Try this infused condensed milk recipe for your next cup of Thai iced tea, Vietnamese coffee, or canna-mocktail. It won’t upset the family members who don’t care for the smell of burning herb filling in the air!
Author: Warren Bobrow
Try our infused condensed milk with coffee!
Ingredients
flower
condensed milk
Directions
LEVO Prep
Pack your LEVO herb pod with flower.
Set your Activate cycle and relax (remember, this is a dry cycle, no oil or butter should be added until you begin infusing!)
Fill the LEVO reservoir with one cup of condensed milk and set it to 160ºF for 3 hours.
Relax!
After 3 hours, your LEVO will turn off and you’ll have steaming hot, infused condensed milk.
Instructions
Pour however much of this creamy liquid you like into a mocktail, cocktail, tres leches cake, Vietnamese coffee, or Thai tea or whatever your heart desires!
Cryo Cure is a quality-driven method to an end. In this case, the end connotates perfectly cured cannabis. What Cryo Cure has achieved is remarkable; it’s so light, so fluffy, and so very terpy!
Ok, so I made up that word, terpy- It means to me the scent of the perfectly cured cannabis flower. Those juicy aromatics that ooze out of your glass jar, immediately filling the room with her distinctive perfume.
Everyone has had that moment when you’ve just scored that perfect eighth from your weed dealer, and you want to open the jar in your car to see what you got. You do, and suddenly the spicy sweetness of the cannabis plant fills the air thickly surrounding you in the skunky, fuel-scented breeze. And looking over your shoulders, you notice not one but two police cars on either side of your leased car. That pungent scent of weed is everywhere! It envelops you in what I said is terpy air! You cannot get away from the aromatics. Wow, will they smell me?
Oh, that would never happen to you these days because the local police have much bigger fish to fry. At least here in New Jersey. And that eighth of Cryo Cure Cannabis is safe for the moment because you’ll be enjoying it deeply into your lungs very shortly thereafter.
To celebrate your good fortune that you didn’t get pulled over for weed this time. Whew, that was close! Stigmatized and ostracized, our plant.
However, later- after you’ve gotten over the shock of the hour, something truly unique and pleasurable will pass through your lips. Cryo Cure is what this disruptive brand is called. The methodology is created through sub-freezing temperatures, and this technique preserves the plant in a frozen state of suspended animation. The color of the final trimmed bud is vibrant, and the aromatics practically fill the room with the sweet scent of triumph. The texture of the flower is soft and moist, not dried out but perfectly cured in every way. Succulent against your lips and no coughing ever. There is not a bit of harshness in Cryo Cure Cannabis. I usually have a lot of difficulties smoking cannabis for the reason that most cannabis is poorly cured, leaving it harsh against my throat and lungs. What Cryo Cure has achieved is remarkable to me. Truly gourmet, luxury cannabis with a twist. The twist is succinctly apparent because you can utilize technology that is completely different than the norm.
In a world driven by bottom-line metrics, efficiency, speed, and ultra-quality flowers are everything.
I’m not sure what the strain was that I smoked, but it was translucent in overall effect; a certain clarity in the high that wasn’t overwhelming, yet it contained deeply pronounced creaminess to the burn as ultra-high-end cannabis sometimes offers me.
Again, I didn’t cough, even once. This is ultra-gourmet cannabis, to begin with, treated with kindness and love.
I wonder what it would be like to use Cryo Cure Cannabis in building a real craft cocktail infused with THC? Is that bad? Should I be experimenting with adding weed to liquor? Will I get that thing called a crossfade?
The answer is yes, no, maybe, and most absolutely.
David Balfour Punch
Named for the resourceful protagonist in Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Kidnapped, this refreshing tipple is just as enterprising, and yes, you will experience the much-anticipated crossfade. It’s both marvelous and absolutely unavoidable, so please do not underestimate the feeling you get. That’s why I suggest only using small amounts of cannabis to start.
My pro-tip? Start really slowly when infusing your cannabis in a craft (THC) cocktail. Don’t destroy your friends and family. It’s very easy to do with this friendly, Irish Whiskey Punch. Oh, you may have noticed that Irish Whiskey is similar to Bourbon. Most Irish Whiskey is aged in charred American Oak barrels, formerly used to age Bourbon Whiskey (again, with an e).
Scotch, on the other hand, is spelled Whisky, without the e. Don’t make that mistake and spell Scotch with an e. There is no “E” in Scotch Whisky. You may want to try making this punch with a decent blended Whisky or even a nice smoky Mezcal— but please, save your dad’s expensive single malt for a clean glass without ice, please. He won’t be happy if you use that twenty-five-year-old Islay Whisky for a punch mixed with your weed. I’ll hazard a guess that he’d be absolutely livid. Trust me on this one. I did it with an unfortunate ending for me.
But back to the Irish Whiskey. It’s slightly honeyed with aromatic snippets of hand-cut grass and slightly sweet bursts of wet minerals and sprinkles of saline, sea salt. Irish Whiskey lends itself perfectly to the combination of perfumed garden-fresh mint, tart freshly squeezed lemonade, and a most alluring simple syrup made from funky Demerara sugar and, of course, a good portion of cannabis.
Deliciousness!
David Balfour Punch. For at least ten persons.
Pre-work: infusing the THC into the Demerara Simple Syrup using the Levo2.
