How To Start A Cannabis Revolution by Sativa Magazine

DO YOUR PART TO GROW THE CULTURE. LET OUR ADVERTISERS KNOW THAT YOU SAW THEM IN SATIVA MAGAZINE. Atmos Rx Bubble Bowls Cannabis Camera Cannaventure Seeds EZTrim Flipz Guardian Data Systems Happy Daddy Products Herbivore Designs Method Seven

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President & Publisher Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor & Design Director Operations Director Social Marketing Director Social Marketing Expert Art Director Designers Photographer Executive Editor Editorial Assistant Assistant Executive Editors Writers

Sativa Magazine Online Issue No. 13 February 2014 Tiffany Greene Michael Carter Cheryl Addington Jason Osburn Mekinsey M. Molinaro Carly Hofer Josh Clappe Emily Cain April Greene Andy Rostar Max Bortnick Gloria Martinez Bronwynn Dean Paul Lembeck Dan Bariault Johnathan Cilia Bronwynn Dean Richard Drew Gina Epps Cory Francis Hippy KK Adam Kain Kandy Krush Kip Jarvis Paul Lembeck Miggy 420 Joe Martin Michael Mojave Samuel Wells

All contents ÂŠ2014 Sativa Magazine. Sativa Magazine is published and distributed by Vanguard Click Publishing, Seattle, WA. Sativa Magazine does not condone or endorse any illegal use of any products or services advertised herein. All material is for educational purposes only. Sativa Magazine recommends consulting an attorney before considering any business decision or venture. We take no responsibility for the actions of our readers.

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Put down the bong and vote

The vote is in! Sativa Magazine rocks! While that may be true, this issue is talking about voting and how you can make a change. Do you want to say ten years from now that you played an actual role in making this movement possible? Roughly 40 percent of eligible voters don’t vote. Did you vote in the last election — local or national? Why? Imagine any election that you wanted to go the other way. It could have gone either way with another 40 percent. Rumor has it the majority of that number are Democrats or Liberal. Whatever the case. There are many philosophies on both sides that are currently remaining silent. Your voice is more powerful than you may believe. Put the bong down and represent for your culture! Many Americans are not allowed to vote. These Americans’ core rights have been taken away by laws enacted by elected officials that they are not allowed to vote out of office. If a person is currently serving a sentence that is a punishment for a crime, it’s understandable that they should not be able to vote, but as soon as we give them their freedom to live in society, they should immediately get their right to vote back. The right to vote should be available to every free American — even those still on parole or probation. Many who have been turned into criminals for Cannabis possession are now stuck on state and federal probation until they pay their past debts. They are not able to vote until they are able to climb out of the system that is working so hard to

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hold them down. The system is set to take out specific voters. Maybe you agree with this policy. I do not. It has been said that every generation has their own revolution. What will spark ours? What will finally be the straw that breaks the camel’s back? What will we fight for? Do we need centralized leadership? Do non-violent revolutions work? How does a successful revolution start? These are all great questions. Only the future will tell. The tension is thick. I feel like we are close to a nationwide revolution. Many believe major changes need to be made and the system has slowed down the process and created barriers to change and innovation. Innovation is the backbone of American leadership. That and war. I prefer to focus on innovation and hope if the revolution begins soon, it will make major changes in how our votes are counted. I think it’s necessary that all Americans take a hard and long look at the constitution. Our freedoms are at risk. What are you doing to make sure the future is a world you want to raise your children in? Prohibition has failed. Ideas? Vote!

Michael Carter michael@sativamagazine.com www.SativaMagazine.com

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FEBRUARY 2014 COLUMNS Business Highdeas What would happen if everyone voted for real change? Organize a lobbying group and vote from your device. Yes!

Bright Shiny Objects Big J Vapes, Bodhi Moon & Leafly Cannabis Mobile Device Hippy KK gets your new year off to an awesome start.

The Need for Seeds Question authority Paul comes out of the Cannabis closet.

Book Spotlight Gina Epps reviews If a Peacock Discovers Hemp Island.

Did You Hear?

Adam Kain keeps you up on all of the latest Cannabis legal news.

Incredible Medibles Canna bagels Who doesn’t love bagels? We’ll bet you’ll love these even more.

FEATURES

NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION, PART II How to Start a Protest Everything you need to know about your right to free speech.

Leading a Cannabis Revolution It’s a question of morality. It’s a question of humanity. Got it?

the Green Table Interview A chat with Arborside Compassion in Ann Arbor, Mich.

A National Reefer-endum Adam Kain takes a look at the impact of current and future laws.

Crisis of a Cannabis Identity Does your neighbor know you get high? How about your employer?

Zonked: Zonka vs. Partners Against Narcotics Trafficking 50 A shattering look at the war on medibles. Voting Disenfranchisement Laws 54 Some states take away a convict’s right to vote forever. Know your rights.

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Why Legalization Matters to Me Miggy420 writes about why he lays it on the line. Read and learn.

Cannabis Portfolio Inspiration comes in many forms. Enjoy them all.

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What would happen if everyone voted for real change? Voting App Over the past several years, the popularity of smart phones has skyrocketed. There seems to be an app for just about everything imaginable. But what about voting — shouldn’t there be an app for that too? With careful implementation of security features such as facial and/or voice recognition software, a signature pad or fingerprint scanner could all be verified by entering a personal PIN that the registered voter must supply at time of registration. The votes could constantly be entered, and on a set schedule, transferred from one secure server to another where all votes would go through recognition programs and filters, counted, confirmed and voters’ rights verified. Making every vote count and keeping the system in balance. All these checks and balances would ensure voter privacy, and ease anyone’s mind about who might allow someone else to use the app on their phone such as a neighbor who doesn’t have the ability to venture out to cast their vote at the polls. There would be absolutely

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no information stored on a smart phone, the entire process would start over every election year to ensure security. With all of these security measures in place, it is very feasible that the government’s IT department could ensure privacy and security of each and every registered voter. Depending on what paper was read or news channel watched,

it was estimated that 90–95 million people — that’s almost half of the American population who is registered to vote — did not vote in the presidential election year of 2012. According to a USA Today poll that was published Aug. 2012, many reasons were given for choosing not to vote. These excuses ranged from: not having time, illness, to simply

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not caring who wins the election. The presidential election in 2008 had 10 million more votes than in 2012. A voters’ app could have significantly lowered those numbers, especially for those that were simply too busy or unable to venture out to a poll site because they were sick. Had the app been in their hand, they’d have been able to cast their votes. Their voices would have been heard, all from the palm of their hand! URLS: WWW.VOTEINHAND.COM WWW.HANDEDVOTE.COM WWW.VOTEFINGER.COM WWW.TAPPEDVOTE.COM WWW.VOTENOLOGY.COM WWW.TOUCHMYVOTE.COM Lobbying group Lobbying is a regulated industry and a protected activity under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that guarantees rights to free speech, assembly, and petition. There are two forms of lobbying. Direct lobbying is communicating directly with a legislator, or any covered executive branch of or other government employee by meeting with in person, phoning or writing to in order to influence a legislator on a confirmation vote. Grassroots lobbying uses the public to encourage the legislator, or what is otherwise known as a call to action. Either or

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If you find yourself wondering if there is something more you could do to make a difference in the Cannabis industry, form a lobbyist group, and lobby for policy change. is as effective and is just as important as the other. Looking to make a difference in the Cannabis industry and at the same time, create jobs? Every industry needs an advocate with a strong voice to lobby for its beliefs and rights, a voice that will be heard. If your passion is to make a difference in what you believe in, then starting a lobbyist group might just be right up your alley. With a clear objective and a well-developed business plan to present to your donors, your group could be well on its way to making a difference you and so many others believe in. Since a lobbying group is simply another form of a business, you’ll need to develop a solid business plan and steer its implementation. A business plan is essential for procuring funding from any source, whether it is from financial institutions, by fundraising efforts, donors or government grants. Establish board members and incorporate your organization appropriately.

Advising, informing and encouraging legislature by maintaining a professional and well-organized presence within the media, state capitals and the nation’s capital, are key factors to securing a future for the Cannabis industry. Advocating for people who share the same viewpoints is imperative when it comes to making a difference. If you find yourself wondering if there is something more you could do to make a difference in the Cannabis industry, form a lobbyist group, and lobby for policy change. Help bring awareness and educate those that have otherwise turned a deaf ear to Cannabis reform. We deserve to be heard. We NEED to be heard! URLS: WWW.CANNLOBBY.COM WWW.PERSISTANTMINDS.COM WWW.LOBBYLEGISLATE.COM WWW.CHANGEINTHELOBBY. COM WWW.LOBBYFORLOGIC.COM WWW.LOGGIEST.COM S

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BRIGHT SHINY OBJECTS

HIPPY KK

Big J Vapes Product: Big J Vapes (several items) Rating: 5 nuggs Big J Vapes Camo Vaper Super Dual Kit With JDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love for Cannabis, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m always on the lookout for the latest and greatest bright shiny objects with which I can surprise him. So, when I ran across a camouflaged personal vape pen, I knew I had to get it for him. For me, there were several selling points, but what really caught my attention was that this vaporizer comes with two atomizers, one for wax/oils, and the other for bud, which gives the consumer the option to choose which way to obtain happiness: concentrate or flower.

