May 2023 - Oregon Leaf

WES ABNEY CEO & FOUNDER wes@leafmagazines.com

MIKE RICKER OPERATING PARTNER ricker@leafmagazines.com

TOM BOWERS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER tom@leafmagazines.com

DANIEL BERMAN CREATIVE DIRECTOR daniel@leafmagazines.com

AMANDA DAY STATE CONTENT DIRECTOR amanda@leafmagazines.com

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

MEGHAN RIDLEY COPY EDITOR meghan@leafmagazines.com

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

ABOUT THE COVER

With all the ongoing uncertainty in the Cannabis industry, people seem to be on edge. So, we at the Leaf felt that we could use a reminder of why we spent our quarters in the first place – because it's supposed to be fun! And what represents the thrill of overcoming challenges quite like an exciting round of pinball? Frequent Leaf Magazines contributor Joshua Boulet(theeyebehind StoneyBaloney'ssignatureartworkeachmonth) capturedtheadventureofkeepingtheballin playthroughallthecurlyloopsandbanging bumpersofaCannabis-themedmachine, illustratingtheparallelsofhowtheweedgame canbeananxiety-filledblast!

ILLUSTRATION BY JOSHUA BOULET JOSHUABOULET.COM | @JOSHUABOULET

CONTRIBUTORS

ATTABOY, ILLUSTRATION

BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES

JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION

TOM BOWERS, FEATURES

HEATHER BOWLING, PHOTOS

CARLI CHRISTINA ART, ILLUSTRATION

AMANDA DAY, FEATURES + PHOTOS

ALEX DUBS, FEATURES + PHOTOS

STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS

OLIVIA ALONSO GOUGH, PHOTOS

RYAN HERRON, FEATURES

MATT JACKSON, FEATURES

JON KRAUSE, ILLUSTRATION

RESINATED LENS, PHOTOS

MIKE RICKER, FEATURES

MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING

RYAN SANETEL, FEATURES

NATE WILLIAMS, FEATURES

BRUCE WOLF, PHOTOS

KATHERINE WOLF, FEATURES

LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES

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

CONNECT W I T H OREGON LEAF!

WES ABNEY

Editor’s Note

Thanks for picking up The Fun Issue of the Leaf!

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Wes Abney

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

AMERICANS SPEND MORE ON MARIJUANA THAN CHOCOLATE

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

United States residents spent about $30 billion on legal Cannabis in 2022. That compares with roughly $20 billion spent on chocolate. Almost two-dozen states now allow sales of weed for adult use, with 19 more states allowing Cannabis for medicinal use.

Americans also spent more on marijuana than they did on opioid medications ($22.8 billion) and topical pain medications ($2.8 billion) combined. However, legal weed sales are still dwarfed by sales of tobacco products. In 2022, tobacco sales totaled about $53 billion – but those sales are steadily dropping, whereas Cannabis sales are rising.

By 2028, according to MJBizDaily, sales of legal weed could reach $57 billion.

MARYLAND SETS RULES FOR MARIJUANA SALES

Maryland lawmakers expedited getting marijuana regulatory legislation in place before the state’s voter-approved adult-use legalization law takes effect July 1. Now the plan will go before Governor Wes Moore, who has indicated he will sign it into law. Under the new rules, people who are 21 and older will be able to buy recreational Cannabis in Maryland July 1.

“Under the new rules, people who are 21 and older will be able to buy recreational Cannabis in Maryland July 1.”

OKLAHOMA AUTHORITIES SEIZE 7,000 LBS. OF WEED

THE OKLAHOMA Bureau of Narcotics recently seized more than 7,000 pounds of untaxed marijuana amid an investigation into a black market operation, reports KOCO.

On April 14, the Bureau seized the Cannabis from a semi trailer, saying it shut down a black market marijuana warehouse distribution center in Oklahoma City as part of an ongoing investigation. Officials said the investigation has identified multiple farms transporting marijuana to the warehouse. The product was then repackaged into “camera equipment” boxes and shipped to New York and New Jersey. They also said the people orchestrating the operation had ties to Oklahoma consulting groups.

