Maryland Leaf — Sept. 2019

THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE

Inside the art of pairing alcohol with Cannabis Purple Obeah grown by Evermore paired with Burley Oak Brewing Double Strawberry Banana Jream Sour Beer F R E E / L E A F N AT I O N M D . C O M

# 9 | S E P T . 2019

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sept. 2019

Tannins & Terpenes

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Special Issue

7 Editor’S Note 9 NATIONAL news 12 hemp column 14 legal column 16 highly likely 18 patient profile 20 budtender q&a 22 remedy columbia 24 strain of the month 28 moonrise festival 30 the charmery 31 union craft brewing 32 t &t pairings 38 CONCENTRATES 40 grow west 42 dixie tablets 44 DYSCO’S CORNER 46 stoney baloney

18

PATIENT OF THE MONTH ARTIST AUSTIN LASKY

PHOTO by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT

The Veterans Cannabis Project is the leading organization that advocates for access to medical cannabis for veterans.

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E S TA B L I S H E D 2 0 1 0

T H E E N L I G H T E N E D VO I C E

WES ON THE COVER Tannins & Terpenes Issue This tasty special edition dives into the world of pairing Cannabis and alcohol, with a focus on how each lends both flavor and synergistic excellence to the other. Enjoy and drink/toke responsibly!

Photo by Kate Grewal props & styling by giulietta pinna

CONTRIBUTORS

FOUNDER & EDITOR

Alaina Dorsey, writing

WES ABNEY Wes@nwleaf.com 206-235-6721

Ally Dull, writing Wyatt Early, photography

PUBLISHER

Steve Elliott, writing

EARLY Early@LeafNationMD.com

Ariana Foote, writing Kate Grewal, photography Lizzy Layne. design Taylor Martin, writing Matthew Newton, writing Giulietta Pinna, styling Jeff Porterfield, design Mike Rothman, writing Pacer Stacktrain, writing Laurie Wolf, writing Bruce Wolf, photography

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Daniel bermaN | photography & design daniel@bermanphotos.com PRODUCER/PROCESSOR/RETAILERS AD SALES

wyatt early Wyatt@LeafNationMD.com 410-961-8779 We do not sell stories or coverage.

We are happy to offer design services and guidance on promoting your company’s recreational, commercial or industrial Cannabis product or upcoming event. We are targeted and independent Cannabis journalism.

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ABNEY

Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up the Tannins & Terpenes Issue!

We began pairing wine with weed in 2012 as an educational tool for the various strains and flavors present in Cannabis, and today we continue that legacy with a new round of pairings!

I’ve always been fascinated by the world of wine, the thousands of varieties, and the sommeliers who can divulge a year of production or soil type from a simple sip.

WE LOOK FOR On the same note, I’ve always been SIMILARITIES amazed by the people who maintain the IN FLAVOR attitude that “all pot is the same.”

PROFILES FOR So we started the pairing edition of the magazine to highlight the different flavors of OUR PAIRINGS, BUT THERE Cannabis, and draw a parallel to a world that most are familiar with. Alcohol.

IS TRULY NO Marijuana is safer than alcohol. I would WRONG WAY TO love to see this country shift from bars and PAIR DELICIOUS liquor stores on every corner and grocery CANNABIS WITH store shelf towards dispensaries and A TASTY DRINK. lounges, but we’re not quite there yet.

But this issue, and the concept, is a great barrier breaker for people who still have antiquated and stigmatized views of Cannabis. Share with someone an amazing pairing, whether in print or in person, and see their fear be replaced by wonder - and a little face melting if you follow our pairings.

We brought the heat this year!

And don’t be afraid to try your own pairing at home, whether with wine, or a tasty local soda or coffee.

We look for similarities in flavor profiles for our pairings, but there is truly no wrong way to pair delicious Cannabis with a tasty drink.

So please share the magazine with someone new, and enjoy our annual Tannins & Terpenes issue of the Leaf!

-Wes Abney sept. 2019

7

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BUSINESS

WORLD’S LARGEST POT COMPANY LOSES $1 BILLION IN THREE MONTHS Canopy Growth Corporation, the world’s largest Cannabis company by market value, reported a quarterly loss of C$1.28 billion in August, missing analyst estimates for revenue and sending shares down 10 percent in after hours trading.

The losses amounted to $3.70 per share, compared with losses of C$91 million, or 40 cents a share, in the year-ago period, reports Market Watch. This quarter’s loss of more than $1 billion was due to the company extinguishing warrants related to the Constellation Brands Inc. investment.

Canopy fired co-CEO Bruce Linton soon after its previous earnings report, as Constellation was reportedly unhappy with continuing large losses. CEO Mark Zebulon, while remaining at the helm of Canopy Growth, has said he expects to exit once a new chief executive is found.

Patients with medical marijuana authorizations from across the U.S. can now buy their medicine at dispensaries in Washington D.C., reports WAMU. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced on August 16 that patients from 27 states can now purchase Cannabis in D.C., with four more states currently under review.

“This emergency rulemaking is patient-centric,” Mayor Bowser said. “It ensures medical marijuana patients from other states can obtain their needed medicine. It will also promote public safety by allowing visitors to obtain their medicine at one of the District’s six - soon to be seven - authorized dispensaries rather than forcing them to go without or patronizing the illegal market.”

Under D.C.’s medical Cannabis program, patients can buy up to four ounces of marijuana every 30 days. There are 6,079 registered patients in the city.

Out-of-state patients will only have to show their state-issued medical marijuana authorization to buy Cannabis at any of the city’s six operating dispensaries.

WEST COAST

WASHINGTON STATE EXTENDS LEAF DATA SOFTWARE CONTRACT Washington state Cannabis authorities have extended the contract for Leaf Data Systems, the seed-to-sale tracking program offered by Denver-based MJ Freeway, despite past glitches with the system that have cost retailers thousands of dollars.

The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) amended the contract with MJ Freeway, extending it from July 31 to September 30, reports Marijuana Business Daily.

But the extension requires the company to focus on stabilizing and fixing the system, after the software experienced outages in July.

MJ Freeway “shall limit its efforts to performing additional stabilization of the system” and “needed corrections, if any, specific to release 1.37.5,” the contract amendment states. July’s software release and subsequent outage rendered the state’s traceability system inoperable for days.

Cannabis business owners reported thousands in lost revenue.

Budtenders will assist the guests at the soon-to-open Lowell Farms Cannabis Cafe, which pairs farm-to-table meals with strains of farm-to-table marijuana.

When the 220-seat space opens, reports The Washington Post, it will be the first of its kind, where diners can enjoy a high-quality meal and smoke a joint in public. But other restaurants will quickly follow.

Restaurateurs who want Cannabis on the menu in famously progressive West Hollywood, which in 2017 approved an ordinance allowing business licenses for this purpose, will have to navigate a labyrinthine patchwork of rules, but Lowell Farms proved it can be done.

“With Cannabis, we are building the boat as we’re on the water,” said Jackie Subeck, who plans to open a Cannabis spa, clinic and cafe, and serves as chairwoman of the Cannabis legislative subcommittee for the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

Legal states will be watching closely. Cannabis restaurants could eventually become as commonplace as wine bars, according to some industry experts.

By STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA

sept. 2019

leafnationmd.com

States where Cannabis has been legalized just love the plenteous new revenue pouring into state coffers. But they’d better be careful how they spend it until the market stabilizes, according to a new report.

The Pew Charitable Trust report, “Forecasts hazy for state marijuana revenue” was published on August 19.

“Neither price nor demand has stabilized yet,” said Alex Zhang of Pew, explaining the report’s findings. “Only time will tell when markets have matured to full capacity.”

States have, at most, five years of data on recreational Cannabis sales.

The report found that early adopters like Washington state did see a spike in revenue, with Washington collecting - no joke - $420 million in its 2018 budget year. But according to the report, forecasters expect that growth to “decline steeply.”

While revenue from Cannabis taxes and fees grew 277 percent from 2015 to 2016, according to the report, it climbed just 17 percent from 2017 to 2018.

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CALIFORNIA WILL SOON HAVE CANNABIS RESTAURANTS

legalization

STATES SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS WITH CANNABIS REVENUE, OR BLOW IT: REPORT

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EAST COAST

MARYLAND COURT RULES CANNABIS ODOR NOT ENOUGH TO WARRANT A LEGAL SEARCH Smelling like weed is not enough of a reason for police to arrest and search a person, according to a unanimous ruling in August from the Maryland Court of Appeals.

The court determined two police officers violated a man’s fourth amendment rights by conducting an unreasonable, warrantless search of his person after they found him in a vehicle that smelled like marijuana, reports NPR. “In the post-decriminalization era, the mere odor of marijuana coupled with possession of what is clearly less than ten grams of marijuana, absent other circumstances, does not grant officers the probable cause to effectuate an arrest and conduct a search,” the court ruled.

According to the decision, had the officers merely searched the car due to the pot smell, they would have been within the law. But searching the suspect, Michael Pacheco himself, was going too far, making the discovery of marijuana unusable in court.

Maryland decriminalized up to 10 grams of Cannabis in 2014. Possession of less than that amount is now considered a civil offense carrying a $100 fine.

