October 2012 — Issue #29

Issue #28October 2012FREENORTHWEST LEAF THE PATIENT’S VOICE

>>>thenorthwestleaf.com

-WHAT WILL THE DEA DO?

-whidbey island access

-trouble in tulalip

INSIDE

NORTHWEST LEAF

COVER & CONTENTS PHOTOS Daniel Berman/Northwest Leaf 6

dea rally seattle......13HIGH TIMES CUP............14romney quoted........17Cash hyde ..............24TASTY RECIPES...........45 edible reviews..........47the device................48concentrates.......50growtech.... . . . . . . .56doctor rose............60behind the strain...62

There’s a bully in town. The Drug Enforcement Administration sent out more than two dozen warning letters last month, telling businesses that pay sales tax and contribute to their communities in myriad ways, that they had to shut down or risk losing their property to the feds. See how some in Seattle voiced their disgust. PhoTo By Nick ADAmS.13

PROFILE

60 Dr. rose’s column

48 cool, new productThis is no average water pipe

Recreation versus necessity

47 New edibles to tryA surprising twist on chili sauce

whidbey island accessFinding freedom in Freeland, finally

22

20

making joint origamiTaking the roll to a whole new level

3840 trouble in tulalipAn authorized patient’s struggle

Talking about the deacannabis Attorney hilary Bricken

10 The headlines from around the countryNATIONAL CANNABIS NEWS

oct. 2012 WWW.THENORTHWESTLEAF.COM [email protected] LIKE US AT Facebook.com/nwleaf

contents

62

47

26

REHASHED

18

52

COVER & CONTENTS PHOTOS Daniel Berman/Northwest Leaf

editor’s noteTo ADvERTiSE iN oR DiSPLAy uS cALL WES ABNEy 206.235.6721 oR EmAiL [email protected]

founder & editor-in-chief

Wes Abney

Daniel Berman

Nick adams

kirk ericso n

Ray Flores

Bob montoya

Dr. Scanderson

DR. SCOTT D. ROSE

photographer & designer

issue contributors

the truth about the plantyou thought you knew, every issue.

8/ oct. 2012 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

TO OUR READERS,Thanks for picking up the 28th issue of Northwest Leaf!

Enjoying the early days of fall with a local medical strain is a wonderful way to ring in the Autumn. But as easily as that strain is smoked, it can disappear from access.

The last four years have seen more DEA action against medical cannabis than the

previous decade, making the situation even more troublesome for those operating in the “gray area” that is state law. following the main wave of DEA letters in Western Washington has been a tidal wave of misinformation, fear, and a single, looming question.

What’s coming next? Will there be more letters? What do we do?

As cliché as it sounds, the patients and mmJ community must “keep on keepin’ on.” The day we lose momentum is the day we lose this fight. Until prohibition of Cannabis ends, there will be hard times for medical cannabis. But there is also the hope that sustains us, the belief that all Americans deserve access to this wonderful and natural plant. As we enter this period of harvest, we should all be thankful for safe access and those who work tirelessly to provide it. Washington still sustains more than 100 collectives and a patient base in excess of 100,000 individuals. We are stronger than ever.

Don’t forget to vote, and especially remember No on I-502.

if you have questions, comments, or even critiques we look forward to hearing from you. Please feel free to reach out at facebook.com/nwleaf or email us at [email protected].

-WES ABNEy // fouNDER & EDiToR

octobeR 2012 LIKE US AT Facebook.com/nwleaf

DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS:

A Sept. 2012 article on the grow pest Phylloxera incorrectly stated that the root aphid originated in france. it actually started on the East coast.

OPINION

OCT. 2012 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF /9

THE UNSAVORY TRUTHABOUT COPS AND I-502

By NoRThWEST LEAf STAff

eattle Police have not had a good last few years. Let’s face it. Public confidence in the de-partment is low while arrests with apparent use of excess

force are becoming more common. We’re concerned as medical Cannabis pa-tients in a demographic of people, 18-25, that is routinely harassed and mistreated by peace officers. Examples of this are flagrant and many, yet all too often pushed aside for more “important news.” Imagine the discretion that I-502 gives to officers. Marijuana will be “kinda legal,” with penalties both swift and harsh for those deemed using outside the law. What even is this law? Imagine being a young man or woman between the age of 16 and 20 and getting a zero tolerance possession charge. Where they would have been released for a decriminalized substance before I-502, they will now be at the mercy of SPD. Think of the news headlines when a local teacher or doctor is raided by SWAT for the home cultivation of a “legal plant.” All the baby boomers that signed the misleading initiative believe that legalization includes the right to grow the plant themselves. Wrong! Instead, criminal charges and a raid team await those that want to supply their own recreational marijuana. But the misconduct touches all citizens from every walk of life. What about an in-dividual profiled by an officer for how they look, pulled over and having their blood

s

Medical marijuana patientswould likely never test low enough to legally drive.

drawn without consent for a substance that is supposed to be legal. A pot DUID will cost roughly the same as an alcohol DUI, which sets back the average de-fendant $5,000. Sounds ludicrous con-sidering there’s zero scientific basis for the 5 nanogram DUID limit attached to I-502. No one is arguing for driv-ing while impaired, but that figure, that nanogram limit, is not based in science. Medical marijuana patients, those likely to have the highest levels, would likely never test low enough to legally drive. And who would be enforcing that under I-502? Seattle Police. They have made national news con-sistently for the past several years as the claims pile up. The videos, now long viral online, include when an officer pushed an unarmed man into a wall after a witness misidentified him in a bar fight. Chris-topher Harris was innocent and now lies paralyzed, unable to even speak. We still don’t know what really occured.

On September 14th a judge found the SPD guilty of purposely withholding evidence in the case, bringing another $300,000 fine atop the 10 million dollars already paid to his fam-ily. This money comes from the state tax dol-lars, as peace officers salaries and budgets are paid for by the people. The Constitution does not protect police officers from prosecution for breaking the laws they enforce. Ahem, I mean peace officer. As in officer of peace, though the title often seems laughable. Considering SPD racked up $220,000 in federal fines as of November last year for practices including failure to disclose records regarding police abuses, they should look into that whole protect and serve thing. Ultimately, abuse is inevitable if I-502 passes. Combine an aggressive police force with an enforcement loophole and you have a recipe for disaster. Does anyone really de-serve to be subjected to SPD under I-502? Vote No on I-502, and protect both patient and citizen’s rights. It’s not right for medical marijuana and it’s just not legalization.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19804462Thc LEvELS PERSiST iN hEAvy cANNABiS uSERS — kARSchNER

it’s not legalization and it wouldn’t look pretty.

Just imagine the headlines when a teacher or doctor is raided by SWAT for the home cultivation of a “legal plant.”

10/ OCt. 2012 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF SToRiES By NoRThWEST LEAf STAff

NATIONAL

infamous checkpoint strikes again

Oregon loses access

>> Singer fiona Apple is latest victim of overzealous Texas Border Patrol

ould it be that the very same drug dogs that caught Willie Nelson, Snoop

Dogg and other musical marijuana moguls in possession have managed to bust another celebrity? It was likely at the paws of another drug-sniffing pooch, but the eccentric singer-songwriter Fiona Apple was busted last month on her way to perform in Houston by agents at the well-known West Texas Border Patrol checkpoint in Sierra Blanca. According to police reports, agents located about four grams of dried cannabis, and four grams of hash, in a glass jar inside Apple’s

C

P

backpack. Apple “had a little tiny amount of pot and hash,” said Hudspeth County Sheriff ’s Office Spokesman Rusty Fleming. The Texas Controlled Substances Act makes the marijuana possession a misdemeanor, but having the hashish is a felony, according to ABC News. Apple spent the night in jail Sept. 20 and was released the next day on $10,000 bail. Apple just released a 23-word-long album entitled “The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do.”

T

atients in the rural areas of Eastern and Southern Oregon now face considerable challenge in obtaining their medical marijuana. That’s after federal agents

raided the High Hopes Farm in Eastern Oregon’s Jackson County late last month and Oregon and Idaho authorities shut down the 45th Parallel marijuana cooperative. High Hopes Farm owner James Bowman said he grew marijuana for as many as 200 people authorized under state law to possess and grow it. No word on whether the state will continue to ignore the will of its residents. We hope that Oregon returns to its roots.

Cancer patient fired by walmart for mmj use loses court appeal

he Michigan Court of Appeals does not have a soul. This much is clear after it denied Jo-seph Casias’ appeal, and said that “Michigan law

doesn’t stop employers from firing people who use medi-cal marijuana.” Casias was fired in 2009 from his inventory management position at a Walmart in Battle Creek, MI. The married father of two tested positive for mari-juana after a random drug test. Casias, according to the Associated Press, uses medical marijuana symp-toms related to his inoperable brain tumor and cancer. Though his cancer has been in remission for a few years, he still suffers from considerable pain, and has difficulty speaking. He became authorized to use MMJ in 2008. “No patient should be forced to choose between ad-equate pain relief and gainful employment, and no em-ployer should be allowed to intrude upon private medi-cal choices made by employees in consultation with their doctors,” said Scott Michelman, a staff attor-ney with the American Civil Liberties Union, in 2010. “I came to Walmart for a better opportunity for my family, and I worked hard and proved myself. I just want the opportunity to continue my work,” Casias said. Walmart said that “the doctor prescribed treatment was not the relevant issue. The issue is about the ability of our associates to do their jobs safely.” ACLU reps said Casias complied with “all applicable state laws and never once smoked marijuana at work or came to work under its in-fluence.” Meanwhile, it is still perfectly legal for some-one to take their prescribed painkillers and come to work.

“-Mason Tvert, co-director, Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, describing how Colorado Legislative officials “accidentally” deleted numerous lines of text from the “For” portion of the voter’s guide o the state’s marijuana legalization measure. An appeal was dismissed.

Quoted

18 Age requirement of Connecticut’s new medical marijuana law, which goes into effect october 1, 2012, news reports say.

10 Number of grams or less of marijuana that would result in an infraction, rather than a misdemeanor, in indiana under proposed

legislation. Possession of more than 30 grams wouldremain a felony charge, according to the courier Journal.

51 Approval rating percentage for Colorado’s cannabis legalization initiative, while an estimated 40 percent oppose the measure.

Quick Hits!

