Spokannabist, december 30, 2016 by Cowles Publishing

Happy New Year!

20 17 Growing Every Day PLASTIC NOW ACCEPTED

BRIGHT GROWING IDEAS

MEET MR. HAND

Spoknnabist is a product of The Spokesman−Review’s marketing division. • Friday, December 30, 2016

IN THIS ISSUE 4 CanPay Retail customers can pay with plastic

Year Ahead 18 The Pot pros curious about what 2017 holds

20 Satori First South Hill cannabis retailer drawing excitement

Cheers! Ring in New Year with tasty infused drinks

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Happy 2017! We hope you notice improvements each issue as we continue to break new ground in terms of our story coverage and presentation. We’ve already started lining up topics for the ﬁrst half of the year, but also want to hear your suggestions. • If you’re just beginning to learn about the cannabis industry, what questions do you have? Are there terms and vocabulary that everyone seems to know except you? We’ll be happy to help get everyone up to speed. • If you’re already a cannabis connoisseur, what do you think readers should know more about? Are there interesting local businesses or experts we should feature, or cool things taking place industrywide? Do you have your own story to tell? Legal cannabis products are doing great things for local, state and national economies. But we also want to share the human side – is marijuana helping people’s lives? Is it reducing pain? Does it provide stable employment? Are local entrepreneurs having fun? We also want to discuss potential down-sides. Part of covering things fairly and objectively means sometimes pointing out situations where people should proceed with caution. Finally, a quick shout-out to everyone we met at Royal’s Cannabis earlier this month while waiting for Snoop Dogg. We didn’t make it in, but it was awesome seeing so many fun people excited about music and marijuana! Please continue to enjoy Spokannabist! Contact us anytime at spokannabist@spokesman.com.

SPOKANNABIST ISSUE 8

VOLUME 1

DIRECTOR, SALES & MARKETING Kathleen Coleman PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Dan Fritts MANAGING EDITOR Joe Butler CREATIVE DIRECTOR Anne Potter GRAPHIC DESIGNER Trish Merryman LOCAL CONTRIBUTORS Dan Webster Renee Sande Nicole Skinner Lisa Leinberger Shallan Knowles Staci Lehman Autum Schumacher ADVERTISING Matthew Hawkins 509.459.5095 spokannabist@spokesman.com

Proud member of

Joe Butler, Managing Editor

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.

Spoknnabist is a product of The Spokesman−Review’s marketing division. • Friday, December 30, 2016

By NICOLE SKINNER Spokannabist Correspondent

New app lets cannabis customers leave cash at home

ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS NOW at two Spokane retailers

Some cannabis shoppers in the Spokane area are now able to pay for their purchases electronically.

Spokane Green Leaf and Green Light are the first stores to offer CanPay, an electronic payment facilitator that deducts money from a customer’s checking account via a secure mobile app. “This payment option eliminates the need to make a potentially inconvenient stop at the bank to withdraw cash or go the grocery store to get cash back on a purchase,” said CanPay CEO Dustin Eide. “Plus, it allows customers to shop without paying ATM fees at shops if they don’t have the right amount of cash with them.” The process starts by signing up at the CanPay site. Requirements include being age 21 or over, and having a valid checking account, driver’s license and email address. Registration takes about five minutes, which includes downloading a free phone app. When customers are ready to buy, they scan the product’s bar code and receive a unique PIN from CanPay through their mobile devices. This can be inputted at the retailer’s checkout counter. This way, the store never sees customer financial information but the sale is registered. The PIN expires in 30 minutes, which creates another layer of security for the customer and a more seamless shopping experience. Because major banks and credit card providers can’t currently process cannabis transactions due to federal bans and interstate commerce laws, different payment providers are searching for possible work-arounds, such as using middlemen or different business names. Eide said CanPay is the first payment solution that lets cannabis shops run transactions under their actual name,

and doesn’t include any extra fees for consumers. Online app shops for Android or Apple Phones also prohibit cannabis payment apps, which is why the CanPay app is only available through its own site. Eide and other employees spent several years researching the electronic payment process and talking with banks, credit card providers and cannabis retailers. The company ﬁrst launched CanPay in Denver, then Seattle, and now is trying to sign up Spokane shops. It also has found support from in-state ﬁnancial institutions such as Numerica Credit Union. Eide suspects that once more customers hear about this new payment option and enjoy the convenience for their shopping experience, that it will start showing up at more shops across Washington. Hanna McConnell, Green Light general manager, said the service is good news for customers and the shops. “Out of all the companies that have approached us with alternative payment solutions, CanPay has really done their research,” she said. “They put the time and effort to make sure that their system was a realistic, long-term solution for our business.” To learn more about the service check out www. canpaydebit.com or visit Spokane Green Leaf in North Spokane or Green Light in Millwood. Dustin Eide, CEO of CanPay, has created a private system that allows people to use debit cards at participating marijuana retailers. Photos by Trish Merryman/Spokannabist

