August 2011 - Issue #14

NORTHWEST LEAF[Free] August 2011 Issue #14

Seattle HEMPFESTSPECIAL EDITION

-FREE HASH FOR ALL PATIENTS-3O top-shelf strains under $12/g + tinctures, edibles!-10% of your donation as patients will go to charity!

[email protected]

HOURS:11-7 M-S 12-5 Sun.

11009 1st Ave. S. Seattle, 98168

4

The Northwest Medical Cup1st Annual

SEpTEmbER 3Rd@ G.A.m.E. Lounge

9803 16th Avenue S.W. in Seattle

$75$25

Judge’s Pass

Guest Pass

- Judge’s Take-Home kiTs- samples of all enTries- BlunT rolling ConTesT- Vaporizor room- Catering & dance floor- gaming Tournaments

&NORTHWEST

LEAF

G.A.M.E Collect

ives

present tHe

VENdORS! Taking Entries Now//Testing Provided Contact (206) 250-1373

on-siTe VoTing wiTH CannaBis Cup presenTaTion

The Friendliest Dispensaryin Seattle

e are centrally located in SODO, less

than a mile from Safeco Field. We have a

very knowledgeable staff waiting to

compassionately serve you and have the

most handicap accessible facility in Seattle.

Our facility is safe, secure, and most of all,

patient friendly.Phone: 206-388-3462

www.access4washington.com

Email: [email protected] 2735 1st Ave. South • Seattle, WA 98134

W Now open 7 days a week, 10-6No appointment necessary

We offer a complete selection of:

• Yummy freshly baked edibles, candies and other munchies

• Tinctures & Ointments

• Medication (starting at only $8 per gram)

• An incredible selection of glass and vaporizers

For the patient gardener, we

offer over forty strains of the

best genetics available

anywhere, along with discount

growing supplies for patients.

NORTHWEST LEAFTable of Contents August 2011

FREE dVd GIVEAWAY! (p. 16)

TRIpLETS & TOpICALS (p.11)

INdICA OR SATIVA? (p.31)

STRAIN SHOTS (p.19)

A SWEET LEAF! (p.22)EXCLUSIVE 1ST pEEK (p.14)We’re giving away five copies of the marijua-na and hemp law DVD HEMPSTERS. The DVD features interviews with celebrities like Willie Nelson and Woody Harellson. Learn how easy it can be for you to win on page 16.

Tacoma’s Sweet Leaf Resources hasall medicine for $10/g donation but also a unique approach to patient care, medicine selection and even,how much electricity they use up!

She hasn’t had it easy, but Kathleen, a single mother of three triplet boys and maker of a great line of topicals and sweet edibles, talks to us about what keeps her motivated and how she deals with the local police.

Our longtime contributor Dr. Scott Rose writes about the differencesfor patients between indica and sativa strains. Knowing how each affects your body can help ensure you pick the medicine that will help you best. Learn more on p. 31.

Powerplant from Access 4 Washington is a great choice for all patients.

Only Northwest Leaf got the chance to look at Mr. Keif Box’s incredible custom creation for Seattle Hempfest. The chest is one of a kind and valued in the thousands. Read more on his beautiful craftsmanship.

NATIONAL NEWS......P.6LAW OPINION..........P.9PATIENT PROFILE.....P.11MR. KEIF BOX..........P.14FREE GIVEAWAY.......P.16 STRAINOFMONTH....P.19 TACOMA SHOP.........P.22 INDICA OR SATIVA...P.31

www.nwleaf.com

Cover photo by Flickr/user/+Jethro+

For advertising call founder Wes Abney

206.235.6721 [email protected]

4

The Friendliest Dispensaryin Seattle

e are centrally located in SODO, less

than a mile from Safeco Field. We have a

very knowledgeable staff waiting to

compassionately serve you and have the

most handicap accessible facility in Seattle.

Our facility is safe, secure, and most of all,

patient friendly.Phone: 206-388-3462

www.access4washington.com

Email: [email protected] 2735 1st Ave. South • Seattle, WA 98134

W Now open 7 days a week, 10-6No appointment necessary

We offer a complete selection of:

• Yummy freshly baked edibles, candies and other munchies

• Tinctures & Ointments

• Medication (starting at only $8 per gram)

• An incredible selection of glass and vaporizers

For the patient gardener, we

offer over forty strains of the

best genetics available

anywhere, along with discount

growing supplies for patients.

