EVERCANNABIS
® MAY 2019
In Spokane
EVERCANNAFEST JUNE 14-15 WEED WEDDINGS Why more brides are saying “I do” to cannabis
Cheers! Time to try infused beverages
www.evercannabis.com
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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
MAY
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Go “Behind the Green Curtain” at
EVERCANNAfEst June 15 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
2019
CONTENT
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CLEVER CULTIVATION How Contender Gardens avoids pesticide
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CHRONIC VOMIT Advanced users report nausea
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TRAVEL TIPS Cannabis concierges help plan your trip
SOOTHING RELIEF CBD creams help damaged skin
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WHERE TO SMOKE Does Washington need lounges?
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MARITAL MARIJUANA
A growing trend in the wedding industry is the infusion of cannabis into the décor or as a favor for guests. Wedding planners in Western states are hearing more requests for these elements, but there are some rules that need to be followed.
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.
®
Spokane Valley Events Center
public event (21+ only)
You’re obviously curious about cannabis, but are you a little scared about going to a store? Join us at EVERCANNAFEST to educate yourself about the people and products of this burgeoning Washington industry! Have your questions answered in person by growers, processors, retailers and other experts!
Event includeS: SEMINARS ABOUT :OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • Medical benefits • Cannabis 101 • Edibles and cooking • Industry employment • Medical authorization • Future of cannabis
• Industry booths • DJ music • Cash bar • Interactive graffiti wall • Art gallery • Photo booth
General admission is $7 per person. VIP tickets are $40, which includes admission, transportation to and from a local grow operation and a local retail store for a private tour, snacks, and a souvenir EVERCANNAFEST T-shirt. Presenting sponsor
For more information, visit spokane7tickets.com. AS A PUBLIC EVENT, NO CONSUMPTION OR SALES OF CANNABIS PRODUCTS WILL BE PERMITTED. 21 AND OLDER ONLY; ID REQUIRED.
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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 5 DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Kathleen Coleman
From the
Editor’s Desk
DIRECTOR OF SALES Dan Fritts
MANAGING EDITOR Joe Butler
HEALTH & CULTURE EDITOR Theresa Tanner
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Anne Potter The Spokesman-Review
EDITORIAL TEAM Kip Hill
www.evercannabis.com @EvercannaNews on social media Evercannabis@spokesman.com 509.459.5095
Proud member of
EVERCANNABIS
is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review
Interested in being a
FREE EVERCANNABIS® distribution location? Please contact 509.459.5095 or evercannabis@spokesman.com
Celebrating anniversaries, origin stories
H
appy birthday to us! Three years and a couple of months ago, a group of marketing professionals here met and got our marching orders: learn, write, sell and go forth and create a comprehensive news publication all about the state’s new legal cannabis industry. This was The Spokesman-Review’s Marketing Division’s response to requests from area cannabis businesses to a) provide a space for them to advertise, and b) tell positive, or at least neutral, stories about them (we received a lot of comments like, “Whenever we’re in the paper, it’s because something bad happened”). Readers also indicated they wanted more access to accurate info about how and when to consume, and what they’re consuming. So we went to work, learned the vocabulary, met people smarter than us and made things happen: we were proud of our first 12-page issue. Looking back, we have come a long way with our stories, design, the number of pages and the options for our advertisers. Today, we’re the only cannabis general news printed publication in the state and also have the largest distribution of all cannabis publications. All Washington Spokesman-Review subscribers receive it, and we also distribute to more than 75 retail shops in Eastern and Central Washington. While this issue is a perfect opportunity to pat ourselves on the back, we also want to show off our cool new look. Along with a more focused examination into
more segments of the cannabis industry and community, we’re planning to include more health and medical stories in this and future issues, since this area is where cannabis truly is believed to help more people. That’s what has made some consumers embrace the industry and what is encouraging some lawmakers to reconsider previously firm stances against all things green. I’m all for more research into health claims – I’ve shared with some of you that about six years ago my dad turned to cannabis in his early 70s when he was battling cancer. He had never been anti-weed but, at the encouragement of friends and family, found it helped his appetite and helped him sleep better. Both of these things gave him more time with us, which I’m thankful for. This obvious boost to his quality of life made it difficult for me to reconcile with continuing anti-drug fear and ignorance. But that wasn’t my first brush with cannabis. In a college speech class in the early ‘90s, a classmate made some arguments in his persuasive speech that turned out to be pretty prophetic. “Sure, it makes people feel good and can help pain and medical conditions. But none of the decisionmakers truly care about that.” His theory was that, perhaps in a decade, enough elected officials will begin seeing dollar signs of how pot money can help budget-strapped states, which will encourage them to begin easing up on legal restrictions. As EVERCANNABIS editor for the past three years, I’ve enjoyed hearing people’s predictions of where the industry was, is, and could be going. We’ll also continue to do our part to keep informing, educating and entertaining. Thanks for everyone’s support, and keep on reading and advertising!
Joe Butler Managing Editor
evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
EVERCANNABIS
CONTRIBUTORS Jean Arthur writes about adventures, research, dogs and skiing from the mountains of Montana.
Linda Ball is a freelance journalist in Washington State. In her 18 years as a journalist she has covered environmental issues, city hall, arts and entertainment, education, human interest stories and now the rapidly-changing cannabis industry. Joe Butler is a 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-
UPCOMING EVENTS
based freelancer who has been writing professionally for 20 years. She has been covering i502 issues since recreational cannabis became legal in Washington.
Rob Mejia is president of Our Community Harvest: A Cannabis Education Company (ourcommunityharvest.com) and tweets at @OurComHarvest. Rob lives in New Jersey and spends his time cooking, playing tennis, and repairing an old house. Taryn Mickelson is originally from
New Mexico and now works in Washington’s cannabis industry. She enjoys writing about the positive changes in this growing business.
John Nelson is a longtime journalist, having worked in Spokane, Memphis and Seattle. He now works as a freelance journalist, writing about outdoors recreation, marijuana and recreational vehicles.
Theresa Tanner is the Health & Culture Editor of EVERCANNABIS. Born and raised in Spokane, she enjoys good food and drink, pop culture podcasts, and relaxing at the lake.
MAY 9
MAY 15-17
MAY 26
MAY 15
MAY 18
JUNE 14-15
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
Spokane/Eastern Washington Marijuana Business Networking Meet-up, Spokane. Happy hour 5:30-6:30 p.m., followed by presentation/discussion 6:30-7:30 p.m., Luigi’s. meetup.com/SpokaneEastern-WA-MarijuanaBusiness-Networking/
Legalized Summit: Best of Breed Awards, Vancouver, B.C. Growers can learn ways to compete well in the legal recreational and medical marketplaces, and how to transition from from underground markets. legalizedsummit.com
NORML Women of WA, Spokane. Meet with cannabis activists and drug policy progressives to connect, learn and take action. facebook.com/ NORMLWomenWa
The Dope Show, Spokane. Enjoy “stand-up comedy under the influence” from rotating comedians at the Spokane Comedy Club. whosmokesweed.me/ TheDopeShow
EVERCANNAFEST, Spokane Valley. Producers, processers, retailers, industry professionals, advocates and consumers will come together for two days of learning and fun. spokane7tickets.com
Planning a cannabis-themed event for the public? Send details to evercannabis@spokesman.com.
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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
Nature is calling come in for your camping supplies
Daily specials!
This 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.
PEND OREILLE CANNABIS COMPANY 124 E RIVERSIZE AVE IONE, WA • 509-442-3420 • MON-SAT 10-7 SUN 11-5
Correction: A headline in our April issue indicated that The Clone Zone in Arlington had shut down. While the grower received a license cancellation notice from the LCB, it is currently appealing the notice and remains in business with normal operations.
Federal legalization of hemp creates quandary for U.S. police By GILLIAN FLACCUS Associated Press
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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, May 3, 2019
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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) —
ederal legalization of hemp arrived in the U.S. late last year and expanded an industry already booming because of the skyrocketing popularity of CBDs, a compound in hemp that many see as a health aid. But now, just a few months after Congress placed the marijuana look-alike squarely in safe legal territory, the hemp industry has been unsettled by an unexpected development. Truckers, now free to haul hemp from state to state, have been stopped and sometimes arrested by police who can’t tell whether they have intercepted a legal agricultural crop or the biggest marijuana bust of their careers. That’s because the only way to distinguish hemp and marijuana, which look and smell alike, is by measuring their tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and officers don’t have the testing technology to do so on the spot. Marijuana, illegal under federal law, has enough THC to get users high. Hemp has almost none — 0.3 percent or less under U.S. government standards — yet drug-sniffing dogs will alert on both. Field tests that officers now use can detect THC but aren’t sophisticated enough to specify whether a shipment is legal hemp or low-grade illegal pot. In a sign of the significance of the problem, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration earlier this month put out a request for information on private companies that might have the technology for field tests sensitive enough to distinguish between hemp and marijuana. “Nobody wants to see someone in jail for a month for the wrong thing,” DEA spokeswoman Barbara Carreno said. “To enable us to do our job, we have to have something that can help us distinguish.” It’s an unanticipated hiccup for the rapidly growing hemp industry, which relies on interstate trucking to transport hemp from farms to processing labs that extract the compound cannabidiol, or CBD, from the raw plant material. The pure CBD powder is then resold for use in everything from makeup to smoothies to pet food. Kentucky and Oregon are big producers of hemp, and much of what they grow is processed in Colorado. Companies that transport the plant often drive through Oklahoma and Idaho, which is where some arrests have occurred. Hemp remains illegal under Idaho law, and lawmakers there are scrambling to pass a legalization bill. Law enforcement agencies are urging them to include guidance on field tests. To further complicate the issue, states that already have their own hemp programs must have them approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which could take months.
“It’s the greatest example of the cart being put before the horse that I’ve ever thought of,” said Grant Loebs, who is on the board of directors of the Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association, which has demanded better testing. “You’re trying to make hemp legal so farmers can grow it, but you haven’t put into place anything that’s going to keep marijuana dealers from taking advantage of a huge loophole.” At least three truckers and two security guards transporting state-certified hemp have been arrested and charged with felony drug trafficking. Thousands of pounds worth more than $2 million combined after processing remain in warehouses in Oklahoma and Idaho as evidence while the cases play out. Frank Robison, a Colorado-based attorney specializing in such cases, said he has about a halfdozen clients in similar situations in other locations. He declined to provide more information, citing his clients’ desire for privacy. “What local law enforcement is doing is they’re stifling an industry that Congress intended to promote to help American farmers and help the American economy — not to make people nervous that they’re going to get tossed in jail over a (THC) discrepancy,” said Robison, who represents one of the companies involved in the Oklahoma case. Robison and others hope the USDA will work quickly to create rules for validating hemp shipments that local law enforcement could use instead of relying on THC field tests, such as state agricultural certificates or lab certificates. That way, police could let a suspicious load through without arrests and if the hemp samples come back high in THC from testing done in a lab setting, authorities could pursue the grower or shipper after the fact. Andrew Ross, a Marine who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, is facing 18 years to life in Oklahoma if convicted after he was arrested in January while providing security for a load of state-certified hemp from Kentucky. Ross and a colleague were riding in a van behind a semi-truck filled with the plant that ran a red light and was pulled over. Ross said he provided police in Pawhuska, Okla., with the state-issued license for the Kentucky farm that grew the hemp, the license for the Colorado lab that was buying it and chemical analysis paperwork for all 60 sacks of hemp that he said shows it was within federal guidelines for hemp. That wasn’t enough for the officers. They tested the shipment and found it contained THC — although not how much — and arrested Ross, his colleague and the two truck drivers. The charges against the drivers eventually were dropped, but their 18,000-pound (8,165-kilogram)
cargo with a value of nearly $1 million after processing still is being held. The case and a similar one in Idaho prompted the Oregon Department of Agriculture to issue a formal warning to hemp growers not to ship their crop across state lines. Ross posted bail and continues to run his hemp transport business, Patriot Shield Security, from Denver while awaiting trial in Oklahoma. He said potential customers from places like Nevada, West Virginia and Wyoming say they now are afraid to send their hemp out of state. “The whole industry has been turned upside down. Everyone is terrified. No one wants to transport anything,” Ross said. Osage County First Assistant District Attorney Michelle Bodine-Keely said the seized hemp was still being tested. Some samples sent to a DEA lab in Washington, D.C., came back within the legal range for THC, but several were over, she said. Based on the results so far, Bodine-Keely said she’s not convinced it’s all hemp. “Part of it is hemp, and part of it is marijuana. It’s an ongoing case, and not only is it an ongoing case, it’s still an ongoing investigation,” she said. But, she allowed, “It would be nice to have a different kind of test in the field that will actually tell what the percent is.”
HEMP
Samples of hemp sit on a table in the conference room at Andrew Ross’s office in Denver on Friday, March 22, 2019. Ross, a Marine who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, is facing 18 years to life in Oklahoma if he is convicted after he was arrested in January while providing security for a load of state-certified hemp from Kentucky. (Thomas Peipert photo / Associated Press)
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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
Good bugs vs. bad bugs Contender Gardens uses biological tools to enhance growing efforts
Cannabis-Infused White Bean Tapenade
By DANIELLE GUERCIO The Fresh Toast Contributor
Sometimes the simplest things are best, and this is a dish that has never failed me on tired nights when there’s not much in the pantry. My obsession with white beans on toast started at a favorite Italian haunt in the East Village, Supper, where every meal comes with a small dish of marinated white beans, and it’s honestly the best part. Hummus and other cold bean dishes are common across the Mediterranean region. Cannellini and great northern beans are mild flavored and take seasoning extremely well. It’s why they are a soup staple, and why they are a humble but delicious appetizer or side dish. White Bean Tapenade Inspired by Supper Restaurant, New York City • 2 cans small white beans, cannellini, white kidney, or great northern are all acceptable • 1 head of garlic • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes • Fresh parsley • Dried herbs and spices • Salt and pepper to taste • Peel of one lemon (grated or peeled in strips) • 1 cup total extra virgin olive oil (use desired amount of Weed Olive Oil* within this quantity) • Toasted bread slices • Grated Pecorino (optional)
Rinse canned beans thoroughly and allow to strain further while you prepare marinade. If use cooked dry beans, prepare according to package and cool completely.
Smash and chop garlic, mincing as finely as possible. Use any combination of herbs; thyme and tarragon match well, especially lemony thyme varieties. Chop both fresh and dried herbs finely. Add oil, garlic, and herbs and lemon to a clean jar with dried pepper flakes, cracked black pepper, and about half a teaspoon salt. Mix well and add beans, stir to combine. Refrigerate overnight and serve on toast or with flatbread. Keeps up to 5 days in a sealed jar. You can eat right away with toasted bread, but it tastes best after a day in the fridge when all the flavors can meld together, also like soup. My perfect bean dream is a heaping tablespoon of beans smushed into well toasted bread, topped with a sprinkle of sharp pecorino, which is easy to nix if you’re vegan. *Weed Olive Oil Decarboxylate 3.5g of finely ground cannabis at 225 degrees for 20 minutes in a tightly sealed, oven safe container. Put in lidded mason jar or vacuum sealed bag with cannabis and four ounces of olive oil. Heat in water bath just under boiling for at least 1 hour. Strain and chill to use in recipes. Adapted from an article originally published at thefreshtoast.com.
