Sensi Magazine - Southern Colorado (March 2018)

S OU THER N COLOR ADO

snow

THE NEW NORMAL

3.2018

S PR I N G P RE V I E W

CAMPING for the BLIZZARD BORN

UNITED

we skate party

Pikes Peak Derby Dames

meltdown

a Coloradan’s adventure to California

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sensimag.com MARCH 2018 1

2 Southern Colorado MA RCH 2 0 18

ISSUE 3 // VOLUME 2 // 3.2018

18

contents.

FEATURES 28

SPECIAL REPORT

The Allure of Cannabidiol

It seems that everyone is asking about CBD and its healing properties. What is it, how does it work, and could it be good for you?

34

Mile High Rules Don’t Apply

Why I failed my first California assignment … and did we really burn on the bus with Sean Paul?

34

22 DERBY GIRLS Broken skin and broken bones?

All in a day’s work.

EVERY ISSUE 5 Editor’s Note 6 The Buzz 10 CrossRoads

GET OUTSIDE

14 TasteBuds

POTLUCK

18 TravelWell

SNOW CAMPING

2 2 AroundTown

DERBY DAMES

4 6 {SoCO}

Z APATA FALLS

PROGRAMMING

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

sensimag.com MARCH 2018 3

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head.

the rite of

spring

ISSUE 3 VOLUME 2 3.2018

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editor’s

NOTE

M A RCH IS, HISTORICALLY, COLORADO’S SNOWIEST MONTH. IT ’S AL SO THE BEGINNING OF SPRING. Newcomers to our state may find this seasonal switcheroo a tad confusing. Heck, I’ve lived here my entire adult life, and I’m still bewildered by Colorado’s freak blizzards blowing through the Front Range while the rest of the country saddles up for suntans and sunsets melting into a glittering sea.

Although he probably never intended it, the immortal maestro Igor Stravisnky perfectly captured Colorado’s frenetic springtime in his riotously controversial performance The Rite of Spring. Depending on the account, The Rite of Spring’s premiere ended with a stunned audience that either delivered a standing ovation or a droning wall of jeers. Some witnesses claim both events occurred. Critics at the time couldn’t agree if the grating music or the dark ballet act—which concluded with a girl dancing herself into oblivion— induced the most shock. Even if you’re unfamiliar with Stravinsky, you’ve heard this composition or its echoes in popular culture.

The Rite of Spring introduced the world to the foreboding, eerie, sublime, and downright chaotic modes of what we call “classical music.” Think the theme from Jaws or the suspenseful symphonic snippets that saturate thriller, horror, and even action films. Those all draw from Stravinsky’s masterpiece. And yet, despite breaking every musical convention up to that point, historians generally consider The Rite of Spring as one of the greatest pieces of music of the modern age, if not of all time.

For Sensi’s Spring Preview issue, imagine Stravinsky revised with added sunlight and harmony. March may be our most climatically hectic month, but in Southern Colorado, we respond to the madness with laughter, teamwork, adventure, and—sometimes—some damn fine weed. Within these pages, you won’t find a young woman literally sashaying the dance macabre, but you will find stories of women braving the most unforgiving of elements, women sparring in circles while decked in fishnets, and women hilariously navigating California’s long dispensary lines in search of the perfect churro.

One last thing: March is also Women’s History Month. And what better way to celebrate history than by surpassing it?

M E D I A PA RT N E R S National Cannabis Industry Association Women Grow

Randy Robinson

MANAGING EDITOR

SENSI SOUTHERN COLORADO

sensimag.com MARCH 2018 5

THE NE W N O R M A L

the

buzz

HEAVEN, let your

Light Shine down

It’s been 25 years since the Georgia-based alt-rock band Collective Soul first smashed the charts with their hit single “Shine.” They haven’t stopped rockin’ ever since. Over the course of the band’s career, they’ve cranked out seven No. 1 hits and went platinum multiple times over. To anyone wondering if they’ve still got it, in 2015 their ninth album, See What You Started

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OM

AnnaBís

by Continuing, reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Alternative Chart. So yeah, they’ve still got it.

Fusing rock, folk, soul, blues, country, and metal, Collective Soul is, in essence, the collective soul of American music. For children of the 90s, catching them live at the Pikes Peak Center will be an odyssey of nostalgia. For younger whipper-snappers, witness living history in the surround sound of a state-of-the-art auditorium. Regardless of who you are or when you first heard them, mark March 19 as the “Perfect Day” to “Welcome All Again.”

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{crossroads}

by RICARDO BACA

INTO THE GREAT WIDE OPEN How cannabis has intensified my relationship with the outdoors.

With winter almost behind us, it’s time to start wean-

stress, improve focus, diminish depression, and restore

ing from the Netflix binges, cover those unfinished DIY

us physically and mentally. It’s also true that, submerged

home projects with a big sheet, and call the hot chocolate-

in the natural world, things are simplified but also am-

by-the-fire-fueled #relationshipgoals good and met.

plified — and because cannabis is an amplifier as well,

Throwing open the windows to let in the crisp spring air always gets me psyched to put the plans in motion for

the inherent beauty and giddy sense of discovery are magnified on a grand scale.

some warm-weather diversions paired with cannabis.

In addition, it’s still entirely possible to continue con-

While some people find that they’re most comfortable

trolling some aspects —you can bring along your favor-

consuming in a confined and tightly controlled space,

ite beverage in a bota bag, or settle into the tent with the

many of us prefer to explore our natural substances—be

rain fly open to the cooling night sky. It does make sense

it cannabis or psilocybin —while also exploring nature,

to consider the setting and adjust your consumption ac-

believing that the experience is very much enhanced by

cordingly. For instance, where others might overcon-

being immersed in an organic environment.

sume alcohol and get silly, if I’m camping and know that

Don’t get me wrong: Getting high indoors is great.

we’re sedentary for the night — our tent is set up and

You decide what the temperature will be, steep that

we’ve lost track of our car keys, so we’re not going any-

mug of hot tea whenever it’s convenient, wrap your-

where —I might have more cannabis than I normally do,

self in a snuggy blankie, and settle in knowing that all

maybe a solid indica-based edible in the hopes that I

is well in your little self-made world.

sleep better that night on the cold, hard ground.

But getting high in the outdoors can be truly life-­ changing. It’s not just that nature is good for us: Study

In fact, consuming cannabis al fresco has led me to some truly extraordinary adventures.

after scientific study has proven that spending time

Of course, I will always remember fondly my first time

surrounded by red rock, relaxing on a beach, walking

combining open air and edibles: Some friends and I were

through the woods, or paddling down a river can relieve

rafting the Lower Colorado River between Loma (Colo

10 Southern Colorado MA RCH 2 0 18

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 MARCH 2018 11

rado) and Westwater (Utah), and we had brought along some chocolate mint cookies to share at the campsite.

These were the early days, and so we were a little un-

I WA S WITH MY L ADY,

OUTSIDE IN THE FRESH, WARM AIR AND

certain about dosage. I wound up getting so high and

WATER, RELEASED FROM MY DAY-TO-DAY

so absorbed in the campfire-heightened ambiance and

OBLIGATIONS, AND THERE WAS NO PLACE

the often hilarious and sometimes deeply contempla-

IN THE WOR L D T HAT I W O UL D R AT HE R

tive conversation that I completely forgot the river was rushing along beside us — and when it hit me, it was a

HAVE BEEN AT THAT MOMENT.

joyous realization all over again.

