Sept. 2023 - Oregon Leaf

THE TANNINS TERPENES ISSUE

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

ABOUT THE COVER

Amanda Day of Terpodactyl Media stopped by the local specialty shop to talk tannins and received a recommendation for this 2019 vintage from St. Innocent due to the year’s cooler climate and lack of wildfires. Piff Stixs’

“Hash Holes” were already providing enough fire for the sesh. But this fine pairing and the fragility of farming had us pondering the future of Cannabis. Could hash vintages be on the horizon? Or have we just had too much wine? And when you’re done pondering that thought, be sure to stop by our website and free archive at LeafMagazines.com to see local pairing ideas from our five otherLeafMagazinespublishing aroundthecountry.Thisisaspecialissueandwe wanttosaycheerstoyou. Sip, Toke & Enjoy!

PHOTO BY AMANDA DAY @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA TERPODACTYL.COM

CONTRIBUTORS

BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES

JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION

TOM BOWERS, FEATURES

AMANDA DAY, FEATURES + PHOTOS

WYATT EARLY, FEATURES

STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS

RYAN HERRON, FEATURES

MATT JACKSON, FEATURES

JESSE RAMIREZ, DESIGN

MIKE RICKER, FEATURES

MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING

BRUCE & LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES

KAT WOLF, FEATURES

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 Tannins & Terpenes Issue of the Leaf!

We began pairing wine and weed over 10 years ago in print, highlighting the similarities and differences between the flavors provided by tannins in wine and terpenes in Cannabis. These were the early days of medicinal access to the plant (when weed wasn’t even legal yet) and for many, the idea of flavor profiles or even calling pot medicine was considered questionable by mainstream standards. But I saw the brilliant smells and flavors that ooze from beautiful craft-grown Cannabis and knew that if we could convince people that the same flavonoids and terpenes were making the weed and wine taste good, that it could serve as an educational tool to change minds. After all, everyone knows there’s a million flavors in wine – even if they don’t drink it regularly.

Over the years, we have ranged from all wine pairings to exploring the world of craft beers, cocktails and seltzers, as we honed our tastes. Similarly, the weed world has expanded from simple flower pairings to a wide range of concentrates, cartridges and edibles that can enhance a boozy pairing, or replace it altogether.

While I’ve long considered myself a craft beer aficionado, I’ve spent the last six months sober from alcohol, which has helped me to see Cannabis in a new light. America has a drinking culture (problem) that pushes booze as a tool for celebration, mourning and everything in between. But as I grew in my publishing role and as a father to teenagers, alcohol became less of a helper for stress – actually creating more – especially as the Leaf worked to navigate the difficult Cannabis industry in 13 states. Since my break from alcohol, I’ve experienced a lot of personal benefits, and learned to lean on Cannabis fully as both medicine and recreation. It truly is an amazing plant to be able to provide for both areas of life – healing and pleasure – and I’ve fallen in love with it all over again.

“THE WEED WORLD HAS EXPANDED FROM SIMPLE FLOWER PAIRINGS TO A WIDE RANGE OF CONCENTRATES, CARTRIDGES AND EDIBLES THAT CAN ENHANCE A BOOZY PAIRING, OR REPLACE IT ALTOGETHER. ”

As this issue of the magazine has evolved, we’ve included new types of pairings, including Cannabis with coffee, energy drinks, kombucha and more. There are few things more satisfying in this world than a fresh cup of joe with a joint, and it brings me great joy to continue to pair tasty beverages with Cannabis, sans alcohol for this writer. I hope that these words can be an inspiration to anyone considering a break from alcohol, or any habit that causes more harm than health.

We are all fortunate to live in a time of legalization – where reconceptualizing sobriety includes the use of Cannabis (California Sober/Green Clean) and a huge community of people who have found health and happiness with pot, including many who are sober otherwise. So as we toast at our next pairing sesh, remember: It’s OK to talk about addiction and struggles, and the benefits of Cannabis. After all, you have to put down your drink to pass the bong.

MARIJUANA GROUPS CALL ON REGULATORS TO ADOPT UNIVERSAL SYMBOL FOR PRODUCTS

Acoalition made up of marijuana reform organizations is calling upon regulators across the world to adopt a universal symbol for marijuana products in the interest of promoting safety in the evolving Cannabis market.

The symbol would make it easier to facilitate interstate Cannabis commerce if states choose to enact the policy, reports Marijuana Moment.

There’s a patchwork of marijuana laws from stateto-state in the U.S., as well as internationally. But the groups said in a letter to regulators distributed in August that there should at least be uniformity in labeling so that people know what products contain Cannabis – no matter where they’re shopping.

The International Intoxicating Cannabinoid Product Symbol (IICPS) – a yellow triangle with an image of a Cannabis leaf and black border – has already been adopted by Montana, New Jersey, South Dakota and Vermont, while other states like Alaska are also considering it.

GERMANY LEGALIZES!

The German government in mid-August approved a plan to legalize some recreational Cannabis use, paving the way to allow adults to legally buy and possess small amounts of marijuana, reports The New York Times.

INDONESIA BURNS MARIJUANA PLANTATION DISCOVERED BY DRONES

Indonesian authorities in August burned a marijuana plantation in the northern province of Aceh after it was discovered by drones, reports the Associated Press.

A joint team of the National Narcotic Agency (known as BNN) and the National Research and Innovation Agency – using drones – detected 4.5 hectares (11 acres) of land with an estimated 21,100 Cannabis plants ready for harvest, said Wayan Sugiri, the deputy for eradication at BNN.

The aerial operation was conducted from August 3-13 in Teupin Reuseup village in North Aceh district. More than 150 officers from the police, customs and BNN were deployed to uproot the 20 tons of marijuana for burning, Sugiri said.

HALF OF AMERICANS HAVE NOW TRIED WEED

Half of Americans have now tried marijuana, according to a new Gallup survey. This is the first time Gallup has found 50 percent of respondents saying they’ve tried Cannabis, reports The National Desk. But it’s been hovering just below that figure for a while now – having been over 40 percent since 2015. By gender, 53% of men and 44% of women said they have tried marijuana. By age, adults 35-54 showed the highest rate of past marijuana use, with 51% saying they had smoked the herb. Meanwhile, 49% of those aged 18-34 and 47% of adults 55 and older said the same.

science

STUDY: MARIJUANA REDUCES OPIOID CRAVINGS

IT’S

been street knowledge for some time, but now it has more scientific backing. A new federal study found Cannabis “significantly” reduces opioid cravings for people using them without a prescription, reports Marijuana Moment. This, of course, suggests that expanding access to legal marijuana could provide folks with a safer substitute – one that could provide a long-sought breakthrough when it comes to treating opioid addiction.

