The Harborside Illuminator
1840 Embarcadero, Oakland (888) 99–Harborside
2106 Ringwood Ave, San Jose harborsidehealthcenter.com
Alzheimer’s
Gliomas
Multiple Sclerosis
ALS
AL
Fibrom
Fi
Fibr
brom
br
omyya
allg
ggia
ia
ia
Chro
Ch
hrro
on
niic P
Pa
ain
in
Dysstton
Dy
oniaa
onia
Tou
To
urrret
ettte
ette
te’ss Syyn
ndr
drom
ome
HIV
HI
Rh
R
heu
euma
euma
mato
atooidd
Arth
Ar
thri
riti
tis
Hyp
Hy
pe
errtten
ensi
sion
on
Prurrittu
Pr
uss
Hep
Hepa
He
paatiti
tittiis C
ti
Diiab
D
iabbe
ettes
es
Slle
S
eeep Ap
A nea
ne
n
ea
GII Dis
G
isor
ord
or
de
erss
VOLUME 15
Cannabis and Comic Relief
The story of “The Haag” started off as a live play performed in front of a demonstration
this past summer for patient rights. That rally was a movement-wide collaboration led by
Harborside and Oaksterdam University to protest the federal crackdown in California—
specifically, Northern California. Being in the cross-hairs of the feds is scary as hell. But one of the powerful lessons
that cannabis has to teach us, one of the healing properties of the plant, is the sense of humor that it brings out in us—the childlike
quality that should be a part of our adult lives and is often lost in our modern and hectic world. Cannabis can help restore this and
that is the spirit in which “The Haag” was made.
– Andrew DeAngelo, Director of Operations, HHC
The HAAG
She pretended she was only upholding that ancient law,
but she cut down every tree and every flower that she saw.
“This isn’t working fast enough,” said the Haag in frustration.
“We must not stop till we rea ch absolute eradication.”
“Round up all of the dispensaries, and try to get their suppliers.
If they say you have no reason, make one up, and call them liars.”
“Bring the operators before me from every corner of town.
I alone will pass judgment, and one by one, shut them down.”
So they brought the Vapor Room and the Divinity Tree
from the heart of San Francisco, where the movement came to be.
“Many people really need us,” both the operators pled.
Their objections didn’t matter; she just said, “Off with their head.”
Dr. GEUSS
Written and illustrated by Goose Duarte, aka “Dr. Geuss”
General Manager, HHC San Jose
Next they brought an operator onto the courtroom floor,
accused of selling the flowers, hand-delivered, door-to-door.
“Northstone delivers to people too sick to get out of bed.”
But Matt stood no chance against her, when she said, “Off with his head.”
When solemnly the Marin Alliance into the courtroom was led,
she didn’t bother to listen, she just said, “Off with their head.”
Once, in the land of NorCal, amongst the cannabis trees,
lived a folk who smoked its flowers in community and in peace.
It was the turn of the famous activist, Richard Lee,
whose accomplishments included Oaksterdam University.
But an ancient law dictated that all cannabis is bad,
so the government confiscated every flower that they had.
Then the people got together, and proclaimed, “It is our will
that this flower still be legal for the dying and the ill.”
Up on the hill, Mr. Obama, President of the land,
heard the voices of the people and replied to their demand:
“My office will not interfere with your choice of medication,
as long as you all adhere to every local regulation.”
He gathered a lot of attention when he burst onto the scene,
by putting forth a petition better known as Prop 19.
But his efforts were not rewarded, they were punished instead,
when the Haag raised up one finger and declared, “Off with his head.”
And now the Haag is facing her largest and loudest dissenter;
they have brought into her courtroom, the Harborside Health Center...
And so it was, for some time, that the flower once more bloomed,
and the sick people would use it unaware of looming doom.
T’was the Haag, U.S. attorney, who corrupted with her power,
would set out to bring destruction to every last cannabis flower.
The Harborside Illuminator: Publisher: Harborside Health Center. Editor: Samantha Campos.
...continued on
For the full animated version of this poem, visit:
www.youtube.com/harborsidehealth
‘LIKE’ and SHARE it with your friends!
The Cannasseur Corner
By Rick Pfrommer, Director of Education, Harborside Health Center
much better adapted for their climate. Shorter
flowering time allowed harvest to occur before
From
the fall rains came with their mold-inducing
downpours. These short and chunky plants
Nepalese temple
produced the infamous skunkweed that became
balls to the famed
Northern California’s calling card.Again, anyone
old enough to remember this cannabis will never
Mazar-i-Sharif Afghani
forget the pungent, almost rancid, skunk-like
Black, the Hashish Trail was
aroma. I remember going to parties in the early
‘80s with this herb double-bagged—and still
filled with exotic delights.
being outed minutes after walking in.“Yo man, I
know you’re holding, share the love!” Our own
Steve DeAngelo also has memories of this era,
saying that to this day he’s not seen cannabis like
for their infamous golden strains. what he saw from Northen California in the late
Many of these intrepid souls also collected seeds ‘70s and early ‘80s.
