LOS ANGELES
BODY
TEASE
Burlesque and beauty with La Cholita QUEEN OF GREEN
Dr. Dina talks law and order
BEAUTY AND BRAINS
The daughters of wellness
{plus}
A QUEST TO CONQUER AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE
THE NEW NORMAL
8.2019
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ISSUE 8 //VOLUME 2 //8.2019
FEATURES 22 Stripped Down
Burlesque is more than dance for La Cholita—it’s liberating social constraints.
SP EC IAL R EP OR T
40 Holding on to Hope
Cannabis offers a fresh alternative to those seeking treatment for autoimmune diseases.
16 DAUGHTERS BRAND Taking Charge
LOVE In Ireland
36
every issue 9 Editor’s Note 11 The Buzz 16 LifeStyle
DAUGHTERS OF INVENTION
28 HighProfile
ROYALTY + REFORM
36 TravelWell
I DIDN’T FORGET MY TOOTHBRUSH
50 HereWeGo
SHANTI HOT YOGA
Sensi magazine is published monthly by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2019 SENSI MEDIA GROUP LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ON THE COVER Photo by Marissa Dela // Instagram @marissadela
sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 7
sensi magazine ISSUE 8 / VOLUME 2 / 8.2019
EXECUTIVE FOLLOW US
Ron Kolb ron@sensimag.com CEO, SENSI MEDIA GROUP
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Stephanie Wilson stephanie@sensimag.com EDITOR IN CHIEF
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MANAGING EDITOR, SENSI SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
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CHANGE YOUR LIFE ADVISORY BOARD Baby J’s Burgers // EDIBLE CHEF
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stress upon ourselves and into our daily lives. It’s never been
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more important to be mindful and take a little you time—and Musical artist Gerard Way once said, “One day, your life will flash
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options. As we put this issue together, one thing stood out: we’re
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all on the edge of being one step closer to burnout. That’s when
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making the dreaded “life changes” is opportune. I realize it isn’t
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family, and relationships is just as important as making sure you
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easy to change old habits, but making time to balance work, life, leave room for yourself. A little self-care can go a very long way, and this month that’s the goal. In this issue, you’ll discover that burlesque may be more than
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a visual tease. Turns out shedding our clothes can also be like
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us to embrace ourselves and the bodies we’re hiding in. We also wellness, because they, too, were facing corporate burnout. I talk to the queen of cannabis, Dr. Dina, to discuss a faulty prison system, legalization, the importance of women in cannabis, and her new international podcast. Finding ways to have the highest quality of life isn’t easy, and sometimes Los Angeles is a city in a tailspin of chaos, but it’s also one of tremendous creativity, opportunity, curiosity, cultural influx, and plenty of natural elements to get submerged in. Go find your center…and be relentless. Spread your wings and discover. Live boldly,
Dawn Garcia
M ANAG I NG E D I TO R
SENSI SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 9
10 AUGUST 2019 Los Angeles
Balanced Wellness
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Insurance Coverage and Protection Plan Design Specialists for the Cannabis Industry
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Want to shop extravagant brands, be part of a bi-annual celebration, and experience brand new art installations for a limited time in the City of Angels? Now through Labor Day, tourists and locals are invited to Beverly Hills to experience BOLD Summer on camera-ready Rodeo Drive. Celebrating fashion and the avenue’s iconic shopping heritage, prestigious brands like Luis Vuitton Moet & Hennessy (LVMH) are hosting popup shops (Luis Vuitton X features nine rooms showcasing nearly 200 unique items). During BOLD Summer, visitors can take part in a hosted summer lounge on August 3, Hashtag Mosaic on August 17, see live manequins the week-
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12 AUGUST 2019 Los Angeles
–DG
PHOTO COURTESY OF LOVEBEVERLYHILLS
Jon Bartholomew
Set The Boobies Free
The GoTopless Event in Venice Beach. // August 25 // 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Yes, you read that right. In honor of Women’s Equality Day, the uninhibited are invited to join fellow free thinkers on Sunday, August 25, for the GoTopless Parade to march proudly and topless. Tapping into men’s constitutional right to be bare-chested in public as gender equality strives to be the norm, this is a day to join the fellas and set those girls free. March alongside other women fighting for the right to use their voices and not feel shame about their bodies. “As long as men are allowed to be topless in public, women should have the same constitutional right. Or else, men should have to wear something to hide their chests,” says Maitreya Rael, founder of GOTOPLESS.ORG . A note on legality: While its not likely you’ll get arrested for public indecency if you participate, it is a possibility. Covering your nipples with tape or pasties is a way around this. –DG GOTOPLESS.ORG // Meeting location: Navy Street and the Ocean Front Walk
Seeping Teas Of The World Center yourself with a cultural ceremony. // August 11 // 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Visionary Devan Shah had a dream of bringing the world together through one of the oldest ceremonial traditions of tea. He has brought teas from every region of the world to Los Angeles, and he launched the Los Angeles Tea Festival in 2011. Engaging tea enthusiasts through in-depth discussions, tea pairings, craft tea-infused cocktails, and boba, the event is family-friendly. This is one of the largest tea festivals in the nation.
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sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 13
Laugh It Up
Belly laughs at the Burbank Comedy Fest. // August 11 to August 17 Laughter makes all of our daily insanity tolerable, and bringing together some of the funniest in the biz as well as comedic newbies makes for some good old-fashioned fun. The Burbank Comedy Festival is a seven-night comedy event happening in three different venues throughout Burbank: Flappers Comedy Club, Barney’s Beanery, and Hilton Garden Inn. Featuring more than 100 improv, variety, and standup performances and 80 star-studded shows, podcasts, an industry panel, comedy classes, and after-parties, this sellout fest kicks off with Hal Sparks on August 11. Past headliners have included Adam Corrolla, Jeff Garlin, and David Zucker. Festival highlights include Wittiest Women, an all-female showcase on Tuesday, August 14; We Talk Funny with cartoon voices we know and love featuring Carlos Alazraqui; and workshops featuring professional writers, comedians, and industry leaders giving the low-down on breaking into the biz and honing your craft.
–Eli Dupin
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF BURBANK COMEDY FESTIVAL
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14 AUGUST 2019 Los Angeles
sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 15
{lifestyle } by G E M M A L A C E Y
DAUGHTERS OF INVENTION This LA-based self-care brand is the brainchild of two advertising veterans who left the world of burnout to seduce your senses and soothe your soul.
Self-care is something of a buzzword at the moment, but the notion of taking time to better look after ourselves has never been more relevant. LA brand Daughters was founded by Ellen Wong and Sam Williams after they both faced job burnout in their advertising careers, motivating them to seek out ways to self soothe. The result? An entire brand line of self-care, tranquility, and devotion to helping other burnouts do the same.
