The Hemp Connoisseur, October 2013, Issue #10

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OCTOBER 2013 COUPONS INSIDE

COLORADO’S PREMIER GUIDE TO CANNABIS

INDUSTRIAL PRISON COMPLEX: PRISONERS = PROFIT OCTOBERFEST: HEMP BEER TOUR REMEMBERING JENNY KUSH




A LETTER TO OUR READERS In the last few months I have heard arguments on both sides of the fence in regards to Proposition AA. The whole time I kept my opinion to myself, although I have admittedly had fun being the devil’s advocate when talking to people on both sides of this issue. I think the article by John Schroyer on page 47 does a good job giving voice to each argument. Here is the problem with Prop AA. It is not perfect. Yes the “special sales tax” is too high and yes it could bring the price of cannabis closer to black market pricing. But . . . If you are a patient with a red card in Colorado, well that doesn’t matter. Your red card provides you additional protection. You can safely carry two ounces on you without fear and you can purchase edibles with a higher dosage than 100mg. But what seems to not be mentioned is that a red card means you are not subject to the same tax increases as a cannabis consumer without one. Also it may afford you the chance to bypass potentially long lines at the “recreational” counters of dual licensed dispensaries next year. In other words your red card, while medical, is also a discount VIP card. As for the black market argument. . . well yes, the black market is always going to exist. The question is this: how big do you think it will be because of Prop AA? If you are paying $50 an eighth on the black market right now for what your dealer has on him/her, would you be willing to pay the same or even $10 more to walk into a professional establishment and choose between 30 different strains and a bevy of exact dosed edibles? Let’s frame that with another question. Would you rather buy sushi from some unlicensed dude on the street or go into a restaurant and pay a little more knowing they had to pass a health inspection? If you don’t have a red card, you will pay more for legal cannabis. You will pay for the variety and you will pay more for a safer source.

“Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery” -Calvin Coolidge

There is going to be a huge boom here in Colorado due to canna-tourism. It doesn’t matter that the regulations on advertising limits dispensaries from targeting consumers outside of Colorado. Tourists are going to come. They are not coming here to buy on the black market. They are coming to purchase legal Cannabis. They won’t care about the taxes because heck, they already spent the money to get here, what is ten more bucks? To me this tax is more for them than us. Is it too high? Yes it is ridiculous. Pass Prop AA and we can start generating revenue for the schools first. That will give us a stronger voice with our representatives. After one or two years we can readdress the size of the tax to make it more reasonable. By that time they will have to listen to us. We will be worth too much to them. Peace, Love and Hempiness!

David Maddalena Editor-in-Chief David@thcmag.com 4 October 2013

Scam Warning! The Better Business Bureau is reporting that individuals seeking assistance at a Longmont disaster relief center have been contacted by telephone and offered free or reduced-fee university education for the children of the house because they had been affected by the Northern Colorado floods. The callers requested Social Security numbers of the children, and other personal information, so that the fund could be set up. The BBB advises anyone receiving the same type of call to simply hang up as the callers are believed to be identity thieves. The BBB is also concerned these callers are targeting the Hispanic community as those who reported the scam were Spanish speakers.


Could your plants use a little more juice? For more than 15 years MMJ growers in British Columbia have been using Dr. Willard’s PlantCatalyst® to enhance nutrient uptake and improve plant health, growth and yield. This product is now available to Colorado growers so request your free sample today!

PlantCatalyst

®

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Dr. Willard’s PlantCatalyst® is a nutrient absorption enhancer that can be added to any nutrient routine. It has been tested on over 100,000 plants including cayenne peppers, micro and potted spathiphyllum and ‘Northern Lights’ cannabis and the benefits include: · Larger and/or greener plants · More blooms and/or earlier blooming · Sturdier stocks and/or more extensive root systems · Greater resilience in stressful growing environments (e.g. dry, hot weather) · More yield per plant, larger fruit/flowers and enhanced flavor and aroma

absorption enhancer for plants invented by award winning chemistry professor, Dr. John W. Willard PhD. This ground-breaking product is specially formulated using an extensive and patented manufacturing process, developed by Dr. Willard, in which a colloidal particle called a micelle is created. When the PlantCatalyst® micelle is added to ordinary water (tap water, purified water, well water, etc) the micelle, according to Dr. Willard, causes a change in the structure of that water and it becomes a more efficient delivery system for nutrients. This altered structure serves as a catalyst or transport medium that can enhance the uptake and assimilation of nutrients in plants. Dr. Willard’s

www.plantcatalyst.com Free samples available by visiting our website or by calling toll free at 888-379-4552

PlantCatalyst® is not a nutrient, but a vehicle for carrying nutrients throughout the plant’s cells”


The Hemp Connoisseur, LLC Editor-in-Chief

David Maddalena david@thcmag.com

Art Director

Christianna Lewis christianna@thcmag.com

Director of Editorial

Caroline Hayes caroline@thcmag.com

Editor

Rick Macey rickmacey@gmail.com

Layout Designers

Josh Davis is a professional actor, singer and voice-over artist. He has appeared in: Law and Order, One Life to Live, As the World Turns, Les Miserables and produced and acted in the feature film The Graduates. He first learned about hemp when he was given the book The Emperor Wears No Clothes and became a hemp enthusiast ever since. He lives in New York City. Caroline Hayes graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a focus in Magazine Design and Writing. She moved to Colorado after college to pursue a career and enjoy the scenery. Caroline started as a freelance writer for The Hemp Connoisseur and has furthered her position there as Director of Editorial and as a page layout designer. Rick Macey is an award-winning newspaper, magazine writer

Christianna Lewis christianna@thcmag.com

and television producer. Since 2000, Macey TV has won several broadcasting awards for sports, live music, talk shows, and alternative lifestyles programs. Macey TV contributed to A NORML Life a Los Angeles PBS Emmy award-winning documentary on medical marijuana in CA. CannabisTube - the world’s first broadcast quality TV marijuana website - is one of Rick’s recent projects.

Partners

Monocle Man is a responsible, educated MMJ patient who en-

Caroline Hayes Christianna Lewis

Director of Sales and Marketing

David Maddalena Jason Robillard

Interns

Kim Fariello Matt McCoy DJ Reetz Sam Reeves

Contributing Writers Hazy Cakes Joshua Davis Caroline Hayes Rick Macey Monocle Man DJ Reetz John Schroyer Susan Squibb Christopher Tucker Steven Turetsky

joys the thrills of the cannabis industry. He takes all factors into thorough consideration and approaches each review with an open and objective mind. His knack for the trade assists him in creating valid reviews.

DJ Reetz is a writer, cynic and marijuana enthusiast born and raised in Denver. As a native of the city he lives, breathes, and – on occasion – eats and drinks all that is Denver and the state of Colorado. Driven by a questioning mind, he seeks to inform readers and expose truth; and possibly have a good-ass time in the process. John Schroyer covered politics and policy in Colorado for more

Contributing Photographers

than seven years, including the Democratic National Convention in Denver in 2008. Since January 2013, he has been the video editor at The Colorado Springs Gazette and made himself famous by posting footage online of his car getting swamped by a flash flood in Manitou Springs. He moved to Colorado from Chicago in 2002 after finishing college and has vowed to never again live anywhere that doesn’t have mountains.

Cover Art Illustration

Susan Squibb is Lady Cannabis who is a perfect lady. Ms. Susan Squibb, the Cannabis Maven, on the other hand, enjoys cavorting. Ms. Squibb is an innovative cannabis product developer and produces events including the annual Mother’s High Tea. Ms. Squibb is a graduate of University of Colorado-Boulder where she majored in Anthropology.

Kim Fariello Christianna Lewis Matt McCoy Sam Reeves Scott RareDankness Derek Cumings Christianna Lewis

Printer

American Web 4040 Dahlia Street Denver, CO 80216 ph 303.321.2422 fax 303.321.6636 The Hemp Connoisseur magazines are presented by The Hemp Connoisseur, LLC. All contents are copyrighted 2013 by The Hemp Connoisseur, LLC. For advertising or subscription info, please email sales@thcmag.com.

6 October 2013

CONTRIBUTORS

Chris Tucker is a contributor for the LocalMC as a member of their review board. He does content writing/copywriting for various websites and his first novel, an action/adventure novel, is due out within the next few months. Steven Turetsky is a senior biology and economics double major

at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA. Steven is an active member of the cannabis reform movement. He founded Students for Sensible Drug Policy on his campus and is planning to present the first university-sponsored educational symposium on cannabis this April at Pitt. Steven worked at Dixie Elixirs during Summer 2013 as the company’s first intern. After graduation, he hopes to continue his work in the cannabis industry by aiding in policy reform and educating the population, especially back east.


EZTRIM RENTALS

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The Satellite

by EZ T RI M

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Made in Colorado

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2013 H i gh Ti mes W i nner for Best C oncent r at e


Contents 4

A Letter to Our Readers

12

The Green Scene

14

In the Spotlight Hemp beer, new HoodLamb items and Minawear hemp pants

16

24

Featured Artist Local artist Brian Curran and his beautiful black and whites

18

Tasty Meds

20

Lady Cannabis

21 22

Reviews of some of Colorado’s best edibles and smokeables Patients have questions, she has answers

Hemp Eats

Spooktacular holiday recipes

26

Innovative Hemp Transportation A hemp scooter from Van.eko

Remembering Jenny Kush Photos, quotes and original artwork by friends

28 34

The DOJ

40

MMJ’s Newest Activist

20ish Questions An interview with creator of HempStrong, Scott Sondles

Profiting from Incarceration The prison industrial complex

50 8 October 2013

Is justice really being served?

Sanjay Gupta admits a thing or two about the miracle plant

44

The Pioneers of CBD

The trailblazers who helped put CBDs on the map

Cannabis News Around the Globe Nationwide headlines

24

36

47

Proposition AA THC looks at both sides of the issue

48

What the Frack?

48

Visions Through the Hayes

53 61 65

Denver Dispensary Guide Coupons Index

24

Is the price too high for our environment?

CO floods: It’s time for us to make some waves


Dispensary Guide

DENVER

54 Cure Colorado 58 The Clinic 55 The Hemp Center 55 Mind, Body, Spirit Wellness Clinic 56 Northern Lights Natural Rx 56 Physician Preferred Products 59 River Rock 60 Southwest Alternative Care

COLORADO SPRINGS

54 FRAM 57 Rocky Mountain Miracles

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The GREEN Scene

E V E N T S

October 5th 2013 Zombie Dash (Urban Zombie Race) 9:00 am Cassleman’s Bar and Venue 2620 Walnut Street Denver, CO casslemans.com October 10th FREE Waters Seminar 8:15 am Waters ASR/ERA Facility 16341 Table Mountain Parkway Golden, CO 80403 www.waters.com

October 12th Club 710 Track Meet 7:10 pm at the Dog Track Colorado Springs, CO https://www.facebook.com/events/1400930316801616/ October 16th Learn to Grow Cannabis 4:20pm-8:30pm 332 E. Colorado Ave Colorado Springs, CO https://www.hugecity.us/events/6076601 October 19th Official Zombie Crawl 2:00pm Skyline Park (16th & Arapahoe) Denver, CO eyeheartbrains.com October 19th Zombie Crawl Official Afterparty 7:00 pm Cassleman’s Bar and Venue 2620 Walnut Street Denver, CO casslemans.com http://eyeheartbrains.com/stay-alive-after-party/ October 19th Denver Zombie Prom-Zombie Crawl Afterparty Medowlark 2701 Larimer St. Denver, CO http://eyeheartbrains.com/stay-alive-after-party/ October 25th Satan’s Castle 8:30 pm Cassleman’s Bar and Venue 2620 Walnut Street Denver, CO casslemans.com October 31st Club 710 Halloweed Costume Party 7:10 pm at the Dog Track Colorado Springs, CO

12 October 2013

Every Friday - 10:00a.m. River Rock South Sessions 990 W. 6th Ave. Denver, CO


Good Reads: The Gospel of Hemp by Steven Turetsky

Did you know 10,000 acres of hemp can produce the same amount of paper as 40,500 acres of trees? This is just one of many ways hemp can help save our environment and economy. Cannabis Sativa’s less glamorous cousin, Cannabis Ruderalis is equally as important of a cause to campaign for; from fuel and building materials to clothing and food, this industrial plant can literally do it all. Yet hardly anyone knows much about its story or potential, even those who are well educated in the marijuana legalization movement. “The Gospel of Hemp” by Alan Archuleta, is the perfect quick read at just 40 pages, but densely packed with enough truth to turn any skeptic into a believer. Archuleta’s inspiration for the book came from “The Emperor Wears No Clothes,” essentially the ‘bible of hemp’ by legendary hemp advocate Jack Herer. The purpose of “The Gospel of Hemp” was to provide a back-pocket cheat sheet of information that activists can use to inform the lady at the bus stop, or the guy sitting next to you at the bar, on what America is missing out on. Ever since the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, hemp was lumped in with the “violence and insanity-inducing” drug marijuana, even though it contains a negligible amount of THC that produces no psychoactive effects. Despite all the evidence and support for marijuana finally pervading into the public vernacular to combat decades of wives-tales, hemp is hardly talked about. “We are going to have to change the views on hemp one person at time,” says Archuleta acknowledging that the plight of hemp will need grassroots support to tag along with marijuana reform. Being a college student, I found it motivating that Archuleta also started his involvement while at University of California-Davis in the early 1990s. Young people are the future face of change and need to realize that any one person can make a difference in the world. Archuleta says he lives by the quote “Everyday in some little way, spread your message.” Research and learn the facts, educate your family and friends about hemp’s potential, challenge your politicians on the issue and help America develop a plan for a sustainable and profitable future. You can purchase “The Gospel of Hemp” e-book for $1.99 at www.thegospelofhemp.com.

Open Vape and Special Queen 250mg Cartridge by Organa Labs

By now I am sure that you have seen or tried the Open Vape by Organa Labs. Their strain specific CO2 oil available in 250mg and 500mg cartridges are leading the way for vape pens with a preloaded cartridge. For this review I received a 250mg Special Queen cartridge and a brand new pen. Some centers will throw in the pen for free if you buy two or more cartridges, just ask your local bud tender where Open Vapes are sold for more info. The first thing that has always stuck out to me with this product is their packaging. Each cartridge comes in a card stock display and protected by a plastic tube. The really cool thing about the packaging is that with every cartridge you buy you get a magnet with the strain name like it came from the periodic table. This is TM

a neat promotional item that patients can collect and stick on their fridge. I have had many Open Vape cartridges over the year so my mini fridge in my office is now filled with these magnets. The Open Vape is probably the only preloaded cartridge I have tried where the flavor of the strain can actually comes through. Each drag is smooth and tasty with no odor. The other awesome thing about owning an Open Vape is it looks just like a normal e-cigarette. It is discreet enough to use in public and no one would think twice about what you were puffing on. I have taken mine to sporting events, concerts, weddings and nights out on the town with friends. This is a great product for patients looking for a discreet way to medicate. I am excited to see how the vape pens evolve over the next couple years and I know Organa Labs will be at the forefront. Visit Open Vape's website to see where you can purchase one today. www.openvape. com , www.organalabs.com reviewed by Monocle Man

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT Hemp Products We Love

Hempy Oktoberfest!