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Spoknnabist is a product of The Spokesman−Review’s marketing division. • Friday, December 30, 2016

SEEKING ILLUMINATON GROWERS EXPLORING WAYS TO USE LESS POWER

Some indoor growers are switching to more energy-efﬁcient lighting to reduce power usage. Photo courtesy Forever Green Indoors

By RENEE SANDE Spokannabist Correspondent

While the business of growing pot legally has provided a nice boost to Washington’s economy, utility companies are feeling less energized. Large indoor grow operations — often high-intensity energy profiles similar to data centers — are putting a large demand on the West’s energy grids. According to EQ Research, a clean energy policy research institute, marijuana cultivation accounts for as much as 1 percent of total energy use in Washington and Colorado. This is equivalent to power used by 2 million average U.S. homes, a collective energy bill of $6 billion annually. Related carbon dioxide production is equal to 3 million average cars. “A standard grow is 1,000 watts over 16 square feet,” said Kathleen Sullivan, president of Forever Green Indoors, a local energy-efficient lighting consulting company and distributor. “In a marijuana grow you might have 10 1,000-watt bulbs running 365 days a year.” She said 80 percent of that 1,000 watts simply generates heat, not light, so growers need to cool things down with air conditioning, which uses even more energy. With California, Maine, Nevada and Massachusetts joining states that have approved legislation for recreational use of marijuana, those figures likely will jump.

Sullivan said some growers are looking into alternatives to traditional or High Intensity bulbs, including a newer generation of LEDs that not only are designed to save energy, but optimize plant photosynthesis. “An LED can replace 1,000 watts with between 500600 watts,” she said. “Growers are saving energy and getting a 10-20 percent increase in yield, with thicker stalks, longer roots and flowering buds all the way down the shaft.” While the initial cost of fully switching to LEDs can be prohibitive, utility company rebate programs can help bring the price down. Catherine Bryan, Energy Solutions Manager at Avista Utilities, says the utility works with marijuana grow operations. “As people permit and figure out where they’re going to sit and go through all the other processes, we help them figure out what infrastructure is needed to serve their [energy] load, which varies,” she said. “Those savings have typically been around lighting.” The Lighting Science Group, a maker of LED bulbs for the marijuana industry, projects that if Washington doubles its initial square footage of cultivated marijuana using standard high intensity bulbs, it will use 1,505.6 GWh of electricity a year, or 1.63 percent of the state’s energy usage. If growers switch entirely to LEDs, it

would use only 597.9 GWh, or 0.65 percent of the state’s total. Stephen Jensen, president of Green Barn Farms, a pot cooperative in Addy, prefers “sun-powered” greenhouses, and sees average power costs between $1,250-$1,500 a month, compared with $25,000 to $40,000 for equivalent indoor growing operations in Washington. While this set-up works for Jensen, he says many growers have been hesitant to transition from working off the grid to operating legally. Some indoor growing will most likely always be common, says Jensen, who also uses one building for mother plants and cloning. Sullivan recognizes these different energy phases of the grower’s operation and offers three types of lights for each growth stage, which are all manufactured in Spokane Valley. “We took spectrometer readings at our customers’ grow operations, then presented our readings to our engineer and said, ‘Here’s the output and spectrum we need; we need you to design a light that does that,’ ” said Sullivan. “Our customers are not only saving energy with a light tailored to their needs, but making more money with a higher quality product.”

Spoknnabist is a product of The Spokesman−Review’s marketing division. • Friday, December 30, 2016

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It’s easy to get stuck on what the Trump administration may or may not mean for ‘legal’ states like Washington.

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But Jeff Siegel, a New York-based analyst and consultant who focuses on the cannabis industry at a national level, said that ship has sailed, and better discussions are how businesses will continue to evolve in 2017. “Obviously the landscape changed dramatically after the election, but any major regulatory changes or attempts to touch what’s already here will be a losing proposition,” he said. “Now the questions people should be asking is how we grow this community.” Siegel said there’s a bigger picture beyond basic growers, processors and retailers. There’s a lot of innovation taking place, including: • BETTER SCIENCE. More analysis and testing of strains will go beyond looking for basic contaminants like pesticides to helping growers develop specialty strains. “Genetic research is no longer the domain of the hobbyists, but the big guys are getting in,” he said.

