Tag: warrenbobrow

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5 Questions Articles Skunk Magazine

Fourteen Counties Temple Ball Magic in Massachusetts

Let’s talk about luck for a moment. Having just returned from Las Cruces, New Mexico, where I tasted for the first time an outdoor grown in the high desert (with love and abundant sunshine) cannabis from this magical place. The location was the most marvelous dispensary named Royal Road, filled with spirits. Some known, and others hovering outside, waiting patiently to be dispersed in the small packages of outdoor-grown cannabis. Had I had more time, I would have dug deeper into this mysterious plant that arrives in dispensaries in many formats, from edibles that take time to assimilate to beverages and flowers. Hash is in there too, I’m sure of it; everything was so thoughtfully chosen. I just didn’t ask the right questions. Next time, I’ll try to do better.

This conversation about terroir and the classics leads me to a trip to an island off the coast of Massachusetts. In this cast-away place, surrounded by the churning seas, the dream of creating temple ball hash made its way to my inland empire, and what delicious hash this is. The artisan crafts enlighten the traditionalist, something that I consider myself. Mostly because I wasn’t just born, and the first time I tried “temple ball” hash in the form of a small brick was in the Ivory Coast in Africa in 1976. Hey, you asked; I was about twelve. The guards of the place we were staying smoked this tobacco and hashish stew in large chalices. Was it ceremonial? I probably was because the sharp stone-tipped spears they carried weren’t for show. They got pretty high on hash, as did my young self. Something wild that remains with me in spirit to this day.

When I investigated Fourteen Counties @fourteencounties on Instagram, they had the usual dabbing stuff. The bubble hash and some truly gorgeous live rosin, but no offense to them; I’m not a dabber. The scents of the plant certainly are beguiling in this format, but I don’t understand the ritual. I need to learn someday, but for all intents and purposes, I love the classic temple ball hash. And that’s what I love to describe. Although I believe hash should be aged, this had all the stuffing. I felt like having a dream from many years gone.

cannabis world news interviews Hashish Block and ball

There was something that caught my admiring gaze. That was the Fourteen Counties Hash, real temple ball hash, inspired by Frenchy. Need I say more? Probably not if you know, and if you don’t, I implore you to set aside your dab rig. Search for a hash cloche. Made of glass with a little glass tip that comes out. Inside, you’ll find a small chunk of wood with a thin nail protruding into the glass bell-shaped contraption. Remove with your fingers a nice chunk of the temple ball hash. Roll it around in your palm, smell the aromatics, and tap into the soul of the flower, the plant in all her glory. Form a little ball in your palm and pierce it on the nail. Light it until it glows, blow out any flame, and replace the glass lid. When it fills up with smoke, pull open the top opening and inhale the delicious aromatics.

What you experience is very personal. Hash feels like the embrace of an Angora wool blanket to me. I love the sleep it offers at the end of the day. I’m charmed to know that Fourteen Counties is making the stuff of my dreams. Thank you for being patient. I’ve been traveling, mostly in my mind.

Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about yourself. What was your path to the plant? Where are you from? Where do you live now? When I met you, we were at Martha’s Vineyard. Your roots are deep there- want to tell us about it? When did you first try cannabis? How old? With whom? (A lot to cover, I know, but I like to get a feeling to the readers about who YOU are….)

Ian Mattson: Taking a debate class in high school where I had to debate being pro-medical marijuana. The research and effort behind that experience fueled a lot of interest and background I was unaware of beforehand. I was born in Santa Cruz, CA, and lived in Oakham MA, as well as Martha’s Vineyard. I currently live in Oakham/Barre, in Central MA. I spent summers on the Vineyard throughout my childhood. My grandfather, Alvin Seymour Lane, was stationed there in the Navy as a lieutenant and ended up building a home. Because of this, my family has deep ties to the Vineyard through my grandfather. He has a hospital wing named after him there. The Vineyard did and still does play a big role in my life since my family still lives there, and I visit often. I was only 13 years old with friends at the time and ended up doing it because everyone else was. Overall, it was a negative first experience, but the outlook improved later with the debate and research at school.

cannabis world news interviews containers of dabs

WB: What are you working on right now? Why hash? Who is your inspiration? Why? What style of hash is your favorite? Do you smoke flower too? Any particular strains? Growers you want to give props to.

IM: Right now, I am focusing on expanding the 14 Counties’ solventless concentrates to bring clean, high-quality hand-washed hash and live rosin to the Massachusetts market. After being unimpressed and uninspired by rosin on the market, I used my inspiration from Frenchy Cannoli and my passion for hash to focus on creating top-quality solventless concentrates for consumers in Massachusetts. The holistic benefits of hash as a medicine, with its’ terpene content and powerful expression of the entourage effect, make it a stand-out in terms of concentrates. It really focuses on being clean and high-quality throughout the process. Yes, but mostly smoke live rosin and consume full-spectrum edibles because of the holistic benefits associated with them.

Fresh Connection is a highly respected indoor cultivator fueled by passion and a deep background in cannabis. Fresh Connection has continued to provide us with top-tier flower ground-break collaborations (like our traditional hash) and a solid friend in the community.

Picnic is an exceptional small-batch indoor/outdoor cultivator focused on growing intended for hash production. Our continued partnership with Picnic has allowed us not only to bring in amazing flower but collaborate back and forth on results from seed to jar.

Live rosin. It is the best expression of quality from input-output & overall process.

cannabis world news chunk of hashish

WB: What are your six and twelve-month goals? What obstacles do you face? How do you anticipate removing them? Do you have a mentor? If so, who?

IM: Frenchy Cannoli. His ethos is inspirational. His passion for hash, from the genetics of the plant to growing it to the best processing methods possible, his dedication to every part of the process, and the education he has provided have been inspiring and motivating forces.

