Sensi Magazine - Boston (November 2019)

BOSTON

THE NEW NORMAL

11.2019

VAPE EXPECTATIONS WHAT’S NEXT FOR MASSACHUSETTS VAPERS?

Single, Not Sorry

Choosing Uncoupled Adulthood

Blazing a Trail

A Project Runway star’s cannabis collection

{plus}3 NEW FOOD HALLS

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 3

Wicked Proud to call MASSACHUSETTS our home!

Visit Our Dispensaries!

Hanover | 2001 Washington St. Oxford | 425 Main St. Provincetown & Ware | COMING SOON!

Please Consume Responsibly | For use only by adults 21 years of age or older | Keep out of the reach of children | Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding This product has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks. Marijuana use during pregnancy and breast-feeding may cause potential harms. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN. There may be health risks dela by two hours or more. In case of accidental ingestion, contact poison control hotline 1-800-222-1222 or 9-1-1. This product may be illegal outside of MA. associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgement. The impairment effects of edible marijuana may be delayed

4 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 5

6 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

ISSUE 11 //VOLUME 2 //11.2019

FEATURES 36

SP EC IAL R EP OR T

Vape Break

Vape products can no longer be sold in Massachusetts. So, now what?

42 Single, Not Sorry

More and more people are choosing uncoupled adulthood.

26

20 KORTO MOMOLU Project Runway Allstar

BE WELL 7 Herbs for Immunity

every issue 9 Editor’s Note 11 The Buzz 20 HighProfile

PROJECT WOMEN GROW

26 LifeStyle

HERBS FOR HEALTH

32 NewsFeed

TRUTH TO EQUITY

50 HereWeGo

HAUTE CUISINE

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

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 7

sensi magazine ISSUE 11 / VOLUME 2 / 11.2019

EXECUTIVE FOLLOW US

Ron Kolb ron@sensimag.com CEO, SENSI MEDIA GROUP

Tae Darnell tae@sensimag.com PRESIDENT, SENSI MEDIA GROUP

Alex Martinez alex@sensimag.com CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

March 20-22nd, 2020 Hynes Convention Center, Boston MA

Stephanie Wilson stephanie@sensimag.com EDITOR IN CHIEF

Doug Schnitzspahn doug.schnitzspahn@sensimag.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Leland Rucker leland.rucker@sensimag.com SENIOR EDITOR

Robyn Griggs Lawrence robyn.lawrence@sensimag.com EDITOR AT LARGE

sensimagazine

New England Cannabis Convention

EDITORIAL sensimediagroup

6th Annual

Caitlin Moakley, Laurie Riihimaki, Rachael Thatcher CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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

Rheya Tanner, Wendy Mak, Jason Jones, Josh Clark em@sensimag.com DESIGN & LAYOUT

sensimag

BUSINESS & A D M I N I S T R AT I V E Kristan Toth kristan.toth@sensimag.com HEAD OF PEOPLE

Leon Drucker leon.drucker@sensimag.com PUBLISHER

The Largest Cannabis Event in New England!

Complete details at

necann.com 8 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

Sean Curley sean.curley@sensimag.com

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/ASST. EVENTS DIRECTOR

Richard Guerra richard.guerra@sensimag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Amber Orvik amber.orvik@sensimag.com DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION

Andre Velez andre.velez@sensimag.com MARKETING DIRECTOR

Neil Willis neil.willis@sensimag.com PRODUCTION MANAGER

Hector Irizarry distribution@sensimag.com DISTRIBUTION

M E D I A PA RT N E R S Marijuana Business Daily Minority Cannabis Business Association National Cannabis Industry Association Students for Sensible Drug Policy

ADVISORY BOARD Beantown Greentown // CULTIVATION Boston Gardener // GARDENING SUPPLY The Botanist // CANNABIS EDUCATION Flourish Software // SEED TO SALE Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty // RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

Green Goddess Supply //

PERSONAL HOMEGROWN BIOCHAMBER

Green Matters, LLC // SUPPLY CHAIN Greenhouse Payment Solutions // PAYMENT PROCESSING

The Holistic Center //

MEDICAL MARIJUANA EVALUATIONS

The Leaf Collaborative // EDUCATION Lev8 Labs, Ltd // TERPENES Lofty Labs, LLC // PET CBD Mayflower Medicinals, Inc. // ONLINE RESERVATIONS

Myofu-An Bujutsu Dojo // MARTIAL ARTS INSTRUCTION

Nine Point Strategies // INSURANCE PotGuide //

TRAVEL & TOURISM

Pro Garden Solutions // HARVEST CONSULTING Revolutionary Clinics // MEDICAL DISPENSARY Royal Gold // SOIL Sira Naturals // CANNABIS PRODUCT INNOVATION Sprout //

CRM & MARKETING

Tess Woods Public Relations // PUBLIC RELATIONS Valiant Group, LLC //

COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT

WHAT’S UP, WHAT’S NEXT

editor’s

NOTE

We’re hurtling into the holidays,

then straight on into a new decade, a second coming of the Roaring Twenties—hopefully not followed by a major market crash a decade from now, but let’s not get that far ahead of ourselves.

We’ll focus instead on what’s just ahead. On your end, dear reader, you’ve got a great magazine in your hands, with a range of topics covering the full gamut of this month’s Life + Style theme.

If you only read one piece in this issue, make it Vape Break; the special report starts on p. 36.

On Sensi’s end, our team is eyeball-deep in the December magazines, which I can’t wait for you to get your hands on next month. We’re rolling out a full redesign of the mag, revamping everything cover to cover. And I do mean everything—even the Sensi logo you know and trust is being updated to fit an evolved brand and an elevated aesthetic. Which means next month, you’ll need to be on the lookout for a magazine with an oversized S in the upper left corner of the cover. That’ll be us. New logo, who dis?

While the look of the entire mag is changing, Sensi’s purpose and values are not. A community-minded brand, Sensi Media publishes city lifestyle magazines every month covering markets like Boston. Sensi is all about progression and connection, engaging readers with a blend of in-depth reporting, commentary, and cultural coverage—wellness, health, arts, design, travel, business, and beyond. That won’t change.

What will change is how all that info is presented. For the redesign, we’ve stripped the magazine back to its key components—the great content—and built up a simplified, compelling magazine that’s easier to read, more fun to make, and delivers even more info each month.

You’re going to love it, so keep an eye out for the super Sensi “S” starting in December. As for now, you’ll find a whole lot to love in this issue. If you only read two articles, follow up the vape report with “Single, Not Sorry,” our editor-at-large Robyn Griggs Lawrence’s feature on the rising number of adults choosing to remain uncoupled—a cultural commentary on our times.

Oh, and check out the earrings on p. 20—I need those in my life.

Stephanie Wilson E D I TO R I N C H I E F SENSI MAGAZINE

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 9

10 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

Get Out of Bed

November Project has workouts designed to make you a better human— and they’re free.

If you’re up early and happen to be in lower Allston, you may have seen the intrepid climbers traversing Harvard Stadium—up the 1,147 concrete seats and down the small steps between all 37 sections, every Wednesday at 6:30 a.m., rain, snow, or shine.

Or maybe you’ve spotted them on Fridays trekking up Summit Avenue’s 9 percent grade, cheering and singing all the way. You’ve probably wondered: Who gets up at the crack of dawn to tackle steps and hills—and look so damn happy about it?

