SacAlt July/August Issue

july / august 2014

tHe RePUBLIC of saCRaMento

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SACALT IS ALWAYS

FREE

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Local Brews at the State Fair

SACALT Checks in with The Sacramento Republic

13

Budtender of the Month

25

LGBT Presence in Video Games

32

ALTMUSIC TRIBE

36 BBQ Guide

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SacAlternative | July / August 2014

STAFF Publication Editor Lovelle Harris Contributors & Photographers Chavez, Joey Cline, Andy Conn, Megan Lee, Ron Mullins, Josh Burke, Steph Rodriguez, Joe Sinclair, Sarah Sinclair Design & Layout Kory & Steph for whiskey&sour info@whiskeyandsour.com SacAlternative 916.800.5884 www.SacAlt.com info@sacalternative.com

CONTACT US We appreciate your feedback.

Letters to the editor may be edited for length and clarity.

Email us at letters@sacalt.com For advertising contact: Josh Burke (916)800-5884 Ext 503 josh@sacalternative.com

july / august 2014

CONTENTS 04

Editor’sNote

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SacramentoRepublic

06

AltBrews

22

AltHealth

11

420ProductReviews

25

AltGeek

13

Budtender

26

AltAndAbout

17

Cannabis

29

PatientProfile

Community

32

AltMusic

Corner

36

AltFood

Whoops, We Made a Mistake!

In last month’s issue’s cover story, Know Your Rights, we erroneously printed Isabell Flores’ name as Isabel Flores. We would like to sincerely apologize to Ms. Flores for this error, and thank her once again for her interview.

june 2014 PRICELESS

FREE

BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE pg

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Incredible Product Reviews Edibles

12 13

Device New Glory Brewing

20 16

Farm Fresh Lee Camp with Local Chefs

26 39

AltGeek Reviews Rebelution Watch_Dogs

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34 42 Super Cali Roots Foods

Mission Statement SacAlternative is a monthly news and arts magazine with a mission to inform, report and provide quality content to all individuals living in the Sacramento area. Our writers, editors and staff aim to present a variety of social and political topics, balanced with interest to the alternative arts, grassroots movements and green lifestyle representing the region.

Advertising Information All advertising is subject to final approval from the advertiser. The advertiser provides SacAlternative with digital files when available. The advertiser, and not SacAlternative, accepts all responsibility for the content of the advertising. The advertiser accepts responsibility for concept, design, photography layout and content of the advertisement, not SacAlternative.

Disclaimer You may not use, copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, transmit, distribute, or modify the Marks in any way, including in advertising or publicity pertaining to distribution of materials in this Magazine or on accompanying Website, without SacAlternative prior written consent. The views expressed by the authors and writers in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of SacAlternative. Comments on this publication are the sole responsibility of their writers and the writer will take full responsibility, liability, and blame for any libel or litigation those results from something written in or as a direct result of something written in SacAlternative. The accuracy, completeness, veracity, honesty, exactitude, factuality and politeness of comments are not guaranteed.

SacAlternative | July / August 2014

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EDITOR’Snote

See you all again in September!

by Lovelle Harris

A lot can happen in a year—it’s hard to believe that SacAlt just celebrated one year in the wild world of print journalism. First, thank you all for your support—you’ve stuck it out with us and we appreciate your loyalty. Like any one-year-old, the magazine has gone through its fair share of growing pains, but at the heart of what we aspire to do is to serve our community. One of the growing pains we’ve experienced is putting out a consistently timed issue—if you haven’t noticed we’re a bit of a moving target on when our monthly issue hits the streets. So, in order to right the ship, our editorial board made the decision to combine the July and August issues into one so that we can focus on making September’s issue our best yet—and as close to the first of the month as possible.

Not that this issue is any slouch. On the contrary, with the World Cup action coming to a sad end, we thought that it was the perfect time to explore the wild world of sports with a feature on the other boys of summer, the Sacramento Republic FC. And, what better way to celebrate their inaugural season than with the cover of our July-August issue. Of course we can’t talk about summer unless we talk barbecue. Our writer sat down with two pit masters to talk smoke, meat and tips on how to get grillin’.

Speaking of smoke, our man on the front lines provides a quick roundup on what’s going on in the political scene with regard to the medical cannabis movement. And what’s summer without some righteous jams? Steph Rodriguez sits down with Tribe Of Levi and talks lyrical swordplay, musical inspiration and what’s really the deal with the local the hip-hop scene.

Do you have what it takes?

SacAlt is always looking for contributors.

If you are a writer, photographer, or source for a good story, contact us to see about becoming part of the team.

Email us at letters@sacalt.com

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SacAlternative | July / August 2014

ALTBREWS

Sacramento Breweries Win Big at State Fair

by Dan Scott

Sacramento’s Track 7 Brewing won the Best of Show at the California State Fair Commercial Craft Brew Competition on June 22. The brewery’s Panic IPA triumphed over a field of 867 beers entered from 139 California craft breweries, the largest entry in the competition’s history. Prior to the final judging, more than 70 judges from across California toiled for four days to find the top beers in each of 30 categories and 96 subcategories.

Most beer drinkers know very little about the complexity of correctly evaluating beer. They can identify many pleasing qualities; generally aroma, balance and flavor, and definitely enjoy some beers more than others. However, they are usually unaware of the complex criteria used to determine which beer is closest 6

to perfecting a specific style in the comparison of numbers of beers.

Generally speaking, knowledge of the brewing process is the key to understanding such minutiae as undesirable flavors and adulterations, detecting malts or hops that were boiled too long or at incorrect temperatures, or simply recognizing that a delicious Saison (a farmhouse ale of Belgian origin) is not to style and should have been entered as a Bière de Garde (a strong French pale ale).