Prepare a batch of simple syrup- 1:1 ratio of boiling water to Demerara Sugar
Add to the infusion tank of the Levo2- 1 cup total liquid… Add desired amount of cannabis, I’d say start with a gram or two. My recipe has 1 ounce per liquid cup, it’s pretty potent.
Ingredients:
1-750 ml. bottle of good Irish Whiskey, expect to pay about thirty dollars for the pleasure
2 Quarts freshly made lemonade, sweetened to taste with your Demerara/THC Syrup
1 cup fresh mint, very well washed!
Large cube of Coconut Water Ice- I used a gallon-sized milk jug for my giant ice cube for the punch bowl
Orange Bitters
Angostura Bitters
Prep:
Place your large coconut water ice cube into a punch bowl
Cover with one bottle of Irish Whiskey
Add the Two Quarts of freshly made THC infused lemonade over the Whiskey
Scatter the mint over the top after you’ve slapped it. Place the mint in your hand and slap it…
Dot with at least twenty shakes of the orange bitters and equal that with Angostura
Mix and serve in teacups, pinkies up optional……
This stuff hits in a few minutes. Be sitting down.
Going forward into Fall, my body calls out for liquids that warm deeply inside. It’s still getting hot during the day but as the months progress towards the colder period, I thirst for drinks that make me buzzed and warm, all at the same time.
Bertha Lee’s Baby
One such beverage is comprised of a base of strongly brewed hot coffee, (I use my trusty Vietnamese drip device) along with spirits such as Rhum Agricole, or Mezcal. I also use grilled orange slices to gently squeeze over the top of the liquescent. Funny that orange would compliment coffee so well, but this little potation is meant to refresh, and then sooth, deeply. Grilled orange slices help relax the palate by adding a touch of smoke to the tangy, caramelized orange flavors. Mezcal, the smoky, mysterious neighbor to Tequila or Rhum Agricole, distilled from freshly crushed sugar cane juice, instead of molasses from Martinique has a mysterious finish, reminiscent of your backyard fire pit. Agricole Rhum, or agricultural rum, offers a tangy release to the drink, just like the use of Mezcal offers a splash of smoke to the assembly.
I think you’ll really enjoy this beverage at the end of the evening, but on a hot day it’s quite refreshing when made with iced coffee and served over ice made from yesterday’s leftover coffee…. Just pour it into an ice cube tray, freeze, and then use in this cocktail.
The recipe I’ve included here is made with iced coffee, but you can make it any way you like. Hot or iced, it’s quite delicious and depending on how much weed you use, quite potent.
First you have to decarb your cannabis. I use either the LEVO2 to decarb, or the Ardent device. Both do a fantastic job activating your cannabis. The Ardent decarbs much more flower than the Levo2, so it may work better if you are making a large portion of the base ingredient which is in this case, either Mezcal or Rhum Agricole.
For a 25 oz. or 750ml. bottle of liquor, I place ¾ of the bottle in a ball jar. The ball jar is placed in a stainless steel bowl filled with water heated to 160 degrees. Add one ounce of the decarbed cannabis to the liquor inside the ball jar. Only use a hot plate or an electric stove with plenty of ventilation, two fans and an open window is what I ask that you use. Do not use a gas stove unless you want trouble. Vaporized alcohol is highly combustible. You can level your house with it. Don’t be that person who appears in the newspaper for being stupid about an open fire and liquor.
Simmer the liquor and cannabis together at 160 degrees (no more!) for at least an hour then let cool in the freezer (covered) overnight. The next day let it come to room temperature and strain the cannabis from the spirit. Be sure to press all the cannabis out of the liquor. That’s the good stuff in there! Also, my pro-tip is to use gloves because the activated cannabis will be absorbed through your skin, and you’ll get. SUPER-STONED!
Recipe: Bertha Lee’s Baby (for one)
Ingredients:
3 Grilled Orange Slices
1 oz. Mezcal or Rhum Agricole- each fluid ounce has about 100mg of THC, more or less depending on the strength of the weed.
3 oz. cold, strong coffee
Angostura Bitters
Raw honey or sugar to taste
Prep:
Chill a Collins Glass or a stoneware cup (if the drink is served hot)
Rub the inside of the cup or glass with the grilled orange slice to reveal the secrets…
Add a spear of hand cut ice to the glass, no ice if the drink is served hot!
Add about three ounces of the strong – either hot or cold coffee over the ice
Pour over the coffee your one ounce (liquid measure) of Mezcal or Rhum Agricole
Dot with Angostura Bitters for good gut health…
Finally, stir and garnish with a grilled orange round.
Being a creative person, I’m naturally interested in the work of other creatives. When I was introduced to the originative world of Pilgrim Soul, I felt a certain kinship. After all, I had in my past life worked with high-level individuals within a creative part of a private bank for nearly twenty years. This capability of furthering the thought process stimulated my need in later years to become a six-time published author. The intellect needed to write books is in many ways similar to starting a corporation or leading someone else’s company. You face many challenges in publishing as you do in the corporate world. Politics and silos abound, watch your step and tread lightly? Usually or not a chance… But the world has changed since I did my part to further myself in the corporate world. It would have been nice to have been able to support the efforts of someone like Shawn Gold, the Founder, and CEO of Pilgrim Soul. He’s a really intriguing man, with ideas that mimic my own ethos. I’m fortunate to have been able to interview his efforts for Skunk Magazine. I hope you find inspiration in his broad-reaching ethos for organic change. It’s not too far-fetched nor solely California Centric. There are global implications for his metrics and challenges. I hope you click through to learn more about his efforts.
