MarylandLeaf_Mar2026

THE FLOWER ISSUE

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WES ABNEY CEO & FOUNDER wes@leafmagazines.com

MIKE RICKER OPERATING PARTNER ricker@leafmagazines.com

TOM BOWERS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER tom@leafmagazines.com

DANIEL BERMAN CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER daniel@leafmagazines.com

EARLY MARYLAND LEAF PUBLISHER early@leafmagazines.com

WYATT EARLY STATE DIRECTOR wyatt@leafmagazines.com (410) 961-8779

BOBBY BLACK LEAF BOWL DIRECTOR & HISTORIAN bobbyblack@leafmagazines.com

MICHELLE NARANJO & JACKIE BRYANT COPYDESK michelle@leafmagazines.com | jackie@leafmagazines.com

creators of

ABOUT THE COVER

This month, we're celebrating some of the state's finest Cannabis strains with a stunning image by creative director and visionary Brandon Palma, who actually created the Maryland Leaf logo! Model Amy LaRoche is wearing a custom-made flower headdress that combines purple-hued Cannabis colas and flowers, white Phalaenopsis orchids and white anthuriums made by San Diego artist Leslie K. Monroy.

PHOTO BY BRANDON PALMA / 8TH DAY CREATE® @BRANDONPALMA @8THDAYCREATE FLOWER CROWN ART BY LESLIE K. MONROY @FLOWERSONFLOWERZ, @BUNNYFOOFEE MODEL: AMY LAROCHE @LAROCHEAPPROACH

CONTRIBUTORS

WES ABNEY, FEATURES AJ AGUILAR, FEATURES

DANIEL BERMAN, DESIGN + PHOTOS

JACKIE BRYANT, FEATURES

DAVID DOWNS, FEATURES

WYATT EARLY, FEATURES

HAYLEY EWING, PHOTOS

BRAM GOODWIN, PHOTOS REX HILSINGER, FEATURES + PHOTOS

ELLEN HOLLAND, FEATURES

WIND HOME, PHOTOS

JESSE JOHNSON, FEATURES

DAN KARKOSA, PHOTOS

AMY LAROCHE, MODELING

GREG MALCOLM, PHOTOS

TAYLOR MARTIN, FEATURES TERPODACTYL MEDIA, FEATURES + PHOTOS

LESLIE K. MONROY, STYLING

BRANDON PALMA, PHOTOS

CHRIS ROMAINE, PHOTOS

KATHERINE WOLF, FEATURES

BRUCE & LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES

company’s medicinal, recreational, commercial or industrial Cannabis business, product or event within our magazine and on our website, leafmagazines.com. Email wyatt@leafmagazines.com to start advertising with Maryland Leaf!

CONNECT WITH MARYLAND LEAF Exclusive Cannabis Journalism

Editor’s Note

Thanks for picking up The Flower Issue of the Leaf!

Farmers are the key to life, whether it’s food or our favorite terpenes, and this issue honors the best buds that we’ve found in the market.

It’s hard work dedicating your life to growing a plant, which is why corn, soybean and weed farmers all have dirty fingernails and the hardscrabble endurance that it takes to coax a living thing out of the Earth. The biggest difference between the weed industry and the farming industrial system is that Cannabis has a huge diversity of farm and product ownership, whereas the food system is almost entirely controlled by 10 major corporations.

That lack of ownership diversity is why our food system is entirely corrupt, which — combined with our financially crooked political system — has led to food additives, coloring and the spraying of glyphosate (as a drying agent) on wheat during harvest, poisoning our food system. Ever heard of gluten intolerance? It’s glyphosate intolerance, a fact that charts with data. It's likely why cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome pops up in newly legal states, where pesticides and chemicals are used in greater frequency than in established Cannabis markets. Our bodies have an endocannabinoid system, so it’s much more likely that a chemical is to blame than the plant we were created with and given by God.

In today’s America, there are only four major meat processors, and they are all owned by BlackRock, the $12.5 trillion asset management group. There’s a disturbing lack of choice when it comes to food at a U.S. grocery store, including the stores themselves, which continue to merge and consolidate, all packed full of shiny brands with additives and chemicals that are illegal in Canada and the European Union.

"WE NEED FARMERS — AND OWNERSHIP DIVERSITY — SO THAT THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF CLEAN, BEAUTIFUL BUDS …”

In the U.S., we even let food companies self-certify new ingredients under the Generally Recognized as Safe system without Food and Drug Administration approval or notification. Letting food companies certify the safety of new additives is like letting pharmaceutical companies run their own trials and then redact the data, as has happened with many vaccines and controversial drugs. Remember Zantac, the antacid causing cancer?

When you realize that the food companies are owned by the drug companies, which make money off our poor health and chronic diseases and illnesses, the entire rotten food system suddenly makes sense.

Why am I on this soapbox? The reason you don’t have Frosted Flakes-flavored vapes complete with fresh glyphosate and Roundup sprayed until the day of harvest is that the Cannabis industry is made up of thousands of small farms all competing to deliver the best terps and products for their loving stoner fans.

We need farmers — and ownership diversity — so that there is an abundance of clean, beautiful buds along with vapes, edibles, tinctures, topicals, RSO and everything else to buy, consume, heal and feature in the Leaf. Otherwise, weed will end up like the cereal aisle: lots of brand options, all owned by four companies. That’s why we honor farmers in this Flower Issue!

Appreciating the flowers on a road trip through the Napa Valley

SENDING SUNSHINE

“Yellow is the first sign of spring,” I think to myself as I’m driving to the Napa Valley on a midwinter morning. It’s the beginning of February, and the famously golden hills of California are still mostly green. The old vine grapes in the valley are dormant, woody brown, knotted skeletons, and the sun is shining brightly. In the fields ahead are pops of yellow.

