Sacalt March 2014 by SacAlt Magazine

sacramentoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

alternative

magazine

march 2014

311, SacAlt, The Interview

Guest Editorial by Andy Conn

Cannabis Community Corner

BudTender of the Month

Staff

Contents

Publisher Josh Burke josh@sacalt.com

05 AltNotes

Publication Editor Lovelle Harris

Guest Editorial

BudTender of the Month

311 Interview

For Advertising, contact info@sacalternative.com Contributors & Photographers Lovelle Harris, Ron Mullins, Josh Burke, Andy Conn, Ty Rivers Design & Layout Kory Kolvig & Stephanie Lisuk for whiskey&sour info@whiskeyandsour.com SacAlternative 916.800.5884 www.SacAlt.com info@sacalternative.com

21 Cannabis Community Corner 25 AltShop 28 Directory 29

Dueling Advice

LettersEditor We appreciate your feedback. Letters to the editor may be edited for length and clarity. Email us at letters@sacalt.com 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 | March 2014

Editor’sNote

by Lovelle Harris

With the recent torrent of rain that descended upon a parched California, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that the drought’s unrelenting reign is far from over. Just ask a farmer—facing drastic shortages in irrigation water, farmers are expected to leave half a million acres of cropland uncultivated this year, creating a record production loss that has the potential to cause billions of dollars in economic damage. Rivers, lakes and streams are at frighteningly low levels, and with the summer season quickly approaching, the fire season has the potential to tear through the state with a ferocity many of us can’t begin to imagine. Officials say Californians should brace for a long, dry future, and just last month Gov. Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency, urging state officials to prepare for water shortages and for Californians to continue to put water conservation at the forefront of their minds. On March 1 Brown signed legislation to aid impacted communities by providing over $600 million in funding to help support drought relief, including money for housing and food for workers directly impacted by the drought, bond funds to finance projects to assist local communities capture and manage water supplies more efficiently, and aid to secure emergency drinking water reserves for droughtimpacted communities. But a fat government spending plan isn’t going to save us from ourselves. Sure, we all know that water conservation is a part of our collective reality, but how often do we see automatic sprinklers watering lawns after a storm, or someone hosing down a driveway in lieu of a broom? Putting into place measures of water conservation is a challenging endeavor, sure, but it’s one we must all embrace fervently. Luckily there are resources to help guide us in these most challenging of times. Still not sure how to take action? The Save Our Water campaign provides a wealth of information on its website, saveourh2o.org, on how to conserve this most precious resource both inside and outside of the home. From tips like turning off the water while washing your hair to planting drought-resistant trees and plants, the campaign strives to simplify this daunting task and empower Californians to put into practice activities that could very well indeed prepare us for a long, dry season. 3

SacAlternative | March 2014

AltNotes

The Awakening by Josh Burke

Welcome to the March issue of SacAlt. Thanks for continuing to read our little magazine, and hopefully, to give a shit about what’s going on in the world. We’ve got some fun stuff in here, including an interview with legendary rock band 311, a new advice column featuring good and bad advice (it’s tongue in cheek, so try not to get offended by the bad advice) and we’ve got some serious stuff. Andy Conn, whom I owe an apology to for not printing his article on Food not Bombs last month due to a shortage of space, has brought us some news on the movement to stop police brutality. This is a huge issue. Back in 1992, Los Angeles broke out into riots over one video, of one black male (Rodney King) being ruthlessly beaten by white Los Angeles Police Department officers. They didn’t even kill him, but when those officers were let off the hook, the city exploded. Sadly, stories like this, and videos of beatings and killings of American citizens by police are now an almost daily occurrence. And it’s not just black men being beaten by white officers; it’s white women, mentally-disabled men, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, even joggers are being accosted and detained for jaywalking! What the hell is up with the police? To be fair, the majority of my interactions with law enforcement have been polite, reasonable, and decent. With the exception of one incident when I was 16 and got pulled over for running a red light. I was stone-cold sober but got harassed and accused of being