By JOE BUTLER
EVERCANNABIS Writer
“We’re real big into learning,” said Casey Connell, owner of Contender Gardens. Sure, this is almost as generic of a statement as “We grow some of the best weed around,” but if you spend some time with Connell and his staff you’ll learn that their interest in knowledge goes beyond simply cultivating quality plants. Think quality bugs instead, which is one of the ways that the Tier 1 producer in north Spokane is able to keep the “bad bugs” away and also avoid using pesticides. Since 2013, Connell has performed extensive research into what types of insects are most beneficial when introduced at different stages of a plant’s growth. The role of the ‘better bugs’ is to attack and devour the more damaging bugs that can impact a plant’s growth, lower its quality, and spread to other plants. Different growing environments can lead to the presence of different types of insects, and also can correlate with different parts of a plant’s life cycle. For instance, certain insects will thrive in higher or lower humidity – and so will the ones that can combat them. The sequence of insect introduction is also perfectly timed with each species’ life cycle so all bugs are gone by the time the plant is ready to be harvested. “We’re all geeked out about this stuff,” Connell said. He began growing cannabis in 2001, and earned degrees in economics and Portuguese from the University of New Mexico. He moved to Bend, Ore., during its building boom in the mid-2000s, where he worked with medical marijuana patients and built a cacti farm, which could be used in sustainable landscaping. When the recession hit in 2008, he moved to Everett and opened a medical collective garden called Contender Agriculture. After the passage of Initiative 502, he decided to start attending various controlled environment agriculture
“We also try to tailor our products to consumers who are more healthconscious.”
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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
schools including Oaksterdam University, where he fine-tuned his growing techniques. With these new credentials, he expanded his farm into Seattle. When recreational licenses began being issued, he originally considered Quincy but found that Spokane was inexpensive and had good access to sunlight and labor. His interest in incorporating insects started in 2013 when his medical crop was infected by a particularly nasty breed of mites. “Nothing could eradicate them – not heat, not pesticides,” he said. “I couldn’t find any way to get rid of them, but then learned about a certain insect that loved to eat these types of mites. I tried them and those mites seemed to disappear.” His years of experience and experimenting have paid off. Contender Gardens now grows about 30 strains which are sold statewide. The location allows some plants to be sun-grown in hoophouses and greenhouses along with a few indoor rooms. The hoophouses allow for three sets of harvests a year. The indoor areas produce crops all year round. “We try to see what people want and keep on growing it,” he said. “We also try to tailor our products to consumers who are more health-conscious.” Contender Gardens also has a kitchen where the staff creates a variety of infused edibles under the Uncle Roaner’s brand of hard candies and soft chews. Creative flavors include everything from “Fancy Pink Lemonade” to “Peach Mango Chamoy,” a blend of spicy, sour and fruity. The Watermelon Chamoy is especially popular, alongside Blue Raspberry, Lemon Bar, Chai Latte and Bubble Gum. Connell said a third processed edible product will be coming out later this year which will be exciting for customers. He’s seeing the edible market slowly growing as the flower market remains competitive. “We are selling a lot of sun-grown,” he said. Since Connell started in the medical area, he remains eager to provide advice to medical marijuana patients about the strains that can best address certain conditions. Later this year, the business will be releasing a high-CBD topical that can provide pain relief without high levels of THC. One blend will be sold at licensed cannabis retailers and another will be available at non-cannabis shops. Today, Connell enjoys educating the community about cannabis, whether it’s individual patients or larger groups across the country. He recently returned from speaking about how to run a successful cultivation operation at the U.S. Cannabis Conference and Expo in Las Vegas, and has been a speaker at several other gatherings about bio-control methods, including the Cannabis Sustainability Symposium, the Cannabis Collaborative Conference and the U.S. Cannabis Conference in Miami. He and the Contender Gardens staff continue to research new growing techniques, including certain intensity of lights, organic cultivation, live soil, biochar, strain selections and auto-flower varieties. Plus he continues to have interest in learning new methods of biocontrol and implementation of insects, plus general sustainable practices. “We try to be as green and clean as we can,” Connell said.
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“We’re all geeked out about this stuff.”
Contender Gardens Spokane
Tier 1 www.contendergardens.com
Photo by Joe Butler
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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
TEXAS Willie
But has not legalized his favorite plant By JOHN NELSON
EVERCANNABIS Correspondent
T
he branding power of Willie Nelson draws a crowd even in states where weed is illegal. Take Texas, for example. At the Luck Reunion, an annual music festival held on Nelson’s ranch about 45 minutes outside Austin in March, there was a huge line to get into the Willie’s Reserve merchandise store, where vape pens, lighters, bandanas, hats, T-shirts and other clothing were on sale. No weed was available – at least legally – anywhere at the festival, but that didn’t seem to matter to the cannabis lovers who clamored for the merch. “There’s a huge demand among fans to show their love for Willie,” said Elizabeth Hogan, vice president of brand and communications for Willie’s Reserve, Nelson’s cannabis brand. Alan Verhines, a fan attending the Luck Reunion from Indianapolis, walked out of the store with a Willie’s Reserve tote bag, hat and a few other items he had just purchased. “Most of this stuff I’m going to give away,” he said. “It’s never too soon to think about Christmas.” Another fan, Ben from Austin (who asked that his last name not be used), purchased a Willie’s Reserve vape pen. “I’m a big believer in hemp, and I’m a big supporter of Willie,” he said. Beyond the swag, the Willie’s Reserve cannabis products have an ardent following. You can buy his licensed flower strains and products in states where weed is legal, including Washington, Oregon and Colorado. Some of the strains sold in Washington include Mr. Nice, LA Confidential, Big Blue and Glitter Glue. Besides flower and pre-rolls, Willie’s Reserve has an ever-growing menu of edible products. In the Spokane area, Willie’s Reserve is sold at Primo Cannabis, Apex Cannabis, Locals’s Canna House,
“There’s a strong appreciation for freedom in Texas.” Cannabis and Glass, Lovely Buds and Lucky Leaf, according to the Willie’s Reserve website. Pullman, Clarkston and Walla Walla also have outlets. So far, reviews from retailers are positive. Neil Waldbjorn, store manager for Local Roots Marijuana in Everett, said he’s impressed with Willie’s Reserve as a company. Waldbjorn was attending the Luck Reunion wearing a Seahawks ball cap, standing out among the vast field of cowboy hats. “The company is well organized, which shows me they’ll be around long term,” he said. Willie’s Reserve partners with farmers who use sustainable practices, giving an assist to “the independent American farmer,” Hogan said, an offshoot of Nelson’s well-publicized efforts with Farm Aid, the long running benefit concert to assist American family farms. The company’s website lists six growers it works with in Washington, including Leaves of Grass in Wenatchee. On the retail end, outlets offering “good consumer experience” are chosen, according to Hogan. In Texas, Nelson is supporting efforts to legalize hemp farming, a logical first step in a conservative state that still doesn’t allow medical sales of marijuana. “It’s very meaningful to Willie to see hemp plants
grown in his home state,” Hogan said. Eventually, that could lead to legal sales of cannabis, she said, given the state’s libertarian streak. “There’s a strong appreciation for freedom in Texas,” said Hogan, looking around at the crowd of fans scurrying around the Willie’s Reserve store at the Luck Reunion. “The more we can show that cannabis can be sold responsibly elsewhere, the better chance we have.” Top: Willie Nelson performs during the Luck Reunion event on his ranch near Austin. Bottom: Fans line up for Willie’s Reserve merchandise. (John Nelson photos/Evercannabis)
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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
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Hasthtag Cannabis to be demolished SEATTLE – Upcoming development in the Wallingford/ Fremont neighborhood will cause the relocation of Hashtag Cannabis, one of the area’s first licensed recreational retailers. Part of the block where the retailer has been since 2015 will be demolished to make way for a five-story office building. Also affected will be Stone Way Café, a popular coffee shop and community gathering place, and SeaOcean Book Berth, a maritime bookstore. Christine Cohen, Hashtag’s director of marketing and community outreach, said company officials are working with their current landlord to find something by the end of summer. Ideally they would prefer a streetlevel location if anything is available. “Finding a different space is much more appealing to us, because then we wouldn’t have to close down,” Cohen said. “We’re going to be here as long as we possibly can.” Hashtag’s co-owner Logan Bowers also is planning a Seattle City Council run for District 3. Hashtag and Stone Way sometimes team up for neighborhood events. The new energy-efficient building will be created by John Schwartz, a local real estate developer. Source: The Stranger
