitz to help operate the Oregon Handlers Fund. The fund has one purpose: “to pay for Marijuana Worker Permits for Black and Non-Black People of Color. Because representation matters.” In their brief time of operation, the OHF has already raised $4,676.31 and funded 16 worker permits, with many more lined up. The money comes from company and individual donations alike, although the fund hopes to see some extra assistance in the form of a grant. While Casey says that the pandemic has complicated the OHF’s process, she’s excited to share plans of expansion. They’ve recently acquired a Portland office space where they hope to offer a wider array of employment services in the future.
STORY by AMANDA DAY @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA | photo courtesy Raina Casey
Rose City Confections is the cannabis industry’s best-kept secret. We’ve crafted the edibles you love for years; you just didn’t know us until now.
Rose City Confections, the makers of:
OLCC licensed white label manufacturing
WWW.ROSECITYCONFECTIONS.COM
highly likely
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Their most criticallyacclaimed work to date was the movie they wrote and produced called “Judas and the Black Messiah.”
Highly Likely highlights Cannabis pioneers who paved the way to greater herbal acceptance.
lucas brothers Known as The Lucas Brothers, Kenny and Keith Lucas are twin comedians who also act, write and produce various pieces of video content, including animation and critically acclaimed film. You may have seen them before with their identical looks and matching thick, black-framed glasses. The brothers are often open about their consumption of Cannabis, and can be seen smoking a joint outside a New York comedy club at the beginning of their 2017 Netflix comedy special “On Drugs.”
along with them. Look no further than the amazing Animation Domination series “Lucas Bros. Moving Co.” – a show that is especially good to watch while high. The series features an amazingly imaginative style of animation, but what really shines is the writing and vocal delivery. They also embody a sort of ‘every person’ stoner persona in the series, and from what I can tell, in real life. But not everything the twins have created has been based in comedy. Their most critically-acclaimed work to date was the movie they wrote and produced called “Judas and the Black Messiah,” a biopic that tells the story of the chairman of the Chicago chapter of the Black Panthers, Fred Hampton. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s a AISED IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, the twin brothers started law compelling, intellectual story that school (Keith at Duke, Kenny at NYU) but in the middle of paints a picture of incidents in the their post-graduate degrees, they dropped out and started Civil Rights Movement that are pursuing careers in entertainment. As Kenny told NPR in still pertinent today. There’s an February, “It was weird to study law and kind of be poor underlying humanity to the story and Black, because ... I see what the consequences of policy and as well, one that shines a light on law are like on a daily basis, and especially when it’s in relation racial inequities that stretch far back to African Americans and the notion of criminality and how it’s in time and continue to effect and projected onto Blacks.” Their change in career was a deliberate complicate our modern world. It’s choice, made out of wanting to produce “something that has a already won many awards, including direct impact on people from an emotional standpoint.” a Golden Globe. At the time of this In many ways the style of comedy that the Lucas Brothers have writing, the film is nominated for no A clip from their Animation Domination series developed is entirely fresh and new. Delivered with a sort of less than five Oscars. “Lucas Bros. Moving Co. deadpan coolness, their jokes are more than just something to So yes, like you and me, the laugh at – they also force the audience to think in a way they’re not accustomed to when Lucas Brothers smoke Cannabis. Like you and me, they likely watching a comedy show. This sort of conscious raising comedy was ahead of its time almost derive some sort of peace, wellbeing and creativity from it. a decade ago when they started doing it, but today feels like just the thing that our changing But unlike most of us, the Lucas Brothers have found a way culture needs. That’s because one of the stated goals of their art is to raise awareness about to channel what they get into something bigger than any systemic racism and its effect on people of color, as well as society at large. one individual can experience – and are having a beneficial All of that sounds pretty serious, but that’s both the beauty and the genius of the Lucas impact on our world. For that, they deserve our respect, Brothers’ work: They get serious points across in a funny way and they bring their audience honor and thanks.
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
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MAY 2021
STORY by PACER STACKTRAIN for LEAF NATION
Features of HTFSE: • • • • • • • •
Small Batch (Under 500 Grams per Batch) Made with 100% Fully Cured Cannabis Strain Specific Never tacky and easy to dab, just heat the tip and pour or use a small dab tool. Free of plant botanical impurities such as waxes and cellular debris Deep and rich aroma and taste, full of cured cannabis complex cannabinoids Known strains from known growers Doesn’t need to be refrigerated, so you don’t have to worry about it spoiling
Our scientific methodology captures a balanced mix of all the trichome bulb molecules. This includes the polar, non-polar and neutral resin molecules, as well as the flavor molecules which have unique properties which enable us to taste. As a result, our extracts contain what's specifically missing from other extractions that are purified with CRC, distillations, or post-processing techniques.
“I have not been able to find relief at all with anything. And then a friend of mine had me try Extractioneering HTFSE vials. I cried the first day, because it had been so long since I had found something that worked. I didn’t think it would work because, you know, the THC levels aren’t that high. But, it worked. And I don’t need to use that much. Just 2-4 drops in the morning and I’m good. It’s just a plus that the HTFSE relieved my issues and I just felt happy all day. - Jackson Hubbard, Graphic Artist
Don Mega HTFSE
Grown by Rosebud Growers
Frequently Asked Questions: Q: Does it get you high? A: Yes, HTFSE is not pure terpenes. It actually has an average of 65% THC, which means you do not even need to heat it before use. A lot of folks just put a drop on thier tongue and go. Q: How do I get it out of the vial?! A: There’s a few videos on the website that can show you “How-To,” but the best way is to take the cap off, heat the tip of the vial so it’s a little warmer than room-temperature and pour out 2 drops into your banger. Or you can just use a dab tool.
Scooby snacks HTFSE
Grown by cold frame farms
grape octane HTFSE
Grown by cold frame farms
Platnium Punch Rind.
VIAL 1 GRAM Our Vials have been specially designed for users to get every last drop. You can drip the vial into your banger or use a dabber to get the precious liquid out. You can also use it to fill up your own cartridges. Only the most exclusive strains and batches get into our vials. $40ish
out the door, depending on shop
WHITE TIP CARTRIDGE 0.5 GRAM Our White Tip Cartridges are made of ceramic, from the mouth piece all the way to the coil itself. The White Tip Cartridge is filled with the same strains we choose to fill our vials. Often only batches with less than 100gms total are put into our White Tip Cartridges.
HIGH TERPENE FULL SPECTRUM EXTRACT HTFSE is Extractioneering’s liquid extract, the crowning achievement of our patent-pending extraction process. HTFSE usually tests at around 55% THCA and greater than 10% terpenes. Prior to processing a batch of cannabis, we analyze the biochemistry to predict the best winterization conditions that result in a native balance of oleoresin molecules that are ideal for vaporization. We stand by our extraction method, scientific analysis, and biochemical evaluation. These processes create a level of quality that match or exceed all other extract products to- date. Only the best of all our extraction results are offered for retail sale. The remaining extracts are transitioned into high-purity products.
HTFSE
vial
white silver cartridge cartridge
batch size under 200 grams 10% minimum terpenes virgin extract
$40ish
out the door, depending on shop
no crc tech single source made with fully cured resin no added terpenes
SILVER TIP CARTRIDGE 0.5 GRAM Our Silver Tip Cartridges are made with a quartz coil. We put our slightly larger batches and more standard strains into our Silver Cartridges. For us, a “large” batch is around 300gms. Still incredibly small and special.
$20ish
out the door, depending on shop
minimum of 65% cannabinoids
w w w. e x t r a c t i o n e e r i n g . c o m Scan the QR Code on the jar or package with your camera to see the test results, batch information, and reviews from people just like you who use Extractioneering HTFSE “I ususally get a headache from carts. But, these carts have me feeling great! They are by far the best carts I have ever had. They hit like I’m taking a dab and they are so smoooooth!” - Johnathan MacGrath, Personal Chef
STRAINS OF THE MONTH
Their SLAG (Smoke Like A Grower) jars aim to give consumers a taste of what it is like to enjoy the best and prettiest nugs possible, as most producers do.
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CAKE MINTS + PLATINUM GARLIC COO CULTIVATED by LOWD
MAY 2021
In our first-ever Strains of the Month, we selected the heavy-hitting Platinum Garlic Cookies and the almighty Cake Mints, both producing a flavorsome smoking experience and stress-relieving high.
