Evercannabis- October 4th, 2019

EVERCANNABIS OCTOBER 2019

SCARED SILLY

Films on cannabis range from horrific to hilarious

DERMA PATCH

A solution for slow-release, long-acting pain relief

RESIN AND ROSIN What makes these concentrates different?

www.evercannabis.com

LET THE SUN SHINE Outdoor growers bask in harvest season

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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

By now, I can sort of follow the extraction process, and know common terpenes and can sometimes spell limonean and linalool. I try my hardest to keep up on the ever-changing LCB rules and can also explain “420,” thanks in a big part to one of our early stories where correspondent Jeff Selle performed extensive research into the origins of this very high holiday, including reaching one of the original Waldos (the group of high school kids in the 1970s who started the whole thing).

VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 10 DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Kathleen Coleman

DIRECTOR OF SALES Dan Fritts

MANAGING EDITOR Joe Butler

HEALTH & CULTURE EDITOR Theresa Tanner

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Anne Potter

From the

Editor’s Desk PUZZLING OVER THE MEANING OF THAT ONE WORD

The Spokesman-Review EDITORIAL TEAM

“So…. why do they call it pot anyway?”

Jim Camden

“Uhhh…”

EVERCANNABIS

is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review

@EvercannaNews on social media www.evercannabis.com Evercannabis@spokesman.com 509.459.5095 Cover Photo: The owners of Lazy Bee Gardens in Winthrop use sunlight to grow cannabis plants. Photo courtesy Bess Byers.

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You’d think by now, I’d be able to rattle off a perfect answer to that question. After all, thanks to a lot of research and some very smart and patient friends over the last few years, I’ve eventually learned quite a lot of the ins and outs of this industry and culture.

But I was honestly stumped on the ‘pot’ question. As were many of my colleagues who have been involved in this industry since I was still chasing wrecks as a younger and more clean-shaven reporter. Even worse, but not necessarily surprisingly, the internet was no help.

I will throw in the disclaimer that the World Wide Web seems an unreliable source for solid info about the history of cannabis. Because marijuana has been such an underground commodity for so long, the bulk of online historical information seems to be incomplete, false, quasi-opinion, or simply out of date.

It’s OK for general collective consensus or a starting place, but in no way a recommended spot for solid research.

But even here, the pot puzzle really lacked any common answers beyond, “maybe you can grow it in a pot or store it in a pot.”

The best answer I found was from Wikileaf, which first concurred that “this may be one of the biggest marijuana mysteries of all time.”

Their best guess was that the name may be a shorter form of “potacian de guaya,” which they said was a traditional illicit Mexican drink featuring cannabis leaves and stems soaked in potent wine or brandy. It’s loosely translated as “drink of grief,” which probably would be felt after downing a couple of these. Cannabis historians do credit Mexican influences on other parts of our current cannabis culture, from the term marijuana to some native south of the border strains.

Does this ring true with other cannabis enthusiasts? Are there any other questions or terminology that you’ve always wondered about? Let’s all learn together! Contact us at Evercannabis@spokesman.com.

Joe Butler Managing Editor

EVERCANNABIS CONTRIBUTORS Linda Ball is a freelance journalist based in Washington State who has covered a variety of topics including environmental issues, city hall, arts and entertainment, education, human interest stories and now the rapidly-changing cannabis industry.

Tom Bowers left his life as a The Spokesman-Review columnist in 2008 to seek his fortune in the world. He consults for cannabis, beer, and recording industries as the founder and Managing Director of Propagate Consultants.

Joe Butler is a longtime marketing writer and editor at The Spokesman-Review. He’s an enthusiast of Star Wars, commemorative spoon collecting, and the Oxford comma.

Tracy Damon is a Spokane-based freelancer who has been writing professionally for 20 years. She has been covering i502 issues since recreational cannabis became legal in Washington.

Kate A. Miner has a degree in visual anthropology, and has worked in marketing and advertising for many years. She writes, takes photos and teaches yoga.

John Nelson is a longtime journalist, having worked at major news operations in Spokane, Memphis and Seattle. He is a freelance journalist, writing about outdoors recreation, marijuana and recreational vehicles.

Rick Misterly is a Washington resident whose interest in cannabis dates back to the 1960s. He’s the cannabis and hashish curator for Green Barn Farms in Addy and writes the “Rick’s World of Hashish” blog.

Taryn Mickelson is originally from New Mexico and now works in Washington’s cannabis industry.

She enjoys writing about the positive changes in this rapidlygrowing business.

Renee Sande has been a freelance writer for 12 years, covering the gamut from real estate to bridal to travel and now cannabis. A Spokane native, Renee has two kids and loves to explore, travel, run, read and write.

Dan Webster Dan Webster is a former Spokesman-Review staff writer who is a community producer for Spokane Public Radio and a blogger for Spokane7.com.

Cara Wietstock has worked in cannabis retail and gardens across three states since 2011. She has settled in Bellingham, where she spends her free time gardening, practicing yoga, reading heady fiction, and hanging with her cats.

Tyler Wilson has been writing for various publications around the Inland Northwest since 1999. He and his wife have four children and a podcast, “Old Millennials Remember Movies.” Because everybody has a podcast.

evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

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News & Business 6

HAVE A HEART Retailer has a philosophy of good

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ALOHA LIFE Cheney farm strives for righteousness

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FDA SAYS NO Hemp-based CBD foods illegal

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CANNATAX TENSION Study cautions restraint in spending

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SUNGROWN GRASS Outdoor farms have benefits, challenges

Health & Science 16

WIDE AWAKE Cannabis products for insomnia

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STICK TO IT Transdermal patches may help with pain

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EATING HEMP Seeds packed with nutrition

Culture & Lifestyle

OCTOBER CONTENT

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MOVIE NIGHT Have a green Halloween

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TERP TV TALK Media company documents culture

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SLEEP IN THE TREES Not your grandma’s B&B

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BEST BUDS Local budtenders recognized

Learn & Grow

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HASH IT OUT The differences between resin and rosin

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DIY GUMMIES Make bite-sized edibles at home

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STRAIN OF THE MONTH Globetrotting cannabis strains

Marijuana and marijuana-infused products are legal for Washington residents 21 years and older. It has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming.

It can impair concentration, coordination and judgment. There may be health risks associated with consumption.

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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

NEWS & BUSINESS

Have a Heart: a name and a mission

Have a Heart’s Belltown dispensary is one of Seattle’s biggest selling retailers. The Lake Forest Park location is also visually interesting.

Multistate retailer wants what’s best for community, employees

By JOHN NELSON EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

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hen you go into a cannabis store, your purchase – you hope – will make you feel good. But what about doing some good, as in making the world a better place?

Have a Heart puts this philosophy front and center. The cannabis retailer sponsors many causes, such veteran outreach, the Women’s March and cancer awareness.

Have a Heart employees are unionized, something management welcomes. Its 400 employees are represented by UFCW 21, which has allowed workers to receive pension plans and benefits.

“We have the basic philosophy to do good,” said Ed Mitchell, chief operating officer for Have a Heart.

One of the Seattle-based company’s mottos is, “Good Vibes Are on the Way,” making it feel like you’re doing more than just buying another gram when you spend your money.

This business approach is undeniably successful.

Have a Heart has five shops in the Seattle area and one in Ocean Shores. The company’s Belltown store is one of Seattle’s top retailers; its King County operations rank No. 2 in sales statewide, according to state statistics.

Have a Heart has expanded to California with four retail locations, and recently added a store in Oregon. In Iowa, Have a Heart also operates two medical dispensaries.

Besides spreading the good vibes, Have a Heart offers some interesting customer experience innovations.

Have a Heart stores feature original artwork.

The Belltown store, for instance, has a playful sculpture of a giant joint. Its Lake Forest Park store showcases colorful murals on the walls and neon lighting.

“All of our stores are kind of like going to Disneyland,” Mitchell said.

The retail operations also offer inviting open floor plans with display cases along the walls.

You can speak to a sales associate for advice, or simply browse among the offerings.

When you’re ready, you can use a touch-

screen monitor to place your order. Store staff will fill your request behind the scenes, then you can purchase and receive your product at the cash register. The effect is to give customers time to look around without the pressure of deciding at a counter with a budtender hovering nearby, waiting for you to make a selection.

“It’s funny how the open floor gives this feeling of being able to hang out and talk with people,” Mitchell said. And Have a Heart’s budtenders are trained rigorously to be “very knowledgeable and make great recommendations,” he added.