To bring exceptional rosin to the MA that is not only high-quality but also explores more strains grown locally to better fit the MA market.

Sticking with Fourteen Counties in creating the best non-solvent concentrates I can while consistently improving and introducing new products to the community.

Start pressing hash in personal amounts for my own endeavors and research and development of new techniques.

Cannabis regulations are a huge obstacle. Our regulations do not operate the same way other retail markets do. Heavy restrictions on packaging and in-store rules make finding product details difficult before purchase. During purchase, daily limits (unseen in alcohol) and high tax rates make the experience price-focused instead of product-focused. Then, after purchase, there are almost zero return protections if there are issues.

I am mostly self-taught through YouTube and online sources. However, some people in the traditional market have provided help in the past.

Currently, Good Will Hunting at Blue River Terps is an excellent collaborator/mentor type, pointing me in the right direction for refining my process.

WB: What does hash do that smoking (plain) cannabis doesn’t do? Is it more spiritual for you? Does it unlock your brain differently?

IM: Hash has more of a medicinal benefit for me due to how it plays into the entourage effect. The higher potency (terpenes and THC%) brings a more intense experience.

Because of the more intense combined effects and the potency of hash, it can be influential spiritually. However, the focus for me is medicinal.
It provides a strong version of the intended effects, so better pain management, focus, etc.

WB: What is your passion?

IM: Hash is truly my passion! I live, breathe, and literally eat hash. I don’t have a direct place where I can say where my passion comes from, but I’d like to think my Lebanese background has a heavy influence.

Marvelous! WB

Follow online: https://fourteencounties.com/

Photo credits: Nico La Guerre-Mercury 
Packaging design by Dan McGregor

Fourteen Counties Temple Ball Magic in Massachusetts
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Uncategorized

Clean Buzz Technologies: A Clean Bowl Is Possible

While attending the Revelry Buyers Club Event in Hudson a couple months ago, I stumbled upon a very interesting pipe. Inside the carefully polished aluminum shell there appeared to be a thimble shaped insert containing ceramic balls. These balls as it turn out form the basis of the pipe… A very unique one that has a “limited” life span. What does that mean? It means that you change out the bowl every fifteen or do uses to remove all the tar. Again, what does it do? The interior of the bowl, shielded by a screen, contains tiny ceramic balls. They trap the tar and let the terpenes draw through. Would you drink wine out of a dirty glass, or rum? Or anything for that matter? And what about your usual pipe or joint? What filters out that gunk that collects on the front of your teeth? Nothing!

Until this pipe found a path to my hands. And my teeth.. and my lungs.

What an invention! The Clean Buzz Pipe has my vote!

And if you reorder, there is a nice discount. After a couple times, the pipe is virtually free!

I love it!

cannabis world news interviews image of red metal cannabis pipe

Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about yourself. Where are you from? Now?

Mark McWilliams: I grew up in New Hampshire skiing on “boiler plate”, and after high school, went to Northeastern University and MIT to study Mechanical Engineering and entrepreneurship. I worked in aerospace for a decade in San Diego and worked on some very cool defense technologies that became mainstream in the late ‘90’s and early 2000’s. Then I found an opportunity to co/found a medical device design firm, followed by three more medical device companies pursuing different products and technologies. Two doubles, a base hit and a strike-out.

WB: What brought you to the cannabis industry?

MM:  Knee pain. I began with the treatments available in the ‘90’s and then started taking Vioxx until the COX2 inhibitors were implicated in organ complications and had to stop taking them. What was the remaining option? Opioid’s?? No way.

Those were the early days of medical marijuana, and I thought it was a regulatory gimmick at first, but after I tried it and my pain became much more manageable, I became a believer. That said, I could feel the tar in my lungs and did not like it at all. I tried a bong but that did nothing to remove the tar. The last straw for me was cleaning the pipe which clogged quickly and required frequent cleaning. What a nasty mess! Then vaping came along and I got very excited about that development but soon was disappointed because it lacked the potency I needed for my pain.

Those experiences got me thinking about the problem/opportunity of removing tar from the flower smoke but allowing the desirable terpenes, where flavor and medicinal components are, to pass through to the user without potency degradation.

Filters using various media present an obvious option for tar removal, but they also remove terpenes from the smoke stream, so that technology as a class would not work well in a medicinal use-case were it is desired to selectively trap tars and pass terpenes. Moreover, filters are placed after the combustion chamber and so do not prevent the pipe from getting covered with tar up to the filter, so you’re still cleaning a nasty pipe.

A new technology approach was required and frankly, that took some time to figure out. When the solution came into mind after a couple years of noodling, it seemed obvious, so I had a hunch I was onto something. A few prototypes later, the concept was proven, and an entirely new smoking technology was invented where tar is trapped in a small disposable liner and terpenes pass right through, and pipe cleaning became as simple as popping out a used bowl liner and putting a new liner in place.

WB: Tell me about your company? What do you do that makes you better than your competition?

MM: CleanBuzz is the only flower smoking technology I’m aware of that removes tar from flower smoke and passes desirable terpenes, while also keeping your pipe or bong clean. Clean lungs and clean pipe or bong. Once I had a viable solution, I formed the company to begin test marketing the product and prove the technology met user needs as it had mine.

WB: Why Cannabis? Is this your first foray with the plant? Who designed your marvelous pipe? What about the bowl makes it special? How did you think of this?

MM: I think my long-winded answer above, answers these questions? What makes it special (actually work to remove tar but pass terpenes) is the configuration of the liner in the bowl, the chamber under the screen and the small beads in that chamber. The beads are well separated from each other, so do not act as a filter of the smoke. Instead, the hot smoke passes over the beads which have lots of pores that create an enormous surface area and the tar condenses on the surface but the terpenes remain in the smoke and pass through to the user. Very simple but very effective. It is the differential condensation of the smoke constituents on the beads that does the separation, not a filtration process. This is why you get full potency of the flower, but no tar.

