I B O S TO N F E B 2020
OVER THE RAINBOW
How vibrant hues can conquer the winter blues
COLIVING IT UP
Find friendship and save money in shared living spaces
OUT OF THE SHADOWS Death cafés explore humanity’s most taboo topic
experience wellness elevated.
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BOSTON SENSI MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020
sensimediagroup @sensimagazine @sensimag
F E AT U R E S
26
Where Has All the CBD Food Gone? CBD is all over dispensary shelves, yet itʼs not allowed on our plates. What gives?
32
In Living Color
Seeing red, feeling blue, tickled pink. What you see is what you feel.
32 D E PA R T M E N T S
9 EDITOR’S NOTE 10 THE BUZZ News, tips, and tidbits
to keep you in the loop SEXUAL HEALING THC-enhanced lube made by a husband-and-wife duo GUESS WHO’S BACK? ’90s fashion trends are making a resurgence. LOCAL LOVE Mass-made Valentine’s gifts GREEN SHOPS Unique grocery and garden stores
18 THE LIFE Contributing to your
health and happiness ROOM WITH A FEW Coliving spaces offer an all-in-one solution to skyrocketing housing prices and the loneliness epidemic. HOROSCOPE What the stars hold for you
38 THE SCENE Hot happenings and hip
hangouts around town DEATH CAFÉS Opening the table to the most intimate conversation DIY BAO Take a class to learn how to make your own dumplings. CALENDAR Ditch the dinner date in favor of these events.
50 THE END
It’s SAD season again. What is Seasonal Affective Disorder, and what can you do to counteract it?
ON THE COVER Like any other unknown, death becomes a lot less frightening when you bring it into the light—preferably over a piping-hot cup of tea.
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A DV I S O R Y B OA R D
Boston Gardener Gardening Supply
Pro Garden Solutions Harvest Consulting
The Botanist Cannabis Education
Revolutionary Clinics Medical Dispensary
Flourish Software Seed to Sale
Royal Gold Soil
Green Goddess Supply Personal Homegrown Biochamber
Sira Naturals Cannabis Product Innovation
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
Tess Woods Public Relations Public Relations
FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Valiant Group, LLC Commercial Development
FACE BOOK Like Sensi Media Group for the parties, topics, and happenings we’re obsessed with right now.
T W I T TER Follow @sensimag to stay up-to-date on the latest news from Sensi cities.
Nine Point Strategies Insurance PotGuide Travel & Tourism
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I NSTAG RAM @sensimagazine is home to exclusive photos and content.
Magazine published monthly by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2020 Sensi Media Group. All rights reserved.
EXECUTIVE Ron Kolb CEO ron@sensimag.com Mike Mansbridge President mike@sensimag.com
A
Tae Darnell Co-Founder, VP of Business Development tae@sensimag.com Alex Martinez Chief Operating Officer alex@sensimag.com EDITORIAL Stephanie Wilson Editor in Chief stephanie@sensimag.com Doug Schnitzspahn Executive Editor doug.schnitzspahn@sensimag.com Leland Rucker Senior Editor leland.rucker@sensimag.com
Robyn Griggs Lawrence Editor at Large robyn.lawrence@sensimag.com Helen Olsson Copy Chief
Jude Bradley, Dawn Garcia, Debbie Hall, Christine Lavosky, Caitlin Moakley, Emilie-Noelle Provost, Mona Van Joseph Contributing Writers DESIGN Jamie Ezra Mark Creative Director jamie@emagency.com Rheya Tanner Art Director Wendy Mak Designer Kiara Lopez Designer Josh Clark Designer Jason Jones Designer em@sensimag.com PUBLISHING Leon Drucker Publisher leon.drucker@sensimag.com Richard Guerra Associate Publisher richard.guerra@sensimag.com B U S I N E S S /A D M I N Kristan Toth Head of People kristan.toth@sensimag.com Amber Orvik Administrative Director amber.orvik@sensimag.com Andre Velez Marketing Director andre.velez@sensimag.com Neil Willis Production Manager neil.willis@sensimag.com Hector Irizarry Distribution distribution@sensimag.com
EDITOR’S NOTE
A lot of old traditions should be left in the past.
Here’s one: Historically, Leap Day was a day women had the right to propose to men who were taking too long to commit. One day, every four years, women were free to go after what they wanted—which is both sexist and progressive. I asked the universe how I should feel. It told me to stop asking it questions and to check out the gift the planet got for me and you and everyone: a whole extra day. Thanks, Earth! Leap Day is a gift, and I propose we celebrate it by spending those free 24 hours going after what we want—whatever that may be. February 29 falls on a Saturday this year, a planetary/ calendar alignment that happens once every 28 years. Until we make Leap Year an official holiday, this year’s free day affords the greatest chance for many to make the most out of the planetary gift. What will you do with your big day? While you’re thinking about it, I’ll share big news on the brand front: we’ve launched a brand new website and a new magazine market. Check out sensimag.com, where you’ll see all our editions, including the new Sensi Tampa, our third edition to launch in a market where cannabis is still under prohibition. From the start, our mission has been to show cannabis as a beneficial part of a well-rounded, wellness-driven lifestyle in any city. That message was easy to spread in Colorado, then California, Vegas, Boston, and Detroit, but now we have the chance to showcase that lifestyle to markets where “the new normal” isn’t quite normal yet. It’s an opportunity we don’t take lightly, and I’m humbled whenever I take a step back and consider how incredible it is to be a part of a team of people driven to make a difference, to spark change in their communities, to stand up as advocates for the end of the madness that convinced generations of people to fear a plant that’s long been known to provide so much good. On the new site, you’ll be able to find information about upcoming Sensi events in all 14 of our current markets, including Sensi Night Boston’s February gathering. If you’re in the area, you should come by, see what this new normal is all about. We’d love to have you. Sensi has a way of bringing good people together.
Leap Day is a gift, and I propose we celebrate it by spending those 24 free hours going after what we want— whatever that may be.
Let’s connect.
