Sensi Magazine - Denver/Boulder (November 2017)

DE N V E R // B OULDER

THE NEW NORMAL

11.2017

home{made} for the

HOLIDAYS RICARDO BACA’S

Ode to

Entrepreneurs

& OFF THE STRIP: EXPLORE

ON

NEVADA

NOT HOW

TO GET A JOB IN THE

cannabis

INDUSTRY

Infused Marshmallows Uplifted Seniors + MORE!

C-2 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

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2 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

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contents.

ISSUE 11 // VOLUME 2 // 11.2017

58

FEATURES 58

S P E C I A L R EP O RT

High Rollers

Can Sin City handle one more legal vice?

66 R u … hiring?

How not to get a job in the cannabis industry.

74 Wild Blue Yonder

66

Yonder Mountain String Band dropped a new album—and its own strain.

every issue 7 Editor’s Note 10 SensiBuzz 18 NewsFeed: EDUCATING

SENIORS ON CANNABIS

26 CrossRoads: ODE TO THE

ENTREPRENEURS

32 EdibleCritic: A STUFFING TALE 38 TravelWell: ESCAPE TO NEVADA 48 AroundTown: HOME(MADE)

FOR THE HOLIDAYS

SoCO: INFUSED MARSHMALLOWS

104

T HE B U S I N E S S I S S UE

26 CANNA VISIONARIES: They hustle and scrape and crash and burn. But they keep getting up.

Sensi Magazine is published monthly by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2017 SENSI MEDIA GROUP LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 5

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WHAT A WAY TO MAKE

A LIVING

ISSUE 11 VOLUME 2 11.2017

A DV I SORY B OA R D

editor’s

NOTE

Back in high school, when my friends and I would be

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hanging out, passing joints, and discussing what we wanted to be when we finished growing up, a job that involved the elevating substance we were enjoying never came up. Working in cannabis never crossed our minds because the idea of a world where it was legal never did, either.

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Thanks to the struggles and efforts of people who did imagine a world like that—

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and then fought to make it happen—legal cannabis is now the shared reality in a growing number of states. The booming industry is on track to be a $25 billion force in the coming years, pumping revenue into the economy, tax dollars into state and

TR ANSPORTATION

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city coffers, and hundreds of thousands of new jobs at new businesses. Including

PAYMENT PROCESSING

jobs in other sectors, bringing their talent and experience to new positions. No one in

I&I Boulder // WHOLESALE CULTIVATION Jett Cannabis // CO2 EXTRACTION Lab Society // EXTRACTION EXPERTS/L AB SUPPLIES Loopr // LUXURY MOBILE CONSUMPTION LucidMood // TERPENES marQaha // SUBLINGUALS & BEVERAGES Mary Jane’s Medicinals // TOPICALS Mountain High Suckers // CBD EDIBLES Mustache Dabs // ROSIN PRESS Nature’s Root // HEMP COSMETICS Purple Monkey // TEAS Rx CBD // CBD & PET TREATS Sohum Living Soils // SOIL Source Colorado // WHOLESALE CONSULTING Steepfuze // CBD COFFEE Terrapin Care Station // RECREATIONAL DISPENSARY The Clinic: The Bank Genetics // GENETICS Wana Brands // EDIBLES Witlon // PAYROLL PROCESSING

cannabis took an entry-level role right out of school ten years ago and spent the last

the one I have—a career in cannabis. Who woulda thought.

Working in this space can be a surreal experience. This is more than just an industry; it’s a community. It’s comprised of professionals who, for the most part, left

decade moving up the ranks doing work they hate for a company that pays them just enough not to leave. So many people working in cannabis today chose this field because they love it, they believe in it, they’re excited by it. Their energy is palpable, and it’s contagious. It’s the fuel behind the explosive growth of the nascent space. For me, this shared passion is one of the things that makes being a part of the industry so much fricken fun.

It’s no wonder so many people want to be a part of it. It is a wonder that some of those people don’t bother to Google “how to get a job in cannabis” before reaching out to people at some of the industry’s top companies with some shocking inquiries.

For our cover feature on how not to get hired, Robyn Griggs Lawrence spoke to a few of cannabis’s leading entrepreneurs—some of the very people who inspired columnist Ricardo Baca to pen his beautiful “Ode to the Entrepreneurs” this month—and collected anecdotes that will have you shaking your head and laughing out loud.

Because the cannabis industry descends on Las Vegas this month for the Marijuana Business Journal Conference and Expo, this issue also includes a special report on Nevada’s recreational market. Plus, we’ve got a piece on where to go to escape the Strip along with many other great topics and features. In the cannabis space, business is booming, so there’s a whole lot to cover. Let’s get to it.

MEDIA PA RT N E R S

© KIM SIDWELL

National Cannabis Industry Association Students for Sensible Drug Policy Women Grow

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THE NE W N O R M A L

What began in the1940s as a ski bum’s hobby of making videos of his friends on the slopes so they could critique their form and improve their skills has avalanched into a global institution. Warren Miller Entertainment—the brand created by that bum—has released a ski film to commemorate the kickoff of winter every year since 1949. This month, WME invites you to ride along on its 68th “cinematic journey,” Line of Descent. It’s basically slope porn for the powder hungry. It shows a multigenerational cast of icons and fresh faces ripping down some of America’s deepest lines—including in Steamboat. Catch it locally during screenings at the Paramount Theatre in Denver (Nov. 16-18) and at the Boulder Theater (Nov. 9, 11, 12) or on select days at various art houses in Lakewood, Parker, Evergreen, Estes Park, and beyond.

SKINET.COM for details.

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SALUTE TO

THE START OF

WINTER

WARREN MILLER’S LINE OF DESCENT

–STEPHANIE WILSON

TIME to SHRED

Warren Miller’s annual screening marks the unofficial kickoff of ski season. Colorado’s top mountain resorts have been busy preparing, coating the trails with manmade snow whenever Mother Nature took a break. Opening days are upon us.

First chairs at A-Basin and Loveland went up in the middle of October, and the rest of the big mountains start running lifts in November. Each resort commemorates the commencement of Colorado’s favorite season with a grand celebration as unique as its terrain. Copper’s “Welcome Home Weekend” kicks off with live music and giveaways; Beaver Creek is the spot for free hot cocoa and the World’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookie competition. At Crested Butte, an early morning champagne toast salutes the season’s start. All the fanfare means the same thing: It’s time to get out there.

–SW

NOVEMBER 10 : Breckenridge //

Copper // Keystone

NOVEMBER 15 : Winter Park NOVEMBER 17: Vail Mountain Resort // Eldora Mountain Resort NOVEMBER 18 : Purgatory Resort

gear up

EAGER TO BECOME A SK IER?

Getting on the slopes is

NOVEMBER 22: Beaver Creek Resort NOVEMBER 23 : Aspen Snowmass // Crested Butte // Telluride Ski Resort

AN EXPENSIVE HOBBY to pick up—and not just because of the often prohibitively expensive lift

tickets. A one-day pass to Vail in November runs you $130, and that’s just to get on the mountain. You still need all the equipment and accoutrements: skis or snowboards, pants, jackets, gloves, hats, goggles, helmet, hand and foot warmers (if you’re anything like me), and other items to protect you from the elements. It can take years to build a proper collection, but ask any seasoned local, and they’ll tell you: pre- and post-season markets selling slightly used or last year’s models are the most affordable way to get all the stuff you need. This month, you can find last season’s equipment for up to 60 percent off at the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Expo, one of the largest sales of its kind around. You can also shop for gear, season passes, resort deals and packages, and more. Colorado Convention Center, Nov. 10-11, TICKETS : $15. MORE DETAILS : SKISNOWEXPO.COM 10 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

–SW

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 11

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During this nine-day celebration of all things art in the Mile High, the city’s creative side is on full display. The annual cultural happening features a lineup that’s rife with more than 300 events, exhibits, and shows designed to whet the artistic palates of even the most gallery-averse neophytes. The offerings are broken down into five categories: Know Your Arts First Fridays, Free Night at the Museums, Denver On Stage, Family Friendly, and Hidden Gems.

Start your Denver Arts Week off right on November 3 during a special edition of the First Fridays Art Walks and explore the city’s cultural districts. The next evening, head to Free Night at the Museums and take advantage of the free shuttles and late closing times. Then for the next seven days, pack your calendar with dance performances, musical showcases, independent film screenings, literary gatherings, gallery tours, and visits to cultural attractions like the Botanic Gardens and Denver Zoo. Visit DENVERARTSWEEK.COM for more details on –SW lineup—including these don’t-miss highlights on our radar.

$52.80 ART SALE // NOVEMBER 3, 6 P.M. TO 10 P.M. During this special edition of the First Friday Art Walks, stroll through the Tennyson Street Cultural District on the lookout for select works of original art on sale for just $52.80. Make sure to stop by Lapiz Gallery to test your neighborhood knowledge at The HeART of Denver exhibit.

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This show, a fusion of dance and percussion, is designed to tickle all your senses. Tararam, an Israeli music and dance group, has often been likened to the wildly popular Stomp troupe, except this creative ensemble produces extraordinary sounds from ordinary objects. The performances are a blend of rhythm, music, movement, and wit, interwoven with choreographed body drumming, amusing sounds, and theatrical antics. Tickets start at $30 and are worth every cent.

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Denver Art Week offerings—despite taking place outside the city. (In fact, at press time, the run had been extended to include more shows on November 17 and 18.) To create the modern spectacle, eight choreographers worked with the fifteen dancers of Frequent Flyers and Block 1750 and the three musicians of Chimney Choir to create a novel celebration of the art of movement set to psychedelic folk music. Tickets start at $24. FREQUENTFLYERS.ORG

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THE NE W N O R M A L

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WIL L RU N FOR

FEASTS

Turkey Trots are family traditions in cities and communities across the country, and Denver is no exception. Forty-four years running, the Mile High Turkey Trot is one of the city’s greatest holiday gatherings—and it’s for a good cause. Last year, more than 9,800 participants made the 43 annual MHT T part of their Thanksgiving, completing a four-mile run and walk through the picturesque Wash Park and raising more than $400,000 toward the organization’s fight for the education, health, and financial stability of everyone in Metro Denver. As Runner’s World magazine notes, “Running at altitude is a lot more fun when it’s through beautiful environs like Denver’s scenic, –SW tree-lined Washington Park—and toward a beer garden.”

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’Tis the

season{ing}

WHEN IT COMES TO EDIBLES, WHETHER THEY’RE HOMEMADE OR STORE -BOUGHT, THERE’S ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY OF EATING A LIT TLE TOO MUCH THC. THANKFULLY, N O V E M B E R I S A L S O N A T I O N A L P E P P E R M O N T H . A N D T H A T ’ S K I S M E T , BECAUSE PEPPERS — SPECIFICALLY BL ACK PEPPERCORNS — MAY PREVENT YOUR SPECIAL I N F U S E D S I D E S F R O M T A K I N G Y O U O V E R B O A R D.

What amount of black pepper counteracts the effects of too much cannabis?

There’s no formula— yet— but folk wisdom says a few black peppercorn balls should do the trick. You can grind up the peppercorn and add it to a snack, load the ground pepper into empty gel caps, or just chew and swallow the raw peppercorns.

How does this work? The verdict is still out, but it’s probably due to black pepper’s terpene profile. Black peppercorns contain many of the same terpene molecules found in the cannabis plant— and terpenes “cushion” cannabinoid absorption in the body. For those with sensitive tummies, there’s some anecdotal evidence that simply smelling black pepper aroma can work, too.

Hopefully you won’t need to resort to the peppercorn option this holiday season, but if you get too lifted, there’s always a remedy in the nearest pantry.

14 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

– RANDY ROBINSON

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LELAND’S

SENSIBILITIES

Sensi Senior Editor LEL AND RUCKER on Jail Time for Cannabis W H E N I T CO M E S TO C A N N A B I S , S O M E T I M E S W E F O R G E T H O W FA R A H E A D C O L O R A D O I S F R O M T H E R E S T O F T H E C O U N T R Y .

R E C E N T STATI STI CS FRO M THE DRU G PO LI CY A LL I A N C E S HOW THAT E V E R Y Y E A R , I N FA R TO O M A N Y P L A C E S , HUND R E D S O F T H O U S A N D S O F A M E R I C A N S A R E S T I L L BEING ARRESTED AND JAILED FOR POSSESSION OF SMALL AMOUNTS O F M A R I J U A N A — GENERALLY LESS THAN AN OUNCE.