ThiS iS JuST ThE LATEST ExAmPLE of govERNmENT officiALS SkEWiNg iNfoRmATioN ABouT mARiJuANA AND DEcEiviNg ThE PuBLic iN oRDER To mAiNTAiN ThE WASTEfuL PoLicy of mARiJuANA PRohiBiTioN.

cannabis compound helps with cancer>> California researchers are looking into how CBD’s might help with aggressive cancer cells

e already know that marijuana is great for easing nausea, stress, tension and so many other negative aspects of

pain — but one particular compound, cannabidiol, or CBD, may help in fighting cancer, researchers now believe. In Cannabis, it’s the THC molecules that are the psychoactive portion of the plant — that’s the part that gives the so-called “high.” The cBD molecules are better known for helping with pain and reduc-ing inflammation. Two scientists at California Pacific medical center Research institute in San francisco performed studies on how cBDs might reduce the “ag-gressiveness of human breast cancer cells in the lab,” the San francisco chronicle reported last month. The scientists published a small study that showed similar effects on mice; data from their study of cBD reducing the cancer in animal will be released shortly. It’s very possible that the scientists will be

Warijuana just got a tribute album. 90s Hip Hop icons Bone Thugs-n-Harmony have released for the

first time a 12-song CD dedicated solely to marijuana. With songs like Smoking Lovely, Fried Day, Blaze It Up and The Weed Song, we imagine there is a lot to like. The CD release was mired in record company red tape for several years, though it was recently made available on iTunes and online. Robotic Empire Records handled the deal. To hear a medley of bits and pieces from the new album, visit http://soundcloud.com/roboticempire/bonethugs-medley.

M

able to move on to research the molecule’s effec-tiveness in human clinical trials within the near fu-ture. “The preclinical trial data is very strong, and there’s no toxicity. There’s really a lot of research to move ahead with and to get people excited,” said Sean McAllister, one of the scientists involved. He’s working with another researcher, Pierre Desprez. The pair got involved working together after mcAllister was researching how anabolic steroids influence drug abuse and Desprez was looking into how a protein called iD-1 played a role in how cancer spreads. “in the wake of their positive results, the doctors were forced to emphasize that the cBD will only work in the presence of high levels of iD-1 and these do not include all cancerous tumors but, rather, aggressive, metastatic cells. high levels have been found in leukemia, colorectal, pancreatic, lung, ovar-ian, brain and other cancers,” the chronicle reported.


rehashed

Thursday Sept. 21, 2012

‘‘

PhoToS By Nick ADAmS foR NoRThWEST LEAf

on the steps of the Seattle federal courthouse, about 100 activists gathered in the chant above, calling for the end of DEA-lead raids and closure letters sent to more than 20 medical marijuana access points.

“The DEA is closing down safe access points, we are following state law. I’m not going to go to a back alley to get my medicine.”

-mARk, A PATiENT foR 3.5 yEARS TREATiNg chRoNic NEuRoPAThy

“The people of Washington voted for safe use of medical marijuana, I wish the federal government would respect the wishes of the voters.”-chRiS WhiTE

“My collective was shut down over school zoning laws.”

-chRiS, A PATiENT foR 1.5 yEARS

W H AT B R O U G H TYO U H E R E ?

deaGO AWAY!”

14/ ocT. 2012 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

rehashed Sept. 14-16, 2012

the first-ever seattle high times cannabis cup

was a chance for industry folk to share their knowledge and

compete for top honors in a range of categories as patients

sampled new strains and innovative gadgetry

PhoToS By DANiEL BERmAN

HIGH TIMES@ FREMONTSTUDIOS


BEST INDICA1 – William’s Wonder, Greenside Medical2 – True og, only The Best3 – Jenke’s Kush, Top Shelf Medicine

BEST SATIVA1 – Super Lemon haze, fweedom collective2 – Supernatural, Exotic genetix3 – Panama Red, Delta 9 Seattle

BEST HYBRID1 – cactus, Dockside co-op2 – uncle Jim, camo collective3 – TJ’s MTF, Left Coast Cannabis

BEST CONCENTRATE1 – Space Queen Budder, healing Space gardens2 – Blues city Diesel, Tacoma cross / chuckle Brush gardens3 – Dutch Treat Bho Wax, A greener Today

BEST HASHBubba Blend Bubble hash from A greener Today

CBD AWARD1 – harlequin N-Tane oil from fweedom collective2 – Canna Cap’s Cana-Cups from Seattle Cross3 – New york city Diesel from cannatonics Society

BEST EDIBLE1 – Captain Kirk’s Treasure Chest from Top Shelf Medicine2 – glory-oh! from green Ambrosia3 – Ettalew’s Organic Vegan Fair Trade Dark Chocolate & Blueberry Truffle from greenside medical

BEST NON-EDIBLE MEDICALLY INFUSED PRODUCThealing cannabis care kit from kush creams

BEST GLASS1 – Pulse glass2 – Sweet Tooth glass3 – Liberty glass

BEST PRODUCT1 – vapexhale2 – incredibowl3 – Trippy Stix

BEST BOOTH1 – Pulse glass2 – cannatonics Society / kush creams3 – medical marijuana Patients Network

oct. 2012 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF /17

QUOTED

imAgE By fLickR/DoNkEyhoTEy

How He Really Feels.

comPiLED By NoRThWEST LEAf STAff

mITT roMNEY’S perspective on medical marijuanais the only thing HE’S WILLING TO STICK TO

“Aren’t there issues of significance you’d like to talk about? The economy? The growth of jobs? The need to put people back to work? I believe it’s a gateway drug

to other drug violations. “We’ve got enormous

issues that we face, but you want TO

talk about, go ahead, you want to talk

about marijuana?”

-SPEAkiNg To A REPoRTER iN DENvER, mAy 2012

-ToWNhALL, NEW hAmPShiRE, JuLy 2012

-ToWNhALL, NEW hAmPShiRE, JuLy 2012 -PEoPLE mAgAZiNE iNTERviEW, NovEmBER 2011

-QuESTioN fRom mEDicAL mARiJuANA PATiENT iN WhEELchAiR iN 2007 AS uTAh gov.

-cANDiD fuNDRAiSER TALkSmoThER JoNES viDEo, SEPT. 2012

“

“ “

”If you elect me president you will not see legalized marijuana. I will fight it tooth and nail.”

“I tasted a beer and tried a cigarette once, as a wayward teenager, and never did it again.”

Q: Are you in favor of arresting medical marijuana patients?A: I’m in favor of having the law not allow legal (aka medical) marijuana.

“I will not legalize marijuana for medical purposes and the reasons are straightforward. As i talk to people in my state and at the federal level about marijuana and role in society they are convinced its the entry way into drug culture. The idea is that medical marijuana is designed to get marijuana out into public marketplace and will ultimately lead to the legalization of marijuana overall… And in my view that is the wrong way to go.”

“Those people I told you -- the 5 to 6 or 7 percent that we have to bring onto our side -- they all voted for Barack obama four years ago. ”

STAYING LEGAL

By WES ABNEy | PhoTo By DANiEL BERmAN

LEAF: What do you think prompted the DEA to send out closure letters in Western Washington?

HB: Before the letters were issued i saw a count that showed more access points in Seattle than Starbucks. on a DEA level that’s unacceptable. We also knew this was a possibility. If this is happening in colorado, a state with much tighter regulations and controls on the Cannabis industry, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Seattle would be a target without any real regulation.

LEAF: Can one fight this? What do you do?

HB: The short answer is no. These letters normally don’t even go to the occupant [access point]. They go to the landlord/property owner. you have to put yourself in the shoes of the property owner. They face federal forfeiture of their property, and it can happen so quickly it’s unbelievable.

LEAF: So the Government can take away their property simply because of Cannabis? That’s ridiculous. Can the access points move?

HB: Moving will never neutralize the federal threat. It’s a bigger risk to move and reopen because they’re already on the fed’s radar. for some pla ces, moving and reopening could be a death sentence. if they are in compliance with state law, and zoned properly, they will become less of an enforcement priority.

LEAF: But what exactly does “zoned properly” mean? Some places were too close to schools and

didn’t get one; another place was next door to a strip club and other adult bars/stores, and got one even though those are zoned. Another was shut down for its proximity to the Interurban Trail, a walking and bike path. Where is the line for access points?

HB: We have a strict in-house policy requiring a 1,000 foot buffer from all schools. i think that Jenny Durkan [WA uS Attorney] has made it clear that medical cannabis should not be near school zones and kids. But how do you interpret a school area? To call the trail a school area is ridiculous and arbitrary.

LEAF: Does this mean the fed’s can make up any reason they want to shut you down?

HB: yes, but the big question is why only some access points now? Is it because they can’t shut down everyone at once? Or does it mean that they truly only want Cannabis out of school zones?

LEAF: What is your best advice then?

HB: My first line of advice is always “know your enemy.” Read the controlled Substances Act. And make state law compliance your #1 priority. from there, be prepared to let it go or face federal charges.

LEAF: Do you anticipate more letters?

HB: I would anticipate more, but I don’t know. i wish i knew how the DEA thought.

LEAF: On a local level, Tacoma has issued a new nuisance ordinance that has had a big impact on the city’s access points. What does this mean for patients and access there?

HB: Tacoma is a totally different animal than anything we have seen. under a nuisance ordinance, the law is very discretionary and based on who is being annoyed, by what and with what frequency. it is very discretionary as to how it could be enforced. There are two main issues to the ordinance that have left everyone in suspense: 1) Tacoma has not issued an enforcement policy for the ordinance and 2) We don’t know how they will enforce - either civilly or criminally. Until the policy is delivered it’s on a wait and watch schedule.

LEAF: What can patients do to show their support and get involved in the fight?

HB: They should pay attention to local city councils and zoning. People live in this state for a reason, vote for a reason. So they need to participate and show up, and get local officials to represent us. Something will break for cannabis, it just has to be the right way.

ocT. 2012 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF /19

Talking with Cannabis attorney Hilary Bricken on the DEA letters, zoning for Cannabis access points and what Tacoma’s new ordinance could mean

hiLARy BRickEN graduated in 2010 from University of Miami School of Law, then moved to the great Pacific Northwest, where she operates Canna Law Group under Harris & Moure in downtown Seattle. The canna Law group provides counsel for the medical cannabis industry and medical cannabis patients. visit www.cannabislawseattle.com

vvwWhere do we go from here?

ACCESS

island alternative medicine5565 vanbarr Place unit ffreeland, WA 98249(360) 331-2898open Tues-Sat 10a-7pislandalternative.com

after a long fight, Whidbey island gets its 1st access point

By WES ABNEy PhoToS By DANiEL BERmAN

ast February, Lucas Jushinski stood before the Langley City Council and said “I want to set the bar high... I want to

show the community respect and that I belong here.” With full transparency and a true non-profit model, Lucas’s pleas fell on deaf ears within the city of Langley. The city wasn’t going to allow an access point. After months of planning and hard work his plan to open seemed doomed. For many the loss would have been the end of the line. But not for Lucas. Island Alternative Medicine opened on June 1, 2012, the first access point on Whidbey Island. “It’s felt really good to be open. I see the response from the community and it’s positive,” Lucas said. “We feel good here, to serve the patients.” IAM is the abbreviation used on the business logo, but it goes beyond the name to have a deeper meaning. It’s a message that Lucas has placed on his heart, and one carried by each of his fellow patients.