Photo: Pilgrim Soul
Thank you, WB.
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about yourself? Why did you start working in cannabis? Do you prefer indoor or outdoor-grown cannabis, and why?
Shawn Gold: My career has consisted of CMO roles at tech-driven start-ups and imagining business models that did not exist. From social networking at MySpace, blogging with Engadget, social storytelling with Wattpad, and working with brands like Fabletic and SavageXFenty, it’s always been about thriving in the ambiguity of a new idea. Throughout my career, I have used cannabis to generate ideas, empathize with my customers, see things symphonically and make non-linear connections. So, when the legal cannabis industry started to emerge, I decided I wanted to help people benefit from my experience with cannabis.
Photo: Pilgrim Soul
As far as indoor or outdoor, I am a huge fan of consuming things as nature intended while being kind to the planet, so my default would be sun-grown California cannabis. You can make a delicious and potent product under natural conditions; I don’t necessarily need to have super high potency indoor cannabis to have a great experience. That said, if you have some amazing indoor cannabis, I’d love to see it and learn more about it.
You could say the creative interactions that I experienced through Pilgrim Soul opened my third eye. Thank you. WB
WB: Please tell me about Pilgrim Soul? What makes this brand different? Do you have a favorite [vape pen]?
SG: Pilgrim Soul’s mission is to help people unlock their innate creativity to help them gain a competitive edge in life and work. We do this with exclusive cannabis blends, creative curriculum, community-driven creativity programs, and expert content via PilgrimSoul.com.
It is best to think of Pilgrim Soul as a creativity company, where cannabis is just one of the products. The brand is designed to allow any creativity-enhancing product – we may even accommodate psilocybin when that becomes legal.
Photo: Pilgrim Soul
As far as our cannabis products go, we worked with the scientists at AbstraxLabs to create live resin blends of the top creative strains for different types of creative thinking – Creative Focus, Creative Reflection, Creative Imagination, and Creative Awareness. We analyze hundreds of cannabis strains that index high for creativity and other states of mind, according to survey data. After identifying each strain’s cannabinoid and terpene profiles, we built a matrix of strains that are then blended and mapped back to specific types of creative impact. This ongoing research is supported by focus groups and feedback from iconic creative leaders across varied industries.
WB: What are your six and twelve-month goals [for Pilgrim Soul]?
SG: Pilgrim Soul is looking to be the category leader in cannabis for creativity. We launched our cannabis line in July, and it is already a best-selling live resin oil blend in MedMen, Sweet Flower, The High Note, and The Cannabist.
Photo: Pilgrim Soul
Additionally, we are expanding our creative curriculum in the form of our Creative Thinking Journals meant to be used while you are high. These journals are filled with fun and shareable, creative challenges meant to spark the imagination and help people rethink the way they see the world. In November, we will debut a new journal in partnership with a well-known comedian.
The success metrics for all these efforts, other than money, are helping people enhance their lives with creative thinking – to help them uncover new possibilities and ideas.
WB: What is your favorite food when smoking cannabis? Do you have a food memory from childhood that involves cannabis?
SG: That is an interesting question because I don’t have a lot of cannabis-specific experiences. I use cannabis as a way to enhance experiences in general. I find smoking and going to a restaurant can make the food better because I’m more focused and present. I become more conscious of the flavors, the textures, the ritual, and the people I am dining with.
WB: What is your passion?
Photo: Pilgrim Soul
Humor and laughter. I love people (well, most people), and my favorite thing is to laugh and riff on ideas with friends and new
acquaintances. I find laughter to be the shortest distance between two people. When two people are laughing at the same thing, they are basically saying, ‘I share your perspective, your values, and I certainly share what you think is amusing.’ Cannabis is an aid in this process. It helps with divergent out-of-the-box thinking by getting the neurons in the frontal lobe firing in a more uninhibited way. It also represses the area of the brain called the dorsolateral cortex, which is about judgment. I guess you could say I use cannabis to make everything slightly more interesting.
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me who you are. What you’re working on right now?
John Bayes/Mike Abramson: We are the Dharma Police. However, on an average day, we are known as John Bayes of Green Bodhi and Mike Abramson Of Brothers Grimm Seeds. We are working on bringing awareness and intention back to the industry. Intentional Horticulture, coined by John, is a way of life cultivating Dharma from within to apply to the plant, but more importantly, to apply to every aspect of what you do. Another one of our focuses is bringing back the Brotherhood/Sisterhood atmosphere to the culture. Pre 2005, there wasn’t the amount of hate and shade thrown towards any cultivator or breeder. We have decided to team up on a number of projects and invite those with true Dharma into what we are doing. With our current obsession with social media, there have been plenty of keyboard warrior trolls harassing people for literally anything and everything. We are here to stick up for those being bullied.
Photo: Gorilla Boost
WB: As far as philanthropy goes, what are your six and twelve-month plans? What are you working on right now?
JB/MA: This is our favorite thing outside of our families that we prioritize heavily. Currently, we have two main philanthropic endeavors, the first being the #WaterForLife. This is a purely intentional project, no 501c3, no tax-deductible letters. India has some of the worst living conditions with a lack of access to clean water. Most villages are drinking and bathing in the same water animals frequently relieve themselves in. Bodhgaya, which is in the state of Bihar, is the holiest of cities for Buddhists and where the Buddha attained His enlightenment. This area is one of the poorest regions in India, “3rd world” would be a compliment here. So, John decided to work with two friends over there and challenged them to come up with an idea that could help the locals and feed their families. In short, when telling Mike about it, he had to be in. We are currently at monies raised for over 50 wells, with an average of 3-5 a week being donated and the 29th being installed soon. For $700, a village gets access to clean water, thousands of lives are changed instantly.