In 2015, the latest year for which federal data are available, police in the United States made 643,121 arrests for marijuana offenses, most of those—574,641 to be exact—for possession. Though that’s a two-decade low, it’s still more than twice the number of arrests in 1991.

Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Washington ,and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational use and eliminated all penalties for adults 21 and older. New Hampshire recently became the 22nd state to decriminalize marijuana in some degree, eliminating jail time for

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16 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

faced a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum fine of $2,000 and up to a year in jail. Today possession of three-fourths of an ounce or less in the Granite State will land you a civil fine of $100.

That means that though it doesn’t always come to that, marijuana possession remains a criminal offense punishable by jail time in 28 states. The maximum penalties for simple possession range from a $300 fine and 15 days in jail in Louisiana to a $6,000 fine and a year in jail in Alabama. Even stranger, 11 of the states where you can still go to jail for a little pot have legalized it for medical use.

In Colorado, marijuana charges dropped from 10,327 in 2012, the first year of legalization, to 2,036 in 2014. That’s a significant number, but blacks and other minorities are still arrested at a higher rate than whites, even though usage rates for all groups are about even.

Stats like this are sobering. Public opinion, even amongst those in Colorado opposed to legalization, is moving in the direction of letting adults do what they want with cannabis. At the same time, our current Department of Justice still seems OK with the notion that people should be arrested and imprisoned for using a plant that someone living next door in another state can use without penalty. Nobody should be arrested or jailed for using cannabis. Nobody.

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sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 17

{newsfeed}

by L E L AND RUCKER

CONTINUING ED: C ANNABIS 101 Seniors face endless possibilities (and confusion) to find the right cannabis remedy.

As millions of baby boomers, who make up one-fourth of the US population, pass into the embrace of Medicare over the next decade, more are becoming curious about nontraditional medicines—including cannabis.

because they didn’t know that cannabis is the same thing as marijuana.

If you’re used to choosing between strains like the Lemon Sweet Skunk or Ugly Stepsister hybrids, that might

The federal Centers for Disease Control reported that

sound somewhat quaint. But if the last time you dabbled

marijuana use among adults over 65 increased more than

with pot was 40 years ago when you were in college and

300 percent between 2002 and 2014. That sounds more

you’ve lived with a steady diet of DEA bullcrap in the ser-

significant than it is, since we’re talking about only less

vice of Drug War prohibition ever since, it’s not that un-

than two percent of all users, but it’s still a lot of people.

reasonable to harbor a few doubts when presented with

Retirees are choosing to move to states that allow legal

claims about cannabis’s medical efficacy.

cannabis over ones that don’t. And the number of indi-

The Balfour talks are presented by Stratos, a Colorado

viduals over 65 applying for medical cards here in Colo-

cannabis company, and Holos Health, an alternative well-

rado continues its upward trend.

ness center. The presentation, led by Holos’s Dr. Sarah

And why not? If you’ve made it into your 70s, a little

Berke, focused on how the body’s endocannabinoid sys-

cannabis isn’t going to hurt you. People of all ages are

tem works in conjunction with properties in cannabis and

using it for pain relief, anxiety, depression, and sleep.

possible benefits seniors might derive from using it—

But there’s a serious dearth of knowledge about how

especially when it comes to the exciting things we are

to find what you need.

finding out about its anti-inflammation qualities. Many

Look no further than the recent “Cannabis 101” lec-

diseases seniors face, from asthma to dementia, have

ture at Balfour Senior Center in Denver. It was the fourth

inflammation components that are now being treated

such event at the center, and the talks have been pret-

with cannabis. She also discussed recent studies that

ty popular among residents. But a strong indication of

suggest cannabis’s neuroprotective qualities and ability

the knowledge gap that still exists came when I found

to mitigate brain damage caused by traumatic brain in-

out that some residents didn’t attend the first lecture

jury and some strokes.

18 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 19

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She also talked at some length about the almost bewildering number of ways to get cannabis into your system today. Many seniors, remembering cigarettes, are averse to lighting up anything—never mind even

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approaching a dab rig. She let the audience know there are a host of tinctures, lotions, and sublingual sprays that allow you to get cannabis medicine today in a variety of ways. It even comes in pill form.

Presenting partner Stratos makes cannabis-infused products, including THC tablets—my first exposure to cannabis that looks like aspirin. The reviews of synthetic cannabis pharmaceuticals like Sativex, which is prescribed for the treatment of neurological pain and spasticity, and Marinol, prescribed for nausea, have been mixed, and I am seriously skeptical of the big pharmaceutical companies’ interest in medical marijuana beyond another addition to their bottom lines. But, for apprehensive seniors, Stratos’s pill-form concept seems a reasonable alternative.

Kate Heckman, director of sales at Stratos, says the company was founded in late 2014 by people with backgrounds in pharmaceutical science who saw a need for consistent, accurate marijuana-infused edible

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20 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 21

see how

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products. The Balfour sessions are the company’s first foray into actual instruction. “The education piece became important when we started training budtenders about the products. We found that people have a lot of questions about what to take, what the doses are. There is a real need for education for this older group.”

So far, they’re getting good feedback on the Stratos immediate-release tablets. “They distribute cannabis oil more efficiently than swallowing a glob of oil in a gel cap,” Heckman says. The main problem with edibles is that they need to be absorbed into the blood stream before the effects begin, sometimes more than two hours after ingestion, but the bioavailability of the Stratos tablets leads to a more rapid onset of effects. “The tablet is really great for cannabis oil, which is suspended in the dose,” Heckman says. “You swallow it, and the uptake begins. The feed-

quiet professionalism unmatched service exceptional results

back we are hearing is that the tablet method is recognizable for baby boomers—and a discrete and reliable way to get cannabis.”

The tablets are available in three “moods”—one for sleep, another for relaxation, and a third for energy. Stratos also offers several pills with cus-

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M AN Y SE N IOR S REMEMBERING

C IG A R E T T E S A RE AVE RS E TO L I G H T I NG UP ANYTHING —NEVERMIND EVEN APPROACHING A DAB RIG. the right dosage. Heckman says people are using them as cancer treatment supplements and for anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and spasticity.

After the talk, I spoke with some Balfour residents. One woman said that the presentation absolutely convinced her never to go near cannabis in any form. Another said that her grandchildren had prodded her to try some, and it has helped her sleep cycles normalize. Another resident was ready to consider using cannabis instead of the opioids she’s lately been prescribed for pain.

There is conflicting information about cannabis—pro and con—these days. If you’re a cannabis-curious senior, remember three things: 1) Be ready to do some research. There are numerous websites you’ll find with a quick online search of “cannabis and seniors.” 2) Find a doctor who is at

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22 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

least open to discussing cannabis as an alternative medicine. 3) Since there are no standards, expect to experiment with different delivery methods and dosages before finding what works for you.

Again, the main thing to remember is that cannabis is a plant. Even if it doesn’t work for you, it can’t hurt you. Happy hunting.

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 23

24 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 25

{crossroads}

by RICARDO BACA

ODE TO THE ENTREPRENEURS Here’s to the ones who dream Foolish as they may seem…

In Merriam-Webster speak, la-la land is “a euphoric

To succeed, dreamers have to do the work—and it’s

dreamlike mental state detached from the harsher re-

hard work. They conceive and plan, hustle and scrape,

alities of life.” And it’s hard to argue with that as a mind-

strive and overcome, crash and burn, fall and fall and fall,

set, right?

and keep getting up. There are sleepless nights, jaw-­

But when the film La La Land came out and reframed

clenching days, and a fair number of tears. They do it

the phrase as more of a tribute to the dreamers, to

with families and health issues and funding problems

those folks stepping out of their comfort zones on a

and never enough time, and then one day they wake up

daily basis to make big things happen, I found myself

to a comment from the US Attorney General that is the

thinking about how the countless entrepreneurs cau-

equivalent of a Hippies-Go-the-Fuck-Home sign.

tiously making their way in the evolving world of legal

The risks these dreamers take are very real. Operating

cannabis are forced to live and work in a kind of la-la

as a cash-only enterprise is nerve-racking in a safety

land themselves.

sense, and the compliance rules often seem designed

The courage and commitment required to navigate

specifically to sabotage. Meanwhile, Internal Revenue

this new cannabis frontier takes la-la land to a whole new

Code Section 280E basically says that any business

level, though. These risk-takers are doing all the things an

“trafficking in controlled substances”—

everyday entrepreneur would do, but they’re doing it in a

which on a federal level, marijuana

uniquely semi-legal environment, often with their very live-

still is, remember—cannot take

lihoods (and sometimes personal freedom) on the line.

any deductions.

In any realm, entrepreneurs push the planet forward.

They stimulate economic growth as they encourage change and create jobs. They innovate and revolutionize the way we do things. They further research and development, and they build foundations and legacies. And they do all of this while passionately pursuing their dreams.

Cannabis entrepreneurs aren’t just dreamers, though.

Cannabis entrepreneurs are doers.

26 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

DRE A MERS

hustle + scrape, strive + overcome, crash + burn, FA LL + FA LL +

FALL and keep

getting

up.

RICARDO BACA is a veteran journalist and the founder and original editor in chief of The Cannabist.

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

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 27

Try running your non-cannabis business with that kind

hours poring over case law. Dreamers who fill rooms

of restriction. Not a day goes by that someone some-

with easels and paint and joints and joy, and dreamers

where in the trade doesn’t wonder, “Is the government

who connect us all for cocktails and elaborately con-

going to go after us and shut us down?” It’s a real con-

ceived meals.

cern, especially with an anti-industry Trump administra-

These are the people I’ve met through my work in the

tion scrutinizing their every move with a magnifying glass.

industry, of course, but they’re also some of my closest

And then there’s the stigma that persists in por-

friends—people whom I’ve known for a decade-plus who

traying people in the biz as potheads with no ambition,

were previously lawyers and journalists. One of these

stinky stoners lying around in their parents’ basements

friends is the general counsel for an industry-leading

with no jobs or future prospects, rather than the exist-

cannabis brand in Colorado, a mild-mannered gent who

ing reality that members of the cannabis community

surprised himself when he ended up scoring a pub-

comprise some of the most successful and ambitious

lic-facing job for a large cannabis brand.

people in this country.

Another is a former colleague who left journalism

But despite these incessant hurdles, there are hun-

and Colorado behind as she moved to Oregon to grow

dreds of thousands of dreamers in the cannabis indus-

CBD-rich hemp in that state’s regulated market, where

try right now. Dreamers who get up at 5 a.m. to check

she has hit every snag imaginable, including being

CO2 levels, and dreamers who fall into bed at midnight

kicked out of a credit union, snubbed by neighbors, and

still covered in dirt and stinking of fish emulsion. Dream-

turned away by gardening centers that blatantly re-

ers who investigate cleaner options for extraction and

fused to sell things like drip irrigation tape and nutri-

less environmentally harsh nutrients. Dreamers who lob-

ent-dosing equipment to “pot farmers.”

by for more leeway, and dreamers who spend endless

28 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

And then there’s me, a longtime reporter and editor

who created what became an industry-leading canna-

But we also know that the payoff will propel us toward

bis news site—only to leave it behind in favor of creat-

a future where cannabis is accepted as a normal part

ing my own marijuana-centric content agency. I’m a

of our lives, and we celebrate the small and large victo-

storyteller by trade, and now my thought-leadership

ries—like the fact that 29 states and the District of

work with brands and executives provides me with the

Columbia currently have legal marijuana in some form,

A RE W E FO OL IS H ? NOT AT ALL.

ARE W E CRAZY ? PROBABLY. BUT WE AL SO KNOW THAT THE PAYOF F WILL PROPEL US TOWARD A FUTURE WHERE C ANNABIS IS ACCEPTED AS A NORMAL PART OF OUR LIVES, AND WE CELEBRATE THE SMALL AND L ARGE VIC TORIES.

opportunity to tell more of these compelling stories—

with seven states and D.C. offering expansive legaliza-

ensuring that these cannabis entrepreneurs are prop-

tion and some states decriminalizing the possession

erly connecting with their peers and their customers.

of small amounts of marijuana. So, here’s to the ones

Are we foolish? Not at all. Are we crazy? Probably.

that dream, all right. We’re here because they did.

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sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 31

{ediblecritic}

by J O H N L E H N D O R F F

E L A T G F F IN

A S T U sity r ules the sideable. tt D i ve r u r fe a s o l l i f t h at d i shes

that n inkling a t o g I ish l before h schoo g side d ig in h iv o g t s in k n ell nal Tha ead.