AT A CERTAIN TIME OF YEAR IN WINE COUNTRY — and across many areas of California — the mustard plants bloom, transforming whole hillsides into sunny seas of yellow. Introduced by Spanish colonialists, legend has it that mustard seeds were scattered along the El Camino Real mission trail to mark the route, creating a “ribbon of gold.” Found in adobe bricks dating from the mission era, these non-native plants were most likely transported by cattle across the wide grazing lands during the time of Spanish and Mexican ranchos. Pervasive and invasive, black mustard plants grow wild almost everywhere in California and are celebrated in Napa in February and March as a way to draw tourists during the slow season. Armed with a map put out by the local tourism board and inspired by the warmth of the sun, I’m in the heart of the valley dropping in at wineries, but I’m not tasting wine. Instead, I’m smoking weed and taking in the splendor of another flower you’ll find across California and most of the world: the black mustard flower.

MAGIC WITHOUT MONEY

It’s easy to get priced out of Napa if you’re not ultra-wealthy; most wine tastings are nearly $100, and many wineries are appointment only. I grew up in Fairfield, on the other side of the Vaca Mountains from the valley, so Napa holds nostalgic childhood memories for me. When I was growing up, the mineral pool in Calistoga had a day rate and a snack bar. Now, the only way to experience that pool is by booking a high-end massage or pricey overnight accommodations. I want to spend time in the Napa Valley, but I can’t afford to spend my day sipping expensive wine. The mustard bloom offers me an in — a way to linger in the iconic valley, best known for its wine production, without spending money at every place I stop. Bringing Cannabis along enhances the experience of enjoying time in the natural settings of the valley on an unseasonably warm winter’s day.

I spent my afternoon crawling along Napa’s two main thoroughfares, Highway 29 on the west side and the Silverado Trail on the east side. After noticing the lemons, daffodils and sour grass with delicate yellow flowers that I used to eat as a kid, I find myself deeply connected to the color yellow as the first signal that winter is ending and brighter days are ahead. The valley presents naked oak trees covered in green moss, leafless rows of grape vines and fields of yellow mustard flowers. Deepening my sensory perception with Cannabis flowers helps me connect with the natural beauty of the area.

FLOWERS FOR FLOWERS

The morning hit of Zangria when I arrive in Yountville tastes fruity and bright. I smoke on the walkable flat streets, which are empty of people, but full of cars parked in front of California bungalows and vacation rentals.

Bouchon Bakery — run by celebrity chef Thomas Keller, who also heads the world-renowned, three-Michelin-star restaurant The French Laundry just down the road — is a popular hotspot in Yountville in the morning. When I arrive at the bakery, it’s unusually empty. I’m a savory breakfast person, but can’t stomach the idea of a $15 ham and cheese croissant, so I opt for a cream cheese danish and an Americano. When I push my crumbs off the table, and small brown birds begin to gather, I feel like Cinderella.

In The French Laundry Culinary Garden, I spot winter vegetables like cabbage and lettuce as a woodpecker with a red cap flies just above my head.

A flowering pear drops snow-white blooms to the ground that mimic snowfall, and I feel incredibly grateful to be in California while the rest of the country is still in a time of deep winter cold.

Following the map of mustard blossoms, I stop at a winery along the Silverado Trail and walk toward a field of mustard. It’s nearly 70 degrees, and the sunshine on my skin feels amazing.

I visit a few more spots on the map before arriving in St. Helena, further north along the valley. Once there, I follow a directional sign leading toward the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, which is flanked in front by a field of grape vines and mustard blossoms.

Best known for the novels “Treasure Island” and “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” Stevenson arrived in the Napa Valley seeking sunny, dry air to improve his health. On her blog, Very Important Potheads, Ellen Komp writes that Stevenson and his cousin Bob Stevenson were inseparable in their youth, noting that Stevenson’s biographer James Pope Hennessy wrote that the two Stevensons “pursued girls together and smoked hashish (when they could get it).”

Stevenson's poem “Spring Song” reminds me of the renewal I feel on my stoney trip to the Napa Valley, knowing that spring is on its way.

The air was full of sun and birds, The fresh air sparkled clearly. Remembrance wakened in my heart And I knew I loved her dearly.

The fallows and the leafless trees And all my spirit tingled.

My earliest thought of love, and Spring’s First puff of perfume mingled.

In my still heart the thoughts awoke, Came lone by lone togetherSay, birds and Sun and Spring, is Love

A mere affair of weather?

The valley presents naked oak trees covered in green moss, leafless rows of grape vines and fields of yellow mustard flowers. Deepening my sensory perception with Cannabis flowers helps me connect with the natural beauty of the area.

In another poem, Stevenson wrote a line that reminds me of my ambition for my day’s adventure in the Napa Valley: “Bring flowers while flowers are sweet to see.”

SING A SONG OF SEASONS

I brought Cannabis to a place that’s best known for wine to look at another type of flower, and in doing so, felt hope for the things that are yet to come. As the days continue to warm up, the dormant Cannabis seeds that we plant in the soil will begin to grow. And come next winter, a celebration of these flowers will occur as we smoke the first tastes of the 2026 Cannabis harvest.

Napa Valley is beautiful in all seasons, and enjoying it with an herbal companion as opposed to a glass of wine was an incredible way to stay in tune with the seasons. Flowers of all kinds bring joy to our lives, but I think the Cannabis flower is the most special because of the way it can help us to appreciate the world around us.

As we look ahead toward spring and the Cannabis planting season, I hope we all can find the time to appreciate flowers and feel the heat of the sun. The yellow color of mustard blossoms that filled my day in Napa evokes happiness, energy, optimism and warmth. I take solace in knowing there are brighter and stonier days ahead as Cannabis flowers begin to bud and bloom, both in our hearts and minds.