M E D I A PA R T N E R S Marijuana Business Daily Minority Cannabis Business Association National Cannabis Industry Association Students for Sensible Drug Policy
Stephanie Wilson @stephwilll F EBRUARY 2020
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CONTRIBUTORS
Dawn Garcia, Debbie Hall, Robyn Griggs Lawrence, Caitlin Moakley, Emilie-Noelle Provost, Stephanie Wilson
CBD Believers A husband-and-wife start-up helps couples fire things up with THC-enhanced lube. When Cambridge-based Sira Naturals launched its cannabis business start-up accelerator in 2018, Boston residents Leah and Sieh Samura were among the first in line. The husbandand-wife team beat out nearly 400 applicants for one of the coveted spots. Their company, Boston-based 612 Studios, sells Purient, a cannabis-enhanced 10 BOSTO N
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“pre-foreplay” sexual lubricant that hit retail shelves last year. Both Leah and Sieh had positive experiences treating medical conditions with cannabis before they launched 612 Studios. Sieh, a US Army veteran who served in Iraq, treated chronic pain and post-traumatic stress, while Leah found relief from fibroids and menstrual pain. Free of GMOs and pesticides,
Purient is coconut oil–based and meant for topical use. Each bottle, with 300 milligrams of THC, is sold in a kit that includes pipettes for internal application and retails for about $60. The product is suitable for use by all genders. bedroomcannabis.com
Nirvana Smiley Shirt $25 / hottopic.com Adidas Track Jacket $80 / macys.com Scrunchies / $12 per set urbanoutfitters.com Cruise Deluxe Turntable $74 / crosleyradio.com
BY THE NUMBERS
70 CENTS
Amount women make on average compared with every dollar men make in Greater Boston SOURCE: Boston Womenʼs Workforce Council
$11.75 MILLION
Party Like It’s 1999 Old school becomes new again.
With the nostalgia of the ʼ90s revival including the comeback of scrunchies, old school hip-hop parties, cartoon reboots, grunge fashion, army pants, vinyl records, and the Friends craze ever present, why not celebrate like itʼs Y2K? The ʼ90s were the era when grunge was born; punk rock got a resurgence; indie music fests took off; personal style was nonconformist; music was insanely good, angsty, dance-worthy, and impactful (Nirvana, Beastie Boys, Tupac, N.W.A., Pearl Jam, Screaming Trees, Alanis Morissette, Fiona Apple, and so many more); and the teens and twentysomethings finally felt like their voices were being heard. Grunge Nirvana tees and Doc Martens still rule. Worn-out concert T-shirts, laced-up midcalf black Doc Martens, and even checkered Vans have all made the fashion cut. Camo + Track Suits They’re not really just for running. Beyond gold chains and velour, track suits and jumpers are back again, as are camo pants.
Scrunchies In the ’90s, they were a girl’s best friend. They accompany a side pony tail or a messy bun, and they don’t rip your hair out. Crosley Record Player The ’90s were all about hitting up Tower Records or Penny Lane in Venice Beach. Now vinyls are back and cooler than ever, and the Crosley turntables are where it’s at.
Amount Barack and Michelle Obama paid Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck for a seven-bedroom house with 29 acres on Edgartownʼs Great Pond in Marthaʼs Vineyard
46.5%
Percentage of students in a Harvard University survey who said they expected the university to conduct a fair investigation after sexual misconduct is reported
102
“CONSUMERS ARE REALLY LEFT IN THE DARK TODAY ABOUT HOW TO PROTECT THEIR HEALTH.” —RTI International researcher Jane Allen on Massachusetts’s handling of vaping-related illnesses
IGNITE WITH FLAVOR
Dan Bilzerian, known as “The King of Instagram,” first built his empire using social media marketing. In 2017, he launched Ignite, a line of CBD products, which has since expanded to include vapes, drops, toothpicks, topicals, pet products, gummies, and lip balm. Flavor profiles include blood orange, lemon, cherry, lavender, and tropical fruit. Its all-natural CBD drops are blended with essential oils. Topicals are made with 100 percent plantbased ingredients. Its newest product is the 350 mg full-spectrum drops and bath bombs. Available online (ignitecbd.co) and in-store at Nouria Energy.
YEARS
Bostonʼs No Name restaurantʼs run before it closed at the end of 2019
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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 INCLUDE TRAINING SWORD
CLASSES NOW FORMING
  � �
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THE BUZZ
MASS VALENTINES
Whether you’re planning a night in or a night out, these locally made gifts and experiences will make a lasting impression.
Coming Soon Here’s a look at new releases.
With the awards season in full gear, itʼs also a time for some fun new releases in film and TV. On the big screen, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn gives new meaning to female prowess with Birds of Prey: The Emancipation of Harley Quinn opening February 7. This long-awaited female-led film will throw you into a seductive, violent Natural Condoms tailspin that will feed your need for a strong Letʼs talk dirty. Personal care products often contain chemicals of badass movie, welcoming you back into the concern like nitrosamines and harmful preservatives like parabens. DC Comics universe. Releasing that same Sustain Naturals, based in Burlington, Vermont, offers “clean” conday is a dark and bloody indie horror flick doms made with you and your partnerʼs health and well-being in mind. starring Elijah Wood called Come to Daddy. $25 for 24/ sustainnatural.com In the vein of reviving the past, the film Fantasy Island (inspired by the 1970s TV Chocolate CSA show) will release on Valentineʼs Day, and Modeled on the community-supported agitʼs anything but campy. Guests are invited riculture (CSA) concept, Somerville Chocto the most seemingly perfect island to live olate offers shares of cacao harvests, with out their fantasies, but what theyʼve asked deliveries about every three months (four for is dark and twisted and will push them times a year). Each share features multiple to their limits. Keep your eyes peeled for the bars highlighting a particular varietal. To long-awaited remake of The Invisible Man, try the chocolate, you can purchase single written and directed by Leigh Whannell. bars from the website, local retailers, or Aeronaut Brewery, where the Opening February 28, the film stars Elizachocolate is sold out of a vintage cigarette vending machine. beth Moss, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid, Harriet $100 per year / somervillechocolate.com Dyer, and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. Netflix releases Locke and Key on FebruCBD Smokes ary 7, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You on Puff Herbal Smokes in Somerville has created February 12, and Season 2 of Narcos: Mexico the perfect herbal pre-rolls from Aurora Haze on February 13. Hulu releases the premiere hemp and locally grown Muddy River Herbalsʼ of High Fidelity on February 14, Starz releasChocolate Mints flower. Self-Care CBD Smokes es the long-awaited Season 5 of Outlander give dank relief without the mental high. on February 16, and AMC releases Season 5 $60 for 15 / puffherbalsmokes.com of Better Call Saul on February 23.
“In essence, safety is not the priority at the T, but it must be.” —Report commissioned by the MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board
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THE BUZZ
VOX POPULI
Question: What do you love most about New England in the winter?
MARIE FROHLICH
MORGAN GRANT
DJ TULLY
SAWYER SAWYER
HALEY BROBERG
___________________
___________________
___________________
___________________
___________________
Health Coach and Herbalist Williamstown, VT
I love snowshoeing and cross-country skiing as well as the time spent inside to reflect and plan the new year’s garden.
Holistic Esthetician and Fiber Artist Mansfield, MA
Winter inspires me creatively because it means more time spent in silence, cozied up— there’s creative magic in the winter air.
Certified Personal Trainer Medway, MA
I love the New England winter because of the people it creates. The cold weather hardens the individual.
Storyteller Somerville, MA
I really appreciate how clean the snow stays. I moved here from NYC, and if there was snowfall, it was dirty by the time the sun set.
