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5 Questions Skunk Magazine

BURROWING FURTHER INTO THE PLANT WITH JEFFREY L GARBER, CEO/FOUNDER OF YELLOW DREAM FARM 

Ifirst met Jeffrey a couple of years ago during the event known as the Hall of Flowers. I was immediately struck by the care and quality of his self-grown flower and ebullient packaging. In an age where so much cannabis is grown private-label, I found it deeply refreshing that Jeffrey’s cannabis is very much like his personality. And that would be outgoing with a ready smile and a firm handshake that says. We are the GoodGood, don’t forget it! And I didn’t forget because what Jeffrey has brought to the market is deliciously fun and deeply bemusing. I was especially impressed by his flowers. They speak my language. Their LOUD. And the effect? Deeply healing. They are, truly- in my humble opinion, the GoodGood. Impressive and agreeable to my body. I love the attention to detail in the rolling of their pre-rolls. They pack a lot of cannabis in each joint. Each one is just perfect. Every time.

But this article isn’t just about their marvelous flowers, it’s about the man behind the brand, Jeffrey Garber, and I hope you feel his challenges and successes, one puff at a time. Cheers! WB    

Warren Bobrow: What obstacles do you face in your company? How do you remove them? 

Jeffrey L. Garber: We have overcome many obstacles since the birth of the Yellow Dream Farm, starting with the licensing and construction stage, getting power, and doing a full license and build out in 6 months for our state-of-the-art 30,000 sq. ft. cultivation facility. Our biggest challenge has been pioneering vertical farming and dialing in our genetic line and our seven flower rooms of 162 lights double stacked with 20ft ceilings. Dialing in the microclimates, airflow, VPD, and managing the different dry backs of the plants throughout the different areas of the rooms. It has not only been a difficult challenge but a very exciting one. The team and I thrive on seeing the daily improvements we make through the different cycles. 

Vertical farming in cannabis has had rapid growth in the industry and has gained a lot of traction recently not only due to the advancements in technology in the industry but also the volatile marketplace, price per pound being lower than ever, worldwide inflation creating higher COGS, and high tax rates. We are looking for every edge above the competition to cut costs, maximize efficiencies, and lower costs to stay competitive without compromising the quality of flower we produce. This has been our main goal and mission for the company, and our first house brand GoodGood aims to prove that narrative and produce boutique quality cannabis at scale and provide luxury cannabis products at affordable prices.  

Vertical farming does not have decades of knowledge and experience like the traditional growing styles of single-tier HPS lights. We learn from trial and error as they did decades ago and always aim to share the knowledge we have gained along the way with other farmers looking to grow vert. We are able to remove these obstacles with our full automation of feeding and environmental controls and our media sensors, all of which collect an abundance of data that we thrive off. We live in the grow rooms but spending time analyzing this data is key to success in commercial cannabis and helps guide our decision-making process. 

Building the right team around you and finding trustworthy, passionate people remains our top goal and priority. We love to teach, and your team is everything; and finding a loyal, dedicated, passionate team that shares a similar mindset. We are so grateful for the team we have built today.  

WB: Goals? Six and twelve-month goals? 

JLG: Our big goal for Yellow Dream Farm is to become 100% vertically integrated through our delivery operations and eventual retail stores. We’d like to see GoodGood gain 30% of the market share in California on the branded side of the cannabis industry. In the next 6-12 months, we’ll have a fully operational delivery and retail arm, and we are looking forward to launching more in-house brands and collaborations with the best artists. 

We recently ran an exciting promotion on social media called #GoodGoodUnderground, where we asked artists to submit exclusive designs in a contest to design our next merchandise item, a t-shirt. 100% of the proceeds of this merch item will be donated to the Last Prisoner Project, whose mission is to free all non-violent cannabis prisoners and work to right the wrongs of the drug war. 

 WB: When you smoke, what is your favorite stoner food? Why?

JLG: I love pizza, especially because I’ll always be a New Yorker at heart. My favorite flavor is classic cheese pizza. 

WB: Favorite food memory from childhood? Why?

JLG: Right after school ended in high school in New York City, I used to go to my favorite pizza spot to get the 2 for $5 deal. Two slices of pizza and a drink for $5, and I’d spend the other $15 on a dub of Sour D. My friends would all reconvene in a coveted spot called the Great Lawn in Central Park, where I met some of my best friends. Weed always brought people from different neighborhoods and lifestyles together, and that was one of my favorite parts about growing up in the melting pot. 

WB: Favorite restaurant now. Why?

JLG: Now that I’m living in LA, I’m always on the hunt for the best sushi spots. Sushi Fumi is my most frequently visited spot as well as I love the chicken parm and spicy fusilli from Jon and Vinny’s

WB: What is your passion?  

