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RAID RESPONSE REQUEST
DEAR HARBORSIDE PATIENTS:
On April 2, Oaksterdam University and its associated businesses were raided by the DEA and other federal agencies. Although many patients showed up in downtown Oakland to protest, a far greater number could have been on hand to demonstrate and show support for Richard Lee/Oaksterdam and for the medical cannabis industry at large. We were saddened to see this lack of public presence after such a blatant attack on California patients' rights. We all have to do better if we want to ensure safe access to medical cannabis for future generations of Californians.
In the event that a raid should occur at Harborside Health Center, we have developed an action plan to serve the safety and wellbeing of our collective. It is imperative that our patients respond to the raid by showing up at Harborside Health Center and peacefully protesting the actions of the federal authorities. We may also need patients to show up at the Federal Building at 405 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco. If you should hear about a raid of Harborside Health Center, please take the following steps:
1. Call 866-708-1812 to receive hourly updates on where to go and what to do. This is a safe, third-party answering service that has been contracted to keep us connected to our patients. Call this number frequently on the day of the raid to stay updated and to receive instructions on demonstrations and actions.
2. If you hear about a raid through the media, call 866-708-1812 because media reports are often not accurate and won't include info on how our patients should respond.
3. Come and show your support during a raid at
Harborside. We need all of our patients to show up in the event of a raid.
4. Put 866-708-1812 into your phone NOW!
Harborside Health Center will also be collecting patient contact information so that we can develop emergency phone trees, text trees, Twitter and Facebook feeds, and an emergency email list. Harborside will not use any of this information to produce or send out marketing materials. It is meant for emergencies only.
Either ask for a form to fill out next time you come in, or send an email with pertinent info to: ombuds.user@HarborsideHealthCenter.com. The HHC website, Twitter Feeds, and Facebook page will also be active and updated hourly in the event of a raid. Please only use our Twitter feed (@HHCOAK and @HHCSJ) as others may not have accurate information.
In addition, Harborside will be working with Americans for Safe Access to sponsor a raid training class at our facility in Oakland. This workshop will take place Saturday, June 2, from 10am to 12:45pm. For more information about Americans for Safe Access, please visit online: www.safeaccessnow.org. ASA is our primary activist partner and one of the best sources for your individual voice to be heard. Please join and donate to ASA, just as Harborside Health Center does. It is a wonderful organization with a rich history of victories for patient rights. They need our support now more than ever.
It is our hope that Harborside Health Center will never be raided and will continue to establish best practices in the medical cannabis industry to keep us all safe. We are confident that the action plan listed above will be an effective response to federal action. We will need every patient in our collective to follow the plan and to show up in the event of a raid. Our strength has always been in the sheer number of us and our ability to organize and make our voices heard. That is how we passed Prop. 215 and that is how we will continue to stay out of the shadows and into the light.
-Andrew DeAngelo, General Manager; David Wedding Dress, General Manager, co-founder, Harborside Health Center
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Steve Speaks:
HHC INNOVATIONS: Cannabinoid Analysis
The evolution and importance of cannabis potency testing
By Steve DeAngelo, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Harborside Health Center
The cannabiniods testing industry is very young. Prior to opening Harborside Health Center in 2006, I called every analytical laboratory in the Bay Area, and asked them to test our medicine. If we were going to call it medicine, I needed to know two things. First, I needed to know it was free of any contaminants that might be harmful to our patients; second, I needed to know what was in it-its cannabinoid profile.
All of the labs I called turned me down, even though Harborside was licensed by the City of Oakland, and operating in full compliance with the laws of the State of California. They did not want to risk incurring the wrath of the federal government, which still maintains there is no medical use for cannabis, despite hundreds of scientific studies demonstrating its efficacy.
In response, in 2009, I founded Steep Hill Laboratory-the nation's first analytical laboratory devoted exclusively to cannabinoid analysis. By the end of 2010, other labs were launched to service the rapidly growing dispensary industry in California, Colorado and other medical cannabis states. Today, there are about a half-dozen reputable laboratories nationwide conducting commercial cannabinoid analysis.
