Rolen Stone Farms Cultivate Your Mind
Rolen Stone Farms has blossomed into an ever growing business, with dedication from every person involved. Each of us thrive to bring you the best quality ower there is out there. We believe in purity of our products. Which is why we are a 100% organic company. Using a multitude of sustainable ingredients from the Oregon Coast and our land. We hope to inspire you all to cultivate your minds and follow us along the way! Check out our website, Rolenstonefarms.com and Instagram (@rolenstonefarms) get yourself some gear to represent or simply check out what goes on behind the scenes!
PHOTO BY GYPSY JANE PHOTOGRAPHY
CONTENTS
departments 8 12 14 SUPPLIER: CHRONICLES 420 GEAR
POTLIGHT
Ananda Farm
38 42 44
STRAIN REPORT CBD OF THE MONTH RECIPES
columns 6 By John Oliver
FROM THE PUBLISHER
features
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HIGH INTENTIONS
Business conference looks ahead to cannabis industry’s future
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THE ROYAL REVIEW
Modern condition asks us to reclaim humanity
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DEEP THOUGHTS
16 | 20 | WHO IS THE ‘MAN’ BEHIND THE CURTAIN? HEMP IS ON A HIGH 22 | POT’S PROGRESS AND POTENTIAL
Growth of CBD products from hemp outpaces those from marijuana
26 |
CURATING CANNABIS COMMUNITY Tokeativity offers a globally inspired experience for women
30 | IN THE BAG FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE 34 |
Primo Farms’ new strains spur successful harvest Cannabis Collaborative Conference builds ‘model state’
By Samantha Myers
By Reece Watson
By Leaf Barret
WILD ROGUE PREMIUM CANNABIS OIL C02 EXTRACT! NO ADDITIVES! FOR THE CANNABIS CANNASSEUR IN YOU. (510) 520-1683 | EXTRACTED IN WHITE CITY, OREGON
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PUBLISHER
PUBletter Fall for family The holidays are upon us, and with that comes the gift that keeps on giving. No, it’s not a subscription to the Jelly of the Month Club, although that would be awesome if anyone is considering getting me a gift this year … The gift of which I am speaking, of course, is family: the drunkard Uncle Fred who still likes to play “pull my finger” with your wife. And of course, we all have that loner aunt who lives in a bus down by the river … Or perhaps, you’re that loner aunt. When I was a young lad, I had an uncle, Ron, who was the family jokester. From Whoopee Cushions to really bad, offbeat jokes that would either silence a room or fill it entirely with bursting laughter, you just never knew what Uncle Ron would come up with next. The best part of my uncle’s humor is its legacy: me! Because I was an only child with him as a role model for most my childhood life, that same dumbass humor rubbed off on me!
John Oliver john@wammediallc.com EDITOR IN CHIEF
S.J. Clelland editor@wammediallc.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Dara Fowler dara@wammediallc.com WEB DESIGN
Brandon Mertz webmaster@wammediall.com PHOTOGRAPHY Kristina Stickler John Oliver Liz Gilbert CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Leaf Barret, S.J. Clelland, Becky Garrison, Andrew Mount, Samantha Myers, Ferdinand Ruplin, Reece Watson and Miranda Weigler
So everything you read by me that’s ever inappropriate, or you just don’t get, it’s all Uncle Ron’s fault! Any and all political correctness — long gone! My filter fell off in the ’80s. Maybe the fact that he was on the local news with his own segment, called “Viewpoint,” ensured that I became so darn opinionated … Or maybe I just enjoy it!
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My uncle passed away this year unexpectedly, and yesterday was his birthday. I never got to see him before he passed, so regardless of who you are, where you’re from or who your family is, this is the one time of year when we all have a chance to spend time together with the ones we love, either just to hang out, mend fences or prepare to say goodbye. Whatever your reasons, maybe this is the time of year when the only thing that should matter to you is yours.
Southern Oregon Mike Shepard | 541-261-7498 mike@wammediallc.com
Happy Harvest Season, as well, to all the hardworking farmers out there! Enjoy some of their stories in this issue.
National | Oregon John Oliver | 704-877-0681 john@wammediallc.com
JOHN OLIVER – CEO KENNETH TODD – CFO JOHN K. BOY – US VETERAN LIAISON
© 2018 All rights reserved WAM Media, LLC. All material is copywritten and subject to approval before being reproduced. Weed Aficionado is a free publication dedicated to education of all things cannabis; for Oregon by Oregonians.
Regards,
John Oliver – Publisher
@weedaficionado @weedaficionado @waficionadomag
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Cultivators of exotic premium cannabis from the Islands
At Bryan Family Gardens our world is a creative, conscious, and kind place. We nuture our plants with intention and love. We bring decades of collective experience as stewards of the land to deliver products that are fully organic and pesticide free. Here we curate and craft one of a kind rare heirloom varietals of legend. Please check our website for locations carrying our products or give us a call to purchase.
www.bryanfamilygardens.com #bryanfamilygardens 541-788-1855
THE
Chronicles WORLD NEWS
Canada legalizes recreational cannabis Law change likened to end of U.S. Prohibition Canada became the first major world economy to legalize recreational marijuana, beginning a national experiment that will alter the country’s social, cultural and economic fabric while presenting the nation with its biggest public-policy challenge in decades. Across the country, as government pot retailers opened from Newfoundland to British Columbia, jubilant Canadians waited for hours in line to buy the first stateapproved joints. For many, it was a seminal moment, akin to the ending of Prohibition in the United States in the 1930s.
NHL takes lead again on marijuana front Cannabis cited as potent player painkiller By Kevin Allen and Erik Brady — USA TODAY
Recreational use of marijuana is now legal in Canada. The National Hockey League has the most lenient pot policies of North America’s major team sports. But those facts, taken together, do not add up to Hockey Night in Cannabis. That pipe dream may come to pass, if Glenn Healy gets his way. He’s executive director of the NHL Alumni Association, and he hopes certain compounds of cannabis can become a better painkiller than dangerous opioids for former players. Healy said his organization is working with two neurologists to study whether such compounds are safe. “Give me the science first — and last — because you can’t refute science,” Healy told USA TODAY. “You can disagree with me on politics or whether you like bagpipes, but you can’t disagree on science.” The NHL tests for cannabis but doesn’t apply penalties for positive results. When a significant amount is detected, players are referred to a behavioral health program, rather than being suspended or fined. Meanwhile, multiple infractions can lead to suspensions in the National Football League and National Basketball Association and fines in major league baseball. “We still consider marijuana a drug of abuse,” said NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly. “And our program allows for intervention in appropriate cases.” NHL Players’ Association spokesman Andrew Wolfe said by email, “We are going to respectfully decline comment.”
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Healy said he regularly hears from the wives, children and teammates of former players who have lost themselves to the thrall of opioid painkillers. Sometimes he hears from the ex-players themselves. “I’ve had players call me and say, ‘I wish you knew me when I was me,’ ” Healy said. “That’s hard to hear.” Proponents of cannabis say while opioids are synthetic, marijuana is a natural plant. They say cannabidiol, or CBD, is a cannabis compound that offers relief from inflammation and pain as a non-addictive alternative to opiates. Healy said he hopes CBD can someday safely replace opioids for pain management.
THE
Chronicles STATE NEWS
U.S. ATTORNEY FOR OREGON TAPPED TO LEAD NATIONAL MARIJUANA PANEL Committee leader has criticized legalization Source: The Oregonian/OregonLive
The U.S. Attorney for Oregon has been named chairman of the U.S. Attorney General’s marijuana working group, a panel made up of federal prosecutors from states where cannabis is legal. Billy Williams will lead the 16-member committee, which examines marijuana enforcement and other issues related to legalization nationwide. The committee is a longstanding one that predates the Trump administration. Williams, a longtime federal prosecutor, has been an outspoken critic of Oregon’s approach to marijuana legalization. He has pushed Oregon officials to do more to tighten the flow of marijuana into the black market.