Often accused of being a cult—because pre-dawn singing while exercising is hardly normal behavior—November Project is a free fitness movement that was born in Boston and has made its way to 46 cities around the globe. With a mission of “human development and community building through empowering group workouts,” NP includes members of all stripes, from Olympic medalists and triathletes to geezers getting out there because the doctor said so. Workouts are scalable and designed to encourage progress, NP’s website states, so “if you think that you’re not fit enough to join the group, stop thinking and come see what the fuss is about.”

There are no sign-up fees and no dues. You simply check the NP website (NOVEMBER-PROJECT.COM/BOSTON ) to find out where they’re meeting (always in the morning and always on weekdays). But be warned: If you start showing up and then suddenly don’t, you will be publicly shamed on the “We Missed You” section of NP’s website, reserved for people who “decided that staying in bed was a better option than working out with your friends (who you promised that you’ll be there).” That’s what we’re dealing with here, and maybe it is a little cultish. It seems to work. #sleepwhenyourdead #justshowup #hillsforbreakfast

NP got its start in late October 2011, when former Northeastern University rowers Brogan Graham and Bojan Mandaric agreed over PBRs at the Pour House to start meeting to work out in spots around Boston to keep themselves in shape during the long winter ahead.

They kept track of their progress on a Google doc they called “November Project.”

When Graham and Mandaric put out the word on social media, people started showing up—eventually hundreds of them on any given morning. “November Project is simple,” Graham told NUHuskies.com. “It’s all about getting out of bed and showing up. That’s it. The race from your alarm clock going off to the time you walk into the swarm of early morning smiles just before the 6:30 a.m. start, that is the hardest part. If you can beat your alarm and those voices trying to coach you back into your warm bed, you’ll be all good.”

Once there, you can count on a lot of enthusiasm and conviviality as well as a beastly workout. 2011 Stanley Cup champion Andre Ference calls NP “exactly like fight club…but with hugging.”

Set the alarm.

–Robyn Griggs Lawrence sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 11

Hub Hall opens next to the TD Garden this winter.

Food Hall Crawl

It already seems like there’s a food hall on every corner, and three new ones are about to start serving up old favorites alongside cutting-edge cuisine from Boston’s favorite chefs.

Food halls—which everyone’s calling the new food truck (without the elements)—are Boston’s fastest-growing culinary trend, popping up around the city to offer counters serving old favorites and innovative cuisine from star-power chefs. The trend mirrors a nationwide embrace of food halls, which have been around since Grand Central Market opened in Los Angeles in 1917 but started having a renaissance a couple years ago. The number of food halls has tripled in the past five years and doubled since 2016 to more than 200, according to Cushman & Wakefield. Food halls have become the new favorite anchor in millennial-hungry suburban mixed-use developments.

Three more food halls are opening in Boston this winter as the takeover continues.

The Farmacy Café (previously Jubali): Serving toasts and rice bowls Pennypacker’s: The popular Somerville food truck and restaurant Daiquiris & Daisies: A cocktail bar from Daren Swisher and Joseph Cammarata of Hojoko Wheelhouse: An outpost of the popular downtown burger joint North East of the Border: The first restaurant outpost for the popular food truck

High Street Place // HIGHSTREETPLACE.COM

High Street Place, a 20,000-square-foot, five-story atrium space connecting 160 Federal Street and 100 High Street in downtown Boston, has more than 20 food stalls, 500 seats, a seasonal patio, retractable windows for open-air dining in good weather, and a projection screen for special events, which will include live music and book signings. Highly anticipated restaurants include: Tenderoni’s: A pizza and grinder place from Tiffani Faison 12 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

Cusser’s Roast Beef & Seafood

Hub Hall // HUBHALLBOSTON.COM

Hub Hall, a more than 16,000-square-foot food hall set to open at the massive Hub on Causeway development next to the TD Garden and North Station in Boston this winter, has 18 vendors. Highly anticipated restaurants include: Mike’s Pastry: An outpost of the North End standby for cannoli Sullivan’s Castle Island: An outpost of the seasonal South Boston seafood shack Cusser’s Roast Beef & Seafood: An outpost of Mooncusser Fish House in Park Square Sauce Burgers: An outpost of the North Shore favorite The Smoke Shop: A barbecue joint from World BBQ Champion Andy Husbands Apizza: A New Haven-style pizzeria from Douglass Williams

Time Out Market // TIMEOUTMARKET.COM/BOSTON

Time Out Market, a 21,500-square-foot food hall set to open at 401 Park (formerly the Landmark Center shopping plaza and before that, a Sears, Roebuck and Company warehouse) in Fenway, has 15 vendors, two bars, and a demo kitchen for cooking classes. The first Time Out Market, an extension of the city guide media company, opened in Lisbon in 2014, and they’re expanding into Miami, New York, Chicago, Montreal, Prague, and London. Highly anticipated restaurants include: Craigie Burger: An outpost of Tony Maws’s beloved Cambridge burger joint Anoush’ella: An outpost of the South End Lebanese and Armenian favorite Union Square Donuts:The fourth location for the growing brand Saltie Girl: Serving gourmet lobster rolls from Chef Kyle McClelland Tasting Counter: An outpost of Chef Peter Ungár’s wildly popular Somerville destination Gelato & Chill: A classic gelatiere from artisanal gelato master Vincent Turco

–RGL

Sauce Burgers

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 13

PARANOID?

Insurance For Your Cannabis Business Made Easy!

States’ Rights INSURANCE HR SAFETY BENEFITS

As Congress dithers over national cannabis legalization bills, states continue to take the lead.

One in four Americans—almost 80 million adults—have access to some form of lawful marijuana, but it remains federally illegal. Unless the Democrats retain the House and overturn the Senate next year, legalization is more likely to continue unfolding state by state than by federal fiat.

Several states are preparing for adult-use sales to begin in 2020 (and beyond).

Illinois has set an ambitious schedule to open stores, setting a target date of January 1 for medical dispensaries to add adult-use. On May 31, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the bill on June 25. Only medical patients will

Visit us online at NINEPOINTSTRATEGIES.com

be allowed to grow their own plants, and the law includes a provision to expunge all misdemeanor marijuana convictions.

Michigan, where medical sales began a decade ago, legalized adult use by a 55.9 percent majority with a state ballot initiative in November 2018.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer established the Marijuana Regulatory Agency, and

Call us today at

(603) 548-9217

the state is crafting regulations, finally passing emergency rules to bring medical and adult-use under the same regulatory blanket and speeding up the regulatory process by allowing licensed medical shops to add adult-use sales. The law lets individual governments decide if they want retail shops, and about 40 percent of counties, mostly in rural areas—even some that voted for adult-use in the election—have rejected them. Sales are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2020.

14 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

Vermont has allowed medical use since 2004, and in 2013 decriminalized possession of an ounce or less. It became the first state to legislate cannabis reform when Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill passed by both houses in January 2018. The legislation contained no authorization for the sale of cannabis to adults, and lawmakers and the governor haven’t reached agreement on how things will work. The latest plan is for licensing to begin in February 2021, with retail shops opening that summer. Don’t hold your breath.

Maine approved adult-use cannabis three years ago, and shops still have not opened. Former governor Paul LePage did everything in his power to thwart voters’ wishes, but current governor Janet Mills has approved a framework for getting shops open, and hopes are high that will finally happen in spring of next year. As in Michigan, however, few municipalities are allowing shops. Many Mainers might still have to continue to use the black market.

