M A G A Z I N E

GET YOUR WINTER WONDERLAND with the Indoor Garden Gift Guide p.31 The Emerald Cup Sonoma County Fairgrounds Hosts 21,000 p.14

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE One Grower’s Experience with this Summer’s Wildfire p.20

WOOD OF WISCONSIN Activist Tammy Wood, and Wood Pipes Smoke Shoppe p.48

DENTS IN MEXICO’S PROHIBITION Steps Towards Legalization in Mexico are Progressing Through its Supreme Court p.64

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EMERALD MEDIA GROUP 417 2nd St. #201, Eureka, CA 95501 TheEmeraldMagazine.com Phone (707) 840-5508 | [email protected]

PUBLISHER CHRISTINA DEGIOVANNI COPY EDITOR MOLLY CATE COVER SHOT FULL SPECTRUM PHOTOGRAPHY WELCOME GRAPHIC DESIGNER JESSICA ALBEE

HIT THE GROUND RUNNING CONTRIBUTORS STEPHEN CARTER | MOLLY CATE | M. HANSEN ELI HARRINGTON | EMILY HOBELMANN | SHARON LETTS

Thank you for picking up the January issue of the Emerald. PAM LONG | LAYLAH NOELLE | SHERAE O’SHAUGHNESSY JAMES PRIEST | KERRY REYNOLDS | MATTHEW OWEN | V. VOSS

In the publishing world, there is no down time; the only choice you have is to hit the ground running. Once one issue is out the door, PHOTOGRAPHY another is to follow; a revolving-door business since Gutenberg’s time. CROP-STOCK.COM | FULL SPECTRUM PHOTOGRAPHY In the world of canna-businesses, every day, every month, and eve- T. AARON CARTER | KERRY REYNOLDS | EMILY HOBELMANN ry year is a monumental step in the fight towards legalization. 2016 is the year cannabis makes it big. When California legalizes, others MARKETING will follow. Those in the industry who dare to be visible now will become natural role models for others who follow. This is the year GROUP MARKETING MANAGER | T. AARON CARTER for innovation, expectations and regulations. All those in the green race will have to hit the ground running and maintain high speeds throughout the tumultuous times that lie ahead. PRINT PRODUCTION Here’s to you all! WESTERN WEB | STEVE JACKSON May 2016 bring you many rewards and satisfactions!

Cheers, MEDIA DIVISIONS Christina DeGiovanni, Publisher APPAREL EMERALD APPAREL PHOTOGRAPHY CROP-STOCK.COM MARKETING CANNABIZ CONSULTING PUBLISHING EMERALD MAGAZINE VIDEO PRODUCTION EMERALD EMPIRE LEARN MORE EMERALDMEDIACORP.COM 08 | GORDOUGH’S PUBLIC HOUSE TABLE OF CONTENTS Restaurant Icon for the Lone Star State. JANUARY 2016 18 | THE HIGH LIFE Sex Columnist Sherae O’Shaughnessy tells us How to Get Warm this Winter.

31 | WINTER INDOOR GIFT GUIDE Find Everything you Need this Winter for your Indoor Garden.

12 | STONEY SAUCE 40 | POT TALK 42 | WEED OUT THE PAIN Chef Nugs serves up his speciality of With Emily Hobelmann: Cherry Pie cannabis infused condiments. Organic indoor cannabis. Weedy Oil is hitting the market with its Organic CBD-rich Salves, Lip Balms, and Soaps. 64 | DENTS IN MEXICO’S PROHIBITION Steps towards legalization in Mexico are progressing through its Supreme Court. 52 | OVER THE HILL WE GO Vermont’s Green Mountain State of Mind.

58 | STATUS QUO GROW 14 | The Emerald Cup California Cities and County’s Scramble to Create Cannabis Regulations.

Sonoma County Fairgrounds played host to over 21,000 guests this past December. 69 | FLOWER MOUND REPUBLICAN CLUB Texas ‘Marijuana Meltdown’ Panel Focuses On Children, Disease and Low IQ. 60 | BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE Banking with Cannabis in Colorado.

20 | CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE 48 | WOOD OF WISCONSIN

One growers experience with the summer fires of The story of cannabis activist Tammy Wood and 2015. her journey turning Wood Pipes Smoke Shoppe into Wood Pots Smoke Shoppe.

7 | Emerald | January 2016 3 GOURDOUGH’S EVERYTHING’S Bigger e IN TEXAS s t p s to Public House DANK DOUGHNUTS

DANK DOUGHNUT DELIGHT step 01 Ingredients 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon white sugar ourdough’s Public House in 1 1/4 cups milk Austin, Texas, a restaurant 1 egg G icon for the Lone Star State, 3 tablespoons canna-butter makes people the desserts of their dreams. With more than a baker’s doz- en doughnut selections, Gourdough’s will have you rolling out of the parking lot more blissed out than you were rolling the joint coming in. While cannabis is not directly infused into the doughnuts (yet), the folks at Gourdough’s make sure to bake the dank in every bite. step 02 Gourdough’s three locations in downtown Combine h noelleh ayla Austin (including a food truck) combine iconic southern comfort cooking with their Mix flour, baking powder, salt L infamous doughnut delights, from savory to and sugar together in a bowl.

by sweet. Indent the center of the dough The “Dirty South” is made of hand-bat- and pour in the milk, egg and tered chicken-fried steak, potato pancake, melted cannabis butter. Stir. creamy white gravy sauce and cranberry ha- banero jam. The “Drunken Hunk” is a com- bination of bacon-wrapped meatloaf, potato

step 03 Deep Fry Fill a large frying pan or deep fryer with two cups of vegeta- ble oil. Add cannabis butter to the oil if desired. Ball up pieces of dough and begin frying. Then add toppings.

8 | TheEmeraldMagazine.com GOURDOUGH’S BIG BALLER pancake, fried egg, house-made candied jalapenos with a side of tangy, hard-cider sauce or bourbon Angus beef, house pimento cheese blend, cilant- BBQ sauce. The “Ron Burgundy” sets the new ro, red onion and sliced tomato. standard of classy burgers with its Angus beef, ba- con, fried egg, two slices of American cheese, ci- WE LOOK FORWARD lantro, guacamole, sliced tomato and mayonnaise. Gourdough’s sweet side is where their notoriety comes from. The “Southern Belle” is a doughnut TO SEEING YOU infused with house-made pecan pie filling, cream cheese icing, and pecans on top. The “Black Betty” AGAIN IN 2016! is one of the more popular items with its house- made blackberry filling, cream cheese icing, cake mix, cinnamon sugar, and locally harvested honey butter. The “Ring O’Fire” has chipotle-infused brownie batter, chocolate icing, brownie bites, salted butter caramel sauce, and cayenne candied pecans. Every entree is served with a side of diabetes (just kidding!). All meals at the pub house are delicately thought-out and prepared to perfection. Their friendly staff are happy to offer suggestions to satisfy your palate. Should you find yourself in Austin, the Heart of Texas, drop into any one of Happy New Year! Gourdough’s three locations. Find your own dank doughnut inspirations by viewing their menu on- line at Gourdoughs.com. GOURDOUGHS PUBLIC HOUSE The Entire Staff Would Like To Sincerely Thank You For Making 2015 a Great Success - 2700 S. Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX 78753 - 1503 S 1st Street, Austin, TX 78704 LOLETA UNION SCHOOL ~ KHUM~ - 209 W. 5th Street, Austin, TX 78701 AS PART OF OUR CONTINUING HUMBOLDT AREA FOUNDATION ~ EFFORTS TO GIVE BACK TO OUR LAFAYETTE ELEMENTARY ~ EUREKA HIGH COMMUNITY, WE WERE ABLE TO SCHOOL ~ EUREKA PARK AND REC. 30 wines by the glass Upscale & local CALIFORNIA ~ WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION Live Music farm-to-fork dining DONATE TO THESE LOCAL GROUPS ~ MAKING HEADWAY ~ MATOLE VALLEY Fun Menu ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS IN 2015 COMMUNITY CENTER ~ MAD RIVER MONTESSORI ~ CHILDRENS COTTAGE ~ Join us 4-6pm for EEL RIVER RECOVERY PROJECT ~ MATTOLE Happy Hour STEWARDS ~ TIMBER HERITAGE SOCIETY ~ EPIC ~ EUREKA ROTARY OUR CHANGE FOR CHANGE BEE FRIENDLY/ HUMBOLDT COUNTY BEE KEEPERS ASSOCIATION ~ SHOES FOR KIDS PROGRAM ALSO HELPED RAISE ~ HUMBOLDT TRAILS COUNCIL ~SEQUOIA SIGNIFICANT DONATIONS FOR PARK ZOO ~ FRIENDS OF THE DUNES ~ JEFFERSON PROJECT ~ THE FOLLOWING LOCAL GROUPS JEFFERSON COMMUNITY CENTER ~ TOYS FOR TOTS ~ REDWOOD COAST 835 J Street th MONTESSORI 11 & H Downtown Arcata WE ARE A LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED FAMILY BUSINESS Downtown Arcata 707.825.0390 707.822.9474 1450 Broadway, Eureka, CA 95501 Mon-Sat 7am- 9pm; Sun 8am- 8pm Menu & more info at Menu & more at Tuesdays, Seniors 60 & over: 10% OFF! & Saturdays, Student ID: 10% OFF! CrushArcata.com HarvestArcata.com

www.eurekanaturalfoods.com 707-442-6325 11 | Emerald | January 2016 CHEF NUGS STONEYSAUCE

don’t panic, Renew your 215 it’s canna-organic from ANY doctor or clinic for less

weed for With the stir of his spoon, Nugs began cre- ating a line of cannabis-infused condiments. WA R R IORS “As of right now we have 13 different fla- 2 vors,” Nugs explained as he listed off ketch- Project up, mayonnaise, mustard, olive oil, truffle oil, Chef Nugs is the director of Weed sriracha sauce and much more. All THC con- for Warriors, an organization for veter- diments are made from organic extract con- ans that utilizes cannabis to help with centrates. “There’s no butane hash oil or an- PTSD, war injuries, physical pain and ything like that in the sauces.” Nugs gets life after war. everything tested through SC Labs and dis- Weed for Warriors is also a support tributes his sauce in several Southern Cali- group for veterans and their family fornia dispensaries. “We’re also on the hill,” members. They hold regular meetings, Natural Wellness Center provide therapy, sponsor free cannabis and emulate feelings of brother- and sisterhood beyond the field. all renewals Learn more about the Weed for Stoney Sauce Warriors Project at wfwproject.org starting at Los angeles, CALIFORNIA V. VOSS | T. AARON CARTER

When Chef Nugs started Stoney Sauce five months ago he never imagined his flavors would hit the roof. “I was a fine dining chef in Hollywood for seven years,” Nugs said. “I was $80 in the military for a while before that and with that comes body pain. I started cooking with WALK-INS WELCOME cannabis for my own pain relief and was taking the condiments with me wherever I’d go.” That’s when Stoney Sauce was born. “My friend Rob is my partner. He knew how to get the WED & SAT 11-5pm bottles and labels going.”

