Summer Aguirre, Rob Brezsny, Tom Danehy, Connor Dziawura, Clay Jones, Jimmy Magahern, Evan Maharry, Virginia Mireles, Andy Mosier, Dan Perkins, Hope Peters, Linda Ray, Jennifer Schwegman, Will Shortz, Jen Sorensen
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AMERICA’S ‘DIVORCE’ WILL BE LOPSIDED
By Tom Danehy Tucson Weekly Columnist
Marjorie Taylor Greene, that hideous creature from the backwater swamps of Inbred County, Georgia, has finally done herself in. Using her incessantly flapping mouth in pursuit of ever-more-grotesque hyperbole, Greene attempted to use the arraignment of Donald Trump (the first of many to come) to score points with the drooling MAGA crowd. Knowing that the knee-jerk media will latch onto any and every stupid thing that spews from her tongue, she likened Trump to Nelson Mandela and Jesus Christ.
It’s really not that outrageous. On one hand, you’ve got a person who’s going to go on trial for breaking a few dozen laws to pay off women with whom he had cheated on his wife. On the other side is a guy who spent nearly half his life in prison for simply believing in equality and
that other guy, the one who died for our sins.
She probably thought she had pulled off a double coup — owning the libs while sucking up to the sycophants. But she done messed up. I mean, how are you going to compare the MAGA people’s Feckless Leader to not one but two people with really dark skin!
Greene has been all over the place lately. She showed up in New York City last week. When she heard that there was going to be an arraignment, she brought an umbrella. Then she got “60 Minutes” to take a dump all over their journalistic integrity by allowing Greene to call all Democrats “pedophiles” and then not asking any questions about Jan. 6. What’s weird is that the interview was conducted by Lesley Stahl, who has been doing hard-hitting interviews for the show since it was called “Half an Hour.” Maybe
Greene just stupids people into submission.
Earlier this year, she had the toothless hillbillies in her legislative district all atwitter with her suggestion that the South secede from the Union again … you know, seeing as how it went so well the first time, especially in Georgia. To be fair, she suggested that there be a “national divorce.”
She’s not the first moron to say that out loud. Dumbasses like Ted Cruz have been dancing around that idea for a while now.
Cruz even suggested that Texas become its own country. He didn’t really think it all the way through. For example, how could a state/country that doesn’t have an income tax pay for a standing army to protect itself in case Louisiana wanted to invade?
But let’s indulge Greene for a moment. How would this national divorce work? Would each state hold a plebiscite to determine in which way they would go? If that were the case, based on the past three statewide senatorial elections, Greene would be the angriest divorcee ever.
Or maybe they could go by the numerical breakdown of the state’s Congressional delegation. Based on that, Arizona would go to the left, meaning that if Kari Lake ever came home during a break in her The Lamest Loser Tour, she would find herself behind enemy lines.
Just for sick fun, what would the two sides look like? The left would start with the obvious ones, California and New York, while the right would counter with Florida and Texas. There was a time that Florida was pretty evenly split between redneck Christians and retired Jewish people. But the combined heat of racism and humidity of shortsightedness has turned the state crazy. And, for decades, people have been suggesting that the influx of college-educated people would
MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE. (WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)
DANEHY FROM PAGE 4
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How cool would it be for, after Florida divorces the United States, Disney to just pull out and leave all that stuff behind to be squatted upon by all the Jim Bobs and Lorettas?
You could have Bernie Sanders and Lindsey Graham be like team captains during P.E. class and take turns choosing team members. They could agree on some of the obvious ones. The right would get all of the directional states — the confused Carolinas, the Desolate Dakotas, and Opioid Central, West Virginia. The left would get the News — Mexico, Hampshire and Jersey to go along with York.
mysteries would be to see which state is the Fat Kid who gets picked last. If it’s not Mississippi, it’s got to be Idaho, with its tax rebels, fundamentalist Mormons and fascist militias.
Every time one of Greene’s handpicked entities “divorces” itself from the United States, it makes that which is left that much stronger and smarter.
Obviously, this talk of divorcing America is on par with a gun nut’s wet dream. It’s foolish and dangerous and, frankly, un-American. Our country’s strengths lie in our differences on the small stuff and our agreement on what’s important. But if they do want to get a divorce, we’ll end up with the house, the cars, the bank account and the friends. They’ll have the bitterness and stupidity to keep them warm.
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By then, the left’s advantage is huge and the margin isn’t going to shrink. Consider: The left takes Pennsylvania, the right gets Alabama. The left gets Oregon and Washington, the left is stuck with Arkansas and Mississippi. The left gets Massachusetts, the right gets Kansas. The left gets Colorado, the right gets Utah. And on and on. One of the few
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SAFETY REPORT SHEDS LIGHT ON UA SHOOTING
By Veronica Kuffel Tucson Weekly Staff
The UA recently published a safety report regarding the events before, during and after last year’s fatal shooting of Dr. Thomas Meixner, head of the department of hydrology and atmospheric science (HAS).
The university commissioned the PAX Group LLC to write the safety report, analyzing what happened and how incidents like these can be averted.
“PAX’s findings … are intended to support the recovery from the traumatic impact of this devastating act of violence,” the report stated, “by properly memorializing the loss with clear guidance for achieving impactful action for all University of Arizona campuses.”
The report indicates a failure to assess nearly a year’s worth of threats from the suspect and to communicate among leadership groups to address them. PAX’s recommendations moving forward include vital updates in three recurring themes: threat management; leadership; and concise, transparent communication.
While 20 pages include their own analysis of what happened, the last 80 or so pages document most interactions regarding the safety breach since Dec. 1, 2017. The event log starts here to note
key developments with the university’s Threat Assessment Management Team (TAMT), which led to the events before the shooting.
“The information presented within this timeline may not identify every instance of an event or communication related to the Incident,” PAX reported.
“However, it does support PAX’s recommendations, and is based upon the information that we have been able to scrutinize in our review to determine the best practices for threat assessment and management in the future.”
On Oct. 5, 2022, Meixner was shot in his office by suspect Murad Dervish, an expelled graduate student who had a previous incident with him almost a year prior. What started as an argument over a test in November 2021 with a separate professor led to escalating threats toward HAS faculty, students and university staff.
Dervish was suspended, released from his teaching assistant contract with the university, and banned from campus. After an appeal with the university hearing board and continuing threats, the suspect was expelled in June 2022. Dervish then trespassed on school grounds and encountered faculty, including Meixner, multiple times
before the shooting in October.
According to the document, almost every incident or threat from Dervish was reported. Multiple university groups, including the dean of students office, UAPD and the threat assessment management team, were involved in this situation. UAPD filed two charges against Dervish and attempted an arrest in April 2022. The groups were operating during the situation, but not as efficiently as they should have been, the report stated.
“Overall, the university’s culture of moving from incident to incident, without improving the process to create a clear threat management and investigative strategy, led to missed opportunities for mitigation and intervention,” the PAX Group stated.
After reviewing 79 interviews and thousands of related documents, PAX identified the three major themes throughout four key groups: TAMT, University Crisis Response, the Communications Department and UAPD. TAMT was not effective for the scope and size of the university. The team was comprised of expert members, but
lacked direct leadership and the process to engage and take action. Along with the other groups, TAMT was up to date on past report guidelines, but the decentralized nature of the team, and all associated groups, led to ineffective communication.
“An ineffective TAMT process led to a series of decisions and actions that presented multiple opportunities for the subject to continue to harass and threaten University of Arizona community members,” PAX stated. “The decentralization of nearly all major processes across campus prevents these individuals from effecting necessary changes to plans and programs.”
The University Crisis Response included a campus emergency response plan, but it lacked the mechanisms to train all key personnel in an emergency. According to the report, many people interviewed could not recall the last campuswide drill (for example, a fire drill), but there are also few reports of community members actively seeking drills until an incident occurs.
However, because the university is spread across multiple buildings, emergency drills are complicated and underappreciated. This also includes an appropriate alerting system.
“Inadequate security systems and procedures throughout the university and its buildings made the campus vulnerable to internal and external threats,” PAX stated.
The communications department has a UAlert system available for students, but before the incident, the service was not mandatory. Coupled with service glitches and unspecific messaging, students and faculty were confused about proper safety procedures.
After the shooting, the groups also failed to provide support and clear contact with the community. The Crisis Incident Response Team (CIRT) provides resources during and after traumatic events, but the team was not called to inform the university of further action post-shooting.
The report stated university leadership believed resources needed to re-
spond were released and sufficient, but CIRT can be critical for post-incident resources. Overall, much of the aftermath response was disorganized and fractured.
“Further, no pre-rehearsed, coordinated crisis communications plan existed among the communications teams at the University,” PAX reported. “A lack of coordinated response between University Communications and UAPD resulted in incomplete communications that made the university community feel unheard and unsafe.”
Moreover, UAPD was actively involved in Dervish’s case but failed to pursue the suspect in key moments or establish clear contact with Tucson Police Department or the Pima County attorney’s office. After Dervish’s expulsion, his continued threats led UAPD to seek out the PCAO. The office declined
its charge request, due to a lack of “specificity, immediacy and a manner in which to carry out the threat.”
PAX revealed key information from the case that could’ve been used to get the approval, but there was no person, database or other entity where all of it was stored. After each analysis, PAX offered recommendations including this and others like new leadership positions, improved methods of communication, and revised safety strategies.
“Today’s world requires universities to create a centrally led, well-coordinated threat assessment process,” PAX stated. “Combined with a holistic mental health and community intervention response as a way to effectively assess, manage and mitigate threats.”
The safety report also includes university initiatives since the incident, including revisions and proposals to their
threat management systems. Much of their work has focused on improving their crisis communication plan and training key staff members in safety during emergencies.
The university commissioned the report to assess its failures on Oct. 5, 2022, and long before the incident. According to the report, many HAS faculty were left to secure their safety even after contacting university leadership, including Meixner. This report is one of the first steps in fixing the system that failed students, faculty and staff.
The PAX Group mentions the impact of the tragedy throughout the report and extends condolences to all parties involved. Hopefully, this incident will create a more robust system to keep the university community safe.
“PAX especially recognizes the traumatic experiences of the Meixner family and the HAS Department survivors,” PAX stated. “Everyone we have encountered in this review has been deeply affected by the events of Oct. 5, 2022, and hopes that the outcome of this review will produce meaningful impact and change to create a safer community.”
CURRENTS
APRIL STOVALL: A CHAMPION OF SUSTAINABILITY
By Jennifer Schwegman Tucson Weekly Contributor
April Stovall always wanted to be a part of something great. As a child she loved roller skating and told herself that someday she would join a roller derby team. And why not? She was tough and could do anything she set her mind to. “I took great pride in developing my roller-skating abilities,” Stovall said. “I used the activity to get fit and stay healthy.”
A self-described Marine Corps brat who moved around a lot as a child, Stovall learned the importance of being an active participant in supporting the health and wellness of the community. It helped her establish roots and foster friendships. She regularly searched for opportunities to get involved and be active. She learned how to work hard and crush obstacles. Her motto? “If you’re not falling down, you’re not trying hard enough.”
Staying true to her roller derby passion, in 2015, Stovall joined the Arizona Roller Derby, the country’s second oldest roller derby league. Three years later, she transferred to the Casa Grande Roller Derby and found her home. During this time, Stovall really grew as a skater.
The league’s mission statement of empowering women and giving back to the community made her feel like it was the perfect fit.
Stovall (or April May Dismember, as she’s known on the circuit) also leads the team’s volunteer efforts. She is a vocal champion for the advancement of women, especially in roles that are not traditionally held by women.
While community is an integral part of Stovall’s personal life, her choice to work for Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino also aligned with her need to give back and make the world a better place.
“While roller derby is known for powerful women, my start as a security officer in the hospitality industry 23 years ago was just the opposite,” Stovall said.
In a field dominated by men, Stovall conquered new responsibilities and moved quickly up the ranks. Today, as director of facilities and surveillance, she is responsible for the safety and security of the physical property and hundreds of guests each day. She also oversees the technology, construction and environmental services departments.
“Caesars Entertainment is committed to sustainability. Our program, CodeGreen, is our public pledge to employees, guests and the community-at-large that our organization will consistently explore and implement new ways to reduce the environmental footprint.”
Many of the property’s CodeGreen initiatives were inspired by the AkChin Indian Community’s deep roots in farming, agriculture and passion for protecting and sustaining land, air and water. In addition to its focus on reducing the property’s carbon footprint, efforts also focus on energy-savings,
water consumption and recycling.
“CodeGreen introduces real solutions to the world’s environmental and sustainability challenges we face today,” Stovall said.
“We can do our part here at Harrah’s to encourage others to do their part.”
Among the many ways the company is committed to sustainability includes:
• Investing in sustainable practices that increase energy efficiency and water conservation.
• Commitment to measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
• Promoting recycling and waste reduction throughout the property, including the casino, hotel and restaurants.
