Sativa magazine hash is banned in the usa by Sativa Magazine

AUGUST 2013â&#x20AC;

sativamagazine.com

AUGUST 2013 3

Do your part to grow the culture. Let our advertisers know that you saw them in Sativa Magazine. Atmos Rx Bubble Bowls Cannabis Camera Cannaline Cannaventure Seeds Celebration Pipes EZTrim Flipz Guardian Data Systems Happy Daddy Products Herbivore Designs Kasher Tools Kushed Clothing Method Seven MTG Seeds National Cannabis Industry Association Shaman Genetics Stoner Couture Threefourink

AUGUST 2013

Sativa Magazine Online Issue No. 7 August 2013 President & Publisher Tiffany Greene Editor-in-Chief Michael Carter Managing Editor & Design Director Cheryl Addington Marketing Director Jason Osburn Carly Hofer Art Directors Emily Cain Josh Clappe Jordan Dusek Heidi Hemp’ography Mekinsey M. Molinaro Lauren Rae Photographers Max Bortnick Heidi Hemp’ography Executive Editors Mercedys M. Gloria Martinez Editor Christie Rears Writers Jade Christian Richard Drew Gina Epps Hippy KK Kip Jarvis Paul Josephs Joe Martin Mercedys M. R. Richards Emily Riopelle Sarrah Safi Karen E. Szabo Dr. Nguyen Van Falk Samuel Wells All contents ©2013 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.

sativamagazine.com

Hash ban bad news for medical consumers

Welcome to the seventh edition of Sativa Magazine — the only publication dedicated to helping create jobs in the expanding Cannabis and hemp industries while providing education and a voice to the expanding Cannabis/hemp industries. Worldwide. Many states around the United States have excluded hash and concentrates from being used or sold. This is written into medical laws in some states. Here in the state of Washington under I-502, hash would not be a product offered or used in the retail Cannabis market. Many of the safest ways to digest Cannabinoids starts with hash. Hash and other concentrates are used in the creation of the majority of medibles on the market today. Eventually the medical/pharmaceutical companies will control the medical side of Cannabis. Once the government reschedules it as a drug with medical benefits, the buckets of cash spewing from the accounts of large pharmaceutical companies will have a lot of power. Will there be a naturopathic medicine market? Will Big Pharma control Cannabis? There are many issues to think about before this next voting season. But we still have four months. We still have a voice in this voting block to change laws and introduce new bills. Do we want jobs for smaller businesses to be able to make medibles under strict regulation for safety issues? The current law on the books here in Seattle will effectively take medibles off the market, as long as it is made with a concentrate. Medibles are the safest way for patients to sativamagazine.com

consume their medicine in my opinion. What will you do in the next four months to protect the freedoms of the people you love? The dispensaries are being targeted. The small business owner needs to speak up if they want a seat at the table. They often refer to this small business owner as “The Black Market”. But, would these small business owners come out in the light and pay taxes if they were given the option — most likely. Instead of banning concentrates all together, let’s regulate and tax them. I believe in taxation. That money can be used to educate and help people that need it. And you can vote on how that money is spent. Are you involved in politics? Do you have a strong opinion about what is happening in the legalization movement? If you are not involved, but you have a strong opinion, it’s time for you to get involved, NOW! We have a very short period of time until a system is set in place for all states. Do you want to help shape that system? Register to vote. Create a bill. Write a petition. Write a blog. Call your local newspaper. Write letters to politicians. Without your voice in this movement ... it’s not a movement. Please help us. We want to create jobs and help fix a broken economy. We see a way to help with that. We will not fix it, but we WILL help. Please don’t let the regulatory system choose what products we want to support and buy for continued on page 83//

AUGUST 2013 5

AUGUST 2013â&#x20AC;

sativamagazine.com

AUGUST 2013 COlumns business Highdeas

trinkets from hash & recyclable trash More cannabiz brain candy.

business as unusual

why you need to attend an industry event Mercedys M. goes to Kush Expo.

the need for seeds

off with their heads! Paul Josephs on, well, hash!

14 18

incredible medibles

cannabis simple syrup & summertime slushy Happy hour will never, ever be the same.

a bit OF CReative liCense

Did You Hear? An occasionally-appearing compendium of legal news. The Beginning of a Belief Hippy KK tells the story behind her crusade for legalization. Nathan Adami Glass Jason Osburn pays tribute to this glass master. If a Peacock Finds a Pot Leaf Book review by Gina Epps.

21 24 59 76

FeatuRes

tHe HasH issue SSSnakes in the Grass An historical overview of anti-hemp-ness. Contradicting Modern-Day Reefer Madness Samuel Wells stocks the ammo drawer. Hash Ban: Industry Destruction Sarrah Safi examines the ramifications of pending legislation. A Matter of Concentrating Hash or oil? Oil or hash? Cannabis: What Your Doctor Should Know A blunt a day... The Cannabis Scientist R. Robinson talks with Dr. Bob, the Cannabis genius. Methods of Preparation Hippy KK tells all. Get yer potholders ready! Can I Eat Hash? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just for breakfast anymore. DUI Limits: A New Battlefield What you need to know before consuming away from home. Top Ten Things to Know About Washington The 411 on cannabusiness in The Evergreen State. The Highs & Lows of Cannabis Cultivation Adjusting for altitude. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good thing. 420 Females More fun that a woman ought to have. sativamAGAzine.com

AUGUST 2013

28 31 32 36 40 45 50 56 63 68 72 85 7

ELEBRATION PIPES marks 40 ICTORY GREEN

In 1973, Richard nixon was just sworn

raging after 10 years of American invo and CELEBRATIOn PIPES were first Christmas presents…what finer sacra

0th anniversary with

n into his second term. The Vietnam War was still olvement. Gas was $0.38 /gallon. Gold was $110/oz. t created on Laie Point, Oahu as stocking stuffers for amental vessel for the herb than a golden bowl? Here we are 40 years later in 2013 and there are DOZENS of states that are either legal (HOORAY for COLORADO & WASHINGTON) or medicinal with DOZENS more seeking sanity from PROHIBITION. Baby boomers suffer from all the classic aging symptoms and seek relief with the herb. CELEBRATION PIPES are still being made one at a time by the same craftsman with the same Gold that now costs $1,600 / oz. and the 40th anniversary pipe is VICTORY GREEN. Each LAVASTONEWARE piece is still handcrafted by DaPiper from his unique ceramic composite, fired to 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit, then meticulously plated in 22 Kt. Gold to reflect the heat and provide the finest burn and smoothest delivery of any pipe on the planet. The bowls exterior is plated in Gold, Platinum, Opal, Black Coral, Purple Haze, Hanalei Blue, or Rastafire and now VICTORY GREEN. Each pipe is encased in a velvet bag and presented in a custom gift box with a Certificate of Authenticity, signed and numbered. Over the years, CELEBR ATION PIPES have been commissioned to create pieces that are in the

collections of AEROSMITH, BOB MARLEY & the WAILERS, CECELIO & K APONO, CHEECH & CHONG, DARYL HANNAH, HUGH HEFNER, FLEETWOOD M AC, JEFFERSON STARSHIP, JESSE COLIN YOUNG, KALAPANA, LOGGINS & MESSINA, KEITH STROUP, (founder of NORML), WILLY NELSON, WOODY HARRELSON, and ZIGGY MARLEY. To help complete the war on PROHIBITION, we are proud to support NORML for their tireless efforts lobbying all levels of Government to FR EE THE WEED. Each purchase of a VICTORY GREEN pipe sends a few more bucks to NORML that will someday lead to safe and sane LEGALISATION once and for allâ&#x20AC;Ś!!! GO TO : www.celebrationpipes.com or find us @ www.norml.org and order your collectors 40th anniversary edition TODAY ! See you at Seattle HEMPFEST August, 2013. Aloha, DaPiper

AUGUST 2013â&#x20AC;

sativamagazine.com

business highdeasâ&#x20AC;&#x192; mercedys/carter

Trinkets from hash and recyclable trash

A creative ganjapreneur with no jewelry-making experience can be successful at this undertaking. Countless websites offer information on how to get started as well as tricks and tips for saving time, not to mention the vast array of videos and books available on the subject. Attending classes and workshops can be educational and motivational. Keep an eye out for the offerings of local artisan groups and community colleges to see whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s available in your area. With experimentation and practice, a dedicated ganjapreneur will gain the required skill set quickly. One could either set the hash into pre-made settings or fashion their own out of an easily pliable metal. Metals such as brass, copper and

sativamagazine.com

turtle dabz

Shatterglass jewelry Many have remarked on the stark beauty of shatterglass hash. When made correctly, shatterglass hash has the look and feel of amber, a popular gemstone used in all kinds of decorative items, including jewelry. Artistic ganjapreneurs could sell shatterglass hash jewelry, providing consumers with a creative method of storing their hash until they are ready to use it.

stainless steel are commonly used in handmade jewelry production. Making custom casings would be more time intensive, but would save money and allow for unlimited creative license when designing jewelry. The pros and cons of each option should be considered, and the best options experimented with, before determining a final production method. Although technically any type of jewelry could be made in this manner, smaller pieces like earrings and necklace pendants would have the best market potential.

Because hash possesses extremely high levels of THC, most consumers use only small quantities at a time. And, as hash is itself an expensive commodity, finding consumers to purchase jewelry made with large quantities of shatterglass hash could be difficult. Hash jewelry could be sold in a variety of ways. If permissible under state law, it could be sold online and shipped to documented medical patients. It could also be offered for sale at dispensaries or medical Cannabis markets or trade shows. As legal recreational usage

AUGUST 2013 11

spreads, it could also be offered for sale at the same places as the herb and other derivatives. All shatterglass jewelry products should come with information as to how to best store the product when not in use, as well as how to remove the hash from its setting when desired. Customers should also be reminded that while their beautiful shatterglass hash jewelry is snazzy, possessing hash remains a highly controversial legal issue — especially outside of the privacy of your own home — so consumers must be careful to follow state regulations or else be prepared to face the consequences. Available URLs: Shattercut.com shattervogue.com shatterfashion.com dabgem.com dabcut.com Recycling, ganja-style Untold pounds of leaves, stalks and other plant parts are often burned or otherwise disposed of because growers do not have the time or motivation to put all parts of the plant to good use. After the grueling process of harvesting, growers are not looking forward to starting the entire process before they are

AUGUST 2013

even done cleaning up after the newly harvested batch. A smart ganjapreneur can ease this burden by collecting and recycling the plant and soil waste for a fee. To reduce waste and increase the profitability of the business venture, these “waste” products can be recycled into usable goods. For example, when properly sorted and packaged, the leaves many growers throw away can be sold for making Cannabis tea or for juicing. Leaves possess higher levels of CBDs than other parts of the Cannabis plant. For this reason, those who wish to treat their condition without consuming significant levels of THC would be drawn to these products. Note, however, that using only the leaves of organic Cannabis plants would be advisable in such a venture. A variety of other uses could be explored for the non-organic plants. One low-capital business model would be recycling the soil. The nutritional value of the soil could be replenished by adding it to a compost system. As an added bonus, the plant matter also collected from growers could also be added to the compost system, allowing for one easy method of recycling both.