lowelowe price Ne EvaluationEvaluation in Patient HumC HumC Only

Nugs chuckled, “you can go to a few farms up North and you’ll find us in people’s pantries.” When asked if there Special $90 was an expiration date on his products Nugs responded by listing the organic preservatives in his sauces, such as discount oil or chilli powder which “last a long time naturally.” When asked what the future holds for Stoney Sauce, Nugs for Seniors, SSI, Veterans said he’s working on Sensei Sauce, a new line of CBD condiments that he plans to distribute nationally. Cur- $ Students and Medi-Cal rently the average retail price for Stoney Sauce is $20 for small bottles, $30 for medium size squeeze bottles, and 707-407-0527 $40-$50 for large glass jars. Follow the Chef yourself on 508 I street, Eureka Instagram at Chef_Nugs and get inspired by his recipes! (across from HC court House) 12 | TheEmeraldMagazine.com 13 | Emerald | January 2016 “ I’m really impressed by what everyone has done to brand themselves, to step up and really make us Runneth Over look like we should Emerald Cup YouTube channel, and more are added weekly. Mean Gene won first place in this year’s flower and Rolling Stone dubbed the event last year breeder competition with Cherry Limeade. Born and raised in Northern Mendocino, Mean Gene says his lifelong as “the Academy Awards of the cannabis in- fascination with cannabis started at age ten when he read dustry,” and the award ceremony on Sunday The Emperor Wears No Clothes and grew his first plant. afternoon was once again an Emerald Trian- Sonoma county | Kerry reynolds gle version of the glitz and dazzle of Holly- wood’s big night. Event founder Tim Blake kicked it off, noting the huge growth of the event and that some booths were $25,000 affairs, compa- rable to what’s seen at high-tech trade show. “I’m really impressed by what everyone has done to brand themselves, to step up and re- ally make us look like we should,” Blake said. He then gave a measured response to the tense debate the night before over the Cali- fornia legalization initiatives. The debate re- vealed strong divisions, reminiscent of the 2010 failure of Prop. 19, and made legaliza- tion approval in California this November look more challenging. When Blake noted during that debate that he was likely going to endorse the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), one activist began yelling and was escorted out of the room. “It got a little heated there. I don’t blame Twenty-one thousand cannabis lovers poured into the Sonoma event shone through with the dozens of pioneering and second-gener- people. We’ve been picked on long enough. County Fairgrounds to get their taste of The Emerald Cup this year. ation earth mammas standing behind counters of buds, tinctures, and We want to be proud and we want to be free,” Some say the sheer size has changed the event’s character. But for me, salves, fielding questions and requests from the bustling crowd. At Blake said on the award ceremony stage, but The Emerald Cup will always be a family reunion and coming-out one booth, I was thrilled to see the smiling face of a vibrant herbalist still maintained that AUMA, backed by high party for a long-hidden tribe of freethinking, earth-loving self-reliant elder who has sold her food at farmers markets for decades, but was tech billionaire Sean Parker, is “in all likeli- outlaw farmers. As survivors of raids, rip-offs, early rains, and oth- selling cannabis publicly for the first time. You won’t find many of hood going to pass.” er hazards of farming a quasi-illicit yet supremely beneficial plant, these women at other cannabis trade shows. Yet for one weekend each Acknowledging AUMA’s imperfec- the core participants share a common bond. Besides, it is the largest December, the Sonoma County Fairgrounds morphs into the Emer- tion, Blake pointed out a concession made marketing event ever created to promote the superiority of cannabis ald Triangle itself. to small farmers. “They were going to have grown organically and in the sun. A large array of organic food booths lined the path back to the unlimited size grows and they’ve brought it The 215-area, which required a doctor’s medical cannabis rec- halls, hosting a full schedule of workshops, and educational and po- down to limit it for at least five years to one ommendation to enter, allowed visitors to sample cannabis-infused litical panels featuring leading cannabis researchers, activists, and acre farms.” He also mentioned an alterna- sweets from 30 vendors in “Edible Alley” before going under the cultivation-wonks. The volume of information offered at nonprofit tive concept he supported in principle. tall roof of the fairground’s Cow Palace where another 100 canna- booths dotting the fairgrounds made it challenging to break away to “If we had 50,000 farmers that put up bis businesses lined five wide aisles. The organic emphasis of the the panels. Fortunately, several panels can already be viewed on The $400 a piece, and we put twenty million dol- 14 | TheEmeraldMagazine.com 15 | Emerald | January 2016 EMERALD cup cont’d

If we had 50,000 farmers that put up $400 a piece, and we put twenty million dollars up, we “ could write what we want… but are we willing to do that?

lars up, we could write what we want…but They surprised Tim with a painting depict- are we willing to do that?” Blake asked. “I ing him receiving a cannabis plant from Je- would say if we could get someone to really sus descending from a UFO. Anyone who’s CANNA-BIZ lead this thing that we should do that, but is been to Area 101 has seen the homage to al- there time? I don’t think so.” iens, and Tim describes UFO encounters in PRODUCTS Blake then presented the lifetime achieve- his new memoir, Cannabis Crusader. Win- AT THE ment awards of matching custom glass pipes ners were announced and many proudly took CUP to Chris Conrad and Mike Norris, life part- their moment on stage, some shedding joy- ners who’ve devoted over twenty-five years ful tears. to writing, educating, collaborating, and Nikki and Swami are the dynamic life speaking up for greater freedom for the partners who anchor the flower judging and cannabis community. They gave rousing announce the best flower contest winners ZEN CARE speeches about the battles still ahead on the each year. Swami likes to throw in little ser- COLLECTIVE road to legalization. Before leaving the stage mons about respect for the earth and how Chris Conrad implored, “Join me in passing adult use should be called inspirational rath- the Adult Use Act or another initiative, and er than recreational, while Nikki playfully once its passed we’re not done. We have a lot grabs the microphone back to announce the of work because it leaves penalties in place, awards. and we’re going to have to go to the legisla- As they gave the final top flower and ture and get that all fixed. Going in by myself breeder award to Mean Gene from Northern is not going to work, we’re going to have to Mendocino for his Cherry Limeade, Swami Zen Care is a North- stand side by side and fight for this together.” offered one final message that pointed once ern California collective Once Mikki and Chris exited the stage, again to the uncertain quest for a 2016 le- that focuses on providing the flower judges marched in, attired in galization initiative. Swami cried out to the patients with tested, matching green doctoral gowns and regalia. crowd, “Register to vote!” clean green certified cannabis flowers.

THE SPRAY & THE OIL

The Spray & The Oil is a Mendocino County company that provides patients with topical pain relief.

17 | Emerald | January 2016 Vinum, et al

If you’re reading This next may be a bit  this then Mazel Tov on of a stretch for some but I surviving the holiday would totally do it. Play the Off Season Wine Tasting season! Unfortunately ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ Empty tasting rooms, impromptu it’s still arctic outside. drinking game. If you aren’t tours and case-purchase deals are just The indoor season has commenced familiar with this cinematic some of the perks of a getaway to wine in more ways than one so I thought masterpiece it’s time to ac- country in January. Have you ever tasted a Sauvignon Blanc that’s still in I might throw you a bone and climate. The rules are loose tank? Most stainless-steel SB gets bot- give you a few creative ideas for (like my morals, haaaaaay) tled toward the end of January. It’s a keeping warm inside when, baby, but I’ll give you a few bul- THE treat to have the winemaker hand you a it’s cold outside. This month let’s let points. Drink whenever pour right from the spigot. Most larger avoid getting pneumonia and keep a ‘Karate Kid’ film is refer- and more formal wineries won’t offer such warm and fuzzy encounters but it caliente. Make it your mission to enced, drink for the duration the smaller guys do. It’s more about try at least three of these things. of the chainsaw throwing timing than anything else. scene (Crispin Glover was The other reason to make an off- Turn that shower on, steam Four words: Build. A. Blanket. here recently, so pay hom- season journey is the cost of accom- the room up and then smear modation. The price of a comfy bed Fort. Strip the beds, pull down the age.), drink whenever any- and a hot shower drops dramatically drapes and make a fabric mansion. one vomits, drink whenever up shower doors and mirrors ment with exotic cocktails. At this point, let’s as - this time of year. Get online and book The next step is super simple. Just an eighties song is played like you’re trying to recreate Tie one on and get loose. sume you are snowed in. Or a room in northern Sonoma or Ander- son Valley in Mendocino. Or, how fuck in it. That’s all. Get sweaty. (you’re gonna be so ham- that scene from Titanic Assuming you’re in good don’t have a job or maybe Maybe take a short siesta and then skied), drink whenever one about a weekend stay in Jacksonville HIGH company, use those lowered called in sick. So you’re and Applegate Valley? Each of these bump each other again. Shazam. of the characters is depicted inhibitions to get weird. I’m home- based for the day and wine destinations is only a few hours as their younger selves, or talking pomegranate marti- are running low on activi- away from HumCo depending on your If making a mess of your place when anyone says anything nis and Kama Sutra. There ties. Put your pajamas on. starting point. sounds taxing, try turning your about the “Great White Buf- Here are some tips to get the are sub-zero temperatures I’m talking the two-piece, most out of your wine trip. Please bathroom into a sauna. And since falo.” Then, when you’re out there so get tangled up flannels your Mawmaw got learn to spit. Seriously, if you visit 5 El Nino stormed into the party nice and toasty, start hump- in them sheets. you at Costco. Put them on. wineries in a day and you drink every don’t fret about the drought too ing. Moving on. And pull your parts out of drop you will face plant at dinner and much. Turn that shower on, steam A naked video game the alloted slot. We’re call- be immobile (and boring) the follow- up your pee room and then smear Netflix and Chill! Super ing morning. It’s perfectly acceptable marathon sounds amaz- ing this the “Pajama Screw.” to move the bar spittoon closer to you up shower doors and mirrors like simple stuff. Or... (and this ing and as I’m typing this I I don’t care if it’s midday. and spit directly into it. It’s what the you’re trying to recreate that scene is just a gentle suggestion) LIFE can’t believe I’ve never had You’ve got nowhere to be professionals do. You will absorb from Titanic where Leonardo Di- Imax and Climax. Get loud one. For shame! Tell me Ma- and no one to answer to be- plenty of alcohol through your mouth Caprio and Kate Winslet lost their and stay warm. Actually that tissues and still enjoy a buzz. Don’t rio Kart and Mexican hot cause you already told your brush your teeth or chew gum or mints virginity. The best part here is sounds incredible. I know sex columnist chocolate in the buff doesn’t boss you’ve got some made- at least two hours before tasting. Ad- how the next time you’re rinsing what I’m doing tonight. sound dope? Say that out up disease and feigned a ditional wine tasting etiquette: Don’t off there will in all probability be loud right now and try not cough. Pull your junk out wear perfume, cologne, hairspray or sherae O’shaughnessy residual evidence. A ghost smear, Happy hour! When to feel stupid. You can’t. It’s and grind. Whomever you strongly scented body lotions. Also, if you will. You’ll remember, smile there is inclement weather have an open palate. Try everything a universal impossibility. In choose to copulate with is that is offered. You’re spitting remem- and then wanna do it again. I’m it’s happy hour everywhere. fact this is the suggestion fantastic providing it is com- ber, so you will have elevated stamina. here to help. Do not debate me! Experi- that I am super suggesting. pletely consensual. You’re Tip your server if the experience was Strip down to your business burning calories, burning above and beyond. I’ll conclude with recommending socks, grab a mug and smack daylight and setting your a handful of small wineries. Russian talk each other until the dia- loins on fire. Hot, hot heat. River – Arista, Jigar, Joseph Jewell, Jo- logue gets nasty. *This may seph Swan, Paul Matthew. Dry Creek HIGH LIFE     only apply to people who I’ve provided you with – Amphora, Kokomo, Mounts, Unti. truly appreciate the majesty many creative outlets this Alexander Valley - Hawkes, Robert Young, Stryker. Anderson Valley – SEXPERT First thing’s FORGE T THE BRING OUT THE IMAX & CLIMAX of a Nintendo 64. month. I expect little down Foresight, Handley, Toulouse. Apple- time. Godspeed. gate Valley – Caprice, Quady North, GET WARM THIS South Stage Cellars. first DROUGHT BOOZE *Pam Long is a Master of Wine WINTER student and wine educator. She pres- ents seminars through HSU’s College Build a Fort Turn the Shower on Drinking Games Make it a Movie of eLearning & Extended Education Night and OLLI programs. [email protected].

