february 2015 — issue #56

NORTHWEST LEAFnwleaf.comTHE PATIENT’S VOICE since 2010

FREE February 2015 issue #56

Delta 9 Collective’s Stephanie Viskovich is facing a tax bill of more than $1 million and it’s due this month. She is among more than 100 local collective owners being asked to pay up as the the state says its donations are sales — ones subject to retail sales tax.

Should mmj be taxed?

QUESTION

ONECOSTLY

>> EDITOR WES ABNEY INTERVIEWS THE ICON

TOMMY CHONGTALKS POT

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COVER PHOTO by DANIEL BERMANCONTENTS PHOTOS by CONTRIBUTORS

NATIONAL NEWS....................12 OUTDOOR.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16LEGISLATIVE..........................31PAINTING.............................34SUMMIT...............................36STRAIN....................................48NITRO OIL..................................66 INDICAS............................78CBD EVENT................................82 GROWTECH.........................90 STAR DAWG GUAVA...................94

contents FEBRUARY 2 015

VISIT NWLEAF.COM | FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF | FOLLOW US @NWLEAF | EMAIL [email protected] LEAF

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The Human Solution’s news update

8 Questions For...

Recreational pot probs?Some are challenging the test results

Prison Dispatch

Iconic pot activist Tommy Chong

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Health and Science

Device of the MonthA crazy beautiful piece coming from...

How to prevent mold in the Northwest

Tasty ReviewsMedicated syrup & CBD capsules

Retail Store ReviewRain City Cannabis in south Seattle

Patient ProfileWhen doctors pick your medicine

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White Pineapple

Jesus OGmedical cannabis day 32

REHASHED —Standing up for safe accessand the rights of Washington’smedical patients, Jan. 22 atthe state capitol in Olympia.// Photos by David Ryder

52 SEE THE BACK ISSUES:WWW.ISSUU.COM/NWLEAF

VISIT NWLEAF.COM | FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF | FOLLOW US @NWLEAF | EMAIL [email protected]

White Pineapple

Jesus OG

SEE THE BACK ISSUES:WWW.ISSUU.COM/NWLEAF

contents

Photo by Daniel Berman/Northwest LeafMarijuana provided by Smart FarmsStyling by Malina Lopez

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!This month’s issue features three tasty ways to prepareCannabis-infuse concoctions sure to please everyone.We hope you like chocolate and delicious cookies...

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NORTHWEST LEAF

feb. 2015 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF /11

the truth about the plant you thought you knew, IN every issue.

We must be vocal proponents for our medical marijuana laws

Contact editor Wes Abney to place an advertisement or become a drop-off location to display our magazine. You can also feel free to just share feedback, send pitches, articles, story ideas and hot news tips. This is all our plant.

[email protected] // (206) 235-6721

FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEFWes Abney

Daniel BermanPHOTOGRAPHER & DESIGNER

ISSUE CONTRIBUTORSGUBI CHIRIBOGA STEVE ELLIOTTMALINA LOPEZKORI MARIEHEADLIFE MEDIATYLER J. MARKWARTBOB MONTOYASEAN O’NEILLDR. SCANDERSONDR. SCOTT D. ROSEDAVID RYDERLAURIE & BRUCE WOLF

Jessica Slocum Sales managerPlease email or call us to discuss print and online advertising opportunities in an upcoming issue. We do not sell stories or coverage. We offer design services with Kush Creative Group and can provide guidance on the best approaches for cre-ating a successful approach for your medical or recreational or ancillary industry business.

[email protected] (425) 219-6155ADVERTISING

editor’s note F EBRUARY 2015ISSUE #56

Wes and Kori Marie

CONNECT WITH US

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he legislative session is back in full swing and we have updated coverage on Olympia and a legislative

guide for you to look over. Please read and understand what is being proposed to our MMJ law and then get vocal! If you want to keep safe access and plant count, we need to raise our collective voices. Please call your representatives in the Legislature and tell them not to take away MMJ! If we don’t fight... well I can’t even think about it. I also had an awesome opportunity last month to sit down with Tommy Chong for this issue’s 8 Questions interview. As one of the pioneers of the movement, Chong’s influence on popular culture undeniably changed a generation by mixing pot and humor, which disarmed the prohibitionist movement and cleared the way for a new, reasoned conversation about pot. Tommy suffered prison time for selling paraphernalia and the stigma of being labeled a pot celebrity. Today, he is making new moves in the world of Cannabis. He gave Daniel and I

T one-on-one time during his recent visit to Seattle to promote his rec pot ventures around the Northwest. I also interviewed Christine Martinez, a patient who is unfairly being forced to choose between the painkillers she needs or Cannabis use, which she also needs. It’s a decision no one should have to make, especially those going through so much pain. Learn more about her story and how doctors are blackmailing MMJ patients into giving up their medicine. Valentine’s Day will be here soon and we have a sweet new issue for you to enjoy and share with someone special. Our issue features awesome Valentine’s Day recipes to try and a killer Strain of the Month to enjoy while cooking. We also have a new nitrogen-infused concentrate of the month, and a review of Rain City’s new 502 dispensary location. Catch up on national news with Steve Elliott, and read close as Dr. Rose sheds some light on common molds in the area and how to prevent them. Thanks for picking up the magazine and please share the good news about Cannabis with someone right now.

12/ feb. 2015 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

1) Oregon, Alaska plans for legal marijuana: Because it borders Washington, Oregon’s commer-cial and regulatory choices will be crucial in under-standing to what extent states can strive for market advantages over bordering states. How well these state legislatures and alcohol regulatory bodies work together will yield the policy’s success or failure.

2) Identifying the next states to legalize: 2015 will show which states are serious about ballot initiatives in 2016. It’s widely expected that Cali-fornia will advance an initiative and Florida might take another swing at approving medical marijuana, after falling just short of approval in 2014.

3) Cannabis policy & state legislative action: The battleground for enacting items like recreational or medical marijuana legalization is not at the ballot box in many states, but in the state legislature.

4) Cannabis and the courts: Multiple high-profile lawsuits surrounding marijuana policy might play out in 2015. Coats v. Dish Network might settle the issue of employer-sponsored marijuana testing and a Supreme Court case involving Nebraska and Oklahoma’s lawsuit against Colorado over legaliz-ing marijuana will indicate the willingness of federal courts to engage in this policy area.

5) What about D.C.’s marijuana policy: Clarity on the future of marijuana policy in Washington, D.C. will surely be left to the federal courts, particu-larly if there is congressional inaction on I-71.

6) CO/WA (and Uruguay) continue legalization: In Colorado, edibles, product testing and home grows will be on the agenda. The policy challenge Washington faces is that legal weed could be too costly to lure consumers from the black market and medical marijuana outlets. On the international front, Uruguay works hard to prepare a bureaucracy and a consumer base for the experiment.

7) Data, data, data: One key takeaway for policy advocates, both supporters and opponents, will be to patiently wait to draw conclusions because the data are currently incomplete and imperfect. 2015 will offer steady flows of data from Colorado and Washington, and eventually other states.

8) Presidential candidates and Cannabis: Marijuana policy will be part of the 2016 debates and national conversation in a way that it hasn’t been in previous presidential campaigns, and it doesn’t exactly fall neatly along party lines, either.

The Brookings Institution Fellow John Hudak has released a list of eight critical marijuana legalization items to monitor in 2015 >>

TOP 8 THINGS TOPAY ATTENTION TOIN LEGAL POT NEWS

State unveils new campaign to educate visitors & residents on staying legal

olorado is launching a $5.7 million cam-paign to educate residents and tourists on how to use marijuana responsibly.

The “Good To Know” campaign hits the air-waves, newspapers and Internet one year after recreational marijuana sales began in the Rocky Mountain State.

The “bright, neighborly” ap-proach is designed to educate with-out alienating, and is not an aver-sion campaign, according to Dr. Larry Wolk, Colorado’s chief med-ical officer and director of the state Department of Public Health and Environment.

The tone of the ad campaign is illustrated by the spot that points out you can’t legally drive a car after smoking pot — it adds what “walking, hopping and skipping are allowed.”

The campaign appears to be the first compre-hensive effort by a state to educate consumers on marijuana use and regulations after legalization.

“This is still uncharted territory for us, and re-ally for everyone in the United States,” Wolk said.

The message was created by anti-drugactivists andmarijuanamerchants.

‘‘

C

going ‘mad men’ with legal pot ads...

Colorado

Funding for the campaign comes from taxes paid by those buying marijuana at the hundreds of legal marijuana stores in the state. The message was created by state health officials in cooperation with mar-ijuana merchants and anti-drug activists.

Colorado legislators or-dered the campaign, along with tracking of Cannabis use and public perception. An initial investigation found that 27 percent of Coloradans knew it is ille-gal to smoke pot in public, and only 23 percent knew

that weed can only be sold to adults 21 and older.

“I’ve always said we need to start treating marijuana like the drug it is, not the drug some fear it to be,” said Demo-cratic state Rep. Jonathan Singer, a former drug and alcohol counselor. Singer helped write much of the legislation governing legal marijuana in the state.

One of several ads released for the Good to Know campaign

national STEVE ELLIOTT is the editor behind tokesignals.com, an independent blog of Cannabis news and opinion


QuotedTHERE IS NO LOGICAL REASON WHY ADULT POT CONSUMERS SHOULD BE TREATED WITH ANY LESS RESPECT, RESTRICTED MORE SEVERELY, AND DENIED THE SAME PRIVILEGES WE EXTEND TO RESPONSIBLE ADULT DRINKERS AND SMOKERS.

- Marijuana activist Russ Belville in an interview with The Oregonian, which describes how there will be a new Oregon chapter of NORML, the Washington D.C.-based

National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws. Belville said the group will help lobby for regulations that make sense and don’t unfairly target Cannabis users. ‘‘More than 6,800 patients in the Massachu-setts MMJ program had personal informa-tion unknowingly circulated in public emails,

raising questions about privacy and the morality of MMJ registries.6,800

More than 100 growing plants were found in a Cleveland home after the bomb squad was sent out to investigate a “suspicious,” grow site.100

Quick Hits!

Number of dispensaries set to open in the coming months in Clark County, home of Las Vegas. That’s what we call a new twist on Sin City.40

According to ArcView investment group, the pot industry generated $1.53 billion in revenues in 2013. That’s a lot of green.1.53

Age of a Alaska man who was pulled over while driving with growing plants in his truck, along with a small amount of meth and processed marijuana.57

180 The City of Detroit counts 180 dispensaries in just 149 miles of the city, which is great access to MMJ for patients, but a sure sign of needed regulation.

218 A 218-page report by the RAND Corporation predicts Vermont will take in as much as $75 million dollars in revenue with legalized Cannabis for 21+.

hode Islanders use marijuana at the highest rate in the United States, according to a recently released na-

tional survey on drug use and health, spon-sored each year by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

In Rhode Island, 14 percent of those 12 and older report having used marijuana in the past month, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Mental Health. That’s up from 13 percent the previous year. Rhode Island also led the nation in those who reported having used marijuana in the past year, at 20.22 percent, up from 19 percent.

The survey results are two-year averages, with the latest results reflecting 2012-2013.

Rhode Island is one of 23 states and the District of Columbia that allow medical marijuana for authorized patients, and a co-

R alition is forming in the state to make it the fifth state to legalize recreational Cannabis.

The survey “is probably an accurate por-trayal, and one we’ve seen trending for a long time,” said Rebecca Boss, deputy director of the Rhode Island Department of Behavior-

al Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals. “The why is really hard to answer. I don’t necessarily have the an-swers to why.”

Rhode Island edged out Colorado in the survey, despite the Rocky Mountain State be-

ing the first in the nation to legalize marijuana for recreational sales. Colorado had the sec-ond-highest rate of reported Cannabis use in the past month at 12.7 percent.

The survey can’t fully reflect the changes in Colorado, however, because marijuana legal-ization took place in late 2012 and marijuana shops didn’t open until Jan. 1, 2014.

Rhode Island is officially the highest state around

20.22% of residents report using pot last year in the unlikely marijuana haven

#2 AK: 19.69%#4 OR: 19.03%#5 CO: 15.09%#6 WA: 17.48%#50 KS: 8.21%% of state used pot last year

Photo by Timothy Burling/Creative Commons

Arcview has the industry pegged at 2.5 billion in 2014, a huge 40% increase that signals the rise of this new power industry.2.5

national STEVE ELLIOTT is the editor behind tokesignals.com, an independent blog of Cannabis news and opinion


Growers must test their product, but the guidelines are far from clear

How potent is that recreational pot?

The rules of Washington’s recreational marijuana legalization law, I-502, require a sample tested from every lot of marijuana. But how useful is it?

The program is having some success detecting substances, including yeast, mold and bacteria, re-ports The Seattle Times. About one out of 10 batch-es of marijuana fails and can’t be sold in recreational pot shops, according to Washington State Liquor Control Board data.

Potency testing — which measures levels of THC — shows Washington weed varies widely. Recreational marijuana averages about 16 percent THC in the state, but about 2.5 percent of samples test above 28 percent.

Laboratory directors from the state’s 12 licensed pot-testing facilities said they are forming working groups to lobby the Liquor Control Board for more oversight of lab methods.

State-required marijuana tests, including potency and microbial measures, cost $150 at the Werc Shop in Bellevue. Pot is ground, weighed and placed into a tube with solvent as the tube spins in a centrifuge for potency testing.

Because Liquor Control Board rules don’t di-rect growers on how to choose samples for testing, a grower can select the best-looking bud, giving an artificially high result. That’s something the Liquor Control Board’s Randy Simmons hopes to change. Higher results yield higher wholesale grow prices.