Now, you may not be able to go right out and buy all these at your local liquor store (thanks to silly distribution laws) but we thought that to celebrate October, beer and all things hemp we would educate any beer lovers and hemp connoisseurs on some delicious finds.

Dubhe Imperial Black IPA by Uinta Brewing Co.

Cannabia by dupetit Natural Products

Hemp Hop Rye by O’Fallon Brewery

ABV: 9.2% Origin: Salt Lake City, Utah Notes: If IPAs are your thing, you will enjoy this beer. Comes in a four pack. While about as dark as a stout or a porter, it has the rich flavor of a good IPA. Very smooth for how intense the hoppiness is. There were hints of nutty chocolatey goodness. A very “sticky” beer. Enjoy in a glass.

ABV: 5.0% Origin: Germany Notes: Brewed with organic hemp seeds, this German beer is a Pilsnerextremely light. Could drink numerous of these on a nice warm summer day.

ABV: 5.8% Origin: O’Fallon, MO Notes: I was lucky enough to get O’Fallon to send me two of these tasty Amber Ales. It had a citrusy, light taste and was a kind of darkish orange in color. The hemp and rye flavors didn’t necessarily stand out to me but that didn’t stop me from drinking it on down!. Overall, a refreshing and drinkable beer.

Derailed Hemp Ale by Wedge Brewing ABV: 5.7% Origin: Asheville, NC Notes: Brewed with three kinds of malts, Cascade hops and toasted hemp seeds. Dark in color and hoppy in taste. On tap at Wedge Brewing.

Humboldt Brown Hemp Ale by Nectar Ales ABV: 5.7% Origin: Paso Robles, CA Notes: Caramel in color. Somewhat sweet, standard brown ale taste with hints of floral chocolate. A simple flavor with slight nutty undertones thanks to the hemp seeds.

Organic Harvest Moon by Nelson Brewing Co. ABV: 5.0% Origin: British Columbia Notes: Technically a Kolsch beer which is technically a lager. Light in color and in taste. Brewed with organic malted barely, organic Pilsner and Munich malt, organic wheat, organic toasted hemp seeds.

14 October 2013

Metacool Maltuwanna by Wynkoop Brew Co. ABV: 8.0% Origin: Denver, CO Notes: An Amber Ale brewed with hemp seeds. Only brewed one time but I bet if they got enough requests they would brew it again! Those who were lucky enough to try such a hearty brew said it had notes of caramel, citrus, nuts and serious hops. Let’s start a petition for the comeback!


HoodLab Store 3354 Larimer Street Denver, CO 80205 303-893-1069 www.hoodlabstore.com

Ladies Furry Hoody by HoodLamb

The Ladies Furry Hoody from HoodLamb is back! This great hoody with an extra big hood is made of eco friendly hemp/organic cotton and has a faux-fur lined interior, hand warmer pockets, wind catchers with thumb-holes and of course a secret pocket to hide your valuables. The Ladies Furry Hoody is available at Denver’s HoodLamb concept store, HOODLAB, in Black, Blue, Cream and Burgundy for $198.

Ladies Parka by HoodLamb

Watch out for our beautiful new ladies jacket: The HoodLamb Parka! The Ladies HoodLamb Parka features all key-elements you come to expect from a HoodLamb Jacket; a water- and wind- resistant outer shell (treated with organic hemp cellulose), faux-fur lined interior, hand warmer pockets, wind catchers with thumb-holes and of course a secret pocket to hide your valuables. The HoodLamb Parka is available at the Denver’s HoodLamb concept store, HOODLAB, in Black, Old Skool Blue and Burgundy for $348.

Minawear Hemp Cargo Pants

Minawear is a line of hemp apparel created to inspire the health of the planet. Hemp is, after all, the world’s most useful plant. Minawear’s line of luxury hemp loungewear has it all. These pants can be worn to yoga, work (at a casual job), relaxing at home, to bed, and are great for mothers-to-be. Their line of hemp pants consist of 55% stretchy hemp and 45% certified organic cotton. I was lucky enough to receive a pair of the Hemp Cargo Pants in redwood, just in time for fall. I am a huge fan of lounge-wear, yoga, and lounging in general. Having said that, I have owned every brand you can think of in yoga pants and pajama pants. Being the loungewear expert that I am, I was so excited to test these Hemp Cargo Pants in a real world lounging scenario. What can I say? I love these pants. The soft hemp/cotton blend fabric is incredibly comfortable. They held up very well to the rigorous couch and bedtime field tests. I also wore them out for a bit of yoga, another successful adventure. These pants are equipped with an elastic waistband and a drawstring, making them a perfect yoga pant. I can’t tell you how many times I have had my pants slowly slipping down while executing a Plank into Downward Facing Dog but I didn’t have that problem with these pants. The steadfast elastic waistband/drawstring combo held the pants in perfect position so I didn’t moon anyone while trying to salute the Sun. Minawear clothing is affordably priced from $54-$150 and are machine washable. Check out their website to see what they have for you. www.minawear.com

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Featured Artist

Brian Curran

by Caroline Hayes

Bob Marley

Snoop Dogg

The first time I ever laid eyes on a Brian Curran original I was sure it was just a blown up photograph. Upon closer inspection and explanation from my editor, I realized that the beautiful image I laid my eyes on was not a photograph but a drawing. I knew it was only a matter of time before we had to feature him in the magazine. Every artist has a different story, talent, way of doing things and here is glimpse into Brian’s artist story. THC: What medium do you use to create such real-life pieces of work? BC: The medium I use for my drawings is charcoal. I start my drawings by filling in all of the larger solid black areas of the piece and then by blending the charcoal into the lighter areas by finger. I use a couple of simple tools to build layers including a triangular sponge, a blending stump and a couple of different erasers to put in highlights and texture. THC: Who is your biggest inspiration? BC: My favorite artist is Chuck Close. He worked on very large-scale black and white portraits and I have always been impressed by the level of detail he was able to achieve in his work. THC: Where can interested buyers find your work? BC: My work is currently on display at Casselman’s Music Venue on located at 2620 Walnut St. and the Mike Wright Gallery on 1412 Wazee St. in Denver, CO. Prints of my work are available online at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/brian-curran.html. THC: What is something you want THC’s readers to know

16 October 2013

Jimmy Hendrix

about your art? BC: I do most of my drawings during live events. I enjoy the energy of the crowds and like to bring the experience of the artist’s studio to the public. I will go to an event with my blank paper and an easel and can usually get a piece mostly finished in a few hours. It is a great way to engage the people at the event who watch the process of my work. THC: I see you draw a lot of hip hop artist. Is this your main choice of music? BC: The subject of my recent works have mainly been rock and hip-hop artists. I choose the images based on my personal tastes for music and from a list I keep of musicians people suggest I draw at live events. I will pick a person and then search through thousands of images looking for photos that will translate well into charcoal and then narrow it down to the one that has the most impact or contrast and best represent the subject. THC: What’s important to remember when recreating faces? BC: When I start a portrait I always start with the eyes to make sure they are proportional. After the eyes are right I begin to build out the face starting with the nose and then the mouth. It’s important when drawing faces to focus on shapes and shades rather than approaching it from the perspective of ‘I’m drawing an ear or a mouth.’ A couple of times in the the past, I have waited until the end of the drawing to put the eyes and they came out a bit crooked. Not exactly a desired effect. Thank you Brian!


Deborah Harry

Al Pacino

Serenity Now

Marilyn Monroe

People Tree

Anne Ott

Talk to the Dragon Willie Nelson

Mos Def

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TASTY TASTY MEDICINE MEDICINE reviewed by Monocle Man and Hazy Cakes

Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Cake Bites 100mg by Bakked Bakked has been busy in their kitchen cooking up new treats for patients across the state. For this review I was given their new Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Cake Bites. Two 50mg cake bites come in a small plastic container with detailed info and nutritional facts. Each chocolate cake bite is about an inch-by-inch square and sprinkled with sea salt. The rich creamy chocolate frosting and moist chocolate cake combined to be one of the best tasting edibles I have had in a while. They tasted so good I wish I got four 25mg bites instead so I could pig out on these things and not get totally wrecked. The chocolate and the sea salt complimented each other nicely and masked the taste of any medication. I ate one after dinner and waited about an hour before having the other one. It couldn’t have been more than two hours after eating the last one that I passed out. I was very surprised how potent these things were, as I could not taste any meds. I woke up in the middle of the night and was in a marijuana daze. I was able to take some notes on this review and went back to bed. Bakked’s Cake Bites are sure to be a huge hit when they make their way to the shelves. If your center doesn’t carry them, tell them they need to. www.bakked.com

Monkey Bar 100mg by Incredibles They say not to judge a book by its cover but when it comes to Incredibles (and edibles in general), I’d say that judging is perfectly acceptable. At first glance, I noticed how shiny and professional yet delicious the silver packaging looks. Inside I found a candy bar made from two types of chocolate, toasted coconut, walnuts, organic bananas and 100mg of THC infused hash oil. It is absolutely delicious. A little pre-warning on this delicious treat: you must like coconut to enjoy the Monkey Bar. (If coconut doesn’t suit your fancy, they have other delicious flavors.) Upon tearing open the packaging, smells of tropical delights filled my nose. The bar is cut into 12 squares so it’s easy to give yourself the proper dosage and at less than 10mg per square, even the biggest lightweight can indulge. Now, I can be one of those lightweights when it comes to edibles but I found that I could eat two squares and still function, which I find to be a very appealing attribute with edibles. That was my first experiment with the Monkey Bar. On the second one I tripled my dose. My body felt like the epitome of the word “stoned” and my mind “high.” I was sinking into the couch, eyes heavy, but my thoughts were active (not racing). My boyfriend asked if I wanted to play the new Grand Theft Auto, which he had asked every day that week to which I reply “hell no.” This time, I accepted the invite and have never had so much fun playing a video game. So if you are a guy reading this and your girlfriend hates video games too, just go out, buy an Incredibles Monkey Bar, feed it to her and viola! She’s enjoying something you do and not yelling at you for it! I had an incredible (no pun intended) deep sleep that night and woke up feeling amazing. Back to the packaging for a second, they did change up the label by removing the actual monkey. I think this is a good call because the monkey looked like Donkey Kong, which could have been too appealing to children. Incredibles always gets positive reviews and now I can see why. www.incredibles.com 18 October 2013


Colorado Bar 300mg by Dixie Elixirs Dixie Elixirs is one of Colorado’s most successful and established edible companies. They started off with drinks and now they have grown into a powerhouse offering a wide selection of edibles and topicals. One of their newest products is the Colorado Bar. At 300mg this delicious treat is perfect for patients with higher tolerances or when you have had one of those days and need to veg out on the couch. Like all of Dixie’s products, the packaging is top notch. Each Colorado Bar comes in a small metal tin wrapped with a label with an attention grabbing Colorado logo. Once I ripped off the label, I could see a plastic window that showed off the delicious treat I was about to enjoy. The Colorado Bar is half white chocolate half dark chocolate filled with sunflower seed butter. I started with the dark chocolate side first since I am not too keen on white chocolate. It tasted amazing and I was pleasantly surprised at how well the sunflower seed butter complimented the dark chocolate. I finished off the dark chocolate side in a few bites and decided to wait a while before diving into the white chocolate. After about an hour I decided to put my big boy pants on and finish off the rest. As I said before, I am not a big white chocolate person but sunflower seed butter went great with it and made it quite enjoyable. A few hours later I was zoned out on the couch staring off into space. The sunflower seed butter seemed to keep the meds at an even level in my body because it didn’t hit me like a ton of bricks like most high powered edibles do. The Colorado Bar is small in size but big in dose. I was high well into the next day after doing this review. Overall, this is another solid product from Dixie Elixirs. www.dixieelixirs.com

Pre 03 Kobe & Ghost Train Haze Flower Run by Stay Concentrated Colorado can’t seem to get enough of its concentrates and there are plenty of companies to choose from. One of the newer names to come to the market is Stay Concentrated. They have been putting out some amazing product this year and they have the trophies to show for it. Stay Concentrated took home 3rd place in High Times Cannabis Cup for their Pre 03 Kobe, which we were lucky enough to try for this review. A few months later they took home two 2nd place finishes in the 710 Cup in the sativa and CBD categories. The Pre 03 Kobe is an El Diablo and Pre 98 Bubba mix that makes for some delicious dabs. The Pre 03 was translucent light amber in color and had an earthy smell. It’s easy to see why they have won all those awards because this was some of the best tasting and full flavor shatter I have ever had. With my first dab I broke out into a sweat and my body felt numb. After the initial couch lock it slowly let me out of its grip. The Ghost Train Haze was a flower run from Kind Love in Denver. I loved the smell of this one. It had a strong lemon citrus smell that tickled my nose. This one was a little darker in color but still looked amazing. The flavor on this one blew me away as well. The Ghost Train gave me some major munchies and I was devouring peanut butter and jelly sandwiches like no one’s business. If you were looking to try some new shatter I would highly recommend Stay Concentrated. These guys know what they are doing and do it well. Check out Stay Concentrated on Facebook and their website to see which centers they process for. www.stay-concentrated.com, www. mmjdenver.net thcmag.com 19


Ask Lady Cannabis

As you know, Gentle Reader, consuming marijuana is a safe and enjoyable way to relax and spend time with others. There is a proper way to do this and several improper ways. Lady Cannabis addresses questions regarding the etiquette of responsible adult consumption of marijuana in various social settings. What is your question for Lady Cannabis? Email ladycannabis@thcmag.com with your questions.

Dear Lady Cannabis, I am a Colorado resident and my red card is expiring toward the end of the year. Is there any benefit to renewing my red card, or should I just buy from the new marijuana retail stores starting at the beginning of next year? Medical Muggles Dear Medical Muggles, The adage “it is better to be safe than sorry” are words of wisdom for your situation. If you receive health benefits from cannabis, don’t be in a rush to leave the medical registry. The rules and regulations for recreational centers are being discussed and decided right now. The specific differences between the two markets will be seen after January 1. There are several benefits to renewing your state issued medical marijuana card. One benefit is continued access to edibles and flower strains you have come to rely on in your favorite dispensaries. Knowing the product costs and tax rates for your medical cannabis purchases is another benefit to maintaining your medical card. In recreational centers, the product prices might be higher to capitalize on the newly legal market. Also, the tax rate for recreational cannabis has yet to be determined, which is a big point of contention among supporters of Amendment 64. The upcoming ballot Proposition AA sets the excise and tax rates for cannabis and includes a 15 percent excise tax and a 10 percent special sales tax plus local taxes. With these important factors to be determined, the best choice is to visit your doctor and get your annual recommendation. Be content knowing you have the right to medical marijuana and have good access to it. This is a hard won right for patients. Dear Lady Cannabis, If you are traveling and both places are legal pot states, what can or what should you bring with you? Traveling Toker

20 October 2013

Dear Traveling Toker, Although Colorado and Washington are the only two legal cannabis states at this time, packing cannabis safely for travel is an important skill for any responsible adult living within the 20 medical cannabis states. Careful packing practices will ensure successful traveling. In terms of what to bring with you, for any length of travel, pack only a sensible amount of cannabis for personal use. Pack clean paraphernalia and place separately from the cannabis. If you are traveling by airplane, rest assured the federal Transportation Security Agency has bigger concerns for airport safety than the cannabis it finds in the carry-on luggage of travelers. The agents are screening for bombs, not buds. If you are a medical patient in a state that allows medical marijuana, place your issued card or relevant documentation with your cannabis. Keep your travel supply of cannabis simple, clean and contained. You and your supply of cannabis for personal use should have no problems on your flight. When driving, one doesn’t have the same packing restrictions for vehicle travel as airline travel. The general rules still apply; pack a personal amount of cannabis and store clean paraphernalia in a separate place. Keep cannabis stowed away, ideally in the trunk of the vehicle. Careful packing can eliminate the plant aroma. Responsible use means not driving and smoking cannabis. This is not appropriate and can lead to expensive legal problems, among other serious predicaments, if you are stopped by a police officer or state trooper and cited for intoxicated driving. Be sensible and have your cannabis items packed. This prevents police from finding a reason or probable cause to further delay your travel plans. Be responsible. Unpack and partake when you no longer need to drive for the day. Enjoy your upcoming trip.


HEMP EATS

Indulge in tasty hemp-infused recipes that offer some nutrition without sacrificing flavor

Hemp-O-Ween Cupcakes

Makes 14 Preheat oven to 375˚ Ingredients: 1 cup of hemp flour 1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup of sugar 4 tablespoons shortening 6 tablespoons Living Harvest Hempmilk (Tempt) 1/2 teaspon vanilla 2 egg yolks Directions: In a mixing bowl, combine hemp flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and shortening. Add egg yolks one at a time, hemp milk and vanilla. Blend well until all ingredients are combined. Line muffin pan with paper cupcake holders. Pour batter into cups, filling about half full. Bake for 20 minutes. Decorate with orange and chocolate frosting, sprinkles or any other fun Halloween designs. Enjoy!

Roasted Butternut Squash Pear Ginger Hemp Seed Soup

Makes 5-6 cups soup (depending on how much liquid you add) Preheat oven to 350˚ Ingredients: 1 large butternut squash, peeled and chopped (about 4 cups chopped and roasted) 1 medium leek, sautéed 1-2 inches fresh ginger, peeled 1/2-teaspoon sea salt 1 pear, sautéed (I used D’Anjou pear) 1/2 cup hemp seeds 2-3 cups liquid of choice (water, veggie stock, or coconut milk, hemp seed milk, or almond milk) 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon all spice (or can do 1/8 tsp cloves and 1/4 tsp nutmeg) coconut oil for roasted squash and sautéing leek and pear

Directions: •Peel and chop butternut squash, lightly coat with some coconut oil. •Place chopped squash on cookie sheet, put in oven and roast for about 30-35 minutes or until soft and tender. •While squash is roasting, chop and sautée your leek Makes 1-2 servings and pear on the skillet. Ingredients: •While those are sautéing place your spices and hemp 1 1/2 cups pumpkin, sweet potato or butternut squash puree seeds into Vitamix or high-powered blender. 1/2 cups cooked quinoa •Once hemp seeds and pear are done place into blend1 Granny Smith apple, cored and roughly chopped er. Blend. 2 tablespoons hemp seeds •Once butternut squash is soft, place into blender and 1 3/4 cups amond milk (adjust based on desired thickness) Handful of spinach (optional-the color won’t be nice but the nutri- continue to blend. •Begin adding in your liquid one cup at a time, until evtion will be enhanced!) erything is blended and you reach your desired thick1-2 pitted dates (optional but will enhance sweentess) ness or texture of soup. Directions: Place all ingredients in a high speed blender and blend on high (For mine I actually used about just 1 1/2- 1 3/4 cups water and it was nice and thick.) until smooth and creamy! Recipe courtesy of Gena Hamshaw of Choosingraw.com Recipe courtesy of PurelyTwins.com

Green Apple, Pumpkin, Quinoa and Hemp Seed Smoothie

thcmag.com 21


Cannabis News

by John Schroyer

Marijuana Shops May Soon Open in Berlin Berlin might follow Amsterdam in allowing marijuana coffee shops, if new district mayor Monika Herrmann gets her way. Herrmann, who assumed office in August, sees legalizing the sale of marijuana as a way to combat the black market in a local park overrun with illicit drug dealers. But whether or not such shops are permitted will likely depend on the outcome of the German federal elections on Sept. 22. If more liberal officials take power, marijuana restrictions will likely be eased, but if conservatives win enough influence, that could hamper Herrmann’s plans. Hemp Flag Raised Above Vermont State Capitol A United States flag made of hemp was flown over the Vermont Capitol on Tuesday, Sept. 17, Constitution Day. The same flag flew over the U.S. Capitol on July 4 and over the Colorado state Capitol on Aug. 1.

federal land. Nearly 28,000 people have been ticketed since 2009 for possession of marijuana on federal land, such as Rocky Mountain National Park, according to the Associated Press. In 2013, an estimated 5,300 people will be cited nationwide. And a ticket can come with a hefty price: a $5,000 fine and up to six months in jail. First-time offenders usually get off much easier, with no time behind bars and a fine of a few hundred dollars, but that’s a far cry from total legalization. Legalizing Marijuana Could Be Worth 1.25 Billion Pounds Annually in The United Kingdom The British government could make itself richer by more than 1.25 billion pounds by legalizing and taxing marijuana, according to a new report by the Institute for Social and Economic Research. The report found that the government in England and Wales could save 300 million pounds annually on enforcement costs, and make even more by taxing the sale of the drug.

Cultivating hemp was legalized by the Vermont Legislature this summer, and the flag is a miniature celebration by the plant’s supporters, who are hopeful that the Obama administration will continue its hands-off approach when it comes to the crop.

The report, compiled by an economics professor at the University of Essex, also took increased costs into account, such as regulation and health education.

Marijuana Users Still Being Cited for Possession on Federal Land

Ironically, now that marijuana is legal in Colorado, a fabricated version of the drug is possibly responsible for three deaths and more than 150 illnesses across the state. Synthetic marijuana, which has plenty of aliases, such as “Spice,” “Crazy Clown,” and the like, is suspected of causing a litany of medical problems, according to a report by NPR.

Though Colorado and Washington both legalized marijuana possession last year, and President Barack Obama said the federal government has “bigger fish to fry” than individuals caught with small amounts of cannabis, people in both states are still getting ticketed for breaking federal law if they’re caught on

22 October 2013

Synthetic Marijuana Suspected of Causing Illnesses in Colorado

A lead Colorado medical official told the

outlet that hospitals have seen users of synthetic marijuana suffer seizures, become violent towards staffers, and be delirious and confused. One problem for hospitals right now is they’re not sure what chemicals to be on the lookout for. In mid-September, a five-person team from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention came to Denver, at the behest of the state health department, which requested federal aid in its investigation into the rash of illnesses. The CDC said similar outbreaks have been reported in other states, including Georgia, Oregon, and Wyoming, and there have been other reports of synthetic marijuana causing illnesses in Alabama and Oklahoma. Industrial Hemp Will Likely Be Grown in Oregon, Following Announcement by DOJ That it Will Not Interfere With Colorado and Washington Laws Industrial hemp, long classified as a controlled substance by the federal government, could be on its way to legalization in Oregon, if one state official has his way. The Aug. 29 announcement by the federal Department of Justice that it won’t interfere with the legalization of marijuana in Washington and Colorado was interpreted by state Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, to mean that other states were also free to enact their own laws regarding cannabis. That, Prozanski says, extends to industrial hemp, which he has championed for years. Prozanski sponsored a law in 2009 that legalized hemp cultivation and production in Oregon, but the measure was never fully implemented. Now that the federal government has taken a


Across the Globe stand, Prozanski says it’s time for Oregon to move forward. He plans to talk to the federal Department of Agriculture about “figuring out what the next steps are,” according to The Oregonian newspaper. Florida Mother With Cancer-Stricken Two-year-old Starts Petition on White House Website in Effort to Get Medical Marijuana For Her Child In dire straits and feeling that she has nowhere left to turn, Moriah Barnhart began a petition on the White House website to urge President Barack Obama to support legalizing medical marijuana. Barnhart was driven to action by her 2-year-old child’s situation: her daughter, Dahlia, has brain cancer. Moriah, who lives in Florida, wants to be able to treat her daughter with medical marijuana in the hopes of at least alleviating her symptoms, which include seizures, nausea and extreme pain. The petition is called “Dahlia’s Law,” and reads, “legalize medical marijuana. End the suffering of Americans before you attempt to end suffering elsewhere.” As of Sept. 17, it had 2,069 signatures, with a goal of reaching 100,000 signatures by Oct. 8.

Justice declaring the state’s intentions to start sowing hemp seeds. Kentucky farms could begin planting as early as next February, unless the DOJ steps in. Breckenridge, CO Bans Downtown Retail Marijuana Sales The Breckenridge Town Council became the latest of dozens of local governments across Colorado to ban retail marijuana sales in their downtown area, but didn’t close the door completely for recreational sales in the area. It did, however, give downtown marijuana clubs a deadline: once the Breckenridge Cannabis Club’s lease is up on Sept. 1, 2014, it won’t be allowed to renew it. They’ll have to move out of downtown, and perhaps out of Summit County entirely, to comply with zoning regulations. The ordinance banning downtown sales allows existing medical marijuana dispensaries to apply for retail sales licenses through Jan. 1, 2015, but there are no limits to how many licenses can be issued, and licenses can be transferred to other owners.

on

Some U.S. Attorneys Will Continue to Prosecute Marijuana Dispensaries, Despite New DOJ Policy

In the absence of instructions from the federal government, Kentucky has decided to make its own rules on industrial hemp production. The state’s Industrial Hemp Commission has told its staff to begin writing rules for would-be hemp farmers.

Even though U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said in August that the federal government will keep its hands off Colorado’s and Washington’s new marijuana legalization laws, U.S. attorneys across the country may continue on as they were before Holder’s announcement.

Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, whose political action committee donated $25,000 to the commission in September, has been asked to send a letter to the federal Department of

In northern California, for instance, U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag has pursued federal charges against medical marijuana dispensaries. A representative for her office told Forbes in September

Kentucky Moving Forward Industrial Hemp Production

that they “do not expect a significant change” when it comes to their policy. A similar reaction came from offices in Washington and Montana, according to Forbes, but the outlet also reported that may be because those three states lack the regulatory structure Colorado has in place. Either way, marijuana businessness people are not completely out of the federal legal limbo they’ve dealt with for years now. HEMP Political Party Launched in Australia A new political party kicked off its career down under in early September with a 33-foot inflatable joint in Sydney’s Hyde Park and a cleverly abbreviated moniker: the Help End Marijuana Prohibition (HEMP) Party. The organization is dedicated to electing candidates to Australia’s parliament. “America has given us huge encouragement,” Michael Balderstone, HEMP Party president, told Reuters news agency. “Half of America now has access to medical cannabis and now they’ve started to get new regulations for recreational cannabis. So, you now, the wall is down there and no big deal, the place hasn’t gone crazy.” U.S. Air Force Bans Hemp Seeds Worried that a Greek yogurt that contains hemp seeds could result in positive drug tests for its troops, the U.S. Air Force banned both the seeds and the yogurt, Chobani’s “Blueberry Power Flip.” The yogurt comes with a side of hemp seeds and other nuts that are mixed in with the yogurt as an added ingredient. Chobani has started to remove the hemp seeds due to the Air Force’s ban.

thcmag.com 23


Hemp Goes Vroom Vroom... (quietly) by Josh Davis

If Vaniek Colenbrander has his way, sometime in the nottoo-distant future, you could be cruising through a city atop a hemp composite electric scooter.

and it literally grows like weed.

Actually, his dream is near reality in the Netherlands where his company Van.eko has created the Be.e CompositeElectric Scooter. Although it resembles scooters from decades past, its technology is 21st eco-century.

VC: No. But after five years of research and development I currently have a good feel for the possibilities with it.

The Be.e can travel a distance of just over 80km (50 miles), can cruise from 0-50 Kph (30 mph) in roughly seven seconds, and is recharged in under four hours using a standard 220V outlet. But what really separates this scooter from other electrics is the sleek hemp composite body. THC talked with the creator of the Be.e to find out where this ingenuity came from and what we can expect in the future.

VC: At NPSP Composieten (composites). They had built a catamaran (two hull sailing boat) with it. That’s when the gong sounded and I was aware that we could build scooters from this stuff.

THC: What came first, the idea for the scooter or the idea to use hemp composites in vehicle? Vaniek Colenbrander (VC): The idea was to create an indestructible scooter made from bio-based composites. In looking for the correct materials we stumbled across hemp.

THC: Had you used hemp composites before?

THC: Where did you first see hemp used in this way?

THC: Did you have to test your ideas using the hemp? VC: Yes, we have gone through five years of building proof of concepts, testing various material layouts, strength strain and toughness tests, as well as the necessary CAD modeling and testing the areas which need reinforcement or sometimes even a re-design. THC: What’s the process for making the body?

THC: Well it’s hard to miss since it can grow up to four meters high. So what characteristics of hemp composites make them worth using in a design like this?

VC: It’s call VA-RTM or Vacuum Assisted - Resin Transfer Molding. It’s much like the way they currently manufacture glass fiber reinforced composites.

VC: We were looking at various other fibers such as Sisal, Jute, Cellulose, Flax, Woven Flax, Flax UD, Woven Hemp and non woven, and a bunch of others. Hemp was technically one of the best performers. So very strong and very light, with a high fiber ratio in the composite. Also, hemp can be grown in temperate climates, meaning that it is readily available as a crop in the EU (European Union), and it is a great crop to cultivate. Little fertilizer and little crop protectors are needed

THC: Where do you get the hemp from?

24 October 2013

VC: NPSP purchases it from HempFlax. I then purchase it from NPSP as a frame ready for assembly. But in essence the hemp comes from HempFlax based in Oude Pekela near Groningen in the north of the Netherlands. THC: Obviously one doesn’t just wake up and know how to


build an electric scooter. What is your background and how did you come to design the Be.e?

VC: Most probably yes. But I’m hesitant to let you in on that for the moment.

VC: As a Product Design Engineer, I have always been inspired by the mobility industry, bicycles and cars especially, but scooters and PTW’s (Powered Two-Wheelers) as well. Over the last four years I have been employed as Product Manager of E-scooters and R&D coordinator for battery systems and drive train technology at QWIC. Since 2013, I have been able to pursue my dream and market the fruit of my graduation project: The Be.e, the world’s first bio-based electric scooter. It’s great to be able to do something in a field that I am passionate about and with that attempting to improve the way people perceive sustainability and how that will influence our “green” futures.

THC: Oh come on, how about a hint ... (silence). Ok, moving on ... Do you have any advice for the U.S.? As you may know hemp is illegal at the federal level for farmers to grow here.

THC: Where are your scooters available?

THC: What are your thoughts for the future of technology utilizing hemp?

VC: Currently we’re looking for further funding and investment to get the first series into production. So if there are any interested investors out there, contact me! At the moment we have four prototypes that are driving around and a fifth is on its way! But nothing for the public so far ... yet. THC: What about the U.S., any plans to have them in our market? VC: Of course, once we round off our pilots in the Netherlands and Europe we hope to be able to introduce the scooter in the U.S. as well.

