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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. 21 October 2014

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President & Publisher

Editor-in-Chief

Michael Freedom Carter Karen E. Szabo

Herbivore Designs

Managing Editor & Design Director

Cheryl Addington

Edibles by Hippy KK

Social Marketing Expert

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Writers Diana Campos Hippy KK David Kennedy Kandy Krush Giuseppe L 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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OCTOBER 2014

Emily Cain Max Bortnick Gloria Martinez

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Throwing out the baby with the bath water

Last month, you were introduced to the members of Team Sativa and were given a brief insight into the heartfelt reasons why we work for Sativa Magazine. We also revealed our plans to launch an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to produce the magazine in print. A huge thank you to all of those who have already contributed to our campaign! Your generosity has not gone unnoticed — it is very much appreciated by all of us here at SM. Seeing and holding our magazine in printed form has been our dream since the beginning, and it’s very exciting to know that it will soon be a reality!

dispensary or, anyone 21 years of age and older can purchase recreational Cannabis. In the state of Washington, the passing of I 502 has threatened patient’s rights. The opportunity to buy from a dispensary might soon be a thing of the past. As more states legalize the recreational use of Cannabis, it’s imperative that the medical side of the industry remains intact for many reasons — cost alone being one of them. We don’t want patients being forced to return to the black market because they can no longer afford to legally obtain their medication. With all the excise taxes Washington has put on Cannabis, it’s a wonder anyone can afford it at all.

Have you ever thought about where recreational legalization would be without first having been medicinal? Who really paved the way for Colorado and Washington to become the first states in America to legalize the recreational use of Cannabis? It’s just my opinion, but I’d have to steer my thanks toward those who’ve shown the world that people can, and do, consume Cannabis on a daily basis without causing harm to others. Cannabis is not the ‘gateway’ drug. There are drugs out there that are much more dangerous than Cannabis, yet Cannabis is still classified right alongside heroin. It just doesn’t make any sense.

Cannabis is lucrative. It’s a booming industry that’s only going to expand. More and more Cannabis-related businesses are opening up, and more and more people are abandoning their corporate professions to become a part of this exciting new industry. It’s estimated that the revenue from all of the states who had medical Cannabis laws netted over $28 million in the 2012 fiscal year. In a handful of years, that’s enough green to bring the nation out of debt.

All across the nation, there are medical patients who depend on Cannabis to alleviate their pain in order to get through each day. Without sounding like a broken record, people in Colorado still have the choice to be a medical patient and obtain their medicine at a

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It’s important that we all work to further legitimize this industry. We’re making great strides, but there is still doubt in many people’s minds — so let’s work together to educate, elucidate, and change some minds.

Karen E. Szabo Editor-in-Chief

OCTOBER 2014 5

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OCTOBER 2014 COLUMNS Business Highdeas Making good cannabusinesses better The possibilities are endless. So are the highdeas.

Bright Shiny Objects MB2 by Magic Butter Making your own oil or tincture just got a lot easier.

From Seed to Sale Ask an expert with Read Spear Ask, and ye shall receive. Read answers your questions.

Business as Unusual Medical use states are rolling in green Money to burn? Some medical use states are rolling in profit.

Incredible Medibles Cannabis oil (magical butter oil) Hippy KK demonstrates the MB2 in action.

FEATURES

GREEN BUSINESS One State, Two State, Green State, Blue State? David Kennedy looks at Washington’s roll-out of recreational use.

This is a Public Service Announcement Does recreational use wreck medical use rights? The patients’ POV.

The Blunt Truth 42 The feds know they’re licked. How much longer will they drag their feet? The Greentable Interview: Jeremy Cooper The executive chef of Magical Butter Studio talks Medibles 2.0

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OCTOBER 2014 9

BUSINESS HIGHDEAS HIPPY KK/CARTER

Making good cannabusinesses better

Temp agency for cannabusinesses When looking for work in a cannabusiness, many people go to Craigslist or rely on word-ofmouth referrals. A temporary employment agency specializing in providing cannabusinesses with reliable and qualified temporary employees would be beneficial to both employers and job seekers — not to mention the benefit to our nation’s economy.

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The temp agency would have a s t a f f o f e m p l oye e s w h o post available cannabusiness positions online or in newsprint (for those areas that still have s u c h a t h i n g) . T h ey wo u l d accept applications and screen potential employees. There may be specific qualifications needed for an available position, such as education or previous experience, and it would be the agency’s responsibility to ensure that those

specific requirements are met. How it works: The temp agency relieves the employers of their hiring obligations and becomes t h e a c t u al e m pl oyer i t s el f, charging a fee to the business in order to provide the employees needed. This fee covers the expenses of that employee while employed as a temp. As the employer, the agency places employees in available positions

OCTOBER 2014 11

that best suit their qualifications. This employment is strictly on a temporary basis: Sometimes it’s just a few days filling in when a company is short-staffed, but usually it’s for eight or more weeks, and most likely never more than twelve weeks, before the company can contractually offer the employee a permanent position. Payroll and taxes are paid through the temp agency. Disciplinary actions are carried out by the temp agency as well. Remember, the temp agency is the employer, not the company for whom the work is being performed. Many companies today utilize the services of temporary employment agencies; employees are pre-screened and placed in positions where they’re needed most. The cannabusiness can continue to run its operation without the hassle of constantly filling personnel gaps due to high turnover rates. The use of a temp agency relieves the company of many financial responsibilities and decreases their payroll and tax obligations as well as state unemployment obligations. Temporary employment agencies also make terminating someone easier as hiring and firing are done by the agency. A temp agency for the Cannabis industry connects employees

OCTOBER 2014

with employers. Another plus in having a temp agency for cannabusinesses is such that, during Cannabis events, a temp agency could set up a booth in order to educate the public about their services, and acquire cannabusiness clients as well as bring in job seekers who might not otherwise know such a highdea exists. AVAILABLE URLS www.findcannabisjobs.com www.cannabistempagency.com www.cannabisjobs.com www.cannabispositions.com www.workwithcannabis.com Grassroots marketers To become a grassroots marketer, one would need to set up multiple accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Snapchat and any other popular social media platform. A grassroots marketer would build their networks and utilize the available tools in order to reach as many people as possible with their marketing message. Advertisers are looking to reach specific targeted audiences and if you’re able to claim numbers as high as two million followers among your social network(s), that would grab the attention of multiple advertisers enabling you to begin charging a fee for your marketing services. The fee could be set according to the number

of shares, likes, views; pages posted to, comments, etc., and are generated by your marketing efforts. You need to make the fee high enough to compensate you for your time and effort, but not too high so that you scare off the advertiser. Remember, you’re now doing all the work for them, and posting/promoting can be time-consuming and repetitious work. Just remember, no one likes spam put on their page, so expect some derogatory comments and/ or private messages chastising you for posting an advertisement on their pages. However, don’t let that stop you from doing what you believe in, especially if you’re working towards a legitimate cause such as bringing awareness to others while doing your part to end prohibition. This is a great highdea and opportunity for marketers to network with a number of other productoriented Facebook pages and other social media outlets that also have large followings, while at the same time, it allows you to work with others to organize and deliver a unified message. AVAILABLE URLS www.grass_rootsmarketers.com www.grassroots_marketing.com www.marketinggrassroots.com www.grassrootssocialguru.com www.marketmyroots.com S

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Product review: MB2 by Magical Butter