Some producers think others might be falsely boosting potency test results by adding THC-rich substances. That would certainly explain some re-sults in the 30 percent to 40 percent range.

“I have suspicions some people are ... rolling it in kief and getting high scores,” said Joby Sewell, whose AuricAG company grows marijuana in

Sodo. Simmons agreed that the LCB is also con-cerned growers could dip their buds in hash oil before tests.

Incognito marijuana-enforcement agents will buy products from pot stores and get them tested.

“Will we see people play games? Yes,” Sim-mons said. “It happens in any industry out there. Will we catch them? Yes, we will.”

Labs are also under scrutiny on these results.“There are some labs that have financial incen-

tive to game the system for clients,” said Miller of the Werc Shop. If producers don’t like a lab’s test results, they can take their business elsewhere.

Jessica Tonani, the CEO of Verda Bio, a Se-attle Cannabis biotech company, bought recre-ational marijuana from several I-502 stores and had the Werc Shop blind-test them. Seven of eight purchases tested between 3 percent and 7.5 percent different from what their labels showed, she said.

“In the medical world ... people that do tests sometimes do pay for higher test results,” Sim-mons said. “I want to make sure that’s not hap-pening on the recreational side.”


Marijuana is currently a Schedule I drug, putting it in the same category as heroin!

fEDS WILL CONSIDER RESCHEDULING MARIJUANA

A federal judge in California is looking at the constitutionality of marijuana’s classification as a Schedule I drug along with heroin and LSD.

For 45 years, Cannabis has been classified as be-ing among the most dangerous drugs in the world, with a high potential for abuse and no medical uses — the definition of a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, which was adopted as President Nixon’s war on drugs kicked off.

U.S. District Court Judge Kimberly J. Mueller in Sacramento had a five-day fact-finding hearing on the classification question at the end of 2014, and with final arguments scheduled for February, her ruling is expected later this year.

Mueller’s decision to have the hearing came after a pretrial defense motion in a federal case against accused marijuana growers. Prosecutors un-successfully tried to block the fact-finding hearings.

Even if the judge rules against the federal clas-sification of Cannabis, it would apply only to the defendants in this case and would almost certainly be appealed, according to The Los Angeles Times. It would take a ruling from the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals determining that the law is unconstitutional to affect all the Western states.

The defendants’ attorneys have argued that the federal marijuana law violates the constitu-tional guarantee of equal protection under the law, contending the government enforces the law unevenly, allowing the distribution of Can-nabis in states where it is legal and punishing it elsewhere.

The prosecution contends that Congress legally placed marijuana in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.

Washington Judge Rules State Can’t Ban Doctors from Advertising Pot AuthorizationsJudge Elizabeth Martin, in a Jan. 9 ruling, said the law violates the Washington and U.S. constitutions by curbing free speech. The state might have an in-terest in regulating such advertising, Martin ruled, but banning it completely is unacceptable.

“I find the statute impermissibly overbroad as it chills even informational speech aimed solely at public education,” Martin wrote in her decision.

The ruling came in a case brought by Scott Havsy, a Pierce County osteopath with 30 years of experience. He took the state to court last year after the Washington Department of Health pun-ished him for advertising MMJ authorizations.

Attorney Mark G. Olson of Everett argued that the state’s ban hindered patients from finding doc-tors willing to provide authorizations for them.

“The only restrictions that should be placed on professional advertising are to be sure [it] is not false or misleading,” Olson said.

“When the government restricts advertising...it places a chilling effect on the free flow of informa-tion, especially online.”


national STEVE ELLIOTT is the editor behind tokesignals.com, an independent blog of Cannabis news and opinionnational

ore than 100 medical marijuana farmers who cultivate Cannabis in southern Oregon — the epicenter of the state’s growing community

— met in December to voice concerns about how they’ll fit into a newly regulated industry.

The meeting at a grange hall in Josephine County, in Southern Oregon, was organized by the Oregon Sungrown Growers Guild, a group estab-lished last spring to represent the interests of Ore-gon’s many outdoor marijuana farmers.

The meeting featured a short talk by state Sen. Floyd Prozanski (D-Eugene), who strongly sup-ports medical and recreational Cannabis. Growers told Prozanski they don’t want any changes to the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, and they’re worried about zoning restrictions that may squeeze them out of the medical and recreational programs.

They’re also worried about deep-pocketed, out-of-state investors swooping into their communities and establishing price-gouging marijuana facilities.

“My goal is not to allow the medical program to be folded into the (recreational) program,” Prozanski said, addressing growers’ fears that they could face a threat similar to the threat facing their counterparts in Washington, where many legisla-tors are intent on folding medical into recreational. “My goal is not to impact the small farmer.”

Medical marijuana farmers in Oregon have been wary of scrutiny and outside interference, but now they’re organizing so they can influence poli-

M cy as the Legislature and the Liquor Control Commission develop regulations for Canna-bis production, processing and sales.

“This has been an outlaw industry way of life for decades and there is a safety in that for a lot of people that don’t want to plug in and work the 9-to-5 but still have a lot to offer and want to live a life they find meaningful,” said Casey Bran-ham, 36, who has a plot of med-ical marijuana on his property outside of Jacksonville.

“Coming into the light, if you will, is good, but this industry has to model and resemble the structure of how it was set up from the outlaw days,” Branham said. “It works. It’s keeping people employed and keeping communities together. Cannabis keeps food on the table.”

Two main groups have emerged in this fight: the Oregon Sungrown Growers Guild, formed by a group of outdoor Cannabis farm-ers in Williams (a rural community about 30 miles outside of Medford), and the Oregon Growers PAC, a political action committee led by Portland lawyer Amy Margolis.

Some of Oregon’s outdoor Cannabis har-vest goes to medical marijuana patients or reg-ulated dispensaries, and some of it goes out of

WAREHOUSE GROWINGIS UNSUSTAINABLE,SAID LINDA RICE, 63,A MEDICAL MARIJUANAFARMER IN WILLIAMS.

OREGON OUTDOOR GROWERS WANT THEIR VOICES HEARD

>> With new regulations coming, it was crucial for a meeting of minds in Southern Oregon, which grows most of the pot in a state that loves it

state to the black market, where it brings top dollar.According to Branham, growers have operated

for decades with little oversight, and now they’re worried regulation-happy bureaucrats will ruin their livelihoods by tinkering with medical marijuana program rules or zoning marijuana cultivation.

Oregon’s regulated medical marijuana dispen-sary system has taken shape over the past year. Outdoor growers have come up with brands, marketing materials and special strains they hope will ap-peal to urban markets like Portland, where consumers tend to favor in-door-grown Cannabis.

Outdoor growers maintain that state legislators and policymakers should give more recognition to their

approach, which uses far less energy than indoor cultivation.

“Warehouse growing is unsustainable,” said Lin-da Rice, 63, a medical marijuana farmer in Wil-liams. “They use pesticides and herbicides. This is the opposite of how we grow.”

“This is not a time to rest,” said Portland attor-ney Paul Loney, who also works with the Oregon Sungrown Growers Guild. “Everybody is circling. Everyone wants to have their piece of the pie.

“They don’t mind elbowing you away from the table,” Loney said. “You cannot allow them to elbow you away from the table.”

Photo by Oregon Bureau of Land ManagementBolt Mountain Trail near Grants Pass

20/feb. 2015 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

PROFILE By WES ABNEY | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN

Tommy Chong#1 Tell me about your early roots with Cannabis?

I had my first experience with Cannabis in Calgary, Alberta. I was turned on to it by a jazz musician bass player named Eddie Wong, and he gave me a joint and a Lenny Bruce record and the joint lasted me for about a month. So the first time I got high was off his joint, and then he sent me home with another. I went home and listened to “Lonely Woman” and it changed my life. I think a week later I quit school and knew my life was going in a different direction. I soon moved to Vancouver, where I really started using as a musician and comedian, and started growing later when I moved to LA. Since then, I’ve gotten stoned with some of the greatest people on the planet.

#2 Do you use Cannabis medicinally?

I used MMJ to get rid of my prostate cancer. It worked. I still use Cannabis daily, smoking more on some days than others. It is the original medicine. Cannabis was used initially by Chinese as a medicine, then Mexicans as a medicine, and 5,000 years ago it was used in Africa and by almost all indigenous people as medicine and for spiritual enhancement. So regardless of what you want to call it, “recreation” or whatever, it is still medicine. You are using medicine for your recreation.

#3 How did you treat your cancer? how are you doing now? It was day by day. I knew smoking alone didn’t help with the cancer, so I called Dr. Neil McKinney in Victoria, B.C. He suggested a lot of changes to my diet, a no-sugar diet, and that I start using Cannabis oil suppositories. So I researched Rick Simpson Oil, and saw his special on YouTube where he cured melanoma on the face with Cannabis. A friend named Relm made my suppositories for me, and I started treatment immediately. I joke about it too; they’re suppositories so I tell people that I’d light a candle and play some jazz, find some loose fitting pajamas, and then break out the coconut oil, and usually people are laughing by then. But really it’s not a head high by any means; it is a serious medicine. You don’t get high, and I am officially cancer-free. Of course everybody has cancer cells in their body but mine are at low levels now. You have to deal with it holistically, with the diet and lifestyle change along with medical Cannabis treatment.

#4 Why do you enjoy about using and growing Cannabis?

Cannabis makes you forget in a good way. It makes you live in the moment. That’s why moments are so huge. When you are high, you can hear every note played in a song, you can see beyond our world. Especially at night you can see universes and galaxies that are beyond our own little world. If you can’t afford a dog or adopt a child, the next best thing is growing your own pot plant. People should grow because they learn. You learn the secret of the universe by taking a seed and having it evolve in front of your eyes. You grow your own universe, and it teaches you proportion. Just like in life we need to take care of our own universe. I used to say to bodybuilders, if you’re going to abuse your body, then you better have a body to abuse.

If you are going to be effective in this world, you must make sure you are healthy, and growing Cannabis is a part of that.

#5 How has comedy been a tool for you to educate about Cannabis, and what do you think it means in today’s world? In 1978, Cheech and my stage act featured the Pedro and Man characters, and “Up In Smoke” was really supposed to be our greatest hits, but it ended up us

concentrating on one bit. That’s the movie when we were musicians on search for a joint and ended up driving around in van made of pot. From then on, we were known as pot movie makers. But today things are different. People don’t expect jokes any more, not so much. I recently performed at a golf course with an audience mostly of Republicans, and they expected mostly their type of jokes. But I enjoy the feeling of a quiet audience as much as a standing ovation. Because you are affecting them. They don’t like to be touched. Now I’ve been around long enough that any reaction is a good reaction.

I ENJOY THE FEELINGOF A QUIET AUDIENCE

AS MUCH AS A STANDING OVATION.

Editor Wes Abney sits down with the iconic pot actor/activist/dancer on a recent roll through Seattleabout his new legal marijuana ventures, C & C, and why he’s still fighting for pot around the globe.

8 QUESTIONS FOR THE LEGEND

t h e i n t e r v i e w c o n t i n u e s p. 2 2


I’VE GOTTEN STONED WITH SOME OF THE GREATEST PEOPLE ON THE PLANET. ”



8 QUESTIONS FOR THE LEGEND

Tommy Chong

Continued from pg. 20

I ACTUALLY DON’TTHINK ABOUTMY LEGACY.”

#6 Can you share a bit about your time in prison? did it shape your view of the justice/prison system?

Operation Pipe Dream targeted my family for making glass bongs. It was a mixture of horror and indignation. I felt violated. I felt like a black man in the South. I took the hit for a lot of reasons, mainly for my own selfish reasons because I was curious about jail. I grew up with people who had been in jail, so when my opportunity came to participate there was a part of me that wondered what it would be like. Now I see what the private prisons are doing. There is so much greed in this world, especially corporate greed that affects everybody. Private prisons are not interested in freedom or justice, they are interested in profit. They are interested in slave labor. That’s why they like arresting stoners. We are the best prisoners ... we are intelligent, respectful and we work. That’s our makeup. Whatever we do, we do well.

#7 What was going onto national TV for “Dancing with the Stars” like?

I am proud. My thoughts lately are more on what I did on “Dancing With the Stars” than my other accomplishments. It was a culmination of my lifestyle. My love of music and love of Cannabis all came together with the dance. It was incredible, it was like a dream. It was like it wasn’t really happening. Like wow, I was an observer, not just a dancer.

#8 What do you see as your legacy with Cannabis, what is your advice for people today pushing to legalize Cannabis across the world?

I actually don’t think about my legacy. My son and I have a podcast called the “Chong Show,” and in the coming months we are going to concentrate on the “Chong Show” and appear live in various venues and places and really carry the message. We are part evangelists in that sense. Cannabis is the burning bush that God talked about. The burning bush talks to me every night. As for advice, we need to get rid of the perception of fear about Cannabis. We tolerate alcohol, and alcohol will take away your consciousness. People will fight a brick wall when they are drunk. But pot doesn’t do that. Pot enhances your consciousness. So I see hope

for the future. My advice is to listen to what people have to say. Even those against pot, because eventually they will hear their own voice and realize how it sounds. So don’t argue, but listen and suggest. You learn a lot by listening, and then you can try to work with their plans and find a system that works for everybody. My final piece of advice to everyone is to grow pot not for money, but for love.

