Nothing says “summer” like picnics, barbecues and beach trips, all fueled by ice-cold beers and spiked seltzers.
However, alcohol is downright terrible for your health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, long-term effects of alcohol include high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, digestive problems, multiple kinds of cancer and mental health problems. A two-year pandemic hasn’t helped, either — one study shows that binge drinking has increased 21 percent since the onset of COVID-19.
Cannabis use is on the rise as well, with 38 states with medical marijuana programs and 18 states legalizing it recreationally. According to a 2019 report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 43.5 million people reported using cannabis.
Studies suggest that cannabis may carry less of a risk compared to alcohol. Some low-dose infused beverages even include magnesium, L-theanine and other functionals and terpenes for specific applications, like sleeping or working out.
“We’re learning that alcohol is toxic at lower doses than we realized, so even a drink a day is definitely worse than a 5-milligram edible for (the) liver and probably worse for brain shrinkage long-term,” says Mitch Earleywine, professor of psychology at the University at Albany, SUNY, and author of Understanding Marijuana.
Low-dose THC beverages are a crisp, cool, non-alcoholic alternative that help you avoid feeling like you’re the only one not drinking at the barbecue.
Go “low and slow,” says Austin Stevenson, chief innovation officer at Vertosa, a cannabis chemistry company which produces active ingredients for infused product makers like Artet, Cann and Wunder. “People will start between 2 and 5 milligrams, then they’ll want to graduate to 10 milligrams” — the single-serving limit of cannabis beverages.
These beverages come in multiple dosing levels — starting at 2 milligrams all the way to 10 milligrams — and resemble popular sippables like seltzers, beers and cocktails, minus the hangover.
The Best Cannabis Beverages of 2022
Klaus
The three varieties of cannabis-infused beverages, mixed by Warren Bobrow, are for classic cock- tail lovers with a penchant for cannabis. Each can packs 10 milligrams of THC and high-quality ingredients found in restaurants and hotels, like extra hot and spicy ginger syrup from Pickett Brothers.
What a pitch. How could I say no? I was and am stunned by the depth of this interview. It digs so deeply that my words are trite in reply. There is really nothing for me to say other than thank you for your service, sir.
Warren,
A true pleasure! We are thankful for your support, and I look forward to speaking with you.
As a new Veteran owned and operated cannabis brand with a non-profit, distribution network, and outdoor/light dep grow, we have developed an incredible mission plan to offer premium cannabis products to Veterans at a discounted price, and proceeds from every sale go directly towards our mission:
Our Mission:
“We support the use of medical cannabis to treat the symptoms of combat-related Post Traumatic Stress, PTSD, and other military service-connected disabilities.”
The use of medical cannabis is known to address profound symptoms of mental and physical health issues that are difficult to treat otherwise. There is currently an epidemic of opioid overdose and veteran suicide in America that we hope to prevent by easing pain and anguish with medical cannabis use.
Support Group
Access donated cannabis for local veterans and other veteran advocate groups
Discuss the medicinal uses of cannabis
Promote and support other veteran advocates
Resource Center
Help veterans file VA disability claims
Provide a list of other veteran advocacy groups
Help navigate VA benefits/services
Disseminate Information via Conference Calls
Educate
Cannabis use and methodology
Dosing and getting started
Talk about VA Mental/Health services
Networking
Create a Strong Veteran Coalition
Veterans doing business with Veterans
Veterans supporting Veterans
Veterans hiring Veterans
Job Placement
Help veterans find employment in the cannabis industry.
I have a personal story to share that led to joining Brothers Mark Cannabis (BMC). I first wrote and self-published my book in 2015 while trying to drink myself to death after coming home from war/s it was my therapy that blossomed into a small bio I felt was important to publish for several reasons…. ‘The Strains of War.’
The Strains of War: a True Story and Still Growing – Kindle edition by Amsler, R.Gage. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phone, or tablet. Use features like bookmarks, note taking, and highlighting while reading The Strains of War: a True Story and Still Growing: www.amazon.com
After 18 months of talks, Jeremy Freitas (Veteran owner of BMC and the Veterans Cannabis Group 501(c)(3)) and I have agreed to build this brand together, so I left my other professional career and my life, packed my things, and drove from Michigan to Cali.
I would not have taken this job if we could not produce excellent medicine. It is obvious with the products we are just now releasing through distribution how incredible this brand is already starting out. We pride ourselves on growing only premium flower and working with the finest extraction/production companies to deliver these products.
