NUG Magazine Issue 07 by Ian Ruz

PUBLISHER’SLETTER APRIL 2010 VOL. 2 ISSUE #4 NUG Magazine Staff: Publisher: Ben G. Rowin Associate Publisher: Brandon Lee Editor: Dion Markgraaff Associate Editor: M.J. Smith Administrative Assistant: Gio Blitz Copy Editor: Hashley Proofreader: Joan Douglass, J.D. Events Editor: Cletus “KRON” Greathouse Music Editors: Ras Mike Fashion Editor: Ready Rube Photographers: William West, Courtney Pakalolo, Gio Blitz

Photo taken @ cloud9 co-op

Hello, and thank you for picking up NUG San Diego’s Original Cannabis Publication! This is our April 4/20 issue, and we have made some really exciting strides! For instance, beginning with the very issue you hold in your hands we will now be available at EVERY local 7-11 store! NUG Magazine will be delivered to the Free Publication Rack at every store at the beginning of the month!

This is also the month that we will be printing an additional 10,000 copies that will be distributed at the THC Expose in Los Angeles! If you are going to make it out to the event, make sure to stop by the NUG Magazine booth! The March issue release party at U-31 was an outstanding night, with standing room only! The line was down the block, and we want to thank everyone who came out to celebrate with NUG Magazine and the Sleeping Giants Crew. We are also pleased to announce the Sleeping Giant Music & NUG Magazine presents: “So Cal 420” download available now! It is 120 minutes of music put together by the SGM crew and hosted by Ras Mike from NUG, with DJ’s Beatnick, Chris Cutz, Demon, and Mikey Beats. Available now for FREE download by going to:

Calendar Editor: Courtney Pakalolo

www.giantsarise.com/nugmix/

Videographer: Chris Gabriel

Since there are so many 4/20 parties and events, NUG will be taking the month off from throwing a show and will instead be sponsoring some of the others that are going on around town. But look for another issue release party soon!

Contributors: “The Guru”, Dion Markgraaff, Kim Twolan, Darcy Stoddard, Terrie Best, Eugene Davidovich, James Dean Stacy, Colby Benham, Ava Madison, Scott Whytsell, Amelia Amore, Marc Emmelmann, Gerald Singleton, Dan Murphy, Hal Slater, The Chronisseur, Deborah Malka MD, M.J. Smith Green Reefer Comic by. Joshua Boulet Sales Director: Ben G. Rowin Advertising Sales Reps: Dion Markgraaff, Cletus Greathouse, Eugene Davidovich, Brom Richey, James Dean Stacy, Myles Liddle

I also wanted to take some time to thank all of our advertisers who make this magazine possible! Without them it would be impossible to get the information out to the community, so we at NUG want to let them all know that they are appreciated! As always stay up to date at www.nugmag.com and sign up for our social network at www.nugmag.ning.com to get notification about events, activism and more sent directly to your email. Happy 420!

-Ben G. Rowin

Art Director: Ian Rie Finance Manager: M.J. Smith

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: dion@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. 2010

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CONTENTS

\\:NUG TIMES

\\:MAKING CENTS

\\:ACTIVISM

\\:PATIENT PROFILE

\\:MMJ TASK FORCE

\\:LEGAL

\\:KIND COOKERY

\\:COOKING W/ KIM

\\:EXOTIC WORLD GIFTS

\\:THE CHRONISSEUR

\\:GROW

\\:HEALTH & SCIENCE

\\:HEMP HISTORY WEEK

\\:GREEN HOUSE SEEDS

\\:MOWER/SLOWER

\\:PERFORMING ARTS

\\:TRAVEL

\\:EVENTS

This is the time when everyone in San Diego needs to read up on the laws and ensure that they are doing everything possible to stay in full compliance. Remember that Proposition 215 and Senate Bill 420 are the law, that medical cannabis is here to stay, and that your efforts of continuing to provide safe access to the San Diego community are critically important to many thousands here in San Diego. Here are a few suggestions for staying safe:

Spannabis, one of the world’s largest cannabis conventions

NUG goes to Spannabis By: Dion Markgraaff

NUG Magazine made a big hit at Europe’s largest cannabis trade show, Spannabis, in Barcelona, Spain. The convention, which gets its clever name from the combination of cannabis and Spain, was a big fiesta of cannabis business. This was the 7th annual celebration of Spannabis, held from the 26th to 28th of February 2010. At every single one of the 150 soldout convention booths, companies, clients and the public smoked the finest Spanish grass and hash while doing an incredible amount of business. In fact, one vaporizer company had 5 different vaporizers going the entire time of the convention. This year’s Spannabis was dominated by seed companies. In Spain, everyone can grow and smoke semi-legally in their home, but no one can sell the final product. Therefore, the biggest cannabis businesses are in seeds and grow equipment for the 500 plus grow shops around the whole country. Everyone loved seeing NUG Magazine and was curious how the cannabis revolution is going in California. Despite the fact that over 40% of the population of Spain smokes pot, most people in Spain are uneducated about its medical use.

Possible Raid: UPDATE By: Eugene Davidovich

We have received reports that a home was raided in Encinitas, a suburb of San Diego County. This raid was apparently executed by the NTF and spearheaded by the DEA as part of their ongoing Operation Green Rx investigations and medical marijuana eradication efforts. It is reported that the individual who resides at the home in Encinitas was not arrested but all his property was seized.

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1. Keep medicine inventory levels low. 2. Patient records should be kept offsite to protect the patients’ confidentiality from the NTF and DEA. All bank statements and accounting paperwork should also be kept offsite at a secure location. 3.Watch out for fake recommendations; ensure that there is an expiration date as well as all the other required information. Ensure that EVERY recommendation is verified with the physician prior to allowing the member to join the collective. 4.Require new members to show their drivers license and at least one additional official document verifying their identity, like they do at banks, in school districts, and for the MMJ state card. 5.NO GUNS. Do not keep any firearms inside your home or the facility. 6.Be prepared and know your rights. Without a search or arrest warrant, you do not have to let the NTF or other officials into your facility. If they do come, be polite, respectful, and quiet. You do not have to speak with anyone; it is your right to remain silent and to seek the advice of an attorney during ALL questioning. Three Police Interaction Levels and Three Safe Ways to handle them:(courtesy of the KYR Wallet Card, printed by ASA) 1.Casual Conversation: Ask if you’re being detained. If not, walk away! 2.Detention: If you are detained, ask why! Be sure to remember what they say to you. 3.Arrest: Say “I choose to remain silent and I want to see a lawyer”. Remain Silent. Don’t answer any questions, just politely repeat your assertion and remember you have now invoked your right to remain silent. Exercise it. Be Prepared: Visit the Raid Preparedness section of the San Diego ASA website for a comprehensive raid preparation guideline: http://www.safeaccesssd.org/p/raid-preparedness.html

Opponents, Allies, Advocates and Hope By: Dan Murphy, SD ASA Dannabissd.blogspot.com

The fight in San Diego is the same fight that has been won, over and over again, with no results. Even though most, if not all of the “science” used to prohibit cannabis has and is being disproven, lies still propagate at all levels of government. Science has been hijacked for too long. I hope we all know by now that the real opponents to change are the industries and people that stand to lose the most from cannabis re-legalization: pharmaceutical, petro-chemical, lumber, cotton, law enforcement unions, prison guard unions and lobbyists for privately owned for-profit prisons, corn interests, law enforcement training and supply vendors, urine testing companies, and even health care. It has been estimated that 80% of all pharmaceutical drugs would be eliminated if cannabis is reintroduced to medicine. I am sure I have forgotten many more of these vested interests. As they have banded together to impose their will on the free people of America, we too can band together and impose our will upon them. This is their strength and this is why nothing changes. The advocates of change outnumber their opponents, but are splintered into opposing factions who fight each other as well as the injustices of prohibition. To tax or not? Medicine or personal freedoms? Create exceptions to the laws or repeal the original laws? All are valid arguments, but not to be had with each other. There are so many different pro-cannabis groups out there, each with its own agenda and activists. This is a good thing, because this allows many open minded individuals to find a group that best fits their own life views. But this creates a situation where several groups are all working on the same problems independently, without any collaboration. Sadly, the end results are poorly planned ideas that lack the resources to be implemented affectively and have no uniform symbol or guiding principle that the media can point to that identifies the collective goals of these advocates of change. There are unknowing or unwilling allies that have shared goals with the change movement that are left unutilized. Industries that share common goals with the movement should be supported. Recent news reported in NUG Magazine put David Bronner of Dr. Bonner’s Magic Soap, based in Escondido, at the Washington D.C. DEA headquarters protesting the ban on hemp farming. Mr. Bronner should not have to go to Washington to find an affective protest. He should not have to go alone. This is a San Diego company, here at what is arguably the frontline of the war against change. His efforts are greatly appreciated but what more can we do together? This is our weakness and this is why nothing changes. What is needed now is a unification of our movement into a cohesive and identifiable cause. I propose a meeting of the minds of all groups (or as many as are willing) with the purpose of identifying certain key elements that are common to all advocates of change, agreeing on a symbol/slogan, and creating a contact mechanism beyond the scope of any one group. Never surrender! I no longer care about the other political parties. We are our own political party! Our platform should have one plank: Safe Access.

I am voting for any politician that panders to us. Our voting block is growing. If the SOBs abandon us after getting into office, then recall them and vote in another. Social networks have given a voice to those not willing to stand and be counted. Look at how many advocates on Facebook remain anonymous. I do not fault those that choose to stay in the shadows. Accepting the reactions of your family, your friends, your co-workers, and your clients can be a source of great anxiety. The vote is still anonymous! Maybe you want to be a part of the solution but cannot. Maybe you are too busy as a productive member of society: police, DA’s, business owners, executives, mothers, fathers (parenthood requires lots of overtime!), or current residents of a privately owned for-profit detention center (family and friends of those currently detained can ask them to write). We need to show our elected officials that we, as voters, are not going to sit still while our brothers and sisters are being rounded up for exercising their right to Safe Access. Support James Dean Stacy, who is now facing federal charges. He may not be able to use the California Medical Marijuana “affirmative defense” and faces life in prison. See movementinaction.org for details. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I also do not pretend that answers are not needed.

Legal Defense Fundraiser for The 420 Comic On Thursday, April 22nd at 10pm, cannabis activists and comedians will gather together at the Jon Lovitz Comedy Club in Universal Citywalk for a legal defense fundraiser for Jeffrey Peterson, The 420 Comic. Jeffrey was recently wrongly incarcerated and has incurred $6000 in legal fees and court costs. The evening will include special guests, including headliner Adam Hunter from NBC’s “Last Comic Standing”, Earthquake from Comedy Central, former Grateful Meds owner and cannabis comedian Richard Chassler, Rosie Tran from National Lampoon Comedy Radio, Sean McBride from “The Weed Show”, and January Thomas from American Hemptress. Music will be provided by Robbie Rist aka Cousin Oliver of The Brady Bunch! Lou Dog from Kottonmouth Kings will be there representing LA NORML. Bong Rip and Smokey will be bringing Bong TV Live to the show. There will also be guest speakers, including peace activist Hollyweed Dragon, Henry Hemp, and Maz Paz Love Bugz. Sponsors thus far include Free Eddy Apparel, Cali Chronic X Magazine, LA NORML, Twisted FX, Creeps Selling Garbage, 420 Sparky, and Tasty Puff. Admission is only $13 plus a 2 item minimum. Treat yourself to a great night of cannabis comedy while helping Jeffrey Peterson, The 420 Comic, get through this financial valley so he can continue to serve the cannabis community.

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making cents: Plant the seeds of real change this spring... The Regulate, Control, and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 By Dion Markgraaff Most people in the cannabis industry are excited about the spring season, when we plan and plant for our future through our gardens. This year brings extra potential because never before in the history of the world has there been a bigger, more important time than now. Californians have the chance to change the course our planet is on this November when we vote on the Regulate, Control, and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010. This vote is the best opportunity in our lifetime to make real change. Victory is not guaranteed. We all need to take the extra steps in our lives to educate those around us in order to increase the odds of this initiative passing. For the rest of your life, you will be thinking of this time period and whether you fought hard enough to end cannabis persecution. Future generations will marvel at our historic stupidity towards the planetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most useful resource, cannabis. This monumental vote will create more cannabis freedom and a saner policy of economic taxation through a civil not criminal means. Criminal taxation? Yes â&#x20AC;&#x201C;under the current policy of prohibition which attempts to restrict the flow of cannabis from farmer to consumer, our society is being taxed at an incredible rate. More people were arrested for cannabis in 2009 (including me) than ever before in the history of our state, country, and world; yet there continues to be more and more cannabis consumers. Statewide, extraordinary prison costs and populations, and failing healthcare and crumbling education systems are some of the consequences of our criminalization policy towards cannabis. For example, last year the Oceanside government decided to eliminate 1 of the 4 ambulances servicing the city because of decreasing tax revenues and budget problems. This means that if you are in that area and unlucky enough to get hurt, you have a 25% less chance of being rescued. This policy decision was made after Oceanside voted against enacting zoning laws which would have established guidelines for medical cannabis collectives and allowed the city to collect millions of dollars in sales tax. Instead of authorizing collectives to be licensed and regulated by the city - patients, caregivers, and law enforcement officials are left to swim in a chaotic and terror filled environment that is also woefully economically inefficient. These conditions force everyone in society to pay an inflated criminal prohibition policy price.

