DE N V E R // B OULDER
THE NEW NORMAL
GET
exploring
It’s National Great Outdoors Month
FUN W IT H FU NGI
FOR AG ING for MUSHROOMS* *NOT
THE MAGIC KIND
Hemp, Hemp, Hurray Eatin’ Leaves + More!
THE GREEN
TRUTH
ISSUE
the beesic
6.2018
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 3
4 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 5
6 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
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8 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 9
10 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
ISSUE 6 // VOLUME 3 // 6.2018
FEATURES 66
SP EC IAL R EP OR T
Ugh, Plastics
As the cannabis industry matures, can it move away from petroleum-based plastic containers and toward more green solutions?
74 Is it Organic? Try Not to Panic.
In the absence of federal organic standards or certification, here’s how to find clean, green weed.
FUN WITH FUNGI (Not the Magical Kind)
82 Hemp, Hemp, Hooray
Where to find hemp everything from cosmetics to apparel.
90 Get Outdoors
Get inspired by the many natural wonders of Colorado.
every issue 14 Editor’s Note 20 The Buzz 30 NewsFeed
HEMP: BACK TO THE FUTURE
36 CrossRoads
MYTHS ABOUT GREEN CANNABIS
42 TasteBuds
EAT YOUR GREENS
50 AroundTown
CRUISIN’ DENVER, USA
58 TravelWell
FUN WITH FUNGI
118 The Scene
COAST TO COAST WITH THE CANNABIS COMMUNITY
98 The Bee-sic Truth
Why pollinators are still struggling in Colorado and how we can help.
42 EAT YOUR GREENS
128 SoCO
SUMMER SOLSTICE AT CHIMNEY ROCK
Sensi magazine is published monthly by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2018 SENSI MEDIA GROUP LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 11
sensi magazine ISSUE 6 VOLUME 3 6.2018
FOLLOW US
EXECUTIVE Ron Kolb
CEO, SENSI MEDIA GROUP
ron.kolb@sensimag.com
Tae Darnell
PRESIDENT, SENSI MEDIA GROUP
tae.darnell@sensimag.com
Alex Martinez
GENERAL MANAGER
alex.martinez@sensimag.com
EDITORIAL Stephanie Wilson
EDITOR IN CHIEF
stephanie.wilson@sensimag.com
sensimediagroup
Leland Rucker
SENIOR EDITOR
leland.rucker@sensimag.com
John Lehndorff
DINING EDITOR
edible.critic@sensimag.com
Randy Robinson
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
randy.robinson@sensimag.com
Robyn Griggs Lawrence CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Ricardo Baca, Tiffany Bergeron, Cory Casciato, Amanda E.K., Kent Gruetzmacher CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
sensimagazine
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CREATIVE DIRECTOR
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PUBLISHER
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CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR
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MARKETING DIRECTOR
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DISTRIBUTION
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MEDIA PARTNERS Marijuana Business Daily Minority Cannabis Business Association National Cannabis Industry Association Students for Sensible Drug Policy 12 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
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sensimag.com JUNE 2018 13
editor’s
NOTE
MANY SHADES
OF GREEN
I’ve worked in cannabis
for almost a decade, yet I’m unable to keep my own lawn from being scorched by the late summer sun in Colorado. The irony isn’t lost on me: I can’t grow any form of grass. With our first-ever Green Issue here, I’ve been thinking of the myriad ways that the word impacts me. When I was a pot critic, it was one I loathed, constantly searching for new shades or synonyms as I described various strains. As a conservation neophyte, it’s one that challenges me to alter my buying decisions—or trash bin decisions—to be more in harmony with the world around me. As a managing editor, it reminds me how new I am to this position and you, the readers. And with my lawn, it reminds me of failure. To be clear, I don’t have a vendetta against grass and exact my revenge through water deprivation. I get busy, I forget Denver’s arcane rules about when sprinklers can run, and a few blistering days later I’m left staring at a wasteland. Even worrying about how to keep a superficial patch of turf alive feels like a luxury with so much happening in the world. Then again, perhaps my lawn is trying to tell me something: Slow down. Have balance. Pay attention to the details. This summer, I’ve decided to listen, smoke a bowl, and meditate on the state of our backyard—and life—with a hose in my hand. This month in Sensi, we’re covering the “greenification” of Colorado from all angles. There’s more than CBD to get excited about when it comes to hemp, and we have a lineup of bath, beauty, and food products to get you started. For those looking to get outdoors, our state has some of the best wild mushroom foraging sites in the country, ripe for the picking. Lace up the boots and prepare your kitchen. For those looking to make more ecologically friendly decisions, we have a report on the once rowdy Denver Cruisers transitioning into a force for social good and leading the effort to make the city better for cyclists. Don’t worry: they still party. Finally, we have a look at literal greens here in Colorado from our resident foodie John Lehndorff. Popeye would be proud of the selection.
Jake Browne
M ANAG I NG E D I TO R
SENSI DENVER/BOULDER
14 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 15
ADVISORY BOARD 1906 New Highs // CHOCOLATE The Adjustatorium // CHIROPRACTIC Agricor Labs // TESTING LAB Azara // COMPLIANCE Bulldog Protective Services // SECURITY Cannabis Clean // CLEANING CannaRabbit // COURIER The Clinic // SEED BANK Cohen Medical Centers // MEDICAL CENTERS Colorado Cannabis Company // THC COFFEE Concentrate Supply Co. // RECREATIONAL CONCENTRATES CWC Soil LLC // SOIL Denver Custom Packaging // PACKAGING EndoCanna // MEDICAL CONCENTRATES Escape/Evolutionz // THE CLEAR™ Evolve Formulas // TRANSDERMAL Franklin Bioscience // PILLS AND TABLETS Greenhouse Payment Solutions // PAYMENT PROCESSING GreenLink Financial // BANKING Hybrid Payroll // STAFFING AND HR BENEFITS L’Eagle Services // SUSTAINABILITY Lab Society // EXTRACTION EXPERT AND LAB SUPPLIES Lowspark Incorporated // DISTRIBUTION marQaha // SUBLINGUALS AND BEVERAGES Mary Jane’s Medicinals // TOPICALS MedPharm // LIFESTYLE VAPE Merkabah Labs // CBD EXTRACTS Monte Fiore Farms // RECREATIONAL CULTIVATION Mountain High Suckers // CBD EDIBLES Mustache Dabs // ROSIN PRESS Nature’s Root // HEMP COSMETICS Next Frontier Biosciences // BIOSCIENCES Purple Monkey // TEAS Pyramid // DISTILLATES Revered Inc. // INHALERS RiNo Supply Company // CANNABIS CULTURE Rogue Recovery // AUTISM RxCBD // CBD PET TREATS Safe Haven Solutions // ARMORED GLASS Sharp Solutions Courier & Consulting // TRANSPORTATION Source Colorado // WHOLESALE CONSULTING SteepFuze // CBD COFFEE Success Nutrients // NUTRIENTS Terrapin Care Station // RECREATIONAL DISPENSARY Toast // MINDFUL CONSUMPTION Wana Brands // EDIBLES Willpower Products // SPORTS NUTRITION Wilton Inc. // PAYROLL PROCESSING 16 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 17
Hemp Connex Soothing and Serenity Massage Oils are all-natural and contain no preservatives and all-organic ingredients. The invigorating and moisturizing properties of Coconut Oil, protective abilities of Avocado Oil, and calming properties of Hemp Isolate are sure to offer your skin an all-encompassing range of support! Shop online today at hempconnex.com and use discount code SENSI20 at checkout for 20% off your order!
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Ajoya (Louisville)
Altitude Organic Cannabis (Dillon)
Altitude Organic Cannabis (CO Springs)*
Bonfire Cannabis Company*
Choice Organics*
1100 W Dillon Rd Louisville, CO
817 Little Beaver Trail Dillon, CO
523 Tejon St Colorado Springs, CO
4837 N Washington St Denver, CO
813 Smithfield Dr Fort Collins, CO
Colorado Green Stop
Doctor’s Orders* (CO Springs)
Golden Leaf
GroundSwell Cannabis Boutique
Life Flower Dispensary
130 Maine St Log Lane Village, CO
2106 E Boulder St Colorado Springs, CO
1755 Lincoln Ave Steamboat Springs, CO
3121 E Colfax Ave Denver, CO
4966 Leetsdale Dr Glendale, CO
Local Product of Colorado
MiNDFUL* (Berthoud)
MiNDFUL* (CO Springs)
Organic Alternatives
The Health Center (U-Hills)
419 W 13th Ave Denver, CO
1015 N 2nd St Berthoud, CO
403 N Circle Dr Colorado Springs, CO
346 E Mountain Ave Fort Collins, CO
2777 S Colorado Blvd Denver, CO
The Health Center (Uptown)
The Kind Room
Santé (Durango)
Simply Pure
Sweet Leaf Pioneer
1736 Downing St Denver, CO
1881 S Broadway Denver, CO
2000 W 32nd Ave Denver, CO
1286 Chambers Eagle, CO
742 ½ Main Ave Durango, CO
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 19
THE NEW NORMAL
sensi
buzz
TRENDING
DO:
in June
Put these on your radar this month.
Happy City
Part of “Happy City: Art for the People,” a six-week citywide art intervention happening all over Denver through the end of the month, JUMP invites you to put some
air beneath your feet on a giant inflatable floor. Think of it as a bounce house elevated to art form, and hop on. Giggling like a kid is good for your well-being.
In Good Taste
Aspen’s annual food and wine classic is a star-studded affair.
June 23–24 / 11 a.m.–7 p.m. /17th Street between Wynkoop and Wazee / happycitydenver.com
LISTEN:
City Park Jazz
The summer Sunday night tradition is back, so pack a blanket, hop on your bike, and meet your friends by the bandstand. City Park Jazz is a celebration of music, nature, and community. The series began
as a handful of jazz concerts in 1986 and has grown to a cultural treasure. It kicks off on Sunday, June 3, with a concert by Jyemo Club—plus a lineup of food trucks to fuel your bike ride home.
Sundays, 6 p.m.–8 p.m. / cityparkjazz.org
LEARN:
How to Grow Hemp
At Denver Botanic Gardens, two workshops this month showcase the new normal. The New Practice of Growing Hemp, part of the Bonfils-Stanton lecture and workshop series, focuses on the horticultural aspects of the Canna-
bis sativa plant with a range of discussions followed by hands-on instruction on how to take cuttings (aka “clones”). But the old normal still lingers, and Colorado regulations prohibits real hemp plans from being used.