JLG: Outside of cannabis, I play polo with my family (that’s the sport played on horses.) It’s always been a big passion of mine growing up, and I play with my siblings on our family team. We will soon be starting our GoodGood polo team in our area. I’ve also done a lot of charity events and philanthropic events through polo, serving underserved communities and hospitals in our area. I still play in the Santa Barbara and Palm Springs areas, and the sport is becoming more and more popular on the West Coast.

https://www.skunkmagazine.com/burrowing-further-into-the-plant-with-jeffrey-l-garber-ceo-founder-of-yellow-dream-farm/?v=7516fd43adaa
Categories
Klaus

7 Elevated Mother’s Day Gifts for the Amazing CannaMoms in Your Life

Ah, motherhood. It’s often a thankless job, but one that’s rewarding… I assume. As a childless thirty-something, I have no clue if it’s rewarding or endlessly frustrating, but my friends with kids tell me it’s “worth it.”

So, if you’ve ever wondered if it’s possible to take a nap in the shower while eating lunch because your two-year-old nodded off for a few minutes — these mom-inspired cannabis gifts might be just what you’re searching for.

The Botanist Well-Being CBD Tincture

Every mom should have CBD in her medicine cabinet. If you’re reaching for the ibuprofen for every ache or pain, stop.

Many over-the-counter pain relievers cause serious harm to organs, especially the liver.

CBD tinctures absorb rapidly through the mucous membranes in the mouth for fast relief you can feel good about.

The Botanist’s blend pairs essential oils with fragrant terpenes and full-spectrum CBD that elevates well-being with every drop.

Available nationwide. Visit shopbotanist.com to learn more.

Flower by Edie Parker Smell Proof Pouch

Moms love a fragrant bouquet of flowers, but the fragrance of cannabis flower isn’t ideal for PTA meetings.

That’s why smell-proof bags and pouches are all the rage right now.

If you’re looking for something to slide into a purse or overnight bag, check out Edie Parker’s discreet travel pouch.

Its bonded seams and scuba-style zipper lock-in odors and preserve the freshness of your goods.

Now available nationwide for $48 from Edie Parker Flower.

Growing Up Grateful

Show mom you’ve grown into a thoughtful young adult with this cultivation-inspired card.

Etsy is loaded with fun cannabis-themed gifts and this $4 card from HanMadeDigs is sure to bring a smile to mom’s face.

Find yours here before stock runs dry.

Columbia Care Compostable Pre-Roll Tubes

If you’d like to make a purchase that supports all moms, including Mother Earth, look for pre-rolls packaged in Columbia Care’s new compostable tubes.https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=_PMiller&dnt=true&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3NlbnNpdGl2ZV9tZWRpYV9pbnRlcnN0aXRpYWxfMTM5NjMiOnsiYnVja2V0IjoiaW50ZXJzdGl0aWFsIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd190d2VldF9yZXN1bHRfbWlncmF0aW9uXzEzOTc5Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InR3ZWV0X3Jlc3VsdCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1517506003587244033&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fcannatechtoday.com%2Fmothers-day-gifts-for-cannamoms%2F&partner=ogwp&sessionId=927759878c94d10752816203245c69e673ad0c90&siteScreenName=cannatechtoday&theme=light&widgetsVersion=c8fe9736dd6fb%3A1649830956492&width=550px

This eco-friendly packaging will prevent more than 250,000 single-use plastic pre-roll tubes from entering landfills this year.

They’re now in use in eight states, including IL, AZ, MA, VA, DC, DE, CO, and MO. 

Klaus Mezzrole 

The perfect cannabis cocktail should wash effortlessly over the palette, infiltrating your senses with delicately layered terpenes.

Mezzrole blends spicy ginger cane syrup with French lime puree to offer a zippy, refreshing canned cannabis beverage.

This cocktail is an ideal accoutrement for a relaxing Mother’s Day retreat.

Now available in California for $12 a can.

Cannapa Acacia Wooden Stash Box

Keep mom’s stash fresh and safely secured out of sight with this classically-styled wooden box.

Single serving pre-rolls enjoy their own brass doob tube until they’re snuffed out in the included concrete ashtray.

Plus, store up to 3 varieties of flower in the accompanying glass jars.

The detachable rolling tray adds another level of ease to this highly-organized locking humidor.

Order yours from LaCannapa for $128 while supplies last.

Wyld Sparkling Water Variety Pack

If the spa is calling your name this Mother’s Day, you’ll need an uplifting beverage to keep you hydrated and elevated.

Wyld uses broad-spectrum American hemp extract to create its CBD sparkling water.

Now available nationwide in 4 flavors, including Raspberry, Lemon, Blackberry, and Blood Orange for $16 a can.

Header image courtesy of JadeMazeShop on Etsy.

https://cannatechtoday.com/mothers-day-gifts-for-cannamoms/
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Events Klaus

Cannabis Marketing Summit

June 7 – 9 2022 Denver Colorado

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Categories
5 Questions Articles Reviews Skunk Magazine

GAL SHAPIRA, PRODUCT MANAGER AT LEAFREPORT. A DEEP DIVE INTO CBD TESTING

This was the pitch. I’ve included it here because it offers the framework for a topic that I used to write about but stopped. Why? And what was it? It was CBD derived from hemp.

Photo Credit: Leafreport

The reason is pretty simple. Most CBD sold around the globe is no more than snake oil; quack medicine sold in gas stations as a cure-all. This topic is really not worthy of my time. Thus, I stopped writing about health products and got rich, quick CBD multi-level marketing scam products that may or may not do anything.

I turned down pitch after pitch because there really are no rules in CBD.

