The Hemp Connoisseur, July 2014 - Issue #19

COUPONS INSIDE

COLORADO’S PREMIER GUIDE TO CANNABIS

Solar Roadways: Science Fiction or Future Fact?

710 Feature: Hash Maker Q & A What Makes a Good Budtender?

*This magazine is intended for people over the age of 21.

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A LETTER TO OUR READERS “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” -Henry Ford What an exciting industry we are in. Last month I had the privilege to attend the Cannabis Business Summit here in Denver. NCIA put on a wonderful conference. Throughout the two days I was able to witness just how far the cannabis industry has come. There were so many innovative professionals looking to move cannabis into the mainstream of the business sector and out of the dregs of the counter-culture paradigm we have been stuck in for the last century.

During the conference some thoughts occurred to me.

Beware the Elephant in the Room The cannabis professional and consumer alike have an unprecedented opportunity to control our own destiny more than any other industry before and in so many ways. We are able to look at the mistakes of past industries and choose not to follow in their misguided footsteps.

Allowing a company like Monsanto to come in and infiltrate our new industry is very worrisome to me (Article on page 48). The fact that anyone would work with them would be even more troubling. Has anyone been paying attention to what they have done to the agricultural industry? We have the chance to stop companies like that in their tracks and not give them a chance to be a part of our model. That power lies not only with the businesses to choose not to work with them but also with the consumers to make sure they are educated as to who the companies they purchase from are working with as well. We need to make companies like Monsanto know that they are not welcome in our sandbox and they will be kicked off of the island.

Girl Power At the business summit I was surrounded by women. No, not like that. Often times at business conventions the majority of the women you see may be relegated to dressing in tight tank tops and short shorts trying to get you to come to the booth that hired them for the day. A cannabis business summit is different. Instead I saw powerful women in business suits who are leading innovators in our burgeoning industry. Women have more chances to be influential entrepreneurs in cannabis than any other industry. And it is already happening. The cannabis community is full of powerful women making their mark from dispensary owners and edible manufacturers to software companies and lab testing facilities. I am proud to be a part of a movement that cares more about progress than creating an exclusive boys club.

Let Freedom Ring!

Legal cannabis is a true American industry, the first in quite sometime. Before other countries start jumping on the cannabis bandwagon we can establish ourselves as leaders and innovators, once again, for a long time. Let’s take advantage of being first on the market and make sure that the rest of the world is constantly playing catch up to our progress. Had to end on a patriotic note.

Editor-in-Chief David Maddalena Art Director Christianna Lewis Managing Editor Rick Macey rick@thcmag.com Associate Editor DJ Reetz Layout Designers Caroline Hayes Christianna Lewis Director of Sales and Marketing Christianna Lewis sales@thcmag.com Sales Managers Sam Ruderman Tom Walsh Contributing Writers Hazy Cakes Skyler Cannabaceae Caroline Hayes Tyler Henry Erin Hiatt Rick Macey Monocle Man R. Scott Rappold DJ Reetz John Schroyer Ian Williams Contributing Photographers Tyler Henry Christianna Lewis Ian Williams Cover Art Christianna Lewis Printer Publication Printers Corp.

2001 S. Platte River Dr. Denver, CO 80223 PH: 303.936.0303 www.publicationprinters.com

Happy Independence Day!

The Hemp Connoisseur is published monthly by The Hemp Connoisseur, LLC. All contents are copyrighted 2014 by The Hemp Connoisseur, LLC. All rights reserved. For advertising and subscription info please email sales@thcmag.com.

David Maddalena Editor-in-Chief 6 July 2014

“The One, The Only, The Original”

Cannabis Infused Edibles Precise THC dosing

Consistent effectivity

No cannabis taste

“Wholesale Inquiries” : EdipureCO@gmail.com | EdipureCO.com | 720.445.6585 For medical use only. Keep out of reach from children. Medicate Responsibly. thcmag.com 7

Contents 6

A Letter to Our Readers

14

The Green Scene

18

In The Spotlight

22

Featured Artist

24

Tasty Meds

Featured events & Was the first American flag really made of hemp?

Products we love!

36

Los Angeles’ GD Garner

Reviews of some of Colorado’s best edibles and smokeables

27

Hemp Eats

28

Cannabis News

30 33

Delicious Fourth of July recipes

The world’s top headlines

Hot Spots Fort Collins’ Old Town is a great place to visit

Budtender 101

39 40

Windpower Tax Credits

Canada’s New MMJ System

47

Event Coverage

48

Competing Companies

Is it flawed?

Colorado’s Hemp Seed Revival saluted hemp

51

THC Isn’t Considered Medicine?

52

PTSD

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State lawmakers say CBD is medicine, not THC

Protect State Rights!

DOJ protects cannabis rights

Solar Roadways

Scott and Julie Brusaw explain the brilliance behind their invention

Second Amendment Rights and MMJ

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Cannabis and guns don’t mix

Hash Maker, Hash Maker, Make Me Some Hash!

Three of Colorado’s most well-known hash makers tell all

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8 July 2014

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Some of Colorado’s best tourism companies explain what they do and why

Why isn’t it a qualifying condition?

Congress is dropping the ball

36

Cannabis Tourism

A look inside NCIA’s Cannabis Business Summit

What makes a good budtender?

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Dispensary Guide Coupons Index

Dispensary Guide

DENVER

61 The Clinic 58 The Hemp Center 58 Northern Lights Natural Rx 59 Physician Preferred Products 62 Southwest Alternative Care

COLORADO SPRINGS 58 The Hemp Center

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Brown’s Canyon, Arkansas River

What’s Your Rocky Mountain High?

Share Your Rocky Mountain High on Our Facebook Page During the Month of July. The One with the Most Likes Will Win a Northern Lights Prize Bag! https://www.facebook.com/northernlightsrx

NLCannabis.com

303-274-6495

Medical

9 am - 7 pm Daily

10 July 2014

2045 Sheridan Blvd Recreational

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THC Championship Ad

12 July 2014

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The GREEN Scene

E V E N T S

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July 10th - 13th 2nd Annual 710 Cup Grassroots Flagship Store 2209 Larimer Street Denver, CO www.the710cup.com

July 10th - 11:00a.m.

710 Sale @ Heady Glass Gallery 324 W Hampden Ave Englewood, Colorado 80110 July 10th 710 with Club 710 Studio 64 & club 710 1609 S Nevada Ave Colorado Springs, Colorado July 18th Sexpot Comedy Presents: HIGH PLAINS COMEDY FESTIVAL PREVIEW w Nancherla, Patton, Barnhill and Douglas Terry The Oriental Theater 4335 W 44th Ave Denver, Colorado 80212 theorientaltheater.com/event/175366

August 1st - 3rd Denver County Fair Denver, CO Pot themed vendors, live music and blue ribbon cannabis competitions www.denvercountyfair.org

August 2nd 31st Colorado Invitational Bong-a-Thon South Park, CO 80440 Order tickets at: www.bongathon.com

August 16th 5th Annual Clinic Charity Classic City Park Golf Course Denver, CO www.thecliniccolorado.com

Every Friday - 10:00a.m.

River Rock South Sessions 990 W. 6th Ave. Denver, CO www.riverrockcolorado.com

October 3rd-5th Gypsy Jane Jubilee Denver Mart www.gypsyjanefest.com

Did You Know....

by Caroline Hayes

…that the first United States flag was made of hemp? Yes! The first flag sewn by Betsy Ross was made up of hemp fibers, according to the legend.

Hemp has come a long way and now, at least here in Colorado, it’s making the biggest comeback of its existence. As we all know, hemp is one of the strongest fibers known to man, so it’s no wonder that Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and Henry Ford all grew it.

Members of the Continental Committee (George Washington, Col. George Ross and Robert Morris) visited Ross’ store in Philadelphia and asked her to sew a flag, which was to have 13 stripes and 13 stars, representing the 13 colonies. The stars were to be white on a blue background to “represent a new constellation,” according to ushistory.org.

To further explain how impactful hemp was back in the day, the first drafts of the Declaration were printed on hemp paper.

In fact, last Fourth of July lobbyist Michael Bowman and Jared Polis requested that a hemp flag be flown over the U.S. Capitol. It was the first hemp flag to fly in more than 80 years.

So this Fourth of July when you are helping decorate with cheaply made flags from China, remember that the first ever American flag was made of hemp and sewn by a sweet woman named Betsy Ross. Perhaps it will inspire you to take up sewing….or growing hemp!

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July! thcmag.com 15

16 July 2014

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In The Spotlight Products We Love

This great new company launched in June, just in time for Hemp History Week. The concept of HempBox is pretty simple; they send samples of different hemp products directly to your door on a monthly basis. This is a similar idea to Conscious Box or Bark Box. We received our first HempBox last month and couldn’t have been happier.

Contained inside its cardboard exterior were Manitoba Farms Hemp Hearts, Twenty-4 Zen Mocha Chocolate Chip Hemp Granola, The Wonder Seed Spring Lavender Hand Cream, The Merry Hempsters Organic Peppermint Hemp Balm, Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-1 Peppermint Pure Castile Soap, and a handy hemp bookmark. If you are a hemp enthusiast like we are at THC Mag, you should subscribe to HempBox. It’s only $20 a month and allows you to try healthy, natural products you might have not heard of. Getting HempBox delivered to your home each month is like Christmas coming every 30 days. Hooray Hemp!!! www.hempbox.com

SWP Southwest Precision Services Trailhead

This small, cylindrical stash container is made out of machined aluminum and comes with a brass one hitter. When opened, there is a hollowed out section meant to hold your stash and a spring loaded one hitter slot. The one hitter is about the size of a small cigarette. The Trailhead is waterproof, airtight, smell-proof, and American made. It is small enough to fit in your pocket and is very durable. This product is so well made, you could throw it on the ground over and over and it would remain functional. The Trailhead will be my new hiking companion for the rest of the summer. www.swpservices.com

Kleen Green Gold

How safe is your glass cleaner? More than likely, it’s actually some pretty dangerous stuff. Most pipe cleaners on the market are made from caustic chemicals, and the ones that aren’t usually don’t work very well.

However, Kleen Green Gold was designed to be safe on glass and other surfaces without leaving a chemical residue on the pipe. The 16oz spray bottle is quick and easy to use and works great on any kind of pipe, including acrylic, metals, ceramic, and glass. Containing no volatile organic chemicals, the concentrate can be distilled and retains its cleaning properties, or used pure for super heavy build-up. The low carbon footprint and biodegradable recipe also make this an eco-friendly alternative for keeping your collection spotless. kleengreengold.wix.com/kleen

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Thee Wicked Wizard by SI Pipes Scientific Inhalations out of California has made products that will make you want to reconsider your current piece and upgrade to theirs. SI Pipes was formed in 2009 to develop and manufacture a cleaner, healthier way to smoke. They came up with a revolutionary filtering system that helps extract tars and impurities to enjoy a cleaner cooler inhalation.

SI Pipes offers double - and triple - filtered product lines with different designs. The one I tried for this review is The Compact, Thee Wicked Wizard Edition. The Compact is one of the many products from the triple-filtered system. SI Pipes’ three steps of filtering are activated coconut carbon, water, and 100 percent organic cotton. It sounds weird at first but after you try it and see how dirty the cotton gets after one bowl, you will want to switch to SI Pipes products.

The Compact, Thee Wicked Wizard is a honeycomb bubbler design with an awesome green decal of a wizard puffing on one of SI pieces. It features two honeycomb discs built in the down stem and the mouthpiece. The honeycomb in the down stem keeps the coconut carbon from falling into the water and the other one holds the cotton in place.

First thing you want to do is fill the bubbler with water. They have a fill line on the back to make sure you don’t over do it. Next you lift up the bowl and fill the down stem with the activated coconut carbon. SI Pipes website suggests that you only fill it up about 3/4 of the way or less. Another great thing about the carbon is it catches all the ash, so you don’t have to clean your pipe as much. The cotton needs to be pulled apart so it’s easy to work with and has good air flow in the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is removed to fill the cotton and easily fits back into place when you are done.

Now you are ready to load the bowl with your favorite herb and fire it up.

The Compact hits like a dream. With extremely smooth hits. I was able to take monster rips and fill the room with smoke clouds. After smoking two bowls I was shocked how dirty the cotton ball got. It went from bright white to looking like a smoked cigarette filter. Don’t worry all you dab heads, if you have an 18mm attachment you can use your concentrates with this too. It will be the smoothest dab you will ever have. If you don’t, SI Pipes has you covered with a variety of sizes to fit all of their products. If you cough up a storm during a session or are just looking for a healthy way to smoke, then seriously consider getting one of Scientific Inhalations’ products. Check out their website for more information and to find a head shop or authorized online reseller. www.sipipes.com

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Celebration Pipes Photos and Review by Ian Williams

Since before the dawn of High Times, Celebration Pipes has been creating unique and elegant lava stoneware spoons, plated in fine metals, including 22k gold, platinum and opal. The company was featured in the very first issue of High Times in 1974 and for 41 years they have been making the coveted pipes from the beautiful shores of Hawaii.

Originating in Laie Point, North Shore Oahu, this artistically inspirational line of pipes is hand-crafted by heating a ceramic composite to 2,300° F before being textured with Hawaiian lavastone and formed. The composite stone creates an incredibly insulated bowl that never overheats, even after long and heavy smoke sessions.

The bowl of the pipe is plated inside and out, wrapping over the lip and creating a glistening dome of polished gold. The shaft is textured with rugged, multi-colored rock so naturally that it seems as though it could have been spit straight out of a Volcano.

Visually, the juxtaposition of the smooth, lustrous metal and rough stone feels both regal and raw, and provokes a deep, earthly connection. It could easily belong to the world’s classiest caveman, smokin’ some Stone Age skunk around the fire. (On that note, I have concluded that my Celebration Pipe has become my official camping pipe!) The gold is beautiful in the sunlight and glitters as much as the buds do. The design is a refinement of the classic spoon pipe, sans-carb. The bowl is gigantic, easily able to hold nearly two grams of dense, Colorado Cannabis and at the bottom is a long, open U-channel, rather than a poked-hole or pinch-point that runs into the handle, topped by a titanium screen. Equally oversized is the tube leading to the mouthpiece, resulting in an extremely voluminous hit, mixing in more cool air and delivering giant, robust clouds of smoke on each puff. The giant tunnel for smoke and distinctive screened-channel pinched bowl explain why there is no need for a carb.

This piece, as a friend put it, “feels almost like hitting a bong,” even without a large chamber space or carburetor. After smoking, the bowl can be easily tapped out into the palm of your hand, as the gold prevents resin from sticking, and any build-up of gunk can easily be taken care of using the.

Kleen Green Gold, non-toxic cleaner. (ARTICLE CROSSOVER) It’s really quick; just spray, wipe, and dry. For a piece this nice, keeping it looking good is as important as keeping it working properly. Kleen Green Gold is designed to protect the gold plating when cleaning and easily removes any build-up to ensure a classy, clean smoke every time.

