Innehållsförteckning för August 2015 från High Times

A group of Russian tourists had their vacation spoiled when omm cops in Thailand raided two rented his namesake party . houses and seized over 10 ounces of “compressed cannabis” and a bamboo pipe. The raids, which resulted in the arrest of eight Russian nationals—five women and three men—were part of an investigation into a Facebook page that the group allegedly used to advertise pot and bongs for sale. (The page has since been deleted.) Two of the men arrested, both 29, claimed ownership of the seized items and were formally charged with possession. The two insist that they didn’t know marijuana is illegal in Thailand. Unfortunately, that excuse will likely be of little help, given the country’s well-earned reputation for draconian drug laws.…

Medical marijuana is legal in Puerto Rico thanks to an unexpected order signed by Governor Alejandro García Padilla. García believes that, by legalizing medicinal pot, Puerto Rico is “taking a significant step in the area of health that is fundamental to our development and quality of life.” While the governor’s executive order went into immediate effect, Puerto Rico’s health secretary has three months to develop a plan for implementing the new medical pot program. While the specific qualifying conditions and authorized uses for medical marijuana in Puerto Rico have yet to be detailed, Gov. García pointed out programs in the US that allow cannabis to treat symptoms of illnesses like epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. “I am sure that many patients will receive appropriate treatment that will offer them new hope,”…

LA’s continuing crackdown on medical pot dispensaries reached a dubious milestone in April when City Attorney Mike Feuer announced that more than 500 medical pot shops have closed in less than two years, with over 400 shutting down since last year alone. There were an estimated 700 to 800 dispensaries operating in Los Angeles when the crackdown began. Ultimately, the city’s goal is to reduce the number of cannabis storefronts to 135, the figure mandated by Proposition D, which was passed by voters in 2013. Dispensaries can be shut down for a number of reasons, including being too close to schools or parks, or even for not being registered under previous city ordinances. Fortunately, there are still plenty of places to legally and conveniently buy marijuana in LA, as new…

Late last year, Congress passed a bipartisan amendment that prohibits the Department of Justice from spending money on any efforts to impede states that wish to implement medical marijuana laws. Nevertheless, the DOJ recently announced that it would ignore the amendment—signed into law by President Obama—and continue busting medical pot patients and seizing their property. Essentially, the DOJ is pretending not to understand the amendment’s clear intent, insisting that it prevents federal law enforcement from interfering only with the ability of states to carry out medical pot laws, even as individuals remain fair game for prosecution. In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, the amendment’s co-authors, Representatives Sam Farr (D-CA) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), declare the DOJ’s interpretation of the law “emphatically wrong.” In their letter the two wrote:…

When Dorian met Stephanie, a food scientist, at the SoCal Cannabis Cup last year, Beezle’s Creamery was born as a spin-off of Dorian’s hash business. Together, Stephanie and Dorian created their infused crème brûlée, which scored perfectly on its lab tests and took top prize at the Cup. You can find this fantastic treat in California dispensaries, or you can make it yourself right now! Elise McDonough…

IS BIGGER BETTER? Does the overall quality and potency of the flower decrease as the size and yield of the plant increases? In other words, do small plants produce better buds? Apparently, there’s an old wives’ tale insisting this is the case, but my own stance has always been that larger plants are superior simply because that’s how they grow naturally. But it’s tough to confirm this indoors, so I’ve been on the lookout for a proper greenhouse with which to prove my point. I wanted to conclusively answer two questions: How large can a potted cannabis plant become, and does potency increase or decrease with plant size and yield? In Oregon, a medical marijuana patient can grow up to six plants—but there’s no restriction on just how large they…