• MORE EVOLUTION INTO HIGHER-END EDIBLES. In 2016, Siegel enjoyed watching many edible companies change their focus from pot simply mixed into food, or novelty gummy products to quality ingredients and better taste. “There’s a company in California now making chocolate bars where you can’t taste any of the cannabis at all.” A company in Oregon is making cannabis breath spray, where the effects will be felt quickly, but users can control the dosage – one squirt delivers exactly 1.3 mg. “People can dial in exactly what they need,” he said. • A DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT. While some may think that the millennials or members of the ‘stoner culture’ are prime customers of pot products, he said items like the breath spray appeal to Boomers and stay-athome moms. • MORE MEDIA. Expect to see higher-quality informative sites, and even more cannabis-related entertainment – he especially recommends Chris Savegh, known as “The Herbal Chef,” who produces various online cooking shows and is also creating programs for AppleTV with titles like “Braised and Confused” and “Pot Pie.” Expect more good things as experts from other industries explore the almost unlimited potential of this world. “Professionals are starting to take over this business, not just your basic pot growers,” he said. “There are so many innovations taking place in media, high tech, health care, food and more. People are already excited about what’s going to happen not just in 2017 but 2018.”

Spoknnabist is a product of The Spokesman−Review’s marketing division. • Friday, December 30, 2016

502

REVENUE

2016 AS OF NOVEMBER

$126,000,000

$68,000,000

$57,000,000

$25,000,000

SPOKANE COUNTY

TOTAL SALES

RETAIL SALES

PRODUCER/ PROCESSOR SALES

EXCISE TAX

SINCE 2014

$244,000,000

$111,000,000

$133,000,000

SOURCE:502DATA.COM

$44,000,000

Spokane County Retailers:28 Spokane County Producers/ Processors: 147

Statewide Retailers: 350 Statewide Producers/ Processors: 1022

WASHINGTON STATE

2016 total sales to date (as of Nov.) $996,000,000

Since 2014 $1,532,000,000 2016 Excise tax collected (as of Nov.) $229,000,000

Since 2014 $374,000,000

Spoknnabist is a product of The Spokesman−Review’s marketing division. • Friday, December 30, 2016

CANNABIS NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

NEW APP MEASURES POT INEBRIATION psychology professor at University of Massachusetts Boston has created a mobile app that law enforcement and citizens can use to gauge marijuana impairment. Michael Milburn’s DRUID program provides a 5-minute series of tasks that provide objective data beyond an officer’s observations. Though officers have field sobriety tests and breathalyzers to measure alcohol impairment, there are fewer tools for detecting THC impairment. Tasks include tapping a mobile device screen in a certain spot when certain shapes appear, stopping a clock at a certain time or standing on one leg for 30 seconds. “Prior to now, people had no way to really know if they were impaired or not,” Milburn said. “One of my hopes is to create a responsible community of drug users.” This isn’t just a law enforcement tool: anyone can buy it for 99 cents from app stores. Massachusetts recently approved recreational marijuana but hasn’t created a legal standard for THC in the bloodstream, like Colorado and Washington. The standard in both states is 5 nanograms of active THC per milliliter of blood.

POT STUDY SHOWS PLEASURE LEVELS CAN DROP

WA MARIJUANA SALES APPROACHING ALCOHOL LEVELS

DENVER BARS BATTLING NEW CONSUMPTION RULES

LONDON – A

study released by Imperial College London showed that long-term marijuana use may cause a decrease in dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate pleasure and rewards in the brain. High dopamine contributes to a positive outlook, high motivation and better ability to learn, while lower dopamine levels are present in conditions such as depression, fatigue, Parkinson’s disease and some mental illnesses. The study conducted by Oliver Howes at the Medical Research Council’s Clinical Sciences Center showed that short-term cannabis users initially demonstrate higher dopamine, which can lead to increased interest. But at some point the levels reverse and negative emotions and motivations increase in some patients. The study measured THC quantity, the active ingredient in marijuana products. However, Howes cautioned that more research was needed, including effects on dopamine levels if long-term users stopped using marijuana. Much of the study data came from animal trials, which Howes said may not provide adequate correlation to human brain development or patterns of use over extended periods of time.

TACOMA – Statewide marijuana sales continue to gain on alcohol’s substantial market share. Reports for second quarter 2016 indicated that legal marijuana sales were nearly $212 million, while spirit sales were nearly $249 million. Based on purchase records and filed tax information, Washington residents and visitors purchased the highest amounts of marijuana in one quarter, passing the $200 million mark for the first time. The gap between spirits and marijuana purchases narrowed to $37 million, compared to $54 million in first quarter 2016. The difference may even decrease in third quarter, due to cannabis sales reaching $287.6 million. Spirit sales for third quarter weren’t available at press time. One state forecast shows that the marijuana industry is expected to bring in $1.3 billion in tax revenue by mid-2019. A possible reason for the jump in numbers over the summer may have been due to the closing of less regulated medical dispensaries in July, which required all legal sales to take place at licensed recreational retailers. Many cities around the state continue to expand their retail offerings. Tacoma, for instance, closed its medical shops but now allows up to 16 retailers.