This pipe is obviously built for some serious sessions, allowing large quantities to be loaded and smoked without worrying about the bowl staying lit or burning hot or uneven. The gold-lined bowl and ceramic-stone base diffuses and reflects the heat of the cherry and balances the burn of the bowl; once it’s lit, you’ll be puffin’ and passin’ for nearly half an hour before you need to cash it out. It’s an old school tech that was so simple and efficient that even today, in the age of glass flamethrowers and direct-injection honeycomb recyclers, domeless sidecars and sixteen arm percolators, this sans-carb spoon can deliver an amazing hit that will satisfy any stoner.

With only a few thousand produced by hand each year, Celebration Pipes are certainly a collector’s item. Individually signed and numbered by batch, Celebration Pipes come in a clean, black gift box. Inside, the pipe is presented in a velvet carrying bag atop a certificate of authenticity from the company including the artist’s signature and the date that it was created. The creators treat it much more like a piece of art than a product, and rightfully so. The long-lived fame of these pieces is no surprise given the catalog of celebrity owners, including Aerosmith, Bob Marley, Woody Harrelson, Jefferson Starship, and Hugh Hefner. In a category all their own, Celebration Pipes are, as they say in Maui, “Nō Ka Oi,” the best there is. www.celebrationpipes.com

20 July 2014

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Featured Artist

by Caroline Hayes

Inside the mind of

GD Garner

GD Garner, an L.A. based artist, uses the forces of nature, experience and location to enhance his uniquely spirited use of color. GD Garner is a deep thinker who pays attention to his surroundings and life lessons, allowing him to dig deeper into his artistic creativity. He has traveled to all seven continents, getting to know each and every culture and way of life. His artwork directly demonstrates his experiences abroad and the answers he found to the questions he asked the world. I asked him a few of my own questions to help gain insight into his vibrant, artistic mind.

What’s your favorite medium to create with?

All of my original work is done in over 20 hand-bound journals that chronicle my life and travels around the world. The medium I work in varies greatly based on what supplies I have access to at the time.

In remote parts of the world I am forced to resort to some pretty crazy mediums. I have used tree bark, tea, coffee, ketchup, mustard and even blood to add texture, color and character to my work.

Where is your favorite place to create art?

Almost 100 percent of my work is done in a public setting. I draw my inspiration from the sights, sounds, color and characters around me. I have worked in bars, cafes, restaurants, parks and every mode of transportation imaginable.

If you could do one thing to save the world, what would it be?

I would provide a quality education for every human being on the planet.

Do you have any other passions (cooking, skating, traveling, etc.)?

I am passionate about exploring my mental and physical limits, foreign and indigenous ways of life and the world around me. My art reflects those experiences including a five -year, seven continent expedition around the world.

Where is your favorite vacation spot?

My journals have accompanied me from the heights of Mt. Everest to the lows of Death Valley, North of the Arctic Circle and South of the Antarctic pass. Each place holds a special meaning for me but perhaps the most life altering was my time in Africa, where I realized that each day is a gift not a given.

What’s the scariest thing you have ever done?

I have been held at gun point, attacked by wild animals, near death on Mt. Everest and exposed to a whole host of other very dangerous scenarios where I probably should have been scared to death, but wasn’t. I think it’s because if I have the slightest amount of influence over a harrowing situation I divert all of my mental and emotional energy to survival.

However I will say that when the small plane I was on almost crashed into an island in the South China Sea I nearly shit myself. There was nothing I could

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do to improve my situation and when the wing just missed the ground by a couple inches I experienced a very intimate understanding of unabated fear.

What or who is your biggest inspiration?

My artistic inspiration really comes from the ever-changing environment around me, but stylistically I draw from the greats like Dali. But without question the biggest inspirations in my life and art come from Peter Beard and Dan Eldon, both of whom traveled the world extensively and recorded their experiences through art in their personal journals.

What do you hope to achieve through your artwork?

The preservation of my sanity. The first ambition for my art is completely selfish in nature. My journal (my art) is my confidant, therapist and introspective barometer bound neatly into one self-contained book that I can open or close at my whimsy. It is ever present and never requires more of me than I wish to give at any given moment. It returns what I give in exact proportion and always reflects the gravity of my state.

Beyond that I hope people take away from my art what I take away from others’ art.

It’s a pointless journey, without expectation or agenda, an opportunity to escape the mundane and remove the boundaries that govern all that is not artistic in nature.

Who is your favorite musician?

I have many from, Hank Williams JR to Chopin and Jay Z but for some reason the imagery and raw artistic nature of Jimi Hendrix has always captivated and inspired me to create.

Where can interested buyers find your pieces?

Beginning June 30th, 2014 my art can be purchased exclusively online at www. artpluswood.com. Inquiries for original works and commissions may be submitted to GDGarner@hotmail.com attn: Art Booking Dept Do you do collaborations often? If so with whom and what do you think you learn from those collaborations?

I’ve done a number of collaborative pieces but some of my favorite co conspirators are Sean Dietrich and The 3 Bad Sheep.

It always fascinates me to see into the mind of another artist, evolve my own ideas, and learn new techniques for bringing my imagery to life from gifted artists with varying styles.

Thanks GD for letting us into your world of mystery and artistic ways!

Videos of GD’s stories and work can be found at www.GDGarner.com or http://youtu.be/eVf3CIIP6wg.

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Tasty Meds

Product reviews of edibles and concentrates Dixie One Watermelon Cream Single Dose 5mg from Dixie Elixir reviewed by Hazy Cakes

What a perfect drink for summertime! At 75 calories and 5mg each, you can surely enjoy a couple of these during those hot summer days. Now I know what you are thinking, that 5mg doesn’t sound like a lot. Well it’s not and that’s the point. Dixie made these so that people with lower tolerances could enjoy an entire drink, without having to guess on rationing out a 100mg beverage. Now again, I know the 5mg doesn’t sound like a lot, and again, it’s not, but it gave me the most relaxed, warm and fuzzy feeling that was completely functional, and that’s something I truly appreciate. So yes, you can enjoy a Dixie One Watermelon Cream and still host that awesome summertime BBQ party. Also, when combined with vaping or smoking, it creates an even better high. So if you are seeking a little more of a stone but don’t necessarily want to eat more edibles, pair with a vape pen or your bong for the perfect all around feeling. It’s lightly carbonated for a refreshing tasty drink, which is infused with organic watermelon syrup and other natural ingredients. Dixie’s products are triple lab tested for efficiency and consistency, so you know you are getting the true milligram you bargained for. So go ahead and stock up on a couple of these for the hot summer days to come. www.dixieelixirs.com

“The One, The Only, The Original”

Sour Gummi Bears 100mg from Edipure reviewed by Monocle Man By now I am sure you have seen or tried Edipure’s tasty treats. They offer candies that look like ones you would buy at a store, but with quality THC infused into each candy. Edipure’s products come in a white child-resistant medicine bottle that meets all of the state’s packaging requirements. For this review I tried out the delicious Sour Gummi Bears, which come as ten candies per bottle individually dosed at 10mg. Edipure does a tremendous job with their extraction and infusion process because I couldn’t taste any of the hash oil in the Sour Gummi Bears. The bears were the perfect balance of sweet and sour to take care of that sweet tooth. For my first dose I had three of the bears and waited about an hour. It was a relaxing body high but I was looking for a little more relief, so I had the rest of the bears throughout the night. After eating all 10 bears I was on Cloud 9 and slept like a baby. I was pleasantly surprised to not have the dreaded edible hangover when I woke up the next morning. I was refreshed and ready to dominate the day ahead of me. Edipure is one of Colorado’s most well known products and for good reason.

They are perfect for people who are new to edibles and looking for a low dose product. Just stick to the recommended 10mg per dose and see how it affects you. Edipure’s products can be found in almost any dispensary across the state. www.edipureco.com

Banana Bubba Tom Haze Shatter from Natural Remedies and TC Labs Reviewed by Monocle Man Looking for a new center and concentrates to check out? Do yourself a favor and go to Natural Remedies in LoDo. They have a friendly, knowledgeable staff and some of the state’s best product to offer. Natural Remedies has won awards for their flower at The Hemp Connoisseur Championship and High Times Cannabis Cup. Not only do they have quality flower, but a nice selection of edibles and concentrates. TC Labs is one of the extraction companies that Natural Remedies has to offer and the one we got to try.

The crew at TC Labs does an incredible job with their extraction process and has taken home High Times Cannabis Cup Awards as well. Right off the bat I was impressed by the color of the Banana Bubba Tom Haze Shatter. When I put it up to the light it was a beautiful translucent golden/ amber slab, looking like a very clean extraction process. There was a slight citrus smell but there wasn’t a distinct scent of terpenes. The flavor is where this shatter really shines. Whether it was out of my rig or one of my vape pens, it made for tasty dabs every time. It had mild cerebral effects and a relaxing body high. Perfect for when just geting off work and looking to sit back and relax. It wasn’t too overpowering with just the right amount of body and head high. Next time you are downtown, head over to Natural Remedies on Market Street. They offer both medical and adult-use sales for those over the age of 21. www.lodosdispensary.com www.tclabs.com

24 July 2014

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26 July 2014

HEMP EATS

Celebrate your freedom with these tasty dishes this Fourth of July!

Tomato, Watermelon and Feta Salad Serves 6 Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice ½ cup hemp oil 2 beefsteak tomatoes, stemmed, washed and dried 1 pint cherry tomatoes, stemmed, washed and dried 1 Tablespoon freshly chopped tarragon leaves 1 Tablespoon hemp seeds 4 strawberries, hulled, washed and cut into small pieces Himalayan pink sea salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 - 2 teaspoons granulated sugar 6 ounces cold watermelon, rind removed, seeded and cut into bite size cubes 1 cup crumbled feta

Directions:

In a bowl, whisk together vinegar, lemon juice and hemp oil. Taste.

Add seasoning as necessary. Set aside.

Lay tomatoes on a cutting board. Cut the smaller ones in half and slice the larger ones. Arrange all of them in a single layer, flesh side up. Season with salt, pepper and sugar. Drizzle the tomatoes with the dressing. Toss them with the tarragon, hemp seeds and strawberries.

Arrange the tomatoes on six plates. Drizzle with the remaining dressing and top with the watermelon and crumbled feta. Serve right away.

Corny, Black Bean and Hempseed Dip Serves 10-15

Ingredients:

1 can shoepeg corn 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed 1 package of feta 1 bunch green onions, green parts only 1 handful of cilantro, chopped 1 cup hemp seeds ¼ cup sugar ¼ cup hemp oil ¼ cup white vinegar

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together. Cover. Place in the refrigerator overnight to allow flavors to set. Stir before serving. Serve with hemp seed tortilla chips (we like Food Should Taste Good Hemp Tortilla Chips). Note: double recipe for a larger crowd.

Blueberry and Hemp Seed Cobbler Note: The butter should be room temperature so let it sit out for a few hours before making this dish.

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, oats, and butter until coarse crumbs are formed.

Serves 6

Next, mix in the brown sugar, lemon zest, and 3/4 cup of the hemp seeds. Use 2/3 of that mixture to evenly fill an 8 x 8 baking dish.

Ingredients:

1 ½ cup flour, all purpose 1 ½ cup rolled oats (can use gluten free) 1 cup butter, unsalted 1 cup brown sugar zest of 1 lemon 1 cup hemp seeds 10 oz fresh blueberries (if using frozen, make sure they are defrosted)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Spread the blueberries evenly over the mixture in the baking dish. Top with the remaining third of the mixture. Then spread the remaining hemp seeds on top.

Bake for 35-40 minutes. The top of the cobbler will be a golden brown color when it’s done. Serve warm.

Have a delicious fourth of July! thcmag.com 27

Cannabis News

by John Schroyer

FRENCH WINERY USES HEMP AS BUILDING MATERIAL The Chateau Maris in Languedoc, France, might be the first of its kind. It’s an otherwise traditional French winery, but its cellar is constructed completely from hemp.

The 9,000-square foot cellar’s building material is just one factor that went into making the entire chateau a net-zero energy operation, complete with a green roof and solar panels. Hemp’s breathability was a perfect match for the winery, since it keeps the inner temperature between 54 degrees and 63 degrees at almost all times, in spite of the weather.

TENNESSEE OPENS DOOR FOR INDUSTRIAL HEMP One of the most recent states to breach the topic of farming industrial hemp is Tennessee (along with its neighbor, Kentucky), but in The Volunteer State, hemp farmers may have to wade through a lot of red tape in order to sow a single seed.

Under rules proposed by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, would-be farmers would have to pony up a $500 license fee. Their crops would be subject to random THC testing. Growers will also have to give the state GPS coordinates for their hemp fields.

Any farmer willing to deal with all the regulations will be able to apply for a license later this year, and begin cultivating hemp in 2015.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN FLORIDA TIGHTLY REGULATED The Sunshine State Legislature has joined the growing number of states that permit a form of medical marijuana, but Florida’s restrictions are some of the tightest in the nation.

Under the “Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act,” smoking marijuana is still illegal, whether it’s for medical reasons or otherwise. The only medical form that’s legal is a cannabidiol extract, an oil that can be used to treat a handful of ailments such as epilepsy, and was made famous by the Charlotte’s

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Web strain from Colorado. Other patients who will be able to obtain the oil legally include those with cancer and muscle spasm-inducing diseases, such as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

MARIJUANA BREATHALYZER INVENTED

FLORIDA MILLIONAIRE FUNDING MEDICAL MARIJUANA BALLOT PUSH

Cops may soon have a new tool with which to nail drivers who have been toking up. An ex-Canadian Mountie reportedly has helped invent the first-ever marijuana breathalyzer.

Though the Florida Legislature passed a narrow bill permitting medical marijuana for epileptics and cancer patients, cannabis proponents aren’t satisfied. They are pushing ahead with a ballot measure for November that would broaden the medical spectrum of medical conditions that qualify patients for legal marijuana.

But opponents of the measure, also known as Amendment 2, are always quick to note that a lone millionaire is behind most of the funding for the ballot measure campaign.

Orlando trial lawyer John Morgan, a prominent Democrat, has given the Amendment 2 campaign more than $4 million to try and expand qualifying conditions to include any “conditions for which a physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient.” That means Florida’s cannabis community would start to look more like Colorado’s marijuana scene.

WASHINGTON STATE BOLSTERING CAMPAIGN AGAINST STONED DRIVING In advance of adult-use marijuana sales beginning this month in Washington, state traffic officials ramped up an anti-DUI campaign targeted at those who smoke marijuana. They want to get the word out that stoned driving will still be punished severely.

Kal Malhi, a former member of the Canadian Mounted Police, told a Vancouver TV station that he and radiologist Dr. Raj Attariwala came up with the “Cannabix Breathalyzer” because law enforcement officials don’t have any other reliable way to tell whether a driver may be stoned.

Though the patent on the device is still pending, according to some reports Malhi and Attariwala are planning on showing their new invention to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Authority.

