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You have to be at least 18 years old to order cannabis seeds from Seedsman. It is an offence to cultivate any plant of the genus cannabis in most of the world without a licence from the secretary of state. Anyone committing an offence contrary to this section may be imprisoned or fined, or both. Seeds can only be sold as souvenirs, or for the preservation of genetics or in-case laws may change. It is your responsibility to check your local laws before ordering. Acquisition of live cannabis seeds is illegal in United States.

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Sativa Magazine Online Issue No. 18 July 2014

CannaCon Flipz/Cool Jarz Guaranteed Relief Guardian Data Systems Herbivore Designs

President & Publisher

Tiffany Greene

Editor-in-Chief

Michael Carter

Managing Editor & Design Director

Cheryl Addington

Social Marketing Director

Mekinsey M. Molinaro

Social Marketing Expert

Carly Hofer

Art Director

Josh Clappe

Edibles by Hippy KK

Designers

Emily Cain April Greene Andy Rostar

Ideal 420 Soil

Max Bortnick

Kasher/SWADO

Executive Editors

Lush Lighting Old School Breeders Quantum 9 Scientific Soil Seedsman

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Photographer

Gloria Martinez Hippy KK

Writers Diana Campos Gina Epps Hippy KK Kandy Krush Miggy 420 All contents ©2014 Sativa Magazine. Sativa Magazine is published and distributed by Vanguard Click Publishing, Seattle, WA. Sativa Magazine does not condone or endorse any illegal use of any products or services advertised herein. All material is for educational purposes only. Sativa Magazine recommends consulting an attorney before considering any business decision or venture. We take no responsibility for the actions of our readers.

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David v. Goliath. Is your slingshot ready?

As we bear witness to the roller coaster ride towards legalization of Cannabis, we begin to look at what the future holds for Cannabis business owners. What will the future hold for our cannabusiness leaders? Will big money wipe out the small business owner? Not if we stand together. After surviving through the largest recession since the great depression, I have lost respect for many of our current leaders. Greed and an affinity to hoard wealth have upset the balance of our system. I want to work hard. I enjoy working hard. I want to be rewarded for my hard work and my time investment. Most of us want and deserve that. So what do we do to protect our small businesses from controlling interests? The wealthy and the well-connected business owners will soon play a larger role in the business of Cannabis and hemp. Many tobacco companies have denied their intentions to enter the Cannabis market; however, one tobacco company is rumored to have attempted a patent on the name “Marley,” likely for a product that is yet to be released. Will we soon see cartons of Marley Cannabis cigarettes in Walmart? Legalization is coming. If you live in a state where Cannabis is currently illegal, get ready. As soon as the latest research data is released regarding the medical benefits of Cannabis, Cannabis will be rescheduled. We already know of many of the medical benefits of Cannabis today. So do the drug

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companies. Soon, pharmaceutical companies will begin the race. Many are already ahead of the game and are only waiting for Cannabis to be rescheduled. Do we want to be able to have the freedom to grow our own medicine? Yes. Are we concerned about the safety of our children? Yes. Can we handle legalization of Cannabis without harming others? Yes. Are there professionals in this industry with ethics and concern for the health of the consumer? Yes. We are ready. We will have a strong, legal, Cannabis market very soon. It is up to you how that will look. In today’s economy, your dollar may be worth more than your vote. It may not be voting season at the moment. However, you can still vote with your dollar. You can use social networks, attend rallies and events in support of legalization. You have many options to help make a difference. You have a louder voice than you may believe. What do you want to say? We want to help you say it. I hope you join us as we help shape the future. Today is the best day to get started.

Michael Carter Editor-in-Chief michael@sativamagazine.com

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JULY 2014 COLUMNS Business Highdeas Safe and secure Fearless? Cannabusiness opportunity abounds.

Bright Shiny Objects Wander Trimmer by EZ Trim “...the highest rating of all the products I’ve reviewed thus far.” Word.

Incredible Medibles Patriotic trifle with whipped cannacream Celebrate the holiday with these easy and delicious treats!

FEATURES

CONTROLLING INTERESTS Controlling Interests Who stands to win and lose in the battle for market dominance.

Erik Briones: Creating an Oasis of Wellness Taking dispensaries to a whole other level.

Top Ten Hemp Companies Check out the companies driving hemp innovation.

Cannabis: Patents & Registered Trademarks Or, what happens when someone invents the McDoobie?

Guarding Your Assets 38 Old school, high tech, or somewhere in between? Your options are many.

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How Do You Become Involved As An Outsider? There’s still lots of room for new cannabusiness. Work it!

CannaCon 2014 A look at who’s going and why you absolutely must attend.

Green Table Interview Leafly

Cannabis Portfolio Celebrate the holiday. Celebrate summer. Celebrate beauty.

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BUSINESS HIGHDEAS HIPPY KK/CARTER

Safe and secure

Cannabis farm security company It takes a large financial investm e n t i n o rd e r t o c u l t i va t e Cannabis, and with the feds blocking growers’ ability to bank with FDIC-insured institutions, that means their investment is at great risk. Many of them travel with large quantities of cash and stash it away in secret locations — a second home or maybe even a hidey-hole in the back yard. That’s all well and good, but protection of your Cannabis crop is just as imperative. When a business security alarm is triggered, the police and/or fire department are notified and dispatched to investigate. We all know that in the case of a burglarized Cannabis farm, silent or otherwise, no alarm can be transmitted to local authorities. In an attempt to protect large Cannabis farms, they are usually located in an undisclosed area with minimal security — the secrecy of the location is the security. Rest easy and protect your investment with a Cannabis farm security company. As a Cannabis farm security

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company, many services could b e o f f e r e d t o t h e c u l t i va tor giving them peace of mind that no matter what, they are protected against theft and vandalism. Installing custom-built security systems with cameras at all points of entry and randomly placed throughout the grow site, and with the proper software or app installed, the farmer could access the facility at any given time to monitor activity from anywhere in the world. Offering an app to view the property via a

cellular phone could potentially expand clientele. Of course the site would be monitored around the clock and, if someone unauthorized entered the property, a silent alarm would be sent to the Cannabis farm security company. How is someone identified as ‘unauthorized’? Offer facial recognition software or fingerprint scanning to identify those who are authorized to enter the facility; anyone not recognized would be considered an intruder.

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Providing guard dogs to protect the farm — as well as while the product is being transported — should be part of the services offered. Guard dogs are known to be vicious, which makes some people hesitant about having them on site; the farm owner should be involved with the daily, hands-on training while the pup is still young. Once your client has harvested, don’t leave them exposed during what is the most vulnerable point of all — transportation. Whether it is transporting money or Cannabis, the green can be protected by armed guards in an armored truck. Being licensed, bonded and insured will assure the client that no matter what, their investment is protected. An offshoot of this highdea is to establish a traveling Cannabis farm security company. Make yourself available to those that might have more than one site in various locations. If you’re n ot a n a tio nwide c o m pa ny, you’re limited to local farmers only. On-the-go security has large potential. AVAILABLE URLS: www.TrailCarSecurity.com www.VideoBloodhound.com www.FacilitySecurity.com www.TrailCarDeposits.com www.IndoorFarmSecurity.com www.NationalFarmSecurity.com

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Nationwide Cannabis accounting network To many, the difference between a certified public accountant (CPA) and an accountant is unclear. They sound like they should be one in the same, but they’re not. Take the guesswork out of knowing who’s who by creating a nationwide Cannabis accounting network and let the professionals do the referring, while you profit from membership fees. A nationwide Cannabis accounting network would represent accounting professionals. To be a member of the network, one must pay a membership fee on a monthly or annual basis; that fee could vary according to specialty. By establishing the member accountant as a professional, membership in the network assures those that utilize members’ services that all educational requirements have been met, members abide by a strict code of professional ethics and meet high professional standards. The network should also verify that all members’ licenses are in good standing. A successful network is one that meets all of its members’ expectations. A nationwide Cannabis accounting network could offer more benefits than a lone accounting firm because the network would be created with common goals in mind. Members will join knowing that

they can pursue their individual objectives as well as benefit from being a member, enabling them to expand their services through networking with the other members. There are many enticing reasons members would join a nationwide Cannabis accounting network: referrals obtained from other members, exchange of knowledge that can reduce risks to their own firm, and accessibility to outside resources that they might not otherwise be able to utilize. Membership would also enhance the prestige of members by association with prestigious firms that already utilize the network. Networks are efficient and costeffective and can be a powerful system to enhance services — and they are mutually beneficial. When the network and its members work in conjunction with one another, the possibilities can be limitless. Start local, go national, and grow global.