Big J Vapes Pen Stand with Dabbing Tool

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Big J Vapes, Camo Vaper Super Dual Kit comes complete with the personal vaporizer, two atomizers, a dual-end dab tool, wall outlet plug with a USB charger and instructions. All of this comes nicely packaged in a camouflaged box for only $40.00. This great price is significantly lower than most other personal V-pens yet comes with the bonus

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of choice that others simply don’t offer. Using the vape pen 10–15 times in an eight-hour day, the battery has lasted several days on a full charge and when necessary, only takes about four hours to fully charge once it is drained completely. The vape pen itself measures approximately four inches long by eleven-sixteenths of an inch in diameter — perfect for any pocket or purse. Big J Vapes Pen Stand w/dabbing tool This handy dandy dabbing accessory is a must have for all V-pen enthusiasts! The Big J Vapes Pen Stand holds any personal vaporizer that measures four inches tall by seven-sixteenths to eleven-sixteenths of an inch in diameter, i.e. Diamond, Cloud, Micro-G and many other popular brand-name V-pens. No more fumbling the personal vape pen while trying to load it. Simply set the pen in the Pen Stand and use the dabbing tool that comes with the stand to load your favorite concentrate into the vape pen. This little gem was created by Big J himself and is made out of a tough casting resin. The stand is white, and measures two and

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one-quarter inches long, by one and one-quarter inches wide, and costs only $10.00. Custom lettering is available, however, font size and length is limited. Great big pats on the back for creating this invention, love, love, love it! Big J Vapes — Big G-Pen with 710 Oil Dome This device was foreign to me, but all it took was a quick response from Big J Vapes directing me to an instructional video on how to use it. After watching the video, huge rips quickly followed. This pen is also interchangeable as it comes with the 710 Oil Dome for those who prefer wax/oils and a dry herb atomizer for consumers that like to vape bud. The 710 Oil Dome pen measures five and three-quarters inches long and is one-half inch in diameter, the dome is slightly wider. With the dry herb chamber and mouthpiece attached, the pen measures six and one-quarter inches in length. This particular pen comes complete with the oil and dry herb atomizers, an extra ceramic atomizer bowl, USB charger with both a wall and a car charger adapter, a dabbing tool, and a Lithium ion, high-capacity

battery 900mah 3.7 volts and will cost the consumer only $39.99. Big J Vapes is located in Bay City, Mich. and offers discreet shipping. Because they cut out the middleman, their prices are competitively low which allows Big J Vapes the ability to offer mass-quantity orders at reasonable prices. This will help keep head shops and dispensary shelves stocked with Big J Vapes products and is a great opportunity for lucrative profit margins. But even more important, it means that reasonably priced, quality products will be in the hands of all Cannabis consumers who like to vape! Big J Vapes offers exceptional customer service and is always coming up with new products to offer consumers. For a complete list of available products, visit “Big J Vapes — The best for less.” Big J Vapes website: http://www. bigjvapes.com/# Big J Vapes Facebook: https:// w w w.fa c e b o o k . c o m/# !/ BigJVapes Big J Vapes also has many videos on YouTube S

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Master Gardener’s Medical Cannabis Secrets Product: Master Gardener’s M e dic al C ann a b is S e c r e t s, Learn to Grow Nor-Cal Style! By Bodhi Moon Rating: 4.5 nuggs The 430 pages of text and photos compiled for the indoor and/or outdoor grower clearly states from the start that it is not like any other “grow bible” ever made. The book promises not to waste your time repeating every other author writing about growing medical Cannabis. Bodhi Moon emphasizes on page 11, “it is the ONLY one of its kind!” With an excellent introduction, followed by twelve extensive chapters with photo highlights, Bodhi Moon’s expert advice aims to teach readers how to grow ‘Nor-Cal’ style and is filled with some of the best-kept secrets of the master growers. Although the photos included are not very clear, the text couldn’t be more so. Moon touches on topics including the importance of record keeping, astrological considerations, shock factors, trimming while leaves are wet or dry, appropriate lighting, commonly used techniques and why they can be misleading.

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If there was ever any doubt that communicating with plants aids in their growth and production, Moon stresses the importance of doing just that. He also suggests having a contingency plan just in case the unmentionable happens. From front to back, the advice contained within explains, to the best of Moon’s knowledge and experience, how to increase harvested yields. Bodhi Moon mentions other books growers might find helpful in their quest to become the best of the best in growing medical Cannabis, providing titles, authors and ISBN numbers.

To learn to grow ‘Nor-Cal’ style, rate prod u c tio n l evel s a n d become a mad scientist while cutting cost, purchase the Master Gardener’s Medical Cannabis Secrets. Available on Amazon. com, prices are as follows: Kindle eBook $9.99, hardcover $44.96 and the paperback is available for $35.96. Availability: A m a z o n . c o m : h t t p ://w w w. amazon.com/Master-GardenersM edi c al - Ca n n abis - S e c ret s/ dp/1478718390#_ S

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Leafly Cannabis Mobile App for iPhone and Android Editor’s Note: We received this press release close to press time and very much wanted to include it in this issue. We’re very excited about this new product, so here’s the unedited press release. We hope to bring you more information about Leafly in coming issues. SEATTLE – Today Leafly (leafly. com) introduced a new mobile app that enables users to access all of Leafly’s website features through an interface designed specifically for iOS and Android devices. Leafly’s website and mobile app have been described as the “Yelp of cannabis.” Through Leafly, users have access to more than 57,000 reviews of over 650 strains of cannabis, as well as 36,000 reviews of cannabis dispensaries in the U.S., Canada, Israel, The Netherlands, Spain and Belgium. Leafly’s website and app generate more than 2.3 million visits every month. “The new app is all about making Leafly easier to use and enabling users to take advantage of Leafly’s functionality,” said Leafly founder Cy Scott. “We’ve put a lot of thought into how to distill

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Users have access to more than 57,000 reviews of over 650 strains of cannabis, as well as 36,000 reviews of cannabis dispensaries in the U.S., Canada, Israel, The Netherlands, Spain and Belgium. the full website experience into a mobile format and are proud of the result. Leafly’s website is a remarkable tool, but the way the new app puts cannabis information at people’s fingertips is unmatched.” Through the updated app, users can now filter strain searches by multiple attributes, effects, and medical uses simultaneously, view strain flavor profiles and more. T h e n ew app also expa nds

Leafly’s social media integration and gives users access to Leafly’s “Learn” section that includes news and culture content as well as a knowledge center that helps educate new cannabis consumers through FAQs, how-to guides, and terminology glossaries. “Leafly is already a leading mobile resource for cannabis consumers,” explained Scott. “Our previous app had a 4.5-star App Store rating. That’s better than

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Facebook, Twitter, Angry Birds, and Fruit Ninja! On top of that base, we’ve built a new app that is a huge step forward, both in design and functionality – I can’t wait to hear what our users have to say about it.” Leafly was founded in 2010 and acquired in 2011 by Privateer Holdings, the first private equity fund focused on investments in the legal cannabis industry. “Leafly is where the cannabis industry is headed,” said Brendan Ke n n edy, C E O of Privateer Holdings. “Fifty-eight percent of Americans are in favor of full cannabis legalization and eight out of ten are in favor of legalized medical cannabis. Cannabis is going mainstream, and the future is less about pot leaves and Cheech and Chong, and more about companies like Leafly that provide quality, professional service to a variety of customers.” Leafly’s mobile app is available for free download through App Store and Google Play Leafly is a leading online information and education resource for cannabis consumers. Through

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The app in action.

Leafly, millions of visitors per month research strains of cannabis that will best meet their needs, access user-generated reviews of more than 650 cannabis strains and thousands of dispensaries, and follow news and culture content intended for everyone from b egin ning me dic al c a n n a bis patients to the sophisticated connoisseur. To learn more, visit www. leafly.com. Privateer Holdings, Inc. is the

cannabis industry’s first private equity firm. Through strategic investments in the emerging legal cannabis industry, Privateer is building a portfolio of mainstream companies that elevate the conversation about cannabis. Privateer aims to change past perceptions of the marketplace by building brands set apart by their professionalism and operational excellence. For more information, visit www.privateerholdings.com. S

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THE NEED FOR SEEDS

PAUL LEMBECK

Question authority

Cannabis seeds are legal in Colorado. Big news and a new development? Yes and no. Turns o u t t h ey always were. Few people bothered to ask, and it wasn’t advertised. There’s a great lesson here. Liberation time In the spirit of Cannabis coming out of the shadows, I would like to do so myself. I have been writing under a pseudonym, because the stigma and fear that has surrounded Cannabis my entire adult life was inhibiting me from putting myself out there authentically. Similarly, the humble Cannabis seed is undergoing its coming-out in Colorado. Quiet revolution In the midst of the media feeding frenzy surrounding the first sales of legal, for adult-use, recreational Cannabis in Colorado that began on the first day of 2014, I registered as a Farmer Seed Labeler in Colorado. It’s an easy process and not that expensive. I intend to develop hemp strains and sell hemp seeds; and

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to be able to inquire about the feasibility of selling the other variety of Cannabis seeds. In the process, I discovered that there is no distinction, in an agricultural seed regulation sense at least, between different varieties of Cannabis seeds. It can be Carmagnola hemp or OG Kush — a seed is a seed.

How can that be? Seed regulations are concerned with seeds, obviously. They have to do with sorting and labeling issues. Are there noxious weed seeds in your bags of seed? That’s a big no-no and a very serious concern. Is the weight amount you claim accurate? Nobody likes to be shorted. Will they germinate,

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and at what percentage? A definite consideration for your customers. Finally, are they what is claimed on the label? If you buy tomato seeds, you don’t want to end up with tomatillo seeds instead. It’s important to regulate these aspects of agriculture, and there are enforceable rules in place to keep it all on a level playing field. How can it be legal to label OG Kush seeds and sell them outside of the dispensaries and recreational stores? No THC, that’s how. Cannabis seeds don’t contain THC. They contain genetic instructions that, depending on the variety of Cannabis, are for the synthesis of either THC and/ or CBD from the precursor cannabinoid CBG. If Cannabis seeds are cleaned correctly, they are devoid of THC, therefore they do not contain any illegal controlled substance. Action versus intention In many states you can possess opium poppy seeds. That’s right — opium poppies. You can grow them too. They produce beautiful, if not ephemeral, flowers. Harvesting the pods for tasty poppy seeds is a treat for a gardener, and the dried pods are great for decorative arrangements. All perfectly legal. But, collecting the raw opium latex or boiling the seed pods and leaves to extract and concentrate the

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opium plant’s alkaloids is heavily frowned upon from a law enforcement perspective. It’s the intention around the use of the plants that matters.

adult citizens of Colorado being granted the ability to grow up to six plants, three mature and flowering and three immature, for their own use.

