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Please consume responsibly. For use only by adults 21 years of age or older. Keep out of the reach of children. Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. This product has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks. Marijuana use during pregnancy and breast-feeding may pose potential harms. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. The impairment effects of Edibles may be delayed by two hours or more. In case of accidental ingestion, contact poison control hotline 1-800-222-1222 or 9-1-1. This product may be illegal outside of MA.
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THERE MAY BE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONSUMPTION OF THIS PRODUCT. FOR USE ONLY BY ADULTS 21 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. PLEASE CONSUME RESPONSIBLY. This product has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration(FDA). There is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks. Marijuana use during pregnancy or breast-feeding may pose potential harms. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN. There may be health risks associated with the consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration , coordination, and judgment. The impairment effects of Edible marijuana products may be delayed by two hours of more. I case of accidental ingestion, contact poison control hotline 1-800-222-1222 or 9-1-1. This product may be illegal outside of MA.
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FEATURE
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Delta-8 Dawning
The hottest cannabinoid since CBD
DEPARTMENTS
13 EDITOR’S NOTE 20 THE LIFE Contributing to your health and happiness 14 THE BUZZ RUFF LIFE How to train News, tips, and tidbits to keep you in the loop ART FOR JUSTICE
A Boston museum helps visitors understand the impacts of US drug laws. LEGAL EAGLES
One university aims to diversify the law profession. LET FREEDOM BLING
Look good while you do good. HEMP HEIRLOOMS
Upgrade your wardrobe with sustainable hemp.
your pets for your return to work TRAIL BLAZERS Two local cannabis entrepreneurs are working to benefit the community. MIDCENTURY MOD Jay Z’s brand reimagines the work of photographer Slim Aarons. JUNE HOROSCOPE
What do the stars hold?
38 THE SCENE Hot happenings and hip hangouts around town
SOCIAL IN THE CITY
THE ART OF COMMUNITY
An app for all things urban
One local dispensary is helping young artists. CULTURAL CALENDAR
Live concerts, outdoor festivals, and other events this June
52 THE END A small Rhode Island city is home to the world’s largest Potato Head.
ON THE COVER
Digital artist Elias Diestler wears a t-shirt with the label design he created for Mayflower Medicinals’ Pineapple Upsidedown Cake cannabis product as part of the company’s Artist Spotlight Series. PHOTO BY MOON RODRÍGUEZ-DECKER
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Magazine published monthly by Sensi Media Group LLC.
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An article in the New
York Times caught my eye
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the other day. The piece was about a group of progressive, politically active high school students in Massachusetts—most of whom aren’t yet old enough to vote. When they’re not doing homework, these young activists are on social media supporting political candidates who want to tackle environmental, social, and racial justice issues, while effectively dashing these politicians’ opponents. They’re in the streets collecting signatures for ballot initiatives and protesting policies they deem impediments to progress. I’ve only recently become a tentative consumer of the news again (for the most part, I stopped reading newspapers after the 2016 Presidential Election) and this article made my day. Rather than just hanging out and texting their friends, these teenagers have dedicated their free time to influencing policies and the outcome of elections in one of the Northeast’s most populated states. Their successes are encouraging other teens to join them, and for every one who does, the light these kids are shining on the rest of us gets brighter. Although justice comes in many forms, it almost never comes without hard work. In this issue of Sensi, you’ll find a story about a pair of lifelong friends from Cambridge, Massachusetts, Richard Harding and Taba Moses, who have worked tirelessly to bring social equity to the state’s cannabis industry and provide future pathways to success for people in their community. You can also read a piece about how one Boston cannabis dispensary, Mayflower Medicinals, has created a program that supports fledgling artists from cities and towns adversely affected by the biased enforcement of cannabis laws. By providing opportunities for young creatives to gain real-world job experience designing product packaging, the company is making an investment in the future of our collective cultural, social, and economic wellbeing. The dark forces that would have us return to less equitable times are still out there. But if we have faith in our ability to be conduits for good, and if we take action, we can diminish their power.
Their successes are encouraging other teens to join them, and for every one who does, the light these kids are shining on the rest of us gets brighter.
Toward the light,
Emilie-Noelle Provost @Emilie_Noelle
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Art for Justice A small Boston museum helps visitors understand the impacts of America’s drug laws. Located in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood, Core Social Justice Cannabis Museum is “a platform for multiple perspectives relating to the defective system of cannabis law in the United States.” Its current exhibition, American Warden—curated by a panel of cannabis activists, writers, and academics—encourages visitors to think about what being incarcerated for using cannabis would be like. Visitors also learn about people whose lives were shattered by US drug laws—many of whom are from 14
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minority or financially disadvantaged communities—and are inspired to consider the irony of today’s highly profitable legal cannabis industry, which disproportionally benefits large corporations. The museum, which opened in March, is also home to a rotating street art exhibit and an exhibit dedicated to illicit cannabis cultivation. Visitors to the museum’s website can submit their own cannabis stories to be considered for use in a future project. corecannabis.org
CONTRIBUTORS
Emilie-Noelle Provost, Stephanie Wilson
BY THE NUMBERS
LEGAL EAGLES
One university aims to diversify the law profession.
750K PINTS The amount of ice cream made each day at Ben & Jerry’s Waterbury, Vermont, factory SOURCE: newengland.com
Western New England University School of Law in Springfield, Massachusetts, is hoping to change what most of us think of when we hear the word “lawyer.” The school’s Center for Social Justice educates law students about legal issues pertaining to economic and social inequity, climate justice, elder law, gender equity, immigrants’ and indigenous people’s rights, racial justice, and criminal justice reform. It also reaches out to young students in low-income communities to encourage them to think about legal careers. wne.edu
18 Social in the City
A new virtual community— created by a Black female tech entrepreneur—celebrates all things urban. In response to the need for more diversity in online social media platforms, London native Caroline Wilson launched AfroAvenue in 2017. Originally created for London’s AfroCaribbean community, the social media and e-commerce site was well received in the UK, allowing Wilson to secure more than $1 million in venture capital funding in 2019. Since then, AfroVenture has gone global, with more than 100,000 members. Join for free at afroventure. com or download the app from Apple or Google Play.