Registered medical marijuana patients dropping fast in Oregon State’s program cut in half within a year Medical marijuana patients and growers across the state are abandoning the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program. Long considered a source of Oregon’s black market, medical marijuana is fast falling victim to a combination of red tape and a different kind of market force: the convenience of recreational retail sales. “Medical could officially have a gravestone,” said Kit Doyle, who formerly sold medical marijuana but switched to hemp products through his business, the Murphy Hemp Co. The number of patients registered with the program is half of what it was a year ago. Statewide it dropped 41 percent, from 59,137 to 34,892. The number of registered growers also dropped precipitously. Statewide it went from 23,175 to 13,959 — a reduction of nearly 40 percent.
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Quality Craft Cannabis Products
ABOVE ANYTHING ELSE
Small batch. Cured Craft. Single Origin.
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420gear
HARVEST 2018 EDITION 2
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1 | VIAGROW DRYING RACK: The Viagrow collapsible herb-drying rack is the perfect accessory for drying plants in any space for any application. This lightweight, open-air drying rack comes with six (35-inch-diameter) detachable levels that collapse neatly when not in use for storage inside the accompanying zip-up carrying bag. To assemble, simply unfold the drying-rack levels to their full dimensions then connect the six levels for nearly 6 feet of vertical drying space. These units are perfect for a closet space or a grow tent. 2 | CANNABOX: CannaBox Containers provide licensed growers with turn-key, modular solutions for every stage of cultivation. CannaBox Containers saw a problem in the industry: hefty startup costs, lengthy on-site construction periods and difficult permitting processes. So CannaBox Containers strives to bring growers the most costeffective, time-sensitive, code-compliant facility solutions
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on the market. 3 | PYRAMEX HIGHLANDER PLUS SAFETY GOGGLES: These new gems are made from polycarbonate lenses that provide 99-percent protection against harmful ultraviolent rays. The resilient, durable frame features an extended, side-shield design that affords full eye protection from impact and flying particles, like WEED. The fully adjustable, elastic strap with quick release attaches to the temples for a secure fit. The indirectly vented foam carriage furnishes maximum dust protection with sufficient airflow, providing an outlet for heat to reduce fogging. 4 | TRIMINATOR DRY TRIMMER: The Triminator Dry was born of necessity for a trimmer that could trim faster, cut closer and run longer without cleaning. Focusing exclusively on the rigorous demands of commercial growers and trim crews, engineers reimagined the Triminator from the ground up. The result is the most technologically advanced trimmer on
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earth. Its progressive, patent-pending design is built entirely from industrial-grade components, ensuring a lifetime of speed and precision. 5 | TESLA SEMI: For those who grow a lot of herb and want to transport themselves in style, we give you the Tesla Semi! The Tesla Semi can accelerate from 0 to 60 in five seconds, without cargo, and in 20 seconds with a full 80,000-pound load, more than twice as fast as a traditional diesel truck. The Semi also can traverse a 5-percent gradient at 65 mph, compared with 45 mph for diesel trucks. This is all powered by the truck’s four independent electric motors. 6 | ZENPORT TRIMMING SCISSORS: Zenport scissors’ soft grip and carbon steel are designed for efficient harvesting. These bad boys have a comfort grip to make your job a little
easier. Useful in numerous other horticulture applications, the 6 1/2-inch blades make a great addition to any trimming task. 7 | GRASSHOPPER 4.20: The Grasshopper Extractor 4.20 uses liquid Co2 to flash-freeze instead of relying on the Grasshopper Extractor’s crushed, dry ice. Because liquid Co2 freezes plant material in 30 seconds, the Grasshopper Extractor 4.20 can process up to 1 pound of dry plant material in as few as five minutes, generating pure kief with yields up to 25 percent after two runs. Such speedy freezing allows for processing up to 6 pounds of plant material in just one hour.. 8 | KNOCKBOX 2: The new Knockbox 2 by Futurola still comes at a hefty price tag, but it will fill 100 joints in two minutes as promised, making your harvest just that much faster. Fill 100 pre-rolled cones in two minutes with the Futurola Knockbox 2. Please note that the Knockbox Standard is not compatible with Futurola’s Reefer Size Pre Rolled Conesr.
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POTlight
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Ananda F arms Fluent in the language of cannabis cultivation, Ananda Farms clearly defines the “three T’s” of its operation while alluding to loftier goals in the origins of its name. WAM sat down with Ananda’s Erik Leib for a one-on-one tutorial on the farm’s history, business model and values that set it apart from others in Southern Oregon. WAM: Where is Ananda Farms located, and why is that significant to the quality the brand represents? LEIB: In the heart of the Siskiyou mountain range, in the Applegate Valley town of Williams, you will find Ananda Farms. As the crow files, that is approximately 55 miles east of the coast and 15 miles north of the California border. This unique location and environment provide a special microclimate that produces some of the highest-quality cannabis not only in Oregon but internationally. This lush environment with beautiful, green forests is very conducive to a vast assortment of plant and animal life. Pristine sources of air and water, along with hot, dry summers, provide a longer growing season, among other benefits. WAM: How did Ananda Farms come to exist in Oregon’s recreational market? LEIB: I moved to Williams in 1999 and started cultivating medical cannabis in 2001. For 11 years (the last four as farm manager), I was involved in farming operations for the largest culinary and medicinal tincture company. Here, I learned how to grow and maintain over 50 different botanicals for essential-oil and therapeutic compounds. Providing large quantities of exceptional-quality, finished leaf, flower and root of each cultivar was a similar goal then, as it is now. This experience, my love for all plants and dedication to cannabis paved the way for Ananda Farms. When Oregon decided to open the application process for recreational licensing in 2015, I decided that I wanted to be one of the first names in the hat. We submitted a full application on Jan. 1, 2016, and were able to acquire one of the first 50 producer licenses in time for a full-season crop within the same year. WAM: What does the name Ananada Farms represent, or to what does it refer? LEIB: “Ananda (a-NAN-da)” is a Sanskrit word that translates to “an extreme happiness or bliss, one of the highest states of being.” Anandamide is a neurotransmitter produced in the brain that binds to endocannabinoid receptors in the body’s nervous system. I love cannabis, and it is very clear to me that my purpose is to cultivate edible and medicinal plants for nutrition and well-being. When consumed, Ananda Farms flowers and derivative products carry with them my dedication to craft cultivation, the terroir of this special land it is grown on and the genuine care of the crew that produces it.
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WAM: Who is head grower and how many employees does Ananda Farms have? LEIB: As head grower, I am on the farm working side by side with our crew every day. I currently employ four on-site crew members. I love being involved with every aspect from selecting genetics to deciding on when and how to harvest and every detail of the drying, curing and handling of finished flower. Maintaining consistency in all of these phases is what I am here to do. WAM: What makes being an employee of Ananda Farms different than the stereotypical cannabis-industry employee? LEIB: Luckily, the folks who work here have arrived organically through friendships and colleagues, and they all want to be here and are very passionate and excited about their involvement. They are local residents who have been here since the beginning and have plans to remain. Ananda Farms provides living wages and paid holidays in conjunction with workers compensation insurance. The farm is inspected by the Occupation Safety and Health Administration, and they have to attend the proper safety meetings in accordance with that. We have sought to be covered just like any other agricultural farm in Oregon. So I would say consistency and true love for growing medicine. WAM: How do you evaluate the genetics that you choose? LEIB: They have to be strains I love to smoke; that comes first. Second, they must be of the highest-quality genetics from reputable breeders. Third, they must inherently be healthy and vigorous plants. Fourth, each cultivar needs to grow well on our specific piece of land, taking into account seasonal fluctuations of weather and daylight hours. WAM: What do “tilth,” “terroir” and “terpenes” mean? LEIB: I use those “three T’s” to promote our brand. The tilth is the health of the soil. The terroir is where you are growing, what kind of soil you’re growing in, the climate, the water and the geographical location of the farm. The terpenes are compounds that work with cannabinoids to create unique profiles for each strain. On the farm, I have taken the native mountain soil and have built it up with organic matter that increases the biology. We take regular soil tests to balance the minerals necessary for optimal plant health. By applying these practices within this environment, we are able to produce high-quality, cannabinoid- and terpene-rich medicine.
