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9 4 | t h e c l e v e r r o o t Brands that Give Back With a plethora of medicinal benefits, cannabis has long had deep ties to many illness communities. But as recreational cannabis rolls forward, modern cannabis brands haven't forgotten their roots, with many brands working within the one-to-one model to keep their chari- tably minded contributions flowing. I recently fell for Cannabis 4 Cause, an infused line of chocolates that offer a high-end edible experience served with a side of good-doing. With artfully designed packaging, gour- met ganja flavors like raspberry dark chocolate and sea salted dark chocolate and gorgeous embossing on the chocolate itself, these are a pretty addition to the California craft cannabis scene. But even better? For each bar sold, the brand donates a dose of medical grade cannabis oil to a patient in need. –Rachel Burkons AS CANNABIS USE COMES out of the shadows and enters the mainstream, gatherings that encourage consumers and growers to convene are breathing—exhaling, if you will—new life into the industry as legalization picks up speed across the country. Many of those events offer an opportunity for the cannabis space to give back to the local communities it occupies. A recent event that pushed the industry's charitable nature toward the forefront was the SLO Cup, which unfolded July 22 at San Luis Obispo County's Avila Beach on California's Central Coast. Just under 500 true cannabis connoisseurs attended, and each brought three jackets to be donated to a local homeless shelter as their admission to the lighthearted festival. Co-Organizer Nicolas Pitchon of San Luis Obispo NORML—a local chapter of the national organization that advocates for legal, respon- sible adult use of cannabis—said the SLO Cup was the county's first recreational cannabis competition and operated under current medi- cal and recreational cannabis laws. "We aren't doing any sort of selling or sampling here. It is just showcasing," Pitchon explained, adding that area's growers were ex- cited about the opportunity to finally showcase their products on the local scene. As for the competition? More than 45 sam- ples of flowers and concentrate products made mostly in San Luis Obispo County were tested by dozens of medical-cannabis users. Judges considered criteria like taste, appearance and effect, all of which can be influenced by breed- ing, crop tending, harvesting techniques and post-harvest processing. Beyond the educational aspect of the event, 37 local growers and 26 extractors went head to head to compete for the best flower and concentrate. Awards included Best Overall Flower, Best Overall Concentrate, Terpiest Ex- tract and Most Potent Extract, as well as first-, second- and third-place trophies for Indoor Flower, Mixed-Light Flower, Sungrown Flower, Solvent Concentrate and Solventless Concen- trate, among others. Similar events have been hosted this year in Bakersfield, San Bernardino and Santa Rosa. "It represents a place for the patients to come and to see the medicine up close and per- sonal to meet the people who cultivate it," said Stephan Fagan, Owner of SLOgrown Genetics. Since it's a private party held on private prop- erty, anyone over 21 was able to consume and share recreational cannabis—as it was legalized in California just last November with the passing of California Proposition 64.Selling, however, is still illegal until January 1, 2018. "The importance of this event has to do with the time that we are in right now," Pitchon added. "SLO County is still writing the regula- tions; Prop. 64 still has not gone into effect." Watch for these types of events to start pop- ping up throughout California and other states where legalization efforts are underway. PHOTO COURTESY OF CANNABIS 4 CAUSE More than 45 samples of flow- ers and concentrate products made mostly in San Luis Obispo County were tested by dozens of medical-cannabis users at the SLO Cup at Avila Beach. SLO Cup, held in San Louis Obispo, was an inaugural charitable event that included a recreational cannabis competition as well as a showcase of locally-grown strains. PHOTO: RAY AMBLER PHOTO: RAY AMBLER SLO CUP BRINGS RECREATIONAL CANNABIS TO SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY by Seth Doulton Cannabis' Coming-Out Party CANNABIS EVENTS ■cr

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