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COLORADO’S PREMIER GUIDE TO CANNABIS
2 January 2014
FROSTED FEBRUARY SPECIALS
LEAF
ALL 1/8th’s $25 ALL wax grams $25 ALL wax oz’s $600
A LETTER TO OUR READERS Last month Oxfam International, an organization with the mission to “change the world by mobilizing the power of people against poverty,” came out with a study titled “Working for the Few.” In this study they showed that just 85 of the richest people in the world have more wealth than the poorest 3 billion. The study also showed that the richest 1 percent of the global population owns 46 percent of the world’s economy. You may be asking, “What does that have to do with cannabis?” Everything. If you look at who is on the list (of the wealthiest 100) provided by Forbes magazine it shouldn’t surprise you. From telecom and media giants, to bankers, chemical and petroleum moguls, these few control the flow of resources and information for the rest of the world. Cannabis can change all of that. Cannabis as a medicine has already given individuals control of their own treatment for many ailments. To medicate with cannabis one must be more active in their treatment than when they get a pharmaceutical prescription from a doctor. Oh, and you can grow and produce your own medicine at home if you choose to do so. Could you do that with other prescription meds? No. That’s one shift in the balance of resources from the few to the many right there. Hemp as an industrial resource is something that almost all farmers can grow instead of the small few companies that can drill or mine. All you need is the know-how, some viable land and the seeds to plant it. Of course there is the need for refining plants to harness the 50,000 uses of the hemp plant, but the amount of money needed to do so is relatively modest compared to the cost of drilling for oil, fracking or coal mining. Potentially replacing petroleum based plastics, pesticide riddled cotton and mitigating massive deforestation, hemp has the ability to help clean and protect many of our planet’s resources. Even more than the medical side of cannabis, hemp can provide a major shift in control of our resources from the few to the many. The World Economic Forum has identified income inequality as one of the greatest risks facing the world in 2014. President Obama in a December 2013 speech stated that increasing inequality “challenges the very essence of who we are as a people.” In the wake of the growing popularity of cannabis as an investment opportunity, let us be careful to protect this amazing resource from being dominated by just a handful of the elite. We must protect this nascent industry for the potential of this plant, so that it is available for all in the most economically feasible way possible. I’m not saying that fortunes can’t be made from cannabis. There will be more than a few made wealthy because of cannabis. But let’s insure that more than a few have the ability to supply the rest of us. Let the people’s plant grow and thrive for all!
David Maddalena Editor-in-Chief David@thcmag.com 4 February 2014
“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
CONTRIBUTORS Skyler Cannabaceae is a freelance journalist and staff writer for Americans for Safe Access. He is the founder of The Cannabis Salvation Collective, a group based in Denver to help cannabis patients move to and flourish in Colorado.
Editor-in-Chief David Maddalena david@thcmag.com
Art Director Christianna Lewis christianna@thcmag.com
Managing Editor Rick Macey rick@thcmag.com
Layout Designers Caroline Hayes Christianna Lewis
Director of Sales and Marketing Christianna Lewis christianna@thcmag.com
Executive Assistant Kathleen Ludwig
Contributing Writers Skyler Cannabaceae Joshua Davis William Draper Caroline Hayes Erin Hiatt Rick Macey Monocle Man Maggie Maxwell DJ Reetz John Schroyer Cheryl Shuman Susan Squibb
Contributing Photographers Kim Sidwell/Cannabis Camera Susan Squibb
Cover Art 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 February 2014
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 as a page layout designer. Erin Hiatt is an instructor of musical theatre, dance, and voice. She also works in the financial industry in New York City. She has a BA in Musical Theatre Performance from Weber State University in Ogden, UT. Erin is an actress who has appeared in film, television, ommercials, plays, and print, most recently for Oprah magazine. She is an avid hiker. Rick Macey is an award-winning newspaper, magazine writer and television producer. He is the founder of CannabisTube.net.
Monocle Man is a responsible, educated MMJ patient who enjoys 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.
Maggie Maxwell is a copywriter, explorer and “spirit-lifter” in Denver, Colorado. With a diverse writing background and a knack for finding -- and living -- the best stories, she brings curiosity, enthusiasm and a quick wit to every endeavor. 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 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.
Susan Squibb is the Cannabis Maven. Susan is a product and market developer and writes freelance articles and reviews about products, events and cannabis culture. Susan is a strategy and operational consultant for edible kitchens at Kitchen Development Services, a cannabis event producer at 4 & 20 Blackbirds and the weekly marijuana advice columnist for The Denver Post. Her website is cannabismaven.com
Contents 4
A Letter to Our Readers
12
The Green Scene
14
In The Spotlight
18
Featured Artist
40
20
Tasty Meds
38
Events and Cute Cannabis Couples
HempMedsPX, The Hedi Council and HoodLamb Puff a.k.a. Trent Steel
Reviews of some of Colorado’s best edibles and smokeables
23
Hemp Eats
24
High Society
26
Cannabis News Across the Nation
A new twist on holiday recipes with Cheryl Shuman The world’s top headlines
28
Event Coverage
30
20ish Questions
Edible Events around town
Interview with a young hemp entreprenuer
Solar Panels Under Attack Are they really worth the cost?
40
The Neighborhood Beat
42
Ross Rebagliati
46
A Booming Business
49
Presidents and Marijuana
50
Marijuana Arrests
51
Mom is Fighting Cancer
We take a look at Northglenn’s offerings This Olympian smokes cannabis! The Hemp Traders’ success Did they or didn’t they?
Police are targeting minorities A son’s perspective on medical cannabis
34
Ancient Medicine Man
53
Visions Through the Hayes
36
Greenwashing
57 63 65
Denver Dispensary Guide Coupons Index
You won’t believe what was found in an old grave
Some companies are playing tricks on us
42 8 February 2014
36
Dispensary Guide
DENVER 60 The Clinic 57 Cure Colorado 57 The Hemp Center 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx 58 Physician Preferred Products 62 Southwest Alternative Care
COLORADO SPRINGS 58 Rocky Mountain Miracles
Tango The white + Tangerine Haze
21.4% THC 1st place winner bud of the month MMJ Meet 'n Greet Colorado Mobile Testing
3937 W. COLFAX AVE.
1075 S. FOX ST.
720-287-3934
303-593-2931
DENVER, CO 80204
DENVER, CO 80223
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River Rock and M Madness PDFs in
10 February 2014
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The GREEN Scene
E V E N T S
February 4th Public Retail Marijuana Tours This will mark the second tour of several through Aug. They will start at 12:00p.m. and last 4 to 6 hours $99 per person 860-837-0420 www.coloradohighlifetours.com February 7th The Medical Cannabis Health Fair and “Cannabis & Comedy” Fundraiser The Oriental Theater Denver, CO https://www.facebook.com/ events/715449315133172/?ref=br_rs February 8-9th Los Angeles Cannabis Cup NOS Event Center San Bernardino, CA http://www.cannabiscup.com/los-angeles February 14th A Threesome with Mary Jane 7:00p.m.-11:00p.m. Space Gallery 765 Santa Fe Drive Denver, CO 80210 http://www.edibleevents.com
February 26th Seminar and Catered Lunch with John Willard, 1:00p.m. Dr. Williard’s PlantCatalyst HTG Supply 5275 Quebec Street Commerce City, CO 80022 NOTE: They will be giving away free bottles of PlantCatalyst and there will be other special discounts. http://plantcatalyst.com February 28th-March 2 Rocky Mountain High Medical Marijuana Expo Colorado Convention Center 700 14th Street Denver, CO http://www.americanmedicalmarijuanaprofessionals.com/ denver.html March 21-23rd Marijuana Madness HoodLab 3354 Larimer St Denver, Colorado https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marijuana-madness-home-grow-competition-2014-tickets-10229070425
12 February 2014
Every Friday - 10:00a.m. River Rock South Sessions 990 W. 6th Ave. Denver, CO www.riverrockcolorado.com
In The Spotlight Proucts We Love
reviewed by Rick Macey
Cibdex CBD Drops from Hemp MedsPX As an old school cannabis user prone to debilitating migraine headaches, I started dosing in the dim days before cannabidiol was widely available in liquid form.
My headaches, which usually occurred in varying degrees of intensity once or twice every day, most often for two or three hours, have become less frequent and less intense.
It was time to catch up with modern cannabis science. Enter Cibdex CBD Drops from HempMedsPX.
Most of us know that CBD has powerful healing properties. It will be no surprise if in the near future, researchers consider CBD one of the most fruitful discoveries of modern (and ancient) medicine.
Every few days I alternated between the original flavor and the peppermint. Each one ounce bottle has a whopping 80 doses or “servings” as it’s described on the label. Cibdex comes in 100mg - which I used - and 500mg of CBD per serving. About 15 drops, which is equal to a half-filled dropper, is recommended once or twice a day. I chose to begin modestly with once a day in the morning. I placed the drops under my tongue, as specified, and attempted to wait the instructed 60 to 90 seconds before swallowing. At first I barely made it to a minute before ingesting, since I can’t remember the last time I had to hold a liquid under my tongue. After a few servings, though, it was a piece of cake. The liquid is consistent and went down smoothly, although the peppermint variety is definitely for folks who like mint. I couldn’t help but notice the results within a few days. I had expected an increase in pain, at least at first, since I was changing the CBD delivery method I was long accustomed to. That didn’t happen. The reverse is true.
I noticed an improved ability to concentrate on detail-oriented tasks. There has been a lessening of other aches and pains that typically afflict ex-jocks in middle age, particularly in my lower back and left knee, which I tore up playing sports. It’s no exaggeration to say that my overall health has improved in only a few weeks. I am a bit astonished. If you’re looking for a nutritional supplement that taps into the healing powers of CBD, check out Cibdex from HempMedsPX. You will be happy you did. HempMedsPX www.wholesaleHMPX.com www.RealScientificHempOil.com
HempVĀP™
HempVĀP™ is a ^CBD alternative to an e-cigarette. These contain no nicotine, no THC, just premium, golden ^CBD-rich hemp oil. HempVĀP™ is the first ^CBD vape product made from industrial hemp oil. This vape pen has a smooth flavor that vapes cool and clean. This is not your run-of-the-mill gas station vape, with questionable e-liquid. These contain industrial hemp→hemp oil→CBD-rich hemp oil. Simple. They taste great too. With flavors like strawberry, honeydew, and papaya, how can you go wrong. I have been using my HempVĀP™ for three months now and I LOVE it! Honeydew is my favorite flavor. It tastes delicious and smells amazing. Try them for yourself. hempvap.com hempmedspx.com
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Wearable HoodLamb Art Jackets by Fish and Flores The HoodLamb “Art Through Fashion” project started with the idea that many of the world’s greatest painters like Van Gogh and Rembrandt used hemp canvas (hence the word ʻcannabisʼ) to paint on when they created their masterpieces. From 2007 to the present, artists were given Hemp HoodLamb jackets to paint, sew or design in any medium they felt fit. Artists both well-known and up-andcoming created a myriad of designs that inspired HoodLamb’s first in-house, all-over print, wearable art jacket with two of San Francisco’s top artists, Sam Flores and Jeremy Fish. The HoodLamb jackets are an innovation of their own. These 55-percent hemp, 45-percent organic cotton jackets have a wind and waterproof, eco-friendly coating made of hemp cellulose. The cruelty-free Satifur that is especially developed for HoodLamb is made of hemp and recycled plastics. All HoodLamb jackets are equipped with secret pockets, hidden document pockets and the patented rolling paper dispenser. The Jeremy Fish and Sam Flores HoodLamb Art Jackets are exclusively available for $420 at HoodLAB Denver, HoodLAB SF and the e-store attached to the SF location www.hoodlabsf.com HoodLab – Art Gallery & HoodLamb Concept Store HOODLAB SF 1669 Haight Street San Francisco, CA 94117 www.hoodlabsf.com HOODLAB DENVER 3354 Larimer Street Denver, CO 80205 www.hoodlabstore.com
Photography credit to Kim Sidwell/Cannabis Camera
14 February 2014
Owners of The Hedi Council, Jonathan Liberto and Lauren King, have the potential to take over the cannabis clothing market. This is by far the hottest cannabis strain oriented clothing line to come out of Colorado, and is sure to dominate the market in no time. With subliminal messages and playful images, THC is sure to do well in the upcoming months. The Hedi Council (name inspired by the Jedi Council) was first formed back in 2007 out of motivation from their own personal goals. “Jonathan and I had done small runs of graphics on t-shirts and other apparel, which we sold hand to hand, before coming together to create The Hedi Council. It was easy to come together on this endeavor because ultimately our goals were the same: to create a line of graphic apparel that had original appeal and utilized sustainable natural resources. We had ‘eco-friendly’ in mind,” says Lauren. They source their materials from Denver and Boulder, using high-quality organic, Egyptian cotton blends and other sustainable fabrics. Lauren says that the next step is to create their own fabric blends. “We are absolutely going to utilize hemp in this blend! Ultimately, we would like to manufacturer our clothes here in Colorado, and with hemp being legal to produce, this is a great possibility for the future of our company! The fight for hemp legalization has been a tough one. It is really exciting to know that the future for hemp products is bright, and maybe someday we can get rid of the synthetic plastic crap!” I think everyone can agree on that! Congrats, Hedi Council, you have the right idea. We hope to see this local company thrive in the near future. Oh and did we mention that they are happily in love with a beautiful daughter? Happy Valentine’s Day! The Hedi Council line is available online and in select retail outlets. www.thehedicouncil.com Grassroots California Headed West 2209 Larimer St. 4811 South Broadway Denver, Colorado 80205 Englewood, CO 80113
The Grassroots Council Hemp Snapback Hat (above). The Grassroots Council Molecule Fitted Hat (below).
MADE 1430 W Chicago Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60642
thcmag.com 15
Cannabis Couples Now we all know that Valentine’s Day is a bit cheesy, but there is nothing cheesy about true love! THC Mag picked a few known couples and asked them about their love. We celebrate these couples and everyone pursuing their heart. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Eva and Mitch Woolhiser - Northern Lights Cannabis Co. Where did you two meet? We met at a Slip ‘N Slide party in 2001. A mutual friend held a summer party where there were water balloons, giant pogo sticks and a Slip ‘N Slide which soon became the naked slip and slide once it got dark, I walked in and sat right next to Eva and we’ve been together ever since. What’s your secret to staying in love? Mutual respect, verbal reminders about the little things that we appreciate about each other, and good communication. What are your Valentine’s Day plans? We will be spending Valentine’s Day on a beautiful, adult-only island resort ...oh wait we have a cannabis shop that started adult sales on January 1st, so probably a nice dinner. How, if at all, do you think the industry has affected your relationship? Eva here. I just want to tell you what a wonderful man I have in my life. I cannot believe I found the person that was willing to take this cannabis journey with me. It happens to be one of so many things we enjoy together. I am blessed.
Georgia and Warren Edson - iCannabis Radio & Edson, Maytin & Matz Where did you two meet? We met in college - although we weren’t friends in college. We had the same group of friends but never spent time together until Georgia moved to Denver. We moved in together, got married, had a kid - pretty standard stuff. What’s your secret to staying in love? There really isn’t a secret. When you are in love and enjoy each other, it is all pretty easy. What are your Valentine’s Day plans? When is that again? We don’t make plans. Georgia likes chocolate... How, if at all, do you think the industry has affected your relationship? We have been together far longer than we have worked in the industry. Having common interests is important and helps bond people. But cannabis is more than the “industry;” working toward legalization is a passion. Passion is important. Our life includes the industry, but doesn’t revolve around it. We are sort of boring - we like to spend time together. Our family is the most important thing and we prioritize that.
Jay Brown and Christianna Lewis - Incredibles & The Hemp Connoisseur Where did you two meet? We met at the Edgewater Café three years ago. I was just starting work for THC magazine and Jay was doing edible sales. Our companies were partners so essentially we were work colleagues. We became great friends over the course of the first year and somewhere along the line we fell in love. We have been together for almost two years and just recently got engaged. What is the secret to staying in love? If there is a secret, for us, it is to never lose your sense of humor. Be compassionate, patient and kind to each other. What are your Valentine’s Day plans? I think we are just going to dinner or something. We don’t make a huge deal about Valentine’s Day. How, if at all, do you think the industry has affected your relationship? Ours is a special case; we wouldn’t be in a relationship together if it weren’t for the cannabis industry. It is where we met but the industry doesn’t really affect our relationship day to day, unless you count the extremely long hours we both work.
16 February 2014
Adam and Cici Dunn - Hemp Hoodlamb Where did you two meet? Sometime in 1997 in the amsterdam nightlife ... Shortly after that we worked together with a small group producing the legendary RETOX Parties, our monthly Drum n’ Bass night presented Hemp Works, Adam’s lifestyle store. Cici joined Hemp Works and we actually worked side by side as friends for 10 years before we fell madly in love. The rest is history! What is the secret to staying in love? We never lost the passion for each other! Our son Nyc also keeps us stronger than ever. He makes us laugh everyday and reminds us of what its all about. Besides that we are passionate of what we do and we’re in this together. What are your Valentine’s Day plans? We’re having a Drum n’ Bass party at HoodLAB with one of our best friends DJ Adi-J from Amsterdam who’s in town. It will be a full on DNB reunion with old and new friends, just like the ol’ RETOX days. How, if at all, do you think the industry has affected your relationship? We live our brand every day, our son is born into this industry and our common goals keeps us together. Life is hectic but there ‘s never a dull day with the Dunns.... Besides that and from a health point of view, Nyc is pretty much built on hemp seeds ever since the womb. One spoonful of hemp seeds a day, keeps the doctor away!
GFGFGFGFG
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Featured Artist
Trent Steel a.k.a. Puff by Caroline Hayes
You may think glass artists are a dime a dozen but each and every single one of them has their own beautiful, unique style. Glass art is nothing new, although it may seem that way with all the recognition being given lately, especially by us. Using glass as art has been around since 3,500 BC when the Egyptians introduced this, however, the Syrians, around 25 BC, introduced the technique of actually blowing the glass into different shapes. And from there, different parts of the world and different time periods have influenced the techniques and styles of this form of art. Glass artist “Puff” is part of the Studio Glass Movement, which started in the 1960s and is the movement the glass industry is in today. Puff’s work just shows how much the glass industry has evolved since the Syrians with his mood boosting, whimsical, playful pieces. Specifically speaking is his rendition of Roger (pictured below), from the TV show “American Dad.” “I love creating fun and goofy characters that still have lots of detail,” Puff said. You can see this in a lot of his work.
18 February 2014
A small, private studio in Dallas is where Puff creates his masterpieces. He does, however, have plans to open a studio in Lubbock, Texas called Flippin’ Chickens Glass House with artists Triksta and Chalk. “We’re stoked on it!” he exclaimed. Inspired by Eusheen, T-Funk and Zach Puchowitz, Puff knows the importance of thinking out and visualizing every step because “that way each move is made accurately, which makes for a really clean, finished product.” He says his favorite technique is called “disc flip” because it’s “one of the best techniques for drawing detailed pictures and patterns.” Interested buyers can find his work at various stores across the country. Here in Colorado are Puff n Stuff (Lakewood) and Illuzions (Denver). Follow Puff on Instagram @puffglass, check him out on Facebook or email him puffglassart@gmail.com. https://www.facebook.com/puffglass.arts
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Tasty Meds
reviewed by Monocle Man
Terrific Chocolate Chunk 100mg by The Growing Kitchen The Growing Kitchen should be well known with our readers as they took home a lot of awards in the first THCC award ceremony. It’s been a while since we’ve reviewed their products so we thought it was time to see what they’ve been cooking. The Growing Kitchen uses all-natural ingredients in their products and promotes a healthy product for their patients. We tried their 100mg Terrific Chocolate Chunk cookie. As soon as my eyes saw this cookie my mouth began to water. I couldn’t wait to open that baby up and devour every last crumb. The cookie itself seemed larger than other cookies I’ve seen on the market. Once I was done taking my initial notes, I was ready to dig in. I opened up the plastic bag and pulled out the cookie resting on a gold doily, making it one classy cookie. The cookie smelled like it was just baked and filled the room with a delicious scent. I planned on having about a quarter of the cookie to start and go from there. After taking one bite my plan quickly went off course. The cookie had a slight cannabis taste at first but was covered up by the delectable chocolate chunks. This was one of the best infused cookies I have ever had. Before I knew it, I ate the whole cookie. Good thing I didn’t have anything important to do that night because I was glued to my couch for hours with a movie marathon. If you love cookies like me it will be hard not to eat the whole thing in one sitting. www.thegrowingkitchen.co
OG Essential Capsules 120mg by Essential Extracts
The Essential Capsules from OG are brand new to the market. These aren’t your ordinary hash caps. The Essential Capsules are organic, vegan, 100 percent solventless and made by Nikka T of Essential Extracts. I’ve been seeing these across the Essential Extracts social media sites for a couple months now and was excited to finally give them a try. The Essential Capsules come in a white opaque medicine bottle with a sleek eye catching label. They are available in Sativa or Indica for those looking for a certain effect. When you twist off the child proof top you find a cotton ball protecting the capsules. After you pull out the cotton, three 40mg capsules await. The capsules are infused with coconut oil and contain 5mg of CBD/CBN in each capsule. For my first try with these I did one of the Sativa capsules after my breakfast. Within 15 to 20 minutes I started to get a warm tingly feeling across my body. After an hour I was feeling great. It was much more of a body high and clear headed. I took the other two later in the afternoon. I was still fully functional but after taking the other two I was pretty stoney. A few days later I tried the Indica capsules. It was a night that my insomnia was getting the best of me and I couldn’t sleep. I took two capsules and relaxed in my bed. Like the Sativa, these kicked in within 20 minutes. This time my eyes were heavy and felt much more of a head high. It didn’t take long before I was knocked out in a deep sleep. The next morning I awoke refreshed and ready to go. A lot of times when I take edibles before I go to bed I wake up in an edible haze, but not with these. Nikka T and the Essential Extracts have raised the bar with their solventless concentrates and they are setting the standard on hash capsules. For patients looking for a discreet, chemical free, natural way to get your meds, the Essential Capsules are perfect for you. www.ogmip.com, www.essentialextracts.co
Golden Goat & Swiss Bliss Bubble Hash by MMD of Colorado
I always get excited when we get bubble hash to review. I tend to be more old school and prefer cold water extracted when it comes to hash. MMD of Colorado in downtown Denver offers their customers a great selection of flower, edibles, and their in-house bubble hash. We tried their Golden Goat and Swill Bliss for this review. They both were light brown in color and had a variety of small and medium chunks of trichome goodness. The small pieces were perfect for bowl toppers to spice up the flower. First up was the Golden Goat. The aroma from the Golden Goat had a full terpene profile. I took a couple of the larger chunks in a pipe that I use strictly for bubble. Anytime I smoke bubble hash I use a hemp wick to light the hash instead of a lighter. It works much better and you can taste the flavor of the hash and not your lighter. The Golden Goat put a spring in my step and I was happy as could be. For the Swiss Bliss I sprinkled the small pieces on top of a bowl of Sativa flowers. This spiced it up with flavor and potency, The Swiss Bliss had an earthy smell but added a sweet flavor to the flower leading to a stoney experience. Both the of these fine samples of bubble hash from MMD of Colorado get my seal of approval. Next time you are downtown make sure to stop in and see the friendly staff at MMD. www.mmdofcolorado.com
20 February 2014
thcmag.com 21
The design is minimal, the experience is not. A single button with many functions. A single button of many colors. A single button to activate, select, and control five temperature levels for pure vaporization. All for the single best experience. Learn more at indica2.com
22 February 2014
HEMP EATS
Spoil your valentine with these hempy recipes
Chocolate Covered Strawberries Dipped in Hemp Seeds
Turkey Meatballs with Hemp Seeds and Cheese
Ingredients: 1 pound fresh strawberries, washed and dried 6 ounces semisweet chocolate 3/4 cup hulled hempseeds
Makes about 18-30 meatballs, depending on the size
Directions: Step 1: Place chocolate in bowl and set over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted, about 5 mintues. Meanwhile, place hemp seeds in a seperate bowl and line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Remove chocolate from heat. Step 2: Dip strawberries in chocolate, coating all sides evenly. Step 3: Roll chocolate covered strawberry in hemp seeds, again coating all sides evenly. Place on waxed paper. Step 4: Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes
Ingredients: 1 1/2 lbs. ground turkey 1/2 cup Romano cheese 1/4 cup shelled hemp seeds 1 teaspoon garlic salt 1 teaspoon rubbed sage 1 teaspoon dried rosemary 1 tespoon dried thyme (or less) 1 egg, beaten 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 3 teaspoons olive oil Directions: Place ground turkey into medium sized plastic bowl. Next, combine garlic, sage, rosemary and thyme in a mortar and pestle or spice grinder and grind until fine. Set aside.
Sprinkle herbs, Romano and hemp hearts over the turkey; then add the egg and Worcestershire sauce. Using clean hands, mix the herbs, cheese and egg into the ground turkey. Mix just until combined. Using a spoon to scoop out same-size pieces of meat mixture and form into individual meatballs by rolling them between your hands. Do this with all the mixture.
