FEBRUARY 2022
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 2
EVERCANNABIS.COM
Show your
LOVE with sweet
cannabis treats Enjoy our Valentine’s Day picks for your sweetie or yourself By Kate A. Miner
EVERCANNABIS CORRESPONDENT
There are many stories associated with Valentine’s Day. It is said that St. Valentine of Rome inspired this month’s big commercial holiday. He was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers, who were forbidden to marry, and persecuted under the Roman Empire for aiding Christians. According to legend, during his imprisonment, Valentine healed the daughter of his jailer, and before his execution, he wrote her a letter signed “Your Valentine” as a farewell. He is also known as the patron saint of beekeepers. Bees have long symbolized love, and beekeepers also symbolize the protection of the family. By managing hives and caring for their bees, beekeepers ensure that their bee colonies flourish and the honey continues to flow.
Keeping bees is a special calling – it requires scientific know-how as well as a kind and gentle heart – which can make one think of the nurturing and attention required to grow cannabis well. Our Valentine’s Day Gift Guide has a similarly nourishing approach this year. Yes, we often think about couples on this romantic holiday, but let’s not forget self-love. Whether alone, with friends or with a lover, here are some great inspirations for a general ‘feel good’ kind of day! ”Love could inspire, it found existence, even for a day as the honey kept emptying sunlight and he just kept buzzing! buzzing! ...” – Jodde Taylor
FOR THE MIND, BODY, AND SOUL
Valentine-X: Yes, there’s an actual strain named for St. Valentine. It’s a 50/50 hybrid sought after for what many say is exceptional healing powers and a CBD:THC ratio of 25:1. It is a variant of the remarkable ACDC that also is described as having healing properties. Many find Valentine-X to be a great help for seizure disorders and inflammation, and it’s also known to spark creative thinking. Elevated Wellness: Elevated has everything to create a CBD Wellness Romance package of carefully-curated products including, bath bombs, gummies, tinctures, pain creams, caramels, chocolates, even a relaxing terpsolate with natural and kosher cannabis terpenes. Hello Again: Specially formulated to nurture vaginal wellness, Hello Again combines cannabis and botanicals to relieve lady bits from the symptoms of menopause, vaginal dryness, endometriosis, or general period pain. Available in both a daytime and sleep formulas. Life Elements Bath Bombs: These bombs are hand-crafted with a blend of ancient, nature-based ingredients, like honey, plus organically-grown hemp-derived CBD to target inflammation, reduce stress, and nourish skin. Empower | Soaking Salts: Melt away stress with a relaxing bath infused with cannabis soaking salts. Empower blends are made with Epsom, Pink Himalayan and Dead Sea salts, along with a soothing blend of essential oils and cannabis extracts. Foria Intimacy Bath Salts with CBD & Cacao: Inspired by the sensual ritual of bathing, this multi-botanical Intimacy CBD bath soak is formulated to seduce the body and mind. It’s divine!
APHRODISIACS
Martha Stewart CBD Wellness Gummies: This Valentine’s Day, give the gift of calm with the limited-edition Martha Stewart CBD Wellness Gummies 6-Flavor Valentine’s Day Sampler! The perfect self-care surprise for a special someone, the sampler contains 72 gummies that blend an exquisite texture and pure CBD isolate with six gourmet flavors said to have been hand-picked by Martha herself. See GUIDE, T3
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T2 • Friday • February 4, 2022
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Washington continues to explore options for legal psychedelics
Psilocybin study underway in Seattle
Bill, initiative seek to improve access for treatment By Taryn Eastwood
EVERCANNABIS CORRESPONDENT
Like it or hate it, legal cannabis is firmly established in Washington. But psychedelics, which can include certain types of mushrooms and synthetic products, are still trying to gain a foothold. Products containing the active ingredient psilocybin have been credited with helping people quit smoking, reduce alcohol dependencies, potentially alleviate the symptoms of major depressive disorders and provide other benefits. This legislative session, lawmakers have been discussing the Washington Psilocybin Services Wellness and Opportunity Act, a bill that authorizes different healing treatments using psilocybin mushrooms. If this bill becomes law – it was still in motion at press time – it would permit adults 21 years and older to use psilocybin under the care of a licensed service administrator. Psilocybin, a natural compound found in many fungal species, converts to a compound called psilocin in the body, and then binds with serotonin receptors to produce a strong pleasant feeling for up to six hours, along with the possibility of temporary altered perceptions. A 2017 report from the Global Drug Survey indicates psilocybin substances are non-addictive, generally safe, and have no reported incidents of overdose. Kevin Oliver, executive director of Washington’s chapter of National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and a national NORML board member, is excited about interest in psilocybin.
