B A C K P A G E
On April 19, 2011, San Jose City Council voted
for the first time to license medical cannabis collectives. This vote culminates almost two years
of debate, driven by Silicon Valley patients and
activists in a vigorous and sustained grassroots
campaign. It is the first time the government of
San Jose has admitted our right to legally exist.
Some of the key points that were part of this
decision are:
• A cap of 10 collectives in the City of San Jose
• Only 2 collectives/district within the City of
San Jose
• Requiring collectives to have on-site cultivation
A South Bay update on local politics, events, a Buyer’s Corner, and the Extras!
San Jose Buyer’s Corner
Hello, everyone! It’s Rachael, recently relocated
from Harborside Oakland to Harborside San
Jose. It would be wonderful to see you growers
and vendors down here. It’s been a great
experience to be able to explore a new market,
and I would love for you all to be a part of
it. I work strictly on an appointment-only basis,
so please call and set up a time to come see me.
An incredible Lavender Super Melt
that’s practically white!
Some notable things I’ve come across lately are:
a rare phenotype of Thai Haze that tests at an
average of 16.9% THC; some incredible Super
Melts that are practically white; and a lot of new
Alien Technology strains.
(left) A rare phenotype of Thai Haze
impressed us with its high THC content.
(right) A new Alien Cheese strain from
Alien Technology.
I’m currently looking for any new and exotic
strains that are not commonly available in the
Bay Area. Our patients tend to want to try new
things, and I would strongly encourage growers
and vendors to branch out into the unfamiliar
for this market. There is still a strong demand
for pure sativa strains. Sourcing genetics by
starting from seed is a great idea. This is a
great way to get access to a broad range of
genetics. Of course, every purchase is based
on appearance and smell, so do your test runs
before committing.
We are looking for new clone and seed vendors.
Please call and schedule an appointment with
front desk for more details at (408) 321-8424.
I look forward to seeing all of you. Come wow
San Jose patients with your amazing medicine!
Rachael S., Purchasing Mgr, HHC San Jose
• A “first come first serve” application process,
in order to operate as a collective in the City
of San Jose
Recently the City of San Jose added a 7% tax
in addition to the 9.25% sales tax on medical
cannabis. To assist our patients in obtaining affordable medicine, Harborside Health Center of
San Jose will be covering the additional 7% tax
implemented by San Jose City Council on the
sale of medical cannabis.
– N. Aggarwal, Marketing Manager,
Harborside San Jose
Welcome to
Harborside San Jose
Harborside San Jose is proud to
be a part of these organizations,
and welcomes donations from
our esteemed patients.
Second Harvest Food Bank
(http://www.shfb.org)
Come into Harborside San Jose
to donate cans of food!
Santa Clara Relay For Life
(http://www.relayforlife.org/scuca)
1840 Embarcadero, Oakland, CA • (510) 533-0146
harborsidehealthcenter.com
EXTRA, EXTRA!
Do you have what it
takes to be the next
Harborside superstar?
HHC San Jose is always looking
for qualified applicants. Feel free
to drop off a resume and cover
letter at the front desk, or email
[email protected].
Jenn, Human Resources,
San Jose
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MAY/JUNE 2011
we love:
Patricia Alvarez
Ombuds manager Renee
and Ombuds associate Susie
of Harborside San Jose.
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A patient
In December 2009 Harborside Health Center San
Jose opened its doors to the public. Since then, we
have seen the number of dispensaries operating in
San Jose multiply to over 100 medical cannabis
businesses. Several dispensaries in the area were
raided and it prompted us to voluntarily shut our
doors down in November 2010 for a period of five days. Currently the San
Jose City Council is in the process of adopting regulations to license a limited
number of dispensaries and eliminate all the other ones.
Through this veritable storm of changing political climate,
Harborside Health Center San Jose has been focusing on fulfilling our mission to provide a safe and compassionate healing
place to access your medicine. For the last few months, we have
also been working to improve our selection. We’ve increased
our selection of concentrates, edibles, top shelf flowers, budlets,
pre-rolls and clones, ensuring that we have something for
everyone.
Our efforts have been recognized by our patients. This year,
readers of the Metro Silicon Valley newsweekly identified us as
the best dispensary of the region. And the feedback we receive
daily from our patients is very encouraging.
We have exciting changes and developments in the works, such
as iPad menus, new reward programs and full online menus.
The iPad menu is another example of Harborside’s continued
focus on being a leader of innovations and technology in the
emerging medical cannabis industry, and will allow patients
to select their medicine with increased accuracy by providing
essential information about each unique product.
We are also excited to announce a new executive manageFeast your eyes on Harborside San
ment team, comprised of two of the founding members of
Jose’s robust display of medicine.
