Portland Pickles First Sports Team To Sell THC Products at Games

The Portland Pickles—a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat team based in Portland, Oregon—will become the first sports team in the U.S. to legally sell THC products at live sports events.

The baseball team announced Tuesday an exclusive partnership with Cycling Frog, makers of hemp-derived THC-based seltzer drinks. The team began selling the infused drinks at Walker Stadium in Portland on June 18. Cycling Frog was founded in 2021 and sells a range of hemp-derived, full-spectrum cannabinoid products including THC seltzers, gummies, softgels, and microdose mints

The Oregonian reports that Cycling Frog’s drinks contain 2 mg of THC and 4 mg of CBG per can and will be available in passionfruit and lemon flavors inside the ballpark.

“The Portland Pickles have a responsibility in the sports industry to take leaps and set a precedent of innovative partnerships,” Ross Campbell, VP of Business Development for the Pickles, said in a statement. “As we saw in 2019, becoming the first team to ever partner with a CBD company, and quickly teams all the way up to the Major League level across sports follow suit.”

Since Cycling Frog’s drinks contain hemp-derived THC, people who purchase them must be 21 years of age or older to purchase. How is this legal? According to a statement, the Pickles have consulted on regulations with the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) and Portland Parks and Recreation, which owns the stadium.

The Portland Pickles play at Walker Stadium when they play home games.

KGW reports that the seltzers will be sold at three different locations throughout the stadium: The Jack Daniels Party Deck Bar, Dillon’s Hideaway Bar and a third standalone pop-up inside the gates. People must be 21 years old or older to purchase. 

Stephen Colbert Name-Drops Portland Pickles and THC Drinks

Stephen Colbert even got in on the action, following the news about the Portland Pickles. During the Thursday episode of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. Toward the end of his opening monologue, Colbert joked about it being the first day of summer, which means baseball.

Colbert joked about the New York Mets, the McDonald’s mascot Grimace throwing out a first pitch at one of their games, and this not being the first time a McDonald’s mascot helped out the New York team.

“Back in 1986, the Hamburglar was their coke dealer,” Colbert said. Switching to baseball’s minor leagues, “and the minor leagues of drugs,” he went on to note that the Portland Pickles have become the first sports team to legally sell THC products at games..

Colbert then said Portland Pickle fans “won’t be sparking up in the stands, you’ll be sparkling up, because instead of smoke-able products, they’ll be selling THC-based seltzer drinks.”

The Portland Pickles X account posted a clip of the video.

we made it. again. pic.twitter.com/Z1QmuXREcS

— Portland Pickles (@picklesbaseball) June 21, 2024

Colbert then went on to say that Coca-Cola used to be infused with cocaine, so a THC drink really isn’t all that far-fetched.

That might sound odd, Colbert said, “but remember, Coca-Cola used to have cocaine in it, and ginger ale originally contained the blood of a redhead.”

Cannabis Sales in Portland

Cannabis sales in the city of Portland fell in 2022. According to an OLCC database, Portland, Oregon area pot sales hit the lowest number of sales in three years. However, some experts blame the drop in sales on the temporary pandemic hump.

In June 2022, retail cannabis shops across Multnomah County, the state’s most populous area, made the lowest monthly profit they have since early 2019—hitting just $27,000 on average.

The price of cannabis flower is the lowest it’s been since April 2019. The county’s average gram sells for just $4.29 a gram—quite a bit lower than you’d find in most other states. Some have blamed the drop in value on Oregon’s oversupply problem, while others say the state’s oversupply problem wasn’t quite so bad as reported.

Portland residents bought $21 million worth of flower in July 2020, in the middle of the pandemic—and it was the most cannabis ever purchased in the state in a single month.

In general, cannabis sales increased at a steady pace since they began in 2016, but they skyrocketed in 2020, partly due to working from home and stimulus checks. In the span of only five months, cannabis sales in the county  increased by 79%. On average, cannabis shops raked in $48,000 per month in Multnomah County during the month of July 2020. But sales plunged shortly after, marking the lowest number recorded since June 2019.

Now that cannabis will be available at Portland Pickles games, local residents in the area can now have another way to get THC-infused products.

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Connecticut Man Busted with $8.5M Worth of Shrooms

A Burlington, Connecticut man was busted for allegedly growing psilocybin mushrooms in a large, commercial-style factory with an estimated $8.5 million in street value. Weston Soule, 21, is accused of allegedly growing millions’ worth of psilocybin mushrooms. He was charged with possession with intent to sell narcotics and the operating of a drug factory.