Criteria for judging beer were codified in 1985 with the formation of the Beer Judging Certification Program. It has since trained thousands of judges who have the difficult but enviable responsibility of identifying great beer in

contests around the world. The California State Fair competition boasted a strong judging panel with a high number of National, Master and Grand Master Judges, including some notable beer judging instructors.

“Our panel of judges brings respectability to the competition,” said Greg Kinder, who oversees many of the State Fair competitions. “2013 was a huge jump from previous years and 2014 is another positive evolution. More breweries have jumped on board, which shows that the industry is excited about the competition again.”

Homebrewers are also a key to this event and dozens of them volunteered to act as stewards, who serve the beer, and cellar staff, who organize the thousands SacAlternative | July / August 2014

of bottles and kegs. Ron Davis, president of the Gold Country Brewers Association, was happy to see wide participation from both his and other homebrew clubs.

“This is an event which affects our entire region, so we need to be here and support it,” Davis said. “It is important to show that Sacramento can pull off events like this.”

Another judge who noted the importance of this event for Sacramento was Patrick Mulvaney, chef-owner of Mulvaney’s B&L, and a leading agitator in branding our region as a culinary destination.

“As Sacramento becomes more beercentric, our image as both a food and beer-drinking hub is cemented,” Mulvaney said.

Mulvaney also cites this competition’s value in providing a better experience in his restaurant.

“Exposure to different types of beer widens my platform. Talking to purveyors, I can ask for what I want… to match seasonality.”

SacAlternative | July / August 2014

He sees hospitality as the chance to offer customers an experience that is both satisfying and novel, and craft beer lets him offer an invitation beyond the typical beer fan to the expert consumer.

The knowledge of which beers are outstanding in their field is an educational tool that he can pass on to his servers, who can then recommend more and different beers to his guests.

Several winners in this year’s competition are clearly new and different and can help transform the understanding of craft beer for newer drinkers. High Water Campfire Stout took the gold in the Specialty Beer category. An American stout with marshmallow, chocolate and graham cracker flavors, it is a delicious glass of liquid s’mores.

Rosie’s Strawberry Wheat from Six Rivers Brewing won best Fruit Beer for the second year straight. One judge commented that the burst of strawberry was so fresh he could taste the seeds. Mosaic Session Ale from Karl Strauss Brewing took the Best Session Beer award, an unusual category that recognizes beer with less than 5 percent

alcohol. It packs the hop flavor of an IPA into a clean, light and refreshing ale that appeals to light beer drinkers. All three selections are locally available in bottles.

Area breweries had a strong showing with 23 medals. Winners include Rubicon Brewing, Common Cider, Loomis Basin Brewing, Mraz Brewing, American River Brewing, Lazy Daze Brewery, River City Brewing, Feather Falls Casino Brewing, Sudwerk Brewing and Ol’ Republic Brewing, which took second place in Best of Show with its California Common.

Awards were presented at the 2014 Brewers Festival at Cal Expo on July 19 where winning beers were available for public tasting. A new award, the Golden Paddle, was presented to the Brewery of the Year, Schooner’s Grille & Brewery.

Track 7 will be awarded the traditional Golden Bear prize that it won for Best of Show. A Media Choice Best of Show, chosen by local journalists and celebrities, was also awarded for the E.S.B. by Ol’ Republic.

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ALT420 PRODUCT REVIEWS

by Chavez A Therapeutic Alternative is the most elegant dispensary I’ve ever visited. The temperature outside was in the 3-digit range on the day I went shopping for edibles, but the atmosphere inside the big brown craftsman house in midtown Sacramento was cool and inviting. The waiting area consisted of two elegantly appointed rooms featuring beautiful antique furniture, wood floors and Tiffany-style lighting. I felt as if I were walking into someone’s formal parlor in the 1920s.

After checking in, I was led into a second room where I waited for my budtender, Ashley. Two binders stood on the fireplace mantel, one filled with all the test results for the products the firm carries, and another containing a menu of all available products.

Everything was very detailed and organized.

Ashley appeared a minute later and led me to the product room, which was brightly lit like a laboratory and filled with every kind of product displayed in glass cases. Of course, I was on the hunt for edibles, so Ashley took me directly to them. She was very helpful and knowledgeable in selecting products for my specific symptoms, which include general pain, inflammation, sleeplessness and depression (just to name a few). She pointed out some new products that I hadn’t tried before, such as pharmaceutical-grade oral cannabis strips which dissolve in your mouth, and candy from a company called EdiPure which produces old-fashioned favorites like lemon drops and gummy peach rings. I decided to let Ashley do the shopping for me and simply chose the items she recommended.

Now, here is the lowdown on the goods: Cheeky Monkey Oral Cannabis Strips – These are great for someone on the go. Just place a strip between your cheek and gums and let it dissolve fully. The strip took about a half-hour to take effect and then I could feel my joint pain gradually disappear.

SacAlternative | July / August 2014

EdiPure Lemon Drops – These are just like the old-fashioned hard candy lemon drops you remember from your grandmother’s house. They are great for simply sticking in your pocket or purse.

I put two in my mouth and within 40 minutes I was pain-free— very effective.

Bhang CBD Caramel Dark Chocolate Bar – I always get at least one chocolate product at every dispensary I visit. This chocolate, however, is the best I have had so far in my producttesting experience. It tasted rich and chocolaty and took effect quickly. Within 20 minutes, I was relaxed and mostly pain-free. I definitely recommend this product for chocolate lovers in search of quick pain relief.

Full Extract Cannabis Oil – Extracts are absolutely the most effective edibles for my symptoms. They are very strong so you don’t need to use much and they come in prefilled syringes for quick and easy delivery. This particular extract did not disappoint me with its effects, but it did have the general drawbacks I have come to associate with most extracts. First, they take a long time to diminish my pain, usually 60-90 minutes. Second, they are pricey. This particular oil was $60 for 3.0 grams. I personally think it was worth the price because it is the most flexible edible and can be used in a variety of ways. For example, you can cook with it, add a drop to a spoonful of peanut butter or your favorite jam, or even put a drop in your lotion for topical use.