DAYS
The record amount of time, during the summer of 2020, that the temperature in Burlington, Vermont, exceeded 90 degrees SOURCE: weather.com
300 SHARKS
The number of great whites spotted off the New England coast, from Maine to Nantucket, from June through August 2020 SOURCE: boston.com
A life without love is like a year without summer.”
—Swedish Proverb
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THE BUZZ
BILITIES BY STEPHANIE WILSON, EDITOR IN CHIEF
1 BONG CARTS. Did you hear the news? Bong carts are the new bar carts, and you totally need to get one.
2 OR YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE ONE if you have any piece of accent furniture on wheels where you store your stash in a decorative jar next to the water pipe you display like its a fine vase. It technically is a vase, at least as far as the dictionarians* at Merriam-Webster are concerned. 3 SENSI’S DICTIONARY OF CHOICE defines a vase as a “usually round vessel usually with greater height than width used chiefly... for holding flowers.” Sounds just like a bong, except for that “s” at the end. Bongs are for flower, singular; vases are for flowers, plural. Both will look great on the bar cart you’re about to transform into the hottest accent furniture trend of the century.
4 IF YOU HAVEN’T HIT A BONG SINCE COLLEGE, a) give it another whirl, but put some ice cubes in it first (gently, because: glass)—it’s a cool game changer; b) your bar cart could still use a refresh in prep for the roaring fun the 20s promise to provide. Despite what the name implies, bong carts aren’t just for bongs. Pipes, papers, grinders, stash jars, rolling trays, and other high-end accoutrements can mix and mingle with spirited accessories, books, and other objets d’art that you fancy.
Let Freedom Bling Look good while you do good.
Arizona-based High Point Jewelry, a maker of high-end cannabis-themed necklaces, rings, and earrings for women and men, has partnered with The Last Prisoner Project, a nonprofit dedicated to criminal justice reform and the amendment of unjust US drug laws. While supplies last, High Point will donate 100% of the purchase price of all jewelry in its popular “Legalize It” line. highpointjewelry.com
5 YOU ALREADY HAVE A BONG CART, YOU SAY? Oh, you
PHOTOS COURTESY OF HIGH POINT JEWELRY
fancy! I like your style. And the world wants to see, so snap some pics, run them through a filter (I recommend “Food 1” on the free Photoshop camera app if you want to make your photos pop), and share using the #bongcart hashtag. Show the world what the cannabis lifestyle looks like from your eyes. *Side note: I have now known that “dictionarians” is a real word for as many seconds as its been since I finished typing it out, hit the space, and didn’t see a red squiggly line appear. So that’s fun.
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THE BUZZ
VOX POPULI
Question: What are you looking forward to most this summer?
MARIANNE GHIZZONI JAY MORRISSEY
DANIELLE LANGER
NANCY ROGERS
Healthcare administrator Norwood, MA
Human resources professional Boylston, MA
Daycare manager Marlborough, MA
Real estate agent Chelmsford, MA
___________________
___________________
___________________
___________________
___________________
Getting to see people. I’m really looking forward to warm weather so that we can swim, hike, and play outside with our people in a way that finally feels normal.
I cannot wait for that butterfly feeling in my stomach when the lights go down right before a concert.
I’m looking forward to something that looks like “normal” with other people.
Friends and families getting together for traditional back yard barbecues.
Spending time out on the water, fishing, and soaking in the sunset while the sea is calm, the breeze is warm, and the salt air smells fresh— most important of all, enjoying it with friends.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PIPE DREAM HEMPWORKS
LEIGH CAMPOS Salesperson Hudson, NH
Hemp Heirlooms
Upgrade your wardrobe with beautiful, sustainable hemp.
Hardwick, Vermont–based textile artist Laura Sullivan has dedicated her career to creating unique clothing, linens, and home accessories from naturally dyed hemp fabrics. Sullivan sells her designs, which include skirts, dresses, compostable facemasks, towels, napkins, and diapers
through her company, Pipe Dream Hempworks. She has even designed a sustainable wedding gown from hemp fabric, and she offers repair services for any type of clothing to help keep textiles out of landfills. pipedreamhempworks.com
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PHOTO BY CHARLES DELUVIO, UNSPLASH
Ruff Life
How to start training pets for your return to work. TEXT NATALIE RAGLAND, DVM, GUEST CONTRIBUTOR AT HONEST PAWS
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE WILSON
With quarantine restrictions lifted and more people getting vaccinated, many of us are returning to offices for work. This change affects not just us but our pets too. Natalie Ragland, a veterinarian and contributor to Honest Paws, shares insights and tips to help pet owners prepare their pets for life after the pandemic, shedding light on how pets are going to react when we stop working from home and go back to the office.
we realize. There are a few things we can do to make the shift easier. Here are a few tips that might help the transition for your pets, as well as decrease separation anxiety and unfavorable responses brought on by the change in company.
“If you have a pet, it’s time to prepare them for your return to normal— whatever that may look like postpandemic. And, according to some animal experts, it’s going to take time for them to adjust.”
2. Develop your routine. If you are given ample notice before returning to work, remember that most animals, including our pets, are creatures of habit. Pets know when you are due home and what time you usually leave each day. Reestablishing your routine a few days beforehand may be necessary. You can start by: • reestablishing walk times. • reinstituting normal feeding schedules. • leaving for the day and placing a camera in the house to monitor for any signs of separation anxiety.
1. Leave more often during the day as “D-day” approaches. As departure day approaches, leave your space more frequently. —CNN If you need to run an If you are like most errand or go for a walk, of the world, sheltering block out time away from in place took on a new the house to acclimate meaning because of the your pet to longer abCOVID-19 pandemic. sences. If you are going For pets, the extra time back to work in person with you has been welwithout much notice, comed. But, as we begin consider using a few vato trickle our way back cation half-days in order to working in our offices, to build in a daily routine the shock of absence may before implementing impact them more than your original schedule.