SacAlternative | March 2014

on drugs, my car searched, and was made to feel like a criminal. But hey, I didn’t get beaten half to death. That was 1994. Now things have changed quite a bit. According to Department of Justice statistics, more than 5,000 Americans have been killed by police since 9/11...that’s more than were killed in the Iraq war. You want to know how many non-military personnel died in terrorist attacks last year? 15. And more Americans are in prison than ever before. It’s time for some serious change. We’ve had enough. It’s time to hold law enforcement accountable for their actions, and ask why are there so many thugs with badges who are so inclined to resort to violence and intimidation. Who’s doing the hiring? What kind of training is being doled out that leads these peace officers to act like the criminals they’re supposedly protecting us from? I dare say we’ve become desensitized to it. Every day I see videos of merciless beatings and killings in my Facebook newsfeed, and not one single riot in protest. Now, I am not encouraging we riot, but it is time to take action and let our elected officials know we’ve had enough, and damn it, we’re not going to take it anymore! And to those peace officers out there who still honor their profession and uphold the values of decency and respect for their fellow man, we need you to stand up more than ever and be an example, and have the courage to speak out against the one’s who have gone to the dark side! Cheers. We’ll see you on the front lines. 5

SacAlternative | March 2014

“I guess that’s the way it’s going to be. I just wanted to tell you how cruel it can be. When you’re stuck doing time in today’s Society.” - Ernst Duenez Jr.

OPPRESS AND HURT: America as a Police State by Andy Conn

Ernst Duenez, Jr.wasn’t an angel. He had run-ins with the law. He was out of jail, working, taking care of family and getting on with his life. Then, two and a half years ago, he was shot and killed by a Manteca police officer. To watch the full dashboard video of the incident is painful. The video shows Officer John Moody parked in his cruiser around the corner from the family home. Duenez drives by, the officer counts off and then drives up behind Duenez in the driveway pinning him in. Moody gets out of his car, orders Duenez to drop a knife that cannot be seen in the video, then he opens fire. Moody fired 11 shots into Duenez, killing him and leaving him to bleed out in his driveway while family members screamed for the officer to call an ambulance. The death of Duenez released the wrath of his cousin Christina Arechiga. Arechiga had been a social justice advocate for the last 18 years focusing on prison issues, but now she’s begun to fight in Duenez’s name to put an end to police brutality. Arechiga is now the director of the organization, Justice for Ernest Duenez Jr., and is in the final stages of opening the Ernst Duenez Research Institution on Police Terror and Incarceration. Arechiga is a tireless worker in the war against police brutality and the prison industrial complex where she sheds light on everything from torture to slave labor and maximum sentencing guidelines. Arechiga is one of more than the 50 family members that make up the statewide campaign against police brutality. 10

Kelly Thomas after being beaten by Fullerton police. He died as a result of the injuries.

While in Anaheim with activists from Sacramento, we heard from every single family about their dead relatives who were victims at the hands of police injustice. It was four hours of some of the most heart breaking stories of loss, grief, outrage and despair. Elizabeth Henning-Adam, who lost her son Bobby in central Los Angeles, told of a Good Samaritan who called the police because Bobby seemed to be having a breakdown. Within two minutes upon the cops arrival Bobby had two shotgun blasts to the chest and laid dead. I talked to the Good Samaritan, Ruben, in Anaheim who says he is devastated. “I was always taught to call the police in an emergency. I will never do that again, “he said. Another family member who speaks quite often for the cause is Jeralynn Bluefod. Bluefod lost her son on May 6, 2012 after an incident involving a police officer. She is a fiery, determined, focused activist working to end police brutality. Right after her son died, she was befriended by a nurse, Mollie Costello. Costello was so devastated by the incident that she became involved with the Alan Bluford Center 4 Justice, and is now the co-director, running its office out of Oakland. Arechiga and Costello were the planners of a demonstration in front of California Attorney General Kamala Harris’s office in downtown Oakland on Feb. 13, where 50 activists blocked the entrance and six people, including Arechiga, Costello and Forrest Schmidt, were arrested for trespassing. SacAlternative | March 2014