Community Manager Boston, MA
I love being able to go sledding and walk on the beaches at night when it’s calm.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Curated Plants Niche Plant Shop in Cambridge carries a gorgeous selection of succulents, lowlight plants, and ceramics that are ideal for city dwellers. Choose an option your partner can keep around for as long as their green thumb will allow. The Niche team will tailor your selection for the space and attention your special someone has to give. Prices vary nicheplantshop.com
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Alcohol-Free Craft Beer Donʼt drench your Valentineʼs Day dinner with too much alcohol. Based in Stratford, Connecticut, Athletic Brewing Companyʼs ABC craft beer lets you enjoy the taste of IPA or golden ale without the hangover. $13 per 6 pack/ athleticbrewing.com
Cannabis and...
The Life Cannabis Company View our cannabis products available on our website: ma.temescalwellness.com
Recreational & Medical Cannabis Retail Locations in Massachusetts Hudson | Pittsfield | Framingham
Please Consume Responsibly. This product may cause impairment and may be habit forming. For use only by adults 21 years of age or older or persons holding a patient registration card. Keep out of the reach of children. 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 pose 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 associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. The impairment effects of edible marijuana may be delayed 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.
THE BUZZ
LOCAL COMPANY
FRESH FOOD Somerville’s Neighborhood Produce makes grocery shopping fun again. In a sea of big-name grocery stores, a standout shop in Somervilleʼs Winter Hill is putting a whole new spin on the way locals make dinner plans. Neighborhood Produce is a fresh-food paradise. Owners Matt and Heather Gray have scoped out the best local fruits, veggies, cheeses, meats, and accompaniments to prep meals. The best of the best is packed neatly into this small, perfectly organized shop. Whether youʼre looking for herbs, teas, bulk spices, or pasta, Neighborhood Produce is ready with super fresh, thoughtfully sourced goods. @neighborhoodproduce / nbrhoodproduce.com
BILITIES
BY STEPHANIE WILSON, EDITOR IN CHIEF
“People rub their eyes when they see the prices compared to what they’re seeing in Massachusetts.” —Pam Edwards, owner of Green Thumb Caregivers in Kittery, Maine SOURCE: masslive.com
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1 PRIMARY FOCUS A New
3 BORN THIS WAY The odds of
Hampshire law requires the Granite State to be the first presidential primary in the nation. This election cycle, that goes down on February 11, after which my home state becomes irrelevant for another four years.
being a “leapling”—a person born on a leap day—is 1 in 1,461.
2 LEAP OF FAITH While the calendar year is 365 days, it takes the Earth 365.24 days to orbit the sun. Every four years, we add an extra day to the month of February because without it, the calendar would be misaligned with the seasons by 25 days after just 100 years.
FE BRUA RY 2020
4 RIGHT ON On February 29, some places celebrate Bachelor’s Day or Sadie Hawkins Day—both a nod to the old Irish tradition that gave women the right to propose marriage to a man on leap day. If he declined, he was required by law to pay a penalty, often in the form of gloves so she could hide the shame of her bare ring finger. 5 MODERN LOVE Since we’re not all Irish, but we are all feminists (because
we all believe in the equality of the sexes, of course), any of us can propose to whomever our heart desires whenever we want. Except Valentine’s Day. There’s no law prohibiting it but, sweetie, payas-you-go forced romance is anything but romantic.
6 PETA VIOLATION The origins of the canned-love holiday are as cruel as a red rose is clichéd. According to NPR, V-day traces back to the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, a brutal fete during which naked men sacrificed dogs and goats—and whipped women with the animal hides. Stop, in the name of love.
The Life Cannabis Company
You do you, We do Cannabis. Massachusetts Cannabis Retail Locations Hudson: 252 Coolidge St. | Framingham: 665 Cochituate Rd. | Pittsfield: 10 Callahan Dr. Please Consume Responsibly. This product may cause impairment and may be habit forming. For use only by adults 21 years of age or older or persons holding a patient registration card. Keep out of the reach of children. 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 pose 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 associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. The impairment effects of edible marijuana may be delayed 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.
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Room with a Few
Coliving is taking off because it addresses two of our most important social challenges: affordable housing and the loneliness epidemic. TEXT ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE
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After an artistic breakdown (complete with tequila), serial entrepreneur Mario Masitti cleared out of his townhouse in Venice Beach and hit the road. He spent a year and a half visiting clients, friends, and family, which was fun, but he eventually got pretty tired of Motel 6s. When a business opportunity came up in Denver, Masitti figured he could handle making a six-month commitment to a living space. A 350-square-foot micro-studio in Turntable Studios, a former hotel next to Mile High Stadium, felt comfortingly familiar and provided what he was looking for—affordability and a downtown view—as well as something he had no idea he needed. After he moved in, Masitti started noticing groups of people hanging out and drinking wine in front of the building every evening around 5 p.m. “I was like, oh, fuck yeah,” he says. “Being somebody who works from home, I’m like, this is amazing. I don’t have to leave or set up happy hour with friends. It’s almost like a Hotel California.” Masitti is now part of a 20-something-strong community at Turntable that not only meets
“I’ve lived in plenty of apartment complexes, and I’ve never seen an organically grown community like this.” —Mario Masitti
every evening for happy hour but also regularly sits down to share dinners and conversation, sometimes accompanied by a guitar or two, and casually keeps track of one another’s activities and well-being. An introvert at heart, Masitti loves this fluidity. Even when he’s not feeling hugely social, he can pop outside or upstairs to the community room for quick visits. “I’ve lived in plenty of apartment complexes, and I’ve never seen a place with an organically grown community like this,” Masitti says. “Usually, you just kind
of keep your eyes to the ground. The pool is always empty. No one uses the amenities. This place is the opposite.” The camaraderie has been the balm Masitti’s road-weary soul needed. “Even my mom’s like, ‘You’re so happy again!’” he says. “Friends Are Included” Loneliness is a killer, more dangerous than obesity and smoking. Studies have found it leads to heart disease, stroke, and immune system problems, and it could even impair cancer recovery. A researcher at Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark
Serial entrepreneur Mario Masitti
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Hemp-Derived CBD for pain, inflammation and stress
www.LoftyCBD.com info@loftycbd.com 20 BOSTO N
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THE LIFE
found loneliness a strong predictor of premature death, declining mental health, and lower quality of life in cardiovascular patients, and a Brigham Young University professor’s meta-analysis of studies from around the world found that socially isolated adults have a 50 percent greater risk of dying from any cause than people who have community. That’s sobering, especially when you consider that 40 percent of American adults suffer from loneliness, according to an AARP study. And it’s one reason coliving—a new form of housing in which residents with similar interests, values, or intentions share living space, costs, and amenities—is exploding. Coliving situations run a spectrum, from the resident-driven Turntable model to small homes with a half-dozen or so people to massive corporate complexes like The Col-
“You just don’t hear the crazy stories about roommating with strangers in an unfamiliar city. When people write bad reviews, it’s usually about the Wi-Fi.” —Christine McDannell, Author of The Coliving Code: How to Find Your Tribe, Share Resources, and Design Your Life
lective tower with 550 beds in London. Residents, who stay anywhere from a few days to several years and usually don’t have to sign a lease or pay a security deposit, sleep in their own small private rooms (sometimes with bathrooms) and share common spaces such as large kitchens and dining areas, gardens, and work areas. They’re encouraged to interact with one another, often through organized happy hours and brunches. Ollie, which operates coliving spaces in New York and other cities, advertises that “friends are included.” “Coliving is different than just having roommates, who may be people you found on Craigslist and just happen to share [your] living space. It’s done with more intention,” says Christine McDannell, who lived in unincorporated coliving houses for years before she launched Kindred Quarters, a coliving operator with homes in San Diego and Los Angeles, in 2017. Author of The Coliving Code: How to Find Your Tribe, Share Resources, and Design Your Life, McDannell also runs Kndrd, a software company for coliving managers and residents, and she hosts the weekly Coliving Code
Show every Wednesday on YouTube, iTunes, Soundcloud, and coliving. tv. She has watched— and helped—the industry grow up, and she’s amazed at how few, if any, horror stories she hears. That’s largely because millennials—by far the largest demographic among colivers—are accustomed to sharing and being held accountable through online reviews, she adds. “You just don’t hear the crazy stories about roommating with strangers in an unfamiliar city,” she says. “When people write bad reviews, it’s usually about the Wi-Fi.”
