MUSH LOVE
Fungi spice up sex
OKLAHOMA MARCH 2022
REDEMPTION SONG The epic tale of how Slim founded Cater Creek Cannabis—and went from outlaw to space-age hero
THE HIGH ROAD
Stone Slade hits the air
GROW UP
Vertical gardening joys
SECURE THE LITTLE BLUE BAG
COOKIES - 4041 NW EXPRESSWAY, OKC
| LEMONNADE - 8010 E 106TH ST, TULSA
Sourcing pure quality cannabis to create clean products our consumers can trust. www.pcpure.com @pc_pure (Available in California, Oklahoma and Michigan) CDPH-10002554
“Growers tip of the day” Love Everybody It’s more than just a statement. It’s been our way of life and how together, we’ve grown great cannabis for over 30 years.
Carter Creek Cannabis, led by “Slim” and Icy Melts Solvent-less, led by “Senior”, are two of the finest brands to have emerged from the Oklahoma medical cannabis market. Our mission as a unified one, is “to improve the quality of people’s lives through the cannabis we grow and process”. This is why we focus on growing our cultivars as organically as possible and why Icy Melts only makes solvent-less infused products. Making the cleanest cannabis products for the patients of Oklahoma is our number one priority. Our emphasis on clean medicine and the most exotic cultivars in our state has led us to meet some of the most talented breeders/pheno hunters in the world. Special thanks to Rasta from Beleaf Cannabis and Jay from Phresh Harvest for blessing us with our 2022 lineup of amazing breeder-cut genetics. Chimera #2 , Peanut Butter Cookies 44 F2, and Sherbert Cream Cakes, just to name a few. Dropping in dispensaries all over Oklahoma on 4-20-22. Sales@highsandlowsbrokerage.com https://highsandlowsbrokerage.com/ @cartercreekcannabis & @icymeltssolventless leaflink.com/menu/icy-melts-solventless/
OKLAHOMA SENSI MAGAZINE MARCH 2022
sensimediagroup @sensimagazine @sensimag
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FEATURES
22 30
Take the High Road
Cannabis meets reality television in a new series starring Stone Slade.
Redemption Song
The epic tale of Carter Creek Cannabis is more than a business success story. It’s the ballad of a former outlaw named Slim who believes we can all find a higher purpose in the plant.
DEPARTMENTS
11 EDITOR’S NOTE 16 THE LIFE Contributing to your health and happiness 12 THE BUZZ MUSHROOM LOVE Fungus News, tips, and tidbits to keep you in the loop BETTER BILLFOLD The wallet reimagined
RESTAURANT LONGEVITY
Food & Beverage magazine helps restaurants keep cooking. CANNABIS MOMENTUM
CannaCon moves the industry forward. SOONER STARS The state’s local film legends CHUG ONE Oklahoma’s best breweries
for the bedroom
36 THE SCENE Hot happenings and hip
hangouts around town GROWING UP A guide to vertical gardening ON THE COVER
38 THE END Catch spring vibes at Sunset Lake.
Carter Creek Cannabis goes from outlaw to NASA. See page 30. PHOTO BY CASEDGOD / CASEDGOD.COM
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EXECUTIVE
MEDIA SALES
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Growing the Industr y.
From Seeds to Seed Money Find Everything You Need to Grow Your Business at CannaCon New York City • January 7-8th at the Javits Center Oklahoma City • March 31-April 1st at the Oklahoma Convention Center Detroit • July 21-22nd at the TCF Center Chicago • August 26-27th at the Rosemont Center Denver • September 24-25th at the Denver Convention Center Learn More at CannaCon.org
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Magazine published monthly by Sensi Media Group LLC.
© 2022 Sensi Media Group. All rights reserved.
Ah, sun! Despite a few rainy days spinkled in, spring
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—a time of renewal and new beginnings—is here. Why not embrace a little spring cleaning, whether that means changing physical surroundings, shedding old habits, or embracing new ideas? Mindsets in Oklahoma are certainly changing. The Oklahoma Marijuana Legalization Initiative (State Question 819), a proposed constitutional amendment supported by Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action, would mean full legalization, along with a 15% excise tax on sales. Advocates are working to gather 177,958 signatures by June. If enough signatures are provided to the state by April, the ballot measure may be eligible for the August primary election ballot. This movement is built on diverse opinions, points of view, and a desire to communicate. Though we share a common goal, everyone involved brings their individuality to the table. In spring, our palates change, too, with bright colors, fruity wines, and classic menu items reimagined with a lighter touch. New restaurants, upscale shops, and funky bars are opening to patrons ready to experience and explore. We can look forward to vibrant festivals, including Honeymoon Rock Fest, Norman Music Festival, Rocklahoma, and the Born and Raised Festival. Sensi Oklahoma celebrates the collective goal to create a better state in which to live, work, and play. Now is the time to move forward. As always, we appreciate you, the readers of Sensi. We hope you enjoy the spring inspiration in these pages!