Evercannabis staff report
around 350,000 signatures and place this measure on November’s ballot. Mason Lord, chairman of Decriminalize Spokane, said there’s definitely interest especially if it becomes legal. “The reality is there needs to be regulation for health and population purposes,” he said. “We realized ultimately that we want to have things work in a smooth way and to pass through medical legalization. That way it can open doors for decriminalization down the line.” ADAPT WA was created last March and now has more than 100 members ready to collect signatures and plan fundraisers. The group held a sold-out
Researchers at the University of Washington are currently enrolling participants in a study examining if psilocybin products can help decrease rates of COVID-related burnout for frontline medical responders. During the course of the FDA-approved randomized study, 15 participants will receive synthesized psilocybin, provided by the Usona Institute, a non-profit research institution. Another 15 will receive a placebo. Data collection will take about a year. The principal study investigator is Dr. Anthony Back, co-founder of VitalTalk, co-director of the University of Washington’s Center for Excellence in Palliative Care. He’s also a UW professor of medicine and board-certified in hospice and palliative medicine, oncology and general internal medicine. He said treating COVID has been challenging for frontline responders like nurses, doctors, nurse
See STUDY, T4
See SEATTLE, T2
COURTESY OF CYBIN
A patient undergoes a psychedelic therapy session. “It’s great people are talking about it, reading about it, are aware of it, and doing things for it,’ he said. “I feel it’s very important.” The City of Seattle has already decriminalized possession of psilocybin products, and the City of Port Townsend is considering it. Other states are exploring it as well. “Voters passed an initiative in Oregon that made psilocybin legal for mental health treatment in supervised settings,” said Sara Brittany Somerset, a senior drug policy analyst and correspondent based at the United Nations. “Therefore, it is entirely within the realm of possibility that Washington will follow suit,” Even if the current bill fails, other efforts are in the works.
The activist group Decriminalize Spokane helped develop an initiative to legalize psilocybin for medical therapy. Members are working with ADAPT WA, a political action committee, as well as Pat Donahue, a criminal defense attorney. If this initiative is approved, it would allow medical practitioners to provide psilocybin therapy for individuals with conditions like depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, and cancer, along with those receiving end of life care. It would also allow, with a certain amount of training, individuals with a GED or high school diploma to assist people receiving treatment and make sure they have a safe experience. The groups hope to gather
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Evercannabis, The Spokesman-Review and the Cowles Company don’t promote or endorse the use of cannabis products. We acknowledge that marijuana products remain illegal under federal laws. If adults age 21 or older choose to purchase or use them, we encourage them to consume sensibly and at their own risk in legal jurisdictions, in accordance with state and local laws. Some cannabis products have intoxicating effects and may be habit-forming. Consumption of marijuana also may be associated with health risks and impaired concentration, coordination, and judgment. Keep away from children. To learn more, visit the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board at www.liq.wa.gov. Evercannabis magazine is a monthly supplement of The Spokesman-Review. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent of the publisher.
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February 4, 2022 • Friday • T3
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Cannabis brands often partner with popular social media influencers to boost their brand online.