Letter w/menu to retailers:
MILITARY VETERAN BRAND
BROTHERS MARK CANNABIS IS A MILITARY VETERAN BRAND.
OUR FARM IN SONOMA COUNTY, ‘PATRIOT VALLEY FARMS’, IS WHERE WE GROW PREMIUM CANNABIS FOR THE BROTHERS MARK BRAND.
WHAT WE FOUND IN RETAIL STORES 10% – 20% OF YOUR PATIENTS ARE MILITARY VETERANS. IN FACT, MOST RETAILERS OFFER A VETERAN DISCOUNT AND HAVE IDENTIFIED THEM IN THEIR POS SYSTEM.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH MANY OF THE RETAILERS TO DO MARKETING EFFORTS IN REACHING OUT TO YOUR 10% – 20% VETERAN COMMUNITY. OUR BRAND OFFERS FLOWER, PRE-ROLLS, CONCENTRATE PRE-ROLLS, AND MORE
Please tell me about yourself. Where are you from? How did you discover the plant? When was the first time you discovered it? Where?
I grew up mostly in southern California but moved often. My father abandoned us when I was eight years old, and my mother married six more alcoholics after. While most kids were growing up and discovering the world and their purpose, I was just trying to survive in a severely abusive household. My PTSD started quite early. My mother abandoned me in my senior year in high school, so I dropped out to work. Through unfortunate events, I ended up homeless at 18yo in Orange County. My best option was the military, so I achieved my GED and went to the recruiting office. All four doors/branches in one location…whoever talked to me first was my calling, I had no idea where I wanted to go. I entered the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman in 1990. Kuwait was just gearing up, and the Marines needed combat field medics, so I went to the green side as an 8404 FMF Combat Field Medic with 1st Recon LAV, 1st Marine Division out of Camp Pendleton, San Diego. I went to support the Kuwait Liberation in 1991-2 for six months.
After my four years, I decided to move on with my GI Bill. I was accepted to the University of Michigan for a medical student program and moved there in 1994. After growing up mostly on the beach, then the military and war, I found out I could not stand to be indoors, so I quit that program and decided to become a paramedic in 1996. I advanced in trauma, cardiac, and pediatric emergency medicine. In 2000 I then became a professional Firefighter in Dearborn, Michigan (the largest Arabic population per capita outside of the Middle East) for the next five years. I was at Station #4 the morning of 9/11. I wanted to support our country again, but I could not go back into the military; this is when private contracting really took off like Blackwater, Triple Canopy, and SOC. A military buddy contacted me who was recruiting for these contracting companies. They are paying big money for medics with my type of military background. It took almost a year to the day, and I received my secret security clearance. I trained in Reston, VA, and became WPPS (World-Wide Private Professional Securities) certified by the Dept. of State. I dropped boots on the ground in Basra, Iraq October 2005.
I spent the next four years all over Iraq.
I decided to take a break and took some time at home. My PTSD was full throttle at this time. It was 2008-9, and Michigan had just gone legal for medicinal cannabis. A friend introduced me to growing and the possibilities of financial gain. I was intrigued by the holistic patient care side, and the idea of making a living doing this seemed like a great plan. I dove headfirst into everything cannabis. Read Jorge Cervantes’s Marijuana Bible three times, and I finally had that AHA moment! When you realize the absolute truth about this plant, the government’s sick intentions and the abuse of so many were gut-wrenching. Changed my entire perspective…… and my life. I obtained a caregiver license and began growing medicine I believed would support my patients’ symptoms. It went well for a little while; unfortunately, it was not enough, and there were many learning curves. So, I ended up going back, but to Afghanistan this time in 2010.
I was handpicked for a 4-man SpecOps Team to directly support security operations for USACE (Army Corps of Engineers) as we were tasked to build small FOBs (Forward Operating Bases) along the mouth of the Taliban Trail near the border of Pakistan in the Paktika Province. Including other extreme operations, we were tasked with, I did this for another four years.
In the second week of November 2013, we were in search of a new area for building a new FOB. We were a bit off grid and accidentally came across the plants growing almost out of rock at 8000′ with a little bit of snow coverage on the ground. With the cannabis knowledge I had and the medic in me, I had some sort of epiphany on top of that Kush mountain. Some of the plants were dropping seeds, so I grabbed what I could.
Over the course of the next year, I made the realization these seeds were worth risking my life for. I found a way to bring them home. It was a harrowing experience I did not put in my book. In 2015 I began researching these genetics and started phenohunting. My complex PTSD was on a different level, and it was a bad time in my life, locking myself away on thirty-four acres and pushing everyone away in my life. I began to drink myself almost to death. At this same time, as I was also growing, I began to write my story, first, just for therapy. As I continued to write, I realized maybe this story was worth telling others, maybe to help them in some way through my pain and suffering. Since I was only growing and could not use cannabis if I wanted to visit my local VA due to my mental health, I was drinking… heavily. In fact, at one time, I tried to drink myself to death until I began bleeding from my eyes, and I woke the fuck up. Moving forward, I began to mix other favorite strains with my Afghani, and I started MERAKII Genetics. Giving away the medicine I grew to Veterans and others with mental health concerns was also therapy for me.
Almost eight years later and California calls me back.
I contacted Aaron Augustus with the Veterans Cannabis Group when I found out about the wonderful resources they were offering for Veterans. I was then introduced to Jeremy Freitas, and their BROTHERS MARK CANNABIS brand. After much discussion, I made a visit to the farm to see for myself what this brand has to offer. Absolutely incredible medicine sun grown/light-dep flower from the terroir of Sonoma!!
Toda I have left my career and my family (for now) to live on the farm in Sonoma County as the Director of Sales and Marketing & Brand Ambassador for BROTHERS MARK to help build an owned and operated Veteran cannabis brand with a 501c3 that is a beacon for all Veterans to find support with.
Please tell me about your company, what do you do? What makes your work different? What are your six and twelve-month goals?
The Brothers Mark team believes in safe access to medicinal cannabis to all those who seek it. We aim to provide clean, quality, and affordable products to our military veterans and those who support them. Today the scientific community is finding that cannabis has many medicinal properties, and that’s how we view it as a medicine.
We support the use of medical cannabis to treat the symptoms of combat-related Post Traumatic Stress, PTSD, and other military service-connected disabilities.
The use of medical cannabis is known to address profound symptoms of mental and physical health issues that are difficult to treat otherwise. There is currently an epidemic of opioid overdose and veteran suicide in America that we hope to prevent by easing pain and anguish with medical cannabis use.
The Veterans Cannabis Group offers:
Support Group
Access donated cannabis for local veterans and other veteran advocate groups
Discuss the medicinal uses of cannabis
Promote and support other veteran advocates
Resource Center
Help veterans file VA disability claims
Provide a list of other veteran advocacy groups
Help navigate VA benefits/services
Disseminate Information via Conference Calls
Educate
Cannabis use and methodology
Dosing and getting started
Talk about VA Mental/Health services
Networking
Create a Strong Veteran Coalition
Veterans doing business with Veterans
Veterans supporting Veterans
Veterans hiring Veterans
Job Placement
Help veterans find employment in the cannabis industry
What kind of obstacles do you face? How do you anticipate removing them? Who is your mentor? What are you smoking right now that is just brilliant?
As a newer brand in the great “green brand rush” there is of course, competition from all angles to be recognized and accepted as a brand you can trust that will consistently bring premium medicine to the market. Currently, we have a fully legal 172-acre farm offering full-sun and light-deprivation cannabis along with two greenhouses. We procure the finest northern California genetics that offers, in our research and opinions, incredible opportunities for those with PTSD and related conditions. The continuing drought has a lot of farms desperate for water, and many may fall victim, including to other issues like over regulations and taxes. We have been lucky to have the knowledge, dedication, and support to make this brand sustainable. We just tapped a well on our tallest hill that shows incredible return, so we will be in Cloverdale for a while as we develop this brand and grow incredible flower. The best way to remove obstacles to building this brand is to network, and let everyone know who we are and that we bring the same integrity, passion, and dedication to this medicine and brand as we did in the military and our previous successful careers. I have been introducing myself all over NorCal, and as the events begin this year, we will find many opportunities to find Veterans and others who could benefit from our flower and products. We have wonderful distribution for the entire state, and so far, Brothers Mark is in many retail stores already.
Who is my mentor? Anyone who shares the same passion (or more) than I do about this plant certainly has the knowledge and a perspective I am always curious about. I would say my mentors are those who have always viewed this plant as medicine and non-harmful and have fought the law in some way or another to use or provide this to others. The laws on this plant are unnatural, and natural law is my first law. The underground breeders that have developed so many of these amazing strains.