New Centralia shop opens CENTRALIA – The state’s second Uncle Ando’s Wurld of Weed in the state opened in late March. The Centralia retailer joins an Aberdeen location, owned by Perry Nelson and Matt Martinez. Both locations will be managed by Frank Christin, Nelson’s brother-in-law. Nelson and Christin attended school together in Centralia and both live in Seattle. Nelson applied for and received a retail license in Centralia when they were first issued in 2015, but took a while to work with the city for appropriate permitting and zoning. The shop is officially in a heavy industrial zone. The Aberdeen store opened in 2016, named after a close friend of Martinez who died when he was in college. Martinez, a real estate broker based in Vancouver, said he became an enthusiast of cannabis years ago after believing it helped cure a health condition that was making him vomit frequently. “It did something very positive for me, but you would never think that was positive based on its reputation at the time,” he said. “We will hopefully help people understand a little bit more about marijuana – while still something only adults should be using, maybe it’s not as bad as portrayed in that ‘50s-era propaganda.” Source: The Chronicle
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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
U
Is Pot Making You Puke? By TRACY DAMON
EVERCANNABIS Correspondent
nlike alcohol drinkers, cannabis users usually don’t find themselves throwing up in the bushes, or waking up with a hangover. Recently, though, some consumers have been diagnosed with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), a little-known illness that causes severe vomiting. “I woke up with a moderate stomachache … I went downstairs and it continued to get worse and then nausea began,” said Ray McKee, who was diagnosed with CHS in June 2018. CHS is fairly rare and has only been diagnosed in people who use cannabis regularly for extended amounts of time. McKee describes his cannabis use as “pretty regular” over 12 years. His usage increased after he retired in 2018. “I treated every day like the weekend,” he said. This increase led to his first and so far only bout with CHS. Mark Collins, owner of Wicked Weed, a cannabis producer in Airway Heights, prefers to dab cannabis or eat edibles. But starting in 2017, it didn’t matter how he used it; the result wasn’t pretty. “If I eat too much THC, I will wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, then I’ll be in the bathroom until everything is out of my body,” he said, likening the experience to food poisoning. “If I dab, I wake up with vomiting.” When the symptoms first started, Collins had no clue that cannabis was the cause. While using cannabis stimulates the appetite for most people, and some cancer patients even use it to reduce nausea associated with chemotherapy treatments, Collins was so sick that he lost 65 pounds from throwing up and being too nauseous to eat. “My doctor was telling me it was acid reflux. I did a lot of reading and came across this Reddit article on CHS. So I took a break from using cannabis. I had a birthday coming up so I thought I would try it again and I got sick again,” Collins said. Medical professionals were also uncertain in identifying the cause of McKee’s problems. “They gave me an EKG, a CT scan of my lower extremities and a full exam and said they found nothing wrong with me,” he said. “But I was feeling no better. And they had given me two different anti-nausea meds. The doctor said, based on that, he can only pin it on cannabis toxicity. He said they had been seeing an increase in cases over the past four years and I had the classic symptoms.” What an “increase in cases” means is not currently clear. When asked about CHS, officials at the Spokane Regional Health District provided materials from their “Weed to Know” campaign that say the health district will be working closely with area healthcare providers about diagnosing this illness in the future. The health district’s materials describe compulsive bathing as one of the symptoms of CHS, which Collins says was used more as a treatment for him.
STUDY EXAMINES ER VISITS IN COLORADO A study published in March by the Annals of Internal Medicine analyzed 2,500 adult emergency room visits related to cannabis use at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, a large public hospital about 30 minutes outside Denver, between 2012 and 2016; legal cannabis sales began in Colorado in 2014. In reviewing the patient charts, researchers observed that inhaling cannabis resulted in a higher rate of hospitalizations than that for edible cannabis. About 31 percent of cannabis-related visits were due to stomach issues, particularly cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. Researchers also noted that edible cannabis contributed to over 10 percent of cannabis-related ER visits, although it accounts for less than 1 percent of Colorado’s total cannabis sales. These visits were prompted by acute psychiatric symptoms, intoxication and cardiovascular symptoms. Source: Business Insider
June 14-15
EVERCANNAfEst
“Hot showers are the only thing that helps,” he said. “Did you ever get drunk and have to step outside in the cold and have a cup of coffee to stop the feeling of being sick? That’s the effect the hot water has.” Researchers aren’t sure why showers help, but suspect that the heat stimulates nerve endings in the abdomen. For McKee, the only thing that has worked is reducing his marijuana use. “I had words with the nurse about how shocked I was about being sent home feeling as bad, if not worse, as when I came in,” he said. The doctor told McKee there is no treatment except to treat the symptoms. “I guess the only symptom he hadn’t treated was my irritability … he had the nurse give me an anti-anxiety med. Twenty minutes later, I felt so much better,” McKee said. Collins is worried that enough people don’t realize what is happening to them to effectively deal with the syndrome. “I personally think more people suffer from it that don’t know about it,” he said. While most medical experts consider chronic marijuana use to be mostly harmless physically, repeated vomiting can cause gastrointestinal distress, weight loss and other complications. McKee agrees there isn’t a lot of common knowledge about CHS. “The doctor told me their biggest problem with this is repeat customers,” he said. “When they give them (patients) the diagnosis, they don’t believe it’s a thing.”
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®
evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
Spokane Valley Events Center
2019
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2019
Booths and sponsorships available!
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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
S
ummer wedding season is approaching, and plenty of brides-to-be are in planning mode for the their big day. While this isn’t necessarily news, what is different is the presence of legal cannabis, perhaps as a treat for grown-up guests or even as part of the décor. Wedding watchers in Seattle, Portland and Denver have commented on creative ways that brides and wedding planners have incorporated this now-legal herb into the festivities. But the trend has not reached Spokane so far. Jaime Johnson of Jaime Johnson Events in Spokane said she’s yet to have any requests for a weed-friendly wedding but “as long as the client follows the law,” it wouldn’t hurt her feelings.
Following Proper Protocol
Wedded Bliss
Wedding planners are marrying parties with cannabis – just not in Spokane By LINDA BALL EVERCANNABIS Correspondent
Making your good time a high time can be OK, as long as certain rules as followed. Brian Smith, communications director with the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, said if a wedding is on private property and adult guests are by invitation only, cannabis is allowed. If the wedding party secured a banquet license so they could serve alcohol, the board is notified, which gives it the right to show up and inspect. But “it’s not high on its list of priorities,” Smith said. In other words, it’s unlikely LCB agents are going to show up to inspect your wedding. If there is no alcohol served at the event, there is no connection to the LCB, he said. Initial cannabis rules have also eased up a bit. After July 2018, it became legal for adults 21 and over to share cannabis or cannabis products. Consumption of cannabis is still illegal in public, though; if consumed at a private venue, it needs to be shielded from public view. Johnson said she would expect guests to follow vaping and smoking rules that apply to the specific venue. Most venues have their own in-house planners, she said, but as long as the environment is safe and the rules are followed, she doesn’t see a problem. If an event is held on private property, the couple throwing the party would have to be sure that the property or venue owner was comfortable with guests partaking. Do-it-yourself weddings – say, in your back yard – are more likely to be cannabis-friendly, Johnson said.