What was the catalyst for starting Daughters? Ellen Wong (EW): For me, it had to do with feeling a certain way. If you had asked me immediately after I left my job, I would have said it was plain old burnout. I did not love my job or get the creative satisfaction I wanted from it any-
16 AUGUST 2019 Los Angeles
Why do you think self-care was something you were drawn to? Sam Williams (SW): When we started, we’d done a ton of research, and part of that was us just trying to understand what we’d gone through because it’s hard to see what’s affecting you when you’re in it. The more we explored, the more we realized that there were certain things that were coming up for women again and again. These were an inability to sleep or focus and having constant stress. These recurring themes made us realize we could create products that incredibly busy women can fit into their routine to take care of themselves. Just doing that work can be so hard, and we wanted to create things that can seamlessly fit it to people’s lifestyles. Each product has specific ingredients, all chosen to help you sleep or focus better, and because of them, we’ve seen women add new rituals to their lives. The benefits occur in several ways. First, on a surface level, you feel better in the moment, but it helps you create moments of stillness in your day. Some more, and I was frustrated because I didn’t understand why
people don’t have the desire to have a regular med-
that had changed. The last few years of my career were
itation or yoga practice, so our idea was that you can
spent constantly grinding and feeling like I was rolling a rock
take these micro-moments in your day, and they can be
up a hill. That was my norm. I realized that what I was put-
very effective if you’re intentional with them. This is why
ting my time toward wasn’t useful or putting good into the
we create daily rituals—these momentary things can add
world in a macro sense. I worked long hours, but my work
up and become transformative over a long period of time.
wasn’t bringing positivity in. So, I started to ask myself what more meaning to my work. I knew I wanted to do some-
How is Daughters evolving as a result of this way of thinking?
thing for women, and because I was experiencing burnout,
EW: While a lot of our range is focused on scent, we didn’t
I was drawn to self-care, so my thought process became
set out to make aromatherapy products. Everything we
more of, what if I created something to address that?
wanted to create had to be simple and fit into a busy life-
else could I be doing that would be more helpful and give
That was what triggered the seed, but now looking back,
style. It turns out scent is the quickest type of therapy to
what was happening was that I had truly lost touch with
trigger a “letting go” response in your subconscious, so
myself; there were lots of events that led up to that point. I
that’s how we began to develop our first round of products,
was burying myself with work and numbing myself by par-
including our pillow spray, candles, and rollerball scents. The
tying, something that’s so rampant in advertising, which
next phase was working with other female entrepreneurs.
helped me not deal with things I really needed to deal with.
We love the idea of being on a journey together and cele-
In the last year, being given the space to create this brand
brating what they do. That opened up ways to extend our
gave me the space to heal things I’d avoided. I feel like the
range, such as our botanical clay mask and the NoTox euca-
universe gave me this opportunity to heal. In so many ways,
lyptus steam. It’s part of us leveraging the talents of those
Daughters really saved me.
around us and working with artisans to produce them. sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 17
You recently added a coffee to your range, which for many might seem a departure from the soothing products you’re known for. Can you tell us more about it? SW: The honest answer for how that came about is that our friends at NoTox (a Los Feliz-based company) connected us with Cafecito, who needed a new brand. They had
limited options for ways to explore how to live a better life
plans to work with NoTox and have a stand, and we were
and be present and feel good as much as possible.
going to revamp their entire brand. We worked with Mitch
EW: In modern life, everything is so fast and all-consum-
Hale and created new bags and packaging for them. In getting to know them, we discovered a female-produced brand from Honduras that fit with our ethos of promoting and supporting women, which is so important to us after working in male-dominated industries. I think the cool thing about coffee in Central America is that it’s virtually unheard of for women to own and run these farms, but the farm that makes our coffee does just that. We really love what’s called The Shine Theory, which is the idea that when one woman rises, we all rise. So, with the coffee, it was so unique we really wanted to shine a spotlight on what these women were doing.
From what you’ve learned about collaboration, are there any ways your version of self-care has changed or deepened as a result of your work with Daughters? SW: At first, we didn’t realize how much we had to learn. We had no idea what self-care was, except that on a sur-
ing, work and life never stop. You don’t have a free moment, and all of those things are distractions from your greater purpose and creating stillness to get to know who you are. The personal healing work is hard. This came up for me, so I had to realize that now I have to deal with it. It’s a constant uncovering of new stuff because you’ve built up a lifetime of buried pain, and it’s brutal to go through and confront it. It’s also not what the majority of the world will do. They don’t want to know themselves, it’s easier to believe in a lie.
What do you think are the other barriers we face in self-care? EW: Overcoming the guilt of spending time on yourself, especially for women, because self-care is seen as decadent. There’s a massive amount of guilt and judgment from other women who don’t take those steps and from other people in their lives, which is a huge hurdle. We hear this in every conversation.
face level, there is a better way to live. In reality, there are
How does Daughters help women overcome this?
so many ways to try and find what works to help you relax,
SW: These products are intended to create tiny moments
de-stress, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. It’s a constant
of stillness and intention. I liken it to hiding broccoli in your
exploration of different types of therapy. Everyone has un-
smoothie; it can give you exactly what you need. It’s not
18 AUGUST 2019 Los Angeles
frivolous but is a soft entry into deeper entryways and spiritual growth. Our job is to provide a gateway to this, and then if people want to explore that part of themselves, that’s when they do the work and with it, all that follows. Our products help create a mind-body connection. They are meant as a way to look inward, and that’s what our mission has become.
Do you have intentions for the future of the brand to expand on this? EW: For us, it’s bringing women together. In the last couple of days, we keep coming back to the idea that this is a collective in multiple senses of the word. First, a collective of women artisans and visionaries, and second, those who are growth-minded and who want to do the work on themselves and dig in. I really hope that our products and our store are step one in this journey, and it’s the most tangible way we can begin to build our brand. SW: We want to host healing retreats and gatherings to bring healing to another level. My long-term view is to truly provide a healing space online and create a beacon of healing for all women. A lot of the trouble we see is that women feel alone. We don’t want any woman to feel she’s an island no matter how much growth or healing she has to do. We exist to help her and ourselves.
What else do you have planned for Daughters? EW: Currently, we’re In the process of editing our podcast called “Woo Knew.” We have 10 interviews, which explore reiki, hypnotherapy, EFT (emotional freedom techiniques), and sound healing. We’re doing a whole deep dive on healing modalities to have a discussion about what works and what doesn’t. Therapists talk about how they approach their work, which is super interesting, especially with reiki, which is so individualistic in how it’s practiced. It’s an awareness piece to show women what’s available and the different ways it can fit into their life. SW: We’re not afraid to try these things, and we’re going to, so we can help women open the doors for themselves. It’s important to open ourselves up to the possibilities of things that are foreign. We were on the skeptical train but have seen enough through our own experiences to know this type of healing is very real. So, helping women navigate this huge landscape is something that fits our greater vision. Spiritual healing doesn’t end with meditation.
Finally, what are your favorite products from Daughters? EW: I love our journal with prompts from Susanna Peace Lovell. It’s been a really helpful tool for self-exploration for me and focuses my thoughts. SW: My go-tos are the pillow spray and sleep tea. I’ve always struggled to fall or stay asleep and would wake in a sweat of anxiety. These products have transformed my sleep. Learn more about Daughters at DAUGHTERSBRAND.COM and on Instagram @DAUGHTERSBRAND .
sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 19
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ipped Burlesque is more than dance for La Cholita— it’s liberating societal constraints. by DAW N G A R C I A
D O W N
THE LIGHTS ARE DIM. THE PERCUSSION TAPS. THROUGH THE SCARLET CURTAIN, A SULTRY LEG APPEARS, FOLLOWED BY A WOMAN DRESSED TO UNDRESS—ONE SWAY, ONE STEP, ONE TWIRL AT A TIME.
That is the beauty and seduction of burlesque.
AND IN LA, THERE IS A WOMAN WHO EMBODIES THE SEX APPEAL AND CONFIDENCE ALL THAT ENTAILS. With her signature red curly locks, curves for days,
Estrada grew up watching old vaudeville, showgirls,
and a smile that can stop traffic, Natasha Estrada, a.k.a.
and Mae West films, idolizing performers like Bette
La Cholita, is a mother, actress, and performer. She was
Midler, whom she calls “a modern Lucille Ball.” “I often
born in Los Angeles, and spent much of her childhood
visualized performing in front of large crowds on glam-
here. “Growing up under the glare of Hollywood’s spot-
orous stages in extravagant costumes, starring in films,
light, I was aware from a young age of the pressure and
or touring the world singing,” she said. “I was an only
power of being beautiful in a socially accepted way,” she
child and used my imagination a lot. I knew I wanted to
says. “Being a chubby kid with freckles and curly hair, I
connect with people and loved to create characters and
wasn’t noticed in the same way as other girls, so I turned
my own universes.”
to humor to make myself seen.”
Dancing, comedy, costumes, and sex appeal became
When she was 10, Estrada and her mom moved to a
bookmarks in her life. “My mom took me to a burlesque
hippie community in British Columbia, a shift in lifestyle
show when I was 18 or 19, and it clicked,” she said. “I
that played a pivotal role in Estrada’s self-image. “Canada
was like, ‘Oh yeah, this is it.’ The notion of telling stories
was all about connection—to myself, to community, to the
through stripping excited me, but also harkened to the
earth,” she said. “Clothing was often optional. Everyone
shows I grew up admiring.”
was comfortable in their body’s natural state, fully embrac-
What drew her most was the sense of empowerment it
ing who they were… It was a stark contrast to everything
gave her. “The art of the tease can playful, sensual, silly,
I had been conditioned to believe was acceptable in LA.”
mesmerizing,” she says. “If I hadn’t been a burlesque persensimag.com AUGUST 2019 23
24 AUGUST 2019 Los Angeles
former I would have been a sex therapist! I’m fascinated by
so because others have an expectation of what I’m like
what gets people off, the psychology behind carnal desires.”
based on who I am on stage.”
Estrada’s performance inspires the audience to love
When Estrada got pregnant with her son, Valentino,
the bodies they were given. “Burlesque made me more
she didn’t stop performing. Months after giving birth,
aware than ever of my body and my relationship with
she was back on stage, opening for the legendary Dita
my body, two things that are always changing,” she says.
Von Teese. “He’s grown up around live entertainment his
“When you’re under the spotlight, you’re putting it all out
whole life,” she says. “Whether it’s burlesque, drag, mu-
there—every dimple, every stretch mark, every jiggle. But
sic, or comedy, I think the takeaway is to be empowered
it’s your relationship with your body that is on display. That’s what the audience is seeing and responding to.” Performing striptease also showed Estrada that everyone is body-conscious. “Whether backstage with other performers, or after the show with an audience member, I’ve realized that everyone’s had body insecurities—people of every shape and size,” she says. “That frustrates me. No one should feel like their body is offensive or unworthy of celebration.” Estrada doesn’t believe conventional beauty equates to talent or sex appeal. “You can have a fancy costume and a Playboy body, but that doesn’t make an exciting performance on its own,” she says. “I find myself less enchanted by commercial beauty. We’ve seen that story a million times. I’m much more compelled by unique experience.” More than anything, Estrada wants representation. “Our world celebrates a certain standard of beauty. Even with-
“‘La Cholita’ is a departure from the pinup monikers people are used to. I was never what people expected to see when they heard the name.” —Natasha Estrada
in the burlesque community, where we boast about inclusivity, often there’s still only one body type that’s praised,” she says. “There’s room for everyone. I want to see every person, differently abled, different perspectives.” Her personality, La Cholita, is a manifestation of both her Mexican-American upbringing and her love for Old Hollywood glamour. “I loved the juxtaposition of the two. My grandfather was a pachuco in the ’40s, and I was influenced by the style of that era and by his stories,” she says. “It wasn’t a narrative I was seeing expressed on stage. I didn’t see a space for me, so I created one.” That opened the door for her to discuss how beauty is treated in our culture. “‘La Cholita’ is a departure from the pinup monikers people are used to,” she said. “I was never what people expected to see when they heard the name, nor is it a name people expect when they see me.” Estrada recalls one of the craziest moments she had
PHOTO BY @MARISSADELA
during a performance. “I once gave a man a heart attack after having him unhook my bra. Paramedics, stretcher, the whole bit. But, showgirl I am, I had to go with it and act like it was all part of my act. Couldn’t let him upstage me!” Estrada feels she is her most authentic self on stage, but navigating in the real world makes her feel more vulnerable. “The biggest challenge is separating the two versions of myself in my romantic relationships—more sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 25
CDPH-T00001304
26 AUGUST 2019 Los Angeles
C11-18-0000120-TEMP
by who you are, whatever state you are in. Find what sets
critical to check in with yourself emotionally, phys-
your soul on fire and pursue it relentlessly.”
ically, and mentally. “As a single mother, I check in
As a mother, she is open with Valentino about what
with myself a lot. When you have kids or are respon-
she does. “Burlesque obviously seems so taboo. God for-
sible for anyone other than yourself, prioritizing their
bid we are sensual beings! But it’s not taboo for him. It’s
needs can make you put off your own,” she says. “It’s
completely normalized. It doesn’t faze him, and as such,
important to find time for yourself. Take pleasure for
doesn’t perpetuate the stigma surrounding it.”
yourself, indulge yourself. You have to maintain your
She recalls an example of this from Valentino’s recent
identity beyond being a caretaker. When you lead a life
birthday party, when he announced that his mother was
with multifaceted roles, one of the hardest things can
a famous burlesque dancer. “There’s
be to just do nothing. To embrace
the initial wide-eyed, quiet shock
stillness. Quiet.”
like he’s revealed a dark shameful, secret about me,” she says. “But once that subsides, and people realize it’s something I’m open about, it’s a great conversation starter.” Estrada is conscious about how she talks about herself at home. “Even when I’m feeling bloated or my weight is fluctuating, I never say I’m fat or ugly or that I need to lose weight,” she says. “I don’t want to model negative body image or pass on shame surrounding the body.” Admittedly, Estrada still has moments of doubt, amplified by a career as an actress, model, and dancer, but her devotion to her craft forces that doubt to take a backseat. “In those times, I focus on getting centered— meditating, masturbating, taking a walk, writing, self-care in whatever form that may be,” she says. “Sometimes you just need to remind yourself what a badass you are and then
PHOTO BY HOLLYJOPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
get back on track.”