18 | TheEmeraldMagazine.com 19 | Emerald | January 2016 But no rain fell. One thing I have No rain fell. By and learned out here in by, I did notice a few the mountains is that glowing spots on the mountains are bet- mountain across the ter understood from Trinity River val- a distance. It is much GAS MASKS SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS ley from me. Noth- easier to “read” the MAKE FOR A ing as dramatic as terrain with some GREAT AID the lightning. Just perspective. The hol- WHEN little glows of yel- lows and draws and FIGHTING OFF low and orange. It rifts and ridges are SMOKE turned out over three much easier to ap- INHALATION hundred forest fires preciate at a distance. were ignited by dry When I am insignifi- lightning in Califor- cantly right on top of nia that night. That these features, it is beautiful night. Over much more difficult the next few weeks to discern patterns those little glow- and understand their ing hot spots would relationships to other grow and combine features. into the 73,000 acre Our State of Cal- BEHIND Mad River Complex ifornia sanctioned of forest fires. But for “grow” occurs on a now, I did not register quarter section of any alarm and I slept mountain with ap- deeply. Alarm would proximately 800 feet not set in until morn- of elevation change ing when I awakened on the property. to discover small Eleven “flats” had plumes of smoke ris- been cleared and lev- ing from a half doz- eled as areas to pile en locations on the logs during timber of CALIFORNIA’S mountain across the harvests a few dec- river valley from me. ades back. My team, The sort of plumes a collective of pa- that rise from stoves tients with medical in cabins during the cannabis prescrip- winter months. But tions, had erected this was the last day greenhouses on one of July and it is very flat where the light uncommon to see cycle could be con- plumes of smoke trolled, while “full during the hot, season” plantings dry summer. I was had been made on alarmed at the sight. three of the sunniest In retrospect, I should have felt alarm. I might thunder melodramatically overwhelmed the dark- But more alarming additional flats. Rut- have suspected that nothing would ever again ness. was the smell. I could ted roads connected be quite the same. But it all began innocently But no rain fell. My comrades in our collec - not see anything yet, these flats and pro- enough. July 30, 2015, after a splendid day tend- tive were absent, taking a little summer break at but clearly there was vided access to the ing the weed at five thousand foot elevation in the the annual Reggae on the River festival in southern something on fire outside world; up to mountains of Humboldt County, California, a Humboldt. My long suffering back was barking at above me. Every so a major forest service light show began in the darkening shadows across me. My doctor’s prescription for cannabis was the often I would catch a road, down to the riv- the sky. Dry lightning, the sort usually accompa- perfect medicine for the pain, and something I nor- whiff. er valley. Upon pur- nied by heavy rain, began crackling and thunder- mally treat with edibles to dull the pain through- chase of the prop- ing. As evening set in and the stars began to twin- out the night. But with that gorgeous light show go- erty, great efforts kle, the cadence of the electrical storm quickened, ing on, I wanted to take my medicine in such a way were made to im- and the silhouette of the “Trinity Alps” against the as to best appreciate the remarkable weather con- prove these roads, to sky was awesomely zapped and strobed in great ditions, so I broke out the bong and took two deep fill in the wash outs flashes of white hot lightning. There was almost a draws of some early harvest bud. Oh yeah. How and to grade over the Hollywood quality to the sky show, as though the could I even be aware of my aching back with such ruts. Still and all, this credits for Mel Brook’s Young Frankenstein might fresh medicine and such a brilliant light show? It is four wheel drive roll across the horizon while the great cracks of was baad. country! It finally sank in that this was a bigger deal than I had allowed. A hugely bigger deal. And here I was, alone, my cohorts dancing in Southern Humboldt. Although I had just watered the full sun plants the day before, and the greenhouses yesterday, I began watering again, just in case I might have to evacuate.

Despite much bad press concerning the environmental atrocities of illegal trespass grows in our national forests or on Native American reservations, even law enforce- ment will admit that many private grows fully comply with the rules and regulations of government agencies. Our property has building permits from the county, harvest and grading permits from the Forest Ser- vice, water diversion and usage permits from both the state Fish and Wildlife Depart- ment and Water Board. Engineers designed the septic system, the road grading. Forest- ers approved the timber plan, etc. The num- ber of cannabis plants was determined by the number of members in the collective, in compliance with Humboldt County. But our mountain was on fire. HOLY SMOKE! In- deed. It finally sank in that this was a big - ger deal than I had allowed. A hugely big- ger deal. And here I was, alone, my cohorts dancing in southern Humboldt. Although I had just watered the full sun plants the day before, and the greenhouses yesterday, I be- FIRE’s EFFECT Anonymous scended to me from the right. Across the turned toward me, and with fire crackling gan watering again, just in case I might have valley a half dozen hot spots glowed like its way down the driveway above me, sud- to evacuate. I knew that at least some por- on CANNABIS survey embers, slowly spreading as the night pro- denly a stand of Douglas fir near the cab- tion of the crop would likely survive a ma- gressed. Beneath me and to the right, a in burst into flames. From that point on un- Smoke in the air will limit how much jor fire, two of the flats being significantly plume of white smoke against the hazy sky til late that night, my memory is in slow results away from the tree line, but I also suspect- light gets to the cannabis plant. This will indicated a major fire. This was not encour- motion. I’m not even going to attempt to de- ed that getting back up the mountain to wa- reduce the effectiveness of photosynthe- aging because the logical evacuation route scribe the terror of the wind carrying fire- ter our plants after the fire had passed would down the mountain would have to go right balls from 200+ foot fir trees and seeming- sis thereby reducing the rate of growth. be problematic. I watered everything and through this area. That night was long. It was ly spitting those fireballs at me. There I was, The smoke itself might also have an effect closed the valves on the storage tanks ex- all so beautiful and surreal, but the antici- choking on smoke, with a silly garden hose, on the plant. Particulate matter from the The majority of sur- cept for the tank that flowed to the cabin. The pation was sheer terror! I arose a couple of putting out fires on the deck, the cabin roof, vey responses indicated smoke had been getting worse and worse all smoke will produce layers of grime and times to walk around the property. It seemed the tool shed. My abundant ineffectiveness that those replying had day. Everything was hazy. The valley below dust that are filled with toxins and ash on to me that the heat must be creating it’s own was matched by my stubborn determination. been directly impact- me filled with smoke. And smoke appeared the surfaces of leaves. The leaf stomachs localized wind. Eventually the fires must have burned the ed by wildfires. One said to be wafting down the mountain toward me, will be clogged and the smoke absorbs a Dawn broke and I was indecisive. I actu- plastic piping coming down the hill from the he lost 38 long season but the winds and drafts were so tricky that ally convinced myself that with less breeze, water tanks, for my garden hose sputtered lot of light. Smoky air does have a high it was impossible for me to ascertain where In August 2015, the plants with an estimated the fires were not likely to burn as hot. Per- to a trickle, then stopped completely. Only concentration of carbon dioxide, but it exactly above me the fires were concentrat- Emerald Magazine post- value of $15,000. Twenty- haps they would burn themselves out, or then did I recognize what look had been on ed. Hopefully, there were no fires anywhere also contains a wide variety of unburned ed an anonymous survey five percent believed the around me. I would later learn that about that my two dog’s faces throughout my time play- near where the jeep was parked. toxic hydrocarbons like sulfur dioxide asking Emerald Triangle street value of cannabis time friends had made an attempt on the up- ing fireman. Clearly they were wondering, With dusk, however, the extent of my Growers how the wild- would rise due to the loss per road to come and fetch me. However, a “Why are we still here?” and carbon monoxide. problem became evident. Up mountain, mile from our gate, the fires were too intense With that realization, I put down the flac- - ilovegrowingmarijuana.com fires have affected their of crops. there were many “hot spots” to the left. An and my comrades turned back. Around two cid hose and the dogs and I walked down crops. evacuation might be possible; the road de- in the afternoon, the wind picked up, the fire the mountain. Well, sometimes we ran. But 23 | Emerald | January 2016 22 | TheEmeraldMagazine.com mainly we walked. Eight or nine miles. To both upper and lower, knowing that the fire ed on the ribbon. Fancy! Their trucks were a Red Cross comfort station. Word up. I am crews would need access to draw water from fancy as well, raising clouds of dust as they in complete astonishment at how all the var- our creek. The damage to our crop was sub- sped past our greenhouses. Those green- ious government and private entities knit stantial, but not devastating. Only one end houses had been built to facilitate the pull- themselves together during our California of one greenhouse had melted. Only one flat ing of blackout tarps, but the sticky buds, wildfires to weave a marvelous social fabric. was completely crisp. Other flats were just five weeks into flower, would have been ru- A gorgeous tapestry, I’d have to say. It was a singed around the edges. Thousands of feet ined with ash and dust had those greenhous- beautiful thing for me to stumble down the of water pipe had melted or burned. The cab- es not been there. mountain into the welcoming arms of the in and trailer were gone. The aluminum rims As you might expect, the differences in Red Cross. I was thankful to see fire crews on the jeep had actually melted into pud- the legal status of cannabis between the state and law enforcement working tirelessly to dles. But the greenhouses that we had been and federal agencies soon became appar- save lives, to prevent property loss, to calm pulling blackout tarps over every evening at ent. We were told that Cal Fire’s employees the confusion. It was remarkable how quick- ly the fire dangers were assessed and ad- dressed. Fire camps were established that would grow to thousands of residents each. Community centers and other public build- ings quickly transformed into canteens and supply depots. The rock quarry became a diesel fuel depot for all the fire trucks. The GROW BETTER little Dinsmore airport became a heliport, each helicopter with its own camp of attend- ants. Firemen even showed up on bulldozers from Alabama! Within days, firefighters and From exclusive materials like Black Owl Biochar to the their auxiliary personnel were on hand from 23 states. It was the most organized pande- effective, economical nutrient delivery of liquid fish monium I have ever witnessed. (Think of D- hydrolysate, Humboldt Ag Supply sources the best day movies without the machine guns.) I am certain I am not the only grower fertilizers for your garden or farm. with abiding gratitude for the benevolence and camaraderie of my fellow citizens. This Thanksgiving was the first time in my life I ever actually got down on my knees to give thanks. Yeah. That grateful. Our little med- ical cannabis collective also felt that same spirit of cooperation and fellowship. In good times, people can get sidetracked with pet- six (in order to fool the plants into thinking had been directed to cooperate with, to work ty grievances and jealousies. But given a it was autumn) were in full blossom. Fortu- alongside growers. In one instance, Cal Fire For your farm. Know your dirt. serious peril, everyone became commu- nately, a large store of organic nutrients sur- directed the dozer group from Alabama to nistic comrades, arm in arm, striving ever vived. Woven wire fencing for caging the cut a fire line down the mountain explicitly Custom Blending Soil Testing upward toward a common goal. “SAVE THE plants and supporting the growing flow- to protect our neighbor’s grow. The instanc- WEED!” ers survived. We mounted a water tank on es of growers and firefighters working side • Top dressings that target • Science and analysis for the And save it we did. Three days after my a truck and from it pulled hoses through the by side and coordinating their efforts were your unique nutrient needs. best plan forward. hasty retreat down the mountain, a col- woods to extinguish hot spots on our prop- numerous. lective convoy went back up to assess the erty. (Fallen logs and stumps could smold- Not so the federal forest rangers. Natu- damage and water our girls. The devasta- er for days, igniting new fires when the wind rally, with all the equipment being moved FarmDirect Pricing Sustainable tion was breathtaking to see, hazardous to picked up.) around, and the danger posed by the fires, • Wholesale pricing available • Clean materials from breathe. We had gas masks or, frankly, our The creek flow was adequate despite the there were numerous road closings. The task would have been impossible. Our own drought, and the state of emergency au- state authorities “soft” closed their roads, for bulk clients. reputable producers. roads were confusing, because with acre thorized firefighters to draw water from it so that folks who could prove they owned or upon roadside acre burned to a crisp, noth- and haul that water to other sites. We had lived somewhere could access their proper- ing quite looked the same. A few trees had to laugh at the Texas firefighters who had ty. Not so the feds. Forest Service roads were fallen across our roads. We learned that to hang ribbons of green tape from branch- “hard” closed, open only to rangers and fire- chainsawing charred logs is a filthy job. For es and bushes in order to even find the creek! men. If the feds caught us on one of their the first time ever we left the gates open, The name of the fire department was print- roads, we would get escorted back down the 25 | Emerald | January 2016 TO LEARN MORE OR START AN ACCOUNT, DROP US A LINE AT [email protected] mountain. But it was not long before we fig- Those communists may have lost the Cold breathable foul air had not fouled the plants. ured out their duty schedules and observed War, but they sure knew their gas masks! They loved it! And the diffused light in the the codes written on firefighter’s windshields. By Labor Day the fires were pretty much smoky haze? The buds seemed to fill out a lit- be We took precautions accordingly and man- under control and the air was fit to breathe. tle softer and less dense. They appeared to aged to get a convoy in and out twice a week Some of our group moved back on site in a grow more like indoor bud does. I’m not go- to work our grow. Our American gas masks tent. The buds on plants that had been half ing to try and explain here why plants enjoy were cumbersome. It was hard to see the buds burned were huge! (We suspect the unspoiled air that is more concentrated with carbon di- rew a rded. over the cheek mounted canisters. We were roots were pumping all that water and nutri- oxide. Ask Dr. Science if you are so inclined. all grateful at the arrival of a special order of ents into only half a plant, making for some But I will say that it is with good reason that Win a 2016 Hyundai Polish Cold War gas masks with the canister bodacious buds!) The greenhouses were some folks with indoor grows supplement the Sonata Hybrid extended on a hose and clipped to our belts. bursting with harvest. That month of un- air with carbon dioxide. 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After math of california’s wild fires chared grow pots and plants 27 | Emerald | January 2016 Reminisce of the fires

