Sensi Magazine Puerto Rico - Summer 2022 by Sensi Magazine

PUERTO RICO SUMMER 2022 Caramor Compassionate Care combines Caribbean roots with quality cannabis PIE IN THE SKY Elevate your baking game THE REAL DIRT Wisdom from the Soil King EVER SO HUMBOLDT Explore California’s Weed Country

FEATURES 24 Grown with Love Providing patients with quality cannabis medicine is what’s at the heart of Caramor Compassionate Care 30 Creciendo con Amor Medicamentos de cannabis de calidad es lo que está en el corazón de Caramor Compassionate Care 36 Check the Vibe The Green Room has a plan to help both local patients and visiting tourists enjoy Puerto Rico’s elevated experiences. 42 Prueba la Vibra The Green Room ayuda tanto a los pacientes locales y los turistas a disfrutar de las experiencias elevadas de Puerto Rico. DEPARTMENTS 7 PUBLISHER’S NOTE 8 THE BUZZ News, tips, and tidbits to keep you in the loop RUNNER’S HIGH Your body produces elevating enzymes while you’re on the go. SUMMER READING Books to while away your summer afternoons LIFTING UP The Cannabis Church of Puerto Rico provides hope and relief. CRUSHING IT Mill it with Wakit Grinders 12 THE LIFE THE REAL DIRT Patrick King shares his wisdom as a man of the earth. PIE IN THE SKY Infused pie crust to elevate your dessert game EMERALD IN THE ROUGH Discover California’s Weed Country. HUMBOLDT ESPAÑOL ¿Deseas una canna-escapada? Visita el condado de Humboldt, California. 50 THE END Lady Buds elevates stories of women in cannabis. PUERTO RICO SENSISUMMERMAGAZINE2022 ON THE COVER Caramor Compassionate Care re ects the heart of Puerto Rico in its approach to plant-based medicine. @sensimagazinesensimediagroup@sensimag 36 SUMMER 2022 SENSIMAG.COM 3

EXECUTIVE Ron Kolb ron@sensimag.comFounder Stephanie Graziano stephanie.graziano@sensimag.comCEO ADVERTISING Toni Tardif National Sales Director Jade Kolb Social Media / Global Recruiting PUBLISHING Jamie Cooper Market Director, Michigan Richard Guerra Market Director, Massachusetts Nancy Reid Market Director, Florida EDITORIAL Stephanie Wilson Co-Founder + Editor in Chief stephanie.wilson@sensimag.com Doug Schnitzspahn Executive Editor Tracy Ross Managing Editor, Michigan Debbie Hall Managing Editor, Spark Jenny Willden Managing Editor, California Will Brendza Managing Editor, Colorado Radha Marcum Copy Editor Bevin Wallace Copy Editor DESIGN Jamie Ezra Mark Creative Director jamie@emagency.com Rheya Tanner Art Director Wendy Mak Designer Josh Clark Designer Miguel Martinez Designer PRODUCTION Neil Willis Production Director Richard Guerra Digital Production MEDIA SALES CALIFORNIANancyBirnbaum Media Sales Exec. COLORADONancySeidel Media Sales Executive Amy Sharp Media Sales Executive Tyler Tarr Media Sales Executive AnthonyFLORIDA Mckenzie Media Sales Exec. JakeMASSACHUSETTSBoyntonMedia Sales Exec. EricMICHIGANLutey Media Sales Executive Kyle Miller Media Sales Executive Will Oostendorp Media Sales Exec. Leah Stephens Media Sales Exec. OKLAHOMALeviClarkMedia Sales Executive Samantha Grigsby Media Sales Exec. PUERTO RICO Piper Emory Media Sales Executive ADVISORYNATIONAL BOARD NCRMA Risk Management ADVISORY BOARD ColoradoCOLORADOCannabis Company THC Co ee Concentrate Supply Co. Recreational Concentrates Higher Grade Boutique Cannabis Lab Society Extraction Expert + Lab Supplies marQaha Sublinguals + Beverages Monte Fiore Farms Recreational Cultivation Source CO Wholesale Consulting Terrapin Care Station Recreational Dispensary Uleva Hemp Products Witlon Inc. Payroll Processing MICHIGAN Arono Law (Craig Arono ) Licensing Law Firm Cannabis Counsel Cannabis Law Firm Etz Chaim Attestations Grapp Lerash Accounting/CPA Services Great Lakes Natural Remedies Lakeshore: Provisioning Center Kush Design Studio Cannabis Facility Design & Build MRB Solutions Human Resources Northern Specialty Health Upper Peninsula: Provisioning Center Pure West Compassion Club Caregiver Connection & Network Rair Medical Flower Solutions by Dr. Dave West Michigan: Hemp CBD Helping Friendly Hemp Company Hemp Topicals CornersMASSACHUSETTSPackaging Packaging Green Goddess Supply Personal Homegrown Biochamber The Holistic Center Medical Marijuana Evaluations Revolutionary Clinics Medical Dispensary Royal Gold Soil Tess Woods Public Relations Public Relations Vantage Builders Construction CALIFORNIARedDoorRemedies Dispensary: Cloverdale Uleva Hemp Products Witlon Payroll SUMMER 2022 SENSIMAG.COM 5

SOCIALESENCUÉN-TRANOSENREDES

CrecerInnovarEscucharLiderar Sensi seguirá siendo el líder construyendo nuestra comunidad y ofreciéndote un servicio al más alto nivel. Esperamos poder llevarlos a lo largo de este camino.

importantesparaqueremosinfundirSensiFACEBOOKAligualqueMediaGroup,entulistadenoticiasmáscontenidosobreelestilodevidadelcannabis.TWITTERSiguea@sensimagconocerlasnoti-ciasyopinionesmásdelasededeSensi.INSTAGRAMCosasbonitas,lugaresbonitos,gentebonitayasombrosa:Encuén-tralotodoen@sensimagazine

NOTA DEL PUBLISHER E

En el Cannabis “Business Awards” Junio 2022

stephanie.graziano@sensimag.com

En Miami, Sensi tuvo el honor de ganar el premio como la “fuente de medios más inﬂuyente” (Most Inﬂuential Media Source, en inglés) y no podríamos estar más orgullosos. Desde que nos lanzamos en 2016, hemos estado trabajando, para reimaginar la percepción de la cultura del cannabis, así también apuntando con el dedo el pulso de las tendencias y las nuevas direcciones de la industria. Deseamos que Sensi sea el líder, ahora que toda la nación abre sus brazos a la medicina del cannabis, la industria y las innovaciones en la ciencia, al igual como a nuevos usos importantes para la planta.

Sin embargo, una tendencia preocupante en la industria del cannabis es un descenso en el número de mujeres y personas de color que ocupan puestos ejecutivos en la misma. Estamos orgullosos de ir en la dirección opuesta. Hay una pluralidad de mujeres en nuestras posiciones de alto nivel, vemos a las mujeres como líderes de opinión en los negocios e impulsoras de descartar viejos estereotipos sobre el cannabis y tenemos la intención de liderar el camino para llevar a más mujeres y personas de color a roles importantes en la industria. Debemos demostrar que esta industria puede dar un ejemplo que todos deben seguir. Incluso, estamos en medio de un renacimiento emocionante para nuestra marca y hay muchos cambios audaces en marcha, aquí, en Sensi. En las nuevas editoriales impresas de verano, de nuestra revista en todos los mercados, verá un enfoque renovado en apoyo a las marcas que representan las raíces de esta industria. Estamos celebrando a personas como Patrick King, que fue encarcelado por su creencia en el cannabis, pero ahora está a la vanguardia de un renacimiento. King, junto a otros, sabe que el cannabis tiene potencial de curar a aquellos que sufren de dolor crónico para combatir el trastorno de estrés postraumático inducido, abogamos por él y su visión para el cultivo saludable de la planta. Este es el futuro. Sensi se compromete a conectarte con las voces importantes de nuestra comunidad y a celebrar el valor que aportan a nuestra vida cotidiana.

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At the Cannabis Business Awards June 2022 in Miami, Sensi had the honor of winning “Most Inﬂuential Media Source” and we couldn’t be prouder. Ever since we launched in 2016, we have been working both to reimagine the perception of cannabis culture and keep a ﬁnger on the pulse of trends and new directions in the industry. We want Sensi to be the leader as the entire nation opens its arms to cannabis medicine, the industry, and innovations in science, as well as new important uses for the plant.

GrowInnovateListenLead Sensi will continue to be a leader in building our community and serving you at the highest level. We look forward to bringing you along on this journey. We want Sensi to be the leader as the wellmedicine,nationentireopensitsarmstocannabistheindustryandinnovationsinthescience,asasnewimportantusesfortheplant.

One disturbing trend in the cannabis industry, however, is a falloﬀ in the number of women and people of color who serve in executive positions. We are proud to be heading in the opposite direction. There is a plurality of women in our top-level positions, and we see women as thought leaders in the business and drivers in dismissing tired old stereotypes about cannabis—and we intend to lead the way in bringing more women and people of color into important roles in the industry. We must prove that this industry can set an example that all should follow.

We are also in the midst of an exciting revival of our brand and there are many bold changes afoot here at Sensi. In these new summer print issues of our magazine in all markets, you will see a renewed focus in support of brands who represent the roots of this industry. We are celebrating people like Patrick King, who was incarcerated for his belief in cannabis, but now stands at the forefront of a renaissance. King, along with others know the potential cannabis has to heal those suﬀering from chronic pain to combat-induced PTSD, and we advocate for him and his vision for the healthy cultivation of the plant. This is the future. Sensi is committed to connecting you with the important voices in our community and to celebrating the value they bring to our everyday lives.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE A

Magazine published monthly by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2022 Sensi Media Group. All rights reserved. SOCIALFINDUSONMEDIA somenewsofnewsfeedGroupLikeFACEBOOKSensiMediatoinfuseyourwithmoreourgreatcannabislifestylecontent.TWITTERFollow@sensimagforneed-to-knowandviewsfromSensiheadquarters.INSTAGRAMPrettythings,prettyplaces,prettyawe-people:nditallon@sensimagazine.

stephanie.graziano@sensimag.com SUMMER 2022 SENSIMAG.COM 7

Runner’s High

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With exercise, your body produces its own cannabis-like molecules of bliss. So, by now you’re probably familiar with cannabinoids—they’re the compounds in the cannabis plant that are responsible for its effects. THC is the one responsible for the psychoactive “high.” CBD is the one with all sorts of medicinal benefits. And those are just two of more than 128 phytocannabinoids (“phyto” meaning “produced by a plant”) in marijuana. But did you know that our body produces its own cannabinoids as well? Called endocannabinoids (“endo” meaning “of the body”), these tiny molecules of lipids circulate in the brain and body, working on receptors to cause a variety of effects, maintaining balance in the brain and body in a process called homeostasis. If you’ve ever experienced the elusive buzzy, euphoric I-can-do-anything feeling at the end of hard exercise known as the runner’s high, you have your endocannabinoids—not your endorphins—to thank.

Research from Wayne State University School of Medicine summarizes nearly two decades of work on the topic and confirms that it’s not endorphins but rather endocannabinoids that are the star of the show. “We found that exercise consistently boosted endocannabinoid levels across studies,” says Hilary A. Marusak, a neuroscientist at the university. “The effects were most consistent for a chemical messenger known as anandamide—the so-called ‘bliss’ molecule, which was named, in part, for its positive effects on mood.”