WB: Does your disposable bowl work with temple ball hash?

MM: I don’t know why it would not work for any smoke producing material that has not been rendered in some way.

WB: Do you recommend grinding the flower first before using the bowl?

MM: Yes. I put one gram of ground flower through each liner and collect 200-250mg of tar in each one. Too small of a grind will clog the screen though.

WB: What are your six and twelve month goals?

MM: Break even?

WB: What is your passion?

MM: OMG: passions
Skiing. I skied every season for 55 years until my knees got so bad I couldn’t. One knee replacement done and one to go, then I’ll get out again.

Entrepreneurship: I’ve co-founded 4 companies and invested in and helped over a dozen entrepreneurs advance their technology or product to market. It’s very rewarding to see these products impact lives in positive ways.

Trail Riding: I love the outdoors in SoCal and now that ebikes have become prevalent I can get out to most of the places I want. I’ve done 60 miles of single track this weekend ????

Follow online:

www.cleanbuzztechnologies.com

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1247323572/bundle-cleanbuzz-pipe-system-and-15-pack?click_key=da3931ffa7aebe26cf511e3ac7318ea6241d5d02%3A1247323572&click_sum=fde5316f&ref=related-1

Photo Credits: Courtesy Mark McWilliams 

Clean Buzz Technologies: A Clean Bowl Is Possible
Categories
5 Questions Articles Skunk Magazine

THE CHALICE: CHRIS LOUIE’S MADE IN XIAOLIN LUXURY PIVOT

Made in Xiaolin.

Years ago, in the late 1980’s when I lived in Charleston, South Carolina, I was gifted a very special tool from my old friend, Jean-Jacques, used for smoking cheeba. He named it the chalice. It was a very simple device, a piece of timber bamboo with a hole in it, where a sandblasting tip had been inserted and sealed with wire and clay for airtightness. You would fill the sandblasting tip with ouid and light it up. Your mouth would rest on one end, the other acted as a carburetor. The hits that the chalice put out were exemplary and potent. I’d never smoked anything like it until a car-ride with Chris Louie on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, when he passed me a glass, curiously filled with concentrated cannabis smoke.

Chris instructed me to drink the smoke, just like you would drink a glass of fine Burgundy, sip gently and deeply. Not too much at a time…. Something I failed to hear, because Chris’ chalice was filled with diamonds. No, not the kind that go on your finger, but concentrated cannabis that had formed these gorgeous little gems. Once heated these gems melted and filled my inexperienced lungs with their secrets.

I coughed and then again. Whatever was going through my head was twisted up, form shifting… Manhattan? Park Avenue?
This is a serious piece of equipment, Chris’s Chalice.

My piece of bamboo was lost to history, yet it remains vibrant in my mind… Chris’s Chalice on the other hand will be in my mind forever, primarily because it’s just limitless what you can do with it. Starting with that car ride… In Chris’s dad’s car.

A priceless experience of a lifetime.

Chris sent me a Chalice and it can be used one of two ways, the first with a 710 cartridge, it screws right in. Or you can use a concentrate. The learning curve is very short, and the quality of the device is sturdily built and very elegant. The gold lip is pure luxury.

cannabis world news interviews cannabis vaporizer against red background

Warren Bobrow: Please tell me what you’re working on in regard to luxury. How do you define a luxury cannabis experience?

Chris Louie: At Made In Xiaolin, we focus on luxury to craft exceptional cannabis journeys. We believe luxury means uncompromised excellence, elegance in presentation, and a superior sensory experience. We’re developing products that appeal to those who seek the finest in cannabis—not just for its effects—but for the complete experience it offers. For example, our 6 gram Capo combines 5 grams of premium flower with 1 gram of rosin, providing a rich, flavorful, and enduring session that’s perfect for aficionados who appreciate the nuances of high-quality cannabis. Additionally, our commitment to personalized customer service, innovation, exclusivity, and sustainability enhances the overall luxury experience. We believe in building strong relationships with our customers by offering personalized service, exclusive events, and educational resources. This approach ensures that our customers not only enjoy our products, but also feel valued and part of a larger community of like-minded individuals.

WB: Why the chalice name? What is the inspiration?

CL: It’s inspired by ideas of celebration and reverence. Historically, chalices are used in ceremonies to signify something precious and communal. For us, it symbolizes an elevated cannabis experience meant to be savored and shared. Our products are designed to capture those senses of specialness and unity that make every session a luxurious ritual.

Our Chalice represents a vessel of enjoyment that elevates the act of consuming cannabis into something more ceremonial and sophisticated. We want our customers to feel that each use is an occasion—a moment to be appreciated and enjoyed to the fullest. This inspiration drives us to create products that not only deliver high quality but also offer a unique and memorable experience.

WB: Tell me about the product. What is it? How is it used?

CL: The Chalice is our innovative vaporizer device that we crafted to provide a unique yet familiar experience for consuming cannabis concentrates. Unlike typical vaporizers, the Chalice features an atomizer with a quartz coil that heats the concentrates into vapor. The vapor is collected in a glass cup—or chalice—which can be removed and “sipped” or “drunk,” much like you would enjoy a fine drink. To enhance the luxurious experience, we’ve added our signature gold detailing that includes a gold rim around the mouth of the glass and adds an extra touch of elegance and sophistication.

Additionally, the Chalice is designed with versatility in mind. The atomizer can be replaced with a pre-filled 510-thread vape cartridge, allowing it to function in the same manner. The vapor from the cartridge fills the glass cup, which can then be consumed in the same sipping or drinking fashion. This dual functionality ensures that the Chalice provides a sophisticated and practical cannabis experience, whether you’re using concentrates or cartridges.

