Regulations In the Cannabis Medibles market by Sativa Magazine

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Sativa Magazine Online Issue No. 19 August 2014

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Photographer

Gloria Martinez Hippy KK

Writers Diana Campos Natalie Covate Hippy KK David Kennedy Kandy Krush 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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Don’t believe the anti-medible propaganda

Medibles, edibles, medicated food items. Are they dangerous? Will they kill you? Will they make you jump off buildings? Today we see the same recycled ad campaigns and negative news that you would think the public has realized is nearly as ridiculous as the movie “Reefer Madness” is to watch today. Most of these media smears are backed by political funding in order to change perceptions. Quite often the public is being lied to by the media, who sell you their opinion as if it is fact. We still live in a generation where we put a lot of weight into what we see on TV. So, now we are watching news reports of a young Texas man’s life being destroyed over Cannabis brownies. Medicated foods are EXTREMELY important to end-of-life cancer and AIDS patients. The young man’s life is now forever tarnished by a criminal record that will follow him the rest of his life. This could be your child facing life in prison for Cannabis. Political action groups are trying to demonize the medible market. Why? Who would spend that type of money to make you think an oral method of consuming Cannabis as a medicine is dangerous? Well — who sells oral medications? There are many patients that cannot smoke Cannabis. Many cancer patients need to take their medicine in an oral form. We now have testing and regulated doses that we are educated enough to manage on our own. One thing is certain: Concentrates are a key

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ingredient in edible Cannabis consumption. With tight regulation and testing, the industry has become very professional. We have selfregulated our industry quite well. The medical side of the market is necessary, and so is retail. One thing is for sure — when it comes to concentrates, we have discovered there are some safety concerns regarding production methods. Uneducated Cannabis concentrate producers have recently made mistakes in their production, and have died as a result. It is sad, and it could have been prevented. Education in the industry is needed. The only way we will be given the freedom to fully self-regulate medical and retail Cannabis is if we make safety and regulation a top priority. Testing and clear labeling of medication levels in the consumable is a good start. Most of the safety concerns have to do with chemical extraction methods, such as those that utilize butane. There are many safe methods, such as cold water hash extraction, that work extremely well also. I only ask that you please be safe and educate yourself before taking risks. I’m looking forward to traveling to your state soon to try your delectable treats and medicated meals.

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

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AUGUST 2014 COLUMNS Incredible Medibles Might mint cake bites You might get the urge to dig up your badge sash. Resist.

FEATURES

MEDIBLE MADNESS Special Report: The Return of Cannabis Cup The High Times event returned to Michigan last month. It was epic.

Regulating Medibles: Who, What, When, Where & How Everyone agrees on regulation. The devil is, indeed, in the details.

Cannaloop...Breakfast and Beyond... I can see the Donut Monument Now. Nom nom nom...

Anatomy of a Medible Hippy KK lays it all out on the [kitchen] table.

Decarboxilation Know it. Love it. Do it. Here’s how.

Methods of Preparation 48 Hash is the cornerstone of many medibles. Here’s how to make your own.

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Open for Business Restaurants, clubs, cafés — cannacuisine is coming!

Kitchen Which? What kind of kitchen do you need for your medible biz? Find out.

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Story and photos by Hippy KK 14

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For the first time since 2011,

the High Times 16th Medical Cannabis Cup came back to the Great Lakes State. The popular event was held the last weekend in July at the Motor City Speedway in Clio, Mich. It’s estimated that over 5,500 people attended the two-day, fun-filled event.

could not be sold anywhere on the premises, inside the medication area, Cannabis and Cannabis-infused products could be consumed and shared. There were a handful of vendors spread across the track area that had extremely long lines, and no wonder…they were offering free dabs!

Day one: sunny and hot!

Seminar line-up:

Doors opened at noon, and although the lines remained long for hours after opening, no one seemed to mind the wait. There were two sections set up: outside the track area was the non-medication area, which included approximately 15 vendors that ranged from activist groups, such as Genesee County NORML, Michigan Moms United and Sons and Daughters United, Iron Labs, and Clio Cultivation as well as other grow-stores and nutrient companies. The seminar room was also in this section. The medication area was inside the gates to the track, with approximately 58 vendors showing off their products from glassware to clothing, dispensaries, seed companies and much, much more along with thousands of registered medical marijuana cardholders. In order to gain access to the medication area, ticket holder had to be 18 years of age or older and have valid verification that they were authorized MMJ patients by presenting their medical card or doctor’s recommendation paperwork (if they hadn’t received their card yet). MMJ patients received a separate wristband that allowed them access in the medication area. Security was posted at the track entrance and all wristbands were verified. When you entered the medication area, the entire scene changed. The air was, well, dank. Although Cannabis

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1:30 p.m.: “The American Veteran and Cannabis” hosted by High Times moderator Bobby Black with guest speakers Steven Jacob Lull and Dakota Blue Serna, who are both veterans and co-founders of Green Union. The panel discussed the promising results of treating PTSD successfully with Cannabis, particularly for veterans. 3:00 p.m.: High Times’ Danny Danko hosted a growing seminar with guest speaker DJ Short. This was a highly informative seminar for anyone who wanted or needed advice from an expert Cannabis cultivator. DJ Short provided attendees with unique and easy-tofollow growing advice and shared plenty of fresh ideas. DJ Short is an expert in breeding and Cannabis cultivation and was the perfect choice to speak at the seminar. Plus — he’s an all-around great guy! 4:20 p.m.: Smoke ’em if you got ’em (and if you didn’t, someone nearby passed one to you). 4:30 p.m.: “Michigan Civil Rights: How marijuana is actually the exception to the concept of Constitutional right,” presented by Russ Belville. 5:30 p.m.: “Medical Marijuana in Michigan” was discussed by a professional panel in the Cannabis industry made up of well-known, local speakers: Moderator Jamie Lowell of Americans for Safe Access, Rick Thompson, renowned journalist and Cannabis activist,

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Clockwise, from upper left: Directions; Leafly ladies; Puck Pipes; Wyclef Jean.

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Robin Schneider, National Patient’s Rights Association, Michael Komorn, attorney-atlaw and David Peters, attorney-at-law and medical professional, discussed important legislative and judicial changes to Michigan’s medical marijuana law and the importance of getting involved. Shortly before 7:00 p.m., it was announced that the medication area was closing. There was no great rush to exit the gate, and the relaxed crowd slowly and peacefully made their way out. For the most part, people congregated near the stage where Wyclef Jean would begin his performance later in the evening. And it was no disappointment. Jean performed and interacted with the crowd for close to three straight hours and the music was incredible!

