Regulations and red tape make it hard to sell cannabis in New York. Currently, just over a dozen licensed retailers are actively operating in New York. By introducing a marijuana farmers market, more retailers could sell their products as regulators continue to work to license and set up more legal brick-and-mortar storefronts. Officials say the cannabis farmers markets could start “within a month.”
The announcement comes after a town hall event last Thursday for cultivators organized by the Cannabis Association of New York (CANY) in conjunction with the state Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). During the meeting, attendees discussed how a farmers market could both offer businesses a sale model while giving consumers a safe place to shop. Over the last year, lots of cannabis was grown, but much of it needs a place to be sold. The farmers market aims to solve such concerns.
OCM Chief Equity Officer Damian Fagon said at the event that regulators hope to get the farmers markets ready to open “optimistically, within a month,” New York Cannabis Insider reported. According to OCM Director of Policy John Kagia, the rules for what will be called the “New York Cannabis Growers Showcase” program haven’t been released yet. However, Kagia says that there are “several issues that we’re still working through internally, but we have the authorization here to discuss it.”
The farmers market, aka New York Cannabis Growers Showcase, plans to have a minimum of three growers and at least one licensed retailer hosting farmers market-style events in authorized municipalities. On-site consumption will not allowed, at least at first, as that would mean additional permits obtained from the state Department of Public Health, so customers will have to enjoy back home. Alcohol is also not allowed. So, while the farmers markets offer help for sellers, New York is a long way away from providing fun, communal spaces for folks to enjoy cannabis, as one might enjoy a beer with friends at a bar.
However, farmers can try to obtain municipal approval to hold the farmers markets on their own property, which could provide communal gatherings. Additionally, they could try to sell at events like concerts and festivals, which sounds like a fun step in the right direction.
“We think this is really important because it does two things,” Kagia said. “One, it allows the growers to get in front of the consumers who are going to be buying legal regulated product in New York, and allows you to tell your stories. Two, it allows you to sell product much more quickly across the state, so the idea would be that the retailers are going to be confined to the regions where they’re authorized to operate, but the growers would be able to do this anywhere in the state.”
The idea for the marijuana farmers market pilot program comes after New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D) administration stepped up its efforts to transition folks to the legal market, which, under current restraints, is difficult for both sellers and consumers. For many, buying on the black market, even if it’s illegal, offers better, more affordable products, demonstrating that if New York wants a thriving legal market, they have a lot of work ahead of them.
As part of efforts to persuade people to buy legally, a public education campaign was launched last month, pushing people to buy from licensed shops, relying on scare tactics of the dangers of buying illegally, and reminding folks that legal weed ideally means equity programs.
In March, officials announced that they are doubling the number of conditional adult-use marijuana licenses that can be approved from 150 to 300. Hochul also introduced legislation to crack down on vendors selling on the black market. Hochul visited one of the few currently operating cannabis retailers in February — but did not buy anything.
Everyone has a favorite snack. It’s usually a chip with a delightful crunch and a one-of-a-kind flavor punch that satisfies every fiber of your being as you settle in for your favorite leisurely activity. As cannabis edibles continue to walk on the savory side, few brands have perfected the art of the cannabis-infused chip quite like TSUMo Snacks. In a bite-sized summary, TSUMo’s crunchy infused chips are thoroughly coated in seasonings that inspire nostalgic memories while getting you lifted.
Co-founder and CEO Caroline Yeh spent a decade in traditional consumer packaged goods, before moving into the cannabis industry with Bloom Farms and Kiva Confections. Yeh explains that embracing “flavor first” means all of the brand’s chips are reminiscent of fan-favorite tastes in the snack chip world. When TSUMo Snacks launched in California in September 2021 it offered five choices that Yeh and her team considered to be pinnacle flavors and textures of the snack chip kingdom: classic cheese and fiery hot crunchers (with a texture inspired by Cheetos), and zesty ranch, salsa verde, and hint of lime offered as circular tortilla rounds (think Doritos). Nacho cheese and chili limon (made with a curved tortilla shape inspired by Fritos) became available by August 2022. By October 2022, TSUMo Snacks announced that it was also releasing Snoop Dogg-approved bags of Uncle Snoop’s Snazzle O’s in both onion and spicy onion flavors inspired by the shape and flavor of Funyuns.
“Teaming up with the iconic Snoop Dogg for this snack collab was something my team and I have been dreaming about,” Yeh said through a press release. “Snoop aligns perfectly with TSUMo Snacks’ values, as he has always been authentic to his true self.”
TSUMo Snacks co-founder and CEO Caroline Yeh
TSUMo Stands Apart
While TSUMo Snacks continues to develop craveable flavors, Yeh is proud to use the company’s consumer success to support the cannabis community.
“As a woman of color who has worked in cannabis for many years, you don’t often get to be the one in charge to make the decisions on things that you want to advocate for,” she said. “But now as a CEO, I get to make the decisions on things that I want to advocate for.”