VC: Well, the hemp we use is industrial hemp. There are hardly any (if any at all) illegal substances in the crop we use as a basis for the scooter. So, depending on which purpose and which crop you are growing, it shouldn’t have to be such a big deal. I am not fully aware of the legal implications, and certainly not so in the U.S. As in the U.S., growing marijuana for recreational use with high THC content is illegal in the Netherlands as well.

VC: Hopefully we will be able to create products from more sustainable sources. Fossil fuel based plastics, materials and energy are the main source of pollution as we know it. If all our appliances and day-to-day products could be sourced from natural resources (without competing for food), and our energy could come from the sun, much of the environmental challenges we currently face could be solved. To find out more about the Be.e Scooter please visit the Van. eko website at: http://vaneko.com/be-e

THC: Any other hemp products in the future?

thcmag.com 25


Remembering

Jenny Kush

“Gone yet not forgotten, although we are apart, your spirit lives within us, forever in our hearts” -Unknown They say the stars that shine the brightest burn out the fastest. This is absolutely true for Jenny Kush. The impact that this bright soul made on everyone is too great to go unnoticed. If you have ever heard anyone say anything about Jenny, it would have been said with a smile. An unfortunate irony happened on the early morning of August 31 when Jenny, a well-known cannabis activist, was killed by a drunk driver who was driving the wrong way on I-25. Jenny leaves behind the love of her life, Jeremy DePinto and four children. Jenny made a great impact on the Colorado cannabis scene and reached new heights with her activism. She founded Moms for Marijuana and hosted a radio show on iCannabisRadio (listen at http://www.youtube.com/user/icannabisradioco). Jenny described herself as “an active member of the Colorado cannabis community” and for that, we thank her for fighting for patients’ rights and for those who didn’t have a voice. Clearly she made an impact on folks in Boston because a stage was named after her at the Boston Freedom Rally, which was held on September 14-15, just days after her sudden death. A candlelight vigil was held at Denver’s Capitol building on September 30 to remember Jenny and raise awareness about drunk driving. The legacy she left will continue to burn just as bright as she did, thanks to other active cannabis community members. You will be missed Jenny. Thank you for everything.

26 October 2013

Illustrations by Derek Cumings and Jenny Kush


daughter, sister, mother, soulmate, friend, activist

She meant so much to so many, she will forever be in our hearts.

Jenny was a mother of four. A fund has been set up to help her children with things such as college and other expenses. Please help by donating any amount that you can. So far more than $14,000 has been raised. Let’s help reach the goal of $100,000 and then some! Please go to

https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/dapAc to donate.

thcmag.com 27


20ish Questions: An Interview With Entrepreneur Scott Sondles, Founder Of HempStrong by Josh Davis

Something’s coming. Something big. Something strong. Something made of hemp. You might even say it will be HempStrong and it will be EVERYWHERE. At least if Scott Sondles has his way it will be. Author of Hemponomics and Co-Founder of HempStrong, Scott Sondles’s vision for the future is one of sustainability and responsible ecoeconomic growth done primarily through the use of our mighty friend the hemp plant. Though in the beginning phases of a major release there is already a buzz on the internet about HempStrong and what it could mean for the economics of hemp in a big way. THC sat down with Sondles to ask him twenty questions! The Hemp Connoisseur (THC): You don’t look THAT Strong. Actually wait a minute - damn look at those biceps! Ok, we will forgo the initial arm wrestling competition and opt for a background check instead. What was your trajectory to starting HempStrong? Scott Sondles (SS): First off, I eat a lot of hemp. It helps the muscles grow. So, I graduated from the University of Kentucky in December 2011 with a degree in Finance and Economics. During school and since graduation, I’ve worked odd jobs to support my entrepreneurship habit. Its always been hard for me to pick up the regular 8-5 job because I’ve always been working on startup projects that have not allowed me to take a position that would tie me down. I’ve sold custom t-shirts to local businesses, done yard work, freelance writing/ghostwriter and real estate sales. I’m an entrepreneur at heart and hopefully I am able to make HempStrong my full time gig shortly. THC: What was your first impression of hemp? Did you think it was just something for hippies to wear around their wrists? SS: I first heard of the hemp industry while working on a startup custom clothing company I had founded with a college buddy my senior year. We had a client approach us who was looking for hemp clothing and I had no clue such thing existed. We only dealt with cotton/polyester clothing suppliers. I was intrigued enough to do some research though, and after learning about hemp clothing I found out about the nutritional benefits of hemp foods, hemp construction, bio-plastics etc. … One of the things I did notice was that most the companies in the marketplace did target the “hippie” crowd, which wasn’t a bad thing, but I wanted to help rebrand the hemp industry in way that made it much more accessible and approachable to people that wouldn’t classify themselves as hippies or the ‘Go Green’ crowd. Everyone can benefit from hemp. When I first told my family that I was going into the hemp industry, they freaked out for a bit, though, ha ha. I had to do some educating before they jumped on board and saw all the potential hemp has when it comes to making healthier and more sustainable products. THC: After learning about it, when did you decide to dive deeper and learn about the economics of hemp? SS: Before Rand Paul became cool and a household

28 October 2013

name, I sent him an email about the industrial hemp industry. He shot me back a message expressing his passion for legalizing the crop in America and after that I knew I was on the right track. I was lucky enough to have gone to school in the city that used to be the hemp capital of the United States back in the 19th century, so our university’s library probably had more documents on the hemp industry than anywhere else in the nation. I started checking out books and writing Hemponomics soon after. THC: What do you feel is the current perception of hemp’s usefulness in the American economy and marketplace? SS: Well, once we start growing hemp in America, our farmers are going to have to rely on the hemp seed as opposed to the fiber for money. This is because hemp seeds can be processed using existing infrastructure, while hemp fiber will take millions of dollars of private investment. Our immediate focus at HempStrong Brands is to launch companies that utilize the nutritious hemp seed so farmers have the incentive to grow the crop. But down the road I see hemp being a big player in the bioplastics market. The sky is really the limit for this industry and no one can really tell you how big it will get. Conscious consumers and entrepreneurs will be the deciding factors on how big the hemp industry gets and how fast it grows. THC: Most people just learn about something and then move on, but you wrote a book about it. Tell us about that process and what compelled you to create it. SS: I knew I was going to get into the hemp industry as soon as I found out about it and I wanted to be able to compile all the information I had learned into a short easy to read book. The success of the hemp industry depends on educating people about its benefits and it’s really a war of ideas in a way, that’s why I decided to write the book. Once people find out about all the products that can be made healthier or more sustainable with hemp it’s really hard for them to not fall in love with the plant. Hemp is something that people can really attach themselves too. THC: Did your company Hempstrong come out of writing this book or was it the opposite way around? SS: Well that’s a tough question to ask. The book and the company kind of evolved together. HempStrong was originally going to be a full service body care company


that sold both hemp supplements and hemp body care products, but as I kept learning about the hemp industry and started building the HempStrong team of entrepreneurs, it morphed into a parent company and eventually became HempStrong Brands. We want to be able to engulf ourselves into the entire industry and HempStrong Brands allows our team the freedom to start any business they want as opposed to keeping us tied down with just the supplements and body care products. The sky is the limit for what type of company we may launch in the future. THC: What’s been the reaction to people who have read your book? SS: Great! Most of the feedback I have received was from people who had no idea that hemp was so important in previous economies, and for some of my readers it was the first time somebody had separated the marijuana and hemp industries. A lot of people think that hemp is just the male form of marijuana. THC: Is it difficult to get people to give up their preconceived notions about hemp?

SS: Long. Our company has morphed so many times and we have pivoted and changed ideas and formulas a bunch. The key for me has been maintaining the passion and keeping moving forward when things don’t go your way. One of the things I’ve really had to learn is everything takes a lot longer than you want it to and you always need to be prepared for the worst. Being a young entrepreneur, in my opinion, is no different than being a starving artist or a musician. You just have to keep fine-tuning your craft and the end result is all that matters. If I didn’t have as much passion for the hemp industry as I do, I would have quit a long time ago. You have to be mentally prepared to be an

entrepreneur. SS: No not at all. I’ve found hemp can be beneficial to pretty much anyone and it’s all about finding out about what’s most important to your audience and then selling them on the specific benefits of hemp that would help them. THC: Tell us about Hempstrong. What’s this company all about? SS: HempStrong Brands hopes to rebrand the hemp industry and give it a much more professional and approachable feel that could help the hemp industry become a mainstream crop. We saw a lot of the niche companies on the market were specifically targeting the ‘Go Green’ or hippie crowd and we wanted to take the hemp industry to the next level with HempStrong Brands. The first company we are launching under the HempStrong family is a body care company called Hemp & Honey Plus. We are going to be coming out with lip balms, body creams, soaps and hand butters that utilize organic hemp oil along with some other pretty amazing ingredients. Our supplement company is the second company we are launching but all that information is top secret since we are still in the development stage. THC: What’s been the process for starting the company from the ground up?

THC: At what stage are you in now? SS: All of our body care products are finished and we have actually just finalized our new packaging today. We hope to have our website up and running the first or second week of October. We also are in the development stage of our new supplement venture. THC: Where do you see the potential for growth in the marketplace for hemp products. What industries can benefit? SS: The hemp foods and cosmetic markets will be the first to benefit from hemp but I see a huge potential when it comes to textiles, bio-plastics and hemp construction material. These industries will not develop overnight but as soon as farmers know they won’t lose the farm for growing industrial hemp, I think we will see major investors jumping on the bandwagon. The auto industry is a major purchaser of hemp bio-plastics in Europe and I see American manufacturers becoming major players in the hemp bio-plastic market in the near future. Bioplastics are very competitive with conventional products, plus they are lighter and require less energy to create. THC: Do you have any favorite hemp products? SS: Hemp seeds. I put them on everything. THC: What do you need now in order to grow your business?

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SS: The easy answer is money but we really just need more conscious consumers that vote with their dollars on a daily basis. One of the reasons I founded HempStrong was because I saw a crop that could fix a lot of problems in the world when it comes to sustainability and health. The easiest way to change the world is by changing yourself and we need more consumers who recognize the value of hemp and demand more sustainable and healthier products made from hemp. THC: Has your company lobbied Congress or any other law-making body about the hemp industry and its potential? What are you doing in terms of public outreach and education of industrial hemp? SS: I’ve personally had a meeting with Jim Jordan’s (R-Ohio) Chief of Staff to discuss that hemp issue, and I gave him a copy of my book, but that is it. I was the first person to contact Mr. Jordan about the hemp issue in his district so it was nice to educate his Chief of Staff on the issue. He needed more people in his district to voice their opinion about hemp before he took action. Once we get our website up and running, we will have an education section and a place where people can get involved with supporting active legislation. I wish I had more time to reach out to more people, but that last few months I’ve been solely focused on getting HempStrong off the ground and I’ve not had the time to lobby. Hopefully that changes soon. I did learn that congressman (Thomas) Massie from Kentucky (hemp supporter) and Jordan are close friends in congress and Massie has been working hard to get Jordan to jump on the bandwagon. THC: Kentucky seems to be leading the way for farmers’ rights to grow hemp. Have you been in touch with Agricultural Commissioner James Comer about what they are doing down there?

and our company’s role in this new paradigm shift is to simply listen to our customers and potential customers. Individuals will be the sole driver in this paradigm shift in sustainability, so we just have to listen and give them what they want. If anything it’s our job as entrepreneurs to predict the things that consumers don’t even realize they want but once again it all comes back to listening to the people around you and solving problems. We see hemp being a major player in the paradigm shift in sustainability simply because it can address the wants of many Americans, and it’s the job of the general public to do the voting with their hard earned dollars.

“The easiest way to change the world is by changing yourself and we need more consumers who recognize the value of hemp and demand more sustainable and healthier products made from hemp”

SS: I have not been in contact with the commissioner but I love what he is doing down in Kentucky. Due to the recent decision by the feds to not violate states rights in Washington and Colorado, the commissioner plans to give hemp farmers licenses next spring.

THC: When researching the book were there any current hemp facts or historical anecdotes that surprised you?

Our company really wants to influence farming in a way that will benefit local manufacturing, our own health and the environments health. Whether the problem is poor diets, unsustainable/non renewable inputs in supply chains, or non-point source pollution, these problems can all be addressed by changing what and how we grow things. Part of doing this is getting rid of economic incentives that encourage waste and the status quo. THC: What sort of team do you have in place already at HempStrong? How many employees do you have and where do you need to grow? SS: We currently have five team members that have a stake in HempStrong Brands. I knew I was going to need help making HempStrong a reality so after coming up with the idea I pitched it to my cousin and friend Michael Bumgarner. He loved the idea and the product so he jumped on board. After that we added three other people that have experience in design, product launches, and marketing. THC: Are there other companies that you are emulating in your creation of HempStrong, companies that you feel are getting it right?

SS: Oh yeah. Richard Branson of Virgin was a huge inspiration to both me and Bum (Bumgarner) as we began creating the business model. We really liked what his business stood for and how he didn’t really leave any stone unturned when it comes to launching new businesses. If he sees a problem and he thinks he can fix it, he doesn’t think twice. Others were Patagonia, and I really enjoyed learning about TOMS shoes. Those are just a couple. I have stacks of entrepreneurial books that inspired the company in small ways.

SS: Not really. I got to the point in researching where nothing really surprised me. If anything the statistic about 99 percent of the plants pulled by the DEA are actually industrial hemp was pretty shocking. That was one of the facts I had to double check and find a good source, but it’s true: 99 percent of the plants pulled by the DEA is actually classified as “ditch weed” and can’t be smoked.

THC: So we saved the biggest question for last... How did you decide on the name HempStrong?

THC: In your book you talk about needing to have a paradigm shift in order for us to move forward with a sustainable economic and environmental business model. Can you explain what that means in terms of your company and the public in general?

THC: Simple and sweet. We like how you roll man. Thanks Scott! Stay strong.

SS: It can mean different things to different people

30 October 2013

SS: After I found out that hemp is one of the strongest, if not the strongest plant fiber in the world, I just put the two words together and came up with HempStrong. We liked how it sounded and rolled with it.

SS: You mean HempStrong?! THC: Yes, yes that’s exactly what we mean.


thcmag.com 31


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No Holds Barred?

Private Prisons Profit by Encouraging Incarceration

To some the term “Prison Industrial Complex” might reek of hippie conspiracy. The product of an anti-establishment mindset fueled by weed induced paranoia that “the man” is out to get you. But in truth, the prison industrial complex is a vast, sprawling amalgamation of private companies, lobbyists and policy makers united behind one banner: incarcerating the maximum number of people for the longest period of time. Motivations may vary. To some legislators, it can be as

34 October 2013

by DJ Reetz

straight forward as a misguided notion of being tough on crime in an attempt to keep constituents safe by keeping criminals off the streets. But for private corporations built around incarceration, the motivation is much simpler: money. Companies built around supplying law enforcement with equipment fit for a paramilitary coup, supplying prisons with essential services and perhaps most prominently, the housing of convicts themselves. All these companies share an interest in creating as much necessity for their services as


possible. Like most large corporations, they employ lobbyists to push legislators toward that end, because unlike most other industries, these companies are nearly entirely dependent on government contracts for income.

ious dealings with public officials. According to information obtained by the ACLU, Corrections Corp spent $18 million on federal lobbying between 1999 and 2009, and another $970,000 in 2010. And that’s just federal lobbying.