Day 2: Hot and muggy with dark clouds looming over Day two of the event started out much like that of the first. Doors opened at high noon, and the weather was a little eerie all day with dark clouds looming overhead, but that didn’t stop the thousands in attendance from enjoying their day and partaking in the festivities. Sunday’s line-up of seminars was just as successful as Saturday’s, with lots of good information flowing for the fortunate attendees. 1:30: “The Art of Edibles” High Times moderator Elise McDonough talked with and questioned a panel of edible experts regarding their favorite method used to infuse edibles, the importance of testing edibles, as well as for more consistent results from testing laboratories. The expert panel included my good friend, Brian Shotwell, Shotty Edibles (Mich.), Steve Green, MedHead (Mich.), Claude, “The Candyman,” Sweetstone Candy (Colo.), Kirk Reid, Captain Kirk’s (Mich.) and

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Jacob Hyatt, Baked by Jake (Ariz.). 3:00 p.m.: Nico Escondido hosted “Beginner Grow Tips for Indoor Cultivation; Get Growing Now!” A live DJ was atop the Dab Stix tower, located in the center of the medication area, encouraging people to gather around for 4:20 and check out the free products they were going to be giving away once the clock struck 4:20 p.m. Literally hundreds of people gathered around with their arms stretched overhead, hoping to grab a freebie. Products such as water pipes, gift bags, T-shirts, dab tools, Cannabis seeds, and more were donated by vendors. 4:30 p.m.: The seminar, “Ending the War on Us,” discussed a hot topic for all Michiganders. Families are still under attack from law enforcement, legislators and prosecutors for Cannabis crimes. The panel of expert speakers was moderated by journalist/Cannabis activist Rich Thompson, Charmie Gholson of Michigan Moms United, Josey Scoggin of Sons and Daughters United, Cannabis activist Ashley Duval, and Maria Green of the Free Bree Foundation. 5:30 p.m.: “Michigan’s Legal Landscape” discussed the actions that are currently being taken in Michigan to push for recreational legalization. This seminar was moderated by Charmie Gholson, Michigan Moms United, Charles “Chuck” Ream, Safer Michigan Coalition, Michigan State Representative Jeff Irwin, and attorneys Thomas Lavigne and Bruce Leach. 7:00 p.m.: Winners announced!

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Clockwise, from left: Dabbing; Dab sign; Danny Danko and DJ Short grow seminar.

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2014 High Times Medical Cannabis Cup Michigan Winners INDICA 1st Oasis Medical Seeds: Paris OG 2nd Herbal Solutions: Alien Dawg F2 3rd Herban Legendz, LLC: Grape OX SATIVA 1st Arborside Compassion: CATFISH 2nd Organibliss: Ghost Train Haze #1 3rd We Grow Education and Collective Centers: MelonGum HYBRID 1st Herbal Solutions: Gorilla Glue 2nd Pure West Compassion Club: Death Star 3rd Kushman Veganics for Buds & Roses: Veganic Candyland CONCENTRATE 1st Mr. B’s Extracts: Raskal’s Lemon 2nd 710 Savants: Kosher Kush Dewaxed 3rd Oasis Medical / Vader Extracts / Dab Vader: Candy Jack Shatter NON-SOLVENT HASH 1st NLG: Jedi Kush Ice Wax 2nd Arborside Compassion: HeadCandy Kush Hash 3rd New World Seeds Resource Center: Northern Hash Plant Hash EDIBLE 1st DepoTown: Captain Kirk’s Lime in the Coconut 2nd Metro Detroit Compassion Club Inc. Special Fx Labs: Dark Chocolate Mint-Quad Chunk 3rd Arborside Compassion: Arborside Delights Gorilla Paw

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CBD Flowers Detroit Nutrient Company / IDK Farms: Canatonic Concentrates CANNA Vest / care of Michigan Hemp Company: Concentrated Hemp Oil “CBD” Edibles MTG: Flower of Life Extract CBD Pills w/ Vernon Phillips BEST BOOTH 1st Vader Extracts 2nd DABSTIX 3rd Pure West Compassion Club BEST PRODUCT 1st Dab Stix by Dab Stix 2nd Dabkins by Dabkins 3rd Terpp Extractors by Terpp Extractors BEST GLASS 1st Nexus Glass by Nexus Glass 2nd Torched Glass Art by Torched Glass Art 3rd Silika Double Recycler by Silika Glass In order to be considered for first through third place in any of the categories, the entered product must have been submitted by a Michigan dispensary several weeks prior to the event. All entries were judged blindly, and for those products that required potency testing, those tests were performed by IRON Labs of Walled Lake, Mich. Congratulations to all the winners and to Ann Arbor’s own, Charles “Chuck” Ream for receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. Michigan’s Cannabis community is looking forward to the High Times Medical Cannabis Cup 2015!! S SATIVAMAGAZINE.COM

Top: Edibles seminar panel; 420 Radio.

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Opposite page, top: Wild Side Smoke Shop; bottom, free dabs from Vader Extracts; this page, clockwise from left: High Times banner; event entrance; Medication Area; Nexus Glass.

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The American Veteran and Cannabis seminar panel.

AUGUST 2014â&#x20AC;

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INCREDIBLE MEDIBLES HIPPY KK

Mighty mint cake bites Once a year, young girls dressed in green uniforms set out to sell those famous Girl Scout cookies. For those of you who love “those cookies” as much as I do, here’s a recipe that will provide satisfaction year-round to any minty craving. I made these for the first time just the other night and couldn’t believe how incredible they were. To save time and make this process a little simpler for you, the baker, I am calling for a boxed cake mix in this recipe. However, as with all medibles I make, I am making my cake from scratch, so please feel free to do the same if you so choose. Each cake bite provides .25 mg. of THC. For an accurate dosage, it is very important that all cake bites are the same size. I have found that .66 ounce makes the perfect pop-able delicious cake bite. Note: if bites are not equal in size, effects can vary from cake bite to cake bite. Yield: 48 cake bites Prep Time: 1.5–2 hours Ingredients: 1 16.5-oz. box Devil’s Food cake mix 1.2 grams hash 3 eggs 1 cup water 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/3 – 1/2 cup white buttercream icing 1 10-oz. pkg. Andes Crème de Menthe baking chips Decorative toppings, optional 1 Assemble ingredients. 2 In a large bowl, combine cake mix, hash, eggs, water and vegetable oil. Mix well and bake according to instructions on box. Allow to cool