To coincide with the release of its limited-time holiday flavors in 2022, TSUMo Snacks partnered with Wunder and Nugg Club to create a bundle for a “Weed Wish You a Happy Holidays” campaign, donating $2 per bundle to the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. Yeh also feels it’s important for her company to support up-and-coming Asian-owned cannabis brands.
“As an Asian woman, one of the things we’re looking into is working with other Asian companies,” she says. “I mean, there aren’t very many of us in the cannabis space.”
Yeh says TSUMo has plans to align with Asian-owned cannabis companies for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which is observed annually during the month of May.
TSUMo Snacks currently donates quarterly contributions to an organization called Our Dream Our Academy, a nonprofit mentorship program that supports social equity applicants and BIPOC entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry through a rigorous online program geared toward training up-and-coming entrepreneurs.
Courtesy TSUMo Snacks
A Consistent Snacking Experience
TSUMo Snacks are offered in two sizes: a 10 mg single-serving bag, and a 100 mg bag, which can be divided up into individual servings. All of the brand’s chips are made with a cannabis distillate and tumbled in a proprietary blend of seasonings to ensure that each one is packed with consistent and irresistible flavor.
TSUMo’s chili limon tortilla strips have an electric zing of lime. Using a special blend of paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder, among other ingredients, a single chip contains a powerful, zesty punch of spice similar to Takis chips. The brand’s fiery hot crunchers, on the other hand, offer a pleasant yet spicy heat that makes you grab for the nearest glass of water, but keeps you coming back for more.
Not only are TSUMo Snacks easy to pick up and eat right out of the bag, but you can also take these infused chips to the next level as an additional ingredient or complement to a meal. Integrate these flavor-packed chips into more creative dishes, from chips on a sandwich, additions to a snacky DIY charcuterie board, or as you’ll see on our recipes page, a crunchy mac and cheese dish worthy of any 4/20 celebration.
Courtesy TSUMo Snacks
Recipe: Hot Mac & Cheese
by TSUMo Snacks
Ingredients (Serves 6)
2 cups dry elbow macaroni shells or cavatappi
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon each, salt and pepper
2 cups of shredded sharp cheese
6 10 mg-size bags of Fiery Hot TSUMo Snacks
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bring a pot of water to a boil; add a generous sprinkling of salt. Cook pasta.
While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a separate skillet or a large pot.
Add the flour to the butter and stir over medium heat until the mixture is lightly browned; 1-2 minutes.
Add the milk and whisk to remove any lumps and add the salt and pepper.
Cook over medium-high heat until the sauce thickens and starts to bubble (about 6 minutes).
Stir in the cheese and whisk until smooth and melted. Turn off the heat.
When the pasta is almost done but still firm, drain it and add it to the cheese sauce.
Smash all 6 bags of Fiery Hot TSUMo Snacks into little crunchy bits.
Sprinkle about two bags of the Fiery Hot dust on top of mac & cheese and bake for 20-25 minutes in a buttered dish.
Let the mac set, and add the remaining four bags of Fiery Hot dust.
This article was originally published in the April 2023 issue of High Times Magazine.
Cannabis growers in the U.S. certainly aren’t hurting for options when it comes to buying seeds from brick-and-mortar or online shops. With all these choices, it really takes something amazing to stand out from the crowd and win over the trust of discerning U.S. customers. Well, guess what? Herbies USA Express, a brand-new U.S. branch of Herbies, has got that special something, and we’re about to spill the beans on why it’s so awesome. Spoiler alert: it’s a game-changer for American cannabis growers and users seeking speedy delivery and high-quality seeds!
What is Herbies, Anyway?
Herbies has come a long way since its humble beginnings back in 2000 when it started out as a small cannabis seed store in the UK. By 2009, they hit the milestone of shipping 100,000 orders, and by 2013, they were already covering 100 countries. Things really began to amp up in 2019, when Herbies moved its HQ to sunny Spain. The next year, they celebrated their first million orders shipped, and in 2021, they founded their very own seed bank, Herbies Seeds.
Courtesy Herbies USA Express
Herbies currently offers over 1,500 cannabis strains from 99 seed banks. The store has partnered with Europe’s leading breeders such as Fast Buds, Barney’s Farm, Blimburn Seeds, Dutch Passion, and Sensi Seeds. Whether you’re on the hunt for regular or feminized seeds, photoperiods or autoflowers, high-THC or high-CBD strains, you can be sure to find something to your liking with such a wide variety of offerings.
Why Choose Herbies USA Express?
In 2022, Herbies launched Herbies USA Express, a special brand that brings its passion for top-notch seeds and lightning-fast delivery to its friends across the pond. You might be thinking, “Why pick Herbies USA Express out of all the seed banks out there?” Here’s why:
Top-shelf selection: Herbies USA Express offers over 140 strains handpicked just for U.S. growers who are on the hunt for high potency and bountiful harvests in record time. And guess what? The list keeps growing!
Faster than a speeding bong hit: You can have your order delivered to any U.S. state in just 2-3 business days, so you’ll be planting those babies in no time.
Pay your way with ease: Take your pick from a variety of payment options – no sketchy stuff.
No customs drama: Since they’re based in the U.S., ordering from Herbies USA Express means saying adios to any customs issues.
Returns, no sweat: If, for some reason, you don’t get what you were expecting, they’ve got a solid return policy to put your mind at ease.
Here’s a sneak peek at four of their most potent, high-yielding strains:
A descendant of the famous genetic, Northern Lights #10 is mostly Indica and exhibits classic Indica traits and effects. With a colossal THC strength of 29-33%, this weed delivers sedative and dreamy effects that help to slow down your mind and envelop your body in a warm, blissful buzz. The aroma is a delightful mix of citrus and juniper, while the exhale leaves a pleasant earthy taste on the palate.
The plants grow compact enough to fit almost any indoor setup. However, NL #10 still manages to yield an impressive 1.8-2.1 oz/ft² (550-650 g/m²) indoors and up to 1.6-1.9 lb (750-850 grams) outdoors in under 8 weeks of flowering.
Bruce Banner Fast Version is a captivating strain with its genetic roots in the legendary OG Kush and Sour Diesel varieties. Although it’s a dominant Indica, this hybrid produces stimulating effects that are more typical of a Sativa – a head-to-toe euphoria that blends a motivating head high with soothing full-body relaxation. Another highlight of this strain is its distinctive aroma – a pungent diesel fuel scent wrapped in a sweet fruity package.
True to its name, Bruce Banner Fast Version takes just 49-56 days of 12/12 light schedule indoors. Despite its short budding period, it churns out generous yields of 1.3-1.6 oz/ft² (400-500 g/m²) indoors and 19.4-23 oz (550-650 g) per plant in outdoor gardens.
Mimosa was created as a cross between Purple Punch and Clementine. This Sativa-leaning hybrid boasts 28-30% THC and offers boundless euphoria, filling users with creative ideas and providing the energy and focus needed to accomplish any task. Mimosa’s buds are prized by smokers for their distinctive sweet citrus smell with a touch of pine.
The flowering period lasts between 63 and 70 days after switching to 12/12. When given proper care, this herb yields 2.4-2.8 oz/ft² (750-850 g/m²) indoors and an insane 3.3-4.5 pounds (1500-2100 grams) per plant outdoors.
Bruce Banner Auto is a monster-sized, highly productive strain that has its roots in the legendary genetics of OG Kush and Strawberry Diesel. This autoflower leans to the Sativa side of things and boasts an impressive 27% THC, delivering an uplifting and energizing high that’s perfect for early morning sessions. The plants kick out a pungent citrusy aroma, while the flavor is earthier with subtle sweet notes.
As a Sativa hybrid, Bruce Banner Auto takes around 77-87 days to grow and shines most in indoor setups, where it yields an impressive 1.9-2.2 oz/ft² (600-700 g/m²). Outdoors, a single plant can bring in up to 7 oz (200 g) of bud.
How Fast is Herbies USA Express Shipping?
Herbies USA Express knows that growers are eager to get their hands on their seeds ASAP, and they’re all about making it happen. Operating out of New York, the store ensures speedy and safe delivery right to your doorstep. No more nail-biting and endless waiting for your seeds to arrive!
What sets Herbies USA Express apart from the competition is their insanely fast shipping time of just 2-3 business days. In a world where lengthy delivery times and unreliable shipping services are all too common, this is something special!
What About Payment?
Herbies USA Express gets it that when it comes to buying cannabis seeds, convenience is key. Everyone has their favorite way to pay, so they offer different payment methods, all of which are safe and legit.
Whether you’re a fan of digital wallets, prefer traditional mail payments, or enjoy the ease of using banking apps, Herbies USA Express has you covered.
Ready to Grow with Herbies USA Express? Get a Discount!
As you can see, Herbies USA Express truly aims to make your shopping experience a breeze, so it’s no wonder they’re quickly becoming a go-to source for growers across the U.S.
To top it all off, they’re offering you a sweet deal! Use the promo code USAEXPRESS15 at checkout to get a 15% discount on your entire order. It’s their way of saying “thanks” for choosing them as your trusted supplier. Happy growing!
Haejin Chun, the chef behind the cannabis-friendly Big Bad Wolf dinners, follows her heart to radical places in this world gone crazy, normalizing cannabis and building authentic community. Originally from Southern California, Chun studied installation and community art at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco before pursuing a dream of living as an artist in Paris. With romanticized ideas of drawing something on a napkin and paying for her coffees, Chun spent two years in artist residencies while living in a beautiful rooftop terraced-apartment in the heart of the city of love. The seed was planted for her private chef business in Paris, which takes its food scene more seriously than many other places. She had hosted private non-cannabis-friendly dinners for about two years when California legalized cannabis for adult use in 2018. She says the next step of starting Big Bad Wolf was a “no-brainer” that would be harder to resist than allow it to unfold.
“I love hosting,” Chun says over a phone call after a busy weekend of events at the 2022 Emerald Cup Harvest Ball. “I think the food is always secondary to me. It’s really about the guest experience for me and to kind of keep up with that love of wanting to gather people together, wanting to make these connections. There’s nothing else that brings people together and makes people kind of check their ego at the door than somebody who puts their full heart into the food.”