DENVER – Although

Source: Medical News Today

Source: News-Tribune

Source: The Denver Post

BOSTON – A

Source: The Boston Globe

city residents recently approved an initiative permitting citizens to use cannabis products in bars and restaurants, new state rules make this difﬁcult. Initiative 300 allows bars, restaurants, yoga studios and cafes to request permits to create separate indoor or outdoor marijuana consumption areas, provided patrons bring their own products, and the establishment receives approval from neighboring businesses and any business district they’re part of. However, a state rule going into effect in January bans liquor license holders from allowing onsite marijuana consumption. The state also prohibits businesses that serve alcohol from applying for new marijuana permits, such as event venues. There is a ban on licensed marijuana businesses allowing onsite consumption. Colorado’s Department of Revenue said the rule-making process about alcohol consumption and cannabis consumption began in the summer, before the election. The liquor industry and public health ofﬁcials were concerned about people partaking of marijuana and alcohol together, and potential confusion for restaurant/bar staff trying to gauge proper consumption levels of both products.

Spoknnabist is a product of The Spokesman−Review’s marketing division. • Friday, December 30, 2016

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TEST YOUR . Q . I S I B A N N CA 1. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _: Tiny crystal hair-like ﬁlaments that cover buds on marijuana plants. They contain much of the ﬂavor and sticky resin.

5. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _: Cerebral two word phrase for high-quality, handmade products that can be used to consume cannabis products, or collect as works of art.

2. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _: A product that is absorbed through the skin or mucosal membranes as a means to enter the bloodstream, usually by way of a patch. Distinct from a topical, which primarily impacts the site of application.

6. _ _ _ _: An indica strain thought to originate in the mountains of northern Afghanistan and Pakistan known for its relaxing effects. Well-known varieties/ hybrid strains include OG, Purple and Bubba.

3. _ _ _ _ _: Acronym for the state agency that regulates the marijuana industry in Washington.

7. _ _ _ _ _: Insectile slang for the butt of a joint that requires a small metal clip to hold for consumption.

4. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _: Call to reclassify marijuana by the federal government under the Controlled Substances Act.

8. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ : A type of concentrated extract that can be made naturally without butane or ethanol solvents or even heat.

ANSWERS: 1. Trichomes 2. Transdermal 3. WSLCB / Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board 4. Reschedule 5. Heady glass 6. Kush 7. Roach 8. Bubble hash

Spoknnabist is a product of The Spokesman Review’s marketing division. • Friday, December 30, 2016

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HISTORIC MARIJUANA LAW REFORMS, BRINGING A 100 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF STATES ALLOWING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA By KEVIN OLIVER Special to Spokannabist COURTESY PHOTO

...THE 2016 ELE marijuana law refo increase in the nu recreational mariju Massachusetts, California will now civil liberty as Was Alaska (along with regards to legal, a Dakota, Arkansas legalized marijuan This means 20 states with legal m comes not only fr only about 14 per but also from a br indicating that peo social harms caus the threat of legal It’s not just abou amount of money the top story, as w people enter the b in law reform und result of a majority that the threat of a a misguided way adult marijuana co This election als of the Executive O and ultimately a S justices who will s of the majority pa of the guard at the pot? Probably not President-elect asserted that he s which implies that states that have le marijuana. His pla Attorney General due to past anti-d Sessions will be s and will not likely pursuing what wo course of reversin overturning state Further, the Ror 2015, defunded fe actions against le

Spoknnabist is a product of The Spokesman Review’s marketing division. • Friday, December 30, 2016

MARIJUANA WINS BIG ON

ELECTION NIGHT ECTION included historic orms, bringing a 100 percent umber of states allowing uana, from four to eight. , Maine, Nevada and w enjoy the same freedom and shington, Colorado, Oregon, h the District of Columbia) in adult use marijuana. North s, Montana and Florida also na for limited medical uses. percent of Americans live in marijuana. The strong support om smokers, who make up rcent of the adult population, roader voting demographic, ople correctly identify that the sed by prohibition outweigh pot. ut the money. While the y changing hands is usually well as the only reason some business, those of us involved erstand that legalization is a y of American citizens realizing arrest and incarceration is of dealing with responsible onsumers. so gave Republicans control Ofﬁce of President, Congress Supreme Court weighted with share the values and mores rty. What does this changing e federal level mean for legal thing. Trump has repeatedly supports states’ rights, t he would not interfere with egalized adult use of medical anned pick of Jeff Sessions for has created some concern drug statements. However, serving at Trump’s pleasure spend time and resources ould be a politically unpopular ng current policies and reforms. rbacher-Farr Act, signed in ederal law enforcement gally operating medical