If I had to name a few; Jack Herer, Mila Jansen, Dennis Peron, Cheech & Chong, Willie Nelson, Steve DeAngelo, Terrence McKenna, Jorge Cervantes, Al Byrne, Mary-Lynn Mather, Nurse Heather, the list of canna-warriors goes on like this.
What am I smoking now that I am loving? There are a few, and of course, it looks like I am biased, but I am truly loving Brothers Mark Apricot Papaya for my daytime smoke. (Papaya x Green Crack x Papaya) is a very uplifting and creative smoke that offers a real focus. Another daytime is Gold Seals ‘Congolese’ cultivar. It’s a 13-week sativa that offers incredible energy and focus, and the taste is absolutely unique. While in LA recently, I picked up some Apples & Bananas by Blaze Mota, a beautiful hybrid and absolutely craft flower. I am really liking this for later in the day.
Right now, we are harvesting the second run of my own hybrid I have developed from my Afghani genetics…. Trigger Hippie Hindu Kush. Over the last 7 years, I have developed several hybrids with my Afghani, and this one pheno has proven herself. This cultivar offers me the perfect daytime smoke that gives me true energy, no jitters, and attention to detail as I enjoy laser-sharp focus on whatever I am doing, then relaxes me without knocking me out. I am very proud of this and am working to release this soon.
What kind of food do you enjoy? Favorite restaurant? Do you cook? Is there anything that you go to when you’re imbibing cannabis?
I went plant-based about three years ago, so I find the most enjoyment in a veggie pizza or Mediterranean food; all that garlic and hummus is my favorite!
I love to cook. In fact, I learned to be a pretty decent cook when I was in the fire department. It was not easy at first, cooking for a bunch of demanding, judgmental guys, but I learned fast. I then learned to enjoy cooking and have always ever since. In fact, I do 90% of the cooking in my house. When I am stoned, I go for anything I can eat with my hands I don’t have to cook. Old pizza, trail mix, ice cream cone, and of course, anything chocolate.
What is your passion?
What inspires me? After so many years learning about myself and what drives me, I have found that I truly love and support Mother Nature and the Earth that offers us everything we could ever need. As a bridge or ambassador of some sort to connect people to what Mother Nature has provided to a better life through health and wellness is an honor and a path. I have found myself continuously on from a Recon medic, paramedic, firefighter, security, and now breeder and grower of natural medicine. My passion IS this journey.
Ah, Palm Springs. A desert oasis filled with snowbirds, golf fanatics, and weekend warriors alike all yearning to enjoy the abundant sunshine and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
It’s also the home of Hall of Flowers’ Southern California trade show, a two-day cannabis extravaganza featuring a bevy of brands, ancillary providers, and a plethora of product samples meant to intrigue and impress the retail buyers, journalists, and influencers in attendance. While considered by some to be aggressively boujee (standard industry tickets will set you back close to a bill), the B2B expo still attracts a good blend of old-school fam interspersed with the typical corporate Chads often seen flexing.
I stepped off the plane at the Palm Springs International Airport and was immediately struck by the not-quite-oppressive heat, the airline gate opening to a courtyard filled with lush fountains and swaying palm trees.
It wasn’t long before another familiar heat entered my nostrils.
The irresistible aroma of cannabis wafted past almost immediately upon arrival, refreshing and light like the desert breeze that provides occasional respite from the sun’s power.
I knew then and there that it was going to be a great week.
Summer Camp at the Saguaro
I rode to the Saguaro Hotel, the chic and eclectic boutique property known for its retro vibes and lassez-faire attitude. Stepping into the foyer, I was immediately greeted by David Tran, co-founder of Farechild Events, and unofficial host of the week’s after-hours festivities.
David was overseeing the transformation of the Saguaro for the following evening’s High on Life soiree, a Hall of Flowers after-party that would see the entire property taken over by the cannabis industry elite. He ran over, offering a giant hug and a warm welcome as we approached the check-in counter.
“It’s awesome to see everyone arriving,” he beamed. “This is like cannabis summer camp!”
We soon parted ways, as I needed to change into more weather-appropriate attire and he had plenty of work to do preparing for the event. I also needed to connect with Warren Bobrow, master mixologist, former cannabis writer at Forbes and the creator of the tasty Klaus cannabis-infused beverage.