AVAILABLE URLS: www.Bookieper.com www.CannaPAccounting.com www.CannaProAccounting.com www. CertifiedProfessionalAlliance. com www.NationalCannaCPA.com www.CannaSum.com S

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BRIGHT SHINY OBJECTS HIPPY KK/JD CULPEPPER

Wander Trimmer by EZ Trim Rating: 5+++ As our garden grew in size over the past couple of years, JD and I found ourselves not looking forward to every sixth week when harvest time came around. It literally took the two of us ten straight days, 12 to 16 hours per day, start-to-finish, to complete. So, last summer I started contacting companies that manufactured trimmers asking if they’d be interested in having a review written on their product. Some politely declined while others just simply didn’t respond. After adding a third grow room, we knew regardless of how clean the end result was, holding those little Fiskars in our hands simply wasn’t feasible for us any longer. With a specific brand in mind, JD picked up his phone and called EZ Trim, located in Broomfield, Colo., and asked to do a product review on their Wander Trimmer. Much to my surprise — without hesitation — their response was yes, and within a few weeks, the trimmer arrived. We’re not in any way a large operation, but by no means are we considered small either. We were looking for a unit that would

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not only save us time, but provide us with the same, or as close to the same, end result as if the flower were trimmed by hand. We also needed it to be affordable for us as well as for any home cultivator — regardless of the size of their garden. The Wander Trimmer is the perfect solution. With the exception of the bucket vacuum (available at Lowe’s for $21.98) and the bucket itself, the Wander Trimmer comes with everything needed to produce machine-trimmed flowers — yet clean enough that it looks as if they were trimmed by hand — without causing any damage to the flower itself. How it works The vacuum creates a suction that pulls the leaf matter away from the flower, which is then deposited into the bucket. Having complete control of what and where to trim by using the cutting slot (or what I call ‘the wand’) allows you to

effortlessly trim the flower without causing any damage to the product. This also allows you to leave the buds on the stems for easy hanging and proper curing. Both the cutting slot and vacuum have separate controls so you have complete control over how quickly the blade turns and the amount of suction from the vacuum. I must caution you, though: the blade is extremely sharp and moves at high speed. Be extremely careful not to get your fingers near the cutting slot. I must admit, this intimidated me a little bit, but after JD and I both caught the tips of our gloves (no harm was done), we knew to keep our fingers away. Yes, we were warned of this in everything we read and viewed, but sometimes you just have to learn things for yourself the hard way. While watching the tutorials, we were instructed to have a large enough glass of water nearby with a few drops of oil (which is provided but, when you run out, it’s plain ol’ vegetable oil) in it so when the wand needs to be cleaned off, you can simply insert it into the water for a minute or two and wipe it off with a sponge. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the instructor doing it, thinking, “there’s no way it wipes up that easily, that stuff is sticky!” I

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For many reasons, the Wander Trimmer deserves the highest rating of all the products I’ve reviewed thus far.

was amazed to learn that, sure enough, it really, truly does. Assembling the u nit is easy, cleanup is quick, and everything fits nicely right back into the supplied ‘toolbox’ case. And when I say cleanup is quick, it’s quicker to clean all the parts of the Wander Trimmer than it is to clean the scissors we normally use. For many reasons, the Wander Trimmer deserves the highest rating of all the products I’ve reviewed thus far. Reasons being: simplicity, end result, quality, price, warranty, customer service, tutorials, size, storage ability, proudly made in the USA, limited additional expenses involved in using the product and overall satisfaction with the product.

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Alt ho ugh using t he Wander Trimmer is still a new method for us, we can already see a significant difference in the time it takes to do a stem of flower and with a little more practice, I foresee our time being decreased by what EZ Trim claims: 60–80 percent. I look forward to when I have the technique mastered and it takes an hour or two to trim an entire plant. The Wander Trimmer retails for $1,495 and is available for purchase on EZ Trim’s website. They have an open-door policy and welcome all suggestions on making the process of trimming easier. So if you have a Wander Trimmer by EZ Trim and have a technique that works well for you that isn’t in any of their

tutorials, they’d like to hear from you. If you have questions, comments or concerns regarding a unit, they’d like to hear those as well. Replacement parts for the Wander Trimmer are also available on their website. Thank you, EZ Trim for simplifying the process of harvesting. On a side note: EZ Trim offers rental rates on all three of their trimmers to those located in the Broomfield area. Visit their website for daily rates. EZ Trim: http://www.eztrimming.com/ Easy Trim, LLC 2400 Industrial LN Suite 1500 Broomfield, CO 80020 Telephone: (303) 635-6281 Email: info@eztrimming.com S

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INCREDIBLE MEDIBLES HIPPY KK

Patriotic trifle with whipped cannacream How in the world is it already July? Time has just absolutely flown by! Pretty soon we’ll be preparing for Thanksgiving, but not before we celebrate Independence Day. On this patriotic day, we celebrate our freedom, liberty and freedom of choice. What better way to celebrate than with a red, white and blue dessert flavored with Cannabis-infused whipped cream? After all, it’s our freedom of choice whether we consume or not. Each serving contains 100 mg. THC. Note: This dessert is just as delicious when made with strawberries, but since I’m allergic, I have no choice but to use raspberries. Yield: 12 servings Prep Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: 2 premade pound cakes (or one Angel Food cake) 3/4 cup sugar 1.2 grams hash 1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened 1 cup h e a v y c r e a m , a t r o o m temperature 1 pint blueberries 1 pint raspberries (or strawberries, hulled and sliced) You’ll also need a dozen 8-oz. Ball jars or other dessert glassware.

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1 Assemble ingredients. 2 Slice the cake into pieces about three-quarters of an inch thick. Using a small round cookie cutter, cut out 24 pieces, two for each jar. If the pieces are too big, trim with scissors or use a smaller cookie cutter. If you don’t have a small round cookie cutter, cut the cake pieces into small cubes. 3 To prepare the whipped cannacream, combine the sugar, hash and cream cheese, mix on medium speed until smooth and light. Add the heavy cream, mix on medium-high until mixture reaches the consistency of whipped cream. 4 Place a piece of cake into the bottom of each jar, then add a layer of blueberries, whipped cannacream, raspberries and top with a second layer of cake. Add an additional layer of whipped cannacream and garnish with berries. 5 Now, grab a spoon and dig in! 6 These little gems are easy to travel with. In order to leave room for the lid, stop after completing step 3. You can easily take additional whipped cannacream and berries on the road with you to top them off once you’ve reached your destination or leave off completely. Whichever you choose, your creativity in a jar is sure to grab everyone’s attention. And here, my friends, are my famous last words: DO NOT drive or operate machinery after consuming medibles, and be sure to keep out of reach of children and pets. May you have a safe and wonderful holiday! S

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iCannabis: The Technology Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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Controlling Interests Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

CONTROLLING

By Hippy KK Illustration by Emily Cain

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interest

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The battle for market share has just begun. Is it a game of winner take all?