Companies operating for-profit prisons have the added advantage of operating with minimal government oversight, a fact that has drawn attention from the American Civil Liberties Union. According to the ACLU, private prisons have been shown to reduce costs through corner-cutting measures that result in less experienced employees and a greater chance of violence and human rights violations.

State lobbying is even harder to track because of varying state disclosure laws. Since many of the prison contracts are awarded at the state level, it seems pretty safe to assume you could buy a pretty nice boat with the money these corporations spend trying to sway state legislators.

“It’s really hard to know what’s going on [inside private prisons],” says Denise Maes, Public Policy Director for the ACLU in Colorado. “Generally speaking, I don’t think the public has a clue about private prisons or that there are problems with them.” Among the most infamous members of the supposed prison industrial complex are Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) and GEO Group. These corporations represent the two largest providers of privatized prisons in the United States, housing around 90,000 and 66,000 inmates respectively as of the end of the 2012 fiscal year. And they’re pretty up front about their goals. As publicly traded companies, they must release annual and quarterly financial reports to stockholders and potential investors that outline potential risks to business. Among these potential risks is the possibility of judicial reform, which looms as a threat to the business model of getting paid on a per inmate basis. From GEO Group’s annual filing earlier this year:

Both GEO Group and Corrections Corp are also big-ticket spenders in state election campaigns. In its report on the private prison industry, the ACLU further uncovers that between 2000 and 2011, Corrections Corp and Geo Group spent a combined $6 million on state election campaigns, compared with a mere $800,000 on federal campaigns. The stark difference in these amounts would seem to show that these corporations are spending a great deal more to influence state legislators than federal legislators.

Judge Mark Ciavarella was found to have been dishing out absurd sentences to the kids in his court after receiving $1 million in bribes... from the builder of two nearby juvenile detention facilities

In particular, the demand for our correctional and detention facilities and services … could be adversely affected by changes in existing criminal or immigration laws, crime rates in jurisdictions in which we operate, the relaxation of criminal or immigration enforcement efforts, leniency in conviction, sentencing or deportation practices, and the decriminalization of certain activities that are currently proscribed by criminal laws or the loosening of immigration laws. For example, any changes with respect to the decriminalization of drugs and controlled substances could affect the number of persons arrested, convicted, sentenced and incarcerated, thereby potentially reducing demand for correctional facilities to house them. A multi-million dollar corporation with a clear financial interest in the highest possible incarceration rates, what could possibly go wrong? The answer seems to be a lot, because it just wouldn’t be worth calling it an “industrial complex” if there weren’t nefar-

But what’s wrong with a company that makes the majority of its money from government contracts funneling some of those taxpayer dollars back into the coffers of the elected officials tasked with allocating those very contracts? Certainly if we had a problem with that we wouldn’t have elected the CEO of Halliburton to the office of Vice President.

Well, it can result in some slightly shady shenanigans. In 2011 a Pennsylvania judge was sentenced to 28 years in prison in what was referred to as the “Kids for Cash” case. Juvenile court Judge Mark Ciavarella was found to have been dishing out absurd sentences to the kids in his court after receiving $1 million in bribes or kick-backs from the builder of two nearby juvenile detention facilities. While the case wasn’t connected to Geo Group or Corrections Corp, it does demonstrate the potential for abuse in the current system. The potential remains for corporate malfeasance. “There are corporations that don’t have to play by the rules because they don’t have to,” says Maes. “They’re not subject to the same civil liberties oversight that the government is.” Add to that the allegations of human rights abuses at several of the prisons run by these corporations and you’ve got a recipe for corruption par excellence. In the next issue of THC, we’ll examine some of the issues surrounding these companies and the policies that they benefit from.

thcmag.com 35


DOJ: Justice is Done? Feds announce hands-off approach to states’ legal marijuana (for now) by Rick Macey

When something seems too good to be true, it usually is. So it might be with the buzz-inducing news that the Department of Justice will allow Colorado and Washington to move forward with regulating recreational pot. Voters approved ballot initiatives last fall legalizing marijuana, which put the two states on a collision course with the federal Controlled Substances Act. In late August, Attorney General Eric Holder informed the governors of both states that DOJ would “trust but verify” and reserve its right to a preemption lawsuit. DOJ’s handsoff-for-now approach was spelled out by James Cole, a deputy attorney general, in a memo to U.S. attorneys. Cole wrote that there is the “expectation that states and local governments that have enacted laws authorizing marijuanarelated conduct will implement strong and effective regulatory and enforcement systems that will address the threat those state laws could pose to public safety, public health and other law enforcement interests.” Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper asked DOJ to clarify its position on legal pot 10 months ago. He contacted Holder within weeks of Amendment 64’s approval by 55 percent of Colorado voters. The governor and other legislators also want a public policy solution to the lack of banking available to legitimate

36 October 2013

marijuana businesses. “We recognize how difficult this issue has been for the Department of Justice and we appreciate the thoughtful approach it has taken,” Hickenlooper said. “The federal government is respecting the will of Colorado voters.” Colorado’s Jared Polis said he was “thrilled.” The Democrat from Boulder has persistently advocated for an end to marijuana prohibition in the House of Representatives. “This is a big step in allowing small businesses to grow and succeed while following state and federal laws,” said Polis. “I am hopeful that other states may see marijuana regulation as an opportunity to reduce crime, combat drug abuse and enhance economic opportunity.” Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) had been pressing Holder to respect “the will of the states whose people have voted to legalize small amounts of marijuana for personal and medical use.” He had previously scheduled a hearing for Sept. 10. At that hearing, Cole told Congress that DOJ and federal bank regulators will help solve the impasse in financial services presently denied to legitimate marijuana businesses. Federally insured banks that process revenue from marijuana sales are at risk of federal drug racketeering charges. Allowing financial institutions to transact with state regulated


marijuana businesses is a common sense measure. “We need to deal with it,” Cole said. Colorado’s previous attempt to address the banking issue - a bill introduced by Sen. Pat Steadman that would set up a cooperative banking institution for pot businesses - was voted down. “I’m not sure this is a problem that the state can solve,” he said. “It would be so much easier to audit the books, make sure taxes are being paid, make sure stores are following the rules we put in place if they are able to work with banks,” Jack Hickenlooper’s chief legal counsel, told the committee. “We have every reason to believe they will take action on banking sooner rather than later,” said Betty Aldworth, a spokeswoman for the National Cannabis Industry Association. Cole said Justice Department officials are in talks with officials from the Treasury Department to find a solution to the banking problem. With medical marijuana now legal in 20 states and Washington, D.C., the DOJ is closing the gap with public opinion as most Americans now favor legalization. Is this the “beginning of the end” for marijuana prohibition? Perhaps. Not everyone is enthusiastic about the DOJ’s new chill policy. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) referred to audits that revealed gaps in Colorado’s monitoring of dispensaries. “Why has the department decided to trust Colorado to regulate recreational marijuana when it has already failed to effectively regulate medical marijuana?” he asked.

 revenue from the sale of marijuana going to criminal enterprises, gangs and cartels;  the diversion of marijuana from states where it is legal under state law in some form to other states;  state-authorized marijuana activity from being used as a cover or pretext for the trafficking of other illegal drugs or other illegal activity;  violence and the use of firearms in the cultivation and distribution of marijuana;  drugged driving and the exacerbation of other adverse public health consequences associated with marijuana use;  growing of marijuana on public lands and the attendant public safety and environmental dangers posed by marijuana production on public lands;  preventing marijuana possession or use on federal property. The Obama administration’s DOJ has sent mixed signals to the national cannabis community while the DEA and FBI continued to target growers and dispensaries, especially in California. While it may not alter priorities of the Drug Enforcement Agency, which is semi-autonomous within DOJ, a breakthrough on banking would confirm that DOJ is serious about allowing Colorado and Washington’s pot legalization experiment to continue.

Cole told Congress that DOJ and federal bank regulators will help solve the impasse in financial services presently denied to legitimate marijuana businesses.

The federal government has limited options, Cole responded. “Even if the Justice Department shut down the state’s forthcoming recreational marijuana stores, it could not overturn the new law that makes adult use and possession of marijuana legal. All that legal demand would be a boost to illegal suppliers.”

It may give pause to DEA drug warriors. Two weeks before Cole’s memo, DEA issued a notorious directive to armored car companies and private security firms. They were warned not to provide services to dispensaries. Critics were quick to point out the recipe for cooking up crime: large amounts of cash and few - if any -

Deputy Attorney General James Cole says that bad regulatory schemes for legal pot are better than none at all.

“There are no perfect solutions here,” Cole said. “If we just went after their regulatory scheme, instead of just having a bad one, they would have no regulatory scheme.” Cole’s Memo outlines eight priorities for federal prosecutors enforcing marijuana laws:  the distribution of marijuana to minors;

thcmag.com 37


Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy says it’s time to respect state laws on marijuana legalization.

people; trafficking that involves violence or other federal criminal activity; trafficking conducted or financed by street gangs and drug cartels; cultivation of marijuana on Colorado’s extensive state and federal public lands; and trafficking across state and international lines,” Walsh said. What matters is whether DOJ prodded by a recalcitrant DEA will ultimately choose to challenge and undermine legal pot.

services to manage and transport that cash. At the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Cole backtracked a bit on the DEA’s directive, saying it has not been implemented. Senator Leahy said that as a result of the banking constraints, legitimate marijuana businesses are operating on a cash-only basis and “that’s a prescription for problems, tax evasion” and other criminal activity. Cole agreed, saying it’s a federal public safety issue because cashonly businesses will attract people with guns.

The Obama administration’s DOJ has sent mixed signals to the national cannabis community while the DEA and FBI continued to target growers and dispensaries, especially in California.

Why is DEA advocating restrictions that would result in violent crime? DEA chief Michele Leonhart declined to comment for THC magazine. Clearly the Drug Warriors are pushing back. “When marijuana will be fully legal to buy, diversion of the drug will explode,” declared nine former DEA chiefs in a strongly worded letter to Holder. It’s important to remember that individual U.S. attorneys can interpret the new guidelines. In Colorado, State Attorney General John Walsh has targeted dispensaries that were not violating state laws, such as pot shops located near schools. His reaction to Cole’s new memo was less than effusive, although it’s too soon to know if he will change his approach to prosecuting cases. “Of particular concern … are cases involving marijuana trafficking directly or indirectly to children and young

38 October 2013

Walsh said his office “will continue to focus on whether Colorado’s system, when it is implemented, has the resources and tools necessary to protect those key federal public safety interests.” Washington’s Attorney General, Bob Ferguson said his office was preparing for a federal lawsuit against the state’s law - just in case. There is no reason to doubt that Walsh is doing the same thing in Colorado. Tom Angell of Marijuana Majority cautioned that it “remains to be seen how individual U.S. attorneys will interpret the new guidance and whether they will continue their efforts to close down marijuana businesses that are operating in accordance with state law.”

It will be worth our while to closely watch how the schizophrenic gap between DOJ and its nominally subservient DEA will play out. And keep in mind that Colorado’s euphoric legal marijuana opportunity may not last.

Colorado’s Jared Polis is the most persistent advocate of marijuana legalization in the House of Representatives.



Charlotte’s Web Snares Gupta

CNN’s Medical Expert Changes His Mind, Features Colorado Girl’s Compelling Story by Rick Macey

Sanjay Gupta’s about-face on the value of medicinal cannabis is one of those rare events we seldom get to see and share. Turning points are usually difficult to recognize. Not this one. Gupta’s apology is an extraordinary event. The CNN medical expert’s documentary “Weed” features our state and the Figi family, whose daughter, Charlotte, is suddenly the poster child for medical marijuana. It’s a powerful boost to cannabis advocates when a major cable network portrays a child benefiting from marijuana. For Gupta, a father of three girls, this turn-around will probably define his career as a neurosurgeon and media medical guru. First, the apology. “I apologize because I didn’t look hard enough, until now. I didn’t look far enough. I didn’t review papers from smaller labs in other countries doing some remarkable research, and I was too dismissive of the loud chorus of legitimate patients whose symptoms improved on cannabis,” Gupta said. Among the people who welcome Gupta’s change of heart is Dr. Robert Melamede, biologist professor at University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and one of the world’s most respected cannabis researchers. Melamede provided Gupta with hundreds of references on cancer and more than 900 peer reviewed articles that show cannabis has medicinal properties. “It’s impossible to read the scientific literature in regard to pain, cancer, epilepsy, auto-immune diseases, etcetera, and not conclude that we have been lied to. He was open-minded enough and honest enough to admit that he was wrong, and he changed his mind,” Dr. Bob said. Gupta and CNN’s film crew spent three days taping interviews with Melamede, but none of the footage made it into the documentary. “I guess because it was all science-oriented, they wisely went with the tear-jerker story,” Dr. Bob said. “That has had

40 October 2013

a profound effect. That there is medical value for children is now undeniable. Nobody in their right mind would deny relief for a child. So it affects people’s paradigms - how they look at medicinal cannabis.” The story of Charlie Figi is compelling. Matt and Paige Figi met at Colorado State University, where they shared a love of the outdoors, and married. Their first child, Max was a 2-year-old when they decided to have another child. An ultrasound revealed twin girls. Charlotte and Chase were born October 18, 2006. Paige said, “They were healthy. Everything was normal.” Three months later, Charlotte began having seizures. Charlotte - nicknamed Charlie - had frequent seizures lasting two to four hours, and she was hospitalized repeatedly. Doctors were stumped. Her blood tests were normal. Her scans were all normal. They did not yet know that it was Dravet Syndrome, a rare, severe form of intractable epilepsy. Matt, a Green Beret, decided to leave the military. “Every mission, every training I was going to do I was called home because she was in the pediatric ICU again or in the hospital again.” By age five, Charlotte had lost the ability to walk, talk and eat. She was having 300 grand mal seizures a week. Doctors suggested putting Charlotte in a medically induced coma to give her small, battered body a rest.


That’s when Paige decided to try medical marijuana. Charlotte was the youngest patient in the state ever to apply for a red card. Would two doctors sign on? Dr. Margaret Gedde met with the family. “Charlotte had been close to death so many times, she’s had so much brain damage from seizure activity and likely the pharmaceutical medication. When you put the potential risks of the cannabis in context like that, it’s a very easy decision.”

“I now know that there are very legitimate medical applications,” he said. “I have seen more patients like Charlotte first hand, spent time with them and come to the realization that it is irresponsible not to provide the best care we can as a medical community, care that could involve marijuana.” Some folks not only dispute the science, some observers malign the messenger.

The second doctor to sign on was Alan Shackelford, a Harvard-trained physician and THC magazine contributor. “There really weren’t any steps they could take beyond what they had done. Everything had been tried - except cannabis.”

“You’d have to be the dumbest human being on Earth to not see the benefits of marijuana,” said Jess Sorensen, author of “Zombies Ruined My Weekend.” “Or, you’d have to be paid to not look at the evidence, or to even disregard it.”

