Leaf Magazines

These days, there are a plethora of pot-infused beverages to choose from… but for thousands of years, there was really only one bud-laced brew: the original Cannabis cocktail, bhang. Sometimes referred to as the “nectar of the gods,” this marijuana milkshake from India has been bringing all the boys (and girls) to the yard since the dawn of recorded history.

Thanks for picking up The Tannins & Terpenes Issue of the Leaf! We began pairing wine and weed in 2011, when one plant was accepted socially as having many varieties, flavors and provenance all related to the terroir, aka the soil, climate, topography and sunlight where the grapes were grown. The other was illegal. Before medical Cannabis began highlighting the differences in strains, weed was just weed. Sometimes it was better: sticky, smelly and full of trichomes.

A perfect pot plant comes to Richmond, California, Sept. 19-20 at the Clonetopia clone release festival powered by CANNA nutrients. More than 16 hot strains — like Toad Venom, Cheri Maraschino and OG Zeebrah — help commercial and home growers level up their fall and winter indoor runs. Breeders are perfecting weed that checks all the boxes: size, color, bling, layers of flavor and, of course, skull-crushing highs.

When the Oakland Ballers became the Oakland Blazers as a nod to Cannabis culture for one night this summer, they were cashing in on a gimmick. You couldn’t smoke weed at the ballpark, but all the winks and nods were there. The players mimed smoking joints, a Grateful Dead cover band jammed throughout the game, and fan gear had “Kush” written across the backs of the jerseys and included a small weed leaf.

In a summer that feels like one heat wave follows another over the east coast and the sun has no clouds to hide behind, it doesn’t seem to bother Yami Ortiz (@thatfadedfairy) that much. Growing up in Puerto Rico and living for a time in San Juan, she told the Leaf that she didn’t own a car and would bike everywhere.

At the age of 5, Elijah Cohen was diagnosed with Asperger’s (now called autism spectrum disorder), and at 10, he contracted Lyme disease after getting bitten by a small tick. Looking back, he said, “It’s funny to think that those two moments would go on to define my life.” A love for glass art, Cannabis, music and the history of how all these things intermingle has culminated in a deep passion for the plant and its community within Cohen.

Officially opening its doors on Feb. 27, 2026, this family-owned dispensary is the product of two farming families from Prince George’s County and Howard County coming together for a new venture in agriculture. The Spicknalls have roots in vegetable farming in PG County, making this a true mom-and-pop dispensary. They place a strong emphasis on community, and one of their goals in opening a dispensary was to uplift the Cannabis community while highlighting its culture.

Who doesn’t want to say they bought and smoked weed … in Weed? For those driving up and down Interstate 5, it’s that place to stop, stretch your legs, get gas and enjoy the quiet, idyllic vibe. But did you know the city of Weed is also home to an incredible dispensary/consumption lounge, right on the main street? Originally opened in 2018, La Florista is a massive space for a small-town shop.

Miles Kirby began his budtending job at Doobie Nights in Santa Rosa a week or two before April 20. For many, this might sound frightening, but even though Kirby was green, he was uniquely qualified to handle the task. Kirby told the Leaf that he actually started in the Cannabis world as a sales rep for Gorilla Grow Tent, working with customer issues and concerns.

Drinking coffee and enjoying a dab or a joint isn’t just a long-standing tradition — it’s a lifestyle. There are few things more perfectly paired than the bean and the green, and if you’re going to be serious about your coffee, you’ll need a good setup. Whether you go for a shot of espresso or a 16-ounce pour-over, glass artist Etai Rahmil has designed a system that will make you the envy of your friends when they stop by.