Courtesy Big Bad Wolf
Women at the Table
While Chun has hosted many cannabis pop-ups and private dinners at this point, her first cannabis gathering held just for women remains a special memory.
“It’s just a totally different vibe when you have a table full of badass women,” she says. “Something about the women’s dinners are calling me more.”
At the first women’s dinner she hosted, everything on the menu was centered on optimal ingredients for vaginal health, beginning with a communal elixir.
“We do a lot of herbal concoctions in ancient culture and traditional Chinese medicine, so I blended a lot of herbs like ginseng and ginger with pineapple and other things that are good for your vagina and made that into a communal shot,” Chun says of the drink that included cannabis-infused honey. “I bought these gorgeous vessels and it became ceremonial.”
She describes women pouring shots for each other, creating a collective energy that, once combined with a healer who led a guided meditation, resulted in some dinner guests letting themselves be seen entirely raw and exposed by weeping into their dinner napkins.
Photo by Grace Sager
“There have been women and other people in the community that have come up to me and been like, ‘Your events are the only place I truly feel safe just to be me,’” Chun says. “That was the highest compliment I could receive doing what I do… I feel like, on an ancestral level, cannabis has been such a huge part of our lineage. It’s been used for death rituals and communal gatherings… I feel like there is this ceremonial, ritual element to cannabis that I really feel is a huge part of what I want to advocate for.”
At another dinner Chun, who is a first-generation Korean American, says that she curated a menu “that shaped the woman that I am.” One of the dishes was entitled “caretaker” and examined “how women are expected to step into this role of being caretaker.”
“We don’t always get to celebrate our own rights of passage because we have to step into this role for whether it’s our parents or our family or whoever it is and it’s kind of like expected of us,” she says. “There’s a specific dish and it’s basically jook, which is like a rice porridge that we make whenever somebody is sick and obviously, I did it in an elevated way.”
Photo by Grace Sager
The dish found its cannabis element in a homemade chili oil infusion. Chun treats the cannabis ingredient the same way she treats the other aspects of the meal, looking for seasonal, fresh, sustainable ingredients and often working with cold-pressed rosin in her infused dishes.
“I don’t really want to go to an infused ingredient that’s been sitting on the shelves for whatever amount of time,” Chun says. “Even with olive oil, there’s a rancid period and it changes the flavor, so I like to make fresh batches of everything before every dinner.”
And it’s not just the same chili oils every time. Each blend she creates is suited to complement particular dishes.
“You could have a chili oil with 20 different types of spices or types of ingredients, you know, there’s just a full spectrum and I feel like not every chili oil will work with every dish, so, for me, being intentional with what chili oil I use is really important too.”
Photo by Grace Sager
Leading the Pack
Chun’s a self-trained chef who challenged herself to up her game while hosting dinners in Paris. She’s lived the “Cali lifestyle” since her teenage years when she started smoking weed, but says it was always something that she had to hide from her family.
“As soon as [California] legalized I was like, ‘Let’s fucking go,’” she says. “It was a no-brainer. I felt like it would have been harder to resist than it would have to just let it unfold the way that it did.”
But even though Chun was ready to host infused meals and dinners with cannabis flower pairings, the world around her was not and she initially struggled to find private spaces open to cannabis consumption.
“When I first started, it was definitely difficult to find cannabis-friendly venues,” she says. “The owners or the people who managed the property smoked weed and they were still like, ‘I don’t know what the neighbors will say.’ And I would literally sit them down and be like, ‘So you smoke and you’re all about this, but you’re still perpetuating this like, I don’t actually fuck with you narrative?’ And I was like, ‘Don’t you think it’s important, especially because we’re at the forefront of legalization, to advocate for more spaces for us?’”
Photo by Grace Sager
She also reflects a drive to walk into the wild unknown with the name of her company. The phrase Big Bad Wolf has been something that has stuck with her since her childhood when her grandma would tell her folklore stories about a wolf. In naming her business, she was also thinking about how people “wolf down” food and how wolves travel in communal packs.
“The leader always leads from the back to make sure that everybody gets there,” she says. “I feel like that was truly the heart of the messaging behind what we do and making sure everybody gets a seat at the table. In a way, you know, it just all made sense.”
True to form, Chun followed her instincts and turned down a spot on the Food Network’s competitive reality cooking show Chopped 420, only to have the producers call her back later offering an opportunity to work behind the scenes as a cannabis consultant.
“It was such a proud moment for me to have that affirmation of like, ‘Yo! You stayed true to who you were and you never shied away from it. You weren’t apologetic. And now you’re being rewarded and recognized for it,” she says.
In terms of what’s next, Chun is hosting private cannabis dinners and planning more cannabis pop-ups. The best way to get brought into her tight-knit wolf pack is to follow her on Instagram @bigbadwolfsf.