Rating: 5+++ Nuggs For some time now, I have been attempting to obtain an MB2 unit to review. Shortly after my interview with Jeremy Cooper, West Coast director of operations for Magical Butter, I received one. Although I had heard mixed reviews of the unit, I was anxious to try it out for myself. I’m very capable of forming my own opinion and therefore didn’t want to voice mine until I tried the product first-hand. The MB2 is a pitcher-like machine made of stainless steel that makes Cannabis-infused products as well as non-Cannabis items. However, for the purpose of this review, I made Cannabis oil by following a recipe I found on Magical Butter’s website that they call MBO (Magical Butter Oil). The unit comes in a durable box for easy storage when not in use. Included with every MB2 unit are the LoveGlove, which is a 100-percent, non-slip silicon glove that’s heat resistant up to 250°F; their Purify Filter 90, which is a reusable

OCTOBER 2014

90-micron filter bag for straining, as well as an owner’s manual. The MB2 weighs just eight pounds and measures 14 inches high by ten inches wide by ten inches deep and has a capacity of two to five liquid cups. On the black-and-silver lid of the unit are five time-selection buttons: One hour for oil, two for butter, four for tincture, an eight-hour option, as well as an option to clean the unit. There’s also a temperature button that allows the user to select either 160°F, 190°F, 220°F and 250°F (temperatures in Fahrenheit are also displayed in Celsius). On the inside of the lid, there is a built-in sifter or grinder that sits down inside the unit and occasionally stirs the ingredients for a few seconds at a time. When the unit is on, there is a pretty cool ring of lights around the lid that changes from green to red to blue. Minimum and maximum fill lines are clearly marked on the inside of the unit. In order to conduct this review, I followed the recipe and instructions

step by step. The only difference in ingredients was that I used 183-proof rather than 190-proof grain alcohol; because the state I reside in doesn’t sell anything over 183-proof. I used two and onehalf ounces of Great Lakes Ice, which is a premium, high-quality Cannabis strain. I placed the two ingredients into the MB2 unit at 160°F and set the timer for four hours and waited. It was quite a while before I heard the ingredients being stirred for the first time, and it lasted for approximately seven seconds. After that initial stir, I heard it about every six minutes. Occasionally, but not very often, it would stir in three-minute intervals for about five seconds each time. After four hours in the machine and the 30-minute rest period, I poured the contents through the provided Purity Filter into a sauce pan. Once the sauce pan was placed on the electrical plate, I went back to the unit to see how difficult it was going to be to clean. I dumped the Cannabis remnants into the trash can and rinsed the Purity Filter clean under the faucet.

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really good to me. I couldn’t be more pleased with the MB2 and the product it produced. The MB2 sells for $174.95 and, as stated earlier, comes with the LoveGlove and the Purify Filter 90. The LoveGlove can be purchased separately for $9.95 or in combination with the Purify Filter 90 for $19.95. The Purity Filter 90 alone sells for $14.95. Each unit comes with a limited one-year warranty. Magical Butter offers a myriad of creative, easy-to-follow recipes on their website, both with and without Cannabis, so be sure to check out the recipe page. This is an absolutely awesome product and I highly recommend it to anyone whether they consume Cannabis or not! Website: http://magicalbutter.com Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/MagicalButter Twitter: https://twitter.com/ MagicalButter

The MB2 unit itself only required a wipe with a damp cloth and back into the box everything went! I really couldn’t believe how easy the clean-up was! I’m not too sure what the normal yields Magical Butter claims can be produced from this method of extraction, but I got a total of 19 grams of Cannabis oil. Now, as we all know, I’m a non-consumer

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and as much as I really wanted to personally try this product, I patiently waited for JD to get home from work so that he could be my guinea pig. He filled up his V-pen, took two hits and said, “this is good s#$&, babe.” Knowing I found my new niche, all I could do was smile. The oil has a really nice color to it and somewhat of a fruity scent. It actually smells

Instagram: http://instagram.com/ magicalbutter YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ user/HerbalButter Email: info@magicalbutter.com Telephone: 800-420-4334 Address: 2225 1st Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98134 Customer Service & Support address: 5910 Pine Hill Rd., Suite 5, Port Richey, Florida 34668 S

OCTOBER 2014 15

only to replace an X. According to Clarke and Merlin (Cannabis Evolution and Ethnobotany), this system is present in naturally hermaphroditic plants, too, so it appears that Cannabis is still “working out the bugs” in the sex determination department.

FROM SEED TO SALE

Ask an Expert

with READ SPEAR

Read Spear began cultivating in the late ’80s. His medical m a r i j u a n a d i s p e n s a r y wa s among the first to be issued its Medical Marijuana Center license in Colorado. He is active as a consultant in the industry, specializing in new business development, business funding, and mergers and acquisitions. Read has t wo degrees i n p h i l o s o p hy, a B a c h e l o r o f Arts from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Arts from Duquesne University of the Holy Ghost in Pittsburgh. When not traveling, he lives in Colorado with his hound dog. Have a question? Ask the expert: askthegrower@sativamagazine.com Q: I currently have a Cannabis strain from which I can’t get

OCTOBER 2014

any seeds. Can I intentionally hermaphrodite a female into producing seeds so I can carry o n t h is l i n e ag e, o r w i l l t h e seeds produce hermies as well since technically that’s what I’d be cloning? A: Cannabis exhibits a high degree of sex lability, meaning that it easily changes sex under stressful conditions. Since Cannabis sexual expression is so poorly understood, we don’t know why this happens. This tendency to c hange sexes is predicted in plants that have evolved dioecy (sexes on separate plants) from monoecy (both sexes on the same plant), which, it is suspected, describes the evolution of Cannabis. Furthermore, in Cannabis the Y chromosome is genetically inactive; it functions

For whatever reason, once set, the sexual expression of a Cannabis plant is not permanent (but the genes are). What I can tell you from my experience is that once you have stressed a plant to the point of inducing it to change sex, a kind of “switch” seems to flip that makes subsequent sex expression a bit of a mess. In other words, I think this is a bad idea. I also think this is why feminized seed production produces so many hermaphrodites, because what you are proposing to do is exactly how feminized seeds are produced. Can you do it? Yes, but you will forever be on the lookout for male inflorescences — and you will never be able to find them all. So what can you do instead? There are two solutions as I see it; 1) take a cutting and either give it to a friend while you take a break, and then retrieve a cut from that cutting when you’re ready to grow again, or, root it in agar and put it in the refrigerator until you are ready to grow again; 2) cross it with a good, known male and put up

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with some genetic variance in the resulting generation. It will produce many plants much like itself and probably even some better ones (because outcrossed plants tend to do this — a phenomenon called heterosis, or “hybrid vigor”). Q: Is it possible to test a live plant for potency? If so, how would I do that? A: I put your question to the experts at CannLabs, in Colorado. Here’s what they had to say: “Yes, it is possible to test a live plant for potency. Due to the high moisture content of an uncured plant the total [cannabinoid] content will be lower than a fully cured plant sample. Many growers test live plants to find out the ratio of different cannabinoids present, as the ratio will not change as significantly as the [total] content, and also to find out if there are any specific cannabinoids present, such as CBD.” Finally, I should point out that for your plant’s cannabinoids to become psychoactive, they must be decarboxylated — that means dried and heated/combusted. Q: I’ve been growing in a hydro system, but am considering switching to soil. Can I use the same nutrient feeding schedule in soil as I do in hydro, or is there anything I should do differently when I make the transition?