ALL IN THIS TOGETHER Nearly a third of American adults live with roommates. SOURCE: Pew Research Center
From Hacker Houses to Golden Girls As companies fat with funding expand into cities across the globe, coliving is newly corporatized— but it’s hardly a novel concept. Boarding houses provided rooms and shared meals for single men and women in the 19th and early 20th centuries; one of the most famous, the Barbizon Hotel in New York, was a “club residence for professional women” from 1927 until the 1980s. People lived communally throughout most of history until industrialization facilitated privatization of family life and housing throughout the 20th century—with a few disrupF EBRUARY 2020
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c
w
is
h
en
all wom g n i all o love cannab
CONNECT WITH YOURSELF AND OTHERS IN CITIES AROUND THE GLOBE
TOKEATIVITY.COM/CONNECT
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THE LIFE
LEARN MORE
Find information, news, and guidance on all things coliving at thecolivingcode.com.
“Coliving is different than just having roommates, who may be people you found on Craigslist and just happen to share [your] living space. It’s done with more intention.” —Christine McDannell
FOURʼS COMPANY Almost half of Gen Zers think itʼs reasonable for four or more people to share a two-bedroom apartment, and 30 percent would move in with roommates they didnʼt know. SOURCE: Credit Karma
tions. In Israel, people have been living in communal villages called kibbutzim for more than 100 years. In the US, hippies attempted to create communes in the 1960s, but they were destroyed by free love, drugs, and egos (which did a lot to discourage coliving, even today). At the same time in Denmark, however, cohousing (an earlier iteration of coliving) was emerging as a way to share childcare. Today, more than 700 communities thrive in Denmark. In Sweden, the government provides cohousing facilities. A handful of cohousing communities following the Danish model have been established in the US, and hacker houses
are common in tech capitals like Silicon Valley and Austin, Texas, but the concept has been slow to catch on until recently. As it becomes increasingly impossible for mere mortals to afford skyrocketing rents in desirable cities, Americans are coming around to coliving and finding creative solutions to all sorts of social issues. Older women are shacking up together following the Golden Girls model. Coabode.org matches single moms who want to raise kids together. At Hope Meadows in Chicago, retirees live with foster kids. The opportunity to pay lower rent (in many but not all cases) and share expenses makes all the difference in places like
New York, San Francisco, Boston, and Los Angeles. When New York–based coliving operator Common opened a development with 24 furnished spaces in Los Angeles for between $1,300 and $1,800 a month, more than 9,000 people applied. McDannell says coliving is exploding because it solves important challenges that plague modern society. “People are signing away their paychecks on rent and feeling increasingly isolated,” she wrote in “Why We’re Building a CoLiving Community Ecosystem” on LinkedIn. “It is due time that HaaS (Housing as a Service) disrupts the antiquated industry of property management and real estate.” F EBRUARY 2020
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mona Van Joseph has been an intuitive since 2002. She is an author, columnist, and host of Psychic View Radio. She created dicewisdom.com, which also has a smartphone app. mona.vegas
HOROSCOPE
FEBRUARY HOROSCOPE
What do the stars hold for you? TEXT MONA VAN JOSEPH
AQUARIUS, THIS MONTH IS ALL ABOUT EXPLORING YOUR OWN POTENTIAL WITHOUT THE BURDEN OF HELPING OTHERS. JAN. 20–FEB. 18
AQUARIUS
Sometimes you do know what’s best for the people you love, but this month is all about celebrating what people can do without your assistance. Explore your own potential without the burden of helping others.
rent situation, your legacy may be better served by considering what the universe is offering. MARCH 21–APRIL 19
ARIES
Concentrate on loving yourself this month. It’s not about proving yourself; it’s about filling yourself up and supportFEB. 19–MARCH 20 ing your unique energy. February resonates with Don’t be surprised if a the signs of Aquarius new job or major proj(power of mind) and Piect presents itself to you. sces (power of intuitive). As reluctant as you may These are the elements be to let go of your curto balance.
PISCES
APRIL 20–MAY 20
TAURUS
You will meet two amazing people. The man is a leader in his industry who has earned everything he has. The woman is unconditional love in action. Pay attention to the impression they leave with you. MAY 21–JUNE 20
GEMINI
You may feel frustrated that some people are questioning your credibility. They may not be the people to align with in the future. However, if
of announcements and commitments to a new future. The unjust element of last year has finally fallen away, and as such, your mojo and energy are (again) being celebrated. AUG. 23–SEPT. 22
VIRGO
Are you being stingy with your power? Have you done for people at the same level that they have done for you? Have you kept your promises? Are you telling the truth (not your version of it)? Balthese people have struck ance the scales: reciproca nerve, that may indicate ity is your gift this month. a skill to hone. SEPT. 23–OCT. 22 JUNE 21–JULY 22
CANCER
LIBRA
Perhaps your dream is Ignore any past “stuff” this about to be fulfilled bemonth. Although you may cause you take an interest feel an innate obligation to in your art or hobby. The heal, it is not your respon- more interested you are sibility to do so. It’s time to in the people who have forget the past and move followed their dreams, the forward. Trust yourself more ideas and inspiraenough to enjoy this life. tion come to you. JULY 23–AUG. 22
LEO
Claim your spotlight this month. This is the month
The grudge(s) you’re hanging onto could hinder the good energy coming toward you. There may be a new career opportunity that presents itself by the end of May, though you may hear about it this month. NOV. 22–DEC. 21
SAGITTARIUS
You’re discovering what love means. You’ve figured out the emotional and financial issues and gotten yourself back on track. Your priorities are moving in the right direction, and you’ve accepted what you can and cannot do. Blessings on all of this! DEC. 22–JAN. 19
CAPRICORN
There’s a mistaken belief that Capricorns are cold and unemotional. Nothing could be further from the truth. You are drawn to puppies and kittens and are incredibly loyal to long-time relationOCT. 23–NOV. 21 ships. You feel things to the core of your being; There are people who de- it’s time to let others see serve your forgiveness. a glimpse of that.
