NUG Magazine Issue 24

PUBLISHER’SLETTER SEPTEMBER 2011 VOL. 3 ISSUE #9

September has arrived, but the weather still feels like we are in full summer swing! But this month means back to school for some, and living by SDSU, I can see the return of the college kids by the droves.

NUG Magazine Staff: Publisher: Ben G. Rowin

Associate Publisher: M.J. Smith Editor: Dion Markgraaff Associate Editor: George Alberts Administrative Assistant: Gio Blitz Photographers: Gio Blitz, Eric Fowler, Jennifer Martinez, Chris Konecki, SCR Photos, Ashley Parda, Brom Richey, Brian Walnum Videographer: Chris Gabriel, NS Entertainment Contributors: “SD OG Grower”, Dion Markgraaff, Canna Chef Kim, Eugene Davidovich, Marc Emmelmann, Pamela Jayne, Tiffany Janay, Leo E. Laurence, J.D., Jed Sanders, George Alberts, Robert Stinson, R.J. Villa, SD Liz, Bahareh, Mel The Bumbling Gardener, Simon Eddisbury, Esther Rubio-Sheffrey, Aaron Evans, Brom Richey, Marco Alvarez, Sharon Letts, My Key Way, Jon Block, Rachel Anders, Scott Whytsell, Dionne Payn, Medicinal Michael Boris, Abner Nevarez Comics: Joshua Boulet, Georgia Peschel Sales Director: Ben G. Rowin Advertising Sales Reps: Dion Markgraaff, Eugene Davidovich, Brom Richey, Kirk L., Jordan D., Hashley, Gio Blitz Art Director: Ian Rie

We have another slam packed issue for all you San Diego readers. We are SUPER excited to be launching another version of NUG Magazine, which will be distributed in Arizona and Colorado beginning this month.

We are stoked to have some coverage on an amazing activist, Joan Bello, as well as a very interesting article about hemp homes in South Africa. We also want to welcome our new contributors, Rachel Anders and her fiancé Scotty B, who some of you may remember from our first year as our travel writer; he’s back on the team! The two of them hit the ball out of the park with their article on Chronic Tacos this month. I also want to welcome a familiar face, Medicinal Mike of www.nugliferadio.com, to the editorial team; he will be keeping you updated on our partnership with Nug Life and all things radio! “If it ain’t Med

Mike, it AIN’T NUG!” Pamela caught up with Mary from one of her first Patient Profiles and is sharing an amazing update to Mary’s story that I know all of you will enjoy just as much as I did. Esther Rubio-Sheffrey covers the activism for this month with a great article about the PCACA (Patients Care Association of California) and the CPR (Citizens for Patients Rights), who raised enough signatures to effectively block the terrible dispensary ordinance.

Of course, we have some of the usual suspects, like Aaron Evans and his outstanding Perpetual Motion column; the Chronisseur reviewing some grower-direct samples; and of course, music, music, music!!! For our local music, we covered The Dudez and Cathouse Thursday, and our national band this month is Rootz Underground. But this month, we also have the first ever “Editorial” written by Dion Markgraaff, who came back into the country for a few weeks to assist in getting the new AZ/CO edition together.

As always, I hope you enjoy the issue and we’ll be keeping them coming month after month! Thanks for picking up San Diego’s ORIGINAL Cannabis Publication!

-Ben G. Rowin

Finance Manager: M.J. Smith Marketing Manager: Marc Emmelmann

Distribution/Subscriptions: Beau’s Distribution Service info@beausdistribution.com NUG Magazine Staff Contact Information: 9880 N. Magnolia Ave #168 Santee, Ca 92071 (619) 616-4961 For general information or to reach our Publisher: info@nugmag.com For all art/design information: art@nugmag.com For all editorial related information: info@nugmag.com For submissions: submit@nugmag.com NUG Magazine is published and distributed by NUG Magazine LLC. All contents are for entertainment and educational purposes only and are intended for mature audiences. We are not responsible for any actions taken by our readers nor do we condone any illegal activity. Advertisers are responsible for their own ads and content. All opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily of the magazine. All submissions become our property and may be used for publication. At times we may use materials placed in the public domain. If you own it let us know and we will acknowledge you. Reproduction of any content is encouraged if you get permission from our Publisher.

All contents copyright. 2011

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CONTENTS

\\:READER SUBMISSION

16

\\:EDITORIAL

20

\\:ACTIVISM

24

\\:PATIENT PROFILE

28

\\:LEGAL EYES

32

\\:JOAN BELLO

35

56

39

60

\\:BPCC

\\:ALL-ONE ARK

43

\\:HEALTH & WELLNESS

46

\\:HEMP HOMES

50

\\:COOKING

53

\\:GROW

\\:GROWING W/ GAS

\\:CHRONISSEUR

70

\\:ROOTZ UNDERGROUND

76

\\:ARTIST PROFILE

80

\\:PERFORMING ARTS

86

\\:PRODUCT REVIEWS

READER SUBMISSION:

The world spun.

Colors blurred together and the wind rushed in .

It mixed the horizon, len ding land to sky.

Gravity released its ho ld, and now we flew.

It could not be seen wh ere bodies began and sk y stopped.

We became the wind an d the sky; Infinite and endless.

We were immortal, For a time.

But the spin did slow, and finally cease.

The colors did separate, and the wind’s rush su bsided.

Land and sky were pa rted, And the horizon was rig hted.

Reclaiming its power, Gravity took away our wings.

Once more we were only flesh and blood.

When the wind set us down, We were mortal again.

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By Dion Markgraaff World revolution is spinning faster than ever. Evolution of the revolution can be seen in San Diego’s cannabis community. Still, now is the time for more action, organization, and education, something you can do with NUG Magazine.

Technological communication, the bridge over the Babylon fence to cooperation among the peoples of the world, is ending day by day. When I was just flying around the world from Spain, coming back to San Diego, a young law student studying Croat and I got into a long discussion about world politics. Of course, I spoke about cannabis, in addition to my thoughts and experiences on a whole bunch of things. The biggest thing I took away from our conversation was how he already knew about Rick Simpson’s medical cannabis oil cure for cancer and Henry Ford’s 1941 hemp car. Information dissemination is at its height and climbing exponentially. Everyone is benefiting from one degree or another, but the ability to inform people about the truth of the cannabis plant is now greater than any time in our history. San Diego’s NUG Magazine is another shining example of this newly acquired ability.

Time for some (more) action This new collection of power, which NUG Magazine is a reflection of, means we all have a greater responsibility to further the process of changing the status quo and obtaining true cannabis freedom. In this movement, we must collectively push the “ball” (reality) over the goal line of ignorance. You must increase your quantity of H2O in the bucket on the scales of justice.

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A great example of the evolution in the cannabis revolution was the recent victory of citizens organizing to overturn the San Diego City’s ordinance that would have forced all currently operating medical cannabis collectives in the city to close their doors. Led by Craig Beresh of the California Cannabis Coalition (www.californiacannabiscoalition.org) and Randy Welty of the Patient Care Association (www. pcaca.org), these medical cannabis advocates successfully organized and gathered enough signatures (44,106) to force the city to overturn their own ordinance.

This great political victory was further confirmed on the front page of the Union Tribune in an article titled, “Mayor not out to shut down medical marijuana shops.”

The UT stated, “San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders will not increase efforts to shutter medical marijuana dispensaries, instead opting to preserve the status quo while collective operators look to forge their own path to legitimacy…..that Sanders has chosen not to engage in the contentious and potentially expensive process of regulating the proliferation of dispensaries should come as no surprise. City planners were not involved in drafting the regulations, which were slated to take effect without the mayor’s signature. The prospect of closing down collectives poses logistic and legal problems at a time when the city is straining to provide basic services. San Diego faces a $40 million deficit in a $1.1 billion operating budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012.”

However, the war is not over. In my hometown of Oceanside, one of the many battles continues (like in many other cities) as the government keeps fighting their own people’s need for access to their medicine. The North County Collective was just ordered to close because the local government has not bothered to zone for places 15 years after medical cannabis became legal in California…WTF!?!?

Oceanside is a big-time military community where the fraud of the “American Dream” really hits home for me. They send their sons and daughters, mothers and

fathers to war with nations – manipulated – fighting for gross economic gain of a few at the cost to everyone (even to the people who believe they are “winning”). For example, the City Council of Oceanside cut 1 of 4 ambulances the same week they decided their citizens (many of whom were injured fighting these false/made-up conflicts over stealing other people’s resources – i.e. oil, minerals, etc.) do not need local safe access to medical cannabis. So, not only do people there have less rights to cannabis, costing everyone more money (plus not making any taxes on the transactions that continue in the dark), but everyone who lives in Oceanside (or visits) has at least a 25% greater chance of not getting medical services and dying. WTF!?!?

We must continue to organize together to fight for our rights to cannabis freedom.

Cycle of economic cents - Support NUG NUG Magazine is a reflection of our community and an organizer of our economic collective efforts to stop the old ways of anti-cannabis stupidity. Through our advertisers, NUG is able to spread vital information that “floats all boats” by further educating society about the truth in the cannabis plant. Ultimately, however, it is you, the consumer, who is in the driver seat of this money formula. By supporting the people who advertise in this magazine, you are the farmer planting the seeds of change.

For $150, anyone can run a card size (1/8 of a page) ad, which will pay for 20,000 copies of NUG Magazine spread over 400 locations (including most 7-11’s, dispensaries, doctor offices, and other selective places) all over San Diego County. How can people in the cannabis industry (or people who live off the industry, i.e., lawyers, food places, grow shops, etc.) afford NOT to publish their information to their best consumers?

If you are spending your money at any place that does not support NUG, then you should explain to them the importance of contributing to our collective effort. If those same people are not wise enough to realize this, then you should spend your money at some places that do understand this vital equation. Our advertisers pay to make NUG Magazine free.

Think globally, but act locally with NUG Magazine Because you have helped NUG Magazine be successful here locally in San Diego, we are expanding the NUG revolution into Arizona and Colorado. We will continue our philosophies of promoting all the uses of cannabis and its consumers, as well as local artists and ideas. We need to keep educating others about cannabis for our own collective survival.

The world cannabis revolution is taking over again. The history of human beings using cannabis for so many vital things (i.e. transportation, food, clothing, construction, medicine, etc.) is coming back to dominate society, as it has been since our civilization began. However, we are not there yet and need everyone to do more to fight for our most basic rights.

As I sit here, back in Spain/Espańa, I wonder about the near future. Will the San Diego cannabis community continue to push forward? Or will we suffer foreseen setbacks? Will NUG Magazine continue to be successful in San Diego as well as in Arizona and Colorado? Will we see legalization somewhere in 2012? Will the United States government and the rest of the globe accept that the world is not flat; it is round, meaning cannabis is good?

This depends on the actions of you (the consumer), us (NUG Magazine), and everyone possible (dispensaries, grow shops, banks, food places, other businesses, the government, etc.) working together in a collectively, mutually beneficial relationship to one another to achieve cannabis freedom. Viva la revolución verde – support your NUG!

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Marijuana Advocates Strip City Council of Legislative Victory Article and Photos By Esther Rubio-Sheffrey

“I fought the law and the law won,” Joe Strummer sang in the late ‘70s when the Clash covered the famous rock n’ roll anthem. Generally, those lyrics tend to ring true. NUG’s previous coverage of the battle between medicinal marijuana advocates and city hall ended with a victorious city council leaving city chambers while a handful of activists linked arms and sang “We Shall Over Come” in protest.

On April 12th, the city council voted 5-2 in favor of enacting two land use ordinances that would effectively ban marijuana dispensaries citywide, forcing over 160 co-ops to close their doors and push any new dispensaries to industrial areas in the city’s outskirts. Before city officials could enact such policies, however, thousands of patients and more than 60 medical marijuana co-ops came together, raised almost $150,000, and gathered more than 46,000 signatures in order to qualify a referendum seeking the repeal of the ordinances.

“Sometimes you can be in awe with democracy. The system, thank goodness, sometimes works really well,” Councilmember David Alvarez said at the July 25th meeting. “In this case, the system has worked well.

The council enacted an ordinance that the people of San Diego clearly refute and do not accept. It is the intent of people who are the patients, advocates, and those who participated in this referendum process to enact an ordinance that provides for regulation and for some control going forward.”

Alvarez made the motion to repeal the ordinances and added, “I hope we can revisit this issue and enact an ordinance that includes all San Diegans and is fair to all the people who are impacted by this.”

Fighting the Law In the aftermath of the first vote in favor of the ordinances in March, it was clear to a handful of people that the city was leaning towards a ban.

Two organizations, the Patient Care Association of California (PCACA) and Citizens for Patients Rights (CPR), were created to mount a legal response.

On the condition of anonymity, a PCACA founding member shared that he and the other co-op managers and owners felt that no one was representing their economic interest. By the time the city council voted in April, the PCACA had more than 60 members with the objective of representing a singular, authoritative voice. Together, as of June 24th, their co-ops serve 46,504 verified patients. Many of those patients are CPR members and helped to mount an aggressive campaign against the proposed ban.

Armed with the knowledge that if they could obtain 31,029 valid voter signatures within 45 days, they had a legal and democrat way of fighting back against the ordinances, the PCACA and CPR quickly raised close to $150,000 through individual donations and four sponsors, one of which is San Diego’s weekly Reader. With those funds, among other things, the La Jolla Group, a professional signature-gathering firm, was hired to tally the official number of signatures collected. Another PCACA member, who requested to be referred to as Pat (out of concerns that he would be targeted by law enforcement officials because the dust has yet to settle on the issue of marijuana’s legality), said their intent was not to defy local government, but to prevent what they perceive as unfair ordinances from being enacted.

City law dictates that if a referendum qualifies, and the council decides to put the matter up for a vote, they must do so within 11 months of the signature verification date. Submitting signatures on May 27th was crucial because San Diego’s next election takes place June 2012, and that left a small enough gap to force the council to call for a special election; a move that could have cost our cash-strapped city an estimated $3.7 million.

However, in June, the city attorney’s office, citing state law rather than San Diego’s municipal code, allotted the city clerk an additional 30 days to verify the signatures. Although the city clerk did not use the full 30 days, this move saved the council from having to call for a special election and would have allowed for them to put the issue up for a vote during the June primary. Although not as expensive as a special election, the city clerk’s office estimated that placing the ordinances on the June primary could cost up to $841,000, if not more. Using a more conservative estimate of $745,000, the PCACA estimated that instead of using funds for an election, the city could pay annual salaries to 23.5 librarians, 19 firefighters, and 15 police officers.

The PCACA and CPA members also put out numerous figures on the effects that closing dispensaries would have on employment, safe access, local and state revenue taxes, and, not to mention, the numerous lawsuits in which the city would be forced to defend its ordinances. Their efforts, and those of the thousands of supporters, were successful.

A stereotype often bestowed upon “stoners” is that they are lazy and would rather get high than do something about anything. Yet, in the 103 days between the vote that approved the ordinances and their repeal on July 25th, marijuana advocates game together in an unprecedented manner, demonstrating to city officials that the marijuana community is capable of organizing, raising funds, and, more importantly, that there are many voters among them.

The Battle Continues As the council members briefly addressed the public before casting their vote; no one shared Alvarez’s enthusiasm for the democratic process, or his hopefulness that a future compromise would be possible. In fact, many sounded downright irritated at having their decision challenged.

While Alvarez attempted to control his puzzled look, Todd Gloria called the entire process discouraging. “I have severe doubts that this council will be able to reach a compromise on the issue, and there will be unintended consequences to this referendum. I hope for a better result, but I am not optimistic that there will be one,” Gloria said.

“We want to work with [the city] in finding a solution that works for everyone,” Pat said. “On behalf of the patients and on behalf of the laws we set up in this state for those patients, we felt taking action just made plain sense, as standing up for rights usually does. I am extremely proud of the work I have done with the [PCACA.] I almost cried on the last day we got the official signature tally.”

Sherri Lightner had plenty of questions for the city attorney regarding whether or not the council would be free to enact a ban, or, at the very least, place a moratorium on new permits until a decision could be reached. The city attorney and the city clerk both clarified that repealing the ordinances would mean no similar ordinance could be enacted for at least a year, but that a ban, in legal jargon, would be different. However, a ban and/or a moratorium would have to be voted on by the council.

While most people were enjoying the start of their Memorial Day weekend, the PCACA and CPR submitted 46,141 verified signatures to the city clerk. Confident their signatures would qualify, advocates knew the city council would have to do one of two things: repeal the ordinances, or let the public decide the ordinances’ fate through a vote. It was as much a celebration as it was a legal maneuver.