A ganjapreneur offering both waste-collection services and product delivery of the recycled soils and perhaps even other products growers need each cycle would be most convenient to customers. This business model would allow you to act as a clean-up crew after harvesting, as well as a prep crew to get them going on their next cycle with little lag time — a service that would be highly valued. Environmentally conscious growers appreciate that this business model minimizes the waste associated with growing, and everyone would appreciate having a safe means of recycling plant matter that keeps it out of the hands of the neighborhood kids. Clearly, appealing to potential customers will not be the difficult part if your fees are reasonable. So, what are you waiting for? Start investigating local regulations, establish a pickup and delivery schedule, and then get to networking so you can start recycling, ganja-style! Available URLs: CycleCollect.com stalksandleaves.com dirtandleaves.com potcycle.com dirtypickup.com dirtyleaf.com S

sativamagazine.com

MERCHANT ACCOUNTS / ATM’s

WIRELESS & CHECK PROCESSING

EQUIPMENT SALES / LEASING

COMPLETE WEBSITE SOLUTIONS

COMPLETE PRINT SOLUTIONS

ONLINE PAYMENT PROCESSING

PCI COMPLIANCE PACKAGES INVENTORY TRACKING

BUSINESS BANK ACCOUNTS PAYROLL & MARKETING SALES TAX REPORTING

GIFT/LOYALTY CARDS

BOOKKEEPING

SECURITY SYSTEMS

ACCOUNTING

CASH ADVANCE

OPERATE WITH CONFIDENCE Integrated Credit Card Processing Touch Screen Monitor Integrated Scale Key Board Patient Check-In Cash Drawer Bio-Metric Finger Print Scanner Bar Code Scanner Patient Loyalty Cards Custom Label Printers QuickBooks Integration

ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS

GUARDIAN POS PLUG AND PLAY COMPLIANCE Add Credibility, Legitimacy, & Transparency Through Technology!!!

WE PROUDLY SPONSOR

D Insurance

MMD Insurance www.mmdinsurance.com

Daly Designs

BRING YOUR BUSINESS TO LIFE!

360 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM sativamAGAzine.com

AUGUST 2013

christopher shotwell john veit

christopher shotwell

Left: The author envisions the future of Cannabis. Above: Attendees check out the booths. Below: Glassware on display.

AUGUST 2013â&#x20AC;

sativamagazine.com

business as unusualâ&#x20AC;&#x192; mercedys m.

Why you need to attend an industry event

Industry events take place frequently in the 18 states that permit medical Cannabis usage. The size, program and objective of each event may vary, but all offer budding ganjapreneurs numerous opportunities. Before you allow your overbooked schedule or tight budget to convince you a day or two at such an event is not worthwhile, read on to hear about my experience at the Kush Expo in Anaheim, California at the beginning of this month. Networking Whether you are currently operating a cannabusiness, or just flirting with the idea of starting one, industry events offer unparalleled opportunities for networking. If your cannabusiness is already operational, investing in a booth at such an event allows you to entice attendees with your products or services. However, even for those flying solo without a booth, great networking opportunities abound. I connected with representatives from at least 100 companies, and spoke to even more potential readers on the first day of the Kush

sativamagazine.com

Expo just by walking around and engaging people in discussions. Explore market offerings Most of the vendors at the expo were selling products I have seen elsewhere, but a number were displaying innovative products and services. Many companies represented had sophisticated offerings designed specifically to meet the needs of the Cannabis industry. The highlights included patientmanagement software designed specifically to allow for easy patient transfer between connected dispensaries; an IT company with software designed to automatically track inventory, send notices to vendors when stock dwindles and keep detailed records of all aspects of the business, among other tasks; easily transportable and disposable products to minimize the risk of contracting diseases when smoking in a group setting; business cards designed to also be a Cannabis grinder, and custom-made smoking pieces unlike anything Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever seen before.

Inspiration Between the array of good greens to be enjoyed at the event and all the mental stimulation from interacting with hundreds, if not thousands, of ganjapreneurs and their potential customers, I felt so inspired by the end of the Kush Expo I wanted nothing more than to sit down and write for days. I left Anaheim with pages of notes about the vibe of the California Cannabis industry, possible topics worthy of featuring in future editions of Sativa Magazine and connections with ganjapreneurs with whom to follow up. Launching a cannabusiness takes a major investment of time, money and sweat, often with little to show for it at the beginning. It is no inside secret that it takes time after launching to build up a large enough clientele to start operating in the black and it is easy to lose inspiration in the meantime. So, be proactive and start attending industry events to get new ideas, network with other ganjapreneurs and potential customers and get a big boost of inspiration to keep pushing you forward. S

AUGUST 2013 15

AUGUST 2013â&#x20AC;

sativamagazine.com

AUGUST 2013 17

the need for seeds Paul Josephs

Off with their heads! Hash and oil creation involves concentrating the THC-containing resins located in the trichomes of Cannabis flowers and leaves. Breeders have been selecting for increased trichome production for a very long time, and any new strain seen today will exhibit that trait. How can breeders create strains that are even more optimal for hash and oil extraction? Trichomes The glandular structures known as trichomes are seen as three types in Cannabis plants. They are the bulbous, capitate-sessile, and capitate-stalked glandular trichomes. The capitate structure is also known as the gland “head” and is the globe-shaped structure that has the THC and other related compounds concentrated within it. The bulbous trichome is smaller than the other two types and is attached very closely to the epidermal layer of the plant structures that produce trichomes. The sessile type has a short stalk attaching the head to the epidermis, and the capitate-stalked variety has a distinctly visible

AUGUST 2013

stalk that attaches the head to the surface. Hash Hash is made by physically removing the gland heads of the trichomes and collecting them. The stalked trichomes are the easiest to remove, as the stalk is quite narrow and easily broken by sieving or agitating in water, freeing the heads for collection. Selectively breeding for the longest and weakest stalks attached to the biggest gland heads will help the hash maker in their task. If one could breed this trait to a point where just shaking the dried flowers and leaves will detach the heads, the ability to make a highquality hash with minimal effort is possible. This loosely attached trichome head trait would not be valued by the consumers of flowers, as normal jostling from handling will create a lot of kief and diminish the potency of the smokable buds, but it would be valued by the hash producer. Oil Breeding for oil and overall

potency go hand-in-hand. Since extraction of the oil occurs through the use of solvents, the type of trichomes does not matter, but the overall number of them does. Strains that have a lot of the sessile and bulbous trichomes are not as useful for hash making, but can be valuable for oil production. Some strains that do not appear as frosty as some can still make a lot of oil. Trichomes = potency? One consideration for breeders to keep in mind is that overall trichome abundance does not always translate into potency. The THC content of the trichomes varies by strain, and the “high” relates to factors beyond just THC percentages. The maturation stage at plant harvest time, the ratio of THC to CBN, CBD, and other cannabinoids, and possibly the terpene concentrations determine the relative psychoactivity of various strains. Some sativa strains do not exhibit the copious capitate-stalked trichomes that many indica strains do, yet they often possess a devastating potency. It continued on page 82//

sativamagazine.com

O.G. THE ORIGINAL

Online Store Wholesale Ordering Custom Options Durable, Adjustable Multipurpose Tool

WORD OF MOUTH EFFECT

OVER 500 STORES! OVER 100,000 SOLD!

COLOR EDITIONS THICKER METAL

  



1-866-727-2256 Based in PORTLAND, OREGON

SOLD IN ALL 50 STATES!

June 28: Great news for our Jewish friends. Rabbi Efrain Zalmanoich of Mazkeret Batya, Israel has decreed that smoking Cannabis for medicinal purposes is kosher. July 10: Bummed that your dispensary is barred access to legitimate banking? As of now, under federal law, any financial institution with a federal charter is forbidden to deal with any business that sells a controlled substance. We have high hopes that The Marijuana Business Access to Banking Act will alleviate this problem. It has to pass two committees first, so be sure to call your representative if they’re on the House Committee on Financial Services or the Committee on the Judiciary. July 10: The city council of Washington, D.C. is considering decriminalizing Cannabis possession. If passed by the council, the Simple Possession of Small Quantities of Marijuana Decriminalization Amendment Act would allow those in our nation’s capital to carry up to an ounce of Cannabis without facing criminal charges. A $100 fine will still be imposed, but that’s much better than the current arrangement of up to six months in jail, up to a $1,000 fine, and a criminal record. July 11: With the passage of this year’s Farm Bill, colleges and universities can now grow and cultivate industrial hemp for research purposes in accordance with state laws. Pleasantly, this amendment was one of the few aspects of the 2013 Farm Bill that received universal praise in the House. July 17: The Olympics just got a bit more Cannabisfriendly. Athletes must now test positive for 150 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) to get in trouble for ganja. That’s up from the previous threshold of 15 ng/ mL! Before the change, an athlete could fail out or lose a medal for just being around Cannabis in the days before the test. Now, an athlete would almost have to be taking bong rips before hopping into their bobsled to blow this test. Although the World AntiDoping Agency made the decision back in May, it wasn’t until now that USA Today broke this heartwarming story. Gold medals for everybody involved!

sativamagazine.com

a compendium of legal news from around the country...and beyond July 21: the California Democratic Party, the largest state party in the country, passed two momentous resolutions during their Executive Board meeting. One calls for the state legislature to fine-tune California’s existing medical Cannabis statutes to allow better access for patients, while also respecting the wishes of local municipalities. The second resolution formally calls on the Obama Administration to allow the states of Washington and Colorado their recreational laws without federal interference, to end federal raids on states that allow medical Cannabis and to appoint a commission to devise a substantial change in federal laws. July 26: An advertisement depicting Cannabis as a safer alternative to alcohol was pulled from being played on the Jumbotron at Nascar’s Brickyard 400. The ad, created by the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), was set to play alongside others at the main entrance of the weekend-long racing event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Drug Free America Foundation caught wind of MPP’s ad and pressured Grazie Media, owner of the Jumbotron, to pull it from the lineup. Drug Free America stated, “this campaign falsely claims marijuana is safer than alcohol and promotes illicit drug use in a state where marijuana is illegal.” Grazie Media backed up this questionable statement with one of their own, saying, “Grazie Media does not, in any way, shape or form, support the use of marijuana nor the promotion of illegal drugs at a family event.” A family event whose primary sponsor is Crown Royal whiskey. S

AUGUST 2013 21

incredible medibles hippy KK

Cannabis simple sugar syrup and summertime slushy With the arrival of August temperatures, people in many states are stuck under a heat dome leaving them in search of fresh ways to cool down. Give yourself that extra lift by adding Cannabis simple sugar syrup to any beverage.

Cannabis simple sugar syrup

Summertime Slushy

Yield: 1.5 cups

Yield: Six 6-ounce servings

Prep Time: 65 min.

Prep Time: 5 min.

Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups water 1 1/2 cups sugar 1/2 cup fresh or 1/4 cup dried Cannabis buds or trimmings You will also need cheesecloth and a storage container.

Ingredients: 1 20 oz. container sports drink 1 cup Cannabis simple sugar syrup You will also need ice, fresh fruit for optional garnish and a blender.

1 Gather ingredients. 2 Mix water and sugar in a saucepan and heat until boiling. Stir until the sugar dissolves, about one minute. Turn off heat and remove pan from burner. 3 Add Cannabis and allow it to steep for at least one hour. 4 To strain Cannabis, place cheesecloth over jar securing it in place with a rubber band and carefully pour contents into the jar. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.