Dividing line In Colorado, there is a distinct regulatory line ‘drawn in the sand,’ so to speak, regarding Cannabis. That line has hemp, which on one side is defined as Cannabis having a total THC content of 0.3 percent by weight or less; and on the other side there is Marijuana, defined as anything having a THC content greater than 0.3 percent by weight. Hemp is regulated by the Department of Agriculture and Marijuana is regulated by the Marijuana Enforcement Division, or MED. Both entities have rules about cultivating Cannabis commercially. The Agriculture Department is concerned with making sure hemp farmers register with them and follow their rules involving acreage limits, GPS coordinates, crop inspections, THC levels and the testing requirements associated with those levels in the plants. The MED is concerned with everything surrounding the commercial growing, processing, extracting, and sale of Cannabis and Cannabiscontaining products that have THC in them, medicinal or recreational, except for hemp. In the middle ground are rules pertaining to

Assumptions This is the lesson: Don’t automatically assume that because government agencies don’t tell you can do something means that you can’t. When Colorado citizens voted for legalization, they voted for the right to grow their own Cannabis as part of that deal. However, there was a seemingly Catch-22 aspect to that; if you were not a medical Cannabis patient with a state-issued ‘red card’ you could not get seeds or clones from MMJ dispensaries. I made the basic assumption that I was unable to purchase seeds legally in Colorado unless I was an MMJ patient. Turns out I was wrong about that. Even if I had wanted to sell seeds as a registered seed labeler operating according to the rules, I could have done so years ago, in theory at least. That’s true, but… Back to the intention part again. Possessing THC-free seeds would have been acceptable years ago, technically. Germinating them before I was allowed to grow CONTINUED ON PAGE 65//

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT GINA EPPS

If a Peacock Discovers Hemp Island

If a Peacock Discovers Hemp Island by Morgan Carman Illustrations by Geneva Carman Peter is the Peacock who is the main character in this new children’s book titled Peter the Peacock. It is a book about medical Cannabis, written by 17-year-old Morgan Carman and illustrated by her mom, Geneva Carman. These two ladies have a c c o m pl is h ed m u c h toward spreading truth and awareness worldwide by publishing books that aid parents in talking to their kids about Cannabis. If a Peacock Discovers Hemp Island is the second book in this series. I have already purchased both for my son Jax. I also bought both for my god baby and my cousin’s son. I absolutely love this series! There just so happens to be a character named after yours truly...Queen Garden Bee Gina. SO COOL! In this second book, Peter is visited by The Four Rasta Pigs. The pigs want to take Peter to their home in Jamaica where they can learn about the Rastafarian lifestyle and how Jamaicans use Cannabis to connect spiritually.

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Suddenly, in mid-air, the plane is sucked into a vortex of swirling rainbow colors. Peter and his friends land in a little cove off a strange island. They are quickly greeted by Francois, the Frenc h Fiddler Crab, who offered to show the gang around Hemp Island. Peter asked if this is Hemp Island, what is hemp? Francois directed Peter and The Four Rasta Pigs to the very tall plants grown tightly together. “Hemp is the Cannabis plant that produces long, strong

fibers on its outer stalk, and hard, wood-like material inside its stalk that can be used to produce everything from Earth-friendly building material, and plastics to paper, cloth and even rope. The seeds of the hemp plant contain delicious protein and very rich and useful oils that must be pressed from the seeds. On Hemp Island, every single part of the hemp plant that grows above the ground is used.” Peter was confused. How were Cannabis and hemp the same,

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Peter and The Four Rasta Pigs could NOT believe that we were not using this plant in America... but different? They are both the Cannabis plant but look totally different. They came across a sloth named Silas. Silas explained how the hemp plant doesn’t grow the buds filled with medicine like Cannabis. Hemp fibers are used to make all the clothes, plastics and building materials the island needs. Seeds from the different hemp plants are transferred to The Fairy Forest, where they are separated by strain. Certain kinds are shelled for food, while others are pressed for oils for cosmetics and soaps. There are even others that are pressed for oils to make paint, sealers and fuel. The gang couldn’t believe this new information. They also found out it only takes 100 days to grow and every acre of hemp is equal to four acres of trees. They had to keep investigating. Next, Peter and The Four Rasta Pigs met a fairy named Fay chilling on a giant mushroom. Fay was in charge of all the hemp seeds. They are only the most digestible form of protein on our planet. They contain all 22 amino acids

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that our bodies need. Hemp seeds are even better for us than meat, eggs, milk or even soy. Sometimes Fay and her friends use hemp oil on their salads filled with delicious leaves. Fay goes on to explain how on Hemp Island all their soaps, shampoos and cosmetics are made with hemp oil. Fay also adds that every process in The Fairy Forest depends on the hemp being pollinated to its fullest potential, so that we can all have the seeds to extract in the first place. That is all thanks to Gina the Garden Bee. Gina softly buzzed up and declared “I’m in charge of making sure all the hemp is pollinated and harvested at the right time. Growth time for hemp plants can affect the different items we will be using the hemp for.” Gina also explained that making hemp paper requires fewer chemicals to manufacture than wood pulp from trees, making it better for the environment. Peter and The Four Rasta Pigs could NOT believe that we were

not using this plant in America, or everywhere for that matter. They decided to make a hemp raft using hemp stalks, rope made from hemp fibers and even hemp sailcloth which becomes tighter and more durable as it gets wet. They vowed to tell everyone about this miracle plant. They thanked Francois for all the incredible information that they were so excited to share. They waved goodbye and sailed off. I absolutely loved this second installment of the Peter the Peacock series. There is still so much confusion over hemp and marij ua na a nd 17-year- old Morgan Carman hits the nail on the head with this children’s book. There are adults that will walk away with information they did not previously have. I highly recommend this book for kids of all ages. A little birdie also told me that a Peter the Peacock coloring book is in the works. Thank you and One Love. www.sativamedia.com www.peterthepeacock.com S

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COLORADO (Jan. 1) High demand for legalized adult-use Cannabis caused lines that crept around corners, lower limits than those set by the law, and hourly price spikes that had some shops charging over $400/oz. By the end of the first day several Colorado cities began allowing retail sales of Cannabis to adults 21 years and older — the first of such shops around the world. It is estimated that sales totaled $1 million the first day and $5 million the first full week. Sales are permitted to anyone 21 years or older with a valid ID, with a one-ounce limit for Colorado residents and a quarter-ounce limit for tourists. Few offenses were reported from police throughout the state, with less than a handful of tickets issued the first day and less being issued the first week. Source: www.huffingtonpost.com/.../marijuanasales-colorado_n_4552371.html FRANCE (Jan. 9) France became the 18th nation in the European Union to allow Cannabis-based derivatives to be prescribed for medical reasons when the Minister of Health announced it will allow the sale of Sativex, a mouth spray to be prescribed for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Sativex, which can be purc hased in most European countries already, will be used for multiple sclerosis patients with severe muscle spasms who are resistant to other forms of treatment, the French Health Ministry said. Use of Sativex will be very strictly controlled and it can only be prescribed by certain doctors such as neurologists. Patients will be able to get a month’s supply at a time and must renew their prescriptions every six months. Source: http://rt.com/news/ france-medicine-marijuana-approve-386/ NEW JERSEY (Jan. 13) Embattled N.J. Governor Chris Christie could build a bridge that brings his

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state back together, and he can do it with hemp. A bill to legalize hemp production cleared both houses of the N.J. Legislature and is expected to be signed into law following Christie’s inauguration Jan. 21. The bill, which relies heavily on federal approval, would create a licensing system with stringent background checks. Even after being signed into law, licenses would not be issued until the federal government removes Cannabis — hemp is included in the Cannabis family — or until the federal Drug Enforcement Agency grants the state a permit to grow hemp. Source: http://www.medicaljane.com/2014/01/14/ new-jersey-legislature-approves-industrial-hempproduction/# TURIN, ITALY (Jan. 15) Turin, Italy became the first major Italian city to legalize medicinal Cannabis through a motion narrowly approved by the City Council. The proposal consists of two parts: the use of marijuana is permitted for therapeutic and medical purposes, and the overruling of the 2006 Fini-Giovanardi law on drugs which abolished distinctions between soft and hard drugs and penalized Cannabis consumption and cocaine possession equally. Medical Cannabis use was already allowed in some Italian regions like Liguria, Tuscany and Veneto, but recreational consumption of the drug is still taboo throughout Italy today. Source: http://rt.com/news/ turin-cannabis-legalize-italy-613/ WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 17) U.S. President Barack Obama conceded that Cannabis consumption is no more harmful than alcohol or tobacco in a profile published on The New Yorker website. Obama, after once again admitting his own youthful indiscretions, said “I view it as a bad habit and a vice, not very

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A COMPENDIUM OF LEGAL NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY...AND BEYOND BY ADAM KAIN

different from the cigarettes that I smoked as a young person up through a big chunk of my adult life. I don’t think it is more dangerous than alcohol.” He then acknowledged the vast differences in arrest rates and punishments among the poor and often minority groups that receive harsher penalties than wealthy groups in what could be seen as an endorsement for decriminalization at the very least. Source: http://www.newyorker.com/ reporting/2014/01/27/140127fa_fact_ remnick?currentPage=all NEW YORK (Jan. 19) N.Y. Governor Andrew Cuomo, after years of opposition has left his state one of the last in the region to allow medicinal Cannabis use, has declared an executive order to allow limited medical use and begin researching the medical efficacy of the plant and its derivatives. “We’ll establish a program allowing up to 20 hospitals to prescribe medical marijuana,” he said in his State of the State speech. “We will monitor the program to evaluate the effectiveness and the feasibility of a medical marijuana system.” National Public Radio reported that polls in the state show bipartisan support of medical Cannabis use at nearly 80 percent, with doctors less likely to support the measure without more research. The proposal will not allow the production or distribution of Cannabis. Prescribing doctors report they