Hemp Oil Salad Dressing 1/4 cup hemp oil 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce or Bragg’s Liquid Aminos 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons honey dash salt and pepper, to taste
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large non-stick frying pan. (Add the additional olive oil if needed during cooking.) Fry meatballs over medium high heat, turning every few minutes, until all sides are browned and meatball is cooked through. This should take about 15 minutes and internal temperature should be 165ËšF. Serve with noodles and red sauce or on thier own
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High Society with
Cheryl Shuman
Jayden’s Journey: Sharing the Truth About CBD Therapy for Seizures Trust me. Working with celebrities in Hollywood is exciting and fun. I’m thrilled to have had the life experiences that my career has offered me. However, I’ve found that meeting people within our own community is far more inspirational and life-altering. To me a true star in life is someone who changes our way of looking at the world and inspires us to be better human beings. Two of those stars in my life: a young man by the name of Jayden David, and his father. Jayden was born on August 17, 2006. He was truly a blessing to his parents, Jason and Katie. On Christmas morning of that year, he had his first grand mal seizure. Jayden was only 4 months old at the time. His seizure lasted close to an hour, and it marked the beginning of Jayden’s Journey. The next year was filled with unanswered questions, misdiagnoses, and tons of synthetic drugs. Jayden continued to have 200 to 300 myoclonic seizures a day, and countless clonic and tonic seizures. Jason was desperate to find a diagnosis for Jayden. He spent countless hours researching, talking to parent groups, and continuously asking questions. Finally, Jason got the answer he wished he never would have heard, Dravet Syndrome. Dravet’s, also known as Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy of Infancy (SMEI), is a rare and catastrophic form of epilepsy that begins in infancy. Initial seizures are most often prolonged events and in the second year of life other seizure types begin to emerge. Development remains on track initially with plateaus, but a progressive decline sets in, typically beginning in the second year of life. Individuals with Dravet syndrome face a higher incidence of SUDEP (sudden unexplained death in epilepsy) and have associated conditions, which also need to be properly treated and managed. Dravet syndrome is life-altering and very costly. After four years of different combinations of synthetic drugs and hundreds of side effects, a doctor in San Francisco recommend Jason try a form of medical marijuana called CBD. The CBD tincture he used was a liquid form and is non-intoxicating, meaning that Jayden would not feel a high. The first dose was given on national TV. The show “Weed Wars” on Discovery Channel did a short segment on Jason and Jayden, showing the world a little bit of what Jason deals with on a daily basis. Jason agreed to do this on national TV because he wanted to raise awareness about Dravet’s and let parents know that there is another way. After using CBD, Jayden went four days without one seizure. Jason
heard
his
son
humming
for
the
first
time!
Jayden’s journey continued when I became friends with his father through social media a few years ago. There’s a special place in my heart for this family when I see the love in this father’s eyes
24 February 2014
Photos from top to bottom: 1) Dravet Syndrome Patient Jayden David loves kisses and playing with his dad Jason on the good days when CBD is working for his seizures. 2) Jason David meets with Cheryl Shuman in Los Angeles to discuss CBD treatment for Dravet Syndrome and other illnesses. 3) Jayden David’s seizures are monitored to determine the effectiveness of his CBD treatment in the hospital.
as he speaks of his son. I had the honor of spending time with the family in Los Angeles recently when we discussed the current “CBD Refugees” problem across the country after Dr. Sanjay Gupta did his documentary that featured Charlotte Figi.
When he grabbed me tight I could feel the love pouring from his soul towards me. It was magical. Then he licked the left side of my face. It turned out that the Figi family saw Jayden’s story about living with Dravet syndrome on “Weed Wars” and reached out. Paige Figi, Charlotte’s mom, was thirsty for knowledge from Jayden’s dad, who had developed a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge in working with CBD, medical cannabis and the ratios that worked best in controlling the seizures. Jason David assisted the family to find help in Colorado and watched as their story was told on CNN. As I mentioned earlier, these families are the real stars in life. There is not a doubt in my mind that many of these stories would make much better films than much of what I’ve seen in Hollywood. With my film and television relationships here, I hope to incorporate these stories in to the media projects that we are currently filming with CNN, Reason TV, Fox News, ABC and HBO. Our group is small now, but I’m thrilled to watch our family grow. We are happy to welcome anyone of you that needs guidance in finding what you need to live happier and healthier lives with CBD.
People who know me know that I’m a “hugger.” I smile as I remember the best hug I think I’ve ever received in my life. That was a hug from Jayden. When he grabbed me tight I could feel the love pouring from his soul towards me. It was magical. Then he licked the left side of my face. I smiled and turned to see his dad begin to apologize and tell me how bad he felt that my cheek got so wet. I laughed because this was the best wet kiss given with the most love from anyone in my life. His dad Jason said, “Jayden only licks people he really likes!” You know what, it was an honor. It might sound silly but I wouldn’t trade that moment for anything. You meet people in life sometimes and you just know that you will know them forever. Here’s to that lifetime of finding joyful moments to treasure. Meanwhile I’m asking all of you to join us on Jayden’s amazing journey, and to help us educate, inspire and give hope to families with children like Jayden. Please follow their story on: https:// www.facebook.com/jasonandjaydensjourney. For additional information about CBD: www.HempMedsPX.com Stay tuned ... Known as the “Martha Stewart of Marijuana,” Cheryl Shuman has 25 years of branding experience working with celebrities, media and public relations. She has transitioned her medical marijuana activism as cancer patient, C.E.O. of CherylShuman.com Inc., Executive Director of MomsForMarijuana.com and the BeverlyHillsCannabisClub.com into a career pioneering product placement for medical marijuana companies in the film and television industry.
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Cannabis News
by John Schroyer
Obama Says Marijuana No More Dangerous Than Alcohol President Barack Obama sided with many cannabis activists recently in an interview with The New Yorker. “I smoked pot as a kid, and I view it as a bad habit and a vice, not very different from the cigarettes that I smoked as a young person up through a big chunk of my adult life. I don’t think it is more dangerous than alcohol,” Obama told David Remnick. The president said he still views marijuana use as a bad habit, but agreed that alcohol can often have a more detrimental effect than cannabis “in terms of its impact on the individual consumer.” Obama went on to say that he’s concerned with class disparities in terms of drug offense punishment. “Middle-class kids don’t get locked up for smoking pot, and poor kids do,” he said. “And African-American kids and Latino kids are more likely to be poor and less likely to have the resources and the support to avoid unduly harsh penalties.” “We should not be locking up kids or individual users for long stretches of jail time when some of the folks who are writing those laws have probably done the same thing,” Obama said. DEA chief Michele Leonhart told a gathering of U.S. sheriffs that Obama’s opinion was the “lowest point” in her 33year career. Farmers Call For End to Federal Hemp Ban The political push to legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp garnered a new ally in January — the American Farm Bureau Federation. The federation voted at its annual meeting
26 February January 2014 2014
last month in Texas to back a resolution calling on the federal government to remove industrial hemp from the list of controlled substances overseen by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The resolution was first passed by the Indiana Farm Bureau, and hemp has also been a hot topic for Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, who has said that the crop could help farmers widen their profit margins in his home state of Kentucky. Obama Gives Green Light to Banking for Marijuana Dispensaries President Barack Obama’s administration has agreed with politicians from Colorado and Washington state who have been arguing for months that cash-only marijuana dispensaries need access to financial services. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced in January that banking regulations to oversee dispensary accounts are on the way. Until the regulations are put in place, banks that allow accounts to marijuana dispensaries can be prosecuted for racketeering, since marijuana is still illegal under federal law. Dispensaries are vulnerable to thieves, since they’re forced to handle large amounts of cash. Medical Marijuana Making Impact on Florida Political Scene A ballot measure that will likely go before Florida voters this November has some politicos wondering if the issue will drive turnout from younger voters, and whether it could affect the gubernatorial race. Charlie Crist, the Democratic candidate for governor, has had to deal with Republican accusations that his law partner, John Morgan, is pushing the medical marijuana issue to help Crist win. Morgan admitted spending more than $3 million to gather signatures for the ballot measure, on legal help for the measure’s
wording, and to defend it in court. According to one study based on CNN exit polls, three states in 2012 with marijuana legalization measures on the ballot — Washington, Colorado and Oregon — all saw significant increases in young voter participation from the 2008 election. In Washington, the youth vote went up 12 percent, in Colorado by 6 percent, and in Oregon by 5 percent. Florida’s Supreme Court ruled in late January that the medical marijuana initiative is valid. That means it will almost certainly be on the ballot this fall. Cannabis Stocks Booming, But No Lift for Tobacco While marijuana-related businesses across the nation are seeing their stock prices soar, Big Tobacco so far hasn’t reaped any noticeable benefit from legalized cannabis sales. Three of the biggest tobacco companies — Philip Morris, Altria and Reynolds American — have not yet made any known investment in the marijuana industry. All three of those stocks have underperformed in the S&P index over the past year, while marijuana startups have watched their company values balloon. Illinois May Trade Second Amendment Rights for Medical Marijuana Rights As Illinois lawmakers grapple with a new medical marijuana establishment in their state, various proposals are being floated for patients, including one that would require them to sacrifice their legal right to own firearms. According to the Chicago Tribune, a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association said the group has taken no position on the proposal.
Across the Globe The proposal also calls for an annual $150 fee for medical marijuana patients (in Colorado, it’s $15), and lists 41 different ailments and conditions that can qualify a patient to legally purchase up to two and a half ounces of medical cannabis every other week. Finalized rules are slated to be issued by the end of April.
up to five marijuana plants in their home.
The rules would also prohibit medical marijuana use by police officers, firefighters, school bus and commercial bus drivers, and anyone who is not a registered patient.
Cannabis Plants Love Classical Music
Marijuana Ads Prohibited Facebook, Google
From
Cannabis entrepreneurs can forget about hawking their goods on two of the Internet’s most popular sites. Facebook and Google will continue to prohibit marijuana advertisements. Both companies confirmed their policies after Colorado began selling marijuana for adult use. Recreational cannabis stores are set to open in Washington state this spring. But Internet users in either state won’t be seeing any promarijuana banner ads on Facebook or Google. Allowing such ads “promoting the drug in certain states or countries where it is legal is too high (no pun intended) for us to consider at this time,” a Facebook spokesman said in an email to the business reporting outlet GigaOM. Marijuana Oklahoma
Legalization
Bill
in
Oklahoma became one of the latest states to begin debating marijuana legalization at its state legislature after a Democratic state senator introduced a bill to make recreational cannabis legal for adults. The measure, which contains provisions similar to Colorado’s Amendment 64, would allow anyone over 21 to purchase marijuana for personal use, and to grow
Sen. Constance Johnson, of Oklahoma City, has introduced multiple marijuana bills in the past, only to see them die in committee at the hands of the Republican majority. She is optimistic that attitudes are changing.
Anyone growing marijuana plants at home may want to consider adding a new sonic wrinkle to the setup. A New Zealand man says that after he started playing classical music to his cannabis plants, they flourished. Verdun Sturgus Kemp is in jail, however, for growing 287 marijuana plants in his home. Marijuana is still an illegal plant in New Zealand. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years and one month in prison. Kemp told local police when he was arrested that the plants responded well to classical music. Marijuana Legalization Underway in California
Efforts
Marijuana activists in California are hard at work gathering signatures to get at least four separate ballot measures in front of state voters this November. A December survey by the Field Poll found that 55 percent of California voters support marijuana legalization. That’s a significant turnaround from 2010, when California voters narrowly rejected a legalization proposal. ‘Amnesty Boxes’ Installed at Colorado Springs Dirport The Colorado Springs Airport followed in the footsteps of Denver International Airport in January and banned marijuana from most of its grounds. But the airport took an extra step that DIA didn’t and
set up “amnesty boxes” so that people carrying marijuana can dispose of their cannabis before boarding a plane. The boxes are intended for people who didn’t realize that they would be breaking the law by carrying legally purchased cannabis into an airport where it’s banned. It remains legal to leave marijuana in a car, if it’s parked at the Colorado Springs Airport. Any marijuana dumped in an amnesty box is destroyed. Anyone caught with marijuana on a plane is under federal jurisdiction, and can be jailed for breaking federal law, which still prohibits cannabis possession. Marijuana Legalization Bill in New Mexico The Land of Enchantment to the south of Colorado has at least one state senator who wants to follow the Centennial State’s lead. In January, New Mexico state Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, a Democrat, pre-filed a joint resolution that could become a ballot initiative for state voters later this year. Senate Joint Resolution 10 would permit recreational marijuana sale and use in New Mexico, and would also establish a regulatory structure for the taxation of cannabis. “New Mexico’s voters should be given the opportunity to decide on this issue,” Ortiz y Pino said. ”Other states’ experience can help us formulate an approach that will end the problems created by prohibition while protecting juveniles.” If the resolution passes the legislature, it’ll go before voters this November. According to one 2013 poll, 52 percent of New Mexico voters “would be in favor of taxing and regulating cannabis in a similar manner to alcohol.”