SMARTPHONE APP ALLOWS MMJ HOME DELIVERY If you’ve ever heard that saying, “There’s an app for that,” this one takes it to a new level. If you live in Washington state, you have a medical marijuana card, and you want to get marijuana delivered to your home, there’s an app for that.

The new app, called “Canary,” is the brainchild of University of Washington students Josiah Tullis and Megh Vakhaira. It allows users to order any amount from a gram up to an ounce at a time. Users can even order snacks to go along with their cannabis.

“The uncertainties are not in the technology; the technology has already been done before. The uncertainties are in the legality on the business side,” Tullis told Time Magazine.

The pair are already interviewing drivers from Uber and Lyft as potential hires.

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission launched an ad campaign with the slogan “Drive high, get a DUI” with 30-second TV spots that feature people who are high and attempting normal tasks. The obvious implication is if you smoke a joint, you’re too stoned to get behind the wheel.

FEDS SEIZE MORE HEMP SEEDS BOUND FOR LEGAL FARM

Extra state troopers are out on the highways looking to crack down on stoned drivers. In Washington, a DUI will cost an offender at least one day in jail and up to a $5,000 fine.

Federal agents made headlines in May when they seized a shipment of hemp seeds legally bound for cultivation in Kentucky. Though those seeds were ultimately released by the Drug Enforcement

Across the Globe Administration, a similar occurrence has taken place at the Canadian border over a shipment headed for Colorado.

FDA CONSIDERS LOOSENING FEDERAL MARIJUANA RESTRICTIONS

Colorado hemp activist Tom McClain purchased 350 pounds of hemp seeds in Canada after the Colorado Legislature passed rules for hemp cultivation. But when he tried to drive back through North Dakota, his seeds were confiscated by border agents.

Marijuana could be moved from a federally classified Schedule 1 drug to a lower tier, a step toward possible decriminalization by federal regulators.

“They were just a little confused as to what to do.

According to them, I couldn’t bring them in,” McClain told The Associated Press.

A spokesman for U.S. Customs Enforcement told The AP that the seeds were being evaluated because hemp and marijuana seeds can look very similar.

The Kentucky case ended when the state Department of Agriculture sued the DEA, and it gave up the seeds.

COLORADO CANNABIS FINANCIAL CO-OPS LIKELY A WORTHLESS TOKEN GESTURE A first-of-its-kind law in Colorado to create credit co-ops for cannabis dispensaries is likely nothing more than a token gesture. It won’t do much to relieve dispensaries’ need to do most of their business with cash, according to several industry players.

The problem is the Federal Reserve System, which would have to give the thumbs up to Colorado House Bill 1398. The bill was aimed at giving dispensaries access to bank accounts and credit lines, since many banks refuse to do business with cannabis companies for fear of federal prosecution, since marijuana is still illegal under federal law.

Dispensaries are at a greater risk of being targeted by criminals, since they’re forced to deal in cash, while traditional businesses can use electronic transfers, checking accounts, and so on to protect their finances.

But the Fed hasn’t given any indication that it will sign off on the electronic transfer services necessary for HB 1398 to work, according to the Craig Daily Press. In other words, nice try, Colorado lawmakers, but no deal.

The Food and Drug Administration, at the behest of the Drug Enforcement Administration, is taking a look at whether or not to recommend the downgrade, according to an FDA spokesman at a recent congressional hearing.

Democrats spoke up in favor of legalizing medical marijuana, but old party divisions surfaced when the Republican chairwoman got upset over marijuana supporters demonizing former U.S. President Richard Nixon and his role in criminalizing marijuana.

“If Kentucky moves in that direction of medical marijuana, it would be extremely limited in who can prescribe it and who can dispense it,” the chairwoman told The Associated Press.

But the spokesman wouldn’t give many details, saying he wasn’t sure when the analysis might be finished, or if the agency may recommend that the DEA change marijuana’s classification.

ADULT-USE MARIJUANA SALES BEGIN IN FORT COLLINS Fort Collins became the latest Colorado town to start selling adult-use marijuana in mid-June, when the doors at Organic Alternatives swung open and let in dozens of waiting customers.

Though there are roughly a dozen medical marijuana dispensaries in Fort Collins, Organic Alternatives was the first to begin retail selling under a state-obtained license. There are two other adult-use stores in the region.

Another Fort Collins-area recreational marijuana merchant, Flower Power Botanicals, will likely open a few months down the road.

KENTUCKY CANNABIS ACTIVISTS HOPE TO BUILD ON HEMP MOMENTUM Republicans all over the state of Kentucky have been embracing industrial hemp as a potential cash crop for their state, and cannabis activists in the southern state are hoping to channel that enthusiasm into legalizing medical marijuana.

State legislators held their second hearing of the year in June on the topic, and will hold at least two more this summer. During the most recent hearing,

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Hot Spots

Fort Collins: Something For Everyone

by Tyler Henry

Fort Collins is one of Colorado’s finest mid-sized cities that offers more than one could ask for. It’s a beautiful city that is widely known for the bicycle friendly atmosphere, Colorado State University, and array of breweries. I spent an afternoon biking around the Old Town area of the city and learned quite a bit.

Old Town has preserved the history and culture of the city and is home to a plethora of bars, restaurants (more than 85), and shops, new and old alike. There is something for everyone around every corner. One of my favorite places I stopped at is the oldest bar in the city, The Town Pump, located on College Avenue. It could also be the smallest bar I’ve set foot in. The Town Pump is special in the fact that O’Dell Brewing Company brews a beer specifically for it called Town Pump Pale Ale. Across the street from the Town Pump is Hodi’s Half Note, one of the two main music venues in Fort Collins. The Aggie Theater is a slightly larger venue located a few blocks south of Hodi’s Half Note. Both of the venues provide genre-spanning lineups for the Northern Colorado area.

Old Town has more to offer than just music as a form of entertainment. Art installments are also a mainstay in the neighborhood. Pianos About Town is one of the art installations around Old Town. The pianos are placed around the area and painted by local artists. The idea behind them is to provide residents and tourists a visual and audio experience while walking around town.

Although it has been up and down, marijuana is creeping its way back into Fort Collins. In February 2012 the city banned the sale of marijuana. Nearly two years later, adult-use marijuana became available in Colorado. Retail marijuana has not caught on in Fort Collins as much as it has in the rest of the state, but it will only be a matter of time. Old Town is home to one dispensary, Infinite Wellness. It is still only a medical dispensary, but the selection and quality of its crop is top notch.

Old Town has a little something to offer everyone. If the opportunity arises, make a trip to Fort Collins and enjoy everything it has to offer, especially Old Town.

30 July 2014

thcmag.com 31

Cannabis Spotlight:

The Clinic on Capitol Hill

by Skyler Cannabaceae

“It’s the people that I meet.” That’s Chad Larrabee’s favorite part of his job as Store Manager for The Clinic’s Capitol Hill dispensary. “When you have those repeat people — the fact that I have people come in to get away from their life. I have people who are like, ‘Oh god, my house is so stressful, I figure I’d just come over and hang out with you for a while.’”

Larrabee spoke to THC Magazine about his four years of experience working for The Clinic. Before he took a job in the cannabis industry, Larrabee was a massage therapist, trying to incorporate massage as another healing option for the dispensary. The massage idea was tossed, but he obviously made an impression on the owners of The Clinic. They offered him a job.

“I jumped at the chance,” Larrabee says. “They moved me to a management position, I think it was about six months after I started.” He took the promotion about three-and-a-half years ago and has been with The Clinic ever since.

Asked about trends in the cannabis industry, Larrabee says that concentrates are very popular these days. The Clinic is known for some very tasty and potent budder and shatter. The price of everything goes down if you become a member.

Membership benefits Have you ever thought about signing your plants over to a dispensary? If you look at the dispensary system in Denver, most have some kind of membership program with discounts if you make them your primary caregiver.

Originally, this was important because dispensaries needed to be assigned as caregivers to patients in order to increase the number of plants they could grow.

However, since the dispensaries are not required to reduce their plant count when a patient leaves them, caregiver assignments to dispensaries are often used as loyalty membership programs.

I recently made the decision to sign up with a dispensary and sign over my plant count in June, after living in Denver for eight months and trying out over 20 different dispensaries. The benefit? In addition to lower prices, patients who sign up to a commitment of as little as a month receive a $100 store credit.

Exclusive concentrates “The Clinic has great $30 to $40 grams of their traditional extracts,” says Giddy Up, creator of the Emotek Obe-Dos extraction system and supplier of concentrates for The Clinic. Giddy Up also told THC in a phone interview about his new addition to the concentrates market: live resin.

“Your traditional extract is made from cured material, but just like if you sell your weed to a person, it has to be cured first. When you cure it, you dry it. The water-soluble terpenes that were there leave during the cure. With live resin, they extract the plant the same day as it’s cut down. That gives you a taste closer to what the plant smells like during growth, as opposed to what your sack of weed smells like after cure. The color and palatability of live resin is improved, as well as the taste. It’s truly the best extracts on the market.”

The Clinic has six locations; four in Denver and two in Lakewood. I researched the Capitol Hill store to write this article, but I have also been to the main location at 3888 E. Mexico Avenue, The Clinic Highlands, and The Clinic on Colfax as a medical patient. The Mexico Avenue dispensary is the only one that caters to the adult-use market. I’ve received consistently good service from knowledgeable people behind the counter at each location.

If you want to find out more about The Clinic, check out the company’s website at TheClinicColorado.com. With a detailed virtual strain book and a Marijuana 101 section, everyone can benefit from it.

32 July 2014

High-Level Budtenders Take Care Of Business

by DJ Reetz

budtender takes the time to get to know her customers and what their needs are as well as the products on the shelf.

Another crucial aspect of this is listening to returning customers, she says.

By taking time to listen to first-hand testimonials, a budtender can better understand what he or she is doling out, allowing for a better experience and happier customers. Good budtenders will listen to their customers and learn how best to treat others, she says, and as patients share their successes, a budtender becomes better equipped to make recommendations for others.

But for Clements, an excellent budtender is only as strong as the staff that supports her. To be truly outstanding, a budtender needs to be primed on what patients are looking for and what their history is before they even step up to the sales counter. This means quality growers producing the best product possible and a person at the front desk who is slightly more involved than just verifying ID’s.

“It doesn’t start with the budtender,” says Clements. “We’re kind of the end point.”

For Nichole West, the importance of caring in a budtender is matched by the importance of product knowledge and an awareness of the law. As an instructor of Clover Leaf University’s Budtender Certification program, she says an excellent budtender should have knowledge that goes beyond the simple indica versus sativa recommendations. Certain things can be taught, she says, but a good budtender should be primed out of the gate on the basics.

Budtenders need to know what effects will be achieved through different methods of ingestion, and understand the practical aspects of compliance. This includes health and safety regulations for the storage of edibles (perishables refrigerated to 41 degrees Fahrenheit or less) and proper bud handling technique (never touch the product with bare hands). Violations of these basic health practices can not only indicate a poor budtender, but can lead to serious health concerns for consumers. Equally important is making patients aware of the recommended 10mg dosage for edibles, says West.

“A lot of people are trying it for the first time, you just want to be aware of that,” she says. Someone new to marijuana walking out of the shop with an idea of dosage based on a veteran user’s tolerance can be courting disaster. So if you’re new to edibles, stick to the 10mg mark. Take it from West.

“The state recommends 10 milligrams, there’s no gray area there,” she says.

Both ladies agree that knowing the product on the shelves inside and out is crucial, but that an understanding of the individual patient is just as important.

This can be the distinction between a good budtender and an excellent one, and can be an extremely difficult task given the diverse nature of marijuana purchasers.

Buying legal marijuana can be equally exciting and daunting. Walking into a dispensary to be faced with a counter full of high-quality bud can be overwhelming, if in the best possible way. To help guide you through the process, most businesses employ skilled marijuana technicians known throughout the industry as budtenders.

But how can you tell if your budtenders really know their stuff? THC reached out to a couple of experts in the field for their takes on what exactly makes a great budtender.

“Number one, you have to remember that you are a caregiver,” says Sarah Clements of Karmaceuticals in Denver. “My job is to take care of [patients].”

Last year, Clements took home the award for Best Budtender at the Cannabis Business Awards, an honor that might be due to her emphasis on a more compassionate approach to budtending than some. For Clements, a good

A good budtender is more than a sales person. So watch out if the person behind the counter seems to be stubbornly pushing you toward a certain product. This might be a sign that the dispensary is trying to clear inventory rather than accommodate customer needs, warns West.

Identifying a quality budtender can be tricky. Sometimes a pretty face and a friendly attitude can mask an underlying ignorance of the product being sold and a sales-first mentality.

Being informed before you step foot into a dispensary is probably the best way to guard against being taken advantage of. Knowing what types of strains you like, what kind of cannabinoid content you’re looking for, and knowing your own tolerance can go a long way. Picking up THC Magazine is a good place to start, says West.

“The only way to really know if you have a good budtender on your hands is to have a little bit of knowledge yourself,” she says.

thcmag.com 33

Gone With The Wind?

Congress Fails To Pass Tax Credits Extension

by Skyler Cannabaceae

Wind power advocates were down but not defeated when the Expiring Provisions, Improvements, Reform and Efficiency (EXPIRE) Act suffered a setback in the U.S. Senate earlier this year. A vote for consideration of the bill fell seven votes short of the necessary 60 to end debate and force action.

“This bipartisan idea - born on the plains and thriving across the country - is too important to fall victim to partisan games and procedural gambits. I will keep fighting to ensure our wind energy manufacturers and the middle-class families they support have the certainty they need to thrive,” Mark Udall, the senior U.S. Senator for Colorado said in a statement.

Udall is a strong supporter of wind energy in Colorado. He made 27 floor speeches in 2012 in support of the tax credits and helped to extend them until the end of 2013. He extolled the benefits of the bill, especially the Production Tax Credit the industry holds dear.

“The Production Tax Credit for wind energy is a smart investment in our economy that strengthens our energy security, supports a strong Colorado industry and creates good-paying manufacturing jobs,” he said.

The bill would have renewed the wind Production Tax Credit (PTC) and the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), both of which are tax relief measures to help fund wind power and research. The tax credits received strong support from both of Colorado’s senators.

Senator Mike Bennett lamented the defeat in a statement: “This is yet another example of Washington not doing the work that Coloradans and the American people expect us to do. This tax extenders bill was approved by the Senate Finance Committee with strong bipartisan support. Coloradans and the American people deserve better.”

The PTC lets taxpayers claim a tax credit equivalent to 2.3 cents per kilowatt

34 July 2014

hour produced for a 10-year period, while the ITC offers the option of taking a 30-percent investment tax credit instead. Under the terms of the EXPIRE Act, the credits would have been extended through the end of 2015. As it stands now, the credits are in limbo; still being considered, but officially expired and only able to be used for tax years before 2014.