Warren and I had been communicating via social media and wanted to be sure to meet up for a sesh at Hall of Flowers, having missed each other at the previous show in December. I also wanted an introduction to his companion and brand namesake Klaus, a fantastically friendly gnome with a penchant for good pot.
Right from the jump, Warren and Klaus offered humble and gracious energy, presenting two Talking Trees pre-rolls. The serendipity was almost unreal, as I just happened to be wearing the brand’s hat that day. My mind was blown by the coincidence, and we were quickly chatting and smoking as if we all had been friends for decades.
Compound Genetics Shows Up Big
After a delicious dinner of tacos in the hotel’s on-site restaurant, I stepped outside for another joint. Soon after, a man in a Team Elite Genetics shirt walked by.
It turned out to be award-winning brand’s founder, Steve Castillo. I excitedly told him the brand’s Pearadise sativa-dominant flower was among my favorites from the last HOF. He reached into his bag and gifted me with his demo jar, a truly high honor (no pun intended).
Still riding high (again, no pun intended) from Steve’s kindness, I rolled over to Curator’s Connect, a gathering presented by Compound Genetics, We Grow, and Cltvd Genetics. As speakers debated in the main room, guests were treated to tours of Compound’s finest flowers.
In the backroom, the results of the company’s recent pheno hunt were on full display. A group of certified Ganjiers (think sommeliers for weed) walked captivated spectators through the unique terpene profiles of each cultivar, encouraging us to smell the jars and truly absorb the rich aromas of the bud.
Nearly overwhelmed by the sheer amount of amazing pot in front of me, I decided to pick up the jar of Pineapple Faanta. I took a whiff, instantly taken aback by the fragrant, tropical essence.
As I stuck my nose deeper, one of the Ganjiers instructed me to open my mouth. He said by doing so, I would get a more accurate representation of the terps, mimicking a dry hit off a freshly rolled joint. The difference in experience was indeed noticeable, and I shared my newfound knowledge with anyone who would listen over the course of the next couple of days.
It was almost impossible to choose a favorite from Compound’s pheno hunt, but I ended up grabbing a few nugs of the Pineapple Faanta, as well as Rainbow Cheddar (I have always been a huge Cheese fan), and Red Bullz — a White Runtz x Grape Gas cross that Compound was particularly thrilled about.
All three strains were remarkable in their own right, but the Rainbow Cheddar truly stood out. Funky yet sweet, the bud offered a heady yet balanced high perfect for any occasion.
Back at the Saguaro, I bumped into Boveda Norcal sales rep Ryan Harner, who had brought with him some of his homegrown Canna Country #26. The iconic ocimene-heavy strain is one for the ages, and after sharing a joint with Ryan and some vacationers from New Zealand, it was time to rest up for the main event.
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.
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.
As a New Jersey medical cannabis program patient, I can tell you that low THC cannabis is what my particular affliction requires. But good luck going into a dispensary and asking for strains that test lower than 10 or 12 percent THC. The consensus is pretty clear. The chasing of (high) THC levels is something that is not going away. You’re going to get blank stares, or worse, should you ask the budtender for anything that actually alleviates your ills. With the marketing behind cannabis driving up THC levels, it’s truly refreshing to find people like Joshua Steensland, who studies low THC level cannabis
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me where you’re from and where you live now? What do you do? Please tell me about your company.
Joshua Steensland: I was born in Northern California and grew up in SE Washington state. After serving in the Marines and going through
Photo Credit: Steve Raisner
my roaming gypsy phase, I set roots back in the area I grew up to raise my family. I currently work with our family business, Regenerative Ecoworks LLC, to help cannabis cultivators develop living soil cultivation systems around the world. I also own and operate a premium living soil, low THC, flower facility with two of my Marine veteran brothers, Ohio Fire Factory. The barrier to entry in the high THC space in Ohio is steep and nearly impenetrable in its current state. We decided to leverage the emerging low THC flower market and build out an indoor facility to the same spec one would build a high THC facility with the intention of switching to high THC as soon as the state will allow or recreational gets voted in. Our flower is cold cured, hand-trimmed, and grown in living soil beds under LED lights. Our attention to detail and commitment to treating the flower with the same care and consideration one would with high-value THC flower produces a quality not seen very often in the smokeable hemp flower game. We actually don’t really like calling it hemp because of the negative associations of hemp flower being low quality. Our product is indistinguishable from top shelf, high THC flower. We prefer to call it what it is; ultra-premium, low THC, cannabis.
