ORANGE COUNTY
RED MORE THAN
ROCK 10 REASONS TO VISIT ARIZONA
TRAVELING UNBOUND Exploring Without Restraint DANCE TO THE MUSIC Outdoor Music Fests Afoot
{plus}
SOIL VS HYDROPONIC HOW WILL YOU GROW?
THE NEW NORMAL
5.2019
sensimag.com MAY 2019 3
4 MAY 2019 Southern California
sensimag.com MAY 2019 5
Green Flower Support
The Green Flower Certification Program elevates and validates your knowledge of cannabis, raising the level of trust, credibility and skill in the cannabis industry. Increase your knowledge and confidence by enrolling online, passing the test and receiving your Green Flower Certification.
GET ON THE LIST
www.Green-Flower.com/Academy
6 MAY 2019 Southern California
ISSUE 5 // VOLUME 2 // 5.2019
FEATURES 36 Trip for a Lifetime
An ode to the seductive allure of travel.
42 Barcelona Unbound
This city on the Iberian Peninsula is a cannabis lover’s paradise.
28 TRAVEL EASE Creature comforts
every issue TREE HOUSE TALES Cocina Seductiva
23
9 Editor’s Note 10 The Buzz 16 Women, Weed & Wellness
MAMACITAS BLAZING THE WAY
18 GreenHouse
FROM THE GROUND UP
21 HomeMade
SEXY CANNA COOKIES
23 TasteBuds
TWO REASONS TO TASTE MEXICO
28 LifeStyle
AFFORDABLE TRAVEL TAKES
30 TravelWell
TEN ARIZONA EXPERIENCES
50 HereWeGo
¡VIVA BARCELONA!
Sensi magazine is published monthly by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2019 SENSI MEDIA GROUP LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
sensimag.com MAY 2019 7
sensi magazine ISSUE 5 / VOLUME 2 / 5.2019
EXECUTIVE FOLLOW US
Ron Kolb ron@sensimag.com CEO, SENSI MEDIA GROUP
Tae Darnell tae@sensimag.com PRESIDENT, SENSI MEDIA GROUP
Alex Martinez alex@sensimag.com CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
EDITORIAL sensimediagroup
Stephanie Wilson stephanie@sensimag.com EDITOR IN CHIEF
Dawn Garcia dawn.garcia@sensimag.com
MANAGING EDITOR, SENSI SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Leland Rucker leland.rucker@sensimag.com SENIOR EDITOR
Robyn Griggs Lawrence CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Dr. Angie McCartney askangie@sensimag.com A.J. Herrington, Seffrah Orlando sensimagazine
COLUMNISTS
Eli Dupin, David Duran, Jason Harley CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
A RT & D E S I G N Jamie Ezra Mark jamie@emagency.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Rheya Tanner, Wendy Mak, Josh Clark em@sensimag.com sensimag
DESIGN & LAYOUT
BUSINESS & A D M I N I S T R AT I V E Karen Petersen karen.petersen@sensimag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER, ORANGE COUNTY
Vanessa Fleur vanessa.fleur@sensimag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER, SAN DIEGO
Amber Orvik amber.orvik@sensimag.com CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR
Andre Velez andre.velez@sensimag.com MARKETING DIRECTOR
Hector Irizarry distribution@sensimag.com DISTRIBUTION
M E D I A PA RT N E R S Marijuana Business Daily Minority Cannabis Business Association National Cannabis Industry Association Students for Sensible Drug Policy
8 MAY 2019 Southern California
THE WORLD IS ADVISORY BOARD 4Blooms Cannabis Business Services // BRAND CONSULTING SERVICES
editor’s
CALLING
NOTE
The first moment you dare step outside of
55 Hydroponics // HYDROPONICS
the place you call home—that’s the first moment you finally ex-
Bailey’s CBD //
the true adventure, and the one thing that forever opens our
PET CBD TINCTURE/PET TREATS
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perience what it means to truly live. Travel is the great escape, minds to the possibility of everything. This month as we literally show you the world, our fundamental
CONTROLLED DOSAGE VAPORIZERS
message is one of curiosity. While living in our cities is wonderful and
CHX & BLNZ // CANNABIS ACCOUNTING
filled with rich culture, there is nothing quite like going someplace
Fiddler’s Greens // CBD TINCTURES
whimsical way. Whether you fly to Ireland to see the greenest tech-
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different and, for a while, allowing yourself to see the world in a nicolor greens, tackle the red terrain of Arizona, learn the history of cannabis while in Spain, sleep in a luxurious treehouse in the Mexican jungle, stumble upon a mysterious horizon, dance along an unnamed river, or wander off until you’re sufficiently and happily lost,
The Right Dosage // PACKAGING
the only limit to what’s possible is how far you’re willing to travel.
Therapy Tonics & Provisions //
Brothers and Amelia Earhart, something deep within us longs to
INFUSED DRINKS
Witlon, Inc // PAYROLL
Throughout history, from Columbus to Magellan to the Wright discover people and places we’ve not yet seen or met. We get on buses, trains, planes and ships hoping they’ll take us somewhere far more exciting than our everyday lives. Much like the way Alice in Wonderland pushed the boundaries of perspective and self-awareness, leaving the comforts of home can be the most life-changing and intellectually stimulating risk you ever take. I encourage you to engage in more local activities, enjoy a music festival, take an art class, and dare you to grow your own cannabis—but more than that, I hope you will thumb through the adventures of this issue and feel that nagging desire to pack a bag, throw caution to the wind, and find a destiny all your own.
“In the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.” –Jack Kerouac
Pay close attention… The world is calling.
Dawn Garcia
M ANAG I NG E D I TO R
SENSI SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
sensimag.com MAY 2019 9
ART POP-UP
ARTivist Community Fair
ORANGE COUNTY—CANNABIS
Canna Yoga
May 11 // 11 a.m.
May 30 // 7–9 p.m.
Canna Yoga is more than a mere yoga class with cannabis. Hosted and taught by Sweet Tata’s Tatiana Weaver, this class brings yoga and the benefits of plant-based medicine together and into your present. Through healing breath, cannabis-infused treats, flowers, and concentrates, you will be guided through mindful movement, music, and meditation. Exploring your bodies, your strength, and ability to relax in an uplifting and supportive environment, Weaver will be there incorporating various styles of yoga including hatha, yin, and vinyasa as well as experimenting with other techniques that will bring you one step closer to total and utter inner peace. This is a thoughtful experience meant for those open to combining cannabis, health, fitness, and overall well-being. Canna Yoga is about self-healing and helping you reach your higher self.
–Dawn Garcia
The Hangout // 2122 E 4th St. // Long Beach // SWEETTATAS.COM 10 MAY 2019 Southern California
Art has been a source of activism in terms of messaging and visuals for decades, and in today’s modern world of speaking out and standing up, it is a playful vehicle of inspiration. This summer, ARTivist brings activism and art together for a community fair that will awaken transformation and liberation and create elevated, intellectual, and thoughtful expressions. Brought to you by Social Change Coalition, the event invites guests to create art, free their minds, and enjoy live music and an open mic while also enjoying a boutique-style bazaar of unique items. –DG $15 - RSVP on Eventbrite with ID: 58138954177. Under the Sun // 244 East 3rd Street // Long Beach
i am
VITALITY
( n .) T h e s t a t e o f b eing.
sensimag.com MAY 2019 t: 1.833.ARTEMIS www.iamARTEMIS.com ig: @iamARTEMISca
11
MUSIC
OC Music Festival May 24–26 // 4–10 p.m.