Since then, a new QuantaCann technology has been developed and is hugely successful for Harborside. It has allowed us to reduce the turnaround time from three days to three minutes, as well as substantially reducing the cost of each analysis. The cost and time savings have in turn enabled us to test vastly more samples, leading to the discovery of new CBD-rich and sun-grown strains of cannabis. In addition, the QuantaCann results have proven not only to be as consistent as standard laboratory analysis-they are, in fact, more consistent.
Harborside began offering QuantaCann analysis to our patients a few months ago; interest has been strong, with requests for up to four tests per day. Patients who grow cannabis find the immediate test results useful to determine optimal time of harvest, and patients who breed cannabis find the QuantaCann testing useful for identifying different phenotypes. The testing is also attractive to patients who have acquired cannabis outside of Harborside which has not been tested.
Why is cannabis potency testing important?
Cannabis potency testing is important for several reasons. First and foremost, potency labeling enables patients to more effectively self-titrate their cannabis intake, preventing over- or under- dosing. It allows patients to identify the particular cannabinoid profile that works best for them, including CBD-rich cannabis, which delivers medical efficacy with a substantially reduced level of psycho-activity (the 'high'). From a business point of view, Harborside has found that testing 100% of our medicine provides us a competitive edge over the majority of dispensaries, which do not test, or test only a small proportion of their offerings. Testing also allows our patients to make more effective comparisons of different types of medicine, leading to higher patient satisfaction with their purchases.
There are two ways our patients find the potency testing especially useful. The first is to identify CBD-rich medicine. CBD, like THC, is one of the cannabinoids we test for. Unlike THC, it is completely non-psycho-active. In fact, when present with THC, it depresses the psycho-activity of the THC. Many of our cannabis-naive patients, or older or younger patients, find CBD-rich medicine best for their needs. Without cannabinoid potency testing, these patients would be unable to identify the CBD-rich medicine.
A second way patients find potency testing especially useful is to identify what I call the "hidden treasures"-those varieties of cannabis that carry low price tags, but have heavy THC content. This is especially true of sun-grown cannabis, which we emphasize at Harborside, as it has a far smaller carbon footprint than indoor, lamp-grown cannabis.
A portion of this info appeared in HerbalEGram, the electronic newsletter for the American Botanical Council.
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CANNASSEUR CORNER
By Rick Pfrommer, Purchasing Manager, Harborside Health Center
Beginning in the 1960s with the legendary Panama Red, and continuing through the '70s and '80s with Thai Sticks, Colombian Gold, Afghani Hashish and California Sinsimillia, there are trends in cannabis buying just as in other forms of commerce. The 1990s brought strain-specific cannabis like Skunk #1 and White Widow from Holland. These strains had originally come from the U.S. to Holland in the 1980s, where the climate for cannabis breeding was much more relaxed. The Dutch strains were the beginning of the modern cannabis market as we know it. When voters passed Prop 215 in 1996 and the first dispensaries opened in San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland, choices were somewhat limited to White Widow, Blue Dot, Northern Lights and a small variety of unknown strains. Sixteen years later, the variety of cannabis available now boggles the mind.
White Widow was one of the early popular strains. Whether this was due to its ubiquitous availability or its powerful uplifting effects is hard to say. The Widow fad lasted from the late '90s to the early part of the 21st century. The next trend was Trainwreck, which hit the medical scene just like a train wreck in about 2003. Medical patients and dispensaries couldn't get enough Trainwreck to supply the demand. Everybody wanted the "wreck." Growers all over the Bay and state started growing this sought-after strain to supply the demand. Within a relatively short time the amount of Trainwreck available exceeded the demand. The medical cannabis industry had seen its first of many boom/bust cycles involving a specific strain.
"One of the goals set from the beginning of Harborside Health Center was to diversify the genetic pool."
The next wave was a monster. Who ever knew that cannabis could be purple? The Purps-specifically, Grand Daddy-slammed into the Bay like a tsunami. The year 2003 brought Grand Daddy Purple, a.k.a. GDP, to the medical cannabis industry looking for something different. Within a short time there were hip-hop artists name-checking GDP. This led to a massive explosion in popularity. The demand for Purple in 2004-2005 so far exceeded the supply that dispensaries would pay up to $5000 per pound for the coveted flowers. By the time Harborside Health Center opened in 2006, GDP, Purple Erkle, Purple Kush and just about anything Purple ruled the East Bay like a kindly and well-medicated king. In Oakland and certainly at Harborside Heath Center, GDP continues its position of prominence nearly six years in. Many of our patients find continued effective relief from a variety of conditions from these noble, Purple strains.