For those who know what they want, Have a Heart also offers online ordering, so your purchase will be ready as soon as you walk in.

“Speed is an issue for a lot of people,” Mitchell said, and many customers know what they want and appreciate getting in and out quickly.

In the future, Have a Heart will continue to expand, most heavily in California, Mitchell said.

“We’ve decided we really fit well on the West Coast,” he said.

Along with positive growth comes a share of difficulties. Every state has different regulations and most municipalities put additional requirements on cannabis dispensaries.

“The farther we get away from headquarters, the bigger our challenges are,” Mitchell said. “There’s a lot of complexity that comes with all the variations.”

Looking ahead, Mitchell sees changes for the industry. The health benefits of cannabis are only now being discovered through new research.

And companies such as Have a Heart are going to get better at recommending strains that people enjoy, Mitchell said.

“The stigma that comes along with the product is going to change over time,” he said.

Visit haveaheartcc.com to find Washington locations and more.

Photos by John Nelson

evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

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Pono Farms bring Hawaii to the Northwest

By TRACY DAMON EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

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n Hawaiian, if something is “pono,” it means it’s righteous.

Which is exactly how Richard Present describes Pono Cannabis Lifestyle’s products. Present opened the Cheney-based cannabis company with co-owners Mike and Sheri Tullis to grow a “righteous” product while making a difference in the industry.

“We’re building a lifestyle brand,” he said.

“It’s an experience.”

Specifically, a Hawaiian experience.

“I love the culture; the chill atmosphere,” he said of the state he’s been visiting several times a year since he was a child.

Present also loves the similarly chill atmosphere of the cannabis industry but says it has changed since Washington’s unregulated medical marijuana market merged with the i502 industry in 2015, losing some of its “deli-style” feeling.

“For years, if you met the neighborhood drug dealer in the alley, you were able to smell the product and feel it,” Present said.

With adult-use retailers selling products wrapped in state-required air-tight packages, he feels the process of purchasing pot has become impersonal.

Pono is trying to bring back old-school

customer interaction that lets buyers smell before they buy.

Their customers get a Mylar bag filled with nitrogen. A “peel and pull” sticker covers a small hole in the bag that allows you to squeeze it and get a good sniff of what is inside.

“You wouldn’t put crap pot in a bag you can smell,” Present explained.

The nitrogen keeps the marijuana fresh for 60 to 90 days, although Present says their product is usually long gone by then. Since introducing the new packaging about three months ago, the company has seen sales increase 30%.

Along with the new bag comes a “live” label that allows customers to scan a QR code.

“Once you sign up for free to create a profile, you can do a review on any product you buy,” said Present. “The next person who clicks on that QR code in the store can read the review and make decisions on what to buy with that help. We use that feedback to adjust and respond to make our product better.”

Scanning the QR code also reveals strain and product history, which Present believes young people in particular will appreciate.

“Millenials are all about their phones. They use them to interact and on social media, so we’re giving them something to talk about.”

While Pono has a primary lineup of pesticide-free strains, the company also sells two or three limited edition flavors annually, such as Tropic OG and Puna Budder.

In addition to knowing his way around a grow and being a savvy marketer, Present is also a proponent for hemp and an activist for the cannabis industry. His current passion is starting a union, which he hopes will provide a steady supply of industry workers who will earn living wages with health benefits.

A union could also offer consultants and attorneys to help new businesses with Liquor and Cannabis Board issues. Present believes that the cannabis industry will have the largest workforce in the state.

“There’s strength in numbers. (Formation of a union) is going to happen in the next five years.”

On a smaller scale, Present has a lot of other ideas he’s working on for Pono.

“Everything is about ‘how can we be a company that’s going to last for generations?’”

One idea he is considering is offering

discounts for veterans to support those who have risked their lives in service and are dealing with the after-effects, while also building brand loyalty.

The company also supports the immediate community. The Pono building is a stone’s throw from Marshall, which has struggled recently with water quality issues and water shortages. Following the interview for this article, Present planned to drop off drinking water there.

Present encourages retailers to tour Pono’s facility to learn about its products and back story.

The company is also planning “experiences” for the public that could include sampling Pono’s products, touring the facility, or even a night out on the town sponsored by Pono.

While those ideas are being developed, Present recommends a stay-cation featuring Pono products.

“I want people to take it out of the package and feel like they’re on vacation.”

Photo by Tracy Damon

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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

Hemp CBD food products not allowed in Washington

By LINDA BALL EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

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ormer FDA chief Scott Gottlieb received plenty of headlines in August when he reminded consumers that food products containing cannabidiol (CDB) derived from hemp plants remain federally illegal.

Gottlieb based his statement on the importance of knowing what’s in our food supply, and he believed that sources of CBD are too confusing, a position that’s also supported by Washington authorities.

Brian Smith, spokesman for the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, said the CBD industry is still considered an unregulated space. He acknowledged that there is a huge market for CBD products derived from hemp, but CBD products for sale might or might not come from hemp. Or, in some cases, they could include unknown levels of pesticides or heavy metals, or no CBD at all.

While CBD products sold by licensed cannabis retailers must provide their source and any additives, there’s confusion for hemp and CBD items available at other locations, including online outlets, health food stores or even grocery and convenience stores.

The current confusion over CBD food began last year when hemp farming was legalized in the U.S. The Farm Bill of 2018, allowing sales of hemp CBD products as long as the plants contained .3 percent or less of THC. Additionally, the Farm Bill preserved the Federal Food and

Drug Administration’s authority to regulate ingredients in food, including hemp and hemp extracts, to include CBDs. Now, hemp products are estimated to top $20 billion in five years, even though there isn’t a lot of research being conducted into ingredients, effects and possible health benefits.

An August opinion piece published in the Journal of Health, written by Beatriz Carlini, Ph.D., Gregory Carter, M.D. and Nephi Stella, Ph.D., from the University of Washington, points out that the decades-long prohibition of cannabis research by the federal government limits what can be learned about cannabis and cannabidiol. The researchers urged the federal government to end barriers to research so the benefits and risks of cannabinoids can be better studied.

The study points out that most consumers don’t know that CBD products are not federally regulated or even held to the same stringent standards set by Washington’s Department of Health, which regulates medical cannabis.

Authorities are concerned that the unknowns in commercial hemp may create health risks for people, especially those with compromised immune systems who could have a harder time fighting off fungus or mold, which are common contaminants of cannabis plants.

The researchers also pointed out that ‘imposter’ CBD products threaten to undercut public support for research into the potential medical value of cannabis or CBDs.

Limited research on CBDs has already resulted in the FDA approval of an oral solution to treat seizures in children, and there are trials in process to determine CBD’s ability to help with PTSD, anxiety, chronic pain associated with inflammation and even some cancers.

Washington State Department of Agriculture allows licensed food processors to use hemp products in food, such as hulled hemp seeds, hemp seed protein powder and hemp seed oil, provided they comply with other requirements that the FDA deems generally recognized as safe under federal requirements.

Other parts of the hemp plant, including CBD, can’t be a food ingredient under a Washington State Food Processor License.

The Washington State Department of Health’s Liz Coleman said CBD is not considered an approved food product if it’s something that’s added to food. Although the Department of Health doesn’t regulate hemp or CBDs, officials have been talking to restaurants and coffee shops that are adding CBDs to food and beverages.

All of these agencies are basically saying to be careful what you put in your body. The UW study also urges state agencies to develop public health campaigns to educate communities about rogue CBD that could found in food and drink.

evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

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A clerk reaches for a container of marijuana buds for a customer at Utopia Gardens, a medical marijuana dispensary, in Detroit in this October 2018 photo. States that are collecting taxes from the sale of marijuana should not count on those funds growing at a fast clip forever, according to a report released by The Pew Charitable Trusts recently (CARLOS OSORIO / AP).

Study warns Washington to be cautious with legal pot tax revenue

By JIM CAMDEN THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

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ashington and other states that have legalized recreational marijuana should be careful about how they spend the tax money it generates.

That money may flow in quickly at first but can be unpredictable, according to a study by The Pew Charitable Trusts released in late August.

States should consider putting it in “rainy day” funds or using it for one-time expenses, said Alex Zhang, an officer with Pew’s States’ Fiscal Health Project.

“States should not assume revenue from recreational marijuana will be reliable in the long-term,” she said.

The limited records available show tax revenue grows at the quickest pace in the early years, but that growth slows significantly as markets mature, Zhang said.