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completely on a wire rack. 3 Once cake is cooled, cut into four sections. In a large bowl, crumble cake. I have found breaking it up with my hands works best vs. rubbing sections together, but use whichever method works best for you. Be sure not to leave any large pieces. 4 Add the buttercream icing to the crumbled cake. Using your hands, mix well. Once mixed, take a small amount of cake and gently squeeze in your hand, if the mixture holds together, start weighing and rolling the cake bites. If it doesn’t and you see cracks in the mixture, add an additional small amount of buttercream icing until the cake holds together. Place bites on a cookie sheet and chill in the freezer for 15 minutes or the refrigerator for two hours. 5 While the bites are chilling, melt the baking chips either in a double boiler or the microwave. Remove the bites from the freezer/refrigerator and let sit for about five minutes before dipping in chocolate. Note: If the bites are frozen, the chocolate will crack as it hardens. Once the chocolate has completely melted and the bites have sat at room temperature for the allotted time, begin dipping the bites one at a time and return back to the cookie sheet once dipped. 6 Add additional topping(s), if desired, and allow chocolate to set up on the bites. Once it’s hardened, enjoy! Although it’s not required, but to maintain the ‘popping’ sound when biting into a cake bite, keep refrigerated. Refrigeration will extend shelf life up to two months. Cake bites freeze very well and can remain in the freezer for up to four months. 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. S

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

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Medible Madness • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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REGULATING MEDIBLES: Who, What, When, Where & How?

By Hippy KK and Kandy Krush Will future medible regulations include a traveling inspector that certifies Cannabis-infused foods and stamps all products on a weekly basis before they can be offered for sale? If so, this person(s), an employee of the state or county health department, would act much like a health inspector whose job would include visiting dispensaries and Cannabis events, inspecting all medible products, ensuring that expiration dates are clearly visible and that the medibles are safe and in compliance with all current regulations. Recent changes in regards to labeling regulations have piqued consumer interest on the issue of food safety in regards to ready-to-eat Cannabisinfused medibles, making medible production regulation a priority topic.

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Medible Madness • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

If you are a medibles producer, it’s critical that you follow industry standard food safety regulations and that you provide the information that meets both regulatory requirements and consumer demands for more complete product information.

Denver, Colo. just happens to be the location for the majority of the state’s Cannabisinfused edibles producers. It’s also the city where health officials have been meeting up with local business owners in order to discuss city requirements when producing these products, ensuring that everyone involved is practicing safe food handling. Implementing these regulations will reduce the chances of a consumer falling ill due to improper handling or expired edibles. Discussions are centering on the assumption that edible manufacturers might very well fall under the same category and inspection guidelines as restaurants and must pass an inspection at least twice a year. It’s possible for edible manufacturers to lose their license if they fail several inspections. Warning: These inspections will most likely be unannounced/unscheduled. If you are a medibles producer, it’s critical that you follow industry standard food safety regulations and that you provide the information that meets both regulatory requirements and consumer demands for more complete product information. That means having the information on a label to identify

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when the product is ‘best if consumed by,’ or an expiration date. Once a label with a use-by or expiration date has been added to a medible product container, that date must never be altered nor should a new label be affixed with a later use-by or expiration date. Most dispensaries have scheduled drop-off days, i.e., Mondays and Thursdays, and often have a specified time of day as well. If you produce Cannabis-infused medibles, you can expect the inspector to be present when you make your donation. If a medible manufacturer drops product off on any other day than what’s scheduled, an additional fee to expedite the inspection and schedule a special inspection time will often be charged. All products that are not sold need to be pulled from the shelf on the day of expiration and disposed of — not sold at a discounted price. Cannabis-infused medibles are no different than any other food and could make someone sick if the shelf life of a particular ingredient used has expired; the shelf life of certain products may be longer than others — but from our experience most medibles don’t stay on the shelf long enough to expire. S

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Cannaloop ... BREAKFAST...

AND BEYOND By Kandy Krush A dispensary in Bend, Ore. has partnered with a local popular doughnut shop to create a line of doughnuts that are high in THC and perfect with your first cup of java in the morning — or anytime for that matter. Cannabend launched their line of Cannaloop doughnuts on April 20, and have since received great reviews regarding taste, potency and texture. The Cannaloop doughnuts are exclusive to Cannabend, and are prepared by a

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local doughnut shop in town. Doughnuts are delivered to the Cannabend dispensary hot and fresh out of the oven a few times each week. Cannabend’s doughnuts are gluten-free, have zero trans-fat and no high-fructose corn syrup. These delicious treats are more cake-like in texture versus the more common raised doughnut. They taste like heaven on earth and are frosted with a variety of toppings such as maple and — my

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MICHAEL CATANACHAPODACA, INSTAGRAM: @MACROMARYJANE

favorite — chocolate cherry with sprinkles. At 64 mg. of THC each, these doughnuts are the perfect edible for morning, midday and nighttime. Patients may also place larger orders in advance. Cannabend is located at 3312 N. Hwy 97, on the north side of Bend, Ore. next to News & Smokes between the Sugarloaf Mt. Motel and the Bend River Promenade Mall. The dispensary is easily accessible from

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U.S. Highway 97 and U.S. Highway 20, an easy drive from Redmond, Madras, or any other central Oregon city that has banned dispensaries. Call (541) 617-0420 for additional information. Cannabend is open Monday through Friday 9–7 and Saturday 11–5. You can find more information about Cannabend on their website at www.cannabend.com or on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/cannabend S

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Back of box show and in

Side of box showing strain

NATOMY of a MEDIBLE 38

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wing serving advice ngredients Side of box showing warning

Top of box showing contents and THC level of each component Orange Kissed Carrot Cake Bites box designed by Emily Cain

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Thinking about getting into the medible business? Hippy KK delves into the what you need to be a successful purveyor of goods.

dibles have really been in the spotlight lately, gaining a lot of unwanted, unnecessary and negative attention. The topic of safety concerns were splashed all over the headlines this past April following the death of a college student in Colorado. His death reportedly occurred after he consumed an edible and jumped off a hotel balcony. Post-mortem toxicology reports indicated the victim had an extremely high blood alcohol level, but the damage was done as soon as the words ‘Cannabis’ and ‘edibles’ were also mentioned in news reporting his death. The ripple effect was, and still is, being felt throughout the entire Cannabis community — especially for those who manufacture edibles, or, as they are more commonly known, medibles. As a non-consumer, I fight daily for the rights of those who choose to consume Cannabis. Even though I don’t partake, that doesn’t mean you or anyone else shouldn’t be able to enjoy yourself. The right to choose is an individual, God-given freedom. However, when it comes to criticizing medibles, I take it personally, as all that negative talk affects my livelihood. From the very first day I opened the door to my medible kitchen, I have taken great pride in branding, packaging, labeling, and building

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a reputation that is well-known within my local community. I have even gone a couple steps further than most one-person kitchens and obtained a food handler’s card, and I pay taxes on all income received from ‘donating’ my products. But just because I have taken all these steps, does it mean my products are safe? You’re darn right they’re safe! Not only are they safe, but consistently accurate in dosage.