Like and follow Social media marketing a challenge for cannabis brands By Theresa Tanner
EVERCANNABIS WRITER
In barely two decades, social media has gone from a quirky time-suck for procrastinating college students to an integral part of maintaining and growing the brand identity of multibillion dollar companies. Entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry are as eager as any other business to turn online fans into loyal customers but abiding by the rules of social media platforms can be difficult. Alice Moon is a Los Angeles-based publicist and social media strategist with Trailblaze, a public relations agency specializing in cannabis brands. She says that the policies about cannabis on social media are so strict because it remains federally illegal in the United States. “Also, these are global brands,” Moon pointed out in a telephone interview. “It would take a lot of effort to change their policy for each country. The laws are so different everywhere, platforms would rather not deal with it at all than make it more cannabis friendly.” If you try searching for certain names and terms on social media platforms – like “Spokane cannabis” if you are searching for local retailers – you might get limited results. Or if you click through a social media link on a cannabis brand’s website, you may get a “Sorry, that page does not exist” message if an account has been suspended for violating a platform’s rules. “It’s risky to use hashtags. The majority of brands don’t realize what they are doing, and then they wonder why a post or page gets taken down,” Moon said. One of the most common mistakes that Moon
sees on Instagram is that a brand included their contact information – like a street address or phone number – in a bio, which is strictly prohibited. “Instagram does allow brands to include a website link, as long as it is not a link to an online order or delivery page,” Moon explained. Platforms do not want to be potentially accused of facilitating the sale of marijuana, especially because social media companies say this creates a possibility for illegal sales as well. That’s why contact information and promotion of product sales is not allowed on Instagram. “Never use the word ‘sale’ or ‘available here,’” Moon advised. Facebook and TikTok are two more not-so-cannabis-friendly platforms for brands. “If you search the word ‘cannabis,’ you can’t even find it,” Moon said. She said that creators get creative when referencing cannabis on these platforms, using code words like “broccoli” or “salad.” So, the common phrase “I’m going to smoke a bowl” becomes “I’m going to eat my greens,” followed by a leaf and puff of smoke emjojis. Moon says Twitter is a more friendly platform, as you can list contact information, sales updates and links to purchase, but it’s not as popular with consumers. “Brands will post on their Instagram to go visit their Twitter page for all the details about sales or products,” she said. LinkedIn is another platform that Moon has found to be more accessible for the cannabis industry, although it’s better for building professional networks than attracting new customers. Industry professionals can include skills related to the cannabis industry on a profile and endorse colleagues
in such areas. Moon recently had a positive interaction with the editor-in-chief of LinkedIn after one of her cannabis-related posts was mistakenly removed; they reinstated the post and apologized. It’s rare to receive a non-automated message from many platforms – let alone from the EIC – especially for cannabis content. Speaking of content, although brands don’t have as much freedom when it comes to promoting a business on social media, Moon says that many brands will partner with content creators who can post about their favorite products. “It’s more flexible because the influencer is not the one selling it,” she said. Moon advises that brands follow the standards set by the alcohol industry when it comes to sharing images of products. “They can be holding it but should not show consumption. That’s the direction we should be going; it still gets the messaging across.” Despite all the difficulties with standard social media, Moon doesn’t see a cannabis-centric social media channel taking off in the same way Instagram and Facebook have, with 1.4 and 2.9 billion users, respectively. “You’d be speaking to the echo chamber, not educating new customers,” Moon explained. “And the reach is not as strong, you can’t get that on a new app.” To help cannabis brands use their social media most effectively, Moon offers online courses to create the perfect Instagram bio and how to get into the world of influencer marketing, as well as customized consultations. To learn more, visit https: alicemoon.la.
“It’s risky to use hashtags. The majority of brands don’t realize what they are doing, and then they wonder why a post or page gets taken down.” Alice Moon Publicist and social media strategist with Trailblaze, a public relations agency specializing in cannabis brands
GUIDE
Continued from T1 Grand Cru CBD Bonbons: An intense burst of velvety dark chocolate, ethically sourced from Madagascar, reveals notes of sensuous red fruit, slowly melting in the mouth for ultimate satisfaction. Weedhearts: A 5-pack of Dad Grass Hemp CBD Pre Rolls or Mom Grass CBG Pre Rolls can be discreetly concealed in a Dad Stash decoy pack sleeve that looks like a box of Valentine’s Day candy.