Our focus on creating a user-friendly, yet luxurious device means that the Chalice stands out not only in its functionality, but also in its ability to provide a ritualistic and refined cannabis experience. This innovative design bridges the gap between traditional cannabis consumption and modern vaping technology to make each session special and memorable.

WB: What makes your chalice different from others in this market?

CL: What sets our Chalice apart is that we’re a dedicated cannabis company with deep roots in the industry. We’ve been crafting exceptional cannabis products that deliver unique experiences since 2018, and other companies that offer devices with similar functions aren’t primarily cannabis companies. Our expertise and commitment to excellence ensure that every Chalice stands out and provides a luxurious and unparalleled cannabis experience.

Moreover, our deep understanding of cannabis and our commitment to quality set us apart when we combine our expertise in cannabis with innovative design to create products that truly enhance the enjoyment of cannabis concentrates. The Chalice is not just a vaporizer; it’s a product born from our extensive experience and passion for cannabis, so consumers can be confident that it meets the highest standards of quality, excellence and performance.

WB: What’s next?

CL: We’re going to expand our product line and continue to maintain our commitment to excellence and luxury. We’re developing new and innovative products to elevate the cannabis experience, and we’re increasing our presence in upscale dispensaries with exclusive events to connect with our consumers.

We are also expanding our brand into different states, including New York. We’re also looking to enter the upscale cannabis hospitality sector and create environments where our luxury products can be enjoyed in premium settings. Our goal is to keep setting new standards in the luxury cannabis market by offering products and experiences that captivate and inspire. By constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the cannabis industry, we aim to offer our customers something truly extraordinary while continuing to lead the market in luxury cannabis products.

Thank you… WB

The Chalice: Chris Louie’s Made in Xiaolin Luxury Pivot

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Recipes

The Cocktail Whisperer’s Take on Spaghetti Westerns

By Warren Bobrow

Do you remember the genre of motion pictures named the Spaghetti Westerns? Do I see a glint of recognition over there? Perhaps you’ve heard of The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly? Well, you may be a bit young for Westerns, but these fantastically authentic, Westerns were filmed, not in the United States, but in Spain! It’s probably a reach to imagine the actors- those faces were not American ones, but very, very European- look at their teeth for clues. At any rate, Spain is the topic of this piece, and the way that the Gin and Tonic is made in Spain, brings me back to the Spaghetti Western genre. You’re always looking for a way to bring sales forward. New ideas are hard to come by when you’re slogging through that 1000th Vodka Soda with Lemon. How boring! 

As a bartender/mixologist, it is your responsibility to make intelligent responses when your boss, owner, investor, friend, guest- whatever, and whoever asks for a Gin and Tonic. And how will you do this?

By watching the Spaghetti Westerns of course. To fully appreciate the flavor of a Spanish Style Gin and Tonic, you must first understand, deeply- the principal of Terroir. Quite simply, Terroir is the taste of the place. You must have this understanding to expand your mind, and that of your guests. Who will teach this to my guest? You, of course will now want to teach your guest about Terroir and fun. But how will I do this? Well, again it comes back to the Spaghetti Westerns. The territory that is Spain is not all Barcelona or Madrid. There are miles of canyons, deserts and open ranges that, for a film-maker is the perfect background for a Western movie. Especially one that has Clint Eastwood shooting up less fortunate foes. I’m a massive fan of Lee Van Cleef, the late-New Jersey native who also fit in to the overall scenery in a more or less- authentic fashion. Eli Wallach, the late actor who played Tuco, in the Good, the Bad and the Ugly, lived his years out, not in balmy Beverly Hills, but in New York City.  

I bring you at least from a flavor perspective to a place where Gin and Tonics get a much-needed lift. Spain is the precipice from which the Gin and Tonic takes its path. The flavors are grounded in fresh herbs. Think about the landscape in the picture that I painted in your mind from the Spaghetti Westerns. The unforgiving earth, rock and dust, no rain except for floods. A harsh existence where roaming cattle eat every last leaf of anything that grows out of the ground. Flavors like the herbs that grow in the chaparral have to be pretty tough ones to survive. Let’s take those flavors and apply them to the principal of the Spanish Style Gin and Tonic. This is an entire art form that probably hasn’t hit your local watering hole yet. It may never, unless you help. You can start by renting a Spaghetti Western to get into the spirit of creating some delicious drinks. Put yourself in the mindset of the 1800’s and use herbs that come from arid environments, like Spain! Where, coincidently they are having a Gin and Tonic Renaissance. 

Please pay attention to the world outside our fast-food driven country. You might make a couple more bucks along the way, by showing your excitement for flavor!  

Tuco and Tonic– Really a Gin and Tonic- but you get the gist…

(author’s note: my drinks err on the strong side…)

Ingredients:

2 oz. Tanqueray 0.0 – I like this drink to speak of the herbs, not of the Gin-which is bone dry

.25 oz. Very Dry Fino Sherry (always chilled, do I need to tell you?)

.10 Dry Spanish Vermouth (Opens the appetite, Spanish Vermouth is very herbal)

4-6 oz. Fever Tree or Q-Tonic

Freshly cut lime and the zest expressed over the top

Peppercorns, fresh thyme and the wood

Prep:

Prepare your Collins Glass by filling it with Ice and water to chill (set aside)

To a mixing glass, fill ¾ with ice

Add the Gin

Add the Vermouth

Add the Sherry

Mix well, rest for a minute while you prepare the glasses

Add the peppercorns and the thyme to the chilled Collins glass

Add ice 

Strain the chilled Sherry, Gin and Vermouth over the ice

Top with Tonic Water

Express the lime over the top and notch a piece over the edge of the glass

Serve with a smile

Angel Eyes- Named for Lee Van Cleef

Ingredients:

2 oz. Fluère Gin (Angel Eyes was the consummate gentleman, with a gun)

1 oz. Spanish Vermouth

1 oz. PX Sherry (float)

1 oz. Campari

4-6 oz. Fever Tree Tonic, or Q-Tonic

A few, no more than this- needles of Rosemary- you don’t need the whole branch! 

Fresh Lime

Prep:

Chill the Fluère Gin with the Vermouth and the Campari

Pour over fresh ice in a Collins Glass

Top with the tonic

Float the PX Sherry over the top

Express with the lime 

Serve

The Good, The BAD and the Ugly

Ingredients:

2 oz. Ritual Gin- definitely available in the NYC/CT/NJ area… 

1 oz. Spanish Vermouth

1 Spanish Anchovy on a bamboo stick with an orange slice, don’t mock it, it’s delicious! 

4-6 oz. Fever Tree, or Q-Tonic Water 

Dehydrated Orange round

Prep:

Chill your Ritual Gin with the Vermouth 

Strain into a Collins Glass with the Anchovy and the Orange slice inside with the ice

Add the tonic 

Drop the dehydrated orange round on top and serve 

There are three excellent ideas for really fine.  

Uniquely Spanish. Gin and Tonics 

Read More Here at

https://harmonycraftbeverages.com/the-cocktail-whisperers-take-on-spaghetti-westerns/

Categories
Events Klaus

L.A. Spirits Awards

Klaus was awarded a Gold Medal in the first ever High Spirits Awards competition.

High Spirits Awards is a new beverage competition by L.A. Spirits Awards, launched in 2023 and open to all cannabis-derived beverage products legally sold in California and all hemp-derived (CBD/alternative cannabinoid) beverages from anywhere in the U.S.

Categories
5 Questions Skunk Magazine

NECTARBALL: THE HISTORY OF CANNABIS, A BRILLIANT DOCUMENTARY

When I eMet Patty on the interwebs, we were discussing trees, specifically ancient oak trees. We started talking about the plant—not the oak tree—and the way that it heals many ills. As ironic as it may sound, the lives of creative people find themselves in the company of other creatives because of the social lubricant known as cannabis. I was immediately taken by the passion and compassion that Patty has for the plant, and I wanted to get a read on what creative things she and her husband, Mark, are working on. And how I could help them get the word out on their documentary film, Nectarball: The Story of Cannabis.

Ah… Here goes!

Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about yourself. Where are you from? Now? What do you do?

Patty Mooney: Mark Schulze and I are originally from the Midwest but have lived in San Diego since 1970 (Mark) and 1977 (Patty). We met on Valentine’s Day in 1982 and have been sharing adventures together ever since. We own and operate San Diego’s longest-serving video production company, Crystal Pyramid Productions (est. 1981 by Mark). Another company of ours is New & Unique Videos (est. 1985), a producer and distributor of educational special-interest titles.
Our latest project is a documentary called “NECTARBALL: The Story of Cannabis.”

cannabis world news media promo poster for Necterball: The Story of Cannabis documentary
Photo credit: Mark Schulze and Patty Mooney

Warren Bobrow: You mentioned filmmaking. Documentary filmmaking. A soft spot for me with a film degree from Emerson. Please tell me about what you have been working on. What is it about documentary film that evokes such emotion?

Patty Mooney: Mark and I produced the first educational videos of their genre back in the 1980s. As video production gear was super expensive, only a few brave souls – like us – invested in themselves and their ideas. we pioneered videos like “Massage for Relaxation” (1985), “The Great Mountain Biking Video” (1987), “The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans” (2008), and several others. One of our earliest titles, “California Big Hunks” (1985), mystifyingly enough (to us) has earned cult status via appearances on Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Whose Line is it Anyway? And RedLetterMedia’s “Best of the Worst: Black Spine Edition #3,” which has now been seen by over 3.1 million viewers.

Our titles were successful because they were new and unique (thus, the name “New & Unique Videos”), and people were beginning to establish their personal VHS video libraries. In the late 1990s, as VHS sales began to wane, Mark and I returned to our earlier business model, shooting and producing video for corporate and broadcast clients.

All these decades of producing videos for Fortune 500 companies and shows like Inside Edition, Extra, Oprah, etc., have led us to now; the production of our latest documentary, “NECTARBALL: The Story of Cannabis,” featuring 52 cannabis luminaries (out of 165 interviewees). We traveled around the world to meet and interview them over a seven-year period. We went to North and South America, Europe, and South Africa. We asked all the questions we could think of regarding cannabis as medicine, building materials, food, and more. We received some important answers from people like Tommy Chong, Steve DeAngelo, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, Nurse Heather Sobel, RN, and so many more. The documentary is structured so that the interviewees tell the story of cannabis from its history, through prohibition, to now and the future, as we focus on the medicinal capabilities, usages, and effects of the plant on the human body. What is it about documentaries that evoke such emotion? People telling the truth from their perspective, reflecting the reality of the moment without embellishment.

Warren Bobrow: What is the topic? How long does it run? What is the premise?

Patty Mooney: The topic is Cannabis. “NECTARBALL: The Story of Cannabis” is 82 minutes long. It’s jam-packed with the wisdom of many. You can imagine that the state of Cannabis legalization varies from country to country and city to city. It has been interesting to check in on places where the plant has been freed and what some of the results are. For instance, in states where cannabis has been legalized for “Adult Use,” both opioid use and alcohol use have gone DOWN. Nobody wants to be comatose from opioids. The option of a gentle plant medicine to maintain and possibly arrest diseases such as arthritis, seizures, and cancer is a welcome idea, especially for seniors like us. It’s just a bit scary for older folks to let go of the stigma that has been pounded into their heads for most, if not all, their lives since the 1930s.

While in South Africa, we visited several social clubs where cannabis is the social lubricant that attracts a “mixed salad” of people with varied skin tones. Cannabis was decriminalized there in 2018 for personal use. You must be a member to enter these social clubs. Some of the most potent weed we have ever imbibed was at The Pottery in Port Elizabeth (now renamed Gqeberha), South Africa.

It was amazing to visit the Montevideo Cannabis Museum in Uruguay. It was the first country to legalize cannabis, abortion, and gay marriage. Ergo, Uruguay is far more progressive than the USA.

Warren Bobrow: Do you have a mentor? Who? And who taught you the craft of filmmaking? What about cannabis? What does outdoor cannabis represent to you?

Patty Mooney: Mark gained his video production education at UCSD, majoring in Communications and Sociology. Both Tommy Chong and Rich “Cheech” Marin were mentors to him during the 1970s when the comedy duo frequently appeared at The Comedy Club in La Jolla. Mark would hang out with them at the age of 20, bringing them “offerings” of Nectarball (what he named the sativa cultivar he grew back then). One time Mark shared a photo of a tall, girthy bud. Cheech quipped, “The plant that ate Chicago!” The cannabis plants appearing in Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie were modeled after Mark’s Nectarball plants.

When Mark and I first met at La Paloma Theater on Valentine’s Day 1982, I was about to appear as a singer in the chorus in a play entitled “Pandora or If Transformation is Supposed to be So Much Fun, Why Am I Gritting My Teeth?” There was only one performance to benefit The Hunger Project. Mark was setting up a video camera to videotape the show from the balcony. I was curious about his camera and walked over to meet him. I’d only seen one other VHS camera before. But with a mother who filmed every milestone moment of our family of eight on a Hi8 camera my dad had won from his sales prowess as a Chrysler Midwest district sales manager, I already knew I loved the medium. And what an entrée to “the business.” Beginning there and then, Mark began mentoring me in the video realm. And when I look back on that moment, I realize that our desire to perform philanthropic deeds throughout our life together began to bud then.

Several beloved and wise people have mentored us. Gina Powell has been a mother to us for decades. Her husband was Robert Powell (also a mentor), author of inspirational philosophical books including “The Blissful Life.” Recently, Keiko Beatie and John Salley, both of whom appear in the video sharing their wisdom, have been mentoring us.

Filmmaking was in its infancy when we first began producing, shooting, and editing video. There were a few manuals we consumed, including The Television Production Handbook by Herbert Zettl (now in its 12th edition). The first edition was printed in 1976, and that’s the one we used. Many we learned by doing. I am a proud graduate of the “Get Thrown to the Wolves” school of video production. On my very first gig as an audio mixer at the San Diego Comic Con, I bopped Lucy Liu on the top of her head with the boom pole. My life flashed in front of my eyes; my career ended before it began! “Oh, I am so sorry, Ms. Liu!” “Don’t worry about it!” she said. What a sweetie. Outdoor cannabis represents many things. Back in the 1970s, when Mark grew cannabis in various locations, there was always a chance that he could get busted by police, taken away in cuffs, and possibly losing home and livelihood. It was bad. Our Green Closet confinement continued into the 1980s. A thief with designs to steal Mark’s Nectarball Collection of buds he had collected since 1972 held us at gunpoint. (He did not get away with the collection.) I was once arrested by two roving cops on bicycles at the beach while I was sitting on the beach wall having a puff. They rifled through my butt pouch and found – gasp!!! – a bud in a film can. For that horrific crime, I was fined $100 (a lot of money back then.) Now, outdoor cannabis represents the freedom to grow a plant in your own backyard and use it for medicine AND as a social lubricant. Why not both? The scent of lolling, crystal-embedded buds near harvest time is so amazing. It’s all about the terpenes, man!

cannabis world news media image of Mark Schulze and Patty with Tommy ChongMooney
Photo credit: Mark Schulze and Patty Mooney

Warren Bobrow: What is your passion?

Patty Mooney: It’s nice that we share various passions since they aid in the enjoyment of life. Of course, cannabis is a big one. It’s the cornerstone of good health for us. Next comes mountain biking. We have been mountain biking together since 1986. Less than a year later, we got married with our mountain bikes in the local mountains of San Diego and even began racing for a while. We still ride together. Patty won first place in the Sagebrush Safari 20-mile race this past year in the women’s category at the age of 68. Mark came in second in his category. It’s a sport that takes us out deep into nature, where we can reach places of beauty. As often as possible, we ride to the “Wedding Spot,” lay out a blanket next to a spring-fed stream, share a bottle of wine and have a puff, watch the dragonflies and the butterflies, and enjoy the shade of an ancient old oak and a 120-foot pine tree. Travel adventures are so much fun. We don’t have children or pets, so we can fly away at a moment’s notice.

We have a passion for video production, aka filmmaking. A filmmaker can create a movie that touches, educates, and moves people you may never meet. And that is exactly what we hope to do with our film, “NECTARBALL: The Story of Cannabis.” We want people to understand the kinds of tools for the improvement of their health that are available to them. We want to eradicate the stigma about the plant. We want to help the world be a better place for all of us to live a “high-quality life.”

The film will enjoy its live virtual World Premiere on October 20, 2023, beginning at 6:30 PM (PT), when people can gather, enjoy a beverage, and smoke a bowl in the comfort of their homes. The 82-minute show begins at 7:30 PM, and then we’ll have a Q&A with special guests, including John Salley, Nurse Heather, and Keiko Beatie. Tickets for this exclusive showing are limited to the first 500 people who sign up and are going fast. So, purchase your tickets before it’s too late!