Testing Every batch of product should be properly tested for potency and mold, no matter what ingredient (hash, oil, butter, etc.) is chosen to infuse the medible. Not many dispensaries or provisioning centers offer in-house testing, and those that do only offer potency testing. Therefore, an account with a testing laboratory is essential. Local to me is Iron Labs, where a lifetime membership costs $175. It is best that the medible producer has the lab membership rather than depending on a dispensary to send the product off to be tested, and here’s why. If there is anything wrong with your product, for instance, if the test results come back positive for mold, the dispensary finds out first and you have no way to correct the problem before donating it for distribution. I can’t imagine anyone would be willing to take a product after the fact, knowing a

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medible had tested positive for mold. If you try to cut corners to keep your initial costs down by allowing the dispensary to pay the lab fee, you’re hurting yourself in the long run. They most likely will never offer your product to their patients. And remember, word travels fast in the Cannabis community, so what that one particular dispensary has discovered about your product you can be guaranteed the others will soon find out. In order to obtain consistency in medibles, testing should be done on every batch that comes out of the kitchen. It doesn’t matter how many times that particular item has been made, it should always be tested, especially if the product infusing the medible isn’t tested regularly.

et’s use decarboxylated bubble hash as an example. There’s a particular method used in order to decarboxylate Cannabis. (see article on page 44). Although the referenced article doesn’t contain information on how to decarb hash, it is exactly the same method as decarbing trimmings or bud, and for argument’s sake, let’s say that’s in a preheated 240°F oven for approximately 30 minutes. This has been done a million times over, but on this particular occasion, unknown to the producer, the oven temp is inaccurate and it’s running high at 290°F, and the bubble hash is left in the oven for 30 minutes. Without being tested, one would never know that the desired THC in the medibles actually broke down to THCA (the undesirable type of THC). Had it been tested, you would have realized that something went wrong during the decarboxylating process, but instead, future sales are lost because patients were not being medicated properly.

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Packaging medibles All medibles should be packaged in FDAapproved material and look as if they just came off an assembly line from a well-known bakery or candy manufacturer. Sure, customprinted labels, wrappers, boxes, etc., can be extremely costly, but that’s only a drop in the bucket compared to the income medibles have the potential to bring someone who puts a little heart and soul into their branding. This shows consumers the professionalism and high standards of your business. Packages should always be tamper-proof by being completely sealed in some way, shape or form. For those who are able to have packaging designed or design it themselves, be creative but avoid copying a well-known candy manufacturer such as the Hershey Company. In June of this year, Hershey filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against a Colorado-based medible producer claiming that four of their Cannabisinfused products are replicas of Hershey products. Hershey claimed that the medibles “are packaged in a way that will confuse consumers, including children.” Admittedly, there is truth in that statement.

Labeling medibles What should be on a label? Good question. There’s a whole slew of necessary information that needs to be included on all medible labels. The product name and description as well as the amount of THC contained in the product should be on the front of the label. It’s suggested that a clear warning of some sort stating that the product contains Cannabis should be on the front of the label. As long as it’s clear, this warning can be in text or graphic form. On the back should go ingredients (in order that they’re used), a warning that states

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that the product is for medical use only and to keep away from children and pets, as well as the fact that it may cause drowsiness and that the consumer should not operate a vehicle or machinery after consuming. Go the extra mile and include an expiration date and wording that states that the medibles are only to be used in compliance with state laws. For example, I produce in the state of Michigan, so my labels say “use only in compliance with MMMA/ MMMP laws.” Since different Cannabis genus provide varying medicinal effects, it is also suggested that the medible be labeled appropriately, i.e., sativa, indica, or hybrid.

Are medibles safe? By all means, medibles are safe — as safe as any other method of consuming Cannabis. A person cannot overdose on Cannabis or Cannabis-infused products such as medibles. However, one can get extremely high after consuming medibles and, on several occasions, I’ve been told by several people that they were so high after eating medibles that they actually felt like they were tripping. The only risk one takes when purchasing medibles is worrying about the kitchen in which they were made. If every individual does as I do every time I step into my medible kitchen there’d be no worries. Just imagine John Taffer of “Bar Rescue” fame is watching your every move. Taffer is no joke.

urrently, Colorado recreational retail stores only allow medibles that contain 10 mg. of THC per serving, and a single medible package cannot contain more than 10 servings, which totals 100 mg. of THC per medible. Washington recently announced that they will allow the sale of medibles at their recreational retail stores. However, they will not allow such items as gummy worms, suckers

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or any other product that might be appealing to children, but will allow baked medibles such as cookies and brownies. Last month, the Washington State Liquor Control Board published packaging and labeling guidelines for medibles. The guidelines are: • T he medible has to pass a processing facility inspection. • T he medible must be clearly labeled as containing Cannabis. • Medibles must be tested for potency and to ensure that the Cannabis derivatives are spread evenly throughout the product. • Medible processors must submit a photo of the proposed product along with its labels and packaging to get approval. Strict as they might be, I find those guidelines very reasonable and necessary to ensure safe food handling. Should Michigan ever become a recreational state, I can easily see myself following similar guidelines because I basically already follow them. Medibles are consumed for different reasons. Some people consume them strictly for medicinal purposes, while others might not care to smoke Cannabis but like the effect the herb provides them. Maybe you can’t sleep at night so instead of taking a swig of whiskey, you pop a medible in your mouth. Nighty, night, sleep tight! Whatever the reason, it’s high time people understand that medibles are just another form of medication. Put the appropriate warning labels on, practice safe food handling (remember, John Taffer is watching), and build a brand you can be proud of and that is enjoyed by every consumer who tries your product. S

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DECARBOXILATION. KNOW IT. LOVE IT. DO IT. By Natalie Covate

Tetrahydrocannabinol,

better known as THC, is the well-known chemical compound that causes psychoactive effects on Cannabis consumers. However, Cannabis does not actually contain much THC, believe it or not. The main source of THC is present, but it requires a chemical reaction to convert it into the psychoactive ingredient that Cannabis users enjoy. Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, or THCA, makes up around 80–90 percent of the THC found in Cannabis. THCA breaks down into THC through a process known as decarboxylation, where THCA loses its carboxyl group. The carboxyl group is converted into carbon dioxide in order for it to disconnect from the THC. Over time, THCA would eventually deteriorate to THC, but it is unlikely that consumers are willing to wait quite that long. Luckily, decarboxylation occurs rapidly when heat and time are applied to the Cannabis. This is what happens when someone smokes or vaporizes the herb. However, when someone tries to make a tincture, for example, decarboxylation is not as easily achieved. Sometimes when baking, the concentration of THC is not as high as the baker hoped. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to enhance the THC