“The takeaway is to be empowered by who you are, whatever state you’re in. Find what sets your soul on fire and pursue it.” —Natasha Estrada
When it comes to wellness and self-care, cannabis is on the menu. “I am a big advocate for the tremendous benefits of plant medicine,” she says. “It’s baffling how eager we are to put any number of unknown poisons in our body, yet how skeptical we are of a plant. I personally enjoy using cannabis products, not only for fatigue and soreness but cramps, anxiety, and insomnia. It’s been a gamechanger for me.” Estrada hosts a monthly variety show featuring comedy, burlesque, and music as well as performing in other shows around town a few times a week. She is also creating new performance art pieces, launching a web series on motherhood, and writing a screenplay. “I am diligently working on finishing a script, something I have always wanted to do. It’s been terrifying and liberating all at once and I’m loving every minute of it.”
As for maintaining a balanced life,
Her guilty pleasure, she smirks
she admits she’s still working on
and says without hesitation, is men.
that. “Are you happy? Are you ful-
“They are my guilty headache, too.”
filled? Are you challenged? Compla-
As for her deepest values, acknowl-
cent? I think it gets dangerous when
edgment and gratitude are most im-
we don’t feel in control of what’s
portant. “Even missteps are opportu-
happening to us,” she says. “And in
nities to learn and grow from. Take
many aspects, perhaps we aren’t in
chances. You never know where the
control. But when you realize that
next experience is going to lead,” she
everything is connected and chang-
says. “Be true to yourself above any-
ing, it seems less overwhelming.”
one else and have the courage to be
A self-proclaimed all-or-nothing kind of gal, she believes it’s
unapologetically you.” NATASHAESTRADA.NET // IG @NATASHA_ESTRADA
sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 27
{highprofile } by DAW N G A R C I A
ROYALTY + REFORM Dr. Dina’s cannabis advocacy is the stuff of legends.
28 AUGUST 2019 Los Angeles
With her flowing brown hair and petite physique, Dina
most everything Browner does. “Before cannabis, I was in
Browner—a.k.a. Dr. Dina, a nickname given to her by her
the fashion industry. I enjoyed making people feel good by
friend and client, Snoop Dogg when she helped him get
looking good on the outside. Now I get to make people feel
the first doctor’s note approving him for medical canna-
good from the inside out,” Browner says. “What people
bis use—looks more like a Disney princess than one of
need to remember is, cannabis is a plant. It’s natural and
the original advocates for medical
from Mother Earth. There is so much
marijuana in California, but she has
left to learn about this plant, but what
helped to forever change the canna-
we do know is it’s a much better op-
bis landscape.
tion for most people’s aches, pains,
I met Browner when we were both
ailments, and stress relief.”
speaking on a Women in Cannabis
While her mission was clear in her
panel in the Hollywood Hills. It was
own mind, convincing those closest
then that I realized she was the in-
to her wasn’t without its challenges.
spiration for Weeds’s character Nan-
“When I first started my journey I felt
cy Botwin. The moment she spoke, it
like I was working in the shadows. I
was clear she was well versed in the business and incredibly passionate about what’s happening in the industry and the prison system. Adamant about following the rules and regulations that apply to being a cultivator and dispensary owner, she is one of the first highly successful women in cannabis, and she doesn’t take her responsibility to offer a better quality of life to everyone she can lightly. Her interest in cannabis came organically and with the best intentions. She wanted to help a friend with cancer. Browner opened the first medical cannabis doctor’s office in Southern California in 2003 and soon after opened a dispensary in West Hollywood. “Over the years I’ve learned so much about treating different patients
NO MATTER WHAT SHE FACES, BROWNER IS COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE CANNABIS IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO NEED IT.
was afraid to tell some people what I did out of fear of judgement,” Browner says. She felt like she had to lie to her parents so they wouldn’t worry, though that was short-lived. But no matter what she faces, Browner is committed to making sure cannabis is available to those who need it. “We have had so many amazingly positive articles, news stories, and documentaries like Sanjay Gupta’s CNN special, Weed 4: Pot vs. Pills and Waldo on Weed,” she says. Browner co-owns P & S Ventures, one the largest fully vertical cannabis license holders in California, soon to expand to Portland, as well as AhhsWeho (AHHSWEHO.COM ), a West Hollywood dispensary that has been serving medical and recreation-
of all ages with cancer, MS, cerebral
al cannabis clients for over a de-
palsy, restless leg syndrome, autism,
cade. Like many dispensary owners,
PTSD, spinal stenosis, anxiety, insomnia, arthritis, Parkin-
Browner had concerns about legalization. “I didn’t know
son’s, Alzheimer’s, depression, ADHD, anorexia, chronic
what to expect,” she says. “Who were going to be my new
migraines—I can go on all day,” she says. “Cannabis helps
customers since I’d only been serving medical cannabis
treat so many conditions. I’ve been lucky enough to watch
for the past 15 years? Were they going to be a bunch of
my patients and customers benefit from using cannabis.”
21-years-olds, all wanting to get super high? The next
Helping others has remained at the core of her busi-
day and every day since, we noticed the new adult-use
ness, and health and wellness is the primary factor in
crowd consisted of all ages and nobody wanted to get sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 29
30 AUGUST 2019 Los Angeles
‘too high.’ Most of the new clientele wanted something
piece, and vape pens, gummies, and pre-rolled joints have
light. Customers would say, ‘I haven’t smoked in 45 years.’
become some of the dispensary’s most popular items.
Translation: don’t overload them with THC!”
Though she has been raided twice by the DEA, it wasn’t
Browner says her cus-
until 2007, when friend and
tomers come in to buy safe,
fellow
clean, tested, legal canna-
Landa was sentenced to
bis from people they trust. Customers and patients can ask questions about products and discuss them with staff members who are well educated about different ailments and how to treat them. ”Medical patients, who tend to have a much higher tolerance to cannabis, ask for the strongest products,” she says.