National

No 4/20 on-campus, please.ne of the biggest marijuana smoking gatherings in the country could be

moved off a college campus if officials have their way. Every year, about 10,000 marijuana smokers descend on the University of Colorado (CU) campus to celebrate 4/20 by smoking out the place. “Crowds erupted into cheers at 4:20 p.m.,” reported the student paper, “and by 4:21 p.m, there was a chorus of coughing.” Medical marijuana patients are far outnumbered at the event by recreational smokers – in a crowd officials said was 75% non-student. 10 people are charged with marijuana possession every year, according to the same paper. The massive, unsanctioned smoke sesh’ has yielded top party school honors from Playboy and a nod from the respected college guide the Princeton Review. Well, a nod on a list entitled “Top Reefer Madness schools.” But some are done with the party. School officials say 4/20 hurts the value of a degree from CU and sends the wrong

message. Student leadership officials said those interested in putting out the celebration on campus should rally at the state Capitol. Meanwhile, in questionably worded press release news, CU Spokesman Bronson Hilliard noted that “a party school is not a reputation we want to try to cultivate.” Hilliard said the smoke-out costs the university $50,000 in parking, security and other related costs. Nearby Denver leads the nation with 300 dispensaries serving more than 100,000 medical cannabis patients in Colorado. A local newspaper has a marijuana critic doing reviews. It is now easier, quips The Daily Mail, to buy medical marijuana in Colorado than coffee at Starbucks. It’s a capitalistic market in a state wrestling with the federal government. Whether Colorado will be the first to stand up to the marijuana-allergic feds and defend patients remains to be seen.

OColorado college wants to stop annual 10,000 visitor party

Last year’s 4/20celebration has

officials upsetPhoto

by Fl

ickr/

Eric M

agnu

son

New York... New patients?

lthough recent legislation has yet

to prevail in the New York legislature, not all hope is lost for those in the Big Apple wishing for legalized medical marijuana. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he is willing to look into the marijuana issue. Cuomo, a Democrat, has not supported medical marijuana in the past, reports The Democrat & Chronicle. “We have opponents of the policy,” Gov. Cuomo said. “We’re talking to both sides of the issue, if you will, and we’re reviewing it, but we don’t have a final position.” It’s a move that has MMJ advocates at least thinking optimistically. Previous attempts at passing similar legislation have been unsuccessful.NJ just became the 16th state to legalize MMJ, in an act signed by Governor Chris Christie. “We want to provide compassionate treatment to people who are suffering,” Christie said. “Six dispensaries across New Jersey will provide medical marijuana to qualified patients.”

A

We don’t know what level of marijuana impairs a driver.-Jeffrey P. Michael, impaired-driving director for the NHTSA, on a recent $6 million study examining whether a driver’s higher THC levels correlates with more vehicle accidents.

Photo

by Fl

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KevH

arb

QUOT

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Governor agrees to examine the medical marijuana issuebut has no final position yet

Photo by Flickr/SKodak

QuickHits!

In Seattle, patients can look to the Cannabis Resource Center for classes every Thursday from 7-9 p.m. on all things medical marijuana. A class on August 4th will cover Cannabis DUI. The center offers lessons on everything from indoor cannabis cultivation to ever-changing medical marijuana laws, cooking and consumer safety. The cost is $20 or $10 for co-op members. For more information on the center located at 1714 1st Ave. S. Seattle 98134, check out their website at www.cdc.coop.

Cannabis College

Legal marijuana?

Volunteers for an initiative to legalize marijuana for adults and sell it in licensed retail stores have gathered 27,000 of the 130,000 signatures they are after. The move would allow adults to grow their own marijuana; license Oregon farmers to grow marijuana for state-licensed stores; allow unlicensed Oregon farmers to grow cannabis hemp for fuel, fiber and food; raise an estimated $140 million a year by taxing commercial cannabis sales; and save an estimated $61.5 million as law enforcement, corrections and judicial attention can focus on violent crimes and theft. For more info check out http://www.cannabistaxact.org/

he San Diego City Council voted against enforcing a variety of

restrictions on dispensaries, bucking a national trend of clamping down on the businesses. The council ruled it was unnecessary for dispensaries to be limited to specific commercial zones or stay at least 1,000 feet away from schools, daycares, churches and playgrounds. Now the council must vote on a different set of regulations, or wait a year to revisit the regulations they passed in April. Los Angeles and Oakland have struggled with the proliferation of dispensaries and taken back licenses they issued, while some smaller towns have banned dispensaries outright. A hat tip to SD for their level-headed response to medical marijuana – the lives patients hang in the balance.

esearchers said a new study proves that the marijuana

compound CBD, or Cannabidiol, helps turn down a receptor in the brains of mice stimulated by cocaine. CBD, you’ll recall, is responsible for the common body buzz that patients experience, while THC is the primary force behind a heady “high.” The Beijing and Minnesota-based scientists used a synthetic version of Cannabidiol, called JWH-133, to see how mice given regular doses of cocaine would respond, The Raw Story reported. Researchers found that mice given JWH-133 dramatically reduced their