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A: No, you don’t have to feed if you choose a soil of high quality. In fact, this is the single most common mistake I encounter with new growers. Very important: Resist the urge to feed when growing in soil! The nutrient will accumulate, toxify the soil, and you will be disappointed when you end up with spotted, crinkled leaves on a stunted plant. Do not “fertigate” (this is when you use low levels every time you water). Do not use compost teas except maybe once or twice at the outset to introduce beneficial bacteria (and use it fresh, well-aerated and never old). Fertigation and frequent use of compost teas will eventually cause a pH crisis. I will even go this far: If or when your plants do eventually show signs of soil nutrient depletion, simply potting them up into more soil is the easiest and safest fix. Finally, to ensure good drainage, make sure you place an inch or two of rock at the bottom of your pot. Q: If I’m growing indoors, can’t I just use dirt from outside instead of having to buy soil from a grow store? A: You can, but you will be introducing a lot of pathogens into your grow room. When you introduce a pathogen that is being held in check in one environment and place it into a new environment where conditions are more favorable to

it, it will flourish and you will be left dealing with the disease it causes. You don’t want that. You could go through the hassle of pasteurizing your soil by heating it, but by this time, you’d be better off having bought a quality product in a bag (not to mention, your house and oven will reek of earth for days when you’re done — I’ve tried this). Bagged soil is not sterile, but it is usually pasteurized from composting and it is always much cleaner than soil dug from outside, plus, if it is from a reputable and competent mixer it will have been balanced to provide the nutrients your plant needs. There are no such guarantees from dug soil, which will almost certainly be of questionable quality and nutrient profile. Q: I don’t have a lot of money to spend. Which pH tester is best on a $100 budget? A: My favorite pH tester costs $50 and is branded “Sunleaves Essential.” There’s no reason for this and I’m not being paid to plug this product; it just happened to be the cheapest one I could find on the rack with temperature compensation and that was waterproof (you will dunk it eventually). It has served me well. I owned a hydro shop for a few years and didn’t have many of these come back. So that’s my recommendation: any pen that is cheap, has temperature compensation, and is waterproof. S

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BUSINESS AS UNUSUAL HIPPY KK

Medical use states are rolling in green

Although it’s hard to pinpoint an exact dollar amount, Cannabis is a lucrative business. It’s a green, green business that has generated millions of greenbacks from collected fees and taxes in states that have implemented medical-use laws. While some states don’t have to publicize the amount of revenue generated from their medical marijuana programs, others do so willingly. And why not — it’s a boatload of cash. There are conflicting numbers and reports. For example, I read that 12 patients per caregiver were allowed in the State of Michigan. I knew better — it’s only five including the caregiver (they should have said 12 plants per patient). I decided to check out a responsible and reputable source — the Marijuana Policy Project — to obtain the latest numbers on Cannabisgenerated revenue per state. The following information is according to reports filed for the fiscal year 2012 and — while there may have been states that had passed medical legalization laws — not all had implemented their program at the time these reports were filed. When applicable,

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updates for 2013 are noted. Alaska – Alaska has a population of 731,449 and of that there were 917 patients and caregivers registered in 2012. It cost $25 per patient/caregiver to receive their initial registration card and $20 annually to renew. Estimated annual revenue for FY 2012 is $20,632.52 while total expenses were $22,277.39. Unfortunately, the State of Alaska took a loss of $1,644.87 Arizona – Arizona’s state population is 6.55 million people. As of Oct. 2, 2013, there were 40,328 registered patients. Arizona’s total revenue for FY 2012 was $7,945,277 with $2,380,459 in

expenses. That’s an annual profit of $5,564,818. Some of this profit is used for interagency expenses, including a lawsuit where Arizona sought unsuccessfully to overturn the law. California – With a population of 38.04 million people, California had 5,798 registered patients and 396 caregivers. The state’s registry program generated $457,000 while state sales taxes were estimated at up to $100 million. It cost the State of Cali $276,000 to operate the state’s registry program. That’s a whopping estimated gain of $1,181,000! Colorado – Population, 5.19 million people with 109,622

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registered card holders that generated the state $2.8 million from medical marijuana sales, $3.8 million in registry fees, $5.4 million in state sales tax and $6 million in local sales tax. While medical marijuana costs were $2.1 million and the cost to operate the patient registry program cost no more than $3.8 million, that left Colorado holding the bag with $12,100,000 in profit from medical Cannabis only. The first six months of recreational use brought the state over $25 million alone in taxes. Connecticut – No data for this state was provided as the law was passed in 2012 so for FY 2012 there were zero dispensaries open. However, as of Oct. 15, 2013, the state had 1,115 registered patients out of a total population of 3.59 million. Delaware – Medical law has passed, but the program is stalled. Only 21 people of the state’s population of 917,092 are registered patients. District of Columbia – No information reported, but there have been six cultivation centers and four dispensaries approved. According to application costs, dispensary fees and ID cards, estimated revenue is $60,000. Hawaii – Population is 1.39 million, with 11,695 registered medical patients generating an

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estimated revenue of $409,325 for the state. Since Hawaii didn’t report any information, revenue is based on number of registered patients at a cost of $35 per patient. Illinois – Program was not yet implemented in FY 2012. Maine – Although registry in this state is voluntary, there are 1,455 registered patients in a population of 1.33 million. Maine brought in $612,370 in fees and an additional $265,655 in sales tax. Total expenses for this northeastern state were $466,028.45, netting them $411,996.55. Maryland – Program had not yet passed into law in FY 2012. Massachusetts – Program was not yet operational in FY 2012. Michigan – Population 9.89 million residents, with 128,441 registered patients/caregivers. The program generated $9.9 million with cost of $3.6 million, leaving $6.3 million in profit to put into the mitten. UPDATE: Michigan’s medical marijuana program generated record revenues last fiscal year, despite declining enrollment numbers and a steep drop in registered caregivers. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, or LARA, approved more than 82,000 new medical marijuana applications and 36,000 renewals for the year ending September 30, according to

department reports mandated by the state’s 2008 voter-approved law. LARA, which also rejected some 20,000 applications, requires most doctor-approved patients to pay a $100 application fee designed to cover administrative costs, but some residents can qualify for a reduced rate of $25. Overall, the state pulled in $10.9 million in fees during fiscal year 2013, up about a million dollars from 2012. LARA said the program cost around $4 million to administer, leaving the state with a year-end profit of nearly $7 million and a stockpiled savings of roughly $23.5 million. Montana – With 7,150 registered patients of its 1.01 million residents, Montana generated at least $550,900 in revenue. Although they didn’t report any finances, their cost is believed to be significantly less than the revenue. New Hampshire – Program was not yet implemented. New Jersey – With a state population of 8.87 million people, this coastal state had 1,200 registered patients with only one operational dispensary. Five more were approved but not yet opened. It’s believed revenue should exceed $300,000, not in c luding collec ted tax. New Jersey has a budget of

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$784,000, leaving them a profit of $484,000. New Mexico – Of its 2.09 million residents, 9,760 people are registered in the state’s medical marijuana program. Of that total, 3,119 have received licenses for personal cultivation as of Aug. 30, 2013. The state brought in an estimated $650,402 in gross receipts tax, however, no expenses were reported. UPDATE: New Mexico generated $598,000 in program fees in fiscal year 2013 and reported $598,000 in expenses. State officials are claiming they broke even. New York – Program was not yet implemented. Nevada – Of the 2.76 million people that reside in Nevada, 4,322 are registered patients. Revenue generated from the MMJ program exceeds $713,000. Although no financials were reported, Nevada generated enough of a surplus that a legislator proposed siphoning off $700,000 per year. Oregon – Population 3.9 million people with 55,937 registered patients. It’s estimated that $6 million in revenue was generated for the FY 2012 and a total of $12 million for the 2011–2013 biennium with expenses of $2.65 million for the FY 2012 and a for the 2011–2013 biennium $5.3. That’s a total income of