“I’ve been a Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino team member since 1999,” Stovall said.
“The organization’s ongoing commitment to community and the environment is more than lip service. We do what we say and put action behind our words. I’m proud to lead the effort.”
Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino is part of Clean the World, a global health initia-
APRIL STOVALL IS A VOCAL CHAMPION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN AND FOR SUSTAINABILITY. (SUBMITTED)
tive committed to improving the quality of life for vulnerable communities. In addition to recycling soap and supporting the effort to distribute it in order to prevent unnecessary deaths from hygiene-related diseases, the property also organizes CodeGreen community sustainability events that include building hygiene kits for veterans and the homeless population.
And recycling doesn’t stop with soap; Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino also recycles thousands of pounds of cooking oil every year to be turned into biofuel for transportation, heating and electricity.
rooms, refrigerators are set to low when rooms are unoccupied, and showers are installed with low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators to help decrease water consumption on the property. Housekeeping also conserves electricity and water by changing sheets and towels upon request.”
And on the gaming floor, Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino has an enhanced focus on improving air quality through cold plasma ionization bars that kill viruses, bacteria, and mold and UVDI purification units that improve the quality of air and keep guests healthy through multistage filtration.
“Conservation is at the core of our hotel’s energy management system,” Stovall said. “We conserve energy in unoccupied spaces by resetting air conditioning to 75 degrees. In the hotel
Whether she is assisting her teammates at the rink or assisting her teammates at the property, for Stovall, when purpose and the end game align with your personal mantra, there is nothing quite like it.
STOVALL FROM PAGE 9
APRIL STOVALL, RIGHT, AND A FRIEND AT A CODEGREEN EVENT AT HARRAH’S AK-CHIN CASINO, WHERE STOVALL IS DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES AND SURVEILLANCE . (SUBMITTED)
(RIGHT) APRIL STOVALL BECOMES APRIL MAY DISMEMBER WHEN SHE LACES UP HER SKATES
INITIATIVE PROVIDES FREE HAIRCUTS FOR HOMELESS YOUTH
By Summer Aguirre Tucson Weekly Staff
Young adults experiencing housing insecurity have the chance to rediscover their confidence, thanks to a new initiative.
Through a purpose-driven campaign called A Cut Above, salons across the nation are offering free hair services to homeless or housing-insecure young adults. The initiative was spearheaded by the StandUp for Kids (SUFK) youth homeless nonprofit and new haircare brand Hair Proud in an effort to address the homeless epidemic.
A Cut Above was originally supposed to span only the month of March but, due to its success, was extended through the end of April.
“We had great feedback from StandUp for Kids. We had great feedback from the salons. … So, we said, why don’t we just carry on and continue with this partnership?” said Nora Zukauskaite, global marketing director for I Am Proud, Hair Proud’s masterbrand. “Because if it’s doing good, we obviously want to be the brand and organization who’re affiliated with doing good in our community.”
There are currently 4.2 million youths in America experiencing homelessness, according to a statement, and 69% of that population is dealing with mental health problems and a lack of access to basic hygiene.
In Tucson alone, there are 749 homeless young people.
To help combat these numbers across the United States, 12 salons in seven states are participating in A Cut Above. Three of these locations are in Tucson: Lofty Locs & Tresses, BluSteel Salon and Studio Virtue Beauty & Wellness Salon. Each location has individual hours of operation for when it offers services through the initiative.
For one to receive their free hair service, they can simply walk into a partner salon during its operation hours. A styl-
ist will then provide them with a haircut and hair treatment.
Hair services are completed with Hair Proud products, which targets the Gen Z audience. The collection consists of a range of vegan, cruelty-free products created with skin care-lead ingredients, emphasizing the health of the hair.
“It means a lot when somebody cares enough to help you feel just a little bit better in the day. Most of our kids don’t even know when they’re going to get a drink of water, much less take a shower,” SUFK Executive Director Kim Sission said. “So it means a lot that the salons have stepped up and said, ‘Yes, we’ll help your kids,’ and that Hair Proud is offering their product.”
Although the premise of A Cut Above is simple, the impact is significant.
Sission, who has been participating in street outreach for 16 years, shared that “it’s a great thing” to witness young people excited to receive hair care and see their transformation. For many of them, meeting a new person is nerve-wracking.
“When a young person goes in and gets cleaned up, and is treated with just a little bit of kindness and a little bit of care, it changes their whole day, their whole outlook on life,” she said. “Many of these kids haven’t been treated very well by people, especially by adults. So when someone takes the time to actually make them feel good about who they are and let them know that they matter, it makes a huge difference.”
Keke Babers, an independent artist and poet from Los Angeles who has experienced housing insecurity, was the first participant for A Cut Above.
She shared in a statement that thanks to the initiative, she was given another chance to pursue her passions and experienced a boost of self-esteem that led her back on stage.
“I feel so confident, I’ve started writing
so much and even performing again. A program like A Cut Above makes that self-care accessible to people in my situation. … My new ‘do makes me feel like I belong in any room I walk into,” she said.
This is what A Cut Above is all about,
Zukauskaite explained: giving housing-insecure young people the opportunity to get back into a routine work environment and the confidence to exist in those spaces.
THE FIRST PERSON TO PARTICIPATE IN “A CUT ABOVE” WAS KEKE BABERS, RIGHT, AN ARTIST AND POET FROM LOS ANGELES WHO HAS EXPERIENCED HOUSING INSECURITY. (MANIFEST GROUP/SUBMITTED)
OPINION
Letter to the Editor
Moving beyond stigma to strength, second chances
Editor:
I’m willing to bet that the overwhelming majority of us have read Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter.”
And if you’re like me, you were understandably appalled that any civilized society would place an identifying mark on a person so that they would endure ongoing, public ridicule and shame for the rest of their life because of a misdeed.
As someone who has a criminal background, I can tell you for a fact that we do this today. The stigma of incarceration is real, and it denies people just like me access to jobs, housing and education long after we’ve paid our dues. This is why I jumped at the chance to share my story as part of The Televerde Virtual Roundtable, 12 powerful stories of
incarceration, transformation and hope from the women living them. My goal is that you experience us as individuals, not as representatives of a group. I want you to see that your previous assumptions about us are false and certainly do not apply to most members of this community. We do recover, and we do change.
A CYCLE OF INCARCERATION
I spent 17 years of my adult life cycling in and out of the Arizona Department of Corrections. My crimes were related to my addiction, and my addiction was born from years of abuse, neglect and trauma. I share this not to excuse my bad decisions but for context. Not all of us were fortunate to be born into functioning families and to grow up in strong communities that provided guardrails to help keep us on the right path. The privilege to grow up in homes with love, support, financial stability and opportunities are denied to many of us. I think in our quickness to judge, it is easy to lose sight of this.
My “lucky break” came during my last incarceration when I learned of a
company working inside the prison that gave second-chance opportunities to women like me. It was a golden ticket of sorts that allowed me to start a meaningful career; build a professional network; and have access to a cohort of mentors, skills training, and personal and professional development programs. Perhaps most important, all the negative labels ascribed to me vanished when I stepped foot into work every day. I wasn’t a criminal, inmate or offender. I wasn’t called by my prison number or last name. I was Virginia. My opinions and feelings of belongingness mattered. For the first time in my life, I was seen as the person I could become, not for the wrongs of my past. It was liberating.
A PROBLEM WORTH FIXING
One in 3 working-age Americans has a criminal record — that’s more than 70 million people. And while states and cities have made some progress in passing ban-the-box laws in some form or another, the fact remains that individuals with criminal records face substantial challenges in the labor market. I personally know formerly incarcerated women who have gone through the interview process at companies, only to have job offers revoked after the background check comes back.
Before COVID-19, the unemployment rate for formerly incarcerated people was close to 30%. This has continued to worsen. The end result? A massive
unemployment challenge that costs the economy between $78 billion and $87 billion every year, according to second-chance advocate and employer JP Morgan Chase, and a national threeyear recidivism rate that is close to 70%. We can pass law after law, but the only way to drive meaningful change that expands opportunities to this community is to eliminate stigma. And the only way for this to happen is for all of us to become aware of what truly drives our decisions.
There are so many reasons to hire qualified talent from the second-chance community and only one reason not to … personal biases. This has been the driver for The Televerde Virtual Roundtable: to help all of us identify and overcome hidden attitudes so we move toward people instead of away from them.
I implore you to sit with these women … listen to their stories … commit to moving beyond bias to finally embrace this talented and overlooked community. Enter The Televerde Virtual Roundtable.
Virginia Mireles is a sales development team lead for Televerde, the preferred global revenue creation partner supporting marketing, sales and customer success for B2B businesses around the world. Seven of Televerde’s 10 engagement centers are staffed by incarcerated women, representing 70% of the company’s 600-plus global workforce. For more information, visit televerde.com/insights/roundtable.
HAIRCUTS FROM PAGE 11
“It’s really important that we talk about this and we shine the light, and we would not be able to do that if we did not have such organizations like StandUp for Kids, who are in the middle of a community and who can help us reach and spread the message — because it’s just impossible otherwise to convey,” Zukauskaite said.
StandUp for Kids is a national nonprofit that serves housing-insecure, at-risk young people under the age of 24. The organization is known for its relationship building and reaches youth through its mentorship programs, street outreach and housing support.
Similarly, Hair Proud’s mission is to empower its all-inclusive community — which is what spurred the hair care brand to initiate the partnership with SUFK.
“I think this is just a really symbiotic relationship uniting for a bigger cause,
THE A CUT ABOVE CAMPAIGN IS THE RESULT OF A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN STANDUPFOR KIDS, A YOUTH HOMELESS NONPROFIT, AND A NEW HAIRCARE BRAND CALLED HAIR PROUD.
(MANIFEST GROUP/SUBMITTED)
changing the world and, where we can, contributing to the (betterment of) planet Earth,” Zukauskaite said.
A Cut Above
Lofty Locs & Tresses:
1800 E. Fort Lowell Road, 520-289-1603
BluSteel Salon: 5407 E. Pima Street, 520-440-0916
Studio Virtue Beauty & Wellness Salon: 6580 E. Tanque Verde Road, 520-409-8052
To learn more about the A Cut Above campaign, its participating salons and the Hair Proud brand, visit us.iamproud.com. More information about StandUp for Kids can be found at standupforkids.org.
CLAYTOONZ By Clay Jones
By Linda Ray Tucson Weekly Columnist
BORDERLANDS THEATER: “BARRIO STORIES”
The evening starts with family fun: an interactive game show, shadow box installations, an augmented reality installation and a heritage talk circle where anyone can tell personal histories of Tucson’s west side barrios. At 8 p.m. a theatrical presentation of curated barrio stories carries the audience back in time. This event continues the tradition that Borderlands established with the stories of Barrio Viejo, which historically covered the heart of downtown.
6 p.m. interactive family fun and picnic time, 7:45 main stage show, Thursday, April 13, to Sunday, April 30, Borderlands Theater, 20 N. Bonita Avenue, pay what you will, borderlandstheater.org
SAHBA HOME AND PATIO SHOW
Bring those dream-home ideas and your home improvement projects and explore ideas with the folks who can make them happen. You’ll find hundreds of home-related exhibitors but also food trucks; pet adoptions; and a marketplace of artisans offering crafts, specialty foods, wine, jewelry and home products. Sustainability is the theme, with experts in solar energy, water conservation and energy-saving strategies. Also featured is a program to turn plastic waste into building materials. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 14, to Sunday, April 16, Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Avenue, free, tucsonconventioncenter.com
PARKS & REC SUMMER JOB RECRUITMENT PARTY: “SILENT DISCO”
Tucson Parks & Rec is holding a recruitment party for folks ages 15 to 20. They hope to attract candidates for jobs as lifeguards, KIDCO recreation workers, therapeutic recreation workers and lots of other part-time and full-time opportunities. Participants can apply on-site. There will be raffle prizes, games, food and more. 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 14, Reid Park DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, 800 S. Concert Place, danielle.alkola@ tucsonaz.gov, free
TOOTH FAIRIES LEARN THEIR CRAFT. (LIVE THEATRE WORKSHOP/SUBMITTED)
“TOOTH FAIRIES IN TRAINING” OPENING PARTY
The Children’s Theatre of Live Theatre Workshop hosts a party to celebrate the opening of “Tooth Fairies in Training.” The play begins on the first day of training for Bridget Bicuspid and Marty Molar. They’re not sure they’ll make the cut, but when evil Calvin McCavity threatens the school, the new kids just might save the day. Performances continue at 5 p.m. Saturdays and 1 p.m. Sundays until Sunday, April 30. 4 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 15, Live Theatre Workshop, 3322 E. Fort Lowell Road, tickets start at $10, free opening party, livetheatreworkshop.org
MINI TIME MUSEUM: STEVE FARLEY’S “DOWDYTOWN”
Pandemic-isolation-inspired artist, graphic designer and former Arizona state Sen. Steve Farley explores childhood memories through a series of miniatures. They’re artifacts of his Ontario, California, home, but their resonance with childhood reveries is universal. Farley’s youth included a fondness for building miniature models. As an adult, he’s an artist and graphic designer renowned for public murals. He found that creating these tiny structures helped to ground him in the social and emotional upheaval that accompanied our months in lockdown. An artist reception and talk take place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 22.