L

I

“It’s the belief that ‘I am alternative medicine.” he explained. “That’s why I like this. It’s helping patients who really need this medicine for their ailments.” Lucas served eight years in the Navy as a combat corpsman. As a front lines medic, he dealt with life and death on a constant basis. “When I was in Iraq, I was on the ground with the grunts. I was 24 years old and the first and only option for a soldier shot or hit,” he said in an interview with this magazine last February. “I was always on the front line... it was like being on-call in hell.” Now serving different types of patients, Lucas has transitioned smoothly to a new type of healing and treatment. “It’s mostly listening,” he said. “I’ve learned how to listen, how to ask the right questions, and how to look at the patients needs.” In addition to the top-shelf local MMJ, Lucas said Island Alternative

also works with a local chiropractor, massage therapist and a store called Living Green, which sells organic foods and natural medicines. This is all to promote an overall healthful lifestyle that coincides well with the use of medical Cannabis. “We really believe in treating the whole person,” he explained. “And we’ve been growing based off the patient’s needs.”

nside the first medicine room (the second is under construction) patients will find

15 to 20 strains on average, all ranging from $10 to $15 donations. Everything is tested, and almost all the strains are locally cultivated. “There’s truly a ton of great medicine grown on island,” Lucas said. “The hard part is keeping enough in for patients.” Among the local strains the

freedom in freeland. finally.



M

“We really believe in treating the whole person,” Lucas explained. “And we’ve been growing based off the patient’s needs.”

Purple Dream is an excellent choice for a functional Indica. Tested at 13.41% THC and .25% CBD, the high is pretty clear while mitigating pain well. It has a deep musky smell and mid density fluffy nugs just waiting to be snapped. Although the name is a little peculiar, the Ogre is a strain that tested at 20.05 percent THC and .13 percent CBD. It has smaller, tighter nugs that have a salty maple smell that is very expansive when smoked. This high THC strain is

effective for times of relaxation and usae at the end of the day after work. IAM also has a large selection of medibles, bubble hash/concentrates and some cool local glass.

edibles include ice cream, butter for cooking and several types of bread loaves.

For topicals, patients can pick from a variety by Natures Blessing.

Lucas and his staff have worked hard to bring quality products and access to their patients, and the collective is growing well. Patients living on the island no longer have to risk invasive police dogs for a ferry ride just to get their medicine. “The patients have been happy.Everyone really appreciates not having to go off island.”

visit issuu.com/nwleaf/docs/march2012 to read about Lucas’s Langley challenge.

PROFILE


smokeable art

YOU CAN FIND RICK’S WORK AT YOUTUBE.COM/TONYGREENHAND

>> How do you make joint origami? Our friend Rick spills the details

By WES ABNEy | PhoToS By DANiEL BERmAN

lmost everyone remembers the first joint they rolled.

Not smoked, rolled. Terribly. Stems sticking out, extra papers slathered in saliva and slapped onto the sides until the half gram of chronic was tucked inside a veritable cocoon of papers. For anyone out there who may still be struggling with bad joint syndrome, let this man be an inspiration to you. Rick, aka Tony Green Hand, is the creator and roller of more than 50 varieties of joints — but it didn’t happen overnight. In fact, it took a lot of practice just to get the basic

AJ down, he said. “I’ve always loved J’s, but I used to be a bad roller. Like bad. So one day I sat down and started practicing rolling,” he said with a smirk, reaching over to pick up a custom creation displayed at his Seattle High Times Cannabis Cup booth. “Eventually I got into this.” By ‘this’ he means Joint Origami, a new and relatively unexplored art. His creations range from basic crosses and multiple tipped joints to one of his newest creations, the crocodile joint. “I’ve named them all, each different style,” he said. “I keep

on inventing too, like the new platypus. There’s really no one out there to tell you how to do this. You just have to do it.” For Rick, the process is less art than science. He uses geometry and basic math to calculate how a particular design will smoke, an essential element to the finished product. Any moonlighter can make a cross joint, but the end

product usually doesn’t smoke smoothly or evenly. With Rick’s design methodology, Green Hand joints have unequaled smoothness and burn perfectly. “The way a J smokes is all about the width and meeting places of the sections. It’s a lot of calculations and gets pretty complicated,” Rick explained. “But it’s worth it so it smokes evenly in the end.”

f o r a n yo n e w h o m ay s t i l l b e s t r u g g l i n g w i t h b a d j o i n t s y n d r o m e , l e t t h i s m a n b e a n i n s p i r at i o n .

he seed was planted with love in soil that was prepared with care. With worm castings and nutrients

for strength. It was watered and oh how that little seedling grew. It was talked to and fed daily, too.

It was showered with love and sunshine and tended to often. Basking in the sun by the day in the

natural wild beauty outdoors, and sleeping at night under the stars and the moon swaying in the light

breeze turning from a young plant into a tree. It was given lady bugs and sprayed to keep the bad bugs

away. The dying yellow leaves plucked tenderly and with care not to disturb the beautifully forming

flowers and red and white hairs. It is kept safe from predators, animals and thieves. It is fragrant,

majestic, sticky and sweet. It sways and reaches high for the late summer sun. Fall coming soon, the

buds are filling out and firming up. The flowers are so fragrant and beautiful it will soon be time to cut and harvest. Until then we watch

we tend and we wait. Oh how it rewards us. This tree or weed that grows from the land. It can cure most all that ails man. It even repairs

our land. It is the strongest fiber known to man. It is quick to grow and takes little effort. How can this plant be called evil or bad?

That is ignorance in full and control too. Sow the seed, free the weed and stop all of that political greed. Our people are in need.

Exhale

TocT. 2012 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF /25

By kiTTy miLLER, 2012


NORTHWEST

The Mission o u t o f a b oy ’ s S T R U G G L E S W I T H C A N C E R ,

a f o u n d at i o n g i v e s h o p e

for more info:Sonshine [email protected] 3211-A yelm hwy SE olympia, WA 98501

By WES ABNEy | PhoTo By BoB moNToyA foR NoRThWEST LEAf

Cash Hyde Foundationvisit to donate or get more info!www.cashhydefoundation.com

HASKIN KIDS STAND WITH A BANNER FOR CASH HYDE OUTSIDE MARY BRIDGE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL.

In a world of people scared of cancer, one young force is so bright the cancer fears his very name. Cash Hyde. At only 2 years of age, he battled through cancer. Chemotherapy and the disease were both taking a heavy toll. At one dark point, he hadn’t eat-en in 40 days, and the brain tumor that threatened his life began wrap-ping around his optic nerve. He was going blind and on the brink of death when his father made a radical decision. He used Canna-bis to make Rick Simpson oil, dilut-ing it for mixture into Cash’s IV bag. The medicine was snuck in daily, and Cash’s recovery began almost imme-diately. Now in his fourth year of life, Cash is again battling cancer with Cannabis.

T h e C a s h H y d e F o u n d at i o n

o n a l o c a l l e v e l

Having a child or relative sick in the hospital is almost worse than be-ing the one sick, especially when it comes to families. Being forced to choose between work and hospital visits is a choice no parent wants to make, and ex-tended hospital stays can stretch even the tightest family to the edge. The stress, heartache and finan-cial burdens are the ailments that you can’t take medicine for or visit a doctor for. It is out of these situa-tions that the foundation was born.

The Hyde family was able to survive on the donations provided by others, living in a trailer at the hospital for months while Cash battled cancer.

hen faced with poverty over an illness, anything helps, in-cluding something as simple

as a smile. In fact, it’s in the founda-tion’s mission statement. “The Cash Hyde Foundation’s mission is to fight cancer with smiles, prayers, positive energy and provide information and financial support for children with cancer and their families.” At the heart of the foundation are the Reggae Runners, which are do-nated to hospitals all over the coun-try. The Runners start as basic plastic

foot-propelled toddler cars, but they undergo a transformation to become a part of the foundation. “I decided one day,” wrote Cash’s father, Mike, in a statement on their website, “That the wagons and cars needed to be customized with stickers and have IV poles mounted to them. We purchased Cashy his own Little Tike’s car and mounted a Reggae Colored IV pole to it. We put stickers of Bob Marley One Love, Monkey’s, Cancer Fears Me, 4th ICS, and our favorite hometown team the Grizz/UM all over it. We named it the Reggae Runner and Cashy had many happy times cruising the halls of Primary Children’s in it.”

With the IV poles attached, children are able to scoot around the hospital. This small act of freedom can be extremely rare for children battling cancer, and it represents a sense of “normal” that is hard to find inside the sterilized hospital walls.

For Chris and Sarena Haskins of Sonshine Organics, the Hyde’s story has run a similar path to their own. Their daughter was diagnosed Mothers Day week-end in 2003. She was only 5, and the family had a 3-month-old son to try and raise as well.

w


o u t o f a b oy ’ s S T R U G G L E S W I T H C A N C E R ,

a f o u n d at i o n g i v e s h o p e

With the IV poles attached, children are able to scoot around the hospital. This small act of freedom represents a sense of “normal” that is hard to find inside hospital walls.

chRiS hASkiiN hELPS hiS kiDS, hAyDEN AND hANNAh, uNLoAD REggAE RuNNERS

F

“I was sideways with a 3-month-old baby and a daughter with cancer,” Sarena explained. “I remember how I felt. I especially remembered those that helped.” Their daughter went through treat-ment at Mary Bridge Children’s Hos-pital, with the family basically living there through the first year of treat-ment, Sarena said. Hannah’s tumor grew to the size of a watermelon, and had covered her chest. The cancer went into remission in 2005, but the effect lingers on with the family. “Every day it was something,” said Sarena. “When you see enough pain and suffering, you too will want to do something.” For Chris, the memory of play-ing with Hannah in the hospital is

a strong one. “It was all about the toy room,” he said. When other fathers weren’t around, he would often circle the ward to play with other children. “Just to see a smile once a day is pretty huge.”

ast-forward to 2012 and Hannah is still in remission and full of vi-brant energy. Sarena and Chris have

grown too, and Sonshine Organics is thriving, serving medical Cannabis pa-tients in Olympia. It’s through the Can-nabis movement that they heard of Cash Hyde, and immediately jumped in to help with the foundation. “They told Mike Hyde good luck about his son’s cancer. He was a fear-less father,” said Sarena, describing how there were few options. “We were so happy to help. And when we heard that

they wanted more Reggae Runners, I said ‘Well this is it.’ ” After two years of helping the foundation and lobbying Mary Bridge, the Haskins were able to secure a donation of several Reggae Runners. Black Lake Organics donated one, and Karen and Tim Elton donated another two. The Olympia Lowes store donated a handful of toy rakes and a wheelbarrow, while a local pet store, Bark Ave, donated a basket for a Cashy auction. The Haskins themselves provided games, DVDs, and iTunes gift cards for the toy room. For the Haskins, the return to Mary Bridge represents a circle. But don’t think for a second that they are done with the fight, or the foundation. “It’s about healing. This is more than curing cancer,” Sarena said. “As this grows, it’s only going to be wonderful.”