marijuana businesses at state levels. Some argue that this protection encompasses the deﬁnition of marijuana in the Controlled Substance Act and therefore extends protections to all legal marijuana businesses against federal law enforcement actions. Additionally, the Cole Memo, which outlines the guidelines U.S. Prosecuting Attorneys must follow in regards to state marijuana laws, is not likely to be reversed. The questions leaders in the marijuana reform movement will have in 2017 are the same we’ve been asking in 2016: When will banking laws be changed to allow marijuana businesses

the same services as other businesses? When will the tax code regarding controlled substances be revised to allow marijuana business owners to take the same deductions as other business? When will marijuana be rescheduled to a less dangerous substance? When will interstate commerce be allowed between legal marijuana businesses, especially states that share common borders? WHAT COMES NEXT? In the very short term, will President Obama possibly reschedule marijuana before he leaves? In the long term, will we someday see a Trump brand of marijuana? Or, a chain of

Trump retail marijuana stores? Time will tell. In the meantime, if the recent political campaigns have left you feeling a little low, just relax and get legally high. Kevin Oliver is the co-founder and co-owner of Washington’s Finest Cannabis, a legally licensed marijuana producer/processor in Spokane County. He sits on the Board of Directors of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and is the Executive Director of the Washington afﬁlate. He is also the author of “The Complete Idiots Guide: Growing Marijuana.”

Spoknnabist is a product of The Spokesman−Review’s marketing division. • Friday, December 30, 2016

HIGHER QUALITY

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Not Safe for Kids ‘MR. HAND’ REQUIRED ON EDIBLES

Munchie Monday ~ 15% off edibles 'Toke It Up' Tuesday - $1 off prerolls

By NICOLE SKINNER Spokannabist Correspondent

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Edible cannabis products sold in Washington will soon be required to bear a new warning: a big red hand. The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board ﬁnalized the “Not Safe For Kids” rule Nov. 16 after a two-month public comment period. It takes effect in February 2017. The new hand symbol was developed by the Washington State Poison Center and is accompanied by the WSPC tollfree number, 800-222-1222. It’s intended to deter children who may access edible marijuana products, and also provide a conﬁdential phone

number for anyone who feels they may have over-consumed any edible cannabis products. Mikhail Carpenter, LCB spokesperson, said the board proposed this new labeling rule to better alert kids that packaged edible products are for adults only. “It will also take education by adults in the home to teach kids these products are not for children,” he said. The public comment period produced concerns from the industry. The Cannabis Farmers Council, a group of statewide marijuana growers,

Spoknnabist is a product of The Spokesman−Review’s marketing division. • Friday, December 30, 2016

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wrote that because the symbol was designed by the WSPC and calls are directed to Poison Control, it could unfairly communicate that all cannabis products are poison, rather than legally-sold consumables for adults. The council had similar concerns about an earlier draft of the rules that used the “Mr. Yuk” image, instead of “Mr. Hand.” There were also concerns about the costs to growers and processors, such as if they must create or purchase stickers with the new warning, or redesign their packaging. One vocal opponent was James MacRae, a cannabis business analyst, who asked why cannabis is being singled out, when household items that are poisonous don’t have this degree of warning. Nicotine and alcohol products include safety warnings but don’t include

poison-focused language for children. In Spokane, reaction is mixed. Holly Jones, a mother of three, said she isn’t opposed to the hand but sees a greater underlying concern: if children are not old enough to comprehend words or symbols, then simply relying on this symbol isn’t going to prove effective, especially since many edibles look, smell and taste like other treats. “The symbol could be providing parents and adults with a false sense of security and allow them to let down their guard,” Jones said. At Cinder, General Manager Becca Johnson is happy to comply with anything that keeps kids safe. “When we are talking about edible products, it’s important to make a distinction between what is meant for children and treats for adults only,” she said.

The Washington State Poison Center has seen a rise in THC-related calls since medical marijuana became legal in 1998, and more since recreational became legal in 2014. But ofﬁcials can’t directly say that more people are having unwanted reactions or that overall use is increasing – greater numbers may even be calling because people are now less afraid to report dangerous doses of a now-legal substance than when it was illegal.