AFTER 45 YEARS ON THE BIG SCREEN, SUSAN SARANDON HAS EARNED A REPUTATION AS ONE OF AMERICA’S FINEST ACTRESSES, STARRING IN CLASSICS LIKE BULL DURHAM, THELMA & LOUISE AND DEAD MAN WALKING, FOR WHICH SHE WON THE BEST ACTRESS OSCAR. BUT SARANDON’S ALSO KNOWN FOR HER COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL CAUSES, INCLUDING HER CLEAR-EYED OPPOSITION TO THE IRAQ WAR. THE ISSUE OF CANNABIS LEGALIZATION IS ANOTHER AREA THAT SHE FEELS STRONGLY ABOUT—ENOUGH SO THAT SHE READILY SAT DOWN WITH HIGH TIMES TO EXPRESS HER BELIEF IN ITS BENEFITS. IT’S THE WAY SHE LEADS HER LIFE. AS THE THOUGHTFUL, OUTSPOKEN ACTRESS SAYS, “I USE MY CELEBRITY CONSCIOUSLY SO IT DOESN’T USE ME.” Is this the first time you’ve spoken out on behalf of cannabis? No, no. It’s the first time I’ve officially…

Can cannabidiol help build strong bones? Humorous Humerus Hi H.H., Sort of. In an experiment that would have animal-rights activists understandably up in—um—arms, researchers fractured the thighbones of lab rats. Those that received big doses of cannabidiol (CBD) during the six-week healing process ended up with stronger bones. (THC didn’t work the same way.) We’re still a long way from providing high-CBDs strains like Harlequin in hospitals, but what a start! Does cannabis protect against diabetes? Sweet T. Hi Sweet, Recent users are 40 percent less likely to be diabetic than folks who say they’ve never used the plant, but that’s only an association. Maybe cannabis is protective; maybe people with unusual blood sugar just don’t like to use it. Nevertheless, one experiment did show that CBD made mice less…

Cannabis prohibition is unwinding state by state. (Four down, 46 more to go!) Taxes from legal cannabis commerce are generating millions in revenue for state and local coffers. Opinion polls show increasing support for legalization, and more politicians than ever back marijuana-law reform. What might be easy to miss in all this good news is the dismantling of the anti-pot police. Ever since Colorado and Washington State legalized cannabis in 2012—to be joined by Alaska and Oregon in 2014 (as well as Washington, DC, where voters depenalized possession and okayed small-scale home cultivation)—there have been many indications that law-enforcement agencies around the United States are abandoning their old anti-cannabis enforcement tactics. The arrest rates for cannabis-related offenses in Colorado and Washington have plummeted post-legalization—down 90 percent in both states. Civil-asset…

ARIZONA Jamal Allen Allen & Associates, Lawyers 1811 S. Alma School Rd, Ste 145 Mesa, AZ 85210 Ph: 480-899-1025 Fax: 480-248-6389 goodazlawyers.com All Stops, Arrests & Seizures CALIFORNIA Bob Boyd 107 W. Perkins Street, Ste #17 Ukiah, CA 95482 707-468-0500 mendocinolaw@comcast.net mendocinolaw.com Omar Figueroa Law Offices of Omar Figueroa 7770 Healdsburg Ave, Ste. A Sebastopol, CA 95472 (707) 829-0215 omar@stanfordalumni.org omarfigueroa.com Founder of Cannabis Law Institute. Specializing in cannabis cultivation and medical marijuana cases. Free case consultation. ¡Yo hablo español! Christopher M. Glew 1851 E. First Street, Ste. 840 Santa Ana, CA 92705 Fax: 714-648-0501 Phone: 714-648-0004 marijuanalawyer@yahoo.com glewkimlaw.com Law Offices of John M. Kucera 1416 West Street Redding, CA 96001 530-241-1800 jkucera@snowcrest.net Former major grow prosecutor. Over 30 years of aggressive and experienced state and federal defense. Serving Shasta,…

A debate over marijuana legalization in Arizona devolved into something despicable thanks to Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery, who has fought Arizona’s medical pot program at every turn since it was approved by voters in the 2010 election. During the Q&A portion of a recent debate over recreational marijuana, a Vietnam vet named Don Ream attempted to explain the benefits of medical cannabis to Montgomery. But when Ream admitted that he also used pot recreationally, Montgomery spouted: “Well, then you’re violating the law and I have no respect for you. And I have no respect for someone who would try to claim that you... took an oath to uphold the Constitution and defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic—because you’re an enemy.” Members of the crowd promptly booed Montgomery, who…