FIRE FOLLOWER BEST SEEDS AND CLONES TO GROW IN 2026

IT'S A glorious time to be a Cannabis gardener. More folks in more states can grow more dope than at any time in history. Legalization has spread from a hippie pipe dream in San Francisco to the backyards of frickin’ legal Virginia (four plants allowed) and Ohio (six plants). Generally, dozens of states allow some form of home growing, and this March is the time to lock in your seeds for an epic 2026 full-sun run.

We do our best to review hundreds of breeder websites, seed banks, Instagrams and Discord channels to bring you this essential list of the Best Seeds and Clones to Grow in 2026. Get out there and flex your freedom to garden.

‘CANDY-GAS’

Let's start with the most popular flavor profile: “purple candy-gas.” Look toward industry leaders Compound Genetics and its 2026 line of “candy” Pavé crosses. We sampled six this month, and our where-bling-meets-flavor favorite is the Zhampagne (Blue Nerdz x Pavé). It keeps the glimmering bag appeal of the Pavé with the tongue-smacking taste of Zkittlez cross Blue Nerdz.

A related pick goes to former Compound Genetics breeder Chris Lynch and his Cipher Genetics label. Cipher has two big lines of work off the Leafly Strain of the Year 2025 nominee, Blue Lobster. Blue Lobster (Apples & Bananas x Eye Candy) has had an enormous impact over the last two years, and “it’s really worthy of it," Lynch said. Blue Lobster V2 feminized seeds are up on the Cipher Genetics website. Standouts include Paint Stripper, a cross of (Chemdog D x Monaco Octane) x Blue Lobster, but there are keepers in every pack.

Another honorable mention for herb that’s guaranteed to move is Humboldt Seed Company’s new Candy Hustle (Don Carlos x Jose x Grape Menthol).

Describing the reaction to it on the farm, Benjamin Lind at Humboldt Seed Co. said, “This is that hustle weed,” which means that it's good for folks selling to brokers and bulk buyers.

HASHERS

Second to purple candy-gas, another big wave remains: strains that hash well. One great place to start is “slips” — that is, unrooted cuttings of preselected winning varieties. New breeder super-group Arcana of Marin, California, has a top-selling slip called Bickett OG — a cross of Cherry Pie x GMO — that’s a hash dumper. Of course, Bloom Seed Co. reigns for hash-producing varieties. We’d run Super Limez, a cross of Leafly Strain of the Year 2024 Super Boof x Too Much Limez.

We just finished judging the American Autoflower Cup in Hollywood, and our biggest takeaway came from the hash entries. The future belongs to automatically flowering Cannabis that hashes well. Picks there include Fast Buds’ Apricot Auto, which won first place in Best Hash at the Autoflower Cup. Also, Humboldt Seed Co.’s new Hella Jelly Autoflower and Garlic Budder Autoflower, out soon.

Award-winning journalist/author and

Editor David Downs’ monthly genetics intelligence

HYPE STRAINS

Let's speedrun through some more essential hype: Seed Junky Genetics keeps pumping out winners like Guava Jellie (Guava Gelato x Permanent Marker BX2).

Fellow Los Angeles grower Capulator has released the 10th anniversary of MAC in seed form as MAC 10.

Archive Seeds has amplified the Toad Venom strain wave with the new Ichiban (Toad Venom x Oishii).

And my favorite local, indie breeder Xeno Seed Company of Richmond, California, has a hit with Gumosa, a cross of its Black Bubblegum x Symbiotic Genetics’ Mimosa. Gumosa flower, grown by Bosky, just took second place in the 2025 MJBowl, and seeds are out now.

“THIS

OUTDOOR BANGERS

Now, let's abandon hype for unique, feel-good strains that crush outdoors. First on my list is Canna Country’s latest crosses. All Canna Country’s strains are numbered, not named. We love the Canna Country #26 (a Forbidden Fruit x Cherimoya). Anything by Canna Country with the #26 in it is going to be a pleasant treat. For example, CC29 x CC26 unites Blueberry Muffin x Dosidos and Forbidden Fruit x Cherimoya. Hot damn! Similarly, multi-Emerald Cup and California State Fair champ Greenshock Farms is on the Tangled Roots seedbank website with a few must-haves like Tropical Sleigh Ride x Tangie (just three packs left at press time).

If all this stuff feels too newfangled and fancy, grab some Rebel Grown Seeds Blue Dream F5s. The Humboldt and Vermont-based brand offers a trusted, consistent domestic source for the easy-togrow, easy-to-love, high-yield classic.

It’s impossible to fully arm you with personal garden picks — everyone’s tastes and needs are unique. Find more Fire Follower picks over at daviddownspresents.substack.com.

bud flower infused with k k Half Gr Infused Pre-Ro Half Gr Infused Pre-Ro g g Infused Pre-Ground Flower Infused Pre-Ground Flower Inf Pr Inf Pr

LENNY CURTIS

FAR & DOTTER TIMONIUM

2060A YORK ROAD, TIMONIUM, MD FARDOTTER.COM

@FARDOTTERMARYLAND MON. - SAT.: 9 A.M. - 9:30 P.M. (DOORS CLOSE AT 9 P.M.) SUN.: 9 AM - 6:30 P.M. (DOORS CLOSE AT 6 P.M.) (443) 484-8600

WHAT FIRST SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN CHANGING THE NARRATIVE AROUND CANNABIS?

Growing up, I always heard the older generations refer to Cannabis as “reefer” and talking about how it would mess up your brain. They had nothing positive to say about it. Once I was around Cannabis and developed my own opinion on it, I realized how helpful it can actually be for people. I want to show people that this is more than a street drug and help them make decisions about Cannabis for themselves.