In spring, our palates change, too, with bright colors, fruity wines, and classic menu items reimagined with a lighter touch.
Yours, TWITTER Follow @sensimag for need-to-know news and views from Sensi headquarters.
I N S TAG R A M Pretty things, pretty places, pretty awesome people: find it all on @sensimagazine
Debbie Hall debbie.hall@sensimag.com
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The Wallet Redux Did you know that the wallet was first designed when paper currency was introduced in the US in the 1600s? Though cash is quickly becoming a thing of the past, today we still use wallets for essentials like driver’s licenses and credit cards. Ekster has reimagined the traditional wallet in a version that is easier to use—and harder to lose. The Parliament Wallet rolls efficiency, sustainability, and durability into one wallet. Innovative materials, including vegan recycled leather (made from car windshields) and ECCO DriTan leather create good 12
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feelings for the wearer while helping the planet. The wallet is perfect for slim storage and quick card access. The built-in aluminum cardholder fans out cards at the click of a button and protects them against skimming. Customers can add a tracker card to make it unlosable. The new Metallic Edition aluminum cardholders, slim and durable, are crafted from space-grade aluminum with three glossy finishes, including metallic rose, metallic gold, and metallic silver. Parliament Wallet and Metallic Edition Aluminum Cardholder / ekster.com
PHOTOS COURTESY OF EKSTER
This new design safely holds essential information.
CONTRIBUTOR
Debbie Hall
BY THE NUMBERS
2 CATS The maximum number per household in Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Restaurant Longevity
PHOTOS (FROM LEFT) COURTESY OF WILLEY; BY PRODUCT SCHOOL
Food & Beverage magazine helps restaurants keep cooking. Despite all of the challenges, people are still dreaming of opening new restaurants. It’s hard work, without a doubt, but possible says the author of Food & Beverage Magazine Guide to Restaurant Success. Having opened five restaurants, the author reveals how to open one for $25,000 anywhere in the country. And why not? Even during the pandemic, people have demonstrated that they want to eat out, try new cuisines (with delivery and takeout), enjoy a variety of menu items, and socialize with family or friends over meals. With this guide, restaurateurs find a way to make their dreams happen with accurate guidance and clear steps. Anyone with a goal and passion to open a restaurant (or keep one open) will find wisdom in these pages. Food & Beverage Magazine Guide to Restaurant Success / Hardcover and Kindle / amazon.com
1935 YEAR that musician Bob Dunn of Beggs, Oklahoma, invented the first electric guitar
CANNABIS MOMENTUM
CannaCon moves the cannabis industry forward. The business of legal medicinal cannabis is booming in Oklahoma. To stay current, check out CannaCon, an interactive gathering of like-minded professionals uniting leading pioneers and entrepreneurs with investors. Learn about the latest innovations, industry products, and services, while gaining perspective from experts on industry developments. Gain access to next-gen cannabis technology and consumer products while discovering trends influencing the future of the marketplace. Strengthen your network at this global venue for cannabis entrepreneurs, businesses, investors, and community partners. CannaCon is a values-oriented event, cultivating community in the cannabis industry through education and responsible involvement. CannaCon / Mar. 31-April 1 / Oklahoma City Convention Center / 100 Mick Cornett Drive cannacon.org/south/cannacon-okc-2022
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STATES Oklahoma and Indiana, include the name of the state in their state capitals
THE MAGIC IN NEW BEGINNINGS IS TRULY THE MOST POWERFUL OF THEM ALL.” —Josiyah Martin, author
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THE BUZZ
Chug One
These are Oklahoma’s best breweries.
SOONER STARS
PHOTOS (FROM LEFT) BY GENE FRANCIS, PRADNYAL GANDHI
Do you know which favorite actors come from Oklahoma?
Sipping on suds brewed from a small, hometown brewery just adds to the taste and satisfaction—but where does your local favorite rank with the beer cognoscenti? Stacker compiled a list of the breweries with top-ranked beers in Oklahoma using data from BeerAdvocate. Check out the rankings; then, grab a cold one from your favorite brewery, whether it’s on the list or not.. Ranked No. 3 is Roughtail Brewing Co. offering Everything Rhymes With Orange IPA (IPA, New England), Hail Jucifer (IPA, American), and Hoptometrist (IPA, Imperial). Coming in at No. 2 is American Solera featuring Raspbarrel (Wild Ale), Foeder Cerise (Wild Ale), and Bright Black Delight (Wild Ale). Then, drumroll… At No. 1 is Prairie Artisan Ales with Bourbon Paradise (Stout, American Imperial), Pirate Paradise (Stout, American Imperial), and Pirate Bomb! (Stout, American Imperial).