“I find this whole situation frustrating,” Lightner said. “Council staff worked long and hard to craft a compromise that allowed for safe access while protecting our neighborhoods and our children. The ordinance that this council approved struck that balance and was the best solution available. I worry that this is less about safe access for those who truly need medical marijuana and more about a big growing business that wants to be unfettered by common sense rules. The problem with going to the ballot on this issue is that it would provide no clarity whatsoever.” With that, she reluctantly cast her vote in favor to repeal.

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Carl DeMaio, who was absent from the April vote, but was one of two votes against the ordinances in March, pretty much took the opportunity to lecture both sides. Despite testimony from several of the 56 people who addressed the council and asked for regulation that did not eliminate safe access, DeMaio began by saying, “We have two camps. People who want very restrictive regulations, if not a complete ban, on medical marijuana dispensaries, and those who want fun and fancy free no regulation.” Many in the council chambers booed, forcing Council President Young to restore order.

DeMaio, like Lightner, went on to explain that letting the public vote on the ordinances would only cause confusion. Some voters, he argued, would vote against the ordinances because they feel it would not go far enough. Sounding much like a mayoral candidate, he went on to state a number of concerns, “If we don’t come up with some sort of safeguard, we’re going to be right back to where we are today; with no rules, no guidebook, no way to regulate, no way to do enforcement, no way to protect the public interest. This is not a victory for one side or another, this really sets us back.”

Marti Emerald and Young, on the other hand, both felt it should be up to the voters. “I understand that this is more restrictive than what some of the people who originally came to us had wanted, but as a city council, we’re not here just to pass ordinances or to do what we want,” Emerald said, stopping to also defend the ordinances, stating they have taken the needs of every community member into consideration. “If we take it to the ballot, we spend money; but, we have an opportunity to find out what the people of San Diego really think,” she added. “31,000 verified signatures are a lot, but there are more than 600,000 registered voters in the city. We [should] allow the voters to be heard.”

Young added that he did not want the council to set a precedent that would not give a large portion of citizens their right to vote. Nevertheless, with 6 to 2 in favor of repeal, the council cast their votes while many of the advocates in the chambers stood and clapped.

Round Two: The Battle Continues The council is on legislative leave until Sept. 12th, so at the moment no negotiations have begun. Meanwhile, the mayor has stated that he is not against medical marijuana, but his office refuses to help in the legislative process. Since the repeal, many have expressed an interest in re-establishing the Medical Marijuana Task Force to help enact legislation moving forward. Organizers sought the mayor’s participation as well as that of law enforcement officials, but those requests were denied.

“Based on the mayor’s philosophy, he feels that the city council, working with city planners, along with input from affected citizens as well as dispensary operators, can formulate a plan that can address everybody’s needs,” Ron Lacey said on behalf of the mayor’s office. Evidently, Sanders has not read the council meetings or, perhaps, is simply counting on the fact that he will soon be out of office.

For the moment, co-ops continue to provide safe access for marijuana patients, even though many city officials clearly stated that they are operating illegally under current zoning issues. It remains to be seen, though, whether District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, who, like DeMaio, is running for mayor, will support raids and prosecute offenders while things remain in limbo. It is clear, however, that the battle between marijuana’s legality and America’s finest is far from over, but July 25th was most definitely a victory for marijuana advocates.

Patient Profile: Mary Revisited By: Pamela Jayne What a blessing it was to revisit Mary this month.

The first time we met, I was pleasantly surprised by how vibrant and healthy she appeared, despite what the disease and treatment were doing to her body. A year later, she looks and sounds better than ever. As longtime readers may already know, Mary was the very first patient I interviewed and wrote about in the November 2010 issue of NUG Magazine. Since then, we have become friends, and my heart is filled with joy to bring you the wonderful news of how healthy she is today. But first, let me remind you of where Mary’s journey began.

She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 while being treated for multiple, very serious injuries sustained in a violent car crash. As soon as she was strong enough, the treatment for her cancer began. It included the requisite lumpectomy, six full months of chemotherapy, radiation every single day for 30 days straight, and infusions every three weeks. Willing to do whatever it took to remove the disease from her body, Mary followed the doctor’s orders, but she also took matters into her own hands; and after doing some research, she decided to use medical cannabis as part of her treatment plan. She knew that the poisonous chemotherapy and radiation were necessary to kill the cancer, but the multitude of pain medications she was prescribed only made a bad situation worse. So, she removed them from her daily regime and replaced them with cannabis. The results were even better than she had expected. Her nausea was reduced to a manageable level, which led to an increase in appetite and gave her more energy than I have ever heard of a cancer patient having. “This has been a fascinating journey,” Mary said in an earnest tone. “I have learned so much, and I am so happy that I made the choice to use something that was natural, not synthetic.”

Just like the first time we spoke, Mary was adamant about the necessity for all patients to have an advocate, someone who can go to the seemingly endless doctor’s appointments, deal with the mountains

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of paper work, be a voice for the patient who is often too weak and overwhelmed to speak for themselves, and to sometimes just simply be there. “Have an advocate if you need one. Be an advocate for someone who needs one.

Looking back at what I went through, I cannot imagine what I would have done without Bob.” Bob, as you may remember, is Mary’s husband of over 40 years. To see them together today, you would think that they were newlyweds. Come to think of it, after being given a second chance at life, in a way they are newlyweds and are living each and every moment to the fullest. Just like in our first interview, she still gets a bit misty-eyed when we talk about her family. I have had the pleasure of meeting Mary’s daughter and we both teared up as we talked about her. Beautiful, both inside and out, she will no doubt go on to do wonderful things, just like her mother.

Of course, I was curious what Mary had to say about those who still insist that cannabis has no medicinal value. “Take a walk in my shoes,” she quickly replied. “Unless you have ‘been there,’ and experienced the things that I have experienced, then you have no right to say that it doesn’t work for me.” She went on to explain, in a way that only someone who has been through a life-threatening illness can, “What would it really hurt for somebody who is suffering to at least have the chance to try something different? Even if cannabis doesn’t work for them the way it did for me, they should at least be given the opportunity to give it a try.”

Imagine how much easier life would be for medical cannabis patients across the United States if our government had as much common sense and compassion as Mary does.

Mary reflected on all that she has endured, both physically and emotionally, over the past several years saying, “Sometimes you are put in a certain position for a reason. If I can share my experience and the information that I have learned, I want to do that because people have certainly done that for me.” She spoke specifically about the only collective she has ever been a patient of, The Green Door Collective on Adams Avenue. “Again, I want to tell them to never stop doing what they are doing. The services that they provide are so important.”

Surprisingly, Mary has still never smoked marijuana (and never plans to); she has only used cannabis in food – nutritious, whole, healthy food that is handmade in her own kitchen. If in the future she needs to once again use cannabis as medicine, she will not hesitate to do so. After the results she has seen in her own health, she is a firm believer in the healing power of the plant. While we are on the subject of food, have I mentioned that Mary can COOK?!

Black beans may be a simple dish for most, but what Mary does with them is pure, delicious genius.

Mary will be returning to work very soon as an international flight attendant with a major airline, traveling to Argentina, Paris, and other renowned destinations. Not only will she be visiting these beautiful locations, but she plans to paraglide in at least one of the cities. When I pointed out that she could paraglide right here in San Diego, she said, “Well yeah, I guess I’ll do that too.” I suppose that when you’ve been through what she has, jumping off a cliff and trusting nothing more than the wind and a kite is really not that big of a deal! I look forward to hearing about her adventure…with both of my chicken-shit feet planted firmly on the ground, that is. Because she has been an exemplary employee with her company for over 40 years now, Mary is allowed to pick and choose her schedule. Not unlike how she chose her own destiny by taking control of her cancer treatment, she gets to decide when and where she flies.

Even though Mary’s story was blessed with a happy ending, it is still not an easy tale to tell, because there are so many who are not so fortunate. So I hope that you will all remember to count your blessings, help those who are in need of help, and most importantly, never give up hope. Oh, and one more thing…Thank you Mary for sharing your journey with us and for making our world a better place.

By: Pamela Jayne If you should ever find yourself in the daunting surroundings of a courtroom with your freedom in the hands of 12 of your peers, Mark Bluemel is the lawyer you want to be sitting next to as the jury files into the courtroom to deliver their verdict. With 15 years as a successful trial lawyer under his belt, and the steadfast belief that all medical cannabis defendants are not only innocent, but are actually political prisoners, his passion for protecting the rights of his clients is unparalleled in the legal community.

Unlike the stereotype we tend to associate with attorneys, Mark did not pursue his career path for the sake of nurturing his own ego. A self-described nerd, he has an Associate Degree in marine technology, a BS in Biology, a BA in Literature, and a JD (the professional graduate degree required to practice law in the United States).

“Trial work, for me, is very rewarding. I compare it to surfing big waves without the fear of drowning. It is the ultimate adrenaline rush.” The more I thought about this analogy, the more I realized how spot-on it is. Medical cannabis patients and their providers are basically afloat in the open ocean and the only hope in sight is an experienced and skilled attorney, like Mark. Facing unknown depths, both physical and emotional exhaustion, and being circled by sharks, trustworthy legal representation is the only thing that keeps them from certain death. To those who have never been in this situation, this scenario may seem like a bit of a hyperbole, but for those who have had the misfortune of being in the defendant’s seat, you know exactly what I am talking about.

Mark has provided counsel to many notable members of the medical cannabis community, such as the late Steve McWilliams, who was a causality of the horrible failure known as the War on Drugs; burn victim, hero, and survivor of the Cedar Fire, Rudy Reyes; the San Diego chapter of NORML, as well as numerous other patients, caregivers, and collective operators. While most of his clients are not household names, they are all equally important to Mark. Although his practice is not limited to cannabis law, he does say that those cases are some of the most personally rewarding because, “I truly feel that they are innocent, and I think that they are political prisoners – their government is persecuting them (at least in California) for obeying the law of the land. That is the very definition of a political prisoner.” He went on to explain that even though medical cannabis is legal in the state of California, it does not mean there is no risk involved. “Unfortunately, everyone involved in medical marijuana has the federal government to fear. I would never tell a client otherwise.”

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City Council

Meeting Agen

da

Mark is more than just a lawyer; he was the only practicing attorney to hold a seat on San Diego’s Medical Marijuana Task Force, which was commissioned from early 2010 until October of 2010. About that experience, he says, “I was disappointed that our recommendations were not followed; however, it was very rewarding to see the community come together to pass the referendum.”

The law is not the only thing Mark is passionate about. 12 years ago, he started a foundation called C.Y.C.L.E (Celebrating Youth Choosing Learning Excellence), which awards free bicycles, helmets, and bicycle locks to students in Lincoln Park who excel in math and/or science. He did this because, in his words, “An ignorance of science is an invitation for injustice.”

I was shocked as Mark told me of several occasions, while in a court of law, when he relied on his education in science to prove false the testimony of so-called scientific experts while on the stand. Apparently, the term “expert” is used very loosely in our justice system.

In Mark’s opinion, the most important element of the criminal justice system is the jurors. In his experience, those called to jury duty are largely in favor of patients’ rights to safe access to medical cannabis. Mark cited a study done by MPP (Marijuana Policy Project), which found that 72% of San Diego County citizens are in favor of medical cannabis. On one level, this is very good news for our cause; but while preparing for trial and choosing the jury, these people are often challenged by the prosecution and sent home, unable to serve on a medical cannabis case. (To be clear, it is illegal to lie under oath, and Mark wants all NUG readers to know that he strongly advises all prospective jurors to be honest about everything when in court.)

On a lighter note, Mark is also a published author of a series of books called, “The Grommets,” geared towards children 8-12 years old. His goal in writing the books was to dispel the stereotype of the ‘Spicoli’ type, lazy surf-dude, and to show that people of all ages who surf are normal, intelligent, and contributing members of society. In a lighthearted, candid moment, Mark said, “Most of the guys I see while I’m out surfing are chubby; they don’t have blonde hair…Some don’t have any hair, and we all leave the water when it’s time to go to the office.” While on the subject of stereotypes, Mark expressed his disappointment with those who, while well-intentioned, sometimes represent the medical cannabis community in a not so favorable manner. His point is that there is a time and a place for everything, and we should recognize that the way we dress and behave while attending city council hearings reflects the entire community. In a nutshell, leave the patchouli at home, and when speaking to the media, refrain from using phrases such as, “You know, man.” and “This is bullshit.” He has a valid point, whether you want to accept it or not. Those who are the face of the movement must realize that they are responsible for representing those who are unable to publicly speak for themselves, and that is a huge responsibility. “It’s like this,” Mark says. “You wouldn’t apply Preparation H in public, so why would you medicate with cannabis in public?” Pain in the ass aside, he is absolutely right. With rights, come responsibilities. For every tie-dyed wearing, sign holding activist, there are at least a hundred patients who are unable to attend rallies and protests because they are at work, in school, or just too ill to protest. Mark realizes, of

Legal Eyes: Mark Robert Bluemel course, those who take the time to attend rallies, hearings, and protests are a vital part of this movement, and he has the utmost respect for their efforts.

Back to the heart of the matter, Mark is particularly compassionate towards his clients who are medical cannabis patients because he believes that they have been set up by the system to fail, no matter how hard they try to operate within the law. “It is a terrifying experience for a patient who has never been exposed to the criminal justice system,” he says. “These are good people who have never had any police contact, and then one day they open their door to find a 20-person SWAT team screaming in their faces with guns pointed directly at them. Their home, their personal space is violated, and their property is destroyed.” As we talked more about why Mark chooses to represent medical cannabis patients, he said, “First of all, patients are weaker simply by virtue of the fact that they are patients with medical issues. I have a personal problem with bullies, and the system acts as a big bully towards patients. Besides, I know for a fact that the vast majority of medical cannabis patients are law-abiding, good people.”

Mark says that he learned how to effectively represent his clients during his time working with famed attorney and founder of The Trial Lawyers College, Gerry Spence, who taught Mark that he must put himself in his client’s shoes in order to feel empathy for them. It was Gerry Spence who also taught him to, “Be real, be honest, be truthful, and be yourself.” As to why he believes that medical cannabis use is so openly demonized by the government, Mark refers to another one of his mentors, Tony Serra, who said,

“People who use marijuana tend to be open-minded, artistic and creative. They are more likely to question authority, and the government does not want that.”

To contact Mark Bluemel for legal representation: www.SDlegalneeds.com (619)220-0466 4452 Park Blvd.

Suite 203 San Diego, CA 92116

Mark with attorneys Gerry Spence and Tony Serra

Cannabis: Miracle Cure?

By: Simon Eddisbury

Cannabis is a much-maligned substance. Politicians and antidrug campaigners have been quick to point out the various negative effects that it can bring about, but yet, very few are willing to champion its numerous beneficial properties. The stigma attached to openly stating that marijuana has medicinal value has led to a gross imbalance in the way that its relationship to a person’s health is reported. We hear a lot about the harm that it can cause, but very little about its application as a form of treatment. Fortunately, cannabis journalist and lifelong marijuana advocate, Joan Bello, has dedicated her life to presenting the other side of the argument. She has campaigned tirelessly to publicize the many potential benefits that the cannabis plant can yield and written a multitude of books about the subject, including the critically acclaimed, “The Benefits of Cannabis.” I was fortunate enough to be granted the opportunity to interview her about her work and find out exactly why she holds cannabis in such high regard…

First of all, introduce yourself and tell me a bit about your work.

By way of introducing myself, I will say first and foremost that I am an advocate for spreading the truth about the cannabis sativa plant. I have been a researcher and a participant in this movement for the past 40 years, ever since I discovered the medicinal properties and the possibilities of marijuana as an impetus to spiritual growth. I am a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a marijuana grower, an author, and a constant student of the seemingly endless benefits of this magnificent plant. I am a pretty, scholarly type. I’m a teacher and counsellor with an MSc in Eastern Studies and Holistic Health, which was obtained after realizing the link between cannabis and Eastern philosophy.

For a few years, I dabbled in political action, but was very disillusioned with the reality that profit runs everything. It was too confrontational and a slow process. My husband and I eventually retired to the country where we live among the mountains and have lots of pets but few neighbours. We are both around seventy and very physically fit. Actually, the physical pains of youth have disappeared. I attribute our health to constant and daily marijuana smoking as well as a vegetarian diet.

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How did you first become aware of the medicinal properties of marijuana and what inspired you to write about them?