And it turns out you don’t need to go running to experience runner’s high. Running, swimming, weightlifting, and cycling are all shown to deliver a boost in endocannabinoids. What matters most is the level of intensity. Push yourself hard enough, and your body rewards you by ﬂooding your system with cannabis-like molecules of bliss.

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cannabiswhichconsumeAmericanscannabisinsomeformaccordingtoMRI-Simmons’ndingsfromitsNationalCannabisStudy,capturesthefullspectrumofuseacrosstheUS.

A literal lol modern metaphor involving a giant snake eating the ultra-wealthy denizens of Palm Beach.

SUMMER 2022 SENSIMAG.COM 9

26 PERCENT of

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

Libby is the free library app that makes borrowing a book (digital or audio) way easier than baking a pie. A library card and a few taps of your ngers are all you need to access your local institution’s digital catalog. Here are some suggestions from our recent Libby history.

An author locks down with friends, lovers, and rivals and lives to write ction about it.

The Incendiaries by R.O. Kwon What would you do if your college girlfriend joined a cult and blew up your life?

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam If you booked an Airbnb in the middle of nowhere this summer, you may want to skip this book. It’ll hit a bit too close to home, and you didn’t travel all that way to be feeling unsettled all week after you’ve nished it in one day because it’s too good to hit pause.

Hall, Stephanie

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Art + Tech + House = Artechouse, which calls itself “the nation’s rst innovative art space for art and technology.” The art incubator is supporting and working with experiential, tech-driven art, merging art, science, and technology to stimulate the senses.

The Friend by Sigrid Nunez

Reminder: Dogs are the best.

You have until August 31 to check out “Renewal 2121,” an Artechouse original production created in collaboration with artists from around the globe—including visual designer Yuya Takeda, scenery from Design Foundry, and music by Mario Hammer and the Lonely Robot. Together, the artists utilize the power of creative technology to transport experiential-art-goers to an imagined future 100 years from now where they traverse through a cyberpunk cityscape, an interactive market, a busy data center, and a taiko drum experience to nd nature blooming in the most unexpected places.

Squeeze Me by Carl Hiassen

$33 BILLION The accordingrevenueexpectedfromsalesofmarijuanabytheendof2022,toanewstudybyMJBiz

SUMMER PLAYLIST

Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart

The power of a post: An out-of-this-world tale involving aliens, social media, and collective consciousness wrapped up in a witty narrative that had us laughing out loud while walking the dog.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Tears were running down our faces just 10 minutes into this YA novel about a teenage girl grappling with the very adult topics of racism, police brutality, and privilege

Debbie Wilson

Artechouse Miami

BY NUMBERSTHE $4.6 BILLION Sales of CBD products in the US in 2020. By 2026, this market is expected to grow to 16 billion dollars in value.

CONTRIBUTORS

wholove cannabiscalling all women CONNECT WITH YOURSELF AND OTHERS IN CITIES AROUND THE GLOBE TOKEATIVITY.COM/CONNECT

Carmona’s other pursuits include performing in the tech-soul show Tiny Desk meets AFROPUNK and being a spokeswoman for the Latin America Division of Can-Am On Road. In addition, she released Microdosis EP—an Afro-Caribbean futurist beat. Carmona also debuted a new video at one of the leading Latino lm festivals in the US.

Puerto Rican Indie Soul artist Calma Carmona ventures as an entrepreneur as founder of CALMS—a CBD and Cannabis wellness, lifestyle, and beauty brand. One of the brands, Calmeezy CBD sel e pre-rolls, features the CherryWine strain, a high-quality CBD. Grown outdoors in Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico, by Caribbean Hemp Farms, Calmeezy CBD sel e pre-rollups are handcrafted with Caribbean sun-grown CBD. The organically grown high-CBD hemp ower contains low THC and is smooth burning, high in CBD, with no chemicals. The sleek, convenient packaging embodies the on-the-go hustler with an active lifestyle.

Wakit Grinders / wakitgrinders.com Indie Soul Calmeezy CBD blends with Caribbean sun in handcrafted pre-rollups.

The Cannabis Church of Puerto Rico provides hope and relief. The Cannabis Church of Puerto Rico o ers spiritual enlightenment with cannabis. The motto of the cannabis churches is to give hope to those in need and provide relief in the time of their darkness. The church is helping to unite the cannabis community as a whole family and grow everyone’s spiritual path using its spiritual sacrament cannabinoids. Its motto is “Pass, love, and always happiness.”

The Cannabis Church of Puerto Rico @420churchpr / @cannabischurchpr Crush It Mill it with Wakit Grinders. Wakit Grinders, the Puerto Rico women-owned company, understands kitchen prep and appreciates prepping flower and spices in five seconds. The first ball and chain electric mill includes a variety of mills in different designs. Wakit Grinders is perfect for milling whole spices, condiments, dry leaves, and dry herbs in seconds, releasing their properties. This adds flavor, color, and fragrance to rubs, marinades, and blends, enhancing recipes.

The technology of RollBotz creates a grinder kitchen companion and prepping tool. People with dexterity challenges or other health conditions such as arthritis, carpel tunnel, osteoarthritis, or missing limbs ﬁnd RollBotz easy to assemble and use. The ball and chain are activated by simply pressing the “on” button, making milling and packing an easy task in seconds.

LOOKING HIGH UP

Calmeezy CBD / @calmsbycalma and @calmacarmona

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In late July the church is hosting a Community Barbecue and Beach Cleanup in La Perla. Pinchó and hamburgers will be served while everyone enjoys live entertainment. Best of all, it is free and open to the public. Other community events will include Halloween Costume Drive, Thanksgiving Community Feast, and Christmas Toy Drive. El lema de las iglesias de cannabis: le damos “esperanza” a los que lo necesitamos, y damos “alivio”, en el tiempo de su oscuridad. Ayudamos a unir a la comunidad de cannabis como una familiar completa. Ayudamos a crecer su camino espiritual el uso de nuestros cannabinoides de sacramento espiritual. Pas, amor, y siempre felicidad.

THE BUZZ SUMMER 2022 SENSIMAG.COM 11

The Real Dirt

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The king of soil spreads seeds of wisdom when it comes to cannabis, real organic agriculture, and listening to the child within. TEXT DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

Patrick King has been in the business since the beginning. Like so many who are now at the center of the industry, he was once incarcerated for his involvement in cannabis. Like so many others, he has shucked oﬀ those negative stereotypes to become a leader, not just in this industry, but in a larger movement toward health and wellness, and away from traditional business and agricultural structures. More than cannabis itself, King has always been fascinated by and in tune to that which grows cannabis—good soil. An instrumental voice in California’s legalization movement and coveted speaker in the industry and beyond, King is the founder of The Soil King, a marketing,remediation,ing,distribution,turalincludinglegalservicesbusinessCalifornia-basedthatprovidesdowntheentirecannabissupplychainsoils,agricul-products,genetics,manufactur-transportation,retail,cultivation,packagingand

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LEARN MORE Soil King / soilking.com Instagram @thesoilking more. He took the time to share a lifetime of wisdom with Sensi. I was born for a purpose. That purpose is being a steward of the planet and building a platform to help educate about the planet. I’ve never grown a plant, but I have grown healthy soil that produced a plant. People always laughed at me. I have a garden center and I quit carrying all bottle nutrients. And people laughed and told me I was stupid. They said that’s the stuff that sells. I just said that’s not my future; that’s not the future of this world. Today, I have a complete team, an army of likeminded stewards of the environment right alongside me who are teaching me as I’m teaching them. If I went to a vineyard, took a leaf sample, and tested it for nants—heavycontami-metals, herbicides, pesticides—they would pop significantly. You could never apply any of that on a cannabis farm because regulation and testing in cannabis has set the bar so high that the rest of agriculture has yet to meet it. Now, everybody says that’s bad, but as a guy who has knowledge of this stuff, I love the bar being set that high. The planet needs cannabis because cannabis has set the bar so high. Cannabis is not just medicinal to us as humans; it’s medicinal to the planet. We have this world of commercial agriculture destroying the planet quickly with unhealthy poison. These commercial guys were just growing, growing, growing. Then all of a sudden, there’s this little circle in the middle—us—and now we’re growing. Now, I see all these massive companies—even totheytalkingganics.andwhatingScotts—areMonsanto,allnowturn-backwardstowardwewerescreamingcomingoutwithor-Now,they’reallthelanguagethattolduswewerecrazyevendiscussbackthen.

“Regulationandtestingincannabishassetthebarsohighthattherestofagriculturehasyettomeetit.…Theplanetneedscannabisbecausecannabishassetthebarsohigh.Cannabisisnotjustmedicinaltousashumans;it’smedicinaltotheplanet.

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You hear people say all the time that cannabis is not addictive. Everything is addictive. I know lots of people who have to have it every morning, every day, no matter what.

There’s no segregation in agriculture. As long as you cultivate soil and you’re growing a living soil, you’re producing all the enzymes, fungal bacteria, and you’re feeding your soul. I’m not always right.

A lot of times what I did yesterday or the day before is diﬀerent from what I know now. That’s evolving. That’s being humble and understanding that we’re not perfect. We’re just striving to do good things. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I’m just happy for the journey. I don’t look down the road.

I always talk about this 12-year-old boy who’s inside of me. He’s been the only one in my life who told me I can; I will. He’s proud of me. I check in with him all the time and he reminds me that we’ve come a long way. We did this together and he’s never quit on me and I never quit on him. Your bioﬁlm, the good enzymes your gut holds— it’s all the same enzymes the soil generates. When I’m digging in the forest on the big island, Hawaii, and I come across this certain smell and it feels so rich and so pure, I take a pinch of it and I put it in my cheek like it’s tobacco. I’m feeding my whole body and my soul with that. That’s my hospital; that’s the pharmacy; that’s everything you really need to keep yourself healthy. People think I’m crazy— but, as soon as I get that certain scent and I feel it, it goes right in my cheek.

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Pie in the Sky

This infused pie crust recipe will elevate your dessert game.

According to the experts at San Diego’s March and Ash cannabis dispensary, cannabis is an extremely versatile plant, and one easy way to unlock its powerful effects is baking with cannabutter. Butter that has been infused with cannabis ﬂower, also called “cannabutter,” is a simple do-it-yourself way to prepare edibles at home. Cannabutter has many uses in cooking, including cookies, sandwiches, desserts, and pasta.

Read on for a recipe to make your own cannabutter, which can then be incorporated into a pie crust recipe for the holidays … or really any time that’s appropriate for pie, which is the same as saying any time at all.

Cannabutter Pie Crust

Makes 1 pie crust

10 grams flower 1 cup unsalted butter

INGREDIENTS

2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 2⁄3 cup cannabutter (see recipe above) 5–7 tablespoons cold water 1 egg white

Cannabutter

INSTRUCTIONS

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Combine flour and cannabutter into a mixing bowl. Use a knife to cut the cannabutter into the flour. Add salt and water, mixing until a dough forms. If not using immediately, wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours. If ready to make your pie, roll out dough on a flat surface, between two pieces of lightly floured parchment paper. Shape into a 9-inch pie pan, leaving a half inch of dough overhanging. Pinch overhang around edge of the pan and brush the dough with the egg white. Let chill in the freezer for 30 minutes. Fill your pie with your favorite filling: pumpkin, apple, pecan, or even a refreshing fruit blend—baker’s choice. Bake according to pie recipe instructions

INGREDIENTS

Preheat the oven to 245°F. Place 10 grams of flower on a parchment-lined oven tray. Bake for 40 minutes. Rake the flower after 15 minutes to ensure even Coarselyheating.grind baked bud into a slow cooker set to low (under 200°F). Add the unsalted butter, stirring the mixture every 15 minutes. Cook for 3 hours on low. Allow to cool for a few minutes, and strain into jar or container using cheesecloth and a funnel. Refrigerate until ready to use in recipe. Potency The exact potency of made-at-home cannabutter will depend on many factors. No two batches will be exactly the same. You may want to test your nal product by spreading ¼ teaspoon on some toast and wait two to three hours to see how that batch a ects you. Use that as a dosage barometer and increase or decrease the amount used in each recipe as desired.

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Makes about 16 servings / Recipe from March and Ash / marchandash.com

INSTRUCTIONS

Enter EmeraldtheTriangle Humboldt County is to weed what Napa is to wine, and the good people at Humboldt Social are here to elevate your California cannacation. TEXT STEPHANIE WILSON VILLAGOMEZLEONBYPHOTO THE LIFE TRAVEL 16 PUERTO RICO SUMMER 2022

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coast along Highway 101. It’s a long drive, but you’ll see once you get there that it’s totally worth it.

While lumber mills and salmon canneries used to fuel the local economy, today, cannabis is the mainstay, largely on the cultivation side of things. But as interest in cannabis tourism continues to rise worldwide, Humboldt County is poised to step out of the traditional market and into the spotlight to claim the title of marijuana mecca. CNBC estimates that cannabis accounts for two-thirds of the local economy, with about 20 percent of the local population making a living in cultivation across a network of small cities, farms, and tiny agriculture-centric villages.

Humboldt Bay Social Club brings visitors together under a shared appreciation of the good things in life.

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This region known as the Emerald Triangle— Trinity, Mendocino, and Humboldt counties—is to high-grade cannabis what the Napa Valley is to wine: a tentpole of the Northern California economy. By some estimates, this marijuana trifecta produced between 40 and 60 percent of all the pot consumed in America before legalization began to spread state by state.

Head to forcar,orflcheap.ten,intheandtotimefavoriteicsofindustry,thenia)other(especiallysparselyHumboldtCalifornia’sCounty.ThispopulatedregioncomparedtopartsofCalifor-istheepicenterofAmericancannabisthebirthplacethecultureandgenet-behindsomeofyourstrains.It’shighyoupaidavisit.Notthatit’ssupereasygetthere.AmericanUnitedbothflyintosmallregionalairportArcata,butnotveryof-sotheticketsaren’tYou’rebetteroffyingintoSanFranciscoSacramento,rentingaandhittingtheroadasix-hourdriveupthe

Wanna canna getaway?

All it will take for the notoriously tightlipped community that housed the largest concentration of black-market grows for the last half-century to rightfully claim its title as the world’s most sacred holy land is a little more hospitality. It’s All Happening The dramatic cultural shift in conversation away from illegal grows to mainstream marketing campaigns declaring Humboldt to be America’s cannabis heartland is already underway, with local tourism boards launching nationwide campaigns spreading the good word far and wide. Closer to home, a host of fresh cannabis-centric properties and activities cater to a higher class of traveler. We’re not talking about 420-friendly Airbnbs or

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The people who risked their lives and their freedom to bring us access of what they refer to simply as the plant. The travelers who come to Humboldt for the cannabis come seeking more than the surface-level experience. They come to get immersed in the details.

Humboldt Social Is Here Enter Humboldt Social. This boutique hospitality company friendly to cannabis “creates unique lodging, dining and event spaces that welcome visitors as family. We are boutique lodging with two very diﬀerent locations: Scotia, nestled in the redwoods, and Humboldt Bay Social Club, on the beach. We also curate authentic, integrated travel experiences that reﬂect the richness of our region. We are passionate about introducing our guests to Humboldt’s most unique resources—our redwoods, beaches, cannabis farms, and creative community.”

Comfort and cannabis go hand-in-hand at Scotia Lodge. smoking tours catering to heavy-lidded stoners, but rather nuanced establishments that match the sensibilities of discretionary thecannabisheartlandpilgrimagetravelerslyknowtopoor-qualityclichéchaincializedaswithjustnia’sverywhotravelers—travelersaren’tgonnatakethelongtriptoCalifor-remoteNorthCoasttogethighonabusblackenedwindowsitrollsfromcommer-indoorgrowtodispensarysellingmerchtogowithpre-rollsconsumerswhodon’tanybetterandreal-don’tcareeither.Cannabis-seekingwhomaketheuptotheofAmericandososeekingprofound.Theycome to get a taste of the local culture, to get a glimpse behind the redwood curtain, and to hear crazy ﬁrsthand stories about what’s it’s been like to have a hand in shaping modern cannabis culture from the very people responsible for creating the genetics of some of the world’s top strains. The people who heard the government’s demand to just say no and replied no way.

The people behind Humboldt Social are all about the details. Their aesthetic is inspired by the history and beauty of the North Coast, with an emphasis on reclaimed materials, vintage furnishings, and lots of natural light. The resulting spaces are welcoming low-key retreats that invite travelers and locals alike to enjoy an elevated way of life. Founded by husbandand-wife duo Jon and Amy O’Connor, this new hospitality group—which now consists of boutique hotels, waterfront cabins, and the Social Nature cannabis brand—is in the business of normalization. At any of the venues in

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HS’s portfolio, consuming cannabis is as normal as drinking wine. This is how it should be. After all, at wineries in Napa, people don’t think twice about raising toasts until their lips are purple.

Papa and Barkley’s Social spa melds THC and TLC.

While you’ve no doubt seen the proliferation of CBD massages on spa menus, THC had yet to make an appearance at any American day spa until HS partnered with Nicole Fryer, co-founder of Social Spas. “I’m the first day spa in the country to be able to have THC activation,” Nicole tells Sensi. She had been interested in creating THC massages for a while, but after speaking with a woman at the department of health, she realized that the state was adamant about topicals being a type of consumption. She couldn’t offer the service unless she had a social-consumption license, which at the time seemed out of reach. Then Humboldt Social approached. “They were like, ‘we’re gonna do this spa thing,’” she says. “And I was like, ‘cool. Let’s do it.’” And so they did. And they’re the first to have done it. Which is almost as amazing as a THC massage. Seriously, you gotta get one. When is the best time to go? Now. You should go right now. Think about it: You’ll be taking a trip to explore America’s cannabis heartland at a pivotal time in our nation’s history, as marijuana prohibition comes to a stuttering end. While you’re there, be among the very first to have a THC-activated massage. You can tour cannabis farms where legendary strains came to be and meet the legacy cultivators and former outlaws who helped shape the culture of cannabis in America. Stay at a cannabis-friendly hotel where you can inhale nature’s bounty out in the open surrounded by stunning scenery and other pioneering travelers like andYouHumboldtthem:don’tyourself—althoughexpecttoomanyofyoudon’tcometoforthecrowds.cometohangoutrelax. humboldt-social.com

The O’Connors wanted to aﬀord cannabis consumers the same sense of freedom to indulge in the region’s bounties in whatever ways they like. Spark a joint while soaking in a clawfoot tub in the open-air bathhouse at Oyster Beach and watch the storm roll in over the water. Enjoy the food-truck-inspired fare at Jetty restaurant, tucked inside the clubhouse at HS’s boutique hotel property, Social Club. Light up with your friends while sitting around a ﬁrepit at Papa & Barkley Social’s smoking lounge in Eureka. If that revs up your appetite, satiate yourself and raise a glass of high seltzer at Pig & Leaf, the on-site food truck. Hit your vape pen in the designated smoking area at the cannabis-friendly Scotia Lodge before deep-diving into a redwood forest bath on the Avenue of Giants. Or don’t—you do whatever makes you most comfortable.Whichofcourse means booking a THC-activated massage at the Papa & Barley Social Day Spa.

Entra al Triángulo de la Esmeralda

TEXTO POR STEPHANIE

El condado de Humboldt es con el cannabis, lo que Napa es con el vino y la gente linda de Humboldt Social está presente para elevar tu experiencia de canna-vacaciones en California. WILSON

VILLAGOMEZLEONBYPHOTO THE LIFE TRAVEL 20 PUERTO RICO SUMMER 2022

20 % por ciento de la población trabaja en cultivos a través de pequeñas ciudades, granjas y aldeas enfocadas en la agricultura. Lo que necesita esta comunidad notoriamente estrecha y que tiene la mayor concentración de cultivos del mercado negro durante el último medio siglo, es reclamar legítimamente su título: como la tierra santa, más sagrada del mundo y al igual recibir más hospitalidad. Todo Está Sucediendo El cambio dramático cultural que alejó la conversación de lo ilegal, creando las principales campañas de mercadeo y

THE LIFE TRAVEL SUMMER 2022 SENSIMAG.COM 21

VILLAGOMEZLEONRICHARDS,MADELINEHYLAND,DREWLEFT:TOPFROMCLOCKWISEPHOTOS

¿Deseas una canna-escapada? Visita el condado de Humboldt, California. Esta región poco poblada (en comparación con otras áreas de California) es el epicentro de la industria cannábica estadounidense, el lugar de nacimiento de la cultura y de algunas de las genéticas favoritas en cepas de cannabis. Es hora de que hagas la visita. No es tan fácil llegar allí. Aerolíneas como American y United tienen vuelos a un pequeño aeropuerto regional en Arcata, estos vuelos surgen con poca frecuencia, por esta razón los pasajes no son económicos. Lo mejor es viajar hasta San Francisco o Sacramento, California, rentar un auto y conducir seis horas por la Costa, tomando la Autopista #101. Es un viaje largo, pero una vez llegas allí verás que vale la pena. Esta región se conoce como el Triángulo Esmeralda, compuesto por los condados de Trinity, Mendocino y Humboldt, se consideran contener cannabis de alta calidad, similar a lo que el Valle de Napa es con el vino: un pilar en la economía del norte de California. Según algunos estimados, esta trifecta de Cannabis produjo entre el 40 % y el 60 % por ciento del Cannabis consumido en Estados Unidos antes de que la

localtercioscannabisbis.deluzdodeHumboldtdialmente,cannabiselnabis.áreaquedarse,día,economíalatado,fábricasciosdecomenzaralegalizaciónaextenderseEstadoaEstado.Laregióntienenego-detalademaderaydesalmónen-quemantienenlalocal.HoyenelcannabisllegóparadominandoeldecultivosdeCan-Peroamedidaqueinterésalturismodeaumentamun-elcondadodeestáapuntodejaratrásunmerca-tradicionalysaliralaparareclamareltítulolamecadelCanna-CNBCestimaqueelrepresentadosdelaeconomíayquealrededordel

Humboldt Bay Social Club brings visitors together under a shared appreciation of the good things in life.

Las personas encargadas de Humboldt Social (HS) cuidan los detalles. Su estética está inspirada en la historia y la belleza de la Costa Norte, con énfasis en los materiales restaurados, los muebles “vintage” y mucha luz natural. Son espacios acogedores, retiros discretos que invitan tanto a los ture,defrentelesahoragrupovidafrutarcomoviajeros/turistas,aloslocalesadis-deunaformadeelevada.Estenuevohospitalarioqueconstadehote-“boutique”,cabañasalmarylamarcacannabisSocialNa-fundadoporeldúo y pareja, Jon y Amy O’Connor, está en el negocio de la normalización. En cualquiera de los lugares en el portafolio de HS, consumir cannabis es tan normal como beber vino. Así es, como debe ser. La pareja O’Connor quería ofrecer a los consumidores de cannabis la misma sensación de libertad para disfrutar Comfort and cannabis go hand-in-hand at Scotia Lodge.

Los viajeros que vienen a Humboldt por el cannabis vienen buscando más que una experiencia superﬁcial. Vienen a infundirse en detalles. Humboldt Social Está Aquí Humboldt Social, es una “boutique” hospitalaria y empresa amigable con el cannabis, tiene espacios únicos de nidadjasdeejemplo,únicoshuéspedessionanuestraqueautónomasmosenboldtlosdiferentes:conalojamientofueranaquerestaurantesalojamiento,yeventosledanlabienvenidalosvisitantescomosifamilia.“Somosun“boutique”dosubicacionesmuyScotia,entrebosquesrojos,yHum-BaySocialClub,laplaya.Selecciona-experienciasdeviajeeintegradasreﬂejanlariquezaderegión.Nosapa-presentaranuestroslosrecursosdeHumboldt;pornuestrosbosquessecuoyas,playas,gran-decannabisylacomu-creativa”.

VILLAGOMEZLEONBYPHOTOS declarando que Humboldt es el corazón del cannabis de Estados Unidos, ya está en proceso; las Juntas y organizaciones de turismo local han lanzado campañas nacionales que difunden la palabra positiva por todas partes. Cerca de casa, es notable una gran cantidad de propiedades enfocadas en producir actividades para atender una clase superior deNoviajeros.hablamos de Airbnbs “420 friendly” (420 amigables) o tours que atienden a altos consumidores de cannabis, más bien produjeron establecimientos discretos que coinciden con la sensibilidad particular de los viajeros/turistas. Esto para personas que no harán el largo viaje por la remota costa norte de California solo para fumar, ir en guagua con ventanas oscuras, mientras pasean por distintos cultivos “indoor” comercializados, por cadenas de dispensarios que venden mercancía “cliché”, comosedarnosvidasnascarlas.ierondecirdemandapersonascepasalgunasdepersonascannabis,departiciparcómicasuoyas,cortinaunculturaprofundo.lonabishastayjantampococensumidoresdepre-enroladosadquiriendo(pre-rolls)malacalidadaloscon-quenocono-nadayquerealmentelesinteresa.Laspersonasquevia-enbuscadecannabishacenlaperegrinaciónelcorazóndelcan-estadounidense,hacenbuscandoalgoVienenporlalocal,vanadarvistazodetrásdeladelosárbolessec-escucharhistoriasdecómohasidoenlaformaciónlaculturamodernadeldelasmismasresponsablescrearlagenéticadedelasprincipalesdelmundo.Estasescucharonladelgobiernodequenoyrespond-rehusándoseaapli-Lasmismasperso-quearriesgaronsusysulibertadparaaccesoaloquereﬁerensimplementelaplanta.

THE LIFE TRAVEL 22 PUERTO RICO SUMMER 2022

“Soy el primer establecimiento de mi clase en el país en poder ofrecer THC activo”, dice Nicole a Sensi. Ella había estado interesada en crear masajes con lociones de THC durante un tiempo, pero después de conversar con una mujer del departamento de salud, se dió cuenta de que el Estado era ﬁrme en que los tópicos, lociones o cremas se consideraban un tipo de consumo. Ella no podía ofrecer el servicio a menos que tuviera una licencia de consumo-social, que en ese momento parecía estar fuera de su alcance. Humboldt Social le hizo el acercamiento.”Era, como, vamos a hacer esto del spa’’, ella relata. “Y yo estaba como que, ok genial. Hagámoslo”. Y así lo hicieron. Son los primeros en hacerlo, lo cual es tan increíble como darte un masaje con THC. En serio, debes conseguir una cita en este “spa”. ¿Cuál es el mejor momento para ir? Ahora mismo. Piénsalo: harás un viaje para explorar el corazón del cannabis en Estados Unidos, en un momento importante de la historia de esta nación, ya que la prohibición de la marihuana marca su ﬁn. Mientras estés allí, sé de los primeros en recibir un masaje con THC activado. Puedes recorrer granjas de cannabis donde surgieron cepas legendarias, conocer los cultivadores legendarios y antiguos cultivadores que ayudaron a dar forma a la cultura del cannabis en Estados Unidos. Alójate en un hotel amigable del cannabis, donde puedes disfrutar de la naturaleza, al aire libre, rodeado de paisajes impresionantes y compartir con otros viajeros/turistas pioneros como tú, aunque no esperes demasiados de ellos, no vienes a Humboldt por las multitudes. Vienes a pasar el rato y relajarte. humboldt-social.com Papa and Barkley’s Social spa melds THC and TLC.

THE LIFE TRAVEL SUMMER 2022 SENSIMAG.COM 23

VILLAGOMEZLEONBYPHOTOS de las recompensas de la región de la manera que preﬁeran.Consume Cannabis mientras te sumerges en una tina antigua, en la casa de baños al aire libre, localizada en Oyster Beach, observa cómo entran las tormentas sobre el agua. Disfruta del “food truck” y la comida inspirada en el restaurante Jetty, escondido en el interior de la casa “club” en el hotel boutique de HS, Social Club. Comparte con tus amigos sentado alrededor de una fogata en el salón de Papa & Barkley Social en Eureka. Si eso despertó tu apetito, disfruta y toma una copa de “seltzer” en Pig & Leaf, el “food-truck” del lugar. Consume tu vaporizador electrónico en la zona designada del área amigable de Cannabis, Scotia Lodge; perfecto para antes de sumergirse profundamente en el bosque de secuoyas, Avenida de los Gigantes. O no, simplemente haz lo que te haga sentir más cómodo. Reserva un masaje con THC-Activo en Papa & Barkley Social Day Spa. Sin duda has visto masajes con cremas de CBD en los menús de distintos spas, el THC aún no había aparecido en ningún negocio estadounidense hasta que HS se asoció con Nicole Fryer, cofundadora de Social Spas.

Providing patients with quality cannabis medicine is what’s at the heart of Caramor Compassionate Care. TEXT JEN BERNSTEIN GROWNWITHLOVE 24 PUERTO RICO SUMMER 2022

N ow that cannabis dispensaries are as ubiquitous as liquor stores, it’s going to be harder and harder for cannabis care providers to diﬀerentiate themselves. With more than 200 dispensaries in Puerto Rico to choose from, how does a patient or consumer know which dispensaries are truly looking out for their health and well-being? What if patients don’t know what they are looking for when they come in to buy medicine? What should they expect? What if they don’t completely know what options are available? When it comes to cannabis as medicine there can be a lot of trial and error—ﬁguring out dosages and which strains work best for you and your condition take time—and often budtenders don’t have the luxury of getting to know their patients on the level that’s truly needed. It’s not easy wading through hundreds of options in a new market, but by asking around we were able to shortcut our journey. We asked locals, “If you were in need of quality medicine, where would you send your family? Who would you trust to make sure they got the care and compassion they deserve? Who would make them feel comfortable and show genuine interest and provide exceptional care?” That was our mission and here’s what we found… Caramor, one of the island’s most reputable dispensaries. So many people led us to this location we knew they couldn’t all be wrong. We had an opportunity to speak with CEO Brett Daniels about what it means to him to treat customers like family, with the same type of treatment he’d give his own grandmother. Within minutes of meeting him it was apparent there was genuine care, interest, and love touching every aspect of his business, starting with the love of his family, down to the plants providing the medicine he puts on his shelves.

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With a grower in the family, Daniels knew firsthand the benefits cannabis could provide and so he became a de facto supplier for family and friends. Helping family members find relief from debilitating pain was very satisfying to his heart. He knew this would be a mission. He knew he needed to learn more, to understand all the ways cannabis medicine could help where western medicines were failing. It wasn’t long before a fraternity brother heard how Daniels was helping others, and so he came asking for help for his wife battling the early stages of breast cancer. Daniels offered gummies to help with the chemo side effects and tincture to help her sleep. Armed with the experience of knowing that he could help his family and friends find relief with cannabis was a huge motivator for starting his cannabis business.

WOULDSATISFYINGPAINDEBILITATINGFROMFINDMEMBERSFAMILYHELPINGRELIEFTHEIRWASVERYTOHISHEART.HEKNEWTHISBEHISMISSION.

Around the same time, Daniels soon-to-be business partner, Andre Diaz, who now runs operations and Caramor’s dispensaries in Puerto Rico, also stepped into the role of cannabis caregiver when his mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Watching her suffer through the different treatments, Diaz began researching different alternatives to help his mom heal even though medical cannabis wasn’t an option at the time. Watching the cannabis industry explode in Colorado had Diaz thinking he would move there to start his own business, but just at that time, the government decided to bring the industry to Puerto Rico. “To have the opportunity to

For Daniels, it all started when his then girlfriend and future wife came asking for help. Her father was suﬀering from the debilitating eﬀects of colon cancer and was in a lot of pain. He’d given up on chemo and wanted relief but had no access to plant medicine.

Natural Healing

Get back to nature with Cannabis Collection’s inspirational cannabis spaces and products. C annabis Collection is a Puerto companyRico-basedfoundedin 2020 by a group of enthusiastic people who believe cannabis is a potent natural healer. They currently have their dispensaries around the Island, called Turf, Foresta, and Grass. Each location has a unique touch, filled with visual art tats that invite patients on the Island to discover cannabis. The organization it’s been growing, steadily moving in the right direction, which it’s something to work hard on every day as a business from Puerto Rico. In the meantime, they are waiting to open their fourth location, called Bonsai in Toa Baja, by the Summer of 2022. When you visit one of their locations, you get immersed in a nature-inspired theme. Their first dispensary, Turf, opened its doors in December of 2020 in Guaynabo; as soon as you walk in, you can feel harmony from the earthy tones and natural patterns used throughout the place. The second dispensary, Foresta, opened in Arecibo in 2021; it has a forest theme and inspires you to live in peace with nature. Later that same year, they opened the doors of Grass in the city of Bayamón, with a much broader space and this time introducing brighter colors like orange, yellow, and white. Their spaces are complete with local art inspired by cannabis. But besides the visual, they have a wide variety of products like edibles, topical lotions, tinctures, and Cannabis flowers. The company has developed good connections with many suppliers in Puerto Rico, which gives them an advance in having a wide range of products with various pricing points. The team aims to build relationships with their customers, allowing them to understand what they want and don’t. The company like to focus on their employees so that they can take care of the customers. Emilio Sanjenis, one of the dispensaries’ managers, tells us they believe that having quality employees is as good as having good products. When visiting one of their locations, you should feel inspired to live with nature. As a collective, they want to impact the lives of those they interact with and build connections for years to come. Our goal is to provide and promote the medical benefits that cannabis can provide to our patients.

Foresta Cannabis Collection Dispensary forestacannabis.com

26 PUERTO RICO SUMMER 2022

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE FORESTA CANNABIS COLLECTION

Daniels knew that in choosing the Las Piedras location he would be able to infuse his future cultivation site with pure spring water from the surrounding rainforest basin.

From the start they were only thinking of a cultivation license, but their ambitions quickly grew to include two dispensaries (one in Condado and the other in Las Piedras), including a 20,000 square-foot grow operation, a manufacturing facility, and a transportation system—all grown and built from a place of love and compassion for others.

Most manufacturers on the island are not freezing the whole plant at the time of harvest — using cured flower or trim instead of a fresh frozen method,” he says. “With our fresh frozen whole-plant process, time and time again, you’re going to get a more consistent, tasty, and beneficial terpene and cannabinoid profile, which are going to help you feel better, and be better for you.”

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Daniels and Diaz shared the common vision of helping others by producing and distributing the best possible cannabis medicine.

“You know exactly what you’re getting from the whole-plant medicine.

“We speciﬁcally chose this property and community knowing that we were bringing local jobs and could give directly back.” The plants that would care for his future patients would be nourished locally from “WITH OUR FRESH YOU’REWHOLE-PLANTFROZENPROCESS…GOINGTOGETAMORECONSISTENT,TASTY,ANDBENEFICIALTERPENEANDCANNABINOIDPROFILE.”

Daniels is conﬁdent that this method preserves all the natural properties of the plant, just as nature intended.

Caramor is selective with the strains they grow. “We want our strains to have very high terpene proﬁles regardless of THC, and if they’re not producing, we eliminate them from rotation,” says Daniels. “What we want to do is educate patients. It’s not just about THC. It’s the terpenes that will help produce the healing eﬀect that a 30% THC strain may not provide. That’s the knowledge we have to share.”

—Brett Daniels, CEO & Cofounder, Caramor

build the business here in my own country and not have to move my mom was just the biggest blessing,” says Diaz. “It was also lucky meeting my business partner Brett here and starting the conversation.”

“From the beginning we wanted to express Caribbean love,” says Daniels. “We always put our patients ﬁrst at Caramor and treat them with care, so in creating this word to represent our business it made sense to combine Car from Caribbean with the Spanish word for love, Amor.”

Love Live line is all about using living plants and ﬂash freezing them within minutes of harvest. Flash freezing the whole plant locks in all the living terpenes to dramatically improve ﬂavor and taste. The cannabinoids and terpenes attribute directly to the quality of the extract whether it’s live sugar, live resin, or live sap.

Care and compassion go into each and every product they produce. With a full manufacturing facility at their disposal, Caramor is creating some of the island’s cleanest and best concentrates. What sets them apart from other manufacturers is their use of the wholeTheirplant.Caribbean

scan for offers ✅ 200+ dispensaries waiting for you! Products menus always updated More dispensaries than Weedmaps Your favorite brands and products �� BIGGEST Dispensaries NETWORK Go online and browse today! thestrainmarketplace.com MARKETPLACE 28 PUERTO RICO SUMMER 2022

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their own pure water sources. With premium, reserve and special reserve top-shelf products that consumers can access and trust, Caramor’s ﬂowers and concentrates are found in other dispensaries across the island. “We want to reach out to communities who need quality medicine,” says Diaz. “We are always working, it doesn’t stop. We’re always improving for ourThatpatients.”mission couldn’t be any more apparent for one of Condado’s regular patients, WeedqueenPR, who told us she’s constantly feeling spoiled by their close attention, care, and excellent customer service.

Raving about the budtenders, WeedQueenPR says they’re always very friendly, warm, and accommodating. “When others were out of products, they were always there helping me with the alternatives and not telling me to go somewhere else and ﬁnd it,” she says. “They take their time to really help. You get used to being treated in a nice way.” Going above and beyond for their patients became such a norm that WeedqueenPR refused to shop elsewhere for her medicine.

“Being in high pain and having to drive to the middle of Condado for my medicine is hard, but they have made it easy for the customers. They take care of our parking costs with a lot nearby, and we don’t have to pay,” she says. Feeling like part of the Caramor family is definitely part of the ethos and experience. Every customer who walks through the door is treated with the same respect that you’d want for your loved one. Family, and being treated like family, is so important to Daniels that he’s created a reminder for himself in a specialty strain that he named after his departed, older sister“SheMichelle.hadabig personality. Michelle was always the life of the party,” Daniels fondly remembers. “She was a ball of energy, very outgoing and personable.” As the first person in his family to go to college, she paved the way for him to go too. To that end he named the strain Schelle, short for Michelle, to honor her and “always keep her memory close,” says Daniels. “She loved the beach, so naming this strain was the perfect fit for her.”

“WE WANT TO REACH OUT WHOCOMMUNITIESTONEEDQUALITYMEDICINE.WEAREALWAYSWORKING,ITDOESN’TSTOP.WE’REALWAYSIMPROVINGFOROURPATIENTS.”

—Andre Diaz, Cofounder, Caramor

Of course it makes perfect sense that this Indica-dominant hybrid has so many healing properties; it is the perfect medicine for easing pain, nausea, and stress. A winning formula for love and care. Our quest for care and compassion seems to have been fulfilled. In Puerto Rico it’s called Caramor. If you find yourself in need of medicine and want to be wrapped in a family-like experience, we definitely urge you to stop in. According to our many sources you won’t be disappointed!

Proporcionar a los pacientes medicamentos de cannabis de calidad es lo que está en el corazón de Caramor Compassionate Care.

POR JEN BERNSTEIN CRECIENDO AMORCON 30 PUERTO RICO SUMMER 2022

Esa fue la misión y este el resultado… Caramor, uno de los dispensarios más acreditados de la Isla. Fueron muchas las personas que nos guiaron a este lugar y rápido supimos que era ideal. Tuvimos la oportunidad de conversar con el presidente ejecutivo (CEO) Brett Daniels, de lo que signiﬁca para él tratar a los clientes como familia, así como el mismo trato que le ofrece a su abuela. A minutos de conocer a Daniels, era evidente que había un buen interés y amor genuino dirigiéndose a todos los aspectos de su negocio; comenzando con el amor hacia su familia y el amor a las plantas que proporcionan la medicina en su negocio. Para Daniels todo comenzó cuando su entonces novia y futura esposa le pidió ayuda. Su padre sufría efectos debilitantes debido al cáncer de colon y padecía de mucho dolor. Él había renunciado al tratamiento de quimioterapia y deseaba alivio, pero no tenía acceso a la planta medicinal. Con un agricultor en la familia, Daniels conocía de primera mano los beneﬁcios que el Cannabis podría proporcionar y así se convirtió en el suplidor principal de su familia y amistades. Ayudar a los miembros de la familia a encontrar alivio del dolor debilitante fue muy satisfactorio para su corazón. Él supo que esto sería una misión. Sabía que necesitaba aprender más sobre ello y entender todas las formas en cómo el Cannabis Medicinal puede ayudar en donde las medicinas occidentales están fallando. No pasó mucho tiempo antes de que uno de los hermanos de su Fraternidad, escuchó cómo Daniels estaba ayudando a los demás, por lo que hizo el acercamiento para su esposa, que batallaba las primeras etapas de cáncer de mama. Daniels le ofreció “gummies” para ayudar con los efectos secundarios de la quimioterapia y una tintura para conciliar el sueño. Ya, capacitado y con la experiencia de saber que podía ayudar a su familia y amigos a encontrar alivio con el Cannabis, despierta su motivación para comenzar su negocio. En este mismo tiempo, el futuro socio comercial de Daniels, Andrés Díaz, que actualmente dirige las operaciones y los dispensarios de Caramor en Puerto Rico, también asumió el rol de cuidador cuando a su madre le diagnosticaron esclerosis múltiple. Al verla sufrir a través

AYUDAR A SERÍASUPOSATISFACTORIOALIVIOENCONTRARLAMIEMBROSLOSDEFAMILIAADELDOLORDEBILITANTEFUEMUYPARASUCORAZÓN.ÉLQUEESTOUNAMISIÓN. @PAL.FILMSEXPERIENCEBYPHOTO SUMMER 2022 SENSIMAG.COM 31

¿Qué pasa si no saben completamente las opciones disponibles? Cuando se trata de Cannabis cómo un medicamento, toma tiempo - entre varios intentos y errores, en averiguar la dosis, qué cepa funciona mejor para usted y su efecto -todo esto, en un mundo en donde a veces los “budtenders” no pueden darse el lujo de conocer a sus pacientes al nivel que realmente lo necesitan. No es sencillo viajar entre cientos de opciones en un nuevo mercado, pero haciendo preguntas pudimos encontrar un atajo en el camino.

Con más de 200 dispensarios en Puerto Rico para escoger, ¿Cómo sabe un paciente o un consumidor que realmente buscan los dispensarios para su salud o bienestar? ¿Qué pasa si el paciente no sabe lo que necesita cuando va a comprar su medicina? ¿Qué debe esperar?

A hora, que los dispensarios de Cannabis están omnipresentes como los “liquor stores” o licorerías, cada vez es más difícil para los proveedores de cannabis marcar la diferencia entre ellos mismos.

Preguntamos a los locales: “Si estuvieses en necesidad de medicina de calidad, ¿qué lugar le recomendaría a su familia para visitar? ¿En quién conﬁarías para asegurarte de que reciban el cuidado y compasión que se merecen? ¿Quién los hará sentirse cómodos, donde demuestren un interés genuino y provean una atención excepcional?”

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“CON TERPENOSVEZ,UNAUSARPROCESONUESTRODELAPLANTAENTERA,FRESCA,CONGELADA,YOTRAOBTENDRÁUNPERFILDEYCANNABINOIDESMÁSCONSISTENTE,SABROSOYBENEFICIOSO,ENELPRODUCTO”.

“Desde el inicio queríamos expresar Amor Caribeño (Caribbean Love)” dice Daniels. “Siempre ponemos a nuestros pacientes primero en Caramor y los tratamos con buen trato”, el nombre surge al combinar Car- de la palabra Caribeño, y la palabra Amor. La compasión entra en todos y cada uno de los productos. Con una instalación de manufactura completa disponible, la misma, está produciendo algunos de los concentrados más limpios y mejores de la isla. Lo que los diferencia de otras manufacturas es el uso de toda la planta. Su línea Caribbean Love Live surge de un procedimiento de plantas vivas y congelarlas a los pocos minutos de la cosecha. La congelación instantánea de toda la planta bloquea todos los terpenos vivos para mejorar drásticamente el sabor y sus efectos. Los cannabinoides y terpenos se atribuyen directamente a la calidad del extracto. Daniels confía en que el método conserva todas las propiedades naturales de la planta, tal como la naturaleza lo ofrece. “Sabes exactamente lo que obtienes medicinal de toda la planta. La mayoría de las manufacturas en la isla no congelan toda la planta en el momento de la cosecha, sino que utilizan flores curadas, en lugar de un método de congelación fresca”, dice. “Con nuestro proceso de usar la planta entera, fresca, congelada, una y otra vez, obtendrá un perfil de terpenos y cannabinoides más consistente, sabroso y beneficioso, en el producto que lo ayudará a sentirse mejor y será beneficioso para usted”.

—Brett Daniels de los diferentes tratamientos, Díaz comenzó a investigar diferentes alternativas para ayudar a su madre a sanar, a pesar de que el cannabis medicinal en ese momento no era unaAndrésopción.empezó a leer todo lo que pudo. Aprendió cómo los pacientes en Colorado utilizaban cepas cómo Charlotte Web y los pocos efectos secundarios asociados con el cannabis, a diferencia de los efectos secundarios que las inyecciones le causaban a su mamá. Explorar la industria del cannabis en Colorado hizo a Díaz pensar que se mudaría allí para iniciar su propio negocio, pero justo en ese momento, el gobierno decidió implantar la industria en Puerto Rico. “Tener la oportunidad de construir el negocio aquí en mi propio país y no tener que mudar a mi madre fue la mayor bendición” comenta Díaz. “También fue una suerte conocer a mi socio comercial Brett aquí y comenzar la conversación.” Daniels y Díaz compartieron la visión común de ayudar a los demás produciendo y distribuyendo el mejor medicamento de cannabis posible. Desde el inicio solo reﬂexionaban en una licencia de cultivo, pero sus ambiciones crecieron rápido, hasta incluir dos dispensarios (uno en Condado y el otro en Las Piedras, Puerto Rico), así como una operación de cultivo de 20,000 pies cuadrados, una instalación de manufactura y un sistema de transporte, todo cultivado y creado desde un lugar de amor y compasión por los demás.

