Sensi Magazine - Southern Colorado (July 2018)

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7.2018 7.2018

explore

MORE RAF TING COLORADO’S WATERWAYS

SOM E T H I NG in the

AIR

INDULGE YOUR WANDERLUST

we all

FLOAT The Connection Between THC + Crazy Dreams

Lunar Camping + Smokin’ Trends Summer Happenings

Trinidad's Friendliest Dispensary All Organic All the Time!

33% Of Profits

Go To Local Charities

No Waiting Room // Pet Friendly www.FaragosiFarms.com 719-846-2310 118 Sante Fe Trail, Trinidad, CO 81082

sensimag.com JULY 2018 3

4 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

ISSUE 7 // VOLUME 2 // 7.2018

FEATURES 26

S P EC I A L R E P O R T

AIRSTREAM DREAM Indulge Your Wanderlust

Cannabis and Dreams

Is THC inhibiting our thoughts while we sleep?

32 Something in the Air(stream)

A traveler’s ode to the sleek, silver wonder-and-wander capsule that has captured generations of vagabond hearts.

18

FLOAT ON! Rafting Colorado’s Waterways

every issue 7 Editor’s Note 8 The Buzz 12 CrossRoads

THE FUTURE IS NOW

18 LifeStyle

RAFTING SEASON

48 The Scene

SENSI NIGHT

50 HereWeGo

LUNAR CAMPING

Sensi magazine is published monthly by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2018 SENSI MEDIA GROUP LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

sensimag.com JULY 2018 5

sensi magazine ISSUE 7 VOLUME 2 7.2018

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6 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

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Summer: It’s HOT

NOTE

And that’s how we like it. Because

without the heat of summer, the cold of winter wouldn’t have as much impact, to flip a popular saying about the season on its head.

That’s what we do at Sensi: we take popular notions and show the flip side of things. We seek to expose the new normal to an audience of readers like you, who come seeking information about your community.

And what a community it is—that was highly apparent from the moment Tae, Sensi’s president, and I pulled into the parking lot at Briarhurst Manor on a Thursday evening in early June. We were there for Sensi Night, and we almost didn’t find a parking spot in the expansive lot. The venue was buzzing, the crowd exuberant, the vibe one of pure energy bubbling over as people connected with one another, united by an interest in the new normal.

Our team is humbled by the chance to bring so many people together, and we’re stoked that our message is resonating throughout Southern Colorado. This month, we’ve centered the issue around “what’s hot,” a theme that’s open to wide interpretation, and you’ll find a wide range of article topics on the coming pages. From rafting Colorado’s waterways to airstream dreams come true, and from future cannabis trends to the impact THC can have on your sleeping thoughts, the issue is a fun read best paired with a glass of something refreshing, a strain of something elevating, and a summery playlist to set the tone. May I suggest finding Sensi on Spotify for that last one. It’s the perfect background music for the season.

Happy reading.

Stephanie Wilson E D I TO R I N C H I E F SENSI MAGAZINE

sensimag.com JULY 2018 7

sensi

buzz

THE NEW NORMAL

Summer

Reading List

Summer afternoons are meant for hammock swinging and book reading. When you’re ready for your next read, no need to head to the library, the book store, or the Kindle department on amazon.com. Just open up Libby and gain instant access to thousands of ebooks and audio books available at the local library. All you need is a library card, and you can borrow digital brain-boosting materials for free, no matter where you happen to be. Once you download, you can read in the Libby app or send to your Kindle—your choice—and dive in.

Place a digital hold on titles currently checked out, and you’ll get an alert when it’s your turn. The book will be added to your library and you’ll get notified that it’s ready for you to read. Here’s the best part, though: the Too Hot to Hold section.

This is where the books you want to read NOW are available for instant download. Some of the titles available to download and start reading instantly include*, in no particular order:

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple Everything I Never Told You by Celest Ng The Vacationers by Emma Straub A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel Wild by Cheryl Strayed The Circle by Dave Eggers The Nix by Nathan Hill 1984 by George Orwell It by Stephen King Between the World and Me

by Ta-Nehisi Coates The Girls by Emma Cline Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn Moonglow by Michael Chabon Swing Time by Zadie Smith Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

by Jonathan Safran Foer A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan And so on.

—Stephanie Wilson *Confession: I chose these titles because I’ve read these books after buying them on Amazon to read on my Kindle. Price: Hundreds of dollars. Borrowing them instead: Free. Choose more wisely than me.

SENSI RECOMMENDS

Our editors offer up some suggestions for titles and tales to get lost in this season.

Sticky Fingers: The Life and Times of Jann Wenner and Rolling Stone Magazine

by Joe Hagan “Back in the days when I read Rolling Stone religiously every fortnight, I was ready to go out and get sweaty at a concert. After finishing this sordid look at Wenner and his life and times, I just want to take a long shower.”

Leland Rucker, Senior Editor

How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence

by Michael Pollan “I can’t think of anyone else who could introduce mainstream America to the possibilities of psychedelics with such perfection. Think Botany of Desire on Psilocybin.”

Robyn Griggs Lawrence, Contributing Editor

8 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

Pretty Mess

by Erika Jayne, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills “One does not have to be a fan of Bravo’s Real Housewives franchises to appreciate this memoir exploring the world of show business when a beautiful woman attempts to succeed in the cut-throat industry.”

Debbie Hall,

Las Vegas Managing Editor

Where’d You Go Bernadette

by Maria Semple Bernadette is a witty tale about a mother who disappears from her upper middle class life, told through diary entries, letters, and other literary mechanisms sprinkled with laugh-out-loud observations about the absurdity of life. It’s the perfect read for the summer: light but not pure trash, won’t wreak havoc on your brain or make you feel bad for your soul.

­Stephanie Wilson Editor in Chief

LELAND’S SENSIBILITIES

What’s on the mind of Sensi’s senior editor this month?