Courtesy Big Bad Wolf
Recipe: Chili Oil
by Haejin Chun
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp ginger
1 Tbsp garlic
1 Tbsp dried chili flakes
1 Tbsp Sichuan chilis
1/8 tsp cardamom
1/4 tsp of anise
1/4 tsp coriander
1/4 tsp of white pepper
Pinch of salt
1/4 cup of avocado oil
1/4 cup of cannabis-infused sesame oil
Note: I infused the sesame oil with 1 gram of decarbed 8th Wonder (Cherry Kush x Louis XIII OG) by Permanent Holiday.
Instructions:
Mince ginger and garlic.
Grind all spices to powder.
Add everything to a heat proof/tempered glass jar.
Heat up avocado oil to 230 degrees Fahrenheit and pour over dry ingredients.
Make sure to leave extra room for bubbling and add cannabis-infused sesame oil slowly.
This article was originally published in the March 2023 issue of High Times Magazine.
Movies, TV, books, podcasts and live showings provide us with a wealth of horror classics and new entries to enjoy, particularly after lighting up one or several joints. But much like innovations in consumption tech, horror has evolved to include a new class of productions to enjoy.
Digital animators have thrived over the years, creating massive online platforms and expanding the reach of animators and designers. Many are now the creators of some of the best visuals in films and video games–and it all can be found on social media.
After conducting years of exhaustive research, aka getting high and watching scary stuff online, these are some of my top horror animators to check out.
Lights Are Off
First up is the animator that kickstarted my most recent plunge into horror mediums: Lights Are Off.
Holiday season 2021 is when I came across a wonderfully horrifying video featuring Krampus, and I thought to myself, “I need to see more of the hellscapes this animator has envisioned.” And I’ve never been happier with my decision.
Check out Lights Are Out on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. Their monster survival game, Zoonomaly, is expected to drop in the coming weeks.
Borisao Blois
Borisao Blois can make anyone fear the water. Fan of ice fishing? Let Blois’ horror shorts fill your mind with scenarios that definitely can’t happen, right? Enjoy scuba diving? Think again after Blois delivers deep sea fears with Cthulu, ningens and other frights. If you’re seeking a more extended dose of deep-sea scares, I recommend checking out Blois’ The Bloop vs. El Gran Majá. It will conjure up oceanic Godzilla or Clash of the Titans vibes.
Back in the day, way back, like 2005, viral content wasn’t as commonly sourced—especially in the WTF category. So, when we got weird shit, we held onto it. One of the earliest viral entries my stoned friends and I came across was David Firth’s Salad Fingers. It freaked the shit out of us.
Maybe it was because I had just started smoking weed, and two hits got me feeling like several dabs would today. Or, perhaps it was because 2008 was a less crazy time—we hadn’t even gotten designer drug-addled zombies by then.
But folks flipped out when Salad Fingers hit the likes of Ebaumsworld and Newgrounds. Not because it was anything over the top or shocking. It was just weird—and at 18 and newly into weed, strange was enough to get the job done. Then again, this is the opinion of a dude who thought Donnie Darko was deep and coherent for several years.
Firth’s continued at Salad Fingers over the years while launching various other shows through his Fat Pie productions.
Steve Cutts
Steve Cutts is a well-known UK-based animator and illustrator. At it for over a decade, Cutts has rightfully earned a significant following using the horrors of man as a driving theme. Be it visual or still image, Cutts’ work places the blame at humanity’s feet through an array of striking scenes of what we’ve done to the planet and what future generations have inherited.
Additional works from Cutts highlight other horrifying aspects of life, including the rigors of the daily rat race. You may also be frightened by the electronic remix of Pink Floyd’s The Wall, but that’s a different kind of scary creation.
And in less horrifying scenes, Cutts’ Anytime is ice cream time is a wonderfully trippy meets tragic journey from the delicious treats’ perspective.
Aleksey__N is a 3D artist and designer who creates a range of stunning horror mixed with sci-fi and action. Aleksey’s tragic scenes from the Golden Gate Bridge could dupe a few stoned friends or family members who love posting hate about the area on Facebook—until Godzilla shows up. But what truly stands out are the graphics. The high-quality 3D works are some of the more realistic, top-notch works around.
Aleksey__N’s work spans genres and scenes, often mixing reality and fantasy in the form of sci-fi, destruction, and two of my personal favorites: dinosaurs and megalodons. And they provided the long-sought-after proof confirming the moon landing was fake.
I’m a massive fan of Alex Howard’s depictions of everyday frustrating scenes, like when your flight has to take caution of 50-foot humanoid skeletons roaming nearby. Or, when your perfectly curated snow shoveling job is ruined by some kid and a bunch of debris getting sucked up into a UFO.
Howard’s dark world contains a range of giant monsters and forces, including a massive electromagnetic Wechuge that would be awesome to see from a reasonable distance away.
Simone Vezzani is an Italian visual artist who makes some of the more stunningly jarring scenes on the list. Vezzani’s collection of striking dark art ranges from bodily damage and mutilations to scenes that would make most of us stop, say ‘what the fuck,’ and then crap our pants.
Vezzani’s work is some of the most realistic, striking animations I’ve encountered, blending classic art, everyday scenes and other familiar settings with surreal concepts that veer into horror and sci-fi.
Keep stumbling down the rabbit hole, and you’ll find tons more—including moving depictions of Iran as citizens clash with leadership over women’s civil rights in the country.
With stellar, diverse works and millions of followers on social media, it’s no wonder Shortest Blockbusters has partnered with major film studios, music groups and video game studios.
And that’s the list, though not in its entirety. Use this list to help kick things off for your trip down the horror rabbit hole. I could keep going, but this list has to end somewhere.
Now, it’s up to you—and me if my editors want a second installment created. But for now, it’s up to you.
Explore the depths online for yourself. Do what most of us do best, and start doom scrolling on your favorite social apps. Those algorithms will catch on soon enough and start delivering these and other animators to ya’ real soon. And isn’t that really the scariest thing on this list?
“Empecé a hacer rap con 14 años y siempre me gustó la música en general, y bueno, el rap era mi género favorito y el freestyle también”, comenta Ptazeta en una entrevista con El Planteo. En la conversación, comparte detalles sobre su carrera, su relación con la música, el freestyle, el cannabis y la historia detrás de su colaboración con Bizarrap, el famoso productor argentino.
Curiosamente, cuando surgió la oportunidad de conectar con Bizarrap, Ptazeta no tenía música en las principales plataformas de streaming. “Lo que hacía era subir videítos de un minuto rapeando en redes sociales. Uno se hizo súper, ultra, mega viral, especialmente en Twitter. Entonces, la gente empezó a mencionar a Bizarrap”, explica. Así fue como el famoso artista llegó a conocer a Ptazeta.
La session con Biza llegó más tarde, cuando Ptazeta adquirió mayor visbilidad. Pero la rapera reconoce el mérito de Biza, el hecho de que mantuviera su palabra, y el que meses después del contacto original, volviera a ella para concretar una colaboración que le cambiaría la vida.
“Cuando salió la idea de la session por primera vez, nunca había viajado fuera de casa, ni siquiera a España continental. Si a la gente le pareció grande, imagina lo que fue para mí”, recuerda.
De free style a su style
Ptazeta comenzó a explorar el mundo del rap gracias a su pasión por el freestyle y las batallas de gallos. “A mí siempre me ha gustado escribir, cuentos, ideas, lo que fuera. A raíz de la improvisación, dije: ‘hombre, puedo sentarme a escribir una canción ayudándome de la improvisación’, y me di cuenta de que es lo que más me gusta en el mundo“, afirma. Aunque ya no practica tanto el freestyle en modo batalla, la artista confiesa que sigue disfrutando de la improvisación como método de composición.
“El freestyle fue mi refugio y terapia, me ayudó a superar momentos difíciles y a expresar lo que sentía”, explica.
A pesar de tener un gran respeto por todos los artistas del género, hay tres freestylers que la vuelven loca. “Hay tres personas que me gustan, pero mi corazón está dividido entre Klan, es impresionante ese señor, y Zasca”, confiesa. El tercero en la lista es el argentino Dani Ribba.
La respuesta
Hace unos pocos días, Ptazeta y el rapero argentino Lit Killahunieron fuerzas para presentar su innovador y explosivo nuevo single, La Respuesta. La canción combina rap y música electrónica para crear un ritmo poderosamente bailable, mostrando la identidad única de ambos artistas, que son referentes en la escena latinoamericana actual.
El el videoclip, filmado en Buenos Aires, Argentina, se puede ver a ambos artistas en un automóvil perseguido por la policía, disfrutando del momento a pesar de ello y revelando La Respuesta. La grabación del video duró aproximadamente 15 horas y contó con la participación de policías reales.
“La verdad que fue una cosa increíble, tanto la sesión porque estuvimos muy a gusto en un primer momento, como la grabación del videoclip”, comenta.
En todo esto, la opinión de su productor, Juacko, fue fundamental. “Siempre tengo su opinión muy presente, para mí es mi hermano. Así que partí de esa base: si a él le parece buena persona [Lit Killah], a mí también”, declara.
De hecho, Ptazeta y Lit Killah se conocieron gracias Juacko. Su primer encuentro en un estudio de Miami hace año y medio dio lugar a La Respuesta. La canción, cantada en un mix de inglés y español, está hecha para disfrutar entre amigos y conectarse con el ritmo incontenible, llevando al público a un éxtasis musical.
Consumo responsable
Adentrándose en el tema del cannabis, Ptazeta admite que le gusta fumar, pero reconoce que es algo que puede ser perjudicial para su salud: “A mí me gusta mucho fumar y estoy acostumbrada a fumar y escribir, la uso para entrar en contacto con mi musa. Pero no puedo ser hipócrita al decirte que no afecta mi cuerpo, mi mente, mi garganta, mis pulmones, me produce catarro, me produce gripe”. De hecho, la artista afirma que está buscando un equilibrio entre fumar por placer y fumar por vicio.
Además, habla sobre la percepción que la gente tiene de ella en relación al consumo de cannabis. “La gente, cuando me ve, muchas veces siente como que quiere fumar conmigo porque me asocia a fumar”, dice.