Why are rules important?

Well, look at the alcohol industry for an example. There are no rules in rum, for instance. You can do almost anything to it, from adding a hundred grams of sugar to caramel coloring that fools the drinker into thinking that dark rum is old rum. It’s not old, only colored and sweetened.

When was the last time that you saw an ingredient label on a bottle of rum or any spirits for that matter?

Wait, that sounds like the CBD business! No transparency.

Where was it grown, and what kind of nutrients were used? Is it toxic when smoked? All unknowns.

Here’s to transparency in CBD testing. Cheers!

Photo Credit: Leafreport

Hi Warren,

After reading a few of your CBD-related articles, I think you’ll find this research interesting. Could you believe that 1 out of 4 CBD products was NOT tested for microbial content, pesticides, or heavy metals?

Leafreport.com reviewed 2946 CBD products from 136 CBD brands in terms of purity and potency testing. It turns out that what is advertised and what CBD products actually contain are completely different.

Here is the full research.

Some interesting findings:

Only 13% of brands tested almost all of their products for purity testing, checking for microbial content, pesticides, or heavy metals

25% of brands reviewed didn’t carry out any purity testing at all.

84% of potency-tested products didn’t measure within the acceptable variance of up to 10%.

Only 42% of brands test almost all of their products for potency (90%-100%) and share their third-party lab results with consumers.

Spokesperson Gal Shapira, Product Manager at Leafreport, says, “Lack of transparency in CBD industry is a real issue for consumers. They are being fooled on a daily basis by brands and advertisers. This is the reason we invested $25,000 in this market research to bring more clarity to the CBD industry and protect consumers from false CBD products.”

Is this something you would be interested in covering?

If you need more information, feel free to get in touch.

How could I say no? Knowledge in CBD? Good luck with that until recently.

Photo Credit: Leafreport

Please tell me about yourself? Where are you from? What brought you to the cannabis (CBD) space? Curiosity? Health?

I was born in Russia and moved to Vancouver, Canada, when I was 12. I’ve always been interested in writing and started doing small online freelance writing gigs in 2010. I have an Associate of Arts degree in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in History and Geography.

After finishing university in 2015, I decided to go into freelance writing full-time. I got an ongoing gig writing articles about dietary supplements based on published research studies. It was a good fit because I’ve always been interested in health and have tried many supplements.

That’s how I discovered CBD in 2017. It was a new supplement that had a lot of hype around it but not a lot of good information. I tried it out and was impressed by its anxiety, sleep, workout recovery, and overall health effects.

I started reading studies about CBD, writing articles, trying products and decided to specialize in writing about CBD. I’ve written dozens of evidence-based CBD articles for Leafreport.

Please tell me about your philosophy on clarity and transparency in the CBD industry. What are the best practices? Why is CBD sold in gas stations?

Although the FDA has sent warning letters to CBD companies that make unsubstantiated health claims or sell substandard products, by and large, the CBD industry is unregulated.

Photo Credit: Leafreport

That’s why third-party testing done by independent, accredited laboratories is so important in the CBD industry. It’s essentially a form of self-regulation that assures consumers that CBD products actually contain what’s advertised and are free of potential contaminants.

The first thing I always check when reviewing CBD products and brands is third-party testing. Are the tests publicly available? Are they up to date? Are they done by a reputable lab? Are both potency (levels of cannabinoids) and contaminant (pesticides, residual solvents, etc.) test results present?

This gives you a pretty good idea of whether the CBD brand is reputable and trustworthy. Of course, there are many other best practices as well. For example, it’s always best when brands are vertically integrated, meaning they grow the hemp, extract it, and make the finished CBD products themselves.

CBD is sold in gas stations because it’s a popular health and wellness product. But these products tend to be of low quality because they’re often made by shady companies that don’t provide third-party test results or even have a website.

Who is responsible for policing the labeling of CBD products in the United States? What is permitted on the labeling?

The FDA is responsible for regulating the labeling and packaging of cannabis products. But technically speaking, the FDA doesn’t currently consider CBD products as dietary supplements and doesn’t allow them to be sold as such. That’s because CBD is used as an ingredient in a pharmaceutical drug approved by the FDA (Epidiolex). So, this creates a strange situation where CBD products are obviously being sold as dietary supplements even though the FDA is technically against that.

As far as I’m aware, the FDA has not released any specific labeling requirements for CBD products. Instead, CBD product manufacturers are following the established labeling rules for dietary supplements, which include showing the amount of the active ingredient, ingredients list, name and location of the manufacturer, supplement facts panel, and so on. Another rule is that they cannot make any health claims that their product can treat any disease or related symptom.

I hear it all the time that CBD is a cure-all, yet there is very little in the way of regulation on what can and cannot be stated on the label; who is the governing body?

CBD is not a cure-all. But the reason it gets that reputation is that over 9,000 studies of CBD have been published to date, suggesting a myriad of potential benefits for everything from inflammation and pain to neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s. But most of CBD’s potential benefits need higher-quality evidence (placebo-controlled clinical trials) before we know for certain.