MAKE NO MISTAKE: CANNABIS IS PAYING ITS WAY

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The Moody’s credit agency recently finished a survey of states with legal marijuana and came to the conclusion that cannabis taxes, while giving states money for regulation, doesn’t give them much more. And I’ve heard several speakers claim recently that legalization has failed because proponents claimed pot taxes would solve all the state’s financial ills, and it hasn’t lived up to that.

Let’s be clear. Nobody in the Amendment 64 campaign ever promised legalizing cannabis for adult use would solve Colorado’s financial woes. Nor would anybody with any common sense. In 2017, the state received a total of $250 million in cannabis revenue from three main sources: a 15 percent excise tax, a special sales tax on retail marijuana that went from 10 percent to 15 percent last year, and a 2.9 percent sales tax on medical marijuana. Perhaps, because we talk in billions these days, that doesn’t sound like much.

It is only two percent of Colorado’s annual budget, but it’s nothing to sneeze at.

Perhaps the critics are not aware that, besides providing $40 million every year for school construction projects, it takes care of the $13 million Marijuana Enforcement Division budget, and another $40 million for education programs like the state’s Good to Know cannabis awareness campaign, and the Healthy Kids Colorado initiative. About $3 million goes to law enforcement to find better ways to determine driving impairment, and $6 million went to local jurisdictions to help combat lingering black-market sales.

Counties and cities get a percentage of state taxes, which has helped fund scholarships for students in Pueblo and allowed the town of Edgewater near Denver to repair its streets and sidewalks.

The illegal cannabis market in the US is estimated to be almost $40 billion.

Taxing all that pot won’t solve our problems, but it certainly couldn’t hurt, either.

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THE NEW NORMAL

sensi

buzz

What’s Sizzling: Colorado’s Economy

Last month, WalletHub released its report on “2018’s Best & Worst State Economies,” a study that looked at how each state is contributing to the economic growth of the country at large. Basically, it sought to answer the question: which states are pulling the most weight? The evaluations looked at economic activity, economic health, and innovation potential, using data on a range of factors, from GDP growth and startup activity to median household income and number of tech jobs.

Colorado came in fifth overall, after Washington, Utah, Massachusetts, and California. Some key indicators of the Centennial State’s economic strength: Highest GDP growth (No. 2), Most Startup Activity (No. 4), Lowest Unemployment Rate (Tied for No. 1), and Highest Median Household Income (No. 5). Colorado ranked very poorly among Fewest Exports Per Capita, coming in at No. 49.

Note that cannabis is legal for adult use in all but one of those states in the top —SW 5. Coincidence? Maybe. But I highly doubt it.

10 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

TRENDING GO: Crested

in July

Put these on your radar this month.

Butte Wildflower Festival

“Today we hiked right into a postcard.” That’s the caption on the photos I posted on Instagram last summer during a weekend trip to Crested Butte that coincided with the annual festival celebrating the colorful blanket of wild flowers Mother Nature bestows on the mountainsides every July. The official festival lineup has over 200 events offered, from guided hikes and walks to art workshops and garden tours. But rest assured, you are free to take in nature’s bounty on any of the trails, where a symphony of wildflowers awaits for your photo-happy pleasure.

July 6–15 / Crested Butte / CRESTEDBUTTEWILDFLOWERFESTIVAL.COM

STAY:

Garden of the Arts

Of the many art festivals taking place in Colorado all summer long, this annual celebration in Manitou Springs is one of the best. This two-day fair showcases paintings, sculptures, glassworks, photography, ceramics, and other handcrafted goods from more than 90 artists. Go for the art and to support local merchants, and stay for the live music and great atmosphere..

July 7–8 /Memorial Park, Manitou Springs / COLORADOEVENTS.ORG

PLAY:

DroneSpace Flying Experience

Experience the “fast and exhilarating hobby of First Person View Drone Racing.” This local hotspot is the first location in the world that allows drone racers of all levels to come fly the tiny aircraft around a vibrantly lit course. Pilots don goggles, which allow them to look through the “cockpit” of the racing drone as they fly around the course. The 12,000-square-foot facility has a dedicated race track, drone shop, lounge, and other amenities. If it’s your first time, a $25+ lesson is required. If you’ve got your own drone, unlimited day passes run $15.

Reservations Required / Colorado Springs / DRONESPACE.ORG

sensimag.com JULY 2018 11

{crossroads}

by R I C A R D O B A C A

THE

IS NOW Trends we’d like to see more of in legal cannabis.

12 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

So much this.

San Francisco Chronicle when my friend (and fellow canna-

Like any Gen Xer co-opting Millenialspeak, I’m certainly

bis journalist) David Downs pointed me in the direction of a

guilty of employing this modern linguistic device when

retail marijuana shop called Barbary Coast.

sharing something I wholeheartedly agree with on social

“Once you walk in, you’re inside the shop, of course,” he

media. In another era we might have said Exactly or I totally

said. “But keep going back, and let me know what you think.”

agree, but ultimately the meaning is the same: YAAAAS.

I headed over on my own, bought some of Kiva’s infused

So while there are countless heady conversations and de-

chocolate-covered coffee beans and walked to the back of the

bates to be had about the present and future of legal, regu-

dispensary, where a friendly gentlemen checked me into an ad-

lated cannabis—and other substances that should not be

joined lounge connected to the shop. The space was elegant and

deemed illegal—it’s summertime, and I’d like to celebrate

lush, and the leather booths were filled with lone professionals

some of the big wins we’re starting to see, some of the

on laptops, double-dates canoodling, and work meetings get-

trends born out of legalization that are beginning to develop,

ting shit done—not unlike the scene at Philz Coffee down the

some of the news stories that occasionally come across our

road—only these customers were hitting vapes, rigs, and joints.

feeds that inspire an RT with an exclamation, So much this!

So while there is still much work to be done, here are a few 420-friendly trends I’m jazzed about.

(LEGAL) SOCIAL CANNABIS USE Adult-use cannabis became the law of the land in Colorado in December 2012, when Gov. John Hickenlooper signed

It was beautiful, especially given the public consumption struggle we’ve witnessed in Colorado. But it was also painfully normal—boring, even. It felt like an elevated coffee shop or bar environment. The place wasn’t hot-boxed, but the scent of weed was certainly present. It was normalized, and as beautiful as it was, it was also frustrating knowing how much legislators and prohibitionists are fighting this kind of progress back in my home state.