One of the goals set from the beginning of Harborside Health Center was to diversify the genetic pool. Our clone department worked tirelessly to bring new and original landrace strains to patients; the sheer diversity of our selection is a testament to the success of this work. What subsequent strain would dominate? This time the next wave would roll in from an unlikely place-Los Angeles.
Beginning in 2006 people started talking about this strain from the South. OG Kush was the name and it rolled in like a rogue wave. The clones were so rare then, they fetched very high prices. Was the herb really that good? Well, yes! OG, as anyone who smokes it knows, is powerful medicine. Harborside Health Center began to see little bits in 2007. Most of the OG grown in the Bay at the time sold for inflated sums per pound. Eventually, as more clones got around, prices dropped and it became more readily available. We worked hard to convince vendors to bring their OG to Harborside so patients in the North could experience the sour Pine-Sol funk of this extraordinary strain. OG has also shown staying power similar to GDP; these two strains continue to be top choices at Harborside Health Center.
The latest fad-after we've passed through Sour Diesel and Blue Dream, both of which remain popular but not titanic-is the "Cookies." This strain is a cross of Cherry Pie Kush (OG Kush x Purple Kush x Durban Poison) and OG Kush. Patients drive many miles to any dispensaries fortunate enough to have this strain, which has gained popularity in the last year. It took a short while but in the last few months Harborside Health Center has seen a steady supply. Not daily, but usually weekly, you will see the Cookies on our menu.
What's next? Who knows! That's one of the wonderful aspects of working in the medical cannabis industry. The passion and dedication of the breeders and growers is limitless, as is the amazing variety this incredible plant can express.
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Cannabis Historian, vol. 3: THC & Taxes By Timothy Anderson, Purchasing Assistant, Harborside Oakland The United States has maintained a long and complicated relationship with cannabis from the very beginning. Hemp for fiber and seed had been cultivated since the Colonial era, and the plant was used quite frequently as folk medicine in those early chapters of our nation's history as well. Jack Herer (author, activist and namesake of the variety of cannabis often seen at Harborside), in his groundbreaking book, The Emperor Wears No Clothes, points out the numerous ways that cannabis and hemp have shaped our once-proud nation, from the Declaration of Independence to the great World Wars. For instance, the so-called 'founding fathers' Washington and Jefferson grew cannabis, presumably in the form of hemp for seed and/or fiber. It should be noted, however, that Washington made careful effort to separate the male and female plants-something one often does when concerned with producing cannabinoid-rich seedless flowers-and it's suspected that he used it medicinally to deal with chronic tooth aches. According to Herer, "Marijuana was America's number-one analgesic for 60 years before the rediscovery of aspirin around 1900," and was a commonly used medicine (mainly in tincture form, not unlike the Alta or Pure tinctures that Harborside carries) until the passing of the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. The passing of the Marihuana Tax Act in October of that year dramatically changed the legal landscape for cannabis in the United States. Born from a potent brew of scare stories about the alleged dangers of 'marijuana' (often steeped in racist sentiments) and anti-hemp corporate interests, the Act did not technically make cannabis illegal, though buyers and cultivators were prosecuted as if it were. This 'marijuana scare' was primarily the work of William Randolph Hearst, who was not only the largest newspaper publisher of his era, but also had a significant amount of his fortune tied up in timber. Hearst seems to have felt that the burgeoning hemp industry threatened the value of his timber empire, and used his media machine to vilify cannabis in all forms. Using his sizable influence in the political arena, Hearst (with the help of then-commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Harry Anslinger) had no problem convincing Congress to front his battle, and from this union the Tax Act quickly blossomed into existence like a noxious, crop-choking weed. Suddenly a substance once considered medicinal and harmless was to be taxed out of existence by making doctors, users, growers and sellers into criminals by virtue of not having paid a "special tax". Even the American Medical Association spoke out against the Act (having only been informed about it two days before the vote), and expressed to Congress its doubts about the harms of this 'dangerous drug' called