DENVER / BOULDER
Pet Project Happy Lil’ Companion Animals
Kray-Kray
The Healing Power of Kratom
{plus}
Ice Castles, Fire Fests, and Mountain Happenings Ringing in 2019 And More
THE NEW NORMAL
12.2018
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ISSUE 12 // VOLUME 3 // 12.2018
FEATURES
96 GIVING GOOD A holiday guide
S P EC I A L RE P O RT
68 The Wonder Of Dogs
For many of us, life without companion animals would be a lesser life.
76 Not a Skier?
What the heck can you do in Colorado if you don’t ski? Get off the beaten trails, of course.
86 Kray-Kray: This Plant Heals
Kratom shows promise in treating analgesia, inflammation, depression, anxiety, and opioid withdrawal. Of course, it’s being vilified.
96 The Joy of Giving
The 2018 Holiday Gift Guide for last-minute infusions of happiness into your life.
every issue 13 Editor’s Note 18 The Buzz 26 NewsFeed
CBD IN THE LITTLE APPLE
32 AskAngie A VERY GOOD BOY If you see him, pet him
68
86
GREEN GODDESS Kratom for the win
CBD VS. CBN
36 TasteBuds
COLORADO CONDIMENTS
42 AroundTown
CULTURAL CALENDAR
50 HighProfile
LEVO FOUNDER CHRISSY BELLMAN
58 TravelWell
WINTER IN THE DR
122 The Scene
SENSI NIGHT
128 HereWeGo
TELLURIDE FIRE FESTIVAL
Sensi magazine is published monthly by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2018 SENSI MEDIA GROUP LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 11
sensi magazine ISSUE 12 / VOLUME 3 / 12.2018
EXECUTIVE FOLLOW US
Ron Kolb ron@sensimag.com CEO, SENSI MEDIA GROUP
Tae Darnell tae@sensimag.com PRESIDENT, SENSI MEDIA GROUP
Alex Martinez alex@sensimag.com CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
EDITORIAL sensimediagroup
Stephanie Wilson stephanie@sensimag.com EDITOR IN CHIEF
Leland Rucker leland.rucker@sensimag.com SENIOR EDITOR
John Lehndorff edible.critic@sensimag.com DINING EDITOR
Robyn Griggs Lawrence CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Dr. Angie McCartney askangie@sensimag.com COLUMNIST
sensimagazine
A RT & D E S I G N Jamie Ezra Mark jamie@akersmediagroup.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Rheya Tanner, Wendy Mak Josh Clark, Deb Matlock akers@sensimag.com DESIGN & LAYOUT
sensimag
BUSINESS & A D M I N I S T R AT I V E Liana Cameris liana.cameris@sensimag.com PUBLISHER
Richard Guerra richard.guerra@sensimag.com Steve McMorrow steve.mcmorrow@sensimag.com Amanda Patrizi amanda.patrizi@sensimag.com Tyler Tarr tyler.tarr@sensimag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS
Amber Orvik amber.orvik@sensimag.com
9150 Commerce Center Cir, Suite 300 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 & 9535 Park Meadows Drive, Suite F Lone Tree, CO 80124 @gristbrewingcompany @gristbrewingco
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CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR
Andre Velez andre.velez@sensimag.com MARKETING DIRECTOR
Hector Irizarry distribution@sensimag.com DISTRIBUTION
M E D I A PA RT N E R S Marijuana Business Daily Minority Cannabis Business Association National Cannabis Industry Association Students for Sensible Drug Policy
JOY TO THE
WORLD
editor’s
NOTE
Welcome to the Happiness issue, Sensi’s way of doing a holiday issue without it being a cliché “Holiday Issue!” Because, really, what’s the point of a holiday issue if not to spread a little joy? Joyous moments play a big part in the complicated, subjective equation that determines one’s happiness, so we tried to fill this issue with info about how to make the most of the month. Really, this issue is a culmination of all the themes we’ve run throughout 2018. What is an aspirational lifestyle magazine but a roadmap to the pursuit of happiness? I encourage you, if you’re so inclined, to go back through the archives of the Colorado issues and see the progression. You’ll find all the magazines online at SENSIMAG.COM and ISSUU.COM/SENSIMEDIAGROUP . We kicked off the year talking about fiery new tech innovations, then we talked about food, celebrations, green lifestyles, arts and culture, and more. We discussed a few times how pets make our lives better, and in July, I personally talked about the pain I felt when I lost one. We dove into the positive impact of houseplants on one’s well-being, and we talked about