WB: What obstacles do you face? How do you anticipate removing them? What are your six and twelve-month goals?
JS: These are great questions! I’ve really found over the years, nearly all of the obstacles to my success have been self-imposed in some way. What I mean by that is in the past, I wasn’t open to the deep self-analysis that is necessary to make course corrections on the fly and be a more effective communicator.
Balancing being self-critical with giving myself grace and allowing for forgiveness when I’ve been a less than an effective communicator. Yes, it still happens. This has been a critical thought exercise that helps me retain my sanity when the juggle starts to feel chaotic or if things start to feel unstable. It gives me the time to analyze objectively and not make important decisions based on emotions only which tend to be a very temporary and limiting headspace.
Photo Credit: Joshua Steensland
In 6 months, I would like to see Ohio Fire Factory’s three-phase build-out complete, and in a years’ time, I would like to see our product changing the low THC flower game nationwide while inspiring veterans and cultivators alike to cultivate with living soil systems.
WB: Who is your mentor? Who taught you your craft?
JS: I have several mentors, and they are, either directly or indirectly, my teachers also.
Firstly, Masanobu Fukuoka. He is the author of “The one-straw revolution .”His book really opened my eyes to the possibility of simplifying farming and cultivation by paying attention to the forces of nature and learning to work with mother nature’s design as opposed to against it and hammering it to our will. It’s a very easy and inspiring read. His story of how he transformed his property is nothing short of amazing.
I need to include Dr. Elaine Ingham in this list. Her decades of work studying the important role biology plays in plant growth, and nutrient cycling deserves more attention than it receives. Her body of work, “Foundation Course” classes and microscopy training were fundamental in helping me connect the dots as to what I was observing in my living soil cultivation journey and strengthened my resolve when it comes to my Fukuoka style of minimal input, hands-off cultivation.
I think some honorable mentions would be Rudolf Steiner, John Kempf, Dr. Tom Dykstra, and Dr. Arden Andersen. I highly suggest checking out the body of work these gentlemen have produced regarding regenerative cultivation practices and finding ways to incorporate them into your systems.
WB: What is your favorite food? Restaurant? Why?
JS: Favorite food!!! That’s a tough one. We love food in our house. My daughter and I actually have spent hours watching street food videos
Photo Credit: Joshua Steensland
and already have our dream Japanese street food vacation planned! We don’t eat at many restaurants because we like to cook and prepare food at home as much as possible. We try to eat healthy, vibrant, and nutritionally dense foods but recognize the need for flexibility and balance and enjoy a slice of cake or cookies from time to time, probably a little more than we should, but what’s life if you aren’t living it right?! My absolute favorite foods are any authentic Mexican food or a pan-seared rib eye, bloody rare, with sweet potatoes and broccoli. Pretty simple guy to please here.
WB: What is your passion?
JS: My passions are pretty simple. Family. Cannabis and simple living. The real joy has been finding a way to put all of those things together and create revenue streams that put a roof over our head, food on the table, and explore and deepen my relationship with cultivation in general. This also affords my wife the ability to explore her passions and set the example to our children that one can quite literally forage their own path in this world if you lead with integrity and courage.
Veritas Fine Cannabis in Colorado has kept itself ahead of the rest of the industry with quality products, innovative branding, and promotions.
No, the company is breaking away from the rest of the pack by appointing environmental health and safety manager, Elizabeth Lee, to spearhead their sustainability efforts. Along with her degree in environmental studies, Ms. Lee was recognized as the woman for the job after internal meetings revealed her deep interest in sustainable practices.
DENVER—Oct. 26, 2021 —Veritas Fine Cannabis, Colorado’s original craft cannabis, today announced the company’s new position of Environmental Health and Safety Manager, promoting packaging lead Elizabeth Lee into the key role. The position will oversee company initiatives to advance sustainability, including energy conservation and packaging, two notorious problem areas for the global cannabis industry.
“Veritas has championed sustainability since inception and we are very eager to leverage this new role and Elizabeth’s background to elevate this commitment to new proportions,” said Mike Leibowitz, CEO of Veritas Fine Cannabis. “We started ‘Veritas Talks’ last summer, where employees have a platform to spark conversations about how we can progress as a company. Through this, Elizabeth shared several ideas we implemented and immediately felt an impact, so much so that it flourished into this new position.”