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concentrate in your Cannabis goodies. For example, heating ground Cannabis in a crockpot or leaving it to soak in hard alcohol will allow it to decarboxylate before adding it to brownie mix. With a smaller amount of Cannabis, bakers have experienced decarboxylating success by putting coarsely ground Cannabis in a tin foil pouch and heating it over the stove. Another popular method is to grind Cannabis and put it in an oven or toaster oven. However, heating must be done carefully. Overheating decarboxylated Cannabis will cause the THC to degrade to Cannabinol, or CBN, which has some psychoactive effects, but they are minimal when compared to THC. CBN is the chemical responsible for drowsy effects experienced by some smokers. If this effect is desired, a smoker can overdecarboxylate their stash ever so slightly to have a great night’s sleep. Most people see the best results when their Cannabis is heated at around 240°F to 252°F for approximately 20 to 30 minutes; results will vary depending on the variety of Cannabis.

Medical Decarboxylation is particularly important for medical marijuana patients who prefer to consume medibles rather than inhale

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Cannabis. In order to reach therapeutic levels of THC concentration, medical Cannabis is usually decarboxylated. THCA does not achieve the same therapeutic results as THC, so for medical patients, decarboxylating their Cannabis will result in more potent treatments. THCA does have some therapeutic benefits, such as inhibiting cancer cell growth or aiding in sleep. But common therapeutic purposes, such as reducing vomiting and pain relief, are better achieved by THC. Some manufacturers can dial into the exact amounts of THC and THCA they need in a certain treatment. For example, there are Cannabis-based topical treatments that benefit from measurable levels of THC and THCA, such as a cream that inhibits cancer cell growth and relieves pain. In these cases, processors do not fully decarboxylate their active ingredient. Decarboxylated Cannabis can be used to make infused butters and oils that are potent and can be used in baking and cooking, even if the final product does not need to be cooked. That means cannabutter can be spread on a piece of bread and eaten as is without needing to throw that butter into a batch of cookie dough, for example.

Hash oil Hash oil is rising in popularity across the

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country, especially in Colorado where it is easily accessible. Those who smoke it say they experience a bigger rush and a more psychedelic high than they do with regular Cannabis. But creating hash oil can be a dangerous process. Commonly, an oil producer will run butane over the Cannabis. Butane acts as a solvent, allowing the Cannabis oil to separate from the plant and mix with the butane. When the butane is gently heated, such as in a hot water bath, it evaporates. What is left is hash oil, a concentrated form of THC. The oil can then be smoked out of a bong or pipe. The easiest way to monitor the process of decarboxylation when creating hash oil is to put the Cannabis into a hot oil bath. As Cannabis is heated in oil, the chef can monitor the production of carbon dioxide bubbles. Carbon dioxide produces smaller, more uniform bubbles than butane. A quick YouTube search yields several videos of inexperienced hash oil producers, like those who have made headlines recently for creating explosions or fires in their house — butane is highly flammable, folks. If the solution is heated too rapidly, it will combust. Do your research, educate yourself and remember that safety is of utmost importance. S

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Methods

OF PREPARATION By Hippy KK

ver the past several years, oils have become a hot commodity — ranking in popularity right up there with hashish. Last summer, there was a frightening rumor that there was going to be a nationwide hash ban, which left consumers wondering where to find their favorite product. Thankfully, as of yet, there has been no such ban. Nonetheless, it’s always best to be prepared for the worst, so with that in mind, from quick-and-easy hash to the more labor-intensive Rick Simpson Hash Oil; Sativa Magazine is sharing five methods of preparing hashish and oils. Although we are providing these instructions,

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Sativa Magazine cannot be held responsible for any damages that may be incurred while making any of these products. So, with that said, let’s go make some oil.

LET’S START with what appears to be the most popular, Butane Honey Oil (BHO), also known as Honey Oil. Before you start making your own extractor, you should know that there are products such as the Honey Bee Extractor, and others made specifically for this method, and can easily be found on the internet for purchase. Remember, BHO should always be made outside!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED: »» O ne ounce plant trimmings, bud or combination of both; »» T wo six-ounce cans of butane (it never hurts to have additional on hand in case it’s needed)

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»» One 9-inch by 9-inch square »» O ne 9.5-inch by 13.5-inch rectangular Pyrex dish »» very hot water (not boiling) »» an extraction tube »» a heating pad »» a razor blade or other sharp scraping tool »» gloves or oven mitts If using average-quality Cannabis, the yield should be approximately two to four grams.

HOW TO MAKE BHO: Before going outside to make your BHO, heat a pan of water on high but do not boil. Once it is hot, remove from heat. Take all your other ingredients outside. Fill the extraction tube with plant material but do not pack it tight. Tightly packed greens will not allow the butane to pass through and could potentially cause pressure to build and blow out into your face. If you do not have a stand-alone extractor, it is best to use thick gloves or an oven mitt since the butane causes the extraction tube to get very cold. Place the extraction tube over the square Pyrex dish and begin injecting the butane for approximately 30 seconds. Stop and wait for 15 seconds, then continue injecting the butane for another 30 seconds. Continue this process until all the butane is used.

THIS INITIAL RUN will use both of the six-ounce cans of butane. When finished, allow the extractor to sit upright while you go get your pan of hot water. These few additional seconds will allow all dripping to cease. Carefully pour the hot water into the rectangular Pyrex dish about halfway or just enough so that the bottom of the square Pyrex barely sits in the water. Your butane mixture

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will begin to rapidly bubble but after several minutes it will stop. If you notice some cloudy bubbles remaining, it is best to pop these since it’s trapped butane. Place the square Pyrex dish onto a heating pad for at least one hour on the highest setting to ensure that all the butane is gone. After an hour has passed, remove the Pyrex dish from the heating pad, scrape the purged oil from the Pyrex dish and place it into your storage container. Go on, DAB A LITTLE!