This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children. Pioneer Nuggets and the Pioneer Nuggets logo are Pioneer Nuggets trademarks. © 2015 Pioneer Nuggets WA USA www.pioneernuggets.com

This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children. Pioneer Nuggets and the Pioneer Nuggets logo are Pioneer Nuggets trademarks. © 2015 Pioneer Nuggets WA USA www.pioneernuggets.com


“My dad disappeared from my life when I was 12, almost 13,” she told me as we went over her father’s story.

One can only imagine the life his children had, growing up thinking their father was a criminal. Then you learn life lessons and realize marijuana is safer than most legal substances and that the war on drugs is not here to protect citizens but to control and manipulate them. Antonio was not a crimi-nal then, nor would he be considered one today in Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Colorado.

Antonio was just an employee when he was ar-rested; it was just another day at work. Whether he transported, coordinated or sold marijuana, his role in the crime is insignificant, because no one should go to jail for a plant.

The Human Solution International recent-ly started the DeLisi Project, which aims to raise awareness about the case of Richard DeLisi before his hearing review after serving 26 years of a 90-year sentence for pot. The hearing has passed and Richard was denied release, but that’s no reason for anyone to give up.

THSI has now implemented The DeLisi Proj-ect — Plan B. We’re calling upon you to reach out to Florida Gov. Rick Scott and express how this incarceration is unjust and unacceptable. Talking points can be found on The Human Solution Inter-national website: thsintl.org. The phone number is 1-850-717-9337. Please let the governor know that jail is no place for an elderly man convicted in the 1980s for something that is now legal in four states and our country’s capital.

BELLINGHAM — After a painful and heartbreak-ing court battle, little “Jerry Berry” has been re-turned to his family. During the past three months, Vicca and Jesse Thompson, Cannabis activists who adopted Craig Cesal, have undergone drawn-out court hearings concerning the placement of Jerry, their 5-year-old son.

NORTHWEST NEWS

PRISON OUTREACHThis month we acknowledge our special loved ones with gifts and have a day off for Presidents Day. February also is — to prisoners — the only month with less than 30 days. Prisoners don’t have the luxury of hating or loving Valentine’s Day; it’s just another day behind walls. Prisoners don’t get a mandatory day off because of dead presidents; pris-oners don’t get days off, period.

Prisoners don’t get to have intimate romantic moments or barbecues while drinking a beer. In-stead, they get a cell with a hundred of the worst roommates.

Recently, one of our beloved prisoners, Craig Cesal, who is serving his 14th year of a life sentence in prison for our plant, lost a son at the age of 23 and was denied the ability to attend his wake or fu-neral. As a prisoner, he has been denied humanity over a plant, denied compassion and treated like a criminal when there has been no victim.

Condolences and cards of compassion can be sent to Craig Cesal, No. 52948-019, FCI Green-ville, Federal Correctional Institution, PO Box 5000, Greenville, IL 62246.

Losing a child and not being able to be with them is far more punishing than most crimes. The time Craig has already lost to be a dad to his son cannot be returned, but he still has time to be a fa-ther to his daughter.

Don’t let this tragedy go without notice; you don’t have to belong to a group to be an activist and make a difference.

Antonio Bascaro, 80, has served the longest term in federal custody for marijuana: 35 years with four more to go. His sentence has been cruel and unusual for the ‘crime’ committed. It is solely based on marijuana and the nature of his crime.

He played a small part in a smuggling operation. Everyone from the boss to fellow conspirators have been released, yet somehow this Cuban hero who fought at the Bay of Pigs has been forgotten. It has taken good conduct for 3 1/2 decades, back surgery

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FEBRUARY PRISONER UPDATE

ANTONIO BASCARO, 80, HAS SERVED THE LONGEST TERM IN FEDERAL CUSTODY FOR MARIJUANA: 35 YEARS WITH FOUR MORE TO GO.

and old age for Antonio to prove, finally, that he is not a threat to society. He now lives in a medium security facility in south Florida. Antonio was lost in the judicial system. He is a prime example of how the war on drugs affects minority communities. A single man who was a good father, he had no one to tell his tale for another 30 years; that would be up to his daughter.

Antonio’s daughter pushes diligently for her father’s release. Could you imagine if the only person that could help a loved one was the president of the United States?


NATIONAL NEWS

You can help drug war prisoners. Visit www.Thsintl.org to learn about this mission.

During their battle, the Thompsons found sup-port from The Human Solution International, Wil-liam Fischer of the Fight for Lilly Foundation, and Serra Frank from Moms for Marijuana — all non-profit support and activism groups.

On Jan. 7, the court erupted with joy over the decision to return Jerry home. After a month and a half of being away from his loving parents, Jerry was returned to his mother and father.

The morning of the hearing, Human Solution members rallied in front of the courthouse hold-ing signs saying Vicca and Jesse are good parents. Since Jerry’s return, the Thompson home has been bustling with activity, from sorting Legos to having ABC’s “20/20” come to their home for interviews.

Two things were apparent in this case. One, no matter how upstanding the citizen, one person with a prohibition mindset could turn your life upside down. Second, the power of like-minded individ-uals does make a difference. The Thompsons have often expressed how much of a difference they feel it made to have THSI and others in their corner.

Debbie Brechler and Josh Mauk – Debbie and Josh are still fighting their case. Their case has been continued until Feb. 4 at 1 p.m. in Kent. This might be the day they decide whether they are go-ing to take their case to trial.

Kettle Falls 5 – Regardless of the bill Congress passed in December that blocks the DEA from using federal money to prosecute medical marijua-na patients, the Kettle Falls 5 are still facing tri-al. Charges have not been dropped, and their trial is now scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 23 at the Thomas S. Foley US Courthouse in down-town Spokane. Larry Harvey, one of the five family members, is sick and his health cannot be compro-mised by the inadequate health care offered in pris-on. Please call Michael Ormsby at 509-353-2767 and ask him to stop prosecuting MMJ patients. If this goes to trial and all 12 jurors find them guilty of breaking the federal Schedule 1 drug laws, they face 60 lonely years in prison.

Washington plant prisoner research — Do you know anyone from Washington who is in jail for our plant? State Sen. Karen Fraser, D-Lacey, would like to know. Dana Greetham, our Capitol City Chapter coordinator (Olympia), was asked by the senator to research prisoners from Washington.

If you know anyone, or would like to join our re-search team, please e-mail Dana at [email protected].

King County Chapter Coordinator Sonia Leyva attended the Washington Cannabis Summit event and ran into Tommy Chong. Sonia explained who

we were and gave him a solidarity ribbon and he wore it for our prisoners. He also signed cards for George Martorano and James Romans, the prison-ers Seattle Hempfest adopted. If you would like to adopt a prisoner, please visit our website.

Oregon Update — A new defendant, Jason En-dicott of Portland, is in need of court support. He was arrested in Henrietta, Texas, in October 2013. He and his family were moving to Florida, and he had his medication with him in a car-top carrier. The jailers in the small Texas jail appeared to have compassion and processed him quickly.

He was released and he continued on his way. Shortly thereafter, Jason fell on hard times and became homeless. He was not aware of a warrant for his arrest in connection with the 2013 incident until he was pulled over in Clackamas County on Dec. 22. The more than 24 hours Jason spent in the Clackamas County Jail was one of the worse experi-ences of his life. Jason has diabetes and was ill while waiting for his bail hearing. The authorities only checked his sugar levels twice. He was transported to the hospital and treated, but upon his return to jail, he was left in isolation and not monitored.

THSI and the Endicott family are asking for court support for an extradition hearing set for Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. Please come to the courtroom and make your voice heard. The family fears for Jason’s health if he is incarcerated, even for a short period, let alone the 40-year maximum sentence he faces. The hear-ing will be at the Clackamas County Courthouse at 807 Main St., Oregon City. Let’s fill the courthouse with solidarity ribbons and show how community support is vital to the outcome of unjust cases.

Joy Graves is anxiously awaiting at this time for

In December, Andrea Harps, a mother of four in Maryland, was sent to jail. She did not have much support and she lost an unfair fight at trial on marijuana charges. She turned herself in last month shortly after giving birth. Correspon-dence can be sent to Andrea Sheron Harps, No. 122313, Harford County Detention Center, 45 S Main St., Bel Air, MD 21014.

Fortunately for Tamara Hudson, a moth-er in Michigan, will not be going to jail. The judge sentenced her to probation. She had lots of support, proving that court support and let-ters to judges work.

While the war hurts us all, we cannot al-low it to continue another minute. Trials are go-ing on across the nation. Soon, Jason Andrews (California), Chris Martin (Arizona), Amanda Latz (Michigan), Michael Thompson (Florida), Todd Stimson (North Carolina), and more de-fendants are going to trial. They can turn into our next plant prisoners if they are found guilty. Please, help educate your town about their jury rights and a juror’s right to say, “Not guilty!” if they believe the law is unjust.

Are you a leader? Would you like to start a chapter to help educate your community, pro-vide prisoners with outreach, and be there for our defendants? If so, please call 951-934-0055 and we will help you get a chapter launched by providing training and everything you need to put a stop to prohibition in your community.

Please remember: No victim = No crime = Not guilty because no one deserves to go to prison or die for our plant!

Jason Endicott’s family fears for his health

Judge Cramer to schedule the next court date. He is reviewing a defense motion to dismiss the cultivation charges she and her co-defen-dant face.

Joy stands firmly on the grounds that she is protected by federal law because her garden is part of a spiritual sanctuary and Cannabis is used as a sacrament in the Oklevueha Native American Church, where she is a leader. This case and the fear of a 10-year term has taken a major toll on Joy’s health. THSI is assisting in the fight for a speedy end to her nightmare.

FACED WITH A SURPLUS OF UNSOLD POT,

I -502 STORES LOOK FOR A WAY OUT


opinion By STEVE ELLIOTT

The press blitz began months ago, and it became absolutely inescapable once 2015 started. Article after article has appeared in the mainstream press about the supposed need to extinguish medical marijuana dispensariesin Washington — to save I-502.The largely untold side to this story is that of mom-and-pop marijuana businesses, serving seriously ill patients, that are seen as “the competition” and are thus slated for extinction by greedy I-502 interests. Supporters of “folding” medical marijuana into the recreational system claim that safe access would be unaffected by suddenly doubling, tripling or quadrupling the price patients have to pay as the number of safe access outlets in Seattle, for instance, reduces about 200 to perhaps half a dozen.

Among the more shrill attackers of what they claim are “untaxed, unregulated” businesses are Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes and ACLU attorney Alison Holcomb, the author of I-502. Activists who’ve been paying attention have known for years that neither Holmes nor Holcomb is a friend of the medical marijuana community.

Instead of upping their game in a competitive environment, the I-502 recreational stores, which quickly gained well-deserved reputations for both subpar pot and outrageous prices, want to clear the field of their pesky (read: usually superior in both

price and quality) competitors on the medical side.Nobody’s surprised by the assault coming in

the form of onerous bills from Republican state Sen. Ann Rivers and Democratic state Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles — those are at least known enemies who have made no effort to hide their desire to kill collective gardens and dispensaries as we know them. Rivers, in a near-comic attempt to please everyone, proposed allowing dispensaries to stay open, but banning dried marijuana sales at them.

Rivers claimed her goal is to “harmonize” medical marijuana with I-502. But the real goal, of course, is to clear the field of competition for the recreational marijuana stores and the lucrative source of tax dollars they represent to state lawmakers.

According to one source in the know, Rivers’ original strategy was to get current medical dispensary owners on board with her plan. But she also was listening to some 502 store lobbyists who still didn’t want any competition, so they came up with the “no marijuana flowers in medical dispensaries” idea.

Mr. Holmes, for his part, came right out and said, “If you’re a commercial (medical marijuana) operation lacking a 502 license, it’s a felony operation. Period.” That’s not really a surprise coming from a guy who was such a big supporter of I-502 that he now wants to extinguish the competition.

As the author of I-502, damn few people expected Holcomb to be honest about its potentially devastating effects on the patient community, nor on its farcically sputtering start.

Equally unsurprising was the deeply unflattering spectacle of Holcomb using the press to urge raids and felony charges against medical marijuana

dispensary operators. In November, this same “activist” took the lead on a national ACLU campaign to slash mass incarceration rates, which are driven by the very drug arrests she now urges.

But what enters a whole other realm of unseemly greed is when the state director of the Washington chapter of NORML — the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws — conspicuously makes himself a part of the chorus calling for an end to medicinal Cannabis as we know it.

How shameless does someone have to be while calling himself an “activist” and simultaneously working to line his own pockets and force people to buy expensive, underpowered weed in his 502 store?

That’s right: Kevin Oliver, who not only serves as state director but also sits on NORML’s national board, is the proud owner of an I-502 recreational marijuana store license, and he can hardly wait to become the only game in town.

Oliver grandly announced in a January interview with the Cannabis Business Times that the first six months of I-502’s implementation were — get this — a “dress rehearsal.” That would certainly come as interesting news to the I-502 license holders who have either gone out of business or struggled to survive; they could be forgiven for assuming their asses were on the line.

Oliver, supposedly an advocate for marijuana rights, claims that Washington patients won’t suffer hardship if forced to buy weed at 502 stores at double or triple the price of dispensaries. And even while patients certainly will be suffering in such a scenario, a delighted Oliver will be laughing all the way to the bank.

Never mind that recreational weed costs two, three, even four times as much as weed in medical collectives. Never mind that more than 200 pesticides are specifically allowed — by name — on state-store recreational weed. Let’s not think about the effects all those chemicals could be having on patients with compromised immune systems and liver function. And even while allowing all those pesticides, the state doesn’t test for them.

Ironically, Oliver, who’s now proudly sitting there on his 502 license, repeated ad nauseum back in the 2012 campaign that “I-502 won’t affect patients.” Maybe in Oliver’s mind, shutting down the collective garden/dispensary system and forcing patients into the recreational model to pay two to four times as much for their badly needed medicine isn’t “affecting them.”