Although medical and recreational Cannabis use laws vary from state to state and country to country, one thing remains the same — we all want to claim our stake in the industry. But does one particular person or company have a controlling interest in the Cannabis industry? There’s a lot to be said regarding ‘controlling interest’ in the Cannabis industry. Can one person or business really control the industry all on their own? It used to be, controlling interest was held by anyone who cultivated and/or sold Cannabis — strictly for recreational use, of course. The only competition one had to worry about was if your neighboring cultivator miles down the road or even in the next county over could grow better ganja than yourself. My oh my, how times have changed. Those good ol’ days are long gone, but not forgotten — and very often reminisced upon. For the most part — with the exception of the federal government — so far everyone’s working well together with one common goal: getting Cannabis legalized. Not just legalized medically or on a state level, although that’s made progress. But legalized federally. That

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alone is the controlling interest and should always remain so, not who has the most money or big-name businesses thinking that gives them the right to come in and step on the toes of those that built the industry from the ground up — the toes of those that have paved the way to legitimizing the industry. However, we all know that is exactly what’s going to happen.

THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY The tobacco industry has always held the stance that they wanted no part of the Cannabis industry, making such statements as: “Tobacco companies are in the business of manufacturing and marketing tobacco products.” When Colorado and Washington passed recreationaluse laws, Bryan Hatchell, spokesperson for Reynolds American, the company that produces such well-known cigarette brands as Camel and Pall Mall, stated: “Reynolds American has no plans to produce or market marijuana products in either of those states. It’s not part of our strategy.” A little less vague in his statement was Bill Phelps, the spokesperson for Philip Morris, USA, who produces the number-one selling cigarette brand in the world (Marlboro), and is the nation’s largest tobacco company, stated: “We have a practice of not commenting

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Controlling Interests Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

or speculating on future business. Tobacco companies are in the business of manufacturing and marketing tobacco products.” However, according to Time magazine, “Documents buried deep in tobacco company archives reveal a hope and a plan to sell marijuana as soon as legally possible.” Regardless of what the tobacco companies are saying publicly, researchers that were willing to dig deep revealed written documents proving otherwise. Here are three very significant findings: “The starting point must be to learn how to produce in quantity cigarettes loaded uniformly with a known amount of either ground cannabis or dried and cut cannabis rag,” read one memorandum from British American Tobacco’s adviser on technical research, Charles Ellis. A handwritten letter from Philip Morris president George Weissman read, “While I am opposed to its use, I recognize that it may be legalized in the near future…Thus, with these great auspices, we should be in a position to examine: 1. A potential competition, 2. A possible product, 3. At this time, cooperate with the government.” Philip Morris even went so far as to request a sample of Cannabis from the Department of Justice for research purposes, promising to share its findings with the government so long as the company’s involvement remained strictly confidential. “We request that there be no publicity whatsoever,” wrote a Philip Morris executive. The Justice Department drug science’s chief Milton Joffee obliged with a promise to deliver “good quality” marijuana.

BIG PHARMA Lansing, Mich., November 2013 — A

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bill that would allow the cultivation of a pharmaceutical-grade Cannabis to be sold in pharmacies passed through the Senate. The supporter of the bill was hoping to end private cultivation by treating Cannabis as any other drug, giving Prairie Plant Systems, a Canadian-based company that grows and sells pharmaceutical Cannabis, the green light to cultivate in northern Michigan. Bill supporter Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, said “it’s time to get marijuana out of houses and put it somewhere else. Let the pharmaceutical companies grow it and sell it in pharmacies.” Of course Chuck Perricone, a representative of Prairie Plant Systems, was in full support of the bill; he and the company he represents have nothing to gain but profit from it passing. The bill would amend the public health code and reclassify Cannabis as a Schedule 2 controlled substance, provide for the licensure and regulation of facilities to grow and test pharmaceutical-grade Cannabis and allow those facilities to sell the drug to pharmacies to dispense. The legislation was contingent upon the federal government reclassifying Cannabis from a Schedule 1 controlled substance to a Schedule 2 controlled substance, and we are all very aware that that has not happened. The bill moved to the House for consideration, and that is where it will sit until the federal government reclassifies Cannabis. If passed by the House prior to reclassification and Prairie Plant Systems or any other Big Pharma company was given the green light and began cultivating Cannabis prior to the change, both the state of Michigan and Prairie Plant Systems would be in violation of federal law. The lack of reclassification is what’s saving all of us who have built up the industry from losing our ability to cultivate — and

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that’s about the only good thing to come out of Cannabis continuing to be a Schedule 1 controlled substance. Once Cannabis is rescheduled, we’re sure to see Big Pharma stepping into the industry.

NOT A THREAT…YET Health Canada recently made some major changes regarding the cultivation of Cannabis in Canada, where the rules used to be very similar to those of the United States. Caregivers registered with the province and were allowed to cultivate a specific amount of plants per patient. Recent amendments to their law no longer allow personal, in-home cultivation. Patients must now obtain their medicine through a large-scale production facility that must meet stringent guidelines before receiving a producer’s license. Although they are not yet licensed, CEN Biotech, a subsidiary of Creative Edge Nutrition, “was created with the sole purpose of supplying the Canadian public with pharmaceutical-grade Cannabis,” and has applied with Health Canada to acquire their producer’s license. Their advisory board consists of lawyers, physicians, former police officers, pharmacists, farmers and quality-control experts from leading pharmaceutical companies. Located on six acres in southwestern Ontario, CEN Biotech has already set up shop where they will grow 1,000 plants of each of 50 different strains of Cannabis, cultivating for the company an estimated $5 billion in sales per year from 50,000 plants. It’s believed once they have the green light to grow, the staff of CEN Biotech will fill their warehouse with plants just a few short weeks after passing government inspection.

kind and has plans to expand into the United States when Cannabis is reclassified. CEO Bill Chaaban stated, “Being located in Canada and the treaties between [the] U.S. and Canada currently, we believe once it changes federally we can export to the United States and supply the market.” Until reclassification happens, CEN Biotech does not hold a controlling interest in the United States but has the potential to be a key player and one to keep an eye on.

REMAINING IN CONTROL Controlling interest in the Cannabis industry currently remains with those that have built it from the ground up, beginning when California became the first state to pass medical legalization. Even those that came into the game late in the season share that interest. It is imperative that we continue to build the reputation and that the name (whether it is: Cannabis, ganja, weed, grass, green, pot, marijuana, smoke, rag, etc…) becomes more respected and acceptable. For most, the ‘couch-lock’ days are pretty well faded into memories of yesteryear, and now it’s all about legitimizing the industry. That could all very well be taken away if the large tobacco companies and Big Pharma step in to play. We need to always remain in control and control is what we have until Cannabis is reclassified. That in itself is the game changer. S

CEN Biotech: http://www.cenbiotechinc. com/PlatformApps/CEN/c1/index.html



Time magazine: http://time.com/2817517/ tobacco-companies-marijuana/

This $20-million grow facility is the first of its

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Minerva Canna Group’s Erik Briones

Creating an

OASIS

of wellness

By Kandy Krush Last month we featured Megan Stone, owner and founder of The High Road Design Studio. Megan’s background in the building industry, hospitality industry, and medical Cannabis industry allows her to create efficient and impressive spaces for her clients, satisfying their needs and elevating their businesses and brands to new levels of success. Megan Stone is an interior designer specializing in the design needs of businesses in the Cannabis industry. Megan just completed a dispensary design

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project with New Mexico’s top producer and largest dispensary, Minerva Canna Group. This month we feature Erik Briones, owner of the Minerva Group, New Mexico’s top producer and largest dispensary. Briones is a smart business man and has created an advantageous model for dispensaries, combining your traditional Cannabis retail dispensary with a grow shop, accessories and clothing store, and wellness space, all under one roof.