Another big project we are working on is raising funds for “His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Library and Learning Center,” which will be located at Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca, NY. This is the only seat of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the western world, and currently His only seat outside of India. John has been a student of Namgyal monastery for 10years now and has been appointed as the “Outreach Coordinator” for the project. We both hold the highest regard and reverence for His Holiness and His compassionate commitment towards all beings of the world. Beyond just raising funds, we have ventured into a collaborative philanthropic breeding project where all proceeds will go to the center. We are currently working on a 3-way breeder collaboration, Brothers Grimm, Green Bodhi, and Bodhi Seeds. This will officially drop at the Harvest Cup in Worcester in November.
WB: Favorite cannabis strain right now? Developed by whom? What is it, sativa? Indica? Who developed the genetics?
JB: Purple Hindu Kush. I got the cut from @MrBobHemphill, a legendary strain collector and legacy breeder, the other half to the genetics company “Crickets and Cicada Seeds.”
MA: The Dumpster Diver a Cali Super Skunk x Hazmat OG bred by Covert Genetics. Which is a sativa leaning hybrid.
WB: Favorite food when on the road spreading the word?
JB/MA: Noodles. Spending a lot of time on the road and at the monastery, we have discovered that any composed noodle dish is the fuel we need. Ramen, Pho, Pad Thai, it’s literally a whole meal. Spice is a requirement; the hotter, the better.
WB: What is your passion?
JB/MA: Our families, friends, living a life of intention and compassion. We also love to “Send It” with everything we do, from surfing to hitting the mountains in the winter.
I was just out at the Hall of Flowers held yearly at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, California. While there, I had a chance to taste the fine flowers offered by fumé, and without even being patient and getting some at the show, I bought some from a dispensary. I knew that there would be no shortage of fine flowers available to me, but if I wanted to capture any tasting notes, I was forced by necessity to do them early in my day’s work. Such is the life of a cannabis-tasting notes aficionado. At least it’s not like doing a rum tasting. The hangovers from the sugar were insurmountable sometimes. Cannabis offers no such experience, especially not cannabis, from companies such as fumé. They offer such an elevated show. It’s refreshing to smoke their offerings early in my tasting routine, which this year was no disappointment.
Please enjoy the following interview with Ian Hackett, Napa Valley Fumé CMO, and Head of Compliance. Did I say that their herbs are deliciously different?
They are.
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about the new brand.
Ian Hackett: We created our new brand, fumé (pronounced foo-may), in an effort to showcase what we believe to be some of California’s best cannabis strains. We developed this premium line with the educated cannabis consumer in mind; those who seek out unique strains with complex terpene profiles and are grown by farmers who honor the plant and go the extra mile to grow responsibly in order to protect the planet. The fumé consumer understands that terpenes are key players in their experience, and they have a passion for sustainability and giving back to the cannabis community, two key components of our brand. We evaluated dozens of strains–held blind sensory panels for aroma, taste, and experience–and met with the growers in person to hand-pick the strains. To complete the experience, we coupled them with premium smoking accessories that allow people to experience the true flavor of these terpene-rich cultivars. We wanted to push the envelope in terms of cannabis packaging. I have an issue with the number of single-use plastics that, due to regulations, we can’t really avoid. So, I worked with an amazing packaging supplier, and my designer and I came up with a stunning, child-resistant certified, plastic-free solution for our king cones, pre-roll packs, and flower.
WB: Why cannabis?
IH: I want to help people. It’s simply part of who I am. I believe that the cannabis plant–with all of its healing properties–can help people fix themselves. The positive results have been demonstrated time and time again. From the medical perspective and how critical cannabis was in helping those suffering from HIV/AIDS and cancer starting in the 80s to how it’s used today to treat PTSD for our Veterans, and it is helping so many people who suffer from anxiety and depression with real results. We should try and heal ourselves, not mask or medicate with opioids that have been overprescribed and subsequently abused for many decades. That said, I also see the massive opportunity that the cannabis industry brings to the economy. I was lucky enough to be part of the e-commerce boom, and to me–aside from space–the cannabis industry is the next frontier.
WB: Indoor or outdoor grown? Why?
IH: I believe that outdoor is the ideal growing style for cannabis. It’s the most natural and cost-effective method. I just love the idea of the cannabis plants basking under the California sun and swaying under our big blue skies. That said, I am a big fan and love a good greenhouse grow. You can take advantage of the sun’s energy, maintain a hospitable environment when mother nature is having a bad day, and you can have multiple harvests per year. We have one sun-grown strain in the fumé lineup called Dank Fruit, and it recently took third place in High Times’ NorCal Cannabis Cup in the sun-grown category. It’s a cross between Purple Papaya Punch x Blue Dream. I dubbed it an introvert’s paradise, and it’s my current go-to weekday strain because it delivers such a well-balanced high, and it smokes super smooth. The other two strains in the fumé line are absolute stunners. Our Double Chem OG (Light Dep) is a heavy-hitter and delivers that body buzz before taking you into a calm, relaxed state. And, our Cherry AK (Mixed Light) has an incredible nose—I get goosebumps whenever I smell it. It’s sweet and piney, and it packs a burst of energy right out of the gate; it’s a cerebral banger, and you’ll want to move around.