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, Tuesday, April 18, through Sunday, Aug. 20, Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, 4455 E. Camp Lowell Drive, $8 to $14, theminitimemachine.org
AUDUBON BIRDATHON
Tucson Audubon Society’s annual Birdathon turns the science of a bird-species census into a fundraiser and a good time with friends. Join a team, form your own or do your birding solo. Donate individually or recruit friends to make pledges according to bird species. Compete for the most funds raised, most birds counted by a newbie birder, and best storyteller on social media. All donations help conserve and restore bird habitats in Southeast Arizona. Any time through Sunday, May 9, Tucson Region, donate what you will, tucsonaudubon.org
DECADENT DINNER AT THE LAVENDER FARM
Hundred-year-old oak trees will shelter guests at Life Under the Oaks Lavender Farm as they swoon over a five-course, lavender-themed dinner. Here’s the menu: crostini with olive lavender and white truffle tapenade, roasted pork loin with peach-lavender compote, honey lavender glazed carrots, lavender Dijon potato salad, lavender lemon butter cake, lavender Earl Grey iced tea, lavender wine spritzers. Hosts suggest that guests wear closed-toe shoes and bring
of Broadway Boulevard. We can also explore the heart of Tucson’s artisanal furniture and household craft scene just behind them.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 16, Living Streets Alliance, Cyclovia of Tucson, free, cycloviuatucson.org
THE TUCSON MARIACHI CONFERENCE
More than a dozen workshops, competitions and showcases include several especially for young performers. The signature performance event is Noche de Garibaldi, a colorful spectacle of mariachi and folklorico at the MSA Annex. There’s also a mariachi Mass on Sunday and the Espectacular concert, featuring international favorites Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlan at Linda Ronstadt Music Hall. Ronstadt sang with Los Changuitos Feos, a youth mariachi ensemble that inspired the conference’s founding in 1984. Various times and locations, Wednesday, April 19, to Sunday, April 23, prices vary, tucsonmariachi.org
INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
This international showcase features independently produced films, including many that offer opportunities to broaden our aesthetic range as well as our cultural understanding. More than a few are also pure escapist fun. Just shy of 100 films are included, representing almost every continent. Website previews of all the shows are handy in creating a personal schedule. While there, check out the Film Tourism page. It lists all the Tucson locations that have been featured in movies and TV series.
Various times Wednesday, April 19, to Sunday, April 30, multiple venues, $100 all screenings, $30 six screenings, $10 individual screenings, free panel discussions, filmfestivalarizona.com
a light jacket.
5 p.m., Saturday, April 15, Life Under the Oaks Lavender Farm, 1221 N. Rancho Robles Road, $70, lifeundertheoakslavenderfarm.com
CYCLOVIA: EXPLORE THE LOST BARRIO
Living Streets Alliance encourages us to own the streets for a day on foot, bicycle, roller skates and skateboards. As we walk and ride through The Lost Barrio and its environs, we find the history, and the rail and warehouse infrastructure, that support the modern retail environment
ORO VALLEY PHOTO COMPETITION
Do you have some great photos that capture the essence of Oro Valley life? Wildlife, outdoor spaces, urban and residential life, the arts, recreation, sports, celebrations and holidays all are fair game in this competition organized by SAACA and the town of Oro Valley. Cash prizes go to the winners in each category, and there’s a $150 youth award for entrants younger than 18. The deadline is April 20.
Any time through 11 p.m. Thursday, April 20, free, orovalleyphotos.com
STEVE FARLEY REMEMBERS THE MOBILE STATION. (STEVE FARLEY/SUBMITTED)
LAUGHING STOCK
JOEY MEDINA: WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
By Linda Ray Tucson Weekly Columnist
When Joey Medina was inspired to try stand-up comedy, he was living in his car and donating plasma for money. He got up at Laff’s Comedy Caffe with no intention of becoming a comedian. At the time he just wanted to have funny friends.
“I didn’t think I was good enough to be a comedian,” he said. “I thought that took a special kind of talent like an athlete.”
Five open mics later, he said, “I remember telling myself, ’I can start my whole life all over again.’ I didn’t have anything. I could do whatever I wanted. And I made the decision that night to
LAUGHINGSTOC K
become a comedian.”
Thirty years later, he’s performed comedy multiple times all over Europe and Asia, with the USO and on his own. He’s made 50 appearances in TV shows, and he co-starred in the Paramount Pictures movie “The Original Latin Kings of Comedy” with Cheech Marin, Paul Rodriguez, George Lopez and Alex Reymundo.
Recalling his earliest forays into comedy, Medina said, “I remember I borrowed ($12.50) to watch Paul Rodriguez perform at the TCC, and I just remember telling myself, ‘One day I’m going to open for him.’” Four years later, he opened for Rodriguez on that same
stage. Getting there, Medina said, was the product of tireless touring and relentless work perfecting his jokes.
When he started, Laff’s had the only open mic in town, so as soon as he got the bug, Medina hit the road. “I was opening in places like The Comic Strip in El Paso and Laff’s in New Mexico and Colorado. One day I booked a bunch of one-nighters from Tucson all the way to Miami and back. They were all two-man shows, and even though I was emceeing, I was also doing 30 minutes.”
Medina said he was not just doing comedy but also networking with club owners and especially with other comics. “I worked my way up that way,” he said.
picked it up for distribution.
Within a few years, he moved to Los Angeles. “I was diving into comedy, doing everything I could. I knew I would get better if I moved.” A former professional boxer, Medina likened the move to finding better sparring partners. “You need to spar with different people so you can learn and practice different skills.
“When you’re an athlete or any kind of artist, you need to believe in yourself more than other people believe in you. I’ve seen comics who are really great early on and comics who’ve been doing 10 years and they’re not that good yet. I tell ‘em, ‘Never give up.’”
Los Angeles offered Medina much more than a chance to spar with better comedians. As the heart of the movie business, it connected him to his first love: filmmaking.
Recognized early as a gifted writer in his Bronx grammar school, Medina made his first film in the seventh grade on a Super 8 film camera. It was a remake of “King Kong” with a cast of family members. He later studied TV production at the Center for Media Arts in New York City, and was hired in 2003 to produce a segment for “Extreme Gong” on the Game Show Network
In 2004, Medina wrote, produced and directed his first feature film, “El Matador.” Produced for $15,000 on 16 mm film, it won three awards at the Los An-
Medina has since written, produced, directed, hosted and/or created props, sets and makeup for, and/or starred in, dozens of television shows and short films, including comedy, drama and horror stories, on sets and in front of live audiences. One of his more recent short films, “Beautiful Violence,” has won more than 150 awards at film festivals around the world.
Asked how he’s seen the comedy scene change over the years, Medina said, “There are a lot more comedians, and I think it’s because stand-up comedy is so much more accessible. People started watching stand-up comedy on YouTube internationally. Now there is stand-up all over the world.”
He observed that the result has been much wider diversity of both comics and subject matter. “Having anything different is always a plus because you can talk about something that other people can’t talk about.” At the same time, although he says he hasn’t encountered the issue, he pointed out, “Too many people now, unfortunately, are just offended by everything. I tell people, ‘If you’re in an audience of a hundred people and everyone else is laughing and you’re not, the comedian is not the problem.’
“A good comedian is talking about
geles Chicano Film Festival. Maverick Entertainment
edibles, vapes, pre-rolls, oil tinctures, and water solubles
LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR
By Connor Dziawura Tucson Local Media Staff
APRIL 13
Blue Skies Trio
LaCo Tucson, 6 p.m., free
Gordon Lightfoot
Fox Tucson Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $40-$130
Last in Line
Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $28
Long Beach Dub Allstars
191 Toole, 8 p.m., $25
APRIL 14
Dyer-Logue: A Musical Journey Through Time
The Century Room, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., $20-$30
Greg Morton and Jim Stanley
LaCo Tucson, 5:30 p.m., free
Jillian Bessett
Hotel Congress Plaza, 8 p.m., $12-$15
Kevin Schlereth, The Ragetones and Hedrick Acres Groundworks, 7 p.m., $10
Marie Rivera
The Rock, 7 p.m., $10
Rory Scovel
191 Toole, 7 p.m., $35
APRIL 15
Bob Bauer
LaCo Tucson, 11 a.m., free
The Brothers Comatose
191 Toole, 8 p.m., $20
Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands
Hotel Congress Plaza, 7:30 p.m., $20-$25
Los Angeles Azules de Iztapalapa
Casino Del Sol’s AVA Amphitheater, 8 p.m., $32-$85
Music City Hit-Makers
Fox Tucson Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $27.50-$55
LAUGHING STOCK FROM PAGE
16
our lives and our experiences.
The more experiences you have, you learn to write better. You learn how to take a premise that’s difficult to talk about, and you make it work.”
The Rare Occasions
Club Congress, 7:30 p.m., $16-$19
Roni Ben-Hur
The Century Room, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., $15-$25
White Winged Dove (Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks tribute)
DesertView Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m., $30
APRIL 16
Benise
Fox Tucson Theatre, 7 p.m., $32.50$98
The Coolers
Hotel Congress Plaza, 5 p.m., $10
Mik and the Funky Brunch
LaCo Tucson, 11 a.m., free
The Tributaries
DesertView Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m., $37.50
APRIL 17
NO SHOWS SCHEDULED
APRIL 18
Miss Lana Rebel and Kevin
Michael Mayfield
LaCo Tucson, 5:30 p.m., free Silverstein
Rialto Theatre, 7 p.m., $27.50-$40
APRIL 19
Holy Pinto Groundworks, 7 p.m., $10
Lotus
Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $25-$38
Oscar Fuentes
LaCo Tucson, 5:30 p.m., free
Tucson International Mariachi Conference El Mariachi Canta Competition
The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, 6 p.m., $20
Joey Medina, 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Friday, April 14, and Saturday, April 15, Laff’s Comedy Caffe, 2900 E. Broadway Boulevard, laffstucson. com, $15, $20 preferred seating,
MORE COMEDY THIS WEEK
Catalina Craft Pizza,15930 N. Oracle Road, Suite 178, 8 p.m., Saturday, April 14, free with a donation of nonperishable food or clothing, “Comedy in Catalina,” Phoenix comic Geof Piccarreta headlines, lineup includes producer Allana Lopez, Anthony Jenkins, Autumn Horvat, Morgan Kuehn and Ana Montanez, and Kenny Shade, host Chuckleheads, 41 Brewery Avenue, Bisbee, chuckleheadsaz.com, 8 p.m. Saturday, April 15, and Sunday, April 16, $20, Rob Maebe Corbett Brewery, 309 E. Seventh Street, 7 p.m. Friday, April 14, free, “Good Enough Comedy,” Stephanie Lyonga-Farrington headlines, Magghie O’Shea features, Amie Amelia Gabusi, Derek Celaya, Steven Black and Jesus Otamendi round out the bill, Cory Lytle and Joel Martin host, donations accepted for the Community Food Bank Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress Street, rialtotheatre.com, 6 p.m. Sunday, April 16, tickets start at $52, Brincos Dieras with Tito el Ranchero, todo en español.
Tucson Improv Movement/TIM Comedy Theatre, 414 E. Ninth Street, tucsonimprov.com, $7 each show, $10 for both shows, same night, free jam and open mic. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 13, Improv 201 and Improv 401, 8:30 p.m. Open Mic.; 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 13, Improv Jam; 7:30 p.m. “The Soapbox” with Moira Po; 9 p.m. Improv vs. Standup; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 15, “Punball Wizards”; 9 p.m. “LOL and Order”
Unscrewed Theater, 4500 E. Speedway Boulevard, unscrewedtheatre.org, $8, live or remote, $5 kids. 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 14, Family-Friendly Improv; 9 p.m. Unscrewed Fridays After Dark (pay what you will); 6 p.m., Saturday, April 15, Unscrewed Family Hour (all tickets $5); 7:30 p.m. Family Friendly Improv, 9 p.m. The Backyard Improv Playground (pay what you will)
AUTUMN HORVAT PERFORMS AT CATALINA CRAFT PIZZA. (AUTUMN HORVAT/SUBMITTED)
2023 BOWL
Presented by
SONORAN CANNABIS EXPO IS ENERGIZED, EDUCATIONAL
By Evan Maharry Tucson Weekly Staff
Energized, exclusive, educational even — these are the words event organizer Matt Baquet used to describe two special events happening in Downtown this 4/20.
Presented by Earth’s Healing Dispensary and sponsored by Tucson Weekly, the Sonoran Cannabis Expo at Whistle Stop Depot will see hundreds enjoy panels, samplings and other cannabis offerings as they celebrate the holiday.