Caramor es selectivo con las cepas que cultivan. “Queremos que nuestras cepas tengan perﬁles de terpenos altos, independiente-

This is where the National Cannabis Risk Management Association (NCRMA) trade organization comes in. The nation’s only dedicated cannabis risk management association, NCRMA has put together a disruptively innovative risk management platform for the cannabis industry, supplemented by an insurance platform that offers businesses committed to the risk management process access to lower-cost coverage designed for this nontraditional industry.

The reality is that running a business—let alone a cannabis business—comes with a lot of complexities, and a lot of pitfalls that could derail your business goals. That’s why it’s imperative to not only have practices and policies in place to mitigate those risks, but also to be prepared to minimize the impacts should they become reality. But for new business owners—which by some estimates more than 60 percent of cannabis entrepreneurs are—it can be difﬁcult to even know where to begin.

Risky Business

The National Cannabis Risk Management Association (NCRMA) is here for businesses looking to assess—and mitigate—risks that threaten their success in this ever-changing market.

n business, as in life, the biggest risk you run is not knowing what you don’t know. That’s why risk management is an integral part of any successful business’s operational plans—even more so in the emerging cannabis industry.

The platform includes robust risk assessment and consulting services through the National Cannabis Risk Prevention Services (NCRPS); the NCRM Academy, a virtual educational platform where NCRMA members can access discounted courses, webinars, and customized trainings; and exclusive access to insurance products designed for cannabis businesses through Trichome innovative Risk Protection TM Insurance. Together, these beneﬁts offer NCRMA members tools, procedures, knowledge, and support.

“We ﬁrst created NCRMA about four years ago because we recognized that emerging markets and industries like cannabis require fundamentally sound risk management in order to be successful,” says Rocco Petrilli, chairman of NCRMA. “Growth in cannabis is not guaranteed, and one of the major derailers is the weak states of risk management and insurance, which threaten the industry’s ability to reach its projected potential. But with the right solutions, these threats can be mitigated and overcome.”

This is the ﬁrst of a three-part series discussing risk management in the cannabis industry with NCRMA. To read the entire series, visit sensimag.com NCRMA Risk Management Company ncrma.net

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE NCRMA

34 PUERTO RICO SUMMER 2022

Nuestra búsqueda de cuidado y compasión parece haberse cumplido. En Puerto Rico se llama Caramor. Si necesitas medicamentos y quieres estar envuelto en una experiencia familiar, te invitamos a que nos visites. Según muchas fuentes, ¡no te decepcionará!

La misión no puede ser más evidente para una de las pacientes habituales del dispensario en Condado, WeedqueenPR, que nos dijo que se siente constantemente mimada por su estrecha atención y excelente servicio al cliente. Sobre los “Budtenders”, WeedQueenPR dice, que siempre son muy amables, cálidos y serviciales.

“QUEREMOSLLEGARALASCOMUNIDADESQUENECESITANPRODUCTOSDECALIDAD.SIEMPREESTAMOSTRABAJANDO,NONOSDETENEMOS.SIEMPREESTAMOSMEJORANDOPARANUESTROSPACIENTES”.

Sentirse parte de la familia Caramor es deﬁnitivamente parte del espíritu y la experiencia. Cada cliente que entra por la puerta es tratado con el mismo respeto que usted desea para su ser querido. La familia, y ser tratado como familia, es importante para Daniels que ha creado un recuerdo para sí mismo en una cepa especial que puso por nombre Michelle, su difunta hermana mayor.

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Hacer todo lo posible para sus pacientes se convirtió en una norma. WeedqueenPR se negó a comprar su medicina en otro sitio. “Tener mucho dolor y conducir al centro de Condado por mi medicamento es difícil, pero lo han hecho fácil para los clientes. Ellos se encargan de nuestros costos de estacionamiento y no tenemos que pagarlo”, dice.

—Andre Diaz mente del THC y si las mismas no están produciendo, las eliminamos de la rotación”, dice Daniels. “Queremos educar a los pacientes. No se trata solo de THC. Son los terpenos los que ayudarán a producir el efecto curativo que una cepa de THC con 30 % no puede proporcionar. Ese es el conocimiento que tenemos que compartir”. Daniels sabía que elegir la ubicación en Las Piedras, Puerto Rico, podría infundir a su futuro un cultivo de agua pura de manantial proveniente de la cuenca en la selva tropical circundante. “Elegimos específicamente esta propiedad y comunidad conociendo que estábamos implementando puestos de trabajo locales y que podíamos devolverlos directamente”. Las plantas de sus futuros pacientes se alimentarán de sus propias fuentes de agua pura local. Los productos prémium y de primera calidad en la que los consumidores pueden acceder y confiar; las flores y los concentrados de Caramor se encuentran en otros dispensarios de toda la isla. “Queremos llegar a las comunidades que necesitan productos de calidad”, dice Díaz. “Siempre estamos trabajando, no nos detenemos. Siempre estamos mejorando para nuestros pacientes”.

“Siempre están allí ayudándome con las alternativas y no me decían que fuera a otro lugar para buscar un producto”, dice. “Se toman su tiempo para ayudar de verdad. Te acostumbras al trato agradable”.

“Tenía una gran personalidad. Michelle siempre fue el alma de la ﬁesta”, recuerda con cariño Daniels. “Era una bola de energía, muy extrovertida y agradable”. Fue la primera persona de su familia en ir a la universidad, y allanó el camino para que él también fuera. Con ese ﬁn, llamó a la cepa Schelle, abreviatura de Michelle, para honrarla y “mantener siempre su memoria cerca”, dice Daniels. Tiene sentido que este híbrido con dominancia Índica tenga tantas propiedades curativas; es la cepa perfecta para aliviar el dolor, las náuseas y el estrés. Una fórmula ganadora para el amor y el cuidado.

CHECK THE VIBE

TEXT STEPHANIE WILSON 36 PUERTO RICO SUMMER 2022

A destination dispensary in a Puerto Rican surf town has a plan to help both local patients and visiting tourists enjoy the island’s elevated experiences.

Rincón, Puerto Rico, is the destination we all need right now. The sleepy little beach town is an unconventional tropical paradise with all the things—including world-class waves that send siren calls to pro surfers from around the globe. Rincón is the ultimate spot for wellness travel lite, perfect for low-key types whose mood is more California surf rock than Miami EDM. It’s just as close as Tulum with all the modern conveniences but none of the megaresorts or tourist traps— and you won’t need a vacation to recover from your vacation. You don’t need a passport to get there; your cell phone will (probably) work; most people speak a mix of English and Spanish; the U.S. dollar is the oﬃcial currency, and ﬂights tend to be cheap. (You will want to bring your medical marijuana card if you’ve got one or apply for one before you go if you don’t. More on that in a bit.)

“My husband entered the industry when it started in Puerto Rico,” says Ovidmarie. “He was born on 4/20, he’s a surfer, and he’s a cannabis connoisseur. He’s a doctor who certiﬁes patients

the 2017 Domes Event Corona Extra Pro Surf Circuit SUMMER 2022 SENSIMAG.COM 37

Local cuisine jumps out at you on every corner, along every major road, and at all spots in between. Truly, it’s the best island for people who are hungry all the time (akaWordstoners).about this blissful spot has been out in some circles for a while now already. The international surfing community got the memo about Rincón basically forever ago—1968, in fact. That’s when the fourth-ever World Surfing Championship literally put Rincón on the map. (The town often didn’t warrant inclusion beforeThanksthen.)to the surfers and the creative types who follow them, Rincón’s got an authentically bohemian vibe and a freaky, fun-loving atmosphere. Life in Rincón is essentially one relaxed party, and even non-surfers find it easy to fit right in…and then find it hard to leave. This is the type of place you visit for a weekend and wind up staying for a lifetime. Just ask any of the expat locals who comprise a good portion of the town’s population.

H appiness may not be a place—think of it more as a feeling, a state of being— but there is a road that’ll take you there. Lined with golden beaches, swaying palm trees, and outdoor bars where you can catch kaleidoscopic sunsets, the Road to Happiness is real. Aka Route 413, the Road to Happiness winds along the coast in Rincón, Puerto Rico, a laid-back surﬁng community on the island’s western corner. And, after the last two crazy years spent largely at home riding out the pandemic, it’s a trip you need to take—if, for no other reason, for the sake of your own wellness.

Start with Sandra Torres. The native Puerto Rican visited Rincón with her husband Raul for the town’s annual triathlon in 2014 and fell in love with the area and the community. “We have the prettiest beaches on the island,” she says. “This is one of the most beautiful places in Puerto Rico.” At the time, Puerto Rico was on the verge of legalizing cannabis for medical use, and they were interested in getting in on the ground ﬂoor. Friends of theirs in Rincón— Ovidmarie Garcia and her husband, Hector Ramírez—outlined their vision for a wellness-focused dispensary that would cater to patients through personalized attention and education.

THE BEAUTIFUL PLACE

OPPOSITE:

CENTER,SCIENCEMARINEANDCOASTALPACIFICUSGSHARRISON,SHAWNPAGEOPPOSITE RICOPUERTOOFSURFINGPROFESSIONALOFASSOCIATIONCOURTESYPAGETHIS Rincón at

Beach BOTTOM: The scene

That, and the personal service that stems from their close relationship with Dr. Green. “We are in communication with our patients’ doctor, so we have a one-on-one service,” says Ovidmarie. “Every patient has different conditions, there are many different ways they can consume cannabis, so we give every patient special treatment.” They also give them lots of options, with a wider selection of products than you’ll find in most dispensaries on the island and a staff of budtenders trained to help patients select the elevating products that will work best for their needs. “Our budtenders are professionals,” says Ovidmarie. “They welcome patients by name, they know who you are and what you like. They know what they are selling. They know what is good for you, what will work best for your condition, what amount you need for your treatment and how it can be mixed with another type of product. Our budtenders are the most knowledgeable in the area.”

With a vision in mind, this group of friends got together to put the plans in place for The Green Room. The medical cannabis dispensary now sits in the heart of Rincón, about a block oﬀ the beach and not too far from where the Road to Happiness begins. It’s a ﬁtting location for a place where you can pick up the blissful fuel you need to get to your happy place. Keep in mind that tourism is a mainstay of the economy, so any time and money you spend in locally-owned shops like The Green Room is injecting much-needed capital into theJustcommunity.don’tforget to bring your medical marijuana card. (Told you there’d be more on that.)

Snorkeling: Tres Palmas Marine Reserve Cultural Activity: Art Walk on Thursdays Restaurants: Black Eagle, Taqueria Vato Loco Best Pinchos (Meat Skewers): La Cambija Bars: Aloha Surf, Caddy’s Calypso Cafe Accommodations: Villa Pier 25, Casa Isleña

[for medical marijuana], and it was my dream to have a dispensary in Rincón. So why not?”

LOCAL CONNECTION Spend a little time in Rincón (and HIGHLIGHTSMUST-SEE According to the Rincóniest of the town’s dispensaries, The Green Room. Surf Spots: Domes and Maria’s are the most iconic spots in a city that’s full of them

Puerto Rico accepts out-of-state mmj cards—no need to get a new one on the island. You will, however, need to get a medical recommendation from a Puerto Rican doctor if you want to purchase flower, otherwise you’ve got to stick to vapes, edibles, tinctures, topicals, anything other than smokable flower. If flower is your thing, don’t fret: this is where Dr. Green comes in. One of the island’s foremost medical marijuana docs, Dr. Green is also your go-to guy if you don’t already have a med card in your home state but use (or want to use) cannabis to treat a qualifying medical condition—and in Puerto Rico, lots of conditions qualify, including depression, insomnia, migraines, and more. (See p. 50 for more details and plan ahead so you’re not wasting any precious vacation time doing paperwork, or visit thegreenroomrincon.com.)

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A PLACE LIKE HOME Stop by The Green Room on any given day and you’ll feel the welcoming vibe. “When people come to the Green Room, they can feel like it’s home,” says Ovidmarie. “This is a place where they can come and feel comfortable. And that’s what makes us diﬀerent. We can’t know every patient, but we know most of them by name most of the time. We speak with them about what’s going on in their lives. It’s a more personal service, and I think that’s what makes us diﬀerent from other dispensaries.” (We’d argue that the location, mere steps from the sand, also elevates The Green Room above the rest. Because seriously, what’s better than a beachfront dispensary? Nothing. There’s nothing better in our book.)

En route to Cannabis dispensaries Centralization

The company’s future seems to be blooming. In Puerto Rico, they expect to launch the most signiﬁcant and innovative dispensaries and brand network, with over 250 listings and real-time menus, which no other directory has on the Island. Manny tells us: “At STRAIN, we’re always looking for ways to provide more value to dispensaries by helping them centralize their operation. The STRAIN Marketplace is another way of replacing their actual marketplace with the biggest, hightech dispensary directory that’ll help retailers lower costs associated with customer acquisition.” In addition, the company will soon announce projects with partners in Canada, Mexico, Latin America, and United States.

STRAIN Dispensaries Network thestrainapp.com

STRAIN aims to centralize the dispensaries’ sales and intelligent data collection and equip their customers with various marketing tools.

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE STRAIN

40 PUERTO RICO SUMMER 2022

Looking for a dispensary? Trust Puerto Rico’s ultimate dispensaries network. All Cannabis dispensary owners have a lot to handle, but STRAIN has developed the right tools to meet their needs. From the beautiful town of San Juan, founder Manny Ramirez tells us he has built many technological solutions that assist dispensaries and allows them to stay connected with their consumers. After developing a platform for one of the top cannabis patient drive companies on the Island, Manny started learning more about the challenges dispensaries have to work around. Since then, he began creating solutions to overcome those obstacles, and like that, the company was born in November of 2019. STRAIN is a mobile app and platform that centralizes dispensaries’ sales, marketing, and retention needs in a single solution at a fraction of the cost. They can power everything in terms of technology in a dispensary. As soon as they start working with a company, they will obtain their own branded mobile application, website, in-store kiosk, loyalty system program, tv menu signage software, and other marketing tools on multiple platforms.

we highly recommend that you do), and you’ll quickly realize that the town’s close-knit community wouldn’t have survived this long without safeguarding. Across the Caribbean, even the quaintest of beach towns have been bulldozed into megaresorts devoid of personality or sense of place. But thanks to the efforts of local entrepreneurs and community stakeholders like the team at The Green Room, Rincón’s bursting with both. There’s no better place to see that in action than the weekly Art Walk, which happens every Thursday evening. What began as a community effort to support local artists almost a decade ago has evolved into a cultural happening every week that transformed Rincón’s central plaza into the cultural and economic hub of the surfing town. An eclectic mix of artisans and performers transform downtown in to an open-air gallery for Puerto Rican art and culture.

COMMONS/MSCREATIVECOURTESYRICO,PUERTODISCOVERCOURTESYUNSPLASH,GILLEN/COURTESYHARRYSTOCK,ADOBEROSE,ENGLISHTHECOURTESYLEFT:TOPFROMCLOCKWISE

RIGHT: Punta Higuero Lighthouse LEFT (FROM TOP): The nightlife sizzles in Rincón, beach yoga is the best yoga, Jack’s Shack, Sensi kicks o in Puerto Rico

SUMMER 2022 SENSIMAG.COM 41

The Green Room’s team gets involved through partnerships with other local businesses that center on the wellness of the community. Which is to say they are highly involved—both attending events and hosting them in collaboration with other area entrepreneurs and businesses. They’ve partnered with Centro La Paz wellness center to oﬀer patients yoga sessions on Zoom during the pandemic, they host cannabis educational events for seniors, they support local artisans during Art Walk, and they’re planning events centered around the Rincón triathlon in June. This is their community, and they love everything about it.

“We have good places to eat well, to see the sunset—good music, good vibes, good company,” says Sandra. “That’s what Rincón is all about.”

PRUEBA LA VIBRA

Un dispensario en un pueblo sur sta de Puerto Rico tiene un plan para ayudar tanto a los pacientes locales y los turistas visitantes a disfrutar de las experiencias elevadas de la isla.

42 PUERTO RICO SUMMER 2022

TEXTO DE STEPHANIE WILSON

OPPOSITE: Rincon Beach BOTTOM: La escena en el 2017 Domes Event Corona Extra Pro Surf Circuit

CENTER,SCIENCEMARINEANDCOASTALPACIFICUSGSHARRISON,SHAWNOPUESTAPÁGINA

EL LUGAR HERMOSO Comienza con Sandra Torres. La puertorriqueña nativa visitó Rincón con su esposo Raúl para el triatlón anual del pueblo en 2014 y se enamoró del área y de la comunidad. “Tenemos las playas más bonitas de la isla”, dice. “Este es uno de los lugares más hermosos en Puerto Rico”. En ese momento, Puerto Rico se encontraba a punto de legalizar el cannabis para uso medicinal y ambos estaban interesados en participar desde el principio. Amigos suyos en Rincón, Ovidmarie García y su esposo, Hector Ramírez; detallaron su visión de un dispensario enfocado en el bienestar que

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P uede que la felicidad no sea un lugar (piensa acerca de ella más bien como una sensación, un estado de ser) pero existe un camino que te llevará allí. Bordeado por playas doradas, palmeras que se mecen al viento y bares al aire libre donde puedes disfrutar de atardeceres inimaginables, el Camino a la Felicidad es real. También conocido como Ruta 413, el Camino a la Felicidad serpentea a lo largo de la costa en Rincón, Puerto Rico, una relajada comunidad surfista en la esquina occidental de la isla. Y, después de pasar los últimos dos locos años mayormente en casa superando la pandemia, es un viaje que necesitas hacer (aunque no sea por otro motivo más que tu propioRincón,bienestar).PuertoRico, es el destino que todos necesitamos ahora mismo. El somnoliento y pequeño pueblo playero es un paraíso tropical poco convencional que lo tiene todo, inclusive olas de primer nivel que son un llamado para todos los surfistas profesionales alrededor del mundo. Rincón es el mejor lugar para los viajes de bienestar, perfecto para personas tranquilas cuya onda es más de surf rock Californiano que de Miami EDM. Se encuentra igual de cerca que Tulum, con todas las comodidades modernas, pero ninguno de los mega complejos hoteleros o trampas para turistas (y no deberás tomarte vacaciones para descansar de tus vacaciones). No necesitas pasaporte para ir, tu celular (probablemente) funcionará, la mayoría de la gente habla ambos idiomas, el dólar estadounidense es la moneda oficial y todo tiende a ser barato. (Quizás quieras llevar tu licencia para comprar marihuana si tienes una, o solicitarla para ir si no tienes una. Más al respecto en un momento). La cocina local salta a tu paso en cada esquina, a lo largo de cada calle principal y en todos los lugares entre medio. Verdaderamente, es la mejor isla para quienes tienen hambre todo el tiempo (los conocidos “munchies”).

La voz sobre este lugar pacífico lleva rato corriéndose en algunos círculos. La comunidad internacional del surf recibió el mensaje sobre Rincón básicamente desde el principio, en 1968, de hecho. Fue entonces que el cuarto Campeonato Mundial de Surf literalmente puso a Rincón en el mapa. (A menudo, antes de entonces el pueblo no garantiza la Graciasinclusión).alossurfistas y la gente creativa que los siguieron, Rincón posee una vibra auténticamente bohemia y una atmósfera alocada y de amor por la diversión. La vida en Rincón es básicamente una fiesta relajada, e incluso a quienes no surfean les resulta fácil encajar… y luego les cuesta irse. Este es el tipo de lugar que visitas por un fin de semana y acabas quedándote toda la vida. Solo pregúntale a cualquier extranjero que viva allí, quienes conforman una buena parte de la población.

Sell. Innovate. Grow. Save up to $300 thru 9/29 + Get 10% off with promo 22SENSI10code: REGISTEREARLY & SAVE! The cannabis industry is evolving—and on the verge of big opportunity. MJBizCon will get you ready for what is coming. • Explore the latest products & equipment from over 1,400 exhibitors • Make the right connections and deals to give you a competitive edge • Get data, strategies, and operational tactics you can use to optimize your cannabis operation InsiderRate! Nov. 15-18, 2022 • Las Vegas • Register at MJBizCon.com Your Cannabis Business Year Starts Here

UN LUGAR COMO EL HOGAR Visita The Green Room cualquier día y su equipo siempre te hará sentir con una vibra acogedora. “Cuando la gente llega a The Green Room, puede sentirse como en su hogar”, dice Ovidmarie. “Este es un lugar al que pueden venir y sentirse cómodos. Y eso es lo que nos hace diferentes. No podemos conocer a cada paciente, pero casi siempre los conocemos a todos por su nombre. Hablamos con ellos sobre lo que sucede en sus vidas: ‘¿Qué pasó ayer, fuiste a este o a aquel lugar? ¿Cómo está tu madre; cómo está tu hija?’ Es un servicio más personal y creo que es lo que nos diferencia de otros(Tambiéndispensarios”.nosatrevemos a decir que la ubicación, a solo pasos de la arena y el mar, también eleva a The Green Room por encima del resto. Porque, en serio, ¿qué mejor que un dispensario frente a la playa? Nada. No existe nada mejor en nuestro libro).

También les ofrecen muchas opciones, con una selección de productos más amplia que la que se puede hallar en la mayoría de los dispensarios de la isla y con un personal experto para ayudar a los pacientes a seleccionar el producto adecuado que funcionen mejor para sus necesidades. “Nuestros

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LUGARES DE GRAN INTERÉS QUE HAY QUE VISITAR Lugares para surfear: Domes y Maria’s son los lugares más icónicos en una ciudad que está llena de ellos Esnórquel: Reserva Marina Tres Palmas Actividad cultural: Art Walk, los jueves Restaurantes: Isla Restaurant, Taqueria Vatos Locos Mejores pinchos: La Cambija Bars: Aloha Surf, Caddy’s Calypso Cafe Alojamiento: Villa Pier 25, Casa Isleña

atendiera las necesidades de los pacientes a través de atención y educación personalizada.

Eso, además del servicio personal que surge de su relación cercana con el Dr. Green. “Estamos en constante comunicación con el médico de nuestros pacientes, por lo que tenemos un servicio uno a uno”, dice Ovidmarie. “La enfermedad de cada paciente es diferente y existen diferentes maneras en las que pueden consumir cannabis, por lo que le damos a cada paciente un tratamiento especial”.

El dispensario de cannabis medicinal ahora se halla en el corazón de Rincón, a casi una cuadra del mar y no muy lejos de donde comienza el Camino a la Felicidad. Es una ubicación ideal para un lugar en el que puedes conseguir el combustible dichoso que necesitas para llegar a tu lugar feliz. Recuerda que el turismo es un pilar de la economía, por lo que el tiempo y el dinero que gastes en tiendas de propietarios locales como The Green Room inyecta capital muy necesario en la comunidad.