If atmosphere is important to you, then you must visit A Therapeutic Alternative for an upscale and luxurious dispensary experience. Most importantly, however, this medical cannabis outlet has a large assortment of fine products that won’t disappoint.

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BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH

by Chavez Name: Loren Kidd Dispensary: Alpine Alternative This issue’s Budtender of the Month is Loren Kidd, co-manager of Alpine Alternative. I first became acquainted with Loren when my massage therapist suggested that I pay him a visit to discuss my various ailments and what medicine he could recommend to help ease my near-constant struggle in coping with agonizing pain and discomfort. Upon meeting him, I instantly knew why my massage therapist suggested that I consult with him—he was immediately engaged in helping me, and his kind and compassionate demeanor instantly put me at ease, not to mention his level of expertise in selecting the best medicine to treat my maladies. Here’s his perspective on the evolving world of medical cannabis, his first-hand experience with the medicine and his passion for quality patient care.

How many years have you been working in the industry and why did you become a budtender? I began to work in the cannabis industry almost four years ago. Circumstances surrounding my health and my general curiosity about the world made it inevitable I would become a budtender. Before I turned 13 I had my first seizure and for years pharmaceuticals with ghastly side effects were my only option for treatment. I sustained many physical injuries while having seizures and eventually tried cannabis to treat their effects. That’s when my seizures stopped.

The immediate improvement in my quality of life after years of failed pharmaceuticals led me to want to work in the industry that made this a possibility.

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Is budtending a difficult job?

Budtending at its heart is not a difficult job. In ways it is much like any other job.

Know your product, be reliable and treat your patients with respect. But I really think that budtenders can make a major difference in people’s lives if they have the right fire under their feet. It takes initiative to get to know a patient and you can’t help someone you don’t know. So this is a job that requires a daily passion.

Where do you see the medical cannabis industry in the next five years? Hopefully in less than five years we will be seeing a lot more CBD products enter the market, grown locally and therefore more affordable and reliable of access.

What sets Alpine apart from the competition? In the first place, we have a respectable, clean location that every day stacks up donations for local charities. We also have a charismatic and knowledgeable staff that genuinely wants to help you and truly cares. We also have, exclusive to our dispensary, Phillips RX, an extraction artist who is an award-winning industry standard setter.

On Wednesdays and Sundays we offer his BHO at a deal that cannot be beat anywhere. His smoke-able concentrates are beyond question and now he has begun making potent hard candies and capsules. His first batch of capsules came back at 100 percent cannabinoids, the first time I have ever seen such purity in this industry, although I have learned not to be surprised with the quality of his product. These capsules have since become my go-to edibles. I only recommend them for those with truly

severe symptoms as they only come in high doses. Compassionate pricing is key to access, and these capsules are milligram per dollar, beating every single high dose edible I can find.

What do you enjoy most about working at Alpine? This is the easiest question.

I enjoy the relationships I build with my patients, who become fixtures in my day and week. We have conversations that pick up and leave off about pretty much everything a person can imagine and I treasure that. The greatest joy, however, is when those who truly need help come back again. There is something purely singular that happens when someone tells you that you helped to improve their quality of life. It may be a major improvement, sometimes like night and day, and you will see it right away when they walk in, or it may be minor and you won’t know about it until told. Either way, I most enjoy that singular feeling of knowing I helped someone who truly needed it.

What’s hot in the industry right now?

Well, clearly the shift has been made to concentrates like BHO and that is what seems to be hottest, what seems to be asked for the most. More and more, CBD too is coming into greater demand and patients ask for it as they become more informed.

What do you do in your free time?

What little free time I get I spend with my wonderful girlfriend and try to rest for the next workday.

If you weren’t a budtender, what would you be doing? Fishing.

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SacAlternative | July / August 2014

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SacAlternative | July / August 2014

CANNABIS COMMUNITY CORNER

A Roundup of Cannabis News

by Ron Mullins

“CPR strongly supports good rules and regulations that benefit both the patient and public. However, SB1262 falls short in protecting both,” said Lanette Davies, of Crusaders for Patients’ Rights. “I understand that changes are coming on this bill and that it is not final. However, we do not see how you can call SB1262 a statewide regulation when it uses local ordinances to provide safe access in only a few communities. Prop 215 was voted in by the people, and if local communities want to place bans in their communities, ONLY the people who live and vote in that community should have the right to do that. SB1262 not only acknowledges bans as being legal, but it enforces the right to do so. We have represented our patient base by actively opposing this bill at the State Capitol in the committees. We will continue to do so until several changes are made. The example I gave you today is only one.”

The City of Sacramento is plugging along with its licensing of dispensaries. Currently, 11 have received their Conditional Use Permits, with 19 still in process. That will bring us back to a whopping 30 dispensaries open and operating within the city limits. The deadline for filing the CUP is December 2014, and with local dispensaries being required to participate in public hearings you can help them through this arduous process.

Just ask your local dispensary if they have their hearing scheduled yet and, if you can, attend their hearing and say something positive.

The 2014 election is just around the corner, and Hillary Clinton has begun her campaign for presidential election in 2016. In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, during a promotional tour for her new book “Hard Choices,” Clinton appears to be keeping an open mind toward cannabis policy reform. Former Secretary of State and presidential hopeful, Clinton implied some support for medical cannabis “for people who are in extreme medical conditions.” Clinton also believes we should “wait and see” how recreational weed works in Washington and Colorado before implementing a similar framework in other states.

In June the county voted unanimously to ban outdoor growing, and they have officially limited indoor growing to nine plants only. They will not allow 100-plant recs or using groups of recommendations in a collective. As I said in my last article, violating these grow ordinances is the equivalent of building a swimming pool without a building permit. You may be subject to fines (and a few dirty looks) from code enforcement officials.