. . . the folks who work here have arrived organically
THROUGH FRIENDSHIPS AND COLLEAGUES, AND THEY ALL WANT TO BE HERE AND ARE VERY PASSIONATE AND EXCITED ABOUT THEIR INVOLVEMENT.
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Business conference looks ahead to cannabis industry’s future
POT’S PROGRESS AND POTENTIAL BY BECKY GARRISON
OREGON HAD YET TO LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL CANNABIS in 2014 when the International Cannabis Business Conference launched in Portland. Fast-forward to September 2018, when ICBC returned to Portland to address changes in the cannabis industry over the past few years. Addressing the conference via video, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) delivered a brief overview of the federal legislative situation. In his estimation: “The time has come for us to change the way our country looks at and deals with cannabis.” Merkley summarized the benefits of legalizing cannabis. “In states that have legalized cannabis, we see more jobs, more tax revenue, fewer arrests and a second chance for individuals convicted of minor drug offenses to have their records expunged and begin a new life.” Merkley has introduced the Safe Banking Act to ensure that legitimate businesses following state cannabis law have the same access to resources and services that every business has. He’s working with Sen. Corey Booker (D-NJ) on the Marijuana Justice Act to decriminalize cannabis, stop disproportionate enforcement of cannabis crimes and give those convicted of past possession crimes a clean slate. Also, he’s a co-sponsor with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on the Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act, a bill that would decriminalize cannabis throughout the country. Following Merkley’s assessment, a panel titled “The Future of Oregon Cannabis” offered an overview of the most pressing issues facing the industry at the statewide level.
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Anthony Johnson of Duff Johnson Consulting pointed to some promising statistics following the passage in 2015 of Measure 91, which legalized recreational cannabis in Oregon. In 2012, 12,808 Oregonians were arrested for cannabis. Last year, only 47 people (16 adults) were arrested with their most serious charge involving cannabis. Also, the Oregon cannabis industry doubled the state’s projection of $40 million in tax revenue, with cannabis sales totaling $80 million last year.
We have hundreds of millions of dollars in local capital that are
AT RISK OF BEING WIPED OUT
“
in the next 12 to 24 months.
EXPORTING OREGON’S CANNABIS BOUNTY In 2017, Oregon Sen. Floyd Prozanski, a democrat, introduced Senate Bill 1042, which authorized the governor to enter into an agreement with another state for purpose of cross-jurisdictional coordination and enforcement of marijuana-related businesses. While this bill made it out of committee, it was not passed into law. Prozanski plans to reintroduce the bill during the 2019 legislative session. With over half of the states now permitting at least some form of legalized cannabis for medicinal use, Prozanski believes the time is right to “pass laws allowing for ground transportation of medical cannabis between these states.” Because air and water transportation are controlled solely by the federal government, transporting cannabis via these means will require a change at the federal level. Adam Smith, executive director of Craft Cannabis Alliance, and Cassie Houlihan, co-founder and executive director of the Oregon Cannabis Retailers Association (ORCA), introduced their joint campaign titled One Fix Cannabis (www.onefixcannabis.org). This venture seeks to legalize licensed, interstate cannabis transfers by the end of 2020. As Smith noted, “Oregon already has a strong, artisan, craft cannabis industry in place and a history of exporting world-class products.” However, as cannabis cannot legally cross state lines even into another state where cannabis is legal, these products remain unsold. “We have hundreds of millions of dollars in local capital that are at risk of being wiped out in the next 12 to 24 months.” This local capital represents thousands of people who have invested all they have in this industry and/or are employed in the local cannabis industry. SOCIAL CONSUMPTION Sam Chapman, founding member of New Revenue Coalition, addressed the legislation they are proposing to allow for social consumption of cannabis similar to alcohol consumption at wineries, distilleries and breweries. They are making the following recommendations: 1. retailers, processors and producers could colocate a consumption venue at their premises; 2. cannabis can be delivered to hotels; 3. cannabis temporary event licenses can be issued similar to licenses issued for events serving alcohol. Also, Chapman notes they are advocating for the exemption of cannabis from the Oregon Indoor Clean Air Act, which prohibits smoking any substance indoors in places including common areas of public housing and rental units. Other issues raised included legislation to eliminate employment discrimination for those who work at jobs where cannabis use is not permitted but choose to partake during their off hours. Also, as the process to expunge cannabis convictions is lengthy and prohibitively expensive, an equitable solution is to automatically expunge these convictions. Because the next full legislative session will not take place until 2021, panelists stressed the need for this legislation to be passed during the upcoming 2019 legislative session, slated to run Jan. 22 through June 30.
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WHO IS THE ‘MAN’ BEHIND Modern condition asks us to reclaim humanity BY ANDREW MOUNT, THE GREEN MAN
IN AN AGE
DOMINATED BY ISSUES OF TOXIC MASCULINITY, DISASTER CAPITALISM AND PATRIARCHY, DO WE NOT SEE THAT THE “MAN” BEHIND THE CURTAIN IS REALLY ALL OF US?
Indeed, the scientific term used to describe this time in geologic history is: the “Anthropocene.” It means that the largest physical force for change on the planet’s surface right now is the whole of humankind. All of us are hominids. All of us are one species. It could genuinely benefit us to start behaving as One. Meanwhile, politics have deteriorated into a “bread and circuses” display of infinite distraction. The “attention economy” has turned everyone into cyborgs seeking virtual validation. Identity politics may have become a tool of diabolical social Darwinists precisely because it divides us against ourselves. And without doubt, we are being served by a false economic dream if everything on Earth is for sale, including the climate and people themselves. So why not see all humans as the culprit in our mind-numbing, soul-crushing, eco-cidal consumerism that surely does all of us a profound disservice? Not to mention the unborn generations who must live under a cloud of uncertainty until the gaps in our models may be bridged with love. Do they not deserve our care and have rights to the same abundance we have inherited from Mother Gaia? Are we not them also? How do we effectively indict ourselves in this unprecedented crime against nature? Shall we conduct a trial? How about it? Let us put ourselves on trial and see what a jury of our peers says about the sociopathic behavior we demonstrate daily. When the Olympian gods overthrew the old order, a time of new coherence and democracy was born, hence the Hellenic model that preceded our own in the United States. Unfortunately, the “man” behind the curtain today is Cronus himself, that last-born of the Titans, who we ourselves have become in the pursuit of ultimate freedom and power. The sad fact is: Freedom is a myth, for we are all in service to one another. Without this basic contract between all beings, there is no society whatsoever. Therefore, freedom is an abstract concept that hinges on our willingness to devote everything to our common cause as humanity itself. When we forget the lessons of history, we have become our own shadow. This global economy is destructive. So why would a supposedly sentient
D THE CURTAIN?
species do this to itself? Could there possibly be a good reason? Is it so we awaken from the continued errors of our past once and for all? Maybe we are just destined to leave the Earth like in the movie “Interstellar,” or are we not indigenous to this place at all? If we do have an indigenous soul, one that loves the Earth, then and only then can we end the patriarchy within ourselves. The drive to acquire material wealth and power is at the root of it. Yes, the Earth can support this dream, but ONLY if everyone is guaranteed an equal share of Earth’s bounty. When Dorothy discovered that a flimflam artist had been causing her so much consternation, she was immediately empowered to realize her hopes. We humans, right now, are exactly in her position. Once we unmask our own fear of being insignificant as a form of self-hypnotism, we then can grant ourselves passage home. The literal meaning of the prefix “eco-” is “home.” As Joni Mitchell said: “We’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden.” A future world of equity and fairness is possible. It may not come right away. It is like a dream that we barely remember upon waking, one clouded by the morass of drama now predominating our attention. Maybe this is a good reason to not watch the news. It is certainly possible that we are being programmed with fear by the mass-media complex and that the “man” behind the curtain is the one telling us we have reason to worry. Yet this could be a very big lie we swallow because we are just little girls from Kansas, not great and powerful wizards. Well, let us dispute this presumption directly. We are powerful. We are possessed of magically creative solutions. We can address the inequities in our culture and ensure a balanced ecology for future generations. Only by accepting the status quo are we acting like Cronus instead of Zeus and his family. We are worried for nothing but our own impotence in the face of forces greater than ourselves. Yet there is no force greater than humankind in the Anthropocene. Remember this: We are the One who can change everything! We don’t even need to click our heels together three times, but only to look in the mirror and see the Wizard as a simple human who himself wants nothing more than to return home.