Harborside Oakland: Elan Hawtrey and Goose Duarte. When
Photo by Keith M.
you visit us, let us know how you feel; drop off a suggestion
or post a review online. We are committed to maintaining an open communication and listening to
the feedback of our constituency. This way we can continue to push forward and constantly strive to
improve upon the standards of excellence we have set in the industry as we move out of the shadows,
into the light!
Upcoming Events (San Jose)
Elan Hawtrey, General Manager
HEMPCON (http://hempcon.com)
Goose Duarte, Assistant General Manager
June 10-12, 2011 @ San Jose Convention Ctr
Harborside Health Center San Jose
Organizations We Support
The Harborside Illuminator
MAY/JUNE 2011
Photo by Keith M.
SAN JOSE
Local (SJ) Politics
2106 Ringwood Ave, San Jose, CA 95131 • (408) 321-8424
Wonder Women
Harborside is cultivating a new crop of female leaders
By Samantha Campos
Women today make up more than half of this country’s work force. And yet, a very small
percentage of us are employed within the upper echelon of corporate leadership.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Patricia
Alvarez grew up in heavy dairy
country and smoked cigarettes
for three decades. A little more
than three years ago, upon the
recommendation of a trusted friend,
Patricia came to Harborside and was
impressed with the marina views
and the various holistic services
offered free to patients. Recently
diagnosed with arteriosclerosis
and kidney stones, Patricia spent
time with Harborside’s herbalist
Dixie and naturopath Karen, who
suggested a diet that helped Patricia
lose 30 pounds, and in honor of her
arthritic mother, she began attending
Harborside’s weekly yoga classes—
the combination of which Patricia
believes helped her quit smoking and
eliminate the kidney stones without
surgery, much to her doctor’s
amazement. These days, Patricia
smokes cannabis only occasionally
but finds the consumption of tinctures
and medicated cookies helps her
sleep and alleviates the recent stress
of having to move into a minivan near
Berkeley. “It’s like coming to another
world,” she says of Harborside.
“It’s the atmosphere—it’s fun and
supportive. It makes me feel better
coming in the door! And I feel much
more energetic and happier, and just
more alive.”
Even in fringe industries, women in power are scarce. When thinking about the pioneers, leaders
and visionaries of the cannabis movement—Jack Herer, Ed Rosenthal, Dennis Peron, Rich Lee,
NORML founder Keith Stroup, High Times founder Tom Forcade, our own Stephen DeAngelo
and others—it’s difficult to come up with one single female name of such widespread recognition.
Although obviously women have been supporting and operating vital aspects of the industry for
decades. (continued on page 4)
JB’s product pick of the month
Steve Speaks on…
Deep Green: Reconfiguring
the 420 holiday
By Steve DeAngelo
The International Cannabis 420 holiday
has typically been celebrated with
exuberant, copious and joyous public
consumption of cannabis. Every year,
local TV stations happily beam images of
stoner stereotype into the living rooms
of America: six-foot-long joints, colorful
crowds encased in copious clouds of
cannabis smoke, semi-coherent interviews
with the weirdest characters reporters can
find.
Now, don’t get me wrong—I like a parade
at least as much as the next guy or girl,
and I don’t think there is anything wrong
with appropriate and measured acts of
civil disobedience. But I do think there
is a whole lot more to the cannabis plant
than just getting stoned. I fell in love with
the cannabis plant because it brings so
many different gifts to my life: wellness
and comfort, inspiration and creativity,
A delightful take on the classic,
caramel-filled Dutch waffle cookie
called the stroopwafel. This
strong, four-dose edible contains
approximately 1.5 grams of cannabis flowers, and
comes in two flavors of Original and Cinnamon for $10
each. A delicious mix of molasses and cannabutter
is sandwiched between two delicate, thin, waffle
cookies, making this a scrumptious cannabis treat.
There is definitely a taste of cannabis in this edible,
but the flavor seems to add to the overall taste
experience and does not deter your taste buds at all.
My recommended way of eating is to break it up into
pieces and put it on top vanilla ice cream, or rest the
whole thing on top of your tea, as it steeps to warm
up the waffle for a super nice, warm, cannabis treat.
YUM!
Organic Canna
Stroop Waffle
Cookie
Original and
Cinnamon
(continued on page 7)
For Your Information
What’s good
to know about
concentrates,
NCIA, and a
recycled jar
contest! p2-3
Cannaseur’s Corner
New exotics
from Thais
to Africans,
plus some
interesting
hybrids. p6
Andrew’s Bullhorn
A video
documentary,
cannabis
people, and
slow-pitch
softball... p3
HHC San Jose
News, Events,
Highlights, &
Buyer’s Corner
from our South
Bay location.
