Sensi Magazine - Las Vegas (June 2019)

LAS VEGAS

VEGAS SUMMER TIME Fresh fun and flavor bursts out

DEMAND VS ECOLOGY

How sustainable is cannabis?

VERBAL DELIGHTS

Potcasts grow the message

GREEN THUMB

Female pioneers live off the land

{plus} FLOURISHING GARDENS: EMBRACE THE LOVE OF PLANTS

THE NEW NORMAL

6.2019

sensimag.com JUNE 2019 3

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sensimag.com JUNE 2019 5

6 JUNE 2019 Las Vegas

ISSUE 6 // VOLUME 2 // 6.2019

FEATURES 30 Water Smart

Take the hassle out of hydrating plants.

SP EC IAL R EP OR T

32 Greener Green

The cannabis industry needs to live up to its sustainability potential.

38 Hotcasting

After languishing for two decades, podcasts are having their moment.

16 RELAX Consumption lounges are coming.

32

NOT JUST A COLOR We need to support nature.

every issue 09 Editor’s Note 10 The Buzz 16 NewsFeed

PIONEERING SPIRIT

18 TasteBuds

CULTIVATING GREEN PALATES

22 LifeStyle

REACH FOR THE SKY

26 HighProfile

GREEN ACRES

48 The Scene

SEVENTH-ANNUAL PIRATE FEST

50 HereWeGo CYCLE-DELIC

Sensi magazine is published monthly by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2019 SENSI MEDIA GROUP LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

sensimag.com JUNE 2019 7

sensi magazine ISSUE 6 / VOLUME 2 / 6.2019

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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

Debbie Hall debbie.hall@sensimag.com MANAGING EDITOR, SENSI LAS VEGAS

Leland Rucker leland.rucker@sensimag.com SENIOR EDITOR

Robyn Griggs Lawrence CONTRIBUTING EDITOR sensimagazine

Dr. Angie McCartney askangie@sensimag.com COLUMNIST

David Hodes, Melinda Myers CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

A RT & D E S I G N Jamie Ezra Mark jamie@emagency.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR

sensimag

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BUSINESS & A D M I N I S T R AT I V E Pam Langsam pam.langsam@sensimag.com Abi Wright abi.wright@sensimag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS

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OF GREEN

editor’s

NOTE

The color green resonates with many meanings: can-

nabis, veganism, eco-friendly, sustainable, and money, to name a few. In March and April, I witnessed many people wearing the color to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, 4/20, and Earth Day. Paper currency is still green. Logos incorporate the color green to create a perceived message. Everywhere, shades of green are popping up.

While years ago, a beloved puppet sang about being green and the trouble of being different, suddenly everyone wants to be green in some way. The film The Boy with Green Hair, released in 1948, dramatizes the story a young war orphan who wakes up with green hair. The movie depicts his trauma as he is bullied for being different. Today, significant amounts of money are spent to color hair and body art the perfect shade of green.

People are creating greener landscapes with urban farms, gardens, and revitalizing public parks. Cannabis is also growing in acceptance with people proudly wearing the green marijuana leaf. Locally sourced and sustainable food adds to the health of the community and the planet. Veganism grows in recognition, and many embrace that lifestyle. Green is a beautiful color to represent all these movements.

However, it will take more than a color, symbolism, and holidays commemorating National Weed Day and Earth Day to change. Action must be taken. Now is the time to design the future with solutions. You can’t do it all, but we encourage you to follow your passions and support what is important to you with time, volunteering, and financial donations.

A financial advisor once posed a question to me: Would I rather get $100 a day or begin with one penny that would be doubled each day? In 30 days, I could either make $3,000 or $5,368,702.12.

The same principle can be applied to bringing our planet back to its glorious green state. as one action is doubled with another.

While embracing a pro-cannabis stance, Sensi magazine remains the voice for the mainstream and reaches out to be part of creating a better Southern Nevada to live, work, and play.

Thank you for selecting and reading Sensi. We look forward to continuing our relationship with you, our readers.

Yours in the new normal,

Debbie Hall

M ANAG I NG E D I TO R SENSI LAS VEGAS

sensimag.com JUNE 2019 9

Law Of Fine Dining Eating Las Vegas defines essential restaurants.

A love of debate, fine dining, exquisite wines, smooth

of prices, menus, and opinions. Over the years, Vegas has

spirits, comfort food, ethnic delights, and search for the

become a stop for celebrity chefs, as Curtas explains in the

truth define John Curtas (EATINGLV.COM ). The author and

chapter “Chef Worship.” Explore the Chinatown district,

attorney practices law by day and critiques food and bev-

French cuisine, buffets (a staple in Sin City), late-night din-

erages the rest of the time. The voice of the Las Vegas food

ing, people watching, and local hangouts. Don’t sample

and restaurant scene since 1995, Curtas recently released

the “Bottom 10” (Curtas is warning you), but embrace “The

the seventh edition of Eating Las Vegas: The 52 Essential

Glories of Dining Alone.” Ways to spice up romance can

Restaurants.

be found in “Twenty Suggestions for Dining Out in Style.”

A Vegas resident since 1981, Curtas has experienced

It took 12,000 Vegas restaurant encounters over decades,

myriad selections to delight or dismay his palate both on

but Curtas shares with his readers his “Perfect Meal” along

and off the Strip. He is razor sharp with his wit as he se-

with Las Vegas’ entire extraordinary dining experience,

lects the best and worst the city has to offer.

from the very top to the lowest bottom.

–Debbie Hall

Infused with personality and expertise, Curtas guides readers on a culinary journey. This book is more than a list

Indulge

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The triple-chocolate brownie is made with Callebaut Belgian chocolate and certified gluten-free almond flour, topped with organic peanut butter, chopped peanuts, and organic cacao nibs. Golden cake combines organic coconut 10 JUNE 2019 Las Vegas

and certified gluten-free almond flour topped with almond, sugar-free dark chocolate ganache and organic coconut chips. The break is made with almond flour, organic herbes de Provence, and nothing artificial.

The entire loaf has fewer carbs than two slices of commercial white bread.

Rolofo Fernandes, a classically trained chef, developed the line with respect for ingredients and purposeful preparation. The chef grew up in Brazil and studied culinary arts in Scotland, Mexico City, and Houston, giving him a well-rounded education. Fernandes calls his unique style “well-prepared food” that doesn’t sacrifice content and flavor to create healthier options.

–DH

sensimag.com JUNE 2019 11

Pup Cuisine

Fido’s Kitchen designs “people food” for dogs.

Who doesn’t love a treat or tasty food?

Our furry companions especially crave them as a sign of affection.

A local pet treat company, Fido’s Kitchen (FIDOSKITCHEN.NET ), sources ingredients for its healthy canine treats and meals at markets and groceries.

Started by husband-and-wife team Arturo Gonzalez and Marlyn Granados, the company offers human-grade recipes designed by a veterinarian nutritionist. They own two dogs with severe food allergies, and the meds were very costly. Researching online, they discovered that using human-grade food could combat and even eliminate allergies. They started cooking treats for their two dogs to supplement dry, bagged pet food. Soon, friends and family were requesting Fido’s Kitchen treats, and they selling products at Fresh52.

Fido’s Kitchen’s brick-and-mortar store is where the magic happens, as dog foods including cooked and raw, and canine treats are made in small batches daily in a commercial kitchen. Guests can catch the couple cooking the food in the morning and packaging and vacuum sealing the meals and treats in the afternoon.

The couple has now teamed up with a fellow local vendor, This Stuff Is Good For You, to create delicious CBD-infused pet treats.

–DH 7875 W. Sahara Ave.//Las Vegas //(702) 869-0520

12 JUNE 2019 Las Vegas

Escape Into Beauty

Tee off, dine, and relax at the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort.

About 25 miles northwest of the Strip’s glittering lights, an oasis of undisturbed beauty welcomes golfers, cigar aficionados, and urbanites wanting to escape the city. The Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort (LVPAIUTEGOLF.COM ) is an international golf destination located in Vegas’ backyard. The trio of top-ranked championship courses, designed by world-class architect Pete Dye, showcases his only signature designs in Nevada. Nature’s indigenous life intertwines with Sun Mountain, Snow Mountain, and The Wolf courses.

Paiute’s

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award-winning pro shop and a 3,800-square-foot restaurant and bar with a diverse menu and fireplace area. For rolled tobacco lovers, the cigar lounge offers a perfect view of Snow Mountain’s famous 18th hole.

Along with spacious ballrooms for receptions, company team retreats, birthdays and anniversaries, the outdoor enclave with gazebo is surrounded by nature for a deep connection to the earth as well as taking stunning photos and videos of Instagrammable moments. The vast sky, mountain ranges, and wildlife embrace the ambiance.

10325 Nu-Wav Kaiv Blvd. // Las Vegas // (702) 658-1400

–DH

sensimag.com JUNE 2019 13

Virtual Competition Morty’s Joint welcomes streamers, casual players, and pro gamers.

The door opens to other worlds colliding with flashing lights, and battle lines are drawn. You have entered Morty’s Joint (FACEBOOK.COM/MORTYSJOINT ), a recently opened e-sports lounge beckoning gamers and players with over 5,000 classic games.

Christopher “Babyfacekiddo” Elscoe, director of operations, co-founded the gamers’ haven with Dr. Nick Spirtos. Elscoe’s love of games brought him to Las Vegas to work for a video game company.

After testing video games for a living, Elscoe decided to switch careers and enter the medicinal cannabis industry. When he started working at The Apothecary Shoppe, he saw the space on the second floor. Inspiration manifested into reality, and now he offers escapes into the world of gamers.

Everything a player or gamer could want is at Morty’s Joint, including Ben Q monitors for tournaments, LAN center with eight computers with curved monitors, top-of-the-line streaming equipment (capable for Twitch), and Turtle Beach and ASUS headphones for PC and console. PC, consoles, and arcade cabinets invite all gamers from casual to professional. Multi cabinets offer old school systems including Atari and Sega Genesis.

Gamers need to eat, so snacks and drinks are available. Private rooms (or the entire facility) can be rented. Wednesday is movie night; titles are posted on its Facebook page, Friday is fighting games night, and Saturday night brings the EDM community with DJ spinning.

4240 W. Flamingo Road // Las Vegas // (702) 902-2922

14 JUNE 2019 Las Vegas

–DH

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Triplets Terri Dutka, Rhonda Francis, and Patti “Lou” Doornbos started the company, bringing innovation to the jewelry market. The fastener is ergonomically light and easily fits in your hand. It’s perfect for any bracelet. Attach the clip to the open end of the bracelet or necklace, hold the fastener gently in your palm, and bring the bracelet or necklace close to the clasp and fasten. The grip was recently redesigned to unfasten a snap-barrel clasp.

Bracelet Fairy is crafted from polycarbonate acrylic for durability with a rubber-lined clasp to grip and protect while fastening firmly. The clasp will accommodate bracelets up to a half-inch in size.

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sensimag.com JUNE 2019 15

{newsfeed }

by D E B B I E H A L L

Las Vegas City Council approves consumption lounges.

PIONEERING SPIRIT

16 JUNE 2019 Las Vegas

History was made when the Las Vegas City Council

“This is going to inspire creativity and create a footprint

voted 4-1 on May 1 to create a new business license and

of what will be allowed,” Wyatt explains. “The two indus-

land-use regulations for cannabis social-use venues.

tries will have to merge soon to create a cannabis profes-

While many are praising this landmark decision in the

sional working in the hospitality industry.”

new normal, dissenters have legitimate concerns. Only

As for the nightclub and bar industry in Nevada, Wyatt

existing owners of cannabis retail licenses can apply for

does not expect any major players such as The Tao Group or

a social-use permit in the first year of the new ordinance.

Hakkasan Group to open a lounge in downtown Las Vegas.

After that time has passed, anyone can apply.

The one-year period on the licenses will allow owners

The dichotomy of legalizing cannabis in Nevada is its tour-

to test and refine all the moving pieces in opening and op-

ist- and hospitality-based economy. Tourists can buy adult-

erating a consumption lounge. Some concerns need to be

use/recreational and medicinal cannabis, but it remains illegal

addressed. For example, if someone has to be escorted

to consume in hotel rooms or public spaces. With this new

out of the lounge because of behavior, will the dispensary

development, visitors can imbibe legally in social use venues.

then lose a customer, and what are the ramifications? Will

However, the new measure only applies within Las Ve-

customers be allowed to smoke someone else’s cannabis

gas city limits. The Strip is located in unincorporated Clark

in the lounge? What about the disposal of half-eaten ed-

County in the township of Paradise. There are plans to

ibles or half-smoked joints? If a dumpster is used, there

open two lounges within walking distance of the SLS on

will be dumpster divers. In the nightclub and bar industry,

the north end of the Strip. However, there are also venues

anything alcoholic needs to be dumped down a drain and

in Downtown Las Vegas located within walking distance

the bottles washed before being discarded.

of hotels, casinos, bars, restaurants, and nightlife.

Wyatt makes additional points. Since alcohol will not be

Business development expert, consultant, and cannabis

served in the lounges, can cannabis-infused cocktails be

advocate with over 30 years of experience Freddie Wyatt,

served instead? What about other infused drinks, such as

president of Munch & Co., has spoken at the Nightclub & Bar

smoothies and juices? What about implementing an air con-

Show about the overlap of the cannabis and hospitality in-

trol plan to keep fumes confined inside the establishment?

dustry. Before the vote, Wyatt was watching the progress in

“This is giving us a point to start from to work out all

California and Colorado. The consensus was that cities and

of the details,” Wyatt says. “We can’t complain when we

counties in Nevada would take a wait-and-see approach.

make a little bit of progress.” Because it is only June, Wyatt

“This is the step in the right direction,” says Wyatt.

will be watching the progress as well as the missteps and

“However, I am a bit concerned about it becoming part of

then educating others, including attendees of the Night-

the [dispensary] monopoly. There are people that work in

club and Bar Show, in 2020. As for the next big step, Wy-

hospitality that can do this just as good or even better.”

att will see if anyone will pursue building a hotel next to a

According to Wyatt, the process is not perfect, but everyone is learning together in Las Vegas along with oth-

consumption lounge.