Bennett pointed out that the tax credits are a great benefit to the Colorado renewable energy industry and that there were economic repercussions when they previously expired that hurt the growth of the wind power industry. He quoted statistics showing that as many as 37,000 people will lose their jobs nationally if the credit permanently expires, including 5,000 employed in this state. Colorado is number six in the nation for percentage of power produced by wind.

Both senators issued statements encouraging their colleagues to support the measure two days before the vote. The bill needed 60 votes to continue in the Senate, but only received 53, with 40 votes against, mostly along party lines.

Only one Republican, Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois, voted with Democrats in favor of an up-or-down vote.

Bennett worked with Udall and used his seat on the Senate Finance Committee to include the wind PTC extension that would keep it in place until 2016.

Bennett said that the jobs created by the credit gave a boost to the state’s economy “and a two-year extension will provide much-needed certainty to this growing industry.”

The tax-extenders bill contained over 50 tax provisions that expired at the end of 2013, including deductions or credits for increasing research expenditures, charitable contributions of food, and investment in empowerment zones. The author of the originally bipartisan bill, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), is reportedly working on changes so that he can bring it up again with more support.

Tax Credits

by Rick Macey

Federal tax credits for wind power businesses are important for creating jobs and securing investment. What is less well known is that they provide incentives for industry standards.

According to Jeff Hebert, owner of Colorado’s Wind Orchard Energy, without those credits, wind power’s growth as a viable green technology will be curtailed.

“Big energy companies are trying to dry up these credits so they can keep their foothold on fossil fuels,” Hebert said while working his booth at the National Cannabis Industry Association’s summit in Denver. “It’s certainly going to slow down the pace if those incentives are not there.”

Before there were tax credits, companies which manufactured and marketed wind turbines could make unsubstantiated or exaggerated claims about how much electricity they would produce.

Hebert said the tax credits changed that. They forced companies to get their wind turbines certified so their customers would qualify for those tax breaks, giving a boost to the American Wind Energy Association and its standards.

Wind Orchard Energy specializes in small wind turbine systems. Hebert described a vision of a small town powered by 10 of them - “community wind.”

He cited recent advances in design, materials, and control systems. “Finally technology has come to the small wind industry,” he said.

And with that green tech comes the opportunity for people to free themselves - at least partially - from the fossil-fuel power grid at very compelling price points.

Hebert said one home with two small turbines would generate enough electricity to pay for the investment within two years. Each year afterward would be like getting free green energy and possibly payments for selling the excess electricity to the local utility company.

That is certainly one reason for the push back from big energy corporations, whose lobbyists are notorious for influencing public policy. “They want to keep us on a meter,” Hebert said.

Without tax credits, investment in this green technology would likely shrink, and unscrupulous turbine manufacturers “would bring out the junk again,” he said.

The moral of this story is the power of green - as in money for campaign contributions - can undermine green power.

thcmag.com 35

Science Fiction or Future Fact?

Solar Roadways May Do More Than Shed Light On Traffic Solutions

by Erin Hiatt

Artist Sam Cornett’s graphic rendition of what solar roadways in Sandpoint, Idaho would look like

The Indiegogo.com headline is definitely an attention grabber: “Solar panels that you can drive, park, and walk on. They melt snow and ... cut greenhouse gases by 75 percent!”

That’s the lead-in for the “Solar Roadways” campaign, and it sounds like it’s straight out of science-fiction fantasy. But it is, by far, the largest grossing campaign in Indiegogo’s history, closing at $2.2 million, more than 220 percent of the company’s $1 million goal. With more than 48,000 donors from all 50 states and around the world, the idea is clearly one that has mass appeal.

The Indiegogo campaign page (indiegogo.com/projects/ solar-roadways) says that “Solar Roadways is a modular paving system of solar panels that can be installed on roads, parking lots, driveways, sidewalks, etc., literally any surface under the sun. They pay for themselves primarily through the generation of electricity, which can power homes and business connected via driveways and parking lots. A nationwide system could produce more clean renewable energy than a country uses as a whole.”

Scott and Julie Brusaw, based in Sandpoint, Idaho, are the co-inventors and co-founders of Solar Roadways, and their relationship goes back to early childhood when Julie’s mom babysat the young Scott.

“The solar panels can withstand 250,000 pounds of weight, which is four times the legal weight of a semi-trailer truck and have traction to stop a vehicle moving up to 80 miles per hour,” Scott says. “They won’t break or crack if something crashes on them.

The base layers are made of 10-percent recycled glass.”

Scott is an electrical engineer who has always had “electric roads” on the brain. He even has a childhood drawing depicting his vision of a solar roadway. Julie took a different path, studying psychology, and her voice has been very inspiring to Scott, who says that Julie is the one “thinking outside the box. She’ll be sitting in a meeting with all these engineers and she’ll say ‘What about this?’ and we all think, ‘Huh, that’s a great idea.’”

But it was former Vice-President Al Gore’s movie “An Inconvenient Truth” that really set Scott thinking. Julie had always been environmentally conscious but

36 July 2014

it was after seeing that documentary that Scott became more than another guy who recycles his aluminum cans. He was a true believer in green technology, a convert who wanted to create some meaningful change.

Scott started tinkering with his initial prototypes and a lot of people took notice, including policy makers within the federal government. Avid fans of the Brusaws, who have a knack for snappy YouTube videos, include George Takei, aka Sulu, of the original Star Trek series fame.

The federal government reacted first. In 2009, Solar Roadways received a $100,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the Department of Transportation, then in 2011 another SBIR grant of $750,000, to develop and build a solar parking lot.

Earlier this year, a fan made a video called “Solar Freaking Roadways” and posted it to YouTube. To say it went viral is an understatement. It’s had around 17 million views and counting. Then George Takei chimed in.

Takei has honed a very popular online presence since moving on from his Hollywood days, collecting over 1.2 million Twitter and 7 million-plus Facebook followers.

Takei caught wind of the “Solar Freaking Roadway” video and composed the tweet heard ‘round the world: “I like the sound of that. Worth a look. Dare to dream, I say.”

Literally overnight the Brusaw’s met their $1 million goal on Indiegogo. Scott, an admitted Star Trek fan, was thrilled with Takei’s attention, laughing, “How can you be an electrical engineer and not be a Star Trek fan?”

The prototype of a solar roadway that Scott is working on is made up of three layers: The first is the road surface layer. It is an incredibly strong, bulletproof-type

Scott and Julie Brusaw holding up the prototype glass for solar roadways

glass. It provides traction yet is still translucent enough to pass sunlight to the solar cells underneath. There are also LED lights and a heating element to melt snow. This layer must be weatherproof to protect the electronics. It is also responsible for redirecting sunlight to hit the solar panels at appropriate angles.

The second is the electronics layer. This houses a microprocessor board for sensing loads on the surface and controlling the heating element. It also controls communications, lighting, etc. The plan is to have a communications device every 12 feet, so it can be “intelligent” and change the LED pattern to relay messages to drivers.

The third is the base plate layer, and this distributes the collected solar power as well as data signals to all the homes and businesses connected to the roadway.

“The solar panels can withstand 250,000 pounds of weight, which is four times the legal weight of a semi-trailer truck and have traction to stop a vehicle moving up to 80 miles per hour,” Scott says. “They won’t break or crack if something crashes on them. The base layers are made of 10-percent recycled glass.”

Scott was also tasked with coming up with a solution for polluted stormwater.

Stormwater is an abnormal amount of surface water due to a heavy rain or melting snow. With that drainage comes pesticides and herbicides that we use on our lawns, antifreeze and oil from our driveways, and other toxic substances.

This now polluted water goes through our drainage systems and into waterways.

Scott is working on a section in the cable corridors for storing, treating, and moving stormwater.

Prototype for a parking lot

whopping $60 trillion.

Brusaw shrugs off these criticisms. He says that displaced workers wouldn’t need advanced degrees to work the electronics, and that workers will be trained to learn the solar roadway system. He says the high cost is an apples-to-oranges comparison scenario. After all, there are no plans to just start tearing up roads around the nation and laying down solar panels.

“We are going to start here in Sandpoint with parking lots, walkways, etc. Then we’ll move onto bigger things, rest areas for example. We won’t go to high traffic roadways until it is absolutely perfect,” he says.

The Brusaws were recently made honorary “Makers” by President Obama for the first-ever White House Maker’s Faire, a presidential forum where tech enthusiasts gather to share ideas. Bill Nye the Science Guy posed for a picture with Scott and Julie. The only thing that might have made that cooler was if Neil DeGrasse Tyson had been in the picture.

Or maybe George Takei for the photobomb. www.solarroadways.com

Traffic safety is another part of the concept. Scott explains that “the panels can also detect weight. It doesn’t know what it is, if it’s a person or an animal or a tree branch, but if 200 pounds, for example, steps on a panel then it can send a warning a quarter mile ahead to slow down or be cautious, and that is done within the microprocessor.”

The LED lights in the second layer are the most sensitive, traffic-changing, and to some detractors, most worrisome part of the panels. Scott cited the city of Los Angeles because of its traffic problems, especially during work-time commutes.

“When you have eight lanes of traffic and the four lanes that go away from the city are practically empty and the lanes coming in are completely full, you could change that with the LEDs so in the morning you have six lanes coming into the city and two going out, then vice versa in the afternoon, and that can be done remotely.”

The remote aspect to the LEDs has some people worried. They predict hacking and worst-case scenarios of madness and mayhem should anyone be able to change the lane patterns on dangerous whims.

There are also more general concerns of road workers losing their jobs, light pollution, noise, and the guesstimated astronomical cost, with some critics saying construction of solar roadways throughout the country could cost a

Yes, you can drive on it!

thcmag.com 37

38 July 2014

Cannabis and Guns What Cannabis Consumers Need To Know

by DJ Reetz

Coloradans love guns. It’s a fact of western life, part of a culture that was founded on gun violence. We love guns so much we recall state legislators over their support for things as simple as expanding background checks to include private purchases, or the admittedly less common-sense restrictions on magazine size.

We love guns so much that county sheriffs will sue the state government to protect the rights of their citizenry to be armed with combat-ready weapons.

But we also love marijuana, and pretty overwhelmingly so it would appear.

It seems odd to reflect upon, but there is significant ideological overlap between marijuana enthusiasts and gun enthusiasts. Both groups seem to show a determination for self-reliance rather than depending on systems already in place. Both groups share a libertarian mindset and would rather be left alone so long as they are not harming the world around them. Both groups often see the federal government as the opposition, and both groups find Colorado to be an excellent place to live. Maybe there is something more than simply ideological overlap.

“I firmly believe that it is a conflict of regulation,” says Brian Vicente of the Vicente Sederberg law firm in Denver. According to state law, it is a criminal offense to disclose the members of the state’s medical marijuana registry. This means anyone who tries to expose your devious criminal behavior is in fact themselves a criminal.

But do the feds really not have access to this tool in their hard fight against violent criminals? “I’m not aware of us having access to that database of information,” says the ATF’s Graden. Looks like the disclosure is yours to make.

“There’s no way for them to really check if you’re a marijuana user,” says Vicente. The only way for the people running the check to know about your marijuana usage is if you do something like use your red card as a form of identification. Or if you smoke up with your gun dealer, but then he’s probably got some things to worry about himself.

If you’ve ever tried to purchase a firearm, you’ve most likely come across form 4473, the default list of questions from the ATF to establish your legal right to own a gun. One of the questions you will find on this form: “Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?”

Marijuana users here in Colorado can feel a certain satisfaction when they truthfully state that, “No, I am not an unlawful user of marijuana.”

Unfortunately that smart-ass (though undeniably correct) response may not be what the feds consider a proper answer.

However, the feds do seem to take exception to the presence of guns should they be involved in the drug trade. This means if for some reason the feds are in your house on an issue related to marijuana, the presence of a gun could add five to 10 years to your sentence. It’s what they call a “sentence enhancer.”

“You’re looking at a significant amount of time in prison if you’re found to have a large amount of marijuana and a gun,” Vicente confirms.

But as for personal use, the feds mostly have better things to do. “That’s probably not going to be a priority for the federal government,” says Vicente.

“The form they fill out is a federal form,” says ATF spokesperson Tim Graden. “Therefore they would have to answer it based on federal law.”

This means that by checking the “no” box like the smug, forward-thinking person you are, you could be violating federal law by lying.

This is a stance made clear in 2011 when the ATF released an open letter to all federally authorized firearm dealers stating that they are not allowed to sell guns to people who they know, or reasonably suspect, of having their medical marijuana card in states where medical cannabis is legal. However, truthfully stating that you are illegally using legal cannabis means you don’t run the risk of violating federal law, but it also means you don’t get your sweet-ass murder machine.

When you complete form 4473, your information is sent to a federal database where your answers regarding your status as a felon or spouse beater are verified. It is at this step that someone registered with the state’s medical marijuana program might be fearful of landing in federal prison. But fear not, because the feds aren’t allowed to access that database.

he says.

However, Graden doesn’t quite seem willing to let the reins slip on this one. “We take all crime seriously,” he says. But the ATF doesn’t seem to be too concerned when the only crime is one so minor. “ATF investigations are focused on impact on violent crimes,”

Once again, this seems like an issue that will cause lawful marijuana users to find themselves in the gray areas of the law, but that’s certainly nothing we aren’t already used to. It certainly seems like an issue that many gun-rights groups won’t take part in. The NRA spokespeople didn’t respond to requests for comments for this article, maybe because they’re more concerned with making sure guns are still available after children are murdered en masse than with protecting the Second Amendment rights of lawful citizens.

Then again, maybe things are changing. An ATF representative actually talking with a cannabis magazine? Now that may show some progress.

thcmag.com 39

Secrets To Share Inside the Minds of Top Hash Makers

by Skyler Cannabaceae

July is a special month for hash enthusiasts (7/10, anyone?) and this article will give readers a look at some well-known hash makers. Questions include how they first got into making hash, what makes their hash special, and tips for new and aspiring hash makers as interest spreads across the country.

AJ Hashman is the owner and operator of At Home Baked, LLC, and Stixx, both of which use hash for edibles. Nikka T is the owner of Essential Extracts, a Colorado concentrate company. Giddy Up is a long-time hash maker who most recently won the 2014 Cannabis Cup for his 303 Live Resin extraction.

The Hemp Connoisseur spoke with the three men in separate phone interviews, asking them the same questions. Here is what they had to say.

The Hemp Connoisseur: What was it that first drew you to making hash?

Giddy Up: About 2002 - I have some buddies on the Internet, on a website grow forum, and there was a guy named Chief Smoking Bud and he had formed the K.I.C.C., which was the Keep It Concentrated Crew. It was the first time I had ever seen amber glass hash and there was about four of them across the country who started making hash as per how Chief Smoking Bud had showed us, which was open blasting.

NT: We really concentrate on solventless products. From our solventless hash to our solventless wax and now we’re even making solventless [hash] capsules, solventless edibles and things of that nature as well along with other ancillary products. The main reason for me is that it’s my passion. It’s what I believe in, personally. I personally am not into smoking BHO or other solvent-based extractions. It’s really what I prefer. It’s become a passion and our whole goal is to create that safer alternative on a patient’s shelf or even on the [adult-use] shelf.