50 8.1average age of children with cancer-related hospital stays

15childhood cancer is the leading

cause of death by disease among uS children under the age 15

percent of cancer diagnoses annually for Leukemia or brain tumors

You’ve probablytried our tea.what about everything else?

2 5 3 - 7 6 1 - 7 8 0 6

1 9 1 2 C e nt e r S .

T a c o m a 9 8 4 0 9

o p e n 1 1 a m - 6 p m

Sacred Plant Medicine

OCTOBER SPECIAL

Sacred Plant Medicine kit-tea’s WORLD FAMOUS CANNABIS FARMERS MARKET

wORLD FAMOUS CANNABIS farmers MARKET

Sacred Plant Medicine has daily specials, senior, military and low income discounts. Each day of the week we feature a different sale. We have free refreshments and a patient lounge for your convenience and pleasure. We offer massage therapy, grow classes, cooking classes and free patient counseling. Stop by and try some Kit-tea’s and see what all of the buzz is about. We are a unique experience focusing on patient needs and satisfaction while enriching the community at the same time. We will be hosting Monday Night Football parties in the lounge all winter long! Come root for your favorite team and vape a bag of Blue Dream with friends!

The World Famous Cannabis Farmers Markets was the first of its kind in the world and is the largest and most attended market in the industry. The CFM has been featured on the cover of High Times Medical Marijuana Magazine, on G4 TV’s Attack of the Show 420 special and in all of our local TV/printed news sources not to mention the local marijuana magazines. The mission of the Cannabis Farmers Market is to empower the local Cannabis community and help create unity, while raising awareness on the medical benefits of cannabis. Markets are attended by thousands of patients each month and 50 to 60 of Washington’s premier sources of medical cannabis all at one location!

extreme pain spray & LOTIONS

Kit-teas medicated herbal tea

Cannabis bomb lip balm

THE FIRST & THIRDSUNDAY OF EACH MONTH!

FREE ADMISSION!COME JOIN US!

AMAziNg vENDOrS • WONDErFUl pEOplE • grEAT DEAlS & FrEE SAMplES

1 1am-5pm

Halloween Party Oct. 27 at 7:30p—$30 Includes Dinner & Gifts

Bring in a Friend &Get a $5 Gift Card

90 Different varieties of herbal teas, Pain Creams, Salves, Lotions, Sprays, Oils, Cooking Oils, Full Extract Cannabis Oil, Bath Salts, Milk Baths, Pain Sticks, Lip Balms, Honeys, Peanut Butter and Jellies and more!

CANNABiSFArMErSMArKETS.COM

ADvERTiSEmENT

You’ve probablytried our tea.what about everything else?

2 5 3 - 7 6 1 - 7 8 0 6

1 9 1 2 C e nt e r S .

T a c o m a 9 8 4 0 9

o p e n 1 1 a m - 6 p m

Sacred Plant Medicine

OCTOBER SPECIAL

Sacred Plant Medicine kit-tea’s WORLD FAMOUS CANNABIS FARMERS MARKET

wORLD FAMOUS CANNABIS farmers MARKET

Sacred Plant Medicine has daily specials, senior, military and low income discounts. Each day of the week we feature a different sale. We have free refreshments and a patient lounge for your convenience and pleasure. We offer massage therapy, grow classes, cooking classes and free patient counseling. Stop by and try some Kit-tea’s and see what all of the buzz is about. We are a unique experience focusing on patient needs and satisfaction while enriching the community at the same time. We will be hosting Monday Night Football parties in the lounge all winter long! Come root for your favorite team and vape a bag of Blue Dream with friends!

The World Famous Cannabis Farmers Markets was the first of its kind in the world and is the largest and most attended market in the industry. The CFM has been featured on the cover of High Times Medical Marijuana Magazine, on G4 TV’s Attack of the Show 420 special and in all of our local TV/printed news sources not to mention the local marijuana magazines. The mission of the Cannabis Farmers Market is to empower the local Cannabis community and help create unity, while raising awareness on the medical benefits of cannabis. Markets are attended by thousands of patients each month and 50 to 60 of Washington’s premier sources of medical cannabis all at one location!

extreme pain spray & LOTIONS

Kit-teas medicated herbal tea

Cannabis bomb lip balm

THE FIRST & THIRDSUNDAY OF EACH MONTH!

FREE ADMISSION!COME JOIN US!

AMAziNg vENDOrS • WONDErFUl pEOplE • grEAT DEAlS & FrEE SAMplES

1 1am-5pm

Halloween Party Oct. 27 at 7:30p—$30 Includes Dinner & Gifts

Bring in a Friend &Get a $5 Gift Card

90 Different varieties of herbal teas, Pain Creams, Salves, Lotions, Sprays, Oils, Cooking Oils, Full Extract Cannabis Oil, Bath Salts, Milk Baths, Pain Sticks, Lip Balms, Honeys, Peanut Butter and Jellies and more!

CANNABiSFArMErSMArKETS.COM

$139 $99

1-800-625-8519253-383-3506

$25

$139

I.D. CARD

1 YEAR

AUTHORIZATION

RCW COMPLIANT

RENEWAL

$99

24 HOUR ONLINE VERIFICATIONRCW COMPLIANT I.D. CARDS

DISCOUNTS FOR LOW INCOME & VETS

MEDICAL CANNABIS AUTHORIZATION

PAIN MANAGEMENT REFERRALS

ALTERNATIVE THERAPY

NUTRITIONAL PLANNING

TACOMA / OLYMPIA / SEATTLE

www.cannahealth.org

Locations Seattle / Olympia / Tacoma

ALL GRAMS ONLY $10!

Now Open 10am-8pm, 7 days a week!

316 N. 36th St. Seattle, WA 98103

206.632.7126www.fremontgardens.org

Across from Peace of Mind, at the Phinney Avenue Cross

Where Medicine is a Science & Custome r Service an Art

32/oct. 2012 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

ANALYTICAL 360 Cannabis Analysis Laboratory

Tested By

STRAINOF THE MONTHPhoTo By DANiEL BERmAN

REviEW By NoRThWEST LEAf STAff

NORTHWEST LEAF

Naturally Green Dream9.11 % THC • 10.02 % CBD

Available from nATURALLYgREEN ACCESS POINT

This house strain from Naturally green in Puyallup contains a perfect blend of cBD and Thc in flower. Check out these test results! With 9.11% THC and a whopping 10.02% CBD this strain is the highest in cBD ever featured in Northwest Leaf! flowering over 10 weeks, the experienced gardeners run it with Advanced Nutrients and a 15 to 18-day flush. When it comes to growth and looks, the plant appears typical, other than the long flowering period. The genetics come with Black Haze parentage, and a suspected cross of Blue Dream in the mix. The finished flower should be considered a 50/50 hybrid as it contains dominant elements of both indica and Sativa. The flowers have a deep, pungent smell reminiscent of a turkey brine. When smoked, the flower is like taking a deep breath of ocean air, salty while being lightly expansive and numbing. initial effects quickly take hold, freeing the mind from pain and relaxing the body without being overly stoney. given its hybrid nature, this strain is perfect for daytime use, but can make a solid nightcap. overall, this strain is the best of both worlds for patients: A moderate amount of Thc to ease the mind and a heavy hit of cBD for lasting pain relief.

10821 vALLEy AvE EAST, PuyALLuP 98372(253) 256-4007

[email protected]

Naturally Green Dream

The Smoke is like taking a deep breath of ocean air, salty while being lightly expansive and numbing.‘‘

19926 AURORA AVE N SHORELINE WA 98133(206) 542-2334

MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY: 11AM – 8PM • SATURDAY & SUNDAY: 10AM – 5PM

Pacific NW Medical

HERE WE GROW TOGETHER

CHECK OUT OUR

BRAND NEW

GARDEN ROOM!

Good For

25% OFFAll Vita Verde and

Hash DropsThrough Oct. 2012FACEBOOK.COM/PNWMED

19926 AURORA AVE N SHORELINE WA 98133(206) 542-2334

MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY: 11AM – 8PM • SATURDAY & SUNDAY: 10AM – 5PM

Pacific NW Medical

HERE WE GROW TOGETHER

CHECK OUT OUR

BRAND NEW

GARDEN ROOM!

Good For

25% OFFAll Vita Verde and

Hash DropsThrough Oct. 2012FACEBOOK.COM/PNWMED

N 80th St

N 65th StN 65th St

Au

rora A

ve N

East G

reenlak

e Way

N

Green Lake

Green

wo

od

Ave N

WIDE SELECTION

FREE MEDICINE FOR FIRST TIME PATIENTS

FREE MEDICINE FOR PATIENT REFERRALS

KNOWLEDGABLE STAFF

FRIENDLY, SPACIOUS ENVIRONMENT7601 GREENWOOD AVE N SUITE 100

SEATTLE, WA 98103206.457.8917

WWW.GREENWOODALTMED.COM

Seattle’S PremierHigH-end medicalcannabiS collective

CheCk our website for daily speCials

MON-SAT 11AM-8PM • SUN: 12PM-6PM

(206) 402-5082

www.PugetSoundHealthAlternatives.comInfo@Pugetsoundhealthalternatives.com

3202 15TH AVE. W. SEATTLE, WA 98119

• Welcoming atmosphere• knowledgeable staff

• the region’s finest medicine selection• offering quality patient consulting• groWers exclusive to psha

“We believe in our members’ rights to be treated with respect, compassion, and discretion.

it is our commitment never to compromise on the quality of the service

and medicine offered.”

call for directions free parKing!•

Conveniently loCated in the inteRBay neiGhBoRhood

imperial kush

Malawi

blueberry

Pineapple Jazz

d1 X sour diesel


profile

Trouble in Tulalipmeet dennis boon.H E ’ S A M E M B E R O F T H E T U L A L I P I N D I A N T R I B E

A N D A Q U A L I F I E D M E D I C A L C A N N A B I S P AT I E N T.

S O W H Y D I D N ’ T T H AT M AT T E R T O T H E P O L I C E ?