In 1971, my son developed epilepsy, and the poisons and foolishness that the medical profession subjected him to sent me searching for alternative answers. I was a new marijuana smoker and grower at the time and was completely enthralled with the mental awareness and feeling of wonder that the plant gave me. I am a catholic school graduate, which pretty much guarantees being a rebel and anti-catholic in adulthood, so I looked to Eastern philosophy for answers. Somewhere I found a reference to ‘bhang’ [a preparation from the leaves and buds of female cannabis plants, smoked in the Indian subcontinent] with regards to curing epilepsy, which was all I needed. I took my son to a hotel, afraid that I would lose him and lose my house if I was caught, and began his initiation into the world of marijuana medicine. It worked! Its effects took place very slowly, but obviously, the success of the treatment caused me to begin my formal studies at an ashram [a building used for Indian spiritual activity or instruction] for my Master’s in Eastern philosophy. Everything I learned about yoga was intense and correct and a perfect fit with the effects that I was documenting about marijuana. Writing my book just came without effort – I knew what I had to say. When people talk about inspired writing, I know just what they mean. ‘The Benefits of Marijuana’ was inspired and the pen just flew across the page. It’s not nearly as easy anymore.

You have spoken of the benefits that smoking cannabis can give to war veterans with post-traumatic stress syndrome. Can you say a little bit more about this?

In some states, the law allows veterans with PTSD to obtain marijuana by a doctor’s recommendation. This is because of all the positive proof that it helps and all of the veterans who have carried on loudly telling the truth as often as possible. In other states, it is illegal. Medically speaking, there is no doubt that marijuana resets the destabilized amygdala region of the brain where emotional memories are stored. I have written extensively about this topic in the final edition of ‘The Benefits of Marijuana.’

Why do you think so few people are prepared to talk about the positive applications of cannabis?

Funny isn’t it? Everyone knows the truth, but no one will talk about it. There is so much fear of being fired if the wrong person finds out. There’s a sheep mentality and it’s hard to change or admit that the knowledge is contradictory to what you were taught and swallowed. Downright fear and ignorance covers it all, but I am hopeful that the youth know much more about marijuana than their parents and that they are not afraid to talk about it. I don’t think that will change the laws though. Only more profit is a fuel for change.

Can you say a bit about the benefits of marijuana therapy, as described in your book ‘The Benefits of Marijuana’?

In the late ‘80s, there was no such thing as medical marijuana. That idea came later. I originally wrote about the general benefits of marijuana and, later on, started to use ‘marijuana therapy’ as a description of how to use marijuana to feel better physically and mentally and, thereby, allow for spiritual emergence.

Do you think that by preventing this spiritual emergence, the authorities are stifling religious freedom?

From an esoteric point of view, religious freedom is not associated with spiritual evolution, but in the cultural sense of what is meant by religion, then the answer is yes. It is just as holy to smoke marijuana as it is to drink blood or wine or whatever is your ilk. There have been a number of attempts to bring suits for marijuana as sacrament in various courts in the U.S., but all to no avail. But it is the intellectual freedom of the mind that is really being stifled.

We are being steered into the tunnels of convenient thought while some of us are escaping. Marijuana is helping us to be ourselves.

The government is supposed to be a buffer for the people. In our country, it is supposed to be the government representing the people against corporate greed and injustice, but it is just the opposite. The money folk and the government folk are against the interests of common folk. If it suits the government to house political prisoners with violent criminals to save money, then so be it. It is a terrorist tactic – ‘get in line or else.’ If we realize that the only way to fight a powerful moneyed structure is to cost it money, then we will be more effective.

Boycotts and strikes would be far more effective than trying to pass bills or writing blogs. The only problem is that there is no big block of citizens willing to give anything up. Every group has its own agenda and there is no unity, so we have confusion and we are controlled.

You have experience as a substance abuse counsellor. How did this fit in with your views on marijuana?

I worked mostly for the government, so my clients had no choice but to come to their sessions. I had to throw away numerous failed urine analyses because I would not be instrumental in jailing a person for ingesting a substance. The You served five months in jail for possession of marijuana. clients and I became friends and I spent lots of time advocating on their behalf What exactly happened? and teaching them about the benefits of marijuana.

The crime was logically constructed from the fact that the police found marijuana and I was the likely owner; and I was, although the whole case was What has the response been like to the books you have writconstructed because of who I was and because of the fact that I had written ten? a scandalous book. Of course, it’s no longer scandalous, as it has been Always astoundingly supportive. Readers often write to me and thank me or proven true many times over. As for my time inside the county jail, it was ask me questions. great for the movement. I did lots of writing for the now defunct ‘Holy Smoke’ magazine, I was interviewed by ‘High Times’ magazine, and I was a hero Finally, what are you working on at the moment and what can to the other women. However, it caused great hardship to my family, took your readers expect from you in the future? away any monetary security that we had, stopped me from ever teaching or The first of the two books coming out is ‘Introduction to The Yoga of Marijuana,’ counselling again, and lit an enduring fire in my soul to fight the power until which is exactly what it says it is – a very long introduction to the vast topic of my last breath, although no longer politically, but now with the might of the The Yoga of Marijuana. The second is ‘How Marijuana Cures Cancer,’ which is keyboard and the inspiration of marijuana. a documented scientific explanation of the inner workings of the cannabinoids, explaining how the cannabinoid system is restored with marijuana therapy.

What do you think about the fact that the government is willing to lock somebody up alongside violent criminals just for The Benefits of Marijuana is available from CreateSpace Pubsmoking cannabis? lishing, priced at $14.35.

“We’ve now been at the same location for over 10 years. We have a great team of people here who are really focused on helping patients get the medicine that works best for them.

We are all patients ourselves and we pride ourselves on having the best quality medicine, taking the time to make sure patients get the assistance and care that they deserve.”

Journey to the East Bay: Berkeley Patients Care Collective Article and Photos By R.J. Villa

The University of California Berkeley’s blue and gold colors were flying proud up and down the college area. All my visits to the East Bay always remind me of my college days: good road trips up the coast, concerts at The Greek, the healthy and organic eats up and down Telegraph and College. My journeys are accentuated, of course, by the top shelf medication that is always available in the East Bay. Every trip to Berkeley, a fellow friend and patient would tell me to visit Berkeley Patients Care Collective and check out the quality. With school back in session this September, I thought I would take a trip to my friend’s old stomping grounds. My walk down Telegraph to PCC reminded me a lot of Camden Town, London. I passed by a few cafés, glass shops, great record stores, pushy street vendors, trendy clothing shops, OGK and busking musicians on every corner.

The Berkeley Patients Care Collective was established a decade ago to provide the highest quality medical cannabis, along with personalized service and information, in order to help patients get the most from their medicine. This patient-focused strategy has shaped the PCC from the beginning. Turning back the clock to 2001, the only place in the country where you could find a medical marijuana dispensary was in Northern California.

There were only a few operating at that time. Public perception and the political climate were not nearly as tolerant or as compassionate as they are today. Each and every month brought news reports of DEA harassment. Through the SUPER Berkeley Patients Care Collective’s resolve LEMON HAZE and dedication, they have kept their doors open and continued to treat and educate patients in the East Bay. In 2002, they had a helping hand in founding Americans for Safe Access (ASA).

“Not only have they spent a decade providing safe and affordable access to medical cannabis, but they are true pioneers,” said Steph Sherer, Executive Director of ASA in Washington, D.C. in the PCC’s 10th anniversary press release back in April. “The PCC was a founding member of ASA and helped create the nation’s first medical cannabis distribution laws. Thank you for all that you do. Your work has inspired a national movement.”

“We opened on April 4, 2001,” said Erik Miller, Berkeley Patients Care Collective spokesperson and manager.

Standing outside the door of the Berkeley Patients Care Collective, I was greeted by one of their security guards and handed him my recommendation and California ID. Once I was let in, I was greeted by the collective’s extremely helpful and friendly receptionist. I filled out the paperwork as she briefly went over the standard rules, literature and services that the collective had to offer. The size of the collective was smaller than what I was expecting, but some of my favorite collectives are those small hidden gems. The steady flow and high volume of patients that had cycled through just during my visit was a solid testament to the loyalty of their local patients.

The PCC’s mission is to provide a healthy, safe and educational place for patients to procure and learn more about their medicine. They subscribe to the quality over quantity philosophy: that the highest quality medicine will work most effectively, and less quantity will be needed.

When I approached the dispensary counter, I was greeted by David Bowers, another PCC manager. He had quite an extensive knowledge of the high quality medication, flowers, concentrates and edibles they had available. He explained how everything they had was ONLY top shelf quality, no mid-level medication. Edibles were high potency. The flowers were offered in gram and eighth increments, with the concentrates available in grams and half grams for the heavier doses. All prices listed on their menu include Berkeley’s 12.5% medical marijuana sales tax. Respecting their elders, patients over the age of 60 receive a senior discount.

All that the PCC carried were top notch strains; I wanted to write about all of them. However, these are the nugs, concentrates and edibles that we will take a closer look at:

I had a chance to try their OG Kush ‘Jar Special’. It was that true lung expansive, behind the eyes, pine cleaner aroma we all look for in a well done OG Kush. Definitely more of a body effect with some headiness to it.

Next on the list was their Super Lemon Haze. This sativa dominant strain was a Lemon Skunk crossed with Super Silver Haze. It tasted like a subtle lemon candy without the bitterness. Its effects had a solid balance of head and body. This would be a great daytime medication as I found it to have a clean, creative and energetic high. It was great for being socially active, getting tasks done, and diving head first into your chosen craft. It hits quickly and had a nice, gradual, tapering off effect towards the end – Tasty.

Crystals, Jurassic Amber Crystals, Blueberry Kush X Raspberry Kush Hash, Sour Diesel Hash, Black Dream Kief and Pure Kush Kief.

It has been a while since I have come across a XJ-13 worth picking up. I always loved the Jack Herer crossed with G-13 strain. I find its effects to be longer lasting as well as very calming and clear. One look through the display and it was a no brainer; I was grabbing a bag of it. The familiar Jack Herer smell with a nice G-13 flavor brought me back to when I first came across both strains. One hit was like listening to an old 90’s mixtape you just found under the car seat. It was very creative, thought firing and not your nighttime mediation if you are planning on going to bed any time soon.

PCC has released strain specific collector cards aimed at providing information about cannabis strains in an accessible way. The cards made their first appearance at the International Cannabis and Hemp Expo at San Francisco’s Cow Palace Arena back in April 2010. The cards were then shown the following weekend at the THC Exposé at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The cards feature high quality photos, which were taken at the PCC, along with genetic, flavor, effect, and medicinal use information for each of the strains showcased. An innovative design and a distinctive foil stamping really set the cards apart as individual works of art, featuring strains like OG Kush, Jack Herer, Grand Daddy Purple, Afghani Goo, Cheese, Headband, Strawberry Kush, Blue Dream, Romulan and Sour Diesel.

XJ13

“The trading cards were designed as a fun way to help patients learn about the different varieties of medical cannabis,” said Bowers in a press release.

“We are excited to see more awareness about the many benefits of cannabis, and we are going to do our best to educate ourselves and others about this amazing medicine.”

Berkeley Patients Care Collective has been operating in the East Bay for over a decade now. They are a part of the history of collectives in California and a solid part of the medical marijuana community. Furthering the movement has always been in their sights. They had a helping hand in founding Americans for Safe Access and are providing education and medication to their patients.

AMBER CRYSTALS It has always been their mission since the beginning. The PCC is always participating in medical marijuana expos and planning for the future.

“We will have a booth at the International Cannabis and Hemp Expo in downtown Oakland on September 3rd and 4th,” added Miller. “We are also working on a side project; a revolutionary system to help dispensaries procure their medicine. It is top secret for now, but details will be coming soon.”

Berkeley Patients Care Collective 2590 Telegraph Ave (Between Blake and Parker) Berkeley, CA 94704 510.540.7878 Monday-Saturday 12PM-7PM

Their concentrates were definitely worth highlighting. The PCC has one of the widest selections of concentrates, cold water hashes, crystals, full melts, kiefs and oils I have seen.

I only had a chance to try a few, but after sampling them I knew I was going to be back again. Their Amber Crystals were a potent concentrate that had a brown sugar consistency at first inspection; but, under the microscope they look like amber crystal, glasslike shards. The heavy high it carried was instant and left me properly sedated.

For those who love their waxes, I sampled their Delta-9 Butane Extracted Vacuum Purged Wax. This was made from their Royal Kush strain. You could not have it any better unless you are as close to the source as possible. This wax was made by the latest methods of butane extraction vacuum purging. It burns on the skillet nice and clean, bubbling nicely and leaving no traces of residue behind.

Their Kushmills Triple Double Truffle concentrate took the cake in sedation and night ending medication. It is to be handled with care, as overmedicating with it is easily done.

Bowers explained to me that it was a blend of six separate amber crystals, hashes, and kiefs. It’s effective and great in a vaporizer, lined in a joint, or even sprinkled as a topper on your bowl. This blend is a guaranteed high, even for those with the highest of tolerances. The six pieces that make this heavy and well respected blend are Blueberry Haze Amber 36 | NUGMAG.COM

The Berkeley Patients Care Collective was established in 2001 to provide the highest quality medical cannabis, along with personalized service and information to help patients get the most from their medicine. For more information or to see an updated menu please visit their website www.berkeleypatientscare.com

Dr. Bronner’s All-One Ark educating through clean fun

By Abner Nevarez and Dion Markgraaff

Dr. Bronner’s Magic All-One has taken on one of the most creative, entertaining, and educational endeavors: an “edutainment” experience, better coined as an “interblastive foam experience,” by David Bronner, President of the 63-year-old castile soap brand out of San Diego. The All-One Ark is a gigantic bathtub/shower that is accompanied by a renovated, colorful and “psychedelic” fire truck. The Ark has been blasting thousands of festival-goers throughout the country with organic fair trade soap.

If you come across the Dr. Bronner’s All-One Ark, you’ll witness participants blasting each other with some castile soap suds to the point where everyone looks like Frosty the Snowman; after which time, you’ll rinse off the peppermint scented foam. Just as important, this spa experience is ecologically friendly by only using a third of the water that a normal shower would use. Music festival-goers appreciate the benefits of the Ark on many levels: water conservation, being festive, and the service of cleaning themselves while entertaining and educating one another about environmentalism, organics, and fair trade issues/solutions.

In addition to this rave like shower experience, look out for the mobile food cart, All-One Kitchen, which travels with the Ark to events up and down the west coast. Its specialties include organic and fair trade vegan food made with Dr. Bronner’s newly launched virgin fair trade organic coconut oils (white and whole kernel versions).

The Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap Company is a huge supporter of industrial hemp and medical cannabis. Over the recent years, they have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars defending hemp products in court and promoting hemp through the Hemp Industry Association (HIA). Inspired by one of the original NUG Magazine articles on San Diego’s hemp industry in the early 20th century, the company started the now annual national event “Hemp History Week.” In addition, they have given thousands of dollars to ASA, NORML, MAPS, and, recently, $5000 to the Patient Care Association (www.pcaca.org) to overturn the San Diego City Council ordinance that would have forced all currently operating medical cannabis collectives in the city to close their doors. Therefore, wise cannabis lovers would be smart to use their products.

The All-One Ark will be in San Diego on Saturday, Sept. 24th, at Mission Beach, at the end of San Fernando Place (south of the roller coaster).

Dr. Bronner is sponsoring the 100 Wave challenge fundraiser that is put on by The Boys to Men Mentoring organization. Check out 100wave.org for more info. For additional up-and-coming Ark events, stay in touch at www.alloneark.com and Facebook.com/alloneark.

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100% Made with Love Are you looking for a great hemp seed product with integrity and quality? Jeff’s Best Hemp offers just that! I met Jeff at my local farmer’s market and was drawn to his booth by his sign that read: “Delicious and Nutritious, with Nothing Suspicious!” At least I knew he had a sense of humor.

I quickly learned about the care and devotion he puts into his line of products so that he can share the health benefits they provide with other individuals.

He offers products that are raw, vegan, gluten-free, organic, cruelty-free, and non-GMO. If you prefer your hemp seeds lightly toasted with sea salt, garam masala flavored, or mixed with cacao – he’s got that too! Jeff takes care of every detail down to the packaging to ensure that his products represent everything that is important to him. I wanted to learn more.

How did Jeff’s Best Hemp get started?

For me, it was about not being happy with the choices that were available out there. I’ve been a vegan for almost 20 years, I’m a cancer survivor, and I always make decisions based on what I would want to find. A few years back, when I started learning a lot more about hemp and getting even more nutritionally savvy, I got to the hemp category and kept revisiting it because I love it. I loved the nutrient density. And the more I learned, the more and more I really liked what it offered.