Despite years of openly defying the president on pot policy, it took a sex scandal to finally unseat Michele Leonhart as head of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Leonhart—whose willful ignorance regarding the dangers of marijuana was so over the top as to become almost comical—will likely be most remembered as the DEA chief who clung to reefer madness-era myths about pot while the American public’s view on cannabis dramatically shifted. This disconnect was memorably highlighted when Leonhart flatly refused to acknowledge that meth, crack or heroin were more dangerous than pot during congressional questioning in 2012. Ms. Leonhart was out of step with the president in opposing state-level legalization efforts and reduced penalties for pot. She also criticized Obama during a law enforcement conference for statements he made that marijuana…

President Obama used his executive authority to commute the prison sentences of 22 drug offenders—a move that doubled the number of commutations he’s issued since taking o›ice in 2009. Though Obama has generally been stingy with pardons, his clemency here is seen as part of an effort to chip away at federal mandatory-minimum sentencing. A White House statement confirmed that these particular drug offenders were chosen because they were imprisoned “under an outdated sentencing regime.” While this is a progressive development, it represents just a small fraction of the people who are suffering in prisons and jails due to archaic Drug War laws. Interestingly, the vast majority of the 22 commuted sentences were for offenses involving hard drugs. Only one pardoned prisoner—Francis Darrell Hayden of Loretto, Kentucky—had been incarcerated for…

Mexico’s Notorious “Z-42” Busted Mexican authorities on March 4 announced the capture of Omar Treviño, a.k.a. “Z-42”—the leader of Los Zetas, the ultra-violent narco-paramilitary network that has long terrorized the country. Treviño was detained by federal police and soldiers in an upscale suburb of the northern industrial hub of Monterrey. Former DEA chief Michele Leonhart congratulated Mexico, saying the bust “strikes at the heart of the leadership structure of the Zetas.” The US State Department had a $5 million price on Treviño's head. Los Zetas emerged as the paramilitary enforcement arm of the Gulf Cartel in 1999, integrating veterans of the Mexican and Guatemalan armed forces into their command structure. They broke from the Gulf Cartel in 2010, precipitating a three-way war with their former bosses and a mutual rival,…

2¼ cups organic heavy whipping cream 2/3 cups organic granulated cane sugar, plus 6 tbsp. for the crust 5 organic large egg yolks 1 whole organic vanilla bean (split and scraped) 4 grams of BHO-infused coconut oil (at 75 mg THC per gram) Equipment: 6 crème brûlée ramekins (4 oz each) 1 high-walled baking dish 1 gram scale for accurate doses First, make 4 grams of BHOinfused coconut oil. Heat 3.5 grams of coconut oil in a small saucepan. Check the temperature frequently with a kitchen thermometer. When the oil reaches 250°F, add 0.5 grams of BHO. Stir with a wooden skewer until the BHO has broken up. Keep the temperature steady to achieve the best results. Once the mixture begins to bubble, cover and cook until the bubbles begin…

1619 Britain’s King James I signs a royal decree requiring Virginia colonists to farm hemp. 1850s Cannabis is recognized as a “fashionable narcotic” by the New York Times. 1880s Hashish parlors become popular in most large East Coast cities. 1906 Congress passes the Pure Food and Drug Act, requiring drugs like cannabis to be labeled for sale. 1910s Most states pass laws banning cannabis to one degree or another. 1925 The United States signs the International Opium Convention, which bans the exportation of cannabis to countries that have prohibited it. 1930 The Federal Bureau of Narcotics is formed, the first national agency to exclusively enforce drug prohibition. 1937 Congress passes the Marihuana Tax Act, which bans the possession of cannabis without a tax stamp, effectively instituting pot prohibition. 1942 Despite…