The reality is that you will have several days to change your mind if you decide NOT to be a rebel before fines are levied. Activist groups like Americans for Safe Access, Sacramento NORML, the Brownie Mary Democratic Club and others working to support patients’ rights, are currently looking at options to push back on the ban. It is very important that we know who is getting harassed, as well as where it happened. So, if you or someone you care about has had an encounter with the sheriff or code enforcement over small grows, call the Sacramento NORML phone line at 916.905.4203.

Clinton all but flat-out said she supports Washington and Colorado laws legalizing recreational marijuana for adults.

Hopefully, as the front runner in the 2016 election, she can bring the subject of cannabis to the table during that presidential election.

Slowly crawling through various Senate and Assembly Committees in the Capitol, is Senator Correa’s new bill to regulate medical marijuana in the Golden State. With input from the cannabis community, the bill has had several modifications applied. Activists were concerned about unrealistic rules, such as limiting a doctor’s ability to write recommendations, in addition to forcing them to suggest strains for specific illnesses, and requiring parents to get a minor’s recommendation from a pediatrician. ASA and California NORML support it, with changes, but other advocates are more skeptical.

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“The war on drugs has unfortunately turned into a war on the American people,” said Marcia Blount, President of the local, and pro-marijuana legalization, Democratic Club. “The Brownie Mary Democratic Club of Sacramento County is quite encouraged by the recent ‘softening’ of attitudes by former President Bill Clinton and possible future President Hillary Clinton regarding the use of cannabis. We hope that they will allow themselves to become more educated about the positive aspects of cannabis, and that they will ultimately help end this system that incarcerates hundreds of thousands of America’s own citizens each year.”

This is great news for cannabis in the political scene. The fact that candidates are running our issue up the flag pole could mean this will be an actual issue debated in the 2016 presidential candidate debate. Moving forward we can be part of the debate, and we need to show these politicians that the marijuana community is a valuable contingent that can bring them attention, money and votes. When politicians come out in favor of us they tend to have spikes in their approval ratings and “likes” and “followers.” Let’s do our part and make sure we are out there supporting politicians who publicly support cannabis. Better yet, get involved with the pro-cannabis legalization Democratic Club.

Check out their site at http://www.bmdcofsaccounty.org.

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ALTsPoRts

The Right Stuff The Republic talk fans, winning and the bid to join MLS

by Lovelle Harris

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SacAlternative | July / August 2014

It’s just 10:30 in the morning on July 1 and the sun is blazing down onto the ground with an intensity that would make the mother of dragons beam with pride. While most run for cover and flee to the comfort of their air-conditioned homes, the players on the Sacramento Republic FC have just wrapped an intense practice session in preparation for an upcoming match.

After a grueling training session in torrid conditions, the players stroll off of the field, bantering back and forth with one another, even smiling and cracking jokes as they make their way to the locker room in preparation for a FIFA viewing party at a local tavern. Evidence of a healthy locker room, which typically translates into matches won.

If you think that the Sacramento Kings are the only ballers in town then you haven’t been to a Sacramento Republic FC match. These guys got game, the sell-out matches and fans numbering well into the tens of thousands roaring in approval prove that Sacramento is ready for some football.

And we’re not talking NFL football.

“I knew it from the start…it was going to be a huge hit,” says Dominik Jakubek, goalkeeper for the Republic. “So, this is not a surprise to me that every game is sold out and there’s a buzz like this.”

The fans aren’t the only ones who have taken notice of their fierce play on the field—in their 2014 inaugural season as an expansion team in the USL PRO club, the front office have received a positive nod from the MLS that could see the franchise join the ranks among teams like the LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes.

“Some of these teams that are competing for the MLS ranks have been playing professionally for five…maybe 10 years, and we’ve been around for, what, officially for six months,” Jakubek says. “We already have a brand new stadium and sold-out games. If MLS is looking for a market that’s going to be really hot, [it’s] Sacramento really.”

But these guys aren’t letting major league dreams distract them from the task at hand—ending the season with a winning SacAlternative | July / August 2014

record with a possibility of entering the post-season fray.

“I think we’re still in a good position to come to the table,” says Chad Bartlomé, who plays at the forward position on the squad.

Bartlomé, who honed his attacking style of play in the Grass Valley/Nevada City area, says winning matches, plain and simple, is the key to helping them win their bid to join MLS. “Our jobs as players are to try to win the game on the weekend, and bring it in training every day,” he explains. “And I think if we can do that, put ourselves in the playoffs and have a good run at the championship, that can only help our chances at an MLS bid.”

With a USL PRO record-setting crowd of 20,231 at Hughes Stadium for the team’s first match in franchise history, the new Bonney Field facility at Cal Expo, not to mention the talent on the squad itself, Sacramento Republic FC president Warren Smith could possibly see the franchise gain entrance into MLS by 2016, a goal set in November 2013.

“I think we have a very good shot, if fans keep coming out, and we keep playing well and the front office keeps working and promoting and marketing like they are, I think yeah, why not, I think we have a pretty good chance,” Bartlomé says.

But slick marketing strategies won’t fill those seats alone—what the fans come, ultimately, for is a chance to see 90 minutes of excellent football. The local hooligans are in luck; not only is the roster stacked with talent, but these guys actually enjoy playing in Sacramento. “[The] number one thing is the product on the field,” Jakubek explains. “If we sucked maybe it would have been a little bit different, but we have a competitive team and we play for the city. The guys who are not from here, they want to win just as badly as I do, and I’m from this area. “They really want to play for the fans. And they really want to see this game grow beyond the city.”

“You got to have money to gamble a little bit to start something like this because it’s not cheap,” Jakubek says. “But I knew from the beginning in speaking with Warren Smith and the rest of the people in charge that they were 130 percent all committed to make this thing work.”