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Clockwise, from top: The dispensary lounge; dispensary display shelves; the budtending station. Photography courtesy of Tien Frogget.

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Briones launched Minerva Canna Group in 2010 with the aim to produce an enjoyable experience for his patients, whether they’re already knowledgeable about the Cannabis industry or require some special advice. According to the New Mexico Department of Health, there are over ten thousand patients currently enrolled in the medical Cannabis program in the state. Briones averages 200 customers a day in his dispensary in New Mexico. He has grown his licensed medical Cannabis dispensary in Los Ranchos to include what they call a ‘lifestyle’ store. This includes a series of different rooms within his dispensary where you can purchase anything from organic insecticides and fertilizers to lights and fans, everything to help a homegrowing operation. Also included in this new lifestyle store are vaporizers, glass pipes, medibles and even hemp clothing. Soon, Briones plans to add massages and maybe acupuncture. Although the legal growth of medical Cannabis is new to New Mexico, Briones has been growing plants for over 32 years. As an owner of two garden nurseries staffed with horticulture professionals, he has decades of growing experience on his side. Minerva Canna Group makes the promise on their website that they will lead the charge to ensure that the medical Cannabis industry in New Mexico will thrive and patients will have access to the best medicine when they need it. Beyond growing, they support patients through advocacy, training, understanding and patientto-patient communication. The Minerva Canna Group believes that New Mexico’s medicinal Cannabis patients deserve a high-quality medical experience. To create this experience, they consider that superior

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Erik Briones

medicine must be blended with superior service, superior packaging and superior client service in order to deliver the best medicinal experience to their members. According to their website, http://minervacanna.com/, Minerva provides New Mexico’s medicinal Cannabis patients with a high-quality medical experience, and to create this experience, they believe that superior medicine must be combined with superior service, superior packaging and superior customer care. This shop is unlike any other in the state of New Mexico and that’s why we have chosen to spotlight Erik Briones as a respected Cannabis Business Professional. S

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Top10 Hemp Companies

By Kandy Krush Illustration by Josh Clappe 30

JULY 2014

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Industrial hemp, grown by our Founding Fathers George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and cultivated for thousands of years by our ancestors, now has an incredibly bright future with the potential to be a very valuable investment. Hemp has a variety of health benefits, and many retailers and investors around the states are jumping onto its revenue bandwagon. Hemp is becoming more and more popular with a few businesses already sinking their teeth into the hemp industry. SATIVAMAGAZINE.COM

Hemp is used in a vast number of applications, such as industrial textiles, consumer textiles, building materials, paper, industrial products (with increasing uses), technical products, energy and environmental products, personalhygiene products, a biofuel source, and as a food source for humans and animals. Hemp is a superior fiber to cotton in strength and resilience, and is used in rope, fabrics, sails and in a variety of industrial materials. Hemp fabric is a much better insulator, is softer, and much more durable and water-resistant than cotton. Hemp seeds and hemp-seed oil are found in many nutritional supplements, body care products, and in foods like protein shakes and hemp-seed snacks. The market opportunities for hemp are incredibly bright — ranging from hempseed breeders, textiles and health foods to home construction and even automobile manufacturing. Hemp can be utilized for a number of products and may be grown for fiber or for seed. It has a wide range of uses, including fabrics, paper, carpeting, home furnishings, construction and insulation materials. The following are only a few of the companies benefiting from including hemp in their commercial enterprise model. These may not be the top ten in the industry, but they will be interesting to follow as this new industry emerges. The professionals and companies described here are not associated or affiliated with SativaMagazine.com in any way. The names of companies, products and services are the property of their respective owners.

G reene Concepts, Inc. (OTC:LKEN) www.greeneconcepts.com

Greene Concepts, Inc. is a company that manufactures and distributes ink. Serving the

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printing needs of businesses and consumers for the past 30 years, Greene Concepts expects to manufacture hemp-based ink, hemp paper, and other related products. Greene Concepts intends to be the catalyst for the introduction of a number of innovative products and marketing strategies, including its announced hempcentric website.

C loud Medical Doctor Software Corp. (OTCQB:NSCT) www.cloud-mds.com

D ewmar International BMC, Inc. (OTC:DEWM) www.dewmarinternational.com

Cloud MD expects to bring a new level of professional encryption security and inventory management solutions to the hemp Industry. Cloud MD provides revenue management software, practice management, and electronic medical records to doctors. It is a U.S.-based company that brings to doctors the information technology, economic stability, and political clout they need to compete in the cyber world.

Dewmar International BMC, Inc. is a leading provider of consumer brands to global markets. The company’s flagship product, Lean Slow Motion Potion, whose three flavors are Yella, Purp and Easta Pink, is rated as one of the top three national selling relaxation beverages currently available in the U.S. market, Trinidad & Tobago, Puerto Rico and Mexico. According to a recent press release, Dewmar has entered into significant business relationships and discussions intended to leverage the explosion in the national popularity of, as well as changes in, federal and state legislation of both the industrial hemp and medical Cannabis industries. The Company forecasts a strong presence in

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the space for the immediate and long-term future. Dewmar has offices in Clinton, Miss.; Houston, Texas and Las Vegas, Nev.

T win Falls Biotech, LLC www.arisitol.com

Twin Falls Biotech, headquartered in Hilton Head Island, S.C., creates Arisi-Tol, a hemp-based product. Arisi-Tol is high in CBD content. Research has identified many potential benefits of CBD. Patients have reported improved appetite, diminished pain, decreased muscle spasms, relief of nausea, abdominal pain, upset stomach, improvements in mood disorders (anxiety, depression, PTSD) and decreased insomnia. CBD seems to be helpful in treating glaucoma and seizure disorders. With CBD, there are no known side effects. CBD may be a successful treatment option to shrink malignant tumors, improve insulin sensitivity, quell anxiety, and ease chronic pain. According to Twin Falls Biotech, “ArisiTol will not make people feel ‘high’, and contains no psychoactive constituents or unnecessary ingredients. Extensive preclinical and clinical research validates the experience of many patients, including children with catastrophic seizure disorders, who successfully medicate with CBD-rich products like ArisiTol.”

H ealing Leaf, LLC www.HealingLeafLLC.com

Healing Leaf was created to find natural solutions to common ailments. Founded in 2003 by Charlotte Clary and Beverly VinesHaines, the company tackles the toughest skin and nail conditions known to man including psoriasis, eczema, warts, and skin tags. They have safe and earth-friendly products for

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hemorrhoids, toe fungus, age spots, peculiar skin growths and aging skin. They have produced a wide-ranging product line including a line of candy made with Xylitol.

F utureWorld (OTCQB:FWDG) www.urvape.com

FutureWorld, a United States diversified holding company announced in a recent press release that its subsidiary HempTech Rx has launched its very own brand of sophisticated vaporizer called URVap. HempTech Rx is taking preorders now and hopes this product will set the stage for a leading position within the world’s $1.2 billion tobacco smoker’s market. HempTech Rx aims at penetrating the entire United States vaporizer market as well as tackling international distribution. They are also seeking regulatory clearance with the European Union and other countries to engage in marketing and distribution of the URVape brand internationally.