Everyday videos of police misconduct pass the screens of those of us who are involved in the police brutality movement. Seeing a couple of the videos everyday can make one numb until one watches the video of the beating death of Kelly Thomas. In the first frames it shows cops putting on gloves and saying they are going to screw him up. Then for the next 10 minutes the six police officers beat Thomas with batons, fists, stun guns and other implements while Thomas screams for his father, that he is sorry and for someone to help him. He yells this over and over again until he is silenced. They beat him into a coma which he never came out of before he died. Based on the graphic video two officers were tried for manslaughter and murder. They were found innocent. Police brutality is just one part of the prison industrial complex. The prison industrial complex is dedicated to keeping jails full to create a profit center for the police, courts, private corporations and individuals that benefit by the mass incarceration of a whole generation of black, brown and poor white men. By its very nature, for profit prisons mandate that a certain number of beds need to be constantly full. They are forced to work at one of the prison system’s 600 different commodity items lines to pay their room and board. This system, through negotiations with strong justice labor unions and corporations like Nestle and Correction Corporation of America, makes a fortune through sales of jails and commodity items. This is a corrupt system right to the core. We in Sacramento are at the forefront of this fight. We have mobilized to travel the state to participate in rallies, protests, vigils and demonstrations. One of the Sacramento organizers Fago Drinkit, has organized two marches and rallies in Sacramento for Kelly Thomas. We have organized police brutality events, marches and actions on this issue and how it plays a part in the prison industrial complex. SacAlternative | March 2014

There will be a rally and march at the state capitol for the Victims of Police Brutality put on by Oscar Grant’s uncle, Cephus “Uncle Bobby” Johnson on April 8. “This is a call for the Crime Victim Day of Protest to Stop Police terrorism, repression and the whole criminalization of a generation,” he said. Volunteers and donations are needed. In August the Statewide Campaign to End Police Brutality will meet and rally again at the state capitol. Our nation’s police forces no longer serve and protect its citizens. Instead, through the militarization of police forces brought on by Homeland Security money and training, and the profits made by the forfeiture laws, our justice agencies see the proletariat as criminals and terrorists rather than citizens. We must all stand up and do our part to end this reign of terror. The police must be held accountable for their crimes. We demand cameras on every officer on duty, real citizen complaint boards chosen by the people as well as psychological and mandatory drug tests given to all officers on a regular basis. Mandatory independent tribunals to oversee investigations into

citizens killed by the police including recommendations for punishment be introduced in to the court proceeding. Most importantly, we call for an end to the Police Bill of Rights, a nasty piece of paper that holds cops blameless. We also recommend that all officers on the beat have extensive mandatory training on how to engage the mentally ill with treatment and compassion rather than bullets and guns. Remember, the police are no longer a citizen’s friend. Do not call them for help, talk to them or give them any information. Until things change the police are not there to serve and protect you, only to hurt and offend you.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the original author. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of SacAlt staff, and/or any/all contributors to this publication.

Several protests were organized around the Kelly Thomas incident. Photo: Andy Conn

