Sensi Magazine Massachusetts - Fall 2022

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Justice is Deserved

Stephanie Shepard shares her story of unjustified incarceration, and now fights for others in prison for cannabis.

34 Serving Sanctuary

For up-and-coming chain Sanctuary Medicinals, charity begins at home

THE

SCENE Hot happenings and hip hangouts around town NFTs Passing fad or the future of cannabis?

WEED+ Why cannabis & co ee are a perfect pair

LIT LODGING Pot-friendly hotels and B&Bs in and around Massachusetts’ best autumn views 58

THE END

ON THE COVER Sanctuary Medicinals creates local partnerships In creative and authentic ways.

PHOTO BY PATRICK ROGERS

This product has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks. Marijuana use during pregnancy and breast-feeding may pose potential harms. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery while under the influence of this product. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. The impairment effects of Edibles may be delayed by two hours or more. In case of accidental ingestion, contact poison control hotline 1-800-222-1222 or 9-1-1. This product may be illegal outside of MA.

CLIFF NOTEZ - BOSTON MUSICIAN & ARTIST

EXECUTIVE

Ron Kolb Founder ron@sensimag.com

Stephanie Graziano CEO stephanie.graziano@sensimag.com

PUBLISHING

Jamie Cooper Market Director, Michigan

Richard Guerra Market Director, Massachusetts

Jake Boynton Market Director, Massachusetts

Nancy Reid Market Director, National

EDITORIAL

Jen Bernstein Executive Editor

Gregory Frye National Contributor

Debbie Hall National Contributor

Hudson Lindenberger National Contributor

Bonnie Pipkin National Contributor

Will Brendza Contributor, Colorado

Christine Watkins Contributor, Colorado

Sara Brittany Somerset Contributor, Massachusetts

Eric Hoppes Contributor, Michigan

Elizabeth McWilliams Contributor, Michigan

Tracy Ross Contributor, Michigan

Matt Dinger Contributor, Oklahoma

Addison Herron-Wheeler Contributor, Oklahoma

Mike DiPaola Copy Editor

DESIGN

Jamie Ezra Mark Creative Director jamie@emagency.com

Rheya Tanner Art Director

Wendy Mak Designer

Josh Clark Designer

Andrew Ontko Designer

PRODUCTION

Jade Kolb Social Media / Global Recruiting

Neil Willis Production Director

Richard Guerra Digital Production

MEDIA SALES

COLORADO

Nancy Seidel Media Sales Executive

Amy Sharp Media Sales Executive

Tyler Tarr Media Sales Executive

MICHIGAN

Eric Lutey Media Sales Executive

Kyle Miller Media Sales Executive

Will Oostendorp Media Sales Exec.

Leah Stephens Media Sales Exec.

OKLAHOMA

Levi Clark Media Sales Executive

Samantha Grigsby Media Sales Exec.

Leidy Torres Media Sales Exec.

PUERTO RICO

Piper Emory Media Sales Executive

NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD

NCRMA Risk Management

ADVISORY BOARD

COLORADO

Colorado Cannabis Company THC Co ee

Concentrate Supply Co. Recreational Concentrates

marQaha Sublinguals + Beverages

Source CO Wholesale Consulting Terrapin Care Station

Recreational Dispensary Uleva Hemp Products Witlon Inc. Payroll Processing

MICHIGAN

Arono Law (Craig Arono )

Licensing Law Firm

Cannabis Counsel Cannabis Law Firm

Etz Chaim Attestations

Grapp Lerash Accounting/CPA Services

Great Lakes Natural Remedies

Lakeshore: Provisioning Center

Kush Design Studio

Cannabis Facility Design & Build

Northern Specialty Health

Upper Peninsula: Provisioning Center

Pure West Compassion Club Caregiver Connection & Network Rair Medical Flower

MASSACHUSETTS

Corners Packaging Packaging

Green Goddess Supply

Personal Homegrown Biochamber

The Holistic Center

Medical Marijuana Evaluations

Revolutionary Clinics Medical Dispensary

Royal Gold Soil

Tess Woods Public Relations

Public Relations

Vantage Builders Construction

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Finding reason in the season … to everything

turn, turn, turn. I’ve always been inspired by the beauty of fall. How Mother Nature dips her brush and paints a canvas of trees in a dazzling array of cranberry, golds, and greens. But as she stands back admiring her masterpiece, change is already on the way. From these breathtaking and inspiring moments of autumn, soon comes a time of reflection when the winds shift course and usher in winter.

With fall comes harvest, and a season of preparation. We dutifully take down our plants after months of tender care, then patiently wait as we cure and mature to perfection, and, perhaps in anticipation of a long winter, stockpile our headstash.

Just as we’re welcoming new changes in our grows, we celebrate the next evolution of the garden grown here in the pages of Sensi. Since May, I’ve had the pleasure of rolling up my sleeves and joining the talented team tending to the publication’s growth – and it’s remarkably true that one reaps what one sows. It’s an honor writing this letter to you knowing that under the guidance of the leadership team, this magazine will bear the cannabis industry’s fruit for many years to come – and I’m excited to see what each season will bring.

FACEBOOK

Like Sensi Media Group to infuse your newsfeed with more of our great cannabis lifestyle content. TWITTER Follow @sensimag for need-to-know news and views from Sensi headquarters.

So, as the seasons change, so do we. I hope you find pleasure and purpose in this annual shedding of leaves, and find a reason this season to turn over a new leaf.

Gratefully yours,

INSTAGRAM

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

Jen Bernstein @nycjamgal

Just as we’re welcoming new changes in our grows, we celebrate the next evolution of the garden grown here in the pages of Sensi.

VEGAS, BABY!

MJBizCon2022 draws the who’s who of cannabis to Sin City this November.

If you’re one of them, have fun! But don’t limit that fun to the showroom oor.

The largest cannabis expo, MJBizCon, returns, bringing the biggest and brightest to Las Vegas from November 15-18. Even with the best planning and squeezing in every moment to walk the expo, meet the canna-leaders, engage with other attendees, and gather knowledge, four days can be (almost) overwhelming. Along with the parties, valuable networking, and glitz of the Strip, this all-encompassing event expands boundaries in a mind-blowing experience away from the expo.

At the end of day, with your free conference tote bursting at the seams and your pockets stuffed with business cards, where can you go to decompress and find some peace and serenity? Fandom abounds in Vegas for those still obsessed with Princess Diana. Art lovers can surround themselves with culture, including art by Van Gogh or da Vinci, before heading back into the frenzy.

If you’re interested in exploring another side of Sin City, Sensi has uncovered some of the latest

offerings outside of the conference to renew your spirit. Join us as we peel back and discover the layers that make Las Vegas a number one travel and vacation destination.

PHOTO COURTESY OF

STRIPPED BARE

Skip the insanely-famoussuperstar residencies in favor of these Vegas originals.

BY THE NUMBERS

$25 BILLION

US total legal sales of cannabis in 2021.

LIGHT SHOW: Lights, motion, dance, and color create the show iLuminate at The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Skypod. Figures from another dimension, outlined in vibrant LED lights emerge from complete darkness, bringing enlightening energy of joy, sadness, friendship, and hope. The nightclub on stage, with rays of light and love streaming across the dark, celebrates the very human dance on every level.

iLuminate / The Strat Hotel, Casino & Skypod thestrat.com/entertainment/featured/iluminate

RECKLESS ROCK: The Rat Pack played the Strip in the early ’60s. But with its residency at Sahara Las Vegas, the group Reckless in Vegas brings them roaring into the 2020s by reimagining iconic pop tunes as classic rock songs. Frontman and lead guitarist Michael Shapiro calls Las Vegas his hometown, which must be why the band so perfectly captures the never-ending energy of the city and the musicians who gave it life over the years.

Reckless in Vegas / Sahara Las Vegas / recklessinvegas.com

50 TH

Nebraska’s rank among all US states for kind cannabis laws.

$24 MILLION

New Jersey’s cannabis revenue in its rst month of sales.

2.5

Maximum number of grams of hard drugs— opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA—to be decriminalized in British Columbia’s 3-year pilot project starting in 2023.

A World Away

Transformative yoga, art, golf and more at Area15.

Minutes from the Strip, Area15 transports guests into a surreal, immersive playground with art, music, attractions, amusement, culture, and culinary delights. This is the place to see, touch, and feel.

For the social media minded, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to take sel es against the backdrop of 360-degree panoramic views of the Strip on Lifto , an open-air balloon ride tethered to a pole that takes guests 130 feet into the sky. At night, surrounded by the estimated 12 million neon lights on the Las Vegas Strip in the distance, you’ll groove on this amazing creation in the desert.

Let’s face it: walking, standing, talking, engaging, and keeping it all organized can suck the energy right out of you. Trade the stress of the day with stretching, focused breathing, and movement to re-energize and rejuvenate, especially surrounded by the dreamlike environment.

Relax and revitalize with Yoga and Wellness with Dray. Explore non-ordinary states of consciousness, but do it consciously with Frequency Breathwork, modulated breathing that creates a psychedelic experience through the power and safety of your own oxygen supply.

Incorporate movement, meditation, and sound bath healing at the Sacred Lounge.

JONES SODA CO.; BY RUSSELL FERRER; COURTESY SUNDAY SCARIES

L I F T E D L I Q U I D

For 25 years, Mary Jones craft soda has generated buzz by printing a fan-submitted photo on every label. Now Jones Soda Co. is creating buzz of a di erent kind. A cold soda has always hit the spot, and adding spirits adds that tingle that tickles the tongue and the brain. But elevating that drink even further is a growing market. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global cannabis beverages market is projected to grow from $915.06 million in 2021 to $19.1 billion in 2028.

Mary Jones’ new infused sodas (available in Berry, Lemonade, Green Apple, Orange Cream, and fan-favorite Root Beer) comes in 12-ounce bottles with a 4-pack carrier to bring to a party and share with friends. Take a sip and decide for yourself if you’re ready for the zzy lifting drink of the future.

Mary Jones 10mg Cannabis-Infused Soda / gomaryjones.com

Lose the Blues

Weekends are the best and then … they end, and everyone dreads those Sunday night blues. Turn to Sunday Scaries, CBD stress-relief products to help defeat the impending doom of the impending work week.

Start your day zenned out on Vegan CBD gummies, or end it with Big Spoon CBD Sleep Oil inducing a refreshing slumber. Need both? Have your cake and eat it with the Side Piece bundle of each product. Cheer the coming week, enjoy the weekend, and chill.

Sunday Scaries sundayscaries.com

(Check website for availability.)

After working the conference oor all day, it is totally therapeutic to go throw something to get the stress out. Release that frustration with ax throwing at Dueling Axes, featuring 18 throwing lanes and a full-service bar (just be careful with those sharp blades around your coworkers!).

Enjoy Five Iron Golf, an urban indoor golf experience with teaching professionals, golf simulators, and a full bar. Golf is back and bigger than ever! Embrace your inner child at Emporium by getting lost in new and classic arcade games (while imbibing like an adult at the bar).

Surround yourself with art and culture, including Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart, known as “America’s Most Exceptional Grocery Store.” In what appears to be a nondescript market, labels such as Impact Corn, Caltucky Freedom Glaze, and Americanized Beef will change that perception. Continue the surreal by entering into Wink World: Portals Into The In nite, created by Chris Wink, co-founder of Blue Man Group. Explore di erent dimensions that bend the mind as theatrics, art, music, and technology explode in cataclysmic layers. The out-of-body inspirational experiences will motivate you to hit the ground running the next day, ready to expand your horizons in business, pleasure, and consciousness. Step into this space and you step through a gateway into a world of inspiration and transformation.

Area15 / 3215 S. Rancho Drive / area15.com

COURTESY

Explore di erent dimensions that bend the mind as theatrics, art, music, and technology explode in cataclysmic layers.

A community Icon that is still changing lives

The team behind Western Front is dedicated to lifting up their neighborhood and hopefully the rest of Boston.

drove economic revitalization across the area, and owned the iconic Western Front nightclub in Cambridge for almost fifty years.

Though he has never partaken in cannabis, he decided to get into the industry to help those in need. “The money that comes out of it helps change the neighborhood,” Gilmore said. “For men who have been to prison, it provides jobs, training and takes them off the streets. It changes their perspective –they’re proud to be here.”

Offering a wide array of cannabis products from vetted producers, the 10,000-square-foot dispensary is the first step in a plan to expand a brand that will mirror the neighborhoods it operates in and present a welcoming place for all who come to visit. The commitment to offer opportunity is reflected in Western Front’s employees, of whom more than 95% are Black or Latino, with many new to the cannabis industry. All are being paid a living wage and are mentored and offered financial-literacy training to set them up for future success.

Western Front, the recently opened recreational cannabis store in Chelsea, is focused on making a change in the community where it resides and hopefully across the greater Boston area. As one of the first cannabusinesses to operate under the state’s economic empowerment provision, which prioritizes minority populations that have been disproportionately impacted by anti-marijuana legislation, its founders are focused on creating an environment that fosters

conversation and inspires others.

Thirty-five local families, the majority of whom are people of color, comprise the ownership group behind Western Front, focusing on bringing an economic opportunity to the low-income town and creating good jobs. Perhaps this drive to make a change is highlighted by its co-founder Marvin Gilmore. A 96-year-old decorated World War II vet, Gilmore has long been a voice for change in the greater Boston region. He opened the first Black-owned bank in New England, served on numerous agencies that

Front Cannabis Retailer westernfrontus.com

Western

A retired Celtic hero gets back in the game.

Celebrity-endorsed products can be iffy. Name recognition is good, but why would, say, a Hall of Fame basketball player know anything about cannabis? Paul Pierce knows.

The former NBA star experienced the healing powers of cannabis firsthand following a brutal assault in a Boston nightclub in 2000. The 22-year-old recovered from 11 stab wounds remarkably fast and went

on to have a brilliant career, mostly with the Celtics, but PTSD from the incident remained. Cannabis helped him carry on.

Now Pierce – who had been dubbed “The [expletive] Truth” by one of his competitors, Shaquille O’Neal, a nickname that has endured, minus the expletive – has his own line of cannabis products called TRUTH34.

Partnering with The Hub Craft, a cultivation and manufacturing firm in Fitchburg, Pierce is back in the Bay State, this time as a cannabusinessman.

But Pierce is no rookie. He has for some time co-owned a marijuana cultivation and processing business in California.

“He’s not just a celebrity that uses cannabis,” says Hub Craft CEO Howard Tanyu. “He is a big supporter of cannabis and believes in the product. It has helped him with his PTSD so he is very involved.”

Pierce has a hand in the design and packaging of TRUTH34, which features Celtic green and the number Pierce wore as a baller, a number subsequently retired by the Celtics. He also approves all the genetics for the product line.

At the moment, TRUTH34 comprises three products: Indica prerolls of Tahoe OG, a hybrid infused pre-roll of Mandarin Zkittles; and a delightful bubble hash, Ebony & Ivory. The early feedback from customers has been great; maybe they come for the star power, but they stay for the quality. To date the products are available in 35 dispensaries throughout Massachusetts, from Northampton to Fall River to the Cape.

Often times consumers pay a “celebrity premium” for celeb-endorsed product, but Hub Craft is keeping the Pierce brand reasonable. “We price ourselves in the lower end of the market,” says Tanyu, “but the quality of the product is on the higher end. So a lot of people can enjoy it but it doesn’t burn a hole in their pockets.”

TRUTH34 / thehubcraft.com / Edibles coming very soon

Boston Tea Party

A new enhanced brew gets a trial run in Canada. The Boston Beer Company — home of Sam Adams, Angry Orchard Hard Cider, and other big-boy beverages — has a new line of cannabis-infused iced tea called TeaPot, the company’s rst foray into the infused-bevvy market. The new potable blends real tea with particular strains geared to “enhance” specific times of the day. The first release is Good Day Iced Tea, made with lemon black tea and infused with Pedro's Sweet Sativa, a cultivar grown in Strathroy, Ontario (licensed by Entourage Health Corp.) Each 12-ounce can is infused with 5mg of THC, carefully crafted to maximize the tea flavor while minimizing any weedy taste or aroma. More varieties will be unveiled in the coming months. Unfortunately for Americans, the new beverages are currently available only in Canada, where more congenial national laws for cannabis prevail.

“While beer is our middle name, we've also introduced successful hard teas, hard ciders, hard seltzers, and canned cocktails,” CEO Dave Burwick said at the product launch. “As we await further progress on U.S. regulations, we'll continue to develop an exciting product pipeline in the federally regulated market of Canada.”

Those of us south of the border also await national laws to catch up with popular wisdom. It’s well past tea time. drinkteapot.com

EARN YOUR H A L

Low-dose products prove that sometimes, less is more. Imagine you meet someone new and, because they are open and friendly, you assume they must also be generous and honest. Such is the “halo e ect,” a broad-spectrum perception of goodness derived from the sum of a few nice parts. This is the guiding energy behind Rebelle’s new line of microdose mists, HALØ. Founder and CEO Charlotte Hanna developed the line for those “seeking out a more convenient way to bene t from cannabis while leaning into its wellness bene ts.”

Convenient indeed. HALØ mists ($35) are available in three avors or “experiences”: Luster with green tea, Golden with chlorophyll, and Twinkle with valerian root. Delivered in 1-mg micro-mists (.5mg of THC and .5mg of CBN), Luster revives, Golden realigns, and Twinkle relaxes. A perfect delivery system for wellness-oriented folk who want a precise intake with fast-acting e ects. rebelle-wp.tymber.io

iresinate.com

PLEASE CONSUME RESPONSIBLY. This product may cause impairment and may be habit forming. For use only by adults 21 years or older. Keep out of the reach of children. This product has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks. Marijuana use during pregnancy and breast-feeding may pose potential harms. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. The impairment effects of edible marijuana may be delayed by two hours or more. In case of accidental ingestion, contact poison control hotline 1-800-222-1222 or 9-1-1. This product may be illegal outside of MA. License No. MRN281249t

Worcester | Northampton

Designing the Perfect Space

Reach out to Smokin Dispensaries for your next build to ensure something special.

Smokin’ Dispensaries, a cannabusiness consulting firm, helps its clients enter the cannabis market the right way. Working from day one to help craft an ideal operation from dream to reality, this seven-year-old company has helped many cannabis-based businesses succeed. Based in Rhode Island, they have built over fifty dispensaries in eleven states, as well as numerous grow facilities of varying sizes.

The company began by offering custom millwork to cannabis dispensaries and grew organically into a full-service cannabis consulting business. They are a single hub for cannabusiness needs from inception to sale, consulting with

companies at every growth stage. By working closely with their clients, they offer expert advice on refining a vision into a solid working plan that has discernable steps and overcomes many of the obstacles that often arise. Smokin’ Dispensaries helps clients build a profitable cannabusiness and avoid time-consuming, expensive mistakes.

“Having seven years of solid experience in the cannabis business allows us to make the best decisions for our clients,” says Rick Granoff, the CEO of Smokin’ Dispensaries.

The key is to bring in a wide array of in-house strategic partners and follow three crucial phases to support clients throughout their journey.

The first phase is to define the client’s vision and create a detailed roadmap of how to achieve it. Then they move into the second phase, designing and building a space customized to the client’s needs. In phase two, understanding all the drivers behind getting a cannabusiness up and running is critical. Smokin’ Dispensaries has a wide array of in-house strategic partnerships, ranging from funding to construction to security, that ensures a client’s vendor procurement is seamless and creates the best team to support their operation.

The relationship doesn’t end when their client launches. The third and final phase provides their clients with continued access to the resources and key strategic partnerships needed to grow their business. Access to these resources drives vertical integration, wholesale operations, and future acquisition strategies.

Smokin’ Dispensaries

Cannabis Consulting Firm smokindispensaries.com

The People (and Plants) Have the Power

Amanda Reiman inspires and empowers others to curate their own sacred plant relationships.

TEXT JEN BERNSTEIN

Cannabis has always been Amanda Reiman’s ride or die. When she’s waxing poetic about cannabis, you get the sense that Reiman’s life has manifested their very symbiotic relationship. “From the minute I ingested cannabis, it felt like coming home,” describes Reiman. “All of us have certain plants that we have good relationships with, kind

of like a veggie that always sits well and makes you feel good,” she says.

“I can’t claim to know why, but for me it’s always been cannabis.”

Backed by twenty years of studying the relationship between humans and plants, Reiman also holds a PhD from UC Berkeley, and has had an inspiring career working with Berkeley Patients Group

and the Drug Policy Alliance.

From helping with the decriminalization of psychedelic drugs (Senate Bill 519) to her newly appointed position as Chief Knowledge Officer with New Frontier Data, Reiman describes herself as a translator between science and media. She’s finding ways to make data accessible and understood

by everyone. Reiman is helping to create sound policy and research that’s not based on propaganda or fear. As a 24/7 activist, drug policy expert, and scientist, Reiman relies on her “Spidey Sense”— meaning, she’s always looking at ways the media is portraying our relationship with plants, investigating what the research is actually saying, and

then is translating this important information to help avoid the public being misinformed or misled. In her new role at New Frontier Data she’ll be leading the research team, looking forward to helping businesses succeed, and getting a better understanding of how the industry can be successful.

As the founder of Personal Plants—a multimedia platform that encourages and supports home cultivation of entheogenic plants—Reiman is again proving the power of cultivating our relationship with the plant queendom. Knowing that our journey with plants can be just as unique as hers, Personal Plants goes beyond cannabis to explore the whole sacred garden, empowering us to become our own researchers, scientists, and enlightened wanderers of the plant world— by crafting and curating our own new friendships. Reiman took the time to speak with Sensi about being a plant person.

What if the plants have been cultivating us? Plants have successfully gotten humans to cultivate, protect and distribute them around the world.

Knowing is always important and very often frightening. Our brains like to keep us in the dark

when the truth is scary or overwhelming, but ignorance is worse.

Social Justice is the number one reason to legalize cannabis. Capitalism demands regulation, taxes and licensure, but legalization isn’t about that. It’s about reducing the likelihood of criminal justice involvement and the collateral sanctions associated with said involvement, full stop.

I love to just dance, especially to 80’s music. Movement is freeing and music is healing.

Creativity shows up when you stop thinking. Loosen the grip on your mind and new connections will form. I always get my best ideas when I am engaged in strenuous exercise because my brain can’t concentrate on any one thing except what my body is doing.

I entered the drug policy reform space to change how we view and treat substances and those who use them. It’s more than just changing laws, it’s about changing long standing, entrenched paradigms about intoxication, euphoria and fear of the “other”.

Music can provide a healthy escape. It’s a mood elevator, senso-

ry experience and can invoke warm feelings of nostalgia, so turn it up!

Your mind will always take the easy route, don’t let it. Be mindful of your mind. Challenge it when you feel a reliance on stereotypes and slow it down when it wants to take shortcuts without critical thought.

Boundaries can be blurry when your work is also your passion. I am a drug policy activist 24/7 so I have to make a concerted effort to disengage (see number 4 :)

Cannabis is coffee, not wine. Both the cannabis and coffee plants have been cultivated for thousands of years for medicinal benefits. Both became alternatives to alcohol, are consumed in public social spaces (often accompanied by discussions of rights, politics and other intellectual curiosities), and both were demonized by the powers that be for bolstering free thought and criticisms of those in power. Decaf coffee has health benefits even without its intoxicating chemical, caffeine (the same can be said of CBD) and regular coffee drinkers are not as sensitive to the intoxicating effects of caffeine as irregular consumers, just like cannabis. Espresso = dabs.

I immediately knew that I had a special relationship with the cannabis plant. Ever since I grew my first plant in 1998, my relationship with cannabis has been easy, natural and symbiotic. I relate to other plants as well, but cannabis is my ride or die.

When starting something new, enjoy the time when no one expects you to be good at it. That’s when it is the most fun. Being a perceived expert comes with pressure and expectations, being a novice is pure joy, learning and gradual improvement.

Words are often reflective of more than they are saying. Words like “drug” are like the tip of the iceberg poking out above the sea, but underneath an entire mass of bias, history and assumption. Maybe it’s time to retire “iceberg words”.

Awareness always precedes action. This can be a double edged sword, for once you have awareness the pressure to take action grows. Many people avoid awareness as a way to avoid the pressure of taking action. Don’t be one of those people, and recognize that “action” can take many forms. There is no one way to be an activist.

AMANDA REIMAN Chief Knowledge O cer with New Frontier Data

Opening cannabis up to everyone

Elevated Roots is dedicated to changing the cannabis shopping experience into something special.

For too many people, especially those new to cannabis use, stepping inside a dispensary can be intimidating. There is the security screen to pass, a dizzying array of products, and a staff hemmed in behind a counter firing off lingo that can be tough to follow. It’s enough to make some people wonder why they came in the first place.

Breaking down those barriers is the driving passion behind Elevated Roots. You feel immediately at ease when you step foot in the Kingstone dispensary. That is because the team behind it is focused on changing the shopping experience for all cannabis users.

Smiling faces greet you the moment you step onto its sleek and welcoming showroom floor, one that feels like a cannabis version of the local Apple store. Six large display tables display their wares, and each is broken down into an easy-to-understand system that highlights the products within. As you walk around looking at some of the finest pre-rolls, edibles, concentrates, and flower, all produced in Massachusetts, you can take your time to really understand what is offered.

As you roam the sales floor, the large and knowledgeable team of budtenders is quick to offer help as needed. Each carries a linked tablet loaded with the answers to any question you

may have. There are none of the giant television screens that dominate other dispensaries. They ensure that each customer, from the most experienced to the newest, will choose the right product for their needs.

Once you have selected the items you want, staff sends the order to the nearby checkout counter, where it is accurately filled and packaged. Before you pay, they will take the time to review everything and answer any questions that may still remain. If there is anything else you want, the counter team can easily add it to your order.

After walking out of Elevated Roots, you realize how enjoyable your shopping experience was and wonder why everyone doesn’t follow their lead. It only makes sense.

Elevated Roots Cannabis Dispensary elevatedrootsma.com

Stephanie Shepard shares her story of unjusti ed incarceration, and how she now ghts for those imprisoned for crimes that are no longer criminal.

TEXT BONNIE PIPKIN

Stephanie Shepard is not a drug dealer. She is a woman who enjoys cannabis and who has a big, bright smile despite everything she’s been through. She is a collector of hats who embraces the simple and beautiful moments of life, such as a walk to the park or a ride on her skateboard, and is a champion for those still wrongly imprisoned in today’s cannabis climate.

In 2010, after a year on pretrial, she was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute 1000+ kilos of cannabis, and has since served nine years of her 10-year sentence. She is not a drug addict and, more importantly, she is not a threat to society, despite what the felon label she carries around may imply.

We sat down with Stephanie to hear her story. Her whole story. Who she is, what she lost, and how that loss became fuel for the fire to help those still incarcerated. As she shared her experience, she had her tissue ready because Stephanie wears her heart on her sleeve and doesn’t shy from the emotion and pain. It still overtakes her. Imagine losing ten years of time with your loved ones, ten years of making memories, of having the freedom to decide what happens next for you, and of not being able to spend time with your father as he passes away. Imagine spending 10 years locked away while others are now thriving in a legal cannabis industry.

WHERE THE NIGHTMARE BEGAN

Stephanie grew up in Sacramento, California, where she currently resides, the youngest of seven children. In 2005, she moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn—hap-

py, hopeful, and looking forward to her future. None of her siblings had ventured away from home, but she loved the energy of New York City and so she left the nest with all the dreams in her heart. Following in her father’s footsteps, she got her real estate license, and then of course, met a guy. That guy sold cannabis. Stephanie didn’t think much about it, as it was just cannabis. Her first time smoking had been at age 28, when she sought to manage her anxiety. It helped.

There are moments in life that make you wonder how things could have been different. The whatif moments where your life path splits. Stephanie’s path split at age 40; her now-ex-boyfriend had been arrested, and she agreed to be his medical-leave guardian while he awaited sentencing. Before that, she wasn’t on anyone’s radar. A judge even told her she was a responsible person with a good place for him to be released.

On the day she was getting ready to pick him up, there was a buzz at her door, and her nightmare began.

LIFE WITHOUT AN “AFTER”

Nothing about her arrest felt real. So much so, that while she spent a year on pretrial, she begged her siblings to keep it secret. She could not bear to tell her parents.

There was no way she was going to be found guilty of any crime. That year was the hardest on her. There was a lot of shame and guilt to carry. She lost her real estate license with the pending felony and suddenly found herself trapped in New York, unable to go home where she would have had support.

On the way to her own sentencing, when her sister asked if she wanted to stop for something to eat, her response was they would get something after. There was always an “after” in her mind.

But the jury found her guilty, and ten years was the mandatory minimum sentence. She finally had to tell her 91-year-old father, and his response was, “Stephy, I don’t have ten years.”

Stephanie was found guilty of distributing cannabis illegally. She had just wanted others to benefit from the medicine that was helping with her anxiety and making her life better in general. There was never any conspiracy. But that didn’t matter now; she was a prisoner.

THE FREEDOM ULTIMATUM

Disbelief in her situation lasted for five years. Halfway through her sentence she woke up, looked around, and realized this was her reality. It was time to prepare for the rest of her life.

Stephanie is driven by helping others. While inside, not wanting to do anything to benefit the prison system, she chose to teach ESL classes to other inmates. Her goal was to help them be better when they were able to return to society. Her fellow inmates were her family. She empathized with other women incarcerated for cannabis offenses.

Funny thing though: she never

But the jury found her guilty, and ten years was the mandatory minimum sentence. She nally had to tell her 91-year-old father, and his response was, “Stephy, I don’t have ten years.”

met a white woman who was incarcerated for cannabis. Only Black and Brown women. Was this a war on drugs? Or a war on people? How could this be, and how could she help? This stuck with her, and a new commitment was born.

Stephanie was offered an opportunity to shave one year off of her sentence. The catch? She had to admit she was a drug addict and enter a rehab program. She resisted. There was no reason to attach the drug addict label to herself and create even more hardships for the rest of her life. But Stephanie’s father got sick and that would make the decision for her. She desperately wanted to see him before he was gone.

Her father was a 40-minute flight away, but the powers that be dragged their feet in granting permission for her to see him one last time. By the time they finally approved the trip, it was too late; he passed away later that day.

She did make it out for the fu-

neral, but what she wanted was more time to explain, to share her love for him, to hold him one last time. It’s something that’s so easy to take for granted: time and freedom to choose how you spend it.

CHANGE FOR THE BETTER AT ITS WORST

Stephanie was released. Her sister gave her a safe space to re-enter life. But wait, what is this? A billboard on their way home advertising for cannabis deliveries? How could this be when she had just been in prison for nine years? When she was going to be a felon for the rest of her life! She had to ask if that was real. Her sister said, “Oh yes, there are dispensaries all around town now and delivery services that bring it right to your door!” This wasn’t so-called back alley dealing anymore. And certainly, no one in those shops were being labeled drug dealers.

Armed with her newfound commitment to help those incarcerated for a crime that has yielded a

thriving industry in so many states, Stephanie Shepard attended Last Prisoner Project’s (LPP) first fundraiser in San Francisco in 2019 wearing her ankle monitor. It was the first real social event she experienced after her release, and she wanted to hear what they had to say. This was an important event in the trajectory of Stephanie’s life. It was there she met people who would welcome her into this community.

UNTIL EVERYONE IS OUT

LPP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cannabis criminal justice reform. Stephanie is now their Partnership Manager and was very recently appointed to their Board of Directors. “There’s nothing else I can do in my life right now other than what I’m doing. People incarcerated for cannabis offenses are feeling helpless and hopeless. I’m here to use my voice to uplift them and do right by them because they deserve it. They don’t deserve to be incarcerated for cannabis.

BE THE CHANGE

Stephanie is ghting hard for the underserved. She never stops working. So, how can we help?

The easiest way is visiting the LPP website and clicking the “Take Action” tab. It has a portal to accept donations, as well as links to petitions to sign and politicians to call. Just spreading the message on social media is a big help.

PHOTO COURTESY STEPHANIE SHEPARD

PHOTO COURTESY STEPHANIE SHEPARD

BREAK THE CHAIN

The Last Prisoner Project was founded in 2019 out of the belief that no one should remain incarcerated for cannabis o enses. We are a team of advocates, experts, leaders, and justice-impacted individuals who are deeply committed to freeing every last prisoner of the unjust war on drugs.

POLICY: We impact legislation that redresses the harms caused by cannabis prohibition. We work with stakeholders across the country to pass and implement bills that will (1) provide release for individuals still incarcerated for cannabis, and (2) automatically clear cannabis records.

LEGAL: We focus on clemency initiatives at the state and federal level, ling motions for compassionate release, and record relief for individuals. This all made possible through our partnership with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL).

REENTRY: We ensure our constituents have the tools and resources they need to rebuild their lives after incarceration and create pathways to employment within the legal cannabis industry.

ADVOCACY: We raise public awareness of the harsh reality of cannabis-related incarceration through a variety of advocacy campaigns, including letter-writing drives, constituent storytelling, and direct actions; and empower our supporters to join the ght to secure the full freedom of the communities we serve.

There are other things I could do to benefit myself more, but that’s not what it’s about right now. It’s not about ego.”

As Partnerships Manager, Stephanie works tirelessly for the constituents. She knows exactly how they feel sitting inside while the cannabis industry makes billions of dollars. Every dollar made is off the backs of those incarcerated. Stephanie feels this so deeply, she wishes that she could just trade places with some of the young people who are in prison. She says she would give her life so young people such as Kevin Allen, who has life in prison for selling $20 worth of weed to a friend, could be free.

Stephanie implores everyone in the industry to just do something, whether that’s their “Roll It Up For Justice” program, where people can round up their purchases at checkout with a donation, or more boots-on-the-ground efforts. Whatever it takes to prevent

anyone else from losing another day, minute or second.

Stephanie lost nine years. She lost her job, her freedom, her last chance to tell her father she loves him. But she did not lose her spirit, no matter how hard the system tried to break her. Her greater calling is now to help people in the same position. There is no stopping until everyone is out. Legalization is not enough. What’s needed is retroactive justice. With the label of felon, there are many things in society that she no longer has access to. But her voice is loud. We have heard it now and hope you have as well. How we care for each other is the most important thing. “I want to be the voice in the room for them. I’m the emotional crying, possibly screaming, voice. The collateral consequences are too large.” Stephanie knows who she is. She is more than a felon. Nothing imposed upon her is going to put out the fire inside her.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bonnie Pipkin is an author and freelance writer located in Northern California.

As leaders in Cannabis Construction, Vantage Builders combines direct industry knowledge and experience to get cannabis entrepreneurs operating high-end dispensaries on time and on budget. We have successfully delivered over 500,000 sq ft of cannabis construction projects.

Botera

High Concept Edibles

Cannatini Edibles offer full flavors and exquisite effectiveness at an affordable price.

As legal cannabis continues to gain widespread acceptance, one product category is particularly effective at bridging the gap with those who never thought they’d be “cannabis people.” That category is edibles. From chocolates and gummies to more exotic concoctions of seltzers and ice cream, more and more consumers are entering the world of cannabis 5mg at a time via their favorite infused confections. Today it seems that for every hard core flower smoker, there’s now a dedicated edibles lover!

And it’s easy to understand why.

As the market matures, the demand for edibles is being met with a variety of flavors tailored to the adult palate. Moreover, as their comfort level and knowledge increase, modern edibles aficionados are searching out options that also provide different effects curated for their lifestyles. It’s not uncommon nowadays for people to rely on Full Spectrum Extract (FSE) formulas in their edibles for daytime or nighttime use, perhaps with a bit of CBD mixed in for good measure.

One company at the forefront of this edible evolution is Cannatini. Their line of small-batch infused adult chews is

composed entirely of flavors inspired by mixed drinks – perfect for positioning them as a distinctly adult-oriented offering. With flavors like Cranberry Lime Mojito and Spicy Strawberry Margarita, Cannatini sets the standard for how a sophisticated gummy should taste.

“We have a really talented team of confectioners,” says Shelby Griebel, VP of Manufacturing at Northeast Alternatives, Cannatini’s parent company. “We challenged them to come up with unique, bold, and layered flavors. What they accomplished speaks for itself.”

But it isn’t enough anymore to just make a delicious gummy. That’s why, a year after their initial launch, Canntini took their entire line a step further by pairing those flavors with specific effects. Infused with full spectrum, cannabis-derived extract, consumers can now enjoy a sativa formula Tropical White Sangria gummy before hitting the gym and unwind on the couch afterward with a Sour Grape Sangria gummy infused with indica FSE.

“We’re going to keep pushing the boundaries and offering our customers new flavors and effects,” continues Griebel. “As this industry evolves, we’ll be right there leading the way.”

Northeast Alternatives

Cannabis Brand millybrands.com/cannatinicannabis-infused-gummy-edibles @cannatini

Serving Sanctuary

For up-and-coming cannabis chain Sanctuary Medicinals, charity begins at home.

We are living in an age of social justice. Cannabis corporations, like traditional franchises, recognize the value and necessity of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). However, unlike mainstream companies, cannabis retailers face additional challenges while attempting to do good and give back. Upand-coming cannabis corporation Sanctuary Medicinals may be a role model for cannabis businesses that want to nail CSR correctly.

Sanctuary, a scrappy start-up cannabis chain that some people are sleeping on, launched approximately seven years ago with its first locally-owned, vertically integrated retail dispensary. Since then, the company’s meteoric rise has been described as “something of a whirlwind” by its former Marketing Director, Loren Hynes.

Sanctuary’s premier, vertically-integrated medical marijuana dispensary opened in Orlando,

Florida. By the time the initial dispensary opened, the company was awarded additional licenses in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

In May of 2016, Sanctuary opened the first medical marijuana dispensary in the state of New Hampshire. From there, the company was off to the races.

In 2018, the brand launched its first medical location in Gardner, Massachusetts, which became fully adult-use in March of 2019. Next came an adult-use location in Danvers. Sanctuary opened a fifth location in Brookline in 2020.

Fast forward to the company achieving its 10th and 11th medical marijuana dispensary locations in Florida and counting, in Boca Raton, and Palatka, respectively.

With a newly awarded medical license in New Jersey, and a retail location presumably to follow, the company shows no signs of decreasing its momentum.

Kera Duguay joined the company in 2018 and was present for the grand opening of Sanctuary’s

Gardner location in November of the same year. Her current title is Regional Dispensary Manager.

During the height of the pandemic, when dispensaries were designated “essential businesses” in the wake of large-scale retail shutdowns, the promotion team was lean, consisting of only two people. Their job was to help raise awareness to drive people beyond local foot traffic to Sanctuary, a far cry from the promotional efforts of numerous billboards in Los Angeles touting every dispensary and cannabis brand under the sun.

Sanctuary’s initiatives are attributable to having a younger Millennial and Gen Z staff. And yet somehow, this multi-state operato (MSO), while not yet on par or running with the big dogs like Curaleaf and Trulieve—which isn’t necessarily a bad thing considering that Sanctuary didn’t join the anti-patient MSO chorus to actively fight home-grow provisions in Florida—is quietly and more humanely holding its own. Moreso, the com-

TEXT SARA BRITTANY SOMERSET PHOTOS PATRICK ROGERS PHOTOGRAPHY

pany’s corporate social responsibility initiatives set them apart from its more ruthless competitors.

CSR can be tricky in the cannabis space. While some might say the old adage “charity begins at home” could apply, Sanctuary initially faced repeated rejection from various local non-profits, including homeless shelters that did not want to partner with a cannabis company to accept donations. Team members knocked on several figurative doors of domestic violence shelters before finally finding one in Roxbury, Massachusetts, willing to accept cannabis-generated cash.

“I lost count of how many charities my boss and I called,” said Jacob May, Sanctuary’s Marketing Manager. This was a paradigm shift for employees used to being asked for cannabis donations.

“It’s a big transition, getting into cannabis from my previous line of work. Back then, people were pounding on our company’s door to ask for donations. This is a very different scenario. I’ve never had to ask people to take donations and face rejection before. That was a key learning experience,” Hynes continues.

However, being altruistic—often cynically derided as “virtue signaling”—is a precarious perch.

“When times get tough, the ‘cause folks’ are the first to go,” says Hynes.

Many Millennial and Gen Z marketing mavens have made it their mission to convince higher-ups that CSR, rather than being a cost center or loss leader, is in fact good for business. This is a daring outlook, considering the IRS’s 280E clause that prohibits cannabis

companies from writing off donations for tax purposes, making corporate givebacks in the cannabis sector seem less appealing.

For Duguay, though, CSR is much more than merely cutting a check. “I think you can be more thoughtful, creative, and compelling in how you create partnerships,” she muses. “Giving back to the communities in which we operate in a meaningful, authentic, and productive way is paramount.”

After the initial partnership with the Roxbury shelter, Sanctuary made additional local donations by partnering with the Brookline Food Pantry by collecting canned goods. Sanctuary also conducts coat drives, which Duguay refers to more as “simply being good neighbors” than CSR per se.

Each Sanctuary location similarly collaborates with a local organization, and the organization rotates each quarter. Sanctuary’s homespun, neighborly approach seems to be paying off.

The Danvers dispensary location is currently partnering with Beverly Bootstraps, which provides critical resources to families and

“People were pounding on my [former] company’s door to ask for donations. This is a very di erent scenario.

I’ve never had to ask people to take donations and face rejection before. That was a key learning experience.”

—Loren Hynes, Former Marketing Director, Sanctuary Medicinals

individuals so they may achieve self-sufficiency. Beverly Bootstraps offers emergency and long-term assistance, including access to food, housing stability, adult and youth programs, education, counseling, and advocacy.

In addition to donations, Sanctuary partnered with Bagley Inc., an org for the LGBTQA youth during Pride Month. Other donation recipients include Mission 22, which provides mental health and psychosocial support to military veterans and their families.

Sanctuary collects donations at the counter, and the company matches the raised amount at the end of each donation cycle.

In addition to working with local non-profit organizations, Sanctuary works closely with Boston’s Got Next and its owner, Shamara Rhodes, who supports local artists and small business owners in the

Greater Boston area by giving them a platform to express themselves through the arts.

“The Social Justice Trap Movement, Inc. and Boston Got Next have partnered with Sanctuary Medicinals to bring music and mental health awareness through cannabis,” explains Rhodes. “The Social Justice Trap Movement is soon to be a global-based service organization serving the needs of musicians in the New England area.”

Since 2013, The Social Justice Trap Movement uses multidisciplinary arts to address trauma and mental and public health issues while creating a robust network and pipeline for womxn. Currently, the organization prioritizes artists who have experienced inequalities due to sexism, racism, and homophobia in the entertainment industry.

“Partnering with Sanctuary Medicinals expanded our network,

and we were able to create more opportunities for artists to display their art and become an advocate for more than just cannabis flower, but for tinctures and topicals as well,” Rhodes continued.

Through Boston’s Got Next, Sanctuary has collaborated with MIA Art, fitness brand Strong Black Girl apparel, and Mass Cultivated, which is self-described as “the first in the nation jails-to-jobs training program for the cannabis industry.”

“This innovative public-private partnership provides fellows with a robust cooperative education program in the cannabis industry, free legal services, workforce preparedness training, and cannabis externships with livable wages and benefits,” boasts the Mass Cultivated website.

Overall, when leading by example, this small but mighty MSO demonstrates that providing micro-donations does not have to be a scary or off-putting endeavor. Local cannabis businesses that partner with their neighbors to help them to the best of their abilities are what makes a community a sanctuary.

Sara Brittany “SB” Somerset started the first cannabis news desk at the United Nations a decade ago and is currently an UN-based cannabis correspondent and global drug policy analyst.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

“I think you can be more thoughtful, creative, and compelling in how you create partnerships. Giving back to the communities in which we operate in a meaningful, authentic, and productive way is paramount.”

—Kera Duguay, Regional Manager, Sanctuary Medicinals

AS STYLISH AS YOU

Turning over a new leaf and bud

Trade Roots is a story of success and redemption in the cannabis industry.

Coast, the first show flower room east of Michigan, to accomplish that. Customers can look into an active grow room and see Trade Roots cannabis thriving before their eyes. All the while their diverse and friendly budtenders present the latest harvested wares.

As the use of cannabis finally emerges from the dark shadows it was consigned to for so many years, many in the industry are focused on removing the stigma of its use. Decades of repressive messaging and laws, along with untold broken lives due to incarceration, have left a mark that will require years to erase. Luckily, many in our emerging cannabis culture are working to effect change. One of those is the newly opened Trade Roots in Wareham, the gateway to Cape Cod. By obtaining separate licenses to grow, sell, and manufacture cannabis products, Trade Roots became the first company to open a vertically-integrated cannabis business under the state’s Social Equity Program (SEP), designed to help prospective cannabis companies run by individuals

who were disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs.

For co-founder Jesse Pitts, the chance to own a cannabis company offers redemption that was a long time coming. In 2007, Pitts was arrested for dealing marijuana, spent nine months in prison, did 500 hours of community service, and dealt with five years of probation. The conviction loomed over him.

“This was an opportunity to legitimize the cannabis industry, an opportunity to look ahead instead of over my shoulder, an opportunity to prove my moral compass was accurate all along,” says Pitts.

One of the main focuses at Trade Roots is to make buying cannabis fun, not something that takes place in dark corners and quiet rooms. They imported an innovation from the West

Another way that Pitts and his partner, Carl Giannone, are making a difference is through continual community outreach. They recently launched a seminar series for SEP participants and aspiring members, designed to address issues new cannabis business owners need to know before leaping into the industry. One step at a time, things are changing.

Trade Roots Cannabis Company traderoots.buzz @traderoots_buzz

NFTs: Fad or the Future?

Love them or hate them, you may be buying your next toke with non-fungible tokens. TEXT GREGORY FRYE

So, have you bought your first non-fungible token yet? Awareness of the new technology, better known as NFTs, is steadily rising and more people are learning how to tap into the benefits. But a lot of folks are still scratching their heads, uncertain about all the fuss and downright dubious toward the idea of digital art NFTs selling for millions of dollars.

What’s the point of NFTs? Are they a silly

trend, a scam, or is there intrinsic value in this emerging technology? More important, what does all this mean for cannabis lovers and the industry as a whole?

NFTs Explained

Let’s keep this simple. NFTs are essentially an evolution of cryptocurrency. They exist on a blockchain, which means any transactions are securely recorded and largely

tamper-proof. You buy an NFT, it’s yours and nobody can ever dispute that.

These cryptographic tokens can represent the ownership of both digital and real-world assets. NFTs could be art, music, event tickets, and even real estate.

When you hear the term “Web3” this is a big part of what people are talking about—increased privacy, data security, and token-based economies.

Depending on the project, NFTs can also come with ongoing membership perks and community benefits. This is primarily where people find potential risks, as when NFT project organizers do not follow up on their promises.

The technology itself is mostly secure with lots of potential, but mainstream adoption of NFTs is slow because of the learning curve and a clunky set-up process, which requires

ART COURTESY OF ELI ROBBINS

opening a crypto wallet, buying cryptocurrency, and vetting new NFTs before you buy.

Every step in this process is intimidating to the average person, for now. Even with credit-card access entering the picture, the NFT world has plenty of work to do. Just like the early days of cannabis, a lot of storytelling and education is needed to ease peoples’ minds toward the possibilities around this unfamiliar concept.

NFTs + Cannabis = Community Imagine buying a cannabis NFT where you get ongoing discounts, early access to new products, and invitations to exclusive events and online groups. Like consumer brands in other industries, many cannabis brands are already offering such NFTs.

If done right, this model could help solve the engagement and customer loyalty challenges in cannabis, which involves inspiring people with an irresistible NFT offering, educating them on how NFTs work, and then following up on the offer.

Crypto Cannabis Club (CCC), which launched its first NFT in July 2021, has grown into one of the most ambitious NFT projects in cannabis. In addition to their own weed brand in

California, they also have dozens of chapters across the U.S. and in other parts of the world.

“Some people approach NFTs because they like the art and view it as an investment; other people approach NFTs out of a sense of community,” says Ryan Hunter, CEO of Crypto Cannabis Club.

“Members of our community are getting together on their own organically to socialize and sesh and to network,” Hunter says, mentioning parties in Florida and at the Indianapolis 500, as well as CCC’s own organized events for NFT holders, such as spring break in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, an event at Art Basel in Miami, and a big meetup at MJBizCon last fall.

Additionally, CCC partners with about 30 accessory brands, which gives their members discounts on everything from dab rigs to rolling papers.

On the virtual side, CCC has developed a range of virtual offerings with their followings on Discord and Twitter, where they host cannabis and psychedelics-education conversations every week on Twitter Spaces.

“Those environments create a natural platform for online communities, and our real-world experiences are an extension of that,” Hunter says.

—Polly Lieberman, cofounder of thric3

“We love seeing our community members in the real world. We have folks that go to all of these events and travel to see one another. There’s a kindred spirit vibe mixed in with the art and culture, just like we’ve seen for decades with stoners wanting to hang out and sesh. NFTs are a natural extension of that.”

NFTs are also a way for brands and marketers to draw new members into the cannabis world and educate, notes Polly Lieberman, cofounder of thric3, a Web3 and cannabis 2.0 community. “The number one challenge that all cannabis companies have is access to customers. Web3 presents a unique marketing opportunity because there are fewer restrictions than traditional media.”

This is how cannabis brands can engage the massive demographic of canna-curious people, consumers who are interested in incorporating cannabis into their lives but don’t know where to start and need help.

To engage this untapped demographic, thric3 is preparing to unveil a new NFT collection where the art showcases everyday people as consumers, rather than as the stereotypical stoners featured on other cannabis NFTs.

“The number one challenge that all cannabis companies have is access to customers. Web3 presents a unique marketing opportunity because there are fewer restrictions than traditional media.”

“We built a collection to represent everyone,” Lieberman explains. “Our hope is that people look at our collection and see someone who looks like them and thinks, ok that’s me, this is cool, I can be open about my use. This will go a long way in helping to reduce the stigma.”

Like the Early Days of Cannabis When projects like CCC host regular shows about their projects on Twitter Spaces, it’s not about promotion. “It’s more about authentic, organic building of community. That to me feels like early cannabis,” says Amanda Reiman, Founder of Personal Plants.

Reiman has been around long enough to remember the early days of cannabis cooperatives where, much like NFTs,

people could buy into a community for shared benefits. That’s how she feels about much of the Web3 space. “Those of us from early cannabis have almost an advantage coming into this because we understand the culture behind how this is being built,” she says.

NFTs became a solution for Reiman’s project Personal Plants, a psychedelic-plant nursery that sells specimens like huachuma cacti and salvia cuttings. Even though the plants she sells are legal in most states, she got tired of dealing with payment-processor rejections and shadow bans on Instagram.

Reiman needed to find a subversive way to keep her business alive, and now,

thanks to NFTs, she’s co-founding a new project called Sacred Garden, where people can enter a psychedelic marketplace, safely and securely.

“In our vision, we have a network of people who grow psychedelic plants at home for hobbies, and your NFT enables you to access these farmers,” she explains.

“If you have one of our NFTs you go to our website, you connect your wallet, it sees the NFT is in there, and now you can enter the marketplace. It’s a way for us to give a benefit to our NFT holders and to vet who comes into the marketplace, which is for the safety and security of our farmers. And it’s a way to give opportunities to people to be part of the community, anonymously if they desire, and you just have to buy membership once – it’s not that different from the old cannabis collectives.”

Hype Vs Opportunity

Reiman sees two different types of NFT projects popping up in cannabis. One type of project is like what Crypto Cannabis Club is doing—authentic experiences, community, and excellent benefits that make the NFT a worthy asset.

“This is the future for cannabis companies, and it’s a great way to reach our communities because even SMS texting is shutting us down,” she says. When you’re promoting an NFT instead of a psychoactive plant, it’s a different story.

“The other type of project we’re seeing in the cannabis space, which builds on what I call the phase one of NFTs, is all flash and no substance. People are trying to capitalize on the sexiness of weed, but they don’t

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really know a lot about it. They think they can create NFTs that appeal to stoners, but when you look underneath the hood, there isn’t anything there.”

The Importance of Education

To help fill those NFT knowledge gaps Reiman has teamed up with Lisa Snyder, cofounder of Tokeativity, for a virtual education series hosted by Women Employed in Cannabis.

“Web3 and NFTs are like the early days of the internet, where people are like, ‘inter-what?’ Amanda and I are trying to educate people, especially women and BIPOC folks, so they get to know it, and it’s not as scary,” Snyder says, who has been building websites since 1995 and was early to embrace

NFTs, starting her own collection out of curiosity. Snyder, a trained graphic designer, is also the artist on the upcoming thric3 project. This project will have 9,999 NFTs, each NFT in has unique variations based on a theme, some rarer and more valuable than others.

“This is still the early days of NFTs, and like with early internet, there’s going to be a lot of experimenting. The first experiment was to make art and see if people would buy, and they did,” she says.

The Future of NFTs

Both Snyder and Reiman believe NFTs will continue to rise in popularity over the next few years, as an integral part of safer digital transactions, community building, asset ownership, and new

investment opportunities.

However, the space still requires a degree of caution on all sides. For instance, NFTs for cannabis breeding or community-owned cannabis companies open up a whole new can of worms when you consider the “fuzziness around federal and state cannabis laws combined with the fuzzy laws around NFTs and securities. Is it a company and are people buying shares and what does that mean?” Reiman asks.

Reiman explains how the Sacred Garden project required a ton of background work on legal issues, understanding what was allowed, and untangling hairy questions around crypto-based revenue versus traditional revenue. The space is still really new, and people have to be careful, she says, but that doesn’t mean NFTs aren’t worthwhile.

“If the cannabis industry taps into this now and starts educating themselves about it, they’ll have an amazing opportunity to connect with Generation X and Z and Y. That’s all the people who are embracing this technology,” Snyder says. “They’ll be looking at cannabis companies and asking about Web3 projects. If you’re like, ‘Web3? What’s that?’ you’re going to be out of touch.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RACHEL JASPAN; CRYPTO CANNABIS COMMUNITY

“This is still the early days of NFTs, and like with early internet, there’s going to be a lot of experimenting. The first experiment was to make art and see if people would buy, and they did.”

—Lisa Snyder, graphic artist, cofounder of Tokeativity

No More Risky Business

Time spent with the National Cannabis Risk Management Association can lead to long-term success.

Note: NCRPS recently combined with the National Cannabis Risk Management Association (NCRMA) and will serve as the lead risk solutions brand while NCRMA manages association membership and the NCRM Academy’s educational offerings

In today’s increasingly complicated cannabis marketplace, business owners must employ every tool in their toolbox to ensure success. Fresh new products, increased digital engagement, and consumer-friendly retail spaces can grab all the attention and

help drive profits. Still, there is one critical area that is routinely overlooked.

We are talking about risk management. While it’s not as sexy as many other parts of the industry, it is crucial to ensuring your long-term health and possibly survival. Ensuring that inside any cannabis business’s four walls that their property, product, worker safety, banking, and on-premises risks are secured is no simple task. While many people think that by having insurance, they are safe, they are incorrect.

“Any risk has the potential to make your business worse, period,” says Rocco Petrilli, the CEO and president

of the National Cannabis Risk Prevention Services (NCRPS)). “So, if you can mitigate and eliminate that risk, you improve your business. Nobody has ever mitigated risk by buying insurance coverage. Insurance simply shares or transfers the risk that cant be fully reduced. What successful businesses do is take care of any risks up front.”

NCRPS is a pioneering and innovative risk management platform that solely focuses on the complexities of the cannabis world. Their members enjoy access to a whole suite of educational materials and access to cannabis-focused partners, and insurance plans. But one of their most critical offerings is their expert risk management assessment.

By crafting a complete risk assessment from time spent by one of their team, they identify and completely break down everything into easy-to-understand sections. Each facet of your business has a risk score detailing any identified issues and a list of recommendations to solve them. By using tried and true safety standards for non-cannabis industries and the many cannabis-specific problems, they know and understand, they can create a detailed action plan to ensure a safe workplace and peace of mind.

They are not finished once they hand over their report. That’s when NCRPS can bring their whole host of in-house and service partner resources into play to ensure their clients succeed. This hands-on execution ensures your business safety, security, and success are secured.

National Cannabis Risk Prevention Services Risk Management ncrps.com

“Any risk has the potential to make your business worse, period.”

—Rocco Petrilli, the CEO and president of the National Cannabis Risk Prevention Services (NCRPS)

WEED+

In this brand-new segment, Sensi searches for weed’s perfect pairing.

Pot Roast

The quest for a perfect pot pairing begins the same way a perfect day begins: with co ee.

TEXT JEN BERNSTEIN

What is it about coffee and cannabis that makes it the perfect combo? It’s such a powerful pairing that many of us choose to start our daily routines with a brew and a blaze. The band Sublime famously sang “I smoke two joints in the morning,” which is exactly how Amsterdam’s Queen of Hash, Mila Jansen chooses to get going. “For me, every day I smoke two joints with my first coffee,” she says. Amsterdam, of course, is home to world famous coffee shops where ganja and java are intimately linked.

But is there some type of scientific explanation behind why we’re so passionate about coffee and weed? I decided to dig in and learn more. To that end I connected with a super knowledgeable source on the

subject, Tony Bowles, an avid cannabis-and-coffee consumer of 20 years who works with Sava, a premier women-, LGBTQ-, Latinx-owned cannabis marketplace based in San Francisco. Bowles is also the creator of terpeneflashcards.com, an educational tool that helps you learn all about terpenes. Here’s what I learned: Cannabis and coffee have a powerful connection. Caffeine gives you that jolt of energy, while cannabis has the ability to take the edge off. Together they create

a mellow, yet productive kind of balance.

Coffee houses have been around since the Enlightenment. In the 18th century groups like the Club des Hachichins (Club of the Hashish Eaters), a Parisian circle dedicated to the exploration of drug-induced experiences, popped up and quickly included such literary lions as Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Charles Baudelaire, Gérard de Nerval, and Honoré de Balzac.

Coffee and weed both stimulate creativity. Research reveals that cre-

ativity is associated with the brain’s frontal lobe, and cannabis consumption increases cerebral blood flow.

There’s a link between cannabis, caffeine, and metabolism. A study in the Journal of Internal Medicine found that the more coffee you drink, the fewer blood metabolites are found in the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS helps regulate essential bodily functions such as mood, appetite, stress, inflammation, and sleep, and more.

Coffee naturally contains a variety of compounds, including caffeine, antioxidants, and terpenes, which contribute to both the beverage’s unique flavor and the well-researched physiological effects of coffee.

Coffee and cannabis both have terpenes and terpenoids, which primarily make-up the essential oils of many types of plants and flowers, including cannabis and coffee, so when you smell coffee brewing or the waft of some skunky weed—that’s the terps.

SOCIAL SMOKERS

Here’s what Twitter’s #potheads have to say about the magical combo of Weed+Co ee:

There is something about coffee and cannabis that is extra special. The mind fires right up with creativity and a certain clarity that only happens for me in the morning, with that glorious combo. @j_ian420

The sweetness of the smoke pairs quite nicely with the bitterness of the coffee. The effects are harmonious, both energizing and relaxing at the same time. Nothing quite like the combo.

@elwoodsbrewery

It gets you grounded while it gets you moving! @dontudoubtme

They bring out the best in each

The defog/refog combo can’t be beat! It’s like a stereo equalizer that levels everything out just right. @dubfuq

Hippie speedball for the win! @allthesalsas

You get a little bit of the calm w/ the storm! Coffee to bring you up and cannabis to even you out and not make you jittery! @rivamonsta

Focus, Romance, and Retribution. The work you put in, with love, can yield amazing experiences. Rise and Shine!!! @dezdouglas

They are perfect mirror of each other, coffee revs you up while

vegetation stages continuously. The system features GCC’s custom rolling trays from EnviroTech Cultivation Solutions. Plants are seated in 15.5-foot-long by 4-foot-wide trays and rolled on conveyor racks through each stage of growth, from mother to vegetation to flower, right up to processing. The process allows growers to tailor light and fertigation at each stage, which increases crop yield, quality, and overall efficiency.

The Art and Science of Cannabis Cultivation

GreenCare Collective puts the expertise of master growers inside a world-class facility.

Cannabis producers are forever focused on quality and consistency. Quantity is also important: maximizing the number of crops and the yield with as little downtime as possible. There is both art and science in the cultivation of the sweet leaf, and every grow team develops its own approach to the process. Ultimately it all comes down to the plant.

Two plants, really: the cannabis plant and the physical plant where it is grown. And no one knows the importance of both better than GreenCare Collective.

GCC recently invested in a $40 million, state-of-the-art cultivation, manufacturing, and dispensary facility in Millbury. The 100,000-square-foot space is now home to one of the largest and most ad-

vanced grow facilities in Massachusetts.

“Our complete focus is on the cannabis plant, and that means having a world-class facility, where we combine commercial agricultural techniques with the best practices of cannabis cultivation,” said Charles Smith, General Counsel, GreenCare Collective. “We are proud of the facility we have built. It is the culmination of a tremendous amount of experience, planning, and execution.”

GreenCare Collective’s facility features clone, mother, and vegetation rooms; six 9,500-square-foot grow rooms; cultivation process rooms for drying, trimming, curing, and packaging; secure vault storage; and a commercial kitchen for edibles.

The highlight is a perpetual harvest system that keeps plants flowering and

The six massive grow rooms are built with Norbec insulated metal panels and epoxy flooring, which help maintain the clean environment critical to cultivation. Each grow room has 24 separate fertigation zones and four lighting zones to maximize growth of healthy plants. More than 2,200 LED lights from Revolution Microelectronics illuminate the grow conditions.

All aspects of the process – fertigation, lighting, temperature, and CO2 levels – are controlled by a smart Priva building management system (BMS), while a second BMS controls the office and dispensary. Funky aromas are eliminated by the Benzaco Scientific odor neutralization system.

For the construction GCC hired Vantage Builders, a general contracting firm that has built approximately one million square feet of cannabis-related space, including cultivation facilities and high-end dispensaries.

“GreenCare Collective’s cultivation facility is one of the most complex projects we’ve worked on in the cannabis market,” said John Connor, Principal, Vantage Builders. “Our team’s years of experience in cannabis construction was critical to the success of the build.”

The Sensi Advisory Board comprises select industry leaders in a variety of fields, from education to cultivation. They are invited to share specialized insight in this dedicated section. For a full list of board members, see page 9

Category: Contractor/ Construction Author: Vantage Builders

Breakfast In Bud

Leaf peepers rejoice. The great New England pastime of gaping at brilliant, multicolored fall foliage is even more dynamic when you bed down in bud-friendly accommodations.

TEXT MIKE DIPAOLA

Massachusetts, the cradle of American liberty, is likewise New England’s leader in liberating the onerous prohibitions on cannabis. And autumn is a great time to explore the Bay State, whether you’re seeking the annual arboreal color show or enjoying the shore one last time before the Nor’easters blow.

Google is your friend when it comes to fi nding accommodations suitable for herb enthusiasts. It’s as easy as searching something along the lines of “420 friendly lodging New England.” When you fi nd a place you fancy, it is prudent to phone ahead and confi rm that your favorite puff-puff-

pastime is welcome. Ask about local dispensaries and things to do in the area while elevated—enjoying the great outdoors or live music or what-have-you.

The Colorado-based site budandbreakfast.com has made a business out of pointing weed-loving travelers toward kindly lodging. Type in a region or

state name and fine-tune your search according to your personal tastes. Want WiFi? A hot tub? Breakfast? Perhaps you’d like to have cannabis provided.

The site’s description for Massachusetts speaks to us: “It’s said that there’s nothing in the world quite like the breathtaking natural splendor of New England in the fall.

PHOTO COURTESY WEST TISBURY INN

Aside from the foliage, Massachusetts draws visitors from far and wide thanks to the rich historical significance of Boston and surrounding areas, the magnificent seafood and watery vistas found in coastal villages like Cape Cod…”

Melody’s Place Lodging Charlemont melodysplacelodging.com

The Berkshires are a prime locale for fall colors, and Melody’s Place Lodging in Charlemont is an extremely charming place to lay your head (and feed it).

Melody Whelden doesn’t sell weed out of her 1860 Victorian home, but she will steer guests toward the best local dispensaries. She does make her own edibles on occasion and will sometimes share in kind, as it were.

Though Melody’s started out as a bed and breakfast that once catered to families, today the lodge is child-free. “Eighteen or over,” says Melody. “Once the laws passed for recreational use here in Massachusetts I went right over to cannabis and stopped doing families.”

Most everybody sits out on their decks to enjoy a relaxing toke, before or after digging the natural grandeur of the Berkshire Mountains. If you’re into something more strenuous than peering at leaves, the area is also a mecca for

mountain bikers, zip-liners, whitewater rafters, and hikers. Melody’s is best buds with Berkshire Roots Cannabis Dispensary in Pittsfield, the largest cultivator in the Berkshires.

West Tinsbury Inn Vineyard Sound westtinsburyinn.com

Travelers to the Cape might wish to venture across Buzzard’s Bay, then Vineyard Sound, to visit Martha’s Vineyard. Most visitors do not come here for the fall colors, but savvy leafers know the interior forest on the

island is a subtle gem for that sort of thing. Not quite as dramatic as inland or farther north, but the Vineyard’s red maple, black gum, and tupelo trees—known here as the beetlebung—put on a spectral show worth seeing. Note that the colors turn slightly later in the season on the island, late October into November.

The West Tisbury Inn is an elegant stay, conveniently located in the island’s historic center. West Tisbury has a couple of lovely beaches, includ-

PHOTO COURTESY MELODY’S PLACE LODGING

Melody Whelden doesn’t sell weed out of her 1860 Victorian home, but she will steer guests toward the best local dispensaries.

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ing the private Lambert’s Cove, accessible to Inn guests. Otherwise, kayaking, hiking, bird watching, and generally good vibes are on the activity schedule. The Inn doesn’t advertise its greeness, but will accommodate discreet guests. Call ahead and inquire, you might score a discount. Ask for Keith, the owner.

Onset Beach Compound Cape Cod stayherecapecod.lodgify.com

Cape Cod has limited but interesting leaf-peeping, but there are plenty of other attractions for autumnal visitors. You could do worse than stay at the Onset Beach Compound, which is happy to accommodate cannabis-adjacent guests. The beach is perfect this time of year, with fewer tourists and delightful

weather, usually. If surf and sand is not your thing, Onset is a short drive to cranberry bogs and apple orchards, and it is apple-picking season. As it happens, this year marks the first Harvest Moon Festival at Onset Beach, on September 24. There will be chowder, chili, fireworks, and all manner of festivities that pair very nicely with the relaxing herb of your choice.

The Colony Hotel

Kennebunkport, Maine colonymaine.com Tired of Massachusetts? Try Maine. Right up the coast in Kennebunkport, the Colony Hotel has a lot going for it—its own beach, a short drive to fall foliage colors, and stately accommodations (one of the Historic Hotels of America). POTUS groupies can even take a

walk up the shore to gawp at Walker’s Point Estate, a.k.a the Bush Compound, summertime home of Kennebunkport’s most famous denizen. Discreet, respectful guests can elevate their stays on the hotel grounds.

The availability of bud-friendly lodging tracks closely to a state’s marijuana laws, as one would expect. So remember to read the room before embarking on your Northeastern adventure, as not all New England states enjoy the same freedoms. Massachusetts is the most kind, but New Hampshire isn’t playing ball any time soon. Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut are all on a path toward full legalization. Even when the leaves turn, there’s still plenty of green.

The beach is perfect this time of year, with fewer tourists and delightful weather, usually. If surf and sand is not your thing, Onset is a short drive to cranberry bogs and apple orchards, and it is applepicking season.

PHOTO COURTESY ONSET BEACH COMPOUND

Another fall another turned page

—WALLACE STEGNER, ANGLE OF REPOSE

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