AJ: I make all water-based hash. The reason for that is that it is the cleanest way to extract hash and, obviously, the safest way to consume hash and we found that we can get some of the highest concentrations of THC without adding any chemicals or solvents to the mix.

THC: With so many people making hash these days, what makes your product stand out?

GU: What sets me apart is probably because I use the Emotek Obe Dos extractor.

That in itself helps us to produce some of the cleanest quality product that comes out of any other extraction unit around. It’s the one I invented. I’m pretty much the first person to ever take a closed-loop system and make it an active system as opposed to a passive system.

Nikka T: I grew up in Northern California. Cannabis and hash was extremely present in my upbringing. To be honest, I grew up with the subpar standard bubble hash that everyone was used to up in NoCal. It’s kinda more of that black, gooey hash we grew up with. [I] kept thinking to myself that there must be something better. I was making BHO for a little bit there, then I realized that there is something better. We started controlling variables more. We started working in a controlled environment, like a lab setting in Colorado, and started creating a product that was made similarly to bubble hash. We were able to make a product that looked like the BHO, but not using any chemical solvents.

NT: In comparing it to BHO, it really is about the variables that you control and Essential Extracts is extremely OCD about controlling these variables. They can make sure that every single time you process and every time you put a product on a shelf, it’s the highest quality that it could possibly be. I think where we differentiate ourselves from a lot of other companies is we’ll dry [cannabis] for two-and-a-half weeks if it needs two-and-a-half weeks. We want to make sure it’s 100 percent ready when we put it on the shelf. We want to make sure that it’s shelf-stable. I’ve seen a lot of hash that looked amazing when it first hit the shelf and a week later, it looks horrible. Our products are very shelf-stable.

AJ Hashman: The science behind it. The fact that you could isolate the actual gland itself and utilizing that as medicine while getting rid of the plant matter which is just, kind of, the carrier to make the THC.

AJ: Experience. You know, we’ve made well over 4,000 batches of hash in the last 10-plus years and every batch you make, you learn something. That’s a lot of lessons learned and a lot of experience under our belt, and that’s why our hash is made the way it is, done the way it is, and comes out the way it is.

THC: How did you learn to make hash?

GU: How I learned to make hash was, like most everybody else who learns how to make it these days; the Internet.

AJ: I learned from a bunch of different sources, but mostly from some of the best hash makers in the world from my experience when I was younger.

NT: Originally, I kind of just taught myself. I had watched people up in NoCal, family farms up in Humboldt and Mendicino. Eventually I got my first set of bags from Pollinator in Amsterdam and when I first got my first set of bag, Mila Jansen (Pollinator’s owner and hash legend) gave me tips and pointers and things like that when I ordered from her and I really started producing in NoCal. Mila is the one who taught me the oral traditions in Amsterdam that we’ve kind of taken to Colorado and even honed in further, because we have the ability here in Colorado to utilize variables by having lab settings, which is something that we haven’t seen anywhere across the world.

THC: What type of hash do you make and why?

GU: I make butane hash and the reason I make butane hash is because I have the ability to do it safely and it gives the highest yields per extraction. It gives the best quality product that comes out.

40 July 2014

THC: Are there any recent trends in the industry that you are noticing?

GU: There are definitely - aside from concentrates, itself. The vaporizer pen trend is emerging, the e-nail trend, you know, the fact that a lot of these glass blowers are making rigs specifically for concentrates now has really re-energized the glass market.

NT: There’s lots of trends. People are going away from BHO, going away from butane extracts and starting to create solventless. I mean, this week alone, we sold over 25 sets of Essential Extracts bags. People are moving toward this industry and the industry is just going more and more toward the solventless.

AJ: We’re seeing a little bit of a revival for water hash, to tell you the truth, especially on the recreational side. We get a lot of recreational shops that want us to make their hash for them because people realize that butane is butane and solvents are solvents. People don’t necessarily want to put that in their body.

They want old-school hash. The hash they grew up with, not necessarily dabs because water hash can last a lot longer. It’s a lot less harsh when done correctly and overall is just better for your body. You know, it doesn’t give you the kind of issues that you’re dealing with [in] BHO and you can hold in your hits, which you’re not supposed to do with BHO either. Realistically, people want knowledge. People want experienced people like me to explain what they know

about the cannabis plant and about what we deal with on a daily basis. That’s exciting and interesting to me because, you know, on the medical side that was always there and now on the recreational side we have a chance to show that to the world.

THC: With medical cannabis spreading to more states all the time, do you have any tips for new or aspiring legal hash makers?

GU: I do: Do not open blast. If you want to start making hash, save up your money, find a closed-loop system that works for you, but don’t risk your safety, your skin or where you live for hash. It’s not worth it.

NT: The higher quality trim, the better. The best quality starting materials. I would even recommend using fresh frozen so that you’re able to extract the trichome heads that much more cleanly. We also suggest keeping your temperatures very low from your water and ice mixture that is actually extracting it, your drying environment, all those temperatures need to be controlled along with the humidity. Those are some of the things we really stress.

AJ: Be safe. Observe everything that you do. Document everything you do so that you can learn from it in the future and see the difference from one batch to the next. Practice, practice, practice.

There’s an old saying that professionals make it look easy. THC thanks all three of these leading hash makers for sharing their secrets, and we encourage readers to try their products and judge for yourselves.

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42 July 2014

More Marijuana Travel, Companies Popping Up To Serve Tourists

by R. Scott Rappold

Tourism has long been one of Colorado’s top industries. Few places on the planet can rival our state’s mountain splendor, powder skiing, thrilling whitewater rafting and endless hiking opportunities.

And these days, where is there a rival to our legal marijuana?

Since Jan. 1, the day Colorado became host to the first legal sales of adult-use marijuana in modern U.S. history, enthusiasts from across the nation have been flocking here to vacation and to get in on the fun. A growing number of cannabisfocused travel agencies have formed to cater to these marijuana tourists.

attracted to tour companies for more than the convenience of transportation.

They benefit from local knowledge about everything cannabis, and enjoy the camaraderie with like-minded tourists, many of whom are baffled by the experience of legal marijuana and the rules of consumption.

Indeed, for the tourist without a friend’s house to visit, the tour vehicles and party buses are among the few places they can legally toke up. Hotel guests are in a quandary because clean-air laws prohibit smoking in their rooms, yet smoking marijuana in public is illegal.

Walker has arrangements with a couple of hotels, which he declined to name, Marijuana tours range from quick jaunts to the mountains to activities around wherein tour guests get a vaporizer on loan to use in their rooms and a smoking Denver to all-inclusive, multi-day luxury junkets. Tour guides tent on the premises. provide transportation to help people get acquainted with cannabis culture here, find the best strains and stores for their Other marijuana tourism promoters are working to find other “The reason tastes, and perhaps most importantly, to help ensure cannabis ways to solve the consumption issue. On the recently launched you’d want to users who come here on vacation don’t leave on probation. website travelthc.com, property owners can list their homes as a cannabis-friendly vacation rental and visitors can arrange have a tour guide “The reason you’d want to have a tour guide is you don’t want to accommodations, from luxurious houses to spare bedrooms. is you don’t want worry about getting pulled over. You don’t want to worry about having five-billionths of a gram of cannabinoids in your system,” From the Travel THC website: “So, you’re coming to Colorado to worry about said Peter Johnson, founder of Colorado Green Tours, referring because we legalized recreational marijuana? Awesome – we want getting pulled to the controversial DUI limit for marijuana in the bloodstream. to meet people like you. Come stop by a local dispensary, pick out a great strand, and enjoy it … where? Back in your hotel room? over. You don’t “You don’t want to worry about looking at your GPS, trying to Nope – that’s illegal. On the street? Nope – cops won’t hesitate to find the right exit, trying to find the best locations, the best deals,” write that $150 ticket. In a restaurant or coffee shop? Think again.” want to worry he said. “All those things are taken care of for our guests.” about having The first people to arrange a visit with Travel THC arrived in May; Exactly how many people are coming to Colorado specifically two New Zealand honeymooners who spent half their trip in five-billionths for marijuana is difficult to quantify. Colorado ski resorts Denver and half in a mountain cottage. of a gram of experienced their best season ever in 2013-14, but how much of that was driven by marijuana versus ample snowfall?

You don’t have to be on a noisy party bus to take a cannabis tour. cannabinoids in Johnson, with Colorado Green Tours, offers trips around Denver your system.”

Denver International Airport set a record high for April passenger or to the mountains for as few as one person. He also does a lot of traffic this year, but how much did the Cannabis Cup and 4/20 business guiding potential investors in the marijuana industry and celebrations play into that? introducing them to key players.

Still, the sheer number of marijuana tourism companies popping up – more than a dozen as of this writing – speaks to their popularity. “It’s been an awesome year so far,” said J.J. Walker, founder of My 420 Tours in Denver.

The Cannabis Sampler tour is Walker’s most popular. For $1,450, excluding air fare, visitors get transportation to and from the airport, three nights in a “420-friendly” downtown Denver hotel and three days of workshops, cooking classes and tours of dispensaries and grow houses. While tour guides aren’t allowed to sell marijuana, they take visitors to the stores that do.

Walker said the average marijuana tourist is over the age of 40. They are are

The jury is still out on how much cannabis tourism will impact overall visitation and boosted revenue to Colorado. As Johnson pointed out, “A lot of people are coming here to check out the legal cannabis scene, but Colorado is a gorgeous place to check out anyway and cannabis makes Colorado that much better.”

And he doesn’t believe marijuana tourism is introducing new people to a plant that remains illegal in 48 other states, except for approved medicinal purposes in nearly half of them.

“People who are traveling to Colorado to use cannabis are aficionados,” Johnson said. “They’re connoisseurs like us.”

thcmag.com 43

44 July 2014

A Closer Look At Canada’s New MMJ Regulatory System

by DJ Reetz

A new medical marijuana system took hold in Canada earlier this year. It is designed to increase access among patients and curtail some aspects of the old system that were seen as unsavory by regulators.

The new system known as the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations officially replaced the previous system known as the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations on March 31st. The transition has raised some concerns among patients and activists in the Great White North.

Currently, there are close to 40,000 registered medical marijuana users in the Canadian system, according to Health Canada. Most of those are carryovers from the older MMAR, but the goal of the new system is to streamline the application process. Under the old system, patients needed approval from the Canadian government in order to register – a process that included a 33-page application – but under the new rules a doctor or nurse practitioner can write a recommendation allowing a patient to register with a licensed producer. In at least this regard, the new system seems to be doing what was promised, expanding access by easing the process of application.

operated in a quasi-legal limbo not too dissimilar from some parts of the United States. Licensed producers are now required to deliver their product via a mailing system. Canadian patients can’t peruse a variety of strains in person before making a decision, the joys of which we are all too comfortable with here in Colorado.

Licensed producers are now required to deliver their product via a mailing system.

Canadian patients can’t peruse a variety of strains in person before making a decision, the joys of which we are all too comfortable with here in Colorado.

While the system was touted as a step toward greater access, many of the MMPR’s detractors see it as a move – at least partially – in the wrong direction. Under Canada’s new rules, only a handful of licensed producers are legally allowed to produce marijuana. As of right now the number of LPs actually providing marijuana to customers is 13 for all of Canada. This small number of producers must operate gigantic warehouses to meet demand. And the reform all but eliminates smaller, momand-pop operations.

Much of the media’s coverage of these developments now centers on these 13 enormous ventures, and the business people with the capital to invest in something so massive. One LP, Tilray, has so far invested $22 million into its operation and plans to secure $50 million to $75 million more through private investors.

Additionally, the MMPR calls for an end to the dispensary model, which

Most notably, the system outlawed home grows. This is an attempt to either promote public safety by forcing all production into a few highly regulated grows, or to tamp out the gray market of licensed growers selling to unlicensed customers. Or perhaps both.

A Canadian federal court ruled in March that grows already licensed under the old MMAR could remain in operation. This decision is currently being appealed

by Canadian government officials. Whether or not this decision stands, any new patients seeking to gain access to medical marijuana in Canada will not have the option of growing their own.

Another point of contention among patients is the marked absence of extracts and edibles, although this is a problem that predates the creation of the MMPR. Only flowers are allowed in accordance with Canadian law (a problem the MMPR did nothing to address), burdening those who wish to consume in a manner other than smoking with the task of creating their own infusions and extracts.

Other allegations have surfaced as well, including a lack of access by some patients, and a limited number of strains. Without a clearly defined method for importation of new genetics, opportunities to develop and implement strains that are found to be helpful by patients in other countries could be in jeopardy.

The Canadian system is flawed, but the competing intentions behind it will no doubt be reconciled in the near future. Here in Colorado we often think of ourselves as pioneers of the legal marijuana market, but it is important to understand that our policy makers are often just as clueless as those in other parts of the world. Legislators often look for other examples of how best to implement policy, and the Canadian model could serve this purpose.

thcmag.com 45

Text “THC” to 67076 /THCMagazine 46 July 2014

@HempConnoisseur

@thehempconnoisseur thcmag.com 57

Colorado Festival Celebrates Hemp History Week

by Skyler Cannabaceae

Regardless of the threat of stormy weather, the Hemp Seed Revival Festival celebrated the close of Hemp History Week on June 7. The event was held at Avogadro’s Number, a bar and restaurant venue in Fort Collins.

Hemp Seed Revival co-founders John Patterson and Josh Rabe, along with Rabe’s wife, Melissa, put the event together. It was a gathering for the whole family as children played in the outside venue area. Green and white banners overhead mostly blocked out the gray sky in place of a tree canopy.

“Over 200 people attended, getting informed by industry professionals and leaders, picking up free samples, making new and lifelong Hempster connections, eating fresh made hemp foods from Avogadro’s and drinking fresh brewed hemp beer from High Hops Brewing Co.” Melissa Rabe told THC in an email.

A man with starkly black-framed glasses played simple tunes on his guitar as people came in, visited different booths with different vendors, and got comfortable with one another.

Guests ate lunch at tables while listening to guitarist Dave Hill. The air was crisp and damp, but spirits were high. Smiles and laughter among the revelers were plentiful.

“The solid momentum of curious questions about the practical applications of industrial hemp has shown me that we are not only headed in the right direction, but at light speed,” said Jason Lauve. “I feel like I am holding on to a hemp rope tied to a rocket ship as it leaves the ground ...”

A passionate industrial hemp advocate, Lauve is the owner of Hemp Cleans, a non-profit organization helping with implementation and regulation of the industry. He was there to talk about the myriad applications of hemp, and was

surrounded by curious people most of the time.

After lunch, different speakers enlightened and educated the crowd. Among them were hemp professionals of many different stripes. In addition to Lauve, the lineup included Agua Das of Hemp iScream, Dr. Erik Hunter (Director of Research at the Rocky Mountain Hemp Association), and Mara Brosey from the office of Congressman Jared Polis, an important hemp ally in Washington.