Overpaying for our cannabis now For the consumers in California, the bottom line of our criminal taxation policy is paying 20, 30, or 40 billion dollars per year just for the glands of the cannabis flower. Not only are you paying $10-$20 per gram from your local connection, until the NUGMAG.COM | 15

evolution of dispensaries, you had little to no choices. Even many in government believe the time has come to tax and regulate this huge industry. The State Board of Equalization acknowledges that Californians grow and buy cannabis worth billions of dollars. A bill by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, would apply a $50 per ounce excise tax on cannabis. In an analysis of the bill, the Board of Equalization’s conservative figures forecast that such a tax rate would generate $1.25 billion in annual tax revenues to the state and an additional $120 million in local sales taxes. On a federal level, “Regulating the adult use of marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol could raise over $30 billion annually in new tax revenue, while saving an additional $15 billion per year in law enforcement costs,” NORML Foundation Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said. “This tax season, why not ask your elected politicians why the federal government continues to spends billions of tax dollars enforcing this failed and archaic public policy.” According to a report by Professor Jeffrey A. Miron of Harvard University, which was endorsed by 500 economists, the com-

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plete legalization of marijuana would save federal and state governments an estimated $7.7 billion in law enforcement costs and generate an additional $2.2 billion in tax revenue. These are conservative figures, especially considering analysis of the Regulate, Control, and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 shows the annual revenue stemming from the California ballot initiative would amount to over half of Professor Miron’s savings and tax income projections. However, the biggest fact which is often overlooked in academic studies of different policies is that making cannabis cheaper to the consumers will instantly put tens of billions of dollars into the rest of our economy. In other words, if we Californians were only paying $10 billion dollars for the amount we use, then the leftover billions can be spent on our children, homes, vacations, education, etc. Money makes the world go around November’s perfect economic storm? Money is the biggest reason for this proposed legislation, the Regulate, Control, and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010. Come this fall, two massive forces going separate directions will collide. The State of California is literally going bankrupt while the state’s biggest

agricultural commodity, cannabis, continues to go through the roof. By November, California growers will be gathering another record harvest. Cannabis is the biggest cash crop in every city, state, and country in the world, and it’s ready to be civilly taxed. Yet, the government ignores this source of revenue even though it does not have enough money to manage our society. Education, civil services, courts, and even cops are getting cut. Big cannabis businesses brings in big money Canadian farmers are making more per acre for hemp than any other crop. Today in the United States, hemp is a $360 million growing industry which is replacing many raw materials used in major industries. The best selling natural soap in America, Dr. Bronner’s, a local multimillion dollar company, is the world’s number one consumer of hemp oil in their products. Hanes, which sells over $4.2 billion a year in apparel, is going to use material made with 20% cannabis fibers from now on. The reasons the company is using hemp fibers are the added hemp reduces shrinkage by 50% and dye usage by 20%. Cannabis is also tak-

ing over the car industry because the plant’s fibers are processed into a hemp plastic which produces body parts that are stronger and lighter than other options. And, there are 3 different national hemp milk companies. Sensible cannabis policies towards the flowers can bring in cash even quicker. The city of Denver has already implemented regulations on medical cannabis dispensaries and has generated more than $1 million in licensing fees alone in just over a month. Bringing all 500 dispensaries into compliance will generate $2.5 million per year for the city in licensing fees, and their society reaps an additional 4.64% in taxes on each sales transaction. California has around 2000 medical cannabis dispensaries today. Once we pass the Regulate, Control, and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 and allow the open market to decide the number of distribution points, we could have 10 to a 100 times more stores by this time next year. Jobs and more money The biggest growth potential for jobs is in the cannabis field. Not only is our industry renting storefronts and helping the real estate market, each location must average 10 direct jobs and potentially tens to hundreds more auxiliary jobs. Using this math, California has hundreds of thousands to millions of jobs on the line with this vote. The annual THC Expose at the Los Angeles Convention Center is tapping into this growing employment opportunity trend, and as their website says, “The cannabis/ hemp industry is among the fastest growing industries in America. THC Expose will help the non cannabis consumer understand the dynamics of a growing industry and the need for more services and products within this new economic boom. As many industries are restructuring and laying off employees the cannabis industry seems to be growing in the opposite direction.” A clear sign of the evolution in the cannabis revolution is the addition into the cannabis marketplace of mainstream businesses like the insurance industry. Statewide Insurance Services recently decided to venture into the can-

Dr. Bronner’s, a local San Diego company, makes the #1 best selling soap in America

VOTE FOR THE REGULATE, CONTROL, AND TAX CANNABIS ACT OF 2010

nabis trade. For the first time in modern history, insurance companies are covering cannabis stores, growers, and patients from theft, natural damage, and raids. USA Today’s March 2010 article, “Slowly, states are lessening limits on marijuana” states: “A Gallup Poll last October found 44% favor making marijuana legal, an eightpoint jump since the question was asked in 2005. An ABC News-Washington Post poll in January found 81% favor making marijuana legal for medical use.… The American Medical Association recommended in November that Congress reclassify marijuana…. At least 14 states this year -- some deeply conservative and Republican-leaning, such as Kansas -- will consider legalizing pot for medical purposes or lessening the penalties for possessing small amounts for personal use. Fourteen other states and the District of Columbia already have liberalized their marijuana laws.” You reap what you sow In California, we need to start acting now in planting for November. From the cannabis lovers to its haters, we must move everyone we know closer to common sense and a ‘Yes’ vote. Do more to educate others on the importance of passing this historic initiative - contribute your time, energy, and money towards the greatest cause and opportunity of your lifetime. We, the people, have the power everyday with what we consume, but rarely at the election box. The time is now. The Berlin Wall did not come down on its own. It took years of cultivating the seeds of change, and then at a certain point - going out physically and tearing down the Wall, taking the barrier apart brick by brick. If you are reading these words - you are ahead of the curve on this subject making you consciously obligated to take out a brick in the wall of cannabis prohibition. Do everything you can to pass the Regulate, Control, and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010.

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ACTIVISM Marijuana Activism Paying Off By: Ava Madison

April is here and spring is in full swing. We at NUG hope your outdoor babies are planted and looking good as the vote for legal marijuana makes its way to the polls in November. That’s right, in November, Californians will vote to legalize marijuana for all people over 21. So, while your buds are flourishing and the bureaucratic process ensues, now is the time to shift into overdrive and get active in the marijuana reform movement because, believe it or not, the police and prosecutor associations still have the opportunity to arrest and incarcerate non-violent marijuana users. November may be too late for some of our fellow pot smokers; heck, even you could be in a bind between now and then. To ensure fair marijuana laws, we must continue to act as catalysts. As the political suits continue to devour our values and liberties, it is up to us, the PEOPLE, to step up to our “Guards” and demand a secure future and an end to the tyranny. We must raise our voices and be heard among the masses and it’s easier than you think! Every chance you get to advocate for marijuana, you should, because it is paying off. In a recent Angus Reid poll, 56% of Americans supported legalizing marijuana. More and more, cannabis is becoming a mainstream topic as it is covered by the news, used by celebrities, and gaining momentum in the medical and cooperative industries. To continue creating change, we must do something, we must act, and the first thing to do is get vocal, both as a community and as individuals. You can be “vocal” on-line, in a letter, on a flier, on the phone, in person, and many other ways. Depending on who you are delivering your message to, some approaches may be better than others. Some people are still afraid to hear that marijuana won’t make you crazy or that it won’t make you die, but the more you talk about marijuana, the more marijuana becomes normalized and that negative stigma that’s been carried with it can wither away. Activism made simple! The more vocal you get, the more informed 22 | NUGMAG.COM

you need to be. Scour this magazine for literally hundreds of talking points on the benefits of marijuana and hemp. Not every activism endeavor has to be political; you can be an activist right in your own home. Talking with your family about marijuana can lead to solutions against abuse and teen use, and can also provide insight on dealing with marijuana as a medicine. As these talks ensue, you will be able to address the concerns of marijuana prohibition with practicality and common sense. Nowadays, marijuana is such a hot topic that the opportunity to speak about it will often come up. The knowledge you share will then spread to the social circles of your grandparents, parents, siblings, and others. Some basic talking points: Marijuana has been used as a medicine for thousands of years and has only been criminalized since the last century. Marijuana has been used among many cultures for its spiritual purposes and industrial strength. Other than arrests, prosecutions, and persecutions, there are no concrete negative effects from using marijuana. The easiest way to be active is to simply speak up. What you say could affect a future juror on a case, an anchor on the news, or a defendant facing imprisonment. The more you talk about marijuana, the less the chances are of someone being prosecuted and the greater the chances are of legalization in November being realized.

Get Active Now! - Research marijuana risks and benefits - Develop your talking points - Talk about it! If you learn something cool, share it with us at NugMag.com Join nugmag.ning.com. Have marijuana news and updates sent straight to your inbox! Go to nugmag.ning.com Enter your e-mail address and create a password. Receive alerts, post blogs, and upload pictures!! You can get active within the community too. Stand up for marijuana defendants facing trials and attend a court date. Contact the District Attorney’s office and urge them to stop ALL medical marijuana prosecutions, to disengage in ALL medical marijuana investigations, and to respect the will of the voters: 619-531-4040 or publicaffairs@sdcda.org. Or go to a Medical Marijuana Task Force meeting. These meetings are the next critical step for safe access in San Diego. Take your ideas to the City Council advisory board and be heard. City Council Chambers are located at 202 W C St in downtown San Diego, and the next meeting will be held on the 12th floor on Friday, April 26th.

Louis Robert: By: Eugene Davidovich

A Patient’s Story Louis Robert suffers daily from a number of conditions that have, for years, prevented him from living a normal life. Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, Louis worked for many years as a casino floor manager at Mandalay Bay, one of Las Vegas’ premier entertainment centers. His job involved hours upon hours of standing daily, which took a significant toll on his already hurting hip. The pain progressively worsened until one day, while on the job, Louis found that he could no longer stand as the pain had become unbearable, forcing him to leave his beloved profession. Louis’ physicians determined that he was in dire need of hip replacement surgery. Unfortunately, his insurance company would not pay for the surgery until he was at least 55 years old. At the time, Louis was in his thirties. Since he could not afford the hip replacement surgery, the same physicians who suggested the surgery, decided to treat the problem in a different way. The solution they came up with was pharmaceutical pain relievers otherwise known as “opiates the legal version”. The list of addictive substances that Louis was fed by the hospital essentially transformed a functioning productive man into a patient in a constant pharmaceutical “zombie like” state. This continued for years until finally in 2005 Louis discovered that through the legal use of medical cannabis he could treat his hip

pain as well as other conditions he suffered from without the debilitating side effects of the opiates and other medication he was prescribed. In 2005, Louis obtained his first legal recommendation to use cannabis as a medicine from a physician in San Diego. When Louis began his quest for the medicine that helped him, he could not find any safe and reliable access in the city. This forced him to attempt to cultivate the medicine himself. Louis quickly realized that he had a talent for cultivating the highest quality and most effective medical cannabis he had ever seen. Louis decided to share this talent and knowledge with other patients in the community by forming Mother Nurture Collective. The organization flourished for over a year until again, the DEA came to San Diego and began executing raids on medical marijuana providers. As a precautionary measure and for the safety of its members, Louis decided to close the facility to new patients, and for years the members of the collective kept the group, as well as the genetics developed

in the group, alive and together. Finally, this year in 2010, after hearing confirmation from President Obama that the DEA would no longer violate state’s rights and after reading the California Attorney General Guidelines, Louis decided to reopen the dispensing collective. Louis met Daniel, Chris, Matt, and a few other patients, some of whom have for years been on the forefront of safe access in California. They brought together their years of knowledge, experience, activism, and hard work that they all possessed to form the Cloud 9 Collective. All members of the collective share a common purpose. They associate in order to collectively cultivate marijuana for medical purposes and make it available to other members of the collective, helping to ensure safe access to the community. Cloud 9, located in Ocean Beach, San Diego, strives to be a model dispensing collective. Through the knowledge, experience, and hard work of its members, today Cloud 9 provides safe and reliable access to the highest quality medication for its members including its signature

strain, the “Cloud 9 Ghost Kush”. This strain, among others, is part of a state of the art strain development program at Cloud 9 which includes a library / database of strains and the ailments they help alleviate. The collective also offers a variety of programs for its members including cultivating classes, where members who wish to and are able to help cultivate the medicine can learn how it’s done and get involved. Other programs include meditation, dog walking, tennis, and a variety of upcoming activities currently being planned by the events committee at Cloud 9. A couple weeks ago, NUG Magazine caught up with Louis at Cloud 9, where he showed us the state of the art facility as well as explained his passion for helping others. The San Diego community is lucky to have among its beloved members, Louis, who is a true pioneer for the cause and the advancement of legal medical marijuana therapeutics and research.

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Cletus “Kron” Greathouse: By: Eugene Davidovich

Activist, Patient Among the many great freedom fighters and advocates who have graced this community with their involvement and determination to fight for safe access to medical marijuana in San Diego is Cletus ‘Kron’ Greathouse, a man whose name will surely be remembered by many for years to come. Mr. Greathouse, among other things, is a father, patient, advocate, and himself a victim of Operation Green Rx and the continued fierce fight by San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis against medical marijuana patients. Originally from St Louis, it was the desire to make a good life for himself as well as his family combined with a series of circumstances in 1998 which brought Mr. Greathouse to San Diego, where he settled and within a couple years founded Golden Towing Service. At the peak of its operation, the company employed as many as five vehicles, two storage yards, an auto shop, and almost a dozen employees who all relied on Mr. Greathouse for their livelihood as well as his leadership. In 2002, when Mr. Greathouse’s daily pain from an old shoulder injury he suffered years ago, and the severe anxiety he was experiencing forced him to seek a doctor’s care, he was placed

on a series of pharmaceutical drugs including opiates, muscle relaxers, and a variety of others. The pain subsided briefly, but the side effects outweighed the benefit Mr. Greathouse gained from the pain medication. This is when he started looking for alternatives and found medical cannabis. Knowing that medical marijuana is legal in the state and effective specifically for the ailments he suffered, Mr. Greathouse went to a physician, was evaluated for his chronic pain, and received a recommendation for the use of medical cannabis. He began cannabis treatment and was successfully able to deal with the pain as well as continue running his blossoming company. In early 2006, Mr. Greathouse’s life took another serious turn. He suffered a horrible accident which left him with a serious back injury, completely debilitated, and no longer able to run his company. He was ultimately forced to shut down the business. The physicians treating his back explained to Mr. Greathouse that he would need at least two separate back surgeries to fix the damage. The injury forced Mr. Greathouse into the hospital and returned him to using more pharmaceuticals. After the first surgery, Mr.

Greathouse found out that his insurance wouldn’t cover the second. The only thing he could do was remain on the pain pills and try to save the thousands of dollars needed for the second surgery. Again, the pain pills left him in a constant pharmaceutical state and not able to function. Through the use of medical cannabis, Cletus was able to relieve his pain and maintain a somewhat normal life. Since there were hardly any means for legitimate patients like Mr. Greathouse to obtain the medicine that helped them, he decided to learn how to cultivate it himself. Mr. Greathouse studied for months researching both the legal aspect of growing as well as the different cultivation and production techniques. He took this knowledge and put it into practice, forming a collective association of patients in San Diego known as Chronic Care Providers, whose purpose was to legally cultivate and distribute medical marijuana to the patients in need of it most. The collective provided both a facility where patients could gather and obtain their medication as well as delivery of the medicine to patients homes. Members of the collective who had the ability to drive would deliver the medicine

to the other members who were not able to get to the facility themselves. In August 2008, the collective was raided, and Mr. Greathouse was dragged through the courts for several months. When he began to speak out against the persecution he was facing, he was thrown in jail and told that the only way out was through a plea bargain. He accepted the offer against his will and was released from Jail. Since then, Mr. Greathouse has made the cause his own and has become an Icon in the community. He is now a writer, events coordinator, consultant, and instructor; he was also “Voted Best” by San Diego Cannabis Clubs & Cannabis Club Network. He helps represent Chronic Candy, Chronic Ice, and a number of other amazing projects in the city. NUG Magazine caught up with Mr. Greathouse a couple of weeks ago at The Henry Hemp Collective (THHC) in San Diego, one of his consulting projects. The collective shines with beautiful murals and a friendly team of members ready to help patients. Mr. Greathouse has been and will continue to be an inspiration to many in San Diego. His efforts and work are greatly appreciated and commendable.