how giving is good for you. On the backend of things, our editors talked often about how outdoor pursuits are such a huge part of the Colorado lifestyle. When I first moved to Denver in the summer of 2015, I found myself wandering the trails along the Front Range, trading my beach-babe lifestyle for a hiker personality and thinking I couldn’t wait to become a skier once the powder coated the trails. I didn’t take into account the barrier of entry between me and my slopeside dreams: it’s expensive to be a trail bunny. First, there’s the lift ticket, which can run you upwards of $130 a day. Then there’s the equipment, and the gear—gloves, hats, goggles, helmets, oh my! And then there’s even the tires my Florida-purchased car needed before I was able to even think about hitting I-70 when wintery conditions were a possibility. Which, I quickly learned, is basically whenever, because Colorado weather is weird. So this issue, you’ll find alternative, more affordable ways to get outside and take advantage of the snow-sodden undulating playground in our backyards. And you’ll find info on fresh ways to stay warm indoors and feed your need for culture. I’ve been a better, healthier human since I moved to Colorado from the East Coast a few years ago, seeking work/life balance amid new scenery. Seeking to surround myself with people open-minded enough to have been the first in the nation to legalize cannabis for adult use. Once I arrived and began exploring the breadth of the state’s offerings, I found myself. And I found myself happy.
THE NEW PROFESSIONAL M&F TALENT: CANNABIS INDUSTRY RECRUITING Mac & Fulton Talent Partners is the most knowledgeable and attentive recruiting service in cannabis. We promote professionalism to help lay a solid foundation for industry growth and progress.
Spread Joy.
Stephanie Wilson ED I TOR I N CHI EF SENSI MAGAZINE
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 13
ADVISORY BOARD 1906 New Highs // CHOCOLATE The Adjustatorium // CHIROPRACTIC Agricor Laboratories // TESTING LAB Bear Mortgage // RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS Bulldog Protective Solutions // SECURITY Cannabis Tax Solutions // TAX AND ACCOUNTING Cannopoly // MOBILE COMMERCE CLogistics // COURIER The Clinic // SEED BANK Cohen Medical Centers // MEDICAL CENTERS Colorado Cannabis Company // THC COFFEE Concentrate Supply Co. // RECREATIONAL CONCENTRATES CWC Soil LLC // SOIL Escape/Evolutionz // THE CLEAR™ Evolve Formulas (Nanosphere) // TRANSDERMAL Franklin Bioscience // PILLS AND TABLETS Greenhouse Payment Solutions // PAYMENT PROCESSING GreenLink Financial // BANKING Hybrid Payroll // STAFFING AND HR BENEFITS Kindred Wolf // MARKETING AGENCY L’Eagle Services // SUSTAINABILITY Lab Society // EXTRACTION EXPERT AND LAB SUPPLIES Lowspark Incorporated // DISTRIBUTION LUXX Retreat // LODGING Mac & Fulton Talent Partners // RECRUITING marQaha // SUBLINGUALS AND BEVERAGES Mary Jane’s Medicinals // TOPICALS MedPharm // LIFESTYLE VAPE Monte Fiore Farms // RECREATIONAL CULTIVATION Mountain High Suckers // CBD EDIBLES Mustache Dabs // ROSIN PRESS Nature’s Root // HEMP COSMETICS Next Frontier Biosciences // BIOSCIENCES PotGuide // TRAVEL/TOURISM Purple Monkey // TEAS Pyramid // DISTILLATES Revered Inc. // INHALERS RiNo Supply Company // CANNABIS CULTURE RxCBD // CBD PET TREATS Sharp Solutions // TRANSPORTATION Source Colorado // WHOLESALE CONSULTING Steve’s Goods // CBG PRODUCTS Success Nutrients // NUTRIENTS Terrapin Care Station // RECREATIONAL DISPENSARY Toast // MINDFUL CONSUMPTION Wana Brands // EDIBLES WillPower // SPORTS NUTRITION Witlon Inc. // PAYROLL PROCESSING 14 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
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Meow Wolf Origin Story