STUdY: Cocaine addiction in mice alleviated by marijuana

cocaine intake by up to 60 percent. Scientists hope future research into these findings could potentially help “addicts detox and overcome withdrawal symptoms much like the methadone therapy sometimes prescribed to heroin addicts,” TRS wrote. The synthetic compound is chemically closely related to JWH-018, which appears in synthetic weed-herbal blends like K2 and Spice. Many cities have banned the synthetics, citing all the obvious safety issues.

ormer Tacoma dispensary owners Guy Casey and Michael Schaef

were arrested in May 2010 on a variety of alleged controlled substance violations related to running their business. At the time, a taskforce from the West Sound Narcotics Enforcement Team (WestNet) burst in, guns drawn, and confiscated many plants and harvested marijuana. Pierce County officials have held onto the confiscated medicine despite dropping charges. Prosecutors said the men weren’t medical patients and were overcharging and operating outside the bounds of Washington’s medical cannabis law – since they had more medicine on hand than they were allowed. The outcome of the case could establish precedent in Washington where courts have

yet to rule whether forfeiture laws apply to medical marijuana. Casey and Schaef have asked a Pierce

County Superior Court Judge to return to each of them the confiscated 48 ounces of harvested marijuana and 30 plants -- or their equivalents in cash. “Mr. Casey and his family, including his children, were held at gunpoint by the drug

task force,” Attorney Aaron Pelley wrote in his lawsuit. “They were humiliated in front of neighbors, and the Sheriff ’s Department issued press releases on the arrest.” So far, Snohomish officials have declined to return the property. Want to assist the guys in getting what is rightfully theirs? Deputy Prosecutor John Sheeran could help get the medicine back. Here’s his email address: [email protected].

2 Tacoma patients want pot back after charges droppedOfficials refuse to return the confiscated 48 ounces and 30 plants

Brain receptor for cocaine turned down by synthetic compound in research tests

R

F

GuY CASEY WHILE JAILED

Good news for Sd dispensaries

T

Photo

by Fl

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Dank

Depo

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7

Some even flaunted the date, publishing blogs touting the change, and throwing a party as if to say: “Hey, F%&K you state laws.” But what the proponents of this new medical marijuana law fail to understand is that Washington patients are in a dangerous new gray area of the law. It might be because most of them haven’t read it. I’m reminded of the classic blues song by T-Bone Walker. “They call it stormy Monday, but Tuesday’s just as bad. Wednesday’s worse, and Thursday’s also sad.” In July, we saw raids on legal, licensed collectives in Kent. These raids, in response to the new law, have taken away access to medicine for thousands. Seattle and Tacoma collectives say they have noticed an influx of patients from the city — all forced to commute just to find relief. The damage isn’t isolated to Kent, either. Tacoma collectives are living with an ax over their head, not knowing day-to-day if they’re legally allowed to operate. The tens of thousands of patients they serve and represent are in just as bad a predicament. Imagine having to drive from Seattle to Tacoma just to get medicine. With fuel at almost $4 a gallon, and traffic worse than ever, this is a terrible option for most. Worse yet, many cities and municipalities across the state are following Kent’s misguided lead. These local governments have banned both collectives and their gardens — opening legal patients to arrest and prosecution. The cities of Edmonds, Federal Way, Issaquah, Poulsbo, Yelm, Port Orchard, Hoquiam, Snohomish, North Bend, and Spokane have done just that.

in one ear, ouT THe oTHer The new medical marijuana laws are terrible

for patients. So why wasn’t anyone listening?

A NORTHWEST LEAF OpINION

July 22nd began as a normal day for many patients across Washington State. Most didn’t even realize the significant changes to our medical marijuana industry.

Never mind that the moratoriums violate both our constitutional and medical rights. This is all the result of the butchered SB5073, our medical marijuana law left in shambles.While some are focusing on the new collective gardens, they are ignoring the fact that we already had the right to grow together as patients. So lets clear this up right now: under 69.51A, patients could group together and grow up to 99 plants, without registering with the state or cities. This new collective garden model is actually a a step backwards. It limits patients to groups of 3 and 45 plants. It also limits the ability of dispensaries to provide for patients. The state is essentially forcing patients to deal with potentially shady private growers and greedy collective dealers to find medicine. This month saw the first patient prosecuted for manufacturing marijuana, a tragic felony charge linked to our new law. Robert

Dalton, a Kitsap County resident who suffers from degenerative disc disease, was denied an affirmative defense for growing his own medicine on private property. Although he previously had a defense under 69.51A, the new law has changed the requirements for chronic pain patients to receive legal recommendations. He was out of luck. The court of appeals document in State v. Dalton shows the trial court acknowledging the fact he was in pain, but that he was unable to show that his symptoms were “unrelieved by standard medical treatments and medications.” In short, the court ruled that because other medications worked with his medical marijuana treatment, the medical marijuana itself was not a valid treatment. How is this an acceptable way to deal with patient’s rights? The truth is that patients across the state, the majority of which fall under the chronic pain category, are now in extreme jeopardy. As patients, we have an intrinsic right to stand up and fight for our rights under state law. Fortunately, there is a group who has done exactly that, filing a lawsuit to repeal SB5073 and return Washington State to the previous law. This group, headed by Steve Sarich and other informed collective owners, is fighting to stop this law from ruining medical marijuana. Maybe it’s time the rest of the industry came together to fight this, too.