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THE LIFE
3. Look for signs of stress and anxiety. If your pet is more prone to being stressed out or anxious when you leave, watch out for such behavior as going to the bathroom in the house and destroying household items such as window blinds and furniture. Seeing these signs may warrant a call to a veterinarian or a tele-health appointment with a behavioral expert. If you are pressed for time as we are all these days, consider increasing your pet’s exercise to release stress hormones and increase endorphins, leading to longer napping times. 4. Consider in-home or daycare service. If you can arrange for someone to come to your home to either sit with your pet or walk your animal as needed, this may be the best option to start. Some local daycare centers for animals may offer inhome services and drop off and pick up. An even better option would be to have a relative or loved one come visit; coordinate the time when you will be out of the house so that there is some company when you exit.
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THE LIFE HIGH PROFILE
Trail Blazers
Two local cannabis entrepreneurs break new ground to benefit the community. TEXT EMILIE-NOELLE PROVOST
Although it might not be obvious at first, not all local cannabis dispensaries are created equal. Some are owned by outof-state corporations, meaning that most of the profits they generate leave the community. Others like Green Soul Organics, which is set to open two locations over the next few months, are owned by local people and are invested in im24
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proving the lives of their neighbors and families. Lifelong friends and Cambridge residents Richard Harding and Tabasuri Moses founded Green Soul Organics and its nonprofit counterpart, Green Soul Foundation, in 2018, with a dual goal: establish a profitable adult-use cannabis business that will provide jobs and boost the local economy, and
offer job training and educational opportunities to local people who want to work in the industry. “We have an opportunity to create wealth pathways in our community that have not historically existed,” Harding says. “We are working to pursue a dream in the cannabis industry that reflects our values and who we are.” Harding and Moses
both grew up in public housing, and both are African American. This is central to who they are and how they will operate the business. As Harding, a public health professional who served seven terms on the Cambridge School Committee, points out, “Cambridge is home to two of the most prestigious universities in the world, but poverty and lack of
THE LIFE
PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMBRIDGE CHRONICLE
HIGH PROFILE
education are still a big problem here.” The business partners applied for and received Economic Empowerment Priority status, a Massachusetts program that ensures people living in communities disproportionally affected by the biased enforcement of drug laws are able to benefit financially from the legalized cannabis industry. Although the state program was created to make opening a cannabis-based business easier for entrepreneurs like Harding and Moses, of the more than 120 applicants that have received Economic Empowerment Priority status, none have actually started a business. “There are still so many barriers to success,” Harding says. “The process [of opening a cannabis business] is long, arduous, and complex, and if you don’t have adequate funding you are going to run into trouble before you even get started. Because cannabis is still illegal on the federal level, you can’t just walk into a bank and apply for a loan.” Among the obstacles Harding and Moses have had to overcome is a Massachusetts provision allowing formerly nonprofit medical-use-only dispensaries that were in
place prior to 2018, when recreational cannabis sales were allowed to begin in the state, to expand their businesses to include for-profit adultuse sales. “Cambridge only has eight adultuse licenses,” Harding says. “Five pre-existing businesses were allowed to go vertical, leaving only three licenses for everyone else. It was unfair because none of them had to do everything from scratch like we did.” In 2019, Harding and Moses helped fight for, and eventually win, a two-year moratorium on pre-existing medical-use cannabis dispensaries expanding to adult-use in Cambridge. The city ruling will allow time for Economic Empowerment entrepreneurs to navigate complicated licensing processes and meet state and city requirements. Although the effort caused a delay in the process of opening Green Soul Organics’ doors, Harding says it was worth it. “We wanted people behind us to have an opportunity, and to make sure it wasn’t just about us.” Green Soul also had to contend with COVID-19 setbacks when quarantine requirements and government office closings delayed their licens-
ing hearings for months. And although the Green Soul Foundation supported the community through food drives and by giving out protective facemasks at the Suffolk County House of Corrections, the nonprofit has had to press pause on in-person mentorship programs and workshops at the foundation’s Kendall Square classroom. “[Jobs in the cannabis industry require] such a hands-on learning process,” Harding says. “We didn’t think it would translate well to online education.” With restrictions lifting now, things are looking up for Green Soul. Harding and Moses will open recreational-use dispensaries this summer (target opening date in early August) in Cambridge’s Central Square and in Somerville at the location of legendary former music club Johnny D’s. The duo hopes to secure a host communi-
ty agreement for a third location, and they are working on establishing a cannabis cultivation facility in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, which Harding and Moses hope to have up and running by next year. For other Economic Empowerment candidates looking to open cannabis-based businesses, Harding has some advice: “Make sure you fully understand local and state regulations so you aren’t making costly mistakes,” he says. “Figure out how to access capital. You need money to play in the space. Be wary of landlords. Many are now getting predatory and jacking up the rent on cannabis businesses. Legal representation, which you will need, is expensive, too. There have been times I’ve felt like the lawyers were the only ones winning,” he says, “but we will persevere.” gsofoundation.org Business partners Richard Harding (right) and Tabasuri Moses (left) are lifelong friends.