For three days and nights, the OC Music Festival will engage your musical wiles with 20 different bands. Bringing all local bands and talent to the stage, the event gives Southern Californians a chance to camp 200 yards from the venue and feast their ears on a lineup consisting of all kinds of musical genres. Performing on two stages are Cubensis, GrooveSession, Shred is Dead – Marcus Rezak, Robert Jon & The Wreck, Jerry’s Middle Finger, Dupp Brothers, Other Mother Brother Band, Brothers Gow, Mestizo Beat, Shaky Feelin’, The Brett Davis Experience, Hempstring Orchestra, Alpine Camp, Rich Sheldon, TV Broken 3rd Eye Open, Liquormiths, West Coast Strayz, Gospel Swamp, OC Music Jamstars, and more TBA.
–DG
Gates Open May 24 @ 2:00 p.m., Music Begins @ 5:00 p.m. // OC-MUSICFEST.COM
Doheny Music Festival May 18 + May 19, 2019 // 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Celebrating 22 years on Dana Point Harbor is a music festival with the backdrop of Sea Terrace Park featuring three stages of rock, soul, and blues. In a gorgeous natural environment, this festival brings over 15,000 guests and a lineup of some of today’s most notable performers including Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals. Craft brews, a vendor village full of eclectic options, and more will be on site for purchase.
LINE-UP
SATURDAY: Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Taj
Mahal Quartet, Robert Cray Band, Allman Betts Band, North Mississippi Allstars, Sue Foley, The Paladins, B.B. & The Blues Shacks, The Delgado Brothers, GA-20, The 44s and Friends, and Tom Ball & Kenny Sultan. SUNDAY: Jonny Lang, The Marcus King Band, Vintage Trouble, John Mayall Band with Carolyn Wonderland, Southern Avenue, Roy Gains Tribute to T-Bone Walker, Nick Moss Band with Dennis Gruenling, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Lindsay Beaver, Brandon “Taz” Niederauer-Artist-At-Large, and Johnny & Jaalene. TICKETS: DOHENYBLUESFESTIVAL.COM 12 MAY 2019 Southern California
–DG
SAN DIEGO'S FAVORITE STOREFRONT SAN DIEGO—ART POP-UPS
THE EDGE:
Live Music, PopUp Art Show, Delicious Bites & Craft Cocktails
May 11 // 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Jazz music is one of the most influential parts of our musical history and one of the best ways to enjoy it is with a proper cocktail in hand. Vanguard Culture has joined musical icon Gilbert Castellanos for an evening of musical artistry. Inviting San Diego Music Award-winning jazz and non-jazz musicians, Castellanos presents Americana band, “The Midnight Pine,” fusing two acclaimed musicians and taking them out of their comfort zone and into an edgy something new. –DG Pre-concert Art Meets Jazz exhibit featuring regional visual artists: $15-$40, includes delicious bites + 1 craft cocktail // IDEA1 (Please use F. Street Entrance) // 895 Park Blvd. // San Diego // VANGUARDCULTURE.ORG
Creative Arts Cafe May 11 // 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Veterans deserve to be appreciated, valued, and inspired. The Creative Arts Cafe holds special art classes for veterans, active duty, spouses and their children to bring joy and creativity into their lives. The VETART School of Ceramics and Glass offers art and ceramics classes to the veteran community. This particular event is a collaboration between Resounding Joy, Combat Arts San Diego, Vets Community Connections, San Diego Veterans Coalition, and So Say We All to connect veterans to their community. This event is part of Creative Forces: NEA Military Healing Arts Network, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the US Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs and the state and local arts agencies with administrative support provided by Americans for the Arts. –DG FREE EVENT: EVENTBRITE.COM // Event ID: 58032989233 // Includes ceramics activities, live music, and food (available for purchase). // VETART School of Ceramics and Glass // 2422 Cades Way // Vista
7128 MIRAMAR RD SAN DIEGO 855 - MANKIND
MEDICAL & RECREATIONAL OPEN 7am - 9pm DAILY WE ACCEPT DEBIT CARDS ATM MACHINE ONSITE SENIOR, VETERAN & DISABILITY DISCOUNTS #A10-18-0000340-TEMP #M10-17-0000025-TEMP
sensimag.com MAY 2019 13
Gator By The Bay May 9 - May 12 // 10:30 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Bringing Louisiana music direct to you for the annual Gator by the Bay music festival, this bayou-inspired food and music event shouldn’t be missed. Themed after Louisiana culture and featuring 100 musical acts on seven different stages, the event invites attendees to dance the days away and get swamp deep in Cajun and creole cuisine, from crawfish to jambalaya with beignets, for good measure.
–DG
Day passes + all-access 4-day tickets// $35 - $140 // Spanish Landing Park // 3900 North Harbor Dr. (across from San Diego Airport) // GATORBYTHEBAY.COM
14 MAY 2019 Southern California
PHOTOS BY DOUG FABER, COURTESY OF GATOR BY THE BAY 2018
MUSIC
Chx & Blnz is a full-service accounting and business consulting group focused on assisting cannabis companies with bookkeeping/accounting, tax services, audits, compliance, first-time business setup for start-ups, product/service consulting and financial analysis software to give business operators the information they need to make decisions with confidence, and manage with success. CANNABIS
The Common Scents Tour
Our staff include licensed CPAs, professionals with advanced degrees in Masters of Business Taxation from USC, Masters of Business Administration and Masters of Project Management.
May 11 // 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.
There is a growing curiosity about the science behind cannabis, and the Common Scents tour led by Soil to Oil’s Kristen Yoder is about educating you about cannabis by way of scent. Scent is one of the most powerful senses of the human experience, and understanding the science behind the scent profiles of cannabis strains will help you understand which strains are best suited for you. If you’re interested in learning more about the individual constituents of cannabis that make its properties so incredibly effective and unique, this might be the experience for you. –DG For more information, email Kristen Yoder at KRISTEN@SOILTOTHEOIL.COM .
Breaking Into Medical Cannabis May 18 // 12:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.
This all-day event is an educational seminar made for entrepreneurs and job seekers looking to break into the profession of medical cannabis. The event covers a wide range of issues, including working across supply chain from processing to dispensing to cultivation, cannabis law, regulation, breaking down cannabis flower anatomy, and cultivation basics including dosing—all meant to increase your understanding of the medical cannabis industry in a cohesive and approachable manner. Participants will also learn about building a proper resume for the field and getting insight from doctors, lawyers, and –DG cannabis industry experts. TICKETS $179 // Evenbrite ID: 58540463101 // Hampton Inn // 1531 Pacific Hwy. // San Diego // leafygreenagency.com/organizer/leafy-green-agency/
sensimag.com MAY 2019 15
{WW&W } by S E F F R A H O R L A N D O
MAMACITAS BLAZING THE WAY In our first installment of Women, Weed & Wellness: CBD is the answer to reclaiming our health. Let me start by being totally honest: My experience with cannabis until the last year has mostly been from my days as a teenager—and that was many moons ago. I have been on a personal wellness journey, which eventually led me to cannabis. I do a lot of research on the natural products that stock our shelves, but it can be a bit overwhelming. I started
are expanding their efforts from what was a predominately
simply, finding products that were safe for me and my family
male target demo to include women and children.
to use. In no uncertain terms, CBD is where I landed.