Many businesses, despite the forward leaps we’ve made with state legalization, are hesitant to get involved with the marijuana industry. But for every investor we see not wanting to finance green start-ups, other investment groups are gung ho to put plenty of green in ganja. If you’re a ganjapreneur who doesn’t want to miss out on one of the biggest economic growth opportunities of our time, consider starting an ancillary cannabusiness as an entry point. Ancillary businesses are less risky because they operate without ever touching the cannabis leaf, meaning there’s no interaction with selling, buying or growing the plant. Instead, these cannabusinesses provide assistance or services to others who do. If you’ve ever been to the High Times Cannabis Cup and have strolled the hundreds of expo vendors, you’ve…

Most dab lovers know the basics of how concentrates are made. For the uninitiated, here’s a simple overview of the process: Cannabis is soaked in a solvent, which dissolves the cannabinoids and terpenes; then the solvent is evaporated, and what’s left behind is a concentrated form of the active ingredients in cannabis. When it comes to dissolving THC, it’s all about polarity—or, to be more precise, non-polarity. A solvent’s polarity refers to the charge that its molecules carry. Polar solvents, such as water, have an electrical charge due to the arrangement of atoms that make up its molecules. Polarity is the reason that oil and water will not mix into a solution. Cannabinoids, on the other hand, will dissolve into any non-polar solvent, including the following: Butane Butane is the…

Hailing from deep East Texas, Jared Cates—a 32-year-old father of one—has become the executive director of the newly formed NORML chapter in Nacogdoches. Though only a few months old, the chapter has already made big strides in spreading awareness about the benefits of legalization in East Texas. Nac NORML has worked overtime to push cannabis-law reform in the state this legislative session. Jared and the other dedicated members and volunteers have been running a call campaign to contact state legislators regarding decriminalization and the issue of medical marijuana. Hundreds, if not thousands, of calls in support have been registered with reps across Texas. While full legalization is Jared’s ultimate goal, medical marijuana is a cause dear to his heart. Having witnessed his own mother suffer through breast cancer and chemo/radiation…

FLOWER OF THE MONTH Get Funky Take a look at my Sweet Cheese! I grew it myself, thanks to your help. Stephen GROW OF THE MONTH Roomful of Greens Hope you enjoy, your fans at thedankden.com. CBlaze PET OF THE MONTH Cannabis Pup Check out what’s been growing in the dog days of winter here in New York. Dan S. COLA OF THE MONTH Buckaroo Bonsai This is Amnesia growing outdoors in Old Bar, New South Wales, Australia. Occy E-mail your hi-res digital photos to mailbag@hightimes.com.…

I’m a veteran of the US Air Force, the greatest air force in the world. I enjoy marijuana and its benefits, like so many others in this country. Dude Discrimination Your various articles on working in the ever-changing marijuana industry couldn’t be further from the truth of what’s actually happening on the ground here. The truth of the matter is that, since 2013, the average starting wage in Colorado has dropped nearly $4 per hour. Also, these owners hire at just under full time to avoid paying benefits; otherwise, that would come out of your pocket. And if you want to get a job on the retail side of things, good fucking luck if you’re a dude. I managed two stores at the busiest mall in America and have almost…

“Legal Pot Attracting Homeless” The Pueblo (CO) Chieftain, January 2015 Chieftain scribe Peter Roper interviewed several people on whether the homeless were moving to Pueblo to enjoy legal pot. A homeless advocate opined: “My instincts tell me that’s what’s going on.” Good reporting! Another estimated that pot had drawn some 50 to 75 people to Pueblo in the last few months—hardly a social crisis. The media have shamelessly hyped this story. “BPD: BHO Represents ‘Evolution of Drug Trade’” bakersfieldnow.com , March 2015 Herein, Sgt. Joe Grubbs of the Bakersfield Police Department declaring that butane honey oil is replacing methamphetamine as the perennial Central Valley drug. (Like that would be a bad thing.) “This is the direction now that narcotics trafficking is going at the local level,” Grubbs said. Really?…