AUGUST 2013

5 Gather ingredients. 6 Place all ingredients in blender. 7 Blend on high speed until the ice is crushed. It may be necessary to add more ice as mixture blends. 8 Pour into glass, garnish with fresh fruit if desired and enjoy the refreshing cool feeling! During summertime heat, sports drinks are a great choice to help keep the body hydrated. Although it is not recommended, alcohol of your choice may be added. Cannabis simple sugar syrup can be added to any beverage imaginable, as well as heated up and made into tea.

sativamagazine.com

AUGUST 2013 23

the Beginning of a Belief by Hippy KK

consuming cannabis is not a prerequisite to becoming a proactive member in the movement to end the war on drugs. with so many consequences to this senseless war, there are many reasons besides enjoying the consumption of cannabis to join this movement. here is my deeply personal motivation for actively partaking in the cannabis-legalization movement despite the fact that i do not consume the herb. For the past 35 years, July has always been a difficult month for me. one would think that as the years pass, it would become easier, but unfortunately it has not. to this day, there remains an emptiness in me that can never be filled and a hurt thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never be healed. those feelings continue to spur me forward in fighting for the rights of americans to consume cannabis as they see fit. in august 1977, at the age of 33, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. within days she underwent a double mastectomy. more advanced treatments were available, but given

AUGUST 2013

their experimental nature, insurance covered none of it. nevertheless, my parents made the decision for her to travel to houston, texas to receive treatment at the world-famous m.D. anderson cancer center (known as the university of texas m.D. anderson cancer center). she left the day before i began fifth grade. i am the second oldest of four children, two girls and two boys, all two years apart. we were the ideal family my mom dreamed of having and her life revolved around us. she was a stay-at-home mom, president of the pta and active church member. she was a beautiful person inside and out who was loved by our entire community. we lived in a big house in a small town so everyone around us was aware of my momâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s illness and helped my dad in any way they could to assist him in something he knew nothing about â&#x20AC;&#x201D; parenting. By april 1978, it had been just a little over seven months since my mom left and she was still gone. i had recently turned 11 and when i

sativamAGAzine.com

blew out my candles. i only had one wish — to see my mom. as easter approached, my dad packed us kids into mom’s magical station wagon. i cannot possibly express just how much excitement i felt knowing my only wish was about to come true! i don’t remember the 1,300-mile drive. what i do remember is the deep fear i felt when i finally did see her. not only was she living in a sterile room similar to “the boy in the plastic bubble,” but she was still smoking! yes, my mom was a cigarette smoker, but as she explained, these weren’t normal cigarettes; they were special cigarettes that eased her pain. at the tender age of 11, i would come to know that her “special” cigarettes were joints — this was my first association with cannabis. we did not return to school that year. after visiting mom, Dad kept us on the road. we went to walt Disney world and visited relatives. i think our teachers passed us to the next grade level out of pure sympathy. mom came home in July. at a time in my life when i should have been out running amuck, i was spending every possible moment indoors with mom, even if it meant sitting at the kitchen table with her while she self-administered her chemotherapy, and then smoked one of her “special” cigarettes, i remained by her side. shortly after she returned home, she was hospitalized. on July 18, 1978 — just eight days after her 34th birthday — my aunt sneaked me into the hospital to visit mom (due to hospital regulations, i was one year shy of the allowed visitor’s age). that day is the most vivid memory i have of my mom. she took off her oxygen mask long enough for me to feed her cottage cheese and peaches and to tell me, “i’m coming home.” i had no clue that would be the last time i saw her alive. she passed away

sativamAGAzine.com

shortly after my visit and only minutes before my dad’s daily visit that immediately followed his shift at a local automobile factory. had he not stopped for gas, he would have been by her side, holding her hand when she passed away. i have no doubt that the death of my mother altered the path my life would take. although i don’t consume cannabis, i support those who do. whether it’s for medical or recreational use, i’m all for it and back them up 110 percent. as does every other team member at sativa magazine, i volunteer my time and although i might celebrate our success differently, we all have our own personal reasons that brought us together. we are united by a shared vision of a freer, greener and more prosperous future for our society propagated by a flourishing, legal cannabis industry. many people are surprised by my tireless dedication and passion for the cannabis movement. all you need is a strong belief as to why cannabis should be legal and thanks to my mom, my reasons began to form at a very young age. cannabis eased her pain when no other prescription medication could. it quite possibly gave her the strength to make that trip home to see us kids one last time. as registered caregivers, it gives me great pride knowing that JD and i provide quality medicine to our patients with our exclusive strain, great lakes ice, and edibles by hippy kk. every time i enter our grow room, i think of my mom and silently say, “i’m doing this for you.” i know she smiles down on me, thankful that i’m doing what someone so long ago had done for her. and that, my friends, is my personal story of how a non-cannabis consumer can be a strong believer in the beauty of one plant. S

AUGUST 2013

The Hash Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Episode One — Commentary by Joseph Robert Cowles it’S a ratHer SiLLy game, this business of creating a culture in which one group of humans seeks to prohibit another group of humans from enjoying and benefiting from something. it’s a game of control, and control usually means ulterior motives are skulking about. in the early 1930s, two wealthy businessmen driven by greed, each a leader in his field of endeavor, devised a way to destroy america’s hemp industry. the effects of this vicious prank on society continue to be felt throughout the world today.

AUGUST 2013

historians tell us those two greedy fellows were tycoons who craved unlimited personal wealth and power. to get it, they willingly and eagerly set out to eradicate the natural and beneficial cannabis and hemp plants in much the same way one would go about enacting a scheme of slander and character assassination to discredit and destroy an individual. tHe Story SeemS aBSUrd and impossible to believe, yet it is absolutely true in all its crippling horror. one of those robber barons was a powerful newspaper publisher who wanted to eliminate the

cultivation of cannabis and hemp so the rapidly growing plant would not be available to compete with his vast holdings of forests destined to become pulped for newsprint paper. this fellow’s principal cohort operated a huge chemical firm that developed and patented synthetic fibers which could be woven into artificial fabrics to replace natural hemp — which at the time was used globally to make clothing, sailcloth, rope and other goods. it’s not important here to go into the details of how those sweet fellas went about their sorry activities.

sativamAGAzine.com

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

you’ll find plenty of detailed information on the internet simply by googling: Hearst DuPont Reefer. at last count, this google search query generated 637,000 results.

W.R. Hearst BetWeen 1915 and 1927, ten states enacted cannabis prohibition laws; by the end of 1936 all 48 states had laws regulating “marijuana” — as the substance became popularly known during the 1930s. the rabble-rousing antimarijuana campaign in william randolph hearst’s chain of “yellow-journalism” newspapers combined successfully with the exploitative propaganda film Reefer Madness to frighten the ill-informed citizens of the 1930s into instituting perverse

sativamAGAzine.com

local, regional and national laws regarding the use of cannabis. included in a host of preparations such as ointments, edibles and inhalants, kannabis has held an honorable place in the pharmakopoiia (to use the ancient greek terms) of civilizations dating back at least 5,000 years. yoU’LL Find LotS oF information and a list of known uses, as well as advocates at www.procon.org. here you’ll discover discussions indicating that the recipe for the holy anointing oil of the ancient hebrews — and of Jesus — consisted of cannabis and fragrant herb extracts in olive oil; that cannabis arrived on american shores with the Jamestown colonists; that american notables who raised hemp crops included george washington and thomas Jefferson; that england’s Queen victoria used cannabis for relief from menstrual cramps; that a 1944 investigation requested by new york city mayor Fiorello laguardia determined that many claims about the herb were flagrantly exaggerated or simply untrue, and other interesting bits of cannabis history. tHe aBiLity to SPread LieS and make them stick wasn’t

difficult. what is difficult is to get the lies unstuck. in washington state and colorado, citizens have voted in favor of cannabis legalization. now these states are determining how best to establish regulations in accord with the wishes of voters. in washington, this daunting task is being undertaken by the state liquor control Board. one such stumble that’s already making headlines in washington state is the decision to exclude from legalization certain cannabis distillations and derivatives, such as “hash.” in tHe dayS oF roBBer BaronS who invented so many of the fears related to this topic, the communication of knowledge was not instant, as it is today. the ability to transmit misinformation and get it to stick wasn’t difficult. people were generally ill-informed on the subject. the robber barons conspired. they spread untruths about the use of cannabis, concocted fantastic horror stories, promoted exploitative films, and screamed for prohibition of the plants. all with their hidden goals of peddling synthetic fabrics and keeping paper costs high. the fears produced by this charade brought about a huge

AUGUST 2013

The Hash Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • growth industry devoted to the destruction of hemp and cannabis, with incarceration of anyone found to be cultivating, distributing or making use of the plant. this “counter-drug culture” is the difficult arena in which the good folks at the liquor control Board must do their work today. it’s sort of like trying to do a controlled oneeighty on a racetrack; now and then you’re going to hit the wall. giVing tHUmBS-UP to cannabis and products infused with hash oil, but thumbs-down to selling cannabis derivatives, is likely to be one of those hitting-the-wall episodes. how is it possible to differentiate between acceptable and not acceptable uses for a legal, natural plant? is the board saying that one may inhale smoke from the stuff but may not process it into other forms for consumption? Basically, permitting the direct use of the plant while restricting use of a derivative from the plant is an arbitrary and error-fraught decision. it’s as if the board is willing to let us buy pumpkins and make them into pie, but heaven help us if we are caught selling what others need to make their own pies. sadly, the thinking behind

AUGUST 2013

The 1936 propaganda film that was funded, promoted and touted for the financial gains of Robber Barons. the hash restriction smacks of the same phobias that were promoted by those long-ago robber barons. we’d hate to think the board members

are still traveling down the Reefer Madness roadway in their efforts to control this substance that voters have declared to be legal. S

sativamAGAzine.com

Contradicting modern-day Reefer Madness Cannabis consumers have always had to contend with uninformed governments, public officials and pundits. Some of these prohibitionists have been proven to lie and deceive as part of their propaganda against the herb. It is a sad truth that for many citizens, and even for some members of the Cannabis community, these lies have become perceived truth. Although much of the fog of deception around Cannabis has dissipated in recent years, butane-based concentrates are still misunderstood. Opinion articles written by well-known members of the legalization movement have called for the removal of butane-based extracts from retailers, citing public fear of misuse and “overdose.” Consumers deserve to know the truth about the products they purchase, but with all of the misinformation and deception, it can be difficult for retailers to find the right language to discuss these products. Activists seeking to repeal Cannabis prohibition should also be able to talk in detail about the risks and benefits of legalizing butane-based extraction methods. Below are a few facts that may be helpful for those wishing to advocate the use and sale of butane honey oil (BHO):

environmentally friendly — it does not add to ozone depletion. For this reason it has replaced the use of other chemicals in consumer products. • Professional-grade extractions should have no butane at all in the final product: it will have dissipated as part of the purge and curing process. BHOs that sizzle when placed on a hot skillet have not been purged properly and should be viewed as substandard, if relatively harmless. Remember, the three most important factors in the creation of BHO are the quality of the plant matter, the quality of the solvent, and the care and attention used in the process. If any of these are substandard the final product will be as well. Regulation and governmental oversight go only so far. There is no substitute for informed, intelligent and empowered consumers who have a personal relationship with a trusted extractor and retailer. – Samuel Wells Want more information? Check out some of our sources here:



See what the Code of Federal Regulations has to say: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/ cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=184.1165

• Butane is organic and non-carcinogenic. It is categorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as GRAS (“Generally Recognized as Safe”).

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Food Additive Status List: http://www.fda.gov/ Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/ FoodAdditivesIngredients/ucm091048.htm

• Butane and its chemical variants are present in many products we use and consume every day, including food and cosmetics.

“Occupational Safety and Health Guideline for n-Butane.” U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/81-123/ pdfs/0068.pdf

• If properly regulated and controlled, the process of butane extraction is safe. • The responsible use of butane is

sativamagazine.com

“Butane” on Green Wiki for a look at the environmental impact: http://green.wikia.com/ wiki/Butane

AUGUST 2013 31

By Samuel Wells and Sarrah Safi Illustrations by Josh Clappe and Emily Cain

Illegal to manufacture in several areas of the nation, the controversial and potent solvent-based Cannabis extract known as butane honey oil is flying off the shelves of dispensaries throughout the country at an unbelievable rate. Varieties of the name include “BHO,” “earwax,” “peanut-butter hash” and “shatter dab.” No matter what the label, patients and connoisseurs are willing to pay a premium for quality butane-extracted Cannabis. In the Rocky Mountain region, the boom shows no signs of slowing. However, Washington State regulators are taking a different approach by proposing a ban on the sale of hash concentrates. The entire nation is watching these two states and taking notes, preparing for the not-too-distant future when their own states must decide how to regulate the emerging market. If others follow in Washington’s footsteps, the choice to ban the sale of hash concentrates could have astronomical consequences — especially if other states take it a step further and ban the sale of concentrates and all products using them in their production.