Florida’s legal medical Cannabis market is second only to Oklahoma’s when it comes to growth rates, according to Marijuana Business Daily, reports the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Oklahoma, Florida, Ohio, Illinois and Maryland make up the top five for rate of medical marijuana growth, according to the Cannabis industry publication. Thirty-six states currently allow medicinal Cannabis.

Oklahoma has the fastest growing medical marijuana market because of its relatively high percentage of medical Cannabis users, 4.1 percent of the state’s population. Here the state has “low barriers of entry, including the fact there’s no list of qualifying conditions for patients,” reports Marijuana Business Daily.

Florida does have a list of qualifying conditions, and about 1.6 percent of the state’s population is registered with the MMJ program, according to the publication.

Oklahoma gets an average of 641 new medical marijuana patients a day, according to the report, while Florida gets 609.

national news

GREEN ECONOMY

11

NORTHWEST

A new pot shop on the Oregon-Idaho border enjoyed a spectacular first day of business, thanks to excited customers from Idaho, reports the Associated Press.

When the store, Weedology, opened its doors in late July, customers from Idaho had been waiting in line for more than three hours, reports the Idaho Statesman.

The parking lot had a large number of cars with Idaho license plates. The shop’s location near the state line, right off Interstate 84, means some Idaho residents now have to travel 15 minutes or less to buy legal weed. Legal that is, until they get back into Idaho.

Nearly 200 customers were served in the first three hours of business, said Weedology GM Eric Lantz.

LEGALIZATION

WHY CANADIANS ARE STILL BUYING ILLEGAL POT Nearly half of Canadian Cannabis consumers still buy their weed illegally, according to Canada’s National Cannabis Survey, released August 15.

Ten months after the Great White North legalized recreational marijuana, 42 percent of those who use it admitted buying at least some of their supply from an illegal source, reports Quartz.

Part of the issue is that the number of legal shops is rising slowly. Onerous registration procedures imposed by the federal government are largely to blame.

Officials have recently reassessed the rules, hoping to ease the licensing bottleneck.

Other prospective shop owners bemoan the unfairness of an existing license lottery system. Meanwhile, the licensed shops currently existing have consistently failed to meet consumer demand, according to the report.

By STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA

sept. 2019

leafnationmd.com

IDAHOANS FLOCK TO CANNABIS STORE ON OREGON BORDER

OPINION

BY JERRY WHITING LeBlancCNE.com/podcast

DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE

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For years the mantra has been “Hemp: food, fuel and fiber.” In the last few years “medicine” has been added to that refrain, thanks to CBD. I sincerely believe that in the not too distant future food will take center stage. As a vegetarian (fin and feather, no mammals) for the last 48 years, I’m a firm believer in the multiple benefits of a plant-based diet. Back then being vegetarian was extremely rare, especially if it wasn’t for religious reasons.

THERE ARE several trends that point to hemp taking its rightful place at the dinner table. Sure, only about 5% of Americans self identify as vegetarians, but the Impossible Burger is about to change that.

While there have been plant-based meat alternatives before, nothing has grabbed America’s attention like the Impossible Food’s animal-free burger. Vegetarian burgers aren’t new. In fact, they turn up on restaurant menus with increasing regularity. None have become truly mainstream, but they aren’t odd or rare or cause for finger pointing anymore.

Remember the last episode of Seinfeld in 1998? Probably. But do you remember the ad Gardenburger ran for 1.5 million dollars? In the end it didn’t work out so well and Gardenburger is now owned by Kellogg’s.

What makes the Impossible Burger different?

Heme, the chemical that gives red blood its color.

Impossible Foods developed a technology based on leghemoglobin, which is found naturally in the roots of soy plants. They created a genetically engineered yeast WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN and used a fermentation PLANT-BASED MEAT process to make it in bulk.

ALTERNATIVES BEFORE, Animal fat is replaced by coconut fat, textured wheat NOTHING HAS GRABBED AMERICA’S ATTENTION LIKE and potato protein.

But the real question: THE IMPOSSIBLE FOOD’S How good is the Impossible ANIMAL-FREE BU RGER. Burger? Delicious!

sept. 2019

How do I know? Because this vegetarian was in Wisconsin on a hemp-related business trip and ordered an Impossible Burger.

I was taken aback by the color when it arrived. It was gray like lamb and after I bit into it, I was sure it was meat. No big deal - it wasn’t going to kill me and truth be told I really, really enjoyed it. I went home convinced I’d eaten my first mammal burger in decades.

It wasn’t until I shared the story with my son Bryan, and he laughed and told me it really WAS vegetarian, and that my track record was intact.

The scientific research is overwhelming that red meat isn’t necessarily the best food source, especially in large quantities.

Research states “...long-term consumption of increasing amounts of red meat and particularly of processed meat is associated with an increased risk of total mortality, cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer and type 2 diabetes, in both men and women.”

The American Heart Association’s website recommends “trimmed lean meats, no more than 5.5 ounces, cooked, per day”. They also suggest “meat substitutes such as beans, peas, lentils or tofu in entrees, salads or soups”. They go on to highlight foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids. Sounds like hemp to me.

Asking someone to change their diet isn’t easy.

It often means changing lifelong habits and learning new ways to cook. Americans love red meat and nothing exemplifies that more than a burger.

The fact that the Impossible Burger will soon be available nationwide at Burger King is potentially a huge cultural shift.

Think about it - pull up to the drive-thru window and order a plant-based burger with fries and a Coke. And Burger King isn’t the only mainstream chain embracing a plant-based burger. Red Robin, White Castle, Qdoba, Cheesecake Factory, Applebee’s There are numerous reasons and even Little Caesars Pizza why this is the right product have joined in. Sounds like the at the right time. . . ad lineup for a televised sports - plant-based diets are healthier for you event, doesn’t it?

Soy milk is on the menu - plant-based diets are environmentally of every coffee house in the sound compared to meat country, including Starbucks.

- plant-based diets can feed more people Dehulled hemp seeds are sold because they’re less expensive in grocery stores and Costco - not everyone has to be vegetarian, let not that anyone knows how to alone vegan, to make an impact cook with it. Tofu shows up in crossword puzzles.

Whether you want to decrease your chance of heart disease, lose weight, or reduce your carbon footprint, hemp is part of the answer. While I joke about ordering an Impossible Burger with fries and a high fructose laden soft drink, the fact of the matter is that we need to address agriculture, renewable resources and our impact on Planet Earth immediately.

We have long said that “hemp will save the planet,” and that may very well start on your plate.

PORTRAIT by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS | PHOTO COURTESY THE IMPOSSIBLE BURGER

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14

ARE TERPENES LEGAL?

Terpenes are nature’s fungicide.

Plants produce terpenes to protect them from hostile enemies including grazing animals, insects, microscopic bacteria and fungi, as well as high temperatures. Terpenes provide the orange color to carrots (betacarotene), as well as the citrus smell to oranges and lemons (limonene). At last count, scientists had identified over 15,000 terpenes created by plants.

Monoterpenes, which are more volatile, repel insects. Sesquiterpenes, which are more bitter, are more abundant on leaves acting against herbivorous animals.

Some terpenes act as a decoy in plants, attracting either pollinating insects or predatory ones that feed on herbivorous insects, which are beneficial for the plant.

As plants sense a temperature rise, they begin synthesising more terpenes and under high temperatures during night or day, more terpenes are released.

Terpenes evaporate at high temperatures, producing airflows that cool the plant and lessen transpiration.

While these aromatic, organic hydrocarbon compounds are toxic to insects, recent studies have shown that some terpenes, when taken in moderation, produce side benefits for humans.

Terpenes, it turns out, are healthy for people as well as plants.

A September 2011 report by Dr. Ethan Russo in the British Journal of Pharmacology discussed the wide-ranging therapeutic attributes of terpenes, which are typically lacking in CBD-only products.

in Maryland and under federal law? Sadly, the answer is probably that it depends upon the source of the terpenes, as both Maryland and federal law explicitly state that any resin extracted from the Cannabis plant is illegal.

Terpenes form in the Cannabis plant’s glandular trichomes of leaves and flowers, which are specialized to produce and accumulate these hydrocarbon molecules. The proportion of terpenes in the plant is normally less than 1%, potentially achieving up to 10% of the resin composition.

Are terpenes derived from Cannabis lawful to possess for a non-medicinal patient in Maryland?

The definitions in Maryland and under federal law would seem to indicate that the answer would be no. Cannabis terpenes are chemical compounds derived from the resin of the plant.

This would place Cannabis terpenes as a controlled and dangerous substance in Maryland.

Yet, the same organic chemicals would be perfectly lawful to possess and use in their distilled form when derived from non-Cannabis sources.

These are the same terpenes that humans rely upon every day to provide flavor to their Terpenes such as limonene have shown promise foods and beverages, and scent to items such as in improving pain tolerance. perfumes and cleaning products.