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NOT GUILTY! Congratulations Eugene Davidovich

On March 25, 2010, twelve members of the jury acquitted me of all charges. In less than four hours, the jury came back with a NOT GUILTY verdict on all counts. I am very thankful to all the members of our community, and especially to San Diego Americans for Safe Access for helping me get through the trial. Your support, inspiration and encouragement are what helped us win. I would also like to thank NUG magazine for giving a voice to the cannabis community. Most importantly I would like to thank both of my attorneys, Michael J. McCabe and Bahar Ansari, for an absolutely amazing and exemplary defense. For over a year they fought day and night, and as a result of their efforts and belief in the justice system, the truth prevailed and the jury came back with a positive verdict. Anyone who chooses either of these phenomenal attorneys to represent them would be making a wise decision.Â Michael J. McCabe - (619) 231-1181 Bahar Ansari - (619) 787-0604 Regards, Eugene Davidovich 619-621-8446 www.eugenedavidovich.com

Reporting from the City of San Diego Medical Marijuana Task Force

MMJ TASK FORCE | March 2010 Report By Kim Twolan –Task Force Collective Director Representative

The Task Force schedule was accelerated to meet every Friday until the end of March with recommendations back to the San Diego City Council by April 6th. This month, various members of the Medical Marijuana (MMJ) Task Force attended different Community Planning Groups and spoke on behalf of the Task Force. The general consensus is that all Community Planning Groups want regulations on collectives and dispensaries. There was a report from the Independent Budget Analyst presented regarding the implementation of a fee system that would not exceed the reimbursement of endured expenses; however, there was no action taken. An Ad-Hoc committee was formed and reviewed the San Diego Police Department’s current guidelines and the possession guidelines from the previous Task Force’s ordinance. This was a report only, with no action taken. For a complete list of the Task Force’s recommendations made thus far please visit:

sandiego.gov/medicalmarijuana or www.nugmag.com. 30 | NUGMAG.COM

Our next meeting, which will be our final, we will be discussing and proposing the recommendations regarding: - Packaging, labeling and transport of medical marijuana. - Adoption of a statement of concern to forward to City and County officials. - Adoption of a statement regarding medical marijuana use by juveniles. The San Diego City Committee on Land Use and Housing (LU&H) will take up the recommendations from the Medical Marijuana Task Force as an Action Item. The committee will be discussing the MMTF Zoning Recommendations and will consider the input of the Community Planning Groups in deciding on what to recommend to the San Diego City Council. This is one of the last stages in the process of developing guidelines and regulations for medical cannabis dispensing collectives and cooperatives in San Diego before the issue is addressed by the San Diego City Council. Next month we will report back on the final recommendations to the Council.

I’d like to express an enormous amount of gratitude to: Kim Nguyen (Council Member Marti Emerald’s office) for her diligent hard work, and to Mary Nuesca (City Attorney) and Melinda Nickelberry (Independent Budget Analyst’s office), for their information, guidance and attendance at each and every meeting. Thank you to those who showed their support for the Medical Marijuana Task Force as we worked together to provide safe access in San Diego. I also implore you if you are going to speak publicly regarding medical marijuana or any other subject, make certain that you know what you are talking about and that your facts are accurate. Take the time to research what you are talking about and have the source of your information available. Do your own research and don’t take anyone’s word. It is very exasperating when people misspeak or skew the facts and come up blasting with wrong information. This is a tactic that the anti-groups utilize to cause confusion and take away from the goal. There is an old saying… “It is better to be quiet and be thought a fool, than to speak and release all doubts.”

LEGAL Fair Shake is an organization that is dedicated to supporting the successful reintroduction of formerlyincarcerated people into society.

Nationwide, a large percentage of prison populations are made up of people convicted of cannabis â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;crimes.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Although cannabis is not a real crime, the justice system sends many cannabis consumers and marketers to prison for long periods of time. Readjusting to life after prison can be very difficult due to mental and emotional stress, prejudice against ex-convicts, and institutionalization which causes prisoners to become co-dependent on prison life. Fair Shake is a group that is committed to reducing the recidivism rate of released prisoners through personal and community focused ownership and engagement opportunities for inmates and former felons. It works in connection with families, employers, property managers, and corrections officials to achieve its goals. Every year, over 600,000 people are released from prison. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, over 95% of all state prisoners will rejoin society. Sadly, however, less than three years

LEGAL CONT. after leaving the penitentiary, nearly 70% of them will return. Fair Shake curriculum addresses responsibility, tenacity, positive thinking, and the value of being realistic and creating lasting relationships in all sessions. With the proper understanding of concepts like these, participants are able to create appropriate and achievable goals. Not only do they prepare for success, they also prepare for the worst: rejection, setbacks, obstacles and negativity. The benefits are not only offered to inmates, but also to communities. For ex-

ample, written recognition for participation in the programs is provided and helps future employers and property managers develop a clear understanding of the person they are interviewing. Through the Fair Shake website, they are able to access the applicant’s webpage, criminal records, bond history, and tax credit information from one convenient location.

citizenship. People who break the law need a “time out” to understand the gravity of their crime, reconsider their role as a member of our society and plan their return to the community. Once they have served the sentence deemed a fair punishment for their crime, formerly-incarcerated people should be able to make amends and get on with their lives in a productive and peaceful manner.

Prisons serve a useful and necessary function and will continue to have an important place in our society, but one term in prison should provide a sufficient opportunity to understand the importance and relevance of responsible

The Fair Shake website states, “As taxpayers, we are all investors in corrections, and a 32% success rate is simply unacceptable — considering both our safety and the return on our investment

(ROI). A reasonable ROI will be realized when we slow the revolving door and cease to repeatedly warehouse the same people. Only then will we truly become ‘tough on crime’.” It costs an average of $24,000 to incarcerate each inmate per year, and the average sentence is 4 years. Re-entry programs like Fair Shake can help inmates and former felons, and lessen the burden on society. For more information go to www.fairshake.net

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The Healing Benefits of Cannabis Root

Hello, I am Darcy Stoddard, the maker of HempEaZe for cannabis root healing. I was first introduced to the healing benefits of cannabis root 14 years ago when, in one quick fall, I dislocated my ankle, shattered 3” of leg bone, shredded my tendons and severed the nerves. Yet, a year after surgery, my ankle was still swollen, I was in constant pain, couldn’t walk for more than five minutes, and my foot was still numb. The doctor’s only suggestions were that “I should get use to using a cane” and to take cortisone shots for the swelling! This concerned me since cortisone has been linked to cancer. Like many in the world today, I had lost my confidence in modern medicine. In my travels, I have met many who suffer from receiving the wrong diagnosis and harmful medications. People who have suffered long enough are reaching out for more traditional earthbound based medicines and are drawn to find alternative ways to heal and prevent illness. I am one of many. For over 30 years, I have been learning the ancient ways of healing herbs and using salves for my family’s minor aches and pains from the herbs that I have grown in my garden. So, I was motivated into researching the right herbs that would heal my injuries. I started with some tried and true herbs like comfrey, which works well for muscle rebuilding and strengthening, and also for mending wounds and broken bones. Sage has always been another first choice for me, for it is also a powerful herb for soothing muscles. While continuing to formulate a cream that I could massage in, I spoke with Bonnie Metcalf who was the owner/operator of the Yuba County Cannabis Coalition. She asked if I had ever tried using cannabis root. She said she had read that cannabis root reduces swelling and eases pain. I was intrigued. Looking for information, I became aware that, although the stem, flowers, seeds, and leaves have received an enormous amount of attention, almost nothing had been published about

the roots! Much of the information that I did find were casual mentions in ancient history. For example, I found that some Appalachian remedies for arthritis and pain included hemp root. So, I thought I’d give it a try and added the hemp root, making a 9 herb formula. I was amazed. The cream started soothing me right away, simply from a topical skin application. After a mere two months, my swelling was gone and the pain was less frequent. Within a year, I had regained full movement of my ankle, had feeling down to my toes, and the nerve pain was gone! My family and friends were so amazed at my recovery that they wanted to try the cream too. People started reporting a feeling of relief from arthritis and sore muscles, eczema and rosacea. They encouraged friends and family to try it. Everyone encouraged me to put it on the market, but I wanted to be sure that these experiences were solid and not just occasional happenings. So, I began a series of test marketing for three years with volunteers from across the country. We offered it to arthritis sufferers, chemo patients, and people with both old and new injuries. They reported that our cream relieved painful scar tissue, sprains, broken toes, psoriasis and fibromyalgia. It healed infected tattoos, restless leg syndrome and more. At one point, I was told that the cream healed diaper rash in an hour! It was after all this testing that we finally decided to name the famous cream Hemp-EaZe, for healing at the root of the problem. Along the way I discovered that, unlike the inhaled or ingested form, it’s legal to possess Hemp-EaZe without a doctor’s recommendation due to a court ruling in 1973 (People vs. Vargas). Because it’s suspended in oils and waxes, the intoxicants cannot be consumed, and therefore, it’s exempt from control by the Federal Substance Abuse Act. In June 2008, I was contacted by Blair Van Pelt, a research student at the University of Idaho. Blair told me that while she was testing cannabis root two years previously, she had seen positive results from using cannabis root to treat staph infection! She wishes to use Hemp-EaZe in her research, stating that Hemp-EaZe was the only product she had found

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that contained hemp root. The study concluded with the exciting news that there is no THC in cannabis root. To further validate the conclusion: In July 2009, samples of Hemp-EaZe Therapy Cream were confiscated in a raid conducted by the Australian Federal Police. After 4 months of scrutinized testing, the Australian Feds deemed that the cannabis root healing cream was negative for THC and returned the personal supply of Hemp-EaZe back to its rightful owner. Hemp-EaZe 1, Feds 0! During the court proceedings, the assistant to the Speaker of the House of the Australian Legislative Assembly was very intrigued about the Hemp-EaZe testimonial that was presented and asked to sample some of the cream on her swollen knees. She said it started to work right away. Nearly 5 months later, her boss, “the Speaker of the House“, began using the cannabis root cream too. This is a great and significant step forward for Australia and cannabis activism in that country. And another victory for Hemp-EaZe. Currently, we are working with Chico Holistic Center in California. They help neuropathy patients and diabetics. The Center

applies Hemp-EaZe in their treatments because of its success in reducing edema, breaking up bruising, and rejuvenating the circulation. Recently, a new patient came into the clinic whose doctor had told him that the next step for his severely ulcerated feet was amputation. Feeling he had nothing to lose, he obliged to give the Holistic Center a try. Within three weeks of treatments, his ulcers were gone. This was due to a combination of electrolytes and regular applications of Hemp-EaZe. Healing at the ROOT of the Problem! Because of an accident, I have begun this remarkable journey of healing and helping others to understand what the medicinal root truly has to offer. The hemp root can do so many things, and we have barely scratched the surface of understanding its healing capabilities. It has shown us its power to save people from amputation! In the past 30 years, more then 10,000 scientific papers have been published about the cannabis plant. Still, they continually leave out the root in their studies. We must try to lift the restrictions off of hemp root, so that more studies and research can be implemented. It is time to reinstate the lowly little root back to its

formidable position as a primary healing herb...and I am leading the way! Peace and Hempy Healing Darcy “Healing at the ROOT of the Problem” www.hemp-eaze.com http://myforum.hemp-eaze.com www.myspace.com/hempeaze www.facebook.com/Darcy Stoddard www.jumptags.com/my/hemp-eaze www.hemp-eaze.livejournal.com/

y r e k o o C d n he Ki

Our History: Owners Bill & Nikki began this venture in August of 2009. Bill had a very bad accident in November of 1995, and almost lost his left leg. One of those stand-up forklifts malfunctioned and crushed him into a wall causing a double compound fracture of his left femur, broken right ankle and electrocution all at once. After 2 nine hour surgeries, months in the hospital and over a year of rehabilitation and therapy, he is walking but lives with pain daily. The pain relievers prescribed by his doctors throughout the years have caused so many unwanted side effects. The use of cannabis has been his salvation; it alleviates the pain, helps him sleep and makes him much easier to live with (for sure). I (Nikki) have lived with insomnia and diabetes for years, and began using cannabis as a sleep aid and had excellent results. But, Bill and I found smoking it has the unneeded side effect of irritating the respiratory system. We purchased some edibles from one of our Co-ops and began asking questions… who baked this, what’s in it, where was it baked at, does the baker have food safety certifications, what strain was used, sativa or indica? Usually these items are baked in someone’s kitchen in their home, and they have no food safety experience. This worried me; you don’t know what their kitchen looks like, if it is sanitary, if they wash their hands, what ingredients were used and if they were fresh. As a Food Safety Manager with a ServSafe Certification, I am aware of the importance of food safety, especially for people who are ill and using cannabis as a way to alleviate symptoms from many ailments, just one being cancer. The freshness and sanitary conditions the edibles are prepared in are very important for these patients. Our restaurant is open evenings and weekends and our commercial kitchen was available to use to bake goodies and treats. I’ve always been a pretty good cook and make bomb goodies, so I thought why not do it for people who need it, who it helps and those it makes feel better. Our kitchen is an “A” graded kitchen certified by the San Diego County Health Department, it is inspected regularly, and all ingredients are purchased from a food purveyor and are only of the freshest quality. All cannabis is grown locally, in all organic conditions with the finest soil and compost used from our restaurants leftovers. All packaging includes ingredients and strain info along with medical marijuana warnings. I have been certified as a Food Safety Manager since 2003. Bill has had his food handler’s card and managed pizza joints for over 7 years. My family has owned and operated a restaurant since 2004, and the both of us have a ton of knowledge and experience. We strive to make the most delicious medicinally potent edibles for co-ops, dispensaries and collectives in San Diego. We also providing catering and party planning.

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009

Established 2

Is the rising cost of electricity threatening the viability of your operation? Many are asking if solar is the solution with questions like: Can solar produce enough electricity. How is it stored so it is available when needed, night or day? What does it cost? How long will it take to pay for itself with electric savings? Will the cost come down soon?

Today’s photovoltaic (PV) panels, for making solar electricity, are more efficient, powerful and cost-effective than ever and the systems described here are grid-tied, meaning the output of the solar system is connected directly to the community electric system, or grid. This is done at the main panel, between the house and the meter so that while the PV is producing, whatever the house is using comes from the solar, while the excess goes to the grid and, to get there, spins the meter backward. When it is not sunny, power comes in from the grid and turns the meter forward. This is called “net-metering” and netmetered customers receive monthly statements but yearly bills from SDG&E. This allows the system to make up a winter deficit of PV output with a summertime surplus. At the end of the year, the account is “zeroedout” and the metering starts over. If your net is negative you are billed for your use with a $5 per month minimum. If positive, you will get a credit at the disappointingly small “wholesale energy producer” rate. For privacy buffs, it should be noted that, with net-metering, only the customer knows their total energy use. The net from the meter would have to be added to the PV systems inverter output to determine the total electric use.

lar they need. However, since solar eliminates top-tier priced electricity first, any amount of solar that fits will produce the highest possible return on investment (ROI), usually about 15% (tax-free) for homeowners and 25% (taxable) for businesses. If a roof area cannot be found, a rack structure to support the panels may qualify for all of the tax benefits and serve as a parking, shade or storage structure after the solar is completed.