Amendment 64 into the state’s constitution. Yet here we are nearly six years later, and it’s still illegal to consume marijuana almost anywhere in the state.

POST-LEGALIZATION SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAMS

It’s just embarrassing, and even an enlightened attempt to

These kinds of headlines give me my favorite kind of

create the world’s first permitted cannabis consumption spac-

goosebumps: “San Francisco to Dismiss Thousands of

es—Denver County’s voter-approved Initiative 300—has yet

Marijuana Convictions,” National Public Radio; “Top New

to make a real impact in widening legal spaces for social use.

York Lawmaker: Expunge Convictions if Cannabis Goes Le-

So imagine Coloradans’ chagrin when they read about can-

gal,” The Associated Press; “In These States, Past Marijuana

nabis consumption lounges opening up in Northern California

Crimes Can Go Away,” HuffPost; “Details on Plan to Expunge

(San Francisco) and Southern California (West Hollywood) less

Some Vermont Pot Convictions,” CBS affiliate WCAX.

than six months after the state’s Proposition 64 was imple-

Think about it: Those four recent headlines from trusted,

mented. And as a lifelong Denverite, allow me to say to my

mainstream news organizations just took us coast-to-

friends and readers in Cali: We’re not hating, we’re just jealous.

coast-to-coast-to-coast, referencing local initiatives across

I was in the Bay Area earlier this year speaking at a Na-

the US that will expunge cannabis convictions from people’s

tional Association of Hispanic Journalists gathering at the

records now that marijuana is legal where they live. sensimag.com JULY 2018 13

This is right. This is just. This is fair. This is the future, and

based middle path ended up laying the groundwork for

thank goodness these nonviolent marijuana offenders will

much of the cannabis journalism you read today. (If you’re

no longer have to deal with the significant repercussions of

curious about those early days, check out the documenta-

having a weed citation or arrest on their criminal record.

ry Rolling Papers, which is still streaming on Netflix.)

Of course, not enough states are pushing these kinds of

And so it makes me proud to see mainstream media or-

laws, and some progressive programs appear to be falling

ganizations report responsibly on cannabis, especially

short. (Funding For Social Equity Piece of Retail Marijuana

since most of them were still repeating the garbage gate-

is Slow in Coming—Worcester (Mass.) Telegram) But still,

way-drug narrative after Washingtonians and Coloradans

California and Vermont are on the right side of history, and

became the first to legalize it in 2012.

other states will soon follow suit.

Enter André Picard, the health columnist at the Globe

SANE, FACT-BASED REPORTING IN THE MEDIA I’m a pretty average guy when it comes down to it, but if

and Mail, the most widely read newspaper in Canada with roots dating back nearly 175 years. Here’s what Picard columnized on late-May 2018, as Canada prepared its federal implementation of legal, regulated recreational weed:

I have a legacy, it will likely involve the impact my col-

“As Canada prepares to go live with pot sales in a few

leagues and I had on the way cannabis is discussed and

months, what can we learn from four years of practical,

reported on in the mainstream media.

hands-on experience in the western United States?

I started The Cannabist from inside the Denver Post’s

“The first takeaway is that all the fretting about the im-

newsroom in 2013, and while we refused to repeat the

pact on children and teens is largely unwarranted. Before

many lies of prohibition, we also ignored the blind activism

legalization, 17 percent of Grade 10 students in Washington

of publications like High Times—and that modern, fact-

State said they had smoked pot in the previous month. Four

Tune in to The Daily Dose Talk Radio Show A Trusted Voice of the Cannabis Industry Every Saturday morning 8-10am, J and Paul bring you the latest news and info on the cannabis industry locally and globally.

Tune in to hear from industry leaders and take advantage of The Daily Dose deals on our webpage.

Broadcast live on 1040AM, 95.7FM, Blazin' 98.5FM and Cruisin' Oldies 101.3FM. So…tune in to the only cannabis talk show on the radio in Southern Colorado to get the 411 on the 420!

For more info or to listen live, visit our website… www.TheDailyDoseTalkShow.com 14 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

THIS IS JUST. THIS IS RIGHT. THIS IS FAIR.

THIS IS THE FUTURE.

years of legal doobies later, 17 percent of Grade 10 students say they have smoked pot in the previous month.�

While some journalists and columnists still spread fear-

As the headline of his column hints: The kids will be alright.

And so long as journalists report on what is known, instead of what they were told as children, so will they, I hope.

based narratives with no basis in the legal market, Picard looked to the most experienced municipalities in legal cannabis and told his readers about what they have experienced, based entirely on government (state and federal) data.

RICARDO BACA is a veteran journalist, thought leader and founder of The Cannabist.

His content agency Grasslands works primarily with businesses and individuals in the cannabis and hemp industries on thought leadership, publicity and marketing projects via thoughtful, personalized content campaigns.

sensimag.com JULY 2018 15

Our mission is to create equal access and economic empowerment for cannabis businesses, their patients, and the communities most affected by the war on drugs.

DEVELOPING A nationwide network of cannabis business owners within a variety of disciplines, including ancillary businesses ADVOCATING For creation and fair enforcement of sensible, equitable policies ACCELERATING Increased cannabis industry growth by ensuring patient and consumer access to the most people SERVING As a voice for the minority population with programs that foster opportunity, education, and equality

Visit us at MinorityCannabis.org to join the movement today!

memberships@minoritycannabis.org @MinCannBusAssoc

16 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

@MinorityCannabis

@MCIA.org

COURTESY OF THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

sensimag.com JULY 2018 17

{lifestyle}

by L E L A N D R U C K E R

Create your own rafting adventure on the Colorado Rivers.

18 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

Chances are, when the subject of rafting comes up, the

Type “rafting Colorado” into a search engine, and you’ll

first image that comes to mind is huge white waves crash-

literally find dozens of outfitters and trips. In the past, there

ing over the bow of a small craft in a narrow, rocky canyon

weren’t a lot of choices, but today there are many ways to

while eight or 10 people hold on for their lives.

personalize your experience.

