Sensi Magazine - Southern Colorado (June 2018)

S OU THER N COLOR ADO

THE NEW NORMAL

6.2018

Grow Your Own:

GREEN

Bye, Felicia:

Cannabis as Home Décor

season

PARTING WAYS WITH

PL ASTIC

PACKAGING BUT is it

REALLY

organic?

Vegan Treats for Sustainability The Green Box Arts Festival Industry Myths + More

Trinidad's Friendliest Dispensary All Organic All the Time!

33% Of Profits

Go To Local Charities

No Waiting Room // Pet Friendly www.FaragosiFarms.com 719-846-2310 118 Sante Fe Trail, Trinidad, CO 81082

sensimag.com JUNE 2018 3

4 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

ISSUE 6 // VOLUME 2 // 6.2018

FEATURES

SOLVE THE MYSTERY About Green Goodness

24 Cannabis in the House

12

Plants grown indoors can improve health and quality of life. How can cannabis be included in the home’s décor?

30

SPECIAL REPORT

Ugh, Plastics

As the cannabis industry matures, can it move away from petroleum-based plastic containers and toward more green solutions?

30 Is it Organic? Try Not to Panic.

In the absence of federal organic standards or certification, here’s how to find clean, green weed.

every issue 7 Editor’s Note 8 SensiBuzz 12 CrossRoads

MYTHS ABOUT GREEN CANNABIS

HOME GROWN Elevate Your Potted Plants

18 TasteBuds

VINE DINING REDUX

50 SoCo

RACE TO THE CLOUDS

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

18

VEG OUT! For Your Health

sensimag.com JUNE 2018 5

sensi magazine ISSUE 6 VOLUME 2 6.2018

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6 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

editor’s

ADVISORY BOARD

THIS IS FINE.

NOTE

When I was a kid, back in the Super Nintendo

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era, my school’s curriculum devoted a week to environmental education. We were taught if we just turned off the lights, shut off water faucets when brushing our teeth, and recycled, we’d be doing our part to protect the environment.

That was 20 years ago. Turns out turning off the lights and the faucets wasn’t enough. The rainforests are still being gutted to produce overpriced furniture and underpriced beef patties. The planet keeps getting hotter. Coastlines are sinking, droughts are rampant, and the wildfires in California and Canada look like something out of a Michael Bay flick. Yet as dismal as things may seem, we’re making some progress on some fronts.

What’s gotten better? The ozone layer, for one. During my school days, teachers warned me that by the time I became an adult, the ozone hole would give everyone cancer. Today, the ozone hole is almost gone because, as Newsweek wrote, “humans did something about it.” Which is good, since humans created the damn thing in the first place.

As for our animal friends, things aren’t entirely hopeless, either.

Some species such as the giant panda, white rhino, and Siberian tiger are no longer endangered thanks to intense conservation efforts. Again, we caused it, so we can fix it.

The rainforests may not be lost, either. Not yet anyway. According to The Smithsonian, Brazil is planting 73 million new trees, India planted 50 million, and China is reforesting 69 million acres.

Things are looking up back here in Southern Colorado, too.

Pueblo County, once considered a dwindling industrial community, may soon become our state’s leader for renewable energy via sprawling wind and solar farms. With the help of Pikes Peak Urban Gardens, Colorado Springs now hosts several community gardens where residents can share fresh fruits and vegetables, and more gardens are coming. Even Trinidad, a town born from coal mines, is plotting out large-scale renewable energy projects for Los Animas County.

Earth is our only home, and we only get one shot at saving ourselves. I say “ourselves” because going green really isn’t about saving the forests or the coral reefs or the pandas. It’s about saving us. As George Carlin once said, “The planet is fine.” The people…aren’t.

Randy Robinson

M ANAG I NG E D I TO R

SENSI SOUTHERN COLORADO

sensimag.com JUNE 2018 7

THE NEW NORMAL

sensi

buzz

June-Buggin’ Out Market demand for meat keeps increasing, and the planet can’t keep up.