$55 / June 1 & 15 / botanicgardens.org
GO:
Skiing
Why? Because you can. Last year, closing day at A-Basin wasn’t until June 11 thanks to a wallop of snow coating the trails midMay. This year, it’s scheduled for the first weekend in June. Late season skiing isn’t about getting in some more quality runs; it’s about experiencing the freedom of gliding downhill unhindered by the bulky warmth of winter gear. The snow may be slushy and the open trails may be few but the views are still as spectacular as ever. —Stephanie Wilson
Fans of Bravo’s Top Chef can’t help but have the words “an appearance at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen” burned into their memories after 15 seasons of the competitive cooking show. One of the top prizes for Chef winners happens to be in our own backyard, with luminaries from around the world taking over the town for a bacchanal of epic proportions. With Colorado serving as the backdrop for the most recent season, expect interest to be at a fever pitch in 2018. Taking place June 15–17, it’s a veritable who’s who of celebrity cooks, from TV legends like Curtis Stone (The Talk and Rachel Ray) and Anne Burrell (Worst Cooks in America) to cult favorites like Ethiopian-born, Swedishraised Marcus Samuelsson and Top Chef All-Stars winner Richard Blais. Cooking demonstrations, seminars, and a ton of tastings in both food and vino await anyone who can shell out $1,700 for the three day pass. If you’re already making the commitment, it’s worth splurging an extra $150 for a brand new brunch added on Sunday at Hotel Jerome, featuring 10 dishes from Food & Wine magazine’s 2018 Restaurants of the Year. Here’s to expensive tastes! *clink* —Jake Browne
20 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
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THE NEW NORMAL
sensi
buzz Down & Dirty
The Dirty Heads return to Red Rocks with a message. Returning to Red Rocks for their third straight headlining set, the Dirty Heads’ mix of hip-hop and reggae has taken the five-piece band a long way since opening for Sublime with Rome at the same venue. While they may not be a household name yet, the new album SWIM TEAM is crushing the charts and the first single “Celebrate” off it has the sound of a band that’s both confident and mature. Beyond the music, however, is a commitment to the environment. The band teamed up with KROQ in April to lead beach cleanups in southern California that brought out almost 1,400 volunteers. They’re doubling down and donating $1 for each ticket sold on their current tour to benefit the Natural Resources Defense Council, a nonprofit that has engaged in a new legal action or new lawsuit against the Trump administration about every eight days since the inauguration according to an NRDC statement. For those looking for a side of social consciousness with their summer entertainment, you’d be hard pressed to find a better act. Opening acts for the June 26 show include Iration, The Movement, and Pacific Dub. —JB
THE “# 1” APP
The perfect complement to your movie pass has arrived
Summer blockbuster season is upon us and when it’s almost 100 degrees in Colorado, nothing beats a dark, air-conditioned movie theater. Heck, toss in an edible or two and you can make a full day of it. Quenching your thirst after escaping the heat—or a case of serious cotton mouth—can lead to a serious problem for those not wanting to miss a thing: the dreaded bathroom break. Enter RunPee, the app that tells you exactly when you can make your escape. Available for free via the Apple App Store or Google Play, their 22 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
dedicated team watches every new release, then gives you a number of spoiler-free cues and add the amount of time you have left. For example, if you’re watching Titanic, you have four minutes from when Molly Brown says, “You shine up like a new penny” to do your business. While “peecoin” will cost you—the in-app currency runs $1 for 10—there are free ways to earn it and movies older than three months are gratis. As a bonus, it even comes with a timer that will vibrate when you’re close to your time. Go forth and go without regrets this summer. —JB
IrieWeddingsAndEvents.com
720.460.0633
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sensimag.com JUNE 2018 23
sensi
buzz
SolarPlexus Get lit with the power of Sunlight
Summer of Style It’s 2018. You’re woke. You recycle. You compost. You drive an electric car. You don’t buy disposable fashion. You shop at H&M. No, really: you do. You look for items with the green Conscious Choice tag, and you wear them without guilt, knowing the company’s commitment to sustainability isn’t just lip service. By 2020, they aim to use 100 percent sustainable cotton; by 2030, they’ll only use recycled or other sustainably sourced materials, such as recycled polyester, an article fiber made from oil. This CONSCIOUS Swimsuit with Ruffles is made partly with that recycled material. And it’s only $14.99. —SW
hm.com
24 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
Summer is here. You’re in Colorado. If you’re not reading this from a canvas chair you unfolded in front of the campfire you built next to a tent you pitched in a secluded spot in the Rockies, you’re doing this wrong. If you are, kudos—I’ll be there soon, just gotta finish writing this bit. But before you get too self-congratulatory about how you are one with nature, a few questions: Did you light the campfire with a butane lighter? Are there disposable batteries powering the flashlight you’ll be using to duck behind a tree after dark? If your phone runs out of juice, are you gonna plug it in and turn your car on to power it back up? Sorry: you’re doing it wrong ,too. First, ditch the Bic for a plastic Fresnel lens. You can find packs of these creditcard-sized magnifying “glasses” on Amazon for around $12. They require no fuel, flint, maintenance—or ants—and can get a campfire started in just a few seconds.
Bonus points to anyone who can pinpoint magnified sunlight and “solar puff” a bowl. Second, swap out battery-powered lanterns for Pocket Lights (SURVIVALFROG.COM). These luminaries draw juice through a solar cell at the top of the device, and each one can collapse accordion-style to the size of a hockey puck for über portability. Each one is $20 a pop, and it comes with a built-in USB port so you can bring your phone back to life, too. [Tip: even if you have service, you aren’t out here to check Insta. Turn it on airplane mode to extend battery life.] Next time, pack camper-friendly solar chargers. Brands like Jetsun, Voltaic Arc, and Wildtek have some very affordable ones these days. Most aren’t much larger than an iPad, and some can charge multiple devices at once. Handheld chargers run in the $30–$50 range; heftier ones go for close to $300.
Grow Far Industrial-scale farming forever changed the way modern societies function, but organic farming is the epitome of self-sufficiency. Get your hands in the dirt. If you’re hungry for a hands-on organic farming experience, check out Worldwide Opportunities on Organ-
ic Farms ( WWOOF.ORG). WWOOF can connect an aspiring farmhand with one of the organization’s 19,000 organic farms around the world. Several WWOOF hosts are located in Colorado, where you can receive free room, board, and meals in exchange for working the farm just half a day, all
—Randy Robinson
while getting a killer workout and learning real-world sustainable farming techniques. WWOOF is also a great gateway for world travel on a budget. The organization provides a low-cost boarding option for journeyers who prefer exploring foreign, rural countrysides while living with the locals. The only catch? Farmhands must arrange their own travel arrangements to and from the —RR WWOOF site.
AVA I L A B L E AT
VOTED THE #1 BEST DISPENSARY IN COLORADO BY L E A F LY R E A D E R S
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 25
THE NEW NORMAL
sensi
buzz
LELAND’S SENSIBILITIES
Is legal marijuana making people homeless? Sensi senior editor LELAND RUCKER says oh hell no.
Among the many presentations at an anti-cannabis symposium at Colorado Christian University last fall was one in which a Pueblo, Colorado, social worker explained how the legalization of marijuana has led to an increase in homelessness there. Most of the “proof” presented consisted of photos of families living in unsanitary conditions along the banks of the Arkansas River, who, she claimed, came here for the legal weed. Homelessness has risen in Pueblo the last few years, and the city, pushed by Police Chief Troy Davenport, who strongly believes such a connection exists, was concerned enough to commission a study to find out more. Released this spring, it details several real economic factors that have contributed to homelessness in Pueblo County. The authors, however, “found no evidence that poverty has either increased or decreased in Pueblo as a result of cannabis legalization. Apart from anecdotal reports, we did not find definitive evidence that links increased homelessness to legal cannabis.” Davenport dismissed the findings as “junk science.” These are the kinds of things to expect in the early years of #thenewnormal. When crime numbers in Denver declined during the first year of legal adult-use cannabis in 2014, many advocates crowed that legalization was responsible. Never mind that, like the Pueblo case, there wasn’t a causal relationship— crime figures go up and down all the time—yet conclusions were drawn. That seems to be the case in Pueblo: someone saw people living in hovels, smelled marijuana, and reached a conclusion. The fact is that a percentage of people of all ages and in all industries use cannabis. I wish I could bring all the naysayers to a Sensi party or some other industry function, a place where they can observe and talk with business owners, growers, parents and neighbors, people who use cannabis as part of their lives. They’re the people in the spin class next to you, the folks camped near you in the mountains, and people who hike 14ers. Is there someone who is homeless who uses cannabis? Probably. Is cannabis the cause? Hardly.
26 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
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sensimag.com JUNE 2018 29
{newsfeed}
EVENT PHOTOS BY BEN WRIGHT
by L E L A N D R U C K E R
30 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
BACK TO THE FUTURE The Front Range is at the front edge of the hemp resurgence.
On an otherwise unassuming afternoon in April, I was
Hemp, once an agricultural mainstay in the US, is having a
stepping out of my car in the parking lot of an expo center
moment, and the buzz in the room wasn’t coming from the
in Loveland, Colorado, when I saw a man flying. No, there
jetpack outside. It was excitement radiating from thousands
wasn’t a cloud of smoke billowing out of the car with me, I
of people who were seeing firsthand the potential impact that
hadn’t just smoked it out, I wasn’t high. But this guy was
the plant will have if its federal prohibition comes to an end.
and he was getting higher, a noisy jetpack on his back pro-
Yep, federal prohibition of hemp has been going strong
pelling him up above the crowd of people eager to get into
since 1937, when the US government put production to a
the event that had brought me there, too.
halt. But there’s a potential light at the end of the tunnel,
As I joined the back of the line and began shuffling toward
and it appears prohibition may be coming to an end.
the entrance, it hit me: we all were going back to the future.
A decision is expected this month by the United Nations’
Inside, the 5th annual NoCo Hemp Festival was showcasing
World Health Organization on whether CBD, a compound de-
the power of the plant to more people than ever before.
rived from hemp plants that’s shown to have incredible sensimag.com JUNE 2018 31
32 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
medicinal potential, should be declassi-
any other state. After the Agricultural
fied from its controlled substance status.
Act of 2014 was passed—which al-
On a federal level, Senators Cory Gard-
lowed a permitting system for industri-
ner and Michael Bennett are co-spon-
al hemp farming and research at the
sors of the Hemp Farming Act, a US Sen-
state level—Colorado moved quickly
ate bill that would legalize the growing,
to codify its rules and regulations.
production, and sale of industrial hemp
“We took advantage,” says attorney
like any other agricultural product. Colo-
Robert Hoban, who represents hemp
rado Representative Jared Polis is push-
interests in the state. “The reason Col-
ing a similar bill in the House.
orado is the leader in hemp is that, un-
“The movement is happening,” says
like a lot of other places, it has gotten
Morris Beegle, producer of the NoCo
the regulatory piece in place already,”
Expo. He notes that the event has
he explains. And investors are lining up.
grown so much in recent years, it needs
“People who will not invest in marijua-
a larger venue—and it’s still a year
na will invest in ‘marijuana light,’ and
away. “We’re going to legalize the plant.
that’s what they’re doing.”
People are excited. It might be incre-
The hemp plant has been used for
mental, and we have a long ways to go,
centuries for all kinds of things: the stalk
but we’re on the right track.”
for cosmetics, fabric, fuel, and paper; the
And, at least for the time being, Col-
bark for rope, yarn, textiles, and fiber
orado is the epicenter of the hemp uni-
products; the seed for oil, food, and med-
verse. Last year, Colorado planted al-
icine; the buds and foliage for medicine,
most 10,000 acres of hemp, more than
food, and relaxation; and the inner core
for paper, non-toxic paints, seal-
dustries competing with the ver-
ants, and other industrial materi-
satile plant. In 1971 it was listed
als. Several companies have al-
as a dangerous drug under the
ready introduced hemp-infused beer products here in Colorado. So how in the world did the US give up its hemp production? Hemp’s unusual status stems from the fact that it comes from the Cannabis sativa
“People who will not invest in marijuana will invest in ‘marijuana light.’” —ROBERT HOBAN
Controlled Substances Act that’s still in effect today. Most of the thousands of hemp products made in the United States still must import hemp, mostly from Canada and China. But the word is getting out.
plant, which produces a num-
More than 40 journalists from
ber of chemical compounds
around the world came to cover
with different properties. Certain varieties are bred to pro-
the NoCo Expo in its fifth year. Stainless-steel machines to
duce high concentrations of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol,
extract oil from plants drew large crowds. Cultivators, biosci-
or THC, the compound that produces the elevation most
ence companies, and greenhouse systems talked up the vir-
cannabis users seek. Legal marijuana strains today in Colo-
tues of their wares. There was hemp-based food, and I sam-
rado for adult and medical use have at least 15 percent THC,
pled infused fruit juices, CBD sodas, and an ice cream
often much higher. In contrast, hemp is bred so that, by
sandwich with no dairy products that was quite tasty.
definition, it can have no more than 0.3 percent THC on a
There were workshops, speeches, and panels on hemp bio-
dry-weight basis. Nobody can get high from smoking it. No-
plastics, textiles, and home and auto construction materials. I
body would even want to.
kidded one participant about whether his new winter jacket
Yet hemp was caught up in the 1930s Reefer Madness
was made of hemp, and he informed me that, indeed, it was,
campaign to demonize cannabis, a move applauded by in-
and the “fur” inside his hood made of hemp fiber that bristled
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 33
like the hair on the canines in Isle of Dogs. One
well-attended
panel featured five exNFL players frankly discussing the benefits of using cannabinoids for their chronic injuries. Hemp advocate Winona LaDuke laid out the case for Native American tribal sovereignty to grow and produce hemp. There seemed to be something for everybody. The Colorado hemp
“There’s a huge need for processing so that even small farmers and organizations can begin processing their own materials.’” —HUNTER BUFFINGTON
industry, now only in
34 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
how to be compliant and how much regulation is the right regulation.” Preston Whitfield, program director for NoCo and development adviser for hemp businesses, says the state has a five- or ten-year window to remain at the center of the hemp world before agricultural states like North Carolina and Kentucky eventually take over the growing piece. “This isn’t the best climate to
its third year, is going through growing
grow hemp. It’s a semi-arid desert,” he
pains just like any emerging industry,
admits.
explains Hunter Buffington, executive
Still, that won’t stop what Whitfield
director of the Colorado Hemp In-
calls the state’s pioneering spirit that
dustries Association.
will keep it at the center of hemp inno-
“The industry has a ways to go,” she
vation and research. “Only five to seven
says. “We don’t have the supply chain
percent of people understand hemp
to meet demands for what the con-
and cannabinoids and what they can
sumer wants—to see American-made
do,” he says. “When the general public
and grown processed hemp products.
begins understanding the benefits, this
There’s a huge need for processing so
industry will become another world.
that even small farmers and organiza-
Colorado is creating that motivation.
tions can begin processing their own
We had a good vehicle, but we didn’t
materials. We also need a lot of educa-
have the tires to go down the road, and
tion among our own constituents about
Colorado is giving us traction.”