Beta-caryophyllene, another terpene found in Sadly, this same “is it or isn’t it” discussion Cannabis, is a sesquiterpene found in the essential mirrors the controversy surrounding another oil of black pepper, oregano and other edible compound created by the Cannabis plant. herbs, as well as in various Cannabis strains and in Cannabidiol (or CBD) is also a molecule many green, leafy vegetables. It is gastro-protective, created by Cannabis that is nongood for treating certain ulcers, and psychotropic. offers great promise as a therapeutic Last year in the 2018 Farm compound for inflammatory conditions Bill, lawmakers removed hemp and auto-immune disorders because - defined as Cannabis and it binds directly to the peripheral Cannabis derivatives with very low cannabinoid receptor known as CB2. concentrations (no more than 0.3% Dr. Russo reported that on a dry weight basis) of THC cannabinoid-terpene interactions from the definition of marijuana in “could produce synergy with respect “Cannabinoid-terpene the Controlled Substances Act. to treatment of pain, inflammation, However, as the Food and interactions “could depression, anxiety, addiction, epilepsy, cancer, fungal and bacterial produce synergy with Drug Administration continues to reiterate, CBD products are infections.” respect to treatment still subject to the same laws and In fact, there are over 140 known of pain, inflammation, requirements as FDA-regulated terpenes found in Cannabis. depression, anxiety, products that contain any other Each Cannabis strain can be addiction, epilepsy, substance. But without formal recognized and identified by its guidance from the FDA, state and unique signature of terpenes cancer, fungal and local officials from New York to contained in the plant in varying bacterial infections.”

Nebraska have started cracking concentrations. down on manufacturers and distributors that These terpene concentrations vary from plant to market CBD as a food additive or supplement. plant, as there are many factors that influence a Despite all we have learned about terpenes, plant’s development of terpenes, including climate, or even CBD, the world will not learn any more weather, age and maturation, fertilizers, soil type, about the benefits of these wondrous natural and even the time of day. compounds produced by Cannabis so long as But while Cannabis plants contain terpenes that federal prohibition continues to exist. provide each strain its signature aroma, there are Will Cannabis derived terpenes ever be no known terpenes that are specific to Cannabis. available as a commercial product to nonSo, if terpenes are not unique to Cannabis medical patients in Maryland? For now, the and are fairly common in the plant kingdom, can answer will have to be “it depends.” isolated terpenes be a prohibited Schedule I drug

Since 2008, Mike Rothman has counseled clients regarding Cannabis laws and regulations as the founder and principal of the Medical Cannabis Law Group and the Law Office of Mike Rothman in Rockville, Maryland. Mr. Rothman has testified on Cannabis laws and regulations before the Maryland House of Delegates, taught classes, and lobbied the federal government on behalf of patients and businesses. Mr. Rothman’s Law Office focuses on criminal defense, including use of the medical Cannabis defense.

sept. 2019

COLUMN by MIKE ROTHMAN, ATTORNEY & PRINCIPAL | MEDICAL CANNABIS LAW GROUP

highly likely

16

Highlighting Cannabis pioneers who paved the way to greater herbal acceptance.

MARGARET MEAD HOW A CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGIST MADE THE CASE FOR CANNABIS YEARS AGO

leafnationmd.com

YOU ’ D B E F O R G I V E N F O R N O T K N OW I N G T H E N A M E M A R G A R E T M E A D . S H E PA S S E D AWAY I N 1 9 78 A N D WAS M A I N LY K N OW N I N AC A D E M I C C I R C L E S , B U T M E A D WAS A L S O P E R T I N E N T T O T H E Z E I T G E I S T O F T H E L AT E 6 0 S A N D E A R LY 70 S .

Margaret Mead was a cultural anthropologist. This branch of anthropology is concerned with studying human society, its unique cultures, and the development of those cultures over time. In her groundbreaking work, Mead made great strides in the area of ethnological field observations - or observing a culture while immersing oneself inside of it.

In the 1920s and 30s, Mead began an ethnographic study that would become the launching pad for her career and celebrity.

In studying the attitudes toward sex in the cultures of Southeast Asia and the South Pacific, Mead produced a landmark study that would later influence the sexual revolution of the 1960s.

These studies made it clear that the cultures and attitudes towards sex in the societies she studied were in many ways quite different from the ideals of the western world.

She also found in many of the societies that women played a more dominant role than men. These studies became foundational in the burgeoning feminist movement of the 1960s.

Mead was a deft communicator of her ideas and findings in cultural anthropology. So much so, that she was often featured as an expert in mass media. This attention ultimately resulted in her being promoted to become the President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In

sept. 2019

this capacity and others, she was called before varied branches of government many times to testify using her unique expertise on a number of issues.

In 1969, she appeared before a senate committee hearing on Cannabis and advocated for its legalization: “It is my considered opinion that at present that marihuana is not harmful unless it is taken in enormous and excessive amounts.

I believe that we are damaging this country, damaging our law, our whole law enforcement situation, damaging the trust between the older people and younger people by its prohibition, and this is far more serious than any damage that might be done to a few over-users, because you can get damage from any kind of overuse.”

When she passed away in 1978, Margaret Mead was the most famous anthropologist in the world.

Through her work, many people learned about anthropology and its holistic view of the human race while also learning about tolerance.

When it came to the legalization of Cannabis, it seems that’s all she was asking for.

MEAD WAS CALLED BEFORE VARIED BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT MANY TIMES TO TESTIFY USING HER UNIQUE EXPERTISE ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES.

By PACER STACKTRAIN for LEAF NATION

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PATIENT OF THE MONTH

cannabis + creativity

An Artist Learns to Embrace Cannabis

18

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Austin Lasky has been a highly creative and artistic individual from the time he was young, and Cannabis has helped immensely along the way. “The first time I tried Cannabis was freshman year of college, but I didn’t really continue with it very much,” recalls Austin.

“It wasn’t until I moved back home from college that I heavily got into it. I’ve always been an artist and I found out that Cannabis was really helpful with my hand cramps and joint pain, and it also helped with creativity. Once I continued with it and learned more about it, I figured out what I liked and which strains helped me in certain ways. Now I use Cannabis for a variety of different things.”

Although glass blowing used to be Austin’s most frequently practiced creative outlet, he said he has recently been focusing on other types of art and trying to tie them all together.

“In the last two years or so, I haven’t necessarily taken a step back from glass, but I’ve started focusing a lot more on other mediums. I’ve been wood-working and painting a lot, I’ve been trying to do a bit of everything.”

The wood-working that he has been doing most recently is incredibly unique. After acquiring old recycled skate decks and removing the grip tape, he slices out small sections to use for his material. The final result is incredibly aesthetically pleasing, with an array of colors and a smooth finish for each piece of work. After starting with stands for dog and cat bowls, he has progressed to side tables and even full size tables now.

“I also make lots of furniture out of regular wood as well. I’ve built a lot of tables, shelves, desks, gardening boxes, nightstands - lots of different stuff,” explained Lasky.

Pour painting is a fairly recent endeavor to become a focus for Austin.

This process includes finding the right blend of an additive that helps the paint pour a little easier, the actual paint, and a little alcohol for an oily effect. The materials are all layered together carefully and then poured out Creativity and workmanship shine through in all of Austin’s projects, no matter to get a vibrant finished product on the canvas. the medium. He focuses mainly on glass blowing, wood-working and painting.

Austin draws his inspiration not only from Cannabis, but from his friends He started blowing glass in the summer of 2014 and has and family as well. been at it ever since. “I was always a fan of glass and art “I definitely get my overall artistic nature from my in general,” said Lasky. “One day a friend of mine really mom and my grandparents. As far as some of my AUSTIN DRAWS HIS wanted to blow glass but we didn’t have anywhere to do main influencers right now though, a lot of them are INSPIRATION NOT ONLY it. I love to build things, so I suggested we just build a friends that are doing different things than what I’m FROM CANNABIS, BUT studio in my garage. It kind of just started there. We were doing. Nate (@natemoonlife), his clothing company super into it and within three months of having the idea is very inspiring - it’s really cool to see a friend FROM HIS FRIENDS AND in our head, we were behind the torch.” build something on his own into a big brand. And FAMILY AS WELL. Several @mogulworks pieces are available to the then there are Ted (@tutawglass) and Andrew (@ public at Temescal, but functional glass (for use of glasgowglass_), who I’ve blown glass with from the Cannabis) isn’t the only thing in his repertoire. beginning, and it’s a huge inspiration to see how far “I do a lot of non-functional stuff too. Pretty much all of my gifts are nonthey’ve come and how hard they’re always pushing it forward.” functional for my parents or grandparents, like cups or trinkets,” said Lasky.

Keep an eye out for future works of all mediums from Lasky. With his high He has also created a lot of glass straws, which are environmental friendly. level of dedication and commitment to fresh inspiration, he’s an undoubted The straws are a quick and inexpensive project with a great underlying purpose. up and comer!

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19

MULTITALENTED CANNABIS PATIENT AUSTIN LASKY

STORY by MATT NEWTON for MARYLAND LEAF | PHOTO by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT

BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH

GOT A FAVORITE BUDTENDER? TELL US WHY! WYATT@LEAFNATIONMD.COM

STARBUDS OF BALTIMORE

5975 Belair Road Baltimore, MD (443) 438-7494 Starbuds.us/baltimore

CONNOR HENDRICKSON “I REMEMBER HITTING AROUND $109,000 IN SALES IN ONE MONTH. I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, A GOOD DAY AT MY OLD JOB WOULD BE AROUND TWO TO THREE THOUSAND IN SALES. TO NOT ONLY BE DOING ALMOST $10,000 IN SALES IN A SINGLE DAY, BUT TO ALSO BE HELPING PATIENTS, WAS INSANE TO ME...”