Sure, starting a new sports franchise in a city that doesn’t yet have the cache of high-caliber sports town is a risky endeavor, but those pulling the purse strings in the coffers of the Republic have accepted the challenge, helping a horde of soccer fans slowly recover from FIFA withdrawal. Hell, who needs to wait for the World Cup, the Republic’s season is just warming up.

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ALTHEALTH

Hemp

by Dan Scott

Alongside the growth of the cannabis industry in the United States, the market for products made of hemp is also booming.

Its popularity can be attributed to a number of reasons, including its cultural tie to cannabis, its role in a healthful diet, and its usefulness as an environmentally friendly alternative to a number of agricultural and industrial products.

Despite the proliferation of hemp products, the commercial cultivation of hemp requires certification by the DEA under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. This effectively bans commercial agricultural production.

This is nonsensical as industrial hemp is non-psychoactive and non-intoxicating.

Most hemp used in American products is imported from China and Canada, the latter selling us more than $400 million of hemp annually.

Unlike cannabis which is harvested for the flowers, industrial hemp is harvested for the stalk, seeds and leaves. 25 percent of the weight of the dried retted stalk is bast, the dense and strong fiber found on its exterior.

The rest is the hurd, the stalk’s woody core. Some hemp plants are grown solely for either seed or fiber, but most are dual usage plants from which both products are harvested. Compared to crops with similar uses, hemp production results in a larger harvest of usable product. On an annual basis, hemp results in as much as three times the fiber as an identically sized cotton field. Likewise, it produces up to four times the fiber as timber which is harvested for paper products.

There are hundreds of industrial applications for hemp, but consumers are mostly likely to see it in the form of textiles, paper, and food containing hemp seed and hemp oil.

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One use for hemp fiber is for cordage products such as rope, twine and netting.

These products are used to produce larger industrial textile products such as sails, tarps, carpet, geotextiles and canvas, which derives its name from cannabis. Cotton and nylon, the other materials frequently used to make these products, are both inferior to hemp which has a higher tensile strength, wet strength and longer durability.

More commonly, we see hemp fiber used for consumer textiles to make clothing, shoes and accessories such as handbags.

No longer seen as a fashion choice for alternative audiences, designers such as Stella McCartney, Giorgio Armani and Calvin Klein have all introduced hemp clothing.

Cartel Blue launches later this year as a high end clothing line made exclusively from hemp.

Another major use is in paper products.

Consumers can get high quality, durable specialty paper from companies such as Green Field and Living Tree for book binding, stationery, greeting cards, journals and sketchbooks. It also makes great rolling papers for smoking.

Hemp seed and hemp oil are found in kitchens across the country as they are both delicious and nutritious. The seed is a complete protein and the oil is high in stearidonic, lanolin and linolenic acids.

Hempseed oil is also found in numerous beauty and hygiene products such as soap, shampoo, lotions and make-up. The flagship company for this industry is Dr. Bronner’s, who has been producing soap in the United States since 1948 and has since expanded to include a host of products. Using the slogan “All-One!” their packaging bears messages of peace, love and unity.

Ignoring our capability to grow hemp is leaving hundreds of millions of dollars on the table. Farmers in North Dakota growing wheat, corn and soy can look across the border and see Canadian farmers growing a far more profitable product. A study by North Dakota State University estimates that 2012 profits from an acre of corn is $111 and an acre of spring wheat which yields a $55 profit. Typical profit for a Canadian hemp farmer can be as high as $600 an acre. When adjusted for today’s dollar, a 1998 University of Kentucky study shows a profit range from $310 to $854 per acre of Kentucky hemp.

Revenues from these sales could be in the pockets of American farmers. Domestic production will also save manufacturers millions in reduced transportation costs.

Fortunately, the United States is on the cusp of allowing an industrial hemp industry to begin. The 2013 federal Farm Bill authorizes states which have legalized hemp farming to conduct research and agricultural pilot programs. Fifteen states, including California, qualify to begin these programs with several others considering legislation to allow it. While acres of hemp dancing in the wind across the great plains might be several years in the future, this is a major step towards American companies making products from American hemp.

SacAlternative | July / August 2014

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ALTGEEK

LGBT Presence in Major Releases by missfitz photos: © Bioware, dragonage.com

Gaming is often associated with negative social traits—images of overweight teenage boys with no social skills instantly come to mind. The community can be non-inclusive to those that do not meet the young, white male criteria.

However, with the announcement from juggernaut developer Bioware that the next installment of their “Dragon Age” franchise will feature an openly homosexual character as part of the main cast, we are reminded

that there are those within the industry trying to make a change.

Bioware is no stranger to bending industry standards to provide narratives and characters that represent a more diverse community, but previous installments have only given voice to those that fall into sexual ambiguity. All of the past ambiguous characters were utilized as potential romantic interests for a player’s protagonist and provided a depth of emotional

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connection to Bioware’s games that is not often experienced in gaming.

While it has elevated their franchises to a more sophisticated form of storytelling than the average AAA title at times these romances seemed to play out as mere conquests and achievements for the player.

However, with “Inquisition” it seems that Bioware is introducing a character whose sexuality will play a key role in both his narrative and identity, and therefore expose their players to a representation of the LGBT community that players have yet to encounter within a video game.

The announcement made by Bioware was well-received by not only the LGBT community, but also game critics who have begun to add their voices to the chants for increased diversity within the industry. But the battle is far from over. The comments section of the article “Dragon Age: Inquisition to feature Bioware’s first ‘fully gay’ male” on ign.com, mirror the comments on other articles published relating to LGBT characters in games: there remains a good portion of players who would rather not see issues relating to homosexuality discussed within their games. As a member of both the LGBT and gaming communities it is discouraging to see negative feedback relating to Bioware’s announcement.

Over the past few years the industry has displayed overall progress towards representing alternative lifestyles, but it is clear that we will not be seeing leaps in that direction when there is still a young, white male demographic to cater to. While statistics would suggest that as a whole most major societies are transitioning into more progressive mindsets, we’re still at a point where even casting an attractive female as the lead in a game is received as controversial due to an inevitable flop in sales.