TELL ME ABOUT A MEMORABLE INTERACTION WITH A CUSTOMER OR PATIENT THAT REINFORCED YOUR COMMUNITY FOCUS. Working at Far & Dotter in Timonium, this area caters to elderly patients and a lot of people who are looking to relieve certain ailments. I’ve learned a lot about what people are going through in life, and I’ve made it my goal to have them leave the store with a smile on their face. When I first jumped into my patient care adviser role, there was a customer who was looking for something to help their mother, who was in hospice. They wanted her to feel more calm without using pain medication. I recommended the Achy Eddies, and they said she had a smooth transition without pain. Things like that drive me to keep doing what I’m doing.

me wanted more of a challenge dealing with customers. I want to share my knowledge with the community, and this is the best way to do it.

HOW HAS THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY SHAPED YOUR PERSONAL LIFE? I’ve been in the industry for three years now, and every year I have been given the opportunity to grow personally and professionally. I went from manufacturing to inventory at the dispensary to a patient care adviser, and now I’m a patient care adviser lead. This job has taught me a lot about what people don’t see in the retail Cannabis world. It has made me more careful, more responsible, and taught me to slow down sometimes and do things accurately and efficiently.

“THIS CITY HAS A LOT OF HEART AND A LOT OF LOVE, AND NOW THE PUBLIC HAS BECOME A LOT MORE ACCEPTING AND A LOT LESS CRITICAL OF CANNABIS.”

HOW HAS GROWING UP IN BALTIMORE INFLUENCED YOUR VIEWS ON CANNABIS STIGMA? I feel like whenever people hear anything about Baltimore and Cannabis or other drugs, their brains go straight to “The Wire.” Baltimore is a lot more than boarded-up homes and corrupt police people see on TV. It’s a beautiful city. This city has a lot of heart and a lot of love, and now the public has become a lot more accepting and a lot less critical of Cannabis.

WHAT DREW YOU FROM MANUFACTURING AT CURIO WELLNESS TO RETAIL? I wanted to get more involved with face-toface interactions. During my time in manufacturing, I learned a lot about packaging, filling vapes and making edibles. Something inside

AS A LEAD AT FAR & DOTTER, WHAT PART OF OPERATIONS OR CUSTOMER EDUCATION DO YOU ENJOY MOST? The interactions with patients, and helping out budtenders following the same path I did. I want to motivate everyone on my team to push through the hard days and interactions. I’m a team player and want to see everyone grow and succeed.

LENNY CURTIS HAS WORKED HIS WAY UP IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY, setting goals for himself and smashing them year after year. He has experience in the manufacturing side and the retail side of Cannabis, but his passion is He brings a positive attitude and years of experience to Far & Dotter Timonium every day, taking pride in helping the patients and adult-use customers he serves. From the success story that is his career to the success stories of the people he’s recommended products to, Curtis is a prime example of how great this industry can be.

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FLWRDISPENSARY

BALTIMORE LOCALS ELLE LEE AND STEVE ANYADIKE have transformed the FLWR Dispensary space in Towson into a masterpiece after receiving their dispensary license in the 2024 round of Social Equity Cannabis licenses. They also obtained a microdispensary license, which will allow them to deliver Cannabis to patients and adults over 21 in Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Harford County, Howard County and Cecil County. Opening up in late October 2025, Lee and Anyadike have brought some high vibes to Chesapeake Avenue.

SETTING AND VIBE

Live plants, an open floor plan with product displays and trippy art make this a top dispensary experience. Next to the shelves displaying product packaging from all of Maryland’s favorite brands sits a kiosk for browsing the menu and placing orders. The FLWR employees are experienced Cannabis connoisseurs, and they can steer you in the right direction when looking for a product with a desired effect.

FLOWER

With over 100 different flower options on the menu, this storefront certainly lives up to its name. The options are limitless, and some of the eighths are as low as $20 for some very tasty buds. In addition to traditional flower, FLWR also has some THCa-infused flower, clocking in at nearly 50% THC — a must-try for any high-THC chasers out there.

CONCENTRATES

The concentrate menu here supports Black-owned brands like BL^CK MRKT and FLWR’s collaboration with Organic Remedies Maryland. During our visit, the shop had Pillow Lava Cured Badder, Blueberry Driver Cured Sugar, Citrus Goat Burger Cured Badder, Icicle Nectar Cured Sugar, White 99 Live Badder and Stankasaurus Live Sugar, which are all from this collaboration. In addition to concentrates, there are also tons of vape options on the menu at all times.

EDIBLES

WITH OVER 100 DIFFERENT FLOWER OPTIONS ON THE MENU, THIS STOREFRONT CERTAINLY LIVES UP TO ITS NAME.

A solid mix of gummies, drinks, chocolates and candies frequent the menu at FLWR. The store also had the newest offering from Keef: Life H2O, a sparkling, low-calorie, low-sugar drink with THC and different flavors containing various cannabinoid mixtures. The Blueberry Lemon Snooze flavor on the FLWR menu has 10 milligrams of THC and 10mg of CBN, while the Strawberry Kiwi Balance flavor has 10mg of THC and 5mg of CBG.

REVIEW ED:

HAPPY EDDIE OREOZ

Happy Eddie is a brand brought to us by local entrepreneur and Cannabis connoisseur Eddie Osefo. Oreoz is a cross between Cookies N Cream and Secret Weapon, and the smell and taste are true to its name, reminding me of chocolate cookies with sweet cream and vanilla flavors mixed in. I often use this strain when I’m struggling with a painful workout recovery to reduce my pain and inflammation.

@HAPPYEDDIE__

MATT ROSENSWEIG

If you step into your local dispensary and see Matt Rosensweig standing next to a decorated table with a smile on his face, and you ask him what he’s doing, he’ll tell you that he’s there “spreading the love for District Cannabis.”

WORKING AS a brand ambassador, promoting and educating people about any Cannabis-related topic requires not only a wealth of knowledge but also an effective way to communicate this information that anyone can understand. Carrying a passion for Cannabis and an enthusiasm to help a stranger, all Rosensweig needed to do was wait for someone to walk through the door, and he could get to work.