THE LIBIDO
Coconu: I’m crazy about this natural health and beauty brand with an intimacy line that facilitates, affirms, and celebrates healthy sex. Known for a coconut oil-based lubricant and a vegan, coconut water-based lubricant, Coconu now has added a heavenly Hemp Infused Body Oil. Its products are made with organic ingredients including beeswax and cocoa butter. Kegg: The ultimate self-care gift for couples looking to conceive is created for and by women. Track your fertile window with kegg, a medical device that lets you easily track your cycle with an in-
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sightful app and optional kegel exercises. Mystery Vibe – Poco Gift Set: Give your partner live control of your pleasure with the Poco Gift Set. The revolutionary compact targeted G-Spot vibrator, Poco, packaged with Poco Playcards and lube. The smart targeted G-Spot vibrator that fits in your palm, is designed to mimic your fingers and bend to your body. MYHIXEL: A pioneer in the men’s sexual health space, MYHIXEL is the first methodology to combine cognitive behavioral therapy, a pleasure device, and gamification to help achieve greater climax control.
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The Red OTTO: Using the same precision-engineered technology as the OG OTTO, the RED OTTO adds a whole new look to an incredible grinding device. It’s hot, it’s fast, and it’s red. Mary Jane Smoking Robe: Smoke, chill, and bring sexy back to smoking, in this beautiful satin smoking robe by Vintage Redeux. Hot Honey: Combine and bring to a boil a cup of honey, 1g (1000mg) CBD Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), and a 2-inch piece of ginger. Let simmer for about 30 minutes. Cap, shake well, and enjoy!
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T4 • Friday • February 4, 2022
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EVERCANNABIS
COOKING WITH CANNABIS
‘Cynical’ designer warns about possible collapse of Cali system
Infused lemon bars shake off winter chill
By Linda Ball
EVERCANNABIS CORRESPONDENT
By Mary J. White
EVERCANNABIS CORRESPONDENT
Darlings, I hope this finds you well and happy, or at least happier than you were last year. I think we can all agree that the last two years have been a struggle and a challenge, to say the least. And I know February can seem long and cold, and spring can seem very far away, but no worries! You can enjoy a couple of these bright pucker-y lemon bars and feel really good. If you don’t want to be elevated, these are also great with unmedicated butter or CBD butter. Or, if you really desire more elevation, consider using hash butter: it’s going to be at least 3 to 5 times stronger. Whatever way you choose to enjoy them, these tasty treats will help you remember that spring is just around the proverbial corner.
Green Glorious Lemon Bars
(The addition of medicated butter makes these bars even better!) For approximately 2 dozen, you’ll need: ¾ cups butter, softened (you can use all pot butter or half medicated and half regular, CBD butter or hash butter – experiment!) 2/3 cups confectioner’s sugar 1 ½ cup flour, plus 3 tablespoons for the topping 2 tablespoons finely grated lemon peel 3 large eggs, slightly beaten 1 ¼ cup sugar ¼ cup fresh lemon juice Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9-inch baking pan. In a big bowl beat together the butter and sugar till blended. Gradually
STUDY
Continued from 2 gathering in December at Daybreak Star, a Native American cultural center in Seattle. Leonora Russell, ADAPT WA chair and leader, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a licensed chemical dependency professional trainee. She has worked in the social services field for over 20 years and believes psilocybin has a lot of potential. “I would say it’s truly magical. This process has shown me just how powerful the human spirit is,” she said. “We don’t want to be excluding anyone from this powerful movement.” Russell said the organization would someday like to create a center in Seattle for outreach and education on plant medicine. “We are extremely hopeful that the public will be supportive of this bill,” she said. “It has been reported that it takes just 30 seconds to explain why psilocybin should be legal. Why would we want to keep this medicine away from people who are hurting?” Psilocybin products have been used in many cultures for thousands of years. Its first modern use was believed to have begun in the 1950s when a Manhattan bank-
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blend in 1 ½ cups flour and the lemon peel, then press the mixture into the bottom of the pan. Bake this crust for about 20 minutes or until light brown. While that’s baking, in a small bowl whisk the eggs, sugar, lemon juice and the 3 tablespoons of flour until light and foamy. Pour this over the baked crust then bake it for about 20-25 minutes more or until the topping is set. Cool, then dust with a bit more confectioner’s sugar and cut into bars. Tart and pucker-y and fun!
