The Harborside Illuminator
1840 Embarcadero, Oakland • (510) 533-0146
2106 Ringwood Ave, San Jose • (408) 321-8424
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VOLUME 13
Rick’s
Product Pick
I rarely ingest edibles.
There’s something about
the conversion of delta 9-tetrahydrocannbinol
(THC) into the much more potent delta 11-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that often throws
me—and many others—for a loop. Basically,
about an hour to 90 minutes after consuming
an edible, the body metabolizes it. During that
time delta 9-THC, which is what we get when
we smoke or vaporize cannabis, is converted
to delta 11—often producing a greater psychotropic effect. This is why unsuspecting
patients who re-dose after an hour or so can
wind up uncomfortably medicated when the
second and third hour roll around. The cumulative effect can be like a tsunami of THC. Most
medical cannabis patients have at least one
tale of “one brownie too many.”
Gummi Cares
Well, imagine my surprise when I found an
edible that I really enjoy! Gummi Cares are
small “gummi bear”-style chews with a low
sugar and caloric count, available in both
sativa, for daytime functionality and indica,
commonly used as a sleep aid. The taste is
pleasant and splitting it into smaller pieces
can moderate the effects. Half of a sativa
gives me an upbeat, focused feeling; for me
(as everyone’s tolerance is different), a whole
one is almost too powerful. They are reported
by many patients to be great mood elevators
and appetite stimulants. The indica Gummi
Cares are thought to be quite effective for pain
relief and as a sleep aid. Initially I took a whole
one and slept for close to 10 hours! Now I’ll
take half and sleep like a baby. They also make
CBD Gummi Cares; unfortunately, due to the
scarcity of CBD material, they are in limited
production.
I highly recommend anyone who enjoys
edibles—or someone like me who’s been
hesitant about them—to try Gummi Cares.
They’re a great choice for patients looking for
effective relief in a small package.
Federal attack on HHC:
www.harborsidehealthcenter.com
UPDATE!
By Steve DeAngelo, Executive Director, Harborside Health Center
Harborside Health Center (HHC) was
one of the first of hundreds of dispensaries
targeted in federal crackdown on medical
cannabis. Unlike many others, we had the
determinzation and the resources to fight
back, and we have been doing that—hitting
back hard. If our luck holds, and our legal
team prevails, we could well become the last
dispensary they decide to tangle with.
tenant for selling medical cannabis, provided
the tenant is otherwise in compliance with
their lease. This groundbreaking precedent
puts a spike in the federal campaign of forced
evictions, which closed over 600 California
dispensaries before Harborside stood up and
fought back. It won’t do the U.S. attorneys
much good to threaten landlords anymore,
since the landlords can’t evict us anyhow.
Our federal troubles started in early 2010,
when our banks were pressured to close our
accounts and credit card processing service.
After that, the IRS audited us, demanding
the kind of detailed financial records that are
impossible to keep without a bank account.
Despite that obstacle, we submitted complete
records to the IRS—which they certified as
being 100% accurate. But it didn’t matter—
IRS handed us a $2.5 million tax bill, denying
all our deductions on the grounds we’re a
DTO—Drug Trafficking Organization. Then,
as if that were not enough, federal agents
sneaked up to our front door on a July day
before we opened, and taped a notice of
property seizure on our front door, scurrying
away before anybody could confront them.
Major legal and constitutional
issues of first impression were
debated, and the stakes could
not have been higher.
The notice informed our landlords that their
property was going to be seized, because it
was being used to commit a federal crime.
The feds also threatened our landlords with
criminal prosecution, unless they worked in
“good faith” with the feds to get rid of us. Our
terrified landlords, with whom we have had
a long and cordial relationship, were forced
almost at gunpoint to file eviction proceedings
against us. When the City of Oakland heard
what was going on, they came to our defense,
and filed their own lawsuit to block the federal
government’s attack on Harborside.
For the past six months, all these different pieces
of litigation have been moving through state
and federal courts.A few weeks ago, California
Superior Court gave us our first victory when
it quashed the Oakland eviction suit, ruling
that California state courts cannot evict a
On December 20 we had our first historic
hearing in federal court, with our supporters
overflowing into the hallway, and 13 lawyers
representing seven different parties: our two
landlords, the landlord’s bank, the City of
Oakland, ASA, Harborside, and of course the
feds themselves. Major legal and constitutional
issues of first impression were debated,
and the stakes could not have been higher.
Unfortunately, but understandably given the
amount of material she has to consider, Judge
James decided to wait before issuing her
ruling, so we don’t yet know the outcome of
the hearing.
