Sensi Magazine Michigan - Winter 2023

Pot + Belly

the Sky with Diamonds

THE SCENE

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

Elana Frankel National Contributor Dawn Garcia National Contributor

Debbie Hall National Contributor

Hudson Lindenberger National Contributor

Bonnie Pipkin National Contributor Matthew Solan National Contributor

Will Brendza Contributor, Colorado

Tracy Ross Contributor, Michigan 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

Amy Sharp Media Sales Executive

Tyler Tarr Media Sales Executive

MICHIGAN

Will Oostendorp Media Sales Exec.

OKLAHOMA

Levi Clark Media Sales Executive

Leidy Torres Media Sales Exec.

ADVISORY BOARD

COLORADO

Concentrate Supply Co. Recreational Concentrates

marQaha Sublinguals + Beverages

Source CO Wholesale Consulting Witlon Inc. Payroll Processing

MICHIGAN

Arono Law (Craig Arono ) Licensing Law Firm

Grapp Lerash Accounting/CPA Services

Kush Design Studio Cannabis Facility Design & Build

MASSACHUSETTS

Corners Packaging Packaging

Green Goddess Supply

Personal Homegrown Biochamber

The Holistic Center

Medical Marijuana Evaluations

Revolutionary Clinics Medical Dispensary

Tess Woods Public Relations Public Relations

Vantage Builders Construction

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FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

“If you haven’t got your health, you haven’t got anything.”

Whether or not you’ve seen The Princess Bride, the cult classic movie (and one of my favorites), I’m sure you’re familiar with this quote Well, these days no truer words could be written. How you feel, both your physical and mental game, is what matters most, and if there’s one New Year’s wish for 2023 that I have for all Sensi readers—it’s that you feel good. Health truly is wealth, and since taking care of ourselves is one of the most important aspects of our lives, we planned this winter edition with you in mind.

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.

Maybe you’re one of the 20 million Americans suffering from chronic digestive issues, as Matthew Solan addresses in “Pot + Belly”? Or, perhaps as Bonnie Pipkin writes in “Get Psyched,” you’re looking for alternatives to pharmaceuticals like plant medicine to help treat women’s hormonal disorders?

If there’s one common connection among Sensi readers, it’s that we are already health aware. We know that cannabis is a healing plant known for its myriad uses—and we enjoy it in our daily lives. Instead of shoving pharmaceuticals down our throats we choose healthier alternatives. When the clock strikes midnight this New Year’s Eve, you better believe I’m gonna spark a big phatty instead of guzzling Champagne!

What I’m trying to say is, if you are already enlightened and have seen what cannabis can do for your health, you’re one of us—and I wish all of us good health for 2023 and beyond. Thank you all for a wonderful 2022, and here’s to an even better, more prosperous, and healthier new year!

We know that cannabis is a healing plant known for its myriad uses— and we enjoy it in our daily lives…. When the clock strikes midnight this New Year’s Eve, you better believe I’m gonna spark a big phatty instead of guzzling Champagne!

INSTAGRAM

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

As you wish,

Jen Bernstein @nycjamgal

Cookies SF Gears Up NYC

Never in a million years did Melvin Rodriguez, general manager for the monumental new Cookies SF store in New York City, think that they would one day be opening a five-story retail and cultural cannabis center right across the street from Macy’s in Herald Square.

“We want to be the centerpiece of the legalization movement here and be just as corporate as Macy’s. We’ve been left in the dark for way too long, and it’s time for people to notice us, and see us as a multimillion dollar business,” says Melvin.

“We are pushing the limits and pushing the culture forward,” he says. “I’m excited to teach New York.”

Melvin, who was floor supervisor at the Cookies Hayward dispensary, was born and raised in NY and so passionate about weed that he packed two bags and headed west to learn as much as he could about the cannabis industry.

“One of my good friends opened Hayward and asked me if I wanted to work. Two years later I was named “Employee of the Year,” and now I’m here,” says Melvin. “I’m super grateful.” —Jen Bernstein 58 6th Ave, New York, NY 10001 / Cookiessf.com

PHOTOS COURTESY OF COOKIES

HOLIDAY LIST KNOCKOUTS

By Executive Editor, Jen Bernstein

As adults, no one ever asks us what’s on our holiday wish lists. Why should kids have all the fun and get presents? Here are my top gift requests this season, if anyone is asking. Hint, hint! —JB

Diggin’ the D-O-G-G’s Weed-Infused O’s

It was almost love at rst bite when TSUMo Snacks brought their smorgasbord of savory snacks to weed’s biggest rap icon and ganja cannaseur, Snoop Dogg. “We delivered our full lineup,” says Caroline Yeh, a “ton of snacks,” which featured all ve of TSUMo’s salty and savory products. The feedback from Snoop was simple, “I’m more of a Funyuns guy,” he said. The team quickly got to work on Uncle Snoop’s cannabis-infused crispy avored rings and knew they had a hit the minute they hit the shelves.

Packing a powerful bow-wow-wow of 100mg per bag yippy-yay, Snoop’s Snazzle O’s garnered instant attention following their debut at one of the cannabis industry’s premiere expos, Hall of Flowers. Soon after, TSUMo’s small (but mighty) company excitedly watched as late night TV hosts Jimmy Fallon and Seth Myers shared their bite-sized news.

“It was shocking,” says Yeh. “Watching the global press pick up on it and seeing translations appear from all over like Croatia, Germany, and South America was overwhelming. That’s the impact of working with Snoop.”

We see a lot of gummies and the same old brownies and cookies ooding dispensary shelves, but there’s de nitely a market and place for creativity and taking chances with edibles. So if you’re on the lookout for some new, tasty, savory treats – the new-new can be found at participating dispensaries in California, such as MedMen.

“Fun is our core, and it’s one of our values. It’s part of our company and sometimes can get lost in cannabis,” says Yeh. “We’re bringing back the fun.” —JB tsumosnacks.com

1. Love the skin you’re in even more when you’re adorned with the beautifully embroidered delicates from Thistle and Spire. I’ve always imagined owning their Haze collection’s bodysuit with seductively sexy cannabis leaves, but their Monarch collection could be my latest flight of fancy. Choose the collection that speaks to you at thistleandspire.com and start your new year loving you.

2. Green Bee Botanicals Quench Moisturizer is pure luxury for your face. I could go through this THC & CBD, small-batch, rich and hydrating moisturizer from the women-owned company by the gallons. Greenbeebotanicals.com

3. Holy smokes, I mean, vapes! The new Pax Plus is a stunner. Not only does it look sleek and elegant, I’m sure it’s gonna produce a nice, clean hit that’s superior to any portable vaporizer on the scene.

Pax.com

PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT) COURTESY OF TSUMO; THISTLE AND SPIRE; GREEN BEE BOTANICALS; PAX; TSUMO

Hibernation Vacation

Winter is the perfect time to cozy up, sip warm drinks, and dive into that book or podcast that better weather and outdoor adventures wouldn’t allow. But doing it right takes more than just throwing on an adult-size Snuggie and chugging a cup of Swiss Miss. True winter relaxation involves feathers, stories, oils, and cannabis-infused treats. Here are our recommendations for creating a winter wonderland indoors.