The vast majority of Hollywood celebrities were born and raised outside of Tinsel Town—and the Sooner State has reared its fair share of A-list movie stars and beloved television characters. Stacker compiled a list of actors born in Oklahoma from IMDb’s most popular list. Check out to see if any of your favorites are on the list. Brad Pitt, born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, is an international icon and Oscar winner. Former child star and A-list director Ron Howard was born in Duncan, Oklahoma. Lee Pace, who played Ronan in Guardians of the Galaxy, calls Chickasha, Oklahoma, his hometown. Boomers will remember James Gardner, from Norman, Oklahoma, from the hit TV series The Rockford Files and 8 Simple Rules. One of the stars of Parenthood, Tyson Ritter, is from Stillwater, Oklahoma. James Marsden, also from Stillwater, was the heartthrob in Hairspray and Scott Summers in the X-Men franchise.
Here comes the sun, and I say, it’s all right.”
—The Beatles, iconic musicians.
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Mush Love Fungus could fun up your bedroom.
PHOTOS (FROM LEFT) BY KICHIGIN19, ADOBE STOCK; ANDERSPHOTO, ADOBE STOCK
TEXT ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE
In the South Pacific, legend tells of women writhing in sexual ecstasy after eating mushrooms they found growing wild in the forest. Normans fed grooms a dish made from a pound of mushrooms to prepare them for their wedding night, and Mataco Indians in Chiapas, Mexico, rubbed the red underside of bracket fungus on their faces to boost their sex appeal. In the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church banned highly sought-after cardoncello mushrooms for the unforgiveable sin of making parishioners horny. When it comes to sexy time, shrooms have a history. Flesh colored and globular, they come by their reputation naturally. But not all the 14,000 species of mushrooms have the
the skirt-wearing sex and erotic and lustful memories among the beard-wearing sex,” European gastronome Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin wrote in 1825. “This honorable parallelism comes not only from the fact that this esteemed tuber is delicious, but also because it is still believed to bring about potenTruffles cy, the exercise of which Ancient Greeks believed brings sweet pleasure.” truffles were created Also known as white when lightning impregdiamonds, truffles are nated the earth with its seed, and they’ve been one of the most coveted called the earth’s testicles. foods in the world, and They have been legendary their price tag—anysince ancient Rome, when where from $1,500 to $4,000 per pound—rePliny offered six ways to flects that. Like caviar prepare the delicacies in and fine champagne, they his compendium of aphseduce by being elusive rodisiacs. Napoleon was and expensive. Fungi that said to be a fan. live symbiotically with “Truffles. As soon tree roots, truffles can be as the word is spoken, it awakens lustful and found in only a few placerotic memories among es on earth. They emit a power of sexual persuasion. Only a handful have stood as aphrodisiac champions down through the centuries. Here’s a rundown of the naughty mushrooms and a little bit about how to eat them, something to chew on when planning your next romantic interlude.
chemical called androstenol, which is nearly identical to a male pig sex hormone and also found in men’s underarm sweat (there’s no accounting for what turns us humans on). While we swoon for the smell of truffles after they’ve been harvested, human noses don’t have what it takes to find them underground. Pigs and dogs can be trained to root them out for us, but that’s not cheap. In Brillat-Savarin’s day, the upper classes showed off by stuffing hens with truffles. That’s not the best way to enjoy them. To get the most out of truffles, serve them raw, grated, or sliced with a truffle slicer (yes, there’s such a thing) over fresh pasta, sauces, soups, risotto, or scrambled eggs. You can also make truffle butter—use
MAKE YOUR OWN
TRUFFLE HONEY INGREDIENTS
½ ounce fresh black or white truffles, cleaned 8 ounces raw organic honey INSTRUCTIONS
• Using a microplane grater, grate truffle into honey. Stir until well integrated. • Replace lid and refrigerate for 48 hours. Keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
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THE LIFE
it to sauté mushrooms for a real treat—or truffle honey, which is amazing when drizzled over gorgonzola crostini or baked brie. (You can also buy truffle butter and truffle honey in gourmet stores or online.)