Brandon

Wiegand,

director

of

operations

with

er cities such as San Francisco, West Hollywood, Eureka

The+Source in Clark County and Henderson, Nevada,

(California), and Denver with legal social-use venues. At

states: “Social consumption has been a necessity that

one time, a dispensary just north of the Strip attempted

has been otherwise ignored until yesterday’s [May 1]

to purchase the property next to it to build a pool to create

developments. For years now, locals and tourists have

a day club and lounge.

been able to purchase products that they aren’t allowed to consume openly. With this firm and the much-needed stance taken by the city of Las Vegas, it is only a matter of time before social consumption lounges are allowed statewide. This new measure is a step in the right direction, and I’m eager to see how Clark County will respond.”

sensimag.com JUNE 2019 17

{tastebuds }

by D E B B I E H A L L

Locally sourced food colors eating in Las Vegas.

CULTIVATING GREEN PALATES

Las Vegas translated means “the meadows,” a name given by the Spanish explorers who stopped in this spot for water in the 1800s. The city is located in a valley with artesian wells, which sustains the population today.

viding food and seasonings to the surrounding valley and its many restaurants.

Store-bought produce just doesn’t compare to vegetables picked fresh from the farm. The flavors that burst into

That said, Nevada is not a desert wasteland. It can sus-

your mouth can only be captured when selected freshly

tain agriculture in many areas. There are farms today pro-

off the land. While freezing, canning, and preserving have

18 JUNE 2019 Las Vegas

their place, something about farm-to-table meals create

place to open a donut shop so his daughter could become

that connection to the earth.

a pastry chef and work on the Strip. She has been operat-

One of the best places to find the goodness growing

ing her own businesses since age 18, then got married and

from the land is a local farmers’ market. Carrie Hogan

raised her family. After moving out of state, pursuing vari-

founded and has been managing Fresh52 Farmers’ & Ar-

ous careers, and moving back to Boulder City, she changed

tisan Market (FRESH52.COM ) since 2010 to bring healthy

directions in life in 2007 and created Herbs by Diane to sell

and organic produce to the valley.

produce and herbs at local farmers’ markets. In 2013, after

Hogan demonstrates her passion and business savvy

her father passed, Greene took over the two-acre property

for farmers’ markets, working closely with a forager who

with the house that her Dad built to grow her business in-

goes to local and regional farms and brings back the best

cluding gardens, a greenhouse, chicken coop, and dehydrat-

seasonal produce while creating relationships with local

ing building. She loves that she can provide nutritious food

vendors. She developed this passion after viewing the film

to the community.

Food, Inc. over nine years ago. The credits started rolling with the message, “Do Something.”

Along with supporting small farms and businesses, community-based restaurants such as VegeNation

“This had a tremendous effect on me. This was some-

(VEGENATIONLV.COM ) are leading a food revolution. According

thing I could do in my community to make a huge impact,”

to Kelly Bennett, co-owner and creative director, Vegas’

Hogan explains. “We needed somebody to bring transpar-

local food scene is growing daily, and and she is thrilled that

ency in the [farmers’] markets.”

VegeNation is a part of supporting the community.

She is working on opening additional locations, and her vision is to open indoor farmers’ markets.

“I encourage everyone to support the local, small farmers and businesses driving our local economy. I am thrilled to be a platform for some vendors until they get that brickand-mortar store, if that’s their goal.” Hogan says.

“While VegeNation’s main focus is providing fresh, plant-based comfort food, we also are invested in our community and always look first to local businesses to source from for our restaurants,” she says.

Co-owner and executive chef Donald Lemperle seeks to cook with locally grown vegetables by adopting school and

One of the vendors and small farmers at

community gardens and freight farms. Locally sourced beer,

Fresh52 with a thriving business is Herbs by Diane

spirits, coffee, tea, artisanal cheeses, and spices are also fea-

(HERBSBYDIANE.COM ). In 1968, Diane E. Greene

tured on the menu. Everything, including meat, cheese, and

moved with her family from California to land in

ice cream, is made with 100 percent plant-based ingredients.

Boulder City, Nevada.. The property first owned

“We really want to show how the culinary scene is devel-

by her parents is now Greene’s two-acre garden. Its

oping. We are super passionate about telling the backstory

bounty supplies 40 different culinary herbs, edible flowers,

of these incredible brands, really talking about the entrepre-

microgreens, and seasonal vegetables to home cooks and

neurial spirit that is building in Nevada. We actually have the

12 local restaurants alike—including Eataly. Its product line

capacity to grow quite a bit of food in Nevada,” Bennett says.

includes dried herbs, herbal blends, and dip mixes. Compost is made on site to feed the gardens instead of using pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Insects are physically removed, and weeds are hand-pulled. According to Greene, maintaining a natural balance in the gardens produces healthier plants and reduces pest populations.

She comes from a long line of gardeners. Greene has embraced garden-to-table dining since 1974, when she began growing organic produce to help supplement the store-bought ingredients in meals cooked for her family.

Greene’s father initially chose Boulder City as a great sensimag.com JUNE 2019 19

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“We really want to show how the culinary scene is developing…really talk about the entrepreneurial spirit that is building in Nevada.”

—Kelly Bennett, Co-owner of VegeNation

work with smaller farmers and ranchers. Their philosophy is that knowing where and how products used in meal preparation are grown and raised makes a difference in everyone’s lives. This includes milk, beef, cheese, fish, mushrooms, and other products. “We want to support every local farmer as much as we can,” explains Nunez.

What makes The Stove unique is that it grows some of its own produce, including herbs, microgreens, and chilies, on its in-house green wall, which is currently being reprocessed and rebuilt in the dining room. The plants are growing in pots before being transferred to the wall, and the chefs anticipate harvesting from it in about a month.

“It is quite a sight to walk in and see this wall filled with fresh, green plants ready to feed us,” says Nunez.

Summer dishes combine seasonal favorites. The watermelon salad combines watermelon, mint, arugula, and candied ginger with locally sourced honey and sherry vinaigrette. The heirloom tomato dish blends roasted tomato with the heirloom tomato, watermelon radishes, and apricots topped with fresh microgreens on a sherry gastrique

The chef uses the locally sourced ingredients combined

with a side of country bread and burrata cheese.

with unique flavoring as VegeNation spreads the message

The Stove sources potatoes, tomatoes, root produce and

of sustainability and support in Southern Nevada. With

other food from Sandy Valley, about 60 miles west of Las

dishes like The Mac Daddy Burger, Loaded Sweet Pota-

Vegas. The chefs also get items for weekly specials at Gil-

to Tots, and the Mac N Cheese Pizza, VegeNation makes

crest Orchard in the northwest valley as another resource

plant-based eating fun and easy.

nuts, leafy greens, spinach, and vegetables.

Co-owners and chefs Antonio Nunez and Scott Com-

With all of this tasty food, another reason to call Nevada

ings, along with co-owner Steve Grodkiewicz, offer a

green is the abundance of locally sourced food that provides

more extensive menu at The Stove (THESTOVELV.COM), and

nourishment, health, employment, and sustainability.

THE STOVE

VEGENATION sensimag.com JUNE 2019 21

{lifestyle }

by M E L I N DA M Y E R S

REACH FOR THE SKY Landscape structures provide function and beauty.