cannabis, as well as decrying the Act as making the medicine harder for physicians to provide. The AMA's concerns fell on deaf ears. The Act passed easily, and knowledge of the many benefits of the cannabis plant began to fall deeply into the shadows. Prosecution began immediately. The first victim of the United States' war on cannabis, Samuel Caldwell, was arrested in Denver, Colorado, on the day the Act was passed. For the offense of possessing two cannabis cigarettes, Caldwell served a sentence of four years of hard labor and died shortly after being released from prison. As the years progressed, the federal government continued to amass laws and regulations, each more severe than the last, to keep cannabis out of the hands of the public. Though the Marihuana Tax Act was struck down in the Supreme Court at the end of the 1960s, both the Nixon and Regan administrations continued to tighten the noose around cannabis users with the Controlled Substances Act (passed in 1970, which classed cannabis as a substance with "a high potential for abuse" and claimed it had "no currently accepted medical use") and the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 (which yet again increased the penalties for cannabis users and cultivators). In a bizarre echo of the Tax Act of 1937, individual states began to issue their own "tax stamps" during the 1980s to force cannabis dealers to pay a self-incriminatory tax on the substance they were selling (the substance itself was still illegal) or face even greater penalties than they would have without the stamps. In the same confusing spirit, we now find the Internal Revenue Service confronting Harborside Health Center and other dispensaries with the 280e tax code. Born in the same era as President Regan's 'War on Drugs,' the clause was intended to strike deep into the financial heart of large drug trafficking organizations running false-front businesses to disguise their income. Again, by exercising the 280e clause, the federal government seems to be taking a contradictory stance on medical cannabis. Though California state law says that medical cannabis is legal, the federal government remains resolute in keeping any type of cannabis usage completely illegal. While Harborside Health Center continues to operate as both a model dispensary as well as a model business in the community, the IRS pursues HHC as if deceptive criminality is being performed here. It seems that, lacking the public support to close collectives like Harborside, the powers that be (in this case, a group of US District Attorneys) have decided that they can have their proverbial cake and eat it too-let the dispensaries continue to operate, but slowly bleed them dry by enacting extreme, obscure tax clauses on them, no matter the openness and transparency of their business-doings. Here we find our echoes of the Marihuana Tax Act: when public opinion is not with them, some members of the federal government still find a way to pursue their anti-cannabis agenda so that public support doesn't matter. If you're interested in learning more about 280e, and what you can do to help reform this outdated tax code, please visit http://www.280ereform.org/. back to top |
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JB's Product Pick
Omicron v2 Vape Pen
With the recent onset of the current concentrate craze, many patients are now researching ways to medicate while on the go. Luckily for those discernible patients, there are a few different options allowing them to do so. Just one of those methods is the new Omicron v2 vape pen, which is now available at the Harborside Health Center retail boutique in Oakland.
The Omicron v2 vape pen is a revolutionary new personal vaporizer that allows a patient to medicate using high-percentage tested cannabis Super Melts and oils. There are now many vape pens on the market, but what makes the Omicron extra special is that its cartridges are non-glycerin based and refillable. In fact, there are a couple of specific products also offered at Harborside that are perfect for refilling your Omicron cartridges, including various strains of Canna Nectar and Essential Oils, which all sell for just $40 per gram. These specific oils come in a syringe applicator that makes it real easy to refill your new Omicron.
The Omicron is a great way to medicate while traveling. It is also a healthier alternative to smoking a pipe since there is no flame, no burning of plant material, and therefore fewer carcinogens. Each cartridge can provide up to 400 hits depending on the potency of the oil or concentrate used. Included in the Omicron vape pen kit are the following: one aluminum shell casing, two 3.7V lithium-ion batteries, one extract cartridge, one aluminum mouthpiece, one funnel fill tool, one AC/USB battery charger, and one rugged carrying case. You can currently get the whole set for only $130 at the Harborside retail boutique in Oakland.