The District of Columbia voters approved adult-use with a 65 percent majority in 2014, but five years later, stores have not opened. Congressional Republicans, led by Maryland legislator Andy Harris, attached a rider that disallows the district from using its own funds to set up regulations and retail stores. That led to a semi-underground “gifting” economy where a consumer “buys” something else and is gifted cannabis in return. Mayor Muriel Bowser has proposed the Safe Cannabis Sales Act of 2019, which would allow for retail stores and provide equity requirements for those hit hardest by the drug war.

Which states will legalize next?

Look for Arizona, where an initiative to legalize lost by two percentage points in 2016, to try again. New York and New Jersey were also on track to legalize but got hung up on legislative details. There’s plenty of voter support in both states, so expect action there.

Petitions are circulating in Mississippi, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Florida to reach the 2020 ballot. Mississippi would be the first deep-South state to legalize. Advocates in Oklahoma, where medical cannabis was legalized last year, are pushing for full legalization. The emergence of adult-use markets in Illinois and Michigan and medical sales in Missouri means the Midwest is no longer immune to legalization.

–Leland Rucker

Dank News

A Maryland court of appeals recently ruled that police searches of vehicles

because they smelled like cannabis were no longer appropriate and that odor does not grant officers probable cause to conduct a search. In Pennsylvania, where medical marijuana is legal, a court said the same thing. A Bronx judge went even further and said police reports on marijuana smell happen too often to be credible. “The time has come to reject the canard of marijuana emanating from nearly every vehicle subject to a traffic stop,” the judge wrote.

Expect more cases like this around the country.

–LR

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 15

CAN YOUR DISPENSARY

CRM

DO THIS?

A Cannabis County Fair FULL COLOR

TEXTING WITH MMS

Growers and makers strut their stuff at the third annual Harvest Cup.

Join thousands of fellow cannabis enthusiasts at the Harvest Cup, New England’s premiere cannabis competition and trade show, on November 9 and 10 at the DCU Center in Worcester. Growers, breeders, and extraction artists will put their best stuff on the line at the third annual Cup,

Sprout puts the power of customer outreach in your hands.

And for a limited time...

Get a FREE iPad to Use as Your Digital Kiosk with Sprout!

Text Marketing Made Easy Via MMS and SMS Via Mobile Coupons Via Mobile Surveys

AQUIRE. RETAIN. GROW. Call 1.888.411.1699 or text ‘sprout’ to 411669 www.sprout.online 16 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

two full days of workshops, presentations, and networking events.

“New England is now green with all states supplying medical marijuana to patients and THREE with legal cannabis,” the Harvest Cup’s website states. “It’s time to show other regions that our growers and producers know a thing or two about cannabis.”

THEHARVESTCUP.ORG

Time to Write That Pile of Garbage

It’s National Novel Writing Month. Send your inner editor packing.

Writers, open your laptops. NaNoWriMo has begun.

Since 1999, this annual writeathon has caused caffeinated writers across the globe (who call themselves Wrimos) to spend the last week of November scrambling to complete the novel they started on November 1—for the sheer satisfaction and a digital diploma—even though they know the novel is a pile of garbage. NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, and the organization’s tagline is “the world needs your novel.” The Urban Dictionary defines it as “an especially sad disease, causing its victims to suddenly believe they can write a 50,000-word novel in a month.”

NaNoWriMo began as a challenge between 21 friends in the San Francisco area and has grown to include chapters in cities around the world.

Boston’s chapter (NANOBOSTON.ORG ) is, not surprisingly, quite active, “encouraging Boston-area Wrimos to “have fun and write their fingers off” with parties, pep-talk emails, and forums to keep you motivated. NaNoBoston holds write-ins with cheering when you make your word-count goal, which is recorded on a Goal Board, and has a mascot, Scrivener Q. Bunny, who goes by they/them pronouns and wears rainbow pajamas.

There are nearly 800,000 active Wrimos, and nearly 370,000 novels have been completed as a result of the program. Though most people tackle novels, the rules have become a little more fluid over the years, and some Wrimos—who are referred to as rebels—are taking on memoirs and nonfiction as well.

“November is the perfect time to practice turning off your inner editor (that annoying voice that questions every word you write while you’re still writing) and let your instincts run the show for a bit,” 13-year Wrimo Naomi Nakashima writes on NaNoWriMo’s blog. “See what comes from that amazing mind of yours.”

–RGL INSTAGRAM: #BOSTONNANO

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 17

Follow @pnrstrategies and @infuzedproductions on Instagram and Facebook for more details and event news!

www.pnrstrategies.com

18 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

The Canna Mom Show with Joyce Gerber

Great cannabis stories told by real cannabis moms Listen on

'S ON T S Y BO ONL HOP S W O GR

Boston Gardener is Bostons first and only full service indoor and outdoor garden center. We have everything the cannabis grower needs, including seeds!

(617)606-7065

2131 Washington Street Boston 02119 www.boston-gardener.com sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 19

{highprofile }

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

Women Grow CEO Dr. Chanda Macias and designer Korto Momolu

PROJECT WOMEN GROW Project Runway favorite Korto Momolu partners with Women Grow to create a conversation-starting ready-to-wear collection made from hemp and other sustainable fabrics.

a ready-to-wear collection spotlighting the natural intersection of fashion and cannabis, two of the world’s most cutting-edge industries. The size-inclusive collection features 26 high-fashion and athleisure looks made from sustainable materials such as hemp, linen, jute, and cork. Women Grow logos and cannabis leaves weave their way into a

Earlier this year, Women Grow, a na-

the models could walk them down the

few pieces, and a couple models vaped

tional organization for female leaders in

runway during the organization’s annu-

as they walked the runway.

the cannabis industry, partnered with

al conference in Washington, DC.

Momolu, who was born in Monrovia,

celebrated designer and Project Runway

In September, Momolu and Women

Liberia, was the first runner-up on the

fan favorite Korto Momolu to introduce

Grow took to the global stage during

fifth season of Project Runway and was

a capsule collection of branded tops and

New York Fashion Week, with a run-

on Project Runway Allstars. She’s known

leggings. The collection sold out before

way show at Pier 59 Studios debuting

for her bold colors and diverse cre-

20 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

ations inspired by her African roots and

At first, we weren’t sure if we were

wanted to say, ‘This is what cannabis

her life’s path. Momolu moved to Cana-

going to have our models vape [on

looks like, what Women Grow looks

da in 1990 when Liberia erupted in civil

the runway]. I wanted to do it. I fig-

like, and what Korto Momolu looks

war and then to Little Rock, Arkansas,

ure, if we’re going to talk about it,

like,’ all mixed up in there.

with her husband after she graduated

let’s just do it. I use it. [Cannabis is]

from design school. We caught up with

something that’s working for me

her just after the New York show.

medically. It’s helping me, I’m not

What did you enjoy most about creating this collection?

ashamed of it, and that’s the whole

The idea of creating something

point: This is what it looks like. This is

different in every aspect, incorpo-

what a vape is.

rating different fabrics—especial-

What do you want people to know about this collection?

It is made to kind of start the con-

Out of the gate, [models vaping]

ly sustainable ones like hemp, jute,

versation—and I’m thankful we

gave that show an energy that I

linen, and cork. Things I’d never used

were able to really start it.

can feel when I watch the video. We

in fashion. I had to figure out how to use those and still make the clothes luxurious, rich, flowy, elegant.

Along the way, there were challenges. I didn’t realize hemp was so hard to get hold of. I had to get it from Thailand. Maybe I need to investigate how to get more hemp here for designers. It’s a beautiful fabric.