Scientists at the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use surveyed 205 people in total. The study participants used weed and unregulated opioids from December 2019 to November 2021. The goal was to test the theory that Cannabis represents an effective harm reduction tool. That’s particularly urgent since we’re in the midst of an opioid overdose crisis.

The International Journal of Drug Policy published the study. It found 58 percent of participants reported their reason for using Cannabis was to reduce opioid cravings. Moreover, a multivariable analysis showed marijuana use “was significantly associated with selfreported reductions in opioid use.”

OHIO LEGALIZATION WOULD BOOST INDUSTRY

Ohio looks likely to vote on the legalization of adult-use marijuana in November. The move could improve the legislative and financial prospects for the Cannabis industry overall, reports Bloomberg. An Ohio State University study estimates legalization could add $275 million to $450 million to the state’s tax coffers in five years.

Quoted

“This is an important law that will represent a long-term change in drug policy,”

The legislation would allow adults to buy and possess up to 25 grams of adultuse Cannabis for personal consumption through nonprofit social clubs. It must still be approved by Parliament – but the endorsement from the three-party coalition’s cabinet was a crucial step toward Germany becoming the first major European country to legalize Cannabis. “This is an important law that will represent a long-term change in drug policy,” said Karl Lauterbach, Germany’s health minister. He added that the legislation represented “a concept of controlled legalization.”

Under current German law, it is illegal to buy Cannabis, but not to consume it.

$60k

in marijuana products were recalled by the Missouri Department of Cannabis Regulation in August.

On Aug. 3, a group called Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol turned in signatures to meet the state’s requirements to put the measure to a vote this November. Given that Cannabis stocks are still suffering after a lack of headway with national legalization –and they tend to surge even on mixed election results – the issue will be closely watched. It could turn Ohio into the 24th U.S. state to legalize recreational use. Meanwhile, federal law remains in limbo.

“An Ohio State University study estimates legalization could add $275 million to $450 million to the state’s tax coffers in five years.”

“There is a decent likelihood the initiative passes if it gets on the ballot this year,” predicted James Sandy, a lawyer in the Cleveland office of McGlinchey who works with the marijuana industry. Sandy said in an email exchange that Ohioans have become more comfortable with marijuana in the few years since medical pot was legalized. He pointed to a recent poll that suggests almost 60 percent of voters would favor adult recreational use.

$48m

community reinvestment grants funded by marijuana taxes will soon be available to California nonprofits.

$404m

could be added to Ohio’s annual tax coffers by marijuana legalization, according to one study.

higher THC raw flower is a primary growth driver in today’s adult-use marijuana industry.

“Just the same way as you’re not allowed to cook moonshine in your bathtub and sell it on the street, you’re also not allowed to start a restaurant without having the right requirements and licenses in place.”

-Anthony Miranda of the New York City Sheriff’s Office, during an Office of Public Safety briefing on a citywide crackdown of unlicensed Cannabis edibles being sold by businesses without the proper permits or authorization to do so. The New York City Sheriff’s Office seized over $2 million in products last month and issued $4.5 million in fines to unlicensed vendors.

GANJA GALAXY

THE PLACE

Astral Market is located in Salem, on the city’s busy south side of town. Cruise down Commercial Street and you may see this shop nestled among several other strip-mall stores. But this hidden gem has more waiting than what first meets the eye. Step inside to enter a galaxy of ganja and a surprisingly spacious showroom.

An astronaut waits for you inside the front door as you glide across the cosmic flooring, through the large waiting room and into the open product gallery. Flowers are showcased alongside info cards in individually magnified containers, adding to the sci-fi feel as much as the ease of viewing. Concentrates and extracts are illuminated in a long center case. In the corner, two leather chairs and a custom, glowing table provide a place to take it all in while you wait.

THE PRODUCTS

This shop first opened its doors in October of 2022 and since then, has continued to build on the brands that bring folks in. Owner and manager Christian Yance explains that right now, a top seller is the Sauce Bar disposable vape. But he also keeps staples from folks like Decibel Farms, Gud Gardens, NW Kind, Capital Cannabis, Higher Cultures, Meraki and more stocked on the shelves.

When perusing the selections, we stopped to talk about Astra Cannabis – the in-house brand run by Christian’s brother and business partner. “We really want to promote our in-house options, and try to do so with some really good discounts,” says Yance.

Customers can find these discounts every day of the week, with offerings ranging from edibles and concentrates to brand-specific sales like “Astra Weekend,” which offers up to 30% off.

THE PEOPLE

Like many of our dispensary tours, the talented crew left us with the strongest impression - along with the beautiful location and selection. Yance is a new face in the Oregon dispensary scene and his fresh perspective and passion were palatable during our discussion. Right now, he’s running his shop with three other employees – a small crew by most means. But we left Astral Market with the impression that this number will soon be growing.

“AN ASTRONAUT WAITS FOR YOU INSIDE THE FRONT DOOR AS YOU GLIDE ACROSS THE COSMIC FLOORING, THROUGH THE LARGE WAITING ROOM AND INTO THE OPEN PRODUCT GALLERY. ”

LIMITED COLLABORATION

LIVE RESIN HTE CARTS

HIGH DIVE CRUNK CAKE

H I GH TERPENEEXTRACT CARTS -HIGHTERPEN

S -

KOJI BUTTER

HGIH ET TRACTCARTXEENEPR

E E X -STRACTCART

INTRODUCING THE SECOND IN HIGHER CULTURES’ BREEDER FIRST COLLABORATIONS, CAREFULLY SELECTED, TOP-PRODUCING SEEDS FROM STAEFLI FARMS, COMBINED WITH HIGHER CULTURES’ STATE OF THE ART INGENUITY.