The only choices that were available then, I wasn’t really happy about. They were all in plastic, all the same stuff that had been there for years, things in canisters – people were just really flippant about it. My mom is a cancer survivor as well and I worked doing brokering for Flora [Flora Incorporated is a distributor of Udo’s Choice Products in the U.S. and Canada] for years; they do a lot of their stuff in glass - I love their work, I love Udo, and I think he’s an awesome guy. When I came to the hemp category, I was just irritated! So, I started saving my cash and about 2 years later I launched my first products.

I love that Jeff’s Best Hemp offers such a wide range of products, flavors, and tastes; you don’t just limit yourself to hemp seeds. What two products do you recommend for our readers who aren’t familiar with you?

I would say the hemp protein and cold filtered hemp seed oil because of the nutritional impact; systemically and for your overall homeostasis. The benefits are so wide-ranging.

Hemp seeds and hemp seed oils are a great source for plantbased omega-3 fatty acids. As a society, we’ve become deficient in our intake of omega-3’s, and our overconsumption of omega6’s has made this deficiency even more pronounced. Freshness is so important with omega-3’s and spoilage is a concern. How do you ensure quality in your products?

We have a temperature controlled facility tucked in the hills of San Juan Capistrano under tons of metal and concrete. We keep it at a nice low temperature all the time and that’s the way you preserve freshness.

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We also do everything in really fresh, small batches and we’re one of the only companies that really does that. Rather than having two or three thousand bottles done at the beginning of the year, we actually do them in nice small batches; so closer to two or three hundred per batch.

It really shows that you put a lot of care in your products. Where can we find them?

We are at Whole Foods, Jimbo’s, Henry’s, and other natural markets. You can check out the ‘Now Available At!’ link on our website for upto-date listings. You can also order through Amazon.com by going to the ‘Shop!’ link on our website.

You can find out more about Jeff and Jeff’s Best Hemp by visiting their website: www.jeffsbesthemp.com In health, Bahareh Bahareh is a certified Health Coach based in Encinitas, California. She empowers others to live healthier, happier lives by eating healthy, reducing stress, and finding balance. www.mindbodyalliance.com

Building a Sustainable House…

Article By: Dionne Payn Photos By: Siobhan Hodgson

Hemp building is not a new idea. One of the oldest known hemp houses was built in Japan over 300 years ago. Today, hemp building is becoming more popular with projects happening all over Europe, America, CanaThe hemp industry in South Africa is still very new, and while we would prefer to use local hemp, we da and Australia. didn’t want to take any risks with such a high stakes project.

Most recently, hempreneur Tony Budden of The building process itself was quite straightforward. We used two different techniques, hemp chipHemporium.com, built the first hemp house board on top of a double layer of hemp insulation and hempcrete, which seemed to complement each in South Africa. Dionne Payn caught up with other well.

Tony to find out more.

Tony Budden Housing in South Africa is a very big issue right now. The South African Government needs to build 5 million houses as soon as possible, and building with hemp is a great way to provide affordable housing.

We tried to use hemp for as many of the fittings and features of the house as we could; the carpets, cupboards, lampshades and curtains are all made of hemp.

It took about 6 months to build the house as there was lots of training needed for our team of builders who had never worked with hemp before. We had to redo some of the walls as they had air gaps in them. Yes, there was a lot of trial and error in those six months.

This was probably the most challenging aspect of the building process: getting the builders’ heads We made the decision to build our home around something that was so different to what they had been trained in. They are used to using brick from hemp about five years ago, and it took and cement, and now they had to deal with an organic living building, natural products, VOC-free paints about 4 years to find the right property and and so on. get the plans approved.

As well as being our home, we also wanted to prove that hemp building could work in South Africa so we decided to build a contemporary, up-market property. We knew this would give the project greater exposure in magazines and would spark more interest from potential investors and decision makers in Government.

But they are so proud of the final product; they are always keen to see how things are going.

What was interesting was that there was another construction project using traditional brick and cement that started at the same time as we did. We’ve been in our house for three months and the other project is still going.

We also included double glazing which is not widely used in South Africa, and again had to be imported from overseas. DouThe house was built as a modular system; ble glazing was an important factor for us because we wanted to it was built in the factory and then shipped make sure we would save energy and have good heat and sound to the site. Building with hemp and using a insulation as it does get very windy where we are. modular building system are both firsts in South Africa.

I found out that even though hemp is a good insulator, you still need to have an initial source of heat. We use a mixture of We needed about 3 hectares of hemp for ceramic tiles and gas heaters which we put on for about 30 the property, but seeing as hemp is still in minutes a day, and we find that’s enough to make sure the research phase in South Africa, we had to house stays nice and warm. source it elsewhere. We imported hemp from France, which wasn’t a low cost option, but we knew it would be calibrated for use in the building industry.

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To furnish our new house, we bought Triple A appliances and used LED lighting so we’ve noticed we are using about ½ of the energy we used in our old brick and cement house.

And now we are in our home. I like it; it’s a comfortable house.

You would have to experience for yourself what it’s like being inside an organic building; it’s a living, breathing organism, and it feels really good.

In the future when hemp is more widely grown, it is entirely possible that the cost of building with hemp would be a lot less compared to conventional buildings.

When you look at the costs of building a brick and cement house in terms of energy use, poor recyclability of materials and the amount of carbon created in the production of the raw materials, the cost to society and to us as individuals is certainly a lot more compared to building with sustainable techniques such as hemp, stawbale or rammed earth.

If you are thinking about building a hemp house, my advice is to go for it. But, be prepared to be a lot more involved than if you were building a regular house.

You need to train the builders in this technique, understand the material, and be prepared to work with professionals, unless you are lucky enough to find a specific hemp builder.

If you do the research and understand the material you are working with, you will end up with a beautiful home.

Tony Budden is a partner with Duncan Parker in Hemporium, a South African hemp company, whose long term goal is to pro-

mote the cultivation and use of industrial hemp as a sustainable crop in South Africa. For technical details about the building process and more pictures of the finished house, visit the blog at www.hemporium.com/blog_list.php Dionne Payn is the founder and Editor of Hemp Industry Insider, a free online magazine dedicated to showcasing the best hemp products and service providers.

Visit www.hempindustryinsider.com to download your free copy of the magazine.



Written by Canna Chef Kim ~ The REAL Mother Earth Co-op Proudly serving San Diego MMJ patients since 2005 September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month and the American Cancer Society (ACS) provided statistics on the disease and warning signs for parents when a child needs a medical examination. Though childhood cancer is rare, it is still the leading cause of death from disease in children younger than 15, despite key advances in healing. Due to major treatment advancements, 80% of children diagnosed will survive five years or more, according to the ACS. This is a tremendous increase from 1970 when a five-year survival rate was less than 50%.

This year it is anticipated in the United States alone that approximately 10,700 children 14 years old and under will be diagnosed with some form of cancer. About 1,340 children are not expected to survive from cancer this year. The types of cancers that occur in children vary significantly from those seen in adults. The most common cancers in children are leukemia, brain and other nervous system tumors, lymphomas (lymph tissue cancers), bone cancers, soft tissue sarcomas, kidney cancers, and eye cancers. In contrast, the most common adult cancers are skin, prostate, breast, lung, and colorectal cancers.

Because of the immaturity of children’s organ systems, different treatments may be required. Because cancers in children are often hard to recognize, ACS said, “Parents should ensure children have regular medical checkups and watch for any unusual signs or symptoms that do not go away.”

Those warning signs include: an unusual lump or swelling, unexplained paleness and loss of energy, easy bruising, an ongoing pain in one area of the body, limping, unexplained fever or illness that doesn’t go away, frequent headaches [often with vomiting], sudden eye or vision changes, and sudden unexplained weight loss. For more information on childhood cancer, visit www.cancer.org This month we have a few new healing recipes for your favorite patient with, of course, our medicinal twist! Some of the following recipes are taken from Mother Earth Coop’s “Special Medicinal Recipes – A Medical Cannabis Cookbook.” Canna Chef Kim © 2008 Cookbook available at finer co-ops, collectives and physician offices, or online at www.motherearthcoop.com/products

SAM’S PEACHY SUMMER GREEN SALAD (Salad) 3 large peaches (peeled cubed) 2 cups blueberries 3 tsp. fresh lemon juice 1 cup vanilla low fat yogurt 1 tsp. kief 1 head of red lettuce

2 bananas (sliced) 2 cups strawberries (sliced) 1 cup mango (sliced) 4 tbsp. fresh orange juice 1 head green lettuce 4 sprigs of mint

Combine fruit and lemon juice. In a small bowl, mix yogurt, orange juice and kief. Put fruit in a large glass bowl and toss well. Drizzle sauce over fruit and top with mint. Pour fruit on top of cut up lettuce. Serve and enjoy.

BRENDA’S BLACK SPICE SOUP (Soups) 4 tbsp. cannabutter* 1 large red onion (chopped) 4 cloves garlic (finely chopped) 4-oz. green chilies (chopped) 1/4 tsp. black pepper 1 tbsp. jalapeño chili

2 cups chicken broth 1 (15-oz.) can black beans 1 tbsp. cumin 1/2 cup cilantro (fresh) 1 pkg. sour cream 1 pkg. tortilla chips

Heat cannabutter*(see recipe) in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add onion, green chilies, pepper, garlic, jalapeño, and cumin. Sauté until onions are tender, about 5 minutes. Add beans with juices and broth, bring soup to boil, reduce heat to low. Mix well, cover and simmer until flavors blend, about 15 to 20 minutes. Purée soup in batches in a blender.

Return purée to same pot. Mix in 6 tablespoons of fresh cilantro. Season soup to desired taste with salt and pepper.

Ladle soup into bowls. Makes 4 servings.

Note: Top with dollop of sour cream and tortilla chips. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons of cilantro and make that pain go away.

CHILLED INDIAN TOMAHAWK SOUP (Soups) 1 tbsp. fennel seeds 1 tbsp. cumin seeds 1 tbsp. coriander seeds 1 tsp. black peppercorns 1 tsp. yellow mustard seeds 2 cups celery (chopped) 6 tbsp. cannabutter* 1/4 cup ginger (fresh chopped) 1 cup carrots (chopped)

1 large onion (chopped) 1/2 red bell peppers (chopped) 1 ¾ fennel bulb (fresh chopped) 8 cups plum tomatoes (diced) 5 ½ cups vegetable broth 2 tsp. hot pepper sauce 1 lb. crabmeat 1 bunch chives (chopped) 3 tbsp. sour cream

Toast first five ingredients in a heavy medium skillet over medium heat until spices darken slightly in color and start to pop, stirring occasionally, about 7 to 8 minutes. Cool in skillet and transfer to spice mill or coffee grinder and chop finely. Heat cannabutter*(see recipe) in a large pot over medium heat. Add celery, onion, and carrots; sauté until vegetables soften slightly, about 8 minutes. Add ginger and garlic; sauté 3 to 4 minutes. Add bell peppers and fennel, stir 2 to 3 minutes to coat. Add tomatoes; cook until tomatoes soften and break down, stirring often, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add broth, bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer until all vegetables are tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Add ground spice mix, return soup to boil. Remove from heat, cover, steep for 20 minutes. Blend together in food processor or blender until puréed. Season soup to taste with hot pepper sauce, salt, and pepper. Refrigerate soup until cold, at least 3 hours. Ladle soup into 8 shallow bowls. Divide crabmeat among bowls. Garnish with chives and sour cream. Makes 8 special servings.

Note: Can be made a day ahead, but keep refrigerated.

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MARY SUNSHINE BAKED VEGGIES (Vegetarian)

NY DIESEL ICESICKLES (Popsicles)

6 Portobello mushrooms 2 small red peppers (sliced) 1 small zucchini (sliced) 1 small eggplant (sliced) 4 sprigs rosemary (chopped) 1/4 cup garlic (minced) 4 sprigs cilantro (fresh chopped) 1 tbsp. garlic salt

2 medium ginger root 1/2 cup water 2 large apples (sliced) 2 medium bananas (sliced) 1/8 cup cannabis (very finely ground)

2 tbsp. black pepper 1/2 cup Balsamic vinegar 1 bottle dark beer or ale 1/4 cup maple syrup 1/2 cup cannaoil* 1 (4-oz.) pkg. Mozzarella cheese 3 medium tomatoes 1 tbsp. black cracked pepper

In a large bowl, place Portobello mushroom caps, sliced 1/4-inch (6.25 mm) thick red peppers, sliced 1/4-inch (6.25 mm) thick zucchini, sliced 1/4-inch (6.25 mm) thick eggplant, cleaned and chopped rosemary, cilantro, garlic, salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar, beer, maple syrup, and cannaoil*(see recipe). Dice tomatoes and Portobello mushroom stems, add to sliced vegetables. Gently toss vegetables in marinade, let sit at room temperature, 30 to 40 minutes, or covered in the fridge overnight. Remove vegetables from marinade (reserve marinade); grill vegetables on the barbecue on both sides. To make the sauce, bring reserved marinade to boil, simmer for 4 or 5 minutes. To serve, place mushroom caps on the bottom of the plate and stack hot grilled vegetables on top. Divide cheese into equal portions and form into cakes.

Place cheese on top of the vegetable stack, and then drizzle with hot tomato and beer sauce.

Note: The mushrooms and peppers grill with skin-side up. This scrumptious veggie treat has such an unusual, flavorful blend that patients are certain to love the medicinal qualities as well as the taste experience.

MOTHER EARTH’S TOTALLY BAKED CHILI (Beef) 1 lb. lean hamburger meat 10 cloves garlic (chopped) 1 medium white onion (chopped) 1 medium red onion (chopped) 1 (15-oz.) can red kidney beans 1 (15-oz.) can chili beans 2 tbsp. cannabutter* 1 stalk celery 1 (4-oz.) can tomato paste

1 (4-oz.) can tomato sauce 1 can tomato soup 5 tbsp. chili powder 1/4 tsp. garlic salt 1/2 tsp. black pepper 1 tbsp. cumin 1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes 1/2 tsp. kief* 1 cup sour cream

Sauté garlic, onions and cannabutter*(see recipe) in a large skillet over medium heat until onions are translucent, about 5 to 8 minutes. Add hamburger meat; cook meat until golden brown. Pour into a large pot. Add beans, tomato paste, sauce and soup, mix well. Add spices; chili powder, garlic salt, pepper, cumin and kief*(see recipe). Simmer with frequent stirring for 2 hours on a stove top or 6 hours on low in the slow cooker. Makes 10 curative servings.

Note: Top requested entrée and a favorite for most patients. Serve over brown rice with sour cream on top and warm fresh bread or buns to warm up the day.

1 medium papaya 1/2 cup raspberries 1/2 cup blueberries 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

In a saucepan, combine water and ginger root. Heat to boiling and simmer for about 13 to 15 minutes while stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, cool for 15 minutes and remove ginger. Pour into blender and add apples, bananas, cannabis, papaya, berries, cinnamon and nutmeg. Blend together until very smooth. Pour into Popsicle molds and place in the freezer for at least one hour or until frozen.

Note: Great for relieving nausea, pain and fever.

“KIEF” is an age-old way of extracting trichomes from plant material. Kief is the product derived from the kiefing process. Kiefing is a method in which you rub dry trim, buds and small leaves with crystals on them over a silk screen.

The THC glands will form a powder that comes through the screen, which is then used in cooking or for smoking. It is usually a pale green to light brown, depending on the strain of cannabis. Kief powder that is pressed together is called hash.

Note: Kief boxes are sold at some smoke shops and are easier to work with than silk screens. In a kief box, the screen is above the collection drawer allowing the THC glands to pass through the screen into the collection drawer. This makes it easy and compact for the average user to collect the kief and use for smoking or cooking. *Cannaoil is any high-quality food grade oil such as coconut oil, hempseed oil, olive oil, or canola oil that has been infused with high-grade medical cannabis. *Cannabutter is dairy butter that has been infused with high-grade medical cannabis.

The recipes for cannaoil and cannabutter can be found in the first copy of NUG Magazine or online at www.MotherEarthCoop.com Wishing you a hempy journey to a healthier you! Please remember to continue the 2011 challenge of being kind to each other & practice random acts of kindness each and every day!!

Peace, Love & Gratitude, -Kim

By: The SD OG Grower Everyone in the medical marijuana business, especially in CA, has been seeing the market change dramatically in a short period of time over the last two years and more. The market is being flooded, stores and clubs are opening on every corner, and everyone and their mother is getting into growing! But don’t you think the quality of our buds, flowers and produce should be getting better, not worse?