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WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN BECOMING A BUDTENDER? My full time job before I started working at Starbuds was a gym salesmen at the Maryland Athletic Club in Harbor East. Basically I was just hustling, making phone calls all day, like any other 9-5 position. The last three days of each month was closeout, meaning we had to spend 14 hours in the gym to hit monthly sales goals. I was being spread so thin and my sleep schedule was getting more and more messed up. Fast forward to April of 2018, I was walking down Eastern Avenue and saw a green cross (Greenlabs sign), and thought to myself, there’s a lot of medical marijuana in Maryland? After a really hard week doing gym sales, I decided to apply to all of the dispensaries in my area.

When Starbuds offered me a position, I left my job with a pretty nice salary to try something different.

WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST REWARDING ABOUT WORKING WITH PATIENTS ON A DAILY BASIS?

The progression of seeing them from the day they come in, to where I see them now. There are also downfalls to that, as sometimes you can see people regress. While sometimes people are able to feel relief from Cannabis, others are using it to kind of ease into what is happening in their lives. It can be very emotional. I remember

sept. 2019

one patient who was struggling with heavy opioid use. I started her out with RSO, knowing that it could relieve her pain and potentially eliminate the need for painkillers. A few months later she was happy, coming in with friends laughing, and off of every single one of her opioids.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE AMONG THE FEW BUDTENDERS IN MARYLAND TO HAVE BROKEN $1,000,000 IN SALES?

Actually, it’s insane. I had never really thought about the numbers until October. I remember hitting around $109,000 in sales in one month. I thought to myself, a good day at my old job would be around two to three thousand in sales. To not only be doing almost $10,000 in sales in a single day, but to also be helping patients, was insane to me. It escalated so quickly, and before I knew it, 13 months in I had $1,000,000 in sales and more than 10,000 transactions.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE MILLIONTH DOLLAR SALE?

I do, it was actually a baller jar of MPX’s diamonds and sauce. The customer was a regular of mine and we brought out balloons to celebrate, it was sick! It was a very rewarding feeling, and one of Starbuds’ owners was even brought to tears.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART ABOUT WORKING AT STARBUDS?

The family atmosphere. I hear a lot of people talk about how so many dispensaries have a high turnover rate. For the core people at Starbuds, they are always going to be there.

You’re always going to see my face, Carissa’s face, Meghan’s face, and everyone else you expect. We call ourselves Cheers - where everybody knows your name. No matter how many patients we see or how busy we get, I am always going to remember your name and face.

WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO CONSUMPTION METHOD AND STRAIN?

I’m a heavy dabber. I definitely like my flower and won’t forget where I came from, but from a flavor standpoint, I feel like I get more of the natural plant flavor from dabbing.

Since I have been smoking for awhile, the concentrated level of THC helps to get me where I need to be. I am not a huge ingestible guy, and I have found that they all seem to affect me in different strengths.

My favorite flower strains are OGKB, Chocolate Mint, and Blissful Wizard from Curio Wellness. For concentrates, my go-to favorite strain is Blueberry Muffins or Blue Cookies by Evermore, which I would love to see more of.

I love solventless extracts too - Evermore’s hash rosin is about as dope as it gets.

STORY & PHOTO by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF

SHOP REVIEW

REMEDY

COLUMBIA IMMEDIATELY NOTICE THE OPEN SPACE, MODERN DECOR, AND A SENSE OF COMFORT THAT IS UNDENIABLE.

leafnationmd.com

22

M

ost patients in the medical program have at least heard of Remedy in Columbia. Those that have been patients since the beginning of the program have most likely been there at least once, as it was one of the first ten dispensaries to open in the state of Maryland. Remedy has always held itself to a higher standard than most dispensaries - making it my favorite dispensary that I have reviewed to date.

Remedy has a team of owners that have been brought together by Cannabis. The team has been friends since high school, creating a strong bond with each other that is no different than family. After high school, everyone went into different fields until they caught wind of the program coming to Maryland. One of the owners, Blaze, has extensive knowledge in holistic healing and knew that Cannabis wasn’t a gateway drug, but instead an exit drug. His family moved to Maryland in 1973 in order to open their own acupuncture clinic, which at the time was controversial. Blaze always knew that a dispensary was a perfect way to open doors to a new form of holistic healing and medicine.

In order to understand the mission statement at Remedy, you’ll need to understand the history of how it began.

Remedy claims that they’ve been established since 1974 the year that acupuncture and holistic healing as we know it began. The owners were all coincidentally born in the same year, making it a personal and cute tagline for the company. His father would always write his initials on all of his scripts, which was RMD. In order to honor Blaze’s father, they came up with the name Remedy by adding vowels to his initials.

When you enter the doors at Remedy, you’ll immediately notice the open space, modern decor, and a sense of comfort that is undeniable. After checking in, you should have no problem finding a place to sit in their lush and

comfortable seating area. Those who need more personal space due to their disability need not worry - every portion of this dispensary is entirely wheelchair accessible.

After you’re greeted by your bright eyed budtender, you’ll be led to the dispensing floor that has ample space, lighting, and a fine product selection for you to choose from. The menu at Remedy is almost like a scroll due to having such a large selection. Remedy often has every brand available in Maryland, making it nearly impossible to leave empty handed. The dispensary often has great deals on cartridges and concentrates, bringing in regular customers from all over the state.

If you find yourself a bit overwhelmed and need to ask your budtender, you can be sure that they will give you a correct answer. According to their manager Erica Lahner, all of the budtenders go through intensive training filled with assessments, classes, and a full curriculum. Every week, the entire staff has education meetings to keep them up to date related to all things Cannabis. Not only is their staff knowledgeable, they are also incredibly diverse in every sense, and the faces are often familiar. Remedy appears to have a low turnover rate and a great company culture that keeps their employees in good spirits and always happy to help.

Finding a flaw in Remedy is nearly impossible, hence the perfect review. I’ve always found myself recommending them if someone is in the area, but after learning more about them, I left knowing I would be a lifelong customer.

They have a strong connection with the local community that has established a strong following of customers and deep connections with their patients. They have a team composed of Cannabis lovers, a menu that will satisfy you, and a level of comfort that can’t be beat. If you were thinking about visiting Remedy but haven’t yet, take this as a sign that it’s time for you to do so. It’ll be worth the drive.

6656 DOBBIN ROAD, SUITE E, COLUMBIA, MD | (443) 542-0948 | 10AM-9PM MONDAY-SUNDAY

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FLOWER

5/5

You can locate any brand and class of Cannabis available at Remedy.

They have something for everyone, including CBD strains, high THC strains, heavy terpene strains, and everything in between.

EDIBLES

5/5 Whether you love gummies or elixirs, you’ll be able to leave with a bag full of product due to their large selection of ingestibles.

CONCENTRATE

5/5 Remedy has an array of badders, sugars, shatter and wax. They also have an incredibly large selection of cartridges.

ENVIRONMENT

5/5 Remedy is clean with a comprehensive layout and relaxed vibe. Remedy doesn’t rely on an Apple Store style setup or a pretentious and harsh medical feeling that most stores have. The budtenders make you feel welcome and loved, which makes you feel good about handing over your money to them.

Product REVIEW:

OVERALL SCORE:

20/20

BLUE DREAM by CURIO WELLNESS I decided to go with Blue Dream by Curio Wellness, a strain I purchase whenever I can find it. Blue Dream is a somewhat classic strain that is perfect for daytime energy and mood elevation. I found myself smoking it primarily during the daytime to keep me upbeat and creative.

REVIEWED by ARIANA FOOTE @INDICAWIFE | PHOTOS by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF

REMEDYCOLUMBIA.COM

STRAIN OF THE MONTH leafnationmd.com

24

30%THC .8% LIMONENE .72% MYRCENE .2% CARYOPHYLLENE .19% LINALOOL .12% B-PINENE

by

CURIO WELLNESS

THE ILLUSTRIOUS BUBBA KUSH HAS A REPUTATION THAT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF, BUT YOUR AUTHOR NEVER PICKS A FLOWER SOLELY BASED ON PRECEDENCE. THE GROWERS AT CURIO WELLNESS CHURNED OUT A BATCH OF BUBBA KUSH THAT STRUCK MY EYE BEYOND ITS ALREADY WELL ESTABLISHED HISTORY.

This Bubba Kush is dominant in the terpene limonene, closely followed by myrcene and caryophyllene, with a nice bit of linalool/b-pinene.

Definitely a good recipe for quality medicine.

For me, I use this profile as kind of a daily driver.

It hits my physical pain and mental health needs with aplomb, however, this particular profile is actually quite common across cultivars.

Smoking the flower yielded all of the expected effects from the terpene profile, then snowballing into a deeper effect, similar to when I smoke CBD hemp flower with my medical Cannabis.

I noted a strong sense of physical muscle relaxation with this medicine as well, as my muscles enjoyed a calm, jelly-ish relaxed sensation that I would typically only achieve mixing in large amounts of CBD. As medical patients, we have specific access to the benefits of THC, and everyone has access to the benefits of CBD. But there is a new cannabinoid emerging likely to be another huge healing success - CBGa/CBG, or cannabigerol.