With over a dozen vendors — including Tucson favorites such as Desert Bloom Re-Leaf Center and Best Budz AZ, as well as more national brands such as STIIZY — Baquet said guests can sample products, encounter industry veterans, network with similar-minded
folk, and learn new developments in the world of cannabis in the desert.
“There are not enough professional networking experiences in the Southern Arizona cannabis industry,” Baquet said.
“So, as much as I know this event is going to be chill vibes and lots of fun, I wanted to put something together that was serious in a manner where local growers can meet people doing innovative things. It’s an ‘all boats rise’ situation.”
Running from 4 to 7 p.m., the event takes place in Whistle Stop Depot just south of Fifth Avenue. The art-filled and ever-popular venue is no stranger to cannabis meetups; it’s also where expo collaborator AZ Cannafriends holds
monthly meetings. Here, people can “meet in-person to network and build strong professional and friendly connections.”
Attendees also include JJ Crossan and other growers from Athena Ag, a
cannabis cultivation supply company, and Awareness Ranch, which “was established to develop sustainable and resilient agricultural practices” and SEE EXPO PAGE 22
MATT BAQUET, SONORAN CANNABIS EXPO ORGANIZER, SAID THERE WILL BE MORE THAN A DOZEN VENDORS AT THE EVENT. (FILE PHOTO)
FOX TUCSON THEATRE
“provide(s) healthy, natural foods and educational opportunities to Tucson and our surrounding communities,” according to its website. Information and advice for first-time growers will be given, Baquet said excitedly.
Tickets start at $23 from the Sonoran Cannabis Expo website.
After the expo is the Sonoran Cannabis Concert about a mile away at Hotel Congress.
Headlined by rapper RXKNephew, the Grateful Dead tribute band Top Dead Center and New York country singer-songwriter Dougie Pool, the concert starts at 7 p.m. A separate ticket is required; they are $23.
Those who purchase tickets to both events will receive a discount at checkout.
Baquet said the recent legalization of cannabis in the Grant Canyon State caused the huge explosion in events related to the plant, drawing in musi-
cal acts and vendors from all over the country.
“The gates were open. It was then that we all knew we could make something happen,” he said. “I encourage people to come down. The cannabis industry can be super collaborative just like a lot of other things in Tucson are.”
Sonoran Cannabis Expo
WHEN: 4 p.m. Thursday, April 20
WHERE: Whistle Stop Depot, 127 W. Fifth Street, Tucson
COST: Tickets start at $23.18; 21 and older
INFO: sonorancannabisexpo.com
Sonoran Cannabis Concert
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, April 20
WHERE: Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress Street, Tucson
COST: Tickets start at $23.18; expo and concert are $39.14
INFO: sonorancannabisexpo.com
WE HAVE HIGH EXPECATIONS ABOUT THESE LOCAL PRODUCTS
By Tyler Vondrak, Tucson Local Media Staff
and Hope Peters, Tucson Weekly Contributor
TVAPE
tvape.com
Utillian 8
Price: $219.99
Purchase: tvape.com
The Utillian 8 is a wax E-rig that boasts as one for the beginner to the sophisticated concentrate connoisseur. Upon first impression, the device is very sexy. The static black has a clean look, and the protective cloth around the base and intake is a nice touch for security. The bubbler portion, with a frosted black finish, also helps reinforce the im-
pression this is a high-end device. The carrying case is sturdy and high quality and comes with the manual, cleaning wipes and charger so everything you need is included with the initial purchase.
While the looks are nice, it really all comes down to performance in this industry, and the Utillian 8 did not disappoint. As someone who enjoys a wide variety of concentrates and different manners of consuming them, I would be hard-pressed to find a better device for at home. Loading the stainless steel burst 3D atomizer is a breeze, as the lid for it features a scoop that you can dig right in and load up. This helps make what can sometimes be a messy process
with concentrates a breeze. From there, you hit the button on the side of the U8 and it gets down to business. The red light blinks, indicating it’s cooking, and when it turns green, it’s ready for a hit. The vaporizer aspect with the bubbler makes for an extremely smooth draw and smoking experience.
I’ve been using the device for several weeks and cleanup of the atomizer is very simple with alcohol wipes to remove the gunk to keep you going. The bubbler portion has remained very clean as well, but a simple once over did the trick to keep it looking new. Overall, this product is a 10/10.
—Tyler Vondrak
Tronian Gammatron
Price: $109.99
Purchase: tvape.com
ple, with the scoop attached to the lid of the mouthpiece. Simply scoop the concentrate, select your temperature, hit the button for a couple seconds, and you are ready to rip. Depending on the wattage you select, there are three options; you can draw a mellower amount or on the highest setting a full-blown wax rig-size rip. There are a variety of tolerances when it comes to wax. With sharing, you can easily set this up as to not blow your buddies back to Mars for 90 minutes.
The device comes with a compartment that unscrews from the bottom and stores a decent amount.
Since states have allowed recreational use, there have been the waves of E-pens and updates in technology for portable smoking devices. They ran the gamut of cotton wicks to the current ceramic wicks. I’m a fan of portable smoking devices that take the push of a button to start, but the product inside can vary greatly in quality and experience. The Tronian Gammatron has been the solution to all my problems for an efficient, discreet and effective device.
It’s a very sturdy device, but it doesn’t feel like there’s a steel bar in the front pocket. The all-black version is perfect, as it’s not too showy but still has a sleek feel.
The overall performance of the device steals the show. Loading it is sim-
I cannot recommend this one enough for folks who are fans of pens but are looking to take control and cut costs on cartridges. I like the option of having a couple different strains for any occasion and, with this, you can load up as you go. If you are into portables or would like a high-end smoking experience for your concentrates anywhere you go, look no further than the Gammatron.
—Tyler Vondrak
RELEAF BRAND PRODUCTS
Desert Bloom Re-Leaf Center 8060 E. 22nd Street, Suite 108, Tucson 520-886-1760
Releaf Brand Topicals
I reviewed the body balm, muscle jelly and mineral bath soak from Releaf Brand Topicals, and they were all magnificent. Each has its own unique remedies for various ailments. I personally was having back pain the week of testing, so the timing was perfect.
Body balm
1:1 350 mg CBD/THC
THC: 194.04 mg
CBD: 200.97 mg
Sold in 1.15 ounces
Price: $20
The body balm had a nice but not overwhelming aroma when applied. I put it on achy arms and legs after a long day of walking. About 15 seconds after application the slight warming effects kicked in and I could feel a smoothing and relaxing sensation in my muscles. It’s definitely worth a try for those out there standing on their feet or lifting things all day.
Muscle jelly
1:1 350 mg CBD/THC
THC: 139.15 mg
CBD: 165.71 mg
Price: $20
The muscle jelly was a little like the body balm but had an Icy Hot kick to it. I applied this one to my back, and right when the icy feeling kicked in I could
feel some relief coming on. Another one where the aroma was pleasant and not overwhelming. I can see myself using this on a regular basis after a long day to get rid of aches and pains.
Mineral bath soak
1:1 250 mg
THC: 152.28 mg
CBD: 88.98 mg
Price: $25
The mineral bath soak was an experience. Add THC/CBD to a nice soak in the tub and you can’t lose. The nice lavender scent gives spa day vibes and I was thoroughly impressed with the effects. My muscles felt like they went on vacation and my mind could decompress. I would recommend this to any cannabis aficionado who appreciates a nice soak in the tub.
RELEAF BRAND FLOWER
I reviewed four strains of Releaf Brand Flower — three hybrids and an indica, stomper, jungle cake, Girl Scout cookies and Astro pops. I was impressed by all four.
All of the flower buds were nice and dense and had a great aroma opening the jar.
Astro pops: indica THC: 22.16%
Astro pops had a nice fruity smell and were my favorite for taste. I tried this about an hour before bed. It put me right in viewing mode before I had to peel myself off the couch and make my way to the bedroom.
Stomper: hybrid THC: 21.82%
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Advertiser: Behavioral Awareness
Stomper also had a fruity smell but a little danker. This one was really nice out of the bong and leaned more toward sativa in its vibe. It was an enjoyable experience. I had work to do outside, and this little helper made every task a little more enjoyable.
table that I’ve been looking to complete.
Girl Scout cookies: hybrid THC: 21.88%
Girl Scout cookies is an all-time great strain, and the growers at Desert Bloom Re-Leaf Center definitely do it justice. Upon cranking the jar, the danky aroma is prevalent. The sativa-leaning euphoria and touch of energy makes for an extremely enjoyable experience. It’s easy to rock this strain playing 18 holes or taking a hike. It’s that extra salt and pepper to your meal of a day.
Releaf bar cannabis-infused chocolate
Flavors: dark chocolate, coffee bean dark chocolate, white chocolate and milk chocolate
THC: 100 mg, 10 mg per square
Weight: 2.11 ounces
PLEASE REVIEW PROOF CAREFULLY Submit any changes or approve your via the link attached to this proof.
Jungle cakes had a strong danky, almost cheesy aroma. It hit like a ton of bricks. It leaned toward indica as I was more into chilling than getting a bunch done. I could see painting or getting to that puzzle on the back
Designer: OM
There was rumor that Desert Bloom Releaf Center hired a confectioner, and after trying its new cannabis-infused chocolate bars, I can all but confirm. The bars’ effects were really nice and consistent throughout the line with amount dosed. That is always a nice attribute on the edibles front, but the star of the show here is the flavor. These chocolates are so good that one would be tempted to eat the whole bar and go on an interstellar adventure. The coffee bean dark chocolate was the favorite for my tastes, but all four of them were incredible and could be a stand-alone product without the THC. For anyone who’s a fan of edibles and a fan of chocolate, this is a must-try.
• On staff physician certified in addiction treatment
• Individual and Group Counseling provided by licensed drug & alcohol counselor.
• Group Topics: Relapse prevention, Peer Support, Crisis interventions, and Family dynamics
• Liquid methadone, tablets, diskettes, and suboxone
• Walk-ins welcome no appointment needed
• Mon-Fri 5AM-6PM Sat 7AM- Noon NOW ACCEPTING AHCCCS
TUESDAY APRIL 18SUNDAY APRIL 23, 2023
—Tyler Vondrak
PURE EDIBLES
pureedibles.com
Pure gummies
Flavors: fruit punch (sativa), watermelon (indica) and berry sleepy (indica and CBN)
THC: 100 mg, 10 mg per piece
Pure gummies have been one of my personal favorites for a few years. Their consistency on dosing and great taste has made it an easy go-to when looking for a reliable gummy. The three cans I tried were all nice in their own way.
The fruit punch sativa was perfect for a Friday night with friends. The 10 mg dose is just enough to make sure you know it’s there without being too much. The watermelon sativa went well with movie night on a Thursday. The 10 mg dose was not too much.
My favorite was berry sleepy, which I took 30 minutes before bed. By the time my head hit the pillow, I was all but ready for dreamland. The most impressive part of this product was I didn’t get the THC grogginess I’ve experienced from other nighttime aid edibles. I strongly recommend it for anyone looking for a reliable sleep aid that won’t roll into the next day.
Verano has done some great things with its flower strains, and now it is unleashing a whole new wave of edibles on Arizona. Their Bits line is focused on enhancing — not overtaking — which, as a person who has taken too many edibles in a single sitting, is a welcome change. The 5 mg pieces are super simple to dose and see where they take you. Not only do they contain THC but other fun ingredients like ginseng, guarana, elderflower and rose hip, depending on the variety. All five varieties had a very nice effect that corresponded with their
description on the front.
The Yuzu Zone features a bit of sativa, ginseng and reishi. With a hint of mindfulness, it stirred the creative juices.
The Acai Affection serves a bit of hybrid, rose and rose hip. A pinch of this one made for a great vibe going into the weekend.
The Pomegranate R&R has a bit of indica, ashwagandha and lemon balm. It definitely puts a capital R in R&R. Perfect for wrapping up an evening and gently relaxing before bed.
With indica, elderflower and acerola, the Elderberry Wellness was a perfect cap to a long day. The indica’s drowsy effects were there, and I could easily unwind and feel healthier for it.
The Guava Go is the opposite. It features sativa, coffee fruit and guarana — essentially a little bliss bomb. It’s perfect for any social outing or even doing the dishes. It had a nice touch of euphoria without an overwhelming sense of inebriation. This could easily be an everyday microdoser.
Verano Reserve and Essence Flower verano.com/shop
Verano Essence
Strain: the soap
THC: 24.51%
Opening the jar on the soap, it’s immediately clear it’s a premiere strain of flower. The aroma is a terp-filled dream that almost has a cheesy pine smell to it — and I mean that in all the best ways. The high-quality nugs burn quite nicely in a bong or rolled up. The taste was extremely pleasant, almost a bit creamy but with that top-tier, almost pine aftertaste. As a big fan of sativas, I noticed right away just how pleasant the high is on this. Some sativas, once they get up there in the 24% range, can deliver a bit of anxiety on the tail end. There was no such feeling here. There was a proper relaxed head high that wasn’t overbearing to the point on incapacitation, even after several rips. I felt like I could still go on a hike or clean the house after this but had a pleasant amount of euphoria. I strongly recommend this for anyone looking for a nice go-to daily sativa.
