Connecticut Governor Selects Chairman of Social Equity Council

Connecticut’s adult-use law was packed with provisions to ensure an equitable industry, and now the state’s Social Equity Council has a new chairman.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced on Dec. 27 that he selected Paul O. Robertson, deputy commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), to serve as Chair of the state’s Social Equity Council.

The Social Equity Council seeks to ensure that Connecticut’s adult-use cannabis program is fairly represented, and ensure that funds from the adult-use cannabis program go to the right communities that are disproportionately hit hardest by the War on Drugs, according to the council’s Code of Ethics. Robertson’s new role begins when the seat becomes vacant at the beginning of next year.

“Connecticut’s adult-use cannabis program is at a pivotal time right now, and I appreciate the steps the Social Equity Council has taken to date to ensure that it is rolled out in an equitable manner as we envisioned when we enacted this law,” Governor Lamont said. “Paul will bring relevant experience and strong existing relationships with council members to his role as chair, and I thank him for agreeing to take on this leadership position.”

Deputy Commissioner Robertson succeeds Andréa Comer, deputy commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP), as chair of the Social Equity Council. 

Deputy Commissioner Comer plans to depart her job at DCP and her membership on the council to take upon a new role as chief of staff for Treasurer-elect Erick Russell. That new role will be filled when he takes the oath of office on January 4, 2023. Per state statutes, the governor must select one of the council’s members to serve as its new chair.

“I am grateful to Governor Lamont for entrusting me with this important role and I look forward to serving the state in this new capacity,” Deputy Commissioner Robertson said. “Deputy Commissioner Comer has done a tremendous job leading the Social Equity Council to this point, and I plan to continue to work alongside its members and our partner agencies to ensure the adult-use cannabis market grows equitably.”

The Purpose of the Social Equity Council

The enforcement of cannabis laws disproportionately targeted certain communities, and cannabis minority ownership remains low, leading many states to adopt social equity provisions to make an effort to fix some lingering issues. 

In Connecticut, the state’s census tracts identify Disproportionately Impacted Areas to promote and encourage the full participation in the cannabis industry by people from communities disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition. The recommended tracts are available to see on the Connecticut Open Data Portal.

To qualify as a Disproportionately Impacted Area, those communities must have either a historical conviction rate for drug-related offenses over one-tenth, or an unemployment rate over 10%, as determined annually by the Social Equity Council.

The council provides credentials for all of its council members. The council, under Connecticut’s adult-use cannabis law, Public Act 21-1, consists of 15 members—seven of whom are appointed by legislators, four of whom are appointed by the governor, and four of whom are ex-officio members.

Other efforts are being made to right the wrongs of yesterday, such as the expungement of thousands of records involving cannabis-related convictions. Earlier in the month, Gov. Ned Lamont’s office said in a press release that records “in approximately 44,000 cases will be fully or partially erased” next month by way of “an automated erasure method.”

Connecticut’s adult-use law contained provisions to award the first retail licenses to individuals from areas most adversely affected by long standing drug policies, and to clear the records of those with certain cannabis-related convictions.

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Not To Be Blunt, but Indacloud is Dropping Their SuperBlunt Collection

It’s a bird… It’s a plane… It’s SuperBlunt! Indacloud is making life easier with their premade, ready-to-go, no need to roll, SuperBlunts. Don’t take the “Super” in SuperBlunt lightly, either. These bad boys have 3 grams of pure premium flower smothered in live resin and doused in extra distillate to give it that extra kick, but it doesn’t stop there. They seal the blunt using an organic hemp wrap and throw it around in some CBG kief for the ultimate smoking experience. You’ll be able to taste the herbaceous terpenes that come bursting out—the perfect late-night toke for the experienced connoisseur. 

Since the Farm Bill passed in 2018, hemp-derived Delta-9 has become legal, meaning you can sit back and relax after ordering, knowing your stash will soon be replenished in 3-5 days. And the best part about this collection of SuperBlunts is that they can be delivered straight to your doorstep without you ever having to leave the couch except to pick up your package of SuperBlunts, of course.

Are temptations already driving you wild? Indacloud can help with that! For a limited time, they’re dropping prices on their SuperBlunt collection for all High Times readers and offering all three blunts at a special low price of $69.99. That’s almost 45% off! Scoop up singular SuperBlunts for $10 off as well. If you thought it couldn’t get better, guess again. Indacloud will offer free shipping nationwide as part of their SuperBlunt Collection kick-off! Now, more than ever, is the time to stock up on your supply or experience a new sensation of smoking.

Read on to hear more about Indacloud’s new collection of SuperBlunts and why they’re the best option for a heavy-hitting pre-rolled blunt.

Hemp Wraps Vs. Tobacco Wraps

Courtesy of Indacloud

“Stop killing each other, man. Let’s just smoke a blunt.” – Tupac 

If you’ve sat around a circle and participated in a little puff, puff, pass within the last few decades, there’s a good chance you’ve smoked a blunt. Or, if you’re new here, you might’ve at least heard of the term blunt—essentially, it’s one big joint wrapped up in either a hemp or tobacco wrapper.

It’s hazy to pinpoint when the blunt first originally surfaced. Still, some cannabis scholars say the blunt can be traced back to the Caribbean, where Jamaicans would use hemp leaves or cigar wrappers to help disguise the smell of weed. Another reason? They just wanted to smoke more bud in one sitting. I mean, can you blame them? Indacloud’s SuperBlunt rivals the tobacco leaf offering a more organic, pure, and safer experience that still packs a punch!