FREEDOM GROW CURRENTLY ADVOCATES FOR OVER 100 PRISONERS, BUT BROWNER REALIZES THAT SO MANY HAVE YET TO BE IDENTIFIED.
activist
Stephanie
four years in prison for cultivating medical cannabis, that Browner’s eyes were opened. “Stephanie went to prison for growing cannabis for my shop,” Browner says. “I found out firsthand the injustices that go on in the prison system, and I was shocked and disgusted.” That join
led
forces
Browner with
to
Lan-
One of the dispensary’s
da, now clear of charges,
most popular items before
to create Freedom Grow
legalization was a 1,000-milligram edible. “Nowadays, it’s
(FREEDOMGROW.ORG ), a nonprofit for nonviolent canna-
not legal to sell anything over 100 milligrams,” she says.
bis prisoners. Freedom Grow currently advocates for over
“Our medical patients still ask for the 1,000 milligrams to
100 prisoners, but Browner realizes that so many have
this day.” Adult-use customers, on the other hand, prefer
yet to be identified. With help from donors and companies
micro-dosing; their favorite items are 2 to 5 milligrams per
like Organa Brands, Freedom Grow gives money to prissensimag.com AUGUST 2019 31
32 AUGUST 2019 Los Angeles
oners for commissary items and sends gifts to the prisoners’ children with notes saying, “Your mom/dad is our hero.” Browner explains, “It’s so important for these kids to know that their parents aren’t bad people, especially since society teaches kids that only bad people go to jail.” Freedom Grow partners with Amy Povah’s CanDo Clemency, which coordinates clemency efforts for prisoners who qualify. The group currently has applications for 14 cannabis prisoners sitting on President Trump’s desk. Many have been sentenced more harshly because the term “conspiracy” adds layers of complication. “A conspiracy occurs when two or more people agree to commit Browner’s commitment to cannabis is unwavering because she has seen the miraculous recoveries it has created—including that of an infant named Waldo Dwyer. Waldo was six months old when he was diagnosed with bilateral retinal blastoma cancer in both his eyes. Chemo made him violently ill, and his doctors wanted to remove his eyes. Horrified, Waldo’s parents decided to give cannabis a chance. They found Browner during an online search, and quickly flew from Philly to LA to meet with her. Browner discussed their options, spoke with other parents in a similar situation, and came up with a treatment protocol. Waldo started using cannabis oil, and immediately his parents noticed a huge difference. He stopped crying and vomiting and started laughing and eating. Waldo is now cancer-free and can see. “Brian, Waldo’s dad, filmed all of this on his ‘dad cam’ and was able to turn the footage into a documentary with the help of my friend Whoopi Goldberg, who executive produced the film,” Browner explains. The resulting film, Waldo on Weed, was featured at the Tribeca Film Festival. “The best way to change people’s minds is to show them that a child who has used cannabis is normal,” she says.
an illegal act and take some step toward its completion. Conspiracy is an inchoate crime because it does not require that the illegal act actually have been completed,” Browner explains. “For instance, a group of individuals can be convicted of conspiracy to distribute cannabis even if the actual sale never happens. Conspiracy is also unique in that, unlike attempt, a defendant can be charged with both conspiracy to commit a crime, and the crime itself if the crime is completed.” Because these appear in the system as conspiracy charges, rather than cannabis charges, reversing them is more complicated, as state programs generally don’t assist with them. “One of our prisoners, Crystal Muniz, who was pregnant at the time of arrest, received a conspiracy charge because a map she drew of her Indian reservation was being used to distribute cannabis without her knowledge,” Browner says. “She has been in prison for over a decade while her husband raises their three daughters.” Many forget that the families left behind also need assistance. “I stay in touch with several families, but the kids are the ones who make my heart bleed,” Browner says. “I call them the daughters of the drug war, and it breaks my heart to hear the stories about not having their loved ones near them, unable to visit their loved ones in prison.” She tells of Luke Scarmazzo, serving 20 years for “conducting a criminal enterprise, cultivating more than 100 marijuana plants with intent to distribute,” who hasn’t seen his 17-year-old daughter in over two years. Freedom Grow is raising funds to help her visit her dad. Antonio Bascaro, now 86 years old, served over 36 years for conspiracy. Home from prison now, Bascaro never got to know his daughters or spend time with his family and is sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 33
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August is full of new projects for Browner. She’s launching a line throughout California called CannaSports by Gary Payton, carrying vape pens and topicals geared toward sports injury repair. She will also be at the Seattle Hempfest (HEMPFEST.ORG ) August 16 through 19. “This year we are bringing in a dunk booth to raise funds for our pot prisoners,” she says. “Come by, get high, and dunk your favorite cannabis activist.” On top of that, Browner is launching a brandnew web series, Coughy Talk, on YouTube, Spotify, and iHeart Radio. The show mentors women in cannabis from all around the world, from experts in the industry to those just starting out. Coughy Talk is formatted with multiple women conducting a panel discussion via individual web cams (picture the Brady Bunch intro) enjoying their favorite strain, for an hour-long conversation that will educate and inform. For anyone interested in getting into the cannabis space, Browner has some sage advice. “Cannabis isn’t just a commodity; it’s a movement,” she says. “Keep fighting for the plant. Be her voice. Let’s not forget what we had to endure to get here. Respect the people who paved the way for you.” DRDINA420.COM // Podcast Cannabis Confidential on CANNABISRADIO.COM
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{travelwell } by DAW N G A R C I A
I DIDN’T FORGET MY
TOOTHBRUSH
My way-back-when trip to Dublin was like seeing in technicolor, and being enveloped in warm, Irish hugs.
Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush was a The Price is Right-style
I was in the audience with my cousin Kevin, who came
game show that aired on Comedy Central in 2000. The
for moral support, when Curry revealed that the prize for
audience would line up outside the studio and wait to be
this episode would be a trip for two to Dublin, Ireland, and
ushered in, each with a fully packed suitcase, an updated
$4,000 cash. Each audience member had the opportunity
passport, a toothbrush, and a willingness to get chosen at
to bring someone with them—but my partner couldn’t be
random for competitive questioning courtesy of Mark Curry
Kevin, since he didn’t have a passport. (Note to readers: al-
(as in Hangin’ with Mister Cooper, for you oldies-but-goodies
ways have your passport.)
out there). The prize would be some spending money and
To my surprise, Curry chose me to compete against twin
an all-expenses-paid trip to…somewhere. The destination
sisters who had “never been out of country” but were in
wouldn’t be revealed until the top of the show.
the Caribbean last month—I called them the Doublemint
36 AUGUST 2019 Los Angeles
Twins—and two college-aged friends who had “never left the country” but had so much fun in Mexico. I called these two Frick and Frack, and their glossy red eyes and random bursts of laughter indicated they had clearly smoked a hookah-size bong before coming to this cattle call. Let’s just say my competition wasn’t fierce, and I had a fair shot at winning. And I did. Curry’s mom was the final judge, and she, along with all but one of the judges, chose me. Twelve hours later, I boarded Aer Lingus and headed to the land of the Irish. (Note: Aer Lingus to date is the best airline I’ve ever flown, and since this adventure years ago, it now flies from Los Angeles and 11 other US cities to Ireland and all throughout Europe.)
FIRST IMPRESSIONS The moment my feet touched the ground at the Dublin airport, something came over me. I felt like I was home.
“TO LIVE IS THE RAREST THING IN THE WORLD. MOST PEOPLE EXIST, THAT IS ALL.” —Oscar Wilde
Granted, I was in my twenties, and this was my first trip to Europe with exuberance at full throttle, but it was a feeling
meeting a man who would show me the world through his
I had never had before. Gathering my luggage to wait in
eyes and give life to the writer I’ve become. A man I met my
line—later to be informed a line is called a cue—I haled a
first night at the hotel and asked to take me to a see the
taxi. While in line, an Irish girl no more than six years of age
nightlife, who would become the reason I almost moved to
talked to her mother in a sweet Irish accent. And up until
Ireland. I would later find out he was one of the restaurant
that point, I’d thought British accents were adorable. Irish
owners who took a trip to Dublin from his hometown of
accents take the cake!