(More on this on page 18.) We’re running out of land and water to raise livestock, and cattle flatulence has become so concentrated the greenhouse effect may as well be renamed the Dutch oven effect. Where can we get animal-based protein when the earth can only support so much?

Think small. Think…bugs.

According to the UN, over two billion people regularly consume insects.

Roughly 80 percent of all cultures include insects in their diets, and many regard certain insects as delicacies. Insects are an excellent source of protein, and some bugs are so chock-full of nutrients they could be considered superfoods. If you can overcome the “ick” factor, they’re pretty tasty, too.

North Americans, however, have not made bugs a staple food source.

But that may soon change.

The Rocky Mountain Micro Ranch in Denver specializes in raising bugs by the crateload, and its founders claim its insect farm has a net-zero carbon foot-

print. Insects are tiny and reproduce incredibly quickly, so they require a fraction of the energy input as, say, raising chickens. At least one restaurant in the Denver area, Linger, currently serves cricket-based dishes, and other eateries may jump on board shortly.

Southern Colorado may not have restaurants whipping up buggy baguettes, but you can order insect-based foods online. Protein bars from Exo and Chapul mix grains, fruits, and nuts with cricket flour. Crickstart also makes protein bars along with gourmet cricket crackers, too. Chirps offers tortilla chips made from crickets. There are even brands for roasted crickets or mealworms sold in flavors like salt and vinegar, barbecue, and sour cream. Get your grub on!

—Randy Robinson

8 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

Providing quality

cannabis

SolarPlexus Get lit with the power of Sunlight

concentrates

and

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.

here in Pueblo, CO 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. —RR

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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 Organic 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 while get-

ting 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.

LIMIT 4.

STEM BEACH 3321 S I-25, Exit 91 Pueblo, CO 81004

303.956.3312

sensimag.com JUNE 2018 9

THE NEW NORMAL

sensi

buzz

POWERED BY NUVUE

Enhancing Your Colorado Lifestyle THCA CRYSTALS TERP SAUCE ROYAL JELLY LIVE RESIN DISTILLATE

GREEN BOX ARTS FESTIVAL x10 Green Box Arts Festival (GREENBOXARTS.ORG), Green Mountain Falls’ indoor/outdoor arts-travaganza, returns this month for its 10th run. From June 29 to July 7, the idyllic mountain town metamorphoses into an interactive gallery complete with artistic works from some of the world’s most revolutionary creators, innovative food vendors, and, of course, live swing bands.

This year’s Green Box takes swing music to new heights with a literal swing set that generates tunes. The Musical Swing project, which made its US debut at Green Mountain Falls in 2014, circles back to town for the week-long anniversary event. Seating up to 10 people, each swing corresponds to a different musical instrument, and no two compositions can be identical. Fresh beats only.

—RR

Slazerbeam THCa Crystals, Terp Sauce, and Distillate -Photo credit: @daves_not_h3r3_man

RMEXTRACTS.COM INFO@RMEXTRACTS.COM INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK: @RMEXTRACTS 10 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

BipartisanBotanical Cannabis legalization in the US has been a progressive political project for

hemp farming. Hemp, in case you forgot, is cannabis without the THC.

almost a century. Yet recent shifts in-

Former Speaker of the House, Re-

dicate a new demographic has joined

publican John Boehner, a career-long

the cause: conservatives.

opponent

of

legalization,

recently

Last year, a Gallup poll showed just

“evolved” and called for the plant’s com-

over half of registered Republicans

plete removal from the Controlled Sub-

now support some form of cannabis

stances Act. Doing so would not only

legalization, joining the nearly 90 per-

decriminalize cannabis nationwide, it

cent of Americans who favor the

would also allow researchers to delve

same. So where the heck is Congress?

deeper into Cannabis sativa’s secrets,

According to NORML—the National

free of Big Government interference.

Organization for the Reform of Marijua-

Democrats adopted cannabis law re-

na Laws—only 30 percent of congressio-

form as part of the party platform in 2016.

nal Republicans have publicly expressed

Will Republicans do the same by 2020?

a state’s right to regulate cannabis sales,

It’s possible. After all, President Trump, the

but that figure may tick upward after

world’s most powerful Republican, sup-

the midterms. US Senate Majority Lead-

ports medical cannabis, though his

er Mitch McConnell introduced a bill in

stance on recreational use remains hazy.