Tobacco Wraps

Traditionally, tobacco blunt wraps consist of an emptied-out cigar filled with marijuana, then rerolled to smoke. For many, this was a convenient option. Let’s say someone was heading to the gas station on their way home and wanted to pick up a rolled cigar, like Swishers or Backwoods. It was quick and easily accessible.

For a long while, this form of blunt was the most common until the FDA started making noise about the consumption of tobacco products. Soon after, new laws prohibited the sale of tobacco and cannabis products altogether. No, this wasn’t because “the man” was trying to bring us down. But instead, the light was being shed on Big Tobacco. Many soon made the epiphany that tobacco is a major carcinogen and can contain harmful chemical residue that not everyone wants to put in their lungs. Plus, not everyone enjoys a tobacco head high, either.

Hemp Wraps

Similar to tobacco wraps, hemp wraps have been around for just as long. Still, it wasn’t until 2017 that they started to gain popularity. With the 2018 Farm Bill soon to be set in motion, cannabis retailers wanted an alternative option to offer their buyers. Now we see hemp wraps provided almost everywhere.

Unlike tobacco wraps, hemp offers an organic high. Hemp wraps usually contain no additives, preservatives, or harmful chemicals. Hemp leaves don’t produce any tar in the lungs either when inhaled, making them a clean option, especially for someone looking for a healthy high.

Already known for their superior cannabis and dispensary grade Delta-9, it’s a no-brainer that Indacloud chose to use hemp for their new collection. When creating the SuperBlunt, Indacloud knew the best way to truly experience the flavors and terpenes that encapsulate the blunt would be by using a hemp wrap.

Courtesy of Indacloud

The Secret Formula

Okay, maybe not so secret since we’re about to spill the beans to you, but this combination is undoubtedly perfection *chefs kiss*. Indacloud has combined the best components of cannabis and rolled them all up into one. Think of a gooey seven-layer bar, but in the form of cannabis… BRB, we’re drooling.

This delicious recipe includes premium CBD flower paired with a splash of CBG and a handful of Delta-9 combined with both THC and THC-O. Throw in some live resin and extra distillate, and wrap it up in a nice juicy hemp wrap. Oh, and we can’t forget the sifted CBG kief coating the exterior. The only thing missing is the cherry on top, which will soon come once sparked. A true pièce de résistance.

Three Blunt Flavors

These potent SuperBlunts offer an excellent high and allow you to taste and experience the terpenes that ooze out upon first lighting. Indulge your senses in three fun and tasty flavors: Grapesauras Rex, Ice Cream, and Notorious Backwoods. Every SuperBlunt contains 3 grams of premium flower, dispensary-grade Delta-9, and the satisfaction of a good high.

Courtesy of Indacloud

Grapesauras Rex

Wake up your senses and your taste buds! This Grapeasaures Rex SuperBlunt is epic. This Sativa dominant blunt packs more grape flavor than you can fit in a T-Rex’s mouth (that’s a lot of flavor). It’s ready to go and light up straight out of the package, dominating the category of blunts. Expect a nice sweet grape flavor with a light piney undertone to bring it all together. Prepare to feel an energetic and buzzy come-up that will rocket you into adventure mode if you lean into it.

Courtesy of Indacloud

Ice Cream

This is a great place to start if you’ve never smoked a blunt. Don’t get us wrong, it’s still strong AF, but the mellow Hybrid feeling is highly comforting. You’ll wow yourself, perhaps even question how one can cross a blunt with Ice Cream?! Keep an open mind and light up this smooth, creamy, sweet, and lightly fruity SuperBlunt. The word flawless would be an understatement when referring to the perfection this high gives—an excellent balance between feeling mellow and letting the challenging parts of the day go.

Courtesy of Indacloud

Notorious Backwoods

Indacloud has combined the true essence of our favorite Notorious rapper with the original blunt-rolling cigar. These two iconic powerhouses transform into the Notorious Backwoods, an out-of-this-world Indica SuperBlunt experience. The flavor is true to OG Backwoods, without the tobacco, recognizable by smooth cigar notes and a light sweetness to make every inhale better than the last. This is the blunt for you if you like cigars, good weed strains, or feeling like royalty. 

Blunt Opinion, Check Out SuperBlunts

It’s time to take advantage of some of the market’s purest, most powerful blunts. There’s a blunt for every occasion with Indacloud’s variety of Sativa, Hybrid, and Indica SuperBlunts. For a limited time, Indacloud is slashing prices and offering a packaged deal on all three SuperBlunts. Treat yourself to some much-needed TLC with an assortment of delicious flavors. It will take a lot of work to choose just one favorite. Luckily, they’ve made that decision easier for you with their limited-time offer of bundling all three SuperBlunts at a discounted price, allowing you to experience all three highs that SuperBlunts offer.

Okay, so let’s review what we’ve learned so far:

1. Indacloud has created a collection of SuperBlunts, one of the most powerful highs on the market.
2. They use organic ingredients, from the hemp wraps to the flower.
3. SuperBlunts come in 3 kick-ass flavors.
4. Most importantly, the SuperBlunt collection will be heavily discounted for all High Times readers for a limited time.

You’ll also score free shipping! 

So, all that’s left to do is claim your offer, sit back, relax, and wait for your SuperBlunts to arrive.