OKIES REVIEW by MAX EARLY @LIFTED_STARDUST | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
Portland-based producer LOWD Cannabis hooked us up with a ton of their strain offerings, and it was impossible to pick just one. Variety is the key to life – and some things go better together. LOWD is constantly setting the bar higher and leading by example in a market that could use some improvement when it comes to diversity. Co-founder Jesce Horton and his wife Jeannette created the NuLeaf Project, a social justice organization that increases successful outcomes for Cannabis businesses owned by people of color by providing various services and resources. (Find out more about the NuLeaf Project on page 54). LOWD prides themselves on their ability to pheno-hunt to perfection and provide an experience that allows you to smoke like a grower. Their SLAG (Smoke Like A Grower) jars aim to give consumers a taste of what it is like to enjoy the best and prettiest nugs possible, as most producers do. Each nug found in the SLAG jars gets treated with the utmost care, and consumers are the first to touch the buds after harvest. It’s also significant to note that the jars are UV resistant for optimal slow curing and storage. Currently, you can find SLAG jars in quarter and half-ounce amounts. Crossing Wedding Cake F3 and Kush Mints #11, this delectable cultivar marries two of the best genetics currently found on the market. Breaking into these gorgeous nugs revealed breathtakingly bright neon green frosted leaves covered with trichomes accompanied by bursts of rich purple hues. Cake Mints quite simply checks all of the boxes. Looks, smell, taste and effects are on another level. The pungently sweet, sugary and doughy flavor profile had our team blown away. The flavor transferred over perfectly from smell to smoke, staining our palates with the most desirable gaseous and pastry-like flavors. Whether smoked in a bowl, joint, bong or vaporizer, the confectionary aftertaste carries over every time – leaving you licking your lips, wanting more. As the effects are calming and soothing, this cultivar would be ideal for those looking for a way to unwind and relax. Platinum Garlic Cookies is a profusely gassy cross of Platinum GSC and the crowd favorite GMO. Opening the SLAG jar revealed buds that look like they are almost coated in snow, with trichomes caking each nug. The aroma hits you like a ton of bricks, and the effect is nothing short of that either. Offensive odors of petrol combined with garlic filled the room as I broke down some buds by hand. You can tell a lot of love is put into their drying and curing process, as there is no grinder needed for LOWD’s flowers. While burning a fat joint, my palate experienced the same nuances I encountered while smelling the flower, leaving my mouth coated with a piney and gasoline-like taste. Make sure to have some time squared away for this strain, as the effects are super sedating and heavy. Smoking both of these strains separately over a day will certainly have all of your anxiety relieved and make your headspace a happy place to be. Sign up for their email list and gain access to their monthly exclusives and limited SLAG jar releases!
LOWD.COM | @THELOWD
THE ACTION ISSUE
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leafmagazines.com
THROUGHOUT HISTORY, advocates for social and political action have repeatedly returned to the same wellspring of change: The Protest. The French Revolution. The Suffragette Movement. The Civil Rights Movement. Tiananmen Square. The 1999 WTO Protests in Seattle. Arab Spring. The Occupy Movement. Last year, hundreds of thousands of people broke free from couch-locked quarantine to protest the killing of George Floyd by a public servant who should have knelt at Floyd’s feet rather than on his neck. People who’d never held a protest sign in their lives took to the streets. People who’d never given to charity before held fundraisers for equity causes. More voters turned out for the 2020 election than any other election in the history of the United States. That’s why we chose a protest scene as our cover on Leaf Magazines’ first-ever Action Issue. It’s the classic visual representation of change motivated by
mAY 2021
ADOBE/PATRONESTAFF
HOW THE CANNABIS COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO FIGHT TO FIX THE SYSTEM.
unrest. The Cannabis community is no stranger to the protest, and is no stranger to action. Since the dawn of the plant’s prohibition and criminalization, advocates have taken to the streets to fight for legalization, for expungement – and for understanding. And while the face of change is often an angry mob that’s reached its breaking point, we want to look past the protest line and spend this issue showcasing those warriors within the Cannabis community who wake up every day fighting to change the system. They do so in offices, in the fields, and in the halls where legislation is crafted. In the following pages, you’ll find stories filled with hope and positive momentum. We connected with an Oregonian woman of color who fights for legislative change with one hand, while using the other to help equity applicants find funding to realize their dreams. We got to know a small Cannabis company in Alaska that makes a huge positive impact in its surrounding
community. We spoke with a California farmer who served nearly a decade in a federal prison camp for cultivating Cannabis, only to go on to become one of the most respected sungrown producers in Humboldt’s legal market. We sat down with the founder of the Emerald Cup, one of the most respected drivers of Cannabis culture on the West Coast. Lastly, because no social action would be possible without a healthy ecosystem to support us all, we connected with an organization that hopes to steer the Cannabis industry toward sustainability and ethical responsibility. We hope you find inspiration in these stories, as we did while putting them together. Next time you feel that call to action – whether it be to pick up a sign and hit the streets, or pick up the phone and call your local lawmakers – may you succeed in making the positive change you want to see in the world.
STORY by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS/LEAF NATION
CHANGEMAKER ELLEN KOMP | DEPUTY DIRECTOR, CA NORML
Ellen Komp’s desk is always in chaos. That’s a good thing. If you need to know something about a Cannabis bill in the California legislature, just ask Ellen. Odds are, if she didn’t play a direct role in crafting the bill, she’s carefully tracking it or already preparing an action alert to send to the membership of California NORML. Established in 1972, California NORML is a separate membership and financial base from the national organization, but one that keeps plenty busy as the only organization in the state devoted specifically to marijuana reform for consumers. And at the center of it all is CA NORML Deputy Director Ellen Komp, elected to the board of directors back in 1992.
49 “We don’t discriminate against someone using alcohol off-the-job, right? That was also the number one thing we She’s essentially positioned wanted to fix immediately after Prop 64 passed. California NORML as a I got calls the next day, all day, from people who watchdog to ensure those were being drug tested by their employer and expecting an automatic wanted to know if it was OK for them to use expungement aren’t left Cannabis now. No, sadly they were not OK, even short of the finish line. if they had a medical reason. What’s so ironic is that states which later passed their own medical marijuana laws – even less-progressive states like Arkansas – put it right into their law because of >> C A N O R M L . O R G what happened with California.” A third area of focus for Komp and California NORML is the expungement of criminal records. “I mean, even Joe Biden – who wants to continue arresting people for marijuana – wants to expunge past convictions for marijuana,” she noted. “That doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, but that’s where we are.” While California ostensibly led the way when former San Francisco DA George Gascon announced he’d be initiating automatic record expungements in 2019, Komp counters that well-intentioned promises do not always translate to a clean final product. For that reason, she’s essentially positioned California NORML as a watchdog to ensure those expecting an automatic expungement aren’t left short of the finish line. “I think people are still going to have to take some action,” Komp reasoned, “at least to check that their case has been fully wiped out. There have been all of these announcements about wiping out these records, so people might think they’re good to go when there are actually still several more steps that need to happen before their records are completely fixed. That’s roll-up-your-sleeves kind of work.” Whatever type of work may be needed, California NORML’s track record shows that they’re always ready to meet any challenge head on. Komp’s myriad of focuses also confirms that despite recent progress, there is still much, much left to be done. Thankfully, with the likes of California NORML around, we can always count on action to be taken when it comes to protecting Cannabis patients and consumers.
STORY by ZACK RUSKIN @ZACKRUSKIN for LEAF NATION | PHOTO by NORML
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IN THOSE DAYS, Komp was all in on hemp, even serving as an editor on the ninth edition of Jack Herer’s legendary book on the subject, “The Emperor Wears No Clothes.” In short order, however, the advent of Prop 215 would set Komp on a career course she’s still navigating today. In the wake of voters approving Prop 64, her work now also centers on advocating for improvements to a system few, if any, would mistake for an ideal outcome. For the most part, that translates to tracking and garnering support for Cannabis-related bills now making their way through the state’s legislature. Speaking with Leaf, Komp highlighted a few of the bills she’s closely following at the moment. One is SB-311, which is also known as Ryan’s Law. “That would require hospitals and hospices to allow terminally ill patients to use Cannabis,” Komp explained. “It’s called Ryan’s Law after a man whose son, Ryan, was unable to use Cannabis at the end of his life. His father is pushing this bill. It passed last year, almost unanimously through the legislature, but was vetoed by Governor Newsom over concerns the hospital industry had that they might lose federal funding.” Such outcomes are a frequent part of the process, where bills are often required to be filed again and again, tweak after tweak, before ultimately having a chance to evolve into law. Sometimes, the issue isn’t the language of the bill, but the lawmaker sponsoring it. That’s what happened in the case of AB-1256: an employment rights bill Komp and California NORML are supporting. For the past several years, the bill was sponsored by Assemblyman Rob Bonta, but following Bonta’s recent promotion to California Attorney General, Assemblyman Bill Quirk has stepped in to carry AB-1256 forward. A big goal with that bill is to ban discrimination based on testing for what’s known as inactive THC metabolites, which essentially translates to the leftover THC that sticks around in your system long after the effects have concluded. In California, if an employee tests positive for inactive THC metabolites – which is all a urine or hair test can detect – that is currently still a legally acceptable cause for termination. For Komp, such a situation seems tantamount to madness. “We’re trying to get employers away from the idea of discriminating against someone using on their own, off-the-job,” she said.
the ACTION issue
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION It is with the deepest respect that I share these thoughts, with great regard for the difficulties faced in leading our beloved country. Upon being elected, the global community exhaled in relief when you were elected to lead the United States, but your Administration continues to perpetuate the war on drugs, which has become a war on the American way of life. It is time to acknowledge that the foundation of the war on drugs is racist, predatory, and not fitting with the American ideals we project around the globe. It is also evident that the laws and law enforcement regulating drugs are more dangerous than the drugs themselves. Americans deserve their constitutional right to the pursuit of happiness, and this includes the right to consume Cannabis.