Verano Reserve
Strain: tres leches
THC: 28.97%
Cracking the jar on this one reveals giant impressive nugs and a fruity terp with the little bit of purps poking through. This is far and wide one of
REVIEWS FROM PAGE 30
my favorite strains and flower. Verano did this justice as the aroma translates to the taste for a luxury smoking experience. It’s fruity and dank with just everything you’d expect from a top-tier strain. This is perfect for a party. As a 28.97%, it is enjoyable all around. With its flavorful flower, it is easy to take two or three rips. The full-body relaxation
and mild head high made me feel creative and conversational. I recommend for the sativa connoisseur or anyone looking to make a splash with the gas they bring to the party.
—Tyler
Vondrak
I.O. EXTRACTS
Available at NatureMed, 5390 W. Ina Road, Tucson 520-620-9123
The old adage of big things come in small packages has never been truer with the collaboration disposable sauce pen from I.O. Extracts and Potent Planet.
THC: 77.97%
CBD: .14%
Total cannabinoids: 89.86%
Total weight: 1 gram
Fitting discretely in the palm of your hand, this device can knock your socks off with the 85.11% total cannabinoids. Two to three puffs do the trick. I love a product that overdelivers, and this checked every bill. The taste came through on the pen immediately. There’s a fruit-forward beginning mixed with that classic gelato aftertaste making for a delicious experience. Being a hybrid, it offered a happy and energetic beginning followed by a calming relaxed vibe about 20 minutes in. Strongly recommend for the daily smoker on the go or anyone looking for a high-quality clean-looking product that gets the job done in just a couple pulls.
I.O. Extracts cured badder
Strain: True OG x platinum kush mintz (hybrid)
I’ve been a huge fan of I.O. Extracts, so getting a chance to sample its cured badder was a real treat. Upon opening, I was greeted with a terpy smell, with a bit of pine, but mostly a fruit-forward aroma. The badder is my preferred form of concentrate, as it’s so easy to manage and use. I.O. Extracts was no different, and using it in my concentrate-specific vaporizer made for an even more enjoyable experience. The terpy taste translated right away, and the expected effects were immediate. This strain combo, in particular, I feel is a very clean high. Immediately, it was relaxing, but I wasn’t looking for a three-bedroom rental on the moon. This one I felt was definitely more of an evening relaxer than a wake-and-bake strain, but depending on your tolerance you could definitely make it work. I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a premium concentrate experience with a solid hybrid strain that delivers a clean and relaxing high.
—Tyler Vondrak
EARTH’S HEALING
North location: 78 W. River Road,
Tucson, 520-253-7198
South Location: 2075 E. Benson Highway, Tucson, 520-373-5779 earthshealing.org
Earth extracts cold cured live hash rosin
Strain: white rainbows (hybrid)
THC: 66.98%
CBD: .15%
Total weight: 1 gram
The fruity and pungent aroma lets you know you are definitely dealing with a nice green-to-purple ratio flower strain for the main ingredient. Like badder, the cold cured live hash rosin is really easy to deal with. While flakier than other forms of concentrate, the ability to grab the right amount for your dose is super easy. A definite plus is the nice grape flavor profile and the effects were super nice for a hybrid. It brought that bit of relaxation you’d expect but was much more of a fun social strain. The experience is clean, and this is a true feel-good strain that just makes everything around you that much better. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a wide variety of concentrates. It’s also ideal for those who get anxious from a pure sativa but want a feel-good strain that won’t knock them out.
Earthgrow pre-roll
pack
Strain: golden lemons (hybrid)
THC: 24.67%
CBD: 0%
Total weight: 3.5 grams
Earth’s Healing’s Earthgrow packs have a super-premium vibe from the start. The packing is clean and the top closes with a magnet, which makes everything feel fancier. However, what is packaging without a product that delivers? This pre-roll pack immediately made its way to my top five. The name — Golden Lemons — is literal. As soon as you open it, the smell of a pungent
lemon grove surrounds you. The super citrus strain and the flavor during smoking matches it. I literally let out an audible, “Oh, wow!”
The effects here start at the top of the head and work their way down. An immediate euphoria is met with an overall relaxation of the muscles and body. It leans more toward indica and is perfect for decompressing. I would recommend to anyone looking for a truly tasty smoke session that will leave everyone chilling and vibing.
Earthgrow Flower
Strain: rainmaker (hybrid)
THC: 20.26%
CBD: 0%
Total weight: 3.5 grams
I’ve had some cheesy strains in my life, but this rainmaker was like diving into a cave of aging Gruyere. After the cheesy blast to shake your hand, there are notes of a lil citrus and skunk. This unique strain has a ton of personality. The buds themselves are green with amber hairs. They have a nice squish factor, dried nicely and they still have some pop to them. The flavor while smoking had much more of the citrus and skunk forward and wasn’t as cheesy as you’d expect from the initial whiff. Effects were immediate and were like a warm blanket over the shoulders. Very relaxing and mood booster. Subdued enough on the sativa side for an evening session but could also see hitting this before hitting the lake or beach and just enjoying the scenery. It’s a definite recommendation for anyone looking for a really unique aromatic smoking experience with a nice mood boost for effect.
—Tyler Vondrak
695 N. Oracle Road, Suite 117, Tucson 520-293-3315 curaleaf.com
fast-acting jellies
Strains: sativa
CBD: 0 mg CBD
THC: 93.87 mg THC
Curaleaf launched these fast-acting jellies just in time for spring. The gummies/jellies are nice and sour with a little sweetness. The sour strawberry lemonade tastes like biting into a fresh strawberry with a splash of lemon. Pucker up for these specially formulated cannabis-infused gummies that produce a faster effect, with an activation time of 15 to 45 minutes. After just one 5 mg gummy, the sativa strain cleared any aches and pains with a balanced clear, alert, energetic and creative effect in about 20 minutes. Each fast-acting jelly contains 5 mg THC with 20 fast-acting jellies per 100 mg pack. They are gluten free and should not be consumed on an empty stomach.
JAMS sour watermelon lime
fast-acting jellies
Strains: indica
CBD: 0 mg CBD
THC: 91.48 mg THC
One 5 mg jelly was consumed. The taste was sweet and refreshing, with a fair amount of sourness. The effect took about 35 minutes for the mellow effect, producing calm and chill energy. For a more significant high, a second 5 mg gummy was eaten.
JAMS sour green apple fast-acting jellies
Strains: hybrid
CBD: 0 mg CBD
THC: 100.87 mg THC
As expected, these gummies had a real sour green apple taste that was balanced with light sweetness. There is no weed taste, just delicious fruit flavor. One 5 mg jelly was consumed, and the balanced creative and calm effect took approximately 20 minutes to achieve.
JAMS mixed fruit jellies
Strain: indica
CBD: 0 mg CBD
THC: 94.16 mg THC
Curaleaf also just introduced JAMS jellies. Each package contains 10 pieces of 10 mg each THC gummies with a total of 100 mg per pack. These fruit-forward tasty treats are naturally flavored and long lasting. There are three flavors and three strains to choose from: mixed fruit (indica), ruby red grapefruit (sativa) and peach (hybrid). Per the package, the JAMS jellies take 60 to 90 minutes to feel the full effect. The effects are typical of an indica, with a warm, relaxing, happy, mellow high that lasts long. The mixed fruit had a heavy berry taste, but not overwhelming. It tasted like fresh berries and smooth with no cannabis taste.
JAMS ruby red grapefruit jellies
Strain: sativa
CBD: 0 mg CBD
THC: 93.12 mg THC
It tastes just like grapefruit, only a bit sweeter and with no weed taste. I felt the effect within 38 minutes. It’s the perfect gummy for video game players with a nice high. However, it didn’t sap any energy and kept gamers active and alert for playing “Resident Evil 4” and nongamers stayed happy, energetic for doing chores around the house.
JAMS choco dark chocolate peppermint
Strain: hybrid
CBD: 0 mg CBD
THC: 105.97 mg THC
This yummy decadent chocolate candy bar is a high-octane adult dessert. All JAMS chocos are expertly formulated, cannabis-infused artisan chocolate bars in three hybrid flavors: dark chocolate peppermint, milk chocolate pretzel and white chocolate birthday cake. Each choco bar has easily-portionable 5 mg THC-per-square pieces with a total of 20 squares per bar. I consumed two
CURALEAF
THC each and a 10 pack with 100 mg
Vegan 3:1 ratio gummies-dragonfruit
5 mg squares, and the full effect of the high took 60 to 90 minutes. Still, I was able to keep focused while cooking or doing ordinary house chores. After dinner, the effect gave a relaxed, cozy feeling. It was soothing and comfortable. The taste was delightful, similar to a dark chocolate peppermint patty candy. Each choco flavor contains milk and are manufactured in a plant that handles tree nuts, soy, peanuts and dairy.
JAMS choco white chocolate
birthday cake
Strain: hybrid
CBD: 0 mg CBD
THC: 101.66 mg THC
The white chocolate birthday cake tastes like a cupcake with frosting. I consumed two squares (10 mg total), and it took approximately 90 minutes for the light, goofy, fun high. It’s a very tasty treat for after dinner or as a snack to help you unwind from a busy day; a naughty delicious dessert with a twist. Make sure to store in a cool, dry place.
HALO INFUSION
haloinfusion.com
Available at: Halo Cannabis
7710 S. Wilmot Road, Tucson 520-664-2251
thegreenhalo.com
Canna confections daily dose vanilla caramels
1:0 THC/CBD
Strain: sativa
Trace amount of other cannabinoids
CBD: 0 mg CBD
THC: 20 mg THC/100 mg THC
These delicious caramels come in a two-pack of caramel candy, 10 mg of
THC total. But beware, the high can sneak up on you after two hours or more. It is recommended to take half a caramel (5 mg) first, wait about 90 minutes, and if more THC is needed take the other half. They tasted just like caramel candy, chewy and sweet, with a mild cannabis taste. The first hour or so gives you energy, creativity and joy. Great for daytime high that keeps you calm but active.
Cannabliss THC Gummies
1:0 THC/CBD
Strain: sativa
Trace amount of other cannabinoids
CBD: 0 CBD
THC: 100 mg THC
These star-shaped gummies are easy for microdosing. They are tasty and have a lighter sweetness but more chew. The high is mellow, but it’s easy to focus, especially during intense video gaming with friends.
Cannabliss sour gummies
1.0 THC/CBD
Strain: indica
Trace amount of other cannabinoids
CBD: 0 CBD
THC: 100 mg THC
The taste has a light sweetness, and the sourness is less than your average sour candy chew. It took about 45 minutes for the high and 60 minutes for the full high. The high was soothing, took away pain, and I fell asleep with ease. It’s great for bedtime to ease pain, anxiety and insomnia.
HEALTHFUL FLOWERS
5460 E. Speedway Boulevard, Tucson
520-279-1819
healthfulflowers.com
3:1 CBD/THC
Strain: CBD blend
CBD: 10 mg CBD
THC: 3 mg THC
Total per package: 130 mg
These gummies (10 gummies per pack) are crafted from hemp-derived Delta-9 THC (3 mg) and 10 mg of broad-spectrum CBD. They are truly vegan and are made with no gelatin. Therefore, the gummies break down faster in your body and give you a quicker effect. The gummies were not overly sweet but tasted like dragonfruit. It calmed me and relieved pain after 20 to 30 minutes. There was no real “high,” per se, but it gave a very comfortable, relaxing feel. My mind was clear to do normal daily activities minus body pain or aches. They are the perfect CBD/THC product for on-the-go with a clear head and for those who wish not to smoke or vape.
Vegan 3:1 ratio mixed fruit gummies
3:1 CBD/THC
Strain: CBD/THC blend
CBD: 75 mg CBD
THC: 25 mg THC
Total per package: 1,000 mg
These large gummies have an almost floral taste that balances the slight sweetness for a very fresh, pleasant taste. Now, these gummies have a bit of a kick. They are vegan. We got our effect within 20 to 30 minutes. Beware: They are made with 25 mg of hemp-derived Delta-9 THC and 75 mg of broad-spectrum CBD. Even if you have a high resistance to THC, start with half of a gummy. After an hour, if not seeing much of a high, take the other half. The blend of CBD and THC sustains a balanced and calming effect, keeping your mind clear but a little sleepy or inactive.
DOWNTOWN DISPENSARY
221 E. Sixth Street, Suite 105, Tucson
520-838-0492
thedowntowndispensary.com
Roaring 20s REST pack of six pre-rolls
Strain: indica
CBD: 0 mg CBD
THC: 24.36% THC/CBD
The flower tastes lemony and fresh in this pack of six small pre-roll joints. It delivers a really potent high that has staying power. I took about three hits off the blunt and was pleasantly stoned. This flower pre-roll is good for a night of watching television or reading a good book.