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Smoking Through Art Basel Featuring The Yutes

With that being my objective, my week was destined to be a huge win. In fact, this was my opportunity to link with The Yutes, two brothers named Chris and Santris (or Tris) who are making quite a buzz with their music. These youngsters have been on my radar since they landed a prime slot on a SXSW Takeover showcase in Austin, TX. I’ve had my hand in producing this event over thee years and it’s proven to be a valuable platform for artists to develop and break their careers. This was the circumstance for The Yutes, and continuing on their growing momentum, they dropped a single entitled, “Trap Don Dada,” ultimately scoring a deal from Babygrande Records. I had the chance to check all their music out and was captured by their unique way of incorporating their youthful insights and mashing it up with trap and reggae sounds. During my discoveries, I found that they were not only natives of Kingston, Jamaica, but their dad is the iconic dancehall legend Mr Lexx. Needless to say, my mind was blown and they haven’t left my radar since.

While it could be easy to get overwhelmed by all of the events going on during Art Basel, it was a no-brainer to clear my schedule for a night out at SkateBird, who converted their skatepark into a full-blown concert venue featuring performances from none other than The Yutes and stoner rap legend Curren$y—courtesy of Clockwork Music. I knew that this was my chance to link up with The Yutes and get them really really high. 

On my way out of town, I wanted to make sure I had some official New York pack on me, so I stopped by The Astor Club and grabbed a few 8ths of the Sour Power for me, and a couple Sheist Bubz to gift to The Yutes. I also snatched a Punch Bar for my flight. After consuming a combination of my goodies, I arrived at the airport feeling like I could float to Florida without the plane. 

Somehow, I made it to Miami and the mission was to head straight to the show. I arrived, rolled up some of the Sour Power, and proceeded to find The Yutes and hand over the packs I brought them. We chopped it up, then immediately started to Chong out in their green room. Upon venturing out, we realized that there was a whole other cannabis pop-up event upstairs at SkateBird called Terp Basel. Cookies was in the building; they now have a location in Miami and it’s cool to see them support events like these. My New York homies, 167 Exotics, were there and they hooked us up with some with some powerful Cherry Poppers buds. We also ran into the TerpHogz gang and they let us try two new strains from their latest pheno hunt: Lava Cake X Zkittlez and Hindu Zkittlez x Papaya x Zkittlez #28. Eventually, it was show time. The Yutes had a tremendous performance, gracing the stage alongside Smoke DZA and Curren$y. After the crowd was rocked to its fullest potential, we ended the night smoking some more astounding weed and declared it a successful evening.

Courtesy of UnkleLuc

Things went so well that we cliqued up the next day and hit the Basel streets together to stop by various events. We pulled up to Coi Leray’s event, launching her new strain with TheTenCo, which was great because we were blessed to obtain a few packs of that delicious Pink Zushie. The rest of the day was spent at an indoor/outdoor arcade venue called FunDimension where an event called Dab Day: Art Basel Edition was held by Dab Day Productions.

Courtesy of Digi Dave

As you may assume from the name, it was certainly a terpy affair, filled with hundreds of Art Basel-goers ripping dabs, playing arcade games, and congregating over the love of cannabis. Of course we did even more smoking there: endless pre-rolls from the homies at Blazy Susan, some more fire from Buddies Bodega, and ran into Shaggy Brown with that extremely potent Shaggy OG (which is not to be slept on unless sleeping is a goal). 

Casa De Cristal, the headiest location for functional glass art in Miami, had a full-blown pop up with super rare pieces from the likes of Mothership Glass and Toro. This was where Tris took his first dab ever in life, using a Puffco Proxy. Later on, I had the honor of introducing them to one of my cannabis heroes, Richard “Uncle Rick” DeLisi. Rick, who runs his own family cannabis business called DeLisioso, blessed them with some wisdom and some merch from their booth.

Courtesy of UnkleLuc

As this night was coming to a close, it was time to hydrate, eat, and recharge, because at some point in my haze I needed to ask some burning questions to my new stoner pals.

High Times: I saw Curren$y really embrace you guys. He mentioned wanting to work again. What can you tell us about your song with him?

Chris: Making “High Grade” with Curren$y was an amazing feeling. It’s a stoner song. We live that everyday, so it was only right we tap in. Reggae is also something that we’re interested in because we come from Jamaica. We made a dope vibe and Curren$y added his flame to it. Plus he rapped a different style on it—definitely one of my favorites. 

HT: Do you remember how you were turned on to him as a fan? 

Tris: When we was 13 or 14, Wiz [Khalifa] put out a video for a Waka Flocka freestyle, called “Reefer Party.” We was tuned into Wiz because he was poppin’ out there, you know, with “Black and Yellow” and all that. Wiz was just going so hard in that video… smoke everywhere and everything. So Curren$y was not on that song, but he was in the video, and so was Nipsey Hussle. There were a lot of cameos, and us being students of the culture, we just soaked it all up. Listening to Wiz put us on to all of that.

Courtesy of Fulani Jabari

HT: What was it like to attend a pure Cannabis event like Dab Day? 

Chris: Being able to smoke so free and open like that was an experience for us. 

Tris: Whole event was crazy. We grew up with cannabis getting so much bad publicity—a lot of people in jail for the wrong reasons. Just the fact that we are at this point, where events like this exist, is beautiful. 

Chris: I was stoned as fuck, that’s why I missed out when Tris took a dab. I’m still mad about that!

Courtesy of Christian Hernandez

HT: What about meeting Rick DeLisi? 

Chris: Uncle Rick is a very intriguing and interesting person.

Tris: Everyone needs to read up on Uncle Rick’s story. But basically he was a cannabis smuggler who just got out of prison after 52 years. That is longer than both of us have been alive. It is great that he is free and happy, and smoking big.

HT: With Mr. Lexx being your father, has cannabis always been a part of your life? 

Chris: Yes, having a father in the music industry, he would always have his joints around. He would hide it from us, but we knew what it was. We figured out that it was a part of the music and his way of creating. 