In terms of health claims, those are regulated by the FDA and FTC. The FDA mostly regulates claims on product labels, while the FTC regulates claims in advertising. Dietary supplement manufacturers are not allowed to make claims that their products can help with any health condition or disease (with the exception of approved health claims, which require high-quality research and official authorization from the FDA).

Even though the FDA does not currently consider CBD products to be dietary supplements, it still treats them as such in terms of health claims. That’s why the FDA regularly sends out warning letters to CBD companies that sell misleading products or make unauthorized claims that their products can treat symptoms of related conditions, like saying that their CBD oil can help with cancer or treat insomnia.

What is your passion?

I’m passionate about improving my health and helping others do the same through safe, natural, time-tested methods. That’s why I was immediately drawn to CBD — it’s natural, non-intoxicating, has little to no side effects even with daily use, and has been used for its health benefits for thousands of years as a component of cannabis.

I exercise and practice meditation and intermittent fasting daily, in addition to taking herbal supplements like CBD and ashwagandha. I’ve read thousands of studies about CBD and other supplements and enjoy breaking down what I learn into simple language that helps others improve their health naturally.

https://www.skunkmagazine.com/gal-shapira-product-manager-at-leafreport-a-deep-dive-into-cbd-testing/?v=f24485ae434a
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Uncategorized

FOOD + FLOWER MAGAZINE

WARREN BOBROW – CHIEF MIXOLOGIST, FOOD + FLOWER MAGAZINE

WARREN BOBROW – CHIEF MIXOLOGIST, FOOD + FLOWER MAGAZINE

Warren Bobrow has been a dishwasher, the owner of the first company to make fresh pasta in South Carolina, a television engineer and has even worked at Danceteria in NYC. Bobrow became a trained chef, leading to a twenty-year career in private banking. Bobrow is cannabis, wine and travel aficionado, Bobrow is a former rum judge and craft spirits national brand ambassador. He works full time in the cannabis business as an alchemist/journalist.

Truly leaving no leaf unturned.

Warren Bobrow, dubbed The Cocktail Whisperer, has 6 published books including Cannabis Cocktails, Mocktails & Tonics: The Art of Spirited Drinks and Buzz-Worthy Libations

Categories
Uncategorized

Food and Flower magazine

https://www.foodandflowermag.com/?s=warren+bobrow

Cannabis NewsProduct News

THE COCKTAIL WHISPERER LAUNCHES FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND RANGE OF CRAFT CANNABIS-INFUSED RTD MOCKTAILS

From the mind of the Cocktail Whisperer, Warren Bobrow, comes KLAUS™ Cannabis-Infused Beverages, made with the highest quality ingredients and the finest fruit extracts from France.

KLAUS™ – a delicious new cannabis-infused beverage made with the best ingredients for a healthier and euphoric buzz, has set its sights on the growing ‘ California-sober’ market and is ready to take the cannabis beverage culture to a whole new level.

Co-founded by “The Cocktail Whisperer,” Warren Bobrow, the first-of-its-kind premium product in the cannabis space, is here to quench your thirst and transform the way you think about and drink cannabis-infused beverages. Bobrow, a cannabis alchemist and cocktail aficionado, industry journalist and author of six books in the craft cocktail space, including his most recent Cannabis Cocktails, Mocktails and Tonics. It’s no wonder he and KLAUS’ team of industry leaders and creatives have created the most unique cannabis-infused craft mocktail in the ready-to-drink space to date.

Named after Bobrow’s 1800s German drinking gnome that he’s traveled much of the world with during his former career working in on/off premise liquor, KLAUS in’t like any other cannabis-infused beverage. First up is the KLAUS Mezzrole™, named after Louis Armstrong’s friend and fellow hep-cat, Mezz Mezzrow. A Mezzrole was slang for a finely crafted cannabis cigarette during the jazz era.

Robust and tangy with bursts of piquant Picketts™ ginger root syrup, gently giving way to palate soothing rice vinegar notes and the finest French lime puree, the refreshing beverage features a terpene-forward 10 mg THC infusion per can, only 16 calories, and less than 1g of sugar per serving.

At first sips, KLAUS fills the nose and mouth with the bold aromatics from the terpene-forward cannabis infusion. Dollops of zesty and zippy, caramelized, spicy ginger cane syrup come into view. Each sniff is framed by the exotic French Lime puree. Rice vinegar carries each sip into a multi-minute finish, ebullient with bursts of heady sea salt splashing over crushed minerals. The high comes on in minutes, leading into a talkative nature, relaxation, and confidence ensues.
KLAUS has partnered with Sands Lane Ventures and creative agency MAMUS, with a mutual mission to create the highest quality and best tasting cannabis-infused mocktails. KLAUS aims to make it simple for newcomers to the cannabis space to have an enjoyable and delicious experience. KLAUS’ flavors bring a gentle rise in euphoria followed by a subtle smile, candid appreciation, and bemusement.

KLAUS is available at leading dispensaries in California including, The Vault in Palm Springs and SOLFUL in Sebastopol at the end of February. KLAUS is currently available as single-serve and soon to be in convenient 4-packs. To learn more, head to www.drinkklaus.com

About Klaus

KLAUS™ is a cannabis-infused beverage co-founded by “The Cocktail Whisperer” Warren Bobrow. KLAUS™ is named after Warren’s soused gnome “Klaus” who was born in 1851 in Germany. The KLAUS™ team brings together powerhouses in the field of cocktails, cannabis, branding and marketing. KLAUS™ mission is to create the most delicious, highest quality and best tasting cannabis-infused mocktails in the world and to make it simple for newcomers to the cannabis space to have an enjoyable and delicious experience.

About Sands Lane Ventures

Sands Lane Ventures is a purpose-driven venture studio building brands and enabling the better future we envision today. We believe that purpose-driven storytelling has the power to not only educate, inspire action and ignite change, but to also drive significant value. Sands Lane Ventures is part of the Sands Lane ecosystem, delivering strategic advisory services and value-added brand operations, supply chain management and investment support. We are focused on incubating and accelerating early stage consumer brands, taking a hands-on approach to activating opportunities through a unique and comprehensive lens, de-risking their business models and adding long term value through our ecosystem. Visit sandslane.com/ventures for more details.

About creative agency MAMUS

MAMUS is a creative agency with a Madison Ave. pedigree and deep brand experience including Mercedes-Benz, jetBlue Airways, BMW, Whole Foods and many more. MAMUS specializes in brand development for lifestyle, deep technology, cannabis, and luxury. Visit mamuscreative.com for more information.

For general inquiries: info@drinkklaus.com

For retail inquiries: retail@drinklaus.com

Categories
5 Questions Articles Interviews Skunk Magazine

FIVE GRATIFYING QUESTIONS WITH MARIANNE CURSETJEE, MBA, CEO AND COFOUNDER OF ALIBI CANNABIS

BYWARREN BOBROW 04/20/2022

Here was my pitch. I included it here because the framework for this intriguing piece is in the pitch, a beautifully written one, I must add. Thank you, my friend, for sending this my way, appreciated deeply.

Hi Warren – Alibi Cannabis is about to announce its first line of premium pre-rolls curated for Oregon’s discerning cannabis consumer.

Made with 100% handcrafted flower, Alibi’s new Mariposa pre-rolls celebrate empowered, fierce females with the sexy NFT, Mariposa Takes Flight, on the packaging. (She is on their homepage!)

Alibi Cannabis is a woman-owned craft cannabis farm founded in 2017 by Marianne Cursetjee.

With an MBA and a high-powered tech career, Marianne did not expect to become a cannabis entrepreneur. Then she got cancer. Her career changed when a cannabis product eliminated the need for over ten drugs to combat side effects from chemo prescriptions. Marianne bought property in Oregon, started a cannabis farm, and became a cannabis expert. Alibi has earned recognition for growing some of the best flower in Oregon.

Can I interest you in speaking with Marianne about Alibi, the new pre-rolls, and her journey?

*YES*

Photo courtesy of Marianne Cursetjee

Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about your inspiration for the brand? Where did the name come from? Is this your first cannabis venture?

Marianne Cursetjee, MBA, CEO and Cofounder of Alibi Cannabis: At Alibi, we imagine a beautiful place where you can be the best version of you. The joy that comes from cannabis enhances our relationships, our bodies, and our spirits. The word “Alibi” is simple, but the idea can be whatever you dream. We hope people take a moment, enjoy the smoke, and look for the beauty around them.

We bought the land for our cannabis farm when I was just finishing up treatment for breast cancer. I had a vision of building a fabulous weed farm. Now, here we are seven years later, thriving in a tough market and looking forward to continued growth. The business has grown from an idea to a commercial-scale craft farm with a compelling story and beautiful imagery.

WB: Who is your mentor? When did you discover cannabis? How old were you? What are your six and twelve-month goals?

MC: I was raised in a very conservative Christian environment, so cannabis was not part of the culture. I was 45 years old when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Going through chemotherapy and radiation, managing side effects is a whole cascade of pharmaceuticals. A friend gave me some cannabis and said that it might help with nausea and pain. It was amazing! I was able to eliminate a whole host of pharmaceuticals and replace them with just cannabis. My dad is currently battling brain cancer, and I’m giving him cannabis to help with that. He tells me his head is all whirly, and some nice 1:1 chocolates make him feel better. Love that the industry is now better able to support those in medical need and also those who just love how cannabis makes them feel.

Our goals for the business are continued growth, more unique cultivars, and delivering amazing quality cannabis products. Having grown in Oregon since 2017, we’ve learned that Oregonians are weed connoisseurs constantly looking for new and unique products and flavors.

Our signature branding, “Mariposa Takes Flight,” is based

Photo courtesy of Marianne Cursetjee

on an NFT we purchased. Figuring out how to utilize blockchain, NFT’s and the metaverse in cannabis is an exciting new frontier.

We just launched Mariposa pre-rolls to celebrate empowered, edgy females with the sexy NFT on the packaging. Made with 100% handcrafted indoor flower, the pre-rolls have received rave reviews. We are in discussions to launch this brand into other states and plan to introduce a line of gummies soon in Oregon. I’m pleased that we have found some fabulous companies to collaborate with. Also, this year, we are launching a merch shop featuring Mariposa. Look for amazing merchandise over the coming few months at Alibi.shop

WB: What kind of obstacles do you face? How do you anticipate removing these obstacles?