Washington receives more tax money from marijuana than any of the other nine states where the drug is legal for recreational use. It collected an estimated $425 million in fiscal year 2018. While some of that money is set aside for special uses, some goes into the

state’s general fund for ongoing expenses.

The state taxes recreational marijuana two different ways, with an excise tax on the product that is grown, processed and delivered to a licensed retailer. It also has a sales tax on the value of all products sold by the retailers.

The Liquor and Cannabis Board, which licenses and regulates legal marijuana businesses, collects the excise tax and licensing fees that are put in the Dedicated Marijuana Account.

In fiscal 2018, the excise taxes and fees

totaled more than $360 million. After covering costs for the board and the state’s medical marijuana database, along with a biannual survey of youth drug and alcohol use, the bulk of that fund, $346 million, was divided among different state agencies.

More than $173 million was set aside for the Basic Health Plan trust account to help cover the cost of medical insurance for lowincome residents. Another $17.6 million went to the state Health Care Authority to help with the cost of community health centers for medical and dental care. The Department

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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

of Health got about $9.8 million to develop and operate a marijuana education and public health program, with a hotline for referrals to drug abuse treatment providers. The Department of Social and Health Services got $27.8 million for programs that prevent or reduce substance abuse and services for pregnant women, children and youth. The University of Washington and Washington State University will get a total of $350,000 to research the effects of marijuana use.

That left an estimated $131.5 million from excise taxes and licensing fees for the state General Fund, and $15 million to be sent to cities and counties that have licensed marijuana stores.

Marijuana money was a popular target for lawmakers seeking money for a wide range of programs in the last two years, and the Legislature made some significant shifts in where the money goes. It increased the amount it expects to go to the Health Care Authority to more than $47 million for the current fiscal year, and the amount to the Basic Health Plan to $190 million.

The Department of Revenue collects

the sales tax. While it records how much it receives from marijuana stores, it can’t segregate that total between drug sales and sales of other store items, such as pipes and paraphernalia. In fiscal 2018, the last full year for which the department has numbers, the marijuana sales taxes totaled nearly $93.8 million, with $65.4 million going to the state and $28.4 to local governments where the stores are located.

Like other sales tax revenue, marijuana sales tax goes into the state’s General Fund, the source of money for a majority of the state’s programs and salaries.

Although states see rapid growth in the revenue they collect from recreational marijuana, the rate of that growth can be expected to slow after the first few years, the study says.

Figures from the state Office of Financial Management confirm that. The Dedicated Marijuana Account collected about $67.5 million in fiscal 2015, the first full year recreational marijuana was legal. That more than doubled to $168 million the next year, and almost doubled again to $300 million in

SPOKANE

fiscal 2017. Growth slowed to $361 million in fiscal 2018, is projected at $391 million in fiscal 2019 and $397 million in fiscal 2020.

The state is projecting about 2% growth through fiscal 2023.

But the state’s fiscal analysts regularly report that marijuana tax revenue is running ahead of projections at quarterly economic forecast meetings.

Even Washington and Colorado, which were the first states to legalize recreational marijuana in 2014, “are trying to understand the market,” Zhang said.

In Nevada, where legal recreational marijuana sales began in mid 2017, tax revenue was 40% higher than the state projected. In California, where legal sales began in 2018, revenue in the first six months was about 45% lower than the state projected.

Most states see high prices when recreational marijuana becomes legal, when demand is high but supply may be low because of the time needed to grow the first crop. Some states like Washington benefit from “cross-border sales” to residents from

OTIS ORCHARDS

Idaho or Oregon. That can change when a nearby state legalizes recreational marijuana, as Oregon did in 2015.

Whether legal marijuana will reduce the black market sales in a state, or create demand among new consumers is another unknown. Legal stores carry a wider range of edibles and liquids – not usually so diverse and available on the black market – that may appeal to a different set of buyers than those who primarily smoke marijuana.

“There is evidence it plays out differently in each state,” Zhang said. Washington seems to have captured a portion of the black market more quickly than Colorado, she said, but like many things connected to legal marijuana, there is limited information and research.

MOSES LAKE

Warning: This product has intoxicating effects & may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, & judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 years or older. Keep out of reach of children.

evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

BRIEFS

JUDGE ALLOWS TWISP SHOP TO MOVE TWISP – An Okanagan Superior Court judge lifted a temporary restraining order against the Carlton House of Cannabis which had hoped to move to a new location.

The shop’s intended location along the Methow Valley Highway is next to property owned by Cascade Bible Church, which filed an objection with the court prior to the approval of a new site by the Liquor and Cannabis Board.

Although state law prohibits cannabis businesses from being near parks, schools, arcades, playgrounds or similar youth-oriented facilities, churches have never been included.

THIRD CANNABIS & GLASS OPENS LIBERTY LAKE – Cannabis & Glass recently opened its third shop in the Spokane area and the first in Liberty Lake.

The location at 25101 Appleway Ave. is near the Idaho state line and east of downtown Liberty Lake. It joins two other locations, one in Spokane Valley near Argonne Road, and the other in north Spokane along Francis Avenue.

Shoppers at all three locations can purchase a variety of cannabis products as well as a large selection of glass products and accessories, including pipes and dab rigs.

The shops offer more than 400 strains of flower, concentrate and edibles, and are believed to have the largest amount of concentrate in the region.

It also is the area’s only location to purchase Juul Pod distillate.

Cascade Bible Church officials told the court that, along with providing a place of worship, the property and structure on it provides private education so it should also be a considered youth recreation center, which would block the shop’s move.

However, LCB officials showed court officials that the church-owned private school isn’t recognized by the State of Washington as an accredited educational facility, and its primary purpose is a church.

Judge Henry A. Rawson removed the restraining order, which lets the shop continue its plans to relocate.

The shop also recently announced new hours, including being closed Sundays. Carlton House of Cannabis has sister locations in Tacoma and Tonasket.

Source: The Omak-Okanagan County Chronicle

UTAH DITCHES STATE DISPENSARIES SALT LAKE CITY – Utah plans to modify a plan to allow state health department officials to dispense medical marijuana after law enforcement expressed concern about legal liability of employees.

Although the successful citizen’s ballot initiative specified that private dispensaries would provide medical marijuana to medical patients, lawmakers approved an alternate plan called the Utah Medical Cannabis Act. It included having state officials coordinate the distribution.

However, prosecuting attorneys for two counties that would create these dispensaries said state employees would potentially be breaking federal marijuana laws by possessing or giving away products.

The shops also offer a loyalty program for regular customers. Hours are 8 a.m.-11 p.m. daily.

“We recognized there were some challenges and some anxieties,” said Senate Majority Leader Evan Vickers.

Liberty Lake initially had a moratorium on any cannabis businesses but this was lifted in 2015.

However, local zoning only permitted these types of businesses along the eastern end of Appleway where there is light traffic, no parks, Source: EVERCANNABIS schools or bus routes.

Lawmakers will also consider expanding the number of private pharmacies from seven to 12, and allow home delivery to eligible patients.

That potential conflict forced the state to look again at the private enterprise concept as part of a collection of bills to be presented to the Legislature at a fall special session.

Under the current framework, registered patients would order their cannabis through the Department of Health web portal, and then either pick it up or receive delivery from the nearest eligible pharmacy.

The state expects to roll out its medical program by spring 2020. It would also allow academic research.

Source: Salt Lake Tribune

evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

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OREGON SHOPS WELCOME IDAHOANS ONTARIO, Ore. – The first two cannabis retailers in the city opened this summer, and more are expected in the next months, serving Oregon and Idaho customers.

Last fall, city residents voted to overturn a ban on cannabis retail operations, which has already resulted in 14 applications for new shops. Of these, 13 have received conditional-use permits and five have had construction plans approved.

City officials project that it could earn between $600,000 and $1 million a year in new tax revenue.

The first shop, Weedology, opened its doors in July, followed by Burnt River Farms Cannabis in August.

Both shops, located near the state lines, hope to offer shoppers a variety of legal cannabis products – at least legal under Oregon law. And if Idaho customers happen to come by, both shops have said they’ll sell to them too.

A third retailer, HotBox Farms, planned to open later this fall.

Although technically in another state, Ontario is considered part of the Treasure Valley, the region that includes the Boise metro area. Idaho has some of the strictest laws against any form of cannabis.

Burnt River also owns a farm in Huntington and is considered one of the only farmto-market operations in the state.

Source: Idaho Statesman

CALIFORNIA, NEVADA PROJECTED TO BE STRONGEST POT MARKETS CARSON CITY – Financial analysts are projecting that California will be the largest legal cannabis market in the next decade.