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LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS GUIDE

The 2015 legislative session is a make or break year for medical Cannabis.

MMJ has come under attack from Initiative 502 lobbyists and business owners, law enforce-ment groups, mainstream media and even our own legislators. Whatever the reason, and they all have an incentive, they want to get rid of MMJ to make their own conditions better. What makes our medicine such a controversial issue? Greed.

Our state is mired in debt and the Legislature believes that recreational Cannabis is a solution to its financial woes. Its agenda is to eliminate medical collectives, forcing patients into the rec-reational market where pot is taxed at the highest level possible.

I have a news flash for the Liquor Control Board, other state agencies and the Legislature.

Patients will not spend $300 just to have 1 ounce be “legal.” They can’t afford it and they will be forced into the black market, which will continue to thrive and undermine any regulatory changes the state makes. Ending MMJ will not make I-502 succeed, but it will cause the sick and needy patients of Washington to turn to illegal drug dealers to find a compassionate price for their medication.

Is that progress? Sending patients to get medi-cine on the black market? Is that compassionate? To declare patients who grow their own medicine criminals? What is so untenable about Washing-ton state’s MMJ law in comparison to Colorado’s, which allows any resident over age 21 to grow six plants? Nothing. Why should sick and dying patients in Washington have to fight to retain the same rights as any adult in Colorado? Greed.

Let’s review. MMJ has been claimed as unsafe, untested and unregulated, while being a “burden” on the system. Nothing could be further from the truth! MMJ is safe and hundreds of products are tested that don’t even exist under I-502, and MMJ producers avoid the pesticides that are present in recreational gardens across the state. As for the claim of a burden, MMJ contributed more than $14 million in tax revenue from July 2013 to October 2014. That is more than enough to justify funding

and starting a separate system to protect patients.Reach out to your district legislators and tell

them to stand up for medical patients. Our MMJ industry is the strongest in the nation, with the best medicine and fairest prices, all because it has focused on patients’ needs. The legacy of Canna-bis legalization should come with healthy people and healthy growth, not a war on taxes and the poor. Please continue to support medical Canna-bis, and the freedom of patients guaranteed under RCW 69.51a. If this issue of Northwest Leaf can remind you of anything, let it remind you of what we stand to lose if MMJ access is taken away:

Hundreds of small businesses, tens of thousands of jobs and patients being forced into the black market to get their medicine.

We need to keep a steady eye on the Legislature in the coming months, and speak out against those who would marginalize the needs of patients.

At the time of publication, 40-plus bills are pending in the Legislature regarding Cannabis, and it’s impossible to read them all. We tried. In-stead, we have put together a handy guide going over positions addressed in many of the bills, and our recommendations regarding changes.

Please read and share and help protect medical.

the Inside Scoop On new Bills Affecting Patients THIS YEAR!

MEDICAL CANNABIS PROPOSED CHANGES

502 PROPOSED CHANGES

Providing licensing and regulation for MMJ collectives or storefront dispensaries: YES

Enacting requirements for testing of MMJ: YES

Creating a flat tax or sales tax code on MMJ, assuming that licensing keeps MMJ access points open: YES

Reducing the 1,000-foot buffer for medical Cannabis businesses: YES

Clarifying hemp as separate from Cannabis and allowing it to be grown industrially: YES

Establishing Cannabis research licenses: YES

Adding post-traumatic stress syndrome to the terminal or debilitating medical conditions that qualify for the medical use of marijuana: YES

Continuing to fund law enforcement efforts to arrest those growing without a license: NO

Allowing anyone over the age of 21 to grow up to six plants: YES

Vacating one or more previous convictions for Cannabis crimes: YES

Reducing the 1,000-foot buffer for Cannabis businesses: YES

Reducing the plant count: NO

Reducing the personal possession limits for patients: NO

Removing collective garden language from 69.51a: NO

Creating MMJ dispensaries that can’t sell bud/flower: NO

Getting rid of MMJ altogether and forcing patients into the I-502 system: NO

Open container law that would make an open bag of Cannabis illegal and probable cause for a search and blood draw: NO

Allowing cops to seize “illegal” or “MMJ” weed and then auction it off to I-502 retailers: NO

Renaming the excise tax to become federally deductible: YES

Demanding pesticide testing for 502 products: YES

Remove the ability for cities and counties to ban Cannabis: YES

Sharing tax revenue with cities and counties: YES

Raising the excise tax by 1 percent while renaming the tax: NO

By NORTHWEST LEAF STAFF

rehashed


PHOTOS by DAVID RYDER for NORTHWEST LEAF January 22, 2015 Washington State Capitol, Olympia

medical cannabis day There are many reasons to stand up for safe access to Cannabis and patients were out in droves to tell their elected representatives just that.The event garnered positive coverage in several local media reports.

An overflow room broadcast public testimony.Americans for Safe Access organized the event. Patients learned who to contact for their district.

rehashed

PUFF AND PAINT PAGE


rehashed By WES ABNEY | PHOTOS by GUBI CHIRIBOGA for NORTHWEST LEAF

Brush TokesThe CREATIVE benefits of painting high

ove over wine-fueled art exhibits. There’s a new groove in Seattle that blends paint and Cannabis. Forget the booze, spark up a

joint and hit a painting class that has exactly that. Class. It’s called High Painting, and I expect it to spread across the country. The hum of a Volcano vaporizer and a sweet haze of vapor greeted our group as we entered an art studio and bar that was turned -- for the day -- into a Cannabis-safe zone. The location was comfortable and cool in a classic Seattle way, with tables made out of tree trunks and handmade art covering every inch of the interior. We trekked upstairs and sat down in a cozy art studio with a dozen blank easels and as many medicated students. As bags of vapor were passed around and dabs

were heated, the students mentally prepared for the art instruction of the day. We were to paint a psychedelic-looking jellyfish, floating through a swirly background of blues and whites. Our teacher skipped the stoner jokes as we started, though she did admit that before creating custom paintings she prefers to eat a couple of edibles. It was that or become an alcoholic, she joked, and we all had a laugh as the high began to settle in. If you’ve never painted while high, I recommend it. One of the other painters mentioned that he hadn’t made an art project since grade school, and it reminded me how out of touch our society is with basic pleasures such as mixing colors into happy little shapes. Just as Cannabis is therapy, so is painting and the mix proved relaxing and inspirational. Even though I stink at painting, I felt relaxed and happy as I created something resembling a jellyfish. It felt great to put down the smartphone for an hour and experience a more traditional form of entertainment. We worked through the steps of blending colors and layering the paint to make a graceful and layered look for the psychedelic jellyfish. Everyone who painted had a different take on the instructions,

Mand the best part was comparing paintings at the end of the session. Laughter was plentiful, as was great medicine and delicious food, which calmed the munchies while we waited for our paintings to dry. By the end, everyone was happy and full of THC and food, and the cheer that had been shared was something I won’t forget. I want to take the class again and paint a pot plant this time. Although, knowing how bad my art is, I’ll stick to working with a pen to share the beauty of the plant and the industry that has sprouted around it.

Next class is Feb. 15, tickets are about $50/person.Classes will run every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month. More info at www.kushtourism.com

We worked through the steps of blending colors and layering the paint to make a graceful and layered look for the psychedelic jellyfish.


rehashed By WES ABNEY | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN Friday Jan. 9, 2015 Crowne Plaza Hotel SeaTac

wASHINGTON CANNABIS SUMMITWith Mount Rainier shining in the distance, several hundred marijuana industry professionals andindependent business owners gathered to hear from a variety of informative, fascinating panelists.

ntrepreneurs and activists gathered on the 12th floor of the Crowne Plaza hotel in Seattle for a summit Jan. 9 that blended

topics and positions in a friendly environment.Nothing exemplifies the Northwest more

than meeting within view of the mountain to talk about Cannabis and hemp production. The summit drew a sold-out crowd to network and listen to engaging panels about MMJ and hemp.

The day opened with keynote speakers Tommy Chong and Vivian McPeak, who both delivered passionate speeches about protecting Cannabis and working toward a future where everyone can enjoy the freedom of the plant.

Then the seminars began, starting with “The Future of Cannabis and Hemp as Recognized Agricultural Products.” This was extremely interesting to anyone focused on hemp production, and it covered topics including regulation for hemp, cross-pollination from traditional Cannabis gardens, and sustainability and growing practices in different regions of the state.

E Next was lunch and an invigorating panel on the therapeutic uses of Cannabis. One of the speakers was Ryan Day, who moved his family to Washington so his son, Hayden, would be able to receive MMJ for treating severe epilepsy.

“A year ago, I thought I had heard his last words ... he had completely stopped talking,” Day said. “Now, with CBD he has his language back. He has gotten off four different medications and replaced them with a natural option.”

Day spoke about how growing their medicine has allowed the family to afford the therapy. He emphasized how important the ability to grow and access MMJ has been, and implored audience members to stand up for MMJ rights in the coming legislative session.

“This medicine is making a difference. It’s allowing my little boy to actually have a life. Now he loves people,” Day explained.

“He loves playing now with his family. He is awakening to the world around him. My 6-year-old has a chance at life again thanks to Cannabis.”

Panel speaker Dr. Michelle Sexton also gave an impassioned talk about using Cannabis medicinally and about a pending bill from state Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, which bans medicinal smoking or vaporizing of the plant.

“Cannabis is the people’s medicine. It is up to us as people to learn from each other and come together to continue sharing it,” she said.”

“We need to stop bills like SB 5052 from moving forward. Not allowing smoking is not acceptable. Sixty percent of patients inhale a vapor or smoke and it’s effective. We need to learn from patient experiences.”

The rest of the day included a panel on the economic effects of Cannabis and hemp, a panel on policy and politics, and finished with a speech about what the future holds by Dr. Amanda Reiman. Once the panels wrapped up, guests met in the hotel for a happy hour and a networking meeting. Guests asked questions of the panelists and went over the information they had learned throughout the day.\

“I think that what this summit did was show that the industry is strong and that we intend to be a voice of and for Cannabis and hemp agriculture,” said Joy Beckerman, who attended the event. “We are a united voice of activists and industry stakeholders, and we are doing this to be a united voice for MMJ, recreational Cannabis and the future of hemp.”

ONE OF THE SPEAKERS WAS RYAN DAY, A MAN WHO MOVED HIS FAMILY TO WASHINGTON SO HIS SON, HAYDEN, WOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE MMJ FORTREATING SEVERE EPILEPSY.

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MARTINEZ IS NOW CANCER-FREE, BUT SAID THAT WITHOUT ACCESS TO CANNABIS, PAIN COULD STAY WITH HER THE REST OF HER LIFE,EVEN WITH ANOTHER SURGERY.

hristine Martinez is a Portland medical Cannabis patient who can’t smoke pot because her doctor won’t allow it. She’s being pushed into potentially life-threatening surgery to deal with severe pain resulting from her cancer treatment and ever-present back spasms, all because her insurance provider and doctors refuse to give her medical treatment if she uses Cannabis.

What Martinez is going through is a phenomena of modern health care called “gunpoint medicine.” Doctors across the country have used threatening contracts requiring patients not to partake in cannabis use if they want treatment. For Martinez, doctors forced her to abstain

C

At 52 years old, Martinez isn’t afraid to admit she’s used Cannabis as med-icine. But what she is afraid of is losing her medical insurance. She’s battled sciatica, a condition that results in severe nerve spasms and muscle pain, since her teens. Without painkillers, she was barely able to function in a normal way for most her adult life. Then things quickly began to get much worse.

She started feeling sick in 2008. At the time, she wasn’t smoking marijuana, and doctors thought the pain was caused by sciatica. Martinez didn’t believe it. Eventually, a pain specialist discovered Martinez had a type of bone cancer called plasmactyoma.

“In 2008 I started getting sick. I hadn’t been smoking pot for a while because of my job as a baker, and the doctors thought my pain was from my sciatica. I suffered for 18 months while multiple doctors told me it was just in my head,” those are conflicting statements, I would take this quote out and tell the story. You have a quote stack and the next quote is more powerful anyway. she said.

“Even when I could barely walk and had lost 100 pounds and was so sick, they still blamed me. It wasn’t until a pain specialist found my cancer by accident in an X-ray that they realized I had plasmacytoma, a bone cancer.”

With her diagnosis came more tests and more painful treatments, including chemotherapy. Then a friend unexpectedly delivered a breakthrough.

“A friend brought out a joint to smoke one afternoon, and it made me feel so much better,” Martinez said. “I felt better immediately. My back stopped hurt-ing, and it relaxed me. It was like, ‘Oh my God, I should have been doing this all along.’ ”

In early 2010, she began using Cannabis as medicine and registered as an Oregon medical Cannabis patient. She immediately began growing her own medicine, and while learning to grow used local dispensaries. Sativa-dominant

flowers tend to work best for her condition, and after some exploration, she discovered Cannabis oil treatment would help her worst ailment.

“It relaxed me enough to where the pain wasn’t so bad,” she said. “You don’t think about the pain as much when you are medicated.”

The shift to using Cannabis medicinally surprised Martinez. She started seeing marijuana as more than a recreational drug. She saw it as a much-needed medicine.

Martinez’s health care provider disagreed. When she disclosed her use of MMJ, her medical file was flagged for substance abuse, and she was forced to sign a contract that gave up her ability to use Cannabis.

She became subject to monthly urine analysis to test for THC.