PHOTO BY KATOBONSAI, ADOBE STOCK
Cordyceps In India and China, Cordyceps sinensis has been used as an aphrodisiac for centuries. Also known as “Himalayan Viagra,” it’s a rare fungus that gets inside a ghost moth caterpillar burrowed in the soil for the winter then slowly consumes and digests it from within. In the spring, the bright yellow, wormlike fungus blossoms up and out of the ill-fated cater-
pillar’s head. Legend has it that Tibetan yak herders were the first to notice their yaks had more energy and vitality when they ate cordyceps, and now it’s being touted as an alternative to pharmaceuticals for combating sexual dysfunction. Eating powdered cordyceps supports blood flow and oxygen supply, and clinical studies have found it supports healthy blood circulation in the penis and increases sperm count and quality. Wild cordyceps will run you $20,000 per pound and up, but you can buy much cheaper cultured Cordyceps militaris, which are vegan-grown on brown rice or soy (no caterpillars have to die). Eat them raw, cooked in food,
or made into tea. They can be sautéed or stewed with meat if you’re a carnivore. Cordyceps powder can be blended into coffee or chai or added to stir-fries, soups, salads, or pasta.
one to spice up your love life, be aware that reishi can also put you to sleep. Reishi powder and dried reishi are readily available at health food stores and online. When buying reishi powder, Reishi look for organic brands In Asia, reishi mushrooms that use hot-water exhave been known as the traction, which retains magic mushrooms of the the most nutrients. With bedroom for thousands a smoky, almost chocoof years. Reishi supports laty flavor, reishi is great the kidney and urinary in smoothies, teas, and as system, which is the seat a coffee alternative. of sexual power in traditional Chinese mediShiitake cine. Great for the brain, Fleshy and juicy, shiitaemotional well-being, ke mushrooms check all and the immune system, the aphrodisiac boxes. reishi can help the body They’re full of zinc, which become more resilient to gets the blood flowing stress—the number-one and boosts testosterone; cock blocker—over time. and lentinan, which is beIf you’re considering this lieved to enhance erectile
MAKE YOUR OWN
TRUFFLE BUTTER INGREDIENTS
1 pound quality unsalted butter, room temperature 1–3 teaspoons white truffle oil Sea salt, to taste INSTRUCTIONS
• Place butter in mixing bowl and add truffle oil 1 teaspoon at a time, tasting each time. Stir to combine. Add salt to taste. • Form into a 1-inch-thick log and wrap tightly with plastic. Keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Congregating Cordyceps The “caterpillar fungus” is said to be the world’s most valuable parasite.
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PHOTOS (FROM LEFT) BY ALEXKICH, ADOBE STOCK; JAROSLAV MACHACEK, ADOBE STOCK
THE LIFE
raise children—another leap for humankind. That’s something to think about, though it’s admittedly a little academic. Bottom line is that many people, including famous ethnobotanists, consider psilocybin an aphrodisiac even though it doesn’t in and of itself increase libido. It does open your mind and cause your brain to pump out the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin. Your skin gets more sensitive, and touch feels more pleasurable. With the right person or persons, magic mushrooms can spark intense, intimate conversation, mind-blowing orgasms, and cosmic-level cuddling. Good Shiitake Psilocybin mushThese powerful mushrooms rooms should be heated have antiviral, antibacterial, to at least 140 degrees and antifungal properties. Fahrenheit and preferably above 200 degrees function. In a study of ger. They’re great in stir- increased male potency Fahrenheit to release voles fed shiitake extract fries and soups (miso in and opened up worlds of their nutrients, get rid for three weeks, males particular). possibilities, like invent- of harmful pathogens with withering libido saw ing languages and having and toxins, and soften their sexual motivation Psilocybin group sex. “Everyone the tissues to make them restored with 1.5 times If you believe ethnobotwould get loaded around more digestible. You can more ejaculations. Donko anist Terence McKenna’s the campfire and hump eat them fresh, dried, shiitake, which have Stoned Ape theory of in an enormous writhing and ground, or made into white designs on their human evolution, the psi- heap,” McKenna is quot- tea. Pairing them with tops, are believed to pack locybin mushroom’s aph- ed as saying. These magic mint and lemon can help the most punch. rodisiac qualities were mushroom–fueled orgies ward off any early nausea You can find shiitakes key to humans’ survivled to genetic diversifithey might induce. at your local grocer. Slice al as a species. McKencation, making humans Legality varies, so find the meaty cap and sauté na wrote that primitive more disease-resistant. out what you need to it in olive oil or duck fat. humans’ experimenAnd with no way to trace know based on where you Shiitake pair well with tation with high doses who was whose daddy, live if you’re considering onions, garlic, and ginof magic mushrooms communities formed to a psilocybin trip.
