Sensi Magazine-Denver/Boulder (July 2016)

THE NEW NORMAL

07.2016

E X P LOR E

coming to

CO

for the

CANNA TOURISTS FLOCK IN RECORD NUMBERS

not ONLY FOR

THE M O U N TA I N S

BUD + BREAKFAST

Hoteliers Joel & Lisa Schneider

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contents.

ISSUE 3 VOLUME 1

FEATURES

07.2016

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26 A Long, Strange Trip

Colorado is one of America’s premier tourist destinations. But who knew it could be so ... weird?

34 38 42

Paired to Perfection

Kendal Norris of Mason Jar Event Group blends together southern charm and flawless style with a Rocky Mountain High during luxe events that are nothing short of blissful.

The Mary Jane of Pain

Teri Robnett not only is one of the most prominent cannabis activists here in Colorado, she’s also a cannabis patient.

S PEC I A L R E P O R T

Coming for the Cannabis

State and local tourist agencies won’t have anything to do with it, but canna-tourism is bringing visitors to Colorado for an elevated way to enjoy the state’s natural wonders.

EVERY ISSUE 6 8 10 14

Editor’s Note Ask Leland/Q& A Sensi Buzz Perspectives READING THE DEA TEA LEAVES

Sensi Magazine is published monthly in Denver, CO, by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2016 SENSI MEDIA GROUP LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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EdibleCritic TASTE TR IP

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CannaBiz BUD+BREAKFAST

48

SensiScene DENVER COMIC CON

J U LY 2 016

weird.

© RANDY ROBINSON

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COMIC CON

Denver’s Colorado Convention Center

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editor’s

NOTE

A TALE OF TWO C I T I E S

masthead. sensi magazine

ISSUE 3

VOLUME 1

07.2016

EX ECUTI VE

THIS IS EITHER THE BEST OF TIMES OR THE WORST OF TIMES. WITH THE

wave of legalization

( A TSUNAMI, REALLY )

SWEEPING THE COUNTRY, FOR BOTH MEDICAL AND RECREATIONAL CANNABIS, THIS COULD BE THE DAWN OF AN AGE OF WISDOM, OR AN AGE OF FOOLISHNESS; A COMING SEASON OF LIGHT, OR

FOLLOW US

DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU STAND ON THE CANNABIS ISSUE,

strongly against it, due in part to long-ingrained beliefs. At the very least, legalization continues to drive heated debates, confusing regulations, and conflicts between even the best of friends, neighbors, and family members.

Consider, for instance, what’s happening right here in the metro region.

pensaries, including 21 recreational dispensaries, they decided to earmark $4.5 million of that financial windfall to help the homeless. Meanwhile, Littleton recently killed a proposal to allow the sale of recreational cannabis, by a vote of 5–1, in part because some fear what it would do to the

sensimagazine

they’d received more tax revenue than anticipated from the city’s dis-

pillars of society.”

lawmakers recently approved the sale of medical marijuana, while advocates in Nebraska have abandoned such an effort. In West Virginia, a reso-

E DI T ORI AL Rob Feeman, CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER/EDITOR

Leland Rucker, SENIOR EDITOR

LELAND.RUCKER @ SENSIMAG.COM

John Lehndorff, FOOD EDITOR

EDIBLE.CRITIC @ SENSIMAG.COM

Randy Robinson CONTRIBUTING EDITOR/PHOTOGRAPHER RANDY.ROBINSON @ SENSIMAG.COM

Jennifer Tyson, DESIGN DIRECTOR

JENNIFER.TYSON @ SENSIMAG.COM

Stacey Jacobs, DESIGNER

STACEY.JACOBS @ SENSIMAG.COM

Kim Sidwell, CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER INFO @ CANNABISCAMERA.COM

Tyler Tarr, PUBLISHER

sensimag

are part of the new normal. And they’re taking place everywhere. Ohio

ALEX.MARTINEZ @ SENSIMAG.COM

B U S I NE S S & A DM I N I S T R AT I V E

fabric of the community, with one resident saying it would “erode the These conversations, opinions, and decisions are not unique, and indeed,

Alex Martinez, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

DE S IGN & P H O T O GR A P H Y

Two municipalities, Aurora and Littleton, have taken decidedly different approaches to the cannabis issue. When the city leaders of Aurora learned

TAE.DARNELL @ SENSIMAG.COM

STEPHANIE.WILSON @ SENSIMAG.COM

sensimediagroup

plant is not as bad as we’ve been led to believe for decades, others still stand

Tae Darnell, PRESIDENT, SENSI MEDIA GROUP

Stephanie Wilson, MANAGING EDITOR

( ALL WITH APOLOGIES TO DICKENS, OF COURSE).

some stalwart foes of cannabis are beginning to realize that this little green

RON.KOLB @ SENSIMAG.COM

ROB.FEEMAN @ SENSIMAG.COM

ONE OF DARKNESS; A SPRING OF HOPE, OR A WINTER OF DESPAIR

Some of the above might sound like hyperbole, but honestly, it’s not. While

Ron Kolb, CEO, SENSI MEDIA GROUP

TYLER.TARR @ SENSIMAG.COM

Mark Basser, ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER MARK.BASSER @ SENSIMAG.COM

Alec Varipapa, BUSINESS ANALYST

ALEC.VARIPAPA @ SENSIMAG.COM

lution has been introduced to allow the sale of recreational marijuana, in part to help the state’s budget crisis, while the teamsters are opposing

A DV I S O RY B OA R D

violence. At the other end of the spectrum, Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the

Boss Tubes Cannabis Clean Cannabis Patients Alliance Concentrate Supply Co. EndoCanna Extract Craft Extracted Colorado

House, is talking about passing a CBD-oil bill this session.

And so it goes. It’s getting so you can’t tell the players without a scorecard. America is in transition, in the midst of a great conversation, one that is messy and confusing even to experts in the subject. But, ultimately, it’s necessary. It’s how all great change comes about. All we can do is hang on for the ride, and hope wisdom, and not foolishness, prevails.

Rob Feeman, 6

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GreenHouse Payment Solutions Hemptations High Society Jett Cannabis Lab Society Loopr Lucid Mood marQaha Mighty Fast Herbal Infuser

Mountain High Suckers Pathways Natural Wellness Center Neos RxCBD Simply Pure Symbiartic Glass Terrapin Care Station TinctureBelle Wana Brands

M E D I A PA RT N E RS EDITOR

National Cannabis Industry Association Students for a Sensible Drug Policy Women Grow

KIM SIDWELL © CANNABIS CAMERA

a recreational sales initiative in California. In New York City, the police commissioner, Bill Bratton, is firmly convinced that cannabis is driving acts of

ask

Leland Rucker

LELAND

The Shafer Commission THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DEPRESSING AND SHAMEFUL TALES IN THE HISTORY OF THE 20TH CENTURY, AND ONE THAT STILL ECHOES AND REVERBERATES TODAY EVEN THOUGH AL MOST NOBODY REMEMBERS IT.

In 1970, the U.S. Congress passed the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act. Title B of that legislation was the Controlled Substances Act, which classified illegal drugs into five schedules, or categories, with Schedule I reserved for the most heinous and worthless.

What has almost been lost to history was CSA’s Part F, which called for a

IS IT TRUE THAT

commission to study the medical, cultural, and legal ramifications of marijuana

PRESIDENT

use on society and come up with recommendations based on what it learned.

RICHARD NIXON

Nixon got to choose the head of the commission, and he dispatched a former

IGNORED HIS

Pennsylvania governor, Raymond Shafer, to deliver a (wink, wink) document that

OWN COMMISSION THAT SUGGESTED

proved that marijuana was subverting our youth and undermining the country.

Shafer’s National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse took its charge seriously and produced, to date, the only serious study of marijuana yet under-

LEGALIZING

taken in the U.S. It offers a lengthy history of marijuana use and regulation,

MARIJUANA

and its main conclusion is that marijuana should be decriminalized for adults

BACK IN THE 1970s?

S H A R O N ENGLEWOOD

for personal use.

“The criminal law is too harsh a tool to apply to personal possession even in the effort to discourage use,” it concluded. “The actual and potential harm of use of the drug is not great enough to justify intrusion by the criminal law into private behavior, a step which our society takes only with the greatest reluctance.”

ask it.

Got a question about anything marijuana related?

But have you ever heard about this? Not likely. Nixon and his attorney general, John Mitchell, were not reluctant, and they succeeded, almost spitefully, to classify pot as a Schedule I drug, in the same category as heroin, LSD, ecstasy, mescaline, quaaludes, the “date-rape” drug GHB, and psilocybin. Nobody remembers Shafer, and though Nixon did a great job of burying the report, it’s today available online (WWW.SENSIMAG.COM/SHAFER) and well worth perusing if you’re even remotely interested in the topic of marijuana legaliza-

Email your query to: ASKLELAND @ SENSIMAG.COM

and if we answer your question, you’ll get some cool Sensi merch.

tion. Even more shameful, it has taken seven administrations to finally soften this absolute anti-cannabis stance, and the Obama administration only acted after individual states, including Colorado, took it upon themselves to decriminalize marijuana.