I was w traditio ubed br c a d t e o n lv o s v wa my sually in la sagna holes of uffing u y t b s b y u e c k r e t tu ed in th t my and tha sts tuck e table a a g r e f la t a s e d li n The ear ticut. ifts arou Connec ten in sh in a t e n e e r e m w s’ apart cranmemory dparent avy and n r a g r h g it n r w bo h for t turkey Sicilianasta dis sic roas p s d la e c k r a u b yo merlways a You had Polish-A re was a e e h h t T r . o e f c t u ie was and krau berry sa isters. P ielbasa s k ’s d n m a o s m an o of my ausage the Itali Italian s arried tw ’s m y il o h m a w f s all of it. ull of the ican guy a bowl f ad loved s D a n w r o s b a , involved Austrian fing. My f u t s o t and pota

32 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

JOHN LEHNDORFF writes Nibbles for the Boulder Weekly. He hosts Radio Nibbles on KGNU.

shop Nanna and Papa Mazzola emigrated to the US almost a hundred years ago. Family lore is that Nanna had never seen a turkey before, never mind a stuffing. She

& mash LOCALLY

About 50,000 acres in Colorado’s SAN LUIS VALLEY annually produce more than 2 billion pounds of Russets, Yukon Gold, various fingerlings, Colorado Rose, Kennebec, Purple Majesty, and many other potato varieties.

sought advice from a French-Canadian woman named Rose who lived down the hall. Rose suggested a meat

of the stuffing always gets me going—but then so do

and potato stuffing reminiscent of the filling in tourtière

the second and third as I tweak the spicing.

pork pies. My grandmother improvised using the fen-

This stuff transcends its humble ingredients, espe-

nel-and-chile-flake-spiced Italian sausage my grand-

cially in what we call the “bird stuffing” that exits the

father made downstairs in his Italian market. It was a

carcass infused with even more flavor and fat. The stuff

quintessentially all-American dish.

baked in a pie pan is good, but we regard that as back-

I’m not a hardcore traditionalist, but I observe cer-

up “dressing.” There are many Southerners who have

tain rituals that connect me directly to my ancestors

vigorously disagreed with me about that naming dis-

on the day before Thanksgiving. To make the stuffing, I

tinction. We have hotly debated the proper ingredients

use a pan I inherited from Nanna to boil the spuds and

for a stuffing, i.e., bread, cornbread, oysters … at least

a huge, old cast-iron skillet to fry the sausage. While I

until they taste my stuffing. I love it when there are two,

work, the soundtrack is usually the Grateful Dead’s

three, or more kinds of stuffing on the table.

three-disc Europe ’72 album. This was the music I loved

Some worry about the moistness of the turkey, wheth-

listening to when I first started making the stuffing on

er the white and dark meat is equally roasted and the

my own in college.

skin dark brown. Most of us care a lot more on the fourth

The a-ha moment in the process comes just after I combine the potatoes, meat, spices, butter, and broth

Thursday in November about what’s within the bird and the array of side dishes, from deviled eggs to dessert.

and start muscling the separate parts into the ideal

There are foodie snobs among my friends who would

mashed-but-not-totally-mushed state. The first taste

virtually ban green bean casserole and ambrosia “salad” sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 33

{ ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND POTATO }

STUFFING!

>> 5 to 6 pounds (approx.) Colorado red,

Yukon gold and/or Russet potatoes, peeled and chunked 4 pounds (approx.) bulk Italian sweet sausage (hot and/or mild) >>

>>

2 medium sweet yellow onions, minced

>>

3 or more large cloves garlic, minced

>>

½ pound butter (or more)

>>

Fresh ground black pepper, to taste

>>

Salt, to taste

1 tablespoon poultry seasoning or ground sage, to taste >>

>>

5 large cloves garlic, minced

>>

Turkey or chicken broth, as needed

Optional: minced fresh celery; minced fresh made with canned fruit, sweetened coconut, marsh-

fennel; ½ cup pine nuts; other herbs

mallows, and Dream (or Cool) Whip. I figure every single one of us sitting down at the feast deserves to enjoy the dishes that say “Thanksgiving” to them, whether it is caramelized Brussels sprouts with pecans, pomegranate, and pecorino or baked candied yams under a toasted marshmallow toupee. We set aside our omnipresent diet for one day a year and indulge.

Feel free to ignore the measurements in the following recipe. I change it from year to year and sometimes include celery, fennel, and pine nuts. I know folks who make this stuffing with chorizo instead of Italian sausage and add roasted green chilies and others who substitute crumbled tempeh and mushroom broth. Now it is their family’s traditional Thanksgiving stuffing, a fact that always amazed and amused my mom, who taught me how to make it.

This Thanksgiving, may your home be perfumed with spicy sausage and sage and graced with a brace of pies.

At this year’s feast, let us raise a toast in gratitude to the immigrants who got us here so we could gather around the table again. Lift another to the folks who grew and harvested the crops in Colorado and elsewhere.

34 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

THE METHOD I usually peel the Russets but not the thin-skinned Yukon Golds. Boil potatoes in plenty of water until barely tender, not mushy. Drain the spuds. (I save the potato water for making turkey soup a couple of days after Thanksgiving.) Mash the potatoes in a large pot over low heat while adding butter. Crumble sausage in a frying pan with onions and garlic (as well as celery and fennel, if using) and cook until light pink. Drain fat. Do not overcook spuds or sausage. They will cook again in the bird/oven.

In a large pan combine sausage and potatoes along with pepper and poultry seasoning. Add broth as needed to make the elements marry. Taste repeatedly to tweak the seasonings. This recipe can be made and refrigerated up to two days before the feast.

When it’s time, push stuffing deep into all the nooks and crannies on both ends and roast the bird as usual.

This stuffing freezes well and pleases mightily when it appears on a weeknight dinner plate sometime in the doldrums of January or serves as a griddled base for a change-of-pace eggs Benedict.

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 35

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{travelwell}

by CHRIS T INA DAVIES

ESCAPE ARTIST Get away from the over-the-top glitz of the Las Vegas Strip and explore the artistic side of Nevada.

The 4.5-mile stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard known

leagues, I hear comments like “I can only take it for so

around the world as simply the Strip, for all its glory, can

long before I need to escape.” The city is a lot to handle,

put all your senses in overdrive. The bustling thorough-

there’s no doubt, which can make extended travel there

fare is festooned with pleasure palaces and gleaming

far more draining than, say, a week in San Francisco—a

megaresorts where debauchery is on display 24/7, where

fact of which many business travelers are aware. In 2016,

sin is celebrated (unless that “sin” is smoking cannabis,

the city hosted close to 22,000 conferences, conven-

but that’s a different story).

tions, and trade shows that welcomed a total of 6 mil-

The Vegas of yore, one defined by bare-­breasted wom-

lion attendees. A good portion of those professional

en in big feathered headdresses, is all but gone, displaced

networkers no doubt spent their days manning booths

by havens of the utmost luxury, pinnacles of world-class

and their nights indulging in behavior that inspires the

entertainment, and more modern convention and meet-

clichéd battle cry of bachelorettes everywhere: what

ing space than you’ll find in any other US city.

happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. But that doesn’t mean

So often when discussing Vegas with friends and col38 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

that you need to stay in Vegas, too, should you find

­ you feel. And thanks to recent a revitalization, visiting downtown has become a staple of any Sin City stay.

To get there, head north on Las Vegas Boulevard past the official end of the Strip for 2.9 miles. Not exactly far but it is a world away, downtown is where the crazy­wonderfulness of Vegas began. Keep an eye out for Vegas Vic, the towering neon cowboy marquee that once marked the entrance to the long-gone Pioneer Club.

Today, the smoking icon marks the entrance to the overthe-top Fremont Street Experience, a pedestrian mall/ tourist bait that occupies the five westernmost blocks of Fremont Street.

Vegas’s second-most-famous thoroughfare used to be the most famous part of town. All the casinos—or at least most of the good ones—were on Fremont, a neon-lined corridor that earned it the nickname “Glitter Gulch.” Fremont is where a lot of Vegas history happened.

Vegas’s first hotel, telephone, paved street, gaming license, traffic light, elevator, and high rise were here.

Nowadays, it’s got another first: Viva Vision, the world’s largest video screen (shown to the left), at 1,500 feet long and 90 feet wide,. It’s suspended above a pedestrian walkway lined with casinos, shops, and dozens of restaurants. The whole Experience-with-a-capital-E is kitschy, yes, but don’t dismiss it. This is the birthplace of Vegas, and with a recent resurgence, it has gotten a lot busier and more boisterous in the past few years as visitors leave the Strip seeking spots that are less glam and more authentic than the big fancy resorts.

Amid the classic neon marquees, penny slots, and street performers are some spots you’ll want to see yourself in town on business with some time to kill.

and things you’ll want to do.

When you need to get away from the glitz and experience

First up, check out the Neon Museum and Boneyard,

the serene, Nevada has a lot more than neon lights to of-

which chronicles the history of Las Vegas through a

fer. The state is a grab bag of wonders, a glorious mix of

collection of glittering signs rescued from destruction.

the unfamiliar and the predictable. And just outside the

Then explore the impact organized crime has had on

gleaming confines of the Strip are reminders that the

Vegas at the nearby Mob Museum, steps off Fremont

world is full of remarkable and wonderful things to

Street. Fremont Street Experience gives you the oppor-

behold, if you take the time to find them.

tunity to zip-line from a two-story slot machine or splash through a shark tank. If that’s what you’re into,

D OW N T OW N V E GA S TRAVEL TIME :

Just a few minutes from the Strip

have at it. But if you want to see a softer, realer side of Las Vegas, it’s just around the corner.

Downtown Vegas feels like the Anti Strip. Or the an-

Fremont Street East has undergone a major trans-

tidote to the Strip, depending on how casino row makes

formation over the past five years, thanks in no small sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 39

15 minutes west of Las Vegas

part to the efforts of Zappos founder Tony Hsieh, a whiz

TRAVEL TIME :

of an entrepreneur with a knack for turning small start-

If you’re yearning to escape the Strip for a few mo-

ups into multinational forces by focusing on culture.

ments of respite in a serene space surrounded by nature

When Zappos’s headquarters relocated to downtown

where you can contemplate the lasting impact of artifice,

Vegas in 2013, Hsieh saw an opportunity to breathe new

you don’t have to go very far. Ten miles south of the in-

life into the area by approaching the making of a city

tersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and St. Rose Park-

much like he would a startup.

way, a large-scale public artwork by Swiss artist Ugo

He invested $350 million of his personal funds into

Rondinone sits just off the Interstate in the desert at

the area’s revitalization efforts, allocating it to people

a location physically and symbolically between the

and businesses that would provide not merely a return on investment but rather a ROC: return on community.

natural and the artificial, incorporating elements of both.

The efforts have resulted in more than a thousand new

weighing anywhere from 20,000 pounds to 25 tons,

jobs and over 165 new businesses.

stacked into seven hoodoo-like towers drenched in Day-

Seven Magic Mountains consists of 33 boulders

Glo. The colorful anomaly appears to either blend with

tainer Park, an open-air shopping center and entertain-

the natural landscape or pop against the desert back-

© SYDNEY MARTINEZ / TRAVEL NEVADA

A bunch of those are located within Downtown Con-

Downtown Container Park

drop, depending on the lighting and your perspective, which changes as you approach along Interstate 15.

Feel free to pull over and walk around to fully appreciate the mammoth scale of the gravity-defying balancSeven Magic Mountains © SYDNEY MARTINEZ / TRAVEL NEVADA

ment destination made out of 43 repurposed shipping containers. DCP now houses 39 shops, galleries, rest­ aurants, bars, and more, plus outdoor stages and entertainment areas with free live music every weekend. It’s located on Fremont Street, and it’s hard to miss: just look for the giant fire-breathing praying mantis sculpture.

You’ll also want to explore18B, the Las Vegas Arts

ing act that’s as much an engineering feat as a work of

District described as the closest thing the city has to a

art. The site-specific showcase—one of the largest

bohemian enclave. The name is a nod to the original 18

land-based art installations in the US in the last 40

blocks designated as part of the artsy spot. 18b is an

years—will be on view through May 2018.

urban mix of cultural, commercial, and residential spaces, including eclectic galleries and studios, shops, eateries, and bars. There’s a new Circulator Bus offering

G OL DW E L L OP E N A I R M US E U M TRAVEL TIME :

About two hours north of Vegas

free rides with stops at the major attractions of down-

The evocative landscape of the Amargosa Desert

town. Hop on, hop off, and see what the buzz is about

along the eastern edge of Death Valley National Park

at spots like the Velveteen Rabbit, a craft cocktail and

is a barren and lonely part of the world—and it’s just a

beer bar described as a “unique libation experience for

short drive away from the sensory overload of the Strip.

seekers of the beyond” that’s run by “witchy women”

Though the heat may be brutal, there’s a striking beau-

who will “elevate (and perhaps even levitate) your sens-

ty here. That beauty is what led to the creation of the

es, calling upon the cosmic and mystical forces.”