Snuggle: The DeWoolfson Down Comforter

A blanket is a blanket until real Michigan winter weather hits and then you need something warmer. By that we mean the workhorse of a snuggle-down, relax, sleep-allday-if-you-want-to, the comforter. We’ve tried dozens and most often they’re either too light or too warm. But if you’re willing to spend some money, DeWoolfson is next level. All of their comforters are constructed with a network of ba ed walls with internal seams that allow the down to reach its maximum loft. These are lled with responsibly sourced, all-European white goose down. They come in 650, 750, 850, or rare 900 ll power and are as soft as a baby’s bum on the skin. Get the 900- ll if your wintertime dream is disappearing in a cloud of warmth, naked, with your favorite friend. dewoolfsonlinens.com/catalog/dewoolfson-down-comforters-c-3_412.php

Read: Great Circle, Maggie Shipstead, Alfred A. Knopf, May 4, 2021

Winter practically begs you to dive into a book that’s thicker than a loaf of bread, and if that sounds enticing this thrilling 608-page adventure story by Maggie Shipstead is just your thing. It follows the timelines of two women: Marian Graves, a girl growing up in 1930s Montana who wants nothing more than to y her own plane; and Hadley Baxter, an actress living a century later, who is cast to play Marian

in a lm. Hadley’s immersion into the character of Marian unfolds alongside Marian's own story, as the two women's fates—and their hunger for self-determination in vastly di erent geographies and times—collide. Epic, emotional, sensual and at times darkly funny, but meticulously researched, the novel kept luring us back to bed anytime we left and stopped reading.

Love: Foria Intimacy Sex Oil with CBD

With Foria, you don’t even have to buy their products to get damp in all the right places, because the pictures on their website will do the job for you. But if winter warmup to you means getting hot with a lover, you should pop their Intimacy Sex Oil into your online basket. Made with just two ingredients—00mg broad-spectrum CBD and organic coconut oil—it's designed to provide allnatural lubrication, ease discomfort, enhance arousal, and assist with penetration. Go on now. Get some. foriawellness.com

Nibble: Lume Dispensary Chocolates

Michigan-based Lume (with stores in Kalamazoo, Adrian, and Ann Arbor) has chocolates for every occasion. But your goal is warm coziness, so keep these in mind when shopping. The 10mg Dulce de Leche Caramel coats your mouth in creamy goodness, while the milk-chocolate Barracuda bar packs a big punch with 200mg of THC beauty. Get the PotDots if you love M&M’s or the Peanut Butter Chocolate Bites if you’re a Reese’s fan. Ultimately there’s no way you can go wrong, because chocolate + cannabis + a good friend + time to share = the best of winter hidden away from the snow, ice, wind + chill. —Tracy Ross lume.com/shop/all

VETERAN DRIVER

When cannabis home delivery was legalized in Michigan, Jerry Millen wanted to employ an army of drivers. Home service never took o , but he still supports defenders of the U.S.

A few years ago, when Jerry Millen opened his dispensary, Greenhouse of Walled Lake, in Oakland County, Michigan, he had an idea. His grandfather had been a WWI veteran who’d fought to defend American freedom, but everywhere Millen turned, he saw “Americans treating vets like shit,” he says. A detail from his grandfather’s story also stuck with him: “He was stationed in Europe and he was infantry. He rode a horse and the story goes that horses were more valuable than men,” he says. Both Millen’s grandfather and his horse were gassed, but the man had to put the horse’s mask on first. “That later affected his lungs,” Millen says. And it contributed to his death.

Millen wanted to show veterans respect, so he put out an offer to hire 50 as home-delivery drivers for his business. Home delivery didn’t take off as Millen hoped it would, because “people are more in the tune of wanting to get the store experience,” but he still wanted to support vets. So he kept the offer out there and eventually hired Todd Hopper, a vet whose ankle was crushed while he was stationed in Germany. The pay was good ($17/hour) and car and gas were included. Hopper says he likes his job and that “Mr. Millen” is a great person to work for. “He does a lot. A lot for the Walled Lake community. He called me to be his driver and I didn’t hesitate,” Hopper says. Millen caters to cannabis users of all ages, not just the younger generation who Hopper says “are in it just for the pot.”

And even though the driving thing didn’t work out, Millen still shows up big for veterans. This year, Greenhouse at Walled Lake will give $10,000 to a veterans’ homeless shelter in Detroit. “They have 70 beds and they can’t afford food, and I think it’s important,” he says. He plans to keep supporting vets however he can. And if the home delivery business picks back up, he’ll hire more vets to join Hopper. —TR

Cannabis-infused hot cocoa

One of the best parts of winter is the excuse it gives us to indulge in all manner of warm, creamy drinks. But we think they’re even better with a little cannabis infusion. This smooth and sweet cannabis hot chocolate recipe, from “college dropout to 6- gure cannabis entrepreneur Emily Kyle,” hits all the right notes to keep you toasty on a frigid winter night. —TR

EQUIPMENT

1-quart saucepan

INGREDIENTS

1 cup milk (or cannabis-infused milk)

1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tbsp white, granulated sugar or cannabisinfused sugar

1⁄4 tsp ground, decarbed cannabis

1⁄8 tsp vanilla extract

1⁄8 tsp ground cinnamon

1⁄8 tsp ground chipotle peppers (optional but yum!)

INSTRUCTIONS

• In a small sauce-pan over low heat, add the milk, cocoa powder, sugar, ground and decarbed cannabis, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and ground chipotle, if using.

• Whisk well until all ingredients are incorporated.

• Heat slowly, stirring occasionally, until the milk is heated through, about 170-180°F. Be careful not to boil.

• Pour into your favorite mug. Sip. Wait for the soothing effects of your cannabis cocoa with a kick to take over. Think about how lucky you are to live in a place with winter.

Comfort Food

A creamy cauli ower soup infused with love and cannabis.

TEXT STEPHANIE GRAZIANO

Comfy thoughts of warm gloves and sweaters, cozy nights with extra blankets, soothing candles and calming chai tea to light and delight the evening. Winter is when the hustle of life slows, leaving more time for

of year you will find me in the kitchen more often, baking fresh cookies for everyone or boiling up bowls of creamy soup to cut the winter chill.

This winter, my warming bowl of choice is a hearty, creamy cauliflower

PHOTO COURTESY OF JUSTIN GRAZIANO

INGREDIENTS

Infused Creamy Cauli ower Soup

VEGAN / Makes 2 servings

2½ cups cauliflower, chopped

2 cloves garlic leeks

3 sprigs fresh thyme

¾ cup white beans

INSTRUCTIONS

1 yellow onion, chopped

3½ cups vegetable broth

3 tbps olive oil

2-4 tbps infused canna-oil (avocado/olive/MCT oil are great)

Salt and pepper to taste

Remove the ends and outer layer of leeks. Slice in half lengthwise and dice into a bowl of water. Swirl to wash.

Coat a large pot with olive oil. Add leeks, onion, and pinch of salt and sauté until browned, about 5 minutes.

Add garlic and thyme and sauté 30 more seconds.

Add cauliflower, broth, beans, salt, pepper, and canna-oil.

Simmer 15-20 mins until cauliflower is soft.

Remove thyme sprigs with a fork. Using a highpowered blender or in-pot immersion blender, blend soup in small batches. Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.

NOTES

The amount of canna-oil will depend on its potency and your tolerance. 2-4 tbsps is generally a good dose for two people.

HOW TO USE A LĒVO INFUSER

1. Fill the herb pod with cannabis (up to 14g in the LĒVO II and 1oz in the LĒVO C ). You can also include other herbs such as garlic or thyme to make a avored infusion.

2. Add the silicone lids and place the pod in the basin. Select Activate to decarb.

3. When the Activate cycle is complete, add the silicone stirrer to the basin and pour in your oil. (The LĒVO II holds up to 2 cups of oil or butter, while the LĒVO C holds 41⁄4 cups.)

4. Choose your infusion time and temperature for infusion. (Varies based on the oil, but we prefer low and slow for most infusions: 165°F for 6 hours is a good baseline.)

5. When complete, pour your infusion into a jar (or press the Dispense button on LĒVO II).

6. Use an herb press to squeeze every last drop of golden oil from the herb pods.

• HINT: Save your leftover infused cannabis (aka sludge) and add some to your recipe for extra potency and nutritional bene ts. Blend dried sludge into brownie and cake mixes, or add it to smoothies.

CALLING ALL CANNA-COOKS!