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In the last six months we have seen New York and New Mexico legalize Cannabis by legislative action, and the voters of New Jersey, Arizona, South Dakota and Montana joined a total of 33 states whose voters all approve of an American’s right to use Cannabis. Your response to overwhelmingly positive polling for legalization has been to fire White House staff members who admitted to using Cannabis. This is direct proof that your policies and beliefs do not reflect the will of the people.
What is mind-boggling is how can you have the vision to pull troops out of Afghanistan to end our country’s longest war, while continuing to wage a domestic campaign of terror featuring no-knock raids and mandatory minimum sentences for simple drug possession? Like the people of AfghanWE ARE CALLING ON YOUR ADMINISTRATION istan who are left worse off than when we began our needless war of aggresTO TAKE ACTION AND sion 20 years ago, today Americans FOLLOW THROUGH are worse off on the battlefield called ON YOUR CAMPAIGN Main Street – where innocent victims PROMISES, AND are killed, arrested and robbed through TO CORRECT THE asset forfeiture by a militarized police SHAMEFUL LEGACY OF THE WAR ON DRUGS force with less oversight than that for our THAT BOTH THE armed forces overseas.
PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT HELPED SHAPE AND ENFORCE.
We are calling on your Administration to take action and follow through on your campaign promises, and to correct the hypocritical legacy of the war on drugs that both the President and Vice President helped shape and enforce. We know your history and we are looking for you both to evolve with Americans, for America.
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Madame Vice President, your legacy as a prosecutor includes thousands of lives fractured by the war on drugs. President Biden, as a senator you helped craft the language of the war on drugs that has led to the militarization of police, private and for-profit prisons, and decades of lives ruined by drug policies – vowing in 1989 to hold “every drug user accountable,” adding that there aren’t “enough police officers to catch the violent thugs, not enough prosecutors to convict them, not enough judges to sentence them, and not enough prison cells to put them away for a long time.”
mAY 2021
Mr. President, you recently stated that gun violence in the U.S. is shameful and that we need to limit legal gun ownership – but said nothing about the average of three lives taken daily by police shootings since the murder of George Floyd. I personally find your lack of action on police accountability, the continuation of the war on drugs, and giving police reasons to arrest and kill innocent people in minor possession of drugs, to be shameful – which predominantly affects people of color and impoverished communities.
Please, let’s end police violence, gang violence and cartel violence. This comes by removing criminal penalties for minor drug possession, and redirecting funds from law enforcement and the criminal justice system towards social support, mental and addiction health care – making direct investments into communities affected by the war on drugs. When a person chooses to use Cannabis or other drugs, they choose their pathway to happiness – and criminalizing their decision is what creates criminals. It justifies the cartels, the violence, and even the corruption that drives both the criminal organizations and the criminal justice system. Let’s repeat an earlier mantra: Americans deserve their constitutional right to the pursuit of happiness, and this includes the right to consume Cannabis and other substances in the safety of their own homes. Sincerely, Wesley Abney Founder | Leaf Magazines
STORY by WES ABNEY @BEARDEDLORAX | ART by JOSHUA BOULET @JOSHUABOULET for LEAF NATION
HUCKLEBERRY HILL FARMS | FOUNDER JOHNNY CASALI
the ACTION issue
INCARCERATION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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Johnny Casali was 24 years old in 1992 when federal agents came calling at the door of his multi-generational farmhouse in California’s legendary Humboldt County. It was a fateful day that would lead to nearly a decade of federal incarceration for simply cultivating plants in the style and tradition handed down by his parents. Now, nearly 30 years later, Casali holds a position of respect among the legal cultivators in the Humboldt Cannabis community. His path has not been easy, and his story, while unique in its details, rings with a familiarity that reverberates through an industry still shaking off the shackles of a failed Drug War.
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F A M I LY L E G A C Y
“From the age of 10, I was following my mother around, watching her, learning from her how to cultivate Cannabis, and vegetables and fruit trees,” Casali said of his mom, Marlene Bandoni. “I really just fell in love with participating with my mother, and learning her techniques, learning what made her a master grower, per se, in the Emerald Triangle community’s mind.” For Casali’s family, Cannabis was one of a number of crops and income streams that included fishing, crabbing and mainstream agriculture. “We were really just living off the land, and supplementing our income with small bits of marijuana,” Casali said. The budding cultivator’s interest grew along with him, and by the time he was a teenager, his mother struggled with whether it was OK to let her son begin to grow on his own. At age 15, she decided to allow him to grow 10 plants, as long as he agreed to hand over the Cannabis to her and put the money either into a college fund, or a wise investment. “You couldn’t buy a motorcycle, you couldn’t go on vacation,” he said. His first solo grow yielded about 12 pounds.
mAY 2021
“I ended up being able to make enough money where I put a down payment on 11 acres of property on the Eel River,” he said. His parents co-signed. “That was my first experience with making money from Cannabis, and really, from that point, it was just on.”
plant count in order to maintain harvest volumes. Being twenty-something, carefree, wave-riding Cannabis growers, they didn’t realize that the increase in plant count also increased their chance of attracting the wrong kind of attention. F AT E C O M E S K N O C K I N G
Early one morning in 1992, Casali heard a noise on the farm that didn’t sound quite right. After a couple of years of college, Casali’s par“I heard somebody driving up the driveway really ents bought a commercial fishing boat, and handed fast, and I just thought it was maybe one of my the farm over to Johnny, who cultivated Cannabis friends who wanted to go surfing, or this or that, but with his best friend, Todd Wick. we had a rule that you just don’t drive fast on the This was in the late 1980s, and with the Reafarm,” he said. “So I came running out the door, gan-era War on Drugs in full force, enforcement but instead of meeting one of my grew far more intense in the friends, this time I met a guy in camTriangle. “Since I learned ouflage with a 9mm to my head, “You would see convoys along everything from my and there were 30 federal agents.” the roadways, you would see helimom, I thought it was so They gave him the option to leave copters overhead,” he said. “You important to just honor the property, but he chose to stay could no longer grow out in the her, and to share her while they searched the farm, conopen if you wanted to make it.” story with people. So fiscating, among other things, seed They had to start cultivating every strain that I grow packs and 13 pairs of trimming underneath the tree canopy, with here today is bred with scissors. They gave him a yellow such low per-plant yields that they a strain that she used to ticket, and they left. His lawyer, Ron had to significantly increase their SEA CHANGE
grow 45 years ago,” -Johnny Casali
Listen to Leaf Life Podcast Show #52 “Cannabis Prisoners” Visit www.LeafMagazines.com
PA S S I N G O N T H E L E G A C Y
Sinoway, warned that the Feds had a five-year window to return, and were likely to arrest and convict him. “He said, ‘If you’re planning on cooperating with them, I want you to walk straight back out of my office right now,’” Casali said. That’s the moment he knew he’d found the right lawyer. THE TRIAL
After a year and a half, the Feds came back for Casali and Wick, kicking off a two-and-a-halfyear trial during which the pair faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life. At one point, they saw a glimmer of hope in the potential that they could get a reduced sentence as nonviolent first-time offenders. In the end, the linchpin wasn’t the Cannabis, but the trimming scissors. “The prosecutor was able to tell this judge that 13 pairs of scissors could only mean that I had 13 workers,” he said, “and these seed packets that I had in my house could only mean that I had a prior grow, since I had those seeds.” In the end, Casali and Wick were sentenced to the mandatory minimum of 10 years at Lompoc Prison Camp in Santa Barbara County. SERVING TIME
When describing his sentencing and his internment at Lompoc, Casali fights back tears – his voice shaking under the weight of regret. “I didn’t feel bad for myself. I felt bad because of the pain that I had brought to my mother and father. All they wanted to do was to give me the best life possible, and they felt very guilty for what had happened because they blamed themselves.” Casali recalls his walk up to the gates, where he waited with a group of 10 inmates for intake. “They asked me how much time I had gotten, and I told them ‘120 months,’ and they were just
flabbergasted that they were looking at someone who had more time than anyone else at the camp at that time,” he said. Casali spent seven years building relationships with the other inmates, as well as the farm managers and guards, working the cattle and cultivating vegetables. He formed a particularly strong bond with the man who ran the prison camp, Ray Escobedo. “I used to bring him little plants, habaneros and things, and he would plant them in a little garden,” Escobedo said when contacted via phone for this story. Escobedo remembers Casali as being an exemplary farmhand, and by the end of the first year of his sentence, Casali had already earned a solid reputation at the camp. “One afternoon, I heard my name come over the speaker from the chaplain’s office, and you never want to hear that, because it’s never anything good,” Casali said. “My inmate friends, they all looked at me, because that’s what you do, like, ‘Oh, God, what happened?’ I went to the chaplain’s office, and that’s when they told me that my mom had passed away. She was actually scheduled to visit me the next day.” Escobedo went to the Warden and vouched for Casali to leave the prison with a Marshall to attend his mother’s funeral. After seven years, Casali and Wick were transferred to a drug program in Las Vegas, then to a halfway house in San Francisco for six months, before being given probation. They were then granted leave to start their own landscaping business, Eel River Landscape. “We were mowing lawns, and trimming bushes and hedges for little old ladies in town,” he said. “I still look back at those times, and just remember that first day when I got back up to Humboldt, and everything just put a smile on my face. I could sit out in the yard for hours, and the air smelled amazing – that’s what life should be like for all of us, all the time.”