An unidentified person snitched out Soule, police said. Agents from the DEA Hartford Task force and state police detectives received a tip that suggested a man was operating a clandestine psilocybin mushroom growing operation at a home on Lyon Road.

WFSB Hartford reported that law enforcement agents descended upon Soule’s home on Thursday morning. Once there, authorities said they talked to Soule and saw ventilation equipment throughout the residence that are consistent with psilocybin operations.

Soule led investigators to a detached garage on his property and police found his large mushroom growing operation, where Soule claimed he was simply growing a different type of mushroom.

When Soule initially denied police entry to his home, police submitted a search warrant to New Britain Superior Court, which was granted. Once the search warrant was approved, investigators said they found a large “mushroom factory” with multilevel racks neatly lined up with substrates, inoculation chambers, grains, nutrients, and other supplies. The grow factory contained psilocybin mushrooms in various stages of growth, with an estimated total street value of $8.5 million.

Soule was taken into custody at the scene and transported to state police headquarters in Litchfield, Connecticut where he was processed and charged. Neighbors say a series of factors indicated a grow operation was taking place.

“They were running air conditioners when it was a cold day which didn’t seem right. They had air conditioners in the top windows and front of the house. You also saw more cars there during the day which made it seem like a place of employment rather than someone sleeping there at night,” an eyewitness neighbor told WFSB Hartford.

UNH Criminal Justice Professor and retired FBI agent Kenneth Gray says that’s a usual sign in this operation. “In a marijuana grow house, the house is usually filled with lamps. In this case, mushrooms don’t need a lot of lamps, instead, they need a lot of ventilation,” Gray said.

Soule was held in jail on a $250,000 cash/surety bond and was scheduled to appear for arraignment at New Britain Superior Court on Friday.

Psilocybin Reform in Connecticut

People in Connecticut are also attempting to regulate the cultivation of it legally. In 2021, Dr. Bronner’s pushed for psilocybin reform in Connecticut. New Approach PAC, a lobbyist group, funded $14,000 in 2021 to local firm Grossman Solutions to promote drug policy reform in Connecticut. Dr. Bronner’s is among New Approach’s biggest donors.

CT Insider reported that a task force in Connecticut is examining the efficacy of psilocybin mushrooms for use in therapeutic settings. House Bill 6296, sponsored by Representative Josh Elliot and four other representatives, created a task force responsible for studying the efficacy of psilocybin for a variety of conditions—a key step in legalizing psilocybin for therapeutic purposes. Grossman Solutions will help New Approach engage with Connecticut’s psilocybin task force.

CEO David Bronner is the grandson of company founder Emil Bronner. He said his goal is to free psychedelics, specifically legalization of psilocybin for therapeutic purposes, adding it’s exactly what his grandfather would have done. “The passion of my grandfather was to unite spaceship earth,” Bronner said. “We honor that legacy in different ways,” among them “integration of psychedelic healing in medicine and therapy.” Bronner also said that he believes “psychedelic medicine can really help people heal and wake up, and grapple with pressing problems.”

A pilot program on the benefits of synthetic psilocybin for mental health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is launching soon at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. 

A study cohort will consist of 50 patients, mostly veterans and first responders, who are with mental health concerns like depression and addiction. Participants will take 25 mg of synthetic psilocybin, and after the psychedelic effects wind down, they will discuss issues and progress (or lack thereof) with trained therapists.

Connecticut Post reports that the goal is to fulfill the need for state data that has been lacking, according to state Rep. Michelle Cook (D-Torrington). “We need to have the data to show that there is documented proof of what that therapy does,” Cook said. “We know that it has some incredible outcomes when it is done right, when it’s done by people that are trained in how to use it for treatment of PTSD and so forth.”

Cases like Soule’s would disappear if people in Connecticut gained access to regulated psilocybin as reform bills make their way through legislation.

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Cannabis Conviction Pardons Praised in Maryland

Advocates and organizations praise the recent wave of 175,000 pardons by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, showing the importance of helping those with current cannabis convictions on their records.

Baltimore, Maryland-native Shiloh Jordan was originally pulled over by law enforcement for not wearing a seatbelt, according to an interview conducted by The Associated Press. The officer said that she smelled cannabis in his vehicle and used a piece of tape to discover “cannabis crumbs” on the floor. Jordan believes that she had picked up less than a gram in crumbs. “She was just like, ‘Yep, you’re going to jail,’” Jordan recalled. “I’m like what? Are you serious? At the time I did feel like, you know, it was just a petty weed charge. I’m like man, whatever, it’s a little petty weed charge. And then, like I said, just later on it was affecting me when I applied for a job.”