Hopefully Bioware continues to push the envelope and breaks the stalemate of progress within the industry. The gaming community may not be ready to accept socially progressive themes, but the world is ready to accept gaming as a legitimate media and it’s time for video games to start representing that new world.

Check These Titles Great Games that Include LGBTQ Characters or Themes Mass Effect 1, 2, & 3 Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2 The Last of Us Gone Home

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ALT&aBoUt SacAlt dropped by Sacramento Pride.

Photos by: Ron Mullins

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PATIENTPRofILe

Granny P and Her Stash

by Ron Mullins

If you look closely at the current state of pop culture, you’ll notice the emergence of a new caricature/archetype in the entertainment industry.

I’m talking about the “Pot Granny.”

“I was very lucky to have an open-minded doctor who examined me and wrote my recommendation,” she explains. “He is my general practitioner, and I know they don’t do that a lot.”

From the scene in the movie “Half Baked,” where the granny smoking a bong says, “It helps our glaucoma,” to more recent moments in TV shows like “New Girl” where one of the characters is approached by a granny-type trying to sell them some weed, the Hollywood has embraced the notion that showing older people with weed is a surefire way to get a quick, cheap laugh.

As her education in medical cannabis grew; learning about liquid tinctures and Her fears persisted, the biggest being that the psychoactive effect in cannabis would make her do something foolish.

But as someone who worked at a dispensary, I can say this is a case of art imitating life as there are plenty of septuagenarians who have found relief in cannabis. Just take the subject of this issue’s patient profile, who asked SacAlt to refer to her as “Granny P,” to protect her identity.

Granny P was born in Kentucky, around the same time marijuana was made illegal.

“It was an entirely different world back then,” she muses. “My brothers used to smoke marijuana, and nobody seemed to make a huge deal of it, even though it was illegal. It seemed more of a guideline than something that the sheriff would come out to enforce in the late ’40s. It wasn’t until Nixon that I remember being tricked into believing cannabis was some horrible poison. I still never tried it because it just seemed like something that was for the boys and not very ladylike.”

In her adult life, Granny P married and worked a part-time job until her retirement in the ’80s due to multiple health issues. Her children were preteens when she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. There was no such thing as medical marijuana at the time. In fact, it never occurred to her ever to try it until after she had turned 75.

“My son told me that he had heard that marijuana works really well for Crohn’s disease. And it helps with appetite and wasting,” she explains.

“I just couldn’t picture myself smoking a reefer like I’d seen so many other people do. My son then showed me a video called ‘Should Granny Smoke Pot?’ I got a lot of really important information in that small amount of time, but the main takeaway I heard was that marijuana would help me my arthritis—something that was really inhibiting my ability to crochet and do other activities that I enjoy since retiring.”

“My husband died later that year. His type of work and his negative opinion about cannabis was a major factor in why I didn’t try it while he was alive, even though I was beginning to think I really needed to,” she explains “Paul had been dead two weeks and I was having serious difficulties with the grieving process. At one point I felt like I wanted to join him. My son kept pressing me that I should try something. I found a tincture that I had researched that I thought would fit my needs.”

Lying in her bed, crying and sleepless, and at the end of her rope, she went through her medicine cabinet. She held in one hand a bottle of Xanax prescribed by her doctor, and in the other hand, a liquid bottle of cannabis Indica tincture. She was at a crossroads.

“I was still worried that one might make me a hippie, and the other one might make me a zombie. Hippie seemed better in the end,” she says.“I took the number of drops listed on the label and laid back down. The first thing I realized was that I didn’t feel so hollow. I felt hungry, which was a very rare occurrence because of other meds that I take, and from my grieving as well.... I went downstairs and cooked my late husband’s favorite meal, spaghetti and French bread. I ate it and then went back to bed…I didn’t cry once, and I slept through the night for the first time since my husband’s death, and I slept better than I had in many, many years.”

After using the cannabis tincture for a year, Granny P found it relieved everything from nausea to Crohn’s. For muscle cramps and arthritis she happily uses topical cannabis.

“It’s crazy what we’ve been taught about cannabis,” she says. “If it hadn’t been for the politics and the lies, I probably would have used cannabis many years ago. This would have resulted in me missing out on a lot of pain.”

Although convinced of the positive impact of medical marijuana the negative image of a “reefer-smoking” grandma lingered in her mind, she waited almost six months before seeking out the medicine.

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ALTMUSIC

TRIBE: The Last Great Swordsmen of Sac Hip-Hop

by Steph Rodriguez

Members N.O.N, Poor and Mic Jordan of Sacramento hip-hop trio Tribe Of Levi first combined its mixed bag of creative talents more than nine years ago. From thought-provoking poetry, to a humble appreciation for jazz music, to a lifelong affinity for the art of rap, all three members continue to ask each other one question—what’s next? With the release of its latest album Levitation in May, TOL view the record’s five-year journey to completion in a variety of ways.

For emcee and producer, Poor, although 32

proud of the group’s body of work, the album itself represents an “old energy” between the group, as some tracks like, “My Sister” mark the first writing sessions between members more than five years ago. Sac Alternative magazine sat down with emcees Poor and Mic Jordan in the heart of the Oak Park triangle district, to not only discuss their latest material, but the essence of local hip-hop, racism, future projects and what current artists represent the soul of the genre’s culture from Sacramento and beyond.

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Is there a specific album or song that still speaks to you throughout the years?

POOR: The FML album. I really like [the song] “The Up and Up” because with that, we’re experimenting more and being more musical. I really like the production, I think everything was dialed in [and] it was crisp.