It was also a joy to make clothes for different women of different body types, but that was something that was part of the formula. The public sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 21

responded to that and appreciated

I’d feel like I was dying if I had to do

that. The models appreciated it. I’ve

that. You’ll see things a little differ-

never had models reach out to me

ent—things you wouldn’t expect to

after a show, and so many of them

be put together.

did this time, saying, “Thank you for including me. They saw me tonight.

They saw me.”

How did your partnership with Women Grow come about?

Women Grow and I have a mutu-

Do you have a favorite piece?

al production company that we’ve

Always my openers and closers

worked with in the past. When the

are my favorites. I love the piec-

conversation began about actually

es made of burlap. A lot of people

starting a clothing line, it was almost

looked at that fabric and said, ‘That’s

like it was fate. They knew me, and I

a potato sack.’ I love the pieces where

knew them.

I was able to transform things we

Once we connected, it was an easy

look at as being ugly or harsh or just

transition into doing the initial line for

not beautiful.

their summit in DC in June. Women

Will there be more collections with the cannabis industry?

Women Grow and I, we’re stuck together now. I think we’ve started something here that definitely was needed. When we did the initial collection in June, it was clear when everything was sold out before we even had the fashion show.

It’s saying that people [in cannabis] can have something to wear to represent their industry that is fashionable instead of just a generic polo shirt with an emblem on it—a conversation piece.

Being an immigrant is an important part of your story.

Can you talk about that?

Everything I do is related to my

Grow CEO Chanda Macias reached

life story. My pieces are never even;

out to me and explained her vision,

they’re asymmetrical. I tell my story

and I got it. It’s all about inclusion and

My refugee life actually started in

through my clothes. So, if something

changing the conversation. I went

Canada. We came there with noth-

looks a certain way, there’s a reason

into it head first, and it was a suc-

ing. My brother was born in the US,

for it. I just never have straight, even

cess. They loved it. The conversation

so he was a citizen. In the middle of

lines or simple block colors—never.

got started, and here we are.

the war in Liberia, my mom went to

22 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

the US Embassy to see if the US would take him and her. They said they would take him—a four-year-old—but they couldn’t take my mom. So, that’s been happening forever—that was in 1990—and it’s still happening now. For those who don’t understand immigrants and immigration, we’re people who would love to be in our own countries. I had an amazing life in Liberia. I went to school with the president’s kids and lived in a huge house with servants. We lost all of that. It was hard to see my parents suffer, having to take hand-me-downs. A complete stranger at our church who saw something in me paid for me to go to design school—that’s the only way I could go. This is a story all immigrants need to tell. We’re not a threat. If we had a choice, we would be where we’re from, living great lives. We just want a chance at life—that’s it. We want to work for everything we have.

I got told ‘no’ so many times. I had to create a whole different path for myself. You have the ability to create your own destiny and follow the voices in your head. Society’s out there telling you you have to do A, B, C, and E, but you have to get up every day and make your story your story. I was going to post a quote on Instagram today: “Nobody cares. Get up and keep working.” Seriously, no one cares. You gotta get up, and you gotta do it. Complaining is just going to make it worse. Every day I wake up to a new challenge, face it, conquer it, and keep moving. I’m still standing, no matter how many noes I got. sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 23

kljl https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theculturetrip.com%2F840x440%2Fsmart%2Ffilters%3Abackground_color(transparent)%2F%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F07%2Fflag_of_portugal-svg_-e1500563180485.png&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Ftheculturetrip.com%2Feurope%2Fportugal%2Farticles%2F8-cool-facts-about-the-portuguese-flag%2F&docid=3jv1Baf7Mdm8HM&tbnid=oEhvY7c4xPu96M%3A&vet=10ahUKEwiFi8G48qLdAhVJGt8KHYMgDzAQMwiaAigAMAA..i&w=840&h=440&client=safari&bih=1088&biw=1920&q=portuguese%20flag&ved=0ahUKEwiFi8G48qLdAhVJGt8KHYMgDzAQMwiaAigAMAA&iact=mrc&uact=8

PRO GARDEN SOLUTIONS

TRIM MACHINE SALES & RENTALS NEW ENGLAND’S FIRST AUTHORIZED CENTURION RENTER

NATIONAL BUDTENDER DISTRIBUTOR

CONTACT US FOR CONSULTATIONS 401-648-8668

PROGARDENSOLUTIONS.COM

@PROGARDENSOLUTIONS

24 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

School of the Mysterious Knowledge Carried by the Wind

Myofu An Bujutsu Dojo The Soul of the Samurai Introduction to the Katana Warrior Arts

CLASSES NOW FORMING

*CLASSES INCLUDE TRAINING SWORD

  � �

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 25

{lifestyle }

by C A I T L I N M OA K L E Y

HERBS FOR HEALTH

Keep winter colds at bay with elixirs, syrups, and ciders made from our botanical and fungal allies in New England.

26 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

Growing up in South Boston, greenspace and nature

your immune system to put up a fight with anything that

were hard to come by. The closest I could get to the great

tries to make its way into your body. This blend is partic-

outdoors was walking through lots overgrown with patch-

ularly helpful if you can’t stomach mushrooms but could

es of crabgrass and purslane growing through sidewalk

use a quick hit of immune-modulating goodness. Getting

cracks. I passed by these so-called nuisances every day

and staying healthy—what a trip!

and never thought twice about these plants.

These days, I can’t get through a single stroll without identifying a medicinal plant or mushroom. Medicine is all around us; we just have to know where to look. With cold season creeping in, we can look to our botanical and fungal allies for an extra boost to the immune system. Fortunately, living in New England means we have a plethora of herbalists and makers ready to serve up elixirs, syrups, and ciders that will get us seriously prepped for wintertime.

Not excited about taking a pill or capsule? Concoct a cocktail any time of day, spice up your favorite meal, or take a big swig of something spicy instead.

URBAN MOONSHINE IMMUNE TONIC

Made in Burlington, VT // $19 // @URBANMOONSHINE

Make way for medicinal mushrooms this season. You can dose yourself two to five times a day with Urban Moonshine’s Immune Tonic. Red reishi mushrooms stimulate

WHOLE HARMONY ELDERBERRY SYRUP

Made in Centerbrook, CT // $25 // @WHOLEHARMONY4U

This gooey, delicious blend of elderberry, honey, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves will flood your senses with a sweet, warming virus invader. When I take a spoonful of Whole Harmony’s elderberry syrup, I can practically feel the protective layer of this syrup swirling around my cells. If you don’t like chugging straight-up syrup, you can drizzle it on pancakes, ice cream, oatmeal, your favorite fruit, anything you’d like. If you’re anything like me, you may find yourself taking an extra serving because you just can’t get enough.

FOSTER FARM BOTANICALS TULSI EXTRACT

Made in East Calais, VT // $18 // @FOSTERFARMBOTANICALS

My immune system is not as strong when I’m not getting enough sleep, I’m stressed out, or I’m not taking enough time for myself. Tulsi has been an ally for me. When I’m feeling super stressed out, I take a quick dropper full of Foster Farm Botanicals’ Tulsi Extract, and boom! A quick burn in the mouth, and this herbal alcohol extract makes

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 27

Wellness Made Simple Hemp-Derived CBD for pain, inflammation and stress

7

Herbs for Immunity

To boost your immune system, look for supplements and other products with these herbs and use liberally when cooking.

Eldeberries Echinacea Astragalus Andrographis Ginger Oregano Thyme

me forget why I was stressed in the first place. When I’m not feeling the extract, I make tea using Foster Farms’ dried tulsi and sip it all day long. Tulsi makes me calm, cool, collected, and super chill—to the point where people ask to have

It's easier than ever to feel better www.LoftyCBD.com info@loftycbd.com 28 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

whatever I’m having.