blessed with bud grown in air that had been natu- rally supplemented. Will wonders never cease? On September 13, seven weeks after the light- ning strikes, our particular fire was declared “con- tained.” Our roads were open. The fire camps were de-camped. The fire trucks went home to 23 states, the dozers too. And the helicopters. All gone. Life on the mountain began to feel “normal” again. But it’s a new normal. For one thing, we all know our neighbors now. Gone are the days when we shyly averted our eyes and pretended not to see each oth- er. Now we know each other, we appreciate each other, and we are poised to cooperate with each other. For another thing, all those firemen from all those red states, coming out here to the wicked blue state of California, working side by side with grow- ers to save the weed? Those firemen went home having learned we growers are not the evil mon- sters they had been led to believe we were. They found us to be family oriented, highly educated, se- riously motivated, hard working tillers of the soil with necks reddened by the sun. We’ve shown po- litical rednecks how to be actual rednecks. We’ve broken bread with anti-cannabis zealots. We’ve shared our beer and many laughs together. We’ve saved the weed together. Firefighters returned to 23 states with more objective views about cannabis cultivation. Surely that has got to count for some- thing as our nation moves closer and closer to the decriminalization of marijuana. What was left of the crop is now harvested, trimmed, cured, and in the medicine bag. And for all that trouble and all that terror and all that grief and all of life’s tribulations, what is the final verdict? Well folks, I don’t know about your weed, but my weed is fire. Best I’ve ever grown. All that trouble and adversity made for some serious- ly awesome bud. You can even open the container, Established in 1998 squeeze a bud, and catch the slightest whiff of the 3 Acre Conversions mountain on fire. Just the slightest hint of a whiff. Water Rights Registrations Call it “Pre-smoked Smoke” if you’d like. Out here CDFW Stream Diversion Permits on the mountain we call it “California Wildfire.” Try asking your local weed dispenser for some Water Board Waste Discharge “Wildfire.” If you are so lucky as to score some, Permits for Marijuana Cultivation your aches and pains and whatever ails you will be much improved. You’ll see. Chris Carroll (707) 499-1222

29 | Emerald | January 2016 Winter Indoor

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WITH EMILY HOBELMANN And he was kind enough to share the nug have extraordinarily de- some of his small batch Cherry tailed purple veins. Pie indoor with me on the spot. Also, the stems are remark- Thanks JG! ably thin with respect to the size According to the cannabis of the nugs which are shaped information resource website like little fir cones, rotund at one Leafly.com, Cherry Pie is a cross end, tapering to a point at the of quintessential parent strains other. They are the length of my PCherry PieOT bud tALK Granddaddy Purple and Durban thumb. And the buds are stable, Poison. It’s got a healthy internet not delicate or crumbly. Squeeze trail -- a bevy sites offer unique a nug and it’s sticky but not hard As you might expect, I seek out people Gilbert is this talented, intelligent Cherry Pie reviews. Gilbert grew to break apart -- perfect moisture Both the smell and flavor committed to growing superior organic grower affiliated with Emerald Family Cherry Pie at the request of a content with snap. cannabis when acquiring samples for Pot Farms. He’s a totally amicable guy that’s are complex -- musky, citrusy, Bay Area dispensary owner who Both the smell and flavor are Talk. Humboldt County-based canna- into what he does. It’s not about profits keeps the strain in his “stable.” complex -- musky, citrusy, sweet sweet but more sour bis farmer Jonathan Gilbert is one such or popularity with him, at least that’s my He wanted to see what Gilbert but more sour. With respect to the person. I got the chance to interview take. He’s all about increasing the qual- “ could do with it. He did well... smell in particular, I think it hits him back in September after he took the ity of his cannabis through efficient, in- The dense and chunky nugs of this borderline bitter lemon-and- grand prize at the 2nd Annual Golden formed and adaptive technique. Cherry Pie have a midnight kind leather high note. The lemon is Tarp Award, Humboldt County’s own I sought out Gilbert-grown canna- Grown indoors in of vibe, an army to olive green tart and punchy, but the leather is light deprivation cannabis competition. bis for this edition because I know he’s individual pots with color with a dark purple, almost comforting and nostalgic. And I got a lot of indoor growing experience. organic soil. black tinge. Tiny bright orange found that the smell is different at TheEmeraldMagazine.com hairs contrast beautifully with the different points in the nug. It’s a rich backdrop. If you break open real expedition. The Plants Were a nug and look closely, you can That citrus is a prominent fac- see that the purple is not just a tor in the flavor too, but it’s got tinge to the nug. The small sugar a honey layer too it as well. It’s leaves interspersed throughout smooth and sophisticated, and I get hits of cardamom, coffee and short & stocky fennel. Like Cherry Pie, it is ab- solutely delicious. But I think it tastes more like a dark spirit, such They were prone to growing as brandy. herm clusters toward the bottom Gilbert-Grown The high is a mellow and cre- ative. It wasn’t intense, and I ap- Cannabis preciate that. I did get the munch- ies and cotton mouth, but my heart didn’t race and my stomach didn’t drop. I smoked a bunch of it and was able to stay up past 9 It’s like he’s not afraid to help prone to growing herm clus- p.m. -- not wired or tired. That other cannabis folks start to ters toward the bottom. So he complex smell, appearance and think in these terms. brought the plants up, mani- flavor translates into a balanced Like his linguistics, his soil is cured them from the bottom up- and even keeled high. not bland or watered-down; he ward which eliminated the herm Gilbert grew this Cherry Pie utilizes solid and liquid amend- cluster issue. Perfectly formed indoors in individual pots with ments with the fundamental flowers remained. The color of organic soil. Each pot was given consideration that soil is a com- the plants was a dark military specialized attention, hand wa- plex ecosystem in itself, and green color till around week tered. Soil is of central impor- keeping the soil healthy will five when they transitioned into tance to plant health, and Gil- enable him to optimize plant a dark purple. He cured it con- bert’s take on cannabis farming health. As for lighting, he used scientiously, avoided drying it is cutting edge in this regard. light rail technology with two quickly and aggressively. impressive Gilbert versed on the chemistry 1000 watt fixtures. He says he And his conscientiousness indoor and biology of soil science, and saved an enormous amount of comes through. This Cherry Pie he is quick to talk in terms of energy with this configuration, is handsome, guilt-free organic beneficial bacteria, nematodes, and the yield was the same qual- indoor with explosive flavors mycorrhizal fungi, enzymes, ity as he normally produces. and a therapeutic effect. polypeptide chains, chelation, in- The plants were short and teractions at the molecular level... stocky, and he says they were 41 | Emerald | January 2016 ean Hodge is getting used to the slower pace of Humboldt Coun- S ty, his new home since September. He moved here to start his business, Weed Weedy Oil, which makes organic CBD-rich salves, lip balms, and soaps—products out the he was inspired to create after experiencing first- hand the healing effects of cannabis. pain Hodge credits high-CBD (cannabidiol) and CBN (cannabinol) strains, and his own forays into home- made salves and topicals, with helping him heal By M. Hanson after a near-fatal car accident. Hodge was living in Huntington Beach with his wife and three daughters when, on November 21, 2014, his car was hit head-on by a pickup truck. The truck that hit him was barely damaged; the 17-year-old driving the truck, and the passenger, walked away unhurt. “It was a life-changing experience,” Hodge said of the accident, which destroyed his car, severed a tendon in his right arm, injured his feet, hips and shoulders, and left him with a severe concussion. He was extracted from the wreck by the Jaws of Life, and for months could not remember anything in a three-day span surrounding the event. His injuries, his ex-wife Catherine Hodge said, “changed everything for him.” He was prescribed opiates for the pain. He de- cided to try medical cannabis, in addition to the prescribed medications, for his pain and post-trau-

matic stress, and found they had a positive effect. He eventually transitioned to using only cannabis for pain relief—and even used edibles to manage his withdrawal symptoms from the opiates.