SCORPIO
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WHERE HAS ALL THE CBD
FOOD GONE?
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Murky regulations in Massachusetts no longer allow restaurants to serve CBD-infused fare, but the cannabinoid is still prevalent on dispensary shelves. What gives? TEXT CHRISTINE LAVOSKY
B
ack in June, in collaboration with the FDA, Massachusetts regulators banned the sale of CBD-infused food and beverages as well as products making unverified therapeutic claims. Yet months later, CBD-infused products—everything from sublingual tinctures that claim to help with sleep to water-soluble oils purporting to alleviate anxiety to topical salves advertising pain-easing qualities— still line the shelves at medical and recreational cannabis stores in Massachusetts. Amid the confusion, purveyors are doing their best to interpret the murky ruling. Before these restrictions took hold, CBD-infused foods and drinks were popping up in restaurants and cafés all around Boston. Bodega Canal, a North End Mexican restaurant, served CBD-infused guacamole and cocktails. By Chloe,
a trendy vegan chain, sold CBD-infused cacao chocolate bars. Noca Provisions (now defunct) offered an array of CBD-infused lattes. Carrot Flower, a small café that serves plant-based smoothies, juices, and salads in Jamaica Plain, had to stop selling CBD-infused cookies and offering customers the option of adding CBD oil to tea, coffee, and lattes or risk failing its health inspection, says manager Audrey White. The café continues to sell packaged single doses and full bottles of CBD oil that customers can buy and add to their drinks themselves. The difference between adding CBD oil to your own drink instead of having a barista stir it in may seem negligible, but it’s a great example of the nuances shop owners face as they try to follow local regulations. They will continue to swim in these muddy waters until the FDA drafts clear regulations, and even shop owners who work with CBD every day don’t know where its future lies. F EBRUARY 2020
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IF it's not NECANN, it's NOT the New England Cannabis Industry
6th Annual New England Cannabis Convention
March 20-22, 2020 Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA
300+ Exhibitors | 100+ speakers | 10,000+ attendees
#NECANN20 HIGHLIGHTS: New England Cannabis Community Awards Show
Friday, March 20, 7pm Fund-raiser for NECANN Social Equity Scholarship
Nominations now open: bit.ly/NECannaNominations
Sunday, March 22 The NECANN Competition: recognizing the best local cannabis and ancillary products Entry & judging nominations: necanncomp.com
necann.com Serving the local Recreational, medical, and Hemp industries
BUSINESS | NETWORKING | EDUCATION
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CAN CBD CURE CANCER?
The FDA, given authority over CBD and hemp in the 2018 Farm Bill, is concerned about CBD companies making claims that might encourage patients to stop taking prescribed medications, even though most companies allege their products can ease the pain and anxiety that accompany a life-threatening illness, not cure the illness itself. The USDA has removed hemp from the list of controlled substances but refused to generally recognize it as safe. Local boards of health are ultimately responsible for deciding enforcement strategies, and adherence to the new policy is inconsistent. FOR HEMP FARMERS, DEVASTATION AND HOPE Most people believe Massachusetts is down on CBD because it’s a derivative of a psychoactive plant commonly used as a
A BILL FILED IN THE MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE LATE LAST YEAR ASSERTS THAT HEMP-DERIVED CANNABINOIDS SUCH AS CBD ARE NOT ILLEGAL DRUGS AND THAT INGESTIBLE PRODUCTS CONTAINING CBD SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOOD.
A lot of claims are made about CBD—even its power to cure cancer—but it hasnʼt been studied enough to know exactly which claims hold merit. Anecdotal evidence suggests CBD reduces anxiety and offers relief from insomnia, and a European Journal of Pain animal study found that CBD applied on the skin could help reduce pain and inflammation caused by arthritis. More than a dozen studies have found that 10 milligrams of CBD can reduce anxiety in rats. This is a good start, but more research on humans needs to be done.
recreational drug and could be a gateway to THC use—and in fact, a JAMA study found that some CBD products do contain trace amounts of THC. Oils derived from hemp generally have only 0.3 percent THC. The irony can’t be ignored: You can purchase marijuana-derived CBD at any Massachusetts recreational dispensary, yet most hemp-derived CBD products are considered illegal. Consumers and producers alike are left to wonder why crackdowns have shifted to products containing F EBRUARY 2020
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CBD, the plant’s nonpsychoactive component. This inconsistent ruling has caused upheaval in the Massachusetts hemp industry. It came as a huge surprise to the state’s 104 hemp farmers when state agricultural officials banned them from making or selling any edible product infused with hemp-derived CBD. The ban, in the form of a policy statement clarifying the state’s interpretation of existing law, came without warning and eliminated hemp’s most lucrative market. Farmers across the state were devastated as tens of thousands of pounds of harvested hemp hung drying in their barns with nowhere to go. Growers are being offered as little as a fifth of the profits than they were expecting as the only market for their crops is biomass for fuel or feed. The state agricultural department still allows farmers to sell hemp seed, hulled hemp, and an assortment of other hemp products, but growers say those sales would
FARMERS ACROSS THE STATE WERE DEVASTATED AS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF HARVESTED HEMP HUNG DRYING IN THEIR BARNS WITH NOWHERE TO GO.
probably not be profitable enough to keep them in business. CBD’s future is uncertain, but there is hope. A bill filed in the Massachusetts House late last year asserts that hemp-derived cannabinoids such as CBD are not illegal drugs and that ingestible products containing CBD should be considered food. This bill could be a huge turning point for hemp cultivators. Massachusetts attorney Michelle Bodian, who advises clients on hemp and cannabinoid issues, predicts enforcement and regulation of CBD will heat up at the state level until there is more federal guidance. States are already strengthening regulations on labeling, testing, and retailing of CBD products. At the federal level, authorities have “chosen the least burdensome enforcement method, meaning enforcement letters with no penalties,” Bodian says. She’s quick to point out that marijuana, a Schedule 1 controlled substance, is subject to different regulations than hemp, which is regulated like cosmetics and food.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christine Lavosky is working on a series of novellas exploring characters who live in reality but fall into fantastical worlds of their own creation to cope with difficulties in connecting with others. Check out more of her work at writers. work/christinelavosky and on Instagram @gummicrawlerz.