Backpage
The Harborside Illuminator: Published by Harborside Health Center. Editor: Samantha Campos. Graphic designer: Nicole Lanzotti. Web coordinator: John Brown.
For Your Information
NCIA, our industry’s voice.
The National Cannabis Industry
Association (NCIA) formed in December
of last year. NCIA is an independent
trade association that works to advance
the social, economic and legal interests
of cannabis-related businesses, and
to create industry standards for those
businesses in the U.S. Our own
Harborside CEO, Steve DeAngelo,
is a member of the board and the
Harborside finance team (Debi and
Luigi) are providing back-office support
functions to NCIA. NCIA held their first
press conference and day of lobbying in
Washington, D.C. in March. Although
attendance was limited, lobbying went
well overall, and Steve was interviewed
on a popular radio station. It’s clear
the group faces an uphill battle to get
a legislative fix on taxes and banking
issues for medical cannabis businesses.
But the day proved helpful in figuring
out what to focus on with congress in
the future. As a result, NCIA formed
a subcommittee of medical cannabis
accountants to coordinate a response
to the IRS 280E code section.
In the meantime, NCIA hopes to continue
bringing in new members, and encourages
medical cannabis professionals to join in
defending the voice of the industry on a
national level. For more information, visit
www.thecannabisindustry.org or call 202379-4861.
Recycled jar contest!
How do you reuse your Harborside
medicine jars? Most creative use (with
photo) wins a free eighth of medicine.
Send submissions to andrew.deangelo@
harborsidehealthcenter.com or drop off
entries in person at reception. Open
to Harborside registered patients only;
no staff members or their immediate
families may participate.
2
Community News
...Deep Green
The latest on Senior Workshops, Taking Care,
and Making a Difference!
Harborside presented with Red Plate Award
Harborside Health Center collected an unprecedented 5,322 pounds of food during the 2010 Holiday
Food Drive. In return, the Alameda County Community Food Bank presented Andrew DeAngelo,
Jennifer Thompson and Steve DeAngelo on May 3
with the Red Plate Award, which is inscribed: “Your
support shows how the community can make a
powerful difference in the fight against hunger.”
Andrew DeAngelo, Jennifer
Thompson and Steve DeAngelo
receiving the award.
Taking Care
Harborside Health Center Oakland has given 26,937
Care Packages to low-income patients from April
2010 to April 2011.That’s roughly 90 pounds—at an
approximate total of $222,500 market value—of free
medicine in a year!
In order to better serve our patients in need, we
have begun a quarterly application process for the
Care Package program. To find out if you’re qualified to receive weekly care packages, please pick up
an application from the reception desk during the
months of January, April, July and October.
Making a difference
Think one person can’t possibly make much of a difference? Harborside Health Center endorses active
participation in the political and social promotion
of the medical cannabis movement. We keep forms
and letters that you can fill out at the front desk. We
also have a Resource Center with all the necessary
resources to fill out online forms, write letters, or
make phone calls pertinent to the movement. To
encourage participation, we will give you a free gift
every week that you volunteer an hour to work on
activism in our facilities.
“The Care Package is
sometimes the only meds
I take. Due to my altered
physiology, pills and other
meds don’t stay in my
system long enough to
give me any relief.
I really depend on the
Care Package program
to get me from week
to week.” – Cody L.,
appetite and libido; textiles and cosmetics
and medicine and nutritious food. I fell in
love with the cannabis plant for its natural
qualities: the longest, strongest natural fiber
on the planet; requires no pesticides; fixes
nitrogen in soil; combats erosion. I fell in
love with the cannabis plant for its potential: to sustainably provide food, fuel, fiber
and medicine; to provide a safe and natural
alternative to pharmaceuticals and surgery;
to reduce dependency and damage from
other more dangerous substances like
alcohol and tobacco; to give senior citizens
better quality of life and longevity.
That vision was beautifully realized on shakers, the amazing Vapor Lounge (each
April 23rd at the first annual Deep Green dispensary took turns providing vape bags
Festival. The event debuted at the beauti- to patients), houses made entirely out of
ful and inspiring Craneway Pavillion in hemp, and a 100-foot-long Dr. Bronner’s
Richmond, Calif., featuring 100-foot bathtub perfect for soap suds battles. All
windows with a panoramic view of the of the many uses of cannabis were beautientire Bay. Dr.Bronner’s Magic Soap fully showcased, discussed, displayed and
joined Harborside as a premier sponsor, celebrated—all with the utmost respect for
uniting the best-known brands in medical our plant and our community.The day was
cannabis and industrial hemp. Over the topped off with musical entertainment and
course of 14 hours, thousands of patients dancing into the wee hours.