Rounding out the roster were David Piller of Vote Hemp, Mark Benjamin (President of Crown Jade Engineering), and Zev Paiss of the Rocky Mountain Hemp Association. Vote Hemp is a hemp advocacy group with a strong political presence, and Crown Jade Engineering is committed to building green solutions.

Among the exhibitors at the event were the Colorado Hemp Company, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, Hemp Alchemy, and the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. Enviro Textiles had a hemp history museum set up in the gazebo which was reminiscent of the simple hemp museum that hemp author Jack Herer had in Washington, D.C. Summer Star of Enviro Textiles also spoke at the event.

The Hemp Seed Revival is a festival, but the group keeps the message up all year on its website and with other events. Touting the tagline “Hemp Seed Revival for Our Survival,” the group celebrates and promotes the use of industrial hemp for many purposes. Some uses include as building material, such as hemp fiber board and hemp concrete, as a healthier nutritional option in recipes, and to make clothing.

Numerous states have passed laws or are in the legislative process to allow for research, cultivation, and application of industrial hemp. After several decades of hemp prohibition, Colorado and Kentucky will harvest hemp in the fall.

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NCIA’s Cannabis Business Summit A Look At Competition Among Companies

by Rick Macey

This is part one of a two-part series. Next month THC will feature NCIA’s discussion of PostProhibition America.

Fascinating.

Compelling.

Intriguing.

Those are three words that convey the National Cannabis Industry Association’s “Cannabis Business Summit.”

Aaron Smith

➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢

For two days in late June, the Colorado Convention Center was ground zero for the explosive cannabis scene.

The NCIA promised to cover a lot of territory, including:

Experts to discuss dispensary management strategies.

New trends in cultivation.

New rules and opportunities in banking.

Innovations in cannabis business technology.

Responsible business practices and community engagement.

Add to that list the opportunity to develop relationships with the industry’s top movers and shakers. The NCIA delivered on those assurances as each of those bullet points were covered by seminars, workshops, exhibits, and roundtable discussions.

The first day’s keynote session was supposed to feature California’s Steve DeAngelo of Harborside Health Center. DeAngelo was sick with the flu, and Troy Dayton, co-founder of The Arcview Group, did a fine job standing in for him.

PharmPods pitches its two-week setup time as a big advantage over more traditional build-outs, which require more than six months, it says. That’s a bit of an exaggeration, considering an empty warehouse space outfitted with Argus Controls could be ready in a couple of months, but it’d be more apples-to-apples if PharmPods added its delivery time of four weeks - which it doesn’t guarantee - to the comparison.

Nonetheless, the ready-to-grow solution is a great concept, and PharmPods seems prepared to cash in. It may face stiff competition from American Cannabis Company and several others.

But it was not the designs, the bells and whistles, nor the obvious early stages of these companies that made this sector of the market particularly interesting. It was the presence of Conviron, literally the elephant in the room.

Conviron is short for Controlled Environments Limited, a company headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada with satellite offices in North Dakota, the United Kingdom, Germany, China, and Australia.

The company has more than 200 employees. In the past few years, it has transitioned from a primary supplier of plant growth chambers to university researchers - a worldwide niche it occupied for five decades - to a company working with large agricultural corporations, including Monsanto.

Did someone mention genetically modified crops?

The company’s booth was not among the popular ones at the convention center.

It projected a button-down corporate image that was short on hype and long on experience.

Bill Mukanik, vice president for client services, said Conviron recently signed up its first medicinal marijuana customer in Canada, where small grow operations are being replaced by a limited number of very large indoor grows. (See the article on Canada’s new regulatory system in this issue of THC.) This may be the first significant foray into the cannabis industry by an established mainstream corporate player familiar with the demands of agribusiness. Can a tobacco brand like American Spirit be far behind?

Dayton’s remarks touched on public policy (“When no adult is ever again punished for the plant …”) and the ongoing maturation of the industry. He predicted “real” acquisitions of cannabis companies to begin in two years, since most businesses are still startups or in early stage growth.

As Conviron re-positions itself as a provider of large-scale indoor cannabis grow systems, recent acquisitions suggest it’s playing hardball. It bought Argus (control systems) in 2013 and in April 2014 reached an exclusive distribution agreement with Valoya of Finland.

And since a business summit is supposed to be about, well, business, let’s dive right in and take a look at some of the companies competing in today’s cannabis marketplace.

The Valoya deal is farsighted, since the company’s expertise is in wide-spectrum LEDs developed specifically for high-volume grows. It’s only a matter of time before LEDs, which reduce energy consumption, become the industry standard for indoor grow lights. In some Colorado communities like Boulder, efforts are underway to legislate mandatory LEDs.

“We Work With Monsanto” One of the more intriguing stories at the summit wasn’t on the agenda of panel discussions and workshops. It involved the proliferation of companies offering turn-key indoor growing facilities.

From the outside, most of the ready-to-grow systems resemble cargo containers commonly seen on freighters plying the seas, or trailers pulled along by semi trucks. This is true of PharmPods.

If Conviron doesn’t blunder along the way, it’s difficult to see how it cannot establish a serious - perhaps dominant - market position.

After all, business is business. Who’s going to care about that GMO stuff, right?

More Cannabis Competition

The eight-page brochure for PharmPods gets right to the point, encouraging growers to think in terms of cubic feet instead of square feet.

Bhang Medicinal Chocolates splashed the summit in a big way, including as the event’s one and only “Industry Pioneer” sponsor - the top of the sponsor pyramid.

Potential customers may wonder why the sales material did not list an office or physical location, but that wasn’t unusual among the various businesses. Many listed only a website and phone number.

There were more than 50 business sponsors of the summit, which meant lots of other companies jockeying for position in the rapidly growing cannabis marketplace.

48 July 2014

That’s good, because the cannabis industry needs some important solutions, not least for financial services. As most of us know by now, the lack of access to banking relegates marijuana shops to dealing in a large amount of cash.

The federal government has made a few positive noises about not prosecuting banks, which work with cannabis companies, but so far no mainstream financial institution is willing to take the risk.

One way to solve that dilemma, at least temporarily, could be a service resembling GreenStar Payment Solutions. A brief visit with co-founders Chris Mills and Mark Newbauer revealed that two other companies, Advanced Content Services and SinglePoint are part of the mix.

The idea is to let consumers pay for cannabis using PIN credit cards and debit cards. The sale is processed through the ATM network, creating an electronic cash transaction. Funds are deposited within 48 hours. It seems workable.

A company that appears to have a nifty niche carved out is Boulder’s Surna, which promotes its water-chilled cooling systems as a more efficient, costeffective alternative to conventional air conditioning.

Genifer Murray and Tom Sterlacci

Brandy Keen and Megan Veschio talked about Surna’s upside. One advantage is that more cooling compressors can be added to the same reservoir as the grow operation expands. And they know the business. As Keen said, “I’ll ask you questions that matter” when consulting for cannabis grows.

Another Boulder business, Miller Soils, will appeal to those of us who still love to play in dirt. “We’re the first in the nation developing a bio-char based all-inone soil,” said Howard Sprouse, a company representative.

SPEX SamplePrep is a New Jersey outfit that sees an emerging opportunity.

“Our equipment allows people to prepare samples before sending them out to labs,” said Sandy Mangan, a company executive. “That means a much quicker turnaround … to address the backlog that’s impending with mandatory testing.”

To wrap up this informal survey of businesses at the summit, let’s turn to Cannabase, an online marketplace, which allows companies to list their wholesale products and make requests for sought-after products in real time.

“We connect the dots between buyers and sellers,” said co-founder Jennifer Beck.

Chloe Villano and David Niccum

Cannabase was first on the scene with this type of service, but the company may have competition soon from MJ Freeway, the seed-to-sale software business.

MJ Freeway’s sales manager, Ian Jones, was reluctant to concede too much information. “Let’s just say we will have enhanced B2B functionality,” he said.

And let’s also just say that the NCIA did one heck of a job on this event. The only criticism this observer had is that the industrial hemp industry was practically non-existent, and it would have been chill to see hemp businesses there.

Next month, THC will report on the “Post-Prohibition America” panel discussion moderated by Colorado attorney Brian Vicente. It was an excellent overview of the social, legal, economic, and public policy challenges confronting the legal marijuana movement. Please join us for that article in August.

thcmag.com 49

Bong-a-Thon

50 July 2014

CBD Only Laws Leave Patients With Limited Options

by Skyler Cannabaceae

After passing legislation in the New York State Assembly, the Empire State will become the 23rd state, including Washington, D.C., to allow medical cannabis after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs the bill, which he is expected to do. Some states, however, are choosing to only take on the heart-wrenching issue of treating epileptic children with cannabidiol while ignoring the other benefits of the plant.

Some legislators want to prohibit THC, which is a part of the medicine that they consider undesirable. The problem is that THC shares many similar healing properties with CBD and even has some health advantages that CBD does not have. Most cannabis advocates favor a “whole plant solution.”

Ten states already have CBD-only laws: Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin. The laws allow for the use of cannabis oil that contains mostly cannabidiol, or CBD, and only a minor trace of THC, the compound that causes the “high” feeling when cannabis is smoked or ingested.

of these compounds has particular healing attributes, but when combined they create what scientists refer to as an ‘entourage effect,’ so that the therapeutic impact of the whole plant exceeds the sum of its parts.”

Keith Stroup, Legal Counsel for the National Organization for the Reformation of Marijuana Laws (NORML), is another well-known cannabis activist who has made known his opinions of CBD-only laws. On June 17, Stroup published an editorial on the subject on NORML’s blog.

Some legislators want to prohibit THC, which is a part of the medicine that they consider undesirable.

There are other states with CBD-only laws in various stages of the legislative process. On June 20, North Carolina’s General Assembly passed the “North Carolina Compassionate Use Registration Act.” The bill still has to pass the Senate and be signed by the governor to become law.

Martin A. Lee is Co-Founder & Director of Project CBD, a non-profit group based on raising awareness and furthering study of CBD for medical use. Lee wrote an article published on the Project CBD website on March 22, explaining that CBD is important, but it can’t do the job alone.

“Scientific research has established that CBD and THC interact synergistically and potentiate each other’s therapeutic effects,” Lee wrote. “What’s more, marijuana contains several hundred other compounds, including flavonoids, terpenes, and dozens of minor cannabinoids in addition to CBD and THC. Each

“[E]ven if a patient from out-of-state could find these products in California or Colorado,” Stroup said after noting that the oil in question is mostly made in those two states, “it would be a violation of federal law (and also likely state law) to take the medicine back to their home state.”

Stroup pointed out in his post what he sees as lessons to be learned from the swift passage of CBD-only laws. He cited claims that elected officials are heavily influenced by popular media, opining that lawmakers “would get their scientific understanding of the medical properties of marijuana from a popular television doctor” rather than research the matter themselves.

Cannabidiol is known to help control seizures, but Lee pointed out in his March article that it leaves people with other illnesses without relief. He said that people with cancer, chronic pain, Alzheimer’s and autoimmune disorders will not get relief with CBD alone.

While some advocates say that CBD-only laws are a good first step toward legalizing cannabis, others think that it sends the wrong message to the public.

In the meantime, the focus on CBD is giving the impression that it is better than whole plant solutions - safer because CBD doesn’t get you high.

The war against THC rages on.

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A Soldier’s Dilemma Colorado Lawmakers Reject MMJ For PTSD

by DJ Reetz

You wake up from a vivid nightmare so real that the act of waking is like being instantaneously transported away from the horrible scene.

The fear is real though, the re-creation of something terrible you’ve already lived through. Maybe the memory is twisted somehow through your perception, amplifying guilt you feel for having survived an event that is beyond the comprehension of the average person living in the relative safety of the Western world.

You are drenched in sweat, the terror of a past experience still clinging to your being. You likely won’t get much more sleep tonight, or any other night for that matter. When you do wake, you are anxious, on edge, and definitely not well rested.

Your conscious mind knows you are not in danger, not anymore at least, but your subconscious is stuck on fight or flight. It frequently supersedes control of your actions.

Your days are a haze. You’re constantly on edge, easily startled, exhausted from the constant vigilance that your psyche demands as well as a lack of sleep. Calm is never part of your equation. It means your interactions with the world will never quite be normal. You try your best to stifle these feelings, but you do not control when they will take hold.

This is what living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can be like. For people who have experienced severe trauma, the feeling of helplessness can linger long after the event.

While PTSD can affect survivors of any traumatic event, the contemporary discussion usually centers on veterans returning from war zones, and who are succumbing in staggering numbers to the condition. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 22 veterans kill themselves every day in the U.S. as a result of PTSD. Treatment for PTSD can be a harsh regime of drugs designed to shut down the overactive panic centers of the brain, combined with mood elevators and stimulants to counteract some of the negative effects. The result can be a pharmaceutically induced haze that can be as much of an impediment to life as the condition it is supposed to treat.

you right now,” he says. “It was bad, and it was sending me down a really bad path, and that’s when I started to look into cannabis and research how cannabis can be beneficial.”

Azzariti found little information about marijuana as a treatment option outside of anecdotal testimony due largely to its status as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. When he applied for a medical marijuana recommendation, Azzariti found that PTSD was not among conditions approved by physicians to be treated with marijuana.

“A lot of other veterans would look at that and that would be the end of their road with cannabis,” he says. But Azzariti pushed forward and got his recommendation for chronic nausea, hiding the true reason he needed medical cannabis. The experience left him determined to help others facing a similar situation.

In April, a bill adding PTSD to the list of treatable conditions in Colorado’s medical marijuana registry made its way to the Colorado House of Representatives. After hours of heartfelt testimony from PTSD sufferers who treat their condition with medical marijuana – including Azzariti – members of the State Veterans and Military Affairs committee decided to let the bill die without allowing it to the floor for a full vote.

Three medical doctors took the podium against the inclusion of PTSD during the measure’s final committee hearing.

Among those physicians was Dr. Larry Wolk, Chief Medical Officer for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the government body that maintains the medical marijuana registry. Wolk cited the lack of FDA-approved studies on the efficacy of marijuana as a treatment for PTSD, apparently oblivious to the fact that none of the conditions listed on Colorado’s registry have been approved by the FDA for treatment with marijuana. In his testimony, Wolk suggested that veterans should simply take advantage of the state’s adult-use dispensaries.

“That seems incredibly dangerous when you’re talking about a disease that can ultimately end in death through suicide,” says Colorado Rep. Jonathan Singer (D-Longmont), who sponsored the bill.

Singer says PTSD isn’t a condition that should be left simply to the discretion of a budtender at a retail marijuana shop. “Should they be using this as an over-thecounter medicine for something as serious as PTSD?” he asks.

“PTSD made it to where I was extremely introverted, I was angry, I was a shell of the person that I am,” says Sean Azzariti. “It made me into an unfunctionable [sic] human being. I couldn’t sleep, I’d ruminate on things, it was just generally a terrible thing to be living with.”

“That’s what we’re trying to avoid,” says Azzariti. “That’s not the way they should have to go about it.”