Tris: And not just the weed, we found his whole lifestyle inspiring: the way he would interact with other artists, be in the studio and go to events, really made us want to go for it. He wasn’t always there, but when we do get to link it’s always an unforgettable experience.

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New Jersey Announces New Cannabis Social Equity Grant Program

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) last week announced the creation of a grant program to help small businesses with the costs associated with launching an enterprise in the state’s regulated cannabis industry. Known as the Cannabis Equity Grant Program, the new initiative will distribute up to $10 million in grants, with the majority earmarked for social equity applicants.

The new grant program was approved by a unanimous vote by the NJEDA board at its monthly meeting last week. In a statement, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said the grants will help level the playing field for entrepreneurs from underserved communities to participate in the new economy for recreational marijuana, which was legalized following the passage of a statewide referendum in 2020.

“My Administration is doubling its efforts to cultivate small businesses in burgeoning industries with massive untapped potential,” said Murphy. “The establishment of the Cannabis Equity Grant Program will help aspiring small business owners meet start-up expenses in a pivotal sector within our state’s ever-growing economy. Most importantly, the program will erode considerable barriers to access for communities of color, which this program will help to equip with the resources they need to not just enter, but thrive, in this exciting new industry.”

The program authorizes up to $10 million in grants to small businesses, including $6 million reserved for cannabis social equity applicants, such as those with past convictions for cannabis-related offenses and residents of economically disadvantaged areas. The pilot grant program was authorized by legislation sponsored by Senate President Nicholas Scutari and Assembly Budget Committee Chairwoman Eliana Pintor Marin and signed into law by Murphy in June.

“This program can have a positive impact by supporting diversity in New Jersey’s cannabis industry during its formative stages,” Scutari said in a statement. “As the market continues its successful growth, these grants will help provide more opportunities to a greater number of operators in a larger number of communities to participate.” 

$6 Million For Social Equity Applicants

Up to $6 million in grants will be awarded to businesses granted conditional operating licenses from the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) that are located in economically disadvantaged areas and plan to hire 50 or fewer employees. The grants of up to $250,000 can be used by businesses formed after March 2020 in designated impact zones to help cover the start-up costs of launching a licensed cannabis company, including rent, utilities, wages, and regulatory fees. 

“The Governor and Legislature made a commitment that the cannabis market would be accessible to women and minority entrepreneurs,” said Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson. “The cannabis market is meant to be a boon for equity, but we are finding that for some people the cost of entry is too high. It is our hope that this grant program will help to begin leveling the playing field. We want to ensure that those most impacted by the war on drugs and our underserved communities have the opportunity to be a part of the process.”

The impact zones are defined by the CRC as areas with zip codes that meet specified socioeconomic criteria including poverty and unemployment levels and were heavily impacted by arrests for marijuana offenses. Entrepreneurs awarded the grants will also participate in technical assistance and business education courses provided by the NJEDA. Businesses located in impact zones that apply for the grants can have the $1,000 application fee waived.

“Part of the impetus for passing legislation for legalization was recognition that the prohibition of cannabis has, for decades, disproportionately and negatively affected young people in Black and Latino communities,” said Senator Nellie Pou. “As Chair of the Legislative Latino Caucus, I am heartened to see NJEDA launch this Cannabis Equity Grant Program to help financially with start-up costs for new businesses in those very communities that have been so adversely affected. This is one more important piece of the social equity contract that remains at the heart of cannabis legalization in New Jersey.”

The remaining $4 million in grant funding will be made available to all business entities that have secured a site for the enterprise and been awarded municipal approval, which are both requirements that must be met to apply for an annual license from the CRC. The application window for the grants will be open for 180 days following the launch of the program, according to state officials.

“We realize how important it is to empower cannabis businesses, many of which have faced barriers to accessing financial capital in the past,” said NJEDA Chief Community Development Officer Tai Cooper. “Communities that suffered unfairly during the criminalization of cannabis need the chance to benefit from new entrepreneurial opportunities created by cannabis legalization and regulated sales. We want to see these opportunities extended to those businesses that will help fill storefronts, warehouses, and other commercial properties that closed their doors during the pandemic and bring new jobs to communities where there is the greatest need.”

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An Ode to the Edible King, Perry Farrell

I want what Perry Farrell is smoking. More accurately, what edibles the Jane’s Addiction frontman is consuming. “I’m down to drink good wine and do weed,” he explained. “Well, I can’t smoke or it fucks up my voice, so I do edibles. (Dramatic Pause) EDIBLES!” At The Hollywood Bowl, Farrell spouted unconventional and conventional gold during song breaks. Even when music wasn’t filling up the bowl, Farrell didn’t let the show stop for a second.

It was the final stop for The Smashing Pumpkins and Jane’s Addiction. There’d been a few bumps in the tour, but it all ended with splendid rock and a whole lot of Perry Farrell quotes we couldn’t get enough of hearing, pondering, and wondering, how can we get high with Perry Farrell one day?

“Let’s Go Motherfuckers!” – Mr. Farrell 

The two iconic rock groups delivered more than trips down nostalgia lane together. Yes, “Jane Says” or “Tonight, Tonight” ignited a flood of feel-good memories of bright summer afternoons or lazy school days. However, even the band’s classics are gifts that keep on giving in the present. The two bands gave their fans more fond memories that’ll hit them like soft bricks when their songs hit the radio or, more accurately, Spotify in the future. 

Poppy set the tone for the night well—a mixture of rock and comedy. She’s got a lovely voice, especially when she screams, “Fuck the world, it’ll just fuck you back!” She followed that song with a brief silence and a pleasant, soft-spoken, “Thank you,” which had me howling. She just radiates rock—an artist just doing her own thing.