THe TruTH is, paTienTs

aCross THe sTaTe are now

in exTreme Jeopardy.

9

It hasn’t always been easy,Kathleen says as she restsher hands on the tabletop.The tip of her middle finger is covered in an opaque, waxy nub of Cannabis salve. Breaking up a pitbull attack on the family dog left her short a quarter-inch of knuckle. For three months her hand healed, frozen in a particular position she kept up-right for those she didn’t mind offending. Kathleen worried constantly that someone would bump her injury. Hurt it. Look at it the wrong way and make the itchy, searing pain, which wanders all the way to her elbow at times, even worse. But if you ask her, the incident is a blessing in disguise -- in a way she can only shake her head at. If she never got bit, she might not be using the homemade medicated salves that healed her hand quicker than doctors expected. She might also

not be seeing this much success for her impressive line of topicals and medicated Cannabis candies. “I have always had big dreams for my business,” said Kathleen, a single mother of 13-year-old triplet boys. “But I never expected to be here after six months. You just have to really keep your nose to the grindstone to make it in this industry.” Her background in naturopathic assistance gave her a good feeling for what patients really needed to see behind the counter. She had been making her line for friends and family casually for about a year before going pro. Now, when she’s not fulfilling topical orders for local dispensaries like Northern Cross Collective or Terra Canna, Kathleen is making

meals, checking in on her kids and taking them to the Y. Making her products is a part of her day, just like anything else that she cares about. “I just don’t want it to ever not be fun. I want to know I’m making a difference, not just making lotion.” The lotions, though, saved her house. She starts to cry, dabbing at tears forming behind her black, modern eyeglasses. She missed a few payments and nearly lost the home her boys grew up in. She was able to save the house and get back on track with some luck and money scraped together from the burgeoning business. “I did this all without slinging pot or doing something that I couldn’t feel comfortable about,” Kathleen said. “The kids look at me now and say, ‘Mom, marijuana saved our house.’ All I can say is, ‘I know.’” She breathes deeply and looks down before settling on the view directly to her right. An array of medicated products rest on a cake tray. Clear bottles of

tan lotion loom over tubes of lip salve and soap bars shaped like flip flops. She uses high-quality trim and, sometimes, even bud to make the goods that patients from across the county have said are helping them in impressive ways. The lotions are made with lavender and essential oils such as citrus, which mix with the cannabis base and work without leaving a lingering odor or residue. Her lotions and salves are available for $15; lip salves, soaps and massage bars go for $5. A two-pack of candies is yours for just $3. Many of her goods, from the massage bars to the melt-away candies, are formed in the flipflop-shaped molds. “They look cute but beyond that, the shapes are easy for patients with arthritis to hold and apply to their bodies.”

Article Continued Pg. 13

STORY & PHOTOS BY DANIEL BERMAN

Triplets & Topicals

A single mom. A booming business. A hurt middle finger.

ABOVE: KATHLEEN’S PRODuCT LINE

11

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She said she can feel the Cannabis in the salve working as she applies it to her fingertip. “It tingles as it enters your body. You know the stuff works.” Her friend Vanessa, also a

mom, used the salve to heal red and irritated patches of eczema across her legs. “This used to be really bad and it has cleared up so quickly,” Vanessa said. Vanessa’s 64-year-old father uses the salve on a spot of skin cancer on his forearm, she said, adding that the rub-on helps with the pain and improved his condition. The salve works just as well on headaches and the temple areas in her experience, she said. Kathleen also does tasty candies. Most rely on healthy ingredients like coconut oil, omega-rich nuts

and fresh cranberries, because she is tired of sugar-laden brownies, cookies and the alike. Her melt-aways are made with Cannabutter, Everclear and either peanut butter or white chocolate. The unique culinary experience tastes of peanut butter cups and ends in an effervescent alcohol note. A body buzz forms as the candy puddles on your tongue. There is no aftertaste. The Bellingham dispensaries like Northern Cross Collective tell her they can’t get enough of her products, she said. Patients come up to her at the Bellingham Farmer’s Market every weekend indicating the same. S o o n enough, she motions towards her expansive backyard garden. Beyond is the pool and a view of meandering Squalicum Creek. We navigate past sage and lavender plants before descending six stone-lined steps to a large painted shed. Sprawled across the couch inside are two of her three children. They’re playing video games on a small TV

as their watercolor paintings, taped to the wall, shine in the afternoon sun. One of the boys jumps on the bed taking up most of the other room in the shed. A long, silver grow light sits perched overhead. “The kids claimed it. They think it’s their room now,” Kathleen said. “A week ago this was my grow spot. I’ll have to make do.” For now, though, her focus is getting her line into other dispensaries and markets across the state. There are also the priorities closer to home: she’s Block Watch Captain. “Someone had to take the initiative,” she said without a hint of irony. “I’m not that worried — the more people I tell who I thought would be freaked out are all for it — it’s becoming common place.”Smiling widely, her voice trails off. “If they only knew what a Cannabis user can really look like.”