There’s plenty of that on Colorado rivers, but that’s not

“In Colorado, there are a lot of boutique outfitters,” Nein-

necessarily what the rafting experience is all about. As

as says. “It’s more of a lifestyle choice, and there are some

much as I enjoy bouncing around in heavy rapids (and get-

really excellent outfitters out there.”

ting thrown into the water every now and then), it’s just as

With so many choices, Neinas says the best thing you

cool to drift down a quiet river taking in the state’s moun-

can do is to start by doing a little homework, and then get

tains, valleys, rock formations, and wildlife you won’t see

on the phone with a few outfitters. Most importantly, he

anywhere else—all in the company of complete strangers

adds, is to dial in an adventure that matches what you’re

who become much less so in the course of a few hours

seeking. “The best thing you can do is ask good questions

spent floating and negotiating rapids together.

and get good answers to your questions,” Neinas explains.

“Adrenaline-seeking individuals are about one-third of our

“Be upfront about what you’re looking for and who’s ac-

guests,” says Andy Neinas, owner of Cañon City-based Echo

companying you. When are you coming? Who’s the oldest per-

Canyon Rafting Expeditions, which provides all kinds of rafting

son? The youngest? It’s kinda like beer,” he adds. “I have every-

opportunities for novices and river rats alike. “The other two

thing in my tap room from Pabst Blue Ribbon to Left Hand Milk

thirds are families, groups, team-building, and corporate events.”

Stout. It’s the same with rafting. Make sure you get the right

Whether in search of a white-knuckle outing or a relax-

experience. The guests are in charge, and they have the power.”

ing float, all rafters are looking for a quality, authentic ex-

Rivers are rated, or classed, according to their difficulty.

perience, Neinas says. “It’s not virtual reality, not a video

Class 1 rivers generally have wide channels and few, if any,

game, not a canned experience in an air-conditioned envi-

rapids or obstacles. Classes 2, 3, and 4 include quieter

ronment. Mother Nature is in charge. There is also the

stretches between the rapids, while Classes 5 and 6 fea-

chance to see real wildlife. There are as many answers as

ture steep chutes, lengthy drops and rougher routes meant

there are individuals.”

for the experienced, highly skilled rafter.

“And there’s something else, perhaps more intangible, that transcends the experience itself,” adds Jesse Burns, who came to Colorado to raft and has spent 10 years as a guide.

Spending a few hours getting wet together while navigating a scenic river passage is just a wonderful way to bond with other human beings. “Commercial rafting is a great social experiment where you meet random strangers who trust you to give them the trip of their lives,” Burns says. “For many, it’s the highlight of their trips.”

sensimag.com JULY 2018 19

No two rivers are the same, and the flow rate can vary

use rocks to create your own private hot spring around you.

wildly depending on the time of year, which means every

As for the Royal Gorge, a 10-mile stretch near Cañon City

run is unique. Snowmelt begins in the spring, which means

that includes famous rapids like Sunshine Falls, the Sledge-

that July will probably have lower flows than you might have

hammer, and the Narrows, Burns doesn’t hold back. “The

gotten last month. While that might not be good news for

most fun you can have in a raft for a single day is the Royal

true whitewater junkies, it’s probably the best time of year

Gorge,” he says. “It’s so dramatic: thousand-foot cliffs, warm

for newbies to get their feet wet.

The most popular rafting areas in Colorado are the Royal Gorge and Browns Canyon, both

and ‘desert-y’. It’s truly the best experience.”

“THE MOST FUN

on the Arkansas River, which hosts about half

YOU CAN HAVE

of all rafting in the state. “The reason is that

IN A RAFT FOR A

it’s all things to all people: the thrill ride, the intermediate not-looking-for-a-hair-onfire experience, and the Family Flow for those aged three to five,” Neinas says.

Browns Canyon between Buena Vista and Salida was just given well-deserved national

SINGLE DAY IS THE ROYAL GORGE.” —Jesse Burns

However, the big daddy of state rivers is the Colorado, which runs from high in the Rockies near Grand Lake before dropping down on its journey into Utah. The most challenging run in the state, according to Burns, is Gore Canyon near Kremmling. “It’s the most scared you can get in a day,” he laughs. “Pretty amazing rapids. You will have to be experienced and able to self-rescue to even try it. It’s an out-of-boat experience.”

monument status in 2015. Browns is especially beautiful in

Both Neinas and Burns admit their favorite river trip is in

the fall, when the huge groves of aspen that rim the canyon

the southwestern part of the state: the Dolores River, north

lose their chlorophyll and turn bright shades of yellow and gold.

of Mesa Verde National Monument near Durango. The Do-

Buena Vista and Salida have lots of lodging and restau-

lores runs through classic Southwest landscapes un-

rant choices. Salida’s historic old town encompasses several

changed for centuries, snaking through sublime sandstone

blocks of local businesses and shops. If you have an extra

cliffs and alpine terrain, with ancient Pueblo ruins evident all

day, there’s always the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs, nestled in

along the route.

the mountains west of Buena Vista, where you can book

But there is a catch: the Dolores season is often short,

massages, rest in private pools, or even sit in the river and

depending on the overflow water captured in the McFee

20 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

A Quick Guide COLORADO HAS A LOT OF RIVERS TO ENJOY RAFTING ADVENTURES. HERE ARE A FEW OF THE BEST. The Dolores River in the southwest part of the state is perhaps The Arkansas River includes the most remote rafting advenBrowns Canyon National Mon- ture, with desert scenery, Native ument and the Royal Gorge, the American art, and the solitude of two most popular rafting areas being away from civilization. in the state.

The Gunnison River includes the The Colorado River offers every Gorge National Conservation Area, kind of rafting trip, with Gore Can- near Montrose, with challenging yon the most gnarly adventure in trips through sandstone canyons. the state and only for the experienced.