A fin de cuentas, para Ptazeta, todo se trata de encontrar un equilibrio, entre el goce y la salud, entre la vida personal y la laboral. “Para mí, lo más importante es el equilibrio entre mi vida personal y mi vida laboral, porque si no tengo ese equilibrio, me cuesta mucho. Hacer yoga y meditar me ayudan mucho a mantenerme centrada”, declara.
Ptazeta también se muestra a favor de la legalización del cannabis para uso medicinal. “Con lo que haga la gente y yo, nunca rindo mucha cuenta. Para mí, todo lo que no sea dañino para la sociedad, cabe. Yo creo mucho en eso, apoyo a la gente que lo necesita”.
Finalmente, al ser consultada sobre con quién le gustaría fumar un porro si pudiera elegir a cualquier persona de la historia, Ptazeta no duda en responder: “Con Wiz Khalifa… Siento que a mí me provoca esa sensación Wiz Khalifa, como que yo quisiera fumarme un porro con él”.
El Finneas de Ptazeta
Hablando de su colaborador Juacko, el Finneas a su Billie Eilish, Ptazeta declara: “Es mi compañero, es mi hermano. No me sentiré nunca más cómoda con nadie en el estudio como siento con él, además siento que él me conoce musicalmente al hilo. El me cogió cuando yo nunca había entrado a un estudio”.
Esto es muy cierto. La artista menciona a su amado productor en todos sus temas. “Dale Juacko vamo a darle”, es una de sus más reconocidas rúbricas.
Pero, a pesar de estar acompañada por Juacko desde el día uno, la cosa no siempre ha sido fácil. En una industria dominada por hombres, la cantante se ha sentido frustrada por las expectativas y dobles estándares que enfrentan las mujeres en la música: “Yo soy así. No quiero ser menos exagerada, me parecería feo. A mí me sale decir esas cosas guarras que digo. Y también mola mucho esa parte de que la gente se impresiona, aunque en realidad ya no debería dar impresión, debería ser algo muy normal”.
Y agrega: “Si eres mujer y te gusta esto, tienes que ser muy fuerte, tienes que estar muy segura de ti misma porque te van a criticar todo lo que hagas, pero tienes que ser fuerte y seguir adelante. Estamos demostrando en todos los ámbitos, como el trabajo, el deporte o la música, que tenemos un lugar”.
Al reflexionar sobre su éxito y cómo ha cambiado su vida, menciona su sencillo Estoy Bien, que escribió durante un momento “turbio” en su vida. “Fue una época un poco turbia para mí porque fue como entre el principio del boom… Yo no entendía muchas cosas, no entendía el por qué del comportamiento de la gente, por que cambiaba su comportamiento… Esas cosas a mí sí que me hicieron como mucha dualidad y mucha pelea por dentro”, recuerda.
Pero ahora, ahora Ptazeta está bien.
Las grandes ligas
Hablando de estar bien, Ptazeta hoy está firmada bajo el sello Interscope Records, famoso por trabajar con artistas como Eminem, Dr. Dre, Selena Gomez, Lana Del Rey, Gwen Stefani, Maroon 5, Sting, U2, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Bad Gyal, Tame Impala y muchos más.
Sobre esta experiencia, la artista comparte sus temores iniciales (“no quería firmar con nadie”) y destaca la importancia de la calidad humana de las personas con las que trabaja. “Tienen una calidad humana que no había visto en otras personas; entonces, para mí, eso es lo que más me vale”, dice sobre el equipo de Interscope.
Llegando hacia el final de la charla, la rapera se adentra en sus influencias y colaboraciones soñadas, mencionando a artistas como Wiz Khalifa, Eladio Carrión y Rosalía, entre otros.
Habiendo sido una visionaria, una savant, desde el primer día, Ptazeta adelanta lo que cree que se viene en la música latina: predice un furor por la mezcla entre el género del corrido (mexicano) y el trap.
“Al final, todo eso se compone de una letra que está a base de una rima que es una poesía; entonces, al final, todo es rap para mí, y yo considero que las personas que escribimos en sí, hacemos poesía, sea lo que sea. Aunque haga reggaeton, cumbia o música clásica, yo me considero rapera”, concluye.
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I am incredibly proud to bring you another former United States Marine 0311 rifleman (like myself) to this month’s Veteran Chronicles: Tom Rand.
Rand is a Marine Corps veteran, activist, proud father, and husband who was born and raised in Reading, Massachusetts. At the ripe young age of 17, Rand bravely stepped on the yellow footprints at Parris Island, South Carolina, a tradition that all recruits undergo in their transition from civilian to U.S. Marine. He was immediately deployed to Beirut, Lebanon, in 1983, and when he returned home, he was stationed at Camp Geiger, North Carolina, for the duration of his service.
Today, Rand will proudly tell you that he has broken free from the chains of big pharmaceutical companies and the addiction that often comes with those very strong chains—chains that very few veterans can break. Now, Rand proudly pays allegiance to longtime Korean War veteran brothers for leading him down the path toward medicinal cannabis. That’s all it took to open his eyes wide to the healing powers and possibilities of cannabis.