Paige found a Denver dispensary that had a small amount of marijuana low in THC and high in CBD. She had the oil tested at a lab and started Charlotte out on Charlotte Figi suffered more than a small dose. 300 seizures a week. Doctors recommended a medically in“We were duced coma to spare her agony. pioneering the whole thing; we were guinea pigging Charlotte,” Paige said. “This is a federally illegal substance. I was terrified to be honest with you.”

Deborah Kotz of The Boston Globe intoned, “CNN is hurting and I’m not going to fault them for engineering this clever publicity stunt. I am, though, disappointed in Gupta for being like a pendulum and swinging too hard from one extreme to the other.”

But the results were stunning. “When she didn’t have those three, four seizures that first hour, that was the first sign,” Paige recalled. “And I thought well, ‘Let’s go another hour, this has got to be a fluke.’ “ The seizures stopped for seven days. Paige and Matt couldn’t believe it. Charlotte gets a dose of cannabis oil twice a day in her food. She is on her way to becoming a normal 7-year-old. Her parents wonder why this medication is not prescribed by doctors. Gupta deserves credit for wisely choosing what to highlight in “Weed,” although Dr. Bob and THC magazine wonder why Melamede’s footage didn’t make the cut. “CNN has another whole documentary,” said Dr. Bob with a laugh. “Perhaps I am a little too radical … You are right that people are starting to accept the science now that they know it’s a real phenomenon,” Gupta told THC magazine that the truth matters.

Now, she is well on her way to becoming a normal 7-year-old thanks to cannabis treatment.

THC magazine recommends Gupta’s own words before concluding that this is a publicity stunt.

“We have been terribly and systematically misled for nearly 70 years in the United States and I apologize for my own role in that,” said Gupta, who penned a Time Magazine article dismissing pot’s potential in 2008. “I want to set the record straight.” “When you look at why this is classified as a Schedule 1 substance, really ask yourself as a doctor or anyone else: Does marijuana really rise to that level? Should it really be in the category of “most dangerous substances” in the United States? Should it really be in the category of “highest abuse potential” and should it really be in the category of “something that has no medical applications?” I really think that the answer to all those questions is no,” he said. “I would encourage doctors, and anybody else, to just look at the science behind this and come to their own conclusions.” That’s precisely Melamede’s point. “You need a lot people aware that the research we’re trying to do is real,” Dr. Bob said. “We have a lot of profound stuff that we have preliminary data on … and it’s going to be undeniable.”

thcmag.com 41


“We have been terribly and systematically misled for nearly 70 years in the United States and I apologize for my own role in that.”

As the first and foremost cable TV doctor to embrace marijuana, Gupta’s advocacy of medical pot has sparked some unintended consequences. One that particularly irks CNN executives is the introduction of “Gupta Kush” by a Boulder dispensary. Want to define publicity stunt? “Dr. Gupta’s recent reporting on marijuana puts him at the forefront of the medical cannabis movement, and we thought what better way to honor his efforts than by giving him his own strain,” said Jeff Kless, owner of Helping Hands Dispensary.

-Gupta

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The most important aspect of Gupta’s change of mind is that now many more people are talking about cannabis as medicine. Tony Newman, a 14-year veteran with the Drug Policy Alliance explained, “More people, even folks who don’t follow drug policy, have asked me about the Sanjay Gupta special than almost anything else I’ve worked on.”

A Boulder dispensary “honored” Gupta with “Gupta Kush.”



Stirring the Pot Medical Marijuana’s Lesser Known CBD Could Trump THC For Health By DJ Reetz

For those reading this magazine, the medical benefits of marijuana are no mystery. Chances are you picked up this publication in a dispensary, likely while purchasing your own medicine, or perhaps you were passed a copy by a friend who did just that. The act of reading this indicates a state of awareness, an open-mindedness at the very least, to the benefits of marijuana.

conditions: cannabidiol, known by the abbreviation CBD.

But for others it takes more. It takes the recognition of the medical community at large, acknowledgement from the government, sanction from the establishment. The wealth of anecdotal evidence of the benefits of marijuana means nothing to those who are removed from the medical marijuana scene, to those whose only experience with marijuana may have come from the burnouts in high school or a well-organized propaganda machine.

For Martin Lee, director of Project CBD, an organization dedicated to educating people about cannabis science and therapeutics, the interest in CBD as a viable treatment option began to take shape in 2009. Lee, an established author at the time, was covering the cannabis science beat.

To these people marijuana deserves its classification as a Schedule 1 narcotic. Science hasn’t shown otherwise and those with the ability to prove otherwise have not done so. Marijuana seems to be an ever-growing danger as availability of marijuana grows and potency climbs. But to those in the medical marijuana community, there is a magic bullet, the indisputable truth that marijuana can be helpful, even crucial in the treatment of certain medical

44 October 2013

Recently CBD has found its way into the mainstream consciousness with the help of Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s special report on marijuana’s shocking ability to not kill users – and in fact, to do the opposite – but for growers and patients, CBD has been part of the discussion for years.

“What we were hearing was really quite amazing,” says Lee. Patients were showing signs of reduction in neurological disorders such epilepsy, reduction in pain and there was even evidence of a reduction of cancer cells, all tied to an oftoverlooked cannabinoid: CBD. “We were kind of regretting the fact that this amazing thing wasn’t available for medical marijuana patients in California,” says Lee. Along with fellow author and former editor for Scientific American Fred Gardner, he began Project CBD to educate the marijuana community about the discoveries being made by scientists and patients.


“We thought it was important to the medical marijuana community to be aware of what the scientists were discovering,” he says. Preliminary research and anecdotal evidence seemed to show that ingesting CBD could assist – and in some cases alleviate – conditions ranging from epileptic fits to cancer, all without the psychoactivity of the more popular chemical in cannabis, THC. But the established medical marijuana market in California was entrenched in a culture dominated by the sexy cannabinoid, the one that got attention and won cannabis cups. It was a market in which THC content was all that mattered and other cannabinoids had fallen by the wayside. “It was assumed CBD had been bred out of grassroots strains,” says Lee. Growers opted instead to strive for the highest possible content of THC in their plants. It was, after all, THC that got you stoned, produced euphoria most marijuana consumers had come to expect and the higher the percentage of THC, the better the marijuana. It was a simple, binary assumption. But it was the strains higher in CBD that were showing the most medicinal value, a fact demonstrated when some of the less lauded strains were seen to reduce pain in patients without the “stoned” feeling brought on by the strains higher in THC. Project CBD went to work, in conjunction with several dispensaries in California, trying to spread the word about the purely medicinal cannabinoid. But the path of educating the public was wrought with peril, and as the dispensaries began to openly advocate for this miraculous cannabinoid, so followed the heavy hand of law enforcement. Federal law enforcers targeted the dispensaries that partnered with Lee’s organization. Every one of them eventually shut down. “They made a point of going after the more conscientious places,” says Lee. And though the actions of law enforcement seem to walk that razor’s edge between woeful ignorance and willful maliciousness, Lee says he doesn’t believe it was specifically targeted at destroying the viability of CBD treatments. Around the same time law enforcement was making life hell for cultivators of CBD-rich strains in California, growers here in Colorado were making their own inroads. Kelly Roller and Ryan Milligan, growers at Denver’s own Greenwerkz, had produced their own high CBD strain by crossing Blueberry Haze with Rue #1. The end result was their R4 strain, a plant that Roller claims can produce a ratio of CDB to THC as high as 99:1 when concentrated. But their discovery was one of serendipity more than a purposeful desire to create a CBD rich plant. “The irony was we were breeding for color variation in plants so we could grow it outdoors and also grow it under lower wattage lights by changing the color form green to yellow,” says Roller. “It wasn’t really even so much having to do with CBDs.” “We didn’t take off on the CBD road really until early ’09 or so when we started having product tested,” says Milligan. “When

we got the first test result back obviously then we knew we had a hold of something nobody else did.” “When the first test came back from Full Spectrum Labs, the entire laboratory was screaming the name through the halls,” says Roller “It was just unheard of.” While the product impressed the people at the labs, the reality of selling marijuana that wouldn’t produce the clear high of other strains was harder for the guys to manage. “We knew we had this genetic that wasn’t getting people high,” says Kelly. “We also felt that there was a niche market for that, and that there would be people out there that didn’t want the psycho-active effects [of higher THC strains].” Selling a strain that was intentionally bred not to get patients as stoned was treading new ground in the developing market. “We were teaching people [about] CBD as they walked in the door,” says Roller. “People try and compare it to regular weed and it’s just not an apples-to-apples comparison at all,” says Milligan. The market just wasn’t ready to accept that high quality didn’t always mean high THC content. It’s something Chad Tribble of Mountain High Suckers also experienced as a local pioneer of CBD-rich products in 2010. “Every time we approached someone in the beginning, nobody knew [about CBD],” says Tribble. “We were educating all the time. We would drop off samples and people would say ‘I didn’t feel anything.’” When Tribble first got started with his business partner John Garrison, CBD was a relatively rare cannabinoid, notably absent from most commercially sold marijuana. It was the folks at the labs who let them know they had something special. “The lab was very excited when they gave us the test results back,” says Tribble. The oil they had submitted for testing was high in CBD, which at that time was somewhat of a rarity. They started researching this new cannabinoid, beginning to see the wealth of anecdotal evidence of its benefits. They realized they had something unique, something that could help people in ways that were not yet being demonstrated by the rest of the industry. “Once we had it in the field we had reports back from centers, reports back from patients just claiming amazing benefits,” says Tribble.

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Still, American medical science was far behind the marijuana community in understanding the properties and benefits of CBD, thanks at least in part to the federal government’s drug policies. “Restrictive federal bullshit has always kept doctors afraid to do the studies, or to release them for that matter” says Tribble. For that reason, most of the scientific understanding of CBD has come out of Israel, where doctors have been conducting experiments for years. The moment of understanding in the American consciousness about the benefits of ingesting CBD may in fact have come as recently as Dr. Gupta’s special report for CNN, a report which highlighted the case of Charlotte Figi, a six-year-old Colorado girl who suffered from a rare form of R4 Shatter epilepsy that resisted nearly all treatment except for high CBD content marijuana extract. The documentary not only put a clear, even heart-wrenching face on CBD treatment, but also demonstrated a prominent switch in the attitudes held by the medical establishment in regards to marijuana.

While it remains to be seen how pricing of a commercially available CBD product distributed by a large pharmaceutical company would be handled - and how that would overlay with health insurance, -one thing that seems likely is that any such product would not include the other cannabinoids found in marijuana. Dr. Paul Bregman is a non-practicing medical doctor and advocate for the use of CBD. To him, cannabis is about the plant as a whole, not just the use of a single cannabinoid. “Cannabis is all about balance at the cellular level,” says Bregman. It’s a metaphor for the balance patients find when using CBD in conjunction with THC, and he’s not alone in thinking this.

R4 Flower

“That’s pretty much a watermark in mainstream consciousness of CBD,” says Roller of Dr. Gupta’s report. “Even within cannabis [communities], a lot of people have been going to these places not realizing that possibly the thing in their plants that’d give them the most benefit is the CBD.” After their R4 strain appeared in the report for its high CBD, Milligan and Roller say their phone has been ringing off the hook. The pair claims to have been contacted by larger pharmaceutical companies seeking to harness the power of their CBD rich strain for their own use. Despite some hesitance and general distrust in the marijuana community toward the pharmaceutical industry, the guys don’t see working with a large pharmaceutical company as a bad thing as long as it leads to greater availability of CBD medications to patients. “As we talked about product lines and what they may or may not look like years from now, two years from now… what those look like and what kind of a cost to the consumer those may entail, I think for the most part a vast majority of all those discussions have outlined a product that would be available for considerably less than even our pricing,” says Milligan. For Roller, the prohibitive factor in a lot of CBD treatment options is cost, as it may be several years before an insurance company will pay for any such treatment. “For us to go into something that’s going to even be cheaper for people, that to us feels natural and right,” says Roller. Tribble is a little more apprehensive about letting big pharma handle the production of CBD medication. “We’re selling it for a fraction of what pharmaceutical grade CBD would be offered [for],” says Tribble. “People would not

46 October 2013

be able to afford it.”

As the director of Project CBD, Martin Lee would seem to be the person to advocate for pure CBD extract, but instead he says the organization is designed with the idea of promoting the plant as a whole, with a heavy emphasis on CBD. It’s a feeling that’s shared by Milligan, Roller and Tribble, who also advocate for the use of CBD in conjunction with THC. “There’s a synergy between THC and CBD that gives benefits that are so much more dynamic than just CBD by itself,” says Tribble. Tribble even goes a step further; his extraction process (a process which utilizes alcohol rather than CO2 or butane) leaves traces of plant matter in the form of wax and chlorophyll. While this extraction process is shunned by other concentrate makers who quest for purer THC content, he describes it as a whole plant benefit. One thing remains clear: CBD may be the engine that drives marijuana reform, changes stigmas and opens the public’s eyes to the benefits of medical marijuana. “CBD could be the holy grail,” says Dr. Bregman. Still, he says, changing perceptions in the medical community is something that’s going to have to be done by patients, not doctors. “Patients will drive the doctor’s behavior,” he says. While a wealth of research remains to be done on the subject, these medical marijuana advocates believe that CBD and its use in conjunction with THC will be a motivating factor in the legalization of marijuana. The use of CBD in treatment for such a wide variety of ailments seems to be clear enough evidence of the beneficial qualities of marijuana, and for Lee CBD is the coup de gråce that will finally slay the lumbering propaganda machine. “It’s something from a prohibitionist point of view there’s no answer to.”


Will raised MMJ taxes benefit anyone? Proposition AA gives voters a voice by John Schroyer

Marijuana sales can help kids.

for the underground market,” said Corry.

That’s not a sentiment that comes immediately to mind for most people. But that was one message from the campaigners behind Amendment 64 last year, and that’s the picture being painted this year by the backers of a statewide marijuana tax measure that will be on this November’s ballot.

No Over Taxation made headlines by handing out free joints at Denver’s Civic Center the second week of September, and again on Sept. 23 on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall. And Corry said more joint handouts are planned, in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Fort Collins, and Aspen, to raise awareness on what he called the “highest tax increase in Colorado history.”

Proposition AA, which emerged from the state Legislature only after months of closed-door negotiations, would enact a 15 percent excise tax and a 10 percent sales tax on recreational marijuana. The latter tax could also be increased to 15 percent. The measure is a natural follow-up to Amendment 64, which promised that the first $40 million collected annually by the amendment’s required excise tax would be devoted to capital construction for education. In other words, legalizing marijuana would help build and repair Colorado’s schools. But since the Legislature doesn’t have the legal power to establish a new tax, the measure has to be put to the voters. Again. Hence, 2013’s Proposition AA. “It’ll basically fulfill a commitment made to the voters last year,” said Joe Megyesy, spokesman for the Committee for Responsible Regulation, which is leading the charge for Proposition AA. “That was a key component of the (Amendment 64) campaign.” Anything over the first $40 million from the excise tax would go to the state’s General Fund, and the income to the state from the sales tax would be devoted to oversight and regulatory costs for recreational marijuana sales. That alone is argument enough for Proposition AA, said Megyesy. “The federal government is often used as a boogey man in this discussion, but I think there’s a real threat of the federal government increasing their scrutiny and their pressure if marijuana oversight is not properly funded,” said Megyesy. “I’m a conservative. I’m not a fan of high taxes. But this is where we are. It’s a necessary move in an effort to get marijuana legalized nationwide,” he added.