>> Article continued from pg. 11Triplets & Topicals

I want to know I’m making a difference,

not just making lotion.

FOR RATES AND AVAILABILITY, EMAIL: [email protected]

13

Mr. Keif BoxThe man who built a custom chest worth big for Seattle Hempfest

BY WES ABNEY // PHOTOS BY DANIEL BERMANpROFILE

ne part craftsman, one part artist and 100 percent dedicated to memorializing 20 amazing years of Seattle

Hempfest. That’s how I would describe Myo, the founder and carpenter behind the Mr. Keifbox line of products. The ultimate Medical Chest that Myo and his wife made took well over 100 hours of work to complete. They call it a “true tribute to the legacy of Hempfest.” The chest, roughly the size of a large toolbox, is branded with the 20th anniversary logo on the top. At the bottom is a locking humidor for storing cigars or medicine. Inside the chest is enough glass work to impress anyone-- a custom glass bong worth $500 is in there, along with a titanium pin oil dome bowl piece for extracts like butane hash oil. The entire set fits inside the chest, and, it is magnificent. Like Myo says, “It’s not just a chest. It’s the place to be inside any patients house.” If you’re not familiar with the idea of a keef or pollen box, they come in two basic designs. The most common style is a three-piece contraption: two open ends stacked around a middle part fitted with a fine mesh screen. You place medicine inside the box and the screen will catch loose pollen, which can then be turned into high quality keef hash. Throw a little of that hash on a bowl and see how it enhances the experience. “I use an extremely durable nylon screen that allows the pollen to

pass through without breaking down,” Myo explained. “Also, the boxes are magnetically sealed so they keep everything inside safe and secure.” Myo’s custom boxes feature hand drawn lids. Many feature celebrities of a certain genre. Cheech and Chong make an appearance; Bob Marley’s portrait is on one; the Emery’s are in there too along side Chronic Art lids. “I make each box individually to the specifications each patient wants. The only thing that limits the boxes is the imagination of the person ordering,” he said. Although Myo has been a carpenter/woodworker his whole life, the pollen box business has developed within the last few years. In a single week, he lost his job and struggled with his wife’s brain tumor. Now, with his wife recovering and doing well, and a lot of elbow grease, they have turned a concept into a full line of custom products. “We want to reach as many people as possible and give them the chance to own a piece of Keif Box history,” Myo said. “It has been an honor to get the chance to build this for Hempfest.”

O

Mr Keifbox Custom Woodworking(253) 548-0499 Myspace.com/keifboxes [email protected]

The only thing that limits the boxes is

the imagination of the person

ordering“

14

NORTHWEST LEAF FREE DVD GIVEAWAY!

We are giving away five copies of

HEMPSTERS, a new documentary film about the struggle to legalize industrial hemp in the U.S., featuring an all-star castof marijuana &hemp advocates!

To enter, like Northwest Leaf on Facebook and leave a comment mentioning the Hempsters DVD giveaway. We’ll draw 5 winnerson August 21, the last dayof Seattle Hempfest 2011

SCAN THE QR CODE AT RIGHT TO LIKE NORTHWEST LEAF ON FACEBOOK!

16

4021 Aurora Ave N., Seattle, WA 98103 206-632-4021

www.medicinemancompassioncare.org

S.A.M. COLLECTIVE

4023 Aurora Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98103www.samcollective.org (206) 632-4023

A non-profit organization in accordance with RCW 69.51A

MediciNe MAN WellNeSS ceNter

In compliance with RCW 69.51A Celebrating our New Low Prices and New Summer Clinic Hours -

Doctors available: Tuesdays 4:00-6:00 Fridays 12:00-2:00

Saturdays: 12:00-2:00

New Hours: Monday - Friday 12:00 – 7:00

Saturday 12:00 – 6:00

Sunday 12:00 – 5:00

powerplanT

Available from Access4Washington 2735 1st Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98134

206-388-3462

Type: Hybrid – Indica Dominant

looks: Very dense buds. Dull Light green with light orange hairs that wrap all around the buds like spider legs. Lots of crystals that add a white tint to the entire nugs.

smell: A stealthy, piney smell that sneaks upon you out of nowhere -- hints of vanilla and orange

Taste: Very smooth. Puts out thick vapors that are not harsh on the throat or lungs.

effects: Night Time Use. Powerful stoned effect. Couchlock depending on the amount in-gested. Makes the eyes droop down. Anti-anxiety and relaxed feelings. No munchies.

potency: Effects lasted about 2-3.5 hours.

notes: Powerplant is a great option for thepatient who knows how much they like to ingest, because it is a very controlled strain that won’t overwhelm you out of nowhere like some others. The body buzz from this strain makes it a natural choice for those with chronic pain, back problems and sore muscles - or well, anyone looking to relax!

Photo by Daniel Berman

STRAIN MONTHOF THE

19

Tucked into a busy strip of Pacific Avenue in Tacoma, Sweet Leaf Resources offers $10/g meds & a refreshing atmosphere

f it ain’t incredible, you can’t call it an Ed-ible.But don’t take my word for it. Meet Ed Botto, owner of Sweet Leaf Resources in

Tacoma, and the Ed behind the name of his infamous products. A Boston native, he’ll proudly tell any patient that he’s been growing and making edibles since he was 12. “My family and I make 99% of the products available in our shop. That way, I can ensure that quality and care are going into the process — and that my patients are going to be satisfied.” With a bright and energetic personality, Ed and his family have brought East Coast hospitality and service into a neighborhood collective model. “We’re Italians. We love feeding people, especially when we can mix healing into the meal.” And when the Botto’s set a table, you’ll be eating well. Beyond the more common dessert items, Ed and his wife Miranda serve a delicious meatball sub, super potent spaghetti sauce, and a spicy homemade salsa that will blow your mind. They’re not just tasty: each meal option packs a serious punch. “We take our cooking seriously,” said Ed with a laugh. “Each of us has a current food handlers permit, and we cook in a commercial kitchen with only fresh ingredients. Our products are also hermetically sealed for freshness and security,” he said, dipping a chip into the salsa. Located at the south end of Pacific Avenue, Sweet Leaf is a true mom and pop shop with a lot to offer patients.

I

>> ARTICLE CONTINuED P. 22

From straight bud to extracts to our giant line of homemade edibles, medicine is our focus.

The Sweet Life

”

Story by Wes AbneyPhotos by Daniel Berman

20

A Legendary Medical Marijuana Dispensary in South West Seattle

All organic medicine• Knowledgable staff• Good vibes: secure, • kind & respectfulRelaxing ambiance• Gourmet medibles• Hash tinctures•

Wed-Sunday Noon- Seven9619 16th Ave SWSeattle, WA 98106206.849.5596HerbanLegends.com

e take our cooking seriously,” he said. “Each of us has a current food handlers permit, and we cook in a

commercial kitchen with only fresh ingredients. Our products are hermetically sealed for freshness and security,” he noted, dipping a chip into the salsa.Located at the south end of Pacific Avenue, Sweet Leaf is a true mom and pop shop with a lot to offer patients. One unique product that Sweet Leaf features is their Moroccan Keef. It has a beautiful amber color and a nice, oily feel. Unlike most keef, processed with a metal screen, Ed’s secret lies in silk screen processing. It allows the THC to retain its natural oils and resin, holding the keef together and maintaining potency. When smoked, it has a smooth taste, and doesn’t flare or burn harshly like many basic keef mixes.“Here, we’re truly all about the medicine,” explained Ed. “From straight bud to extracts to our giant line

of homemade edibles, medicine is our focus.” Ed’s daughter, Miranda, also has a special skill she brings to the table. She is the inventor of Miranda’s Miracle Tea. Each bag contains a half gram of the Moroccan keef, and is mixed with flavorful blends of local teas. They’re a great way to relax at the end of a long day, and the keef provides a nice body high without overwhelming the mind. They also offer a variety of bubble hash, for just $10 a gram. Where most charge $20-30 a gram for full melt hash, the

Sweet Leaf guarantee is to have a quality product at a reasonable price. “If patients are going to put their hard earned money on the line, they deserve a fair priced product that actually works,” Ed said. “I’ll put any one of my

products against the rest of the market. I know that they are more potent and a better value.” Now how incredible does that sound?

WTacoma’s Hidden Secret ARTICLE CONTINuED FROM P. 22

The tea contains a 1/2 gram of Morrocan Keef, providing a nice body high w/o overwhelming the mind.

SWEET LEAF RESOuRCES16618 Pacific Ave. S.(next to the gas station)Spanaway, WA 98387

(253) 507-8318Tues-Sun 10A-7PSweetleafresources @hotmail.com

22

T WO G R E ATLO C AT I O N S !