H emp, Inc. (OTC: HEMP) www.hempinc.com

Hemp, Inc. has been in the news a lot lately. They have grown substantially in the stock market and claim a growth of about 320 percent this year. They have been involved in several transactions with other Cannabis companies over the past year that has resulted in some not-so-positive press. However, according to the company website, its goal is to “offer ancient hemp solutions for today’s modern world while educating people about hemp’s many benefits and medicinal properties,” making them a company to watch.

C reative Edge Nutrition, Inc. (OTC:FITX) http://www.cenergynutrition.com

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Hemp Technologies, the first builders to construct hemp homes in the United States, is now part of Creative Edge Nutrition. Having evolved to encompass all aspects of industrial hemp from farm to table, Hemp Technologies now teaches others to grow, process and use this miracle plant. Hemp Technologies is pleased to offer 100 percent eco-friendly, construction-grade iHemp clothing and shoes for sale, in partnership with Dash Hemp, Hemp Traders, Jungmaven and Wicked Hemp. Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc., (CENergy) has created a full line of Hemp Nutra Teas and Hemp Nutra Coffee Additives. The tea and coffee additives are both available in several flavors. All CENergy products are manufactured in the United States and are often updated based upon new developments in nutritional science.

M edical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC:MJNA) www.cibaderm.com

Medical Marijuana, Inc. produces a series of cannabinoid oil products, including chewing gum, shampoo, lotion and liquid CBD oils. They are a hemp industry innovator that has created a team of value-added companies that develop hemp-based products. The company has been trading stock since 2009 and is well established in the industry. Medical Marijuana recently announced that HempMedsPX will be the exclusive supplier of their industrial cannabidiol (CBD)-rich hemp oil-based anti-aging beauty products. HempMedsPX offers mainstream marketing, sales, customer service, and logistics for the Cannabis industry. They are engaged in an ongoing awareness campaign to educate the public that the CBD-rich industrial hemp oil

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products are available for people of all ages, that they are available for animals, and they can be purchased directly in all 50 states and in more than 40 countries. In addition to handling sales and distribution, HempMedsPX is the communication hub for the Medical Marijuana Inc. portfolio of companies. Other companies under the Medical Marijuana portfolio include CanChew, which makes cannabinoid-based gum, rich in hemp oil and high in CBD content. Also in this company’s portfolio is PhytoSPHERE Systems, a global phytocannabinoid biotechnology company that is one of the world’s largest producers of natural hemp-based cannabinoids, terpenoids and flavonoids. According to their website, PhytoSPHERE Systems has extensively documented over 200 industrial hemp varieties and has identified and produced ones with significant levels of Cannabinoids within its target market. Cibdex is a California-based company that also exists under the umbrella of Medical Marijuana, Inc. The Cibdex product line is represented by HempMedsPX. Cibdex sells a hemp-based tincture that is Vegan, kosher, nonGMO, low-glycemic, and non-psychoactive.

B eeline Hemp Wick www.thebeelinestore.com

Beeline is a company based in Haiku, Hawaii and makes a hemp wick that is a natural, organic alternative to butane lighters and matches. Made from 100 percent organic hemp and coated with beeswax, this all-natural flame can be used to light medicinal herbs, pipes, fine cigars and hand-rolled cigarettes. Their beeswax is 100 percent natural and untreated. Many hemp products are treated with acid

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salts, which are bad for you, in order to make them more pliable, and butane lighters can be extremely bad for you, but Beeline wicks are made using only organic hemp string carefully cured with natural organic beeswax. Although this company does not appear to be publicly traded on the stock market, it is certainly a company to watch. S http://www.medicaljane.com/directory/ http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/

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http://www.healingleafllc.com/ http://www.marijuanaindex.org/industry-newsitem/ http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/

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CANNABIS: patents and registered trademarks

By Hippy KK Illustrations by Andy Rostar

n April 1, 2010, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) created and opened a new category many thought to be an April fool’s joke. Although it didn’t last long, it was no joke. The category, titled: “Processed plant matter for medicinal purposes, namely medical marijuana” was removed from the list of categories the following July, quickly dissolving any hopes that Cannabis was finally being recognized in a positive light by the federal government. The short lifespan of the new category began after the PTO received emails requesting that they create a classification for “medpot” trademarks. PTO spokesman Mr. Pappas said: “agency staffers created the new category because some state laws allow medical marijuana.” At the time the new category was created, 14 states had some type of medical legalization implemented, however, to be eligible for a trademark, a product must be legal for interstate trade, not violate international trade agreements and be in ongoing commercial use. Jennifer Rankin

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Byrnes, another spokesperson for the PTO said: “it has come to our attention that as a result of the state of the law regarding medical marijuana, there may be issues regarding whether trademark applicants with medical marijuana products and services can establish lawful use in interstate commerce.” With that said, the category was eliminated but not before more than 250 Cannabis-related trademarks were applied for. Although the category has been eliminated, cannabusinesses with medical relevance and otherwise can still apply for patents and trademarks on their business names, proprietary product names, brands, etc., just as any other business does. The removal of the controversial “medical marijuana” category from the PTO does not prevent these businesses from operating as any other business in any other industry. The so-far undecided patents that were filed with the PTO before closing the category are still being vetted. For those applying for a registered trademark, expect the normal

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13-month review process. It is no secret that U.S. Patent 6,630,507 is held by the United States of America, represented by the Department of Health and Human Services who claims in their documentation when filing for the patent that: “Cannabinoids have been found to have antioxidant properties, unrelated to NMDA receptor antagonism. This new found property makes cannabinoids useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of a wide variety of oxidation associated diseases, such as ischemic, age-related, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The cannabinoids are found to have particular application as neuroprotectants, for example, in limiting neurological damage following ischemic insults, such as stroke and trauma, or in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and HIV dementia.” The patent was filed for in 2001, obtained in 2003. June 16, 2014, Cannabis Sativa, Inc. (OTCBB:CBDS) opened at $5.83, down 1.83 percent per share. If you’re unfamiliar with

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who Cannabis Sativa, Inc. is, they are the company that announced earlier this year that they signed a purchase agreement that had a price tag of $1 million for the patent-pending hybrid strain, CTA with the option to purchase KUSH, Inc. The patent for this extremely potent hybrid was filed on April 30, 2010, peak season with the opening of the new category issued by the PTO. Although no information could be found on the United States Patent and Trademark Office website regarding this patent-pending strain, hopes remain high that CTA will be the world’s first patented Cannabis strain, as they are expecting an approval soon. Applying for a patent can be extremely expensive and time-consuming, but it’s something well worth having patience for. Patent, patent-pending or even a trademark is the safest way to keep anyone from infringing upon a brand name or being able to copy a product invented by someone else. Products that are patent-pending and or patented tend to bring in considerably more money when seeking investors or selling. S

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GUARDI your ASSETS 38

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DING By Diana Campos Illustration by Emily Cain

rom surveillance cameras to bear traps and even to bears themselves, outdoor ganja farmers show no shortage in creativity as far security goes. And it’s not without good reason. Fearing DEA raids from one end and organized robbers from the other, Cannabis cultivators have had to come up with some clever ways to protect their assets. The recent legalization of medical and recreational Cannabis in several states has brought many pot farmers out of hiding, as well as nearly eliminating the threat of local law enforcement. It has also created many new jobs, some less obvious than others. Whereas security and other surveillance companies are certainly nothing new — hired to keep a watchful eye on all sorts of businesses from museums to chain restaurants — this is the first time in decades that growers and other cannabusiness owners can opt for legitimate security measures and services.