Got an awesome infused dish you want to tell the world about? Tell us about it for a chance to win a LĒVO home infuser and be featured in our upcoming 420 issue!

Here’s how you enter: 1. Follow @sensimag on Instagram.

2. Post a photo and description of your one-of-a-kind cannabis infusion. (No stealing from the internet—it has to be your recipe.)

3. Tag @sensimag and three friends in your post.

The contest runs through Valentine’s Day 2023, so don’t miss out!

soup full of fresh veggies and aromatics—and a dash of homemade cannabis oil for good measure.

I’ve been experimenting more with infused recipes these days, thanks to one of my top kitchen obsessions this year: my LĒVO home infusion machine, which simplifies the process of infusing

cannabis with whatever herbs and oils I’m cooking with. It’s the only patented herbal infusion machine on the market, with precise and customizable time and temperature controls, which means I can decarb without an oven. And because everything is done inside metal pods, there’s no more

straining, no extra accessories, and they’re completely dishwasher safe.

If you’re a fellow ganja gourmet, you know the possibilities for infused dishes are endless, and the LĒVO only makes it easier to infuse your favorite foods. I’m always on the lookout for new recipes, so if you have a

killer homemade infused dish, shout it out on Insta to @sensimag. One lucky chef will win their own LĒVO home infuser and have their recipe featured in the next issue of Sensi magazine. (See sidebar.)

Until then, I’m wishing you warm days and more quality time with those you love!

PHOTO COURTESY OF LEVO

TEXT MATTHEW SOLAN

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.

An estimated 20 million Americans suffer from chronic digestive diseases and disorders.

The list includes irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), celiac disease (the body’s difficulty digesting gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley), lactose intolerance (trouble digesting the sugar in milk), and “leaky gut,” where the gut’s lining becomes damaged and cannot properly function. These symptoms can be debilitating: chronic stomach pain, cramping, bloating, constipation, nausea, and diarrhea. And finding relief is a constant struggle.

The gut is as complex and mysterious as the Milky Way. Inside it are billions of bacteria, nerves, and tissues, working alone and together to keep your digestion running smoothly. With such complexity, it’s probably no surprise that treating gut issues is difficult. Remedies

are often a matter of trial and error, and even the most successful ones don’t work for everyone.

Enter medical cannabis. Science is now looking at how cannabis may reduce pain and discomfort associated with digestive diseases and disorders. Most current research on gut health is based on people’s responses after taking cannabis: Did their symptoms improve? From this perspective, cannabis helps.

For example, a 2021 study published in the journal PLoS One found that people with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis who consumed cannabis cigarettes for eight weeks reported significant improvement of symptoms compared to those taking a placebo.

“Even though research remains in the initial stages, the results have been encouraging,” says Nicholas DiPatrizio, PhD, associate professor of biomedical sciences at the University of California, Riverside, and director of the school’s new Center for Cannabinoid Research.

These types of studies suggest a thumbs-up to cannabis for helping relieve gut issues. Still, they only show an association, not cause and effect. “Nor is it clear how much cannabis people consistently took and when and if any other variables might explain their reaction,” says DiPatrizio. “People may say cannabis works for their gut problems, and while that’s good news, it’s not nearly enough from a science perspective.”

From that science perspective, the question is not whether it works, but how it works. What mechanisms of cannabis are helping it get to the gut of gut health? The answer most likely lays in the endocannabinoid system.

THE KEY TO THE CORE

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) comprises a vast network of chemical signals and cellular receptors connected to the nervous system. More research is needed to fully understand this complex system, but what we do know is that it plays a huge role in homeostasis, regulating critical functions such as learning and memory, emotional processing, sleep, temperature control, pain management, inflammatory/immune response, and appetite.

The ECS has two primary types of receptors: CB1, found mostly in the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), and CB2, located mostly in the peripheral nervous system (the rest of the body). These receptors can only be stimulated by a specific neurotransmitter called an endocannabinoid. The ECS is activated when endocannabinoids bind to CB1 or CB2 receptors in a process that DiPatrizio compares to “a key opening a lock.”

The cannabis plant, meanwhile, contains its own unique compounds called phytocannabinoids. There are at least 100 types of cannabinoids, each with a distinct molecular structure, the most common and well-known of which is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the one that causes that trademark intoxicating effect. More interesting to researchers, though, is that THC hijacks the ECS.

“THC interacts with your ECS by binding to CB1 and CB2 receptors, just like endocannabinoids,” says DiPatrizio. “It’s a second key that fits the same lock.”

And it may be just the key that cannabis-gut researchers have been looking for.

GUT CHECK

So far, research remains in the ground-floor phase, looking at the basic correlations between the ECS and the gut. “In other words, if you remove endocannabinoid binders, does it trigger gut problems?” says DiPatrizio. “If so, then the idea of introducing more of these binders like THC could, in theory, help the gut heal.”

DiPatrizio led a recent study, published in 2022 in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, that looked at how symptoms of leaky gut caused by obesity affect ECS. The research used mice engineered to be void of CB1 receptors in their intestinal lining, feeding them an obesity-inducing diet high in fats and sugars for eight weeks to examine how leaky their gut became.

These mice had far worse inflammation and compromised gut-barrier function compared to mice with their CB1 receptors intact. The results suggest that CB1 receptors in the gut lining are protective against diet-induced leaky gut. “These types of studies serve as the foundation to next identify if adding THC can activate these receptors when digestive issues exist and help treat them,” says DiPatrizio.

For sufferers of GI illnesses, this research offers plenty of reason to hope. But there are still many questions to explore with THC and gut health. Does THC work for some digestive disorders but not others? Is it possible that THC works for only certain symptoms? Maybe THC is not the only chemical in cannabis that can stimulate CB1 and CB2 receptors. And then there are the questions about appropriate amounts and whether it

GUT + INSTINCTS

Another way THC may impact gut health is related to the brain-gut axis—the two-way communication between the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the central nervous system. The gut is referred to as the body’s “second brain,” because it produces many of the same neurotransmitters—serotonin, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid play a pivotal role in regulating mood. In fact, an estimated 90 percent of serotonin is made in the digestive tract.

What a ects the gut often a ects the brain and vice-versa—which is why stress can cause queasiness or an upset stomach. It may also explain why severe areups seen in irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, and chronic constipation tend to coincide with bouts of anxiety or depression.

According to DiPatrizio, cannabis may be able to leverage the brain-gut axis to treat both brains at once. “It could be that THC stimulates the brain in a way that directly reduces anxiety, stress, and depression related to digestive issues. By helping to treat the brain, you could, in e ect, treat problems in the gut.”

matters how THC is ingested—inhaled, applied topically, or eaten?

Most research focuses on the CB1 receptors, but other experts, including DiPatrizio, believe CB2 may also play an important role. “These receptors are critical to helping control our immune functioning, and it plays a role in managing intestinal inflammation, and pain in inflammatory bowel conditions,” he says. “Right now, the research approach is still at the preclinical phase in mice, and until we extend these experiments into double-blind placebo studies in humans can we definitively know the answer to these questions.”

One of the problems with medical cannabis is that it’s bound in

regulatory red tape, which makes it hard to study. It’s classified as a Schedule I substance because it is still considered a high risk for abuse and lacks sufficient evidence for medical use. Therefore, its use in clinical trials requires a special license issued by the Drug Enforcement Agency and many other approvals from researchers’ own institutions and outside agencies like the FDA. These barriers often discourage researchers and make grant funding difficult.

But the initial steps toward possibly using cannabis to treat gut problems already have been taken. Like the Milky Way, there is still much to explore—and the truth is out there.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Matthew Solan is a health, medical, and science writer in St. Petersburg, Florida (www.solanmedia.com).

IN THE SKY WITH

Under the other-worldly glow of their one-of-a-kind Space Rocks, Vapor Oil Technology is making giant leaps for the future of cannabis. TEXT JEN

Remember when moon rocks burst onto the scene? Admittedly, we were all into the craze and amazed at these nuggets soaked in hash oil and rolled in kief. They got us baked. They got us really high. They virtually sent us to the moon.