After accounting for incentives, solar produces power for far less than SDG&E’s Tier 3 or higher home rate. For growers subject to utility company “Demand Charges,” the opportunity to change rate structure could pay for the system without it producing any electricity. Besides different rate structures, Residential and commercial solar systems have different federal incentives. Homeowners get a 30% tax credit to be deducted from taxes owed and it can be carried forward. Through 2010, business owners receive a 30% cash grant in lieu of the same credit. Businesses can also depreciate 85% of the system cost in five years, even though PV panels are warranted for 25 years and last much longer. Additionally, since 2001 the California Energy Commission has paid nearly $3 Billion to Californians who have installed PV systems on their property. This cash incentive, commonly called the rebate, has declined on a schedule, as more systems are installed, and is now about 15% of the typical system cost. Thus, homeowners get about half of the system paid for with incentives and business owners get about three-fourths of the system paid for due to the added tax deduction.

The power output of the system varies slightly with tilt and orientation. South-facing at about a 20º tilt is best but the range of directions that have less than a 10% loss in performance is wide. This can easily be made up with a few more panels. As a result, most buildings have enough suitable roof area for the amount of so-

Due to a rapid build up in PV panel manufacturing capacity beginning in 2006 when the California rebate was nearly three times what it has declined to now, combined with the subsequent decline in capital to finance the multimillion dollar utility-scale systems, silicon panel prices have fallen dramatically. For the average home system, the panels now represent only 25-30% of the total system cost. Further large reductions in panel prices are unlikely and would not result in a significant price decrease. The recent reduction in panel prices has dampened enthusiasm for the newer thin-film technologies that attempt to reduce cost with high volume production of lower efficiency panels. The low efficiency requires that more panel area be installed which increases the costs of mounting materials and labor. There has never been a better time to install solar. The cost of panels cannot decline as fast as the California rebate so the net cost of the system will gradually rise as the rebate diminishes. The pace of solar sales has responded and renewable energy is now considered to be one of the few bright spots in the economy. Look at it this way, if you are a homeowner who expects to buy electricity and pay taxes for the next seven to eight years or more; or a business owner who expects to buy electricity and pay taxes for the next four or five years… Why wouldn’t you go solar? For exactly the same money, solar comes to an end while SDG&E keeps rising. After all, how long have you been an SDGE customer? When will your account be paid off? For more information on going solar, please contact info@MotherEarthCoop.com

Written by Kim Twolan, Mother Earth Co-op ♥ Proudly serving San Diego MMJ patients since 2005 This is a unique month in the medical marijuana community with 4:20 being celebrated throughout the nation. At the same time, medical marijuana arrests and persecutions continue right here in San Diego and across our state and nation. Law enforcement and political officials continue to waste a disgusting sum of money, time, and resources trying to accomplish a futile goal that goes against the will of the people. The total number of marijuana arrests (approximately 800,000 per year) far exceeds the total number of arrests for all other violent crimes combined, including murder, manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault (U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ), Bureau of Justice Statistics. July 2003. Prisoners in 2002). Multiplying these totals by the DoJ prison expenditure data reveals that U.S. taxpayers are spending more than $1 billion annually to imprison marijuana “offenders”, including medical marijuana patients, caregivers, and providers. Meanwhile, our jails and prisons continue to be overcrowded with real criminals. Of course, several hundred thousand more Americans are arrested each year for violating marijuana laws, costing taxpayers another $8 billion annually in criminal justice costs. We all have to strive for and convey maximum peace and understanding towards each other. The medical marijuana community is beneath a microscope and continues to be unjustly targeted. It is crucial that we stand together. Let’s commemorate a time of peace and be thankful for everything that each and every one of us is doing to assist and educate the public and cultivate awareness of the countless benefits from medical marijuana; like, the fact that it has no side effects and has caused zero deaths. With the warm weather around the corner and all the fun get togethers, we have included a few remedies: fresh spring beverages, appetizers, salads, and a few exciting dishes with our medicinal twist! The following recipes are taken from Mother Earth Co-op’s “Special Medicinal Recipes – A Medical Cannabis Cookbook.” By Kim Twolan © 2008. Cookbook available at finer co-ops and collectives, physician’s offices, and online at: http://www.motherearthcoop.com/private/product1.htm 44 | NUGMAG.COM

CLARENCE’S CHRONIC HIGH BALL (Beverages) 6 oz pineapple juice 1/8 tsp kief 1 tbsp lime juice (fresh)

4 cups watermelon (seedless, cubed) 1 (12-oz.) bottle sparkling water 1 lime (fresh sliced)

In a blender or food processor, combine pineapple juice concentrate, kief, lime juice and watermelon. Cover and blend until smooth. Pour into individual goblets or glasses over crushed ice. Pour chilled sparkling water evenly into each of the goblets and stir. Note: Garnish with fresh lime and watermelon slices and enjoy this healing beverage. GARLIC LIFT OFF (Appetizers) 10 cloves garlic (chopped) 1 cup cannabutter 1 tbsp hempseeds

1 1/2 cups Cheddar cheese (grated) 1/4 cup cilantro (fresh chopped) 1 loaf Italian or French bread

Mince garlic by chopping finely. Mix in with the cannabutter. Grate cheese and melt cannabutter in the microwave for 30 to 40 seconds (to make the cannabutter easier to spread). Spread the mixture on the bread, sprinkle with hempseeds and cilantro, and place under the broiler for approximately 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and getting a bit crispy and brown, dependent upon individual taste. Note: Great comfort food and helps to relieve the symptoms of nausea. Also, try placing pieces of bacon on top of the cheese and broil to perfection. MAGIC MUSHROOMS (Appetizers) 2 tbsp cannabutter 2 medium shallots 4 garlic cloves (chopped) 2 lbs mushrooms (sliced ) 4 tbsp fresh herbs (chives, rosemary +)

8 slices bread (sliced thick) 2/3 cup heavy cream 2 tbsp cannabis (finely chopped) 1/8 tsp smoked salt 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

In a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the cannabutter over medium low heat until it stops foaming. Add half of the garlic and shallots and cook until lightly browned. Add half of the mushrooms and sauté over medium heat until softened and their liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Transfer the mushrooms to a plate, and then repeat with the remaining cannabutter, shallots, garlic and mushrooms. Return the reserved mushrooms to the skillet, stir in the chopped mixed herbs, cannabis and sauté for another minute or two. Meanwhile, toast the bread. Stir the cream into the mushroom mixture and season with salt and white pepper to taste. Butter the toast, if you like, and divide the mushroom mixture evenly over each slice; serve immediately. Serves 8

CRAZY DAZE SALAD (Salads) 3/4 cup barley 3 cups corn kernels 1/2 cup green peas 4 medium tomatoes (diced) 3 tbsp cannaoil 1 stalk celery (chopped)

HERBAL HEADACHE RELIEF (Remedies) 2 scallions (chopped) 4 tbsp dill (fresh, chopped) 2 tbsp lemon juice (fresh) 1 head lettuce 1/2 cup Feta cheese 1 tbsp hempseeds

In a large mixing bowl, combine the barley with the remaining ingredients except the lettuce and feta cheese. Cover and refrigerate for an hour or so before serving. Line each individual serving plate with a few lettuce leaves and distribute the salad over them. Serves 6 to 8. Note: Garnish with a sprinkle of feta cheese over the top. SCALLOP VEGGIE VORTEX STIR-FRY (Seafood) 2 tbsp cannaoil 1 medium white onion 2 tbsp garlic (chopped) 1 bunch broccoli 8-oz mushrooms (sliced) 2 medium carrots 1 cup peas 4 small scallions (chopped)

2 tbsp cannabis (finely chopped) 1 lb. scallops 1 cup sprouts 1 cup rice 1 (4-oz.) jar artichokes (diced) 4 tbsp Stir-Fry sauce 1 bunch cilantro (fresh, chopped) 1 bunch chives (fresh, chopped)

Dice vegetables into small pieces. Cook rice and set aside. In a large frying pan or wok heat cannaoil. Slowly add garlic, broccoli, mushrooms, carrots and onions. Stir-fry several minutes, until onions are slightly brown and broccoli is a deep green. Add scallions, cannabis and scallops, mix well. Add artichokes and sprouts, continue stirring. Mix in 2 tablespoons stir-fry sauce until all veggies are evenly coated. Add rice and stir. Finally add 2 more tablespoons stir-fry sauce and mix until rice is brown. Serve. Makes 4 to 6 servings. Note: Garnish with cilantro and chives. DANAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DANK DATE SQUARES (Bars) 2 cups dates (chopped) 1 cup hot water 1 cup sugar 2/3 cup cannaoil 2 large eggs 1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup chocolate chips 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed) 1/2 cup nuts (chopped)

Preheat oven to 350*. In a bowl, combine dates and water; set aside to cool (do not drain). In a mixing bowl, cream sugar and cannaoil together. Add eggs, flour, baking soda and salt; mix well. Add dates. Pour into a greased and floured 13 x 9 baking pan. Combine the topping ingredients; chocolate chips, brown sugar and nuts and sprinkle over batter. Bake at 350* F for 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Makes 24 curative servings. Note: This curative treat is one of the most requested and favorite. Enjoy with a cold glass of milk or warm chi tea.

2 tbsp valerian (dried) 2 tbsp skullcap (dried) 2 tbsp cannabis (chopped) 2 tbsp chamomile (dried)

2 tbsp rosemary (dried) 2 tbsp peppermint (dried) 1 tbsp hempseed 2 tbsp honey

Grind all herbs in a coffee grinder or food processor until powdered. Blend with enough honey to bind. Break off small, pill-sized pieces. Roll into a ball, then flatten slightly. Dry. Store in a tightly sealed container in a cool dark place. Use 1 or 2 doses (pill-sized pieces) to help relieve a tension headache. Wait one hour before next dosage. Note: The shelf life of this herbal remedy is only a few weeks as it breaks down rapidly. Therefore, you should use within two weeks of grinding. PEACEFUL & LOVING LIFE 2 heaping ounces compassion 2 large quarts of understanding 2 whole lbs. love & true caring 1 packed bag selfless giving 1 whole lb. patience 1 rounded cup kindness 2 large jars real sharing

3 dozen lbs. peace 1 large bottle gracious listening 3 heaping bags forgiveness 2 bunches true understanding 2 packed lbs. caring insight 2 ounces complete passion

Mix all ingredients well together. Toss in lots of laughter and liberal smiles. Serve generously to all those around you with true love and peace in your heart. Note: Please share with others and practice peace and random acts of kindness each and every day. Wishing you a hempy journey to a healthier you! Peace & Love Kim

It is increasingly obvious to most that there are major changes going on in the world today. In almost any facet you can imagine - the government, the economy, the environment, the educational system, the business world - the effects are being felt. Change can be disconcerting for some, but others thrive on it, and see this time as an opportunity to improve life for themselves and others. This passion connects like-minded individuals to fight for a common cause, a greater good. As a medical marijuana activist, I have seen the power that can come from taking advantage of this opportunity. Over the course of the last year, it seems as if we have made more progress in this movement than over the last decade. Looking at the bigger picture, I see similar progress being made in many other movements. Maybe it’s just that we care more now, that we are not so wrapped up in the artificial things we have come to rely on. Maybe it’s just that we are getting smarter, by learning from our previous mistakes and finally stepping up to do something about it. Whatever it is, those of us embracing change are using this momentum to push our causes to the next level and build thriving businesses out of them in a whole new way.

“Developing countries make Exotic World Gifts, a Fair Trade import company up 40% of the who’s founders live in Del Mar, CA, is a shinpopulation but ing example of exactly that kind of business. Their focus is on promot- only 3% of world ing a concept known as socially responsible purtrade...” chasing – doing good by shopping good. They sell a wide variety of unique items including home décor, jewelry, fashion accessories, art and gifts. What sets them apart from other importers is that a larger portion of your purchase goes directly to providing artisans in developing countries with a sustainable income, empowering them to provide for their families and get out of disadvantaged situations. They now carry over 600 products, many of them made by women, from fifteen different countries. As a member of the Fair Trade Federation and Green America, they subscribe to the same core value of these renowned organizations: respect for people, their culture and the planet. Purchases of fair trade gifts help support the global economic system and contribute towards the eradication of global poverty. Each item you purchase comes with a touching story about the artisan, their product and their background, so purchasers know they are connecting to a greater good, hence creating “The Circle of Good”. 46 | NUGMAG.COM

Fair Trade Gifts Created by Artisans from Remote Areas of the World

Elephant Painting Location-Chiang Mai, Thailand Elephant Artist-Hong Perhaps the most infamous product made available by Exotic World Gifts is their elephant art, and yes, the elephant is the one who does the painting. If you need further proof, check out their You Tube video – Original Elephant Painting, which has gotten over 10 million views to date. Your purchase of elephant art directly contributes to supporting the Asian elephants, which are rapidly becoming extinct and are in need of our help now. Purchasing these authentic elephant paintings is one part of the solution and helps pay for food, medical care and environmental programs. Indian Jewelry Location-The Nyishi Tribe, India Local Artisan Group From the Himalayan mountain region of India, these women are victims of child marriage, but now these brave and talented women are earning a living making jewelry and ornaments. They receive training in weaving, cutting, and tailoring. Their work reflects the ethnic art of their region. They use dry tree resins and pine, and source local gems, stones, and metals. Tree resins are a renewable resource, and an excellent alternative to wood. They polish the resins to create beads of different sizes and shapes. Cana Flecha Bracelets Location-South America Zenu Indians of Colombia These beautiful bracelets are hand-crafted with braided strips of cana flecha, a durable palm used by ancestors for centuries. This tribe is loyal to their cultural legacy, but were stripped of their riches, lands and possessions by colonial settlers. Using their ancestors’ Pre-Columbian weaving techniques, they now create jewelry with a contemporary design. Thai Cloth Bags Location-Hmong Tribe, Thailand Hmong Tribal Women From northern Thailand, these women have a great sense of humor, and make wonderful purses in a variety of materials from cotton to silk, with hand stitching and recycled materials. No two bags are exactly alike.

Why Fair Trade? - It offers social and economic respect for the hard work of talented people - It provides a sustainable way of life for developing communities - Fair Trade is anti-slavery and anti-child labor - It supports the conservation of the environment - It empowers women and minorities

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Thai Cotton Scarves Location-Thailand Local Artisan Group

Hand Carved Bowls Location-Bali Local Artisan Group

A talented artisan group from northwestern Thailand, this “Green” Cooperative uses locally grown cotton and produces all natural dyes. These scarves are 100% cotton and are hand woven in the local rural community, where the land is undependable and they cannot rely on two seasons of good crops. Scarves give them the means to have sustainable income and to continue to work in the village. Fair trade wages keep them out of poverty.

These hand carved bowls and home accessories are made of bamboo, coconut, and cinnamon stick inlaid one-by-one onto mango wood or mahogany. They have a beautiful smooth finish, are food safe, work cool or warm, and are eco-friendly. From “somewhere in the middle of a rice paddy” in Bali, these bowls are made by highly talented artisans from sustainable natural resources for fair trade wages, providing an ongoing means of income for food, education, and basic needs. The purchase of these home décor items allows them to stay in their villages with their families instead of traveling to the cities for income.