As part of that precise demographic, I was initially moti-
As I write, my house is in the throes of a butt-kicking flu
vated to research cannabis for its wellness and non-addic-
virus—body aches, headaches, and inflammation are just a
tive properties. But I have also been inspired to hear from
few of the symptoms. Instead of reaching for the NyQuil to
women directly in the business, to find out what drives
suppress them, I’m turning to CBD. Like many other women
them to pursue this dynamic and unsteady industry.
I know, I am looking to steer clear of the synthetic pharma-
I recently spoke with Katie Hernandez, CEO of the can-
ceuticals of yesterday and replace them with natural ho-
nabis startup Elevated Greens. As a mother and longtime
meopathic substitutes. CBD is in my arsenal because when
supporter of the movement, she has developed a line of
my family and I need relief, whether it be for the common
cannabis products that are beneficial for the whole family,
cold, the flu, or pain management, CBD is the best recourse.
including 100 percent vegan, all-natural baked goods, teas,
Women are establishing a place at the forefront of the
salves, and oils. Personal experience inspired Hernandez’s
booming cannabis industry from a wellness standpoint. The
jump into the cannabis industry. In a joint statement with
majority of those women are mothers. In a recent article in
co-founder Gloria Memije, Hernandez said, “We have chil-
The Atlantic, Lindsey Hunter Lopez reports that as cannabis
dren who cope with eczema and have tried numerous prod-
becomes more socially acceptable, mothers are turning to the
ucts, prescription and over-the-counter—none of which
plant’s many derivatives to deal with stress, anxiety, aches,
provided relief. With that being said, we decided to create
pains, and more. Cannabis marketers have taken notice of
a product that we were comfortable using on our ourselves
the increasing popularity among the mom demographic and
and on our families. Thus, we created Elevated Greens.”
16 MAY 2019 Southern California
These ladies are among many who are on a mission to raise awareness and reduce stigma around cannabis, particularly among women and the elderly. As this movement is still in its infancy, these women are motivated by three things: passion, ambition, and an opportunity to see each other thrive in the cannabis space. Elevated Greens has hit the ground running, and you’ll find the line at various the women-in-cannabis events around LA, Orange County, and the Inland Empire (updates on Instagram @ELEVATEDGREENS_EST2019 ). As I immerse myself more and more into the cannabis industry, documenting the stories of ambitious women who are driven by passion and a better way of life, I look forward to witnessing—and experiencing—firsthand how women blaze the way in cannabis, especially as it pertains to wellness and overall quality of life. Whether you’re down for the count from the flu or ready to tackle the day, light it up, ladies! A revolution is afoot. SEFFRAH ORLANDO is a California native, born and raised in Long Beach. A mother, wife, and cannabis advocate, she presently works in the healthcare industry. Her background is in food, health and wellness, and culture.
sensimag.com MAY 2019 17
{greenhouse } by A . J . H E R R I N G T O N
FROM THE GROUND UP Start with soil or try hydroponics? AJ has the dirt on each method.
A home cannabis grower must ask one fundamental
of good-quality compost or other organic matter into gar-
question before deciding on a cultivation method: should
den soil or create raised beds to contain additional organic
I garden in soil or hydroponically? Both methods have
matter and soil amendments.
inherent advantages and drawbacks and both produce
To grow cannabis in containers, a high-quality commer-
quality cannabis flowers. While the trend for large com-
cial potting mix that is slightly acidic and drains well is the
mercial grows favor large, automated hydroponic culti-
best bet for beginning home gardeners. National brands
vation warehouses that utilize sophisticated equipment
from a garden center will work fine, or you can visit a spe-
to precisely deliver the water and nutrients plants need,
cialty retailer such as Mighty Hydro in Mission Valley or one
it’s common knowledge that some of the best bud in the
of the five locations of San Diego Hydroponics and Organics
world has been grown directly in the ground in California’s
for organic potting soils blended especially for cannabis cul-
Emerald Triangle. Either method can also be employed by
tivation. Most home growers use either sturdy plastic con-
the hobbyist grower.
tainers or special fabric grow bags to hold the planting mix.
CULTIVATING IN SOIL
Growing plants in soil is a great option for beginning cannabis gardeners—it’s far more forgiving than hydro-
To grow healthy cannabis plants, the gardener must pro-
ponic methods. Plenty of veteran cultivators prefer soil,
vide an environment where the roots can receive a steady
eschewing other techniques they consider less natural.
supply of water, nutrients, and oxygen. The easiest way
The soil acts as a buffer for the plant’s roots, which can
to do that is with soil, either in a container or the ground,
help protect them from problems such as over-fertilizing
that is light and porous with plenty of organic matter to
or extremes in acidity or alkalinity (pH). Soils with plenty
provide nutrients and good drainage. Outside, mix plenty
of organic matter will retain water and slowly release nu-
18 MAY 2019 Southern California
trients over time, which also helps mitigate some of the common mistakes beginners may come across. There are a few disadvantages associated with growing in soil. The more natural the environment for the plants, the more hospitable to some pests and pathogens, so a bit more vigilance and remedial action might be necessary. This could be a valid argument for hydroponic systems, which also lend themselves to automation, making growing in soil a bit more laborious.
HYDROPONICS
Roots-free hydroponic growth of green lettuce.
In a hydroponic growing system, instead of soil, an inert growing medium such as clay pellets, rock wool, or shredded coconut husks (known as coir) can be used to create a better environment for the roots. Sometimes no medium is used at all, the roots are left dangling free, reaching into or automatically misted with a nutrient solution. Roots generally get more exposure to oxygen, but without firm ground to anchor themselves in, plants grown hydroponically must normally be supported with trellising or other means. Several different processes are used to grow plants hydroponically, all with the same goal of providing the roots with water, nutrients, and oxygen. Drip irrigation employs plastic tubing to deliver irrigation directly to the base of each plant. An ebb-and-flow system periodically floods the root zone with nutrient solution, watering and feeding the plant before it drains away to expose roots to fresh air. In deep water culture, roots are suspended in an aerated nutrient solution contained in a light-proof bucket. Aeroponic systems use misters to provide moisture and fertilizer directly to the roots. Hydroponic gardeners often automate their grows, allowing timers and pumps to do much of the work needed to water and feed plants. But the lack of attention automation allows can become a drawback in the event of a power fail-
ure. With the improved exposure to air built into hydroponic grows, roots can quickly dry out if the system breaks down, killing the plants. The exposed roots are also more sensitive to over-fertilization and unfavorable pH, which can harm plants or make it more difficult for them to absorb nutrients. Given the same inputs of light and fertilizers, cannabis plants grown hydroponically will generally grow faster and yield more flower, but flavor can be sacrificed if care is not taken to carefully flush nutrients from the plants before harvest.