“Sustainability is something I’ve always found passion in, along with working in cannabis,” said Elizabeth Lee, Environmental Health & Safety Manager at Veritas Fine Cannabis. “Having the opportunity to help Veritas be at the forefront of sustainability in the cannabis industry is a dream for me.”
Ms. Lee holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from American University and is approaching the final year of her master’s degree in the Environmental Health & Safety program at the University of Denver. In addition to spearheading sustainability initiatives, Elizabeth will oversee Veritas’ environmental health and safety program.
About Veritas Fine Cannabis
Quality, consistency, honesty, and preserving the unique terpene profile of each strain—these are the guiding principles that set Veritas Fine Cannabis apart as one of America’s first premium cannabis wholesalers. Named after the Roman goddess of truth, Veritas is more than a cultivator; it is a curator of the cannabis experience. From first cuts through harvest and packaging, the Veritas team does everything by hand to optimize the full expression of a strain’s terpenes that yield singular effects. The company continually adds to its library of hundreds of proprietary genetics and catalogs each cultivar by terpene profile so consumers can find the perfect Veritas product to fit their individual needs. With buzzworthy strain drops each month, Veritas leads the market in connoisseur cannabis. For more information, visit veritascannabis.com.
I had the opportunity to dig a little bit deeper into Veritas Fine Cannabis and it made me appreciate their website even more. This is a brand that resonates with nerds like me!
Cheers! WB
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about yourself? Why Cannabis? What brought you to the plant?
Elizabeth Lee: I am originally from Minnesota and lived there my whole life until I went to college. I took the big leap and moved out East to attend college at American University in Washington D.C. I have a Bachelor of Arts in environmental studies and a minor in sustainability. After graduating, I decided to move to Colorado without even visiting, and it was the best decision for me. I knew with my degree I could find a job I’m passionate about and decided to look into the cannabis industry. I saw that growing the plant was energy and water-intensive and required copious amounts of packaging. With no federal regulation and influence, I felt the cannabis industry had the opportunity to be at the forefront of environmental sustainability. And once I started working in a cultivation and packaging facility, I saw the hazards workers are exposed to, and it made me think a lot about the health and safety side of cannabis. In June of 2020, I decided to pursue my Masters at Denver University in Environmental Health and Safety. I am set to graduate in June 2022.
Warren Bobrow: Indoor or outdoor grown? Why? Organics? Biodynamics? Favorite strain? Grown by whom?
Elizabeth Lee: As a home grower, I prefer to grow outside. Why not take advantage of the Colorado sun! My favorite Veritas strain is Tropicana Cookies. I love the pungent citrus smell and taste that comes from it.
Warren Bobrow: What are your six and twelve-month goals?
Elizabeth Lee: A sixth-month goal of mine is to execute a company-wide safety policy. We want to implement new employee safety training and quarterly training thereafter to ensure every employee feels safe and confident doing their job. OSHA has not set standards specified to cannabis yet, but there will be a time when that happens, and Veritas wants to be at the forefront.
As a twelve-month goal, we want to reduce our reliance on new packaging and find a solution to sanitize and reuse our cannabis jars. Package waste is a serious issue, and we need to divert waste from landfills. Since we already use glass jars, the opportunity to sanitize and reuse them would divert many of these jars from even making it as far as the recycling bin.
Warren Bobrow: Favorite food when stoned? Favorite food memory from childhood? Do you cook? Who taught you?
Elizabeth Lee: I would say my favorite foods to eat when stoned are desserts. I really love watching “The Great British Baking Show” and have now taken a liking to gourmet desserts. Tarts, mousses, cakes. The show gives me a lot of inspiration to expand my baking skills, as well! I also really enjoy cooking. My great-grandma Kate used to cook and bake such amazing things when I was younger—so good that we had a recipe book created before she passed away. I still cook her recipes to this day. Some of my favorites are tater tot hotdish and her famous waffle cookies. I also love finding food accounts on Instagram and making their recipes.
Warren Bobrow: What is your passion?
Elizabeth Lee: I am passionate about living a life that considers the health of people and our planet. I’ve always enjoyed making changes that better my life and the overall environment. I think we forget that we all have an opportunity to ignite change and one person can have a great influence on others.
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.