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THE LIFE IN STYLE
The Life and Times of Shawn Carter
PHOTO COURTESY OF MONOGRAM
A new campaign for Jay-Z’s Monogram cannabis brand reimagines the iconic photos of mid-20th-century American photographer Slim Aarons through a contemporary lens. This is a scene from the Life and Times of Shawn Carter, Volume Two. (Volume One, if you missed it, was that hard-knock life you heard Jay-Z —Carter’s public persona—rap about in a track that samples the famous line from the 1982 Annie movie.) It’s a good life, a high life, and the people depicted living it are good and high on cannabis. The image is the first installment of a threepart campaign for Jay Z’s (also known as HOV) new Monogram cannabis line, which launched this spring in California. The campaign is a modern take
on the legendary work of Slim Aarons, a midcentury photographer who built his fame by photographing “attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places,” as he famously described it. The photographs Aarons captured during the Rat Pack era have become synonymous with midcentury luxury, beauty, and leisure. Carter’s Monogram tapped legendary hip-hop photographer/ director Hype Williams to reimagine a series of Aaron’s most notable vignettes. Shot at the stunning Frank Sinatra House
in Palm Springs, the series has been cast with a diverse group of creative talents like Grammy nominee Chika, Ghetto Gastro, Curren$y, designer Aleali May, and model Slick Woods—all styled by High Snobiety fashion director Corey T. Stokes. The creatives are seen lounging on floats with Monogram product in hand, basking in outdoor opulence. The resulting imagery illustrates the dynamic, expanding landscape of modern luxury, and how it intersects with a new chapter in cannabis culture. “The percep-
tion around cannabis has shifted a lot since the 20th century. If you were to ask me and my peers how we’d define the good life today, weed would definitely be a part of it. Whether we’re smoking to inspire creativity or to celebrate an achievement, cannabis has a rightful place in modern-day culture,” says Williams. “HOV has a vision for the industry that he’s bringing to life through Monogram. His focus for this campaign was to showcase how beautifully cannabis fits into the good life today, and I am honored to be a part of it.” J U N E 2021
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Growin g the Industr y.
Upcoming shows are: Oklahoma City, OK May 27-28 Detroit MI, June 25-26 Chicago IL, August 6-7 Biloxi MS, September 17-18
Shop, Learn, and Network at the Nations Leading Cannabis Conference and Expo. Tickets at CannaCon.org
THE LIFE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mona Van Joseph is a professionally licensed intuitive reader in Las Vegas since 2002. Author, radio host, and columnist, she created the Dice Wisdom app and is available for phone and in-person sessions. mona.vegas
HOROSCOPE
JUNE HOROSCOPE What do the stars hold for you? TEXT MONA VAN JOSEPH
OCT. 23-NOV. 21 earned. You have created your reality; you can change SCORPIO Yes, you typically like to or recreate that reality. You Be the ultimate politician have a plan. However, this this month. Recognize peoare still the hero of your is the month to see what ple around you for the skills own story. presents itself while you foand benefits they present. cus on what gives you peace AUG. 23-SEPT. 22 This is the month to seek and purpose. What you need VIRGO value, not to be cheap or will be easily found. The thorn is out! Past pain is thrifty. You are establishing no longer a reflection of your your long-term goals now. JUNE 21-JULY 22 future. It’s time to act as NOV. 22-DEC. 21 CANCER though all things are openAvoid highly emotional peo- ing up for you to have the cli- SAGITTARIUS ple this month because they ents, personal relationships, Handle high-maintenance are just a toxic void that and good vibes you deserve. people on your own and shield them from the peoseeks attention. Detach ple they bother. You are a from anyone who tends to SEPT. 23-OCT. 22 leader. It’s time to step back dump emotional baggage on LIBRA you. Ask them, “So, how are You will ultimately become from people you have no you going to handle that?” so skilled at a creative proj- power to change. ect that other people will JULY 23-AUG. 22 want to learn from you. Let DEC. 22-JAN. 19 LEO nature inspire you even fur- CAPRICORN No one can take away what ther. You are creating your You are being guided toyou’ve ever learned or future with your expertise. ward your priorities, and MAY 21–JUNE 20
GEMINI
GEMINI, THIS IS THE MONTH TO SEE WHAT PRESENTS ITSELF WHILE YOU FOCUS ON WHAT GIVES YOU PEACE AND PURPOSE.
they may not align with tapped for a project where what you’re doing now. It’s your awesomeness is actualtime to let go of anything ly appreciated. that causes you pain. Things MAR. 21-APR. 19 are lining up for the outcome you desire. ARIES Be open and imagine some JAN. 20-FEB. 18 people as though they are AQUARIUS a slot machine that doesn’t When you realize that no pay off. It’s difficult for you one does what you do exto stay still, so transfer that actly the way you do it, you energy to finally tackle forare magic. It is time to enjoy gotten home projects. what you’ve created and allow the big rewards to mani- APR. 20-MAY 20 fest for you later this year. TAURUS Your actions and words repFEB. 19-MAR. 20 resent the truth. Step onto PISCES that soapbox with the right Do what you love, be with group and keep expressthe people you love, and de- ing your truth. Your writer’s cide your next step based on block is suddenly lifted, and that vibration. You will be words flow from you now. J U N E 2021
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The hottest cannabinoid to emerge since CBD, DELTA-8 THC gets you high and is being sold as a legal product made from hemp—even in nonlegal markets. But is it really legal? That’s complicated. TEXT ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE
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DELTA-
DAWNING
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PUBLIC
RELATIONS CANNABIS
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This product has not been analyzed or approved by the FDA. There is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks. Marijuana use during pregnancy and breast- feeding may pose potential harms. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. The intoxicating effects of edible products may be delayed by 2 hours or more. In case of accidental ingestion, contact poison control hotline 1-800-222-1222 OR 9-1-1. This product may be illegal outside of MA.
