Sensi Magazine Michigan - Summer 2023

SHROOM QUEST

Foraging in the Paci c Northwest

CONSUMER INTEREST

Cannabis lounges get creative

SWEET JUSTICE

A CAPTIVATING COLA WITH A TWIST

24

The Sweet Spot

The cannabis drinks company, Sweet Justice, is ready for business in Michigan.

30 The Bright Lights of Northern Lights

The famed California music festival celebrates its 10th year with a new blend of electronic music and cannabis offerings.

36

Foraging for Magic

Stalking the wild Azzie in the mushroomhunting capital of the Pacific Northwest

FINE FESTIVALS It’s summer in Michigan, which means it’s festival time!

18

THE LIFE

Contributing to your health and happiness

SINGING A NEW TUNE Hoxeyville Music Festival has a long tradition of being untraditional.

42 THE SCENE

Hot happenings and hip hangouts around town

FINDING NEW FUNCTIONS

Consumption lounges are working around regulations to bring cannabis users together.

50 THE END

MICHIGAN SENSI MAGAZINE SUMMER 2023

PHOTO BY JACOB LEWKOW

EXECUTIVE

Ron Kolb Founder ron@sensimag.com

Jamie Cooper President jamie.cooper@sensimag.com

Jade Kolb COO jade@sensimag.com

Jona Patterson Creative Director jona@sensimag.com

PUBLISHING

Tyler Tarr Market Director, Colorado

Jamie Cooper Market Director, Michigan

Richard Guerra Market Director, Massachusetts

Jake Boynton Market Director, Massachusetts

Keely Thornhill Market Director, Oklahoma

EDITORIAL

Matthew Solan Executive Editor Matthew.Solan@sensimag.com

Mike DiPaola Copy Editor Mike.Dipaola@sensimag.com

Elana Frankel National Contributor

Robyn Griggs Lawrence National Contributor

Aaron Bible Contributor, Colorado

Claire Barber Contributor, Colorado

Leland Rucker Contributor, Colorado

Meredith Freed Contributor, Massachusetts

Gretchen VanMonette Contributor, Michigan

Debbie Hall Contributor, Oklahoma

DESIGN

Jamie Ezra Mark Creative Director jamie@emagency.com

Rheya Tanner Art Director

Wendy Mak Designer

Josh Clark Designer

Andrew Ontko Designer

PRODUCTION

Neil Willis

Production Director & Client Support Specialist

FIND US ON SOCIAL

MEDIA FACEBOOK

Like Sensi Media Group to infuse your newsfeed with more of our great cannabis lifestyle content.

The summer season holds a special place in

our hearts as it allows us to indulge in our favorite activities. From attending vibrant music festivals to enjoying the serene beauty of beaches and lakes, we relish the opportunity to connect with the great outdoors alongside our cherished cannabis communities, friends, and family.

This particular summer holds even more significance for us as we unveil our exciting new programs in every market we serve. Since 2020, we have been compelled to re-evaluate our business and adapt to changing circumstances.

In late 2020, we transitioned to a digital platform. However, by the summer of 2021, our partners expressed a desire for tangible magazines they could hold in their hands. As a result, we introduced four regional magazines (Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Oklahoma) and organized four events: two Sensi Nights and two Sensi Connects. These programs continued successfully throughout the year until a new opportunity presented itself.

Recognizing the value of facilitating connections between buyers and brands, we initiated curated events held eight times a year across the states we serve. These intimate gatherings focus on driving revenue and cultivating stronger relationships between buyers and brands at a statewide level.

TWITTER

Follow @sensimag for need-to-know news and views from Sensi headquarters.

We are delighted to welcome two exceptional leaders to our Senior Leadership team to further enhance our operations. Jamie Cooper, who currently spearheads our Michigan market, has assumed the role of president and will oversee our marketing, content, and production departments. Meanwhile, Jade Kolb has assumed the position of chief operating officer (COO) and has remarkably transformed our systems and programs within a matter of months. Their invaluable perspectives contribute to our leadership team, ensuring immediate and meaningful impact.

Furthermore, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our new website alongside this latest issue. We invite you to visit SensiMag.com and explore the remarkable digital programs that will emerge from this innovative platform.

INSTAGRAM

Pretty things, pretty places, pretty awesome people: nd it all on @sensimagazine

Within this issue, you will discover captivating stories around cannabis-focused events and summer tourism, such as foraging for mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest, Michigan’s hot-spot consumption lounges, and the popular Hoxeyville Music Festival.

Happy Summer, Sensi Readers!

This particular summer holds even more significance for us as we unveil our exciting new programs in every market we serve.

Counterculture Chocolates

In a world of bland, cardboard-tasting supermarket chocolates, why not treat your tastebuds to artisan chocolate cannabis bars and discs from Midnight Bars?

There are 14 combinations to select from, each handcrafted in small batches. Try their traditional creamy milk chocolate or indulge in one of their more unique flavors. The Key Lime Pie white chocolate and S’mores are popular, while the seasonal Pumpkin Spice and Strawberry-Lemonade milk chocolates must be tried to be believed. The line also includes

dark chocolate and two sugar-free options. Each bar has 200 mg of THC, conveniently scored for portion control.

Try one of their Full Moon bites for a smaller portion with maximum dosage. Made with the same high-quality ingredients and THC, these chocolate discs are packed with 200 mg of THC and come in various flavors — Thin Mint, Strawberry Milkshake, and Orange Chocolate — as well as sugar-free versions.

Midnight Bars and Full Moons were created by grower Jacob

Greba, winner of 12 High Times awards, and produced and distributed through a partnership with Highway Horticulture.

— Gretchen VanMonette

Satisfy your sweet tooth and pick up a Midnight Bar or a couple Full Moon bites from the candy counter at your favorite dispensary or visit

W33D L1C3N53

Cannabis license plate auction bene ts disabled community

As if your standard green Colorado license plate doesn’t already say what it needs to say, you can up your chances of getting pulled over out of state with these new, fundraising MJ-themed license plates.