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$3,350,000 for the FY 2012 and $6,700,000 for the 2011–2013 biennium (also claiming that there is an expense of $29,478 in the biennium which would ultimately produce a generated revenue of $6,670,522 during the biennium). Not too shabby. Rhode Island – With a population of 1.05 million people, as of Sept. 9, 2013, 5,941 people were registered through the state as medical marijuana patients. During 2011–2012, Rhode Island brought in a total revenue of $566,655 while the program cost the state $589,086.16, leaving them with a loss of $-22,431.16. Red is never good, Rhode Island. This is a green, green business! Vermont – Program was not yet implemented. UPDATE: With a rather small population of 626,011, 846 people were registered patients as of Sept. 9, 2013. It’s estimated that revenue for FY 2013 will be $140,800. Vermont only had two dispensaries open as of June 2013 and planned on having two more open in the near future. Revenue is expected to increase with more dispensary fees. Estimated cost to operate the medical marijuana program in Vermont for FY 2013 is $138,500, which will leave them with a potential profit of $2,300. Washington – Of the 6.9 million people that reside in the beautiful

state of Washington, no one is required to register as a medical marijuana patient. In fact, patients are on the verge of losing their medical rights and will be forced to purchase their medicine from a state-regulated retail store. There are at least three levels of excise tax being placed on Cannabis in Washington on top of state and local sales tax. Ouch! Had all states been required to report income/expenses, we would have a more accurate look at what the nation’s medical marijuana programs net per state. However, with the numbers supplied, total revenue is $46,291,656.50 with expenses to operate programs at $17,404,351.00 netting a total of $28,887,305.50. Now, keep in mind, this is only medical marijuana, recreational sales in Washington and Colorado aren’t even included in these totals. Had they been, an additional $50 million could easily be added to the net profit total. Like I stated earlier, Cannabis is a very lucrative business. Iit brings in tons of greenbacks and is a sure way to get this nation out of debt! Financial information obtained from the Medical Marijuana Policy Project: http://www.mpp.org/assets/pdfs/ library/State-Medical-MarijuanaPrograms-Financial-Information. pdf S

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INCREDIBLE MEDIBLES HIPPY KK

Cannabis oil (MBO: Magical Butter Oil)

For this month’s Incredible Medible, we are featuring the end product from the Bright Shiny Object product review of the MB2 by Magical Butter. Although technically it’s not a medible, Cannabis oil can certainly be used to infuse medibles. The yield and start-to-finish times have purposely been omitted as they will vary depending on a number of factors such as the quality of Cannabis being used, and the time it takes to cook off the alcohol. My yield was 19 grams of Cannabis oil for approximately six hours of my time (the last 90 minutes was spent stirring). I searched several local stores for 190-proof grain alcohol and, after inquiring, was informed that the state of Michigan does not sell alcohol higher than 183-proof. I settled for what was available without having to make a trip to Indiana. The following recipe and instructions are compliments of Magical Butter and can be found on their website, http://magicalbutter.com/recipe/mbo. For safety reasons, steps 4–6 were completed outside because the contents are extremely flammable. Sativa Magazine cannot be held responsible for any damages or injuries that may occur. Ingredients: 750 mL Everclear grain alcohol, 190-proof 2 ½ ounces high-quality Cannabis Additional items not shown: MB2 by Magical Butter Non-stick sauce pan Electrical or induction plate

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1 Place the ingredients in your MB2 machine. 2 Select the “Temperature” button and set it at 160°F. Press the “4 Hours/tincture” button. 3 After the cycle has finished, the unit will beep several times. Allow to rest for 30 minutes. Strain into a non-stick sauce pan. 4 Place sauce pan on an electrical or Induction plate on low h e at an d b ring to a slow boil. CAUTION: Materials are highly flammable. May cause injury. Never use an open flame, gas, or propane burner or permit smoking around the cooking process. 5 Continue to cook for 40–45 minutes. Patience is essential. Cooking time will vary based on a variety of factors. 6 Stir the oil off the sides of the pan continuously, until the consistency reaches that of warm maple syrup. 7 Remove from heat. Cool for one minute. Pour into a storage container. Cannabis oil can be enjoyed in a variety of ways: add a little to Cannabis when rolling a joint, vape it in a V-pen or any other type of vaporizer, infuse a small amount into a dessert or meal. Regardless of how it’s consumed, as with any medible, use caution in order to prevent over medicating. And here, my friends, are my famous last words: DO NOT drive or operate machinery after consuming medibles. Keep out of reach of children and pets. S

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

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Is Washington’s bureaucratic approach to legalization killing ganjapreneurship? By David Kennedy Washington State and the state of Colorado are leading the nation when it comes to Cannabis legalization. Washington is going about legalization in an entirely different way than Colorado. Colorado built its legal Cannabis structure from the bottom up. They allowed existing medical Cannabis dispensaries to open themselves up to selling recreationally. The great advantage is that there was already a proven business model in place — an infrastructure —and, for the most part, these new recreational dispensaries have only had to increase their Cannabis supply. In contrast, Washington has taken a top-down approach to legalization that excludes dispensaries. Cannabis may be sold only in licensed

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recreational shops. Washington wants to create an entire bureaucratic organization, barcoded from seedling to retailer, that is virtually impossible to build out of thin air. Clearly, Washington State should not be a model for other states contemplating legalization. Washington’s Initiative 502 (I 502) was poorly constructed, leaving it vulnerable to legal challenges from local municipalities who can refuse to allow Cannabis shops in their counties and districts. Two cities — Wenatchee and Fife, Wash. — are already challenging the state’s ability to force them to allow dispensaries to operate within their city boundaries. Wenatchee is currently trying to ban recreational Cannabis stores on the

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Cannabusinesses are investing millions of dollars based on legalization, and the state’s slow processing of thousands of applications is holding back the opening of the retail stores.

grounds that federal law trumps state law. Many in the legalization movement say they are ready for this fight, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has vowed to get involved if the case moves forward. But this is not the time to make a federal case out of it. Unless and until the U.S. Congress and the executive branch agree to reclassify Cannabis from a Schedule I controlled substance, it is too soon to go on the offensive. Washington State Attorney General Bob Furgeson has taken the position that if you like legal Cannabis, you should actually support local municipalities that want to ban it in their jurisdictions. Furgeson states, “If you want marijuana legalization in this state, then you want local jurisdictions to have the power to opt out. Otherwise, a court will have to address the whole issue of whether or not it’s even constitutional at all to have marijuana legalized in Washington State. That’s something I think we all want to avoid.” For such a small town (about five square miles near Tacoma), Fife’s legal efforts to restrict Cannabis sales could well destroy Cannabis legalization efforts throughout the state. Two ganjapreneurs are suing Fife over its retail ban. This time, ironically, Attorney General Furgeson is arguing against the ban. He has filed a brief opposing Fife’s efforts to prevent a Cannabis shop from opening in the city. This

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case went before the Pierce County Superior Court on August 29 of this year. If the court rules against Fife, then the threat is over. But if the court decides in Fife’s favor, not only will cities and municipalities be able to ban Cannabis if they so choose, but the fatal blow would again be whether or not federal law overrides state law in matters regarding Cannabis. No one can predict the outcome, and this leaves the rest of us uneasy about how Cannabis legalization will unfold. Could it be reversed in the state of Washington? Yes, and that is very much the reason that you, as the reader, need to know your rights as they stand now and how easily they could be taken away from you. It is time to lobby together again and reach out to our representatives in the State House and Senate, as well as continuing to press for clarity on the federal level regarding Cannabis. Moreover, those of us living in Washington face a true Goliath: a regulatory body with entirely too much power. Known as the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB), I 502 put the WSLCB in charge of implementing Cannabis legalization. This is an appointed body composed of only three people who strike fear in many across the state. They are known for being very heavy handed, raiding local bars SWAT-team style and then fining many of them right out of business.