AVENA BOTANICALS IMMUNE BROTH

Made in Rockport, ME // $37 // @AVENA_BOTANICALS

Herbalist Deb Soule has found a funky way to get medicinal herbs and mushrooms into your wellness routine: brew up a broth and freeze it in an ice cube

tray until you’re ready to use it. If you don’t want to take a tincture or pop a capsule or don’t want the sugar that comes with a syrup, this broth could be your answer. You can season the broth however you like as the cubes melt into your mug. Sip or spoon, this is a product that can fit anyone’s wellness remedy style.

HERBAL REVOLUTION FIRE TONIC

Made in Union, ME // $15 // @HERBALREVOLUTION

Katheryn Langelier, one of the badass women behind Free Fire Cider, puts her own spin on a decades-old DIY recipe with Herbal Revolution’s Fire Tonic, a surefire way to blast out the bad stuff while reaping the goodness of plants like ginger, horseradish, turmeric, burdock, and dandelion. I enjoy this as a shot and mixed with olive oil as a salad dressing. I also enjoy watching people’s faces as they take their first sips of fire cider. Break out the cameras; you’ll want to document this.

ARIEL’S HONEY INFUSIONS IMMUNE BUZZER HONEY

Waitsfield, VT // $10 // @ARIELS_HONEY_INFUSIONS

My favorite food is garlic. I’m always trying to find new ways to enjoy it. Ariel’s Honey Infusions changed the garlic game for me. After I tried a small sample of this honey at a local health food store, I immediately bought a jar so I could shamelessly eat a whole spoonful. This honey is the perfect treat for immune system-boosting season: local honey, garlic, ginger, and lemon combine for the ultimate garlic lover’s experience. Bonus: a spoonful gives you a great excuse not to get wrapped up in a conversation when you’re not really feeling it. Garlic is not just for keeping the vampires away.

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 29

When you look great you feel great.

KRISTEN SALON Come visit us at 21 Vinal Square North Chelmsford, MA. Call or book appointments on line.

KristenSalon.com • 978-251-7767

30 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

HIPPY CHICK NATURAL SOLUTIONS HOLISTIC / CBD PRODUCTS

RETAIL

WHOLESALE hippychickns

DISTRIBUTION

Hippy Chick Natural Solutions

www.hippychickllc.com 207-343-0636

Y N O M E R E AWA R D C FEATURED AT S ' N N A C S S MA L 3 0 T H A N N UA M O D E E R F B O S TO N R A L LY T 2019 S 1 2 R E B M E T P SE

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 31

{newsfeed }

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

TRUTH TO EQUITY With Boston as its epicenter, Real Action for Cannabis Equity (RACE) aims to school policymakers across the nation about what economic empowerment really means.

The war on drugs decimated communities and marginalized people of color. With cannabis legalization, Massachusetts has an opportunity—in fact a mandate, written into the law—to start making up for all that’s been lost. Green Soul Foundation President Richard Harding and the people he grew up with in Cambridge don’t see that happening.

the same good fight—to give economic empowerment

The ballot initiative that Massachusetts voters passed

groups a real chance to make breakthroughs in the can-

to legalize adult use of cannabis in 2016 included man-

nabis industry. “We realized, traveling across the country

dates intended to promote equity for communities and

and talking to people across the nation, that the cannabis

people of color disproportionately prosecuted, criminal-

business is a very elite and privileged club of oftentimes

ized, and incarcerated during prohibition, but the program

white businessmen taking advantage of the legality of

implemented by the state has struggled to achieve its

cannabis,” Harding says.

goals. A mere 1 percent of all cannabis dispensary licenses in the state (2 of 184) have gone to minorities.

After a transcontinental conference call, they decided to formalize their intentions with Real Action for Canna-

“This cannabis business is not only very unfriendly to

bis Equity (RACE)—the nation’s first trade association for

people like us, but it’s not a diverse environment,” says

entrepreneurs, communities, and workers of color—and

Harding, whose nonprofit aims to rectify disparities in dis-

make Boston its epicenter. “From the city level to the state

advantaged communities in the cannabis business.

level to the federal level,” Harding says, “if we’re going to

In talking with friends in legal states across the country, Harding and his friends realized everyone is fighting 32 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

be making policy that espouses the values of equity, we’re going to make sure they understand what true equity is.”

“RACE HOPES TO MOBILIZE AND SHOW UP TO STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE FIGHT FOR EQUITABLE CANNABIS, WHEREVER IT IS.” —Richard Harding, Green Soul Foundation

RACE founders held a press conference to announce the

for attacks against racial equity in the cannabis industry.

coalition and its intentions at the Massachusetts State House,

Giving Cambridge’s five medical marijuana dispensaries

followed the next day by a silent protest in front of Cambridge

the right to automatically roll over and become adult-re-

City Hall. Both events were held at 3:30 p.m.—because black

tail stores would have effectively given 60 percent of the

people in Massachusetts were 3.3 times more likely than

city’s licenses to existing businesses, which would also

white people to be arrested for cannabis possession in 2014,

have first-mover advantage on the market, Harding says.

even though usage rates were similar, according to the Amer-

RACE backed a rule to ban the medical marijuana dis-

ican Civil Liberties Union. RACE also launched a voter outreach

pensaries from moving over to adult use and give priority

campaign that includes direct mail to Cambridge “super vot-

to those from historically marginalized groups, which was

ers” (civic-minded frequent voters) and paid ads on traditional

passed by the Cambridge City Council in late September.

and digital media platforms.

“In Cambridge, we think we’re the greatest thing since sliced

“Statewide, the voters have clearly called for legaliza-

bread with our progressive values,” Harding says. “We just

tion to be carried forth in a manner that promotes equity,

think we’re the shit. So, this was a true test of our progressive

but on the municipal level, from Brockton to Cambridge to

values around cannabis. Cambridge was the ignition because

Western Massachusetts, equity is being sabotaged,” said

we were so intimately involved here, we grew up and went to

Harding, who played a key role in getting the legalization

high school here. We just couldn’t believe the city was on the

ballot passed, during the press conference. “We’re taking

verge of creating a very inequitable policy around cannabis.

action to raise awareness and to protect the prospects for

“RACE hopes to mobilize and show up to stand with our

equitable opportunity and local business owners in an in-

brothers and sisters in the fight for equitable cannabis,

dustry where market share is being quickly devoured by

wherever it is. What we advocate for in Cambridge may

out-of-state, well-heeled investors who do not necessar-

be very different from what we advocate for in Denver or

ily care about our communities.”

Oakland or New York City.”

It’s a seminal moment in the cannabis industry

MOBILIZING IN THE FIGHT FOR EQUITABLE CANNABIS

across the nation, Harding says, and policies need to be

Cambridge, where RACE organizers say existing medical

fast,” he says. “Once you set a bad precedent at the begin-

marijuana dispensaries were monopolizing local process-

ning, you’ll never be able to reverse the residual effect of

es for obtaining adult-use retail licenses, was ground zero

those policies.” RACECAMBRIDGE.ORG

shaped correctly from the beginning. “Cannabis moves

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 33

34 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

CANCER HIV+ & AIDS

Obtaining a medical marijuana card still makes sense

GLAUCOMA ALS

PARKINSON’S DISEASE

CROHN’S HEPATITIS C

Expert medical care and counseling so you can achieve maximum wellness.