“The urine test is just horrible; it made me feel like I’m a child, like I can’t rule my own life. It made me feel like a criminal, like an addict. That’s how they treat me now,” Martinez said.

Martinez is now cancer-free, but said that without access to Cannabis, post-treatment pain could stay with her the rest of her life.

She is considering having surgery to in-stall a neurostimulator, a battery-powered

device designed to deliver electrical stimulation to the brain, central and peripheral nervous system. The machine could block pain signals from reaching her brain, so she doesn’t feel them.

But the surgery could also leave her paralyzed or in even more pain. Given the choice she would rather use pot to relieve the pain. Martinez said she feels hopeless without access to medical Cannabis treatment.

“I don’t know what the future holds for me right now,” she said. “It’s kind of scary that I don’t know. My big thing is I want to help others who have to go through this. No one should have to go through this.”

wHEN HEALTH CARE MEANSNOT CARING AT ALL

Sure CanDelivery

(206)535-7645 surecan.org

Concentrates 5/5

A FEW TYPES of concentrates were available and all were well-packaged and looked outstanding. We choose the Cherry Pie because of its low residual count. The attractive packaging drew our eye, too.

Strains 3/5

RAIN CITY had a decent variety of strains but only a few of them stood out. You can sniff through sample jars atleast. The producers in the I-502 market will hopefully start to dial things in soon so we will see some better grown and cured samples available to retailers.

Edibles 3/5

THE SPOT BROWNIE BITES were fantastic and they had a few varieties and strengths available. Not really a huge selection of edibles, but hopefully. we will see the rules loosen a little bit to allow more producers and processors to help create a more competitive market during this legislative session.

RAIN CITY cannabis By TYLER J. MARKWART for NORTHWEST LEAF | PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN

Reviewed


Owner Tae Rhee relaxes outside of the recreational store entrance. The collectiveis still around the corner.

access

Environment 4/5

A SIMPLE SETUP that displays prod-ucts nicely. The location is near the water in Rainier Beach with beautiful views and easy access for cars and bus riders. The inside isn’t very glamorous, but it is straight-forward and clean.

Overall 15/20

LIKE MANY recreational stores, the shop is waiting for producers and processors to step up and create a larger market for retail to provide to their customers. With its south Seattle location and hard-work-ing and pleasant staff, Rain City will have something that leaves you with a smile.


RAIN CITY CANNABIS

11537 Rainier Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98178(206) 457-8301 RainCityCannabis.com

THIS STRAIN from Verdavanti is not quite top-shelf yet -- the sample was a bit airy and dry. However, it did have an amazing deep purple color. Usually purple strains work for first-time smokers or for those who don’t really want to take a nap during the middle of the day. A 65 per-cent indica, this Purple Kush phenotype has a sweet, floral and berry fragrance that drifts out of a well-sealed glass jar. The smell matches the flavor, which lasts on your tongue well after you exhale. With a THC content of 15.1 percent and a three-month cure, this deep Purple Kush was excellent for a midday smoke or a nice big bong rip after work. It won’t crush you into the couch. We did find a seed in our sample, which is slightly disappointing, but overall the sample was good and the packaging was put together well. The Purple Kush just needs a little bit of fine-tuning on the grow-ing and drying end.

PURPLE KUSH 6 5 % I N D I C A

21/30

THE SCORE

a r o m a : d e n s i t y :

c u r e : looks:

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GROWN by VERDAVANTI

THESE BITE-SIZED pot brownies were nice-ly dosed and don’t make it taste like you’re eating an entire bush of weed. The packaging does a fine job at laying out all the ingredients and the brown-ies themselves are then individually packaged inside the larger black re-sealable bag.We found the Spot Brownies to be delicious and moist. They are baked in Seattle and made with real ingredi-ents, including cane sugar, eggs and butter. This sample was a 25 mg THC dose that was split into five bite-size brownies. Perfect for slow dosing throughout the night or for people with a light tolerance. If you are a heavy user, three brownies will not only taste delicious but give you a little tingle.

SPOT BROWNIE BITES 5mg THC each

16.5/20

THE SCORE

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Washington’slegal pot laws allow those over 21 to buy up to an ounce of of pot plus edibles, oils, vapes & pipes.Budtender Janine Beaman helped us.

PRODUCED by OCEAN GROWN

OCEAN GROWN CHERRY PIE WAX

TTHIS CONCENTRATE is a glistening golden wax called Cherry Pie that creates a slow building, comfortable body high. It’s well packaged with ample information, including processing methods, harvest date, cannabinoid content and residuals. Ocean Grown has a lock on its marketing and has processing down.

Easy to handle on the dabber, this wax was smooth on the inhale and the high was uplifting and stimulating, not stoney.

Cherry Pie is 59.7 percent THC is that right??? and 0.96% CBD, so it might be good for a beginner dabber or a daytime dab for a regular concentrate consumer.

18/20

THE SCORE

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LONG AFTER SMOKING, I FOUND MYSELF SMELLING THE RESIDUAL WAFTS OF THIS POTENT STRAIN.


SHERBERTTerpene Profile:0.06% Myrcene1.18% Humulene1.05% Caryophyllene2.90% TOTAL-terpenes

21.54% THC 0.01% CBG0.03% CBc 0.13% CBD

produced by ClonersMarket

SHERBERT IS GREAT FOR DESSERT so I’m going with a double scoop of this strain.

This strain even looks like a treat! The bud is formed with light airy nuggets covered in visible trichomes. It emits sweet and floral notes, along with a heady pungent flavor deep inside the nugs.

My fingers were immediately covered in those sticky trichomes, and long after smoking and relaxing, I found myself smelling the residual wafts of this potent strain.

This flower has an incredibly sweet flavor. The best part of this strain is the out-of-control terps and aroma. This strain definitely represents its name. It’s sugary, smooth and refreshing with a hint of ripe fruit. Whether from a pipe or bong, this flower delivers.

The high is relaxing with an energetic buzz. This isn’t an overwhelming flower. Instead, it made me want to go out and enjoy a glimpse of spring sunshine. Sherbert is perfect for the day-time, leaving the frontal cortex happily sedated while energy and spirits stay high.

What really makes this strain special is you can go and buy the clones yourself. Don’t wait for a dispensary to have this in stock ... rotate it into your garden.

Best of all, you can try it before you grow it. Walk from Cloners Market next door to Have a Heart and pick up some tasty buds to truly ex-perience all that this unreal Sherbert has to offer.

STRAINOF THE MONTH

NORTHWEST LEAF

Available From

Have A Heart 11736 Aurora Ave. N., Seattle, 98133(206) 257-4500 Haveaheartcc.com {Sherbert flowers}

Test Results by Analytical360.com

By KORI MARIE | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN

FEB. 2015 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF /49

Cloners Market 11740 Aurora Ave. N., Seattle, 98133(206) 792-9910 Clonersmarket.com {Sherbert clones}

thejoincoop.com

2409 Pacific Ave

Tacoma, WA 98403

(253) 231-7000OPEN DAILY 11AM-7PM

TACOMA

16510 HWY 9 SE

Snohomish, WA 98105

(360) 243-3399OPEN DAILY 11AM-8PM

SNOHOMISH

5260 University Way NE

Seattle, WA 98105

(206) 283-3333OPEN DAILY 11AM-7PM

UNIVERSITY

CAPITOL HILL2315 E John St.Seattle, WA 98114(206) 387-4367

2 LOCATIONS

TACOMA4051 Tacoma Mall BlvdTacoma, WA 98409 (253) 231-7000

OPEN DAILY 11AM-7PM

starbuds.com

NEW TACOMALOCATION OPENING SOON

MIDDLE SHELF MONDAY

TOP SHELF TUESDAY

HASH WEDNESDAY

VAPE THURSDAY

FREE JOINT FRIDAY

FREE GRAM SATURDAY

SUNDAY FUNDAY

DAILY SPECIALS

QUESTION

ONECOSTLY

52/ FEB. 2015 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF


access By WES ABNEY | PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN

During the past two years, the Washington State Department of Revenue has calculated sales tax assessments totaling $9.5 million on medical Cannabis collective gardens. There is no state law or code defining MMJ as a retail sale. There is no protection from arrest for these local businesses either. The claims have targeted 117 collectives across the state, ranging in severity and penalties seemingly set at the whim of the DOR. The assessments arrive in the mail as ominous as a warrant for arrest, which several have led to. Stephanie Viskovich received one of these letters in January 2015 and was shocked by what it contained: A summons stating she owes $1,047,000 in back sales tax.

Viskovich, seen on our cover, operates a collective garden access point in Seattle that helps a handful of patients a day, and accepts minimal donations from patients to cover the collective’s expenses. Viskovich says the donations barely meet the needs required to keep the collective running, which is why she is so dubious of her tax assessment. The DOR alleges more than $8 million in sales over three years, but the agency, she said, doesn’t have any evidence or records to support that claim. Meanwhile, collectives helping many more patients a day and receiving two to three times the donations have been sent smaller tax bills.

The appearance of the tax liability bill has put Viskovich’s liberty into jeopardy and catapulted her into this awful club whose members all wonder about life’s next step.

Will they be helping patients as usual, or going to jail for failing to pay taxes that have yet to be reliably established? Three collective garden operators have come forward to share their stories of facing these treacherous tax bills and what that means for patients.

Right now, MMJ collective owners aren’t sleeping well. They have all been told very different things, taken risks on business models and federal laws, paid taxes, and not, hired attorneys and lost them,all while facing felonies and countless expenses in a prolonged battle with unforgiving Washington.



access By WES ABNEY | PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN Continued from p. 53

For medical collectives, the choice to pay sales tax on Cannabis presents two options — and the state Legislature, DOR, and the medical community can’t agree on which way is the legal way.The first option is to pay sales tax. The Department of Revenue sent out a letter in January 2014 to every MMJ access point in the state informing them that medical pot sales or donations are subject to retail sales tax.

“State law does not distinguish between illegal sale transaction and legal sale transactions,” DOR Communications Director Kim Schmanke told the Puget Sound Business Journal. “Anyone engaging in retail sale activities in the state of Washington is supposed to collect and remit sales tax.”

Reading that statement broadly would imply that every pot sale in the state is taxable, although the illegal delivery services flourishing on Craigslist or the back page of The Stranger are certainly not paying taxes. Nor is the dude peddling dime bags on the Ave.

But about 300 access points have made the choice to pay sales tax, which resulted in the DOR collecting $14,349,994 in medical Cannabis sales tax and penalties from July 2013 to October 2014.

Jeremy Kaufman operates a for-profit medical Cannabis retail store in SODO. He is clear about what he does at his shop and isn’t worried about facing state or federal charges. “What business operates without paying taxes?” he said in an interview with KING-5. “I’m engaging in the sale of a Schedule 1 narcotic. When we started, it was really to set that example. If you’re going to be part of the new Cannabis industry, it’s pay to play.” Kaufman said paying taxes is akin to a bribe or toll to avoid being charged with the sale of Cannabis. With every payment though, he essentially admits

to selling illegal drugs. Certainly there is merit to this outlook — none of the collectives that have paid into the state’s pockets have been charged with sales.

To Viskovich, that distinction is incriminating, and, worse, inaccurate.“I have never sold marijuana in my life,” Viskovich said. No case better sums up the sheer muddle of the MMJ tax situation than

that of Martin Nickerson. He is scheduled to go to trial April 20 to defend himself against 14 felony counts related to the sale of MMJ. He is also facing Class C felonies for not paying sales tax on the same substance it is alleged he sold in his prior felony charges.

Nickerson opened Northern Cross Collective Garden in Bellingham on April 1, 2011, in a much different environment than what MMJ businesses work in today.

“Declaring sales was not an option when we first opened,” Nickerson said. “Medical Cannabis was and still is illegal federally, and I listened to my attorneys about what to do and what to do differently. A lot changed when we got raided, but the federal and state laws did not.”

Nickerson has been facing the 14 felonies since March 15, 2012, when Northern Cross was raided by a drug task force. Police also raided Nickerson’s home in nearby Skagit County, and that of his father, taking anything of value. The resulting charges ranged from sales of a controlled substance to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

OVER THE CLIFFOn Dec. 7, 2014 Nickerson received the latest in a series of tax warrants from the DOR demanding he pay all his back taxes or risk a Class C felony against him and every single volunteer in the collective. At print time, the bill is



We need the Legislature to make a comprehensive bill that would protect medical and give guidance toward taxes and business licensing.

$216,000 and the newest tax warrants still sit taped to the front door and inside walls of the collectives with no action taken. A major problem exists with this scenario, and it all hinges on the nuances in his criminal case and the 14 felonies. The legal argument that has kept him out of prison is that his collective provides medication to sick patients and takes donations as a nonprofit. Admitting to sales and paying the tax would be the legal equivalent to pleading guilty to the felonies, a move that could bring 20-plus years in prison. Nickerson’s attorneys worry that paying his taxes will blow his defense argument.

“To pay sales tax on selling pot violates his and every other clients Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination,” attorney Douglas Hiatt said. “Simply put, it is federally illegal to sell pot, and it is illegal for a state to tax a drug on the Controlled Substances Act. I have absolute confidence that what the state is doing here is illegal under federal law.”

The fundamental issue at hand is a lack of transparency from the state. The Department of Revenue sent out educational letters in February stating that all medical Cannabis sales are subject to retail sales tax, but they did not reference a tax code — because such a code doesn’t exist.

Meanwhile, our senators and representatives are trying to destroy MMJ with ill-considered legislation. In many ways, the state is like a bouncer kicking people out of a bar and stealing their wallet on the way out.