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{crossroads} by R I C A R D O B A C A
36 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
THREE POPULAR MYTHS AB0UT GREEN CANNABIS An uncomfortable fact: There is significantly more we don’t know about cannabis than what we do know.
MYTH
GREEN CANNABIS = ORGANIC CANNABIS While the idea of organic cannabis seems like an innocuous concept that should be a legit thing in 2018, it is ab-
As such, no marijuana business in Col-
the monolithic difficulty of creating a
orado can technically use the word in
successful, compliant-with-all-regu-
its name or in selling its product, ac-
lations, plant-touching cannabis busi-
cording to officials and industry insid-
ness. And yet I would argue that most
ers. Potential fraud penalties under
Americans in mid-2018 think these
the Colorado Consumer Protection Act
businesses are basically printing
include fines of up to $10,000 per vio-
greenbacks inside their cultivation fa-
lation. Federal rules say that business-
cilities.
es wrongly selling a product as organic could face fines of up to $10,000.”
But no, a cannabis license is not an automatic gold mine. To truly see
There are a few non-USDA third-par-
green while holding a plant-touching
ty organizations with certification pro-
license to grow, process, or retail pot
Back in September 2015, I remem-
grams for marijuana—including Clean
products, while still abiding by some
ber getting a call from a source deep in
Green, Certified Kind, and the Cannabis
of the most demanding regulations in
the industry that the Colorado Attor-
Certification Council—but until canna-
any industry anywhere, an entrepre-
ney General was going after marijua-
bis is legal federally, the word “organic”
neur needs exceptional attention to
na businesses using “organic” or “or-
will continue to be treacherous territory.
detail, access to heaps of non-bank-
solutely not.
ganically grown” in their names, websites, and marketing materials. The resulting story changed how
derived capital, a trustworthy team, MYTH
and a lot of luck. Let’s approach the process of
state-legal cannabis was marketed
starting a cannabis business chrono-
throughout Colorado and beyond.
logically. First, you need a license to
As my former colleague David Mi-
operate. These licenses are incredibly
goya and I wrote for the Denver Post
valuable and rare in most state-regu-
back then: “Because marijuana is illegal under federal law, and use of the term ‘organic’ is federally regulated, a licensed
GREEN CANNABIS =
lated markets, which means you need
MAKE MONEY-MONEY
access to capital immediately. Be-
“Money basically grows on marijuana plants, right?”
cause cannabis is federally illegal, banks won’t lend you that capital as
cannabis business cannot be certified
Not quite.
they would if you were starting a
as organic—no matter its practices.
It would be impossible to overstate
business in most other industries. So sensimag.com JUNE 2018 37
either you have the money or you’re
new endeavour, you’re suddenly gob-
able to borrow the money from
smacked when you find yourself pay-
friends, family, and investors or … you
ing an effective tax rate of up to 70
don’t. And if you don’t have the capi-
percent—compared to the 30ish per-
tal, you’re already out.
cent any other non-plant-touching
MYTH
But let’s say you get that capital
business is paying. Yes, IRS code
and are lucky enough to land a license.
280E is the federal government’s re-
Congratulations! But because no gov-
ality check for these entrepreneurs, a
ernment had ever regulated cannabis
constant and (yes) taxing reminder
When we think green, we think
before 2009, they’re new at this, too,
that their chosen commodity remains
eco-friendly—and cannabis would
and they’re still figuring out their own
illegal at the federal level.
seem to fall under that umbrella at
GREEN CANNABIS = ECO-FRIENDLY
first look. It’s a plant that allegedly
best practices for licensing, zoning,
So next time you hear someone
and beyond. When you open up shop,
waxing eloquently about the thought-
you’re most likely operating in a high-
less profitability of the green rush,
Yes and no.
ly competitive marketplace. Whole-
mention these barriers to entry, the
Cannabis is a plant, but as I men-
sale prices are down. The number of
lack of consistent and traditional
tioned earlier, it’s one of the most
competitors is up. And profit margins
banking services, the heated and
tightly regulated plants in the world.
are slimming.
sometimes reckless competitive en-
And because we’re still emerging from
But you make it through the first
vironments, and the IRS’s unfair con-
nearly a century of prohibition, this
couple months of business, and when
tinuation of America’s war on mari-
plant is grown indoors more than it is
it comes time to pay taxes on your
juana to set them straight.
outdoors in these modern regulated
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“grows like a weed,” right?
environments, requiring high-intensity
alent of the electricity used by 1.7
lights that mirror the sun’s powerful
million homes.”
rays and fuel the plant’s growth and maturation.
While states like California, Oregon, and Washington allow outdoor culti-
While these lights are extremely
vation—allowing growers the oppor-
energy intensive, they’re only part
tunity to get away from much of the
of legal marijuana’s concerning re-
energy consumed by these lights, hu-
source problem. Those lights that
midifiers, and air conditioners—grow-
burn so bright also burn so hot, re-
ing cannabis outdoors can also have a
quiring a carefully calibrated suite
negative impact on the environment.
of machinery and technology to
When marijuana is cultivated
offset the lights’ heat—including
outdoors responsibly, the plants
systems that fully ventilate, dehu-
still consume nearly twice as much
midify, and cool these indoor culti-
water as wine grapes, according to
vation facilities.
one University of California, Berke-
As
Think
Progress
reported,
ley study. When it’s cultivated out-
“Cannabis cultivation annually con-
doors irresponsibly, the environ-
sumes one percent of the United
mental impact can be even worse,
States’ total electrical output, which
as poorly managed outdoor mari-
for a single industry growing a sin-
juana cultivations can degrade land
gle crop, is a lot—roughly the equiv-
and erode soil.
So while this plant-based industry inevitably has a more sustainable and profitable future ahead of it, the hangover of prohibition is real. RICARDO BACA is a veteran journalist, thought leader and founder of The Cannabist. His content agency Grasslands works primarily with businesses and individuals in the cannabis and hemp industries on thought leadership, publicity and marketing projects via thoughtful, personalized content campaigns.
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 39
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sensimag.com JUNE 2018 41
{tastebuds} by J O H N L E H N D O R F F
SHISO COOL Fans insist powerhouse greens are meant for better things than smoothies.
42 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
I was a green pea kind of kid. My Sicil-
was “discovered” as a nutritional power-
ian-American mama tried to transfer her love
house, and field greens started to replace
of salads, but my juvenile taste buds had to
iceberg lettuce in salads. However, most of
mature before I fully appreciated the mind-
the greens seem to be disguised by banan-
blowing deliciousness of greens. Now I love
as in viscous vegetal morning smoothies.
porky collards, creamy saag paneer, Chinese
Better greens in a smoothie than no
broccoli, Ethiopian gomen, cress salad, and
greens at all, but what a waste of flavor.
dozens of other verdant variations.
Some leaves are delicate and buttery, others
The word “superfood” gets misapplied
heartier and chewier in diverse flavors from
to a lot of foods. Leafy greens deserve the
minty, bitter, and sweet to tart and mustardy.
kudos. They are low-calorie, nonfat, and high-fiber, as well as high in vitamin C, vitamin A, folate, manganese, and vitamin K. You literally cannot eat too many greens every day. Leafy greens, root vegetable tops, microgreens, and baby greens—including baby bok choy—may not be as sexy as artichokes and asparagus, but they are inexpensive and one of the most nutrient-dense foods per calorie on the planet. From curly endive to shiso, greens are essential ingredients in nearly every cuisine, but modern Americans resisted their charms. Then, a former garnish called kale
‘I sure do love some greens’ Chef Caroline Glover’s first job may have been at Chili’s, but she has gathered nothing but acclaim locally and nationally since opening Annette restaurant in Aurora’s Stanley Marketplace a little over a year ago. The eatery made Bon Appétit magazine’s list of America’s 50 best new restaurants in 2017 and was a 2018 James Beard Award semifinalist (for Best New Restaurant), with Glover nominated in the Best Chef: Southwest category. She had worked at notable eateries like Denver’s Acorn before opening Annette. sensimag.com JUNE 2018 43
44 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
‘At home, we grow shiso’
Turns out Glover’s got a thing for roughage. “I sure do love some greens,” she tells me, and her current menu provides delicious evidence for every course: from a butter lettuce salad with pickled wild onions to grilled asparagus with burrata and watercress to a bone-in pork chop with spaetzle and mustard greens. The roots of her leafy affinity run deep. “I ate a lot of great salads growing up,” Glover says. “My grandmother did the braised greens with chicken stock and bacon, but I really didn’t start loving greens until I worked on a farm in Vermont. The food was very seasonal and greens were the first fresh vegetable of the year.” Glover is now a devotee. “I’m a glutton for simple sautéed greens with salt, extra virgin olive oil, and a little lemon juice for acidity. Not everyone is into
“
I ate
Lyons-based chef James Van Dyk sharpened his appreciation for jade-hued vegetables like Chinese broccoli, bok choy, and water spinach while living in Japan for four years. Van Dyk was the first American chef to get a visa to work in Japan cooking American cuisine. “We showed them a lot of American regional dishes that we adjusted using local ingredients,” he says. “We made Southern-style soul food greens using chrysanthemum flower greens cooked with smoked ham hocks.” While in Asia, Van Dyk developed a technique called wok-charring that works especially well on thicker greens such as Chinese broccoli. First step: blanching the vegetables in boiling water for about two minutes, then drying them off. Next, he says, “I get the wok smoking hot—but it’s dry with no oil so it doesn’t smoke. You throw in a half a pound
a lot of great
salads
salad in the morning, but I am,” she says. “Some of my favorites are wild mustard greens which have a sharper taste than regular mustard greens. If you eat them when they are young and tender you don’t have to blanch them first. They pair well with fatty things like whole roasted chicken.” Yet she feels that her beloved greens are greatly misunderstood. “We definitely have customers who steer away from any green vegetables they don’t recognize,” she dismays. “I think some still have bad memories of the way greens were fixed for them when they were kids.”
”
growing up.
—CHEF CAROLINE GLOVER
of greens and toss them around for three or four minutes until you get the desired char. Let them sit off the heat for about a minute and then drizzle with toasted sesame seed oil plus sea salt and sesame seeds. It gives the greens a slightly smoky taste that I really love.” No wok? Substitute with a seasoned castiron skillet. Another signature technique for getting people to eat their veggies involves bacon. Cut it into small, thin strips, spread it across a baking pan, top with greens and bake it at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. For more delicate ingredients, he takes a different approach: “With Chinese water spinach, I do a simple sauté with olive oil and garlic,” he says. sensimag.com JUNE 2018 45
tard greens, and
At home, he and
wife
omega-3-rich
Noriko grow just
purslane. And she
one herb: shiso, a
too grows shiso
cool
his
relative
of
in her backyard.
mint. Why this partic-
“They say that eat-
ular one? “Because it’s so perishable,”
ing greens is a discipline, not a side dish,”
he says. “We chiffonade the greens and
she says. “Greens give the body what it
mix it with rice.” The couple served a
craves. Most greens are high in be-
shiso tempura with goat cheese at their
ta-carotene, iron, magnesium, and pro-
acclaimed Gateway Cafe in Lyons.
tein, and the darker the green color, the
Van Dyk invokes a cooks’ spirit of ad-
more nutritious they are.”
venture with some advice: “Be brave at
She points out that if for anyone try-
Asian supermarkets like H-Mart and
ing to eat locally, sustainably, and af-
Pacific Ocean Mercantile. Buy some
fordably, leafy greens are the best bet.
greens you haven’t had before. Do a
“Rather than iceberg lettuce trucked in
quick sauté of greens, add cooked rice
from California, look for locally grown
topped with grilled fish and you are on
greens—or
your way to a great meal.”