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Event Coverage
In Good Taste
Monthly Cannabis Event Promises Upscale Experiences by Susan Squibb
With Colorado legalization, cannabis events are attracting more people of all ages and incomes. In this emerging market are the new private monthly events with changing culinary and party themes by Jane West’s company, Edible Events, at Space Gallery. Edible Events premiered with an End of Prohibition event in late January that featured gourmet munchies in a posh venue. West, a former corporate event organizer, said the inspiration for her inaugural event came from a pleasurable dining experience. She shared an edible cannabis treat before a delicious meal at Old Major. She had an uncommonly relaxing evening without paying for it with a hangover the next day. Fast forward to this gallery setting, a 420-friendly upscale event. Jill Gomez, a Denver area resident is “super tickled” that marijuana is legal. “I’m a baby boomer. I’d rather have my children smoke than drink,” she said. The event was “BYOC,” or Bring Your Own Cannabis. Attendees used vaporizers and nibbled edibles in the gallery. Guests could smoke in comfort inside a Sunset limo bus parked in front. Wendy, 67, a Colorado resident, has never been a smoker of cannabis. Only recently, when she tried an edible, did she come to appreciate the relaxation cannabis can bring. With a smile and a slight fit of giggles, she remarked how much she enjoyed meeting others “on the bus.” The limo was stocked with chocolates and soft drinks to satisfy immediate munchies. Jeff, who lives in Denver and Milwaukee, said he enjoyed the event because, “I like smoking with people my own age.” Aside from the smoking limo, there were three spaces to explore; two galleries with food stations, and a loft area with couches and crafts for drawing and Connect 4 games for fun. DJ Desire was spinning dance tunes, favorites including Robin Thicke‘s “Blurred Lines” and an early 1980s Michael Jackson hit or two.
28 February 2014
Gorgeous flower and feather arrangements in shades of blues added consistent natural beauty to all the separate spaces. The guests largely were baby boomers, fashionably dressed women of all ages and dapper looking young men. Candy, 59, a daily cannabis consumer from Kansas, remarked she felt refreshingly different for not needing to hide her appreciation for cannabis. CynDee, 63, another Kansan, was having a wonderful time. She used to smoke cannabis in her younger days, but no longer consumes because of employment drug screening. “Legalization needed to happen,” she said. Her favorite part of the event was “all the people I’ve met.” Food was catered by Three Tomatoes Catering, who provided a thoughtful and flavorful menu that included mouth watering poblano quesadilla, peppered beef skewers, pulled bourbon braised short rib sandwiches, and much more. Drinks included red and white wine, local craft beer and custom event drinks, an Old Fashioned and a Fresh Apple and Ginger Elixir. Jon, 54, from Seattle, was enjoying Sour Diesel, Flo and Golden Goat cannabis strains. He would like to see similar events with delicious food in his hometown. None of the cuisine was infused with cannabis. That might change in the future. Edible Events is working with Melissa Parks, a Le Cordon Bleu graduate, to create an epicurean line of infused sweets. “I was against the industry for a long time,” said Parks. After evaluating her promising business relationship with Organa Labs, Parks is now ready to develop her passion for food chemistry into a successful cannabis industry business. With top quality food to complement the upscale cannabis experience, Edible Events puts together a winning combination.
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20ish Questions With Hemp Entreprenuer Koby Conrad, Creator of Mother Hemp Products
by Josh Davis
30 February 2014
Koby Conrad owns two global businesses - both profitable and both accessible to anyone who wants to purchase from him. His Hippie Hemp Shop sells hookahs, hemp jewelry, hippie clothing, incense, tapestry’s; pretty much your typical college dorm room accessories. His second business, Mother Hemp, sells a full line of hemp lotions and soaps. He’s an entrepreneur with a mind for understanding current markets, and he’s got big dreams... oh, and he’s only 20. Both of Koby’s enterprises take up no real estate because they are both online. E-Commerce is not new, but many who are interested in becoming an entrepreneur know little to nothing about building an online business. Buzzwords like Social Media, SEO, and even plain old e-commerce can deter those who didn’t grow up with the Internet, (case in point, yours truly). I was in college the first time I booted up Netscape ... ah Netscape how I miss you. But Koby, who considers himself an, “E-commerce, Social Media, and SEO specialist” is also the author of several e-books focusing on just that. He is convinced all it takes is the willingness to learn about the latest trends and some Internet elbow grease. I sat down with Koby to find out: How does one become an Internet entrepreneur.
perception of how it is being marketed in the U.S.? KC: I think it’s being marketed in the U.S. just like any other product, although I don’t think you see it in very public places. Hopefully with hemp being grown in the United States we will start to see more products that consist of hemp. THC: What are your thoughts on the current laws concerning cannabis at the federal level?
“Mother Hemp actually started out as Father Hemp. I originally wanted to make wooden pipes, but my state has such strict laws around marijuana that doing that would be impossible. So I decided to start a line of hemp products instead. “
THC: Which came first - your interest in cannabis or your interest in a niche that you could sell online? Was cannabis a byproduct of your search for a good “niche?”
KC: I was definitely interested in a niche that I could sell online first. Cannabis just happened to be an awesome niche. There’s not a lot of competition for cannabis keywords and the products are fairly easy to source. THC: In your blog you give away a lot of good information about SEO and gaining an audience through social media. How do you learn what works and what doesn’t? KC: Get a mentor! I actually had a very good teacher, he was one of the founders of Check Maid, an online cleaning service that is also very heavy into SEO. It helps a lot to have someone to learn from. THC: What are some common mistakes people make when trying to start an online business? KC: Giving up. This industry is all about learning. The only way you can really fail is if you stop trying, otherwise it’s just a matter of time. THC: You’ve grown up with the internet and for me I first used it in the last few years of college in its infancy. Do you think those of us who were born pre-internet can learn what you know? KC: Yes I do! Both of my parents were born pre-internet and have a masters and doctorates in computer science. There are lots of people who haven’t touched a computer until after the year 2000 who now use it in a professional environment. THC: Let’s talk about the hemp market. What’s been your
KC: I hope that they will just come to their senses soon and get it legalized. We’re losing tax dollars that could be spent on a million different things other than private prisons. THC: What are the state cannabis laws where you live? KC: Idaho has very strict cannabis laws, possession over three ounces is considered a felony, and people are very ignorant about it over here. THC: Take us through the process of creating a product like Mother Hemp Hand Lotion. How did that come about and how was it created from concept to real product?
KC: Mother Hemp actually started out as Father Hemp. I originally wanted to make wooden pipes, but my state has such strict laws around marijuana that doing that would be impossible. So I decided to start a line of hemp products instead. After I changed the name I found a business partner on Reddit, r/entrepreneur, for Mother Hemp who handles the sourcing and creation of the products. Reddit is an awesome place to meet people. THC: What is Reddit? KC: Reddit is an online community and it covers tons of different topics from world politics to entrepreneurism. I usually hang out in r/entrepreneur and talk with other business owners. Networking with people is a great way to get new ideas and see what’s working for others. THC: Because you are dealing with cannabis-related products have you had any issues with companies like Google or Facebook not allowing you to advertise? KC: Yes actually, they won’t let you advertise if you are promoting marijuana. If we stick strictly to hemp however, we are generally okay. THC: What are the first three things someone should do if they have an idea for a product? KC: There aren’t really “three things” in particular … If you have an idea for a product, go make your product! Fortune favors the bold. THC: Right, but you don’t go from having an idea to having a finished product in your hands. What would Koby do? Contact your designer ... etc?
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KC: Yeah, so what we did was we made the product, had one of our designers come up with the logo, and then ordered the bottles. Then you just got to start selling it!
KC: I like Facebook the best, but it’s honestly just personal preference. Whatever social media you can get a big following on, use that one.
THC: What types of people were imperative for you creating your business? Example - did you need a lawyer, an accountant, a designer etc?
THC: Speaking of Facebook, we always see people asking us to ‘like’ their page. Does this actually build business for you?
KC: Yeah, I had some legal consultation at first and I have a very good accountant. Most of the design work I did myself, all the photos and everything, although we did get our logo on fiverr.com. The biggest lesson I learned is to do as much as you can yourself, and be very careful when trying to outsource to someone.
KC: People think that using something like social media to market is a new invention, it’s not. A page with followers is the same thing as a website with a mailing list. People sign up to receive content from you, it’s not different than that. The larger our page or the larger a mailing list, the more money you’ll make by referring people to your website.
THC: You wrote the e-book Building Social Media. Where did you learn your own lessons? KC: It’s all just a trial and error process. I tried one thing and then it either worked or didn’t, and then I tried something else. Eventually I figured out what worked and what didn’t, and now I run campaigns cheaper than $0.05/like. THC: What are e-commerce?
the
biggest
misconceptions
about
KC: Biggest misconception is that it’s too saturated to make money. That’s completely wrong, saturation means that there is lots of money to be made. THC: Do you have a typical online campaign. What does that entail? KC: Our typical campaign involves a lot of A/B testing. We’ll try out every different possible combination of the advertisement first, and see what performs the best. Then we will put all of the money into the ad that has the best performance. THC: Will you be selling your products in stores or stay online? KC: We’re hoping to be able to get Mother Hemp into stores going forward. The bigger ones are usually a lot harder to get into because they want to see a fair bit in sales first before they’ll take you in. We’ve had a fair bit of success getting our product into smaller niche stores though. THC: What were your start-up costs for your companies? KC: Mother Hemp was started with $10,000. Hippies Hope Shop now has $20,000 put into it and I’m about to put another $60,000 into it. THC: Where do you source your hemp from? KC: So hemp isn’t legal in the U.S. obviously (for now) so we are sourcing all of the actual hemp products from Canada at the moment. The way they work is we import the raw hemp product and then combine the hemp with our base product. So we’ll have an awesome shampoo & conditioner base already made, import the hemp oil, combine the two, and then package it all. THC: There are so many different social media outlets which ones should people be concentrating on to market themselves?
32 February 2014
Marisol Ad
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Ancient Medicine Man Cannabis Found In Grave Dating Back 2,700 Years by Rick Macey
As people in Colorado celebrate the end of cannabis prohibition, it would be interesting to know what humans in ancient times would think of our modern civil rights movement. There’s one man in particular whose thoughts would be enlightening. More than 2,700 years ago, a shaman died in what today is known as the Xinjiang-Uighur Autonomous Region of China. He was buried with his various possessions, including a large stash of relatively high grade marijuana. A report by the Journal of Experimental Botany reveals fascinating details about this man, whose grave was excavated in the Yanghai Tombs near Turpan. He apparently had blue eyes and strongly resembled modern Europeans. His cache of cannabis was superbly preserved by climatic and burial conditions. A multidisciplinary international team demonstrated through botanical examination, phytochemical investigation, and genetic DNA analysis that the cannabis definitely contained a significant amount of THC. This distinguishes the find from hemp, which had proliferated across Asia by that time. While it’s impossible to be certain, it is likely that the cannabis was used by his culture as medicine. In the possession of a shaman, it’s also possible the psychoactive properties of the marijuana provided an aid to divination, the search for religious truth and meaning. That would not surprise some cannabis experts such as Dr. Bob Melamede, biology professor at University of Colorado in Colorado Springs. “Nearly every religion in the world has a cannabis-based constituency,” Melamede said. “This stuff has an all-pervasive power.”
The tomb of the blue-eyed shaman with the burial contents.Photo credit to Heritage Bureau of Xinjiang
Melamede said that it’s highly likely cannabis was the first plant domesticated for human agriculture. There is evidence it was harvested for fuel, fiber, clothing, medicine, and worship in prehistoric times.
The earliest written information about these people was drafted more than 2,000 years ago in the Chinese historical record known as “Hou Hanshu.” These reports called this clan “Gushi.”
“What more could you ask from a plant that does so many elemental things that are essential for human progress,” Dr. Bob said.
Gushi were apparently nomadic and spoke a now-extinct language closely related to Celtic, Italian, and Turkish dialects. They tended horses and grazing animals, were adept farmers, and accomplished archers. These skills were passed down through the centuries.
The Uighur find is the oldest documentation of cannabis as a pharmacologically active agent. It sheds light on the medical and archaeological record of pre-Silk Road culture. Uighur farmers cultivating fields in the Gobi Desert near Turpan discovered a vast ancient cemetery in 1988. The clans that used this burial ground were apparently blue-eyed Caucasians speaking an Indo-European language.
34 February 2014
Excavations revealed more than 2,500 tombs. Some of them dated to 3,200 years ago. Other evidence, particularly chipped stone tools, indicate a human presence in the area as long as 40,000 years ago. A combination of deep graves, an extremely arid climate, and alkaline soil resulted in a remarkable preservation of human
remains, comparable only to Egyptian mummification. This cannabis medicine man was a male of high social status who died around 45 years of age. His burial possessions included bridles, archery equipment, and a harp. He wore a leather hat, heavy coat and boots, large earrings of copper and gold, a turquoise necklace, a copper laced stick in the right hand and a bronze ax in the left, according to Li Xiao, head of the heritage bureau in Turpan.
We can only wonder what this shaman would say about marijuana, the meaning of life, and the disaster of our times, cannabis prohibition. One last thought: China has the world’s oldest recorded references to cannabis. Chinese Emperor Fu His, credited with bringing civilization to China, spoke highly of “Ma,” the Chinese word for cannabis. That was nearly 5,000 years ago. Emperor Fu said it was a very popular medicine with yin and yang.
