HIGH ON HYDRO Hydroponic gardening uses no soil. Instead, plant roots are suspended in specially formulated pellets and bathed with liquid nutrients. For large-scale cannabis grow ops, hydroponics has proved to be economical, sustainable and environmentally friendly. Our annual hydro issue highlights the best hydroponic techniques and newest innovations in the field. As the saying goes: “One never knows the worth of water till the well is dry.” Find out the true value of water in this special issue.



Plus, check out the highest legal pot garden in America. It’s located in Alma, CO, the highest incorporated town in the US, and home to High Country Healing, which operates one of the most sophisticated hydro operations you’ll ever find. And learn all about the history of edibles, from the ancient peoples’ use to modern-day medication practices. Also, in the feature interview slot, controversial comedian Hannibal Buress pokes fun at himself and the foibles of celebrity.



It’s all in the February 2015 issue of HIGH TIME – on newsstands now! RICK ROSS HEADLINES THE CANNABIS CUP Our first Cannabis Cup of 2015 will take place in San Bernardino, CA on February 7th and 8th. Once again, the Nos Events Center will host this HIGH TIMES high-spirited weekend.



Rapper Rick Ross has already signed on for the festivities. Ross debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Albums Chart with his premiere album, Port of Miami, in 2006. His sophomore release, Trilla (2008) — named as a tribute to his idol Michael Jackson’s popular album Thriller (1982) — also debuted at No. 1. Today Ross’ talents are in high demand. He writes, performs and collaborates with a wide range of popular acts including Jay-Z, R. Kelly, Flo Rida, Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy and several others.



See Rick Ross at the 2015 Cannabis Cup in San Berdoo! Check out cannabiscup.com for event updates! PIX OF THE CROP We never thought that the HIGH TIMES newsletter would quote Sex and the City, but even a spoiled New Yorker like Carrie Bradshaw can spout words of wisdom. In one episode Carrie proclaims: “I like my money right where I can see it – in my closet!” How many times have pot growers uttered the same sentiment? Check out the gardens of growers worldwide in this week’s video installment of Pix of the Crop! NEWLETTER SPONSORS

Toke and Tusk





Vapor Nation POT PIGHEADEDNESS The year is coming to an end. As always, many public figures outdid themselves throughout 2014 with inane commentary on cannabis. Here are some of the year’s lowlights.



Kevin Sabet, director of Smart Approaches to Marijuana

In January, this mouthpiece for the anti-cannabis crowd wrote: "We have been promised great things with legalization. However, we can expect to be let down. Voters in other states should watch Colorado closely and engage in a deep conversation about where they want this country to go. Buyer, beware." No, Kevin. Prohibitionists, beware! Voters in Alaska, Oregon and D.C. chose to move the country forward. Now the buyer knows the quality of the weed they purchase and there’s no reason to beware.



Ann Coulter, conservative columnist

Appearing on Piers Morgan Live in January, Coulter stated legal weed damages the economy: "Potheads are incapable of following simple instructions and getting a job done. You can't get anything done with a pothead. I'm going to be paying for their food, housing, now for their health care apparently, because they can't perform any useful jobs." Tell that to millions of gainfully employed "potheads" across America. Coulter admitted on the same show: "I have done TV after a drink. I'm drunk right now." That explains everything.



Mark Brunell, Former NFL quarterback

“There’s really no place for marijuana in the NFL,” Brunel said on ESPN in February. “It is harmful. It hurts brain function [and] brain development. Marijuana can ruin lives. I’m very much against it.” He advocates increased testing for weed. The truth is cannabinoids are a potential neuroprotectant against player concussions. Maybe it would have helped Brunell. He made over $50 million while playing, but declared bankruptcy in 2010. It sure couldn’t have hurt!



Carlton Turner, former director, US Drug Abuse Policy Office

Turner coined the insipid 1980's prohibition slogan “Just Say No.” He now heads equally inane Drug Free Florida. In 1986, while serving as Reagan’s Drug Czar, he declared pot turns people gay and leads to AIDS. Last April, he tried to correct himself: “I never said smoking marijuana will make you gay — I said if you're in the subculture, you're going to be exposed to this. Young people who use drugs, you find their inhibitions against everything are gone." Much like his logic and credibility.