April to federally legalize commercial

That’s the new normal.

—RR

Through the Grapevine You know THC, that component in the cannabis plant that gets you high?

It’s called a cannabinoid, and it’s one of 128 or so found in cannabis. CBD is another one. CBD doesn’t get you buzzed, but its health and wellness benefits are stirring up tons of buzz as media outlets around the globe call it the hottest trend of 2018.

Here’s what you may not know: cannabis isn’t the only plant that contains beneficial cannabinoids. Lots of plants do. Such as the grape. Red grapes naturally make a cannabinoid called resveratrol, which may fight against heart disease, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and diabetes. Guess which adult beverage is packed with resveratrol?

Wine, of course. Specifically, wines made from red grapes grown in cooler climates, like malbecs, pinot noirs, and petite sirahs.

On Saturday, June 2 at Manitou Springs Memorial Park, sample thirty locally made wines while dancing (or trying) to live bluegrass and jazz. (And hats-off if you can swill all thirty, you sassy cat.) The Manitou Wine Festival runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the park’s gates close at 4 p.m., so don’t be too fashionably late. —RR sensimag.com JUNE 2018 11

{crossroads}

by R I C A R D O B A C A

12 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

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 13

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

14 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

“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 15

16 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

COURTESY OF THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

sensimag.com JUNE 2018 17

{tastebuds}

by R A N DY R O B I N S O N

VINE DINING {REDUX} Last August, we wrote that our area could benefit from a dedicated vegan restaurant. Less than a year later, Colorado Springs now has two.

18 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU IF EVERY PERSON ON THIS PLANET STOPPED EATING MEAT, WE’D AVOID AN AGRICULTURAL CALAMITY? THAT’S WHAT A 2016 STUDY IN N A T U R E C O M M U N I C A T I O N S CONCLUDED AFTER RUNNING HUNDREDS OF GLOBAL SCENARIOS. The study’s authors wanted to know if there was a way

animal products consumes far more energy, space, and water

to feed the world through 2050 without expanding farm-

than growing crops. Although alcoholic drinks are not neces-

land by clearing life-sustaining forests. The simulations

sary for our survival (or…are they?), they have likely been part

modeled various farming practices, dietary habits, and

of our culinary culture ever since our ancestors first bit into an

even fertilizer usage. Only one scenario worked every time:

old fermented piece of fruit. However, discerning which drinks

when everyone switched to completely plant-based diets.

use animal products isn’t easy. American laws don’t require al-

Meaty-diet scenarios, like the ones favored by Americans,

cohol companies to list most of the ingredients on a drink’s

only worked 15 percent of the time. That’s due to the space

label. Furthermore, if animal products are used in the filtering

requirements for raising livestock, roughly double the land

process, such as charcoal (often made with animal bones) or

needed to grow crops of equal caloric value.

isinglass (fish innards to clarify some ales) those are not listed

The Nature Communications study verified something most scientists already knew, that the world’s current demand for

either. Thankfully, our local vegan spots figured all of that out for us, because thinking is hard when you’re tipsy.

THE BEST PART?

Everyone Can Win

tarian just one day a week—on Monday,

obviously.

Moderate

meat consumption is permitted on any other day of the week.

Although vegetarianism and

eating a purely vegetarian meal,

Meatless Monday and other

veganism possess many health

just one time every day, can sig-

approaches to boosting plant in-

benefits over meaty diets, you can

nificantly drop a person’s chances

take have made major inroads to

still get the perks of a plant-based

of developing a chronic illness.