AUGUST 2013

The honey trap Engaging in the process of subcritical butane extraction involves a long, slow learning curve and demands a fairly high level of financial expenditure. Amateurs who attempt at-home extractions often find themselves victim of unintended consequences: fires and explosions due to carelessness and lack of safety precautions are common news stories throughout the nation. Eager ganjapreneurs and novice extractors should take care to study the science in detail before beginning. The three most important aspects are the quality of the Cannabis involved, the purity of the solvent and the care and attention given

sativamagazine.com

the process. Over-the-counter butane is adulterated and should never be considered for professional extractors as it may add harmful impurities to the product. N-Butane, available in large quantities through specialty gas suppliers, is pure at levels approaching 99.9 percent and is the most appropriate product for connoisseurgrade Cannabis extractions. N-butane is sold in 4.5-gallon, 22-pound canisters at prices currently ranging from $150 to $750 per canister. Costs may not include transportation permits and delivery fees. Because the gas is used in a subcritical manner — it changes from gas to liquid during the process, according to its temperature — tanks should be equipped with a liquid siphon. Professional extractor units are widely available online and range in quality and price. Business owners should expect to pay a minimum of $1,500 for a basic 2-ounce model; prices rise quickly as size and quality increase. Models capable of handling several pounds of raw plant material may reach $6,000 or more. The best and most efficient extractors allow for the recapture and recycling of solvent.

away using hot water or a vacuum pump. The resulting Cannabis extract is powerfully potent and, if properly attended during the extraction process, delicious in taste and aroma. The level of heat and physical manipulation used during the extraction and cure determine whether the final product is an oily liquid, waxen and crumbly butter or solid, crystalline amber. Once properly purged and cured, the product is ready for sale.

The N-butane changes from gas to liquid as it moves from the storage tank to the plant matter receptacle and strips away the cannabinoids, aromatic oils and a small amount of plant wax. It is then either reclaimed or evaporated

As the market has expanded, consumers have demanded a corresponding increase in quality. Dark, oily liquid extractions are often viewed as impure and undesirable; waxes and “shatter” hash now dominate sales throughout

AUGUST 2013

sativamagazine.com

the state. A large number of licensed edible manufacturers have recently moved to using butane-based extractions in their products as well, as its purity and consistency is unmatched by other concentrates.

Size of the industry According to statistics provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2011 there were 7.77 registered Cannabis patients in the United States for every 1,000 individuals. That equates to more than 2,421,069 state-sanctioned Cannabis patients being served by dispensaries and caregivers across the country. Given the nature of their work, quantifying the economic impact of the caregiver system is quite difficult, so herein we focus on the impact of the hash ban on dispensaries. According to information presented in the Marijuana Business Factbook, there is a wide discrepancy in how much dispensaries make, as the accompanying pie chart displays. When combined together, the entire medical Cannabis industry’s sales top $1 billion in the 18 states where it is permitted. Also, with recreational sales expected to start in 2014, many predict legal sales of Cannabis to top $3 billion by the end of 2014.

Industry destruction Out of the many products sold at dispensaries, concentrates are the most expensive and also the most widely used. “Concentrates are more than 50 percent of our market. It’s huge and an enormous wave taking over the industry out here,” says Deidre Finley, the host of the Concentrates Cup and owner of MMJ Universe, a Cannabis farmers’ market in Washington. If a ban of all hash products was put into effect, over half of revenues in the legal Cannabis industry would be lost.

sativamagazine.com

As over $1 billion disappears from the market, jobs will also begin to vanish when employers no longer are able to pay their employees. And, keep in mind these numbers concern only dispensaries. They do not include the revenues made by growers, seed breeders, fertilizer manufacturers, cultivation equipment manufacturers, packaging companies and food and consumption product sales companies — which will also be negatively affected by a concentrates ban as their products and services become illegal, useless or simply no longer in demand.

Broader consequences According to Small Business Taxes & Management, corporate income tax rates can vary based on the amount of income made. So, for instance, if a dispensary were to make $500,000 of revenue in one year, it would have to pay $170,000 in taxes. If states ban the sale of concentrates, they could lose over half of that tax revenue. Even worse, a hash ban would continue the War on Drugs for anyone producing, possessing or using hash concentrates. Just because it remains illegal does not mean the demand will subside, but rather that consumers will turn to the black market to buy their concentrates. As we will expand on in the September edition of Sativa Magazine, the cost of the War on Drugs has already exceeded $1 trillion. If we allow a hash ban, we’ll not only hurt the economy and cut much-needed tax revenues, but also allow this number to creep higher year after year as anyone with a concentrate, even if just taking it home to make themselves brownies, would still be considered a “criminal.” So, don’t let your guard down now. Stay up to date on what politicians in your state are proposing. The regulations they develop now will shape our society for years to come. S

AUGUST 2013 35

A Matter of

CON CEN TRAT ING 36

AUGUST 2013

By Paul Josephs Illustration by Emily Cain Before one can understand the proposed hash ban, they must know what the difference is between hash and hash oil. Hash and oil are concentrated forms of THC, other cannabinoids, and terpenes produced by Cannabis that are mainly found in the trichomes, or “crystals” which can be seen on the flowers and leaves of the plants. The difference between the two forms lies in the manner in which they are extracted from Cannabis flowers and leaves.

Hash Also known as hashish, hash is composed of

sativamagazine.com

trichomes that have been physically removed and concentrated from the flowers, trimmings, and leaves of Cannabis plants. Hash has been known to humans since the first time some person’s hands were covered by the sticky cannabinoid resins when handling mature Cannabis flowers and collected it by rubbing their hands together. This is the oldest and crudest method to concentrate the material in the trichomes and is referred to as finger hash, or charas. Another collection method is to sieve the trichomes off of crumbled up, very dry flowers

sativamagazine.com

using a very fine screen, like those used for silk screening. The accumulated powder consisting mainly of the trichomes, sometimes erroneously called pollen, can be pressed into various shapes and is sometimes heated to aid in the consolidation of the concentrated trichomes. Another method for physically separating and concentrating the trichomes is to use water. Cannabis trichomes are heavier than water and do not dissolve in it. These two qualities make it possible to concentrate the trichomes using two primary techniques. The first method is to grind Cannabis and rub it through a screen like

AUGUST 2013 37

a kitchen strainer with fine openings. The resulting powdered Cannabis is put into a jar of water, shaken thoroughly and allowed to settle out and differentiate. The green leaf and flower matter will float to the top and the denser trichomes will settle to the bottom. Removing the lighter material by decanting the top layer and collecting the trichomes will, after allowing the water to evaporate, result in hash that can be consolidated. The second method uses ice and water in a bucket lined with a series of progressively smaller screening bags. Cannabis flowers and trimmings are placed into the ice-cold water and agitated with wooden spoons, paddles, or with an electric mixer or paint-stirring paddle. When the resulting mixture is allowed to settle, the screening bags filter trichomes, collecting them into groups depending on their size. These concentrates can then be removed and dried. Some grades of hash obtained in this manner are quite pure and will bubble when heated for smoking, hence the common name, bubble hash. As a general rule, the gentler the

mixing or screening process used, the purer the resulting hash will be. More vigorous mixing and screening techniques will yield more trichomes, but will also have more plant matter mixed in.

Oil Hash oil is made by using solvents to remove the THC and associated compounds from Cannabis trichomes. The solvent is then removed and the resulting product is highly concentrated. The type of solvents used varies, but usually it is butane, ethanol, propane, ether, CO2, or other organic solvents. The solvent is passed through the plant material and extracts the water-insoluble components. When the solvent is removed, the resulting viscous material remains and is usually referred to as hash oil. The purity of the solvent being used is very important because when the solvent has evaporated away there should be no residual contaminants left behind in the oil. There are some concerns pertaining to safety and purity associated with some of the techniques used that people should be aware of. Butane extraction is very common, and because of the highly flammable nature of butane, care needs to be taken to perform the process outside and away from any possible flames or sparks. We’ve all heard the reports of horrible burns and injuries resulting from butane-extracted hash oil (BHO) mishaps. The chamber in which the extraction takes place should be made from an inert material such as laboratory-grade silica glass or high-grade stainless steel. Using plastic materials may result in some of the compounds in the plastic being extracted by the solvent and ending up in the final product.

MAX BORTNICK

AUGUST 2013

sativamagazine.com

Perhaps the most interesting and scientific method involves CO2 for hash-oil extraction. CO2 at room temperature and normal atmospheric pressure is a gas, and there is no liquid phase between dry ice (solid CO2) and gas at normal temperatures and pressures. If the temperature and pressure of the gas is brought to a certain combination — above 77° F and 986 pounds per square inch, absolute (psia) — it can become a liquid and act as a solvent. Additionally, at higher temperatures and pressures, the CO2 enters what is known as a supercritical state and is not quite a gas or a liquid but exhibits the properties of both, making it an excellent solvent. CO2 readily evaporates from the concentrate at room temperature. Concentrates made this way are extremely pure and have no residual contaminants from the solvent to be concerned with.

Uses and methods Hash has been smoked for a very long time. Depending on the consistency of the hash, it can burn by itself in a pipe, or be mixed in with Cannabis or tobacco and smoked. Hash that is highly purified tends to melt and bubble and therefore can be placed on hot metal or glass surfaces to vaporize before it is then inhaled. There are quite a number of innovative products that are designed for this method of consumption. Hash can also be used in cooking and will dissolve in fatty substances like cooking oils and butter, facilitating its easy absorption by the digestive tract. Hash oil is often used in the production of “edibles” that contain THC. Oil is also applied topically and taken internally for healing purposes. Smoking oil can be tricky as it vaporizes at a fairly low temperature, and

sativamagazine.com

usually will make a runny mess if attempted in a conventional pipe. Oil can be smeared on rolling papers and will add a definite extra punch to the flowers used. There are a number of smoking rigs made just for the purpose of vaporizing oil for consumption.

Flash points Cannabis concentrates have been in the news recently, especially in Washington State where they are likely not going to be allowed under the new legal regulations. Concerns about the dangers of oil production, especially BHO, have been expressed by law enforcement and public-safety personnel, and even CO2 extraction methods can be dangerous due to the pressures involved. Concerns have been raised about the enhanced potency of the concentrates. Some refined oil and hash can test at up to 90 percent THC, and there have been questions raised about secondary schoolage children consuming them and the possible issues that may result from heavy early use.

What’s the future for concentrates? Concentrated Cannabis products are valuable and efficient for making medicinal Cannabis products. Their recreational use by adults should be a matter of personal choice. The safety issues raised are focused on the amateur production of BHO and the use of other flammable solvents. Professional extraction facilities use much safer methods and equipment. It is best left to them to make hash oil. The reality is that people are going to make their own hash-oil products in the absence of legally available ones, so it is worth considering the risks and benefits when lawmakers are facing the decision to allow the production of these concentrates. S

AUGUST 2013 39 August

Cannabis: What by R. Robinson infographics by mekinsey molinaro

TO THE UNINITIATED,

cannabis may seem like snake oil — that oldtimey mixture of nonsense ingredients that cured everything from arthritis to birth pains. cannabis works surprisingly well for treating chronic pain, nausea, anxiety, depression, aDhD, autism, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, insomnia, nervous disorders, menstrual cramps, ptsD, endometriosis, aiDs and cancer. unlike snake oil, however, cannabis has scientific research backing its use. the medicinal power of cannabis lies in the endocannabinoid (ecB) system. this physiological network is relatively unknown to

AUGUST 2013

nUGGSHoTS By mAX BoRTnicK

sativamAGAzine.com

Every Doctor Should Know

most people — even many scientists and doctors — despite its discovery in the late 1980s.