he deeper Flip Croft-Caderao and his sister-in-law, Kayla Croft, delved into writing their business plan, the more apparent it became: they would never have enough capital to establish and maintain a licensed cannabis business in California. Disappointed but determined, they refused to pivot from their dream. Instead, they sidestepped into hemp, a much more accessible commodity. They figured selling CBD and other nonpsychoactive cannabinoids would give them a good understanding of the plant and the cannabis business, and might even generate the capital they needed to migrate over to THC down the road. In early 2020, Croft and CroftCaderao launched Goodekind (goodekind.com) and sold a decent amount of The Notorious CBG Crumble and Hawaiian Haze hemp flower online. Then, last December, they added delta-8 THC gummies and vapes to the menu, and their business exploded. “Delta-8 freaking took off,” Croft-Caderao says. “Oh, gosh, it is crazy. It is definitely our top-selling product by a ridiculous amount.” Chances are good you’ve heard of delta-8 by now. Derived from hemp, it’s the hottest cannabinoid to hit the market since CBD, and its appeal lies in what it does that CBD doesn’t. Like its kissing cousin, delta-9 THC, delta-8 will get you high—just not nearly as high as you get from delta-9. And—for now, anyway—it’s legal (or legal enough) under the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill that allows hemp
“IT’S NOT AN INCREDIBLE HIGH OR ANYTHING, BUT IF I’M OUT AND ACTIVE AND JUST WANT SOMETHING TO GIVE ME A BIT OF A LIFT, I’LL PUFF ON A CART AND GET TO A NICE SPOT.” —One Reddit user describing their experience with delta-8
cultivation and production of hemp-based products. Entrepreneurs like Croft-Caderao saw a loophole in the Farm Bill’s definition of hemp-based products as having less than .3 percent delta-9 THC. The bill doesn’t address delta-8 THC, which is essentially degraded delta-9, because hemp has miniscule amounts of it—not nearly enough for commercial production. What lawmakers didn’t see coming was innovation born of desperation. Hemp entrepreneurs with a lot of product on their hands found a way to chemically synthesize delta-8 from CBD distillate, creating a new gray market that the feds are ignoring—for now—and states are just starting to address. Croft-Caderao sees delta-8 as a perfect blend of the hemp and cannabis industries. “It gets you high, but it’s also unregulated, so you can ship it to people and have an entire e-commerce platform,” he says. “It’s an entrepreneur’s dream.” LANGUAGE LESSON
THE NEW “IT” CANNABINOID By all accounts, delta-8 is fulfilling consumers’ dreams as well. It’s the fastest-growing segment of the hemp-derived product market, New Leaf Data Services reports, with U.S. sales of around $10 million last year. It’s getting a lot of attention—and that’s a little bit worrying for Erica Stark, executive director of the National Hemp Association, which is having a tough time coming up with a position on delta-8. “On the one hand, we’re still of the mindset that we literally spent years convincing legislators that hemp is not about getting high— and this is really undermining that message and, I think, providing some skepticism about what
“Delta” is a term used to describe a chemical reaction that requires heat as a catalyst in a process known as decarboxylation. The numbers that follow that designation show where the cannabinoids bond to the carbon chain.
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we say,” Stark says. “On the other hand, the CBD market has suffered with oversaturation. This is a way for farmers to find outlets for their biomass and hopefully recoup some of their losses, which might be a nice bridge until some of the markets even themselves out. We don’t want to shut the door on it or demonize it, but we don’t necessarily want to endorse some of the practices we’ve seen with products that are wildly unregulated and potentially harmful.” In June, the Hemp Industries Association announced its support for delta-8 based on legal advice that it was not a controlled substance under federal law. “Busi-
nesses, farmers, and consumers all deserve regulations that support the exploration of the hemp plant’s full potential,” says HIA Executive Director Jody McGinness. And of course, delta-8 has plenty of critics, both inside and outside the industry. The U.S. Hemp Authority, a third-party auditor for hemp and CBD businesses, refuses to certify delta-8 products. The U.S. Hemp Roundtable called marketing hemp products with any intoxicating value or euphoric effect “irresponsible.” The Roundtable is calling for delta-8 to be regulated like adult-use cannabis. Individual states are taking radically different and sometimes un-
predictable approaches to delta-8, just as they have with CBD and delta-9. A random consortium of states that are as far apart as could be on legalizing delta-9—Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont—have banned delta-8, and several more are threatening to. Florida, being Florida, is moving in the opposite direction, toward establishing a legal delta-8 marketplace. Texas legislators struck down a provision to make delta-8 illegal earlier this summer. U.S. Hemp Authority president Michelle Weintraub has not been
WILL I FAIL A DRUG TEST? When it comes down to it, THC is THC. Anything with THC in the name will show up as THC in a drug test and cause you to fail. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
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“…THE CBD MARKET HAS SUFFERED WITH OVERSATURATION. THIS IS A WAY FOR FARMERS TO FIND OUTLETS FOR THEIR BIOMASS AND HOPEFULLY RECOUP SOME OF THEIR LOSSES, WHICH MIGHT BE A NICE BRIDGE UNTIL SOME OF THE MARKETS EVEN THEMSELVES OUT.” —Erica Stark, Executive Director of the National Hemp Association
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shy about how angry she is that delta-8 is muddying the waters of her “won’t get you high” industry. Stark, for her part, is annoyed because she never gets to talk about fiber and grain hemp, her passion, because delta-8 takes up everyone’s time and attention. “I love seeing farmers have opportunities,” she says. “But it does just suck all the oxygen out of the room.”
OFF TO A NICE SPOT Delta-8 delivers about half to three-quarters the high that delta-9 does, a space somewhere between THC and CBD, more body than head. It’s like drinking a Bud Light instead of a Long Island iced tea. Croft-Caderao says you get about 50 to 60 percent of what you’d get when you vape delta-9, but people are reporting they they’re not getting anxious or paranoid with the less-potent cannabinoid. “They’re saying, ‘I can smoke sativas again. I can enjoy myself without getting too high,’” he says. Reddit users describe delta-8 as a “productive buzz”—great for when you need help with anxiety or pain but can’t be intoxicated, and “like weed without the anxiety or introspective thoughts.” An occasional delta-8 smoker wrote: “It’s not an incredible high or anything, but if I’m out and active and just want something to give me a bit of a lift, I’ll puff on a cart and get to a nice spot.” That’s all good for users who have built up a little tolerance, but people trying THC of any kind for the first time (or the first time in a long time) generally have no idea how much to ingest. Because delta-8 is completely
SO, HOW IS THIS LEGAL?