Once the Golden State’s system is fully up and running, experts expect to sell as much as $11 billion in cannabis and hemp products by 2030. Consumers also are predicted to spend $7.2 billion on cannabis products there in 2024, which represents a quarter of all cannabis spending through the entire country and nearly triple the $2.52 billion spent in 2018.

This data came from “State of the Legal Cannabis Markets,” created by Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics.

The same report, however, indicated that Nevada should look more attractive to cannabis investors. While California might have high numbers, it also has a high tax structure, an existing black market that may not fully adapt to new conditions, and a declining population.

Nevada, on the other hand, is supposed to see a 10 percent population increase in the next decade. Its personal and business tax structure is smaller than California’s and its legal cannabis system is also newer.

Per capita, Nevada’s spending on cannabis is projected to be $415.57 compared to Source: The Motley Fool $172.08 in California.

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EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to 7KH 6SRNHVPDQ 5HYLHZ f Friday, October 4, 2019

FEATURE STORY

Flowers of the sun

Growers find reward in a challenging endeavor

By TOM BOWERS EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

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ungrown cannabis.

To farmers toiling in the field, building living soils and planting rows of green seedlings, the legal ability to grow in full view of the sun signifies a level of legitimacy and normalcy long available to wine growers and hops farmers, but withheld from cannabis cultivators.

“It looks a lot like a regular farm,” said Crystal Oliver, coowner of Washington’s Finest Cannabis, located just north of Spokane. “We have our grain silo on the parcel, and our little red barn on the parcel.”

When she’s not tending her cannabis crop, Oliver advocates at a legislative level as executive director of the Washington Sungrowers Industry Association, which works to protect outdoor cultivators and the whole Washington cannabis industry.

Oliver and fellow sungrowers believe that the ability to grow outdoors symbolizes the end of cannabis prohibition.

Black market days meant growing indoors to cultivate under lights, or risking the dangers of guerrilla outdoor grows.

But today, state-licensed growers can plant in actual soil, under actual sun, on land they actually own.

Growers believe this activity offers significant benefits to the entire industry.

TAKING THE FIGHT OUTSIDE Ask most sungrowers, and they’ll tell you that no one grows quality cannabis and extraction biomass like they do.

“Sungrown cultivation is more sustainable,” Oliver said, comparing outdoor farming to indoor cultivation. “The only reason you have so many indoor growers is that people were forced to hide it from view. The sun works just fine for growing plants. It’s been working for a long time.”

This is a common theme. Outdoor farmers capitalize on an infinitely renewable resource – the sun – rather than plugging into power grids to feed their plants. They consume less raw material and buy minimal equipment compared to their indoor counterparts. And they usually build their own soils, so they don’t need store-bought fertilizers.

Jeremy Moberg, the owner of CannaSol Farms in Riverside, near Omak, is president of the WSIA, and like Oliver, believes that sungrown is a worthwhile choice, if not the easiest path.

“This myth that outdoor is cheap and easy – it’s not,” Moberg said.

HARD HARVEST

CULTIVATING A CONNOISSEUR INDUSTRY

Ask anyone in the fields and they’ll tell you farming is an often back-breaking pursuit with no guarantee of success.

“You’re always one harvest away from going out of business, farming anything,” said Stephen Grimes of Crescent Valley Farms in Tonasket. As with all crops, weather and other variables impact yields and quality.

Grimes, along with his wife, Katie, and his brother, Andrew, seeded the farm with $20,000 in 2015. The three of them handle everything most of the year, but supplement labor during harvest-time, when plants need to be bucked, processed and categorized into saleable flower and extraction material.

“If you manage it well, and with the right equipment, you can handle it with three to five people,” Grimes said.

Sometimes family comes on during harvest.

“Family is our vision. It’s something that we wanted to do that would lift the family up. So we could build something that would be long-lasting.”

Martineau hopes that the industry continues to develop an informed customer base, so sungrown cannabis continues to thrive. But negative consumer viewpoints make it difficult.

“There’s the perception that indoor is better because of looks,” Martineau said, referring to the uniformity and controllable consistency of indoor cultivation vs. outdoor cultivation. “Since you can’t taste it (in the shop), the buyer has to go by bag appeal.

“But indoor’s not better, it just looks better. Sungrown always tastes better, because you can’t beat the sun.”

Martineau says consumer education is the key to success for sungrowers. To that end, the industry needs to take cues from similar communities, like the wine and grape-growing industry, where customers can consume wine and socialize right at the point of production.

She took a trip to California’s wine country in early September and experienced first-hand the power of tasting rooms.

“You’re like, ‘Oh wow, I love this,’” Martineau said. “‘Taste this! Where can I get it?’ And they’re like, ‘Well, you can only get it here.’”

For Oliver, the difference between cannabis cultivation and wine growing shows how far she and her fellow sungrowers have yet to travel in the march toward legitimacy and legacy.

“At wineries, kids can be running around the grapes, and in the winery,” Oliver said. “Our kids can’t even see us putting plants in the ground. So we’re missing out on passing on that knowledge to our children.”

THE WHIMS OF WEATHER Kelley Martineau runs a small, multi-use farm on what she describes as “the wrong side of the mountains.”

Just outside of Longview, Martineau raises sheep, beef cattle, vegetables, Christmas trees, alder trees, and 2,000 square feet of cannabis in the wet, cool coastal weather.

It’s not an ideal climate for top-shelf cannabis, but that doesn’t deter Martineau.

“I own my farm, so it’d be silly for me to move,” she said.

A long-time farmer and cannabis appreciator, Martineau decided to add a small, Tier 1 licensed grow to her farm.

“People laugh at me, and say ‘Go big or go home,’” she said. “I say, well, my goal is to be a small, boutique farm.”

Rather than spend extra effort and money to produce finished flower, Martineau sells most of her cannabis crop to other companies to break down and process into extracts or concentrates. This frees her up to focus on her other crops and take advantage of what she refers to as the “cowto-cannabis ratio” – meaning cannabis doesn’t add as much to the balance sheet.

“

This myth that outdoor is cheap and easy – it’s not.”

Lazy Bee Gardens is an outdoor cannabis farm in the Methow Valley. Photos courtesy Bess Byers.

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to 7KH 6SRNHVPDQ 5HYLHZ f Friday, October 4, 2019

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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

HEALTH & SCIENCE

ICanCAN’T SLEEP! Cannabis Help?

By KATE A. MINER EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

I

f you experience some form of insomnia – trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or getting back to sleep – you’re not alone.

The National Sleep Foundation reports that as many as 70 million Americans struggle with some form of insomnia or sleep disorder, and for many it’s chronic. Sleep is essential for maintaining our mental and physical health, which is why many use some form of sleep aid to ensure they get their rest.

However, many common sleep medications come with side effects, which is why there has been a rise in the use of cannabis products.

Many in the medical marijuana community call cannabis an effective natural treatment for many sleep disorders, with little to no side effects. The herb works because it contains different natural compounds, two of which are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

THC is primarily responsible for the “high” feeling, but in small percentages can make CBD more effective. THC has also been proven to reduce REM sleep and has shown excellent results with patients struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder. CBD is often used to alleviate symptoms of both mental and physical ailments.

First things first Many doctors will first recommend environmental modifications, like ensuring your bedroom is dark and quiet, avoid eating a large meal before bed, exercising regularly, and avoiding caffeine. They might also suggest a warm bath or relaxing teas.

If you’re still struggling with sleep and think cannabis may help, begin by finding a retail shop with a state medical endorsement, which means some budtenders are certified to assist you with health-related questions. They also keep a record of your condition to help identify which products were effective, or ineffective, and guide you towards solutions.

When it comes to finding cannabis products for sleep inducement, or other health-related issues, working with a knowledgeable medical provider and medical-certified budtender is essential. Be sure to be forthcoming with any sensitivities, cannabis use, and sleep patterns. A sleep journal can also help you track which treatment work best.

Frequent user or first time?

If you are a daily cannabis user, you may find many high-CBD, low-THC sleep products ineffective. Because your body is already accustomed to marijuana, you’ll want a product with a higher 1:1 ratio (CBD to THC). You will also want to consider the types of strains (more on that later).

If you are not a regular cannabis user, talk to a medically-endorsed budtender about your day-to-day schedule, and how your insomnia affects you. If you don’t want to feel “high,” ask to start with something that has a very low THC percentage (less than 5mg) or no THC (pure CBD).

Whether you partake regularly or infrequently, start with a small dose, document the effects and then determine if you need to increase or decrease (or try something new entirely) for your next attempt.

If you decide to go the pure CBD route, purchase from a licensed shop with CBD products made by reputable processors using little to no chemicals or dilutors. Though plenty of places have started selling CBD products, licensed 502 shops are required to maintain the highest standards, and carry reputable products.

Finding the right method Two of the more effective sleep aids are tinctures and capsules.

Tinctures are concentrated liquid extracts of cannabis. They are fast-acting and you can choose water-based or oil-based. Water-based tinctures are more popular, but also more expensive because they act the fastest and have no aftertaste, so you can simply put a drop under your tongue. Oil-based tinctures tend to have more of an herb taste, so you might consider adding it to a soothing cup of hot tea before bed.

In general, capsules are slightly more expensive and take longer to take effect, but last longer. Capsules have a wider range of options for CBD to THC ratios and can include other sleep-inducing herbs or oils.

They are also more discreet and the dose more dependable, meaning consistent results.

Other possibilities for cannabis sleep relief can include smoking or vaping certain strains, consuming edibles, or dosing with FECO, which usually comes in a syringe.

If smoking or vaping, consider an indica flower for sleeping; indica cannabis plants are generally know to have strong relaxing effects, unlike its energetic cousin, sativa. Some CBD products with higher THC ratio will not indicate if the THC comes from a sativa or indica strain, so if you are sensitive to sativa, consider a CBD product without THC. Edibles may take the longest to work and, depending on body type and ingredients, can have inconsistent results. If you do try edibles, start with something small and low-dose, like a small candy or mint.

You can also try topicals, all with varying degrees of CBD to THC ratios. These can be particularly helpful if insomnia is accompanied by occasional aches and pains.

CBD nasal sprays are said to have great results for sleep inducement (particularly for those who also struggle with snoring), and they’re also fast acting. You can also find CBD bath bombs to drop into that relaxing bath your doctor may have recommended.

Finally, transdermal patches are available in a variety of isolated cannabinoids, which are released into the bloodstream for a longlasting effect. They are especially beneficial for someone seeking pain relief as well.

evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

Peel & Stick

Where Medication Solutions

Derma patches offer new option for pain relief

Begin

By RENEE SANDE EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

W

hat if a night of solid and relaxing REM sleep or relief from anxiety was as simple to achieve as a two-step process of

peel and stick?

These benefits are what advocates of transdermal patches offer the cannabis community. While patches have been worn for medicinal use since the late 1970s, they have recently been introduced as a means to administer cannabis.

Infused single-dose patches offer 10-20 mg amounts of CBD, THC, CBN or a mixture.

These are all specific cannabinoids, or natural compounds in the cannabis plant that provide varying mental and physical effects, from general good feelings to better sleep to reduced inflammation.

Patches are believed to be effective because they allow for immediate infusion into the bloodstream via the skin. Smoking, eating or drinking requires the cannabis be metabolized in the lungs, liver or stomach, which all can delay the process and sometimes reduce overall effectiveness. Plus, smoking can include other compounds or ingredients, while patches only have those specified compounds.

“The patch is a fairly benign way to administer a drug for someone who may be averse to taking a pill, to vaporizing, to those kinds of things,” said Dr. Noel Palmer, chief scientist of Mary’s Medicinals, which created the first and award-winning Transdermal Cannabis Patch. Mary’s Medical is one of the industry’s most well-known patch developers, with a specialization in plant properties.

“It’s more akin to a very, very slow smoke, and that’s with any patch – not just a THC patch. I think the patches offer a very safe way for people who might not want to try cannabis [traditionally], to try it,” Palmer said.

Based in Colorado, Mary’s Medicinals also has created a patented transdermal gel pen technology, as well as award-winning topicals.

Its products are sold at several Washington cannabis retailers, including Sativa Sisters, Cinder, Lucky Leaf and Toker Friendly.

Present Naturals is another cannabis patch

17

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Like Mary’s Medicinals, Present Naturals is committed to providing an all-natural product and does not use chemical enhancers, butane or CO2.

The Peaceful Choice owner Victoria Robinson recommends Present Naturals’ patches that utilize THCa, a non-psychoactive part of the cannabis plant.

Robinson said that the combination of a patch plus smoking can enhance pain-relieving effects.

“If you’re wearing a patch and then take a hit off a joint, it’s only going to accentuate it,” she said. “For maximum pain relief, a 1-to-1 CBDto-THC ratio is going to be your best option.”

Another bonus of transdermal patches is that the slow release of cannabinoids can provide whole-body relief over 8-12 hours, depending on body composition, metabolism, cannabis use and pain levels. Smoking or eating may have a strong effect at first that wears off quickly.

While cannabis patches aren’t considered a viable method for someone looking to get high recreationally, due to the patches’ slow release, they can be considered a great go-to for those who are solely looking for the medicinal effects of cannabis.

Take note that even CBD/CBN varieties can include trace amounts of THC, so individuals subject to drug testing should refrain from use to prevent a potential positive test for cannabis, or disclose your use of CBD/CBN patches prior to testing.

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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

Do hemp seeds live up to the superfood hype?

By TYLER WILSON EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

H

emp seeds can be another way to fuel your body with healthy fats and essential fatty acids.

Also known as hemp hearts, seeds from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa are full of high-quality protein, Vitamin E, zinc and the fatty acids, noleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3).

Ammi Midstokke, a nutritional therapy practitioner based in Sandpoint, said hemp seeds are touted as a “superfood” on the marketplace, though they offer similar benefits to many nutrient-dense nuts and seeds.

“There are myriad studies that correlate the compounds within hemp seeds to health benefits,” Midstokke said. “The marketing for hemp seeds might claim they lower blood sugars – and studies show fiber aids in this – and are good for brain health because of the omega-3 and 6 levels.”

“While hemp seeds are delicious and meet the hype for a nutrient-dense food, most nuts and seeds do, as well as fruits and vegetables,” Midstokke added.

A study by J.C. Callaway in “Euphytica,” an international journal about plant breeding, found the seeds two main proteins – edestin and albumin – are highquality, easily digestible storage proteins that contain “nutritionally significant amounts of all essential amino acids.” The study also noted hemp seeds and hemp seed oil as being a longstanding resource in Chinese medicine.

The Cannabis sativa plant contains only trace amounts of THC, and Midstokke noted the seeds used for consumption typically have none.

“There are no legal limitations to the sale, purchase or consumption of them, even in states where regulations have not allowed the use of cannabis products containing THC,” Midstokke said. “Hemp seeds as a food product have been around long enough to establish and live up to their reputation as a food that is good to keep in the cupboards and on our plates.”

Midstokke said hemp seeds are so prevalent now that many health food stores and natural markets are carrying more than one brand. Typical uses include sprinkling them on salads, blending them into smoothies or baking them into breads and muffins.

“My personal favorite is to add them to a porridge of nuts and seeds that I mix to take on backpacking trips because they are so nutrient-dense,” Midstokke said.

Healthline reported hemp seeds as having more than 25% of their total calories stemming from high-quality protein versus the 16-18% range for chia seeds or flax seeds.

They also serve as a potent source of minerals like phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium. The high fiber in the seeds can aid in better digestion, and the omega-3 and 6 fatty acids have been tied to relieving dry skin and eczema for some people.

The seeds also contain significant amounts of the amino acid, arginine.

This produces nitric oxide in the body.

Healthline cited several scientific studies that showed nitric oxide to dilate and relax blood vessels, leading to lowered blood pressure. Gamma-linolic acid found in hemp seeds has also been linked to reduced inflammation, with Healthline also citing studies that tie reduced inflammation to a decrease in risk for health complications such as heart disease.

While hemp seeds can be a potent addition to your diet, Midstokke said it’s important to obtain nutrients from all types of foods.

“Variety is key in any nutritious diet,” she said.

Midstokke offers nutritional consulting utilizing advanced testing methods, group education and cooking courses. Visit www.twobirdsnutrition.com for more information.

evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

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CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

Stoners and scary movies come together for Halloween viewing

By TYLER WILSON EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

(Spoiler Warning: Plots of films from the last 20 years are discussed. Read if you dare!)

Y

our Halloween plans are highly dependent on your current life situation. If you have elementary-age children, you’re probably marching around your neighborhood reminding them to say “thank you” after each Trickor-Treat. If you’re single and hoping to mingle, you might be party- or bar-hopping in a creative costume.

But if the idea of going out doesn’t appeal, there’s nothing better than staying home with your favorite strain or edible to enjoy a night of movies, whether you’re looking for scares, laughs or something in between.

STONER HEROES

Frequent marijuana users haven’t always been depicted as the most resourceful characters in movies.

Beloved as they are, characters like Floyd in “True Romance” or The Dude in “The Big Lebowski” couldn’t be counted on in most horror movie scenarios.

In recent years, however, the stoners have been faring better surviving masked murderers, apocalypses and various other things that go bump in the night.

Well, they’re at least doing better than poor Jack Black (performing a particularly embarrassing Rastafarian bit) in 1998’s “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer.”

Consider Fran Kranz’s pothead Marty in director Drew Goddard’s

spectacularly twisty “The Cabin in the Woods” from 2012. Marty may be deemed “The Fool” by the gods of slasher film lore, but his knowledge of horror, as well as his likely-cannabis-influenced paranoia, kept him alive until the end. If only Chris Hemsworth had listened to Marty, Thor may not have exploded himself into the side of a mountain.

Frequent marijuana usage seems to be the best way to at least deal with cataclysmic supernatural events. Shaun and Ed in “Shaun of the Dead” don’t always have the best ideas during the zombie apocalypse (you can’t just head to the pub and wait until things blow over), but the pair nevertheless live to see another day on the couch playing video games… well, more

or less.

And pot pin-up boy Seth Rogen continues to show remarkable resolve in the face of dire situations.

“Pineapple Express” leans more into action than horror, but still contains ample opportunities to die a horrific death. And Rogen is one of the few to come out on top, as it were, during the Biblical apocalypse depicted in “This is the End.” Marijuana almost ends up being the saving grace for several characters in “Scary Movie,” the 2000 Wayans Brothers’ spoof of “Scream” (which was already a spoof of slasher films, but whatever). Rather than murdering Marlon Wayans and his stoner friends out, the film’s Ghostface decides to party with the group rather than murder them.

Unfortunately, then he accidentally slashes most of them during an energetic freestyle rap.

her teenage friends accidentally inhale spores from an unknown flower, transporting them into an animated world of talking maps and backpacks.

ENHANCED VIEWING?

Canvassing a few opinions from regular consumers/moviegoers, being under the influence doesn’t seem to make the experience of watching horror movies any scarier.

In fact, if anything, you might feel a little more relaxed when seeing Michael Myers lumber out from the shadows.

A notable marijuana user who requested anonymity mentioned being terrified by “Requiem for a Dream” under the influence.

Perhaps that movie and its depiction of heroin and amphetamine addictions should be the anchor of a new D.A.R.E. program.

One wonders is whether talented filmmakers can somehow create NOT-SO-SCARY-TRIPS better scary content with regular marijuana use. Unfortunately, there While pot users aren’t always depicted in the best cinematic light, isn’t much evidence to examine, as filmmakers tend not to divulge at least popular culture has long how much they’re smoking while abandoned the idea that marijuana overseeing multi-million dollar usage itself should be the subject matter of a horror film. Yes, movies projects.

Kevin Smith tried his hand at still mine hallucinatory trips to put characters through scary ordeals, but a few horror movies during his it’s always because of some other “heavy daze” years, and the output not-so-legal narcotic. included a pretty good serious The days of “Reefer Madness” are effort in “Red State,” but also the well-over, though extreme drug use regrettable one-two punch of “Tusk” in movies like “Fear and Loathing and “Yoga Hosers.” in Las Vegas,” “Trainspotting” and He’s headed back to safer territory “Requiem for a Dream” are scary this fall with “Jay and Silent Bob enough to keep many away from Reboot,” unless he somehow any substance that can mess with manages to resurrect that poop your brain, marijuana and alcohol monster from “Dogma.” included.

As cannabis continues to push into Oddly, the trend of bad trips the mainstream, we can definitely in movies leans toward comedy, expect to see more diversity in both with notable insanity from Neil the filmmakers behind the camera Patrick Harris in the “Harold and the characters they choose to and Kumar” films and in this depict. Some will be heroes, some summer’s acclaimed teen comedy, will be cowards, and others will be “Booksmart” from director Olivia murderous supernatural clowns.

Wilde.

Maybe “It” wouldn’t need a Chapter Even “Dora and the Lost City of 2 if someone just gave Pennywise a Gold,” a shockingly watchable live- few gummies. action adaptation of the preschool series, “Dora the Explorer,” recently included a scene where Dora and

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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

Video Killed the Cannabis Myth Local media company documents industry, culture

By DAN WEBSTER EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

C

ontemporary life is replete with myth-making. And no industry is more affected by popular myth than the cannabis industry.

Take the myth that cannabis use leads to harder drugs. Actual research has shown that, in contrast, cannabis use is often a substitute for harder drugs and even alcohol.

Or consider the notion that the cannabis of today is far more potent than that of the past. Stronger, yes. “Far stronger”?

Well, that depends on what you were consuming: Acapulco Gold, say, or stuff that had been sitting in your closet for six months.

Videographer Michael Thompson, founder of the cannabisthemed website TerpTalkTV, has his own favorite cannabis myths.

One, he says, involves “People looking for the highest THC, thinking that’s the only thing that’s important,” when they might also want to consider the type of high they’re pursuing, sativa versus indica and so on.

Another Thompson favorite is how some people misuse, or misunderstand, the term “pesticide.”

“People come in and say, ‘Oh, I need the pesticide-free, “highest THC,” he said. “And it’s like, do you even understand what you’re asking for? Or are you just saying that just because you heard it somewhere?”

Thompson, who says he is all about cannabis “education and illumination,” is quick to add that he’s not necessarily a pesticide proponent, noting, “There’s a stigma on pesticides and there needs to be, don’t get me wrong.”

He just thinks people need to understand the full meaning of the word.

“I mean, water is a pesticide. Ladybugs are a pesticide. A pesticide is anything that is used in defense of the plants. So people need to understand that the term doesn’t always refer to something horrible.”

Such thoughts have been Thompson’s business since December 2016 when he first hatched the idea for media production company TerpTalkTV. After seeking funding – which he found, thanks to supporters like Michael Early of Maryland Leaf and Justin Wilson of Satori South – the business evolved from a planned talk-show format to feature

stories that go behind the scenes with farm and production tours.

Thompson observed that “a lot of people were uneducated about what was going on and what they were consuming. So we wanted to show the community what was really happening and that they could trust the farms they were buying from. We wanted to break down the wall between the community and the producer/processors.”

Thompson, Spokane born and bred, received his basic education in photography at Spokane Falls Community College. He shoots and edits his video features with the help of his main videographer, Riley Richardson – whom he refers to as a “major piece to the whole operation” – and the assistance of Jamal John.

While documenting the cannabis industry is his main interest, Thompson’s passion is glass – specifically the kind made from borosilicate, which has a better resistance to temperature.

Some of the stories he has produced, which are available to view online at terptalk.tv, range from interviews with a guy whose glassware and pipes are inspired by outer space to guys who create glass racing cars.

In June, Thompson and Richardson attended the 10th annual DFO Family Reunion in Gresham, Ore., an event that gives “master glass artists” from all over the country the opportunity to “showcase their work and talent.” Thompson and his crew shot 100 hours of footage that he edited into a 33-minute featurette.

It’s all something that earns him a living. But it’s also something that, he believes, serves a greater purpose.

“It’s telling the story of glass culture and cannabis culture, where we came from medically and it’s not just about rec (recreation) and the highest THC,” Thompson said. “Basically, it’s just saying that we came way before rec and we’re gonna stay here all the way through.

“We’re doing it by the culture and for the culture.”

evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

N

THE HIGH LIFE Take a cannabis-friendly getaway up in the trees

By CARA WIETSTOCK EVERCANNABIS Correspondent Photo courtesy Tree House Joint

estled in the hills between Monroe and Sultan, Wash., is a gem just waiting to be discovered: Tree House Joint, a cannabis-friendly, 21-and-older bed and breakfast that features artistic tree houses.

In late summer, my boyfriend and I booked a stay in one of its three available structures, the Hashtag Tree House, to experience firsthand what it’s like to sleep atop a tree while staying nice and snug under a down comforter in a queen-sized bed.

This novel getaway destination was a dream of owner and innkeeper Tracy Rice. After creating and managing, brokering and selling her own medical cannabis dispensary in Colorado, Rice decided to relocate to the Evergreen State to grow the local cannabis tourism industry.

Rice lives on the property with her dogs, plus a donkey, a horse, a parrot that swears, and her beloved hog Veggie Might.