Cocaine, because of its limited medical use, got a Schedule II classification, which means the U.S. government today officially considers cocaine safer than marijuana. Break out the medical coke, everybody.

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KIM SIDWELL © CANNABIS CAMERA

Our curious cannabis expert, LELAND RUCKER , answers your questions about all things pot related.

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THE NE W N O R M A L

sensi

buzz

WE ARE THE NEW AMERICANA . HIGH ON LEGAL MARIJUANA. SK Y H I GH.

{

}

–HAL SEY

T R E AT T I M E L E A F S BY

SNOOP

DA R K C H O C O L AT E D Last month, I wrote about La

celebrity cannabis brands. celebri ((If you didn’t catch it, you can read it on WWW. SENSIMAG. COM.) Well, in all fairness, I de-

cided to put one to the test.

Since he’s probably the most famous dude with an available line of weed products, I checked out Snoop Dogg’s “Leafs by Snoop” Dark Chocolate. Its box definitely pleased the eye, something between modern art and wallpaper someone might find

F I ND

QUAL I T Y C ANN ABIS,

S.T. A .T.

inside of a 1970s bungalow. Inside were ten triangles of

We all know about the four Cs of diamonds, right?

chocolate arranged to form the typical candy bar. Each 8

It’s a system of judging the quality of the gemstones

mg THC triangle is gluten-free, so even those with sen-

developed by the prestigious GIA—the Gemological

sitive tummies can enjoy it. I snapped one off, popped it

Institute of America. The shiny objects are rated based

in my mouth, and let it melt across my tongue over the

on Cut, Quality, Clarity, and Color, a relatively simple

course of a couple of minutes. The confection carried a

system that created a universal method for assessing

smidgen of bitter cocoa balanced by a faint sweetness,

the quality of the stone. In the relative nascent can-

two opposing sensations that delightfully smoothed

nabis industry, such a standard was lacking before

over any trace of cannabis. The slightly bitter aftertaste lingered on my taste buds long after I swallowed, so to get rid of that, I ate another one—I’m a forward-thinking individual, after all. For me, two servings did the trick.

An hour later, I felt as if I’d just woken up from midafternoon catnap. The world seemed dreamy, hazy, and soft like a chic Instagram filter. Best of all, the effect lasted a good part of the day. The only downside is the box’s built-in child safety mechanism, which required some brute force to overcome. But hey, isn’t that what the child safety is for? For locations that provide this chocolate and other quaintly packaged Snoop Dogg edibles, check out WWW.LEAFSBYSNOOP.COM.

–RANDY ROBINSON

now. Kicking off the 4/20 holiday week here in Denver, the team at Good Chemistry Nurseries launched S.T. A .T. S., A FREE C ANNABIS E VALUATION GUIDE .

The S.T.A.T.S. method (Sight, Touch, Aroma, Taste, Sensation) is a five-step process for identifying high quality, remarkable flower. You can read all about the method, which includes a breakdown of some of the aromas to expect from high-quality cannabis (floral, earthy, citrus, oh my!) and from poor-quality bud (mold, hay, and must, oh no!). Download a free digital guide at WWW. STATSGUIDE.ORG .

Or you can pick up hard copy

booklets at Good Chemistry in Denver and Aurora.

The goal is to have the booklets available in all dispensaries in the near future to create the universal guide

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that the cannabis industry so desperately needs.

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{ perspectives }

by R ANDY R O B IN S ON

READING THE DEA TEA LEAVES The Drug Enforcement Administration is considering changing cannabis from a Schedule 1 drug.

Here’s what may happen if and when they do.

A Bit of History

The DEA’s Change of Heart?

What if I told you one reason marijuana is illegal is because

The Controlled Substances Act also gave the DEA sole au-

one of our presidents wanted to drop nukes on Vietnam? It

thority over a plant that’s less addictive than the caffeine in

sounds crazy, but consider we won the Pacific War rather

tea and less toxic than the water used to brew it.

swiftly by dropping atomic bombs on Japan. From a purely

It’s been nearly half a century since Nixon began his War

homicidal standpoint, it makes sense. However, this presi-

on Drugs. Today, we know cannabis has medicinal value, but

dent never got permission to turn Asia’s rice bowl into a glass

without clinical trials, there’s no definitive study that shows

bowl for obvious reasons.

marijuana is medicine. The DEA, unsurprisingly, hasn’t permit-

Instead of taking his advisors on their word (or, I don’t

ted clinical trials for cannabis because weed is so dangerous.

know, using common sense), this president believed there

This is basically a circular argument wrapped around a self-

must have been a vast conspiracy brainwashing not only his

fulfilling prophecy.

advisors, but the entirety of America. And that this vast conspiracy was directed by gay, communist Jews.

But there’s good news. Two months ago, the DEA and the FDA finally approved clinical trials for cannabis against post-

Now what if I told you this was true? Not the pink flag-

traumatic stress (PTS). This is a daring step, because the DEA’s

waving pinkos part, but that we had a president who actually

entire existence hinges on cannabis being illegal. That’s be-

believed this?

cause the DEA commands an annual budget of $2 billion,

His name was Richard Nixon. And yes, he actually believed

most of which goes to raiding marijuana grows.

this. And yes, this is why marijuana is outlawed. If you don’t

In addition to the DEA’s blessing for what could be a ground-

believe me, google “Watergate tapes” and have a good laugh.

breaking study, the DEA is also doing its regular review of

Or a good cry, because his paranoid fantasy destroyed thou-

marijuana’s scheduling. Will they move it down to Schedule

sands of lives and wasted trillions of dollars.

II? Will they deschedule it altogether? Who knows? If history

According to Nixon, the gay commie conspiracy recruited hippies and blacks, the two groups that most vocally opposed

is any guide, then it’s likely the DEA won’t reschedule marijuana any time soon.

the Vietnam War. If these two groups would just shut up, then maybe, just maybe, Nixon could deploy nuclear weapons on

14

We Don’t Have to Wait, Really

the Mekong. But he couldn’t make being black or being a hip-

You see, even if this clinical study shows that weed treats

pie illegal, so he masterminded the Controlled Substances Act

PTS, it’ll take years before anything conclusive comes out.

of 1970. This law placed marijuana — the counterculture’s

And even if this years-long study discovers that cannabis

herb of choice — in Schedule I, reserved for only the most

has medicinal value, the DEA may fall back on its mountain

dangerous substances known. For reference, heroin is also

of (largely fabricated) anti-cannabis studies. These studies,

in Schedule I, but meth and cocaine are in Schedule II.

which reach back to 1970, come from the National Institute

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PRIOR TO THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT, NIXON ASSEMBLED A TASK FORCE OF DOCTORS, SCIENTISTS, ANTHROPOLOGISTS, AND PSYCHOLOGISTS LED BY DR. SCHAFER. NIXON WANTED IRREFUTABLE PROOF THAT MARIJUANA WAS MORE DANGEROUS THAN HEROIN (WHICH IT IS NOT). AFTER INTENSIVE STUDY ACROSS MULTIPLE CONT INENTS, THE SHAFER COMMISSION CONCLUDED THAT NOT ONLY WAS CANNABIS SAFE, BUT THAT NIXON SHOULD REMOVE ALL LAWS CRIMINALIZING ITS USE. NIXON, CONVINCED HIS TEAM HAD BEEN INFILTRATED BY THE GAY COMMUNIST CONSPIRACY, FIRED THE COMMISSION AND BURIED THEIR REPORT.

{criminalization} of Drug Abuse (NIDA), the DEA’s “scientific” propaganda arm.

NIDA wields a $1 billion budget of its own.

For those of us trying to free the plant, that means we’re going up against a $3 billion war chest from two very ignorant, very stubborn federal organizations. How could we ever compete?

Swirl the cup. Read the leaves.

Colorado’s cannabis industry should hit the $1 billion mark any day now. If we combine rec and medical sales from other states, our “collective budget” is roughly $2.7 billion. Just shy of the feds’ war chest, but we’re getting close.

Consider, too, that California—the seventh largest economy in the world and America’s most populous state—may legalize recreational sales this November. California could net over $3 billion in sales in its first year alone, which would put our total war chest at nearly double the DEA’s and NIDA’s.

Money is mainstreaming cannabis. The more money this industry makes, the greater our chances of pushing for real reform at the federal level. We can spend the rest of our lives legalizing medical and recreational for individual states, but until the feds give up this fight, we’re trying to push an army uphill. Maybe you can’t afford to spend countless hours picketing at government offices, raising hell at council hearings, or sending angry letters to your representatives.