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WARREN BOBROW 

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

Nectarball: The Story of Cannabis, a Brilliant Documentary
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ONLY BRILLIANCE FROM BIG ED: TASTING NOTES AND FIVE QUESTIONS

Mutual friends, (Down to Fade) introduced me to Big Ed by laying a “mylar” of his magical flowers on me over the fourth of July weekend. I opened the packet up and the terpenes burst into my workroom, filling the air with spices and smiles. This wasn’t your typical NYC/Washington Square Street weed; it was something much more sophisticated and exhilarating. Something that caught me unaware and therefore tasting notes were certainly in order. Some really fine smoke here which immediately took me down a rabbit-hole. Similar to Big Ed, my tolerance levels deserve a tolerance break, maybe someday down the line… But the sample of GottiGirl is definitely calling my name.

cannabis world news product reviews promos closeup of crystal laden bud

Tasting Notes for GottiGirl, by: Warren Bobrow

Appearance: Sitting in front of me, I have a little nug of the GottiGirl. The curing is gorgeous. Moist and compact, colorful, and tinged with fluorescent green splashes and orange threads. Crystalline in nature, the oils from the flower ooze to the surface in tightly wound rivulets of black to bright green. Diamonds of resin capture my imagination and bring me a knowing smile. Sure, I have a really high tolerance, but GottiGirl smashed that one out of the park. This is definitely cannabis for the well “seasoned” smoker. Something that you can smell all over the backyard, even on a windy day. Wow. Impressive.

Nose: Spicy notes of cardamom bitters, brown butter-soaked hoecakes, caramelized quince and snippets of tarragon scattered over the top.

Palate: This is perfectly geared to my wine conscious palate with richly textured smoke that fills my mouth with droplets of Barrell Bourbon, a quality, not quantity-like alacrity.

Finish/Stone: Because of the masterful curing, I’m not compelled to cough, not even a tiny bit, nice work. Part of this is the pipe that I selected for the tasting. A 503 Liberty glass piece that has special meaning for me because the former owner is now gone and it gives off beautiful, healing energy of times past. I think it is important to resonate with glass smoking implements. Especially ones with so much craftsmanship, just like the craft cannabis held within.

GottiGirl works her magic through the implementation of vitality and passion.

cannabis world news product reviews promos closeup of silver green bud

Tasting Notes for GaryPayton x FishScale

Nose: David Austin old garden roses, dew-drop,peach scented with beads of sweet cream and Jersey “late-summer” corn pudding. Crushed peppercorn, Incendiary Thai chilies, orange zest and brown butter come into view. Snipped field grass in the back of my throat. Good stuff!

Palate: Texture of freshly turned loam, sod grass, husked corn and droplets of kerosene and hot, synthetic motor oil. (In a good way). Each hit is met, not with resistance- but with calm acceptance of your fate. And that would be the desire to take another, and then another. Similar to the art of drinking a Ti Punch. A vexing amalgamation of Rum, Demerara sugar, and lime. It’s all in there. I taste it still. And I haven’t had a drink in five years.

Finish/Stone: There I go again, down the rabbit hole. With Instagram next to me on my phone, it’s only the pang of hunger that says get back to work and finish these tasting notes. The finish is gassy on the nose, and it jumps like a gazelle across my whatever is left of my mind like your expensive fishpond koi attempting an escape from that errant, hungry racoon. Cannabis like this is the good stuff and great fun for my mind. It stimulates intellectualism and makes me want to reinvent the lightbulb. Ok, maybe not the lightbulb, but it’s been a long time (ok, about a week) since I’ve had so much fun writing!

Thank you, Big Ed, for the inspiration.

cannabis world news product reviews promos Big Smoked logo with bulldog smoking blunt

Warren: Please tell me about your relationship with the plant? When did you discover it? Who were you with? What strain?

Big Ed: I first tried cannabis in 1991 I was 11years old at the time. Cannabis being smoke around me was normal. My older cousin who was 21 at the time let me hit his joint. Back then most of the cannabis around was Mexican brick weed.

Warren: When you smoke, what is your favorite strain? Why?

Big Ed: Right now, my favorite strain is GottiGirl. I like it because I hunted through about 60 seeds to find it, and from the first time I smoked it until now it still tastes the same and have the same effects. My tolerance levels are sky high, so I usually know by the second pull if it’s a keeper. It’s a cross of BlueGotti (by Backpack Boys) x SHORTiER by FrostyMcNosty & Miracop. I believe SHORTiER is a LemonTree and Gelato cross he said. It also tested at 29% THC and 5% terpenes. Any tips I can give is if you have the space, and you want to find the best of the best you’ll have to run the whole pack of seeds. Also, patience I have discarded more plants than I have kept looking for a unicorn.

Warren: What makes your product different, therefore better? Do you admire the work of others? Who?

Big Ed: I believe my love for the plant makes my product better. A lot of people get into cannabis for money. I actually love this plant and want to share my love of it with the world. The best way to do that is produce high quality flower. I also realized that fresh cannabis is the best cannabis. I had a grower tell me cannabis is not like wine it doesn’t get better with age, and then he gave me some flower that he just finished curing and that was my first time smoking fresh cannabis. It was a game changer I was like damn so this what I’ve been missing. So, my goal is to give people the freshest cannabis possible. I admire Frosty McNosty he’s a real down to earth guy, and he really looked out for me when he asked me to test some seeds for him. That how I found GottiGirl. I also want to give credit to Dave the head grower at LOWD in Portland Oregon. He was the one who told me about Cannabis not being like wine and most people smoke old cannabis. He also really lit the spark for me to grow. He told me to go for it if it was something I was serious about.

Warren: What are your six and twelve-month goals?

Big Ed: My 6-month goal is to finish up this pheno hunt I’m doing it’s another 60 seed hunt I’m doing for MiraCrop. I also have some crosses I made I’m growing out now. Hopefully I can find something nice for the 2024. Over the next 12 months I hope to expand my grow and network more with like-minded individuals who care about quality and care giving, over quantity and profit.