London and never left. That seems to be common stance
In the taxi, the driver asked me questions about America
in Ireland. Weary travelers in search of green so green it
and why I was in Ireland, and I sat bewildered at his thick,
makes the Irish nickname Emerald Isle crystal clear, they
endearing accent while he educated me about different
would come for a short trip and plant roots, calling Ireland
locations on the way to the hotel the game show had ar-
home indefinitely.
ranged for my seven-day stay. A four-star bed-and-breakfast, the Schoolhouse Hotel (SCHOOLHOUSEHOTEL.COM )
STAYING FOR THE GREEN
was once an open schoolhouse run by nuns. The bustling
In the center of Dublin, past Trinity College and near Graf-
crowd packed in the hotel bar drinking Guinness and cock-
ton Street, is Saint Stephens Green. A community park,
tails at one o’clock in the afternoon when my taxi pulled in
Saint Stephens Green (STSTEPHENSGREENPARK.IE ) first
definitely set a different tone. It would be my first introduc-
opened in 1663 and was closed to the public. Undergoing
tion to how the Irish live…they actually live.
several stages of redesign, it wasn’t until 1877, when Sir
The year I traveled to this gorgeous country, I was work-
A.E. Guinness purchased the grounds and initiated the Par-
ing in advertising for a television network, where every
liament Act, that the park would be permanently open to
minute was accounted for. Coming to a place where people
the public. While I was there, the gentleman I met (whom I’ll
took casual lunch breaks, not once looking down at their
refer to as Peter) told me a story as we strolled through the
watches or phones eager to return anywhere else, I felt
stone-lined streets laden with history. While the park itself
an air of letting go, and it felt good. The next seven days
is massive—spanning 550 by 450 meters—its design is
would only amplify that feeling and introduce me to a city
intricately unique thanks to visionaries Arthur Neville and
and countryside I would fall madly in love with, including
George W. Hemans. Peter told me that part of the park is sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 37
38 AUGUST 2019 Los Angeles
designed especially for the blind. On the northwest corner,
When it came time to really explore the Irish country, I
an abundance of fragrant florals were planted so that the
left the city of Dublin to enjoy a tour and Jameson shot on
blind would be able to smell their way into it. In that section,
the Guinness Farm, and endless hills of emerald green in
all things are labeled in Braille. It was all so wonderfully ro-
Wicklow. I saw Bono’s house, which at the time had cop-
mantic, using the power of scent to include everyone. That
per sheets with inscribed U2 lyrics on the front gates. I
beautiful, lush green park started a love story of sorts and a
visited Cork, where I stumbled upon a tiny ice cream shop
newfound way of seeing and experiencing life.
with views of River Lee, but it’s Howth that, to this day,
EXPLORING AND EMBRACING
still inspires a sense of tranquility, inspiration, and the best damn jokes I’ve ever heard. Howth (VISITHOWTH.IE ) is the
My mornings would begin with a greeting from the front
very last stop on the Dart, the train from Dublin. It’s a har-
desk hostess Melissa, who would, without fail, sweetly say
bor town with the Skerries lighthouse; castles; rowboats
good morning the moment I made my way towards her on
that take you out to the Eye of Ireland, home to over 100
my way to the dining hall. I would return the greeting and
bird species; a coffee shop that doubles as a bookstore; a
ask how she was, to which she’d consistently reply, “Grand,
sword museum; and a used bookstore, where I purchased
thanks a million.” Her show of hospitality was so wonder-
copies of works by James Joyce and Oscar Wilde. When a
ful, it would be the nudging of a total life transformation. I
sudden downpour came on, I scoured the curved streets
was here because I won a game show, and it was my first
for cover and came upon a pub with roaring laughter eking
trip to Europe, but more importantly, this prize would teach
its way out into the open air. Behind an old wooden door,
me how to relax, find my center, be open to the literature
locals with an average age of 70 laughed, drank, and sat
that exists in almost everything, realize love means a great
together much like in a movie scene. That was where an
many things, and prompt a deep desire to explore wherever
Irishman preceded to tell me a hysterically inappropriate
I would go from there.
joke that I remember perfectly (I never remember jokes,
On this trip to Ireland, I ran along the canals in the sporad-
but this one is etched forever in my memory).
ic July rainfall, narrowly escaping the bites of the beautiful
Ireland has evolved and changed since my trip years ago,
yet misleading grace of the local swans; I crossed Millen-
but the people are the happiest I’ve ever come across on
nium Bridge to stroll into local pubs with new friends who
my travels. I went to a nightclub where an 80 year-old cou-
lived in Dublin but haled from other European and Latin
ple danced to Britney Spears; I saw street musicians who
American countries. I laughed with new strangers, shared
put some legit rock bands to shame; I allowed myself to
stories, heard multiple languages spoken with an ice cold
breathe, to enjoy my surroundings, and I learned that game
Guinness in hand, and the insanity of the real world full of
shows can actually change your life for the better.
daily stressors back in Los Angeles dissipated.
VISITDUBLIN.COM sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 39
40 AUGUST 2019 Los Angeles
SPECIAL REPORT
HOLDING ON TO HOPE Autoimmune diseases are hard to diagnose—and even harder to manage. But cannabis offers a fresh alternative to those seeking treatment for the untreatable. by R O BY N G R I G G S L AW R E N C E
Kate Phillips’ stomach hurt for years. IT GREW SO BLOATED SHE LOOKED
PREGNANT. AND NO ONE—NOT THE GASTROINTESTINAL SPECIALIST, THE NEUROLOGIST, THE FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE DOCTOR, THE NURSE PRACTITIONER SHE DROVE THREE HOURS EACH WAY TO SEE—COULD TELL HER WHY. Doctors prescribed her 41 different medications. One
that is more prevalent in New England than anywhere else
doctor said her illness was stress-induced, another told
in the world. Trouble is, she never got the flu-like symp-
her she had multiple sclerosis, and yet another said
toms or bullseye rash she’d been warned about. In her case,
she had cancer (which was terrifying). Phillips gave up
the spirochete bacteria from the tick that bit her attacked
dairy, gluten, and sugar and spent more than $100,000 on
the weakest part of her body—her stomach, which Phillips
medical specialists and snake oil doctors like the nurse
jokes was ruined by a classic Irish Catholic diet of boiled
practitioner, who put a coil on Phillips’ stomach to test
meat and starch while she was growing up in Boston.
for something that baffles her to this day. “You’re just so desperate, so sick,” Phillips says. “You don’t care what you have to do.” Suffering heart palpitations and seizures and no longer able to walk upstairs by herself, Phillips was forced to move in with her grandparents. When she was 21, a heart
“All those medical practitioners looked at my stomach as one little box. I became a symptom, not a person,” Phillips says. “That’s why, anyone with an autoimmune disease will tell you, it can take years to get a proper diagnosis.”