What is this mysterious ECB system? The ECB network spreads throughout the body. This system has only one function: it regulates the balance between all bodily systems including your organs, your biochemical pathways, your biorhythms, and yes, even your thoughts. Physiologists call this balancing act homeostasis (from the Greek homoios, “similar,” and stasis, “to stand still”), a fancy way of saying that it keeps the body’s parts working in harmony. This network is composed of cannabinoid

sativamagazine.com

receptors (CB1 and CB2) and their ligands, the cannabinoid molecules. It helps to think of ligands and receptors as keys and locks, respectively. When the key and lock combine, the receptor changes shape, altering the cell’s behavior. Nearly every cell type in the human body has CB receptors, although not every individual cell contains them. Phytocannabinoids, the cannabinoids produced by the Cannabis plant, closely resemble the ECBs produced by our bodies. As modern medicine achieves great leaps in understanding our bodies, there appears to be a direct connection between deficient cannabinoid

AUGUST 2013 41 August

weight. All signs pointed to Rimonobant’s overnight success.

Presynaptic neuron Reduced Pain Signal

Every drug has side effects, however. Rimonobant’s was that many patients committed suicide. Patients became so depressed, even as they dropped pounds, that they took their own lives at alarming rates. As a result, almost as quickly as Rimonobant hit the shelves, it was banned worldwide.

CB1

Endocannabinoids

Pain Signal

T +

Processed Pain Signal

Postsynaptic neuron activity and disease states. This is why medicinal Cannabis works so well to treat a variety of ailments and also why it is relatively non-toxic to humans.

The importance of CB1 When researchers first discovered the CB1 receptor in 1988, one of its only known functions was appetite regulation. Stimulation of CB1 triggered hunger impulses. In the 1990s, the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi thought if they could block the CB1 receptor with a new drug, it would become a miracle dieting pill. The drug was Rimonobant. It went on the market and appeared to work wonders. People took it and stopped overeating and they lost

AUGUST 2013

Scientists learned from this debacle that the CB1 receptor wasn’t just responsible for regulating hunger, it also regulated emotional health. Stimulated CB1 receptors keep people happy. Over the years, researchers found that the CB1 receptor was also responsible for learning, memory retention, controlling pain, protecting neurons and maintaining sleep cycles, among other things.

The importance of CB2 CB2 receptors modulate the immune system’s activity. Studies that demonized Cannabis use for “weakening” the immune system have some basis in fact, but these claims are largely distorted to promote prohibition. Stimulated CB2 receptors do not weaken the immune system. Rather, they lower it a few notches. The immune system becomes more active when we’re stressed, eating junk food or breathing in pollutants. An overactive immune system is a bad thing, because immune cells release free radicals — highly reactive molecules that damage other cells. Free radicals are good if you’re fighting off an infection, but they’re bad if they’re constantly released for no good reason. These free radicals accumulate in the body over time corrupting DNA, destroying tissue and accelerating the aging process.

sativamagazine.com

Cancer Cell

Normal Cell

Cannabinoid

The cancer cure

CB1

AKT

Survival

AKT

Apoptosis

When our bodies have an abundance of cannabinoids, our immune system tones itself down. This minimizes inflammation and the damage caused by free radicals.

Pain management The American Medical Association now classifies chronic pain as a disease. Constant inflammation from pain causes stress, and constant stress leads to a whole host of terrible disease states. Chronic pain also decreases the quality of a person’s life and can interfere with work and sleep schedules. Cannabis alleviates pain by correcting the body’s nerve signals. Think about a pain signal as going forward along the nerve — the ECB signal goes backward, or retrograde, to counteract the pain signal. Although pain sensation is still poorly understood, doctors believe it results from overstimulated

sativamagazine.com

nerve cells. When the body is flooded with cannabinoids, a nerve cell releases ECBs in a retrograde fashion, dulling the pain signal. Cannabis can also be used with other painkillers for a double-whammy effect. Opiates like codeine and over-the-counter pain meds work on different receptors. Most people are aware of Cannabis’ ability to combat symptoms of cancer. It also alleviates the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy treatments. What most people don’t know is that Cannabis has been shown to kill cancer cells. Amazingly, unlike radiation and chemotherapy, Cannabis leaves healthy cells intact and targets only cancer cells. Cannabis’s anticancer properties are not a new discovery. The first scientific study showing that Cannabis could slow tumor growth was published in 1974 by the Medical College of Virginia. What stumped the researchers, however, was how Cannabis slowed tumor growth. We now know that Cannabis fights cancer through an elegant mechanism. Every cell goes through a cell cycle — the birth, life and death of the cell. Every cell must die; this is called programmed cell death. When cells do not die as they should, they grow uncontrollably. These undying cells are tumors, and when tumors spread, this becomes cancer. When cannabinoids stimulate the CB receptor on healthy cells, they instruct the cell to behave normally by upregulating, or increasing the amount of, an enzyme called Akt. Akt tells the cell to keep going about its usual business. When cannabinoids hit the CB receptor of cancer cells, Akt becomes downregulated, and this decrease in Akt instructs the cancer cell

AUGUST 2013 43

to die. The cancer literally eats itself through a process called autophagy (from the Greek auto, “self,” and phagy, “to eat”). From our current understanding, killing tumors with Cannabis requires massive quantities of cannabinoids, much more than one would get from a single bong hit. Controlled antitumor studies typically use pure THC or cannabinoid injections. For those of us who don’t have pure THC sitting around, our best option is Cannabis oil. This oil contains incredibly high levels of concentrated cannabinoids. Cancer patients take Cannabis oil orally for internal cancers or apply it to the skin for skin tumors, in conjunction with traditional treatments. However, Cannabis oil as a tried-and-true treatment for cancer has yet to be approved by the American Medical Association or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — although the National Cancer Institute, a federal agency, acknowledges Cannabis’s anticancer and antitumor effects.

A medible a day keeps the doctor away....

American could walk into a pharmacy and purchase Cannabis extract. What we’re seeing now is not a new age where we’re finally using Cannabis as a medicine. What we’re seeing is a return to embracing Cannabis’s role as an essential part of our well-being. S



http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=jxJmFSmOrqo https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=aGjC4HReFL0

The ECB system: http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/ content/40/1/2.full ECB system and pharmacology: http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16968947 Rimonobant: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/ health/7687311.stm National Cancer Institute: http://www.cancer. gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/patient/ page2

By current regulations, doctors cannot prescribe Cannabis as a medicine. When you go to the clinic or the dispensary to get your script, what you’re actually getting is a doctor’s recommendation, not an actual prescription.

The Journal of Clinical Investigation: http://www. jci.org/articles/view/37948

Cannabis as a medicine, however, is nothing new. In fact, Cannabis prohibition and propaganda campaigns are recent phenomena, as humans have likely used medicinal Cannabis since the beginning of recorded history. The earliest pharmacopoeias from China, India and the Middle East included Cannabis as a treatment for pain, restlessness and nausea. Up until the early 1900s, any

“Are cannabinoids an effective pain treatment?” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC34324/

AUGUST 2013

“Antineoplastic activity of cannabinoids” (the 1974 study): http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/ content/55/3/597.short

“Cannabinoid analgesia...” http://www. theannals.com/content/40/2/251.short Ancient use of marijuana as medicine: http:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC132633

sativamagazine.com

the

Cannabis Scientist

Dr. Robert Melamede has been studying Cannabis for decades. R. Robinson goes viral with the doc’s prescription for mankind.

sativamagazine.com

AUGUST 2013 45

r. Robert Melamede has been a Cannabis activist before many of us were even born. An Army-bratturned-hippie who grew up during the Counterculture Revolution of the 1960s, he straddled two seemingly disparate worlds. On one hand, he came from a straight-laced military family. On the other, he frolicked with the tie-dye-wearing ragamuffins of Timothy Leary’s dropout generation. Today he uses an academic podium to promote medical Cannabis while also running a Cannabis biotech company. At 65, Dr. Melamede — or Dr. Bob, as he’s known to his students — doesn’t look a day past 50. Towering well over six-feet, the man is a walking paradox, a technocratic mystic who can seamlessly weave medical terms into insightful diatribes regarding divine will. The lines in his face record decades of joyous laughter, and the vibrancy of his smile marks the approaching victory of his life’s work — the federal legalization of Cannabis. “There are thousands and thousands of peerreviewed scientific articles showing [Cannabis’ medical] benefits,“ Dr. Bob explains. “There’s over 800 articles showing cannabinoids killing cancer. And yet, there’s no medical value? These [politicians] are mentally ill! And they run the world! And we let them, but that’s changing now. People are no longer going to let them do this.” A professor of molecular biology at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) and the President of Cannabis Science, Inc. (CBIS), Dr. Bob’s been a busy man. He teaches the world’s only university course for 420-friendly content, Endocannabinoids and

AUGUST 2013

Medical Marijuana. When he’s not equating God to energy physics and evolution, he’s traveling the world to promote better living through Cannabis. Dr. Bob has worked alongside Rick Simpson in the Phoenix Tears project. He speaks annually at Denver’s world-famous 420 celebration. He forged alliances with NORML before NORML became a household name. He serves on the advisory boards of the International Association for Cannabis as a Medicine, the Marijuana Policy Advocacy Project and Americans for Safe Access. He’s testified as an expert witness in defense of medical Cannabis users. He was even featured in the groundbreaking documentary What If Cannabis Cured Cancer. And now he hopes to turn Cannabis into a tried-and-true industrial resource, one that will gradually spread to everything from pharmaceuticals to cosmetics. Dr. Bob believes the medical establishment, in many ways, no longer serves its patients. “Ask any doctor in the country: are omega-3 fatty acids good for you? They’ll all say yes. Ask them why, and they won’t know that it’s because you make endocannabinoids out of [omega-3 fatty acids]. They’re all telling you to basically increase your endocannabinoid activity, but they don’t know it.” In fact, he insists that responsible Cannabis consumers, in many ways, are ahead of the curve. “We have [a] medical marijuana community that’s more educated than the medical community. Most doctors don’t even know that there is an endocannabinoid system.” The medical community’s ignorance of endocannabinoids may not last much longer, especially if Dr. Bob gets his way.

sativamagazine.com

Dr. Bob and family, including the grandkids.