The Yampa and Green Rivers in northwest Colorado wind through The Cache La Poudre River has its remote, deep canyons and past own thrills and chills before drop- Native American art, fossils, and ping onto the plains near Ft. Col- unbelievable natural scenery in Dilins. It’s the state’s only National nosaur National Monument, one Wild and Scenic River. of Colorado’s most secluded areas. sensimag.com JULY 2018 21

Reservoir. Sometimes the season only lasts a few days. “The Dolores is one of the most incredible trips, but it doesn’t run very often, and there’s not much whitewater,” says Neinas. “But it’s an amazing place. When it runs, they come out of the woodwork.”

There are a plethora of half-day and one-day trips available, some with lots of whitewater, some with equal parts whitewater and calm, and others designed more for quiet family float excursions. If you really get the bug, the way to immerse yourself in the river experience is by taking a multiday excursion that includes camping along the shore in the evenings.

“The thing that solidified my passion was overnight trips with friends,” says Burns, who has done three-week trips through the Grand Canyon and one epic fact-finding trip on the Marañón River tributary of the Amazon in South America.

“Like with marijuana, it’s a feeling of personal freedom,” he says. “There is this sovereignty to the experience. It’s hard to feel that in other places.”

As far as tips for newbies, Burns has three quick basics: Wear sunscreen, don’t wear cotton, and tip your guide.

Neinas cautions that starting modestly and working from there is the clearest path to having a great experience. “Make sure your first experience with a Colorado outfitter is a good one, and then just go from there. Try different rivers, different whitewater. There is just so much to offer.”

“THERE IS THIS SOVEREIGNTY TO THE EXPERIENCE. IT’S HARD TO FEEL THAT IN OTHER PLACES.” —Jesse Burns

22 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

sensimag.com JULY 2018 23

24 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

sensimag.com JULY 2018 25

26 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

c r azy dream

scapes

by LEL AND RUCKER

Is THC inhibiting our DREAMS?

I WAS AT HOME IN BED, SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS, WHEN

I began singing

“THE TATTOOED LADY,” AN OLD NOVELTY SONG FROM MY CHILDHOOD. I WOULDN’ T STOP, EVEN WHEN BEGGED, AND FINALLY THEY ALL STARTED TRYING TO STRANGLE ME. THAT’S WHEN I AWOKE, SWEATING AND UNEASY, KICKING MY LEGS AND SENDING MY COVERS IN ALL DIRECTIONS. IT WASN’T UNTIL I SET TLED DOWN THAT I REALIZED IT HAD JUST BEEN A DREAM. IT WASN’T THE FIRST TIME. OVER MANY YEARS, WHENEVER I STOP USING CANNABIS FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, THE CRAZY DREAMS RETURN. I’VE PARTIED WITH FAMOUS PEOPLE, TRAVELED TO DISTANT LANDSCAPES, BEEN SUFFOCATED BY MY FRIENDS, AND TRANSCENDED TIME AND PL ACE, ALL W ITHIN MY OWN HEAD AND BED. IT’S ALMOST AS MUCH FUN AS, WELL, GET TING ELEVATED.

But I’ve always wondered why this happens. Why are dreams more intense when I stop using cannabis, or do

vivid dreams when they stop. I decided to try and find out more about it.

they just seem to be that way? Does cannabis inhibit

That’s not as easy as it may seem. All cannabis research

dreaming, or do you just remember your dreams better

is limited because of the usual reasons: The process to get

when you’re unelevated? And is any of this necessarily

the permits required by the federal government to study

good or bad for you?

cannabis is challenging to say the least, and scientists

I’m hardly the only one. Type “marijuana and dreams”

whose studies are approved have to use only govern-

into any search engine, and you’ll find many examples of

ment-produced marijuana grown at the University of Mis-

cannabis users who have experienced the same kinds of

sissippi. That marijuana has been shown to be little more sensimag.com JULY 2018 27

than old ditch weed, nothing like the legal cannabis people

Early studies on the effect of cannabis on dreams mea-

are growing and using across the US. Beyond that, it’s also

sured brain waves and eye movement and suggested that

challenging to know what affect cannabis use has on

cannabis use somehow inhibits the REM portion of sleep,

dreams because we don’t know very much about sleep cy-

which in turn suppresses dreams. Discontinuing canna-

cles and what part dreams play in our lives and well-being.

bis use lets your body catch up, so to speak, with what

the importance of (TANGERINE) dreams Sleep scientists generally characterize slumber as occurring in three basic phases, or stages: light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep. We spend our snoozing hours moving through these phases, with an average cycle lasting about 90 to 110 minutes, although it’s different for everybody. Each cycle apparently fulfills some kind of physiological or neurological function, although beyond their restorative roles, we don’t really know what those functions are. Some believe that dreams have meaning for our waking lives; others try to learn to explore and control them.

We can dream during any of the sleep stages, but we dream more and are most likely to remember dreams we have while in the REM stage, the one characterized by rapid eye

many call an “REM rebound.” While your body catches up on REM sleep, the reasoning goes, it’s also catching up on dreams, which makes them more vivid and memorable.

As I began to look deeper, I noticed that most of this preliminary research is from 40 to 50 years ago. Often cited is a 1975 study that, for instance, noted changes in rapid eye movements and shorter REM periods of sleep in longtime cannabis users. But that study tested only seven people, hardly enough to produce enough data to draw any serious conclusions.

And there’s another thing. Many people, including some scientists, suggest that cannabis users don’t dream, and—at least in my case—I know that isn’t true. Just last week, I wound up in a room with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, but just before I could start peppering him with questions about his quaint stance on cannabis, I woke up.

movement, a slight rise in respiration rate, and increased brain activity. We are less likely to remember dreams we have in the deep-sleep stage, when we’re generally harder to wake, than we are ones we have while in REM.

28 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

SLEEP SCIENTISTS GENERALLY CHARACTERIZE SLUMBER AS OCCURRING IN THREE BASIC PHASES, OR STAGES: LIGHT SLEEP, DEEP SLEEP, AND REM SLEEP. WE SPEND OUR SNOOZING HOURS MOVING THROUGH THESE PHASES, WITH AN AVERAGE CYCLE LASTING ABOUT 90 TO 110 MINUTES, ALTHOUGH IT’S DIFFERENT FOR EVERYBODY.