SHERBAIT

NOIZE COMPLAINT AMBROSIA

HASHY & HIGH CLASS

THE TANNINS

Good wine is much like good weed. It can be cliquey and intimidating in the wrong crowd. Luckily, the fine folks of Sundance Wine Cellars in Eugene are on our side. We stormed in vaguely demanding an expert suggestion for an Oregon Pinot Noir. They delivered an excellent option at an accessible price point. St. Innocent’s 2019 Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir offered a fruit-forward tartness that bordered on raspberry. The gentle mouthfeel was far from grippy and gave way to clean, woody, crisp notes at the back of the throat. We found this refreshing when paired with the smoky flavors of Cannabis and infinitely more classy knowing that Cannabis came in a cigar-like form. stinnocentwine.com | @stinnocentwine

THE TERPENES

Piff Stixs is a newer player in the Oregon market that popped up in 2022. But they’ve quickly come to produce some unique options, including their latest line of threegram Hash Holes. These neatly-rolled smokeables come ready to go with a wooden tip and clean glass storage tube. They supply a cigar-like burn. So, settle in and stay a while – this is not a spark and speed-smoke situation. Take your time easing into the live rosin worm waiting in the middle. Make sure you savor the sweet doughiness of Seed Junky’s Jealousy and Skunk House Genetics’ Gas Bugnes. 829mg THC piffstixs.com | @piffstixs

THE PAIRING

This is a luxurious duo. It seems like something reserved for special occasions. But the truth is: We may be finding reasons to uncork the finer things in life a little more often. Why not celebrate a Wednesday night with all of the fruits this wonderful Willamette Valley has to offer? We deserve it.

PIFF STIXS

JEALOUSY AND GAS BUGNES

HASH HOLES X ST. INNOCENT 2019

FREEDOM HILL VINEYARD WILLAMETTE VALLEY

PINOT NOIR

“WHY NOT CELEBRATE A WEDNESDAY NIGHT WITH ALL OF THE FRUITS THIS WONDERFUL WILLAMETTE VALLEY HAS TO OFFER?”

it, then it’s diluted

–concept where the customer doesn’t know what flavor they are

– Yup, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

CAPITAL CANNABIS DRIVING MISS LAZY X LOVELY GREEN PUNCH ORGANIC COLD PRESSED JUICE

THE TANNINS

Lovely is a quaint little coffee shop, cafe and juice bar located in Springfield. The family-run operation offers an array of fresh foods in a fun atmosphere. But it’s the organic cold-pressed juices that caught our eye. We gave the Green Punch a go. It was a medley of fiercely fresh flavors, with celery, cucumber, green apple and lemon leading the way. This refreshing way to start the day offered a tart, herbaceous punch to our palate that was perfect for waking up. The crisp celery and cool cucumber were a colorful warm-up to the green we’d be gobbling up next. lovelyspringfield.com

@lovelyinspringfield

THE TERPENES

Capital Cannabis is another family-operated Springfield-area supplier. But they’re not juicing vegetables – the delicate flavors squeezed from their plants produce dabbables – and we’re diving right into their Driving Miss Lazy live resin and diamonds. Much like Lovely’s Green Punch, this profile puts forth an herbal spiciness that’s immediately invigorating on the nose. Once dabbed, the gooey, golden live resin sauce seeps into your senses to reveal something more intricate – soft doughy notes and a sweet, smooth smoke that’s far from spicy. 82.94% THC

3.69% Terpenes | capcannabis.com | @capital_cannabis710

THE PAIRING

We’re giving this combo a high score for your next wake-and-bake breakfast. The fresh, funky flavors dish out everything you need to jump-start and smooth out your day, from punch to puff.

“A HIGH SCORE FOR YOUR NEXT WAKE-AND-BAKE BREAKFAST.”

Tried THCV Tried THCV ?

THCV is the Super Sativa you ' ve been look

Focus and energy minus th clouded mind and munchi

Ask your budtender for whole plant, n THCV in Kites Super Sativa prerolls.

FIRE DEPT. CANNABIS PARTY TIME FUNFETTI COOKIE X KEIA & MARTYN’S EL SALVADOR COFFEE

THE TERPENES

Cup of coffee in hand, we set out to tackle our tummy tickle with a complementary confection. To counter any caffeine jitters, we opted for a 1:1:1 Funfetti Cookie from Fire Dept. Cannabis. This 300mg treat packs an equal dose of THC, CBG and CBD, all in one rosin-infused cookie. We snacked on the whole thing (for science) and found its effects incredibly calming. These gooey, sprinkle-speckled cookies are relatively small, but they can be sliced into 10 pieces if a smaller dose is desired. Due to their size and potency, there is a slight Cannabis flavor. But the tantalizing texture and sweet sprinkles quickly calm any qualms. 100mg THC 100mg CBG | 100mg CBD | firedeptcanna.com | @firedept.canna.or

THE TANNINS

Keia and Martyn’s Coffee comes from a husband and wife duo in Portland focused on providing products with a purpose. They work to ensure sourcing from regenerative, ethical family farms and offer an equity pricing model for opportunities to pay it forward and impact others. We brewed up a batch of their El Salvador blend. It’s a bourbon varietal hailing from another family team in the Ahuachapán region. This blend offers a taste of high-altitude harvest, with cupping notes like “creamy,” “toasted sugar” and “cocoa.” Our palate even picked up some faint notes of fruit, but the nutty chocolate tones quickly took over. keiaandmartynscoffee.com

@keia_and_martyns_coffee

THE PAIRING

There was never any doubt: Coffee and cookies for breakfast simply make sense. We just never knew the whole thing could make you feel so good!

“COFFEE AND COOKIES FOR BREAKFAST SIMPLY MAKE SENSE.”

Montana Dumpster Fire Live Resin Cartridge

MYRCENE

AROMAS: Clove, Earthy, Herbal

EFFECTS: Sedative, Relaxing

ALSO FOUND IN: Hops, Mangoes, Thyme

CULTIVATED BY: Alter Farms

DOMINANT TERPENES

TERPINOLENE

AROMAS: Fresh,Sweet,Floral

EFFECTS: Calming

ALSO FOUND IN: Apples,Cumin,Lilacs

OCIMENE

AROMAS: Sweet,Woody,Citrus

EFFECTS: Anti-Inflammatory

ALSO FOUND IN: Mint,Basil,Parsley

When talking terpenes, we asked our head extractor, Condor Backhaus, which current Mule Cart deserves the spotlight. Here's what he has to say about our Montana Dumpster Fire Live Resin cartridge.

"It has a really good flavor profile. You'd think, with a name like Montana Dumpster Fire, that it would be gassier and skunkier, but it's actually really sweet."

"I really love the Myrcene flavor and am a fan of more of the downers. I like that myrcene is more likely to be a chill and mellow terpene."

"It's hard to find strains higher in Ocimene but Alter flower tends to have higher amounts of it and it makes for a really interesting flavor profile."

For those who choose to stand out, be di erent, and create their own path

THE TANNINS

Upright Brewing’s music-inspired namesake calls to a story of creativity and craft. The Matsutake Gose is a refreshing reminder of this. We weren’t sure of what to expect from a wine barrel-aged mushroom beer, but were pleasantly surprised by the fun and fungal fermentation. The pale, blonde beverage brings a slightly effervescent mouthfeel and bright, apple earthiness. But there’s nothing overtly mushroomy about this brew. A salty sourness sets in as you dive deeper into the pint –offering a satisfying slap to the senses. uprightbrewing.com | @uprightbrewing

THE TERPENES

Green Clover Farm is another Portland-area producer. We snagged some of their Garlic Budder flower and cracked open the dark, blackish-blue nugs to find out more. Flecks of purple pressed close to the stem offer a flash of color among the dark, dense bunches of bracts. This cultivar comes from the Humboldt Seed Company’s cross of Fortune Cookies and GMO and it dances delightfully between the parent profiles on your palate. The nose is creamy with a subtle funk. But break apart the nug and you’ll find an almost-fruity fragrance. That dissipates quickly as you spark up and let the garlicky, nutty notes of GMO into your lungs. 27.22% THC | 2.57% Terps greencloverfarmsPDX.com | @greencloverfarm

THE PAIRING

The buttery smoke sets in and makes the Matsutake Gose sourness soar. It’s a battle of the senses that makes you salivate and want to sink your “teeth” into more. There’s still a slightly fruity quality to Upright Brewing’s Gose, but the richness of the smoke settles that quickly. To our delight, mushrooms and garlic don’t simply pair well on a plate –this is a match made for seekers of all the tart, savory, salty, sumptuous flavors that your mouth can muster.

BUTTERY BREW

“The buttery smoke sets in and makes the Matsutake Gose sourness soar.”

UPRIGHT BREWING MATSUTAKE GOSE & GREEN CLOVER

GARLIC BUDDER

THE STATE OF THE CRAFT

The lawmakers. The law breakers. The plant and the people caught in the middle.

Four years ago, Leaf Magazine Founder Wes Abney asked me to write an analytical piece drawing comparisons between two craft industries – Craft Beer and Craft Cannabis – for the 2019 Leaf Magazines Tannins & Terpenes Issue. It was the very first assignment he handed me for the Leaf – long before he asked me to lead the team.

AT THE TIME, I focused on differences between the current Cannabis scene and the well-matured craft beverage industry, outlining the chief changes we would need to see before the sprouted legal industry could bloom into something resembling its closest craft analog: beer.

Now, nearly half a decade later, I’m taking some time to revisit that column, to ruminate on where our community stands and where it needs to go. We’ve traveled far since 2019, but not always in the right direction.

A CASE OF CONFUSED IDENTITY

One thing that will hopefully come with time and effort is the development of a cohesive identity for Cannabis. Craft beverages have one distinct advantage going for them – there’s no argument about what they are, or what they do. They’re far simpler than the complex plant we all love.

Conversely, weed’s identity changes from region to region. Depending on where you’re trying to blaze, Cannabis means something different – at least from a regulatory standpoint. In some markets, it’s a medicine only. In other areas, such as New York, it’s like cigarettes – you can spark a J anywhere you can light up an American Spirit (except for in cars).

Advocates for consumption lounges treat Cannabis more like booze. It has the potential to be a social catalyst, providing a reason for people to gather and imbuing public conversation with life and vibrance. But that’s not without its complications. No one gets a contact-buzz when sitting next to a drinker, and it’s hard to stay 100% sober in a consumption lounge – presenting a conundrum for the designated driver who gets stopped on the way home from a sesh.

(For sake of argument here, let’s forget about the longstanding tradition of rolling up a J specifically for a drive with a well-curated soundtrack.) Those arguments against public consumption are temporary road blocks, and not an excuse to hobble an entire industry.

Back to identity. Is Cannabis a medicine, an intermittent mood-adjusting respite (like cigarettes), or a social catalyst for public consumption?

In short, yes. It’s all of them, and they’re not mutually exclusive. And just because the people writing the laws seem to be confused about that, doesn’t mean consumers should be subject to more restrictions. If anything, they should benefit from less stringent legislation and place the burden of public safety on the people and organizations developing the machinations of enforcement. Let the smokers smoke – while the law develops robust field testing to judge impairment. After all, people were allowed to legally drink and drive for decades before someone developed the first breathalyzer.

THE REGULATORY TRAP

The one constant in the weed world is that lawmakers continue to get it wrong. Whether they’re acting out of complete ignorance, confusion over conflicting interests and information, or just plain greed – not one jurisdiction has rolled out proper Cannabis legislation.

Alcohol didn’t thrive without its own post-Prohibition hurdles, but for Cannabis, aside from punitive tax rates, the core of the matter ties into public consumption and direct sales. Combined, these embody the highest hurdle for Cannabis to clear before it’s treated like every other similar and reasonably regulated consumer product. The traditional market is crushing the licensed market in this regard. Pop-ups, seshes and all-out trap festivals have taken center stage on the legacy market – most of the time out in the open. Damn it feels good to be a gangsta.

Meanwhile, licensed cultivators are having their dogs shot by law enforcement on their own property while being taxed into extinction.

Set aside the fact that the prohibitive laws shouldn’t exist in the first place, it makes one wonder what endgame the political and financial

stakeholders prescribing rules for the licensed market have in mind. On the current regulatory high seas, those with a true craft product – meaning high-quality goods made in small batches with limited distribution – continue to drown, with the only option being either to return to the trap or sell to a larger company with more financing. Big bank takes little bank. End of story.

The simple ability to sell directly to the consumer, with no legal loopholes or mandatory third-party delivery services necessary, is the quickest path to survival for the licensed craft scene. After all, at least 25% of a craft brewery’s revenue comes from direct on-premise sales at the brewery. Just imagine a world where you could tour a grow and walk out with half ounces of the best strains you sampled in the tasting room.

CANNAOUROBOUROS

With the way things are, the Cannabis industry is acting like an Ourobouros, or a snake eating its own tail. Licensed, compliant companies see their friends succeeding in the traditional market while they drown in taxes and overregulation, and the resentment starts brewing.

In some markets, people are out here dry snitching on people they would have been seshing with a few years ago, because they’re tired of having to fight for the last spot on a sinking licensure lifeboat.

Cannabis companies are acting like tuna fighting over a school of baitfish, oblivious to the sharks circling just outside the periphery. Those sharks have lots of money and want the best brands to struggle, so they can waltz in on the heels of federal legalization, buy up all the distressed assets, and let the federal government go after the enterprising entrepreneurs who chose to go back to the trap.

At least that’s one possible future. It could cut another way. One thing’s for certain: Until the Law treats Craft Cannabis at least as fairly as it treats Craft Beer, we’re all going to be duking it out in the primordial soup, fighting to see who’s going to grow legs and walk.

“THE ONE CONSTANT IN THE WEED WORLD IS THAT LAWMAKERS CONTINUE TO GET IT WRONG.”

Pipe Dreams Dispensary

SETTING THE SESH TABLE

A Look Into Dabbing & Fine Dining Across the Nation HAVE YOU EVER TASTED TERPS?

We often think of terpenes in terms of smells, but these chemical compounds are also closely tied to flavor. Understanding how things taste or how to blend different profiles is essential for any serious chef or hashmaker – like someone dedicated to cuisine, anyone looking to create good hash is on a pilgrimage for flavor. Putting the two together is something that the scene has experienced a noticeable uptick in over the last five years, with groups creating a variety of supper clubs, pop-up kitchens and luncheons, all tied to the hash scene. This wave of events presents dab-loving diners with a unique experience, while challenging chefs to cook for Cannabis instead of with it.

Using ingredients like imported sushi, expensive coffees, fresh fruits, edible flowers, fine chocolate and Kobe beef, chefs craft thoughtful pairings that complement flavors from a list of hashmakers –matching each jar with drinks and dishes inspired by their culinary perspective. Even if you think you know the flavor profile of Sour Diesel like the back of your hand, you’ll be amazed at how differently your taste buds receive that information when you try it with some uni or a golden raspberry.

A full range of these dining experiences has emerged, from buffet-style brunches to 10-person dinners. Hash sommelier Sarah Jain Bergman provides the most accessible example of this by traveling the country, showing people how a square of chocolate can transform your trip to the dab bar –offering small bites that synergize with the taste of each particular dab. Resin Tree Collective, which hosts dinners in New York, says menu opportunity is wide open now that people are beginning to understand not just what terpenes are, but how they interact with flavor.

Access to some of these involves membership or a secret sign-up list, while others are as easy as buying tickets. To help you get started, we’ve rounded up a few of the innovative groups putting on these hash-based culinary experiences and encourage you to look and see when one of them might be popping up in your area.

GROOVY GRAVY

Groovy Gravy is “bringing terps to the table” in Denver with a calendar of private popups including Fresh Off The Press – matching fresh-pressed rosin with flavor profiles ranging from sweet to savory with juices and coffees (also freshly pressed, of course), seasonal Supper Club dinners – featuring locally acclaimed hashmakers and chefs, and Cocktails in the Clocktower – pairing parties of infused aperitifs and dank desserts. Sign up for their newsletter, because you’ve got to be in the know to get on the gravy train.

@itsgroovygravy

itsgroovygravy.com

FURLOUGH

A Bay Area activation group that caters to very exclusive events, fusing the hash world together with experienced chefs like Anthony Yang and Chris Ratcliff. Available for private bookings, they’ve created menus with Helios Hash, Feeling Frosty and Ogre Farms. Past events include a VIP dinner at the MINS glass tour in San Francisco this year.

@furlough__

RESIN TREE COLLECTIVE

Based in New York, this crew has been throwing a series of immersive dinners called Terps and Sushi. R.T.C. wants to make your evening a guided experience that inspires conversation between diners, hashmakers and the chef. Founding member Tyler is also part of Terrapin Productions, which launches its first Terps & Tapas event in Chicago on September 9. Advanced purchase ticketing is available through links on their socials.

@resintreeco

WORKBENCH DINING

Workbench hosts ultra-luxurious, intimate fine-dining experiences capped at just 14 guests. Held in their private kitchen in Downtown Denver, the secret location is only revealed to attendees the day of service. An open kitchen and counter-style seating help create an immersive, multi-sensory, communal experience as guests sit at “the workbench” to watch chefs prepare A5 Wagyu, homemade pasta, locally-grown veggies and more. The group hosts multiple dinners a month and each has a completely original prix-fixe tasting menu featuring hyper-seasonal ingredients, hand-crafted cocktails and local rosin.

@workbench_dining

COLD CURATED

Out in California, Cold Curated creates a private, fine-dining atmosphere with dishes highlighting local ingredients from Sonoma County paired with a different hash for each course. Its mission is to feature “the most sought-after hashmakers in the world.” Past events have matched dishes to terps from Pure Melt, NorCal Organix, Exclusive Melts, West Coast Alchemy and more. Tickets to Cold Curated events can be purchased online through Instagram. @cold.curated

CANNABIS CULTURE CLUB

With experience in entertainment, Cannabis and catering, this group has thrown a wide variety of events with California producers. Examples of their past work include Kush and Kaiseki with Terp Mansion, Flower In The Garden with Kalya Extracts, and a sixcourse solventless pairing to honor the Emerald Cup – with a menu designed by SF’s Big Bad Wolf and featuring Tim Blake as guest speaker.

@cannabis.cultureclub

COFFEE & DONUTS

Put on by Ego Clash winner Simplee Adam and popular podcast The Hashish Inn, these events go from coast-to-coast connecting people with farmers and makers to tell the story behind the hash. In Colorado they worked with Groovy Gravy, inviting a trio of chefs to create three specific pairings each. After the success of that show, they’re developing a morning brunch that would bring together espresso and dabs.

@coffee.donuts.adam

“THIS WAVE OF EVENTS PRESENTS DABLOVING DINERS WITH A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE WHILE CHALLENGING CHEFS TO COOK FOR CANNABIS INSTEAD OF WITH IT.”

ABOVE: Groovy Gravy Supper Club at Explore Glass Gallery in Denver, Colorado. Photo by Erin Woolf @erinbwoolf

SHELF APPEAL

Comparing Cannabis and Alcohol Packaging

WHEN IT COMES to the current state of the Cannabis industry, there is no debate that product packaging plays a large role in the aspect of marketing. The same can be said for the many heady beers hitting shelves on a regular basis. But in a world where an eye-catching package can distract from the actual quality of the product it holds, or a dull design may not adequately represent the product’s high quality – a watchful eye can make all the difference

The colors employed in a company’s marketing have a significant influence on how people will perceive a product, and can ultimately affect whether or not they buy it or recommend it to others. And given the many Cannabis companies flexing on their Instagram pages, the visually appealing packaging provides the opportunity to spread awareness of their brand and increase the bag appeal of their product. Keep in mind: There is no industry standard for how far companies can take this – with different compliance laws in every state limiting artistic design in some cases. We have seen packaging be discontinued around the country due to such issues.