WHICH METHOD IS FOR YOU? Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide how you’ll grow your plants. If you’re just starting out, I’d recommend trying soil first because you’re more likely to succeed. Then, once you’ve learned the basics of cultivating good herb, you can decide if you’re up to the challenge of a hydroponic grow. AJ HERRINGTON is a writer with a passion for cannabis news, business, and culture who has been growing for more than five years. His devotion to lessening his carbon footprint as a cultivator has led to some rather fascinating discoveries.
sensimag.com MAY 2019 19
20 MAY 2019 Southern California
{homemade } by C H E F J A K A J A S O N H A R L E Y
SEXY CANNA
Chocolate Ginseng cookies that make every part of you equally happy.
These cookies embody the seductive elements of each
INSTRUCTIONS
ingredient. Cannabis is known to get the ole’ engine rev-
STEP 1: Preheat oven to 350°F.
ving by encouraging inhibition activated by cannabinoids, increasing pleasure, and decreasing stress. Chocolate is
STEP 2: In a large bowl, add the butter and sugar, and cream together with a hand mixer.
loaded with antioxidants and is said to help with mood
STEP 3: Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the creamed
and intimacy, and ginseng enhances our brain power, fights fatigue, and perks things up all around.
mixture and mix until combined. STEP 4: In a medium bowl, mix the cocoa powder, flour, baking soda, ginseng and salt. STEP 5: Slowly add the dry ingredients and continue mix-
INGREDIENTS
ing until incorporated.
• 10 oz canna butter, at room temperature
STEP 6: Roll the dough into 2 logs that are about 2-inches
• 2 cups sugar
high and 1-foot long.
• 2 large eggs
STEP 7: Wrap them in waxed paper and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
• 1 tbp vanilla extract • ³⁄₄ cup Dutch process cocoa powder • 2 cups all-purpose flour • 1 tsp baking soda • ¹⁄₂ tsp salt • 6 oz chocolate chips for the middle of the cookie • 1 tbp Indian Ginseng Yields 2 ½ dozen
STEP 8: Once thoroughly chilled, slice the cookies into ¹⁄₂-inch
thick rounds and place a couple chocolate chips in the middle. STEP 9: Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes. STEP 10: Remove to a wire rack to cool. CHEF J is a Brooklyn-born New Yorker living in Los Angeles. He is the founder and creator of JRollz (JROLLZ.COM ), OG Kitchen (OGKITCHEN.COM ), and Baby J’s Burgers (@BABYJSBURGERS on Twitter and Insta)..
sensimag.com MAY 2019 21
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{tastebuds } by DAW N G A R C I A
TWO REASONS TO TASTE MEXICO Adventurous culinary experiences worth keeping Mexico on your radar. Mexico has long been a land of intrigue, from its sprawling beaches to its endless culinary renderings. Here are two reasons to head to this endless barrage of beauty and cuisine that unlocks something truly extraordinary.
REASON NO. 1: GASTRONOMY TOURS $90–$185 per person // Vegetarian options available // CLUBTENGOHAMBRE.COM
If you want to plan an entire trip around food and eating, Club Tengo Hambre (CTH) is the only place you should look. This supper club is unlike anything you’ll experience. With an explosive Valla de Guadalupe wine scene and culinary masters and foodies from Baja California to Mexico City at the helm, there is a culinary tour waiting for you to sink your teeth into. Created by Bill Esparza, Jason Thomas Fritz, and Antonio and Kristin Díaz de Sandi, CTH is a highly respected and revered culinary destination for anyone with a desire to make their taste buds sing. sensimag.com MAY 2019 23
city. A second city tour takes you through the markets to explore street food, sweets, and pulque, tapping into the pulse of “market geeks, food lovers, and sweet tooths
The CTH team says its primary goal is “to celebrate both the social aspect of food in bringing people together and the rich culinary scenes that make Baja California and Mexico City among the world’s greatest destinations for food lovers.” You will be enthralled in Mexican cuisine that
who want to explore the best of Mexico City,” according to CTH’s website. A third tour, After Dark, takes taco lovers and cantina frequenters through a supper club with a plethora of taco renderings, a pulqueria, and a historic cantina. In Tijuana, choose from three different “daycations” exploring street food and craft beer, Valle de Guadalupe wine and food, Best of Tijuana (a progressive seven-course outing), or a seafood and craft beer tour.
REASON NO. 2: ACRE BAJA Cabo San Lucas // ACREBAJA.COM
extends from shore to
Luxury treehouses, villas, a forest bar, and am impec-
jungle, city epicenters to
cable restaurant are four things you’ll be enamored by at
unknown villages. Meet local taqueros, brewers, restau-
ACRE Baja. Twelve treehouses, all eco and green, tower
rateurs, and mezcal makers. Those who venture with an
in the property’s trees, are designed with every luxury in
open palate will awaken more than just their taste buds.
mind, including one deluxe unit with a suspended bridge.
Tours happen in Mexico City and Tijuana (Baja). CTH also
Each unit has a private terrace, outdoor shower, king-size
offers tours in Los Angeles (but go to Mexico instead). In
bed, mosquito nets, a bathroom, and high-speed inter-
Mexico City, there are three different three-and-a-half
net (though wouldn’t it be nice to unplug for a few days?).
hour food tours. On the Street Food Essentials tour, you
While ACRE doesn’t have a spa, it is a wellness center in its
explore six different culinary stops, eating regional spe-
own right, and you can book massages and do body work
cialties and menus you can’t get anywhere outside the
poolside or on your treehouse terrace.
24 MAY 2019 Southern California
When it comes to dining, ACRE has some of the most sensual, crave-worthy, fresh cuisine you may have tasted. Imagine slipping into a bowl of cuisine that takes hold of you so intensely, upon first taste, you find yourself completely submersed. That is what Chef Kevin Luzande and Chef Oscar Torres have done. Starting with a sumptuous cocktail crafted by mixologist Danielle Tatarin that lures
VISIT SOUTHERN HUMBOLDT
your senses through bright fragrant inclusions or smallbatch mezcal, the transition into the restaurant makes it a culinary love affair. Offering plant-based cuisine; freshly caught, responsibly and sustainably-sourced fish; and local meats and fowl, the culinary team creates food that can only be described as sublime. With a vegetable and herb garden on the property, everything is fresh. An example of dishes Luzande and Torres curate that will take your breath away are the beets on beets dish made with beets cured with limes and cayenne, then crisped, baked, fried, and paired with sprigs of parsley and house-churned goat cheese, and the freshly cured squid colored with tinges of saffron and cardamom. The fare will open up the senses and prepare the palate for an extraordinary submersion into local, authentic for a foodgasm. To give you a small taste of what you can expect, imagine a bowl of sorbet that oozes guava and hibiscus with hints of plumeria and undertones of geranium. Fresh blooms are nestled atop a foamed concoction of lime, and geraniums dance like clouds as the guava sorbet situates on the guava crisp housing it’s entire foundation. It is in every way a sexy and seductive finish to a rather curious meal. Un cine con la pasion y amor … Mexico has become a sought-after travel destination. Whether you explore the tropical bliss of Riviera Nayarit
Shelter Cove
cuisine. When you’ve moved on to dessert, be prepared
AMERICA’S CANNABIS HEARTLAND
along the Punta Mita shoreline, head to Cabo San Lucas to take a boat out to the famous ocean arches (and if you do, stop and eat at SUR Cabo), fulfill your desires to swim in one of the most beautiful waterfalls such as Agua Azul in Chiapas, or spend a day in Tijuana, you will have endless culi-
TM
THE MAGIC
nary choices wherever you go. The beauty of the nation is that it is rich in lush land and seascapes, jungles and dessert, oceans and hidden finds, but most of all it’s the people that
www.elevatethemagic.com
make visiting Mexico (VISITMEXICO.COM ) a travel must. sensimag.com MAY 2019 25
26 MAY 2019 Southern California
sensimag.com MAY 2019 27
{lifestyle } by DAW N G A R C I A
AFFORDABLE TRAVEL TAKES The simple things make traveling so much easier. As we pack our bags in hopes of either an overnight staycation or a true escape somewhere fascinating, the continual shift in what we can and can’t take with us seems to be mounting faster than we can keep up. Thankfully, as flight rules change and road trips become more popular, traveling light doesn’t mean giving up things that matter. Beauty regimes, fitness routines, creature comforts, and clean clothes make traveling all the more successful. Below is a look at some products I’ll never travel without. Whether I’m road tripping or traveling to the other side of the world, these things make my life on the road easier, more luxurious, and lighter—and fit snugly in my suitcase.