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sensimag.com JULY 2018 29

sweet (BLUE ) dreams Dr. Timothy Roehrs is director of research at the Henry Ford Sleep Disorders and Research Center in Detroit and a professor at the Wayne State School of Medicine. He spoke about the frustration of trying to mount sleep studies using cannabis and corroborated that most studies on cannabis and sleep date back to the 1970s and 1980s.

Only limited research has been done in the 21st century.

“We’ve been wanting to administer T HC in the sleep lab and haven’t been able to do that,” he says. “ To properly study it, you need to give a measured dose of THC to a participant over a prospective number of days. Right now, it’s terribly difficult to get measured doses of THC. We’re left with anecdotal information, and you never know for sure what dose was being used and being taken on a given set of nights.”

While he hasn’t been able to properly study the effects of cannabis on sleep, Roehrs has conducted many studies on the effects of alcohol on sleep, which confirm the REM rebound effect that causes people to “catch up” on dreams. During REM sleep, he says, one is more likely to wake and report having dreams. In those early sleep studies on cannabis and dreams, the marijuana seemed to suppress REM sleep much like alcohol does.

Roehrs isn’t so sure it’s that easy. “What that means is that you have increased amounts of REM sleep also fragmented with brief and rapid awakenings. If I take you and put you in the sleep lab, and I awaken you out of REM

DISCONTINUING CANNABIS USE LETS YOUR BODY CATCH UP, SO TO SPE AK, WITH WHAT MANY CALL AN “REM REBOUND.” WHILE YOUR BODY CATCHES UP ON REM SLEEP, THE REASONING GOES, IT’S ALSO CATCHING UP ON DREAMS, WHICH MAKES THEM MORE VIVID AND MEMORABLE. 30 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

sleep by shaking you vigorously, that rapid arousal from sleep gives you a sense of being present in the dream,” he says. “Those are the vivid images that are likely what is happening with discontinuing marijuana.”

Roehrs cautions that he isn’t suggesting that this is anything more than speculation on his or anyone else’s part. We really don’t know what significance REM dreaming or suppression might have on our well-being. Still,

ALIVE!

this makes more sense to me than the theory that cannabis use stops people from dreaming.

For instance, he says, common antidepressant drugs used by many Americans suppress REM sleep while they normalize mood. “And, unlike marijuana, these antidepressants continue to suppress REM sleep, and you get this REM insomnia-like experience,” he explains. “When people who were taking antidepressants stop, they can have REM rebound. Not only do we not know if it might be bad for you, if you have mild depression, dreaming might improve your mood. But we don’t know these things.”

You

+

If you’re one of those who doesn’t like the crazy dreams, this isn’t much solace. But since I kind of enjoy them, until we find out more about the subject, I’m satisfied.

Meanwhile, I’m still trying to get back into that dream with Jeff Sessions.

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sensimag.com JULY 2018 31

BEANS I saw my first airstream, rolling down Old Highway 218 in Iowa, when I was seven years old. I’d never seen anything so strange and full of possibility . I wanted that shiny bean with all my heart.

by ROBYN GRIGGS L AWRENCE photography by LEE STONEHOUSE

I never stopped wanting her.

FOR DECADES, I TOLD E VERYONE WHO WOULD LISTEN THAT SOMEDAY I WOULD HAVE AN AIRSTREAM. LIFE AND RESPONSIBILITIES GOT IN THE WAY, AS THEY DO, AND MY LUST WENT UNREQUITED UNTIL THIS YEAR. MY YOUNGEST WENT TO COLLEGE, I SOLD MY HOME IN BOULDER, AND I MOVED UP FOURMILE CANYON TO AN IDEAL SET TING FOR A SILVER COACH. MY HASHTAG DREAM CAME TRUE. A 27-FOOT FLYING CLOUD GLEAMS IN A CLEARING OF PINE TREES BEHIND THE HOUSE, AS SPECTACULAR TO ME NOW AS WHEN I WAS SEVEN. 32 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

sensimag.com JULY 2018 33

Tom Hanks, Sean Penn, Johnny Depp,

and Sheryl Crow OWN AIRSTREAMS. I CAN’T BELIE V E I OW N ONE, TOO.

34 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

Her sleek, iconic design hasn’t changed, but now I’m old enough to understand that her beauty is beyond skin deep. Perfectly engineered and built like an airplane

friends HAVE airstream dreams ALL MY

from riveted aluminum panels, she’s a fortress against

When I posted on Facebook that I finally bought my

wind—an issue in Colorado—and noise. Her aerodynam-

Airstream after all these years, I was worried that it would

ic design and low center of gravity make hauling easier.

seem like I was bragging. (I always worry about that when

Inside, I have every convenience and a glorious amount

I post anything on Facebook, because usually… well…

of storage space.

that’s what I’m doing.) That post and photo of me in front

She’ll likely outlive me. Airstream estimates that 60 to

of my shiny new coach with a shit-eating grin on my face

70 percent of all the coaches it has made since 1935 are

got a lot more attention than anything else I post. People

still on the road.

from every part of my life, from childhood friends to col-

Airstreams have been everywhere since Wally Byam

leagues in the cannabis industry, liked and commented

invented them and spawned a cult-like on-the-road fol-

that they were happy for me and wanted Airstreams, too.

lowing, the Wally Byam Caravan Club, in the mid-nine-

I can feel pretty badass about this dream coming true, even

teenth century. President John F. Kennedy used one as an

though all I did to make it happen was sell my real estate in

office when he visited the White Sands missile site. Vice

Boulder—which isn’t even smart in this rapidly elevating

President Joe Biden rode inside an Airstream in the cargo

market. I don’t care, though. After decades of being a home-

plane that carried him on frequent visits to Iraq. Astro-

owner and dealing with foundation cracks, leaky roofs, and

nauts Neil Armstrong, Mike Collins, and Ed Aldrin were

crumbling plumbing, I own a home that I don’t have to beg

quarantined in an Airstream after they landed on the

husbands or handymen to help me maintain—because you

moon in 1969, and today shuttle astronauts ride to their

try to find a handyman in Boulder who sticks around when

launches in one.

the sun’s shining, the snow’s flying, or the rivers are running.