MAKE YOUR OWN
VEGAN REISHI GOLDEN MILK
Serves 2
INGREDIENTS
3 cups plant milk (almond, coconut, oat, cashew) 5 teaspoons maple syrup 1 teaspoon reishi powder 3 teaspoons ground turmeric ¼ teaspoon ground ginger 2 cinnamon sticks 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom Ground pepper, to taste INSTRUCTIONS
• Whisk ingredients together in a saucepan over low heat until well combined. Pour into mugs and serve.
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ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF STONE SLADE
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Fighting for freedom is Join the revolution at norml.org
S
tone Slade was born for this. Literally. The reality TV star’s first breath, at a hospital in Guadalajara in 1971, was laced with cannabis smoke from a hit his father shotgunned in his newborn face—a rite of passage that seemed completely normal among the big, crazy family of rock stars, drug smugglers, and assorted other characters Slade grew up with. Slade’s dad, whom he describes on Instagram as an “OG Legacy market player,” toured with the Grateful Dead and was a member
of the Pleasure Crew (your guess is as good as Slade’s as to what that means—but we’re talking the Dead here, so make it your best guess). Slade spent his first 10 years hanging out on tour buses and running around arenas before his family settled in Austin and started hanging out on Willie Nelson’s ranch. Slade describes his childhood as “something between Almost Famous and a light episode of Narcos.” Everyone smoked weed—they
called it “whistle” so an unwitting kid wouldn’t accidentally out them to a teacher or another parent— and Slade was often a designated joint passer. As a teenager, he dipped into his dad’s stash. “Cannabis is as American as apple pie,” Slade says. “Those weren’t criminals who were smoking around me; those were my parents, dear friends, people I saw every day.” Then, when he was a junior in high school, his dad didn’t come home one night. Slade’s father had gone to help a friend buy a pound of weed and got caught in a DEA sting. “Of all the way more crazy things he was involved with, this is what got him,” Slade says. “He was gone for five years—the end of my high school years.”
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Want a sample of our work? You’re reading it. Em Agency is proud to be the creative force behind Sensi’s award-winning visual style. We build brands we believe in—the brand you believe in can be next. emagency.com
A CANNABIS ROAD TRIP Slade’s lifelong love for cannabis and extremely personal reasons for pushing legalization are the impetus for Hittin’ the High Road with Stone Slade & Sensi Magazine (stream the show here: hittinthehighroad.com), a show he is hosting and co-producing with Justin Netti. Best known for his role on A&E’s Modern Dads series, Slade is bringing his content creation skills and on-screen cred to a show designed to demystify and destigmatize cannabis and the cannabis industry. The show concept came to Slade as he and his wife were waiting in line at a Los Angeles dispensary on 4/20. He was
thinking about the current state of cannabis TV. “I like what’s out there, but I feel like I like it because I’m a stoner,” Slade says. “We all know there’s a much larger contingent of people who just might not stay tuned for the goofiness in most of the stoner shows out there.” Hittin’ the High Road follows Slade on a cannabis road trip across America, meeting with the people behind the industry, from dispensary owners to medical patients to farmers, for lighthearted yet serious No Reservations-esque segments. The show is meant to appeal to a broader spectrum of viewers, from connoisseurs to the canna-curious.
“So many people are about to enter this journey,” Slade says, referring to the flood of new cannabis patients and consumers stepping into the market as more and more states legalize. Hittin’ the High Road will make it easier for first timers and consumers who have been away from cannabis for a long time. “The first time M A R C H 2022
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I walked into a dispensary, I felt so weird,” Slade says, “like I was doing something wrong.” With such a great concept, his extensive network of industry contacts, and what seemed like perfect timing, Slade figured he’d have the show on the air in no time. He couldn’t believe it when the mainstream networks shut him down again and again, even after he showed them how his concept was different, better, educational. No one picked up on his vision. “It’s still taboo, really,” he says. “Until cannabis loses that Schedule I designation, we’re not going to see a big flood of normalcy in television.” CANNABIS FOR LIFE In 2013, just as Slade was dadding it up with his daughter Danica on Modern Dads, his own father was diagnosed with liver cancer. The only thing that could ease his father’s pain, aside from hard-core, stupor-inducing pharmaceuticals, were Bhang chocolate bars smuggled in from Colorado. Slade’s father passed on November 1, Day of the Dead. If that weren’t symbolic enough, he died at an oddly apropos time. “We were mourning him,” Slade says, “but when the guy read out the time of death at 4:20 p.m., we couldn’t help but just laugh.” Under his father’s influence, Slade adds, he has embraced cannabis for his entire life. “I spent the majority of my life as a casual user,” he says, “then the legal end came in when I lost Dad for those five years and the medical side when we lost him for good in 2013.” M A R C H 2022
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TEXT DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN PHOTOS CASEDGOD
THE EPIC TALE OF CARTER CREEK CANNABIS IS
MORE THAN THE STORY OF A RENEGADE NAMED SLIM. This is the tale of an industry rising up from the shadows and making cannabis a means by which we can all find a higher purpose.