“un-museum” just outside Rhyolite, Nevada, a spec-

SE V E N M AGIC MOUNTA INS 40 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

tacular ghost town off the road leading to Death Valley,

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 41

California. It’s a short distance west of Beatty off State Route 374, basically in the middle of a literal nowhere.

VA L L E Y O F F I R E STATE PA R K TRAVEL TIME :

About an hour northeast of Vegas

Which is part of its intrigue. The monumental and some-

Want to see some ancient artwork? Head to this park,

what eerie sculptures scattered across the landscape

famous for its striking landscape and prehistoric rem-

are the other part. The artworks almost demand that

nants. The park is named for the bright red Aztec sand-

you question their origin: who created them, and why?

stone formations formed by shifting sand dunes 150

And, more importantly, why here?

million years ago. When the sun hits them just right, the

It started in 1984 when the late Belgian artist Albert

rocky outcrops appear to be aflame.

Szukalski began this self-described “art situation” with

The striking scenery has inspired people for millen-

the creation and installation of “The Last Supper,” a ma-

nia. Throughout the park—throughout all of Nevada,

jor sculpture featuring life-sized ghost figures posed as

in fact—2,000-year-old rock art petroglyphs are still

Christ and his Disciples as depicted by the Da Vinci paint-

visible. One of the most striking examples is found near

ing. In the subsequent decades, other prominent Belgian

the beginning of the Mouse’s Tank trailhead in this

artists joined Szukalski in the desert and created the co-

park. According to experts, this example is one of the

lossal on-site sculptures you’ll find within the vast upper

only to showcase human interaction. The figures de-

Mojave desert.

picted appear to be holding hands.

Today, the 15-acre outdoor sculpture park is open to

The oldest state park in Nevada, Valley of Fire earned

the public 24/7, and Goldwell remains a place for those

its designation in 1935. Today, it covers about 40,000

who are seeking adventure in their art making in a spec-

acres, and the Nevada Scenic Byway, Valley of Fire Road,

tacular and challenging landscape, according to its mis-

allows you to explore them by car.

sion statement.

There are also many intriguing trails throughout the park enticing hikers to get moving. For info on the best

Red sandstone formations at the Valley of Fire State Park

day hikes, stop by the visitor’s center. While you’re there, peruse the exhibits on the geology, ecology, prehistory, and history of a region that may be best known for being adjacent to Las Vegas but is so much more than that.

42 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 43

44 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 45

46 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

{aroundtown}

by STEPHANIE WILSON

HOME(MADE ) FOR THE HOLIDAYS Good things come from those who craft.

When we were younger, my sister and I had an annual holiday tradition: we’d put off shopping for gifts until the very last minute and then spend December 24 pleted bins and barren shelves in a rush to get to the registers before they closed.

It was always a stressful experience, and a gift-giving tactic we likely learned from our pilot father, who would swing by the jewelry store on his way home from the airport on Christmas Eve to buy matching sets of sparkling gifts for his family of girls.

© FANCY TIGER CRAF TS

running through shopping centers and malls frantically grabbing items from de-

While the procrastination method has ingrained itself in my way of life, my sister has managed to shake the wait-until-the-last-minute mentality. These days, she begins shopping for everyone on her list months in advance. I’ve gotten texts from her asking for my opinion on various funny t-shirts she was considering for our retired father as early as July in recent years. I mentioned that starting early must take so much of the stress out of the gifting process.

“Finding something thoughtful and fitting for everyone is stressful no matter how much time you have to make it happen,” she replied.

So this year, we’re taking a new path. We’re going to make the things we give to the people we care about.

We’re not crafty people, so this plan stretches us way outside our comfort zones, and we can’t promise that the results will be anything but cringeworthy. As someone with awful handwriting and the fine-motor skills of a horse (I mean, imagine trying to knit with hooves), I am entirely aware that whatever I craft might end up being the adult equivalent of the crayon drawing “proud” parents display on their fridges. sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 47

But I won’t let that stop me from trying. Our mission of making has a lot of purposes and benefits: * The gifts we create will be personal and one of a kind. What better to give to someone who has everything? * We’re stepping away from mindless consumerism. * Our crafting adventures are a way to connect with my sister during shared activities. * We’ll learn something new while having fun—

A R M K NIT T I NG 101 : GI A N T C OW L Fancy Tiger Crafts // Baker Neighborhood November 19 // $40 I’ve never knitted before, but when I saw the photo of the oversized scarf (the one on the previous page), I had to sign up for this class led by Anne Weil, author of Knitting Without Needles. I’ve been reassured that to be successful at arm knitting, all you need is a good attitude

and maybe discover hidden talents or unlock

and lots of bulky yarn. At Fancy Tiger, the schedule is

new passions. * According to a study published in the journal

of covetable items: hand-made blankets, finger-knit

Emotion, experiential purchases (and the money we’ll spend on the crafting classes falls into the

packed with classes that teach you how to craft all sorts statement necklaces, tote bags, knit hats, quilts, pajama pants—even dresses. FANCYTIGERCRAFTS.COM

“experiential consumption” category) inspire more gratitude than material purchases. Plus, thinking about the experiences leads to more subsequent altruistic behavior than thinking about possessions.

The study concludes that people are more grateful for what they’ve done than for what they have.

So really, our gift-making is a gift for ourselves.

It can also help us deal with the pressure of the busy season. Studies have found that crafting is a stress-re-

PROJECT S O C I A L Upstairs Circus // LoDo + DTC Daily // Starting at $37 This is the one I’m looking forward to most. At Upstairs Circus, patrons choose from a project menu that includes super cute items I can see a lot of my friends rocking with pride, from the Sassy Tassel Necklace to the Badass Leather Cuff. The projects fall into one of five categories: Baubles N Swag (jewelry), Art (nail-and-

lieving, mood-boosting, sadness-busting way to increase happiness, in part because it is an exercise in mindfulness.

A survey of knitters published in The British Journal of Occupational Therapy concluded that knitting made people feel happier—even those suffering from clinical depression. Another study, sponsored by the American Home Sewing & Craft Association, found that sewing activities help people relax so much it even lowers heart rates.

If you’re concerned that the people on your list may not be into something you make for them, there’s some © UPSTAIRS CIRCUS

science to disprove that theory. Carnegie Mellon University researchers recently discovered that while gift givers are torn over whether a sentimental or superficial offering is better, gift receivers favor thoughtfully handmade items.

The crafting community is huge all along the Front Range—and for once we’re not talking about craft beer.

When I began to research places and classes that could help us put our plan into action, I found dozens of options. We whittled down the list to the following activities and marked our calendars. Wish us luck.

48 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

string, distressed wood, and more), Home (stone-serving trays and the like), Libations (wine bottle tumblers, custom leather koozies), and Life-Styled (leather pet collar, luggage tags). Most creations take between one and three hours, depending on your skill level, how much

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 49

you socialize with other guests—and how many cocktails you order. Libations are known to lower inhibitions and increase creativity, after all, so the Circus has a full bar on offer complete with tasty concoctions and lite bites. We might even hit the Circus more than once this month. UPSTAIRSCIRCUS.COM

ready

MADE

IF YOU’RE NOT THE CRAF TING TYPE (OR IF YOU

PUFF, PASS & P O T T E R Y Denver // Fridays // About $70 Use cannabis to unlock our creative sides? Count us in.

This elevated offering from the Puff, Pass & Paint crew is led by established Denver potter Jessa Decker-Smith, who guides attendees through the process of making a clay ashtray or other simple piece using the colors and

WON’T HAVE TIME TO CREATE GIF TS FOR THE PEOPLE DURING THE HEC TIC SEASON), DON’T FRET: THERE’S NO SHORTAGE OF HOLIDAY MARKETS ALONG THE FRONT RANGE FEATURING I T E M S M A D E BY L O C A L A R T I SA N S . FRIENDS WILL LOVE WHAT YOU FIND. THE FUN YOU’LL HAVE FINDING THEM IS JUST A BONUS. L AKEWOOD ARTS GALLERY HOLIDAY CRAF T MARKET NOV. 3 // L AKEWOOD THE BOULDER HOLIDAY MARKET NOV. 4 // BOULDER THE HOLIDAY OLD HOUSE VINTAGE MARKET NOV. 10-11 // LOVELAND

glazes they choose. The class is BYOC (and/or B), and getting lifted is highly encouraged. [Full disclosure: the owner of Puff, Pass & Paint is one of my favorite people out there.] PUFFPASSANDPAINT.COM

DI Y WO OD S IGN WORKSHOP Board & Brush Creative Studio Boulder // Denver // Parker Various Dates // $65 What started as a girls-night-out with wine and crafts in someone’s basement in Wisconsin has turned into a nationwide network of 120 studios teaching groups woodworking techniques and skills. Our father’s decor trends toward rustic, so a custom piece made by his daughters will be a fitting addition. B&B will provide us the instruction, materials, and design so we can distress, sand, stain, paint, and customize a piece of art.

From the sound of it, the biggest challenge with this project will be selecting which design to attempt from 50 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

HOLIDAY ART MARKE T AT OLDE GOLDEN CHRISTMAS NOV. 10-DEC. 31 // GOLDEN URBAN HOLIDAY MARKE T NOV. 11 // DOWNTOWN DENVER DENVER HOLIDAY FOOD & GIF T FEST NOV. 17-19 // COMPLEX DENVER CHRISTKINDL MARKET NOV. 17-DEC. 23 // DOWNTOWN DENVER HORSESHOE MARKET NOV. 25-26 // HIGHLAND FIREFLY HOLIDAY MARKET NOV. 18-19 // BOULDER DENVER FLEA DEC. 1-3 // LOCATION STILL SECRET AT PRESS TIME THE SWEET WILLIAM HOLIDAY MARKET DEC. 2-3 // STAPLETON

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 51

the gallery of custom graphics, ranging from trending to timeless, at BOARDANDBRUSH.COM

M A KE YOUR OW N ORNAMENT WORKSHOP Furnace Glassworks // Lakewood Various Dates // Starting at $35 Every year, my brother gives my sister and me special keepsake ornaments for Christmas. This is our chance to return the favor—and one-up him by making it ourselves. (Oh, sibling rivalry is real.) This seasonal class is pretty basic, and it’s billed as a safe, family-friendly opportunity to experience the ancient art of glass blowing. After going over some safety info and an intro to the equipment and terminology, we’ll pick out our colors and make our ornaments under the guidance of an instructor. Feel-good bonus: 10 percent of all booking fees and sales during “Ornament Extravaganza” days are donated to creativity and art programming at Brown Elementary and The Boys School of Denver.

FURNACEGLASSWORKS.COM

MACR A M E WA LL H A NGI NG S Craftsman Apprentice // City Park West November 12 // $75 In this three-hour beginner’s macramé workshop, we’ll learn several knots and techniques for creating a unique wall hanging that’s so on trend right now, I fear I will want to hang it on my wall more than I’ll want to give it away. The class starts with a brief lesson on the history of the art of tying knots in patterns and then delves into the crafting process using a cotton cord and wooden dowels. Brunch and mimosas are a festive plus. The adult class lineup at this chic maker-­space also includes all sorts of classes teaching how to make everything from woven necklaces and spoon carvings to pie crusts and modern paper quillings. There’s even a class dedicated to weaving as meditation—a great excuse to take a pause and reflect on the meaning of the crazy holiday season.

CRAFTSMANAPPRENTICE.COM

52 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 53

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by LELAND RUCKER

REPORT 58 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

Can SIN CIT Y handle one more LEGAL VICE?

SPECIAL

OVER THE DECADES,

Las Vegas,

THAT GLEAMING EMERALD CIT Y IN THE

DESERT, HAS SHONE A BE ACON ON INIQUITY AND TRANSGRESSION. GAMING? THEY GOT IT COVERED. PROSTITUTION? THEY CAN REGULATE IT. VICE? ARE YOU KIDDING? AND NOW ADULTS CAN POSSESS AND PURCHASE CANNABIS, A SUBSTANCE THAT HAS ALWAYS LINGERED AROUND THE EDGES. LIKE PROSTITUTION, WHICH IS LEGAL IN SOME NEVADA COUNTIES, CANNABIS IS ALSO BANNED ON A FEDERAL LEVEL. CAN VEGAS ADD ONE MORE INIQUITY TO ITS ALREADY REGULATED SINS?