This is the parent molecule of our cannabinoid tree, meaning that it is the first cannabinoid produced in the plant’s biochemical manufacturing.

It is a key factor in cultivating a complete entourage effect, and this Bubba Kush has 1.1% total CBGa! I personally have not seen any kind of concentration of CBGa in most flower, let alone over a percent. Big shout out to Curio Wellness for producing this excellent batch of Cannabis medicine, as well as staying true to the Bubba Kush heritage!

BUBBA

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I NOTED A STRONG SENSE OF PHYSICAL RELAXATION WITH THIS MEDICINE, AS MY MUSCLES ENJOYED A CALM, JELLY-ISH RELAXED SENSATION...

A KUSH REVIEW by TAYLOR MARTIN | PHOTO by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF

CURIOWELLNESS.COM

POTOMAC.LEGAL

MD FEDERAL DC

OFFICES IN POTOMAC/ROCKVILLE, FREDERICK & OCEAN CITY NORML LEGAL COMMITTEE - Lifetime member- since 1997 REPRESENTING THE ACCUSED, DISPENSARIES, GROWERS & GLASS SHOPS SINCE 1988

Cell - 301-762-7900 Email - david@potomac.legal

summer 2019 Temescal Wellness of Maryland becomes

The Living Room…

thelvrm.com © 2019 All Rights Reserved. The Living RoomTM

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We’re renewing our commitment to you.

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rehashed

Aug. 10-11, 2019

RAIL RIDERS

MOONRISE FESTIVAL

28 SMOKE PURPP

21 SAVAGE

leafnationmd.com

Moonrise Festival has become a Baltimore tradition for electronic music lovers ever since its premier in 2013. The EDM based event has brought a variety of big and upcoming DJs to the area each year, with this year’s headliners being Excision, Tiesto, and rapper 21 Savage.

The festival takes place at Pimlico Race Course every year but the neighborhood around it can hear the event in its entirety, and the bass alone can be felt in neighboring zip codes.

The community of people who attend are loving, accepting, and just looking to have a good time. Whether or not someone is a fan of electronic music, the attitude, vibe, and overwhelming amount of excitement will create a memorable experience for anyone.

O

ur adventure into the festival began on Saturday afternoon when the Maryland Leaf crew and I packed up our cameras and headed down to Pimlico.

We quickly hit traffic that was headed toward the venue. After a little frustration and more traffic, we eventually swung a spot in VIP and made our way to the gate.

Even on the outside, the excitement was brewing and intoxicating. Everyone was smiling, laughing, dancing, and overjoyed to be at such an event. After going through a few lines and finding the entrance, we were finally given our special, light blue wristbands marked “Photo” and ventured into the festival.

sept. 2019

The crowds were something to behold. The attendee’s fashion at this event ranged from scantily clad and nude, to fully covered in a variety of inventive materials. The accessories were crazy too - goggles with rainbow lights, hula hoops, beaded masks and necklaces, with no end to the craziness. Ages ranged from young to middle aged, all interacting with one another solely through the love of the music.

The music of each stage reached to the next, and there was no gap in musical entertainment.

The race course was populated by four different stages - solar, lunar, stellar and celestial. Celestial, the largest of the bunch, was covered by a tent and sat in the center of the venue. I found myself by the

WHIPPED CREAM

solar and stellar stages the most, which were coincidentally across the venue from one another.

At the solar stage, I was thrilled to be able to see SOB x RBE in concert, as well as Big Gigantic and Gryffin. The performances put on by each were unique, intoxicating, and definite highlights of the weekend. 21 Savage’s stage was unlike anyone else’s, with a mountainside-esque staircase in the center to allow him to stand far above the crowd.

Excision’s show was shocking for a newcomer to the EDM scene, with a crowd standing as far back as the eye could see, yet everyone from beginning to end was moving, dancing and headbanging with intensity. The barriers blocking the stage were close to falling as fans rocked the venue.

The bass was so intense that it rattled my skeleton and made it hard to think straight. Everything was vibrating even after the show was over. Needless to say, it was quite an experience.

A big hand should go to the stage crews, staff, and technicians who worked endlessly to make sure everything went off without a hitch. They worked hard to not just make the event happen, but to make it special, exhilarating, and a truly memorable experience.

The pyrotechnics crew was incredibly helpful to photographers by warning us of the upcoming fire blasts and smoke screens, and the security was extremely relaxed, engaged, and nice to the attendees. Most importantly, Moonrise did a good job of keeping fans healthy, happy and hydrated.

All things considered, Moonrise was a blast.

STORY by ERIC EDELSTEIN for MARYLAND LEAF | PHOTOS by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT

MOONRISEFESTIVAL.COM

Experience Fruitopia.

Look for E Blunt in Colorado, Washington and Alaska.

At this time we are only offering our products to licensed distributors. If you would like to be a processor/distributor in your area please contact: rob@eblunt.com (907) 351-8207

eblunt.com @ ebluntvapes Facebook/ Twitter/ Instagram

tannins & terpenes issue leafnationmd.com

30

THE CHARMERY We’re currently in the middle of a hot girl summer and the best thing to go along with our antics is a scoop of delicious ice cream. Here we find The Charmery with multiple locations throughout Baltimore in order to satisfy any sort of craving - Old Bay, Apple Pie, and apparently…Skywalker OG?

I

recently discovered The Charmery at an event where they were serving an ice cream that was made with terpenes that mimic the profile of Skywalker OG. The ice cream is not infused with THC, but that didn’t take away from the smile I had on my face after consuming it. And I knew I had to learn more about a company that would make such a creative and bold concept.

David Alima is the owner, master creamer and medical Cannabis patient behind The Charmery.

In 2013, Alima and his wife decided to take their background in hospitality and marketing to create The Charmery.

They would often travel together and search for the best ice cream in town, learning techniques on how to create the best ice cream possible. To this day, he says he’s still always learning more about his favorite treat.

When it comes to consumption off the clock, he’s a big fan of the DART system. He continues to try most products recommended to him since he loves to learn everything possible about Cannabis.

As David remarked, “I don’t enjoy the taste of most tinctures and would rather just use Cannabis with ice cream.”

In late 2018, he was approached by a company looking to create an infused ice cream that mimicked the Sour Tangie terpene profile. After this project, he is looking to recreate the strategy with Skywalker OG and other strains in the future.

Alima is unafraid of the stigma that could potentially come along with creating terpene infused products. He knows that Cannabis is a beautiful plant with many benefits, and no negative feedback would stop him from continuing.

He says that he hasn’t received any complaints, which is a good sign, making room for potential terpene infused ice cream in the future. The Charmery has their own factory where they create all of their products in Union Station, making it local and delicious from start to finish.

The Charmery is a classic place in Baltimore known by almost everyone - children, food bloggers, and ice cream connoisseurs. And they’re continuing to expand their audience by including patients with a delightful infused treat.

They currently have three locations: Union Station, Towson and Hampden, with a fourth location anticipated to open in Federal Hill. We can only hope that one day we can head to The Charmery and see them serving THC-infused product in a recreational market. TheCharmery.com

sept. 2019

Owner David Alima is unafraid of the stigma that could potentially come along with creating terpene infused products.

He knows that Cannabis is a beautiful plant with many benefits, and no negative feedback would stop him from continuing.

STORY by ARIANA FOOTE @INDICAWIFE | PHOTOS by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF

Union is such a champion of our local industry, anyone that comes into the neighborhood and into the community, including local dispensaries, is welcomed with open arms.

UCB CO-FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR JON ZERIVITZ

UNION CRAFT BREWING Nothing says Baltimore quite like a refreshing beer from Union Craft Brewing.

Located on the side of 83 right in the Hampden neighborhood, Union hosts a dazzling tap room and great event spaces both inside and out, not to mention the gigantic mural on the side of the building is breathtaking enough to be an attraction of its own. The events they hold include a wide variety, with live music and arts along with nonprofit events, usually on Wednesday nights.

It comes as no surprise that Spark held their 7/10 event here as well.

S

everal members of the Union Craft Brewing staff hold close ties to the Cannabis industry, one of them being Jon Zerivitz, their co-founder and creative director who does a lot of the marketing work for the brewery. “The Spark event was great, it was more of a party and a celebration for the Cannabis industry in Maryland,” recalls Zerivitz. “We had the Reggae Spin Cycle DJ crew here doing reggae music. It was a really fun evening for everyone.”

Zeritiviz not only has some close friends and even co-workers who are tied to the Cannabis industry, he is a Cannabis patient himself.

Union has been around Baltimore for seven years now and Zerivitz says they happily welcome the up and coming Cannabis industry and community, “We have close ties to a lot of people in the Cannabis industry. It has been a really natural introduction - we’ve befriended a lot of the Cannabis industry and even got to tour a few facilities.

As Union is such a champion of our local industry, anyone that comes into the neighborhood and into the community, including local dispensaries, is welcomed with open arms. We’re also very open to the cross pollination of ideas, customer bases and things of that nature,” said Zeritvitz.

With cultivators like Evermore, and dispensaries like Maggies and Store House close by, everyone seems to know each other well.

Union is always releasing new beers.

And with some CBD and THC infused beers popping up across the country, we wanted to figure out if that was on the horizon for our local favorite.