“I want some clarity from the feds, the state, the Department of Revenue and my lawyers. I would pay tax on a reasonable level that would not hurt patients, but it cannot jeopardize my freedom,” Nickerson said. “But how am I going to pay sales tax on MMJ when they want to put me in prison for what they allege are ‘sales?’ When we were first shut down, we lost everything, and I am still living with the felonies while being sent a tax bill for the year in which they raided me. It’s confusing about what they want.”

As the state moves to build a recreational Cannabis system, its decisions have shown a complete disregard for medical Cannabis patients and the collective gardens that support them.

“This is not like Colorado. They chose to work with already established businesses, and to respect medical Cannabis patients,” Nickerson said. “Here, the system is broken and overtaxed, and is forcing recreational consumers and patients alike into a lucrative black market situation. If the state chooses to get rid of MMJ, it will only make the black market stronger. I-502 stores do not meet the needs financially or medicinally of patients.”

CHOOSING NOT TO PAYOne of the first MMJ collective gardens to serve patients in Olympia was Olympia Alternative Medicine, which opened Nov. 7, 2011. From behind walls covered in murals and intense artwork, Steve began operating under the donation model, which he said worked well for his patients and the city. Then an attorney advised him to pay sales tax, stating that she wouldn’t represent him in court if he did not pay. So Mohr sent a $20,000 payment to the DOR.

After paying the tax, this same attorney said they no longer represented MMJ clients. Mohr was back to looking for answers. What he found was a legal predicament where even the attorneys disagree on the issue of taxation, and he was later advised to stop paying taxes and appeal his original payment.

Since then, he said, his life has become a struggle to stay out of tax trouble and operate within the law. “I’ve had lawyers say to pay, lawyers say not to pay ... I was only 22 at the time and wasn’t sure what to do.” Mohr looked down. “I’m still not sure what to do. This is causing me a ton of stress, not just financially but emotionally.”

He has also retained Douglas Hiatt for legal counsel, and hopes that either the courts or the Legislature can

resolve this issue once and for all.“We need the Legislature to make a comprehensive bill that would protect

MMJ and give guidance toward taxes and business licensing. I think that I can speak for all safe access points when I say that we want guidance and need the Legislature to make clear-cut regulations. If we need to pay a tax, then we will, but there needs to be guidance from the state.”

THE FUTURE OF MMJ AND TAXESViskovich says she believes strongly in medical Cannabis and the principles that guide a compassionate system that cares for patient needs.

But the future of that system is threatened by forces that only see Cannabis, and patients, as potential sources of revenue. Lobbying groups funded by 502 business owners have been attacking MMJ about the issue of taxes, claiming that a lack of taxation makes the competition too hard for their 502 businesses.

That argument overlooks 502’s inherent flaws in regards to regulation and taxation, which has doomed retailers to be unable to compete with the black market. The media and lobbyists have also ignored the $14 million in tax revenue that came in from MMJ, almost as much as the $17 million made from 502 in 2014.

As Nickerson’s court date approaches, the battle is on his mind more often than not. The consequences of helping sick patients could be going to prison, all while newcomers with state licenses are encouraged to go make millions selling recreational weed to users who just want to get high.

“I don’t sleep very well at night anymore,” Nickerson snapped. “It’s been terrible. I’ve had the worst time these last three years with the

courts. I just want a chance to be treated like a human, not like a criminal.” “We cannot lose MMJ to try and save 502 from failing. Patients were here

first, and collectives actually help patients. The 502 businesses are all about money,” Mohr said. “We need a way to be fully legal in MMJ, but not at the expense of patients.” Viskovich said the reality of owing the state more than $1 million in excise taxes is just setting in. She wonders if her activism made her a target. “They must really, really hate me,” she said. “How else would they have come up with such a high number? Who else has been as much of a proponent for MMJ?”

“Except for the gross over-assessment, I don’t think this is personal. I am only one of 117,” she concedes.

“This is about 502 not doing well or bringing in as much money as expected. The state is turning to sick patients to make revenue. That’s what’s sad.”

Wes Abney is the editor and co-founder of Northwest Leaf. [email protected]

Northern Cross Collective’s Martin Nickerson, Olympia Alternative Medicine’s Steve Mohr and Delta 9’s Stephanie Viskovich are among the 117 facing hefty taxes.

TASTY TIP: White chocolate, although not really chocolate, is amazing with Cannabis.Yes, you want to taste that Cannabis a bit, and I don’t usually say that when cooking green.*

1) Place parchment paper on your work surface. In a small saucepan with a double boiler, heat the white chocolate. Add the canna-butter and mix well. With a small spoon, make little hearts with the melted chocolate. If you draw hearts on the paper with a Sharpie, flip the parchment over and you can follow the outlines. Decorate the hearts as desired. Allow the hearts to set for at least 30 minutes. Set aside.

2) In a saucepan, combine the cocoa, sugar and salt. Blend in the boiling water.

3) Simmer gently and stir for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the milk and half-and-half, but do not boil. Heat for an additional 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide among 4 to 6 mugs. Top each with a white chocolate heart and stir to medicate!

February is chocolate month!Now that we know chocolate has impressive medical benefits

— antioxidants, fiber and minerals — we can indulge

without guilt. For Cannabis and chocolate lovers, we have

three delectable, easy to infuse delights to enjoy this month.

Have a Valentine’s Day filled with hugs, love and bud.

Be your own best friend sometimes. You deserve it!

HOT CHOCOLATEWITH WHITE CHOCOLATE CANNABIS HEART2/3 cup white choc. chips/melts

1-2 tablespoons Canna-butterDecorations of your choice1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa3/4 cup sugarPinch salt1/3 cup boiling water3 cups milk1/2 cup half-and-half1 teaspoon vanilla

INGREDIENTS

Makes 4-6 servings

recipes By LAURIE WOLF for NORTHWEST LEAF | PHOTOS by BRUCE WOLF for NORTHWEST LEAF



1) Heat oven to 340 F. In a large bowl, cream together the butters and sugar until light in color and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and stir in the vanilla.

2. Combine the flour, co-coa, baking soda and salt in a separate large bowl. Add to the creamed mixture. Add the coconut and pecans and mix well. Place the dough by heaping teaspoons on parchment-lined baking sheets.

3) Bake approx. 9-10 min. Cookies will stay soft until fully cooled. Enjoy these delights and have a Happy Valentine’s Day, readers!

INGREDIENTS1 cup butter, softened1/4 cup canna-butter, softened1 2/3 cups granulated sugar2 eggs1 tablespoon vanilla2 2/3 cups flour3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa1 teaspoon baking sodaPinch salt1/2 cup coconut, shredded1/2 cup pecans, chopped

CANNA-COOKIESWITH PECANS AND COCONUT

Makes about 48 tasty cookies

3 cups chocolate melts or chips2-3 tablespoons Canna-oilDecorations of your choosing

INGREDIENTS

CANNA-HEARTS

1) In a large saucepan with a double boiler, melt the chocolate with the canna-oil. Stir until smooth.

2) Draw hearts on parchment paper in whatever size you like. Flip the paper over and ensure you can see the outlines of the hearts. 3) Fill in the hearts with the melted chocolate, leaving a few tablespoons for drizzling over the decorations. Top the chocolate with decorations and allow to set for at least 30 min. If desired, drizzle with the remaining melted chocolate and again wait until it’s fully set.

This easy recipe makes a bunch of servings,depending on the size of the hearts you make.

*

TopicalsMediblesTincturesCapsulesElixirPatchesRSORSO

Serving medical patients only

FlowersSample PacksConcentratesFrozen JuiceCo2 CartridgesDrink MixSuSublingual Strips

we’ve got you covered!

got CBD?

Sativa Valley’s new CBD tablets have a lot to love. The first and best part? They’re dry tablets. This is the first product on the market to be made of a homogenized and purified powdered substance that is

formed into tablets. Move over aspirin — CBD has got what you need. The packaging is professional and the fully tamper-proof con-tainers have dosage information and ingredients along with the proper warnings associated with Cannabis products. That pro-motes confidence in the product, whether you are treating a child

with epilepsy or a geriatric patient with dementia. CBD therapy ad-dresses many illnesses, and these CBD caps from Sativa Valley bring the medicine into a whole new form for patients. SativaValleyEss.com

Va l u e : ta s t e :

E f f e c t: Packaging:

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THE SCORE

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CBD TABLETS by Sativa valley essentials

5mg CBD per tablet (serving size)

MOVE OVER ASPIRIN, CBD HAS GOT WHAT YOU NEED.

We picked up a bottle of Yurple to try this month, and we were en-thused and disappointed about the product. To start, the product has an outstanding taste and comes in a variety of flavors. Made with infused agave nectar, this is a healthful alternative to glycerin or other additives and makes for a tasty treat.

We mixed it into several types of sodas and the product blended well in every form. Even taken by the spoonful, the taste was not over-whelming. But you won’t get as medicated as the packaging claims. Test results found 65mg of THC for the entire bottle, not the 1,000mg indi-cated on the label. It is important that patients get their money’s worth.

We also have a big problem with the image associated with this prod-uct. A Google search of the word yurple brings up rap songs and hip-hop lore. If you didn’t know, yurple is slang for a codeine-in-fused cough syrup. Patients don’t want to “sip on drank.” They want to deal with pain in a safer and responsible way, and the way this product is represented does not meet that ideal. This medible has a lot of potential but needs to be

steered in a different direction. It would be better to see a version that is more maturely represented, and with accurate test results, instead of flashy labeling glorifying dangerous opiates. Until then, we hope this syrup gets a major overhaul into the kind of truly medicinal product that patient’s deserve.



O v e r a l l :

THE SCORE

9/20

62/ FEB. 2015 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF TESTED by analytical360

TASTY

Reviews By wes abney Photos by Daniel Berman

MEDICATED SYRUPby Yurple, $60

65mg THC per bottle

THIS MEDIBLE HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL BUT NEEDS TO BE STEERED IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

CBD TABLETS by Sativa valley essentials

5mg CBD per tablet (serving size)

Tantalizing Zoot Drops are the perfect way to medicate discretely on the go, especially for users with a lower tolerance for Cannabis edi-bles. Each bottle of ZootDrops contains 10 servings of 10 mg of THC,

each bottle has 100 mg of THC.There’s the Lime and Mandarin flavor we tried, a kind of daytime blend, and they also produce a more relaxing blend with lem-on. The lime and orange com-bination delivered a tangy taste that was much more pleasurable than we expected. Either one is a good choice depending on your needs. Preparing to use the

drops is simple. Just stir in a teaspoon or more into tea, water or even an adult beverage. It can also be taken in a spoonful, like cough syrup.

The best part about this product is consistency and the discrete nature. While the dosage is low for most users, it is a great starting point for those new to Cannabis, especially those who want a light and regulated dose. You can’t really expect to have your socks blown off by the beginner potency, but this is a fine product to enhance a drink or share with a friend just starting to get into enjoying a little Cannabis.



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YIPPIEE KI-YAY DROPSby Zoots, $40-60 at I-502 recreational stores

10mg THC per teaspoon (serving size)

These are spicy and potent balls of delicious choco-late love. I started with about a half of one since I had plans for the day, and planned to pop the other part into a bag and save it for later. This product made my day go by super smoothly, alert while relaxed and sans any of the usual back pain I experience. The outside coating of chocolate has an earthy spice to it and the inside has a creamy peanut butter center that delivers a perfect bite. I don’t normally enjoy peanut butter, especially in edibles, but I found this treat to be both delicious and very potent. All of the edibles pro-duced by Fractal Farmacy are made using raw and organic ingredients,

and the quality is obvious in the taste and flavor.

The test results on these bites came out great, though the poten-cy on our 150 mg bite was a lit-tle lower than expected in THC it had a great amount of other Cannabinoids, making this a truly great medicinal product.

With solid amounts of CBD, CBD, CBN and CBG this is a

good choice for any patient wanting to blend Cannabinoid therapy with a tasty treat. It isn’t a super healthy option, but it’s okay to endulge too.



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THE SCORE

17/20


TASTY

Reviews By wes abney Photo by Daniel Berman

MAGIC BIGFOOT BITESby Fractal farmacy, $5-10

50-150mg THC per piece (serving size)

ALL OF THE EDIBLES PRODUCED BY FRACTAL FARMACY ARE MADE USING RAW AND ORGANIC INGREDIENTS

JUST STIR IN A TEASPOON OR MORE INTO YOUR FAVORITE TEA, DRINK OR ADULT BEVERAGE.

Image courtesy Zoots

96.6 mg THC6.38 mg CBG1.55 mg CBN7.58 mg CBD4.97 mg CBC

YIPPIEE KI-YAY DROPSby Zoots, $40-60 at I-502 recreational stores

10mg THC per teaspoon (serving size)

concentrates By WES ABNEY | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN


Lemon Haze Nitro Honey Oil

Available From

Green Valley Collective 23205 SR 203, Monroe, WA 98272 (425) 420-0274 www.GreenValleyCollective.com

The Joint Collective Multiple locations, www.TheJointLLC.com

The newest concentrate to hit collective shelves is ahigh-quality extraction pioneered in Snohomish County

The Lemon Haze is locally grown and processed into this delicious oil, which comes in a wax or shatter form. We tried both, and really liked the wax for the easy-to-use texture and the intense terpy flavor. The shatter was extremely tasty, too, with excellent stability and a solid snap when picking out a piece to dab. By mixing nitrogen into the process, it makes the butane extraction more efficient, and combined with a four- to six-day purge, the Nitro Oils are as clean as they come. Less than 10 ppm of all residual solvents make this a concentrate everyone can feel comfortable using whether they are dabbing, using a vapor pen or even cooking with it. The flavors of the flower are perfectly represented in

the Nitro process, meaning this wax tastes like a gourmet nug of flower. Each dab delivers a smooth and easy-to-toke vapor, and the flavor fills the palate with scents of lemons dancing with giant nugs.