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Hemp is on a
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Growth of CBD products from hemp outpaces those from marijuana BY BECKY GARRISON
HEMP-DERIVED CBD PRODUCTS are rising more rapidly than marijuana-derived CBD products. It’s a first in the field of all things containing cannabidiol, according to a new report. The CBD industry is slated to grow to $2 billion by 2022, reported New Frontier Data in August. Here are some key findings from its report: • The hemp-derived CBD market in the United States is estimated to grow to $646 million in 2022. • The U.S. marijuana-derived CBD market is estimated to grow to $647 million in 2022. • In 2017, there were over 25,500 acres of hemp grown across 19 states. Of that acreage, 70 percent was for CBD, 20 percent was for seed and 10 percent was for fiber. Read the complete report at www.newfrontierdata.com/ product/cbdreport2018/
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As expected, multinational companies like Constellation Brands (Corona beer and Robert Mondavi wine), Molson Coors, Origins (Estée Lauder) and Coca-Cola are exploring entering the cannabis space to take advantage of this exploding market. But what does the introduction of massmarket companies signify for the future of craft cannabis? During September’s International Cannabis Business Conference in Portland, four industry experts expounded on the basics of CBD and how Oregon’s craft cannabis producers can make their mark in this industry as it explodes. The panel was titled “The ABCs of CBD.” While the terms “hemp” and “cannabis” often are used interchangeably, Cedar Grey, chief executive officer of Siskiyou Sungrown, parsed the multiple definitions of hemp. First, there’s the biological definition of hemp, which falls with all other cannabis into the cannabaceae family (along with hops). As Grey noted, “Most of the variation that we see in cannabis plants throughout the world is due to thousands of years of human cultivation. This has given us a vast array of diversity.” Historically, hemp referred to cultivars of cannabis chosen for fiber production. Grey observed how this has
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been muddied by the legal definition of hemp. “The legal definition of hemp is a cannabis plant that’s certified to be less than 0.3 percent THC and is grown under the proper regulatory framework.” GROWING HEMP CBD VERSUS CANNABIS Oregon has the distinction of having one of the most robust legal hemp programs in the nation, with full production permitted under the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Hemp is viewed in this state as an agricultural product, so growing and processing hemp is not restricted by Oregon Liquor Control Commission regulations governing cannabis. Also, most hemp businesses consider themselves not to be under U.S. Code 26 subsection 280e, which denies cannabis businesses, even operating in states where cannabis is legal, to take advantage of most writeoffs available to legal businesses. “Hemp production under the ODA is infinitely less complex than farming under the OLCC requirements,” said Grey. “This reduced complexity translates to profits and happiness.” Despite this increase in happiness, Justin Tombe of Phytonyx pointed to some of the challenges in the hemp
market. “The infrastructure is not there for expanding, so choices are being made in a vacuum.” If hemp growers want to cure hemp, for example, they can’t rely on the old, tried-and-true methods that cannabis growers use. “You can’t hang 50,000 pounds of dry-weight hemp,” said Tombe. Also, the lack of streamlined federal guidelines makes transporting hemp across state lines tricky. Different states have different regulations regarding what constitutes hemp, and these regulations continue to change. Furthermore, one can face an obstacle such as those facing growers and processors in California when in July 2018, the state banned food products containing CBD. THE 2018 FARM BILL AND HEMP Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), in his video address before ICBC, referenced the inclusion of hemp into the 2018 U.S. Senate Farm Bill. “We need to make sure that hemp products with low THC are not regulated under the Controlled Substance Act. This change was included in the Senate Farm Bill this year.” The 2014 Farm Bill expired this year, and the House and Senate Agriculture Committee
leadership targeted mid-November to finalize the 2018 Farm Bill. In addition, hemp regulations in other countries are undergoing similar shifts, setting the stage for a global explosion of hemp-derived CBD products in the very near future. With mass production of CBD, consumers will need to become educated in order to purchase products that will achieve their desired results.
“Hemp production under the ODA is infinitely less complex ... This reduced complexity translates to profits and happiness.” — CEDAR GREY, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SISKIYOU SUNGROWN
Hemp Handbook —Regulations evolve as market grows BY FERDINAND RUPLIN | GREEN LIGHT LAW GROUP As cannabis prices in Oregon continue to decrease due to oversupply, we are seeing more clients throw their hats into the industrial-hemp arena. The 2014 Farm Bill, which authorized hemp production under certain state research programs, expired in September, but growers and entrepreneurs appear unfazed and see hemp as a lucrative alternative to the marijuana market. The proposed 2018 Farm Bill would take hemp off the Controlled Substances Act and end the federal prohibition on domestic production of hemp and hemp products. The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, however, have not agreed on a uniform version of the bill. Growers should keep in mind that under the 2014 Farm Bill, hemp pilot programs will sunset in 2019. Despite legal uncertainty on the federal level, the amount of hemp production in the United States has increased dramatically, with good reason: Hemp producers can participate in the continuously growing cannabidiol (CBD) market while maintaining lower production and regulatory costs compared with marijuana. In addition, there is no limit on the number of acres or plants that a licensed industrial-hemp producer can grow in Oregon, whereas licensed marijuana growers are limited to about an acre of outdoor grow. By expanding into the hemp market, cannabis companies can diversify their revenue stream and hedge against the overpopulated and hypercompetitive marijuana market. Although the licensing requirements for industrial hemp are more relaxed than Oregon Liquor Control
Commission’s licensing requirements for marijuana, the registration requirements for hemp are constantly evolving. Currently, all businesses that wish to grow or handle industrial hemp are required to obtain a license with the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA). An additional $120 registration is needed for those who want to produce or handle agricultural hemp seed. It is important to note that businesses dealing with hemp seed are obligated to comply with the ODA’s seedlabeling requirements. Another important factor to keep in mind is that all handlers, edible manufacturers and retailers likely need an ODA Food Safety license if the business is making an ingredient to be used in any food or drink, which includes any extracts or concentrates that later will be used in any food, drink or tincture. The ODA has proposed changes to the current law governing hemp, and we should expect to see the new finalized rule in the near future. The proposed changes include, among other things, clarifying important information about licensing registration, additional reporting and record-keeping requirements and a new requirement that anyone transporting industrial hemp must have a copy of their registration and test results. Entering the industrial-hemp market appears to be a worthwhile endeavor, but the regulations and licensing requirements can be complicated. Contact Green Light Law Group at info@gl-lg.com, or call 503-488-5414 to make sure your hemp business is in compliance with the latest regulatory requirements.
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Com
Curating Cannabis
munity
BY BECKY GARRISON
Tokeativity offers a globally inspired experience for women
After 20 years of working in Internet design, 10 years doing feminist
events and meet-ups for bisexual and lesbian women and losing both parents to cancer, Lisa Snyder felt inspired to channel her life’s work into combining her passions for cannabis and women’s empowerment. After several creative cannabis-consumption dinners and vision-boarding experiences with her wife and friends, Snyder felt called to do a cannabis consumption-friendly meet-up geared for women. She went to a networking event where she met Samantha Montanaro, who shared her passion for cannabis events. After sitting on this idea for a year, Snyder pitched her idea for a cannabis meet-up geared for women to Montanaro, who had already been curating similar, smaller gatherings along those lines. With Snyder taking on the role of chief executive officer and Montanaro assuming the chief operating officer position, these two co-founders launched Tokeativity in 2017. Their inaugural event, a workshop on vision-boarding, was held Jan. 15, 2017. With Trump’s inauguration slated to take place five days later, they hoped that by setting intentions in this workshop, women would overcome the fear of the political climate that was about to shift, as well as feel empowered to focus on their own lives and desires. That intention has continued to weave into all events that followed. Currently, their monthly Tokeativity Socials in Portland attract between 100 and 150 women. These themed socials serve a potluck dinner and present opportunities for women-owned and -operated businesses to highlight their wares, a crafts table for women looking to express their creativity and selfcare stations. Healing arts at various socials include reiki (Reiki Says Relax), tarot (Jenna Bowers, The Way Witch), massage (Stonebear Massage) and cannabis meditations by Intuitive Tara Rose.