Later on, Jordan got a new job to start fresh, but they let him go due to conducting a background check and having a misdemeanor conviction on his record. “I felt defeated. I felt upset a little bit, you know.” Jordan said. “I was disheartened because, like I said, for the last couple months I did not have a job so… I was just trying to, you know, do the right thing.”

He persevered and took part in a job readiness program which led him to go back to school and play football in college. Now he works with the Baltimore-based Center for Urban Families, a nonprofit organization that assists local families.

Although Jordan was able to pave his own path, and became one of the 175,000 recently pardoned Marylanders will help so many people who are currently struggling. “I just feel like this is a big opportunity for people, you know, to not let struggles get in their way,” Jordan explained.

Moore issued the pardons on June 17, stating that this was a necessary decision to help thousands of people get back on track and to right the wrongs from the War on Drugs. “This is about changing how both government and society view those who have been walled off from opportunity because of broken and uneven policies,” Moore said. “Legalization does not turn back the clock on decades of harm that was caused by this war on drugs. It doesn’t erase the fact that Black Marylanders were three times more likely to be arrested for cannabis than white Marylanders before legalization. It doesn’t erase the fact that having a conviction on your record means a harder time with everything, everything, from housing, to employment to education.”

Jordan stood with Moore at a news conference on June 17 when the pardons were issued. “It means a lot, because I know a lot of people that have been convicted for petty cannabis charges, and it really affected their whole way of life and their whole way of thinking,” Jordan said.

Although the pardons are welcome, they are not the same as expungements. If a person seeks to have their record expunged, they need to do so in court so that their record is clear. The Associated Press stated that Xavier Conaway, Circuit Court for Baltimore City, said that they are committed to offering services that allow people to pursue expungement. “Our office is committed and ready to provide all necessary assistance to ensure that pardoned individuals in Baltimore City can navigate the expungement process smoothly and efficiently,” Conaway said. They added that the governor’s action “acknowledges the importance of the fair administration of justice in removing educational, housing, and employment barriers that have long disproportionately affected the lives of many Baltimoreans.”

Baltimore is the most highly populated city in Maryland, and an estimated 39,865 of the 175,000 pardons are for people residing in that area.

Praises were issued across the board from a variety of advocates and organizations. Maryland Legal Aid chief legal and advocacy director, Somil Trivedi, called the move a “gargantuan step” to right the wrongs caused by the War on Drugs. “It’s also, meaningfully, a recognition of that past and a way to move forward,” Trivedi said.

The editorial board of The Washington Post wrote an op-ed about the pardons, calling it “a model for the country.” “Marijuana consumption shouldn’t be celebrated; recent health studies suggest it should be discouraged,” the news outlet wrote. “But neither should it be harshly punished by the criminal justice system. It, much like other harmful but legal and regulated substances such as alcohol and tobacco, it simply doesn’t do enough damage to merit upending lives over simple possession. Mr. Moore has recognized this, and so have executives in nine other states and multiple cities. More should follow suit.”

The Last Prisoner Project (LPP) also released a statement about Maryland’s pardons. “It has been nearly a year since Maryland passed full cannabis legalization, and at the same time that some are poised to profit off of this burgeoning industry, millions more remain burdened by the collateral consequences of a cannabis conviction,” LPP wrote.  “LPP is proud to be part of today’s historic announcement which is a crucial step in beginning to right the wrongs of our failed approach to cannabis policy.”

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Arizona Governor Approves Bill To Allow Workers’ Compensation for MDMA Treatment

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs recently signed Senate Bill 1677, which will permit both firefighters and certified peace officers to receive workers’ compensation to cover the price of MDMA therapy if they suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. The bill only takes effect if or when midomafetamine (MDMA) becomes federally legalized though.

According to the bill, the Industrial Commissions of Arizona would be directed to provide “reimbursement values in its schedule of fees and publish guidelines on billing and  reimbursement practices for midomafetamine.”

If or when enacted, it would require the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to first approve MDMA, which would allow the workers’ compensation to be approved. However, the bill currently does not create any regulatory framework for MDMA therapy. “If an independent medical examination reveals a treatment protocol of midomafetamine is deemed a reasonable and necessary treatment and follows the treatment guidelines established by the Industrial Commission of Arizona, workers’ compensation coverage may include on complete course of a treatment protocol of midomafetamine as prescribed by a psychiatrist,” the bill stated.