This indica pheno kills it in the head-high department, and it’s effective for pain management and a variety of other medical conditions. The savory taste makes it hard to take just one dab though, so be warned. Once this strain sets in you will be medicated for several hours of pain-free enjoyment. The effects of the Lemon Haze are intense!

RESULTSTHC: 73.54%CBD: 0.12%CBC: 1.30%

CBG: <0.01%CBN: 3.21%

THCv: 0.77%

TOTALCannabinoids:

78.94%Residual SolvencyLess than 10 ppm

1716 N Ash StreetSpokane, WA 99205

SPOKANEQuality. Class.

(509) 262-6413

Daily Specials Availiable

Open 10:00am - 6:00pmMonday - Saturday

First time patients recieveFREE gift with any donation

G r e a t S e l e c t i o n o f F l o w e r s , E d i b l e s , & C o n c e n t r a t e s

Friendly Knowledgeable Staff

Lilac City is always looking for quality trim.Please ask us about processing or prices.

OREGON GLASS CELEBRATION


rehashed Photos by HeadLife Media for Northwest Leaf Cornerstone Glass, Eugene, OR Jan. 17, 2015

Photos from an all-day bash featuring Oregon’s finest glass artists, plus live music, free demonstrations and plenty of great cameraderie.

Buck, Cowboy, Darby & Jason Lee, Arron Siverson, Bob Snodgrass,Dellene, Gemini Andy, Jahnny Rise, John Bridges, Josh Ford,

Josh McDaniel, Kimmo, Matty White, Mike Philpot, and Sleek.

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guide By WES ABNEY


Knowing which type of Cannabis you want to ingest will help you achieve the proper medicinal effects and a comfortable experience

• stimulating and uplifting • Energizing, thought-provoking • Increases focus and creativity • Supports immune system • Reduces nausea • Stimulates the appetite • Fights depression • uplifting, cerebral effect• Promotes creativity

SATIVAS vs. INDICASSativa strains are known for their energizing prop-erties and euphoria. While most patients enjoy sati-vas in the morning or daytime, they are acceptable for use whenever one isn’t trying to sleep. The effects associated with sativas are great for social outings, and can make everyday activities much more plea-surable. Sativas can make you feel giggly and happy!

Indica strains are known for a more pronounced body sensation with less of a cerebral stimulation, though a heavy “medicated” mental state often comes with indica strains. Indicas are best for later in the day/night time use, and are optimal for pain relief and relaxation. If you ever wondered what kind of a strain left you couchlocked, it was an indica.

• Relieves headaches and migraines• spasms, reduces seizures • Reduces inflammation• Combats anxiety and stress • Reduces nausea • Pain Reducer• Sleep Aid• Appetite Stimulater• Muscle relaxant

Knowing which type of Cannabis you want to ingest will help you achieve the proper medicinal effects and a comfortable experience


STORY & PHOTOS by BOB MONTOYA for NORTHWEST LEAF

gallery

From LED Organic Hydro comes this month’s find in the embattled city of Tacoma. As we creep to-wards spring again, I am busy in the indoor gar-dens. Cold weather seems to accentuate pains and aches, sometimes making sleep difficult. I selected two great strains grown with care and expertise. I got word from another veteran that the Terra heal-ing Center on Pacific Avenue was hitting the high marks in quality and compassion. Justin Tyree and Tara Laster founded the center to bring health and wellbeing to those who need it most. They continue to make a difference as they enter their second year.

Tahoe OG is a staple hybrid for patients seeking relief from pain and lack of sleep. Its expected strengths are brought out by Justin’s standard practice of growing under HPS in Pro Mix Soil with Fox Farm nutrients.The bud is uniform and dense, smelling of earthy lemon as would be expected. Good trichome density makes it a pleasure to behold.

Blueberry Kush is a solid Indica. Better at the full body calming effect than the Tahoe, it is the last one to use before bedtime. Its berry sweet smell finishes like fresh earth. The effect is quick and predictable. Sleep comes easily, and with it the much needed break from pain. The bud is round and full showing the classic “blue” that you can smell and taste. Great trichome density and color, it is a prime example of the Beauty of Cannabis. Great places like the Terra Healing Center are under fire. The will of the people is being ignored. Do your part, add your voice.

Micro strains

tahoe ogIndica strain

is a staple

Every issue we’ll explore how growers are crafting strains with the goal of helping specific needs, not necessarily obtaining the highest yields ...


Bob Montoya is a Cannabis photographer, veteran & well-seasoned grower hailing from Olympia.

blueberrykush

Sweet Indicahelps you sleep

Terra Healing Center 10625 Pacific Ave.Parkland,WA 98444 (253) 951-2260

Available From

Sleep comes easily, and, with it, the much needed break from pain.


rehashed STORY & PHOTO by TYLER J. MARKWART for NORTHWEST LEAF Jan. 21, 2014, Vashon Island Grange Hall

HIGH EXPECTATIONS>> Jerry White is an expert on Cannabidiol but his talk last month was more of a history lesson

Vashon Island Marijuana Entrepreneurs Alliance hosts speaking events of interest to growers and patients every few months at the stately Vashon Grange Hall. The VIMEA events are intended to educate and update medical Cannabis patients on ttraditional Cannabis technologies, teach recent techniques and provide good information while also allowing interaction and in-depth questions.

The events are usually extremely informative because of the number of people who have questions for the host. This month, Jerry Whiting from the CBD Project and LeBlanc CNE Medical Marijuana Growers was invited to speak about cannabidiol (CBD) and its use as a medicine.

Unfortunately, Jerry was not very focused, and the lecture was more of a personal introduction and a history lesson than a talk on the chemical CBD and its interactions with patients. The first 15 minutes of Jerry’s talk were more of an introduction on where he’s been living and working and the history of why Cannabis is illegal. He only had an hour to speak and didn’t really tie it

into CBD that much, except for the audience getting an understanding of how Jerry got to where he is today.

As his speech moved along, Jerry began to touch a little bit on juicing cannabinoids and the decarboxylation process that activates cannabinoids from their acidic form to a more digestible form, making the medicine more efficient. Jerry didn’t really dial in his speech and provided incomplete information, which had to be augmented by some of the attendees.

He did provide some interesting information on decarboxylation of Cannabis and the THC-to-CBD ratio information was a good start, but it lacked the in-depth science I was hoping for. The attendees came loaded with an array of excellent questions that led to good discussions and kept everyone engaged and in good spirits.

Thankfully, Shango Los, VIMEA’s director, was an excellent host and provided a bunch of amazing door prizes for the largest group that has attended any of the lecture series at Vashon Grange Hall.

Prizes ranged from Vuber Vaporizer kits to a beautiful photograph of a flowering female Cannabis plant sponsored by the Northwest Leaf ’s very own Bob Montoya.

The Vashon Grange Hall is a beautiful historic meeting hall within walking distance of the Vashon ferry dock. An easy walk on and walk off to these events makes the commute a breeze from Seattle and you don’t have to worry about bringing your car. The Vashon Grange Hall is where farmers of Washington’s past would meet to discuss agriculture technology and today we continue this tradition with the Vashon Island Marijuana Entrepreneurs Alliance Lecture series.

Keep an eye out for VIMEA’s next lecture because they are usually informative and fun nights out for the cannacommunity.

Visit Facebook.com/vimea to learn about upcoming lectures on Cannabis topics.

He did provide some interesting information on decarboxylation of Cannabis, and the THC-to-CBD ratio information was a good start, but it lacked the in-depth science I was hoping for.

BY NORTHWEST LEAF SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR

SCOTT D. ROSE

84/ feb. 2015 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF Learn more about mistletoe: www.tinyurl.com/LeafMistletoe

health & science


DR. SCOTT D. ROSE

Commonly known as milk thistle, blessed milk thistle, Carduus marianum, lady’s thistle, our

lady’s thistle, shui fei ji, silymarin.

Parts used: The dried, ripe fruits and seeds.

Active constituents: The main active principles in milk thistle are silybin (silibinin), silychristin and silydianin, com-monly referred to collectively as silymarin-phe-nolic compounds known as flavonolignans, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and free-rad-ical scavenging properties.It also has silbinol and apigenin, and quercetin, taxifolin and biogenic amines.

Historical uses: Employed in Europe for many centuries for treating liver disorders, including toxic liver damage caused by chemicals and Amanita phal-loides mushroom poisoning. Used orally for loss of appetite, dyspepsia and gallbladder complaints, for hangovers, and in uterine complaints, stimulating breast milk flow and stimulating menstrual flow.

A B O T A N I C A L M O N O G R A P H

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Medicinal uses: Milk thistle is used primarily to treat liver diseases and dysfunctions, including alcoholic cirrhosis, hepatitis (due to viral infections or drug-induced), and hepatic problems related to diabetes.Silymarin has liver regenerative effects by stimulating the enzyme known as RNA polymerase in the nucleus of liver cells. A practical application is the antidotal effect that silymarin possesses against Am-anita mushroom (death cap) poisoning. When injected intravenously, silymarin blocks the toxic effects of the mushroom toxin alpha-amantin. Preparations made from milk thistle have been approved by the German Commission E to treat mild gastrointestinal dysfunctions. A clinical trial in Germany evalu-ated a commercial herbal preparation containing milk thistle as well as other herbs; known as STW-5 for the treatment of dyspeptic symptoms. The results showed the herbal preparation was significantly better than placebo. Certain anticancer agents employed in chemotherapy might induce short- and long-term toxicity to the liver. The active constituents in milk thistle might be useful in the prevention and treatment of liver dysfunction in patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Silybum marianum comes originally from Europe and is now found across N. America.

Side effects & toxicity: Both animal and human studies have shown silymarin to be nontoxic. At high doses (>1,500 milligrams per day) a laxative effect is possible due to increased bile secretion and flow.

Contraindications: Milk thistle might cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae plant family (the ragweed family). Not enough is known about the use of milk thistle during pregnancy and breast-feeding so it is advised to avoid it currently.

Drug interactions: Medications that could damage the liver, such as acetaminophen, phenytoin (Dilantin), alcohol, and phenothiazines: Milk thistle might be protective for some of these drugs. Milk thistle may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.

Dosage: Provision of dosage information does not constitute a recommendation or endorse-ment, but rather indicates the range of doses commonly used. Silybum marianum is usually given as a standard extract (70-80 percent silymarin) in encapsulated form, 100-300 milligrams three times daily is a typical adult dose.

T H E S ECRET POWE R of m i l k t h i s t l e

Learn more about mistletoe: www.tinyurl.com/LeafMistletoe


health & science

MOLD 101 The first step is to get the mold and the air tested by

a professional. Many environmental labs are now doing

affordable testing, and are open to the public.

Reduce moisture in the air by using dehumidifiers,

DampRid or a similar product, and bathroom and kitchen

fans as much as possible when using the dishwasher,

cooking and showering. Remove carpets that retain mois-

ture from the bathroom. Take care of any plumbing issues

and other sources of leaks. Remove existing mold on

surfaces using 3 percent hydrogen peroxide or 1/2 cup

to 1 cup of bleach per gallon of water. Throw away or

recycle anything that is contaminated, including clothing

and bedding if it cannot be properly cleaned.

Turn up the heat to keep the humidity low. Use a HEPA

vacuum thoroughly and remove the vacuum cleaner bag

at once. Spores left in bags can grow and spread with

further use. Invest in a HEPA filter to remove mold spores

from the air. Check heating and cooling ducts for mold.

Wear a mask, gloves and goggles when cleaning infested

areas. Scour your bathroom and kitchen with bleach fre-

quently and take extra steps to reduce moisture through-

out your home.

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THE TRUTH ABOUT

MOLD

Aspergillus is commonlyfound in Northwest homes.


Dr. Scott D. Rose has written about Cannabis and health for years in the Northwest Leaf. He is an acupuncturist with a pain resolution clinic in the Crown Hill area of Seattle.

species, produce potent toxins that can cause seri-ous health problems. Stachybotrys chartarum was once associated with warm, damp climates, but it has been increasingly identified in the Northwest. The Aspergillus species, A. niger, A. versicolor and A. fumigatus all produce toxins that are capable of causing serious illness.

Health effects from mold occur when indi-viduals are exposed to large doses of mycotoxins, which are by-products produced from the molds. The most common health complaints are respi-ratory, with allergy symptoms such as itchy and watery eyes, a runny or stuffy nose, chronic cough-ing, wheezing and congestion. About 25 million people in the United States suffer from allergic reactions to molds, yet most don’t realize that their sneezing and sniffling could be caused by mold.

“I have a cold I cannot get rid of ” or “I’m get-ting sick a lot and I usually never get sick” or “My allergies or asthma have never been this bad de-spite treatment are all typical statements made by people who could be suffering from mold toxicity. Some people might be highly sensitive to myco-toxins and experience adverse health effects while others exposed to the same dosage of the same mold will be unaffected.

Certain populations have higher health risks when exposed to mold, including infants and children, the elderly, immune-compro-mised patients, pregnant women and people with respiratory conditions.

Pathogenic mold can cause seri-ous illness in persons with suppressed immune systems, such as those un-dergoing chemotherapy or those with HIV/AIDS. Other symptoms can include muscle aches, hair loss, autoim-mune diseases, cancer and multiple sclerosis.