Greens so are easy to grow in kitchen
plant
them
yourself.
windows or containers.”
‘The hippies were right all along’ While there are about 1,000 species of plants with edible leaves, not all of them are particularly tasty. Brigitte Mars has studied them and taught herbal nutrition and health for 50 years in Boulder. She started studying herbalism when she was 15 years old, long before it was considered cool. “It turns out the hippies were right all along,” Mars laughs. Today, she leads groups on foraging forays to find tasty wild greens including chickweed, blue mus46 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
She also says that by cutting down the time between the plant being harvested and consumed, you’re taking in more of the goodness. “You get a lot more of the plant’s nutrients when you are eating something that was growing in the ground an hour before.” She offers this tip that will allow the goodness to keep on giving: “When you harvest, don’t pull plants up by the roots. Trim off the leaves so that the plant can regrow. JOHN LEHNDORFF hosts Radio Nibbles weekly on KGNU (88.5 FM, 1390 AM, kgnu.org). Podcasts at news.kgnu.org/category/radio-nibbles
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 47
48 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
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JUNE 2018 49
{aroundtown} by C O RY C A S C I AT O
Even if you’ve somehow never heard of the Denver Cruiser Ride, you’ve probably seen it if you’ve ever been out and about in, or near, downtown Denver on a Wednesday night during our fairer months.
50 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
PHOTOS BY JAKE HOLSCHUH
CRUISIN’ DENVER, USA
They’re the ones riding along in clumps of 3 to 50 cyclists, dressed outlandishly, making a racket, and having a
(there’s some drinking, see) and welcomes anyone and everyone who wants to ride.
hell of a good time. Each event—formerly weekly, now
“The Denver Cruiser ride is designed as fun on bikes. We
roughly monthly since last year—is themed and partici-
ride bikes, we have fun!” declares Brad Evans, who founded
pants are encouraged to decorate both themselves and
the ride in 2005. “That’s the core mission that we’ve always
their bike appropriately. It’s free, open to all ages over 21
had in our hearts: riding bikes is fun and a place you can tap
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 51
back into your childhood and remember
and motion. The advocacy part sort of
being free again. If you have something
just...happened.
with two wheels or four wheels or six
“I became an accidental advocate for
wheels, you can ride. [Anything] human
bicycle safety and more than just fun
powered. We’ve had rollerbladers and
on bikes because all these people were
skateboarders and wheelchairs.”
starting to ride bikes [at the Cruise],” he
“It’s become kind of a gateway drug
recalls. “It was like, ‘Oh it’s unsafe to
for people to ride bikes in Denver,” Evans
ride in Denver, so how do we make it
continues. “The gal who just moved
safer?’ We engage with the police de-
here from Cincinnati, who didn’t even
partment, the council people…”
own a bike, goes and borrows a bike [to
“By the end of 2007, it was pushing
do the Cruise] and the next day she’s at
300 people,” explains fellow Cruiser
the bike shop buying a bike and is now
Damon Bruno. “It became a cult, a cul-
riding to the grocery store with a bas-
ture—I’m not sure cult is the right
ket on her bike. That’s the shift we’ve
word. It also became
seen in how this all works. If we’re in-
something the city
troducing people in a fun way, rather
had to start dealing
than as a cranky advocate—our take
with. You put 300
is always, try this, you’ll like it, rather
bikes through LoDo
than do this because it’ll save the
on
world.”
night, it’s not what
When Evans started the Denver
52 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
a
Wednesday
people are used to.”
Cruiser Ride more than a decade ago,
As to how well the
he didn’t intend to become a cycling
city has dealt with its
advocate. He was just looking for a
bicycle needs—both
good time on two wheels, and it
those directly relat-
turned out so were lots and lots of
ed to the Cruise and
other people. The Cruise took on a life
on a broader scale—
of its own within a few years of its
even Cruisers can
launch, growing from its humble ori-
disagree.
gins of just 13 people to hundreds of
“When the [May-
people showing up each week to ride
or Hancock] came
and express themselves in costume
on board, he de-
clared Wednesday Denver
ed, according to the city au-
Bike Night,” says Bruno. “In-
ditor’s report. Evans says he
stead of the city fighting it,
thinks the number is closer
they went with it. Of course,
to $8 million total now, a
Hickenlooper wanted to make
number still well short of
Denver the No. 1 bike city in
the $120 million required.
the US, and all of a sudden
That might seem like a big
there were bike lanes every-
number, but for contrast,
where, and biking was really
the imminent expansion of
promoted. All of a sudden, it
I-70 is estimated at some-
was more an initiative than a
where in the neighborhood
nuisance.”
of $2 billion.
“I think the seed is here for
“I-70 is $2 billion for two
Denver to be a great bike
miles. If you gave me $2 bil-
city,” Evans acknowledges. “I
lion I could redo all of Denver
don’t think there’s the will to
with bike lanes, pedestrian
make that happen. There’s
lanes and airplanes probably,”
plenty of money, just no desire to spend it on that stuff.
Evans exclaims. “There’s lots of opportunity to make Den-
The people in public works are dying to make it happen, but
ver a great bike city. People here are healthier and all these
there’s no will for it. Lots of good words, though.”
things, to me, tie into the sustainability issue. If you want a
As an example of what he’s talking about, Evans points
better city, where people are healthy and they can get
to Denver Moves, a 2011 plan to connect a complete bi-
around without driving a car, those are the kind of holistic
cycle network throughout metro Denver. The plan called
things you can put together to make it a great biking city.”
for almost $120 million in infrastructure improvement,
To Evans, the benefits of building Denver into a better
but as of 2015, only $3 million of that had been allocat-
bike city extend well beyond the immediate impact on the
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 53
the
people
who
don’t live next to the highway. That’s a social cost. That’s an environmental cost. How do you make it easier for people to commute without a car? Denver has yet to come up with that solution.” Still, Denver isn’t a terrible place to be a cyclist, even if all the pieces aren’t in place.
If
nothing
cyclists themselves. After all, every
else, we still have the Denver Cruiser
person who bikes to work is one less
Ride—starting its 2018 season right
person driving there, which helps ev-
about the time you’re reading this—
eryone. Perhaps more importantly, in a
and, even if we haven’t put all the piec-
city that is increasingly expensive to
es in place to make Denver the equal
live in, every dollar not spent on a car is
of bike-friendly cities like Amsterdam,
a dollar that can be spent elsewhere.
Copenhagen, Vancouver, and Seattle,
“The city could help with affordabil-
we still have it pretty good here.
ity without doing affordable housing
“I’ve ridden bikes in other cities. I go
by making it so I didn’t have to have a
back east to the Jersey Shore,” says
car,” Evans suggests. “It’s not impossi-
Bruno. “I’m going to tell you, Denver is
ble, but it’s difficult to live in Denver
a pretty darn good bike city in my per-
without a car. Make a transit system
spective. Maybe the pace and the
and a bicycle network that were actu-
promise haven’t come to fruition, but
ally easier than driving, then suddenly I
it’s still head and shoulders above a lot
don’t have to spend $600 a month on
of other cities of the same population.
my car.”
We are a great bike city. Maybe not the
“You see more [riding a bike]. You’re
best [city out there], but I don’t live
healthier. Strategically, if you have a city
there, I live here, and I am not disap-
that’s healthier, your health costs go
pointed.”
down. If you have less people driving a car, you have less of a pollution problem,” he goes on. “With I-70 we have all this research that shows these people live less, three to five years less than
54 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
CORY CASCIATO likes to discover cool things and then write about them so other people can do cool things, too. You may have seen his work in Suspect Press, Westword, and other mags. Like this one. Speaking of cool things, you should read his feature on pickbleball in the April 2018 edition of Sensi.
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 55
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{travelwell} by K E N T G R U E T Z M A C H E R
58 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
FUN WITH FUNGI Head for the hills, take a hike, and experience the magic of mushroom hunting. The Gold Rush established Colorado; the Green Rush is shaping contemporary Colorado. And one thing remains the same: them hills are filled with magical treasures. Wild mushrooms, for example. Foraging for fungi is a modern equivalent of panning for gold. Inquisitive types with penchants for adventure can find endless entertainment while seeking the gems of the forest. The state’s vast highway and trail systems weave throughout its mountain ranges, giving access to the craggy peaks and fertile valleys where mushrooms grow, ripe for collecting. Colorado has a powerful allure that stems from a mix of mountainous wilds, vibrant culture, and healthy lifestyle. Mushroom hunting encapsulates all these traits in a single activity. The pastime allows for an intimate exchange with natural landscape, and to do it successfully, one must learn to read the signs of the weather and forest. Even the most avid hikers and mountaineers find that foraging makes them see a familiar landscape from a fresh perspective.
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 59
Edible mushrooms include puffballs, porcinis, morels, oysters, and CHANTERELLES.
The harvesting and preparation of a rare woodland
The summer months in the Colorado Rockies are colored
mushroom, like a wild morel, is an exercise in organic sub-
by expansive mountain meadows and lush forested slopes
sistence living. These forest-grown foods are sure to be
that play host to an array of plant and animal life. Wild
fresher and more unique than anything found on the shelves
mushrooms grow and thrive in damp environments, so for
of health food stores in the Denver area.
Coloradans, this notion means that different elevations will
Whether one is fascinated by adventure travel, forest
present different opportunities for foraging according to
ecosystems, or rare foods, wild mushroom hunting offers a
rainfall patterns and snowmelt. June is generally the month
great option for weekend travel. Some of the forest food
which brings Colorado’s afternoon thunderstorm season
specimens may even be worth something on the open mar-
and subsequently stimulates mushroom growth.
ket. But you’d have to gather a whole lot of them.
Yet, with such extreme variances in altitude, many of Col-
Even the Colorado Plateau, the desert-like landscape in
orado’s prime mushroom hunting grounds aren’t open until
the southwest, offers some world-class wild mushroom
July due to winter snowpack in the high country. As the sum-
foraging. No matter where you are in Colorado, there’s
mer progresses with continuous warm temperatures and
some foraging grounds nearby. In a 2011 New York Times
precipitation, foraging conditions continue to get better,
interview, expert mycologist Paul Stamets says that Colo-
which is evidenced in Telluride’s late summer Mushroom
rado has the second-highest population of wild mushrooms
Festival. With Colorado’s afternoon monsoon season peak-
in the nation, second to only the temperate rainforest areas
ing in August, Telluride has positioned its mushroom-centric
of the Pacific Northwest. Stamets also reports that Colora-
festival accordingly, with this year’s festivities over the week-
do has a staggering 3,000 species of wild mushrooms, with
end of August 16 to 19.
50 to 100 edible varieties that can be foraged. However,
The guidebook Mushrooms of Colorado and the Southern
there are several factors that determine where and when
Rockies by Vera Stucky Evenson is a venerable wellspring of
forgeable mushrooms can be found around Colorado.
knowledge concerning the varieties of edible mushrooms
60 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
available in the state. For those serious about foraging for
ing can only be done starting in July, as these backcountry
mushrooms in Colorado, a detailed guidebook like this is
locales are generally buried deep in snow well into the sum-
highly recommended, as it can help discern poisonous spe-
mer months. With this diversity in hunting options, wild
cies from their edible counterparts. Evenson’s work offers
mushroom foraging is a viable summer activity in nearly ev-
some great insights into what species
ery locale in Colorado.
are available in specific growing condi-
Mushrooms also has valuable infor-
tions and features a number of edible
mation regarding what sort of forest
varieties including puffballs, porcinis,
ecosystems
morels, oysters, and chanterelles. Of
growth, another reason why these
the edible mushrooms species featured
books are so essential to successful
in the book, morels and chanterelles are
foraging trips. According to Evenson,
probably the most well-known among
mushrooms grow out of a “cobweb-like
foraging groups, with morels com-
mass of minute, whitish threads
manding a serious dollar value.
[known as mycelium] found in moist
promote
mushroom
The guidebook tells us that morel
rotting logs, decaying leaf litter, or com-
mushrooms generally thrive in lower
posting vegetable matter throughout
elevations of the state. As such, prime morel hunting grounds
the natural world.” The mushrooms are the “fruiting” bodies
exist amongst the flora of foothills and are accessible in the
of these larger macro-fungus organisms that subside in ar-
spring months. Evenson explains that forgeable oyster
eas of the forestland rich in decaying matter. The best loca-
mushrooms flourish in the high-elevation aspen forests of
tions to find wild mushrooms are those that are densely lay-
the mountains. Much of Colorado’s oyster mushroom hunt-
ered with downed logs and branches.
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 61
The region offers picturesque mushroom hunting
prised of aspen, spruce, and pine trees and produce an
grounds close to the Denver area as well near some of its
abundance of consumable Agaricus mushrooms in both
most famous mountain towns. As such, for the curious
open meadows and dense trees. According to the National
traveler, it’s easy to make foraging a fun new addition to a
Library of Medicine, Agaricus are in the same family as the
local weekend getaway or an extended trip to places like
portobello and crimini mushrooms that can be purchased
Crested Butte. The Colorado Mycological
in most grocery stores.
Society’s website (CMSWEB.ORG) has
The Colorado Mycological society also
some great insight into specific foraging
reports some great foraging opportuni-
locations. Here are some highlights to
ties near the picturesque town of Crest-
check out.
ed Butte. The small mountain town of
Kenosha Pass is located about 65
Crested Butte has long served as a fa-
miles west of Denver on Highway 285
vorite destination for Colorado resi-
and offers some easy access to both the
dents—it offers solace from the city life
Colorado Trail and good early summer
with about a four-hour drive from Den-
mushroom hunting. With an elevation of
ver. According to these local Colorado
about 10,000 feet, the snowpack at
experts, the Crested Butte area provides
Kenosha Pass begins receding in May, with ample oppor-
a wide variety of amanitas and russula mushrooms that
tunities for foraging beginning in June. Colorado Mycologi-
are easy to locate amidst both aspen and conifer forests.
cal Society foragers have reported an overabundance of
The same foragers also found large groups of puffballs
both bolete and porcini mushrooms near Kenosha Pass.
thriving in grassy meadows, which they spotted at a dis-
Moving on, the forests of the region are reportedly com-
tance with binoculars.
62 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 63
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SP ECIAL R EP OR T
As the cannabis industry matures, can it move away from petroleumbased plastic containers and toward more green solutions? by LEL AND RUCKER
We are in love with plastic. WHY NOT? IT’S ONE OF THE MOST USEFUL SUB-
that billions of plastic containers wind up in landfills and junkyards after a single use. Some of it ends up in that noto-
STANCES EVER CREATED, PRESENT TODAY IN
rious vortex of plastic trash the size of Texas that whirls
LITERALLY EVERYTHING FROM BOTTLED WATER
around in the Pacific Ocean, where it is ingested by birds
TO LAWN FURNITURE. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE LIFE WITHOUT PLASTIC. IT’S PART OF THE KEYBOARD YOU TYPE ON, THE MOUSE YOU MOVE. PLASTIC MAKES OUR LIVES INFINITE-
and marine life. A beached whale recently was found with pounds of plastic in its stomach amidst other human debris. Product packaging, including for cannabis, is considered responsible for more than 40 percent of all plastic waste. “If you look at the life cycle of whole-plant marijuana from
LY EASIER, AND KEEPS OUR FOOD, DRINKS—AND
seed to consumption, environmentally, it’s pretty atrocious,”
CANNABIS—FRESH AND SAFE.
says Brandon Pitcher, whose company, Blue Circle Development, works with businesses worldwide to develop more
Many Americans like their cannabis, too. If you live in a
sustainable products. “The energy, the nutrients, the water
state where it’s illegal, you might just have a bag of weed. If
consumption, and the packaging are ultimately unsustain-
you’re a user in a legal state, it’s a lot different. A glance to the
able. You can buy a joint that has three layers of plastic be-
right of my desk reveals eight plastic containers with varying
fore you even get to it.”
amounts of product in each. Next to those is a pre-rolled joint
Each state has its own packaging rules, but all have
locked inside a plastic tube with a plastic, child-resistant cap.
four basics in common. Anything that holds cannabis
When they’re empty, I’ll toss them into the recycle bin.
must be in a container that is child-resistant, opaque,
This thirst for convenience has a serious downside. Plastic is an oil-based product. Numbers vary, but it’s safe to say 66 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
tamper-resistant, and includes a label that gives accurate consumer product information.
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 67
“Our number-one task is protecting
could help speed the way to more sus-
Washington, Illinois, and Colorado.
public health and safety,” says Shan-
tainable packaging. The main obsta-
“For such a green industry, aren’t you
non Gray, spokesperson for the Colora-
cle is cost. Plastic is simply cheaper
surprised at how much plastic is be-
do Department of Marijuana Enforce-
than any of its alternatives.
ing used?,” he asks rhetorically. “Peo-
ment Division, the state’s regulatory
Rao Murukurthy is CEO of Denver
ple are so conscious about the envi-
agency. “The rules are created to en-
Custom Packaging, which developed
ronment until you ask them to pay
hance public safety and keep it out of
the Doob Cube, a child-resistant alter-
more for packaging.”
the hands of minors.”
native to the popular pop-top contain-
Offering a fully recyclable, stain-
Cardboard and glass are also preva-
ers. He says that packaging accounts
less steel can to hold cannabis buds
lent in cannabis packaging, but plas-
for two and a half to five percent of the
brought some serious pushback at
tic is the most used material, adds
retail price, which can make more ex-
first, with most complaints centered
Dominique Mendiola, deputy director
pensive alternatives a tough sell to
around the higher cost and the fact
of policy, regulation & communica-
businesses with already tight profit
that you couldn’t see the product. But
tions for the MED. “It’s not limited to
margins. “What it comes down to is
as businesses started to consider the
plastic, but I would say that, more
that everybody’s a start-up,” he says,
advantages of a recyclable product,
commonly, most packaging that has
“and nobody wants to pay the bump
Martin says those objections have
child-resistant qualities is plastic.”
up for biodegradable plastics.”
mostly faded. N2 is now designing a
Given the growing concern in this
One alternative is stainless-steel
country about oil-based products,
can packaging. Scott Martin is CEO of
“To be honest, we were ahead of
should we be doing more about all
N2 Packaging, based in Twin Falls,
the need,” he admits. “People didn’t
this plastic—especially in an industry
Idaho, which has patented a recycla-
want to put cannabis in something
that prides itself on sustainability and
ble, stainless-steel can packed and
that looked like a cat food can. They
being green? The introduction of re-
sealed with nitrogen to preserve
didn’t care about preservation be-
cyclable cans, hemp-based plastics,
freshness and is in dispensaries in
cause they were selling it as quickly
and other non-petroleum products
California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon,
as they were growing it. That started
see-through lid.
to change when companies started thinking long term.”
“Our number-one task is protecting public health and safety.”
There are now bills in front of both chambers of the US Congress that would allow hemp, one of the most sustainable crops on the planet, to be treated like any other agricultural product, for the first time in almost eighty years. Hemp was grown by the Founding Fathers and was an ingredient in many medicines and building materials. Could hemp, a cannabis product, become part of the solution to all this plastic waste? Lara Gonzalez, who works for Ora Care,
a
Springfield,
Massachu-
setts-based company that sells CBD products, says that hemp offers a way forward. “There is a lot of waste within the cannabis industry, and it makes me wonder what kind of carbon footprint we are leaving for future cannabis users,” she says. “There are ways around this. The hemp industry should be more green than it is, but we have to change our mindset.” 68 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
Medical Distillate Vaporizer Cartridges and Syringes Available for Processing and Wholesale for processing and wholesale info please call 1.833.420.PURE(7873) or email dana.therefinery@gmail.com
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 69
Ron Basak-Smith and James Eich-
of packaging rules that took hold in
plastic offerings, and give his small
ner are part of that changing mindset.
July, and Mendiola says the state
company access to better prices.
They met in graduate school at the
brings together focus groups and stake-
“It begins to be cost-effective in large
University of Colorado and bonded
holders to talk about ways to improve
numbers,” Sherman says. “And we can
over music, skiing and cannabis. Ba-
its regulations. “I expect more interest
tag along and ride their coattails. I want
sak-Smith says that he has been
in environmentally friendly packaging
to show that you can build businesses
against plastic, single-use packaging
in future meetings,” she says.
that are benefiting the environment
since he was a child, and both grew to
Many people hope state legislators
rather than taking it away. Now, I’m
especially dislike the popular plastic,
will begin to rethink some of the
part of the problem. I’d like to go back
pop-top containers that tend to pop
strictest
and be part of the solution.”
their tops at inopportune moments,
packaging to more accurately reflect
like in your pocket when snowboard-
the new normal. “I think we were
ing or skiing.
more green before the state regula-
rules
on
child-resistant
“We were upset as customers. Here
tions,” says Jason Beck, a California
we were with these sustainably based
dispensary owner who’s had to react
products, and they’re in this crappy
to a lot of state rule changes over the
packaging,” Eichner says. “The other
years. “The sheer packaging and
thing was the fact that being a cylinder,
waste is a little over the top.”
it was too reminiscent of a pill bottle.
He says that, ultimately, the burden
We wanted to move away from the
for keeping cannabis away from mi-
shape of a pill bottle. Cannabis can be
nors needs to shift more to the parent
medicine, but it’s also a lifestyle thing.”
than the package, especially when
They took a class in Sustainable
cannabis is being sold in a store where
Venturing, which got them excited
children have no access. It would also
enough to look into hemp. They
allow for more innovative packaging.
formed Sana, with offices in Colorado
“I would think from a legal standpoint
and California, and they have already
that it would be easy for law enforce-
created hemp-based, child-resistant
ment to prove it’s not contributing to
boxes and are expanding into other
kids getting cannabis,” Beck says.
containers that can be used for more
“Kids can figure out how to get into
than just getting your cannabis home
tamper-proof things, anyway.”
from the store. “We made it so contain-
Until then, companies will have to
ers nest inside each other to make
continue to innovate on their own. Ari
them more efficient for shipping and
Sherman is co-founder and president
storing. The lid won’t pop open, and
of Evo Hemp, a Boulder, Colorado com-
you can turn it over, and it makes a
pany that makes hemp extracts, pro-
great rolling tray,” Eichner says.
tein snacks, powders, and seeds. While
Beyond cost, since it’s still illegal fed-
developing its protein bar, Sherman
erally, there is no infrastructure for
was introduced to Innovia Films, one
hemp products to be grown, processed,
of the world’s largest packaging sup-
and sold in this country. Legalizing
pliers based in England. The company
hemp here would go a long way in al-
offers a line of film, or packaging, that
lowing investment dollars for the devel-
looks like plastic, feels like plastic, and
opment and construction of the facili-
works like plastic, with one major dif-
ties necessary to make hemp more
ference: it can be composted. Innovia
competitive. Given that the industry is
is now working with larger brands to
literally starting over, we are still at least
invest in better facilities for producing
several years from that happening.
the compostable film, which will make
Colorado just announced a new set 70 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
it more competitive with traditional
What You Can Do as a Consumer?
1 2 3 4
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72 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 73
74 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
As an adult, I overcompensated for being an agro-chemical industry victim by moving to Boulder, Colorado (epicenter of the organic food movement), helping to fight for national organic food standards—we won a rare victory, though the USDA regulations are continually being downgraded—and editing a magazine
IS IT ORGANIC? TRY NOT TO PANIC. Toxic pesticides used to grow cannabis are even more dangerous when smoked and processed into concentrates. In the absence of federal organic standards or certification, here’s how to find clean, green weed.
about natural lifestyles. I fed my kids local, non-GMO, humanely raised, fair trade, certified organic meat and produce (and, not gonna lie, a lot of Annie’s organic mac and cheese). When it comes to organics, I’m a believer. So, naturally, when I stepped into a Colorado dispensary for the first time in 2009, I had questions for the budtender. “Is all of this organic?” I asked hopefully, already mesmerized by the jars of glistening, fragrant flowers. “Organic? Um, yeah,” said the budtender. “Were any chemicals used to grow it?” “Well, yeah, I don’t know. I have a list of chemicals we don’t let growers use. You want to see it?” “But you have no way of knowing whether they used these or not—or what they did use? No certification, no testing?” “Um, no.” That’s a big reason I grow my own.
by ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE
In Massachusetts, "A Very Chilling Message" To be fair, Colorado has done a lot to address pesticides in cannabis since my first dispensary visit. In 2015, Governor John Hickenlooper declared pesticide-tainted cannabis a public safety risk, and the state began a string
I GREW UP IN A MIDWESTERN CITY RINGED BY FIELDS OF CORN AND SOYBEANS SO HEAVILY SPRAYED WITH CHEMICALS THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GROW THE PLANTS ORGANICALLY ANYWHERE IN
The toxins from those fields were in the air we breathed and the water we drank. WHEN THE VICINITY.
I WAS A KID, THIS SEEMED PRETTY BEASTLY.
of recalls. The initiative was a PR nightmare for the industry—and appears to be working. Last year Colorado found residue of unapproved pesticides in 13 percent of cannabis samples tested in response to complaints, down from 49 percent in 2016. sensimag.com JUNE 2018 75
I’m thrilled about that, but Colorado still doesn’t require cannabis to be tested for pesticides and mycotoxin contaminants. I’m not taking the chance, and neither are my friends across the country in Massachusetts, where non-organic pesticides are banned but third-party testing for pesticides isn’t required, either. Ethnobotanist and natural food industry pioneer Chris Kilham planted a cannabis garden in his Amherst backyard after he read the words “may not conform to pesticide standards” on the label for flower he bought from a local dispensary. “I was like, what the hell?” he says. “That is a very chilling message.” Boston medical marijuana patient Laura Beohner turned to a caregiver who grows in small batches in Maine after the concentrates she bought from a dispensary gave her headaches. Beohner is confident in her grower, whom she knows personally, and says using only organically grown cannabis and solventless rosin have made a huge difference in her health and energy. For her CBD topicals business, The Healing Rose Company, Beohner takes
Holy Vigilante! “Never underestimate the power of the vigilante consumer,” Anita Roddick, the late founder of The Body Shop, once said. Her words are even more relevant in the nascent, unregulated cannabis industry, where there are no agreed-upon organic standards. If that makes you a little bit crazy, don’t despair. You can be like Batman next time you buy cannabis. Ask questions! And more questions! The budtender should know how cannabis was grown and processed; whether synthetic fungicides, insecticides, and pesticides were used; whether it was sprayed with synthetic materials while in flower; and whether it has been tested for pesticides (and by which lab). If she can’t answer any of these questions, take your business somewhere else. Spend money in stores that test for pesticide and fungal content. Vote with your hard-earned dollars for businesses that are doing the right thing. Request the manufacturer’s Certificate of Analysis. Dr. Mary Van, a Florida-based clinical pharmacist and functional medicine practitioner who specializes in cannabis therapy, advises patients to call and ask for this document, which contains lab test results for pesticides and contaminants (and a lot more), when buying cannabis products. “Transparency is everything,” Van says. “No third-party Certificate of Analysis—no go.” If you’re able, give flowers a smell test. Trust your nose. If cannabis smells sharp or metallic, like sulphur or chlorine, pesticides were likely used and improperly flushed. A musty, mildewy aroma portends mold. If you’re able, inspect flowers under a microscope. Don’t buy cannabis if you see brown, yellowing leaves, white spots, or cobwebs. Don’t buy anything if you feel like you’re being hustled. That budtender who keeps trying to sell you cannabis from a full jar on the top shelf, and even offers to throw in a free joint? Yeah, no.
the additional step of having every hemp extract that comes in the door tested in a laboratory for pesticides, residual solvents, heavy metals, and microbiological contaminants—an additional expense
which certifies organic food, won’t touch
she believes is well worth it. “I can show
erated in an unregulated setting, vari-
cannabis until it’s federally legal.
ous practices have been adopted that
the results to people at trade shows and
Cannabis producers can state that
send them to wholesale people so they
are at odds with accepted regulations
plants were “grown with organic
feel good about what they’re selling,” she
regarding human safety and environ-
methods,” but that’s tough to verify. In
says. “A lot of our customers value us and
mental impacts,” CSI states in a white
legal states from coast to coast, grow-
continue to come to us because of our
paper. “Chief amongst these is the un-
ers and dispensers have, for the most
promise of all-organic ingredients.”
regulated use of pesticides, which has
part, been left to police their own pesti-
potentially serious public health and
cide use—with, as we’ve seen in Colo-
environmental consequences.”
"Potentially Serious Public Health and Environmental Consequences"
rado, sometimes disastrous results.
In California, where stricter regula-
And Colorado is far from alone. In
tions and testing requirements will be
Oregon, the Cannabis Safety Institute
I’m far from alone in wanting to see
phased in next year, University of Cali-
(CSI) found pesticide residues exceed-
organic standards and certification for
fornia-Davis researchers report that
ing allowable levels for an agricultural
cannabis growers and processors. But
pesticides are widely used in the canna-
product on close to half of the retail
despite our growing voice, that’s not like-
bis industry. Last year a startling num-
products it tested. “Given that canna-
ly to happen anytime soon. The USDA,
ber of entries to the cannabis competi-
bis production has developed and op-
tion at the Emerald Cup were rejected
76 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
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sensimag.com JUNE 2018 77
The Dirty Half Dozen
"Like Injecting That Pesticide Right into Your Bloodstream"
nabinoids also concentrates pesticides,
Researchers have been working
found 10 times more toxic pesticides on
for decades to establish safe levels of
cannabis concentrates than on flowers,
pesticide consumption, but almost
at levels that “grossly exceed tolerances
every study is based on eating food.
for pesticides on any commodity.”
CSI states. The institute’s researchers
Smoking presents a whole new set of
This is alarming, to say the least, and
risks because chemicals enter the
it’s good to see states beginning to ad-
These chemicals, commonly used on cannabis, are toxic to people and the planet. Some are possible human carcinogens. All are best avoided.
bloodstream at much higher, more
dress these dangers. Until more prog-
concentrated levels and are not fil-
ress is made, however, it’s up to us. We
tered through the digestive and he-
have to ask difficult questions, demand
patic systems. Pesticides in canna-
Myclobutanil (Eagle 20)
systemic change, and make purchasing
bis can be transferred into smoke
decisions that support conscientious,
Imidacloprid
with efficiencies as high as 70 per-
ethical agriculture.
Avermectin B (Lucid and Avid) Etoxazole (TetraSan5 WDG) Bifenazate Piperonyl Butoxide
cent, CSI found.
It may be too late for Iowa’s glypho-
“It’s really like injecting that pesti-
sate-soaked corn and soybean fields,
cide right into your bloodstream,” Dr.
but it’s not too late for cannabis. By de-
Jeff Raber, CEO of Los Angeles-based
fault, legal states will lead the conversa-
cannabis testing lab The Werc Shop,
tion about organic cultivation and
told NBC Los Angeles. “It could cause
chemical use. As citizens and consum-
damage to your kidneys, to your liver,
ers in these states, we have a rare op-
or other organs.”
portunity to make our voices heard.
because they contained pesticides, and
Cannabis extracts—oils, waxes, shat-
Steep Hill Labs found that 41 of 44 canna-
ter, etc.—magnify the situation. Using
The agro-chemical beast is already
bis products in Los Angeles contained
butane, pentane and CO2 to extract can-
circling.
We
need
to
speak
up
now.
pesticides at levels that would get them banned in Colorado or Massachusetts. It’s a sticky situation, no matter what state you’re in. Chemicals make growing easier and more efficient. (Just ask the few farmers left in my home state.)
Certified
Super effective at fighting off spider mites, powdery mildew, and other pests and microbes that can destroy crops and harm consumers, pesticides are cheaper and easier to control than organic methods like no-till living soil and beneficial insects. That’s why cannabis growers have come to rely on synthetic fungicides like Dow Chemical’s Eagle 20, a brute against powdery mildew. Trouble is, Eagle 20 contains myclobutanil, which releases hydrogen cyanide—a poisonous gas— when it’s heated. And even more trouble: azadirachtin—an organic pesticide that many growers use instead—can cause a potentially debilitating toxic buildup known as hyperemesis syndrome. 78 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
In the absence of federal oversight, these organizations offer third-party certification for growers using organic cultivation methods. Look for their labels. CANNABIS CERTIFICATION COUNCIL // CANNABISCERTIFICATIONCOUNCIL.ORG Nonprofit standard-holding body that offers a national third-party certification program and seal for organic cultivation and fair labor practices. CLEAN GREEN CERTIFIED // CLEANGREENCERTIFIED.COM California-based third-party certifier that mimics federal organic standards in California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Colorado. CERTIFIED KIND // CERTIFIED-KIND.COM Certification standards equivalent to internationally accepted norms for organic crops and processed products in Oregon, Nevada, California, Colorado, and Washington.
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 79
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sensimag.com JUNE 2018 81
Where to find hemp everything from cosmetics to apparel in Colorado. by A M A NDA E.K.
82 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
HEMP, TO BE CLEAR, IS CANNABIS WITH LOW THC. THAT’S RIGHT—THE TYPE THAT
doesn' t get
you high . OR IN OTHER WORDS, HEMP IS THE VERSION OF CANNABIS THAT YOU FEEL OKAY TALKING ABOUT WITH YOUR FAMILY ON HOLIDAYS WHEN VISITING YOUR HOME STATE WHERE MARIJUANA IS STILL CRIMINALIZED. (REMEMBER THAT CLASSMATE WHO HAWKED DITCH WEED FOR $60 AN EIGHTH?
Yeah, he ' s still doing jail time in Iowa .) Maybe you’re thinking, “What’s the point if I can’t get
Colorado Hemp Honey
high off the product?” Or maybe you’re new to the “silly weed” (as my grandpa called it when he found it in a
Colorado Hemp Honey is produced at the foot of the
literal ditch he was mowing) and you view hemp prod-
Rocky Mountains by Frangiosa Farms, who are “com-
ucts as a safe, even conscientious first leap into being
mitted to responsible beekeeping in the face of bee de-
a consumer of the industry. Either way, consider this:
cline through community education, backyard bee-
Hemp contains high levels of fatty acids, including
keeping, and support of locally sourced pure, simple
all nine essential amino acids in their breakdown.
honey” says Nick French, founder and beekeeper at
When your skin is infused with these nutrients, the
Frangiosa Farms.
hemp invigorates the skin by preventing moisture loss,
The hemp is non-GMO, grown without pesticides,
making it a nice addition to beauty products by leaving
and repeatedly tested for phytonutrients and to ensure
your skin clearer and brighter. Hemp can help reduce
there are no impurities or contaminants. Frangiosa
skin rashes and acne by providing the skin with more
Farms uses every penny of donations to buy more
oxygen. Your skin’s elasticity and overall tone can im-
equipment to establish new bee colonies and create a
prove, counteracting redness and blemishes.
bee business where the honey sales go directly back to
So what are some trusted hemp products, and where
create more colonies.
might you find them?
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 83
RIGHT: Cannabis concentrates. BELOW: A cannabis leaf and a bottle of hemp oil on a wooden table.
84 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
The company works with Colorado
with 100 percent organic, gluten free,
hemp farmers to produce their blend
and sulfate free products; to care for
of full spectrum hemp extract that
the planet by using non-GMO local in-
they then infuse into the honey. Their
gredients and recycled packaging;
extractor uses a renewable extraction
and to care for animals by using plant
method to ensure that consumers re-
products and zero animal testing.
ceive the full benefits of the hemp plant.