With a medical card you get your medicine tax free and receive several discounts, as opposed to recreational sales which have a 20% tax and no discounts. Plus you may be exempt from any future taxes if you continuously maintain your patient registration.

Registration is safe and 100% confidential at The Holistic Center.

All of THC’s personnel are HIPAA certified to protect your privacy. As one of the very first medical offices to issue cards in Massachusetts, we are at the forefront of providing you the most complete care. Our office specializes in internal, geriatric, family medicine and women’s issues related to medical marijuana treatment, as well as acupuncture. We’re here to help you feel better.

HOME VISITS FOR HOME BOUND PATIENTS AVAILABLE

320 Washington St., Suite 300, Brighton Center 233 Needham St., Newton 617.787.7400 office@THCevaluation.com www.THCevaluation.com Brighton Location Open Evenings Until 7pm on Mon., Tues., Thurs, & Sat.

HAITIAN & SPANISH SPOKEN

508.718.8842 FOR MORE INFO

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 35

VAPE BREAK

Vape products can no longer be sold in Massachusetts. So, now what?

by L A U R I E R I I H I M A K I A N D L E L A N D R U C K E R

36 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

PHOTO CREDIT

S P ECIA L R EPORT

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 37

Your one stop headshop for all ART, GLASS, CBD, PIPES, VAPORIZERS, PACKAGING SOLUTIONS, and MORE!

244 Brighton Ave., Boston, MA 02134 (617) 202-5492

38 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

@GoodGlassGallery

In late September, MASSACHUSETTS GOV. CHARLIE BAKER ANNOUNCED A FOUR-MONTH STATEWIDE BAN ON ALL VAPE PRODUCT SALES IN THE TOBACCO AND CANNABIS MARKETS IN

RESPONSE TO THE MYSTERIOUS ILLNESS THAT HAS AFFECTED HUNDREDS OF VAPERS NATIONALLY. ONLINE SHOPPING IS ALSO OFF-LIMITS AS SITES ARE COMPLYING WITH THE BOYCOTT AND REFUSING TO SHIP TO MASSACHUSETTS ADDRESSES.

Sixty-one new cases of the illness—with symptoms

after purchase. There is no information about the users,

including shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, fatigue,

their lung health, or what other factors could be involved.

and possible fever—had been reported in Massachusetts

Most victims admitted to hospitals have trended young-

when Baker announced the crackdown on September

er, but so far no causality has been established.

24. As the numbers continue to rise, government offi-

Chemicals and additives used in bootleg cartridges,

cials plan to use the four-month period to research vap-

when combusted, could be causing the condition, accord-

ing’s health risks.

ing to early reports. Evidence is leading to the possible ad-

Some of the people affected by this illness are young teens. In Massachusetts, one in five teens has tried or reg-

dition of Vitamin E, a substance used in many health products and lotions, which can be dangerous when inhaled.

ularly smokes e-cigarettes, which are marketed and sold in nearly 8,000 flavors, making them easier to use and more appealing to youths, according to Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. Flavored vaping products, including mint and menthol, are included in the ban.

Danielle Radin, creator of Vape Escape, a product used to help cure vape addiction, predicts people will turn to the black market because “the nicotine craving will not go away just because vaping is banned.”

VAPE CRAZE

Baker is fielding legal threats from snubbed vape distributors. “I totally get that there’s disruption associated with this,” he told reporters when he announced the ban, “but compared to the rising number of people who are perfectly healthy but have this terrible debilitating injury to their lungs, who are in fact on the verge of dying, it seemed like the right choice, and I stand by it.”

NATIONALLY, NO ANSWERS The recent health incidents, including hundreds of hospitalizations and more than 25 deaths, have unquestionably been linked to vaporized products, and most, but not all cases, have been reported in states where adult-use cannabis is illegal. Many seem to be tied to bootleg THC cartridges, which can be perfect knock-offs of legitimate ones and are sold on the black market, but a recent case in Oregon appears linked to a legitimate cartridge bought in a store.

Scientists are busy tracking down the cause. But what’s lacking in most early reports is any nuance: what the car-

Vaping has become one of the most popular methods of inhaling cannabis as well as nicotine.

The battery-operated devices that heat cannabis (and tobacco) oil and deliver it in the form of vapor are popular because they’re sleek and stylish (recent models look like zip drives) and easy to conceal in purses and pockets. Because they create vapor rather than smoke, vaporizers can be used discreetly.

Vaporizers work by turning oil into vapor, much like steam from boiling water. All you need is a heating unit called an atomizer, a cartridge filled with liquid, and a rechargeable battery to operate it.

Though there’s historical evidence the ancient Egyptians inhaled vaporous fumes extracted from plants, the first e-cigarette was introduced in 1927. In 1963, Herbert Gilbert came up with the “smokeless non-tobacco cigarette,” and the modern e-cigarette was introduced in the US in 2007.

tridges actually contained, whether they were bought legally, and whether they might have been tampered with sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 39

301 Newbury Street Boston • (617)421-9944 /// 36 JFK Street Cambridge • (617)868-HEMP 2 Conz Street Northampton • 413-585-9707 /// Hempest.com

Largest selection of Hemp Gear and CBD oil in the World Receive 20% off entire purchase with a copy of this ad 40 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

VAPE ALTERNATIVES

Discreet and smokeless ways to ingest cannabinoids without your pen.

BEVERAGES

Cannabis-infused soda, beer, coffee, tea, and other beverages made with water-soluble cannabinoids are available with varying amounts of THC and CBD. They take effect in about 15 minutes.

EDIBLES

POWDERS

Nano-technology has made it possible for cannabinoids and water to mix, and that’s a game changer. Simply dissolve a packet of THC or CBD powder into any beverage or stir into any recipe for effects in about 20 minutes.

SUBLINGUALS

Food made with cannabis concentrate is absorbed into the bloodstream via the digestive system. (Chocolate and gummies are most popular, but anything can be infused.) Effects can be stronger and delayed, taking up to two hours to kick in.

Dissolvable strips, sprays, lozenges, gum, and tinctures are absorbed into your mouth’s many mucous membranes. They take effect faster than edibles but not as immediately as smoking or vaping.

PILLS

Creams, balms, and skin patches penetrate the skin with cannabinoids to reduce localized pain and inflammation without psychoactive effects. They take effect within two hours of application, sometimes immediately.

Capsules filled with cannabis concentrate oil go through the digestive system and can take 45 minutes to two hours to kick in.

Expect much more regulation of cartridges as this plays out. The main thing for consumers is simply to exercise common sense.

TOPICALS

potential of lipoid pneumonia, a rare condition that occurs when fat particles enter the lungs.

The CDC is working with the Food and Drug Administration and individual states to find out whether the illnesses are linked to specific devices, ingredients, or contaminants. At least part of the confusion is because vaping cartridges are poorly regulated by federal and state governments.

Though many doctors have recommended vaping as a healthier alternative to smoking, others have been wary

Dr. Phillip Lamberty of the University of Pittsburgh

of the unregulated devices. “I have advised against the

Medical Center, who has cared for three such patients,

vape carts for my patients for a long time exactly out

told The Washington Post that adulterated or contam-

of suspicion of basically what just happened,” Dr. Ryan

inated products were likely suspects because vapor

Zaklin, a doctor in Salem, told Reuters. “Who the hell

products have been out there for some time, and the ill-

knows what they’re putting in them?”

ness didn’t surface until recently.