“I love making people happy, I love having that interaction,” he said. “We’re in the Cannabis industry; nobody should be frowning.”

Rosensweig was born and raised in Pikesville and attended Towson University after graduating high school, earning a degree in psychology. “I love interactions with people and what goes in people’s minds,” he said. Fresh out of college in 2007, Rosensweig took a position working with Child Protective Services in Baltimore.

“My parents always told me growing up you care more about others than you do yourself,” he said, adding that all of the jobs he’s worked since he was 14 have been customer service-based, McDonald’s and summer camps among them. With CPS, he said it’s the “most rewarding, toughest job you’ll ever have.”

Ten years into his tenure with CPS, Rosensweig enrolled in a master’s program at the University of Maryland’s School of Social Work through the department and graduated with his Master of Social Work degree in 2018.

Working remotely was a strange transition at first, Rosensweig said, due to the contrast of being out in the field and interacting with people in the city to talking to someone on a screen multiple times a day.

“I did Uber and Lyft on the side just so I can get my people interaction,” he said. “I can’t sit anywhere all day, my ADD won’t let me.”

In 2024, Rosensweig was laid off from his remote position. He knew he wanted to get into the Cannabis industry at some point, but it was a bit more challenging with where he was at the time. He said with other coworkers also being laid off, a lot of them would be looking for the same type of job, motivating him to look at something in the Cannabis industry. Upon hearing that District Cannabis was looking for a brand ambassador, he interviewed for the job and got hired, moving back to Maryland a short time later.

“Ilovemaking peoplehappy, Ilovehavingthat interaction.We’re intheCannabis industry;nobody shouldbefrowning.”

After 15 years of service with CPS and earning his master’s degree, Rosensweig felt he needed a change of scenery. Luckily, a friend had recently moved to Houston and offered to help him find work pertaining to his master’s degree.

He was offered a remote position doing social work for a hospital in the area while still living in Maryland, so he decided to pack his stuff and move to Texas in 2022.

Reflecting on the move, he said, “I don’t want to go back on my life and wonder what if.”

“I said, ‘Screw you guys, I’m going home,’” he said, laughing as he quoted Eric Cartman from “South Park.” “I’ve always had an interest in Cannabis. I wanted to learn what aspects make it help you,” adding that he wrote papers while in his master’s program about the benefits medical marijuana could bring to Maryland.

Rosensweig first tried Cannabis when he was 18 after being introduced to it by his best friend. From there, he said he’s been in love since the first hit. In addition to helping with anxiety and stress, Cannabis has also greatly reduced the severity of the hand tremors he's had since he was a kid.

Rosensweig is constantly on the move in this role with District Cannabis. While there is no “normal” day, he credits his previous job experience — particularly his time in CPS — for helping him handle the ebb and flow that comes with working in a different spot every day.

“That job really opened me up to seeing how different the world actually is, how people live differently than I do,” he said. “But still, at the end of the day, I’m helping people, but in way different capacities.”

Even though he’s been in the industry for less than a year, Rosensweig said his goal is to learn every kind of position in the industry in an effort to not only be the best brand ambassador for the company he’s with, but industry-wide across Maryland and beyond. Being a visual learner, he said, creating and participating in content for Instagram and TikTok became a big part of helping him to get his work a larger reach.

“I got five months in the industry, and I’m nominated for Brand Ambassador of the Year,” he said. “I studied brand ambassadors before I started this job, and I wanted to do something completely different than what everyone else was. I want to be that guy.”

While his method of consumption varies, Rosensweig’s go-to strain is something heavy in myrcene or caryophyllene with some purple hues in its buds. This combo helps relax him, he said, adding he only resorts to smoking something with more energizing terpenes like pinene or terpinolene if he has a larger task to do.

Rosensweig and his brother often communicate with each other through quoting different movies and television, admitting that watching a lot of comedy — specifically “The Three Stooges” and anything starring Chris Farley — helped shape his bubbly, outgoing personality. When asked what quote would best describe his journey, one that came to mind is from Michael Scott in “The Office”: “Sometimes I’ll start a sentence, and I don’t even know where it’s going. I just hope I find it along the way.”

Fade Co.'s Boston Runtz Live Sugar marks the debut batch of concentrates from its lab, offering the brand’s take on the beloved New England strain. A cross between the delicious Boston Cream Pie and the classic Runtz line, this concentrate retains the creamy, berry notes of the Cream Pie and the smooth, hard-hitting punch of the Runtz.

BOSTON RUNTZ LIVE SUGAR

THIS DAB provides a 90% THCA wallop straight to the brain that trickles down to the far reaches of the body. This high hits you right in the face and moves down to your fingers and toes in ways that touch the full range of Cannabis effects. If slowing down your day and addressing a whole body of symptoms is your goal, then the Fade Co. Boston Runtz Live Sugar is the dab for you.

Caryophyllene is known to activate the CB2 receptors just like CBD does, so it is particularly excellent for those seeking pain relief. Combined with limonene and tempered by linalool and pinene, this Boston Runtz Live Sugar really creates an ideal headspace for all manner of symptoms and day-to-day relief.

TOTAL THCA: 90.52% TOTAL TERPS: 4.26%

1.45%

0.46%

0.45%

0.32%

Boston Runtz Live Sugar offers the classic calming physical high, which, I believe, can be attributed to the limonene/ caryophyllene dominance in the profile. This pair of terpenes synergizes in a manner that improves the mood and calms the mind while simultaneously hitting the CB2 receptors that do a lot of pain work in our body.

The aroma and flavor are quite reminiscent of its Boston Cream Pie lineage, with notes of vanilla and a creamy overtone, but there is a notable berry/citrus tone — hearkening to the classic Runtz line — that rounds out the complexity of the dab. Regardless of the profile, the Boston Runtz smacks hard in a way that satisfies for hours.