While the legal and procedural posture of
the case is complex, the basic dynamic of the
hearing was simple; the government did all it
could to close HHC without a jury trial, while
our (brilliant!) team did all it could to make
sure we get our day in court. If Judge James
rules in our favor—and I am optimistic that
she will—then Harborside will stay open and
continue to serve patients until the trial can
take place in about a year. I am sure we will
win that trial and that victory will be the final
end of this litigation, and hopefully the whole
long federal nightmare. Of course, they could
always attack us again—but at some point you
would expect they’ll get tired of losing.
The Harborside Illuminator: Publisher: Harborside Health Center. Editor: Samantha Campos. www.harborsidehealthcenter.com (888) 99-Harborside
Cannasseur Corner
By Rick Pfrommer, Director of Education, Harborside Health Center
On any given
day at Harborside,
we have upwards of six
different sun-grown strains.
We’ve been treated to
phenomenal flowers
this year.
Sun-Grown Redux
Pineapple Thai, Burmese Cotton Candy,
Cherry Cola: 2012 truly was an epic year
for sun-grown cannabis. The rains didn’t
come until late October, allowing growers
to let their plants reach peak maturity.
Some farmers in Grass Valley had plants in
the ground until Thanksgiving. I love those
long, equatorial sativas. Thank goodness
some growers do, too. California sunshine
combined with above-average temperature
all summer and fall allowed flowers to fully
ripen. I’ve seen some of the most amazing,
sticky, frost-covered colas this year.
This was truly a banner year for outdoor
crops; grapes, hops, and our beloved cannabis
all had a great season. It’s also been a full
year since Harborside Health Center began
highlighting the magnificence of outdoor
cannabis by rebranding it as sun-grown (SG).
The industry and press followed suit. During
the past year, our percentage of SG sales grew
from a mere 5% to over 20% of our total.
We’ve also seen the advent of top-shelf sun-
more than a little bit of rivalry between the
two. Thank goodness for lab testing and
professional judges!
This competition brings in cultivators
from all over the Emerald Triangle and
beyond. One of the top 10 finishers
was from Butte County. That grower
extolled the virtues of high-altitude
sunshine. The Cup is a great chance for
normally reclusive growers to come out
of the woodwork—or more correctly, the
woods—and share their handiwork with
each other.Tall tales are swapped; many joints,
pipes and bongs are smoked; music and food
are enjoyed, and a good time is had by all.
It’s also a great opportunity for dispensary
professionals to meet and greet producers
of top-quality sun-grown, and access this
medicine for their patients.
grown, where we
pick only the best,
highest-testing flowers
and put them in custom,
SG-labeled jars. In the future, look for HHC
to release limited-edition half-ounce and
full-ounce jars that are nitro-flushed and
sealed. Imagine pulling out “vintage” 2013
flowers in 2020! Unopened, these jars will
last for years.
Seeing only sun-grown at the Emerald Cup,
Preservation was the last thing on people’s it’s strange to then drive back to the city.
minds at this year’s Emerald Cup, the world’s Passing through the woods, then into farm
largest outdoor cannabis competition held country, and finally over the bridge and back
annually in Northern California in December. to the gritty, urban sprawl of the East Bay,
Over 200 entries graced a six-foot display you finally arrive in a place where almost
case. It was quite an inspiring sight. Activist all of the cannabis is non-organic indoor.
Tim Blake started the cup in 2003. For the The expansion of our SG choices this year
last decade it’s held court at the Area 101 has been wondrous. On any given day at
Over 200 entries graced a six-foot display
case. It was quite an inspiring sight.
community space in Mendocino. This year
it moved to the Mateel Community Center
in Humboldt County. The move has both
psychic and spiritual implications. As anyone
familiar with this region knows, there’s
Harborside, we have upwards of six different
strains. We’ve been treated to phenomenal
flowers this year. Hopefully the trend towards
sun-grown continues, and even increases, as
the seasons pass.
We are OPEN DAILY!
10am–8pm
in Oakland and San Jose
Our new, complimentary delivery
service is convenient and 100%
guaranteed. Order for same-day
delivery or arrange for a pick-up
at either location.
celebrate harvest
(888) 99-Harborside
at your door or in the store
FREE Delivery or pre-order for pick-up
(888) 99-Harborside • harborsidehealthcenter.com
harborsidehealthcenter.com
SUNGROWN
1840 Embarcadero, Oakland
2106 Ringwood Ave., San Jose
For questions or comments about Harborside Health Center, please email [email protected] or call (888) 99-Harborside.