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will remain within federal research boundaries. This could mean patients in New York will only have access to Cannabis being grown on a research farm run by the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the University of Mississippi and Cannabis seized by law enforcement. Source: http://www.npr. org/2014/01/19/263904664/new-yorks-medical-marijuana-experiment-begins-with-caution COLORADO (Jan. 27) The Colorado Supreme Court announced it will review the case of a fired medical Cannabis patient, in a case that could impact users all over the state. Brandon Coats — who uses Cannabis to manage the pain from an accident that left him in a wheelchair — was fired from his job at Dish Network in 2010 after testing positive for Cannabis. Coats was never alleged to have been under the influence of his legal medicine at work and had an exemplary record with the company. Dish Network’s said company policy prohibits Cannabis use — regardless of its legality. Coats is challenging the dismissal under the Lawful Activities Statute, a Colorado law which bars employers from firing people for legal activities done off-the-clock. Source: http://www.thecannabist. co/2014/01/27/colorado-supreme-courtto-review-firing-over-marijuana-brandoncoats/3309/ S

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INCREDIBLE MEDIBLES

HIPPY KK

Canna bagels When you see the wide variety of bagels on the shelf at the store, sometimes it’s tough to make a decision. This easy-to-follow recipe can be modified to please any consumer’s taste buds by adding cranberries, blueberries, dried onion, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or whatever is desired. To make honey-wheat bagels, substitute the all-purpose flour with wheat flour and add about a ½ cup of honey to the dough when adding the water in step one. Yield: 12 bagels (150 mg.) Prep Time: 2 hours Ingredients: 4 1/2 cups 1.8 grams 2

all-purpose flour hash one-quarter ounch packages active dry yeast 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water 3 tablespoons white sugar 1 tablespoon salt 1 gallon water (for boiling bagels) 1 tablespoon white sugar (for boiling bagels) You will also need cookie sheets, plastic wrap and a large pot for boiling the bagels. 1 Assemble ingredients. Preheat oven to 375°F 2 n large bowl, lightly mix flour, hash, sugar and salt, just enough to incorporate the ingredients together. Add yeast and water. Knead by hand to create a sticky

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but manageable dough. 3 Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and continue to knead until the dough is smooth, adding water or flour as needed to keep the dough workable. Knead for 10 – 15 minutes. Dough will become elastic and fairly stiff. 4 Roll dough into a long tubular or log shape, and cut into 12 one-inch sections. Poke a hole in the center with your finger, and carefully enlarge the hole while working the bagel into a uniform shape. Place each bagel on a cookie sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Allow dough to rise for 15 minutes. 5 While the dough is rising, prepare a gallon of water for boiling the bagels. Add the remaining tablespoon of sugar and stir. When the water reaches a rapid boil, reduce heat to a simmer. 6 When the water is ready and the bagels have risen, place 2 bagels at a time into the water, and cook 7 minutes, turning once. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes. Prepare as desired. These bagels taste great either straight from the oven or toasted. Canna bagels can be enjoyed immediately while warm, or stored in an air-tight container for up to two weeks. Refrigeration is not necessary, but they do freeze well for up to sixty days. And as always, after consuming medibles, DO NOT operate a vehicle or machinery. S

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New Year’s Revolution, Part II • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

By R. Robinson Illustration by April Greene

So you want to start a protest, huh? These days, there’s an endless number of reasons to protest. The trick is picking the right topic to make waves. Maybe your state still hasn’t allowed medical Cannabis. Or maybe Cannabis is allowed, but your local government isn’t listening to the will of the people. And guess what? Legal recreational Cannabis doesn’t spell the end for our fight against prohibition. As states overturn prohibition in favor of progressive Cannabis laws, the fight will continue. In states that already legalized herb, the fight will evolve.

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Cannabis laws aren’t created equal. In reality, since the plant and its medical compounds are still federally outlawed, states have carte blanche to regulate and enforce their pot laws however they wish. Over half of the United States still doesn’t have legit access to their medicine. Even in states that went fully legal, there’s still work to be done.

What exactly is a protest? A protest, or demonstration, is a gathering of concerned citizens who voice a complaint or series of complaints to the authorities. The authorities can be businesses, governments,

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

lobby groups or even offensive individuals.

states, GMOs and the list goes on.

Protesting remains protected under Constitutional law. The First Amendment guarantees that all Americans have the right to peaceably assemble. They also have the right to a response for their grievances — but this only applies to the government. Businesses are under no obligation to respond.

But you don’t need Guy Fawkes masks, giant black flags or even 50,000 supporters standing behind you. All you need to start a protest is a little persistence and a lot of passion.

In Denver, protesters under the banners of Anonymous, Occupy, the Anarchist Black Cross, We are Change and Homeless Outloud have targeted everything from the city’s criminalization of the homeless to the NSA’s surveillance programs, war for profits, police

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Aren’t protesters violent? That really depends on how one defines “violence.” If we look overseas to the Euromaidan protests in the Ukraine, yeah, it can get pretty bad. Some of those protesters stormed government buildings with weapons and set police officers on fire.

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Even here in the United States, during the Occupy protests, things got hairy. Heads were busted, cops painted people’s faces with pepper spray, and in one case a protester even shit on a police vehicle. Cliff, a protest organizer in Denver, said what constitutes violence is a hot-button issue among demonstrators. “The definition of what is and what isn’t violence hasn’t been rectified. Some people will say Anonymous is violence because it baits police. Some people will say that occupying a space or blocking an entrance is violence, because it’s knowingly engaging the police which leads to violence.” Should you have to announce that your protest is “peaceful?” Cliff says no, because in America, all protests are peaceful by default. “My experience is every riot here in Denver is instigated by the police, not the protesters,” he said.

Will I be arrested? Technically, no protester should get arrested for practicing their First Amendment right. However, authorities often arrest protesters for other charges, such as obstructing traffic, jaywalking or otherwise failing to comply with police demands. John Smith, another protester organizer, says getting arrested is always a risk. “Know the situation beforehand. Are you doing things that could get you arrested?” Scouting out the protest location, knowing your local laws, and clamping down on inappropriate behavior are simple ways to avoid confrontations with the police. Be sure you understand where private property lines begin and end, because trespassing’s still a

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crime, even if you’re practicing free speech. Arrests also entice the local media to cover an event, but you should carefully consider whether or not that’s the kind of publicity you want. Getting arrested too early on can dissuade others from joining future protests. Not to mention an arrest carries heavy court fines and could stick you with a criminal record.

Security culture Protesters practice a form of etiquette known as security culture. These loose protocols protect protesters from arrests, as authorities sometimes insert undercover officers or informants into protest groups to gather evidence against activists. The Denver protesters suggest never discussing anything illegal, especially at meetings or large gatherings. Paranoia over whether this or that person may be undercover can fracture a core team, so it’s best to just assume no one is undercover while behaving as if everyone were potentially undercover. Other aspects of security culture include sharing personal information only when absolutely relevant. Even concealing one’s real name, vocation or home address are common practices among protesters. And their privacy should always be respected.

Don’t I need a permit? “Never get a permit,” Cliff says. “The First Amendment is your permit. If your protest sets up a PA in the park, then you might need a permit. But not for a march or protest.” There’s a lot of confusion surrounding the permit question. Lack of a permit was what got Occupy Wall Street busted up in

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An Anonymous protester pickets in front of the Denver Post building. Denver, Colo.

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New York City in 2011, but that was because the protesters occupied private property, not a public space. Again, knowing your local laws will save you from some serious headaches. “Cops have asked us for permits and we told them our permit’s the Constitution,” says Cliff. According to him, that’s usually enough to end the discussion.

Okay. So how do I get started? The toughest part to starting a protest is gaining momentum. The protesters refer to this as “getting bodies.” The logic’s simple: the more people at the protest, the more

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power the demonstration carries to anyone who witnesses it. But in the Cannabis community, finding motivated individuals can be rather tricky. You’ve got to get them off the couch and off the PlayStation. There’s a good chance your friends and family won’t support your actions. In that case, you need to find others who will. “The best way to meet other protesters,” Smith said, “is to go to a protest.” Sometimes it’s as easy as spotting a protest on the street, parking your car and spontaneously joining them. Cliff recalled how he converted to a life of activism. “When I walked into the middle of

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Left: Demonstrators discuss their cause to a random passerby at the 16th Street Mall. Denver, Colo. Right: Protesters often communicate with each other in real-time through cell phones and social media. Denver, Colo. Next page: Marching can take a protest mobile, spreading the message over an area. Denver, Colo.

Occupy Denver, I was just there because I was pissed about my job. I ended up walking into a police riot and networked into a community.”

and Cliff, who’ve been at this protest game for years, say there’s some easy strategies for keeping the group cohesive and civil.

Finding protests is easier in some cities than it is in others. Activists in larger cities, especially state capitols, tend to hold protests every week. Social media, particularly Facebook, remain excellent sources for finding other activists near you who share your same passions and causes.

Communication, Smith said, is key. “Having decent communication with each other. Watching out for each other. Having an appreciation for a diversity of tactics, even if you don’t agree they’re the best, is also important.”

I’ve got some people ready to protest. How do I keep it together? Protest groups often fall victim to infighting and petty politics. Everyone has ideas, but not every idea fits into every demonstration. Smith

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“Principles before personalities,” Cliff added. “We’re living in times of hyperindividualization and social alienation, which make protesting a great way to reclaim public space,” Smith said. “The relationships established work a lot like quantum particles. It all builds up into a complex relationship that organically falls into place.”