Founded in 2000 as National Healthcare Technology, Cannabis Science became incorporated and publicly traded in 2009. Dr. Bob started as the head of its scientific advisory board, and in 2009 he became the company’s CEO. Recently he stepped down from his CEO position to act as the president and director of the company. Dr. Dorothy Bray, an HIVresearch specialist, is the current CEO of Cannabis Science, but Dr. Bob and Bray are not the only scientists who run the show at Cannabis Science. Cannabis Science’s very existence flies in the face of prohibitionist propaganda. Our mainstream media usually depicts ganjapreneurs as jean-clad burnouts, but Cannabis Science defies this stereotype. Its executive management is composed of graduates from Cambridge, Harvard, Johns Hopkins and Cornell. Their resumes include industrial heavyweights such as GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer. Some of them

sativamagazine.com

even worked for the federal government at the National Institutes of Health and the Federal Drug Administration. Furthermore, Cannabis Science does not employ a team wholly composed of Cannabis consumers, either. Due to differences of opinion among the corporation’s scientists, Cannabis Science is now two companies, Cannabis Science, Inc., the drug research arm, and Exchange Corporation, an activist arm that makes non-pharmaceutical Cannabis products such as makeup, creams, and lotions. “A lot of the people who are in Cannabis Science do not support — largely because they don’t understand — the value of medical marijuana,” Dr. Bob said. “We’re not trying to indoctrinate our team. We’re letting them focus on drug development; we don’t care what they believe about medical marijuana.” Cannabis Science started with a single idea. “We initially focused on skin cancers, because

AUGUST 2013 47

“There’s over 800 articles showing cannabinoids killing cancer. And yet, there’s no medical value?” Cannabis works very effectively against basal cell and squamous cell — very, very effectively,” Dr. Bob elaborated. What started as skin-cancer treatment soon blossomed out to include other cancers, including Kaposi’s sarcoma, a cancer caused by an oncovirus that only afflicts immune-compromised patients, particularly those infected with HIV. Their goal is to create a topical spray, made of just the right cannabinoid ratios. With a little engineering voodoo, this spray could not be consumed for its psychedelic effects. Eliminating the potential for abuse means that Cannabis Science’s topical spray would have an easier time getting federal approval. Although Cannabis Science is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, legalization in one state hasn’t resolved legal issues elsewhere. In January of this year, Americans for Safe Access attempted to sue the federal government over Cannabis’ Schedule I status. The District of Colombia Circuit Court responded by creating new, difficult standards for proving the medical efficacy of Cannabis. In order for Cannabis to even be considered for rescheduling, it must pass through Phase II and Phase III clinical trials — a manufactured precedent that no other compound has had to undergo before. But Cannabis Science has accepted the challenge. “Where we’re moving now is to be able to formalize things with regulatory bodies like the FDA and Europe’s comparable agencies — around the world, really. So that’s what we’re trying to do: to get Cannabis medicines into the hands of the people.” But he added that there’s considerable resistance,

AUGUST 2013 August

especially in the United States, to receive approval for new Cannabis-based medicines. For this reason Cannabis Science, Inc. has gone international, with branches in the US, Australia and Europe. Even if Cannabis Science’s researchers hold some reservations for medical Cannabis, Dr. Bob has other plans for the company. He hopes, if the company can successfully run Cannabis through strict clinical trials, “people will be able to go into any pharmacy in any state and have their Cannabis preparations covered by healthcare. Regardless of legalization or not, there are always people who want to take that route. And we want to satisfy their needs.” For Dr. Bob, Cannabis legalization is not only a social, political, legal, ethical or economic issue. He believes Cannabis holds the key to our very survival as a species, that widespread Cannabis consumption is a necessary step for our biological evolution. “Everything in biology oscillates. There’s always a balancing of opposing forces, the modern embodiment of yin and yang.... One of the biggest balancing acts occurs between inflammation and turning it off. Our immune system has harnessed the power of free radicals to focus them on killing pathogens. In doing that, just the same as with nuclear weapons, there’s collateral damage. We’re the collateral damage as we protect ourselves. From an evolutionary perspective, [cannabinoids] give us an evolutionary direction as to where we should go.”

continued on page 83//

sativamagazine.com

Methods of Preparation By Hippy KK Illustrations by Jordan Dusek

ver the past several years, oils have become a hot commodity — ranking in popularity right up there with hashish. Lately, there’s been talk of a hash ban in Washington State, which has left consumers wondering where to find their favorite product. Worry no more, 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, Sativa Magazine cannot be held

AUGUST 2013

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!

sativamagazine.com

What you will need: • One ounce plant trimmings, bud or combination of both • Two six-ounce cans of butane (it never hurts to have additional on hand in case it’s needed) • One 9" by 9" square and one 9.5" by 13.5" 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

sativamagazine.com

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 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: • One ounce of well-dried, high-quality Cannabis • 500 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

AUGUST 2013 51

• A coffee filter • A rice cooker • A dehydrator or coffee warmer • A stainless-steel container • A candy thermometer • A plastic syringe • Oven mitts 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-

AUGUST August 2013

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. Once 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 well-dried trimmings • A bag of ice • One or two 2 ½- or 5-gallon buckets

sativamagazine.com

• Bubble Bags • Cold water • A hand mixer or a long-handled stirring spoon • A plastic scraper • A pressing screen • 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 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 self-drain, do not squeeze the water out. Once all the water has been removed, turn the bag inside-out. 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

sativamagazine.com

can be repeated as many times as desired, but three times is optimal. Once 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 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 • A towel • Gloves • A hammer • Desired storage container

AUGUST 2013 53 August

How to make dry-iceextracted hash: For this method, it is advised by the 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-iceextracted hash to make it.

AUGUST 2013 August

What you will need • Dry-ice-extracted hash • A clay extruder • A hair dryer • A dime. 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

sativamagazine.com

EZTRIM RENTALS

WORLD’S BEST LEAF TRIMMERS Hu mb ol dt Ha rv e s t e r by E Z TR I M

Speed | Quality | Control Call TODAY to Reserve Your Rental — 303.635.6281 Ext. 3 The D rone

T h e S a t e l lit e

by E ZTRIM

by E Z TR IM

AUGUST 2013

Made in USA

sativamAGAzine.com

303.635.6281 Ext. 3 | info@eztrimming.com | www.eztrimming.com

Made in Colorado

For more information visit www.eztrimming.com 55

AUGUST 2013

sativamagazine.com

Hippy KK examines the myths, the facts, and the buttery goodness in between. Illustration by Lauren Rae

Wondering whether hashish can be eaten in order to obtain a buzz? The simple answer is: sure it can. What will it be? Hash or brownies? Take the high road and choose the best of both worlds — a brownie infused with THC! If the thought of eating hash alone is enough to make you reconsider — medicating with edibles is a great alternative that provides the consumer with a feeling that can’t quite be reached by smoking Cannabis. While many people are making edibles these days, various techniques are being used to infuse THC into their eats and treats — but, for the most part, the key ingredient is either cannabudder or hash.

the liver. The liver converts the primary active component of Cannabis, Δ9-THC [Delta9 THC] into the more psychoactive 11-hydroxy-THC which then travels through the bloodstream to the brain. So any type of cooking/baking medium used is going to give you the same effect. Likewise, the effects that 11-hydroxy-THC has on your body is known to be at least four times stronger than that of inhaled THC. However, there are three key factors to keep in mind when it comes to cooking with cannabudder vs. hashish — potency and consistency, as well as your body’s tolerance to the 11-hydroxy-THC.

People often wonder if there’s a difference between the effects one might feel if they use cannabudder vs. hashish in edibles. When Cannabis is consumed orally, it travels through the intestines and then passes through

In order to cook with cannabudder, you must first make it, which is somewhat of a process in itself. Not to mention the unpleasant odor that permeates throughout your entire house and lasts for days after you’ve finished. When used

sativamagazine.com

AUGUST 2013 57

in an edible recipe, cannabudder has a very distinctive “green” taste to it and for this reason alone, many people prefer cooking, as well as eating, edibles made with hashish. There are two very popular methods to obtain hashish for your edibles; dry-ice extraction and bubble hash. There are pros and cons to both. Bubble hash can be very time-consuming and labor-intensive with small reward for your efforts compared to the dry-ice extraction method. However, what most people don’t know is the THC percentage of the dry-ice extracted hash is less than half that of the bubble hash. For example, Hippy KK was consulted regarding quantity results from using the same Sativa-dominant strain for both dry-ice and bubble-hash methods. Using 2 ½ ounces of well-dried trimmings, the dryice method produced 22 grams of hashish that was available for immediate use in a matter of less than 15 minutes. Taking an additional 2 ½ ounces of well-dried trimmings from the same harvest, running each batch three times through the bubble bags produced just shy of 10 grams. The hash from the bubble bags must dry completely in order to get an accurate weight reading. In turn, the bubble- bag hash won’t be available to use for several days although it took hours to produce. In the past, Hippy KK has used the trimmings from six harvested plants and processed them using the dry-ice method. She walked away with 101 grams of hash. Processing roughly the same amount of trimmings through the bubble bags produced an average of 36 – 40 grams. Which is better you ask, the bubble bags or the dry ice method? So far, all fingers point to the dry ice method so let’s pack up a couple samples and have them tested for quality.

AUGUST 2013

Bubble bag hash

Dry ice hash

THC percentage 46.18

THC percentage 19.91

CBC percentage 2.70

CBD percentage < 2

THC-A percentage 51.14

THC-A percentage 23.92

D9 THC percentage 8.87

D9 THC percentage –2.06

Max theoretical THC 60.02

Max Theoretical THC 21.86

Those are some pretty incredible test results with significant differences! Sure, who wouldn’t prefer more for less but quantity vs. quality just isn’t worth it in a situation like this, it could make or break a cook’s reputation. Sure, bubble bag hash takes longer to produce less useable hash, but common sense says you’d have to use more than twice as much dry ice hash to obtain the THC percentage of the bubble hash. It is important to know that the THC percentage in cannabudder cannot be tested as it can in hash; therefore, the exact potency is unknown and could very well be inconsistent. It’s all really in the preference of the consumer whether it’s the greener taste left behind from cannabudder or a more subtle one that’s provided by hashish. Until you know how 11-hydroxy-THC will affect you, stay close to home. Regardless of the cooking medium used to ingest THC, be it hash or cannabudder, everyone’s body reacts differently. The euphoric high about to be experienced has an extended stay and has often been compared to that of eating psychedelic mushrooms. And remember, just because effects aren’t being felt immediately, be patient. Do not eat anymore! The body has to process what was just eaten and could take up to an hour or more to hit you but when it does, hold on and enjoy the ride! S

sativamagazine.com

sativamAGAzine.com

AUGUST 2013

sativamAGAzine.com

AUGUST 2013

DUI LIMITS

AUGUST 2013 August

sativamagazine.com

: LIMITS By R. Robinson Illustrations by Emily Cain

sativamagazine.com

a new legal battlefield

Welcome to America, home of football, Big Macs and driving under the influence (DUI) citations for sober driving. In many parts of the country today, Cannabis enjoyers can face DUIs days after they last ingested the herb, even if they are not driving recklessly, just because their THC levels are above arbitrary levels set by legislators. AUGUST 2013 63

A DUI is no laughing matter. Legal penalties include hefty fines and court costs that can easily reach into the thousands of dollars, as well as months of group therapy sessions that, again, are paid for by the person convicted of the DUI. Community service can be humiliating and time consuming. Repeat offenses can warrant hard jail time, meaning that otherwise law-abiding Cannabis consumers could find themselves a part of the country’s violent and ineffective penal system. Nationally, incarcerating an inmate costs an average of roughly $30,000 per year, meaning these new regulations will add to our governmental budget woes. In addition, the social stigma of being convicted of a DUI can span a lifetime and can remain on a person’s criminal record indefinitely, affecting their ability to find or keep a job or even rent a home. Nearly every state has laws establishing a driver’s blood THC limit. Even in greenfriendly states that have legalized medical marijuana — and now recreational marijuana, too — Cannabis-related DUIs remain a hotly debated topic. Although measures to regulate Cannabis in the same way as alcohol initially seemed to be a godsend for many of us, the fact is that Cannabis is not alcohol. Translating these regulations in a literal sense therefore does not work for all aspects of legalization.