One of the best things about working with NUG Magazine is getting to meet so many wonderful, inspiring people in our community. On a rainy Saturday morning in March, the ladies of NUG headed to Ocean Beach Wellness Center to meet Liz Allen & Mark Fangue, the founders of Exotic World Gifts, and observe their training session with the ladies of the collective. Exotic World Gifts are now sold at this location, as well as Green Earth Herbal Collective in Pacific Beach. Not only have these collectives partnered with this beneficial organization, they have reached out to many local artisans as well to sell their wares, creating a dual-use environment that benefits their members, the local economy, and the global economy. You will find an interesting array of eco-friendly and environmentally responsible merchandise like Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap, Manitoba Harvest hemp oils, local artist Midori’s recycled jewelry and art products, and much more. Thanks to Lynn and the ladies of OB Wellness for having us! A fun and educational time was had by all, and we were happy to take part in “The Circle of Good,” leaving with a few new gifts of our own. Listening to Liz & Mark tell the story behind each of their products, it was easy to see that they have a passion for what they are doing - traveling the world, experiencing new cultures and sharing it with others. At the same time, they are able to help improve the quality of life for the artisans they meet. In 2007, Liz & Mark left their corporate jobs to pursue their vision of helping others and making a difference in the world. They have put their many years of business experience to good use, connecting people all over the world and introducing them to the power of doing good. Locally, along with bringing “Compassion Shopping” to the San Diego community, they give seminars on “Living What You Love” to inspire others to follow their passions too.

How can you be part of “The Circle of Good”? - Educate friends and family about fair trade - Choose fair trade alternatives - Demand fair trade products at your local store 50 | NUGMAG.COM

NUG: Thank you both for taking the time to answer a few questions for our readers. How did you get started traveling the world and discovering these unique cultures and products? L&M: Both with tender hearts and a passion to make the world a better place, the creation of Exotic World Gifts really started by asking ourselves two challenging questions, “What do we want and how do we want to feel?” While traveling in Belize on vacation, we met wonderful women in a very remote and impoverished area trying to sell their beautiful handcrafts. This was our first “ah-ha” moment when we looked at each other and said, “We can help these woman by opening up distribution to the global market.” As firm believers in the principles of Fair Trade, this was the start of stepping away from the corporate world and starting a company based on the Triple Bottom Line – people, planet, and reinvesting profits to do good. NUG: What has been your favorite exotic location so far? What was that experience like? L&M: We have had eye-opening and heart-warming experiences in every developing country, but would have to say Kenya for its rich culture, warm and wonderful people, and magnificent safaris. There is something magical and life changing in Kenya. NUG: Your You Tube video was quite a sensation, receiving over 10 million views. How did this experience affect you and your business? L&M: Once we were in alignment with what we were supposed to be doing, empowering artisans with sustainable income through Exotic World Gifts, amazing things have happened. The Original Elephant Painting video going viral drew immediate attention to our newly started business. National Geographic, Animal Planet, The Oprah Show producers, national news channels, Vogue magazine and others contacted us. In fact, you 52 | NUGMAG.COM

can watch the “Wild on Tape” National Geographic show they asked us to film by going to www.ExoticWorldGifts. com. NUG: You mentioned you just got back from a trip to Costa Rica. Can you tell us a little bit about that? L&M: We went to Costa Rica to work with indigenous artisans and put together a “Travel with a Purpose” trip filled with Fair Trade learning experiences, humanitarian volunteer activities and adventure. NUG: What’s next on your itinerary? L&M: Due to many challenges in Costa Rica for a “Travel with a Purpose” group trip, we have moved the location to Guatemala, where we will give a rare insight into the culture of Guatemala and their authentic artistry, learn about the importance of fair trade and eco-travel, visit an ancient Maya site, and tour the charming city of Antigua Guatemala as well as the beautiful and diverse lakeside villages surrounding Lake Atitlan. NUG: Traveling to third-world countries can be intimidating for most people. What tips can you share for someone who may want to follow in your footsteps? L&M: Like traveling anywhere, you need to be smart with your intuitions and wise with how you carry yourself and money. Look like you have been there before, research ahead of time about the cultural do’s & don’ts and please don’t act like a “loud ugly American tourist”! In many developing countries there are very nice accommodations available, English speaking people and wonderful food. NUG: Can you explain more about “The Circle of Good” and how one country or person can affect change in another? L&M: It’s amazing how, for example, a woman in Cam-

bodia who’s leg was blown off by a landmine, created a beautiful purse – Exotic World Gifts purchased it for cash – a retail store in San Diego sells the purse with its story – profit proceeds are used to build two schools in Malawi, Africa. Essentially, a disadvantaged artisan in Cambodia helped orphaned children in Africa get education. That is a beautiful “Circle of Good” of a global proportion. NUG: What advice can you give to someone else who wants to live their passion? L&M: Authentically answer the questions, “What do I want and how do I want to feel?” This may take months, but be really honest with yourself and you will feel alignment and free, as if you won a personal lottery! It does not matter what others think is right for you, only you know the gifts you have to offer the world.

For more information about Exotic World Gifts Subscribe to: exoticworldgiftsblog.com For wholesale information Contact: Jeanne@exoticworldgifts.com To purchase Exotic World Gifts online Log on to: www.exoticworldgifts.com and use the promotion code: One World to receive 10% off.

Put your passion into action! -Align yourself -Experience miracles -Make a difference in the world

Story by Pamela Jayne

Photos courtesy of Phil Calvin of SCR Photos & Derek Plank

Chronisseur (chron-a-soo-er): An individual highly respected within the marijuana community due to his/her knowledge and experience in the cannabis industry. Areas of expertise include, but are not limited to: growth and cultivation, medical marijuana and legalization advocacy, travel experience and the ability to convey all of these things to the general public. A quick glance at the resume of San Diego’s very own greenthumbed expert (yes, he literally has a green thumb) makes it quite obvious why we asked Hopper to be the official NUG Magazine Chronisseur. While his current role is as the director/founder of one of San Diego’s premier medical marijuana providers, The Green Door Collective in North Park, it is his collective past (pun intended!) that uniquely qualifies him for this particular position. Not only has he been featured in High Times magazine (Nov.’06, Aug.’08, Dec.’09 and in issues not yet on the shelf) and in Cannabis Culture magazine (Aug./ Sept.’05 and July/Aug.’06), but he also has the distinction of having had the Kottonmouth Kings write a song for their album, High Society, about a strain he created called The Kingsblend. Sadly, the original Kingsblend was lost in the devastating Cedar Fire in October 2003, but he hopes to recreate the legendary bud sometime in the near future. Aside from growing the plant named in their honor, Hopper spent nearly ten years traveling across the country and around the world as KMKs’ tour manager. As you may suspect, that job required the kind of cannabis related aptitude that not many people possess. But then again, Hopper is not your average smoker. Like he says, “I got my PhD in THC at SDFU.” This statement may sound a bit abrasive, even cocky to some, but those who 56 | NUGMAG.COM

know Hopper personally know that he is simply using his trademark wit to explain his qualifications for his one true passion: medical marijuana. Not just weed that anyone can get anywhere, but rather high quality, locally grown, specifically cultivated medical cannabis used to treat the ailments of patients he serves at The Green Door. The GDC is a private, non-profit, member’s only medical marijuana collective that operates in 100% compliance with the law. Hopper will do whatever it takes to best serve his patients, even if it means turning away prospective new members. In order to provide the highest quality meds for GDC patients, he has decided to stop accepting new members. The only way to become a patient/member is via a personal referral from a current patient. Yes, this upsets some medical marijuana cardholders, but he and the rest of the GDC staff believe that this policy is necessary in order to maintain the quality of products and service that their patients

have come to expect. Imagine your mother or grandmother, recently diagnosed with cancer and in search of relief from the physical ravages of the disease and the necessary treatments she must endure. Would you want her waiting in line and being treated like just another customer? Of course you wouldn’t. Neither does Hopper.

As the hardest working man in the grow business, Hopper definitely has a lot of nugs in his jug so to speak. However, he is honored to add NUG Magazine’s Official Chronisseur to his list of things to do and looks forward to reviewing the best of what the San Diego medical marijuana community has to offer. See you next month!

In speaking to him, it is obvious that seeing people who are suffering on a daily basis does take its toll. When I asked him how he deals with it, he points out the positive aspects. For instance, he describes speaking to a patient who said that after visiting The Green Door for the first time she feels better than she has in months or another patient I spoke with who said, “I’m finally in remission. I couldn’t have done it without my family, friends, and The Green Door…and Hopper who operates in a way that helps patients like me get the safe assistance and compassionate service needed to get through this.”

*To check out video reviews from The Chronisseur go to www.thechronisseur. com which will debut April 20th 2010. Also, visit www.thegreendoorcollective. org for more info on the GDC.

When I asked Hopper to comment on this he didn’t hesitate before saying, “That’s the point. That’s what puts a smile on my face.” He goes on to say “I’m at the point in my life where I don’t need ‘things’ to make me happy, or feel successful. I feel successful every time a patient walks away feeling confident and comfortable with the meds, information, and service I have provided.” In a time when many of San Diego’s powers-that-be have launched an all out media blitz often filled with fear mongering and half-truths to skew the public’s opinion of medical marijuana, Hopper insists on being a positive reflection of the medical marijuana community as well as an asset to the neighborhood where the Green Door is located. He has partnered with the San Diego Food Bank, Alpha Project, and Toys for Tots. In fact, the response to the Toys for Tots drive was so overwhelming; it even surprised the Marines who came to collect the mountain of gifts that GDC patients donated. One of them told Hopper that he thought going to a collective would be a waste of time, but admitted he had been wrong and even said that they collected more donations from The GDC than some Wal-Mart locations! Listening to Hopper tell that story was like listening to a proud papa recount his child’s first steps. . . and no doubt, those are the first steps of many to come.

Beginning next month, Hopper will be reviewing strains from anonymous collectives in San Diego. He will never know where the sample came from and will only review the strain itself. He will be choosing 3 strains a month to review from the samples that are brought to him. These samples will be gathered unknown to the collectives. If one of your strains is chosen for review, we will then, and only then, say where it came from!

BY. THE GURU

HOW TO START AN INDOOR GARDEN Ever wanted to start your own indoor garden? Just about every day I see and hear people wanting, or already trying, to start their own indoor garden. Unfortunately, many people get started with the wrong advice. It seems that everyone who has ever seen a garden, or has a friend that grows, thinks that they know everything about growing plants. The problem is this can lead you to using the wrong methods and techniques for indoor cultivation everything from how to set up and build a grow room, and what is acceptable for ventilation and lighting, to what is good to feed your plants. So, if you’re looking at starting an indoor grow room, here are a few basic tips and facts about growing plants indoors. Let’s start at the beginning, selecting a location to grow and the construction of the grow room at that location. It all depends on what size garden you’re planning, but the same basic rules and guidelines apply to any size room. When selecting a location there a few things you should look out for that are really common mistakes. If you’re signing a new lease, and planning on a grow room with a certain number of lights, then you better make sure that the location can actually handle what you’re planning on doing. Then you have to ask yourself if you’re going to grow in an open loop room with lots of ventilation? (See Open vs. Closed Loop Grow Rooms article on nugmag.com) Windows make great fresh air sources, and by building a simple window box, you can conceal your garden and even make it break-in proof. It’s not just for privacy and security - it’s also for 100% light control, meaning no light leaks in at all during the plant’s dark cycle. Controlling all factors of the grow room and environment is important to a successful garden. Filtered air from a window or outside air source is usually the best option for ventilation intake. The fresh air is cool and has adequate CO2 in it. A grow room should be exhausted at a minimum of once every five minutes, but for growing heavy fruiting or flowering plants under high intensity discharge lighting (HID), metal halide (MH) or high pressure sodium (HPS), since all produce a lot of heat, you will definitely need to exhaust more than that here in Southern California. Common sense and physics tells you that if you are using fresh air to cool your garden, you will only be able to match the same ambient temperatures from outside. Often it gets well over 85 – 90 degrees here in Southern California and can be quite warm at night. In the hot season, you should always run your open loop system garden at night - the air is cooler outside and makes it easier to cool the room. The cooler the air, the more efficient it is to thermally cool a source of heat such as an HID Light, or to bring cool fresh air exchange in the room. You can also have air that is too cool in the winter, and options such as pulling air from the house may be just right to keep the room at correct temperatures. Keep a vacuum by having the exhaust fans total CFM be about 20% more than that of the intake and you will create a negative pressure, and more importantly control odors and environment.

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So, make sure to check out the location first and confirm that you have adequate options for ventilation. This includes fresh air intake, exhausting the room and exchanging the air, and ventilating or air cooling the lights. You can do this by using an inline fan to push air thru the lights. By sealing your lights, both the edges and around the glass, and pushing the air through the lights, you do not need to filter the air being pushed out of the lights. The rule for cooling is usually about 200-250 CFM of fresh air for each 1000 watt light. The more bends and turns you have in your ducting the less efficient it is. Each 90 degree bend can reduce air flow by as much as 25%, so keep ducting straight and as short as possible. Additional fans can be used if the ducting run is too long for a single fan. If the reflectors are hot when you touch them, then they are not properly cooled. You should be able to touch your reflector and feel minimal heat from it, as the proper air cooled reflector and air flow or CFM will exhaust it out properly. Choosing the right reflector is also a big factor in cooling the lights. If you’re running up to two 1000 watt lights, then one 6” 450 CFM fan is adequate with 6” air cooled reflectors. The other part is ventilation or exhaust from the room requiring the window as a fresh air source, and the attic as an exhausting location, or simply air in and air out needs to be adequately set up and calculated. In most high performance gardens, exhausting or exchanging the air in the grow room is best when done every 30 seconds to once per minute. The more the better, as heat has less time to build up and CO2 stays at a consistent level. Always filter incoming air and use a charcoal filter to purify and clean any exhausting air. Air flow or CFM of your charcoal filter must match that of your fan. If not, the air is not properly cleaned and odors, pathogens, molds, fungus, and diseases will not be eliminated properly. By doing a sealed or closed loop room, you don’t need the fresh air intake or exhaust for the room, so those ports are eliminated. Many times it is a good idea to install at least one main exhaust and intake fan controlled by a thermostat in case the AC does fail, then the room will still be able to keep an environment that will not kill the plants. It’s just a back up insurance tip for sealed rooms with AC units. Even in a sealed room, it is usually more efficient to air cool the lights by pushing fresh air from outside thru them. However, if you live in Arizona where it is 110 degrees outside and that is your fresh air source, then an open loop room is not possible and a sealed room with an air conditioner is one of your only options. A sealed or closed loop grow room is always the best choice as it is completely controlled and kept at the temperatures you set and want. For each 1000 watt light, it requires about 4000 British Thermal Units (BTU) of air conditioning. A true air conditioner is a recalculating unit, meaning it pulls and takes in the air from the same room it’s cooling. This is important for efficiency, odor control, temperature control, and CO2 control for total environmental control by not wasting it and exhausting it right out of the room. Any home or house unit split AC system will work best for a grow room and also is the most efficient. If a whole house AC already exists in the house or building, then chances are it could be re-routed and configured to serve as your AC for the sealed grow room. But the return and AC air into the room must be balanced and correct or it will