But, just like Pink Floyd warned, we were cratering on the dark side of the moon rocks. A lot of people turn to them for their supposed potency, thinking that they’re getting the best possible flower. But that idea is pretty misleading, and some producers are using the extra coating to camouflage imperfections—mold, mites, or webs—that any dispensary would give a hard “no” to buying.

That’s why good guys on the cannabis scene, such as Chad Carey, president of Vapor Oil Technology, are shedding some light on moon rock products. “With good, terpene-rich strains the flower

completely shines through. You can’t hide good flower with this liquid THCA product,” he says.

Vapor Oil Technology’s coated flower, Space Rocks, shines through with more than good flower; each perfectly cured nug is coated in THCA crystals that shimmer and refract into dazzling rainbows when the light hits them just right.

Knowing that what’s offered on store shelves has been missing from the market, Carey hopes to share the knowledge. He points out that it’s a super viable aspect for growth, and hopes more cultivators and extractors join him in creating these unique experiences for cannabis consumers. “Seeing people’s faces light up when they see it for the first time is really awesome. They say, ‘Wow, what is that?’ and it’s that wow factor, that same feeling from when they took their first hit or dab, that really gets me excited.”

BERNSTEIN

WITH DIAMONDS

MY GOD, IT’S FULL OF TERPS

Carey’s mission is a natural one, to bring the highest quality, freshest flower to dispensaries. And he believes that terpenes—the magical compounds that produce a strain’s unique flavor and aroma—are one of the key components ensuring that freshness. There’s just one small issue: Terpene preservation is a race against time.

The moment the cannabis plant is harvested, those precious terps start degrading. And they don’t stop degrading; the longer the flower sits, the more it loses its best qualities. Or, from a seller’s perspective, the longer a product sits unsold, the less satisfied its buyer will be. It’s always a disappointing experience to get home, smoke or vape flower, and feel … well, nothing.

Carey started thinking about ways to maximize the potential of his high quality flower on the shelf. From listening to and learning from growers, he discovered that strains with high terpene profiles help maintain the freshness of flower— in other words, terpenes are the natural preservative of cannabis.

For example, a 16% THC strain with 2 to 3% terpenes will ultimately provide an all-around better experience than a 20% THC strain with fewer terpenes, because while it may be a lower-potency flower, it maintains that potency for much longer. “There’s a lot of flower that doesn’t hit above 20% THC,” says Carey. “But by adding THCA to an already-high-terpene strain, we’re increasing the high for potency that also preserves for the effect.”

Carey’s aha moment led him to research how he could take terpene preservation even further. He wound up producing some really profound

results through self-study of his own use, thanks to his background as an extract artist. Carey has been extracting concentrates (with a focus on THCA) for 12 years—pulling it apart, analyzing hydrocarbon extracts, and separating it from the terpenes.

“With processing, we are able to treat each component and process them individually and optimally,” he says. “Terps are volatile and they get a lower temp technique, unlike higher temps of THCA. There are different parameters for different components to complete the processing in the most efficient way.”

Preservation of terps also means bigger yields. Reformulating to create high efficiency in the lab from the start, rather than deploying traditional distillation, soon paid dividends in the form of that beautiful crystallized THCA: micro-diamonds. The final product of Carey’s experimentation literally glistens with potency. The crystal coating is also the shining armor that keeps each Space Rock as fresh as the day it was cured. “It’s like a shell that preserves the flower inside,” says Carey. “It naturally creates a barrier against light degradation and has antimicrobial properties with their own huge benefits.”

And the high? Like nothing Carey and his friends had ever experienced before. Carey’s concentrates pack such a punch that consumers often tout that they need less to get high. Instead of five hits of traditional weed, maybe you just take two with Space Rocks. Overall Carey feels that less is more, especially since it’s less carcinogenic for the same end effect.

Space Rock products really are reaching a demographic of both flower and concentrate users. Carey says their products are the perfect

STAKING YOUR CLAIM

One of the things Carey has learned from creating unique extracts is the value of patents. He currently has two (Thin Film Oxidation of Crystallized Cannabis Products, and Herbage Having a Re ective Coating) and is submitting two more, and he believes all canna-business owners should use them to preserve their ideas. “Patents in cannabis are great business, especially for the little guy because it’s a protection for those who are non-corporate, and will help preserve the legacy market.”

“THERE’S A LOT OF FLOWER THAT DOESN’T HIT ABOVE 20% THC, BUT BY ADDING THCA TO AN ALREADYHIGH-TERPENE STRAIN, WE’RE INCREASING THE HIGH FOR POTENCY THAT ALSO PRESERVES FOR THE EFFECT.”

—Chad Carey, President, Vapor Oil Technology

bridge for traditional smokers who don’t want a dab rig, but are seeking a stronger, more elevated high that comes in the same manner as smoking flower.

Sammy, a store manager, raves about Space Rocks. “It’s really something different that a lot of our customers have never seen. Once they try it they continue to come back again and again for it.”

SMALL STEPS FOR MAN

From the minute he opens his eyes to the time that he’s winding down, Carey is eating and breathing passion for his business. Staying creative is important and envisioning new ideas and putting them into action informs his reality and personal motivation. Doing the hard work and going the extra mile has helped with his success. “My goal is to stay passionate about what we do, so we can keep playing and be in this game,” he says. “I wake up every morning and really take the time to talk and listen … and to answer those 100 calls. We work with good people and

doing the work is more rewarding than taking the easy route.”

Learning and growing the business along the way has naturally instilled in Carey a dedication to the preservation of the industry’s small business owners. Carey knows it’s so important to maintain relationships with original and smaller growers, and creates collabs and partnships with growers. Like Kai Cannabis in Adrian, MI, their first collab—who have great flowers, Space Rocks has been a model collaboration effort. While maneuvering through Michigan’s market changes and being part of the Michigan caregiver community, Vapor Oil Technology has always been self-funded and therefore tries to band together with other businesses trying to survive against the overproduction in big businesses—which has caused prices to bottom out.

Staying creative, innovative, and growth-minded has been his greatest weapon. Carey credits his company’s ability to bring new ideas to market quickly and shifting with

AN EXPANDING UNIVERSE

This isn’t the end of the discovery and product perfection for Carey—in fact, it’s only the beginning. Since perfecting his formulations, he feels he’s barely scratched the surface of what his extracts are capable of, and plans to create di erent coatings for di erent user experiences. There could be a sleep formulation, which helps patients get a better night’s rest, or an energy product that helps with that get-upand-go feeling. Not even the sky is the limit.

market trends as another tool for success. And here’s something that Carey said that we haven’t heard in awhile: “We are growing and hiring, rather than firing.” It’s clear as concentrates that Carey’s business outlook is on the right path.

Knowing that coated products have had a good growth rate in Michigan, Vapor Oil Technology wants to replicate their success in other markets. “Our Michigan buyers’ next orders are always larger than the one before. We know people like our products and are happy. If we can get to other states and find the like-minded people who share our same values—the ones who want to pick up the phone, talk, and share the same excitement … not just of the product, but for the people—we want to talk to you.”

Space Rocks will be coming to Arizona and Missouri at the beginning of 2023. “I’ve had great conversations with every dispensary we’ve talked to in these markets—and we can’t wait to blow their minds.”

Until then, Vapor Oil Technology’s latest product launch gives you the chance to do your own experimentation. Space Dust is nothing more and nothing less than pure THCA micro-diamond dust to DIY your own stash; sprinkle it on a bowl, add it to a blunt, or roll your favorite ower in it to make your own Space Rocks.

Olivia Mannix and her team at Felicity Pharma are disrupting the psychedelics market, bringing female-focused healing to those who have been su ering in silence.