T
he story of Slim and Queen Bee reads like a good country song. The founder of Carter Creek Cannabis, Slim (as he wants to be known), who grew up in the Ouachita mountains in the southeast corner of the state, just celebrated his 45th birthday. “March 21, the first day of the Zodiac,” he tells me, settling into his office. “Not long after I was born, Elvis died.” On his 16th birthday, Slim was incarcerated for growing marijuana. Years in the dark followed, spiraling into issues with methamphetamines and a deal with a judge that saved his life. Now, he’s found redemption in his Christian faith as well as in the very place where the troubles of his youth began: growing (now-legal) cannabis. Working with a revolutionary fertilizer developed by NASA, Carter Creek is primed to supercharge the industry in Oklahoma.
THE LIE DETECTOR Slim’s parents were respectable citizens—his dad, a banker—who had
nothing to do with growing weed. “They never messed with any of that stuff,” Slim says. But Slim’s best friend and neighbor’s father was growing and even exporting Oklahoma cannabis to the marijuana-grow epicenter of Humboldt County, California. “He was a big-time outlaw,” says Slim. “If you looked up ‘outlaw’ on the internet, you’d come up with a picture of him.” Despite the harsh sentencing laws in place in 1990, growing didn’t seem like a big deal to 13-year-old Slim. “Back then it was 30 to life for a cultivation charge in the state of Oklahoma, not counting federal time,” he says. “But we were young kids, and we figured if we got caught, we’re minors—the feds aren’t going to mess with us.” And when he did get arrested at 16, he was able to avoid serious charges. Slim was a star baseball player in high school. The University of Oklahoma recruited him. He tried out for major league teams and got a call back from the Florida Marlins. But that possible future fell apart when he began to develop a methamphetamine addic-
tion, which overtook his life by the time he was a senior. He was kicked off the baseball team, and the scouts didn’t call him back. By 2001, his life was a haze of cooking meth, aimlessness, and running from the law. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, he turned himself in. “I watched 9/11 on the TV, and I said, ‘Man, you know the last thing the government needs to be wasting is its time on is looking for someone like me when they have some real terrorists to go look for,’” he says. After serving 18 months in prison, he was out—and back at it again. He was hauled back in on a parole violation. The court put him in an Oklahoma drug court program that allowed him the chance to stay out of prison but face higher sentencing if he messed up (and, indeed, he grew pot the whole time he was in the program). On the day he was supposed to graduate, he was required to take a lie detector test and was asked if he was continuing to grow. He admitted he was and figured that he was headed back to prison. M A R C H 2022
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He was shocked to find himself called to the graduation ceremony that day. Afterward, the judge confronted him on the court steps. “He told me they knew I had been growing, even up to that day,” Slim says. “He told me he knew I had sinned through the whole program. He said he decided to stick his neck out for me and told me he was going to keep me out of prison because I told the truth on my lie detector test.” The judge struck a deal with Slim. He asked him to quit growing pot and to never break Oklahoma law for the rest of his life. Slim agreed. He gave it all up, and even stuck to the deal after the judge passed away in 2011. “He could have put me in prison for 20, 30 years that day,” Slim says. “He didn’t because he believed in me. So I thought, I’m not gonna let this man down. And in October 2012, I was granted a full pardon by the governor.”
LEARNING CURVE TO THE MOON Things went well for a reformed Slim. He met his now wife, Queen Bee, soon after he was released,
“HE COULD HAVE PUT ME IN PRISON FOR 20, 30 YEARS THAT DAY. HE DIDN’T BECAUSE HE BELIEVED IN ME. SO I THOUGHT, I’M NOT GONNA LET THIS MAN DOWN.”
and they started having babies. He stayed away from drugs, including cannabis. He found a renewed power in his faith, in the grace of God. And then life took a weird twist. In 2018, the state of Oklahoma legalized medical cannabis. The very substance that had started a cascade of trouble was now presenting an opportunity. Because, despite any of the perceived sins of his past, Slim knew how to grow cannabis—outside, that is. He founded Carter Creek Cannabis with Brady Sorrell, and the two began intense research on the best methods to grow in the way they would need to for a viable, controlled business: inside. With legalization, cultivating cannabis had evolved into a science, an art. “We didn’t have rules back when we grew,” he says. “So it was a big learning curve. It’s progressive science and nobody has it mastered. You have to be open and humble to learn new things.” This was the new, reformed, revived Slim, a man with a second chance and an opportunity to learn and grow from the mistakes of his M A R C H 2022
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youth. He had a vision to make Carter Creek not just a cannabis company, but a trusted brand that could bring all the best of the weed that once landed him in jail to people who were suffering and lost. Carter Creek is moving at light speed. Last year, the brand won the High Times Cannabis Cup in Oklahoma and third place in the Cowboy Cup for its infused prerolls. The brand is partnering with other brands in the Sooner State, including Icy Melts Solventless, Beleaf Cannabis, and Fresh Harvest to craft new strains. On 4/20 this year, it will open Carter Mountain Dispensary, along with sister brand Mountain Fork Cannabis. Credit that success to Slim’s dedication to doing things the right way, committing to organic growing processes, and his willingness to partner and learn from those around him. “I real-
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ly respect the craft of what he is doing,” says Icy Melts Solventless founder David Trujillo, known as “Senior,” who partnered with Slim on the Cannabis Cup-winning prerolls. “My goal is to find the best possible starting material. And I fell in love with the way Carter Creek was growing craft cannabis. Beyond that Slim and I really connected on our faith.” Trujillo moved down from Tulsa to collaborate more with Slim, and his son, Junior, works for Slim as a grower. “At the forefront of what we’re trying to do is educating people on how we make our products, why they’re better for you,” says Trujillo. “We were always told that there was no medicinal value in this plant, but now we have learned that it’s one of the most effective natural holistic therapeutics known to man.” The forward momentum of Carter Creek goes even deeper. The brand is also partnering with Brandon Rust, the founder of Bokashi Earthworks, and using a soil that was developed by NASA Agritech, which Rust distributes in the US. The soil uses lignite, an inert form of carbon, to hold nutrients, similar to a magnet, and then release them in the soil so that plants can make use of them. It’s far superior
to other fertilizers in which competing elements cancel each other out or simply get washed away. “When you start attaching all these same molecules that the plants need to these carbon chains, they become 100-percent bioavailable,” Rust explains. “They don’t change or react in solution or in the soil. They stay there.” That makes for healthy plants as well as healthy bacteria and fungi in the soil, which creates a healthier system for indoor grows.
INSTAGRAM, OKLAHOMA, AND GOD With such a powerful origin story and now a blossoming business in a state that’s become a hotbed for innovative cannabis entrepreneurs, you’d think Slim would be happy to just enjoy the benefits of making it. But after traveling a life path from outlaw to benefactor, he’s more interested in the higher purpose of his endeavors. “As I started to grow more in my late 20s, I started to learn to love the plant,” Slim says. “I realized I was growing life, that I got to be a part of something that was a whole lot bigger than me. I’d watch a seed sprout, pop the husk off, and then grow into this great, beautiful orange, pink, yellow purple, beautiful, perfect-smelling
plant. Now, growing indoor medical cannabis instead of outdoor weed, we’re actually making medicine that has to be dialed in just right. It’s changing people’s lives.” Slim also has a profound love of his home state, not just for the judge who saw bigger potential in him when he was at bottom two decades ago, but also in the way Oklahoma has been so forward thinking when it comes to cannabis. “I want to thank the state of Oklahoma and the legislators for how they wrote the cannabis laws. We have more pot here than California, yet the California market’s gonna collapse because they’re overtaxed and they have too much junk in their laws,” he says. “Oklahoma understands the bigger picture of cannabis. I also want to thank all of the citizens of Oklahoma for voting medical cannabis in. And then I want to thank them all for voting in recreational, because it’s going to happen. We’re not shunned here in Oklahoma. It’s even accepted in the churches.” That religious acceptance is essential to Slim, who was teaching Bible study before the pandemic hit. And he found reassurance in his faith and his business in an unlikely place: social media. He had been positioning his Instagram
“I REALIZED I WAS GROWING LIFE, THAT I GOT TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING THAT WAS A WHOLE LOT BIGGER THAN ME… NOW, WE’RE ACTUALLY MAKING MEDICINE THAT HAS TO BE DIALED IN JUST RIGHT. IT’S CHANGING PEOPLE’S LIVES.”
page to promote Carter Creek Cannabis, but he got caught up in the narcissistic emptiness of social media. “I’d make posts and comments on my page to try to sell my business, sell cannabis,” he says. “But my heart just wasn’t in it.” At the same time, he went through a rough patch selling an HVAC business he owned and trying to quit cigarettes. Then God spoke to him—about Instagram. “I was thinking, what’s the purpose of all this crap that happened in my life? And it was as if God sat down beside me and said, ‘Son, I give you a platform with 18,000 followers. And what are you doing with it?’” Slim says. “He said, ‘Growing cannabis and life itself are the exact same thing.’ He told me to try to think about the process that gives this plant life, something that makes this plant survive in this environment, and you’re going to relate that to life itself and what people deal with. And that’s going to be your grower’s tip of the day. (I mean, he even told me: grower’s tip of the day #farmerofmen). So that’s what I did. The cannabis is just a bonus and a vessel to get me from point A to point B.” Remember that when you read Slim’s tip of the day: there’s a higher purpose in everything he does.