Scotts Miracle-Gro, the multinational lawn-and-garden-product manufacturer worth an estimated $2.8 billion, is thrusting its evil tentacles into the marijuana market. The company’s recently formed offshoot, Hawthorne Gardening Co., which was created to target a younger, hipper gardening demographic (read: pot growers), has acquired General Hydroponics for $130 million. That’s the company’s biggest acquisition since it broke into the European market nearly 20 years ago. In a related move, Scotts/ Hawthorne also acquired Bio-Organic Solutions, the California-based manufacturer of ganja-garden products. General Hydroponics products—such as their liquid nutrients—are widely used around the world by indoor pot farmers and currently generate $40 million in sales annually. Scotts CEO Jim Hagedorn confirmed that the acquisitions were motivated by a desire to attract younger customers, while also positioning Scotts for financial growth as marijuana…

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Skateboards Lotus Boards uses 30 percent hemp fiber combined with traditional plastics for its skateboards. Snowboards Lucky Snowboards offers a line of snow gear made with sustainable bamboo, poplar and hemp materials. Tennis shoes A idas makes several types of tennis shoe with hemp uppers, notably the Snoop Lion Seely edition. Liquor From Czech absinthe to vodka and beer, a new age of hemp-infused potables is upon us. Airplanes The Canadian firm Hemp-earth is producing an airplane with up to 75 percent of its weight composed of hemp plastics. Ice cream From Cool Hemp to the Hemptations line of products, non-dairy desserts have a hemp attitude. Cars The Kestrel, a Canadian automobile, has an impact-resistant body made from hemp (and reaches speeds up to 90 kph). Houses Hempcrete is a…

SUBJECT: Drying Outdoors FROM: Max I am growing for the first time, and I’m doing it outdoors. I think I have everything covered except for the drying and curing process. Since I won’t be able to dry indoors, I was wondering if drying outside with the buds hanging on a string between two trees with a tarp would be a possible option? Would they get moldy? Dear Max, I don’t recommend drying crops outdoors for a couple of reasons. First, light degrades THC, so any sunshine on your drying plants will decrease the potency of your pot. Also, depending on the temperature outside, you could end up drying the buds far too quickly. Hot, dry air is to be avoided during the drying process, so it’s better to do it…

Of all the maladies out there, few are as terrifying as brain tumors. They often go undiagnosed until late in the game and are notoriously dangerous and invasive to treat. Such is the case with a glassblower named Bob Dillingham, better known to the cannabis community as Dr. Bobalicious. The cousin of Creative Artisans/Dopeass Glass owner Phat Jack, Bob is a beloved figure on the Las Vegas glass scene and a dear friend of my wife April. Years ago, when she was living in Vegas, Bob was one of the few friends who was there for her during some rough times—keeping her company when her power was shut off, and helping her pack when she moved to New York. Each March, he’d drive out to Austin to hang with us…

CALIFORNIA Alternate Natural Solutions Inc. 8477 Enterprise Dr. Jamestown, CA 95327 (209) 352-6779 altnatsol.com “Home of the 5 dollar gram” Club Cannex 11004 Magnolia Ave. Garden Grove, CA 92843 Phone: 562-200-1164 www.clubcannex.org rudy@clubcannex.org Compassionate, Understanding, Servicing, Honoring, Inspirational, Passionate Coffee Shop Blue Sky 377 17th Street Oakland, CA 94612 (510) 251-0690 Open 9am-8pm Mon-Sat, 10am–6pm Sunday oaksterdamgiftshop.com The Good Life 4316 Melrose Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90029 (323) 522-3542 Open 7 days, 10AM-11PM facebook.com/goodlifemelrose Twitter Good Life Melrose Also fresh fruits and vegetables. Green Dragon Caregivers 7423 Van Nuys Blvd. Suite C VanNuys, CA 91405 (818) 442-0054 greendragoncoop.com edward@greendragoncoop.com High Quiggle Healing Center 1532 East Broadway Long Beach, CA 90802 Phone: (562) 951-3975 Fax: (562) 951-3902 weedmaps.com “A circle of healing is never ending” Love Shack 502 14th street San…