“Finding spaces that
support and protect
both cannabis consumption and events for women can be challenging.” Samantha Montanaro and Lisa Snyder Photo by Arkady Brown
Among their highlights are such workshops as “Get that F*cking Job,” a how-to on getting into the cannabis industry and “Intro to Action,” their political-events series that collaborates with groups, including the Black Lives Matter movement, to inspire women to get involved in their local government. Another popular program, Canna Mamas hosts canna mamas from their community in a storytelling panel that’s open to all interested women. Through their digital platform, Tokeativity Connect, women can connect globally around the topic of cannabis and hemp. Their membership tiers (basic, community, business) enable women to engage at the level that works for their needs. Among their services are live broadcasts and recorded online classes with such teachers as cannabis science expert Emma Chasen, cannabis horticulturist Erika Winters and CannaSexual Ashley Manta. Their online forums foster discussions on a range of cannabis topics, such as cannabis and motherhood and coming out green. Also, a growing cannabis job board hopes to feature openings in the industry with the intention of creating greater diversity in the cannabis workspace by hiring women — women of color, in particular. According to Snyder, she takes pride in how many women tell them how Tokeativity has changed them. “They felt empowered to do more things in their lives like going for jobs they wouldn’t have gone for, taking actions to start businesses with women they met at Tokeativity or even leaving toxic and abusive relationships.” Also, Snyder observes how Tokeativity helps with the normalization movement. “We have been in many publications, but most recently we were in a surprise Rolling Stone article that came out on 4/20 this year, written by Lauren Yoshiko. And we are in two articles in Marijuana Goes Mainstream, a
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magazine that’s in over 40,000 newsstands across the country now through September. Talk about normalization!” Despite Tokeativity’s exponential growth over the past year and a half, Snyder states their biggest challenges ahead lie in protecting spaces for cannabis and women. “The two are very sensitive, and it takes a lot of energy and effort to protect them. We go above and beyond to help to protect them as best we can with the tools and resources we have. Finding spaces that support and protect both cannabis consumption and events for women can be challenging.” Becca Recker, in sales and marketing for Frogsong Farm, found through Tokeativity a community of progressive women who recognize the health benefits of cannabis. As a craft hemp farm, Frogsong Farm needs allies in the cannabis community. Recker observes, “This is where important conversations about cannabis as medicine are taking place. Folks who understand the complex healing benefits and phytochemistry of cannabis are likely to be advocates for full-spectrum CBD oils. Lisa and Sam have helped us feel supported, boosted our web visibility and, more than anything else, they’ve provided a space to connect, form professional and personal friendships and celebrate plant medicine!” After 70 women from around the world contacted them about starting chapters, they realized there was need for women’s spaces, and they began to host events in other cities. After Women Leaders in Cannabis in Eugene asked about partnering on events, Snyder and Montanaro worked to form a Tokeativity chapter in Eugene. Also, a Seattle chapter launched in September with plans to form chapters in San Diego and Oakland, Calif. Those wishing to connect with Tokeativity can sign up for their invite list at www.tokeativity.com/list
CCC 5.0 FOCUSES ON FURTHER STEPS TO SUCCESS
5.0
5TH ANNUAL CANNABIS COLLABORATIVE CONFERENCE
Cannabis Connex & Investor Lounge- sellers meet buyers, investors, financing, attorneys & CPAs. Learn the VALUE of your business. Consumers want to know more; outreach + education = more sales Meet with isolate, distillate, crude & terpene processors & buyers
JANUARY 23RD 24TH, 2019
Reducing costs and fine tuning your operation = more profit Multi state brand expansion & white labeling
THE PORTLAND EXPO CENTER
2019 ballot- pressing concerns & policy solutions Emerging Markets & Trends
5 YEARS RUNNING CCC was created “For the industry, by the industry” We have followed the rules and navigated through pot holes. We are ready for SUCCESS!
Hemp regulation, distribution & transport state laws
We come together each year with over 2,500 Cannabis Enthusiasts to share ideas, experience, success, build valuable relationships & fine tune your business; all to become profitable and continue legitimizing our industry. Don't Miss Out - Booths Over 50% SOLD!
Mergers, acquisitions & exit strategy
Meet local & national buyers for CBD products Industry specific Technology & Research evolution
Ask the Budtender- what’s selling Expansion & Vertical Integration
“CCC was a smash hit for our business. The many doors that were opened for us to new retailers was invaluable. The revenue boost from these newly formed relationships is undeniable. Being able to display our product was a unique and highly successful way of promoting our business.” - Three Finger Farm DISPLAY PRODUCTS! - View & Smell the Terpenes (Limited vendor display. Deadline: October 15th)
Exhibit, Sponsor & Speaking Opportunities: CCCCON.COM 5038045546 | MARYLOU@CCCCON.COM
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“There’s a lot more to it than people think ... We’ll adapt to the market wherever it is.” 30
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In the Bag Primo Farms’ new strains spur successful harvest BY S.J. CLELLAND
Longtime friends
pitching in for the long haul buoy cannabis growers like Derek Wright through the hectic harvest season. “The cannabis industry has been great to me,” says Wright, adding that he’s made some “really good, personal friends out of the deal.” Harvest commenced the first day of October at Wright’s Primo Farms, a remote tract near Southern Oregon’s Rogue River. After a month of 10- to 14-hour days in the field and warehouse, the final goal was in sight, although still weeks from being realized. With about a quarter of Primo’s plants “in the bag,” the remaining three-quarters had been hung to dry. “We had a big section of plants that were done,” says Wright, explaining that weather and cannabis strain, along with a few other, minor factors determine harvest’s onset. “Everybody rushes in and goes for it,” he says. “As you get closer to the end, the mood kind of lightens again.” The anticipated release of several new strains helps to alleviate some of harvest season’s strain. Sockeye was named by Wright’s farm manager, an avid fisherman. Avalanche is expected to trigger a wave of demand. But Wright’s personal favorite, a “really, really stinky strain,” has a play on words as its moniker, along with a pungent odor. “We’re pretty excited to have a strain called Captain Kush that we bred years ago,” says Wright. “You can smell the plant over the top of other plants.”