Megyesy pointed out that in many medical marijuana dispensaries, an eighth of an ounce of marijuana can go for as little as $20, while the traditional street price for the same amount has been $50. He estimated that if Proposition AA passes, an eighth of an ounce of marijuana will likely cost a recreational smoker between $30 and $50. That still gives legitimate shops a competitive edge, Megyesy said. That, however, doesn’t take into account any possible local government taxes that could be imposed by counties, cities or towns. If municipal governments tack on high tax rates of their own on top of Proposition AA and the existing state sales tax, that could give the black market the leverage it needs to stay alive, admitted Megyesy. And Corry noted that even if Proposition AA leaves legal marijuana prices below those of the black market, it’s still a huge increase from current prices at medical marijuana dispensaries. Proposition AA has a strangely bipartisan coalition behind it, including Democratic Gov. J o h n Hickenlooper and Republican Attorney General John Suthers, both of whom opposed Amendment 64 last year. Also supporting Proposition AA are the Medical Marijuana Industry Group, the Colorado M u n i c i p a l League, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, and a host of other highprofile politicos and organizations.

Not true, said activist and lawyer Rob Corry, who has been the face and voice of the opposition to the tax measure. His group, No Over Taxation, contends that what Proposition AA is asking for is not only an overly burdensome tax, but will keep the black market in business by allowing illegitimate dealers to undercut legal marijuana stores. “These are good people. They try to be compliant. But the government is screwing them by creating a strong incentive

thcmag.com 47


Hydraulic

Fracking The Ins and (not so) Outs by Chris Tucker


Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” is the process of drilling and injecting fluid into the ground at a high pressure in order to fracture shale rocks to release the natural gas inside. This process creates fractures that extend from wells into oil and gas formations by pumping highly-pressurized fluid (water, sand, ceramic beads and a mixture of chemicals) into the oil or gas formation. But the debate remains: Is fracking a good idea? The fracking fluid holds underground fissures open, allowing oil and gas to flow up the well to the surface where they can be recovered. Water makes up most of the percentage of fracking fluid, but there are also large amounts of chemicals that are used in the process. At least 29 of these chemicals are either likely or known carcinogens. As the fluid flows back to the top of the well, it is stored in open pits until it can be sent to a treatment plant. But not all of the fracking fluid is removed. A varying amount remains in the ground once the well has run dry. There are more than 500,000 active natural gas wells in the United States. Multiply those wells by the eight million gallons of water it takes per fracking, and the 18 times that each well can be successfully fracked, and you are left with the devastating toll that fracking can take on the environment. Using these numbers, it takes an estimated 72 trillion gallons of water and over 360 billion gallons of chemicals in order to run the nation’s current gas wells. Fracking has also been known to produce airborne pollutants like methane, benzene and sulfur oxide. The Environmental Protection Agency has recently said it has targeted these pollution problems. As of yet, EPA has not set strict enough guidelines to help reduce it.

There have been hundreds of documented cases of water contamination next to areas of gas drilling as well as cases of sensory, respiratory and neurological damage due to ingested contaminated water. Of all the fracking liquid that is used to recover gas, as much as 80 percent of the toxic fluid is left in the ground. This fluid is not biodegradable. Hydraulic fracking can produce approximately 300,000 barrels of natural gas a day but the numerous environmental, safety and health hazards come with a steep price for the environment and the community to pay. Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has publically stated: “You can drink it. We did drink it around the table, almost ritual-like, in a funny way.” This is what he told the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. But does this make the hazardous threat any less real? Keep in mind Hickenlooper is a former oil and gas industry geologist who has defended fracking. He sees fracking as an innovative process that will boost the use of natural gas over coal. He also argues that gas is a “bridge” fuel that will allow renewable energy to fuel the nation.

During the process, methane gas and toxic chemicals emit out from the system and contaminate nearby groundwater, causing methane concentrations to be up to 17 times higher in drinking water wells near fracturing sites, as opposed to wells near other sites.

Within recent years, advances in fracking technology have made it possible to economically recover reserves of natural gas in the United States. Shale beds provide nearly 25 percent of America’s natural gas supply, up from just one percent in 2000. With our energy independence hanging in the balance, many have argued that these efforts to recover natural gas should be expanded. There are activists, however, who are concerned with fracking’s potential environmental hazards and view the process as a serious threat to the environment, citing that government officials are “sleeping with the enemy.”

Each gas well requires an average of 400 tanker trucks to carry water and supplies to and from each site. The fracking liquid itself includes chemicals and toxins such as lead, uranium, mercury, ethylene glycol, radium, methanol, hydrochloric acid and formaldehyde. During the process, methane gas and toxic chemicals emit out from the system and contaminate nearby groundwater, causing methane concentrations to be up to 17 times higher in drinking water wells near fracturing sites, as opposed to wells near other sites. This contaminated well water is used for drinking water for nearby cities and towns.

But as in most cases, is this just democracy being undermined by the governor and the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission? The government has a history of representing the industry instead of the people; especially when it is a member of the government who has strong ties to the topic at hand. But even the government cannot hide what is happening as a result of the recent Colorado flooding, and the dramatic toll it has taken on the landscape and the environment. There are reports of broken oil pipes, causing the overflow of fracking chemical pools that are posing an extremely dangerous situation for local residents. The pipes were put under an immense amount of pressure due to the raging flood waters in these communities. Things will only get worse unless authorities respond to residents’ concerns about chemical leaks.

Furthermore, a fracking chemical spill of any magnitude could devastate not only residential communities, but wildlife habitats as well. At risk are aquifers, which are bodies of saturated rock through which water can easily move, making them tremendously important in human habitation and agriculture. These affected flood regions also draw their water supply from wells in aquifers. This could have catastrophic effects and create an even bigger health crisis. I wonder if Hickenlooper would drink the water from one of those wells with such ease. So the debate rages on. We need to speak up now or never. If we wait any longer it could be too late to save the damage that is being done to the environment. And that environment will eventually no longer be able to continue supporting us.

thcmag.com 49


Visions through the Hayes

Colorado Flood Relief Being a Coloradan means always being prepared but sometimes Mother Nature has bigger plans for us than we could ever imagine. The rainfall that accumulated during the month of September took the lives of eight people and destroyed nearly 2,000 house. Some places on the Front Range saw up to a foot of rain, while one spot in Boulder saw almost 17 inches. Imagine your entire home being washed away by what most likely started off as normal rain showers. Residents of these rain-stricken areas were left without power for days, flooded basements and many without homes at all. Colorado prides itself on togetherness, community bonds and just being the best at what it does. From MMJ to Palisade Peaches, Colorado has some serious talents. Heck, even locally produced foods have a “Colorado Proud” sticker on them. So if you are proud to be a Coloradan, it’s time to take that one step further and donate or volunteer to help rebuild these amazing Colorado communites. Just think that whoever you are giving back to would do it for you. Photos above from left to right: Flood waters leave a pickup truck stranded in Longmont, CO by Nurupa; last two photos by Scott, Rare Dankness

Love, Light and Hemp, Caroline M. Hayes

Photos from left: Colorado National Guardsmen respond to floods in Boulder (Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. Joseph K. VonNida); Flood tides rip through Boulder County (Photo by Scott, Rare Dankness Seeds); Sgt. 1st Class Keith Bart, UH-60 Black Hawk (medevac) crew chief, Company C, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, carries an animal to safety, during a flood rescue and recovery operations (Photo by Sgt. Jonathan C. Thibault, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division)

Flood Relief Accomplishments:

County and the Foothills United Way.

-200 CU students participated in “Give-A-Day” to help clean up debri-stricken neighborhoods

-Target Corp. is donating $25,000 to assist with flood relief efforts across Colorado. The donation includes a $20,000 cash donation to the American Red Cross and $5,000 in food, bottled water, infant formula and diapers to first responders and the community as needed.

-Retailers and restaurants in downtown Boulder displaying the “Yes We Are Open and Ready To Help” sign donated 10 percent of several day’s revenue to the Foothills Flood Relief Fund, a joint effort of the Community Foundation of Boulder

-Mazda North American Operations today announced two donations to support Colorado flood relief efforts: $25,000 to the American Red Cross disaster relief fund and $15,000 to the Humane Society of Boulder Valley.

-Colorado Flood Relief fundraiser collected more than $1 million in a day

Give Back!!! There are numerous organizations accepting

donations, help and goods. Only a few are listed below. Something to think about: only donate goods that have been asked for. Unwanted items may get in the way or be wasted. Make sure to check the validity of each organization before donating. See the scam warning from the Better Business Bureau on page 4.

facebook&utm_medium=graph&utm_campaign=vanity_page Volunteer, Donate or Request Help: -Boulderfloodrelief.org Donate funds for specific goods needed: -aidmatrixnetwork.org -www.helpcoloradonow.org

Temporary Housing: -http://m.facebook.com/cofloodtemphomes

FAQ for Boulder Residents: -www-static.bouldercolorado.gov

Northern Colorado Flood Relief: -https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/dj33/ jamestown-co-flood-relief-fund?utm_source=-

Parks and Animal Donations: -Colorado Horsecare foodbank: https://www. facebook.com/coloradohorsecarefoodbank?-

50 October 2013

fref=ts -Help rebuild Estes Park: Rebuildestes.com -Colorado Disaster Wildfire/ Flood Lost & Found Pets: https://www.facebook.com/ColoradoWildfireLostFoundPets?ref=stream&directed_target_id=0 Colorado Farm Bureau has established a disaster fund to help farmers and ranchers who’ve incurred flood losses. Checks made out to the Colorado Farm Bureau Foundation, attention Disaster Fund, can be mailed to 9177 E. Mineral Circle, Centennial 80112. Donations can also be made on the Colorado Farm Bureau website.


thcmag.com 51


Blazing a trail isn’t easy. But you don’t have to go at it alone.

The National Cannabis Industry Association is the only national trade association dedicated to representing legitimate cannabis businesses, from medical marijuana providers to ancillary products and services. Our mission is simple: Change federal law so that cannabis businesses can be treated like any other industry in the U.S. Is your business part of the solution yet?

Join NCIA today for... • Unified and coordinated industry advocacy • Educational events and B2B networking • Industry legitimization • Exposure to a national market If you share our vision for a responsible, legitimate, and prosperous industry, get involved today at TheCannabisIndustry.org or by calling (888) 683-5650.


DISPENSARY GUIDE

DENVER

54 Cure Colorado 58 The Clinic 55 The Hemp Center 55 Mind, Body, Spirit Wellness Clinic 56 Northern Lights Natural Rx 56 Physician Preferred Products 59 River Rock 60 Southwest Alternative Care

*

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

Colorado Springs 54 FRAM 57 Rocky Mountain Miracles

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D E N V E by DJ Reetzwww.curecolorado.com R

CURe COLORADO

Cure Colorado is located at Yale & Monaco, just east of Yale and I-25. A jewel in South Denver, Cure is one of Denver’s top dispensaries offering a great selection of expertly grown marijuana.

6200 East Yale Ave Denver, CO 80222 720-296-2857

Monday - Saturday 10:00am - 7:00pm Sunday 12:00pm - 6:00pm

C O L O R A D O

At Cure Colorado our patients come first. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff is happy to help you find the right product for you. We not only cultivate well-crafted cannabis but also a discreet, professional atmosphere. We offer membership specials for our patients. For those of you that prefer non-smoking options, a wide array of edibles are available from a variety of quality local vendors. We also carry various Vaporizer products, glass and accessories. Come try our proprietary and customer favorite strain OGP, and Hebrew Hammer. You will be glad you did. You can find us on Facebook at: Facebook/CureColorado or scan the QR code for special pricing offers. Check out our coupon in the back of the magazine.

www.csweed.com

S 5913 North Nevada Avenue P Colorado Springs, CO 80918 R 719-213-0118 I Monday-Saturday 10:00am-7:00pm N Sunday G 12:00pm-5:00pm S 54 September 2013

Front Range Alternative Medicines, aka FRAM is Colorado Springs Premier Medical Marijuana Center for patients from all over Colorado. FRAM is conveniently located just off I-25 & exit 148. Family owned & operated since 2009, FRAM is compassionate about patients and their needs. Our friendly knowledgeable staff will help you select the correct choice of medicine for your body, mind & soul. Known to some patients as “The Edible Warehouse”, FRAM always has a LARGE assortment of new and popular edibles to choose from. They offer a good selection of house hashish and a bunch of popular waxes & shatters from around our state. Maybe you need high CBD tinctures, topicals & capsules, well FRAM has it. Vapes, pens, glass, titanium, quartz accessories, yup FRAM has that too. Why shop around when you can just go to one place that has it all? “Your one stop shop”, FRAM. Good pricing for all, great benefits & a competitive rewards program if you designate FRAM as your MMC. Brand new patients are always welcome with a tour of our dispensary. Like us on Facebook for daily specials. Stop in today, it may be a life time experience that you’ve never expected!


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. 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.

2430 West Main Street Littleton, CO 80120 303-993-7824 Monday-Friday 10:00am-7:00pm Saturday 11:00am-6:00pm Sunday 12:00pm-5:00pm

www.mbswellnessclinic.com Mind, Body, Spirit Wellness Clinic is Lakewood’s best kept secret! Help get the word out. MBS has the best selection of any shop in Lakewood. They are always stocked with a huge selection of edibles, concentrates, accessories and also maintain over 30 different strains on their shelves. A small neighborhood dispensary with a focus on quality medicine, everyone at Mind, Body Spirit sees medical marijuana as a true alternative to prescription medications. They grow their plants organically and only carry products that have been throughly evaluated in-house. Their staff is mature, friendly and knowledgeable; putting you, the patient, first to help you find the best medicine to help with your medicinal needs. Don’t be fooled by the casual appearance, MBS adheres to a high level of professionalism and discretion. They love what they do and believe in helping their patients above all else. Stop in and check them out, you won’t be disappointed.

L I T T L E T O N

6745 West Mississippi Avenue Lakewood, CO 80226 303-934-9750 Monday-Friday 9:00am-7:00pm Saturday 10:00am-6:00pm Sunday thcmag.com 55 11:00am-4:00pm

L A K E W O O D


E D G E W A T E R

www.nlnaturalrx.com

Professional care and personal attention are in full bloom at Northern Lights Natural Rx.

2045 Sheridan Blvd. Suite B Edgewater, CO 80214 303-274-6495 9:00am-7:00pm Daily

N O R T H G L E N N

2nd Place CBD FLOWER

Husband-and-wife team Mitch and Eva Woolhiser use their healthcare and business acumen to provide patients a unique and comfortable experience. A true mom-and-pop dispensary with a knowledgeable and engaging staff, Northern Lights works intimately with patients to help them decide which strains and products suit their specific needs. The Woolhisers are passionate about the plant and their raw product is patiently soil-grown from hand-picked plants offering the best genetic profiles, then cured slowly to ensure that quality shines through. Along with a robust selection of strains, Northern Lights features 10 different lines of edible products that are tested in-house to ensure potency and effectiveness. A flexible exchange policy ensures that patients are fully satisfied, making it easy to see why Northern Lights is also a favorite with people in the industry. Their convenient Edgewater location makes Northern Lights a favorite citywide.

www.pppmeds.com Physician Preferred Products is proud and honored to continue to provide the highest quality products and customer service to the North Metro community!