Why bother? Security is something that is often overlooked until it’s too late. In the Cannabis industry, lack of protection has far more damaging

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consequences than other businesses. On top of being a high-risk industry, banks tend to shy away from having anything to do with a business that is still technically considered illegal under federal law. This means that not only will you have to worry about guarding your pot, you will also have to worry about guarding big stacks of cash as credit-card processing — although somewhat of an option — is still fairly risky. Say your store becomes the target of a robbery that wipes out the majority of your stock (highly likely, seeing as how theft is the most frequently complained about problem for the lucrative business); you would not be able to get a loan from the bank in order to re-start your business. And, until only recently, there was no such thing as insured weed or even damage coverage for anyone in the newly legalized business of Cannabis. Falling in a gray area between state and local law, the paranoia of a DEA raid is still very real to those tending their bud gardens. Zachary Vdolekr, CEO of a security firm in the state of Washington, recalls receiving a phone call from a friend describing a false DEA raid that had cost him about $850,000 in losses. Starting with “the hallmark of the DEA,” the friend heard a helicopter whirring overhead; the noise was then followed by a swarm of unmarked cars pulling up and unloading men in SWAT-like uniforms and carrying assault rifles. They even provided a “warrant” — but not for arrest. The men took cash and crop and then left as quickly as they had dropped in. Afterwards, they found out the men were not law enforcement at all, but a highly organized group of thieves posing as the DEA. But by then, no type of overdue security efforts could reverse the damage already done. Whether you are trying to meet state law

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security requirements, or you are trying to double down on security efforts you already have in place, it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the protection of your business, yourself, and your employees.

Insurance Insurance may not be a requirement for recreational Cannabis in Washington for the time being, but arguably the best prevention begins long before the designated grow area has even been plotted. If you want to ensure product replacement in case your product gets damaged or stolen, you have to first insure it. You don’t want to risk losing the lifetime savings you’ve invested in your business.

ot all insurance companies will take your claim, however. Standard insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate, and Travelers are reluctant to risk the possibility of breaking public policy. Fortunately, the early medical dispensaries caused an influx of insurance agents to branch off and either start companies like Cannassure or create new lines of insurance exclusively for Cannabis professionals. This type of liability insurance is more expensive than other types, but definitely worth warding off a lot of the risk involved in working with Cannabis. A quick tip when looking for Cannabis insurance: make sure you take advantage of websites that allow you to compare quotes. Once you have made a few selections, make sure you understand every word in your policy and go over it carefully with a professional insurance agent. Cannabis insurance should cover general liability, buildings and equipment, transit and delivery, crops, finished stock, theft, vandalism, fire, and other natural disasters. Some will even provide workers’ compensation.

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MAY 2014

Surveillance cameras Both Colorado and Washington have strict rules in place for the Cannabis industry that must be adhered to if businesses want to stay in business. Cameras with resolution at or above a specified minimum must be placed on site at certain spots throughout the store. Video

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footage is required to stay on file for anywhere from three weeks to three months, depending on the type of business and the state in which it is located. Regulations governing how the functioning cameras must point in relation to grow rooms, entrances, exits, checkout points, weighing stations, and any areas with limited

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Growing in Soil? Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a head start.

Find out more at: www.scientificsoils.com

access vary depending on the state, but all cameras must be recording at all times. In Colorado, the law is that video surveillance equipment must include “digital or network video recorders, cameras that meet recording requirements, video monitors, digital archiving devices, and a color printer for still photos.” The systems must be equipped with a failure notification system and battery back-up that can last up to four hours. Mind you, these are only a handful of the necessary requirements. Washington’s surveillance requirements are being based on the Colorado model, with some additional rules for outdoor surveillance. As with insurance, surveillance companies have also branched off and created packages to meet the unique needs of those legally handling Cannabis and Cannabis products. These companies will usually provide combinations of remote security cameras, CCTV systems, alarms, locks, motion detectors and glass-break sensors.

lthough it is true that almost every security and surveillance company will be able to provide the required equipment, you must keep in mind that these companies are as new to Cannabis legalization, as are you. So, even though they tell you their security packages meet state requirements, it’s always a good idea to double check. Even one seemingly insignificant violation can cost about a thousand dollars in fines or, at worst, the loss of your license.

Fences Outdoor farmers are much more exposed than their hydroponic counterparts. In addition to the threat of vandalism, employee theft, and robbery, outdoor growers must also worry

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about undesirable weather conditions and freeroaming animals. While nothing can keep the seasons from changing, a solid physical barrier such as a fence can keep criminals and critters out of the garden. There are many options as far as materials and types. Iron and steel chain-link fences are tougher than fences made of wood. Aluminum is often a cheaper selection, but not as durable. You can opt for double-row chain link for an additional barrier, similar to prison fences but with the purpose of keeping people out rather than in. Some companies even offer barbed wire and razor ribbon to further deter thieves and trespassers. And, of course, there is always the choice of electrical fencing. Fencing companies should place visible signage either near the area or on the fences if the fences pose a physical threat. You don’t want nearby hunters or kids accidentally getting shocked or cut up.

Guard dogs Man’s best friends have a knack for instinctually guarding their property and protecting their owners. Certain breeds of dogs are selected based on their loyal or aggressive natures, such as with pit bulls and rottweilers. Large dogs have typically been used by criminal organizations for their availability, their natures, and their overall effectiveness. With the proper training, dogs can learn to guard and protect, rather than attack and destroy. K-9 German Shepherds are a prime example of just that, having already proven that they are very highly skilled in sniffing out marijuana and following commands. There is reason to believe this same breed would make good guard dogs for pot farms: not only could they scare off potential vandals, they would also be able to help out with loss prevention. Their

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“I realized that some very good people couldn’t get the [security] they needed because of the social injustices that existed.”

hyperactive sense of smell could sniff out stolen product on suspected persons as well as pick up the scent of trespassers, allowing them to track down the thieves themselves. Combined with a high security fence, guard dogs will be able to sense trouble before you do and warn you about it. They can physically help you ward off any aggressors and they can provide a strong sense of security not felt with security cameras or other inanimate gadgets.

Armed guards Forget mall cops with flash lights, patrol cars, and tasers. Nobody takes them seriously. If you have a large crop, you stand to lose a lot more than your average farmer. What you need is your very own army, and that is exactly what you will get with companies like Special Covert Advanced Solutions. SCAR is a Washington-based security company that hires military veterans as security guards. These veterans are put through rigorous physical and psychological tests before they are hired as “Commandos.” They are then put through training that is similar to the training of a SWAT-team officer, armed with a licensed gun, and posted for duty. These guys are overqualified to protect the big names and assets of major corporations, so they can certainly handle professional grow houses and pot farms. Founder Zak Vdolek and his partner Andrew Kelly understand enough about the military to

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successfully incorporate it into their practice. Kelly formerly served as military police for the United States Army, as well as working for law enforcement outside of the military. Vdolek is all business, coming from a military family with a history dating to World War II. When he first started the business, he took a no man left behind approach: “I wanted to help people, and I was given the advice to go into the private sector if I wanted to help the underdog.” When word of I-502 came out in Washington, Vdolek took it upon himself to research and actively participate in the Cannabis community. “I realized that some very good people couldn’t get the [security] they needed because of the social injustices that existed.” As a business, SCAR is mindful about helping and protecting both its clients and its employees (taking on veterans with PTSD as office administrators rather than turning them away, as well as providing all commandos with the protection of a legal team). But, above all else, they are experienced. “These aren’t trigger-happy cowboys,” but instead a loyal and professionally trained team of exmilitary individuals that know how to adhere to a strict code and can improvise in highly stressful environments. When it comes to security, Vdolek says, “if it doesn’t look like a deterrent to you, it won’t look like one to the criminals.” And who in their right mind would try to get past a literal army of armed guards? S

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How do you become involved as an

he Cannabis industry in America is bursting with activity and opportunity. But how do you get involved in a cannabusiness as an outsider? The easiest way to get involved is to begin by learning everything you can about your local cannabusiness community. Check out the current dispensaries in your area.

