By Jake Towner
Over the last 10 years Kurple Magazine has witnessed many good people and honest companies stand for patients’ rights in New Mexico. Our work has been to bring to the first-hand stories of medical patients in New Mexico to the public. We have developed over the years with growers, retail dispensaries, manufactures, lab testing along with many other third party and ancillary businesses as the conversation, technology, and Laws criminalizing cannabis were challenged. Always providing quality information Kurple magazine is dedicated to shining a light on upcoming and local artists that have earned their place to be supported by the New Mexico community and we always want to know about New Mexico’s unknown’s from the community for us to share. Kurple’s goal is to help Artists create a network that elevates their art, skills or talents to higher levels and Kurple works to foster creative opportunities to market their talents. Our interest has de-tailed relevant New Mexico’s cannabis legislation being passed so our readers can be aware of what is happening and possible in cannabis science, industry, and soon to be a recreation in our state. The most impactful stories for us at Kurple have always been the testimonies from patients themselves, and altogether we are proud to have seen the excellence and commitment our community has; New Mexico’s advocates still face many struggles and there is not a better community than ours to provide example for how to organize when talking about overcoming the challenges of New Mexico today. Kurple Magazine was established in September 2011 and has spent numerous years educating the cannabis community and bridging a gap between Industry owners and patients. We find ways to help provide patients with the maximum amount of information possible, important information that may be essential to help them alleviate their debilitating conditions. We provide education through Kurple Magazine with groundbreaking information that is backed by science and data, much of it sourced by research done here in New Mexico. Our relationship with scientists and doctors on an international level is something that separates us as we learn along with every reader who makes a discovery. Our sourcing enables us to ensure the quality information that we provide is both accurate and precise. Kurple stands for patient rights first and advocates for laws that are passed in New Mexico, having worked with interim committees, legislators, lobbyists and politicians. Cannabis culture is constantly changing. From Reefer Madness still raging in the minds of anti-cannabis holdouts to entire counter-cultures built on artistry and creativity, to medicine and healing, to even spiritual expressions and practice, cannabis is wearing a lot of hats. Before legislation began, and since more people have publicly welcomed cannabis culture into their lives, many patients have gone on a tremendous journey to find a way and the means to obtain the proper form of cannabis to help address their condition. Anyone visiting a dispensary today knows the clientele is largely looking for a specific remedy, not something to waste or simply get high on. The diversity of locally made products reflects the community and diverse needs of patients, with a broadening and applied range of dosages and applications all meant to heal. Being an educational provider Kurple Magazine’s goal continues to be helping make this journey as easy and patient-friendly as possible. As cannabis becomes more accepted in the medical field, patients are feeling the disparity between medical cannabis’ effectiveness and modern medicine’s ability to get cannabis information to medical providers outside dispensary contexts, where most patients return for diagnostic medical advice. Kurple was proudly present when introducing New Mexico’s first annual Cannabis Awareness Day at The Roundhouse in the Rotunda in Santa Fe in 2017, and has continued to shared with readers up to date information on developing cannabis news, technologies, treatments, laws and research from around the world. Awareness is why we started this magazine, and to create something real that people could hold and share with someone to help inform. It continues to be a privilege to work with and encounter the many great professionals in our community. Cannabis connects people across every demographic and interest in New Mexico, with work coming from writers, artists, and businesses that represent the many native tribes, reservation spaces, and different areas of the state. It is an honor as Kurple to be present for all these amazing people. Kurple Magazine as a platform works to benefit cannabis culture, health and lifestyles, in addition to in-house workshops to best support local entrepreneurs. Over the last ten years Kurple has become a center for local creative artists as we have developed the capacity and experience to help launch everything from comic books and novels and get them published to music videos and media productions that enabled local artists to showcase their work. Some of these artists include SayWhut, Def I, Shawn Keys, Zack Abeyta, Manuel Gonzalez, and many others. Our Nob Hill location hosts a full green screen facility built for local artists to take advantage of and creative teams near at hand. “We are here for under-showcased companies; dispensaries, manufacturers, extractors and new products, to get more exposure and maximize what they can do with their brand. The partnerships Kurple has made have led to wonderful collaboration with amazing local companies that we love and continue to successfully work with. We are eager to be here for the next ten years to see the changes that are definitely on the way! There are many issues facing the New Mexico cannabis community that will ultimately affect each individual patient and recreational user in the future; things like water usage, quality control, accountability, opportunity – all of them will be changing over the next years as cannabis gains as socially all of them will be changing over the next years as cannabis gainsits place economically and as a sociallyacceptable substance. Kurple has proudly stood for patient’s rights through the dark ages of cannabis prohibition, and as we all move into an era of legalized cannabis use, Kurple will continue to stand for the healthy use and a respectful approach towards using the medicine. When it comes to cannabis there is a chance the plant may be abused like tobacco, alcohol, or many other legal drugs by companies or people alike, and it is up to each one of us to represent cannabis as part of a balanced and health-focused lifestyle. Kurple’s annual Essie Awards were built to recognize the unsung heroes and leaders in the cannabis industry and was formed in 2017. This was done in memory of Essie Debonett, New Mexico’s first medical cannabis patient who spent numerous years of her life fighting, along with a few others, for the rights of New Mexicans to have access to Medical Cannabis. The laws she fought to have passed for medical Cannabis use in New Mexico have been used as a model by many other states to get their medical cannabis laws passed. The Awards are a celebration of achievement, recognition of hard work and a dedication to recognize those who continuously work hard to provide quality medicine to the people of New Mexico. Every year we bring the community together to honor and celebrate New Mexico’s contribution to cannabis. We continue to stand for patient’s rights and cannabis Justice as cannabis culture changes again in 2022 with recreational cannabis finally happening for New Mexico. Nominations will begin on November 1st, so stay tuned! Make sure you aren’t left out of this years Essie’s Awards! You’ll find more information about nominating your favorite Cannabis professionals and products. Nominations will be held throughout November and part of Decemeber until we announce voting. Voting will occur January through February. In addition, this year’s Fifth Annual Essie Awards on April 2, 2022 will be very special as we celebrate the first day of recreational sales in New Mexico. As always, Kurple wishes you stay safe, stay healthy, and stay informed!