SacAlternative | March 2014

This Month’s Alternative BudTender

BudTender

by Ty Rivers Who: Laleh Scakib // Over/Under 30: Over Dispensary: Horizon Collective // Vitals: Single Favorite Strain? Blue Dream. (It keeps me awake, aware and functioning and tastes like Blueberries.) How Long in the Industry? I’ve been in the industry for five years, working at Horizon the entire time. I grew up in Hamburg, Germany for the first 15 years of my life and we traveled a lot. I’ve been to Amsterdam about six times so I’m familiar with the culture, so you could say I’ve been in the industry for over 20 years. My co-worker Benny called me and told me they (Horizon) were opening and I should work here, so I did. Where were you born? I was born in Iran and fled the country when Iran went to war with Iraq. There was much turmoil and obvious concern for our safety. As we were leaving there was a bombing at the airport as we were departing. We flew out just in time. This is at the same time that the Shah was in power, it was a senseless time. We landed in Hamburg where I lived with my grandmother; it was a tremendous change. Hamburg was open and free. As a child we traveled to the states many times. At 15 I moved from Hamburg to Sacramento then to Los Angeles where I lived for a year. After, we traveled back to Sacramento where I have lived since. I didn’t really plan on moving to the states but I married and things just fell into place. When we first moved I spoke no English but always had a dictionary in hand; I learned. It was hard but we managed. I went to school for nursing and now continue to pursue a degree in the medical field. What’s it like to be a budtender and work at a “Horizon Collective?” I love it. I’ve seen a lot of changes since I came here. I was here when the cannabis community exploded and there were clubs on every corner. After the crackdown a few years ago we were one of the few that survived. At first it was great. We were busy and constantly helping patients. It slowed down but we remained dedicated. I see so many cancer patients that come in. Most of them prescribed with pharmaceutical medications like oxycotin. Many of our patients became addicted to these prescription medications. When they came to us we found suitable alternatives. Almost all of the patients benefited from using medicinal cannabis. They distanced themselves from these harsh chemical prescriptions to a natural herb. Now we help heal their pain without the need for these harsh pharmaceuticals. It’s wonderful! Like my Aunt, who had both breasts removed. She found huge benefits from cannabis. What’s the most difficult thing about working in a collective? Well, the most difficult thing was when we were raided. The cops smashed in here. The first thing I said was, “We didn’t call you? (laughing)” They were very rude. They were looking in the couches (laughs) we were like, “what are you looking for, lighters?’ Then they came back and asked “where’s the guns and the money? We said. “What guns, what money?” We had a small amount of cash from the till, so they took it. They rummaged SacAlternative | March 2014

Laleh Scakib of Horizon Collective Photo: Ty Rivers

through my purse, three or four times. I looked at the guy and asked him what he was looking for. He tells me to shut up, then walks over and says, “If you’re going to act like a bitch I’ll treat you like a bitch,” and handcuffs me. I had the cuffs on for four hours. The cops looked through everything, took everything, just left dust. Afterwards, they sit around and watched TV and ate pizza (laughing!) The guy even asks me how to turn on the cable. My boss said, “I don’t think I’m going to tell you.” Right after we were forced to go to trial. The feds froze assets and accounts for over 5 years. They took money that had nothing to do with the collective. All because of a natural plant that helps cure people. Ridiculous. What sets Horizon apart from other collectives? It feels like home. We understand our patients. We listen, we learn and we find out how they want to feel. We ask why? Then we help treat the diagnoses. Horizon is like a family and our clients feel comfortable talking with us about whatever problem they are experiencing. We have a wide selection of non-psychoactive edible for kids and people that are experiencing seizures. Do people follow Budtenders? Oh yes! I leave for 3-weeks to visit family in Hamburg and my regular patients are asking “Where’s Leleh? She knows what I need!” We really get to know our patients and are intimately concerned in their well-being. We want them to get better and want to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle. What do you do in your free time? I work out a lot. Cross train. Heavy weights, yoga. Working out mostly. Also, I save cats; really any animal. I find stay cats, dogs, you name it. I trap them and clean them up, get them spayed or neutered and find good loving homes. It’s very rewarding. The animals are so happy, I’m happy, the families are happy. Where do you see the industry going? It’s going up and towards legalization. The industry will expand and it’s going to be better. We will self-regulate. Look at Colorado, they made millions in the first quarter of legalization. There is a difference in recreational cannabis and medicinal cannabis. Legalization will help differentiate the two. This helps everyone, the recreational user and the medicinal user. ■ 13