If that’s the case, then just spend some of your cash on pot: conscious consumerism is a form of activism.

J ULY 2016

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{ ediblecritic }

by JOHN LEHNDORFF

The only way to move beyond the same old sweet-and-sour pork or the enchilada combo plate No. 2 is to go to places that make you squirm just a little, at least until you eat. Ignore the naysayers who insist that Denver’s ethnic dining scene is too vanilla. Exactly the opposite is true. A coterie of cool Chinese,

TASTE TRIP Behind Denver’s beige façade beats a vibrant multinational world of dining escapes

Japanese, Mexican, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern, and other familiar eateries includes exotic islands of Filipino, Guatemalan, Malaysian, and Ethiopian fare in Denver, Aurora, and even in the beige suburbs.

Some of the eateries are small, inexpensive, and hidden in strip malls with rough parking lots and no frills. That’s usually a sign that these cafes are the real thing operated by immigrant families who welcome newbies who want to taste and learn.

Other cultural dining destinations are elegant places with appropriate service, fare, and price tag.

Don’t be afraid of ordering where there is a language barrier.

If you wonder how to eat the food, ask or watch how other diners wrap a morsel of Ethiopian kitfo in injera bread or eat a bowl of Vietnamese pho.

I love that disoriented feeling I get after a two-hour immersion in Cuban or Iranian flavors, aromas, and table chatter. I may not be able to take an overseas vacation this year, but that doesn’t mean my palate has to stay home and be humdrum.

Here is a taster of some of my favorite international haunts to get you started on a multicultural road trip.

{ 1 } Cuba Before you head out for one of the first tours to Havana, do some research first. Before you get in CUBA CUBA’S front door, the sinuous beat of Cuban music seeps into your hips. A mojito or Cuba libre can assist the loosening process along with a ropa vieja empanada. The menu includes a memorable Cubano pressed sandwich and plates of lechon asado, fall apart pork shoulder with onions, maduros (rice and beans), and a black bean reduction.

CUBA CUBA C AFÉ AND BAR // 1173 DEL AWARE ST., DENVER 303-605-2822 // WWW.CUBACUBACAFE.COM { ALSO IN HIGHL ANDS RANCH }

do tell.

Share your favorite Colorado ethnic dining destinations.

Email comments to: EDIBLE.CRITIC @ SENSIMAG.COM

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{ 2 } Poland Cabbage rolls and kielbasa are dished in generous portions at this fast casual Polish eatery, but the line out the door is for the pierogies, Poland’s greatest gift to global comfort food. The boiled or pan-fried dumplings are filled with mashers and cheese or onions, ground pork, or feta and spinach. PIEROGIES FACTORY owner Cezary Grosfeld crowns them with everything from caramelized onions and sour cream to green chile sauce.

PIEROGIES FACTORY // 3895 WADSWORTH BLVD., WHEAT RIDGE // 303-425-7421 // WWW.PIEROGIESFACTORY.COM

{ 3 } Thailand

US THAI C AFE

When you taste a bowl of soup and your head feels like it’s going to explode, there are two possibilities: a) You overdid it on the Purple Kush appetizer, or b) You are slurping tom kha at US THAI C AFE, where the very air is infused with capsaicin from all the frying chilies. The small, humble Edgewater eatery dishes curries, stir-frys, noodles, and soups packed with layers of spice and super-fresh vegetables. However, even the menu’s so-called “mild-plus” level will make you sweat. For a good time, bring along a self-described hothead and dare them to order their green curry “Thai hot.” Bring a towel for the sweat and the tears.

US THAI CAFE // 5228 W. 25TH AVE., EDGEWATER // 303-233-3345

{ 4 } Denmark

TASTE OF DENMARK

Make a pilgrimage this summer to the land of butter and sugar located conveniently in the foothills of the Rockies. Denmark-born master bakers Ronny Tronoe and Diana Honoe craft first-class kringles, strudels, coffee cakes, cardamom-flavored buns, densely seeded loaves, and even glazed, filled “Danish” at the aptly named TASTE OF DENMARK. This bakery and café is a joy for all the senses, but if you arrive in an elevated state, you may need to workout afterwards like a raiding Viking to balance out the carb load.

TASTE OF DENMARK // 1901 S. KIPLING ST., L AKEWOOD; 303-987-8283 // WWW.TASTEOFDENMARK.NET

{ 5 } Mexico

EL TACO DE MEXICO

Step up for real Mexican street food such as tongue tacos with lime and cilantro dished by a staff of steely-eyed women at EL TACO DE MEXICO. I have a hard time not ordering the burrito stuffed with cheese-stuffed chile rellenos and smothered in smoldering pork green chile.

Visit on the first Friday of the month when the Santa Fe Arts district is bustling with openings.

EL TACO DE ME X ICO // 714 SANTA FE DRIVE, DENVER // 303-623-3962

Side Trips PHILIPPINES : SUNBURST GRILL // 2295 S. CHAMBERS ROAD // AURORA // 303-752-6389 MAL AYSIA : MAKAN MAL AYSIAN C AFE // 1859 SOUTH PEARL ST., DENVER // 720-524-8093 // WWW.MAKANMYFOOD.COM ITALY : C ARMINE LONARDO’S MARKET // 15380 SMOKY HILL ROAD, AURORA // 303-699-4532 // WWW.CARMINESITALIANDELI.COM AFRICA : AFRICAN GRILL & BAR // 18601 GREEN VALLEY RANCH BLVD, DENVER // 303-375-7835 // WWW.AFRICANGRILLCO.COM

JOHN LEHNDORFF is the former dining critic of the Rocky Mountain News.

He hosts Radio Nibbles on KGNU. Podcasts at: WWW.KGNU.ORG/CATEGORY/FEATURES. RADIO-NIBBLES .

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You can read about more ethnic eats on our website: J ULY 2016

WWW.SENSIMAG.COM

S P E C I A L A D V I S O R Y B OA R D S E C T I O N

AS T H E C A N N A B I S INDUSTR Y GROWS, SO DO T H E N U M B E R OF NICHE EXPER TS WITHIN

It's a Groov y Kind of Love

The Creative Team Behind K I ND LOVE JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM CHERRY CREEK AND THE CHERRY CREEK TRAIL, THERE’S A BRICK, CORNER-STYLE

IT. C O N C E N T R AT E S .

BUILDING TUCKED BETWEEN LEETSDALE AND ALAMEDA.

EXTRACTION. EDIBLES.

THE GROUND FLOOR IS A MEDICAL DISPENSARY. THE

GROWS. AND SO MUCH

SECOND FLOOR IS A RECREATIONAL SHOP. AND BOTH

MORE. SENSI MAG ASKED THE TOP LEADERS IN EACH OF THESE SECTIONS TO J O I N W H AT W E ’R E CALLING THE SENSI S P E C I A L A DV I S O R Y

FEATURE SOME OF THE FINEST CANNABIS FLOWERS AVAILABLE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

“We’re growing boutique, connoisseur-quality buds on a large scale,” says Matt LaBrier, the store’s general manager. “We only put it on our shelves if it’s something we want to smoke.”

Kind Love is best known for cultivating amazing batches of estab-

BOARD. THESE LEADERS

lished strains, such as Blue Dream and Girl Scout Cookies. However,

ARE INVITED TO IMPAR T

its best sellers are some of the newer rock stars in the cannabis scene,

SOME OF THEIR INDUSTRY

such as more exotic genetics like Bordello and Alien Rock Candy.

KNOWLEDGE WITH OUR READERS IN THIS SPECIAL ADVISORY BOARD SECTION, WHICH APPEARS IN EACH

“We’re super-focused on quality, and always striving to do better than we did in the last round,” says Kind Love’s director of cultivation, Andy Sack. “If we grew a phenomenal batch of Alien Rock Candy, then I say, ‘Okay, that’s where the bar is set for us now. Now, we got to do better.’”

E D I T I O N . T H I S M O N T H, WE H E A R F R O M T H E MASTERMINDS AT KIND LOV E D I S P E N SA R Y, GREENHOUSE PAYMENT SOLUTIONS, AND TERPENE MOOD- ENHANCEMENT

Kind Love’s never-ending process involves fine-tuning the grow and cure as the team experiments with improved terpene profiles, cannabinoid ratios, and trimming methods.

COMPANY LUCIDMOOD. Kind Love’s commitment to quality won them some accolades, For a full list of our Advisory Board Members, turn to the masthead on page 6.

including the Westword naming them for “Best Flower” in this year’s “Best of Denver” issue. Westword also dubbed Kind Love’s Bordello the No. 1 strain of 2015.

Just how does a single dispensary generate high-quality flowers in a fast-paced recreational market? “Teamwork,” Iselin says. “It is really important to us. To have a staff of 70 people and everyone comes into work happy each day–it’s really good for us to make that an action and not just a belief.”

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S P E C I A L A D V I S O R Y B OA R D S E C T I O N

DO YOU WANT TO FEEL AROUSED, ENERGETIC, EUPHORIC, FOCUSED, GIGGLY, RELAXED, SLEEPY, OR UPLIFTED? ONLY ONE PLANT CAN MAKE YOU FEEL ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT WAYS AND THAT PLANT IS CANNABIS. CANNABIS IS THE MOST VERSATILE PSYCHOACTIVE KNOWN TO SCIENCE WITH EFFECTS RANGING FROM RELAXATION ON PAR WITH ALCOHOL AND ALERTNESS ON PAR WITH CAFFEINE.

The Cannabis Experience

by C H A RLES JONE S // CEO, LucidMood

What accounts for this extraordinary versatility? Why do we feel a burst of energy when we consume Super Lemon Haze but feel locked to the couch when we consume OG Kush? The answer is terpenes.

Terpenes represent a large family of chemicals that are produced by aromatic plants such as lavender, pine trees, lemons, mint, rosemary, clove, hops, and many more—including cannabis. Terpenes affect the way cannabinoids bind to the cannabinoid receptors in your brain and modulate the effects that cannabinoids (including cannabinoids that are native to your brain such as anandamide as well as cannabinoids that have been introduced from outside such as THC) are having on a variety of physiological processes including appetite, pain-sensation, mood, and memory.

If you have ever felt a burst of alertness from cutting open a lemon, you have experienced the effect of a terpene called limonene binding to the cannabinoid receptors in your brain. Likewise, if you have ever felt a wave of relaxation in response to lavender aromatherapy, you have experienced the effect of a terpene called linalool.

If you have not experienced either of these effects, don’t worry—you are not alone. The mood-modulating effects of terpenes tend to be quite subtle when the cannabinoids they are interacting with are limited to those that are native to your own brain. But, add a bit of THC and the mood-modulating effects of terpenes change from so subtle that most people don’t notice to so intense that virtually everyone notices a difference between a limonene-rich sativa and a linalool-rich indica.

And here’s where it gets really interesting. In addition to containing THC and several other cannabinoids, which turbocharge the cannabinoid receptors in your brain, cannabis contains a large number of terpenes (over 400 have been found in cannabis) that bind to these receptors and affect your mood. Super Lemon Haze puts you in a you in a very different mood than OG Kush because these two strains have very different terpene profiles.

What does this all mean for you? If you’re someone who prefers different strains for different activities (for example, I like Blue Dream for creative projects but Jack Herer for sex), understand that your preference is based not on the genetic lineage of the strain but on the particular mix of terpenes found in this strain.

What’s your favorite terpene? Write me at

CJ @ LUCIDMOOD.NET.

J ULY 2016

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S P E C I A L A D V I S O R Y B OA R D S E C T I O N

Why Can't I Use My Card?

by F R A N K S TA B E R // GreenHouse Payment Solutions

“WHY CAN’T I USE MY CARD?” THIS WAS THE QUESTION ASKED BY AN ACQUAINTANCE OF MINE. SHE HAD STOPPED BY A RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA SHOP IN A DIFFERENT PART OF TOWN AND WAS SURPRISED WHEN TOLD SHE COULDN’T USE HER DEBIT CARD TO MAKE HER PURCHASE. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN’T USE MY CARD? I ALWAYS USE MY CARD AT ______________ !” SHE WAS GIVEN A VAGUE ANSWER ABOUT CREDIT CARD PROCESSING BEING CLOSED A LONG TIME AGO.

Knowing I was in the payment processing business and

ment—even paying taxes. Some marijuana shops have re-

specialized in setting up unique payment solutions for the

signed themselves to dealing with cash, while others are open

cannabis industry, she asked me the question.

to making life easier for themselves, their employees, and, of

The reason medical marijuana and recreational shops won’t

course, their customers and clients. For example, you may find

take your credit or debit cards is simple. Marijuana is federally

a cash ATM set up in the lobby. Others have pursued unique

illegal and classified as a Schedule I drug. The Controlled Sub-

payment processing solutions created specifically for them.

stances Act passed in 1970 makes it illegal to manufacture,

When will real change arrive? Hard to tell, but with half of

possess, or distribute a Schedule I drug. It also became illegal

the states having passed some form of medical marijuana

for banks to take any proceeds from marijuana sales. There-

laws and several more working on recreational cannabis, pres-

fore, banks have serious problems dealing with the cannabis

sure is on Congress to make the Schedule I classification for

industry. They are afraid of being shut down by federal bank

marijuana disappear. Efforts continue by cannabis industry

regulators due to receiving money directly or indirectly from the

advocacy groups in touch with friendly congressmen and

sale of marijuana products. This is in spite of new rules set up

women such as the NCIA (National Cannabis Industry Asso-

in 2014 by the U.S. Department of the Treasury directing U.S.

ciation). They held their most successful “Lobby Days” in

Attorneys not to go after banks doing business with legiti-

Washington, D.C., in May.

mate marijuana companies that comply with their guidelines.

The bank’s fears were not allayed with this action, nor with

Hang in there. Someday, you’ll hear a budtender say, “Yes, we’ll take your card!”

congressional legislation passed afterwards stopping the Department of Justice from prosecuting marijuana medical patients or dispensaries complying with their state’s laws. It boils the cannabis industry until Congress passes legislation that removes marijuana from being a Schedule I drug. When this happens, banks and Visa and MasterCard will come on board and interact positively with the marijuana industry.

Until this happens, medical dispensaries and recreational shops continue to be “cash-only” businesses. This isn’t only an inconvenience to customers, but difficulties also arise in daily operations, including security problems and difficulties in paying vendors and employees, buying equip22

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Why?

down to the simple fact that banks will not get involved with

{ cannabiz }

by ROB F E E M A N

TRAVELERS’ REST Hoteliers Joel and Lisa Schneider of Bud+Breakfast create a welcoming environment for travelers from around the world, who come here seeking a safe, sociable, and comfortable place to consume cannabis.

They come from the four corners of the globe—from Japan and Italy, France and Finland, Germany and Australia, and from across the United States, for a few days of a true Rocky Mountain experience. Their destination: The Adagio, a historic, 124-year-old Victorian home, now a six-room boutique hotel, tucked away on a quiet, shaded street off East Colfax Avenue. Their dream: To consume cannabis freely and legally in a safe environment while traveling here for business, pleasure, or both.

“We’re the only ones who do it like this,” says Lisa Schneider, who along with her husband, Joel, operates four Bud+Breakfast properties in Colorado, including The Adagio (see sidebar). “People come here and in 15 minutes they’re good friends for life. They meet other people here, and they’ll make plans to come back together.”

Although they operate The Adagio like a traditional bed-and-breakfast, they’re taking the concept to a whole new, elevated level. “We’re more of a small boutique cannabis hotel than a bed-and-breakfast,” says Lisa, who acts as the company’s director of hospitality. “We have amazing food. We have hosts who are here from 8 o’clock in the morning to 10 :30 at night. We have innkeepers who sleep at all of our locations. There’s a guest refrigerator at all of our properties, stocked with beer, wine, and soda. There’s always food around.”

One of their goals in operating their properties, they say, is simply to provide travelers to Denver and Colorado with a safe and legal place to enjoy cannabis in a relaxing environment. “We are an addition to the dispensaries,” explains Joel, the company’s CEO. “We offer an amazing location where people can smoke while sitting on couches in the living room or at the dining room table, as if they’re at home.”

That also supports the Schneiders’ second goal: To promote the social aspect of cannabis. At all their properties, guests may smoke in the living room, dining room, and other public areas, but not in their rooms. “The rule of thumb here is you don’t take the cannabis to your room, and you don’t take it out of the house,” says Joel. Instead, they encourage a communal sharing of the plant.

“The concept is not to hide in your room,” Joel says. “The concept is sharing and 24

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who?

Joel + Lisa Schneider Bud+Breakfast

being with others of like mind, experiencing cannabis the way it was meant to be experienced, and talking about it, because everyone who comes here, unless you’re a Colorado resident, comes from a state or country where cannabis is illegal.”

That simple fact—the ability to legally purchase, consume, and share cannabis—is what draws guests from far and wide to The Adagio and its sister properties. “They’re across the board, from 21 to 71,” says Joel of his guests’ ages, “though maybe more in the 40 to 60 age group.” Adds Lisa, “The majority of our guests are people just like us—people you would look at and never in a million years think they smoked pot.”

The “Bud+Breakfast” concept came to Joel while he was visiting Denver about two years ago, looking for ancillary businesses in the cannabis industry. “I was a newbie,” he says. “I wasn’t a grower. I wasn’t in dispensaries. I was at a downtown hotel in Denver, smoking in the bathroom with the shower on and towels stuffed under the door, because I didn’t want them to know I was smoking in my room. I called Lisa and said, ‘I have an idea for a new business, and it’s lodging.’”