I see growers come and go all the time: big, small, and everything in between. I have friends who have invested over $500,000 into large commercial grow ops thinking they’re going to make lots of money off this new Green Industry! But what often ends up happening, is that people who have never grown before are trying to do way too much without the knowledge and know-how! You can’t just say that you want to be an engineer and read a book and then become a master engineer overnight! This applies to anything in life. There is going to be a learning curve and mistakes made along the way. But a mistake is only a mistake if you do it twice! See, if you learn from your mistake, then it is a learning experience and therefore a valuable learning lesson and you’ll never do it again if you learned from it! I see many growers invest loads of money into a large operation who have never grown before, and are doing it solely to capitalize on the Green Revolution. They end up failing because they had no idea how to do it the right way, how to create and build a proper “GROW MACHINE”! One that can produce consistently and of quality!

Well, first link in the chain starts with genetics of course. The nut doesn’t fall too far from the tree, which means your features are going to be similar to those of your parents, and the same goes for seeds and clones! The clones or seeds you are growing are only as

good as the stock or parent plants they came from. So basically if you start with crappy genetics, the best you’re going to create is a crappy product. Start with TOP SHELF genetics, and you will harvest and reap TOP SHELF product!

See, what you have now is an onslaught of new people getting into growing, trying to cut corners, getting bad advice and bad clones. If you were going to be an engineer or get into a specific field, don’t you think you should take a class, study and educate yourself on the subject, which is in this case horticulture, to understand plants and what they need, like, and what makes them happy? One must first understand the environment needed to grow healthy, heavy yielding plants and understand their plants’ basic needs!

Most growers’ rooms I visit to fix or evaluate a problem, have simply forgotten, or overlooked the little things or the basics! Many times it is airflow, environment, forgetting to change out charcoal filters for scrubbing; even humidity, especially at this time of year, stumps a lot of growers and causes several problems. If humidity drops below 50%, especially anywhere below 40%, it can cause serious problems that look like nutrient deficiencies or lock outs, but in actuality it’s the low humidity! A plant transpires and sweats a lot more, just like we do, when the humidity levels drop below adequate levels. A plant likes to be in the 60-70% range in humidity! You can drop it a little too, about 55-65% towards the last couple weeks of flowering, but otherwise the plant is not functioning properly at low humidity levels! It will mess with you and cause all sorts of problems!

Another common problem right now, which is very simple to fix but commonly overlooked IS WATER TEMPERATURE! During the summer, the grow rooms are a little hotter, and the reservoir nutrient water is getting heated up to temps above 75°F where good bacteria turns into bad bacteria! Just as it is 68°F one ft. down in the earth anywhere, your water temperature should be the same at about 68-70°. If it gets colder than this, plants will go dormant and be in shock! If it gets much warmer than 70°F, then root rot and all sorts of diseases are highly possible and likely as good bacteria turns into bad bacteria! A water

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chiller is the best method of controlling water temps, especially on large grows.

But on small grows, you can freeze 32oz. Gatorade plastic bottles and put them in your reservoir to take the edge off the high water temps! Replace them as often as needed, and have a water thermometer in the reservoir so you’re not just guessing the temps!

But if all this is known before setting up a grow op, then it would all be calculated and taken care of with proper equipment before it happens, and would be in the budget for building out the room in the first place!

A smart, educated grower starts his project off with the proper ventilation, Air Conditioning units, and does not cut back on proper filtration, environment and overall quality control! A smart and successful grower is also educated, or has been trained by an expert grower! I personally have learned everything from my teacher, best friend, and mentor over the course of over 15 years and have paid my dues!

Old school growers from northern CA like him had to learn things the hard way, by trial and error! They did not have the luxury of walking into a garden or hydroponics shop and ask questions, and many of the products needed to grow indoors were not available. These old timers built ballasts from reading a book and buying transformers, capacitators, and igniters and wiring them up from a diagram in a book and screwing them into a sheet of plywood! They had to mix up and make their own nutrients by mixing up all 17 plus minerals in the proper ratio to get the right nutrient! Then of course, General Hydroponics came out in the ‘70s and was the standard till the late ‘90s. Then, the market exploded and everything needed to build, and grow your own was available to everyone at local hydroponics shops!

And soon there were many different nutrient companies all competing with the same formula, just different packaging and labeling!

But not all had the knowledge, and many were just selling product! It was the old school growers who were teaching the new school growers how to adapt, and what to do and what not to do, which saved them years of experience and lessons learned in mistakes made, so the new school growers would not have to go through all those learning curves or years of mistakes! I remember paying my dues! Giving 50% of my harvest, and paying all of the electrical bills, rent, equipment, nutrients and everything out of my half, and giving 50% of the harvest to my teacher just to learn how to grow! It was worth every penny! I looked at it like an

apprentice program, a sort of school or college, paying for my education! Working my ass off for a veteran, experienced grower was an honor. It was the school of real life in growing, and it taught me more than I could ever learn in school or by myself that quickly!

What’s the point to all this? You are not going to learn to be a TOP SHELF grower if you don’t educate yourself and know and understand plants, horticulture, environment, sealed rooms, and what makes her happy! I think more growers should start off smaller, and learn the game and how plants grow and thrive, and what it takes to do and accomplish this! Understanding how to build and lay out a grow room, how and why circulation, filtration, humidity, temperatures, CO2 levels, and everything else in a grow room functions, operates, affects and controls a grow room and its outcome in the harvest!

The best produce, buds, flowers, or any plant or fruit can only be produced in the perfect environment and grow machine! Top quality products and nutrients are crucial, and most important is good, educated, trusted, information and advice!

I suggest taking a class or learning from an expert! Put some apprentice hours and hard work in for a veteran and learn from the best, or better yet, just go take a class, like at IGS Hydro in PB. My good friend Scott teaches classes through the summer most Saturdays and is one of the most knowledgeable growers at one of the best stores in the So CA area. Knowledge and information is priceless and can make you an expert grower much quicker than by trial and error yourself. A lot can be learned from our elders, and those who have been through it before we have can hand down the knowledge they learned and improve us as growers generation by generation!

If you’re going to grow, do your best and grow the best! Don’t get just any clones.

Search for the right, true quality genetics and don’t be afraid to pay good money for those genetics! It is an insult to an old school grower to bargain with them on prices for TOP SHELF GENETICS! Start with TOP SHELF genetics, good advice and proper information from a qualified veteran grower; and build and grow right, and we will all have TOP SHELF quality buds and fruits!

By: Mel the Bumbling Gardener Part 3 “50 day harvest” As you might remember from last month’s story, I have been moving my new clones from the “Veg” side of the Quick Grow’s Q-9 Greenhouse to the “Bloom” side with the 12-on and 12-off light cycle as soon as they reached the magic 7-inch size.

Like I said last month, I have never tried to bloom a plant that small; I always thought the plant should be at least 12 inches tall before the bloom cycle should be started.

The first clones to reach their size were moved and encouraged to bloom on June 1st, an easy date to remember. This grow was on track in every way I could measure: size, color, leaf size, root mass; and just the overall look of what was growing in the chamber was great. The only thing that still puzzled me was “the gas.” I still couldn’t see or smell it at all and the gauge on the tank didn’t really move much; but what the heck, the plants that were moved to bloom seemed to grow like crazy and everyone looked really healthy. As the days passed, I watched in true amazement as to how 56 | NUGMAG.COM

fast the clones turned into plants, all the while reaching for the light at the top of the chamber, growing like the magic seeds Jack planted in the story we all read when we were kids.

pack not too far behind. The plants on this grow look very different from what had come out of my other chambers (Spinner and Phototron). This greenhouse grows a very “Sea of Green” kind of plant; taller, not as bushy and with more distance between the buds…Very tasty looking.

It was fun to watch the growing stages of the different rows of plants put into bloom at different times. As the days marched on, each strain started to show its own personality and ability to bloom with the 12-on and 12-off light cycle. By the end of June, I had all 9 blooming plants well on their way to the finish line.

I had rows of plants all growing at the same time in different stages of finish just like I wanted…Very cool.

It’s now July 8th. The first planted are just full of white hairs, sticky and dank with that smell…You know that sweet smell of success. I have been trimming my first row of ladies just to show the younger plants what they have to aspire to in the up-andcoming days ahead. From what I could tell, my first row of planted was starting to show signs that it was finished growing and was now in the finishing days of flower. Did I say I hadn’t seen the gauge on the tank go down? Tap, tap...Nope, I can’t really say that the gas gauge is any different today than it was the day I hooked it up; I think I may have a problem.

With 30 days down, I had only (+ or -) 30 more days of growing to get that “Harvest Every 60 Days” claim from Quick Grow. The first planted, 7-inch clones are now about 18 inches tall with the rest of the

“Hello Gus, (Quick Grow Hydroponics) I think I may have a problem with the gas on the Q-9 you sent me…I did just as you said to do when I got the unit… plug it in and set the time. The greenhouse has shown great success with very tasty looking buds in a very short amount of time, but…I thought the size

of the buds would be much bigger than plants grown without gas.” In less than 2 seconds Gus asked me if I had remembered to turn the gas on. Turn the gas on? Yes, yes I did. Right after I hooked up the filled CO2 tank to the regulator, I turned on the gas. “Good job, but did you ‘set the timer’ to ‘Gas ON’?” Now you know why I’m called the “Bumbling Gardener.” No, I never set the timer to turn on the CO2 gas and that’s why the tank gauge never moved. All I could do was shake my head; this was a real disappointment. I just realized that “Growing with Gas” just went “up in smoke.” Oh well, Gus talked me through the timer adjustment. He even made sure the gas came on, and the vent fans were off long enough to let the gas settle on the plants before the vents powered back up. I thanked Gus for his help and went back to counting the days until harvest.

July 15th – The first planted row looks like it’s really in flower with rows 2 and 3 not very far behind. I was surprised at how fast the 2nd and 3rd planted rows were catching up with row 1. I am beginning to think that if I want to harvest plants all year long, I need to space the planting further apart. Maybe even 2 weeks or longer would work better, and I still think larger clones; maybe 10 to 12 inches would finish closer to the top of the chamber.

July 20th – Just 50 days into the grow and row 1 is finished…

Nice size buds, very sticky with that great red/orange hair appeal; they look just great. If what you’re looking for is a fast turn, this chamber kicks ass; and with a few more adjustments on the planting times and size of clones, I should be able to harvest every 60 to 65 days with a bigger “gassed up” bud size.

Unlike my other chambers, the Quick Grow keeps me on the grow with 2 sides to this chamber. Clones turn into plants all the time, it never stops. If it’s not 18/6, it’s 12/12. All you have to do is move the plants 1 time and trim, trim, trim until harvest.

Come back next month to see what else I found in my new Quick Grow Greenhouse.

How has life changed since the launch of The Secrets of the West Coast Masters?

Since launching the book, I’ve been on the road a lot. It has been a big change for me, personally. Instead of keeping my identity and what I do on the down low, as I am accustomed, I’ve been traveling all over the place, appearing at events and book signings, trying to spread the word about the book. I guess the secret is out and I’m glad. Nothing makes me happier than meeting someone who says they’ve been helped by my book.

How have sales been going?

Sales have been going better than expected. We have just sold out the first printing and are receiving more and more wholesale enquiries every day. It won’t be long before you can find ‘The Secrets of the West Coast Masters’ in book stores all over the world.

What has been the response to the book?

It has been great. We are getting nothing but love from our readers. We receive tons of feedback from our readers, who have also been very helpful with ideas for future editions. The book has also gained the approval of one of my heroes, Jorge Cervantes.

Have you discovered any new West Coast Masters in your travels?

For sure. Since launching the book, I have been contacted by some amazing growers who have invited me to check out their gardens. I was down in San Diego a few weeks back for the NUG Magazine 2nd Anniversary Party and got to tour the grow room of an ex-NASA engineer, Uncle P. I was so

SOJA w/ Dru West impressed when I got there to see how much success he is having using my techniques, along with all of his amazing inventions. I’m hoping to include some of his ideas in a future edition of the book.

You were invited to the Treating Yourself Expo in Toronto, Canada. What is the scene like up there and how does it differ from the U.S.?

That was an awesome trip. It was good to see some good friends, like Marco Renda, Kelly Kriston, and Matt Mernaugh. If I wasn’t so stoked to be here on the west coast, I could definitely live in Canada. The cannabis scene is really mellow there. If you have your card, you can smoke herb anywhere it is legal to smoke tobacco. They don’t care. They even let you vape on the airplanes there.

You have started doing backstage interviews with the likes of G. Love and Slightly Stoopid for CelebStoner. How did you score that gig?

It’s pretty much the best gig I’ve ever had. Music is my other passion and I spend a lot of time going to shows. So when Steve Bloom from Celebstoner.com said I could start covering them, I was all about it. I have a great time hanging out and getting stoned with the bands. They always have cool stories to tell.

What’s next for the West Coast Masters?

We have multiple projects going on right now, which we hope to launch by the end of the year. Keep an eye out for our new WCM clothing line, custom growing equipment, and instructional YouTube videos. We also plan to release an E-book and a Spanish language version of ‘The Secrets of the West Coast Masters’ by early 2012. For more info: www.westcoastmasters.com Kyle from Slightly Stoopid w/ Dru West

Although we usually feature strains from various collectives around the city and county, this month we decided to go straight to the source – the growers of San Diego who put their green thumbs to work to keep collectives stocked and patients supplied with the medicine they need. While anyone can grow cannabis, there are a select few who do it at a professional level and can always be counted on for quality and consistency.

Black Afghani: (Formula 1 Productions) “This one was grown really well. It has just the right amount of red hairs and trichomes. It’s a rock hard nug with really nice purpling. The name leads me to believe it is a Blackberry crossed with Afghani; although, it looks like a nicely grown Blackberry Kush. Its density is probably because of the Afghani cross. The aroma is sweet, not pungent at all. I’m really excited about trying this one! It tastes a lot like Blackberry (which is a good thing of course!). It is sweet on the palette, with a punch to the lungs like the Afghani. Whoever grew this did an excellent job. The hit gave me a solid head high that soon worked its way down my shoulders and was very relaxing. I would recommend the Black Afghani to a wide variety of patients. It would help with everything from tension headaches to chronic pain.”

Bubba Kush: (Formula 1 Productions) “This bud is a striking shade of green with lots of trichomes, and it is also nice and tight. It is just the slightest bit on the dry side, but I think that is because of packaging, not because of anything the grower did wrong. It has the distinctive Bubba aroma that I love. As a fan of the Bubba Kush, I am excited to give this one a try. Wow! Instant expansion and a real kick to the lungs! It tastes just as good as it looks and smells. It has that true Bubba flavor. This sample clearly came from really solid genetics. This strain would be great for a patient in need of moderate pain relief and relaxation. The grower did an A+ job on this one.”

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Super Lemon Haze: (Uncle P) “This Super Lemon Haze is beautiful on the outside, and when I cracked it open, it was like a treasure chest of shiny trichomes. Like everyone else, I am a huge fan of the Haze, so I am really digging the aroma of this one. It has a super Hazy overtone with a really nice citrus blend in there too. Wow, I can really taste the lemon in the hit – there is definitely no false advertising here! Very nice, I just can’t say enough about how good the flavor is. The grower did an excellent job of bringing out the best features in the Lemon Haze. It provides a moderate cerebral high that is not incapacitating, but is very relaxing.

This one would be perfect for creative types who use cannabis to help them focus.”

LA Confidential: (Uncle P) “This is one amazing looking bud. It is very dense with bright green coloring, plenty of orange hairs, and a slight amount of purpling due to temperature fluctuation. Its aroma is on the sweeter side, in a good way. It packs a nice hit that is easy on the lungs, which is a good thing for many patients.

It also tastes sweeter than I expected, but there is nothing wrong with that! This LA Confidential would work great for a patient who prefers an indica and for those who are in need of nausea relief.

Overall, another excellent sample!”

San Diego growers have once again proven why they are the cream of the crop, and Hopper wants everyone to recognize them for the time, energy, care, and risks they take to keep patients supplied with medicine. He also wants to explain to NUG readers how his collective operates. Founded and directed by San Diegans, for San Diegans, Hopper’s Green Door Collective at 3021 Adams Avenue is a private, patient resource center that not only serves its patients, but also contributes to the surrounding community. The GDC staff is currently meeting with potential new members. Stop by Monday– Saturday from 3–6pm and have a chat with Hopper or Jonesy, so you can get to know each other and see if you would be a good fit for their one-of-akind collective. Hopper’s goal is to be a positive example of how medical cannabis collectives can be a force for good throughout the San Diego area by giving back to local charities and being a responsible member of the community.