visited displays and booths: cannabis technology and art; hemp clothing, food and A fine time was had by all. Thousands of
cosmetics; dispensaries and vaporizers and patients attended, the dozens of vendors
books and video. There were workshops all did well, and the promoters were happy
So I always have felt like the typical 420 and lectures from movement movers and enough to immediately begin planning
holiday left a lot unsaid, and longed for a
next year’s event. There were
more holistic celebration of this plant I love
no half-naked models, recomso much. I longed for a holiday that would
mendation mills, fight sites, or
show our fellow citizens all the benefits
anything else that would tarnish
cannabis can bring to their lives, rather
the public image of cannabis.
than stereotyped images that might alarm
We proved to ourselves—and
them. I longed for an event that would be
to the world—that we as a
free of some of the sleaziness we have uncommunity can seize control
fortunately seen at many recent cannabis
of our own public image, that
expos: scantily clad models, pot docs issuing
we can replace the old tired
recommendations like they were candy,
stoner stereotypes with positive
and booths for web sites offering drunken
images of cannabis, and that
bum fights or “queen of the hood” fights.
we can create a space where all
I longed for a holiday that would celebrate
members of our community
cannabis with as much respect as I know
feel welcome and comfortable.
we all have for the plant—and an event
It was indeed a conscious party.
where women, elders and children would
Deep Green Festival, April 2011. Photo by Peter Booth Lee
feel welcome and comfortable.
I longed for an event that would be free of some of the sleaziness we have
unfortunately seen at many recent cannabis expos: scantily clad models, pot docs
issuing recommendations like they were candy, and booths for web sites offering
drunken bum fights or “queen of the hood” fights.
HHC patient who underwent a
pancreaticoduodenectomy, or
Whipple p rocedure, in 2007.
Currently, Harborside boasts 3,729 registered
patient activist volunteers in its Patient Activist
Resource Center program. Collectively, we do
make a difference!
Wanted: Seniors’ Seminar locations!
Harborside is currently planning to add a series of
seniors’ seminars to its repertoire of complimentary
workshops and classes. This seminar will instruct
seniors on the benefits and applications of medical
cannabis, answer questions or concerns about
methods of administration, and provide guidance
on cannabis as an alternative therapy to pharmaceuticals, or as a natural supplement to overall health
and well-being. Interested venues—including
senior centers, medical offices and assisted living
complexes—are encouraged to email andrew.
[email protected] or call 510533-0146 for more information.
(continued from front page)
Steve & friends at Deep Green Festival, April 2011.
Senior Seminar brochure
That longing led me, and Harborside, to
a rich and rewarding collaboration with
the Earthdance International organization. Earthdance is best known for their
annual dance for peace, which happens
in hundreds of cities at exactly the same
time.The longing eventually led to a vision
which all came together in a brainstorming session between myself and Michael
Gosney of Earthdance. Michael and I envisioned a 420 festival that would showcase
the manifold ways cannabis contributes to
our lives; that would challenge the stoner
stereotypes, and would present the many
contributions the cannabis community can
and does make to society as a whole.
Chillout Dome at the Deep Green Festival, April 2011. Photo by Peter Booth Lee.
7
Cannasseur Corner
Andrew’s Bullhorn
By Rick Pfrommer, Purchasing Manager
A humorous meditation on all things Harborside
Hello! Welcome to
the “Cannasseur Corner,” a
view from the purchasing department
in the world’s largest medical cannabis
dispensary. In this column, we will review
some of the highlights from the past month
and preview some of the
exciting strains that will
be coming out
the following
Check out our Corner to see
month.
what we have in stock.
Peace!
The month of April saw the release of several exotic strains at Harborside Health Center.
Topping the list for sativa lovers was a delicious Chocolate Thai. Many patients these days
are probably too young to remember Thai weed [a once-popular sativa import until the
early ‘80s—now making a comeback!]. Thai flavors range from a grassy herbaceousness to
a distinct chocolate and coffee flavor. This beautiful example of a pure sativa took a full 13
weeks to mature. As with most pure sativas, the flowers are loosely structured with very few
calyxes. The effects from the Chocolate Thai are classic sativa: uplifting and clear, mentally
stimulating—perfect for accomplishing a day’s work.
Chocolate Thai. Photo by Caroline Francese
In the hybrid indica/sativa category, the Sour Chiesel was the most popular for April. Sour
Chiesel is a hybridized cross between the classic Sour Diesel and the legendary UK Cheese.
Its taste is hashy, fuely and pungent, with an edge of sour grapefruit. As you would expect,
Sour Chiesel’s psychoactive effects include both indica and sativa components. Upon initial
intake, it’s classic sativa—uplifting and clear.Time seems to pass slower for some and quicker
for others. The indica effects inherited from the UK Cheese become more pronounced as
the medicine takes hold. Continued consumption of this strain can lead to a yo-yo effect,
with the high bouncing from the head to the body, and then back again.