BY RAYMOND FLORES FOR NORTHWEST LEAF

PHOTOS BY DANIEL BERMAN

C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T PA G E


lunchtime June 16, 2011, Dennis Boon returned to his two-bedroom duplex on the Tulalip Indian Reservation af-

ter a sunny morning of salmon fishing. Dennis, a commercial fisherman on the Tulalip Indian Reservation, which is just north of Everett, uses medical Cannabis to treat his severe epilepsy. Before leaving his home to return to work that afternoon, Dennis smoked a small amount of sativa Cannabis as part of his daily routine. Minutes after leaving his house, of-ficers from the U.S. Marshals Service, the Department of Corrections, Tulalip police and Snohomish County sheriff ’s deputies showed up at the home and told Dennis’ girlfriend that they were looking for a wanted fugitive, who was later found in a back room of the duplex. DOC officers, sheriff ’s deputies and Marshal Service officers left after taking their fugitive into custody, but the Tu-lalip officers stayed to investigate “the distinct odor of marijuana” that they say they smelled when they entered Den-nis’ home, according to police reports.The officers searched Dennis’ small house after obtaining a search war-rant, and found about 7 grams of Cannabis, two joints and more than a dozen items of paraphernalia. Dennis’ copy of his medical Cannabis authorization was taken from the wall above the safe when the officers left that afternoon, Dennis said, but it is not list-

ed in the search warrant as an item taken during the search. Photos of the authori-zation appear in court documents and it is mentioned in police reports and sub-poenas, but a medical Cannabis authori-zation on tribal land doesn’t mean much. Defendants and attorneys in In-dian criminal courts face a complex maze of federal and local jurisdictions. The Tulalip Tribe recognizes itself as a sovereign nation on federal land separate from Washington state, and is not required to adopt medical Can-nabis laws instituted by the state. Even if they wanted to adopt Washington’s medical Cannabis code, they are sub-ject to federal jurisdiction, which does not allow any kind of Cannabis use. Though Dennis is legally allowed to use Cannabis for medical purposes in Washington, as soon as he steps onto the reservation he calls home, he is vulner-able to prosecution from his tribal court and police. That’s how it is on tribal land. Dennis was in turn charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug parapherna-lia, both misdemeanors, in December 2011, and is scheduled for trial in Tu-lalip Tribal Court on Nov. 21, 2012. While medical Cannabis is illegal on the reservation, if Dennis was not an Indian, his case would be different. In 2008, Tulalip police were granted juris-diction over everyone on the reservation, not just tribal members and other In-dians. While Tulalip police are allowed

AT

meet dennis boon.H E ’ S A M E M B E R O F T H E T U L A L I P I N D I A N T R I B E

A N D A Q U A L I F I E D M E D I C A L C A N N A B I S P AT I E N T.

S O W H Y D I D N ’ T T H AT M AT T E R T O T H E P O L I C E ?


iN LATE MARCH, Boon spoke out at the General council meeting, declaring himself a medical Cannabis patient and making a motion to legalize medical Cannabis on Tulalip. despite overwhelming support BY OTHER TRIBAL MEMBERS, the motion was tabled FOR THE NEXT MEETING, SIX MONTHS LATER.

to arrest non-Indians, the Tulalip Tribal Court can still only prosecute Indians. If a non-Indian is arrested on the reser-vation, their case is transferred to Sno-homish County Court, which is subject to Washington’s medical Cannabis law. Dennis and his lawyers lost a motion us-ing the 14th Amendment to argue that the case violated the Equal Protection Clause, which requires states to provide equal pro-tection to all people within a jurisdiction. Because a case involving a non-Indian would not fall under the Tulalip Court’s jurisdiction, the motion was unsuccessful.

ennis said he has suffered from epilepsy since he was a child. Re-peated head traumas throughout his childhood resulted in him having multiple grand mal sei-

zures every week for years, until he started using Cannabis regularly to treat them. He said he smoked marijuana recre-ationally since he was a teenager, but in 1994, while attending college in Alaska, he met an epileptic who was using Can-nabis as medicine. Since 1994, Dennis has treated Cannabis as a medication, using it in the morning, afternoon and evening, and he says he hasn’t had a seizure in years. He obtained his first authoriza-tion in California back before medi-cal Cannabis was legal in Washington. “I mean, the medical records don’t prove it, but they give someone some-thing to think about,” Dennis said.

D

Before he started using Cannabis regularly to treat his epilepsy, Dennis said the gov-ernment was spending $150,000 per year on his health care. Indian Health Services pays for Dennis’ health care and on aver-age spends a few thousand every year.But neither Dennis nor science can truly prove that Cannabis stops epi-leptics from experiencing seizures. Washington’s medical Cannabis law identifies epilepsy as one of the conditions approved for Cannabis use, but little re-search has been done on the relationship between the plant and the illness. Oppo-nents of medical Cannabis believe the drug lowers a person’s seizure threshold, mak-ing seizures more likely. But others such as Dennis say that after using Cannabis, they experience drastically fewer seizures. The majority of test subjects interviewed say Cannabis has little or no effect on the frequency or intensity of their seizures. For those patients who it works for, Cannabis is a welcome alterna-tive to debilitating epilepsy drugs.Dennis said that before he started medi-cating with Cannabis, he had tried many of the modern epilepsy drugs such as Te-gretol, Dilantin and Depakote, with which he had varying levels of success managing his seizures. Some of the drugs worked well to reduce his seizures, but left him feeling heavily drugged, making it im-possible to think, work or go to school, he noted. Others worked for a while, but seemed to wear off eventually. Dennis used Phenobarbital for a few years, but couldn’t continue using it because it made him feel as though he was on animal tranquilizers. “I tried to go to school like that, tried to work like that, but it just didn’t work,” Den-nis said. He believes Cannabis is the most effective drug for controlling his epilepsy. Dennis is a self-described radical and whistle-blower on the reservation and sees himself as a victim of, in his words, a “corrupt bureaucracy” in the state and tribe. Dennis alleges he was targeted by

C O N T I N U E D f r o m p g. 3 9

Trouble in Tulalip


police because of an incident at a gen-eral council meeting, of which there are two every year. The general Coun-cil meeting is where the tribe enacts laws and tribal members who are eli-gible to vote discuss important matters. Dennis said that on March 18, 2011, he spoke out at the council meeting, de-claring himself a medical Cannabis pa-tient and making a motion to legalize medical Cannabis on the reservation. Dennis said that despite overwhelm-ing support for medical Cannabis at the meeting, the motion was tabled.

“I just painted a big red X on my back,” Dennis said. The Council exercised their right to discuss the matter at a later date.

ven if the tribe had voted that night to le-galize medical Cannabis on the reserva-tion, it would have been extremely risky. While sovereign nations aren’t required

to recognize state laws, they are still under the watchful eye of federal law. Because of that, no tribe in Washington has officially legalized medical Cannabis. A spokeswoman for the tribe said as long as Cannabis is illegal at the federal level, there isn’t anything they can do

E

about it. No other Tulalip officials could be reached for comment on this story. Dennis likened a grand mal seizure to getting beaten by a group of thugs. Dennis, 45, said his grand mal seizures were hard to deal with when he was young and they only get harder to deal with as he gets older. He said his last seizure was more than eight years ago. “All I’m trying to do is just live,” he said, his hands resting on his knees. Dennis’ medical condition grants him the right to use Cannabis in Washington, but not in his home.

A view through the screen door as Dennis relaxes.

THC THC THC THC THC THC THC THC THC THC THC THC THC THC THC THC THC THC THC THCtrue health care true health caretrue health care true health care

true health caretrue health care

true health care

true health caretrue health care true health care

true health caretrue health care true health caretrue health care true health care

true health caretrue health care true health caretrue health care true health caretrue health care

Dutch Treat

Hawaiian Gold

Big Bug Cross

Blue Dream

Purple Kush

Raspberry Kush

THC19.8

THC18.2

THC20.1

THC17.5

THC19.5

THC17.8

Dutch Treat

Hawaiian Gold

Big Bug Cross

Blue Dream

Purple Kush

Raspberry Kush

THC19.8

THC18.2

THC20.1

THC17.5

THC19.5

THC17.8

Grand O

pening

October 15

th 2012

Leading Provider of Patient Centered Care%100 All Medication Tested

Over 25 Strains of Dry MedicationGluten Free Fresh Edibles Daily

1/2 Oz Weekly Raffles Loyalty Programs

New Patient PackagesOils - Concentrates - Lotions

Find Us15941 Meridian EastPuyallup, Wa 98371Open Daily9am - 9pmCall Today!253-495-6159

Leading Provider of Patient Centered Care%100 All Medication Tested

Over 25 Strains of Dry MedicationGluten Free Fresh Edibles Daily

1/2 Oz Weekly Raffles Loyalty Programs

New Patient PackagesOils - Concentrates - Lotions

Find Us15941 Meridian EastPuyallup, Wa 98371Open Daily9am - 9pmCall Today!253-495-6159

true health care

Q: IS YOUR BUSINESS MISSING SOMETHING?Being online isn’t the same as being found online. Expand your business with an affordable, search engine optimized website and online marketing strategy by the area’s leading web design company.

We can help you with: custom site design & development increasing site traffic (SEO) branding & logo design customer acquisition & client retention ecommerce & online shopping social media strategy mobile website design

FREE SEO Report and Website Analysis

A: Get Found Online!

CALL TODAY206.384.4909www.efel lemedia.com

Stock Medibles?If your refrigerators aren’t NSF-approved you could be in trouble

1 4 9 1 0 A u r o r a Av e . N . S h o r e l i n e , WA 9 8 1 3 3( 2 0 6 ) 3 6 2 - 4 9 0 0 Ask for James

WE ARE THE MEDIBLE STORAGE & PACKAGING EXPERTS IN SEATTLE!

Save $100 when you bring in this ad

N

Aurora A

ve. N

.

145TH ST.

152ND ST.

NEW LOCATION UNDER CONSTRUCTION, ASK US FOR DETAILS.

WE DELIVER THE GOODS, COME CHECK IT OUT.OPEN M-F 10-8 WEEKENDS 10-6

511 N 85TH ST. SEATT LE 98103(206) 829-9435

[email protected]$G

TASTY

Recipes


medicated halloween edition

HandmadeChocolate-Covered Pretzels

Forked Eyeballs

1) Heat oven to 325°F. In large bowl, combine sugar and butter; beat until well blended. Add almond extract and egg; blend well. Add flour and cocoa; mix well.

2) Shape dough into 6-in.-long roll. Cut roll into 6 slices; cut each slice into quarters. For each pretzel, shape 1 dough quarter into 10-inch-long rope. Shape rope into U-shape; cross ends and place over bottom of U to form pretzel. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

3) Bake at 325°F. for 8 to 10 minutes or until set and firm to the touch. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets. Cool 10 min. or until completely cooled.

4) In small microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and shortening. Microwave on HIGH for 30 seconds. Stir; continue microwaving, stirring every 10 seconds, until chocolate is melted and can be stirred smooth. Dip tops of pretzels in chocolate. Sprinkle with candy sprinkles. Refrigerate 10 minutes or until chocolate is set before storing.

Pretzels:

3/4 cup sugar1/2 cup medicated butter1/2 teaspoon almond extract1 egg1 3/4 cups gold medal® all-purpose flour1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

Icing:

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips1 1/2 teaspoons shortening1 tablespoon medicated vegetable oil (optional)Assorted halloween candy sprinkles

2 (11-oz.) bags white chocolate chips12 doughnut holesSemisweet chocolate chipsTube of red decorator frosting2 tablespoons medicated vegetable oil

1) To coat a dozen doughnut holes, melt the white chocolate chips with the oil over low heat (and keep the chocolate warm while you work).