CALLS ABOUT CHILDREN EXPOSED TO THC PRODUCTS YEAR STATEWIDE SPOKANE COUNTY 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 As of Nov/16

56 66 64 61 102 123 101

10 2 7 9 6 13 17

Spoknnabist is a product of The Spokesman−Review’s marketing division. • Friday, December 30, 2016

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THERE ARE PEOPLE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH DUFFEL BAGS FULL OF CASH

Moving Marijuana COURIER SERVICE EXPLORES SAFER WAYS TO TRANSPORT PRODUCT, PAYMENTS By STACI LEHMAN Spokannabist Correspondent

“It’s the wild, wild West right now,” said Kevin Lynch, founder and owner of Go Green Enterprises, a new company that helps marijuana-related businesses safely and securely transport product – and money. “We have employees throwing I-don’t-know-howmuch product in the trunk of their vehicles,” said Lynch. “There are people driving down the road with duffel bags full of cash.” While this situation could be hilarious in movies starring guys named Harold and Kumar or Cheech and Chong, security is a real-life challenge for the legal cannabis industry, where electronic payments are in their infancy, checks aren’t accepted anywhere, and interstate banks don’t want to touch any of it. That’s where Go Green comes in. “We can move raw, unprocessed and live plants to processors. We can move processed items to retailers. We can move samples for testing to labs,” Lynch said. He started the company after realizing that no one in the industry was talking about safe transportation. So he put a plan together to make this happen, including hiring former military police

to act as security and drivers. The vehicles are also fully insured so if something unfortunate happens, the clients won’t take the loss. “I have the same level of insurance as most processors, retailers and growers have on their buildings,” he said. Go Green can also reduce a business’ expenses associated with transportation like gas and vehicle wear, items that marijuana businesses aren’t allowed to deduct. It uses technology to provide peace of mind to clients. “We notify you when we’re going to pick up, and notify you and the company we’re delivering to when we’re getting ready to drop off,” he said. An online customer portal lets businesses schedule pickups, track shipments and pay online. Go Green utilizes PayQwick, an online payment provider for the cannabis industry which acts as a middleman between pot businesses and banks. The transportation service also helps clients deliver or retrieve cash from certain credit unions, since some of these institutions, like Numerica Credit Union, are willing to work with licensed cannabis businesses. Kelli Hawkins, Numerica’s communications manager, said the institution recognizes potential safety issues of business owners and staff trying to

move around large amounts of cash. “We take security seriously and provide several options for members to make deposits,” said Hawkins. “Using a third party for armored car pickup allows for deposits to be made into a central cash vault and for Numerica to electronically credit the members’ accounts.” Besides the cash issue, there are other roadblocks. “I can’t drive through tribal lands, national forests or federal lands,” said Lynch. While marijuana is legal statewide, it still is recognized as an illegal substance at the federal level. Lynch has arranged detours around these offlimits areas, and Lynch has also tried to ﬁnd the fastest routes around the state to help clients. Eventually, he’d like to develop regular circuits. In the process of his research, he’s noticed other featured ‘cash crops’ around the state, and hopes that pot will someday be included on this list. “Our area is one of the biggest producers of hops, apples and wine,” said Lynch. “Why can’t it also be known for marijuana?” Visit gogreen.enterprises for more info.

Spoknnabist is a product of The Spokesman−Review’s marketing division. • Friday, December 30, 2016

POT SUPPORT: WHAT’S AHEAD? EXPERTS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT MARIJUANA’S MOMENTUM By DAN WEBSTER Spokannabist Correspondent

ledger will boost the total number of supporters and add appreciably to their overall political clout. “You’re talking about 68 million Americans and about 21 percent of the population,” Calvert said. “You’re talking about the potential to change things quite a bit.”

Considering how wrong many presumed experts were about the recent presidential election, it’s hard to imagine how anyone could correctly predict changes to governmental policies – state or federal. Often, the best option is simply to wait and see, particularly when discussing marijuana legalization policies. Despite a note of caution, election night held heartening news for pot proponents: the same night that Donald Trump was elected president, voters in eight states passed ballot measures authorizing changes in marijuana laws. California, Massachusetts, Nevada and Maine approved recreational use, while North Dakota, Arkansas, Florida and Montana voters OKd the use of medical marijuana. (Maine’s passage was by a bare 4,400 votes and may face a recount.) Arizona voters defeated a ballot measure that would have legalized recreational use. However, Arizona has allowed legalized medical marijuana since 1996. The overall result is that using marijuana in one form or another, recreational or medical, is now – or shortly will be – legal in some 30 states. Will the situation last? In August, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced that it was not going to change marijuana’s status as an illegal substance. As a Schedule 1 drug, marijuana – at least from the U.S. government’s point of view – remains in the same class as heroin. So what is the future for the legal status of marijuana?

• TAX CHANGES High on the wish lists for those in the marijuana business is a change in the government’s classiﬁcation of marijuana as a scheduled substance.