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“Everybody rushes in and goes for it ... As you get closer to the end, the mood kind of lightens again.” About 25 percent of Wright’s acreage was planted in Captain Kush while other strains were in much smaller parcels. The majority will be sold as flower or made by Primo into pre-rolls, which Wright has done since Oregon’s recreational market opened two years ago. Wright, 37, cultivated his passion for cannabis over 15 years of growing for the medical market. He recalls how a neighbor’s battle with cancer, eased by cannabis, inspired him. Skin and bones, seemingly clinging to life, the man started using medical marijuana that Wright had grown for him that season. The regimen led to weight again, improved appearance and increased strength, enough that the man could continue his formal treatment program. His life was extended another six years and, more importantly, his quality of life seemed to significantly improve after using cannabis, says Wright. Upholding his crew’s quality of life throughout the harvest also is a responsibility that Wright takes seriously. Some harvest-season workers leave other jobs for a couple of months, traveling from outside the region, to join the effort. Music, a companionable mood to lighten the mental load and “keeping your workers onsite with good food” are key motivators, says Wright. “Every day, after a long, hard day, everybody gets together and eats really good meals,” he says. “We do a lot of lasagnas, a lot of pizzas — high-carb food. “That’s a big part of it is feeding people.” Feeding the demand for cannabis amid falling prices isn’t only a matter of grams per square foot, says Wright. This season’s quantity, quality and timing all play into the equation, he says. Those aspects align with Primo’s industry reputation. Engineered by nature, his plants get the best care, sunlight, climate, water, soil and rich nutrients, so users get the best quality, says Wright. A Southern Oregon native, Wright knows the subtleties of the region’s climate and geology. Outdoor product is a selling point with customers who value the inimitable energy from direct, natural
sunlight, as well as fresh air and clean rainwater, none of which can be replicated indoors, says Wright, adding that many people can tell the difference. That difference is evidenced by brand loyalty, which Wright says he believes customers are developing. As investors move in to buy up cannabis interests, Primo plans to stand strong as a local, top-shelf farm, taking pride in every harvest, says Wright. With no outside investors, Wright owns his property and is Primo’s sole proprietor. Consequently, he can run his operation a lot more efficiently than competitors. “There’s a lot more to it than people think,” he says. “We’ll adapt to the market wherever it is. “You got to adapt and overcome.” It isn’t the first time Wright has weathered a drop after industry speculation soared. A previous career in real estate, its bubble burst about a decade ago, prepared him for the remarkably similar cannabis bubble, says Wright. His brother, an architectural engineer who owns a wellness retreat in the Caribbean for corporate clients, initially guided Wright through the twists and turns of running a business. “For the last year and a half, I’ve had the training wheels off.” Often on the road, between meetings and negotiating new deals around the state, Wright says he still loves getting his hands dirty, particularly during critical points in the season. Taking a week to nine days, cannabis harvest entails cutting down the whole plant, hanging it upside down and weighing it. With documentation required at every step in the process, cannabis plants are cut apart and waste is separated from flower; each portion is weighed. After drying, cannabis flower is weighed again before trimming, then weighed yet again. “There’s a lot more going on that meets the eye with documentation,” says Wright. “Verbiage is tricky to understand.” Understanding constantly changing regulations in a competitive market is just one point upon which Wright prides himself. He says he takes follow-through seriously and prioritizes fair business practices, although the federal government doesn’t give cannabis the same privileges as other enterprises that foster a sense of security in investments. Operating a cash business in an online-payment world, Wright says he does his best to stay creative and open-minded. Bringing in a healthy harvest provides validation and “some closure,” says Wright, to another year of staying one step ahead of the cannabis curve. “It’s not over until it’s over.”
“It’s not over until it’s over.”
Focused on the Future CANNABIS COLLABORATIVE CONFERENCE BUILDS ‘MODEL STATE’ By Miranda Weigler EACH JANUARY, 2,500 PEOPLE GATHER at the Cannabis Collaborative Conference in Portland. The most pressing issues facing the maturing cannabis market echo in the conference’s motto: “by the industry, for the industry.” Portland Expo Center hosts the conference from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 23 and 24. The center is at 2060 N. Marine Drive, Portland. Mary Lou Burton, the energy behind the organization, cites a lifetime of professional experience organizing conferences, trade shows and business networks. Like many, she avoided cannabis early in life, believing much of the stigma she was taught. After some personal revelatory experiences, and understanding the revolutionary potential of the plant, she has committed her talents to developing the industry, making lasting and valuable connections and moving the Oregon market forward as a model state. Conference participants learn from thought-leaders how to address high-value issues and connect with a carefully curated network of cannabis and ancillary businesses. Burton built her first business from her personal experiences navigating the wedding industry, and truly brings an organic, roots-up approach that differentiates the conference from a number of others that have sprung up in recent years. Aside from the traditional exhibitor booths and conference presentations, the Cannabis Collaborative Conference offers the opportunity to interact with public officials, a job fair and expungement booth, not to mention an investors’ lounge sponsored by Cannabis Connex, the consulting business Burton runs to broker relationships across the industry year-round. This year, the conference will focus on the specific challenges of a maturing in-state market and increasing competition for cross-border expansion. Canada’s federal legalization and the expansion of the hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) market are having outsized effects, bringing both challenges and opportunities throughout the supply chain. There will also be presentations from advocacy groups about legislative priorities, including interstate commerce (export), social consumption and improving social equity in the market. Those familiar with the conference can look forward to many of the features they have come to know and love. The day prior to the main event will see the parallel-track Investors Forum, providing education for those seeking investment, as well as those hoping to get into the industry. In the afternoon, the two tracks come together for a pitch competition showcasing the best of the industry and helping investors decide where to put their pennies. For locals interested in understanding how quickly the market is evolving — or budding entrepreneurs looking to learn from the “model state” — the Cannabis Collaborative Conference is a welcoming place to learn.
Educate
Inspire
Grow
1-866-777-4467
info@eyechronic.tv
www.eyechronic.tv
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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
FIND CHONG’S CHOICE AT THESE SELECT OREGON RETAILERS
GRANTS PASS | EUGENE
MEDFORD
COOS BAY
FLORENCE
ROSEBURG
TO FIND OUT ON HOW TO BECOME A RETAILER: RETAIL@GWBCOMPANY.COM 36
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MEDFORD
NEWPORT
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
CHONG’S CHOICE IS DISTRIBUTED BY THE GREAT WHITE BUFFALO COMPANY. OUR PARTNERS:
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STRAINreport
Images in report may not be actual photos of images on shelves.
LUCID BLUE
PROUDLY GROWN IN OREGON BY:
Works well for pain while keeping you active and awake with a nice, little head high. Very flavorful! Hints of sage and berry make this one a wonderful holiday treat! Enjoy!
STRAIN ATTRIBUTES: Relieves stress Relieves pain Fights depression
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HYBRID — SATIVADOMINANT Lucid Blue
Lb
PLATINUM GSC
PROUDLY GROWN IN OREGON BY: MACONHA GARDENS
This version of Pgs has a nice, high THC content that will make you one happy and creative camper. Though effects may vary for some, if you normally suffer from anxiety with sativas, this is your better option.
STRAIN ATTRIBUTES: Relieves stress Fights depression Calms the nerves
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HYBRID
Platinum GSC
Pgs
AVAILABLE AT:
www.weedaficionadomag.com
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STRAINreport
Images in report may not be actual photos of images on shelves.
AVAILABLE AT SELECT DISPENSARIES IN OREGON
PROUDLY GROWN IN OREGON BY:
CHERNOBYL We smoked this sativa-dominant, hybrid flower solely for the purpose of daytime use, although that’s not specifically outlined in its attributes. This one packs a punch! More than feeling stoned, you will be one happy mofo after a few puffs of this one. Get it while it lasts!
HYBRID Chernobyl
Cbl PROUDLY GROWN IN OREGON BY: UMPQUA GREEN CROSS
STRAIN ATTRIBUTES: Fights depression Fights fatigue Relieves pain
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TRAINWRECK
AVAILABLE AT: UMPQUA GREEN CROSS, EUGENE
Leaning heavily toward the sativa side, this Trainwreck is an Oregon cross created for medicinal purposes by the grower. It smokes a little heavy, with great flavors of earth and lemon zest! It’s very nice and really spells relief!
HYBRID
Trainwreck
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STRAIN ATTRIBUTES: Relieves stress Promotes relaxation Brings on euphoria
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BUBBA BLUE
PROUDLY GROWN IN OREGON BY: UMPQUA GREEN CROSS
AVAILABLE AT: UMPQUA GREEN CROSS, EUGENE
This indica may not allow you to function well throughout the day for pain relief. But if you’re looking to mellow out, or get a great night’s sleep, it’s perfect! This Bubba Blue has a wonderful nose of sweet earth that does come with a punch. Smoke carefully.
STRAIN ATTRIBUTES: Promotes sleep Eases insomnia Relieves pain
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INDICA
Bubba Blue
B bl
BLACK LIME RESERVE
AVAILABLE AT:
Another great indica, this one definitely helps you sleep! Among our favorite pure indicas, it offers the kind of high one wants from a straight indica. Promotes relaxation, along with pronounced pain relief and mental focus!