BEAUTY + SELF-CARE In a world where beauty tricks and fads seem to hit our inbox faster than a hummingbird’s flapping wings, travel-friendly products are becoming more the norm. Listening as consumers demanded less bulk and more quality product, some brands took note. Burt’s Bees micellar cleansing wipes // $5 per package: These makeup-removing wipes are hands down one of the best. They’re gentle enough not to irritate your skin thanks to cypress oil, they remove everything including lipstick and mascara, and they smell like a day spa. Yes to Cucumbers Calming Sleep Mask / $12 for a pack of four: When traveling, especially somewhere hot, having a good calming mask can be the difference between clogged pores and 28 MAY 2019 Southern California
“MAN CANNOT DISCOVER NEW OCEANS UNLESS HE HAS THE COURAGE TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE SHORE.” – ANDRE GIDE
dehydrated skin or worse, painful sunburn. The Yes to Cucumbers calming sleeping mask is an individually wrapped mask with cucumber extract. OMG! 4-in-1 Zone System Mask // $7 per sheet: This is an eye mask, charcoal clay mask, Kaolin clay mask, and a finishing cream. All you have to do is wash your face and apply each of the three masks to the designated area and follow it with the moisturizer. It comes in a single sheet with four perforated sections, making easy to pack and easy to use.
SLEEP + WELLNESS One of the most difficult aspects of travel is sleeping in hotels. It can be the ultimate challenge to feel comfortable and get a good night’s rest. The two products below will help make that possible. Brave Era Silk Travel Sheet // $100: There’s nothing quite like resting your head on a perfect sheet, but sometimes, no matter how much money you spend, a sheet can be less than optimal. This travel sheet is 100 percent mulberry silk and hypoallergenic. Plus, it’s as soft as it seems, is machine washable, and air dries. Hemp FX, Relax // $107.07 per bottle: This mint-flavored sleep aid is full of goodness and everything you need to take the edge off and get a good night’s rest. While this bottle can’t go on your carry-on, it is safe to take on an airplane, containing 750 milligrams of active hemp phytocannabinoids. Be sure to check any travel restrictions, but if you get the green light, this is terrific for long travels with severe time change. It will help calm jetlag. Snark City Sleep Masks // $11: There’s nothing quite like sarcasm, so a sleep mask with a snarky sense of humor is a dream come true—literally. These catchy sleep masks are comfy and will make you laugh before putting them on and nestling into your slumber. sensimag.com MAY 2019 29
{travelwell } by DAV I D D U R A N
30 MAY 2019 Southern California
This year, as the Grand Canyon celebrates 100 years as a
tact European structure in Arizona, attracting over 200,000
designated National Park, the state of Arizona has so much
visitors each year. There’s also the world-famous Sonoran
to offer travelers. Arizona (VISITARIZONA.COM) is one of those
hot dog. Sonoran-style hot dogs are bacon wrapped and
states that is most often associated with iconic national
come with beans, grilled onions, fresh onion, tomato, mayo,
parks because it’s home to the Grand Canyon. The state of-
mustard, and jalapeño sauce—and the best Sonoran hot
fers so many incredible options for visitors, year-round and
dogs come from El Guero Canelo (ELGUEROCANELO.COM ).
in every part of the state, so no matter where you land in Ar-
El Guero Canelo, owned by Sonora-born Daniel Contreras,
izona, there’s something to experience, from a private resort
has three locations in Tucson, in addition to a meat market
for two nestled in the red rocks of Sedona to jaw-dropping
in Tucson and a bakery and tortilla factory in Magdalena,
nature that will have you snapping endless photos to food
Sonora, in Mexico. Contreras opened his first hot dog stand
that will leave your taste buds craving more. Here are some
in Tucson in 1993 and has become somewhat of a local
highlights to help inspire your next Arizona adventure.
celebrity, as his Sonoran hot dogs are legendary.
TASTE THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD A smaller sister restaurant to Barrio Café, Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza’s highly celebrated Phoenix-based restaurant known for regional Mexican favorites, Barrio Café Gran Reserva (BARRIOCAFE.COM ) seats only 30 people, including two seats at the bar, and has a radically different menu. At Gran Reserva, the half-vegan, unique and bold menu uses traditional Mexican techniques to create one-of-a-kind dishes. Here you can choose from a tasting menu or à la carte. Chef Silvana carefully sources ingredients and pairs them with Mexican wines and craft cocktails. She truly is one of Arizona’s best chefs, not to mention she is a total badass within her industry. In a state filled with incredible Mexican food, HOT DOG PHOTO BY ALEX FARNUM / BATHTUB PHOTO COURTESY OF SUN CLIFF SEDONA
Chef Silvana consistently reigns supreme. Reservations are highly recommended, though walk-ins are welcome.
SAVOR A WORLD-FAMOUS HOT DOG
STAY IN A RESORT FOR TWO Nestled in the scenic landscapes of Sedona is a resort for
There are many reasons to visit Tucson. It has a vibrant
two that will capture your heart from the moment you step
downtown filled with shiny new and established restau-
inside. The casita offers majestic, unobstructed views of
rants; the Pima Air & Space Museum, one of the largest
Cathedral Rock. You can view the rock from the comfort of
non-government funded aviation museums in the world;
the bedroom or in the outdoor hot tub or soaking tub on the
and a national historical landmark that is also the oldest in-
edge of the cliff. The private home rental operates as a fivestar resort, and the owners are certified butlers to maintain those standards. Everything you could ever want or need is provided or can be arranged to ensure your stay is perfect. From a private chef to concierge services that include private helicopter tours, wine tasting, massages, and restaurant reservations, Sun Cliff Sedona (SUNCLIFFSEDONA.COM ) has it all. There is no bad view from Sun Cliff. It doesn’t get any better than this, and that outdoor tub alone will have you booking a return visit before you check out. sensimag.com MAY 2019 31
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HAVASUPAI WATERFALLS PHOTO BY JOEL GRIMES / WATSON LAKE PHOTO BY BEN OLSEN
HIKE MAGICAL WATERFALLS
DISCOVER A BREATHTAKING LAKE
In the depths of the Grand Canyon lies a place a beauty
Watson Lake (PRESCOTT.COM/WATSON-LAKE ), located
most people don’t know about: Havasupai. The Havasupai
four miles from the city of Prescott, is a stunning bright
people who reside there are known as the “people of the
blue lake surrounded by granite boulders and hiking trails.
blue-green water” and have been maintaining this mythical
The lake features fishing, boating, kayaking, canoeing,
place for many years, but they permit visitors to experience its
hiking, rock climbing, camping, and day picnicking. Wat-
magic (WATERFALLSOFTHEGRANDCANYON.COM/HAVASU-FALLS).
son’s water surface is about 380 surface acres and distin-
It’s not easy to obtain a permit to visit, as the waiting list is
guished by its sky-blue calm waters surrounded by huge
lengthy and the hike is not easy. The lush oasis is sacred to
granite boulders with protruding vegetation, which makes
the Havasupai, and they believe it flows not only through the
for epic views (and incredible Instagram photos). The great
land but through each tribal member. A visit to the Havasupai
thing about a visit to Watson Lake is that you can also head
is an unforgettable experience. Guided three- to five-day
to Prescott, a city located within the Ponderosa Pines of
tours are the best way to visit.