Highlights for the month of May include a sun-grown version of Nigerian Silk. The exact
origin of this strain is unknown, although there is obviously a Nigerian progenitor in its
background. Outside in the warm California sun, this particular Nigerian Silk took until
Thanksgiving to mature. It’s a classic, pure sativa, with elongated bud structure, small calyxes
and a relatively loose flower structure—although it’s much denser than the Chocolate Thai.
The effects from the Silk are pure sativa: strong, clear and uplifting.The high is not as intense
as some pure sativas but quite potent, nonetheless. This Nigerian Silk is perfect for creative
stimulation and other activities where “couch lock” is not desired.
Sour Chiesel. Photo by Caroline Francese
As we move around the sun, we look back onto April with its display of a wide range of
exotics, from Thais to Africans to interesting hybrids. The patient base here at Harborside
Oakland continues to desire different and exciting strains, and our hard-working growers are
stepping up to meet the demand.
By Andrew DeAngelo, Co-General Manager
Getting Hammered
The Harborside Hammers is our very first slow-pitch
softball team. We play in a league run by the City of
Oakland Recreation Department. We recently played our
first game.
It was a rare combination. A video documentary,
cannabis people, and slow-pitch softball. It will be great,
I thought. Let the whole world see us cannabis patients
playing the great all-American game of baseball—or, in this
case, slow-pitch softball.
But as I was driving to the event—and the lady with
the camera in the car filming me—it dawned on me
that this might not be such a good idea.We might be bad at softball.We most likely will be really bad
at softball, as the team is new and 100% comprised of medical patients who medicate a lot. It will take
time to get good. It could take years. Are we prepared to put in that kind of effort and commitment?
That was the question I was asking myself, as I blurted out to the camera lady, “We will either hear
The Bad News Bears theme song at the end of the game or ‘We Are the Champions.’” She asked me
which one I thought it would be.“Be honest,” she said. I looked right into the camera and mumbled,
“Well, it could go either way.” Then I looked back onto the road, as I was driving an automobile.
Sometimes you forget these little details when the cameras are rolling.
I started whistling, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” and concentrated on the road but started to get
a feeling of great foreboding. The Harborside Hammers would be playing their first game in about
45 minutes and I am the coach. And a crowd of patients will be watching with high expectations.
Very high.
We were losing 7-0 before we even got a chance to hit. We had at least 10 walks in two innings. By
the end of the second inning we were down 15-0.All my players had that deer-in-the-headlight look
only a real whopping can create. Even the backups had that look in their eye. Not to mention the
bloodshot to go with it. The game continued to be a comedy of errors.
By the end of the third, we were down 24-0. I did not complain about the players as they did about
me but instead, tried to encourage them. “Good,” I said, after the short stop fumbled the grounder
and was unable to get a throw off. “Nice and relaxed,” I urged, after yet another walk by the pitcher.
“Heck of an effort,” I offered, after the outfielder managed to get the ball into the glove, only to drop
it once he realized the ball was in the glove.
At one point, an opposing player blasted yet another homerun over our center fielder’s head, and
the guy ran so fast around the bases that he caused second base to come unhinged from the ground.
But still, we were grateful to be out on the field. One thing about a bunch of medicated players,
they don’t take the thing too seriously. The more runs the other team scored the more we laughed
at ourselves and the absurdity of it all. And the cameras kept right on rolling, capturing the entire
thing for the world to see.
We did manage to get in two runs in the bottom of the fourth, making the score 33-2. Our first
hitter, Joe, got a single. Then our second hitter, Jess, got on base with a walk. Our third hitter got on
base somehow—and then came Derek.
Derek took his second pitch and smacked the ball clear to the left field fence. When the left fielder
dropped the ball, I told Joe to run to home plate. He was limping really bad and barely made it home
but he did score our first run ever. When the other team lost the ball in the tall grass of the field,
Jess took off from second to third, where she was tagged out promptly. Our next batter hit a single,
“Heck of an effort,” I offered, after the outfielder managed to get the ball
into the glove, only to drop it once he realized the ball was in the glove.
Nigerian Silk. Photo by Caroline Francese
6
PLEASE NOTE: New Vendor Orientation will now be held
FAQ of the Month:
What are “Concentrates?”
Concentrates are the collected resin
glands, called trichomes, of the cannabis
flower. The potency of concentrates is
significantly higher than flowers, allowing
someone to smoke much less plant
material. They can be extracted by sieving
them through a silkscreen, creating kief,
which can be smoked alone or added to
joints or other forms of cannabis. They
can also be processed using cold water
and silkscreens to produce hashish. There
are also solvent-based extracts, including
alcohol, butane, ether, CO2, and oxygen.