not work. For those of you that do not have that option and do not want someone at your location installing it, or for any other reasons, there are a couple of good options for AC units that do not require a contractor to install. IGS or IGShydro.com in San Diego sells a complete line of commercial portable units, and split AC units with cooling fan outside the house and the compressor inside the house, in a sound deadening box that reduces noise from the AC by as much as 75%. They have sizes available from 12,000 BTU’s to 139,000 BTU’s, or 1 ton to 12 ton units. That’s three 1000 watt lights, all the way up to thirty-five 1000 watt lights, with a single AC unit. A sealed room also requires charcoal filters for scrubbing the air and keeping it clean of fungus and pathogens, and also a CO2 control such as the Fuzzy Logic from C.A.P. to keep CO2 levels at adequate and consistent levels. Either CO2 tanks and regulators, or CO2 generators are required for supplying CO2 to the plants in a sealed grow room. In a sealed room you can enhance CO2 levels up to 1500-2000 parts per million (PPM). By understanding how many intake ports and how many exhaust ports are needed for the garden before getting a location, it can help you choose the best location possible by knowing what to look for. Deciding if you are going to run an open loop or closed loop sealed room makes a big difference as well. You have to make sure you have enough power available to run the lights and the AC unit. I see and hear stories all the time of people planning to do a certain number of 1000 watt lights, sign a lease and then find out the bad news! They don’t have enough power to run what they planned on! Or that there is no attic or anywhere to exhaust the hot air! Check out your locations to find the best ones and don’t settle for less than what will work for you. Sometimes it takes a little time and effort checking out many different places to rent, lease or buy, but finding the right location can make things much easier for you and much more efficient. If you can get an understanding of the environment required by the plants, then you can learn how to create that perfect environment. This is probably the most important part of a grow room, the environment. Once you have the environment controlled, the rest is easy if you can follow some simple guidelines and a simple feeding schedule like Canna Nutrients has created for all of their nutrient lines. By following the lighting schedules that many companies offer on their feeding schedules, using the right type and spectrum of lighting, and being a good care taker, anyone can become a good gardener, indoors or outdoors. Now that you’ve got your room built, and have a separate vegetative room to keep the cycle going, you should put your rooted clones into a medium of your choice. You should also have the clones under T-5 Fluorescent 6500 K bulbs, which are the Daylight Blue growth spectrum bulbs. These are the best bulbs for starting and vegging newly planted clones. The plants may stay under this light until they are 12”-16” tall and ready for flowering, or they can stay here for most of the veg period, and be moved under either 400 watt MH lights with the Daylight Blue 6500 K lighting spectrum. This preps them and beefs them up a little, preparing them for the much stronger and more intense flowering HPS lights. In vegetative growth, it is

much better for production to use high quality enhanced spectrum grow bulbs designed for horticulture. Next you have to choose a growing medium and what kind of system you are going to be using. Decide whether you are going to be growing in hydroponics or soil. Most of the best soils on the market are actually blends of peat moss, perlite, coco coir, bark and many other ingredients that are not actually considered soil, so choose your medium based off of your needs and what you want to do. Either way you will need some type of tray, or ebb n flow tray, to catch the runoff water and for the plants to sit on. It can be as simple as using either soil, a soil

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less mix, or a true hydroponic inert medium such as rockwool or stone wool. I suggest starting off simple. Meaning the less moving parts, less high maintenance items and more forgiveness in the system, all make for an easier and more productive grow. People often want to start off with a Deep Water Culture System or an Aeroponics system, all of which create multiple problems and high maintenance, with higher possibilities for problems. So try a simple drip system on a table and run it to waste, meaning no recycling of the nutrient. Choose a medium such as coco, or a soil less mix that holds a bit of water. This way your chances of a good crop on your first grow will be much greater. When choosing a nutrient don’t just look for the highest N-P-K numbers available! Choose a good quality nutrient with a good reputation. Some top quality nutrients include Canna, Advanced Nutrients, Botanicare, Fox Farm, and several others. You don’t want to be using some low grade quality knock off home and garden nutrient on your highly valuable crop! There’s a big difference in quality of salts in a basic house nutrient and a high pharmaceutical quality salt like that used by Canna. Many of the brands mentioned have nutrient

lines for soil, soil less, and hydroponic growing mediums. So, if you’re thinking of starting an indoor garden just remember these few simple tips. Controlling the environment is the first and most important step after choosing a location. Choose the right nutrients and grow mediums from an innovative and knowledgeable store and you will get great solid advice, saving yourself from making years of mistakes and wasting hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Know what it will cost before you start, so you are prepared and you do it right the first time. The average cost of setting up a single 1000 watt light grow room complete for flowering is about $2000-$3000, and that’s only an open loop room. A sealed room could easily be double that, but could also double your harvest weight by being controlled and supplementing high levels of CO2. Even though it seems expensive and takes a lot of equipment to duplicate Mother Nature’s environment, that is what it takes to run a successful garden with good production. It takes time, knowledge, educating yourself, and the right equipment to become a successful grower.

Topical Use of Cannabis by Deborah Malka MD, PhD Why use topical? Cannabis has been used historically to treat a variety of ailments by topical application. Many of these conditions respond favorably to topically applied cannabis. Topical medicines are absorbed through the skin to affect a targeted area, as a minimally invasive method of administration, and as a way to reduce side effects. Some patients prepare cannabis in alcohol extracts and apply it as a rub to the affected body part. Others use cannabis oils or balms that they procure at dispensaries or privately prepare. The skin is one of our largest organs and is capable of absorbing medicine, as well as expelling waste. It makes sense to apply a medicine directly to the site of need. Applying a cannabis preparation to the skin does not usually affect brain receptors, and thus has little effect on cognition or memory. It does not produce the “high” effect that has caused so much debate about marijuana as an intoxicant. Skin disorders or peripheral pain conditions in particular, do well with topical cannabis. Eczema, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, pruritis (itching) and even skin infections have been reported to improve with topical cannabis. Marijuana may also be used topically for stopping migraines, muscle spasm or pain, for example, by rubbing it on the temples for headache. Cannabis oil has a multitude of uses. It is an excellent pain reliever because it stimulates localized cannabinoid receptors throughout our bodies. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory by stimulating circulation. The massage oil is not 64 | NUGMAG.COM

only good for a body rub, but also takes pain and swelling away from arthritic joints. Topical alcohol rubs are ideal for arthritic joint pain or sore muscles. Salves may be used anywhere you would use a first-aid ointment. You can use it for cuts and scrapes, infections and dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis and bruises. Salves, balms and lotions are made by mixing the alcohol extract or oil with the appropriate effluent (see recipes following). Plant material – Strain and part of plant Cannabis Indica, as opposed to Cannabis Sativa, is best for providing relief for physical symptoms. Some benefits of Indica are – to reduce pain, relax muscles, relieve spasms, reduce inflammation, reduce nausea, relieve headaches, and as an anti-convulsant. The active component in Cannabis that is medicinally preferable for use in a topical is a cannabinoid called CBD (cannabidiol). THC (delta-9 tetrahdrocannabinol - the cannabinoid that causes the typical “stoned” feeling) is in highest concentration in the flower of the plants. The leaf and stem of the plant predominately contain CBD. Unlike THC, CBD does not induce euphoria, but does have anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsant, antipsychotic, anti-oxidant, analgesic and neuroprotective properties. Cannabis Indica tends to have a higher concentration of CBD then Cannabis Sativa. The percentage of leaf to head and strain selection allows you to regulate the amount of THC versus CBD, and

select the effect you want to obtain. To preserve CBD content, it’s important to use fresh, unheated cannabis, as heat converts CBD to THC. Recipes Topical Cannabis Alcohol Fill a pint sized mason jar 25% full with dry crushed cannabis. (Most recipes use one part cannabis to 3-4 parts alcohol). Fill to top with alcohol (rubbing alcohol works fine.) Let stand for 2 to 4 weeks in a cool, dark place, shaking occasionally. Strain. Stronger preparations are made by repeating the process. Store in a dark bottle. Topical Cannabis Oil Use dry crushed cannabis. Add oil (such as hemp oil, or olive oil) so that the plant material is covered with the oil. Keep in a dark cool place for 3 weeks. Shake daily. Filter using a sieve. Topical Cannabis Salve/Ointment/Lotion Add beeswax to cannabis infused oil and heat it until all the wax is melted. To test to see if your salve is hard enough, put some on a spoon and set it in a cool place for a few minutes. One pint of oil will need about 1 1/2 ounces of beeswax. To make a lotion or ointment, add aloe vera gel or shea butter instead of beeswax.

rich hemp heritage along with the tremendous benefits of growing hemp in America once again” explains Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas. Vote Hemp and Hemp Industries Association Announce Week Long Education Campaign to Bring Back Hemp Farming ‘Hemp History Week’ Events Planned in 50 States NATIONWIDE, USA — The Hemp Industries Association (HIA) and Vote Hemp are excited to announce the 1st Annual Hemp History Week to be held May 17-23, 2010. As a national grassroots education campaign designed to renew strong support for hemp farming in the U.S., Hemp History Week will feature a letter writing campaign and events in cities and towns all over the country. Organizers expect the campaign to collect at least 50,000 handsigned postcards addressed to President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder asking them to end the ban on hemp farming and let farmers grow the versatile and profitable crop. “Hemp was an important crop for George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and thousands of American farmers until it was outlawed completely in 1970 by the Controlled Substances Act. I know many farmers in my district could benefit greatly from the renewed freedom to rotate industrial hemp into their growing seasons. Hemp History Week will help other elected officials learn about America’s 66 | NUGMAG.COM

Hemp History Week volunteers are being asked to visit libraries and historical societies to find old newspaper articles and other documents about local hemp farming and manufacturing before the crop was banned. The newly discovered research will be presented at scheduled public events in May. Details about planned events will be announced in early April. In addition to volunteer-run events nationwide, natural product retail outlets are participating in Hemp History Week by sampling best-selling hemp products in their stores including: Nature’s Path’s Hemp Plus™ Granola Cereal, Sunny Hemp™ Granola Bars and Hemp Plus™ Waffles; Living Harvest Foods Tempt™ hemp milk and frozen desserts; Nu-

tiva’s organic shelled hemp seed and Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. “Lost opportunities for farmers and businesses have real consequences,” says David Bronner, President of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps which uses hemp oil in almost all of their products. “With over $360 million in estimated U.S. retail sales, American companies making hemp products have no choice but to import their raw materials because our farmers continue to fear they will be prosecuted for growing hemp, due to an out of date federal policy which confuses non-drug industrial hemp with drug varieties of Cannabis,” adds Bronner. Sustainable hemp seed, fiber and oil are already used in nutritious food, textiles, body care and even auto-parts. Companies like Ford Motors, Patagonia, and The Body Shop, in addition to Hemp Industries Association members are using imported

hemp in their products today. “Supporting the hemp industry is something that is very close to our hearts at Nature’s Path,” said Arjan Stephens, Vice President of Marketing and Product Innovation for Nature’s Path Organic Foods. My father and founder of Nature’s Path, Arran Stephens, successfully fought in the three-year battle with the United States DEA to overturn its ban on the sale of healthy hemp foods and I’m proud to follow in his footsteps by supporting Hemp History Week.” For the last four growing seasons, farmers in North Dakota have received licenses from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture to grow industrial hemp. Despite the state’s authorization to grow hemp, these farmers risk raids by federal agents if they try to grow the crop due to the failure of the Drug Enforcement Administration to distinguish non-drug industrial hemp from drug types of Cannabis. “Despite the ban, consumers still want nutritious hemp foods— and we do not want to deny the goodness of hemp to anyone”, explains Hans Fastre, CEO of Living Harvest Foods, the global leader in hemp food products, including Tempt™ hemp milk, frozen dessert and protein powder. “By allowing U.S. farmers to sell hemp seed, we’ll be better able to manage costs, including the cost of product at retail. Moreover, we’ll be able to better promote sustainable agriculture in the U.S., support local farming and fuel the economy.” Due to its many benefits – a reusable resource in every aspect and offering a long list of health and nutritional benefits, hemp is one of the fastest growing industries in natural foods. Hemp is a rich source of Omega-3 & 6 essential fatty acids with Super Omega Stearidonic Acid (SDA) and Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA), digestible protein, naturally occurring vitamins and minerals such as vitamin E and iron, while being a good source

of dietary fiber. It is second only to soybeans in complete protein containing all 10 essential amino acids, with no enzyme inhibitors, making it more digestible by humans. Hemp seeds are also gluten-free. “Compare hemp seed to soy or flax seed - and it wins hands down in both taste and nutrition” says John W. Roulac, founder and CEO of Nutiva. “With the First Lady’s recent campaign to improve the typical American diet, hemp foods are well positioned to be embraced by Americans seeking both a healthier diet and a more sustainable world.” Hemp History Week – May 17-23, 2010 is an unprecedented industry-wide project initiated by The Hemp Industries Association and Vote Hemp, involving hundreds of hemp manufacturers and retailers. The Hemp Industries Association (HIA) is a non-profit trade group representing hemp companies, researchers, farmers and supporters. Vote Hemp is a national, single-issue, non-profit advocacy group founded in 2000 by members of the hemp industry to remove barriers to industrial hemp farming in the U.S. through education, legislation and advocacy. While 16 states have passed pro-hemp farming legislation to date, Hemp History Week organizers want to influence significant policy changes on the federal level as well. Further information, along with a full list of sponsors can be found at VoteHemp.com/HempHistoryWeek For more information on the Hemp Industries Association, go to: www.TheHIA.org For more information on Vote Hemp, go to: www.VoteHemp.com

he Green House Seed Company started a real breeding revolution in 2007, providing customers (and anyone interested) with terpens profiles of the resin of all its strains. The 2010 seed catalog contains an example of this analysys for the White Widow, and Jack is busy updating the Green House website with all updated profiles for the other strains. It is truly an innovative step away from the effect-only approach to cannabis and into the world of smell and flavor, the conoisseur way, “a la carte”. Cannabis is seen by many as a medicine or a recreational drug, but the more subtle aspect of it being an aromatic plant goes too often unnoticed. The herbs we use in our kitchen are considered aromatic plants because they contain a particular terpene profile that gives them a distinctive flavor. Cannabis is so complex from this point of view that the possible combinations are endless, creating a broad spectrum of aromas and flavors that differ with the strains and the way they are cultivated. We are opening a new way of breeding, a new frontier for all growers with a sweet tooth. To give you an idea of what a terpene is, a 68 | NUGMAG.COM

quick look at Wikipedia reveals what follows: The word terpenes defines a large and varied class of hydrocarbons, produced primarily by plants (conifers and cannabis) and more rarely by insects. Terpens are the major components of resin, oils and extracts. The name “terpene” is derived from

Enough with the science. Let’s see how these terpens are affecting cannabis in the process of breeding for flavor. The list of 16 terpens analyzed by Green House Seed Company is a selection of the most characteristic and recognizable ones, the ones involved in the distinctive flavor of any strain of cannabis. A few examples:

the word “turpentine”. Terpenes function as smell and taste molecules, and also as biosynthetic building blocks for the organism of almost all creatures. Terpenes are one of the most important components of the resin and essential oils of many types of plants and flowers.