American dietary habits. Polls

diet without dropping steaks or

The Harvard study parallels

from the Vegetarian Resource

chicken tenders altogether. A Har-

the mission at MEATLESS MON-

Group estimate anywhere from

vard study from 2016’s New En-

DAY, a nonprofit founded by the

30 to 40 percent of Americans

gland Journal of Medicine found

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School

regularly eat fully vegetarian

that skipping a serving of meat

of Public Health. Meatless Mon-

meals “at least some of the

just once a day, and replacing the

day helps schools craft healthier,

time.” That suggests at least

meat with nuts or legumes, re-

plant-laden menus for America’s

one-third of all adults are al-

duced the risk of an early death by

students. For everyone else, the

ready following casual meal

17 percent. That figure suggests

non-profit advocates going vege-

plans like Meatless Monday. sensimag.com JUNE 2018 19

In a perfect world, if everyone went vegan, we would swiftly resolve one pressing environmental concern. In reality, the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle isn’t for everyone, nor does it have to be. Just as omnivorous humans can reap health benefits by going full-veggie just one day out of the week, we can also slow the rapid spread of modern sprawl by occasionally passing on meat. When it’s time to skip the bits, consider skipping over to one of these veggie-only joints.

Moxie

Santana’s Vegan Grill

925 S. 8th St., Colorado Springs (719) 465-3595 // livemoxie.co

20 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

5046 N. Academy Blvd., Colorado Springs (719) 271-9113 // santanasvegangrill.com

For a truly mouth-mesmerizing ex-

If you want your vegan food quick-

perience with vegan dishes, try Moxie.

ly—like fast-food quick—Santana’s is

Moxie, an upscale vegan eatery with

the spot. The drive-thru grill offers

surprisingly

prices,

“bacon” burgers, hot dogs, meatballs,

opened its doors last December. The

buffalo chicken strips, sausage and

menu contains dishes such as curried

cheese sandwiches, and french fries

seitan, tempura cauliflower steak, and

with all of the satisfaction and none of

beet burgers. Even if Moxie’s proteins

the guilt (regarding our furry friends,

don’t taste exactly like the meats they

that is; your waistline is another mat-

mimic, they nonetheless taste amaz-

ter). Keep in mind this little com-

ing. Diners breaking into vegan cuisine

fort-food stand is popping right now,

should consider Moxie an excellent

so even though it specializes in fast

first impression. If you get a thirstin’

food, you may see lines during peak

for beverages of the adult type, Mox-

hours. If scarfing down a fried meal

ie’s bar also specializes in vegan brews

sounds heavy, consider chasing it with

and over a dozen house cocktails.

Santana’s berry and kale smoothie.

typical

diner

Hearth for the Earth

Feeling like dining in? Want to craft your own vegetarian or vegan dishes without the hassle of hunting down the ingredients or the recipes? In the age of environmentally-conscious eating, you can now order home-delivered plant-based meals online.

• FRESH N’ LEAN (FRESHNLEAN.COM) allows you to select meal plans that work best for you, such as high-protein, low-carb, or low-calorie packages.

• GREEN CHEF (GREENCHEF.COM) offers certified gluten-free meals in paleo or keto varieties.

• HUNGRY ROOT (HUNGRYROOT.COM) optimizes its packages for convenience. Meals should only take 10 minutes of stovetop cooking while baked goods are ready in 20 minutes. All meals can be microwaved as well.

The Burrowing Owl

1791 S. 8th St., Colorado Springs (719) 434-3864 // burrowingowllounge.com

To be fair, the Burrowing Owl has been

which include themes such as Burger Fri-

around for a while, but it’s not a restau-

days and Barbeque Jackfruit Thursdays,

rant. It’s a vegan-friendly bar, though like

though for something entirely different,

most lounges, it serves some filling chow,

drop in on a Monday for vegan Sushi

too. Most of the food menu falls into the

Night. As for the drinks, impress your

southwest or Tex-Mex categories, per-

friends with a colorful cocktail served in a

fect for immersing yourself in that down-

glass jar, or be daring by trying the Pickled

home Colorado feel. For variety, consider

Whiskers (bourbon and pickle juice) or the

the Burrowing Owl’s daily food specials,

mystery Employee Shots. sensimag.com JUNE 2018 21

Dispose

Responsibly.

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

22 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

@MinorityCannabis

@MCIA.org

IHR offers complete waste management solutions for Colorado’s emerging marijuana/hemp industry. We assist residential and commercial grow facilities equally in their marijuana/hemp waste disposal procedures by helping them comply to the state’s waste compliance regulations.

Leading the industry in hemp & cannabis waste management info@ihrecycling.com • (720) 432-1562 • www.ihrecycling.com

sensimag.com JUNE 2018 23

in the

24 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

sensimag.com JUNE 2018 25

Susan Sheldon’s Guide to Cannabis in the Garden

OBEY LAWS. Make sure your space complies with all local regulations.

BE DISCREET. Hide plants with other plants or structures. Cannabis is still federally illegal and could invite thieves.

PLANT A DIVERSE ECOSYSTEM. If possible, plant cannabis among beneficial companion plants (a list is at projectcbd.org/tags/companionplanting-cannabis) with good light penetration and air flow.

GIVE PLANTS SPACE. Cannabis plants need at least 2.5 to 3 square feet. The more space you give the roots, the larger your plant will grow.

FEED THEM. Go online or visit a grow store to find the best nutrients for your plants. Don’t be stingy, but don’t overfeed them.

WATER AS NEEDED. Let plants dry out between watering, then thoroughly saturate them. If plants are in pots, place the pot in a tub of water and let the plant drink from the bottom up. If pots are in trays, don’t let them sit in water.

PRACTICE GARDEN SANITATION. Remove diseased plants or plant pieces immediately. Clean pruning shears with rubbing alcohol between plants.

BEWARE OF MOLD. Plants in damp climates are most susceptible, but mold can happen anywhere. Check plants daily if not twice daily.

In late season before harvest, shake off dew and fan them.

KILL POWDERY MILDEW. PM Remover, a spray made from potassium bicarbonate, lactose, and garlic powder, works.

The Feng Shui of Cannabis Interior designer and feng shui master Jami Lin, who uses CBD oil in her Hempress Youth Duo skincare line, can’t grow hemp plants at her home in Florida. If she could, she would place them in her home’s southeastern and eastern corners, where according to feng shui’s “five elements theory,” the wood element resides. Plants are wood elements, so they feel comfortable and thrive there.

Lin says you can also place cannabis plants, with intention, in the southeastern or eastern part of individual rooms. In the bedroom, they would grow opportunities for deepening relationships; in the office, professional and financial opportunities; in the meditation room, subliminal and unconscious head spaces.

26 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

sensimag.com JUNE 2018 27

BALANCED You

+

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ROOT (GROWWITHROOT.COM), launching now in the Bay Area and expected to roll out nationwide in the fall, is a 1-square-foot smart indoor garden system, or “deployable farm,” that automatically waters and aerates plants at their root systems and mimics natural sunlight with full- spectrum LED lights. Cute enough to put in a hallway or office, the planters let users control food, water and lighting through an app. The company’s website promises to take amateur growers “from hydro-panic to hydroponic” so they can “experience the farm without the fear or frenzy.”

SOLTECH SOLUTIONS (SOLTECHSOLUTIONSLLC.COM) recently released Aspect, the first LED grow light designed to blend beautifully with home decor. CEO Paul Hodges designed the shaded lights as an alternative to currently available grow lights and envisions Aspect lights hanging over bonsaied cannabis plants in lofts from Denver to Portland and beyond. “You could get cannabis from the plants, but not all the cannabis you could ever ask for,” he says—and that’s not the point. “It’s about reflecting your lifestyle.

People want their living room decor to be a reflection of themselves, and growing cannabis is a great way to bring that connection even closer.”

28 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

Your Guide to Cannabis as a Houseplant

Cannabis is an ideal houseplant because when it’s kept in its vegetative state, it provides more oxygen than any other leafy plant and an ongoing source of nutritious, delicious leaves. Unlike the complicated process of cultivating plants for high yields and potent flowers, growing cannabis as a perennial is fairly simple. Every cultivar is different, but all cannabis plants have the following general needs.

LIGHT AND AIR. Photo-responsive cannabis gets big and leafy when it has 16 hours of light and flowers when it’s in the dark for 12 or more hours.

As a general rule, plants will remain in veg and live as perennials in any room where it’s light enough to read a newspaper for 16 hours and you can see dust particles moving in the air.