The solvent-based extracts tend to have
the highest amount of THC, although the
best cold-water hash can approach levels
of 50+% THC. [Because nobody entirely
knows its health effects, Harborside
recommends using caution with any
solvent-based extracts.]
Super Melt is a solvent-derived extract,
which is usually butane. The advantage of
solvent-extracted hash is that the solvents
pull a higher THC percentage per gram out
of the plant material. THC percentages
as high as 70% and higher are seen with
solvent concentrates. The other two main
classes of hash seen are dry-sieved and
pressed kief, and cold-water extraction.
With the dry process, plant material is
rubbed or agitated mechanically over a
silkscreen. The resulting trichomes may be
pressed with or without heat to produce
hash. Water-processed hash, commonly
referred to as “Cold-Water Hash,” is the
most common hash we see at HHC. With
cold-water hash, plant material is agitated
with cold water and ice. The resulting slurry
is passed through an increasingly smaller
set of silkscreens. There are two, three and
five-to-seven screen systems/methods.
The final screen generally contains the
highest quality hash. After scraping the wet
hash off the screen, it needs to be dried for
two-to-three weeks.
Amongst the cold-water we have several
different designations. Full Melt hash does
exactly that; it melts into a liquid under
heat. Bubble hash will bubble but not melt
completely. Hash will burn but not bubble
or melt, although it can still have a high
percentage of THC. Oils are generally also
solvent-extracted and are usually made
with Butane but also CO2 or oxygen.
which sent Derek home from second.Then the game ended on a strike out or a ground out, I can’t
even remember which. It was 10:30 p.m. and we were all completely destroyed, but happy we scored
a couple of runs. And as that aforementioned Bad News Bears theme song roared in our collective
heads, we vowed to practice harder for our game next week. Another thing about cannabis people,
they will keep at it until they get better.
11am to noon on Wednesdays and Fridays only. Thanks!
I expect we will be winning games any time now.
For questions or comments about Harborside Oakland’s purchasing department, please email
[email protected].
For questions or comments about the Harborside Hammers, or about Harborside in general, please email
[email protected].
John Brown, Marketing/Web Coordinator
[email protected].
3
...Wonder Women
(continued from front page)
With the passing of time, many of these pioneers who’ve laid the groundwork
for the cannabis revolution of today are aging. There exists a growing need
for a new crop of leaders to carry on and expand upon the values and ideals
of the movement. Progressive, compassionate, community-oriented activists
must guide lawmakers in the evolution of sensible cannabis regulation and
safe access to medicine. All it takes is one forward-thinker to elevate the
industry, improve public perception, and perpetuate the health and prosperity of the planet as a whole.
Perhaps she’s honing those skills right now, working every day at Harborside.
In an industry dominated by men—at least,
superficially—the following women have worked
tirelessly to support the mission of Harborside and
rise above the ranks to their positions of leadership.
Their daily contributions, along with that of their male
counterparts, are what we believe upholds Harborside’s
status as a premier medical cannabis dispensary.
Dani: Before Harborside, I did a lot of different
kinds of retail. I worked at the Oracle arena, food
running for the suites. I started an online company,
selling lingerie. I also worked at an auto body
shop, doing auto body estimating and the front
desk—I switched roles a lot. There are more men
in that particular field. And so you almost have to
go overboard with it so people will respect you.
You almost have to be extra, extra good.
Danielle Barber
Yoli: I think one of the really wonderful things
about Harborside is that it’s a very comfortable place
for many different people to come to—especially
people who don’t fit into other stereotypes, and
particularly, people who are sick or in wheelchairs
or having trouble getting around. Not only is it easy
because you can drive up, but people are protected
and cared for from the time they get to the parking
lot to throughout the whole process.
Women are generally more nurturing and softer.
That’s one of the things that makes our atmosphere
so different—it has a gentle and welcoming and
nurturing kind of feeling. Because it is also a healing
space, we do have healers—many of our healers are
Dispensary Floor
Manager;
four years
Yes, it is evolving; there are a lot of women in
power. I’m good at what I do. What I do is help
guide you to select what you need. My goal is
to provide patients with things that they can’t get
outside of the medical dispensary. You can go to
your friend and get some good herb—you might
even be able to go to your friend and get some
good concentrates. But you can’t necessarily go to
your friend and get educated.
I’ve always really been into servicing people and
helping and—cliché as it may sound—making the
world a better place. I definitely feel like I’m in
the right place to be able to do it. Every day we
have a new challenge, a new person that’s probably
had the worst day of their life, and I’m given the
opportunity every day to make somebody happy.