So what about this musical medicine man’s stash? In a large leather basket and wooden bowl placed at the head and foot of his resting place, archeologists found 789 grams of plant matter, at first thought to be coriander. Meticulous botanical examination proved that the vegetation was actually Cannabis sativa. It was amazingly preserved after nearly 3,000 years, with green color in leafy parts and visible glandular trichomes. The characteristics of the cannabis were different from wild strains, proof that the marijuana was domestically cultivated. Most of us wouldn’t guess that ancient nomadic people in Asia, with blue eyes and a language similar to what’s spoken in Scotland and Ireland, grew large amounts of marijuana. Could it be possible that this nomadic tribe emigrated to Asia in order to cultivate cannabis?
References to cannabis as medicine can be found throughout ancient Chinese literature. Proof that the aphorism “What’s Old Is What’s New” is right on.
This leather basket contained nearly 800 grams of marijuana. Photo credit to Heritage Bureau of Xinjiang
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It’s Not Easy Being Green by Erin Hiatt
It’s a very pretty can of bug killer. It’s green, has the word “earth” on the label and is decorated with tree bark and daisies. Those dirty, pesky bugs are dead on their backs, little legs frozen midair just like the pictures on the other cans of not earth-friendly bug killer, so it must work just as well, you reason. So you buy it because you want to do your part for the environment. This can of bug killer, with the “very homestyle kind of grass-rooty label,” says Cliff Drill, owner and founder of Splaff, a manufacturer of environmental clothing, footwear, and accessories. It makes you think, “Oh, this is a green product, I’m doing something good by buying it.” Right? Wrong. You have been officially “greenwashed.” Like the more familiar term “whitewashing,” it refers to a glossy sheen to cover up something less than desirable. Our sheds, closets, and kitchen cupboards are likely full of things that we conscientiously purchased, hoping that those greener products would be better for the environment. But in reality they are most likely just as bad as the generally much cheaper mainstream product. Take the example of the bug killer. When you look at the ingredients list, it does contain a natural bug-killer from the chrysanthemum flower called pyrethrin, number three out of four listed on the label. Piperonyl butoxide, number four, is another natural ingredient that helps boost the killing power of the chrysanthemum. That’s wonderful, yes? Not so fast. Coming in at number one on the list is isobutane, a freon gas that depletes the ozone layer. Number two is propane, a by-product of natural gas and petroleum. Let’s see. Ingredients one and two alone could easily kill any bug without adding the chrysanthemum combination. Why would these companies even bother adding the green components? Cliff Drill believes it’s all about the money. Splaff is about “90 percent eco-friendly. When you buy ‘green’ products from a huge corporation, their initial goals are not to do things environmentally, they’re just companies doing things for profit. Then later on they see, oh, there’s a green consumer and we have to find a way to attract them and to market to them and to get that piece of that pie as well.” The biggest problem with greenwashing is that it’s pretty much impossible to tell what is “green” and what is not. The Federal Trade Commission, the regulatory overseer, allows corporations to police themselves. That’s why a bottle of bleach, one of the most corrosive and deadly chemicals, can come in a bottle made with 10 percent recycled plastic and call itself a “green” product without fear of being penalized. Underwriters Laboratories is an independent testing and certification organization. It puts out a report called “The 7 Sins of Greenwashing.” It can help spot a greenwashing offender: •Sin of the Hidden Trade-Off: This suggests that a product is “green” without noting its “trade-offs.” Paper from a sustainable forest is an example of this when you don’t factor in the energy, greenhouse gases, water, and pollution created in the paper-
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making process. •Sin of No Proof: Just like it sounds, if they can’t prove that it’s green, it probably isn’t. The most common offenders are tissue manufacturers. •Sin of Vagueness: Look out for the words “all-natural” here, since arsenic and formaldehyde are natural ... and also poisonous. •Sin of Irrelevance: This is usually spotted when you see the words “CFC free.” CFC’s were long ago banned by law and it’s great to be rid of these chemicals, but it’s not relevant when looking for a “green” product. •Sin of Lesser of Two Evils: Imagine a cigarette with organic tobacco. Imagine that same cigarette contributing to deforestation and creating liquid, airborne, and solid waste. Not to mention the millions of cigarette butts on the sidewalks, in the gutters, and landfills. •Sin of Fibbing: This one is the hardest to pull off but it does happen. Some corporations just flat out lie, often in expensive media campaigns. •Sin of Worshipping False Labels: This usually happens when companies use clever words or imagery to give a false impression about the product. “And that,” says Drill, “is the whole problem with greenwashing. It’s too much marketing ... and not enough actual action.” Huge corporations have money-making ambitions and they want to get the green consumer to buy their toxic stuff because they know we need to clean our floors, wash our cars, or paint our houses. Those corporations are counting on you to not do your research when you’re picking a product. Drill knows from his business experience that “doing things ecoconsciously and green is more expensive and less convenient.
It takes more work and it costs more money.” So how can an eco-conscious consumer avoid greenwashing? First, do a little research. A great resource is GoodGuide at www.goodguide.com (also available as an Android app). Listed there are hundreds of products, from deodorants to cell phones, along with both good and bad ratings for the products.
.....a bottle of bleach, one of the most corrosive and deadly chemicals, can come in a bottle made with 10 percent recycled plastic and call itself a “green” product without fear of being penalized. Some corporations, such as Seventh Generation, Endangered Species Chocolate, and Method have consistently high scores from GoodGuide. When it comes to our food, it is a bit easier to tell if something is actually organic or not since the USDA requires that the ingredients be certified organic before it can get a USDA Organic stamp of approval on the package. And Drill does believe that things are getting better, with more large corporations trying to roll out actual “green” products for the conscientious consumer. It’s in a corporation’s nature to try and make a profit, so as consumers, the one thing we can do is to give our money to companies that uphold our ideals and not, Drill reminds us, to a corporation that “doesn’t give a crap about the environment.”
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Blinded By The Light
Rooftop Solar Panels Are Under Attack by Skyler Cannabaceae
38 February 2014
RJ Harrington Jr. is like thousands of other Coloradans. Years ago, he and his family made a large investment in rooftop solar power. At the time, Xcel Energy provided the full retail credit for the power that Harrington’s home provided to the “grid” for redistribution. This was the rate on which he based his investment strategy. But now the Colorado utility company says his investment is worth much less than he thought, and is losing value more quickly than he imagined. “To reduce … that investment really makes an impact,” Harrington said. Here’s the dilemma: Excel now claims that the power generated by rooftop solar panels is worth about half of the value of energy generated by other means, particularly its power plants. Harrington believes that the benefits of his solar panel system are being miscalculated by Xcel. Things like deferred expenses were not taken into account. Even so, when is a volt not a volt? “The benefits from a homeowner’s point of view are that I am providing power to my neighbors,” Harrington said. He disputes the idea that he is not paying his fair share because, in addition to providing power in the form of “green electrons,” he also saves Xcel the costs of maintaining and replacing their equipment as often. “[Excel] can defer maintenance to generation stations, they can delay purchasing new generation … we have made investments in generation that help to delay the investments in generation that they have to make.” Xcel Energy doesn’t think that solar power provides enough benefit for the cost. Citing a study it commissioned, Xcel decided that the rate at which Colorado homeowners and small businesses are credited for the solar energy they provide is more than double what the usable energy they provide is worth. Whether that’s true or not, the utility doesn’t want to cover the difference.
which organized a rally in December and presented a petition to Xcel’s Colorado Headquarters. A press release issued by Vote Solar Initiative the same day states that the there were 300 protestors to present the petition, which was signed by 30,000 solar proponents. The petition requested that Xcel withdraw its proposal saying that, “Your proposal significantly undervalues rooftop solar power at the expense of your own customers.” This appears to have done little to change the utility’s plans, to the chagrin of solar energy supporters. “With the prices that they’ve proposed, it basically cuts the benefit in half,” Harrington said. “Right now, we expect our solar system and our investment in that solar system to be completely paid off within about seven years.” Excel’s cut in the rate will double that time to 14 years.
In Colorado, coal accounts for 62.7 percent of all energy, followed by natural gas at 27.4 percent. Wind is 5.8 percent, hydro is 4.1 and solar is less than one percent, according to statistics from the Institute of Energy Research.
In July of last year, Xcel proposed a change to their current plan with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC). “Netmetering,” as the solar energy practice at issue is known, is a policy required of each state by the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005. Xcel gives a credit on the electric bills of homeowners and small businesses that install solar panel systems on their roofs, which in turn send energy to the utility company’s grid for redistribution. In addition to being a homeowner and investor, Harrington is executive director of Clean Action Energy, one of the groups
Activists for solar energy are not pleased with Xcel’s sudden devaluation of rooftop panels. “Coloradans feel strongly that we need to increase energy self-reliance, clean our air and fight climate disruption,” said Margaret McCall, energy associate at Environment Colorado. “We should make it more affordable for Coloradans to harness sunshine,” instead of rolling back the programs that work. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE), Colorado ranks 18th out of the 50 states in terms of renewable energy produced at 1.4 percent. The most recent statistics produced by the Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy office in 2011 show that Colorado is a standout in more than one area. It generates 5.76 percent of America’s solar power and 4.33 percent of the country’s power from wind.
The DoE’s Energy Information Administration has projected that power consumption in the state will be 43 percent higher in 2030 than it is today. With Colorado ranking 27th in electric consumption, but seventh in average annual increase from 1980-2010, the battle for who produces that electricity and how it is generated means more than ever. In Colorado, coal accounts for 62.7 percent of all energy, followed by natural gas at 27.4 percent. Wind is 5.8 percent, hydro is 4.1 and solar is less than one percent, according to statistics from the Institute of Energy Research.
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Views, Brews … and Marijuana Northglenn’s Three Dispensaries Are Worth Checking Out by DJ Reetz
Webster Lake, Northglenn
On a sunny Colorado afternoon in Northglenn, I stood contemplating how to describe this small city on the northern edge of the Denver metropolitan area. Tucked between Westminister and Thornton, it’s a place that is hardly likely to register with people cruising down I-25. Residents don’t tout it as a destination. It’s more a humble home for some 36,000 residents who live within this slice of suburban sprawl. As the joint in my hand smoldered, my mind opened and the city’s essence seemed to seep into me. In front of me the sweeping vista of the mountains spread, Long’s Peak stabbing into the cool blue sky of the early afternoon. Here, in one of the many open spaces of Northglenn, the view was unobstructed by skyscrapers that often obscure the natural beauty in more densely populated areas. There is a quiet serenity in this thought. Though I have been instructed to keep my medicating to a well-concealed automobile, I find no quarrel here, just this view of the Front Range over the rolling hills, giving way to more suburban homes.
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People here will tell you this is a small town between larger towns, and it feels that way. The city is home to only three medical marijuana dispensaries, all of which will soon be open to adult-use sales. The Green Solution may be the largest, part of a larger chain with four locations in the Denver metro area. Even on a typical weekday afternoon, you can find a line snaking through the stark, modern waiting area. But the crowds are there for the product, and the high volume of customers speaks for itself. The other two dispensaries in Northglenn offer a slightly more intimate experience. BotanaCare, while being the first dispensary open to adult-use sales in the city, maintains a very personal vibe on the medical side. Patients will find themselves in a private consultation, likely with one of the sisters that own the dispensary. The team here prides itself on this personalized approach to healing, identifying the ailment, and addressing it in the most strain-specific way possible. BotanaCare has big plans for its recreational side, hoping to soon have streamlined the process by using touch screens to take orders from those confident enough to not need input from a budtender. And there is no great rush for these guys to expand into other locations.
“I would rather be good in one spot than shitty in five places,” says Robin Hackett, one of the shop’s owners.
Aerial view of Northglenn Skate Park, teampain.com
Physicians Preferred Products is the third dispensary in Northglenn. Winners of the THC Championship in the sativa category for the phenomenal Citrix, Physicians Preferred offers a friendly and knowledgeable staff sure to guide you through the wealth of products available behind the counter. There was no shortage of praise coming from the small crowd that gathered in the waiting room. A loyal customer base is always a sign of quality meds. PPP hopes to soon open the adult-use side of the dispensary. Just around the corner from Physicians Preferred you’ll find the only microbrewery in Adams County. Beer by Design opened up last year, and has since been gaining a foothold in the otherwise barren brewery scene of the area. Functioning as a brewery and tasting room, the minimalist bar space offers a selection of tasty craft beers one is not likely to find outside of Northglenn. Beer by Design’s bartender is always ready to guide newcomers through the dozen or more beers on tap, and taster flights can be compiled to try it all. The menu includes a rotating selection of experimental beers which included the tasty sour lager when I was there, a beer infused with a refreshing grapefruit edge, and a green-chili infused beer that tasted like a Mexican dinner in a glass. Not too far from here is the most lauded drinking spot in the city, The Glenn Bar and Grill. With a homey, small-town feel to it, the Glenn offers patrons a comfortable spot to knock back a few drinks, and maybe enjoy some live music on a
Saturday night. The bar food is excellent, and I found that I was not the only person vaping inside the bar. Residents assured me that smoking outdoors was a bad idea in the city, but a wealth of scenic open spaces made me doubt that. As long as smokers keep to themselves and avoid EB Rains Jr. Memorial Park (which borders the city’s police station), it doesn’t seem like a problem. Northglenn may lack the draw of larger cities, but the charm here can be found for those who care to look. Next time you take the kids to the Boondocks Fun Center (also fun while stoned), or go to the Northglenn Skate Park, check out some of these places, and maybe you’ll get the picture.