MC: We face the challenges common to all cannabis companies, such as restrictions on marketing and advertising, limited tax deductions, and the high cost of regulatory compliance. The challenges specific to us are a flourishing unregulated market and an oversupply of product in the regulated market. It has been said that if you can survive Oregon, you can survive anywhere!

We are known for our top-shelf handcrafted flower. We will continue with new genetics and improved quality while also looking at more products and new states. There are so many opportunities available across the US; finding the right partners is key to long-term success.

WB: What is your favorite food to savor when you have smoked Alibi minis? Do you have a favorite restaurant? What is the name? Where? Indoor or outdoor-grown cannabis? Why?

MC: Portland is such a food haven! So many good things to eat! If I’m trolling for munchies at home, I love Bordeaux Cherry Balsamic vinegar on vanilla ice cream. Sweet and sour, oh my! Seriously, it’s totally the bomb! Our Lava Cake cultivar is really a heavy munchie strain, so stock up before you toke. For restaurants, I love Thai and Indian, but my favorite restaurant in Portland is a Lebanese restaurant called Nicholas. Their baba ghanoush, cauliflower, caramelized onions, yum! Spicy food really goes well with our GMO Glue cultivar — it’s a totally old-school hitter with garlic notes.

For cannabis, I like the consistency and freshness of indoor flower. I’m a little bit spoiled since we grow such amazing weed at our farm. I like knowing that what I’m smoking is fresh and clean. When you buy your bud at dispensaries, look at the harvest date. I’m surprised how much old stuff is on the shelf. Look for something harvested within the last 2 or 3 months. Older than that, and it just isn’t quite as nice. Get to know the farms and their growing practices and ethics.

Photos courtesy of Marianne Cursetjee

WB: What is your passion?

MC: So many things! I love training Krav Maga. I started training when I was going through chemotherapy. It’s great physical exercise, and the “never give up” mentality is huge. Feeling and being strong physically is wonderful. Of course, Covid took a toll on my training, but I’m back in the gym now and kicking ass! I also love scuba diving. Diving is an activity my daughter and I do together. We just got back from diving in Mexico. The world under the sea is so amazing! We have seen strange creatures in the water, but my favorite is the mantis shrimp. It’s a bizarre creature with some freaky traits. You can read more about this underwater nightmare at https://theoatmeal.com/comics/mantis_shrimp.

What brings me real joy is knowing that my efforts at work and in the community are improving lives. Alibi is founded on the philosophy of doing the right thing. We treat our customers, vendors, and employees right.

The last couple of years have been really rough, and it’s important to find the little things that can change the day from gloomy to bright. This is the essence of Alibi’s Mariposa line — find the beauty, take a moment, appreciate life. What’s your Alibi?

WB: I love your flowers, as they are smiles in every pull. The GMO Glue is true to the name with aromatics of freshly raked loam, orange oil, dried morel mushrooms, and shavings of bitter chocolate. The high comes into view, right in front of my forehead, offering pain relief and optimism; a talkative conversation ensues into deeply relaxing metaphors for sleep and renewal. Lucky is the person who will enjoy such evocative experiences. Oregon offers that in their wines and their cannabis. The taste of the place, the terroir- it sets Oregon into a realm of conscious cannabis.

https://www.skunkmagazine.com/five-gratifying-questions-with-marianne-cursetjee-mba-ceo-and-cofounder-of-alibi-cannabis/?v=f24485ae434a
Categories
Klaus Klaus Apothicaire

The Design Milk Twenty for 420 Roundup

Klaus Mezzrole
Many cannabis-infused beverages taste like they were concocted by someone who has never tasted a proper cocktail in their life. Thankfully Klaus tapped the skills of acclaimed mixologist Warren Bobrow, aka the Cocktail Whisperer, to infuse a piquant punch of ginger with zesty lime with rice vinegar, resulting in an adult-quality drink with 10mg THC and < 1mg CBD THC per can.

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Articles Klaus Klaus Apothicaire

The Key to Combining Cannabis and Mixology? Remove the Booze.

Led by longtime drinks professionals, brands like MXXN and Klaus think THC can thrive in cocktail culture, sans the alcohol

The Kentucky Kickback is built from a THC-infused, no-booze spirit called MXXN. It's just one of the THC drinks coming from the mixology world.

The Kentucky Kickback is built from a THC-infused, no-booze, bourbon-like spirit called MXXN.MXXN

  • https://www.insidehook.com/article/booze/mixology-cannabis-thc-spirits-klaus-mxxn

BY KIRK MILLER

The worlds of THC and alcohol haven’t really crossed over, and to be honest, that’s probably for the best. Not all potentially buzzy experiences need to or should be intertwined.

But if you take away booze from that crossover while keeping the idea of mixology in place, suddenly the small but growing industry of bartender-friendly, cannabinoid-infused “spirits” and mixers makes more sense.

We’ve covered this meeting-of-minds before, although not specifically related to THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. First there’s Flyers, a line of alcohol-free sparkling cannabis cocktails with full-spectrum CBD distillates that are crafted, in part, by award-winning mixologist Ivy Mix. Then there’s The Pathfinder Hemp & Root, a non-alcoholic “spirit” fermented and distilled from hemp; two of the three founders have extensive liquor brand experience, and the mixer works nicely in both boozy and non-boozy drinks. 