Alpha-Pinene is an organic compound, found in the oils of many species of pine trees. It is also found in the essential oil of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). 2 types of Alpha-pinene exist in nature, one more common in European pines, and the other more common in North America. A mix of the two is present in the oil extracted from the eucalyptus tree. In the Green House range, this terpene is at the highest level in the Super Silver Haze. So if you like pine-tree smelling and tasting weed, think of growing this strain, or use it for crossings. Limonene is a hydrocarbon, classified as a cyclic terpene. It is a colorless liquid at room temperatures with an extremely

strong smell of oranges. It takes its name from the lemon because lemon and other citrus fruits contain high quantities of this compound, which is responsible for much of their smell. In the Green House, strains can be particularly high in the Lemon Skunk and the Big Bang. Sabinene is a natural monoterpene and it is isolated from the essential oils of a variety of plants, mostly oak trees. Sabinene is one of the chemical compounds that contributes to the spiciness of black pepper and is a major constituent of carrot seed oil. It also occurs in tea tree oil at a low concentration. Again, this terpene is high in the Super Silver Haze and in the Arjan’s Ultra Haze #1. Myrcene, or β-myrcene, is also an organic compound. It is classified as a hydrocarbon and a monoterpene. It is obtained from the essential oil from various plants: bay, verbena, myrcia (from which is gets its name) and others. Myrcene is one of the most important chemicals used in the perfumery industry. Because of its pleasant odor, it is occasionally used directly. But it is also highly valued as an intermediate for the preparation of flavor and fragrance chemicals such as menthol, citronella, and geraniol. It is extremely high in the White Widow.

Many more terpenes are present in the resin and analyzed, creating a guide, a useful tool for a more mature type of smoker, conscious about flavor, and for all breeders interested in following a particular aroma in their lines.

Besides the flavor issues, recent studies suggest that terpenes may play a role in the psychoactivity of cannabinoids. But this is a different story…… Franco Green House Seed Company

get intimidated by the competition, and I think it truly does come down to your talent rather than politics, unlike the music biz! NUG: How many commercials have you done? Senyo: I’ve done 5 but only 3 have aired. In 2007 I did one for AOL, another for EA Sports, and the latest one, which a lot of people saw, was the DiGiorno’s Pizza ad where the delivery guys comes to the door and I say, “Well come on in.”

NUG: Tell us about Senyo Amo/DNA-1. Senyo: Senyo Amo is different from DNA. DNA was and still is a hip hop artist who catered to those who enjoyed real hip hop like Gang Starr, Common, The Roots and Chris (KRS-1) conscious hip hop. NUG: What artists have you opened for within the music industry? Senyo: I’ve been fortunate enough to have rocked shows with Grammy nominees Nappy Roots, Black Eyed Peas, KRS-1, Common and mad underground heads. NUG: With all the performances and the release of your album “It Pays to be Humble,” why stop the music and drift toward the uncharted territory of acting? Senyo: I felt the music industry was going to start suffering major losses in the demographic that I cater to, the same demographic of other conscious hip hop artists such as Dilated Peoples, Visionaries, Mos Def and Talib Kweli. I noticed less and less music coming out from these camps and radio playing less of their music. It was and still is a hard decision; but when you see cats like Mos Def and Ludacris in major roles, I thought that might be another avenue for me. NUG: You had no acting training and you only put out two albums. True, your grind for the stage show was like no other and your work ethic is mad crazy; when you were in Oceanside you were a big dog so to speak, so my question is -- why leave San Diego? Senyo: San Diego is and always will be my home. I Love SD and have always wished that San Diego would get its shit together and support each other in all aspects of arts, music, acting, play writing and radio! You’re right Ras, I only recorded two albums and I got more radio spins in L.A. than I did in my own city. That is wack, so I found myself spending more time in Los Angeles. Making that commute two or three times a week and sometimes spending weeks there, it made sense for me to move. NUG: Ok fast forward, you’re in Los Angeles enjoying the success of your 2nd album ”Slidin” and meeting very powerful people in the music industry like Jerry Heller. For those who don’t know, Jerry Heller was the guy some would say discovered and signed N.W.A., others would say he was the guy who broke up N.W.A. But regardless, without Jerry Heller there would be no N.W.A., no Dr. Dre (50-cent/Eminem), no Ice Cube (Friday- the movies), and most of all no West Coast representation in the early 90’s. Tell us how this meeting came to pass. Senyo: Jerry is a great guy; we’re still friends to this day. Hell, I call for advice still, even though he has his label going. One of the things he was able to teach me was noticing trends. Jerry is known for discovering new talent like N.W.A.; in the early 90’s, and a lot of people don’t know that he discovered the Black Eyed Peas and called them Wil-i-am and the Experience back in the day. So when I got the opportunity to meet him I took it. It changed my whole view on the industry and trends that change the landscape of the entertainment world. Besides that, I laid a few tracks with him and they eventually got on MTV. You might hear them on shows like Next and Pimp My Ride as background music, so Jerry and I are still getting an A.S.C.A.P check. NUG: How did you make that transition from MC to actor? I knew you were acting and auditioning for certain roles, but when my daughter, Sabrina, comes running in the office screaming, “Dad your friend DNA is on TV,” I was thinking you incited a riot at some concert, but when I saw you on a national advertising campaign during a major sporting event for DiGiorno’s Pizza, I thought -- That’s my dude! Senyo: It was a blessing, it really got me away from certain kinds of roles and ads; this was a national ad seen throughout the country, so I was extremely fortunate. You know, Ras, the difference in trying to make it in Hollywood as opposed to doing it in San Diego, whether it be in the music or film industry, is as much as the opportunity is there, so is the competition. What sets me apart is that competition drives me. I don’t

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NUG: Let’s talk about what you are doing now. What is 2010 looking like for Senyo Amo? Senyo: 2010 is looking really good; In March my manager Sharon, shout out to Sharon Holleran of A&R Management, told me of a film that Sylvester Stallone was directing. He was looking for an African pirate leader to be in his film and brought me into the project. NUG: Get the F*** outta here! Had you done movies prior to this? Senyo: Last summer I did a film called the Revenant, shout out to Kerry Prior the director. It wasn’t a huge role, but I was remembered in the movie. NUG: Tell us about the movie The Expendables. Senyo: It’s a Lionsgate film directed by Sylvester Stallone written by Stallone and Dave Callham. The plot is about a team of mercenaries that head to South America to overthrow a dictator, with a cast starring Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross, Jason Statham as Lee Christmas, Jet Li as Bao Thao, Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Terry Crews, and a cameo from the Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger. I play the Tall Pirate in the trailer talking to Stallone’s character. The release date is August 13th, 2010. NUG: So what was it like working with Stallone? Senyo: Man I can’t front. Every time he spoke, I kept hearing the theme from Rocky. He’s an acting legend. I was just blessed to make the film, ya know; I’m a rapper from Oceanside in a multi-million dollar film with acting legends... I am happy. NUG: Any last Words to the NUG community? Senyo I would like to say thank you to you and the NUG family for all the support, from when I had a record to promote or a blunt to smoke. Thank you to my management and Chris Hall from Zoo City an original series. Thank you to my boys in my SD, Neil and the crew, big up to everyone who has bought my records or seen the films I’ve been in, and Kush Clothing for high society. THANK YOU ALL ....On a personal note, I would like to congratulate you, Ras, and your wife on your second child. That’s what’s up. Don’t forget to check out the movie Expendables AUGUST 13th.

View the Expendables trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXfOVNghWhk As Always, Support Local Talent HAPPY 420 It’s all about the music! For music content contact Music Editor: rasmike@nugmag.com

By. The Guy on the Couch

VIL BONG Full Moon Pictures has given us some of the greatest low budget, over-the-top gore fests of all time. With titles that include The Puppet Master, The Dead Hate The Living, Dead Man’s Hand, and Voodoo Academy. When I heard they had a movie titled Evil Bong, I had to check it out. Having seen so many gaudy attempts to scare, this one had me hooked; there is nothing scarier than - a bong trying to kill you?! Somebody must have been really stoned when they came up with this one. I give Evil Bong 4 and ½ bowls. I absolutely enjoyed this movie and will recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good, old fashioned, cheesy horror movie. What stands out the most for me is the way director Charles Band never tries hard to scare you as much as provide comedy, and even works in cameos from other amazing Full Moon movies like Jack from Demonic Toys, the Gingerdead Man from Gingerdead Man, and even Ooga Booga from Doll Graveyard. Smoke and enjoy, you won’t be disappointed.

OLLING KANSAS I feel bad this is not going to be a good review, but I am not going to beat myself up about it. This movie was extremely bad. I had to break it up into four separate parts because I couldn’t bring myself to sit through the entire movie. The most straightforward thing I can say about Rolling Kansas is that it was a huge rolling piece of crap. It is really sad that the best part of any movie is when the credits roll at the end. I do not ever see myself even attempting to try

to watch this movie ever again. I don’t know, maybe if watching bad movies is your thing, then I guess you could go ahead and give this movie a try, but I don’t recommend it. I had to fight falling asleep every single attempt I made to watch it. The story did not come close to being even vaguely interesting, the acting was horrible, and no one in the cast stood out. There were only a couple of cheap stoner jokes, nothing worth quoting. In the end, I would have to say this movie was as terrible as smoking Mexican weed that you found in your bottom drawer and smoked out of an aluminum pipe. No bowls for this movie.

HE STONED AGE may be one of the best films I have seen yet about two high school stoners looking to score drugs, sleep with hot chicks and party all night. Set in 1970’s Southern California, Joe (Michael Kopelow) and Hubbs (Bradford Tatum) are looking for a good time when they hear about two girls who want to party. My first impression of this movie was a low budget imitation of Dazed and Confused, but after watching it several more times and smoking several more bowls, I found that The Stoned Age delivers likable characters and a seemingly realistic view of trying to party as a teenager in the 70s. With amazing one liners and an awesome sound track, I recommend this film for any stoner with some time to kill, you won’t be disappointed. I give this movie 4 bowls out of five. Smoke up and enjoy.

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MOWER/SLOWER

Crazyfists), “Make It A Double” includes nine new Mower tracks that focus on By: Ben G. Rowin harnessing the band’s notorious live energy and rewarding their hardcore MOWER has been rocking shows in fans with as much humor, sarcasm and San Diego and all across the world for a full-on antagonism as possible. The long time! This band is adrenaline filled album starts out with a song called The rock at its best! Well known for amazing Party, a “takes-one-to-know-one” stab at live shows, heavy riffs and infectious Hollywood and all things VIP, and degensongwriting, Mower’s new album, “Make erates from there. Slower makes their It a Double,” is unique and had to be recorded debut with six new tracks. talked about. A psychotic break introduces Slower, They have released their counter who performs the last six songs on the personalities on this album with the CD in a bastardized version of a jazzrecorded debut of SLOWER. Slower lounge act wearing suits, snarls and is the same band members dressed smirks. Picture punks dressed for a court in 3-piece suits and playing a whole date. The Slower tempos, creepy riffs different vibe than their Mower songs. and hazy tones show the group’s infecSome songs are released by both bands tious songwriting can work in whatever like “Road Rage,” providing two totally genre the band decides to play in. different sounds! One being a hard take no punches regular Mower style track Additional musicians on “Make It A and the other stripped down to a stoney Double” includes Rob Caggiano of Anvibe with mellow grooves. Listening to thrax, who, along with Eddie Wohl, make them back to back is a real trip; these up Scrap 60 Productions, and Mikey guys have stumbled on to something Doling of Snot. On the Slower side of the outstanding. They can capture a new disc, Roy Mayorga of Stone Sour and audience of those who usually shy away Fernando Apodaca of Mad Juana make from the heavy stuff with Slower. appearances as well. Recorded in Los Angeles, CA with producer Eddie Wohl (Anthrax, Dry Kill Logic, Ill Niño, Bleeding Through, 36

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Weaving together numerous musical styles from hard rock to jazz, “Make It A Double” unleashes Mower’s heaviest

songs to date while Slower experiments with a new style of punk jazz, like a twisted lounge act in a Tarantino film. One minute the band is coming at listeners guns blazing, and in the next moment, they’re sipping martinis in 3-piece suits, grooving to an infectious jazz beat.

Mower/Slower is:

This San Diego based powerhouse some call “California’s hardest working band,” have been assaulting audiences since the release of their 2003 self-titled debut. The group quickly took San Diego by storm with an onslaught of insane live performances that left audiences stunned by the group’s relentless energy and in-your-face aggression. Mower also took a cue from its punk rock roots and became a self-promoting machine, plastering the entire city with flyers and Mower stickers, which prompted local authorities to serve the band “cease and desist” letters.

We caught up with Dominic Moscatello to ask him a few questions about the band and their new album.

The network of sponsors working with Mower includes heavyweights Jagermeister, Ampeg, Schecter Guitars, Dean Markley Strings, SRH Productions, Sik World Productions, Funhouse Tattoo, Undisputed Downtown Boxing Gym, IGS, Tribal Streetwear, and Seedless Clothing.

Brian Sheerin- Vocals Dominic Moscatello- Vocals Chris McCredie- Bass Brian “Stone” Pennington- Guitar Jesse “Tato” Tate- Drums

NUG: Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions for the NUG Magazine readers! DOM: We are stoked to be here, thanks! NUG: Who came up with the Mower/ Slower concept? Did everyone agree right away that it was a good idea? DOM: We were messing around in the studio one day and we took a song called “Long Awaited Riot” from our first album and started playing it in a slow lounge style. It was funny, but everything just clicked. Our bass player Chris suggested that we actually go through with it, and we recorded a lounge version of the song, “L.A. Riot,” on our second album “Not For You.” After the album was released it seemed that people had actually taken a liking to the song. Chris was the person in the band who came up with the concept. He had a vision of

us playing our songs in a jazz/lounge style while wearing pinstripe suits, while keeping a punk rock edge. Along with that came the idea of adding extra percussion, extra strings, keys, and an entourage with machine guns and women dancing on stage. It took a while for us to grasp the concept, but from the first live show, we realized that we were on to something that would not only reach our current fans, but introduce us to a whole new audience; it has definitely increased our fan base. To answer your question, not everyone thought it was a good idea at first, but after that first show everyone agreed that it was a great idea! NUG: I think it was a great idea and something that was really unique! Is this going to continue for future albums? DOM: Yes, but in a different way than “Make It A Double”. With “Make It A Double,” we decided to combine the concept of Mower and Slower in one package in order to introduce Slower to our fans. Right now we are working on new material for another Mower album and after that we would like to record a separate album for Slower. NUG: Will you be playing venues as both Mower and Slower at the same time, or will you now be doubling your workload and actually touring as both bands?