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OUT

Dispensaries can vary radically from each other when it comes to products, services, and advice. Some carry concentrated CO2 oils or functional glass art, but all of them carry Cannabis in one form or another. Through getting to know other businesses in your area, you will become familiar with the movers and shakers in the industry.

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TSIDER? Do your research Be sure to do your online research. Check out a few websites such as www.leafly.com. This website helps you to explore the different Cannabis strains. You can browse and explore their library of Cannabis varieties and search them based on type, effects, ratings and more. With Leafly, you can also find the medical

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By Kandy Krush Illustration by Andy Rostar Cannabis dispensaries near you, and find out who is offering delivery service in your area. Attend a few potlucks and meetings with organizations such as Mothers Against Misuse and Abuse (MAMA). MAMA runs medical Cannabis clinics in three Oregon communities: The Dalles, Bend, and Portland. They offer comprehensive education about Cannabis as

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“The Marijuana Index is the first and only registered equity tracking index, which monitors the performance, news, commentary, and general pulse of marijuana stocks, cannabis stocks, and hemp stocks.” medicine, harm reduction, and information about the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program. Impartial education about drugs is the focus of MAMA. Rather than telling people what to do, which is one way of interpreting the current drug policy in the United States, MAMA takes this approach: “MAMA believes that we can reduce many of the harms that are associated with drug use and substance abuse by giving people the knowledge they need to make an informed decision. Our approach to these troubling issues comes from a belief in personal responsibility, informed decision making and respect for self and others.” Keep track of the performance of Cannabis Industry stocks, by checking out The Marijuana Index. According to their website http://marijuanaindex.org/ : “The Marijuana Index is the first and only registered equity tracking index, which monitors the performance, news, commentary, and general pulse of marijuana stocks, cannabis stocks, and hemp stocks. Weighted by market-cap, the index provides existing or prospective investors with a narrow and centralized view of these pioneering securities which are positioned within a multi-billion dollar growth industry. Information and articles are shared from

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around the web on the business of marijuana as it extends throughout the United States. The mission of The Marijuana Index is to become the centralized hub of communication between marijuana, cannabis, and hemp companies and the investment community which follows their securities. Companies are continually reviewed for possible inclusion and exclusion from the index based upon their demonstrated business interests within the marijuana, medical marijuana, hemp, or cannabis industry, either through revenue, management, customers, products, services, or publicly-announced business plans or stated intentions.”

Make a plan Prepare a business plan based on your research. Make your decisions upfront as to whether you want a sole proprietorship, partnership, or a corporation, and put your plans down on paper. Think about the money you are going to need to start your business and what bank you are going to work with. Banking alone can be a problem in this industry. Banks are leery of dealing with companies that profit from the Cannabis industry. This creates one of the most difficult hurdles for a startup company, and that is having to run your business on a cash-only basis. It also makes it difficult to pay the bills. You may end up having to pay for licensing fees, utilities, and even payroll with cash, creating safety issues that must be considered. Recently, some states such as Colorado have seen a relaxation in the rules allowing dispensaries to accept a debit card, and in some cases a credit card. These rules are constantly changing and I encourage you to check out the current rules within your state. It’s an industry filled with opportunity. Do your research and then don’t be afraid to jump in with both feet. S

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CANNAC By Hippy KK

CannaCon 2014 v1.0 Northwest is expected to be the Cannabis industry’s largest expo yet. From Aug. 14–17, CannaCon will open the doors to the world’s largest wooden building, the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Wash. Organizer and promoter Bob Sharp and his CannaCon staff (pictured above) are well aware that their event coincides with the Seattle Hempfest, and will be offering shuttle service between the two events so no one misses out.

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A Washington resident, Smart has a background in sponsoring and promoting trade shows. He also has 40 years of experience cultivating Cannabis, focusing more on the commercial medical realm over the last five years. The recent change to Washington’s recreational use laws opened new doors and created the perfect opportunity for Smart to organize the first Cannabis expo of its kind — without having to fear negative ramifications. “We’ve never been able to do anything like this

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CON 2014 Photo courtesy of CannaCon.

before, because of the laws,” Smart explained. “If you look at the big lighting manufacturers, nutrient manufacturers, oil companies, airconditioning guys, it’s always been against the law to discuss anything to do with Cannabis. You go into a grow store, and they talk to you about growing tomatoes. Now for once and the first time ever, they can actually talk to you about growing Cannabis. And that’s what we’re trying to do, bring all those people together for the first time.”

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Although there are approximately 400 booth spaces available, Smart is anticipating having roughly 300 vendors, stating that many vendors are reserving more than one booth. There will be three seminar rooms that will host seminars each of the four days, one every half an hour, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. “The first two days of the seminars are all pretty much the legal side of things regarding the people involved with I-502,” Smart said. “The vast majority of those seminars are put

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Controlling Interests Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • on by lawyers. Now, you get into Saturday and Sunday and they get into growing and lighting. We’re going to have budtender courses and you’ll have to go to several different seminars. You’ll have to go to one seminar on terpines and another on CBDs and what they do for the body and their medicinal uses. And then you’ll come to a budtender seminar where we’ll teach you some more stuff and you’ll have to pass a test. Upon passing that test, you’ll receive a CannaCon Budtender certificate. You can take that certificate to an employer and say ‘I passed this test.’ It’s going to be a pretty comprehensive test; [participants will] know what they’re doing when they finish.” Tickets for the event are available for single-day entry or two-day passes through CannaCon’s website, which will take you to Ticketmaster. Prices vary and are as follows: Saturday, a single-day ticket is $34.68, a two-day ticket for Saturday and Sunday is $60.35 and a ticket to the expo on Sunday is $29.57. Because Smart wants to make this event available to any and all business owners, he is offering business owners entry free of charge with proof of business ownership. Upon arriving, simply register, show a copy of your business license and state-issued ID. You’ll receive a badge showing you’re a business owner, and you and a guest will receive entry to the expo all four days free of charge. Says Smart, “That’s for any business owner, whether they’re related to the Cannabis industry or not. We are also sending out special invitations to all the I-502 applicants so they can get in for free as well.” VIP tickets are $495 and will gain you access to the expo all four days and to both of the Tacoma Dome’s VIP lounges, located on the second floor of the Dome which overlooks the entire lower level of the expo. As a VIP ticket holder, you and one guest can enjoy beer, wine

JULY 2014

and food at no additional cost. Friday night, all VIP ticket holders will be bussed to a nearby casino for dinner and entertainment. Smart noted that Friday night is more of a “suitand-tie affair. Saturday night, a half an hour from the Dome, there is an event center that’s out on a farm, they deck this place out, and it’s beautiful. Holds about 1,000 people and we’re going to have live blues starting at 6 and going until midnight. There will be a BBQ for everyone, beer and wine, and out there you can bring smoke because it’s a 420-friendly event.” Please note: Cannabis cannot be sold but can be consumed if brought. Although the event is held for four days, the expo is only open to the public on Saturday and Sunday. VIP ticket holders can attend all four days. CannaCon 2014 v1.0 Northwest is an event that welcomes the public to come out and mingle, meet one another and get to know those involved in the Cannabis industry. If you’re unfamiliar with the industry, this is a great way to get involved. It’s sure to be a great place with good people where everyone can get deals at a discounted price. Or, as Smart puts it, “Connect, cultivate, celebrate.” He’s already looking for CannaCon’s next location for the event to take place four months after v1.0 Northwest happens. He hopes to have six expos per year, one every other month in regularly scheduled locations (or close proximity) across the United States. S