I’m really heavily involved in my father’s church.
And one thing he always tells us is that, you might
be the only Jesus that somebody sees all day—or
ever, in their life. One thing about Christianity,
it’s not just about, “I believe in God, I believe in
Jesus”—it’s about being a good person and having
good morals. And not walking around with a chip
on your shoulder all day. I just want to service
people in whatever I do.
4
Yolanda Felix
Design & Facilities
Manager;
five years
women, probably most of them. The altar is very
feminine. Usually in a society, it’s the women who
tend something like an altar, or making that space.
Flowers, which are everywhere here, are also an
expression of the feminine.
Our women here are really strong, really practical.
A lot of them have had a lot of hardship in their
life, and maybe continue to. They may be young
but they’re experienced and compassionate. They
tend not to be too loud about their accomplishments but I think that’s a feminine quality, too. As
a group, they’re very supportive of each other and
everybody here.
Jennifer: I became a patient four years ago. I
heard about Harborside, like most of our patients,
by word-of-mouth. I came here for the first time
and I had that same reaction I see first time patients
have—I felt enlightened. I felt like all the things that
I enjoy were brought into one building. Before I
worked here I lived [in SouthernVirginia] for a little
over a year. From there, I understood and learned
to appreciate the art of small talk and conversation,
one-on-one interaction.The personal relationships
I had with my customers, the family connection I
made with staff—it’s all promoted here.
Jennifer Thompson
Ombuds Manager;
1 year, 8 mos
I think that the overall balance of compassion and
logic that I try to practice help me make positive
and nonjudgmental observations and interpretations. We’ve catered to all different ailments,
sometimes very severe, some not. I try to ask for
help. I try to be receptive and not ever abuse my
power. I basically just look at everyone as a fellow
human being. One thing I do value is setting
boundaries, firmly and compassionately.
Something that I see a lot in cannabis magazines
that I have a personal passion to get rid of is all the
T&A. I feel like we have a big opportunity within
this movement to create a women’s movement.
Having beautiful women here—I’ve seen a lot
of patients whose whole demeanor, their whole
attitude, their whole outlook, their whole speech,
changes after being here regularly.
I’d really like to get involved in the community,
make a positive difference
on my own, within the
City of Oakland. We have
such an opportunity to
break so many stereotypes
and really, with Harborside, show how cannabis
can help the community. I
really want to be a successful businesswoman. I’m
even interested in being
an Oakland City Council
member. Or even going to
law school and becoming
a city attorney and maybe
being a judge one day. I
would love to have some say in city regulations
and justice—really spreading compassion into that.
Lani: My job is to recognize my mom [Yoli Felix]’s
vision and pull it together. I was a personal assistant
in Marin. Then I finished school, graduated with
a degree in accounting. Facilities and Events is so
similar to what I was doing before. I totally know
how to research HVAC systems or spec out tiles
for the floor. I’m just handy anyway. My skills were
hands-on, get it done, problem solve.
But I think when the contractors come out here
and they’re here to see the facility managers and I
pop out—and before you know it, I’m climbing
around under the building with them... I’ve
established relationships with all these people but
initially it was like, Oh, sure, you’re going to change
the light bulb? Well, if you tell me how to unclick
the light, change the ballast, I’ll do it. I don’t mind
getting on the ladder. I think that sometimes does
throw people, it just comes as a surprise. So that’s
it—I build desks and rearrange computers and
plunge toilets, and then I get to go to an event and
be like a little event princess.
I think that there’s a really good balance here.
People respect the environment and respect the
women, and the women respect the men, and
we’ve all had sexual harassment training so we’re
pretty careful with each other. We’re all just real
people. We are made to feel like it’s okay to laugh,
it’s okay to give a hug, it’s okay to talk about your
life in the kitchen—I think that creates a feeling
of equality amongst all of us. Everybody here feels
like they’re on the same playing field. There’s no
job that’s more important than the next—it all
comes down the line and it all moves through.
needs are communicated to the men. So they have
Adrienne: Honestly, I think we (women) are able that care, they understand. You feel much more
to stay on top of being organized and getting things safe, as a woman.
done. I know a lot of our women here are really
driven and if you give us projects, we’re going to In the corporate world, it’s more about what the
male says. Most of the senior vice-presidents and
presidents are males, and there are maybe a few
females—like in HR or something. Here, actually
I feel that the women are powerful. I really do feel
it more that they listen to us.
Adrienne Jones
Inventory Manager;
four years
Nayir: It’s definitely seen in the aesthetics of the
building. It’s feminine, strong feminism that you’ll
see. It’s calm and kind of relaxing. It’s unique to the
style of the women that are here.