Azzariti was diagnosed with severe PTSD shortly after returning from his second tour of duty in Iraq in late 2006. Doctors recommended an inundation of prescription medicine to treat his symptoms. At one point Azzariti says he was supposed to be taking six milligrams of Xanax, four milligrams of Klonopin, 30 to 50 milligrams of Adderall to counteract the daze created by the first two, and Trazadone at night to help with sleep. This cocktail of drugs made life nearly unlivable for Azzariti.

Dr. Wolk may have been protecting his authority with the CDPHE, speculates Singer. Established as part of Colorado’s medical marijuana program under Amendment 20, the chief medical officer can hold hearings to add conditions to the state’s list of qualifying conditions, provided there is clear evidence of a benefit. However, in the 14 years since the passage of Amendment 20, not a single condition has been added. This, says Singer, has created a stonewall for those seeking to expand the list.

“If I had kept taking those drugs I probably wouldn’t be sitting here talking to

“Legislation really is a kind of brute force,” he says.

52 July 2014

Including PTSD in the registry is important to all who suffer from the debilitating condition, although it is particularly important to vets who rely on the federally managed Department of Veterans Affairs for health care.

In 2010, the VA stated that it wouldn’t withdraw coverage for veterans who test positive for marijuana provided they are part of their state’s lawful medical marijuana program.

With only six states including PTSD as a treatable condition, this means the vast majority of vets who seek to use marijuana as a treatment could potentially lose their VA benefits.

“Not having that as an option is hindering a lot of veterans from getting the medication that could potentially save their lives,” says Azzariti.

quiring marijuana was stalled by the revelation that the University of Mississippi – the only source for test marijuana controlled and approved by the National Institute on Drug Abuse – didn’t have strains high in CBD. The crop needs to be grown at an outdoor facility this summer and harvested this fall. It’s the only option to source the marijuana that abides by federal standards.

“It’s not like we’re doing something crazy, we’re trying to treat vets with severe PTSD.”

Detractors who cite a lack of definitive scientific evidence may soon find themselves without that flimsy leg to stand on. A new study sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies designed to test the efficacy of marijuana for treatment of PTSD is set to begin next year at the University of Arizona. The federally approved study will be the first of its kind through the Department of Health and Human Services.

“That’s really, really exciting,” says Brad Burge, Director of Communications for MAPS. “It’s an indicator that there’s progress.”

“There’s been a big gaping hole in scientific research,” Burge says, especially when it comes to whole plant treatment. The study will be the first in the nation to examine the direct benefits of smoked cannabis, rather than individual cannabinoids. It will also test the effect of CBD-rich marijuana on 50 veterans suffering from treatment-resistant PTSD. Burge says he hopes to begin the study in January 2015, but the process of ac-

“It’s the most drawn-out drug deal in history,” says Burge. “I don’t know if it’s incompetence or intransigence, or both.”

That strictly controlled process could be changed easily, says Burge. “What is very clear is that there are policies in place that can be removed with out an act of Congress,” he says. ”It’s not like we’re doing something crazy, we’re trying to treat vets with severe PTSD.”

Until the study yields results, the mainstream medical community may cling to the naysaying stance held by Dr. Wolk. In the meantime, veterans and other PTSD sufferers are stuck in gray areas. They must lie on medical marijuana evaluations or purchase medicine from adult-use shops should they be lucky enough to have access.

It’s a dangerous situation, especially since some varieties of marijuana can actually act in direct opposition to the calming effect that is desired. As state legislators wait for federally sanctioned evidence, those suffering from PTSD will continue to suffer.

“We have an epidemic that’s taking over the country, especially now that the [Afghanistan] war is coming to an end,” says Azzariti. “Everybody should at least have that option, to use it in conjunction [with] – or [instead of] the prescription pills that they have right now.”

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U.S. Representatives Vote to Protect States’ Rights

By Skyler Cannabaceae

The U.S. House of Representatives delighted cannabis advocates by passing a Department of Justice funding bill with amendments attached requiring that none of the money can be used by the Drug Enforcement Agency to impede state regulated medical cannabis, hemp growing and industrial hemp research.

documenting these benefits has often been hampered by federal barriers.” Since 1999, federal law only allows research to be conducted using the cannabis grown at the University of Mississippi and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Since NIDA has always been firmly opposed to cannabis use, it only approves research if the study’s goal is to find harm caused by cannabis, not the plant’s medicinal benefits.

The future of the amendments is hazy since the bill still needs to be reconciled with the Senate version before it lands on President Barack Obama’s desk. Many Congressional members are not waiting around. After “For the first time, a passage of the bill in the House on May 30, they began pushing the Obama administration to adopt the changes. majority of federal The House approved the medical marijuana amendment to H.R. 4660 with a majority of yes votes from 170 Democrats and 49 Republicans. One of those Republicans was California Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, who put forward the amendment.

“None of the funds made available in this Act to the Department of Justice may be used, with respect to the States of …” the amendment begins. It goes on to list each state with current MMJ laws and then adds “… to prevent such States from implementing their own State laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.”

While only a single-year appropriations bill, which means the same amendments have to be re-approved next year, it sends a message loud and clear to the DEA: Hands off medicinal cannabis.

To underscore the importance of the issue, House members sent an open letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell on June 17.

lawmakers are acknowledging that states that seek to regulate the controlled use of medicinal marijuana ought to be allowed to act in a manner that is free from federal interference.”

Thirty Representatives signed the bipartisan message, led by Rohrabacher, Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore), H. Morgan Griffith (R-Va) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill). It requested that policy be changed so that any “non-National Institutes of Health funded researcher” will be able to access cannabis for research, so long as each one meets normal conditions required for drug testing on the federal, state and local levels.

“We believe the widespread use of medical marijuana should necessitate research into what specific relief it offers and how it can be delivered for different people and different conditions.”

The letter went a step further stating, “[T]he scientific research clearly

54 July 2014

Commenting on the vote, NORML Communications Director Erik Altieri said, “For the first time, a majority of federal lawmakers are acknowledging that states that seek to regulate the controlled use of medicinal marijuana ought to be allowed to act in a manner that is free from federal interference.”

As the fight for medical marijuana rages on, hemp seems to be having an easier time garnering political support. Rohrabacher’s MMJ amendment snuck into the bill with a simple majority of 53 percent. Two hemp-related amendments proposed by Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky) were approved by more representatives. Massie’s amendment to protect the “Legitimacy of Industrial Hemp Research” passed with 60 percent while Bonamici’s amendment protecting the cultivation and use of hemp for industrial purposes made it into the bill with 58 percent in support.

U.S. hemp farmers and researchers ran into problems with federal red tape recently. The DEA stopped two shipments of hemp seed that were bound for Kentucky and Colorado, both of which now have laws making hemp legal. The seed comes from Canada because it is not currently legal to use seed produced in the U.S. That is something the amendments would change.

The federal government held up the shipment to Kentucky, but eventually sent it on its way. In Colorado, Jason Lauve of Hemp Cleans is hoping that the seeds arrive in time for a good harvest, but says the shipment is still being detained.

Lauve told THC that he is sending a letter requesting the seeds and says Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo) is assisting him in his efforts. Polis supported the hemp and medical cannabis amendments.

“History was made by politicians from both sides of the aisle, as we now have a majority of Congress on the record saying that states have the prerogative to regulate marijuana as they see fit,” Polis told CQ Roll Call. “I don’t know where this bill is going, but it sends a message.”

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56 July 2014

DISPENSARY GUIDE

by DJ Reetz

DENVER

59 The Clinic 58 The Hemp Center 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx 59 Physician Preferred Products 62 Southwest Alternative Care

COLORADO SPRINGS

*

SCAN THE QR CODES AT THE TOP OF THE PAGES FOR MORE INFO AND SPECIAL OFFERS!

58 The Hemp Center

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L I T T L E T O N

www.the-hemp-center.com The Hemp Center is a hemp boutique as well as a top-shelf medical marijuana center, offering a myriad of holistic health services. Our educated and friendly staff strives to provide a safe, comfortable, and inviting atmosphere.

By offering many different products and treatment options — Each personalized to an individuals‘ needs — we reach a wider spectrum than your ordinary medical marijuana center.

2430 West Main Street Littleton, CO 80120 303-993-7824 2501 West Colorado Ave #106 Colorado Springs, CO 80904 (719) 633-1611 Monday-Friday 10:00am-7:00pm Saturday 11:00am-6:00pm Sunday 12:00pm-5:00pm

E D G E W A T E R

Our dispensary section provides top shelf cannabis, concentrates, a wide variety of edibles and topical solutions. Our other passion is holistic health and the versatile uses for hemp. We offer vitamins, supplements, holistic health treatments, hemp purses and other textiles, body care products, storage containers, delivery devices and much more!! We have great member benefits accompanied by daily deals that make anytime you visit us a good day. There is also a rotating variety of our very best strains on special as our MDTHC Features.

The Hemp Center is handicapped accessible, with two convenient locations one in Historic Downtown Littleton or check us out in Colorado Springs at 25th & Co Ave.

www.NLCannabis.com January 1 2014, at 8 AM the first legal cannabis sale took place here at Northern Lights Cannabis Co, one of only 24 retail stores to open that day for recreational sales!

The history made that day continues to resonate with every legal cannabis transaction, including yours. Shop with us and make history!

2045 Sheridan Blvd.

Suite B Edgewater, CO 80214 303-274-6495 9:00am-7:00pm Daily

Our staff is friendly and our knowledgeable budtenders will guide you to the perfect product. No pre-packaged here. Your purchase comes from the jar you sampled.

Our shop has provided the finest Medical Cannabis since March 2010. Today we provide that same quality Medical and Recreational Cannabis to adults 21 and over from around the world.

Coco grown, our frosty genetics are provided by TGA Sub Cool Seeds, DNA Genetics, Paradise Seeds and other reputable producers.

Stop by and discover “Where Your Buds Are”!

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1st Place SATIVA

Patient’s Choice SATIVA

Connoisseur’s Choice SATIVA

www.pppmeds.com

Northglenn’s premier medical dispensary, Physician Preferred Products is proud and honored to continue to provide the highest quality products and customer service to the North Metro community!

We are extremely excited to be a part of this historical time for the Medical Marijuana industry and want to thank our loyal customers for their devotion throughout the years. It is this customer support that drives us here at PPP to create a comfortable, friendly environment for your MMJ needs.

Up front, our Bud-tenders strive to continually update their knowledge of strains and products in order to provide you with the most educated MMJ shopping experience around. In the back, our growers work tirelessly to bring only top quality strains into our garden. These strains have been, for the most part, grown from seed and hand selected from many phenotypes to ensure top quality, award winning genetics. We feel this combination of customer service and absolute dedication to quality amounts to a superior MMJ experience!

2100 East 112th Avenue Suite #5 Northglenn, CO 80233 303-974-5966 Monday-Saturday 10:00am-7:00pm

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N O R T H G L E N N

S T A T E W I D E

The National Cannabis Industry Association is the only national trade association dedicated to representing legitimate cannabis businesses, from medical marijuana providers www.livwellco.com to ancillary products and services. Our mission is simple: Change federal law so that cannabis LivWell, the cannabis industry’s largest employer, was founded as businesses can be treated like any other Broadway Wellness in 2009 in Denver. industry in the U.S.

Blazing a trail isn’t easy.

But you don’t have to go at it alone. livwellco

@livwellcannabis

@livwellcompany

The company has grown from that single store to ten locations across Colorado’s Front Range, serving Denver,part Lakewood, Coloradoyet?

Springs, Boulder, Is your business of the solution and Garden City. Breeding, testing, as well as research and development, are central to LivWell’s approach, with proprietary genetics making up a large part Join NCIA today for... of its cannabis selection.

LivWell has become a standard in state and compliance, and is involved If you share our vision forlocal a responsible, with the State of Colorado Department of Agriculture’s cannabis safe cultivalegitimate, and prosperous industry, get tion and handling practices advisory board.

9 Locations Available

LivWell Broadway Post Modern Health LivWell Tejon 432 South Broadway 5660 W Alameda Ave. 1414 S. Tejon St. Denver, CO Lakewood, CO CO Springs, CO 8:00AM-7:00M Daily 8:00AM-7:00M Daily 8:00AM-7:00M Daily 720-428-2550 303-922-9479 719-634-0420 LivWell Boulder LivWell Nevada 2863 Larimer St 3000 Folsom Street 3234 N Nevada Ave. Denver, CO Boulder, CO CO Springs, CO 8:00AM-7:00M Daily 10:00AM-7:00M Daily 8:00AM-7:00M Daily 303-484-1662 720-389-4920 719-622-6652

Denver Patients Group

LivWell Evans LivWell Garden City LivWell Murray 2193 W. Evans Ave, 2647 8th Ave. 570 N. Murray Denver, CO Garden City, CO CO Springs, CO 8:00AM-7:00M Daily 9:00AM-7:00M Daily 8:00AM-7:00M Daily 720-361-2981 970-616-6007 719-574-8443

60 July 2014

• Unified and coordinated industry advocacy

LivWell has established itself as events the industry’s leader in value, both in price • Educational and B2B networking and quality. An infused product line adds additional product diversity, as well • Industry legitimization as a wholesale division which serves licensed businesses in Colorado, with • Exposure national market products ranging from ediblesto toatopicals.

involved today at TheCannabisIndustry.org or by calling (888) 683-5650.

Patient Favorites 303 Kush

Blurple

Knights of Templar

Amnesia Haze

CBD3:1

Purple Cotton

Blue Dream

El Diablo

Zeta Sage

Concentrates

Strain specific wax and vaporizer cartridges made inhouse from our proprietary genetics for both traditional and disposable vapor pens.

Edibles

Beyond Mars Canna Punch Cheeba Chews CO Cannabis Company

Seeds

Full Melt Incredibles Mad Mint The Growing Kitchen

Weed Seed: Comprised of exclusive genetics sourced directly from LivWell’s research and development gardens.

www.thecliniccolorado.com The Clinic is an award winning medical marijuana center with six Denver metro locations!

The Clinic is Denver’s premier medical marijuana center having won over 20 awards for both it’s high quality cannabis, concentrates and charitable contributions! The Clinic’s staff is extremely knowledgeable and friendly while the atmosphere at their locations reflect the immense amount of care that they provide to their patients as well as their medicine.

The Clinic is also a long time supporter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, as it’s a cause that directly affects their patients, friends and family. As such, The Clinic has raised more than $100,000 for the Colorado-Wyoming Chapter of the National MS Society since they first opened their doors in 2009.

The Clinic has remained at the forefront of the medical marijuana movement by raising the standard for medical marijuana centers everywhere, not only through their patient driven mission but through their dedication to the community! Make sure to stop by The Clinic and see why their mantra holds true: Our Patients Live Better.