Schedule of events: CannaCon 2014 v1.0 Northwest VIP ticket holders only: Thursday, Aug. 14 — Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014 General public admission with purchased ticket: Saturday, Aug.16, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. www.cannacon.org

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the Green Table Interview

his month, I decided to format the Green Table interview a little differently. If you read the column regularly, and for those of you that might be reading Sativa Magazine for the first time, the standard format is Q & A. However, this month, I wanted to revisit a company I interviewed several months ago that I have kept in contact with since our initial conversation this past February for March’s Green Table interview — Leafly. Instead of interviewing Leafly’s founder, Cy Scott, again, I sat down at the Green Table with Director of Marketing, Nathan Peterson, and Associate Director of Marketing, Paul Campbell. Both gentlemen are fairly new

JULY 2014

Leafly

to the Leafly team, but have impressed the general public with their unique marketing strategy. Both Peterson and Campbell knew the potential of the Cannabis industry, and that is what lured them both from, in their words, “corporate, mainstream jobs to take on one of the most entrepreneurial opportunities that could ever cross your desk.”

Perception & history: Nathan Peterson Nathan Peterson joined the Leafly team in January after leaving his position at T-Mobile where he worked in branding and advertising — the digital department. Peterson says he “was excited to join the Cannabis movement and join Leafly to help by coming onboard to take what I have learned at a mainstream

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The many faces of Leafly: Left to right, home page; strain education; search for dispensary or strain location and information.

brand and bring it into this atmosphere where there’s not just business to be creative, but ultimately in an industry that’s coming about in one of the most exciting opportunities of our time.” Peterson added, “we were both slightly too young to take advantage of the dot-com boom when that came across, so this was really an exciting time for us to come onboard and really help build the first mainstream brand in this industry.”

Perception & history: Paul Campbell Paul Campbell took a somewhat similar route getting to Leafly. “I spent the last few years working for Microsoft, handling social media for Windows and then later for the company. Nathan had actually reached out to me with

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the crazy idea to join a Cannabis company. Initially, I think I was taken a little aback. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but once I had the chance to sit down with the whole executive team here at Leafly, and find out more about what Leafly is and some of the great things they are doing — to elevate the conversation and to move the Cannabis movement forward — it seemed like a no-brainer to me. I jumped on board as quickly as I could.” Campbell added, “another thing that was really exciting for me in particular, and I know for Nathan as well — a lot of the brands and companies in this industry that you look at are really sort of ‘old guard’ in that they have the Cheech and Chong, tie-dye colors. Leafly has, on the other hand, taken a really nice approach in

JULY 2014 57

“...it’s so important to us to legitimize this industry, to attach it to the ways that are as unique as the people who use it.” elevating the conversation and doing it in a way that’s respectful of the many people out there that use Cannabis as a medicine and also understanding that there are recreational users who aren’t your typical ‘couch-lock’ stoners. So, that opportunity to change perception around in an industry and to join on the ground floor was super exciting for both of us.”

marketing background. However, neither had ever experienced, as Peterson says, “this kind of taking to a cause or a movement from a mainstream brand.”

Nathan Peterson and Paul Campbell made themselves known during the movement’s most notable time of the year, or what is best known as the industry’s holiday — 420. Traveling to Colorado, Arizona, Vancouver, B.C., First major campaign, #MyLeaf Peterson’s and Campbell’s first major campaign Washington and other areas across the United States, the team talked to large audiences and together as a marketing team was to run gave out over 5,000 Leafly T-shirts to dedicated and kick off the #MyLeaf movement. “The participants of the movement. #MyLeaf movement represents something that’s more than just a type of people, or Milestones political or anything like that,” Peterson This year, Leafly was the first Cannabis brand emphasized. “It’s all about taking anybody to participate as vendors at South by Southwest that has reason for wanting this industry in Austin, Texas. The two-week event is to succeed, whether that be recreational or held annually in March and is quite possibly medicinal — we wanted to kick off something the largest music and technology festival in that everybody could be proud of and take the United States. One week is dedicated to a stance and get behind. In early April, we music, the next to technology. Leafly recently partnered up with arguably one of the most signed on with the Seattle International Film influential people in the Cannabis industry Festival and the Colorado Symphony. “We’re — Snoop Dogg. We kicked off #MyLeaf by taking measures to make sure we can a reach having a contest that would allow people a mainstream audience with this message as to submit how they were passionate about well,” Peterson explained, “so that it connects a Cannabis in a creative way.” Over 4,000 people broader audience to this movement.” submitted entries, two lucky winners received A few weeks prior to our interview, Leafly’s VIP tickets to Snoop Dogg’s Wellness Retreat mobile app, Leafly.com, had been nominated in Denver, Colo., (4/20) and Seattle, Wash., for the ‘App-of-the-Year’ award by GeekWire (4/19) which landed each winner a position as magazine. Just being nominated was a real an acting photographer for the 420 event. accomplishment and gave the team assurance Organizing, promoting and running contests that what they’ve worked so hard toward had is not unchartered territory for Peterson not gone unnoticed — especially since they were and Campbell, as they come from a strong up against such tech stalwarts as Microsoft,

JULY 2014

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More Leafly: Left to right, detailed reviews of dispensary or access points; news and more education. All photos courtesy of Leafly.

Parallels and Cloak. No matter who their competition was, on May 9, 2014, GeekWire. com announced Leafly.com as the recipient of the ‘App-of-the-Year’ award.

What to expect It should come as no surprise to anyone that Leafly teamed up with Snoop Dogg, a major player in the Cannabis industry and is a strong influence in the movement. “Snoop Dogg and his team are all interested in changing some of the perception and changing the way that they approach it. So, going forward, we’re going to be continuing to expand beyond just what I think what you’d expect, and I think you’ll see some really interesting and unique partnerships with Leafly in some areas that are unexpected that do elevate the conversation,” said Campbell, adding, “I know we’ve used that term repeatedly, but it’s so important to us to legitimize this industry, to attach it to the ways that are as unique as the people who use it. We know that consumers are everyday people.” With over 3,500 current, active dispensaries listed on their site, Leaf ly.com has over 70,000 reviews on different strains, and is really the first global brand out there. “The UK is Leaf ly’s third-largest traffic source; Spain is very important to us,” Peterson

emphasized. “We launched Leaf ly from a web standpoint, and coming this month (May) from a mobile standpoint in both French and Spanish to address various audiences and make sure that we have three languages and build off of that for our global presence and satisfy our global customers.” Leafly’s presence around the globe continues to grow. At the time of our conversation, Leafly’s website averaged just under four million visitors per month, and Leafly’s app has surpassed over 1.5 million downloads and continues to maintain a five-star rating in the app store. A new feature Leafly is offering on their site since my last conversation with Mr. Scott is the ability to search for and review physicians that are licensed to prescribe Cannabis for medicinal purposes. It’s always nice to revisit a company and hear about their progress and the lasting impressions they’re making within the Cannabis industry and movement. Leafly’s entire team continues to fight forward in what is one of, if not the most important aspect of the movement — legitimizing the industry. I look forward to our next conversation and being brought up to date on the impact they’ve made on behalf of all of us involved. Thank you for the open-door invitation, Leafly! S

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