er and amateur mycologist named R. Gordan Wasson sampled what he called ‘magic mushrooms’ in Mexico. Two years later he shared his experience in Life magazine. Wasson’s account intrigued Harvard researchers Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert, who began experimenting with the active ingredients in the fungus until they were kicked out. Although some colleges continued to fund psychedelic research for another decade or so, it was eventually dismissed as too counterculture and ethically shaky. Today, however, psilocybin is getting new attention for its potential medical benefits. Controlled studies at schools like Johns Hopkins University and the University of Washington (see side) show promise as a possible healing tool. “The research taking place now was dreamed about in the 1970s,” Oliver said. “It’s wonderful to see it actually happening.” Doug Drysdale, CEO of Cybin, goes further, calling the resurgence in research a “psychedelic renaissance.” Cybin is a Toronto-based biotechnology company that focuses on researching and progressing psychedelic therapeutics for psychiatric disorders.
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Just about 16 years into her career in the cannabis industry, Kristen Yoder has seen and done it all, starting with managing the first medical dispensary in Los Angeles. Over the years, she has observed, studied and learned the industry and has concluded that not all is well, especially in California. She isn’t shy when it comes to talking about why, and also created an Yoder apparel line called Cynical Stoner that shares some of these concerns. “The legal business is not fun or glamorous, and you’re not going to get rich fast,” Yoder said. “People get taken advantage of.” Medical cannabis was legalized in California in 1996 but it took 22 years for the adult-use market to be legal. Before recreational legalization, Yoder tried her hand at commercial growing which wasn’t as fun as she thought. She also worked in supply chain management,
SEATTLE
Continued from 2 practitioners and other healthcare workers. It has directly contributed to cases of depression, anxiety, burnout and post-traumatic stress. “I have seen so many people who end up making decisions out of fear and decisions that did not turn out well due to the stress of COVID patients responding with intensity and aggression,” Back said. “It is one thing for a doctor or nurse to give a recommendation and hear, ‘thanks for your opinion, but that’s not something I want to do.’ That happens, but it is a different thing to get spit on, bedpans thrown at you, or screamed at.” This study is funded by the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation. Cybin, a Canadian-based biopharmaceutical company with a focus of “Psychedelics to Therapeutics,” is funding physician training through EMBARK, a new psychedelic-assisted therapy program for different clinical indications and populations.
product development, R&D, and analytical testing. When legalization occurred, she stopped farming and became a strategic advisor to help new entrepreneurs. In 2018 Yoder launched a podcast called “CannaBS Detector” which advises people on the industry. She begins season four this spring. She addresses topics such as labor rights and detecting “B.S. in cannabis marketing and science.” This led to the creation of the Cynical Stoner clothing and accessory line. Shirts say things like “I spent my life savings starting a legal cannabis company and all I have left is this sweatshirt” and “Sativa/Indica is lazy marketing.” Yoder also said that budtenders aren’t paid well, and are replaceable. Another concern is consumers getting bad medicine. Lab shopping is another problem. Some less than savory managers/processors who aren’t happy with their results will shop around various labs until they get a better result. This is unacceptable, she said, so she is raising awareness of the issue. To learn more about Yoder and her products visit cynicalstoner. com
An adapted version of EMBARK is being used to treat COVID-related burnout and depression among healthcare workers. The Rita & Alex Hillman Foundation and Riverstyx Foundation are providing supplemental funding for specific personnel in the study. “This study does a lot of things at the same time,” Back said. “It helps advance the science of psychedelics and their uses, it addresses a huge need in the community, and it’s part of what we all need to learn in order to get through this pandemic. Dr. Alex Belser, Cybin’s Chief Clinical Officer, said this study could lead to a lot of positives for health care workers and beyond. “We believe psychedelic medicine, when given with a supportive psychotherapy program like the EMBARK approach, may provide a promising treatment approach to bolster mental health.” For more info visit cybin.com/ embark/. To learn more about the UW study and eligibity, visit depts. washington.edu/clinician-study/
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