SacAlternative | March 2014

CoverStory

311: Unified, Evolved

Nick Hexum sits down with SacAlt by Ty Rivers

Nick Hexum likes the morning, he says in a recent interview. He’s all about waking up, soaking in the sun and easing into the day. Hexum is the lead singer of the reggae/rock/alt/funk/pop/rap/cannabiscommunity listening/whatever else you want to call them band, 311. It’s a Friday morning and Hexum is groggy yet inexplicably alert, and getting ready for what he calls an “unscripted day.” Unscripted, that’s a perfect way to describe Hexum’s life these last two decades. Hexum and his band 311 are a prototype of how to do it your way. Some music purists scoff at the idea that 311 is cutting edge or even relevant. Music snobbery aside, 311 has been offering up decent tunes to different generations longer than these music elitists have been searching for change in their couch to pay their overdue rent. On March 11, 311 debuts their 11th album in 24 years, “Stereolithic.” Every 311 album has debuted in the top 100 and eight have reached Billboard’s Top 10 alternative rock chart. I sat down with Hexum and talked to him about 311, unity, cruises, kids and concerts.

I’m in my mid-40s and I still listen to your greatest hits album. When you look out in the crowd during concerts, what do you see? Yeah, that’s what’s cool, we are seeing multiple generations. It’s the great thing, really. We’ve always been about bringing people together. The word “unity” has always been associated with us; it’s been an album, and then a song, and then a tour. We just love that were bringing all walks of life together and different generations. We see a lot of high school kids that want to mosh and get crazy, and college people partying, and people a little older; our age, that have been with us for quite a while, so it’s really cool. Everyone, the band, the crowd, we all play well together. Let’s talk about unity. Do different groups fit well together or do they collide? The last time I was in a mosh pit was 25 years ago at a Violent Femmes concert. (Laughs) You’ve been there, so you know what it’s like to let loose and have fun. That’s what we mean by unity, bringing different people together. [continued on page 18]

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[311 continued from page 15]

You migrated from the Midwest to the West Coast many years ago. How is California different from the Midwest, both musically and stylistically? Growing up in Nebraska we were in the middle of quite of few things musically and reaching from a lot of different things. In 1988 I wanted to move to the coast and really there wasn’t a question that California was for me. The music, like punk rock, hard rock, and rap was so available. Now, since I’ve been out here, reggae has really got popular. Also, there’s a great ska revival, just a great blend of music out here. We spent a lot of time going down to Orange County and spending time with music friends like No Doubt and Gwen, (Stefani, lead singer of No Doubt.) We were ready to play a lot of different styles. How has your music evolved over the last two decades? The genre blending has become more and more seamless. Our sound is a mixture that it just sounds like 311 rather than sounding like reggae or rock or punk. Every song has such a big blend of styles. Our new album comes out on March 11th, 311 Day. I was thinking about it, almost every song has some reggae elements in it, but it’s also very rockin’, it’s big guitars and heavy, and a lot of energy that’s good for moshing and dancing. So I just think that as we evolve more and more lines get blurred and we just keep going further and further into our weird niche. 311 Day coincides with the new album “Stereolithic.” What does 311 Day consist of? Our festival is kind of a musical marathon. We play deep sets that the hard core fan appreciates but doesn’t often get the opportunity to hear. We bring out special production instrumentation, guests. That makes the day special. It’s a huge production and it goes all day. Last year for 311 day we enjoyed a 311 cruise. We had friends of the band and many groups cruised and preformed with us. It was great. We had family there. The music was great, the vibe was excellent and we had an amazing time. This year we’re celebrating 311 day in New Orleans. We have a lot of variety and special guests, extended sets, just an all day and night affair. You mentioned the 311 Cruise, Krooked Treez—who we interviewed last month—was with you on that music cruise. They speak very highly of you as sort of mentors. How does it feel to be mentors to up and coming bands? Krooked Treez is a great group of guys and very talented musicians. I’m honored they speak of us in a positive way. They really performed remarkably on the cruise and you can see they are a band on the rise. Good things to come. You’re playing the California Roots Music and Arts 18