WB: Favorite let’s get stoned food, where?
IH: Gimme the salt all day. Pretzels, pizza (duh), and olives. This is why I really love an overflowing Mezze platter when I smoke with friends. I like the freshness of a Mezze platter and how savory the items are—the olives, feta, eggplant, tzatziki, and the warm flatbreads just hit the spot for me. With a loaded Mezze platter, there is something for everyone so we can just settle in, listen to music, talk, and graze and blaze.
WB: What is your passion?
IH: I am honestly just in love with the cannabis community. I have never felt so protective, engaged with, and proud of a group of people. I want to help people find healing with the plant and bring joy to others through recreational use. So, to combine my passion for helping and healing through the plant with my professional desire to build things, I have found an industry and community that gets the best parts of me. I have used cannabis since high school recreationally and medically after my first panic attack about eight years ago. But, being able to work with the plant, develop products and brands, and collaborate with some amazing growers, marketers, retailer buyers, and my awesome team makes me very thankful for the opportunity I have been given to work in this industry.
*Unique, high-quality cannabis, grown responsibly
fumé strains are uncommon as they are small-batch cannabis with complex cannabinoid and terpene profiles that deliver a full-spectrum experience. The strains are visually appealing, have vibrant colors, and produce enticing aromas when squeezed. Each large bud was cured to perfection and hand-trimmed with care.
The flower is sourced based on the sustainability of the grower’s cultivation practices. The brand showcases the growers, many of whom are heritage growers who have honed their craft of growing small-batch cannabis sustainably and responsibly. That means no run-off from their grow, no chemicals or toxic chemicals are used, and they don’t import water.
*Elevated packaging and smoking accessories
fumé strains are offered in three formats–Flower (3.5g), King Cone (1g), and Pre-Roll Pack (3.5g). The flower is beautifully packaged in a premium UV-resistant, air-tight flower jar that preserves the flower five times longer than any other jar on the market. The King Cone and Pre-Roll Pack include custom cherry wood smoke tips created by a small wood accessory maker in the US and an organic beeswax hemp wicks to remove the taste of sulfur from a matchstick or butane from a lighter, allowing to taste the flower in its truest form. fumé packaging is totally sustainable, 100% recyclable, and child-resistant certified–to open the King Cone and Pre-Roll Packs, you simply insert a credit card to expose the snug-fit tray where each cone joint is housed in a glass tube with a cork for freshness.
*Giving back to the cannabis community
In 2020, Napa Valley Fumé partnered with Last Prisoner Project to free people who are currently incarcerated for a drug that is no longer illegal. The company continues to be an active partner with continued support in its ongoing efforts with recurring monthly donations. Napa Valley Fumé is proud to be long-standing supporters of Last Prisoner Project.
fumé is now available throughout California on Eaze.com, Sweet Flower in Los Angeles, and select High Times dispensaries.
Napa Valley Fumé is a vertically integrated cannabis company based in Napa, CA. The company’s mission–Planting Trees for Future Generations–comes from its vision to plant seeds to grow a brighter future for cannabis by bringing the most innovative products and experiences to market. Its first brand–LAKE GRADE–entered the market in July 2019, and its proprietary strains quickly became one of the most popular sun-grown cannabis on the market. In August 2021, Napa Valley Fumé launched its flagship brand–fumé–for those who seek an elevated cannabis experience.
Warren Bobrow has been a dishwasher, the owner of the first company to make fresh pasta in South Carolina , a television engineer and he even worked at Danceteria in NYC, then a trained chef which led to a twenty year career in private banking. A cannabis, wine and travel aficionado, Warren is a former rum judge and craft spirits national brand ambassador. He works full time in the cannabis business as an alchemist/journalist. Cocktailwhisperer.com Drinkklaus.com Instagram: warrenbobrow http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Bobrow
I’ve met Bryan Buckley a couple of times now for this article and another magazine a couple of years ago. I was struck by his forthright character, passion for the plant, and his deep reverence for his service in the military, not a small task as I’ve learned. He’s got a handshake that speaks volumes, even before he speaks. I felt very happy to have him doing what he obviously loves, and he needs to bond with his brothers in arms through his passion and compassion.
Warren Bobrow: Where are you from? Where do you live now?
Photo: HVGC
Brian Buckley: I was born and raised in a town north of the Philadelphia area called Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Once I joined the Marine Corps, I spent time in Quantico, Virginia, and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In 2011, I received orders to Camp Pendleton, California. I moved to an area called Carlsbad, California, and have been living here ever since.
Warren Bobrow: What do you do? Please tell me about your company and what makes you different.
Brian Buckley: Once I finished up my service in the Marine Corps, I worked for an Ed Tech firm, focusing on Higher Education. In 2016, I founded the Battle Brothers Foundation, a 501C3 Nonprofit organization that supports our veterans. It was around the same time that I discovered the medicinal benefits of cannabis. I wanted to move the dial with our nation’s legislators and began the process of being able to obtain an Institutional Review Board (IRB). Helmand Valley Growers Company (HVGC) was established to help achieve this goal. I have the honor of being the President and CEO of this adult/medical cannabis organization located in California. What separates us from other brands is that 100% of our profits go to fund veteran medical cannabis research. This research will include NiaMedic Healthcare and Research Services out of Israel and the University of California at Irvine Health. The first study is scheduled to take place in the fall/winter of 2021.