I hate to say it but in the past I have seen in
other organizations, the female voice kind of get
drowned out. And I don’t see that here. In fact,
almost the opposite—[we’re] very vocal. We work
as one cohesive unit, just with many different
strengths and abilities. There’s respect for differences in opinions, and an awareness of it.
I worked at Nordstrom’s for 12 years. I graduated
school with a degree in Business Administration,
with an emphasis in Computer Information
do it. Deadlines are meaningful. A lot of people
think, Oh, cannabis club—you must not work that
hard. We’re running a business just like anybody
else. It’s just what we’re selling that [makes] people
think we’re lazy. The women working here have
helped a lot to counteract that.
A lot of us are working really hard to be professional and to be caring, and make it a much
more comfortable place to come. We have a lot
of people here who are just really genuine. And
I think people like coming here and not seeing
a place full of guys. [That can be] intimidating. I
think male patients like coming in for all the lovely
ladies. Female patients like coming in because they
feel comfortable. It’s an environment where they
Alexis Nisperos
don’t have to feel weird.
Safety Associate;
Nayir Munoz
Essentially, I’d like to keep being here, keep
two years
Co-General Manager
improving things. I could go other places with
Human Resources
my degree and do things—I feel like I’m treated
Manager;
pretty well here and I’m making good money,
four years
good benefits. I kind of feel like, well, why would
Alexis: I had done security previously—alcohol I leave? I’d really like to get my MBA. I never
management at Shoreline Amphitheater, security want to be mediocre. I want to have the best
at a reggae bar in San Francisco. But [here] it’s dif- education I could possibly get.
Systems. Over the next three years, I was promoted
ferent—it’s not security.You’re introducing people
to Store Information Manager of four different
to a whole different way of medical cannabis.
locations of Nordstrom.The next step was to move
Instead of authority, I’m more like a guide, like a
to Seattle, if I really wanted to continue to grow.
friend—that’s another thing: cannabis is a social Gigi: There’s never a dull moment in what I do for
thing. I agree there does need to be rules and regu- Steve (DeAngelo). And there’s always something I did a lot of thinking about what was important
lations; I make it very personable, gently welcome different. I’ve been in admin field for a long time. to me in a job: being around people I really cared
[patients]. I learn their name, get them ready for a It can be insane sometimes as far as the workload about, being able to see natural sunlight, feeling
different experience than other collectives. I feel but it makes the day go by. I never catch myself free to be who you are, and doing something that
a great responsibility to the community, to the looking out the window, bored. I’ve never been in made me feel good. Being close to home and
not having to commute. Being in a place where I
patients.
a job where I’ve actually needed more time. I have could start a family and feel good about it. I came
I feel lucky, special to be the only woman on the fun with what I do. I enjoy it.
and interviewed with Steve. I realized how much
team. We watch out for each other. I pay atten- My background is in biotech—I worked for a of an impact I could make.
tion to details—I have the eyes.The guys have the biopharma company, supporting the CEO’s asmuscle, and I will talk.We just kind of play off each sistant. She taught me a lot. At another biopharm I think people know that we’re big. They know
other, back each other up, when we need. They’re company, I supported the chief business officer for that we serve a lot of people. They know our
family guys—really, really good, great guys. I think marketing in corporate business affairs. I was there metrics—but they don’t know the experience and
the impact that we can make, and have made in
that’s how come it works.
10 years and wore many hats: event coordinator, people’s lives. I’d like for that to be conveyed.What
I would like to experience other parts of the business development, marketing, assistant. I sup- we did with Alameda Food Bank was incredible.
company—inventory, processing. I really want to ported about 15 people. It was fun, too—but it’s I’d like to see us doing more of that. We do these
get a paralegal degree. I want to work in some nothing like Harborside.
things but they’re the kind of things that nobody
kind of medical cannabis law office. That’s my I live in Fremont. Being over there, it’s definitely knows about.
future goal.
male-dominant. They see a female come through I want to improve the way the public views us.
the doors, they get a little flir- Everyone knows Nordstrom for their service and
tatious. Or there’s rudeness how devoted they are to their customers. I’d like
Lani Felix-Lozano
from security guards about that for us, for cannabis, for people to know HarFacilities Manager &
where I parked. They didn’t borside takes care of their patients. Because we do,
Event Coordinator;
really care if I parked around in so many different ways, and in ways you don’t
one year, nine months
the corner and got mugged see at other dispensaries. It’s really what I think sets
in-between walking to my us apart. And we can do more.
Adrienne “Gigi”
car or wherever. Here, at
Deguzman
Harborside, I think now
Executive Assistant
that we have that balance
to Executive Director;
of female and male in our
two years
management, they cover
5
all that. All of the women’s By Samantha Campos, freelance writer.