When I spoke with the founders of those drinks brands, they all suggested that THC-infused variations were on the way.

The first three bottles from MXXN, a THC-infused no-booze spirit
The first three bottles from MXXN.MXXN

One that’s already here? MXXN (pronounced “moon”). The BIPOC-founded brand claims to be the spirit industry’s first 1:1 non-alcoholic and THC-infused replacement for gin, tequila and bourbon. The company is led by Darnell Smith, a booze industry vet with over 15 years of experience at Diageo, Pernod Ricard and Bacardi. 

“I was working in the spirits industry in product innovation and found myself drinking more than I cared to due to the nature of the profession,” Smith tells InsideHook. “I was looking for a way to cut back on alcohol but still take part in the social aspects associated with drinking and cocktail culture. And I had been a consumer of cannabis for chronic pain after 15 years as a football player and would make my own tinctures at home, so I started bringing the tinctures out to social events, ordering a tonic and lime and putting a few drops in. My wife encouraged me to find a way to bring the tincture and tonic idea to the public in some capacity.

MXXN’s website offers variations on well-known cocktails, although the proportions are interesting, given the idea that you’re getting about 6 mg of THC per 1.5 oz pour — an Old Fashioned riff, for example, suggests a very small .75 oz measurement of MXXN’s Kentucky Oak, as opposed to a standard 2 oz pour if you were using a regular bourbon.

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We were recently able to try MXXN Jalisco Agave (the drink is available in California and direct-to-consumer in a few markets). It’s a cloudy, straw-colored liquid with grassy and floral notes. On the palate, it’s soft but also spicy and with a pronounced salinity — it’s not offensive on its own, but it feels much better suited for a cocktail. I turned my initial small pour into a very nice Paloma alternative, which lacked the usual alcohol “kick” but maintained the essence of agave and heightened the grapefruit notes (while also a touch of spice). 

I’m not alone in my thoughts on how the product mixes. “When we started MXXN, we were trying to emulate the tastes of spirits in standalone form,” explains Smith, who also notes that bartenders were consistently giving feedback during the product’s formulation. “But we found it to be extremely difficult to find a substitute for the specific flavor and profile ethanol provides in that form, so we pivoted a bit to create a product that emulates the base flavor profiles of these spirits when mixed in a cocktail with other ingredients.

The recipe wasn’t an easy process. In the brand’s early stages, the technology wasn’t there to get the THC evenly distributed throughout the base formula (“Which for dosing reasons was an obvious problem,” Smith notes). They eventually utilized nanoemulsion technology from Vertosa to solve that problem, but the company also had to finalize the flavor profile and make the product shelf-stable, which proved more difficult to do without alcohol while still utilizing natural ingredients. 

In the end, Smith thinks products like MXXN will appeal to the health-conscious (and non-boozy drinkers), but also believes they offer real potential to unite the worlds of drinks and cannabis.

“We’re not here to completely replace your booze or how you consume it,” he says. “We’re here to provide a new experience and evolve cocktail culture.”

The first release from Klaus, a THC-infused canned cocktail with no booze
The first release from Klaus, a THC-infused canned cocktail with no booze.Klaus

Klaus takes a different approach. And that involves a gnome.

Just launched, Klaus is a ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail in a can, albeit with a “10 mg terpene-forward cannabis emulsion per drink” as opposed to a boozy ABV. These were crafted by popular mixologist Warren Bobrow, who credits…well, I’ll have him explain.

“The inspiration for my product, funnily enough, was my drinking gnome named Klaus,” says Bobrow. “Klaus traveled the world with me in my prior career in liquor sales. He also came with me to competitions where I served as a rum judge for both the Ministry of Rum and the Florida-based Rum XP.” (That association explains the launch of Klaus with Mezzrole, a take on the classic Ti’ Punch.)

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As Bobrow remembers, he was signing copies of his drinks guide Bitters and Shrub Syrup Cocktails at the Pharmacy Museum when noticed an exhibit named “Cannabis in the Early Apothecary,” which led to an idea for his next book, Cannabis Cocktails, Mocktails and Tonics. And the success of that book led to the idea of creating a canned, THC-infused cocktail.

(Yes, but the actual gnome influence? “To me, Klaus is much more than just a German drinking gnome. He represents goodness, kindness and the amalgamation of my life experiences. Sure, he loves to drink, but he’s recently switched over to my refreshing infused mocktails.”)

For Bobrow, it was not an issue emphasizing the cannabis aspects of his drink. “The ‘craft’ in craft cocktails isn’t always about the liquor. It’s the balance of the ingredients,” he says. “My Mezzrole cocktail — named for Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet’s friend and cannabis dealer, Mezz Mezzrow — has no alcohol, but it’s terpene-forward. It smells like a perfectly cured cannabis bud and provides consumers with a lovely, relaxing, talkative yet grounded feeling.” (It’s apparently also great for sleep. We’ll have samples soon to review.)