2) With a fork, spear each doughnut hole and submerge it in the melted chocolate to coat it, then gently tap off any excess.

3) Stick a semisweet chocolate chip with its point cut off onto each doughnut hole, cut end first. Place the forks (handle side down) in a mug and allow the chocolate coating to harden.

4) Use a tube of red decorator frosting to add squiggly veins radiating out from the pupils

PRETZELS By fLickR/DEARBARBZ365 — DoNuTS By fLickR/PABLoBERLANgA

REviEWS By NoRThWEST LEAf STAff PhoToS By DANiEL BERmAN

TASTY

Reviews


we wish we had this camping

chocolatey-minty perfection

sriracha, please step aside

We found these three medibles at Highway 9 Wellness in Snohomish.

16510 Washington HWY. 9 Snohomish, WA 98296 (360) 243-3399

Bomb Bar Triple X Strength, $103 servings • Tested at 8.18 mg THC

The bomb bars are a truly potent treat and come in several forms. The S’mores bar is delicious and features canna butter, hash and keif all thrown into the mix. chocolate krispy bars, and fruity krispies bar, are available.

Hashy Sri Ganja Chili Sauce, $20

for those that like it hot, this medicated chili Sauce is the perfect addition to any meal. With a taste similar to Siracha, the medicine inside isn’t overwhelming in taste or smell, But don’t let it fool you. The hash inside makes for a deep burning kick that is sure to delight.

Grasshopper Cookie Single Strength, $5

This tasty treat combines the classic flavors of chocolate and mint in a sof t, delicate cookie. The package says single strength, but it is easily two servings. This is a great af ter dinner treat, and will make an evening to remember. Lemon Bars, and other varieties, are available.

REviEWS By NoRThWEST LEAf STAff PhoToS By DANiEL BERmAN

DEVICE OF THE MONTH

$250

AvAiLABLE fRom:ALL MARY JANE’S HOUSE OF GLASSLocATioNS iN WESTERN WAShiNgToN mARyJANEShouSEofgLASS.NET

This groundbreaking bubbler is perfect for any medical patients lifestyle. you can use it almost exactly like a regular

bubbler but with some outstanding health benefits.

The secret to the health effects is the filtration.

it is a two-phase system utilizing virgin coconut

carbon in the first and organic cotton in the

second. When the user takes a pull (hit) on the

device, the smoke travels through the water, then

the carbon, and, finally, through the cotton. The

smoke emerges free of damaging carcinogens

and harmful pesticides without losing potency.

for those who take frequent dabs from a water

pipe, this is an especially great option to consider.

The system has scientifically proven to remove

naphthalene, a common solvent used in processing

bho. This device keeps the medicine safer for use,

and can eliminate arguments that smoking is not

a valid medical form of ingestion for medicine.

McFinn’s Triple-Filtered Water Pipe


Visit our website 5265 University Way NESeattle, Wash. 98105

thejointcoop.com(206) 283-3333

PROUD SPONSOR

YEAR ROUND


wARM AND ‘PINEY’ HEADBAND

CONCENTRATES

REviEW By NoRThWEST LEAf STAff | PhoTo By DANiEL BERmAN Available from:hype herbally 16430 6th Ave. W.Lynnwood, WA 98037

(425) 582-9385 open m-Sat [email protected]


Tested By

Indica 70/Sativa 30 • 52.68% THC • 0.38% CBD

eadband owes it’s name to the quick onset cerebral pressure felt after a deep toke, and this oil does not disappoint. With beautiful shades of amber, the malleable oil is perfect for dabbing. When the oil hits

the nail a lightly expansive smoke bursts out, with a taste reminiscent of the strain. The oil tastes perfectly sour, with a chemdog style piney flavor that sticks to the palate. Unlike many concentrates this Headband oil also has a great smell. Warm and piney, this oil has a lot of terpenes that make for an aromatic and special treat.

H

w

Seattle mmj co-opHOURS:10-8 M-F12-8 S/SU

new patientS receive free gram/ediblew/ purchaSe

Full-melthashfor just$20/gdonation

(206) 457-4655

[email protected]

8251 Lake City Way N.E. Seattle, WA 98115 (across from 7-11)

all top Shelf : $10/g

Seattle Clinic (Satellite)9632 16th Ave SWSeattle, WA 98106

Redmond Clinic (Primary)2717 152nd Ave NE (Bldg 6)

Redmond, WA 98052

Washington's #1 Choice for Legally CompliantMedical Cannabis Recommendations

WARNING!Some authorization providers

only exist for medical cannabis

authorizations, which is ILLEGAL**SB 5073, sec. 301, 3b-23, pg.11

Schedule Today(800) 840-8875

WWW.GMGWA.COM

Why Green Medical Group?See a licensed primary care doctor as required by law

Licensed medical clinic, malpractice insured24/7 instant online patient verification


Tested By

Find Washington’s best prices on premium organic gardening supplies with a short trip north to The Grow Shop in Ferndale. We get the power to the flower and help patients get results.

5984 Portal Way Ferndale, WA 360-990-6009OPEN Mon-Fri 11-9p • Sat-Sun 12-5

$420

GrowingStarter Kit

Give us a callfor more info!

F a l l S P E c i a l

F E A T U R I N G

-our full Archive-Exclusive content-Reviews and News-T ips and Tricks-Photo Essays

SEARCHING FOR THE BEST IN LOCAL CANNABIS JOURNALISM?

VISIT OUR NEW SITE:THENORTHWESTLEAF.COM

facebook.com/nwleafRead. Learn. Share.

Please Join Us!Free Educational Seminars Sundays Noon to 1 p.m.>> The Medicinal Benefi ts of Cannabis.”Provided by Dr. Eva Urbaniak, N.D. In compliance with

RCW 69.51A

Call Now for AppointmentWalk-Ins Are Welcome!

Doctors available:Tues: 2-6pmFri: 11-3pmSun: 1-4pm

Includes Authorization and ID Card

Special Rate

$99

Verifi cation provided 7 days/wk!

New Hours! New Prices!

A GREEN CURE

We carry Arjan’s Pre-’97 Super Silver!

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR OUR LATEST DEALS & SPECIALS

We carry Arjan’s Pre-’97 Super Silver!

QOUR LATEST DEALS & SPECIALS

910 N. 145TH ST. SHORELINE, WA 98133

[email protected]

Locally cultivated medicine by experienced growers

OPEN MON-SAT 11-8 • SUNDAY 11-5S▲

Hwy 99

N. 145th St.

Shoreline

Easy access from I-5 Located at 145th & Aurora

Safe, convenient and discrete location for medicine and cannabis education

All top-shelf medicine for an equal donation!

We feature a wide selection of topicals & exclusive edibles!

A.D.A Compliant

In compliance with RCW 69.51A

Call Now for Appointment Walk-Ins Welcome!Doctors available:Tues: 2-6pmThurs: 11-3pFri: 11-3pmSun: 12-4pm

Includes Authorization and ID Card

Special Rate

$99Verification provided 7 days/wk!

growtech


Sliding Into Home>> The final three to four weeks of the flowering phase are a crucial time in developing the characteristics Cannabis enthusiasts seek By DR ScANDERSoN foR NoRThWEST LEAf

uring these final weeks, the bulk of the plant’s energy is focused on developing essential oils, trichomes, fullness and density in the flowers. The right combination of gardening techniques can help to maximize the plant’s genetic potential. This in turn can produce a bouquet of aromas accompanied by luscious, flavorful flowers, oozing with

resin and coated in copious amounts of trichomes that yield handsomely. Mistakes around this time, on the other hand, can put ceilings on the genetic potential — resulting in medium yields of mildly scented flowers. These will have an unmistakably bland and common flavor (the proverbial “tastes like chicken” of the Cannabis world). In this month’s Grow Tech, I hope to offer a few tips that I’ve found to be nearly universally successful among many different gardeners for the last three to four weeks of flower, or what I generally call the fruit setting and hardening/ripening stages. To be clear about the stage(s) in question here: I generally divide the flowering stage into three parts. The first stage includes the transition, flower opening and stretch. It’s during this time that the flower sites “open” on the plant and the plant stretches, or growers taller (between 50 and 400 percent increase in height). It does this to maximize light absorption and give it the best shot at pollination. When this stage is completed, the plant will stop growing in height and the last two stages can begin. The second stage I call “fruit setting.” It’s during this time that the plant focuses most of it’s energy on developing its flower sites, making them bigger and filling in the internodes — the

dstem area between nodes where leafs grow from — by stacking calyx’s (those little crystal covered pod things that sandwich the hairs on your dried medication). I like to time any pruning, thinning and staking so that the vast majority or all of these tasks are completed by the fruit setting stage. By this stage, almost the entire structure of the plant has already been determined. If you got things right, your plants should be well prepared to set some flowers. A flower-enhancing supplement and a carbohydrate supplement (hopefully delivered the week prior) is very helpful in ensuring the plant gets adequate nutrients to support the increased energy demands it needs in order to fill out large flowers. Starting calcium and magnesium supplementation can be helpful at this stage as well. Especially if you have softer water, use systems or grow strains that thrive in lower PPM environments, or prefer using adjusted RO water, adding a calcium magnesium supplement at this stage prevents any deficiency which so often pops up around weeks five to six. Proper nutrition in Veg as well as the first stage of flower should ensure that not much more is needed.

One of the biggest common errors I see is an understanding that continuing to feed your plants will ensure that they continue to grow bigger and riper. As a result people end up feeling that the flush is the equivalent to “giving up” as they can no longer jam nutrients into the plant.

The last three to four weeks are crucial in determining flavor and over all quality in many ways. It is important to understand that from my perspective, flushing is an essential part of growing medical grade Cannabis and is integral to the ripening stage. Some gardeners do nothing but flush for this entire stage, especially if they have fed their soil properly. One of the biggest common errors I see is an understanding that continuing to feed your plants will ensure that they continue to grow bigger and riper. As a result people end up feeling that the flush is the equivalent to “giving up” as they can no longer jam nutrients into the plant. I consider this an error because it doesn’t account for the much slower rate that plants metabolize and ultimately use the nutrients you feed it. When I notice a change for better or worse in my garden and I suspect it has something to do with the nutrients, I usually look FIRST to what they were

C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T PA G E

growtech

ARTicLE coNTiNuED fRom Pg. 56


eating the previous week and not what I have been feeding them in the current week. By planning adequate time for plants to truly flush and exhaust their nutrient stores, your plants will fully ripen. By flushing properly, you give your plants the time to receive and respond to the hormonal signals released during, and triggered by the flushing process. Many of the most exciting colors, smells and trichome swelling occur during this stage due specifically to the lack of nutrients in the plant, so don’t miss out!

here are a couple of supplements that I have seen produce more or less universally improved results. At this stage, using a PK formula will ensure your plants get adequate phosphorus

and potassium — the nutrients needed most at this stage. Many gardeners use different techniques to develop hardness and ripeness, some include: adding molasses to your feeding schedule and using Bombastic by Atami. Often, gardeners will deliberatelystress the plant mildly right at the end of the flower stage. Many of the desirable characteristics about Cannabis are largely a result of the biological defense mechanisms

T

Sliding Into Home

Many of the desirable characteristics about Cannabis are largely a result of the biological defense mechanisms employed by the Cannabis plant.

employed by the Cannabis plant. By creating somewhat stressful environment, you “trick” the plant into focusing its last energy at protecting itself from the stress and recovering which can lead to increased resin and potency of cannabinoidsas well as an increase in essential oils. Light shocking (finishing the plants out with 24 to 48 hours of straight darkness) and PK spiking (adding very high levels of Phosphorus and Potassium) are two methods that when used in moderation on healthy thriving plants, consistently delivers a small but noticeable boost in quality that can often serve as the “cherry” on top of your sundae. If you are interested in learning specific information on application schedules or further detail on the products or techniques included in this article please e-mail me at [email protected] or message me on my facebook page under “DoctorScanderson.”

as always…happy gardening!

a flowering hindu kush plant

PhoTo couRTESy EASTcoASTERDAm.com

As a general rule introduce ANy change grad-ually and slowly i.e. try adding one of the tips in and err on the side of a mild application (50% of manufacturer ‘s recommended nutri-ent application, lighter end of the range for light shocking period etc.)