during their travels. It was these landrace strains
that became the basis for the nascent cultivation So what does all this nostalgia mean for modern
culture that eventually sprang forth in both patients and cannabis aficionados? Well, several
breeders have also recognized the value in these
Hawaii and Northern California.
old-school strains. Ace Seeds, CannaBioGenn,
Talk
with
any
cannabis
connoisseur
old
enough
Reeferman Seeds and Tom Hill, as well as the
Original landrace and other heirloom strains
are often lost in today’s hyperkinetic world of to remember these legendary strains and you’ll one-and-only Neville, are all selling a wide
breeding. ‘Landrace’ refers to strains that are come away with tales of their epic strength. variety of landrace and heirloom seeds. Look
indigenous to an area, such as Red Congolese. Equatorial sativas from Africa to Vietnam for some of these to be available at Harborside
‘Heirlooms’ are strains that were collected flourished in Hawaii’s tropical dreamscape of in the near future. Growers who’re looking for
worldwide during the 1970s and propagated cannabis cultivation. Indicas from Afghanistan ways to stay ahead of the curve in an increasingly
in Hawaii and Northern California. Our were more at home in Northern California’s competitive environment are turning to these
constant desire for new strains leads breeders cooler climate. I was fortunate enough to live varieties. For patients, many of these strains
to continually cross and re-cross existing strains on the Big Island of Hawaii from 1993 to 1997, offer powerful relief in a different fashion than
looking for the next big thing.There is, however, and I can attest that the best cannabis I have some of the more modern varietals. It’s not
a small but growing contingent of cultivators EVER smoked was grown in volcanic soil on that they’re necessarily better, just different,
who’re going returning to our cannabis roots the slopes of the largest active volcano in the and perhaps more effective for some patients’
and propagating old landrace and heirloom world, Mauna Loa. By the time I got there specific conditions or needs. In any case, they’re
strains.Varieties range from pure African sativas almost everything grown in Hawaii was some strains definitely worth checking out.
to Afghani indicas, collected by world travelers combination of genetics, no longer a landrace.
on the infamous Hippie Trail (also referred to as Yet a few of the old-timers still had access to Harborside Health Center frequently has
the classic ‘70s strains, making for a wonderfully landrace/heirloom strains. Red Congolese is a
the “Hashish Trail”).
regular African landrace we feature. Chocolate
unique and diverse smoking experience.
Thai, Afghani, and Columbian/Acapulco
All during the 1970s and early 1980s, cannabis
aficionados of all stripes traveled the world The scene in California at this time was slightly Gold also often grace our shelves. The future
smoking the finest cannabis and hashish different. Northern California, as beautiful will bring many more of these classic gems
available. From Nepalese temple balls to the as it is, ain’t Hawaii. The Emerald Triangle to Harborside. Be on the lookout soon for an
famed Mazar-i-Sharif Afghani Black, the rests approximately on the same parallel as entire heirloom line which will be packaged
Hashish Trail was filled with exotic delights. Afghanistan and the Hindu Kush mountains. in its own special jar. If you’ve never tried any
The trail rolls on through Lebanese Red to While Southern Californians could grow of these strains, please consider them next time
Moroccan Kif, with stops in Bangkok for Columbian and Mexican sativas, their northern you stop by. I think you may just enjoy these
Chocolate Thai, and Columbia and Mexico counterparts found the stocky indica plants unique choices as much as I do.
Heirloom and
landrace strains
Rick’s Product Pick
This week’s pick is not a
specific item but a certifiable
class of them. Many longtime
Harborside patients are familiar with our Clean
Green (CG) program. CG is a third-party, organiccertification program founded by attorney
Chris Van Hook, who is also a registered U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic
inspector. Chris started the program over seven
years ago when he saw a need for independent
organic certification of cannabis
crops. Since the USDA owns the
rights to the word, “organic,” and
cannabis is not yet legal in the eyes
of the federal government, Chris
developed an alternative program.
Patterned after the government’s
standards—but arguably, even
more stringent—CG certification
offers patients assurance that their
medicine was grown organically.
CG certification also allows farmers
who use organic methods of
cultivation, which is more expensive
and time-consuming, to be officially
recognized for their efforts.
medium, any energy
conservation practices
that may have been
employed, and a host
of other questions.
Patient-vendors
of
Harborside benefit by
Harborside Health Center became
the fact that top-quality
the first Clean Green certified
CG medicine generally
dispensary in early 2009; Chris
returns every year to inspect and Clean Green Certified Medicine sells faster than its
non-certified brethren.
re-certify us as compliant. A garden
inspection is required of any growers seeking CG Many patients ask for it by name. Clean Green
status. During the inspection, leaf and soil samples is the only valid, third-party, organic-certification
are taken. An independent laboratory then analyzes process in California. It’s also recognized by the
these samples, looking for any chemically derived California Department of Food and Agriculture.
elements in the soil, as well as pesticides that Available extensively at Harborside, CG cannabis
might’ve been used. The inspection also includes is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to be
an extensive questionnaire asking what inputs assured that their medicine was produced without
(i.e., fertilizers) are used, as well as what type of harmful chemicals and fertilizers.
For questions or comments about Harborside Health Center, please email [email protected] or call (888) 99-Harborside. www.harborsidehealthcenter.com