Article By: Pamela Jayne | Photos by: Phil Calvin for SCR Photo

Perpetual Motion

By: Aaron Evans

This month’s featured blower, “CREEP,” told me he sculpted this stunning blue lion pharaoh in just a few short hours, but I’m pretty sure he’s lying to me. See, I’m convinced he moonlights secretly as a tomb raider and just slipped me a stolen artifact unearthed from King Tut’s burial chamber. There’s absolutely no way this piece is from this century, and it would take one hard headed, cantankerous individual to get me to change my mind. In fact, I’m so positive I’m right that I’m sending it out for carbon dating as soon as I finish writing this article.

Of course, I kid. Fortunately for the readers of NUG Magazine, CREEP is bringing to life his ‘one of a kind’ creations at a prolific pace and managed to squeeze in a few extra hours into his day to make this stunning custom piece for me. I was lifted last issue when we presented J.A.G. as our featured artist, and landing these two back to back is almost surreal. If I wrote a short list of the blowers I was aiming to cover when I started this column, and only had a piece of parchment as big as your favorite rolling paper, I can guarantee you that these two would have been on that list. If glassblowing had an all-star team, it would be safe to say that you’re about to meet another one of its starting players.

Jacob Lee, aka “CREEP,” grabbed my attention at IGS displaying his eletroforming collaborations with “Big Pizzle.” Showcasing a battalion of zombies, ghouls, and even a centaur in his work, his line stood out to me in a crowded field fixated on emulating the monster movie era. I’m not normally drawn to much of anything with a dark theme, so the fact that I was seduced by his artistic style is a true testimony to his talent. I decided to ask him about this current trend in the culture, and what he had to say was both insightful and inspiring:

ington area. During this time, his younger brother, Joel, decided to jump behind a flame and take a few classes in soft glass’s distant cousin, torching working. After seeing the simplicity of his brother’s studio and the flexibility of the craft, he was hypnotized. A month or so later he was up and running off into a wilderness of self-exploration from which he has never looked back. Outside of a few classes over the years from the likes of renowned names in the glass community, such as “Ghost” and “Banjo,” Jacob’s style is forged from his own personal growth while reflecting external influences.

Drawing inspiration from everything under the sun, including nature, pop culture (particularly Star Wars) and Native American totem poles, his skill set is broad and diverse. Unlocking complex glass riddles, CREEP enjoys the challenge presented by constantly making custom orders for his many admirers.

He figures, why not get paid to learn, as each piece insists that he pushes himself one step further into his overall evolution as an artist. Also, sighting H.R. Giger, the Swiss surrealist painter, sculptor, and set designer known for his netherworld imagery as another strong influence, Jacob attempts quite successfully to blend together these eclectic elements in each of his works. To sum it up in his own words, “I think glassblowing, at least the pipe art, is like the DJ music industry. I try to have my own sound, but I sample from other people’s music and blend it into mine.

Other people sample from me and that’s fine, but make it your own.”

When I solidified CREEP for this month’s issue, I knew I had to take advantage of his open-mindedness to trying new things and his ability to actualize the abstract conceptual ideas fed to him by his customers. As I mentioned last month, my debut solo album, “Family Always Matters,” drops this October and I simply couldn’t resist the opportunity to request a piece based on my blue lion logo.

After all, custom creations are his specialty. I sent him an advanced copy of the album to check out, and when he told me he was really digging my musical stylings, I was honored.

Trying to describe to someone how to make any form of art is a complex conundrum. I went through hundreds of pictures, sent numerous emails, and used countless descriptive words to outline my vision. Notions such as honorable, proud and noble were juxtaposed against words like stern, defiant, and fearless. Still, I wanted Jacob to add his own personal flavor.

I wanted it to be made for me, but still carry the unmistakable trademarks of this master’s touch. What he brought to the table as

“Zombies are a hot trend and I think that it’s because when you go to where there are tons of people living crammed together, they seem to end up acting a little like zombies.

The masses of people are, and always will be, sheeple or zombies. The people who are able to live in these times and keep their heads up, even while surrounded by zombies, will find each other and feed an alternative culture.”

Starting in the medium 15 years ago, CREEP spent several years exploring soft glass with friends on Vashon Island, just west of his home base in the Seattle/Yakima, Wash-

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a final result lived up to every ounce of my expectations. The process to make this blue lion has more techniques incorporated than could be taught in several seminars, so let’s look at the ones that make this piece infinitely shine.

First off, let’s talk about the mesmerizingly realistic eye (I think it even winked at me last night, but then again, maybe I was just over medicated). Starting by making a multi-layered, colored rod called a millifiori, he then cut off a thin slice for the center of the eye. Taking this slice, he put color on one side and clear on the other, and then added it to the bowl. After the eyes were melted into place properly, he continued by using thin colored rods, which allowed him to draw around the eye to build the eyelids and add expression to the face. I’m telling you, we just might have to put this piece into hospice because it’s beyond sick.

The other feature I want to examine is the metallic patina strategically splattered throughout the slide, giving it that ancient, timeless feel and a dash of true grit. After the details were completed, he heated the whole piece up to the point where it was almost melting and dusted it with a powdered glass that was so fine it looked like flour. When it was completely covered, he wiped off the piece with a Kevlar cloth to keep the powder in the cracks and indentations of the piece. He then re-heated the piece and delicately melted the powder in. Most of the powders he uses for this technique are colors that have a high metal content, so they end up looking ceramic-like. Even with this pipe in my own two hands, it’s hard to believe this is a sculpture made entirely from glass. It is absolutely remarkable. If you are interested in ordering a new flagship piece for your collection, Jacob is super accessible and very easy going; not to mention that it may be impossible to be disappointed by one of his works.

You can find him on Facebook at Jacob Lee, or at creepglass@gmail.com.

You can also find his already completed, brain melting creations at these top shelf establishments: Aqualab Technologies, PacificGlassGallery.com, Doc’s Smokehop, Headin’ to Hertel, Roots Rock Reggae, 42 degrees, High Priority Glass, and BoroFarme.

I’m happy to say that this month I added another member to my F.A.M. I asked him what Family means to him and he shared this, “I have an 18-year-old daughter who I have had custody of since she was one and a half. I have gone through college and run my own business for the last 12 years and my daughter has been there with me all the way. I see my parents about once a week and help them when they need it. I may be CREEP, but I’m also a family man.” He also wanted to make sure to thank me and NUG Magazine for this opportunity, and I’m sending a big “Thank You” right back. It was a pleasure to work with Jacob, and I look forward to crossing paths in the near future with this gifted individual. Join us next month for more eye candy, education, and groundbreaking artistic expression. Till then, keep the fire burning. You know I will.

By: Rachel Anders & Scott Whytsell It was 4:20 and we were out and about doing “our” thing and craving some “CHRONIC” food when we met up with the owner of Chronic Tacos of San Diego’s franchise, Brett Williams.

We wanted to learn more about CHRONIC TACOS and what all the buzz is about! Chronic Tacos has been around since 2001 and went international this year expanding to Canada.

Chronic Tacos is known for healthy authentic Mexican food from third generation recipes. Brett and his business partner Joe Vahedi co-own the two locations in San Diego’s North Coastal County: Encinitas (corner of El Camino and Encinitas Blvd.) and the other in Solana Beach off Lomas Santa Fe (first shopping center east off 5 freeway and Lomas Santa Fe). Being the picky Californians that we are, we know good Mexican food, and we know that CHRONIC TACOS IS JUST THAT: CHRONIC! We ordered the beef “Fatty” taquitos, which were the best and biggest taquitos we’ve ever had. You could actually taste the meat (not just the shell), and each taquito was individually dressed with sour cream, homemade salsa, and guacamole. We also ordered the machaca burrito and it was SO flavorful and stellar! The nice thing about the machaca burrito is that it’s served all day and night, unlike in some other places. We both ordered different items to have variety and we both agreed – FOOD COMA! After we finished, we chatted with Brett and raved about Chronic Tacos, and thanked him for introducing them to SD.

How long has Chronic Tacos been opened down south here?

Chronic Tacos has been opened in Encinitas for 6 months, and Chronic Tacos Solana Beach for 3 months! It’s been a busy and crazy productive few months.

We have to ask, what is your favorite dish?

I LOVE the carnitas tacos! I eat them everyday- no joke. Why our carnitas are so yummy are that the carnitas is slow-cooked fresh everyday for three hours (melts in your mouth). I also love our beer-battered fish tacos!

What are the most popular items on the menu?

Our carne asada tacos and our carnitas tacos! Our taquitos are so filling - “We Roll Fatties here.”

What is the connection with pro skater and actor stuntman Weeman?

He owns the Redondo Beach location and it’s featured in Jackass 3 the movie!

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What makes Chronic Tacos a step above the “other” places?

Our name, Taco Life theme, our atmosphere, artwork, music, you can watch action sports Fuel TV, and obviously, most importantly, our higher quality of food!

Well, its obvious Chronic Tacos thinks about the “little” things! Your tables are personalized, the artwork per store is individualized “surf theme in SD,” the napkin dispensers, soda fountain, all the decor boasts chronic tacos! You even have a convenient ice cream freezer! What have you guys not thought of?

We thought of our hungry customers and giving them an inviting, awesome food experience!

What are your future plans for Chronic Tacos in SD? We are SO excited, our next location is planned for PB and we can’t wait!

It’s nice you have specials on Monday and Tuesday nights for your hungry customers!

We do whatever we can for the community such as donations and sponsoring action sports stars and events!

Well Brett, our food was amazing. Thanks for sharing Chronic Tacos with San Diego! Congrats on all your hard work and future success. Here’s to Taco Life at Chronic Tacos!!

Thanks NUG Magazine! Come in whenever you are hungry and wanting Chronic Tacos!!!

By: Marco Alvarez Reggae sensation Rootz Underground continues its mission of inspiring listeners and providing you some much needed “releaf” with their deep-minded euphony!

Let your head absorb all their elements: classic and modern reggae sounds, intelligent lyrics, powerful live performances, and their Releaf Project, a noble plan to replenish the world’s forests.

The members of Rootz Underground are: Stephen Newland (Lead Vocals), Charles Lazarus (Lead Guitar), Colin Young (Bass), Jeffrey Moss-Solomon (Rhythm Guitar/ Vocals), Paul “Scubi” Smith (Keyboards/ Vocals), and Leon Campbell (Drums).

In 2008, Rootz Underground toured North America, Hawaii, and the Caribbean; and in March of that year, they released their debut album titled “Movement.” They performed with other notable acts such as Dean Fraser, Anthony B, Tarrus Riley, Gregory Isaacs, Israel Vibration, and the Wailing Souls. After their debut album, they released their live album appropriately entitled “Alive,” which was recorded during their Reggae Train Tour and is available on their website’s store. In 2009, they released their next studio album, “Gravity,” and toured Europe and South America.

Their latest and second live album is “Live in France.”

As part of their Releaf Tour this year, they’ve played 17 shows all along the west coast throughout California, Oregon, and Washington. On June 10th, they jammed at the Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa alongside other names like Primus and The Flaming Lips. Rootz Underground also recently appeared in a few major reggae festivals: L.A.’s Reggae on the Mountain in Topanga on July 9th; and the 27th annual Reggae on the River on July 17th in Garberville, Ca. “Secret that my momma used to hide from me. I man must have been born in a herb field.” Rootz Underground’s lyrics, such as these in the song “Herb Fields” off the Movement album, often incorporate a connection with nature, with cannabis, with one’s origin and consciousness, and with others. The vivid lyrical compositions and thoughtful arrangements of songs are of the kind that one finds in poetry. Their song “Unknown Soldier” honors all the soldiers in history who have given their lives for rights and freedom without any recognition. It is a recognition of the soldiers who we overlook, and every line seeks to empower people through awareness and love. The video for this song stylishly greets you when you visit the website.

The blog section on the Rootz Underground website reveals some dishearten-

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ing statistics on the world’s depleting forests, but then follows with a useful tip for planting a tree: line the hole you’ve dug out with potatoes to provide moisture and nutrients as they decompose. This aspect of the band’s activism distinguishes them from all the other bands in the business just trying to make a name and some money for themselves. Their Releaf Project demonstrates not only environmental activism, but social and economic activism as well. By being actively involved in several communities, they add another layer of significance to the messages in their music because a materialization of the words and concepts makes it more real.

A short documentary film, “The Rootz Reggaementary,” can be watched on the website and reveals quite a lot about the band, ideologically and musically. To a similar effect, I hoped to capture a direct and personal glimpse of the band by asking some questions that had popped into my mind: Where did each of you grow up?

We all grew up in Jamaica – it’s small enough that we won’t differentiate areas, but diverse enough that we all experienced the full range of city-country life.

As for the beginnings, when and how did the band come together?

We basically grew up together and came to play music together over this time, but we collectively decided that we’d be a band in the summer of 2000.

So how did you guys decide on the name ‘Rootz Underground’?

A friend (Shana) gave it to us. She said we’re ‘rootsy’ yet still new and edgy enough to be considered ‘underground.’

How did you guys go about finding your sound? And how has your sound evolved since the band first started playing?

We didn’t find our sound. It grew, as we grew as friends and musicians. It continues to grow and evolve in that same way, like a tree with a good, healthy root system.

Did any of you ever take formal playing lessons?

All of us at various times and levels.

How do you guys handle the writing of the lyrics? Does Stephen write all the lyrics?

Stephen has been the most prolific writer among us to date. All of us do write, however.

What’s the band’s recording process like?

More or less academic – record first with drums and bass as the primary goals, then move onto overdubs then vocals – mix & master.

What albums have you guys released?

Our first was Movement, then we followed that with Alive. After that was Gravity, and lately, Live in France.

What excites you about your latest album aside from your individual instrumental parts?

Our latest album is well underway in production. We’re all excited about it as an entire project. It represents a fullness of our musical experiences of the past 11 years.

Who have been some of the band’s musical influences?

With six members, our influences are too numerous to mention. Suffice it to say that there is almost no genre that hasn’t made some form of impact on each of us as individuals.

What are your shared priorities and common values as a band?

We share a need to see universal upliftment for all mankind. Our common priorities are to constantly extend the reach of our music, and therefore message, to this end.

Tell me about the Releaf Tour…What is it all about?

The Releaf Tour is the physical, travelling incarnation of our Rootz Global Releaf program. It’s a movement geared towards bringing life-conscious individuals together in a real, growing, living global forest. All we ask is that each one plant a tree – it’s REALLY THAT SIMPLE! Take a pic of you and your new tree and geo-tag it, or just send us the address to Releaf@ RootzUnderground.com and we’ll add it to the online map of our growing global forest.

Do you find it hard to carry a relationship or have a family while you’re on the road or making music?

No. Relationships (family and friends) carry their own challenges. It is these challenges, and overcoming them, which form the core of what inspires us to make our music and travel to take it to the world.

If you guys weren’t doing the music thing, what would each of you otherwise be doing?

Trying to get out of whatever we’re otherwise doing to get into the music thing!

Now let’s touch on cannabis. How often do you guys smoke, if at all?

Some of us – not at all – some of us 3 times a day. Each man is mutually respected in his personal space, as good friends always do.

If each of you had to pick a favorite strain of cannabis, what would it be?

A friend of ours (Noel) grew a strain of Headband crossed with Sour Diesel called HBSD - PRIMO! Imagine a table in front of you with a bong, a rolled up joint, and a vaporizer all ready to go. What does each of you reach for first?

Spliffs are most commonly smoked amongst us, but a vaporizer is a treat when available too – and better for your lungs!

Why do you guys think cannabis draws so much controversy?

Because it’s illegal (mostly), yet still it is such a versatile and efficacious plant – useful in every conceivable way.

What would you guys say to someone who thinks cannabis is bad because it’s a gateway drug?

Cannabis is a drug?!?! WTF!?!?

Do you guys ever smoke on stage during a show?

It’s been known to happen…

Zooming out a little now, what’s next for Rootz Underground?

New singles – a new album – a new tour. Constant work on expanding our fan base and delivering our music and message to said fans.

Lastly, what advice would you guys give to a new band just starting out?

Be persistent. Be true. Be diligent and be organized.

Rootz Underground will be back in California in September on the weekend of 9/23 – 9/25 for the Earthdance Music Festival! For more information on the Earthdance Music Festival, check www.earthdancelive.com. And for more information on Rootz Underground, be sure to check their website @ www.rootzunderground.com

Trying to succeed in the local music scene is not an easy accomplishment, but rising hip-hop group, The DUDEZ, popped up on our radar with a positive prognosis. We just had to get the scoop on these local, up-and-coming artists who are representing San Diego at its best.

The hip-hop I love has changed and declined so drastically over the years that I feel alienated by most mainstream artists and music.

Unfortunately, most of the music we listen to on the radio follows that corporate tune of fame, so it’s refreshing to find a different take on hip-hop from a local perspective; it depicts the various elements that make up our fine city and inspire our thirst for music.

The DUDEZ, Ronnie and Steez, are just two cool dudes who are enjoying life and love making music. They’ve been working together for the last 5 years and are continuing to shape their own destination.

They produce fun, laid back, positive songs with a lyrical richness that solidifies their sound. They’re just one of those groups who influence you with good vibes and easy livin’.

Ronnie and Steez have always been doing music in some kind of way, whether it was playing instruments, making beats, or taking part in talent shows. They share a love for music that has no boundaries.

It allows them to do so much with it, especially since music is always changing. Growing up, they listened to hip-hop, but since they’ve been more heavily involved with their taste in music, they’ve been listening to a lot more genres like Soul, Dubstep, Reggae, and Pop, certainly maturing over the years.

When Ronnie was in elementary school, he joined band and played the clarinet. In high school, he was introduced to an actual recording studio at the Teen Center in Linda Vista and was always writing songs and hooks and recording, just learning the programs and observing.

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Steez, on the other hand, was always getting into trouble with teachers because he would make beats on his desk with a pencil during class. From there, he started making beats on his Playstation and would freestyle with his older brother for fun. In 2007, Ronnie and Steez were enjoying their senior year at Kearny High School when they met in their 3rd period digital media class. They shared the common goal to make music, and since then that’s exactly what they’ve been doing – the rest is history.

The first song they ever made was in their high school digital media class. They called it “How you do that” and it turned out to be more of a party song. But 5 years later and looking back, it’s funny to The DUDEZ that they developed that style first. Since then, they have evolved because of their experiences, hard work and practice. Today, their music is distinct and considerably indefinable as their sound is always changing, much like the ever-changing industry. It’s a nice change of pace for listeners looking for something different and elevating.

The DUDEZ first gained recognition after doing a show at On Broadway in Downtown.

“We opened up for B.O.B and performed our song ‘Yeah Buddy’. When the song was done, the whole crowd was screaming ‘yeah buddy, yeah-yeah buddy.’ I think at that point, I was like this is what I want to do. This is it,” Ronnie recalled. We also learned that when they first started out, they didn’t even know what to call themselves. Now, they’re making headway with their music. “We had just recorded our first official song in a professional studio and wanted to put it on Myspace, but we needed a name. We were just sitting there just throwing out random names. Then finally, we kept asking each other, ‘Dude, what are we going to call ourselves,’ and it just stuck – The DUDEZ.” Their latest album, Stone Age, has that familiar scent of good times and cannabis for the stoner at heart or patient looking to unwind and relax. It pays homage to San Diego dreamin’ under the sun while enjoyin’ that most beneficial herb. One of their producers, Isiah Salazar, says, “What you can expect from ‘Stone Age’ is a really different sound that you haven’t heard from a particular rap group. There are guitars, a lot of ska melodies, a lot of rock melodies…we’re not sticking to a script, we wanted to bring

something new to the table, something refreshing that people haven’t heard, and just have fun. You know, a lot of people make music these days that isn’t really who they are. We don’t have to front, and that is one of the things that make it easy for us to work creatively.”

The DUDEZ added, “This album was a team effort project with both of our producers, Isiah Salazar and Haze Banga’. The four of us came up with the idea to bring a new sound to the table. We wanted to express how we are living our lives and there’s no wrong way of doing that. Also, marijuana had more than its involvement with this album. Our music is related to weed. You can hear it in our song ‘Elevator’ featuring Poodeezy, off our first project ‘Recess,’ and a lot in ‘Stone Age.’ We believe San Diego needs to legalize dispensaries and let us potheads, stoners, and patients smoke freely and be comfortable when we take our medication.”

The DUDEZ have a mixtape dropping on September 3rd called The Invitation. “It’s going to be dope,” Ronnie says. “It has a lot of energy and ‘feel good’ music on it. Make sure everybody gets that. We have another project after that, but everyone will just have to stay tuned. Our upcoming album is titled ‘After Party,’ but I can’t really say too much. Ourselves and our producers, Haze Banga’ and Isiah Salazar, have something big planned for the sound. You guys are just going to have to wait and see.”

The DUDEZ have been fortunate enough to have a huge support team behind them, helping them to

reach their goal, like 6111 Dispensary, Riipe Clothing, California Money, Isis, their #STEEZHEAD fam, their producers Haze Banga’ and Isiah Salazar, their DJ – DeeRock, and Richard Washington, their manager.

Hip-hop, in general, has become more of an outlet and an opportunity for a younger generation, so it’s no wonder why so many artists and musicians are coming out of the woodwork for a chance at success.

Unlike some artists coming up in the scene, The Dudez leave an impression with songs that drip with creativity, lifestyle, and ingenuity. They definitely shy away from that stereotype of what a West Coast rapper or emcee should be. Whether you’re getting stoned, chillin’, or crusin’ the coast, The DUDEZ will accompany you on your way to a good, fun day.

If you haven’t already, go download Stone Age and Recess, and call in to your local radio stations and request “Ice” by The DUDEZ. And make sure you download The Invitation on September 3rd. Check out their videos on YouTube and subscribe to their channel.

Check out their blog at www.steezhead.blogspot.com Twitter: @_Thedudez or @STEEZUs Facebook: www.facebook.com/iLikeTHEDUDEZ

CATHOUSE THURSDAY Article By: Robert Stinson / Photos By: Jennifer Martinez

If Jessie James were still alive, he would be playing Cathouse Thursday on his iPod. This group of self-professed outlaws of alt. country/rock has sloughed off the trappings of contrived Nashville jingles in lieu of a more original sound, steeped in Americana with a tongue in cheek sensibility. Steered by veteran musician Will Farber, Cathouse Thursday has continued to delight their audiences with the release of Nashville Baby and ‘Til Death Do Us Party, which are perfect companions for a long road trip or a night of heavy partying on the dance floor.

We caught up with Cathouse Thursday during a hemp event that was thrown in Balboa Park by activist James Stacy.

All of you are veteran musicians who are no strangers to the limelight. Could you all talk about the origins of the band?

Will Farber: In 1997, I had a hit record over in Europe, came back to the states and signed a record deal in Los Angeles. They sent me out to form a group, but we were still missing a guitar player. After hearing many, many guitar players, my drummer said to me, there’s the one other guy I know, but he plays kind of strange and a lot of people think he’s way out there. So I said let’s hear him. He walked in played his set and we’ve been best friends ever since. We’ve recorded six albums together and have never missed a note, so we’re still trying to churn the good stuff out.

What bands do you draw inspiration from?

John DePatie: As players there is one list and as writers there is another list. Definitely Steely Dan is one of them. As players I like Jimmy Hendricks and Steve Ray Vaughn.

Will: As song writers I would have to go with Jimmy Web. His album Macarthur Park really broke the mold because it was the first time somebody had released an album that was only 71/2 minutes long and it was everything from jazz to classical music blended together.

It ended up becoming a big hit for Donna Summer in the late ‘70s.

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Creatively speaking what is your songwriting process like?

Will: I write most of the lyrics, but the music itself is collaboration between all of the members of the band.

What are some of the biggest challenges you faced during your years of touring as a band and how did you overcome them?

Will: As a band we haven’t toured that much, but I toured in Europe for three years with my previous band. The biggest problem that I find with touring is dealing with all the personalities. You always read music interviews of members talking about each other saying that yeah he is a great guitar player, but you wouldn’t want to be in a tour bus with him. I certainly had that experience where I had band mates who were prima donnas. In retrospect, I would have to say that little of that has to do with musicians who are medicated. Remember, Willie Nelson has been on a bus for over 50 years and that’s probably what gets him up in the morning and keeps him going year after year.

Country music in general has been co-opted by large media corporations looking to create the next Nashville Star. What is your opinion about the state of country music? Has it lost some of its relevance?

Will: I had my first record deal in Nashville when I was 16, had another one in 1991 and moved there. In my experience, Nashville has and always will be about cookie cutter music. There are those people who are sort of the outlaws of that music industry who you don’t hear that much of anymore, Willie Nelson and Wailing Jennings, who really turned out gutsy rock ‘n roll and country music. I mean Nashville is where the whole hokey American Idol style of country was born. As they say in Nashville, there are 14 guys you have to buy new Cadillacs for in order to get your song on the radio, and it’s still run like that to a degree. So many people go there thinking it’s the promised land because you can buy a home for under 100k and because of the supposed thriving music scene, but it’s really not like that at all.

John: We’re definitely the alternative to that. I would say we’re a step further than that with our sound that is more rooted in Americana than in the Nashville sound.

What first sparked your interest in the medical marijuana community?

Will: I have always been a lifelong medicator. The first time I tried marijuana I was 13, and back then, people were getting 10-20 years in jail just for having an ounce of marijuana when they first started having busts in the 1960s. It was easy for law enforcement and politicians to get their names in the paper back then. All you had to do was go on a college campus and make a big bust. So in that respect, I started getting politically involved in cannabis reform at a very young age. So it’s great to see that it has come this far. So my eventual goal is to play at an event where people can safely medicate.

What is your opinion about our district attorney’s war on all collectives operating within San Diego County?

Will: There are so many problems, especially fiscal problems that our city has to deal with that I find it ridiculous that she is wasting her time and tax payers’ money with this crusade of hers. In the end, she is just jumping on the conservative bandwagon in order to get an audience from those who don’t know anything about cannabis or its health benefits.

Why do you think people are so adamantly against cannabis especially when scientific research has proven it to be an effective cure for many ailments?

Will: Because Americans have no education. You have to remember that the problem with EVERYTHING in this country is that 30% of this country’s population is functionally illiterate, and a larger percentage can only operate at the 8th grade level. So the majority of people in this country only know what some talking head on the television tells them, that sound bite. They never look beyond that or read between the lines of what they’re reading.

What advice would you give budding musicians looking to follow in your footsteps?

Will: Go into the medical field instead (group laughter). We do this because we love creating music and playing for fans. Would I like to make millions of dollars doing this? Of course I would because it would facilitate our ability to play more. I’m 58 years old and still trying to churn out tunes. As Keith Richards says, “They’ll have to pry this guitar from my cold dead hands.”

The Myths of Marijuana and Creativity

By Jed Sanders

There are many myths today that surround cannabis. 10 years ago, the Creativity Research Journal published an article called “Effects of Marijuana Use on Divergent Thinking.” Research was conducted by Bourassa M. and Vaugeois P. on 120 participants (60 regular users and 60 novice users of cannabis). Three experimental conditions with THC were used: with marijuana, without marijuana, and with a placebo. Their studies and results concluded that “the use of marijuana had no positive effects on divergent thinking (creativity) in novice users and reduced it in regular users.”

This particular study has almost become the word of law and is referenced most by many educational institutions in their basic psychology courses. Since the article was published, there has been much debate amongst scholars on the validity of the claim. One of the biggest problems with conducting any kind of thorough research on marijuana is that the cannabis plant contains over 60 different chemicals (cannabinoids). THC and CBD are becoming the most well-known, as more research targeted them specifically. There are still a lot of questions and mysteries as scientists continue to discover new cannabinoids. Certain strains will affect one differently depending on the levels of cannabinoids that are present. The manner in which the plant is grown and harvested can also play a role in determining these levels.

In addition, an individual’s biochemistry and personality can cause the impact of cannabis to vary. These variables along with uneven basis for testing, such as sample size and conditions, can make it nearly impossible to obtain accurate results, not to mention that many of the tests are now severely outdated. This may be why there have been so many contradictory studies done to date. “Undergraduate Marijuana and Drug Use as Related to Openness to Experience,” published by Psychiatric Quarterly, showed that increased usage of marijuana also increased creativity and “adventuresomeness.” These results were formed from 316 participants, while another study published by the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease had only 16 participants and showed results that were quite the opposite of the Psychiatric Quarterly.

Creativity is defined as “the ability to produce something new through imaginative skill, whether a new solution to a problem, a new method or device, or a new artistic object or form.” In lament terms, imagine that the creative thought process is a swarm of ideas that are hovering in a circle

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Mike Corsaro | daddymike.mc@gmail.com View work at The People’s Collective

Cathy Lee | image12@gmail.com facebook.com/CathyLeeArt

above your head. As you jump up to catch those ideas and begin compiling them in a collection, they solidify and the creative process is born.

When one smokes or ingests cannabis, those ideas multiply above your head. The more you ingest, the more those ideas start to swarm faster, becoming more difficult to collect and put together. Often, artists have reported “a swarm of ideas overwhelming them” and write down their thoughts in order to not lose them when they are no longer high. If one ingests or inhales an exceeding level of cannabis, there is no question that it will work against them. On the same note, marijuana can be used as an excellent stimulus to connect ideas together and to focus on creative thought. When those ideas are not circling, it might help getting a few of them started or, perhaps, introducing new ones by lighting up. The real key is in moderation.

By all means, marijuana is not the “wonder drug” that will turn you into some great artist, if one is looking for that. There is a good reason why dispensaries label their products with a warning to “not drive or operate heavy equipment/machinery while under this medication.” It should be taken seriously. If an artist paints just for the sake of getting high and becomes so careless with their artwork as to disregard any direction or thought, it would prove counterproductive. They should prepare themselves to not be taken seriously. It is no different from a musician getting so intoxicated that they can’t perform on stage.

The artist, in a similar respect, is cheating their audience.

Today, visual artists and musicians face a double standard. The list of known cannabis users among musicians is an endless one, not to mention the bands that seem to exist solely to cover the topic. It was recently reported that Lady Gaga indulges when she writes for creative purposes. While it seems socially acceptable for a musician to talk about consuming cannabis, and how it helps them with their creative process and performance, most painters and visual artists do not share that same luxury of openness on the topic. It is much more taboo. Mainly in part, much of the art community relies on public funding and is non-profit, versus the music industry, which is supported mainly by the general buying public. This might be why, when searching for proof on marijuana use by visual artists, you can find more about Pablo Picasso’s use of ceramics in his work than actual pot; and one of the only clues with Salvador Dali is his quote “everyone should eat hashish, but once,” which hardly qualifies as any sort of confession on his part.

It doesn’t help either that many myths surround cannabis as being the gateway drug. If an artist chooses to speak about their midnight toking, they are often, more times than not, thrown into the underground art subculture world. Of course, if you are an artist who wants to be in the subculture, that might work well for you. If not, this can pose a serious problem.

Artists can also possess the fear that their future buyers might think they are going to become crazed-out crack-heads when the pot doesn’t do it for them anymore. This is a ridiculous myth. When marijuana is ingested or inhaled into the system, the chemicals attach themselves to receptors in the brain, which provides a pleasurable experience.

Those same receptors react when consuming chocolate or having sex, for 99% of us. The studies conducted in which marijuana is believed to be the gateway drug are based on the idea that the sensors will become numb after time when the high from the cannabis is no longer enough for the individual. If you apply that same theory to the consumption of chocolate, coffee, sex, or of anything that gives us pleasure for that matter, this becomes a frightening theory. It

Ivana Jae | ivanajae@tokin-art.com www.tokin-art.com would be disturbing to think of some of us becoming heroin junkies because we can’t get our “chocolate fix.”

The key to a healthy lifestyle is balance. All kinds of artists have been using cannabis for centuries to reach heightened levels of enlightenment with their creative process. To say that marijuana does not help one with creativity is a silly claim.

If you take care of yourself and don’t overdo it, you’ll be just fine. Educate yourself about different strains and what works best for you. If marijuana works for you creatively, then go for it. If it doesn’t, don’t do it. It just doesn’t get any simpler than that.

Krystal Dryer | crystal@krystaldyer.com www.krystaldyer.com This month we salute a few artists who don’t care about “breaking the rules” and love to paint the plant we love whilst under the influence.

Go check out their websites. Go visit them. Buy some of their artwork to decorate your green room! Impress friends and family.

By: Marc Emmelmann Prior to the internet boom, music evolution was driven by word of mouth, corporate radio waves, television and media. Today, it’s due to the efficient digital age that new genres of music are created, shared, and discovered.

Dubstep evolved in the UK about 10 years ago, and today in the U.S., it’s embarking on its own boom-phase. It’s not smart or devious marketing at the helm – it’s the science behind the sounds that can send your brain into a pulsating, creative, euphoric, and energizing place. Granted, people perceive and respond to music in different ways, but dubstep has an emerging mass of people talking about its dope effects and their happy ears.

Most people are familiar with electronic music enough these days, right?