Festival this year. What are your thoughts on this year’s festival? It’s a really impressive lineup. Groundation, Rebelution, Ziggy Marley, Pepper, Soja, J Boog, Passafire; we’ve played with Cisco (Adler)…almost half the bill has come out on various 311 tours. It’s going to be a family reunion of sorts, a definite 311 vibe for sure. Pepper is really one of our closest friends. I go way back with them, producing a few songs at the turn of the millennium. They are just great guys who have come on our cruise before so I’m really looking forward to seeing them. People describe your music as a sound, like a 311 sound. Your music has a 311 sound but an unmistakable reggae vibe. What direction is your music going and is it on the same trajectory as reggae music? I just think that Reggae is such a unique genre and I love knowing about the roots of it; having visited Jamaica a few times and learning that this relativity small island has created such a sound that has been embraced worldwide. I first heard reggae when I went on family trips and I went to England and picked up Bob Marley records and was just hooked on the groove of it. Now, (reggae) has just permeated the world. Most islands don’t have such unique sounds where so few people have influenced so many. I just love being part of that family tree as someone who has incorporated that and taken it to new styles. It definitely has a big future. I love working with reggae producers that have big futures. There’s this guy named Supa Dups that is an amazing producer that I’ve worked with before and has an amazing sound. I’m looking forward to working with him more. It’s a huge part of my life. What’s your personal situation? Do you have kids? I’m married. I have two daughters, [ages] 2 and 4. They both love music that’s danceable, and reggae is definitely included in that. There’s a new song that I wrote that has a line about a roller coaster and my 2-year-old daughter keeps requesting the roller coaster song. My older daughter, Echo, is 4 years old and I practice with her every day. I think that even if they don’t get into music the discipline of music is so important. Echo is actually very, very gifted. She can just sing a middle C at the drop of a hat, even without a piano around. Her piano teacher is really impressed and I’m pretty proud. OK, last question. I’m thinking of starting a 311 cover band. I’m not sure if I’ll call it 312 or The Ides of March Minus 4. Thoughts? Either. Both are excellent. SacAlternative | March 2014

311 Bio and Highlights 311 was formed in 1990 in Omaha, Nebraska by vocalist/guitarist Nick Hexum, vocalist/dj SA Martinez, lead guitarist Tim Mahoney, drummer Chad Sexton and bassist P-Nut. The band now resides in Los Angeles. 311 has sold over 8.5 million units in the U.S. 311 has had 8 albums reach the Top 10 on Billboard’s U.S. Top 200 Sales Chart 311 has had 9 singles reach the Top 10 on Billboard’s U.S. Alternative Chart (including the #1 singles “Down”, “Love Song” & “Don’t Tread On Me” along with “Amber”, “All Mixed Up”, “Come Original”, “Creatures (For a While)”, “Hey You” and “Sunset in July”) 311’s most recent album, Universal Pulse, debuted at #7 in July 2011 and was produced by Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Aerosmith). 311’s sound is a unique hybrid of rock, reggae, hip-hop & funk. A balance of hard rocking anthems and melodic reggae grooves - with an underlying message of unity & positivity. After years of incessant touring, 311 has developed a reputation as one of the most influential & most entertaining live bands in the U.S. With their celebratory live shows, 311 has earned a massive grassroots following. For the past nine years, 311 has headlined their summer “Unity Tour” in ampitheatres across the U.S.- drawing crowds of 10,000 to 18,000 people in Atlanta, Boston, DC, New Jersey, Los Angeles, St. Louis, SacAlternative | March 2014

West Palm, Charlotte, VA Beach, Denver, etc. The tour is consistently one of the largest modern rock concerts of the summer in the U.S. Past 311 tours have included an impressive array of opening acts. Bands such as No Doubt, Korn & Incubus all supported 311 on U.S. tours before they became headliners. Support acts on 311’s Unity Tour have included: Sublime With Rome, The Offspring, Snoop Dogg, Slightly Stoopid, The Roots, Papa Roach, The Wailers, O.A.R., Matisyahu and Ziggy Marley. 311 has always stayed true to their own approach and their underlying message of unity and positivity. That message still rings true for them today…in their lyrics and at their celebratory live shows. Singer Nick Hexum typically ends each show with the words, “Stay Positive and Love Your Life.” Every other year on March 11th (“3-11 Day”), 311 holds a special concert event that attracts thousands of 311 fans from around the world. The show includes an extended setlist (5 hours / 60+ songs) and state of the art production. Last time (March 2012), the band sold-out the Mandalay Bay Arena and tickets were sold to fans in all 50 U.S. states and 13 different countries. 311 fans traveled from around the globe to meet each other and to celebrate 311 Day together. FOR MORE INFO GO TO: www.311.com 19