Proper nutrition and growing condi-tions must exist in veg as well as the first stage of flower for any of these techniques to be maximized. I don’t recommend trying anything radical until this has been achieved.

Sometimes the best results come from taking things out earlier and flushing longer

i have seen NoThiNg that you can do at the end of your cycle that will affect change dramatically. Nature provides a gradual process; work with it rather than against it.

use all stress treatments cautiously and gradually; it’s very easy to overdo it and actually end up with the opposite outcome of your intention.

Are You Under the Influence?

60/ OcT. 2012 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

health & science

BY NORTHWEST LEAF SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR DR. SCOTT D. ROSE

I Rnitiative-502 is on the ballot this November to “legalize” marijuana. More than 241,000 sig-natures were gathered in

favor of allowing people older than 21 years of age to legally purchase marijuana from state-run facilities. Many of those people, perhaps, are enchanted by the possibility of new laws that would allow the pos-session and use of a substance that has been prohibited in the United States for more than 80 years. But wait. No piece of legislation is perfect and I-502 is far from perfect. Big money has bankrolled the yes on 502 campaign. Much opposition comes from the medical Cannabis community, and much of that opposition focuses on driving and the dreaded blood test. Many medical Cannabis patients fear that the driving under the in-� uence of a drug provisions will increase the potential penalty for their use of Cannabis medicines. Early opposition to I-502 began with advocates of medical Cannabis and quickly spread to Gov. Chris-tine Gregoire and Attorney General

>>EXAMINING & DEBUNKING I-502’S unfair, unscientific DUI PROVISION

Rob McKenna, who object to numerous features, and then to a broader group of citizens and patient advocacy groups. � e main objection to I-502’s Part V: Driv-ing Under the In� uence of Marijuana is that the DUID language is unnecessary, unscienti� c and unfair. On the pro side of the argument, stricter regulations and penalties will be levied for driving under the in� uence of Cannabis. � at sounds reasonable, right? People shouldn’t be driving under the in� uence of drugs. However, no speci� c amount of THC (the psychoactive com-ponent in the Cannabis plant) in the blood will guarantee that someone is too impaired to drive.

“It is not possible to conclude anything about a driver’s impair-ment on the basis of his/her plas-ma concentrations,” according to a report by the U.S. Department of Transportation titled Marijuana and Actual Driving Performance: E� ects of THC on Driving Per-formance.” � e consensus is, however, that Cannabis consumers are impaired to a point of creating “additional risk” while driving when they are above 5 ng/mL THC concentra-tion in the blood (that’s nanograms per milliliter, or in other words, about a pinch of salt in 10 tons of potato chips). � e DUID laws as proposed set the blood plasma lev-els at less than 5 ng/ml. THC levels in the blood peak quickly after inhalation, then de-crease rapidly according to complex biochemical mechanisms, mak-ing it almost impossible to work backward from the concentrations in the blood stream as to when the individual consumed Cannabis and how a� ected they are at the moment. It’s unlike alcohol con-sumption, for which a linear rela-


I - 5 0 2 d o e s n ’ t h av e a n y p r o v i s i o n s t h at

ta k e i n t o a c c o u n t t o l e r a n c e a n d

d u r at i o n o f u s e .

Any rule applied to the

consumption of alcohol

should be applied to

Cannabis, including don’t

drive impaired, don’t

consume while driving and

don’t consume in public.

Dr. Scott D. Rose is a Naturopathic Physician Acupuncturist specializing in pain management in Kirkland. Askdrrose.com

often requiring multiple doses each day. Research has shown a di� erence ex-ists between new and experienced users of Cannabis and their performance on driving tests. In one study, most marijuana-intox-icated drivers, both new and experienced, showed modest impairments on a road test, and experienced smokers who drove on a set course showed almost no functional impairments at all under the in� uence of Cannabis. Except when combining with alcohol, users have been shown to perceive that they are under the in� uence and so are consequently more cautious. Other studies have found no adverse e� ects of Cannabis use on sign detec-tion, a sudden lane-changing task, or the detection of and response to hazardous events. An analysis of more than 120 stud-ies showed that in general, the higher the estimated concentration of THC in blood, the higher the driving impairment, but that more frequent users of Cannabis show less impairment than infrequent users at the same dose. I-502 doesn’t have any provi-sions that take into account tolerance and duration of use.

esearch conducted by Dr. Gil Mobley, a licensed provider of medical Can-nabis, yielded results sug-gesting that patients re-

tain levels of THC in their systems for up to four hours after medication, levels that would be illegal for drivers under I-502. Mobley’s numbers show that patients who registered up to 47 ng/mL of THC in their bloodstream were able to pass basic cogni-tive exams. Medical Cannabis patients argue that I-502’s legal limit is unreasonably low. At less than 5 ng/ml, a lot of medical Can-nabis patients will essentially be unable to ever drive legally. If those same patients happened to have been convicted of DUI within the past 10 years, they will be at risk of being charged with a felony every time they get behind the wheel. � e ethics of this provision have resulted in heated de-bates. Washington’s current DUI law already includes “implied consent” and “per se DUI” provisions. If you drive on Washing-ton roads, you have given consent to tests of your breath and blood if you are “arrested

for any o� ense where, at the time of arrest, the ar-resting o� cer has reasonable grounds to believe” you are under the in� uence. � e fact that you are “entitled to use a drug under the laws of this state,” such as having a prescription for a pharma-ceutical or a medical Cannabis authorization, is not a defense. I-502 adds a per se threshold for THC. Ini-tiative 502 establishes a per se Cannabis DUI cuto� of 5 nanograms of active THC metabolite per milliliter of whole blood, which is analogous to the per se 0.08 blood alcohol content for al-cohol consumption. It does not change the legal requirements that must be met before a police of-� cer can take a driver to a medical professional for a blood test. It does not change the fact that o� cers still must have probable cause for an arrest and reasonable grounds to believe a driver is im-paired before requiring a breath or blood test. Nor does it change the fact that blood tests can only be administered by medical professionals. A valid roadside sobriety test already exists for identifying Cannabis intoxication. Standard � eld sobriety tests for alcohol consumption include as-sessments of eye-tracking, walking a straight line and maintaining balance standing on one leg. In Australia, they’ve included the addition of a new sign: head movements or jerks that have been shown to accurately predict THC intoxication. � ese new � eld tests reduce the frequency and necessity for blood testing in routine tra� c evalu-ations and are being used in Australia. � ere, the state police of Victoria test for driving impair-ment associated with drugs other than alcohol, including Cannabis. Research has shown such an evaluation might also account for the dose depen-dency of impairment and the tolerance of longer-term users. In other words, a simple test can tell how impaired someone is as a preliminary step before sending a medical Cannabis patient in for a blood test and the likelihood of a DUID. After using Cannabis, quali� ed patients who need to drive should either have a designated driver or wait at least three hours after consuming before driving. � ey should also be aware that Cannabis is particularly likely to impair monotonous or pro-longed driving and that mixing Cannabis with alcohol will have an additive e� ect, resulting in increased impairment. Any rule applied to the consumption of al-cohol should be applied to Cannabis, including don’t drive impaired, don’t consume while driving and don’t consume in public. And, most importantly, do not be mesmerized by the promise of “legalization.”“It is not possible to conclude

anything about a driver’s impairment on the basis of his/her plasma concentrations

-U.S. Dept. of Transportation report, Marijuana and Actual Driving Performance: Effects of THC on Driving Performance.

tionship exists. Breathalyzer and blood alcohol content analysis technologies are generally valid measures of impairment. Smoking Cannabis has been shown to impair driving skills most severely during the acute phase, which typically lasts up to one hour, a post-acute phase (one to 2 1/2 hours), and a re-sidual phase (more than 2 1/2 hours) during which impair-ment subsides rapidly. � e duration of the post-acute phase and the degree of impair-ment during the residual phase both increase strongly with the consumed dose. After smoking “typical doses” of about 20 mg THC, the residual phase lasts two to three hours. � e e� ects of orally ingested Cannabis will occur later than those of smoking, typically peaking two to three hours after ingestion — but the blood values will test higher for longer. � ese are concerning factors for medi-cal Cannabis patients because many consume their Cannabis medicines in a variety of ways,

GRAPHIC: VECTORPORTAL.COM

Are You Under the Influence?

60/ OcT. 2012 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

health & science

BY NORTHWEST LEAF SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR DR. SCOTT D. ROSE

I Rnitiative-502 is on the ballot this November to “legalize” marijuana. More than 241,000 sig-natures were gathered in

favor of allowing people older than 21 years of age to legally purchase marijuana from state-run facilities. Many of those people, perhaps, are enchanted by the possibility of new laws that would allow the pos-session and use of a substance that has been prohibited in the United States for more than 80 years. But wait. No piece of legislation is perfect and I-502 is far from perfect. Big money has bankrolled the yes on 502 campaign. Much opposition comes from the medical Cannabis community, and much of that opposition focuses on driving and the dreaded blood test. Many medical Cannabis patients fear that the driving under the in-� uence of a drug provisions will increase the potential penalty for their use of Cannabis medicines. Early opposition to I-502 began with advocates of medical Cannabis and quickly spread to Gov. Chris-tine Gregoire and Attorney General

>>EXAMINING & DEBUNKING I-502’S unfair, unscientific DUI PROVISION

Rob McKenna, who object to numerous features, and then to a broader group of citizens and patient advocacy groups. � e main objection to I-502’s Part V: Driv-ing Under the In� uence of Marijuana is that the DUID language is unnecessary, unscienti� c and unfair. On the pro side of the argument, stricter regulations and penalties will be levied for driving under the in� uence of Cannabis. � at sounds reasonable, right? People shouldn’t be driving under the in� uence of drugs. However, no speci� c amount of THC (the psychoactive com-ponent in the Cannabis plant) in the blood will guarantee that someone is too impaired to drive.