As we pulled up the gravel drive through a tunnel of green trees, we could see another structure, the innovative 420 Tree House, which features a window that can be opened to let in the cacophony of bird song outside.

Rounding the corner, we caught sight of Veggie Might munching her way through the grassy knolls that cascade from the main house to the whimsical ring of tree houses.

We each took a deep breath as we absorbed the sights of happy animals enjoying large, luxurious fields overlooking a lovely mountain view before heading to the main house.

The stuffy lecture of a standard B&B check-in is transformed by Rice, who sparks a joint and begins to show us around.

Along with three tree houses, private rooms in the main house are also available, as are camping and RV sites. Each tree house includes various conveniences to suit every kind of traveler. If guests aren’t keen on campfire meals, outdoor showers or porta-potties, upgrades to include main house luxuries are available.

There are other amenities guests can arrange, like a guided hike of Wallace Falls, a river float with Rice and her

21

floating bong, or a hot tub reservation.

We settled into our tree house quickly, outfitted with plenty of electric outlets, a bubbler and lighters, and an especially comfortable bed. We made ourselves at home, lighting a joint while we listened to the birds and giggled at the novelty of being high up in a tree.

Once the initial buzz of our Lavender Saints joint subsided, we took to town to grab a burger and a beer at Timber Monster Brewing Company.

We enjoyed an inventive Juniper Sage Golden Ale and the best hamburger I’ve had in years.

With full bellies, my boyfriend and I returned to our accommodations.

We took a soak in the hot tub with more beer and took in the view of the mountains as the sun set.

That evening, we nestled into the Hashtag Tree House where I read my book and my partner wrote his.

For a creative, this space is simply invigorating. Slowly we were lulled to sleep, waking up refreshed and feeling more rested than we had in weeks.

We stirred with satisfied yawns and excited eyes, realizing we were still in the loft bed safely balanced in a tree.

Soon it was 9 a.m., when Rice typically hosts a ‘Wake and Bake’ hour in the main house with coffee and, you guessed it, another smoke sesh. We prefer joints, but dab rigs and a nice big bong were also available. After we were equal parts caffeinated and stoned we tumbled down to pack for a hike to Bridal Veil Falls.

The Tree House Joint is special, whether you want to book a small tree house for a romantic getaway, or you rent the entire property for a 30-person company retreat or wedding party; Rice matches the vibe. The themes of cannabis and tree houses permeate the atmosphere, but everything else can be sculpted into the occasion of your dreams.

Tree House Joint 14308 Reiner Rd., Monroe (425) 610-7154 treehousejoint.com @treehousejoint on Instagram

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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

POCC

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Product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.

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We’re giving away three EVERCANNABIS swag bags filled with fun stuff* to show your love for cannabis culture and news!

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INSTAGRAM: Follow us at instagram.com/evercannanews and tag your favorite sesh buddies in the comment on any photo posted in October. Extra comments = extra entries!

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TWITTER: Follow us at twitter.com/EvercannaNews, and reply to our Pinned Tweet with your favorite way to consume (smoke, vape, edible, etc.). Retweet for an extra entry!

We’ll randomly pick one winner from each channel on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019!

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Visit www.spokesman.com/evercannabis/social/ for complete contest rules and details. Must be 21 and older to participate. Questions? DM us or email evercannabis@spokesman.com.

By JOE BUTLER EVERCANNABIS Writer

A

nthony Gonzales from Lucid North has been chosen as the Eastern Washington Budtender of the Year.

This announcement was made at the firstever Budtenders’ Ball in this region, a late summer celebration that recognizes the role of front-line members of the retail cannabis community.

Budtender Balls have previously taken place in Seattle, Denver, Los Angeles, Portland and San Francisco, but this was the first one held in Spokane. About 200 people enjoyed the opportunity to dress up and visit Arbor Crest Winery to cheer on Gonzales and 10 nominees.

Gonzales started at the Cheney Lucid location and has been at the north Spokane location for about 2-and-a half years.

“We’ve sold a lot of weed,” he said. “We have a lot of regulars, and we’re a big family.”

He said this was the first time he’s won anything like this and thanked those who nominated him. His prize included a cash award, along with a selection of cannabis

items from event sponsors.

The public was able to vote on nominees throughout the summer through the BudtendersBallevent.com site or social media channels.

The runner up was Yungcrowden Jeremy Paulson, who has been a budtender at Lucky Leaf in downtown Spokane for the last two years.

The evening included performances by Spokane Aerial Performance Arts, a troupe that includes acrobats, jugglers, stilt-walkers and aerial hoop performers.

Guests also could take part in a treasure hunt with prizes provided by sponsors.

Everyone who completed the hunt was eligible for a drawing for a custom-made horse-shaped joint created by artist Tony Greenhand.

The Budtenders Ball included the presentation of the region’s top budtender, plus entertainment by Spokane Aerial Performance Arts. Top right photo Joe Butler/ EVERCANNABIS. Top left photo courtesy Miles Bergsma for Budtenders Ball.

evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

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LEARN & GROW

The 3 Rs: Resin, rosin and live resin

By TARYN MICKELSON EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

A

s the cannabis community expands and matures, more ways to partake are being found, including a wide variety of extracted and concentrated products.

One question that often comes up is how to tell the difference between these items, especially when terms sound similar, such as rosin, resin and live resin.

According to WeedMaps, resin is a sticky and insoluble organic compound naturally secreted by plants.

In the cannabis world, it’s also a casual term for the black, sticky substance that builds up in a pipe or bong after repeated use. Some users clean the mixture of ash, tar and carbon out after each use to keep the pipe shiny, and some do so only when there isn’t enough room for flower.

Pipe residue probably should be disposed of, but it’s still smoked by some consumers on a budget.

“Like any stoner who has been out of cannabis before, I’ve smoked a little resin in my day,” said Justin Shaw, a 22-year-old student and a regular cannabis consumer.

Natural resin can be seen in other places: It holds the trichomes – the crystal-like tiny hairs that cover and protect the plant – together. Resin also provides the sticky texture you feel when holding a bud.

Resin is produced by the cannabis plant to deter pests or unwanted bugs, protect against overexposure to ultraviolet rays, and maintain a good surface level humidity so the plant will not dry up as quickly.

Concentrates are typically made by removing the resin and other plant matter using a solvent such as carbon dioxide or butane at high pressure.

A concentrate made without a solvent is called rosin.

This product was believed to have been introduced in 2006 by ICMag by forum member Compashion. It gained notoriety in 2015 by Phil “Soilgrown” Salazar, known on Instagram as @soilgrown_solventless.

Salazar took photos of himself squeezing low-quality, non-melt hash into a melt dab, creating a sticky waxlike substance that separated from the hash.

Rosin can be made by squeezing cannabis, sandwiched between parchment paper, with a hair straightener on low heat until a sticky substance

emerges, which can scraped and used for rosin concentrate “dabs.”

Though Salazar takes credit for the modern usage, versions of this have been around globally for awhile. In Morocco, for instance, cannabis has been squeezed into hashish bricks.

Rosin is a potent item that can be made at home without the explosive risk of creating other DIY concentrates.

“Smoke rosin over resin any day, since rosin is super easy to make and you can do it with kief, hash and flower,” Ben Smith, a cannabis processor and consumer, recommends.

Rosin can also be purchased in various forms including shatter, wax, badder/batter/budder, rosin coins and taffy.

“I’ve never dabbed rosin before, but I have smoked a few bowls with it on top,” said Shaw. “I had Super Lemon Haze rosin, which tasted amazing and gave me an incredible head high.”

Finally, there’s live resin, which has to do with the plant curing process.

Once harvested, plants typically go through an initial drying

stage from one to two weeks, which removes moisture. Then the buds are removed from the stem, placed in an airtight container for two to eight weeks, and are aired randomly.

Perfectly cured cannabis will have a smooth burn and aromatic flavor. Less perfectly cured cannabis can be harsh, bitter and smell like hay.

Live resin interrupts this process by flash freezing a plant at a subcritical temperature right after harvest. This is designed to prevent loss of terpenes during the drying process, so the plant is more potent and believed to have stronger medical properties.

Live resin began to grow in popularity in 2011 by growers in Colorado. William Fenger and EmoTek Labs founder “Giddyup” worked together to introduce live resin to the cannabis world.

Smith said this type of education is important for consumers.

“Everyone should know the unique differences and overall systematic way cannabis and concentrates are made,” he said.

“Information is key to finding what you like and what is good for you.”

