Maximum Yield Cannabis USA August / September 2017 | Page 82

enjoy “Ironically, due to the venue sitting squarely in a state park zone, there was no partaking of cannabis at the event.” Cancer patient Sophie Ryan (savingsophie.org) and Jim McAlpine. “Power Plant Fitness has been a dream of mine since I was 18 years old,” he says. “We have had some bumps in the road in terms of location, but things are on track to be open by the end of 2017 or early 2018. We are still in the process of raising funds, and that is the least fun part.” McAlpine says he and his team are close to ending the current round for investors, but welcome additional capital and anyone interested in partnering. “When President Trump was elected to office, most of the verbally committed funds from traditional groups backed off due to the uncertainty with cannabis within the current administration, and particularly with Attorney General Jeff Sessions,” he adds. Uncertainty or not, the future of cannabis in the US and beyond looks bright, with the latest Quinnipiac poll showing 93 per cent of Americans are on board to legalize cannabis as medicine as a country, and 71 per cent opposing continued federal persecution. “What has helped the most in changing the perception of the Games are the moving and strong messages from the athletes now coming forward,” says McAlpine. “It’s easy to see that they are strong, athletic men, but to watch them speak and see how articulate and intelligent they are, has been really fun for me to see. Listening to advocates…gives me hope of finally doing away with the lazy, stoner image for people like me, who medicate for all the right reasons.” Future 420 Games are planned in Denver, Boulder, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. For more information visit 420games.org. Sharon Letts began her life’s work as a gardener in southern California, and she now calls Humboldt County home. She’s a writer and photographer. When she isn’t writing about gardening, Sharon is outside working in her own garden. 80 grow. heal. learn. enjoy. myhydrolife.com