Did you hear? In 2020, Meow Wolf is coming to Denver. The newest exhibition from the creative artist group outta Santa Fe— the one with that otherworldly interactive exhibit called “House of Eternal Return” based in an old bowling alley bought and transformed by Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin—is set to open in the Mile High City’s downtown neighborhood. Last month, the Denver Film Festival offered theater lovers a chance to catch the new Meow Wolf: The Origin Story documentary before the rest of the nation. (The film debuted at 600 theaters across the country on November 30 for a special one-night-only screening put on by Fathom Events.) The film gave a glimpse at what to expect when the new Meow Wolf outpost opens in Colorado in a few years. First thing you need to know: you can buy tickets to the creative showcase already. Hell, you can even buy a lifetime pass, for $10,000. That pass gains you and a guess entry to all Meow Wolf locales—the ones already in the works and the inevitable subsequent hot spots—plus admission to the opening night gala and all special events. The pass comes with a limited-edition gift box and the Lifetime Pass membership card, engraved with your name. If $10k is a little outta your price range, for one-tenth the cost, you can get a ticket to the opening night gala in Denver, which start at $1,000 now but will go up in price as the premiere date nears. To be among the first few people to visit the Mile High 18 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
Meow Wolf, opt for the $50 “First Week” ticket. All of these are available on MEOWWOLF.COM. All purchases go toward helping ensure the Colorado outpost is just as hot as the Santa Fe installation, which is a must-see if you’re ever in that part of the country. Or try to catch a screening of the origin story documentary, which is sure to hit Netflix soon enough. The screening portrays what it took to infuse the Santa Fe strip mall with a little magic. As the press briefing explains: When artists dumpster dive to survive, they aren’t looking to change the world—but once in a generation: it happens.
Here’s the official briefing: “In one of the highest adrenaline, most unlikely success stories you’ll ever see, Meow Wolf: Origin Story takes us through the meteoric rise of a penniless, anarchic art collective as it attracts the support of George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones) and morphs into a multi-million dollar corporation in just a few short years. With the opening of its instantly successful exhibition, House of Eternal Return, the group sets its sights on new exhibits around the world. How does a team of ragtag millennial artists become one of the most compelling new startups of this generation, and what will they do next? Origin Story follows the seven eclectic founding members and hundreds of volunteers as they struggle with fracture, loss, success, and failure over a decade—while constantly redefining themselves and what art can really be. The film is an artistic explosion in and of itself, throwing down a kaleidoscope of color, sound, and music that brings this crazy, highly inspiring ride to life.” –Stephanie Wilson
Tara Donovan at MCA DON’T MISS:
If you haven’t yet caught the full-museum takeover by artist Tara Donovan at Denver’s Museum of Contemporary Art, you’ve still got some time—but don’t sleep on this exhibit. Tara Donovan: Fieldwork opened lated September and runs through January 27, which means you’ve got time to return again and again to take in the layers of awesomeness contained in the…layers of notecards stacked on stacks of notecards to form massive works of art. One glimpse and you’ll wonder what level of crazy genius it took to come up with it to begin with—and then you’ll marvel at the sheer patience it took to make the work come together. But really you’re gonna start wondering if you, too, could make some magic by stacking straws in your windows. Because when you enter the museum, one of the first things you’ll encounter is a work of art made of stacked straws. Peer through the cylindrical towers, and it’s like gazing through the looking glass into a world where everyday, even mundane materials—including Slinkies—are turned into fascinating creations that are just massive. The full-museum takeover includes sculpture, drawings, works on paper, and site-responsive installations, all from the mind of Donovan. It’s the first time that both her wall-based and freestanding objects are installed together, and it’s a fascinating showcase that is simultaneously spellbinding and marvelous. And worth visiting again and again while you still can.