Prescott National Forest. The charming city has more than
INDULGE IN A SONORAN DESERT OASIS Peoria, Arizona, is home to a scenic desert oasis, Lake Pleasant Regional Park. Surrounded by the Sonoran Des-
700 homes and businesses listed in the National Register of Historic Places, including Whiskey Row, once known for its many saloons. The national forest has more than 643 kilometers of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails.
ert, it is an outdoor enthusiast’s destination for action and adventure. With more than 23,000 acres of water and beautiful, unblemished desert landscape, Lake Pleasant (MARICOPACOUNTYPARKS.ORG/LAKE-PLEASANT ) is one of the most scenic recreation areas in the Valley. Adventure abounds with opportunities like kayaking, fishing, scuba diving, camping, stargazing, and even scorpion hunting. Pleasant Harbor Marina is also home to the H2 Whoa, the largest floating water slide in the world. Whether you are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city or simply wish to have some fun in the sun, Lake Pleasant is the perfect anytime getaway. sensimag.com MAY 2019 33
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Grand Canyon 100th // NPS.GOV/GRCA On February 26, 2019, the Grand Canyon celebrated its 100th year as a designated national park. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Grand Canyon welcomes 6 million visitors from around the world each year. Whether it’s hiking a corridor trail, taking a stroll on the rim, or enjoying the landscape from an overlook, Grand Canyon continues to provide a space for all visitors to connect with the outdoors. Throughout 2019, Grand Canyon National Park will commemorate the past and inspire future generations to experience, connect with, and protect the park’s unique natural, cultural, and historic resources.
Queen Mine. By the early 1900s, the Bisbee community was the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco. Today Bisbee has evolved into an attractive artist colony and retirement community known for its relaxed quality of life. People come to Bisbee to savor its unique charm. To stop in Bisbee is to stop in time. Nestled in the mile-high Mule Mountains of southern Arizona, Bisbee has maintained an Old World charm seldom found anywhere in the United States. Bisbee is also estimated to have a very large percentage of LGBTQ residents as evidenced by their annual pride events each June, which helps cement Bisbee as one of the most liberal places to visit in Arizona.
HUNT FOR GOLD
BISBEE PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARIZONA OFFICE OF TOURISM
The famous tales of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine are
EXPERIENCE TWO RESORTS WITH DEEP TIES TO MODERNISM
known throughout the world, with travelers coming to
Hotel Valley Ho (HOTELVALLEYHO.COM ) is a midcentury
seek the legend and experience the mystery. Lost Dutch-
marvel with all the luxuries of a modern-day escape follow-
man State Park (AZSTATEPARKS.COM/LOST-DUTCHMAN ) is
ing an $80 million restoration in 2005. Paying tribute to the
on the Apache Trail, State Route 88, north of Apache Junc-
region’s signature design and storied past as a Hollywood
tion. Highway 88 crosses the northwest portion of the
hideaway, the downtown Scottsdale hotel features gener-
Park, private land is on the south, and the Tonto National
ously sized guest rooms with glass walls opening onto airy
Forest is on the north and east. The park provides views
patios or balconies in Frank Lloyd Wright’s signature style
and access to the most scenic portions of the legendary
of compress-and-release spaces. Located just 5 miles away
Superstition Mountains and maintains facilities to support
in the affluent neighboring city of Paradise Valley is another
the recreational activities. If not in search of gold, visitors
desert icon, Mountain Shadows (MOUNTAINSHADOWS.COM ),
can become entranced with the golden opportunities to
a newly opened upscale boutique resort with roots in 1950s
experience in the beautiful and rugged area known as the
modernism and history. The original property closed in
Superstition Wilderness, accessible by trails from the park.
2004, and a $100 million new-build resort by the acclaimed developers of Hotel Valley Ho opened its doors in April 2017.
VISIT THE STATE’S MOST LIBERAL TOWN
Mountain Shadows features timeless modern design, 183
The town of Bisbee (DISCOVERBISBEE.COM ) is 90 miles
guestrooms, a restaurant with an exhibition kitchen, two
southeast of Tucson and nestled amongst the Mule Moun-
75-foot pools connected by a modern waterfall feature, an
tains. The community was founded in 1880 and named af-
art gallery, and dramatic views of Camelback Mountain and
ter Judge DeWitt Bisbee, a financial backer of the Copper
the surrounding desert beauty. sensimag.com MAY 2019 35
An ode to the seductive allure of travel. by L E L A N D R U C K E R
36 MAY 2019 Southern California
A few decades ago, on a drive ACROSS SALISBURY PLAIN IN SOUTHWESTERN
ENGLAND, MY LOVE BILLIE AND I WERE SPENDING A NIGHT IN THE VILLAGE OF WELLS. AFTER FINISHING DINNER AT A LOCAL PUB, IT WAS STILL LIGHT, AND WE HEADED OUT A WINDING COUNTRY ROAD TO GET A LOOK OVER THE MOORS OF SOMERSET AT SUNSET. Near the top of the Mendip hills, we were startled by
We had noticed it earlier looming over Glastonbury
a raucous herd of sheep, and I pulled off the road along
Abbey ruins while we stood before a thorn tree that the
a low stone wall and parked at the edge of a field to lis-
signage explained bloomed from a cutting that grew
ten. The receding sun shone across the gently sloping
from a staff that Joseph of Arimathea himself stuck in
hills and dales, manicured fields, fences, and farmhouses
the ground right here. Huh? The hill loomed above us
while hundreds of rams and ewes bleated in the twilight.
while we examined the spot where medieval monks
But my eye went straight to a mound rising out of the
found mysterious bones that they proclaimed were the
mist. A pyramidal hill with something at its crest, look-
very skeletons of King Arthur and Guinevere. What?
ing for all the world like the lowest rung on the stair-
This was long before the internet, and we left the next
way to heaven. The mysterious prominence reached
morning, so it wasn’t until I got back home and did some
out, shimmering in its ghostly light. “I’m here,” it said.
research that I found out that structure was the Glaston-
“Come on over and see me some time.” I was spellbound,
bury Tor, beckoning to me was the just as it has to hu-
unable to take my eyes away. What was this hill calling
mans for centuries. I found out more about how Joseph,
me like a siren?
a minor New Testament character, got mixed in with
sensimag.com MAY 2019 37
38 MAY 2019 Southern California
the legends of the Knights of the Round Table. I learned that some stories claim that Joseph, while spreading the Gospel, brought the Holy Grail to the Glastonbury area—a place where many Arthurian legends linger. In the early 19th century, poet William Blake imagined the possibility that Jesus even came to this spot when he was young, and his piece titled “Jerusalem” notes the below passage:
And did those feet in ancient times Walk upon England’s mountains green And was the Holy Lamb of God On England’s pleasant pastures seen? Even earlier, the Tor was considered the place where fairies entered and left the earth. The more I studied and learned about the area, the more fascinating it all became. Two years later, Billie and I returned, this time to climb and stand atop the Tor and breathe in all that mythology/history/splendor for ourselves. Our Glastonbury experience taught us perhaps the two most important tenets of travel: You never know when or where the really cool stuff is going to happen, and sometimes the trip itself is only the beginning of the journey.