Sen. David Gowan, sponsor of SB-1677, believes that MDMA will be beneficial to many people if it can be legally used in a therapeutic setting. “At the end of the day, it’s about saving lives hopefully, saving our first responders lives who are out there protecting us each and every day,” Gowan said in February.

At the time, three lobbyists who represented insurance companies, spoke against the bill. “If this treatment comes out, [and] it works, it will be widely adopted in the workers’ compensation system,” said lobbyist Marc Osborn. “But we just don’t know.” He added that using opioids for pain management in the early 2000s was a disaster, and recommended that legislators “take it slow, be careful.”

Another lobbyist, Mike Williams, made a claim that increased accessibility of MDMA won’t help. “While they’re debating whether this is the right modality or that’s the right modality and then they want to go to an independent review, I’m just hoping that the firefighter doesn’t get so depressed that that he or the police officer commits suicide and leave their family,” Williams said in February.

Legislators such as Sen. J.D. Mesnard ultimately voted against the bill due to concerns. “I think we all agree we want the best treatment for our first responders,” Mesnard said. “This may be it—I don’t know. But I am just uncomfortable making that decision right now rather than letting the normal process play out.’”

On June 18, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed House Bill 1570, which would have permitted psilocybin use in designated treatment centers. According to Hobbs, there isn’t enough evidence to confirm that psilocybin can be safe and useful for veterans. “The state’s psilocybin research advisory board established last year recently issued its annual report, with a clear message: although psilocybin may be a promising treatment in the future, we do not yet have the evidence needed to support widespread clinical expansion,” said Hobbs. “Arizonans with depression and PTSD deserve access to treatments that may be seen as outside the mainstream, but they should not be the subject of experiments for unproven therapies with a lack of appropriate guardrails.”

In 2023, Hobbs’ budget included $5 million dedicated to psilocybin research, but HB-1570 would have also added an additional cost of $400,000.

HB-1570 sponsor T.J. Shope told a reporter from The Center Square that he is disappointed that the bill didn’t pass, especially since it received overwhelming support in both the House and the Senate. “If we were still in session, I’d be pushing to override her veto but I’ll have to settle for trying again next year,” Shope said.  I won’t stop fighting for our veterans and first responders to get the mental health care they deserve in these clinical settings. Sadly, Arizonans will now have to continue leaving their own state and country to receive this type of treatment. It’s truly a sad day for those who have put everything on the line for us.”

Meanwhile in California, SB-803 (also called the Heal Our Heroes Act) was announced on June 17 by sponsors Sen. Josh Becker and Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones. Recently, SB-803 was amended to include restricted language about who would qualify under the psilocybin therapy program. The use of “first responders” in the bill text has since been changed to “former” first responders, as well as defining that anyone who is in active duty cannot apply. Previously, there were a number of professionals who could administer psilocybin, but now the language has been reduced to include just physicians and surgeons.

Many studies on psilocybin and MDMA continue to show how it can be an effective treatment for a variety of conditions. A recent study published in Clinical Case Reports shows how both psilocybin as well as MDMA can benefit those who are suffering from COVID Long-Hauler’s symptoms, including severe anxiety, depression, debilitating headaches, and cognitive difficulties.

Another study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology in February showed that MDMA can help increase feelings of happiness during a positive social interaction, which could also potentially assist PTSD patients as well.

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New Report Showcases Potential of Pennsylvania Adult-Use Industry Following Legalization

Responsible PA, a Pennsylvania-based advocacy group, recently partnered with FTI Consulting to determine important data about the state’s cannabis industry potential.

FTI Consulting analyzed trends exhibited in other states surrounding reform and legalization and came to the conclusion that adult-use cannabis sales in Pennsylvania could reach anywhere between $1.7 billion to $2.8 billion within its first year of operation.

The report was released during a digital news conference held on June 20 by Responsible PA. “There’s an enormous economic impact the state of Pennsylvania has left on the table year after year,” said Responsible PA spokesperson Brit Crampsie.

FTI Consulting stated that the sales projection includes the assumption that the state may implement a 6% retail sales tax, in addition to a 15% excise tax and other applicable taxes to consider. Additionally, the projection estimates that the state would collect $420 million to $720 million in cannabis tax revenue during the same time period.