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Do I need a focused message? The media accuses protesters of not having focused messages. This really depends on what kind of protest you’re holding, and what topics you’re addressing. For groups like Anonymous and Occupy, holding broadly themed protests is the norm. These kinds of “open-source” protests act as platforms for anyone to picket about their particular cause among a sea of otherwise likeminded protesters. Smith counters criticisms that open-source

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protests lack a cohesive message. “There is a singular message: Shit’s fucked up and bullshit.” The beauty of Cannabis activism is its intersectionality. Cannabis reforms cross into a lot of other controversial causes. For example, animal rights activists may join a Cannabis rally if they can criticize the pharmaceutical animal testing. Activists opposed to fracking or the heated Keystone XL Pipeline may get behind hemp as an alternative energy source. Libertarians, Republicans, Democrats, Green Partiers, communists, anarchists — all of these political ideologies may find a place on

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a Cannabis platform, whether it’s protesting against unfair taxation, unjust state laws, profits-over-people or environmental issues. Be creative. Just remember to respect everyone’s opinions as long as there’s solidarity for an overarching purpose.

Numbers What if you can only get a handful of people to join your protests? Maybe you live in a small town, or maybe the people in your area just don’t care about your cause. “You don’t need huge numbers to be effective,”

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Cliff says. “A million people — thousands of people outside the state capitol — shows politicians that people are upset, but nothing will change if they don’t care.” Protests, marches and other demonstrations can raise awareness. They give activists a chance to engage strangers on the street for some impromptu education. But sometimes protesting isn’t enough. Sometimes it takes legal action, press coverage or even lots of angry letters being mailed to a representative to affect lasting changes. Remember to stay safe. Keep your friends safe. And raise hell. S

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LE A REVOL

By Kip Jarvis Illustration by Josh Clappe 36

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EADING CANNABIS OLUTION

A CULTURAL REVOLUTION OF SORTS APPEARS TO BE UNDERWAY FOR THE CANNABIS MOVEMENT. With state-level legalization for recreational use in Colorado and Washington, Cannabis users across the nation can feel the light breeze of change brushing against their cheek. For those of us in the other 48 states, we’d prefer this breeze would mature into a more encompassing, mighty wind. The question is: how do we collectively accelerate this wind of change? How do we accomplish this without our actions backfiring, losing the gains already made? How should one go about leading a Cannabis revolution, help speed this process along, and eventually set our people free?

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Theory and doctrine are required guidelines for any social movement. There is a vast arsenal of similar movements and revolutions to draw inspiration from. Sifting through these can help clarify what’s best for the Cannabis movement during this pivotal point in its history. Although the nuances vary widely, most of these social movements can be divided into two groups: those of a violent flavor and those of the nonviolent one. For the Cannabis movement, we can pretty much rule out violent insurrection immediately. Not only would it be quickly crushed, but of more importance, violence runs completely antithetical to the positive perceptions of Cannabis users shared

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by society at large. Furthermore, any violent action done in the name of ending prohibition would create a media firestorm that would surely turn back the decades of progress made. That leaves an organizer with a ‘nonviolent model’, and the array of possibilities that fall under this umbrella term. One of the most famous and successful manifestations of this format, in recent history, was the Indian nationalist independence movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. India is also the nation that did much to spread Cannabis use around the world, through the emigration of Indian laborers by the British government following the end of slavery. It is also the birthplace of the first serious government study on Cannabis use: the massive 3,500-page, sevenvolume findings of the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission of 1894. Accordingly, it would be uncharacteristically unjust to not look toward India for inspiration in any Cannabisrelated matter. WHEN RELATING GANDHI’S STRUGGLE FOR INDIAN INDEPENDENCE TO THE CANNABIS MOVEMENT, several aspects are difficult to reconcile. Noncooperation with occupying authorities through refusal of associated employment and boycotts of British products don’t translate well — quite the opposite in our movement. More Cannabis users should seek involvement in civil service and boycott foreign or unsavory sources of Cannabis. Gandhi’s prolific use of nonviolent civil disobedience is something to emulate in a possible bid to end prohibition, done with the unwavering persistence that made him famous and helped make India independent. Of

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course, any actions based on this model would need to be highly organized affairs, have a substantial turnout of protesters, and carry the understanding for those involved that periodic arrest is a near certainty. Inspired by the approach of Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. became the most famous leader of the civil rights era in the United States. MLK’s philosophy took the ideas put forth by Gandhi and used them in a way that sought not to throw off colonial oppression, but instead to highlight the disparities of human dignity that exemplified the dying decades of Jim Crow America. This theoretical approach is a strong foundation for potential civil disobedience against Cannabis prohibition. In comparison, MLK’s movement was far more imperative than our own, but highlighting the injustices to human dignity forced upon the responsible Cannabis user by the status quo is a compelling starting point for gaining support in any sustained movement. One cannot garner empathy without first achieving sympathy. Using this strategy would also require organization, mass participation, and the anticipation of being arrested; realities that all of Dr. King’s marches had to contend with. IF YOU HAVE THE LEADERSHIP BUG AND WANT TO ORGANIZE, let this serve as a starting guide in solidifying your own piece of the action. Any solid movement must be rooted in core ideas, theory, and goals. If you possess these, you’re off to a good start. Without these, your movement will invariably falter, much in the manner of the Occupy Movement. It’s sad, CONTINUED ON PAGE 64//

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the Green Table Interview

ARBORSIDE COMPASSION Ann Arbor, Mich. By Hippy KK Recently, Sativa Magazine had the opportunity to sit down with the owner of ArborSide Compassion, Rhory Gould, and operations manager, Alex Stewart, to rollout our first Q&A session gathered around our newly formed Green Table. ArborSide Compassion, or what one might hear a local refer to as 1818, is Ann Arbor’s premier medical Cannabis provisioning center. Located at 1818 Packard Road, (thus the reason for the numerical name reference) in downtown Ann Arbor is the only dispensary in Michigan that offers on-site potency testing. Rhory is definitely a hands-on owner and is very much involved in the day-to-day operation. But, he knows that when traveling calls him away, without hesitation he confidently passes over the reins to Alex, knowing ArborSide is in good hands.

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Note: Unless specified, questions were not directed specifically to either Rhory or Alex, and unless the name of the responder is noted, answers are a combination that both gave. Q: When did ArborSide open? A: Rhory: We’ve been in business just a little over two years, and it was in planning one and a half years prior to the doors opening. Q: Why did you choose to open a medical dispensary? A: Rhory: Because I’m so Pro-Cannabis, when the opportunity came up to open a medical dispensary, I went for it. I really wanted patients to have a place to go that would have a safe environment and many choices. I’m into people having choices. Q: Do you have a partner, or are you the sole owner?

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Rhory Gould

A: Even though it’s very rare, Rhory is the sole owner of ArborSide. Most dispensaries have at least one, if not two or more, partnerships and usually one partner is a lawyer. Do you rent or own the property that houses ArborSide? A: Rent. I was originally going to open up at a different location, Platt/Packard Rd., but I was having a difficult time with the city council. Then this location became available, and it had already been set up as a medical dispensary, so when the building was offered to me, I moved in. Q: How many employees do you have on staff?

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A: 9 MMJ Consultants (consisting of both male and female). Q: How do you advertise ‘now hiring’? A: We get a lot of walk-ins that drop off their resume, word of mouth. We take referrals from current employees very seriously. The closeness of our employees is very important. Q: Even though Ann Arbor is Cannabisfriendly, and has decriminalized up to a specific amount with only a small fine attached, how much bureaucratic red tape did you have to go through to get a business license in the City of Ann Arbor, and to register it with Washtenaw County? A: Rhory: We sent in our application with

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the $600 business license fee and ArborSide’s business application was the first medical marijuana dispensary application to be accepted by the City of Ann Arbor. In total, there have only been eight submitted, and of those eight, seven of us are in the Cannabis Guild. They made attempts to close us all down, but it didn’t work. ArborSide is located in a residential/business area and is within walking distance, the only complaint we’ve ever had was because an animal had gotten into our trash. Since then, we’ve put a fence up in that area and have never had another problem or complaint. Rhory: Ann Arbor is the only city in Michigan that has a Cannabis Guild. The Guild meets once a month to support one another, not work against each other. It’s been five years since the MMMJ law passed. Within the first two years, only a couple dispensaries opened up, then a few more in the third year. And, they’ve made attempts to close us all down which didn’t work. They keep adding little things into the law to keep making it difficult for us because they’re against us. They’re the minority, and we’re the majority, it’s the way the vote went, but it’s just the way they think. The laws need to be recognized, it’s just the way it is. Officials and law enforcement were just trying to keep us from doing what we’re doing here. We’re providing safe access to everybody. What’s better than that? We give them choices to choose from because what helps you might not help me. Officials and law enforcement are now working with us, not against us. This has been a complete 360 as of late. Even Stephen Postma testified for the House Bill passing. Since this location was set up as a dispensary, there has only been one break-in, and that was when MedMar was here, other than that,

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we’ve had no problems. Legal Cannabis doesn’t create crime; we have created a safe access place for people to get their medicine. Q: After banks decided not to accept Cannabusinesses as clients anymore for credit card processing, have you looked into any third-party merchant providers so you can begin accepting them again? A: No, but they continue to call us wanting us to sign up with them. We’ve been shut down two or three times, so we aren’t going to reapply with another provider until it’s here to stay. We don’t want to have to hide our dispensary business behind another business just to be able to process credit cards. We’re doing everything legit, and that’s the way we want to stay. We can’t get credit from outside companies because of the type of business we operate. It’ll probably take five to 10 years from now before banks will accept us. Q: Is Ann Arbor the safest city to own and operate a dispensary in the state of Michigan? A: Rhory: Yes, Ann Arbor is a very friendly Cannabis city and I think it is one of, if not the safest places to be. I feel very safe in Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor is very fair. Q: Right now, there’s a ban on concentrates and medibles due to the wording in MMMJ law, but yet you continue to carry them when most other local dispensaries have stopped. I’m sure this has brought in new business, but do you feel that it has in any way brought unwanted attention? A: Alex: No, we do not feel this has brought any unwanted attention. Concentrates provide the highest medicinal value to our patients and we are here to provide safe access.