On the rise out of state
Cannabis-friendly weddings have alr other markets. Denver started a Canna in 2016, which has expanded to Los A and San Francisco. All four cities held expos this year, chance to learn how to include cannab with class and taste. This can inc wedding dresses, cannabis floral arra caterers, photographers and transporta Nora Sheils, owner of Bridal Blis Gonzaga University graduate who stud business. She won the Hogan Entrepre Program 17 years ago, giving her the s her business. Over the years, she has organized a h friendly weddings. In Oregon, alcohol be kept separate so she’s had weddin lounge, even a teepee comfortably out for seating and a budtender to serve gu “If guests aren’t comfortable or it’s n they don’t have to go in,” Sheils said. Most of her weed weddings ha residences because most Oregon venu Sheils said she started getting requ weddings shortly after legalization beg One of her first such weddings in 20 a local television news broadcast; the and was even picked up by Jimmy Fal At this wedding, she said a grandma in a long time partook and had “th wedding couple was thrilled.
“
The even are tightl controlled, it’s been a g experienc
ready been tested in abis Wedding Expo Angeles, Las Vegas
, giving couples the bis in their wedding clude custom hemp angements, venues, ation companies. ss in Portland, is a died psychology and eneurial Leadership seed money to begin
evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
Is Spokane ready?
Bob Adolfson, the owner of Glover Mansion Events, based in the historic Glover Mansion, has found ways to say “yes” to events where cannabis is present. The mansion is a private venue, and although he’s not had any weed weddings at the mansion, he has hosted several cannabis industry events. The attendees were all I-502 licensees, and were allowed to consume in the private side yard. He said the cannabis events at the mansion have all been positive with a generally mellow crowd. “The events are tightly controlled, but it’s been a good
experience,” Adolfson said. No alcohol is typically served, since this requires a banquet license and will alert the LCB. Since the Glover Mansion does not have a liquor license it doesn’t present that problem. However, in the next year or so, Adolfson said he’s looking at getting a liquor license, which means he couldn’t allow any events with cannabis. Adolfson said he just wants to be sure everything is safe and legal. Although two-thirds of his business are weddings, he’s yet to have any requests for a cannabis-friendly wedding. “It’s the five-year rule here,” he joked. “Spokane seems to be always five years behind the Coast.”
handful of cannabisand weed bars must ngs with a cannabis tfitted with cushions uests. not their thing, then
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” Photos courtesy Brittany Lauren Photography, left; Dylan Howell Photography, top right; Jessica Hill Photography, bottom right
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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
FLORIDA ENDS BAN ON SMOKING MEDICAL MARIJUANA
NATIONAL BRIEFS
HAWAII OPENS MEDICAL CANNABIS TO VISITORS HONOLULU – THE HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH has instituted a new program that allows qualified out-of-state patients to buy medical cannabis. It has also created an online system that allows both in- and out-of-state patients to apply for a medical cannabis registration card. “The introduction of Hawaii’s electronic medical cannabis card is a major step in improving access to medical cannabis for qualified patients in Hawaii and out-of-state
Jelly Belly inventor creates CBD candies
David Klein, inventor of the Jelly Belly, is now selling CBD-infused beans. Although he sold the rights to the
patients,” said Hawaii DOH director Dr. Bruce
popular candy in 1980, he continued
Anderson in a press release. “These patients may
to work in the candy and confection
now legally obtain medical cannabis from any of
industry.
the local licensed retail dispensaries while visiting the islands.” To apply, visitors must submit digital copies
Earlier this year, he announced that his company, Spectrum Confections, will
of a current valid medical cannabis registration
begin producing and selling jelly beans
from their home state or U.S. territory and a
with cannabidol, a natural compound
valid government-issued identification or driver’s
in cannabis and hemp believed to
license from the same state or territory with a non-refundable $49.50 fee. The application can
produce healing properties. Each bean
be submitted up to 60 days prior to a visit. If
will have 10 ml of CBD so people can
approved, patients will receive an email with a
eat more than one but also control their
web link providing electronic access to a card
CBD dosage.
that can be printed or saved to a mobile device. Visit medmj.ehawaii.gov/ to apply. An
The CBD beans will also include fruit
However, the beans won’t include
THC, another compound known to cause intoxication that’s commonly associated with marijuana. Klein invented the Jelly Belly in 1976 as a way to add extra flavor to traditional jelly beans. They have grown in popularity and even found their way onto President Ronald Reagan’s desk and aboard the Space Shuttle. The company Herman Goelitz purchased the company and continues to sell millions of them. In 2016, Klein recently began producing his own line of beans,
juice to enhance their flavor. There will
including a gourmet line for coffee
marijuanahawaii.org/visitors.
be 38 flavors available including sour
houses.
Source: Cannabis Business Times
and a sugar-free variety.
instructional video can be viewed at
Source: Cannabis Afficionado
TALLAHASSEE - THE FLORIDA HOUSE voted 101-11 to affirm the right to smoke medical cannabis on March 13, approving a Senate bill to add “smoking” to the medical marijuana constitutional amendment. In 2016, about 71 percent of voters approved a constitutional amendment to legalize medical cannabis. Then-Gov. Rick Scott signed the 2017 bill into law, legalizing access in pill, oil, edible and vape form. The provision that outlawed smoking was challenged in circuit court in July 2017 and ruled unconstitutional by Leon County Circuit Judge Karen Gievers in May 2018. The ruling was appealed by the state Department of Health. In January, Gov. Ron DeSantis asked the Legislature to amend the Florida law by March 15. If legislators did not meet the deadline, the governor said he would drop the state’s appeal. DeSantis signed the bill into law on March 18. The bill also established a Medical Marijuana Research and Education Board that will oversee a research consortium established by the state university system’s Board of Governors. House bill sponsor Rep. Ray Rodrigues said expanding the benefitted research is something that “we would be benefitted from.” Source: Miami Herald
evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
Drink In Summer By THERESA TANNER
Technology eliminates cannabis taste, smell in infused beverages
EVERCANNABIS writer
A
hhhh, summer! The sun-filled days of water sports and adventurous hikes are just around the corner. And after a day of playing hard, is there anything better than kicking back at a BBQ with friends, blanketed under the starry night sky? When you’re packing your BYOB cooler for your next party or potluck, toss in something that’s a creative update on a classic Washington beverage: Happy Apple cannabis infused cider. Within months of its introduction in spring 2017, Happy Apple was the No. 1 selling cannabis infused drink in the state, said Tyler Peterson, general manager of GreenMed Lab, a 502 licensed cannabis processor in Seattle. It was the first infused drink created using SoRSE (pronounced ‘source’), a process developed by Tarukino Holdings (now SoRSE Technology) that produces a taste- and odor- free cannabis emulsion that’s ready for infusion. GreenMed Lab is licensed to use SoRSE technology in creating infused products. Made with Washington-grown apples and cannabis, Happy Apple is available in three levels of THC potency in 12 oz. bottles: the best-selling 100mg, 50mg and a “diet” version at 10mg. Other beverages created with SoRSE are Utopia sparkling water (available in six flavors at 5mg, 10mg, 30mg and 100mg THC); Vertus, a sparkling wine substitute available in 750ml bottles (50mg or 100mg THC); and Reeb, a barley soda that tastes like beer (available in four flavors at 5mg, 10mg, 30mg and 100mg THC). If those don’t quench your thirst, Pearl2o is a waterbased infused mixer that can be added to almost any drink. You can even download recipes for seasonal dishes and cocktails (pearl2o.com/cookwithpearl).
Peterson said GreenMed Lab introduced two new products this spring: Major, an economically priced 100mg THC infused fruit punch and pink lemonade, and a “happy accident” called Atomic Apple. “It’s a bad recipe of Happy Apple that turned out super tart and sour,” he said, adding that the new products are “selling like gangbusters!” Along with beverages, GreenMed Lab also produces Velvet Swing, a sexual lubricant, and Velvet Kiss, a spray tincture. “We’re primarily a beverage company, but we might get into a few more topicals,” Peterson said. “We’ve heard all kinds of unique requests; nothing is off the table,” he said, mentioning infused condiment packets, like ketchup and barbecue sauce. “It wouldn’t be difficult to do,” he said, but the production and packaging process would take some time to create. “If there is something we can fold into our process, it makes more sense.” Peterson hopes to see the demand for cannabis infused beverages evolve to a point where people will see low-dose products as a social beverage that can be enjoyed over time. “The market just isn’t there yet. We’re maybe a year or two too early. We want it to be available and we want to go there – we just need the market to get there, too,” he said. Happy Apple and other SoRSE line are available at a number of cannabis retailers across Washington. Visit gmlprocessor.com for more information.