CBDproject.org

43 | Emerald | January 2016 WEED out the PAIN

“Five months ago, I could barely walk,” high-CBD strains in particular. Research Hodges said. “Now, I’m running up to has shown cannabinoids to improve re- three to five miles a day.” Hodge also does covery time after brain injury, including yoga 3-4 days a week. He uses his salve stress-related trauma such as PTSD. before working out, and says that it has Hodge grows CBD-rich strain Trident, helped reduce scarring on his arm, where and others, and uses organic carrier oils his tendon was severed. Although he still and essential oils in his lab-tested salves has mild and subtle aftereffects from his and balms. “I’m a firm believer in this concussion, he said he is learning to be stuff. It’s amazing,” he said. more aware. For more information about Weedy Oil, “When they talk about (the effects email [email protected] of) concussions, now I know what they For more information on the emerging mean,” he said. “I had severe PTSD, which science of cannabiniol and healing, visit the marijuana helped with as well.” www.projectcbd.org A growing body of research is dem- For the latest in scientific research, visit onstrating the neuroprotective and anti- International Cannabinoid Research Soci- inflammatory properties of cannabis, and ety at icrs.co He was skeptical at first, not really believing cannabis would help. He said its effectiveness sur- prised him. Hodge began making his own balms and salves, and took online classes to learn more. “He’s been able to get off all of the harsh psycho- active drugs that traditional medicine offers,” Cath- Follow Us erine Hodge said. The opiates caused “profound change in his personality, for the worse,” she added, but now that he is off of them and using cannabis products, “he’s doing significantly better.” Made with Ice Find Us @HumboldPatient @WonderlandNursery @TheHeartofHumboldt @KindSolutions @CookiesSF215 Water Hash. @RedwoodCoastCollective & #DMCompassionCenter.

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But it wasn’t an having trouble meditating in an Ash- In the morning I make a smoothie with easy transition. My world and ram in India, the first question her guru fruit and leaf. This is a full body treatment, cannabis flower body seemingly fell apart in asked was how her digestion was. It’s warding off illness and preventing serious the middle of a failed relation- why the painfully shy and chronical- disease, such as my cancer, reoccurring. ship wrought with infidelity ly depressed cartoonist Charles Schultz During the day I smoke for depression, my and deceit; with a shoebox full gave his alter-ego Charlie Brown tummy immediate go-to when I’m feeling low. It of prescription meds intend- pains – when our tummy hurts, we hurt. raises endorphins immediately, gets into the ed to help failing me, as one When my tummy felt better, every- bloodstream quickly, lifts me up and stops pill confused the other and ma- thing else followed. My metabolism the crying jags. If the carbon causes bron- nia set in. At my lowest point I sped up; I lost weight; the constant bloat- chial issues I use a vaporizer – it also replac- downed the bottle of Valium ing was gone; I was able to go to the bath- es steroid inhalers for asthma patients, and intended to calm my nerves. room daily – something I hadn’t been helps during a cold - but that’s another story. Luckily, I had intervention. able to do in years; the fatigue and the big, In the evening I might enjoy a ton - Prior to my suicide attempt I black cloud hovering overhead lifted. ic in a cocktail - an infused alcohol, such only smoked the herb. When the While the cancer was disappearing, my as rum or gin. This is brilliant as the an- little bottle of Valium was gone body was healing from the inside-out, ti-inflammatory and anti-infection prop- I had only pot. Lucky for me, as my endocannabinoid system accept- erties of the plant keep headaches and cannabis smoked immediate- ed the cannabinoids of the plant, work- hangovers at bay. And alcohol breaks ly elevates endorphins. It helped ing together to right the wrongs of dec- down the medicine in the plant without keep tears at bay, but wasn’t ades and the lineage of toxins making heat, so there are no psychoactive prop- enough. I still suffered, with lit- me sick. It also cleansed my organs af- erties, as THC is activated with heat. tle emotional strength left. And ter 13 years of ineffective and ultimate- At bedtime I ingest RSO, a strong tinc- YOUR RIGHT to on top of everything else, I just ly damaging synthetic prescription meds. ture, medible, and/or have medicat- didn’t feel good, physically – With my physician’s blessing I did away ed honey in my tea, as menopause is a a better life a combination of thyroid dis- with more than eight pharmaceuti- sleep disruptor. This also works as an- ease and menopause - causing cals - including hormone replacements other preventative against cancers, infec- my emotional issues to escalate. - and all the negative side effects disap- tion, inflammation and pain, and a bevy As of 2016, 23 states, Washington D.C. Around this same time, a spi - peared along with the myriad symptoms of of both common and serious ailments. der-web-like mass was found and the island of Guam have legalized both the thyroid disease and menopause. Some patients have real issues with the psy- in my right breast appearing to medical cannabis. Cannabis can be used choactive properties of THC, but I’ll say be lobular carcinoma; a mass, to treat Glaucoma, everse the effects of this, it is the only thing that helps with my not a tumor, affecting up to 15 mental challenges, and the effects lessen tobacco, helps control epileptic seizures, percent of women in the U.S. with time. One’s tolerance builds in the same stop the spread of cancer, decreases anxi- RIGHT I immediately began eating, and way Valium or any opiate does, but with no Elizabeth Gilbert’s ety, slows the progression of Alzheimer’s, then blending, raw leaves in a damaging side effects, only healing within. Lets 2006 novel, eases the pain of multiple sclerosis, helps smoothie to combat the cancer. My thyroid is kaput for life, the cancer may Eat, Pray, Love. Work types of muscle spasms, helps with the re- I also began taking Rick Simp- rear its ugly head again, and they say I may covery of Hepatitis C, irritable bowel syn- son Oil, or RSO, an extreme- have another ten years of menopause ahead Together drome, arthritis discomfort and weight ly strong, concentrated oil used of me. But I am blessed with the knowledge gain. in the treatment of cancers and that with this plant I feel good today, and the other serious illness. And then only potion simmering in this witch’s caul- an amazing thing happened - 46 | TheEmeraldMagazine.com dron is cannabis. 47 | Emerald | January 2016 my tummy began feeling better. A time will come Those who fight to end the prohibition my’s journey back to the cannabis scene was of cannabis are as diverse as the individuals one full of hardships and magnificent twists. who consume cannabis for recreational or when medicinal purposes. Among the many well- Hard Times Call for Big Change known activists such as Snoop Dogg, Wil- The story of how Tammy Wood became lie Nelson, Jack Herer, Cheryl Shuman, and an active advocate is one of her favorites to Sanjay Gupta, there are thousands of other tell. According to Tammy, “It is truly a great WE citizens who also speak out and fight to re- version of the American Dream and a tes- form cannabis laws. One of those activists is tament to the sustainability of the cannabis Tammy Wood, a resident of Madison, Wis- industry.” After becoming a mother, Tammy consin. This is her story. began to work from home. Her husband, decide Brian, was a car salesman. Tammy helped Living in a Prohibition World supplement the family income by holding Some activists are born into cannabis cul- regular yard sales. Following the economic ture due to their parent’s lifestyle, while oth- disasters of 2008, many families felt the that ers never encountered it in their lives. Many crash full force; Tammy’s family being one though, like Tammy, partook in their young- of them. Automotive sales declined con- er years. In high school, Tammy was your sistently for many months, putting a major stereotypical stoner teenager who “skipped strain on the family. it's every class except literature.” When she got Tammy and Brian looked for other in- older and became a mother, as well as a ca- come opportunities. Tammy had given reer woman, cannabis faded from her life. It thought to becoming a vendor at carnivals. left her not because she no longer enjoyed or Initially Tammy believed this adventure over benefitted from it, but because many states would be fun-filled, but it was much more had draconian cannabis laws that could have difficult than expected. Vending at carnivals caused her to lose her job or children. Tam- is very weather dependent, and it requires a