For now, it appears to be a no-go, but with plenty of room left for suggestion and discussion.

“CBD and THC beers are coming out all over the country,” Zerivitz noted.

“Personally, I don’t think there’s too much of a use for THC and alcohol to be combined. However, I have been seeing success already in using extracted terpenes for flavoring in beer. I also hope to see a little bit of the opposite in the future, where you would use extracted hop terpenes to flavor distillate, or something along those lines.”

As Cannabis and hops are so similar genetically, you can achieve a similar taste profile without actually infusing the beer.

On this, Zerivitz mentioned The Divine, a year round IPA released this year by Union that he calls his favorite.

“The Divine has very dank characteristics. I was actually just here over the weekend, and I was helping a customer find a beer that she might like in the tap room. We sampled a lot of light beers and I let her try a Divine afterwards, and the first thing she said was, ‘This taste just like marijuana,’” he recounted with a grin.

With such a close knit community in Baltimore City, and Union being so receptive to the Cannabis industry, you can hope to see some more Cannabis based events at Union in the future.

“We did the Spark event, and we have a Grateful Dead themed event called The Shakedown happening at the end of August. A lot of members of the Cannabis industry will be there setting up informational booths and distributing good information,” Zerivitz said.

This vendor fair and concert will certainly not be the last event of its kind, so keep an eye out for all the great events put on throughout the month.

UnionCraftBrewing.com

STORY by MATTHEW NEWTON | PHOTO by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF

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tannins & terpenes issue

CANNABIS & ALCOHOL PAIRINGS

NOSE A beautiful combination of 1% b-caryophyllene and .65% limonene creates a spicy citrusy aroma, with hints of earthiness from the .41% b-myrcene.

TASTE On the exhale, the terpene profile really shines through with strong notes of pepper and citrus.

EFFECT ONYCD 3.0 made me feel like I took a deep breath and exhaled the day’s anxiety. While it is an indica, it did not make me tired and I felt it could be used throughout the day. At 31.1% THCa and 2.59% total terpene content, I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more strains from Nature’s Heritage.

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LOOKS/BAG APPEAL

leafnationmd.com

Bright green leaves are covered with clusters of white trichomes, surrounded by tightly woven orange hairs.

This flower is beautiful, to say the least.

IN THE GLASS

ONYCD 3.0 grown by Nature’s Heritage paired with Kung Fu Girl Riesling A brand brought to you by Kind Therapeutics, Nature’s Heritage is best known for their flower, RSO and DabTabs. They hold Cannabis to the highest standard, growing “genetically-pure, validated strains.” ONYCD 3.0 is a strain from Top Dawg Seeds, crossing Chem 91’ and Tres Dawg.

sept. 2019

Kung Fu Girl’s creator Charles Smith was eating Chinese takeout and watching martial arts films when he decided to create this wine. Best enjoyed with spicy Chinese food and some ONYCD 3.0, this dry riesling is bursting with notes of citrus and lychee, leaving a crisp taste and feeling on the palate.

Stardawg grown by Gleaf paired with The Immortal Zin

NOSE At 0.73% nerolidol and .46% limonene, Stardawg is a perfect cross of earthy, woody, and citrusy aromas.

TASTE A sharp woody flavor hangs around the palate even minutes after exhaling. The flavor was consistent all the way down to the end of my joint.

EFFECT I found that this strain’s best use was a sleep aid. Up late one night, I turned to Stardawg and was sleeping within the hour. The combination of extremely high THCa (33.51%) with the strong terpene concentration make this a knockout.

LOOKS/BAG APPEAL

Big, chunky, dense buds that resemble boulders or fists. Fine orange hairs encircle the buds, and some sugar leaf is left on the buds due to the high trichome count.

IN THE GLASS

Aromas of red currants, raspberries, red cherries, and earthy cedar.

The palate is velvety smooth with notes of red fruit and blackberries. A rich long finish, best enjoyed as a sipper or with sausage pizza.

Just like Maryland Leaf, the staff at Gleaf consists of longtime Maryland residents. Not only does their head grower have more than six years of professional growing experience, he brought more than 50 top quality strains with him to Maryland. Stardawg is another strain brought to us by Top Dawg Seeds.

>>

STORY by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT | PHOTOS by KATE GREWAL @KATEGREWAL | PROPS & STYLING by GIULIETTA PINNA @LIMONATACREATIVE

33

tannins & terpenes issue

CANNABIS & ALCOHOL PAIRINGS

NOSE An overload of fruit flooded my senses. People are always amazed by the smell when they are introduced to Purple Obeah.

Cherry Pie and Tangie are doing the tango in this exotic blender.

TASTE Imagine picking tangerines, oranges and cherries fresh off of their trees and making a smoothie. Purple Obeah tastes just as sweet as it does citrusy.

34

EFFECT A soothing feeling starts in the eyes/head and moves down to the rest of the body. This strain relieved my pain while not inhibiting my daily grind. The solid terpene mixture creates a wonderful entourage effect.

leafnationmd.com

LOOKS Trichomes galore, with deep hues of purple and green covered in thick orange hairs. With some serious bag appeal, I couldn’t wait to dive in and grind some of this up.

The oh-so impressive Purple Obeah is a favorite on the Maryland medical Cannabis scene.

A tropical cross between Cherry Pie and Tangie, this strain is beautiful and smells/tastes just as wonderful. Evermore holds their Cannabis to the highest standard, creating and crafting to the patient’s needs.

sept. 2019

Purple Obeah grown by Evermore paired with Burley Oak Brewing Double Strawberry Banana Jream Sour Beer

IN THE GLASS Jream is another line of sour beer from the illustrious Burley Oak Brewing. The Jream line has lactose added, making it thicker than most sour beers and almost creamy/smoothie like. It smells and tastes strongly of strawberries, with hints of banana lingering on the palate. These cans can only be purchased at Burley Oak in Berlin, MD once per month. There is a limit of three four-packs per person of each flavor. Happy hunting!

If you checked out last month’s garden tour, you already know everything there is to know about HMS. For all the newcomers out there, HMS is best known for their high terpene strains and long list of cultivars. They bring us strains from top breeders such as Exotic Genetix, Archive, and Top Dawg Seeds.

Strawberry OG grown by HMS Health paired with Airfield Rose NOSE Busting open this dram

filled my nose with berries, cream, and sour dankness. The Strawberry Diesel (part of the cross) really shines through in an extremely fruity aroma.

TASTE Myrcene and terpinolene are the stars of this strain, putting off a strong fruity and diesel flavor. Very crisp on the palate and a smooth exhale.

EFFECT This batch comes in at a whopping 4.42% CBGa, paired with 21.94% THCa. This provided a very relaxing, euphoric and creative feeling.

While I did not want to do much physical activity, this strain gave me the creativity to get work done effectively.

LOOKS Very tightly handtrimmed with fine orange hairs doing a dance with each other around the bud.

IN THE GLASS Packed with flavors of strawberry jam, raspberry puree, and pomegranate that is sweet on the nose. On the palate, fresh flavors of watermelon and cherry create a dry touch on the finish. Perfectly paired with a summer salad and Strawberry OG.

STORY by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT | PHOTOS by KATE GREWAL @KATEGREWAL | PROPS & STYLING by GIULIETTA PINNA @LIMONATACREATIVE

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tannins & terpenes issue leafnationmd.com

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Tropical Sunset grown by Evermore paired with Zaccagnini Montepulciano d’Abruzzo NOSE Tropical vibes can be felt as soon as you dive your nose into this sweet and fruity smelling strain.

TASTE Imagine an exotic fruit punch, mixed with some underlying cookies flavor from the Sunset Sherbet ancestry (G.S.C.).

EFFECT Energy and alertness can best describe the feeling after a rip of this strain. The b-caryophyllene relieved sore muscle pain and joint inflammation.

LOOKS Bright orange hairs engulf the beautifully structured buds.

Evermore’s black jars really show off the insane amount of trichomes on this flower.

IN THE GLASS Intense ruby color, this wine shows ripe plums on the nose, followed by red and black fruits on the palate. The combination of fruits in this wine accompany the Tropical Sunset very nicely. Best enjoyed alongside your favorite pizza.

Tropical Sunset is and has been one of my favorite strains from Evermore. They describe this unique cultivar as “a happy accident” that occurred when Purple Punch flower found the pollen of a Sunset Sherbet plant.

sept. 2019

Grapefruit Sour Dream grown by Culta paired with Burley Oak Brewing Jelly Not Jam Sour NOSE True to its name, this strain smells sour and sweet with strong notes of grapefruit and citrus. The sour is an underlying aroma that gets stronger the more you smell it.

TASTE A light and smooth smoke, with a sour flavor accompanied by citrus. The flavor of this flower was just as strong as the nose, keeping me coming back.

EFFECT Energy! This strain gave me so much good energy and was perfect for a long hike with my puppy. At 3% total terpene content, this hybrid was a beautiful mixture for a daytime smoke.

LOOKS Reminiscent of one of its parents, Blue Dream.

Tightly trimmed, green and fuzzy buds, covered with a bright orange forest of hairs.

IN THE GLASS Burley Oak Brewing in Berlin, MD has always come out with some bad ass beers. Jelly Not Jam is a series of sour beers, and this drop was a mango, pineapple, passion fruit, and pink guava sour. The taste is forward on the mango, with the rest of the tropical fruits falling right in line. Perfect for a hot day on the beach in Ocean City.