After nearly a decade of federal incarceration for operating his family’s legacy farm in Humboldt, Casali feels overwhelmingly lucky to be able to finally share his craft with the California Cannabis community. “Since I learned everything from my mom, I thought it was so important to just honor her, and to share her story with people. So every strain that I grow here today is bred with a strain that she used to grow 45 years ago,” he said. “I do that in her honor. There are some that are named after her, called Sweet Marlene. There’s one that’s called Whitethorn Rose, and they’re all bred with her strain that she bred with my best friend’s mother, called Paradise Punch. I like the idea that nobody else in the world grows these strains, and whether they’re the best or not the best, it’s part of the story of Huckleberry Hill Farms. It’s part of her story, and it’s part of my story.” Like so many people who’ve seen the damage caused by failed drug policies, the retired prison camp manager Escobedo now sees Cannabis in a different light. “It shouldn’t be illegal,” Escobedo said. “It’s no different than alcohol. It’s probably better than alcohol, you know. But it was illegal then.” In recent years, Escobedo and another former prison camp manager came to visit Casali at his farm. “He gave me a couple of seeds,” Escobedo said, “and I planted them here, and I made some creams out of them, for medicine, you know.” Despite the freedom Casali now enjoys, he still regards helicopters overhead with a watchful eye, and can’t shake the fear of the potential blowback that could happen to him as retaliation for speaking out. Even though his livelihood Johnny and and his craft are his girlfriend, considered legal under Brittany Rose California law, it is still Moberly. federally illegal. “All it would take is for them to come here, and find something that they can point to,” he said. “More often than not, someone like me should be quiet and fall by the wayside, but that doesn’t really help anybody. I owe the community to speak out about where this multibillion-dollar industry was created.”
STORY by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by BEN NEFF @BNEFF92 for LEAF NATION
the ACTION issue
EQUITY IN CANNABIS NuLeaf Project Co-founder Jeannette Ward Horton on collaborating with edible maker Wana
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The failed War on Drugs destroys countless lives, with racist and classist policies that tear communities of color apart at the seams. Jeannette Ward Horton, co-founder of Oregon’s NuLeaf Project,
will absolutely not rest until our broken, oppressive, unbalanced system serves all of the communities it touches. As a burgeoning new sector, the Cannabis industry is the perfect place to focus on the monumental work of halting the destructive, regressive and oppressive policies that still impact communities of color around the country, and repairing the damage done. It’s a multifaceted mission, comprising political action, mentorship, and a rebalancing of the fiscal playing field. mAY 2021
POLITICAL POWERHOUSE
Horton’s organization was a primary driver for the Oregon Cannabis Equity Act, HB3112, which seeks to establish a Cannabis Equity Board within the Governor’s office to provide equity oversight of the state’s Cannabis industry. Among her many contributions, Horton sought to change the language around equity in order to specifically speak to race in the state’s efforts. The goal is to provide opportunity and representation for those most impacted by the War on Drugs – specifically to Black, Indigenous, and Latina/o/x communities. Notably, as part of her efforts, Horton was able to include the divestment of Cannabis taxes from funding the police. “I wouldn’t let that shit go,” Horton said. “And it worked.” Horton and NuLeaf also provide mentorship, grants and avenues for funding for equity entrepreneurs looking to grow and thrive in the Cannabis industry. In order to get funding for these efforts, NuLeaf partners with companies in the space who recognize the need for change.
SPREADING LIKE ROOTS
In addition to the work with Wana in Oregon, NuLeaf is branching out to take on other missions with collaborators around the nation, including a partnership with Ben’s Best Buds in Colorado, the upcoming Cannabis brand from Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s. Their collaboration will be laser-focused on the funding piece of the equity puzzle. The overall goal, Horton says, is to build a future with a healthy economic ecosystem rich in diversity and opportunity for systematically oppressed and underrepresented communities. “Our mission is to build generational wealth for our communities,” she said. “This is not about just building Cannabis businesses. This is about repairing harm, and building it into these wealth opportunities for the Black community.”
The goal is to provide opportunity and representation for those most impacted by the War on Drugs – specifically to Black, Indigenous, and Latina/o/x communities.
A SHARED MISSION
As with so many people in the Cannabis industry and beyond, the social revolution of 2020 – sparked by the killing of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and countless people of color by public employees being paid to serve and protect them – inspired Wana to spring into action. “That lit a fire underneath us,” Wana CEO Joe Hodas said. “What do we do here? This is a crisis.” A significant operator in the national edibles scene, the Wana team heard about Horton and NuLeaf’s work on HB3112. That dedication to positive political action, and NuLeaf’s efforts to connect equity entrepreneurs with the funding they need to achieve their goals, was what brought Wana to the table with Horton and her organization. “To give someone a license, that’s great, they have a license,” Hodas said. But without funding, the license is simply a document. That’s where Wana came in, providing a financial contribution to NuLeaf in order to assist in their efforts. Wana also hired its first-ever Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Karla Rodriguez, to work on the collaboration with Horton and other company projects in the CSR realm. The goal is to create robust collaborations that connect their company with the greater cause of equity and inclusion at a deeper level. “Companies tend to operate in a vacuum,” Karla said. “You can throw money at it, you can throw donations at a cause. But working with NuLeaf … we can learn what needs to be addressed in each market.”
>> N U L E A F P R O J E C T. O R G @NULEAFPROJECT >> W A N A B R A N D S . C O M @WANABRANDS
“To give someone a license, that’s great, they have a license,” Wana CEO Joe Hodas said. But without funding, the license is simply a document. That’s where Wana came in, providing a financial contribution to NuLeaf in order to assist in their efforts.
STORY by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by FLETCHER WOLD @FWOLD_PHOTOGRAPHY & COURTESY WANA
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HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
INSIDE THE EMERALD CUP
Once referred to as the “Academy Awards of Cannabis” by Rolling Stone, the Emerald Cup has evolved from a small, underground competition for sungrown weed into the most respected Cannabis event in the country – beloved for both the humanity with which it runs its festival and the integrity it employs in running its competition.
Founder Tim Blake on-stage with Tommy Chong
mAY 2021
The story of the Emerald Cup begins 17 years ago, when an outlaw grower named Tim Blake decided to host a private community gathering of connoisseurs and cultivators in Northern California’s storied Emerald Triangle to celebrate their harvests and determine which of them had grown the best bud. Blake swears his inspiration for the Cup came not from other Cannabis competitions that had preceded it, but rather from an older, more wholesome source. “As a kid, I loved going to the county fairs every fall,” he explains. “All the sights, the sounds, the smells, the friendly competition with the vegetables and fruits and animals … and I just thought, we should be doing that with Cannabis. Of course, it was still highly illegal, but we just decided to go for it.” In December 2004, Blake leased a small event space just outside of Laytonville (christened Area 101 due to its proximity to the highway) and hosted an underground event for around 200 people disguised as a birthday party. Convincing a few fellow local outlaw growers to participate, he ended up with a couple dozen entries of some of the finest outdoor flower around. Prizes were awarded for first, second and third place, but two of the three winners didn’t even show up to claim their prizes for fear of getting identified and busted. Over the next few years, Blake upped his game: incorporating a hash competition, creating event posters, and throwing all-night psychedelic parties complete with light shows and “survivors’ breakfasts” the next mornings. The Cup remained an annual tradition at Area 101 until 2010, when its continued growth forced Blake to seek out a larger venue. In 2011, it was held at Garberville’s Mateel Community Center … but the following year, they were unable to secure any dates or locations in Mendocino or Humboldt counties and had no choice but to move the event down to the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. “That first year in Santa Rosa, most of the outlaw farmers wouldn’t come down – they thought it was sacrilegious to leave the Emerald Triangle,” Blake recalls. “But it turned out to be such a financial success for the vendors, that the second year there we actually had a waiting list and couldn’t even get everybody in.” EMERALD EXPLOSION
In its new home at the fairgrounds, the event exploded. Within a few years, they went from 30-40 vendors to a couple hundred, and their attendance quadrupled from 7,500 to nearly 30,000. Now a full-blown festival, Emerald Cup offers dozens of panels and seminars, multiple speaking and performance stages, and top-notch musical acts like Rebelution, Damian Marley and Big Gigantic. But that exponential expansion brought with it huge logistical challenges that Tim and his team couldn’t tackle alone. “It’s a big job to essentially build a small city for the weekend,” Blake observes. “I realized, I’ve gotta find some professional help!”