SET YOUR STAGE

BE PROUD

49 | Emerald | January 2016 Wood pipe Smoke Shoppe Glass Acessories Magic is how big a market there was for smoking accessories, the idea of a believing in Smoke Shoppe surfaced. In 2010, Wood Pipes Smoke Shoppe and yourself. Speakeasy opened its doors on Main Street in Kendall, Wisconsin. The store thrived for 5 years despite a failing economy. Eventually, when you Wood relocated the store to the slightly bigger town of Reedsburg, succeed, we Wisconsin, where it still remains a mom and pop shop today. succeed. and SO DOES The Start of Activism everything else. After opening Wood Pipes Smoke Shoppe Tammy began to see WOOD OF just how disconnected her customers were from cannabis culture and the truth about the plant. Her tipping point was how many cus- WISCONSIN tomers didn’t know cannabis and marijuana were the same plant. She knew she had to educate the public. She was familiar with the by JAMES PRIEST “common stoner folklore,” such as the Constitution being written on hemp and that cannabis is more useful than for “just getting high.” To be a voice for cannabis, Tammy knew that she had to arm herself with factual and engaging educational information. Owning a cannabis shop in a lot of physical work. Their glow in the In her search for information to share with the world, she encoun- non-cannabis friendly state: dark merchandise was much harder to sell tered a renowned voice for cannabis, Russ Bellville, who was NORML The story of cannabis activist Tammy in the light of day than they had antici- National Outreach Coordinator at the time, and is well known for his Wood and her journey turning Wood pated. online radio show. Tammy became a frequent voice on the other end of This was when things began to change the call-in line. Russ was able to direct Tammy to several Wisconsin Pipes Smoke Shoppe into Wood Pots for Tammy and her family. She and her chapters of NORML. Russ urged Tammy to read The Emperor Wears Smoke Shoppe. husband knew that the potential for some- No Clothes by the renowned cannabis activist Jack Herer. The informa- thing great was there, they just needed the tion in this book was enough for Tammy to say, “This has to stop, the right merchandise. Noticing metal and war against this plant must end and I will not stop fighting until it is glass smoking accessories familiar from abolished.” their youth, such as bongs, bubblers and hookahs, on a whim Tammy and Brian purchased a few hundred dollars worth of WOOD Pipe SMOKE SHOPPE merchandise in hopes of boosting profits. Inside Look And... “IT WORKED!” Within two hours of opening their car- nival booth they sold out! Realizing just The Passion That Fuels the Fire how big a market there was for smoking Tammy says, “I live in a state where darker-shaded humans accessories, the idea of a Smoke Shoppe live a second class life, where darker-shaded children are ar- surfaced. In 2010, Wood Pipes Smoke rested at a rate that is higher than any other in our nation, JACK HERER Shoppe and Speakeasy opened its doors where darker-shaded men are more than twice as likely to on Main Street in Kendall, Wisconsin. The Emperor Wears No Clothes have a felony conviction.” She also lives in a state with the 3rd The store thrived for 5 years despite a worst roads in the nation yet “tax dollars are flushed away to failing economy. Eventually, Wood relo- continue enforcing laws that were pushed through by a bigot cated the store to the slightly bigger town who stood within the halls of one of the greatest democracies of Reedsburg, Wisconsin, where it still on earth and convinced our legislators adults had no business remains a mom and pop shop today. deciding what to consume, because he feared the way ‘Ne- Within two hours of opening their car- groes would look at white women twice’ and that they would nival booth they sold out! Realizing just have the audacity ‘to step in white men’s shadows’. Those are TAMMY WOOD the words of Harry Anslinger, first commissioner of the Fed- eral Bureau of Narcotics. Harry is responsible for the Mari- Cannabis Activist & Wood Pots Smoke Shoppe Owner juana Tax act of 1937 that ultimately led to the prohibition of cannabis. WOOD OF WISCONSIN CONTINUED Protect your crop, she looked stressed and of- that will very likely kill me, national organizations such fered her a cigarette. And all because we are presently as NORML or the Marijuana so, she again picked up the governed by misguided laws Policy Project is a great way deadly addiction of cigarette that were based on outright to be active in the efforts for Protect your future. smoking four years after lies and racism. I am here to legalization. The hardest she had quit. The last thing change that!” part of it all, Tammy says, she wanted was a horrible, is owning a business such Tammy also lives in a state which once was disgusting cigarette and she Activist Advice to Others as the Wood Pipes in a state one of the top producers of hemp in the coun- stated the following, “What Tammy says, “The easi- where cannabis is still highly try, where, instead, over 5,000 family farms have I really wanted was a nice est way to be an advocate illegal. The ultimate goal of closed their barn doors for good. She lives in a sativa strain that would give is to stop voting for people Tammy and Brian Wood is state that arrests an estimated 19,000 individuals me the energy to deal with who will lock citizens in a to turn Wood Pipes Smoke each year for this plant, while serious crimes like the never-ending bullshit cage for using a plant. It’s Shoppe into the Wood Pots rape are downplayed. Last but not least, she lives prohibition kept shoveling noncommittal and it doesn’t Smoke Shoppe when legal- in a state where thousands of individuals suffer my way. But that less ad- require you coming out of ization happens. Tammy SMOK E IN horrendous medical ailments because they cannot dictive, far safer alternative the closet.” Contacting your wants to be able to offer STYLE legally access a plant. is against Wisconsin state representatives is also an ef- medical patients the advice DRAGON Prohibition has directly affected Tammy too. law. The cigarette being fective way to make change. they need to find the right HOOKA She wanted to host an educational cannabis fair, held out in front of me was The more individuals they strains for their ailments. a comfortable place where individuals could ask legal. It was legal and it re- hear from, the more likely She dreams of being able to questions and share knowledge. She clearly stat- ally did calm my nerves that they are to evaluate the situ- help customers purchase the ed that the event was for educational purposes day. Yet here I am, five years ation from different perspec- right flowers, concentrates, Cannabis Policies and lined up a great roster to bring professional later fighting an addiction tives. Being involved with edibles or smoking acces- and credible conversation and engagement to the can Include: event, including an author, leading members of 3 different NORML chapters, representatives from • General Liability LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition), Ed “What I really wanted was CLASSY GLASSY Thompson, a local mayor, a Senate candidate and a nice sativa strain that would • Product Liability A WIDE the first ever recipient of the Ben Masel Defenders give me the energy to deal RANGE OF of Liberty Award. And the courageous and dedi- with the never-ending bullshit • Property Crop GLASS cated Jacki Rickert who traversed 160 miles across prohibition kept shoveling my • Equipment WATER PIPES Wisconsin roadways in her wheelchair, bringing way... “ attention the ridiculous draconian laws Wisconsin Breakdown has regarding cannabis. Despite all her careful preparation, Tammy Cultivation states that “the reefer madness instilled by decades • Transporters, etc. of prohibition incited such outcry from the village government that they set every hoop in sight on sories for their medical needs. Call Now for a Quote fire just to watch me jump through them.” Despite Tammy states “Additionally, her uncanny ability to remain calm, enough was when our customers come in John Ford Insurance Agency enough when “elected officials said out loud and after a long week at work and SCEN T FROM on public record they feared the attendees at the want to unwind for the weekend ABOVE educational cannabis fair I was planning to host READ THE we want to send them out the 710 E street Suite 245 A VARIETY may be inclined ‘to drop trow and shit in the park’ FULL STORY AT door with the best dank Wis- Eureka, Ca 95501 OF INCENSE if I didn’t provide two additional porta-potties to consin farmers can grow. We STICKS the existing 8 flush toilets already available caused want to be able to offer the free- TheeEmeraldMagazine.com 707-273-5233 me to break. Their sheer stupidity and lack of de- dom to choose; we can’t do that corum sent me over the edge.” right now and that is the hardest After yet another stressful call from the vil- part of my business.” lage clerk demanding another special board meet- ing to discuss her plans, a customer noted that 52 | TheEmeraldMagazine.com 53 | Emerald | January 2016 VERMONTIJUANA ELEVATETHESTATE

Eli Harrington

CANNABIS LEGALIZATION IN VERMONT Hill We Go

dear emerald, Thank You for your inquiry anders ” S

ernie As you may know, thanks to by the RAND Corporation. This “B a 2011 law I signed, we now have study has provided Vermont with four medical marijuana dispensaries extensive information about the ef- ernard operating in the state. The 2011 law fects of marijuana legalization in all also expanded the list of people who areas of society, from public health ) SENATOR B may certify the medical condition and safety to potential revenue that of a patient to include physician’s could be raised by the State. I sup- (below assistants and advanced practice port moves to investigate legalizing registered nurses. In 2013, I signed marijuana in Vermont, however it is three things to know a law that replaces criminal penal- imperative that the process be rooted ties for adults in possession of small in rigorous and preparation before about cannabis amounts of marijuana with civil deciding whether to act. The RAND sanctions, similar to a traffic fine. By report was a major part of this prepa- reforming marijuana penalties, we ration, and I look forward to working legalization in vt allow our law enforcement to devote with the legislature as we continue more resources and time to the fight to evaluate marijuana policy in Ver- against highly addictive opiate and mont. prescription drugs that are tearing Please don’t hesitate to contact apart families and communities. my office again if we can be of fur- I am aware of efforts nation- ther assistance. wide to legalize marijuana. I am from the top watching closely the effects of le- Sincerely, galization laws in Washington and Peter Shumlin, Governor Colorado and was pleased to learn 802-828-3333 of the decision by the federal Justice Department not to interfere with the implementation of these laws. Fur- There is Medical... thermore, in order to better under-

g the stand the complexity that surrounds But the program is very (ABOVE) VERMONT STATE FLAG the issues of marijuana legislation, conservative my administration, at the Legisla- ture’s request, commissioned a study on the issue, which was completed governor.vermont.gov

Vermont is into being #1... ermonter shares thelaw Thanks to a certain Senator/Larry David impersonator--who is ing of the MPP. Current VT medical outlines: qualifying conditions In every scenario proposed and discussed, the dispensaries would But reforming cannabis laws V the best presidential candidate for federal cannabis reform and needs are VERY strict and mostly for , prescribing physicians must have at have the inside track on a recreational license (but would need to via the legislature is a more your support, not corporate money, damnit--a lot more people are least a six-month relationship with a patient applying, and there are form a separate for-profit entity before their rubber stamp), so they’re complicated process talking about Vermont these days. So if you think about our Green currently only four dispensaries legally allowed to serve the 2000+ not particularly motivated to help the various business lobbyists open Mountain State and picture your aunt and her partner who sell organ- registered patients and caregivers in the state. It’s all overseen by the up recreational and see their patients go elsewhere. The different pro- ic goat cheese, you’re probably: A - surprised we didn’t actually legal- Department of Public Safety and has been very successful in prevent- reform factions are more or less playing nicely, but it’s too small a ize recreational marijuana already, and B - understanding that our le- ing meds from reaching the illicit market, but with VERY small pos- state not to collaborate, especially when the national prohibitionists galization discussion is uniquely Vermont-y and features the words session limits (2 mature; 7 immature; 2oz smokeable bud), many pa- (SAM-VT) are unified and organized enough to write the same op-ed annabis reform bills hittin

c ‘artisanal’, ‘local’, and ‘craft’ in almost every sentence...so here are tients still access the parallel market of high quality homegrown from every other week. Vermont has Drug Problems... three quick hits to pass around about the state of our state: friends in the hills. And it’s both helping and hurt- Those dispensary laws also mean that the only legally legitimate We’re into being #1, but reforming cannabis laws via the legislature is a ing the legalization discussion There is mecial, but the program is tiny and the laws are conservative. local industry knowledge and legal cover (to do testing, store genet- more complicated process. It was a tough battle to get medical passed in 2004 and it took some ics, do extraction, and make edibles) is monopolized by these four If you know anyone from VT, you’ve probably heard, but we’re big concessions and determined collaboration with law enforce- dispensaries, which are protected by a law that currently caps the pretty proud of our small state and its list of firsts. First state to pro- ith multiple islaturein January, a native ment to help boost the grassroots efforts of patients and the lobby- number at four. hibit slavery, provide a state university and public education, legalize g W same sex marriage without a court order...you get the idea. le of the land... 55 | Emerald | January 2016 54 | TheEmeraldMagazine.com VERMONTIJUANA ELEVATETHESTATE

So it’s appealing to our pride to be the first state to do this via our We’ve got a way bigger drug problem, and it’s both helping and hurting citizen legislature, but it’s a very complicated political process. Be- the discussion. cause our state government doesn’t allow for ballot initiatives, it’s When Rolling Stone ran the story about Vermont being “The New MUCH more complicated than a single (or even multiple) yes/no Face of Heroin” in April 2014--along with an iconic picture of a proposition that’s already been hammered out by the various fac- Rockwell-ian lumberjack shooting up--it changed the public dialogue tions. Senator David Zuckerman--an organic farmer, longtime advo- and now we’ve got a full-fledged. Heroin addiction is increasing eve- cate for updating cannabis laws, and current candidate for Lt. Gov- rywhere but in our small, tight-knit (read: affluent, blindingly-white) ernor--proposed legislation last year (S.95) and a draft bill from the communities, we think it’s markedly different here. State Senate Government Operations Committee is due out in the This means the false narrative of “heroin is awful, drugs are bad, next week. weed is a drug, we need less not more drugs” is heard nonstop and Our outgoing governor, Peter Shumlin, is also a strong supporter does impact some of the more skittish voters. Thankfully, we’ve got and likely hopes to leave his post as the first ganja governor of the some serious leaders up the hill at the University of Vermont Medical East Coast. Since the political stars are aligned now, there’s a good School who just announced the first medical cannabis course in the chance that we’ll havesomething in place in 2016, but what the final country. And when talking about cannabis as a gateway, the afore - product looks like will be a product of A LOT of hammers negotiat- mentioned Governor Shumlin responded to the Huffington Post in ing details. The best solution is probably the creation of a cannabis August by saying, “I would ask a simple question: If marijuana is a control board that can more nimbly regulate and update medical and gateway drug to heroin, what are the FDA-approved opiates that we recreational VT cannabis. hand out like candy? So that’s the state of the Green Mountain State when it comes to -le galization as of early December 2015, and while much has been done, the fun has just begun...stay tuned and help us Vermonters Elevate the State!