TEXAS HOUSE EXPANDS LIST OF MMJ CONDITIONS

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

House Bill 1805, sponsored by Public Health Committee Chair Stephanie Klick, a Republican from Fort Worth, passed the House 127-19 and now heads to the Senate, reports Axios.

The bipartisan legislation would expand the state’s 2015 Compassionate Use Law. That law allows physicians to prescribe low-THC Cannabis to treat symptoms of epilepsy, cancer and posttraumatic stress disorder, among other conditions.

The new bill would allow doctors to prescribe up to 10 milligrams of Cannabis for chronic pain cases that might normally warrant an opioid prescription.

NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE VOTES FOR LEGALIZATION

The bill also addresses commerce-related issues such as the number and types of Cannabis business licenses available, reports CBS Baltimore.

It sets the amount of sales tax those businesses must charge at 9 percent, the The Baltimore Banner reports. Medical Cannabis will be exempt from sales tax. The legislation comes after voters passed a ballot referendum that legalized Cannabis in Maryland’s constitution in November.

BIPARTISAN BILL TO PREPARE US FOR LEGALIZATION REINTRODUCED

LEGAL MARIJUANA is one step closer to reality in New Hampshire after the state House voted 272-109 for HB 639. Legalization efforts have fallen short in recent years, but this year’s effort has momentum heading into the state Senate. HB 639 has bipartisan sponsors in both bodies of state government.

HB 639 would legalize marijuana for adults over the age of 21. Rep. Jason Osborne (R) and Rep. Matt Wilhelm (D) cosponsor the bill, and a broad coalition of marijuana industry figures, civil rights advocates and policy groups also back the bill.

Polling has shown that the vast majority, more than 70%, of New Hampshire residents support marijuana legalization for adult use. In recent years, legalization bills have passed in the state House, but have fallen short in the N.H. Senate.

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

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

42

46%

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

88%

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

STORIES by STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF

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

U.S.

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

The goal of the PREPARE Act is to bring together a diverse group of experts to collaborate on Cannabis reform. It would provide lawmakers with the information needed to establish a comprehensive federal regulatory system.

Despite more than 21 states legalizing adult-use Cannabis, it remains illegal at the federal level via its continued classification as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act.

ALABAMA ACTIVISTS PUSH FOR POT DECRIM

Local marijuana advocacy groups are asking Alabama lawmakers to decriminalize nonviolent Cannabis convictions during the 2023 legislative session.

Activists, including the Alabama Cannabis Coalition, are looking at what other states are doing – including legalizing medical Cannabis – as well as pushing lawmakers to make a change on marijuana possession arrests.

“Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, is sponsoring marijuana decriminalization legislation for the fourth consecutive year.”

“Decriminalization eliminates jail time for petty crimes for so many people and those crimes,” said Marty Schelper, president of ACC, “those misdemeanors and those felonies can actually prevent those people from getting jobs and having housing.”

Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, is sponsoring marijuana decriminalization legislation for the fourth consecutive year. The legislation has previously passed Senate Judiciary committee review, but died on the Senate floor. Schelper and other advocates are calling for the Alabama Legislature to expunge criminal records for marijuana possession while looking at racial disparities in arrest rates. They’d like lawmakers to then move forward with establishing medical Cannabis dispensaries.

20,000

55,000

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

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

U.S. residents spent about $30b on legal Cannabis in 2022 versus $20b on chocolate.

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.