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Q: What do you do to make ArborSide stand out from and above the rest of the dispensaries in the area?

A: Alex: Yes, Christmas. But since we are constantly getting new members, we stay pretty consistent.

A: Alex: On-site potency testing. We’re a good resource for patients and caregivers. We try to keep our prices lower than anyone else and provide higher quality medicine than the rest. We’re here for the people, and want to do what’s best for them, they come first.

Q: Do you advertise anywhere?

Q: How many members do you have? A: Alex: We currently have over 3,300 active members. This past November, we accepted 94 new patients. When we first opened, we were averaging about 43 people a day, now we are averaging about 80 people per day. Business is very good. Q: What is the geographical reach of ArborSide’s members? A: Alex: We have members and vendors come as far as from the Upper Peninsula. *Note to readers: Depending on the starting point, the Upper Peninsula could be a full day’s drive, but a minimum of four in half hours — Hippy KK Q: Do you have more members of one specific age group than another? A: 25–45 probably make up the majority of our patients. But, we do get a lot of older people and we even have a patient that has a minor card. We see people of all walks of life and from all over the state. Q: With Ann Arbor being a big college town, do you see a decline in business during summer when schools out? A: Alex: No, we don’t consider our location to be in a college area. Q: Is there a particular time of the year you see an increase in business?

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A: Alex: Yes. We advertise in CULTURE Magazine and do all the social media sites and Google+. We’re also going to be in a new magazine called The Burn that’s coming out soon. WeedMaps, Yelp, we’ve advertised in High Times. Q: What type of impact does having the Hash Bash here locally have on ArborSide? A: It’s huge. It’s a really positive thing for us. It gives us the opportunity to bring in some big people. Last year we brought in Ed Rosenthal, the year before, we brought in Steve DeAngelo from HarborSide and this year we would like to bring back Ed Rosenthal. We have a booth down there on Monroe Street, so it gives us the opportunity to get out there and make people aware of us. Q: Rhory, what are your thoughts/opinions on the two following bills that recently passed the house: HB 5104 – which would allow medical patients access to extracts A: Of course we want this bill to get passed through the senate. HB 4271 – introduced by Rep. Mike Calton, this bill will protect dispensaries and allow patient-to-patient sales which are not currently protected under the law. A: We are keeping a close eye on this bill, we certainly hope it passes. We would love to have legislature say that provisioning centers/ dispensaries can exist. But if it doesn’t, it isn’t going to really have an effect on us.

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Left to right: Alex Stewart, Rhory Gould, BC Greg. The trophy is for MMMR Report; the strain is Sour Primo.

Q: Would you like to see Cannabis legalized on a state level in Michigan? What do you think would happen to medical dispensaries here if it does get legalized?

importance of having a job that you love doing. Stating that if you’re doing something you enjoy doing, it just makes everything that much easier.

A: Rhory: Absolutely we would love to see Cannabis get legalized. We don’t really think anything would happen to the medical side of things if it does. Medical dispensaries will still exist.

Having relocated from New York, Rhory has lived in Michigan for the past 11 and-one-half years. He is a strong Cannabis advocate and is well known within the Cannabis community for his strong beliefs and actions within the movement to end prohibition.

Q: Alex, as the operations manager, what do you like best about your job here at ArborSide? A: I like being able to directly help the people who voted in our law by providing safe access to the best selection in Michigan. I also enjoy the fact that I am able to utilize and share the skills I developed while completing my undergraduate degree in Computer Information systems from EMU. Both Rhory and Alex made mention of the

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In the past, ArborSide Compassion has proudly sponsored winners of the High Times Cannabis Cup. It’s believed that the Cup will be returning to Michigan this July, be sure to keep a close eye on the contestants, you just might recognize a name entered. ArborSide Compassion offers their members a full line of Cannabis products to choose from. For membership details and product availability, visit www.arborside.net. S

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A NATIO

ONAL REEFERENDUM By Adam Kain Illustration by Josh Clappe

If someone tells you that voting doesn’t matter, point out to them the bold experiments taking place in Colorado and Washington. Point to the compassionate California voters that first allowed its citizens to responsibly medicate in the early ’90s. Point to the people of Portland, Maine that made the state’s biggest city the first in the nation to legalize and stop wasting tax dollars pursuing recreational Cannabis users. The vast majority of moves to legalize medical and recreational Cannabis use have come from the direct action of voters — citizen signature

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drives to get the referendum, initiative or proposal on the ballot and then a direct vote of the people. When it comes to Cannabis reform, the voice of the people is speaking, and it is loud and clear, despite the clouds of smoke.

THE PAST

Cannabis use is at its highest level of acceptance since prohibition began in the 1930s. A majority of Americans agree, for the first time since pollsters began asking the question that Cannabis use should be legal. Medicinal Cannabis use has its supporters in nearly every state, legal now in 20 states, and D.C. with several others set to follow suit. Adult use is legal in two states, with a legitimate industry formed and enacted to kick off the year in the Mile High state of Colorado. In addition, eight states have enacted laws allowing the growth and utilization of industrial hemp.

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Laws are being proposed and enacted at every level of government in our nation, favoring the people’s right to consume responsibly. From a city council in Maine deciding its peace officers will no longer bother with Cannabis users, to congressmen proposing legislation to keep the feds out of state Cannabis laws — 2013 was a good year for Cannabusiness and 2014 looks to be even better.

THE PRESENT

The Power of the People came full circle in Colorado and Washington when they voted to legalize recreational use in November, 2012, through the use of the referendum, but even that is changing as reform is becoming more mainstream. The end to Cannabis prohibition in its many forms transcends divisions — party lines, social status, race, or age — more than any other political issue in our country at the moment. Democrats, Tea Party

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From left: Congressman Don Young, Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Congressman Jared Polis, Congressman Justin Amash

support and the state’s Democratic Governor has also voiced her opposition to the bill.

THE FUTURE

and mainline Republicans, Libertarians, Greenies and Independents alike each have their Cannabis Crusaders.

Support for adult use seems to be building state-by-state as well, as legislators in New Hampshire and New Mexico have proclaimed that they will introduce legislation in their states to legalize and regulate adult use. The Marijuana Policy Project has had a large hand in organizing and supporting statewide referendums and initiatives. Their efforts also include plans to focus on campaigns to legalize in Oregon, Alaska, and many New England states including Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

At the national level, U.S. Reps. Jared Polis (D – Colo.), Earl Blumenauer (D – Ore.), Tea Party Darling Justin Amash (R – Mich.), and longtime Alaska Rep. Don Young co-sponsored a bill in support of states’ rights when it comes to legalization. Though the bill failed, it showed that the issue can have backers from both parties and from legislators old and new. Even super-conservative Grover Nordquist has come out in support of the states’ rights on this issue.

When all is said and done, the laws of the land can be formed by the hands of voters. If present Cannabis laws have proven anything, it is that when a group of citizens passionately advocates for change and gets others to support their movements, 80-year-old institutions can be washed away in mere months. While support seems to be on the side of the Cannabis Industry, more can be done by simply letting your voice be heard.

At a local level, more state bodies are taking up the issue of medical use, including legislatures in Illinois and Kentucky. Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, announced in his State of the State address that he would enact an executive order to allow medicinal use in the state. The New Hampshire House of Representatives voted in January to sell and regulate Cannabis, but the bill is lacking Senate

Find a Cannabis candidate that you can get behind and spread their message. Learn about all of the citizen-driven efforts to repeal and regulate, and get involved. Too often, I hear that a single vote cannot change the world. And to that I say, look at where Cannabis laws have come in two decades and what seems to be taking shape in the next decade. S

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The democratic process is churning forward in this country in favor of Cannabis legalization. This can be seen through recent polling numbers, ballot initiative results, and independent votes by state legislators nationwide. Obstacles still remain in America’s socio-political sphere that stands in the way of full legalization. International law, longstanding social stigmas, and pro-prohibition government agencies all do their part in hampering the path towards liberalized Cannabis policies. However, a notable obstacle in this struggle, and one that is rarely discussed, is image. To succeed, the Cannabis movement in the United States needs to win a sizable majority of the population’s hearts and minds. Most polls point to us having a majority in favor of full legalization, but only slightly. If public support reached into the 80–95 percent range, then leaping the other imminent hurdles would be substantially easier. Image remains a prominent impasse for the Cannabis community in garnering this broader support.

Ghosts of a bygone era For many non-Cannabis-using Americans, we remain a joke — a caricature that is perhaps tolerable; a harmless buffoon with shortterm memory and glassy-eyes, but one that is not quite worthy of respect. The image that collectively represents ‘the stoner’ is one of minimal esteem, doing little to evoke the benefits of human dignity. This is because the Cannabis user in America suffers from a crisis of identity which is partly the fault of pop culture, lingering memories of the hippies, the free love, and the inner freedom that their kind embodied. For the baby-boomer generation that gave birth to this cultural phenomenon, the image carries with it both nostalgia and

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Crisis of a

C nnabis disdain. With this generation firmly grasping the reins of power and policy-making, the image is more controversial than the younger generations can fully appreciate. Perception is forever in the eyes of the beholder. We share equally in the blame of this perception. We’ve carried on and perpetuated this image without fully realizing its implications. How is the rest of the nation to take our plight seriously if every bit of news coverage on the movement is headlined with a photograph of some white kid with dreadlocks, wearing flip-flops and a knit Rasta cap, holding a giant paper mache joint? This image holds us back and tells our opponents that we don’t plan on going anywhere, save for a life of unrealistic freedom from responsibilities. With that in mind, how could they possibly want to use their vote to aid our cause? These perceptions may not be accurate, but just because you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, doesn’t mean that people haven’t done so for as long as there have been book covers. If you’re going to a rally or protest, take a look

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s Identity By Kip Jarvis Illustrations by Andy Rostar in the mirror before you depart. If you look like one of these stoner caricatures, you’re not doing the cause any favors. Try dressing like you’re going to a job interview, not to a time machine taking you to Woodstock in ‘69. Khakis and a dress shirt or polo could do wonders. If you’re organizing said rally or protest, wear a suit, if possible. If sporting Cannabis-themed aesthetics is a must, less is more. Try a tasteful metal pin of a Cannabis leaf instead of a five-foot bong to sheath your crudely written sign. Image is our most persistent opponent at this stage in the game, and one that needs to be addressed seriously.