57 | Emerald | January 2016 HUMBOLDT OPINION

“In many ways we’re forced to go through the process in a backwards fashion”

y - Humboldt county ph S Q supervisor, VIRGINIA BASS

otogra The California state legislature stirred Instead of getting statewide, fully inte- things up recently when they passed four grated rules and regulations for our canna-

m ph cannabis bills, consequently signed into law bis industry, we’ve had a few Sacramento by our governor. This sent local jurisdictions egos step forward, each trying to take credit (county and city) planning commissions on with their bill, none of which had any teeth.

p ectru G a fast track to complete local cannabis laws Considering cannabis is a multi-billion dol- Elizabeth Warren by the March 1, 2016 deadline for permits, lar industry, the largest unregulated indus- ull s Senator of Massachusetts inspections, zoning for indoor and outdoor try in California, one might think our elect- grows, allowed plant count, water use plans, ed leaders would want to tame the Wild Wild “We must ensure that our TINs (tax identification numbers), dispensa- West and most important, get a piece of the public policy regarding med- ries sales, otherwise “the state would be the tax dollars. ical marijuana is guided by EW OWEN F | sole licensing authority for medical marijua- H the best science available, na cultivation applicants in that city, county, For now, we have status quo again. Grow

ATT and in the absence of that sci- or city and county” (there’s that “medical” all the dope you want, wherever you want. M ence we must ensure that we word again). Grow on federal lands. Grow on your neigh- are taking swift and deliber- bor’s land. Steal water from our rivers and ate steps to facilitate the research that provides for it.” In other words, if each city and county did streams. Use whatever pesticides you deem not write their own cannabis rules and regu- necessary. Poison any endangered species www.marijuana.com lations the State of California would be the with your chemicals. If you need to shoot only source of cannabis law (other than the your neighbor or potential buyer of your feds, of course). Keep in mind that without product, just bury them deep in the hills. the stick, there is no carrot. Does anyone re- Clear cut any trees in the way of your farm. Amanda Reiman ally think the State of California was going Build any roads without worrying about soil Manager of Marijuana Law to pay for thousands of law enforcement of- diverted into streams. Forget about permits and Policy ficers and inspectors throughout the Emer- when you build your McMansion. Don’t “The war on drugs is ald Triangle to regulate and enforce the can- worry about proper disposal of your butane way more about the nabis industry? canisters. Most important, never, ever pay punishments hand- any taxes from your business venture be- The state has come out and said, whoops, cause the state just gave you a free pass for at ed down to vulnerable what deadline? The March 1, 2016 was “an least another year. Remember, it’s all about communities than about inadvertent drafting error.” What this means you and your profits. Forget about your com- access to drugs.” to the cannabis industry is the usual no en- munity. forcement nor guidelines from the state. The www.telesurtv.net only thing that would cause local law en- forcement to do their job is still complaint driven, such as your ex-girlfriend, neighbor, Google Earth, prop plane flyovers, drones, need to know etc. making a complaint against a grower. Hillary Clinton There will be eight types of commercial Presidential Candidate cannabis licenses: Cultivator, Nursery, Manufacturer, Distribu- “I do support the use of tor, Retailer, Transporter, Tester, and Research- er. You’ll need to be a 21+ adult with two years’ medical marijuana; and residency in California and no violent or fraudu- I think even there we lent felonies in your past. Marijuana crimes older need to do a lot more than three years will not count against you. Culti- vator licenses will be in tiered categories by size, research so that we with a special “craft” tier for farms below one-half know exactly how we’re acre in size. Existing medical marijuana indus- going to help people for tries will be granted provisional licenses and giv- en precedence in acquiring the new commercial li- whom medical marijuana provides relief.” censes[§26028]. www.msnbc.com marijuanapolitics.com 58 | TheEmeraldMagazine.com

by MOLLY CATE era. It was federal tax regs that finally took the mobster down. Ever since then, the SAR has been the best and often only way to bust really bad guys. The same rule caught some hapless growers though. Others, grown wiser, took to spraying their cash with air freshener or tumbling it in a dryer with fabric condi- tioner sheets, the nearest thing to literally BETWEEN A ROCK laundering their money. Oh, the irony!

“But wait,” say those of you savvy AND A HARD about national news. Didn’t President Obama direct the feds to back off on persecuting, oops, prosecuting in legal states? Yes, indeed, and that has per- PLACE versely increased the rock and the hard place squeeze. The Cole Memorandum, written in the summer of 2013, named for Assistant Attorney General James Cole, instructs federal law enforcement to fo- cus on specific areas of concern; keeping cannabis away from kids, from crossing The Rock is the Federal scheduling of into non-legal states and out of the hands cannabis as a dangerous drug. of criminals and international drug car- ABOVE tels, rather than going after legit canna- The Hard Place is cannabis banking. Cannabis bud in bloom bis businesses. And in early 2014 the U.S. full spectrum photography Treasury Department gave banks in legal - states the go-ahead to open accounts for mountains of colorado

he biggest state’s rights battle since of banking cooperatives to provide state arranged curb service, com- slavery is going on in America right basic financial services such as se- plete with armed guards, for can- COLORADO CANNABIS now, and it’s still all about freedom. T cure vaults and checking accounts. napreneurs showing up in Denver to Four states have legalized and 23 states plus Guam have adopted med- But these cooperatives could not be pay their state taxes, as required by FACTS ical cannabis laws. None of those insured, since bank and credit union law. Security companies like Blue places have accessible banking ser- insurance is handled at the federal Line Protection Group stepped into Inside the Green Industry 1 vices for these legal operations. Im- level, through the FDIC for banks the breach to provide vaults, armored agine leaving work with your week- and the NCUA for credit unions. The cars and former police and military ly or monthly wages in a bundle of push for coops fizzled in just a few personnel as staff. No checking ac- cash in your pocket. Imagine need- days. The Huff Post quoted Colo- counts though. 1. From January 1, 2014 - April 30, 2014 Colorado while ing to pay $100,000 per quarter to rado’s Marijuana Industry Group di- your state in employee payroll taxes, there is no rector Michael Elliott as saying they Cannapreneurs walk a banking made $ 69,527,760 in recreational cannabis sales or rent or utility bills for your busi- law forbid- knew it would not fly; it was meant tightrope. They need safe money ness, all in cash. Imagine the desper- ding citizens ation as you try to find some safe way to “move the conversation forward.” storage for oodles of cash and a way from carry- 2 to store tens of thousands of dollars, to document their financial activities ing a certain document your sales, buy supplies, With the big boom in cannabis for the state. But, if their money has 2. Taxes earned on cannabis beat Colorado’s amount of and pay your workers. sales post-legalization, cannapre- that distinctive scent or if they are lo- cash, banks neurs were scrambling to find some- cally known as involved in the trade, alcohol tax by nearly 38 million dollars. are required Colorado legalized cannabis place safe to store all that money. the bank or credit union is required to report first and they have gone first in the Some filled closets at home, some to file a SAR (Suspicious Activity transactions struggle over banking services too. rented storage lockers, and some Report) with the feds. The SAR is over $10,000. A Huffington Post online piece from even bought exhausted gold mines. meant to target money-laundering 3. Colorado’s retail tax is 10% while tax on May 7, 2014 announced that the Cannapreneurs paid their taxes with operations that obscure illegal activ- 3 state had just approved a network boxes or even buckets of cash. The ities and dates from the Al Capone Cannabis is 15% 61 | Emerald | January 2016 60 | TheEmeraldMagazine.com HH The American Indian cannabis advisory serve, though, they cannot access the national group, CannaNative is ready to help tribal gov- electronic banking system. And, the National ernments use their casino-running savvy to AA Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has operate financial services for the cannabis in- been slow to offer them insurance coverage. dustry. In a Bloomberg Business online article, Both of these actions have always been slam- San Diego area Native and Harvard Business dunks for financial institutions before, once School graduate Anthony Rivera (Acjachemen RR the state charter has been granted. Not this Nation) speaks of casinos as “little banks” that time. In a July 31, 2015 press release, Fourth are quite used to lots of bureaucratic regula- cannabis businesses. So, in theory, we were underway to- Corner CU announced they had been denied tions and that take in large ‘deposits’ through DD ward a saner system. In practice, banks and credit unions by both entities; they are suing both. gaming. Though tribes have sovereignty on found themselves in the squeeze too. Oregon’s MBank, which had been quietly Those recent federal banking changes hide a nasty working with Oregon and Washington State truth. Now, every legal cannabusiness opening an ac- cannabusinesses, splashily announced last count automatically triggers the filing of a SAR. Last January that they would accept accounts from December, a USA Today online headline shouted, “Feds Colorado, according to the Denver Post. This stockpile reports that could incriminate pot stores.” The move made them way too visible and jeop- US Department of Justice has amassed hundreds of ardized MBank’s existing coverage of West SARs that they can use to shut down Colorado’s legal Coast cannabusinesses. The Denver Business Though tribes have cannabis trade in about 24 hours. Growers and produc- Journal reported on April 11 that MBank had sovereignty on their own ers could be put away just like Al Capone. Bank tellers given all of its cannabusiness customers 60 lands, a bullying federal could get prison sentences. Banks could lose their FDIC days notice that their accounts will be closed. protection. presence is not uncommon.

their own lands, a bullying federal presence It’s a topsy-turvy time in is not uncommon. It remains to be seen how Financial institutions are thoroughly spooked. Cus- the winter wonderland this clash between the federal government and tomers speak of having their accounts closed within of Colorado America’s First Peoples works out. With some weeks of opening them. Some cannapreneurs have been luck, it could be the battle of the Little Big accepted and then rejected by up to eight banks. Medi- Horn all over again (remember who won that cal cannabis producers serving cancer patients and kids one?), finally opening a way for cannapreneurs with epilepsy have had their accounts closed. Even a law- to safely stash their cash.. yer, Rachel Gillette, who is suing the IRS on behalf of a grower, was refused an account by several banks.