22 JUNE 2019 Las Vegas

Triple digits are here, but gardens can still flourish in Ve-

Dress up any home, garage, or shed with trellises cov-

gas heat. Embracing greenery, even in the middle of the

ered with flowering vines, climbing roses, or an espaliered

desert, invites the soul to fly and expand. When planning

fruit tree. Provide space between the wall and trellis when

new or updating existing gardens and landscapes, incorpo-

mounting them to a building. Space reduces the risk of

rate arbors, trellises, and other structures. As flora reaches

damage to the wall, and the plants benefit from the added

for the sky, this garden framework adds year-round inter-

airflow and light.

est and provide years of beauty and function.

Many trellises are works of art in their own right, so when

Utilize arbors to define and connect distinct areas of the

the plants go dormant, the structure continues to dress up

landscape. Guests won’t be able to resist the invitation to enter

an otherwise blank wall. Whether you prefer simple squares

and experience the beauty of a vine-covered arbor. Cover these

and diamonds, circles, leaves, or ceramic songbirds perched

structures with vines for seasonal interest, new texture, and

among the branch-like supports of the Enchanted Woods

blossoms. Combine two different vines to extend or double your

Trellis, you can select a design that reflects your personality

floral display. Plant an annual vine for quick cover with a perenni-

and complements your garden design.

al that takes a year or more to establish and cover the structure.

Combine several trellis sections to create a decorative

Beat summer’s heat by creating your own shade with

screen or fencing. This is a perfect solution for creating pri-

vine-covered arbors. Plant annual or deciduous vines that

vacy or a bit of vertical interest in any size or shape garden

let the sun and its warmth shine through during the cooler

space. Add colorful glass bottles and contemporary accents

months. When the leaves return, they provide shade and

to a vertical planting with a trellis like Gardener’s Achla De-

cooler temperatures during warmer times.

signs Vinifera Bottle Trellis.

Arbors are as much at home in the food garden as the

Use obelisks as focal points and plant support in the

flowerbed. Connect two garden beds with an over-the-top

garden or containers. They’re perfect for creating scale in

arbor. Grow pole beans, melons, or squash up and over the

the garden, especially when new plantings are small and

Titan Squash Tunnel (GARDENERS.COM ). You’ll expand your

immature. Select a support tall and sturdy enough for the

gardening space by going vertical and help reduce disease

plants you are growing.

problems by increasing the sunlight and airflow reaching the

Add a bit of beauty and elegance when growing water-

plants. Secure large fruit to its obelisk with a net, cotton, or

melons, cucumbers, pole beans, or tomatoes. Train them

macramé sling to prevent it from breaking off the vine.

onto decorative obelisks, and they’ll be pretty enough to sensimag.com JUNE 2019 23

24 JUNE 2019 Las Vegas

include in flowerbeds and mixed borders. Add more beauty

Always consider function, strength, and beauty when se-

and a bit of hummingbird appeal with scarlet runner beans.

lecting structures for your landscape. Team them up with

The bright red flowers are followed by green beans that can

plants suited to your growing conditions, and you will ben-

be eaten fresh and have large seeds that can be harvested

efit from years of enjoyment.

and used fresh or dried.

MELINDA MYERS (MELINDAMYERS.COM ) has written over 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses How to Grow Anything DVD series and Melinda’s Garden Moment TV and radio segments. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine.

sensimag.com JUNE 2019 25

{highprofile }

by D E B B I E H A L L

26 JUNE 2019 Las Vegas

GREEN ACRES Two women who cultivate the soil for profits.

A new crop of cultivators, including urban profession-

When Circle S Farms first opened for business, there were

als, entrepreneurs, and former government officials, has

12 facilities, according to Gunsallus, and the operators of those

sprung up. In Southern Nevada, women-owned cultivation

facilities had planned to create a “green zone.” Then Faraday

farms dot the terrain as new voices rise in the industry.

Future bought everyone out to own 900 acres of land at Apex

Brenda Gunsallus digs in the cannabis trenches with Circle

Industrial Park with a plan to open an auto park, which has

S Farms (CIRCLESFARMSLASVEGAS.COM ), her 30,000-square-

since been scuttled. While others had not started their farms,

foot facility in Apex, Nevada. The first harvest, focused on

Gunsallus and her partners were committed to the facility. She

medicinal strains, will be processed later this year.

estimates the company has invested over $8 million.

Gunsallus, who has worked in the cannabis industry since

“We thought the initial investment would be $3 million.

its infancy, partnered with Stacey Huffman and Alexandria

Then it was $4 million. It just keeps adding up,” she laughs.

Davis to open the first female-owned dispensary and retail

A variety of strains were planted, and she anticipates

outlet, Sahara Wellness (420SAHARA.COM ), in 2016.

“We got into the industry because we want to take care of our medical patients,” she says. “We love what we do.”

up to 15 strains will be harvested. The partners intend to select the best indicas and sativas for the medical market. The products will be packaged with the Circle S Farms

It was always part of their business plan to include cul-

brand. The first to be marketed will be vape pens, and the

tivation, but the partners didn’t anticipate it would take

company plans to offer shatter and edibles such as gum-

three years to open the farm.

mies. They are also exploring partnering with other brands.

“It has been an adventure.

It can be difficult, but we are up to the challenges.”

—Brenda Gunsallus, Circle S Farms and Sahara Wellness sensimag.com JUNE 2019 27

28 JUNE 2019 Las Vegas

“We don’t want to become huge. I believe sometimes if you get too big as a company, you can lose your quality and vision of why you got into the business. We just want to sustain ourselves, and keep giving our clients good products.

“It has been an adventure,” Gunsallus admits. While there are other cultivation centers with women co-owners in Clark County, Circle S Farms is all women-owned and operated. “It can be difficult, but we are up to the challenges. Anybody who says this industry is easy is lying to you.”

The partners are proud to be part of this new frontier and staying true to themselves and their brand. “We are proud and excited to be part of this industry and learn,” Gunsallus says. “Obviously, it did not develop as we thought with all of the compliances and inspections.”

Gunsallus brings a diverse background, including a professional tennis career, before she changed paths and entered into gaming, and then became an entrepreneur. She is opening doors for others to join the cannabis industry, regardless of gender or age.

Heather J. Wilson, CEO and co-owner of Nevada Crest Farms (NEVADACRESTFARMS.COM), opened her facility in 2018 with another woman in Pahrump, Nevada, 60 miles west of Las Vegas.

Wilson brings over 20 years experience in the nutriceutical and pharmaceutical business, including 30 years in manufacturing, and selling hemp for 15 years. One of her most popular products is Optimal Cleanse, featured nationally including People magazine and recently Kim Kar-

“Go for it. There is a ton of opportunity in the cannabis industry, and now is the time to break in..”

—Heather J Wilson, Nevada Crest Farms

dashian tweeted about it.

The desire to incorporate CBD into her product line mo-

nity, providing jobs for residents, among other things.

tivated Wilson to open the cultivation center. While the fa-

Her family operated farms in Oklahoma when Wilson

cility has a cultivation and production license for THC, she

was growing up, and she experienced that lifestyle. “I am

is focused on CBD with goals of adding THC later in the

reminded of that time, and now I have come full circle.”

year. The hemp is grown both indoors and outdoors, and

As for challenges, even with her extensive experience and

another indoor grow facility will cultivate cannabis with

farming background, Wilson believes some people underes-

THC located in another county in Nevada.

timate her. Visiting her cultivation sites amazes everyone.