Unlike some of his peers, Bobrow feels THC is a versatile and somewhat enviable ingredient to work into mixed drinks.

“It can be flavored with terpenes as an adjunct to the other fine ingredients in a craft cocktail, or it can be flavorless and woven into a seltzer,” he says. “To me, the process is not challenging because cannabis possesses terroir. The plant embodies the taste of the place it was grown, like wine, except there are perhaps even more terpenes in cannabis than wine.”

As for serving suggestions, Klaus’s drinks — which will soon include a riff on the Tiki classic Zombie — only have 16 calories and 0.6 grams of sugar per can; each of those 8 oz cans features 10 mg THC, which Bobrow estimates is perfect for two drinks and a nice mental middle ground. “We’re somewhere between a microdose and the opposite end where the effects are a little too strong.”

Even if their approaches (and taste profiles) differ, Bobrow and Smith share a similar audience expectation: health-conscious, social, open to a “buzz” but wanting to feel better in the next morning.

“Many folks in my former world of liquor struggle with alcohol, and several have already reached out to tell me how much this beverage means to them,” says Bobrow. “Alcohol and cannabis provide different experiences. I feel out of control when drinking liquor, and I think a lot of people can relate. But I’m not here to preach. I’m here to make the world’s best craft cannabis libations and raise the bar.”

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5 Questions Skunk Magazine

GET TO KNOW ARTIST EMILY EIZEN & HER ‘60S PSYCHEDELIC INSPIRED WORKS

Upon first glance, artist Emily Eizen is certainly creative, working in the mediums of painting, sculpture, photography, modeling, and performance. Visually intriguing, Emily is a free spirit. Her ‘60s psychedelic-inspired works showcase the beauty, freedom, and diversity she considers essential to establishing equity in the cannabis space and beyond. Emily’s portfolio and commissions highlight her ability to adapt to different styles and aesthetics across spectrums of gender and sexuality, defying convention. A painter by passion, Emily has harnessed her creativity in PAX’s recent More Flowerful Campaign. It all sounds really intriguing to me, and I hope to see her work up close someday soon. 

Photo credit: Jessica Miller for PAX’s More Flowerful Campaign

Please tell me about yourself, what do you do for work? Where are you from? Live now? What did you want to be when you grew up?  

I am a full-time freelance artist, photographer, model, and creative director. I am originally from the South Bay in Southern California. I grew up at the beach all the time and could be found roller-skating or hanging out at Noble Park in Hermosa Beach with other misfits and artists. Now, I live in West Hollywood. I love living in such a vibrant queer community. When I was in high school, my goal was to get into political science and be an activist. I even went to school for a year in DC but found that there wasn’t a community within that political science major focused on arts and self-expression. That’s when I discovered cannabis and moved back home to LA to start a different journey. 

What are you working on right now? Do you have a six and twelve-month goal? What makes your craft different from your peers?

Right now, I am doing creative work for a few major cannabis brands, but also bonbuz, a nonalcoholic functional spirit. It has been fun to venture outside of my cannabis comfort zone. My six-month goal is to have my debut art show which was put off two years ago because of the pandemic. My twelve-month goal is to continue to grow in my craft and use my platform for social justice initiatives around cannabis policy reform. What makes me stand out is my ability to switch roles the way I do. One day I am hiding behind the camera and shooting. The next, I’m in full glam, ready for my close-up, and on top of all of that, I also focus on my own artistic practice as a painter. 

What obstacles stand in your way currently, how do you anticipate removing them? Do you have a mentor or teacher who is valuable in your path?

Photo credit: Jessica Miller for PAX’s More Flowerful Campaign

Currently, obstacles in my way are fighting with the social media algorithms so that people actually see the work that I work so hard on. Also, there are some people in the cannabis world that don’t see the value of paying creatives and expect us to work for a product. I hope, as an industry, we can start paying creatives what we are worth. I realize all of these obstacles are nothing compared to what many people face in the cannabis industry and in this country. I want to use my privilege in a productive way to help remove even bigger obstacles, such as the impact of the War on Drugs. Some of my mentors as a creative in the cannabis space have been Roze Volca, Nesha Torres, and many other creative women that have been in the cannabis community since before legalization. 

Indoor or outdoor-grown cannabis? Favorite strain right now? When you enjoy cannabis, do you have a favorite food that you prepare? What about your favorite restaurant?

Photo credit: Jessica Miller for PAX’s More Flowerful Campaign

I don’t discriminate against any type of cannabis; I will smoke indoor and outdoor flowers. I enjoy the sustainability of outdoor greenhouse farming practices but obviously enjoy the taste and potency of indoor as well. I am a snacks fiend; the munchies always slap me so hard, and I am a sucker for junky snacks—chips, Hostess snacks, candy, you name it. My favorite restaurant was Souplantation (RIP), another casualty of COVID. 

What is your passion? 

My passion is definitely the intersection of art and social activism. Using creativity to help people is the ultimate goal of my career, and nothing brings me more satisfaction.

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Feature Photo Credit: Jessica Miller for PAX’s More Flowerful Campaign

https://skunkmagazine.com/get-to-know-artist-emily-eizen-her-60s-psychedelic-inspired-works/?v=f24485ae434a