They started by literally knocking on doors around town, looking for a property to manage. They soon found The Adagio, which became their first property. At the time, it was a traditional bed-and-breakfast, but business was slow. Joel offered to take over the operation of the place and turn it into a cannabis-friendly retreat.

“We don’t own the properties,” Joel says, “we rent them. But we treat these places as if we owned them. We put the money in for upgrades.” Those upgrades have included room renovations, electrical and plumbing improvements, and the installation of amenities like hot tubs.

The revamped version of The Adagio opened in 2014, and the idea quickly took off, thanks in part to international media exposure. All their properties now have a high occupancy rates, with a large number of repeat customers.

Everything at their properties is all-inclusive in a room-per-night cost. This way, they say, they can provide the ultimate experience in hospitality, offering food, drink, and a casual social atmosphere, as well as upscale, themed rooms.

And although they offer their guests discount coupons to local dispensaries, they emphasize that they do not provide cannabis directly to their guests. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t cannabis around.

“There’s always cannabis here, left by someone who’s checking out, because they don’t want to go on a plane and violate federal law,” Joel says. “We believe in paying it forward. Sometimes people check in late, when the dispensaries are closed, so leftover cannabis from prior guests is shared.”

Although the company is still small, with only a handful of properties, the Schneiders both see an opportunity for nationwide growth. “There’s always going to be the cannabis traveler,” Joel says. “What we want to do is provide them with a safe and secure location. That’s our vision. We see this as the future. I like our business model, and I like what we’ve done.” And given the busy bookings at The Adagio and the other Bud+Breakfast locations, cannabis-friendly travelers seem to like it, too.

ROB FEEMAN is the Editor of Sensi Magazine.

yes ,-YOU CAN CAN Through their company, the Mary Jane Group, Joel and Lisa Schneider operate four cannabis-friendly Bud+Breakfast properties in Colorado, including their newest, a mountain resort offering fishing, horseback riding, ATV rentals, and much more. For additional information on all the properties, visit WWW.BUDANDBFAST.COM. The Adagio

1430 RACE STREET, DENVER ROOMS & AMENITIES : Six themed suites named after composers, including the Vivaldi, the Brahms, and the Handel; a large outdoor patio area and paraphernalia bar; Wake and Bake Breakfast and a 420 Happy Hour; adults over 21 only.

RATES : $179–$399 BOOKING : 303-870-0903 // 303-370-6911

Hotel San Ayre

3320 W. COLORADO AVE., COLORADO SPRINGS ROOMS & AMENITIES : Contemporary mountain lodge with 11 rooms, including seven standard rooms, two suites, and two cottages; suites and cottages include a kitchen or fireplace; hot tub on the property.

RATES : $129–$339 BOOKING : 720-668-5400 // 719-632-4355

Bud + Breakfast at Silverthorne

358 L AGOON L ANE, SILVERTHORNE ROOMS & AMENITIES : Five suites on two floors with Grateful Dead-inspired themes, including the Garcia, the Weir, and the Hart; a bud bar, in addition to the Wake and Bake Breakfast and 420 Happy Hour.

RATES : $129–$249 // BOOKING : 970-368-6757

Camp Bud + Breakfast Grand County

13206 COUNT Y ROAD 3, PARSHALL ROOMS & AMENITIES : Opening July 1, this allinclusive mountain resort on 414 acres features 12 cabin rooms with refrigerators and gas fireplaces, as well as two guest houses, trout ponds, volleyball, paintball, tubing on the Williams Fork River, horse and ATV rentals, and ranch-style dinners; live music and various classes and events are planned.

RATES : FROM $449 FOR RANCH CABINS BOOKING : 303-870-0903

W H A T A L O N G,

by RANDY ROBINSON

ROYA L GORGE // C AÑON CIT Y, CO: Walking across the Royal Gorge Bridge is exciting enough. But thrill-seekers can ride zip-lines, gondolas, and even swing over the 1,200-foot-deep canyon.

WHEN MOST PEOPLE THINK OF

Colorado, THEY

I M AG I N E P I N E F O R E S T S, S N O W C A P P E D M O U N TA I N S, A ND DEER. DESERTS, ALLIGATORS, AND ALIENS DEFINITELY DON’T TO P T H AT L I S T, B U T T H AT ’S B E C A U S E C O L O R A D A N S K E E P OUR BEST-KEPT SECRETS CLOSE TO OUR HEARTS. IF YOU’RE

L O O K I N G TO E X P E R I E N C E T H E O D D E R S I D E O F W H AT O U R S TAT E H AS TO O F F E R, F O L LO W T H I S G U I D E.

CHICKEN SINCL AIR R // / HOOPER, CO: You know you’re re in Hooper when you spot the giant avian statues at the local ocal Sinclair gas station.

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STRANGE TRIP Colorado is one of America’s premier tourist destinations.

But who knew it could be so ... WEIRD?

The Skyward Beacon UFO WATCHTOWER

During half the year, the UFO Watchtower is relatively empty outside of “ The Garden,” an area where

For UFO enthusiasts, the San Luis Valley is a place

travelers leave mementos as offerings to extra-dimen-

of legend. The first documented cattle mutilation

sional entities. Feel free to leave an item, but it’s über-

(well, a horse, actually) took place here in the 1950s.

bad juju to take something from the area.

Ever since that macabre discovery, locals and travelers

Next to The Garden sits the watchtower proper, a

swear they’ve seen anomalous lights flying through

dome-shaped gift shop nestled beneath a metallic

the skies here. That gave local Judith Messoline an

mesh that acts as an observation deck. For kids with

idea: create a camping area for the UFO chasers who

a wavering interest in flying saucers, there’s a play-

annually gathered in Hooper, CO, in search of other-

ground onsite to keep them occupied. Even if no little

worldly visitors.

green men appear during your visit, the stargazing

To date, Messoline claims there’s been over a hun-

experience alone is worth the trip: the sky near Hoop-

dred sightings at the Watchtower ever since its found-

er isn’t dimmed by big-city lights, so satellites, shoot-

ing in 2000. The most recent sighting, she says, hap-

ing stars, and even the Milky Way are clearly visible

pened at the end of March.

at the UFO Watchtower.

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UFO WATCHTOWER // HOOPER, CO: The garden contains mementos of all types. As one would expect in Colorado, past visitors have left a number of empty cannabis bottles for our extradimensional friends.

Feel free to leave an item, but it’s über-bad juju to take something from the area.

PHOTOGRAPHY © RANDY ROBINSON

H O W E V E R, I F YO U L E F T T H I S L I O N E L R I C H I E G R E AT E S T H I T S C A S S E T T E TA P E , P L E A S E C O M E B A C K A ND C O L L E C T I T, A S A P.

The Watchtower is always open. Campers can show

enforcement—in case you didn’t know, it’s illegal to

up any time, 24/7, without reservations. In the event

own an alligator in most places, but some folks learn

you don’t happen to meet any reptilians from Alpha

that the hard way.

Draconis, you can hang out with some earthling reptiles just down the road.

Although the park is most famous for its legion of alligators, it also hosts tortoises, giant snakes, lizards, frogs, emus, and a parrot. Oh yeah, there's

The Exotic Animal Sanctuary

C O L O R A D O G ATO R S R E P T I L E P A R K What in tarnation are gators doing way out here in Colorado? Aren’t they a Florida thing? You might be surprised to know that alligators are one of the few creatures that can be frozen, thawed, and brought back to life. They do fairly well in the Colorado snow, thank you very much.

Founded in 1977 as a humble tilapia farm, the Reptile Park has since evolved into a self-sustaining animal sanctuary. The park accepts abandoned exotic pets and exotic pets forfeited to law 28

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J ULY 2016

some friendly humans there, too, who will guide G ATORS REPTILE PARK // MOSCA, CO: Outside of wrestling, the gators at the Reptile Park live pretty chillaxed lives.

The sand reflects the moonlight like a billion tiny mirrors, casting an eerie silver glow over everyone and everything in the area.

lakes in the area evaporated nearly half a million years ago. The sand never washed away. A cyclical flow of air and water sweeps the sand from the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains while opposing wind currents lift the sands back atop the dunes.

The Great Sand Dunes today attracts campers, hikers, and sandboarders (yes, that’s a real thing) from all GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK // MOSCA, CO: If the sand gets too hot for your feet, you can always stroll through the creek at the base of the dunes.

you, educate you, and even take your photo while you pose with a baby gator.

The Reptile Park acts as its own enclosed ecosystem. Waste from the tilapia fish pools gets pumped through the sanctuary’s water pipes, feeding the park’s plants and microorganisms. Some of these reptiles even coexist alongside one another, especially the turtles and gators who can be caught napping in the same scaly cuddle puddle during the day.