Warren: What is your passion?

Big Ed: Growing and sharing cannabis is my passion. The look on a person face when you give them some top-quality cannabis and their reaction is priceless. This plant been a part of my life for over 30 years. Cannabis was used to bring people together, and to this day it still does. I have met people I would probably have never talked to over a joint or bong rip. When I think of cannabis, I think of the hippies in the 60’s & 70’s and how they were preaching peace, love, & happiness. That’s what I want to bring back to the cannabis industry. I just recently left the teaching field after 15 years to concentrate on building my brand and growing cannabis. It was a tough decision, but I felt if I didn’t try, I would regret it. I also know when I lock in on something I’m focused and with my 30 years of smoking, selling, & just being around cannabis I could do it. I read my first High Times magazine when I was 12 my uncle had a subscription. I was enamored by the photos and the articles about cannabis. When I was in college that was when my taste buds and standards changed for the cannabis, I smoked. It was a lot more indoor flower available and Purple Haze, Sour Diesel, and Blueberry was heavy on the east coast early 2000’s it was costly but worth it. I started growing during the pandemic. I was working from home, and felt I had the time to do it. My state also was about to come online with decriminalizing marijuana. It was like the stars were getting aligned for me to grow. Once I started, I was hooked (on growing). I started off with one tent and now 8 tents later I still want more!!!

Photo with 503 Liberty Pipe: Warren Bobrow
All other photos: Courtesy Big Ed

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GETTING GRANULAR IN FIVE QUESTIONS: TIMELESS FOUNDER ROCKY HUANG


I love to see great marketing in action. But the product at hand cannot be just a pretty picture and nothing behind it. The inside is just as important as the outside!
The fine extractions utilized by cannabis superstar; Rocky Huang are just that. Gourmet extractions and augmented pre-rolls, all fabricated with passion.

It’s important, actually vital, for any “gourmet” cannabis company to set itself apart from its peers in the industry of the plant. I love creativity, and I’ve been known to enjoy a vape cart from time to time. They certainly make the art and science of cannabis easier to enjoy because they don’t shout- I’m smoking a joint. This is especially important around people who eschew the scent of cannabis in a public place. The creative side of the equation is the artistic slant of the product. I dig it. Maybe someday I can taste their infused flower? They have to be good to stand out in the marketplace.

Let me be the first to tell you that Timeless is classic old-school piquancy enrobed in a richly modern ethos.

cannabis world news interviews Rocky Huang sitting in chair
Photo Credit: Timeless

Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about yourself. Where are you from? When did you discover cannabis? Why cannabis?

Rocky Huang: I was born in San Francisco and grew up in Arizona and was introduced to cannabis in 1994 through smoking recreationally with friends. From there, I consumed frequently throughout high school and college. When I went to college at the University of Arizona, I met friends with family in Humboldt, CA, and Portland, OR. I was fortunate to be introduced to the deep legacy of cannabis culture. With the relationships I cultivated, I was taught how to extract cannabis oil and fill vape cartridges in 2011.

cannabis world news interviews three packages of Tumble Cannabis
Photo Credit: Timeless

WB: Please tell me about your business. What’s the inspiration behind your company name?

RH: The Timeless brand was started in 2011 initially as a streetwear clothing company. While clothing & accessories were the primary focus, we learned that the most important part of the business was the culture surrounding the industry. Cannabis was an intricate part of the culture, so naturally, it became part of the brand, so when Arizona legalized in 2012, we transitioned the core business to cannabis. When we first transitioned, we believed that consumers would eventually want to be associated with a brand that they could resonate with. In the beginning, the industry had challenges just keeping products on the shelf, so we had to strategically balance brand-building and consistently supply our dispensary partners. Today, Timeless provides leading cannabis packaged goods to licensed dispensaries in AZ, CA, OH, MO, and OK. We stay focused on providing quality products and cultivating strong relationships with our partners and customers, so we believe we are positioned well in a constantly evolving industry.

WB: What kind of products do you produce? What sets you apart from your peers?

RH: Timeless is now the parent company of multiple high-quality cannabis brands offering options for every type of consumer, including Timeless Vapes (distillate), NOIR (live resin), Joilo pre-rolls in CA, and Tumble THCA diamond infused-pre rolls in AZ. Soon we’ll be launching live rosin vapes in AZ as well. We believe the combination of quality products, multiple product offerings, consistent community engagement specific to each market, and superior customer service from our dispensary partners sets us apart from our peers. Community is a key pillar of our company, and we recognize that marketing resonates differently in each region, so we cater our offerings accordingly, whether it be products or activations. Right now, we’re gearing up for our Timeless Summer Road Trip, where we’ll be hitting each market with special product drops and fun things to do, like our partnerships with the Venice Basketball League in LA and Terp Float in Oklahoma.

cannabis world news interviews packaging for Timeless vape pens
Photo Credit: Timeless

WB: What are your six and twelve-month goals?

RH: We plan on opening in 2 more territories in the next six months and an additional 2-3 within 12 months. In that timespan, we’ll also release more collaborations from our Artist Legacy Program, developed to support creatives and provide them with a canvas through cannabis. Recently we’ve partnered with artists including Skinner, Tatiana Suarez, John Malta, and APEXER on limited-edition vape flip cases and battery combos from the Timeless Vapes brand.

WB: What is your passion? What is your favorite place in the world to visit?

RH: I personally enjoy spending time with my family, playing basketball, and golfing with peers and friends. My favorite place to visit is Florence, Italy.

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Getting Granular in Five Questions: Timeless Founder Rocky Huang
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I created the cocktail and mocktail program for @theofficiallove.life. This project changed me forever. No longer am I just one thing in beverages. I can do many things and hopefully do them well.

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