Last month, the state held its third annual cannabis-themed license plate auction, allowing fans to rep con gurations such as “DANK,” the creative “FRTWNTY,” and simply “MJ” on their whips. Proceeds support Colorado’s disabled community through the Colorado Disability Funding Committee, raising more than $40,000 yearly since its inception. Last year the plate con guration “420” went for $10,000.

The 2023 auction wrapped up at the end of April. Now you’ll see the unique personalized plates around town, or winners can purchase a novelty plate for display in their home or o ce while retaining the rights to the unique wording.

But cannabis isn’t the only star of this unique fundraising show. Star Wars-themed plates spelling out “ANAKIN,” “OBIWAN,” and “CHEWY” were also auctioned o , along with plates commemorating the long-anticipated re-opening of Casa Bonita (the cli diving-themed Mexican restaurant), purchased in 2021 by Matt Stone and Trey Parker of South Park fame.

Others may opt for something classic yet low-key: the original “greenie” plate background, used from 1962 to 1999, whose purchase also goes to support the state’s disability funding committee. — Aaron Bible

BY THE NUMBERS

46.2 PERCENT

Percentage of cannabis sales from millennial consumers (people born between 1981 and 1996); Next is Generation X (born between the mid1960s and 1980) at 23.9%; Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2010) at 16.8%; and Bab Boomers (born between 1946 and the mid-1960s) at 13.1%.

SOURCE: Headset Demographics Report 2023

0.5

Amount of every dollar spent in the U.S. on cannabis topical products during the rst two months of 2023 that came from female consumers.

SOURCE: Headset Demographics Report 2023

HIGH TeHC TOKE

Looking for new ways to enjoy THC more quickly? This product line has you covered.

Their next generation of products springs from a proprietary technology that improves the way THC and other cannabinoids enter the body. The 28 global patents provide fast and accurate dosing, allowing a discreet high with an average onset time of 15 minutes.

Take High TeHC’s versatile Elev8 powder, for example. Scooping out five milligrams of the lightly honeyed-flavored powder at a time adds a healthy dose of THC to anything, with no weed taste. The DeHydr8 food science team has seen Elev8 dosed in mocktails, soda, salad dressing, BBQ sauce, ice cream, or just dropped on the tongue. “As a beverage enhancer, it’s a way to enjoy the social aspect of drinking without the alcohol,” says DeHydr8 founder Todd Webber. “You can still be the life of the party, but without a hangover.”

HIGH TeHC also offers naturally sweetened, vegan, and gluten-free gummies known as the TeHC Stack by HIGH TeHC. They are already racking up rave reviews for their beneficial ingredients, great taste, and quick onset. Coming soon to retail shelves is their Tic TeHCs (think Tic Tacs) featuring flavors like Mellow Melon, Lemon Haze, Vanilla Mint, and Grape. These dissolving treats provide a quick, predictable microdose of 2.5 mg of THC per piece, allowing anyone to find the best dose to fit their lifestyle. “We’re finding that many users are looking to microdose, not get blown out of their minds. Weekday enjoyment is often different from weekend use,” says Webber. — GV

PHOTOS FROM LEFT: COURTESY OF @GOVOFCO TWITTER; DEHYDR8

SAY HELLO TO HighHello

Offering the first cannabis subscription service in Michigan, HighHello has set up shop in metro Detroit, with plans to launch in Grand Rapids this summer. Their service offers monthly delivery of a curated collection of cannabis treats that can be tailored to your needs. Unlike other monthly product boxes that arrive in the mail due to their content, HighHello comes with a personal delivery service customized to your schedule. “This is something I wanted for myself," says co-founder Vadim Shiglik. “There are so many brands coming out, new products on the shelves, it can be overwhelming for the consumer.”

Featuring a rotating stock of cannabis products, from a Newbie Box to Dabber’s Box, there’s always added value for recipients. “There's always something extra in the box,” says Shiglik. “It might be extra prerolls or tickets to one of our cannabis events. That's the fun of it. You never know what's in the box exactly.”

The most popular choice is the Mixed Box, a mashup of flowers, pre-rolls, and edibles. When a little dab will do it, the Dabber’s Box delivers four grams of concentrated cannabis. Fans of flowers will bloom over the Flower Box, filled with top-shelf flowers, prerolled fatties, and minis.

Depending on your preferred box, a monthly subscription to the HighHello service starts at $75. They also offer a one-time box option. Payment can be cash on delivery or through Aeropay, the cannabis version of Venmo. HighHello subscription orders are completed and delivered through a partnership with Ferndale's Nature's Remedy Cannabis. — GV Check out what is in a box this month or sign up at gethighhello.com

CALIFORNIA COOL COMING IN HOT

710 Labs, the California-based maker of small-batch cannabis, has recently set up growing and harvesting operations south of Detroit in River Rouge. The renowned breeders and manufacturers from California are known for their enormous catalog of legacy strains and concentrates.

This summer 710 Labs is introducing new strains to the Michigan market. Consumers will find 710 Labs proprietary genetics Cherry Zest #4, Zeven Up #8, Starburst #36, Rick Jamez #3, and Melon Soda #24 in more than 60 dispensaries in southern Michigan. The company is also recog-

nized for its solventless hash. Instead of heat or chemicals, 710 Labs concentrates are extracted using only ice, water, and light agitation for a clean, pure rosin experience.

710 Labs often engages cannabis aficionados directly through "The List" where loyal fans get notice of new dibs, dabs, and drops of exclusive batches, which they can order online. The orders are then fulfilled at participating dispensaries. “We have over 100 active genetics and are constantly rotating them with newer varieties and popular favorites,” says Nick Fotis, chief marketing officer

for 710 Labs. “We're excited to be in Michigan. There are a lot of passionate growers who know what they're doing, and consumers are also very educated.” — GV Want to be treated like a VIP? Tap into the 710 Labs Green Room (710labs.com/tap-in) to get on The List.

FINE FESTIVALS

It's summer in Michigan, which means it's festival time! Here's a rundown of some of the more popular festivals around the state.

Giddy Up

Be a part of the party of the decade at the 10th anniversary of the Faster Horses music festival at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. The three-day event, July 14-16, is a country music lovefest with top-shelf performers like Luke Bryan, the Zac Brown Band, and Shania Twain. Visit fasterhorsesfestival.com

Cloudy Daze Ahead

The mood will be elevated during the Big Cloud Farm Legacy Michigan festival, July 21-23, at the Hartford Speedway in the southwest corner of Michigan. Celebrating all things cannabis, the festival will include live music, shared cannabis business experiences, artwork, and merchandise. Consumption and enjoyment of cannabis on site are encouraged. See facebook.com/bigcloudfarms

Make a Break

Get to the Belknap pop-up outdoor concert venue in Grand Rapids for the Breakaway Festival (breakawayfestival.com/michigan), August 18-19, to get your ll of dance, hip-hop, and pop music performances from artists like Tiesto, RL Grime, and a DJ set by Porter Robinson.

Jazzin’ in the D

The Detroit Jazz Festival (detroitjazzfest.org) on Sept. 1-4 is a cultural icon and one of the jewels of the Detroit live music scene. Held at Hart Plaza on the Detroit River every Labor Day weekend for the last 40 years, the festival is the world's largest free jazz festival. This year jazz notables Louis Hayes Quintet, Detroiter Regina Carter, and pianist Danilo Pérez are scheduled to perform.

Happy Wheatland

Michigan's preeminent folk music festival—Wheatland—is celebrating its 50th anniversary September 8-10 in Remus. Join headliners Sam Bush, Ruthie Foster, and dozens of other bands and musicians in the revelry. Family-friendly workshops, demonstrations, dances, and impromptu jam sessions will go on all weekend. — GV Visit wheatlandmusic.org/music-festival

Singing a New Tune

Hoxeyville Music Festival has a long tradition of being untraditional. This year is no exception.

TEXT GRETCHEN VANMONETTE PHOTOGRAPHY JONATHON ALFANO AND SABRINA PACITTO

The Hoxeyville Music Festival, set for Aug. 1820, is the first multi-day festival in Michigan—and the nation—to be granted a license for onsite cannabis sales and consumption alongside alcohol.

Sponsored by Dunegrass Co. and thus dubbed the Dunegrass Garden, the consumption lounge is a private area with a great view of the stage and a front-row seat for enjoying cannabis.

For seasoned concertgoers with an appreci-

ation for cannabis, it’s about time. Younger cannabis users may wonder what is the big deal. After all, weed, alcohol, and music have been in concert together since forever. “A festival lifestyle is well matched for cannabis. It’s always been there. We’re just moving it more into the mainstream,” says Tom Beller, organizer of the Dunegrass Garden.

The tricky part was getting it out from behind the bushes and into

general awareness while not stepping across the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency regulations.

First of its Kind

If you think coordinating a music festival featuring multiple stages, performers, and vendors is challenging, try applying for a license to allow cannabis sales and consumption at the same event.

“There is no manual for something like this,” says Beller. “There are rules, but no manual.”

“A festival lifestyle is well matched for cannabis. It’s always been there. We’re just moving it more into the mainstream.”

—Tom Beller, Organizer, Dunegrass Garden

The first step was perhaps the easiest—getting local support.

With the festival being a part of the area for two decades, the community of Wellston was well acquainted and accepting of the festival and its participants. “Having the backing of the community is critical,” says Beller. “You can only do things like this when you’re welcomed.”

Next up was finding

insurance for such a cannabis-related program, as options were limited for such an event. Security was another concern. And in the midst of all that, Beller and his team would have to begin the daunting process of safely and legally offering cannabis for sale and consumption.

“The coordination of seed-to-sale monitoring was unique and intense,” says Eric Piedmonte,

Chief Operations Officer at Dunegrass, which operates six dispensaries in northern Michigan.

The setup strategy was to keep the cannabis sales and consumption area accessible but sectioned off from the general festival activities. “We’ve designed the area to be secure and separate but with great sight lines of the stages and performances,” says Piedmonte. “It’s like we’re in our own

bubble within a bubble.”

Alcohol and cannabis will stay separate in other ways too, as alcoholic beverages will not be permitted in the cannabis area, and vice versa.

“We are definitely held to a higher standard than alcohol vendors, who are in clear view,” adds Piedmonte. “But this is the path to normalizing cannabis enjoyment at festivals and events across the state and even the nation.”

THE 2023 LINEUP Headlined by Grammy-nominated Marcus King King, Hoxeyville Music Festival’s stellar lineup for this year includes national and local acts such as the Wood Brothers Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Keller Williams Grateful Grass, and Circles Around the Sun

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Cannabis Under the Canopy

Dunegrass Gardens will be open daily, with shortened hours on Thursday to coincide with the partial day of musical acts. The lounge will sit under a huge canopy with a living room vibe with plenty of comfy chairs and couches. Guests will find seating for groups of ten with a table in between.

Piedmonte expects 20 or more top brands to be a part of Dunegrass Gar-

dens. Along with sales and consumption, Dunegrass is bringing in cannabis experts for short seminars on growing and production aspects and question-and-answer sessions. There will also be fun experiences like tie-dying, giveaways, and Euchre (a trick-taking card game). Also in the works is a morning kayak trip, before the lounge opens.

“The entire experience will appeal to visitors

from 20-somethings to seniors,” says Piedmonte. While the journey was tough, Beller remains proud of the groundwork he and the rest of the Dunegrass team have laid down for future festivals.

“This is so new for Michigan,” he says. “We’re crafting the standard operating procedure for the state regarding cannabis use at festivals.”

“This is the path to normalizing cannabis enjoyment at festivals and events across the state and even the nation.”

—Eric Piedmonte, Chief Operations O cer, Dunegrass

How Sweet Justice, the cool cannabis cola from Canada, came to be is a story of serendipity intersecting with poetic justice.

Soda was an obvious choice and a unique offering in the nascent Canadian cannabis market. Three of the four co-originators— Jocelyn Tse, David Pilchuk, and Marc Ross—led flagship brands at Coca-Cola Canada for a combined 40-plus years.

The group became good friends after realizing their like-mindedness at company social events. “Our love of cannabis, emerging products, and the convergence of culture was always a strong connection point between us,” says Tse.

The fourth co-founder, Eric Frape—financial controller

with career roots in corporate development and capital markets—and Pilchuk were friends from their university days.

“We didn’t know it at the time, but Eric and I were beginning our careers as ‘product testers’ at school,” jokes Pilchuk.

BACK IN THE DAY

In the legacy days, Pilchuk and Ross ran early product trials at numerous kitchen parties. They concocted their cannabis-infused drinks using various Coca-Cola products (as the base) and mixing in THC oils.

It was a sunny afternoon in 2019, while enjoying some fine Canadian weed lakeside, when the idea of developing a lineup of cannabis-infused drinks bubbled up in conversation.

When pandemic-induced career evaluations brought the four cofounders back together in 2020, they spent more time brainstorming on what to do with their shared beverage business acumen and appreciation for cannabis.

The idea of Sweet Justice was born—Canada’s first cannabisinfused cola. “It was a convergence of so many things,” says Tse. “It was the right time for the right product, made by the right people.”

“We decided on the name, ‘Sweet Justice’ because the expression perfectly captured our journey together,” adds Tse. “How we all met, what we went through parachuting out of corporate life during the pandemic, our love of good times, and mutual admiration for cannabis.”

The cannabis drinks company, Sweet Justice, is ready for business in Michigan.

TEXT GRETCHEN VANMONETTE PHOTOS JACOB LEWKOW

COOL BEVERAGE HOT FROM CANADA

There were other weed-infused beverages in the Canadian market, but the micro-dosed sparkling waters or high-sugar, heavy, syrupy flavors didn’t appeal to Tse or her partners, and they realized a massive untapped opportunity.

It took 18 months of research and development to create the familiar, comforting cola flavor the team wanted to offer discerning adult drinkers. Formula development underwent multiple iterations before passing the high bar the group had set for themselves.

“We wanted something we would enjoy drinking ourselves—a refreshing, great taste that makes you crave another,” says Tse. “We didn’t see it on dispensary shelves, so we decided to go for it.”

Inspired by the taste and experience of Mexican Cola, the final formula uses scant amounts of real cane sugar (no high-fructose corn syrup), natural cola flavorings and essence, and lower carbonation (to minimize gas bloating) to deliver a smooth, balanced traditional cola with a THC twist.

“We wanted the WOW factor when people first take a sip,” says Pilchuk. There is little or undetectable cannabis taste in the soda pop, just full flavor and bold cola aromas.

“We all knew the benefits of

cannabis from first-hand experience and saw the market had a space to fill for a globally recognized product that would appeal to many people for various reasons,” says Tse.

Launched in 2021, Sweet Justice made history by establishing Canada’s first cannabis cola, has since expanded its assortment to seven drinks, sold in 2500-plus dispensaries, and is now the largest independent cannabis beverage company in Canada.

BUZZ WITHOUT THE BOOZE

As more people forego booze for the benefits of cannabis, Sweet Justice is poised to be an appealing alternative.

“In our circle of friends, we’ve noticed that many just aren’t into alcohol like they used to be and are proactively cutting back,” says Tse.

Consumer trends show alcohol consumption is declining among adult drinkers. On the flip side, the non-alcoholic and alternative beverage categories are showing steady growth. People still want to have fun in social occasions, but now these moments don’t necessarily have to include alcohol.

Many are frustrated and tired of waking up with “hangxiety” – that dreaded combination of hangover and anxiety, adds Tse. With mental health and wellness top of mind, seeking out better-foryou alternatives that can deliver instant gratification and fight fear-

of-missing-out continues to be an active pursuit.

“Our cannabis-infused drinks are an approachable way to enjoy a family event, a day at the beach, dog walks, or BBQ with friends,” says Tse. “It’s fast-acting, discreet, convenient, and delicious [and] it mixes well in all situations and lets people indulge without stigma.”

BIG MITTEN WELCOME

It made sense for Sweet Justice to make its American debut in Michigan. “Cannabis sales in the state equal 75% of Canada’s $4 billion market, and there’s a big white space within the emerging drinks sector,” says Tse.

As complex as regional cannabis regulations can be, the Sweet Justice team found assistance and support at every turn.

“The cannabis community in Michigan is very welcoming,” says Pilchuk. “We have a great partnership with the Franklin Fields team. From product manufacturing to sales and nurturing key relationships with industry stakeholders, they help ensure commercial success.”

The product is also available at their retail operation, The Botanical Company, and several legal dispensaries across the state.

The team also spends much time crisscrossing the border to educate budtenders and cannabis purveyors about how Sweet Justice can be a refreshing alternative to alcohol and why the “drinks” experience is unique versus other cannabis formats. Their efforts are paying off.

“The Sweet Justice Cherry Cola is amazing,” says Chris Atteberry, general manager of KalKushka Lounge, a cannabis consumption

GOOD DEFENSE

Sweet Justice is putting its money where its taste is and donating a portion of Michigan sales to the Great Lakes Expungement Network (greatlakesexpungementnetwork.org). The organization’s mission is to expunge and clean the slate for people with past marijuana convictions through the dedicated, collective e orts of community organizations, supporting companies, and volunteer defense attorneys.

lounge in northern Michigan. “The flavor is intense and enjoyable, and it’s a friendlier option to alcohol. I can see these colas putting a new buzz on summer fun.”

OLD PRODUCT, NEW SIPS

The recipe for cola has mostly stayed the same since the 1880s advent of the beverage. Take some sugar, add water, give it a kick of carbonation, and you have the premise for soda pop.

With their Coca-Cola experience, the team behind Sweet Justice knew that a kinder, gentler soda still bursting with traditional and recognizable flavors would be their Sweet Justice.

The Twisted Classics and Vibrant Sips flavors are attainable without processed sugars or excess calories. None of the sodas are over 100 calories, which is 30% to 50% fewer than almost any standard serving of a cocktail, beer, wine, or traditional colas.

The Pacific Island Punch is a ray of tangy, liquid sunshine —a harmonious balance of sour citrus

and tropical fruits, and it finishes like a peach Bellini. Elderberry Pom sails through a gentle sweetness of Elderberry, and hits with a refreshing zesty, pomegranate tang.

TWIST ONE RIGHT UP

Of course, Sweet Justice twists things up with cannabis. Their OG Cola and Cherry Cola are dosed with 10 milligrams of THC per serving. The Pacific Island Punch contains 10 mg THC, but is balanced with a healthy dose of 5mg CBD in a 2:1 ratio. The Elderberry Pom meets it in the middle with a 1:1 ratio of 5 mg each.

“These are sophisticated adult beverages with unique flavor and cannabinoid profiles to suit a wide array of drinkers,” says Tse. Would a single can of it get a prodigious user high? Probably not, according to Pilchuk, but that’s not the point. “It isn’t about getting high or delivering the strongest hit of THC in one fast shot,” he says. “Drinking is meant to be an enjoyable experience where you’d ideally session more

than one – like with beer, wine, or cocktails at a dinner or social event. And when cannabis drinks are paired with other traditional cannabis formats, it offers a deeper, layered experience.”

COLA, COLA EVERYWHERE

Michigan’s response to Sweet Justice has been positive, Tse notes. “People are genuinely surprised and delighted by the great taste and keen to share, noting it’s the first cannabis drink they’ve had with no weedy aftertaste.” Sweet Justice is not the first cannabis cola in North America, but based on initial sales and reactions, it has something the others do not. The company is focused on expanding its market reach and product line in other states by 2024.

“Sweet Justice’s meaning is much larger than what we were starting with,” says Tse. “It’s a culmination of unexpected and intentional moments resulting in delightful outcomes—our drinks—and it’s something everyone can get behind.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gretchen VanMonette is a Metro Detroit feature writer interested in the cannabis and hemp industries. When not writing, VanMonette enjoys a high time hiking, biking and boating around the Mitten State.

The famed California music festival celebrates its 10th year with a new blend of electronic music and cannabis o erings.

TEXT MATTHEW SOLAN PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF NORTHERN NIGHTS

The Northern Nights Music Festival—that rare offering of electronic music, cannabis, art, wellness, and glamping—will celebrate its 10th anniversary July 14 to 16 at Cook’s Valley Campground in Piercy, a two-hour drive north of the Bay Area.

An estimated 5,000-plus festival goers are expected to gather in the bend of the Eel River in Humboldt County in the heart of Northern California’s Emerald Triangle.

In business, location is everything, and that’s true for the festival business. “The Cook’s Valley Camp-

ground has hosted Northern Nights every year, and people look forward to getting away from everything for a few days,” say co-founders Matty Roberts and Andrew Borgelt.

CANNABIS CULTURE

Northern Nights have long been a pioneer in marrying cannabis with electronic music. In 2019 when recreational cannabis was legalized in California, Northern Nights became the first overnight camping music festival to sell cannabis on-site. “When cannabis became legal, we knew we had to incorporate it into the festival,” say Roberts and Borgelt.

Last year they upped their commitment a notch by posting dispensaries at multiple stages so people could enjoy the tunes while enjoying their weed. “This year, we plan to expand Northern Nights’ reputation as an integrated cannabis experience and offer cannabis sales throughout the event,” say Roberts and Borgelt.

To celebrate its milestone birthday, Northern Nights will also be the first festival to develop its own in-house cannabis strain, in collaboration with Humboldt Seed Company. Seeds will be available on-site for personal and commercial sales.

The festival’s popular Tree Lounge returns with a new central location, featuring cannabis sales and live music. It will be the only place people can consume the specialized strain.

Other cannabis vendors and businesses who will be on-site include Weedmaps, Embarc Events, Cvalt, and One Log House. There will also be festival-wide cannabis experiences curated by Royal Blunts, Arcata Fire, Boonville Farm, and others. Local cannabis farms will also be on hand to highlight their services, share their stories, and support other local farmers and small businesses looking to pursue cannabis.

MUSICAL GUESTS

But the festival organizers point out that it’s always music first and cannabis second. This year’s lineup will showcase a blend of top electronic musicians and up-and-coming local talent. Scheduled to perform are Belgian drum-and-bass

veteran Netsky, Tokimonsta, Big Gigantic, G Jones, and Dr. Fresch.

Other performers include Coco & Breezy, Daily Bread, Elephant Heart, Leigh Jones, MiMOSA, High Step Society, Megan Hamilton, Forester, and TruthLive.

California-grown talent includes Santa Cruz-based KR3TURE and San Diego’s Casmalia.

“With a touch of funk and soul, there’s something to scratch everyone’s musical itch,” say Roberts and Borgelt. “Every year, we send patrons a questionnaire to see what music they are excited about and who they want to see.”

Don’t be surprised if some festival acts soon appear in sold-out arenas. “We’ve had many bands play here, and within a few years, they have moved up to the national stage,” say Roberts and Borgelt.

This year, seven stages will be in action, including the River Stage, which allows guests to float in the Eel River while watching performances; the Grove Stage,

curtained in redwoods; and the Bunker Stage, for those in a party mood. Fans can also get a good view of performers while hanging out in the Tree Lounge.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

The festival is not all music and weed. Organizers have also announced the Movement & Wellness phase-one lineup in collaboration with Movement Makers, which includes breathwork practices, sound healing experiences, primal movement, exploratory dance, community education circles, live music, arts integration, yoga classes, and a cacao ceremony.

For people wanting to make an entire weekend of it, Anywhere Outpost Glamping tents are available. The luxury setup includes furnished bedroom tents, lounge tents, air-conditioned restrooms with flushing toilets, exclusive hot outdoor showers, and a complimentary beverage bar. Northern Nights is an 18-and-older event.

Stalking the wild Azzie in the mushroomhunting capital of the Paci c Northwest

TEXT ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE PHOTOS LEAH D’AMBROSIO

FORAGING FOR

Chef Sebastian Carosi, one of the first and finest farm-to-fork pioneers and a virtuoso cannabis chef, offered to teach me how to stalk the wild Azzie. “There really is no better experience with anything psilocybin-related than picking your own,” he told me. “You can actually go find your own psilocybin in the wild, beyond a government-sanctioned organic label, and that in itself is part of the therapeutic effect.”

Carosi describes himself this way: “Imagine James Beard and Salvador Dali have a ’70s baby … raised by Alice Waters and Jack Kerouac … babysat by Jack Herer and Julia Child,” a chef who makes “organic, plant-heavy American truck-stop cuisine served on white tablecloths.” He’s a master forager and a heck of a lot of fun to hang out with, and the opportunity to learn the art of the hunt from him in the mushroom capital of the Pacific Northwest was far too good to pass up. He didn’t have to ask twice.

I wrapped myself in layers of North Face, laced up my Sorels, and joined Carosi; his wife, Car-

la Asquith; and my friend Leah D’Ambrosio—along with dozens of other hunters who descend on Long Beach, Washington, every fall in cold, wet pursuit of the shroom. (In Long Beach, they say, first come the rains, then the Azzies, then the Winnebagos).

Long Beach is a 28-mile-long peninsula along the southwest coast of Washington where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. Warm and wet, it’s a forager’s paradise. The shores are rich with clams, oysters, and crab; wild berry bushes and dense mycelial mats cling to the sandy soil. James Beard made a home and restaurant here, and mycology guru Paul Stamets lives just up the road. Fungi is plentiful, from beefy King Boletes, otherwise known as porcini—which you’ll pay a fortune for at the market, if you can find them—to crunchy, tasty Lactarius deliciosus. Amanita muscaria, or Fly Agaric, with its iconic red cap and white spots, makes for great pics but shouldn’t be eaten.

But, let’s be honest, it’s the Azzies that draw the crowds. Long Beach is legendary for its bounty of the little shrooms, also known as flying saucers, beloved for being the most psilocybin-dense mushrooms on the planet. “Discovered” in 1979 by Boy Scouts camping near the mouth of the Columbia River, just over the bridge in Oregon, Azzies were formally named Psilocybe azurescens by none other than Stamets, whose son is named Azureus for the color of bruised psilocybin.

“Simply blowing on the fibrils of the stem of this purple-brown spored mushroom causes the fibrils to turn bluish with an azure

color, hence its name,” Stamets writes on Instagram. “Psilocybin dephosphorylates into psilocin, then further degrades into an associated blue compound. The more bluish bruising, the more potent this mushroom once was.”

These are the mushrooms Stamets took Michael Pollan to find— likely in the same spots we covered with Carosi—the ones Pollan wrote about tripping on in his best-selling book How to Change Your Mind. When you eat them, according to Psilopedia, a nonprofit educational center and encyclopedia, Azzies “produce intense visual hallucination, profound journeys into alternate realms of consciousness, and more rarely induce temporary paralysis.”

For Carosi, Azzies are good medicine. When he was 17, he was sentenced to seven years for a cannabis charge, and the mushrooms cut through his prison PTSD like nothing else. That he could return to prison for gathering his medicine was not lost on any of us as we searched for it. Picking Azzies is a Class A felony in the United States and the state of Washington. Under the 1971 US Controlled Substances Act, psilocybin and psilocin are listed alongside heroin as Schedule I drugs with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use.

It’s hard to get my mind around this. In Denver, we voted to decriminalize psilocybin in 2019, and it seems like everyone’s casually doing mushrooms, in micro and macro doses. In January 2023, Oregon—a stone’s throw from Long Beach—became the first state to legalize the adult use of psilocybin.

Mushrooms show extraordinary promise for many of the mental

When you eat magic mushrooms, your body turns the psilocybin in them into psilocin, which binds with serotonin receptors in the brain that regulate cognition, memory, mood, and perception. Psilocin stimulates the visual cortex while muting the region of the brain responsible for our sense of self, or ego.

MUSHROOM MAGIC

health issues that intensified during the pandemic—particularly depression—and they’re losing their stigma under the gaze of celebrities like Pollan and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Still, we had to be aware. Rangers looking to harass dune-pickers patrol the state parks ringing Long Beach, and I couldn’t stop checking the horizon for them when I should have been scouring the thick wet grass for little caramel-colored, nippled caps with purple spores. That might be why we weren’t all that successful. Again and again, D’Ambrosio and I called out that we’d found a patch of Azzies, only to be told they were galerinas, poisonous mushrooms that look like Azzies but have rust brown spores and appear to be far

more prevalent. I’m not sure I ever got my “mushroom eyes,” and fear of arrest didn’t help my flow. We—or really, Asquith—found a mere handful of Azzies. Late in the day, as the rain came down in relentless sheets, I was kneeling under a clump of shore pines when Asquith told me to look to my left. Two little brown mushrooms and a couple of pins (babies) were nestled together in a cluster in the grass. When I picked them— gently, so I wouldn’t damage the mycelium below—the white stems immediately turned blue in the palm of my hand.

TIPS FOR HAPPY HUNTING

• WEAR SEVERAL LAYERS of warm, waterproof clothes. Good gear makes for good days.

• BRING A POCKET KNIFE to get a clean cut of the mushrooms at the base (though it’s possible to pick them by hand) and a mesh bag or basket that allows the mushroom spores to fall to the ground and repopulate as you walk the dunes.

• DON’T DISTURB THE UNDERGROUND ROOT SYSTEM anymore than you need to when you’re harvesting.

• ALWAYS LEAVE SOME BEHIND Even if you get lucky and nd a whole colony, don’t pick them all.

• TAKE FIELD NOTES about the habitat, how the mushrooms are growing, and where you nd mushrooms. Make sure to visit the site again because mushrooms often return to the same spots year after year.

• DRY YOUR MUSHROOMS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. mushrooms are 90 to 95 percent water and should be dried immediately to retain their potency. They can be air-dried for two or three days, or you can pop them in a dehydrator to speed up the process.

had penetrated all our layers, even the waterproof ones.

We called it a day, a successful one, and headed back to town for much-needed cups of hot tea and bowls of clam chowder. Carosi surmised we may have been about five days too early for the best pickings, and that was fine. We experienced the thrill of finding our own medicine—just enough of a taste to make me want to try again next year.

Update: In May 2023, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed the Washington Psilocybin Services Act, which lays the foundation for implementing the legalized use of psilocybin therapy. However, it may be years before the general

Finding New Functions

Consumption lounges are working around regulations to bring cannabis users together.

TEXT GRETCHEN VANMONETTE

Cannabis consumption lounges are a great concept, in theory. They are places where like-minded cannabis consumers can gather to eat, drink, socialize, and enjoy some Mary Jane. But in Michigan, lounges face regulations that can keep away many patrons.

Currently, cannabis can’t be sold in consumption lounges (except on tribal land), so customers have to bring their own. And local health departments are slow to allow fresh food preparation on-site, and alcohol is prohibited.

“It’s a tough business model for sure,” says Robin Schneider, executive director of the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association.

This has forced many lounges to find creative ways to attract customers. Two are doing just that.

Laughs and Painting

Celebrating more than one year in business, the Kalkushka Lounge, in Kalkaska near Traverse City, and Hot Box Social, in Metro Detroit’s Hazel Park, are both the foundation and weathervane of the consumption-lounge concept.

The cannabis industry has been a boon to Kalkaska. Local recreational cannabis sales are brisk, especially as travelers pick up supplies on their way to summer vacations in Upper Michigan, and the community welcomed Kalkushka Lounge.

“The evolution of a cannabis consumption lounge in town makes sense,” says Chris Atteberry, general manager of Kalkushka Lounge.

But even with community acceptance, running a cannabis business where you can’t purchase on-site is difficult. Atteberry has had to explore out-of-the-box ideas to bring in more people (and their cannabis).

As someone who tries to find humor in most situations, Atteberry discovered comedy has become the niche for the lounge. Branded “Sativa Night Live,” the comedy nights bring together three or four local comics to do their thing to near-sellout crowds of 65 to 70 guests. Atteberry

plans to host the event once a month, with tickets ranging from $20 to $30.

“It’s like an HBO comedy special,” says Atteberry. “Right now, it’s spreading by word of mouth, and I’ve had a lot of interest from comedians wanting to come and perform here because of the unique setting and space.”

Another hit is their monthly Paint and Puff events, where artists of all abilities can enjoy cannabis and awaken their inner Monet or Pollack. The instructor-led event includes all painting materials and a pre-roll for inspiration. Paint and Puff costs $40 per person, but book early as the 35 to 40

easel spaces usually sell out early.

While it’s BYOC (Bring Your Own Cannabis) at the Kalkushka Lounge, you don’t have to travel far to buy a stash. Next door is the Botanical Company cannabis store featuring Franklin Fields products, and there are five other dispensaries in town.

The lounge also offers dab ring rentals featuring locally-made coffees, sodas, and sweet treats. Hungry for something more? Food trucks are parked nearby. There is a $5 walk-in fee and $10 on evenings with music. Other events have additional charges. Patrons partial to the place can

purchase a $35 monthly membership, or $420 for the year.

kalkushkalounge.com

Heating up Hazel Park Hot Box Social, Michigan’s first licensed recreational consumption lounge in Hazel Park, attracts customers by hosting specialized cannabis-themed events.

The business has fundraising events designed around curated experiences like the popular moms-only “Cannamoms” brunch for Mother’s Day. The RuPaul Drag Race season finale viewing party raised nearly $1,000 for the ACLU Drag Defense fund, and the Drag

Queen Bingo Pride event benefitted Affirmations, an LGBTQ+ Community Center in Ferndale.

Summer plans include Bocce and Blunt card game tournaments and a “Women in Cannabis” event in August. The back patio has space for outdoor games, including a human-size Jenga and Connect 4. Private events are also welcome.

“Our cannabis-centered events are low key and relaxed,” says general manager Samantha Baker. “The goal is to help engage all your senses and maybe awaken a sixth sense.”

The lounge sometimes limits capacity depending on the event

“Our cannabiscentered events are low-key and relaxed. The goal is to help engage all your senses and maybe awaken a sixth sense.”

—Samantha Baker, GM, Hot Box Social

to deepen connections with vendors and guests while ensuring guests are comfortable, says Baker.

Hot Box Social recently opened its doors to the public Mondays and Tuesdays from 3 to 10 p.m., where guests are welcome to hangout after work or visit with local brands or vendors. The lounge is drawing anywhere from 25 to 75 guests on public nights. Admission is typically $25 but can change with a promo code or for a

special event. A variety of beverages and tiny munchies are available for purchase. Like Kalkushka Lounge, Hot Box Social is conveniently located near a dispensary, Breeze, the first dispensary in Oakland County.

“We know there’s a lot of interest in what we offer,” says Baker. “It’s obvious that areas to enjoy cannabis away from home are needed and wanted.” hotboxsocial.us.

Coming Soon: A Lansing Lounge

Considering all the cannabis meetings, lobbying, and regulation in Michigan’s capital, Lansing is a natural location for a new consumption lounge.

Pure Options plans to open its inaugural Michigan consumption lounge before year’s end. The team has learned lessons from operating lounges in Colorado and California, and is applying best practices to their space in Lansing.

“We’re guring out how to make this a usable, enjoyable space for all walks of life,” says Christopher York, senior director of marketing and retail operations for the Colorado-based cannabis company. “We have a good idea of what’s working in other markets.”

During the day, the “luxurious but not pretentious” lounge will be open for meetings, workspaces, and general consumption. There are no plans to charge guests during the day.

The evenings will feature musical acts and cannabis-related events. Pure Options will o er exclusive, integrated experiences involving Pro Gro craft and legacy cannabis alongside products from partnerships with other producers. The next-door proximity to the Pure Options dispensary will allow the lounge to introduce strains and special harvests.

“We’re going to have a tasting-room-like experience,” says York. “We want our lounge to be a resource for others in the cannabis community because we’re better when we’re together.”

www.pureoptions.com

ROLLING EMBERS

@ROLLINGEMBERS / @ROLLINGEMBERSMI

Rolling Embers opened its first facility at the corner of Kinst & Wilson in New Buffalo in April 2023. As southwest Michigan’s newest cannabis destination, we are passionate about cannabis, community, and quality.

Our warm, inviting atmosphere, complete with outdoor consumption lounge, food trucks and live music, is designed to create the ultimate cannabis experience that makes each customer feel comfortable – whether they’re a first-time buyer or cannabis connoisseur.

What made you choose to start a company in this industry?

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, which owns Rolling Embers, has evaluated business opportunities within the burgeoning cannabis industry for several years. Rolling Embers delivers on the vision of the Pokagon Development Authority to offer a retail cannabis experience that is truly unique.

Tell us about your products. We offer adult-use recreational cannabis, including flower, pre-rolls, edibles, concentrates, vape, topicals, tinctures,

and CBD products. We also offer paraphernalia, branded collateral, onsite consumption, food trucks, and live music.

All our cannabis products are tested by independent, third-party testing laboratories to ensure they are safe and free of contamination, and are subject to licensing by the Pokagon Band Cannabis Regulatory Commission.

Why do you feel your business is important to the community?

There is limited access to legal cannabis in southwest Michigan. The people who live in and visit this beautiful part of the state deserve to have convenient access to cannabis and a safe space in which to consume it.

Our store will have a positive and significant

economic impact by bringing additional employment opportunities and helping to increase tourism that supports other local businesses. Local contractors were used for the construction of our retail store and regional suppliers are used for our inventory.

How does your business give back to your community?

The Pokagon Band is one of the largest employers in the state of Michigan and its businesses support thousands of vendors and their employees. It is also one of the largest philanthropic organizations in the region, regularly supporting local government, infrastructure, nonprofit organizations, and projects and programs that serve its communities.

The people who live in and visit this beautiful part of the state deserve to have convenient access to cannabis and a safe space in which to consume it.

FRANKLIN FIELDS

@FRANKLINFIELDSCANNA / FINDFRANKIE.COM

What is the name of your business and when did you start?

Franklin Fields, 2021.

Where can people nd you or your products? FindFrankie.com for all locations that carry our products. FranklinFieldsCanna on Instagram and Twitter.

How many employees does your company have?

Thirty plus.

What services or products do you o er?

Premium Flower, Live Hash Rosin, Sweet Justice (THC Infused Soda), and Infused Pre-rolls.

What was your mission at the start of your company?

To provide caregiver-like quality products to the people of Michigan, empowering our community with the quality that they deserve.

What made you choose to start a company in this industry?

The passion for the plant and the people within the community.

Why do you feel your business is important to the community?

Not only do we give back to various programs in the state, we also empower people within the community

to tap into the industry. We stay committed to quality and ethics, that’s how we maintain strength through the rocky Michigan market.

How does your business give back to your community?

We work with the Great Lakes Expungement Network on a regular basis to help those who’ve been

negatively impacted by prohibition, and we also work with organizations like Sons & Daughters United to help families in need. This is important to us because as we grow in this industry, we want our community to grow with us. The people of this state are the reason we are able to make it in this industry.

Not only do we give back to various programs in the state, we also empower people within the community to tap into the industry. We stay committed to quality and ethics, that’s how we maintain strength through the rocky Michigan market.

Summertime and the Reading is Easy

Catching up on your reading is part of enjoying the summer months. Looking for some books to deepen your education and relationship with cannabis? Add these three titles to your summer stack. TEXT MEREDITH FREED

Cannabis: A Big Sister’s Guide by Anna

May Meade

and Mary Meade. This easy-to-read introduction and guide to cannabis gives us the scoop on what it is, how to get it, how to use it, and why adding cannabis to your life could be beneficial. Learning the difference between strains and terpenes, the endocannabinoid system, the many forms of cannabis consumption, how to become a cannabis patient in an available state, and a very helpful appendix with images and charts for a visual breakdown of the information, helps the reader understand the basics of cannabis and how to incorporate this knowledge into our everyday lives. Cannabis advice from a universally caring big sister will benefit us all.

Seeing Through The Smoke, A Cannabis Specialist Untangles the Truth About Marijuana

by Peter

Grinspoon,

MD. Dr. Grinspoon takes us through the history of cannabis, the data on harms (real and political), and the emerging data on the benefits of cannabis, particularly as an alternative to opioid use. Dr. Grinspoon’s father, Lester Grinspoon, was a cannabis pioneer in the 1970s at Harvard who fueled Peter’s interest in the benefits and misconceptions of cannabis in the public realm. This book gives the reader a clear understanding of how we got to this point in the medical cannabis movement and what to expect in the future for cannabis wellness.

Weed Week: A Seven-Day Journaling Challenge by Lisa Capitani. A Connecticut cannabis nurse, Capitani’s wellness philosophy of awareness, understanding, change, and healing to alter patterns, perceptions, and behaviors will help the reader achieve a life filled with health, wellness, and wholeness. This book challenges the reader to practice intentional cannabis use, exploring the experience of different consumption methods and strains, tracking the information with prompts, and encouraging the user to build a relationship with the plant and its effects. Capitani embraces taking advantage of your cannabis habit as a tool for self-exploration and how cannabis can help improve your quality of life.