A 3-GALLON OR LARGER POT. Cannabis plants have fast metabolisms and need a lot of water, but with large enough root systems, they don’t have to be watered every day. A 5-gallon pot is ideal.

ORGANIC SOIL. Support companies that support your ideals. Go local if possible.

WATER. Don’t overwater! Water only when the soil is dry and the leaves begin to droop. Once you’ve developed a relationship with the plant and understand its cycles, try to water the day before the leaves droop.

FOOD. Sprinkle organic granule fertilizer on top of the soil and scratch in with your fingers.

ROOT LOVE. To prevent fast-growing cannabis from getting rootbound, paint the inside of its pot with Micro- Kote, which has copper that prevents roots from circling. If you skip this step, you’ll need to prune annually. Pull out the plant and cut off about 3 inches of roots and 3 inches around the edges and bottom of the soil, then fill in with fresh soil.

PEST CONTROL. Water predatory nematodes, which clean up bad bugs and become bioavailable plant food, into the soil when you plant. To kill fungus and mites, spray the top and bottom of your plants’ leaves with a mix of 5 milliliters of Bonide, a micronized sulphur, and a gallon of water.

POSITIVE ENERGY. Cannabis plants like exchanging energy with us.

They need love and affection.

SEAWEED. It’s their favorite snack.

sensimag.com JUNE 2018 29

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 30 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

tamper-resistant, and includes a label that gives accurate consumer product information.

sensimag.com JUNE 2018 31

“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.”

32 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

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sensimag.com JUNE 2018 33

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 34 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

it more competitive with traditional

What You Can Do as a Consumer?

1 2 3 4

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36 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

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 37

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

38 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

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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.

40 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

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.

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join them in choosing the best cu-

Hybrid strains teeter between

rated strain treatment you need for

the up-effects of sativas and the

your ailment.

down-effects of indicas. Hybrids

tion not just in Southern Colorado,

“We were sitting around at the

may induce a more even-keel head-

but around the country, too. The

table brainstorming a name when

iness that’s not too wired and not

industry is expected to hit $31.4

we thought of Higher Calling U. Be-

too sleepy, or they may blend the

billion by 2021. If sales alone aren’t

cause it’s ‘Our Higher Calling to You,’”

two effects for a uniquely chill ex-

reason enough to believe in the

says Kim Schultz, the marketing and

perience. Newer patients may want

plant’s healing powers, take into

communications manager at Trini-

to start with hybrids until they’re

consideration that just over 2.3

dad’s Higher Calling U. “We now have

more comfortable venturing into

million Americans are registered

a fully trained and educated staff

extremes. Some hybrid products

medical cannabis patients across

that offers the best to our patients”.

to check out at the dispensary in-

29 states.

Since 2014, Trinidad’s Higher Call-

clude the Chem 4 Moonrock, Pura

According to a 2017 study in the

ing U has provided patients with

Journal of Pain Research, 46 per-

multiple approaches to cannabis

Is cannabis right for you? If you ha-

cent of cannabis patients replaced

therapies for treating recurring or

ven’t tried it, there’s only one way to

conventional pharmaceuticals with

chronic ailments. To ensure every

find out. Higher Calling U can guide

cannabis. Of that 46 percent, 36 per-

patient is covered, the dispensary

you through the discovery process,

cent substituted opioids with can-

keeps a variety of highly effective

whether you’re looking for some-

nabis, 14 percent substituted ben-

cannabis products on hand.

thing mild, potent, or something

zodiazepines, and 13 percent used

Indica strains are known to instill

cannabis to replace antidepressants.

deep body relaxation while eas-

Trinidad’s Higher Calling U, locat-

ing away anxiety, pain, and stress.

ed in Trinidad, is now calling you to

Indica products to look for at Trin-

44 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

Vida, or Jack Flash.

that won’t get you buzzed at all.