• GROWING SUPPORT Danielle Rosellison feels similar to Calvert. As president of The Cannabis Alliance, a nonproﬁt marijuana advocacy group based in Washington and a producer in Bellingham, Rosellison said the incoming administration may focus on larger priorities ﬁrst. “Of all the issues that are at the forefront, cannabis is not one that I’m worried about,” she said. “Now that these states have legalized, we are past the point of no return. From a business owner’s standpoint, I’m not worried about it.” If President–Elect Trump appoints any professed marijuana foes to his Cabinet, they’ll face obstacles in trying to subvert state laws, including federal legislation moderating the federal government’s rigid stance on marijuana.

• WORST CASES Currently, many standard tax deductions that the IRS makes available to other businesses do not apply to cannabis operations. “I was hoping for, and still am looking for, rescheduling so that we get tax relief,” says Toni Nersesian, co-owner of Palouse Farms in Spangle. “We need to be unscheduled. I had hoped that would happen in 2017. Now I don’t know when it’s going to happen – none of us have a feel for this.”

• FEDERAL RULE CHANGES Sam Calvert, owner of Spokane’s Green Star Cannabis, said the Trump administration has been sending mixed signals. “Anybody who is being honest will tell you it’s up in the air,” he said. The president-elect hasn’t come out strong on the topic of marijuana. “He sort of wafﬂes back and forth on what his position is,” Calvert said. The addition of California to the pro-marijuana

Department of Justice policies can be undone, but Rosellison also thinks that President-Elect Trump’s past attitudes in support of states’ rights should come into play. “It’d be a really big U-turn if they were suddenly like, ‘No, no, no, you individual states, even though you voted to OK it, we’re going to come in and say ‘no.’’ That is completely opposite of what they preach.” Calvert said attempts to un-do progress ultimately might not be worth the effort. “I don’t think that recreational or medical marijuana is going to make it into the new Trump administration’s First 100-day agenda,” Calvert said. ‘If it did, it would be an ineffective use of a new administration’s time.” As the time approaches for the president-elect to take ofﬁce, Calvert offers wise counsel. “We just have to be patient and see what happens,” he said.

Spoknnabist is a product of The Spokesman−Review’s marketing division. • Friday, December 30, 2016

YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO MARIJUANA in Washington State

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Spoknnabist is a product of The Spokesman−Review’s marketing division. • Friday, December 30, 2016

SATORI OPENS SOUTH HILL LOCATION STAFF EXCITED TO MEET NEIGHBORS By LISA LEINBERGER Spokannabist Correspondent

Since recreational marijuana has been legal in Washington, Satori has been active in filling the Spokane community’s need for high-quality cannabis products. Owned by Justin Wilson, a longtime advocate for legalization and also the owner of Piece of Mind Smoke Shops, Satori’s North Division location has become a popular location. “Some customers will drive past 20 shops just to get to us and have been asking for a second Spokane location,” said Daniel Wendling. Those wishes were answered in late November with the opening of a South Hill location on East 30th Avenue. The new location, the first of its kind in the neighborhood, is open in conjunction with Seattlebased dispensaries Hashtag and Have a Heart. It boasts 1,000 square feet of retail space and 1,000 for inventory, which is locked in a state-ofthe art, DEA-rated, 15-foot by 20-foot cage. Budtenders are out on the floor to help customers find the best product for their needs and answer questions. This adds a more

personalized feel to the shopping experience. “Customer service is super key for us,” Wendling said. Finding the proper product is important, whether someone is searching for buds, joints, creams or edibles. Wendling and stocker Andrew Ralph are excited about how Satori’s product lines have grown, especially edibles. Not only can these offer an enjoyable experience, but they’re becoming downright delicious. “(Some producers) were chocolatiers before they came into the industry,” Ralph said. “I get a lot of non-infused samples. I can eat those all day.” Wendling said many growers producing edibles recruit employees from culinary schools, who focus on creating something delicious but also infused with just the right amount of cannabis. “It’s a science,” Wendling said. He continues to be impressed with the quality of cannabis products. “Three years ago I would never have picked up a topical,” he said. Today, he’s willing to pay full retail price for some of them.

The inventory at the South Hill location includes a selection of top-shelf products that the staff hopes will cater to the neighborhood’s business clientele. The cannabis industry as a whole is still relatively new and Satori has been happy to be there since the beginning. Chief Technology Ofﬁcer Jim Bangle appreciates the ability to communicate directly with the Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board. “It’s wonderful,” Bangle said. “I love building something in a new industry. You have a voice you don’t have in other industries.” Satori Marijuana Dispensary 9301 N. Division St. 2804 E. 30th Ave. 500 products from 40 producers www.satorimj.com Josey Mankin and Courtney Sargent work at Satori, which just opened its second Spokane location and the ﬁrst marijuana retailer on the South Hill. Photo by Shallan Knowles

Spoknnabist is a product of The Spokesman−Review’s marketing division. • Friday, December 30, 2016