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NORTH SEATTLE (206) 841-729512309 15TH AVE. N.E. UNIT B

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LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!SEARCH ‘GAME COLLECTIVES’

www.gamecollectives.org

4021 Aurora Ave N., Seattle, WA 98103 206-632-4021

www.medicinemancompassioncare.org

S.A.M. COLLECTIVE

4023 Aurora Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98103www.samcollective.org (206) 632-4023

A non-profit organization in accordance with RCW 69.51A

MediciNe MAN WellNeSS ceNter

In compliance with RCW 69.51A Celebrating our New Low Prices and New Summer Clinic Hours -

Doctors available: Tuesdays 4:00-6:00 Fridays 12:00-2:00

Saturdays: 12:00-2:00

New Hours: Monday - Friday 12:00 – 7:00

Saturday 12:00 – 6:00

Sunday 12:00 – 5:00

new low prices!doctors available:

in compliance with rCw 69.51a

Call now for appointment - walk-ins welcome!

Tuesdays 4:00-6:00 fridays 12:00-2:00saturdays: 12:00-2:00

NORTHWEST LEAF

Search “Northwest Leaf” or use your smartphone and barcode scanner app to scan the QR code at

PALETTE PLEASING & POTENT HAND-MADE MEDIBLESFEATURING THE DELICIOUS LY SOFT-BAKED

O.M.G.Oatmeal Molasses Ginger Cookie

NOW AVAILABLE @ LEFT COAST CANNABIS &T-TOWN ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Green Flower offers merchant services, the ability to accept credit and debit cards to all mmJ businesses and pipe shops. Green Flower’s All-in One MMJ Computer has it all!

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BE STRONGER. FASTER. SMARTER.

Green Flower Corp offering All-In-One Computer System for medical marijuana Cooperatives and Glass Shops

Top of the line, point of Sale (pOS) hardware system featuring a power-ful computer with an integrated USb scale, bar code scanner, label printer, cash drawer, thermal receipt printer and touchscreen monitor. merchants will have the option to buy this $3500 computer system or get a monthly lease payment for as low as $150/month. best of breed, specialized mmJ software which is web based, user friendly and intuitive. mmJ menu helps keep track of transactions, patient info, regulation requirements, inventory, menus, accounting, and mobile smart-phone data management in realtime!

You can contact Green Flower at 425-954-6062 for more information about their mmJ business consulting and merchant services; visit their merchant website at www.greenflowercorp.com

There is nothing on the market like this All-In-One MMJ System we helped create. This makes owners and employees more business intelli-gent, help them maintain regulatory compliance, improves patient service and reduces employee theft. The MMJ software is simple, user friendly and very intuitive. Our current client merchants also have noticed an in-crease in donations since patients can use their credit and debit cards for convenience. You can also just use our merchant processing without the POS hardware and we can beat your current rate. We offer our program to restaurants and retail as well since our program is easily adaptable and the best priced POS system around. If you are a restaurant or retail and just needed the basics you’re looking at less than $2000 for the system without the extra devices.”

Reviewedalking through Barnes and Nobles, I was brushing past end-capped

bookshelves with brightly lit covers and corporately sponsored books when one cover stopped me in my tracks. The Pot Book: A Complete Guide to Cannabis immediately intrigued me. Flipping it open, the first article I found was in the Cannabis Culture section, entitled “Pot, Parenting, and Outing Myself,” by the humor writer Neal Pollack. I found the writing not only refreshingly honest, but an extremely relevant essay regarding the relationship between marijuana and parenting. With two young daughters within my own house, I specifically related to the different essays and sections regarding parenting and the responsibilities associated with drug education in modern times. Other sections in the book include a complete historical guide to marijuana, from the early roots as hemp to the modern war on drugs. Specifically, there is a really interesting interview with Mahmoud A ElSohly, Ph.D. For those unfamiliar with Dr. ElSohly, he is a toxicologist who

specializes in crude drugs, specifically marijuana. He is also the director of a project in Mississippi that grows marijuana for the Government, and third party testing groups approved by the FDA and NIDA. The interview covers the development of government sanctioned marijuana, and the different types

of testing they do to develop a “Cannabis Fingerprint.” It’s all quite a page turner. This book is a must-have for anyone who considers themselves a marijuana activist or enthusiast. It’s both an interesting and relevant read, and presents new ideas and science behind the push for overall legalization. You can find The Pot Book at a local bookstore, or online, with proceeds from the sale benefiting therapeutic cannabis research and advocacy movements.

By JuLIE HOLLAND (576 Pages)

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Items of interest to the medical marijuana community, from books to new medibles to places we’ve enjoyed

o movie is complete without popcorn. But what if the next bag you popped had a little more to it than butter and

salt? PotCorn solves that problem. The preparation time is exactly the same, and forget about confusing directions. It’s as easy as microwaving and medicating! The taste is buttery and delicious, without being noticeably buddy. After a half hour of watching TV, we felt a generous body buzz that left us craving another bowl. Of PotCorn that is. You can find Potcorn at THCO 511 N 85th Street Seattle, 98103 (206) 829-9435 and other Seattle access points.

Buttery PotCorn is a tastytreat for any patient to enjoy

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Toll Free: 866.607.0035www.SentryMedicalGroup.com

Don’t be taken in by ads for bargain basement clinics.

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Medical Cannabis can Help YouCall Us Today

rust your care to a clinic that provides professional services and

legal support for all patients. In addition, we provide Medical

Marijuana Recommendations by Washington State licensed medical

professionals as well as complete patient support in a friendly atmoshere

by a great staff totally committed to your needs.

Medical cannabis helps relieve chronic pain resulting from severe injuries

and conditions such as fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, cancer and

neuropathy related to diabetes, HIV and many other

conditions. Where pain is connected to inflammation,

research has shown that site-specific anti-inflammatory

relief results from medical cannabis as well.

Decades of anecdotal evidence from patients shows

that medical cannabis provides effective relief and is

not physically addictive. It also presents fewer side

effects with less risk than commonly prescribed

pharmaceuticals.

Most patients report that cannabis does not reduce their ability to function

normally the way opiates do, and that they can dramatically reduce or even

eliminate their need for them and similar risky pain medications. If you feel

that medical cannabis may be right for you and have further questions, we’ll

be happy to speak to you or your physician to answer them.

Please visit our website which features timely news as well as links to many

of the leading medical research studies and articles on medical cannabis,

as well as updates on the Washington State Medical Marijuana Act.

New Office Opening in Spokane! To make an appointment at our new clinic in Spokane please call:

(509) 340-3551.

Story by dr. Scott Rose Leaf Contributorphoto by daniel berman

What’s the difference?Indicas are more relaxing -- Sativas are more stimulating. Indica and indica-dominant hybrids are more effective for anxiety, pain, nausea, sleep, muscle spasms and tremors, among other symptoms. The sativas and sativa- dominant strains are more effective for appetite stimulation, relieving depression, migraines, helping a lack of focus and energy. Strains are being mixed and matched to enhance desired medicinal effects for the ultimate benefit to patients.

“Sativas for the mind...Indicas for the body.”

technical, but the term strain actually has no official meaning in botany what so ever. We use it for simplicity’s sake.) Through selective breeding techniques and hybridization, new strains are created to select for and perfect certain desirable attributes while diminishing less desirable. These attributes can range from optimizing the plant for certain growing environments (indoor vs. out), to the potency and medicinal effect of the end product (varying ratios of active constituents), and more. The varying ratios of the hybridized genetics influence the medicinal outcomes through the expression of the uniqueness of the parent plants’ chemistry. The plants’ chemistry is dictated

by Cannabinoids and terpenes, which are the active compounds found in Cannabis. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Canabidiol (CBD) are two of more than one hundred known cannabinoid compounds, that are center stage for medicinal activity. THC is the only psychoactive compound in the medicine and CBD seems to have much more to offer Medical Cannabis patients. Indicas are higher in CBD than THC, and sativas are the opposite with higher THC than CBD. Therefore many hybridized medicinal strains are indica dominant. Terpenes are the odor compounds of Cannabis giving rise to its’ distinctive smells. Sativa plants are generally sweet and fruity, where indicas are stronger smelling with a stinkier, skunky odor. Now you have the power to make agood choice for the best meds for you!

SATIVAS vs INDICAS!

K2, Jack Herer, Skunk, Haze, White Russian, Train Wreck, Sour Diesel

Blue Dream, White Widow, Big Bud, Northern Lights, Dutch Treat, AK-47

The most popular Sativas:

The most popular Indicas:

The most popular Hybrids:

OG Kush, Purple Erkle, Afghani, Romulan, Blueberry, Northern Lights

he plant species Cannabis sativa L. (Medical Marijuana) has two main

sub-species: Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa. Each has its own distinct set of characteristics that will affect the medicinal outcome. C. sativa is often characterized as uplifting and energetic, while the effects of sativas are more cerebral. C. indica offers an effect often described as a “pleasant body buzz.” Indicas are great for pain relief as well as providing for an overall sense of calm and serenity. First off, there is debate in the scientific community on the question of whether indica and sativa represent two distinct species or whether they represent subsets of the same species. In other words - two different species may have evolved from the same genus, or perhaps one species split along geographic lines.

Regardless, Cannabis divided into two easily distinguishable plants. Sativas are found growing wild in almost all equatorial regions of the globe while indicas thrive in southern Asia and the Indian subcontinent. The two species have traditionally been cultivated and bred for specific uses—sativas more for straight smoking and indicas for making hashish and kif. These practices continued for thousands of years, without the two lines ever crossing paths. A combination, or hybrid, was created by man to garner the best effects of both for improved medicinal outcomes. These hybrids are commonly called “strains”, and typically represent some varying percentage of C. indica and C. sativa genetics. (Not to get too

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