-John Brown, Web/Marketing Manager, Harborside Health Center Oakland back to top |
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FAQ OF THE MONTH: How do Harborside's new Priority Patient Program and Express Line work? Harborside Health Center has always been sensitive to its patients in need of special assistance. That's why we've incorporated our Priority Patient Program and Express Line to assist in getting patients their medication faster and easier. Harborside has always had a program to assist patients with special needs by allowing them to approach the front of our lines. Recently, our Priority Patient Program has changed slightly. Due to the large number of priority requests daily, we have made some adjustments to the program to better suit the new demands and with respect to all of our patients' experiences. If you require priority assistance please ask an Ombuds Associate at the front desk to assist you. We will take you to a bench where you can rest comfortably outside of our regular line. Your spot in line will be held and when it comes up, we will take you to the front of the line.  To assist those in a quick stop at Harborside, we have also recently instituted a new Express Line to assist patients who already have an idea of what they might want. The new Express Line is currently offered Thursday through Saturday and features a limited menu that usually includes all top-shelf meds, some sun-grown meds, pre-rolls, and concentrates. All edibles can be purchased from the Express Line as well. To utilize the Express Line please obtain a menu from our front desk as you walk in, or you can download and print a menu from home from our website at http://www.harborsidehealthcenter.com. At Harborside we aim to assist everyone who walks in our doors. We understand that standing in line is not the most exciting thing to do, but we will do our best to make your experience great. We hope that these programs assist you in the future, and we hope to see you in Harborside Health Center soon! --John Brown, Web/Marketing Manager, Harborside Health Center back to top |
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BEING WELL
A bulletin on holistic services
The following is an update of new services and healers offered at Harborside Oakland!
Cultivation Safety & Security
Sundays, 11am-1pm
A discussion of the breadth of issues that patients and collectives can face when cultivating cannabis-from quantity limits to security measures.
Instructor: Nate Bradley, former police officer and deputy sheriff. Mr. Bradley now works with Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) as a speaker on patients' rights and advocacy.
Support Groups:
Parent/Children (3rd Thursdays, 6:15-7:45pm)
A safe environment where families can learn and discuss the role cannabis plays in their lives. Families will be reassured of the safety of medical cannabis, and share their experiences with other parents.
Senior Citizen (1st Thursdays, 6:15-7:45pm)
An open discussion class of the role that cannabis plays in their lives. Patients share their experience with other seniors who find mutual support without stigmas.
Facilitators: David Wedding Dress, HHC Holistic Director and co-founder, and Andrew DeAngelo, HHC General Manager. Mr. Wedding Dress and Mr. DeAngelo are longtime cannabis activists and pioneers in the medical cannabis industry.
Meditation
Tuesdays, 6:15-7:45pm (45-minute appointments)
A practice of concentrated focus upon a sound, object, visualization, the breath, movement, or attention itself in order to increase awareness of the present moment, reduce stress, promote relaxation, and enhance personal and spiritual growth. The class will give you basic skills for meditation and mindfulness.
Facilitator: Mark Pelter, former director of Twelve Meadows Center for Renewal. Mark has taught classes in meditation and loving kindness for over 25 years.
Tai-Chi
Mondays, 3-4pm
A Chinese system of slow meditative physical exercise designed for relaxation, balance, and overall health. Described as "meditation in motion," Tai Chi consists of slow, graceful movements from a standing position, with each move flowing to the next.
Instructor: Norma Austin, a longtime martial arts practitioner, studied under various masters with a wide variety of specialties, including Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi and Medical Qigong. Norma has spent the last 10 years teaching children and girls.
Medical Cannabis 101
1st and 3rd Thursdays, 6-7pm
A small, informal group that emphasizes factual information, harm reduction, and experience sharing. Patients may choose their level of sharing with the group, but are encouraged to participate. Topics like cannabinoid information and strain knowledge will be discussed.
Facilitator: Laine Demetria, MS, MFT, and licensed since 1994, is a somatic psychotherapist who specializes in working with harm reduction, substance use and misuse, PTSD, and other specialty areas. Based in her many years of yoga training, Vipassana meditation, work in physical therapy and holistic massage, Laine has honed her understanding of the human body and its effects on mental and emotional processes.
-Sugam Soni, Ombuds Associate; Infini Terry, Ombuds Manager, Harborside Oakland
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