Photo: HVGC
Warren Bobrow: What was your inspiration? When did you discover the plant? What strains do you seek?
Brian Buckley: My inspiration has been veterans. I never could understand why we do not do everything in our power to ensure that they live a life of peace and the American dream that they fought so hard to defend. I discovered the plant in the 2016 timeframe. I was just having a terrible time trying to sleep and relax. It was Andy Miears who told me about the positive impact that the plant was having on his life. Once I tried it, I knew it was something special. No pill could have the positive impact that cannabis had on me. That is what inspired us to go forward with an Institutional Review Board-approved study. We wanted to prove the medicinal benefit of cannabis through data-driven results. I love hearing feedback from veterans in terms of what strains have worked best for them to help reduce their ailments. At Helmand Valley Growers Company, we want to produce what works best for our veterans to help combat the symptoms of post-traumatic stress.
Warren Bobrow: Favorite childhood food memory? Current food passion?
Brian Buckley: My favorite childhood food memory would have to be watching high school football under the Friday night lights. For food? I love popcorn to a fault. I will take down a whole large bucket at the movies. When I make a bag of popcorn in the microwave, it is for me and me alone. Combined, I love watching football games while eating a bag of popcorn. Even when I go home, and I drive by the stadium on a game night, I can still smell that popcorn. My current food passion is cooking steak and chicken or whatever on a grill. Just find it to be relaxing. If you do it right, the food is incredible.
Warren Bobrow: What is your passion?
Brian Buckley: My passion is my family and the mission of proving the medicinal benefits of medical cannabis. I always try to keep a good work/life balance. Work hard all day, come home to the family, and spend quality time with the family. At night, prior to calling it a night, I think, “What have I done for a veteran today.” It is what drives me to keep going.
I’ve been a massive fan of Canndescent for several years now. Their rise to excellence creates a plateau for intellectual thought, and I’m positive that their flowers inspire others as they do for me. There is nothing that I know of that fills my mind as completely as Canndescent cannabis in regard to creativity. Sure, I have my favorite cannabis strains in every state, but that isn’t the whole story. Canndescent is consistently inspiring in my book. If only I could get Canndescent in New Jersey. Well, that’s another story for another day. I’m lucky to have been afforded the ability to taste excellence.
Of course, tasting excellence comes with a cost—the potency. Canndescent is not for the beginner cannabis aficionado. I am treading lightly here. Sure, you can afford it, but less is more in this respect. Canndescent.
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about the Art of Flower. What are you trying to achieve?
Photo: Canndescent
Jeff Homolya: “The Art of Flower” means that we see cannabis cultivation as an art form. We produce each cultivar with its own individual needs in mind—ensuring it reaches its greatest potential and that we maintain genetic purity. The meticulous care we put into each strain helps us produce amazing flower and allows us to capture what makes cannabis so special. Our goal is to produce the cleanest, highest-quality flower possible so our consumers can experience everything cannabis has to offer.
WB: How do you decide what strains to choose? Indoor or outdoor grown? Why?
JH: Through pheno-hunting, our team of experts selects strains from vetted nurseries. Each cultivar is test-grown in small batches to ensure it meets our rigorous potency, yield, and terpene standards.
Since Canndescent is an effects-based cannabis brand, we use the flower’s terpene profile, cannabinoids, and the results of inhouse sensory tests to place a strain into one of our five effect categories—CALM, CRUISE, CREATE, CONNECT, and CHARGE. Our goal is to simplify the selection process for consumers looking for a specific experience.
All Canndescent flower is grown in one of our four state-of-the-art indoor cultivation facilities in Desert Hot Springs, California. Growing indoors gives us more control, allowing us to curate the environment by stage and strain.
WB: What are your six- and twelve-month goals?
Photo: Canndescent
JH: In terms of short-term goals, we are always looking for ways to improve the quality of our flower. At our R&D center, we are also working to produce proprietary genetics.
Our long-term goal is to expand our product offerings in the market. Sustainability is also very important to us. We were one of the first companies to create a solar-powered cultivation center. We want to continue expanding on our conservation efforts and find ways to reduce our carbon footprint and energy consumption even more.
WB: What is your favorite cannabis strain right now? Why?
JH: CRUISE 239 is a new favorite of mine. The plant itself has an excellent structure, and the flower has great coloring and a rich chocolatey sweet aroma and flavor. Also, this hybrid is high in the terpene limonene, promoting mental euphoria and relaxing the body without causing couch lock.
WB: What is your passion?
Photo: Canndescent
JH: Cannabis cultivation is my passion, and it’s an honor and privilege to work so closely with mother nature every day. The reward is knowing that my efforts positively impact the lives of people who turn to cannabis. It doesn’t get much better than working with this incredible plant and helping people.