MIC JORDAN: I think FML was more of a conceived entity. It had more of a clear vision behind it. I agree with Poor, but I think Levitation is a deeper album. There’s a lot more going on musically and conceptually. There’s a lot of diversity on the album. It’s more traditional. We have a song about gentrification and about different seasons that really, to me, embody the essence of the album. It’s a celebration of everything that we’ve done together for the past nine years.

What does the Sac hip-hop scene bring to the overall music community?

MJ: What I think the Sacramento hip-hop scene brings to the world is the finest underground hip-hop scene that you can find. Artists like Chuuwee and C Plus are both making noise elsewhere. Guys like Timothy Rhyme, First Dirt [and] Task1 that stay on tour. … Then, just look at the actual creative efforts.

Look at everybody in [The People’s Revolution collective], in our crew: Poor, myself, Mahtie Bush, Nome Nomad, Century Got Bars, Bru Lei … there’s so much creatively going on.

speak intelligently? I can’t sound a certain way? Does Huey P. Newton sound black? Does Malcolm X sound black? What does it mean? That’s how the concept came about and we just sat down and wrote about what it means for us to be black.

Some artists fade in and out of the underground hip-hop scene as rappers, what keeps Tribe Of Levi going?

MJ: We’re like some of the last great swordsman in the era of firearms. Fuck it. This is what we’ve committed to. And guess what, we’ll still fuck around and still try to kill a guy with our swords. That’s the thing about being a part of this hip-hop community, there are so many people in it who are so inspiring through all phases of life. As I continue to grow as a person, I feel inspired to do different kinds of music and it makes me not want to stop. www.tribeoflevi916.com tribeoflevi.bandcamp.com www.facebook.com/tribeoflevihiphop Catch Tribe Of Levi at the Sustainability Awareness Festival sponsored by the Auburn Hip-Hop Congress at the School Park Preserve in Auburn (55 College Way) on Saturday, Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; $5, all-ages.

See Mic Jordan perform solo at the River’s Edge Bar & Grill (2125 W. Capitol Ave.) on Saturday, July 26. Also, hear Poor’s new music project, SET, with local hip-hop artist Nome Nomad at Assembly (1000 K St.) on Sunday, Aug. 3 with Black Milk.

POOR: I see what we have is a lot of perseverance. There’re a lot of rappers here that have been rappin’ and continue to keep rappin’, even if it’s just on the Sacramento underground level.

They’re still staying with the scene and they believe in their music and they keep playing it.

What venues support local hip-hop?

MJ: Harlow’s, Marilyn’s, Fox & Goose, the Colonial, Stoney Inn, Sol Collective, The Boardwalk … There’s almost this cycle where hip-hop will start really taken root and then for whatever reason, there will be this clamp down. A lot of venues that were doing pretty good with it will shut off access and that seems to happen cyclically. But, there are certain venues that have always tended to show love through the years.

Why do you think that is?

POOR: I think it’s racism. I’ve been to rock shows where there’s fights all the time and that’s what [promoters’] main concern is with hip-hop shows. I’ve played tons of shows here in the city and I saw one fight [at] Shenanigans on J Street. These two girls got in a fight and the security guards pepper sprayed them. It’s different. They treat hip-hop a lot differently.

What is the writing process like for the both of you in regards to new material?

POOR: It all starts with a conversation. We wrote this song, “What It Means (To Be Black).” We were talking about how the way we speak and people say, ‘You don’t sound like a black dude.’ Well, what the fuck does it mean to be black? I can’t SacAlternative | July / August 2014

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ALTFOOD

Summer BBQ Guide: Charcoal vs. Smoke

by Steph Rodriguez

From the heart of Midtown’s J Street district, to the quiet neighborhood of Tahoe Park, Sacramento has a taste for barbecue. Whether the aroma of white oak-smoked brisket is bellowing from Tank House BBQ & Bar, or perhaps the savory char on a rack of ribs from Momo’s Meat Market, Sac Alternative magazine curbs its voracious appetite with advice from the experts of smoke and charcoal to satisfy all summer grillin’ needs.

BITE INTO BARBECUE Momo’s Meat Market 5776 Broadway 916.452.0202 Five days a week, Glenn Miller, co-owner of Momo’s Meat Market (5776 Broadway) fires up his round, barrel grill right in the parking lot— and sometimes—in 100-degree weather. With more than 25 yearsof experience as a meat cutter for Sacramento area grocery stores, he stands watch over racks of ribs, whole chickens and cuts of tri-tip as he grills them hot-to-order for hungry customers. Miller says both he and his wife, Sharon, had a vision to open a barbecue and raw meat haven in what he calls “Sacramento’s best kept secret,” Tahoe Park. The couple opened its business over four years ago with the name attributed to his mother.

Not only does Momo’s offer a variety of raw and cooked meats, the menu also includes an assortment of Texas and Louisiana-inspired side dishes that come straight from family recipes. A few include pepper jack mac ’n’ cheese, black-eyed peas and rice, candied yams with brown sugar, and cabbage with applewood-smoked bacon. What’s more, all

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grilled meats are always served with a honey and brown sugar barbecue sauce on the side. Hungry yet?

“We grill first and then we smoke because we like that char,” Miller says when speaking about pork ribs. “I don’t tend to smoke too long because sometimes, if you smoke too long the meat will fall off the bones and we like to take a bite out of ribs here.”

MOMO’S AT-HOME KABOB TIPS When Miller grills for friends and family at home, he admits to throwin’ together a lot of kabobs. Whether its marinated shrimp, chicken or beef, decorated with grilled cherry tomatoes, pineapples or bell peppers, Miller lends his secrets to at-home kabob success.

“It’s best if you put the meat on first and then the vegetables separately because the vegetables have a shorter cooking time,” Miller explains.

“Or, the other way you could do it, is cook [the kabobs] at a low temperature. But, once again, I like the char on beef, so I cook it separately.”