Tom Hanks, Sean Penn, Johnny Depp, and Sheryl Crow own Airstreams. I can’t believe I own one, too.

For now, my Airstream is more house than coach because I have to learn how to haul her—and I’m not badass

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Wherever you’re traveling, you can find Airstreams for nightly rental by doing an easy search on AIRBNB.COM and GLAMPING.COM . (Filtering out 420-friendly ones is more tedious.)

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sensimag.com JULY 2018 37

when it comes to driving. In high school, my driving

fantastic storage, two TVs (that I know how to use), a

caused the kids in the backseat of our driver’s ed car to

snug bedroom, and an office looking out and over the

literally yell out for help from Jesus. (It was Iowa.) I’ve got-

pines at the panorama of Arkansas Mountain beyond. I

ten a lot better, but I need a little help to carry off the Great

have an ideal place to work, meditate, sleep, and enjoy

Big Airstream Dream, the one where we drive down to

cocktails or cannabis.

Baja and hang out for a couple months or tour around the country visiting friends. Taking corners and backing up with 5,000 pounds behind me scares me as much as my getting behind the wheel terrified my high school mates.

I’ve never driven anything larger than a Toyota 4Run-

me AND matthew mcconaughey, CHILLING IN OUR airstreams

ner. I’m shopping—out of my comfort zone—for a truck

I decorated inside, taking tips from Matthew McCo-

big enough to haul my coach. Then I can hire Tim, a pa-

naughey, whose Airstream was featured in Architectural

tient man who used to train truck drivers, to teach me to

Digest. (Sure, I’ll keep dropping names. It’s a Facebook habit.)

how to do it. Tim backed all 27 gleaming feet of my baby

Sheepskins and rugs from Marisol Imports, my sweetheart’s

down the hill and nestled into her clearing in the pines,

business in Boulder, warm up durable but plastic upholstery

and he assured me I can learn how to do that, too. He

and make it really, really hard to get up and shuffle down the

teaches people how to haul trailers for a living, so I was

hall to bed after a cup of bedtime chai and a movie.

probably being paranoid when I thought he looked a little doubtful as he said that.

I do, because waking up in that bed tucked into the front of the egg is my favorite. The first thing I see is rich

It might be a while before I drive to Baja, and that’s

green pines against bold blue sky through my round,

disappointing but okay. I have a solid, cozy retreat parked

generous bedroom window. (I haven’t seen snow since I

in a sunny spot in the pines behind the house, with my

got her, but I imagine that view will be spectacular.) The

own test kitchen for developing cannabis food recipes,

bedroom is cozy and efficient, with nightstands on both

38 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

sensimag.com JULY 2018 39

sides, maneuverable space, and lots of storage. I could lie there all morning, smelling the mountain breeze through the window and meditating (okay, dozing), but I’d rather have coffee and check email on the front porch.

I make coffee in the kitchen, which is compact but has more storage than the house I live in. (I can alphabetize my spices and make popcorn in the microwave, a guilty pleasure that tucks into a drawer.) When I chop fruit, vegetables, and cannabis at the counter, I look out over the pines sloping toward the gulch and listen to the water gurgle—when the symphony of birds doesn’t drown it out. (The Steller’s Jays can be obnoxiously loud, but they’re stunning to watch.)

A lot of nights, though, my Airstream is lonely. She could use a little attention from fans and curiosity seekers who appreciate her sleek comfort. I think she feels slightly neglected, and I feel bad about that. So this month I made her available on AIRBNB.COM (420 friendly), BUDANDBREAKFAST.COM, and GLAMPING.COM.

It feels like a nice exchange. Until I can safely take my Airstream out to meet the world, the world can come to her.

I think she’ll attract great people. She’s a social bean.

ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE wrote this piece for Sensi Denver/Boulder in 2017. Since then, she has taken the Airstream to the California coast. While it’s back in Colorado for the summer, it is not currently available to rent. For other options, see page 37.

“SILVERY AS STARLIGHT, BULBOUS AS A PORPOISE NOSE, THE AIRSTREAM WAS AN ELONGATED PEA, A BEAN, A SAUSAGE SKIN INFL ATED WITH MERCURY, A LAND BLIMP, A LEMON (IN SHAPE, NOT PERFORMANCE), THE FOOTBALL OF THE TITANS.” Tom Robbins, Skinny Legs and All 40 JULY 2018 SoCo

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42 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

sensimag.com JULY 2018 43

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

CANNAPUNCH

Drink Up CHEERS TO CANNAPUNCH. Back in the day, when you wanted to get lifted on THC,

Today, CannaPunch comes in five flavors, including concoc-

you probably called, paged, or texted your dealer to meet

tions like pineapple mango, black cherry, and watermelon.

up to get “some trees.” There was only one kind of product

Available both medically and recreationally, the non-carbon-

available: weed. It was green if you were lucky, full of brown

ated beverages are natural, vegan, and free of gluten, soy, and

stems if you weren’t, and it came in a white plastic baggie.

corn syrup. They are made with whole cannabis flowers using

The only choice you had to make was how much to buy.

a highly scientific approach that results in consistent effects.

How times have changed. To get lifted today, just walk

Along with the original beverage line, CannaPunch has

into any dispensary—no need to page the budtenders first

expanded its offerings to include lines of products made

to tell them you’re coming. You’ll find shelves lined with

using that same scientific approach. Highly Edibles is a

cannabis products your prohibition-era self couldn’t even

brand of all-natural vegan gummies, with handmade fruity

imagine: everything from pre-rolled joints and vape pens

pucks in assorted fruit and sour flavors. The Dutch Girl line

to infused lotions, candies, chocolates, and drinks. It can

breaks the fruit-flavored mold with offerings like the Cara-

be difficult to know where to start.

mel StroopWaffles—two layers of thin waffles held together

Why not start with the first? CannaPunch holds Colorado’s

by caramel-like syrup—and Ebony & Ivory chocolate cubes.

first Marijuana Infused Product Manufacturer license (404-

Beyond the edibles, CannaPunch offers Dutch Girl

00001), which has given the company ample time to devel-

seeds, the Nordic Goddess CBD Salve, and Tumbleweed

op high-quality products that deliver a consistent experience.