Jane”s Addiction / Photo Credit: Randall Michelson/Hewitt Silva-Live Nation

“Wine, weed, can’t stop, can’t stop.” – You Know Who

Once Poppy left the stage, it was Jane’s Addiction time. Queens of the Stone Age’s guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen filled in for Dave Navarro, while original bassist Eric Avery was welcomed back with love and Stephen Perkins kept the energy high on drums. Everyone on stage was playing at an 11, but Farrell, he’s just from another planet, isn’t he? 

Farrell was happy to be back home in Hollywood. The city was equally as delighted to have him back. He is a showman of his own making, although his infectious joy on stage did call David Lee Roth. Just an energizer bunny with a graceful voice to compliment his high-wired movements. 

He is almost always on the move. 

Now, I could go on and on about everything Farrell said in between songs, because really, what other frontman says during a show at the Hollywood Bowl: “It’s a good day when you have a fucking hard-on.” The memorable quotes kept on coming, but his voice was just as entertaining. 

Farrell’s voice always had a hypnotic effect.There’s a gentleness to it, kind of an innocence that can clash with or compliment his more hard-edged songs in a way that’s rich in dynamicism. That voice along with the rest of the band can send you down a nice lazy river with “Summertime Rolls,” which I really wish they played, or a rollercoaster of rock, like “Three Days.” It’s a voice and band that knows how to tell a story. 

On the last night of the tour, Perry’s voice sounded practiced, not tired. He was in lockstep with the band. The group kept the electricity on full blast. It was a show. “What goes good with wine?” Farrell asked. “Sex.” He shared this around the time Ferell’s collaborator, wife, and vocalist, the one and only Etty Lau Farrell, danced and rocked back and forth on a plastic horse. The presentation and dancers match some of Jane’s sexually charged lyrics, but there’s also romance there! It was sweet watching a couple create art together and go nuts for one another. 

By the end of Jane’s Addiction loaded one-hour set, Farrell had a bottle of wine in hand and didn’t want to leave from the look of it. The band behind one of the all-time great rock albums Nothing’s Shocking was warmly embraced. As they deserved.

“You guys like spanking? Come see me after the show.” – P.F.

Billy Corgan reminded us all that the band is now about 35 years old. There was a collective sense of, holy shit, it’s been that long? After over three decades, Corgan keeps exploring new pathways with The Smashing Pumpkins. The Pumpkins recently released ATUM – Act 1, part one of a three-part rock opera that is… divisive. Instead of delivering more of the same, why not polarize, right? Flaws and all, at least the Pumpkins are still exploring.

The Smashing Pumpkins / Photo Credit: Randall Michelson/Hewitt Silva-Live Nation

The band isn’t completely focused on the past when they play live, either, but of course, songs from Gish, Siamese Dream, and Mellon Collie And the Infinite Sadness completely rock and sometimes even wreck—in a good way—the crowd. Together, Corgan and guitarist James Iha, who could barely move on stage and yet was so charismatic, do a version of “Tonight, Tonight” on two acoustic guitars that, I’ll say, was moving. 

The Pumpkins are now a well-oiled machine live. The setlists are tight and flow organically. The band knows when to go quiet or, often in spectacular fashion, go big. Whenever Corgan’s voice wailed and Jimmy Chamberlin gracefully bashed the shit out of his drums, the crowd was on their feet. Such a treat watching Chamberlin at work, as well as seeing Corgan, Chamberlin, and Iha together after years apart. It’s special, and Corgan recognized that when he thanked the crowd. 

One Last Word from Perry Farrell

If it’s not obvious by now, I want to walk down the corridors of this man’s mind with a joint and, just in case for protection, a wiffleball bat. Half-kidding aside, Farrell wasn’t all jokes when he wasn’t singing. In fact, at one point he showed more support for the women of Iran than far too many public officials in the United States. Farrell for 2024, am I right?  

“Our hearts go out to them,” Ferell said. “I just want to let you all know, if you look at the world as a paradox, this is a sign. A sign that the Iranian people they’re not going to take that shit anymore. They’re going to go to the streets. One day, I hope we can meet at God’s mountain and celebrate life and humanity.” 

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A Road Tripper’s Dream: Meet Hyer, by G Pen

Are you one of those stoners that keeps their dab rig in the center console? We know your type – work, gym, beach, family function, kid’s birthday party, doesn’t matter. You’re dabbing in your car while everyone wonders where Uncle Matt went. Exhilarating and necessary as car dabs may be, they’re a huge pain in the ass. From finding a power source for your e-nail, to the dangers of using a torch in an enclosed space (please don’t ever do this); on-the-go glass use has historically been reserved for the bravest and most heady of connoisseurs.

G Pen changed the narrative in 2019 with the launch of their flagship Connect, the first portable and self-contained concentrate vaporization product on the market at the time. With the launch of Hyer two weeks ago, G Pen takes their classic proprietary technology one step further with a dual-use, battery-operated vaporizer that works for dabbing and dry herb vaping (tank sold separately). Besting its predecessor—the original G Pen Connect—Hyer boasts a 6,000 mAh lithium ion battery versus Connect’s 850 mAh, in addition to the available dry herb tank attachment. Hyer’s sleek appearance and easy-to-use interface offers safe, consistent heat at five different temperatures and time settings and more than enough muscle to produce thick, billowing clouds.

