Sensi Magazine—Detroit (Summer 2020) by Sensi Magazine

I DETROIT S U M M E R 2020

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DETROIT SENSI MAGAZINE SUMMER 2020

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F E AT U R E S

Holy Smokes

Body Made for Bliss

For many, elevation leads to enlightenment.

Did you know you have an endocannabinoid system? You do. So why haven’t you heard about it?

D E PA R T M E N T S

9 EDITOR’S NOTE 40 THE SCENE Hot happenings and hip hangouts around town 12 THE BUZZ NOT ON THE CALENDAR News, tips, and tidbits to keep you in the loop

CENTENNIEL CELEBRATION

An ode to 100 years of women’s suffrage PURE APPINESS The app to lift your spirits GROWING POPULARITY

Why houseplant sales have spiked in the US PRODUCTS CBD skincare to scrub and savor

18 THE LIFE Contributing to your

health and happiness STAY STRONG How to keep fit during the garbage fire that is 2020 HOROSCOPE What the stars hold for you

What to do now that there’s nothing to do WELLNESS The future of medicine is plant-based.

52 THE END A poet and climate change activist reflects on the power of making a difference.

ON THE COVER

For your body, cannabis is as much a part of cellular health as water and oxygen, whether we know it or not. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JOSH CLARK WITH ORIGINAL PHOTO BY JAMES MOSLEY, ADOBE STOCK

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ADVISORY BOARD

1 Unit Executive Protection LLC. Personal Security 420 United Canna Care Center Cannabis Edibles 710 Security Security Systems Aronoff Law Licensing Law Firm Bratic Enterprises Energy Efficiency & Sustainability Sensi Connects Business Directory & Networking Events Cannabis Counsel Cannabis Law Firm Chornaya, LLC Metro Detroit: Provisioning Center Common Citizen Flint: Provisioning Center Etz Chaim Attestations Great Lakes Hemp Supplements, LLC Hemp Supplements Great Lakes Natural Remedies Lakeshore: Provisioning Center Greenhouse Payment Solutions Payment Processing Healthy Healing Clinic Compassion Clinic & Certification Center The Helping Friendly Hemp Company Hemp Topicals Kush Design Studio Cannabis Facility Design & Build LC Solutions Michigan PLLC Accounting/CPA Services LEGC, LLC Concentrate Vaporizer Michigan Creative Branding MRB Solutions Human Resources Northern Specialty Health Upper Peninsula: Provisioning Center Oh, Hello Promo Promotional Marketing Pain Blocking Oil Cannabis Topical

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SUMMER 2020

Paradigm Wellness Holistic Therapy & Consulting Perry & Drummy Inc. Commercial Insurance Pure West Club Caregiver Connection & Network RAIR Medical Flower Seed Cellar Cannabis Genetics Sensi Park, LLC Agricultural Facility Solutions Skymint Recreational Flower Solutions by Dr. Dave West Michigan: Hemp CBD Sparrow Consulting Cannabis Licensing

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EXECUTIVE

Ron Kolb Founder, CEO ron@sensimag.com Stephanie Wilson Co-Founder, Editor in Chief stephanie@sensimag.com Mike Mansbridge President mike@sensimag.com Fran Heitkamp Chief Operating Officer fran@sensimag.com Lou Ferris VP of Global Revenue lou@sensimag.com Chris Foltz Director of Global Reach chris@sensimag.com Jade Kolb Director of Project Management jade.kolb@sensimag.com Kristan Toth Head of People kristan.toth@sensimag.com EDITORIAL

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 Melissa Howsam Senior Copy Editor Meryl Howsam, Bevin Wallace Copy Editors Mona Van Joseph Contributing Writer DESIGN

Jamie Ezra Mark Creative Director jamie@emagency.com Rheya Tanner Art Director em@sensimag.com Wendy Mak, Kiara Lopez, Josh Clark, Jason Jones Designers PUBLISHING

Jamie Cooper Publisher jamie.cooper@sensimag.com Kyle Miller Associate Publisher kyle.miller@sensimag.com Leah Stephens Associate Publisher leah.stephens@sensimag.com Constance Taylor Associate Publisher constance.taylor@sensimag.com B U S I N E S S /A D M I N

Amber Orvik Administrative Director amber.orvik@sensimag.com Neil Willis Production Manager neil.willis@sensimag.com

EDITOR’S NOTE

“The new normal” is the tagline we at Sensi

have been using since our inception; it appeared on every cover prior to our redesign in December 2019—roughly 200 magazines emblazoned with the phrase. We used it to highlight cannabis’s transition into the mainstream, and during the early days of COVID-19, we watched it become the official catchphrase of the pandemic. “The New Normal.” How else could you describe it? With that, I welcome you to Sensi’s new new normal, which looks a great deal different than some five months and a lifetime ago. Way back then, we were printing local magazines in 14 markets across the country, with a 15th (Metro Maryland) slated to launch April. Our creative team was in the midst of sending those editions to print when COVID-19 started to pick up steam. After some hard conversations with our leadership team, we made the call to hit pause for a variety of reasons, namely that our points of distribution were not going to be distributing during a global pandemic. We were optimistic that we’d be back by June. Then we thought we’d return in July. I’m writing this on August 7 as those refreshed April editions work their way to being published in the next few days, if all goes as planned. Little these days is going as planned, for better and for worse. But if there’s a silver lining to this chaos, it may be that it’s forced us to slow down and examine our lives— to really consider the why and how behind it. It provided a chance to stop the constant doing and start thinking about whether those are the right goals to be aiming for at all. It allowed us to examine our business piece by piece, strip down to the basics and rebuild using the lessons we stumbled our way through. We’re guided by one mission: to serve our readers and communities by focusing on connection—to information, to each other, to businesses and brands that meet your needs. That’s why, for the first time in Sensi’s history, we won’t be printing magazines. Going all-digital this month helps us increase our reach without compromising the quality our readers expect. We hope to return to print in the not-too-distant future—perhaps no one more than me. I believe in the power of print. But I also believe in evolution, and the way people consume information is changing. By limiting ourselves to print, we were limiting our impact. But now, with a fresh digital strategy that entails both dynamic local content as well as fully designed digital magazines created by the award-winning team at Em Agency, we’ve got the best of both worlds, and I’m excited to introduce you to the first phase of Sensi’s new digital universe. We’re almost ready to take the scaffolding off Phase 2, so be sure to check back and see what we’ve got planned in order to continue to bring our new normal into the new-new normal of the world. Thank you for being here with us as we rebuild—better than we were before.

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 S U M M E R 2020

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—Nineteenth Amendment of the US Constitution

DETROIT

all yet had been omitted from the political process. Also obvious: the best way to celebrate this centennial, regardless of gender, is to exercise your right to influence politics by casting a ballot in November in what will be This month marks the 100th anniversary one of the most important elections of women gaining the right to vote. of our lifetimes. Check your voter registration status now—right now. On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amend- ultimately effective, and—imporGo on, we’ll wait, it takes a minute tantly—nonviolent Civil Rights and ment was ratified into law after a on usa.gov/confirm-voter-registration. anti-war movements. long, arduous battle led by some Then text that web address to your To this day, the only right women incredibly badass women who came friends, post it on your socials, to embrace the denigrating “suffrag- are guaranteed equally under the US ette” nickname bestowed upon them Constitution is the right to vote. In fact, share it so much it gets redundant. Volunteer for voter registration by men aghast at the idea of women women were not even included in the participating in the political process. Constitution until the 19th Amendment. drives. Help get people to the polls. Be vocal and denounce any false The ratification of that equalThe suffragettes and their male rights amendment led to the largest statements about voter fraud assocounterparts, collectively known as suffragists (aka people who advocate single one-day increase of potential ciated with mail-in ballots. And then vote like your life depends upon it. for the extension of the right to vote, voters in the history of the United States. Which, duh, obviously: wom- Because this time, more so than ever especially to women), crafted a poen make up half the population and before, lives do depend on it. litical movement that was powerful, S U M M E R 2 02 0

ILLUSTRATION BY MARY LONG, ADOBE STOCK / CONSTITUTION IMAGE BY ANDREA IZZOTTI, ADOBE STOCK

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Celebrating a Big Win

C O N T R I B U TO R S

Robyn Griggs Lawrence, Leandra Romero, Stephanie Wilson

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BY THE NUMBERS

100 MILLION POUNDS

Weight of crop Michigan blueberry farmers produce in an average year

13 MONTHS The length of time it took before retail sales of cannabis began in Michigan (in Ann Arbor, in December 2019) after legalization in November 2018

PHOTO (TOP RIGHT) BY RONSTIK, ADOBE STOCK

$200 MILLION Total sales of recreational cannabis products during the first seven full months of Michigan’s adult-use cannabis industry

Only Plants Understand

Houseplant sales are on the rise, and researchers believe millennials are to thank for the recent boom in the bloom economy. It’s 18- to 34-year-olds who now occupy 29 percent of all gardening households, according to the annual National Gardening Survey. One theory about all of the houseplant hype is that it’s a new form of self-care. Tending to plants helps those who live in urban jungles or those who are overwhelmed with technology to feel more connected to nature. In the age of social media, millennials are said to have surpassed Generation X and baby boomers as the loneliest generation, according to a poll by YouGov. Owning a plant gives people an opportunity to nurture, providing a sense of fulfillment and purpose without the extra costs of caring for a pet. There could also be new additions to the plant culture craze with cannabis plants. According to the National Gardening Survey, 33 million households (27 percent) say it should be legal to grow for personal use, and 19 million households (15 percent) say they would grow cannabis if it were legal to do so. As the trend continues to grow, perhaps the use of having indoor plants to help boost wellness won’t just be a short-lived fad, but, rather, a new lifestyle for those dealing with stress and anxiety. S U M M E R 2020

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THE BUZZ

BILITIES BY STEPHANIE WILSON, EDITOR IN CHIEF

1 IN CASE YOU MISSED THE IRONY of all the Great Gatsbythemed New Year’s Eve parties thrown to welcome in the second coming of the Roaring 20s, let me remind you how that decade ended: not much worse than this one is starting.

2 IN CASE YOU NEED A REMINDER: whatever you’re feeling is valid. There is no right or wrong way to process what we’re going through right now. There is a right way to interact with others right now, though: with care, through a mask, and from a distance.

3 IN CASE YOU’RE FEELING LIKE GOING OUT in public without a mask: stop watching Fox News, you’re being brainwashed. Be a good human, you’re better than that.

4 IN CASE YOU NEED A PICK-ME-UP: pick up a bouquet of blooms the next time you’re at the grocery store. Yes, funds are tight and flowers may seem like a frivolous purchase, but a $6 bouquet can brighten up rooms and moods alike. A 2018 study from the University of North Florida’s Department of Public Health finds that living with flowers “significantly alleviates daily stresses.” And we’re all a little bit stressed right now. Or we’re in denial, which is a stressful state to be in. Flowers will help. Pro tip: for the best flowers at the lowest prices, look for wholesale florists open to the public in your area. 5 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Denver’s mayor reversed his decision to leave recreational cannabis dispensaries and liquor stores off the list of essential businesses just three hours after the city’s stay-athome order was issued in March. Denverites were clear: flowers— the kind ones with THC—are definitely essential.

It was one of those humid days when the atmosphere gets confused. Sitting on the porch, you could feel it: the air wishing it was water. —Jeffrey Eugenides, Detroit native author

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JAVA JOLT BODY SCRUB Showering with the scent of coffee and mint from Boston-based Organic Bath Co.’s Java Jolt is enough to wake you up. Who needs coffee in a cup? $10–$27 / organicbath.co

CLEANSE + FORTIFY BOTANICAL TONIC Maine Medicinals’ gentle yet powerful tonic includes a little detox love from dandelion and nettle along with strengthening Reishi mushrooms and lemon balm. $26 / mainemedicinals.com

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Stay Strong

And change your mindset, because you should have fun with it. If you’ve been stuck in a fitness rut and the thought of Yes, 2020 is a total dumpster fire— tapping it back on a bike and it’s not over yet. Keep going. one more time makes you want to reach for TEXT STEPHANIE WILSON the Sauvignon blanc well before noon, mix it up. Take a Zoomba class via Well, that just happened. vard Health Publishing Zoom. Learn how to do a remind us in “Starting What, exactly, you ask? proper squat. Challenge to Exercise,” a special All of it. We’re living your roommate to a game health report from the through some strange of Pickleball—and then medical school. “To be times right now, and learn how to play yoursuccessful, [exercise] those times are guaranshould be something you self. Whatever works, just teed to get stranger the as long as you do. do as routinely as eatcloser to election day By making exercise ing, sleeping, and taking we get. It’s been hard. It your habit now, you’ll be may get harder before the your morning shower,” setting yourself up for a the report begins. pendulum swings in the strong start to whatever It can be more diffiother direction. comes next on multiple cult to maintain a rouAs you move through levels. Researchers at the tine during the frenzy this new world, just reUniversity of Texas at of current reality, when member to help yourself. Austin have found that routines are a distant Which isn’t always the exercising regularly is memory. Stress, uncereasiest thing to do, no linked to better eating tainty, slashed budgets, matter how disciplined habits. In a 2019 study you are when there’s not a unstructured free time, published in the Internaand unlimited access to global pandemic altering your typical routine. Since what’s in your fridge: each tional Journal of Obesity, scientists found that there is a global pandemic of these alone can throw sedentary participants happening, we’ve rounded even the most well-inwho took up exercise tentioned plan off track. up some tips and expert showed an increased It’s far too easy to skip advice about how to help yourself stay as healthy as the morning run you had preference for lean meats and vegetables planned in favor of curlyou can right now. What and a decreased interest it all boils down to is making up in a cliché while wearing a “Namastay in ing a plan and then makBed” t-shirt. Which is toing some moves. tally fine, as long as you Plan on Sticking to a Plan don’t blow a year of effort by doing utterly nothing Exercise shouldn’t be at all. Stay strong. And something you do only plan ahead. Get out your when you want to drop those 10 extra pounds or calendar now, and map out your fitness schedule prepare for the charity 10K, the editors of Har- for the month.

in fried foods, sodas, and other unhealthy options. “The process of becoming physically active can influence dietary behavior,” says Molly Bray, corresponding author of the paper and chair of the Nutritional Sciences department at UT Austin and a pediatrics faculty member at Dell Medical School. “One of the reasons that we need to promote exercise is for the healthy habits it can create in other areas. That combination is very powerful.” Drink More Water Staying hydrated helps your mind stay alert, keeps cravings at bay, and helps ward off headaches that inevitably greet you the morning after a night of over-indulgence. It is also key to keeping healthy in such pandemic-laced world. That goes double if you’ve got to hop a flight right now. The Aerospace Medical Association suggests drinking eight ounces of water for every hour you’re in the air to prevent dehydration. “Staying hydrated helps ward off infections, especially when traveling by air,” explains cleaning and organizing expert Donna Smallin Kuper. “Low humidity inside the cabin creates the perfect storm for cold and flu-like viruses. … Staying hydratS U M M E R 2020

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THE LIFE

PHOTO BY JACOB LUND, ADOBE STOCK

ed helps counteract the effects of jet lag, so you’ll feel better when you arrive at your destination.” Reward Yourself “Meeting your exercise goals, even short-term ones, is cause for celebration,” that Harvard special report reminds us. “Whether your reward is small or large, make sure it’s something that’s meaningful and enjoyable. Avoid rewards you might regret soon after, such as eating an ice cream cone if your ultimate goal is losing weight.” Consider instead upgrading to Spotify Premium so you’ll have limitless tunes to motivate your workouts. If you are overindulging on the sweets, don’t be too hard on yourself. Researchers from Deakin University in Australia looked into whether a short-term binge on carbs—perma-vacation (a.k.a. “furloughed indefinitely”) and drowning your woes in vats of whatever indulgence is still in your budget—is as detrimental to your health as chronic overeating for months at a time. The conclusion: your body can adapt to short periods of overindulgence, so if a nice hazy IPA is your thing, yield to your desire and pour another glass. Just don’t do it every day

until we’re on the other side of this crazy storm. Think Wilde (Oscar Wilde, that is): “Everything in moderation, including moderation.” If you’re tempted to down that third glass of cab or slice of pepperoni, gently remind yourself that comfort food sure feels comforting in the moment. What isn’t comforting, however, is wearing pants that are a bit too snug. To give you some perspective, it takes

six months to take off the weight people tend to pack on over the course of the 40 or so days between Thanksgiving and New Years. COVID’s already been around for four times that length, and it shows no signs of abating.

Fitness On Demand If COVID’s taught us anything, it’s that you don’t need to go work out, you just need to work out. And thanks to these apps, you can do that wherever you are. We’ve rounded up the best programs that offer a variety of workouts, class types, and perky instructors there to guide you, to keep you motivated, and to keep you coming back for more. Break a sweat.

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You don’t have to own a Peloton Bike to tap into the energy this top fitness brand delivers during live and on-demand classes led by industry-leading fitness buffs. Take classes anywhere, anytime, on any equipment or none at all. The lineup includes cycling as well as strength, bootcamp, running, yoga, and medi-

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THE LIFE

A B O U T T H E AU T H O R

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

AUGUST HOROSCOPE What do the stars hold for you? TEXT MONA VAN JOSEPH

laxing into the feminine viLEO bration) will benefit you in Stress is caused by your ex- many ways. Allow yourself pectations of other people to be recognized for your this month. If you just accept uniqueness. the fact that you’ll have to do all the work without resent- OCT. 23–NOV. 21 ing or expecting anything, SCORPIO everything will be fine. No other sign has the ability to get as deep into a soul AUG. 23–SEPT. 22 like you. You will experience VIRGO some epiphany-like insights No coasting, you will miss this month. The most draout on a major opportunity. matic of which will be your Follow up with anything that intimate connection to the secures your future comknowledge of the Universe. fort. Awareness to detail will avoid any misunderstandNOV. 22–DEC. 21 ings with those who will con- SAGITTARIUS tribute to your success. You’ve been working hard and feeling unappreciated. The isSEPT. 23–OCT. 22 sue is not the work you’re proLIBRA ducing; it’s that your heart is Be prepared to get attention not in it. That’s why you’re not from people you don’t know getting the acclaim and recnow. The vibration of conognition you want. It’s not the necting with women (and re- place; it’s you. JULY 23–AUG. 22

DEC. 22–JAN. 19

CAPRICORN

August calls for joyful seriousness of the things important to you. It doesn’t matter if you’re building tables for squirrels or changing the world. A casual awareness for your love of life draws more loving. JAN. 20–FEB. 18

AQUARIUS

A happy did-the-work breakthrough month for you! That project or idea is ready to go full fledge out there right now. What’s so cool is that you get to do this in a relaxed, “I know it’ll be fabulous” vibration…and it will! FEB. 19–MARCH 20

PISCES

So last month was sort of sucky because you had to resolve to honor your worth

LEO, IF YOU JUST ACCEPT THE FACT THAT YOU’LL HAVE TO DO ALL THE WORK WITHOUT RESENTING OR EXPECTING ANYTHING, EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.

and dump what wasn’t working. A sign from the Universe this month validates why you had to set this new standard.

thing. The Universe is speaking to you. MAY 21–JUNE 20

GEMINI

Do not allow yourself to MARCH 21–APRIL 19 be short-changed, comproARIES mised, or cheapened. Stay Be aware that you are always strong in your worth and connected to spiritual purauthenticity. The right oppose and guidance. Take noth- portunity is about to presing for granted and be delight- ent itself. fully ready when coincidence JUNE 21–JULY 22 prompts you to action.

CANCER

APRIL 20–MAY 20

TAURUS

As soon as you relax into your direct connection with Spirit, everything shifts for you. You do not need (or want) to do things the way anyone else does some-

This is not an action month. What is meant for you will just come to you. No chasing after what you want. It’s a time of concentrating on what brings you a sense of peace, harmony, and contentment.

S U M M E R 2020

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H ly Smokes For many, elevation leads to enlightenment.

TEXT LELAND RUCKER

A This article was originally published in the December 2017 edition of Sensi Denver/Boulder.

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nybody who decides to use cannabis eventually realizes that there’s more going on than just “getting high.” It’s more mind-opening than that. More and more books and essays outline human’s long history with the plant, and modern yoga teachers and herbalists are incorporating it into their classes. There’s even an international church of cannabis that operates out of a former church in Denver. After decades of repression, cannabis is in a period of renaissance, and it’s not that surprising that many are looking into its introspective qualities. Stephen Gray, editor of a published book of essays, Cannabis and Spirituality: An Explorer’s

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Guide to An Ancient Plant Spirit Ally, and author of The Pot Book, sees two elements pushing the enthusiasm around the plant these days. The first is the psychological and emotional tendency people have to get excited about new things. “It could be called projection or transference, where you look outside yourself for salvation and get all excited when you think you’ve found some-thing,” he explains. But the other factor he mentions is that the cannabis plant has been badly underappreciated and misunderstood in recent history. “For me personally,” Gray says, “rather than coming first from that gung ho place, I have become increas-

ingly impressed with the multiple benefits of the plant.” I have talked with people over the years who get very enthusiastic, excited, and emotional about any one of those multiple benefits. But the passion for this plant is hardly new. There is mounting evidence that humans have been experimenting with cannabis for at least a few thousand years— and perhaps much longer. “What cannabis does is to open the doorway be-tween the conscious and the unconscious,” says Chris Bennett, who’s published several books on the historical use of cannabis in religion, ritual, and magic. When most people think of cannabis and religion, they prob-

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ably think of Rastafarianism, Bennett says, which uses cannabis as a sacrament today. But research indicates that the cannabis plant dates back to ancient history and that humans have been interacting with it for thousands of years in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Bennett has found evidence of religious ceremonies that used cannabis dating back at least 5,500 years. At one point or another, he says, cannabis has been used as part of major religious traditions like Taoism, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and even Judaism. Bennett’s research leads him to believe that the origin of all religions was more based on the individual using entheogens (psychedelic, mind-altering substances like peyote, mushrooms, LSD, ayahuasca, and psilocybin) to enhance the religious experience. Gradually, over time, that began to change. “It became a threat to fundamental religion, just as Darwin was to Adam and Eve,” he says. “Magicians and shamans even today use the plant as something bigger than yourself. That is something that Abrahamic religions have eliminated. Today, the church needs to be the source of the divine.” The divine, like most of the terms we’re using here, can be interpreted in many ways. The International Church of Cannabis opened its doors in a vacant Protestant church building in Denver on April 20, 2016. Outside, it looks like any other church until you notice the windows. Elevation Ministries commissioned colorful psychedelic paintings by graphic

artist Kenny Scharf, who also created a marvelous colorful ceiling in the nave. There is also a video arcade downstairs. In no sense does this church consider itself the source of the divine. “We wanted to create a safe and diverse interfaith church for anybody that uses cannabis as part of their personal spiritual journey, regardless of the culture, religious tradition, or body they were born into,” Molloy says. “When a person ritually uses cannabis with the intention of exploring their spirituality, it is virtually impossible for them not to become elevated, which means to

rise above the petty and destructive distinctions manufactured by most organized religion.” In the foreword to the 2016 book Cannabis and Spirituality, Dr. Julie Holland writes: “There are many among us who are addicted to greed, to power, to newer, to more. ... And this is where pot comes in—it’s a way to opt out, temporarily, from the rat race. Cannabis can unlock us from our habitual way of doing things, and more importantly, of thinking about things. ... It enables contemplation and reflection.” Gray says the focus of the essays in the book is aimed more at this S U M M E R 2020

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kind of spiritual awakening that cannabis can help provide. “I think of it as advanced spiritual meditation. One of the reasons for the book is to put perspective on what it can do if you use it skillfully.” Perhaps the most important part of using cannabis skillfully is putting yourself in the right state of mind and in a comfortable place. I remember reading The Natural Mind, a book by An-drew Weil, when I first started using cannabis and entheogens in the 1970s. Weil wasn’t advocating for drug use—he was partial to meditation—but he acknowledged mankind’s universal quest to alter consciousness, whether spinning about until you fall down as a child or drinking alcohol or using drugs as adults. Weil used the terms set and setting, which Gray incorporates in his book, too. “Set refers to everything you bring to the encounter: your history, your personality, your psycho-spiritual makeup, your intention, and the preparedness you undertake related to the taking of the medicine. Setting is the actual environment and conditions in which you meet the plant,” Gray writes. Clearly, we’re not talking about hitting the bong and falling back on the couch with a bag of chips. Gray says that used correctly, what cannabis can do is to help put you in the right mood for spiritual amplification. “Kathleen Harrison talks about an attitude of respect and reverence,” he explains. “When you do that— use respect and reverence—then you’re more likely to have deeper, richer experiences with it.” Becca Williams holds monthly cannabis elevation ceremonies

from the website cannanaut.com, and she says that creating a comfortable environment for participants is an essential component. We all experience trauma in our lives, she says, and the ceremonies are intended to help people explore the inner reaches of their consciousness with the help of cannabis. “It’s not spirituality as

we know it,” she says. “You see people who are triggered, constantly in a state of hyperarousal. We are creating a framework using ancient Indian traditions and the group dynamic for individual work.” Ultimately, she says, we need to create our own ceremonies. “We’re all looking for meaning in life, and it can be pretty empty out there.” Brigitte Mars, an herbalist, teacher at Boulder’s Naropa University, author, and a longtime cannabis advocate, says she encourages people to experience cannabis as a sacrament, whether by themselves or with others. “It’s a really special plant. I don’t know another herb that has as many possibilities of use,” she says. “Using it with good intentions in a safe setting with people you know and trust can be a powerful thing.” The more people I talked with, the more I realized that just like we’re just starting to learn about how cannabis can impact everything from creativity to the body’s endocannabinoid systems, we are learning more about the plant’s spiritual side, too. The plant isn’t the end itself, but rather a means to an end. “It opens me up to a different perspective,” Bennett says. “It just increases my power of intuition and totally helps me grab ideas and expand realms of association.” Other, stronger psychedelic entheogens like LSD and psilocybin tend to grab you by the throat and won’t let loose, Gray says, but cannabis is different, with an effect that can almost be described as gentle. “When you’re there, you want to get out of your own way and be present. I consider it a flexible, gracious kind of ally.” S U M M E R 2020

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Do you know you have an endocannabinoid system? You do. Your self is full of cellular receptors that bind with the active ingredients in cannabis known as cannabinoids. So why have we just now started to hear about it? TEXT LELAND RUCKER PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS JOSH CLARK

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ne thing I’ve noticed over the years, when talking with my cannabis-using friends, is that they are more likely to say it makes them feel “normal” rather than “stoned.” I generally answer that “it keeps me balanced” or something

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s along those lines. I would never say that about other mind-altering substances (alcohol, for instance), and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at least one reason millions of us keep coming back for more. But why do so many people who use cannabis feel that way? A couple of years ago, I began reading about

something called the endocannabinoid system, a regulating procedure within the body that works in much the same way cannabis does. My bs detector turned bright red. Yeah, right. Even for an advocate, that seemed a little too much to swallow, a little too good to be true.

There is much evidence that cannabis, or whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in cannabis, has been used to treat symptoms of human illnesses, disorders, and diseases in many cultures for centuries and that it was a standard pharmaceutical product in the United States. Today, after decades of lies

This article was originally published in Sensi Denver/Boulder August 2017 edition

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from the government and popular culture’s continuing depiction of marijuana users as inept “stoners,” we’re finding that ordinary people are using cannabis for pain, arthritis, and muscle relief and—surprise—just to relax. But why? Cannabinoids are chemical compounds found in cannabis plants, more than a hundred different ones so far. For the most part, no other plant accumulates them quite like cannabis, and these cannabinoids provide the plant with everything from pest resistance to relief from the sun’s UV rays. The most recognized are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), known for its psychoactive properties, and cannabidiol (CBD), recognized for its medical applications. “Many people have tried THC and CBD. Those are called phytocannabinoids,” says biochemist Samantha Miller, founder of Pure Analytics, a cannabis testing facility in California. Scientists have also discovered cannabinoids that are produced naturally in the body. Called endocannabinoids, they have structures similar to phytocannabinoids. Raphael Mechoulam, William Devane, and Dr. Lumir Hanus found the first endocannabinoid and called it anandamide after the Sanskrit word for bliss, in 1992, and later found another, called 2-arachidonoylglycero, or 2-AG. So far, so good. In 1988, scientists found receptors in all mammals that respond to cannabinoids, CB-1 receptors found in the brain and CB-2 receptors found throughout the body. These endocannabinoids hook up with these receptors. In biochemistry, it’s called the “lock-and-key” model, where the cannabinoid molecules act like

this natural architecture to interact with cannabinoids,” Miller says. “You find these all over the body, in the nervous system, the immune system, everywhere. The endocannabinoids control and influence a lot of different things, like sleep, appetite, anxiety, addiction, the cardiovascular system, immune system—everything to do with quality of life.” Perry Solomon is the former chief medical officer at HelloMD, a popular wellness website with a growing number of patients using cannabis. He describes the endocannabinoid system as a feedback mechanism that helps keep the body in equilibrium. “When you get excessive stimulation, pain, emotions, or bad experiences, chemicals are released that can overwhelm the body,” he says. “Endocannabinoids are a way to keep the body in balance.” There are literally thousands of —Perry Solomon, HelloMD research papers and studies around the world on cannabinoids. But cannabis research remains a somewhat arcane branch of science in the United States, which, under the “keys” that fit into the CB receptor auspices of the National Institute of Drug Abuse, until recently would “locks.” When the CB receptor is fund only projects that were aimed “unlocked” by a particular cannaat the abuse side of the equation. binoid, it changes its shape, and US researchers still encounter how it changes shape determines how it regulates cell signaling (how bureaucratic hassles, lack of adequate study product, and the fact cells communicate within themthat cannabis remains a Schedule selves and how they communicate I drug, which by definition means with other cells). From a chemical standpoint, THC is structurally it has no medical purpose. “Consimilar to anandamide, and CBD is ventional medicine traditionally has concentrated on opioids,” says comparable to 2-AG. THC “unDr. Selma Holden, a physician and locks” the CB-1 receptor in almost assistant clinical professor at the the same way anandamide does, and CBD “unlocks” the CB-2 recep- University of New England. But even US scientists and doctors are tor much like 2-AG. beginning to recognize that some“The reason we interact with cannabis so strongly is that we have thing’s going on.

“WHEN YOU GET EXCESSIVE STIMULATION, PAIN, EMOTIONS, OR BAD EXPERIENCES, CHEMICALS ARE RELEASED THAT CAN OVERWHELM THE BODY. ENDOCANNABINOIDS ARE A WAY TO KEEP THE BODY IN BALANCE."

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“Historically, people just thought cannabis was something that got you high and concentrated on the THC. Because of medical-marijuana efforts and a little increase in evidence, they’re starting to come around,” she explains. “And more patients are turning to their medical doctors and saying, ‘this stuff works for me.’” As recently as 2017, the University of Vermont was the only medical school in the country with an accredited course on the endocannabinoid system in its curriculum. “The people who should know about it aren’t taught it in medical school,” says Solomon, and he understands some doctors’ initial reluctance to deal with the endocannabinoid system. “Until doctors come out and become familiar with what’s involved in the system, there’s a hesitancy.” Oncologists, who already know it helps relieve the nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, are among the leading edge of physicians beginning to take cannabis seriously, and other specialists are looking into cannabinoid alternatives, Solomon says. “A recent National Academies of Science study found that cannabinoids are being used to treat chronic pain in adults, and it does work,” he says. “So anesthesiologists are saying, ‘Maybe this is something we should look at.’” Holden says that some of the most exciting research today concerns cannabinoids’ anti-inflammatory qualities. “When you think of it, a lot of diseases, not all of them, have an inflammation component,” she says. “In dementia, in asthma, it’s all inflammation. That’s what’s interesting about the endocannabinoid system. It’s influencing these inflammation markers.”

“WE CAN'T FALL TOO MUCH INTO THE BELIEF SYSTEM THAT HAVING AN ALTERED STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS IS BAD." —Dr. Selma Holden, University of New England

Much of the research is being done at the behest of drug companies eager to create new products from cannabinoids and able to afford the expensive re-search needed for approval. GW Pharmaceuticals has developed a couple of cannabidiol products to combat epilepsy, and its Epidiolex was approved by the FDA in 2018 for the treatment of seizures—the first cannabis plant-derived medicine ever approved by the FDA. Arizona company Insys Therapeutics recently received preliminary DEA approval for a synthetic cannabis drug called Syndros. (The company also contributed to the successful effort to stop a marijuana legalization initiative in that state last year.) Much of the emphasis on cannabis healing these days is concentrated around CBD and marketed for its non-psychoactive effects. Hold-

en cautions that if someone is using cannabis for a chronic condition like back pain or Crohn’s disease, the feeling of elevation can be an important part of the therapy, too. “We can’t fall too much into the belief system that having an altered state of consciousness is bad.” And that gets us back to where we began. That altered state of consciousness that has offered me and so many people a feeling of relaxation, of being in a place where they can be creative and focused or as a way to deal with common maladies. “Our brains are ideally suited for cannabis,” Chris Kilham, an author and ethnobiologist who studies plant-based remedies as the Medicine Hunter on Fox News, told me. “There’s no substance other than water that has the health benefits and continued significance of those benefits.” S U M M E R 2020

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Empty Calendar What to do when there’s nothing to do.

The dog days of summer are upon us. In our modern lexicon, that popular term has dual meanings: 1) the period between early July and early September when the hot sultry weather of summer occurs in the Northern Hemisphere; 40

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2) a period of stagnation or inactivity. In 2020, the dog days of summer were mauled by the pandemic, which continues to force people around the globe to endure lengthy periods of inactivity. But just because travel dreams were

dashed this year doesn’t mean you can’t take your mind to new places. Here are some quick suggestions about ways to fill the long days ahead. Get Lost in a Good Book Because your brain can’t take any. more. Netflix.

And you can’t take any more…well, anything. As the Book of Disquiet author Fernando Pessoa wrote, “Literature is the most agreeable way of ignoring life.” Not much of a reader? No problem. Trevor Noah, Jamie Lee Curtis,

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Mariah Carey, Kevin Bacon, Alicia Silverstone, James McAvoy, and so many other leading performers can do the reading. All you’ve got to do is listen, which you can do while going about your day. Or while not going anywhere: your call. A 2018 University College London study showed that listening to audiobooks is more emotionally engaging than watching TV and movies—findings consistent across all demographics regardless of the genre. Audible is your go-to source for premium offerings available on demand

If you haven’t already done the Audible free trial, what better time than now to take advantage of the deal: 60-day free trial plus two free audiobooks, then $14.95 for one credit per month, good for any book regardless of price, and you can cancel anytime . Got a library card? Download the Libby app, which allows you to borrow and read ebooks and audiobooks from your local public library for free. Don’t have a library card? Well now you have something else to do right now when there’s not a whole lot to do.

Make (Bad?) Art The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City may be temporarily closed (as of press time), but its website, moma.org, invites you to experience the world through its artistic lens. Take in the Virtual Views by exploring NYC architecture online. Listen to hours of art-inspired music on summer playlists curated by MoMa staffers. From artists’ musical inspirations to cinema soundtracks to the “alien” sounds of the avant-garde, the museum’s Spotify playlists include one dedicated

to the music of Miró; The “Rosanne Cash, the River, and the Thread” includes some thoughts the singer-songwriter shared about weaving, making art, and writing music—and made a playlist to accompany the exhibition. The set featuring songs about and inspired by works of art sets the perfect soundtrack to an afternoon spent engrossed in any of the museum’s free online courses, including “Fashion as Design” and “Postwar Abstract Painting,” taught through online portal Coursera (coursera.org/moma).

QUARANTINE LISTENING PARTY Our editor in chief Stephanie Wilson ranks the seven novels she “read” during shutdown.

7. Trust Exercise by Susan Choi 6. Men Without Women by Huraki Murakami 5. Writers & Lovers by Lily King 4. Normal People by Sally Rooney 3. Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld 2. All Adults Here by Emma Straub 1. Weather by Jenny Offill

“We have art so that we shall not die of reality.” —Friedrich Nietzsche

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THE SCENE WELLNESS

Only Natural Medicineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future is plant-based. TEXT JULIE RAQUE

The evolution of medicine dates back thousands of years and spans many continents and belief systems. From ancient Ayurvedic medicine to the most modern developments in pharmaceuticals, medicine 42

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has changed and shifted drastically over the past 5,000 years. With the mass availability of information, humans have become educated in the world of medicine and empowered to choose the practices to which

they wish to subscribe. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve relied primarily on Western medicine and pharmaceuticals, but we can expect plant-based remedies to play a role in health trends in the year to come as people incorporate holistic healing

practices into their daily regimens as preventative and retroactive measures. People will look to the root cause of disease, not just symptoms. Often when people fall ill, they look to treat

THE SCENE WELLNESS

what they consider the worst part of their illness—the symptoms they’re experiencing— as quickly as possible. People are starting to understand that they need to solve the root cause of a disease rather than superficial symptoms. With information readily accessible, people can understand why they may be feeling a certain way and what they can do to prevent an illness moving forward. More than ever, people are looking toward how active they are, vitamins and minerals, nutrients, and diet to uncover what’s causing their symptoms. They will, in turn, be invested in learning about how different plant-based

remedies address both symptoms and root causes, and how these can lead them on a path to better health and wellness overall. People will look to natural remedies before pharmaceuticals. Botanic remedies have been providing relief for thousands of years. While the pharmaceutical industry has focused on isolating, synthesizing, and patenting specific chemicals and molecular compounds, alternative remedies employ natural treatments stemming from the plant kingdom. People now understand the harm an antibiotic can do to your gut flora, digestive sys-

tem, and kidneys, especially if it is interacting with another antibiotic in your system. Many will look to herbs, spices, fruits, and vegetables to ease symptoms and issues such as anxiety, sleeplessness, mood swings, and adrenal fatigue before reaching for the medicine cabinet. Consumers will experiment with different methods. There are less invasive ways to treat things like pain and sore muscles than popping Ibuprofen or acetaminophen, including cannabinoid-based topicals, lotions, tinctures, and inhalants. Over-thecounter pain relievers

can interact adversely with your kidneys and liver, a difficult trade-off for someone looking to alleviate a headache. Topicals allow you to target a certain area and reapply as necessary, making them a more appropriate treatment for acute pain.

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People will look toward other cultures. More people are looking to ancient Eastern and Ayurvedic principles to figure out why they may be feeling the way they are and how to treat it. Both ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine practices utilize plants in their healing strategies and emphasize balance between mind, body, and spirit.

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we wrap good messaging around that,” he says. “At the end of the day, everybody competes on quality and price. So, what do you do that’s special or unique? What is that value proposition? Creating a package or brand that speaks to that and reinforces the message is where we really shine.” Kush Design Studio has done “A brand brand identity work with several big is more clients—Grand Remedy CBD in Grand renderings, construction drawings, Rapids; Nobo in Boulder, Colorado; and than a logo elevation drawings, and site plans. But Pinnacle Emporium, originally from Las or a sexy it also provides investor relations and Vegas and now in Morenci, Michipackage. public relations consulting. gan—plus a group of smaller compaIt’s really On the dispensary side, Lafferty nies. It also does website design and about says, Weed Maps platform or others new product development for clients. what you can help enhance marketing efforts. “The marketing and branding is one “On social media, we do a lot of piece of what we do, but we also represent.” influencer campaigns to help promote handle all the other complications of products, but you have to be caredeveloping a brand, design and build, —Ryan Lafferty, ful about it because of advertising and getting it from stage one to stage co-founder and COO restrictions in the cannabis industry on two,” Lafferty says. “We have an arof Kush Design Studio Facebook and Instagram,” he says. chitect on staff and a lawyer on staff. Lafferty approaches his work by But keeping the message consistent is looking at what a brand really should a big part of it.” be. “A brand is more than a logo or a sexy package,” he says. “It’s really about what you represent. We help [clients] understand what makes Kush Design Studio people want to buy the product, what Branding and Design makes the product different. And then kushdesignstudio.com

One Michigan company has found an effective do-itall approach to brand identity and design and build in the cannabis space.

randing, marketing, architecture, designing, and building a dispensary facility—that’s the total package picture available from Kush Design Studio. “We do new product development and market and design strategies. That has been our bread and butter,” says Ryan Lafferty, co-founder and COO of Kush Design Studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He and his business partner, Mike Myers, started Kush Design Studio about three and a half years ago. “We do everything from interior design, space design, design and build, space and flow. Anything that you touch or that people see, we have a hand in it,” Lafferty says. “We are a little bigger than just a design and build firm.” The company creates building

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The Tricky Business of Accounting with an Unfriendly IRS One accounting firm says the solution is for cannabusiness operators to use detailed and auditable bookkeeping

axes are one of the most difficult details of a successful operation that every cannabusiness has

to address. And the most difficult part of that tax picture is the 280E code, where, because marijuana is considered a federally controlled substance, businesses are not allowed to write off certain expenses of doing business. That tax issue has been one of growing concern for the industry, as more and more cannabusinesses are opening in new states and being confronted, and sometimes surprised, by this issue. “It affects the tax side and the bookkeeping and record-keeping side,”

Kareyna Miller, partner and founder of LC Solutions Michigan PLLC, a women-owned and women-operated financial accounting and CPA services firm. Miller says that there are plenty of court cases about issues surrounding 280E and what has been going on with the cannabis industry. “A lot of those tax problems stem from incomplete accounting and bookkeeping records,” she says. “Cannabis businesses are taking certain cost deductions that may be allowed, but they don’t have the proper accounting behind it.” She says that her firm works to be proactive on both sides of the tax issue, including implementing a customized chart of accounts and cost allocation

analysis for 280E during the set-up process, plus working on the front end to help ensure accounting best practices are in place for a business’s ongoing record-keeping needs. Is the IRS friendly to this industry? “They see this 280E issue as an opportunity for them to collect tax revenue while that is still in effect,” Miller says. “They are not being friendly whatsoever toward the industry, but it’s all reliant on changes in the tax law.” When a cannabusiness gets down to the details of getting and setting up a business, the first surprise is the whole licensing process in general, she says. “By the time they go through that process, assuming it’s successful, they are surprised by the amount of detail required. You can start a QuickBooks-style accounting process, but it just doesn’t work out of the box for marijuana businesses.” Miller’s firm has a custom accounting method for the industry, making sure that every transaction that is hitting the accounting records can be tied back to an inventory transaction, expense, or point of sales receipt. Each transaction should have a full audit trail attached to it. Miller has been a cannabis patient since 2011. She now helps with the Michigan Association of CPA’s marijuana workgroup sessions to provide educational seminars focusing on providing a better understanding of the financial aspects of the marijuana business. LC Solutions has four CPAs, three partners, a tax partner, an attestations partner, three bookkeeping staffers, a marketing manager, and an administration support person. “Cannabis is 99 percent of our business,” Miller says.

“Cannabis businesses are taking certain cost deductions that may be allowed, but they don’t have the proper accounting behind it.” —Kareyna Miller, partner and founder of LC Solutions Michigan PLLC

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New Volunteers TEXT KATY GURIN

PHOTO BY TRADOL, ADOBE STOCK

In the sun, we circled after speaking to our senator’s staff. We’d given them a list—four steps to transition from fossil fuels— and received no promises for action. Why then, I wondered, were we so giddy? As we spoke of the hard work ahead, why did we feel relief? Before that day, alone in an office, I’d plotted the rise of the future sea, thinking this is the arc of my story: since my birth we’d burned more fossil fuels than all years prior, the decades left to stop this burning were the span of my career, and all I could do on my own was switch out my lightbulbs and mourn. But on that day, each of us felt—I’m sure of it— that as we composed our letter we’d summoned a new sense of possibility, and in delivering it together: power.

DETROIT

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