Luckily, he soon found an eager and experienced new partner. “When Red Light Management came knocking on my door, it was hard to turn them down,” Blake confesses. “With all the experience they had managing Dave Matthews Band and Phish, and running shows like Outside Lands, Bonnaroo and SXSW … it was an amazing opportunity. They brought in a world-class production team and took things to a level nobody had ever seen before – like a Cannabis Lollapalooza.” FOR THE COMMUNITY
Though the event was scaling up significantly, Blake made a sincere effort to avoid what he perceived as the shortcomings of some of the other large Cannabis events: focusing more on hype and profit than on providing the best possible experience. “What I’m proudest about is, when you come to the Emerald Cup, you feel a real sense of community vibe there; farmers and product makers and all of the industry people coming together to have a yearly gathering and celebration,” he says. “When you’re doing it because you want to do something great for your community and not just for the money, that really comes across.” Blake and his partners went the extra mile to create as comfortable and welcoming an environment as possible: buying 100 couches from the Salvation Army and hundreds of umbrellas to hand out during heavy rain days, going out of their way to find organic food vendors, hiring a handicapped support specialist to ensure that every part of the show was accessible, and spending nearly a quarter-million dollars on cushioned flooring for booths. “At first I was like, ‘We’re spending how much money on flooring?’” says Blake.
Traditionally, judging had always taken place in person at Area 101 from November to early December. But as of last year, the competition dates were pushed back to March to allow entrants more time to harvest, cure, process and package their submissions. And the judges, who are given around a month to choose their winners, now conferred via weekly Zoom meetings. Thanks to the pandemic, this year’s event also went fully digital – airing on Social Club TV from April 5-11. The virtual event featured Tim with seminars and panels on a daughter, variety of topics including Taylor, who regenerative farming, psycheruns the delic healing, social equity “When you come to the Cannabis and marijuana marketing – all Emerald Cup, you feel a hosted by industry experts, competition. real sense of community activists and celebrities. The vibe there; farmers and “But then all the vendors were festivities were capped with product makers and all saying how amazing it was to stand a live stream awards show at there all day and not have their 4:20 on April 11 and excluof the industry people backs killing them, and we had like sive appearances by Ziggy coming together to have 200 handicapped people come Marley and Michael Franti. a yearly gathering and through saying they’d never seen Undoubtedly though, celebration.” - Tim Blake that type of decency shown to them Blake’s most memorable at an event, and I realized it was all celebrity moment occurred in worth it.” 2018, when his hero Willie Nelson came out to And their magnanimity doesn’t end there. accept a lifetime achievement award. According to Blake, they’ve gone out of their way “He agreed to do it under one condition: each year to raise money and awareness for local He wanted us to change its name to the Willie schools and parks, as well as Nelson Award. I was like, oh my God – what environmental groups like the a prestigious honor he’s bestowing upon us!” Trees Foundation and Friends of Blake gushes. “That was one of my proudest the Eel River. They’ve also promoments, standing on stage with Willie, realizing vided free booth space to many that he was now part of the Cup forever.” non-profits and donated unused contest entries to groups like FUTURE CHANGES Weed for Warriors and Sweet Starting next year, Blake plans to permanently Leaf to distribute to veterans and move the main event to April in L.A. – avoiding terminally ill patients in need. the harsh weather often encountered at past events and allowing for a wider swath of the THE COMPETITION Cannabis community to attend. However, they Their Cannabis competition still plan to host a smaller “Harvest Ball” back in (which is run by Tim’s daughter Taylor) has also Santa Rosa in the fall – one more reminiscent of been lauded for maintaining its integrity despite their original gatherings. its exponential expansion. From its single original “The Emerald Cup was a really innocent, woncategory of sungrown flowers in 2004, it’s now derful idea that turned into this huge business up to nearly 40 categories this year – including all that I never really counted or planned on. It’s types of topicals, edibles and concentrates. amazing to think back on how far we’ve come At its height, the competition boasted an insince that day,” Blake recalls fondly. credible 1,200 total entries, but that number has “But people love the idea of a fall gathering of been cut in half in recent years due to restrictions the tribe, where the community comes together imposed by the legal market. There are between at the end of the year to reminisce, celebrate six and 16 judges per category, all of whom are the previous year’s winners, and see the latest Cali-based Cannabis experts and celebrities. genetics so they can plan their crops for spring. “We had a really incredible pool of judges this We can’t give that up.” year,” Blake attests. No, Tim … we definitely can’t. “We’re really proud of the quality and diversity of people that have come in.” (Full disclosure: I >> T H E E M E R A L D C U P. C O M was one of those judges).
STORY by BOBBY BLACK @BOBBYBLACK420/LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by MIKE ROSATI @ROSATIPHOTOS
the ACTION issue leafmagazines.com
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REGENERATIVE ORGANIC AGRICULTURE Prior to 1996, nowhere in the United States had legalized Cannabis. And while progress has been slow over the past 25 years, the country has witnessed steady improvements allowing for the medical use of Cannabis in 36 states. With New Mexico’s most recent legislative success, 17 are now considered legal Cannabis states. But with great power comes great responsibility. A 2017 study by Ithaca College found large-scale commercial production of Cannabis destructive to the local environment. Northern states rely heavily on the use of artificial indoor operations, which are ideal for maneuvering the difficulties of cold climates. The indoor cultivation of Cannabis requires an enormous amount of electricity, relying on high-intensity bulbs, ventilation, dehumidifiers and air-conditioners to power production. Without land-use policies to limit its environmental footprint, the impacts of Cannabis farming could get worse, the study showed. Until then, the onus of nurturing Mother Earth’s finite resources rests in the hands of the growers. Many will chase the dollar, consequences be damned. Others have their eyes on leaving the world a better place than they found it.
mAY 2021
Aaron Howard, Mason Walker and Nathan Howard. East Fork Cultivars
Naomi Lamb Top Hat Concentrates
CREATING SUSTAINABLE CANNABIS BUSINESSES
BLAZING THE TRAIL
“We are in a climate crisis,” said Oregon resident and activist Les Szabo. “We can’t talk about expansion without thinking about the environmental disruptions this industry could create.” Szabo is a board member for Sun+Earth Certified, a nonprofit regenerative organic certification program for the Cannabis industry. Regenerative organic certification is considered the new high-bar in growing standards, covering soil health, animal welfare and worker fairness in a single certification. The company’s goal is to have its Cannabis and hemp farmers making high-quality, organic products while leaving a positive impact on the local environment. “It goes a little deeper into ethical land stewardship,” said Executive Director Andrew Black. “Our approach focuses on no-till, mulching, composting and cover-cropping as essential parts of the farm.” Sun+Earth Certified opened its doors on Earth Day 2019 with a pilot program that featured 14 partnering farms. In two years of operations, the company has expanded to 45 partners, covering California, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin. “We’ve been really happy with the progress,” said Szabo. “This type of certification makes sense to both the producer and consumer.” ONE STEP FURTHER
While they don’t share a partnership, Top Hat Concentrates (THC) Alaska embraces the same farming values as Sun+Earth Certified. “It all starts with clean Cannabis,” said THC Alaska President and CEO John Nemeth. “We believe Cannabis is medicine that helps people in a myriad of ways, and adding chemicals seems counterproductive.” Based in Juneau, the state capital of America’s northernmost state is run largely on renewable energy by way of hydropower. This has allowed for THC Alaska to minimize its ecological footprint. “Essentially what we’re trying to do is give back more than we take from the environment,” said Head Cultivator Naomi Lamb. Lamb, 33, has been in the industry for 15 years, sharpening her skills in her home state of California before joining the team in 2015. In Humboldt County, Lamb witnessed firsthand the
impact of a grow facility placing the value of the dollar above the environment and local community. “My introduction to Cannabis was not pretty,” she said. “I came into the industry working for folks who valued quantity over quality. They were using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It was really ugly.” In what she described as a “disheartening” experience, Lamb said, ”As a consumer, I had an expectation of the people who were growing having a more well-rounded concept that they were producing medicine.” Armed with a team of forward-thinking activists, Nemeth hopes Top Hat Concentrates can lead Alaska into preserving what is considered The Last Frontier. “The first step is creating business partnerships with people who want to do what we’re doing,” said Nemeth, voicing aspirations that regenerative agriculture could become the model for the country. “There are a lot of problems on Earth and climate change is a big one. Where the tech industry has failed, I think the Cannabis industry has a chance to step up and really set a trend.” THE CONSCIOUS CONSUMER
For Adults 21 years of age and older. It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of Marijuana. Keep out of reach of Children.
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Nick Mahmood Green Source Gardens
“We can’t talk about expansion without thinking about the environmental disruptions this industry could create.” - Les Szabo
“If we’re serious about addressing the combined threats to our health, environment and economy, we must take bold action quickly,” said Black. While Sun+Earth Certified farms take responsibility for creating clean Cannabis, the company hopes the cultural mindset circles the supply chain. MedMen Enterprises, or MedMen, has helped their cause, lending some of its 29 retail stores in a variety of states to support organic growers. “There’s some real momentum behind this movement,” said Szabo. “But to have these major multi-state operators on-board is going to be really important for consumers going forward. They are a good vehicle for translating our values in concrete action.” And then there’s the consumer. “Buying mindfully,” is how Lamb describes it. “It’s the same as when they talk about voting with your dollar,” said Lamb, a third-generation farmer. “You can educate yourself, source where your Cannabis is coming from and be mindful of the production methods behind it.” Education, the industry experts all agreed, was the key to navigating a 21st-century landscape. “People don’t understand the scope and the scale of Cannabis’ impact, both positive and negative,” said Szabo. “When we forecast the legal industry, we’re talking 50-60 billion dollars [per year]. This one crop is bigger than all of the organics in the U.S. When you talk about climate change, you can’t talk without thinking about the environmental disruptions this industry could create. “We just want to let people know there is an alternative way that is safer and cleaner for the consumer.”