If you are looking for a high-potency concentrate to get you through the tail end of winter, then consider Fade Co.’s Boston Runtz Live Sugar for a dab that hits your mind-body connection.

THE AROMA AND FLAVOR ARE QUITE REMINISCENT OF ITS BOSTON CREAM PIE LINEAGE, WITH NOTES OF VANILLA AND A CREAMY OVERTONE ...

THE FLOWER ISSUE

REVIEWS by WYATT EARLY @ERRLYWYATT @MARYLANDLEAF

by GREG MALCOLM @MARYLAND.CONNOISSEUR

SUPER BOOF

These big, frosty, trichome-packed nuggets look like they were rolled around in the snow before getting bagged up. Super Boof is a creation from the renowned Blockhead Genetics, crossing industry favorites Tropicana Cookies and Black Cherry Punch. Fade Co. does this product justice, with nugs that are dense and have a solid moisture content. The flavor profile is distinctly gassy with notes of stone fruit lingering in the background. After burning a joint, I feel a blissful, serene feeling of calmness paired with an urge for creativity.

BLACK RUNTZ

A strain out of Big Boss Farms in Canada,

Black Runtz is a cross between the ever-famous Gelato and Zkittlez. The balance of tasting notes in this strain feels perfect, combining cookies and cream with citrusy candy flavors. The more I smell these nugs, the more the Zkittlez profile begins to take over, leaving a sweet candy scent in my nose. The moisture content on these buds is perfect, sticking to form when squeezing one together. I feel confident in this strain's ability to chill me out any time of day, making this a versatile one to keep in your inventory.

FLORIDA KUSH

In honor of Jerry Garcia, Garcia Hand Picked is closely run by Garcia’s daughters, Trixie, Annabelle and Sunshine.

Grown locally by Holistic Industries, this partnership brings the Garcia Hand Picked strain library to the Maryland market. Florida Kush is a cross between Triangle Kush and LA Kush Cake, and it is bred and popularized by genetic powerhouse Jungle Boys. The aroma and flavor can best be described as tropical and fruity with a creamy essence in the background. After smoking this strain, it feels like a perfectly balanced hybrid, although the myrcene dominance in this batch’s profile definitely had me on the stonier side.

@GARCIAHANDPICKED

This hybrid-leaning strain crosses FC4N x VCP-S2 x Donutz

Triploid and is a trip to the bakery both in its smell and feeling. When first unscrewing the lid, a blend of creamy, baked-goods-like terpenes floods my senses, with sweet notes of cinnamon lingering in the background. Each nug is densely packed with trichomes and accented by purple hues fighting their way through. The creamy aroma blasts your taste buds on the exhale, with the cinnamon notes transferring to a more fruity flavor rather than spicy in the mouth. I found this to be a well-balanced hybrid, providing a clean energy that put me in a creative mood.

A legacy Cannabis strain like Pineapple Express deserves its recognition, crossing the Cannabis classics Trainwreck and Hawaiian. This rendition comes from Phase 3, and they did this strain justice with a tropical, fruity-smelling and -tasting flower. Freshly sliced pineapple and Hawaiian Punch come to mind when busting open the jar. These frosty, purple nugs are cured to perfection, maintaining a solid moisture content and an aroma that has me closing and reopening the jar time and time again. After smoking a joint, I feel very social and euphoric, so this strain is perfect for a day on the beach with friends and family.

TWO

DIFFERENT SALES FLOORS

PRODUCTS FOR USE ONLY BY QUALIFYING PATIENTS OR CONSUMERS AT LEAST 21 YEARS OF AGE

VERANO VERANO

From the outside, it looks like any typical building, but after taking two steps into Verano’s grow facility, it’s apparent that this place is far from ordinary.

DUSTY BARTH, cultivation manager, walks through the building with a look of pride on his face, admiring the plants and people he oversees. He has come a long way since popping his first seeds 25 years ago.

It’s crazy to think that Barth almost left Maryland to move out West, if it weren’t for a friend linking him up with Verano and its Maryland team. April will mark eight years that Barth has been with the company, which is more than enough time for him to have a massive influence over the flower coming out of Verano’s grow.

The facility operates exclusively under LEDs and even uses under-canopy lights for two reasons. The first reason is an increased plant load because more light means more production can take place. The second reason — and an unexpected benefit — is these lights’ ability to lower the humidity level in the room, making it easier to control and dial in.

Verano uses mostly Gavita and Fluence for overhead lighting, while Maryland company JumpLights makes its under-canopy lights. The Verano crew is also testing out Faven and Fohse brands.

Utilizing one lighting company for an entire grow is convenient, but to optimize growth and output, it can take an army.

One way this grow saves time and maximizes efficiency is by using prefilled biochar coco mix bags from Bio365. Employees at this facility don’t have to spend countless hours filling grow bags. Instead, they can focus their energy on other elements of the plants’ life cycles. This method also enables Barth and his team to fine-tune the fertigation and irrigation techniques they employ. Cannabis can be fed consistently throughout the day, adding an element of much-needed preci-

THIS TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT EMPOWERS

THE VERANO CREW TO PULL DOWN 1.6 MILLION GRAMS A WEEK IN WET WEIGHT, WHICH TRANSLATES TO AROUND 220,000 GRAMS OF DRIED, FINISHED FLOWER WEEKLY

sion to a vital part of determining how plants will end up expressing themselves.

The cleanliness of this grow is remarkable, with the reflection of the LEDs bouncing off the spotless floors in every room. There are two levels of plants in various stages of life, making the pristine conditions in every room all the more impressive. Going from one floor of grow space to two enabled Verano to double its canopy square footage. This type of environment empowers the Verano crew to pull down 1.6 million grams a week in wet weight, which translates to around 220,000 grams of dried, finished flower weekly (or around 82 grams per square foot of the facility). With that much flower, the team at Verano has to be extra conscientious about handling plants with an intention to retain terpene levels.