Photos courtesy GreenMed Lab
Washington State University is conducting a study on experiences, perceptions, and views about cannabis purchases from pregnant women. We are seeking to interview owners and employees of cannabis stores who have interacted with pregnant customers. You must be at least 21 years old to participate. You will be asked to participate in a short, recorded interview (30-60 minutes) on the Washington State University Spokane campus or by phone. You will earn a $50 gift card for your participation.
To participate in the “Cannabis retailers’ perspectives” study, please call: 509-358-7707
evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
Why You Need a Cannabis Concierge Next Time You Travel
By DANIELLE GUERCIO
The Fresh Toast Contributor
I
t’s so fun to end up in a new state with a cannabis program, but when you’re tired, “hangry” and need to stretch your legs after a flight or road trip, sourcing cannabis isn’t always the most fun thing to do. And what if you want to go deeper into the scene, doing more than just skimming the dispensary surface and ending up on the couch of your Airbnb or sticking your head out of a hotel window? Finding cannabis friendly activities used to be harder than sourcing the flower – until now. What if you could send a few emails and have it all taken care of? In this age of literal weed orders at Barney’s, it’s more of a possibility than you know. Services are around to help travelers and tourists align with their preferred cannabis experience, you just have to ask. Until the day when you can roll up and bring your stash with you through security, which we don’t recommend, try
the amazing airport pickup service that some companies, like Cannabis Tours, offer to travelers. This is a relief to a medical cannabis user, but it’s not the only benefit of using cannabis concierge and tourism agencies to guide your trip. For those seeking a full service experience, there are finally options, and they’re spreading to multiple states with legal cannabis. April Black, CEO of Higher Way Travel, uses the miles under her belt to generate good times for her guests. “As experienced travelers and cannabis connoisseurs ourselves, we can help our customers handle the challenges they face when visiting a legal state,” Black said. Hi-Curious founder Lauren Mundell says that though people want to check out cannabis for many different reasons, they always want a smooth experience. “Vacation days are precious, and time and attention are our scarcest resources,” Mundell said. “Sophisticated travelers
want a curated experience that helps them feel more local than tourist.” Heidi Keyes, President of Cannabis Tours, is part of a multicity team that makes every activity take flight. “Basically, we’re setting you up to make sure you not only get the most out of your cannabis vacation, but that you’re doing it safely, legally and easily,” Keyes said. “We’ll take care of both your weed paranoia and your travel anxiety and make your entire vacation streamlined, and as structured as you do or don’t desire.” You can’t always just look up if a hotel, Airbnb rental, or other lodging is cannabis friendly, and it’s still pretty rare in most states. These cannabis connectors have relationships with the spaces you’ll want access to for the most low key experience. Some lodging doesn’t even allow cannabis in outdoor spaces, so don’t just assume because there is a patio that you’ll be all set.
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Keyes says this is a big reason they love to help people get what they need out of a legal locale. “Even if cannabis is recreationally legal in the place you’re traveling to, be aware that public consumption is not legal, and every state has different regulations on how much you can buy and where you can smoke,” she said. “Most hotels are not cannabis-friendly, so be aware of smoking fines – the quickest way to ruin a vacation is a $500 fee for smoking a joint in your room!” There’s also so much more to do than simply smoke, like taking a peek behind the green curtain on a grow tour or at a processing facility. “If you want to go beyond consumption and actually learn about the culture, industry and the laws, it’s challenging to do on your own,” Mundell said. Black says that itineraries can make or break an experience. “The ones we offer save the traveler the trouble of researching the cannabis scene in an area and making separate reservations with each different activity,” Black explained, adding that where possible, consumption friendly transportation is deployed; Cannabis Tours also provides this in select cities. These organizations use the beauty of social activity and creative expression to bring cannabis newbies and cannabis experts all together. It is a dream experience for someone who has limited time to check out the cannabis happenings in a streamlined way, so make sure to take advantage of what a tour company or concierge can offer ... the future of cannabis tourism will involve lots of these types of businesses. Originally published on thefreshtoast.com.
Cannabis Tours cannabistours.com
Higher Way Travel higherwaytravel.com
Hi-Curious
hi-curious.com
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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
CANNABIS SOFTWARE FIRMS MERGE
STATE BRIEFS
SEATTLE – DAUNTLESS, WHICH PROVIDES POINTof-sale and product tracking software to the cannabis industry, recently acquired Soro, which offers sales software.
REPORT SAYS GROWING SPACE UNDER UTILIZED OLYMPIA – A RECENT REPORT CONDUCTED by the Liquor and Cannabis Board indicates that Washington producers are using less than half of their allocated canopy, which could lead to some being moved to lower tiers. Under state law, producers can apply and receive a license for a tier level based on how much square footage of cannabis they want to grow, but they are required to produce at least half that amount annually or possibly be moved to a smaller level. The report surveyed 778 indoor and outdoor growers and also surveyed 14 by drone. Tier 3, which is between 10,000 and 30,000 square feet, represents about 70 percent of the state’s legal canopy. The survey showed they were collectively using about 38 percent of their licensed space. Tier 2, between 2,000 and 10,000 square feet, accounts for 28 percent of the state inventory and uses about 42 percent of their space. Tier 1, up to 2,000 square feet, represents 3 percent of the state’s canopy and uses 41 percent of their space.
Soro CEO Jerry Tindall said the combined companies hope to create a comprehensive automation platform for retailers, processors and producers across the country.
Teen Use Steady On The Palouse
PULLMAN – ALTHOUGH A RECENT regional study led by Washington State University College of Nursing indicated fewer teens in the Northwest are using cannabis recreationally, law enforcement hasn’t noticed much change. Pullman Police Commander Chris Tennant said his department has observed that teen use has remained fairly stable before and after legalization.
He said his colleagues in Moscow have reported similar trends. Palouse law enforcement has seen slight increases in cannabis DUIs, but Tennant said officers are more concerned about distracted driving and phone use.
“When it became legal, I didn’t see a big spike – it was really the 50-year-olds that go ‘Oh, “Marijuana among the we can do it younger generations is socially acceptable again.’”
whether it’s legal or not, so even 10 years ago, Some of the licensees surveyed marijuana was quite prevalent in indicated that it’s difficult to fully and college and that filters down to the consistently build out their space, high school,” Tennant said. “When especially due to lower prices and it became legal, I didn’t see a big challenges with the new traceability spike – it was really the 50-year-olds system. Source: MJBizDaily that go ‘Oh, we can do it again.’”
The WSU College of Nursing study used data from the Washington Healthy Youth Survey, which interviews 75,000 students in grades 8, 10 and 12 every two years.
The survey showed a drop in cannabis use from 2010 to 2017, including 10th graders who don’t work (17.8 percent in 2010 to 13.9 percent), and 10th-graders who work part-time (38.8 percent to 33.2 percent).