Expect much more regulation of cartridges in the fu-

The outbreak has prompted the Centers for Disease

ture as this plays out. The main thing for consumers,

Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a warning that

however, is simply to exercise common sense. Never buy

people avoid using vaporizers until we learn more. In

cartridges off the street, no matter how attractive the

early September, the CDC said its initial findings pointed

price. And if you’re doubtful about any product, follow

to similarities among those affected and warned of the

your instincts and don’t buy it sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 41

ing 42 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

le,

NOT SORRY More and more people are choosing uncoupled adulthood.

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

My first newspaper job was on the night desk OF A DAILY. WEEKENDS

OFF WERE THE ONLY TIME TO HAVE ANY SORT OF NORMAL LIFE WITH NINE-TO-FIVERS (MOST OF THE WORLD), AND THEY WERE AWARDED BASED STRICTLY ON SENIORITY. When my time finally came to trade in Wednesday and

boomers are driving the numbers with divorce rates that

Thursday for Saturday and Sunday, my boss said not so

have nearly doubled (and involve unprecedented num-

fast. Steve, who had started several months after me,

bers of second and third marriages) from 1990 to 2015,

had a wife. Steve needed weekends off more than I did.

the Pew Research Center reports.

“You understand,” my boss said.

Determined not to make their parents’ mistakes, more

I was furious, but it was the ’80s. I gave Steve the week-

and more millennials are skipping the whole wedding

ends because that’s what you did (and my boss hadn’t re-

thing. The number of unmarried 18-to-29-year-olds has

ally given me a choice). Over the next couple years, I would

grown from 40 percent in 1960 to 80 percent today, and

leave the newspaper business and marry the first of two

the Pew Research Center predicts a quarter of today’s

wrong-for-me husbands, beginning decades of couple-

young adults will be single when they turn 50. More than

dom that ended recently. I’m single in the age of Tinder,

half—51 percent—of 18-to-34-year-olds reported not hav-

and this is a whole new world. Singledom today is noth-

ing a steady romantic partner last year, a record high for

ing like it was when I was a twentysomething copy editor

the annual University of Chicago survey.

looking for love (in all the wrong places, as it turns out).

Getting married isn’t the great big life goal it was 25 years

It’s no longer weird to be single. Lots of people have

ago, when I was among the last of my high school friends

made it their choice. And if you give weekends off to

to walk down the aisle at 27. More than half—55 percent—

the married guy, you’ll likely be called out as a singlist,

of participants in a 2017 Census Bureau report said getting

which some people consider just as bad as being a sexist

married wasn’t an important criterion for becoming an

or a racist. Singles are demanding respect—and getting

adult. Instead, 95 percent said formal schooling and full-

it—because they’ve (oh, sorry, we’ve) become a powerful

time employment were key. Half of young millennials told

force, in numbers as well as influence.

Tinder they were worried about being in a long-term re-

As Americans live longer, marry later (or not at all), and

lationship because they didn’t want to lose their indepen-

divorce more, singles have increased from 29 percent of

dence. A Bustle survey found that 60 percent of people who

the adult population in 1970 to 48 percent today. Baby

were single and not dating were prioritizing self-care. sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 43

NEED PROCESSING? High Risk Processing and Banking

Credit Card Processing

Debit Card Processing

Banking

Latest Compliant Solutions

Consultative Approach

Lowest Prices

(855) 971-1625

www.greenlinkmerchants.com sales@greenlinkmerchants.com

44 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

In an opinion piece for Inter Press Service, demographer Joseph Chamie, former director of the United Nations Population Division, calls this trend “a significant global demographic change having far-reaching consequences yet receiving scant attention.” He predicts single-person households will continue to grow exponentially throughout the world, increasing global demand for housing, transportation, natural resources, and energy.

“People across the world are bucking the stigma of living alone and embracing independent lifestyles,” Euromonitor International’s “Top 10 Global Consumer Trends 2019” reports. Sociologist Eric Klinenberg told the Christian Sci-

ence Monitor the shift is “the greatest social change of the last 60 years that we haven’t already named and identified.”

In “Make Way for the Single Age,” J Walter Thompson calls it “a paradigm shift in adulthood uncoupled … a natural evolution alongside job hopping, coliving, sexual openness, digital connection, and a nomadic workforce.”

“I MADE THESE CHOICES” Singledom is a choice that 44-year-old Brian Gross, who has owned BSG PR since 2001, made deliberately. A serial monogamist for many years, he nearly got married once

Alone AROUND THE WORLD

In Canada, where 28 percent of people live alone, one-person households are now the most common. Living alone has grown fastest among 35- to 64-year-olds.

In South Korea, unmarried women between 30 and 34 have jumped from 1.4 percent of the population in 1970 to 30 percent today. Young Koreans are called the “sampo” (“giving up on three”) generation because they’re not interested in dating, marriage, and children.

In Japan, 70 percent of single people in their 40s and older say they’ll never marry and are prepared to grow old alone. Single women proudly call themselves “wagamama,” which means “self-determining.”

and thought better of it. Now he relishes singlehood. He can make his clients his priority, answering to them 24/7.

He travels to wherever he wants, whenever he wants, and meets new people along the way. He feeds himself when

his book, Happy Singlehood: The Rising Acceptance and

he’s hungry and works out at his whim. “I think what

Celebration of Solo Living, “yet we still live in a society

comes in time,” he says, “is your own strength and ability

where singles, especially in advanced adulthood, are

to say with confidence, ‘Hey, I made this life decision. I’m

urged to couple up or otherwise face prejudice.”

the one who lives with it. I made these choices.’”

The US Federal Code states the president can prohibit

Singledom has its advantages, as a viral Reddit thread

discrimination based on marital status, but there are more

asking what people loved most about it recently laid

than 1,000 laws giving married couples legal and financial

out, everything from not getting dragged to lame fam-

incentives and benefits. Singles make an average of $8,000

ily events to not having to laugh at unfunny Facebook

less per year and pay more for everything from housing,

memes. And with social media, no one ever feels lonely.

healthcare, and mortgages to cell phone plans, insurance,

Gross sets his Tinder radar to wherever he’s traveling to

and taxes. Unmarried women get hit on more in the work-

before he goes and has friends waiting in new places.

place, according to a Suffolk University study, and single

Sociologist Ekyakim Kislev says marriage isn’t for him because he likes his freedom and seeks other ways

workers are still being asked to stay late and cover weekends and holidays more often than married ones.

of interacting with significant others. “There are many

The stigma is real, Kislev says. “My research showed

ways to do things,” Kislev says, “and we need to accept,

me that it is critical for singles to replace falsely internal-

even celebrate, the whole spectrum.”

ized negative images of singlehood with positive ones.”

But Kislev has found most people to be pretty closed-minded about marital status. Singles have heavier workloads and earn less money, he says, and have a harder time renting apartments because they’re con-

“THE MOST EXCITING, CHALLENGING, AND SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP OF ALL”

sidered less reliable and stable. “We are open to various

Single people exercise more, sleep better, are more

sexual identities, we celebrate different ethnicities, and

open-minded and deeply engaged in social and civil

we tolerate a wide array of political views,” he writes in

life, and have a much broader definition of “family” than sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 45

TING

(Purple Tangie X Orange Creamsicle)

- Flower time: 56 days - Flavor proďŹ le: "Ting" Jamaican grapefruit drink - Great for concentrates!