High Scorez gastropop 1.2 g pre-roll
Strain: indica
CBD: 0.04% CBD
THC: 29.22% TC
High Scorex tastes earthy and mellow. It has a very nice high that creeps up on you and prepares you for bed. I took two hits off a joint and was nicely stoned, only to get more stoned as it snuck up to maxim high. Great for getting ready for bedtime.
Zenzona Vegan Blackberries & Cream RSO Gummies
Strain: hybrid-indica forward
CBD: 0 mg CBD
THC: 100 mg THC
These must be some of the best tasting gummies in Tucson, as they have a delicious fruit and cream taste and mild sweetness. They are gluten and gelatin free, made from scratch in Tucson. The effects hit in about 30 to 45 minutes. It is a calming, stress-free and relaxed high, perfect for watching a fun movie on TV or chilling with friends.
BEST DELIVERY SERVICE
Earth’s Healing
78 W. River Road, 520-253-7198
2075 E. Benson Highway, 520-373-5779 earthshealing.org
Ask any stoner in Tucson about go-to dispensaries and they’ll mention Earth’s Healing — and for good reason. Getting cannabis from here is like getting weed from Santa Claus. With a wide selection of products and speedy delivery from its two locations, Earth’s Healing hooks it up with no delivery charge and a free preroll or edible, making it king of delivery.
READER RECOMMENDED
iLAVA Now at The Downtown Dispensary
221 E. Sixth Street, 520-838-0492 thedowntowndispensary.com ilavanow.com
Desert Bloom Re-Leaf Center
8060 E. 22nd Street, 520-886-1760 dbloomtucson.com
Center wins for the seventh time for best certification center. Known for its great deals on certifications, excellent knowledge on cannabis and over a decade in business this year, THC, as it is affectionately known, is a darling in the cannabis community. Even a quick visit to its website offers a wealth of knowledge for anyone looking to get their medical marijuana card.
READER RECOMMENDED
dispensary drive-thru in Tucson — just in case one wants to skip going inside the award-winning lobby.
READER RECOMMENDED Earth’s Healing 78 W. River Road, 520-253-7198 2075 E. Benson Highway 520-373-5779 earthshealing.org
Prime Leaf
Dr. Reeferalz
4120 E. Speedway Boulevard 520-623-0420, drreeferalz.com
Moroso Medical Center
2231 S. Fourth Avenue, 520-495-4054 morosomedicalcenter.com
BEST MMJ DOC
Dr. Heather Moroso
2231 S. Fourth Avenue, 520-495-4054 morosomedicalcenter.com
BEST CERTIFICATION CENTER
Tumbleweeds Health Center
4826 E. Broadway Boulevard 520-838-4430 tumbleweedshealthcenter.com
No surprise here, Tumbleweeds Health
2023 BOWL Wellness
2231 S 4th Ave - South Tucson 520-495-4054
Another previous winner of our Cannabis Bowl, Dr. Heather Moroso serves Tucson as one of the most well-known and respected practitioners in the field, having weathered the pandemic at her current location, which opened three years ago on the corner of Fourth Avenue and East 33rd Street. There she can be found offering alternative medicine in addition to medical marijuana, such as acupuncture and yoga Tuesday through Saturday.
BEST WAITING ROOM
Downtown Dispensary
221 E. Sixth Street, 520-838-0492 thedowntowndispensary.com
D2 Dispensary
7139 E. 22nd Street, 520-214-3232 d2dispensary.com
Readers who have been to these two dispensaries could probably see this one coming. As sister stores, each one offers an extremely unique look and take on the cannabis purchasing experience. Starting with Downtown Dispensary, the building itself is the old Stonecypher Bakery that was initially constructed in 1916, with the façade and tower being particular highlights from the late 1930s, according to the National Register of Historic Places. Inside, a deceivingly modern interior offers all of the latest commodities such as large touch screens to order form. Eastward at D2 is another amazing lobby, this one with various kiosks for assistance, glass cases displaying a wide assortment of products, and a friendly face welcoming one into it all as they enter. The irony of it all is that they also have the only
4220 E. Speedway Boulevard 1525 N. Park Avenue 520-447-7463, theprimeleaf.com
BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE
Earth’s Healing
78 W. River Road, 520-253-7198 2075 E. Benson Highway, 520-373-5779 earthshealing.org
Circling back to Earth’s Healing, the winner of best delivery also wins best customer service, and the two really go hand in hand. What makes their delivery so good is also what makes their service so good: convenience, speed and consistency.
READER RECOMMENDED Downtown Dispensary
221 E. Sixth Street, 520-838-0492 thedowntowndispensary.com
D2 Dispensary
7139 E. 22nd Street, 520-214-3232 d2dispensary.com
Prime Leaf
4220 E. Speedway Boulevard 1525 N. Park Avenue 520-447-7463, theprimeleaf.com
BEST NEW PATIENT SPECIAL
Downtown Dispensary
221 E. Sixth Street, 520-838-0492 thedowntowndispensary.com
D2 Dispensary
7139 E. 22nd Street, 520-214-3232 d2dispensary.com
The best deals are simple with little to no strings attached; this is especially true for these two sister stores: 25% off all flower, tinctures, edibles and concentrates. Fifty percent off all iLAVAHEMP products. Need we say more?
READER RECOMMENDED Earth’s Healing
78 W. River Road, 520-253-7198
2075 E. Benson Highway, 520-373-5779 earthshealing.org
Prime Leaf
4220 E. Speedway Boulevard 1525 N. Park Avenue 520-447-7463, theprimeleaf.com
Thank you, Tucson!
YOU VOTED EARTH’S HEALING BEST...
CUSTOMER SERVICE
DELIVERY
EARTH EXTRACTS BEST...
HYBRID EARTHVAPE
SATIVA EARTHVAPE
SATIVA CONCENTRATE
EARTHGROW BEST...
INDICA FLOWER
PRE-ROLL
STIIIZY DISPOSABLES
22 RED FLOWER AERIZ FLOWER
MELTED
CART & BATTERY
ISLA GUMMIES
ABUNDANT ORGANICS 4.5g
Earth Extracts
Earthgrow
Earthvape
HIGH SUPPLY FLOWER
PHARM CARTS
WYLD GUMMIES
OGEEZ GUMMIES
CATRI GUMMIES
BEST PRE-ROLL
Earthgrow at Earth’s Healing
78 W. River Road, 520-253-7198
2075 E. Benson Highway, 520-373-5779 earthshealing.org
Remember the free pre-roll that comes with delivery at Earth’s Healing? Get Earthgrow, their proprietary grow. As far as freebies go, it’s not often you get the cream of the crop, the crème de la crème, what our readers voted as the best in all of Tucson.
BEST SOFT-DRINK THC EDIBLE
Pure & Simple, Halo Infusions haloinfusions.com
As delicious as they are unique, Halo Infusions says its juice blends infused with full-spectrum THC plus trace cannabinoids is the best, and readers agree, giving them best soft drink THC edible.
READER RECOMMENDED
Keef Multiple locations keefbrands.com
Sir Newton’s Soda Multiple locations sirnewtons.com
BEST THC BROWNIE
Aunt a, Halo Infusions haloinfusions.com
The quintessential edible, the brownie is God’s gift to stoners everywhere. Its not as go for broke as a soda, but maybe that’s all the more impressive given how crowded this category is. It’s simple chocolatey perfection, but if you do want to go ridiculous, you can get the 225 mg THC Super Mega Brownie. If you want to get batshit crazy, the 500 mg THC Ultra Mega Brownie will do.
READER RECOMMENDED
Amy & Al’s Various locations amyandalsedibles.com
Sublime Various locations feelsublime.com
BEST CRAFT BAKED EDIBLE
Aunt Ellie’s, Halo Infusions haloinfusions.com
Getting fancy with its second win is Aunt Ellie’s Baked Medible’s craft baked edibles. A fun phrase for sure, but even
more fun are the menagerie of flavors and confections offered by this brand. From gingerbread to peanut butter, red velvet to gluten free, it has its stuff straight.
READER RECOMMENDED
Amy & Al’s Various locations amyandalsedibles.com
Sublime Various locations feelsublime.com
BEST CANDY THC EDIBLE
Zenzona zenzona.com
Vegan, local and smartly packaged, Zenzona knows what impact they have on the world and what impact they’re looking to make. With eco-conscious design and clearly sourced ingredients, this is one time that eating candy can be completely guilt free as you drift to a more relaxed place.
(now at The Downtown Dispensary) 221 E. Sixth Street, 520-838-0492 thedowntowndispensary.com ilavanow.com
A unique blend of essential oils, CBD and THC, iLAVA Touch is Tucson’s best offering for THC topical lotion as voted by our readers. With transparently sourced ingredients such as mango ginger, iLAVA also offers the gel in refill pods to reduce their footprint.
READER RECOMMENDED
Drip, The Prime Leaf 4220 E. Speedway Boulevard
The Downtown Dispensary 221 E. Sixth Street dripoils.com
Releaf Brand releafcbd.com
BEST INDICA CONCENTRATE iLAVA at
The Downtown Dispensary 221 E. Sixth Street, 520-838-0492 thedowntowndispensary.com ilavanow.com
Looking to chill? Look no further; everyone knows indica is the go-to for relax-
ation and concentrates and the go-to for potency. Put both together and have iLAVA make it and badda bing, badda boom, you have a beautiful thing.
READER RECOMMENDED
Earth Extracts, Earth’s Healing
78 W. River Road, 520-253-7198 2075 E. Benson Highway, 520-373-5779 earthshealing.org
Halo Cannabis 7710 S. Wilmot Road 520-664-2251, thegreenhalo.com
BEST SATIVA CONCENTRATE
Earth Extracts, Earth’s Healing
78 W. River Road, 520-253-7198 2075 E. Benson Highway, 520-373-5779 earthshealing.org
Swinging high with sativa comes Earth Extracts with its absolute precision in all things concentrates. Go to its website and blow your mind with the test reports on some of the purest concentrates around, proudly displayed for anyone to view in case they didn’t know Earth Extracts means business.
READER RECOMMENDED
iLAVA at The Downtown Dispensary
221 E. Sixth Street, 520-838-0492 thedowntowndispensary.com ilavanow.com
Halo Cannabis
7710 S. Wilmot Road, 520-664-2251 thegreenhalo.com
BEST HYBRID CONCENTRATE
Halo Cannabis
7710 S. Wilmot Road 520-664-2251, thegreenhalo.com
Giving us the best of both worlds is Halo Cannabis with its stellar hybrid concentrates that readers voted as perfectly balanced. With an eye to detail and amazing blends, visit its store off Wilmot and the 10 anytime from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
READER RECOMMENDED
iLAVA at The Downtown Dispensary
221 E. Sixth Street, 520-838-0492 thedowntowndispensary.com ilavanow.com
Earth Extracts, Earth’s Healing
78 W. River Road, 520-253-7198
2075 E. Benson Highway, 520-373-5779 earthshealing.org
BEST SATIVA VAPE CARTRIDGE
Earthvape, Earth’s Healing
78 W. River Road, 520-253-7198
2075 E. Benson Highway, 520-373-5779 earthshealing.org
Facing off fierce competition comes Earthvape with its iconic sativa vape cartridge. With flavors like harvest berry and 250 mg of THC, partying can happen all night long with our winner for best sativa vape cartridge.
READER RECOMMENDED
iLAVA at The Downtown Dispensary
221 E. Sixth Street, 520-838-0492 thedowntowndispensary.com ilavanow.com
Stiiizy stiiizy.com
BEST INDICA VAPE CARTRIDGE
iLAVA, iLAVA at The Downtown Dispensary
221 E. Sixth Street, 520-838-0492 thedowntowndispensary.com ilavanow.com
Nabbing another win is iLAVA with its Indica Vape cartridges that are as polished as every other product it puts out. Needless to say, its indica is top shelf.
READER RECOMMENDED
Earthvape, Earth’s Healing
78 W. River Road, 520-253-7198 2075 E. Benson Highway, 520-373-5779 earthshealing.org
Stiiizy stiiizy.com
BEST HYBRID VAPE CARTRIDGE
Earthvape, Earth’s Healing
78 W. River Road, 520-253-7198 2075 E. Benson Highway, 520-373-5779 earthshealing.org
In the brutal back and forth between the giants of iLAVA and Earthvape comes another win for Earthvape. At the end of the day, the blends of Earthvape are our readers’ No. 1 for those smoking sessions where the choice between indica and sativa is too much.
READER RECOMMENDED
iLAVA at The Downtown Dispensary
221 E. Sixth Street, 520-838-0492 thedowntowndispensary.com ilavanow.com
Stiiizy stiiizy.com
BEST CBD VAPE CARTRIDGE
7139 E. 22nd Street, 520-214-3232 d2dispensary.com
TUCSON’S BEST RESTAURANTS TO SATISFY THE MUNCHIES
By Evan Maharry Tucson Weekly Staff
When Tucsonans are hungry, they get a Sonoran dog. They get raspados or an eegees. It’s a no-brainer.