Este grupo de amigos con una misma visión decidieron desarrollar su plan para The Green Room.

Tan solo no olvides llevar tu licencia para uso de marihuana medicinal. (Te dije que habría más al respecto) Puerto Rico acepta licencias de otros estados, no es necesario obtener una nueva en la isla. Sin embargo, necesitarás una recomendación médica de un doctor local si deseas comprar flor, de lo contrario deberás limitarte a los vaporizadores, comestibles, tinturas, ungüentos, cualquier cosa que no sea la flor para vaporizar. Si la flor es lo tuyo, no te preocupes: aquí es donde entra el Dr. Green. Uno de los médicos especialistas en marihuana con más conocimiento en la isla, Dr. Green también es médico si no tienes una licencia de cannabis medicinal y estarás más de 30 días, entonces él podría ayudarte a obtenerla. Y en Puerto Rico muchas enfermedades te permiten calificar para una licencia, entre ellas la depresión, el insomnio, dolor crónico y más. (Da un vistazo a la pág. 50 o thegreenroomrincon.com para conocer más detalles y planificar de antemano para no desperdiciar el valioso tiempo de vacaciones realizando papeleo).

“Mi esposo ingresó a la industria cuando esta se inició en Puerto Rico el 2016,” dice Ovidmarie. “Él nació el 20/4 (4/20, en inglés), es surﬁsta y conocedor del cannabis. Es un médico que certiﬁca a pacientes [para utilizar marihuana medicinal] y su sueño era tener un dispensario y el sueño de Ovidmarie siempre fue tener un dispensario en el pueblo de Rincón. Así que, ¿por qué no?”

(X2)ROOMGREENTHECORTESÍA

Awards2021 Puerto Rico’s CRAFT CANNABIS PIONEERS BEST MANUFACTURINGCONCENTRATECONCENTRATELIQUIDBESTSOLIDBESTVAPECARTRIDGEBESTCENTER 46 PUERTO RICO SUMMER 2022

COMMONS/MSCREATIVECORTESÍARICO,PUERTODISCOVERCORTESÍAUNSPLASH,GILLEN/CORTESÍAHARRYSTOCK,ADOBEROSE,ENGLISHTHECORTESÍAIZQUIERDA:SUPERIORPARTELADESDERELOJDELAGUJASLASDESENTIDOELEN SUMMER 2022 SENSIMAG.COM 47

empleados a cargo de ofrecer variedades de marihuana son profesionales”, dice Ovidmarie. “Dan la bienvenida a los pacientes por su nombre, saben quién eres y qué te gusta. Saben lo que están vendiendo. Saben lo que es bueno para ti, lo que funcionará mejor para tu enfermedad, la cantidad que necesitas para tu tratamiento y cómo puede combinarse con otro tipo de producto. Nuestros profesionales son los que más conocimiento tienen en el área”.

CONEXIÓN LOCAL Pasa algo de tiempo en Rincón (y realmente te recomendamos que lo hagas) y pronto te darás cuenta de que la unida comunidad del pueblo no hubiera sobrevivido tanto tiempo sin establecer salvaguardas. A través del Caribe, incluso los más pintorescos pueblos de playa han sido víctimas de las palas mecánicas para construir mega complejos hoteleros vacíos de personalidad o sentido de pertenencia. Pero gracias a los esfuerzos de los emprendedores locales y de actores vinculados con la comunidad como el equipo de The Green Room, Rincón está lleno de ambos. No hay mejor lugar para ver eso en acción que el Art Walk (Paseo del Arte) semanal, el cual tiene lugar cada jueves por la noche. Lo que comenzó como un esfuerzo de la comunidad hace casi una década para brindar apoyo a los artistas locales ha evolucionado hasta convertirse en un acontecimiento cultural que tiene lugar cada semana y que transformó la plaza central de Rincón en el centro cultural y económico de este pueblo surﬁsta. Una mezcla ecléctica de artesanos y artistas que presentan sus espectáculos transforma el centro del pueblo en una galería a cielo abierto para el arte y la cultura puertorriqueños.

El equipo de The Green Room se involucra por medio de asociaciones con otros negocios locales que se enfocan en el bienestar de la comunidad. Lo cual quiere decir que están muy involucrados, tanto asistiendo a eventos en colaboración con otros emprendedores y negocios del área. Colaboraron con el centro de bienestar Centro La Paz para ofrecer sesiones de Canna Yoga por Zoom a los pacientes durante la pandemia, celebran eventos educativos sobre cannabis para adultos mayores, brindan apoyo a artesanos locales durante el Art Walk y están planiﬁcado eventos deportivos en Rincón que se realizarán próximamente. Esta es su comunidad y aman todo de ella.

“Tenemos excelentes lugares para comer bien, ver el atardecer, buena música, buenas vibras, buena compañía”, dice Sandra. “De eso se trata Rincón”.

RIGHT: Punta Higuero Lighthouse LEFT (FROM TOP): La vida nocturna in Rincón, Sensi viene a Puerto Rico, Jack’s Shack

Sembrando patria y bienestar. Safrapr safrapr.com Código 20% descuento: SENSI It’s Organic, It’s Relaxing, It’s Green New Image, Same Quality. Call today or order online. We certify & renew patient licenses. US Medical Cannabis cards accepted! Flowers, tinctures, edibles, concentrates, and MORE. patients@thegreenroomrincon.comwww.thegreenroomrincon.comCarr.115Km12.3Bo.PuebloRincón,PR00677@thegreenroomincon@thegreenroompr 787-551-7184 48 PUERTO RICO SUMMER 2022

Although PRA is a small company composed only of its founders, Rene and Eric, and four other employees, Adrian, Manuel, JJ, and Carlos, their zest for what they do is mighty. They respect the cannabis plant and recognize it as the star of the show. To that end, they do not use additives, ﬁllers, or introduce any terpenes. Instead, they are mindful of keeping their products as organic as possible to highlight the authentic personality of the different strains. As Rene told us, “PRA is about crafting cannabis culture, not only through its products, but also through its mission. It is about quality. It is about the experience.”

PRA’s mission is to provide patients access to leading sources of cannabinoids and, in the process, deliver something more than a product: an experience of well-being enhanced by the unique ﬂavor and aroma of each strain. They achieve this by collaborating with the top cannabis growers on the island and meticulously selecting strains with an exceptional genetic lineup. Then, at PRA’s state-of-the-art hydrocarbon extraction lab, they use a proprietary blend of solvents to retain only the desired cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant. The result is liquid gold with high ranges of THC and terpenes that is smooth and aromatic and, most importantly, free of any impurities.

Puerto Rico Alchemy Cannabis Manufacturer puertoricoalchemy.com

These processes, along with PRA’s commitment to excellence, are the recipe for their award-winning products.

Only two years after becoming fully operational, Puerto Rico Alchemy (also known as “PRA”) has cemented its position as Puerto Rico’s leading craft cannabis manufacturer. In 2021 and 2022 they won seven awards for best liquid and solid concentrate, best vape oil, and gummies. Located in the island’s northern coastal town of Barceloneta, PRA was founded in 2018 by two best friends, Rene V. Fernandez and Eric Mitchell, who met in college while pursuing degrees in engineering and bonded over their passion for cannabis and surfing. After graduation they both worked at the same construction engineering firm, where they met Paul Sherman, who later would become their cannabis consulting partner. Paul, also a cannabis enthusiast, decided to ride the green wave of cannabis and, in 2015, moved to Oregon to co-found Willamette Valley Alchemy. Years later, when medical cannabis became legal in Puerto Rico, Rene and Eric, knowing first-hand about the versatility and myriad of benefits that high-quality, full-spectrum cannabis extractions can provide to a wide range of patients, decided to leave their engineering careers, break open their piggy banks, and start PRA.

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE PUERTO RICO’S ALCHEMY

Cannabis, Crafted Puerto Rico Alchemy specializes in premium cannabis experiences enhanced by science.

SUMMER 2022 SENSIMAG.COM 49

ingDon’tnewershipencethinking—butprogressive,innovative,andforwardthepres-ofwomeninlead-rolesinthisbravespaceisdecreasing.letthatdisconcert-factdiminishtherole

“It’s greatly disappointing that the numbers of women in cannabis are declining,” says Russo. “But I hope my ﬁlm shows that women have been the backbone of the cannabis industry for decades and inspires women entrepreneurs to reach for their dreams despite the challenges.” ladybudsmovie.com

of women in the industry, however. They are executives, inersoutmakercannabisandmanufacturers,cultivators,retailers,commentatorsintheworld,andﬁlm-ChrisJ.Russosettodocumentachiev-inallthosecareersheraward-winning

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THE END 50 PUERTO RICO SUMMER 2022

Cannabis is booming, and the industry posits itself as

film Lady Buds, which is currently airing on the STARZ network and can be streamed on services including andwomenprisedAppleTV+,Amazon,andiTunes.“Iwaspleasantlysur-bythenumberofentrepreneurswomeninleadership roles in the cannabis industry,” says Russo. “But that was back in 2017, since then, things have changed quite a bit. When I envisioned the film, it was important to me to include diverse voices that spoke to different areas of cannabis history in order for the film to include the LGBTQ history of cannabis activism and highlight the barriers to entry for marginalized communities who were impacted by the War on Drugs.”

To make the ﬁlm, Russo headed to Women In Cannabis networking events and farmers markets and conducted over 100 interviews with mothers, businesswomen, and elders, hoping to bring these diverse stories to a broad audience. Russo wants to create real change, too, with an impact campaign of cannabis panels and events that focus on cannabis policy running alongside screenings of the ﬁlm.

RUSSOC.J.OFCOURTESYPHOTO Grass Ceiling?

The lm Lady Buds elevates the stories of women in cannabis at the same time the industry is experiencing a disturbing drop of women in executive roles. DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

SEE ALL THE SUMMER EDITIONS NOW AVAILABLE! CALIFORNIA SUMMER 2022 DOWN “TheEARTHTOSoilKing” shares the wisdom he’s harvested from years of creating fertile ground. BE IT EVER HUMBOLDTSO Travel California’s Weed Country in style FREE MINDYOUR A new therapy that’s as easy as breathing Altvm is on a mission to cultivate the next great strain PHENO FINDERS MIND = BLOWN Interactive art at Meow Wolf HAPPY Canna-businessesGNOMEgrowtogether THE REAL DIRT Wisdom from the Soil King OKLAHOMA COLORADO MASSACHUSETTS MIND = BLOWN Interactive art at Meow Wolf THE REAL DIRT Wisdom from the Soil King EVER SO HUMBOLDT Explore California’s Weed Country &FRIENDSHIP,FAMILY,FIRE Northeast Alternatives’ simple three-part recipe for growth and greatness FLORIDA SUMMER 2022 GET OUT Three destinations to whet your wanderlust HUMBOLDT Tour California’s Weed Country like a local RINCÓN Puerto Rico’s best-kept secret is making waves DENVER Treat your brain with a trip to Meow Wolf PUERTO RICO SUMMER 2022 Caramor Compassionate Care combines Caribbean roots with quality cannabis PIE IN THE SKY Elevate your baking game THE REAL DIRT Wisdom from the Soil King EVER SO HUMBOLDT Explore California’s Weed Country MICHIGAN SUMMER 2022 MIND = BLOWN Interactive art at Meow Wolf THE REAL DIRT Wisdom from the Soil King EVER SO HUMBOLDT Explore California’s Weed Country Judi Porter and her sons transformed grief into growth for communitytheir FAMILY

Sensi Magazine Puerto Rico - Summer 2022

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