Cannabinoids and Inflammation
attack led her to the first of what she calls “Lyme-liter-
As many as 23.5 million Americans suffer from chronic
ate doctors” (LLMDs), who diagnosed her with postural
autoimmune disease, costing the nation about $100 billion
orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a circulation
every year, according to the National Institutes of Health.
condition, and Lyme carditis, a rare infection caused by
Often described as an attack on the self, autoimmune dis-
Lyme bacteria in the heart tissue. All those years, Phil-
ease is triggered when the body’s immune system mis-
lips had been suffering from undiagnosed Lyme disease.
takes healthy tissues for invaders, goes into overdrive, and
Growing up in the woods of Massachusetts, Phillips had
becomes inflamed. This can manifest as anything from
been constantly drilled to look out for the classic symp-
Lyme disease to lupus, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis,
toms of Lyme disease (named after Old Lyme, Connecticut,
rheumatoid arthritis, or Crohn’s disease—among some 80
where it was discovered), a tick-borne autoimmune illness
to 100 diseases that Health magazine describes as “invissensimag.com AUGUST 2019 41
42 AUGUST 2019 Los Angeles
ible illnesses” because they’re difficult to diagnose. More
mental and emotional state. How can cannabis help them
prevalent among women, autoimmune disease is one of
transition to a space where they feel more compassion for
the top 10 causes of death for females up to 64 years old.
themselves and at peace with how their bodies are?”
Traditional medical treatment for autoimmune diseases is generally heavy on long-term antibiotics, pain-
Opening the Book on the Crazy Stuff
killers, anti-inflammatories, anti-depressants, anti-sei-
Phillips, a Chinese herbal medicine practitioner and
zure drugs, and steroids, which suppress the immune
former wilderness medic, says her Lyme disease diagno-
system and slow down inflammation but are so hard on
sis prompted her to “open the book on all the crazy stuff.”
the body that they can only be taken for a short time.
Cannabis, with its ability to modulate immune and ner-
Functional medicine doctors take a more long-term, ho-
vous system function and decrease inflammation, was
listic approach, addressing diet, lifestyle, and emotional
a natural choice. She began juicing cannabis fan leaves
health in addition to physical symptoms—and more and
after reading about Dr. William Courtney, a California
more often, cannabis is part of the program.
physician who recommends daily consumption of raw cannabis flowers or juiced raw cannabis based on scientific evidence showing raw cannabis could have a reme-
Within weeks of beginning her cannabis treatment, Phillips felt clear-headed for the first time in years.
diating effect on autoimmune disorder. Within weeks, she felt clear-headed for the first time in years. She moved on to more potent edibles and then concentrates, and with help from cannabis-friendly (or at least tolerant) doctors, she weaned herself off all her medications. In the process, she discovered her life’s mission. “I became a total nerd—I just wanted to know why cannabis was working,” says Phillips. “I have this lifelong, black-hole obsession with learning about cannabis.” After a stint working with a medical marijuana dis-
Dr. Joseph Cohen, DO, medical director of Journey 2 Life
pensary in Steamboat, Colorado, Phillips returned to
and Holos Health in Boulder, Colorado, says autoimmune
Brookline, Massachusetts, to be with her family and got
diseases are tricky to diagnose because they’re difficult to
involved with the state’s cannabis industry while help-
differentiate and can be triggered by many things, includ-
ing launch a boutique dispensary. She now runs Silk
ing dietary factors (gluten is a massive trigger), environ-
Consulting, which assists Massachusetts cannabis re-
mental toxins, and stress. The key to treating them is to
tail operations with management staffing and employee
remove those triggers and heal the gut, because about 70
training, educational content, creation, and events.
percent of the immune system lies in the gastrointestinal
As part of her work, Phillips speaks to doctor groups at
tract, he says. Cohen is among a growing number of doctors
prestigious hospitals around the state about the benefits
who are finding the immunosuppressive, anti-inflamma-
of cannabis for autoimmune diseases—often because so
tory properties of cannabinoids helpful in treating autoim-
many patients are asking about it. “They’re very accepting,”
mune disease, and often prescribes treatments high in CBD.
she says of the physicians. “But they’re a small number of
“Autoimmune diseases are such a huge collection,”
people, and medication is all they understand. It’s hard for
says Selma Holden, MD, a family physician in southern Maine who integrates mindfulness, yoga, herbs, and other complementary techniques into her clinical rep-
them to quantify something that’s not synthesized.”
Big Pharma Steps In
ertoire. “But one common originator pathway is this pro-
That’s about to change. A handful of reputable, even pres-
cess of inflammation, and the speckled evidence we have
tigious, studies have found cannabinoids helpful in the
in limited clinical trials or pre-clinical animal studies is
treatment of autoimmune diseases, and the medical world
showing that administration of exogenous cannabinoids
is taking note. Cannabinoids have been found to slow de-
does seem to reduce the impacts of inflammation. “
generative effects in multiple sclerosis patients and reduce
Holden is intrigued by the generally accepted description
destructive immune response and inflammation in lupus
of autoimmune disease as the body attacking itself. “The
patients. In 2014, University of South Carolina researchers
question is,” Holden says, “why did the body start attacking
found that THC can affect DNA expression through epigen-
itself in the first place? There’s a piece to explore about their
etic pathways to suppress inflammation. This year, a team sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 43
44 AUGUST 2019 Los Angeles
Cannabis can help some people transition to a space where they feel more compassionate for themselves—at peace with how their bodies are.
of Israeli researchers found medical cannabis to be “a safe
cannabinoid research and the man who discovered THC
and effective alternative for the treatment of fibromyalgia
and CBD. Feldmann says the company is following “tried-
symptoms” but cautioned, “Standardization of treatment
and-true pathways of developing medications that are
compounds and regimens are required.”
known to work”—namely, FDA approval, which entails ex-
Biopharma companies like Katexco Therapeutics and
tensive research and clinical trials—because that’s what
CannBioRex, which have spent years developing synthetic
the pharmaceutical industry has successfully done for
cannabidiol (CBD) therapeutics to treat inflammation and
six decades to ensure that compounds are safe and effec-
autoimmune disease, have been waiting for this moment.
tive before they’re released to the public.