STORY by BAXSEN PAINE @BAXSENPAINE for LEAF NATION
the ACTION issue
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CANNABIS PHILANTHROPY leafmagazines.com
H O W A L A S K A’ S T O P H AT C O N C E N T R AT E S IS GIVING BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY
Puff, puff...Pass out a $10,000 check? After witnessing a crippling of the local economy at the hands of a worldwide pandemic, Juneau’s John Nemeth and his colleagues at Top Hat Concentrates (THC) Alaska decided to step in and lend a hand to their friends at the South East Alaska Food Bank (SEAFB). Nemeth, the company’s President and CEO, was joined by Founder Ben Wilcox in personally delivering a five-digit donation to help families in need during these troublesome times. “They reached out to us last May and said, ‘Hey, we want to help out the communities,’” SEAFB Manager Chris Schapp recalled. “It’s not very often you get a $10,000 donation.” The financial aid came at the right time.The food bank was able to provide healthy and nutritious food to 42 non-profit agencies across Southeastern Alaska. SEAFB witnessed more than a doubling of applications for assistance – rising from an average of 65 per week to a high of 193 at the peak of the pandemic.
mAY 2021
THC Alaska has delivered Cannabis products, including CO2 extracted concentrates, to the most northern parts of the United States since 2015. The Cannabis is grown through farming and growing practices that are geared towards helping reverse climate change.
“In a COVID year, it was a little different,” Schapp said. “We got hit really bad. For us in Juneau, so much of our economy is driven by the tourist industry.” The state was hit hard following a shutdown of international travel through Canadian waters, nullifying an estimated 1.4 million tourists expected to travel to Alaska by way of cruise. As the region’s hub and the state’s capital, 99% of the ships stop in Juneau. Alaska’s tourism economy accounts for one in 10 jobs in the state, and results in more than $4 billion in total revenue. >> T H C A L A S K A . C O M “I just think that in the early stages of 2020, not knowing what was going to happen, we felt as though it was a good opportunity to give back,” said Nemeth, whose previous philanthropic endeavors include service to Habitat for Humanity and the United Way. The THC Alaska team is composed of like-minded activists and their outreach in 2020 only empowered their natural inclination, leading the group to expand its efforts in 2021. “There are a lot of problems on Earth – it’s about climate change, social equity and reform,” Nemeth said. “Our initial goal was to set a trend and get other Cannabis organizations involved. 2020 really opened our eyes to new opportunities.” THC Alaska has set its course for its next philanthropic adventure, working in concert with The Last Prisoner Project – a non-profit organization dedicated to Cannabis criminal justice reform. Leading the fight is political liaison, Lacy Wilcox, who is also the President of the Alaska Marijuana Industry Association (AMIA). “We’re all activists first,” said Wilcox. “Our hearts are for the plant, but also for building the industry and making a difference. It was really important that when we all came in, we understood this was an evolution and would need fine tuning, possibly for decades.”
STORY by BAXSEN PAINE @BAXSENPAINE for LEAF NATION | PHOTO by TOP HAT CONCENTRATES
EDIBLE OF THE MONTH
25MG THC PER COOKIE SANDWICH / DAIRY-FREE
JUNK BY LEIF GOODS LEI FGOODS.COM | @LEI FGOODS
Holy moly is right! These finely crafted cookies are some of the more well-rounded edibles currently on the market, with their full-spectrum, perfectly tempered chocolate accents and full-bodied textures.
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HOLY MOLY O’S Packaged in Junk’s iconic, colorful and metallic boxes, each container of Holy Moly-Os comes with two cookies that have 25mg of THC each, using full-spectrum Cannabis oil and Fair Trade Certified TM chocolates.
MAY 2021
Reminiscent of a certain, very popular black and white cookie that almost everybody knows, the interior cookie in this treat has the right amount of textured crunch to balance its sweet, fluffy cream filling. As if it couldn’t get any better, Junk coats the entire cookie in infused dark chocolate and tops it with sprinkles. Packaged in Junk’s iconic colorful and metallic boxes, each container of Holy Moly-Os comes with two cookies that have 25mg of THC each, using fullspectrum Cannabis oil and Fair Trade CertifiedTM chocolates. Though they have that nostalgically full and rich taste, these little cookies are dairy-free – so almost anyone can enjoy these tasty treats! They’re portioned into 25mg of THC per cookie that you’re technically supposed to dose into five small bits each. As I’m sure you can assume, I ate one 25mg cookie to see what the whole deal was about. Within the hour I had that familiar realization that, although I felt high, I couldn’t remember the last time I had smoked – so the cookie was most certainly working. That single treat melted my anxiety and left me feeling more mellow than ever, so much so that I took a little nap on the couch in the middle of the afternoon – something I don’t normally do. The use of full-spectrum oil versus distillate creates a noticeable difference, giving a more well-rounded and fullbodied experience compared to the typical ‘flat’ high that inherently comes with distillate-based consumables. Instead of just making me sleepy, I felt calm and creative, ready to go explore downtown Portland’s dinner scene. The fact that these cookies are so effective while maintaining their texture and consistency makes them fall in line with all of Junk’s other products on the market. Junk is well-known for their use of high quality ingredients and attention to detail, something other companies simply don’t appreciate as much as they should. Under the umbrella company Leif Goods, Junk sets the tone for consciously fun adult snacks that feature ethical sourcing wrapped in convivial packaging. This womanowned company always impresses me with each new product they put on the shelves and I cannot wait to see what they come up with next. Until then, you can find me snacking on these nonstop.
REVIEW by ALEX DUBS @WORKDUBS for OREGON LEAF | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
AVAILABLE AT
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concentrate OF THE MONTH LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
66
EXTRACTED BY
EXTRACTIONEERING CULTIVATED BY
LIVETIA FARMS
DEBUTING THEIR BRAND IN OREGON IN OCTOBER OF 2015, Extractioneering, a biotechnological Cannabis company, is responsible for creating one of the most groundbreaking forms of extraction in the industry, HCFSE. This term stands for High Cannabinoid Full Spectrum Extract, a crystalline form where THC-a percentages can stretch up to 90+ percent. This worldrenowned brand has over 25 years of experience in science and Cannabis.
“Opening up the jar reveals a permeating and abrasive gasoline fragrance, indicative of the Chem D and Girl Scout Cookies lineage in GMO.”
GMO HCFSE 65.85% THC, 14.98% TERPENES | @ E X T R A C T I O N E E R I N G . O R E G O N | @ L I V E T I A F A R M S
MAY 2021
Their team works exclusively with cured material, extracting the full complement of Cannabis biomolecules. As this material is high in THC-a, Extractioneering can engineer a balanced full spectrum product with two results: HCFSE and HTFSE (High Terpene Full Spectrum Extract). Their cosolvent technique utilizes a butane and propane blend and CO2 to create one of the most biochemically extensive Cannabis extracts currently available. This process captures a more comprehensive oleoresin complexity than extractions conducted utilizing hydrocarbons or CO2 individually. As the oleoresin starts curing, CO2 begins releasing and THC-a crystalizes, creating a carbonated effect. All of their products arrive stashed in a lovely orange box decorated with a psychedelically styled paisley print. Flipping the box over reveals a plethora of information, including the top six terpenes, flavor profile and total cannabinoids. This GMO HCFSE by Livetia Farms showcases a diverse terpene profile, testing high in limonene, myrcene and caryophyllene, to name a few. Underneath the box, you will find a QR code that takes you to the complete test results for this enchanting version of GMO. Opening up the jar reveals a permeating and abrasive gasoline fragrance, indicative of the Chem D and Girl Scout Cookies lineage in GMO. Their HCFSE offers an ocean of micro diamonds glazed in a layer of bright and shiny terpenes. After mixing this combination, the result is a vibrant and perfect dab that’s ready to rock. Vaporizing this extraordinary extract will send a flavor blast of savory and petrol-like terpenes throughout your entire body. Pulling my mouth away from my rig, I couldn’t help but drool a little and drop my jaw as the tastiness continued to take over my palate. This elegant and delicious profile is a match made in heaven for anyone who enjoys the more funky and earthy strains. With this cultivar, a little goes a long way, as the effects are profoundly strong – so we recommend starting small and working your way up. That said, Livetia Farm’s GMO would be ideal for those looking to settle their minds before going to bed, or for taking the edge off after a long day. Be sure to check out Extractioneering’s other incredible products, such as their HTFSE, Pulp, 5150ies, 5150ies on the rocks, Rind, and Rind+. No matter what your preference or budget allows, Extractioneering has solid options that will satisfy stoners nationwide.
REVIEW by MAX EARLY @LIFTED_STARDUST/OREGON LEAF | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS
tannins & terpenes
T H E A RT OF PA I R I NG C A N N A BI S
TAILORED COFFEE INTRO BLEND & ELBE’S EDIBLES LEMON AND TRIPLE CHOCOLATE CAKE BALLS The perfect morning pairing or flavorful afternoon escape from your day.