Courtesy of G Pen

The Hyer Experience

My coworker comes over to aid in the Hyer review process and we chit-chat about work for approximately 26 seconds before he busts out a thick, stout piece of purple-rimmed glass and some freshly acquired Cookies and Cream hash rosin by Kache, a Dank Czar brand. I unzip Hyer’s aesthetic AF hemp storage case and pull out the direction card. It’s easy enough to follow: select temperature, select time, and press start. With only three buttons and five small LEDs to denote selections on the 2”x4” battery pack, it’s pretty hard to mess up. I slip the 14mm male glass adapter into the joint, remove the magnetic, ceramic-lined cap and load the goods into the quartz tank with the included stainless steel tool. The temperature is set to turquoise at 572 degrees Fahrenheit (each of the five different temperature settings correspond to a color on the LED display). I press the start button twice, and wait 15 seconds for the beep telling me my dab is ready. 

I blissfully inhale the thick, milky cloud of vapor blossoming in the glass chamber and keep inhaling, again and again, until my 45 second timer expires and the half gram of hash rosin is all but cashed. The last hit tastes as good as the first. 

I sit back for a few minutes, eyes half shut, and switch out the concentrate tank for the ceramic-lined dry herb tank. I bump up the temperature to the yellow setting of 410 degrees F, and wait 25 seconds for the beep. Clean, light, and herbaceous, the taste was spot on, but not as intense as I would’ve hoped for. I can’t say with certainty I’d spend the extra $50 on this attachment. It does the job, but dabbing is truly where Hyer shines.

Courtesy of G Pen

The Review

Hyer is stoner convenience at its finest, with many pros and few, if any, cons. The first thing you’ll notice about the pieces is their weight. The housings are constructed from anodized aluminum and the battery pack, quartz tank, even ceramic-lined concentrate cap all feel substantial in the hand. The cord is a thick braided cable with large magnetic ports which easily snap in with a satisfying, weighty clack. It’s somewhat akin to closing the door on a Mercedes, you feel like it’s made to last. I can’t comment on the actual longevity or durability, however, G Pen offers a two-year limited warranty for defective units with product registration should things go south.

Hyer’s greatest strength lies in the robust battery. Offering approximately 25 sessions on a single charge, this beast has the juice to generate the thick, flavorful puffs we crave while accurately controlling the temperature so those terpenes can shine. It takes a standard (and included) USB-C charger, like the one for your MacBook, and can fully charge in about two hours. 

There are five heat settings for concentrates, ranging from 482 to 842 degrees F; and the dry herb tank, ranging from 356 to 428 degrees F. My one issue with the concentrate temperature settings is that I wish there was a setting between 482 and 572 degrees—that’s a big jump and my sweet spot is typically right around 500. I wouldn’t recommend the highest concentrate setting for consumption, but I did use it to burn off the leftover residue. Clean up is a breeze, just make sure you have Q-tips on hand like you would for a typical banger and wait 2-3 minutes before swabbing. 

A quirky detail I love? The concentrate cap has two tiny holes the dab tool can screw into, creating a little handle either on the side or top of the cap. Overall, Hyer is a great addition to any dabbers arsenal. The power combined with portability make for a winning product and it looks good, too. Even if you don’t feel the need to dab on a hike or parked in your grandma’s driveway on Christmas, dabbing doesn’t get any easier than this.

Courtesy of G Pen

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Suelos Vivos: Cannabis, Microbiología y Transición Productiva en el Corazón de la Economía Sojera

Nota por Nicolás José Rodríguez publicada originalmente en El Planteo. Más artículos por El Planteo en High Times en Español.

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Para 2022, la soja transgénica cubría cerca de 37 millones de hectáreas argentinas. Producir soja transgénica resistente a los agroquímicos es un proceso altamente estandarizado, que permite ciclos agrícolas más cortos y mayores márgenes dada la mecanización extendida del proceso.

La alta tecnologización del proceso permite el flujo de inversiones y la expansión de la frontera agrícola. Sólo entre 2000 y 2014 las plantaciones de soja en América del Sur se ampliaron en 29 millones de hectáreas, comparable al tamaño de Ecuador.

Según la ONG Oxfam, en 2016, Brasil y Argentina concentraban cerca del 90% de la producción regional, si bien la expansión más rápida se ha producido en Uruguay y Paraguay, donde la soja ocupa un 67% del área agrícola total.

Contenido relacionado: Del Tomate al Cannabis: Internet de las Cosas y Horticultura en Argentina

Para los países del Mercosur, los dólares provenientes del cultivo de productos primarios como la soja son indispensables para el financiamiento de la deuda pública, planes sociales y obras de infraestructura para el desarrollo. Y de hecho, según la CEPAL, el 80% de las exportaciones del Mercosur en 2021 fueron, precisamente, bienes primarios como la soja.

Sin embargo, los agroquímicos que sirven para el monocultivo de soja, por ejemplo, daña los suelos, contamina los cursos de agua y generan daños a la salud. En 2021 se utilizaron 230 millones de litros de herbicidas en Argentina y 350 millones de litros de otros productos fitosanitarios, conocidos como productos fitosanitarios de síntesis química.

Mientras empresas y algunos funcionarios afirman que sin agroquímicos como herbicidas y plaguicidas, sería imposible alimentar a la población mundial, un movimiento de agricultores en Argentina y el mundo plantean un modelo alternativo que trabaja con el medio ambiente y no en su contra, para llegar al mismo objetivo.

Proponen alimentar el suelo y los miles de microorganismos que lo habitan para mejorar su funcionamiento. Al trabajar con bacterias, hongos e insectos, los cultores del suelo vivo o living soil aprovechan al máximo el funcionamiento sistémico del mismo. Es decir, dejan que la vida prolifere en el suelo para obtener una mejor cosecha a un menor costo.