Same thing, different day? To understand why Cannabis DUI regulations are the way they are it helps to look at current DUI laws for alcohol. Numerous studies have shown that blood alcohol level, the amount of alcohol freely floating through a person’s blood, correlates to impaired driving; therefore, the more alcohol people have in their blood, the more impaired their driving ability. Because alcohol is water

AUGUST 2013

soluble it clears out of a person’s body within a day or two, but most of the alcohol gets eliminated within a few hours after drinking. For this reason, every court in the United States considers a driver’s blood alcohol level admissible evidence for a DUI conviction. As part of the new laws in Colorado and Washington, lawmakers have set a legal limit of 5 nanograms (ng) of THC per milliliter (mL) of blood for DUIs. This is where the issue becomes sticky: studies looking at the relationship between THC levels in the blood and driving ability are inconclusive when it comes to just how much THC correlates to driving impairment. One critical study published in 2003 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — part of the U.S. Department of Transportation — concluded that no scientific agreement exists regarding Cannabis use and the amount that actually impairs a driver. In fact, this same study suggested that any driving impairment caused by Cannabis tends to go away an hour or two after use. Cannabinoids such as THC do not dissolve in water, the primary component of our bodily fluids. Instead, cannabinoids are fat soluble, so they dissolve in lipids, oils and fats. Fat solubility, along with several other factors, influences how long THC remains in the body. A person’s overall metabolism and how frequently the person consumes Cannabis, as well as the method of consumption — smoking, eating, etc. — all affect the time it takes THC to clear from the body. THC can be trapped in a person’s fat cells for weeks after initially using Cannabis, slowly leaking out into the bloodstream as these fat cells are burned up. Although weeks-old THC will not cause impairment, it will still show up in a blood test.

sativamagazine.com

Legislators, who by and large aren’t scientists by trade, don’t take these factors into account. Instead, they’ve opted to hold all citizens accountable for maintaining an arbitrary blood THC limit that fails to adequately address these concerns. The chemical differences between THC and alcohol should be enough to warrant new legislation governing Cannabis DUIs, but so far these efforts have been unsuccessful.

Interstate inconsistency Science aside, not even legislators can agree on DUI limits for THC. Ohio and Nevada have a 2 ng/mL limit. Other states, such as Michigan and Arizona, have a zero-tolerance policy, meaning any detectable amount of THC in the blood constitutes a DUI. California, the first state to legalize medical marijuana, has no set limits. But how are these limits justified? For the most part, the low ng/mL values are somewhat arbitrary. The 2–5 ng/mL limits

sativamagazine.com

were based on mathematical conversions, so THC levels in the blood would be comparable to blood alcohol levels. On average, however, a driver who just consumed should have a THC level of about 20 ng/mL, placing the 5 ng/ mL guideline well below the amount expected for intoxication. Even with a 20 ng/mL blood level, however, not all drivers respond to Cannabis in the same way. Veteran smokers may find that they drive just fine after a bowl, while weekend-only smokers may discover that they’re clipping curbs after a single puff. Keep in mind that many states regard these limits as guidelines, not tried-and-true cutoffs. For example, in Colorado, medical Cannabis patients can rebut a DUI charge if they can show that their driving was not impaired. In California, where there is no legal limit, only external factors such as swerving, failed field sobriety tests, bloodshot eyes, etc. can legitimize a DUI.

AUGUST 2013 65

Other medical marijuana states, such as Arizona, maintain a much harder line when it comes to DUI limits. When a sheriff’s deputy pulled over Hrach Shilgevorkyan for “speeding and unsafe lane usage,” the driver consented to a blood test. The results came back with 8 ng/mL of THC-COOH, the acidic form of THC that does not cause a high, and Shilgevorkyan was charged with two counts of DUI. The judge ruled in Shilgevorkyan’s favor, because the defense argued that THC-COOH was an inactive form of THC — therefore, Shilgevorkyan could not be charged with a DUI. Earlier this year, however, the Arizona Court of Appeals overturned the ruling, and his charges stuck. The Arizona court explained their verdict by saying, “We determined that the legislative ban extends to all substances, whether capable of causing impairment or not.” In other words, there is no chance for rebuttal in a zerotolerance state. Simply driving with THC in the blood qualifies the human body as possessing illegal contraband.

What the most recent research shows A 2011 study by the Institute for the Study of Labor (with economists from the University of Colorado and the University of Washington) looked at statistical data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health. What they found would not surprise many Cannabis consumers, but it may surprise others. The study compared motor vehicle accident statistics over a decade between medical marijuana states and prohibition states. The states that legalized medical marijuana not only had fewer motor vehicle accidents, but also fewer motor vehicle fatalities. Overall, motor vehicle

AUGUST 2013

Although Cannabis enjoyers tend to exhibit brief attention spans and bouts of short-term memory loss, they typically remain reasonable enough to acknowledge, “I’m too high to drive.” crashes dropped by nine percent when states legalized medical marijuana. The researchers hypothesized that there were fewer drunk drivers on the road now that people in those states could choose to use marijuana over alcohol. Regardless of why, the data suggests that legalizing Cannabis will not lead to more car crashes (but please, for the sake of us all, do not test this by hitting the bong and going for a spin). The results from The Institute for the Study of Labor seem to fly in the face of a highly cited study from 2012. This study, published in Epidemiological Reviews, looked at a variety of statistical data from different countries, and concluded that Cannabis doubled a driver’s chances of getting into an accident. But science is never that clear-cut and easy, as the study authors admitted that their results were muddied by what they called “polydrug” users, or drivers who were under the influence of not only Cannabis but also alcohol, methamphetamines, cocaine, hallucinogens or prescription drugs. Other explanations for the disparity between marijuana DUI studies could be that different studies used varying methods to test driving abilities. Dose amounts and dose frequency are also inconsistent between studies. The quality of the buds administered, the route of administration and the usage norms of test

sativamagazine.com

subjects could also skew results. Some studies strictly controlled for Cannabis-only drivers, while others included any poly-drugged driver as long as that driver used Cannabis. Even the type of driving course used in some experiments could vastly tip the scales as to whether or not Cannabis is a “dangerous drug” to use while driving. In short, the science is still fuzzy. There may never be an expert consensus here because there are too many variables to consider between experiments.

Looking forward One last study to consider appeared in 2005 in The Journal of Analytical Toxicology. Researchers discovered that people given THC tend to know when they’ve had too much. Whereas alcohol is known to induce risky behavior, washing away inhibitions to toss caution right out the window, the same doesn’t seem to apply to greens. Although Cannabis enjoyers tend to exhibit brief attention spans and bouts of short-term memory loss, they typically remain reasonable enough to acknowledge, “I’m too high to drive.” The legislators in Colorado and Washington believe that the current blood THC limits are sensible. They believe they’ve struck a middle ground between tolerance and regulation. They want what we want — a healthy, sane society — but they’re busy. Our legislators can’t weigh the consequences of every bill they pass, so they need us to stay awake, to remind them that people’s livelihoods are at risk. They need us to write letters and speak up at conferences and meetings. We’ve come this far. We shouldn’t get lazy because of our past successes, as work still needs to be done.

sativamagazine.com

As a caveat, we should also keep in mind that every state considers impaired driving a crime, regardless if it was because of Cannabis, booze, texting or sleepiness. We should also remember that not all Cannabis is created equal, and just because someone drove fine after a joint last week, this week’s greens may be much more potent. Although Cannabis consumers may feel extra cautious while driving after consumption, slower reaction times may also accompany that caution. The point is we all represent a movement. The actions of a few can tarnish the image of us all. So medicate responsibly, party responsibly and drive responsibly. Make your voice be heard by those making the policies that could potentially incarcerate you for driving completely sober. S



Why Medical Marijuana Laws Reduce Traffic Deaths: http://healthland.time. com/2011/12/02/why-medical-marijuana-lawsreduce-traffic-deaths/ Marijuana: a major cause of accidents? What study says: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301504763_162-20121368-10391704.html Marijuana Use and Motor Vehicle Crashes: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC3276316/ Arizona v. Shilgevorkyan. The court case is here: http://azcourts.gov/Portals/0/OpinionFiles/ Div1/2013/1%20CA-SA%2012-0211.pdf Assessment of driving capability in relation to blood cannabinoid levels: http://jat. oxfordjournals.org/content/29/5/327.full.pdf https://www.econstor.eu/dspace/ bitstream/10419/58536/1/690072864.pdf http://www.cepr.net/documents/publications/ incarceration-2010-06.pdf

AUGUST 2013 67

ooking to operate a cannabusiness in the state of Washington? Here’s the 411 on what you’ll need to know, do, apply for, comply with and be up on in order to be and stay legal. This list was compiled using Chapter 314–55 of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC): Marijuana Licenses, Application Process, Requirements, and Reporting, adopted by the Washington State Liquor Control Board on July 7, 2013. Familiarize yourself with the code if you plan to get into the game. Also, and not to be too obvious, be aware of what role you will be fulfilling — be it producer, processor or retailer — as they each have specific guidelines you’ll need to follow. 10. Making friends: Any city, county, tribal government or port authority that has jurisdiction in your designated area has the right to contest your license, whether you are a producer, processor or retailer. Decide if it would be beneficial to approach these entities in advance to make your business intentions clear.

staff and customers. It’s likely that authorities will target cannabusinesses as they do alcohol stores to ensure proper ID checks and keep everyone on their toes. 7. Advertising changes: The advertising rules have been slightly refined with the recent additions to I-502. These can be found in WAC 314–55–155 on pages 30 to 31. Be mindful of these when considering design concepts for your sign, packaging and the like. Again, 21 is the magic number, so any depictions that might appeal to younger individuals will be subject to scrutiny. This is important, as the Cannabis community does love its colorful displays and cartoon characters. Also, factor in the labeling necessities detailed in WAC 314–55–105 (pp. 24–28), as these are a must on any product being sold. Be safe from the get-go instead of being sorry later.

9. Not-so-weird science: Everything produced for sale will need samples delivered to a third-party laboratory for testing of content. Although this in itself will create a separate, burgeoning industry facilitated by Cannabis production, it wouldn’t hurt to familiarize yourself with the available labs and their accreditation. WAC 314–55–102 lays out the details of this process on pages 22 to 24.

6. Insurance and security: You’re going to need to spend a fair amount on both. Luckily, if anything happens to your business beyond your control (e.g., theft, vandalism or injury), these two investments will more than likely be complementary. Plus, although there is little excitement in purchasing Washington State–certified insurance, who doesn’t enjoy the prospect of detailing and implementing a full-blown security network that’ll make your fortress impregnable? Details appear in WAC 314–55–082 and –083, respectively, and can be found on pages 12 to 15.

8. 21 is the magic number: Don’t mess with it. Not just patrons are required to be 21 years of age, that goes for all employees and anyone associated with the operation as well. Don’t try to open anywhere near an establishment that caters to a predominantly under-21 audience. Be sure to check approved forms of identification (expiration dates included) of all

5. Criminals need not apply: It’s a harsh reality, but that’s how it is. Sorry, but save it for the judge. The board has put forth a point system to gauge ineligibility for licensing for various levels of criminal records under WAC 314–55–040. If you or any of your employees has eight or more points, then you risk denial or revocation of your license. Furthermore,

AUGUST 2013

sativamagazine.com

by Kipp Jarvis illustration by Josh Clappe

if any criminal convictions happen after certification for you or any staff, the board must be notified and you still risk losing the license. The details can be found on pages seven and eight. 4. Fees abound: Lots of them. Most of these are covered on pages 10 and 11. Whether you’re planning on producing, processing or retailing Cannabis, be ready for the $250 application fee and an annual fee of $1,000. Also expect you and your staff to provide fingerprints for the board initially and at random periods in the future, the cost of which you’ll also bear — $43.50 per person can add up quickly. There are also fees for changes in business ownership. Be aware of the fines for breaking the rules covered in WAC 314–55–520, –525, –530 and –535. Naturally, these are best avoided for reasons expressed in the next section, but be fully aware of the true cost of mistakes, and train your staff accordingly. 3. The board is king: Don’t ever forget this fact. You might be the feudal lord of your own business fiefdom, but the Washington State Liquor Control Board is your true master now. The refined rules for I-502 state that the board will treat every licensed business — whether applying or awarded — on an individual basis. The good news is that this means the board thinks you’re special. The bad news is that the rules also give the board plenty of reasons to revoke your license, too many to list here. So, be nice to them. Be as cooperative as possible. They, like you, are spearheading a controversial program that will most likely be the blueprint for the entire nation. As such, it’s your responsibility to ensure that they think highly of the business community they oversee. Act like you’re on the same team, because in the larger picture, you are.