Coming out of the closet The new freedoms brought about in Washington and Colorado can help remedy the image problem. Cannabis users can feel open to “coming out of the closet.” When a coworker asks about your Friday night plans, an honest answer of “getting high and watching Netflix” can be declared as casually as “getting drunk and watching Netflix.” The former can be said without fear of the dreaded ‘random’ drug test, and the resulting loss of employment. Those

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of our kind that work and live in these states can now discuss their personal lives without censure when congregating around the water coolers. This may help convert the stoner image from a dopey, red-eyed caricature to the more accurate portrayal represented by about 25 percent of any given workplace. One may also consider coming out to the family. I’ve known plenty of Cannabis users throughout the years that keep their Cannabis use a guarded secret from their family; at times leading to unnecessary guilt or dishonesty. Perhaps it’s time to liberate yourself from the chains of subterfuge and the shackles of persistent white lies. The gay community has honed this tactic to an art form in recent decades that can readily be applied to the Cannabis community. Many websites exist to aid a Cannabis lover in approaching their family on the topic. Here’s a comprehensive list of situational strategies by Ramon Johnson for starters: http://gaylife.about.com/od/ comingout/u/howtocomeout.htm. Make sure to amend your narrative accordingly. When Americans can imagine a Cannabis user not as ‘the stoner’, but as their co-worker, friend, or family, then prohibition doesn’t stand a chance. We know the real image of Cannabis, one that transcends the limits of stereotype. The American lover of Cannabis covers all shapes, colors, sizes, and personalities; impossible to pin down to one archetype. Our problem as a movement is that the rest of the nation has trouble seeing this fact. People who enjoy a drink (or eight) every so often are not generally considered ‘drunks’. That term is reserved for those that drink heavily daily. We all share in the responsibility of rectifying this inaccurate terminology of Cannabis and our image will play a critical role in this change. S

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: ZONKED Zonka vs. Partners Against Narcotics Trafficking (PANT) By Kandy Krush

Billy,

owner and entrepreneur of the Arizona-based business, Zonka, makes chocolate bars, lollipops and hard candies for his medical edibles dispensary. Zonka bars were first available in 2011 in flavors including chocolate and sugar-free peanut butter. These edibles are perfect for medical patients who want to enjoy the healing benefits of cannabinoids.

Some would say that Billy is an angel. He has an entrepreneurial vision of helping people and raising the awareness of the option of medical Cannabis to his patients. Whether for a migraine, nausea or sleep deprivation, medical patients in Arizona turned to Zonka bars for the help they needed. These candy bars are not the crude brownies of yesteryear. Rigorous testing is done on the bars and the other candy to ensure proper potency and purity. Zonka bars and candy are produced within strict adherence to the state laws. Billy was trying to follow the Arizona law to the best of his ability.

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On Sept. 12, 2012, the Arizona SWAT team, as well as the entire sheriff’s department and three town officials were waiting for Billy at an intersection on his way to drop his kids off at school (who at the time were ages six, 11 and 13.) As Billy drove up to what looked like a closed intersection, the SWAT team charged with masks on and guns drawn. They claimed to have felony arrest warrants. Billy and his wife were pulled out of their truck and put into handcuffs. Billy was taken away and his wife and children were driven to the police station for questioning. Law enforcement personnel raided Zonka and everything was seized: all paperwork, tax, and copyright information for their distribution, even the family’s extra clothes and money. The business was closed. Billy was identified as the “chef” who developed the various food products all containing Cannabis. He was booked on charges including: possession/sell/manufacture of narcotic drug, leading an organized crime operation, possession of marijuana and narcotic drug

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Fundraising sweatshirts for sale.

for sale, and prohibited possessor. He has a $250,000 bond and faces multiple felony charges and the possibility of years in prison. Prior to 2010, the law in Arizona stated that possession of a single gram of marijuana was a felony and that selling, growing or transporting the “narcotic” of Cannabis was an even more serious felony. The new and old laws in Arizona are creating unjust and drastic differences in the manner in which law enforcement deal with the charges. Many of the law-enforcement officers and prosecutors do not support the new law. The Yavapai County task force Partners Against Narcotics Trafficking (PANT) led

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the lengthy investigation into Zonka. No fewer than 100 law officers took part in the investigation including the officers from PANT, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, the Prescott Valley Police Department, the Chino Valley Police Department, the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, and the Phoenix Police Department. Since the raid on Zonka, some of the department heads have been ‘let go,’ showing the level of corruption in these departments. Two high-ranking members of the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, both of whom were allegedly members of a law

FEBRUARY 2014

enforcement motorcycle club known as the “Iron Brotherhood,” have resigned from the department. The former PANT unit commander and a member of the sheriff’s executive staff have submitted applications for voluntary resignations with intent to apply for retirement. Billy is not charged with just selling edibles — he is charged with selling a narcotic. Arizona law has long defined Cannabis as the resin extracted from marijuana plants, and Cannabis is deemed a narcotic that merits higher penalties. The 2010 law apparently nullifies that narcotic designation by defining usable marijuana as the plant or “any mixture or preparation thereof.” However, prosecutors alleged that the Zonka folks were operating outside the 2010 law, and, therefore, the harsh narcotics designation applies. Although all of the Zonka partners were either medical marijuana patients or caregivers, the law doesn’t allow them to manufacture Zonka candies and sell them wholesale to compassion clubs, where they were caught selling to an undercover police officer. Arizona’s medical Cannabis era is still young, and some of the law’s most vocal opponents govern the state. The battle continues by those who refuse to recognize the will of the voters in Arizona. Zonka is selling apparel to try to get back on their feet after being raided for all the wrong reasons. The company, along with the family, is fighting a hard battle. They are trying to raise public awareness to assist other companies facing this same battle. Check out the Zonka products for sale on www.freezonka.wix.com. All proceeds go to

FEBRUARY 2014

court and lawyer fees, and to reopening the business to help patients. They are hoping to be open for patient care and distribution of medicine soon. For more information, or to help with donations and/or participate in the auctions, find them on Instagram at #FreeZonka, or the Facebook Free Zonka page. Zonka would like to thank @ globguy(Matt) and @tesladabber(Matt) both on IG. These companies have been very helpful with donating items and ensuring that patients’ needs always come first. S FREE ZONKA | MEDIFADED, http:// chrontrepreneur.com/2014/01/08/freezonka/ (accessed Jan. 17, 2014).

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Cannabis candy seized as Ariz. authorities bust drug …, http://www.azfamily.com/news/ Cannabis-candy-seized-as-Ariz-authoritiesbust-drug-syndicate--170111206.html (accessed Jan. 17, 2014). Zonka Bar Bust: Arizona’s Anti-Pot Zealots Throw Medical …, http://blogs. phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2012/09/ zonka_bar_bust_arizonas_anti-p.php (accessed Jan. 17, 2014). Criminal Defense Attorney | St. Petersburg, http://flintlawpa.com/practice-areas/criminaldefense-attorney (accessed Jan. 17, 2014). Two top sheriff’s officers resign — The Verde Independent …, http://www.verdevalleynews. com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&A rticleID=53048 (accessed Jan. 17, 2014). Zonka And The Chocolate Factory - MAP: The Media Awareness .., http://www.mapinc.org/ drugnews/v12/n499/a02.html (accessed January 17, 2014). Free zonka by Billy Zonka - GoFundMe, http:// www.gofundme.com/freezonka (accessed January 17, 2014).

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Zonka products shown along with pleas for freedom.

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VOTING

DISENFRANCHISEMENT

LAWS

For some ex-felons, the right to vote is gone forever By Hippy KK In the United States, at the age of 18, citizens are granted the privilege to vote. However, if one is convicted of a felony, that right is quickly revoked and for some, impossible to obtain again. Losing one’s right to vote due to being a convicted felon is known as disenfranchisement. The U.S. Bureau of Justice released a report last month stating that 5.3 million Americans were unable to vote in the 2008 elections

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due to felony convictions. Included in this astronomical number were 2.1 million convicted felons that had completed their sentences. In 2012, there were 2.2 million people behind bars, or one in every 31 American adults that most likely won’t be able to cast their vote during the 2016 presidential election. It goes without saying that these numbers will have a significant impact

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on voting for Cannabis legalization in the upcoming years.

repeat offender. Check out each state’s felonvoting laws at ProCon.org.

In some states, a convicted felon must apply to have his or her voting rights restored. Whether or not a felon may be eligible to have their voting rights restored depends on the nature of the crime and whether or not the offender is a

From information gathered from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), we’ve compiled a list of the 50 states and the District of Columbia’s disenfranchisement laws. Take particular note of Florida, Kentucky and

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Iowa. Convicted felons in these three states permanently lose their right to vote. However, while incarcerated in the states of Maine and Vermont, felons never lose their right to vote, even while they are incarcerated. Surprisingly, it isn’t just felony convictions that can cause disenfranchisement. Kentucky and Missouri require an executive pardon before allowing people convicted of certain misdemeanors from ever voting again.

Iowa: People with felony convictions are permanently disenfranchised.

Kansas: All people with felony convictions can vote upon completion of sentence.

Kentucky: People with felony convictions are permanently disenfranchised.

Louisiana: All people with felony convictions can vote upon completion of sentence. Maine: Prisoners, probationers, and parolees

Alabama: Only some people with felony

can vote.

convictions can vote.

Maryland: All people with felony convictions

Alaska: All people with felony convictions can

can vote upon completion of sentence.

vote upon completion of sentence.

Massachusetts: Probationers and parolees can

Arizona: Only some people with felony

vote.

convictions can vote.