As the political climate around cannabis relaxes and legal-
“The problem with medical marijuana as it is used
ization leads to greater acceptance, they’re preparing to put
today is that you’re guessing when you buy a product.
their synthetic CBD drugs through clinical trials—which
Many of the products you buy do not have the amount
Katexco CEO Jonathan Rothbard, a former Stanford Univer-
of cannabidiol they say they have,” Feldmann says.
sity professor, says “are the only way to prove the scientific
“That can be solved, but we are also prepared to tackle
viability of cannabinoid treatments to the FDA and the only
the elephant in the room, which is how much cannabi-
path by which medical cannabis will truly evolve.”
diol or other cannabinoid you actually need to get the
Every large pharmaceutical company is taking a good
maximum benefits for what condition. We are going to
look at cannabis, Rothbard told Forbes, and he expects
do proper, lengthy, and expensive clinical trials to make
many of them to launch their own clinical trials involv-
sure we know exactly what is the right amount to give
ing synthetic cannabinoids alongside Katexco, which is
for maximum benefit with minimum side effects for a
developing CBD-based therapies for autoimmune condi-
specific medical problem.”
tions including arthritis, Crohn’s disease, multiple scle-
Holden, for her part, is grateful for the costly and tedious
rosis, and irritable bowel syndrome. “While beverage
work these companies and others—including GW Phar-
and alcohol companies are joining the CBD bandwagon,
maceuticals, which recently released Epidiolex, a syn-
it makes sense that big pharma steps in, too,” he said.
thetic CBD-based seizure medication—are doing to satisfy
CannBioRex Pharma, which is exploring cannabinoid
the medical community’s skepticism about cannabis as
treatments for pain, arthritis, diabetes, and obesity, was
legitimate medicine, but she does not want to see canna-
co-founded by a powerhouse duo in the biopharma world:
bis regulated as a pharmaceutical rather than an herbal
Sir Marc Feldmann, an Oxford University professor who
medicine, because that would restrict people’s access to it.
won a prestigious Lasker Award for developing what is
“What I get worried about,” Holden says, “is when the
currently the best-selling class of drugs, the TNF inhibitors, including the anti-inflammatory drug Remicade; and Raphael Mechoulam, widely regarded as the godfather of
profit interests step in.” ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE is the author of the bestselling Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook and the newly released Pot in Pans: A History of Eating Weed.
sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 45
46 AUGUST 2019 Los Angeles
sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 47
48 AUGUST 2019 Los Angeles
FLOURISH SOFTWARE
Data Analytics Takes a Deeper Dive into the Cannabis Industry AS THE INDUSTRY MATURES, OPERATORS ARE FINDING THAT IT’S TIME TO DITCH THOSE SIMPLE SPREADSHEETS FOR MORE TARGETED DATASETS.
“It’s been a really exciting journey.”
in a few months, their software solution was operation-
That’s Colton Griffin, CEO of Flourish Software and a
al with clients.
serial entrepreneur developing cannabis supply chain
Flourish has grown from that original staff of four to
and business management enterprise software for a
30 people, staffing up beginning in November 2017,
fast-moving, still-maturing industry, talking.
and hiring 10-15 people over the next 6-12 months.
What’s been missing amidst the excitement is bet-
Griffin says 30 percent of his workforce is distribut-
ter data analytics, including better access to and better
ed, working off a networking infrastructure in any of a
use of the data that most cannabis businesses have in
number of cities involved in the cannabis industry.
some form. That’s where Flourish comes in. “Our back-
Inventory management using simple spreadsheets,
ground is really heavy into business intelligence and big
which is the how many early stage cannabis businesses
data focused on supply chain operations,” Griffin says.
do it, makes it difficult for those companies to instantly
Griffin says that Flourish started out covering the fun-
provide potential investors with information they need
damentals of running the business and managing in-
to do due diligence on a company’s operations or for a
ventory. “But we have really captured some rich sets of
company that wants to track the factors that can help
data where we can provide actionable insights to help
them scale operations. But that’s a problem later down
understand operations,” he says. “We have datasets to
the road.
use from cultivation all the way through retail built into
“Spreadsheets are not built to be the system of re-
our platform, with other capabilities being codified now
cord,” Griffin says. “So that is why you need a compre-
to gather more insight into what the industry needs.
hensive software platform with better structured data
“Flourish was really born from interactions with oper-
for things like inventory control and production costs
ators in the industry,” Griffin adds. “I realized that soft-
that are a lot more straightforward. We create the path
ware and analytics was one of the pain points for these
for that.”
operators, and the idea of providing better analytics for them really just clicked.”
Next year, Flourish will work on retail-driven issues such as demand planning and forecasting—for instance,
His decision to enter the market was reinforced after
helping dispensaries inform cultivators about what
a competitor’s debacle in 2017, in which the company’s
strain they should plant based on what their customers
seed-to-sale software was repeatedly hacked, causing
want. “You have to have a good dataset to work off of
a panic throughout the industry because, at the time,
for that sort of forecasting,” Griffin says. “And it could be
that firm was one of the main providers of that service.
180 days from planting a plant to having it on the shelf,
“We have built our software from the ground up, paying
and it has to be orchestrated correctly.”
close attention to best practices for securing our platform,” Griffin says. He and his core group of four others at Atlanta-based Flourish decided to dive in around May 2017, and with-
For more information, visit:
FLOURISHSOFTWARE.COM
sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 49
{HereWeGo } by DAW N G A R C I A
Shanti Hot Yoga
8770 Washington Blvd. Suite A, Culver City // SHANTIHOTYOGA.COM
SHANTI HOT YOGA Sweat, submit, and submerse yourself in peace. Yoga is designed to bring center, focus, and wellness into
entry. Shades of white continue throughout the center, al-
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lowing clients to feel at ease and flowing wherever they are
your body’s core and mental subconscious to bring about
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acupuncture, and chiropractic care on the premises.
oasis recently opened in Culver City and offers a range of
Shanti is unique in that all of its yoga instructors have a
yoga practices. The studio features a state-of-the-art heat-
minimum of 500 hours of yoga teacher training, and many
ing system developed by a doctor of mechanical and electri-
have up to 1,000 hours. The studio is open year-round from
cal engineering that disinfects, humidifies, and continuously
5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
circulates air throughout the room during each practice to make you feel balanced.
Membership options include seven days of yoga for $7, monthly unlimited for $99, Shanti unlimited (includes mat
Shanti is the brainchild of LA resident and ERYT 1000+ cer-
and towel service) for $119, monthly four (four classes per
tified instructor Star Rader. Rader’s roster of clients includes
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celebrities, athletes, and beginning yoga students. She be-
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lieves yoga can transform lives and wanted to create some-
using #Shanti365 in honor of National Yoga Month in Sep-
thing special in LA that would offer more than mere classes.
tember. Winner announced August 31.
“I’ve experienced yoga’s transformational power firsthand, and I knew I had to share it with more people,” says Rader. “I
The yoga and fitness classes and experiences offered at
am grateful to finally open our doors and am looking forward
Shanti are both hot and non-heated. Practices offered at
to cultivating a community that can provide something for everyone–making new friends, increasing stamina, strength,
the center are: • power/vinyasa flow
• breathwork
flexibility, finding more peace of mind—bringing a little more
• yin yoga
• meditation
Shanti to the bustling city.”
• restorative
• sound baths
• barre
• guest workshops
French interior designer and Belle Vie Interiors owner Deb-
• sculpt
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orah Kukurudz to implement the Ayurvedic five elements of
• 26&New
nature: fire, water, earth, air, space. The studio soothes upon
• wrist-friendly fusion
The wellness center and oasis was designed by LA-based
50 AUGUST 2019 Los Angeles
accompaniment • … and more.
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