Nearly a decade ago, Rand proudly picked up the nickname “Tom Cape Gardener”—a reference to Rand’s mission to help any and all veterans who wanted the opportunity to grow their own cannabis. Rand reaches out to other local growers and producers in search of donations, such as used equipment, seeds, lights, ballasts, etc., to give to his fellow veterans for free. Rand has never charged a veteran a penny for anything that has been donated. As Rand likes to put it, he does it “all for a handshake,” a motto he has used since the founding of his organization.
Five years ago, Rand realized his mission wasn’t a solo journey. Rand needed assistance from other patriots and veterans, which led to the creation of his organization, Patriots Helping Vets. It initially began as a Facebook group that helped him network with veterans and civilians in his community. Patriots Helping Vets now brings together those who are willing to jump on board with the organization’s mission: “To provide U.S. veterans the equipment, support, and education for horticultural therapy.” Rand and his organization are currently working on becoming a 501(c)(4) nonprofit charity to officially give more veterans nationwide the opportunity to become a self-sustaining, productive grower in their gardens. Ultimately, Rand empowers veterans and teaches them how to cultivate their own herbal medicine.
High Times: How many years passed after your military service before you learned about the healing properties of medical cannabis?
Tom Rand: I learned about the benefits from using cannabis medicinally about 25 years after getting out.
Do you believe that we will see the end of cannabis prohibition in your lifetime?
I would like to see it repealed and allow every citizen the ability to grow [cannabis] and get the true benefit of horticultural therapy. I don’t have much faith in our government to legalize it without it being a shit show.
What organizations or individuals have been a staple in providing donations or volunteering to help foster and grow your mission?
My family has always been my biggest supporters. My wife, Marty, and kids, Josh and Mary, helped make my dream into a mission. Ian Schlesinger from Purpose Genetics has provided thousands of seeds over the years. The Massachusetts cannabis community, without their support I don’t know where my mission would be. The Harvest Cup, New England’s best cannabis cup, and MassCann [and] The Boston Freedom Rally. Anthony B has always been in my corner with supporting our mission, donating hundreds of clones every spring to give out. We had a lot of help along the way unbreakabowl.com, stoneddust.com, and Pot Pockets have helped with giveaways throughout the years. Stem Haverhill has been incredibly supportive. To see where we have come from to having Growers Choice Horticultural lighting, Petratools, MicrobeLifeHydro, ChilLED grow lights, The Soil King, Project Delta 518, Brothers Grimm Seeds’s Rick [Campanella] always goes beyond to show us support. Now the misfits help steer the mission in the right direction. They consist of Shar, Rick, Jeremy, Josh, Mary, Ian, Dari, Joe, Joseph, Ronnie, Elton, Kyle, LaToya, and Dan. It’s amazing to see the passion they have towards our mission.
In one word, please describe the current state of legalization in Massachusetts.
Unfair. The [veterans] that have a true passion of growing medicine have a lot harder of a time, it seems, than the greedy bottom liners. The ones [who] suffered the most from the dark ages have the hardest time to open a grow operation or dispensary. I had the privilege to follow Big Ed and Ed Desousa’s journey of following their dream. After a lot of hurdles and hoops to go through, they created RiverRun Gardens, which produces some of the finest cannabis in the state. Why? Because they have pride and passion for their products.
What year did Massachusetts legalize medical and recreational cannabis?
Medical passed on November 6, 2012, and recreational on December 15, 2016.
Did the state of Massachusetts add any benefits to veterans as part of its legalization programs? Anything such as free medication or free authorizations for vets programs?
None that I’m aware of, but we have always helped veterans with free meds and FECO [full extract cannabis oil], along with passing on donated lights, nutrients, clones, and seeds. We just recently teamed up with Dr. Marion McNabb from The Cannabis Center of Excellence and Gibby’s Garden [who] launched the first Massachusetts Veterans Cannabis Access Research Project. Veterans can enroll and complete a baseline survey and have the opportunity (only 450 qualifying veterans) can receive two 1/8 ounces of flower, two pre-rolls, and a 15 ml of tincture for only $2.
Where do you see Patriots Helping Vets in 2032?
Hopefully we will be legally helping every veteran from every state to grow their own meds. We want to eventually have co-ops across the nation that covers operating expenses [and] then donate the balance of harvest to local veterans [who] can’t grow or afford to buy this wonderful medicine. Become more involved with the lobbying of the right for every veteran to grow their own meds at home. I truly believe that if a state only allows sales but not home grows then that’s just fucking taxation. Community cannabis gardens [should be allowed] across the country with classes and workshops all for free to veterans—they’ve paid too much already to be charged a penny.
What is your all-time favorite strain of cannabis?
Maui Waui, aka Maui Wowie, is by far my most beneficial strain.
Any mentors you would like to praise or give thanks to?
Dr. Howard Irwin for bringing my soil game to a whole new level with using natural local resources. Harold and Keith for showing me what this wonderful plant was really about. They taught me instead of growing a ton.
This article was originally published in the October 2022 issue of High Times Magazine.