Pero, ¿cómo funcionan las tecnologías de suelos vivos? ¿Para qué sirven? ¿Por qué son fundamentales para el cannabis? Y, ¿cómo pueden desarrollarse para resolver el ciclo de los sintéticos a los transgénicos?

Tambo Farms: ‘Somos bacterias’

“Creemos que no vamos a poder alimentar a la población mundial si no es con sintéticos. Pero podemos utilizar la ciencia para potenciar la fertilidad del suelo en lugar de adoptar una actitud extraccionista. Con biotecnología se pueden desarrollar sistemas biológicos de cultivo fértiles que funcionan con mínimo mantenimiento”, aclara Juan Tambolini, de Tambo Farms, la empresa de biotecnología uruguaya que produce y comercializa productos orgánicos para el cultivo de cannabis.

Contenido relacionado: Básicos del Cultivo: Cómo Saber si a Tu Planta de Marihuana le Faltan o Sobran Nutrientes

“El potencial que nos brinda el cultivo en suelo viviente o living soil es la tecnología que está detrás. Básicamente, nos brinda la oportunidad de monitorear la salud del suelo observando la vida que lo compone, el nivel de materia orgánica y por ende la fertilidad del suelo. Es un hecho probado que la las bacterias, los microorganismos y los hongos que componen la red que es el suelo, una red trófica que nos incluye y que captura CO2 de la atmósfera”, agrega Tambo en torno al potencial de recurrir a suelos vivos para reducir el impacto de la agricultura.

Tambolini destaca además que el uso de suelos vivos es más eficiente porque permite la reutilización de los nutrientes y no requiere la aplicación de insumos constantemente como en el caso de la agricultura tradicional. El uso de cultivos de cobertura, plantas, bacterias, hongos, protozoarios, artrópodos, y hasta las lombrices, generan una sinergia que crece y se acelera con cada ciclo de cultivo. Un bicho come a otro bicho, y con su metabolismo generan los componentes que van formando la red alimentaria del suelo.

¿Cómo escalar el living soil?

Como si fuera poco, al ser un organismo vivo, el suelo puede reproducirse en medios adecuados, lo cual permite el cultivo de otros suelos y la reactivación de la vida.

“Es como si fuese una masa madre. Va a rendir siempre. Porque nosotros en una cucharada de ese suelo tenemos miles de especies de bacterias, cientos de especies de hongos y todo tipo de vida que a su vez nosotros podemos triplicar mediante inóculos que se producen en tanques de agua con aireación”, explica Tambolini, y agrega que se pueden elegir qué colonias incubar, como lo hacen las empresas que crían una bacteria, sea para uso farmacéutico o alimentario.

Pero para eso hacen falta grandes biorreactores, distribuidos geográficamente. “En una biofábrica, se pueden reproducir los microorganismos esenciales para uso foliar. Se aplican con un tractor o avioneta. Sin embargo, existen limitaciones, por un lado los insumos para construir suelos vivos deben estar libres de sintéticos”.

“El suelo, es un reflejo de la comunidad, el entorno del granjero. ¿Por qué? Porque de lo que se alimenta ese suelo muchas veces depende de las relaciones del granjero. Eligiendo la materia prima, hacemos una selección y una gran diferencia. ¿Cómo? Reciclando desechos de emprendimientos orgánicos y comunitarios que no contengan trazos de glifosato”, explica Tambolini.

Para comerte mejor

Uno de los beneficios de consumir productos de suelos vivos donde la vida se regenera, incluye una mejor nutrición y un mayor sabor. De nuevo, esto no es casualidad, más bien ciencia pura. El metabolismo de las plantas y su entorno condicionan la producción de terpenos y otros componentes que hacen al sabor. Asimismo, existen microorganismos benéficos que el living soil preserva y que resultan fundamentales para el sistema digestivo.

Contenido relacionado: Cultivo de Marihuana: Herramientas que te Ayudarán Enormemente

“Los probióticos son fundamentales para el desarrollo inmunológico. Nos permiten tener mejor adaptabilidad al medio. Para eso existe una industria gigante multimillonaria de probióticos, y la conciencia de que un alimento orgánico es en sí más sano”, dice Tambo.

“Si no hubiese hongos, no existiría el yogur, el champagne, el pan, el kimchi y la salsa de soya, el fermento de los quesos, si no fuera por la microbiología. ¿Por qué un pan de masa madre vale más que un pan común?. Porque está vivo. Nosotros ya comemos bacteria, vivimos con la bacteria. Yo puedo agarrar, por ejemplo, una remolacha, picarla, mezclarla toda, así con la mano, con azúcar mascabo, ponerla en un frasco con agua desclorada y al cabo de un tiempo hay unos ‘bichitos’ activándose ahí. Y ese cultivo ya lo puedo usar para alimentar a mis plantas, la remolacha orgánica los trae consigo”, concluye Tambo.

Llegan los microbios desde Marte

“Alien” es un cultivador de cannabis con experiencia en el manejo de microorganismos. En busca de mejores terpenos entendió que la microbiología tenía una relación con el crecimiento de la planta.

“La vida del suelo genera ciertas reacciones en las plantas. Para defenderse de una plaga, por ejemplo, por medio de elicitores activan mecanismos como terpenos, flavonoides, que se pueden estimular usando insect frass, un procesado del guano de grillos y tenebrios [larvas de escarabajo] alimentados orgánicamente. Resulta que la quitina del exoesqueleto de los grillos se degrada y genera otros compuestos que activan la resistencia de la planta porque piensa que está predispuesta a depredadores. Y esto se aplica en los cultivos comerciales de cannabis, cuando se buscan terrenos definidos. Los lactobacilos ayudan a activar las enzimas, es un precursor de tricomas y terpenos, solubilizador de fósforo, sanitiza el suelo, y sirven para la flora de las plantas de cannabis”, comenta Alien.