Once the veggie and meat skewers reach ideal grill textures, he then reassembles his kabobs for consumption. An ideal timeframe for veggies on the grill is 10 minutes according to Miller, as opposed to his preferred kabob meat choice, top sirloin, which he says takes no more than 20 minutes. Lastly, if wooden skewers are used, he recommends soaking them in water before grill use to avoid burns, or simply to buy the metal variety in order alleviate hassle.

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WHOSE HOUSE? TANK HOUSE Tank House BBQ & Bar 1925 J St. 916.431-7199 www.tankhousebbq.com This August will mark the one-year anniversary of Tank House BBQ & Bar (1925 J St.) and co-owner Tyler Williams is more than happy to keep on smokin’, meats, that is. With its custom-made smoker constructed by a man named Willie the Welder out in South Sac, Williams and his pit crew serve anywhere from three to five briskets daily in addition to 50 racks of ribs.

“Our style is slow and low. You’re letting the wood smoke really speak for itself and you want that flavor from the wood to shine through,” Williams says. “Primarily, we’re using white oak, which is our base wood. We also love using fruitwoods like peach or pear and currently, we’re using cherry. They’re amazing and give the smoke a great flavor.”

On a weekly basis, Tank House sources its wood locally from Tony’s Firewood (6000 Auburn Blvd.), which delivers up to one cord of wood depending.

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“We’re smoking from 7 a.m. to the wee hours of the morning just trying to make sure we have enough for the next day,” Williams says. “If you run out of brisket, it’s not like you can run in the back and make more. It takes 23 hours to make. If we run out, we run out. Then, we’re smokin’ for the next day.”

BRINE ‘N’ TIME As an avid lover of barbecue, Williams says when it comes to smoke patience is key. But, he also says when time is of the essence and beer is in hand, remember to pace oneself.

“For smoking, there really isn’t a whole lot to it. You just have to periodically check on it.

But, if you’re sitting at home smoking ribs and you have a beer in your hand, you gotta pace yourself,” Williams laughs. “Four and a half hours drinking beer before people show up could be problematic.”

“Aged woods help the flavor, but also make sure that the wood is dry enough and not too dry,” he advises. “There needs to be some moisture to the wood so it doesn’t just burn up. You want a nice steady flow of smoke.”

Tank House preps most its meats with housemade dry rubs, especially for those fattier cuts to seal in natural juices and flavor. Yet, turkey is also given a special flair with a two-hour brine before an equal amount of smoke time.

Williams says if a smoked flavor is desired, a soaked bird with house-made brine is key.

“A really nice ingredient in a brine that a lot of people don’t know about is to dice a couple of green apples and throw them in there. It adds a lot of flavor,” he says. “Think about brine as like pickle juice. It could be a combination of salt and sugars and whatever else you want to put in there to add juices and flavors to a cut of meat.”

Williams admits the smoky side of barbecue culture is definitely a ritual of endurance, but given the right amount of time reward is purely enjoyed through taste.

Another important trade secret according to Williams begins with wood type and treatment.

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ALTDIRECTORY Dispensaries and Evaluations 420 Med Evaluations 2015 Q Street Sacramento, CA 95811 916.476.6142 Abatin Wellness 2100 29th Street Sacramento, CA, 95817 916.822.5699 www.abatinsacramento.com info@abatinsacramento.com Canna Care 320 Harris Ave., Suite G Sacramento, CA 95838 916.925.1199 www.cannacare.net CC101 6435 Florin Perkins Rd. Sacramento, CA 95828 916.387.6233 www.cc101sac.com Cloud 9 5711 Florin Perkins Rd. Sacramento, CA 95828 916.387.8605 Doctor’s Orders 1704 Main Avenue Sacramento, CA 95838 916.564.2112 www.DoctorsOrdersRX.com

Florin Wellness Center 7047 Land Park Drive Sacramento, CA 95831 916.706.0563 www.florin-wellness-center.com

Sacramento 420 Doc 2100 Watt Ave, Unit 190 Sacramento, CA 95825 916.480.9000 www.Sac420Doc.com

Golden Health and Wellness 1030 Joellis Way Sacramento, CA 95815 916.646.6340

Take Care 420 721 N. B Street Sacramento, CA 95811 916.572.5215

Green Solutions 1404 28th St. Sacramento, CA 916.469.9182 www.greensolutionssac.com

THC 6666 Fruitridge Rd. Sacramento, CA 95820 916.476.4431 www.916thc.com

Horizon Non-Profit Collective 3600 Power Inn Rd. Sacramento, CA 95826 916.455.1931

A Therapeutic Alternative 3015 H Street Sacramento, CA 95816 916.822.4717

House of Organics 8848 Fruitridge Rd. Sacramento, CA 95826 916-381-3769 sachouseoforganics.com

Two Rivers Wellness 315 North 10th Street Sacramento, CA 95811 916.804.8975 www.tworiverssac.com

Mendos Meds Deliveries Only 916-800-4204

Valley Health Options 1421 Auburn Blvd.

Sacramento, CA 95815 916.779.0715

RCP 1508 East El Camino Avenue Sacramento, CA 95815 916.925.5696 www.RCPSacramento.org

Smoke Shops Blow ‘n’ Tell 4552 Auburn Blvd.

Sacramento, CA 916.485.5205

Jacob’s Smoke Shop 2017 I Street Sacramento, CA 95811 916.440.0331

Illusion Smoke Shop 5514 Pacific St., Suite 160 Rocklin, CA 916.415.1750

1914 Fulton Ave. Sacramento, CA 95825 916.485.5205

Smoke City 6745 Watt Ave., Ste. B North Highlands, CA 95660 916.334.2067 www.smokecityshop.com

4809 Laguna Blvd.

Elk Grove, CA 916.395.8610

Habits Cigars and Smoke Shop 8391 Folsom Blvd., Ste. #7 Sacramento, CA 95826 916.383.1185

Not in the directory?

Send an email to SacAlt at info@sacalternative.com to get listed.

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