MTG SEEDS EAST COAST (774) 462-2507

46 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

@MTGSeedsEastCoast www.mtgseeds.com

married people. They’re more generous with their time,

Paul Dolan, who wrote Happily Ever After: Escaping

money, and caregiving, according to numerous studies,

the Myths of the Perfect Life, told The Guardian that

and are happy and satisfied with their lives. They take

married people only present as happier than singles

music and art classes, dine out more often, and keep Lu-

when interviews are conducted with spouses in the

lulemon in business.

room. “When the spouse is not present: fucking misera-

In a three-year study of 79,000 US women aged 50 to 79, women who stayed single or got divorced ate healthier,

ble,” he says. Women who never married or had children are the healthiest and happiest, Dolan found.

exercised more, and drank less than married women. Sev-

We ladies are getting it. The number of married Ameri-

eral studies have found that single people pay more atten-

can women dropped below 50 percent for the first time in

tion to relationships with friends, neighbors, siblings, and

2009, and it has continued to drop as a new feminist wave

parents, while married couples are more insular.

challenges traditional roles and sexuality. We don’t need

“There is a huge misconception that being alone and

marriage for money, social status, sex, or babies anymore.

lonely are the same,” Kislev says. “Married people can

Over the life of Sex and the City, the early twenty-first

sometimes still feel lonely even if they are not ‘alone.’ It

century series that Harper’s Bazaar said changed our

was proven time and again in many studies that married

view of single life forever, Carrie Bradshaw goes from

people can be very lonely and emotionally deprived with-

thinking that being alone was the modern-day equiva-

in their wedlock.” In Happy Singlehood, Kislev explains:

lent of being a leper to thinking it meant “you’re pretty

“Instead of facing loneliness at its roots, many people

sexy and you’re taking your time deciding how you want

chase partnership only to discover that loneliness is a

your life to be and who you want to spend it with.”

standalone problem, the cure for which lies mainly within oneself, as researchers have repeatedly argued.”

With its focus on Carrie and her friends’ romantic exploits and weddings for all in the end, Sex and the City

In a popular TED Talk, women’s rights activist and

was hardly a poster child for modern singledom. But

What a Time to Be Alone author Chidera Eggerue agrees,

Carrie did figure out something about relationships to-

saying people often use relationships as a distraction

ward the series’ end that bears repeating. “There are

from themselves. “We use other people as a tool to run

those that open you up to something new and exotic,

away from the responsibility of getting to know who we

those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of

really are,” she says.

questions, those that bring you back,” she says. “But the most exciting, challenging, and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself.”

ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE is the author of the bestselling Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook and Pot in Pans: A History of Eating Cannabis.

1oftopeople 3%

are asexual, meaning they do not experience sexual attraction. Like every sexual orientation, asexuality is not a choice.

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 47

NCIA’S

CONFERENCES & TRADE SHOWS SAVE THE DATE

For the cannabis industry’s only association-led business-to-business events empowering the industry through education and commerce. NCIA’s Conferences and Trade Shows embody the values of NCIA—education, advocacy, and community— to deliver invaluable insights and best practices to both the novice and experienced cannabis business owner.

OCTOBER 8-9, 2019 | LONG BEACH, CA

CALIFORNIACANNABISBUSINESSCONFERENCE.COM #CACANNABIZCON

FEBRUARY 19-20, 2020 | BOSTON, MA

NCIA’S

NORTHEASTCANNABISBUSINESSCONFERENCE.COM #NECANNABIZCON

CANNABIS BUSINESS SUMMIT &EXPO

JUNE 15-17, 2020 | SAN FRANCISCO, CA CANNABISBUSINESSSUMMIT.COM #CANNABIZSUMMIT

AUGUST 26-27, 2020 | DETROIT, MI

MIDWESTCANNABISBUSINESSCONFERENCE.COM #MWCANNABIZCON

A DVO CACY | ED U CATION | COM M U NITY 48 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

GREEN MATTERS

Old-School Agriculture Meets Cannabis Complexity THIS AGRICULTURAL SUPPLY BUSINESS DOES MORE THAN JUST SELL GROW PRODUCTS TO NEW CANNABIS FARMERS. Tim Shaw, COO of the multi-state cannabis business

to not over-complicate the growing process,” she says.

consultancy and operator MariMed Inc. since 2014,

Some of the obstacles in various states that have

and a former Sprint/Nextel engineer, got involved

legalized cannabis – which Lilli Shaw says are posi-

with the cannabis industry in 2010 when he started

tive moves - are about getting stricter about testing

up Green Matters, a gardening supply store with two

for contaminants and heavy metals. “This is where the

brick-and-mortar locations in Massachusetts.

cream rises to the top,” she says. “It’s about finding

In 2014, Shaw stepped back from Green Matters

the cleanest, most effective nutrients, soil and process

to concentrate on MariMed, building and designing

so that a grower doesn’t have an issue passing their

cultivation facilities, extraction labs, and dispensaries

compliance test. There is nothing like going through a

and consulting with investors and growing operations

three-month process growing a plant, then having to

across the country, while essentially handing over the

destroy it due to some contaminants.”

keys to Green Matters to his wife, Lilli.

She says the volume of customers has gone up, and, at

Since then, the agriculture supply business has con-

the same time, they are seeing a new breed of customer.

tinued to succeed – selling everything from hydropon-

One of the more interesting things she has seen is

ics gear to nutrients, all backed by detailed online and

that growing cannabis has intrigued a lot of people

in-store education.

who would not have gone in that direction with their

“As far as expanding with new brands and products,

career. “The satisfaction of starting something from a

we are always looking for the next greatest thing,”

seed or clone and ending up with a harvest has turned

Shaw says. “This is not rocket science. Agriculture has

people who are non-growers into traditional farmers,”

been going on since the beginning of time. We tend

she says. “It’s been a real positive in that a younger gen-

to find trusted brands and hone in on them and teach

eration that thinks tomatoes come from grocery stores,

best practices to achieve the highest quality.”

who didn’t really have that mentality that someone’s

Lilli Shaw says the company works under a philosophy that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

hands grew this, are getting involved in growing their own garden. That is a cool transformation.”

“We try to be open-minded to new products coming in the door and give them their fair shot, especially if there is some new innovation behind it. One focus is

For more information, visit:

GREENMATTERSONLINE.COM

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2019 49

{HereWeGo }

by R A C H A E L T H AT C H E R

HAUTE CUISINE Mass Cannabis Dinners wants to bring infused food and conversation to your town.

Society started with food and

giving dinner featured spaghetti squash carbonara;

conversation around a fire, says Chef

smoked duck soup; braised turkey breast; and red, white,

Joseph Nelson, who cofounded Mass

and blue mousse.

Cannabis Dinners with Patrick Mulcahy in 2016.

A special dinner celebrating the third anniversary of canna-

Through the company’s four-course, cannabis-infused

bis legalization in Massachusetts will take place on Decem-

fine dining pop-up experiences in cities around Massa-

ber 15. To learn more, visit MASSCANNABISCHEFS.COM.

chusetts, “we try to bring those two ideas together,” NelMass Cannabis Dinners caters to every cannabis consumption level, from newbies to heavy hitters, with a sliding scale of dosages. “The infusion isn’t mandatory, and it’s only to the level you want it to be,” Nelson says.

Held at private locations (by law), the dinners typically start with a social hour. Guests then eat dinner at a family-style table, so even if people attend with a group, they end up sitting with and meeting others they don’t know.

Dinners have ranged from pig roasts to vegan tacos and from Lebanese cuisine to sushi. Last year’s early Thanks50 NOVEMBER 2019 Boston

There are two types of cannabis dinners: infused and paired. Infused dinners feature dishes made with cannabis. Pairings feature smoked cannabis strains meant to accentuate the food and drink.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MASS CANNABIS DINNERS

son says.