Sensi Magazine—Las Vegas (Summer 2020) by Sensi Magazine

HOLY SMOKES! How elevation leads to enlightenment

I L A S V EG A S S U M M E R 2020

For Use Only by Adults 21 Years of Age and Older. Keep Out of Reach of Children.

Want a sample of our work? You’re reading it. Em Agency is proud to be the creative force behind Sensi’s award-winning visual style. We build brands we believe in—the brand you believe in can be next. emagency.com

Eva Littman, MD, F.A.C.O.G.

Amity Hererra, PA-C

Voted “Top Doc” in Fertility Trained at Duke & Stanford Universities

15 Years in Reproductive Endocrinology Trained at UCSD & Western Universities

redrockfertility.com • 702.262.0079 • 9120 W Russell Rd, Ste 200, Las Vegas, NV 89148

17th annual wine experience WINNERS!

LAS VEGAS SENSI MAGAZINE SUMMER 2020

sensimediagroup @sensimagazine @sensimag

F E AT U R E S

Holy Smokes

Body Made for Bliss

For many people, 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 TASTE BUDS True Food News, tips, and tidbits to keep you in the loop COFFEE CHARITY Buy a cup to give back. FALL IN LOVE Amour CBD relieves pain and anxiety. PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

ZeroWater purifier PLANT PALS Connect to other houseplant lovers.

18 THE LIFE Contributing to your

health and happiness CBN FOR ZZZ Products that help you sleep HEALTH Thrive Cannabis Marketplace ensures safety and compliance. COCKTAILS Sweet and sour margaritas HOROSCOPE What the stars hold for you

Kitchen satisfies your plant cravings. PROFILE DJ OG Serg ART Local artist promotes sustainability with pinups. PERSPECTIVE No matter how bad things get, they’re never as bad as they could be. ON THE COVER

52 THE END

The heady highs that tie cannabis to spirituality

Alley revitalization projects fill the space between buildings—and between humans.

ORIGINAL PHOTO BY BRASTOCK, ADOBE STOCK PHOTO EDITS BY JOSH CLARK

S U M M E R 2020

S E N S I M AG .C O M 7

ADVISORY BOARD

Bailey’s CBD Pet CBD Tincture & Treats Curaleaf Veterans Cannabis Project Digipath Labs Cannabis Testing Eden Water Technologies Water System Technologies Electrum Partners Strategic Venture Development Evergreen Organix Premium Baked Goods Flower One Las Vegas Luxury Cannabis Fresh Bros White Label Manufacturing & Brand Development Green Leaf Money, LLC. Canna Business Financing Greenhouse Payment Solutions Payment Processing The Healing Panda Custom CBD Oil Ideal Business Partners Corporate Law & Finance Jupiter Research Inhalation Hardware Lee’s Discount Liquor Liquor Store

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Matrix NV Premium Live Resin NGW, LLC. Infused Prerolls Red Rock Fertility Fertility Doctor Rokin Vapes Vape Technology RVD CBD Athletic Lifestyle CBD The Soileau Realty Group at LIFE Realty District Residential Realty Terpen Terpene Specialists This Stuff Is Good For You CBD Bath and Body Undoo Overconsumption Relief Wellness Premium Products Hemp Salon Products

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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 Debbie Hall Managing Editor debbie.hall@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

Abi Wright Publisher abi.wright@sensimag.com B U S I N E S S /A D M I N

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

EDITORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NOTE

I appreciate the irony that the first issue of the summer

focuses on becoming more green. When the pandemic was first being reported, aerial photos showed how the pollution was dissipating, fish were filling the oceans, and plant life was thriving. Before the casinos opened up, many people rode bikes down the Strip. I never thought I would witness the tourist Mecca in my city shuttered and stand silent in my lifetime. Eerie describes the initial mood before turning to joy at celebrating riding a bike, being active and enjoying nature even in the heart of neon lights. I prepare all of my meals at home and discovered the joy of cooking again. I did not experience the quarantine 15 pounds, but I am losing weight instead. Planning a menu, shopping carefully, and not being on the run (working from home) has made a big difference in my life. However, I realize we still face significant health concerns around the world, including the continuing pandemic. I am experiencing this period of our history as the perfect time to take action and not be afraid. I am old enough to remember when AIDS was being reported and the fear that gripped people. We learned then that we could remain proactive as we navigate an unknown new world. Healthy, responsible living is gaining traction and is becoming the norm in our society. People planting gardens are applauded, eating vegan is mainstream, and plant-based is our new ingredient for life. Sensi Magazine is now published in 15 markets, sharing views, news, and inspiration. We are here to encourage everyone to take action daily to continue our progress and take better care of our planet. As an election year, I urge everyone to vote, step up, reclaim, volunteer, and invigorate passion and commitment. Embrace our community spirit while volunteering for causes that are important and can make a difference in all of our lives. Now is not the time to rest on the achievements of a movement or the growth of the cannabis industry. While embracing a pro-cannabis attitude, Sensi is part of the mainstream and reaches out with a collective goal to be part of creating a better Southern Nevada for locals and tourists. Thank you for selecting and reading Sensi, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with you, our readers.

I am old enough to remember when AIDS was being reported and the fear that gripped people. We learned then that we could remain proactive as we navigate an unknown new world.

Yours in the new normal,

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

Debbie Hall debbie.hall@sensimag.com S U M M E R 2020

S E N S I M AG .C O M 9

FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF

“The new normal” is the slogan

Sensi has been using since its 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’ll welcome you to Sensi’s new new normal, not to be confused with the old new normal. Much like everything else in this world, our new normal looks a great deal different than it did at the start of this decade, some eight 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 2020. 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 on production for a variety of reasons, the main one being that our points of distribution were not going to be distributing during the global pandemic. 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 look at what we do and consider the why and how behind it. It provided a chance to stop the constant doing of trying to meet goals and start thinking about whether those are the right goals to be aiming for at all. When we made the call to cancel our April editions, we were optimistic that we’d be back in print by June after giving the already-completed editions a little refresh before sending them out. Then we thought we’d return in July. I’m writing this letter on August 7 as the refreshed April editions are all working their way toward 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 the past few months have been a bootcamp in staying nimble and having backup plans. Hitting pause allowed us to make a whole lot of plans as we examined our business piece by piece, stripped down to the basics and rebuilt from the ground up using the lessons we stumbled our way through building the Sensi brand. We’re guided by one mission: to serve our readers and our communities by focusing on connection—to information, to each other, to businesses and brands that offer products that meet your needs. But for the first time in Sensi’s history, we won’t be printing magazines—we’re going all in on digital this month, and we’ll be doubling down on digital next. This shift allows us to increase that reach exponentially, crossing boundaries and borders. And we’ll be doing so without compromising the quality of content and design that draws readers to our magazines, to our brand. 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 a print publication, we were limiting the impact Sensi could hope to have. 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 welcome you into 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.

We’re guided by one mission: to serve our readers and our communities by focusing on connection—to information, to each other, to businesses and brands that offer products that meet your needs.

Stephanie Wilson @stephwilll S U M M E R 2020

S E N S I M AG .C O M 11

Founders Coffee serves Barista’s Choice for charity. Locally owned and Vegas-born Founders Coffee brings more to the community than coffee, drinks, toasts, and sweets. Its Coffee with a Cause is a monthly partnership with local southern Nevadan charities to raise awareness and money. Founders will serve a unique Giving Drink beverage with proceeds in August to be donated to Dress For Success (southernnevada. dressforsuccess.org). Beverages including coffee, lattes, cold brew, cappuccinos, and specialty coffee drinks like White Chocolate Lavender 12 L A S V EG A S

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Lattes start the day. Frappes such as Almond Butter and Jelly, along with fruit smoothies, are caffeine-free alternatives. Such delicious fare as avocado toast with sun-dried tomato garlic aioli; Deluxe Lox toast with smoked lox, smoked lox cream cheese, red onions, chopped boiled eggs, capers, and chives; and Ferrero Rocher toast with Nutella, crispy chocolate rice, candied pecans and chocolate sauce pair well with any beverage. Founders Coffee / 6410 S. Durango Dr. / founderscoffeeco.com

MORE THAN A DISPENSARY

The+Source prioritizes community outreach first. The+Source dispensary continues to give back to its customers and community by partnering with more than 15 nonprofit organizations. In 2019, The+Source donated $15,000 in funding and over 10,000 cans of food to one of the city’s local food banks. Both locations of the dispensary accepted donations in-stores throughout March and April, resulting in a donation of $2,900 for St. Baldrick’s (stbaldricks.org). The+Source / 9480 S. Eastern Ave., Henderson / 2550 S. Rainbow Blvd., Las Vegas / thesourcenv.com

PHOTOS (FROM TOP): BY CARLOS MACIAS / COURTESY OF THE+SOURCE

Coffee for Community

C O N T R I B U TO R

Debbie Hall

BY THE NUMBERS

33, 1 02 SERVINGS The number of VegeNation portions of buffalo cauliflower wings over a fiveyear period, which has saved over 30,000 chickens

AUTHENTIC VALUE

PHOTOS (FROM LEFT): BY STACEY TOMRA / COURTESY OF AMOURCBD

Max Pawn offers expertise to nonprofits. Led by fourth-generation pawnbroker Michael Mack, Max Pawn specializes in luxury goods, fine jewelry, Swiss watches, and designer handbags as a consignment shop and reseller. As a supporter of the community, Max Pawn offers its expertise and technology to nonprofit thrift stores for complimentary valuation and authentication of donated gold, jewelry, watches, and handbags. With a review, thrift store managers can then receive a fair price when selling the item, whether authentic or a knockoff. This model of sourcing donated items back into the community aids in the green movement of reducing carbon footprint. Max Pawn offers preowned luxury items for buyers, while thrift stores can support its employees and programs with fair prices of donated items. Max Pawn / 6040 W. Sahara Ave. / maxpawn.com

1969 SIGHTING Before he was elected president, Jimmy Carter spotted a UFO and filed a report.

Aches and Stress AmourCBD relieves pain and anxiety.

Sharp aches and pains can occur in anyone, whether working out, performing chores, or just living life. Topicals have proven an effective method for relief from pain, and AmourCBD advanced pain relieving cream is the first FDA-registered CBD cream. It is also registered as an OTC product with zero THC. The odor-free cream contains an effective, proven pain reliever―lidocaine. For stress and anxiety relief, tinctures and real fruit-flavored gummies are produced using broad spectrum zero percent THC hemp oil diluted with hemp seed oil and grape seed oil. Soft gels (patent pending) offer a way to ingest water-soluble hemp oil, CBD, and naturally present terpenes. AmourCBD / cream, 1.55 ounces, $69 / tincture, 1,500 mg, $125; 500mg, $69.99 / gummies, 10mg, $37 / soft gels, 25mg, $59 / amourcbd.com

36,707 FEET

The deepest point found on Earth is Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean.

150

MILLION KILOMETERS The distance from Earth to the sun, measured as an astronomical unit.

“In nature, nothing is perfect, and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful.” —Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple

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.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

PURIFIED WATER ON TAP

ZeroWater eliminates the need for plastic bottles.

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.

PRODUCT PHOTO COURTESY OF ZEROWATER

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.

“… and, then, I have nature and art and poetry, and, if that is not enough, what is enough?” —Vincent van Gogh, artist

Water comprises, on average, 60 percent of the human body, and drinking water is vital to good health. But with plastic bottles destroying the environment, filter tap water is a viable way for a steady supply of good water. ZeroWater developed a unique five-stage filter (via pitcher/dispensers), including an activated carbon and oxidation reduction alloy layer that removes the chlorine taste and 99.6 percent of dissolved solids in tap water. The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) has certified the process to reduce lead and chromium. The ion exchange stage removes the majority of dissolved solids, including aluminum, zinc, and nitrate, while additional stages remove other contaminants. ZeroWater / pitcher, 6–20 cups, from $19.99/ dispensers, 23–30 cups, from $37.99 / zerowater.com

S U M M E R 2020

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SEE WHAT

CBD CAN DO FOR YOU.

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THE BUZZ

VOX POPULI

Question: How will you go greener?

GINGER ALLEN

JOE BUDA

BRIAN YOUNGLOVE

TYLOR URIAS

INDIA MCMIHELK

Business Owner Las Vegas

Project Manager Las Vegas

Business Owner Las Vegas

Executive Chef Las Vegas

Event Planner Las Vegas

___________________ I am pretty green, but can always be greener. This year, I am determined to get away from bottled water and use my glass refillable container.

___________________ I add a recycling bin next to my trash can, including in the kitchen, so I automatically recycle.

___________________ We are developing local partnerships with farmers, growers, and businesses to source our ingredients from the Las Vegas area, reducing transportation miles and carbon emissions.

___________________ As the executive chef for TREVI, I, along with my team, will be focusing on responsible sourcing by working with suppliers who share our commitment, and by featuring sustainable, seasonal ingredients to reduce our carbon footprint.

___________________ I feel like I have always been eco-conscious, as our family recycles. However, there is always opportunity to do more. I will use more silk floral and reusable materials for design and decor.

LOCAL COMPANY

PLANT-CENTERED

Carrie Lynn’s connects houseplant lovers.

One of the best ways to expand green consciousness is to cultivate houseplants. Carrie Lynn’s, located in Fergusons Downtown, is a collective of indoor plant services and products with events for houseplant lovers of Las Vegas. The brick-and-mortar space offers plant styling, maintenance, events, and guidance. Carrie Lynn’s inspires and educates in the joy of cohabitating with plants. New plant parents ready to dive into the world of plants can hire Carrie Lynn’s for an assisted shopping excursion with its plant-care professionals. The right plants can be selected, as well as all the plant essentials, from correct pots to tools. For newbies trying to care for houseplants, these pros can perform an in-home assessment of skill level, plant-care steps, and tips. Interior-scapers can make personalized plant recommendations based on space, air quality, light, and lifestyle for individualize plant styling. Maintenance is offered as an extension of the plant-styling service, but is also offered as an independent service with interior plant-care packages. The maintenance plan includes proper watering, fertilizing, pruning, repotting,

dusting, removal of dead leaves, and pest and disease management. Plant-sitting is also available. On September 14, 2019, Carrie Lynn’s passion project, The Plant Swappers, celebrated its first anniversary of hosting a free community event for people to swap houseplants. The community-based business keeps green growing. Carrie Lynn’s / Fergusons Downtown / 1028 Fremont St. / carrielynns.com

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CBN for Zzz TEXT STEPHANIE WILSON

Sleep is a vital sign of health and well-being, and I’m an insomniac— have been for as long as I’ve been an adult. I’m also a magazine junkie, so every month I read 18 L A S V EG A S

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another article about the importance of restful shut-eye and tips to help me achieve it. And I’ve tried them all, to no avail. I bought blackout curtains, a white noise

machine, and an eye mask. Never much of a coffee drinker, I cut out any remaining caffeine (and became less aggro, but that’s a different story for another issue). I

avoided electronics for an hour before getting into bed; I did nightly wind-down bedtime rituals; I only got into bed when it was time to sleep; I left my devices

PHOTO BY NATA NYTIAGA, SHUTTERSTOCK

Don’t sleep on this lesser-known cannabinoid that may help you sleep.

in the other room. I even got my dog a heated bed that she preferred over sleeping with me. I tried all these things, but sleep still evaded me. A brief period of reprieve followed my move to Colorado, as I began experimenting with cannabis as a sleep aid. If I smoked a little before bed, I’d fall asleep only to wake up an hour or so later when the effects had worn off. I tried edibles, which helped me fall asleep and stay asleep for hours. After a few nights in a row of some solid sleep, I remember waking up feeling rested and thinking I had found my miracle cure. But then my tolerance started building, and 5 mg wasn’t doing the trick. Then 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, and next thing I’d be lying in the dark, high and paranoid all night long. Even if I got some decent sleep, I was waking up foggy. For so many people, cannabis works as an invaluable sleep aid with little to no side effects. That wasn’t the case with me. Enter CBD. A few years ago, CBD was nowhere; now it’s everywhere. Almost literally. Walk into a convenience store, and boom! CBD gummies by the register. CBD water in the refrigerator. Wander into Sephora, and CBD

serums, body lotions, and moisturizers await. Drive down Denver’s I-25 and you’ll see stores dedicated to the cannabinoid. Check my inbox, and you’ll be overwhelmed by a thousand unread emails from PR agencies and agents announcing the launch of a new CBD brand or the release of a first-of-itskind cannabidiol product. And those are only from the last six months. It comes in all forms: topical pain creams and tinctures, water, and wine. There’s infused water for pets, infused cereals for breakfast, suppository lubes for sex, and infused Flaming Hot Cheeto knockoffs for afternoon snacks. When it seems we’ve reached the CBD mania apex, someone somewhere thinks there’s another buck to be made off the craze, and CBD toothpicks, hair pomades, candles, workout gear, bedsheets, and pillows hit the already flooded marketplace. Ridiculous, ubiquitous. Since you’re reading Sensi, I’m going to assume I’m not telling you anything new. So far. But have you heard about CBN? Cannabinol, or CBN, is one of more than a hundred cannabinoids that have been identified in the cannabis plant.

My anecdotal evidence is in: CBN helps me fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up rested time and again. I’m feeling better than I have basically ever. A whole month with full nights of sleep feels like a miracle.

THC and CBD are the two that garner all the attention, and they are the most dominant. A lesser cannabinoid, CBN was actually the first one scientists discovered in the 1940s. It occurs in cannabis in much smaller doses until the plant ages and oxidizes, which causes THC to convert to CBN. And it’s about to get its turn in the spotlight. Since the FDA classified cannabis as a Schedule I drug in the same category as heroin during the 1970s, researchers have been prevented from studying the plant’s medicinal potential. While that’s changing, there’s a lot of catching up to do, so double-blind, controlled studies and clinical trials have yet to be completed. But anecdotal evidence is in, and CBN is being touted as an all-natural cure for insomnia by cannabis experts and outlets. So, when I saw emails with CBN in the subject line hit my inbox, I didn’t leave them unread. Instead I reached out and asked to try the product being pitched so I could offer my own anecdotal accounts of CBN as a cure for insomnia. Two months and a lot of full nights of sleep later, my anecdotS U M M E R 2020

S E N S I M AG .C O M 19

Q: Which U.S. President Asked Congress To Decriminalize Cannabis?

A: Jimmy Carter

Within ďŹ rst six months of taking oďŹ&#x192;ce, President Jimmy Carter was candid about cannabis. During a 1977 address to Congress, he asked they abolish federal penalties for possession. If we know this much about cannabis, imagine what we know to Lift Your Business.

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THE LIFE

aromatic notes of cedarwood, black pepper, and California pine, the Sleep formula is proven to help calm the mind and encourage deep, restorative sleep. All Mineral products are organically grown on a small farm in Colorado that averages a limited run of only four harvests a year. No cannabinoid acting independently will express the benefit experienced when consuming the whole plant, so Mineral utilizes the hemp plant in its entirety— stalks, stems, and buds— maximizing the omega fatty acids and vitamins in their extraction process. To keep the product consistent, the brand identified formula-specific seeds from Oregon that produce plants with characteristics incumbent to accomplish the targeted benefits of the MINERAL products. Sleep Tincture After sourcing the How they describe it: seeds from Oregon, For anxiety-induced Mineral supplies them insomnia. Because you to Waayb Organics in deserve to feel good. Longmont, Colorado, Formulated for those and Waayb leads the suffering from night time anxiety and inflam- cultivation of the plants on an outdoor, seasonmation, Sleep is a blend of calming cannabinoids al, organic grow. After and terpenes associated harvest, processing, and CO₂ extraction, the with sedation to induce a deep, restorative sleep. products go through testing for cannabinoid High in CBD and sequence, terpenes, pesnaturally occurring ticides, and quality. CBN, coupled with soft

PHOTOS (FROM LEFT): COURTESY OF MINERAL / COURTESY OF PRISMATIC PLANTS

al evidence is in: CBN helps me fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up rested time and again. I’ve incorporated the cannabinoid into my daily routine, and I’m feeling better than I have basically ever. It’s amazing what a little sleep can do. A whole month with full nights of sleep feels like a miracle. Don’t just believe me; try it yourself. Like every drug, CBN affects everybody differently. These two both worked for me.

Editor’s note: With that much quality control, it’s no wonder GQ included Mineral on its “Best Stuff of 2019” list and that Neiman Marcus picked up the line for its stores.

lief, result from gentle full-flower extraction from organically grown Colorado hemp for a complete cannabinoid profile. Other beneficial ingredients include reishi mushrooms, oatstraw, and ashwagandha $160 for 60 servings mineralhealth.co for positive mood and support of the nervous Prismatic Plants Good and immune systems; Night Tincture skullcap for stress and How they describe it: muscle-tension relief; Formulated with CBN and valerian root (a.k.a and calming adaptogens, nature’s Valium), Calthis nighttime formula ifornia poppy, and lavpromotes deep sleep and ender for anxiety and boosts immunity during insomnia relief. These the body’s overnight re- pure, effective, safe inpair mode. Its long-term gredients are formulated effects include a return to provide immediate to a natural circadian relief and continually rhythm, enhanced imenhance health through munity, improved repro- long-term use. ductive health, and more $70 for a month’s supply prismaticplants.com energy during the day. The tincture is made with an adaptogenic blend of CBD, CBN, medicinal mushrooms, and organic herbs. The CBD, for overall health and stress relief, and CBN for insomnia re-

S U M M E R 2020

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THE LIFE H E A LT H

Safety First

A Las Vegas native ensures compliance for Thrive Cannabis Marketplace.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THRIVE CANNABIS MARKETPLACE

TEXT DEBBIE HALL

When industries are regulated by states instead of the federal government, different standards apply— and so is the case for the cannabis industry. Here in Nevada, Ashley Blackwood, director of compliance for Thrive Cannabis Marketplace, oversees regulatory and operational compliance, taking great pride in the service she provides the community. Blackwood is responsible for the company’s three locations in southern Nevada and one in Reno, as well as the company’s cultivation facility. A Las Vegas native and University of Nevada, Las Vegas grad, Blackwood cut her teeth in the hospitality industry, but developed a desire to change career paths in 2015. “I have always been a big advocate of the plant, especially after the relief I witnessed a family member received from it while they were going through cancer treatment,” she explains. “Nevada started to open le-

gal medicinal dispensaries, and I watched the market in Colorado, especially economic development.” With the rapid growth of the cannabis industry in Colorado, along with her passion, Blackwood wanted to focus her work on the plant in Nevada. With her background in hospitality management, Blackwood was able to seamlessly transition into her new career. She was hired by Thrive in early 2016, where she has now garnered extensive experience in operations, inventory management, distribution, regulatory compliance, and cannabis cultivation. She also assists in increasing company efficiency and revenue. Blackwood began her cannabis career by studying all of local and state laws regarding the plant and continues to expand her knowledge with changes and updates. “I have been very fortunate to work with a very engaged owner who

entered the market in Nevada with a wealth of knowledge after operating cannabis facilities in Colorado,” she says. According to Blackwood, all products sold in the Nevada meets regulatory standards, which are con-

sidered to be of the most stringent in the country. When consumers purchase legal cannabis, this adds to the economy, creates jobs, and maintains the safety of the product. Thrive Cannabis Marketplace thrivenevada.com

S U M M E R 2020

S E N S I M AG .C O M 23

PERFECT GRIND FOR THE

PERFECT PRE-ROLL

REVOLUTION GRINDER

MINI ROCKETBOX 143 PRE-ROLLS

WWW.STMCANNA.COM TEL: (509) 204 3148

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ROCKETBOX 453 PRE-ROLLS

THE LIFE DRINK

Cocorita Servings: 1

PHOTOS (FROM TOP) COURTESY OF: CABO WABO CANTINA / CRAFTHAUS

INGREDIENTS

1 ¼ oz Cabo Wabo blanco tequila ¼ oz triple sec 1 ½ oz Coco Lopez cream of coconut 1 ½ oz pineapple juice 2 oz sweet & sour drink mix Toasted coconut flakes, garnish Lime, garnish Crushed ice INSTRUCTIONS

• In a shaker, combine all ingredients except lime and coconut flakes and shake until mixed. • Garnish rim of margarita glass with coconut flakes. • Pour shaken ingredients into glass with ice, and garnish with a lime wheel.

Sweet and Sour

Add a little coconut or beer to margaritas. TEXT DEBBIE HALL

A tasty margarita adds to the ambiance of the day or night when flowers are blooming and the weather is just perfect. During Prohibition in the 1920s, Americans traveled to Mexico and discovered the drink. Try a couple of variations and see what pleases your palate as you toast spring.

Marg-ALE-rita Recipe by CraftHaus / Servings: 6 16-ounce drinks INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

Six 12-ounce cans of • Blend ingredients, Zitrone gose-style either with or without beer, available at ice. CraftHaus Brewery • Pour the drink into a 12 ounces of freshsalted-rim glass over squeezed lime juice ice if ice was not used 12 ounces either simple to mix, and garnish syrup or triple sec with lime wedge. 6 cups of ice Drink salt to rim the glass Lime wedges for garnish S U M M E R 2020

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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.

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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.

28 L A S V EG A S

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

S U M M E R 20 2 0

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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PHOTO BY NICOLE GERI VIA UNSPLASH

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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lis s b BODY MADE FOR

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

ORIGINAL PHOTO BY CHARLIE, ADOBE STOCK

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

S U M M E R 2020

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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

S E N S I M AG .C O M 39

GO THERE

PHOTO COURTESY OF TRUE FOOD KITCHEN

Downtown Summerlin 10970 Rosemary Park Dr. The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. S. truefoodkitchen.com

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S U M M E R 202 0

Plant Cravings

True Food Kitchen combines wholesome ingredients with flavor. TEXT DEBBIE HALL

The industrial age brought an era of convenient, processed food, but the desire for nutrient-dense, wholesome ingredients is now the standard for many people, growing in popularity every day. True Food Kitchen, embracing the principles of Dr. Andrew Weil’s anti-inflammatory food pyramid, has created a menu of delicious dining with conscious nutrition. The brand and mission were developed by a collective of accomplished chefs, visionary restaurateurs, and Dr. Weil himself (an integrative medicine pioneer). The dishes include ethical lifestyle choices, keto, paleo, and seasonal ingredients. Its food combines flavors and creativity with health benefits and naturally vibrant colors. Guests can indulge in superfoods with sustainable, responsible, and in-season ingredients. For a spring delight, starters include fig and gorgonzola flatbread with fig, gorgonzola

made with wild-caught albacore, avocado, quinoa rice, mushrooms, snow peas, cucumbers, cashews, ginger, and turmeric ponzu. Brunch favorites like the vegan chorizo bowl, smashed avocado toast, and banana pancakes are weekend delights. Antioxidant-packed desserts include the famed flourless chocolate cake made with caramel, almonds, vanilla ice cream, and cacao nibs. The graham-crusted and Grains, made with miso coconut whipped creamcheese, garlic purée, caramelized onions, and sesame glazed sweet po- topped seasonal vegan squash pie satisfies any tato, turmeric, charred herbs. The Mediterrasweet tooth. onions, snow peas, nean salad combines The restaurant’s lively quinoa, Persian cucum- grilled portobellos, avscratch bar features ocado, and hemp seeds. bers, olives, peppadew, freshly pressed juices, organic tomatoes, green For additional protein, organic teas, and natural tofu, chicken, grass-fed beans, and feta cheese, steak, shrimp, or salmon refreshers. There is a topped with almonds selection of beer, wine, and oregano vinaigrette. can be added. The and handcrafted cockIn the mood for a piz- Vegetarian Inside Out za? Try butternut squash Quinoa Burger is stacked tails featuring organic and gluten-free spirits. topped with caramelized with hummus, tzatziki, organic tomatoes, butter For families, the kids’ onions, roasted garlic, menu features creative, lettuce, cucumbers, red organic kale, vegan kid-friendly dishes. True onions, avocado, and almond ricotta, dried Food Kitchen also offers feta cheese. Entrees cranberries, and sage. Social Hour for dine-in feature fish, chicken, Lunch bowls tempt the guests from 3 to 6 p.m. and grass-fed steak, palate with the likes Monday to Friday. as well as a poke bowl of the vegan Ancient S U M M E R 2020

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THE SCENE MUSIC

Underground Beats DJ OG Serg spins the vinyl.

PHOTO BY DANIELLE EUGENIA/DANIELLE EUGENIA PHOTOGRAPHY

TEXT DEBBIE HALL

DJ OG Serg developed a love of vinyl-spinning on turntables as a young boy in the City of Commerce, California, playing his father’s and uncle’s records. “I knew then that I wanted to play music for people, spreading good feelings,” says DJ OG Serg. After moving to Las Vegas, he brought his influence to his music, playing funk, hip-hop, and old-school, as well as contemporary hits, while throwing in some dance and EDM to boot. At first, it was an avocation as he experimented with vinyl and turntables. DJ OG Serg played weddings and parties, but kept it as a dream and focused on other career moves. Including a residency, he has been a DJ for 12 years, mixing

for the underground and mainstream. DJ OG Serg started his Vegas career on the Strip as part of a DJ international crew. DJs would travel to Las Vegas from around the world, and he would host them, show them the sights— even introducing some of them to the cannabis lifestyle. He credits Official Genius as a big part of his success.

“The scene is changing a little bit,” he explains. “There is a big difference between playing on the Strip in-

stead of cannabis culture parties and afterparties. But I love sharing music with people.” @OGSerg1200

“The scene is changing a little bit. There is a big difference between playing on the Strip instead of cannabis culture parties and afterparties.”

S U M M E R 2020

S E N S I M AG .C O M 43

l l a w g o n m i l la love cann ab o h

CONNECT WITH YOURSELF AND OTHERS IN CITIES AROUND THE GLOBE

TOKEATIVITY.COM/CONNECT

MORE INFO

THE SCENE

Amy Stewart Hale patreon.com/penndragonart sustainusa.net

ART

“Targeting climate change through the production of products will have a huge impact on making headway toward a healthier planet in the long run, and that is important to me.” On a lighter note, Hale has been exploring and is now creating a series of pinup pot girls with a series of different models. The pinups will be PG13-rated, expressing sexy with cool models smoking cannabis. The smoke will be multicolored, wrapping around the subject with a light look and feel. A working professional Amy Stewart Hale promotes saving the earth with a sexy twist. artist for over 30 years working in acrylic and TEXT DEBBIE HALL illustration, she opened PennDragon Studios in 1990 and moved to The art of Amy Stewart life is finding better, are working with ethical, Las Vegas in 2011. Hale Hale expresses versatili- more sustainable manu- sustainable practices has exhibited her work ty, passion, fun, sustain- facturing practices and so we can collectively consistently in the Las ability, dissent, and a products. I want to share begin to address climate Vegas Arts District with desire to help the planet. with people in a way to change by making better her art now shown at “One of my focuses in help build brands who purchases,” she says. Inside Style.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMY STEWART HALE

Sustainability with Art

S U M M E R 2020

S E N S I M AG .C O M 45

THE SCENE PERSPECTIVE

Headline Goes Here Lorem ipsum quam que dolor res. TEXT AUTHOR A. PERSON

Lorem ipsum quam que dolor res.

The Seduction of Whine We actually dodged a bullet in August 2019. TEXT MONA VAN JOSEPH

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An asteroid named Asteroid 2019 OK, the size of a football field, whizzed past earth on Aug. 25, 2019. Traveling at about 54,000 miles per hour, it came into the astronomersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; radar just in time to witness its trajectory. If it had hit land, it would have destroyed the point

where it hit [any cities and towns in its path for miles] and killed millions of people. If it had landed in an ocean, it would have caused devastating tsunamis. It missed the planet earth by 45,000 miles. This was an event that was totally out of our control. However, com-

THE SCENE

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. Radio. She created dicewisdom.com,, which also has a smartdicewisdom.com phone app. mona.vegas

plaining is in our control and is really a bad habit that needs to be broken. It is so easy to place yourself in the victim’s spotlight and command attention. We might not have control over events outside of us, but we certainly do have control over the management of the issues inside of us.

When you continue to (verbally) repeatedly ask, “why aren’t things working,” without searching for the solution, you are whining. Even more important, you are telling the Universe that this situation is “normal.” The Universe will bring you more of what you keep repeating.

PERSPECTIVE

Have you ever gone through a difficult time and noticed that your friends gradually (or suddenly) begin to avoid you? Do you find that the phone call or text isn’t returned as quickly as you would like? No one wants the daunting task of continually trying to cheer you up. You are

now making it too hard to be your friend. How do you turn this around? Shut up and stop complaining about anything; right now; this very second. Look at the situation you’re in and decide that you don’t want to be uncomfortable anymore. You need to truthfully ask yourself, “How might I have created this situation, and how can this time in my life going to benefit me down the road?” It starts with the discipline of what you let your mind process. You can’t change the past, but you can learn from it. You can’t change other people’s behavior, but you can make sure you don’t take it personally. We have all been invited to this life party, so act like it. Learn to explain, not complain. We create our reality. What we think about creates our vibration. Instead of retelling the same uncomfortable chain of events (to others and in your head) that lead you to here, recognize that you are simply being shown what you don’t want. Remember, the more details of the discomfort that you speak, the firmer that reality forms. Think of how to solve, not wallow. Asteroid 2019 OK (luckily) passed us by in space. Each day we have another chance to create our best life. Now is the time.

NINE-DAY NEW YOU Sometimes a new ritual helps us change our point of view. Devote yourself to your best self with The 9 Day Energy Reset (9dayer.com). This guide allows people to relax into their potential, and it’s a marvelous way to break that bad habit of complaining

S U M M E R 2020

S E N S I M AG .C O M 47

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Numbers are based on a 2019 independent audit of the Denver/Boulder Edition from MEDIA AUDIT

P R O M O T I O N A L F E AT U R E RED ROCK FERTILITY

talented, educated, and devoted medical team can thrive no matter what obstacles are present. Littman’s staff includes Physician’s Assistant Amity Herrera, who has 10 years of experience in infertility, as well as nurses, medical assistants, and laboratory personnel, all of whom each have more than 15 years of field experience in infertility. Red Rock Fertility has a very high first-cycle success rate. “I love taking cases that have failed, or those where other doctors have told someone they have minimal to no chance of succeeding—and making it happen for them,” Littman says. It’s her caring nature that acts as the basis for Red Rock Fertility’s success. Additionally, Littman and Red Rock Fertility are selective and unselfish in their recommendations. Rather than seeking potentially lucrative affiliate relationships with financial benefit, Littman says, “I advise patients of brands or products that I think are helpful, but I don’t benefit in alternative avenues in the field, with any way from those. Putting the patient maximum benefit to patients in mind. first and producing a healthy pregnancy is According to a 2017 report by the at the heart of Red Rock Fertility.” CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Littman continues, “I have always Prevention) on fertility clinic success rates, liked the quote ‘The light on a candle is “There were 284,385 assisted reproducalways brighter when it’s first lit.’ How tive technology (ART) cycles performed at we relate that here at Red Rock Fertility 448 reporting clinics in the United States Center is that we strive to accomplish during 2017, resulting in 68,908 live births successful pregnancies the first time (deliveries of one or more living infants) around to keep our patients’ hopes high and 78,052 live born infants.” and their stress levels low. By having this Littman was adamant about being a philosophy, we have been able to create part of those success ART fertility rates, close to a thousand pregnancies on the though she admits beginning her journey first attempt, in turn helping our patients in 2008 in Las Vegas—at one of the grow their families.” most difficult times in recent economic SOURCE: cdc.gov/art/artdata/index.html/ history—was less than ideal. “In 2008, I was fortunate to receive a ourworldindata.org/fertility-rate business loan from Bank of America to start my clinic, and we have grown ever since then,” Littman explains. Defying Red Rock Fertility the odds, consistent growth in challeng- A Personalized Fertility Clinic ing economic times became proof that a redrockfertility.com

Let There Be Life Dr. Eva Littman of Red Rock Fertility thrives on turning challenging and unpromising circumstances into happy families.

n today’s world, modern women defy notions of the past in terms of how many children they want to have, when they want to have them, and how they will become pregnant. Gone are the days of American households having an average of five children. Today, according to ourworldindata.org, the fertility rate is 2.5 children per household, halving the data from the 1950s. Some women are incredibly fortunate to have successful pregnancies without medical intervention, but there is a growing number of women who use alternative methods of fertility. That’s where Dr. Eva Littman of Red Rock Fertility comes in. During her OB/GYN residency at Duke University between 1998 and 2002, Littman fell in love with bringing life into the world. Her least favorite aspects of her residency were the challenging hours coupled with having very little time with patients. This inspired Littman to pursue

S U M M E R 2020

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P R O M O T I O N A L F E AT U R E R O K I N VA P E S

Creating a Cannabusiness Rokin Vapes builds and improves an innovative product.

rom the Rokin district in the heart of Amsterdam came the inspiration for a Las Vegas–based cannabis vape business launched in 2017. “We named it Rokin Vapes because I had been going to Amsterdam since the early 2000s; I’ve been around the marijuana industry for a long time,” says Daryl Bauer, CEO of Rokin Vapes. “I wanted to pay a little bit of homage to where the industry started.” Bauer runs Rokin with his father, Lawrence, who works full time, while his brother, an engineer, steps in as needed. Family and friends helped fund the start-up of the company.

cartridges, and 510 threaded mini-tank batteries, which are his best-selling products. “We actually started the trend of the mini-box batteries,” he says. “After we introduced that product, we saw an explosion in 2018 of everybody coming out with those devices.” The company has been improving its devices to make them last longer and adding other features, based on customer feedback and ideas from multiple consumer focus groups. The mini-tank is now in its fourth design. “Some of what we did was adjust the way it was built, like changing a few things on the mold to make the cartridges work better,” Bauer says. His most recent function addition is the automatic shut-off feature: after 180 seconds of nonuse, the battery goes off. “Essentially, we put a clock countdown feature on the chip,” he says. “But as long as you hit the button within 180 seconds, it starts again.” The vape market took a hit from the recent vape crisis, taking Rokin’s business down about 50 percent. But it’s recovering now.

After his first trip to Amsterdam, Bauer learned about vaporizing cannabis. He saw how the batteries were built, and then he came back home and made his own device. “We got into vape products because it didn’t require any licensing, and it was a good way of executing a good branding strategy in the marijuana market,” Bauer says. Rokin’s first device was the nitro wax pen, which the company still sells. Wax pens were popular in 2017, but Bauer decided that Rokin needed to get into oil cartridge batteries. Rokin Vapes Today, Rokin has a line of concenTechnology Driven Vaping Products trate vapes, oil vapes, atomizers and rokinvapes.com S U M M E R 2020

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THE END

Revival Path dT-Alley transforms alleyway into community space.

Alleyways separate the buildings in downtown Las Vegas, and most are lined with garbage cans, dirt, and debris. The nonprofit dT-Alley Community Coalition, in partnership with the city of Las Vegas, is changing that with dT-Alley, the first alley revitalization project recently unveiled and open to the public. 52 L A S V EG A S

The T-shaped alleyway, located between Fremont and Sixth streets, and Carson and Las Vegas boulevards, is now an immersive, interactive community center bringing nature, art, education, and music to the heart of downtown Las Vegas. The unveiling of dT-Alley, held on February 20, was officiated by Mayor Carolyn Goodman with

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City Council Members Michele Fiore and Olivia Diaz. The Gazillionaire (of Absinthe fame) entertained as the master of ceremonies. Guests walked through the alley enjoying live music, artful alley activations, and light bites by Project BBQ food truck at Circa. The alleyway renovation will include urban design murals painted by

local artists King Ruck of Black Spade Tattoo and Miguel of Zappos. Art walks, farmers’ markets, and family-friendly events are planned. The permanent piano installation, puppet theater, and a “take a book/ leave a book” library will remain on-site. The community center will also be made available to host private parties, corporate

events, and weddings. ’Grammable photo opps beckon anyone with a device to capture images with interactive moments surrounded by innovative landscaping. The new outdoor space signals the continued growth and revitalization of downtown. dT-Alley 120 S. Sixth St. dtalley.vegas

PHOTO COURTESY OF NEON PR

TEXT DEBBIE HALL

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