For the starstruck, drop by the Reptile Park just to see Morris. Chances are you’ve never heard of him, but you’ve likely seen him in films such as Happy

over the world. There’s multiple camp sites for fami-

Gilmore, Interview with a Vampire, Eraser, Blues

lies who wish to stay overnight, and respectful camp-

Brothers 2000, and Dr. Doolittle 2 . He’s happily retired

ers can spend a night out in the dunes. If you do plan

after a 25-year career, though he’s currently not avail-

to check out the dunes at night, aim for a night with a

able to sign autographs.

full moon. The sand reflects the moonlight like a

The Reptile Park also offers gator wrestling classes for those of you who dabble in extreme sports. If

billion tiny mirrors, casting an eerie silver glow over everyone and everything in the area.

wrasslin’ a reptile strikes you as a little too close-and-

Summers at the dunes can get fairly hot during

personal, you can buy some cheap feed to toss at the

the day. Luckily, there’s a shallow run-off creek that

super-lizards instead.

flows along the base of the dunes. If the heat gets unbearable, feel free to literally roll off the hills and

A Desert Among the Trees

G RE A T S A N D D U N E S N A T I O N A L P A R K Just a few miles from the UFO Watchtower and the Reptile Park looms one of America’s most anom-

30

splash into some fresh, cold mountain water.

The Bridge to Nowhere R O YA L G O R G E B R I D G E

alous natural formations: the Great Sand Dunes.

In 1929, Texan businessman Lon P. Piper ordered

From a distance, the dunes look like a massive sand

the construction of a bridge over Colorado’s Royal

hill dropped at the base of the Rocky Mountains. If

Gorge, a valley cut nearly 1,000-feet deep by the Ar-

you dare to trek to the top of the dunes, you’ll find

kansas River. Piper intended the bridge to become

yourself immersed in a scene that looks more like

an amusement park, so for much of its existence it

Persia than it does Parker.

literally led to nowhere but “the other side.” Today,

How did a desert end up in the middle of Colorado’s

there’s a museum, restaurant, and gift shop on the

evergreen mountains? According to geologists, ancient

other end of the bridge. During non-business hours,

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the bridge is known as Fremont County Road 3A,

A stone arch leads to the main road that accesses

and it connects Route 50 to itself. Until 2001, the Roy-

the castle. Along the way, visitors discover Bishop’s

al Gorge Bridge was the highest bridge in the world.

colorful political rants, written on wooden plaques

Today, it still holds the record for the world’s highest

scattered around the site. There’s multiple entrances

suspension bridge.

into the castle, but one of the more popular waypoints

Visitors can brave a trek across the bridge’s 1,300

is the steep stairway that leads to the front of the

wooden planks. These planks contain narrow gaps,

church. The church boasts a cathedral-style archi-

so if you’re a bit of a shoe-gazer, you will see the bot-

tecture, complete with a vaulted ceiling, stained glass

tom of the gorge beneath your feet. If you seek ad-

windows, and a metallic dragon’s head fitted at the

venture, there’s no shortage here: rafting, climbing,

top. During the warmer months, the church can be

hiking, and camping are available at the Royal Gorge.

reserved for events such as weddings and holiday

If you’re thirsting for a real rush, consider taking the

services.

zip line over the gorge, or hop into the Skycoaster

Beyond the church are winding spiral staircases

swing. If you’d prefer a more mellow outing, a gondo-

that lead up either of the castle’s towers. For travel-

la shuttles passengers from one side of the gorge to

ers who don’t fear heights (the Royal Gorge is on the

the other throughout the day.

itinerary, after all), climb all the way up to the top of

For a truly memorable experience, helicopter tours

the towers for a captivating view of San Isabel and

will dive in and around the bridge. If you’re lucky, you

the castle itself. There’s also a catwalk that stretch-

may catch park-approved bungee jumpers attempt-

es over the church’s rooftop.

ing to break world records as they leap into the gorge’s gaping maw.

On your way out, please be mindful that Bishop’s Castle operates on donations. A locked donation box can be found at the bottom level. There’s also a ra-

The King of the Hill

ven that lives in the area and stashes its treasures

In the 1970s, Coloradan Jim Bishop bought a plot

tions in the form of shiny trinkets. And if you’d like

BISHOP’S CASTLE

of land in San Isabel National Forest. While constructing a brick building to house his water tank, a neighbor jokingly asked if Bishop was building a castle. One idea led to another, and Bishop got to thinking— what if he did actually build a castle out in the Rocky Mountains?

Almost four decades later, and Bishop’s Castle is still under construction.

However, it’s open to the public during daylight hours, so long as you’re willing to sign a safety waiver before plumbing the castle’s hidden recesses.

BISHOP’S CASTLE // SAN ISABEL NATIONAL FOREST: Known to youngsters as “Colorado’s Hogwarts,” the castle is open year-round, and it’s always free. Donations, however, are greatly appreciated.

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in a nearby dollhouse. The raven also accepts donato stick around after your visit to the castle, there’s ample camping available for miles around San Isabel National Forest.

Kendal Norris of MASON JAR EVENT GROUP blends together southern charm and elevated style with a Rocky Mountain High during LUXE EVENTS that are

PHOTOGRAPHY © RANDY ROBINSON

nothing short of blissful.

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R PAI ED to

by S T EPH A N IE W I L S O N

perfection f tion L AST SPRING,

Kendal Norris H A D A D R E A M . I N T H A T D R E A M , T H E

N A S H V I L L E - R A I S E D, B O U L D E R -B A S E D C H A R M E R W I T H A S WE E T DR A W L A N D A S H A R P

W I T O W N E D A C O M PA N Y T H AT P U T O N F A N TA S T I C E V E N T S I N W H I C H C A N N A B I S WA S PA IR E D W IT H AC T I V I T IE S S U C H AS YO G A. S HE AW O K E F R O M H E R D R E A M AS A WOM A N O N A M I S S I O N TO T UR N T H AT D R E A M SC A P E I N TO A R E A L I TY.

And as anyone who has been to one of the events

ated beverage; and vanilla-mint drops by Canyon

produced by Kendal’s Mason Jar Event Group will

Cultivation; Go-Chi or Zoom Balls by the Growing

tell you, she accomplishes that mission at each of

Kitchen, and more. Altogether quite the haul for just

her signature series, which include seasonal canna-

$25 (the price is on top of the cost of attending the

bis-pairing dinners and yoga brunches. She explains

event, which is around $150, give or take depending

that it all starts with the product. “Working with good,

on season and setting).

quality cannabis is the start of everything,” she says.

Legally, Mason Jar can’t actually provide the can-

Combine the cannabis with culinary events prepared

nabis to the attendees. “Everyone has to be over the

by Top Chef winner Chef Hosea Rosenberg of Black-

age of 21, and they have to go into a licensed facility

belly Market, quintessential Colorado settings, a com-

and make an actual monetary purchase, pay the tax-

mitment to sustainability, and an unmatched atten-

es,” explains Kendal. “Then you take it with you and

tion to detail, and you’ve got a collection of elevated

we offer a suggested pairing. You can either partake

gatherings that has set the bar super high in the ex-

or not, at your own speed, at your own pace.”

ploding high-end cannabis industry.

In the event space on the picture-perfect farm, two

Take, for example, the recent Yoga with a View

long tables perfectly set and enhanced by centerpiec-

gathering, which took place at the secluded Lone

es from Buds and Blossoms sat by the side wall, while

Hawk Farm in Longmont. Guests coming in from

yoga mats dotted the floor in a semi-circle facing the

Denver could opt to take a shuttle service to the

stage. A dab bar in the corner was open with a high CBD

Growing Kitchen in Boulder, where they were

extract, while assorted house-made pastries curbed

able to purchase a goodie bag filled to the brim

any pre-yoga hunger pains. The practice itself, led by

with cultivated offerings, such as the Sanctu-

Larissa Ortiz, was mindful, gentle, and soothing, topped

ary strain, grown by The Growing Kitchen and

off by a guided meditation. Then came the food. Oh,

extracted by Green Dot Labs Fine Cannabis

the incredible farm-to-table fare: the southwest scram-

Extracts. There was also Kitchen Kush, an

ble with fresh chorizo, green chilies, fire-roasted salsa,

indica-leaning hybrid flower; The Coffee by

and corn tortillas. The house-made bacon. The organ-

Canyon Cultivation, an infused caffein-

ic “grit girl” smoked cheddar grits. An amalgamation

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35

up&comingh

M A S ON JA R E V E N T GROU P GAT H ERI NGS

SUMMER JULY 14 // Mason Jar Seasonal Pairing Dinner AUGUST 7 // Yoga with a View FA L L SEPTEMBER 15 // Mason Jar Seasonal Pairing Dinner NOVEMBER 13 // Yoga with a View TO REQUEST AN INVITATION TO THESE PRIVATE EVENTS, CONTACT KENDAL ON MASON JAR EVENT GROUP’S FACEBOOK PAGE : WWW.FB.COM/MASONJAREVENTGROUP/

of dancing flavors all enhanced by the packed PAX

a cannabis event. “We got there,” Kendal recalls, “and

2 vaporizers making their way around the tables of

the woman taps me on the shoulder during the event,

blissful post-yoga patrons.

and she goes, ‘You know, I didn’t even know what a

The unique nature of the luxe events has earned

cannabis was, but I didn’t want to look silly.’” It all

Kendal and Mason Jar quite the collection of notable

worked out, though, and the woman even said that

press coverage. Even Vanity Fair covered the first event

her kids were going to be so impressed.

last fall, titling the piece “Kush and Cocktails: Scenes

As the popularity of her events grows, Kendal as-

from a Top Chef ’s Weed-Pairing Dinner.” The novelty

sures that the size of the gatherings will not. “I don’t

of what’s happening in Colorado is wildly appealing to less enlightened states.