RICK SIMPSON’S HEMP OIL Now, let’s move on to a different type of oil, one that has become recognized as a natural cure for cancer, Rick Simpson’s Hemp Oil. Please keep in mind, as with BHO, the solvents used to make this oil are extremely flammable and should only be used outside.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED: »» O ne ounce of well-dried, high-quality Cannabis »» 5 00 ml or 17-ounce solvent (pure naphtha, ether, butane, 99 percent isopropyl alcohol or even water) »» two one-gallon plastic buckets »» a few drops of water »» a “stirring” stick or long-handled spoon made of untreated wood »» a coffee filter »» a rice cooker »» a dehydrator or coffee warmer »» a stainless-steel container »» a candy thermometer »» a plastic syringe »» oven mitts

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This will yield about three to four grams, depending on the strain used.

HOW TO MAKE RICK SIMPSON’S HASH OIL: Place the entire ounce of plant matter into one of the plastic buckets and dampen with some of the solvent of your choice. Mash the plant material using the stick or stir spoon. Since the Cannabis is dry, it will crush up easily even though it’s damp. Continue mashing, while adding additional solvent to the mixture until the plant material is completely covered. Continue stirring the mixture for about three minutes. While stirring, the THC will be drawn from the greens into the solvent. Take the bucket and carefully pour only the solvent into the second bucket, leaving the plant matter in the original bucket.

NOW IT’S READY FOR A SECOND WASH. Add more solvent to the greens and mix for another three minutes to remove the remaining THC. Pour the solvent from the second wash into the bucket containing the first. Discard the plant matter. Wash the empty bucket because you’re getting ready to use it again. Pour the solvent through a coffee filter into the clean bucket.

AFTER FILTERING, use the rice cooker to boil off the solvent. Fill the rice cooker about three-fourths full, and turn it to high heat. As the solvent evaporates, continue adding the remaining solvent to the rice cooker until all the solvent has been added. As the solvent reaches its lowest point in the rice cooker, it will be necessary to add a little — meaning three drops — of water to the solvent to protect the oil from becoming too hot. When there is approximately one inch of solvent remaining, using oven mitts, pick up the rice cooker and gently swirl the contents around. Reduce the heat of the rice cooker to low; occasionally checking the temperature of the solvent with the candy

thermometer, ensuring that it never exceeds 290°F. Allow the remaining solvent to cook off.

nce again, using the oven mitts, remove the pot from the rice cooker and pour the oil into a stainless-steel container. Place the container into the dehydrator or on a coffee warmer. It could easily take several hours for the few drops of water and volatile terpenes to evaporate from the oil. When there is no longer any surface activity in the oil, take it off the heating device and allow it to slightly cool before using. A syringe is ideal to store Rick Simpson Hash Oil in and makes for easy dispensing, but it can be kept in any type of container or jar. FOR A LARGER YIELD of two to three ounces of oil, use one pound of Cannabis and two gallons of solvent. Wow, that was a lot of work! Let’s move onto something else shall we? Pull out those Bubble Bags and LET’S MAKE SOME HASH!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED: One ounce of welldried trimmings; a bag of ice; one or two-anda-half or five-gallon buckets; Bubble Bags; cold water; a hand mixer or a long-handled stirring spoon; a plastic scraper; a pressing screen, and some newspaper or a dish towel.

HOW TO MAKE BUBBLE HASH: Line the bucket with the Bubble Bags, beginning with the smallest-micron to the largest-micron bag. For example, using a three-bag system, line the bucket in the following order: 25-micron, 73-micron then the 220-micron. Fill the bucket with water until the bottom of the top bag is completely submerged, which should be about halfway full. Add the trimmings to the bucket and cover with enough ice so that the bucket is a little more than three-fourths full. Using the hand mixer or stir spoon, mix

TURTLE DABZ

for about 20 minutes. Continue adding ice if necessary to keep the water cold. An ideal mixture is 50/50 water and ice. Remove the top bag which holds the trimmings and set aside. This is where the second bucket comes in handy. Remove the middle bag, which is the 73-micron, and allow the water to selfdrain, do not squeeze the water out. Once all the water has been removed, turn the bag insideout. Using the plastic scraper, collect the hash and place it on the pressing screen. Now, this is when you get to squeeze. Over the dish towel or newspaper, gently squeeze the excess water out of the hash. Set aside and allow all the moisture to completely evaporate. With this method you have to be a little more patient than with the above oils, as the hash will be far too wet to smoke immediately. This process can be repeated as many times as desired, but three times is optimal.

nce you’re finished running the 73-micron bag, it’s time to pull out the 25-micron bag and allow it to drain. Since the silk screen on this bag is so small, it takes a while, quite possibly a few days. So the best thing to do is

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find a safe place to hang the bag, allowing the water to drip into the bucket without sitting in it. Be sure to check the water level in the bucket occasionally and raise the bag if necessary. Once all the water is drained, turn the bag inside-out and repeat the process of collecting the hash and removing excess water with the pressing screen as was done with the 73-micron bag. Set aside, dry and then enjoy! Aside from heat-pressing kief, the simplest way to make hash is the DRY-ICE EXTRACTION METHOD. Bubble Bowls® offer single-micron bowls or kits that contain two- or three-stage bowls, which greatly reduce the time and mess that go hand-in-hand with the Bubble-Bag method. Gather around, it’s time to make some dry-ice hash.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED: »» One ounce of well-dried trimmings »» Bubble Bowls® »» dry ice »» a gathering card »» a large bowl to use as a catch basin

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»» a towel

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

»» gloves

»» Dry-ice-extracted hash

»» a hammer

»» a clay extruder

»» desired storage container

»» a hair dryer

HOW TO MAKE DRY-ICE-EXTRACTED HASH: For this method, it is advised by the

»» a dime

manufacturer that trimmings are placed in a paper or plastic bag and crushed first, but do not grind, before placing in the stack of bowls. To break up the dry ice, first wrap it in a towel then strike it with a hammer. Always wear gloves when handling dry ice! Stack the Bubble Bowls® over the large bowl being used as a catch basin, making sure the smallest micron bowl is on the bottom of the stack and the largest on top. For instance, if using the three-bowl kit, it should go in the following order; catch basin, 90-micron, 120-micron then the 160-micron Bubble Bowl®. Fill the top bowl with crushed trimmings then add approximately one part dry ice to two parts trimmings. Cover with the supplied lid and let sit for two minutes. After the time has lapsed, lift the entire stack and shake for 30 seconds to one minute. Remove the top bowl and shake it over a spare catch basin for one to two minutes. NOTE: THE LONGER YOU SHAKE, the more green matter comes through. When this happens, there’s a noticeable change in color; you will notice several different tones of green. Use the gathering cards to collect the hash and put into your desired storage container, or containers, if you choose to keep the grades separate. In a matter of only minutes the hash is done and ready to use.

BLACK HASH: For those that like a little different taste in hash, the next project is black hash. Since it’s already available, use some of the dry-ice-extracted hash to make it.