Cookies brand products are a great example of colorful Cannabis packaging that pushes the limit on compliance, while staying within the boundaries. It is pretty rare to find a Cannabis consumer who isn’t familiar with those little blue mylar bags, often adorned with a creative spin on the strain inside. For example, Georgia Pie comes in a bag with a peach-colored text and a peach instead of an “o” in the word Georgia. Or maybe you’ve seen The Soap – with sudsy bubbles spelling out the strain name in an almost robin’s egg blue. In any case, the Cannabis industry should be able to do whatever they want with their packaging and let consumers be the judge on what appeals to them, or doesn’t.

Is beer different? In fact, beer packaging standards are generally much more lenient. There are some areas of crossover, such as potency and manufacturing information (where it was made/ grown) needing to be included on the outside labels. But we constantly see double standards like product packaging that can appeal to children being OK for beer companies, but not for Cannabis companies. Many sour beers today are made with copious amounts of fruits and sometimes even candy. I have seen everything from cartoon-style, candy-like fruits, to straight up cartoon images of sweets on the outside of beer cans. I think it goes without saying that this would not fly in certain states’ Cannabis industries. Many people in liquor stores are shopping for a creative label that speaks to them, so why limit Cannabis companies in their creative expressions?

In the beer world, RAR Brewing is among the top dogs – from the quality of their brews to the packaging it comes in. Their “Out of Order” series is a play on the Slush Puppy dog, and they do a series of five to six different smoothie-style sours on every drop. In-house artist BJ Wheatley crafts up their vibrant designs, putting his all into every can. 450 North Brewing is another prime example –with cartoon-like color blasting out of their smoothie cup surrounded by fruit, candy and baked goods on every single can. Many people swear by the fact that these are two of the best beer makers in the world – and the packaging certainly doesn’t hurt in conveying that message to new potential customers.

Packaging can surely have its pros and cons, but overall, the community seems drawn to artistic renditions of existing packaging – as long as the product inside backs it up. With the way the markets are changing nationwide, we can definitely expect to see companies expand upon their current designs, for both Cannabis and alcohol industries. And while judging a book by its cover is never a good idea, it’s fair to hope it’s a proper representation of its contents.

“MANY PEOPLE IN LIQUOR STORES ARE SHOPPING FOR A CREATIVE LABEL THAT SPEAKS TO THEM, SO WHY LIMIT CANNABIS COMPANIES IN THEIR CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS?”

Cookies Cannabis has bold packaging.

WYATT EARLY COURTESY

ADOBE STOCK

450 North Brewing offers stoner-inspired can designs.

FLAVORFUL FUTURE

As each emerging “adult-use” market takes shape, one thing remains clear across the country: Consumers want options. And in case you’re already so lost in the literature that you’ve forgotten, let us remind you: This is America, the capital of capitalism.

Unless you’re looking for a new internet provider, political party, or doctor – you’ll always have options here.

FOR YEARS, options in Cannabis simply revolved around what was available. With harsh regulations, high costs and limited resources, things seemed to be moving slowly. Some producers flocked to new methods that promised low costs and high yields. The damage of hot dog water distillate and vitamin E acetate was done, and botanical terpenes bore the brunt of it.

Back then, a product con taining botanically-derived (non-Cannabis) terpenes was a surefire way to a few fake flavors and a sore throat. But this was also a time when the community’s understanding of Cannabis-derived terpenes was still limited and lab results didn’t offer much in terms of recreating a cultivar’s aromatic characteristics.

Today, while we’ve still barely scratched the surface of terpene potential, a wider understanding of plant profiles is emerging, and a consumer base interested in a variety of products is growing larger by the year.

The power of the Entourage Effect finally has some footing among the masses – leaving folks from all levels of experience looking to terpenes when shopping for products.

Most of these products can be broken down into three terpene categories: synthetic, Cannabis-derived and botanically-derived. Many legalized markets have cracked down on synthetic terpenes and since botanical derivatives are quite literally all around us, it seems that we’re headed toward a future with two main options. To learn more about what each has to offer, we talked to Shea Ryan of GenX Terpenes in California and Andy Lunsmann of White Label Extracts in Oregon.

GenX Terpenes is a relatively new company on the scene, but Ryan comes from the Cannabis industry and knows that quality and consistency can be hard to come by. So GenX is focusing on Cannabis-derived terpenes that mimic classic cultivars and can be sold in bulk. “Let’s be real, vapes are a big part of this industry,” says Ryan. “And a lot of those vape companies, there are a plethora of areas for them to get their terpenes from.” Ryan expresses no malice for botanical terpenes, but does share a quality concern for those producers only interested in low price points. While prices may drive some producers, companies like White Label Extracts simply seem focused on offering consumers options. Lunsmann explains that the company still specializes in full-spectrum Cannabis extracts, but they’re even rolling out a new line of cartridges with botanical terpenes.

“We want to offer something for everyone,” explains Ryan. He tells me that botanical terpenes not only offer more affordable price points, but also provide new consumers with familiar flavors (like Washington Apple) that are less intimidating than classic Cannabis cultivars. Lunsmann says that tobacco vape users are also a growing share of the botanical terpene consumer base, with many gravitating toward the strong flavors.

Whether you’re a connoisseur or a new consumer, one thing is clear: The future of Cannabis is all about flavor.

WHITELABELEXTRACTS.NET

@WHITE_LABEL_EXTRACTS_

"TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT EACH HAS TO OFFER, WE TALKED TO SHEA RYAN OF GENX TERPENES IN CALIFORNIA AND ANDY LUNSMANN OF WHITE LABEL EXTRACTS IN OREGON."

White Label Extracts creates cartridge options with botanical and cannabis-derived terpenes.

FLAVORS OF FALL

YOU’RE TOAST PANZANELLA

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 cups bread cubes, about 1 inch pieces

2 large tomatoes, cut in chunks

½ medium cucumber, cut in pieces

½ cup red onion, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons capers

¼ cup red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 teaspoons infused oil

BLUEBERRY PEACH PIE-FECTION

9 SERVINGS

1 pie crust, rolled to 11-12 in.

4 cups blueberries, rinsed

1 peach, sliced

½ cup sugar

¼ cup orange juice

3 tablespoons infused oil

2 tablespoons cornstarch pinch of salt

1 egg, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons sugar

1. Heat oven to 340. Place the crust on parchment, on a baking sheet.

2. In a large bowl, combine the blueberries, peach slices, sugar, orange juice, infused oil, cornstarch and salt.

3. Place the berries on the crust, leaving a two-inch border. Fold edge of pastry dough up over the fruit, pinching folds closed. Brush the crust with the egg, and sprinkle with the sugar.