Vape Pens. The consistent thread running through these

The company was started in 2009 by a biochemical engi-

all is a commitment to the same high standards that Can-

neer who wanted to help a friend suffering from scoliosis and

naPunch has adhered to since it started, back in the days

opioid addiction. He believed cannabis could both ease her

when weed was just weed. We’ve come a long way.

pain and get her off the pharmaceuticals. He developed a tincture (a medicine made by dissolving a drug in alcohol) that his friend found to be potent, effective, and awful to taste.

While two out of three ain’t bad, it also wasn’t good enough—not for his friend, and certainly not for his mother, who suffered from multiple sclerosis. He believed his tincture could help her as well, if only he could get her to try it. After all, even the best medicines only work if taken. So he set out to develop a tasty beverage that would serve as a vehicle for the delivery of the tincture while masking its flavor, and the CannaPunch elixir was born.

44 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

For more information:

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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

MARY JANE'S MEDICINALS

Topicals that Make a Difference RELIEF IS MORE THAN SKIN-DEEP WITH MARY JANE’S MEDICINALS. Dahlia Mertens hadn’t planned on opening one of Colorado’s first and leading cannabis topicals compa-

then, but I knew it made a more therapeutic product with all the terpenes and phytochemicals intact.”

nies, but hands-on experience convinced her of op-

Mary Jane’s Medicinals infuses two strains of organ-

portunity that could not be ignored and that had the

ically grown cannabis—one high-THC, one high-CBD—

potential to help a lot of people.

into grape-seed oil for five of the six products, and into

“I was a massage therapist, and I started infusing

alcohol for the company’s Topical Tincture.

massage oil with cannabis to use on my clients. Ini-

Mary Jane’s Medicinals Lip Bong, Salve, Body Lotion,

tially I thought it would just make for a more relaxing

and Massage Oil are made with organic cannabis, nat-

massage, but to my surprise my clients began report-

ural plant oils such as sweet almond oil and avocado

ing back to me of chronic pain and health issues be-

oil, other healing herbs that work symbiotically with

ing alleviated,” says Mertens, who founded Mary Jane’s

cannabis, and therapeutic grade essential oils-infused

Medicinals in 2009 in Telluride.

grape-seed oil and natural and essential oils. The pep-

Another discovery from her massage practice was more

permint-flavored, cannabis-infused lip balm provides

surprising: Her clients weren’t getting high from the oil.

lip protection and can be rubbed on the temples for

The THC didn’t pass into the bloodstream through the

headache relief. The Topical Tincture is a potent, alco-

skin. “That’s why people are really excited about topicals.

hol-based infusion of cannabis and arnica that absorbs

It means anybody can access the healing properties of

rapidly, provides relief for migraines, and helps speed

cannabis, without experiencing the psychoactive effects.

the healing time for injuries. The Heavenly Hash Bath

We’ve got a whole lot of right-wing conservatives who

combines aromatic herbs with Dead Sea salts and can-

didn’t want anything to do with marijuana now rubbing

nabis leaves to create a supremely relaxing and thera-

this stuff all over their bodies,” she explains.

peutic soak.

Available in medical and recreational dispensaries

Mary Jane’s Medicinals topical products may not

across Colorado, Mary Jane’s Medicinals Salves, Massage

be psychoactive, but some clients do combine them.

Oil, Body Lotion, and other products are being used by

“Some customers say that using salve goes well with

people seeking relief from arthritis symptoms, joint mo-

vaping or edibles—it can enhance the effects,” Mertens

bility, neuropathy, migraines, cramps, and some skin

shares. “I’m convinced about the entourage effect in

conditions, Mertens says. “One of our tag lines is, ‘Just

topicals. It makes for a more therapeutic product.”

put some salve on it,’” she adds with a chuckle. “The products really help speed the healing time for injuries, and a lot of people have also reported back to us that they have been able to dramatically decrease their pharmaceutical intake with the use of our topicals.”

In the beginning, Mertens was making her massage oil in her kitchen at home. “I always made it with whole cannabis flower infused into grape-seed oil,” she says. The resulting product includes THC, THC-A, CBD, and other cannabinoids. “I didn’t know about the entourage effect

46 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

For more information:

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sensimag.com JULY 2018 47

the

SCENE

SOCO S E N S I N I G H T

On a warm Thursday evening last month, the community came together to celebrate what we call “the new normal.” At the historic Briarhurst Manor, a line of attendees began gathering an hour before the doors opened for the start of the event, everyone eager to meet and mingle with reps from dozens of the top Colorado brands manning booths and tables inside and out. For info on the next Sensi Night Southern Colorado, keep an eye on the magazine’s Facebook page: FB.COM/SENSIMEDIAGROUP.

48 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

What: Sensi Night Where: Briarhurst Manor When: June 7, 2018

sensimag.com JULY 2018 49

{HereWeGo}

Park After Dark Camping in Colorado is a rite of summer passage.

If you’ve been to Great Sand Dunes during the day, you’re only getting half of the experience. Consider going when the sky is all lit up with a lunar flashlight. Under the bright light of a full moon, you can explore the Dunes without artificial aid. It’s a surreal experience to roam the natural wonder under the eerie glow.

50 JULY 2018 Southern Colorado

The second school of thought is to plan your excursion when there’s no moon at all and you can bathe in wonder under a blanket of stars. The dry air, remote locale with little light pollution, and high elevation makes the national park a prime dark sky viewing location. Either is a great choice.

Key Dates / July 13: New Moon / July 29: Full Moon

PHOTO OF GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK COURTESY OF NPS

by S T E P H A N I E W I L S O N