Vacation is Static; Travel is Action No matter the convenience or conveyance—we started by walking, remember—humans have always loved to travel. Lusted to travel. To go places we haven’t seen. To see things we didn’t know existed. To cross impassable rivers and climb distant mountains. We will go to incredible lengths to reach out-of-the-way places for that moment of complete, total, gobsmacking surprise that stays with us forever. Travel expands our boundaries and expands our worldview. Moving from one place to another and seeing locales that were once no more than dots on a map is easier than ever, although almost anyone who’s been flying for more than 20 years knows it can be a lot less fun than it used to be, too. Early travelers used natural landmarks as guideposts to other places. Today, we just dial in the GPS and sit back. Soon we’ll have driverless vehicles and, if the billionaires have their way, tourist space vehicles, and people will pony up and stand in line to board, no matter the cost. Vacations are one thing, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with hopping a jet and sitting in a beach chair contemplating the horizon while sipping fruity rum drinks. We can all use that tropical getaway every now and again. sensimag.com MAY 2019 39
40 MAY 2019 Southern California
But travel is something else. Vacation is static; travel
Or there was that time I made the mistake of eating
is action. It is doing something you might not ordinari-
smoked salmon just before climbing on a tour boat for
ly do, something distinct from your daily routine, and
Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska. I saw mostly the
it involves an ability to sometimes just let go and allow
interior of a commode, but still managed to view icebergs
things to happen. It isn’t magic. You might return from
calving and the breaching of sperm whales around us.
a vacation tanned and rested, but travel might leave you
Then there was the eight-hour flight in the middle of
more tired and worn out than when you left. But taking
the 80th row of the largest jumbo jet I’ve ever seen that
that chance makes moments like finding Glastonbury
included a metal pipe where my right leg was supposed
Tor out there in the mist even greater experiences.
to reside—really unpleasant. The payoff: a week up close
That doesn’t mean you don’t plan for your travels. Today, you can seriously research before you depart on your ad-
and personal with African elephants. Worth every second of torture. I’d sign up again in a flash.
venture to help you make better decisions on the road. To
And that’s why we keep coming back. Traveling can do
find places otherwise hidden. To look for out-of-the-way
wonders for your self-confidence and esteem. I was ter-
places. One resource I mine regularly for ideas is Atlas Ob-
rified about all aspects of spending four days camping
scura, a simple guide to little-known curiosities all over
at McNeil River in Alaska with brown bears everywhere.
the world. Think things through before you leave, know-
But in the process, I lost my fear of small airplanes and
ing you can’t plan for everything. And after you get home
learned to respect grizzlies as the intelligent creatures
from any trip, head for the library or the internet to find
they are. Today I’m more afraid to drive from one city to
out as much as you can about what you’ve seen and done.
another than I was walking out there with the bears.
Travel involves risks, many unseen. At Glastonbury,
Travel builds the spirit, even if you aren’t always in
we mistakenly left all our travel cash on a bench inside
control. That evening in Glastonbury was 45 years ago.
the church grounds, and we spent 45 nervous minutes
Even without cellphones and selfies, I can still be on the
searching before a wonderful English lady returned it to
Tor looking out over the moors anytime I want.
us just as she found it.
May all your travels be adventures.
We will go to incredible lengths to reach out-of-the-way places for that moment of
complete, total, gobsmacking surprise that stays with us forever.
sensimag.com MAY 2019 41
BARCE UNBOUND With legendary seed banks, social consumption clubs, psychedelic architecture, the Mediterranean Sea, and nightlife that never ends, this city on the Iberian Peninsula is a cannabis lover’s paradise. by R O BY N G R I G G S L AW R E N C E
42 MAY 2019 Southern California
ELONA! LOOKING TO ENJOY FINE LOCALLY GROWN CANNABIS
in a spectacular setting
WITH PALM TREES AND BEACHES? CALIFORNIA’S NOT YOUR ONLY OPTION. A QUICK HOP ACROSS THE STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR FROM MOROCCO— WHERE SOME OF THE WORLD’S BEST HASHISH HAS BEEN MADE FOR CENTURIES—SPAIN HAS
BEEN A NATURAL PORT OF ENTRY FOR CANNABIS INTO EUROPE SINCE THE TRADE BEGAN. The country was generally tolerant of its use until the UN Single Convention on Narcotics pressured it (along with the rest of the world) to outlaw the plant in 1967. Even so, for the hippies and other pilgrims who rebelled against the iron fist of global prohibition throughout the next couple decades, Spain remained a pot of gold at the end of the Hashish Trail. Never happy with prohibition, Spaniards have done what they could to dance around it. In the 1980s, the Supreme Court ruled that cannabis possession for self-consumption couldn’t be prosecuted, and the government decriminalized all drug use. Then, alarmed by the amount of Moroccan hashish flooding Spanish streets, the government cracked down in 1992 with a decree that anyone carrying cannabis in public could be searched and fined (from €350 on up to €30,000), leading to the arrest of 300,000 people—and a new name for Spanish stoners: “kangaroos,” because they stashed joints in their underpants where the police couldn’t search. Unwilling to risk being harassed on the street, Spaniards turned to home cultivation in a huge way. In 1994, activists planted 200 cannabis plants in Catalonia, and five years later, legendary Australian breeder Scott Blakey, aka Shantibaba, sprinkled Spain with 25,000 seeds of strains he had created for a Dutch company, forever changing the gene pool—for the better. sensimag.com MAY 2019 43
44 MAY 2019 Southern California
¡VIVA LA CANNABIS! Spaniards celebrate their love for the leaf (Spain is behind only the United States and Iceland in per capita consumption) during Spannabis and the World Cannabis Conference, which brings more than 30,000 aficionados from Europe and around the world to Barcelona during the second weekend of every March for an expo that rivals Northern California’s famed Emerald Cup as the world’s largest. Reflecting Spaniards’ preference for smoking flower over vaping and edibles, the show is a deep dive into the serious genetics that have landed in the country as well as the tools and inputs necessary to grow them. It’s a plant lover’s paradise—and if you’re into CBD, even better. CBD is being heavily marketed as a wellness product and tobacco substitute throughout Europe, and Spaniards’ appetite for CBD and hemp products has soared. SPANNABIS.COM
selling CBD products and cannabis seeds are as common as tapas bars. Though home growers are technically supposed to keep their plants away from public view, it’s not uncommon to catch a glimpse of one or two on a Barcelona balcony. Today’s freedom is the result of an active cannabis rights movement that grew up in the 1990s and saw opportunity in provisions of Spanish law that allowed for private cultivation and shared consumption. The group used those as the basis for founding the country’s first cannabis club, Club de Catadores de Cannabis de Barcelona, a collective that pooled its resources to grow cannabis for members’ personal consumption in members-only establishments, in 2001. Immediately slapped with lawsuits that went all the way to the Supreme Court—which ruled in the club’s favor—Club de Catadores paved the way for cannabis social clubs to start popping up throughout Spain. And pop up they did. Ranging in style from hippie living rooms to sleek wellness centers to a famous Barcelona collective open only to women in their 80s, the clubs offer cannabis flower, hashish, concentrates, and edibles for members’ shared consumption on the premises. In 2017,
Today, Spain, where cannabis may or may not be legal
consumers were estimated to have spent about €1 billion
(depending on where you are and who you ask), is a grow-
in Spain’s more than 700 cannabis clubs, clustered largely
er’s mecca—and by default, an imbiber’s mecca as well. A
in Catalonia, where rules are most lenient. With 300 clubs
healthy domestic crop that flourishes in abandoned urban
within its limits, Barcelona has become known as the Am-
warehouses and once-fallow farms along Spain’s Mediter-
sterdam of southern Europe. Some call it New Amsterdam.