STRAIN ATTRIBUTES: Relieves stress Eases insomnia Relieves pain
INDICA
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Black Lime Reserve
Bsp www.weedaficionadomag.com
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CBD OF THE month ZENTIQUE FULL SPECTRUM TINCTURE As tested: 500 milligrams (unflavored) Overall quality: A
There are so many choices of CBD on the market — even at the gas station. So how do you choose? We would like to introduce Zentique Full Spectrum CBD made entirely in Oregon. Zentique’s Full Spectrum CBD tincture comes in three dosage levels and a wide variety of flavors, including watermelon, pink grapefruit, blueberry and more. They even have a BACON-flavored “pet tincture.” Selecting your Zentique CBD is as simple as picking out toothpaste: Base it on taste. As far as the medicinal attributes of this product, we can honestly say that after just two weeks of use, we saw a remarkable reduction in inflammation along with fewer aches and pains that plague our testers on a regular basis. Co2-processed and single-origin with many phenotypes, this therapeutic-compound CBD is especially effective for treating arthritis, posttraumatic stress disorder, epilepsy, neurological disorders and symptoms related to cancer. Zentique Full Spectrum CBD is more relaxing, allowing you to function throughout your day without concern. To read more about Zentique, go to www.zentiquecbd.com
HELPS WITH:
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Pain management
PTSD
Insomnia
Epilepsy
Inflammation
Multiple sclerosis
Mental health
Arthritis
Skin conditions
And more!
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WEEDappetit
`
A gift from:
The holiday season brings glad tidings, great joy and … sugar cookies! So our gift to you, Weed Aficionados, is this batch of SugarTree cookies, marijuanaenhanced morsels sure to make your annual cookie exchange that much merrier!
Our friends at SugarTree Farm know a few tricks for baking up some sweet treats. Even sweeter are recipes that feature butter infused with SugarTree’s Mendo Breath and Lucid Blue cannabis strains. Have a ball making these, but please note that Lucid Blue Balls will be snowy white, not blue.
SUGARTREE’S MENDO-CANNA WALNUT THUMBPRINT COOKIES INGREDIENTS: • ¼ cup shortening • ¼ cup *Mendo Breath cannabis butter • ¼ cup brown sugar • 1 egg, separated • 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract, divided • 1 cup organic unbleached all-purpose flour
• • • • •
teaspoon salt ¼ ¾ cup chopped walnuts 2 cups powdered sugar 5 drops food dye Whipping cream, as needed
PREP TIME: 20 MINUTES COOK TIME: 10 MINUTES HIGH TIME: 2 TO 4 HOURS
DIRECTIONS: 1 | Preheat oven to 350 F. In a medium bowl, mix the shortening, cannabis butter, brown sugar, egg yolk and ½ teaspoon of the vanilla until smooth. Mix in the flour and salt. Roll dough into 1-inch balls, dip balls into the slightly beaten egg white, then roll in the chopped walnuts. 2 | Arrange dough on a lined cookie sheet and indent middle of each cookie gently with your thumb. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Allow to cool completely. 3 | While cookies are baking, stir the powdered sugar, remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla and the food dye with just enough whipping cream to make a smooth icing. Top each thumbprint with icing and store in an airtight container.
SUGARTREE’S LUCID BLUE BALLS
PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES COOK TIME: 35 MINUTES INGREDIENTS: • 1 cup all-purpose or cake flour • 1½ cups shelled walnuts, finely chopped • 2 to 3 tablespoons sugar • Pinch of salt (optional, if using unsalted butter) • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • ¼ pound *Lucid Blue cannabis butter, cut into small pieces, at room temperature • Powdered sugar, to coat (about 1 cup)
These Lucid Blue Balls can be made with wild black walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, hickory or butternuts. Any NUT will do! If using salted butter, omit the pinch of salt.
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DIRECTIONS: 1 | Preheat oven to 300 F and line a large cookie sheet. 2 | In a large bowl, combine the flour, walnuts, sugar and salt, if using. Add the vanilla extract and butter pieces; combine everything together with your (clean!) hands until mixture looks like coarse meal with bits of nut in it. 3 | Form dough into small balls no larger than a walnut and place on lined cookie sheet, spaced at least an inch apart from each other. 4 | Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes. When they are still warm, but cool enough to touch, roll cookies in some powdered sugar. Set aside on a rack to cool completely. When cool, dust again in powdered sugar. MAKES ABOUT 20 COOKIES
SOUTHERN OREGON GROWN. INDOOR. OUTDOOR. FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED.
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High intentions BY
SAMANTHA MYERS
Climb aboard for your trip on the Cannabus WHEN YOU SMOKE as much weed as I do, sometimes it’s hard to remember just where to start. So, high! I mean: Hi, I’m Samantha Myers, and I’m an alcoholic. Fortunately for me, I found weed about seven years ago, and I’ve been drink-free for over six. That’s pretty much my premise. But there’s so much more … Meaningless job after meaningless job left me feeling defeated, bored and lacking purpose. Until in 2014, I created an idea for a television show about weed. You know how when you get a new car or puppy, and all you see is the model of the car or the breed you got? Well, the universe started sending me people who had been positively impacted — like I had been — by pot. And not in the traditional way we had all heard before. I would hear stories of people no longer being paralyzed and wheelchair-bound because of cannabis. Or I learned of a person who struggled with opiate dependency crediting dabs with giving them the strength to overcome addiction. Everything just started coming together. I knew cannabis had changed MY life, and I knew I wasn’t alone. I wanted to hear THEIR stories, YOUR stories and I HAD TO share them with others. So I became a passionate advocate for legalization. I started fighting back against the misinformation about cannabis in the only way I knew how: through storytelling. Thus, “High Intentions” was born. On the show, I planned to crisscross the nation talking to everyone from cops to cartels. I’d end up in Washington D.C., pull up to the White House, speak with the president. What about? Pot. Oh, yeah. I’d smoke with the president, too. I wanted to get deep into the weeds, so to speak. OK, so maybe not this president. But you get the gist … One minor problem, though. We owned the trademark, but we didn’t have a bus. That is, until October when, lo and behold, a 1986 Fleetwood Bounder motorhome arrived on my doorstep. The kindness of strangers caused my dream to materialize before my very eyes. And their kindness still reverberates. Anyway, perhaps you might recall seeing its twin on the television show “Breaking Bad”? Walter White’s character really loved the color BLUE. Well, my “bad” (ass) version has lots of character, and the
“ I KNEW CANNABIS HAD CHANGED MY LIFE, AND I KNEW I WASN’T ALONE. ”
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Cannabus loves all things GREEN, if you know what I mean. I’m super excited to have my own column, to share our journey getting the Cannabus “road ready” and to hear your stories of transformation through cannabis. Future columns will address topics like differences between state and federal laws, the endocannabinoid system and gender roles in the cannabis industry … or whatever else I can come up with when I dab myself silly. Each week, I would love to answer a question for you directly, or go to my arsenal of trained cannabis professionals to ensure that your question is answered as completely and eloquently as possible. These questions can be in a “Dear Abby” or “Dear Sammy” format. Aside from successfully using marijuana to combat my addiction, I have experience in the industry as a budtender and in edibles sales, as well. If you need advice on making the transition into the industry, or what to do if your significant other thinks you smoke too much, I have your answer. Your new “Weed Man” is a woman. Get ready! As more and more states legalize the medical and recreational use of cannabis, what effect will this have on our great nation? This Earth? Our dear mother? Hop aboard the Cannabus, my friends. Let’s go find out. We can do this together. Cannabus change the world? Weed like to think so ...
Recreational • Medical At Cannabiz Experience our promise to our clients is to provide the cannabis community a unique, clean, and fun place of adventure, comfort, and education as it relates to recreational cannabis consumption. Cannabiz Experience is your trusted One Stop Shop where product and information is valuable, obtained and easily comprehensible for all.
Quality. Commitment. Vision. 541.816.4209
333 N. Riverside Ave | Medford | Sun.– Thurs. 8am to 9pm | Fri. – Sat. 8am to 10pm
RECREATIONAL SALES
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FEATURING ROGUE VALLEY GROWERS 27 FLOWER STRAINS ∙ 1 THC FREE 16+ VARIETIES OF PRE-ROLLS WIDE ARRAY OF CBD PRODUCTS OILS ∙ BHO ∙ DABS ∙ SHATTER VEGAN + PALEO EDIBLES
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THE
R eview
royal
BY REECE
WATSON
Uncover the highest THC truth “THIRTY PERCENT THC! They had a bud that was 30 percent THC!” your friend bragged after returning from the dispensary. That’s shocking! That must be the best bud ever, right? Not exactly … For some people, percentages of tetrahydrocannabinol are a big factor when deciding which bud to get. I get it, it’s a digestible metric for judging quality. If the number is high, it’s better (and usually more expensive). If the number is low, it’s not good weed. This has been a popular way of thinking in the emerging recreational market, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. There are several reasons why THC percentage alone does not indicate fine quality. UNDERSTANDING TESTING Testing tells us something — but not everything. Here’s roughly how it works. When testers come to take a sample, we bring them out a 10-pound bin full of prime bud. They then pull 7 to 10 grams from different sections of the bin. Once they have their sample, the rest gets put back away and never tested. The sample is then taken to the lab and turned into a liquid dilution. They use
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that liquid to run a series of tests. Once the tests are complete, the sample is non-consumable and destroyed. The THC percentage is determined by the sample, and those numbers come back different every time, even when being pulled from the same batch. We had about 40 plants of Williams Wonder, a Southern Oregon favorite. Those 40 plants produced roughly 120 pounds. That’s 12 batches for testing. Of those 12 batches, we had percentages come back anywhere from 16 to 28.5 percent. Same plants, same food, light, care and genes, but the samples taken produced different results every time. One sample they took tested at 28.5 percent, but that doesn’t mean that the rest of the 10-pound batch, aka the part you’re going to buy and smoke, would have tested the same. Remember, the sample that tested that high is now destroyed, and every different bud of what’s left will test at least a little bit differently. Here is my favorite comparison regarding testing. A plant is like beef. Some cuts are filet mignon, and some cuts are chuck steak. Just because the testers tested a piece of filet mignon does not mean that’s what every piece is.
“THE THC PERCENTAGE IS DETERMINED BY THE SAMPLE, AND THOSE NUMBERS COME BACK DIFFERENT EVERY TIME, EVEN WHEN BEING PULLED FROM THE SAME BATCH. ”
TERPENES Before testing, how did people determine fine quality? Usually by look, smell, taste and effect. Terpenes give cannabis its smell and taste. There are several different terpenes that vary in amount between different strains. It is now popular belief that terpenes give a strain its own unique effects. To me, that makes sense: different terpenes, different effects. Certain terpene profiles create a sativa effect, and others an indica effect. THC is the same between strains, meaning, it’s always just THC. The terpenes are very different between strains. That is one of the primary things that make strains different, and I don’t know about you, but I love variety in my bud. Terpene percentages and makeups are measurable, and testing them is becoming more common. Many knowledgeable cultivators and enthusiasts hope it will become the industry standard. They believe that just as THC and cannabidiol work synergistically together, the same is true for terpenes. Terpenes act as a catalyst for the THC and CBD. That is why a strain testing at 15 percent THC with 8 percent terpenes could get you much higher — and have more robust effects — than a strain that tests at 30 percent THC with 0.4 percent terpenes. Terpenes are our most natural and biological way of judging cannabis. If a blind panel was to test a variety of strains with no knowledge of THC percentages, I’d bet on good terpene strains every time. Here are a couple of common ganja farmer sayings to really hammer my point home: “Your nose knows,” “Follow your nose” and “Oh, my lord, that smells amazing!” Get it? If a bud smells so good it makes your mouth water, don’t worry about the THC. DO YOU DAB? The same is true for concentrates as for flower. Some types of oil retain and enhance the terpenes, butane hash oil, in particular. Distillate on the other hand, will have an impressively high THC percentage but lack the exquisite aroma and flavor because the terpenes are destroyed or removed in the process. Artificial terpenes can be added back into distillate. Terpenes can be separated and/or isolated and then reintroduced into a distillate oil, but it’s never the same as a high-quality oil that retained and enhanced the plant’s original terpenes. When dabbing, especially for a desired indica or sativa effect, I will always choose the oil with more natural terpenes, and that is BHO. Yes, distillate tests at an impressive 90
percent THC compared with BHO, which is usually in the 60 to 75 range, but I find that BHO provides a richer, longer-lasting effect than distillate. When purchasing cartridges, I will always choose a live resin or Co2 over a distillate. Even Co2, when processed correctly, retains many of the natural terpenes. That is why a well-made live resin or Co2 cartridge will have more of a specific indica or sativa effect and keep the user medicated longer, not to mention it tastes better and is not as harsh on the throat. Some people have a bad perception of BHO, and there are reasons, but they’re mostly outdated when speaking of BHO in our recreational market. See my article on BHO’s bad reputation in the previous issue of WAM for more on that. ASK A PRO Don’t just take it from me. Go on Instagram and ask some top industry producers what they prefer. A dab of distillate? Or of live-resin BHO? A flower that tests at 30 percent THC? Or a beautiful bud with 10 percent terpenes? Choosing overall quality and high terpenes is the norm among knowledgeable cultivators, industry insiders and leaders. USE THIS INFORMATION TO YOUR ADVANTAGE! When dispensaries get bud that tests at 30 percent, do you know what they do with it? They put it on the shelf for top dollar. That’s not because they personally believe it’s the best strain there; it’s because they know the public is still not fully informed on the subject, and they can charge consumers more for it. Use this information to get yourself a good deal. Usually, there’s an amazing bud somewhere on the shelf at a lower cost than it should be because it’s 16 percent THC. If it looks and smells amazing, TRY IT. I dare you. It will get you medicated, and you’re going to get an awesome deal on it. MY FINAL CHALLENGE You get it. I don’t think THC percentage matters all that much. You’ve listened so far, and I’m almost done, but here is my call to action. I have a challenge for you. Next time you go to the dispensary to get a gram or two of something, DO NOT consider THC percentage when selecting your product. Follow your eyes and nose and select a product based on how impressive you think it is without knowing the test results. I challenge you to do this because I know that when you pick a bud based on more than the THC, you will not be let down. I’ve smelled bud so good it made the hairs on my neck stand up! That’s your body telling you something. Listen to it! Reece Watson is general manager and co-creator of Mother Earth Medicines dispensary, located at 36 S. Riverside Ave., Medford. See www.memedicines.com
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deep
thoughts BY
LEAF BARRET
Compassion, Customer Service and Common Sense IF YOU’RE UP ON CURRENT EVENTS, I’m sure you’re overwhelmed by the hysteria created by mainstream media today. Mass shootings seem to be happening daily, and TRUMP DRAMA headlines almost every paper and dominates digital media! It’s enough to make your head spin! But have you also noticed the mainstream shift in American companies’ attitudes? For example: healthcare, or the lack of that word “care”? Longer wait times to be seen, call centers that don’t have a human or robo-dialers that call you only to disconnect you from a number that you can’t call back. My personal pet peeve is employees who can’t think for themselves when faced with a dilemma; there is zero common sense or outside-the-box thinking, aside from prompts on their computer screens to fix a problem manually. Thus, the frequent lack of human reply may be less frustrating than the actual reply you get from people who don’t care about your problem because they “just work here” or those owners who only care about making money over your loyalty to their products or services. Another perfect example of such frustration can be found with ANY type of utility, cell or Internet service provider. What happened to: “We’ll take care of that for you”? Or “We appreciate your business”? Instead, a lot of us are treated as if our requests or needs for troubleshooting are outside the scope of an
“ ... THE FREQUENT LACK OF HUMAN REPLY MAY BE LESS FRUSTRATING THAN THE ACTUAL REPLY YOU GET FROM PEOPLE WHO DON’T CARE ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM ... ”
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employee whose sole purpose is to be there for us in that exact situation! In turn, the frustrations that come with these situations can cause social issues similar to the old, “kick the dog” adage. You may hang up from a call that got you nowhere except being upset. Plagued by your anger, your next interaction transfers it the next person you encounter; now he or she is upset by your treatment; then he or she treats the next person that way … and so on. Something so simple can spark a completely different reaction in someone else who can cause additional reactions from others who may not be socially acceptable to the masses. And now the problem continues to grow. Being part of the solution is simple. Think before you overreact and take a deep breath before you reply to someone who’s treating you poorly. Maybe, just maybe, your positivity will rub off and help to end this downward spiral we all seem to be accepting. If each one of us makes a cognizant decision to be nice, or positive when another is not, it may trickle down to help make the next day for someone a better day than yesterday, and so on … Something to think about.
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