Source: Moscow-Pullman Daily News
“The vision is to build an entire ecosystem around what it means to be a cannabis business,” said Tindall. “We now have a fullyintegrated offering that doesn’t really exist yet, not from the grower all the way to the retail plant sale.” Soro also offers customer relationship applications plus detailed analytics. It combines with Dauntless’s compliance and inventory management products. Dauntless was started in 2013 by Clark Musser, a former Microsoft executive. He said about 30-40 percent of licensed cannabis companies use its GIANT platform (Global Interoperable Application Network Technology). National online directory Leafly also uses this platform. It employs about 30 people, and will add four more with the addition of Soro’s team. Soro began in 2018. Musser and Tindall met at a Liquor and Cannabis Board meeting. They heard similar frustrations from licensees about the state’s traceability system and official vendor. “The goal is to create a better industry,” Musser said. Source: GeekWire
evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
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Irv Rosenfeld:
PIONEER PATIENT OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA By ROB MEJIA EVERCANNABIS Correspondent
W
hat image pops up in your hope for many medical cannabis patients head when you picture arrived in the form of Robert Randall, an a guy in his 60s who attorney living in Washington, D.C., who smokes eight to 10 joints had severe glaucoma, which responds a day? Someone in a ragged T-shirt well to cannabis by relieving eye pressure. with dreadlocks? Are they lazy and Engaging in an epic legal fight and unmotivated? Would you suspect that this gathering resources from other medical person has a job? In your mind, would cannabis patients, Randall sued the they be a “typical stoner”? federal government to get marijuana Well, Irvin Rosenfeld is about as far medicine under the Compassionate Care away from those descriptors as you can Act. This victory allowed a few others get – except for his cannabis consumption. with qualifying conditions to get cannabis Rosenfeld grew up in a loving family from the U.S. government, including in Portsmouth, Virg. He was an active Rosenfeld. kid and, at a young age, it looked like Rosenfeld put up his own legal baseball was his fight, aided by the sport. University of Virginia At age 10, and Georgetown without warning, University. He his arm became testified in Rockville, weak and feeble. Md., in front of In a few weeks, representatives from Rosenfeld went the Food and Drug from smoothly Administration in throwing a 1982. baseball to having His life was unexplained pain changed when he was Photo courtesy Irvin Rosenfeld and temporary granted permission paralysis. to use cannabis. Today, he is only one of Eventually, Rosenfeld was diagnosed two people who receive cannabis from with a rare and painful bone tumor the federal government. Every 30 days, condition called Multiple Congenital Rosenfeld picks up 300 joints from his Cartilaginous Exostosis. local pharmacy, rolled and ready. They From adolescence to young adulthood, are shipped from the University of Rosenfeld endured the pain with the help Mississippi, the only federally sanctioned of various pharmaceutical cocktails. Still, cannabis growing operation. he excelled at school and was admitted to The potency of the joints is modest college in Florida. (around 5-7 percent THC) but they Pressured by peers in college, Rosenfeld provide Rosenfeld with relief and keep tried a few puffs from a joint. He thought his tumors from growing. Because of his nothing of it until he began playing chess unique physiology, Rosenfeld never gets and was able to sit comfortably for 20 stoned and says he’s never been high in minutes – this had not happened in years. 40 years. He’s a successful stockbroker Rosenfeld reviewed his day and as well. nutritional intake; the only difference So if your image of a chronic cannabis was the cannabis. He tried it again and smoker is a professional, red-haired, received positive results. From then on, kind, smart stockbroker who sails on the if the underground market was able to weekends with a nonprofit group, then supply cannabis, he was able to get relief. you are correct – that’s Irv Rosenfeld In the mid-1970s, as Rosenfeld was today. just getting out of college, a glimmer of
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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
Removing the burns MISSOULA WOMAN DEVELOPS HELPFUL CBD CREAM
By JEAN ARTHUR
EVERCANNABIS Correspondent
W
hen Karen Sheady began medical treatment for breast cancer in 2013, she endured painful burns and blistering from radiation therapy, a treatment that uses highpowered beams of energy to kill cancerous cells. Now the Missoula, Mont., resident has developed a product to help other patients counter the pain and blistered skin from radiation. Lost Remedy’s Burn Formula is one of a dozen cannabidiol (CBD)-based products that Sheady manufactures and sells. She uses organically grown “carrier oils and therapeutic grade essential oils in combination with organic and lab-tested CBD oil from hemp” to create lotions and balms. CBD is a natural compound in hemp and cannabis plants that is said to reduce pain and inflammation. It doesn’t cause intoxication; a different compound in these plants, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is associated with psychoactive properties. “I developed the product for myself, and it was a blissful success,” said Sheady, 65, from her Missoula manufacturing facility. Her career as a journeyman tool and die maker led to metal- and woodworking in her husband’s custom door business. She’s quite the entrepreneur, especially with her newfound medical knowledge.
“I came to understand the dynamic of how CBD topicals work,” she said. “Everybody is equipped with receptors for CBD. Couple that with other targeted ingredients and I’m constantly amazed with what happens.” Sheady launched Lost Remedy in 2016 with the Burn Formula and soon developed other CBD-based products, including Joint and Muscle Relief, Arthritis Salve, First Aid Balm and Skin Replenishing Lotion. Her products also include optiphen, a liquid paraben-free and formaldehyde-free preservative, and a blend of essential oils that soothe irritated skin – and smell nice, too. Initially, Sheady encountered difficulty in marketing and shipping Lost Remedy products, until Jan. 1, 2019, “when the DEA and FDA acknowledged CBD’s therapeutic benefits” and removed federal restrictions on distribution. Challenges remain, however. “It’s hard to get the medical community on board because of (longterm contracts) of medical suppliers and the powerful pharmaceutical industry,” she explained, noting that
pharmaceutical companies lobby doctors, hospitals and legislators to speak out against CBD products. One loyal customer, Margaret Warzecha of Mundelein, Ill., found Lost Remedy through Leafly.com, an online directory of cannabis growers, retailers and products. The 56-year-old had never tried anything with CBD or marijuana until she got sick. “I do have a medical card for the state of Illinois. Friends recommended CBD cream. I then started Googling products,” said Warzecha, who struggles with several pain issues. She lists erythromelalgia, fibromyalgia, psoriatic arthritis, Lyme disease, Type 2 diabetes, Reynaud syndrome, gastroparesis and high blood pressure as “the big ones.” “My biggest issue is the pain between my toes to my foot from the erythromelalgia.” According to Mayo Clinic, “erythromelalgia is a rare condition that causes extreme heat, pain and redness on the bottom of the feet.” “All of the Lost Remedy products have worked for me,” noted Warzecha. “My favorite is the Burn Formula because it helps so many different things. I use it on my feet for the burning and redness. If you personally haven’t tried the cream, I highly recommend it. It does not have a strong odor. A little goes a long way.” Another cancer survivor, Tracy Bakke of Princeton, Minn., underwent radiation therapy treatments in 2017. “With the last five radiation treatments, radiation was intense,” Bakke said. “That is when (my skin) started to peel, but the Burn Cream helped. I don’t really have any scarring, because of it. It made my skin soft.” Ava Giglio of Tampa, Fla., ordered a sample of Lost Remedy’s Neuropathy Cream last year when she was looking for products to help her partner Sharon Kuist during chemotherapy treatment. Kuist used the Burn Formula after radiation, which provided immediate
relief. She used it three to four times daily, applying liberally. “It was not only soothing for her, but relieved the ‘picking’ sensation she experienced during treatment,” said Giglio. Kuist continued to use the Burn Formula as she developed a few blisters in the last round of treatment. “The Burn Formula seemed to speed up the healing process with the blisters, which have all cleared up now,” said Giglio. “Thank goodness for medical marijuana! And thank goodness for Lost Remedy.” Sheady, now six years cancer-free, is eager to keep spreading the word. “I’d love to hand a jar of Burn Formula to every woman who gets this horrible news of breast cancer,” said Sheady.
“I developed the product for myself, and it was a blissful success.”
