You know how the old adage goes: "Pass a bill, start a business."
Okay, so maybe that's not an old adage, but it certainly applies to the recent passage of Proposition 203, Arizona's Medical Marijuana Act, and the slew of businesses that have sprung up following its passage. First, we get a medical marijuana college. And soon enough, we'll be seeing publications dedicated solely to medical marijuana culture in Arizona.
Two such magazines, The Green Leaf and Haze Nation Magazine, will be launching in the next two months.
Pollock says Haze Nation Magazine will also "broadcast and highlight music and visual artists in Arizona, to make it a bit more about entertainment." He expects initial circulation to be about 5,000 copies, and the magazine will be available at AM/PM locations, Bashas' grocery stores, Fresh & Easy stores, and of course, smoke shops.
While Haze Nation focuses more on the community and culture around medical marijuana, The Green Leaf aims to serve as an information resource.
"We want to serve as an educational resource for the community -- where to find doctors, attorneys, insurance companies, dispensaries when they open next year," says publisher Shadi Zaki.
The first issue of The Green Leaf, which is scheduled for release in January, will feature an overview of Prop 203, an article on the benefits of medical marijuana, reviews of different marijuana strains, and how-to stories on growing marijuana and getting doctor recommendations for marijuana.
Zaki said circulation for the first issue will be around 10,000 to 20,000 copies, with distribution at various retailers (including 7-11 and K-Mart) and doctor's offices.
"So if you walk into a doctor's office and you see a copy of The Green Leaf, chances are, that doctor is open to recommending medical marijuana," Zaki says.
We've heard some buzz about other upcoming local medical marijuana magazines, but they seem to still be in the planning stages. We'll post an update as soon as the, uh, smoke clears.