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They are known for their onerous, burdensome regulations; in short, a bully bureau. It was the WSLCB that implemented our cigarette smoking ban, and it was the WSLCB who monopolized the spirits market in Washington for many years. And, regarding the licensing of new cannabusinesses, they seem to presume an applicant is guilty of not meeting the requirements before the review process even starts. That is why there are only one or two legal Cannabis shops open in the state thus far. Cannabusinesses are investing millions of dollars based on legalization, and the state’s slow processing of thousands of applications is holding back the opening of the retail stores. There are only 18 people in the state government assigned to process these applications. The reality is that almost all ganjapreneurs who invested in harvesting crops this year will not see their product on the shelves as a result. This has already bankrupted many start-up cannabusinesses, and much of that weed will end up going to the black market instead. The WSLCB issued a report called “The Initiative 502’s Impact on the Washington State Liquor Control Board.” Here is their summary: “Initiative 502 would license and regulate marijuana production, distribution, and possession for persons over 21; remove statelaw criminal and civil penalties for activities that it authorizes. It would tax marijuana sales and earmark marijuana-related revenues. The new tightly regulated and licensed system would be similar to those used to control alcohol.” In the last sentence, the WSLCB declares its total control, and reminds those of us living in Washington that they are here to stay. Just a couple of years ago, state voters in an initiative actually voted to remove alcohol

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from sole control by the WSLCB. We had had enough and we wanted our beer and spirits to be available in grocery stores and other retail outlets instead of limited hours and long drives to find state-run liquor stores. The voters got what they wished for, but then were stung by very high, new taxes that the state now imposes on alcohol. Many people drive out of state to purchase their liquor these days. What does this say about the taxation of Cannabis and how it could make or break the viability of legalized Cannabis in Washington? It’s simple economics: if the state overtaxes Cannabis to such an extent, consumers will return to the black market for their products. But do take note of how the WSLCB intends to tax Cannabis in Washington, and ask yourself what you would be willing to pay in order to go to a legal retail outlet vs. your own dealer with whom you may already have a relationship. I 502 as the WSLCB interprets it will create three new classes of individuals involved in the Cannabis “marketplace” — The Marijuana Producer, the Marijuana Processor, and the Marijuana Retailer. The Marijuana Producer provides for Cannabis to be sold at wholesale to the Marijuana Processor, and allows for production, possession, delivery, and distribution. The Marijuana Processor processes, packages, and labels Cannabis/ Cannabis-infused product for sale at wholesale to the Marijuana Retailer and allows for processing, packaging, possession, delivery, and distribution. The Marijuana Retailer is allowed to sell usable Cannabis/Cannabisinfused products at retail outlets. The fee for each license is a $250 application fee and a $1,000 annual renewal fee.

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The fees and taxes that will be charged may also, unintentionally, have a negative effect on our efforts to develop a legal, regulated market. I 502 allows the WSLCB to “charge fees for anything done to implement/enforce the act. For example, fees could be charged on sampling, testing, and labeling that would be the cost of doing business as a licensee.” This is very broad-based legal language. It leaves open the door to higher fees and taxes at the whim of the WSLCB. Taxation will be the key factor for a successful legalized future in Washington. I 502 creates three new excise taxes to be collected by the WSLCB. The first is a tax equal to 25 percent of the selling price on each sale between the licensed Producer and licensed Processor. The Producer pays this tax. The second is a tax equal to 25 percent of the selling price on each sale of usable Cannabis/Cannabis-infused product from a licensed Processor to a licensed retailer. The Processor pays this tax. The third tax is equal to 25 percent of the selling price on each licensed retail sale of usable Cannabis/ Cannabis-infused product — paid for by the Retailer. The WSLCB explicitly states that this last tax “is in addition to any/all applicable general, state, and local sales and use taxes, and is part of the total retail price.” The final tax paid by the consumer will be over 75 percent! Would you be willing to pay nearly double the price for your Cannabis at a legal retail outlet? I 502 also grants the WSLCB the power to enact rules governing the retail outlets. “A specific number of retail outlets and licenses will be determined by the WSLCB in consultation with the Office of Financial Management taking into account population,

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security, and safety issues, and discouraging illegal markets. The initiative also caps retail licenses by county.” The retail outlets are subject to oversight by the WSLCB in the following nine examples: • T he equipment, management and inspection of Production, Processing, and Retail outlets. • T he books and records maintained by licensed premises. • T he methods of producing, processing, and packaging of Cannabis/Cannabis-infused products and including the conditions of sanitation throughout the preparation process. • T he standards of ingredients, quality, and identity of Cannabis/Cannabis-infused products produced, processed and sold by licensees. • To provide for security requirements for retail outlets and premises where Cannabis is produced and processed. • Retail outlets may not employ anyone under the age of 21, and anyone under 21 may not enter the premises. • Retail outlets are only authorized to sell Cannabis products or paraphernalia. • Retailers are allowed one sign identifying the business or trade name not to exceed 1600 square inches. • Retailers are not allowed to display Cannabis or Cannabis related products in a manner that is visible to the general public. These taxes, fees, and regulations demonstrate why Washington is a top-down state. It is a full government takeover of all things Cannabis.

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The RAND Corp. released a report estimating that the state’s pot consumption in 2013 was somewhere around 175 metric tons, twice as high as previously thought.

Meanwhile, since the product has not been able to make it to the shelves, the black market for Cannabis is thriving since possession was legalized. The price on the street fell by almost 20 percent immediately upon the passage of I 502. Only the sale of Cannabis by private parties is illegal now. This leaves consumers in legal limbo trying to access their Cannabis. It would seem difficult for the state to monopolize the market when all they have to offer is legal Cannabis in extremely short supply and at far above black market rates. To validate this, the New Yorker published a very interesting story last year by Patrick Radden Keefe. He wrote that “Washington state officials aren’t simply worried about licensing marijuana dealers — they also have to figure out what to do about the pot purveyors who continue to sell weed outside of the government-sponsored system. If the outlaws undercut the state sanctioned dealers, the new system could go up in smoke, along with the tax dollars that Washington hopes to collect from the legal weed trade.” As if the task of implementing I 502 weren’t enough for the WSLCB, here is a fascinating article published by BusinessWeek on Dec. 18, 2013 by Devin Leonard entitled “Washington State Residents Smoke Twice as Much Weed as Previously Thought”:

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How many people get high in Washington State? A lot more than state officials realized. The RAND Corp. released a report estimating that the state’s pot consumption in 2013 was somewhere around 175 metric tons, twice as high as previously thought. The think tank conducted the study for the WSLCB. The state’s Office of Financial Management had previously projected that pot consumption in Washington would be 85 metric tons in 2013, according to RAND. To get the new number, RAND conducted an online survey of pot users in the state and also analyzed the federal National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The web poll included photos of marijuana to help consumers [sic] accurately disclose the amount they consume… It’s important for the State Liquor Control Board to have accurate information about how many tons of weed the state’s citizens are blazing. The laws of supply and demand are at play. If the WSLCB doesn’t issue more licenses soon, simple economics will trump the regulated market. The WSLCB is merely a bureaucracy. The outlook for the unregulated black market looks much more promising than the state’s plans do at this point. Let us return to the words of Mr. Leonard. “This much is certain: Washingtonians have a voracious appetite for Cannabis [sic]. They

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either constitute a healthy customer base for a government-regulated pot market or they could just continue to patronize the existing black market. It makes you wonder why it took so long for state officials to find out that so many stoners were in their midst. Maybe the bureaucrats have been sneaking a joint on their lunch break like other Washingtonians?”

member appointed panel of the WSLCB most certainly does not have our best interests at heart. Beware, when voting for legalization in your state, that the language of the law really matters. Don’t be fooled as we were! S

https://liq.wa.gov/print/1403

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The top-down approach is not the way to legalize Cannabis. The WSLCB not only wants your money, they want to own your every move as it relates to Cannabis. The federal government is not our friend until it removes Cannabis as a Schedule I substance. It is time to sound the alarm and raise awareness among the high that our rights are still in jeopardy. Reach out to your elected officials, your friends in the Cannabis community, and others to help stop the erosion of Cannabis rights in Washington State and elsewhere. The better solution for states that already have medical Cannabis dispensaries is to allow these dispensaries to become legal retailers as well: the bottom-up approach. Colorado is already raking in millions of dollars in revenue from its legalization path, whereas the state of Washington is still fumbling around trying to create a government-controlled marketplace.