Here Comes Delta-10
In the new THC numbers game, delta-10 is up next. Another cannabinoid found only in trace amounts in hemp and cannabis, delta-10 THC is often mistaken for minor cannabinoids CBC and CBL. Like delta-8, it can be synthesized from CBD. Delta-10 has mild psychoactive effects but is said to be more uplifting and energizing than delta-8. Users say it’s more like a sativa, while delta-8 leans more indica.
unregulated, dosage is pretty much up to each user. Overdose stories are surfacing, surprisingly common among heavy delta-9 users who underestimate delta-8’s potency (or overestimate their own tolerance). This can be es-
pecially dangerous when it comes to edibles. Our bodies metabolize delta-8 the same way they metabolize delta-9, by turning it into 11-hydroxy THC, a compound that can be up to 10 times more potent than delta-8.
It’s not entirely clear that it is. The DEA released an Interim Final Rule, open for review until October, that states, “all synthetically derived tetrahydrocannabinols remain Schedule I controlled substances.” That appears to make delta-8, which is chemically synthesized, illegal. But the DEA hasn’t taken any action against companies selling delta-8, and a lot of companies are betting it never will. Stark says she asked Sean Mitchell, chief of intergovernmental affairs at the Drug Enforcement Administration, about delta-8 during a panel discussion, and he confirmed that any hemp product that is delta-9 compliant is federally legal. That’s just one guy from the DEA, though, and not a final ruling. In the end, Stark is as uncertain as everyone else about legality. “What’s our position?” she says. “I don’t know.” Croft-Caderao, for his part, expects the market to be regulated—if not outlawed—eventually, and he’s determined to make the most of this window of opportunity while it remains open. “This is the golden era right now,” he says. “This is something that gets you high that is unregulated and that is kind of unfettered.” He’s already plotting how to keep his business thriving if and when the feds crack down on delta-8. “Business owners like myself have to be thinking, OK, if this gets regulated, this is how I will be able to pivot and use the skills I’ve learned to enter the cannabis market,” he says. “That’s what I’m thinking about, because who knows how much time we have?” J U N E 2021
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The Art of Community Emerging local artists get a boost from this Boston medical-use cannabis dispensary. TEXT EMILIE-NOELLE PROVOST
Mayflower Medicinals, located in Boston’s Allston-Brighton neighborhood, has come up with an innovative way to meet some of Massachusetts’ Social Equity Program requirements. In May 2020, Mayflower Medicinals, which is based in Maryland and operates a cannabis cultivation facility in Holliston, launched its Mayflower Artist Spotlight Series (M.A.S.S.) as part of its broader Positive Impact Plan. The Social Equity Program was developed in 2018 to encourage people from communities disproportionately harmed by the biased enforcement of marijuana prohibition laws to participate in Massachusetts’ legal marijuana industry. As part of M.A.S.S., Mayflower employs young artists living in Massachusetts cities and towns that fall
under the state’s Social Equity Program guidelines. The program also includes a community garden initiative, plus a fellowship that offers participants job training in the cannabis industry. For three months at a time, each participating artist creates limited-edition packaging designs for the company’s cannabis products. The artists are paid for their work and are also featured on bio cards displayed at the dispensary as well as featured on Mayflower’s website and social media feeds. Bio cards which are also given out to customers who buy products with the artists’ custom labels, include a professional headshot of each artist along with a brief description of their background, influences, and work. For every product with a limited-edition label sold, Mayflower
Mayflower’s Acid Dough, Tutankhamon and White Knuckles labels design by Stuti Goyal (opposite page).
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donates $1 to Unbound Visual Arts, a Boston nonprofit that works to support local artists by hosting exhibitions and through educational programs.“The idea [for M.A.S.S.] came from our director of wholesale,” says Lisa Schaefer, Mayflower’s director of marketing. “It provides an opportunity for young artists who come from affected areas, or whose families have been affected by drug laws, to have their work featured on some of our best-selling products.” To date, four artists have participated in M.A.S.S. The first
was multimedia artist Camille Marie Rodriguez, a 2020 graduate of Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston resident, and the daughter of Dominican immigrants. One of Rodriguez’s designs was for a label featured on Mayflower’s Mini Nugs, a product that includes two of the company’s most popular medical cannabis strains. Each artist chosen to participate in M.A.S.S. has the opportunity to create three different product label designs, one for each month. “It’s been a great way to help young people just
entering the workforce,” Schaefer says. She also points out that having a new design every month has been a good way to develop more customer interest in the products with those labels. M.A.S.S. artists are given guidelines and templates for their designs and work with Mayflower’s graphic design team to ensure their work is compatible with Massachusetts’ cannabis packaging requirements. Once the designs are finalized, Mayflower prints the custom product labels in-house. Although the artists need to work within cer-
Mayflower’s Double
Cream and Night Terror tain parameters, Schaelabels design by fer says they are given a Lauren Madigan. lot of creative freedom and are encouraged to make their illustrations personal. For example, another one of Rodriguez’s designs, for a strain of sativa cannabis called Ghost Train Haze, features an image of a mountain landscape in her parents’ native Dominican Republic. Other artists who have participated in M.A.S.S. include Somerville illustrator and graphic designer Lauren Madigan, also a Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduate. Her designs
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THE SCENE
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include a gray-scale illustration of a dark forest used to illustrate the label of a hybrid cannabis strain called Night Terror, and a dreamy graphic of dripping cream on the label for Mayflower’s Double Cream cannabis hybrid. Boston resident Stuti Goyal, also an illustrator and a 2020 graduate of Massachusetts College of Art and Design, participated in M.A.S.S. this past winter and spring. A native
of India, Goyal created rhythmic abstract designs for Mayflower’s White Knuckles, Acid Dough, and Tutankhamon cannabis strains. Mayflower’s current M.A.S.S. participant,
Elias Diestler, is a trans digital artist with a background in computer programming, web design, and video game development. A resident of Boston, Diestler graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology
with a degree in computational media. He currently works as a content designer for the Framingham-based Bose Corporation. At the time we spoke with the company for this article, Diestler had created two label designs for Mayflower. The first, for an indica cannabis strain called Star Killer, features a space-themed illustration. Diestler says the digital image, which represents the explosion of a neutron star—
Mayflower’s Star Killer and Pineapple Upside Down Cake labels design by Elias Diestler (opposite page).