“It is not possible to conclude anything about a driver’s impair-ment on the basis of his/her plas-ma concentrations,” according to a report by the U.S. Department of Transportation titled Marijuana and Actual Driving Performance: E� ects of THC on Driving Per-formance.” � e consensus is, however, that Cannabis consumers are impaired to a point of creating “additional risk” while driving when they are above 5 ng/mL THC concentra-tion in the blood (that’s nanograms per milliliter, or in other words, about a pinch of salt in 10 tons of potato chips). � e DUID laws as proposed set the blood plasma lev-els at less than 5 ng/ml. THC levels in the blood peak quickly after inhalation, then de-crease rapidly according to complex biochemical mechanisms, mak-ing it almost impossible to work backward from the concentrations in the blood stream as to when the individual consumed Cannabis and how a� ected they are at the moment. It’s unlike alcohol con-sumption, for which a linear rela-


I - 5 0 2 d o e s n ’ t h av e a n y p r o v i s i o n s t h at

ta k e i n t o a c c o u n t t o l e r a n c e a n d

d u r at i o n o f u s e .

Any rule applied to the

consumption of alcohol

should be applied to

Cannabis, including don’t

drive impaired, don’t

consume while driving and

don’t consume in public.

Dr. Scott D. Rose is a Naturopathic Physician Acupuncturist specializing in pain management in Kirkland. Askdrrose.com

often requiring multiple doses each day. Research has shown a di� erence ex-ists between new and experienced users of Cannabis and their performance on driving tests. In one study, most marijuana-intox-icated drivers, both new and experienced, showed modest impairments on a road test, and experienced smokers who drove on a set course showed almost no functional impairments at all under the in� uence of Cannabis. Except when combining with alcohol, users have been shown to perceive that they are under the in� uence and so are consequently more cautious. Other studies have found no adverse e� ects of Cannabis use on sign detec-tion, a sudden lane-changing task, or the detection of and response to hazardous events. An analysis of more than 120 stud-ies showed that in general, the higher the estimated concentration of THC in blood, the higher the driving impairment, but that more frequent users of Cannabis show less impairment than infrequent users at the same dose. I-502 doesn’t have any provi-sions that take into account tolerance and duration of use.

esearch conducted by Dr. Gil Mobley, a licensed provider of medical Can-nabis, yielded results sug-gesting that patients re-

tain levels of THC in their systems for up to four hours after medication, levels that would be illegal for drivers under I-502. Mobley’s numbers show that patients who registered up to 47 ng/mL of THC in their bloodstream were able to pass basic cogni-tive exams. Medical Cannabis patients argue that I-502’s legal limit is unreasonably low. At less than 5 ng/ml, a lot of medical Can-nabis patients will essentially be unable to ever drive legally. If those same patients happened to have been convicted of DUI within the past 10 years, they will be at risk of being charged with a felony every time they get behind the wheel. � e ethics of this provision have resulted in heated de-bates. Washington’s current DUI law already includes “implied consent” and “per se DUI” provisions. If you drive on Washing-ton roads, you have given consent to tests of your breath and blood if you are “arrested

for any o� ense where, at the time of arrest, the ar-resting o� cer has reasonable grounds to believe” you are under the in� uence. � e fact that you are “entitled to use a drug under the laws of this state,” such as having a prescription for a pharma-ceutical or a medical Cannabis authorization, is not a defense. I-502 adds a per se threshold for THC. Ini-tiative 502 establishes a per se Cannabis DUI cuto� of 5 nanograms of active THC metabolite per milliliter of whole blood, which is analogous to the per se 0.08 blood alcohol content for al-cohol consumption. It does not change the legal requirements that must be met before a police of-� cer can take a driver to a medical professional for a blood test. It does not change the fact that o� cers still must have probable cause for an arrest and reasonable grounds to believe a driver is im-paired before requiring a breath or blood test. Nor does it change the fact that blood tests can only be administered by medical professionals. A valid roadside sobriety test already exists for identifying Cannabis intoxication. Standard � eld sobriety tests for alcohol consumption include as-sessments of eye-tracking, walking a straight line and maintaining balance standing on one leg. In Australia, they’ve included the addition of a new sign: head movements or jerks that have been shown to accurately predict THC intoxication. � ese new � eld tests reduce the frequency and necessity for blood testing in routine tra� c evalu-ations and are being used in Australia. � ere, the state police of Victoria test for driving impair-ment associated with drugs other than alcohol, including Cannabis. Research has shown such an evaluation might also account for the dose depen-dency of impairment and the tolerance of longer-term users. In other words, a simple test can tell how impaired someone is as a preliminary step before sending a medical Cannabis patient in for a blood test and the likelihood of a DUID. After using Cannabis, quali� ed patients who need to drive should either have a designated driver or wait at least three hours after consuming before driving. � ey should also be aware that Cannabis is particularly likely to impair monotonous or pro-longed driving and that mixing Cannabis with alcohol will have an additive e� ect, resulting in increased impairment. Any rule applied to the consumption of al-cohol should be applied to Cannabis, including don’t drive impaired, don’t consume while driving and don’t consume in public. And, most importantly, do not be mesmerized by the promise of “legalization.”“It is not possible to conclude

anything about a driver’s impairment on the basis of his/her plasma concentrations

-U.S. Dept. of Transportation report, Marijuana and Actual Driving Performance: Effects of THC on Driving Performance.

tionship exists. Breathalyzer and blood alcohol content analysis technologies are generally valid measures of impairment. Smoking Cannabis has been shown to impair driving skills most severely during the acute phase, which typically lasts up to one hour, a post-acute phase (one to 2 1/2 hours), and a re-sidual phase (more than 2 1/2 hours) during which impair-ment subsides rapidly. � e duration of the post-acute phase and the degree of impair-ment during the residual phase both increase strongly with the consumed dose. After smoking “typical doses” of about 20 mg THC, the residual phase lasts two to three hours. � e e� ects of orally ingested Cannabis will occur later than those of smoking, typically peaking two to three hours after ingestion — but the blood values will test higher for longer. � ese are concerning factors for medi-cal Cannabis patients because many consume their Cannabis medicines in a variety of ways,

GRAPHIC: VECTORPORTAL.COM


BEHIND THE STRAIN

The Genetics: the bottom line:

smoke report:

By DR. ScANDERSoN foR NoRThWEST LEAf

Chocolate LemonadeC H E C K I N G O U T A T A S T Y S A T I V A

(Super Silver Sour Diesel haze [SSSc super silver haze x East coast Sour Diesel clone) x (chocolope DNA genetics, thanks Don and Aaron! [cantaloupe haze x chocolate Thai)

HOW IT GROWS:

Chocolate Lemonade is one of my favorite plants and it is a pleasure to grow, if a bit challenging. It’s fussy with nutrients but doesn’t mind heat, doesn’t need much staking or support, and grows in the perfect shape with multiple tops. It’s a happy plant and I feel happy around it, whether it’s growing or burning.I veg her 4-5 weeks for a bloomed height of 3-4 feet and, with no topping, she will be a medium-sized bush. I take off the bottom foot of growth to keep the nugs nice sized and minimize light deficient larf. She is a fairly leafy one so I remove some larger leaves a couple times during flower to help with light penetration. I’ve noticed though that too much plucking will re-sult in a strong shock halting bud development for about a week until it recovers. During vegetation, CL is very PH-sensitive, and this was a challenge to figure out. All other plants looked beautiful at a Ph of 6 but after trying several things, I lowered the PH and noticed an improve-ment. Her sweet spot was right at 5.4. I use a slightly modified General Hydroponic three-part formula regime with a couple additives keeping ppm levels between 1200 and 1400. Both lower and higher levels displeased her. I use 1000-watt HPS and heat is often a problem since ceiling height is finite, but this is not a problem for CL. She will sit right in the hot spot and take it like a champ with healthy green leaves and frosted swollen sativa-like pointy buds.

To me, Chocolate Lemonade looks like a cleaned up, “prettier” version of chocolope. Unlike the fox tail calyx formation and looser bud structure more typical of chocolope and most sativa-dominant strains, Chocolate Lemonade presents even, spear-shaped flowers nicely coated in trichomes. All the gear I’ve ever tested from Big-C, scent and taste must be described as an athletic experience. Lemony terpenes rush out immediately, giving way to the bitter fruit-and-haze notes of the chocolope. The lemon and flower bouquet savagely grabs hold of my tongue as the smoke rushes out of the double century perk, Dank Tank tube. • This is one of those more subtle flavors that is so lip-smacking I find myself almost uncontrollably taking gulp after gulp of smoke. I play the “Okay that’s enough, wait just a little bit more,” game in hopes of capturing just a little more flavor, but am left with two huge columns of smoke rapidly expanding my chest to the point of cracking. My face hatch is forced open and smoke billows out as tangy hazy flavors rush around my nose and mind.

The Effect:

SA-MACK! Anyone ever heard of a dunk-a-roo (I’m an expert observer)? This plant has an immediate message for your face and head. It rushes on with a vigor that took me a moment to adjust to, create movement and the like. Within minutes an exciting, functional & comfortable pure sativa effect is realized that lasts and lasts with the same intensity.

While this may not be the best choice for the beginning gardener, if you have the chance to grow or consult with this plant, do it! once dialed in, heavy yields of beautiful Sensimilla are realized in about nine weeks. Patients looking for a strong and reliable sativa that is nothing but pleasurable to ingest need look no further.

ThiS WAS A LimiTED RELEASE breeding project combining possibly the two most expressive haze-leaning characterized plants in the SSSDh with the super fast finishing times and sativa-like effects of Chocolope by way of DNA genetics. To complement such a rare strain, and do justice to the article, took something extra. After much coaxing and many requests i feel very fortunate to be able to introduce my cannabis mentor and teacher, the person whose advice i value most, and a very dear friend, Big-C, as our guest gardener for this month’s ‘How it Grows’ section.

PhoTo By DEoxy/icmAg.com

Fusion medical cannabishours:12-8 weekdays12-4 saturdayclosed sundayhappy hour daily 2-4

206.402.3957 1602 Dexter Ave N. Seattle, WA fusionmmj.com

visit us at hempfest booth 418 and receive a coupon for free dama oil redeemable at Fusion.

Have a Heartcc

Knowledgeable. Compassionate. Reputable.

11736 Aurora Avenue N.Seattle, Wash. 98133

(206) 257- 4500

We a re No r t h Sea t t l e ’ s P rem ie r Co l l ec t i v e .

We be l i e ve i n a l t e r na t i v e hea l t h W ITH ca re .

haveaheartcc.com

Documents

October 2012 — Issue #29