Strains Kosher Kush

2012 High Times Cannabis Cup (Denver) Patient’s Choice Winner

Stardawg Guava

2012 High Times Medical Cannabis Cup (Denver) 1st Place Best Sativa

Grape God Bud

2010 CO Caregiver’s Cup Triple Crown-winner and 2nd place 2011 Aspen Cannabis Crown, this is the hottest indica in town.

Raskal OG

One of the most visually appealing and potent OG kushes around with a distinct diesel fuel aroma. 2012 High Times Medical Cannabis Cup (Denver) 3rd Place Best Hybrid

Ghost OG

THC Champions Cup 3rd Place Overall Hybrid & Patients’ Choice Hybrid. 2013 High Times US Cannabis Cup 3rd place best hybrid winner

Fall ‘97

This indica-dominant strain is a sweet tasting cross between OG Kush and Purple Urkle.

Skywalker OG

This clone only pheno of OG Kush has quickly become a patient and staff favorite.

Super Lemon Haze

Winner of the 2008 and 2009 Sativa High Times Cannabis Cup

58 February 2014

Pre ‘98 Bubba Kush

2011 High Times Denver Medical Cannabis Cup highest CBD strain winner

Cherry Pie

GDP and F1 Durban cross that won 3rd Place Medical Sativa at the 2014 US Cannabis Cup

Durban Poison

A classic landrace sativa from Africa that is mouth watering and known for it’s soaring cerebral effects.

Budder & Shatter The Clinic offers both budder and shatter, which are butane extracted concentrates, from our award winning marijuana infused products division, The Lab.

Awards

2014 High Times Cannabis Cup

1st Place US Cup Concentrate - 303 OG Nugrun Live Resin Budder 3rd Place Medical Sativa - Cherry Pie

2013 High Times Cannabis Cup 1st Place Sativa - Tangie 3rd Place Sativa - Stardawg Guava 3rd Place Hybrid - Ghost OG

2012 High Times Medical Cannabis Cup

1st Place Best Sativa - Stardawg Guava 1st Place Patient’s Choice - Kosher Kush 2nd Place Best Concentrate - Strawberry Cough Nectar 3rd Place Best Hybrid - Raskal OG

Pre ‘98 Bubba Kush

High Times Cannabis Cup: Highest CBD Strain Spring 2010 Colorado Caregiver’s Cup Winner: Patient’s Choice, Best Aroma,

CannaPunch, Dixie Elixirs, Keef Cola, Green Dragon, and MarQaha

Seeds

2013 High Times US Cannabis Cup 1st place best sativa winner

9:00am - 7:00pm Daily

Concentrates

Grape God Bud

Edibles Beverages

Tangie

The Clinic Colorado 3888 East Mexico Ave., Ste. 110 Denver, CO 80210 303-758-9114 The Clinic Highlands 3460 West 32nd Avenue Denver, CO 80211 303-997-7130 The Clinic Capitol Hill 745 East 6th Avenue Denver, CO 80203 720-536-5229 The Clinic on Wadsworth 3600 South Wadsworth Blvd.

Lakewood, CO 80235 303-484-8853 The Clinic on Colfax 4625 East Colfax Avenue Denver, CO 80220 303-333-3644 The Clinic On Jewell 12018 W Jewell Ave Lakewood, CO 80228 303-997-9171

D E N V E R

Most Photogenic 2011 Aspen Cannabis Crown, 2nd Place Overall

2013 The 710 Cup

2nd Place Best Sativa Shatter - Tangie 1st Place Best Sativa Shatter Terps Tangie

The Hemp Connoisseur Championship 2012

2nd Place Indica and Connoisseur’s Choice - Kosher Kush 1st Place Sativa and Patient’s Choice Stardawg Guava 3rd Place Hybrid and Patient’s Choice Ghost OG 1st Place Concentrate and Connoisseur’s Choice - Earth OG Nectar

The Hemp Connoisseur Championship 2013

1st Place Indica, Connoisseur’s Choice and Best Tested - Kosher Kush Patient’s Choice Hybrid - Grunk 2nd Place Shatter and Patient’s ChoiceTangie

Baked Goods/Candies

Sweet Grass Kitchen, Julie & Kate Baked Goods, Mountain High Suckers, The Growing Kitchen, Mile Hi, Incredibles, and Cheeba Chews.

Reserva Privada Colorado: The Clinic carries the full line of Reserva Privada Colorado’s Confidential Collection and Sour Series.

61 thcmag.com 59

D E N V E R

www.southwestalternativecare.com Southwest Alternative Care, your neighborhood medical marijuana center.

Their mission is to provide Colorado patients with the best alternative medicine and services at the lowest possible prices. At Southwest you’ll find a large selection of top shelf medicines and edibles, all at affordable prices.

Southwest Alternative Care provides the most potent Earwax and Shatter BHO in Colorado. We work with 2012 Cannabis Cup winners Top Shelf Extracts, to stock our shelves with the best of the best. We also provide high quality cold water, full melt, extracted bubble hash. We offer a variety of strains from 25 micron to 190 micron.

1075 South Fox Street Denver, CO 80223 303-593-2931

We haven’t met a center yet who didn’t claim to grow “fire” but unlike many, Southwest can back it up. With an award-winning grow team, legendary genetics, and perhaps the cleanest facility in the state, Southwest Alternative Care has redefined what it means to produce top shelf medicine.

3937 West Colfax Avenue Denver, CO 80204 720-287-3934

Southwest Alternative Care has over 25 top shelf strains, all hand trimmed, including Glass Slipper, Kool Aid Kush, OGre 99, Bubba Kush, Golden Goat, Moonshine Haze, Tangerine Haze, Dairy Queen and many more. The extracts they cull from these high-grade selections set a new standard in terms of quality. Find ‘em on Facebook for a current menu. Check out our coupons in the back of the magazine.

Monday-Sunday 10:00am-6:50pm

Edibles

Canna Punch Incredibles Sweet Stone

Canna Cappuccino At Home Baked Edi Pure

Concentrates Earwax and Shatter BHO 2012 Cannabis Cup winners Top Shelf Extracts Full Melt, Bubble Hash Vape Pens

Staff Favorites Glowing Goat Bubba Kush Dope Diagonal

Tango Chem 4 Purple Trainwreck

Testimonials

Best Meds in Colorado Southwest Alternative has the best meds in Colorado hands down. Pricing is spot on with the meds. All the employees are amazing. Makes you feel like you are a regular your first time in.

AWESOME!!!!! - seige55, weedmaps.com This place is the best kept secret in Denver I have been a member with Southwest for about a year now, and have nothing but raving reviews. But the original shop wasn’t very close for me as I do not drive. With this new location in the heart of Denver has made buying my meds even easier. Best benefits in town, they give out the most free stuff for members by far.

- FACEwreck5360 weedmaps.com

62 July 2014

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64 July 2014

21+ Retail Store 55 The Cannasseur 3, 61 The Clinic 47 The Kine Mine 10,58 Northern Lights Natural Rx 11 River Rock 05 Walking Raven ATM On Site 10,58 Northern Lights Natural Rx 59 Physician Preferred Products 11 River Rock Award Winning 09 Canna Caregivers 09 The Canna Center 3, 61 The Clinic 58 The Hemp Center 10,58 Northern Lights Natural Rx 59 Physician Preferred Products 11 River Rock 05 Walking Raven Body Care Products 58 The Hemp Center 59 Physician Preferred Products Books & Education 09 Canna Caregivers 09 The Canna Center 58 The Hemp Center 10,58 Northern Lights Natural Rx Cash Only 47 The Kine Mine 10,58 Northern Lights Natural Rx 11, 55 River Rock Charity/Community Outreach 3, 61 The Clinic 11 River Rock Clothing Items 09 Canna Caregivers 09 The Canna Center 3, 61 The Clinic 58 The Hemp Center 47 The Kine Mine 10,58 Northern Lights Natural Rx 59 Physician Preferred Products 11 River Rock Business Couriers 44 Green Cross Couriers Credit Cards 09 Canna Caregivers 09 The Canna Center 58 The Hemp Center 21 The Organic Seed

Daily Specials 58 The Hemp Center 10,58 Northern Lights Natural Rx 59 Physician Preferred Products 04 Preferred Organic Therapy 11 River Rock Educational Classes 10,58 Northern Lights Natural Rx Evaluation Clinic/MMJ Doctor 63 CannaQual 38 Healthy Choices Unlimited 63 Relaxed Clarity Events 16 Alpha Blondie 50 Bong-a-Thon 42 Gypsy Jane Jubilee Free Parking 09 Canna Caregivers 09 The Canna Center 58 The Hemp Center 47 The Kine Mine 10,58 Northern Lights Natural Rx 21 The Organic Seed 59 Physician Preferred Products 04 Preferred Organic Therapy 11 River Rock 17 Rocky Mountain Organic Medicine 9,62 Southwest Alternative Care 05 Walking Raven Grow Products 25 Bison Soil Solutions Happy Hour 21 The Organic Seed Hemp Products 58 The Hemp Center 10 River Rock Holistic Health 58 The Hemp Center 21 The Organic Seed Infused Products 21 Better Baked 21 Cafe Marley 38 Dr. J’s Hash Infusion 07 Edipure 35 Incredibles 25 Julie & Kate Baked Goods 26 Mahatma 35 Medically Correct Internet Wi-Fi 58 The Hemp Center 47 The Kine Mine

21 The Organic Seed 11 River Rock Live Music 50 Bong-a-Thon 42 Gypsy Jane Jubilee 21 The Organic Seed 11 River Rock Local Artist Program 11 River Rock Massage Therapy 58 The Hemp Center 11 River Rock Member Discounts 09 Canna Caregivers 09 The Canna Center 3, 61 The Clinic 58 The Hemp Center 47 The Kine Mine 10,58 Northern Lights Natural Rx 21 The Organic Seed 59 Physician Preferred Products 04 Preferred Organic Therapy 11 River Rock 17 Rocky Mountain Organic Medicine 9,62 Southwest Alternative Care Member Loyalty Program 09 Canna Caregivers 09 The Canna Center 59 Physician Preferred Products 11 River Rock MMJ Doctor/Evaluation Clinic 63 CannaQual 38 Healthy Choices Unlimited 63 Relaxed Clarity Multiple Locations 09 Canna Caregivers 09 The Canna Center 3, 61 The Clinic 58 The Hemp Center 11 River Rock 9,62 Southwest Alternative Care Nutritional Consulting 58 The Hemp Center Pain Management Consulting 09 Canna Caregivers 09 The Canna Center 3, 61 The Clinic 58 The Hemp Center 21 The Organic Seed 04 Preferred Organic Therapy 11 River Rock

Patient Appreciation Events 11, 55 River Rock 05 Walking Raven Private Dispensing Rooms 09 Canna Caregivers 09 The Canna Center 58 The Hemp Center 10,58 Northern Lights Natural Rx 21 The Organic Seed 59 Physician Preferred Products 04 Preferred Organic Therapy 11 River Rock 9,62 Southwest Alternative Care Pre-Order Medication 09 Canna Caregivers 09 The Canna Center 58 The Hemp Center 47 The Kine Mine 21 The Organic Seed 04 Preferred Organic Therapy 11 River Rock 9,62 Southwest Alternative Care Seeds 3, 61 The Clinic 11 River Rock Senior Discounts 58 The Hemp Center 10,58 Northern Lights Natural Rx Signature Concentrates 3, 61 The Clinic 26 Mahatma 11 River Rock Signature Edibles 21 Better Baked 21 Cafe Marley 38 Dr. J’s Hash Infusion 07 Edipure 58 The Hemp Center 35 Incredibles 25 Julie & Kate Baked Goods 35 Medically Correct 10,58 Northern Lights Natural Rx 21 The Organic Seed 11, 55 River Rock Signature Strains 09 Canna Caregivers 09 The Canna Center 3, 61 The Clinic 58 The Hemp Center 47 The Kine Mine 10,58 Northern Lights Natural Rx 21 The Organic Seed 59 Physician Preferred Products

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THANK YOU TO OUR ADVERTISERS 63 710 Pipes 21 Better Baked 25 Bison Soil Solutions 50 Bong-a-Thon 21 Cafe Marley 21 Canna Cabins 09 Canna Caregivers 09 The Canna Center 53 Cannabase 44 Cannabistube.net 63 CannaQual 55 The Cannasseur 3, 61 The Clinic 68 Cloud Penz 16 Casselman’s 38 Dr. J’s Hash Infusion 07 Edipure 67 EZ Trim 44 Green Cross Couriers 42 Gypsy Jane Jubilee 38 Healthy Choices Unlimited 58 The Hemp Center 25 iCannabisradio.com 35 Incredibles 56 Indica Vape 25 Julie & Kate Baked Goods 47 The Kine Mine 26 Mahatma 13 Medically Correct 60 NCIA 10,58 Northern Lights Natural Rx 21 The Organic Seed 59 Physician Preferred Products 04 Preferred Organic Therapy 63 Relaxed Clarity 11 River Rock 17 Rocky Mountain Organic Medicine 41 Scientific Inhalations 41 SI Pipes 9, 62 Southwest Alternative Care 02 The Trimmer Store 05 Walking Raven

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04 Preferred Organic Therapy 11 River Rock 17 Rocky Mountain Organic Medicine 9,62 Southwest Alternative Care 05 Walking Raven Smoking Accessories 63 710 Pipes 68 Cloud Penz 56 Indica Vape 41 Scientific Inhalations 41 SI Pipes Specialty Glass 09 Canna Caregivers 09 The Canna Center 10,58 Northern Lights Natural Rx 21 The Organic Seed 11 River Rock Specialized Treatment Programs 3, 61 The Clinic 11 River Rock Topicals 09 Canna Caregivers 09 The Canna Center 3, 61 The Clinic 58 The Hemp Center 47 The Kine Mine 10,58 Northern Lights Natural Rx 21 The Organic Seed 59 Physician Preferred Products 04 Preferred Organic Therapy 11 River Rock Trimming Accessories 67 EZ Trim 02 The Trimmer Store Vegetarian 21 Better Baked 21 Cafe Marley 38 Dr. J’s Hash Infusion 07 Edipure 35 Incredibles 25 Julie & Kate Baked Goods 35 Medically Correct Veteran Discounts 58 The Hemp Center 47 The Kine Mine 10,58 Northern Lights Natural Rx 21 The Organic Seed 11 River Rock

Colorado Springs 09 Canna Caregivers 09 The Canna Center 58 The Hemp Center 21 The Organic Seed Denver Central 3, 61 The Clinic 11 River Rock 9,62 Southwest Alternative Care Denver East 3, 61 The Clinic Denver Highlands 3, 61 The Clinic Denver North 11 River Rock 02 The Trimmer Store Denver South 63 CannaQual 3, 61 The Clinic 04 Preferred Organic Therapy 11 River Rock 05 Walking Raven Denver Southwest 9,62 Southwest Alternative Care Edgewater 10,58 Northern Lights Natural Rx Golden 17 Rocky Mountain Organic Medicine Idaho Springs 47 The Kine Mine Littleton 58 The Hemp Center Northglenn 63 710 Pipes 59 Physician Preferred Products Pueblo 55 The Cannasseur

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68 July 2014