When they’re stoned, they get two of each.
There’s no shortage of yummy food to hit the spot during those high times in the desert. With so many, it’s easy for stoner brain to set in. But anyone can get high with a little help from Tucson Weedly’s list of the best places to satisfy your munchies. And with friends, too, designated drivers are a must. Here are our top choices.
420 TACO - FOOD TRUCK Instagram@420_taco
The Backyard: 890 W. Grant Road, at Fairview Can’t go wrong with a place that says, “All of our meats are smoked low and slow and transformed into a culinary masterpiece.” Satisfy your munchies here with items like the el jefe, housebrined pastrami, topped with jack cheese, Dijon, pickles and pickled onions on a birote ($13.50); or the el gringo, pulled pork smothered with its smoked
iLAVA at The Downtown Dispensary
221 E. Sixth Street, 520-838-0492 thedowntowndispensary.com ilavanow.com
The last of the cartridge categories ends strong with iLAVA’s CBD vape cartridges. As good as its psychoactive stuff, its CBD is maybe the better choice in situations where being high isn’t the call.
READER RECOMMENDED Earth’s Healing
78 W. River Road, 520-253-7198 2075 E. Benson Highway, 520-373-5779 earthshealing.org
Stiiizy stiiizy.com
BEST SATIVA FLOWER
Halo Cannabis
7710 S. Wilmot Road 520-664-2251, thegreenhalo.com
As analogous as our Cannabis Bowl is to sports, this category really is the “best actor” of the poll. And the winner is … Halo Cannabis! We’ll save you a speech and just leave it at this bud being really, really good.
READER RECOMMENDED Earth’s Healing
78 W. River Road, 520-253-7198 2075 E. Benson Highway, 520-373-5779 earthshealing.org
Downtown Flower, Downtown Dispensary
221 E. Sixth Street, 520-838-0492 thedowntowndispensary.com D2 Dispensary
7139 E. 22nd Street, 520-214-3232 d2dispensary.com
BEST
INDICA FLOWER
Earth’s Healing
78 W. River Road, 520-253-7198 2075 E. Benson Highway, 520-373-5779 earthshealing.org
If “best sativa flower” is “best actor,” then “best indica flower” is “best actress.” Earth’s Healing claims another win with its show-stealing performance. To make it a sports reference, this is nothing short of a touchdown, a grand slam, true buzzer-beater for the ages that will surely bring even better competition next year.
READER RECOMMENDED
Downtown Flower, Downtown Dispensary
221 E. Sixth Street, 520-838-0492 thedowntowndispensary.com
D2 Dispensary
Halo Cannabis
7710 S. Wilmot Road 520-664-2251 thegreenhalo.com
BEST HYBRID FLOWER STRAIN
Downtown Flower, Downtown Dispensary
221 E. Sixth Street, 520-838-0492 thedowntowndispensary.com D2 Dispensary
7139 E. 22nd Street 520-214-3232, d2dispensary.com
Winner of best hybrid flower strain, Downtown Flower uses what they call cold curing, which is storing the cannabis plant itself at extremely frigid temperatures to retain its quality, as well as intensive measures such as transporting the plants in a fashion that avoids contact with surfaces.
READER RECOMMENDED Earth’s Healing 78 W. River Road, 520-253-7198 2075 E. Benson Highway, 520-373-5779 earthshealing.org
Halo Cannabis 7710 S. Wilmot Road, 520-664-2251 thegreenhalo.com
BEST CBD FLOWER Healthful Flowers
5460 E. Speedway Boulevard 520-279-1819, healthfulflowers.com
Healthful Flowers is unique in the fact that it is a CBD dispensary, offering products that include compounds found in cannabis such as CBD or CBG that offer benefits such as relaxation without the high. When it comes to dispensaries, Healthful Flowers truly stands out in the fact that it puts CBD first and foremost, with a wide assortment of strains and people ready to help pick out the ideal bud.
READER RECOMMENDED Tierra Grow tierragrow.com
CBD Wellness 5390 W. Ina Road 520-429-9618, cbdwellness.com
THE AMERICAN EAT CO.
1439 S. Fourth Avenue, 520-867-8700, americaneatco.com
The American Eat Co.’s calls itself “Tucson’s First Local Food Court,” which boasts seven restaurants with full bar, arcade and coffee shop. Oh, and it has live music on Fridays.
BISON WITCHES BAR & DELI
326 N. Fourth Avenue, bisonwitches.com
Looking for a fun place to duck into while flying high on Fourth Avenue?
Bison Witches hooks it up with its bread bowls, sandwiches and stellar environment anyone can enjoy.
BOTANAS & MUNCHIES WORLD
The Backyard: 890 W. Grant Road, at Fairview
Popular items include tosti-esquite (Tostitos, corn, cheese mayo and butter). Need we say more?
EEGEE’S
Over 26 locations in the Tucson area, eegees.com
It would be a crime not to include Eegee’s on the list. A certifiable Tucson classic, its grinders and slushies never miss. Plus, every month, there’s a new limited-time flavor of the month.
EL GUERO CANELO RESTAURANT
5201 S. 12th Avenue, 520-295-9005, elguerocanelo.com
Finally, a place with mind-blowing Sonoran-style hot dogs makes the list. For just under $5, money is still left over for weed.
ESPRESSOUL CAFÉ - COFFEE TRUCK
The Backyard: 890 W. Grant Road, at Fairview, Instagram: @espressoul_cafe
This female-owned coffee truck pours “Persian passion into every cup.” Drink up!
FRYBREAD ON THE WEEKENDS AT MISSION SAN XAVIER DEL BAC
1950 W. San Xavier Road, 520-294-2624
Fry bread may just be the ultimate stoner food. It comes savory with beef, tomatoes, cheese and lettuce, or sweet with honey, sugar and cinnamon. The
fact that this fry bread is at the San Xavier Mission located at the San Xavier reservation, part of the Tohono O’odham Nation, means that not only is the food authentic as hell, but that it can also be enjoyed after visiting the over 230-yearold chapel.
JERRY BOB’S
1325 Duval Mine Road, 520-399-2500, jerrybobs.com
Jerry Bob’s is the de facto diner in the area not only for its friendliness but its solid clubs and soup of the day.
KARICHIMAKA
5252 S. Mission Road, 520-883-0311
Rounding out Southern Tucson, this spot can proudly brag about its jaw-dropping chimichangas and chorizo. Family owned since 1949, this gem is perfect for a meal — high or sober.
LA ESTRELLA BAKERY INC.
5266 S. 12th Avenue, 520-741-0656, laestrellabakeryincaz.com
Moving down to South Tucson, La Estrella Bakery Inc. deserves respect. Munchies of the sweet and savory variety are no match here; it offers tamales and tortillas and hebillas and pan fino.
facebook.com/theserenekitchen
Variety is key at this Black-owned delivery service, which boasts THC-infused desserts, delivery and the occasional pop-up event. Contact its Facebook page for more information.
SUSHI KITO
5650 S. 12th Avenue, Suite 180, Tucson
The Backyard: 890 W. Grant Road, at Fairview
sushi-kito-restaurant.business.site
Sushi Kito doesn’t mess around. The menu looks simple, but it’s really anything but.
TUMERICO
2526 E. Sixth Street; 402 E. Fourth Avenue, 520-240-6947, 520-392-022, tumerico.com
Featuring vegan and vegetarian options with a Latin influence, Tumerico is well known for its Instagram-worthy dishes.
RICURAS DE VENEZUELA: AREPAS & MORE - FOOD TRUCK
The Backyard: 890 W. Grant Road, at Fairview, ricurasdevenezuela.com
Satisfy those Venezuelan food cravings with Ricuras de Venezuela, which boasts a healthy lineup of arepas, cachapas and empanadas.
SERENE KITCHEN
Food delivery and catering, 520-534-6542,
VIVA BURRITO COMPANY
1372 W. St. Marys Road
The Backyard: 890 W. Grant Road, at Fairview 520-623-5211, vivaburritoco.com
Open 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays, Viva Burrito offers meals based on age-old culinary recipes. When you have the munchies, it comes down to speed. Viva Burrito serves quickly.
HIGH IN THE DESERT: CANNABIS, MUSIC AND FOOD
By Evan Maharry Tucson Weekly Staff
Cannabis, music and food are colliding during High in the Desert this 420 at the MSA Annex concert grounds, the first open-consumption cannabis fest in Tucson.
The doors will open at 2:30 p.m. to artists such as famed hip-hop musician Grieves, local six-piece act Desert Fish and reggae headliner Iyaterra, with food overseen by a menagerie of vendors and trucks.
“It’s about crossing different platforms as far as cannabis, food and music goes and sharing those platforms with each other’s followers,” said Louis Franco, co-creator of the event and music industry veteran. “We’ll have 1,200 people open for cannabis consumption.”
Tickets start at $55. The event is as much a ticketed experience for people to get high and have fun as it is for people to network and meet others in the industry, Franco said.
Plus, the samples given away total quite a lot — around $150 to $200 if you hit all the spots, according to him.
“Nothing is for sale in there, everything is sampled,” he said. “Our goal is for cannabis to be the focus, with everything supporting that. It, of course, goes both ways, though, because cannabis and the culture surrounding it lifts its surroundings up.”
The event is the result of Franco getting pulled into the cannabis industry during the pandemic, years after working in the live music industry.
REGGAE HEADLINER IYATERRA WILL PERFORM AT HIGH IN THE DESERT, TUCSON'S FIRST OPEN-CONSUMPTION CANNABIS FEST. (SUBMITTED)
With co-creator Shane Reiser, the owner of Tucson Foodie, he found the perfect match for a new event.
“I wanted to explore the intersection of food and … other things” Reiser said slyly. “Food and cannabis are linked.”
Even if weed isn’t one’s thing, it could be argued that the food at the event alone will provide all one needs, Reiser said.
Additionally, he said there will be open vendors of THC adjacent things such as CBD and merchandise at the grounds for people to enjoy.
VIP tickets include access to stageside VIP tented area, free food and
drinks, and exclusive sponsor gifts.
“We’ve been on a mission. We both had an idea to do an open-consumption festival, which Tucson has never done. We’re trying to tap into our community,” Reiser said. “Tucson is my home. I want to share the things I love with it.”
High in the Desert
WHEN: 2:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20
WHERE: MSA Annex, 267 S. Avenida del Convento, Tucson
COST: Tickets start at $55 INFO: eventbrite.com
THE STATE OF CANNABIS
Meet the heavy hitters in the industry
By Jimmy Magahern Tucson Weekly Contributor
Vicky Puchi runs one of Tucson's original and very successful marijuana dispensaries. Puchi, a Tucson business owner, grew up in Nogales. When asked about hemp, Puchi said nowadays no one is growing industrial hemp for rope and plastics anymore. “They’re basically breeding the cannabis plant to make CBD, with a very low level of THC, and the value of hemp has gone down, from a couple thousand dollars (revenue per acre) to maybe $300," she said.
Puchi could easily get into that game, as indeed too many operators already have (hence the lowered value of the crop, due to an excess biomass of flower and leaves). Instead, the owner of Earth’s Healing is still Tucson’s sole woman-owned and family-run chain of marijuana dispensaries.
“The problem with hemp is that it’s
not regulated, and that’s creating some problems,” Puchi said. “Regulations are good when you’re dealing with this type of product.”
Ironically, hemp — once considered the one legitimate agricultural commodity of the cannabis plant, used for making everything from textiles and plastics to car floorboards and livestock feed — is now the bad guy in the never-ending battle to fully legitimize the commercial marijuana industry.
Since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized the production of extracted cannabinoids, or CBD oil, from the hemp plant as long as the product contained a concentration of 0.3% or less of the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, a glut of opportunistic operators has rushed into the field. By 2020, 48% of farmers surveyed by Whitney Economics, which tracks the cannabis industry,
AND CONTEMPORARY DISPENSING ROOM.
(EARTH'S HEALING/SUBMITTED)
EARTH'S HEALING'S STATE-OF-THE-ART SOUTH LOCATION ON BENSON HIGHWAY.
(EARTH'S HEALING/ SUBMITTED)
said they were already reporting leftover inventory, with wholesale prices dropping from $40 per biomass pound in 2018 to $2.50 or less only two years later — even as the CBD field overall exploded into a $2 billion industry.
To rise above the fray, some hemp farmers began focusing on extracting from the plant a chemical compound known as Delta-8-THC — only slightly chemically different from Delta 9, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, but not explicitly outlawed by federal law.
“That created a sort of loophole that allowed for hemp products with high levels of synthetic THC and other cannabinoids to be sold at any retailers, like smoke shops or gas stations, who choose to sell these products,” said Adriana Tysenn-Asnani, director of compliance for Downtown Dispensary and its recently opened second location D2, considered Arizona’s largest dispensary and the first in Tucson to feature a drive-thru window.