CANNABIS GROWING CAN EVOLVE IF PROMOTED AS FARMING By LARA KAMINSKY Special to Spokannabist So it’s the end of the year and with it comes reflection on the past year and our hopes for the future. For myself, 2016 is hard to think about without recalling the election and undercurrents that had a big hand in dictating the outcome. One undercurrent of concern had to do with local, more specifically, rural economies. Because of my involvement in the cannabis industry I can’t help but think that if the industry was more supported in certain regions, specifically rural regions of Washington, voters would have some economic concerns alleviated. The most obvious reason is because cannabis represents a NEW industry in our state. But beyond it being new…it is agricultural! This means it could flourish in communities that need economic stimulus the most; but only if it’s accepted and allowed to flourish. Remember, cannabis farms are not big farms because, based on the law, they can’t be. The biggest farms are less than an acre. Even with that small size there are big jobs being created. The most obvious are jobs directly on farms, but also jobs created due to the consistent need for farming supplies or packaging. The majority of cannabis businesses want to keep buying habits local. Another element unique to Washington is that we actually have farmers that want to farm outdoors. Growing this product in the sun takes less resources such as energy and power. But instead of supporting conscientious choices there remains a culture of punishment and fear. The message is “just do it indoors” or “If I don’t see it I don’t have to think about it.” Unfortunately, this viewpoint is short-sighted and creates a drain on our electrical infrastructure that is completely

unnecessary and doesn’t align with our Pacific Northwest sensibilities. If the industry is shoved away, forced to hide indoors, we are doing our local economy and the growth of this state a huge disservice. The only way to achieve sustainable and conscientious success is with the support of our communities and the recognition that the farming of cannabis is, in fact, agriculture. If the undercurrent in this election cycle was fear about the economy it begs a solution that a new agricultural industry could help meet. In looking toward the future, the No. 1 priority for The Cannabis Alliance is getting the state to officially recognize cannabis as an agricultural activity. Washington is an agriculture state that traditionally supports its farmers. Defining cannabis as agriculture would allow small businesses to survive, as Initiative 502 intended, while supporting local communities and allowing farmers to contribute as tax-paying citizens. We’d love to hear everyone’s questions about the industry, policy items or anything cannabis-related. You can visit thecannabisalliance.us/ or contact us via Spokannabist at spokannabist@ spokesman.com. Lara Kaminsky is the Executive Director of The Cannabis Alliance, a Washington nonprofit trade association that understands that the war on drugs has created misperceptions, mistrust and even fear about the industry and legalization. The Cannabis Alliance strives to change those perceptions, through education, advocacy and helping set the highest possible industry standards. www.thecannabisalliance.us.

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Spoknnabist is a product of The Spokesman−Review’s marketing division. • Friday, December 30, 2016

Chilly Daze Egg Nog Egg Nog By AUTUM SCHUMACHER Spokannabist Correspondent

As we round out the holiday season I thought it would be nice to touch on a festive and relatively simple infused creation: the cannabis cocktail. Thanks to the ingenuity of the recreational marijuana market there are a plethora of “ready to enjoy, measured dosage” products available for creating a green-spiked libation. For fruity cocktails I recommend Sensi-Sweet infused juice products; they come with a 10 mg dosage measuring shot, perfect for mixing single serving drinks to preference. Blue Roots Cannabis Sugar is another option for blended drinks, sugared rims, and hot toddies. And an excellent product to test your mixology this New Year’s Eve – or any occasion – is Zoots Drops.The company even has a link to cannacocktail recipes at www.zootology.com. I’ve included a two-for-one Egg Nog recipe that can also be made into a “morning after” breakfast shake/ smoothie. Enjoy, and warm wishes to all! Note: I recommend non-alcoholic egg nog with your cannabis. Alaska native and Spokane transplant Autum Schumacher is classically trained in French cooking and focuses on nutritional wellness. She’s passionately dedicated to bringing nutritious healing options to all.

Makes four 6-ounce servings 24 ounce non-alcoholic egg nog 4 packets (10 mg each) Blue Roots cannabis sugar Nutmeg, star anise, or cinnamon sticks In small saucepan, heat egg nog to low simmer, add cannabis infused sugar and stir until fully dissolved. Cool mixture, then refrigerate until ready to serve. Pour 6 ounce (3/4 cup) over ice. Sprinkle with nutmeg, top with anise, or add a cinnamon stick (optional). Enjoy! Breakfast Nog Smoothie Single Serving 2 frozen bananas, peeled 1/2 cup cannabis infused egg nog, chilled 1/4 cup ice 1 scoop protein powder Place all ingredients in blender, puree until desired thickness. Enjoy!

Spoknnabist is a product of The Spokesman−Review’s marketing division. • Friday, December 30, 2016