A cross between Blue Dream and Grapefruit Diesel creates Grapefruit Sour Dream, another hit from Culta. Everything coming out of Culta’s grow is hand trimmed to show off their sticky dank buds.

Kudos to Jay and his team of growers in Cambridge.

STORY by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT | PHOTOS by KATE GREWAL @KATEGREWAL | PROPS & STYLING by GIULIETTA PINNA @LIMONATACREATIVE

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concentrate OF THE MONTH

OG K U S H LIVE RESIN SUGAR

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leafnationmd.com

EXTRACTED by MPX

MELTINGPOINTEXTRACTS.COM

IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CANNABIS CONCENTRATE, MPX UTILIZED THEIR FROZEN OG KUSH MATERIAL TO PRODUCE A LIVE RESIN SUGAR THAT IS ABSOLUTELY DELECTABLE. Similar to diamonds, sugars are crystalline THCa molecules that have not been allowed to grow into larger diamond structures. This creates a high potency product typically in the upper 80 to low 90 percentages - with very robust terp sauces that are considered some of the highest quality concentrates on the market.

sept. 2019

The flavor and therapeutic value of live resin are far and away superior to your average resin, which is not to say anything negative about average resins, only that when you cross that threshold to the living freshness of the plant itself, there is a certain essence imparted that elevates what is already great to something spiritual.

Indeed my personal relationship with Cannabis can be described as spiritual, but even the casual user can appreciate the symphony of vibratory notes expressed with every dab of MPX’s OG Kush live resin sugar.

The profile expresses its top three terpenes at very close to 2%, featuring a 1:1 ratio of b-pinene and b-myrcene, with over 1% of caryophyllene and a

“THE LIMONENE ENSURES SOME SUNSHINE AND POSITIVITY IN ONE’S MOOD, BUT THE REAL MAGIC IS IN THE CLEAR-HEADED, BODY-SEDATING TRIFECTA OF B-PINENE, B-MYRCENE AND CARYOPHYLLENE.“

slight limonene temper.

Here, quintessential sativa meets quintessential indica terpenes and snowballs with caryophyllene, the workhorse of any therapeutic terpene profile. For me, this produces a really strong body relaxation and pain relief that sort of slumps my energy into my chair, but doesn’t sedate my mind.

I found the high to be very clearheaded, in such a way that I remained focused on my tasks but with a pronounced decrease in overall pain, thanks largely to the efforts of b-pinene.

The limonene ensures some sunshine and positivity in one’s mood, but the real magic is in the clear-headed, body-

sedating trifecta of b-pinene, b-myrcene and caryophyllene.

I can only describe this profile as quality medicine, and tasting the robustness of the sauce on the sugar really demonstrates its live origins. There is an essence of freshness associated with live dabs that is hard to put into words, but is nonetheless distinct.

Big shout out to the Melting Point Extracts team for producing this fine live resin sugar!

REVIEW by TAYLOR MARTIN for MARYLAND LEAF | PHOTO by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT

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garden of the month leafnationmd.com

40

GROW WEST T

o be honest, I didn’t really know what to expect when we were going to Cumberland for a tour, but I had high hopes because, after all, we were going to see the process and home to some extremely fire strains from Grow West. A once buzzing, factory driven town - with not much left besides a place to get gas on the way to Whitetail or a quick stop for grub at Chick-fil-A - is now the home to Grow West’s cultivation facility and dispensary. Rooted when the law was proposed to make medical Cannabis available to Maryland, current Director of Cultivation, Andrew Valois, and his family felt strongly about producing a high quality medicine for MMCC patients while also giving back to the state. Here they’ve provided well paying job opportunities, sustainability, and more importantly medicine to a part of Maryland that really needed it.

As we pulled up to this warehouse-esque building many call their second home, I can’t say that I was shocked considering my experience in touring grows in Maryland. For some reason I am always second guessing myself and feeling some kind of shade towards Waze because I’m never 100% sure we are at the right spot. The distant laughing and high number of cars in the parking lot is always reassuring. After we met Andrew and Grow West’s marketing coordinator, Desiree Bullard, we put our scrubs and booties on, then began the tour.

We started in the mom room where they rotate seasonal plants in and out, with the exception of certain strains they like to keep around. A few being Pie Crust, Nurse Jackie, After Burner and Strawberry Fields. While ensuring that absolutely

sept. 2019

STORY by KATIE HARRISON | PHOTOS by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF

DIRECTOR OF CULTIVATION ANDREW VALOIS

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“OUR MISSION IS TO GROW WHOLESOME, NATURAL, HEALING PLANTS FOR THE MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT. ” no sick plants progress beyond the mom room, the healthy ones sit in vegetation before they begin their first week of flowering. It’s always incredible to see the various stages of different strains. The plants in week five were impressive, especially the Tangie, which was dominating the room with its citrusy aroma and towering over the others in this stage.

In week six we saw Forum Cookies and Blue Magoo looking sublimely frosty, truly one of those starstruck, glistening diamonds in my eyes moments.

And After Burner, which Andrew mentioned is one of the best strains they grow in that flower room.

The facility has about 20,000 square feet devoted towards flowering space and plans to triple that in size, with hopes of implementing single strain flower rooms and extremely long cures significantly longer than the current duration of their process to measure results and continue to focus on all-inclusive optimization. “One of the things I always say to the employees here is that we are never done, things are never good enough, we could always be doing something better,” stated Andrew. “Not that I don’t think we aren’t doing really great, but it’s just never good enough for us here. We always want to push the limits.”

Like many other cultivators at Grow West, Andrew has a background in horticulture and takes pride in the slow, scientific approach they take to growing the plants. This entails slow curing, drying, hand-trimming and a robust emphasis on

maximizing photosynthesis. “We understand the physiology of the plant and how it is reacting to certain nutrients, how it reacts to supplements of carbohydrate feedings, how it reacts to the amount of light it is getting - and why,” said Andrew. “Why do we want to give it the level of nutrients we do?

Why is it important to adjust your humidities? How do you get the plant to optimally photosynthesize and create its own food and grow?”

This knowledge influences a very obvious, fiery passion on Grow West’s cultivators. Like anything, when you truly understand the process of what you do and why, especially something that helps people in so many amazing ways, you are inspired and feel great about it. This ultimately creates confidence and yields satisfying results. Both happy cultivators and happy plants are abundant at Grow West.

The holistic, scientific approach also continued into the experimental tent set up in one of the flower rooms. It was awesome to hear that a lot of the time these experiments are influenced by the cultivators in an ongoing effort to learn more about their plants and fully optimize the process. While working hard, the team at Grow West was obviously excited and engaged in the work being done.

On our way out, I reread Grow West’s mission statement displayed upon the wall - “To grow wholesome, natural, healing plants for the mind, body, and spirit.” And after a tour of this fine facility, I believe it truly encompasses who they are.

GROWWESTMD.COM

leafnationmd.com

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sept. 2019

interview

DIXIE TABLETS

WE CAUGHT UP WITH PROCESSING MANAGER NICK RYDER AND DIRECTOR OF MARKETING WENDY BRONFEIN FOR A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT THE LATEST FROM DIXIE. AS THE WORLD OF CANNABIS INFUSION GROWS INCREASINGLY INNOVATIVE, THE TEAM AT DIXIE IS LEADING THE CHARGE, AND HAS BEEN DOING SO SINCE 2010.

CAN YOU BREAK DOWN THE PROCESS THAT GOES INTO MAKING DIXIE TABLETS?

NICK RYDER: We use a proprietary method to convert CO2 extracted Cannabis oil to a powder state. Next, we mix non-Cannabis ingredients and natural flavors with the “Cannabis powder”.

The complete powder mixture is tested internally, by our analytical laboratory, to verify potency. With the target potency reached, we press the powder into tablets using a pharmaceutical-grade tablet press. To ensure consistency with each tablet, tablets are pressed to a specific weight. Pressed tablets are then sampled by a licensed third-party lab for COA (Certificate of Analysis). Once approved for distribution, tablets are inspected for quality and consistency as they are packaged, tamper-sealed and labeled.

43

WHAT IS THE INTENDED USE/DOSAGE FOR PATIENTS?

WENDY BRONFEIN: Each Dixie Vitalizing Tablet delivers 5mg of THC. They are available in both 20 count and 60 count packages, with a suggested retail of $20 and $50, respectively.

Patients may find these tablets useful for a midday boost or anytime you need a little pep in your step.

WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF TAKING A PHARMACEUTICAL APPROACH TO MMJ?

NICK: Applying a pharmaceutical approach to medicinal Cannabis product development and manufacturing ensures enhanced delivery of active ingredients and higher quality overall. The use of pharmaceutical instrumentation ensures a more precise, well homogenized and consistent final product. What does this mean for doctors and patients? Accountability and trust. The confidence that Cannabis-based medicine will deliver the same dosage and effects, batch to batch, every time you use it.

DO YOU HAVE FUTURE PLANS TO EXPAND THE DIXIE TABLET LINE? WHAT’S IN THE WORKS?