There’s house music, techno, trance, tech house, euro trance, progressive house, electro, breakbeat, drum-n-bass, etc. However, car commercial marketers will soon be buying up dubstep tracks to market their product.

Advertisers have done a good job using catchy up-and- coming rock and electronic music to sell cars, but wait until they get a load of dubstep’s “tightly coiled productions, overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns” with its tempo reaching 138-142 beats per minute.

Local free-lance dancer Matt Carney was pleased with his plunge into dubstep at NUG Magazine’s recent 2 year anniversary party at SPIN Nightclub. “My body danced to the blend of beats while the dramatic deep base shook me from the base of my feet all the way through my spine,” he shared. The dance floor at NUG’s 2 year was actually filled with a slew of local dancers whom I had the privilege of seeing lose themselves to dissonant harmonies of pulsating bass with intermittent reggae and classic rock clips produced by San Diego DJ’s – IdeaL & J-Break. Not to sound too whimsical, but the dance floor was alive, moving, living, and downright breathing.

It is now common knowledge that music can slow and fasten the heartbeat, breathing rate, affect blood pressure, and even dilate the pupils.

Many agree that music can help the brain’s ability to learn, and yes, there is something called an “electro-encephalogram,” which can actually detect the amplitude and frequency of brain waves. I will come out and say it: dubstep is something marijuana smokers will surely enjoy, whether they 78 | NUGMAG.COM

are at the club or dancing naked in the shower. If sativa is your strain of choice, try using dubstep with your next creative project, or if indica is preferred, vegging out to dubstep would also be a worthwhile experiment.

If your brain likes music, and you’ve yet to make room for dubstep, start with local producing DJ’s who are accessible and have knowledge about the intricacies of this art form. OSAL8 is known to be a leader in the dubstep movement in San Diego.

And if your first experience with dubstep is at www.djideal.com

or soundcloud.com/djideal/groups, you are off to a good start. IdeaL & J-Break not only gave NUG Magazine a delicious taste of dubstep at the 2 year party, but they are also some of the brains and artists behind ELEV8 and Mainline, popular parties for dubstep in San Diego.

Blogs are also a great way to explore dubstep.

Try filthydubstep.blogspot.com, thedubstepblog.com and dubstepdirectory.com/blogs.

There are also other internet platforms such as dubstepforum, the download site Barefiles and Dubstepfm.com. Don’t forget the grandmother and grandfather of dubstep: DJ’s Mary Anne Hobbes and John Peel. If you want to see how mainstream artists are assimilating dubstep, check in with Snoop Dog, Rihanna and even Brittney Spears.

San Diego DJ John Joseph (djjohnjoseph. com) thinks dubstep is a craze that’s taking off.

He shared, “I first heard it at EDC 2000 and I thought it was something that so many people would love. I feel it’s helping define what the music will become in the next 10 years. It’s definitely something to look forward to. It’s the next step from electro because a lot of music now incorporates some dubstep just to attract that crowd.” However, not all DJ’s agree. Local newcomer known as “Macoe” (soundcloud. com/macoe) thinks otherwise. She recently shared, “Honestly, the more I hear it, the more I dislike it... some of it sounds like a nightmare I can’t get out of. I respect those who play it, it’s just a little too dark for my tastes.”

Local professional dancer, Trystan Merrick, weighed in stating, “I’m not always a fan of electronic sounds, but the beats are so varied and layered it’s like your dancing to a few songs at once. I like being able to pick up on a really slow beat with an adagio movement one second and switch it up to something staccato as a new layer of faster sounds emerge. Plus, I think it sounds more spacious than older synthesized styles – so it’s easier on the ears.”

Dubstep in San Diego, like any other hot commodity, entertains multiple mindsets about what is available and what is important. Some people with a keen interest in music might want to jibber jabber about who’s right and who’s wrong, or who’s legit and who’s novice, but at the end of the day, gossip and interpersonal drama will not assist the plight of art. Music is art. Dubstep is music, is art. Let the artists create and let the listeners engage respectfully.

September Performing Arts Portal By: Marc Emmelmann

San Diego is undergoing a bit of drama in the performing arts world with the recent closure of SUSHI in the East Village, our ultimate advant garde performance art destination, and with the recent bankruptcy proceedings of the Starlight Theatre, the 4,000+ seat outdoor theatre in Balboa Park. As for SUSHI, they’ve thrown themselves right into the trash, leaving no traces or tales for any kind of fishy resurrection. Starlight, on the other hand, will hopefully be revamped by intelligent minds and utilized to improve Balboa Park, not defame it. But as for who will have jurisdiction over the theatre after the bankruptcy, that remains a bit murky. Time will tell if the space will be used for concerts, theatre, MMA, or simply parking.

John Alexander is the new Executive Director at Diversionary Theatre, so let’s hope University Heights gets a little boost in arts participation because of his NYC influenced savvy. As a staunch supporter for IMPROVEMENT, I can only hope that he will continue to grow that village-esque LGBT theatre into something more creative and impactful than his predecessor. You don’t have to be gay to visit their space, btw (Just saying).

Kevin Patterson, Executive Director of the Academy of Performing Arts, now also in charge of contACT Arts (contactarts.org), is teaming up with Shelly Breneman, Executive Director of the Actors Alliance of San Diego (actorsalliance.com), to present some game-changing, new variety shows in San Diego, bringing copious amounts of opportunities for emerging artists to build their resumes and get exposure.

If you are a budding performing artist in San Diego, it would behoove you to take classes at the Academy of Performing Arts and join the Actors Alliance too. Keep an eye on contACT Arts for productions of new works, including “Once Upon A Time,” which will have simultaneous acts sandwiched between producing DJ’s and digital art, occurring at a local nightclub with multiple stages. More on that soon! Auditions will be posted at above mentioned websites, or email kp@apastudios. com and let them know that NUG sent you!

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Shows are plentiful this September, so take the time to get out and enjoy San Diego’s funny business. Try ROAR Theatre’s Friday Night Comedy in Banker’s Hill, or Laugh Out Proud (facebook.com/laughoutproud) in Hillcrest at Martini’s Above Fourth. As always, The Comedy Store in La Jolla has entertainment; albeit, the drink minimum standard is a bit antiquated. The world famous Blue Man Group will be at the Balboa Theatre starting Sept. 20th and “The Little Shop of Horrors” at Cygnet Theatre runs now thru Sept. 11th. Even North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach has farce on their mind, as they are presenting the 20’s screwball comedy, “Lend Me A Tenor,” with copious amounts of door slamming, no doubt.

Other more serious shows will be available too, including “Evita,” which opens at the Kit Carson Amphitheatre in Escondido on Sept 16th, and “Walter Cronkite is Dead,” which opens Sept. 17th at the Lyceum Space Theatre in Horton Plaza. Moreso, you can see sexy smart art on the trolley via Trolley Dances on Sept 24th & 25th, and some dates in October. The company producing these works is having a ‘call for young choreographers,’ so if that’s your forte, throw your name in the hat. The winner gets $2,500 and the runner up gets $1k. San Diego Dance Theatre is all about diverse dancers and audiences, so…why not…you? Get edu-ma-cated at sandiegodancetheater.org.

When local artistic dance guru, Peter Kalivas, isn’t teaching Cirque de Soleil dancers in Vegas, he’s busy teaching classes and workshops, and producing San Diego Dances and Dance Moves. Be sure to bookmark his website, thepgkproject.org. If it’s not too late for you, the highly imaginative Steam Powered Giraffe musical pantomime troupe will be performing daily at the San Diego Zoo, near the main entrance inside the zoo until Sept. 5th! These robots go on at 4:40, 5:40, 6:40, and 7:40PM. Last but not least, the San Diego Salsa Bachata Festival is coming up on Sept. 15th thru the 18th for all you salsa aficionados.

NugLife for NUG Mag

by Medicinal Michael Boris

It seems like the NUG family tree has grown to such a large and loving crew overnight. We are NugLife, the funny bone of the NUG Mag crew. We come to you live every week with a show you’d be proud to smoke a bowl with and invite in for a snack.

I am Medicinal Mike, along with Erik “The Joint” Martin, Tommy “The Roach” Lucero, and Matt Cook; we bring you celebrity smoke out interviews and audience interactive weed games you can play from home. Every month you can follow along with the proper rules and regs of living the NugLife. A special hint is if you’re reading NUG Magazine, you’re already on the right path.

Summer is almost winding down and we want our listeners and readers to relive some of this month’s greatest NugLife moments. We were blessed this month to have live in the studio, new artist with pipes of gold, Joose and his brother C-Money of Slightly Stoopid, and C-Money and the players club. He dominated the Kind Cookery in the Bong Rip Challenge. CMoney, after winning, exclaimed, “I give all my props to my trainer, Snoop Dog!” after he slammed down the NugLife Bong. C-Money had just returned from a Slightly Stoopid tour, opening for the godfather of rap, Snoop, and was giving the NugLife audience an earful.

This month, I was also honored to spend my birthday opening onstage for Chris “Kid” Reid of Kid ‘n Play, the House Party franchise, and Class Act. He is also a working, headlining stand-up comedian. I approached him at the bar to ask if he’d spare a few minutes to do an interview for NugLife.

Now I expected to hear a stern “not interested” due to the undertones of a career in anti-marijuana entertainment, but surprisingly, he responded with a smile and a “we got over that a long time ago.” He even said he just smoked out on some Master Kush. I knew right then we were friends for “NUG” life. We promptly headed to the designated smoking area, puffed on some of my Lemon Haze, and laughed about his old haircut.

I’d also like to give an honorable mention to Winston’s OB comedy headliner, Jesse Egan, for truly living a NugLife and bringing joy to people as he does it. Jesse spends his days performing and promoting a safer medical marijuana world for all.

Medicinal Mike says: Of course you guessed exactly how much I smoked…..I took it from your bag!

Allgreens Lip Balm

Allgreens lip balms are all natural, made with Organic Hemp Seed Oil, and packaged to look like prescription buds. Their goal is to offer a fun, high quality product while educating people on the benefits of hemp seed oil. They offer 6 different flavors/strains: OG Kush, Cali Orange, Sour Diesel, Bubblegum Kush, Watermelon Trainwreck, and Granddaddy Purp! Now I personally don’t use any cosmetic or lip balms, not even all natural ones…so I had to have the ladies here at NUG review this product for me. Gio Blitz, my assistant, said, “Allgreens lip balms rock! They are not greasy like other lip balms and the flavors are great!” M.J. Smith, our Associate Publisher, agreed, “This is a fantastic product! I love the fact that it is all natural and made from hemp seed oil!” They’re available for purchase on their website individually for $2.99 each or in a flavor pack (6 balms) for $15. Check them out: www.allgreensRx.com

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Till next month, keep your bowls packed and your spliffs tight! If you would like your product reviewed, email me at info@nugmag.com

2K Diffuser Beads

2K Diffuser Beads were first created in January of 2011 by Ben Kemph and Maayan Gordon as the first Klever Kreation by 2K Industries LLC. After working for a year at a head shop in Seattle, Piece of Mind, Ben saw a demand for diffuser beads on the market and decided to create a company dedicated to creating smoking accessories and devices to fill and fit the needs of smokers. Along with Maayan’s chemistry background and in-depth knowledge in scientific research, 2K Diffuser Beads were born. I really dig the glow in the dark ones that I put in my BOOM Felazi pipe! They really create additional percolation and cool down the smoke. I would recommend this product for all Bong tokers! Check them out online at: www.diffuserbeads.com

The Ashmasher

The ASHMASHER was created for anyone who is tired of having black fingertips or lost lighters…They fit snugly onto any standard BIC lighter, come in super handy when it is time to pack down your bowl, and keep your fingers free of the black ash that usually happens when you pack down a bowl midway through burning it.

The feature I dig the best is that they all come with a key ring. I tied some hemp twine to mine and tied it around my bong so that no one can “accidentally” jack my lighter! Also, every time I grab my bong now, the lighter is already attached and I got my ASHMASHER ready to pack down the bowl! Really cool product from really cool people! Check them out online at: www.ashmasher.com

1.

ASA Raid Prep Training At La Jolla Brewhouse @ 4

Thy Kingdom Come (CD Release Party) At SOMA @ 7

ASA Stakeholders Meeting At La Jolla Brewhouse @ 7

4.

Cash’d Out At Belly Up Tavern @ 9

2.

Identity Festival Kaskade, Steve Aoki & More At Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre @8 Bad Neighborz At Pier View Pub @ 8 Aghori, Canobliss, Burden of Truth & Synapse Defect At Brick by Brick @ 8 Natural Heights At Wave House @ 6 3.

Barrio Block Party At The Roots Factory @ 12pm Stranger w/ Sandollar At Belly Up Tavern @ 9 The Devastators At Boar Cross’n @ 7

Ben Harper At Del Mar Seaside Stage @ 7 The Devastators w/ Kahi Lofa At 710 Beach Club @ 8 Mean Dinosaur, Long Beach Rehab & Social Green At Jumping Turtle @ 8 The Concrete Project w/ Dante’s Boneyard At Gallagher’s @ 9 Tribal Theory At RT’s Longboard @ 9 5.

Electric Waste Band At Winston’s @ 9 6.

Ease Up At Winston’s @ 9

7.

Fokai Familia supporting PureBred Japan: Tribal Theory, Tribe Of Kings, Shoreline Rootz At Winston’s @ 9 Bellywize & Bami At House of Blues @ 6

8.

91X Next Big Thing w/ Awolnation, Reason to Rebel & The New Regime At Belly Up Tavern @ 9

11.

Tribe of Kings At U-31 @ 9

9.

SD North Park Music Thing Festival At Lafayette Hotel @ 11am

Polynesian Underground Presents: Subliminal Trip & Thicker Than Thieves w/ Perro Bravo At The Tiki Bar, Costa Mesa @ 8

One Theory w/ Despite the Wolves At Brick by Brick @ 8

Tribal Theory At Harrah’s Rincon Casino @ 2

Polynesian Underground Presents: Subliminal Trip & Thicker Than Thieves w/ Perro Bravo At 710 Beach Club @ 9

Late Night Reggae At RT’s Longboard @ 9

The Aggrolites w/ Buck-O-Nine At Belly Up Tavern @ 9 Stone Senses At Hensley’s Flying Elephant Pub @ 8 Silence Betrayed w/ Divebomber At On Broadway @ 8 10.

Tribal Seeds At Wave House @ 7 Silence Betrayed At Jumping Turtle @ 8 SD North Park Music Thing Festival At Lafayette Hotel @ 11am

12.

Tears for Fears At Humphrey’s by the Bay @ 8 Electric Waste Band At Winston’s @ 9 13.

Blue October At House of Blues @ 9 J Boog w/ Guest At Belly Up Tavern @ 9 San Diego ASA Meeting At The La Jolla Brew House @ 7 14.

Katchafire, Elan Atias & White Elephant At House of Blues @ 8

SEPTEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS | WWW.NUGMAG.COM Reading is Sexy (Calendar Release Party) At The W Hotel @ 6

Katchafire, Haleamano & Fortwenty At Hard Rock Café @ 8

Synrgy At Winston’s @ 8

20.

Sharon Hazel Township At House of Blues @ 9

15.

Bad Neighborz At Pier View Pub @ 9 South Bay ASA Meeting At 1233 Palm Ave Imperial Beach @ 6 16.

Sunny Rude At RT’s Longboard @ 9 Jet West At Typhoon Saloon @ 9 17.

One Drop w/ The Devastators At SOMA @ 7 Stepping Feet At RT’s Longboard @ 9 18.

Harvest Cup 2011 At The Clinic, Hollywood @ 12

25.

As the Sun Sets: Fire (CD Release Party) At Brick by Brick @ 8 Kush Kounty At RT’s Longboard @ 9

21.

Bright Eyes At SOMA @ 7

27.

North County ASA Meeting At The Fish Joint @ 7

Carlos Santana At Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre @ 8

Sharon Hazel Township At Ruby Room @ 9

22.

The Mothership Tour Presents: Skrillex At Petco Park @ 6

28.

Tribe of Kings At U-31 @ 9

23.

Shoreline Rootz (CD Release Party) At Bar Leucadian @ 9

29.

Lisa Hannigan At Belly up Tavern @ 9

24.

Ease Up w/ The Divine Crime At Boar Cross’n @ 7

30.

Product At Hensley’s Flying Elephant Pub @ 8

East County ASA Meeting At Mother Earth’s Alternative Healing @ 2

To add your events to our monthly calendar listings send us an email to submit@nugmag.com.

100 Wave Challenge Fundraiser At Mission Beach, end of San Fernando Pl @ 6:30 am

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