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T
his Tannins and Terpenes pairing takes a turn away from our (often) alcoholic options to bring you the breakfast of champions – where a cup of Tailored Coffee Intro Blend balances beautifully with Elbe’s Edibles Lemon and Triple Chocolate Cakeballs, bringing out the best in each other and your day. Tailored Coffee is a micro-roastery in Eugene that caters to craft caffeine connoisseurs. Their roasting process focuses on fine-tuning clarity and sweetness, something this critic claims that they have conquered. A lightto-medium roast on the Intro Blend beans lets their fruitiness shine through, while bringing out the gentle toasted chocolate notes. Brew time brings an explosive aroma: a bold bouquet of sweet citrus fruit, toasted cashew and warm cocoa. Sinking into the first sip offers silky chocolate notes along with lemon that lingers on the tongue. This blend brings a flavor so fine that you may even want to savor it without the addition of sugar or cream. Portland edible producers Elbe’s are known for an array of recreational and medically-dosed confections. In a market full of extract infused treats, they’ve carved out a niche providing “full-spectrum whole-bud cannabutter” products. Their latest collaboration utilizes indoor flower from the folks at DogHouse. With Tailored Coffee’s bright beverage in hand, we opted for Elbe’s Lemon and Triple Chocolate Cakeballs, goodies that pack approximately 15mg of THC per piece. These luscious little morsels are masterfully crafted, with a firm outer shell and silky-soft cake interior. The Lemon variety lays out zesty citrus notes and a delicate buttercream flavor, while their Triple Chocolate flavor dives into the bolder essence of the cocoa bean. Together, Tailored Coffee and Elbe’s Edibles present the perfect morning pairing or flavorful afternoon escape from your day. Pour yourself a pipinghot cup of Intro Blend, grab some Cakeballs, and enjoy this truly exquisite experience for yourself.
TAILORED COFFEE INTRO BLEND
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ELBE’S EDIBLES LEMON AND TRIPLE CHOCOLATE CAKE BALLS
15MG THC/PIECE | @ELBESEDIBLES
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mAY 2021
REVIEW & PHOTO by AMANDA DAY @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA for OREGON LEAF
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cooking with Cannabis
R EC I P E S by LAU RIE WOLF | P HOTOS by B RUC E WOLF
Warm Weather Deliciousness two servings
TOTALLY TEMPTING TEA 2 cups water ½ cup Thai tea leaves ½ can condensed milk (7 ounces)
2 teaspoons canna-butter 1 teaspoon vanilla ice, optional
1. Bring the water to a boil. 2. Allow to rest for a couple of minutes and then pour over the tea leaves. Strain. 3. While still hot, add the milk, canna-butter and vanilla. 4. Whisk together at least 1 minute. Place in the fridge to cool. 5. Serve cool over ice (optional).
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four servings
BACON & SHRIMP {BAM!}
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
6 bacon slices, cut in half 12 large raw shrimp, peeled and cleaned 4 teaspoons canna-olive oil 3 tablespoons goat cheese, cold squeeze of lemon pinch of salt
1. Heat oven to 340° F. 2. In a medium saucepan over mediumlow heat, cook the bacon about half way. Remove from pan and allow to cool. 3. Place the shrimp on your work surface. Brush each shrimp with the canna-olive oil. 4. Place a small piece of goat cheese on the shrimp in the center along with a squeeze of lemon and pinch of salt. 5. Wrap the bacon around the shrimp, covering the cheese. Place on skewers all in the same direction. 6. On a baking sheet with sides, place bacon-wrapped shrimp, seam side down. 7. Bake until the bacon is fully cooked and the shrimp are pink, 5-7 minutes.
two servings
HOPPIN’ HUMMUS SANDO 1. Heat oven to 340° F. 2. Pour the oils onto a baking sheet with sides. Place the vegetables on the baking sheet and sprinkle with the spices. Toss to coat and bake until the vegetables are tender, about 15-20 minutes. Allow to cool. 3. Place the bread on your work surface. Spread the hummus on all four slices of bread. 4. Pile with the vegetables and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
may 2021
2 tablespoons olive oil 2 teaspoons canna-oil or butter 1 teaspoon cumin 1/2 teaspoon oregano 1 small zucchini, cut in thin strips 1 bell pepper, seeded and cut in thin strips 1 small red onion, peeled and thinly sliced 4 slices whole grain bread ½ cup hummus, any flavor salt and pepper
As we emerge from THE WORST YEAR EVER, it feels good to be heading into a better place. A much better place – though there is still work to do. Cannabis continues to be my savior, chilling me out and helping me focus on the positive. The Thai Tea is a winner – a wonderfully sweet, refreshing drink with a vibrant flavor and beautiful color. Bacon and shrimp? Yes, please. Goat cheese, too? Amazing. And the addition of canna-olive oil takes this dish to a place that is beyond perfection. This sandwich is also killer, with the rustic flavors of hummus pairing perfectly with a perennial favorite Cannabis strain, Gorilla Glue #4.
#We a rA Ma sk #Dont FearT heEdi ble #EatYourCannabi s #CallYourParents # Comf orting Ca nna b is # WeWillSurvive
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Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. For use only by adults twenty-one years of age and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
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NOW AVAILABLE WITH @WE.OG WYEASTOG.COM For use only by adults 21+. Keep out of reach of children. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug.
CONNECT WITH YOUR AUDIENCE Advertising starting at $300 per month email makani@leafmagazines.com for details on including your brand & company in the June 2021 issue of Oregon Leaf!
OREGONLEAF OREGONLEAF MAGAZINE
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glass art
76
WAUGHSTREETGLASS Hailing from Georgia, Will Waugh, better known as Waugh Street Glass, discovered his passion for glass art at the age of 17 through the glassblowing documentary “Degenerate Art.” During his early experiences in headshops, buying his first pipes, he became enamored with the color-changing effect of fumed glass. When he found out that it was the result of essentially “painting the glass” with fuming metal, he was inspired to learn more about the niche of fume work within the world of glass pipes. This quickly led to a rabbit hole of exploration in the world of fume work, which his artwork is most known for today.
“The cleanliness of scientific glass paired with the niche of fume work, that’s my main focus.”
@waughstreetglass
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
As he learned more about glass, Will became influenced by the clean, crisp work of artists such as Merge Scientific, who started as a scientific glassblower, and Siren Apparatus, who deftly juxtaposes the look of scientific glass with a heady aesthetic. The delicate precision of Will’s finely detailed, immersive fumed patterns wasn’t a skill that came overnight. Will has spent countless hours in deeply focused practice and experimentation honing his fuming skills, learning along the way from other glass artists. It’s that level of discipline, determination and curiosity that has allowed him to create such balanced and immersive functional glass.
MAY 2021
STORY by PETE THOMPSON/LEAF NATION | PHOTO by JEFF DIMARCO @IAMJEFFDIMARCO
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 reach of children.
Sun + Earth Certified Cannabis & Hemp Flower Blends
Brother David’s is a project led by David Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronner’s soap company. All profits from Brother David’s go toward protecting the land, lives, and communities of our cannabis family — promoting small-scale family farms practicing regenerative organic agriculture, and fighting a system that unjustly criminalizes cannabis.
Available in 5 gram jars of ready-to-roll flower and 6 packs of 1/2 gram pre-rolls, in 3 blends:
Rise Up Blend Reflective Blend Comfort Blend 3:1 THC:CBD
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Brother David’s in Oregon is proudly produced by Luminous Botanicals.
Contact info@luminousbotanicals.com for orders. Visit brotherdavids.com to learn more.
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222 Molalla Ave
15350 NE Sandy Blvd
Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of marijuana. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.
LEAFSHOTS
Koolato
TreeHawk Farms @treehawk.farms
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It’s been great watching Jason at TreeHawk Farms grow out this pheno of Koolato from seed for the last couple of years. I have had the pleasure of watching it grow in a light-supplemented greenhouse under the sun as well as indoors, completely under HPS. Each variation expresses itself with lovely maroon and evergreen fan leaves, and frosty buds with hints of lime green. For this shot, I used one light overhead and slightly to the side with a reflector opposite for bounce. I used a technique called “focus stacking” – where multiple images were combined to create a single image with an extremely wide depth of field. I’m certainly looking forward to shooting more of this pheno as it continues to develop at TreeHawk Farms.
#LeafShots celebrates the high art of incredible Cannabis photography. Tag us for your chance to be published.
MAY 2021
STORY & PHOTO by @THINGSFROMSTEINFARM for LEAF NATION
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WORLD OF Cannabis PRESENTS
Yippie High-Yay! COURTESY DANA BEAL
84
Dana Beal (with arm on speaker) leads a Yippie rally at the White House (1977).
COURTESY DANA BEAL
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
Occasionally referred to as “Groucho Marxists,” the Youth International Party (aka the Yippies) were a radical leftist group from the 1960s that used absurd, satirical stunts to make their political points. Among the many counterculture luminaries involved with the Yippies over the years is Dana Beal, a man who was personally recruited by founder Abbie Hoffman and ended up succeeding him as the group’s leader.