https://www.liq.wa.gov/print/5729

Those of us in the state of Washington will have to be proactive in order to see a successful form of Cannabis legalization implemented here. Or perhaps the cynics among us are correct — because the decriminalized possession of Cannabis has made the black market here so accessible, we’ve already achieved success. But for those of us who really want to avoid doing something illegal, Washington has put so many roadblocks in place that it truly defies logic… and the three

https://news.vice.com/article/washington-state-isabout-to-face-a-serious-weed-shortage

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https://www.liq.wa.gov/marijuana/faq_rules https://www.kplu.org/post/does-legalizedmarijuana-put-washington-drivers-risk-out-state https://kplu.org/post/wash-pot-grower-says-blackmarket-can-survive-legalization https://www.kplu.org/post/wash-attorney-generalif-you-legal-marijuana-support-local-pot-bans https://kuow.org/post/tiny-fife-takes-center-stagemarijuana-ban-lawsuit https://www.nationaljournal.com/economy/howwashington-s-illegal-pot-dealers-feel-about-thestate-s-marijuana-legalization-20140708 https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_ call/2014/08/fife-case-could-destroy-marijuanalegalization.html https://www.thenewstribune. com/2014/07/31/3311520/state-attorneygeneral-moves-to.html

https://news.vice.com/article/legal-weed-inwashington-state-has-been-completely-screwed-up https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/30/ washington-marijuana-legalization_n_5543289. html https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/ wp/2014/04/08/retail-marijuana-sales-inwashington-face-regulatory-delays/

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“This is a

public service

”

ANNOUNCEMENT

– The Clash, “Know Your Rights,” 1982

By Hippy KK In 1996, medicinal use of Cannabis was legalized in California. Since then, Cannabis patients have had to continuously fight for their right to have safe access to their medicine. The term “right” is not used lightly here, because patients do have rights. In the past 18 years, 22 additional states and the District of Columbia have jumped on board and implemented their own state medical and/ or recreational Cannabis laws. In addition, 11 others have some sort of limited access laws in place that allow patients to utilize low-THC, high-CBD medical Cannabis. Washington and Colorado have full recreational legalization, which brings us to the issue at hand: the people’s rights.

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CANNABIS HEALS Each state has their own laws and all patients must strictly follow their state guidelines or face repercussions. While some states might be more lenient than others, laws are laws and they must be followed. In doing so, we the people set the precedence that Cannabis can be consumed responsibly. It’s not a gateway drug to other drugs, nor does it cause the nation’s crime rate to rise. It is a medicine that has been proven to heal and help aid in the relief of many different ailments, many of which can qualify a patient to receive a physician’s recommendation to obtain a state medical marijuana card.

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CONGRESS BLOCKS VOTERS’ PASSED INITIATIVES Unfortunately, the majority of our lawmakers continue to turn a blind eye to this miracle plant. For instance, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), “in Arizona and the District of Columbia voters passed initiatives to allow for medical use, only to have them overturned. In 1998, voters in the District of Columbia passed Initiative 59. However, Congress blocked the initiative from becoming law. In 2009, Congress reversed its previous decision, allowing the initiative to become law. The D.C. Council then put Initiative 59 on hold temporarily and unanimously approved modifications to the law. Before passing Proposition 203 in 2010, Arizona voters originally passed a ballot initiative in 1996. However, the initiative stated that doctors would be allowed to write a ‘prescription’ for marijuana. Since marijuana is still a Schedule I substance, federal law prohibits its prescription, making the initiative invalid. Medical marijuana ‘prescriptions’ are more often called ‘recommendations’ or ‘referrals’ because of the federal prescription prohibition.” The good news is that both Arizona and the District of Columbia now have medical legalization in place. Arizona’s medical marijuana program has been quite successful, I might add. The bad news is that during the fight for patients’ rights, Congress basically told voters that their votes were worthless. That’s why it’s important that patients continue to fight for their rights.

RECREATIONAL THREATENS MEDICAL PATIENTS’ ACCESSIBILITY Over the last few years, medical Cannabis has gained a phenomenal following and widespread approval by voters. However, look

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at Washington’s I 502, which was recently implemented. It actually disallows medical dispensaries, which is an injustice to those patients who paved the way for the state to legalize Cannabis in the first place. For the millions of people who consume Cannabis for medicinal purposes, the recreational law in Washington is a direct threat to patients. This is fueling resistance from medical consumers who fear that their state may follow the lead of Washington rather than that of Colorado. Nationwide legalization will bring with it an array of issues that will need to be addressed, such as driving under the influence, underage consumption and other problems that could compete with the greater good of medical legalization. The Cannabis Law group reports: “according to recent reports, medical marijuana users and distributors have already faced significant regulatory hurdles. Advocates of current medical marijuana policies do not want to see the regulatory system compromised by an overhaul for recreational use. For states such as California, Maine, Nevada, Alaska, and Oregon, with longtime medical marijuana usage laws, the shift towards legalization will require the dismantling of the current medical use market and policies.” It’s disheartening to think that across-the-board legalization of Cannabis may demolish what voters worked so hard to achieve for medical-use patients, and that affordable medical access is threatened. This is why so many pro-Cannabis advocates voted against I 502!

CONGRESSMEN FIGHT TO RESTORE MEDICAL PATIENTS’ SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS Here are just a couple examples of congressmen who are fighting for the rights of medical marijuana patients: Senator John

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Advocates of current medical marijuana policies do not want to see the regulatory system compromised by an overhaul for recreational use. Walsh, D-Mont., introduced an amendment to a House appropriations bill that would bar federal prosecution of medicinal marijuana patients who own or possess firearms. The proposed amendment by Senator Walsh would prohibit the use of federal funds to prosecute gun owners based on their status as registered medical marijuana patients in states that have medical legalization. However, the amendment does not cover recreational users in Colorado and Washington. Walsh said in a statement, “this measure will ensure that patients can hunt, purchase ammunition and protect their homes without fear of prosecution.” A second bipartisan amendment introduced by Senators Rand Paul, R-Kent., and Cory Booker D-N.J., would prevent the federal Drug Enforcement Agency from using federal funds to go after medical marijuana operations in states where such operations are legal under state law. In May, the House passed a similar measure on a bipartisan 219–189 vote.

GET INVOLVED Get involved. Reach out to members of Congress and contact state representatives by phone, letter or email and let them know how you feel and remind them that you vote. Patients and caregivers are always under scrutiny even when in full compliance of state medical laws and although it continuously happens, they should not be targets.