SacAlternative | March 2014

CannabisCommunityCorner help keep businesses solvent and are normally written off by regular non-cannabis businesses. The specific law that was passed in 1982 is IRS Code Section 280E, which reads as follows: “No deduction or credit shall be allowed for any amount paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on any trade or business if such trade or business (or the activities which comprise such trade or business) consists of trafficking in controlled substances (within the meaning of schedule I and II of the Controlled Substances Act)”

God, Ganja, and Government Greed Words and Art by Ron Mullins

The IRS shakedown of a Sacramento Club Goes to Federal Court It’s a little known fact that many compassionate providers of medical cannabis, in states where it is legal to do so, are being crippled buy a menace invisible to most patients— the Internal Revenue Service. Dispensaries in California happily pay their sales tax to the Board of Equalization. And, in Sacramento, an additional 4 percent is paid to the city in taxes, totaling a whopping 12.75 percent tax outside of any monies paid to the IRS. So, you may ask, “What’s the problem?” The relationship of the IRS to medical cannabis is a strange one, and not very easy to explain, but I’m going to try. The selling of cannabis is against federal law. Therefore, the federal government gives no recognition to medical marijuana as a legally-sold commodity. However, they do expect federal taxes to be paid on the sales of medical marijuana. And, in addition, they want to disallow any sort of write-off of expenses such as labor, rent, and the normal costs of running a business. These write-offs SacAlternative | March 2014

This law was written to prevent drug traffickers from a being able to write off expenses. However, it has been used as a way for the federal government to bleed extra money from the medical marijuana community in states where it is legal. CannaCare is not alone. The largest dispensary in the world, Harborside Health Center, considers itself a role model in medical marijuana. They, and many more collectives, possibly hundreds, have been affected all over California;. It’s hard to know definitively because dispensaries do not like to talk about these things. They fear it will scare away patients, and they hire a lawyer who helps to haggle down the price based on what percent of the collective is actually used for marijuana sales, and pay the IRS off quietly. Not Lanette Davies though. She and her family are fighting this law in hopes of changing it. If successful, it will be a historic ruling that sets a precedent for other cannabis businesses in the future. The Davies family began their work in medical marijuana in 2005 and sincerely believes that they are doing God’s work. Aside from creating CannaCare, Lanette formed Crusaders for Patients’ Rights a Christianbased group that fights for the rights of medical cannabis patients to have access to their medicine with dignity and safety. The federal government states marijuana is illegal, but wants to only allow CannaCare to deduct it’s marijuana. They want to “disallow” ALL of the normally-legal deductions such as rent, office supplies, employee wages, security and healthcare. After the IRS audited 2006,2007, and 2008 and finding all figures were in order and no discrepancy was found. In the case of CannaCare, $2.5 million is at stake. On Feb. 24, 2014, Davies, her 21