The product line is in development, with input from Wilson,

Her advice is “go for it. There is a ton of opportunity in the

who also uses CBD. “I am so excited to bring CBD products

cannabis industry, and now is the time to break in, whether

to the market, especially for women and their health needs.”

cultivation, manufacturing, testing, retail, or entrepreneur.

While Wilson is a new resident of Nevada, she has visit-

As for starting a cultivation center, look at your strengths.

ed family and friends in Pahrump for years. “I love it here,”

Before selecting a location, be certain the community will

she explains. “I was looking for a place to open my farm,

support you.”

and I just fell in love with the location. It is a perfect place to open my facility.” Wilson gives back to her new commu-

Wilson is a shining example of creating a new reality in the cannabis industry, especially in cultivation. sensimag.com JUNE 2019 29

30 JUNE 2019 Las Vegas

PROPER WATERING IS KEY TO GARDENING SUCCESS. HOWEVER,

UNTANGLING A HEAVY HOSE AND DRAGGING IT ACROSS THE YARD, SMASHING DELICATE FLOWERS AND YOUNG VEGETABLES ALONG THE WAY, IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. If this describes your watering escapades, it may be

Coil hoses are designed to expand when filled with

time to look for some timesaving solutions that reduce

water and retract when turned off, eliminating the need

the hassle of keeping your lawn and gardens hydrated.

to unwind and rewind the hose every time you water.

Hose guides can help protect your edging plants—especially the ones at the corner of the bed. You can find

Look for hoses made of long-lasting, kink-free materials with superior coil memory for years of easy watering.

a variety of functional and/or decorative hose guides for

Make moving long stretches of hoses easier with

sale at garden stores, or you can DIY your own by invert-

featherweight and lightweight slim products. A feather-

ing wine bottles into anchored rebar.

weight hose can weigh as little as two and a half pounds,

Connecting and disconnecting the hose to the faucet, inadequate length of hoses, and nozzles can be a source

making it easier to move through the garden and back without crushing your plants.

of aggravation. Washers disappear, connections loosen,

Combine the convenience of storage and lightweight

and leaks occur. Invest in quick connectors that allow

portability. You’ll minimize the need for maintaining

you to make all these connections with a simple click.

hoses at every faucet while retaining the convenience.

LEAD PHOTO COURTESY OF GARDENERS.COM, PHOTO OF FACET BY HARRY GROUT

MAKE PROPER WATERING A MORE CONVENIENT PART OF GARDEN AND CONTAINER MAINTENANCE

BY INVESTING IN QUALITY HOSES, CONNECTORS, AND STORAGE OPTIONS.

Clear the hose clutter off patios, decks and walks

Look for products that allow you to easily move your

while keeping them easily accessible for daily watering.

hose where it’s needed. Expandable hoses allow you

A hose reel allows you to easily wind up the hose out of

to move your hose from faucet to faucet for watering

sight near the faucet. These are often mounted on the

around the yard or pack in your RV when traveling.

wall or are unsightly, unwieldy containers on wheels.

Evaluate the design and ease of use before investing.

Make proper watering a more convenient part of garden and container maintenance by investing in quality

An automatic reel that retracts the hose quickly and

hoses, connectors, and storage options. The easier water-

easily or a lightweight portable model may be just the

ing and hose storage is, the more likely you are to do it

solution. Irrigation equipment like the G.F. Italia Por-

regularly.

table Reel Nozzle Hose, available at GARDENERS.COM , is lightweight enough, allowing you to carry 50 feet of hose that unravels just the length you need as you water various garden beds or containers on the deck.

MELINDA MYERS (MELINDAMYERS.COM ) has written over 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses’ How to Grow Anything DVD series and the Melinda’s Garden Moment TV and radio segments. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine.

sensimag.com JUNE 2019 31

SPEC IAL REPORT

Greener Green As the cannabis industry matures, it needs to live up to its sustainability potential.

by L E L A N D R U C K E R

32 JUNE 2019 Las Vegas

LONG NOTHING MORE THAN THE PROVINCE OF “STONERS” GETTING HIGH, CANNABIS TODAY IS

part of a healthy, woke, environmental lifestyle.

SEEN AS

Almost two thirds of states have medical cannabis programs of some kind, and more than eight in 10 Americans are in favor of legalizing it for therapeutic purposes. Cannabis compounds like cannabidiol (CBD) are marketed for their health benefits just as THC is for its relaxing and elevating qualities.

People who buy and consume cannabis are more interested than ever in healthier, environmentally sound options, and they’re willing to pay for them. A recent Brightfield Group study found that consumers in all age groups are concerned about consistency and safety when it comes to how pot is grown and processed and whether it’s been tested for quality and impurities, and they’re ready to pay a premium for quality.

But let’s face it. Much cannabis, whether by design or through regulation, is grown indoors, often in retrofitted industrial warehouses, with all the attendant concerns about pests, insects, and mold. It takes a lot of electricity—many grow operations run 24 hours a day—and energy is expensive and a drain on the electrical grid. Even when it was illegal, cannabis growing operations used up one percent of national electricity use. Today the more than 300 grow facilities in Denver alone account for four percent of the city’s total electricity demand.

As for people’s concern about whether or not the cannabis products they’re consuming are organic, it’s nearly impossible to know. Because cannabis is illegal on a federal level, the government hasn’t created nor will it certify any cannabis as organic, as it does with other agricultural products. That leaves it to states and individual testing companies to come up with and maintain quality standards.

Cannabis packaging, much of it originally designed with child resistance as the primary concern, is often excessive and inefficient. Then there’s the water and waste involved in producing cannabis products (a lot of both), all which need to be considered as we become more aware of environmental impacts on health and well-being.

Consumers and company owners alike are coming to grips with the issue. “2019 is the year that people are paying attention,” says Derek Smith of the Resource Innovation Institute, a Portland, Oregon-based nonprofit that promotes communication and sustainability amongst all parties in the cannabis industry. “We have the opportunity to be the biggest and best industry, one that stands for more than just selling stuff.” sensimag.com JUNE 2019 33

34 JUNE 2019 Las Vegas

What Can You Do? Most cannabis users who are looking for environmentally conscious and safe products have no idea where their cannabis comes from. The variety of products is staggering, and more are added every day. Given the complexities of cannabis production, what can you do to make sure you’re getting environmentally healthy products you can trust?

Everybody I spoke with agreed that education is key. If you’re concerned about what you’re buying, find out more about how the cannabis is grown and which practices they’re using. Which means, ask your budtender or dispensary owner questions. Lots of questions.

“I think consumers need to go in and talk to people and ask them about their practices,” says Emily Backus, sustainability advisor for the city and county of Denver.

“If you’re shopping with vertically integrated companies, that’s easy. But it’s harder otherwise.”

Josh Bareket, founder of BUSHL, a California organization dedicated to clean, sustainable cannabis products, says it comes down to knowing your source. “That doesn’t mean knowing the brand or logo, but actually who is behind the products. Who is the owner? Who is the grower?

What’s the story? What do they use to produce it?”