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Changing the Rules Former Olympian Is Bridge Between Prohibition and Tolerance
by DJ Reetz
by DJ Reetz
For many professional athletes, cannabis use can be a career damaging faux pas. The MLB, NFL, NHL, and the allencompassing World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) have policies prohibiting marijuana. When athletes are caught with THC in their bodies, the outcome can be more than just embarrassing. Professional athletes face fines, sanctions, suspensions, and can even lose sponsorships for using marijuana. The list of star athletes who have gotten into trouble for – allegedly – using (or at least possessing) marijuana includes Denver Broncos Laurence Maroney and Von Miller, Allen Iverson, Carmello Anthony, Randy Moss, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and the most decorated Olympic athlete in history, Michael Phelps. This was the case for Ross Rebagliati, a Canadian snowboarder who in 1998 took home the first-ever Olympic gold medal for snowboarding in the slalom. Shortly after receiving it, the medal was stripped from him by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the result of a small amount of THC found in his system during routine drug screening. For Rebagliati, then a wide-eyed 26-year-old, losing the medal was devastating and unexpected. “It was pretty traumatic to go through that experience, to have the medal taken away from me and have my achievement be forever associated with marijuana,” he says. Making the Olympic team was something he had dreamed of. Snowboarding was just starting to be taken seriously, and he had been a part of the movement for the previous seven years, having transitioned from ski racing in 1991. Prior to those Winter Olympics 16 years ago, marijuana use wasn’t an issue, says Rebagliati. At the time, marijuana wasn’t even listed as a banned substance by the IOC. “I did my drug testing before I left for Nagano,” he says. “Those three drug tests that I did in Canada were made public and it was revealed that in all three of those tests I tested positive for marijuana as well. Nothing was ever brought to our attention with regards to that.” It wasn’t until after he had won a gold medal that the presence
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of THC became a problem. “It made it look like they were waiting for me,” he speculates. “If marijuana was such a big deal that you could lose your medal over it, you would think that if you tested positive for it in all your dug tests before you went that that would be something you would be notified of or something.” After two unsuccessful appeals, the medal was finally reinstated when it was brought to light that marijuana was in fact not listed by the IOC as a banned substance, making Rebagliati the only Olympic athlete to have a medal reinstated after being stripped under those circumstances. Rebagliati’s ordeal and vindication thrust him into the spotlight. Willing or not, he became an advocate for marijuana as the media circus tents set up around him. “Most athletes, even today, would probably agree that even now they wouldn’t want to get tangled up in [the marijuana debate] the way I did,” he says. In the late 1990s the medical marijuana community was nowhere nearly as prevalent as it is today. Only four states in the US had passed allowances for medical marijuana – California, Alaska, Oregon, and Washington – and it was mostly seen as a joke, something only useful to glaucoma patients. President Bill Clinton had famously sleazed his way out of the issue of his own personal use, famously claiming that he didn’t inhale. Rebagliati became somewhat of a punch line, despite his world class athletic accomplishments.
“It takes a lot of motivation to do what I did,” he says. “You have to be really on your game.” Out-dated stoner stereotypes aside, Rebagliati found himself sticking up for cannabis use. Soon he was defending not just the harmless nature of recreational use, but also advocating the health benefits associated with marijuana, from its antiinflammatory properties to its ability to help with sleep and recovery. “I’ve been through the wringer for 15 years,” he says. “I came out of the pot closet 15 years ago and I’ve been labeled with this for a long time.”
Rebagliati of his time as an Olympian. “We used cannabis on a regular basis, in the off-season especially, just to get motivated and go to the gym six days a week.” But it’s not just snowboarders that find marijuana useful, according to Rebagliati. “It’s true that in a lot of sports that involve healthy living and extreme levels of performance you’ll find people using cannabis on a regular basis,” he says. The credibility he’s established over the years sometimes causes people to be more open about their cannabis consumption than they may be otherwise.
His openness about marijuana manifested in problems entering the U.S., an issue which following 9/11 earned Rebagliati a spot on the no-fly list.
“The athletes that use cannabis that I’ve come across at different charity events or what not over the years have confided in me that, oh yeah, they’ve been using for years and years,” he says. Even politicians have approached Rebagliati to let him know they’re on the level, he claims.
“If you go through any border crossing into the states and you admit to using marijuana or any drug at any point in your life, they’ll pretty much not let you in,” he says. “And then you won’t get let in any more after that based on the fact that you weren’t let in that one time.”
All this may be a sign that the tide may finally be changing. With the legal marijuana market opening this year in both Colorado and Washington, it is becoming harder and harder to justify sanctioning athletes for using a harmless substance.
Rebagliati continues to be the guy people go to when athletes are caught using marijuana. He’s been featured in publications such as Sports Illustrated and USA Today for his defense of athletes using marijuana, and he’s not shy about saying that more athletes may be using marijuana than the public may be aware of. “There were lots of athletes that did it, that’s for sure,” says
Both teams in this year’s Super Bowl - Denver and Seattle hail from cities that are pioneering legal marijuana. With the widely known medicinal benefits associated with cannabis consumption, prohibiting athletes from partaking is looking increasingly foolish. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently implied that the league might be adopting a more progressive stance on
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marijuana. He said that the NFL would “continue to support the evolution of medicine.” This could be good news for players who risk concussions and other serious injuries, giving them a more natural and healthy alternative to the potentially toxic mix of pharmaceutical narcotics often prescribed to professional athletes.
“I always found that having a little puff before I went to the gym just made the experience that much more enjoyable, I was that much more motivated to do my workout, and after my workouts I use a little bit more to relax and let my muscles recover from the workout. So in a round-about way you could say that’s performance enhancing.”
Advocacy from people like Rebagliati may finally be influencing Olympic drug policy. Last year, WADA raised the allowable threshold for THC from 15 to 150 nanograms per milliliter (for a bit of context, consider that five is enough to get you a DUID in Colorado). The idea behind the change is to avoid false positives, allowing athletes to partake in the offseason. Still, WADA views marijuana as a performanceenhancing drug, citing its effects on pain tolerance and confidence levels during competition.
Rebagliati’s passion for marijuana has now led him into the marijuana industry. Last year he started Ross’ Gold, a medical marijuana dispensary in Whistler, British Columbia, and he hopes to have the business rolling in April when new, more relaxed cannabis laws go into effect in Canada. “For me the writing was on the wall in a lot of different ways,” he says. With travel to the U.S. no longer an option, his decision to enter the medical marijuana industry and provide people with the medicine he has spent most of his adult life promoting made perfect sense. “I realized that these things that have been taken away from me are things I wanted to protect,” he says.
But Rebagliati doesn’t see it that way. “I think it’s performance enhancing as much as eating healthy is performance enhancing.,” he says. “To me it’s just part of a healthy lifestyle in general.”
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Rebagliati is proud of the example he has set. As he forges ahead in the marijuana industry, perhaps other athletes will stand up for their own responsible use.
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A Growing Business Hemp Traders Poised For American Hemp Market
by Maggie Maxwell
Despite the long-standing ban on industrial hemp cultivation in the United States, Hemp Traders has established itself as the largest hemp textile supplier in America.
In 1992, Serbin became BACH’s leader. By the end of that year, he was taking steps toward launching Hemp Traders as a viable business.
The Los Angeles-based company offers clothing and rope, hemp seeds and oil, body care products, fiberboard for construction, and a lot more.
Using his connections at BACH, Serbin sought out and met with industrial hemp farmers in China, a country known for its cotton and linen fabric industry infrastructure. At the beginning of 1993, Serbin registered Hemp Traders and placed his first order for hemp fabric.
Hemp Traders grew from humble beginnings in the early 1990s, a time when not only was industrial hemp illegal in the United States, it was virtually unheard of. “When I decided to start [Hemp Traders], I could not find anyone, anywhere, selling anything made of hemp,” said Hemp Traders CEO Lawrence Serbin. “One morning, it just hit me like a ton of bricks. We can make fabric, we can make rope, we can make oils. The only reason we haven’t done this is because it’s illegal in the United States.” Hemp is one of the strongest fibers in nature, and produces more biomass per acre than its more ubiquitous peers, cotton or linen, which is derived from flax. In addition, hemp is known for its antimicrobial properties and absorbent, durable nature. These properties make it an extremely versatile fiber for products ranging from rope to upholstery to bedding and apparel. Serbin’s interest in industrial hemp was piqued after reading Jack Herer’s renowned cannabis anthology, “The Emperor Wears No Clothes,” which details the history of - and various uses for - industrial hemp. Soon after, Serbin sought out and became a member of The Business Alliance of Commerce in Hemp (BACH), a small, California-based group advocating for hemp-reliant business. “I was looking for business people,” Serbin said. “I was never really a hippie, I was never really counter-culture. But I saw an opportunity.”
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“It was very difficult at first,” Serbin said. “At that point, most people weren’t really aware of hemp. But we managed to hang in there.” Serbin cites price and cost as the largest obstacles to the success of Hemp Traders. “Hemp is a new old crop,” he said. “It’s the oldest and most versatile crop around, but not many countries cultivate it because of illegality.” Because of its scarcity, hemp fibers are still high in cost in comparison to cotton, flax and synthetic fabrics. Serbin and the Hemp Traders team eventually diversified, sourcing hemp from countries including India, Indonesia and Romania, and learning how to dye hemp fabric in-house. While many of Hemp Traders’ early competitors went out of business, the company continued to grow and expand with the help of advances in textile production and increasing awareness of industrial hemp. Serbin asserted that Hemp Traders is the largest hemp fabric company in the United States, although he declined to provide statistics for annual revenue. Today, Hemp Traders sells most of their product to two discrete groups: Individuals who are environmentally conscious and are willing to pay more for hemp over other fabrics; and wholesalers in four main industries.
Apparel and accessories have been staples to the Hemp Traders brand since its inception, and the company also has seen rapid growth along another two avenues. “Retailers are now aware that hemp works really, really well for home applications like upholstery and window coverings,” Serbin said. “And, because of its antimicrobial and absorbent capabilities, hemp fabric is perfect for reusable diapers. We can barely keep them in stock.” Despite his company’s success, Serbin said that industrial hemp fabric production within United States is still in the future. Despite the 2013 legalization of hemp and cannabis in Colorado and Washington, and pending legislation in a number of other states, the infrastructure for a hemp fabrics industry does not yet exist, and may not exist for years.
“New legislation will provide a lot more opportunity for innovation and new national business,” Serbin said. “But if you’re going to grow hemp, you have to have a buyer. And if you’re a grower in Colorado or Washington, the first market is going to be for the seed.” Serbin sees America’s industrial hemp movement developing in three phases; hemp seed sales first, followed by hemp fiber production, and eventually textile production. Because it is still illegal to import viable hemp seeds, Serbin said that in order to establish and grow an industrial hemp economy, farmers need access to quality seeds. “Here in the United States, the first farmers who can grow viable hemp will be able to - and should - sell those seeds,” Serbin said. “Start with the seed.”
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48 February 2014
Presidents Using Marijuana Rumors That (Mostly) Blow Smoke In Our Eyes
by Rick Macey
There are so many rumors about American presidents and cannabis that it’s difficult to separate fact from fiction. Did Honest Abe really enjoy smoking a pipe of “sweet hemp” and playing his harmonica? No, this canard is almost certainly blowing smoke in our eyes. Did George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grow hemp on their Virginia plantations? Yes. Was our current president, Barack Obama, part of a marijuana-smoking posse in high school? No doubt. Like threads in a fabric, hemp and marijuana are woven throughout our nation’s history. But it’s a bit of coarse, untidy historical cloth, with many loose threads. So let’s try to iron out the truth. Hemp was cultivated in several of the original 13 colonies. In some colonies, farmers were paid to grow it or could pay taxes with it. The British Empire needed the fabric for maritime rope, among other uses, although American hemp was regarded as poor quality by the English. So most of the hemp grown here was more useful domestically than as an export cash crop. References to hemp can be found in George Washington’s diary. Thomas Jefferson invented an apparatus to better separate hemp fibers. These are facts. Did these Founding Fathers and others ingest cannabis? This is where the historical record is scratched. If evidence exists to support that they did, it’s flimsy. And if they did take a toke now and then, it was probably for hemp’s medicinal effects and almost certainly not to get high. That’s because like today’s industrial hemp, there was a minuscule amount of THC in the plant. By 1850, there were more than 8,000 hemp plantations in the United States. It was grown primarily for paper, cloth, and canvas. By the late 19th century, cannabis extract became routine as a prescribed medicine. Although hashish had found it’s way to America by then, most medicinal extracts were derived from hemp. The forerunner of today’s marijuana burst onto the American scene in 1910, when the Mexican Revolution sent refugees and desperadoes across our southern border. Cannabis with significant THC content had been cultivated in Mexico for years. After marijuana prohibition in the 1930s, cannabis disappeared from the legal American landscape, except for a few years during World War 2 when American farmers were encouraged to grow “Hemp for Victory.” While the Internet is awash with rumors about cannabis use by U.S. presidents, only prohibition-era chief executives Bill Clinton and Barack Obama have admitted it. Clinton joked about it, claiming “I didn’t inhale.” Obama was a bit more forthcoming, saying “I inhaled frequently. That was the point.” Former associates of George W. Bush claim that he smoked marijuana, but Bush was steadfast in not confirming or denying it. He simply refused to answer the question. He let slip once, though, that he refused to talk about it because “I don’t want some little kid doing what I tried.” Rumors also abound that John F. Kennedy used cannabis for his back pain. If so, no direct evidence exists that he did. As for the claim that JFK intended to legalize marijuana in his second term? Bogus. Several 19th century presidents had an association with hemp, whether through farming, trade, or directing soldiers in the Mexican-American War. As generals, Zachary Taylor and Franklin Pierce reportedly smoked cannabis cigars on the march when tobacco was unavailable. The same has been said of Andrew Jackson, hero of the War of 1812. Once again, who really knows? One thing is for sure: Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet.
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The Prohibition Prejudice Cannabis Arrests Continue To Target Minorities
by DJ Reetz
50 February 2014
February is not only the shortest month of the year, it’s also Black History Month. A time for reflection on the accomplishments of black Americans and the struggles they have gone through for equality.
Levester Lyons, president of the NAACP’s Aurora branch. Recently the NAACP has called for a reexamination of the decades long war on drugs, a war that has hit poor and minority communities the hardest.
In a supposed “post-racial” America brought on by the election of an African American to the office of chief executive, it can be easy to forget that sometimes there are differences in how racial minorities are treated.
“It’s very difficult to go into well-to-do neighborhoods and start arresting people who have access to good lawyers and are involved in writing laws,” says Lyons. As a result law enforcement efforts generally center on impoverished areas.
Marijuana arrests are one such area. Though Coloradans can feel a sense of satisfaction for our forward thinking on marijuana, in much of the rest of the country people are still being arrested for possessing this innocuous plant. And the arrests disproportionally affect people of color.
“We’d like to see laws changed as far as lower prosecution and more treatment [for drug users],” says Lyons. For the NAACP and any other organization that fight for minority rights, legalization of marijuana is the only feasible solution.
According to federal data obtained by the ACLU, African Americans are nearly four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than whites, despite census data showing a nearly equivalent rate of use. In some areas like Washington D.C., Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa, arrests rates for blacks were closer to eight times higher than those of whites. Even Colorado is not exempt from this injustice. Prior to legalization, blacks in this state were more than three times as likely as whites to be arrested for marijuana, according to a report compiled by the Drug Policy Alliance. This despite a reported lower rate of use than whites. “It is telling that even in a state like Colorado, with a majority white population and relatively progressive drug policies, that blacks are still three times as likely as whites, and Latinos are twice as likely as whites, to be arrested solely for marijuana possession even though use is higher among whites,” says Laura Pegram, a Policy Associate with the DPA here in Colorado. This data doesn’t come from some by-gone era of legal segregation; these statistics were compiled based on arrests made between 2001 and 2010, two years after the election of the first “black” president. It is an unsettling reality for many in this country, and organizations such as the NAACP have taken note. “The NAACP’s stance is that we’re concerned about it,” says
“If the alternative is locking people up for small amounts of marijuana, [legalization] is a good thing,” says Lyons. But let’s not forget, drug laws were founded in racist ideology. The first drug laws in the United States were passed in San Francisco in 1875. These were antiopium laws that not-too ambiguously targeted Chinese immigrant workers. Fast forward to the 1930s and the “Reefer Madness” era, and it’s not hard to see bigotry at work behind the Marihuana Tax Act, which in one fell swoop made both hemp and marijuana illegal. Author Martin Lee concisely describes the thought process of Federal Bureau of Narcotics Commissioner Harry Anslinger in his book “Smoke Signals:” To gain public support for his crusade, Anslinger depicted marijuana as a sinister substance that made Mexican and African American men lust after white women. One of the worst things about marijuana, according to the FBN chief, was that it promoted sexual contact across color lines. “Marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes,” Anslinger frothed. Has this underlying prejudice been expunged from the modern war on drugs? Perhaps not. This black history month, feel confident that being part of the movement to legalize marijuana is not just about personal freedom; it is also a battle against racial disparity. So toke up for justice.
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A Son’s Story
My Mom Is Winning Her Fight Against Cancer by William Draper
April in 2011 was one hell of a month. My father passed away from a lung infection in early March and emotions were running high in my family. When my mom, Karen, was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer the next month, an ominous sense of dread hung in the air around our house. So then a depressingly familiar process came back into our lives. Waiting rooms with crappy magazines. Secretaries and nurses shuffling past us. More waiting but in different rooms. Sometimes a doctor would even show up, seemingly anxious to cut the precious next five minutes down to three. Chemotherapy was rough on my mom. When she shaved her head, my brother and I did the same. She underwent a lumpectomy and was sick for almost a year from the chemo. Yet she powered through it with inspiring perseverance and a few daily bong hits. For a while, it seemed as though we had possibly seen the end of her cancer. She was improving. On March 8, 2013 - the second anniversary of my dad’s death - I went with her to see the doctor and receive her latest PET scan results. The doctor told us that the cancer had metastasized to Stage 4. She now had tumors on her liver, hip, and sternum. Mom began taking an estrogen-blocking drug, and some other pharmaceuticals to combat other side effects. Shortly before this glum episode, I sought out stories and articles on the Internet about cannabis oil as a possible way to fight cancer. I came across Rick Simpson and learned about his crusade for medicinal cannabis oil. We had just harvested our own first crop, so marijuana was
52 February 2014
already a part of our daily lives. After more research, I began to float the idea of a cannabis oil treatment to my mom. At this time, as a senior in high school, I wrote my senior paper about alternative treatments for cancer, focusing mainly on marijuana and a plant-based diet. My mom’s life began to change. We went to Denver for the first Cannabis Cup. It was there that she introduced herself to Tony Verzura of River Rock Wellness. Shortly afterward, she began a regimen with River Rock that would become known as the A.C.T. Now program. For three months, she incorporated a large amount of cannabinoids and raw foods into her life. With the estrogen blocker affecting her mood, she would sometimes verge on losing hope. Yet she stayed positive and eventually dropped the estrogen-blocking drug. On September 19, 2013, she had another PET scan. The tumors were no longer there! My mom told the doctor that she was using a cannabis-based treatment. Although he was skeptical and apparently didn’t know about marijuana’s medicinal properties, he was supportive. Today my mom helps patients at River Rock with questions about their treatments. She continues a maintenance dose of cannabinoids and healthy eating as her body repairs from the chemotherapy. My mom’s outstanding fight against cancer is an inspiration to anyone who receives a diagnosis of cancer. With leaders in Colorado like Tony Verzura and River Rock Wellness, there is more hope for cancer patients than ever before. And I’m happy and grateful that my awesome mom is a part of it. Testimonial Sponsored by
Visions Visions Through Through The The Hayes Hayes By the time you read this, there will be a new Superbowl Champion but for now, as I write this, the winner is unknown (I was hesitant to even take this football approach, honestly). With so much negativity in the world, I can’t help but feeling ecstatic about the entire city unified as this giant team, all rooting for the same thing. Whether everyone is rooting for legalization of cannabis or for their city’s team to win the big game, sharing a common goal is what binds people together. It makes people feel connected, like they are a part of something. Everyone wants to feel like they are a part of something, right? So beyond the camaraderie of The Superbowl and its snacks, let’s think about getting out there and supporting this amazing community past just one (huge) sporting event. It’s still the New Year, so it’s not too late to add on to that resolution list. Volunteer somewhere, pick up trash, help the elderly, donate to those less fortunate or build something. The options are endless. Let’s show the nation that the city with a team going to the Superbowl and legalized cannabis is the best, most unified damn city in the nation. We have a reputation to uphold folks! Even as a Bears fan I am going to say it….Go Broncos! Cheers! Caroline Hayes
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1st PLACE
2013 U.S. CANNABIS CUP
220nd13PLACE 710 CUP
2013 THC CHAMPIONSHIP 2013 THC CHAMPIONSHIP 2013 THC CHAMPIONSHIP
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DISPENSARY GUIDE by DJ Reetz
DENVER
60 The Clinic 57 Cure Colorado 57 The Hemp Center 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx 58 Physician Preferred Products 62 Southwest Alternative Care
Colorado Springs 58 Rocky Mountain Miracles
56 February 2014
*
SCAN THE QR CODES AT THE TOP OF THE PAGES FOR MORE INFO AND SPECIAL OFFERS!
CURe COLORADO
www.curecolorado.com
D E N V E R
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. 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 in and try our favorite house strains 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.
6200 East Yale Ave Denver, CO 80222 720-296-2857
Monday - Saturday 10:00am - 7:00pm Sunday 12:00pm - 6:00pm
www.the-hemp-center.com The Hemp Center Is The Heart Of Littleton! Located in beautiful old town Littleton, The Hemp Center is a spacious boutique shop nestled inside a charming historic building and boasts not only the finest medical cannabis around but also a large selection of all natural hemp based health and wellness products. Our educated, friendly and professional staff is eager to educate and assist every patient by offering a relaxed and personalized experienced tailored to your individual needs. We carry fine organic flower as well as a vast array of edibles, concentrates, tinctures, salves, and more. We offer amazing member benefits as well as daily specials all day every day for everyone! We offer a rotating stock of our top shelf house strains to entice every palate and heal whatever ails. The front of our store offers whole body holistic health solutions, specialty apparel, custom made artisan hemp accessories and original artwork available to all. The Hemp Center is handicap accessible with two convenient locations; Main Street in Historic Downtown Littleton and 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 thcmag.com 57 12:00pm-5:00pm
L I T T L E T O N
N O R T H G L E N N
www.pppmeds.com
Patient’s Choice SATIVA
Connoisseur’s Choice SATIVA
Northglenn’s premier medical dispensary, Physician Preferred Products is proud and honored to continue to provide the highest quality products and customer service to the North Metro community!
2100 East 112th Avenue Suite #5 Northglenn, CO 80233 303-974-5966 Monday-Saturday 10:00am-7:00pm
C O L O R A D O
1st Place SATIVA
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
S East Bijou Street P 2316 Colorado Springs, CO 80909 R 719-473-9333 I Monday-Saturday N 11:00am-6:45pm Sunday-Monday G Closed S 58 February 2014
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, from severe physical pain to PTSD. 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.
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.
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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 on Colfax 4625 East Colfax Avenue Denver, CO 80220 303-333-3644 The Clinic On Jewell 12018 W Jewell Ave Lakewood, CO 80228 303-997-9171
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.
9:00am - 7:00pm Daily
Concentrates
Budder & Shatter The Clinic offers both budder and shatter, which are butane extracted concentrates, from our award winning marijuana infused products division, The Lab.
Awards
2013 High Times Cannabis Cup 1st Place Sativa - Tangie 3rd Place Sativa - Stardawg Guava 3rd Place Hybrid - Ghost OG
2012 High Times Medical Cannabis Cup
1st Place Best Sativa - Stardawg Guava 1st Place Patient’s Choice - Kosher Kush 2nd Place Best Concentrate - Strawberry Cough Nectar 3rd Place Best Hybrid - Raskal OG
Pre ‘98 Bubba Kush
High Times Cannabis Cup: Highest CBD Strain
Grape God Bud
Spring 2010 Colorado Caregiver’s Cup Winner: Patient’s Choice, Best Aroma, Most Photogenic 2011 Aspen Cannabis Crown, 2nd Place Overall
2013 The 710 Cup
2nd Place Best Sativa Shatter - Tangie 1st Place Best Sativa Shatter Terps Tangie
The Hemp Connoisseur Championship 2012
Strains Kosher Kush
2012 High Times Cannabis Cup (Denver) Patient’s Choice Winner
Stardawg Guava
2012 High Times Medical Cannabis Cup (Denver) 1st Place Best Sativa
Grape God Bud
2010 CO Caregiver’s Cup Triple Crown-win2nd Place Indica and Connoisseur’s ner and 2nd place 2011 Choice - Kosher Kush 1st Place Sativa and Patient’s Choice - Aspen Cannabis Crown, this is the hottest indica Stardawg Guava 3rd Place Hybrid and Patient’s Choice - in town. Ghost OG 1st Place Concentrate and Connoisseur’s Choice - Earth OG Nectar
Raskal OG
One of the most visually appealing and potent OG kushes around with The Hemp Connoisseur Championship 2013 a distinct diesel fuel aro1st Place Indica, Connoisseur’s Choice ma. 2012 High Times and Best Tested - Kosher Kush Medical Cannabis Cup Patient’s Choice Hybrid - Grunk (Denver) 3rd Place Best 2nd Place Shatter and Patient’s Choice- Hybrid Tangie
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
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.
www.nlnaturalrx.com Professional care and personal attention are in full bloom at Northern Lights Cannabis Co. Now licensed for recreational sales, serving adults over the age of 21. 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.
Top Strains
Cannatonic 50/50 Flavor: Citrus and peppers. Effects: Our award winning high CBD strain has a 50/50 to 70/30 ratio of CBD to THC. The medicinal effects are extremely clear headed and utterly unlike a “normal” high THC strain. Uses: Perfect for muscle spasms, appetite stimulation, anxiety or chronic pain. Sour Diesel Sativa 90/10 Flavor: Strong diesel flavors, pungent, leaving an oily taste on the tongue Effects: Sour Diesel taste combined with its effects may be considered an “extreme sport” version of cannabis; the stone pulls smokers into the sky fast with a viscerally uplifting pleasure and lots of consciousness expansion in the direction of spirituality. Uses: ADD, Alzheimer’s disease, psychosis, bi-polar disorder, depression, Lou Gehrig’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and stress. Chernobyl Sativa 60/40 Flavor: With a lime slurpee or sherbert flavor, this bud is an extremely potent smoke--just a few bowls is an adventure to your brain waves. Effects: This bud provides a calming and relaxing effect. Uses: Strong and pleasant very good for pain relief without paranoia Durban Poison Sativa 100 Description: This subtropical sativa is named after the South African port city of Durban where thousands of kilos of this dark, distinctive sativa are produced every year. Smokers everywhere know her to be a sativa like no other; she will shoot your head straight to the clouds and leave your body behind. Flavor: Sweet licorice Effect: very trippy Kaboom Sativa 80/20 Flavor: It develops deliciously and displays a variety of scents and flavors including tart lemon, spicy hash, sweet berries, sour pineapples, and good ol’ skunk. Effects: Speedy, trippy, intense, motivating, pain relief. Uses: The high that results from smoking Kaboom medicinal cannabis is intense and fast-paced, almost paranoid, but overall motivating; Kaboom marijuana also has enough indica in it to make it very effective pain relief
2045 Sheridan Blvd. Suite B Edgewater, CO 80214 303-274-6495 9:00am-7:00pm Daily
Hawaiian Banana Sativa 80/20 Flavor: Hawaiian sativa’s citrus flavor and menthol tingle will go to your head. Effects: Because the high leaves your brain wide-awake and functional, she’s a good candidate for those who can freely toke all day Uses: Hawaiian sativa possesses analgesic properties that have increased its popularity among medical patients seeking pain relief; anecdotal evidence suggests that Hawaiian sativa provides good visual ocular release, making it a preferred variety for glaucoma patients Ace of Spades Indica 70/30 Flavor: Skunk, Berry, Sandalwood, Lemon Effects: strong and hard hitting with a fast onset of laughter ending in a strong body high. Uses: very powerful medicine for pain and depression. Sweet Tooth Indica 70/30 Description: Sweet Tooth is famous for its incredibly high THC content and large yields. Sweet Tooth is the result of a long and rigorous breeding program. It grows medium tall with strong side branches that need room to grow. Buds develop in large sticky resinous colas. Flavor: The taste like the smell is very light with a sweet candy like after taste that stays for a while. Effects: Its effect is powerful, relaxing and cerebral. Uses: Sweet Tooth is a candy-coated bomb to the senses, not recommended for daytime functionality, but terrific for inducing sleep, soothing pain or indulging in a languorous, mellow relaxation.
2nd Place CBD FLOWER
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E D G E W A T 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
Canna Punch Incredibles Sweet Stone
Canna Cappuccino At Home Baked Edi Pure
Concentrates Earwax and Shatter BHO 2012 Cannabis Cup winners Top Shelf Extracts Full Melt, Bubble Hash Vape Pens
Staff Favorites Glowing Goat Bubba Kush Dope Diagonal
Tango Chem 4 Purple Trainwreck
Testimonials
Best Meds in Colorado Southwest Alternative has the best meds in Colorado hands down. Pricing is spot on with the meds. All the employees are amazing. Makes you feel like you are a regular your first time in. AWESOME!!!!! - seige55, weedmaps.com This place is the best kept secret in Denver I have been a member with Southwest for about a year now, and have nothing but raving reviews. But the original shop wasn’t very close for me as I do not drive. With this new location in the heart of Denver has made buying my meds even easier. Best benefits in town, they give out the most free stuff for members by far. - FACEwreck5360 weedmaps.com
62 February 2014
21+ Retail Store 20, 60 The Clinic 33 Marisol Gardens 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx 11,52 River Rock ATM On Site 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx 11,52 River Rock 58 Rocky Mountain Miracles Award Winning 55 Canna Caregivers 55 The Canna Center 20, 60 The Clinic 57 The Hemp Center 17 Karmaceuticals 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx 58 Physician Preferred Products 11,52 River Rock Body Care Products 55 The Hemp Center 58 Physician Preferred Products Books & Education 55 Canna Caregivers 55 The Canna Center 57 The Hemp Center 17 Karmaceuticals 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx 58 Physician Preferred Products Cash Only 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx 11,52 River Rock 58 Rocky Mountain Miracles Charity/Community Outreach 20, 60 The Clinic 11,52 River Rock Clone Bar 17 Karmaceuticals 09 MMD of Colorado Clothing Items 55 Canna Caregivers 55 The Canna Center 20, 60 The Clinic 57 The Hemp Center 17 Karmaceuticals 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx 58 Physician Preferred Products 11,52 River Rock 58 Rocky Mountain Miracles Consulting Services 37 Mile High Media Business Couriers 09 Green Cross Couriers
Credit Cards 55 Canna Caregivers 55 The Canna Center 57 The Hemp Center 17 Karmaceuticals 47 MMD of Colorado 48 The Organic Seed 58 Physician Preferred Products
25 Medically Correct 47 Mountain High Suckers
Daily Specials 03 Frosted Leaf 57 The Hemp Center 17 Karmaceuticals 47 MMD of Colorado 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx 58 Physician Preferred Products 11,52 River Rock
Live Music 17 Karmaceuticals 48 The Organic Seed 11,52 River Rock
Educational Classes 17 Karmaceuticals 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx Evaluation Clinic/MMJ Doctor 37 Healthy Choices Unlimited 63 Relaxed Clarity Free Parking 39 Canna Caregivers 39 The Canna Center 03 Frosted Leaf 57 The Hemp Center 17 Karmaceuticals 33 Marisol Gardens 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx 48 The Organic Seed 58 Physician Preferred Products 11,52 River Rock 58 Rocky Mountain Miracles 9, 62 Southwest Alternative Care Grow Products 16 Dr. Willard’s PlantCatalyst Happy Hour 17 Karmaceuticals 48 The Organic Seed Hemp Products 57 The Hemp Center 11,52 River Rock Holistic Health 57 The Hemp Center 17 Karmaceuticals 48 The Organic Seed 58 Rocky Mountain Miracles Infused Products 44 At Home Baked 07 Dixie Elixirs 25 Incredibles 55 Mahatma Extreme Concentrates
Internet Wi-Fi 57 The Hemp Center 17 Karmaceuticals 48 The Organic Seed 11,52 River Rock
Local Artist Program 11,52 River Rock Massage Therapy 57 The Hemp Center 11,52 River Rock Member Discounts 55 Canna Caregivers 55 The Canna Center 20, 60 The Clinic 57 Cure Colorado 03 Frosted Leaf 57 The Hemp Center 17 Karmaceuticals 33 Marisol Gardens 47 MMD of Colorado 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx 48 The Organic Seed 58 Physician Preferred Products 11,52 River Rock 9, 62 Southwest Alternative Care Member Loyalty Program 55 Canna Caregivers 55 The Canna Center 57 Cure Colorado 03 Frosted Leaf 58 Physician Preferred Products 11,52 River Rock MMJ Doctor/Evaluation Clinic 37 Healthy Choices Unlimited 63 Relaxed Clarity Multiple Locations 39 Canna Caregivers 39 The Canna Center 20, 60 The Clinic 03 Frosted Leaf 57 The Hemp Center 11,52 River Rock 9, 62 Southwest Alternative Care Nutritional Consulting 55 The Hemp Center
Pain Management Consulting 55 Canna Caregivers 55 The Canna Center 20, 60 The Clinic 57 The Hemp Center 48 The Organic Seed 58 Physician Preferred Products 11,52 River Rock Patient Appreciation Events 11,52 River Rock Private Dispensing Rooms 55 Canna Caregivers 55 The Canna Center 57 Cure Colorado 57 The Hemp Center 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx 48 The Organic Seed 58 Physician Preferred Products 11,52 River Rock 9, 62 Southwest Alternative Care Pre-Order Medication 55 Canna Caregivers 55 The Canna Center 57 Cure Colorado 57 The Hemp Center 17 Karmaceuticals 48 The Organic Seed 58 Physician Preferred Products 11,52 River Rock 58 Rocky Mountain Miracles 9,62 Southwest Alternative Care Seeds 20, 60 The Clinic 11,52 River Rock Seminars 45 Dr. Willard’s Plant Catalyst 54 HMO+ Horticulture Mgmnt Org. 54 Learn to Grow Senior Discounts 57 The Hemp Center 17 Karmaceuticals 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx Signature Concentrates 20, 60 The Clinic 17 Karmaceuticals 55 Mahatma Extreme Concentrates 11,52 River Rock Signature Edibles 44 At Home Baked 57 The Hemp Center 25 Incredibles 17 Karmaceuticals 25 Medically Correct 47 Mountain High Suckers
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THANK YOU TO OUR ADVERTISERS 44 At Home Baked 05 BIG Galleria 55 Canna Caregivers 55 The Canna Center 35 Cannabistube.net 21, 60 The Clinic 68 Cloud Penz 57 Cure Colorado 45 Dr. Willard’s Plant Catalyst 48 Elevated Mechanics 67 EZ Trim 03 Frosted Leaf 09 Green Cross Couriers 37 Healthy Choices Unlimited 57 The Hemp Center 54 HMO+ Horticulture Mgmnt Org. 55 iCannabisradio.com 25 Incredibles 22 Indica Vape 17 Karmaceuticals 54 Learn to Grow 55 Mahatma Extreme Concentrates 10 Marijuana Madness 33 Marisol Gardens 25 Medically Correct 37 Mile High Media 47 MMD of Colorado 44 MMJ Meet and Greet 47 Mountain High Suckers 59 NCIA 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx 48 Omni HV 48 The Organic Seed 58 Physician Preferred Products 63 Relaxed Clarity 11, 52 River Rock 58 Rocky Mountain Miracles 53 Silver Surfer Vaporizers 9, 62 Southwest Alternative Care 02 The Trimmer Store 66 February 2014
61 Northern Lights Natural Rx 48 The Organic Seed 11,52 River Rock Signature Strains 55 Canna Caregivers 55 The Canna Center 20, 60 The Clinic 57 Cure Colorado 03 Frosted Leaf 57 The Hemp Center 17 Karmaceuticals 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx 48 The Organic Seed 11,52 River Rock 58 Rocky Mountain Miracles 9, 62 Southwest Alternative Care Smoking Accessories 68 Cloud Penz 48 Elevated Mechanics 22 Indica Vape 48 Omni Hv 53 Silver Surfer Vaporizers Specialty Glass 55 Canna Caregivers 55 The Canna Center 17 Karmaceuticals 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx 48 The Organic Seed 11,52 River Rock 58 Rocky Mountain Miracles Specialized Treatment Programs 20, 60 The Clinic 11,52 River Rock Topicals 55 Canna Caregivers 55 The Canna Center 20, 60 The Clinic 57 The Hemp Center 17 Karmaceuticals 47 MMD of Colorado 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx 48 The Organic Seed 58 Physician Preferred Products 11,52 River Rock Trade Show 05 BIG Galleria Trimming Accessories 67 EZ Trim 02 The Trimmer Store Vegetarian 44 At Home Baked 25 Incredibles 25 Medically Correct 47 Mountain High Suckers
Veteran Discounts 57 The Hemp Center 17 Karmaceuticals 09 MMD of Colorado 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx 48 The Organic Seed 11,52 River Rock 58 Rocky Mountain Miracles
Colorado Springs 55 Canna Caregivers 55 The Canna Center 57 The Hemp Center 48 The Organic Seed 58 Rocky Mountain Miracles Denver Central 20, 60 The Clinic 03 Frosted Leaf 11,52 River Rock 9, 62 Southwest Alternative Care Denver Downtown 47 MMD of Colorado Denver East 20, 60 The Clinic 03 Frosted Leaf Denver Highlands 20, 60 The Clinic Denver North 11,52 River Rock 02 The Trimmer Store Denver South 20, 60 The Clinic 57 Cure Colorado 03 Frosted Leaf 11,52 River Rock Denver Southwest 9, 62 Southwest Alternative Care Edgewater 61 Northern Lights Natural Rx Littleton 57 The Hemp Center Northglenn 58 Physician Preferred Products Pueblo West 33 Marisol Gardens
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*Restrictions Apply
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