“And the worst part is, there’s no age verification, there’s no testing to ensure that their product doesn’t have heavy metals or pesticides or residual solvents, and there’s no packaging restrictions,” Tysenn-Asnani said. “So they’re free to package the products in ways that could resemble or imitate food or drink brands and market it towards children. They don’t have those rules in place that we do.”
Those are the products we see splashed across the evening news: CBD gummies laced with synthetic THC, packaged like Skittles or Sour Patch Kids, sending kids to the hospital with respiratory depression and psychomotor impairments. Dispensary operators say it’s these rogue fabricators of hopped-up hemp, overseen only by the state’s Department of Agriculture rather than by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, which oversees dispensaries, who are giving their business a bad name.
“The issue is they’re not being regulated at all,” said Matt Cerepanya, marketing manager at The Prime Leaf, a Tucson dispensary that prides itself on its community engagement. “So the packaging isn’t being enforced like it is with the cannabis industry, and it’s being marketed as a recreational product to underage customers. There are hospitalizations, there’s been a lot of people with adverse reactions, because the products contain cannabinoids that haven’t been studied properly.
“It’s a bad reflection on our industry,” Cerepanya added. “And it sets back all the strides that we’ve made over the last few years to put in regulations to make it a safe and responsible business.”
Even though dispensaries today may seem an accepted part of any suburban neighborhood, respectfully sharing
EARTH'S HEALING SOUTH BOASTS A SPACIOUS
corner retail spaces with Starbucks and Chipotle franchises, the cannabis industry still faces roadblocks other businesses don’t, in terms of limited trade, tax implications, and restrictions on financing.
“The biggest one is banking,” Cerepanya said. “Obviously, with marijuana still being federally illegal, any bank that’s FDIC-insured has a hesitancy to work with anyone in the cannabis industry. I mean, it’s not as bad as it was. When I first got into the industry, if you were just working at a dispensary as a front-line employee, you weren’t allowed to have a bank account. If the bank found out where you worked, they’d shut down your account and you’d have to go pick up a check with the balance — that would happen all the time. So we were all bouncing from bank to bank.
D2, CONSIDERED ARIZONA’S LARGEST DISPENSARY, IS ALSO THE FIRST IN TUCSON TO FEATURE A DRIVE-THRU WINDOW. (D2/SUBMITTED)
posed by Republican state Sen. Sonny Borrelli from Lake Havasu City. The legislation aims to keep the regulation of all hemp-derived products under the Arizona Department of Agriculture, including those that contain Delta-8 THC, allowing for their continued sale in stores without a medical or recreational dispensary license.
COMICS
“Now there are local credit unions that will work with us, and it’s not too much of an issue,” Cerepanya continued. “Still, when I went to purchase a house last year, getting a mortgage approved was very difficult. It took about six attempts with different companies, just because of the industry that I work in and the risk involved.”
Tysenn-Asnani hopes the passage of certain legislative bills — and the defeat of others — may help the cannabis industry regain its footing.
She’s against Senate Bill 1271, pro-
Borrelli has lobbied for the bill using the catchphrase “rope, not dope,” insisting that “hemp is part of the cannabis family, but it is not the intoxicant that a lot of folks like to go for,” and dismissing the opposition from dispensary owners as a “turf war” between them and CBD shops.
But those opposing the bill, including the director of the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center, say that not regulating the synthetic byproducts of hemp-derived products like Delta-8 could result in a public health crisis.
“This goes beyond a threat to our industry,” Tysenn-Asnani said. “I think this is a really big threat to our community and our children.”
She and other dispensary owners are in favor, however, of another piece of legislation: Senate Bill 1466, which would expand the list of qualifying conditions for medical cannabis to include post-traumatic stress disorder and autism spectrum disorder, and also lower the cost of the treatment. At press time,
the bill has already passed the Senate and received approval from the Health and Human Services Committee.
“One of the things that the bill proposes is the reduction of medical marijuana card costs to $50 (down from the current fee of $150) with renewals every two years, and 100% waiver of medical marijuana card costs to veterans.”
Tysenn-Asnani believes such changes could persuade more recreational users to go the medical route, driving more traffic to licensed dispensaries where only THC and CBD products that have been lab-tested and approved can be sold. The change could also potentially reverse the steady decline in sales Arizona’s medical cannabis industry has been experiencing since state-licensed sales of recreational cannabis launched in January 2021. By late 2022, medical marijuana sales in Arizona were at $31 million, while recreational sales were close to $74 million.
Puchi stressed that reducing the cost
of medical marijuana cards would save customers money. “They’re paying 20% more in taxes for recreational, because the state is taking a good chunk of their money for the excise tax,” she said. “With the card being cheaper to get, we’re hoping more people will go get a license to buy medical cannabis.”
That might also restore some respect to her industry, which she says has been damaged by so many unscrupulous and unregulated Delta-8 diggers wriggling in through the CDB door. Puchi’s Earth’s Healing dispensaries is a family business, with her daughter and son working side by side with mom behind the weed counter.
“Oh, you have no idea the judgmental comments that I got from people when they knew I was applying for this business, knew that my kids would be working with me!” Puchi said with a laugh. “It was not fun, but times have changed, and hopefully they will keep changing in a positive direction.”
By
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
Go to RealAstrology.com to check out
EXPANDED WEEKLY HOROSCOPE 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700 $1.99 per minute. 18 and over. Touchtone phone required.
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL
19)
I hope that in the coming weeks, you will keep your mind bubbling with zesty mysteries. I hope you’ll exult in the thrill of riddles that are beyond your current power to solve. If you cultivate an appreciation of uncanny uncertainties, life will soon begin bringing you uncanny certainties. Do you understand the connection between open-hearted curiosity and fertile rewards? Don’t merely tolerate the enigmas you are immersed in — love them!
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY
20)
An old sadness is ripening into practical wisdom. A confusing loss is about to yield a clear revelation you can use to improve your life. In mysterious ways, a broken heart you suffered in the past may become a wild card that inspires you to deepen and expand your love. Wow and hallelujah, Taurus! I’m amazed at the turnarounds that are in the works for you. Sometime in the coming weeks, what wounded you once upon a time will lead to a vibrant healing. Wonderful surprise!
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20)
What is the true and proper symbol for your sign, Gemini? Twins standing shoulder to shoulder as they gaze out on the world with curiosity? Or two lovers embracing each other with mischievous adoration in their eyes? Both scenarios can accurately represent your energy, depending on your mood and the phase you’re in. In the coming weeks, I advise you to draw on the potency of both. You will be wise to coordinate the different sides of your personality in pursuit of a goal that interests them all. And you will also place yourself in harmonious alignment with cosmic rhythms as you harness your passionate urge to merge in a good cause.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22)
Some scientists speculate that more people suffer from allergies than ever before because civilization has over-sanitized the world. The fetish for scouring away germs and dirt means
that our immune systems don’t get enough practice in fending off interlopers. In a sense, they are “bored” because they have too little to do. That’s why they fight stuff that’s not a threat, like tree pollens and animal dander. Hence, we develop allergies to harmless substances. I hope you will apply this lesson as a metaphor in the coming weeks, fellow Cancerian. Be sure the psychological component of your immune system isn’t warding off the wrong people and things. It’s healthy for you to be protective, but not hyper-overprotective in ways that shut out useful influences.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22)
One night in 1989, Leo evolutionary biologist Margie Profet went to sleep and had a dream that revealed to her new information about the nature of menstruation. The dream scene was a cartoon of a woman’s reproductive system. It showed little triangles being carried away by the shed menstrual blood. Eureka! As Profet lay in bed in the dark, she intuited a theory that no scientist had ever guessed: that the sloughed-off uterine lining had the key function of eliminating pathogens, represented by the triangles. In subsequent years, she did research to test her idea, supported by studies with electron microscopes. Now her theory is regarded as fact. I predict that many of you Leos will soon receive comparable benefits. Practical guidance will be available in your dreams and twilight awareness and altered states. Pay close attention!
VIRGO
(AUG. 23-SEPT. 22)
You don’t know what is invisible to you. The truths that are out of your reach may as well be hiding. The secret agendas you are not aware of are indeed secret. That’s the not-so-good news, Virgo. The excellent news is that you now have the power to uncover the rest of the story, at least some of it. You will be able to penetrate below the surface and find buried riches. You will dig up
missing information whose absence has prevented you from understanding what has been transpiring. There may be a surprise or two ahead, but they will ultimately be agents of healing.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22)
Visionary philosopher Buckminster Fuller referred to pollution as a potential resource we have not yet figured out how to harvest. A company called Algae Systems does exactly that. It uses wastewater to grow algae that scrub carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and yield carbon-negative biofuels. Can we invoke this approach as a metaphor that’s useful to you? Let’s dream up examples. Suppose you’re a creative artist. You could be inspired by your difficult emotions to compose a great song, story, painting or dance. Or if you’re a lover who is in pain, you could harness your suffering to free yourself of a bad old habit or ensure that an unpleasant history doesn’t repeat itself. Your homework, Libra, is to figure out how to take advantage of a “pollutant” or two in your world.
SCORPIO
(OCT. 23-NOV. 21)
Soon you will graduate from your bumpy lessons and enter a smoother, silkier phase. You will find refuge from the naysayers as you create a liberated new power spot for yourself. In anticipation of this welcome transition, I offer this motivational exhortation from poet Gwendolyn Brooks: “Say to them, say to the down-keepers, the sun-slappers, the self-soilers, the harmony-hushers, ‘Even if you are not ready for day, it cannot always be night.’” I believe you are finished with your worthwhile but ponderous struggles, Scorpio. Get ready for an excursion toward luminous grace.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21)
I periodically seek the counsel of a Sagittarian psychic. She’s half-feral and sometimes speaks in riddles. She tells me she occasionally converses by phone with a person she calls “the exprime minister of Narnia.” I confided in her that lately it has been a challenge for me to keep up with you Sagittarians because you have been expanding beyond the reach of my concepts.
She gave me a pronouncement that felt vaguely helpful, though it was also a bit over my head: “The Archer may be quite luxuriously curious and furiously hilarious; studiously lascivious and victoriously delirious; salubriously industrious but never lugubriously laborious.” Here’s how I interpret that: Right now, pretty much anything is possible if you embrace unpredictability.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19)
“I’m not insane,” Capricorn actor Jared Leto says. “I’m voluntarily indifferent to conventional rationality.” That attitude might serve you well in the coming weeks. You could wield it to break open opportunities that were previously closed due to excess caution. I suspect you’re beginning a fun phase of self-discovery when you will learn a lot about yourself. As you do, I hope you will experiment with being at least somewhat indifferent to conventional rationality. Be willing to be surprised. Be receptive to changing your mind about yourself.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18)
People of all genders feel urges to embellish their native beauty with cosmetic enhancements. I myself haven’t done so, but I cheer on those who use their flesh for artistic experiments. At the same time, I am also a big fan of us loving ourselves exactly as we are. And I’m hoping that in the coming weeks, you will emphasize the latter over the former. I urge you to indulge in an intense period of maximum self-appreciation. Tell yourself daily how gorgeous and brilliant you are. Tell others, too! Cultivate a glowing pride in the gifts you offer the world. If anyone complains, tell them you’re doing the homework your astrologer gave you.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20)
I encourage you to amplify the message you have been trying to deliver. If there has been any shyness or timidity in your demeanor, purge it. If you have been less than forthright in speaking the whole truth and nothing but the truth, boost your clarity and frankness. Is there anything you could do to help your audience be more receptive? Any tenderness you could express to stimulate their willingness and ability to see you truly?
Rob Brezsny.
Rob Brezsny’s
ACROSS
1 Fallout from a hex, perhaps
8 Some ceremonial garments
13 Philosopher known as the “Father of Thomism”
14 Commonly farmed fish
16 Channel through a barrel
17 Annual Roman Catholic service for members of the legal profession
18 Tesla and Toyota 19 Brother
21 Dissenting groups
22 Dark ___
23 Buildings in bad standing?
25 Syngman of Korean politics
26 Director DaCosta of “Candyman,” 2021
27 Last resort for a locksmith
29 Coyote crusher in cartoons
31 Inspiration for some fashion lines?
32 Some menthols
34 Unhealthy blankets
36 Toasted
38 “Here comes the fight!”
40 Jam producers?
44 Suggestion, in brief
46 Superman’s mother
47 Some mixers
48 Pitted fruit
49 Build up
51 Sound that might follow a buzz
52 Posh shopping district of Tokyo
53 Court order
55 Some hair dressings
57 Used car business
58 Abbott known for her “Treasure Island” and “Grimm’s Fairy Tales” illustrations
59 Gossip
60 Firecracker personalities
Some retractable window shades
Capitulates
y
1 Intermediary in illicit transactions 2 Glass houses?