ENHANCING THE EVERYDAY

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

HANGING OUT FARMER’S MARKET

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

CONCERT

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

STAYING CREATIVE PUFF AND PAINT

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

DAY AT THE MUSEUM

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

GETTING ACTIVE NATURE TRAIL

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

STONED SEX

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

ART OF

ART OF

GRASS HOPPA

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

STURT DOINKS

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

@sturtsdoinks_official

SPLIFF WIZARD

JUNE DA GOON

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

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

THE ROLL

THE ROLL

BRUNO’S ROLLS

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

THE JOINT

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

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

MARCOS SURITA

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

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

TONY GREENHAND

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

@tonygreenhand

PROPER DOINKS

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

PHOTO BY JOSH MONTHEI @CAPTURECANNABIS

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

PHOTOS BY EMERALD MOUNTAIN MEDIA

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

CLONES:

EXCLUSIVE CULTIVARS FROM CALIFORNIA’S CANNABIS CAPITAL ONLINE

WWW.HUMBOLDTSEEDCOMPANY.COM

HIGH &SEEK HIGH &SEEK

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

KEVIN THE RACCOON by Carli Christina

QUAGMIRE CLUSTER by Attaboy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

yumfactory.com/gameofshrooms

@gameofshroomsofficial #gameofshrooms

PHOTO BY HEATHER BOWLING

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

Art by Attaboy.

FUN-SIZED

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

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

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

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

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

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

levelheady.com | @levelheady

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

Sour Tangie Sour Tangie

SOUR CITRUS has been prized as a medicine, distilled into high-end perfume, and given as a gift to represent ambition and luxury. There’s the bizarre-looking Buddha’s Hand, prized for its fragrant peel, or the ruby red grapefruit whose ruby tones were created through radiating the seeds, that proves our love for this wondrously varied fruit. With our fondness for big and bright flavors, it is no surprise that we would accentuate the fruity sweetness and funky orange-grove profiles found in Cannabis.

CULTIVATED BY LOUD AF FARMS

TOP TERPS: CARYOPHYLLENE, LIMONENE, MYRCENE, FARNESENE, LINALOOL

“WITH AN ENERGIZING FOCUS AND PERFUMETHICK PRESENCE, SMOKING A JOINT OF SOUR TANGIE IS A COMPLETE SENSORY EXPERIENCE.”

A DNA Genetics cross of Sour Diesel and Tangie, this expression has an intense orange rind essence with a complementary sharp sour note – one part extra pulp alongside one part high octane. With an energizing focus and perfume-thick presence, smoking a joint of Sour Tangie is a complete sensory experience. The crew over at Loud AF Farms know they have an honest-to-goodness classic on their hands and have spent the last few years dialing in this particular expression to produce the most complex and satisfying Sour Tangie profile I’ve personally encountered.

“Sour T has the tendency to grow too tall and produce many small branches.

Over the last two years, we’ve dialed it in and made the bud structure denser, which helps,” says Cultivator Jim Dunn, offering insight into how the strain keeps him on his toes, and why keeping the cultivar in rotation is not without its challenges. “It’s also the most difficult strain we have to clone,” he adds, “and it takes the cuts a few weeks to fully acclimate.”

Owner Andrew Santorelli reminds us why it’s worth the headache, saying, “It’s still one of the best sativas I’ve ever smoked.”

Andrew considers a sativa-leaning variety integral to their farm’s selections. When asked why they continue to work with finicky older genetics over the flower that’s typically filling shelves, his answer was simple: “Keeping Sour T around is a no-brainer for us, especially as other farms continue to abandon the classics for new ‘hype strains.’ We dedicate our garden to the connoisseur’s taste.” And at the end of the day, that’s why having a standout, energizing cultivar like the Sour Tangie – a consistent deliverer on flavor and test results –fills a big piece of that puzzle.

@LOUD.AF.FARMS

27.53% THC

0.07% CBD

2.79% TERPENES

HIGH TECH FARMS

High Tech Farms is a Eugene-based Cannabis company with a focus on production through automated efficiency. Taking a trek into the tech, we met up with part-owner and Operations Manager Jenn Sheffler, Managing Partner Josh Rossini and Cultivation Manager Justin Wilkens, to get the scoop on the latest innovations emerging from their operation.

“WE’RE ALWAYS GERMINATING NEW SEEDS AND BRINGING IN NEW STUFF –CONSTANTLY FLOWERING NEW PHENOTYPES AND STRAINS.”