Explica que el concepto del living soil no es escalar la producción en un sentido tradicional, para exportar, sino hacer una red de productores con nodos regionales, que utilicen microorganismos locales, para producir sin rastros de herbicidas, insecticidas, plaguicidas y metales pesados. “No sirve traer inóculos bacterianos de otras regiones. Se tiene que trabajar con los consorcios de los microorganismos locales”, agregó Alien.

‘Low Cost’

“Lo interesante de este trabajo es integrarse con la comunidad y potenciar las economías regionales. El afrecho que antes se usaba para darle de comer a los chanchos, ahora se volvió una unidad de negocios. Nosotros lo usamos para hacer insumos que sanean cultivos”, explica Gero de la Comadreja Orgánica una marca de insumos que trabaja con proveedores de desechos orgánicos.

El oriundo de la Provincia de Buenos Aires adelantó que, si bien la Argentina tiene potencial para escalar soluciones sustentables, hace falta un marco regulatorio.

Contenido relacionado: LEGAL, Capítulo III: Living Soil con Juan Tambolini de Tambo Farms

“La primera limitante es que no hay regulación específica que avale nuestro trabajo y nuestros métodos. Hay que trabajar en cultivos intensivos. Te dicen que el tomate orgánico no se puede hacer porque no alcanzaría, cuando los rindes con orgánicos son mayores. Si tienes muchos pequeños productores que hacen agricultura low cost [bajo costo] bajarán los costos de producción”, añade Gero.

¿Por qué es low cost?

—Porque lo haces con desechos. No compras fertilizantes. Pero hace falta dar créditos a los productores para que haya productores orgánicos. El concepto de living soil trata de preservar los suelos, no hacer uso extraccionista, y la agricultura convencional no prevé la preservación de la vida, sacan y exportan y esa fertilidad se exporta también. Nuestras soluciones son escalables a nivel industrial. Si tuviésemos una biofábrica tendríamos reactores más grandes, donde se aplique biotecnología para ser más eficientes y estabilizar por completo los consorcios de microorganismos. Hay diferentes tipos de escuelas de bioinsumos, dependiendo del maestro, los métodos varían pero el objetivo es el mismo, reproducir microorganismos.

“Hay gente que usa estiércol, true living organics usan harinas, y KNF, una escuela específica de Corea. Esta tecnología se aplica en campos grandes, con bombas y aspersores que esparcen microorganismos que mejoran la calidad de la comida, el sabor, la sanidad y los rindes, simplemente, son mejores alimentos”, sigue.

Escalando soluciones orgánicas

Si de escalar se trata, Greenfire una empresa de compostaje de biomasa de diferentes empresas, entre ellas una champiñonera, ya está en marcha en la Provincia de Santa Fe, corazón de la pampa sojera.

“Recompostamos con un control total del círculo de reciclaje dentro de la empresa. Nosotros apuntamos a ser parte de la economía circular, recibir materia orgánica, recircular materia orgánica para ser devuelta a la tierra. Tenemos un predio para el procesamiento de los residuos, desde el acopio hasta el embolsado y el tamizado, con un volumen de producción de 32 toneladas por semana”, explica uno de los dos “Nahueles” al frente de la empresa.

“El volteo y el armado de pilas de compost sirven para garantizar la homogeneidad de las bacterias que se ocupan de degradar la materia y hacerla disponible para la nutrición de la planta. A la vez, el calor del compost elimina patógenos que pueden ser dañinos. Se le agregan además componentes como vermiculita, un mineral que permite hacer un intercambio de cationes, pulsos eléctricos entre bacterias, que permite la proliferación de la vida, y la dolomita, otro mineral, estabiliza el pH”, agrega el otro.

La empresa que comenzó haciendo un sustrato liviano ya tiene una variedad premium, otra para automáticas, y otras para el cultivo en huertas urbanas. “La calidad de la materia orgánica es fundamental para un sustrato. Alimentamos camas de lombrices y tenemos nuestro propio humus, de lombrices alimentadas por desechos de champiñones y restos de poda”, explican.

Contenido relacionado: Cultivo de Marihuana: Todo lo que Hay que Saber

Y agregan que para crecer resulta vital una línea de crédito para expandirnos y mejorar sus líneas de producción.

En relación directa con la industria del cannabis, tener un sustrato trazable es fundamental porque garantiza la sanidad y permite construir un protocolo de calidad que hace que los productos orgánicos coticen con una prima, es decir, valen más.

“La planta de cannabis tiene sus etapas y por eso tenemos productos diferenciados. Para cada etapa se necesitan micro y macro nutrientes para generar un ecosistema sustentable que te dure. Sin necesidad de remover el suelo o renovar nutrientes constantemente. Las flores rinden más y los sabores son más definidos, le damos el medio ideal de crecimiento, de forma específica, con sustento científico. Si alguien lo usa para un fin medicinal tiene que tener esa seguridad”, concluyeron los emprendedores.

Más Contenido de El Planteo:

• Plantas de Marihuana Hembra y Macho ¿Cuál Es la Diferencia?
• Marihuana Hidropónica: Qué Es y Cómo se Cultiva
• REPROCANN, Registro: Cómo Inscribirse en REPROCANN Gratis, Guía Paso a Paso

Foto: Living Soil en Canva

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