TEXT BONNIE PIPKIN PHOTOGRAPHY KIM SIDWELL, CANNABISCAMERA.COM

GET PSYCHED

GET PSYCHED GET PSYCHED

Since the advent of hormonal contraception in 1960, there has been little to no innovation in women’s health. And that isn’t just in reproductive matters; because early medicine didn’t recognize the impact of sex on health, women were historically underrepresented—if not outright excluded—in clinical trials for nearly every modern over-thecounter medication.

This patriarchal disinterest in women’s health has serious implications. Generations of women have endured monthly pain, discomfort, depression, anxiety, infertility, and long-term post-partum health issues, in shame and silence. In its study published in the journal Contemporary Clinical Trials, the Brigham and Women’s Hospital concluded that due to “potential sex-based differences in treatment responses and toxicities, adequate inclusion of females in clinical trials remains critical.”

Now, more than ever, we need to study women. We need be heard.

And yet, we continue not to be heard. It seems like every woman has a story of a doctor who outright dismissed her health concerns, choosing to write a prescription instead of really listening. Why isn’t there more of a conversation?

Enter Olivia Mannix: woman, entrepreneur, innovator, risk-taker, and advocate of plant medicines and research. She founded Felicity Pharma, the leading women’s health biotech company, to lead a distinctly female charge into a climate that has long neglected them.

“Biotech is very male dominated, and so is psychedelics,” says Mannix. “I have to always show up and work my tail off in a very competitive space.”

Felicity Pharma is taking on female mood disorders and sexual dysfunction with an integrated approach. “I am a healer and I want to help people,” Mannix says. “Psychedelics have a lot of potential. We are changing things and making female-specific drugs.”

She and her team are hard at

work on solutions with natural psychedelics, and these explorations are breaking boundaries for what we’ve come to expect for women and their treatment plans.

A DIFFERENT DEPRESSION

It is well known that women are disproportionately affected by mood disorders, with two to three times more diagnoses than men. It is less well known that there is one mood disorder that only affects women—one so intense that it leads 30% of its sufferers to attempt suicide.

That disorder is known as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, or PMDD. A severe form of PMS, PMDD affects one in 20 women of reproductive age. With an estimated five million sufferers in the United States, it’s likely that you know someone who has it. That someone might even be you.

This was the case for one woman, whom we’ll call MJ. MJ has always had intense PMS. But whatever physiological symptoms she had

were vastly overshadowed by the emotional symptoms: MJ would, in her words, “reach the brink every month.” She felt nothing but hopelessness and despair until the moment her period began. Then, the feeling would completely disappear.

MJ recalls people trying to sympathize with her by sharing their own accounts of cramps and mood swings, and she would nod along. But she knew what she was feeling, and it was not “crabby.” Something more was happening.

Despite its evident links to hormone fluctuation, PMDD is treated as any other mood disorder, typically with antidepressants. MJ’s gynecologist prescribed Prozac, but it didn’t help. She tried to explain her symptoms to her psychiatrist, that she just knew it was tied to her period. But he could see no other treatment than antidepressants—since those weren’t working, he basically told her she would just have to white-knuckle through it, month after month, until menopause.

To MJ, this advice was nothing less than a death sentence.

MASK OFF

Modern medicine is obsessed with symptom management. Rather than working to end illness, medications are designed to mask illness by treating only the symptoms. Keeping the mask intact means staying on that medication for the rest of your life.

Holistic medicine, on the other hand, aims to reach the root of pain and disorder. This is the approach Felicity Pharma prefers, and it sees psychedelic medicine derived from psilocybin as the best way to get there.

MULTITUDES MULTITUDES THE MANY MULTITUDES OF MANNIX

Olivia Mannix entered the cannabis space in 2013 with her company Cannabrand, a full-service marketing agency and the rst ancillary cannabis brand. Long before the industry weas widely accepted, Cannabrand helped cannabis companies brand and position themselves. In 2019, Cannabrand created a subsidiary, Psilocybrand, to o er similar services the emerging psychedelics space.

As her company grew, so did her in uence. Mannix began speaking at cannabis and psychedelics trade shows and conferences, where her ambitions only grew. She was already a destigmatization pioneer in an otherwise male-dominated industry. But for Mannix, branding and marketing was the tip of the iceberg; what she wanted now was to directly contribute to the development of the naturally derived

medicines she spent the better part of a decade advocating for.

And it was when she was introduced to Geraldine “Gigi” Kuo, MD, a medical expert specializing in pain management and traumatic brain injury—with a particular interest in psychedelic pharma—that those plans would be set in motion.

Mannix and Kuo immediately clicked. “We are both go-getters and high energy and experts in our elds. It was an energetic t!” says Mannix.

Both saw the need for solutions in women’s healthcare; both were condent that psychedelics could help; and both realized their skill sets happened to complement each other perfectly. From there, Mannix and Kuo decided to go into business together, a dedicion that would soon begin to transform modern medicine.

Psilocybin is a serotonergic psychedelic that works in harmony with your biochemistry. It causes your neurons become malleable, giving you the ability to alter the fundamental beliefs and traumas that are otherwise immutable aspects of your identity. The idea is that, rather than concealing your illness, psychedelics reveal your true self for examination and change.

It is the single most effective method for getting to the true roots of mental disorder, and Mannix believes it will do more than heal—it will bring out the best in you. “It can make you realize how beautiful life really is and how lucky you are to be alive,” she says.

MJ finally discovered this for herself after doing her own research. She found other people with similar stories, many of whom reported that these alternative treatments were what actually worked. So, without the guidance of a doctor (hers had already given up) MJ sought these more natural treatments. She even tried microdosing, though she didn’t always get the levels right.

MJ, now 45 years old, says she didn’t think she would live this long.

CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION

We know more about PMDD now than when MJ was first diagnosed. But we are still missing the conversation about its most viable treatment. What if her doctor had told her about this breakthrough psychedelic treatment and had her sign up for a clinical trial? How many months of suffering would she have been spared if she knew she had more options?

Despite working against our natural systems and being unreliable in their effectiveness, antidepressants remain incredibly profitable, with the global antidepressant market set to earn $21.28 billion by 2025.

Felicity Pharma knows it must disrupt the antidepressant market to shift toward a more natural and beneficial solution for those in need. Step one of this shift is licensing its natural extract of psilocybin, which is currently in Phase IIa clinical trials. The first trial will be a single “megadose,” 25mg, which will take the patient on a six- to eighthour journey guided by at least two people—a therapist or psychiatrist will be one of them. Following these larger doses, Mannix and her team would like to make a smaller maintenance amount (a microdose) to extend and deepen the impact of the megadose.

Mannix has stood against the odds since the day she launched Cannabrand. As a woman who had to fight to be taken seriously, this push to deliver psychedelic medicine is not just business. This is personal.

Psylocybin is not the first powerful plant. Mannix knows it won’t be the last, and understands that by not fighting for better medicine and better information, women like MJ will continue to suffer needlessly.

Felicity Pharma is breaking down the barriers of women’s health. We will be heard.

WORTH A TRIAL

There are clinical trials happening right now to further develop and re ne this medicine, and they are speci cally seeking women and those with uteruses to participate. Similar trials have gotten extensive positive feedback from PMDD patients.

Learn more at clinicaltrials.gov

MANNIX HAS STOOD AGAINST THE ODDS SINCE THE DAY SHE LAUNCHED CANNABRAND. AS A WOMAN WHO HAD TO FIGHT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, THIS IS NOT JUST BUSINESS. THIS IS PERSONAL.

Get Your Glow Back

A guide to winter skin care + cannabinoids.

TEXT ELANA FRANKEL

It’s that time: cold-weather, drops in temperature, precipitation, and wind. Brrr. Indoor heater? Dehydrating. Strengthen your skin’s barriers before the big freeze; boost your daily care routine; and break out of the seasonal cycle for skin that is healthy and hydrated.

“The skin is one of the largest organs of the body,” says Dr. Junella Chin, an integrative med-

ical cannabis physician. “It protects us against environmental damages and is a highly active structure in itself.” Our skin has its own endocannabinoid (EC) and immune systems. “So, as temperatures drop and the air gets frigid and dry (and your skin follows suit), the skin’s delicate homeostasis, from cell growth to moisture production and immune protection, can get out

of balance, leading to irritating conditions.”

CANNABINOID 101

“Cannabinoids standout in skincare products because of their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties,” says Brittany Carbone, founder at TONIC. “While many cannabinoids share these benefits, understanding the difference between cannabinoids like CBD,

CBG, THC, and CBC help ensure you are providing your skin with targeted support where you need it most.”

CBD: CALM

A natural anti-inflammatory, CBD addresses inflammatory skin conditions, reducing redness and irritation, and calming down stressed-out skin. CBD also restores and strengthens the skin barrier, which is key

to locking in moisture, preventing damage, and smoothing out texture and tone. “CBD is gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin,” says Dr. Chin, “and can offer relief by reducing the symptoms of rosacea and eczema.”

CBG: DEEP

This mother of all cannabinoids can increase the process of lipogenesis, effectively increasing skin’s natural moisture levels and addressing dryness by spurring lipid (oil) production in the pores. Another effect: “During the winter months,” says Laurel (Lo) Friesen the founder, CEO and Chief Extractor of Heylo, “cannabis can help support the endocannabinoid system as daylight gets shorter. Cannabinoids like CBG, especially in combination with THC and CBD, can boost energy levels and help alleviate the winter blues.” Happy inside, happy outside.

CBC: SLOW

Brittany Carbone explains that this minor cannabinoid has been shown to slow down lipogenesis, making it a great solution for oily skin. CBC is also a powerful antibacterial that is effective in fighting acne-causing bacteria and preventing breakouts.

PRODUCT GUIDE

Green Bee Botanicals

Many skincare products fight winter dryness, “but only cannabis skincare works hand-in-glove with your endocannabinoid system,” says Green Bee Botanicals founder Bridget May. “In winter months when your skin gets extra dry, chapped, red or itchy, supplement the endocannabinoid system with cannabis serums, oils, eye creams, lip balms, and lotions. Cannabis skin care — especially when made with full-spectrum extracts to include as much of the plant as possible, including both CBD and THC — rebalances your skin naturally, and the relief is fast and effective.”

If you’re looking for an anti-inflammatory powerhouse, try Green Bee Botanical’s full-spectrum cannabis Renewing Serum. With 1:1 CBD to THC, this fast-acting moisturizer includes jojoba oil, which mimics our own skin oil

to quickly absorb and soothe all skin types, but especially dry ones. A true winter win.

consultant. “The rich yet light formula is super moisturizing and leaves a lovely glow.”

Heylo

Tonic Renewal Oil includes CBD, CBC, and hemp seed oil, along with rose hip, meadow foam seed, tamanu, and black seed. These ingredients work synergistically with cannabinoids by providing a diverse, balanced fatty-acid profi le.

Body Butter features CBD and CBG (along with a combination of shea, cocoa and mango butters. “I like to use TONIC’s Outer Space Body Butter after I apply lotion on chilly mornings,” says Kassia Graham, a cannabis

Dry skin can be exacerbated by an inflammatory response to dryness and the cold. Topical products, like Heylotion Body Budder, are used to moisturize or combat dry skin and prevent further inflammation. CBGeezus is an excellent strain to support energy and happiness during the winter months. CBGeezus, a 3:1 CBG:THC ratio product, offers these benefits without intoxication.

AGES AND STAGES

Risa Morimoto, founder of Modern Aging, focuses on products for winter and aging. “As we get older,” she says, “dry and drier skin is something to combat. CBD topicals like Commons salve or Planetarie’s topical salve (I love the pink grapefruit scent) help cracking and drier skin.”

FROM TOP) COURTESY OF GREEN BEE BOTANICALS; TONIC; HEYLO

Puff-Puff-Pass the Popcorn

Top hits for your next marijuana meh-movie marathon. TEXT

There are three categories of movies that pair nicely with marijuana. The first is the stoner film where weed plays a central role in the narrative arc, a genre pioneered by Cheech & Chong with Up In Smoke and followed by

their later spaced-out offerings. Other exemplars of the genre include Dazed and Confused, Pineapple Express, and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle.

The second category is the visually or aurally arresting movie. 2001: A

MIKE DIPAOLA

Space Odyssey set the standard in this genre. Since then the rise of the superhero film has exploded on screen with epic feasts for the eyes and ears. Any stop within the Marvel Cinematic or DC Extended Universes will do.

The third category, and the focus for today, is the “meh” movie—not great, not terrible, but can be delightfully enhanced by herbal elevation. Here a few “meh” movie recommendations to get the ball and the blunts rolling.

Hollow Man (2000)

Consider the oeuvre of director Paul Verhoeven. (Robocop and Starship Troopers, don’t count, since they are in fact great movies with or without a cheeba boost.)

But Hollow Man is not so great. Critic A.O. Scott wrote that the story “can’t even muster the intelligence to be pretentious or the bravado to be amusingly bad.” Ouch.

But with a little weed, the film is quite engrossing, if a bit gross. There is some decent CGI (considering it was made more than two decades ago), an engaging narrative, and you get to watch Kevin Bacon’s skeletal and circulatory systems appear and disappear before your eyes.

One might appreciate these virtues without getting high, but why chance it? Try Cerebro Haze if you can find it, as there won’t be very much cerebral activity on screen.

Metropolis (1927)

Cinephiles will disagree with the inclusion of this Fritz Lang classic in the not-so-great category because it is (now) considered one of the most influential fi lms ever made. But not everybody thought so at the time. H. G. Wells described it as “silly,” the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction said it was “trite” and “ludicrously simplistic,” and almost everybody agreed it was too long at 153 minutes.

It’s got robots, flying cars, class warfare, gorgeous Art Deco sets, and all manner of old-timey sci-fi gadgetry. Whatever, it is lit. And it is well-lit for the elevated viewer. Pair with Pink Boost Goddess, because why not?

La Belle et la Bête (1946)

Not a fan of black-andwhite moviemaking? Well expand your horizons, because we’re offering another one for consideration. Jean Cocteau’s “Beauty and the Beast” (as it translates from French) features costumes and sets that are artistic creations, inspired by the likes of Pierre Cardin for the former and Gustave Doré and Johannes Vermeer for the latter. Even the Beast looks pretty damn good.

“Love can make an ugly man beautiful,” according to the voice-over narration, and a little weed will make this lovely film sumptuous. The strain: American Beauty.

Viva Las Vegas (1964)

Of the 30-plus movies Elvis Presley starred in between 1956 and 1969, some regard Viva Las Vegas as his best. It did rack up his highest box-office receipts. But “good for an Elvis Presley movie” is a pretty low bar, and as cinema goes it’s still mostly meh.

The problem: the King essentially made one movie, a rather bland romantic musical, and starred in it 30-plus times. Viva doesn’t stray far from the formula: Our hero croons his way to Sin City and becomes entangled with a smoking-hot AnnMargret playing a pool manager (unconvincingly but who cares?).

It is wholesome, easygoing fun and if you haven’t seen it—or haven’t seen it under the influence—roll yourself a blunt fit for the King and settle in. And the strain? There happens to be an AK-47 x Skunk #1 hybrid called Elvis. Thankyouverymuch.

HIGH-CONCEPT CINEMA

We get it; sometimes you want to watch a movie that’s actually good—maybe something from one of those rst two categories we breezed over. Well, we’ve got pairings for those, too:

STONER: smoke along with their heroes on the screen. They pu , you pu . We recommend any OG Kush.