A surge in legal cannabis businesses would also bring a slew of job openings, and FTI Consulting stated that legalization would lead to 26,250-44,500 new jobs. “Nearly two-thirds of the jobs supported by the adult use market would be direct cannabis jobs, with the remaining third supported indirectly or through induced spending,” the report stated.

The report also added that the state would need to approve 43-100 retail licenses in order to properly serve the state as a whole.

Adult-use cannabis has not yet been legalized in Pennsylvania, but there are numerous efforts trying to get legalization passed.

On June 17, Rep. Aaron Kaufer and Rep. Emily Kinkead announced the introduction of their bill. Currently it doesn’t have a numbered designation, and will not receive one until later this month, but a report from WVIA said that according to Kinkead, it will be called House Bill 2500. If passed into law, the bill would “foster job creation and generate significant tax revenue for the Commonwealth, while helping eradicate the illicit market plaguing many communities.”

According to Kaufer, the Pennsylvania medical cannabis program would serve as a foundation for adult-use legalization. “This bill underscores our commitment to responsible regulation of the cannabis industry while addressing the diverse needs of Pennsylvania’s communities,” said Kaufer. “By prioritizing public safety and consumer protection, this legislation will build on the successful regulatory structure of the state’s medical cannabis program, continuing stringent standards for product quality, packaging and labeling to ensure the well-being of all consumers.”

Kinkead stated that adult-use legalization is long overdue. “It is well past time for the Commonwealth to legalize cannabis for recreational use, address the injustices of the failed War on Drugs, and ensure that Pennsylvanians can benefit from this industry in the same way our neighboring states have,” said Kinkead. “Our bipartisan effort to provide specific language that takes the best practices from other states is the next substantial step in finally getting this done.”

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro revealed his 2024-2025 budget proposal (approximately $48.3 billion in spending) earlier this year in February, which included a call to legalize cannabis. “I ask you to come together and send to my desk a bill that legalizes marijuana. But that bill should ensure the industry is regulated and taxed responsibly,” Shapiro stated. “We’re losing out on an industry that, once fully implemented, would bring in more than $250 million in annual revenue. And our failure to legalize and regulate this only fuels the black market and drains much-needed resources for law enforcement. It’s time to catch up.”

If cannabis is accepted in Shapiro’s budget, it would legalize adult-use cannabis starting on July 1, 2024, with an estimated sales start date on January 1, 2025. His pitch includes a 20% tax on adult-use cannabis, which would net more than $250 million in annual tax revenue. He also included the need for expungement for those who have been convicted of cannabis-related crimes and stated that the Department of Agriculture would helm the adult-use cannabis program. Additionally, the legislature would need to come up with the rest of the details.

However, Shapiro’s budget is due by June 30 and news reports show that cannabis legalization is likely not going to be included. Rep. Dan Frankel said that passing legalization is “probably not a realistic timeframe,” however, he did tell Spotlight PA that they “are on a path to get this done.

Another bill, Senate Bill 846, was first introduced in 2023 by Sen. Dan Laughlin and Sen. Sharif Street, and would permit medical cannabis businesses to sell adult-use cannabis while also implementing rules to assist social equity applicants who want to take part in the industry.

Additionally, A House Co-Sponsorhip Memoranda was published on June 17, which calls for adult-use cannabis legalization and the implementation of regulations, product packaging requirements, law enforcement funding, farmer support, and job generation. “Accordingly, we believe that now is the time for Pennsylvania to move in a similar direction and our bill establishes strong tenets for an adult-use market,” the bill text stated.

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Brand Spotlight: Tonic

As someone who started in the medical cannabis space, I was completely freaked out when the hemp CBD craze emerged. To this day, there’s no head of the hemp world. That’s why, for many years, when someone asked for a reliable CBD topical for sore muscles or a tincture for mental calm, I recommended TONIC. I interviewed the founder, Long Island native Brittany Carbone, for an article that centered around the tours she’d hosted at her hemp farm in 2018, and the more we talked, the more I was impressed. Carbone and her husband grew and harvested their own hemp, processed the plant material themselves, and formulated their own products. Carbone was among the only independent CBD brands growing their own hemp in 2017, and she was also an early face at cannabis-related events in general, helping build a new cannabis community of people looking to get into the legal cannabis or hemp game.