In the months that followed that fun, I was able to

us rent bikes, and then took us all around the area, from

nail down my own tolerance and began to better ingest

busy streets lined with amazing public art to the rural

within my limits, which wound up being helpful during a

area where our friend was raised. That’s when we ped-

trip to Eindhoven in the Netherlands. Not far from Am-

aled onto this mind-blowing path, which at dusk was

sterdam — where space cake-selling coffeeshops are

just beginning to release the sunrays it had been ab-

in abundance — Eindhoven is home to the famous Van

sorbing all day. We already had been gently lifted earli-

Gogh-Roosegaarde bike path, which beckoned with its

er from pieces of space cake, and that helped to elevate

twinkly, solar-charged lights embedded in stone, meant

this to the otherworldly, with these multicolored lights

to evoke the artist’s trippy and surreal painting The

like stars springing up from the pebbles as we mean-

Starry Night.

dered along, past windmills from other Van Gogh paint-

My wife and I told our host we wanted to check it out, so he walked us over to the train station and helped

12 Southern Colorado MA RCH 2 0 18

ings and through tree-lined open spaces.

Along a more reflective vein, many would argue that

isolated section of stream and waited for the trout to find my dry fly. I got a couple on but never landed anything, but it was still such a special and meaningful day: I was with my lady, outside in the fresh, warm air and water, released from my day-to-day obligations, and there was no place in the world that I would rather have been at that moment.

Of course, as when ingesting any psychoactive substance, safety is essential. In the Netherlands, I felt fishing is somewhat of a meditative sport, and cannabis

completely comfortable with my dosage, and having a

is a meditative medicine — and so when combining the

guide along was key. And while I don’t smoke flower,

two, it’s no surprise that it can be an enchanting experi-

most cannabis consumers do, and so always be hyper-

ence. Patience is obviously a top requirement (that’s why

aware of where that roach winds up and that fires are

they call it fishing and not catching), and it’s that requisite

completely out. Of course having a designated driver

steadfastness and dedication that appeals to me —

picked out before you imbibe is a must.

which brings me to the time my wife and I had a day off, and I heard Colorado’s Clear Creek calling our names.

Also, as legalization spreads across the country, it’s worth noting that consumption of any and all kinds is

She graciously offered to be designated driver, and

still very much illegal on federal lands—which includes

so armed with a bottle of wine, a 10 mg edible and a

national parks, national forests and designated wilder-

couple of fly rods, we headed out. As I became pleas-

ness areas. But otherwise, enjoy that sun-grown un-

antly elevated, I waded out into the middle of this

derneath the sun.

sensimag.com MARCH 2018 13

{lifestyle}

by LEL AND RUCKER

POTLUCK PROGRAMMING Canna-Culinary Shows Infuse TV Celebrity chefs and cooking shows, in 2018, are a

The two shows couldn’t be more different, but no

dime a dozen. Old hat. Mainstream. Cable television is

matter: there’s enough audience to go around. Ameri-

flooded with programs about would-cooks competing

cans love cooking shows, which have been program-

with other would-be cooks and chefs skillfully brais-

ming staples since television’s earliest days. The first

ing pork chops or subjugating a minion for over-char-

known recorded program that featured cooking aired

ring the kale.

on June 12, 1946, when Philip Harben, a friendly, erudite

It may not be a full-blown trend quite yet, but a cou-

and ample chef, made lobster vol-au-vents for his BBC

ple of new programs have added cannabis, in one way

viewers. Less than three months later, James Beard,

or another, to the tried-and-true cooking show recipe.

already a popular newspaper columnist, debuted the

Half-baked culinary shows, if you will.

first televised American cooking show, I Love to Eat.

Bong Appétit, a cannabis docuseries on the Viceland

Julia Child became the first certifiable cooking star

network, wrapped up its second season in November

when her influential The French Chef debuted in 1963

2017, as did Snoop & Martha’s Potluck Dinner Party on

and lasted 10 years on National Educational Television

VH1. The two shows are almost opposites. On one,

and later on PBS. Child’s exaggerated voice, unfettered

Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart whip up basic dishes

style (she would lick the bowl and taste her sauces)

and spout pot clichés alongside a rotating cast of ce-

and wry humor made her a compelling on-camera fig-

lebrity guests. Bong Appétit takes a different approach,

ure. She would hold up raw chickens before preparing

actually trying to educate its audience about cannabis.

them and wave their thighs at the audience. The show

The basic premise—a notable guest chef creates a

was recorded live and was unedited, which became

multicourse infused feast for an elaborate dinner party

part of its appeal and lent Childs an air of authenticity.

thrown by the show’s host—pushes the boundaries of

In the cable age, cooking shows became competitive

what’s expected and what’s possible when it comes to

affairs, dominated by cartoonish chefs often exasper-

cannabis cuisine. [Editor’s note: Bong Appétit ’s co-host

ated with the ineptitude of their students, epitomized

Ry Prichard contributes to Sensi Los Angeles.]

by Gordon Ramsay’s The F Word. Today there are entire

14 Southern Colorado MA RCH 2 0 18

Y R A N I L U C A CANN WILL .

U O Y F I , S W O SH

COOKING W ITH CANNABIS

I’m not quite sure you would call it a trend yet, but a couple of new programs have added cannabis, in one way or another, to their recipes.

sensimag.com MARCH 2018 15

Providing quality

cannabis and

concentrates

here in Pueblo, CO

channels devoted to food, the Food Network and Cooking Channel here, the Good Food network across the pond, and a host of celebrity chefs with high ratings have become full-blown lifestyle brands. Take, for example, Rachael Ray, who parlayed a cooking show into a multimillion-dollar conglomerate hawking everything from cookware and cookbooks to home decor items and even a pet food line. For his part, Gordon Ramsay is listed as one of the highest-earning celebrities in the world by Forbes. Our appetite for cooking shows and celebrity chefs is seemingly insatiable.

Now we have Snoop & Martha and Bong Appétit, each show gearing up for a third season. Except for during a short prison term for insider trading, Stewart has been a TV fixture since the 1980s. As for Snoop, the rapper, producer, and television personality has been a vocal marijuana enthusiast since he was discovered by Dr. Dre in the early 90s. His love shows no signs of waning; he just signed a deal with Jack in the Box for a special Merry Munchie Meal that costs $4.20.

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$5 OFF Yes, pairing the 76-year-old Stewart with the 40-something rapper is unexpected, but the duo is not nearly as odd a couple as they’re marketed by VH1. The hosts both have strong entrepreneurial bents and successful track records. Their program is a fusion of a cooking show and a celebrity talk show aimed at a broad demographic of viewers who tune in for episodes like Season 2’s “Keepin’ It Crunk.” Official description: “Diddy, Usher, and La La Anthony show up to help Martha and Stewart get crunk because they’re cooking with booze. But when the booze goes to their head, things get lit and lit.” Oh boy. During another episode, guest Sha-

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ron Osbourne shares her regret that she hasn’t slept with a black man, and the audience titters while they all sample Snoop’s baked chicken and Martha’s cognac-spiked pomegranate punch. Guests hit the helium and talk like Donald Duck. But it’s mostly mother Martha and slightly naughty son Snoop reading jokes clumsily off their teleprompters. Snoop and Martha don’t infuse their food with cannabis, and they probably should,

if only for the sake of more engaging television.

Bong Appétit is an attempt to move as far away from tired stoner stereotypes as possible. Geared to a younger demographic, the show is carefully choreographed and edited so nothing is out of place or amiss. There is

You can almost hear the collective GASP when cannabis specialist Ry Pritchard opens the door to the WEED PANTRY, the ultimate marijuana food resource. no cooking clutter or mess, everything mixes, cooks, and pours perfectly, and the narrative moves at a fever pitch as host Abdullah Saeed pairs up with cannabis chefs to create infused dishes for every type of cuisine. Season 2 kicked off with Chef Marcel Vigneron making a meal using molecular

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gastronomy; later that season, the “Kosher Kush Cooking” episode shows Chef Joan Nathan preparing an infused traditional Shabbat dinner.

You can almost hear the collective gasp when cannabis specialist Ry

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ing strains, stacks of concentrate jars and terpene droppers to cater to the chefs’ every need, and returns with the perfect infusions of bud, concentrates, and terpenes for the occasion.

But looking beyond the editing brilliance, it’s obvious that Bong Appétit is working on a higher level. During “Ganja Game Day,” while dinner is being prepared for former NFL players, the athletes talk about the reasons they use cannabis and discuss its medical possibilities realistically. It’s wildly preferable over the mindless stereotypes that bog down Potluck Party.

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INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK: @RMEXTRACTS sensimag.com MARCH 2018 17

{travelwell}

by PATRICIA CAMERON

18 Southern Colorado MA RCH 2 0 18

CAN YOU STAND THE SNOW? Colorado is one of the nation’s fastest growing states ...

Sunny days, everybody loves them. Tell me, baby, can you

ately felt the weight of the bladder inside my pack. My

stand the rain? Once the sky begins to turn purple, I can

double-take at the “Cat and Bear Country” warning sign

feel the urgent finality of my decision. If I wanted to turn

threw me off balance because of the sloshing water on

around, if I wanted to go back, now would be that time.

my back. The wind continuously shifted the snow and

Especially when deciding if I’m going to tough out a night

landscape in front of me, obscuring the trail. Behind me,

in near-zero temperatures during a blizzard in the middle

my car was already collecting a thin dusting of powder.

of March.

As I hiked in, I encountered a steep hill and it remind-

Earlier, in a different light, in the dark before dawn, I

ed me of sledding, snowshoeing, and even skiing. All of

padded gently around my small apartment in Manitou

which are absolutely perfect activities for this expedi-

Springs to avoid waking my son while I gathered the rest

tion, but I was regrettably unprepared for this day.

of the items for my expedition. Playing through my ear-

And all around me was the solitude I craved. The only

buds is New Edition’s “Can You Stand the Rain," the score

voice I could hear would be mine. So, naturally, I start-

behind my checklist. Do I take my water filter even though

ed talking. I talked myself through my tasks, otherwise

I expected freezing temperatures? Or do I pack three liters

this would get boring really quickly.

of water regardless of the added weight? Every ounce

For example, when I found a spot to make camp:

counts, but this was my first solo expedition—and in a

“Don’t forget to stomp out a flat area before you lay

snowstorm, nonetheless. I opted for safety and comfort

your tarp down.” While preparing your campsite in the

over the weight concerns of my pack, then continued to

snow, you don’t want to lay your tent on fresh flakes

lay out supplies on the couch. Isobutane and propane can-

without giving yourself some solid ground. Simply

isters, my Black Diamond headlamp, et cetera, et cetera.

stomp your boots to create a nice, sturdy square on

Camping in the snow is hardcore even for die-hard

which to set up your tent.

outdoor enthusiasts. Weaving through Ute Pass, head-

Or when it was time for lunch: “Yum, dehydrated

ing up 24 toward my destination of Lake George, I re-

chicken alfredo sounds amazing!” In the interest of

called what originally inspired me to seek this solitude

saving time and energy, I packed dehydrated meals for

in seemingly unbearable conditions. For one, being a

this trip. It’s as simple as boiling water and pouring it

single mother of an 11-year-old son leaves much to be

into the bag. However, dehydrated chicken alfredo is

desired in terms of privacy and quiet time. But, in reality,

neither yummy nor amazing, for the record.

camping brings me something adults search for long af-

Or when I thought that rustling outside of my tent

ter childhood. It brings me the chance to create my own

was a bear: “Only, like, nineteen people have died from

world with plenty of distance away from the dragging

a bear attack in the last hundred years. They are more

banality of adulthood.

afraid of us than we are of them.” I was wrong. The number is actually 25 fatal black bear attacks in North

Bear Country

America over the last twenty years. That’s including

After a while I realized I was the only car on the road,

Canada. Spring camping, unlike winter camping, runs a

and when I pulled into my parking space, I was the only

slightly greater risk of encountering a hungry bear. To

car at the trailhead. I shouldered my bag and immedi-

be fair, the risk in Colorado is still awfully small. sensimag.com MARCH 2018 19

Fire and Ice

by prairie beaches and piney bluffs. It’s popular for both

In hindsight, I made a few missteps. My feet weren’t

conventional fishing and ice fishing, but the catches can

warm enough, my hands lost heat due to the silly knit

be temperamental, either feast or famine. You won’t

gloves and liners I brought, and I was constantly bat-

get many bites along the shore; you’ll have better luck

tling frigid digits. Some advice I’ll pass along to you:

out in the water.

“Stay warm, never rewarm.” I can’t express just how

I didn’t have to go far, either. Lake George is a little

difficult it was restoring my fingers to a functioning

under an hour west of Colorado Springs, and this site

temperature. On top of that, the time it took to re-

was only a mile into the backcountry. Backcountry sites

warm wasted much of my energy and most of what

cannot be reserved until May, so for spring camping, it’s

little daylight remained.

first come, first served. Or, in my case, only served.

But I don’t want to discourage you, and I hope this

Everything Under the Sun

warning only serves to motivate. Because even with the splintering cold and wondering if the swishing sound was my tent blowing in the breeze or a hangry ursine—I had the best view in Colorado that weekend. All to myself.

Storms will come, this we know for sure. Tell me, baby, can you stand the rain?

When I stepped out of my tent for dinner and en-

My sole neighbor that evening was the reservoir, lap-

countered the purple horizon, I had to make a choice.

ping aggressively at its banks, sculpting an icy shoreline

If I was going to abandon this trip, I would have to do

at the edges where the water licked the snow. Eleven

it now. Hiking out of the woods at nighttime during a

Mile State Park near Lake George defines the sublime

blizzard could prove fatal. Or I could bring it in, pack it

experience of southern Colorado. Even during droughts,

down, and wait out the night—and the storm.

the place is an oasis of sparkling snowmelt surrounded

This moment is the crux. As a child, Apollo 13 was

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my favorite movie, and in middle school I read the book

Even with a headlamp, your activities are bound to

it was based on. When Apollo 13 slingshot around the

how long the sun sits above you and the mountains.

moon, there was a period where the ship went dark,

Soon enough, that dusk became night, and I snuggled

and the crew could no longer communicate with mis-

comfortably into my toasty Marmot sleeping bag. The

sion control in Houston. As night got closer, the deci-

last sound I heard was the wind rearranging the snow

sion to stay or go reminded me of disappearing behind

over the ground outside. I audibly wished myself, and

the moon, being completely alone and without the

whatever might be listening, “Goodnight,” and drifted

ability to reach out to the real world.

off to the dark side of the moon.

I packed up everything that gave off a scent and

The next morning, as I packed up to leave, I saw

moved them into a bear canister. I ensured my Nalgene

that I had visitors throughout the night. It looked as if

bottle filled with water was within arm’s reach, but

at least one small animal came close enough to leave

kept it separated from my “bathroom” Nalgene. No one

its own frozen paw prints alongside mine. Despite the

wants to leave their tent during a snowstorm to relieve

flurry, I wasn’t completely alone after all.

themselves—or accidentally drink it while reaching

There’s a lot to be said of the outdoors scene in Col-

clumsily for water in the dark. Then I shoved one of my

orado. Many of my friends have a Summit pass, but I

fuel canisters into the bottom of my sleeping bag, for a

spend most of the snowy season by myself. This is how

quick start in the morning. A couple of pulls on my guy-

I discovered solo packing, and how I extended it into the

lines and I was fully committed for the night, the point

colder seasons. There’s more than enough time through-

of no return. Now it was just me in the gloom, the wind,

out the year to find spaces in national forests and parks

my headlamp, and a paperback copy of Game of Thrones.

to meet your neighbors, make new friends, and exchange

Our ancestors knew the importance of daylight.

tips on what the trout are biting on that day.

sensimag.com MARCH 2018 21

{aroundtown}

by B E C C A S T I N E

THE PIKES PEAK DERBY DAMES Once these ladies strap on the skates, don’t expect apologies. There’s no saying sorry here.

On most Monday nights, while the streets of

of women’s roller derby. The team was founded by a

Colorado Springs stay tame, with restaurants un-

woman who goes by Slugs-N-Kisses in 2005, and ran

der-crowded and most people at home winding down

as an active team playing a year-round league ever

after a slow beginning to their week, the City Auditori-

since. The Derby Dames are split into five teams: The

um downtown clamors with commotion. In addition to

Danger Dolls, Candy Spipers, and Killer Queens repre-

the loud music bumping throughout the central space,

senting the home teams; The Slamazons representing

ten women of all ages, shapes, and sizes roller-skate

the B team; and The All Stars representing the A team,

around a track lined onto the court, yelling and knock-

which qualifies for international rankings.

ing each other over, with other animated women shout-

Unlike most athletic pursuits, roller derby is known

ing on the sidelines. The colorful spandex, elbow and knee-

for its alternative costumery. The eccentric makeup

pads, glitter, and eccentric makeup don’t take away from

and fishnets that characterize derby in the media are

the action circling the rink. As the women skate around

part of the sport, but the style does not define it.

the track at high speed in what almost looks like a hud-

“I like that part of roller derby,” says Claws, who

dle, one woman body-checks another. The checked

spent four years as a derby official, watching the game

skater slams hard on the slick floor but immediately gets

and learning the rules, before becoming a derby girl

back up, hand brushing along the bruises covering her

herself, “but that doesn’t discredit how hard I work on

arms and legs, and continues to fight the women in the

the track. It doesn’t matter what I wear. That doesn’t

glissading quasi-huddle.

define me as an athlete.”

These women are the Pikes Peak Derby Dames, and

Roller derby’s rules are simple—at first glance. Two

their aggressive actions are part of a sport called roller

teams compete, and each team is composed of five

derby.

members. Teams skate in the same counter-clockwise

Although not the only roller derby team in Colora-

direction around a track. Each game includes a series

do Springs, the Pikes Peak Derby Dames are the only

of short rounds called jams, in which both teams des-

league affiliated with the Women’s Flat Track Derby

ignate a jammer. The jammer scores her team’s points

Association (WFTDA), the international governing body

by passing laps around the opposing team’s members.

22 Southern Colorado MA RCH 2 0 18

The Pikes Peak Derby Dames have been back in action for the past month. The All-Stars and Slamazons will host a double-header on March 24.

You can check out their schedule at PIKESPEAKDERBYDAMES.BREEZI.COM

sensimag.com MARCH 2018 23

The jammer’s teammates play defense and offense at the same time by holding up the opposition while helping the jammer get ahead. Because this is a contact sport, things can—and do—get rowdy. Broken skin and broken bones are common injuries in this athletic pursuit.

The roughhousing that’s integral to roller derby may be one of its biggest draws. There are around 1,250 roller derby leagues worldwide. According to the WFTDA, which oversees over 250 of these leagues, roughly 40,000 competitors are registered on their roster alone.

In just a decade since its resurgence, roller derby has exploded into a multimillion-dollar industry that’s active everywhere, even in small towns that lack leagues for older sports like baseball. The Olympic Committee has taken note as well, and they may add roller derby to the 2020 Olympic Games.

Initially, roller derby started as a theatrical game, much like professional wrestling. Today, it has evolved into a sport defined by its raw talent and hair-trigger skill, like football or hockey. Kamilla BloodSpilla started skating in 2006, and she’s been a member of the Pikes Peak Derby team since their first recruitment almost twelve years ago. “We have a strategy, we run a play, and your ass better fuckin’ be ready to move it and do what you need to do,” says Kamilla. “You stop moving your feet, you’re dead meat. It’s as easy as that.”

Before joining the team, women must go through a three-month boot camp. “I don’t wanna hear, ‘I’m too old,’ ‘I’m too fat,’ ‘I’m too ugly,’ blah, blah, blah,” says COLD, who ended up in the Springs through the military and has been skating for six years. The derby women credit their progress to this intense period of training, a time in which they realized the intensity of roller derby as a serious sport. Newcomers, or “Fresh Meat,” are set up with a mentor called a “Butcher.”

Not only is roller derby one of the only sports originally designed solely for women, it’s also one of the most inclusive—being at least eighteen years old is the only requirement for joining the team. There are no other age limits, height or weight limits, or previous knowledge or experience required.

“If it wasn’t for derby, we probably wouldn’t be in the same circles,” says Kamilla. “It comes 24 Southern Colorado MA RCH 2 0 18

together, and we see each other for our differences, and it doesn’t matter. We accept each other, and we’re a team, no matter what. I think it’s amazing.”

The Derby Dames are some of the strongest, most empowered, and self-aware women, who compare arm bruises at Laos Taco Shop while speaking on the ways in which derby has shaped their worlds. Like any other athletic pursuit, derby becomes a lifestyle, a time commitment, and a job—to keep the body safe while balancing family with work life.

“Since I moved here, derby is all I do,” says Knoxyaova, who began life as a derby girl in Germany. “I had a job there, and derby was number one.”

Alongside the self confidence that comes with wearing short, tight spandex before crowds of hundreds, the women talk about both the mental and physical strength that derby instills. “I’m a little less scared of things,” says Claws, the smallest skater at the table that morning. “I feel like I know what my body can do. I might be small, but I know that I can push hard. I know that if I ever got into a bind where, unfortunately, that’s something that women have to worry about, I could probably fight my way out of it. And that gives me confidence to do things by myself, do things that maybe I wouldn’t have done before derby.”

Roller Derby in Colorado Springs is “run for the skater, by the skater,” functioning similar to a non-profit, where the skaters work with neighborhood engagements, running fundraisers and partnering with charities around town to highlight the work others are doing. The women rely not only on each other, but their wider communities as well, and they give a lot of credit for their successes to the support from their fans.

“It’s amazing to have people come because they love it, and they want to support us. It feels good,” says Claws. “There’s food, there’s booze, there’s a great time.”

Derby stands as a portal and an opportunity for people in Colorado Springs to engage in a community of absolute acceptance, incredible support, endless engagement, color, music, and energy like no other. “In the beginning they just show up because they want to be a derby girl—they want to wear fishnets and tutus,” says COLD. “They quickly realize how much of a community we are.”

sensimag.com MARCH 2018 25

Showcase your dispensary with great photos and video!

Indoor/Outdoor Grows Strains Products Headshots & Portraits Harvest Trimming Retail Space Events & Parties Blown Glass jacquelinecollinsphotography@gmail.com jcollinsphotography.smugmug.com @jackie_collins_photography 26 Southern Colorado MA RCH 2 0 18

sensimag.com MARCH 2018 27

A

CANN

T HE

U L L

F O E R

I O D I L B A

by LELAND RUCKER

28 Southern Colorado MA RCH 2 0 18

It seems that everyone is ASKING ABOUT CBD and its HEALING PROPERTIES. What is it, how does it work, and could it be GOOD FOR YOU?

Most of us A R E S T I L L U S I N G C A N N A B I S J U S T F O R E N J O Y M E N T A N D R E L A X A T I O N , BUT A GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE TURNING TO ITS MEDICAL PROPERTIES. IT’S BEING UTILIZED FOR MANAGEMENT OF SEIZURES AND SPASMS, PAIN, ANXIETY, INSOMNIA, INFLAMMATION, DIABETES, SYMPTOMS OF CROHN’S AND PARKINSON’S DISEASE, AND AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES. NINE IN TEN AMERICANS TODAY APPROVE OF I T S U S E , A N D 29 S T A T E S A L L O W I T U N D E R C E R T A I N C O N D I T I O N S .

Why all this excitement? It’s mostly because of what

ingested sublingually via tincture or spray, taken trans-

science is learning about cannabidiol, or CBD, as it’s

dermally through the skin via a patch, or applied top-

better known. CBD is the cannabinoid, or chemical com-

ically in salves and ointments. It can also be infused

pound, found in the cannabis plant that is the key to

into “cannabutter” and added to food. The options are

medical marijuana’s benefits. When you see a video of

nearly as endless as the search results you get if you

a child having a seizure calmed after ingesting drops

google “buy CBD.” The phrase returns nearly 9 million

of cannabis oil, you’re witnessing CBD at work. Almost

results in less than a half-second. How much time do

everyone knows someone who is trying cannabidiol

you have to find a dose and method that’s right for you?

for one reason or another these days, especially since

The most basic thing to understand is that, despite

the discovery of CBD-rich cannabis strains in 2009

the miracle stories, cannabidiol, like any substance

started to make headlines and more people became

or drug we put in our bodies, affects each person dif-

aware of its medical properties.

ferently. So be ready to experiment. What might be a

What makes this cannabinoid attractive to some

perfect dose for one person might not even register

people who are otherwise adverse to cannabis is that

with somebody else. Everyone’s body processes things

CBD doesn’t get you “elevated” like the more well-

in different ways. “Some people can have one drink

known cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the

of alcohol and get drunk. Some people can drink all

best-known cannabinoid, and research continues to

night,” says Josh Whitaker, founder of Team Maryjane,

suggest that CBD helps counter those psychoactive

a Denver-based marketing firm that works with top

effects. And while it might not work for everyone, case

CBD companies around the globe. “Some people only

studies show it to be benign, with no real side effects

get drunk on tequila. Some indicas make people live-

and no possibility of overdose.

ly. Unless you get a DNA test, all you can do is have a

Humans have been using cannabis as medicine for

broad guess how it’ll work for you.”

centuries, but we haven’t understood why it works.

Though CBD products aren’t yet sold by big retail-

That’s changing quickly. Scientists have identified

ers like Amazon and Target, they are showing up in

THC and CBD as the most prominent of more than a

health-food and vitamin markets in legal states. As

hundred cannabinoids produced by cannabis and hemp

more people become aware of its uses, demand con-

plants. Cannabidiol extracted from those plants be-

tinues to rise.

comes infused oil available through a variety of deliv-

On January 1, the International Olympic Commit-

ery systems. It can be swallowed as gelcaps and pills,

tee took CBD off its list of banned substances, which sensimag.com MARCH 2018 29

allows athletes around the world to use it for pain

fer greatly from state to state. Lawyer Jeff Gard, who

management and as part of their training regimes.

works with CBD patients and businesses, describes

With ultramarathoners and elite athletes touting its

the legal landscape as much like the 11-year “Wild

benefits, it’s no surprise that personal trainers and

West” period in Colorado between 2001, when medi-

yoga instructors are using it in their classes, sharing

cal marijuana was passed by voters and a quasi-legal

info about the cannabinoid with their communities.

“caretaker” system emerged, and 2012, when the state

Sharing is caring, after all.

finally implemented rules and regulations.

Still, there’s a lot of information out there—as well

Lawyer and cannabis advocate Rachel Gillette adds

as a lot of misinformation. It’s hard for a novice to

that certain states, like Texas, have really strict laws,

know where to start if you’re interested in trying it.

and she suggests consumers be aware of what their

Jennifer Berger, a young woman in Denver who suc-

own state allows before moving forward. (The Nation-

cessfully treated her chronic health issues with CBD,

al Conference of State Legislatures is a good website

now sells cannabidiol products through Kannaway, a

to start.) “It’s a patchwork of laws as to whether you

multi-level marketing business. Even she admits it’s

can sell it or possess it,” she says. “But it’s not a high

hard to get reliable information. “The more I’ve been

risk from a possession standpoint for the average

involved in the CBD world, the more I realize it is dif-

consumer.”

ficult to know exactly what’s going on.”

At least part of that reason is that if you use medical

WHITE LABELING

marijuana and CBD these days, you’re automatically a

More than a thousand businesses are selling CBD

kind of guinea pig in the medical marijuana experi-

merchandise, and the number is growing. To add to

ment. “It’s early in the game,” says Zev Paiss, a hemp

the confusion, some companies buy white-label prod-

consultant and founding executive director of the Na-

ucts and then slap their own label on them. Which

tional Hemp Association. “Anybody who tries it has to

means you might be getting the exact same bottle of

understand that they are part of the research team.”

CBD gelcaps, for instance, at different prices from two or more different companies.

THE ENTOURAGE EFFECT

“The problem is that there are so many companies,”

Some CBD is extracted from hemp plants, which by

says Team Maryjane’s Whitaker. “And a wide variety

definition can contain no more than 0.3 percent THC,

will white-label for you in literally seconds. The bottle

a tiny amount. It is also extracted from cannabis plants

is the same, the ingredients are the same, and they’ll

with higher percentages of THC. Recent research, most

shoot you a thousand of them within days. It’s so ri-

importantly a 2015 Israeli study, show that cannabis’

diculously easy.”

medical benefits seem to be involved with a combination of THC and CBD, commonly called the entourage

EXTRACTION METHODS

effect, rather than just the CBD itself. Products with

There are many ways to remove or extract CBD from

varying mixtures of THC and CBD seem to be more

the plant, some considered safer than others. The pre-

effective in treating symptoms than those made solely

ferred method is supercritical CO2 , which uses car-

from hemp alone, and there are many products avail-

bon dioxide under high pressure and extremely low

able with varying ratios of CBD and THC.

temperatures, but the equipment needed is expensive

Paiss cautions that we’re still learning about this.

enough to be financially out of reach of most compa-

Much CBD marketing pushes the fact that it doesn’t

nies right now. Other methods include solvents, pro-

get you high. But even that is a misconception, he says.

pane, ethanol, steam distillation and even olive oil to

Just because CBD doesn’t get you elevated doesn’t mean

separate cannabidiol from the rest of the plant. But

you don’t feel its effects. “To say it’s totally non-psycho-

without more research, know that at this point that

active is not accurate,” he says. “You do feel something.”

it’s impossible to determine their absolute safety.

LEGALITY All cannabis products are illegal under the federal

CBD ISOLATE AND TERPENES

Controlled Substances Act. So the production and use

CBD isolate is the distillation of pure CBD molecules

of CBD are governed by a tangle of state laws that dif-

from the plant. The white powder isolate looks much

30 Southern Colorado MA RCH 2 0 18

how to take

{CBD}

THERE ARE SEVERAL POPULAR METHODS TO TAKE CANNABIDIOL, WHICH GIVES USERS OPTIONS.

ments. “It becomes part of your regimen,” says Kanna­ way’s Berger. “We’re not a medicine, and we shouldn’t make those kinds of claims.”

This daily-use model, i.e. finding your sweet spot and sticking with it, is considered the future. “Research has shown that if we can get people to take CBD daily, it dramatically reduces the need for pharmaceuticals,” says Whitaker.

Paiss says he sees a day in the not-so-distant future

ING E STIO N: This is swallowing a gelcap or

when CBD will be handled much in the same way as

pill, which then passes through the digestive

vitamin C is today. “In the next x number of years

system before being metabolized by the liver.

you’re going to have several versions,” he says. “There

SU B LING U AL: Basically, this is holding CBD oil under the tongue before swallowing.

This allows the oil by be absorbed by the mouth’s mucous membrane, which bypasses the digestive system and liver to enter the bloodstream more quickly.

will a 25 milligram pill that you get at Walgreen’s and take each day. If you need a higher dose, you go to the doctor and get a prescription for a 1,000 milligram capsule.” People dealing with cancer or other major problems will visit hospitals to get intravenous shots. “There will be options.”

DOING IT YOURSELF

T O PICA L: These products are applied to the skin as lotions and salves, which allow

So what should you do if you’re interested in trying

faster absorption and can be rubbed directly

CBD? Education is the key, and you’re going to do

into inflamed areas.

your research. A good place to begin is projectcbd.org, which has regularly updated information on what CBD is and what it’s being used for, with links to the latest

like cocaine, and it can be sprinkled into food or drinks.

research.

“Since much of it is coming from outside the country,

“Read up on the reasons you want to take it,” advis-

there are questions of quality and purity and things

es Paiss. “Let’s say you’re having trouble sleeping at

like that,” says Paiss. “But in the last few years a lot of

night. Search ‘CBD and sleep,’ and see what you find.”

isolate has been made here in the US, and it seems to

Check labels to find out where the product comes

be in very ‘high’ demand.”

from, who produced it and what percentages of THC and

Then there are terpenes, those rich, organic com-

CBD it has. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you’re

pounds found in all aromatic plants, including canna-

buying at a dispensary, inquire from budtenders and

bis. Basically, what we eat is dictated mostly by what

owners where their products come from and how they

we smell, and terpenes are what make us want to con-

are produced.

sume food, why we are attracted to certain perfumes

In terms of dosing, it’s best to start low and go slow,

and fragrances, and even how we can differentiate be-

just as you would with edibles. “A lot of places will say

tween strains of marijuana.

to start with three or four drops of oil. My experience

“I’m looking forward to the research that will come

is that’s nowhere close to enough,” says Paiss, who sug-

out in the next couple of decades,” Paiss says, adding

gests starting with 10 milligrams a day, upping your dose

that a few companies are now creating “terpsolate” by

slowly until you notice a difference.

adding certain terpenes back into CBD isolate to create

Paiss has witnessed a person having an epileptic

different flavors and fragrances. “We will see more and

seizure settle down just 30 seconds after getting a cou-

more of this. People are wanting to know the terpene

ple drops of CBD oil. Still, he says, it’s best to ignore

profiles of things.”

the talk of miracle cures and think more about can-

THE NEXT VITAMIN C Increasingly, many people are using CBD on a daily basis, much as they do with other vitamins and supple-

nabidiol as just another thing to promote everyday wellness. “We just want to be able to add it as an option,” says Paiss. “It doesn’t have to be the end-all. It’s just another tool.”

sensimag.com MARCH 2018 31

Savor the Flavor of Cooking with Concentrates CO O K I N G D EM ON ST RAT I ON S | H AN D S ON FOOD PREPARAT ION, FOOD SAMPL I N G AN D F UN TI PS .

Please join us for a healthy alternative cooking class presented by Cannabis South/Ecclesias Extracts and Hosted by celebrity Chef Randy Placeres

LOCATION: Cooks Marketplace 4697 Centennial Colorado Springs CO March 14, 2018 • 6pm - 8pm Space Limited, $99 per person, RSVP by March 12th to Matthan Ibidapo at (678)-876-8781

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32 Southern Colorado MA RCH 2 0 18

sensimag.com MARCH 2018 33

IN

by ROBYN GRIGGS L AWRENCE

DISTILLATE

&ROLLED KIEF IN

34 Southern Colorado MA RCH 2 0 18

Why I FAILED my first CALIFORNIA ASSIGNMENT … and did we really burn on the bus with SEAN PAUL?

I haven’ t seen MY FRIEND SALLY (NAME CHANGED TO PROTECT A CANADIAN)

SINCE THE THANKSGIVING IN BOULDER BEFORE SHE MOVED BACK TO SAN DIEGO IN 2010. WE MET ON A SATURDAY IN JANUARY AT OB NOODLE HOUSE IN OCEAN BEACH. I ROLLED INTO SAN DIEGO ON MY AIRSTREAM’S MAIDEN VOYAGE ABOUT A WEEK AGO, HERE TO OBSERVE AND PAR-

TAKE IN THIS HUGE NEW PART Y, TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE LEGAL CANNABIS SCENE IN CALIFORNIA TO WHAT WE’VE BUILT IN COLORADO.

CALIFORNIA

IS A LEGAL STATE!

BRING. IT. ON.

Four years ago, you could get beers at OB Noodle for

$1. Not anymore. Lunch is going to cost more than expected, but that’s on meme, pretty much how it’s gone since I crossed the border into California and started paying $1 more per gallon (or more) for gas. We order fried rice, chicken lettuce wraps, and $6 Goose Island IPAs that our server says come with a shot of peanut butter Jameson or a shot of sake. He recommends the peanut butter Jameson, a secret recipe, but whiskey worries me so I have sake. Sally has only the IPA because she’s the designated driver for our visit to Urbn Leaf, a cannabis store a half mile away, later this afternoon.

After lunch, we walk along Ocean Beach, enjoying sunshine and brisk breezes. People wrap themselves tightly in their sweaters and fleeces as they stare into what the radio announcer called sizable but trashy surf.

The pier is closed, and everyone we ask has a different reason why.

sensimag.com MARCH 2018 35

But how cool is this? We’re walking right toward a

Sean Paul on the Bus

big, gleaming black party bus that says Urbn Leaf!

The Urbn Leaf lady leans in and whispers, Sean Paul

The guy wearing a black golf shirt with Urbn Leaf

is on the bus. Oh, hey, I say. That’s all I’ve got. I’ve had

stitched on it says we can ride to the store for free and

a lot of churro. I want to see if it’s really Sean Paul, if

smoke whatever we buy during the ride back to OB.

I’d even know, but I don’t want to look like a groupie.

It’s a miracle! We just have to remember where we

I’m dancing in my seat. I try not to do that again.

parked, Sally says.

Churros on the Bus We get on and take seats in the back with two other

We pull up to Urbn Leaf’s superstore. It looks massive. That might be the churro working.

A hellacious line snakes out from the front doors, down the sidewalk, into the parking lot. People wait,

ladies who seem not too sure but not too worried about

used to this, a part of the California lifestyle, like every-

this. The one with the pink weave looks up from her

thing being expensive and the freeway turning into a

phone and smiles when Sally makes a few moves on

parking lot, and the Maps lady saying traffic is getting

the stripper pole.

heavier but you are still on the fastest route. Which is

We wait a while. An entourage boards and fills up the

always the goddamn freeway.

front. Suddenly the bus is busy, loud, and we’re taking

People here need cannabis like they need the free-

off. A guy is walking up and down the aisle taking videos.

ways. Waiting in this line, with sour-lemon faces, is a

A young woman wearing an Urbn Leaf t-shirt is passing

price they pay to live in a legal state with palm trees.

A HEL L AC I O U S L I N E S N A K E S O U T F R O M T H E F R O N T D O O R S , D OW N T H E S I D E WA L K , I N TO T H E PA R K I N G L OT. P E O P L E WA I T, U S E D TO T HIS, A PART OF THE CALIFORNIA LIFEST YLE, L I K E E V ERY T H I N G B E I N G E X P E N S I V E A N D T HE FREEWAY TURNING IN TO A PARKING LOT. around something called a churro, an Urbn Leaf specialty, 3.5 grams of flower dipped in distillate and rolled in keef (we’re pretty sure there’s another step involved, but neither Sally or I can remember later). The churro is the fattest blunt I’ve ever seen, with a plastic mouthpiece so it smokes low and slow.

It’s tasty. I take hits every time she brings it around.

Feeling Sad at the Feel Good Drug Boutique Maybe we get to skip that line because we’re with Sean Paul, I say to Sally and the other ladies.

And we do! The bus handlers lead us to a side door.

We got on the right bus! Then Sean Paul and his people are gone, and so is our Fastpass.

Sally doesn’t, because she’ll be the driver again after

The bus handlers drop us at the first in a long row

this bus ride is over, and she’s nervous. The bus isn’t

of check-in booths. Sally won’t submit her ID for reg-

going to the address Maps gave us for Urbn Leaf.

istry, but I give mine up and then beg my friend to sit

I think there’s more than one Urbn Leaf, I try to re-

with me in the waiting room. I’m a little too churroed

assure her, but she’s afraid that being on a cannabis

to be alone in that bright space full of unhappy people

registry could jeopardize her Canadian citizenship,

flipping through magazines, staring at their phones

which is pretty crazy considering that Canada’s legal-

and out the glass walls into the parking lot.

izing, but this is the world we live in. She doesn’t want anything to mess with that citizenship—and who would, given this world we live in?

A couple sits, arms crossed, under the words “A Feel Good Drug Boutique” painted on the wall.

No one except me has had any feel-good drugs recently, it seems. I’m out of my homegrown-in-Colorado element. The churro keeps on giving.

36 Southern Colorado MA RCH 2 0 18

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The security guy opens the door to the inner boutique and says the next four people can go in. Six people rush the door. After sharp words, two sit back down.

perience my first legal purchase, I bust out the door hoping to avoid anyone from the bus.

The lovely young woman with the churro is right

I catch a glimpse inside, lines of people zigzagging

there, of course, waiting to see what we bought for the

like DIA security or Disneyland during spring break.

ride home. We tell her we didn’t buy anything. I feel

No one looks excited like my relatives from the Mid-

bad, after that ride with Sean Paul and all.

west when they buy legal cannabis in Colorado. People have their because-the-freeway’s-stuck-for-whateverfucking-reason faces on.

In the waiting room, everyone’s grabbing the next

I tell her I couldn’t do that last line. She seems annoyed as we slink away to grab an Uber.

Do you think we should tell her she oversampled me? I ask Sally.

seat over. A lady from the check-in kiosks slides into

I think she got that, Sally says.

the chair to my left. I think that’s supposed to be my

Do you think that was really Sean Paul? I say.

chair, but I’m pretty happy where I am, and I never liked musical chairs anyway. I tell her she should buy a chur-

Happy on the Trolley

ro when she gets inside. She’s not interested in chat-

We have rollicking fun telling our driver Kris about

ting, which is a relief because I’m not quite sure what

people standing in line for legal weed like it’s Space

else I might say.

Mountain or merging onto the I-5 at 5. We pass the bus

I want to buy a churro to take home, but I might not have enough cash. In Colorado, $100 is a pretty safe

as it rolls toward the beach to pick up another load of people to stand in line at Urbn Leaf.

bet, but California is a whole new expensive world. I’m

Kris drops us off at the People’s Coop, where we buy

worried I haven’t accounted for the headline-making

carob macaroons. The churro keeps on giving as we

California cannabis taxes.

walk on the reopened pier, watch the sunset, then

I keep wanting to call this the Happy Place Drug Boutique, I tell Sally. But look at everyone.

huddle under heaters to eat tacos on the patio at Carnitas’ Snack Shack. The day feels magical.

The joyless couple under the words glares at me,

The good vibes linger, even during my trolley ride

and that cracks me up. This is the most hilarious scene

home—perhaps the day’s biggest miracle because

ever. I start laughing and laugh like I haven’t laughed

no one’s ever happy on the trolley.

since I tried to hang on the porch at the after-party for

I do wish I’d bought a churro. I imagine slowly puff-

a psychedelic conference in Vancouver. (I definitely

ing it with friends over a long, lingering evening, in a

need to get out of Colorado more.)

safe place, away from people who haven’t had their

We have to get out of here.

Let’s get an Uber, I say to Sally.

Couldn’t Do That Last Line This is how I fail at my first attempt to report on adult use in California.

Instead of entering the third inner chamber to ex38 Southern Colorado MA RCH 2 0 18

feel-good medicine.

I think I’ll go back to Urbn Leaf and buy a few churros after the newly legal crowds have died down— and we know in Colorado that they do, at least until 4/20 rolls around.

Oh, but wait. Did I learn nothing from this escapade?

This is California. Colorado rules don’t apply.

sensimag.com MARCH 2018 39

40 Southern Colorado F MA E BRCH R UARY 2 0 18 2018

sensimag.com MARCH 2018 41

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

D O C T O R' S O F NAT U R A L M E D IC I N E

The Doctor is In NAVIGATING THE COMPLEX WORLD OF MEDICAL CANNABIS APPLICATIONS CAN BE DAUNTING, AND THE ROOM FOR ERROR IS ABOUT ZERO. DOCTORS OF NATURAL MEDICINE CAN HELP EVERY SINGLE STEP OF THE WAY. Colorado’s medical cannabis program is one of the

ural Medicine can count on them to mediate be-

best in the nation. Patients meet with a licensed

tween the patient and the state agencies. Doctors of

medical doctor, and after an assessment, the doctor

Natural Medicine works directly with the medical

writes a suggestion for medical marijuana. Afterward,

marijuana registry to ensure that if any mistakes are

the patient applies online through the state website,

made, everything gets cleared up as quickly and effi-

fills out the forms, and that’s it. Voila, they get sent a medical marijuana card, and they’re on their way to higher potency edibles, lower sales taxes, and a greater selection of cannabis-infused options.

If only it were that easy.

In reality, signing up for the state’s medical marijuana program can be a chore. One little error— a single digit off on the social security number, numbers reversed on the home address, even misspelling a name— can send an application into the corrections process. And that process can last for weeks if not months. For many patients seeking cannabis treatment for debilitating conditions like chronic pain, epilepsy, or PTSD, they don’t have that kind of time to spare. Thankfully, Doctors of Natural Medicine can expedite the entire application and renewal processes.

“We do the entire process from start to finish here in our office,” says Adam Pawlikiewicz, the CEO of Doctors of Natural Medicine. “Once the doctor ap-

ciently as possible. Which is why Doctors of Natural

proves the patient, we sit down with them and walk

Medicine offers careful attention to detail, so mistakes

them through the online application process.”

are avoided in the first place.

Currently, there are nearly 100,000 registered med-

If you’re planning on signing up as a new patient,

ical marijuana patients in Colorado. “You can imagine

or if you’re renewing your card, consider a quick stop

how backed up that whole process can be,” notes

at a Doctors of Natural Medicine location in Colora-

Pawlikiewicz. If something goes wrong, “the fastest

do Springs, Denver, and Pueblo. “We want to make

way to get a hold of the state is by email, and it can

sure everyone’s in and out of here within an hour.

take a week for them to get back to you.” Actually fi-

Never longer,” says Pawlikiewicz. “In general, we’re

nalizing those details can take even longer.

very quick and efficient, and we ensure all the pa-

However, patients who go through Doctors of Nat-

42 Southern Colorado MA RCH 2 0 18

tients’ questions are answered.”

sensimag.com MARCH 2018 43

S P E C I A L A DV I S ORY BOA R D S E C T ION AS THE CANNA B I S I ND U S TR Y G R OW S, SO DO T H E N UM BE R OF N I CH E E X P ER 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 LE ADERS FROM A VARIETY OF FIELDS WITHIN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY. EACH ISSUE, ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS SHARE SOME OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH OUR READERS IN THIS DEDICATED SECTION. THIS MONTH, WE H E A R F R O M E X P E RTS AT L U X L E A F .

For a full list of Advisory Board Members, turn to the masthead on page 5.

CBD/THC Plants vs. CBD Hemp Plants

by Lux Leaf

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CBD DERIVED FROM HIGH-THC CANNABIS PLANTS VERSUS CBD FROM HEMP? LET’S START BY ADDRESSING JUST WHAT CBD IS. CBD, OR CANNABIDIOL, IS A POWERFUL CANNABINOID. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN IT’S EFFECTIVE FOR REDUCING CANCER CELL GROWTH, MINIMIZING SEIZURES AND CONVULSIONS IN CHILDREN, DECREASING INFLAMMATION, MITIGATING CHRONIC PAIN, AND PROVIDING THERAPEUTIC RELIEF FOR MANY OTHER AILMENTS. So, which version is the best? The short answer is CBD is

cannabis plant, you ask? If you are looking to achieve great

the same molecule regardless of where it comes from. Even

relief or other medical benefits, the potency you will get

the CBD found in hops is the same CBD found in cannabis.

using CBD derived from a higher-THC cannabis plant will be

However, there can be differences between the final prod-

much stronger and therefore a more effective medical al-

ucts, so the key factor is how the CBD is processed or ex-

ternative for you. While CBD from hemp is still a viable

tracted, and that can be heavily influenced by the source.

option for many patients, especially those looking to achieve

One main advantage the CBD from a cannabis plant

minor or short-term pain relief. Patients seeking help with

has over the hemp plant is the concentration level of CBD.

cancer, seizures, inflammation, Alzheimer’s, or other major

In a high-CBD cannabis plant the CBD content can be

aliments may see better and faster results when using

around 20 percent, whereas a hemp plant typically yields

medicine from a cannabis plant with some THC.

about 3 percent CBD. Also, CBD extracted from the

In the end, the patient’s individual needs will determine

hemp plant is usually a rather sticky and viscous resin,

the best sources for CBD. Experimenting is encouraged, and

requiring it to be thinned with additional oils or additives.

always remember to start low and go slow, whether it’s

Patient data has consistently shown that CBD does not

smoking flower or dropping oil under the tongue.

work to its full potential when delivered alone, rendering

Knowledge is power! Come learn more! Join us for in-

hemp-derived CBD products weaker in regard to medici-

formative articles and discussions with Colorado medi-

nal properties. However, CBD derived from a cannabis

cal professionals, hosted by Lux Leaf.

plant containing small but significant amounts of THC

Save the Date: April 6, 2018 at The Warehouse Rest­

works great in conjunction with CBD. CBD is enhanced

aurant located at 25 W. Cimarron St Colorado Springs.

by the presence of THC, a phenomenon known as the

The 2nd annual Lux Leaf event will focus on cannabis

entourage effect. Once the correct ratios are determined

and cancer and cannabinoid knowledge.

for an individual patient, the type of plant used for CBD extraction makes for a more medically efficient flower.

So, should you use CBD from hemp or from a higher-THC 44 Southern Colorado MA RCH 2 0 18

Time and guest speakers TBD. Contact us for more information at 719-999 -5934 or come by our location 2222 W COLORADO AVE. COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80904.

"...ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM ACTIVITY MAY HAVE

THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL IN ALMOST ALL DISEASES AFFECTING HUMANS." - Dr. Pacher & Dr. Kunos, National Institutes of Health

It's time to rethink how you medicate! www.kingscanna.biz 719.465.2407 2132 E. Bijou Street, Suite 114, Colorado Springs, CO 80909

sensimag.com MARCH 2018 45

PHOTOGRAPH © STAN ROSE

{soCO}

by RANDY R OB INSON

atta

ZAPATA A site close to some of our state’s favorite tourist attractions, but far enough from civilization to remain unsullied.

Just a short cruise from the Sand Dunes National Park, the Reptile Sanctuary, and the UFO Watch Tower, cutting deep into the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, resides a 30-feet high waterfall. Coloradans have known for some time that reaching this hidden gem requires a little work and a lot of patience, but to witness this cascading crevasse pouring over dark rocks during the warmer months—or as an ice stream suspended in time during the cooler months—is well worth the effort.

To reach Zapata Falls, hikers may want to strap on some sturdy boots (or crampons if there’s ice and snow).

The climb to the spot can get steep, and the pathways can get slippery at points. Visitors to the San Luis Valley often undertake this side excursion because of its shaded, secluded location, a welcome change of scene from the desert conditions of the Sand Dunes. When it’s cold out, the frozen falls resemble a glacial rush caught in a perpetual, crystalline moment, the subject of countless photographs and cherished memories.

Finding Zapata Falls is simple. Starting in Alamosa at the intersection of Highway 160, follow Highway 150 roughly 12 miles north. Once you see the Zapata Falls Recreational Area sign, turn right and drive another three miles. From there, take the trails into Zapata 46 Southern Colorado MA RCH 2 0 18

Falls proper.

sensimag.com MARCH 2018 47

48 Southern Colorado MA RCH 2 0 18