Sensi Magazine—Tampa Bay (Summer 2020) by Sensi Magazine

I TA M PA BAY S U M M E R 2020

STAY STRONG

Don’t let 2020 keep you from being your best ›››

GRAMS OF THE ’GRAM

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TAMPA BAY SENSI MAGAZINE SUMMER 2020

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F E AT U R E S

24 Woo-Woo Woofers The pet wellness craze is sweeping the nation.

Body Made for Bliss

Insta Grams

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

Elders wanting to stay relevant had better get Insta-worthy.

D E PA R T M E N T S

9 EDITOR’S NOTE 18 THE LIFE Contributing to your health and happiness 12 THE BUZZ STAY STRONG How to News, tips, and tidbits to keep you in the loop

CENTENNIEL CELEBRATION

An ode to 100 years of women’s suffrage MARKETPLACE New hemp and CBD products to try GROWING POPULARITY

Why houseplant sales have spiked in the US DO YOUR PART How to help Strain Slayer keep our beaches clean SIGNS OF THE SIGNS

Zodiac-themed wall art FOR A RAINY DAY This nonprofit provides for our most vulnerable.

keep fit during the garbage fire that is 2020 HOROSCOPE What the stars hold for you

42 THE SCENE Hot happenings and hip

hangouts around town A LOST ICON The rise and fall of Cigar City

ON THE COVER

Yikes. 2020 has gone to shit. Here’s how to keep your body from following suit. PHOTO BY JACOB LUND, ADOBE STOCK

NOT ON THE CALENDAR

What to do now that there’s nothing to do

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

S U M M E R 2020

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ADVISORY BOARD

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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 Eric Hoppes Managing Editor eric.hoppes@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 Aaron H. Bible, Mona Van Jospeh Contributing Writers DESIGN

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

Daniel Mitchell Publisher daniel.mitchell@sensimag.com Matthew Dunn Associate Publisher matthew.dunn@sensimag.com George Konold Associate Publisher george.konold@sensimag.com Ashley Millington Associate Publisher ashley.millington@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

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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, SUMMER 2020

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

Rodney Burell, Eric Hoppes, Leandra Romero, Stephanie Wilson

DOWNWARD DOG

PHOTO CREDITS (FROM LEFT): COURTESY PET LIFE / RONSTIK, ADOBE STOCK

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How did our pooches live without this apparel? If only they could tell us. Alas, we’ll just have to trust they are able to move freely and comfortably during zoomies thanks to a new line from Pet Life. The collection features state-ofthe-art materials that are antimicrobial, quick-drying, and breathable. The lineup includes stretchy dog T-shirts, polos, fullbody gear, tank tops, and hoodies. “It took years to develop this collection after studying what the leading activewear manufacturers are doing in the human space,” says Joseph Braha of Pet Life. “We understand the yoga fashion market very well and how dog yoga is becoming a larger trend.” With breathable four-way stretch fabric, the Eboneflow dog yoga T-shirt worn here starts at $43. shop.petlife.com

BY THE NUMBERS

306, 1 85 FLORIDIANS Total number of medical marijuana patients in the Sunshine State as of January 2020—more than any other state. SOURCE: Marijuana Policy Project

93 Only Plants

PERCENT

Amount Florida’s medical marijuana industry grew in 2019, with a total market value approaching $800 million—not much lower than some states with recreational markets. SOURCE: Leafly

$33 BILLION Amount the federal government spends each year prosecuting the War on Drugs. SOURCE: New Frontier Data

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

A NEW WAY TO SLAY One local philanthropic effort benefiting Florida beaches, including the Tampa Bay lower area, is Brian “Strain Slayer” Gray’s Beach Cleanup group. Backed by several major players in the Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers field—including Rise and AltMed Florida (a.k.a. Müv), as well as notable brand names like Tikun Olam (exclusive to VidaCann) and Sunshine Cannabis (exclusive to Trulieve)—the group has managed to beautify a total of five Florida beaches thus far. Areas serviced include Fort Myers, West Palm, and St. Pete. Its main goal, aside from picking up trash, is “slaying the stigma,” according to founder Gray. He wants the community at large to know that cannabis consumers and patients can be active, productive, and caring members of the community. Check strainslayer.com for information on upcoming beach cleanups and ways to donate support. The most needed supplies are trash bags and gloves.

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.

“August in Florida is God’s way of reminding us who’s in charge.” —Blaze Clement, Author

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SUMMER 2020

THE BUZZ

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Saving Others with a Rainy Day

“Ease of access” is a common phrase in the cannabis industry. Patients find themselves unable to afford their medications or live in an area that’s either failed to pass legislation or lacks the supply

necessary to accommodate demand. That’s why Morgan Haas, founder of The Rainy Day Foundation Project, made it his mission to serve those most in need: people suffering with chronic illnesses and disabilities (a large percentage of which are veterans). According to its vision statement, the aim is “to bring comfort to the population […] unable to pay for medical cannabis”—delivering a poignant message during a nationwide opioid crisis, where those experiencing chronic pain are too hastily prescribed pharmaceuticals. While the foundation is not paying for medicine itself, it organizes mobile efforts to provide free screenings and recommendations. Plans also include issuing reimbursements to qualified candidates, covering the expense of the state fee taxed to medical cannabis patients. Its target audiences are those living on a fixed income via supplemental security income (SSI) or social security disability insurance (SSDI). Exhibiting values of “resolve, transparency, and accountability,” per their website, the current waiting list has reached upward of 570 candidates seeking treatment.

rainydayfoundation.net

S U M M E R 2020

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SUMMER 2020

PHOTOS BY JACOB LUND, ADOBE STOCK

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

S E N S I M AG .C O M

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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.

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S U M M E R 2020

S E N S I M AG .C O M

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 replace; 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

S E N S I M AG .C O M

WOO-WOO

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SUMMER 2020

WOOFERS The pet wellness industry is taking off, with a barkload of new ways to give your pooch some extra pampering. TEXT STEPHANIE WILSON

PHOTO BY ANNA_ROSTOVA, ADOBE STOCK

’m sitting at my desk in the early hours of the morning struggling to write the anecdotal opener to this story. There’s soft music playing, so soft I can hear Gidget’s content snores coming from the pineapple dome she sleeps in when I’m at my desk. If the music were too loud, she would stomp as much as a chihuahua could out to the living room to get in her pressure-activated heated bed, engulfed by the soft white throw blanket I bought for myself. Gidget saw it, she liked it, she want it, she got it. This is the way it works. The nails on my fingertips are past due for a manicure; Gidget got hers done today. My dinner was peanut butter spooned from the jar; Gidget dined on a gour-

whole host of things.* Really, we’re just redirecting our limited discretionary funds to things we deem more worthy than, say, an intrinsically worthless shiny stone that De Beers’ marketing firm convinced Americans is a token of love and esteem that lasts forever. (Read: millennials are killing diamonds.) Millennials do spend HOOMANS AND FLOOFERS money on pets. This I wouldn’t have it any year, the US pet indusother way. Gidget may try is projected to rake in be a furry freeloader, but $75.28 billion, up more she’s my furry freeloadthan 30 percent since er and I love her hard. 2010 according to the Because she is awesome. American Pet Product All dogs are. Fight me: Association (APPA). A I’m an elder millennial, majority of millennials and I’ve got a genera(76 percent) would be tional army of pet-pammore likely to splurge on pering 20- and 30-some- luxury items like expenthings to back me up. sive treats or a custom Millennials have been bed for their pets than accused of killing a for themselves. met blend specially formulated to deliver the exact level of antioxidants, vitamins, fiber, probiotics, and minerals she needs for optimal health. After dinner, she got a bath and a towel massage before she tucked into the pineapple. That’s when I sat down to start writing. I work hard so my dog can have a better life. The meme is real.

KILLING SPREE I typed “millennials killed” into the search bar and autocomplete results included “mayo,” “Hooters,” “golf,” “romance,” and “malls.” We should be thanked, all those needed to go—yes, including romance as defined by the patriarchal archetype, but that’s a different topic for a different day. We’re talking about dogs here.

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“The pet care industry is booming, as people around the world—especially millennials—blur the line between human child and animal,” according to Business Insider. The senior brand manager of Purina, Ryan Gass, suggests that millennials are putting off marriage and having children, turning to pets to “fill that void,” but I don’t know what void he’s talking about, so we’re moving on. Millennials’ love for their pups is so intense, it’s spawned its own language. Us hoomans chase our heckin floofers, iPhones in hand, snapping pics of their snoots and bleps to share with frens, posting with captions about the goodest boy in the world. This has all led to a rise in what more serious folks call the “humanization of pets.” Sounds ominous. But it indicates how much our lives and our pets’ lives are intertwined—and therefore following the same trends. And what’s trendier or more millennial than wellness, wellness everywhere? In 1979, veteran journalist Dan Rather quipped during an episode of 60 Minutes, “Wellness…that’s a word you don’t hear every day.” Fast forward 40 years, and we’re hearing the word so much every

as well as sensory-based experiences, like the use of crystals, sound baths, and aromatherapy.” In Denver, Zen Pet is all about these modalities. Run by Dr. Becca Klobuchar, the mobile holistic veterinary medicine’s range of services is rooted in energy balancing and Chinese medicine. “I began exploring holistic therapies in an effort to provide pets with additional healing options when traditional treatments were unsuccessful,” says Klobuchar. “The intuitive treatment modalities I use approach pets’ health from the physical, energetic, and spiritual perspectives.” The energy balancing service is based on the concept that all living things have their own energy field that, when not in balance, can lead to disease, emotional LAYING ON HANDS Oh, yeah, and dog Reiki is stress, and pain. During a session, the ancient a thing here, too. Gidget practice of “laying on hasn’t tried it yet; she— like me—thinks it sounds of hands” transmits the healing energy of the a little bit woo-woo. This is how Health mag universe through the practitioner to the anidescribes the basic prinmal for healing effects. ciple: “Energy medicine While energy medicine (or biofield therapies) is the act of channeling and is the farthest mystical extreme of the modern manipulating the energy that courses through your wellness world, there are some forms backed by body in order to heal it. science. Acupuncture, This can be done with for one, and even Reiki. hands-on practices such as acupuncture and Reiki, Health reports that a 2010 day it’s almost lost all meaning. The fresh “pet wellness” phrase could mean pets are doing well overall or it could mean pets are judging you for not drinking kombucha. Don’t worry, dogs don’t judge. But they are getting more probiotics in their diets, just not from kombucha. Probiotics in sales of pet foods grew by 139 percent in 2018, according to the Nielsen market report, “Trends in Pet Care Mirror Those of Pet Owners.” We eat superfoods; our dogs eat superfoods. We take CBD; our pups take CBD. We get massages; our dogs get massages. There are fitness studios where we can workout alongside our pooches, acupuncturists we can visit for healing sessions, and day spas we can rent out for puppy playdates. Our pets don’t have it ruff.

US HOOMANS CHASE OUR HECKIN FLOOFERS, IPHONES IN HAND, SNAPPING PICS OF THEIR SNOOTS AND BLEPS TO SHARE WITH FRENS, POSTING WITH CAPTIONS ABOUT THE GOODEST BOY IN THE WORLD.

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review of research in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine found strong evidence that biofield therapies such as Reiki and therapeutic touch can alleviate pain. The caveat: It could be a placebo effect, and our pups aren’t swayed by the power of suggestion. But if you think it’s working for her, then the session is working—for you. It’s called the “caregiver placebo effect,” and there’s nothing wrong with it. As long as it’s used in conjunction with traditional vet visits—a supplemental part of a whole wellness plan. CHIRO FOR CANINES Dog chiropractic is an another emerging field gaining traction as a beneficial supplemental treatment therapy. At Denver Central Chiropractic (DCC) in Centennial, Dr. Erin Moran is providing holistic health care to both people and pets—“holistic health care for you and your dogs.” Animal chiropractic at its core follows the same principles and practices as the human kind. Moran suggests you consider chiropractic treatments if your pooch is showing signs of pain: reluctant to climb stairs, difficulty getting up after laying down, constantly licking or chewing paws, walking differently.

LIVING WITH A DOG IS GOOD FOR HUMAN HEALTH AS WELL. SO SAYS SCIENCE. SO THEY DESERVE TO LIVE A HEALTHIER LIFE RIGHT ALONG WITH US.

“Dogs get the same back issues as people, and chiropractic is a great option to address those issues without the use of drugs or surgery,” says Moran. “People get great results from seeing a chiropractor, and I want people to know that their dog can experience the same benefits.” It’s a nonsurgical, drugfree option for correcting disorders related to a fixation in the spine or joint. When vertebrae become immovable through trauma, injury, or standard wear-and-tear, the joints between them become jammed, often affecting the nerves in the congested area. Those nerves are the communication link between the brain and the spinal cord, so when they are out of order, it can set off a cascade of effects that leads to pain and loss of function. But pets can’t tell us where they hurt or why they’re limping, so treatments are a bit more complicated. When working with animals, Moran looks for abnormal or restricted movement, with a goal of restoring it to reduce pain and improve mobility. “The results I’ve seen have been amazing,” she says. Moran has helped dogs who have lost the use of their back legs because of slipped discs; after adjustments, they’re able to regain use of their legs and

walk again. She also treats arthritic dogs, “getting the pep back in their step so they can have a better quality of life.” If she could communicate with more than her eyes, Gidget would attest to the benefits of an adjustment. I can attest to the additional pep in her tiny steps after a session with Moran. Healthy pets can experience benefits of spine checkups, too, the doctor points out—especially active and athletic ones. The DCC website is clear that the practice is not meant to replace veterinary medicine. Rather, animal chiropractors work in conjunction with veterinarians, treating areas that often go unnoticed by traditional care. And that pain in your back as a result of hunching over your desk spoon-feeding yourself peanut butter while your pooch snuggles in your new comforter? As it turns out, living with a dog is good for human health as well. Having a pet lowers stress, reduces blood pressure, and may even help you live longer. So says science. So they deserve to live the same aspirational lifestyle to which we have made them accustomed. It’s the least we can do to repay the unconditional love Rebecca Treon contributed to this piece.

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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

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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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INSTA-

GRAMS Elders (and relative elders) wanting to stay relevant had better get Insta-worthy. TEXT ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE

his year Facebook, the venerable elder of social media, turns 16–a ripe old age in digital years. Fittingly, the patriarch has officially been taken over by the baby boomers, who have quickly stepped in to fill the void as Gen Ys and Gen Zs ditch their parents’ platform for fresh-

er, brighter realms like Instagram and Snapchat. The seven million over55 users who are now posting grandkid pics and ranting about politics are Facebook’s second-largest and fastest-growing demographic. Facebook stopped being cool as soon as Mom and Grandma could—and did—comment on your posts and friend request

your friends. Worse, they turned it political, which means sour, and those negative vibes aren’t what millennials like 29-yearold Caitlin Moakley want to see on their phones. “I don’t find hope on Facebook,” Moakley says. “I find that’s where thoughts go to die. Facebook is kind of like the retirement home for social media.”

Instagram, on the other hand—which Facebook bought when the photo-sharing app was a year old in 2012, let’s not forget—grew from 500 million to one billion active monthly users last year (one for every dollar spent to acquire it). That’s still less than half the number of Facebook users, but here’s the big difference: 90 percent of S U M M E R 2020

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Instagram users are younger than 35, according to Brandwatch. Half of these young consumers follow brands on Instagram, where engagement, as measured by likes, shares, and comments, is 10 times higher than Facebook, according to Forrester. More than 25 million companies are already building (or attempting to build) loyal followings. “When you talk about millennials, you are talking about Instagram by default. If you want to reach a young audience, you have to be on Instagram,” says 54-year-old Zoe Helene, founder of educational advocacy group Cosmic Sister. Helene contracted Moakley’s company, Soil and Spirit, which helps small businesses in the natural products, cannabis, and psychedelic communities create digital content, to help build an Instagram presence for Cosmic Sister and one of its major campaigns, #psychedelicfeminism. Helene is at the bottom of the wide boomer arc that tops out at 67- and 68-year-olds, and she’s among a first wave to see Instagram’s potential for connection, promotion, and community building. The last couple years have seen the debut of what the New York Times calls the “glamorous

grandmas of Instagram,” stylish elders who are asserting their presence in part to subvert “shopworn notions of what ‘old’ looks and feels like.” These women are hip, irreverent, and not afraid to say what’s on their minds. They’re strutting it, winning big, and projecting confidence in aging well. Their attitude could perhaps be best summed up by 71-yearold Australian knitwear designer Jenny Kee, @JennyKeeoz, who told the Times, “If we are going to be in a nursing home, we’ll be there with our marijuana, our health foods, and our great sense of style.”

being perceived as irrelevant.” If they’re feeling intimidated, she advises, “hire a wicked smart millennial, pay them, respect them, and respect their knowledge.” Moakley, who has been using social media since she was in high school and Instagram since college, knows the platform like her thumbs know the phone in her hand. She finds it intuitive and user-friendly, but she empathizes with older people who haven’t grown up as digital natives. “I mean, cutting and pasting, spacing out your lines,” she says. “Who would have known this stuff ? It’s not just laid out for you.” Aside from the techniBIG SISTA INSTA’S calities of posting, tagging, ALWAYS WATCHING and building audience, Helene hired Soil and Spir- there’s etiquette to Instait because she believes that gram that boomers who “for older women to work cut their teeth in the milproperly on Instagram, itant, factional Facebook they need to work with trenches might not get. younger women.” She con- Following someone but tinues to set overall strate- never liking or commentgy and vision for her feed, ing on their posts makes but she needed someone you a “ghost follower.” with innate Instagram sensibility and experienced thumbs. “My millennial thumbs haven’t downloaded yet,” she says. Helene often gets into conversations with fellow boomers about their fear of this youth-oriented platform. “You can’t ignore it,” she tells them. “That’s a surefire way of

After you post, you’re expected to reply to people’s comments within the hour—and Instagram will show it to more followers if you do (creepy). Apparently, Big Sista Insta (the no-less-powerful younger sibling of Big Brother Facebook) is always watching. You can make her happy by making use of all she has to offer, creating content for IGTV (an app for watching long-form, vertical video), carefully curating your favorite stories, and engaging your followers via story polls. She doesn’t like it when you edit your post’s caption or location tag in the first 24 hours (no one can say why). In return, she’ll give you data like you’ve never had before. For Helene, who sold digital insight tools like the ones available for free with an Instagram business account to Fortune 100 companies for hundreds of thousands of dollars back in the early 1990s, this is

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THE ELDERS OF INSTA ARE SUBVERTING TIRED NOTIONS OF WHAT “OLD” LOOKS LIKE.

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nothing short of miraculous. “Instantaneously, I know I have the most followers in New York and LA and that 46 percent of them are aged 25 to 34,” she says. “I have a pie chart here that’s changing in real time. When I post a ton of goddess-y stuff, my male percentage goes down—and I’m fine with that. Our #MaleAllies are welcome, but I suspect some of those followers were probably there to pick up chicks anyway.”

EMBRACE AND HEAL YOUR INNER DORK Instagram is about images and image—curated, filtered, elegantly presented. We take more pictures every two minutes than we took during the entire 19th century (according to Fstoppers, a photography news site) and why we’re willing to fork over four figures for a superior camera in our phones. Creating an Insta avatar who stays on brand, only wins, and spreads love to her band of followers is tempting #goals. Image through collaboration and community—very precisely chosen and developed community—is everything here. It’s not about mutual “friendships” like Facebook. You can follow and unfollow anyone you like (as long as they have a public account),

and no one has to follow anyone back. You will be judged by how many followers you have and how many you follow—and who they are. They’re as much a part of the image you’re building as the content you post. If it sounds a lot like a junior high popularity contest, well ... you might have to embrace and heal your inner dork if you want to play big on Instagram. You build community with hashtags, which were introduced by Twitter but came into their own on Instagram. You can figure out what matters to your audience by checking out what hashtags they use and follow, then you can start interacting with the top tags in your niche to get noticed. Instagram lets you have 30 hashtags on a post and 10 on a story, so you can experiment. As Helene is quick to point out, “It’s all a game.” “You’re putting forth the highlight reel of your life, and when you tap through your Instagram story or scroll through your Facebook profile at the end of the day, you’re reliving the best moments of it,” Keith Campbell, PhD, author of The Narcissism Epidemic, told Marie Claire. “The stress is stripped down, you’re looking at yourself in the way you want other peo-

ple to see you, and your brain says, ‘Hey, I had a good day, and I’m a decent person.’” This isn’t narcissism, says the author of the book on narcissism, but a basic need to find validation to feel good about ourselves. “We’re all existing in a culture that has turned self-worth into a competitive, measurable unit that gets displayed to the world,” Campbell said. “To be successful today, you often have to have your own brand and a network of connections and followers, so of course you’re going to be invested in yourself; of course, you’re going to do what you can for the likes and comments and followers, even if that means having a persona.” And, yet, Campbell.... and fellow academic Jean Twenge found that narcissistic personality traits have risen as fast as obesity since the 1980s, with a particularly marked spike in women since the turn

of the century, according to the Guardian. In 2017, a LendEDU study crunched the data and declared Instagram users narcissistic attention-seekers in need of constant validation and ego boosts. Just as you can’t blame the substance for substance abuse, Instagram is not the culprit in our increasingly self-absorbed culture. It is simply a reflection. We’ve been given this mirror to tweak our images and put our best faces forward, but we’ll inevitably fail if we try to be something we’re not. “If you’re going to be on Instagram, the most important thing is to be authentic,” Moakley says. “So much out there is not very authentic right now.” Authentic, but preferably with sunsets, surfboards, and silhouettes of lithe bodies in bikinis, if you follow the stats on what gets the most likes. If that doesn’t make a lot of sense to you, you’re probably over 50.

WHAT NO ONE TELLS YOU ABOUT INSTAGRAM Be present. One in three users will go to a competitor if ignored. Pace yourself. The sweet spot is one to two posts per day. Tone down the hard sell. More than half of users unfollow brands that oversell. Refresh your bio. It’s the only place you can post a link; don’t let it get stale. Get good at video. It generates 1,200 percent more shares than text and images combined. There are apps for that. Hootsuite and Buffer schedule and distribute content, Pic Stitch edits photos, and Captiona makes great captions. Data Source: Sprout Social

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America’s Lost Icon Ybor City or “Cigar City” is a cultural hotbed with a fascinating history, right in the heart of Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay is home to an incredible cluster of prominent cultural hubs. Some of the noteworthy beacons broadcasting the bay’s identity include many of the nation’s (and arguably the world’s) best beaches, record-setting sponge docks, and even a parade 42

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of pirates rivaling that of New Orlean’s world-famous Mardi Gras—not to mention several thrilling local attractions. However, there is an area nestled in the heart of the city that has the power to transport visitors through time, to an era long forgotten.

This fantastical location is none other than Ybor City, also referred to as Cigar City by natives and historians. The district earned the now-famous moniker for obvious reasons: the town was founded in 1885 by cigar manufacturers and, at its peak,

produced nearly “half a billion handrolled cigars every year,” according to records. This economic boom was thanks in part to Vicente Martinez-Ybor, after leading the other two manufacturers, Gavin Gutierrez and Ignacio Haya, to establish the independent

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TEXT ERIC HOPPES

town. Gutierrez originally came to Tampa in search of guava trees, planning to ship the fruit back to New York, while Haya (also from New York) was visiting in search of a new location for his cigar manufacturing headquarters. Ybor, a Cuban native with an already successful cigar business, fled his homeland in 1868 to avoid living under Spanish colonialists. Ybor’s crimes of supporting Cuban rebellions, both publicly and financially, would have likely ended in his execution. Ultimately, Ybor and his family settled in Key West, where he again entered the realm of cigar production. As shipping costs and labor expenses skyrocketed in Key West, Ybor needed a new home for his business. Gutierrez

suggested Tampa, and after months of negotiations with neighboring port cities along the Gulf Coast, in October 1885, Ybor acquired the land for a total of $5,000. One year later, a large fire in Key West prompted a surge of workers to permanently relocate, spurring Tampa’s first major population growth. Tabaqueros, tobacco workers, labored on the agricultural side of the crop, while Torcedores were considered the artisans of the trade of handrolling finished cigars. The tobacco industry provided an enormous economic opportunity for many, including the city of Tampa itself, annexing the township in 1887 against the will of its founder (anticipating that the move would only lead to increased

The cigar industry raised the revenue generated by the Port of Tampa from $683 in 1885 to a whopping $625,000 within a decade.

bureaucracy). One year later, a brick building reaching three full floors instantly became the world’s largest cigar factory. The cigar industry raised the revenue generated by the Port of Tampa from $683 in 1885 to a whopping $625,000 within a decade. With a diverse population of primarily Cuban and Italian immigrants, Tampa saw an entire community of businesses arise to cater to the rapidly growing cigar industry. One such business was La Gaceta, the United State’s only trilingual newspaper, printing stories in English, Spanish, and Italian since 1922. The publication is still in active circulation today, operated by Patrick Manteiga. Patrick is grandson to the original founder, Victoriano Manteiga, S U M M E R 2020

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Fighting for freedom is Join the revolution at norml.org

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who initially worked as a lector, reading the daily news and adventure novels to the workers on the cigar factory floor. Not all factory owners supported the role of the lector, believing the seemingly innocent entertainment would create a catalyst inciting radical ideas among the workers. Ultimately La Gaceta would run a column titled “As We Heard It,” authored by Ronald Manteiga, the well-connected son of the founder often breaking stories and predictingpolitical ploys before Tampa’s more major news outlets. Ybor’s golden age didn’t last long, though, as the Great Depression struck families and businesses hard, and the demand for high-quality cigars was at an all-time low. Many factories closed, and many more converted to machine-rolled cigars in an attempt to cut costs. The popularity of cigars spiked shortly after World War II; however, the artisanal

The City of Tampa has also funded renovation efforts throughout the city, including the addition of Centro Ybor, home to a movie theater and several restaurants and bars

Ybor until the early ’90s when the business hub surrounding Seventh Avenue (also known as La Septima) started making a comeback. Nightlife was, and still is, the leading source of revenue on La Septima. The City of Tampa has also funded renovatrade that had previously the next several decades, tion efforts throughout the city, including the addition the once vibrant and employed thousands of bustling brick streets of of Centro Ybor, home to a skilled workers never the city would succumb movie theater and several returned. Mechanized restaurants and bars. If to the deterioration of replacements had you find yourself searchentire neighborhoods already been installed, ing for authentic Floridian while the population and the growing need culture, look no further slowly dwindled. to sacrifice quality over than Ybor City, in the Commerce wouldn’t profitability quickly heart of Tampa Bay. return to the streets of became the norm. Over

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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; 46

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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,

PHOTO BY LOLOSTOCK, ADOBE STOCK

TEXT SENSI EDITORS

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PHOTO CREDITS (FROM TOP): SOMEMEANS, ADOBE STOCK / ALFA27, ADOBE STOCK

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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and operates175,000 square feet of cultivation space. It just announced a $25 million expansion of operations that will include more than 800,000 square feet of total cultivation space. VidaCann employs 200 workers, and the expansion will add more than 300 new jobs statewide. Its cultivation operation is state of the art and completely automated, Moseley says. “We do utilize sunlight when the weather is nice,” he says. “But lights kick on automatically when the weather isn’t ideal for optimal growing conditions.” VidaCann produces more than 30 premium strains and some 200 product SKUs, including flower, tinctures, capsules, topicals, vapes, concentrates, and syringes. Moseley says that standard vapes and flower products dominate sales in Florida, but the company is now looking at water-soluble products for more “bang for your buck” in absorption rates. “We just brought on probably another 20 strains that are in research and development. And we are looking at rolling out a 35,000-square-foot cultivation facility every month. As we roll those out, new genetics are going to take off, as will new varieties of concentrates like shatters and budders.” VidaCann will be expanding from 13 dispensaries to 35 over the next 18 to 24 he medical cannabis are 15 to 30 percent THC.” For a company months. “It’s such an awesome time to market in Florida is huge, like VidaCann, one of the state’s largest be in the cannabis business in Florida,” with more than 265,000 cannabis producers, that can mean Moseley says. “The open-mindedness is patients, 2,200 certified millions of dollars in lost product. just a great thing to see. We have shown cannabis doctors, and 200 dispensaries. Fortunately, the Florida legislature that we can set up a successful industry Regulations are still being tweaked, killed the THC cap in March. Not that Vi- in the state. The medical patients are a most importantly a proposed THC cap of daCann let the brief period of uncertainty huge factor, but there are just so many 10 percent for cannabis products, which slow the company down. people incorporating cannabis into their caused concern for cannabis businesses Based in Jacksonville, Florida, wellness regimens now.” in the area in the spring. “The cap is VidaCann has really hit its stride and is not good for the industry,” says Peyton looking forward to rapid expansion. The Moseley, vice president of product company opened its doors at the end of development for VidaCann. “It would 2017, bringing its first round of products VidaCann set us back for years. We would have to to market in summer 2018. Medical Cannabis Dispensary destroy the majority of our crops, which The company currently has 13 stores vidacann.com

A Cultivation Powerhouse on the Rise

Medical cannabis producer VidaCann is growing with a $25 million expansion of operations, bringing new products to market for thousands of Floridians.

“It’s such an awesome time to be in the cannabis business in Florida…. There are just so many people incorporating cannabis into their wellness regimens now.” —Peyton Moseley, vice president of product development for VidaCann

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THE END

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.

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