AN ACTIVIST IS BORN Growing up in Lansing, Michigan, Beal displayed a passion for social justice from an early age. In August 1963, at the age of 16, he hitchhiked to Washington D.C. to attend Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Two months later he organized his first demonstration against the Ku Klux Klan back in Lansing. At age 17, Beal managed to avoid the Vietnam draft by getting himself committed to a psych ward, then went AWOL and took off for New York City. Once there, he quickly established himself in the Lower East Side activist scene. During the Grateful Dead’s first-ever New York concert in Tompkins Square Park on June 1, 1967, Beal organized the first of many “smoke-in” protests – blazing out the 3,000+ crowd. That August, Beal was busted for selling LSD to a narc, prompting a series of protest marches on his behalf. His support in the community was so impressive that it attracted the attention of another prominent activist by the name of Abbie Hoffman.
MAY 2021
FROM HIPPIE TO YIPPIE Both Jewish, anti-war activists, Hoffman and Rubin met in 1967 in New York while planning an upcoming demonstration in Washington and immediately hit it off. On August 24, 1967, they pulled off their first major media stunt: From the visitor’s gallery at the New York Stock Exchange, they threw out handfuls of one dollar bills onto the exchange floor – interrupting trading and eliciting both cheers Young Dana freed and curses from the brokers below. after LSD arrest. On October 21, Hoffman and Rubin invited Beal and his crew down to D.C. to attend a massive anti-war demonstration at the Lincoln Memorial. Hoffman then led half the crowd across the Potomac, where they encircled the Pentagon and began singing and chanting in a supposed attempt to “levitate” the building. Naturally, the building never moved, but the group had found their purpose. It wasn’t until three months later – while tripping in Abbie’s apartment on New Year’s Eve – that they found a name for their merry band of miscreants when friend Paul Krassner spontaneously shouted out “Yippie!” and they instantly identified with the exuberant exclamation (later elaborated to Youth International Party). On January 16, 1968, the Yippies published a manifesto – inviting activists across America to a massive protest outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago that August. Dubbed the “Festival of Life,” it was a mock
For more on Dana Beal and the Yippies, listen to Episode #11 of our podcast at worldofcannabis.museum/podcast.
convention held in Grant Park. Skirmishes between police and the nearly 10,000 protestors that week soon escalated to riots. Weeks later, Mayor Daley issued a report blaming the violence on “outside agitators,” and on March 20, 1969, a grand jury indicted eight of those agitators. Among these “Chicago Eight” (later changed to the “Chicago Seven” after Black Panther Bobby Seale’s mistrial) were Rubin and Hoffman. The trial was a national media circus – providing the Yippie leaders a perfect platform for their political theater. On February 18, 1970, both Rubin and Hoffman were convicted of inciting a riot and sentenced to five years in prison (their conviction was ultimately overturned in November 1972). Beal, who was unable to attend the event, stepped in as the group’s de facto leader in their absence. And on July 4, 1970, when President Nixon threw an “Honor America Day” rally at the Lincoln Memorial, Beal organized a Yippie counter-rally at the Washington Monument to shout it down.
Story and photos originally published on worldofcannabis.museum and reprinted with permission.
STORY by BOBBY BLACK @CANNTHROPOLOGY for LEAF NATION
KEVIN SCHUMACHER
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
TOM FORCADE Another influential Yippie leader was Tom Forcade – a former Air Guardsman turned weed smuggler from Phoenix who connected with them after moving to New York in July 1969 to run the Underground Press Syndicate. Forcade’s moment in the spotlight came on May 13, 1970, when – after testifying at the US Senate’s Commission on Obscenity and Pornography dressed as a preacher – he shoved a cream pie into the face of a committee member. After that, “pieing” became a signature Yippie tactic (Yippie Aron “Pie Man” Kay continued pieing controversial figures for many years). Unfortunately, Forcade and Hoffman never saw eye to eye. Forcade allegedly felt that Hoffman and Rubin were “burned out” after their trial, and that they were selling out by Tom Forcade (left) and Abbie Hoffman Poster for 1973 “May Day” Smoke-In in NYC. abandoning their more radical tactics and endorsing (right) in “Movement Court.” a candidate (George McGovern). Their rift came to a head over payments regarding accusations and essentially resigning from the Yippies. With Rubin Hoffman’s “Steal This Book,” which Forcade had and Hoffman gone, Forcade’s faction took control. But by that time, worked on. A counterculture “Movement Court” was Forcade had more pressing issues to deal with: namely, the new convened to settle their dispute, but ultimately neither magazine he’d launched called High Times. Tragically though, just party accepted the verdict: Forcade refused to shake four years later on November 19, 1978, Forcade committed suicide Hoffman’s hand, and Hoffman never paid Forcade – leaving Beal as the Yippies’ last leader standing. the agreed amount. In the decades to come, Beal continued to hold the annual Yippie The schism grew so severe that in Janusmoke-ins in Washington and New York. And when New York ary 1972, Forcade formed his own group, City Mayor Rudy Giuliani attempted to kill the protest using the “Zippies” (Zeitgeist International Party). police intimidation in 1998, Beal reached out to international Caught between the two factions, Beal sided allies and rebranded the NYC Pot Parade into the worldwide In the decades with Forcade and became a Zippie. Feeling Million Marijuana March. Within just a few years, the event had to come, Beal betrayed, Hoffman and Rubin attacked Forexpanded to over 300 cities around the world. continued to cade – publicly accusing him of working with DENOUEMENT the police. Tensions quickly led to threats hold the annual and incidents of violence, including an asAbbie Hoffman finally resurfaced in 1980 – but sadly, like Forcade, he also Yippie smoke--ins committed sault on Rubin by one of Forcade’s goons. suicide in 1989. Jerry Rubin sold out and became a Yuppie before in Washington being killed by a car on the streets of L.A. in 1994. Krassner died of natural TRANSFORMATION, TRAGEDY causes in 2019 at the age of 87. Thankfully, Kay and Beal are all still alive and New York. AND TRANSCENDENCE and kicking. In October 1972, Beal launched his underground newsIn the past decade, Beal has been arrested for trafficking marijuana four times—though paper the Yipster Times. A few months later, Beal moved only one charge stuck. In September 2011, while in police custody in Wisconsin, he sufinto the three-story building at 9 Bleeker Street that would fered a heart attack and died for three and a half minutes before being revived. Tragically, become his home – and Yippie headquarters – for the next during his incarceration in 2013, the Yippie Museum was closed, and in 2014, 9 Bleeker four decades (eventually opening its doors to the public as was foreclosed on and sold. Nevertheless, Beal remains defiantly hopeful – looking forward the Yippie Café & Museum). to finally seeing the end of America’s pot prohibition, which he insists is imminent. In spring 1974, Hoffman skipped bail on a cocaine charge “The War on Drugs is just no longer at the top of the list of things to deal with in this and went into hiding. Months later, Rubin issued an apolocountry,” he said. “It’s impossible to go to jail for pot anymore – they just take the weed gy to Forcade in the Village Voice, disavowing his previous and let you go. That’s how I know legalization is actually coming.”
WORLD OF CANNABIS MUSEUM
When NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani attempted to kill the protest using police intimidation in 1998, Beal reached out to international allies and rebranded the NYC Pot Parade into the worldwide Million Marijuana March. Within just a few years, the event had expanded to over 300 cities around the world.
WASTING TIME
It's
86
LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
by Mike Ricker
an oxymoron actually, because it is impossible to waste time if you are here and experiencing life. The fact that you are actively conscious means that you are utilizing the energy that motors your body to gain experience. Therefore, the time is not wasted at all, but in fact, utilized. And further, how can you waste something that is free? If you gave nothing to get it, then you are entertaining yourself with something you did not have before you began. But time is a concept – a construct of our imagination – not a tangible asset in a physical sense. Therefore, it is impossible to waste. In fact, the word “waste” is only a figure of speech. So, figuratively speaking, to waste time is to do something that does not uphold the value of the expectation that was set to optimize the moments of life you have. And there are many ways to frivolously attend to your life. Like wondering what someone else is doing with their time... Let’s take Thom Yorke, for instance. He’s the singer for the band Radiohead. I wonder what he is doing right now? Is he on the phone? Is he on the toilet? Is he taking a bong hit? All three maybe? But what does it matter if he is not in my presence, and why am I spending my precious time wondering with time I can never reclaim? It’s arguably wasteful, but not a waste. Kind of like a box in bubble wrap inside of another box that’s inside of another box with Amazon packing tape striped around it … and what’s inside of the first box is a thumb drive. Like, was it necessary to quadruple pack that bastard? It’s wasteful, but not a waste – because you received the necessary item. People are stupid. Shit, that was a wasteful comment.
MAY 2021
F O L L OW @ R I C K E R D J | G E T T H E AU D I O V E R S I O N & EV E RY E P I S O D E AT L E A F M AG A Z I N E S . C O M
THIS PRODUCT HAS INTOXICATING EFFECTS AND MAY BE HABIT FORMING. MARIJUANA CAN IMPAIR CONCENTRATION, COORDINATION, AND JUDGMENT. DO NOT OPERATE A VEHICLE OR MACHINERY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THIS DRUG. THERE MAY BE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CONSUMPTION OF THIS PRODUCT. FOR USE ONLY BY ADULTS TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER. KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.
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