AM Photos courtesy Lost Remedy
Lost Remedy CBD-infused products Missoula, Montana (406) 926-1808 lostremedy.com
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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
NO LOUNGING ALLOWED WA ban on private cannabis clubs continue
By TARYN MICKELSON
EVERCANNABIS Correspondent
P
art of the appeal of marijuana is that it can be a very social product. But apart from someone’s house or certain private locations, there aren’t a lot of legal spots where people can gather to smoke in Washington. If you want to consume elsewhere, you may have to visit Alaska, Oregon or Colorado, where certain types of licensed cannabis clubs and lounges are permitted. On Dec. 19, Alaska was the first state to allow retailers to permit on-site consumption. Customers can buy a product with up to 10 mg of THC and enjoy it right there in a shop’s smoking lounge. In Oregon, members-only clubs like the Northwest Cannabis Club in Portland allow adults to enter a private club where they can consume any legal product they bring themselves, such as joints, vape pens or edibles. The club also sells snacks and drinks, and has paraphernalia and related accessories available to rent and use, along with entertainment and gaming. In Denver, The Coffee Joint was the first location in the city to allow onsite consumption in a public setting. Entry requires paying a small $5 fee. Then guests can vape, enjoy cannabis concentrates or consume edibles socially (no smoking or open flames allowed due to Colorado’s Clean Air Act). But in Washington, consuming outside of private property is illegal and could lead to citations such as smoking in public. This has caused some consumers to advocate for changes to the law – not just for more access but potential business opportunities, such as opening a lounge. Devin Ryan, Northwest regional marketing manager for WeedMaps and a member of the Cannabis Alliance, would like to see lounges permitted. “I wanted to be involved in the most pivotal cultural time involving marijuana’s booming industry, and to maybe someday have my own marijuana lounge,” he said. The Alliance, a statewide advocacy and lobbying organization for cannabis businesses, has been working toward approval of legally-sanctioned places people can smoke or use cannabis outside of homes. WeedMaps, a digital
community where consumers can find and review products and retailers, would also like to see more access. “A core pillar of our company is consumption, along with the culture, the community and the cause,” Ryan said. Bailey Hirschburg, a lobbyist and cannabis advocate, worked on legislation in Olympia this session to focus on social consumption of marijuana. It addressed the idea of marijuana lounges, backed up by the need for the public to have a legal social area to consume. The bill proposed allowing licensed retailers to apply for and receive an endorsement for a lounge as long as certain requirements were met. “Marijuana lounges could benefit business and state regulators if the activities involving public consumption were made more transparent and more accountable for the consumers,” Hirschburg said. The bill also addressed a potential oversupply issue within the growing community by allowing farms to sell useable marijuana products directly to consumers rather than only through retailers. The format would be much like that of a winery or brewery where a tasting room is permitted. He said this concept could have huge economic benefits for cannabis farms. Although many in the cannabis industry liked the bill’s concept, Hirschburg said several lawmakers seemed uninterested when the bill was actually presented in committee, so it didn’t advance any further. This lack of enthusiasm seemed odd, he said, considering the many supporters before the session, including the Cannabis Alliance. Brad Walker, an Alliance member, said the lounge idea still has potential. “What I would like to have happen is a clear pathway for business owners to have a solid business plan, and then with eyes wide open, they could operate like any other business,” he said. Until the legislature changes the rules, the only social place for legal cannabis use in Washington is private property.
evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
Keep cannabis locked up tight,
of little eyes, who just might, bis na n ca al ep rigin . e g K o in kagin c pa
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think it’s for them and take a bite. In 2 01 Wa s 7 , c a l l s hing to th Cen e ter i ton Poi son nvo 0-5 lv in p re v c re a s e i n g k i d s d f ro ious m year by 5 the 7.7% .
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When it comes to cannabis, safety is essential. It can be hard even for adults to see when edible treats include THC. That’s why cannabis-infused products can be dangerous for those who may think it’s regular food. Some teens may even search for cannabis products at home. But you can keep everyone—from kids to pets—out of risk by storing your cannabis safely. So, keep your cannabis where kids can’t reach, in original packaging, and with “Not for Kids” labels intact.
For more on safe storage, visit KnowThisAboutCannabis.org
* Source information for statements can be found at KnowThisAboutCannabis.org/Sources
26
evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
Washington pot amnesty efforts result in only a few in Spokane By KIP HILL The Spokesman-Review
L
ocal evidence suggests some lawmakers’ concern that there will be a rush to erase past misdemeanor marijuana convictions under a proposed Washington law may be overblown. Just three misdemeanor city cases of marijuana possession have been overturned since a local law went into effect in December 2015 enabling those with minor Spokane cases to ask the court to toss them after the drug was legalized, according to municipal court figures. City lawmakers said at the time of passage that more than 1,800 misdemeanor cases could be eligible. “I wish more people would take advantage of it,” said City Council President Ben Stuckart, a champion of the city program that made national headlines when it was unanimously passed by the council more than three years ago. The bill became law without Mayor David Condon’s signature. Now, Wa s h i n g t o n lawmakers are pitching s i m i l a r legislation for the whole state. They say it could help tens of thousands of defendants with misdemeanor convictions in state courts. The bill passed the state Senate in March on a 29-19 vote, and enables those with convictions when they were over the age of 21 to appeal to their sentence and have those convictions erased from their records. Up to 68,000 cases could be reviewed under the proposed law, according to a fiscal analysis provided by legislative staff in Olympia. “It’s the residue that’s left over from the war on drugs,” said Lara Kaminsky, executive director of Cannabis Alliance, the trade group pushing for the bill’s passage. “For those people that are caught up in the system, it’s being able to fully integrate them into society. Getting housing, student loans, or even being able to volunteer at their children’s schools.” A misdemeanor conviction, whether it’s at the
“I wish more people would take advantage of it.”
federal, county or municipal level, has the same effect on a defendant, said Jeffry Finer, a civil rights attorney practicing in Spokane and former head of the Center for Justice. The question is often asked
Gov. Jay Inslee signs the first batch of pardons for Washington residents who have misdemeanor marijuana possession convictions they received between 1998 and 2012 in this January 2019 photo. (Jim Camden photo / The Spokesman-Review)
on employment paperwork, housing agreements and other official documents. By requiring defendants to approach the court on their own initiative to erase the charges, lawmakers may be limiting who will actually seek to have their records cleared, Finer said. “It’s an unknown, and kind of a scary process to go to court at all,” said Finer. “Other than an adoption, or a name change, everyone else is avoiding court.” The data isn’t just limited to Spokane. Gov. Jay Inslee, in announcing a process of pardons for those with such crimes on their record earlier this year, suggested that the action could apply to 3,500 cases in Washington state. As of mid-March, 17 such pardons had been granted, according to reporting by the Associated Press. Seattle municipal judges acted on instruction from Mayor Jenny Durkan and City Attorney Pete Holmes
last fall to automatically vacate city misdemeanors for pot possession, avoiding the issue of requiring defendants to come forward to receive new hearings. Stuckart said he preferred that approach, but the city prosecutor’s office cautioned that such notification would be beyond their capabilities. Frank Cikutovich, a Spokane criminal defense attorney who has specialized in marijuana defense cases, said after Spokane passed its law he didn’t see many of his clients rushing in to take advantage of the new system. “We had one person, since it passed, and she worked in the nursing field and she needed it done,” he said. Others took advantage of the system already in place for vacating misdemeanor charges from their record, Cikutovich said. Under that system, a defendant has to wait for three years after their sentence is completed and pay all legal fines imposed. Still, much of the debate over the bill has centered on the possibility that the state law would go further than lawmakers intended. State Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney, offered an amendment in the Senate that would have limited eligibility to just two cases of misdemeanor possession, an effort to weed out frequent lawbreakers who may have pleaded down to misdemeanors from more serious trafficking charges. “They might say, ‘Gee, you got caught with a joint in your pocket,” said Holy, who spent 22 years in law enforcement with the Spokane Police Department before entering politics. “That’s not the way it works.” Holy has also argued that vacating convictions won’t eliminate other records of an arrest, a point on which he and Finer, who advocates for blanket pardons, agree. “This will not fix the piles of public data that exist in private databases all over the country,” Finer said. Rep. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane, said the measure’s time has come, even if it is only used by a select few of the intended audience. “It just seems like the right thing to do,” Riccelli said. “Maybe we need to look at what we are doing to educate people about what’s available?”
EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review• Friday, May 3, 2019
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evercannabis is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Friday, May 3, 2019
This 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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