ranean coast has long since usurped Moroccan imports and, in fact, makes up much of the stocks on the shelves
Not Just Another Amsterdam…
of Amsterdam’s infamous coffeehouses. “We could have
To be sure, the scent of cannabis hangs over Barcelona,
Europe’s main plantation here and be the California of the
wafting above the streets and sidewalks and out from un-
south,” Pedro Perez, president of the La Santa cannabis as-
der doorways in less-expensive hotels. Cannabis is readily
sociation in Madrid, told El Pais. “We know how to do it, we
available from street dealers if you’re paying any attention
have the sun, the tradition, and the best seed banks.”
(and don’t have a problem with breaking the law—a terrible
Spanish citizens are allowed to cultivate and consume
idea even when you’re not in a foreign country), and social
their own cannabis as long as they do it on private property,
clubs are easy to find online. Entrance to the clubs, reserved
and it’s legal to buy and sell seeds, paraphernalia, and hemp
for Spanish citizens with a local address (a technicality
products. In tourist areas like Barcelona’s Las Ramblas, stores
that’s easy to get around, if the
sensimag.com MAY 2019 45
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GET SMART When you’re in Barcelona, make sure to visit the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum, a fascinating collection chronicling cannabis’s rich history as well as its promising future. Located in a stunning 15th-century building in central Barcelona, the museum features a permanent exhibition that shows how the plant has been and continues to be used for industrial, nutritional, medicinal, sacramental, and recreational purposes and how modern citizens have fought against repressive government measures and prohibition. HASHMUSEUM.COM
imports—and no one seemed concerned about the legality of that—but there’s really no need to go down that road, because the flower grown in Spain is out of this world. In 2017, the Catalonian government voted overwhelmingly to regulate cannabis clubs, and it now oversees transportation, packaging, hygienic storage, testing, and distribution of the cannabis that clubs cultivate. Though the industry is legitimizing and even has an agreed-upon code of ethics and set of rules (such as limiting members to receiving three grams per day and 25 grams per week), the responsibility for enforcing cannabis laws falls to police agencies and the courts. This can be inconsistent, and the threat of police raids has forced many clubs to stop growing their own and buy products from the black market (which explains the California connection). A serious effort to legalize is under way throughout Spain, but until that happens, social clubs operate in a legal vacuum—which is a shame. A study by Autonomous University
club even asks), can be obtained by following and contact-
of Barcelona found that the cannabis industry could put
ing a club on social media, then paying a yearly member-
€3.3 billion in taxes and Social Security into Spain’s coffers,
ship fee of anywhere from €5 to €80 (for your share of the
and lord knows the country could use it. With spectacular
harvest) to gain access. Inside the club, cannabis is “shared”
seed banks and legendary growers, psychedelic architec-
rather than sold and can be procured through “donations.”
ture and palm trees, the Mediterranean Sea and nightlife
Even if you’ve spent time in Amsterdam, Colorado, or Cal-
that never ends, Barcelona is much more than just anoth-
ifornia, Barcelona’s social clubs are revelatory—in that their
er Amsterdam. This place is paradise, and the homegrown
products compete. Though the edibles selection isn’t as ro-
makes it even more so.
bust as you’ll find in other places, the homegrown flower and concentrates, from blingy Moroccan dry sift to pungent rosin, can’t be beat. Some menus include California
ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE is the author of the bestselling Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook: Feel-Good Food for Home Cooks and the newly released Pot in Pans: A History of Eating Cannabis.
sensimag.com MAY 2019 47
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¡VIVA BARCELONA! Visiting the Hemp Museum in Spain’s buzzing port city.
ON DISPLAY
Other items you’ll see at the museums. Barcelona is known for having one of the best football (aka soccer) teams in the entire footy federation. It also happens to be a city thriving in art, some of the most euphoric food and wine, fascinating architecture, and a museum designated to the history of hemp. Like all things Spaniards do, the Hash Marihuana and Hemp Museum (HASHMUSEUM.COM ) offers something genuinely authentic.
• • • • •
Master paintings by contemporaries of Rembrandt Antique devices used for hemp processing Botanical prints depicting cannabis and hemp Atmospheric photos of hash making across cultures Pipes from all over the world, nineteenth century medicinal cannabis bottles • Rare ‘Reefer Madness’ books from the fifties • Pop culture paraphernalia • State-of-the-art bioplastic made of hemp fiber
Consisting of a collection that spans the history of cannabis from ancient times to modern-day use and legalization, the museum explores paraphernalia, medicine, euphoria, and more. Exhibiting over 12,000 cannabis-related items, the Hash Marihuana and Hemp Museum is a collection of human culture and the implementation of cannabis in our lives throughout time. Erected in 1985, the museum opened in both Amsterdam and Barcelona. The art displayed includes the greats inspired by Rembrandt, a portrait of Mr.
thologies with the plants grown in their garden…We are
Nice, and various artists who used hemp in their creations
living a wave of feminist revolution, and the liberation of
as inspiration, material, and more. With multimedia displays
cannabis is part of it,” says Ana María Gazmuri, executive
including films, photographs, and workshops set in architec-
director of Fundación Daya.
tural wonder, the Hash Museum is one that you have to see.
An €8.50 ticket (converts to $9.57) grants you access to
The latest exhibition is called We Are Mary Jane. The ex-
all the Barcelona exhibitions on view, including Hemp in Ja-
hibition is a tribute to all of the women throughout history
pan: the Samuri, Cannabis in Cartoons, Hemp in Germany: the
that have been part of the cannabis movement. “It’s we
Little Book, Hemp for Victory, Hemp for Shipping, History of
women [in the world] fighting today to defend the right to
Smoking Cannabis, Smoker’s Delight, Pipes (an impressive col-
home cultivation. It’s the mothers who have raised their
lection spanning generations), a sculpture area called Roll-
voices declaring that, even if they are persecuted, they
ing A Blunt, Medical Marihuana, Anti-Cannabis lobby, and the
will continue to treat their children affected by various pa-
history of cannabis in France, Russia, Greece, and more.
50 MAY 2019 Southern California
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