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Today, there are various Cannabis advocacy groups that fight for the rights of medical patients, Americans for Safe Access and NORML are the leaders of that list as well as the National Cannabis Industry Association and the Marijuana Policy Project. Below is just a short list of many advocacy groups available today. NORML has chapters all across the country and after answering a few easy questions, will send a standard letter to your congressman according to your home zip code. It’s time we stand together and fight for our rights as medical marijuana patients. After all, we fought so hard to get to where we are today as far as medical legalization is concerned, we can’t risk losing it. Patients have rights too! Find an advocacy group that welcomes new members and make your voice heard.S

NORML: http://norml.org/ Americans of Safe Access: http://www. safeaccessnow.org/

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NCSL: http://www.ncsl.org/ Marijuana Policy Project: http://www.mpp.org/ National Cannabis Industry Association: https:// thecannabisindustry.org/

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Cannabis is here to stay, and the feds know it. How much longer will the charade go on? By Giuseppe L. Illustration by Josh Clappe

or centuries the Cannabis, or hemp, plant thrived throughout civilization. It was used for incense, cloth, rope, and even medicine. Exactly when it was introduced in the United States is a bit hazy, but the first Cannabis law was enacted at Jamestown, Va. in 1619. This law instructed all farmers to grow Cannabis. During the next 200 years, hemp proved to be so critical to the nation’s economy that the government deemed it legal tender. Mandatory cultivation was enforced to the

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point that a farmer could be incarcerated for not growing it. So what happened? After the Mexican Revolution of 1910, immigrants began flooding into the United States, introducing Americans to the recreational use of Cannabis. During the Great Depression, massive unemployment increased public resentment of Mexican immigrants. Cannabis became associated with immigrants, fear and prejudice, sparking governmental concern. Many assume that Cannabis was made illegal through strict

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government hearings, which included intense scientific and medical research. Well… quite the opposite is true. Determined to protect its citizens from a dangerous “drug,” the government launched the Federal Bureau of Narcotics in 1930. A man named Harry Anslinger was appointed commissioner.

The greatest war never won A war on Cannabis erupted. In his report to the U.S Senate, Anslinger stated that “There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the U.S., and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others.” With the aid of yellow journalists and propolitical prohibitionists, Cannabis was demonized to its core. This campaign of fear and disinformation led to the passing of the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937, restricting possession to individuals who paid tax for certain authorized medical and industrial uses. Enactment of federal laws during the 1950s set mandatory sentences for drugrelated offenses, including Cannabis. A first-offense of Cannabis possession carried a minimum sentence of two to 10 years with a fine of up to $20,000. Slowly, Congress began to acknowledge that this silly act had failed to eliminate the culture that embraced Cannabis use throughout the ’60s. With this realization,

Congress then proposed laws where personal Cannabis use would be decriminalized; President Richard Nixon rejected the recommendation. Nixon picked up where Anslinger left off, using the drug policy as a weapon to fuel his campaign. Needing legal support, the 1970 Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act — including the Controlled Substances Act was signed. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) was established with an annual budget of $6.5 million. The official “war on drugs” was declared. Debates still erupted about how Cannabis should be classified; Congress agreed to temporarily classify Cannabis under Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act, where it remains to this day.

ver the course of the 1970s, legalization protests and public outcry led to the decriminalization of Cannabis in 11 states, and many other states reduced their penalties as a result. Congress repealed many of the mandatory penalties for drug-related offenses. The Reagan Administration abruptly ended that trend. President Reagan, with the aid of wife Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign, pushed for even stricter laws on Cannabis. A media frenzy erupted and the campaign spread across the country like a wildfire.

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Wake up The War on Drugs isn’t winnable, but it is fundable. States cannot “win” the Drug War. It is careless, wasteful government spending. Cannabis consumption, whether it is recreational or medicinal, is here to stay. More money has been spent trying to discover something deadly about Cannabis than any other drug, and they’ve come up emptyhanded. Billions of dollars have been wasted by the War on Drugs. The reality is that right now, given the anemic state of our nation’s economy, the legalization of Cannabis has the potential to heal our ailing economic condition and create jobs. Cannabusinesses outnumber Starbucks in California and Colorado. The Cannabis industry is a billion-dollar-a-year rainmaker and has the potential of becoming our biggest cash crop. Legalizing Cannabis across the country could bring in as much as $100 billion in new revenue, taking it out of the hands of organized and violent criminals and putting it straight into the U.S. economy. This is no mystery to today’s ganjapreneur, but the conflict between state and federal law remains a disheartening and troublesome obstacle. Despite the Cannabis culture coming out of the closet, we still lack government support.

A miracle herb The healing properties of Cannabis have been known for centuries. Modern research shows that Cannabis can be an effective

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form of medicine. There have been countless promising reports that Cannabis may be used to successfully treat numerous medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease and arthritis. Cannabis is a powerful anti-nausea treatment for chemotherapy patients. There is strong evidence that Cannabis oil may cure cancer. Today more people are turning to the use of cannabidiol (CBD), to treat severe seizure disorders. After decades in which only high-THC Cannabis was available, CBDrich strains are now being grown by and for medical users and may one day be recognized as one of the world’s most valuable medicines. Until then, we need to keep pushing. The Green Age is upon us, and with it an army of unified, underground rebels. And there’s no stopping us. S

http://www.drugwarrant.com/articles/why-ismarijuana-illegal/

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http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/ jefferson_papers/mtjvatm3.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_J._Anslinger http://www.narconon.org/drug-information/ marijuana-history.html http://web.stanford.edu/group/hopes/cgi-bin/ wordpress/2012/05/medical-marijuana-policy-inthe-united-states/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabidiol

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the Green Table Interview

Jeremy Cooper, Magical Butter Studio

By Hippy KK For some time now, I have been hearing great things about Magical Butter (MB) and the significant strides the company is making in the Cannabis industry. In the past, I have spoken to Garyn Angel, founder of Magical Butter and most recently, I had the opportunity to speak with the executive chef of the Magical Butter Studio located in Seattle, Wash., Jeremy Cooper. Amongst other discussion topics, Jeremy was kind enough to go over some of the great menu items that can be found at the Studio and how one goes about getting a seat there. The Magical Butter machine doesn’t just

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make Cannabis-infused products, but also products that have nothing to do with Cannabis whatsoever. Whether you’re talking about the butter from the unit itself, the Seattle Studio, the brightly colored food truck with Magical Butter’s logo splashed all over it, or the reason Angel developed the machine in the first place, Magical Butter is a name that is now recognized worldwide. My interview with Jeremy was held on Aug. 5, the morning after the Studio had a very busy day which included being interviewed on live television with Seattle’s local NBC station. Maybe you caught a

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glimpse of the televised interview. Q: What is your exact position with the Magical Butter Studio? A: I am actually the West Coast Director of Operations for Magical Butter itself. I am the Executive Director of the Magical Butter Studio as well as the Executive Chef. Q: Is the Studio now open? And if so, when did you open? A: Yes it is. We opened January 1, 2014. Q: What are the hours of operation? A: We are typically open around 10 a.m. and close around 2 a.m. Q: What time do you stop serving food? A: We are for hire, so for instance, last night we had a ‘tech meet-up’ so we had about 125 tech individuals. Yesterday morning, we did some live TV with NBC, so we started up around 3 p.m. and completed everything at about midnight last night. Q: Is the Studio actually open to the public? For instance, can I come in and have lunch or dinner or are you basically a reservation-only facility? A: The facility is like an event venue. You can’t just come in and have lunch, I wish you could, but it’s not an option. We do have a food truck that is going to be on the road in two weeks. Right now the food truck is available for private events only. Q: Could you describe some of the items that are available on the menu? A: Sure, I’ll give you a brief synopsis of the menu. The ‘Samich’ is the savory, accessible, marijuana-infused culinary happiness, which is a peanut butter and jelly that consist of an

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80/20 butter/honey mixture that is spread on an artisan pumpkin and squash-style bread. It’s made with a six-nut, homemade nut butter with a five-berry jelly and a honey-banana spread with optional sprinkled caramelized bourbon bacon. It is then grilled until it’s caramelized, and chilled, then served. The other one is the ‘Danksgiving’ which is potato bread with a small patty that is a quarterinch to half-inch thick of cornbread stuffing that has actual corn and green bean shavings in it, with a cranberry chutney and smoked turkey with a gravy glaze with a side of gravy dipping sauce to go with it. We do other things such as a biscuits and gravy as well as a series of breakfast sandwiches, truffle popcorn. Everything we make is gourmet, we also do a Duck Confit Taco with a black bean and corn chipotle salsa. The Duck Confit Taco, the ‘Danksgiving’ and the ‘Samich’ are our three signature items on the menu, and then we always give away our truffle popcorn. Q: If I were to reserve the facility for an event, do I choose the menu items to be served or do guests of the event get to select their own meal from the menu? A: You would typically choose a pre-selected menu. We don’t normally do à la carte where people can select their own meal. Doing it this way helps keep costs down. For example, last night we actually did a vegan/vegetarian menu for 125 people. That was our corn and black-bean salsa, yogurt cups with raspberry purée and granola, garlic roasted hummus with smoked paprika and olive oil. We also did a pretzel with sour cream and a chipotle dip, a kale and artichoke salad and fresh organic fruit smoothies with clover honey. Q: For a group of 50 people, what would the estimated cost be?