SPECTACLE: the energy is on the screen, so go with a relaxing indica-heavy smoke. May we suggest GG #4?

WHEN: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2022

PHOTOS: MIKE BUCK PHOTOGRAPHY

Sensi Stays Frosty

Michigan’s Cannabis Community joined Sensi at the Causeway Bay Hotel and Convention Center for A Frosty A air, the second Sensi Night since COVID and the second in 2022. Around two dozen vendors were on hand, giving out samples and swag to consumers and industry folks. Premium Sponsors included Fluresh and Five Star Extracts by True North Collective. The Outdoor Igloo Lounge Sponsors included Lion Labs, Nature’s Remedy, The Trap House Company and Portal 42.

The event included a toy drive and around $700 was raised to bene t the Sons & Daughters United Annual Toy Drive.

DJ Jodi Dro and DJ Prim were on hand mixing the tunes for the evening. Food trucks Street Chef Shaw and The Elite Way were also present. The next Sensi Night is Michigan’s Annual Mardi Gras Party, scheduled on Fat Tuesday, February 21.

A FROSTY AFFAIR

WHERE: CAUSEWAY BAY HOTEL & CONVENTION CENTER, LANSING, MI

With the holidays over and a new year revving up, it’s the perfect time to reflect on—and give to—others. And there’s no industry like the cannabis one to make sure its lesser-privileged, underrepresented, in-need members are supported. That’s why it›s so easy to find organizations and businesses funneling money, services, support, and love to others. Here are three businesses and two nonprofits that are showing the rest of the world how to do it (trust us: there are many, many others). Read on, and let their good deeds inspire you to enact yours.

Live to Give

STIIIZY, Ferndale, MI

If STIIIZY is like most companies, their number one business goal is to make money. But you wouldn’t necessarily know that from their website, which focuses on the many ways the California- and Michigan-based brand gives back to its communities.

Every month STIIIZY strives to address issues like the treatment of U.S. military vets, homelessness, social equity, the community at large, and needs that may arise spontaneously (think Covid-19). Check out their Blessed by STIIIZY line of products, STIIIZY’s “continuous

commitment to the community that raised it.”

As part of the company›s new charitable model, a portion of the funds you spend on one of these products goes to the one of the organizations we listed. Bonus: “All strains and products under BLESSED are promised to always be carefully curated and hand-selected with intent, so spend your money towards a product that will not only get you lifted, but that will also make a difference in someone’s life,” says STIIIZY.

www.stiiizy.com/pages/ stiiizy-blessed#shopify-sectiontemplate--14209668644918__ 163649008201d3d530

Four of Michigan’s cannabis causes to share your time in 2023. TEXT TRACY ROSS

PHOTO COURTESY OF STIIIZY

Sons & Daughters

United, Lansing

A non-profit founded in 2103, Sons & Daughters United believes that parents have the right to use cannabis to treat their own and their children’s illnesses without fear of police or social services intervention. They also work to keep people connected to their loved ones while they are incarcerated for cannabis convictions. Since their beginning, founder Josey Scroggin says they have expanded to cover “EVERY” prison, jail, and detention center in the U.S., providing support to inmates of all walks of life. In the beginning, and through the help of donors, the program funded travel expenses, stationary, postage stamps, calling cards, and payments for children whose parents

were incarcerated. And they now cover all offenses and family members, provide scholarships to drug offenders, and—this time of year—organize to give families across Michigan a magical holiday because each family “is navigating some of life›s hardest roadblocks – disabilities, incarceration, homelessness.”

Scroggin knows of which she speaks. Her mother had a debilitating disease that cannabis helped. If you missed donating to them for the holiday drive, no problem.

You can still support families unfairly treated due to their use of cannabis by heading to sonsanddaughtersunited.org and clicking the button with the amount of money you want to give.

ers” clear their records. “Past criminal offenses can create unnecessary barriers to housing and employment long after someone has paid their dues to society,” says Josh Covert, Director of Legal Services for GLEN and a partner at Michigan Cannabis Lawyers. The group is all about “helping those with cannabis convictions take advantage of Michigan’s ‘Clean Slate’ law,” and usher them through the application process.

GLEN does just that while focusing on the up to one million Michigan residents, who may qualify for expungement since new applicable laws went into effect in 2020.

Learn more about GLEN, and donate, at greatlakesexpungementnetwork.org.

BudforBlood, California, coming to Michigan

Great Lakes Expungement Network

The Great Lakes Expungement Network is a consortium of lawyers (including the Michigan Cannabis Lawyers) criminal justice reform groups (such as Sons & Daughters United), and criminal justice groups launched in May of 2021 who work together to help cannabis “offend-

BudforBlood believes «stoners make great blood donors.” Because of that, they’ve partnered with cannabis businesses and media outlets to spread awareness about the incredible impact blood donors have in saving lives, and to urge the “unconventional yet ideal” (read younger and more diverse) demographic of weed smokers to donate their blood. Founder Kristin Yoder came up

with the idea after posting that she had donated blood on LinkedIn and hearing from a friend that he thought cannabis consumption made him ineligible to donate. “That got me thinking,” says Yoder. “I bet most consumers are under that assumption and I bet if they knew they were eligible they would donate because they’re all good people.” Last March, in her very fi rst social media campaign, she convinced 54 companies to share the pledge and 59 donors answered the call. Each gets a #budforblood hemp t-shirt when they do. At least half have donated another two to three times. Each donation can save up to three lives, making Yoder “venture to say” her idea and the donors have saved 300 lives altogether.

Find out more at budforblood.com and by reading this Q & A with Yoder.

Bonus Q & A with Bud for Blood Founder Kristin Yoder

HOW HAVE YOU GOTTEN THE WORD OUT/TURNED YOUR IDEA INTO ACTION?

I truly had no idea what I was doing, I made up the game plan based on the conversations I was having with business owners. I wanted to make something easy for companies to participate in, since I know they are already busy. This was my very rst social media campaign! Much appreciation to the marketing help of The Winders Group, and the sharing power of 54 sponsoring companies agreeing to share educational content at least one time every two weeks for the duration of the campaign. The goal was to get people to donate blood locally, take a donor sel e, and submit a donor application on the Bud for Blood website. I sent every donor a free «#budforblood Team Member» hemp t-shirt.

WHY DO STONERS MAKE GREAT BLOOD DONORS?

Younger Donors - A recent poll of U.S. adults showed that only 15 percent of those aged 18 to 34 years donated blood in 2020.1 Millennials are the largest cannabis-customer age group by a very wide margin, supplying nearly half of all US cannabis sales last quarter.2

Diverse Donors - Less than 1% of all blood donations come from African-Americans. According to a 2019 SAMHSA report- 30.5% of cannabis consumers are biracial and 20% are African American.3

Large Potential Donor Pool - There were 3.43 million recreational cannabis users in the United States in 2020. By 2025, this number is set to almost double.4

Cannabis Consumers Are Nicer Than Non-Consumers - Cannabis use is associated with higher levels of prosocial behaviors, empathy for others.5

1statista.com/statistics/1203885/ share-of-adults-who-gave-bloodus-by-age/

2Headset›s «Exploring cannabis consumer trends & demographics in 2021»

3samhsa.gov/data/report/2019-nsduh-detailed-tables

4statista.com/statistics/1060216/ us-total-estimated-cannabis-consumer-population/ 5nature.com/articles/s41598-02212202-8

WHAT IS BUD FOR BLOOD›S IMPACT TO DATE?

See story about it above. Also: I’m about to send a follow up email to my donors to let them know about the double donor gift I’m working on getting sponsored to help encourage return donations. The incredible thing is that every single donor application I received, every

person said they’d plan to donate again. According to blood bank professionals I’ve spoken with, that’s an incredible ratio, with donors donating an average of 1.8 times a year (according to stats in the ADRP public messaging guide V 1.0).

WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THE FIRST BUD FOR BLOOD DRIVE IN MICHIGAN?