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simply helping and friendly!
thehelpingfriendlysalve.com wholesale information email cs@thehelpingfriendlysalve.com or call 800.656.3534
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M AY F L O W E R M E D I C I N A L S
Artists interested in participating in M.A.S.S can fill out an online application at mayflower.com
a literal “star killer”— was inspired by the product’s name, as well as his passion for science fiction. Diestler’s second label illustration, a cheerful blue and yellow digital work he created for Mayflower’s Pineapple Upside Down Cake sativa cannabis strain, was released in May 2021. Because the M.A.S.S. program is still new, Schaefer says that Mayflower has been experimenting with various approaches to
Mayflower’s Ghost Train
increase its customers’ interest in the products with custom labels. “We are constantly trying to optimize the program,” she says. “We started by trying [the labels] out on our best-selling products and are now trying them on new products
we don’t normally sell. That way, not only is the packaging different, the product is different.” Schaefer says she would love to see Mayflower’s customers want to try products because of their limited-edition labels. The company is
looking at additional Haze label design by ways that artwork creat- Camille Marie Rodriguez. ed by M.A.S.S. participants can be used. Mayflower has recently opened a recreational-use dispensary in Worcester, and has plans to open others in Fall River and Lowell. Currently the company only runs the M.A.S.S. program at its Boston location. Schaefer says there’s a possibility the company will expand the program to other locations in the future. J U N E 2021
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THE SCENE CALENDAR
Cultural Calendar
Find adventure and warm-weather fun at live concerts, outdoor festivals, and other events this June. TEXT EMILIE-NOELLE PROVOST
Whether you’re in the mood for dining al fresco or are looking forward to a day at the beach, these virtual and socially distanced in-person events will help you make the most out of sunny June. 46
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Provincetown PRIDE June 4-6 Various locations, Provincetown, MA ptowntourism.com
This annual Pride celebration highlights what Provincetown has always been known for: LGBTQ+ awareness, empowerment, and diversity. Check out multiple events, parties, and Pride programming throughout the weekend.
Burlington Discover Jazz Festival June 4-13 The Flynn, Burlington, VT flynnvt.org
Eastern Connecticut Music Festival June 5 The Farm at Carter Hill, Marlborough, CT
easternconnecticutmusicfestival.com
Scottish Festival June 5 Old Orchard Beach, Old Orchard Beach, ME oob365.com
THE SCENE CALENDAR
LEFT: PROVINCETOWN PRIDE MIDDLE: COLD CHOCOLATE RIGHT: PROVINCETOWN PORTUGUESE FESTIVAL
Shallou June 10 The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA sinclaircambridge.com
Lake Street Dive June 10-11 Westville Music Bowl, New Haven, CT westvillemusicbowl.com
Cold Chocolate’s genre-bending Americana music fuses folk, funk, and bluegrass to create a unique sound all their own, impressing audiences throughout New England.
June 19 Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI juneteenthri.com
Royal Artillery Living History Weekend June 19 The Fort at No. 4, Charlestown, NH fortat4.org
Hyannis HyArts Artist Shanties June 11-13 Hyannis Harbor, Hyannis, MA artsbarnstable.com
Nantucket Book The Hemp World Festival June 17-19 Expo June 12-13 Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT thehempworldexpo.com
Juneteenth RI Festival
Virtual nantucketbookfestival.org
Narragansett Art Festival June 19-20 Veteran’s Park, Narragansett, RI southcountyri.com
Feeling Good: The Melting Pot of American Summer Concert N’Kenge Celebrates Music Gala June 15 African American June 24 Stonington Vineyards, Jacob Edwards Library, Sopranos Stonington, CT ectsymphony.com
Southbridge, MA June 18 The Music Hall, Portsmouth, NH jacobedwardslibrary.org blackheritagetrailnh.org
The Hillbenders June 16 Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Old Saybrook, CT katharinehepburntheater.org
Boston GuitarFest XVI June 16-20 Virtual necmusic.edu
Cold Chocolate June 17 Kittery Community Center, Kittery, ME portsmouthnhtickets.com
Boston-based band
Dixville Notch Music, Arts & Crafts Festival June 19 Pond-side Gazebo, Colebrook, NH mohawkfalls.com
FILMUSIC Festival June 24-27 Martha’s Vineyard Film Center, Vineyard Haven, MA mvfilmsociety.com
Provincetown Portuguese Festival
Trichominia Music & Arts Festival
June 24-27 Portuguese Square, Provincetown, MA ptowntourism.com
June 26 The Stone Church, Newmarket, NH stonechurchrocks.com
The four-day annual festival celebrates Portuguese culture and heritage with live music, parties, games, food, and more. The festival culminates with the Blessing of the Fleet at Provincetown Harbor.
BeanCon June 26 Green Karma Farm, Orange, MA necann.com
Vermont Renaissance Faire June 26-27 Mayo Events Field, Stowe, VT vtgatherings.com
Beer Buds & BBQ June 27 Raitt Farm, Eliot, ME beerbudsandbbq.com
This Southern Maine market square day features local breweries, cannabis cultivators, and food trucks as its main attractions.
Burlington Wine & Food: 11th Annual Grand Canines Fur Tasting Cancer Support June 26 WALK Waterfront Park, Burlington, VT June 27 burlingtonwineandfood.com Irish Cultural Center of Western New England, Springfield, MA caninesfurcancer.org
Father’s Day Weekend BBQ Smoke-Off Challenge & Pot Luck June 19 Lazy Frog Campground, Lebanon, ME lazyfrogcampground.com
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ADVISORY BOARD NCRMA
Stay Safe Here’s what you need to know about budtender safety and OSHA compliance in a dispensary.
