PR
EM
R IE
E
IS
S
U
E L AS V E G A S
THE NEW NORMAL
3.2018
S P E C I A L R EP OR T
The Cannabis Conundrum
GET OUT
connecting with the great outdoors
TAKE CONTROL
expert tips to banish the munchies
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ISSUE 1 // VOLUME 1 // 3.2018
contents.
18
32
FEATURES 26
Hack the Munchies
Dealing with cravings—plus healthy snack alternatives.
32
SPECIAL REPORT
High Rollers
Can Sin City handle one more legal vice?
10
26 snack
GET OUTSIDE!
Can cannabis intensify your relationship with the outdoors?
smart !
EVERY ISSUE 5 Editor’s Note 6 The Buzz 10 CrossRoads
18 AroundTown
WIDE OPEN
4 8 {soLV}
INTO THE GREAT
14 TasteBuds
THE KITCHEN AT ATOMIC
OFF THE STRIP
22 HighProfile MAT T MORGAN
SEVEN MAGIC MOUNTAINS
AND ATOMIC LIQUORS
Sensi Las Vegas is published monthly by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2018 SENSI MEDIA GROUP LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
sensimag.com MARCH 2018 3
sensi magazine ISSUE 1 VOLUME 1
3.2018
FOLLOW US
EXECUTIVE Ron Kolb
CEO, SENSI MEDIA GROUP
RON.KOLB @ SENSIMAG.COM
Tae Darnell
PRESIDENT, SENSI MEDIA GROUP
TAE.DARNELL @ SENSIMAG.COM
Alex Martinez
GENERAL MANAGER
ALEX.MARTINEZ @ SENSIMAG.COM
EDITORIAL sensimediagroup
Stephanie Wilson
EDITOR IN CHIEF
STEPHANIE.WILSON @ SENSIMAG.COM
Debbie Hall
MANAGING EDITOR, SENSI LAS VEGAS
DEBBIE.HALL @ SENSIMAG.COM
Leland Rucker
SENIOR EDITOR
LELAND.RUCKER @ SENSIMAG.COM
Ricardo Baca, Christina Davis Robyn Griggs Lawrence CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
sensimagazine
A RT & D E S I G N Jennifer Tyson
DESIGN DIRECTOR
JENNIFER.TYSON @ SENSIMAG.COM
Hannah Moyer + Amanda Turner DESIGN & L AYOUT
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sensimag
BUSINESS & ADMINISTRATIVE Susan Lugo
PUBLISHER
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M E DI A PA RT N E RS Minority Cannabis Business Association National Cannabis Industry Association Students for Sensible Drug Policy 4 Las Vegas MA RCH 2018
WELCOME to the first issue of
editor’s
Sensi Las Vegas!
NOTE
AS A RESIDENT OF NEVADA FOR MOST OF MY LIFE, IT IS AMAZING TO WITNESS THE MANY POSITIVE CHANGES IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. WITH OUR GROWING AND VERY DIVERSE POPULATION, L AS VEGAS EMBRACES AN UPSCALE LIFESTYLE AND PART OF ITS NEW NORMAL IS CANNABIS. NEVADA IS NOW THE FIF TH STATE WHERE ADULTS CAN LEGALLY PURCHASE AND ENJOY CANNABIS.
Las Vegas is becoming a medical destination and the introduction of cannabis for medical use is an important aspect. In fact, there is no difference between medical and recreational cannabis with the exception of the cost. The landscape is dramatically changing. Sensi Las Vegas brings in-depth coverage of issues affecting the cannabis industry and the other infrastructures such as gaming, tourism and the over 2 million people who call Southern Nevada home. This is more than a magazine about cannabis. Sensi Las Vegas covers the city and its lifestyle including things to do off the Strip and great places to dine. We profile influential locals in the HighProfile department and explore unique places and share breaking news in the Buzz. Las Vegas is so different than any other city and {soLV} showcases and celebrates what makes Nevada so different. While embracing a pro-cannabis stance, Sensi is part of the mainstream and reaches out to those who are active and committed to creating a better community. Thank you for selecting and reading Sensi, either in print or digitally and we look forward to continuing our relationship with you, our readers.
Yours in the new normal,
Debbie Hall
MANAGING EDI TOR SENSI L AS VEGAS
A D V I S O RY B OA R D American Cannabis Company // CONSULTING
Hot Mess Kushmetics // CBD TOPICALS
CannaPunch // INFUSED CANDIES & JUICES
Libra Wellness // INFUSED GOURMET CHOCOLATES
Cohen Medical Centers // MEDICAL CENTERS
Nevada Powders // POWDER PROCESSING FOR EDIBLES
Emerald Harvest // NUTRIENTS
NLVO // LAS VEGAS LUXURY CANNABIS
Evergreen Organix // PREMIUM BAKED GOODS
Oasis Cannabis // DISPENSARY
FlowerKist // TOPICALS
Spiked Soil // SOIL
Greenhouse Payment Solutions //
Strip Side Solutions // MARKETING
PAYMENT PROCESSING
Grow Generation // HYDROPONICS
Toast // MINDFUL CONSUMPTION Undoo // OVERCONSUMPTION RELIEF
sensimag.com MARCH 2018 5
THE NE W N O R M A L
WRECK
room offers a
smashing good time
with destruction experience
the
buzz
For everyone who has had a bad day or nasty confrontation, here is the chance to release some steam in a healthy way. Las Vegas entrepreneur Corey Holtam recently opened the Wreck Room, a 30-minute “smashing good time” in a controlled hassle-free environment. Holtam was working construction and, to his boss’s chagrin, couldn’t resist breaking windows into pieces, which were being thrown away. His joy of busting the glass gave him an epiphany to create a business. Holtam studied, researched, and then visited destruction experiences in California, Texas, and Georgia to develop his plan. Wreck Room offers four separate rooms, and participants are provided items to be pulverized along with a full suit, facemask, gloves, bootie protection, and wrecking weapon. Groups up to six people can combine frustrations for a devastating good time. Wreck Room is located in Chinatown at 4090 Schiff Drive. For more info, visit WRECKVEGAS.COM or call
702-405-6407.
6 Las Vegas MA RCH 2018
Nevada with DIGIPATH Digipath, Inc., a service-oriented independent cannabis testing laboratory and media firm focused on the developing cannabis market, is now able to resume cannabis testing operations. It was announced that the lab received reinstatement of the Medical Marijuana Registration Certificate and Marijuana Testing Facility License held by its wholly owned subsidiary, Digipath Labs. The company’s lab facilities was audited by the Nevada Department of Taxation, Marijuana Enforcement Division, and the Department approved the Plan of Correction submitted by Digipath Labs. Digipath Labs also received its Clark County Business License allowing full operation in the county and the state. Digipath’s President and COO Todd Denkin commented in a press release, “We are obviously pleased with the decision by Nevada’s Department of Taxation to reinstate our lab testing licenses, and thank the team of inspectors for the focus and speed with which they worked with us. We are also very grateful to all of our clients who have been so supportive of us during this process and we already have a full schedule of samples coming in. We look forward to resuming testing services for all cannabis products made here in Nevada.”
Experiential and Interactive
world due to open in
Las Vegas MID -2019 The economy in Las Vegas is back on the upswing with the development of AREA15 west of Interstate 15. The unique concept is a wholly reimagined world weaving together immersive experiences, themed events, art installations, restaurants. and bars. The entertainment, retail, dining, and nightlife complex is due to open in mid-2019. The complex will appeal to a variety of clientele, including gamers, comic-con and sci-fi enthusiasts, © RONDA CHURCHILL
artists, music and festival lovers, and anyone looking for an immersive and unique experience. Meow Wolf, a multi-media production company based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, has signed on as the anchor tenant. Meow Wolf creates immersive, inter active experiences that transport audiences of all ages into fantas tic realms of story and exploration. Game of Thrones author and fellow Santa Fe resident George RR Martin is one of Meow Wolf’s biggest investors. AREA15 will offer up to 126,000 square feet of customized tenant space for a curated collection of experiential and retail businesses; 68,000 square feet of leasable ground floor space and up to 58,000 square feet of mezzanine space. A 40,000square-foot indoor and outdoor event space will be created to feature live music concerts, festivals, corporate events, and e-sport tournaments adjacent to the retail and dining options. AREA15 will also offer over 900 complimentary parking spaces.
sensimag.com MARCH 2018 7
EMBRACE
yoga
inner ZEN with
Forget New Year’s resolutions. Spring is the time of new beginnings and the perfect opportunity to create Zen, balance and overall
wellness practicing yoga. XENXEN Las Vegas, created by yoga enthusiast Dray Gardner, is a sanctuary combining overall wellness with yoga. More than just helping aspiring yogis achieve the perfect downward dog pose; XENXEN helps transform the body, spirit, and mind. Gardner explains, “If you don’t love yourself, a thousand yoga classes won’t change your life. We work on self-love.” Gardner discovered yoga in 2006 after a doctor recommended back surgery. Wanting to avoid such a radical procedure despite his pain, he did some research and signed up for a 30-day yoga challenge. After 20 days, he stopped using his cane and signed up for another challenge. Today, yoga is a vital part of his life. XENXEN’s classes are designed for every level, from beginner to expert enthusiast, with heated and non-heated options running from 60 to 90 minutes. Yoga by Candlelight invites participants to enter a deep, restorative, and freeing state. Yin Yoga is a slow-paced form of practice that consists of postures or asana held for longer periods of time. Guided meditation and workshops are also part of the self-exploration landscape, and the space also features a retail store full of fashionable statement pieces. XENXEN is located in Boca Park at 750 S. Rampart Blvd. For more information, please visit XENXENLV.COM or call 702-489-6099.
8 Las Vegas MA RCH 2018
the
buzz
PHOTO OF XENXEN © JOE DURKIN
THE NE W N O R M A L
sensimag.com MARCH 2018 9
{crossroads} by RICARDO BACA
INTO THE GREAT WIDE OPEN How cannabis has intensified my relationship with the outdoors. With winter almost behind us, it’s time to start wean-
stress, improve focus, diminish depression, and restore
ing from the Netflix binges, cover those unfinished DIY
us physically and mentally. It’s also true that, submerged
home projects with a big sheet, and call the hot chocolate-
in the natural world, things are simplified but also am-
by-the-fire-fueled #relationshipgoals good and met.
plified — and because cannabis is an amplifier as well,
Throwing open the windows to let in the crisp spring air always gets me psyched to put the plans in motion for
the inherent beauty and giddy sense of discovery are magnified on a grand scale.
some warm-weather diversions paired with cannabis.
In addition, it’s still entirely possible to continue con-
While some people find that they’re most comfortable
trolling some aspects —you can bring along your favor-
consuming in a confined and tightly controlled space,
ite beverage in a bota bag, or settle into the tent with the
many of us prefer to explore our natural substances—be
rain fly open to the cooling night sky. It does make sense
it cannabis or psilocybin —while also exploring nature,
to consider the setting and adjust your consumption ac-
believing that the experience is very much enhanced by
cordingly. For instance, where others might overcon-
being immersed in an organic environment.
sume alcohol and get silly, if I’m camping and know that
Don’t get me wrong: Getting high indoors is great.
we’re sedentary for the night — our tent is set up and
You decide what the temperature will be, steep that
we’ve lost track of our car keys, so we’re not going any-
mug of hot tea whenever it’s convenient, wrap your-
where —I might have more cannabis than I normally do,
self in a snuggy blankie, and settle in knowing that all
maybe a solid indica-based edible in the hopes that I
is well in your little self-made world.
sleep better that night on the cold, hard ground.
But getting high in the outdoors can be truly life- changing. It’s not just that nature is good for us: Study
In fact, consuming cannabis al fresco has led me to some truly extraordinary adventures.
after scientific study has proven that spending time
Of course, I will always remember fondly my first time
surrounded by red rock, relaxing on a beach, walking
combining open air and edibles: Some friends and I were
through the woods, or paddling down a river can relieve
rafting the Lower Colorado River between Loma (Colo-
10 Las Vegas MA RCH 2018
RICARDO BACA is a veteran journalist and the founder and original editor-in-chief of The Cannabist. His content agency Grasslands works primarily with businesses and individuals in the cannabis and hemp industries on thought leadership and messaging via thoughtful and personalized content campaigns.
sensimag.com MARCH 2018 11
rado) and Westwater (Utah), and we had brought along some chocolate mint cookies to share at the campsite. These were the early days, and so we were a little un-
I WA S WITH MY L ADY,
OUTSIDE IN THE FRESH, WARM AIR AND
certain about dosage. I wound up getting so high and
WATER, RELEASED FROM MY DAY-TO-DAY
so absorbed in the campfire-heightened ambiance and
OBLIGATIONS, AND THERE WAS NO PLACE
the often hilarious and sometimes deeply contempla-
IN THE WOR L D T HAT I W O UL D R AT HE R
tive conversation that I completely forgot the river was rushing along beside us — and when it hit me, it was a
HAVE BEEN AT THAT MOMENT.
joyous realization all over again. In the months that followed that fun, I was able to
us rent bikes, and then took us all around the area, from
nail down my own tolerance and began to better ingest
busy streets lined with amazing public art to the rural
within my limits, which wound up being helpful during a
area where our friend was raised. That’s when we ped-
trip to Eindhoven in the Netherlands. Not far from Am-
aled onto this mind-blowing path, which at dusk was
sterdam — where space cake-selling coffeeshops are
just beginning to release the sunrays it had been ab-
in abundance — Eindhoven is home to the famous Van
sorbing all day. We already had been gently lifted earli-
Gogh-Roosegaarde bike path, which beckoned with its
er from pieces of space cake, and that helped to elevate
twinkly, solar-charged lights embedded in stone, meant
this to the otherworldly, with these multicolored lights
to evoke the artist’s trippy and surreal painting The
like stars springing up from the pebbles as we mean-
Starry Night.
dered along, past windmills from other Van Gogh paint-
My wife and I told our host we wanted to check it out, so he walked us over to the train station and helped
12 Las Vegas MA RCH 2018
ings and through tree-lined open spaces. Along a more reflective vein, many would argue that
isolated section of stream and waited for the trout to find my dry fly. I got a couple on but never landed anything, but it was still such a special and meaningful day: I was with my lady, outside in the fresh, warm air and water, released from my day-to-day obligations, and there was no place in the world that I would rather have been at that moment. Of course, as when ingesting any psychoactive substance, safety is essential. In the Netherlands, I felt fishing is somewhat of a meditative sport, and cannabis
completely comfortable with my dosage, and having a
is a meditative medicine— and so when combining the
guide along was key. And while I don’t smoke flower,
two, it’s no surprise that it can be an enchanting experi-
most cannabis consumers do, and so always be hyper-
ence. Patience is obviously a top requirement (that’s why
aware of where that roach winds up and that fires are
they call it fishing and not catching), and it’s that requi-
completely out. Of course having a designated driver
site steadfastness and dedication that appeals to me
picked out before you imbibe is a must.
— which brings me to the time my wife and I had a day
Also, as legalization spreads across the country, it’s
off, and I heard Colorado’s Clear Creek calling our names.
worth noting that consumption of any and all kinds is
She graciously offered to be designated driver, and
still very much illegal on federal lands—which includes
so armed with a bottle of wine, a 10 mg edible and a
national parks, national forests and designated wilder-
couple of fly rods, we headed out. As I became pleas-
ness areas. But otherwise, enjoy that sun-grown un-
antly elevated, I waded out into the middle of this
derneath the sun.
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sensimag.com MARCH 2018 13
{tastebuds} by DEBBIE HALL
© ALL PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE KITCHEN AT ATOMIC
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The Kitchen at Atomic’s Cigar City sandwich; View of the dining room; Classic American burger
14 Las Vegas MA RCH 2018
EXTINQUISH YOUR APPETITE Tastes explode at The Kitchen at Atomic and are thirsts quenched at Atomic Liquors. The 21st century blends with Las Vegas history at
coffee-cured half chicken coated with wild rice flour, then
the oldest freestanding bar in Las Vegas and the new
roasted and served with grilled radicchio bourbon demi
restaurant next door. Atomic Liquors holds the city’s
glacé. Love bar food? Try the Kingsley’s Fried Wing, a
first package liquor license and off-sales permit: #00007.
whole chicken wing seasoned with rice flour, fried, and
The Kitchen at Atomic, headed by Chef Justin Kingsley
coated with Kingsley’s sauce. For a healthy option, order
Hall, opened about a year ago in the space next door, a
the Rapini sub—sautéed broccoli rabe, braised onions,
1947 building that used to house Doc’s Automotive.
and greens with mixed herbs and aioli served on a
There might have been tons of grease during its auto
brioche bun. Supper with Friends includes Hot Pig in
shop days but this place is now known for its New
Winter, a pork shank presented on the bone, slow cooked
American fair. Fun is the message on the menu, with
in an afghan style stew with hot peppers, garlic, spinach,
dishes embracing the comfort food factor with a gour
cilantro, and onions and served with a side of warm
met twist. “The way I cook at The Kitchen at Atomic is
breads. Farmer selections embrace the vegetarian/
to create a menu that brings people together around a
vegan with Harissa carrots (wood chip roasted), Dandy
table and continue that gathering,” explains Hall.
of a Pie (braised dandelion greens and kale), and Black
Formerly of Sparrow + Wolf, the chef joined the influx
Caesar salad. A side of fries is always available because
of new pioneers and moved downtown five years ago. “I
what is comfort food without this American staple.
love watching life happen and the evolution of an area.
Sweets? Whiskey bread pudding blends the flavors of
One day something may be an eye sore, the next it’s a
smoked sea salt caramel, cardamom, and whipped cream.
thriving business or work of art,” he says.
Food trends in 2018, which the chef is watching, in
He has created a menu to match the local clientele,
clude more flavors coming from the Middle East and
offering more than one dining experience. One guest can
Africa. The Atomic menu is fluid and Hall updates it to re
enjoy a fast, casual meal while others feel comfortable
flect the palate of the guests as well as changing culinary
dining on several courses, lingering over conversation.
scene.
It is a good barometer to check out a date; if he or she
A full bar is part of the experience, with specialty
likes The Kitchen, then there is a good chance that
cocktails, an innovative wine list, and delectable brews on
person will fit in with the cool downtown vibe.
offer. Even diners following a plant-based diet can indulge
One menu specialty, Hen Gone Wild, is a vanilla and
with the Chasing Basil, made with aquavit, pepper
sensimag.com MARCH 2018 15
medley, elderflower, lime, and basil leaf. The Garden State combines honey gin with goat cheese, a beet, arugula, egg whites, and quince—great way to eat
The Kitchen at Atomic’s Foie Gras Toast
those veggies while enjoying an adult beverage. On the Grain menu, whiskeys include American, French, Jap © THE KITCHEN AT ATOMIC
anese, and Scotch. The Grape menu features brandy, cognac, armagnac, grappa, and sherry. “I’ve always enjoyed where Atomic Liquors is located downtown, not surrounded by Fremont Street Exper ience or casinos with an insane amount of flashing lights. It’s a neighborhood corner. It feels like it’s in a community,
SEPARATE FROM
the KITCHEN at ATOMIC ,
ATOMIC L IQUORS WAS NAMED FOR THE CUSTOMERS THAT WATCHED ATOMIC BL ASTS FROM THE ROOF IN THE 1950s.
Back in the day, REGUL AR PATRONS
INCLUDED T H E R AT PACK , S MOT HE RS BROT H E R S ,
C L INT E ASTWOOD, AND BA RBR A STREISA ND .
not a business district,” Hall says. “The Kitchen at
to gather, whether it was locals watching the bomb
Atomic is located next to Atomic Liquors and the exterior
testing in the desert or cowboys in town for Helldor
is simple but unique. The interior emulates classic old
ado,” says Hall.
Vegas with leather and wood, staying true to its roots
As the oldest freestanding bar in Las Vegas, Atomic
and the former Doc’s Auto space.” The wooden garage
Liquors boasts a robust beer program headed by general
door has been replaced by an expansive garage door
manager and Cicerone Rose Signor with 20 rotating taps
made of windows that open to the patio for a seamless
and one of the largest bomber selections in town—
indoor/outdoor experience. The windows that offer a
over 160 selections. The cocktail program is just as im
view into the kitchen have also been preserved from the
pressive as the beer lineup, with syrups made in-house
original structure.
using fresh and seasonal ingredients, created by mix
Separate from The Kitchen at Atomic, Atomic Liquors
ologist Andrew Smith. The team at Atomic Liquors also
was named for the customers that watched atomic blasts
creates one-of-a-kind beer festival experiences, including
from the roof in the 1950s. Back in the day, regular patrons
its annual Sour Saturday. An equally impressive cocktail
included The Rat Pack, Smothers Brothers, Clint East
program includes a selection of high-end scotch and
wood, and Barbra Streisand. A place this cool begs to be
whiskey, and features house-made syrups using fresh
featured in movies and television and it has been captured
and seasonal ingredients.
in films and TV shows including Casino, The Twilight Zone, The Hangover, and Pawn Stars. “Atomic Liquors has always been a place for people
16 Las Vegas MA RCH 2018
Atomic Liquors is located at 917 Fremont Street; The Kitchen at Atomic is at 927 Fremont Street. Visit ATOMIC.VEGAS for more info.
sensimag.com MARCH 2018 17
{aroundtown} by CHRISTINA DAVIES & DEBBIE HALL
OUTSIDE THE STRIP More than glitz and glam, Las Vegas blends rugged outdoors with family friendly attractions. Las Vegas is defined by more than the 4.5-mile stretch
ranked the city of Henderson, east of Las Vegas in Clark
of Las Vegas Boulevard known around the world as
County, as one of the safest cities to live. Southern Ne-
simply the Strip. The tourist side of Las Vegas is only a
vada is an attractive home for all generations, with mil-
part of Southern Nevada with a permanent population
lenials and baby boomers making up the largest portion
of 2 million and growing every day.
of the local population. More and more of these profes-
Along with the hospitality industry, Las Vegas has
sionals are living and playing downtown, and, as a re-
welcomed the growing tech and cannabis industries and
sult, the birthplace of Las Vegas is being revitalized. Off
is becoming a medical destination as well. With the open-
the Strip, there is so much to explore.
ing of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine and School of Dental Medicine, and the transforma-
FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE
tion of the surrounding neighborhoods, Southern Nevada
Fremont Street, the heart of Las Vegas, is where much
boasts of a diverse population of professionals. The FBI
of Vegas history happened including its first hotel, tele-
18 Las Vegas MA RCH 2018
the experience on the SlotZilla zip line past the lights. Two stages offer free entertainment with upcoming concerts of favorite bands from the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s. Carl “Safe Sax” Ferris has performed all original jazz music on Fremont Street for over 18 years, earning him a big global following. THE NEON MUSEUM IN DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS The history of Las Vegas can be chronicled through a collection of glittering signs that at one time brightened the skyline at the Neon Museum. Bringing inanimate objects to life, Brilliant! is an audiovisual immersion experience that just debuted. Presented after dark in the North Gallery, Brilliant! showcases
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NEON MUSEUM
The Lost Neon Signs Of Las Vegas, Resurrected
unrestored, non-working and, in some cases, broken signs coming to life accompanied by music from some of the entertainment industry’s most iconic performers. Forty of the museum’s vintage signs are reanimated as part of the modern 360-degree audiovisual experience, comphone, paved street, gaming license, traffic light, eleva-
plete with 24 3D-sound speakers and eight projectors
tor, and high rise. Today, it is the Fremont Street Experi-
emitting a total of 80,000 lumens of light.
ence, a pedestrian walkway lined with casinos, shops,
Founded in 1996, the Neon Museum is dedicated to
and dozens of restaurants with a canopy overhead.
collecting, preserving, studying, and exhibiting iconic Las
Overhead is Viva Vision, the world’s largest video screen
Vegas signs. On its 2.27-acre campus, the Neon Muse-
at 1,500 feet long and 90 feet wide, suspended 90
um houses the Neon Boneyard, North Gallery, Boule-
feet above the crowds. The free light shows dazzle with
vard Gallery, and visitors’ center, located inside the for-
high-resolution imagery booming with state-of-the-
mer La Concha Motel lobby. The museum collection also
art, 550,000-watt, concert-quality sound. It takes 12.5
includes nine restored signs installed as public art
million energy-efficient LED lamps to create the high-
throughout downtown Las Vegas and one restored sign
tech screen shining down and enveloping people and
on view at the outdoor Fashion Show Plaza on the Las
surrounding casinos. Tourists and guests fly through
Vegas Strip.
sensimag.com MARCH 2018 19
THE MOB MUSEUM IN
with insights from forensic science experts. Each station
DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS
instructs about scientific techniques used to conduct
From Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel to Frank Rosenthal,
death investigation, DNA analysis, fingerprint analysis,
The Mob Museum (the National Museum of Organized
crime scene investigation, and firearms examination.
Crime and Law Enforcement) continues to offers a pro vocative, contemporary look at the biggest influences
GOLDWELL
in Nevada history. Housed in the restored 1933 former
OPEN AIR MUSEUM
courthouse and post office where the Kefavuer hear-
Travel Time: About two hours north of Vegas
ings on organized crime were held, the museum features a number of intriguing exhibits.
The evocative landscape of the Amargosa Desert along the eastern edge of Death Valley National Park is
The experience is an interactive journey featuring ar-
a barren and lonely part of the world—and it’s just a
tifacts, personal stories, exhibitions, and educational
short drive away from the sensory overload of the Strip.
speakers. Opened on Feb. 14, 2012 in honor of the St.
There’s a striking beauty here, and this is what led
Valentine’s Day Massacre—a notorious event detailed
to the creation of the “un-museum” just outside Rhy-
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MOB MUSEUM
olite, Nevada, a spectacular ghost town off the road leading to Death Valley, California. It’s a short distance west of Beatty off State Route 374, basically in the middle of a literal nowhere. Which is part of its intrigue. The monumental and somewhat eerie sculptures scattered across the landscape are the other part. The artworks almost demand that you question their origin: who created them, and The Kefauver Hearings at the Mob Museum
why? And, more importantly, why here? It started in 1984 when the late Belgian artist Albert
in various exhibitions and artifacts at the museum—
Szukalski began this self-described “art situation” with
the Vegas institution is planning a $9 million upgrade.
the creation and installation of “The Last Supper,” a ma-
In 2018, new exhibitions include Organized Crime To-
jor sculpture featuring life-sized ghost figures posed
day, exploring active crime groups such as outlaw mo-
as Christ and his Disciples as depicted by the Da Vinci
torcycle gangs, Yakuza, Mexican cartels, Eastern Euro-
painting. In the subsequent decades, other prominent
pean mafias, and MS-13 as well as international law enforcement agencies. Featuring artifacts, graphics, and an interactive, 17-foot-wide touchscreen wall, present
The Goldwell Open Air Museum’s Ghost Rider
day crime is exposed with continual updates. © CHARLES ALBERT SZUKALSKI
The Use of Force Training Experience showcases law enforcement methods of identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting criminals. Ready to fight crime? This intensive training session uses both digital and live roleplaying scenarios that demonstrate the speed and complexity of use of force decisions. Loved CSI ? The Crime Lab offers guests a hands-on,
Belgian artists joined Szukalski in the desert and creat-
interactive exploration of five different forensic science
ed the colossal on-site sculptures you’ll find within the
topics during the facilitated experience guided by a
vast upper Mojave desert.
museum educator. It also features original multimedia
20 Las Vegas MA RCH 2018
Today, the 15-acre outdoor sculpture park is open
the public 24/7, and Goldwell remains a place for those
The striking scenery has inspired people for millen-
who are seeking adventure in their art making in a
nia. Throughout the park—throughout all of Nevada, in
spectacular and challenging landscape, according to its
fact—2,000-year-old rock art petroglyphs are still vis-
mission statement.
ible. One of the most striking examples is found near the beginning of the Mouse’s Tank trailhead in this park.
VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK
According to experts, this example is one of the only to
Travel Time: About an hour northeast of Vegas
showcase human interaction. The figures depicted ap-
Springtime is the best time to plan a trip to Valley of
pear to be holding hands.
Fire State Park with colorful, blooming wildflowers such
The oldest state park in Nevada, Valley of Fire earned
as desert marigold, indigo bush, and desert mallow as
its designation in 1935. Today, it covers about 40,000
well as a variety of cacti. Vibrant yellow, orange, red,
acres, and the Nevada Scenic Byway, Valley of Fire Road,
white, and purple hues against the flaming sandstone
allows you to explore them by car.
create a spectacular view to truly embrace nature.
There are also many intriguing trails throughout the
Want to see some ancient artwork? The park is also
park enticing hikers to get moving. For info on the best
famous for its striking landscape and prehistoric rem-
day hikes, stop by the visitor’s center. While you’re there,
nants. Named for the bright red Aztec sandstone for-
peruse the exhibits on the geology, ecology, prehistory,
mations created by shifting sand dunes 150 million
and history of a region that may be best known for being
years ago, the rocky outcrops appear to be aflame when
adjacent to Las Vegas but is so much more than that.
the sun hits them just right. Red sandstone formations at the Valley of Fire State Park
sensimag.com MARCH 2018 21
{highprofile} by DEBBIE HALL
22 Las Vegas MA RCH 2018
THIS L AND IS HIS LAND From farm boy to cannabis CEO to global entrepreneur Matthew Morgan is flourishing. The land has been very good to Matthew Morgan.
a new opportunity presented itself, Morgan left Bloom
Today, at the age of 32, Morgan has years of experience
and formed Tryke Companies/Reef Dispensaries with
buying and selling land—and the plants it produces—
a private investor in 2014. Tryke Companies became a
to create an influential corporation and enjoy enormous
network in Arizona and Nevada of 10 licenses for the cult
success. With 2018 as the year of the upswing, with a
ivation, production, and retail sale of medical and re
recovering economy and more states legalizing medical
creational cannabis. Morgan became its CEO.
and recreational cannabis, Morgan still loves the land
“It was crazy to start something from scratch with
and the plants it produces. He is ready to move on to try
just an idea and bring it to fruition, especially a large
to triumph in other countries, including Canada.
cannabis enterprise in such a short period,” Morgan
It all began on his family’s sixth-generation farm in
says. “We started a business that only included me and
Montana, where Morgan would ride a tractor to cultivate
my partner to a corporation that employs over 420 peo
the fields. He was a typical teenage boy who ran track
ple, and we did this in just over three years.”
and played basketball in school but never planned to go
The company grew to six retail locations, two man
into professional sports. He didn’t know what he wanted
ufacturing sites, and two laboratories. “Of course, this
to be when he grew up.
happened because of brainstorming, hard work, and
As an adult, after a few false starts, Morgan discovered
lots of hours to execute our plan,” Morgan says. “This is
real estate. He switched from living off the land to selling
the best education I could have received, and I would not
it, along with the buildings on it, of course.
change this experience at all. I learned so much from
But land can be fickle, and the real estate market crashed in the 2008 financial crisis. But Morgan was
building Tryke and Reef. I would not trade the past four years for an MBA from Harvard.”
hooked on earning from ground up, and he entered the
He shares that the day Reef Dispensaries opened in
medical cannabis industry in Montana as the market
Arizona in 2015 was one of the most interesting points
exploded. As quickly as the industry expanded, it collapsed
in his life. The business was located in an isolated area in
when the state reversed its policy on medical cannabis
the southeast region in Phoenix known as Queen Creek.
in 2010. While his Montana-based company remained in
“I didn’t know what to expect,” he says. “I had never
business for a few more months operated by his father,
opened a dispensary so far from a city. But it became
Morgan realized he needed a new direction.
very successful. I saw that we created a great brand
Cannabis was in his blood, or at least his business
and developed a loyal following.”
model, so Morgan relocated to Arizona to seek out a more
Through this experience, Morgan understood the
friendly terrain. His moxie and drive connected him with
power of branding and witnessed tremendous success
an Arizona state senator, and the two developed Bloom
with the opening of Reef Dispensaries located next to
Dispensaries in 2012. The business thrived, but when
Trump Tower in Las Vegas. sensimag.com MARCH 2018 23
When recreational cannabis was legalized in the state
“Cannabis is powerful for medical care, and this is why
of Nevada, the change astounded him. “Every news or
I became such a believer in it as an alternative to opioids
ganization wanted to talk to us, and there were about
and pharmaceuticals. I am a huge advocate.”
1,200 people waiting to buy recreational sales product.
Morgan admits to growing up quite a bit to accept
It felt so surreal with so many people standing in line at
responsibility and thrive in stressful and high-pressure
midnight. I couldn’t believe we pulled this off.”
situations. He has developed tremendously as a person
PHOTOGRAPHY © MATTHEW MORGAN
But, as he told the news organizations at the time,
as well as an entrepreneur.
his biggest concern was that the demand would be much
To accomplish his goals, Morgan makes health a big
higher than the supply. “Most were surprised and baffled
focus, working out five to six times a week with re
when I predicted this, and then six months later, good
sistance training and Crossfit. To relax, he shoots hoops
Matthew Morgan: global entrepreneur
with his friends. “Getting to the gym helps me keep my sanity and prepares me for the day,” he explains. Another important aspect is his daily meditation. Still, Morgan does indulge in the occasional sweets such as snickerdoodle cookies and Ben and Jerry ice cream. But he sticks mostly with vegetables, fruits, and seafood, avoiding dairy and gluten. When it comes to cannabis, he is a huge fan of certain strains including Mimosa from the Jungle Boys, Sherbet, and Paris OG. For a dream vacation, Morgan would love to go to a tropical island with sandy beaches, blue waters, and colorful fish with no cell phone coverage.
buds were hard to find.” Morgan predicts that California
A big change in his life happened in 2017 when he
will suffer the same growing pains as Nevada with the
resigned as CEO for Tryke and Reef and began looking
changes in state law legalizing recreational sales on Jan.
toward impacting the global economy with cannabis.
1, 2018.
But Morgan’s tenure at various companies has prepared
As for the CBD market, Morgan predicts that it will expand faster than cannabis in the coming five years.
him for this moment in time, especially his experience at Tryke and Reef.
He also believes current scientific studies of the canna
He has a certain entrepreneurial wow factor. First,
binoid—one of the main chemical compounds found
he developed and launched over 20 companies in less
in cannabis plants—will reveal even more of CBD’s
than a decade—quite an accomplishment. Then he
many health benefits. He personally takes CBD every
created and developed Tryke and Reef from conceptual
day for his health.
inception to full-blown corporation, a feat that holds a
A big part of the high demand for cannabis is by
special place in his heart. While leaving the companies
veterans who prefer using cannabis over opioids to
is bittersweet, Morgan is ready to conquer other frontiers
relieve their pain and PTSD. In fact, Morgan lost one
and reach for bigger horizons.
of his best friends to an opioid overdose, which still
Morgan plans on joining a new company, Green Axis,
affects him. Many of his close friends entered the
and taking it public in Canada. This new venture is on a
military to fight in the Iraqi War around 2004. So many
much larger scale than his previous endeavors. “This is
came home addicted to pharmaceutical pills. He has
an uncharted frontier, and I am so excited,” he says. “I
witnessed how cannabis can help his friends and other
love the cannabis industry and I am living the dream
veterans give up pharmaceuticals and regain their lives.
every day. I am very fortunate and very blessed.”
24 Las Vegas MA RCH 2018
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sensimag.com MARCH 2018 25
How to DEAL with the CRAVINGS — plus HEALTHY SNACK alternatives.
26 Las Vegas MA RCH 2018
hack by ROBYN GRIGGS L AWRENCE
IF YOU’VE EVER SMOKED A STRONG
indica , YOU KNOW THE MUNCHIES. THEY’VE
BEEN A THING SINCE HUMANS FIRST BEGAN USING CANNABIS. IN FACT, PEOPLE IN ANCIENT C H I N A A ND I N D I A D R A N K C A N N A B I S T E A A S A N A P P E T I T E S T I M U L A N T, A N D T H I S REMEDY SHOWS UP MANY TIMES IN MEDIC AL AND PHARMACEUTICAL TEXTS THROUGHOUT THE AGES.
We’ve known for thousands of years that ingesting
The only thing we can control is how we react to
cannabis can inspire hunger. Only recently, though,
this phenomenon, a welcome effect for people who
have we begun to understand why—and it comes
have lost their appetite to wasting disease or chemo-
down to THC, the cannabinoid (chemical compound)
therapy but a scourge of varying degrees for those
found in cannabis plants responsible for the psycho-
watching our waists and our wellness (most of us).
active properties. T HC stimulates dopamine pro-
First, be informed. THCV, a close cousin to THC, is
duction, making eating more pleasurable. Scientists
an up-and-coming cannabinoid because scientists
have also found that T HC acts on receptors in the
have discovered it has appetite-suppression capa-
hypothalamus to produce the hunger-stimulating hor-
bilities. Real Housewives star Bethenny Frankel is
mone ghrelin. In a 2014 study published in Neurosci-
using that information to develop Skinnygirl diet-
ence Nature, researchers found that THC fit into the
conscious cannabis (announced in 2015 but still not
olfactory bulb of mice’s brains, enhancing the smell—
launched), and GW Pharmaceuticals has filed a pat-
and therefore taste—of food, causing the rodents to
ent to use THCV to control insulin levels.
eat more.
To prevent the munchies, find cannabis with the
So, we can take heart. It’s not our fault when we
highest THCV content you can (strain suggestions on
devour an entire bag of Paqui Spicy Queso chips with
page 28). Appetite-suppressing T HCV is most abun-
queso dip, a package of Milano double-milk chocolate
dant in landrace African sativas, but cannabinoid
cookies, a carton of Häagen-Dazs chocolate peanut
content varies from grower to grower and harvest to
butter ice cream, two Diet Cokes, and a box of gluten-
harvest. To ensure THCV-rich cannabis, seek out strains
free cheddar cheese crackers ( because they were the
that have been lab tested.
only things left). We can’t control the THC that’s controlling our brains.
Second, be prepared. When the munchies hit, there is nothing more heavenly than a visit to 7-Eleven, sensimag.com MARCH 2018 27
with its gleaming cases of high fructose corn syrup and pizza rolls, shelves stuffed with pork rinds and Hot Tamales. The snack-filled store would be paradise if it weren’t for the inconvenient truth that the food there makes you fat and sick. Keep yourself out of the aisles of temptation by cleansing and restocking your kitchen.
{ MUNCHIE - FREE } strains BL ACK B E AU T Y This sativa-dominant hybrid with a pineapple-like aroma has a 2 : 1 ratio of THCA :THCV and produces a fast-acting, euphoric high. DOUG’S VA R I N The first strain bred to contain massive amounts of THCV, this rare sativa with a piney-citrus aroma has a THCA : THCV ratio of 5 : 4, with a whopping 15 percent THCV and a significant amount of myrcene, the terpene that rushes concentrated THC and THCV to the brain. DURBA N POIS ON The THCV content in this pure African sativa with a spicy-sweet aroma ranges between 0.2 and 1.8 percent, fueling productivity and focus. M OBY DIC K THCV is present in this strong sativa with a sweet-citrus aroma that delivers a powerfully uplifting high. JACK T HE RIPPER THCV is present in this lemon-scented sativa that makes you feel talkative and invigorated. PINE A PPL E PURPS The THCA : THCV content in this sativa-dominant strain with a sweet pineapple aroma can be as high as 3:1, giving it a THCV content of more than 4 percent. Grab this euphoric strain when you can; it isn’t easy to find. POWER PL AN T THCV is present in this African sativa with a spicy aroma that inspires and uplifts. RED C ONGOL ES E THCV is present in this African sativa with a sweet floral aroma that energizes and uplifts. (It’s been called “the cocaine of cannabis.”)
Anton Chekhov said if there’s a pistol in the first act, it will be fired in the second. It’s the same in your kitchen. If there are Hot Pockets in the freezer, you will eat them when you’re high. Stock up instead on healthy whole-food snacks that satisfy 7-Eleven-caliber cravings without the sweet-salty pistol whip of guilt.
28 Las Vegas MA RCH 2018
Healthy Snacks YOU WON’T H ATE AIR -POPPED P OP CORN
Eating popcorn keeps your hand moving and your mouth chewing with a lot fewer calories than a bag of chips. Skip the butter and spritz with a little olive or sesame oil instead, then keep it interesting with creative seasonings: chili or curry powder, garam masala, dill weed and lemon zest, cinnamon, Sriracha and lime zest, truffle oil, malt vinegar, bullion powder, white vinegar and sea salt, Mexican hot chocolate mix, or matcha green tea powder. CEL ERY
The vegetable is fun to crunch, great for cotton mouth, high in fiber and vitamins C, A, and K—and has six calories per stalk. Celery’s a great vessel for all sorts of delicious dips and toppings. Peanut butter is the classic, as long as you don’t mind its 16 grams of fat per serving. Try these alternatives instead: toasted
beat the { MUNCHIES } GET B USY >> Practice yoga, climb a rock wall, knit, play a video game or the piano. With your head and hands busy, you’ll think less about food. DRI NK WAT E R >> You need to do this anyway. Keep your water bottle with you at all times. Flavor it with chunks of fruit or sip on seltzer. DRI NK C OF F EE OR GREEN TEA >> Caffeine dulls appetite, and you can keep yourself amused trying all the different varietals and varieties of coffee and tea now available. You can add a little honey to shore up your blood sugar—but a white chocolate mocha, even with skim milk and no whip, defeats the purpose. C H E W G UM >> Sometimes your mouth just wants to be busy. Chew sugar-free gum sweetened with xylitol, a natural corn alcohol that won’t spike blood sugar. Y E A H , N O F R I E S >> Researchers have found that one taste of fatty food signals the brain and gut to want more. You really can’t have just one.
sesame oil and sesame seeds, olive oil and capers,
sensimag.com MARCH 2018 29
Frozen Greek Yogurt with Nuts and Berries { SERVES 4 – 6 } This is great when you really want a carton of Chubby Hubby. Greek yogurt is creamier, has a quarter of the carbs, and twice the protein of regular yogurt. You can use any variety and combination of yogurt, nut butter, fruits, and nuts. If you use plain yogurt, you might want to mix in a couple tablespoons of honey or maple syrup. You could even sprinkle in some mini dark chocolate chips, but that’s kind of cheating.
* 2 cups Greek yogurt, any flavor * 1/ 2 tablespoon sesame oil * 1/ 2 tablespoon nut butter ( ALMOND, CASHEW, PEANUT ) * Pinch of sea salt OPTIONAL :
* 1/ 2 cup berries or fruit ( BLUEBERRIES, STRAWBERRIES, MANGO) * 1/4 cup toasted nuts ( HAZELNUTS, ALMONDS, PECANS ) · Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or waxed paper. Chop fruit and nuts into small pieces. · Spoon yogurt onto baking sheet. Spread evenly into a quarter-inch layer. · In a small bowl, whisk together sesame oil and nut butter. Drizzle over yogurt. · Sprinkle remaining optional ingredients over yogurt and finish with sea salt. · Freeze 5 to 6 hours or until firm. To eat, break into pieces.
horseradish and lemon zest, feta and mint, hummus, baba ghanouj, miso paste, tapenade, bean dip, or salsa. F ROZ EN GR APES
The ultimate natural popsicle, frozen grapes are simple to make and fun to pop in your mouth. Remove the stems, place grapes on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper or aluminum foil, and freeze for four to five hours. One cup has 100 calories. VEGGIE CHIPS
Get your veggies and a salt fix, too. You can pay a fortune for low-calorie, low-carb potato chip alternatives at Whole Foods, or you can make them yourself in minutes. Toss two handfuls of chopped kale, spinach,
Dip It Good { MAKES 3 CUPS }
cabbage, ultra-thin radish slices, or another slivered
Let’s be honest. Even when we call them crudités, vegetables are pretty boring. That’s why we serve them with buttermilk ranch dip at parties. That secret sauce is a fat trap, though— you might as well be eating ice cream. Try dipping carrots, celery, peppers, snap peas, broccoli, and cauliflower in this low-fat vegan version instead. (You need to soak the almonds overnight and let the dip thicken for two hours or more in the refrigerator, so plan ahead.)
pepper. Place on a baking sheet lined with aluminum
* 1 1/ 2 cup unsweetened almond milk * 1 1/ 2 cup cashews * 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar * 2 cloves garlic * 2 tablespoons fresh parsley * 2 teaspoons onion powder * 2 teaspoons salt * Ground black pepper to taste
· Place cashews in a small bowl and cover with almond milk. Cover bowl and refrigerate overnight. · Combine cashews and almond milk with remaining ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. · Transfer to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight. 30 Las Vegas MA RCH 2018
vegetable (go wild!) with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and foil and bake at 300˚ F for 20 minutes. GREEK YO GURT
Low-calorie, high-protein Greek yogurt has a thick, creamy texture and is a great source of calcium, potassium, protein, zinc, B vitamins, and probiotics. You can also use it in place of sour cream and mayonnaise. NUTS
Nuts are way better for you than chips, and they provide heart-healthy fat, protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants—but you won’t lose weight if you down a bag every night. Eat nuts judiciously. Almonds, cashews, and pistachios are lowest in calories. Macadamias and pecans are high in fat and low in protein. Nuts roasted in oil may contain hydrogenated fats and fewer nutrients. ROBYN GRIGGS L AWRENCE is the author of The Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook.
sensimag.com MARCH 2018 31
by LELAND RUCKER
REPORT 32 Las Denver Vegas //Boulder MA RCH NOVEMBER 2018 2017
Can SIN CITY handle one more LEGAL VICE?
SPECIAL
OVER THE DEC ADES,
Las Vegas HAS
BEEN A MODEL FOR REGULATING INIQUITY AND TRANSGRESSION. GAMING? WE HAVE IT COVERED. PROSTITUTION? WE KNOW HOW TO REGULATE IT. VICE? ARE YOU KIDDING? NOW THERE IS ANOTHER. FOR MORE THAN EIGHT MONTHS, ADULTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LEGALLY POSSESS AND PURCHASE CANNABIS, WHICH HAS LINGERED AROUND THE EDGES OF THE CITY OVER THE DECADES? SO HOW ARE WE DOING? “I hate to brag, but things are going pretty well,” says Democratic state Senator Tick Sederblom, who supported legalization in Nevada and works with regulators and businesses to get things right as the state refines its rules and regulations. “If you look at all the states that have passed recreational marijuana, most took longer than they planned to get open,” he says. “We actually opened up six months earlier than planned and went full bore.” Recreational shops opened July 1, 2017. And in this case, what happens here is not staying here. Entrepreneurs are placing their bets on the many tourists from around the world flying into McCarran International Airport in search of Vegas’ limelight and lightly regulated iniquities. Leslie Bocskor is CEO of Electrum Partners, a consulting firm for cannabis businesses. “The difference between Nevada and the other states is that we have the opportunity to show 45 million international tourists from all over the world what a legal, well-regulated market looks like. That’s why we’ve been diligent.”
sensimag.com sensimag.com NOVEMBER MARCH 201 2018 7 33
The biggest single unsolved problem is one that has vexed every legal state so far. The only legal places to use cannabis are private homes and hotels/B&Bs that allow it. It’s prohibited on the Strip and in or around casinos. “It leaves tourists in a tough position, left with no place to consume,” admits Heather Azzi of the Marijuana Policy Project, who helped write and pass Question 2. “We need clubs, lounges and smoking areas at festivals, rodeos, carnivals, Burning Man,” Bocskor says. “There are places to go to smoke cigarettes and drink beer, and there should be a place for people to use it.” He adds, only half joking, “If we have more people smoking pot at these events, we will have fewer incidents of violence, better managed events, and participants will eat more food.” Gov. Brian Sandoval has come out publicly against any kind of consumption lounges, at least for now, arguing that allowing them might attract federal attention and possible intervention. When the state attorney general’s office declined to offer an opinion, the Legislative Counsel Bureau decided in September that nothing in the language of Question
2 disallows public consumption, and that individual counties should be left to decide whether to allow it and what the rules would be. “We need to move to the next level when it comes to lounges, events, and some kind of interactive public consumption,” says Soderblom, adding that Las Vegas was ready to apply and then backed off after Sessions started making waves. Smoking is prohibited in most hotel rooms, yet the smell of cannabis often lingers around casinos and outside hotels. Sean Luze, CEO of NuLeaf, which operates dispensaries in Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas, says all budtenders advise people about the rules and restrictions on public consumption. Still, he says, it’s not like millions of people haven’t learned how to use cannabis without attracting attention. “People have spent decades to find places to consume,” he adds, “and that will continue.” Since they emit vapor rather than smoke, vaporizers have become popular items, and the edibles market is booming and expected to continue since it’s the most discrete way to use cannabis without bothering anybody else. “At the end of the day, people will find a way around it, just like they always have,” says Jamie Schau of the Brightfield Group, 34 Las Vegas MA RCH 2018
which does market research and analysis. Derek Peterson, CEO of Terra Tech Corp, a cannabis- focused cultivator, says that allowing counties to create their own regulations helped the state move quickly and efficiently from the start. “The way we operate in Vegas and the way we operate down the road is entirely different,” he says. The state also limited permits to medical businesses already in operation to help ease conversion to recreational sales. “Nevada does a good job of regulating and being friendly to entrepreneurs. They listened to the industry and let people make suggestions.” The state’s successful history of controlling otherwise suspect activities is a big part of the cannabis gamble, says Mark Zobrist of Friday Night Inc., a licensed cultivator and CBD infused-product company in the city. “It is used to regulating industries that
need control, and it applied the same philosophy to cannabis. The state has been a model for inspections, control, and regulations. That’s different from most other states that don’t have a regulatory background. It’s organized and able to do it.” The recreational industry is overseen by the Nevada Department of Taxation; the medical industry by the Health and Human Services department. “You have politics to deal with, and we’re moving quickly to come up with all the rules,” Schau says. “A lot of states don’t realize the complexity.” The state also instituted a rigorous testing program for medical and recreational products. “The testing regimen is regarded as just on the acceptable side of draconian, which is what we want,” Bocskor admits. “And as a result, our crops are not contaminated. We’re producing thousands of pounds of the cleanest cannabis in the world, and nobody is having
the STATE’S
SUCCESSFUL
HISTORY of
CONTROLLING
OTHERWISE
SUSPECT ACTIVITIES is a BIG PART
of the VEGAS
CANNABIS
GAMBLE.
sensimag.com MARCH 2018 35
a hard time doing it the right way.”
new one that’s still illegal federally.
Though there are many here concerned about the
Casino reaction has been much like larger banks
implications of the attorney general’s action that end-
avoiding dealing with cannabis companies in legal
ed Obama-era, Cole Memo guidelines, there are also
states. The Cole Memo suggested that banks would
those who see a silver lining in his actions. “Conser-
be allowed to do business with cannabis companies
vative senators from states are able to seek legislation
under certain restrictions, but few opted in, with most
and go to their constituencies and say this is about
claiming they were still afraid of prosecution. To end
state’s rights,” says Bocskor. “It‘s given conservative
all discussion, Nevada gaming commissioners in Au-
politicians political cover for doing that.”
gust announced that as long as marijuana remains a
Sederblom says the state is awaiting a Supreme
CANNABIS is
NOT ALLOWED
in CASINOS or HOTELS. RETAIL SHOPS are NOT ALLOWED within
a
THOUSAND FEET
of the STRIP.
Schedule I drug, gaming licensees aren’t allowed to conduct business with any entity that promotes cannabis. Nobody was willing to speculate on how long it will take, but most say that ultimately will have to change. “Eventually you will see flower girls with pre-rolls, like bottle service on the Strip,” says Peterson. “It’s just a matter of time, but that’s what Nevada does well. I’ve been around the world, and the best services, from a macro standpoint, are in Vegas. It’s a city built on service, not like other markets.” Nobody is speculating about the effects of California’s recreational market coming online, but beyond taking away some Nevada business, most see being next door to the sixth largest economy in the world as a positive. “It’s gonna be a game changer,” says Luze. “But so many people will be able to see how orderly it is and that there are no problems. It will help the support for legalization.” What I found is that the industry, regulators, and legislators are all betting on Nevada becoming an archetype for other states and countries considering
Court decision on a suit levied by alcohol distributors,
legalization. “Little bumps happen,” says MPP’s Azzi.
who were given exclusive rights to distribute cannabis
“It’s a new market. We haven’t done this before ex-
by Question 2. As retail sales approached, not enough
cept in a handful of states. It’s good that people are
distributors stepped up, forcing the state to adopt
learning from other people.”
emergency measure to ensure distribution. Alcohol dis-
Soderblom says being the best is the point. “That’s
tributors sued, and Sederblom, who calls the whole
been our whole goal, to become the gold standard, to
affair “bogus,” says that the legal ruling will end that
become the model,” he says. “We think we can do the
discussion.
same with marijuana that we did with everything else.”
At this point, and at least for the near future, there
All this talk of tourists made me wonder what reg-
is major separation between casinos and cannabis,
ular Nevadans far from the Strip think of legalization.
even to the point of not letting marijuana conven-
Foster Boone, director of operations for the Apothe-
tions or expos to be held in casinos. Sheldon Adelson,
carium shop in Las Vegas, about a ten- or 15-minute
CEO of the Sands, contributed five million dollars to
drive off the Strip, says about 80 percent of his cus-
defeat Question 2. But the reality is deeper than sim-
tomers are locals. “They like cannabis, too, and there
ple opposition to cannabis. It’s not such a good idea
are plenty of benefits to buying it legally. People like
to mix a closely watched legal industry with a brand-
cannabis no matter where they live.”
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sensimag.com MARCH 2018 37
S P E C I A L A DV I S ORY BOA R D S E C T ION A S T HE C A NN A B I S I N D U S T R Y G R O W S, SO DO T H E N U M B E R OF N I C H E E X P E R T S W I T H I N IT. FROM TOP-TIER DISPENSARIES AND EXTRACTION BRANDS TO EDIBLE MAKERS AND MARKETING SPECIALISTS, THESE COMPANIES ARE INCREDIBLE SOURCES OF INSIDER INFO ABOUT THE TRENDS AND ISSUES DRIVING THIS THRIVING MARKETPL ACE FORWARD. THE SENSI ADVISORY BOARD IS COMPRISED OF LE ADERS FROM A VARIETY OF FIELDS WITHIN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY. EACH ISSUE, ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS SHARE SOME OF THEIRKNOWLEDGE WITH OUR READERS IN THIS DEDICATED SECTION. THIS MONTH, WE H E A R F R O M E X P E RTS AT C O HE N M E D I C A L C E N T E R S. For a full list of Advisory Board Members, turn to the masthead on page 5.
What is the Right Dose for Cannabis? by Cohen Medical Centers Experts WHEN IT COMES TO MEDICAL CANNABIS, PEOPLE ARE ASKING EXPERTS IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY, “HOW MUCH DO I TAKE AND HOW OFTEN?” THE ANSWER REALLY COMES IN THE FORM OF AS MUCH AS IT TAKES TO GET TO RELIEF AND AS OFTEN AS NEEDED. Think of cannabis as tools in a medical care arsenal.
always extend to CBD and other cannabis products sold
Not everyone needs the jackhammer effects of ingest-
legally. The most reputable producers will always make
ing too much THC when all-day comfort can come from
test results available and accessible.
a balancing act that is known as the entourage effect.
Once a person learns which cannabinoids and ter-
When turning to cannabis in whole as a wellness op-
penoids provide more specific relief to their condition,
tion, steady treatment is suggested similar to taking a
that person can figure out exactly why it’s working so
daily vitamin. Cannabidiol or CBD is a great option for legal, non-psychoactive relief of numerous health conditions when used in whole plant forms taken from industrial hemp. While there can be use for the pure, isolate cannabis products, studies are showing that they have a bell-shaped curve effect often taking longer to start working and reduced efficacy over time. In comparison, products with even small amounts of full-spectrum results can provide healing. Considering the nonpsychoactive effects of CBD, it is relatively safe to dose up until one begins to feel reliev-
well in other areas. Well-informed decisions on what
ing effects like reduced muscle spasms, inflammation,
to purchase and use can be made with relief in sight.
pain, anxiety, or blood pressure, just to name a few ex-
If you’re interested in learning more about using
amples. In whole-plant and full-spectrum products, it’s
cannabis to treat conditions, you’re in luck. Through
more than just THC or CBD taking into account terpenes
consultation, physicians working with the Nevada De-
known for many health benefits.
partment of Health and Human Services will be able to
In Nevada, while mandatory test results are required on every product sold in the dispensary, this does not
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indicate if cannabis may be of medical benefit and make formal recommendations.
sensimag.com MARCH 2018 39
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
STR IPSI DE M ANAGEM ENT GROUP
The Future is Now EVERY PRODUCT AND EVERY BUSINESS NEEDS AN AUDIENCE AND THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY. STRIPSIDE MANAGEMENT GROUP HAS MADE ITS MARK WITH AN ORIGINAL EVENT, CULTURE & CANNABIS L AS VEGAS. INITIALLY CONCEIVED FOR A FORMER CLIENT, THE REGULAR GATHERING HAS BECOME ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONSISTENT CANNABIS -FRIENDLY HAPPENINGS IN LAS VEGAS, WITH AN AUDIENCE READY TO LEARN ABOUT BRANDS IN THE LEGAL CANNABIS SPACE. Marketing cannabis and its products and services
Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter. Users
is not different from other businesses, and that is the
are also engaging in other sites such as LinkedIn and
philosophy behind Stripside Management Group. It
Pinterest. According to comScore’s 2017 Future in
is a collective with decades of experience in all aspects
Focus report, 66 percent of that time takes place on
of modern marketing for the cannabis and hospitality
smartphones and 21 percent of social media time
industries. Having worked with every major nightlife
takes place on a desktop.
group on the Las Vegas Strip, Partner JC Coats saw a
Coats and his team—Tre Borders, Leilani Bernar-
need to create sophisticated, reliable client building
do, Mauricio Morales, Chuck Sicuso, Kriss Kass—have
for the many emerging businesses in Las Vegas.
the combined experience from various fields to exe-
Stripside Management combines practical market-
cute for clients, including such prominent operations
ing solutions with cutting-edge creative. The company
as Commonwealth, Park on Fremont, NuLeaf Las Ve-
creates, manages, and synergizes digital marketing
gas and Tahoe, and the Life Is Beautiful festival.
strategies, social media management, influencer
“To us, positioning a brand and then helping that
marketing, SMS and email marketing, event market-
brand find its audience is fun,” Coats says with a smile.
ing, print and outdoor ad design, and data collection.
“It can be a challenge sometimes, but a fun one.”
One of the top components is social media. According to MediaKix, people spend an average of one hour and 56 minutes daily engaging in the top five social media platforms. The top five include YouTube,
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For more information:
STRIPSIDESOLUTIONS.COM
sensimag.com MARCH 2018 41
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
E V ERGREEN ORGANIX
Signature Line Expanding Nationwide AS MORE STATES JOIN THOSE THAT HAVE LEGALIZED CANNABIS FOR MEDICINAL AND RECREATIONAL PURPOSES, MORE BUSINESSES ARE USING THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND NATIONALLY. EVERGREEN ORGANIX, A COMPANY BASED OUT OF L AS VEGAS, HAS ENTERED A MULTI-STATE LICENSING AGREEMENT TO MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTE ITS OWN SIGNATURE LINE OF EDIBLES A N D TOPICALS. PRODUCTS WILL SOON BE ON DISPENSARY SHELVES IN CALIFORNIA AND COLORADO, AVAILABLE TO BOTH RECREATIONAL AND MEDICINAL CONSUMERS AND IN ARIZONA FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS. Evergreen Organix line of cannabis products al-
success. We look forward to the opportunity to serve
ways uses premium cannabis and the finest ingredi-
both medical and recreational markets with our famed
ents to create a wonderful experience. Edibles like
quality and passion for cannabis,” said Jillian Nelson,
double chocolate chunk brownie bites, rice crispy
operations manager.
treats, homemade cannabutter, and new fruit chews,
Ensuring a premium cannabis experience with ev-
are made by a team of talented bakers and chocolat-
ery edible, topical or vaping product, Evergreen Orga-
iers. Cannabis lip balm, menstrual relief oil, intimacy
nix uses a combination of small batches, proactively
oil and cannabis sun screen are among topical prod-
taking measures to insure each product is as potent
ucts created by its expert team of scientists using top-
and safe as expected, including testing each product.
of-the-line equipment in their state-of-the-art facility.
A brand that offers CBD products, vegan-friendly ed-
“We are both honored and excited to soon be ex-
ible options, sugar-free and sweet choices, skin, per-
panding the Evergreen Organix brand to Arizona, Cal-
sonal care and pain relief products; Evergreen Organix
ifornia and Colorado. While we are proudly rooted in
offers an expanding line for medical marijuana pa-
Nevada and have learned so much from this revolu-
tients and adult use consumers.
tionary market, this expansion milestone speaks vol-
For more information:
umes of our team’s efforts and dedication our brand’s
EVERGREENORGANIX.COM
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sensimag.com MARCH 2018 43
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
UNDOO
Get Clarity After Cannabis Overconsumption THE UNDOO EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENT USES THE BODY’S NATURAL CHEMISTRY TO SWIF TLY PROVIDE CLARIT Y. UNDOO ALSO WORKS VERY WELL WITH DABS. WHETHER IT’S TOO MUCH CONCENTRATE OR EDIBLE OR LEARNING TO TITRATE, UNDOO IS THE ONLY PATENTED PRODUCT TO PROVIDE THIS RELIEF. THIS SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH OFFERS REVOLUTIONARY IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CANNABIS CULTURE AL LOWING PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE ALL TYPES OF CANNABIS PRODUCTS SAFELY AND WITHOUT FEAR. UNDOO helps users achieve a sense of clarity yet still feel the benefits of the THC. After ingesting the soft gels, one will be left clear-headed, calm, cool, and comfortable. The product will ease the intensity, and shorten the duration of the effects. Most importantly, it does not eliminate the feeling of well-being often experienced with THC. For those dealing with leftover consumption issues such as still being elevated or foggy after waking up, one UNDOO soft gel in the morning will effectively work in achieving clarity. The amount of time for UNDOO to take effect will vary, depending upon the individual, the type, the amount of cannabis consumed, and the ingestion method. Relief can occur in 5 to 20 minutes. However, with strong edibles and concentrates, it could take up to an hour for significant clarity.
The UNDOO emergency supplement is not intend-
Made from a plant extract, one of the active ingre-
ed for use with alcohol since it is formulated for use
dients is Olivetol, which enhances the body’s natural
with cannabis only. Also, it will not help anyone pass
chemistry. The other two natural ingredients are olive
a drug test. UNDOO was designed to work with oth-
oil and vitamin E. UNDOO does not contain any CBD
er areas of the body and cannabis will remain in urine.
or other cannabinoids. Founder and CEO James Car-
AVAIL ABLE IN ALL 50 STATES
berry, while educating people on the use of cannabis, would be asked about products to help if too much was taken or to end the feeling. He realized a need for such a product and developed it.
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For more information:
UNDOO.COM
Empowering the Cannabis Industry Through Education and Commerce
2018 CALENDAR The cannabis industry’s only association-led business-to-business events empowering the industry through education and commerce. NCIA’s Conferences and Trade Shows embody the values of NCIA—education, advocacy, and community—to deliver invaluable insights and best practices to both the novice and experienced cannabis business owner.
NCIA’S
CANNABIS
BUSINESS SUMMIT® & EXPO
FEBRUARY 7 – 8, 2018
CULTIVATING A NEW ERA OF ENTERPRISE
NAVIGATING THE WORLD’S LARGEST ADULT-USE MARKET
JULY 25 – 27, 2018
OCTOBER 22 – 23, 2018
DENVER, CO
SAN JOSE, CA
ANAHEIM, CA
SeedToSaleShow.com | #SeedToSaleShow
CannabisBusinessSummit.com | #CannaBizSummit
CaliforniaCannabisBusiness.com | #CACannaBizCon
Interested in exhibiting? NCIA’s expo floors are verified to have the highest concentration of legitimate buyers and sellers of any other industry trade show, bringing together serious professionals intending to grow their businesses, network, and build lasting relationships. Contact James Cross, Exhibit Floor Manager, at james.cross@gsmiweb.com
ADVOCACY.
EDUCATION.
COMMUNITY. sensimag.com MARCH 2018 45
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{soLV }
PHOTO BY GIANFRANCO GORGONI /COURTESY OF ART PRODUCTION FUND AND NEVADA MUSEUM OF ART
by CHRISTINA DAVIES
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SEVEN MAGIC MOUNTAINS
IN THE DESERT
If you’re yearning to escape the Strip for a few moments of respite in a serene space surrounded by nature where you can contemplate the lasting impact of artifice, you don’t have to go very far. Continuing south of the Las Vegas Strip, about 10 miles south of the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and St. Rose Parkway, a large-scale public artwork by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone sits just off the Interstate in the desert at a location physically and symbolically between the natural and the artificial, incorporating elements of both. Seven Magic Mountains consists of 33 boulders weighing anywhere from 20,000 pounds to 25 tons, stacked into seven hoodoo-like towers drenched in Day-Glo. The colorful anomaly appears to either blend with the natural landscape or pop against the desert backdrop, depending on the lighting and your perspective, which changes as you approach along Interstate 15. Feel free to pull over and walk around to fully appreciate the mammoth scale of the gravity-defying balancing act that’s as much an engineering feat as a work of art. The site-specific showcase—one of the largest land-based art installations in the United States in the last 40 years—will be on view through May.
Ugo Rondinone: Seven Magic Mountains, Las Vegas, Nevada
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