The goal is January! But please don’t wait until then to donate blood! The shortage is not going to get better until a new generation of blood donors is donating regularly, which is every 56 days. I’m abso-

lutely hooked on donating. It’s so easy, and the text/ email alerts I receive when my blood is dispatched to help people gives me a thrill unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. I’m saving lives! What beats that? Seriously, to all my disillusioned stoner friends out there, donating blood is such an easy, meaningful boost. It’s changed my life for the better in ways I didn’t know were possible.

NATURE’S REMEDY

Nature’s Remedy first opened its doors in August of 2021, but our journey in the industry started many years before tha. We started out as growers in the caregiver industry long before legalization, and were one of the first dispensary license holders in Michigan. However we took our time designing our store and business model to make sure we stood out in a market that we knew was going to be very saturated.

What products do you o er?

Recreational and medical cannabis, education,

accessories, high quality CBD, and compassionate care. We carry over 100 brands and over 2000 products

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

When we heard Michigan was going legal we jumped on the opportunity to be a part of this amazing industry. We’ve always strived for greatness in whatever industry we are in, and wanted to translate that high level of service and quality to the cannabis industry. We knew there would be many companies focused on profits over consumers, and it’s important to us

to stand out from those companies as much as we possibly could.

What is your company mission? We are dedicated to providing compassionate care and offering our neighbors and community a constantly evolving selection of high quality, lab tested cannabis in a clean and welcoming environment. Our budtenders are highly trained and extremely knowledgeable to help anyone find the right product for their specific needs.

What makes your business important to the community? We strive to provide the local community with the best and most personal experience. Some show concerns with a dispensary coming to their community, so we always take the time to

ensure our neighbors feel safe and trust us in their community.

How does your business give back to the community?

A big fraction of cannabis today undergoes some type of decontamination process, which can cause harmful effects when consumed. We promised our community we would never carry these products and educate them on what processes to be cautious of. We do fundraisers for various charities and organizations and will be hosting a few charity events in the future. Also look out for local business collaborations coming soon!

Where can people nd you?

Our storefront is located at 925 E Drayton St. in Ferndale, Michigan. A second location is coming to Pontiac this year.

NATURESREMEDYNRC

We knew there would be many companies focused on profits over consumers, and it’s important to us to stand out from those companies as much as we possibly could.

provisioning centers in Lansing, Kalkaska, Tawas, and recently we launched in Middleville. Our products can be found in over 30 retailers across the state.

What makes your business important to the community?

We are a company for the community, by the community. From philanthropy to empowering social equity candidates, our team consistently focuses on giving back to the community that helped build us. We currently hold a bronze level for our social equity work through the CRA with gold level achievement on the docket.

THE BOTANICAL CO.

@BOCOCANNA / THEBOTANICAL.CO / LEAFLY & WEEDMAPS

Russ Chambers & Matt Mooney were caregivers for years prior to scaling into a commercial cultivation plan. They started The Botanical Co. to bring their knowledge and experience to the people of Michigan to provide a great experience for consumers and patients alike.

We bring our mission of “bringing good people together to enhance lives by creating extraordinary cannabis experiences” to life every day with

the care and passion that each team member brings to their department daily.

Tell us about your company?

Carbidex is our parent company that encompasses Franklin Fields (cultivation), The Botanical Co. (Dispensary), Kalkushka (Consumption Lounge), and Go Greener (Facility Management). Our Facilities management started in 2013 and branched into the Cannabis space in 2019

with our first storefront before expanding out to cultivation in 2020.

What products do you o er?

We cultivate craft flower and process cannabis into amazing infused products such as our new Sweet Justice line. We’re constantly looking for new innovative ways to spark some curiosity. Our newest flower product addition is “Neptune Nugs.”

Craft flower saturated in concentrate and rolled in crystally kief. The taste is out of this world.

Where can people nd your products?

We are a vertically integrated company with

How does your business give back to the community?

From cash and product donations, to participation in local events, we have been heavily involved in the local community since the start of the company. It’s important to us to give back to the people and organizations who truly care about the community. There isn’t a better feeling than seeing the positive impact your actions have on the people around you, that’s one of the ways we measure our success. You can find Carbidex in the community on remembrance walks, park clean ups, and sitting on boards of national groups to enact change.

From philanthropy to empowering social equity candidates, our team consistently focuses on giving back to the community that helped build us.

TRUE NORTH COLLECTIVE

@TRUENORTHCOLLECTIVEMI TRUENORTHCOLLECTIVEMI.COM

My nephew, Jared Stewart, approached me with the opportunity to enter the cannabis industry as Michigan prepared to transition its marketplace. Together, we recognized the opportunity to channel his passion, along with other caregivers, into an expanding marketplace! Meetings with others, like Justin Waid, the founder of Five Star Extracts, helped me realize the value these products could add to the lives of Michigan patients and consumers.

Where can people nd your products?

We are currently wholesale only, but our products are in over 300 PCs throughout Michigan.

How many employees do you have?

We have more than 50 permanent employees between our production facility in Jackson and our farm facility in Hesperia.

What products do you o er?

We offer a wide variety of products including: a variety of flower and prerolls (individual and

adventure packs), Five Star and True North lines of Concentrates, our True North Confections (distillate) gummies are offered in nine yearround flavors and three rotating seasonal flavors, a rotating variety of Five Star Extracts Full Spectrum gummies, 12 strains of full spectrum (distillate) vape carts, a rotating variety of Five Star Extracts Nug Run Sugar Sauce carts and we are nearing the launch of our line of infused Peanut Budders.

What is mission of your company? To bring the caregiver ethos to the industry!

What makes your business important to the community? It’s important to us to provide quality jobs with above market pay and benefits. We believe that our commitment to our staff and their families is

evident in the quality of the products they bring to market. We give staff the autonomy to conceptualize and develop products, to carry the caregiver ethos forward and set us apart from competitors.

How does your business give back to the community? We are always looking for new ways to support our communities! We make an annual donation of turkeys and hams to local food shelters. We have contributed to Toys for Tots, a local women and childrens’ shelter and numerous other charitable organizations surrounding our Jackson facility. Our farm facility in Hesperia has hosted two local “clean up” days and contributed to their flag monument. We have made a variety of other donations, as our employees bring needs to our attention.

It’s important to us to provide quality jobs with above market pay and benefits. We believe that our commitment to our staff and their families is evident in the quality of the products they bring to market.

Sun, THC, and Sand

Camp Laughing Grass Jamaican Getaway

TEXT JEN BERNSTEIN

Say goodbye to your winter blues and seasonal affective disorder, and trade up for vitamin THC at Camp Laughing Grass’s destination trip to Milbrooks Estate in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Paradise awaits! While the trip is slated for next February, 2024, in true stoner fashion we should all start saving and planning for this dream vacay now.

From the minute you arrive at Milbrooks you’ll be greeted with every weed accouterment you can imagine, from bongs to rolling papers to grinders. Laughing Grass will have everything you need at the ready, complete with a full cannabis bar featuring five or more strains to choose from.

“Just like an open bar with flower, joints, and

pre-rolls, you can select what you want and light up anywhere outside on the property,” says Trinity. “I can’t wait for our private shuttle to the beautiful beachfront where we’ve arranged for a cannabis smoking area. Just look for the Camp Laughing Grass sign of the little guy smoking weed.”

Taking weed hospitality to the next level on this vacation seems to be Laughing Grass’s mission. There’s two cannabis-infused dinners planned featuring local cuisine; poolside infused drinks and teas; excursions that include Bob Marley’s childhood home and a local greenhouse; and a turndown service that leaves a joint on your pillow. Did somebody say sweet dreams?

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Discover more this year

A new year means discovering your new favorite way to enjoy cannabis. From delicious gummies to perfectly portable pre-rolls, Fluresh has the options you need to make this year the best one yet.