The yield will vary depending on the size of clay extruder.

HOW TO MAKE PRESSED BLACK HASH: First, place a dime in the bottom of the clay extruder. This will prevent the hash from falling straight through, and it will also put a cool design on your hash. Fill the body of the clay extruder with dry-ice hash, occasionally pressing it down to give it more room to fill. Once completely full, turn the handle until you feel resistance. Do not remove it, this isn’t just pressed hash, it’s black hash, so heat needs to be applied. Use the high-heat setting on the hair dryer and heat the end of the clay extruder for at least five minutes. Allow it to cool slightly before removing from the clay extruder, but once it’s removed, don’t forget to remove the dime from the hash! This chunk of hash should be fairly dark and sticky, if it isn’t, enough heat wasn’t applied, but it will still be very tasty alone or rolled up with Cannabis and you’ll know next time to apply the heat for a little longer. Whether it’s dabbing, helping someone out who has cancer, or maybe just seeking an easy way to make hash, one of these five methods should point you in the right direction. OILS

SHOULD ALWAYS BE MADE OUTSIDE!

Sativa Magazine cannot emphasize enough that EXTREME CAUTION must be taken when making hash oils. The solvents used are highly flammable and have the potential to CAUSE GREAT HARM. S

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

Find out more at: www.scientificsoils.com

CANNABIS RESTAURANTS, CLUBS A With recreational Cannabis legal in Washington and Colorado, and medical Cannabis legal in many other states, Cannabis-themed restaurants and cafés are beginning to appear. These popular types of businesses have been in existence in Amsterdam and other Dutch cities for years. While not strictly legal in the Netherlands, the businesses have operated unopposed for decades. Businesses in the United States that would like to allow their patrons to medicate on premises,

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perhaps while enjoying a meal, face several challenges. In the medical Cannabis community, legal dispensaries are typically prohibited from allowing patients to medicate on premises. In states that have legalized recreational Cannabis, the “open and public” smoking of Cannabis is generally not allowed. Additionally, the clean air statutes that have legislated non-smoking in public spaces mean that smoking — of anything — is verboten in restaurants and cafés.

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By David Moss

AND CAFÉS FINALLY ON THE MENU Cannabis entrepreneurs that have ventured into these perilous waters have overcome these challenges by operating the restaurant or café as a private club. In states that allow only medical Cannabis, these establishments are limited to patients with appropriate documentation. In Colorado and Washington, however, where recreational Cannabis is legal, these clubs have a broader base of potential patrons. Colorado’s clean air act creates an exception for

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“a place of employment that is not open to the public and that is under the control of an employer that employs three or fewer employees.” This exception has historically been utilized by groups such as the Elks or the Lions, who tend to have small, members-only bars in their clubhouses. Private club owners Cheryl and David Fanelli have taken advantage of the exception and worked out a business plan that has been approved by the local municipalities/regulators. The Fanelli’s business is called Club Ned, a private club in

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Nederland, at which patrons may enjoy smoking Cannabis, ordering refreshments, and listening to live music. Patrons must make appointments and must bring their own Cannabis. Also in Colorado is Hapa Sushi, a chain of four sushi/steakhouses with locations in Greenwood Village, Boulder and two in Denver, are proCannabis. Although Hapa Sushi does not allow smoking in its restaurants, it has used a Cannabis advertising campaign for several years. In 2009, Hapa Sushi put together an ad campaign that involved maps. On the maps, Hapa Sushi restaurants were represented in red and medical Cannabis dispensaries in blue. More recently, Hapa Sushi began offering menu pairing recommendations. These include: Katsu Curry with Blue Dream; Honey Salmon with Sour OG, and Pakalolo Shrimp with Pakistani Kush. Whether or not Hapa Sushi actually evolves into a Cannabis consumption model remains to be seen. On the medical Cannabis side, there are cafés such as the Ganja Gourmet in Colorado. The Ganja Gourmet serves items such as Hummus & Curry Ganja Ganoush, bottled Ganjanade, and bottled Ganja Wing Sauce. Ganja Gourmet also functions as a medical Cannabis dispensary where patients may obtain their medical Cannabis. The World Famous Cannabis Café is a medical Cannabis facility located in Portland, Ore. The café does not serve meals, nor does it function as a dispensary. Its purpose is to provide an enjoyable atmosphere where medical Cannabis patients may enjoy their Cannabis away from home. The café has free Cannabis available for patrons to enjoy at the vapor bar. It also has a stage for live music and other entertainment, shuffleboard, billiards, and a professional conference room that includes Wi-Fi. There are other avenues that may be explored for combining Cannabis and dining. Clean

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air statutes generally do not apply to outside seating and so, provided that an outdoor seating arrangement is set up in such a way that it does not involve “open and public” consumption of Cannabis, consumption may be allowed. Vaporizing does not violate clean air statutes, and so may provide an avenue for Cannabis consumption to be partnered with dining. Additionally, Cannabis-infused food products do not violate clean air statutes. MagicalButter is a Seattle-based company that is pursuing the concept of serving Cannabisinfused food products to the general public. MagicalButter has launched The Samich food truck (Samich stands for Savory Accessible Marijuana Infused Culinary Happiness). The food that is sold from the Samich truck is infused with Cannabis butter, oil, or cheese. The truck offers BBQ pulled-pork sandwiches, tomato soup, grilled-cheese sandwiches, and more. MagicalButter is also in the process of opening a traditional restaurant in Seattle. The restaurant is to be called MagicalButter Studio and will serve a range of Cannabis-infused foods to its diners. The restaurant also plans to have a Cannabis expert on staff to advise diners with respect to amounts of Cannabis and types of Cannabis (including the difference between products infused with high CBD content Cannabis and those infused with high THC content Cannabis). If successful, MagicalButter Studio may be the first legal Cannabis eatery open to the general public. As the legalization efforts continue to proceed, and states allowing medical Cannabis continue to develop and fine-tune their regulations, Cannabisbased restaurants and cafés will have more and more guidance as to what is, and is not, going to pass legal mustard — er, muster. And to that we say, “Bon appétit. S

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KIT

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TCHEN

which? How to choose the best prep facility for your medible business ByDavid Kennedy

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Do you enjoy cooking and baking for others?