WENDY: Along with Vitalizing Tablets, Dixie will bring five additional products to the Maryland market this fall. Look for the newest elixir flavor, cherry limeade, plus both fruit punch and berry lemonade will now be available in 100mg. We are also very excited to add to the Dixie topicals line with the release of Synergy Soak 100mg : 100mg, offering a 1 to 1 ratio of CBD and THC in each serving. This multi-serving bath soak can be used in smaller amounts to address localized joint pain, like hands and feet, as well as provide a full body experience.

The use of pharmaceutical instrumentation ensures a more precise, well homogenized and consistent final product.

STORY by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT/MARYLAND LEAF | PHOTOS by ANDREA STEIN

DIXIEELIXIRS.COM

DYSCO’S CORNER

musings from a parent & cannabis consumer

leafnationmd.com

44

“You have an excellent eye,” the grizzled sailor said gruffly when I complimented him on how well his dog was trained. “Buster here is probably the best trained dog you’re ever gonna meet. He’s one of only four dogs in South Carolina licensed and trained to hunt polar bears. And yessir, he’s the best they got,” he said as he thumped Buster on the side of his broad belly. Okay, let me just pause here for a second to say that the main point of this month’s corner discussion is: “IS SMOKING POT MAKING ME STUPID?” I was staying at a Charleston AirbnB for four days.

I had just met my temporary neighbor and his dog, a short haired white dog with just a few black markings resembling dirt or soot. I guessed him to be some type of boxer/pit bull mix. He was the calmest dog I had ever met.

Dead people are less calm. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he’d gotten into my stash of Purple Punch.

sept. 2019

“Polar bear hunting dog!?” I shook my head, looking at the motionless beast sitting upright next to my neighbor, staring straight ahead like he was guarding Buckingham Palace. “I’ve never heard of such a thing,” I said.

“Oh sure,” the sailor said, flicking his cigarette cherry before depositing the filter in his faded pants pocket. “That’s ‘cause you’re a yankee. You yankees don’t know how to train ‘em right, and you’re embarrassed, so y’all don’t talk about it. You’re always calling down here for one of ours whenever you gotcha a polar bear on the loose. A lotta times, they float on down on them’s there’s icebergs with the goal of warmer fishing waters off South Carolina and Georgia…” He paused to suck the very last of the tar and nicotine from his cigarette as if his life depended on it. “But see here it’s a mighty long trip on those icebergs. Especially in the summer when their polar bear fat starts melting away more as they get into warmer climates.”

“Sometimes, they just get too hungry to make it down south, and so the poor bastards wind up swimming up into some yankee port like Boston or Baltimore. As soon as they see land, they swim up and take off running into the hills and onto the Appalachia to find food. Yankees always try their yankee dogs first, but they just don’t know how to train their dogs right in order to hunt polar bears. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to run old Buster in the middle of the night to the airport to save those yankee reputations. They always call for Buster because he is the elitist of the elite. I mean, just look at him…”

Buster stared straight ahead at the eight foot privacy fence blocking our view, his brown eyes as stony and blank as backgammon pieces.

The sailor smiled with pride, “Buster. What a noble creature.”

I hunched down to be eye level with the noble Buster and had to admit that, while his actual nobility is likely questionable, he looked magnificently powerful.

As if he could read my mind, the sailor spread his arms in the air over Buster, like he was presenting the dog at court.

He may have slipped in a barely perceptible bow as he continued.

“Just look at him. He is 85 pounds of pure muscle, not afraid of anything. You won’t find many 85 pound dogs who can stand their ground and stare down a polar bear. Go on, Boo Boo. Show the yankee lady what a real dog looks like. Give her your polar BEAR STARE!” The last two words were growled like a command, but it was tough to tell the difference between Buster’s BEAR STARE and the previous blank look on his face. I will say that he didn’t move a muscle and certainly did not seem concerned about getting taken down by any polar bears.

It should be noted that at this point, I was not stoned or medicated. And in my defense, I definitely was not yet convinced that Buster was the elitist of the elite polar bear hunting dogs in South Carolina, but I also must admit that I was very intrigued by the possibility that he might be. So I dug a little deeper.

“So, you’re telling me that polar bears have started floating down the East Coast on icebergs? Really? I can’t believe I haven’t heard of that before.” At this point I was definitely second guessing my decision to stop watching the news two years ago.

“What?” He gave me that ‘what rock have you been living under?’ look. “It’s happening everywhere. Dontcha yankees watch the news up there?”

Looking back now, I realize that a lot of the people I assumed would smoke themselves into homelessness by their mid-20s, actually went on to become very successful. Most of them took very interesting paths.

Many of them are successful in the arts as well as technology, business, and even politics.

The Spicolis of my youth now populate all the mainstream success areas we were told to target in high school and college.

When I admitted that I didn’t actually watch the news, he tipped his cap back, whistled a long slow whistle and then smiled. Looking back I understand why.

“Global warming!” he exclaimed. “Those damn liberals are constantly showing off those rescued polar bears on the liberal news. I can’t believe you yankees aren’t dressing them up in outfits as soon as they hit land and handing them out to bleeding hearts as their global warming party door prize. I know they’ve given a few away in California - little ones. Most go to the zoo.

Hell, how did you think we got polar bears in the zoo? If it weren’t for hunters like Buster, we’d only have black bears.”

I’d never thought about how we got polar bears at the zoo.

I assumed they were bred in captivity. This was starting to get really interesting. “How does one get trained to be a polar bear hunting dog?” I asked.

“Well, you gotta be picked. See, it takes a very special dog with very particular markings and a very rare disposition to hunt polar bears. They’re just the best trained dog out there. They make a lot of money if you let ‘em hunt. Very prestigious to have one of these dogs, I’ll tell ya. You’re lucky to be sitting here with him. You’ll have something to tell your grandkids.”

I nodded, feeling lucky. “So, how’d Buster get picked?” When he heard his name, Buster didn’t budge, unlike my dog, who starts yapping whenever he hears his name or a drawer shut. It was hard to tell if Buster was even breathing.

Again, is smoking pot making me stupid?

I don’t know. I do know that I have been telling my kids for years that Cannabis use impacts brain development, and so they should definitely abstain until their brain is fully developed in their early 20s. Is that true? I don’t know. I don’t think I made it up, but at the same time, I can’t quote the studies.

Looking back now, I realize that a lot of the people I assumed would smoke themselves into homelessness by their mid-20s, actually went on to become very successful. Most of them took very interesting paths. Many of them are successful in the arts as well as technology, business, and even politics. The Spicolis of my youth now populate all the mainstream success areas we were told to target in high school and college.

But, I just can’t shake off the concern I have.

That persistent question that rattles around my brain every time it takes me 20 minutes to find the keys that I was holding in my hands the whole time. Or when I pour myself another cup of coffee, only to realize I’d already done so twice - and both full cups are on my desk.

Is smoking cannabis making me stupid?”

Maybe. Maybe not. At this point, I’ve decided that I don’t care either way. Do I find myself being the butt of family jokes because I do a lot of dumb things? Yes. Do people laugh at me when I admit that I believed in Buster the elite polar bear hunting dog for four days before the sailor admitted he was just seeing how far he could take it? Absolutely.

But, here’s the thing. People are laughing. So they’re laughing at me? With me? Who cares? I’m laughing too. It makes me happy to spread laughter, especially considering the global warming threat. I used to be upset over everything all the time, but now I don’t notice things upset me so much. Maybe I’m just not noticing them at all, but again, who cares? I’m less stressed and anxious now, less worried about things I can’t control. Do I think I’ve become spacier? Maybe sometimes, but I’ve also noticed that the artistic side of my brain has reopened and expanded since I became a Cannabis user.

All of this has improved my quality of life and made me a happier person. And, when all is said and done, I’ll take dumb and happy over brilliant and miserable - any day of the week.

SUBMITTED

to MARYLAND LEAF

45

STONEY BALONEy

46

The Ultimate High-Five leafnationmd.com

You don’t have to have a degree in communications to know that one of the most positive connections between two people is the high-five. And by the way, if you do have a communications degree, expect a career in sales. Which leads to closing deals. Which leads to high-fives. . .

All things that are celebrated in the world can be substantiated by a sturdy overhead slapping of hands. Because when you think about it from a molecular level, it is a surefire stream of energy produced by opposing palms, creating a small lightning bolt of particles popping like a summer sparkler - undetectable by the naked eye, but dazzling to the open mind.

It’s like a human nuclear reactor. High-fives can power the world.

My shrink once told me that he went to a silent retreat where no one speaks, and constant meditation is the prescribed medication. I wonder if high-fives were allowed?

Or if they were considered a distraction because too much exuberance might upset the collective healing. I’m imagining a NO HIGH-FIVES sign. Sounds like hell. High fives are not a crime. And neither is skateboarding. Do they allow high-fives in prison?

The high-five is a true modern form of expression. It represents democracy.

You know, some goofballs in college officially initiated a National High-Five Day and it’s on the third Thursday of April every year. April is a good month. On the third Thursday you get a high-five, and if that third Thursday falls on 4/20 you have the hiiiiiiiigh-five.

Note: This only qualifies if you are using Cannabis with four friends. If you’re not, then you’re blowing a wonderful opportunity and desperately need to reevaluate your principals.

sept. 2019

More episodes at stoney-baloney.com

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