For the last few years, Verano has debuted around 10 strains a year. Before that, the crew focused on phenotyping their favorite strains to dial them in, but they didn’t have a ton of new strains in the works regularly.

Barth and his team have a strong passion for Cannabis, so they will always have something fresh up their sleeves. Some strains currently under research and development at Verano include Flying Dutchman, Rainbow Chip, Mega Squirt, Dreamsicle and Runtz Muffins. Be sure to keep an eye out for those strains and more to hit the market this year in Maryland. VERANO.COM

GPS GLASS

GREGORY PAUL SCHEYER

Gregory Paul Scheyer, the artist behind GPS Glass, started life like a lot of us did: with a skateboard. He told the Leaf that defining his own style came from learning and enjoying board sports, from something as simple as how you do a kickflip to finding zen in the mountains on a snowboard. There are no set laws and no national judges, just you and your vision of a clean landing.

“BOLTS” (flawlessly landing a skateboard trick) — that’s what Scheyer desires in his artwork as well. Landing a trick perfectly requires practice and the ability to do it until you are happy with the results. It’s not about who, what, why, when or where; it’s about finding solace in your own mind. When the Leaf asked Scheyer about influences, it started with skating. His friends Michael Nicholson and Mark McCourt were mentors. They skated together, experienced life together and partied together. Fortunately, all of this happened in a “mecca” of contemporary glass art.

Eugene, Oregon, has been a cultural center for the arts and creatives for over half a century. It was here that Bob Snodgrass, the “Godfather of Glass,” put down roots in the 1970s.

The art form has progressed at an amazing pace. Today, you can find dozens of studios, raw material providers and a great education base.

One of these institutions, the Eugene Glass School, is a creative space where Scheyer learned to mold something from his mind that didn’t involve carving a fresh slope or finding the perfect transition. Charles Lowrie was among the first of many teachers that would help encourage Scheyer’s playful disposition and youthful exuberance.

Scheyer said that working on large scale soft glass projects with Charles gave him a broader perspective on the bigger picture. Many can relate to this moment in our lives, when the walls come crashing down to reveal a whole world that was in front of us the whole time. Scheyer hit that slope and is still riding the wave. His style is defined by his execution. You will notice a perfect symmetry in his work. The juxtaposition of his sculptural proportions mixed with the perception of his internal vision always creates something unique and magical for the mind's eye.

“We are all a catalyst in each other's lives ...”

He said he realized part of what drives him is “never being satisfied while at the same time accepting that true perfection isn’t a real thing. But I'd rather do my best and give it all I've got.”

Scheyer has learned from some of the glass masters, including Robert Mickelsen, Carmen Lozar and Roger Parramore. After years of experience, personal growth and Flame Off events, he did some exploring. His travels landed him in Medford, Oregon, about 15 years ago, where he has made a home with his wife, Jenny Calaba.

In his 30s, Scheyer had another enlightenment. “We are all a catalyst in each other's lives, a catalyst of change,” he said. This was brought on by his realization that what we put out into the world affects others.

Continuing to explore his mind and the world around him for inspiration, he never loses sight of the goal to always do better and be the best version of himself.

If you are craving a piece of this master's artwork, check out his website or with your local glass gallery. Keep an eye on his Instagram for updates on openings and drops.

GPSGLASS.BIGCARTEL.COM | @GPSGLASS

Page Burner

One of the most beautiful things about smoking flower is the way it invites us to slow down and create a sense of ritual.

Naturally, Leaf Magazines’ Flower Issue book pick needed to be a great companion to that moment.

THINK ABOUT how you grind up your flower, deeply inhale its aroma and feel the texture of the buds between your fingertips as you roll. This ceremony is exactly the space Sarah Wilson explores in “This One Wild and Precious Life.” Her approach to presence centers on returning to “wild practices,” which are simple, intentional acts that reconnect us to ourselves, each other and the natural world. Not through productivity hacks or the quest for perfection, but through conscious acts of awareness, community and creativity. One of these wild practices that resonated deeply with me is Wilson’s call to “become a soul nerd” through a connection with the arts — whether that be classical music, visual arts, poetry or longform reading. She describes carving out sacred time for this long reading that becomes ritualistic, much like packing a bowl or rolling up with intention:

“Reading deep articles and nonfiction, as well as good literature, cultivates focus and reprograms our neurons.”

“Reading deep articles and nonfiction, as well as good literature, cultivates focus and reprograms our neurons. …You might like to try my approach. I set aside time. Sunday afternoons work for me. I take that lull period between morning social activity or chores and the end-of-weekend dialing down and own it. I carve out an hour and sit on the couch. I made a pot of tea. It’s a ritual. It must be a ritual.” Add your favorite strain, and the scene is set. This is a fast-paced read that you can easily follow with a stoney headspace. Wilson tackles feelings of modern disconnection with head-on honesty and offers grounded ways to combat it. Her conversational writing tone feels more like a wise friend who’s done some wandering and comes back with a notebook full of stories and a little dust on her boots. Happy reading and reflecting, page burners!

BOUQUETS, BONGS AND THE ART OF LIVING FLOWERS

SPRING CANNABLISS

There’s a primal joy that comes from harvesting something with your own hands. Whether it’s a wildflower clipped from a backyard garden or a perfectly cured Cannabis kola trimmed with care, the act itself slows time. It brings us back into a relationship with the season and our senses.

STEP OUTSIDE THE RECREATIONAL MARKET and into your home with this DIY Cannabis floral bouquet guide.

At the center of this creation sits The Mantelpiece Vase, a female-owned entrepreneurial vision brought to life by creator Elisabeth Chembry with the intention to help destigmatize and normalize Cannabis use.

This tabletop decorative glass looks like art, holds flowers like a vase and transforms into a bong when the moment calls for it. It’s clever, elegant and slightly mischievous, the kind of object that invites curiosity while honoring ritual.

CANNABIS JOURNEY

“My relationship with Cannabis began later than most. I was 22 when I took my first toke around a campfire with my parents in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. It was such a safe, beautiful experience. My God, I wish everyone had an introduction like that,” Chembry said.

Her parents, longtime but quiet home growers, had waited intentionally.

“They didn’t want to influence me as a youth,” she said. Today, her relationship with the plant is rooted in reverence: “I don’t get high, I get grounded.”

BREAKING DISCRIMINATION WITH NORMALIZATION

For Chembry, design is activism.

“People are sitting in prison for this harmless and beneficial plant,” she said. “Meanwhile, alcohol is proudly displayed in homes and boardrooms. The discrimination makes no sense.”

The Mantelpiece — with its slogan “Stop Hiding” — speaks directly to that contradiction. “It’s meant to be hidden and yet not hidden all at once,” Chembry said.

She plans to donate a percentage of proceeds to Last Prisoner Project once profits allow.

“It’s important to keep our prisoners in mind as we boldly display our use while some are still sitting behind bars."

CONSCIOUS AND INTENTIONAL DESIGN

“What makes something worth creating is the perfect combination of aesthetics and utility,” she explained. The duality is intentional.

“It’s a bong, and bongs can be loud visually and sometimes stanky loud,” Chembry said with a laugh. “I wanted to soften that. I wanted a piece I’d genuinely use every day yet discreet enough to leave out on the mantel.

“At the heart of it, adults deserve options. The Mantelpiece Vase is the Cannabis alternative to crystal champagne glasses.”

Sustainability is woven into the company ethos: recyclable packaging, soy inks and heirloom-quality glass. “I refuse to create something that becomes waste. The box and the piece are meant for a lifetime.” Future plans include new colorways and an ashtray design launching this year.

MANTELPIECE VASE WITH THUNDER CHIEF FARMS

“GASSIUS CLAY”

CRAFT A LIVING CANNABLISS SPRING BOUQUET

Set the mood. Open a window. Light palo santo. Put on music that feels like sunlight—KMHD jazz radio is my pick. Think heart-centered crafting, not nervous rushing.

Lay out your offerings. Choose vibrant florals — daisies, roses, dahlias, hydrangeas, wildflowers — paired with fresh-cut Cannabis fan leaves. Arrange them in sections from small to large. Let the plants guide the mood.

Prepare the vessel. Rinse the Mantelpiece Vase. Pour water into the floral chamber while keeping the smoking pathway dry and separate. Don’t have a Mantelpiece Vase? No problem, Leaf Readers enjoy an exclusive savings: Use code LEAF10 upon checkout.

Grounded in green. Trim stems at an angle, and remove leaves below the waterline. Start with greens as your foundation; vary heights to create movement and flow.

Time to bloom. Place flowers in a loose, open shape. Nature doesn’t do symmetry; she does balance. Let some stems rise tall and others fall soft.

Weave in the kush. Fan leaves slide in like sacred feathers, framing the arrangement. Add Cannabis flower last as gemstone accents. Keep buds dry and lifted so their trichomes stay luminous. Our custom Cannabliss Bouquet features Thunder Chief Farms fan leaves and nugs in Gassius Clay.

Bask in your Cannabliss. Rotate the Mantelpiece clockwise, and adjust gently. There should be one slightly wild side that looks like it grew that way on its own.

Keep the blessings blissful. Refresh water daily. Remove fading blooms. Dry fan leaves as keepsakes, like pressed petals from your love.

This DIY guide is an invitation to let Cannabis exist in the open. All you need is a clean Mantelpiece Vase, fresh flowers, a few Cannabis fan leaves, scissors and water.

Happy spring, OGs! Remember, each of us is in the process of elevating and blossoming.

Stoned +Savory

1. In a medium pot, heat canna-oil over medium heat. Add onions, and saute until translucent, 6-7 minutes.

2. Add stock and tomatoes, and cook until they’re warmed through. Add half-and-half, and season the soup with salt and pepper.

Simmer the soup, stirring occasionally, until heated through, 15-20 minutes. Turn off the heat, and let the soup cool slightly.

3. Working in 2 batches, puree the soup in a blender or food processor. Or, if you have an immersion blender, puree the soup directly in the pot.

4. Return blended soup to pot, and rewarm over medium-low heat.

5. Garnish with basil or scallions.

I’VE BEEN COOKING WITH THIS uplifting, citrusy, floral strain lately. It’s moderately potent, never overwhelming and perfect for a creative afternoon. I picked up an ounce at Serra, grown by Pruf Cultivar, and it inspired the coziest infused menu. Cooking with Golden Haze is all about balance — comforting, flavorful and just enough to spark creativity and that golden kind of joy. As always, if you want more information, please email me at Laurie@ Laurieandmaryjane.com

ASIAN DUMPLINGS

Servings:

2

1

2

1

1

1.

Cook for 7 minutes. Remove the cover, allowing the water to evaporate, and cook the dumplings, turning them a few times, until they’re entirely golden brown and crisped, about 6-9 minutes.

2. While the dumplings cook, prepare the sauce: In a medium bowl, combine the remaining ingredients.

3. Serve the dumplings warm alongside the sauce.

1-2

1. In a small bowl, combine butter, canna-butter and Dijon mustard. Spread the mixture on all 8 bread slices.

2. Layer a slice of cheddar and a slice of Gruyere on the unbuttered sides of 4 of the bread slices.

3. In a large nonstick skillet, heat olive oil over med. heat.

4. Cook each slice until golden brown and cheese melts.

5. Pair the top and bottom halves to make sandwiches, cut in half and serve warm.

$40

$80

$45