Founded by Tracee Box and Dani
quiet professionalism unmatched service
Billings, Nature’s Root sells products
There are 25 locations within 5
like hemp coffee scrub, hemp oil tinc-
miles of Capitol Hill in Denver where
ture for pets, and their “Sore Muscle
you can find Colorado Hemp Honey
Salve” which was voted Best Hemp
products, including dispensaries, but
Product at the 2016 High Times Can-
also the Edgewater Ace Hardware.
nabis Cup in Jamaica. You can find their products across Colorado, in-
Nature' s Root At Nature’s Root, they’re commit-
cluding Veda Salon & Spa in Denver and their home store, Nature’s Root Boutique & Spa in Longmont.
ted to seeking out and developing products that bring about rejuvenation and whole body healing. They create consciously crafted hemp-
Flora' s Mercantile and Hemp Emporium
based therapeutic and body products
At Flora’s Mercantile and Hemp
and have been around since they
Emporium, you’ll find products made
planted their first hemp seeds in 2013.
with 100 percent all-natural, organi-
Nature’s Root—a two-time winner
cally grown, Colorado hemp. All the
of Best Hemp Company by Cannabis
plants (female only) are sun-and-soil
Business Awards—is an organically
grown using biodynamic farming
based and sustainable-focused com-
practices. Its products are food-based,
pany with hemp farms all throughout
created in small batches, and are full
Colorado. They base their business
of naturally occurring cannabinoids,
model around three main commit-
phytocannabinoids, and terpenes.
ments: to care for their consumers
The inspiration behind the compa-
exceptional results
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sensimag.com JUNE 2018 85
LEFT: Detailed chart showing industrial and commercial hemp uses and products.
In the textile industry, hemp is one of the
oldest and most
eco-friendly fabrics, as well as one of the
strongest and most
durable natural textile fibers.
Wholesale Handled. Serving Medical and Recreational Flower, Trim, and Concentrates
1.1.1_oneeleven www.yoursourceco.com 86 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
720.370.3590
info@yoursourceco.com
ny—and its name—is owner Chris B’s
tion of warmth, softness, durability,
most polluting on the planet, but
great-grandmother, the original Flora
and insulation.
HoodLamb’s clothes are rooted in
Farmer. Flora was raised in the farm
The hemp plant grows well without
conscious design and crafted from
country of Lake City, Iowa, where ev-
herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides.
the highest quality organic and recy-
erything she ever made or ate was nat-
The production of cotton, on the other
cled materials. The quality of its
urally organic. Today Chris B (aka Flora
hand, consumes almost half of the ag-
jackets stems from 20 years experi-
Farmer) commits to honoring her roots
ricultural chemicals used on Ameri-
ence in hemp tailoring and eco-in-
with her own organic practices.
can crops. Natural organic hemp fi-
novation.
You can find peanut butter dog
ber, however, is biodegradable.
crackers, beauty oil, and burn salve on its online shop (FLORASMERCANTILE.COM), or in person at Buddha’s & Gouda’s in Boulder, or the Smooth Room in Denver. In the textile industry, hemp is
Hoodlamb, an official PETA approved brand, collaborates with Sea
HoodLamb Hemp Tailors
Shepherd to create custom designs and to support their cause to defend marine wildlife. Ten percent of all
One of the most trusted textile
HoodLamb Sea Shepherd sales go to
brands is Amsterdam clothing label
support Sea Shepherd expeditions.
most
HoodLamb Hemp Tailors, a cruel-
HoodLamb also contributes at least
eco-friendly fabrics, as well as one
ty-free hemp clothing company that
one percent of annual revenue to help
of the strongest and most durable
started in the early 1990s as the first
create a more healthy planet. You can
natural textile fibers. Levi Strauss
company to make a winter jacket out
find HoodLamb apparel at the Hood-
even used it for the very first pair of
of hemp. The fashion outerwear in-
lab Denver shop, at the Hoodlab
jeans, likely for the fiber’s combina-
dustry is one of the cruelest and
e-store or US.HOODLAMB.COM .
one
of
the
oldest
and
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 87
Our mission is to create equal access and economic empowerment for cannabis businesses, their patients, and the communities most affected by the war on drugs. DEVELOPING A nationwide network of cannabis business owners within a variety of disciplines, including ancillary businesses ADVOCATING For creation and fair enforcement of sensible, equitable policies ACCELERATING Increased cannabis industry growth by ensuring patient and consumer access to the most people SERVING As a voice for the minority population with programs that foster opportunity, education, and equality
Visit us at MinorityCannabis.org to join the movement today!
memberships@minoritycannabis.org @MinCannBusAssoc
88 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
@MinorityCannabis
@MCIA.org
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 89
90 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
PHOTO BY: JEREMY THOMAS // OPPOSITE PAGE (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): MIKE ERSKINE, GRAHAM HUNT, AUTUMN MOTT,
CLARISSE MEYER, JOEL HOLLAND, KYLE STERK, STEPHAN SEEBER, AND HOLLY MANDARICH
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 91
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PHOTO BY: JEREMY THOMAS // TOP SECTION (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT):: HOLLY MANDARICH, SIMON MIGAJ,
CHAZ MCGREGOR, TOA HEFTIBA, ALISHA HIEB, COLLIN ARMSTRONG, AND HOLLY MANDARICH
94 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 95
PHOTO BY: TOMMY LISBIN // OPPOSITE PAGE (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): DOMINIC LOWYEARS, JAKE SLOOP,
TOM HOLMES, HOLLY MANDARICH, HOLLY MANDARICH, LYNDSEY MARIE, AND MELANIE MAGDALENA
96 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
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THE BEE-SIC TRUTH
Why pollinators are still struggling in Colorado and how we can help. by TIFFANY BERGERON
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 99
AS THE SEASON CONTINUES TO DRAW BEES AWAY FROM THEIR HIVES, WE ARE REMINDED THAT THEIR FRAGILE ECOSYSTEMS ARE IN DANGER. RECENT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT
are still declining in Colorado,
bee populations
AND WITHOUT BEES, ALL OF THE LOVELY VARIETALS OF
FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND FLOWERS WOULD DWINDLE. It’s no secret that modern agricultural practices have
been hurting bees over the years. When post-WWII Amer-
the moisture that comes off the leaves is toxic, and the pollen is toxic,” Brod says.
ica entered into the age of manicured lawns and large-
When a bee ingests Neonicotinoids, if it doesn’t die, it
scale agriculture, chemical companies started peddling
will begin experiencing sickness and disorientation. “It’s
pesticides claiming that they were safe—and even good—
like if a human with walking pneumonia attempts to walk
for our environment.
home from the grocery store, that human would not only
“It’s taken 40 years of successful marketing to get peo-
collapse, but become more susceptible to other diseases
ple scared of dandelions,” says Tim Brod, local Boulder
along the way,” Brod says. Though Brod advocates for or-
County beekeeper and owner of Highland Honey. “You
ganic gardening and the old-school way of hand pulling
take pesticides, you take 7 billion people, you take modern
weeds, he doesn’t think all weeds need extraction. “We
agriculture, getting away from small farms, no wild forage,
don’t need all of the weeds pulled out, and there’s a certain
and the paradigm of green grass everywhere, and see that
relationship between the weeds and the plants that are
bees have had it really tough the last 20 years.” Brod, a na-
good. Dandelions are a perfect food for insects.”
tive New Englander who grew up beekeeping, spends
But as forage continues to decline Brod blames “bad land
around 16 hours a day with his bees and currently has over
management.” Food deserts continue to replace the land-
a hundred hives. “I work harder now keeping bees alive
scape covering once-lush foraging areas into single crop
than I did 25 years ago,” Brod says.
landscapes with no wild forage. Single crop plants cannot
Every year according to Brod, 40–60 percent of beehives
support all the bee’s nutritional needs. Monocultures like
are lost due to what Brod calls the “Unholy Trinity” of pes-
corn cannot support our pollinators at all, and yet they are
ticides, loss of foraging opportunities, and natural causes
taking up more and more space here in Colorado.
such as parasites and disease. Currently, pesticides have
Like humans, bees need different types of nutritional
taken an exceptionally pernicious turn. “Neonicotinoids
sources. If these monocultures are providing fewer and
are very powerful and vascular—that means the seeds are
fewer food resources, then the bees have to travel farther
treated with it—and it makes the entire plant slightly tox-
distances for nutrition. If certain monocultures need bees
ic.” Because of this method, Neonicotinoids have a much
because bees are looking elsewhere for more varieties of
easier time polluting our landscape. “Now the soil is toxic,
food, then bees would have to be brought in to pollinate
100 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
Please fill out our CBD survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3YDYFTJ
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 101
these areas, even though they might develop nutritional
pressure on the companies and corporations,” Bord says.
deficiencies.
“Even if you are living in an apartment in Denver, start with
Still, bees have natural threats too, like the Varroa Destructor, a blood-sucking mite that attaches itself to the
a five-gallon bucket and put in something that produces nectar and protein and put it on your balcony.”
honeybee. The Verros Mite is a significant threat to bees
Creating a habitat for bees can also be very helpful. Ex-
because it will reproduce within the hive colony. These
perts recommend adding mounds of loose soil around your
parasites alone can kill off entire hives, and with the added
house. Bees can live in the ground or take shelter in a block
stress of these pesticides, they often do. Though Varroa
of wood. They are shy and usually don’t want to bother us.
Mites are certainly impacting bee populations, they are not
It is amazing how much bees are working for the benefit
the single cause of bee decline. “There’s a tremendous
of our survival. They provide an invaluable service that
amount of misinformation that’s out there from the chemi-
most likely can never be successfully recreated by hu-
cal companies saying it has nothing to do with chemicals,
mans. But in the grand scheme of things are Coloradans
that it’s all about mites these parasites, and it’s not it’s all of
returning the favor? If humans are the leading cause of
these things together,” Bord says.
their decline, it seems that we have a responsibility to help
BRINGING THE BEES BACK
Colorado has more than 900 species of bees, and they
each have their own systems and nutritional requirements. We can do more for our bees by asking questions and by farming organically. (The website
PEOPLEANDPOLLINATORS.ORG
has a ton of info on how to help our bees recover.) While recently banned in 28 European Union member
these bees recover.
Colorado has more than 900 species of bees, and they each have their own systems and nutritional requirements.
states, Neonicotinoid legislation has been slower here in the US. To counteract this, Colorado’s People and Pollinators—a nonprofit network focused on education—has created initiatives like Bee Safe Neighborhoods, a direct way for citizens to help end poisonous pesticide use, believing humans and bees alike should have access to organic and pesticide-free plants. Buying bee products from sustainable farms in Colorado can also help increase healthy bee practices. “Most people aren’t buying what they think they are buying when they purchase cheap honey from a grocery store,” Brod says. Since most of our honey is imported from other countries and packaged locally, through very precise marketing tactics and the deregulated labeling laws for honey, terms like “local,” “raw,” and “unfiltered” may not mean you are buying organic or local. And since the cost of keeping bees has been steadily rising, buying your honey from local bee companies will help support these healthy Colorado bee communities. The best thing we can do for bees is plant forage native to Colorado, and in case you were worrying, June isn’t too late to start. Plant herbs like mint, sage, hyssop, Rocky Mountain bee plant, and bee balm (horsemint) to name a few. And if you decide to plant forage this season, make sure you aren’t using contaminated seeds. “Buy from local nurseries and find out if Neonicotinoids have been used because the more of us that ask about it, the more it puts
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Macro detail of a bee over cannabis bud.
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 103
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BALANCED You
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sensimag.com JUNE 2018 107
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
APOTHECANNA
Preventative Medicine APOTHECANNA ENHANCES EVERYDAY HEALTH BEYOND PAIN RELIEF.
nabis to heal,” says Evans. “The potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and nutritive properties tone down inflammation, which results in the body healing itself instead of masking the symptoms.” A good example is Apothecanna’s Circulating Leg & Foot Crème, with capsaicin and calendula plus ginger, grapefruit and the analgesic effect of THC and CBD. “Our Circulating line is great for helping with chronic pain and stiffness like arthritis. We also have athletes use it to get their blood flowing before their morning run or Crossfit session,” he says. Travelers use it on long flights to improve circulation. “It’s great for bringing sensation back to cold extremities and improving flexibility,” Evans explained. If you only think about topicals when you say, “ouch,”
Best-sellers like the Extra Strength Relieving Body
you are missing out on all the good they can do: for in-
Crème contain anti-inflammatory plant extracts like ar-
stance, proactively managing inflammation before the
nica and peppermint and double the dose of cannabis.
pain begins.