In addition to inviting tours out to the farm, Carbone is passionate about empowering people to make the most of their newfound right to grow cannabis at home and connecting good people, like when she helped Housing Works, New York’s first legal shop, get in touch with trusted, licensed brands when they were frantically filling shelves for launch. Now, TONIC has a THC line of vapes, gummies, and pre-rolls stocked in New York dispensaries in addition to their hemp CBD offerings, which is a damn good thing because while I am a fan of their gummies, their CBD face oil remains my skin’s favorite weed-related product.

Excerpted with permission from Green Scenes by Lauren Yoshiko, published by ‎Hardie Grant Publishing, March 2024.

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The Art of Cannabonsai

Growing up in Hawaiʻi, Davin Carvalho was always drawn to the outdoors. He and his friends would skateboard, surf, and explore Oʻahu’s west side, enjoying the warm sun, breezy tradewinds, and cool waters around Mākaha Beach. As he grew older, he sought new hobbies that would keep him outside, and eventually discovered gardening. Today, Carvalho is known for his cannabonsai trees, which possess a Zen-like aesthetic and offer an enlightened high through the flower that they provide.

Carvalho’s journey as a gardener started early, when he began growing kalo as a kid. Kalo, or taro in Hawaiian, is a root vegetable that is inextricably linked to Hawaiian culture. According to mythology, the kalo plant represents the original ancestor and elder brother of all Hawaiians. For Carvalho, who is indigenous, growing kalo bound him to his familial roots. With around 100 plants in his garden, he could happily spend over an hour watering, fertilizing, and pruning on a daily basis.

For reasons unknown, in late 2020 Carvalho began to experience debilitating panic attacks. After two months of agony and countless emergency room visits, he discovered that gardening was a tool he could use to manage his anxiety. A friend sent him some traditional bonsai videos, which were relaxing and educational at the same time. Before long, Carvalho bought a couple ficus and juniper trees and began to seriously study Chinese and Japanese bonsai as a form of therapy.

During that same period, Carvalho decided to apply for official documentation with Hawaiʻi’s Medical Cannabis Registry, allowing him to grow marijuana for personal use. After realizing that traditional bonsai requires decades of devotion, he decided to adapt bonsai techniques to pakalolo which allowed him to grow beautiful, medicinal plants in a shorter period of time.

Through research on the topic, Carvalho learned that the bonsai “effect” comes as a result of training a plant. In the world of cannabis, training is nothing new. It’s common practice for growers to train plants for a higher yield and denser buds. By gently manipulating branches or tilting the pot the plant is in, Carvalho can create the bonsai effect as a result.

“My objective when I’m training my plants is to make it look like a replica of a full-size tree,” Carvalho said. “I try to think, ‘How many branches do I want? What do I want the canopy shape to look like? Do I want it to be a taller tree, a shorter tree? A bushier tree or a lankier tree?’ I keep all that in mind.”

Although he does not necessarily speak to his plants, Carvalho spends a lot of time in close proximity to them. Doing so promotes the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, with both parties benefiting in the process. By providing for his plants and helping them thrive, he hopes that they will return the favor.

“Gardening itself is a language. I might not speak verbally to them, but there is nonverbal communication with the plants in my garden and myself,” Carvalho said. “It’s a constant sending and receiving of messages in order for us to achieve understanding and reach a common goal, which is for the plants to flower and produce beautiful buds.”

In his most recent run, Carvalho incorporated rose quartz and amethyst, a crystal that is said to promote calmness and relaxation. When preparing for a new harvest, he is intentional about the overall aesthetics the cannabonsai will have, from top to bottom of the plant.

“I’ve done a little bit of research, but I’m definitely no expert. I wanted to make sure that if I was gonna use crystals, I wanted to know which combinations of crystals can go together,” Carvalho said.

When it comes to cultivating a successful cannabonsai tree, genetics play a huge role. To capture the bonsai aesthetic, Carvalho grows indica-leaning strains as they are shorter, bushier, and have tighter internodal spacing than sativa-leaning strains.

After three years of research and experimentation, Carvalho believes that each cannabonsai run has improved from the previous one. As much as gardening is an outlet to relax, it also provides a challenge that keeps him wanting more. No matter how much knowledge and experience he gains while growing, there are inevitably hurdles that humble and teach him along the way.

“If it was as easy as putting a seed in the ground and watering it, it wouldn’t be as fulfilling to me,” Carvalho said. “Anybody could do that. But to really have the commitment, dedication, passion, and drive, that’s what really gets me. I like something that’s not so easy to obtain but is something that if I work hard at it, I can either get it, or get something close to it and have something that I am happy with.”

This article was originally published in the June 2024 issue of High Times Magazine.

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