A B O U T T H E AU T H O R
Doug Schnitzspahn is Sensi’s executive editor. His work has appeared in National Geographic, Men’s Journal, and the Colorado Sun.
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Upward Growth Maximize the beauty and harvests of vertical gardening.
This spring, consider going vertical to expand your outdoor gardening space, create privacy, and add beauty to bare walls and fences. This centuries-old technique has been used to grow food and flowers, cultivating productivity from the ground up. Gardening on a small city lot, balcony, or deck? Maximize the space to expand your gardening opportunities. Ideal vertical plants include pole beans, peas, squash, melons, tomatoes, and other vining edible plants. With supports, growing these crops vertically saves space, reduces the risk of disease, and makes harvesting much easier. Include trellises and arbors in raised beds and elevated gardens 36
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to further maximize growing space. Trellises train vines upward while arches allow you to grow two layers of plants— one over the trellis and one below. Grow annual vines for quick cover and perennial vines for years of beauty. Mix the two to quickly cover the trellis with the annual vine while waiting for the perennial to establish and reach its mature size. Plant two vines with different bloom times on one trellis to extend the colorful flower display. Or look for those that bloom at the same time to double the floral impact. Vertical gardening techniques can also be used when gardening in containers. Create your own or purchase a support that securely
fits and supports vines growing in the container. Some containers come with an integrated trellis. Further reduce maintenance by utilizing a self-watering pot like the City Jungle Self-Watering Tomato Planter large enough to grow and support two indeterminate tomatoes. Some containers can be mounted on a wall or fence or stacked and secured vertically to increase growing space. Systems like the Vigoroot 4-Tiered Balcony Garden provide lots of planting space in just a few square feet. Decorative supports add beauty or a focal point year-round. Select the style—rustic, formal or colorful—that complements your garden design, furnishings, and personality. Make sure
whatever you choose is strong enough to support the plants you grow. Mask rain barrels, compost bins and other functional areas in the landscape with a wall of plants. Leave space for easy access as you fill your compost bin or harvest finished compost and rainwater. Use trellises and arbors to brighten often overlooked spaces. A vine-covered arbor makes a nice floral welcome at the entrance to a walkway or colorful transition between garden areas. Make sure the opening is large enough to accommodate visitors and any equipment needed. Dress up a lamp or mailbox post with a vine covered support. Create your own from chicken wire or
PHOTO COURTESY OF GARDENER’S SUPPLY COMPANY/GARDENERS.COM
TEXT MELINDA MYERS
Grow a vegetable garden vertically in a compact space, whether on a balcony or patio.
A B O U T T H E AU T H O R
Melinda Myers is the author of more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses How to Grow Anything DVD series and the Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her web site is melindamyers.com.
purchase a curved trellis like the Bosmere Trellis (gardeners.com) suitable for this application. You can easily dress up a bare wall or fence,
screen a bad view, or create privacy with a plant-covered trellis. Leave space between the wall and trellis when gardening next to a
building. This space allows airflow between the building and plants, reducing the risk of mildew on the wall and diseases infecting the plants.
No matter your style and location, vertical gardening can help you maximize your growing space and garden’s beauty. M A R C H 2022
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THE END
Experience Serenity Catch spring vibes at Sunset Lake.
Sunset Lake in Thompson Park— named for the magnificent colors on display when the sun sets—is the spot for peace, serenity, and fun activities. Picnic areas here include three large, covered pavilions. Activities include paddle boats, miniature trains, a soccer field, a disc golf course, and playground fun. The basketball court 38
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is illuminated at night so people can play during warm evening temperatures. Take a leisurely walk around the one-mile trail that encircles the lake, enjoying the plant life and geese on the lake while feeding the ducks. Fish for abundant trout and catfish with licenses available at City Hall through
April 30. The Game Reserve just north of the lake boasts lovely wildlife. Enjoy the elk, Watusi cattle, llamas, Oryx, longhorn cattle, and buffalo. A handicapped-accessible dock is located on the west side of the lake for those who need assistance. Sunset Lake / Thompson Park / NW 5th St. / Guymon / guymonok.org/parks
PHOTO BY RAYCHEL SANNER
TEXT DEBBIE HALL
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