-CULTIVATION MANAGER JUSTIN WILKENS

some of the other owners brought a background in construction to the table, they needed grow guidance. Looking to Wilkens’ repertoire – with his hands-in-thedirt resumé spanning decades before hopping onto the High Tech team – the group took on the project and turned the facility around. They focused on rebuilding with custom, finely-tuned automated feeding and climate control systems so the cultivation team could remain small and superintending.

Inside the main cultivation center, Wilkens explains that everything is controllable “at the touch of his phone.” It’s something that’s allowed him to captain a small, regular crew of just four (two of which have been teamed up for over 10 years), while caring for a 3,200-plant operation. Maintaining their pace towards plant efficiency, the crew opts for a rockwool growing medium and drip system from the flowering plants to the collection of clones. “We’re always germinating new seeds and bringing in new stuff – constantly flowering new phenotypes and strains,” says Wilkens. “We definitely like Clearwater Genetics a lot. We run a lot of Ethos and Relentless as well. We’ve had a lot of success with Tiki Madman, too.”

Back in the office, Sheffler explains that while the grow is largely automated and the cultivation team kept small, the company employs 57 people between the brand’s combined administration and multiple facilities for indoor flower, extraction, pre-roll production, wholesale,

dispensary and newly-acquired greenhouse properties. Outside of work hours, it’s important to Sheffler to support employees and foster a decent work environment. The brand builds on these ideals by hosting regular events and employee celebrations, as a way to show thanks. At this year’s company 4/20 party, the team threw a disco-themed get-together complete with each employee’s favorite munchies and more.

Flower and pre-rolls are released under the High Tech name, often in seasonal, special edition packs benefitting causes ranging from breast cancer to anti-racism to LGBTQ resources. Last year, the team tells us that their “Canna for a Cause” program made multiple donations, including $4,500 to local organization TransPonder, a “transgender founded and led nonprofit based in Eugene, Ore. providing support, resources, and education for the transgender and gender diverse community.”

Outside of the donation lines, you can find infused pre-roll options that are rolled in distillate and kief – but not all of the company’s extracts end up in joints.

For consumers looking for a pure and potent concentrate experience, you’ll find a plethora of other puffable products like liquid diamonds with terpenes, live resin diamonds in sauce, and cured resin cartridges available under High Tech’s sister brands, Red Eye Extracts, Boujee Blendz, Gem Carts, and Bling.

THE HIGH TECH BRAND BEGAN IN 2020, when the team took over a facility and operations that were failing under the old tenant’s watch. While Sheffler and

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

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

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

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

Holy Water

Holy Water

THE GOOD FOLKS at Better Edibles have figured out a way to turn regular water into something even better than wine by creating Holy Water – the market’s first nano-emulsified Cannabis-infused water. You may be familiar with this brand’s wildly popular CannaCrispy line which features infused crispy treats in a variety of delectable flavors, but their Holy Water is taking edibles in a completely different and refreshing direction.

Owner Steven Cho isn’t new to the consumption game. In fact, his idea for infused water has been in the works for well over three years. He saw a problem with the traditional edibles market that many others are now starting to notice: They’re sugary, highly-dosed, and intimidating to anyone wanting an inconspicuous product that isn’t packaged in flamboyant colors. It’s easy for regular consumers to get caught up in the relatively new 100mg single doses – with everything from cotton candy to (literal) sugar available at a moment’s notice – but what about the rest of the community … the ones who don’t want (or can’t have) sweets? The ones who only want a small dose without having to cut the tiniest corner of a gummy, hoping it’s the right amount and they won’t get too high?

That’s where Holy Water saves us from the commonplace edible chaos. It’s a water-soluble, nano-emulsified product. It’s generally tasteless (when mixed) and can be added to anything from tap water to your favorite food. They offer a variety of ratios containing THC, CBD, CBN and CBG, giving consumers viable options for their desired effects. You’ll probably feel those effects faster than traditional edibles. The average activation time of nano-emulsified products is 10-20 minutes with the latest studies showing that absorption of these types of ingestible options can offer up to 2.5-times more bioavailability than traditional routes.