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IN LIVING C LOR Seeing red, feeling blue, tickled pink. What you see is what you feel is what you are. TEXT STEPHANIE WILSON
H
umans have used color to express ideas and emotion for thousands of years, according to color specialist and trend forecaster Leatrice Eisman. As executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, Eisman is the world’s leading authority on the topic of color, authoring many books on the subject. In The
Complete Color Harmony, Eisman describes how even the most subtle nuances in color can result in shades that excite or calm, pacify or energize, and even suggest strength or vulnerability. “They can nurture you with their warmth, soothe you with their quiet coolness, and heighten your awareness of the world around you.
Color enriches our universe and our perception of it,” she writes. According to her research, we all respond to color at a very visceral level, associating specific hues with another time or place. “Color invariably conveys moods that attach themselves to human feelings or reactions,” she notes. “Part of our psychic develop-
ment, color is tied to our emotions as well as our intellect. Every color has meaning that we either inherently sense or have learned by association and/or conditioning, which enables us to recognize the messages and meanings delivered.” It’s with all this in mind that she and a team of experts choose the Pantone Color of the F EBRUARY 2020
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Year, which the institute has named annually for more than two decades, gaining more attention and having more impact with each passing declaration. So this year, expect to see a lot of blue. The 2020 Pantone Color of the Year is known as Classic Blue. Describing the shade as “evocative of the nighttime sky,” Eisman explains the choice: “We are living in a time that requires trust and faith It is this kind of constancy and confidence that is expressed by Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on.” She contends that Classic Blue encourages us to look beyond the obvious, expand our thinking, open the flow of communication. Her comments are rooted in color theory, which says that a good part of the emotions that colors evoke is tied to natural phenomena. Classic Blue is the color of outer space (look beyond), of the celestial sky (look beyond), of the deep ocean (open the flow).
“Part of our psychic development, color is tied to our emotions as well as our intellect. Every color has meaning… which enables us to recognize the messages and meanings delivered.” —Leatrice Eisman in The Complete Color Harmony
One of the earliest formal explorations of color theory came from German poet and politician Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. His 1820 book Theory of Colours explored the psychological impact of colors on mood and emotion. Yellow, Goethe wrote, is the color nearest the light, yet when applied to dull, coarse surfaces, it is no longer filled with its signature energy. “By a slight and scarcely perceptible change, the beautiful impression of fire and gold is transformed into one not undeserving the epithet foul; and the colour of honour and joy reversed to that of ignominy and aversion.” Of red: “All that we have said of yellow is applicable here, in a higher degree.” Goethe’s theories continue to intrigue, possibly because of the
lyrical prose rather than its scientific facts. Today, it’s generally accepted that shades of blue are associated with steady dependability, calm, and serenity. Yellow evokes the color of the sun, associated with warmth and joy. Green connects with nature, health, and revival. White stands for simplicity; black for sophistication. A 1970s study on the body’s physiological responses to colors revealed that warm hues (red, orange, yellow— the colors of the sun) aroused people troubled with depression and increased muscle tone or blood pressure in hypertensive folks. Cool colors (green, blue, violet) elicited the reverse, but the important finding was
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Your one stop headshop for all ART, GLASS, CBD, PIPES, VAPORIZERS, PACKAGING SOLUTIONS, and MORE!
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@GoodGlassGallery
that all colors produced clinically tangible results. It’s not woo-woo science; humans have been using color as medicine, a practice known as chromotherapy, since ancient Egypt. In fact, chromotherapy is as tested a practice as any other alternative medicine— Ayurveda, acupuncture, homeopathy, aromatherapy, reflexology. While it is widely accepted that color affects one’s health—physically, mentally, emotionally—more studies are needed to determine the full scope of impact as well as its potential to help heal. This isn’t a new theory, either. In the late 1800s, rays of color/light were shown to affect the blood stream. Later research found color to be “a complete therapeutic system for 123 major illnesses,” according to a
critical analysis of chromotherapy published in 2005 by Oxford University Press. Today, bright white, full-spectrum light is being used in the treatment of cancers, seasonal affective disorder, anorexia, bulimia, insomnia, jet lag, alcohol and drug addiction, and more. Blue light is used to help treat rheumatoid arthritis. Red light helps with cancer and constipation. And that’s just the beginning.
sions that include color wheels. Colored crystal lights. Breathing in colors through meditation. Infrared saunas with chromotherapy add-ons. There are actually many ways of adjusting the color in your life, and not all of them require a trip to see a specialist. Unlike trying to self-administer acupuncture (don’t do that), techniques can be as simple as putting on colorful attire or getting some bright throw pillows or plants. You can never On the Bright Side have too many plants. When your physical And you should eat more landscape is devoid of plants, too, filling your bright, vibrant hues, your plate with healthful emotional one is affectfruits, vegetables, and ed as well. That’s where spices from every part of color therapy comes in. the spectrum. It has a deep effect on If a lack of sunlight physical, psychological, has you feeling a lack of and emotional aspects of joy, paint your home or our lives, and it comes office—warm, vibrant in many forms: light ses- yellows and oranges showcase excitement and warmth; browns and neutrals decidedly do not. Choose wisely. Painting not an option? Consider temporary wallpaper or hanging large artworks. On a budget? Head to the thrift shop and repurpose an old canvas by painting it white and then adding whatever hues you are vibing with this winter. If it doesn’t turn out well, cover it up with more white paint and start
again. Have fun with it, consider it art therapy. There are also an array of therapeutic options popping up as add-ons, as wellness studios, spas, and alternative medicine practices incorporate chromotherapy treatments into their offerings. Many infrared saunas are starting to offer chromotherapy benefits, and the combination of the full-light spectrum and the heat effectively tricks the brain into thinking it spent a full day basking in the sun, causing it to release those sweet endorphins that flood your body when the warm rays of spring hit your face when you step outside. It feels good And really, that is everything. Color is everything. F EBRUARY 2020
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Out of the Shadows Death cafés encourage exploration, understanding, and acceptance of the ultimate inevitability. TEXT JUDE BRADLEY
Death is the final taboo topic. Some people believe the mere mention of the word risks “calling it forward.” Psychologists identify fear of extinction—of ceasing to be—as one of the five basic human fears (along with mutilation, loss of autonomy, separation, and humiliation). Death cafés are changing all that. In 2004 in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Swiss sociologist Bernard Crettaz began offering death-curious events called Café Mortels where people could explore the final journey. In 2011, Jon Underwood, a practicing Buddhist and London businessman, took the concept a step further with death cafés, which can now be experienced all over the globe. Underwood passed away in
2017 at age 44, but his legacy lives on in hundreds of events happening every month. Death cafés offer a safe space for open discussion with tea and cakes and no judgment. A volunteer facilitator gets the conversation going and keeps things on topic as guests share their personal experiences or ask plaguing questions that would be inappropriate in other social situations. The events are free, and facilitators receive no compensation. Richard Davis, who has been facilitating death cafés in several Boston suburbs for the past four years, was approached by various libraries that wanted to host events when he was volunteering with Merrimack Valley Hospice.
“We’ll talk about belief systems, different ideologies and philosophies, and final wishes. It’s not all deadly serious. They can be lively and animated. [People] come to talk about death in objective terms.” —Richard Davis
“It’s important to know these are not seminars or lectures,” Davis says. “The topics vary greatly. A lot of people talk about the afterlife. We’ll talk about belief systems, different ideologies and philosophies, and final wishes. It’s not all deadly serious. They can be lively and animated. [People] come to talk about death in objective terms.” The meetings are not grief-counseling sessions, although some people may attend to help manage their grief. They are not based on any religion, though people might choose to discuss their religious views. And they are not places to explore the idea of ghosts or spirit energy, although any topic related to death could crop up. The environment is unassuming. Sixteen or so people sit in a semicircle or at a table, and meetings last between one to three hours. The facilitator initiates a free-form, casual conversation with a leading question such as, “What is your most memorable experience with death?” There are tears, but quite a bit of laughter too. Conversations run the gamut—superstitions, aspirations, fears, faith, euthanasia. Not much is F EBRUARY 2020
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THE SCENE
LEARN MORE
Death cafés are secheduled at the Fenway Community Center on March 11, April 22, and June 3. deathcafe.com
off limits when discussing the ultimate journey. Somerville resident Alan Bingham, a lifelong health-care professional and author of Dying Well Prepared: Conversations and Choices for Terminal Patients, facilitates a death café program at the local library. Bingham says most books about death describe the journey and pain of helping others but offer nothing about the dying process. “I talk to people about how to prepare, how to say the right things,” he says. “That sets my book apart from anything else.”
“At the end of our lives, our final act is in dying. It will happen to us all. It’s important that we understand what it means.” —Alan Bingham
Death cafés attract an interesting mix, Bingham says, including people who have lost someone or are currently caring for someone. His groups are usually about 65 percent female. “Women have a sense of agenda, defining care-giving more,” he says. “They’re more exposed to it than men.” Bingham offers advice on the death process and how to effectively prepare. He suggests taking a step beyond the usual living will or healthcare proxy by creating an ethical will. “It’s not a legal will—it’s an articu-
lation of your legacy, the reasons you’re making the decisions you make. It should talk about your love of family and your love of religion to keep your legacy alive. It’s a lovely thought, actually. It helps with your eulogy.” Death is part of life, a rite of passage—morbid only because we think of it that way, he adds. “At the end of our lives, our final act is in dying. It will happen to us all. It’s important that we understand what it means.” That’s what death cafés are all about. They help take death out of the shadows.
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BOSTON
SONIA (MIDDLE EAST NIGHTCLUB) 10 B R O O K L I N E S T, CAMBRIDGE, MA FEB 11, 2020 @6-10PM
TAKE THE CLASS
THE SCENE
February 15 506 Park Dr., Boston $88 / meimeiboston.com
TA K E A C L A S S
Bao Down
It represents Mei Mei’s fusion of classic Chinese techniques with New England sensibility. Learn the art of steaming and folding at Mei Mei’s next Mei Mei’s two-hour classes include instrucdumpling class. tion in five different ways TEXT ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE to fold dumplings and how to make traditional It’s hard to imagine a food Mei, which consistently whose grandparents intro- Chinese pork and cabmore comforting than tops the dumpling rankduced hot pot cooking bage dumplings as well dumplings. Affordable, ings in Boston and makes at their China Garden as pierogis with creamy versatile, and communal, some of the best bao in the restaurant in White potatoes, cheddar, and these little packages are United States, according Plains, New York, decades local veggies. During the an “it” food—some call to the New York Post. ago. In this case, mei class, students can enjoy them the next kimchi— Mei is the Chinese word refers to three important plentiful snacks, includfor good reason. for “little sister,” and crops to indigenous Amer- ing sweet corn fritters Learn how to make your the restaurant is owned icans—winter squash, with maple soy aioli and own delicious dumplings by three siblings (Andy, corn, and beans—known scallion wedges with from the masters at Mei Margaret, and Irene Li), as the “three sisters.” cheddar and pesto. F EBRUARY 2020
DUMPLING BEGINNINGS Joyce Chen, who moved to Cambridge from China in 1946 and starred in Joyce Chen Cooks on PBS, introduced Americans to dumplings at her restaurants in 1958.
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THE SCENE CA L E N DA R
LEFT: DRAG KING VALENTINEʼS DAY BELOW: 15 SHADES OF RED
Nutrition Workshop with Good Witch Kitchen Feb. 2 Boston Public Market, Boston thetrustees.org/things-to-do
Learn how to meal plan on a budget and get yourself organized and energized for 2020 at this free event.
InspireWellness Cafe Night at District Hall Feb. 5 districthallboston.org
Join locals for an open discussion about mental health and wellness.
On the Calendar There’s more to February than date nights and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates. TEXT CAITLIN MOAKLEY
How are those 2020 resolutions going? We’ve got you covered with a workshop on meal planning, a mental health and wellness discussion, free art exhibits, and a celebration of the bald eagle’s return. Get out there, Boston. 44 BOSTO N
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Thursdays at the ICA Feb. 6 ICA, Boston icaboston.org
The Boston Institute of Contemporary Art is the place to be every Thursday night, with numerous free art exhibits and one of the city’s best waterfront views.
Fundraiser for Natick VFW Feb. 8 VFW, Natick
An afternoon of musical bingo, a raffle and silent auction, and a taco bar will benefit
THE SCENE CA L E N DA R
RIGHT: MERRIMAK EAGLE FESTIVAL BELOW: NUTRITION WORKSHOP
local veterans and their families.
Building a Giant Snowman Feb. 8 Boston Common @sohevents @S0hevents
Unleash your inner child and help set a record for the world’s tallest snowman.
Pop-Up Market Feb. 8 Craftwork, Somerville craftwork.rocks
This Valentine’s Day market fea-
tures everything from art to oracle readings and handmade jewelry to custom face masks.
Sensi Connect Feb. 11 Sonia, Cambridge nightout.com
Build relationships and foster new connections with Sensi’s partners in the cannabis industry. Stay for a set by Organically Good Trio, an organ-driven instrumental group with a reggae spin.
15 Shades of Red Feb. 13 Eataly Boston eataly.com
Taste your way through the flavors of Italian wines and find your new favorite.
Heartbreakers & Heartthrobs: A Drag King Valentine’s Day Under the Dome Feb. 13 Museum of Science, Boston mos.org/public-events
The Slaughterhouse Society is hosting a not-
to-be-missed night of drag king entertainment.
Merrimack River Eagle Festival Various locations Feb. 15 massaudubon.org/get-outdoors
PHOTO CREDITS (FROM TOP): JONATHAN BECKLEY / DAVID M. LARSON
Celebrate the return of the bald eagle with a day-long gathering at a few of Mass Audubon’s hot spots, including Newburyport and Amesbury.
Northeast Cannabis Business Conference Feb. 19–20 Hynes Convention Center, Boston northeastcannabis businessconference.com
Connect with dispensaries, cultivators, manufacturers, distributors, and much more at this industry event.
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P R O M O T I O N A L F E AT U R E T H E L E A F C O L L A B O R AT I V E
Natural Wellness Harmony A foundation builds on helping patients understand and use full spectrum CBD oils.
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hat the medical cannabis market needs is education. It’s that simple. That need formed the basis for The Leaf Collaborative (TLC), a medical cannabis education business that transitioned to include a CBD retail enterprise. The company was founded by a visionary educator running a nonprofit learning center and a partner at a private firm centered around natural wellness who responded to interests from investors to get involved in the medical cannabis market. “I was looking for someone to partner with who was highly ethical, very knowledgeable and capable, and who knew about cannabis,” says Ben
people more about our education center, bring them a lot of different botanical solutions, grow the business from a digital perspective, and not open a big chain of brick-andmortar locations.” Fitzgerald says that getting connected with a retail operation does not deter him from the focus of his threeyear-old foundation. He is on a mission that is more about personal consulta“We need tion. “We come at this with a really more good reputation. We are here to help you. But I tell patients that CBD works science, on some people and doesn’t work on more others, and I can’t tell them why,” he doctors says. “We need more science, more doctors and nurses involved in this. It’s and nurses not a miracle thing that saves everyinvolved in one. But if I can keep [people] off the this. It’s not opioids and keep them in their game, a miracle that is a win to us.” TLC has a line of full spectrum CBD thing oils—edibles, topicals, vapes, and that saves sublinguals—that is being sold to a everyone.” generally older demographic. “People want to sleep, they want to relax, and —Mike Fitzgerald, Medical Cannabis they want to de-stress, along with Educator pain reduction,” says Vinnie Posca, director of product development and production for TLC. “Soaking in a CBD bubble bath helps people with fibromyalgia, which is really hard for people to find relief from.” TLC has found that some professional trainers are getting more involved with CBD for pain management, such as Rob Gronkowski, former tight end for the New England Patriots, which helps drive business to TLC. “We are seeing those opportunities for expansion in that area as well,” James says.
James, co-founder of TLC in charge of strategic planning and development. “I was having trouble meeting that person.” About that same time, medical cannabis educators Mike Fitzgerald, who co-founded—along with his wife, Melissa—the New England Grass Roots Institute, New England’s first cannabis learning center, was in search of people he felt he could trust from a business investor perspective. When James and Fitzgerald connected, they found a lot of common ground. “All of our strategy is directed to educate consumers and supply them with the tools they need to pursue a The Leaf Collaborative life of natural health,” James says. Medical Cannabis and CBD Education “What we want to do at TLC is inform theleafcollaborative.com
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P R O M O T I O N A L F E AT U R E POTGUIDE
services within their service area as well as corresponding menus and deals. That is just one of the trends in the industry as it evolves. For example, as the Colorado industry matures and profit margins tighten, there is more merger and acquisition activity coming into play now. But other areas, such as Massachusetts, Michigan, and Florida, are in hypergrowth, becoming more like Colorado was five years ago. “If you Then there is Illinois, which went recreational on January 1. “We actually look at tracked 60,000 visitors to our site on consumer. the first of January, and the majority trends, of those were from Illinois,” Bamford says. “It’s exciting to see these different everything markets and how they are maturing— is going and the nuances between them.” direct to the The canna-tourism trend has worn consumer, off for some, he says, but it will still be an attractive industry. “It’s going to and have to have some unique experiences cannabis to really draw people in.” is no For this year, PotGuide will contindifferent.” ue to push the industry forward by —Jeremy Bamford, educating consumers. “There is still a Founder and CEO huge problem with information about products and effects,” he says. “Budtenders are great, but the reality is that consumers will need to self-educate and explore additional sources of knowledge to determine what they really want.” PotGuide is rolling out a couple new mobile apps this year, and the e have come to a Jeremy Bamford, founder and CEO company continues getting positive good crossroads in of PotGuide, says that the company feedback about the broad spectrum of the maturation cy- is essentially focusing on two things: cle of the cannabis following trends that consumers want content on the website. “We are really industry: more consumers have access and educating them on products, pric- doing well for being a small team with organic growth and minimal funding,” to cannabis, inspiring more questions es, and availability of those products. about what it is and where to get it. One of those trends is delivery. “If you Bamford says. This means there’s a growing need for a look at consumer trends, everything is rock-solid consumer education service. going direct to the consumer,” Bamford That’s where PotGuide fits in, prosays. “And cannabis is no different.” PotGuide viding consumers not only dispensary He says that PotGuide is not going to Cannabis education and locations in various states but also be directly involved in delivery services, product deals and information about but it is releasing a delivery locator show- information service potguide.com brands and strains since 2013. ing consumers all the different delivery
A Guide for Cannabis Consumers
Navigating the maze of product variance, availability, and state regulations has never been easier.
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THE END
So SAD
For people with Seasonal Affective Disorder, winter brings on a lot more than the blues.
TEXT ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE
For about 5 percent of Americans, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) settles in just as winter does and stays around until spring. SAD is a recurrent annual depression characterized by hypersomnia, social withdrawal, overeating, carbohydrate cravings, and a lack of sexual energy. It seems to respond to changes in climate and latitude: about 1.5 percent of Floridians have SAD compared with nearly 10 50 BOSTO N
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percent of New Hampshirites. Fourteen percent of US adults suffer from a lesser form of SAD known as the winter blues, which leave them feeling less cheerful, energetic, creative, and productive. There is no cure, per se, for SAD. The most prominent treatment is light therapy, replacing sunlight with bright artificial light. You need to sit for about 30 minutes in the morning in front of a light box (readily
available online), which exposes you to at least 10,000 lux of UVfree cool-white fluorescent or full-spectrum light. If you suffer from SAD or the winter blues, your instinct to pull the duvet over your head and sleep the winter away isn’t wrong. Humans evolved to be less active in winter because they needed to save energy when food was scarce, but modern Type A culture never cuts us any slack. You deserve that nap.