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

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!


www.rockymountainmiracles.com In the heart of Colorado Springs, Rocky Mountain Miracles prides itself on delivering all-natural MMJ products for patients all over Colorado. Family is very important to owner Ali, who operates Rocky Mountain Miracles with daughters Jessica, Mandy, Shelly, and son Mike. The growers and trimmers are all family as well. You are welcomed and cared for like family too. Part of what makes RMM stand out is its quality selection of medication. RMM offers over 80 top-shelf quality, hand trimmed strains, with new strains introduced regularly, as well as hash and caviar. It’s all about providing the right medication for your medical needs. Also, RMM boasts a wealth of medicated edibles - from cooking ingredients to snacks, teas, coffees, and drinks, plus items for diabetics. Medicated tablets, chew-ables, tinctures, and more provide great alternatives to smoking. But there’s more to this dispensary than the products they sell. Trained staff members happily provide consultation on marijuana questions, pain management, and offer evaluations for patients to determine how MMJ could help alleviate pain and improve quality of life. At Rocky Mountain Miracles, MMJ is provided with expert counseling while friendly service offers unparalleled relief. Check out our coupon in the back of this issue.

2316 East Bijou Street Colorado Springs, CO 80909 719-473-9333 Monday-Saturday 11:00am-6:45pm Sunday-Monday Closed

C O L O R A D O S P R I N G S

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D E N V E R

www.thecliniccolorado.com 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 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.

The Clinic on Colfax 4625 East Colfax Avenue Denver, CO 80220 303-333-3644

9:00am - 7:00pm Daily

Concentrates

Strains

Earwax is butane-extracted concentrate which is carefully purged and cured, capable of reaching potency levels nearing 90-percent pure THC. However, our Luca Brasi earwax has reached a potency level of 30-percent CBD. Nectar is butane extracted concentrate made only from select buds.

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

Earwax & Nectar

Awards 2013 The 710 Cup

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

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

Kosher Kush

Stardawg Guava

2012 High Times Medical Cannabis Cup Pre ‘98 Bubba Kush (Denver) 1st Place Best High Times Cannabis Cup: Highest Sativa CBD Strain

The Hemp Connoisseur Championship

Grape God Bud

2010 CO Caregiver’s Cup Triple Crown-win2nd Place Indica and Connoisseur’s ner and 2nd place 2011 Choice - Kosher Kush Aspen Cannabis Crown, 1st Place Sativa and Patient’s Choice this is the hottest indica - Stardawg Guava in town. 3rd Place Hybrid and Patient’s Choice - Ghost OG Raskal OG 1st Place Concentrate and Connois- One of the most visualseur’s Choice - Earth OG Nectar ly appealing and potent OG kushes around with Grape God Bud a distinct diesel fuel aroSpring 2010 Colorado Caregiver’s ma. 2012 High Times Cup Winner: Patient’s Choice, Best Medical Cannabis Cup Aroma, Most Photogenic 2011 Aspen (Denver) 3rd Place Best Cannabis Crown, 2nd Place Overall Hybrid

LA Confidential

Winner of the 2008 Indica High Times Cannabis Cup, this DNA Genetics strain has opened new doors in the world of MMJ.

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

Edibles Beverages

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

Seeds 58 September 2013

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

Tangie

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

Pre ‘98 Bubba Kush

2011 High Times Denver Medical Cannabis Cup highest CBD strain winner

Platinum OG

Purp x Master Kush x OG Kush - Strong kush aroma with sweet and smooth taste.

Durban Poison

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

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.


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www.riverrockcolorado.com Twitter: RR_Wellness, Facebook: RiveRockColorado, YouTube: RiverRockTV

RiverRock’s proprietary organic growing techniques deliver award winning medical cannabis - free of harsh chemicals - that is safer for our patients and the environment. Artisan growing methods combined with cutting edge technology ensure the consistency, value, and potency of all RiverRock products. We oversee the production of our cannabis, edibles, concentrates, extracts, and supplements allowing us to offer more affordable prices to our patients across-the-board. RiverRock’s professional staff is dedicated to developing effective cannabis treatments that address the particular needs of our patients. We offer daily incentives to our patients with discounts of 15%-25%, loyalty points, complimentary wellness services, weekly patient appreciation parties with monthly giveaways including glass, concert venues, restaurant deals, and merchandise. We sponsor a range of patients including; SSDI, SSI, Veterans, and patients with terminal illnesses to ensure the most affordable access to all of our medical cannabis products.

Strains

We offer our patients over 100 organically grown strains in rotation between both our centers. We provide one of the largest selections of the highest tested THC & CBD based genetics found world wide. We provide patients with only the highest quality lab tested edibles, extracts, topicals, supplements, and concentrates. Awards Include: Jack Frost, OGiesel, OG18, Cataract Kush, Moonshine Haze, Ghost Train Haze

501 OG (RD) 707 Headband x Blueberry Abusive OG (RD) AK x NL Alaskan Ice Atomic Northern LIghts Blackberry Kush Blackwater Blue Dream Blueberry Bruce Banner #3 Bubba Kush Bulldog Haze Cataract Kush Chem Dawg #4 Cinderella Cindy Dom Death Star Facewreck (RD) Fire OG Flo Ghost Train Haze #1 (RD) Grape Stomper Grape Trainwreck Harlequin CBD

Inferno OG Jack 47 Jack Frost Jacky White Juicy Fruit Juliet #2 Larry OG Lee Roy (RD) Martian Mean Green Mob Boss Moby Dick Moonshine Haze (RD) NYC Diesel Pepe la Dank PMP Haze (RD) Purple Buddha Purple Indica Scott’s Blue (RD) Sensi Star Sour Diesel Sour Tsunami #2 CBD Tahoe OG Tangerine Haze (RD) Trinity

4935 York St. Denver, CO 80216 303-474-4136 Monday-Friday 9:00am-7:00pm Saturday-Sunday 10:00am-7:00pm

990 W. 6th Ave. Denver, CO 80204 303-825-3314

Monday-Friday 8:00am-7:00pm Saturday-Sunday 10:00am-7:00pm

Edibles, Extracts & Concentrates

Health Creations 100mg (S/H/I/OG)

Healthy Creations 200mg (S/H/I/OG) RockBudder (Compound/Shatter) Award Wining Activated CBD Oil Activated Sativa, Hybrid, Indica, and OG Oil CBD & THC Tinctures (Glycerin/MCT) CBD & THC Tea’s CBD & THC Salves Fresh Cannabis Juice

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D E N V E R


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

Dr. J’s Dixie Elixirs Canna Punch At Home Baked

Edi Pure Incredibles Bakked

Concentrates

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

Staff Favorites Golden Goat (S) Glass Slipper (S) Banana Kush (H) Sour Diesel (S) Flo (S) Grape Ape (I)

OG Ghost Train Haze (S) The White (S) Kool Aid Kush (I)

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

60 October 2013


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64 September 2013



66 September 2013


ATM On Site 56 Northern Lights Natural Rx 56 Physician Preferred Products 59 River Rock 57 Rocky Mountain Miracles Award Winning 42 Canna Caregivers 42 The Canna Center 58 The Clinic 55 The Hemp Center 56 Northern Lights Natural Rx 59 River Rock Body Care Products 55 The Hemp Center Books & Education 42 Canna Caregivers 42 The Canna Center 55 The Hemp Center 56 Northern Lights Natural Rx Cash Only 56 Northern Lights Natural Rx 59 River Rock 57 Rocky Mountain Miracles Charity/Community Outreach 58 The Clinic 59 River Rock Clone Bar 55 MBS Wellness Center 09 MMD of Colorado Clothing Items 42 Canna Caregivers 42 The Canna Center 58 The Clinic 55 The Hemp Center 56 Northern Lights Natural Rx 59 River Rock 57 Rocky Mountain Miracles Credit Cards 42 Canna Caregivers 42 The Canna Center 55 The Hemp Center 09 MMD of Colorado Daily Specials 54 FRAM 55 The Hemp Center 55 MBS Wellness Center 09 MMD of Colorado 56 Northern Lights Natural Rx 59 River Rock Educational Classes 55 MBS Wellness Center 56 Northern Lights Natural Rx Evaluation Clinic/MMJ Doctor

31 Amarimed 61 Colorado Medical Marijuana 61 Relaxed Clarity Events 39 Casselman’s 12 October Events 02 THC Championship Awards Free Parking 42 Canna Caregivers 42 The Canna Center 54 Cure Colorado 20 Emerald City Organics 54 FRAM 55 The Hemp Center 56 Northern Lights Natural Rx 56 Physician Preferred Products 51 Remedy Care Center 59 River Rock 57 Rocky Mountain Miracles 51 Solace Meds 9, 60 Southwest Alternative Care 31 Walking Raven Glass Store 42 Canna Caregivers 42 The Canna Center 61 Peace in Mind Grow Nutrients 05 Dr. Willard’s Plant Catalyst Hemp Products 43 Cannabis Energy Drink 55 The Hemp Center 10, 11 Hemp Meds Px 59 River Rock Holistic Health 55 The Hemp Center 57 Rocky Mountain Miracles

55 MBS Wellness Center 59 River Rock Member Discounts 42 Canna Caregivers 42 The Canna Center 58 The Clinic 54 Cure Colorado 54 FRAM 55 The Hemp Center 55 MBS Wellness Center 09 MMD of Colorado 56 Northern Lights Natural Rx 56 Physician Preferred Products 50 Remedy Care Center 59 River Rock 51 Solace Meds 9, 60 Southwest Alternative Care 44 Walking Raven Member Loyalty Program 44 Canna Caregivers 44 The Canna Center 54 FRAM 59 River Rock MMJ Doctor/Evaluation Clinic 31 Amarimed 61 Colorado Medical Marijuana 61 Relaxed Clarity Multiple Locations 42 Canna Caregivers 42 The Canna Center 58 The Clinic 55 The Hemp Center 55 MBS Wellness Center 57 River Rock 9, 60 Southwest Alternative Care Nutritional Consulting 55 The Hemp Center

Infused Products 25 At Home Baked 51 Canna Cappuccino 51 Chai High Tea 10, 11 Hemp Meds Px 42 Incredibles 51 Solace Meds

Pain Management Consulting 42 Canna Caregivers 42 The Canna Center 58 The Clinic 54 Cure Colorado 55 The Hemp Center 59 River Rock

Internet Wi-Fi 55 The Hemp Center 59 River Rock

Patient Appreciation Events 59 River Rock

Live Music 59 River Rock Local Artist Program 61 Palmer Lake Wellness 59 River Rock Massage Therapy 55 The Hemp Center

Private Dispensing Rooms 42 Canna Caregivers 42 The Canna Center 20 Emerald City Organics 55 The Hemp Center 55 MBS Wellness Center 56 Northern Lights Natural Rx 59 River Rock 23 Southwest Alternative Care 31 Walking Raven

Pre-Order Medication 42 Canna Caregivers 42 The Canna Center 55 The Hemp Center 55 MBS Wellness Center 59 River Rock 57 Rocky Mountain Miracles 9, 60 Southwest Alternative Care Seeds 42 Canna Caregivers 42 The Canna Center 58 The Clinic 59 River Rock Senior Discounts 55 The Hemp Center 56 Northern Lights Natural Rx Signature Concentrates 58 The Clinic 56 Physician Preferred Products 59 River Rock Signature Edibles 55 The Hemp Center 56 Northern Lights Natural Rx 51 Remedy Care Center 59 River Rock 51 Solace Meds Signature Strains 42 Canna Caregivers 42 The Canna Center 58 The Clinic 54 Cure Colorado 54 FRAM 55 The Hemp Center 56 Northern Lights Natural Rx 61 Palmer Lake Wellness 56 Physician Preferred Products 51 Remedy Care Center 59 River Rock 57 Rocky Mountain Miracles 51 Solace Meds 9, 60 Southwest Alternative Care 31 Walking Raven Smoking Accessories 42 Canna Caregivers 42 The Canna Center 68 Cloud Penz 32 Indica Vape 61 Peace in Mind Smoke Shop Specialty Glass 42 Canna Caregivers 42 The Canna Center 54 FRAM 55 MBS Wellness Center 56 Northern Lights Natural Rx 59 River Rock 57 Rocky Mountain Miracles thcmag.com 65


THANK YOU TO OUR ADVERTISERS 31 Amarimed 25 At Home Baked 51 Canna Cappuccino 44 Canna Caregivers 44 The Canna Center 43 Cannabis Energy Drink 31 Cannabistube.net 45 Casselman’s Bar & Venue 51 Chai High Tea 58 The Clinic 68 Cloud Penz 61 Colorado Medical Marijuana 54 Cure Colorado 05 Dr. Willard’s Plant Catalyst 07 EZ Trim 61 Fox Street Wellness 54 FRAM 55 The Hemp Center 10, 11 Hemp Meds Px 25 iCannabisRadio.com 42 Incredibles 32 Indica 61 Infinite Wellness 55 MBS Wellness Center 51 Medically Correct 09 MMD of Colorado 66 MMJ Meet and Greet 52 NCIA 56 Northern Lights Natural Rx 61 Palmer Lake Wellness Center 61 Peace in Mind 56 Physician Preferred Products 61 Preferred Organic Therapy 61 Relaxed Clarity 51 Remedy Care Center 59 River Rock/Priva 57 Rocky Mountain Miracles 51 Solace Meds 9, 60 Southwest Alternative Care 33 The Trimmer Store 31 Walking Raven 66 October 2013

Specialized Treatment Programs 58 The Clinic 59 River Rock

56 Northern Lights Natural Rx 59 River Rock 57 Rocky Mountain Miracles

Topicals 42 Canna Caregivers 42 The Canna Center 59 The Clinic 55 The Hemp Center 55 MBS Wellness Center 09 MMD of Colorado 56 Northern Lights Natural Rx 59 River Rock

Colorado Springs 42 Canna Caregivers 42 The Canna Center 54 FRAM 61 Palmer Lake Wellness 57 Rocky Mountain Miracles 55 The Hemp Center

Trimming Accessories 07 EZ Trim 33 The Trimmer Store Vegetarian 25 At Home Baked 51 Canna Cappuccino 51 Chai High Tea 10, 11 Hemp Meds Px 42 Incredibles Veteran Discounts 55 The Hemp Center 55 MBS Wellness Center 09 MMD of Colorado

Denver Central 58 The Clinic 59 River Rock 9, 60 Southwest Alternative Care Denver Downtown 39 Casselman’s Bar & Venue 09 MMD of Colorado Denver East 58 The Clinic 61 Peace in Mind Smoke Shop Denver Highlands 58 The Clinic 23 Standing Akimbo

Denver North 59 River Rock 33 The Trimmer Store Denver South 58 The Clinic 54 Cure Colorado 51 Remedy Care Center 59 River Rock 31 Walking Raven Denver Southwest 20 Rocky Mountain MM 9, 60 Southwest Alternative Care Edgewater 56 Northern Lights Natural Rx Fort Collins 51 Solace Meds Northglenn 56 Physician Preferred Products Palmer Lake 61 Palmer Lake Wellness


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