1000 INDEPENDENCE RD, TRINIDAD 719-846-0420 TRINIDADSHIGHERCALLINGU.COM

sensimag.com JUNE 2018 45

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

THE CLEAR

Premium Distillates THE CLEAR CONCENTRATES ON DELIVERING DABBING CONSISTENCY. Take any premium brand, say Ben & Jerry’s ice

The company has corporate offices in Denver and

cream or Grey Goose vodka. As a consumer, you fully

Long Beach, but The Clear is made and distributed in

expect any product by the brand to taste the same no

Oregon, Michigan, Nevada, Washington, and Arizona.

matter where it’s purchased.

“We have a unique licensee program to produce our

This is rare in today’s emerging cannabis market.

distillate in other states. Each licensed manufacturer is

Since the legalization of cannabis, concentrates such as ultra-refined distillate have often varied significantly in appearance, purity, and potency from batch to batch and dispensary to dispensary. Consumers and patients had to try concentrates to gauge the potency.

The Clear, the “original” distillate product, offers a line of premium branded concentrates that was created to clear up that inconsistency.

“We have invested heavily in bringing pharmaceutical-grade products to this industry,” says Justin Pentelute, Master Licensor of The Clear brands. “We forego what would be easy profits by putting subpar material into the marketplace. We have an amazing flavorist team that hand-makes all of our terpenes and flavors using GRAS-certified, naturally derived materials.

These offer the most superior product.”

The Clear is a naturally extracted, translucent oil that undergoes proprietary, multi-method purification processes that produce unparalleled clarity, taste, and potency. “Early on, we struggled with all of the con-

provided with the same natural terpenes to make a con-

taminated and nonconforming plant material and oil

sistent product and ensure that business and consumer

in the marketplace. Rather than eating their losses

experience is the same from state to state,” he says.

from poor cultivation and processing results, many

The Clear is available at more than 100 recreational

undercapitalized businesses altered their product to

and medical dispensaries across Colorado, including

make it pass surface-level testing and sold it to un-

Lightshade, LivWell, and many others

suspecting manufacturers and customers. Our internal testing and quality controls have since eliminated those materials from our products,” Pentelute says.

The Clear offers Honey Buckets, syringes, and cartridges all available in 17 flavors created with naturally derived, steam-distilled terpenes from food-grade plants.

46 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

For more information:

CLEARCONCENTRATE.COM On Facebook

FB.ME/THECLEARCOLORADO

sensimag.com JUNE 2018 47

48 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

sensimag.com JUNE 2018 49

{soCO}

by R A N DY R O B I N S O N

One day out of every year, the majestic Pikes Peak becomes the finish line for one of our nation’s biggest racing events.

As a testament to the potential of electric vehicles, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) has featured an Electric Division for EVs for several years. Established in 1916 by the Broadmoor Hotel’s founder, Spencer Penrose, the PPIHC is America’s second-oldest auto racing event, aptly held at the world’s second-most visited mountain. This year’s event takes place Sunday, June 24. Early birds can beat the crowds by purchasing an additional camp ticket to camp out by the highway the night before the race.

The Hill Climb is a unique venue for

50 JUNE 2018 Southern Colorado

pitting electric vehicles alongside gas-powered ones due to the elevation: the lack of oxygen and average 7 percent grade can tax internal combustion engines, but EVs have an easier time under these conditions. In 2014, PPIHC saw electric racers break records that stole just as many headlines as the gas-powered ones. Two years later, Rhys Millen made PPIHC history by coming in second overall with Drive eO’s PP100 EV. This year, three-time Pikes Peak champ Romain Dumas will try to break Millen’s record with Volkswagen’s ID R Pikes Peak, VW’s first foray into electric

racers and Dumas’s first time manning an EV at PPIHC. Ironically, Dumas’s past PPIHC records were made with his Norma M20 RD, a gas engine vehicle.

Show your support for PPIHC’s electric racers by joining the Fan Fest celebration in downtown Colorado Springs on Friday, June 22. Racers will be in attendance to sign autographs and speak with spectators.

Will Dumas make history yet again with VW’s agile EV racer, or will the Drive eO’s raw power maintain Millen’s title? Be among the first to find out by getting your tickets at PPIHC.ORG.

PHOTOS BY LARRY CHEN, OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER/PPIHC

Race to the Clouds: The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb