Sensi Magazine Michigan - Fall 2022

Cannabis for Humanity

Uniting people through the power of cannabis.

Learn more at www.commoncitizen.com

http://sensimag.com/sensinightmichigan.

Toy Drive in coalition with

32 Justice is Deserved

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

THE

LIFE Contributing to your health and happiness

POWER Amanda Reiman on sacred plant relationships ’70S SNAPSHOT A look at new book/art collection RetroBlakesberg 48

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 HIGH SOCIETY Recapping the exclusive Canna Cantina Beach Party

ON THE COVER Local farmers (from left) Dave Ghezzi, Dave Barnum, and Andrew Zalewski stand in front of TriMed’s self-sustaining irrigation pond.

PHOTO COURTESY RACHEL DAYHUFF

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.

Ugly Sweaters Fluresh Gummies Holiday Spirit

This season, Fluresh is putting the happy back in the holidays with our THC-infused gummies. Our gummies are perfectly poppable, evenly portioned, and bursting with holiday cheer.

A Family Affair

The Porter family took a tragedy and turned it into something that is making a difference every day.

The Hempire Collective is a family-owned business built on love. The Porter family created it with one goal in mind: to help all individuals through the healing power of cannabis.

The story of Hempire began when Tai Porter, the youngest brother and son of a close-knit biracial family, was diagnosed with a rare form of stage 4 kidney cancer in 2014. As one of three brothers enlisted in the Army, he was someone who was a friend to everyone and had an open heart. His mother jokingly called him Peter Pan while his other three brothers, including his twin Tre, were known as the Lost Boys.

As the cancer ate into Tai, his family rallied around him and took solace in

the relief that cannabis offered him as his days wound down. It helped with his PTSD and was one of the few things that enabled him to feel normal again. Best of all, it allowed him to travel the world with his loved ones and still experience his life. When he passed away in 2016, the family decided to honor his legacy in a way that would help others.

“Tai was all about love, acceptance, and looking out for people who needed looking out for,” says Mario Porter, Tai’s older brother. “We like to take that approach, not just in business but in the community as well. We are nothing without the community around us, and we know that.”

Recognizing that Tai wanted to

live his life to its fullest, they opened the Hempire Collective in 2019 with family investments. Designed to grow high-quality cannabis that adheres to their mantra “A Higher Standard,” they now operate a state-of-the-art Wise Township facility that focuses on quality, not quantity. Keeping their grows small enables them to keep an eye on their consumers and address any needs they may express.

As a military family and Blackowned business, the Porters are especially attuned to the issues that many vets may be experiencing and they are here to help. They are proud of their products and welcome you to try them. Head to their website to learn more about Tai’s story.

Hempire Collective Cannabis Brand thehempirecollective.com

FALL HIGHER

Your guide to enhancing the avors of the season. Autumn is one of Michigan’s most stimulating seasons, a season of delicious food and drink, from pumpkin spice to apple pie. We’ve heard cannabis pairs well with di erent treats and activities, so we asked COMCO Wellness president, Eric Franco, and his head of cultivation, Adam Stachnik, to combine their favorite food, herb, and activity.

Growing Belushi

Jim Belushi’s cannabis operation pays homage to the land and water that grow his buds.

Actor, comedian, and brother of John, Jim Belushi believes the land he bought along the Rogue River in central Oregon is a “guardian for the wellness of the cannabis plant… a wellness that enhances creativity, the taste of food, the richness of music, and the touch of your lover’s skin.”

Belushi bought his land 12 years ago and started building his dream world. It included a house “with no nails… just old time craftsmanship” 75 feet from the river. Local Native Americans built him

a totem pole and sweat lodge. Then a neighbor, on her deathbed, told Belushi he needed the 80 acres of her land that bordered his. He bought her land, too, and then planted a cannabis farm, letting the “Spirit of the Land and the Water Spirit of the Rogue River irrigate and grow his powerful cannabis medicine.”

Fast forward to now, and Belushi sells his weed in dispensaries in Oregon, Colorado, Oklahoma, Illinois and Massachusetts (and on his website belushifarm.com).

BLUE SOUR RASPBERRY

TYPE: Indica

FLAVOR: Blueberry mu n aroma

PAIRING: Its sweetness complements the sweetness of pumpkin strudel. The slight acidity of the smoke contrasts the nuttiness of the pie and the breadiness of the crust.

ACTIVITY: A Sunday brunch event, a late-night movie with loved ones or friends, or even a hand-pie on a hike.

Belushi’s wares aren’t in Michigan yet, so why should we care? Because unlike other weed celebs, Belushi grows his own. For six seasons in the Rogue River Valley, he and his staff of budtenders have worked to produce healthy, tasty varietals. Sure, he’s trying to make a buck, but he says the real reason he grows is to give himself the medicine he knows helps him deal with past tragedy and psychological trauma. And who wouldn’t want weed grown by a Blues Brother? If you were lucky,

you saw Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, and the Sacred Heart Band play at the Float Nation Live Blues’d & Infused music festival, in Niles, on August 20.

If you want to experience one of Belushi’s shops in person, head to the dispensary he opened in Skokie, Illinois in 2020 (and showed up in the Bluesmobile on opening day to hand out Blues Brothers-themed face masks to the brave souls who came out during COVID). And cross your fingers that he will open one in Michigan.

BAMBA DIESEL

TYPE: Sativa-leaning

FLAVOR: Notes of menthol and spruce

PAIRING: Peppermint bark and milk chocolate. The fat from the milk cuts the sharpness of the smoke but is complemented by the slight sweetness from the menthol.

ACTIVITY: A quick pick-me up before dinner or a late-night junk-food (chocolate) run.

HAWAIIAN

TYPE: Sativa

FLAVOR: Herbal and easy-smoking with notes of thyme and oregano plus hints of mint

PAIRING: Its herbaceousness pairs perfectly with the spices in squash and stu ng, and contrasts with the stu ng’s toasted and nutty avors.

ACTIVITY: A great social smoke, perfect for traditional Thanksgiving sports-watching during the day and for Danksgiving Eve at night.

CRITICAL ORANGE PUNCH

TYPE: 50/50 hybrid

FLAVOR: Sweet citrus notes at the end. Herbaceous, sweet and with a slight “hashy” avor (pumpkin spice).

PAIRING: A mulled wine or grated over grandma’s eggnog. The balance of the orange peel citrus with the slight bitterness of the wine is MAGIC!

ACTIVITY: When? Anytime! But particularly great on a quick dog walk or watching a classic holiday movie alone or with friends.

The Cannabis Clock

The average timetable from smoke to sober. A recent story in USA Today explored—boringly—the safety of driving or taking a drug test after smoking or eating weed. But we know how short people’s attention spans are, so here is your at-a-glance guide for how long it takes to feel the e ects of bud, and how long you should wait before hopping behind the wheel or peeing in a cup.

1-3 HOURS: The time it takes to feel the complete body-andmind effects of weed A number of factors a ect how long weed will stay in your system, say the experts at Healthline.com. Factors to take into consideration include: your BMI (body mass index, or how much fat you have); your metabolic rate (how fast you burn calories); how much you take (obviously); and how potent your weed is (also duh). Additionally, higher doses and more frequent use tend to increase the amount of time weed takes to leave your system, which anyone with a sixth-grade math education could gure out.

1-3 HOURS:

The time it takes for those effects to peak Expect the fun of altered senses, changes in mood, higher libido (in some cases) and hallucinations (when taken in high doses). Healthline underscored the negative e ects of ingesting weed, with statements such as “di culty with thinking” or “problem solving” but we like to think of these side e ects as “expansion of thinking” or “thinking outside the box.”

1-3 HOURS: The time it takes for THC to leave your body Some studies say with “chronic daily cannabis use,” THC may still be detected in blood 30 days after use. And a 2017 review by the Mayo Clinic found that a person who used cannabis just once may receive a positive urine test for up to three days after last use.

OUR TAKEAWAY: Don’t knock it ‘till you try it.

It’s a good thing more and more employers are seeing the bene ts of cannabis use in creativity, productivity, and enjoyment (but maybe don’t drive after smoking).

Growing for Good

Higher Education Establishments Help Veterans with Michigan Money

Two Michigan universities—Wayne State and the University of Michigan—will receive a total of $32 million from Michigan's Cannabis Regulatory Agency to conduct clinical trials into the e ects of cannabinoids on veterans su ering from PTSD and suicide ideation resulting from PTSD. Wayne State will conduct two tests: a randomized, controlled, large-scale clinical trial to research the impacts of THC or CBD on vets with PTSD, and a continuation of an ongoing clinical trial into the e ects of cannabinoids on “neuroin ammation and neurobiological underpinnings of suicide ideation in veterans with PTSD.” University of Michigan will study “the e ectiveness of cannabis-based therapies to treat veterans with chronic pain, towards the goal of reducing veteran suicide risk." Funding for the trials will come from taxes on recreational cannabis sales. And the hope is to allow physicians treating veterans to o er cannabis-related treatments, because “veterans should not be forced outside the VA system to seek treatment that is legal in their state,” according to state representatives.

LIVE, LAUGH, LOUNGE

Longing to “lounge” in cooler temperatures? Do so in three new consumption lounges in Lansing.

If your town can have one cannabis cafe, why not have four? That’s what the fine folks in Lansing thought when presented with multiple consumption lounges seeking approval earlier this year. The city approved one in each of its four wards: Rehbel Industries for Ward 1, Edgewood Wellness for Ward 2, Common Citizen for Ward 3, and Downtown Capitol for Ward 4. A consumption lounge is a relatively new concept in the United States, and takes its cue from “coffee lounges” in Amsterdam. There’s no alcohol in these, or, really, coffee, but you can buy and enjoy cannabis in them. No hard dates on opening yet, so stay tuned. Think of Lansing as a quieter, more uptight version of Amsterdam, with more puckheads. Check out one of the city’s consumption lounges and talk hockey, or whatever.

tions from organizations and initiatives from across Michigan after targeting communities impacted by redlining and disproportionate criminalization. This focus led to 85% of applications from communities disproportionately impacted by criminalization, and 84% from communities that have historically experienced redlining. Common Citizen, a social-equity qualified business, will soon announce recipients of the first round of grant funding and open a second round of applications.

Cannabis built on Principals

Common Citizen is changing their community each and every day.

Common Citizen, which produces safe, high-quality cannabis products for patients and adult-use customers, is taking social equity to the next level through Principle, a firstof-its-kind product line and community reinvestment program. While still in its infancy, the goal of Principle is to create a sustainable and scalable model for community reinvestment and an ethos of equity — a principle we can all live by.

All net profits from Principle cannabis — sold in single, 1-gram pre-rolls in a decorative tin — fund three different microgrants that reinvest in underserved communities across Michigan.

The “For the Culture” microgrant supports arts and culture initiatives; the Common Principle Startup Accelerator supports early-stage businesses; and the Common Principle Community Impact Award supports nonprofit organizations. The accelerator grant will spur the entrepreneurs of tomorrow by providing access to mentorship and coaching by Common Citizen’s executive team, as well as a microgrant to fund a business prototype.

These grants will also help increase access to homeownership, support community-led infrastructure improvements, and empower voices in policymaking at the state and local levels.

Common Citizen received 75 applica-

Principle builds on Common Citizen’s commitment to prioritizing people over product and to educating communities about the wellness benefits of cannabis. Principle also expands Common Citizen’s existing mission to support legalization and destigmatizing of cannabis, increase access to expungement for those with cannabis-related convictions, and ensure those in greatest need have access to safe, high-quality cannabis products.

All said, Principle plays a key role in providing Cannabis for Humanity. While there is no panacea to the challenges our communities face, Common Citizen is proud to do its part to expand access and opportunity. Visit commoncitizen.com/principle to learn more about Principle and Common Citizen’s mission to give back to the communities it proudly serves.

Common Citizen Cannabis Brand commoncitizen.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

Cannabis Done Right

Whether it’s our expert budtenders or unique loyalty program, we strive to create a welcoming environment that makes cannabis approachable for all.

COURTESY JAY BLAKESBERG PHOTOGRAPHY

RetroBlakesberg

Take a little trip, take a little trip, take a little trip with Sensi as we talk to counterculture rock photographer Jay Blakesberg about his latest visual journey.

TEXT JEN BERNSTEIN

Rock and roll fans, roll up!

The coolest, most introspective, mind-altering, and turned-on personal journey is finally claiming its right on the counterculture hall of fame bookshelf. Renowned pop culture photographer

Jay Blakesberg’s autobiographical magical mystery of tales, RetroBlakesberg: Volume One: The Film Archives pulls from four deliciously decadent decades, including drug-fu-

eled adventures in images, spanning from Blakesberg’s first foray into photography as a high-school hippie in the ’70s through his switch to digital photography in 2008.

With each of the four chapters devoted to a decade and kicking off with an engaging essay and chronic-le of the time, we’re treated to an intimate look at Blakesberg’s own long, strange trip through visual eye candy of hangs with

friends, rock ‘n’ roll icons of the day, and the scenesters, parties, and wild adventures that inspired and led Blakesberg to be the top-tier photographer he is today.

Dazzling images of the Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snoop Dogg, among many others are on display in these pages for all to ogle, along with a special foreword by Flaming Lips frontman

Sensi caught up with Jay Blakesberg, just as he was getting back to SF from shooting the music festival Borderland, to ask him what prompted him to turn the lens around on himself and share the intimacies of his rock star photog journey… and, obviously, what’s with all these cool memories of good times with weed?

Wayne Coyne and introduction by musician Michael Franti.

PHOTO

What’s it like documenting your personal journey and professional work and turning the tables for everyone to see?

I didn’t set out to chronicle my life; I just wanted to capture the cool moments I was experiencing…somehow it all intersected and I was blessed enough to make this my job, and document this weird sliver of pop culture that all us live music freaks are consumed with and now 44 years later, here we have it!

How does your relationship with weed impact you, your life, and live music photography?

Ever heard the phrase “Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll”? Well, when we were 16 we had lots of drugs. It was mostly weed, LSD, lots of rock and roll—but no sex!

There’s photos of you with bongs, and you’ve taken shots of musicians with weed. Was it ever taboo? Now that weed is legal, do you feel different about sharing these personal photos?

I embrace my youth, and the shit we did. We lived by the rule of “adolescent stupidity”: do as much dumb shit as possible, and try not to die. I think society can deal more now with seeing pictures of people smoking weed back in the 1970s then they could then…also, they weren’t really “retro” in 1982… now they are!

What do you think of where the cannabis industry is now compared to when you were growing up? When I was a teenager in the 1970s and smoking lots of $45-an-

ounce Colombian weed (some of it was so good you could hallucinate)… if you got caught you could do real jail time. If your parents caught you, they thought you were insane and needed to be committed, or maybe go to counseling. It was a different time, but we related to the outlaws we read about in books like The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test, and on screen in Easy Rider, or Vanishing Point. We didn’t want to be Mark Zuckerberg, we wanted to be Dennis Hopper or a Merry Prankster!

What do you hope the takeaway is for younger generations who find your work? I want younger generations to look at my work and be inspired. Take that inspiration and continue the tradition of documenting the Long Strange Trip.

SENSIMAG.COM EXCLUSIVE

Read Sensi’s interview with Blakesberg’s daughter, Ricki, who curated @Retroblakesberg at the beginning of the pandemic and had the vision for the RetroBlakesberg book project (plus more highlights from our interview with Jay) on our website.

PHOTOS COURTESY JAY BLAKESBERG PHOTOGRAPHY

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.

Union Bank is comprised of local leaders with local knowledge. We will help you navigate the world of cannabis and provide you with the tools and support you need to continue growing your business in this ever-changing industry.

The one-stop shop for your product’s packaging

Ultra-Tech Printing has all the answers in one convenient place.

As the cannabis industry keeps growing and expanding in all directions, it seems that every day presents a new challenge to businesses. The economy is pinching people’s wallets, supply-chain issues seem to be never-ending, and finding and retaining employees has never been harder. To succeed, operators need to continually focus on what makes them stand out to their customers. But as everyone knows, that is easier said than done.

Luckily, one of the biggest roadblocks to dropping a new product – the packaging design and fabrication – can easily be solved. Since 1994 Ultra-Tech Printing, based in Grand

Rapids, Michigan, has been turning out some of the best packages in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical markets, giving them the ability to offer their expertise to the emerging cannabis market. Their ultraviolet flexographic printing allows them to produce affordable, environmentally conscious, high quality packaging. The labels, pouches, and cartons they produce will ensure that your products pop on the shelf.

“UTP has the capability to provide consistency across a brand’s product line due to our ability to produce labels, cartons, and flexible packaging using the same exact print methods,” says Justin Noordeloos, the general manager of Ultra-Tech Printing. “This

3-4 different supplies since printers commonly have expertise only in one area. Our customers love the fact we can print the labels for their bottles as well as the cartons they go in. It allows them to plan better, lower costs, and reduce supplier inefficiencies.”

As a one-stop shop, they can smoothly usher cannabis companies through the often complicated and confusing process of creating a package for their latest product. And at their size, they can work with brands anywhere in the country with the capacity to accommodate additional business.

It all starts with their in-house graphics department that will guide you on design and color selection to ensure it’s created in a way to meet your packaging goals. From there, the rest of the team will work with you to make sure you understand how the process works and are aware of all the costs upfront with no surprises. UTP would love to add you to their community of customers and help your brand stand out on the shelf!

Ultra-Tech Printing

Great Packaging at a Better Price utprinting.com

PHOTO COURTESY MIKE BEEMAN

Field of DREAMS

TriMed Farm transforms waste into pure, quality medicine with sustainable agricultural practices.

TEXT ELIZABETH McWILLIAMS

TriMed Farm is a place with modest roots that grew, in very short order, to a company with a remarkably leafy canopy. Located in Chesaning, Michigan, and established in 2017 by co-founders Mike Gelatka, Paige Carioti, co-founder and Market Developer Kevin Gelatka, and along with the vision of Developer and Designer Dave Ghezzi, TriMed started out as a relatively small cannabis growing operation with just six acres of land. In its first year, they produced 4,000 plants. By 2022, TriMed had swelled to thirty-six acres producing upwards of 17,000 plants.

But TriMed didn’t stop at cultivation. Committed to overseeing the process from seed to sale, they have since become a vertically integrated company that includes its own kitchens, brands, and dispensaries. Thus was born The ReLeaf Company—an umbrella organization that now includes the farm itself, two production facilities, and five storefronts.

Although their rapid expansion is remarkable, what truly makes TriMed Farm an inspiration is the manner in which they have re-

mained steadfast to their original vision and prime directive—delivering quality medicine to the patient through sustainable and environmentally beneficial means.

Mike and Paige care profoundly for the health and well-being of their customers. They also care deeply for the environment and have remained loyal to farming practices that replenish and nourish the land while delivering a pristine and nutrient-packed product. As is now becoming common knowledge, the health of the plant ultimately depends upon the nutrient complexity of its environment.

Mike and Paige understood that symbiotic relationship on a fundamental level and, using the expertise of Chief Cannabis Grower Dave Barnum and Chief Horticulturist Andrew Zalewski, looked for ways to develop a permaculture that supported their vision and the company’s rapid growth. Since one of the more critical components of sustainable farming is the water source, it seemed only natural to start there. And if that water source could also inform the health of the soil and the plant, what better way to deliver this system than through aquaponics?

Wishing for a Well

In a nutshell, aquaponics is a system that marries aquaculture (fish farming) with hydroponics (raising plants with little or no soil). Fish and other aquatic animals and plants produce waste rich in healthy bacteria, ammonia, and nitrates. This nutrient-rich water is applied directly to plants which start their own natural filtration process. The end result is clean, fresh water that is redirected back to the primary water source via irrigation channels. Most city water contains what is deemed tolerable levels of heavy metals and pollutants. To keep these pollutants from their plants, TriMed wanted to source their own water, and aquaponics provided the most efficient and ethically sound means of doing it.

But herein lay the problem: TriMed didn’t have its own water source. Undaunted, TriMed decided to make their own. Luckily, just a few feet below the surface of the soil was natural groundwater. By channeling that water into a pond of their own, they could ensure their water’s integrity. And so they dug a 1.5-million-gallon pond that they populat-

Farm

ed with fish, frogs, and turtles, all of which now cohabitate with locally sourced aquatic vegetation.

As a result, TriMed has created an optimal environment for delivering nutrient-rich, naturally fertilized water to their crops. Barnum speaks frankly of the farm and the pond. “My favorite thing to say around the farm is ‘keep it simple, stupid.’ People like to overthink it, but it’s simple. The plant will tell you if it’s missing something or

if you’re doing something wrong. Whenever you see a tree around a natural water source, it’s thriving. Keep it simple and give the plants the right stuff—the pond’s habitat delivers just that.”

What Goes Around Comes Around

The pond is not the only way TriMed has remained true to its vision. Barnum and Zalewski maintain a “quality-in, quality-out” mindset and hold the integrity of the product close to heart in their management of the farm’s operations. “We work with every plant multiple times,” Barnum says, “to ensure the quality of the medicine is to a standard that we are willing to put our name behind.” So in addition to its aquaponic system, TriMed has also partnered with agricultural researcher Andrea McVeigh of MightyMicrobes to naturally enhance soil health. The farm credits MightyMicrobes with boosting plant nutrient cycling uptake and root development.

In another push toward regenerative practices, even the biomass waste is recycled. Plant litter, laden

“People like to overthink it, but it’s simple. The plant will tell you if it’s missing something or if you’re doing something wrong…. Keep it simple and give the plants the right stuff.”

—Dave Barnum, Chief Cannabis Grower, Trimed

PHOTO COURTESY RACHEL DAYHUFF

with constituent nutrients, is kept aside so that it can be churned back into the topsoil. This process provides essential nutrients to the soil’s microorganisms, allowing for increased soil fertility and complexity. Experts say conventional industrial agriculture fails to satisfy the permaculture necessary for maintaining soil nutrient levels and pest deterrence, so TriMed has opted for natural pest control methods, such as releasing predators like ladybugs and praying mantises.

TriMed has also started onsite recycling as well as a “reduce and reuse” initiative that limits the number of materials brought onto the property with short shelf-lives or narrow purpose. According to Zalewski, “TriMed strives for per-

fection in a climate that changes daily. We continue to research and innovate to bring the best products to market.”

This commitment to best practices is evident in the pristine quality and medicinal integrity of each of their products. Director of Compliance Randy Barr oversees the journey from seed to sale by ensuring that each of the 17,500 plants is tagged so that he can track both compliance and movement. Even amid rapid growth, when other businesses are tempted to cut corners in order to maximize profits, TriMed never sacrifices quality for quantity. Indeed, churning out a mediocre product in pursuit of a wider profit margin is a pitfall that TriMed has sidestepped altogether.

Where the Green Grass Grows

Today, five years since their founding, TriMed and the Releaf Company can boast everything from hand-trimmed, cured flowers with carefully selected strains that carry specific cannabinoid and terpene profiles, to just about anything you can find in a dispensary. Such flexibility allows them to accommodate a wide variety of consumer and medicinal needs. Step into any one of their five dispensaries and an informative staff will guide you through your selections—educating you about their varieties of kief, bulk bud, extracts, cartridges, gummies, chocolates, topicals and pre-rolls.

The realization from seed to sale has resulted in TriMed’s evolution into one of the most notable vertically integrated farms in Michigan. To travel with the seed is really quite a journey—from initial cultivation, to extraction and infusion, to bottling and packaging—a growth that branches up to quite a leafy canopy. The nutritional integrity of the plant, the water, the soil and the environment is vigilantly maintained throughout the entire process.

Such robust growth, born of a vision shared by a handful of people on a mere six square acres, is nothing to shake a stick at. But who’s got sticks, anyway? Those sticks are all too busy sprouting new leaves to be bothered with the likes of us.

Elizabeth

is a

and editor living in Ojai, CA, with her three children. When she’s not haunting local cafés with her books and laptop, you can nd her out on the hiking trails or traveling up the coast. elizabeth-mcwilliams.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

McWilliams

freelance writer

“TriMed strives for perfection in a climate that changes daily. We continue to research and innovate to bring the best products to market.”

—Andrew Zalewski, Chief Horticulturist, Trimed Farm

PHOTO COURTESY CARLY GHEZZI

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)

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

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

Giving Meaning to Giving Back

Nobody’s Home focuses on the concept of family and community on an even playing field, centered on social equity and the local economy.

Nobody’s Home has love for their surrounding community and it shows.

From their practices, etiquette, and culture love is embedded in the brand’s DNA. The flagship store, owned by native Michigander and former NBA player Wilson Chandler, is officially open for business and offers much more than your standard

cannabis shop. Located in the beautiful city of Benton Harbor, Michigan, the Black-owned dispensary has been a stepping stone for raising awareness as the largest minority-owned branding conglomerate in the state.

“We offer quality deals that are targeted for the average everyday consumer,” says Marwa Babiker. With a focus on community, Nobody’s Home

offers local products in-store and is focused on a competitive yet fair advantage for everyone in the cannabis industry. Nobody’s Home carries their own flower strains and pre-rolls while also hosting trusted brands from other local vendors. This practice encourages equality and has provided an outlet for sales and employment for the entire Benton Harbor community.

Wilson is dedicated to giving back to his beloved hometown and its residents. Unlike other dispensaries in the area, Nobody’s Home offers a specialized experience as well as a variety of quality products and pricing applicable to all communities and budgets. To celebrate the grand opening, Nobody’s Home will host a ribbon ceremony with the SW Michigan Regional Chamber of Commerce. This establishes the brand in the community and aligns with an overall mission to diversify the community in all areas.

As users of cannabis themselves, Nobody’s Home exudes a passion for their top-quality products, offering clientele an experience-based, factual education. It all adds up to a unique dispensary encounter that cannot be matched. With online ordering and a full menu, customers are awarded hassle-free shopping, no matter what state you are from.

Nobody’s Home is located at 90 W. Main Street in Benton Harbor, MI.

Be safe, enjoy, and burn slow. Respectfully, Wilson Chandler

Nobody’s Home Cannabis Dispensary nobodyshome.com

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

Smoke on the Water

The Michigan Cannabis Community joined Sensi along the shores of Lake Michigan for connections, conversations, and of course some ne cannabis! The Annual Canna Cantina Lake Michigan Beach Party is an invite-only, business-to-business networking event. Now in its third year, Sensi is honored to host a veritable who’s who of Michigan’s cannabis industry. On the guest list was a vast array of C-Level Executives, Directors and Managers focused on helping drive wholesale connections and business within the Sensi network.

DJ Jodi Dro and DJ Prim were on hand mixing up some great tunes and creating a very vibrant ambiance. Chef Treyson Patrick of Elevated Social prepared a larger spread of Spanish cuisine tting for the Cantina theme of the party. Sponsors included The Hempire Collective, True North Collective, Franklin Fields, The Trap House Company, RKive, The Clear, Lit Labs, RAISE by Comco Wellness, Grapp Lerash, and Emerald Transport. MLive Media Group and Grand Rapids Magazine

CANNA CANTINA LAKE MICHIGAN BEACH PARTY

WHERE: PRIVATE LOCATION ON LAKE MICHIGAN

CREDITS: PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE BUCK, VIDEOGRAPHY BY BRADY GILLIAM, FOOD PREPARED BY CHEF TREYSON PATRICK OF ELEVATED SOCIAL

A Cannabis Masterpiece

The team behind Chronicseur Farms has taken cannabis creation to a new level.

Growing exceptional cannabis is an artistic undertaking. Much like a painter in front of an easel or a musician holding his instrument, it requires focus, dedication, and passion for creating something unique. Luckily for the residents of Michigan, the team at Chronicseur Farms brings a desire to grow some of the finest craft cannabis in the state every day.

Their cannabis is grown with cultivation techniques that focus on holistic

approaches, using beneficial organisms and natural growing practices to produce some of the state’s highest THC and terpene profiles. By avoiding a sterilized root environment that uses bleaches, acids, and oxidizers commonly used by commercial growers, their products deliver exceptional highs that are loaded with flavor.

Each bud is hand trimmed and visually inspected in a state-of-the-art facility to ensure that they meet the highest quality standards. That means everything ex-

ceeds the recreational-testing standards in order to deliver medical-grade product to consumers. The Farms refuse to deliver anything that is not the cleanest product on the market.

Best of all, they are dedicated to delivering their signature product line, The Chronic, to their fans at affordable prices. Costing a suggested-retail price of $35 per 1/8th ounce, Chronicseur offers several strains of deli-style and prepackaged flower that weigh in at over 30 percent THC.

“We are believers in the healing powers of cannabis and want to offer our users an excellent product that won’t break their pocketbooks, unlike other brands,” says co-founder Mike Wilkins. “I have been growing for a long time, and being able to bring a high-quality product to the residents of Michigan is a dream come true.”

Chronicseur Farms recently expanded their pre-roll line to broaden reach and allow their fans to enjoy more cannabis. Their Chronic Sticks flower pre-rolls are fantastic, while their Chronic Bombs are kief and terpene infused, dropping over 40 percent THC with each pull. Packed with flavor, they are the perfect smoke that will step up any experience. Plus they are affordable, costing only $20-25.

Chronicseur Farms Cannabis Brand chronicseurfarms.com

Another fall another turned page

—WALLACE STEGNER, ANGLE OF REPOSE