“We encourage massaging on the back of your neck
“There is a common misconception that you need to
to relieve stress or migraines, or it’s great to follow the
be in pain in order to use cannabis topicals, and Apoth-
Circulating Spray post-workout to work into sore mus-
ecanna is on the forefront of changing that,” says Will
cles,” he says. “Insider tip: Keep it in the fridge, and the
Evans, director of business development for Mile High
intensified cooling effect is heavenly.”
Distributing, the license partner for Apothecanna in Colorado.
Other Apothecanna products include Calming Body Crème (with pure lavender, frankincense, and relaxing
From optimizing workouts to nourishing your skin in
chamomile), Sexy Time Personal Intimacy Oil (with
the morning, the nine-year-old Denver-born company
beautiful notes of jasmine), hydrating Everyday Body
is a pioneer in formulating cannabis compounds with
Crème, and all-natural Bug & Bite Spray.
nutritious, plant-based extracts selected for their active
Apothecanna body care products reflect their com-
properties. Now operating in three states and expand-
mitment to sourcing the highest quality ingredients
ing into three more, Apothecanna’s medicated prod-
sustainably. They feature organic and wild-sourced
ucts with 1:1 CBD-to-THC ratio are sold at dispensaries,
essential oils with no artificial or animal ingredients,
while their CBD-only formulations are available nation-
GMOs, fillers or parabens.
wide online. “Apothecanna’s use of all-natural ingredients such as arnica, lavender, and jasmine work together with can-
108 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
For more information:
APOTHECANNA.COM
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 109
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
THE CLINIC
Clinic Charity Classic LINKS EVENT BRINGS CANNABIS COMMUNITY TO PLAY FOR A CAUSE. The inaugural charity golf event staged by The Clinic was mainly a curiosity for the then, brand-new Colorado canna-
Current corporate sponsors enthusiastically endorse becoming involved.
bis industry. “Only a few hundred dollars were raised in the
“We are proud to again be part of The Clinic Charity
first year,” says Nicole Castellano, marketing and social me-
Classic, which not only raises money for a very worthy
dia coordinator for The Clinic. “Last year, the Clinic Charity
cause but is also a great way to more informally con-
Classic raised more than $100,000 to help fight MS.”
nect with so many colleagues in the industry,” says JJ
For the owners and employees of The Clinic, which op-
O’Brien, vice president of PAX Era.
erates four medical/recreational dispensaries in Denver
“MS is a cause that our founder and CEO, John-Paul
and a medical-only location in Lakewood, the event has
Maxfield, is very passionate about. After his best friend,
always been personal, not just a cause for the business to
Joe, was diagnosed with MS in 2005, they hiked the
support. “MS has hit close to home in The Clinic family as
Colorado Trail and raised $250,000 for research. The
it has affected so many Colorado families,” she says.
Clinic Charity Classic has become an annual gathering
Since 2009, The Clinic, through the generosity of spon-
of Colorado industry leaders that we all look forward
sors, employees, patients, and golfers, has raised approx-
to each year,” says Haley Carignan, account manager
imately $500,000 to fund research and help those living
for Waste Farmers and Batch: 64.
with MS. The 9th Annual Clinic Charity Classic Aug. 10
Joe Horvath of Source Colorado is also a strong sup-
at Littleton’s Arrowhead Golf Club will benefit both the
porter. “Between the cause, the networking and the en-
Colorado-Wyoming chapter of the National Multiple
ergy of the event, all of us at Source Colorado feel very
Sclerosis Society and the Rocky Mountain MS Center.
fortunate to be a part of the Clinic Charity Classic,” he says.
Only 144 golfers can play in the tournament. The Classic is a full day of activities. The registration fee includes
For more information:
transportation from Denver to Arrowhead Golf Course in
THECLINICCOLORADO.COM/CCC9
Littleton and back plus breakfast, lunch and dinner, 18 holes of golf with cart, use of an open practice range and a golfer gift, with beverage carts throughout the course. There is still time for golfers to register to play, and sponsorship opportunities are still available as well.
110 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 111
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
ONE:ELEVEN
Getting a Jump on Organic ONE:ELEVEN CRAFTS QUALITY CANNABIS FROM THE SOIL UP. With the July 1 pesticide testing
profile, THC content, and growth
can be, with our cultivation facility
regulations deadline approaching,
structure. Through this selective
just up the road.
many in the industry are looking
farming process, we have found
to source clean, pesticide-free can-
unique phenotypes to cultivate.
One:Eleven’s line of concentrates include shatter, wax, live resin, and
nabis. One:Eleven, a wholesale and
Each batch of craft cannabis is
live rosin. All extracts are made from
retail operation based in the beau-
grown in our own One:Eleven Soil
our single-source, clean, craft canna-
tiful San Luis Valley in Southern
Mix that we have been reusing since
bis. Live Rosin is one of the One:Elev-
Colorado, has focused on produc-
the start of our company in 2015.
en farmers’ favorite concentrates.
ing the cleanest cannabis by culti-
Our all-star crew on the One:Eleven
The crew takes fresh frozen flowers
vating with organic practices since
Farm repeats, reuses, and recycles
and isolates the trichrome heads.
its start in 2015.
our soil to build and strengthen our
Then they press the live trichrome
All of the strains cultivated organ-
soil food web. Through the whole
heads on the Hercules Rosin Press.
ically on the One:Eleven Farm are
process we take every step to pre-
Another hand-crafted product
selected from seed for their terpene
serve the terpenes and aroma of
you can find in many dispensaries
our cannabis.
across the state is the One:Elev-
We cure and deliver our craft
en rosin joint. Each one is coated
cannabis in glass jars to ensure cus-
in rosin, rolled in kief, and sold in
tomers get the best possible fla-
glass tubes with a cork top. You can
vors and experience with the can-
find them in both Lodge locations,
nabis grown and selected on the
The Station, Mile High Dispensary,
One:Eleven Farm.
Altitude Organics, Rocky Mountain
One:Eleven
offers
small-batch
Cannabis’ Ridgeway and Dinosaur
cannabis and concentrates to the
locations, Wise, Sunrise Solutions
wholesale market across Colora-
and Breckenridge Organic Therapy.
do. We also operate the One:Elev-
112 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
en dispensary in the small town of
For more information:
Moffat, which is as farm-to-table as
1-ELEVEN.COM
Fresh Roasted CBD Coffee
Coffee. Because... Duh. Use coupon “sensi20june” for 20% off one order! www.steepfuze.com info@steepfuze.com www.facebook.com/steepfuze
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 113
BETTER BAKED EDIBLES
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
Getting Saucy FIERY AND SAVORY EDIBLES OVERTURN THE NOTION THAT EDIBLES ARE ALL SWEET. They’re
called
“edibles”
not
Shortbread Bites, Oatmeal Raisin
Durkee’s Red Hot,” she says. She
“sweet-ibles,” but most Colorado
Cookies and the company’s pop-
refused to reveal the recipe except
cannabis edibles seem to appeal
ular Crystal Dice are cubed hard
that it involves a lot of spices.
to the sweet tooth, with brownies,
candy in 12 flavors, including mel-
Gordon’s Tangy BBQ Sauce has
gummies, chocolates, and other
on, butterscotch, cinnamon, mint,
balanced heat and is not overly
sweet treats and beverages. When
banana, and mango. Six new fla-
sweet, Vaden says. The hot sauce
you are shopping for edibles in
vors are coming in June.
and barbecue sauce are sold in
Colorado, why do you always have
As the partners fired-up their
packages of ten individual pack-
new 6,800-square-foot facility in
ets. The recreational packets con-
That’s the question Deloise Vaden
Denver, their attention turned to
tain 10 mg THC with 20 mg in the
and Elyse Gordon started asking af-
two favorite condiments: Hot sauce
medical product. Better Baked
ter nine years in the edibles busi-
and barbecue sauce. Using CO2 dis-
Edibles are now available at more
ness in Colorado. “Originally, almost
tillate means precise dosing along
than 40 Colorado dispensaries.
all edibles were sweet, in part be-
with a clean flavor for the sauces
A lot has changed since Vaden
cause of the taste of the extract.
and the sweets. There will be more
and Gordon started cooking at
We started looking at making new
flavored BBQ sauces added to the
the dawn of the cannabis revolu-
edibles that were on the savory and
sauce line and the introduction of
tion. “We are pleased and proud
spicy side using only the very best
salad dressings, both planned for
of the way the industry has grown
ingredients,” says Vaden.
the holiday season.
and opened its doors,” Vaden says.
to go out for dessert?
Den-
The chef-trained partners have
“Women are starting to find their
ver-based Better Baked Edibles,
known each other since they were
place as managers, executives and
a
consumers
in junior high school, but that
business owners in the industry.
have gotten to know well for their
doesn’t mean they’re not still highly
The minority involvement is on the
award-winning medical and rec-
competitive. “I make our Hot Sauce
rise, too.”
reational roster of treats: buttery
from various chilies, including cay-
Pecan Shortbread Bites, Butter
enne. I’m not a Tabasco woman.
For more information:
Shortbread Bites, Chocolate Chip
My favorites are Louisiana Hot and
BETTERBAKEDEDIBLES.COM
The
duo
brand
co-owners Colorado
114 JUNE 2018 Denver // Boulder
of
Superiority In Cannabis
P O W D E R R E A D Y- T O - D R I N K M I X L A U N C H I N G M AY 2 0 1 8 w w w. k a n n a v i r. c o m
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 115
the
© PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIELLE WEBSTER, KENESHA, AND LEE STONEHOUSE
SCENE
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SENSI NIGHT DENVER
What: Sensi Night Where: Temple Nightclub and Club Vinyl When: April 19, 2018
Sensi celebrated its second anniversary and the 420 holiday with a marathon block party that was too large for one venue. A record 6800 people RSVP’d, and cannabis fans and the curious spilled out along Broadway. Each club had three floors jammed with 160 vendors, light shows, artists, and even music from Boraham Lee of Break Science and the Pretty Lights Orchestra.
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the
© PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSE LAMBERT/ARCH ANGEL STUDIOS
SCENE
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VEGAS L A U N C H P A R T Y
What: Sensi Launch Party Where: The Bunkhouse Saloon When: April 24, 2018
Sensi Las Vegas launched with a special event featuring entertainment by DJ Lord of Prophets of Rage and Public Enemy fame.
sensimag.com JUNE 2018 121
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the
SCENE
BOSTON L A U N C H P A R T Y
NIGHT MOVES: Sensi Boston arrived in Boston officially after the big launch party throwdown in May. More than 50 vendors, Potsquatch, DJ Lord, live art, and endless new friends colored the night. Were you there? Follow us @SensiMagazine on Instagram and Twitter.
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What: Sensi Launch Party Where: Royale Boston When: May 8, 2018
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{soCO} by J A K E B R O W N E
Summer on High
Chimney Rock is your destination this summer solstice.
The longest day of the year once felt like the last one you sat in the classroom, waiting for the bell to go off and release you to the wilds of summer. Now that we’re grown folks, the mid-year solstice takes center stage as we can appreciate a few extra hours of daylight in myriad ways. For those looking to do more than engage in additional backyard revelry, a trip to Chimney Rock is an off-the-beaten-path option everyone should see. The national monument sandwiched between Durango and Pagosa Springs attracts over 10,000 visitors a year, mainly to view the ancestral Puebloan structures that were built between AD 925 and 1125. The solstice still remains one of its best-kept secrets, however, and early risers can take advantage with their summer solstice program.
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Starting June 21 at—gulp!—5 a.m., a volunteer guides sun seekers to two distinct places on the mesa. First, a notch in the San Juans gives you the ultimate shot of the sunrise, worth bringing your expensive DSLR camera to capture. Then, you’ll move down to the Stone Circle, an ancient Chacaon structure built to observe astronomical events, where you’ll get to see the sun ascend for the second time. This spiritually significant area only adds to the breathtaking views and offers a truly unique vantage point for the start of summer. Appropriate for kids ages 8 and up, you’ll spend two hours on the tour and be on the road to work by 7 a.m. Tickets are $15, not including a nominal booking fee, and proceeds benefit ongoing conservation efforts at the site.
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