By Joseph Jaramillo
Here we are on our second stop in reviewing local dispensaries. We find ourselves just under the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque, New Mexico at “High Desert Relief”, a medicinal dispensary well known for its variety and powerful flower strains. High Desert Relief was established in 2011, and is currently operated by co-owners Drew and Jeff. These true entrepreneurs consider themselves “Strain Hunters,” the term commonly and colorfully referring to their seemingly never-ending journey for the greatest and most exotic seeds that Mother Nature can provide. They work side by side, multiplying the components and distinct features of each strain into monstrously magical new wonders, all in the name of good health and medicine. As we toured the facility, I noticed that they always kept their top grade genetic strains on the top shelf and they keep a heavy rotation schedule for testing. The testing is a big deal here, everything goes to a laboratory to ensure all their medication is safe for patient consumption, and that it possesses the necessary abilities to make it into regular rotation. The dispensary is also extremely cautious with their procedures and they follow the state laws accordingly, including staying under the allotted 400 plant limit.
When Jeff and Drew started out in this industry, it was still in its infancy. They’ve always been self-made entrepreneurs in all their previous endeavors, and one day they were joking about getting into the cannabis business, and opening a dispensary. At that time the application fee was a mere hundred dollars, and through a hope and a prayer, the joke turned dead serious – and blossomed in to a new budding business. They began the research for everything involved and went forward with it, full throttle. They came to a conclusion that the…
“… patients will always come first. They wanted their approach to be like the classic TV show “Cheers”, ‘where everyone knows your name.’”
Building a welcoming, comfortable and friendly experience for their patients at all times, would be the driving key to their success and the focus to cater to those that truly need this medication. “The heart of the servant” is the motto here. Jeff and Drew interact with their patients to understand their illnesses, conversing with them and hearing their needs. All of this allows Jeff and Drew to further their mission to care for them consistently with the best medicine they can grow. Their heralded strains attract patients far and wide, and it’s crazy to think that they first envisioned starting this in a barn with no financial backing. They then set out to create their own facility, learning everything from building design to building construction. Seeing every step of the process through to completion, including designing and building a state-of-the-art hydroponic system for their plants. Jeff and Drew have come a long way.
strains has been cultivated and created through the last few years in their garden of beautiful, bright, and sweet smelling flowers. It’s living proof of their quality and dedication to their loyal patients. From reading reviews online to meeting people inside the dispensary, I get the same response that these Strain Hunters know exactly what they’re doing, and they’re providing some of the most potent and consistent medication around. Their gardens flourish with exotic and exciting strains and I’d like to highlight some of the best that we encountered; Skywalker OG – emitting a very strong aroma, it’s commonly used for pain and relieving aches of physical limitations. Their top seller! Strawberry Cough – is a sativa dominant hybrid, once the aroma of the sweet strawberry hits your nostrils you know you’re in for a real treat, patients can usually expect clear headed effects that will effectively remove all the anxiety and stress, they’ve been experiencing. Blue Dream – also a sativa dominant hybrid, is a cross between a blueberry indica, with a sativa haze. balancing full body relaxation, with a gentle cerebral invigoration. This is just a small sampling of their massive selection, a few other strains included at the dispensary are Agent Orange, Buddha Tahoe OG, Flo, Fruit Punch, Sin Mint Cookies, Sour Chem, and many, many, more. Strains of course vary from season to sea- PRODUCING 36 KURPLE MAGAZINE 3.4 son, and harvest times yield different flowers. Certain favorites stay in rotation here, while new strains may appear later in the season, since new strains are discovered and experimented with almost daily. All their concentrates and edibles are made off premises by “Budder Pros”, a dispensary located in Rio Rancho, NM. All the strains contained within the facility, are grown in a sophisticated hydroponics system with grow stones made from glass recycled from here in New Mexico. They are currently experimenting with LED lighting to cut energy usage and hydroponic water is recycled until the nutrients are no longer existent in the water stream. And being that it is a hydro system there is no soil needed! Not only have these measures helped to reduce operational costs, but through these procedures and techniques. We wrapped up the tour of the grounds discussing topics like the weather and sports, and of course Cannabis Activism (*see sidebar for more on that discussion). The subject of when New Mexico would become a legalized recreational state came up as we were ending our visit; it’s hard to determine, but we all agreed it’s in the near future. There’s no telling really, but with an older generation in power, still stuck on the negative stigma of “Reefer Madness” propaganda, it will take a generational roundabout to make that happen. Jeff & Drew also made sure to note that if New Mexico would fully legalize, High Desert Relief would still remain a medical only dispensary, staying true to their vision and their motto. Patients first – “The heart of the servant”! We also went into issues such as Gov. Susanna Martinez vetoing senate Bill 94 (which would’ve allowed the industrial production of hemp). Hemp has extremely low amounts of THC, usually between 0.3 and 1.5 percent, the compound that gives marijuana a psychoactive effect. Prior to the early 20th century hemp was widely used as material for paper, ropes, cloth and oils. This action by the Governor stopped the possible creation of many jobs, in a state that desperately needs an economic boost. However, the Governor did sign a bill, curbing law enforcement’s sweeping powers to seize personal assets without any convictions. This is a great thing, as police officials can no longer target people for personal gain. We then talked about a new directive from Gov. Martinez that will now make the names of all medical marijuana dispensaries in the state and the identities of their employees public. The move was prompted by a lawsuit that sought to do away with a years-long rule that protected the those identities and kept them confidential. We all agreed that the decision could potentially hurt those affected by it. We went on to talk about the tipping point and how far medical cannabis has come, and we all agreed, it had to do with the patients and their specific and unique conditions and needs. Patients like Charlotte Figi: she began using cannabis oil, after she had been diagnosed with epilepsy at a very young age. She had several violent seizures a day, sometimes several hundred in a 24-hour timeframe. She had been treated with an endless buffet of pharmaceuticals that produced an array of side effects, but failed to ease her constant convulsions. Three years ago, her parents, feeling like they were hopeless and running out of options, learned about the possibility of medicinal marijuana and its potential to counteract the outbursts and explosive episodes of epilepsy. They did their research and found that the CBD (Cannabinoid) contained within medical marijuana was extremely effective for other epilepsy victims. Patients reported less seizures, increased appetite and energy and in most cases, seizures were reduced and controlled completely. The CBD component of the plant does not contain the psychoactive chemical THC, which produced the “high” or intoxicating effect, making it suitable for patients such as Charlotte, who is merely a toddler. They administered the medication to Charlotte and results were almost instant. She exhibited the same results as other patients who had been treated for this condition with this medication and her parents couldn’t be happier. It was like they got their lives back, and their little girl was whole again, full of life, and ready to tackle whatever that was put in front of her. The Figi family decided to share their daughter’s story on Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s groundbreaking CNN documentary “Weed” in 2013. Hundreds of families in similar situations swarmed to the family’s home in Colorado, where marijuana is legal for both medical and recreational purposes. The purveyors of the strain used to treat Charlotte, which is manufactured in an oil or capsule form, named it “Charlotte’s Web,” in her honor. For Dr. Sanjay Gupta to change his entire professional perspective on cannabis was a big move for the industry, changing a naysayer into a true believer. The somewhat miracle of this plant and it’s nearly infinite amount of properties, and what it can legitimately do for people suffering unspeakable conditions is unbelievable.