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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

Bite-sized Treats Homemade sweets are tailored to your taste

By KATE A. MINER EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

W

ith Halloween right around the corner, have you ever considered making your own sweet treats?

One option for your adults-only celebration is cannabis-infused gummies, which are easy to make and tailor to your individual needs with fun flavors and varying amounts of THC and/or CBD. Your homemade gummies will be healthier than many store-bought, non-cannabis gummies which are sometimes full of sugars, dyes, and artificial flavors, by using natural sweeteners and flavors. And for some extra fun, use various silicon molds in various shapes. Hearts, bears and even leaves are great for any occasion; to make your Halloween party extra spooky, look for molds of jack-o-lanterns, skulls, or ghosts.

Much of the interest in infused gummies coincides with the popularity of microdosing, which has become popular with those who reluctant to use cannabis in less precise ways, like smoking or vaping. A microdose allows a small, controlled amount of THC to be ingested, which is difficult to do with edibles of baked goods.

Gummy edibles are bite-sized, allowing discreet consumption of a specific dosage based on individual tolerance.

It’s key to remember that these cute

little candies can be potent, and sublingual application can often increase the potency and speed of onset: You can always take more, but you can’t take less.

Gummy products can also be purchased at some area cannabis retailers, but may go by different names and descriptions, like “chewables”, “gummy-like” candies or gourmet French-style gelée treats, Since Washington has more scrutiny regarding what form cannabis candies can take, other states like Colorado have a wider range of consumer options. Local regulators are concerned about anything that could be perceived as child-friendly in packaging and labeling, so manufacturers can’t make products in the shape of humans, animals, or fruit. There are also limits on colors.

Some brands, such as Forest Pharms, a cannabis and hemp processor in the Spokane area, use nanotechnology to further process the raw material, removing any impurities before infusing their Vitality Nano Hemp Jelly Beans Owner Mike Forest says when you eat a nanotized CBD gummy, the active compound is absorbed straight into cells through the digestive system, making them highly efficient.

Microdosing advocates say using CBD gummies throughout the day can help with various conditions such as pain, anxiety, and stress, as well as soothing exercise-induced inflammation and relieving queasiness.

Other Washington choices include Phat

Panda’s Fruit Drops, Craft Elixirs Pioneer Squares, or Northwest Cannabis Solution’s Marmas, which feature sours.

ALWAYS KEEP GUMMY PRODUCTS OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND ANIMALS IN A CAREFULLY LABELED AND SECURE CONTAINER.

Basic Gummy

2 cups juice or liquid of choice (preferably natural, with limited or no sugar) sweetener (stevia or honey), to taste 1/2 cup grass-fed gelatin 24 drops of cannabis tincture (I used 24 drops, since the recipe makes roughly 24 servings, but you can adjust the amount based on the size of your molds and the strength of your tincture.)

Warm the liquid and sweetener to a simmer on stovetop. Remove liquid from heat and mix in gelatin by whisking or blending. Stir in tincture. Pour mixture into molds and allow to set in the fridge until firm.

The Adventurous Gummy

2/3 cups fruit purée, thawed 1/3 cup water 1 tablespoon lemon juice 3 tablespoons grass-fed gelatin 2-3 teaspoons cannabis tincture (depending on desired potency) granulated sugar (or substitute) citic acid (optional) In a medium saucepan, add fruit purée, water and lemon juice, and cook on medium-low heat until thoroughly incorporated. Add cannabis tincture, whisk well. Slowly add three tablespoons of gelatin, continually whisking until smooth. Remove from heat and use a medicine dropper, or clean condiment bottle, to add the mixture to silicon molds or baking dish. Place filled molds/dish in the refrigerator to chill for 15 minutes. Remove gummies from molds or cut into bite-sized pieces. Toss in granulated sugar to prevent them from sticking together. For a sour flavor, add citric acid to your sugar.

evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

STRAIN OF THE MONTH

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RED CONGOLESE Green Bluff Greenhouse, Spokane

THC 20.23% CBD 0.01%

Predominant terpene: Caryophyllene

By RICK MISTERLY EVERCANNABIS Correspondent Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, black market cannabis was referred to by where it was grown. In my younger years, this meant that poorly-cured kilos of the entire plant pressed into bricks were just called “Mexican.”

Later, we were presented with specific locations like Oaxaca, Michoacan, or the famed Acapulco Gold from the southern Mexican state of Guerrero. Whether the provenance of our baggies truly came from these particular regions was anyone’s guess, but the names conjured up visions of exotic locations offering wonderful weed.

These days, it has become the mission of dedicated cannabis breeders, plus a few greedy entrepreneurs, to scour the globe, especially more isolated regions, to collect seeds from the true remaining ‘landrace’ strains.

This practice has brought us more choices, but has also diluted the pure plant gene pool. Some Western seed collectors are convincing local growers to cross their cultivars with other, higher-THC types from outside their area for stronger, more marketable product.

But one I’ve found in this area really reminds me of these original strains: Red Congolese from Green Bluff Greenhouse.

Though not a true landrace, this strain is derived from an indigenous cultivar from the Congo region of Central Africa.

Based on my research, the seeds from these tall wispy, narrowleafed plants were brought west and crossed with a top-quality Mexican and landrace Afghani plants.

Though having never experienced authentic Red Congolese I do have a history with the Mexican and Afghani contributions to its genetics and can

honestly say they come through nicely in Green Bluff Greenhouse’s version.

This boutique producer in Green Buff grows its plants under lights in a climate-controlled environment.

Through an integrated pest management program they produce all of their high-quality cannabis pesticidefree.

APPEARANCE: A light green bud with red pistillates, and not as dense as you might expect.

The pistillate flowers peek out from behind judiciously-trimmed sugar leaf that makes for a nicely balanced flower-to-leaf subject. Dried to a good moisture level, the bud is solid yet still compressible without being dry and brittle. Under magnification, the trichomes appear as bright droplets going deep into the flower with clear icicle-like growths.

AROMA: A bright citrus backed up by a pungent Mexican Marigold scent hits your senses immediately. After this initial blast a deep earthiness lingers, which seems to come from its Afghan genetics. There are nice familiar scents that I associate with the more basic cultivars of old, but the cultivation techniques of Green Bluff Greenhouse and the improved genetics have taken those aromas and enhanced them.

Lighting up brings on a burning smell from the past but without the acrid, old roach character of its poorly cured predecessors.

EFFECTS: It’s a great strain to get off to a good start on either physical or creative mental tasks. I found the duration to be long-lasting, extending into the 4-5 hour range. The prime terpene, caryophyllene, provides a boost of good feelings plus pain relief due to its anti-inflammatory effects. Definitely not something to use shortly before bedtime, but maybe a mid-afternoon puff or two can carry you nicely into evening energy and an easy comedown later.

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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

UPCOMING

EVENTS Planning a cannabis-themed event for the public? Send details to evercannabis@spokesman.com.

Oct. 10 The Cannabis Alliance, Seattle.

Monthly meeting of growers, retailers and other supporters of Washington’s cannabis system. Live feeds available in Bellingham, Arlington, Tri-Cities and Olympia. thecannabisalliance.us Oct. 16 Learn and Grow with Washington Marijuantrepreneurs, Spokane. Networking happy hour followed by industry presentation, Luigi’s. meetup.com/ Spokane-Eastern-WA-Marijuana-Business-Networking/ Oct. 23-24 RAD Expo, Portland.

Join shop owners and other employees at the Oregon Convention Center to see what’s new in the industry along the West Coast and meet exhibitors, see panels and attend networking events. www.theradexpo.com/

Oct. 24-25 Lemonhaze Cannabis Convention, Tacoma.

The Tacoma Dome hosts this annual gathering of Washington’s cannabis industry. Visitors will enjoy exhibitors, comedians and networking. lemonhaze.com/ Oct. 26 Halloween Bash, Spokane Private dinner in Spokane area prepared by Two Ginger chefs includes spooky infused cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Facebook.com/twogingerchefs Oct. 27 The Dope Show, Spokane.

Enjoy “stand-up comedy under the influence” from rotating comedians at the Spokane Comedy Club. www. spokanecomedyclub.com/events/24962

evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019

Oregon Convention Center | Portland, OR

• 300 exhibitors with a wide variety of goods and services • Speakers with experience in inventory turns, merchandising, store flow, and customer retention programs Hundreds of Hemp and CBD • Hund products • The latest in merchandising & display cases • Designers and architects of award-winning retail environments • National marijuana brands

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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, October 4, 2019