4. Bake until golden brown and bubbling, 35-45 minutes.

SEPTEMBER HASHTAGS // # DontFearTheEdible

# BacktoSchool

# BeKind # EatLocal

# LaurieAndMaryJane

# Herb+Spice

TOMATOES SHOULD BE ILLEGAL IN THE WINTER! Honestly, the tomatoes on salads in February barely resemble the lusciousness of a local seasonal specimen. Not even close. Frozen corn is not bad, but taking the kernels off the cob is a summer right of passage, and well worth it. The crostata – a free-form pie piled high with end of summer blueberries and peaches – is simple and quite attractive, if I do say so myself! The recipes are infused with Zookies by 7 Points, a hybrid flower with an upbeat vibe,

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard salt and pepper to taste

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the garlic, stir, and add the bread cubes. Over low to medium heat, lightly brown the bread cubes. Allow to cool.

2. In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumber, red onion and capers.

3. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, oils and Dijon, and add to the large bowl. Salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine. Allow to sit for at least 30 minutes so the flavors can marry, happily ever after.

A-MAIZE-ING CORN SALAD

4 SERVINGS

3 cups corn, from 3 to 4 cobs

3 scallions, sliced

2/3 cup chopped bell peppers, any color

½ cup mayo

4 teaspoons infused oil

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

salt and pepper to taste

1 cup corn chips

½ cup cotija cheese

2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped or torn

Optional CBD Taco Spice Blend

1. In a large bowl, combine the corn, scallion and peppers.

2. In another bowl, mix the mayo, oil, lime juice, cumin and chili powder. Salt and pepper to taste.

3. Add the mayo to the corn, along with the chips, cheese and cilantro. Stir gently to mix.

4. Divide the corn between four bowls. Top with optional CBD Herb & Spice Taco Blend.

leaving me relaxed and relatively happy. I really can’t ask for more than that. Although the recipes are infused with flower into coconut oil, the corn salad is topped with the newest product from Laurie and MaryJane – a taco spice blend with activated CBD – so just a sprinkle of CBD adds to the overall effect of the dish, as well as a hit of more south of the border flavors. If you want to try any of the CBD blends, they are available to order. Very soon, they will be joined by a 1:1 THC:CBD mixture. Need I say more? I think not.

PRESENTS

Rainbow Farm Remembered

Twenty-two years ago this month, two gay Cannabis activists – Tom Crosslin and Rollie Rohm – were gunned down by police on their farm in Vandalia, Michigan, after a five-day siege that some have called “The Waco of Weed.”

TOM & ROLLIE

Grover “Tom” Crosslin was open about his love for weed from an early age. After first getting high with his brothers when he was just 14, Cannabis quickly became a normal part of their family life. His sexuality, however, he was more private about.

After dropping out of high school, Crosslin worked various blue-collar jobs before becoming a real estate developer – fixing up run-down properties and flipping them or renting them out for profit. It was through his construction company that he met the love of his life: an easy-going young crewmember named Rolland “Rollie” Rohm. Though the two men were very different – Rollie, a slim, quiet, longhaired hippie, and Tom, a burly, bearded hothead nearly 20 years his senior – they instantly connected and began a romantic relationship.

Though barely 17 when he met Crosslin in 1990, Rohm had already been married and fathered a son named Robert. In 1993, after helping Rollie gain custody of Robert, Crosslin purchased a 34-acre farm in rural Vandalia, Michigan to serve as his new family’s home. During one of the countless weeks they spent renovating the property, they saw so many rainbows that they decided to name their new home Rainbow Farm.

OVER THE RAINBOW

Tired of managing his many properties, Crosslin decided to turn Rainbow Farm into “an alternative campground and concert arena” and spent

the next few years (and nearly half a million dollars) transforming the farm’s open spaces and overgrown cornfields into one of the top pot destinations in the nation. Crosslin and his team constructed several structures, including an outdoor stage, a ticketing booth, a large main building to house their offices and shops, and amenities for campers. They then set about bringing his dream of a stoner utopia to life.

Starting in 1996, Rainbow Farm began hosting two annual festivals: Roach Roast on Labor Day weekend and Hemp Aid on Memorial Day weekend, as well as other various events in between. Described as “part Woodstock, part union picnic” by “Burning Rainbow Farm” author Dean Kuipers, these festivals included food, drink, activism and entertainment. Among the prominent performers and activists who attended these events were Tommy Chong,

Big Brother and the Holding Company, The Byrds, country music star Merle Haggard, High Times editor-in-chief Steve Hager, and activist legends John Sinclair and Jack Herer. In addition to speeches and voter registration drives, they collected thousands of signatures for the Personal Responsibility Amendment in 2000 – a ballot initiative to legalize possession of three plants and three ounces of Cannabis for adults. Soon, Rainbow Farm became the center of Cannabis activism in Michigan.

LEGAL HARASSMENT

Unfortunately, Crosslin’s propot protestivals encountered serious pushback from law enforcement – namely, Cass County’s conservative prosecutor, Scott Teter, who launched a vendetta of litiga tion and intimidation against Rainbow Farm.

From 1997-1999, Teter filed several injunctions against the farm, but Crosslin managed to keep one step ahead of him. Unable to stop the events through the courts, Teter established a drug task force and set up roadblocks leading into the farm to stop and harass festival goers – a move that scared many potential attendees off.

The Rainbow Farm campground.

Rainbow Farm owners Tom Crosslin and Rollie Rohm with their famous tractor.

Handbills for the Hemp Aid 99 event.

He also sent his narcs into the events (who made numerous drug buys there), but were never able to tie Crosslin or his employees to anything illegal. Nevertheless, in March 1999, Teter sent Crosslin a letter stating that he had evidence of drug sales on the property and that as soon as he could link Crosslin to them, he would take his farm away (under the Drug War’s civil forfeiture laws). The threat of losing his land infuriated Crosslin, prompting a heated and foreboding reply:

“We are all prepared to die on this land before we allow it to be stolen from us,” Crosslin wrote. “Are you planning to burn us out like they did in Waco, or will you have snipers shoot us through our windows like the Weavers at Ruby Ridge? You will have the blood of a government massacre on your hands.”