As if to up the ante on itself, the state opened its recreational shops July 1, just less than eight months after Question 2 passed with 55 percent voter approval in 2016 and beating the original target date by six months. And in this case, what happens in Vegas is not staying there. Entrepreneurs are putting their chips on the state’s booming sin-tourist trade and its history of regulation to make marijuana another tool in Nevada’s box of iniquities.

The TOUR I S T Trade and P O T on the S TR IP

It’s not like Colorado, Washington, Oregon and California aren’t tourist destinations. The Colorado Tourism Office reported that 30 million tourists visited Denver in 2016. The difference is that Colorado’s economy, like the others, is more diverse and not as dependent on tourism. The state’s population of 5.5 million dwarfs Nevada’s 2.9 million, with about two-thirds residing in the Las Vegas Valley.

Leslie Bocskor is CEO of Electrum Partners, a consulting firm for cannabis businesses, and he thinks the state is doing things correctly. “In Nevada, they said, ‘let’s do it fairly, slowly, the right way,’” he explains. “The difference between Nevada and the other states is that we have the opportunity to show 45 million international tourists from all over the world what a legal, well-regulated market looks like. That’s why we’ve been diligent.” sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 59

The biggest problem facing tourists is one familiar to Coloradans.

We’re almost four years into legalization here, and the state hasn’t come close to figuring out how to allow public consumption. Like here, the only legal places to use it are private homes and hotels/B&Bs that allow it. And it’s prohibited on the Strip, and in or around casinos.

Heather Azzi of the Marijuana Policy Project helped write and pass Question 2. “It leaves tourists in a tough position, left with no place to consume. Regulation is definitely needed. The Legislature has made an attempt, and I expect them to revisit it.”

“We need clubs, lounges and smoking areas at festivals, rodeos, carnivals, Burning Man,” Bocskor says. “There are places to go to smoke cigarettes and drink beer, and there should be a place for people to use it.” He adds only half jokingly, “If we have more people smoking pot at

these events, we will have fewer incidents of violence, better managed events, and participants will eat more food.”

Sean Luze, CEO of NuLeaf, which operates dispensaries in Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas, says all budtenders advise people about the rules and restrictions on public consumption. Still, he says, it’s not like people haven’t learned how to use cannabis without attracting attention. “People have spent decades to find places to consume,” he adds, “and that will continue.”

Not surprisingly, since they emit vapor rather than smoke, vaporizers have become popular items, and the edibles market is booming and expected to continue since it’s the most discrete way to use cannabis without detection or bothering anybody else. “We’re expecting a boost in edibles, especially in Vegas,” says Jamie Schau of the Brightfield Group, which does market research and analysis for the industry. “And at the end of the day, people will find a way around it, just like they always have.”

Gov. Brian Sandoval, like Colorado’s John Hickenlooper, has come out publicly against any kind of consumption lounges, at least for now, arguing that allowing them might attract federal attention and possible intervention. Apparently disagreeing, the state’s Legislative Counsel Bureau ruled in September that nothing in the language of Question 2 disallows public consumption, and that individual counties should be left to decide whether to allow it and what the rules would be. At press time, none have done that.

60 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

Regulating S IN

Derek Peterson, CEO of Terra Tech Corp, a cannabisfocused cultivator, says that allowing counties to create their own regulations has helped the state move more quickly. “The way we operate in Vegas and the way we operate down the road is entirely different,” he says. The state also originally limited permits to medical businesses already in operation to help ease conversion to recreational sales. “Nevada does a good job of regulating and being friendly to entrepreneurs.

They listened to the industry and let people make suggestions.”

The state’s successful history of controlling other-

wise suspect activities is a big part of the cannabis gamble in Vegas, says Mark Zobrist of Friday Night Inc., a licensed cultivator and CBD infused-product company in the city. “It is used to regulating industries that need control, and it applied the same philosophy to cannabis. The state has been a model for inspections, control, and regulations. That’s different from most other states that don’t have a regulatory background. It’s organized and able to do it.”

Schau admits this is still pretty much new territory for everyone involved, and that regulation is complicated. The recreational industry is overseen by the Nevada Department of Taxation; the medical industry by the Health and Human Services department. “You have

the STATE’S

SUCCESSFUL

HISTORY of

CONTROLLING

OTHERWISE

SUSPECT ACTIVITIES is a BIG PART of the VEGAS

CANNABIS

And it instituted a rigorous testing program for med-

GAMBLE.

ical and recreational products. Currently, in Colorado,

ceptable side of draconian, which is what we want,”

only recreational products are tested.

Bocskor admits. “And as a result, our crops are not con-

politics to deal with, and we’re moving quickly to come up with all the rules,” she says. “A lot of states don’t realize the complexity.”

Nevada allows out-of-state applicants to apply for licenses, something Colorado still doesn’t permit.

“The testing regimen is regarded as just on the ac-

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 61

taminated. We’re producing thousands of pounds of

sand feet of the Strip. Smoking is prohibited in most

the cleanest cannabis in the world, and nobody is hav-

hotel rooms, although several people say the smell of

ing a hard time doing it the right way.”

cannabis often lingers in casinos and hotels. This

Early news stories about legalization in Nevada centered around long lines at dispensaries and a short-

month’s Marijuana Business Conference and Expo is being held at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

age of product. Originally, alcohol distributors were

Casino reaction has been much like larger banks

given exclusive rights to move cannabis products from

avoiding dealing with cannabis companies in legal

grows to production facilities to dispensaries, the

states. The Cole Memo, issued by the Department of

CANNABIS is

Justice in 2015, said banks would be allowed to do

NOT ALLOWED

in CASINOS or HOTELS. RETAIL SHOPS are NOT ALLOWED within a

THOUSAND FEET

of the STRIP.

business with cannabis companies under certain restrictions, but few opted to, with most claiming they were still afraid of prosecution. To end all discussion, Nevada gaming commissioners in August announced that as long as marijuana remains a Schedule I drug, gaming licensees aren’t allowed to conduct business with any entity that promotes cannabis.

Nobody was willing to speculate on how long it will take, but that will change. “Eventually you will see flower girls with pre-rolls, like bottle service on the Strip,” says Peterson. “It’s just a matter of time, but that’s what Nevada does well. I’ve been around the world, and the best services, from a macro standpoint, are in Vegas.

It’s a city built on service, not like other markets.”

CALIF ORNI A

and the F UT URE

When California’s recreational market comes online Jan. 1, everybody is expecting more changes, but beyond taking away some Nevada business, most see it as a positive. “When you have a big state, the sixth

reasoning being that they already had the infrastruc-

largest economy in the world, legal, it’s gonna be a

ture in place to do the job.

game changer,” says Luze. “But so many people will

But as the deadline for shops to open approached, few distributors stepped up, and the state put in place

be able to see how orderly it is and that there are no problems. It will help the support for legalization.”

emergency measures that allowed others to distrib-

All this talk of tourists and making the world sit up

ute product. And state regulators rejected an alcohol

and take notice of Vegas made me wonder about regu-

distributors’ lawsuit against new rules that now al-

lar Nevadans. Foster Boone is director of operations for

low pot companies to transport product.

the Apothecarium shop in Las Vegas. “Our dispensary

The CASINO Quandry

80 percent of our customers are locals. They like canna-

gest point of contention will be between casinos and the

gally. People like cannabis no matter where they live.”

At this point, and at least for the near future, the big-

is about a ten or 15-minute drive off the Strip, so about bis, too, and there are plenty of benefits to buying it le-

cannabis industry. Cannabis is not allowed anywhere in

What I found is that, like perhaps anybody heading

casinos or their hotels, even to the point of not letting

for Vegas, the industry, regulators, and legislators are

cannabis conventions or expos to be held in casinos.

betting on Nevada becoming a model for legal canna-

One owner, Sheldon Adelson, CEO of the Sands, contrib-

bis. “These little bumps happen,” says MPP’s Azzi. “It’s

uted five million dollars to try and defeat Question 2.

a new market. We haven’t done this before except in

But the reality is deeper than simple opposition to cannabis. Retail shops are not allowed within a thou-

62 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

a handful of states. It’s good that people are learning from other people.”

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 63

64 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 65

by

ROBYN GRIGGS L AWRENCE

HIR ING How NOT TO get a job in the CANNABIS INDUSTRY.

FINDING

your place

IN THE COLORADO CANNABIS INDUSTRY CAN BE

A LONG AND WINDING ROAD. IN A DYNAMIC ATMOSPHERE, WITH REALIT Y SHIF TING ALMOST DAILY, IT HELPS TO BE SELF-MOTIVATED AND READY TO DON A FEW HATS YOU NEVER THOUGHT A B O U T I N O R D E R TO M A K E I T W O R K .

Nothing on the Irie Weddings & Events website sug-

ing edibles manufacturer Wana Brands, is constantly

gests the Colorado-based company is hiring, but own-

amazed at how many people wanna job at Wana. Among

er Bec Koop gets a good handful of emails from job

those who submit a decent résumé and cover letter with

seekers every week. That’s not terribly surprising, giv-

the company’s name spelled right and make the cut for

en that Koop’s company is the leader of a glamorous

an interview, a shocking number ask a question that

niche in the country’s fastest-growing industry and

takes Whiteman aback every time.

shows up on the reg in major media venues like News-

“They will ask me, ‘Do you think working in the can-

week and CNBC. What is surprising is how many of

nabis industry will hurt my résumé long-term?’” White­

those emails are written with terrible grammar and a

man says, then pauses. “I tell them, ‘That’s a decision

clear disdain for punctuation and spellcheck. The best

you need to make on your own.’”

one ever simply had “ R u …” in the subject line and

They don’t get the job.

“hiring?” as the message.

“Are you kidding me?” Koop says. “How lazy are you?”

“THAT’S NOT KARMA. THAT’S POOR PLANNING.”

Salwa Ibrahim, executive director of Blum Oakland,

Anyone who has been building a career in cannabis

a retail medical cannabis dispensary in Oakland, Cal-

for any amount of time—and for an industry born less

ifornia, may be able to top that. She and her staff have

than two decades ago, five years is a lifetime—is inun-

been saving “Hall of Fame” applications since Blum

dated with daily requests from friends, acquaintances,

opened in 2012. The winner? “This is a great job for

and, most of all, social media followers for advice about

me, I think, because it seems to be a very chill job, and

how to break in, even though every mainstream media

as a stoner, this would be ideal.” A picture of the appli-

outlet from Forbes to CBS has done that piece.

cant smoking a joint is included.

Nancy Whiteman, co-owner of Colorado-based lead66 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

They have a great idea for a project (but never say what it is), would love to “pick your brain” over coffee

Get in it for the money.

“There’s a perception that we’re all printing dollars in the back room and that’s going to flow through to everyone we hire,” says Wana founder Nancy Whiteman.

“The truth of the matter is, we have to watch costs and margins like any other business—perhaps more so.”

Write “looking for work” or “seeking opportunities” as your main identifier on LinkedIn and other career networking sites.

Let people know what you’re great at and be specific about what you want.

Post a cannabis leaf instead of your photo on social media profiles and/or call yourself anything resembling Dank or Dabby.

Call yourself a “lifestyle brand.”

Nobody knows what that means.

Parade your problems, personal or otherwise, in front of professionals on social media.

Relentlessly stalk potential employers and mentors online and in person.

If and when you do meet your prey, bitterly tell them, “I emailed you.”

Show up for an interview wearing flip flops and smoking a joint.

It happens surprisingly often, says Simply Pure CEO Wanda James. “Would anyone go to an interview at Coors with flip flops and a beer in their hand? You wouldn’t do it. So why would you come to us thinking, they get high, they’ll be cool with it?

No. I am not.”

Show off your extensive knowledge of growing, selling, or consuming cannabis.

“Somebody who thinks they know everything will be difficult to train,” says Blum Oakland executive director Salwa Ibrahim.

Use slang terms for cannabis.

“At this point, it should be common knowledge that the word marijuana was formed as a racially motivated tactic.

There’s no excuse for it in an industry built on activism against the drug war,” says Cultivated Synergy and Harvest 360 co-founder Sebastian Nassau.

DO NOT make stoner jokes.

It’s 2017.

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 67

(because you have nothing better to do and just love a good brain pick­ ing), or want to know more about what you’re doing (a backward way of finding out if you’re hiring and a dis to all the work you’ve put into your LinkedIn profile and social media posts).

Jane West has seen it all. Last year, West left Women Grow, the net­ working and education organization she founded in 2014, to focus on her luxury cannabis accessories business, Jane West Enterprises. When West started her first cannabis company, Edible Events, in 2013, her search

“I LOVE PEOPLE,

I love weed,

I LOVE LIFE,

I’m artsy.”

NO.

JUST NO.

for other cannabis companies on LinkedIn yielded less than 10 pages of listings. Today there are more than 2,900 pages, and Jane—whose profile describes her as “the most widely recog­ nized female personality in can­ nabis”—has well over 11,000 fol­ lowers. Every day, one or more of those connections contacts West without any clear idea of what they actually want.

“They’re reaching out to the world to see what happens,” West says. “That’s not karma. That’s poor planning.”

If West responded to all the inqui­ ries she receives from multiple plat­ forms, she would do nothing else. Last year, she told a Women Grow gathering in Boulder she was responding only to people who could help her raise a million dollars. She was only half joking. If you want the busy en­ trepreneur’s attention, you’d bet­ ter shoot straight: define what you want in one sentence, don’t kiss too much ass, and in­ clude a signature with a personal photo recogni­ zable across social me­

68 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

dia platforms.

Kendal Norris, who fields constant inquiries as the

your career, change your industry.”

owner of Mason Jar Events Group, a company that draws

“Many candidates are super excited about cannabis

people from all over the world to Colorado for cannabis

and about the cannabis industry. That’s awesome. So

food and yoga pairings, has had it with job and advice

am I. So is everybody,” says Humiston. “But like any

seekers who aren’t paying attention. They send résumés

industry, like any job, companies are looking for what

that “look ridiculous,” Norris says, and can’t follow sim-

you bring to the table outside of being passionate.”

ple instructions. She’ll send an email offering someone

Maureen McNamara, who teaches safe, responsible

15 minutes within a two-hour time window, and they will

practices to cannabis professionals through her com-

inevitably block out the entire two hours.

pany, Cannabis Trainers, is appalled at how many peo-

“I’m not having a two-hour meeting with you,” Norris says. “I don’t even know you.”

ple tell her they’ll do “anything, just anything” to get into the business. “That’s ridiculous,” she says. “I can’t introduce a job seeker to a potential opportunity with,

“I LOVE PEOPLE, I LOVE WEED, I LOVE LIFE, I’M ARTSY.”

‘This person will do anything.’ It’s not a winning plan.”

It never works for Koop, who was deeply insulted

Far too many people—like the Blum Oakland job ap-

when a job applicant said she didn’t care what Irie

plicant whose résumé read “I love people, I love weed, I

Weddings & Events did because she just wanted to

love life, I’m artsy”—don’t understand that breaking into

work in the cannabis industry. “I was like, how dare

the cannabis industry requires more than being crazy

you,” Koop says. “We’ve busted our asses to build this

for chronic. Candidates hurt themselves when they

business. Would you apply like that to any other job?”

go on at length about how cannabis saved their grand-

The “pick-me” attitude is a shame, McNamara adds,

mother’s life while failing to even mention how their

because the industry can accommodate “almost every

professional skills could move a company forward, says

type of talent that exists in the world” if job seekers

Karson Humiston, CEO of leading cannabis industry

are specific about their aptitudes and desires.

staffing agency Vangst Talent, whose motto is “keep

Kara Janowsky, who worked in dispensaries before

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 69

she founded Hired Productivity, a bookkeeping, accounting, and office administration company for cannabis businesses, says too many people aim low when breaking into the industry. “You don’t necessarily need to go for the minimum-wage budtending job, especially if you have a degree and a specialized education,” she says.

“It’s a very, very long road if you start from the bottom.”

Conversely, says Sebastian Nassau, co-founder of cannabis networking hub Cultivated Synergy and business development firm Harvest 360, an inflated view of what you bring to the table will get you nowhere.

“Having a home grow doesn’t translate into commercial cultivation with potentially tens of thousands of plants. An Instagram model is not a social media expert simply because that person has amassed a following,” Nassau says.

“TRADE A JOB FOR A JAR OF SEEDS?” If cannabis IS your area of expertise, selling your decades of experience—especially in cultivation— can be tricky. Vangst Talent lead developer Mike Olson, who created a job board that serves as a “safe zone” for cannabis companies and job candidates, points out that “some companies don’t want to know that you’ve

70 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

BE professional BECAUSE IT IS A

PROFESSION.

you care about, not that you just want to make money.”

The prevalent belief that everyone in cannabis is making bank—laughable to insiders—has inevitably brought gold diggers, business owners, and executives who don’t consume and are clearly in it for the coin.

They don’t sit well with industry veterans like Jan­ owsky, who has watched moneygrubbers come and go since she was president of Students for Sensible Drug Policy at the University of Colorado in 2009 and then founded the Boulder Women Grow chapter in 2014.

“The culture surrounding this industry is not very prone to accepting that,” Janowsky says. “It’s a good idea to at least recruit a team member who has exten­ sive knowledge of the industry and make some effort to learn our lingo and specifics.”

Koop is more straightforward. “We can’t have you on our team,” she says, “if you don’t even understand the lingo.”

“THE IN-AND-OUT GUYS ARE COMING …” been growing weed illegally in your basement for the past 20 years.”

McNamara can spot people who could care less about the cannabis plant’s wellness and healing benefits and

Huminger advises applicants to withhold that in-

are strictly interested in “the potential or perceived fi­

formation because “companies that come from tradi-

nancial windfall” a mile away. As soon as she senses

tional industries are uninterested in people who are

they’re in that camp, she says, “I just dissuade them.”

bragging that they were a criminal.”

People often weed themselves out with their own

Flaunting your illegal activity puts cannabis business

bad ideas. Philip Wolf, owner of Cultivating Spirits, a pre­

owners, who spend countless hours and thousands of

mier tour company offering cannabis pairing events and

dollars ensuring they comply with laws, in an awkward

dinners in Colorado, recalls a recent conversation with

spot. Ibrahim tells of another Blum Hall of Famer, a

someone he thought was a potential investor, a man

grower of some experience who sent a long list of the

who seemed to be getting it as Wolf described Cultivat­

reasons he hasn’t been able to get a job in the industry,

ing Spirits’ elegant multicourse dinners designed to

including an abysmal credit score and a host of person-

gently introduce the mainstream to cannabis’s healing

al problems. He ended by offering “a nice jar of seeds.”

benefits. Then the guy laid out his own vision of Wolf’s

“Is he proposing I trade him a job for a jar of seeds?”

guests: blissful from indulging in fine food, wine, and

Ibrahim asks in disbelief. “I don’t know how to work

cannabis, they board the bus, settle in, and pick up the

with that.”

strippers.

Wolf realized the guy could care less that his idea

“THE EQUIVALENT OF HAVING A VEGAN WORK AT A STEAKHOUSE.”

was miserably wrong for Cultivating Spirits’ clientele.

This non-investor figured that guests who spend $200

On the flip side, says Wanda James, CEO of Simply

on a cannabis-paired dinner would easily throw down

Pure, a popular Denver dispensary and edibles man-

another $250 on Crystal and Candy. When Wolf ex­

ufacturer, nothing is more bizarre than people who

pressed dismay at the idea, the man explained that he

don’t consume cannabis seeking a job with her com-

was an “in-and-out guy,” someone who “goes in, gets

pany. “ It’s the equivalent of having a vegan work at a

the money, and gets the fuck out.”

steakhouse,” she says. “It doesn’t make sense.”

“That’s exactly what is wrong with our industry right

James does not hire non-imbibers, period. “We’re so

now,” Wolf says. “The in-and-out guys are coming in,

early in this that everybody who works for me has to

trying to make a buck, and aren’t in this for the bigger

be about the movement in some way, shape, or form,”

picture. But those are also the people who are not last­

she says. “Show me something in this industry that

ing in the cannabis industry.” sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 71

72 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 73

by LEL AND RUCKER

Bluegrass-fueled Americana. The progressive Colorado-based outfit has built a lasting legacy through energetic and exciting live shows.

74 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

Yonder Mountain STRING BAND drops a new album — and its OWN STRAIN.

THE YONDER

MOUNTAIN STRING BAND

JUST CELEBRATED ITS 19TH YEAR, AND THE COLORADO - BASED BLUEGRASS Q U I N T E T I S R I D I N G H I G H .

THE GROUP IS INTRODUCING A BRAND - NEW ALBUM, LOVE. AIN’T LOVE, TO ITS AUDIENCES AROUND T H E C O U N T R Y. O H, A N D T H E R E ’S WILD BLUE YONDER, A CANNABIS STRAIN CREATED AND NAMED ESPECIALLY FOR THE BAND. Guitarist Adam Aijala told me recently that he thinks there’s still a lot of music left in this ensemble. “The creativity is still there,” he says. “I see no reason to stop what we’re doing. If I thought it was stagnant, I would, but we’re in a kind of resurgence right now.”

Yonder Mountain includes, besides Aijala on guitar, original members Ben Kauf­mann on bass and Dave Johnston on banjo, as well as Allie Kral on fiddle and Jake Jolliff on mandolin. Kral and Jolliff officially joined the band in 2015 after original member Jeff Austin left.

The infusion provided by the two, who are respectively seven and ten years younger than Austin, made the group multigenerational. Aijala says this has helped spike its rebirth.

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 75

“We feel like the more you play, the more gigs you get under your belt, the more comfortable you get with each other,” Aijala says. “Now it feels really easy onstage. At first, I felt like I had to do more orchestrating when things were going to happen. Now, on open jam sections, we’ll start a GRIND Load herbs into the top chamber and grind down manually.

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breakdown, and it’s just wide open.”

That “wide-open” approach to performance has kept the band admired in both bluegrass and jam-band circles, and Yonder is a fixture at music festivals and high-profile venues like Denver’s Red Rocks, which the group packed again late this summer. Yonder is part of a contemporary bluegrass scene that keeps adding new twists to a music that has endured for decades on the stages of America. Interestingly, given their profile, Aijala considers Yonder an underground group because it basically operates outside the music business hierarchy, releasing records on its own label and touring roughly half the year.

“If we had a sound that the masses could get behind, meaning pop music, it might make more sense to have a record label and push your album that way,” Aijala explains. “For all intents and purposes, we are a bluegrass band, and it just doesn’t make sense.”

Aijala’s personal musical journey might help explain the band’s widely eclectic approach to bluegrass. “Of course, there was the music my parents had on the record player, then pop radio and [ American Top For-

ty host] Casey Kasem,” he says, “ but the stuff that stuck was the Beatles, and Jimi Hendrix, too. We had those two Beatles albums, the one with the blue cover and the red one, and we played those a lot. I liked the Animals, and I got into the Turtles, the Four Seasons. There was some cool stuff there.”

As a teenager in the 1980s, he couldn’t get away from the MTV-influenced pop music on the radio. “But my older sister went to high school before me and got me into punk: the Clash, Sex Pistols, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Minutemen, Misfits,” he says. “Even now, they are among my favorite bands, as much as Pink Floyd or the Dead.”

Aijala started playing guitar at 13, mostly punk and heavy metal riffs.

On stage at Red Rocks.

76 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 77

Surrounded by the girls of Wild Blue Yonder.

He discovered cannabis in between his junior and senior years of high school, at about the same time he first heard bluegrass band Old and In the Way, the influential progressive group that featured “new-grass” icons David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Vassar Clements, and Jerry Garcia.

That led him to folk rock, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young, and ultimately to bluegrass originators like Doc Watson, Norman Blake, and the McCourys. “I could see the correlation between bluegrass and punk,” he says. “The same short songs and high energy, but without amplifiers.”

Listening to Love. Ain’t Love is an intimate experience. You kind of feel like you’re sitting amongst the members of Yonder Mountain as they make the record. They chat between songs, and at one point, at the end of an instrumental titled “Kobe the Dog,” you hear Kobe barking. Most of the tracks, especially “Alison” and “Bad Taste,” are just irresistibly catchy.

“Groovin’ Away” glides over a gentle, reggae rhythm, while the light, jazzy “Take a Chance on Me” plays off a misbehaving metronome.

Though Yonder Mountain does a wide selection of covers in its live show, Aijala says the band has generally used its records to showcase the individual member’s own songwriting. They broke with tradition by including a version of the Buzzcock’s “Ever Fallen in Love,” a nod to their punk sensibilities, on 2015’s Black Sheep album. Love. Ain’t Love features their interpretation of another 1970s hit, King Harvest’s “Dancing in the Moonlight,” already an onstage favorite.

Could there be a better song for an outdoor concert on a warm evening? From its opening riff, it practically begs you to get on your feet.

“We get it on most every night/When that moon is big and bright/It’s a supernatural delight/Everybody’s dancin’ in the moonlight.”

“We always got a good crowd response on that one,” Aijala says. “But the thing is that we like to stretch it out and jam. A cover is just perfect 78 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

for us to jam out on.”

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 79

Besides Love. Ain’t Love, the band is also celebrating the release of Wild Blue Yonder, its own craft cannabis strain. Aijala, who lives in Boulder, is a regular shopper at The Farm dispensary. The band had earlier partnered with Boulder’s Mountain Sun brewpub to release its own local craft beers, Yonder Mountain Ale and Yonder Mountain Stout, so they decided to do the same with a local craft cannabis blend. Carter Casad, who does genetics research and development for The Farm, came up with a sativa hybrid that everybody felt represented the feel-

OUR DISPOSABLE VAPE PENS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR BOTH MEDICAL PATIENTS AND RECREATIONAL CUSTOMERS

ing of the band. It registers at about 24-28 percent THC. It’s a potent strain with a good sativa kick and the scent of a forest of mountain pines as the buds crumble in your fingers. “The mother was Alpha Blue, one of our biggest sellers,” Casad says. “The other one was

WILD BLUE YONDER is a potent strain

with a GOOD SATIVA KICK and the scent of a forest of MOUNTAIN PINES as the buds CRUMBLE IN YOUR FINGERS. Ghost Trainwreck Haze #9, which is one of our most highly potent strains. The Alpha Blue calms down the racy sativa effects without the paranoia that can come with Ghost.”

The Farm created a Facebook page with a contest that offered fans chances at free concert tickets in exchange for name suggestions. Hundreds sent in submissions, and the Wild Blue Yonder strain went on sale in August. It was a big hit at the end-of-summer Red Rocks show.

The strain, the album, and the touring are all just part of the Yonder Mountain evolution according to Aijala, who says the band is determined to continue making music the way they’re doing it now. “I don’t want to change our sound to be more well-known,” he admits, although judging from audience reactions, he doesn’t need to worry. “The fact that I can sustain myself and save some money, that’s a win.”

SALES@THEDABSLABS.COM 80 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 81

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sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 83

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

1906 NE W HIGH S

Fast Love 1 906 U S E S S C I E N C E TO DE L I V E R A B E T T E R E D I B L E E X PE R IE N C E .

Everybody likes the idea of edibles, but the reality hasn’t lived up to expectations as an alternative to

bromine, and L-theanine, a green tea extract that can balance the caffeine jitters.

smoking or vaping. You are never sure how long it will

The Midnight offering blends a relaxing indica with

take to feel the full effect, how strong an edible will

corydalis, a Chinese herb used to treat insomnia.

be, or how long the experience will last. Then, there is

1906’s Pause is designed to aid calmness, and High

that taste. These and other edible roadblocks prompt-

Love boosts sensuality. This appeals to health-conscious

ed Wall Street veteran Peter Barsoom to found 1906,

consumers who eat functional foods and take nutri-

a Denver-based company producing fine chocolates

tional supplements.

infused with cannabis and other botanicals.

In the past, if you wanted a smaller dose of an edi-

EDIBLES :

You are never sure how long it will take to feel the full effect, how strong an edible will be, or how long the experience will last.

Then, there is that taste.

The first hurdle was the unmistakable earthy flavor

ble, you ate a portion and guessed at the amount.

of cannabis. “Edibles need to taste great. We sourced

Most edibles are high dose and contain the legal lim-

the highest-quality chocolate and natural and organ-

it: 10 milligrams. Each piece of 1906’s chocolate pro-

ic ingredients and worked with food scientists and a

vides 5 milligrams of THC combined with 5 milligrams

master chocolatier using taste-masking applications

of CBD for cannabis’ beneficial entourage effect.

to eliminate most of the pot/hash-y flavor,” Barsoom

“Edibles needed to be faster-acting and more pre-

says. Edibles have had a generalized effect on users and

dictable. We use a process that micro-encapsulates

have not been tuned to specific needs. “Many people

CBD and THC molecules so they aren’t destroyed by

use cannabis to feel a particular effect. If you don’t want

the stomach and get it into the bloodstream faster.

to inhale, the choices have been limited,” he says.

The result is a much more dialed-in experience,” Bar-

Each of 1906’s four varieties are infused with single

soom says.

strains known for having a particular effect, combined

1906 is named after the year Congress passed the

with other psychoactive botanicals. For instance, the Go

Wiley Act labelling cannabis as a dangerous substance.

variety enhances alertness and energy. The product in-

“We want to bring cannabis back to where it was be-

fuses chocolate with a sativa strain plus caffeine, theo-

fore a failed century of prohibition,” he says.

84 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 85

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

BAKER T E CHNOLOGIES

High Tech P ROV ING A D O S E O F DATA C A N Y IELD R E TA I L H I G H S .

There was a time when finding success as a Colorado cannabis retailer was simple: Open the shop, and they will come.

you can order online and pick it up quickly at the store,” Sklarin says.

Online ordering has become a bigger piece

“Now that the business in Colorado is maturing, with

of the cannabis business. “It makes it more con-

multiple outlets in many towns offering similar prod-

venient for customers who are used to brows-

ucts to customers, it’s become harder for dispensa-

ing online. Our research shows that customers

ries to differentiate themselves, so it’s the shopping

who order online spend 40 percent more per

experience that matters,” says Eli Sklarin, director of

transaction,” Sklarin says.

marketing at Baker Technologies.

Baker’s tablet devices are used to gather cus-

The rapidly growing company produces industry-

tomer information at events as well as in the dis-

specific software that helps dispensaries connect with

pensaries. When customers sign up for the loyal-

their customers and bring cannabis retailing out of

ty program, they are asked about their interests,

the head shop era. “Our software makes it much eas-

lifestyle, and needs. The texts are tailored to the

ier to drive customer loyalty and revenue. We build customer engagement through text messaging and online resources,” Sklarin says.

Baker doesn’t utilize social media or email. “The reason is that 98 percent of text messages get read.

Everybody lets unread email pile up,” Sklarin says.

Texting also connects much more successfully with stores’ younger demographic through a shopping experience that is comfortable, personal, and like other on-trend retail environments.

Baker now serves more than 500 dispensaries in 15 states. “The rules and regulations greatly vary from city to city and state to state for cannabis retailers, and we customize to each location,” Sklarin says. For example, some states such as Massachusetts allow delivery of cannabis products to patients’ homes so offerings are different based off those needs.

“When you go to a website, you have no idea it’s a Baker product,” he says. Customers see what the

individual, which helps to ensure that when a brand is running a promotion, they offer products that align with the customer’s interests.

store has in stock and are able to research the prod-

Baker backs up its data with a straightforward

ucts. The system syncs with the retailers’ point of

promise: “We guarantee the return on investment

sale (POS) systems and inventory so the information

within 10 weeks after a business starts using it,”

is always current. “When you know what you want,

Sklarin says.

86 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

Wholesale Handled.

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sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 87

TOAST

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

Cheers to This TOA S T TO T HE F U T U R E OF R EC RE AT ION A L C BD. Many of us want to enjoy cannabis without getting

market was lacking a more accessible, socially friend-

stoned, whether it be in social situations, with our sig-

ly product that offered consumers a unique mind-body

nificant others, or after a tough day at work. “Toast

experience produced by blending CBD with low lev-

provides an experience that is much closer to sipping

els of THC, known as the ‘entourage effect’. This expe-

your favorite blended cocktail than taking shots of

rience did not exist in a smokable format, which is a

high-proof alcohol,” says Punit Seth, chief executive

delivery intake mechanism that enables control, so-

officer of Toast. “With Toast, consumers can enjoy our

cial use, and immediate onset,” he continues.

“The entourage effect is a balanced and proportionate mind-and-body high—the result of Toast using the whole cannabis plant. Most consumers are aware of the medicinal benefits of CBD; however, the entourage effect enables the CBD to be activated by the other naturally occurring cannabinoids creating a unique recreational effect. CBD is not just medicinal anymore,” says Seth.

The product is intuitive. Each Slice includes an innovative filter designed especially for cannabis that smooths and cleanses the smoke while still enabling the cannabinoids to pass through with every drag. A Slice smokes quite differently from hand-rolled joints since they are consistent and manufactured uniformly, resulting in a slow and even burn every time. Slices

100 percent cannabis blend, which is high in CBD

are packed in a distinctive Art Deco-style box de-

and low in THC, without feeling too ‘high.’”

tailed with metallic gold.

Founded last February in Aspen, Toast offers pre-

Toast Original contains a 2 : 1 blend of CBD :THC, but

mium, professionally manufactured, 100 percent

additional Toast products are coming soon. While Toast

cannabis “cigarettes” called Slices, which bring a new

Original is similar to sipping on a cocktail, Toast will

concept to smoking cannabis: a predictable taste and

introduce products that are still equivalent to alco-

precise levels of CBD and THC in every puff, no matter

hol strength but more akin to a glass of champagne

where the product is purchased.

or a bourbon neat by offering different ratios of CBD

“A lot of focus in cannabis is on increasingly high levels of THC, which is the psychoactive part of the plant that makes you feel stoned. But we felt the

88 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

and THC. TOAST SLICES ARE AVAIL ABLE AT COLORADO RECREATIONAL STORES.

FIND YOUR

Happy PLACE

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sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 89

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

STASHBOX

Sweet Stash B L I S S I S A G I F T B OX O F AC C E S S O R IE S W I T H YOUR HE A D IN MIND .

After joining Stashbox, subscribers fill out a detailed profile about their preferences : Do you use a pipe or just vape? Are you vegan or an omnivore?

A bottle of Merlot or a Nordstrom’s card may be a

“Some want the box to be a total mystery when

perfect gift for your casual friends during the holiday

they open it. We curate a selection of trending prod-

season, but that won’t suffice for those closest to us.

ucts for them, and it will be different every month.”

They deserve a thoughtful present that suits and sur-

Stashbox is ideal for those who are new to the rec-

prises them. Stashbox is that gift that keeps on giv-

reational cannabis lifestyle. The typical head shop or

ing for friends and family who enjoy cannabis.

dispensary shopping experience can be a little over-

“It’s a gift for the woman who always buys great

whelming. “Stashbox is like that friend who helps you

gifts for everybody else,” says Natasha Irizarry, co-found-

find cool stuff, things you may not have known you

er of Colorado-based Stashbox.

needed,” she says.

Stashbox delivers its subscribers a beautifully pre-

Consumers afraid of commitment can pur-

sented monthly box containing five to eight non-THC

chase a single month’s Stashbox for a higher price.

products— everything from pipes and smoking ac-

However, a limited number of each box is pro-

cessories to hemp and CBD body care products and

duced and they often sell out to subscribers.

snacks, plus personalized items.

Subscribers are encouraged to review the items

After joining Stashbox, subscribers fill out a detailed

they receive every month. “Actually 90 percent of sub-

profile about their preferences: Do you use a pipe or

scribers rate and review the boxes every month. They

just vape? Are you vegan or an omnivore?

earn rewards toward free items, and the feedback

“Each box is personalized to you,” Irizarry says.

helps Stashbox get them the ideal products. We al-

“Some subscribers customize every month. We might

ways ask: Do you want an item like this next month?”

have pipes from a partner in certain colors. We’ll al-

Irizarry says.

ways have something else for those who use con-

Filling out each month’s Stashbox is a collectible

centrates,” she says. Subscribers can customize up

surprise: a new, limited edition Treemoji enamel pin.

to three items per box, but the rest is a surprise.

90 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

FOR MORE INFORMATION: GETSTASHBOX.COM

sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 91

LEAFBUYER

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

Cannabis Advertising Grows Up INCLUSIVE BR ANDING AND INTUITIVE T ECHNOLOGY Remember the early days of cannabis advertising?

sumers. In dispensaries and online, consumers have

In the dawn of legalization, cannabis patients and

more options than ever before and will not settle for

longtime enthusiasts rushed into dispensaries dol-

a subpar, clunky product. In this realm, too, Leafbuy-

lars-in-hand with genuine wonder. To attract custo­

er is making strides by emulating the tech giants

mers, businesses switched on the “OPEN” sign, as-

that have shaped the online landscape. Leafbuyer’s

sembled shoddy websites, and advertised to a niche community using weed puns galore.

If you’ve noticed, times have changed. Ambitious cannabis companies in Colorado, Washington, and other mature markets are now attracting yoga instructors, young professionals, and grandmas alike.

Reaching this crowd takes more finesse. Brands must overcome complete inexperience with cannabis or fear of judgment from friends and neighbors. Broadcasting the greatest amount of THC or the Dankest Pot in the West will not do the trick.

The most forward-thinking companies instead promote cannabis as a tool for healing, creativity, or adventure. This new branding direction makes complete sense in terms of business and advocacy. As more of the population converts into edibles enthusiasts or infused-lotion appliers, all businesses in the industry enjoy the rising tide. Overcorrection is a very real pos-

first innovation in this regard was a switch to a Zil-

sibility, though. After all, companies cannot afford to

low-like model in early 2016. Then, the most ambi-

snub the OGs who were right about cannabis de-

tious leap occurred just last month: the team crafted

cades before the CrossFit trainers came around.

a new interface based on the best aspects of mod-

Like other progressive brands, Leafbuyer, known

ern websites like Priceline, Trivago, Target, and Am-

primarily as the go-to resource for cannabis specials,

azon. The result? The most intuitive online platform

grappled with this dilemma as well. Through blog arti-

in the cannabis industry, allowing customers to search

cles, print advertisements, and informational materi-

through comprehensive lists, specials, and menus.

als, Leafbuyer carefully altered course to ensure no one

In other words, if you are looking for a snapshot of

got left behind. Their marketing team felt that canna-

a modern cannabis company expanding the indus-

bis has something to offer to everyone regardless of

try, look no further than Leafbuyer’s advertisements.

gender, race, class, religion, or sexual orientation.

More importantly, if you seek an ancillary business

While branding is crucial, savvy cannabis companies cannot rely on their values alone to attract con92 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

crafting the future of cannabis shopping, be sure to see the new LEAFBUYER.COM .

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sensimag.com NOVEMBER 2017 95

S P E C I A L A DV I S O R Y BOA R D S E C T I O N A S T H E C A N N A B I S I N D U S T R Y G R O W S, SO DO T H E N U M B E R OF N I C H E E X P E R T S W I T H I N IT. FROM TOP-TIER DISPENSARIES AND EXTRACTION BRANDS TO EDIBLE MAKERS AND MARKETING SPECIALISTS, THESE COMPANIES ARE INCREDIBLE SOURCES OF INSIDER INFO ABOUT THE TRENDS AND ISSUES DRIVING THIS THRIVING MARKETPLACE FORWARD. THE SENSI ADVISORY BOARD IS COMPRISED OF LEADERS FROM A VARIETY OF FIELDS WITHIN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY. EACH ISSUE, ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS SHARE S OM E OF T H E I R KNOWL E DG E W I T H OUR R E A D E R S I N T H I S D E D I CAT E D S E C T IO N .

TH I S MO NTH, WE H E A R FR OM EXPERTS AT WA N A B R A N D S , AND D U R A N G O C A N N A B I S C O M PA N Y .

For a full list of Advisory Board Members, turn to the masthead on page 9.

Spark the Conversation

by Nancy Whiteman, Wana Brands WHEN IT COMES TO CANNABIS, MANY ADULT CHILDREN HAVE FOUND THEY DON’T SHARE THE SAME OPINION AS THEIR PARENTS DO. IF THAT’S THE CASE IN YOUR FAMILY, NOW MAY BE TIME TO CONSIDER A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR PARENTS ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF THE PLANT. SHARE WITH THEM HOW IT CAN PROVIDE A NON-ADDICTIVE TREATMENT OPTION TO AILMENTS SUCH as chronic pain, which affects more than 100 million Ameri-

fect. Metered dose inhalers, tinctures, and sublinguals are

cans. Plus, with a multitude of new cannabis options that

also easy to use, effective, and discrete.

focus on the nonpsychoactive cannabinoid CBD, consumers

Experiment with Edibles. Edibles can also be a tasty

can now tap into the power of the plant to relieve certain

and discreet option. Consuming smaller, measured amounts

symptoms without the psychoactive effects associated with

of THC and CBD can help mitigate drawbacks often associat-

high levels of THC. If you think your older relatives could ben-

ed with cannabis. While Colorado defines a single serving of

efit from the medicinal benefits of marijuana and you are con-

cannabis as 10 milligrams., start low and go slow. Start with a

sidering having the cannabis conversation with a parent,

microdose, which is about 2.5 milligrams. To get to this size,

grandparent, or other family member, here are some tips.

you may have to divide a single serving of your favorite edible.

Knowledge is Power. Help to normalize cannabis in

However, servings in 1, 2, or 3 milligram doses are becoming

your parents’ eyes by educating them on the facts. Finding

more readily available. It has been reported that having some

resources online, printing them out, and starting a conversa-

THC with CBD provides a more therapeutic effect, and now

tion can help guide the discussion in the right direction, es-

some new products offer a 10:1 CBD:THC ratio, providing a

pecially when it comes to explaining the differences between

maximum amount of CBD with enough THC to enjoy the ther-

THC and CBD. Focusing on personal stories and experiences

apeutic benefits while avoiding a possibly uncomfortable

can also help your parents understand the upsides of the

psychoactive effect.

plant. Many older Americans have probably heard news re-

A New-Age Bonding Experience. Introducing the pow-

ports or friends talk about positive experiences. Sharing your

er of cannabis to older relatives can be a powerful bonding

own observations can illustrate the many potential benefits.

experience and provides a great window of opportunity to

Provide Options. Smoking and vaping are no longer the

explore all the beneficial cannabis products on the market

only delivery options on the market. Your parents may not

together. Whether looking to provide relief for chronic is-

be familiar with the massive amount of new ingestion

sues such as insomnia, neuropathy, and arthritis, more peo-

methods that are now available. A welcomed alternative to

ple are choosing to include cannabis in their daily routines

pharmaceutical options, marijuana products now include

while avoiding addictive and deadly pharmaceuticals such

transdermal patches, topical lotions, balms, and salves that

as opioids. Why not spark the conversation with your family

can provide relief from everyday aches and pains as well as

members today? With a variety of products and delivery

more chronic conditions—with little to no psychoactive ef-

methods, there’s something for everyone.

96 Denver //Boulder NOVEMBER 2017

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S P E C I A L A DV I S ORY BO A R D S E C T ION

Genetic Integrity

by Durango Cannabis Company DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT’S IN YOUR BOWL? THE NEXT TIME YOU STOP IN AT YOUR LOCAL DISPENSARY, LOOK FOR THE FOLLOWING TOP-SELLING STRAINS IN COLORADO: BLUE DREAM, DURBAN POISON, SOUR DIESEL, GOLDEN GOAT, FLO, GIRL SCOUT COOKIES, MOB BOSS, NORTHERN LIGHTS, GREEN CRACK, AND BANANA KUSH. IF YOU BUY AN EIGHTH OF BLUE DREAM AT FIVE DIFFERENT DISPENSARIES, WOULD THEY SHARE THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS? WILL THEY HAVE SIMILAR BUD STRUCTURE, FLAVOR PROFILE, AND CANNABINOID BREAKDOWN? THESE CHARACTERISTICS GREATLY EFFECT THE RECREATIONAL AND MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF YOUR SMOKE. UNDERSTANDING WHERE YOUR STRAINS ARE COMING from—and what characteristics you should be looking for—

ence. Phylos is leading the cannabis industry in genomic

is what we call “grading genetic integrity.” It is a skill that ev-

profiling. Using a plant sample, Phylos can sequence a

ery cannabis consumer needs to develop.

strain’s comprehensive genetic profile, determining closest

When a strain has genetic integrity, you get an accu-

relatives, clonal relationships, uniqueness score, population

rate, verified strain name, a reputable genetic history, and a

origin, variation, and distant cultivars. These results are

consistent experience in effect, flavor, and medicinal value.

then populated in the Phylos Galaxy, a “living” digital genet-

Unfortunately, because of a lack of education and transparency, dispensaries and consumers are often unaware

MANY IN THE INDUSTRY HAVE

that the strain they think they are purchasing is actually

LOST SIGHT OF WHAT IT MEANS

something different entirely. There are no current checks and balances to ensure that a strain labeled “Blue Dream” is, in fact, a genetically true version of Blue Dream.

This will continue unless we demand change. As cultivators and retailers, we must be transparent about what

TO BE A RESPONSIBLE GROWER. REPUTABLE AMERICAN GROWERS STRUGGLE TO KEEP THEIR NAME

we grow and how we grow it to steward the genetic leg-

AND REPUTATION BEHIND THE

acy of this amazing plant. This is not just a Colorado issue; it

CLASSIC STRAINS THEY CREATED.

is a nationwide cannabis issue. Many in the industry have lost sight of what it means to be a responsible grower. Reputable

ic report on cannabis in the world. We can now verify if your

American growers struggle to keep their name and reputa-

local dispensary is actually selling you a true Blue Dream or

tion behind the classic strains they created. Yet we see ex-

Sour Diesel and not a fake. If breeders, growers, scientists,

amples of licensed grows and dispensaries falsely selling

and consumers work together, we can ensure transparency

strains under critically acclaimed names based only upon

from seed to sale. Such collaborations will enable growers

similarities in flavor and effect, all to boost sales. A strain’s

to work with breeders to create new strains with verified

breeder and cultivator have a responsibility to the retailer and

parents, bringing more innovation and choice to consumers.

consumer to verify and communicate what they are growing.

At the end of the day, who has the most power to in-

So what can we do? The industry must turn to science to

fluence this necessary change in the cannabis market, to

greater understand and trace the lineages of the cannabis

influence your local retailer? You do. Consumers do. It’s

strains we love to grow and smoke. Fortunately, new re-

time to demand cannabis with genetic integrity. You de-

sources are coming online every day, such as Phylos Biosci-

serve to know what’s in your bowl.

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SENSI N IGHT

sensi

SCENE

The first-ever Sensi Night in RiNo brought 2,500 people together with more than a hundred of Colorado’s top can© PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIELLE WEBSTER

nabis companies for a Wednesday evening of revelry complete with stilt-walking entertainment, glass-blowing demos, hair-braiding glam squads, and Bud Booth fun—plus food trucks, DJs, free giveaways, great company, and more surprises, all in an incredible venue. Keep an eye on the Sensi Facebook page for details on the next free gathering of the cannabis community.

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What: Sensi Night Where: EXDO Event Center When: September 27, 2017

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{soCO}

by STEPHANIE WILSON

HIGH PRAISE This Thanksgiving, kick up your sweet potato casserole recipe with some infused marshmallows made with Ripple, a dissolvable THC/CBD 1:1 powder by Stillwater Brands.

RIPPLE MARSHMALLOWS YIELDS ABOUT 48 MARSHMALLOW SQUARE { ~1mg THC/1mg CBD per mallow }

Ingredients >> 3 PACKAGES ( 3/4 OZ.) UNFLAVORED GELATIN >> 1 CUP COOL WATER, DIVIDED >> 1 1/2 CUPS GRANULATED SUGAR >> 1 CUP LIGHT CORN SYRUP >> 1/8 TEASPOON SALT >> 1 TABLESPOON VANILLA EXTRACT >> 10 PACKETS OF RIPPLE BAL ANCED (ONE CONTAINER) >> 1/4 CUP POWDERED SUGAR, FOR DUSTING

Things You Will Need >> CANDY THERMOMETER >> SAUCEPAN >> STAND MIXER WITH WHISK AT TACHMENT

OR HANDHELD ELECTRIC MIXER

Method

>> 9-INCH x 13-INCH PAN

{ STEP 1 } Combine the gelatin and 1/2 cup cool water in the bowl of an electric

mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Mix briefly to combine; set aside.

{ STEP 2 } Combine the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup cool water in a small, deep saucepan. Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Raise the heat to high and cook, without stirring, until the syrup reaches 240°F on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat. { STEP 3 } With the mixer set on low speed, slowly pour the sugar syrup into the softened gelatin and then add the Ripple. Increase the speed to high, and whip until the mixture is very thick and fluffy, and has cooled to lukewarm, 3 to 10 minutes (depending on mixer used). The mixture should be cool enough to touch.

Add vanilla toward the end of the mixing time. { STEP 4 } Spread the marshmallow mixture into a greased 9-inch x 13-inch pan.

Use wet hands to smooth and flatten the marshmallows.

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{ STEP 5 } Sprinkle powdered sugar over the top, and let sit for several hours before cutting. Use a greased knife, pizza cutter, or cookie cutters to make squares or other shapes. Store at room temperature in a closed container.

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