Adds Franciosi, “You just gotta ask the budtender. What soil was used? What was the medium it was grown in?

Were there chemicals used that will wind up downstream?”

When it comes to packaging, consumers have choices and should make their complaints known every time they go into the store. “Telling them you want better packaging is a big deal,” says Backus. “This is one of the areas where we’ve had a few bright spots. A number of companies have started making compliant packaging cannabis using recycled materials.”

Not everyone has this option, but the best way to make sure you know what you’re getting is to grow your own. That way you’re in control throughout the process. Otherwise, educate yourself. Below are a few websites to help you get started: Resource Renovation Institute // RESOURCEINNOVATION.ORG City and County of Denver Cannabis Sustainability //

Sustainability was far down on the consideration list when states began to legalize. Business owners had to start their operations from scratch, while state regulators had to devise common-sense rules for something that had been illegal for decades. There were no best practices to start from.

“I think there’s lots of room for improvement. But it’s also time for the industry to embrace it,” says Emily Backus, sustainability advisor for the city and county of Denver. “They don’t have this long legacy of bad operators to overcome. They’re consolidating, and there are big-money players, which creates an easier financial path for making investments. I think at this point we see that the only way to go is up.”

Backus works with all sectors of the industry to promote communication and cooperation between business owners, governments, and other affected parties such as electric companies to develop strategies for lowering costs and building sustainable business models.

Lowering electricity costs could be beneficial to everyone, Backus says, but there are many nuances. “It’s tricky to talk about sustainability in this industry because there are so many techniques and styles,” she says. “Hydroponic grows won’t have the same requirements as outdoor grows.”

Lighting is the major factor to consider, even for home growers. Creating an environment that mimics sunlight and the outdoors is daunting, and we’re just beginning to develop practices to do that.

Outdoor cultivation has a lower electricity footprint, and regenerative soil practices can improve carbon footprint because you’re restoring carbon into the soil. “But the reality is that no matter what type of cultivation a farm is employing,” says Smith, “we can all do better.”

To that end, more companies are employing LED (light-emitting diode) lighting for their operations,

BIT.LY/DENVERCANNABIS

Smith says, but the cost has been prohibitive for many

Honest Marijuana Company // HONESTMARIJUANA.COM

smaller growers. Today, more options and financial in-

BUSHL // SHOPBUSHL.COM

centives are available to help lower the upfront costs.

“LED is one of the clear options for improved lowering operating costs,” says Smith. “There are studies that are beginning to show there may be quality benefits.”

RII offers a primer on LED pros and cons on its website as part of its free resources for growers. “If you’re thinking about making the switch, it’s what you need to know before you make that jump,” Smith says.

As part of its commitment to lowering the industry’s footprint, RII has gathered a huge amount of data for farms and grow operations to use. The Cannabis Power Source Tool allows owners to benchmark their companies against others to make decisions about how to cut sensimag.com JUNE 2019 35

36 JUNE 2019 Las Vegas

energy usage. “More than 200 farms have given us data

with arthritis or aging hands. I can still remember pur-

that we hold confidentially,” Smith explains. “We provide

chasing two small Tootsie Roll-sized candies wrapped

that benchmark so they can know their strengths and

in foil, then sealed in plastic bags, then sealed a second

weaknesses and get resources to become more efficient.”

time in a tall, plastic, box-like container that could hold

The possibilities seem endless, and more solutions are

fifty of the two items I bought.

coming online all the time. A micro-grid company called

More options are now available. Sana Packaging,

Scale has a system that brings together solar, battery

which specializes in 100 percent hemp-based plastic,

storage, and natural gas generators, potentially cutting

has added reclaimed ocean plastic to its line of stor-

energy costs by up to 35 percent. Another one, GrowX

age containers pre-roll tubes, and vaporizer pens. Soul-

Aeroponics, is designing systems to improve yield while

shine Cannabis, a Renton, Washington, processor, uses

reducing water consumption.

100 percent compostable and biodegradable products.

Another problem is HVAC, or air-conditioning systems, which are critical parts of any operation. Smith

N2 Packaging, based in Twin Falls, Idaho, has created a stainless steel can for cannabis products.

saysgrowers need to be aware in the design stage of

Water resources, especially in California and Colorado,

what they will need. “The most important way to lighten

are scarce, and states have different rules for recycling

“Cannabis produces a lot of recyclables. We’re making sure companies know how to compost and be compliant.”

—Emily Backus, Sustainability Advisor for the City and County of Denver

your electricity load is to size it properly as you’re de-

and composting waste. “We don’t have any ordinances

signing and setting up the facility. Once it’s up and run-

that require businesses to recycle or compost,” says Back-

ning, it’s hard to swap out an HVAC system.”

us. “It’s up to the business owner. Cannabis produces a lot

Backus says that everyone is trying to get away from

of recyclables. We’re making sure companies know how

designing facilities on the fly. “Today there are profes-

to compost and be compliant. It’s an area of opportunity.”

sors and engineers who are finding out how to take tech-

Once cannabis is legalized on a federal level, many of

nology from one thing and tweak it for cannabis.”

States have struggled to come up with packaging that eliminates smell, keeps products fresh, and is child-

these inconsistencies will vanish, clearing the way to let farmers and processors do what they need to do instead of what they are told to do.

proof. Plastic is everywhere, because it’s as useful as it is

Until then, says Smith, “We have the chance for an

destructive to the planet—and is often a requirement to

open playbook for good policy, and there’s a need to

child-proof a product.

share and learn and grow and create an increasingly

Packaging is improving. Early on in Colorado, the joke was that child-proof also meant adult-proof for those

good reputation for the industry. But people will have to work together to make it a reality.” sensimag.com JUNE 2019 37

If it seems like everyone is listening to podcasts (or thinking about starting one), it’s because they are. After languishing for two decades, the medium is having its moment.

by R O BY N G R I G G S L AW R E N C E

CASTING SINCE RACHEL KENNERLY, A CPA IN LUFKIN, TEXAS,

DISCOVERED PODCASTS THREE

YEARS AGO, THEY’VE BECOME HER MAINSTAY WHEN SHE DOES MINDLESS TASKS HER JOB REQUIRES LIKE DATA ENTRY. NOT A FAN OF TRADITIONAL MEDIA AND DISGRUNTLED BY HER POLITICAL “CHOICES,” KENNERLY GETS HER NEWS FROM PODCASTERS LIKE LIBERTARIANS TOM WOODS AND JASON STAPLETON. A stark contrast to to the nightly news broadcasts her

outlawed until a few years ago, when a close acquaintance

parents watch as religiously as they attend church, the

moved to Colorado so she could legally treat her son’s sei-

podcasts expose Kennerly to ideas and viewpoints worlds

zures with CBD oil (after a local doctor threatened to turn

away from what she can find on the TV dial in East Texas.

her in to child-protective services if he discovered she had

Programmed by D.A.R.E., Kennerly—along with pretty

tried CBD). As Kennerly’s mind was further opened by the

much everyone else in her conservative Christian com-

liberty-based podcasts she listens to, she began to see the

munity—believed cannabis was evil and deserved to be

injustice of prohibiting a plant that could benefit so many.

38 JUNE 2019 Las Vegas

sensimag.com JUNE 2019 39

SO, YOU WANNA START A PODCAST… There’s no shortage of courses out there to help you get started and be successful. Before you bother with any of them, make sure you can answer the question, “This is the only podcast that…”

A little advice from the experts: • Keep it short, valuable, and consistent.

• Include interactive content such as games or lessons.

• Tell stories.

• Stick to a theme rather than letting conversation wander.

• Create at least five episodes before uploading the first one. Post at least three for your debut.

thing about the podcast world is that I can just kind of get out there and say whatever I want,” she says. “I could never get on the radio in Lufkin, Texas, and talk about cannabis and how we should decriminalize it. I don’t know any other forum I could get on in East Texas and talk about the subjects I talk about and not get run out on a rail.”

THE POWER OF THE PODCAST A mishmash of iPod and broadcasting, the term describes digital audio files that can be downloaded and listened to on a computer or digital device. Podcasting has been around since 2001, when the iPod was introduced. It began as a way for individuals to get out their message and build community within their niche, and it has evolved to encompass high-production, wide-reaching shows by TV and radio networks, podcast networks such as Gimlet Media (now owned

by Spotify), comedians, churches, even the FBI—all bringing in more than $700 million in advertising revenue annually.

Last year, she quit her day job to start an accounting and compliance firm for cannabis businesses and set out to learn as much as she could as quickly as she could about a substance she had vilified but never actually encountered.

“When I was growing up, they told me all these people would be offering me drugs, and they were just way off,” she jokes.

“All those years they told us to just say no, and I never got to.”

Kennerly wanted to learn more about cannabis, and she couldn’t rely on her inner circle for anything other than propaganda. “What better way to do that than with a podcast, where I can actually speak with people affected by cannabis and then share their stories with other people?” she says.

She launched “Cannabis Heals Me,” a podcast that tells the stories of patients who have healed everything from lupus to Hashimoto’s disease with cannabis, last October.

The podcast focuses on stories because “you don’t change people’s minds by citing them a bunch of statistics,” she says. About 100 people—most of them in Texas but a few from as far away as South Korea—download the podcast every Monday. Recently, Kennerly added a Thursday podcast featuring experts who give the stories context.

Kennerly says her podcast’s message is counter-intuitive to her Christian family and friends (though she does have to question, “what part of the Bible does Jesus talk about putting people in a cage over a plant?”).

She knows they don’t agree with her stance, but she hopes they’re tuning in. “The nice

The technology is destined to emerge as a player in the 2020 election, as media-savvy candidates like Pete Buttigieg and Andrew Yang take to the podcast circuit. “Podcasts are really hot right now, and I think underappreciated,” Lis Smith, Buttigieg’s communications adviser, told CNN. The first podcast that garnered any mainstream attention, former MTV VJ Adam Curry’s “Daily Source Code,” debuted in 2004 (the year Apple began supporting podcast technology with iTunes 4.9) and attracted more than half a million subscribers. But podcasting was a fringe media populated mainly by niche-minded extremists until National Public Radio broke the two-guys-talking mold dominating the medium (think: “Joe Rogan Experience” without Joe’s charisma) with “Serial,” a true-crime series about a murder investigation, in 2014. The show ran for three seasons and has been downloaded anywhere from 175 million to 420 million times, depending on which source you believe. Whatever the number, “Serial” had a lot of people addicted, and the buzz opened a lot of eyes to the possibilities of podcasts. NPR now keeps more than 40 of them active, reaching over 16 million people.

“I believe 2019 is a time for hockey stick growth and diversification of the audience and the offering,” Courtney William Holt, head of global studios for Spotify, which began offering podcasts last year and now captures more than a quarter of all listeners, told Medium. The 2020 election will be no small contributor to that growth, added Dane Cardiel of podcast host and distribution company Simplecast, as more candidates launch podcasts “to earn trust and win over voters in crowded primary races.” Podcast listeners— generally educated and leaning liberal—are just the kind of voters Democratic contenders are looking to reach.

40 JUNE 2019 Las Vegas

sensimag.com JUNE 2019 41

There are now more than 700,000 podcast shows in more than 100 languages out there, according to Podcast Insights.

(Comedy is the most popular genre, followed by education and news.) Fifty-one percent of Americans have listened to a podcast, and one in three listen to at least one every month. (Edison Research found that 40 percent of people between ages 12 and 24 identified as monthly podcast listeners, and baby boomers have been slower to adapt to the new medium. In 2019, 17 percent of people 55 and older listened to a podcast every month.) This year for the first time, on-demand audio streaming accounts for the majority of total audio consumption, according to Adweek. “I think we hit a tipping point,” Tom Webster, senior vice president for Edison Research, told the New York Times.

Consumers looking for curated, searchable podcast content have no shortage of options. Earlier this year, Luminary launched a podcast subscription service it calls “Netflix for podcasts,” featuring exclusive shows from A-listers like Lena Dunham and Trevor Noah. Luminary caught everybody’s attention when it took in $100 million in funding, but it doesn’t have an easy road ahead in a market already dominated by Spotify and the leading podcatcher, Apple Podcasts, which is included on all iOS devices. Industry titans including Google, Pandora, and iHeartRadio have entered the market, alongside scrappy new companies like Wondery, a podcast publisher known for emotionally immersive podcasts, and Stitcher, which bills itself as the easiest way to listen to podcasts on your iPhone, iPad, Android, PC, or smart speaker.

Stitcher CEO Erik Diehn predicts better curation and discovery, a more reliable listener experience, and better support will bring exponentially more listeners this year.

Chances are, we’ll see a lot more podcasters like Kennerly as well. Why not, when you can get started with absolutely no experience and a shoestring budget? Initially, Kennerly used a free app from Anchor.FM (now owned by Stitcher) to record her podcast and a free program from Audacity to edit it. A couple months later, she bought herself an Audio Tecnica mic for Christmas and upgraded to Hindenburg editing software, both of which have improved her podcast’s quality—but she’s quick to point out it can be done without them.

“I spend far more time working on the podcast than I should,” Kennerly admits, but there’s no question it’s a labor of love that she believes is well worth it. Podcasting is the foundation of her quest “to do my tiny part to convert people once like me into people who believe the federal government has no right to tell us what we can and can’t put into our bodies.”

Her advice to anyone considering a similar quest (no matter what the topic)? “Stop talking about it and go do it.”

ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE, author of The Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook and Pot in Pans: A History of Eating Cannabis, secretly wants to be the Joe Rogan of cannabis.

42 JUNE 2019 Las Vegas

12 GREAT PODCASTS FOR SUMMER LISTENING Adam Dunn Show // A cannabis legend and friends dish about 25 years in the industry.

Against the Rules with Michael Lewis // Journalist and bestselling author looks at what’s happened to fairness “in a world where everyone loves to hate the referee.”

Brave New Weed // Conversations with the healers, politicians, scientists, and “troublemakers of all sorts” who have contributed to cannabis liberation.

Broken Record with Malcolm Gladwell, Rick Rubin, and Bruce Headlam // Longform conversation about music “for a world without liner notes.”

Getting Doug with High // Doug Benson of “Super High Me” fame partakes and talks with guests.

Great Moments in Weed History // Abdullah Saeed and David Bienenstock delve into humanity’s long relationship with cannabis.