husband Bryan, and several employees who had worked at CannaCare, traveled to San Francisco to testify in federal court. Before the trial, they met with about 20 court supporters, and joined together in a prayer with Bryan Davies “rebuking evil to the lake of fire.” Bryan Davies’ white beard flowed in the wind as he solemnly doffed his white cowboy hat to reveal a yarmulke underneath, with both an American and Israeli flag sewn into it. A lot of times in court, the strategy are to use hyperbole, dress it up with legalese, and try to sanitize the reality of selling cannabis for the courts. This time was very different. The Davies, their lawyer Bill McPike, and all the employees, were not ashamed as they matter-of-factly described their cannabis collective and the business of providing medical cannabis to patients as well as holistic services and spiritual guidance. The defense’s argument was that there is nothing wrong with dispensing cannabis. The fact that it helps as medicine has been proven by such things as the federal government having a patent placed on cannabidiol, a compound found in all marijuana, and as a neuroprotectant to prevent strokes (Google US 6630507 B1). The federal government actually has—and has had for many years, a federal medical marijuana program (Google IND program). Elvy Musikka, a woman who has received medical marijuana in the form of joints from the federal government for many years, came down from Oregon to testify, but her testimony was not allowed. The testimony that was allowed, in spite of several objections from the plaintiff, seemed effective. Judge Diane Kroupa, who traveled from Washington to rule over the proceedings, exclaimed “I really learned a lot” one day during the proceedings and appeared to be receptive to the information. Ultimately she said what many people do in her position, ending the proceedings on the second day with, “The law is the law.” While it could take up to six months before receiving an actual ruling, the Davies family trusts that it’s in the hands of God. “CannaCare believes,” Davies told me after the trial, “that state legal collectives that are run within the states’ guidelines should be taxed the same as any other legal business. Anything else is discrimination. There is no determination expected from the courts until summer 2014.” There is an ongoing battle over this obscure tax code, the group “280e Reform” can be found at 280ereform.org. Read up on it and see how you can help! ■ 22

SacAlternative | March 2014

AltShop

STAYFLY Smoke Shop by Ty Rivers

Looking for some vapes? How about a nice deal on bongs, water pipes, bubblers, chillums, concentrates, vapor rigs, dugouts, herb grinders, pipes, rolling papers, blunts, safe cans, stash jars or scales? None of those appeal to you? No problem, there’s also a great selection of electronic cigarettes and e-cig refills. You can even get a great deal on detox cleansers, drug tests and fake urine. Yes, fake urine. If you’re confused, don’t be. The answers are just around the corner at your local smoke shop. Recently I sat down with local smoke shop owner Tejpaul “Paul” Virk to get his take on his budding business. Virk, owner of StayFly Smoke Shops—with locations in Rocklin and Sacramento—was busy stocking the shelves for a Tuesday opening. “Sales are good at both locations,” Virk says. “We’ve been lucky to ride the wave of customers that are looking for a variety of different items.” The wave Virk is referring to are the ancillary items rolling off the shelf of smoke shops everywhere. The softening of cannabis regulation, coupled with a growing segment from generations X and Y looking to dabble in, well, dabs, and other smokeables, insures that everything needed to enjoy a night toking from the hookah pipe is just a short scoot away. “We’ve been in this (Rocklin) location for two years, and built a solid reputation serving our customers, he says. “More than anything else, customers demand new, quality products at a good price; so that’s what we give them.” The shelves are full of custom glass pieces and interesting SacAlternative | March 2014

items from local and international vendors. StayFly Smoke shop sells products for customers looking to light up and get lit. StayFly also provides custom vapes mixed at its Rocklin location. During a recent visit to the shop, Virk mixed a mango-peach vape concoction that filled the air with a tropical fragrance. “We provide vape blends to about a dozen shops and lounges in and around Sacramento. Many of our customers come in to try different flavors until they find the right bouquet,” Virk explains. “People are looking for the right vape for the mood. We suggest they come in and try a few vapes to get a feel for what they want to experience, and then we mix the blend for them on the spot.” “I like it here because, for me, it’s like Disneyland for adults who imbibe,” says Bob Herndon, a medical cannabis user and StayFly customer. “I come in to buy pipes and other items for my prescription, but I love checking out the new glass (custom glass bongs and pipes).” StayFly has new glass flown in from all over the United States. “If you really think about it, each glass product really is an amazing piece of art. There is not another one like it anywhere,” Herndon says. “How many places can you go to buy a functional piece of art for under $200 bucks?” Not many, I suppose. Then again, how many galleries and museums will sell you fake urine? Wrap your head around that for a minute. ■ 25

SacAlternative | March 2014