E
mployees are a company’s most valuable assets, thus requiring every business to have a safety program that aims to prevent injury and illness in its workers. In addition to the threat of personal injury, there are also financial reasons to keep employees safe, including direct costs such as lost time, replacing workers, increased workers’ compensation, and lost or damaged equipment. And then there are Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violations, which can exceed $136,000. OSHA and state agencies enforcing occupation-safety standards have begun writing violations to cannabis businesses. The General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety & Health Act of 1970 requires that, in addition to compliance with hazard-specific standards, all employers provide a work environment that is “free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause
death or serious physical harm.” The question is, how do dispensaries keep their budtenders safe and become OSHA compliant? The answer is to develop that program. The first step in developing a safety program is to identify a facility’s hazards. Then establish controls to prevent or mitigate them. While it is impossible to identify all hazards a dispensary may have, there are some basic safety plans that should be a part of every business. Hazardous Communication Plans protect workers from the hazards of chemicals. Identify and list all chemicals on site, ensuring chemical containers are labeled, and then keep all chemical-safety data sheets accessible to all employees. Training must be established to inform personnel about chemical hazards, especially training personnel who do special tasks such as cleaning chemicals. There must also be procedures to update and maintain the plan as new chemicals come on site.
Fire Prevention Plans must include a list of all major fire hazards, proper handling and storage procedures for hazardous materials, potential ignition sources and their control, and the type of fire-protection equipment necessary to control each major hazard. Emergency Action Plans must include at a minimum: procedures for reporting a fire or other emergencies (i.e., robberies and natural disasters); procedures for emergency evacuation, including the type of evacuation and exit route assignments; procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate; procedures to account for all employees after evacuation; procedures to be followed by employees performing rescue or medical duties; and alarm systems maintenance and training. First Aid Plans should also be a part of every business and, at minimum, include adequate first aid supplies, a list of all local emergency numbers, and, in the absence of an infirmary, clinic, or hospital in proximity to the workplace that is used for treatment of all injured employees, a person or persons should be adequately trained to render first aid.
Category: Safety and Training Author: Alex Hearding is the Chief Risk Management Officer for the NCRMA, providing services including occupational safety and health training and risk management for the cannabis industry. To learn more about Hearding and the NCRMA, visit ncrma.net.
The Sensi Advisory Board comprises select industry leaders in a variety of fields, from education to cultivation. They are invited to share specialized insight in this dedicated section. For a full list of board members, see page 9.
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Want a sample of our work? You’re reading it. Em Agency is proud to be the creative force behind Sensi’s award-winning visual style. We build brands we believe in—the brand you believe in can be next. emagency.com
P R O M OT I O N A L F E AT U R E H I G H L I T E S TA F F I N G
the ground floor now and be running a department within a year.
Highlite Staffing Find the perfect employee for the job.
H
ighlite Staffing is the dreamchild of entrepreneur and CEO Christi McAdams, an active license holder in the cannabis space since 2014. McAdams founded Highlite Staffing with insights from her own businesses, which have included two cannabis production labs, a distribution company, and three cannabis support licenses. Highlite Staffing provides temporary and permanent placement of cannabis-trained and state-approved staff in thirteen states—and growing. They help businesses fill positions in cultivation, production lab/kitchen, and dispensary. We caught up with McAdams to discuss Highlite Staffing’s expansion and her perspective on the future of cannabis.
What inspired you to launch Highlite Staffing? Back in 2013, when I decided to pursue a career in the cannabis industry, I did everything I could to immerse myself. I attended conventions, took workshops, read articles, and joined every networking group within a 6-hour radius of me. After several months, still no one would hire me—not even when I offered to work for free to gain experience. So I decided to start my own company. Now, after running several of my own cannabis businesses, I’ve realized there is a need for a company that connects employers with qualified and ambitious job seekers looking to break into the industry. Cannabis is the fastest growing industry with many opportunities for smart folks to start at
What are the biggest challenges for cannabis-business staffing? Each market is unique with its own compliance and regulations, so we must make sure that our employees are qualified before hiring them and sending them on assignment. Many applicants do not understand the processes required to become qualified to work in cannabis. That’s because this is a priviledged industry. Employees must meet annual training standards, pass a background checks, and be approved for a state-issued agent card. It’s a frustrating process working with job boards like Indeed that don’t understand the uniqueness of our industry and take down our job boards when we have more opportunity for job seekers than any other industry out there. What is in the future for Highlite Staffing? We are expanding into new markets across the United States to provide temporary staff for cultivation facilities, production labs, and dispensaries. Where do you see the cannabis industry going? Global. I recently collaborated on a networking group, the Global Cannabis Industry Networking Group, where diplomats and ambassadors from each of the legal countries will sit on monthly panels to discuss cannabis on a global level. To learn more about Highlite Staffing, visit their website at highlightstaffing.com.
Highlite Staffing Cannabis Staffing Agency highlitestaffing.com J U N E 2021
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THE END
Hot Potato
A small Rhode Island city is home to the world’s largest Potato Head.
Rhode Island is known for life-size Potato Heads. Back in 2000, 37 of the six-foot tuber people were installed throughout the state as a tourism promotion. It makes sense when you consider that Pawtucket is home to Hasbro Inc., where Mr. Potato Head and family were invented in the early 1950s. 52
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Not all of the original Potato Head statues remain today, but there’s still a glammed-up version of Mrs. Potato Head in Westerly, complete with a sequined bikini. In West Greenwich, a friendly firefighter Potato Head at the Lake Mishnock Fire Department waves to passersby. Standing in front of Hasbro’s
Pawtucket headquarters is the state’s most official Potato Head statue. Visitors from far and wide often stop to take selfies with the company’s iconic mascot, named the “official family-travel ambassador of Rhode Island” by Visit Rhode Island in 2000. hasbro.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROL M. HIGHSMITH
TEXT EMILIE-NOELLE PROVOST
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d e i b m l a
AVAILABLE AT
AND THESE OTHER FINE DISPENSARIES
Please consume responsibly. For use only by adults 21 years of age or older. Keep out of the reach of children. Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. This product has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks. Marijuana use during pregnancy and breast-feeding may pose potential harms. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. The impairment effects of Edibles may be delayed by two hours or more. In case of accidental ingestion, contact poison control hotline 1-800-222-1222 or 9-1-1. This product may be illegal outside of MA.
www.revclinics.org
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