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A: It averages about $25 per head and we offer a very generous menu. Q: Do you offer Cannabis-infused drinks? A: I do make Cannabis-infused drinks as well. But as of right now, we are not serving Cannabis-infused foods for our events unless they are small private events. Q: How many employees does the Studio have? A: Technically we only have two full-time employees, than we have some people that come in part-time. Q: What is your background history in the culinary industry? A: I have been a show chef for the past decade, I do show tours for the wine and alcohol industry, I’m a performance chef and I’ve owned two of my own restaurants. Q: What is your background in the Cannabis industry? A: Well, ironically enough, I’ve only been involved in the Cannabis industry for a year and I’ve seemed to have climbed the ladder very quickly. I started out with my own medible firm when I came out here to Seattle and it took off very quickly because I understood Cannabis quite well. I’ve actually been cooking for about 25 years. Q: How many people does the Studio seat when it’s full? A: According to the fire department, and this is no joke; 420 (at this point, we both express our surprise). We can seat, comfortably 300 with the seating that we currently have, but we can occupy up to 420 people at one time. Q: Not a question, but rather a comment

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regarding the looks of the Studio. I received photos of the studio, and it is a very classy, upscale facility. Congratulations on such a beautiful place. A: Thank you so much, I really appreciate that. I had a great time building this facility and designing it as well. Q: So, you played a part in designing the facility or was the entire project your baby? A: It was all my baby. It’s a really fun place, it’s very unique. It has everything built in. We have a 16,000-watt titanium sound system built in, we have a 20-foot movie screen, multiple LED screens throughout the building, and we’ve integrated Bluetooth so everything can be controlled: laser light and intelligent light show as well as everything is mobile. For instance, all the bars and counters are on casters and can be moved anywhere in the facility. It is a functional studio, we have a 200-meg light service, we can stream live and we can support bands up to 16 pieces, we have a 20-foot by 16-foot stage that is actually the old deck of a barge. Q: Now is this the same facility that is also the teaching kitchen? A: It is, yes. Q: Are you currently holding classes? A: We have done a few classes. We’re actually getting ready to break ground on a new kitchen facility in our downstairs office. We have a 2,000-square-foot office that we’re getting ready to turn into a cooking school. Q: You’ll hold regular culinary classes there? A: Yes. We’ll hold so many weeks per semester, as well as a series of infusion classes where we’ll use the Magical Butter machine.

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Top: Jeremy Cooper, Magical Butter’s executive chef; above and left: inside the Magical Butter Studio.

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The unit can legitimately be used as a gastroand culinary-device to create anything from infused olive oil to Alfredo sauces. You can make infused vodka such as our lavender vodka. Q: What do you use most to infuse food with, oil or butter? A: Oil. Definitely oil. Q: If I order something off of the menu, does it contain a specific amount of milligrams of THC or can you increase or decrease the percentage to accommodate the customer? A: If it’s off the food truck at a medical event and since a medical event is the only time we offer infused products, it is a set, very regulated dose of THC. However, if you book me for a private party as a Magical Butter Chef, I can come to your home or specialty undisclosed location and we can modify the dosage per individual to rate each one of the meals per serving but we can only serve 10 people at a time. Q: So you are available for private hire through Magical Butter? A: Absolutely! Q: Could you tell me a little about what’s involved when hiring you privately? A: It’s not inexpensive, but it is a truly amazing experience. It requires several days of preparation as well as an interview with the people I’m going to cook for and it is custom designed not only for their palates but for their tolerance. Q: Will you travel outside the State of Washington? A: I will travel anywhere in the world where it’s medical or legal. I have to stay within the

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boundaries of the Cannabis industry and laws. Q: Regarding the food truck since that’s what uses Cannabis to infuse the product, how many ounces would you say you went through to serve the 700 people? A: When we were in Denver for service, we went through one-quarter to one-half pound of Cannabis for 700 people. If you calculate that for 700 servings, it’s not that much. For the entire weekend, we went through about three and one-half pounds of weed to serve 1200 people. Q: Where do you get the Cannabis from, does Magical Butter grow their own or do you have growers? A: We have growers that supply it. Magical Butter doesn’t grow whatsoever. Q: Do you know how many units of the Magical Butter machine have been sold? A: I can tell you this, we have sold over 3,000 units in less than 48 hours before. We have a hard time keeping them in stock. Chef and I continued to talk for a while afterwards, and I feel it’s important to emphasize that if you’re ever given the opportunity to try a Magical Butter product whether it be at the Studio to enjoy a gourmet meal (non-Cannabis-infused of course) or from the Magical Butter food truck (Cannabis-infused at medical events only), don’t miss the opportunity. It’s truly a unique culinary experience that easily rates five stars. It’s a gourmet experience for the discerning palate as well as the connoisseur of Cannabis. Not to mention, the food truck is the first of its kind that it offers Cannabis-infused foods! Magical Butter will customize a high-energy sativa for the peanut butter and jelly in order

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to give the consumer that ‘kid’ experience. Chef went on to say that they’ll use a deeper indica for the ‘Danksgiving’ so the consumer feels like they’ve just eaten a giant turkey dinner. Explaining that he is creating an experience beyond just the food and is giving the consumers a whole new way to feel the food, he emphasized that hospitality is the number-one priority for Magical Butter. Cheers to Goodness is the charity division of Magical Butter. They have created a program to help children with epilepsy and seizures. Magical Butter does a lot of community awareness and programming out of the Studio. For example, when the first I-502 opened, they knew that it was going to be a very hot day, and it was a blistering 96 degrees. The Magical Butter Street Team went out and provided water, shade and logistical planning as well as an emcee and music for that event, plus a first-aid station. They have a complete team in the Studio and around the country that are support agencies for other cannabusinesses as well as their Cannabis Incubator program located in Seattle, Wash. The Cannabis Incubator program brings together businesses and organizations, such as the Marijuana Business Association, the Washington Marijuana Association and of course our good friends at Leafly. They’ve been able to offer a support group, free of charge to the public to help other cannabusinesses get up off the ground, offering free consulting in regards to the dos and don’ts of the Cannabis industry. RIF, the first medible and extraction company in Washington, uses the Magical Butter unit to produce their extractions. They lent a helping hand to Magical Butter through the state certification process and in

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obtaining the health department’s approval. Now, their extraction device is being used in corporate kitchens to create a variety of delicious and healthy meals. The device has been certified by the state and the health department and is being used in corporate kitchens to create a wonderful variety of delicious and healthy meals. As a member of the Cannabis community, I know the importance of legitimizing the industry and I would personally like to congratulate everyone at Magical Butter for doing their part in that. They’ve worked extremely hard to get where they are today and I wish them all only the best with much (more) success! Website: http://magicalbutter.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ MagicalButter Twitter: https://twitter.com/MagicalButter Instagram: http://instagram.com/ magicalbutter YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ HerbalButter Email: info@magicalbutter.com Telephone: 800-420-4334 Address: 2225 1st Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98134 Customer Service & Support address: 5910 Pine Hill Rd., Suite 5, Port Richey, Fla. 34668 S

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