RAID & REBELLION

Finally, in 2001, Teter found his excuse to bust Crosslin. Apparently, a woman who’d worked for them told authorities that Crosslin was paying employees off the books – allowing Teter to get a search warrant on a trumped-up tax fraud charge. In the pre-dawn hours of May 9, state troopers in tactical gear and automatic weapons raided the farm. Once inside the house, they found over 200 young Cannabis plants in the basement and several loaded firearms, which Crosslin wasn’t permitted to own due to a past gun conviction.

Tom and Rollie were both charged with felony cultivation and weapons possession, as well as running a “drug house.” Altogether, Tom was facing up to 20 years in prison. The court also issued an injunction banning any more events on the farm, and Teter filed a request to seize the property. And cruelest of all, on May 15, Teter also had their 12-year-old son Robert taken away and placed in foster care.

Despite everything, or perhaps because of it, Crosslin announced on their website that they’d still be hosting their annual Labor Day party, as well as another small gathering on August 17 – both in defiance of the court order. Two of the few dozen people who showed up to that gathering were undercover cops who were allegedly offered weed. This prompted Teter to petition to revoke the couple’s bail, and a hearing was scheduled for August 31.

UNDER SIEGE

The end was drawing near for them, and Crosslin apparently knew it – confessing to his property manager Doug Leinbach: “I’m going to die on my farm, not in prison.”

During the last week of August, Tom and Rollie composed handwritten wills – leaving all of their possessions to Rollie’s son Robert – then started giving away stuff from the shops.

When August 31 arrived, Tom and Rollie never showed up in court for their hearing. Instead, they went around the property

kicking out the remaining campers and setting fire to the farm’s structures – reasoning that if the government was going to seize his land, he’d “make sure there was nothing left on it.”

Around noon, when a local TV news chopper flew overhead to get footage of the fires, Crosslin – possibly thinking it was a police copter –allegedly shot at it. After that, the FBI was called in, along with SWAT teams, helicopters, surveillance planes and light-armored vehicles, all of which surrounded the property – including three FBI sniper teams in camouflage laying in hiding in the woods to monitor the house.

Throughout Labor Day weekend, Tom and Rollie continued burning down structures until the only building left standing was the farmhouse, where they hunkered down for the standoff.

LABOR DAY MASSACRE

On the afternoon of Monday, September 3, Crosslin walked to a neighbor’s house for supplies. On his way back, he spotted one of the snipers lying on the ground and allegedly raised his rifle (though his friends and family dispute that claim), at which point two snipers opened fire, killing him instantly.

After informing him that his partner was dead, authorities maintained a dialogue with Rohm into the night … until just after 3:00 a.m., when he presumably fell asleep. At that point, they decided to “wake [Rohm] up” by firing a few “dummy rounds” through the windows. Rohm resumed negotiations and agreed to surrender at 7:00 a.m. on one condition: that his son be brought to the farm so he could say goodbye before being taken into custody, which police agreed to. But sadly, that peaceful resolution was about to go down in flames – literally.

Around 6:00 a.m., a fire somehow broke out on the house’s second floor. Authorities blamed Rollie for the blaze, supposing he was finishing what Tom had started … but friends and family accuse police of starting the fire by shooting a flashbang grenade in there to flush Rollie out. In any case, Rohm emerged from the house half an hour later wearing fatigues and allegedly

holding a rifle. Through the smoke, officers claim they saw him pointing the rifle toward them and fired several rounds – one of which went right through the stock of his rifle and into his chest. Friends claim that despite having an ambulance sitting at the ready just outside the farm, police allowed Rollie to lie on the ground for over 40 minutes and bleed to death.

When they were killed, Tom Crosslin was 46 years old and Rollie Rohm was just 28.

AFTERMATH & LEGACY

Unfortunately, the story of Rainbow Farm never got the national press it deserved since the terror attacks of 9/11 happened one week later – eclipsing all other news stories for many months after.

So what happened to Rainbow Farm after Tom and Rollie’s deaths? Instead of going to their son Robert as the couple intended, it was confiscated, broken up into six parcels, and auctioned off to various buyers with the stipulation that they couldn’t turn the land into campgrounds or throw events there. But in 2012, after changing hands several times, the property was purchased by a farmer/engineer named Gary Healy – who has since reopened it under the name the New Rainbow Farm.

Though Tom and Rollie are now honored with memorial sites on the property, the greatest tribute to their courageous lives is the continuation of their legacy: Rainbow Farm is once again hosting 420-friendly concerts and festivals (with help from their son Robert and Tom’s nephew Boss) with vendors selling Cannabis that – thanks in part to their sacrifices – is now legal in the state of Michigan.

To read the full, unabridged version of this story and listen to the interview on our podcast, visit worldofcannabis.museum/cannthropology. Visit the new

Rainbow Farm website at rainbowfarms.info.

“We are all prepared to die on this land,”

Crosslin wrote to prosecutor Scott Teter. “You will have the blood of a government massacre on your hands.”

Poster for Hemp Aid 2000.

Original protest sign.

Rollie with son Robert during happier times on the Farm.

Poster for Hemp Aid 2021.

Tom and Rollie pose with activist icon Jack Herer (left) and country music star Merle Haggard (right).

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RELIGION IS A MESS. Can’t we just consolidate the roughly 4,200+ doctrines of belief into one handy little guidebook that reflects something like the Ten Commandments and call it a day? And if it pisses you off, we don’t even have to call it the Ten Commandments. I don’t care what you call it, just don’t call me late for dinner.

Because when you think about it, all denominations pretty much preach the same thing. And those tenets are to simply believe in a higher power, honor that higher power, practice good faith and get rewarded with 72 virgins … or at least one soulmate.

I mean, everyone’s paradise sounds so goddamn appealing that I’m feeling uncertain about which stairway leads to heaven. And it’s becoming a bitch pulling the trigger on which lord almighty best suits my lifestyle. I don’t want to pick the wrong one – this is an eternity in hell we’re talking about and I hear the air conditioning units are old and squeaky. And it’s a good thing temperature rises, because then melting the polar caps will make things much cooler down there.

I’m just an imperfect person trying to make the perfect choice.

Maybe it’s like this. Maybe you go to the heaven that represents the deity you choose to worship – which means there are up to 12,000 different versions of heaven. Wouldn’t that be divine? Because then there is no wrong choice.

Anyway, I suppose I better pick my horse while I still have time to place a wager. I could be swept away by the angels at any given moment, and I sure as hell don’t want to miss my boat across the river Styx.

OK, I think I’ve made my choice.

I choose Rastafarianism.

Does this mean I will get to smoke with Bob?

Team Rider: Riley Willey