Since I’ve been having trouble falling asleep, I decided to add some of the 100mg THC:CBN Holy Water to my nighttime tea. I added the recommended serving size of one milliliter (a dropper’s worth) to a hot cup of honey vanilla chamomile tea, briefly stirred it together, and silently sipped until there was nothing left.

I felt the subtle effects behind my eyelids, knowing the sleepy ratio was settling in, and retired for the night shortly after. It was easy, clean and comforting to use. The dropper makes the product simple to dose, so the typical anxiety I experience when dosing myself was nonexistent.

The best part of using the Holy Water is that nothing about my routine had to change to incorporate it – I just added it to whatever I was already doing. Holy Water is more than a new product – it’s a shift away from the hyper-tolerant, brightly-packaged edibles market and back towards Cannabis’ roots of inclusion and simple medication. Better Edibles is trying to create just that: better edibles.

“They offer a variety of ratios containing THC, CBD, CBN and CBG, giving consumers viable options for their desired effects.”

INFUSED BY QUANTUM ALCHEMY

TRAINWRECK “GLIZZYSTICK” TRAINWRECK GLIZZYSTICK

AFTER A LONG WORK WEEK, the first thing we reach for is a bong hit or a blunt. The feel ing of sparking up something rolled is only comparable to finishing an arduous task – a true feeling of accomplishment. Almost spiritual (some may say), it’s a practice of release, breathwork and changing outlooks … especially when the blunt is filled with gassy or skunky flavors like this Trainwreck.

QUANTUM ALCHEMY, and their partners at Wild West Emporium and Happy Hollow Farms have positioned themselves strategically on every side of the industry, from flower to extracts. The GLIZZYSTICK, a pre-packed blunt available now, is an amalgamation of all these products and available in various strain options. This Trainwreck is likely to be nostalgic for those above the age of 30, as something that many of us tried during our first experiences with Cannabis. With skunky-sweet smells and a taste to match, it’s a blast from the past. But you won’t have to worry about any tobacco in this blunt. That’s because QUANTUM offers a (more) consumer-friendly hemp wrap and unlike traditional tobacco wraps, it’s essentially flavorless and doesn’t take away from the smoking experience. Did we forget to mention that this blunt boasts a little something extra? Four forms of Cannabis fill the GLIZZYSTICK: a 1:1 ratio of flower and extract – including kief, shatter and sugar – for a whopping one-plus grams of fun!

“With skunkysweet smells and a taste to match, it’s a blast from the past.”

whitney harmon

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

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

the Cast Away Set

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

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

MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE

SPICED &STONED

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

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

6 tablespoons dark chocolate hot cocoa mix

1 ½ tablespoons chocolate syrup

2 teaspoons canna butter, at room temperature

2 small pinches of chili powder (optional)

½ cup whole milk, heated until warm

1 ½ cups water, heated until warm

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

SERVES 2 | 5MG THC/SERVING

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

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

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

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

CHORIZO–COTIJA CHEESE QUESADILLAS

2 SERVINGS | 1/2 QUESADILLA PER PERSON

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 green onions (white and green parts), chopped

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

¼ cup cotija cheese

2 teaspoons canna oil

2 flour tortillas (6-inch)

Sour cream, for serving (optional)

Salsa, for serving (optional)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GUACAMOLE

MAKES 2 CUPS

½ CUP SERVING

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

4 teaspoons canna oil

½ small red onion, diced

¼ cup finely chopped cilantro leaves

½ teaspoon kosher salt

1 small tomato, seeded and chopped (optional)

1. In a medium bowl, mash the avocado.

2. Add all the other ingredients and mix thoroughly.

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

HOLY WATER

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

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

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

This is my protest.

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

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

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

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

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

Hopefully, that too falls into the classification of loitering.