Are you considering opening a cannabusiness that would produce medibles for medical Cannabis patients? Before you invest in the raw ingredients and engage a graphic designer to whip up your packaging, it’s important to acquaint yourself with the local laws which will have a tremendous impact on who, where and how you create and distribute your culinary canna-masterpieces. Of the 22 states and Washington, D.C. that have medical Cannabis available, the implementation of laws allowing for the consumption of medical Cannabis and the preparation of Cannabis-infused products are currently restricted to registered medical cardholders only. And these cardholders are required to prepare their medibles in a commercial kitchen — under the letter of the law, they are the only ones allowed to legally carry Cannabis-infused products. States in which recreational Cannabis is regulated and legal may allow approved and licensed professionals to work in medible kitchens as well. Given the steady growth in the popularity of medibles, it’s no wonder that many entrepreneurs view the canna-kitchen as a great investment. Rules for making medibles are exactly the same as rules for making non-Cannabis foods to sell or distribute. Foremost, in almost all medical states, you need a professional or commercial kitchen to prepare the medibles. Commercial kitchens incorporate cooking stations and appropriate equipment to operate the stations. Commercial kitchens use durable equipment made specifically for mass food production and also incorporate special safety features. The

kitchen layout is governed by state, county, and local codes that protect workers from injury by mandating measured spaces between heated surfaces and movement patterns in the kitchen. There are also health code requirements to meet regarding all food preparation, storage and disposal. Health inspectors use thermometers and test equipment to confirm the facility is up to code. Kitchens must be equipped with National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)-approved equipment, meet certain plumbing and electrical requirements, and have standard shelf heights, among other things. It can be an expensive proposition to build your own commercial kitchen.

Restaurants, churches, and other establishments

often have industrial kitchens that are not in use 24 hours per day. This downtime doesn’t allow for full use and profitability. For years, many such kitchens have rented out their space to others during off-hours to earn more money by maximizing the use of their equipment. This is called a shared commercial kitchen. These are commonplace, but enter the other side of the equation — cooking with Cannabis. Finding a 420-friendly shared commercial facility may range from challenging to impossible, given the “under the radar” nature of cannabusiness in general as state allowances and federal crackdowns converge to make for an unpredictable business environment. But at least one cannabusiness has made a lot of money by renting out restaurant space in Seattle. Christine Bucks, who goes by the name Grandma Happy Cakes, now runs a large operation out of a sympathetic, albeit unnamed restaurant. And check out “I Canna Cook!” based in Denver. They already offer Cannabis cooking classes and kitchen rental by the hour.

In January, a hash oil kitchen exploded in Seattle, blowing one wall of the building six inches off its foundation. So, what are some specific issues of cooking with Cannabis professionally? The Seattle Times reports that medible producers operate “even more underground than dispensaries,” and that “no one is inspecting them because state officials defer to the federal ban on marijuana.” Just as medibles are increasing in popularity, the state of Washington has recognized that there will need to be licenses and testing for medible products, and it will likely place new content restrictions on products and advertising regarding medibles packaging. As the rules vary state by state, it is important to remember that when cooking in an industrial kitchen using Cannabis, you must still operate under the same health and food requirements that any non-Cannabis kitchen does. And legalization will likely yield a plethora of new regulations to follow. Rules and the associated costs of professional canna-kitchens can range wildly depending on state and local laws. In some states, including Washington, medibles sold by local dispensaries may be made locally in people’s own kitchens. Setting up your own home industrial kitchen is not hard to do: all you need is an industrial oven, some space, equipment, and a food handler’s permit. For those medible chefs who aren’t making a large enough quantity of product to justify renting a spot, or if you can’t connect with a Cannabis-

friendly shared space, it might make better sense to convert your own kitchen at home if you have the space, funds, and equipment, and if you live in a state that allows it.

If, on the other hand, your state requires

that you work in an off-site industrial kitchen, finding a private party to work with is critical. Discretion is paramount. Medibles protections are not available by federal law, and since the legalization movement has taken hold, the laws in Colorado and Washington State are changing almost all the time as those state legislatures grapple with new issues surrounding Cannabis. For example, manufacturers in Colorado have to prepare medibles in a kitchen that is exclusive to medibles manufacturing, so using a shared space is out of the question. Unfortunately, it doesn’t help that they have to continually struggle to keep the Drug Enforcement Agency from closing their kitchens down. Many kitchens self-report the ingredients and amounts thereof on their products in the attempt to avoid such federal crackdowns. Still, under all of the current regulations, capitalism, in some states, is winning faster than in other states when it comes to Cannabis. In some cases, small-business-conscious groups have come together in various communities

to form what are called “incubator kitchens,” or “culinary incubators.” These are made available to small business owners who need to rent industrial kitchen time and use at reasonable rates. They are often more

https://www.komonews.com/news/local/ Local-grandma …

https://48hillsonline.org/2014/05/26/ask-budman-cook-edibles …

sympathetic to the needs of medible producers.

https://www.cnn.com/2014/01/08/us/ washington-hashish-explosion/

Most of these rules and regulations purport

https://kdvr.com/2014/05/21/hickenloopersigns-marijuana-edibles-safety-bills …

safety as their primary concern, but what about the safety of your own industrial kitchen? Recently, this issue has arisen as many home explosions have occurred by people trying to make butane hash oil. Hash oil is the key ingredient to many infused edibles. In January, a hash oil kitchen exploded in Seattle, blowing one wall of the building six inches off its foundation. Now, in Washington and Colorado, only commercial “closed-loop” systems, which keep flammable solvents from escaping into the room, may be used. Other states, like Oregon, have enacted such similar regulations. It may be difficult to find a professional kitchen that will allow the use of pressurized flammable solvents. Regardless of the laws and the risks, medibles are taking off in popularity all over the country. The delights of cooking with Cannabis in an industrial kitchen, shared or otherwise, could likely be met with great demand for your products. Cannabis-infused

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https://seattletimes.com/html/ localnews/2019372300_medibles08.html https://business.time.com/2013/01/08/187000pounds-of-marijuana-anually … https://fox5sandiego.com/2013/11/13/insidethe-budding-industry … https://www.seattleweekly.com/home/952453129/as-washington … https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/ may/3/marijuana-labs … https://www.npr.org/2014/01/10/261390781/ marijuana-hash-oil-explodes … https://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index. ssf/2014/05/butane … https://la.eater.com/archives/2013/03/27/meet_ brandon … https://www.medicaljane.com/2013/02/06/ cooking-with-cannabis-faq# https://mynorthwest.com/11/2432946/ Washington-state-marijuana … https://smallbusiness.chron.com/rentcommercial-kitchen-baking-12862.html https://www.foodservicewarehouse.com/ education/finding-a-commercial …

foods are now a growing part of American

https://blog.bodellconsulting.com/2012/02/24/ catering-without-a-commercial …

haute cuisine. The movement towards use of

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Cannabis in all its many forms is changing the

https://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/startingcatering-business-renting-commercial …

face, and taste, of the country for the better. S

AUGUST 2014

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