Kendal explains that the buzz surrounding the first few events has really helped her business start to thrive.

feeding more than 85 people, I feel like the food won’t be as good, and that’s such a driver for these things.”

Chef Rosenberg also seems to en-

“It got us in front of some cannabis

joy the pairing dinners. At the Spring

companies that were interested in

seasonal pairing dinner up in Black

what we were doing, trying to align

Hawk, the chef addressed the blissed-out

themselves with something different than

crowd at the end of a meal that combined

the typical boobs-and-bongs parties” that per-

courses such as braised beef country ribs

meate the cannabis industry subculture.

and house-made sausage with Mindful’s Tri-

It also helped open up Kendal’s eyes to the flourishing community of cannabis smokers who are just now feeling comfortable coming out

36

care who you are in the kitchen, if you are

angle Kush, and said that he makes almost twice the amount of food when he’s cooking for these special pairing dinners. He also noted

of the cannabis closet. “Just knowing that there were

that this is one time when the dining room smells

other women like me who were smoking pot in their

way better than the kitchen itself.

cars before they went into yoga or before they went

In the future, Kendal would like to add one more

into dinner. I was like, look where we live! This is ri-

signature series to the two already underway, which

diculous. We can do this, we can bring this together.”

are complemented by private events she puts on for

One of the biggest challenges she faces is finding

a variety of clients. She also has big plans for a larger

the perfect venue for the upscale gatherings. She

gathering that combines a music festival with yoga

explains that at the first dinner, the owner of the

and a pairing dinner into one celebration of the best

property, a woman in her early 60s, said during their

Colorado has to offer. And when that happens, you

initial meeting that she would be absolutely fine with

can rest assured we’ll see you there.

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TERI ROBNET T is not only one of the most prominent CANNABIS ADVOCATE here in Colorado, she’s also a CANNABIS PATIENT.

by R ANDY ROBINSON IF YOU’VE BEEN FOLLOWING OUR LEGAL SCENE HERE IN COLORADO, CHANCES ARE YOU’VE HEARD OF

Teri Robnett . SHE CURRENTLY RUNS THE R x MARY JANE BLOG, WHICH

DOCUMENTS HER EXPERIENCES AND THOSE OF OTHERS IN THE MEDICAL CANNABIS C O M M U N I T Y. L E G I S L AT O R S AT T H E C A P I T O L B U I L D I N G K N O W H E R A S T H E F O U N D E R AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE C ANNABIS PATIENTS ALLIANCE, AN EDUCATIONAL AND A DVO C A C Y G R O U P T H AT C A M PA I G N S O N B E H A L F O F PAT I E N T S — PAT I E N T S TOO E A S I LY F O R G O T T E N I N T H E M A E L S T R O M O F M A R I J U A N A L E G A L I Z AT I O N. 38

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Robnett understands the need to protect medical cannabis programs because she herself is a patient. In 1987, a car accident triggered Robnett’s fibromyalgia, a neurological condition that causes chronic pain, fatigue, emotional distress, and a hazy amnesiac state known as the “fibro fog.”

Fibro fog may one of the more troublesome aspects of fibromyalgia, because it can impede concentration for day-to-day tasks. Until the past few years, many doctors believed fibromyalgia was a myth, a phantom disorder perpetuated by “hysterical” women. Recent developments in medicine confirmed that fibromyalgia is most definitely real, and it affects men, too. A simple biopsy procedure can confirm its most telltale sign: excessive growth of nerve endings throughout the body.

Prior to the passage of Amendment 20, the bill that legalized medical cannabis in Colorado, Robnett tried conventional treatments for her fibromyalgia, included benzodiazepines and opioid painkillers. “Benzos would just knock me out, and Tylenol with codeine #3 made me itchy,” she recounts. Since pharmaceuticals didn’t control her symptoms, she looked to alternative treatments. For years she relied on a good diet, regular exercise, and tried her best to get decent sleep.

For those who suffer with fibromyalgia, lack of sleep may be one of the worst symptoms. Sleep deprivation can aggravate the condition, leading to greater anxiety, pain, and intensified fibro fog. At one point in her life, she simply accepted that an obscene amount of sleep deprivation would just be the way of things. But when Robnett discovered It took some time, but Robnett eventually figured out a process for self-medication that worked for her. In addition to exercise and diet, she eats a cannabis-infused edible before bed. While waiting for the edible to kick in, she may vape or smoke a small amount of bud to get her body primed. When the inhaled medication starts to wear off, that’s when the edible takes effect. Cannabis, she says, “makes the pain better, it makes the exhaustion better, it makes the fibro fog better.” And, most importantly, it allows her to get a

THE

{ GOOD } LAB

One of Robnett’s newest ventures is a service that was, until recently, denied to cannabis patients. She’s the co-owner of The Good Lab, the only certified lab in the state of Colorado that will test cannabis samples for consumers and patients.

Prior to the establishment of The Good Lab, only licensed marijuana companies could submit samples for testing.

40

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KIM SIDWELL © CANNABIS CAMERA

cannabis, her life changed dramatically.

“

W H A T H A P P E N S I F YO U D O N ’ T G E T E N O U G H

E N D O C A N N A B I N O I D S ? YO U G E T F I B R O M Y A L G I A A N D IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME. WHEN I FIRST HEARD A B O U T T H A T, I F E L L T O T H E F L O O R A N D C R I E D.

A N D T H E N I G O T M A D.

THE ONE THING THAT COULD SUPPLEMENT WHAT M Y B O D Y C A N N O T M A K E I T S E L F, T H E G O V E R N M E N T I S P R E V E N T I N G M E F R O M H AV I N G .

solid six to eight hours of sleep every night.

”

Today, Robnett serves as a living testament to med-

Although fibro patients may find relief in medi-

ical cannabis. She’s at the top of her game because she

cal cannabis, every case is different. ““Just try it,” Rob-

has to be. Even though Colorado is seen as a haven for

nett says in regards to self-medicating. “If it doesn’t

both medical cannabis refugees and recreational us-

work the first time, keep trying it in different ways.

ers, some legislators and lobbyists are quietly work-

You can even try topicals,” such as creams or salves, Y

ing to chisel away medical cannabis programs—but

“which won’t get you high.”

not on her watch.

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State and local tourist agencies won’t have anything to do with it, but C ANNA-TOURISM is bringing VISITORS TO COLORADO for an elevated way to enjoy the state’s natural wonders.

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SPECIAL REPORT

by LEL AND RUC K E R

“Isn’t this great?”

JE N I S I N D E N V E R F R O M V I R G I N I A F O R A F E W DAYS OF VAC AT I O N T I M E W I T H H E R H U S BA N D, D I C K. B OT H A R E IN THEIR 30s. WE’RE ABOARD THE C OLORADO C ANNABIS TOUR BUS, A ROOMY RECTANGLE WITH SHADED WINDOWS AND FAUX LEATHER SE ATS AROUND THE EDGE S. WU TA NG C L A N IS TURNED UP, WITH VIDEO SCREENS IN FRONT AND B ACK, A ND WE’RE HE ADED F O R A GR O W O PE R AT I O N. Jen has just taken a hit from the Incredibowl, a

ing out here on vacation for other reasons, and they

bong-like device with a long plastic tube that deliv-

have an interest and want to experience the scene

ers a slow, smooth, and easy hit of bud. Whatever

on some level. More than 40 percent of our visitors

anxiety anybody had when we boarded has dissi-

are over 35,” he adds, dispelling the somewhat prev-

pated: Cannabis is illegal in most states and coun-

alent myth that cannabis tourism is mostly young

tries of the world, and here we all are, laughing and

men here to get zonked out of their brains. “The big-

sharing and enjoying ourselves. We’ll visit a retail

gest market is people aged 35–55. They’re the ones

store and a glass-blowing demonstration on a Friday afternoon that began at 12: 30 p.m. at Cheba Hut

booking rooms and spending money.”

just off the 16th Street Mall and was scheduled to end at 4 : 20, although we missed that by about 20

cannabis as a tourist attraction, instead pointing to

minutes thanks to Denver’s afternoon traffic jam.

The state of Colorado doesn’t officially sanctify the impact of its recent $5.3 million “Come To Life” television /print/ billboard/digital national ad cam-

“Isn’t this great?”

paign as the main trigger for visitors. “We don’t ad-

Colorado Cannabis Tours is run by Michael Eymer,

vertise it in any way, shape, or form,” says Cathy Ritter,

who seems perfectly suited to the job of escorting a

director of the Colorado Tourism Office. Since can-

busful of newbies through Denver’s cannabis side.

nabis is illegal on a federal level, she explains, it

Though he reminded us as we boarded that we could

can’t be advertised in national campaigns. “Mari-

imbibe as soon as we were onboard, he peppered the

juana travel is a niche market. The main drivers for

group with questions as soon as the door closed: What

visitors don’t include marijuana use—they are the

were everyone’s expectations; had anyone used alco-

same ones as always: scenic drives, historic sites,

hol or consumed edibles before coming aboard; just

beauty, and backpacking opportunities.”

how much cannabis had they consumed; were they

Mary Ann Mahoney, director of the Boulder Con-

regular users or just curious? And he talked at length

vention & Visitors Bureau, says that her staff refers

about edibles and how to consume them safely to a

the cannabis curious to the state-operated Good to

group that averaged in age from early 20s to late 60s.

Know Colorado website, which includes all rules

“I classify two types of canna-tourists,” says Jere-

and regulations about cannabis. “We don’t get a lot

my Bamford, who owns and operates the Colorado

of calls,” she says. “You would think that Boulder

Pot Guide website. “There are the die-hards who are

has that reputation. In the greater world, it has more

here to immerse themselves in the culture. They most-

the reputation of outdoor recreation, a healthy, ac-

ly stay in Denver at the 420-friendly hotels and go on

tive lifestyle, and high tech. Our job is not to change

tours and visit a lot of dispensaries,” Bamford ex-

that perception. It’s really about meeting the expec-

plains. “Then there are the more casual visitors com-

tations of our guests.”

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The state tourism board last fall released the results

like Airbnb and HomeAway. y Airbnb operators who ady.

of a study evaluating the advertising campaign. “The

vertise as 420-friendly in Craigslist and elsewhere are

main finding was that the availability of marijuana,

experiencing higher occupancy. Eymer works with

for the vast majority of travelers, is a ho-hum issue,”

several hotels and rental properties that provide, some

Ritter says. One study finding that almost half of vis-

discreetly, places for travelers to use cannabis.

itors listed cannabis as among the reasons for their

Bamford explains there is still apprehension about

visit, Ritter says, has been discredited by the survey

being associated with cannabis, especially people

company. “But it has taken on a life of its own. The

from states where it is illegal. “There is definitely a

question didn’t ascertain whether it affected them

segment that is concerned with being on the right

positively or negatively. They are rewording the ques-

side of the law while they’re here,” he says. “They’re

tion for future surveys. But that number gets report-

looking for marijuana-friendly lodging as a place to

ed and re-reported.”

consume what they buy. We’re trying to provide them

Other statistics suggest that canna-tourism is more

with resources.”

pervasive than the state wants to admit. A 2014 survey

When Bamford started calling hoteliers in 2013,

found that up to 90 percent of recreational cannabis

most hung up or were, at best, antipathetic. “There

sales in mountain communities were to tourists, which

were some places that decided to embrace it, mostly

certainly means that some out-of-state skiers are inter-

smaller places, independent places, and some com-

ested in more than fresh powder when hitting the hills.

mercial hotels in Denver. The Crown Plaza, for in-

A lot of local businesses might disagree, too. Half

stance, built a relationship with tour operators, and

a dozen companies run tour-bus services like the one

they provide a desktop vaporizer.”

“

T H E L O C A L D E N V E R A N D B O U L D E R N IG H T L I F E , M U S I C A N D C O M E D Y S C E N E S A R E H E A LT H Y A N D U B I Q U I T O U S , A S A R E T H E F E S T I VA L S A N D C O NC E RT S I N T H E M O U N TA I N S D U R I N G T H E S U M M E R M O N T H S .

we’re on that will pick you up at DIA and take you to

But even if they tolerate cannabis, hotels and mo-

dispensaries and cannabis-friendly lodging or let you

tels are still wary. On the Pot Guide website, all can-

create your own tour of Denver’s cannabis culture.

nabis-friendly hotels list only the phone number, not

Staid old Frommer’s now includes a tourist guide on

the name or location. “It’s a weird dynamic,” says Bam-

buying cannabis in Colorado, and even The New Yo Y rk

ford. “They want the business but are concerned with

Times and Travel & Leisure have reported on cannabis

alienating their existing client base. But a lot of fears

tourism here.

are being alleviated, and more are coming on.”

Though purchasing cannabis is pretty easy (you

There are a few scattered private clubs where tour-

just need a driver’s license that shows you’re 21), find-

ists can bring their own stash in Colorado Springs,

ing a place to use is still a hassle. Yo Y u can’t consume

Englewood, and Nederland. A Denver public-use ini-

in public areas, and many visitors don’t have friends

tiative last year gathered enough signatures to make

in the area. Hotels, especially larger chains, have

the 2015 ballot but was pulled before it came to a vote.

tightened no-smoking policies. In Boulder, for in-

At press time, a new proposal from Denver NORML and A

stance, no hotels allow smoking in rooms.

Responsible Use Colorado is obtaining signatures to

That has left the door open for short-term rentals

44

”

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place a similar petition onto this year’s ballot.

Colorado passed medical marijuana rules two years

250 cases out of literally millions of edible experienc-

before recreational rules, and the state was caught

es, and since cannabis is non-toxic, hospital visits were

somewhat by surprise by the popularity of edibles.

limited to the time people experienced symptoms.

Medical patients use higher amounts of THC than

And the “start low, go slow” has become almost a

most recreational users, and it can take a few hours

mantra around the industry. “I think people are more

for the effects of edibles to materialize. A couple of

aware, and the media are educating people more and

deaths reportedly linked to marijuana and a column

more,” says Kyle Sherman of Flowhub, a company that

from a New York Times reporter who had an anxious

provides metrics and data for dispensaries. “It can be

night after consuming too much brought edibles into

dangerous, and it’s important that we regulate it so

the national limelight.

people who come here to use it for the first time have

The state legislature’s solution limits the amount

a fantastic time.”

of THC in each edible product for recreational users

Everybody on the bus seems to be doing just that.

to 10 mg. Still, a recent study published in the New

During a stop at Medicine Man’s retail shop, I’m sit-

England Journal of Medicine found that the number

ting on the couch with Chimére, on the tour from

of out-of-state residents who went to a Colorado emer-

Georgia with her husband, who’s in line to check out

gency room for cannabis-related reasons nearly dou-

the retail merchandise. A few folks behind her are lin-

bled from 2012 to 2014.

ing up to take selfies with a giant, plastic joint. Legal-

That might sound ominous in a headline, but taken

ization, she says, was at least part of the reason they

in context, it means that a total of 150 visitors, and

decided to visit Denver this year. “I wish we could have

100 more residents, were admitted for cannabis-re-

this back in Atlanta,” she says. “But it’s great to be able

lated anxiety. What the stories didn’t say is that that’s

to visit a place where this is happening.”

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D E N V E R COMIC CON

sensi

SCENE

Comic Con began in San Diego in 1970 as a comic book

convention for artists, writers, and their fans. Over the decades, the Comic Con phenomenon spread across the globe, with conventions hosted in India, Europe, and the United Arab Emirates.

Denver Comic Con is one of the youngest, with the first held in 2012 at Denver’s Colorado Convention Center. Today, Denver’s is the third largest Comic Con in the world, pulling in nearly 115,000 attendees this year.

At Denver Comic Con, June 17–19, 2016, people from around the city, the state, and the nation came together to flaunt their cosplay prowess. Cosplayers of all ages, sizes, and experience levels posed for photos and roleplayed their favorite characters over the course of an entire weekend.

There were also endless entertainments for pop culture fanatics. Vendors offered rare finds for comic, toy, and memorabilia collectors. Hollywood stars such as Brent Spiner, Karl Urban, and Haley Atwell held panels where they took questions from the audience and told insider stories about behind-the-scenes hijinks. And this year’s event presented the Grand Poobah of Comics himself, Stan Lee. If you happened to miss Denver Comic Con this year, fret not: it’ll be here again next June. Same Bat-Time, same Bat-Channel.

DEN VER Some cosplayers revise famous characters like this samurai version of Iron Man. 48

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Comic book legend Stan Lee took questions from a crowd of 3,000 fans.

Brooke Martinez on fleek with her rendition of Jessica Rabbit.

CON

COMIC

All-inclusive: zombies and mermaids alike accepted.

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