It’s a topsy-turvy time in the winter wonderland of Colorado. But, the feisty folks of cannabis culture are far from giving up and continue to challenge federal intimi- dation. And the challenge has spread beyond Colorado’s borders, with mixed results. The country’s first cannabis credit union was granted a state charter in Colorado on November 19, 2014, though it has yet to open its doors. anthony rivera Fourth Corner Credit Union is set to offer checking and savings accounts and electronic transfers. Until they Acjachemen Nation receive a master account number from the Federal Re- 63 | Emerald | January 2016 Pro-Pot Court DENTS IN MEXICO’S Ruling Leads to

Cannabis Possession and Cultivation Permits for Four Mexicans

KERRY REYNOLDS Dramatic transformation in cannabis policy is a safe The ruling only applies to the four actual plaintiffs prediction for 2016 not only for the U.S., but for our who appealed the rejection of their petition to form a neighbors to the North and South as well. Canada’s new- cannabis club. The petition was filed by the Mexican ly-elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent a mandate Association for Responsible Self-Consumption and Tol- letter to his Attorney General in November that directs erance (SMART); and rejected by the by the Federal her to “create a federal-provincial-territorial process Commission for the Prevention of Health Risks (COFE- that will lead to the legalization and regulation of mari - PRIS). An English translation of the historic ruling can juana.” In contrast, Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Ni- be found on leafly.com. eto strongly opposes legalizing cannabis. Nonetheless, “It was fabulous because it really took off on the level first steps towards legalization in Mexico are progress- that transcends most of the normal litigation and argu- ing through its Supreme Court. ments,” said Pier 5 Law’s legendary attorney Tony Serra Last month the first permits were issued by the Mexi- on Cannabis Consciousness News Episode #41. “The can government to allow four of its citizens to legally 88-page opinion is predicated on principles of human grow and possess cannabis for personal use. The per- rights and state recognition of individual’s autonomy to mits were mandated by a historic decision on November engage in recreational activities that do not harm oth- 4th by a chamber of the Supreme Court. By a 4-1 vote, ers,” he said. the judges determined that the prohibition of cannabis “It’s rather amazing news,” remarked High Times consumption and prohibition of cultivation for personal journalist Bill Weinberg on Cannabis Consciousness use are violations of the right to “free development of News Episode #40. Weinberg, a specialist in the Mexi- the personality” as defined in article 19 of the Mexican can Drug War, explained that the court ruling is “…not constitution. as dramatic a development as it would be in the United States. Mexico has traditionally had a weak judiciary.

steps towards legalization in Mexico are progressing “through its Supreme Court Under the constitution in Mexico, the Supreme Court has got to rule on the question multi- ple times before it is actually stricken from the books.” Four more similar decisions by Supreme Court chambers would make the ruling apply across the country, as per Mexican law. Indeed, that was the path that recently legalized same-sex marriage throughout Mexico when a fifth favorable ruling was made this past June. Weinberg is optimistic A growing number of Mexicans are disillu- that the Mexican Congress could legalize it even sioned with the “Drug War” policies that have led before the Supreme Court does. He’s heard re - to over 80,000 deaths over the past decade, said ports that a legalization bill is in the works, but Weinberg. “People driven by desperation consid- not yet introduced in Congress, thanks to strong er political solutions that were completely taboo pressure from ex-Mexican President Vicente Fox before. Finally, the idealogical armor of the Drug and other advocates. War has got some serious dents in it. Uruguay led Tony Serra disagreed, pointing out that le- the way, but Uruguay is a very small country and galization is still very politically unpopular in traditionally a very peaceful country,” Weinberg Mexico. “Recent polls show only two percent said. “Mexico is a big country; one of the politi- will admit to using marijuana,…77 percent of cal leaders of South America; and it has really State Government Palace Mexico’s population oppose legalizing marijuana suffered a terrible, terrible cost from the whole and only 20 percent support it….No real chance prohibitionist model. If Mexico actually legalizes of the legislature down there doing anything to in the years or even months to come, that would Seen from the Zocalo in the decriminalize.” be very significant for the entire hemisphere and historic Guadalajara down- “But here’s the huge positives,” Serra contin- the entire world.” town center, Jalisco, Mexico ued. “The spin, the media spin, is self-fulfilling! The media is saying in essence, ‘oh boy, the Su- *Kerry Reynolds is the producer of Cannabis preme Court down there ruled that its legal to use Consciousness News, a weekly radio show providing marijuana at a personal level’. Well they didn’t, national and global cannabis news and perspectives. but if everyone thinks that, that is the direction Her show airs every Thursday at 5:30pm PST on that the law will evolve because the populace will KMUD-FM, and can also be found on accept it and some will demand it.” canconnews.com. Coming to a dispensary near you...

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66 | TheEmeraldMagazine.com TEXAS CANNABIS REPORT Flower Mound area republican club

Texas ‘Marijuana Meltdown’ Panel Focuses On Children, Disease and Low IQ

STEPHEN CARTER

A panel event entitled “Marijuana: The The four panelists included Denton Coun- the people who consume the non-toxic plant Meltdown of our Country” was hosted in ty Sheriff William Travis, Flower Mound become addicted to it. He also claimed that November of 2015 which focused on com- Police Chief Andy Kancel, County Court it causes anxiety, depression, anger, aggres- bating the consumption of cannabis by chil- at Law No. 1 Juvenile Court Judge Kimber- sion, undermines student learning, and caus- dren. ly McCary, and Winning the Fight founder es a reduction in IQ. Hosted by the Flower Mound Area Re- Kathy O’Keefe. Drawing comparisons between canna- publican Club, organizers aimed to “provide Travis, who has been the leading voice bis and alcohol, Travis, along with the other an educational experience for youth to pre- in Texas against cannabis law reform, stat- panelists stated that cannabis was far easier FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON vent them from going down the road of mari- ed that he wanted to preach a little bit to the to obtain. He also attempted to draw a com- juana usage,” and to “assemble a panel of ex- crowd, and stress the point that “we’re not all parison between alcohol content and THC perts from the community to reach the youth about putting people in jail, we’re about so - content, saying that cannabis is more dan- TH to present factual evidence that marijuana lutions and reaching out to our youth.” gerous these days because of the increased JANUARY 30 is a gateway drug that starts them down the Texas averages about 78,000 arrests per THC content while alcohol content in beer road towards other drug usage.” year for cannabis possession. has remained low. It has been found though Earlier in the month the organization cre- He began by incorrectly stating canna- that cannabis tested in the 60s and 70s was ated a Facebook event page which drew the bis is addictive, something other panelists lumped in with hemp, which has an extreme- attention of cannabis law reform activists, would stress as well, adding that 9 percent of ly low THC content, and it is believed that who questioned the accuracy of the infor- mation which would be provided. This ul- timately led to the page being taken down by organizers, who stated that those peo- ple were intent on disrupting their meeting. Some activists say that the page was taken down in an attempt to lead people to believe the event had been canceled. The day of the panel there was a large police presence, and some activists were turned away at the door. The club cited overcapacity as the reason, DOORS @ 5 / GAME @ 6 though there were empty chairs. A small handful of activists did make it FRANCHESCI HALL REDWOOD ACRES inside after purchasing tickets for food at the venue, and Texas Cannabis Report has ob- ATHLETICS • EMPOWERMENT • COMMUNITY tained audio from the event. However, no pictures or video were taken due to restric- Texas bluebonnet field humboldtrollerderby.com tions by event staff. 69 | Emerald | January 2016 68 | TheEmeraldMagazine.com while potency has risen, the averages are skewed and the “Using marijuana for a short amount of time is real- increase has not been as much as many have been led to ly fun, but it will go downhill quickly,” she stated, ham- believe. mering on her point that she has seen many children who Travis encouraged parents to be on the lookout for signs started out with cannabis and ended up doing other drugs, that their children are consuming cannabis, and noted often because the cannabis they get is laced. that consuming cannabis extracts in vapor pens has be- Cannabis law reformers have consistently argued how- come popular. ever that this is a symptom of prohibition, and that legal- “Marijuana is the number one drug being fought izing the plant for adult consumption will reduce access to against in this country, and it is overwhelming law en- children and put drug dealers out of business. forcement” he stated. He added that cannabis is very dan- A member of the audience later questioned if prohibi- gerous and will lead to kids doing other things, saying that tion leads to the problems currently being experienced, 85 percent of the people coming into to Denton County but the replies ranged from “people just want to make jail started their career with cannabis. money” to McCary stating that loosening the law does Kancel began by stating that there are drugs every- not fix the problem, and it does not help the kids ad- where, and that arrests for drugs have been consistent over dress their problems. the years in Flower Mound. He says that over 50 percent McCary says that sometimes kids find their par- of arrests have been related to cannabis, while 20 percent ents’ stash and take it, and other times they are are related to prescription medication. peer pressured into consuming it. She states He stressed the importance of community programs to that consumption causes kids to be stupid and help reach out to children to keep them safe and drug free, lazy, fail at school and work, and not want to participate also adding that children and parents need to know that in extracurricular activities. She also says it causes kids to it’s ok to ask what’s going on in children’s lives. “Be up- steal in order to pay for cannabis, and sometimes even sell front with children that it’s ok to look through their stuff their bodies. and rooms.” At one point during the panel she said that cannabis Drug testing kids was stressed by all of the panelists, scares her so much because it doesn’t scare other people, and the Flower Mound Area Republican Club spent $500 adding that cannabis causes people to become sick and to provide attendees with drug tests to administer to their contract diseases, though she did not cite sources nor are children based on the notion that drug testing them auto- there any that substantiate those claims. matically gives them an out when people offer them drugs. “No matter what you’ve heard, what you’ve seen, or Judge McCary was the most outspoken during the pan- what studies you’ve read, marijuana is a gateway,” Mc- el, saying multiple times that it was a night for telling the Cary claimed. truth. O’Keefe rounded out the panel by telling the story “I can count on one hand the number of bad children of her son who died at 18 due to a heroin overdose. I’ve seen during my 22 years as Judge,” she stated. Some A mixture of heroin, alcohol, cannabis, and Xanax of the reasons she sees kids coming into her court for can- were found in her son’s system when he died. nabis include untreated mental illness, depression, anxi- She says he began self-medicating with can- ety, and trauma. She says that these kids cope with all of nabis at 14 for ADD, but O’Keefe and her hus- this by self-medicating with cannabis. band did not think that pot was that big a McCary compares this to adults coping with life by go- deal. She says that she realizes now she ing out for a drink after work, however since it is easier for should have set boundaries and been firm children to obtain cannabis, that’s what they use for cop- with them, including drug testing her son. O’Keefe also ing. stated that a lack of education on their part led them to be where they are now. She also questioned the drug test kits that can maintain control is to scare people into de- One resident of were handed out, saying “I think that’s a ridic- manding government intervention, which to- Denton who was in ulous idea. It’s the parents’ responsibility to es- Recent polling shows tally defies what you would expect the party attendance felt the tablish a relationship that welcomes honesty. standard to be. I was not surprised at all by the event was biased and And plus, why is the Flower Mound Area Re- that 58 percent of rhetoric of the speakers, but thankfully, their lacked sound informa- publican Club funding going towards drug Americans support numbers are waning as we move forward in so- tion. Caroline Turner, a tests for members’ children?” ciety.” member of the cannabis ac- Turner gave her overall impression of the legalizing cannabis, Recent polling shows that 58 percent of tivist community, says that event, stating “according to organizers, this and 86 percent of Americans support legalizing cannabis, and the atmosphere was very tense. event was to talk about cannabis as a gate- 86 percent of Americans are in support of using “There was an officer that had way drug. Considering that the gateway theo- Americans are in cannabis for medical purposes. eyes locked on me the entire time. ry has been disproven and is a logical fallacy, support of using A survey by Texas Lyceum shows that 75 There was a particular board mem- added to the outright incorrect information cit- percent of Texans want to reduce the penal- ber that was constantly glancing at ed, the true reason for this event seemed to be cannabis for medical ty for cannabis possession. As for legalization, what was clearly myself specifically.” fear. I think this reflects part of the bigger strat- purposes. about 46 percent are supportive while 48 per- egy of the traditional Republican party in gen- cent are opposed. eral. The only way an anti-government party 71 | Emerald | January 2016 CLASSIFIED CLASSIFIED

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