DOM: It is very common to see a Slower show where we sneak in some Mower, or vice versa. As far as touring, we have booked both acts in the same cities separately on the same tour and sometimes on the same night. For example, we were out in Des Moines, Iowa and we played an early all ages Mower show that started at 5pm and was over by 10pm. We loaded as fast as we could, drove across town, unloaded, changed into our suits in an alley on the side of the road and we were on stage at 11pm at a cocktail lounge performing as Slower. We book the bands separately; it’s good to give our crowds a full dose of each project in order to achieve the best understanding of each band and the different kinds of entertainment that they offer. When we were on tour with Hed (pe), when there was room on the lineup for the night, we would open as Slower (for ourselves). We always remembered to thank the other bands and Mower for allowing us to open for them. Then we would change, wait for the band that followed Slower to get off stage and come out as Mower. We did this any chance we got. It’s fun to separate the personas. They really are two different entities. We have been doubling our workload for the last 2 years.

NUG: I know the Mower shows are notoriously outstanding! What can we expect from a Slower show? DOM: You can expect a loungy vibe with an arsenal of different instrumentation and sounds combined with an entertaining stage performance. It’s like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin filling in for Pantera and NOFX at the same time, and having their back up band interpret the riffs. If you haven’t seen a Slower show yet, come on out. You are in for a good night! NUG: Mower is playing with Sprung Monkey on April 24th at 4th & B. Will you break out some Slower songs or are we in for harder event? DOM: You can count on an all out Mower show! You can catch Slower another time soon. NUG: Again, we want to thank you for your time and letting us introduce you to the NUG Magazine readers! Anything you want to promote or shout outs that need to be given? DOM: We would like to thank all of our fans and sponsors for their support

Mower will be performing live at: 4th and B with Sprung Monkey on Saturday April 24th in San Diego, CA Cheyenne Saloon Saturday May 1st in Las Vegas, Nevada Bob’s Pit Stop Friday May 7th in Menifee, California Slower will be performing live at: Pure Platinum Friday May 14th in Kearny Mesa. San Diego, CA. This show is free with a flyer. The 56th Annual Coming Out Party at Mariners Point on Mission Bay. San Diego, CA. Saturday May 15th. This show starts at Noon and goes until 10pm. The Saloon Wednesday May 19th Encinitas, CA. All of Mower’s CDs are available at Best Buy and other fine stores and online at www.subnoizestore.com and music websites including: www.itunes.com www.myspace.com/Mower www.myspace.com/Slower

By: Marc Emmelmann Many dank artistic expressions are flowering this spring in our fine city of culture and diversity. There is something for everyone, and I’ve jotted down a few happenings that may be complementary to your vibe. Take a look!

I would be remiss not to mention La Jolla Music Society bringing Paul Taylor Dance Company to San Diego on May 8th. PTD is hailed by the New York Times as “...one of the few indisputably great dance companies in the world.”

San Diego Symphony is doing something unique at Copley Symphony Hall with the second of their 2010 Silent Film Nights, airing NOSFERATU (1922) on May 7th & 8th. Of course, it will be accompanied by the San Diego Symphony performing the original soundtrack.

Musicals are gaining popularity nationwide. One of San Diego’s favorite outdoor theatres, Starlight Theatre has box office record breaker, “SUDS: The Rocking 60’s Musical” in the pipeline. SUDS is the story of a young teenage girl and the two guardian angels that come to teach her about finding true love. Another feel good musical getting kudos is “Pump Boys & Dinettes” presented by Lambs Players at Horton Grand Theatre in the Gaslamp Quarter. Who knew a little stop on Highway 57 is where all the fun is?

“San Diego Dances” graces Golden Hill with a hybrid dance fusion April 9th and 10th featuring Jennifer Curry with dancers of Somebodies Dance Theater, Eveoke Dance Theatre, The California Ballet, and The PGK Project. If you have little ones to engage, mime company Imagination Express is spinning the tale of “Charlotte’s Web” at Centers of Leaning by the Sea, May 7-May 15. Let them open your eyes to the invisible and your ears to the silent! 80 | NUGMAG.COM

North Parkers may be interested to know about the homegrown “House of Ill Repute vs. Virtuousness” at North Park Vaudeville and Candy Shoppe. This being their annual melodrama, April 2-24, you can cheer the hero, boo the villain... and find out if hoochy koochy dancer Cupcake will find her long lost children.

SUSHI- you can’t eat it but you sure can indulge. SUSHI Performance and Visual Art has their own urban industrial venue in the East Village, downtown. They present more of their Fresh Sound Series with “Fields Have Ears” on May 7. Expect up to 16 performers at any given time in combination with multi-channel sound. SUSHI also presents “Life is a Bowl of Cherries,” a two-act dance/theater work examining life’s big questions of “why are we here and where are we going?” Check it April 9-11. Broadway San Diego is bringing us colorful treats at the Balboa Theatre with “Cirque Dreams Illumination” from April 13-18. It’s a highly imaginative, theatrical and even suspenseful plunge into performance art. If you missed Kooza in town, don’t miss Cirque Dreams! Capitalizing on their spring roster, BDS presents “Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles!” You can get into this multi-media, multidimensional Beatlemania experience May 14-16 at the Civic Theatre.

Asian Story Theater presents “Return of the Monkey King” at Lyceum Stage (Horton Plaza) April 21-25. It’s flavored with martial arts and is a live music comedy adventure. Fern Street Circus brings us “HOPE” with Blum the Clown returning from 20 years of circus travel. Find out what’s in his Pandora’s Box of wonders between May 21-30, where clowns, jugglers, acrobats, aerialists and wire walkers are all touched and inspired. Boredom, curiosity, or passion are all acceptable reasons to get out of the house. You can get connected to the arts at www.SDartstix.com (a program of The San Diego Performing Arts League, 501 C-3.) Email sdpal@sdpal.com to get on a free ticket giveaway list and receive updates from Arts Tix, including special half price tickets offers! “Drama is like a dream, it is not real, but it is really felt.” - Abhinavagupta

TRAVEL Planning ahead… Cannabis Cup 2010! By Scott “Scotty B.” Whytsell

While talking to some friends over a couple Red Stripes, I was asked “what is your favorite place to be for 4/20?” I smiled from ear to ear as I recalled my most cherished 420 destinations to date. For me (other than my home in Negril), AMSTERDAM has to be right there at the top. The two cities are both rich in culture, history and availability of the World’s best pot! One is the home of Reggae and the other, the home of the CANNABIS CUP. For those of us who are liberal at heart but don’t necessarily exercise the right to smoke pot legally at home, the Cannabis Cup is a true marijuana utopia. For one week every November, Amsterdam is the home-base of the event. For the locals, it’s no change from the ordinary, but for those not able to partake back home, the competition is the opportunity to visit numerous coffee shops competing intensely in categories such as best marijuana strain, hashish, seed store and best hemp products, as well as an opportunity to sample various pot-based food such as hemp pizza, and find the latest paraphernalia. Background: Started in 1987 by High Times editor Steven Hager, the Cannabis Cup has grown to attract several thousand tourists every year. Festivities include opening ceremonies, 4:20 parties (am and pm!), tons of live music ranging from blues to reggae, awards, socializing with other cup connoisseurs, star-gazing at the numerous celebrities in attendance (Hey! Isn’t that the KottonMouth Kings!?!) and of course a nonstop orgy of herb smoking. Dates: Mark your calendars and save money! The 23rd Annual High Times Cannabis Cup is scheduled for November 21st-25th, 2010 (the week of Thanksgiving). Pre-registration begins on November 19th and 20th for those who will be in town a few days early. The benefit of early registration is avoiding the long lines that typically form on opening day, and also to get a head start on the “coffee shop crawl”. All registration takes place at the PowerZone (www.thepowerzone.nl). Prices: Judge’s passes are on sale NOW!!! The early bird price of $199 is good until June 1, 2010, after which the price goes up to $250. You may also buy a Cannabis Cup judge’s pass at the door for 250 Euros*. (Euros only, no credit cards are accepted). No passes are sold online after November 15th, 2010. This pass includes admission to all ceremonies, concerts, seminars, counterculture guest speakers, giveaways and the expo for five days, plus you get an event t-shirt and program guide, free coffee shop bus tours to and from the expo, and the right to vote. *(Current exchange rate is: 1EU = $1.3684 US) If the cost for the Judge’s pass is too steep for you, fear not! You can buy a single admission ticket to the expo at the PowerZone for 30 Euros. These day passes are not available in advance. You can also purchase single admission tickets to concerts at the Melkweg (provided they have not sold out in advance). These tickets are available only from the Melkweg box office. For concert dates check: www.melkweg.nl cont. pg 84 NUGMAG.COM | 83

A preliminary schedule of events, subject to change, will be available early in September. The final schedule of events will be posted in October. I look forward to bringing you more of the inside scoop on this exciting city and event in the near future. For any travel questions you may have in the meantime, please feel free to send an email to: info@ platinumtoursandtravel.com Lodging: There are no hotels close to the PowerZone, but the venue is easily reached by the metro under Central Station. If you plan to spend most of your time at the Expo, I recommend staying near Central Station. The nearest hotels to the Melkweg are the American (five stars) and the Quentin (three stars). This area of town is known as the Leidseplein and is a good choice for anyone who wants to attend all the concerts. You can get a lot of free information online by searching “Amsterdam Hotels”; “Amsterdam Travel Guide”; and “Amsterdam Coffee Shops”. Amsterdam TIPS: Avoid using cannabis in public. It is illegal (you can get a fine, but usually just a reminder from the police); you are better off using cannabis in the privacy of the coffee shop. Remember, there are dogs at Customs! Never take anything with you out of Holland for them to sniff! Refrain from taking pictures of the occupied red windows in the Amsterdam Red Light District, to respect the privacy of both the visitors and the workers of the district. Keep your camera safe to avoid being stolen by the plethora of pick-pockets. Remember, it’s a big world out there, GO EXPLORE IT! 1LOVE!

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PotBottles.com

Kali Wood Boxes

Dime Bags

The nice folks at potbottles. com sent us a variety of their RX bottles. What I really liked about these bottles were the printed lids. Printed directly on the lids it says “Compliant with CA Prop 215 SB 420 Medical Cannabis”. This is a feature I have not seen on standard bottles before. The other thing that I liked is that this company is a local San Diego patient owned company. They offer competitive pricing on a great product and have free delivery weekly to local San Diego collectives. If you have not heard about them…check them out!

These one of a kind, no two look alike boxes are custom made and really cool! They have storage boxes, kief boxes, rolling trays and more. We saw these at O.B. Wellness Center and suggest you check them out as well. I picked one up for myself and really like it. They are well made and seem very durable.

A San Francisco company that makes awesome bags and purses, each containing a hidden pocket for your meds! These pockets are spill proof and smell proof. The bags we checked out were a Hemp Cotton blend but they offer 100% hemp also and they have many colors available. Most were earthy tones with a splash of color. They had items for both men and women including lap top bags, gym bags, purses, and more. Even padded bags for your water pipe! You can find them at O.B. Wellness Center or Green Earth Herbal Collective. Or you can also find them online at:

www.silversurfervap.com/DimeBags-Storage-Bags.htm

www.potbottles.com

To get your products reviewed contact Ben at info@nugmag.com!

4.01 Holiday Side At Winston’s @ 5 D.J.Artistic’s Big Ass B-Day Bash, & D.J. Numark At U-31 @ 9 91x Presents: Alkaline Trio, Cursive & the Dear and Departed All ages show at The House of Blues @ 6:30 4.02 Pierce the Veil, Casino Madrid & Of Mice and Men At Soma @ 8 4.03 Raiz Muzik At JJ Purty Landers (Fallbrook) @ 9 Stone Senses At 710 Club @ 9 The Black Eyed Peas At The Sports Arena @ 7 4.04 Easter Tribe of Kings Present: Uptown Ranking at U-31 every Sunday @9 The Devastators At R.T.’s Longboard Bar & Grill Every Sunday @ 9 4.05 Lady Dottie and the Diamonds At U-31 Every Monday @ 10 90 | NUGMAG.COM

PHOTOS FROM NUG MARCH ISSUE RELEASE PARTY

Tribe of Kings Present: DUB Mondays every Monday at The Office @ 9 4.08 Owl City & Paper Route At Soma @ 6:30 Citizen Cope & Sandrine At Wave House @ 8 4.09 High Tide, Mike Pinto & 40oz of Freedom At The Belly Up @ 8 Shoreline Rootz & Jah Mex At Bar Leucadian @ 9 4.10 San Diego NORML Meeting At World Beat Center @ 10am Red Not Chili Peppers At Winston’s @ 9:30 Steel Foundation At JJ Purty Landers (Fallbrook) @ 9 89’ Vision: Tribute to Sublime At Cheers for Beers (El Cajon) @ 10 WithOut Papers At USC @ 12pm 4.11 Tribe of Judah Reggae Band At P.B. Bar & Grill @ 6 4.12 Padres Opening Day!

4.13 San Diego ASA Meeting @ 7 (For more info go to www.safeaccesssd.org) 4.15 Rhythm and The Method At Aztec Center Patio Stage @ SDSU @ 12pm 4.16 Stone Senses At Kilkenny’s (Redondo Beach) @ 9 North County ASA Meeting @ 7 (For more info go to www.safeaccesssd.org) Rufio At Soma @ 7 Hi Roots, Natural Vibrations & Tribal Theory At Sound Waves @ 8 Inhale At JJ Purty Landers @ 9 619 At Second Wind (Navajo) @ 9 The Devastators At Winston’s @ 9 4.17 Authority Zero & Voodoo Glow Skulls At Soma @ 8 WithOut Papers At O’Connells @ 8

4.18 Organica Music At P.B. Bar & Grill @ 6

4.22 H.I.M & We Are The Fallen At The House of Blues @ 8

Stone Senses At Cordova Gardens (Encinitas) @ 8

The 420 Comic Fundraiser Featuring: Adam Hunter At Jon Lovitz Comedy Club @ 10 (see NUG Times for more info)

4.20 SEEDLESS 420 PARTY Barrington Levy & Red Man At The House of Blues @ 7 Howard Dover Presents: The ExtravaGANJA Comedy Show At La Jolla Comedy Store @ 8:30 The Kind Cookery and Southern Lites Present: 420 Cannabis Cup 2010 (For more info go to www.southernlitescollective.com)

4.23 THC Expose (4.23-4.25) At The L.A. Convention Center (For more info go to THCexpose.com) High Tide At Bar Leucadian @ 9 4.24 I.G.S. Presents: Sprung Monkey, Mower & Electric Dynamite At 4th & B @ 7

Through the Roots, Irations & Pacific Dub At The House of Blues @ 8 4.25 The Devastators At Adams Avenue Healing Arts Festival @ 4:15 4.27 Live Zion At Winstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s @ 8:30 4.30 Raiz Muzik At JJ Purty Landers @ 9 Send all of your events to submit@nugmag.com HAPPY 4/20!