AUGUST 2013

2. Recordkeeping: Keeping accurate records is probably the most important aspect of managing your business, especially regarding regulatory affairs. You must keep airtight, ultra-organized and obsessive-compulsive records. If you’re awful at keeping track of things, hire someone who’s organized, 21 or older and has no criminal record. It’s no joke that you’ll need to keep track of everything for the board — every sale, every delivery, every sample from a supplier, every sample sent to the lab. A full list appears in WAC 314–55–087 on pages 17 through 19. Plus, you’ll need to hang on to these records for three years. Your own records will also be important, as you’ll be required to submit tax information and payment to the board on a monthly basis. If any issues come up, the board will want to see your documentation. Look at this as a good thing, though — any serious business should have outstanding bookkeeping, and compliance here will help foster a good relationship with the board and bring organization and prosperity to your business at the same time. 1. Extracts can’t be sold separately: WAC 314–55–079 (2) states: “Marijuana extracts, such as hash, hash oil, shatter, and wax can be infused in products sold in a marijuana retail store, but RCW 69.50.354 does not allow the sale of extracts that are not infused in products. A marijuana extract does not meet the definition of a marijuana-infused product per RCW 69.50.101.” This means that you can infuse these variants into products you sell, but selling them individually is prohibited. S For more information, please visit http:// lcb.wa.gov/marijuana/initiative_502_ proposed_rules.



sativamagazine.com

HigHs

The

& lOWs of cannabis cultivation

by Joe martin illustration by Josh Clappe 72

AUGUST 2013

sativamAGAzine.com

with the states of colorado and washington now permitting the use of recreational cannabis, cultivation will undoubtedly rise in both those states. legal cultivation by all state residents is now allowed in colorado, but not yet in washington, although that state does have an increasing number of medical growers. these two progressive western locations are interesting to compare from a cultivation standpoint. they differ dramatically in many ways — particularly for outdoor cultivation — but even for the indoor gardener there are climatic conditions that impact cultivation. Because of these atmospheric differences, it pays to consider a few things when growing in these areas. strains with lowland origins (many island strains and other cannabis sativa) or highaltitude roots (afghani strains and other cannabis indica) will usually do slightly better in appropriate climates. indeed, some seed companies now market humid lowland strains, including various haze strains as well as Jamaican, hawaiian and other island strains, as well as “high altitude seeds,” Dutch passion’s pamir gold and snow Bud being just two. high-altitude seeds are intended especially for high-altitude areas like colorado that have less atmospheric filtering of sunlight and cooler evening temperatures than coastal regions.

lOW and Wet veRsus HigH and dRy at just slightly above sea level, seattle has a mild, cool climate with fairly high humidity.

sativamAGAzine.com

colorado, in contrast, has harsher winters and warmer summers. Denver — the milehigh city — has comparatively low humidity. there is a reason chapstick and hand lotion sell so well there — single-digit humidity is not uncommon in Denver and colorado springs, colorado’s first and second-largest cities respectively, with colorado springs measuring 1,000 feet higher than Denver. seattle has an undeniably longer growing season than colorado, with very long summer days. in many ways, washington is “low and wet,” while colorado is “high and dry.”

gROW-ROOm FaCtORs and sPeCial stRains although geographic variation impacts outdoor growing the most, environmental factors do impact indoor grows quite a bit. it would behoove washington growers to integrate adequate ventilation to their grow rooms through the use of fans and ducts to lower humidity and prevent mold and mildew from getting a foothold. a cramped grow space in this area, combined with poor ventilation, is a sure recipe for an undesirably wet growing atmosphere and the mold that will often follow. proper air circulation is important to any grow, but colorado growers can get away with less ventilation, although proper temperature regulation can be more important during harsh, cold winters. During these times, it’s prudent to provide supplemental heat and leave the lights on (the artificial “daylight cycle”) during evening lows and off during the warmer daytime period (the artificial “nighttime”

AUGUST 2013

cycle) to maintain adequate temperatures. In the Pacific Northwest, lower density Cannabis sativa buds or mold-resistant Cannabis indica would be a wise choice, especially if the grower has room and lighting to let the lankier sativa reach its full potential. Colorado, because of its naturally drier environment, is more forgiving when growing dense Cannabis indica, which is often more vulnerable to mold.

The cure With Colorado’s single-digit humidity versus Washington’s wetness, closely monitoring a proper cure is wise. When hung to dry, Cannabis can fool a grower into thinking that adequate drying is complete, when in actuality only the outside surface of the buds are crunchy and dry and the bud interior is still quite wet. Prematurely bagging or bottling improperly cured Cannabis is a tried-and-true recipe for disappointment. It will surely result in mildew and a ruined harvest that must be thrown away. No one should ever smoke buds tainted with mold and mildew. Taking the time for a proper, longer cure is always the best way to go for mellow and tasty smoke. The use of paper bags and mason jars during the final stages of the curing period is the best way to go. These valuable curing methods can be found in the writings of pioneer growers such as D. J. Short and others, with a long, slow cure being the objective. Even in Colorado’s arid climate, a proper cure will take 7 to 10 days, possibly longer — and in Seattle it will be longer. After initial drying in a cool and dark place, the buds will be mostly dry on the outside, but still a bit wet within, Clipped free from stalks at that time and allowed to dry in a shallow layer within

AUGUST August 2013

plain brown paper bags is the optimum way to achieve the ultimate cure. After this stage transferring the buds to mason jars is the final curing step. In this final curing stage when a grower believes his harvest is cured perfectly and stored safely in mason jars, he or she should closely scrutinize the buds during the week after bottling. Sometimes the cure hasn’t been accomplished as well as originally thought and additional drying is necessary, which can be done by removing buds from the jars or sometimes merely by leaving the jar lid off for a period of time each day until the buds reach their ultimate cure — not wet at all, but not too dry, either. It is wise to check periodically for a period of a few months. While bud is cured and dry enough to smoke at the jar stage, some growers believe that buds continue to cure slowly in jars for as long as a few years. Storage in a dark, cool location is vital to the final stages of a jar cure. For both the Washington and Colorado Cannabis grower, a proper cure is especially important. The environmental differences to many other growing areas provide unique challenges and special considerations. A proper cure is often the last — but very important — lesson to be learned by the aspiring Cannabis cultivator — usually because of a premature eagerness to sample the final product of the grow. A proper cure makes all the difference and is the best way to accomplish the mouthwatering taste and smooth smoke every grower strives to attain. Remember, some things can’t be rushed, and good things come to those who wait! S

sativamagazine.com

MSeeds TG Godfather Kush

Covelo

Prezidential Kush

Sour Diesel

Turbo Diesel

Cherry OG

Prezidential 1.2 Kingston Confidential

Pi単a Collision

Mendo Mind Warp

Grow BIG... or grow home!

www.mtgseeds.com Medical Cannabis Seeds, not for illegal use.

sativamAGAzine.com

AUGUST 2013

Peacock If a

Finds a Pot Leaf

Book review by Gina Epps Peter The Peacock is the main character in a medical marijuana book for kids of all ages. It was written by 17-year-old Morgan Carman and illustrated by her mom, Geneva Carman. These two ladies have done a lot towards helping spread the truth worldwide. Peter goes for a walk one day trying to relieve his depression and comes across a strange leaf. He takes it with him on his walk to find his friend Benjamin Beaver. Benjamin gives Peter the 411 on medical Cannabis. He tells him to ask others along his way and see what they think. Peter comes across several other animals

AUGUST 2013 August

during his journey, including an owl, a spider, a camel, a rhino and even some rasta piggies. They all added to the knowledge that Peter was already building. He learned about marijuana treating chronic pain, glaucoma, migraine headaches, insomnia, anxiety and also using it to increase our appetite. Peter even learned that marijuana is used for treating cancer after nasty radiation and chemotherapy kills our healthy cells. Also we can use the hemp plant for building instead of cutting down trees. Finally, Peter comes across a rabbit who teaches him how medical Cannabis could help Peter with his depression. Peter gets his MMJ license and finally starts to feel better. He was even able

sativamagazine.com

A page from the book.

to fan out his colorful wings and show off his gorgeous feathers after medical Cannabis helped him treat his depression naturally. If A Peacock Finds A Pot Leaf is the first book my husband read to our unborn son. This book is extremely well-written and easy-to-understand. Our son will grow up understanding the wide range of medicinal uses for Cannabis thanks to this beautifully illustrated and engaging book. The Carmans’ next book, Peter The Peacock Visits Hemp Island, is set to be released in October of 2013. Keep an eye out for a new character named Queen Bee Gina the Ganja Bee named after yours truly. She is responsible

sativamagazine.com

for making sure all the seeds are pollinated. One Love. Peter The Peacock also likes to help out the Cash Hyde Foundation by donating part of his proceeds. Get your copy today and help spread the truth while also helping out a great cause.S

www.peterthepeacock.com https://www.facebook.com/ CashHydeFoundation?fref=ts



AUGUST 2013 77 August

AUGUST 2013

sativamagazine.com

AUGUST 2013 81

Need for seeds //from page 18

is not always the overall amount of hash and oil that a plant produces, but the quality that matters most. Breeders should consider this and strive for the best combination of quantity and quality when breeding for hash and oil specific strains. Strains to work with Any modern Kush strain will give

a high number of trichomes, as do descendents of Hash Plant, Northern Lights, Skunk, and pure indica landrace strains like Mazar, Ketama, and others. The “white” strains — White Widow, White Russian, Great White Shark, The White, etc., also have very frosty flowers to work with when breeding for hash and oil producers. Many

sativa-dominant strains do have a lot of trichomes for hash production and even when not as covered with trichomes as some indica varieties, have the potential for a surprising quantity of oil production. Cannabis is a very genetically pliable plant to work with, so put your breeder hats on and have fun! S

NCIAwclAd_v.1 2/8/11 4:00 PM Page 1

The National Cannabis Industry Association is the only national trade association fighting for the cannabis industry on the federal level. Whether it's reforming criminal justice policy or the tax code, NCIA is working hard to defend and advance the interests of our growing industry. If you’re a cannabis professional and want respected and effective representation on the national stage, join NCIA today! For more information, visit www.TheCannabisIndustry.org/join or call (202) 379-4861 National Cannabis Industry Association P.O. Box 78062 - Washington, D.C. 20013 82

AUGUST 2013

sativamagazine.com

Dr. Bob //from page 48

He often refers to our inflammation levels — the overall activity of the immune system — as the “thermostat.” He explains that our ancestors typically only lived into their 40s, since infection was once the leading cause of death in humans. In industrialized societies, however, we have sanitation and antibiotics to combat infection. “Evolution has selected our thermostat setting and the world has changed so rapidly over the past 150 years that the thermostat setting is out-of-date. It’s now responsible for killing us with age-related illnesses. So supplement with your omega-3s and consume Cannabis and live a happier and healthier life.” S

Letter from the editor //from page 5

us. Vote with your dollar. Please join us. The craft beer model is what the small business community should pay attention to. It’s a great map to lead us in the right direction, as small business owners. Don’t let them steal from the small business owner that wants to help his community and provide jobs. Please do something. Anything positive for the movement. We’re counting on you. :)

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

Faster! Easier! Cleaner! Multiple Grade Extraction with the Ease of Dry Ice! Get yours today at bubblebowlkits.com sativamagazine.com SATIVAMAGAZINE.COM

AUGUST 2013 83 JULY 2013 105

sativamagazine.com

AUGUST 2013 85 August

AUGUST 2013

sativamAGAzine.com amAGAzine.com

AUGUST 2013

sativamAGAzine.com

AUGUST 2013

sativamAGAzine.com

AUGUST 2013

sativamAGAzine.com amAGAzine.com

AUGUST 2013

sativamAGAzine.com

sativamAGAzine.com amAGAzine.com

AUGUST 2013