Maureen Dowd, New York Times columnist

In January, Dowd visited Colorado, ate a chocolate cannabis bar and proceeded to trip harder than Hunter S. Thompson. In June, she described the ordeal in print: "I barely made it from the desk to the bed, where I lay curled up in a hallucinatory state for the next eight hours. I was panting and paranoid, sure that when the room-service waiter knocked and I didn't answer, he'd call the police and have me arrested for being unable to handle my candy." More likely, it would be the journalism police for not doing basic research on edibles. News Hit Credit Union Charges Cannabusinesses Higher Fees

There are some 105 financial institutions in the US providing banking services to marijuana dispensaries and other pot businesses, according to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network also known as FINCEN. That's less than one percent of all banks and credit unions nationwide.

READ MORE...



Marijuana Legalization's Dirty Little Secret

Now that Oregon has passed a recreational marijuana law, supporters of the existing medical marijuana law are concerned about possible changes to the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) by the Legislature. Following the passage of I-502 that legalized marijuana in Washington two years ago, their legislature tried, but failed, to make wholesale changes to their medical law. In Colorado, their recreational program unfolded through the existing medical marijuana growers and dispensaries.

READ MORE...



CBD Dispensary Opens in Boston

In Boston, medical marijuana advocate Bill Downing runs CBD Please, a shop filled with products containing cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive, anti-inflammatory cannabinoid. These come in the form of powders, mouth sprays, capsules, topical ointments, and vape oils. But, according to their website, patients must have a doctor's recommendation to receive these CBD products.

READ MORE... WeedHire's Cannabis Job of the Month: December

WeedHire.com is a career website specifically targeting employment within the legal cannabis industry. Their mission is to help clients hire the most qualified individuals and to help those individuals find the best job opportunities in their respective fields furthering their careers.

READ MORE... HIGH TIMES Legislative Roundup: Dec. 8

Last Friday, the United States celebrated the 81st anniversary of the repeal of alcohol prohibition; a measure that pot supporters argue would be an ideal model for the nationwide legalization of marijuana. While alcohol was banned in America for nearly 14 years, cannabis prohibition is poised to hit the eight decade mark within the next few years. Yet, Uncle Sam remains on the sidelines of the nation, allowing states to pass legislation to legalize the leaf without giving a proper reach around to those individuals crucified in the blackened purgatory between state and federal law.

READ MORE... TOP HOT POT SHOT OF THE WEEK An old Russian proverb states: “Until you have smoked out the bees, you can't eat the honey.” Makes sense. Who wants to get stung while harvesting honey? But this week’s winning photo in our Top Hot Pot Shot of the Week photo contest imbues the maxim with an entirely different meaning! The grower definitely smoked out this bee!



Congrats to our winning pot-ographer with the undeniably steady hand! Look at this photo! You can actually make out the facial features of this bumblebee – and he’s definitely buzzed! What a super shot! We’re sending this week’s winner a prize package full of cool stuff from HIGH TIMES. You can win, too! Get buzzed and get busy with your camera. We want to see the results of your stoned, creative process. Send us your winning entry today! COFFEESHOP CRAWL WINNER! At our recent Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam, 26 coffeeshops entered the competition to win the top prize for Best Coffeeshop Strain. It’s one of the awards voted upon by the judges themselves. This year, judges were invited to enter the Coffeeshop Crawl contest. We asked judges to visit all 26, get their special Cup “passport” stamped by each one, then enter a raffle to win a trip to our Cannabis Cup in Denver over the 4/20 weekend.



Phil from Cleveland is the lucky winner. He says, “It was my second Cup in a row. I did the whole thing in seven hours on the first day and bought all of the entries that were available.” Phil will receive airfare and hotel accommodations for two. Congrats, Phil!



Check out our array of videos from the 2014 Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam.