Sensi Magazine - Southern Colorado (June 2017) by Sensi Magazine

SOUTHERN COLORADO / T H E N E W N O R M A L / 06.2017

Cannabis +Creativity What’s the science actually say?

The Great Escape Southern Colorado’s Escape Rooms

Cannabis 101

Your crash course for all things green

Container Gardening Cultivating worlds in a single pot

PLUS

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contents. ISSUE 2 // VOLUME 1 // 06.2017

FEATURE S

EVERY ISSUE

12 Peaks That Aren’t Pikes

5 Editor’s Note 6 SensiBuzz 16 AroundTown

Pikes Peak isn’t the only 14er climb in these here parts.

24 Creativity and Cannabis S P ECI A L R E P O R T

Artists, scientists, and thinkers of all sorts have long used cannabis to stimulate their minds. But what does the science say? Leland Rucker finds out.

ESCAPE ROOMS

48 CO I QA

A N DR EW

MIEU R E

30 Reigniting the Boom

The story of how one edibles company didn’t just create new jobs in Trinidad, they returned jobs to former factory workers.

35 Late Bloomers

Some people are born with green thumbs. Others must cultivate theirs. Food critic John Lehndorff shares some insider tips on growing your own food with the smallest of spaces in mind.

40 Welcome to Cannabis 101

New to cannabis? Thinking of returning to it after a prolonged break? Not sure of what to make of all these new products? Here’s your crash course in all things pot.

44 Outside the Box

The Green Box Arts Festival takes over Green Mountain Falls to tantalize the senses and engage perceptions.

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head. ISSUE 2 VOLUME 1 06.2017

A DV I SORY B OA R D 1906 New Highs // CHOCOLATES CannaRep // COURIER Craft // RECREATIONAL CONCENTRATES Dabble Extracts // MEDICAL CONCENTRATES

editor’s

note GREEN IS THE NEW RED In Colorado, we’ve got a standing joke: our state ever only sees two seasons each year. Those seasons would be winter and summer, and given this year’s incredibly tame snow season, we can bet this summer’s gonna be a scorcher. With the seasons changing, we’re seeing a sea change in Washington,

DC Investigations // SECURITY

DC, too. President Trump, who’s gone back and forth on the issue of legal

Doctors of Natural Medicine // MEDICAL CENTER

cannabis, seems to be letting us do our thing out here in Colorado. For

Faragosi Farms // RECREATIONAL DISPENSARY

starters, he reduced the US Drug Czar’s budget by 75 percent, probably

Greenhouse Payment Solutions // PAYMENT

the biggest cut to this federal office that we’ve seen in our lifetimes. When

PROCESSING

GRND Staffing Solutions // RECRUITMENT Lux Leaf // EDUCATION

he signed the latest government spending bill, he denied federal funds going to prosecute legal medical cannabis patients, growers, or dispensaries. Even Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who (in)famously quipped that “Good people don’t smoke marijuana,” is taking a step back from cracking

Herbal Healing // COMPLIANCE

down on recreational pot. If we’re to believe our own Gov. Hickenlooper,

King’s Cannabiz // MEDICAL DISPENSARY

Sessions won’t be making cannabis a priority at the Justice Department,

Maceau Law // LEGAL

meaning we’re off the hook—for now.

Monte Fiore Farms // RECREATIONAL CULTIVATION The Mota Pot // HOME EDIBLE MAKER Show Me Kindness // CAREGIVER

We’re witnessing a nationwide paradigm shift, and that culture shift is being reflected in Congress and the White House. According to Gallup polls, most Americans now support recreational cannabis, and an overwhelming majority (over 80 percent) support medical cannabis. The GOP,

Stained Glass // MEDICAL CULTIVATION

long perceived to be the epitome of American prohibition, appears to be

Studio A64 // CANNABIS CLUB

loosening up now, officially making legal cannabis a non-partisan issue.

Taste Budz // CONFECTIONS

Of course, the movement hasn’t reached its terminus just yet. Roughly 20 states, mainly those in the American Midwest and the Deep South, have

M E DI A PA RT N E RS

kept cannabis completely illegal. But with Florida recently embracing

National Cannabis Industry Association

medical cannabis, and Texas poised to join them in the near future, we’ll

Women Grow

have the two largest southern states—as well as the two most populous states outside of California—giving the green light to green buds. So if we’ve ever had a summer to celebrate our newfound freedom, this is it. We passed the tipping point a while ago, and the final domino will fall

PHOTO BY KIM SIDWELL, CANNABIS CAMERA

in the near future.

Randy Robinson

MANAGING EDITOR SENSI SOUTHERN COLORADO

J U N E 2 01 7

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Ask Leland

Our curious cannabis expert, LEL AND RUCKER answers your questions.

Q: A:

sensi

buzz I read a lot of conflicting headlines about whether cannabis is good or bad for your health. What’s your take? One of the hallmarks of the campaign against marijuana has been the insistence by government agencies like the influential

National Institutes of Health to claim that marijuana is dangerous or at least harmful to the health of people who use it. Under pressure, the NIH is changing its ways, but for

years, its only mission was to study the ill effects of illegal drugs. But if scientific studies about the possible positive effects of cannabis might be in short supply in the US, researchers haven’t found much to indicate that even long-term use of cannabis is hazardous to your well-being. (The government could, of course, try studying the 50 million Americans who admit to using marijuana, but perhaps that’s too much to ask.) I always say beware of studies. There are too many of them, and they are easily misinterpreted, especially when in search of a clickbait headline. But they aren’t finding the adverse effects we have been promised ever since Reefer Madness became a stoner hit in the 1960s. The most recent study, published last May in the Journal of the American Medical Association, traced more than 1,000 New Zealanders who were either marijuana or tobacco smokers or abstainers from birth to age 38. After assessing everything from lung function to inflammation, blood pressure, body mass, waist circumference, and much more, the study could only find that more cannabis users lost more teeth than non-users, according to Avshalom Caspi, a professor of psychology at Duke University. Researchers could only guess that it was perhaps because smokers experience dry mouth. “What we’re seeing is that cannabis may be harmful in some respects but possibly not in every way,” Caspi said. “We need to recognize that heavy recreational cannabis use does have some adverse consequences, but overall damage to physical health is not apparent in this study.” There are also claims regularly being made these days about the dangers of higher THC levels, but beyond confirming that the levels are indeed higher today than they once were, I can find nothing in the scientific literature that supports the idea that increased THC levels make cannabis more “dangerous” than the mythical “marijuana your grandmother smoked.” As longtime users well know, legal Colorado cannabis is among the highest quality in the world. If anything, we just have to use a whole lot less of it than grandma did to get elevated.

Got a burning cannabis question? askleland@sensimag.com 6

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THE NEW NORMAL

Much Ado about Something JULY 27–AUGUST 19

If you’ve never attended a Theatreworks show, drop everything you’re doing, and stencil this into your mobile’s scheduler. Theatreworks has long been a staple of the stage scene in Colorado Springs, more than making up for their small productions with larger-than-life performances. From July 27 to August 19, they’ll be putting on William Shakespeare’s comedy Much Ado about Nothing, a tale of two pairs of lovers caught up in familiar yet hilarious communication mixups. The shows are presented at Rock Ledge Ranch, so arrive early and bring a picnic and take in the pre-show performances by dancers, jugglers, and other wandering acts. Tickets start at $30, but if you’re a UCCS student, you get in free. MORE INFO: theatreworkscs.org 8

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sensi

buzz

Born on the 4th of July Our nation’s birthday is just around the corner. That means barbecues, picnics, and a sizzling galaxy of fireworks blazing across the southern Colorado sky. If you’re from here, then you already know where to go. But for those of you new to the area, here’s a quick rundown of our region’s best Fourth of July spots. PREAMBLE PREGAME On July 2, the I-25 Speedway in Pueblo will host a race, followed by fireworks over the tracks. Also starting July 2, America the Beautiful Park in Colorado Springs will host the Pikes Peak Art Festival, which goes through July 4. The event begins at 10 a.m. each day, with live music, family-friendly activities, and art booths showcasing crafts from some of the

area’s best local talents. HOMETOWN DISPLAYS If big crowds aren’t your scene, you’re in luck. Pueblo West holds “A Hometown Fourth” in its metropolitan district, which kicks off with the Liberty Point 5K Run/ Walk at 7:30 a.m., followed by a wet parade and water fights at 9 a.m. At dusk, the Pueblo West Fire Department will handle the fireworks. In Manitou Springs, you can catch the Manitou Springs Volunteer Fire Department launching a dazzling light show near the Higginbotham Flats at 9 p.m. The Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce holds July 4th events throughout the day, starting with a pancake breakfast at St. Peter Catholic Church at 7 a.m., the Tri-Lakes Chamber Beer

Garden at Limbach Park at 10 a.m., and fireworks at Palmer Lake at 7 p.m.. EXPLOSIVE SYMPHONIES Both Colorado Springs and Pueblo offer majestic fireworks displays accompanied by real live orchestral soundtracks. In the Springs, Memorial Park is featuring Fort Carson’s 4th Infantry Division Band at noon, the US Air Force Academy’s Blue Steel Band at 5:30 p.m., and the Colorado Springs Philharmonic at 7:30 p.m. Fishing enthusiasts can cast lines at the park’s Prospect Lake, too. In Pueblo, the “Rollin’ on the Riverwalk” Independence Day event will include the Pueblo Symphony as fireworks cascade over the downtown riverwalk. The show begins at 5 p.m. with the symphony on stage at 8 p.m.

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THE NEW NORMAL

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BACKYARD BONANZA JUNE 16–17

For two straight days in Vineland, Bands in the Backyard combines camping with a rambunctious country music festival just west of Pueblo. The lineup includes Thomas Rhett, Farewell Angelina, Kane Brown, Billy Currington, Sonny Mackenzi, Old Dominion, and Tim Montana & the Shrednecks. You’ll never have to say “Sorry for Partying” when “It Goes Like This.” Tickets start at $70 for a one-day pass, $125 gains you entry to both days. Plus there are camping sites available, too. M O R E I N F O : bandsinthebackyard.com

Wine a Little JULY 30

Drink wine, be merry, and frolic to bluegrass tunes as the winds blow the grass just behind Colorado Springs’ world famous Garden of the Gods. This year’s Fiddles, Vittles & Vino will take place on July 30 at the Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site, with musical guests The Quebe Sisters, The Wooks, Lizzy Plotkin & Natalie Spears, and Tibet. With quality wines paired with quality music, you can bet the food will be top notch, too: excellent eats will be provided by over a dozen beloved restaurants, including The Blue Star, Briarhurst Manor Estate, and Adam’s Mountain Cafe. M O R E I N F O : fiddlesvittlesandvino.com

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{travelwell} by RANDY R O B IN S ON

PEAKS THAT AREN’T PIKES In this part of Colorado, the most famous 14er is, without a doubt, Pikes Peak. Besides its towering presence over the city of Colorado Springs, it’s one of the only 14ers with its own museum and gift shop. The Front Range, however, provides a home to other, lesser known but just as impressive 14ers. And why should Pikes

may lack clear, maintained

tion members. Mt. Harvard

Peak get all the glory? Sure,

paths from the base to the

is the highest of the

it’s front and center on the

top. There may not be

Collegiate Peaks, and it’s

Front Range, it’s known as

emergency shelters near

the fourth highest summit

America’s Mountain, and it

some of the peaks, so plan

in the contiguous US.

inspired poet Katharine Lee

accordingly, especially if

Although the other mounts

Bates to write “America the

expecting inclement

don’t reach as high as Mt.

Beautiful.” But there are

weather.

Harvard, they do offer their

plenty of other arduous, backbreaking hikes available. These mountains will prove much more challenging than Pikes Peak, too. Some require travel across bumpy, dirt roads to access. Some can’t be accessed by any road, period. Others

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Mts. Harvard, Princeton, Columbia and Yale — The Collegiate Peaks // The four mountaintops belong to the so-called “Collegiate Peaks,” named after the Ivy League universities attended by the first recorded expedi-

own challenges. Mt. Princeton, for instance, ascends rather dramatically from its base compared to Mt. Harvard.

MT. PRINCETON, COLUMBIA, AND YALE: Easiest to access from Buena Vista MT. HARVARD: Easiest to access from Nathrop

Mts. Elbert and Belford — The Justices // Located near the Collegiate Peaks tower Mts. Elbert and Belford, two summits named after Coloradans who went on to become state supreme court justices. Samuel

Elbert served on the court for two decades, while James Belford served as an

Mt. Massive — Too Big to Rename // There’s

Massive, which is fitting,

nous people and the

and hopefully it stays.

settlers. Sharp rocks cover

no such thing as a small

Easiest to access from Leadville, specifically the Leadville Fish Hatchery

the entire mountain, sharp

associate justice before

14er. Mt. Massive got its

becoming Colorado’s first

name because, even among

U.S. Representative in 1876.

these other ginormous

MT. BELFORD: Easiest to access from the Twin Lakes MT. ELBERT: Easiest to access from Clear Creek Reservoir

For decades, geographers

Mt. Antero — The Peacekeeper // Mt.

and park officials consid-

Antero gets its name from

ered its moniker a little too

Chief Antero, also known as

cheeky, but every attempt to

the Graceful Walker. Leader

rename it after some

of the Uintah people of the

prominent Coloradan fell

Ute tribe, Antero negotiated

flat. So it’s still known as Mt.

treaties to keep the peace

humps, this one’s a beast.

between America’s indige-

enough to shred rubber tires, so mountain bikers should beware. Easiest to reach from Alpine Lake via Chalk Creek Drive.

Blanca Peak — The Silverfox // Blanca means “white” in Spanish, and this peak gets its name from its snow-covered caps. The most prominent path up parallels Holbrook Creek, so there’s a constant water

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source from the base to the top. For especially resilient hikers, there are two

Mt. Lindsey — Old Baldy // Named after taineer from Trinidad, this

Little Bear Peak and

summit goes by another

Ellingwood Point.

nickname: Old Baldy. Because this peak originates

challenge, there’s a third 14er

from an unusually low

in the vicinity: Mt. Lindsey

altitude, the timberline cuts

looms just over the ridge.

across the midpoint of the

Easiest to access from Lake Como Road off 150.

Lindsey a priority.

Malcolm Lindsey, a moun-

additional 14ers nearby:

Oh, and if you’re up to the

the timberlines, make Mt.

MT. LINDSEY: There’s no easy way here. It’s tucked behind three other 14ers, buttressed by the North Zapata Ridge. Lindsey is one of the most difficult peaks to scale, and should only be attempted by incredibly experienced—and daring—mountaineers.

mountain. For hikers who take delight in the otherworldly quality of the treeless landscape beyond

SAFETY FIRST Scaling a 14er isn’t a typical hike. In fact, it can be pretty dangerous, even for old school veterans of long mountain treks. Here are a few general rules to follow before setting foot at the base of one of these behemoths. 1. LEARN GEOGRAPHY.

features, like barometers for

smart. First aid kits, flashlights (with

If you want to get really fancy,

There are no signs out here. The

predicting a sudden, freak storm.

extra batteries), dry food, sunblock,

purchase a satellite phone. Cell

landmarks may be unfamiliar. And you

But GPS can fail spectacularly. A

an emergency blanket, a whistle, a

phones won’t work out here.

can’t rely on the mountains to tell you

compass doesn’t need batteries,

signaling mirror, a pocket knife or

which way is west, because you’re in

and it doesn’t need a signal, either.

pocket tool, and stuff needed to

the mountains.

Remember: Compass > GPS.

kindle a fire should be standard in

First, read maps. If you don’t know

2. SCOUT THE ROUTES.

how to read a map, take a map course at a local college, or take a mountaineering class. There are thousands of books on the subject, too. Second, use a compass. If you can navigate with stars, good for you—you’ve got real survival skills—but cloud cover can put a damper on sky-gazing really quick. As long as the compass never becomes magnetized (check your bags), you’ll always know which direction you’re heading.

Bad weather, rock slides, mud slides, and maintenance can close a mountain road on any given day, at any given time. It’s best to contact park stations or visit their websites for road closure information. And plan your route ahead of time to make sure you’re back below tree line by noon. You don’t want to be caught exposed in an afternoon lightening storm, which occur suddenly and frequently.

every pack. Be sure you’ve got an extra set or two of dry clothes, because perspiration will soak you. When you hit the timberline, the temperature will drastically drop, making you both wet and cold. Synthetic fibers or wool are best, since they can retain heat even when moist. And water. Don’t forget water. Drink plenty while hiking. Bring chlorine tablets in case you run out of fluids. If the acrid smell of a public swimming pool offends you, then

Third, if you own a GPS device,

3. PACK ACCORDINGLY.

invest in a bottle, canteen, or straw/

awesome. Many come with cool

Pack as light as possible, but pack

pump with a micron filter.

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J U N E 201 7

4. KNOW THYSELF. Everyone has their limits. Make sure you’re in good shape before embarking on a 14er. If you’re feeling woozy, exhausted, or you’re just smarting a tad too much in the legs, take a break. If you’re pushing too hard, there’s nothing wrong with calling it a day and turning back. You made it as far as you did, and that’s better than having never made it there at all. Also, learn the symptoms of altitude sickness. Even native Coloradans aren’t immune to this illness. The only way to fix altitude sickness is to turn back and hike down to lower elevation.

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{ aroundtown } by R ANDY R O B IN S ON

ESCAPE ARTISTRY Escape rooms have become a global phenomenon over the years, and they keep growing in popularity. What are these things, and why is everyone scrambling to get into—and out of—one?

For the cost of going to the movies, you and your friends can get locked in a room for one hour. To get out, you’ll need to follow clues and solve puzzles. If you fail, you die. Just kidding. You won’t die, but that’s the narrative with some escape rooms. Some of the more popular ones follow serial slasher or mad kidnapper themes. Others involve spaceships coming in for a crash landing, while others take a more lighthearted approach, like finding a missing magician in his secret parlor. The basic concept behind every escape room is the same: clues lead to puzzles, and puzzles lead to keys that unlock more puzzles. Complete all the puzzles within the allotted time, and you win.

{ ENGAGEMENT } It may seem anticlimactic—even antithetical—to spend an evening out being locked in some weird room with a bunch of people you don’t know. When I first read about escape rooms, I didn’t think much of them. I wasn’t even seeking them out; I stumbled on the topic when I clicked on a suggested article. I 16

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Beyond the Flower Shop (including inset): A speakeasy escape room at EscapeWorks.

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wanted to surprise my friend, so I signed us up for “The Cabin,” a horror-themed escape room hosted by Denver’s Great Room Escape. Usually, this room holds several people, but the other couple that signed up for our slot canceled at the last second. It was just the two of us. We’d be locked in this homicidal maniac’s cabin, and to get out, we had to unlock four switches that powered the front door. Our only light source was a flashlight provided by one of The Cabin’s employees. After an hour of frantically deciphering codes, fishing for hidden keys, and jumping at our fair share of scares, we finally got to the last challenge…and the final five minutes. I’d love to tell you we succeeded in that first outing, but we didn’t. Cue: a masked murderer bursting through the back door, swinging a faux chainsaw. Game over, man. But even though we technically lost, we had a crazy good time. And now, we’re hooked. I can’t promise you’ll have the same reaction, but I can guarantee you won’t find the same

what to expect

{ WHEN YOU’RE ESCAPING }

Every escape room company offers something a little different, but they all follow the same procedures, too. If you’re unsure of what to expect, here’s what the typical escape room schedule looks like. Step 1 : SIGN IN Escape rooms require you sign a waiver granting consent to being locked in a room. It sounds much scarier than it actually is. Just keep in mind every escape room has some sort of panic button in the case of an emergency. Some rooms don’t even lock you in (these particular companies prefer to be called “puzzle rooms”).

rush sitting at home watching a movie or playing video games. thereafter, escape rooms took off in Asia. Singapore amplified

HISTORY OF { ESCAPE ROOMS } For those of you familiar with video games, an escape room may sound like a familiar scenario. That’s because the first tried-and-true escape room was, in fact, a video game. In 2004, Toshimitsu Takagi designed Crimson Room, a

the craze, then it spread to China, where there are now more escape rooms than anywhere else in the world. Then escape rooms crept into Australia, Russia, and Europe. The first ones officially hit American shores in 2012. And the phenomenon keeps expanding at an ever-increasing rate. That’s partly due to the wildly alluring profit poten-

Flash game that followed the escape room premise: from a

tial of this business: according to Market Watch, it’s not

first-person perspective, you’re stuck in a room, and to get

unusual for an escape room company to experience 800

out, you solve puzzles. The room was fairly ordinary, and

percent growth in a single year. Even in southern Colorado,

there were no scares or additional pressures. Crimson Room,

home to nearly a dozen escape room companies, bookings

however, didn’t pioneer the idea of solving puzzles to move

constantly sell out, even on weekday mornings.

forward in a game. Myst redefined and popularized the

Especially on weekday mornings.

puzzle-environment game back in the 1990s. Final Fantasy

Who’s doing these crazy things on weekday mornings?

and Resident Evil also utilized all sorts of clues-to-puzzles-

Besides the awesome social aspect of escape rooms, they

to-keys-to-more-puzzles formulas in their blockbuster video

provide corporate value, too. Many businesses rent escape

game series.

rooms for team-building exercises outside of the boardroom

In 2007, Takao Kato brought the concept to life with Riaru Dasshutsu Ge-mu, or Real Escape Game. He got the idea

boredom, and most escape rooms offer big-group and corporate discounts.

from reading manga, a type of Japanese comic. Fed up with the lack of adventure in his own life, he created the first real-life escape room to bring some excitement not only to himself but to others as well. The Real Escape Game was a stunning success, and shortly 18

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W H Y ESCAPE ROOMS, { AND WHY NOW? } The psychology behind escape rooms’ appeal is complex, but most analyses suggest their rising popularity is a

Step 2 : TURN IN/TURN OFF MOBILE DEVICES Some escape rooms require you temporarily fork over your cell phones. Others just ask that you turn them off. Part of that is so players can’t cheat, although most puzzles can’t be solved with Internet assistance. Also, they don’t want you taking photos of the puzzles and spoiling the fun for everyone else. Step 3 : BRIEFING An escape room employee will brief you on the story behind the room. You might be trying to unlock a safe for a vaccine to a virus outbreak. Or maybe you’re looking for a missing scientist’s hidden schematics. Or maybe you’re on a train that’s about to crash, and the only thing that’ll stop it is following the clues to activate the emergency stop. You get the idea. The briefing will also go over the rules. Some escape rooms encourage you to scrounge through everything. Others would prefer if you leave the decorations in peace. Almost every escape room makes clues and puzzles easily accessible, so

there’s no need to tear through the couch cushions or disassemble the ceiling panels. Step 4 : PLAY THE GAME You’ll have a clock in the room showing you how much time is remaining. There’s usually some way for the escape room employees to provide clues as well, such as slipping notes under the door or broadcasting a statement or two through an old transistor radio. Step 5 : DEBRIEFING Whether you beat the room or it beats you, you’ll get a full debriefing once you exit. If you didn’t succeed, the solutions and clues will be explained to you. If you did succeed, you’ll usually be told why you did so well. Some companies will take your photo at the end of a successful run so you can have bragging rights. Others hand out small prizes, like stickers or trinkets. Regardless of what you walk away with, the experience alone is worth the effort.

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response to the dull humdrum of urbanization and digitiza-

online player-versus-player games don’t offer the level of

tion. Studies show millennials prefer not to go out these days

interactivity you’ll experience at a real-life escape room.

for a variety of reasons, and social media ensures we stay

{ 2 } SIMULTANEOUS ACTIVITY.

glued to our mobile devices even when in the company of

Because escape rooms are designed for groups, there’s always

flesh-and-blood people. Escape rooms offer:

something to do. You don’t just sit tight and wait for your turn to

{ 1 } AN ENFORCED TEAMWORK ENVIRONMENT.

play. Half the team can be working on one puzzle while the other half tries to decode a cipher. There’s no excuse for someone

With a few rare exceptions, escape rooms aren’t solo acts.

to be standing around with their hands in their pockets—even

You must work with a group to get out of the room. Even

stragglers can wisely spend their time scavenging.

{ SOUTHERN COLORADO’S }

ESCAPE ROOMS

New to escape rooms? You’re not alone. According to Kurt Allison of

Conundrum, just one quarter of Americans have even heard of an escape room. Fewer have actually experienced one. “There’s not a lot out there about us,” Allison continued, “but that’s changing.” Because every escape room company has its own unique personality and approach, here’s a brief guide to help you pick your first. IF YOU WANT SOMETHING SCARY: Consider Hellscream’s Haunted House. “The Elevator,” which takes place across multiple floors, is Colorado Springs’s largest escape room. Hellscream’s games aren’t just about being creepy—they’re designed to scare the pants off you, so expect a fright or two. These types of rooms are best for players and groups who work well under pressure. hellscreamhaunt.com. IF YOU WANT TO PLAY WITH A BIG GROUP: Consider Planet Deadline. Although they crafted their rooms for the standard two-to-eight players, they can accommodate larger groups. On top of that, they offer a Team Building program where they’ll analyze each player during the game and give feedback on everyone’s performance at the debriefing. planetdeadline.com IF YOU WANT SOMETHING OUTDOORS: Consider Greatest Escape Games. Claustrophobics may find the idea of being locked in a room horrifying, but the “Magic Portal” game here takes place outside. It combines escape rooms with GPS and geocaching for those of you familiar with hunting pocket monsters in city parks. thegreatestescapegames.com IF YOU WANT TRULY UNCONVENTIONAL PUZZLES: Consider Enter the Room in Manitou Springs. They’ve designed their rooms to completely exploit the environment as part of the game, so anticipate some heavy theatrics and secret passageways. entertheroomco.com IF YOU’RE IN PUEBLO: The escape room companies listed above are all located in the Colorado Springs area. But starting this month, Pueblo will get its own: the SoCo Escape Room. Opening in June, they’ll host “The Vault,” a CIA-meets-bank-caper escape room. This September, they’ll add a second game called “The Asylum.” socoescaperoom.com

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J U N E 201 7

The Kazam Room at Puzzah! requires no scavenging so you can focus on the riddles and puzzles.

J U N E 2 01 7

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{ 3 } NO MOBILE DEVICES. Being phone-less cuts off escape artists from the ubiquitous, perpetual pull of the Internet. No texting, no push notifications, no selfies. You’re focused on your team, the challenge, and nothing more.

{ 4 } PERSONAL WORTH. Anyone who steps into an escape room has something to offer the team. Even if it’s just seeing a particular clue in a way no one else does, your very presence will push the team further along than they would have gotten without you. “A puzzle geek will have a great time on the puzzling aspect,” says Ryan Pachmayer, the founder of Colorado’s Puzzah! escape room. “People that are really into stories or visual themes will be immersed in the story and atmosphere. Competitive people can challenge themselves. There’s just a lot going on that will cater to specific personalities without taking away from other personality types.”

tips { FOR

The IRIS Room at Puzzah! involves a time machine.

YOUR FIRST ESCAPE }

Ryan Pachmayer of Puzzah! took a revolutionary approach to puzzle room design: The rooms at his location are completely automated. An artificial intelligence determines which hints to drop and whether to introduce bonus puzzles based on the speed and ingenuity of a particular escape room group. Despite the high-tech approach to his puzzle rooms, Pachmayer has some

{ 5 } STRESS RELIEF. This one applies across the board, but even at team-building events with coworkers, escape rooms offer a reprieve from the daily stresses of modern life. For one hour, you can completely immerse yourself in a fictitious setting with a fantasy narrative.

{ 6 } THRILLS. There’s nothing quite like solving a mystery in an escape room. Even if you fail to escape, you’ll likely crack most

general tips to help escape artists of any experience level: 1: Try and try again. If you find an action or answer compelling but it doesn’t work when the first person tries it, have others give it a whirl. If you discover a numerical code, key it in. If it doesn’t work the first time, have someone else try. 2: Keep scavenging. Failing to find objects is a common pitfall. Make sure to look around and under everything. Missing that key or blacklight or piece of instruction can really hold you back for a while.

of the puzzles in the room. You’ll do this without any strategy guides, cheat codes, or Wikipedia searches. If you solve a puzzle, you can take pride in knowing you did that on your own accord. “Escape rooms are a great way for people to realize that they actually like challenges,” explains Mathew Sisson, one of the founders of Enigma Escape Rooms. “It’s a way for people to get joy out of things they’ve been missing.”

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J U N E 201 7

3 : Don’t overthink it. You have to remember that almost every group that walks through the door has to have a legitimate chance at solving almost every puzzle in the room. If you come across an organ, you’re not going to have to play a complicated song. If you come across a computer, you don’t need to open up HTML and start typing in code. Keep it simple. Look for ways that objects in the room can be connected, and you’ll do well.

"...ennani s acty  ha hati pota  lot  dies cig un." - Dr. Pac & Dr. Kun Nata Init of HelH

It's time to rethink how you medicate! w.kisan.

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SPECIAL

REPORT

muse by LEL AND R UC K E R

“Cannabis helps my creativity.” HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I HEARD THIS OVER THE LAST FOUR DECADES? BIG THINKERS LIKE CARL SAGAN AND STEVE JOBS ARE ON THE RECORD AS A SCIENTIST AND CEO, RESPECTIVELY, WHO USED CANNABIS. MUSICIANS FROM LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND BILLIE HOLIDAY TO RIHANNA AND NICKI MINAJ SWEAR BY IT. I HAVE NEVER SAID THAT CANNABIS CAUSES ME TO BE CREATIVE, BUT I HAVE ARGUED, LIKE THE PAINTER ON SANJAY GUPTA’S FIRST CNN WEED SPECIAL, THAT “IT’S MY FAVORITE WAY TO WORK.” But is there anything to

sticky wicket. Psychology

Though that might be an

this? Is there a connection

researchers can’t define it.

appropriate scientific way

between using cannabis and

Is creativity the end product

to approach it, I’m unsure

being creative, and, if so,

of creative work, or is it

that it helps us understand

what is it? Does it actually

reflected in the personality

anything about the creative

stimulate people to be more

of the person?

process. And some of the

inspired, imaginative,

More interesting is

research seems biased. A

inventive, or artistic?

whether creativity might

2012 study admitted that

about his study. “If you want

have something to do with

little is known about how

to overcome writer’s block

answers, as is the case with

the differences between

drugs affect the mind, but

or any other creative gap,

much we are still learning

convergent thinking, which

suggested that cannabis

lighting up a joint isn’t the

about cannabis. It is

is the ability to follow

use might stimulate the

best solution. Smoking

generally understood that

logical steps to a conclu-

sections of the brain (i.e.

several joints one after the

cannabis and THC, its main

sion, and divergent think-

the frontal lobe) that lead to

other can even be counter-

psychoactive compound,

ing, which centers around a

divergent thinking. A

productive to creative

stimulate activity in the

less linear process to come

different test two years

thinking.”

frontal lobe of the brain,

up with answers.

later denied those conclu-

There are no easy

sions vehemently. “The

even hint at what’s going on

(sensitive neurons typically

“creativity” relies on tests,

improved creativity that

when I write under the

associated with reward,

generally done against time

they believe they experi-

influence, especially since

attention span, and short-

constraints. One, for

ence is an illusion,” Dr.

I’m never being asked to

term memory) are located.

example, asked the subject

Lorenza Colzato of the

come up with as many

Beyond that, even trying to

to name as many words as

Institute of Psychology at

words as I can to describe

quantify creativity is a

they could in 30 seconds.

Leiden University said

something in 30 seconds to

which is where dopamines

Those methods don’t

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J U N E 201 7

Most research measuring

EVERYBODY from Carl Sagan on down swears by the ABILIT Y of C AN N A B I S to influence creativity. Is there anything to it, or is it just an ILLUSION ?

J U N E 2 01 7

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test my creativity. And they

opens up the creative river,

have ideas that take me

tween cannabis and creativi-

do nothing to explain why

gets those creative juices

beyond the things I usually

ty while working on his

so many creative people

going,” says Patrick McGre-

play—different melodies,

doctorate in philosophy and

still use cannabis to

gor, a painter and muralist

rhythms, concepts,” he says.

neuroscience. His roommate

produce outstanding,

who works in a lot of

“I surprise myself. Some-

was studying toxicity, and

innovative work.

different media. “I’ll be

times, I think, ‘Where did

they began to research

So I began to talk to

uninspired, take a lunch

that come from? Never

marijuana as it related to

cannabis users to find out

break, smoke a little, and

played that before.’ And

mind enhancement.

what they see as the link

it’ll bring me back into the

that is the keyword: Sur-

between cannabis and

painting.”

prise. I am often able to

in the medical aspects. “We

creativity. Most find it hard

Musician Neil Haverstick

They weren’t interested

create new shapes, pat-

started looking into how it

to describe their experi-

is a master on almost any

terns, something that did

can help cognitive en-

ence, but all mentioned

stringed instrument. He

not previously exist.”

hancement of episodic

some variation on the

says cannabis is even more

“divergent thinking”

widespread than you might

says cannabis makes them

“People have reported, and I

concept.

imagine in his line of work.

see and think in a different

have experienced, an

“I like a ton of input and

Everybody I talked with

memories,” Marincolo says.

“I would say I’ve known

way. Sebastian Marincolo is

enhanced episodic memo-

jam it into my brain,” says

many hundreds of musi-

a neuroscientist who lives in

ry—like for instance, you

Sebastian Vidali, founder of

cians who smoke pot. In

Stuttgart, Germany, who has

remember events from

Arcana, Inc., a cannabis-fo-

fact, I’ve only known a few

studied the positive poten-

childhood in greater detail.”

cused brand development

that haven’t. Of course, I’ve

tial of cannabis for the last

group. “Smoke allows an

also seen a lotta alcohol

decade. His most recent

element they found was a

almost Tony Stark thing, or

use, cigarette smoking, and

book, What Hashish Did to

hyperfocus of attention.

that’s the way it feels,

cocaine sniffing over the

Walter Benjamin: Mind-Al-

“Whatever you tend to be

anyway. It connects things

years in my field, but

tering Essays on Cannabis,

thinking about is more in

together in a fluid way and

fortunately, not much usage

looks into how cannabis

focus,” Marincolo says.

helps create a new picture. I

of heroin.”

was used positively by

“Because of that, you have

historical figures like Sagan,

an intensification of

feel less held back by other

While Haverstick doesn’t

Another fundamental

factors. I’m always running

really enjoy getting on stage

Rudyard Kipling, and Miles

experience. Things seem to

multiple strains of

when he’s lifted, he says

Davis, among many others,

be more detailed and

thoughts, and it feels to me

cannabis is an important

and tries to explain how

intense because you’re

that I can dive into one

part of his writing process.

judicious use of the marijua-

more focused and have the

thread and make connec-

“When I start to play my

na high helped them and

ability to imagine things.

tions. It clears the noise

guitar or oud, I find that I

can help others.

Imagination is crucial for

in a way.”

often start doing things that

“It’s hard to explain, but it

I have never done before. I

Marincolo began looking into the connections be-

M A N Y P E OPLE E X PE R I E NC E A

creativity. And it’s not just images. It’s also important

mind acceleration T H AT I S G E N E R A L LY A S S O C I AT E D W I T H a slowdown I N T I M E P E R C E P T I O N.

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J U N E 201 7

J U N E 2 01 7

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for people who compose

other people and under-

music or for a chef who is

stand them better. There

imagining a taste for a

can be an enhancement of

dessert.”

language understanding, to

He says that many people experience a mind

get into a flow of other languages.”

“THINGS SEEM TO BE MORE DETAILED AND INTENSE BECAUSE YOU’RE MORE FOCUSED. YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO IMAGINE THINGS. IMAGINATION IS CRUCIAL FOR CREATIVITY.” — Dr. Sebastian Marincolo

acceleration that is general-

Nobody I spoke with

ly associated with a

seemed to be of the opinion

slowdown in time percep-

that you just hit the bong,

tion. Haverstick mentioned

and boom, the creativity

“new shapes and patterns,”

gong hits you in the head.

and Marincolo corroborated

“My conclusion is that I

that musicians seem to be

think there is abuse in

especially tuned to this.

countries with prohibition,

Using Miles Davis as an

where people have access

example, Marincolo says

only to poor-quality,

some artists “can see

black-market product. They

patterns and similarities

can abuse it as a form of

between patterns and better

escapism,” says Marincolo,

understand musical

who offers online classes

patterns.”

that include hands-on

Marincolo also found

advice for personal growth,

that many users undergo

introspection, and dealing

an enhancement of body

with personal relationships

perception. “Some describe

and sex. The classes

how they can feel cold

emphasize how different

water going down their

cannabis strains, terpenes,

throats, or that they have

and ingestion methods can

better touch or sex experi-

influence your creativity.

ences.” Users report the

“We all have different

ability to understand and

needs, and cannabis has a

connect better with the

lot to offer—especially now

emotions and moods of

that we are learning about

friends, children, and

the endocannabinoid

partners. “They see

system and how different

patterns in the behavior of

terpenes have different

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J U N E 201 7

HI HER G learning Dive deep into the cannabis and creativity connection with these in-depth reads.

The Natural Mind: A New Way of Looking at Drugs and the Higher Consciousness { BY ANDREW WEIL } Weil’s groundbreaking 1972 work offered a different way to look at consciousness at the same time that cannabis was designated a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. Creativity & Beyond: Culture, Values and Change { BY R . P. WEINER } This penetrating look at how cultures throughout history have looked at creativity and consciousness was originally released in 2000. What Hashish Did to Walter Benjamin : Mind-Altering Essays on Marijuana { BY DR. SEBASTIAN MARINCOLO } Marincolo’s 2015 series of essays looks at significant figures in history and their connection to cannabis.

chemical profiles. We need

country and around the

to have this knowledge.”

world. “It’s a cliché of sorts

I think we’ll be waiting a

that musicians use ‘drugs,’

long time for science to

but I don’t think of marijua-

catch up with the connec-

na as a drug,” Haverstick

tion between cannabis and

says. “I believe it has many

creativity. Until then,

useful properties, and now

Marincolo’s studies and my

that it’s becoming legalized

discussions with other

for both medical and

users make sense to me in

recreational usage, we’re

ways traditional methods

starting to see just how

and research don’t.

helpful it can be in a wide

First, of course, cannabis has to be decriminalized,

variety of situations.” “We need to consider it as a

legalized, and destigma-

tool,” Marincolo says. “But only

tized throughout the

if you know how to use it.”

J U N E 2 01 7

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reigniting the B

One EDIBLE COMPANY didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just create jobs in a small southern Colorado town, it RETURNED JOBS TO THE LOCALS, too. by RANDY ROBINSON

www.sensimag.com

J U N E 201 7

Trinidad,

steady stream of out-ofstate visitors. The positive

culinary artiste, Grindeland

but its Trinidad location

A SMALL COLORADO

economic impact of the

and Cooke registered their

couldn’t keep up with

TOWN JUST NORTH OF

town’s new cannabis tax

new infused chocolate com-

foreign competitors. As the

revenues can be seen

pany and named it “Coda

company executed a

throughout Trinidad,

Signature,” a reference to

painful series of downsizes,

perhaps nowhere more so

the end of a movement in

loyal employees were let go

than the once-abandoned

classical music. In this

one by one. In 2014, Daniel-

downtown, now restored to

case, Coda signifies the end

son laid off the last of its

its former aesthetic glory.

of cannabis edibles’ humble

workers, and the plant

beginnings and their

closed its doors.

THE NEW MEXICO BORDER, ORIGINATED AS A BOOMING TRADE CENTER ON THE SANTA FE TRAIL. COAL WAS DISCOVERED HERE IN THE LATE 1800S, AND A THRIVING MINING INDUSTRY BECAME THE SMALL TOWN’S ECONOMIC BEDROCK RIGHT UNTIL THE FINANCIAL

The Story of Coda Signature

passed before Coda made an offer on the building.

regain its economic footing,

chocolates, they needed

The Danielson owners

two entrepreneurs, Mark

much more than just a

“were not keen on this

Grindeland and Elizabeth

kitchen. Coda needed a

building becoming a

Cooke, noticed something

home, and it found one in

marijuana business,” says

about the THC-infused

Trinidad.

Gockley. “But they really

edibles available in Colora-

MOVED ELSEWHERE, SO

the market masked the

OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM, TRINIDAD TEETERED DANGEROUSLY

flavor of cannabis, hiding

Before it became the

going to do.” Danielson’s managers made one request before

headquarters of Coda

agreeing to the sale of the

Grindeland and Cooke saw

Signature, the

old factory: they asked if

an opportunity to hoist cannabis edibles to new heights by using the distinct flavor of cannabis to create gourmet infused

DUSTY, DISTANT CHAP-

confections made with

HISTORY BOOKS.

Returning Jobs and Restoring Hope

respected what we were

its oftentimes bitter taste.

CLOSE TO BECOMING A TER IN COLORADO’S

Nearly a year and a half

these mold-breaking

do: most of the products on

IN THE FIRST DECADE

evolution to a new, elevated

son manufactured fabrics,

form. However, to create

Just as Trinidad began to

CRASH OF 2008. AS JOBS TOO DID ITS RESIDENTS.

After securing their

high-quality ingredients that taste and look unlike anything else available. To pull this off, they

Then, in 2014, the first recreational dispensary opened in the veritable ghost town. Seemingly overnight, Trinidad began to experience a green revival. Today, there are a dozen dispensaries, several grow facilities, and other ancillary cannabis businesses serving the local population of just over 8,000 folks from all walks of life—not to mention the

needed the best talent on their team. They found it in Lauren Gockley, a renowned chocolatier trained at France’s l’École du Grand Chocolat. She established herself at the top of her trade while working at chef Thomas Keller’s iconic Per Se

Coda crafts its gourmet truffles at its Trinidad factory.

restaurant in New York, and in 2011, she was named one

30,000-square-foot factory

Coda would hire back some

of the “Top Ten Chocolatiers

on Trinidad’s Constitution

of the former Danielson

in North America” by Dessert

Avenue was home to

employees, the most valued

Professional magazine.

Danielson Designs. Daniel-

workers who were still in

J U N E 2 01 7

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decision.” Today, about half of

Coda released in the spring

Coda’s current workforce

of 2016 took home first prize

came from Danielson. When

in the edible category at the

the former Danielson

2016 High Times Cannabis

employees first returned to

Cup in Colorado.

their old workplace, they

Coda Chocolate bars include Fire & Orange, Maple & Pecan, and Coffee & Donuts flavors. Trinidad looking for work.

wife’s suggestion, he

“The owners basically said,

considered leaving Trinidad

‘Here’s a list. And do

as thousands of others had

whatever you want. But talk

done before him. Although

to them. You’re gonna want

he possessed manufactur-

to talk to them,’” says Brien

ing experience, picking up

Sauchelli, director of

and abandoning his old life

operations at Coda. “So

wasn’t an easy call. “Where

that’s what we did.”

was I going to start again?”

They met with people

he recounts. “I didn’t want

like Kelly Santistevan, who

to walk away from my

worked at the Danielson

house. I was really close to

plant for 20 years before it

paying it off. Coda saved me

shuttered operations. At his

from having to make that

look like polished marbles,

familiar setting working in

with an array of colorful,

an entirely unfamiliar field.

sparkling designs glisten-

It was an opportunity to

ing beneath a polished

learn some new skills. Blan-

shine. Crystallization of the

dina Medin, one of the last

chocolate is the key to

people let go from Daniel-

achieving the look and feel

son, took a job at Coda and

of Coda’s products, Gockley

trained on-site under

explains. “It’s what gives

Gockley’s tutelage. Now,

the chocolate that snap.”

Medin is a sous chef in

produce a sharp snap when

commercial kitchen.

bitten. The chocolate filling

But What About the Chocolate? In the factory kitchen, a

oozes out from the shell and spills across the taste buds, revealing flavorful infusions like fresh lemon and

team of chefs works

juniper berries, Earl Grey

diligently to put together

tea leaves and Colorado

Coda’s epicurean edibles

honey, caramel and Maldon

under Gockley’s gourmand

salt crystals. Despite the class and sophistication that goes

made everything by hand,”

into the creation and

Gockley says. “Mass

presentation of Coda

producing the chocolates is

Signature’s chocolates, the

a new thing for me.”

most popular edible isn’t a

That doesn’t show,

truffle. It’s a rather surpris-

however. What’s most

ing flavor combination

apparent is Gockley’s

delivered as a chocolate bar.

unrivaled artistry and

“Coffee and Doughnuts,”

attention to detail. Coda’s

Gockley confesses with a

creations begin with

chuckle. “That’s our

high-quality ingredients:

best-seller.” And wouldn’t

ethically sourced South

you know it, if you give it a

American cacao, whole

second to melt on your

spices, high-grade cannabis

tongue, it tastes exactly like

oil. The resulting Coda

a glazed donut dipped in

Signature lineup of truffles,

fresh, hot coffee.

chocolate bars, and hot chocolate is in a class by itself. The very first collecJ U N E 201 7

The truffles do indeed

Coda’s new state-of-the-art

“Before Coda, I always

www.sensimag.com

The bite-sized truffles

found themselves in a

guidance.

tion of chocolate truffles

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MON-SAT: 9AM-11PM SUN: 9AM-9PM

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J U N E 2 01 7

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J U N E 201 7

Late Bloomers Plenty of summer remains to grow your own bliss-producing patio potager. by JOHN LEHNDORFF

Don’t think of yourself as

are multiple. You’ll eat

or any other appropriate

too late (again), but rather

along Colorado’s Front

better because you can snip

outdoor space, you have

too smart, like a fox. You

Range have tiny backyards,

herbs and greens for a salad

enough room for a few

watched as your neighbors

if they have one at all. Many

and they’ll grow back. In the

containers, hanging pots,

filled beds and containers

of us inhabit the rapidly

fall, many of these plants

and window boxes produc-

with fresh plants in the

multiplying units of

can simply be moved

ing organic oregano,

warmth of March only to

apartments, condos,

inside, and they will keep

arugula, beefsteak toma-

sympathize in May as they

townhouses, and limited

producing into winter.

toes, and jalapeños. (Yes,

surveyed (and dug up) their

maintenance homes. You

sad, hail-ridden garden.

can still grow a practical

You knew better. Maybe

Most urban dwellers

potager—French for a

you remembered the old

kitchen garden—packed

Colorado truism: Don’t put

with ready-to-eat greens,

plants (and especially

herbs, and veggies, with

tomatoes) outside until

flowers for aesthetics and

Mother’s Day, past the

aroma. One apartment

dreaded “last average frost

advantage: No random

date.” Heck, spring lilacs are

rabbits gnawing at the crop.

still blooming in the

Whether you plot a

mountain towns. In June, it

detailed container schemat-

is finally hot enough to

ic or plan on simply

grow heat-craving tomatoes

plopping a few choice

and peppers.

plants in a pot, the rewards

FIRST: YOU DO HAVE ROOM FOR A POTAGER Already you can hear the objections from folks who have never gardened or who killed innocent domestic greenery earlier in their lives. They say they don’t have enough room to grow. They must open their minds to the possibility of growth, both personal and vegetal. If you have a patio, porch,

you will get rid of the junk that’s stored on the patio. That’s precious real estate.) The first question is: Where does your garden grow? If the patio or porch faces directly west, it probably has a tendency to get scorching. Your tomatoes, peppers, zukes, and cukes will love that, but your delicate greens and herbs might not. The solution is to install lightweight sun-screening J U N E 2 01 7

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for part of the area and leave full sun on the rest. If your patio gets the morning sun, you’ll need to locate your pepper and tomato plants where they can get the maximum amount of

You won’t be able to grow corn or iceberg lettuce, but most other vegetables, including onions, can flourish in containers. If

direct sun every day.

you haven’t done a lot of

HOW TO GROW THEM: TUBS, DIRT, WATER

ed goof-proof vegetables

gardening, the recommend-

Herbs, greens, and

include beans (bush or vine), zucchini, small crispy

vegetables can be grown

pickling cucumbers, and

in individual pots or larger

radishes. There is even a

containers made from

compact eggplant variety

terra-cotta clay, glazed pottery, or wood boxes. The truth is that you can use any random clean container or bucket, including yogurt cups. The soil you choose makes a much bigger difference. Use organic potting soil because, after all, you are going to eat what you grow in it. Mix about one-quarter organic compost into the total amount of soil to help feed the vegetables and allow you to use less fertilizer. Keep adding compost to tomatoes and peppers as the season progresses. Overwatering is the consistent mistake gardeners make. Watering every day is too much. Push your finger an inch into the soil to find out if it really is dry. When you do water, go all in. Water until moisture starts seeping out the bottom of the pot. Also, different plants like more or less moisture. Rosemary and sage need to be dryer, where mint likes it wetter and cooler. 36

WHAT TO GROW: LETTUCE BEGIN

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J U N E 201 7

named Patio. At this point

range of chilies available to

in the summer, it’s best to

home gardeners, including

start these (and tomatoes

painful Ghost or Kung Pao

and peppers) with healthy

varieties with astronomical-

organic plants from a

ly high Scoville heat units.

nursery. Tomatoes can range from

Some crops can still be started from seeds in June,

varieties like the Abe

including herbs, lettuces,

Lincoln (grown since 1925)

and leafy greens like chard

to more recent imports like

and kale. Get climate-ap-

the San Marzano, the tomato

propriate seeds from local

used most to make authen-

Colorado garden seed

tic Italian pizza sauce. You

companies including Lake

may be stunned by the

Valley (lakevalleyseed.com),

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J U N E 2 01 7

Bounty Beyond Belief

and artificial and more of a

(bbbseed.com), and Broom-

chill place to become one

field’s Botanical Interests

with your favorite herb,

(botanicalinterests.com).

whether sativa or indica, on

Botanical Interests makes it

a warm summer night.

especially easy, with a

In the end, there remains

lettuce seed mix called

something terrifically

Chef’s Medley as well as

powerful about watching as

organic vegetable and

a seedling pushes its way

flower seeds embedded in

through damp compost to

paper that simply need to

the sky.

be covered with dirt and watered.

Some final green thumb advice: Plant some catnip or

Don’t space out: Be aware

cat grass for Mr. Whiskers

as you plant your containers

and some flowers for the

and leave enough room for

precious pollinators. Grow a

plants such as tomatoes,

few gigantic sunflowers

which may eventually

with blossoms as big as

become as large as shrubbery.

your head. Sunflowers are

What you want to

easy to grow, they love

enhance your day-to-day

Colorado’s solar abundance,

cooking is an array of herb

and they will make you

plants you can snip,

smile.

parsley, thyme, and tarragon. In fact, don’t be afraid to significantly pinch back and harvest herb plants. They will almost always regrow unless you let them flower. Everybody loves basil, but you will need an armada of basil plants if you want to think about making pesto. Consider also growing Thai basil for your summer stir-fries.

Honest Herb Butter 1 cup (tightly packed) mixed fresh herbs (no stems) 1 large peeled, trimmed garlic clove ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature ¼ teaspoon finely grated lemon or lime zest 2 teaspoons fresh lemon or lime juice Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper to taste Herbs can include flat-leaf parsley, chives, marjoram, and tarragon. Pulse herbs and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped or finely mince them with a knife. Add butter, lemon zest, and lemon juice and process until smooth; season with salt and pepper. Keep refrigerated but bring it up to room temperature before using. Butter can be made a few days ahead. Makes about ½ cup. Melt on grilled oysters, grilled steaks, and corn on the cob (or hunks of baguette). Optional: Replace fresh garlic with six large roasted garlic cloves and add chopped Roquefort or bleu cheese. Potager Vinaigrette Dressing or Marinade

including chives, dill, oregano, mint, cilantro, broad leaf

Recipes: Cooking From Your Patio Farm

JOHN LEHNDORFF farms cherry tomatoes, mirasol chilies, and diverse herbs on his tiny back patio in Lafayette. He hosts Radio Nibbles at 8:25 a.m. Thursday on KGNU, kgnu.org.

1 finely chopped green onion (or chopped fresh chives) 1 tablespoon whole grain prepared mustard 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon cider or white wine vinegar ½ teaspoon finely chopped fresh basil ½ teaspoon finely chopped thyme ½ teaspoon sea salt Freshly ground black pepper, to taste cup extra-virgin olive oil Whisk together green onion (or chives), mustard, lemon juice, vinegar, herbs, salt, and pepper. Gradually whisk in oil and adjust seasonings. (Hint: It’s hard to add too much basil.) Use on salad or as a marinade for chicken or seafood before grilling. Store covered in refrigerator.

GETTING BACK TO THE GARDEN

Optional: Add a little sugar or honey to balance the acidity of the dressing

If you watch serious gardeners, it often looks like they are meandering and circling plants or they sit and stare at them. In a garden, attention is as important as fertilizer. A garden makes your city slicker abode less urban 38

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J U N E 201 7

WHAT ZONE ARE YOU IN, DUDE? The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map shows you the best time to plant and which vegetables are likely to do well where you live in Colorado, which includes multiple zones within a single county. planthardiness.ars.usda.gov

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WELCOME TO CANNABIS 101

New to CANNABIS? Making a return after a decades-long hiatus? Have you only been SMOKING BUDS because all the new FANCY HASHE S, EDIBLES and PENS seem a little complicated? Well, consider this your CRASH COURSE in the modern cannabis landscape. by RANDY ROBINSON

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J U N E 201 7

A N YON E ’S FIRST VISIT TO A DISPENSARY C AN BE

OV ERW HELMING .

SELECTING

A N E L E VAT I N G P R O D U C T F R O M T H E M O D E R N O F F E R I N G S C A N B E L I K E T RY I N G TO S E L EC T A D E S S E R T AT A N U P S C A L E BA K E RY W H E N YO U ’V E O N LY E AT E N T W I N K I E S YO U R E N T I R E L I F E. TO DAY, T H E R E A R E T E N S O F T H O U SA N D S O F E XOT I C A L LY ( A N D H U M O R O U S LY ) N A M E D C A N N A B I S S T RA I N S, N E A R LY A D O Z E N T Y P E S O F H AS H E S, A S M O R G AS B O R D O F N A M E-B RA N D E D I B L E S, N OT TO M E N T I O N A D H E S I V E PAT C H E S, T I N C T U R E S, VA P E P E N S, I N H A L E R S, LOT I O N S, BA L M S, A N D … A N D … A N D … YO U G E T T H E P I C T U R E. W H E R E D O YO U S TA R T? I F YO U’R E J U S T B EG I N N I N G TO DA B B L E I N C A N N A B I S, O R I F YO U ’ V E R E F RA I N E D F O R T H E PAS T F E W Y E A R S (O R D EC A D E S ), T H E N S TA R T H E R E.

H OW I S T H I S L EGA L AGAIN? Amendment 20

What’s the difference between a dispensary and a retail store?

Colorado’s voters approved Amendment 20 in 2000. This

Both of these places sell cannabis and cannabis products.

bill created the state’s medical marijuana system. Any

Anyone 21 or over can shop in a retail or rec store (rec =

Colorado resident with a qualifying medical issue—such as

short for recreational). Recreational may also be called

chronic pain, Crohn’s disease, or cancer—can apply for a

adult use. Only registered medical marijuana patients may

special “med” card. All you need is a doctor to sign off on it.

buy from a dispensary. Dispensaries tend to carry cannabis tailored for medical use, with more potent products than

Amendment 64

retail stores and at a lower cost, too.

In 2012, Colorado made history by becoming the first state to legalize cannabis for adult use. Amendment 64 says

What is this “420” thing?

anyone within state lines who’s 21 or older can buy canna-

Four-twenty is a sacred number within the cannabis

bis for personal use. If you don’t have a med card, you may

community. It’s often used as a code word in place of

buy from only retail or “recreational” shops, which may be

cannabis, but it also represents special times to get elevat-

pricier than medical dispensaries.

ed. Some cannabis fans ritualistically smoke at 4:20 p.m. every day, and April 20 (4/20) is officially the unofficial

But You Gotta Keep It Here

cannabis holiday, when consumers may congregate in

Cannabis remains federally outlawed. It may be legal in

reserved spaces to light up with friends and peers.

Colorado, but once it crosses the state line, it becomes subject to the bordering state’s laws. Every state that borders

Where did 420 come from?

Colorado—Wyoming, Utah, Kansas, South Dakota, New

No one knows. Some people claim they know, but no one

Mexico, and Arizona—isn’t down. Not to mention, the mere

really does. It’s okay, though. We can have some mystery in

act of transporting it over state lines is a federal no-no.

our lives.

Hemp vs. Mary Jane ized plant with many benefits. Marijuana, a Mexican

WHAT ’S IN A NAME? What’s the difference between “buds,” “flowers,” and “nugs”?

colloquialism, is legally defined in Colorado as the pot that

Absolutely nothing. They all refer to the same thing: the

gets you high, with THC over 0.3 percent. Hemp, a type of

smokeable part of the cannabis plant. Also known as weed,

Cannabis sativa with THC under 0.3 percent, is the pot that

herb, and nuggets.

Cannabis sativa is the proper name for the once-demon-

doesn’t get you high.

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the edge off the buzz,

concentrate, dip the

vaporizes around 320°F

concentrate onto the nail

(160°C).

and inhale. This should nearly vaporize 100 percent

Hash/Concentrates

of whatever touched the

Concentrates, also known

nail.

as hash, are oily, waxy, or

What are strains? Also known as a cultivar,

be crossbred to produce hybrids, cannabis plants

a strain is a certain kind of

that blend the characteris-

cannabis, the same way a

tics of a sativa and an

chihuahua is a kind of dog.

indica. Most commercially

We give names to particular

available cannabis is some

types of plants produced for

kind of hybrid, so this

its desired traits.

distinction may not always

chunky bits extracted

blowtorches to heat the

straight from the plant. If

nail. If you’d prefer to avoid

we press and roll the raw

flame sources, electric and

trichomes—the fine crys-

solar-powered nails are

tal-like hairs on the canna-

available, too.

bis flower—we get pressed

Why wait 10 seconds? If

or rolled hash, which is the

the nail is too hot, you’ll fry

most basic of the concen-

the good stuff in the

trates.

concentrate. Terpenes,

Chemists can also make

which give cannabis its

fancier, purer concentrates.

distinctive flavors, are

be helpful.

Carbon dioxide, butane, and

especially fragile to heat. If

propane can give us things

you give the nail 10 seconds to cool, you’ll get to enjoy

honey oils. Another concen-

the taste of the dab along

trate, called rosin, uses pure

with its elevating effects.

Grape Ape, or Blue Cheese.

CONSUMPTION JUNCTION What if I don’t want to smoke cannabis?

like budder, wax, shatter, or

Others may taste a certain

You’re in luck! Smoking is

way when we smoke them,

just one way to do it. There

like berries, apples, or burnt

are a number of other ways

wood.

to get cannabis into your

Some cannabis strains may smell a certain way, like fruit punch, grape, or even cheese. They’ll go by names like Mile High Purps,

What’s all this about indica or sativa? Just as strains describe a

Dabbing is basically a way

Is dabbing dangerous? I heard it was like crack but for marijuana.

Vaporizing

we don’t know. Dabbing

kids do these days, but

hasn’t been studied as

that’s a different subject

extensively as cannabis

entirely.

smoking has. The newest

A vaporizer heats up your The good stuff—cannabi-

just another classification.

noids and terpenes—get

Indica plants grow short

boiled off into a vapor that

and bushy, while sativas

you inhale. Since the bud

grow long and thin. Many

isn’t combusted, you aren’t

indica plants will make a

inhaling black ash. If your vaporizer fea-

sluggish, and sedated.

tures a temperature control,

Sativas tend to provide

you can customize your

energy, focus, and an

experience. THC, the

uplifting euphoria.

cannabinoid that gives us a buzz, vaporizes right

tions aren’t terribly clear

around 314.6°F (157°C). CBD,

cut. Sativas and indicas can

the cannabinoid that takes

J U N E 201 7

Dabbing

It’s also a dance move the

terms indica and sativa are

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there’s no solvents involved.

brain and body.

buds without burning them.

However, those descrip-

heat to pull the oils, so

to vaporize concentrates in

type of cannabis plant, the

smoker feel relaxed,

Some dab rigs may use

a highly efficient manner.

To be completely honest,

To dab, you’ll need a

research says cannabis

device called a rig. The rig

smoke is not dangerous,

is a typical water pipe,

and so far no special regula-

except instead of a glass

tions or restrictions have

bowl where buds can be

been passed for dabbing.

packed, it has a nail. Nails

As for dabbing being like

can be made of ceramics,

“freebased cannabis,” this is

glass, or titanium.

a myth. Freebasing involves

Using a heat source, the

chemistry tricks to make a

nail is heated then allowed

molecule instantly absorb

to cool for 10 seconds. Using

into cells. Dabs are not

a wand, which is just a

freebased; furthermore, any

metal stick that holds the

pesticides or fertilizers

from the plant don’t get concentrated in dabs, either. Most of those chemicals get filtered out during the purging and crystallization steps. The only confirmed danger with dabbing is doing too much, too soon. It’s easy to underestimate a dose because such a small amount of concentrate is needed to achieve the same level of elevation as you would with buds.