Warren Bobrow has been a dishwasher, the owner of the first company to make fresh pasta in South Carolina , a television engineer and he even worked at Danceteria in NYC, then a trained chef which led to a twenty year career in private banking. A cannabis, wine and travel aficionado, Warren is a former rum judge and craft spirits national brand ambassador. He works full time in the cannabis business as an alchemist/journalist. Cocktailwhisperer.com Drinkklaus.com Instagram: warrenbobrow http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Bobrow
I spent some time recently at the Hall of Flowers in Santa Rosa, California, and had the extreme pleasure of trying the GRAV Glass Joints at the source. Filled with mystical varieties of cannabis, the Glass Joints charmed me immediately. Easy to smoke and prefilled, the Glass Joints are “good to go” when a grinder is impractical and a bowl impossible to maneuver given the on the move nature of life. GRAV has done what others failed to do, make a product that is easy to use and truly recyclable. The glass just goes out with your glass. Easy and simple. I love the overall design of the GRAV glassware, and they work for me. The glassware makes smoking cannabis even more fun! I was lucky to ask Dave Daily, the founder of GRAV, five questions about his company and what cannabis represents to him. Enjoy.
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about yourself. Where are you from? When did you first smoke weed? Out of what?
Dave Daily: I’m proudly from Austin, Texas and part of the creative community keeping Austin (and the state) progressive.
Ha, honestly, that’s a hard one to pin down. My first cannabis experience was probably in my parent’s backyard on the deck, where we ran a little barbershop business for all the high school kids who wanted fades. Like everyone, I have some pretty incredible, memorable moments consuming cannabis. That’s how “the ritual of consumption” has become a key phrase said throughout the company. Coincidentally (or maybe not?), I made the first Gravitron on that deck nine years after that first time getting high. I’ll never forget testing it out with my folks, who continue to be GRAV’s (and my) biggest fans. That product was one I spent an enormous amount of time and energy bringing to life. That was a special moment back in ’04 that literally sparked something special: the beginning of GRAV.
WB: Please tell me about your company. What makes you different, therefore, better than your competitors.
DD: We don’t think about the industry in terms of competitors, GRAV recognizes creatives and artists in the glass blowing space. Our products have come to signify something special, which is how we’ve ended up with imaginative shapes, function, and features. There’s truly a product for everyone, and many of our pieces have been in production for over 15 years now. We currently sell over 300 products across all major categories of cannabis accessories, including bongs, rigs, dry pipes, vapes, grinders, and more.
WB: What are your six and twelve-month goals?
DD: Growth is huge for us at the moment, our business, and we’re currently available globally in 25 countries across six continents. From 2019 to 2020, GRAV sales grew over 30%, and we maintained an upward trajectory.
GRAV will always be rooted in Austin, and we’ve been expanding our team the past few months to keep up with projections. It’s a really cool time, and there’s great energy amongst our staff. We’ve had some incredible hires, including our VP of People and Impact, Madison Butler, and our VP of Marketing, Matt Rosenberg. We look forward to welcoming more into the GRAV family and expanding our circle.
WB: What is your favorite food to eat when stoned? Outdoor or indoor weed? From whom?
DD: I’m a burger guy, and I travel, so I can usually find a Shake Shack or In-N-Out.
Cure Company hybrids (indoor) smoked out of GRAV Glass Joints. No question.
WB’s Note on the GRAV Glass Joints: They remind me of Murano glass, that intrinsic quality- and they come pre-loaded (in California) with really amazing cannabis that got me really stoned on very little…
WB: What is your passion?
DD: This is it… I’m living it! Before GRAV, I was on a different career path, but instead of feeling excited, I wasn’t happy with my day-to-day work. I hit a point where I knew I needed to shake things up and go towards a creative path. While immersing myself within the Austin art community, I found this newfound sense of camaraderie and inspiration from my peers that was previously missing. It was this environment that birthed GRAV and this energy that we continue to keep alive in our Austin HQ today.
Warren Bobrow has been a dishwasher, the owner of the first company to make fresh pasta in South Carolina , a television engineer and he even worked at Danceteria in NYC, then a trained chef which led to a twenty year career in private banking. A cannabis, wine and travel aficionado, Warren is a former rum judge and craft spirits national brand ambassador. He works full time in the cannabis business as an alchemist/journalist. Cocktailwhisperer.com Drinkklaus.com Instagram: warrenbobrow http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Bobrow
I met Jimmy up in Boston a couple of years ago in the media lounge during MJ BizCon. He is very well known for cannabis. There was a certain buzz in the air and the long line of well-wishers greeted him as an old friend. He is well-liked.
My college degree is from Emerson, literally right down the street. I’m a film school graduate who did go on to work in television in NYC for a short time and I knew we had much we could talk about.
Cannabis included.
Jimmy had his microphone in hand, and he was interviewing cannabis luminaries from the area and around the world. He speaks with a knowing smile and people are naturally attracted to his comfort in the journalistic interview methodology. Being in front of a camera does that for you. It’s easier to talk to people when you know not to be afraid of speaking in public. Those of us who are trained in media get over that fear immediately- our teachers would have failed otherwise! Jimmy is a class act. I’m proud to know him.
Jimmy contacted me the other day and asked me if I would be interested in catching up with his current successes. Of course, being a person long accustomed to interviewing intriguing people in the cannabis industry I said yes. And when I let him know, I wanted to write this piece for Skunk Magazine? Let’s just let his Boston-tinged voice- via his words, speak for themselves.
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me who you are? Why cannabis? Where are you located in the world?
Jimmy Young: Maybe it was the Boston Tea Party where the rebel in me was born? (I’m starting my 65th year now, not 248 years old!)
Maybe it was the 12 championships among my favorite pro sports teams in the first 20 years of the 21st century?
Or maybe it was legalizing medical cannabis in 2013 in Massachusetts after 4 major surgeries on my arthritic athletic body, or the fact that I find out later in life I’m allergic to hops and can’t drink beer?