Michigan: Probationers and parolees can vote.

Arkansas: All people with felony convictions

Minnesota: All people with felony convictions can vote upon completion of sentence.

can vote upon completion of sentence.

California: Only probationers can vote. Colorado: Only probationers can vote.

Mississippi: Only some people with felony convictions can vote.

Connecticut: Only probationers can vote.

Missouri: All people with felony convictions

Delaware: All people with felony convictions

can vote upon completion of sentence.

Montana: Probationers and parolees can vote.

Florida: People with felony convictions are

Nebraska: All people with felony convictions

permanently disenfranchised.

can vote upon completion of sentence.

Georgia: All people with felony convictions

Nevada: Only some people with felony

can vote upon completion of sentence.

Hawaii: Probationers and parolees can vote. Idaho: All people with felony convictions can vote upon completion of sentence.

Illinois: Probationers and parolees can vote. Indiana: Probationers and parolees can vote.

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convictions can vote.

New Hampshire: Probationers and parolees can vote.

New Jersey: All people with felony convictions can vote upon completion of sentence. New Mexico: All people with felony

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convictions can vote upon completion of sentence.

New York: Only probationers can vote. North Carolina: All people with felony convictions can vote upon completion of sentence.

North Dakota: Probationers and parolees can vote.

Ohio: Probationers and parolees can vote. Oklahoma: All people with felony convictions can vote upon completion of sentence.

Oregon: Probationers and parolees can vote. Pennsylvania: Probationers and parolees can vote.

Rhode Island: Only probationers can vote. South Carolina: All people with felony convictions can vote upon completion of sentence.

South Dakota: All people with felony convictions can vote upon completion of sentence.

Tennessee: Only some people with felony convictions can vote.

Texas: All people with felony convictions can vote upon completion of sentence.

Utah: Probationers and parolees can vote. Vermont: Prisoners, probationers, and parolees can vote.

Virginia: Only some people with felony convictions can vote.

Washington: All people with felony convictions can vote upon completion

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of sentence.

Washington, DC: All people with felony convictions can vote upon completion of sentence. West Virginia: All people with felony convictions can vote upon completion of sentence.

Wisconsin: All people with felony convictions can vote upon completion of sentence.

Wyoming: Only some people with felony convictions can vote. Of the states that restore voting rights, more often than not, convicted felons are not aware that they regain their voting rights automatically upon completion of their sentence. They go through life believing they cannot vote when, in fact, they can. In other cases, they are not informed of the process for regaining their rights or offered assistance in doing so. As long as they remain blind to the necessary steps, convicted felons cannot begin the process of regaining voting rights. Just as long as voting rights have been restored, anything on the ballot can be voted upon. Don’t be fooled — get out and vote. S NCSL: http://www.ncsl.org/research/ elections-and-campaigns/felon-votingrights.aspx

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Sentencing Project: http://www. sentencingproject.org/template/index.cfm ProCon.org: http://felonvoting.procon.org/view. resource.php?resourceID=286#arizona ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/maps/map-statefelony-disfranchisement-laws

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By Miggy420 Illustration by Andy Rostar 58

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I am part of the human solution. Not the group that Joe Grumbine started, but one of the many people who wake up every day concerned about the persistent imbalance of justice that makes using Cannabis a crime throughout most of the United States. The question remains: How are we going to fix it? What will you do? All of my life I’ve been taught that prison is for “bad” people, for criminals. For people who have demonstrated ill intent toward others; they are bad guys. But it’s not that simple. There are those who find themselves suddenly being considered a “criminal” because the use of Cannabis is illegal, and that’s criminal. I am one of the many people who believe that the legalization of Cannabis is for the greater good, and it crosses all boundaries. I believe in Cannabis. Whether you’re in it for medicine, recreation or business, legalization can only help you. I believe in Cannabis simply because it’s safer for all.

I’m No Saint I consider Cannabis to be my religion because I have blind faith in it; the hardest part of believing in anything is having blind faith. What other law, what other thing can change so many lives for the greater good? We all agree that rape and murder is bad, but has it

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stopped? By changing, or correcting one law, thousands of morally good people can begin their lives anew. People incarcerated with actual rapists and murderers whose only crime was trying to feed their families or make a living, can be set free. Cannabis legalization affects us all, consumer and non-consumer. We live in a system that has created fatherless babies, single-parent homes and has even put grandparents in jail. If you smoke a joint, you don’t want to go to jail. And, if you’re a functioning member of society, you want children to be protected throughout their childhoods. I’ve been working on an overall generic letter to send to all prisoners incarcerated for Cannabis offenses. How do you tell innocent people who’ve already had their lives disrupted that, “It’s gonna be okay”? The following is a letter I wrote to the warden in support of Eddy Lepp and the last is a small piece I was writing on P.O.W Bruce Goldsmith. As I was writing the Bruce Goldsmith piece I realized I could take his name out and replace it with any one of a 1000 prisoners’.

Eddy Lepp In the eyes of many Americans (whom are of sound mind) Eddy Lepp is not a criminal. His crimes are the result of an archaic jim crow law

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New Year’s Revolution, Part II • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

classifying a plant more benign than peanuts to some, and the resulting judgment against him, which is simply un-American; and it’s un-American because the law was established by evidence that was racially and scientifically biased.

with the mental incompetence of others, as well as maintaining your own sanity from not being able to live free. The little freedoms we all enjoy on a daily basis are greatly missed once one is alone and secluded without the inability to reach out and touch someone.

Eddy Lepp is guilty of providing for his family and giving aid to sick individuals. Eddy Lepp has received 10 years for something that could potentially be considered the equivalent of alcohol in America’s future. Please release Eddy Lepp on the conditions of compassionate release; he is a frail and dying veteran that does not deserve to be living in the same conditions as murderers and pedophiles. Please do not let Eddy’s 10-year sentence become a life sentence, as in the case of Richard Flor who died while serving his five-year sentence.

Bruce cannot appreciate a sunny day, a walk in the park, the change of seasons, a snowball fight, music or any form of lovemaking; there is no beauty for Bruce, prison is not like Shawshank Redemption it’s like Oz.

Bruce Goldsmith At 61, a skilled electrician turned Cannabis handyman and farmer is not a criminal in the eyes of many. In the eyes of many he’s a friend, a businessman, a carpenter, an electrician and a prisoner of war; the product of some of America’s most racially divided days. The fact that Cannabis never received a fair trial also means Bruce Goldsmith, and thousands like him, have never received fair trials as well. Bruce and many like him spend each day waking up on a hard bed with no privacy, surrounded by other men who deserve to be there. He is a skilled laborer, not a criminal, and is imprisoned with true, hardened criminals, surrounded by killers, pedophiles, and the rest of society’s dregs. They wake up not knowing what unstable madness is going to occur that day. As a prisoner, you face the challenges of dealing

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I would like to point out one case that illustrates how the scales of this injustice are tipped, as innocent people spend their days surrounded with no privacy or privilege, living with strangers who are potentially real criminals; locked up alone with no contact with loved ones, serving long-term sentences while real criminals are released because the laws are not right. Here in my neck of the woods a man was released after 31 years due to a loophole in the system. His crime was the rape and kidnap of a 14-year-old girl. There was more than one victim. These are the things that seem to be out of whack to me. The next time you get into a discussion about why Cannabis should be legal, remind them it’s medicine, it’s safer than alcohol and that the time does not equal the crime. Let my people go, let my people grow. S Miggy420 (a.k.a Miggy Miggs on Facebook because no one uses their real names while holding a corporate job and supporting Cannabis legalization) writes about Cannabis issues. You can find his other works on www. theweedblog.com and on his personal blog: http:// brothercanyouspareadimebag.blogspot.com/.

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Leading a Cannabis Revolution //FROM PAGE 38

but true. If this sounds like too much work for you, or if you find yourself devoid of leadership qualities, then at the very least go out and vote. It’s far too easy and is potentially too important to pass up. Furthermore, the image of the couch-plastered stoner needs to be overcome by action. Go a step further and be educated in your voting. National elections get the most press, but have the least impact currently on the Cannabis movement. Pay closer attention to state and local elections. Just last November, I had the opportunity to vote in a local election that decriminalized the possession and sale of up to an ounce of Cannabis on private property. Although the ballot initiative passed by just over 60 percent,

the voter turnout for this election was well below the already shameful national average. I know far more Cannabis users live in my fair city than those represented at the ballot-box. Had they all shown up, the initiative could have passed by over 90 percent. This would have made policy-makers rethink their current stance on Cannabis. Pay attention to what’s up for a vote and when. Be registered to vote and know where your voting location is (it’s usually within walking distance). If it’s not a simple, ‘is weed cool?’ type of question, do a bit of homework on the internet to know what you’re voting for. Then mark your calendar and on the big day make it your unwavering mission to get off your ass and vote. S

The photo on page 31 of the January 2014 issue of Sativa Magazine was attributed to the wrong photographer. The photo was taken by Heidi Hemp’ography. We apologize for the error.

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Need for seeds //FROM PAGE 20

them as an ordinary non-MMJpatient resident would have been a very different and illegal scenario. People in Colorado can’t go to a farmer’s market and buy Cannabis plants because they contain THC and fall under the purvey of the MED, but in theory they could buy seeds at one. Ask questions and vote Unless you live in the two states

that already have legalized Cannabis, this is a moot point. Or is it? Ask your state’s agriculture department about the legality of possessing Cannabis seeds. You might be surprised at the answer, just don’t get them wet — yet. For that day to come sooner in your state consider becoming an activist, or at the very minimum, exercise your precious right to vote. S

Labs LLC which tests for THC and CBD levels in hemp crops and fatty acids content in hemp seed oil for hemp farmers in Colorado and offers consulting services for hemp farmers. www.sativa-labs.com Paul also owns Global Heritage Seeds, a Hemp and Cannabis seed labeler exclusively for Colorado growers.

Paul Lembeck operates Sativa

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