I’m Too Effing High // Stoned comedians take on challenges and play games.

Jalen & Jacoby // Jalen Rose and David Jacoby break down sports and pop culture.

The Jimmy Dore Show // “The Marijuana-Logues” writer discusses his raw takes on the news with top comedians and comedy writers.

The Joe Rogan Experience // The granddaddy of them all, JRE has been around for nearly a decade, and Rogan has been called “the Walter Cronkite of our era.”

Ron Burgundy Podcast // Will Ferrell reprises everyone’s favorite role, conducting interviews that “have a tendency to go off the rails, and we find out things about people we never knew we wanted to know.”

WTF with Marc Maron // The comedian’s conversations with icons such as Robin Williams, Keith Richards, and President Barack Obama have garnered more than 250 million downloads.

sensimag.com JUNE 2019 43

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AMERICAN CANNABIS COMPANY

American Cannabis Company Creates High-Tech Grow Spaces SOMETHING BETTER, DIFFERENT, AND TRULY SUSTAINABLE IS ALWAYS THE TOP PRIORITY. door soil, SoHum Living Soil, is a handcrafted, biodynamic soil formulation that provides an optimal balance of micro-organisms and beneficial bacteria to help plants reach their genetic potential.

Some growers use soil combinations with added nutrients, basically using educated guesswork to decide what is best for their cannabis plants. SoHum Living Soil is a correctly mixed and balanced soil that represents the future of an all-natural, sustainable approach to cultivation.

It can be used by grow novices for any type of strain.

Demonstrating its commitment to understanding the business of the industry, the company offers educational information on its website and through its webinars, with links to other resources that complete an entire When a startup cannabis business owner wants to take its business to the next level, American Cannabis Company is ready with a huge offering of industry-leading services, including state-by-state dispensary permitting, design and buildout expertise, industry equipment sourcing and fulfillment, branding and marketing guidance, operational management, and staffing.

The company is essentially a one-stop shop when an owner or business founder wants to move forward in a fast-moving and complex industry and work with a company created by cannabis enthusiasts with deep backgrounds in horticulture that not only consult with them on every detail along the way but also provide unique products to assist them.

Since its founding, the company has helped cannabusinesses get awarded merit-based licenses in 14 states and Canada and built over 1 million square feet of cultivation space on its way to a nearly 100 percent growth over just two years.

Additionally, the company has created unique products to ensure the health and well-being of cannabis plants. One of those products, an all-natural, indoor-out-

package of resources for either the cannabis professional or the rising, passionate amateur.

At its core, American Cannabis Company helps cannabusiness owners avoid pitfalls or trapdoors in growing and selling cannabis, with a focus on the ultimate success of clients who are growers, ancillary business developers, and dispensary owners.

Ellis Smith, chairman and founder of American Cannabis Company, has been around cannabis since his early days, when he watched his brother grow it in Mobile, Alabama, as part of his agriculture studies at Auburn University. He knew the industry needed help to be better, work smarter, and understand the whole picture of growing and selling cannabis.

“It’s funny to see how the industry was so slow to go to other AG-based horticulture businesses to help guide us,” Smith says. “This is where I still shake my head. People still aren’t utilizing the tools from that industry in this sector at all.”

For more information, visit:

AMERICANCANNABISCONSULTING.COM sensimag.com JUNE 2019 45

46 JUNE 2019 Las Vegas

DIGIPATH

Digipath Discovers New Opportunities STEADY GROWTH KEEPS THIS TESTING COMPANY THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.

One of the more interesting new products being de-

ogy solution provider to a medical and recreational

veloped by Las Vegas-based Digipath’s wholly owned

cannabis- and hemp-testing lab. “We used our digital

subsidiary, GroSciences, was created for both law en-

pathology experience, applied for our license, raised

forcement and cultivators.

enough money to do it right, and here we are, four

Officers have been challenged to find a way to de-

years later, as the preeminent lab in Nevada,” he says.

termine whether a plant that looks like any other can-

Digipath’s 6,000-square-foot-lab company in Las Ve-

nabis plant is in fact hemp, with .3 percent THC or less,

gas with 19 employees will be the training ground for

meaning it is legal in most US states and can be trans-

other labs, including one opening in Bogota, Colom-

ported across state lines.

bia. “We have our sights set on worldwide import-ex-

GroSciences developed a kit that will be used in the

port,” he says.

field to test for CBD and THC to determine whether a plant is hemp. “Unless you are getting something tested and get a certificate of analysis, for example, it’s whatever the guy told you that you bought it from is,”

For more information, visit:

DIGIPATH.COM

Todd Denkin, founder, president and CEO of Digipath, says. “And we’re past the point in this industry of taking someone’s word for it.”

Digipath got started doing terpene studies. “Along the way, we learned that the real difference in the cultivar strain is in the terpene profile and not so much in the cannabinoid profile,” Denkin says.

Denkin found his way into the cannabis lab business from a background making commercials, TV shows, infomercials, and short films. In 1999, he came to Las Vegas to work with a technology company that he and management took public in 2003. It did well, and Denkin set out looking for another opportunity.

In 2009, he co-founded a hydroponic company, Phototron Holdings, and took that company public. When cannabis was legalized in Colorado, Phototron rocketed to success. “I got into the grow space next, and the part that we couldn’t do at the grow was testing,” he says.

He knew people at Digipath Corp in Vegas and raised some money to get into the cannabis lab space in 2014, right at the time Nevada was legalizing cannabis, and then transformed it from a digital patholsensimag.com JUNE 2019 47

SEVENTH-ANNUAL PIRATE FEST

The seventh-annual Pirate Fest sailed into Craig Ranch Regional Park populated by pirates, Steampunk, mermaid, Renaissance, and faerie characters.

Kids followed a treasure map to find booty while shows, demonstrations, entertainment, and fantasy worlds filled the park.

48 JUNE 2019 Las Vegas

Where: Craig Ranch Regional Park When: April 27-28, 2019

sensimag.com JUNE 2019 49

{HereWeGo }

by D E B B I E H A L L

CYCLEDELIC

HUB & SPŌK rides into Las Vegas.

In the Arts District 18b and downtown area, bicycles have become more than transportation. A new venue, gallery, retail center, and creative space, HUB & SPŌK (HUBANDSPOK.COM ), celebrated its opening showcasing bicycle art, sculptures, and murals.

CYCLEdelic, created from bicycle parts by Carlos Vivaldo is the centerpiece of the store. An artist, bicycle mechanic, and co-proprietor of Crank & Grind, Vivaldo combines an all-encompassing psychedelic feeling with a cycle’s moving pieces that stays grounded.

Outside the building, the tallest bicycle and bicycle table flanked the mural painted by the artist Sig. On one wall, Sig painted an untitled cyborg woman as part of his live painting during the opening.

Quincy Savage, the owner of HUB & SPŌK, met Vivaldo at Crank & Grind and was inspired to open a new platform for artists and creativity. The retail space offers model cars, apparel that transcends multiple boundaries, along with a bespoke clothing program creation from design to a 1-of-1 piece.

HUB & SPŌK

1331 S. Commerce St. // Las Vegas //(707) 902-3865

50 JUNE 2019 Las Vegas