Edibles

bis associated with medical

try a different strain or

Eat your pot or drink it too!

benefits) and terpenes

product next time, too.

Edibles are food products

(therapeutic fragrant

infused with cannabis

hydrocarbons found in the

start low and go slow. Work

extracts, and there are some

plant’s essential oils).

your way up to higher

delicious options out there.

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a

amounts no matter what

Sour gummies, chocolate

cannabinoid known to have

method of cannabis

bars, cookies, granolas,

analgesic, anti-bacterial,

consumption you choose.

caramels, colas, coffees:

anti-inflammatory, and

marijuana-infused product

neuroprotective properties.

Just remember, always

THC into all sorts of items.

therapeutic or medicinal

Okay, I did too much. What should I do now?

A standard Colorado

use, such as soothing aches,

First off: breathe. Slow, deep

serving contains 10 mg

pains, sore joints, or other

breaths. It’s gonna be okay.

THC, and the long-lasting

health issues close to the

No one has ever died from

effects can take up to two

skin. Some people even use

ingesting too much canna-

hours to hit.

topicals to treat skin

bis. That said, taking too

conditions such as eczema.

much can be a scary,

brands have incorporated

Topicals are meant for

Topicals

overwhelming experience.

If you don’t want the

Patches

elevating effects of canna-

Cannabis patches are

bis but do want the analge-

topicals that you stick on

sic benefits, try topicals.

your body. Most patches

These lotions, ointments,

contain some transdermal

Black Pepper: Eating a

creams, or inedible oils may

compound to carry the

teaspoon or two of ground

or may not contain THC, but

cannabinoids through the

black pepper may taper

they usually have other

skin and into the blood-

down the high. This hasn’t

cannabinoids (the chemical

stream. If these contain

been scientifically proven,

compounds within canna-

THC, you may get elevated.

but some folks swear by it

So here’s what you can do:

(that includes me). There

CAN’T FIGHT THE FEELING Pot made me paranoid when I tried it in high school. Can I avoid that?

are even products like

There’s no guarantee

glass or two of whole milk.

cannabis may not give you

The fattier, the better.

Peppernoids on the market made for this purpose. Whole Milk: If you had too many edibles, try drinking a

some side effects. Every person is different, and

Hot Shower or Bath: A hot

every strain is different, too.

shower or bath may tune

If you do get paranoid, just

things down as well. Feel

remember that you won’t

free to combine all of these

die or go crazy. The effect is

strategies. And enjoy the

temporary. You may want to

ride.

J U N E 2 01 7

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Bruce Munroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flashing Teepees installation

OUT SIDE THE BOX 44

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J U N E 201 7

During the first week of July, Green Box Arts will metamorphose a quiet

mountain town into an aesthetic wonderland, complete with glowing sculptures, choreographed dance performances, and one spicy-hot live band. by RANDY ROBINSON

Green Mountain Falls is a

It’s practically a pic-

Led by Green Box Arts,

terrain,” says Munro in a

tiny town just a short jaunt

ture-perfect village, a town

the annual festival at Green

press release. “This area of

west of Colorado Springs.

embodying Golden Age

Mountain Falls will, once

the Rockies has a protec-

Established in 1880, its

nostalgia. Most folks here

again, draw some heavy

tive and intimate feel, very

population hovers around

know each other by their

hitting names this summer.

different to the wide-open,

600 people within a total

first names. Every home is

British artist Bruce Munro,

exposed vistas higher up. I

area of a single square mile.

within walking distance of

known for his environmen-

hope festival attendees will

the town’s park, the site of

tal light displays, will

take a moment and look,

Green Mountain Falls’s

illuminate the town’s

watch the landscape and

famous gazebo and lake. In

exterior, transforming the

the people.”

the summer, locals fish

art festival into a living,

from the lake. In the

breathing space of cogni-

anniversary, Flagpole Park

winter, families skate

tive engagement.

will host Munro’s Field of

across the lake’s bed of ice.

“Every landscape is

Celebrating its 25th

Light installation, a fusion of

different. But here, it's my

Green Mountain Falls’s

scene to turn the entire

first opportunity to create

natural landscape with 3,000

town topsy turvy.

an installation in mountain

light stands mirroring the

Leave it to Colorado’s art

scarlet expanse of Australia’s Red Desert. At the Mountain Road Corner, visitors can catch Teepees, a layout of fluorescent tubes shaped like indigenous huts that flicker and flash so quickly the human eye should only glean glimpses of the their complete outlines. There’s more. As the

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Bruce Munro’s light sculptures meld with the landscape’s exhibit

musical headliners, Denver-based

I HOPE FESTIVAL ATTENDEES WILL TAKE A MOMENT AND LOOK. WATCH THE LANDSCAPE AND THE PEOPLE.” — BRU C E MU NRO

swing and jazz band, Joe Smith and the Spicy Pickles, offer some heat to spruce up the event. And for attendees who don’t know how to swing dance, no need to fret: Green Box Arts will hold a swing dance class prior to Joe Smith and the Spicy Pickles’s set. For those who prefer to watch the dancing rather than doing the dancing themselves, the Houston METdance, led by Marlana Doyle, will showcase their unique brand of spectacle and storytelling. Combining high theatrics, humor, and athletic dance performances,

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J U N E 201 7

Award-winning artist Patrick Dougherty’s aesthetic buildings, made from saplings, was featured at 2016’s Green Box Arts Festival

METdance has four works

bookmaking, sculpture, fiber

prepared for the festival.

art, and other crafts lessons

As an interactive art walk,

available for visitors who

attendees can find all sorts

wish to make art as well as

of classes and group

experience it. Public talks

activities throughout the

will also be offered with the

week. Sunrise yoga, culinary

featured talents, in case you

courses, and astronomy

need a little light shed on

sessions are up for grabs.

the mystery.

There’s also photography,

Read all about it: Bruce Munro: brucemunro.co.uk METdance: metdance.org The Spicy Pickles: joesmithandthespicypickles.com

Green Box Arts: greenboxarts.org

J U N E 2 01 7

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HAVE BUDS, WILL TRAVEL by RANDY ROBINSON

Andrew Mieure

as one of our thousands of

educator as he is bud-

Shelf Budtending. At Top

is one-of-a-kind: a

medical cannabis refu-

tender, Mieure takes those

Shelf, he organizes

mobile, professional

gees. As he learned more

extra steps to help cus-

weddings, bachelor and

budtender setting the

about the plant and its

tomers understand what it

bachelorette parties,

new standard for cus-

benefits, he noticed a trend

is they’re using, how it

Super Bowl parties, and

tomer service in the

toward getting elevated

may affect them, and the

other private celebrations

cannabis industry.

faster, harder, and with

safest ways to take it.

with cannabis themes.

Raised among the corn

little regard to an individu-

fields of small-town Ohio,

al consumer’s preferences

led him to founding his

Mieure moved to Colorado

and limits. Equal parts

own events company, Top

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J UAY M N E2017 201 7

Mieure’s extra stepping

Name // Andrew Mieure

PHOTO BY DANIELLE WEBSTER

Age // 28 Occupation // Professional Mobile Budtender / Cannabis Social Use Expert Lives in // Stetson Hills, Colorado Springs Motto // “Collaboration over competition.” Hero // Gary Vaynerchuk

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LOCAL FAVES Neighborhood // Manitou Restaurant Food // Paravicini’s View // Summit at the Broadmoor Dispensary // Natural Mystic Caregivers Edible // Stillwater Ripple, Mellow Mint Tea flavor Strains // Tora Bora and Lavender Jones Hiking Trail // Red Rocks Open Space Park // Garden of the Gods Ski Resort/Mountain // Vail Local Getaway // Manitou Springs Arcade Workout // DDP Yoga Go-To Spot to Take Out-of-Towners // Painted Mines Park THIS OR THAT Ski or Snowboard // Snowboard Cats or Dogs // I’m kind of obsessed with my cats. Flower or Concentrate // Flower Spring or Fall // Spring iPhone or Android // iPhone Sweet or Savory // Sweet GOING DEEPER Q // What’s the last song you listened to? A // “Savant” by Jester.

Q // What’s your favorite way to elevate? A // Vaporization and microdosing

Q //What are you currently reading? A // The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John Mann

Q // How old were you the first time you got high? A // 22

Q // What are you currently binging? A // American Dad!

Q // Did your parents know or find out? A // Yeah. They were shocked.

Q //What are you currently loving? A //Showing the world what cannabis social use should look like.

Q // When are you happiest? A // When I am pleasantly medicated, playing video games with all of my online friends, or at a comic convention cosplaying.

Q // What are you most excited about right now? A // Expansion into California! Q // If you didn’t live in Colorado, you’d… A // Live in California. 50

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Q // What was your childhood dream job? A // Video game developer. I did that before getting into the cannabis industry, so my dream was realized.

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