No matter how I spin it, I’ve been a regular partaker in the precious herb of cannabis for 38 years of my life with ten years off from 1990-2000 (a story for another day!).
Not quite sure if that gives you an idea of who I am since I don’t think after 25 years as an Emmy Award-winning talk show host, and full-time TV sportscaster, 35 years as a teacher and soccer coach, parent, and mentor to hundreds of young people in their broadcast careers, my life can be defined by my use of cannabis.
Do I like to party? Yes!
Do I preach responsible use of cannabis and alcohol, yes! I end every show with the same line, now trademarked, “It’s a whole new world of weed out there, use it responsibly.”
Do I freak about the fact that the most abused drug in our society is caffeine, and no one cares because 91% of Americans drink coffee every day! Yes!
WB:What kind of stigmas do you face in your field?
JY: As far as facing down the stigma, well that’s why I started Pro Cannabis Media in the first place! Back in 2018 I watched a CNBC TV network interview with a CEO of a Multi-State Operator, and I was so disgusted with the reporter’s preparation regarding their line of questions, I realized the industry needed a cannabis-friendly media outlet, and when Nick Gelso of CLNS Media, (a podcast aggregation network) urged me to attend the New England Cannabis Convention in Boston in March of 2018 to start a cannabis podcast, In The Weeds with Jimmy Young was born.
Now after over 250 episodes of that interview show on video and shared as an audio podcast, we continue to produce pro-cannabis media content by treating the people I meet with the same respect I treat all people.
I mean how many people on Earth have interviewed Pele’, Hank Aaron, Earvin Magic Johnson, Reverend Jesse Jackson. Been thrown in the Charles River by Bobby Orr, and partied with the late Brent Mydland and Bill Kreutzman of the Grateful Dead, Larry Miller, Carole Liefer, and Jerry Seinfeld?
Throw in interviews with the Last Prisoner Project’s Steve DeAngelo, the founder of Canopy Growth Bruce Linton, Mara Gordon of Aunt Zeldas and Weed The People, Curaleaf’s Vice-Chair Joe Lusardi, Nick Kovacevich from Kush Co, Max Simon of Green Flower, Chris Walsh from MJBiz, Jamie Pearson from Bhang Corporation, longtime incarcerated inmate Michael Thompson, and many others. You can understand why I feel so blessed, and am so proud that we now live stream our content 24-7 on our website procannabismedia.com and our ROKU and Apple + PCM TV channel. we also produce four original shows per week, and syndicating content from seven other producers!
Best of all, we are just beginning!
We already produce a weekly Weed Talk News show for release on Fridays at Noon with contributions from 7 other correspondents from coast to coast. Those reporters we call “Canna Casters” are a take on Cannabis Broadcasters. Our training webinars to be introduced in the Fall of 2021, will feature workshops on hosting your interview show, writing for the spoken word, public speaking basics and presentation skills, interview techniques, and how to tell a story with audio and video.
We produce a weekly live business of cannabis talk show on Fridays at 4 PM EST. It’s called The Green Rush Live and we are about to launch a series of “Grow” shows and educational webinars for people who want to become part of history reporting on the end of prohibition in the US (no matter how long it takes)!
Our talented staff has recently been joined by a former NBC Sports, CNN, FOX news, and Turner Sports anchor named Dave Briggs. Who courtesy of Hub Craft, has already interviewed NFL Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson (Megatron) and his teammate Rob Sims. As well as NBA Hall of Famers Paul Pierce and Gary Payton, Stanley Cup Champ, Darren McCarty, and Olympian Dr. Joanna Zieger for his Cannversation Show, and available on-demand on PCM TV’s channel on ROKU, YouTube, Apple+ platforms.
We also just launched a live 30 minute morning show at 8 AM EST with the Green Nurse Group of Nurse Mark Worster and Sherri Tutkus RN.
WB: Please tell me about your six and twelve-month goals? What is your favorite way to introduce your company to others?
JY: Over the next year, we are hoping to identify a visionary team of like-minded business people and self-starting producers, who understand that the consumer is in charge of their use of media and information, and we want to give them options to consume news, talk, and educational content about cannabis in different forms that fit the media platform they choose whether that’s traditional TV, radio, social media, or even text blogs or print.
When asked what Pro Cannabis Media is, we answer: We tell the stories of the cannabis industry in their own words. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the line, cannabis has saved my life, cannabis has changed my life. I do believe that God put this plant on Earth to bring people together, improve the wellness of people, and clean the environment with an acceptance of plant-based medicines, and industrial materials (hemp).
WB: What is your passion?
JY: I was a rebel as a child (and some might even say as an adult). I was fortunate to have two wonderful parents who raised me with a silver spoon offering privileges that I am grateful for but recognize how lucky I was and how fortunate.
Now I recognize what a mess my generation has made of our environment and judicial systems and the role that cannabis has played in a failed war on drugs that was driven by hatred and race. I feel so guilty that young people have to undo what my generation, and others before it, have created, but I will do everything I can to give a voice to those who are trying to make changes in the world to make it a better place so we all can live together in harmony and peace. The late Lenny Zakim (NE ADL Director, Richard Lapchick (Racial Conscience of Sports), and Mohammed Ali (The Greatest) all believed in one family of humanity where our diversity is our greatest strength. Now we have a chance to make an everlasting change if power and greed don’t get in the way.
As Bobby Kennedy used to say… “Some men see things as they are and ask why. I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?”