The Northwest has a high rate of MS, a de-generative disease of the nervous system. This damage affects the ability of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to communicate with each other. Neurological symptoms resulting from MS include muscle weakness, loss of balance and co-ordination, speech problems, fatigue, depression and memory loss — interestingly, they are many of the same symptoms as long-term exposure to toxic molds. There is no definitive answer of what causes MS but a section of Dr. David Holland and Doug Kaufmann’s book, “The Fungus Link, Vol-

ume 2,” is dedicated to outlining the compel-ling evidence found by scientists over the years of a link between mycotoxins and MS.

Few physicians think of sick building syn-drome as a possible reason why patients are not responding to treatment. “Toxic mold syn-drome” is a term for the collection of symptoms associated with mold toxicity.

Just as molds can be identified, specific test-ing of the immune system can assess whether someone has an allergy to a certain mold.

The immune burden placed on someone ex-posed to long-term high levels is often in and of itself enough to lead to immune suppres-sion because the immune system will battle the mold constantly.

When a mold spore enters the respiratory system, it is seen as an invader and an immune response is mounted. A mycotoxin immune complex is then formed. When these complex-es gain access to the blood stream, they are not readily detoxified and can remain circulating, wreaking havoc as levels rise.

Screening and tracking tests, and other tools are online. One such example is the Visual Contrast Sensitivity test at Dr. Ritchie Shoe-maker’s website survivingmold.com. The VCS is a screening test and measures one of the neu-

rologic functions of vision called contrast. This test can be used to screen but not

diagnose, and it can also be used to monitor progress and effectiveness of mold eradication, treatment and recovery.

The Northwest has the prop-er environment for toxigenic mold

species to thrive. Careful vigilance of moisture problems and visible mold patrol

is critical in controlling mold spore levels. Use preventive measures such as HEPA technology and regular cleaning with bleach or peroxide. The problem can be more structural, such as a leaking roof, leaking gutters, plumbing prob-lems or poor insulation.

If you own, you must get it fixed. If you rent, there are rights around mold issues — exercise those rights, if needed. If you suspect you have mold in the house and you are having symp-toms of mold exposure and toxicity, have the mold and yourself tested.


DR. SCOTT D. ROSE

Most molds are not toxic to humans.

In fact, some are beneficial. Penicillin is an exam-ple of a toxic mold that humans have used to fight diseases caused by bacteria that are affected by its mycotoxic effects. Some molds produce toxins only when environmental factors are just right.

Mycology is the study of fungi, which includes molds, yeasts and mushrooms. Fungi are separate from plants, animals, protists and bacteria. Through the study of mycology, many molds have been dis-covered for medicinal purposes, like the antibiotics penicillin and cephalosporin. Molds are also used in the process of making cheese and tempeh.

Sick building syndrome from mold contamina-tion has received little attention in the past, but in the past few years the number of illnesses associat-ed with mold has increased dramatically.

With more than 100,000 species of molds identified, (mildew is a generic term people use for mold.) molds are everywhere. These organisms are microscopic and they digest organic matter, known as the decomposers. They are an important part of the carbon cycle on our planet.

They multiply and spread by releasing spores into the air. Spores are typically single-celled units of asexual reproduction (offspring arising from a single organism). Spores are adapted for dispersal and survival, often for extended periods. They lie and wait, even in unfavorable conditions, for the right environmental conditions and then they blossom. The Northwest’s cold, damp weather cre-ates prime conditions for their growth.

Many molds, including Stachybotrys charta-rum (black mold) and several of the Aspergillus

Are your ceilings, window sills, walls or bathroom growing a fuzzy black beard? Do you see a pink film around the drain of your bathtub, shower or sink? Can you smell a musty, perhaps urine-like odor that won’t go away? Have you had frequent upper respiratory problems, a common cold that wont go away, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, memory loss and skin rashes? Do you have persistent allergies despite treatment? You might have sick building syndrome,”which is caused by the presence of toxic mold species in or around your dwelling.

MOLD

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HEALTH & SCIENCE

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When it comes to growing marijuana, organic really means nothing, and genetically modified organisms are quickly becoming part of the landscape. Is this a bad thing?

By TYLER J. MARKWART for NORTHWEST LEAF


the profound effect technological advancements have had in the past 30 years on growing equip-ment and breeding in indoor Cannabis cultivation. Cannabis as a plant, as part of our culture and as a medicine has become accessible in ways never dreamed of before because of those improvements. High-intensity discharge light bulbs have been the most important factor in the advancements in the quality and quantity of Cannabis cultivation. LED lights are the new rage, and duct silencers, aero-cloners, bubble bags and mycorrhiza have all been making grow rooms bloom with furious good-ness, increased production, growing security and ef-ficiency in extractions. Growers have been educat-ing themselves and have been applying ideas from the agricultural research community. This has led to several major advancements in the Cannabis indus-try, one of which is known as “feminized seeds.” The Cannabis plant usually produces male and female seeds at a rough ratio of one male to ev-ery two female seeds. Feminized seeds allow both home growers and commercial growers to speed up the selection process by removing the possibility of having male plants in the batch, which slows the selection process and potentially pollinates all the other ladies. This is great for home growers who ar-en’t trying to waste time with selecting a mother plant or who want to breed their own strains. But how are feminized seeds produced? If we remember our high school biology, we know that plants are sectioned into different categories by what is called nomenclature. One of those catego-ries notes whether the plant can fertilize itself (mon-oecious) or whether there are two separate plants, each having its own set of sexual organs (dioecious) that pollinate each other, which is similar to hu-mans having male and females within the species. Other categories exist, but we’ll stick with these two for this discussion, since Cannabis is in the middle. Cannabis technically is labeled as a dioecious plant, but when put under certain environmental conditions, including light stress, water stress, root or temperature fluctuations, or if certain chemicals are applied to the female plants, they can produce male sexual organs, which results in the ability to pollinate themselves and other female plants. Why is this important? When you look at a dried bud and you see all those red hairs -- the pistils of the female plant -- each one is a potential pollina-tion site. This means that every single red hair can possibly be a production site for a seed. The average Cannabis plant has tens of thousands of pistils per plant, but when you grow indoors, you don’t want to introduce male plants into the grow room to polli-nate the female plants. The goal is to produce what’s known as sinsemilla, which is Spanish for “without seed.” With the proper stress or chemical applica-

FEW PEOPLE REALIZE

molecular plant

if patients want

tion, one can manipulate the female plant’s ge-nome into producing male sexual organs. So does this mean that all female seeds are ge-netically modified? No, yes and maybe … huh? If a plant has the natural ability to create male sexual organs on a female plant of that species, does that make it a genetically modified seed? Technically, no, because it is a natural occur-rence and not a product of human influence. If you were to apply a chemical solution to a plant with the intention of manipulating its genome to produce female seeds or if you use agricul-ture engineering techniques such as site-directed mutagenesis, those processes would render your final product a genetically modified organism. So how are most female seeds produced? It happens in a few ways, but most commercial seed companies these days use chemical solutions such as silver thiosulfate or colloidal silver. These chem-ical compounds cause the female plant to mutate its genome and produce male stamen, or pollen sacs, in the region where the solution is direct-ly applied, basically copying itself -- the X gene. Only two known organic ways exist to pro-duce male pollen sacs on female plants. One is to allow them to flower longer than normal if they have not been pollinated during flowering. If a female plant is not pollinated, then in a last-ditch effort to continue its species, the female plants have the ability to create male sexual or-gans and disperse this X pollen to pollinate itself and create seed. Other types of environmental stress will also cause a plant to revert calyxes into stamens, such as root mastication, light interrup-tions and drought.

science is a scientific field of study that is intense, underfunded, misunderstood and extremely confusing. Most people become fearful of what they don’t understand and most people don’t understand molecular plant science, so it often gets a bad rap outside of the science community. MPS has played a crucial role in how we un-derstand plant growth, plant pathology, and the environment in which plants grow. MPS even contributes to organic breeding and organic pesticide/herbicide production by allowing re-searchers to understand plant traits better. Most of what you hear about MPS is negative media about biotech companies that are trying to “de-stroy the world,” which logically makes no sense if you’re a company trying to sustain its business. Organic is a term that is thrown around loosely in the Cannabis community, but real-ly holds no weight. It is not legally possible for Cannabis cultivators to grow organically certi-fied Cannabis in the U.S. because the U.S. De-

partment of Agriculture will not authorize a license to certify farms that grow a Schedule 1 substance. A farmer can follow organic meth-ods, and they can feel free to label their product as “all natural” or any other term, but the term “organic” is only applicable if you have a license from the USDA. As a scientific research tool, molecular plant science is absolutely irreplaceable and has had a major beneficial effect on how we can assess problems that we face within the agricultural community. One of the goals of biotech crops is to use fewer inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. We have to remember that running an organic production system doesn’t particularly mean that the grower is producing their crop sustainably. Organic chemicals can be just as toxic to the environment -- sometimes even worse -- as synthetic chemicals when not properly applied. Be aware of anyone who labels his medicine as “organic.” While they might be following or-ganic standards or even exceeding them, which is great, they still do not have the proper quali-fications to obtain a USDA label. standards in the industry, we have to accom-

plish two goals: Remove Cannabis from state and federal Controlled Substance Acts and prove to the USDA that our produc-tion methods meet its protocols, specifical-ly for indoor Cannabis production systems. It is important that we also show the USDA we are respectable, hard-working contributors to our community and that our goal is to pro-duce the safest, highest-quality medicine that we can for our patients while preserving our environment for generations to enjoy. Every tool has an application. The goal is to find the proper use for that tool.

Even with the labeling of GMO

Foods Act (i-522) we likely won’t see

collective gardens and producers slapping GMO stickers on all

their medibles


BEHIND THE STRAIN

STARDAWG GUAVA

top dawg is a special breeder and Rain City Medical grows this selection exceptionally well. Patients in need of a potent medication with strong pain-relieving effects and some of the most exotic flavors available in Washington will certainly be insta-fans of Guava Chem.

It’s not often that I run into Cannabis that makes me gush Notebook style...

GENETICS: STARDAWG (CHEMDAWG4 X TRES DAWG) X TRES DAWG

(CHEMDAWGD X DOUBLE DAWG [{CHEMDAWGD} X {AFGHANI #1}])

BREEDER: TOP DAWG FLOWER TIME: 60-65 DAYS

LINEAGE Representing NYC, Top Dawg has some of the f inest sourfuelcentric genetics around and with hands like JJ-NYC on board, they have created a devastating combination in Guava Chem.


DR. SCANDERSON

Drop me a [email protected]

Watch a videoYoutube.com/DrScandersonGt

HOW IT Classic indica growth patterns respond well to topping and don’t need the same veg times as slower indica-dominant plants (think Bubba). Upon transitioning to reproduction phase, this lady will leap into flower, stretching 50 percent to 100 percent in the first couple of weeks before launching into an aggressive bud-setting phase. Keep N levels slightly higher through the end of stretch. I found success switching from a calcium/magnesium supplement during stretch to a magnesium-only supplement after stretch. As a hearty, heavy plant, allow ample time to flush because she will go the distance. A well-planned flush will bring out the most complex flavors and aromas.

EFFECTSstrong. Tipping the scales at 21.5 percent from Cannatest, this medication has the capacity to make an otherwise well-assembled person a stumbling puddle of mashed potatoes. Oh, but the taste! It’s not often that I run into Cannabis that makes me gush Notebook style, but this is one of them. The skill of the gardener immediately comes through with an exceptional smooth, clean flavor that allows the guava-flavored finish to really erupt. This has everything I ever want from my Chemdawgs: lung expansion, flavor worthy of a Nobel prize and the ability to make my face feel entirely shrink-wrapped.

Thick, squat, fat kolas of bright green and orange complete with a frosty dusting is the worst part about this medication. Patients should provide their own personal carbon-based filtration system when carrying this medication so they don’t pollute their ZIP code. The familiar sour fuel notes of well-grown Chemdawg puckers the nostrils as an enormous grin settles in. Then, just at the peak of fuelgasm, things take a sharp curve to the bitter floral scent of ... guava?! “Yup, that’s definitely a tropical explosion of island fruit and sour fuel; I need to know more ...” I think as I reach for my most favorite of water tubes from the hands of J-Rad.

BAG APPEAL & SMOKE REPORT

GRASSThis product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of the reach of children.

Now that recreational cannabis is legal, what’s next? At Grass, you’ll need no doctor’s advice or medical prescription. You’ll get expert advice about which strain of cannabis is right for you. You’ll choose from carefully selected, affordable strains.

You may already use cannabis but it may be of inconsistent quality or availability. For years now the only safe and legal way to access cannabis has been by finding a specialty doctor who could write an authorization for use. Not anymore.

In 2014, Grass became one of the first licensed stores in Washington State. Ever since, we have been providing adults over 21 with hassle-free, convenient access to affordable, lab-tested, high quality cannabis,seven days a week for as little as $8 a gram, all taxes included.

Next time you’re in Seattle make sure to stop in to see our friendly budtenders for our high quality Grass. We have plenty of free parking and you won’t need to see a physician first. We won’t be asking for a doctor’s note.

Step out of the shadows and get into Grass today.

Connect with us@officialgrass

COME VISIT OURSEATTLE STORE

14343 15th Ave NE Seattle, WA 98125

206.367.1483grasswa.com

OPEN MON-THURS 10A-10PFRI SAT 10AM-MIDNIGHTSUN 10AM-7PM

WHY WASTE TIME AND MONEY ON A PRESCRIPTION? AT GRASS, CANNABIS STARTS AT $8 A GRAM. NO DOCTOR REQUIRED.

february 2015 — issue #56

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