Maximize Every Deduction Be Ready For An Audit
–SW
General Admission tickets are $8, or just $5 after 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Go now. And go again. MCADENVER.ORG
HIGHER ED:
Happiness 101
Pay As Little Tax As Possible
At Yale University, the Psychology and the Good Life course is the most popular in the university’s 300-plus year history. Last spring, some 1,200 people enrolled in the PSYC 157 course, taught by Laurie Santos. It’s known as the Happiness Class, and here’s some news that may make you happier: you can take it online, for free. You can sign up for the extended version of the Happiness Class via Coursera, as part of a seminar-style series on “the science of well-being.” Santos shot the entire thing in her house, where she walks students through what psychological science has to say about happiness—the pursuit of which is an inalienable right of Americans, according to the documents on which the nation was founded. Along with learning the latest scientific research about what it is that makes humans happy, the course offers strategies to help students put the pursuit of happiness into practice. You’ll learn the misconceptions about happiness, how to tame the annoying features of the mind that get in the way of happiness, and then teaches best practices to help you achieve more of it in your life. Is getting an A in this course guaranteed to make you a happier person? No. There are no guarantees in life. But it’s your inalienable right to try to pursue it, so exercise that right. For free. That alone should make you smile. And smiling is a scientifically proven method for increasing one’s happiness.
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FROZEN IRL
Dillon Ice Castles Are Back
Don’t just let it go, make sure you go…to Dillon, Colorado, later this month. That’s where an insanely intricate world is being crafted out of frozen water again this winter. It’s truly magical—in a way that is, actually, truly magical. (And I don’t use the word “truly” lightly.) The origin story of the first Ice Castle by this creative group came from a wholesome place, as the founder of Ice Castles, LLC, made the first iteration in his front yard in Utah while trying to build a winter wonderland/ice cave for his daughter. He made the first one by spraying a wood frame with water, calling the subsequent structure an ice castle. The name stuck through future iterations, but the wooden frame did not. The second castle was made entirely out of water, with no solid frame forming the base. Today, Ice Castles are found in six cities around the country. Each one is formed out of one giant piece of ice, sprawling out over about an acre and weighing in at around 25,000,000 pounds. Each one is constructed by teams of 50 or more people during what they describe as a patient building process. The crews grow roughly 10,000 icicles every day and place them throughout the Ice Castles to provide something for the water to freeze to. As the daily thawing and freezing cycles continue, each piece is ultimately absorbed into the main structure—where the walls can grow to be 10 feet thick in some places. The blue hue is the result of the same rules of science that make water appear blue. At the castle, the deeper the blue hue, the thicker the ice. This is the second year in a row that the castles are being constructed near Breckenridge, and even if you saw them last year, it’s worth stopping by again this season. There’s going to be a dome room and a 50-foot-long slide, in addition to 20 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
the untold layers of intricate beauty. The site is on track to open mid- to late-December, if the weather continues to cooperate. You’ll want to purchase tickets ahead of time on ICECASTLES.COM, and they’ll run you about $19 per person online, $25 at the door. Which is often sold out. The best time to go is right around dusk, so you’ll get to see the structures in the light of day and then all lit up as the sun sets. Fingers crossed that your visit coincides with one of the signature Colorful Colorado dusks. –SW
MY ADVICE:
Don’t Follow Bad Advice
"Do things that make you happy within the confines of the legal system." —Ellen DeGeneres
But here the thing: If we stuck to that policy, legal cannabis wouldn’t be a thing in 4/20ths—10 out of 50—of the United States. So pursue your passions. Follow your bliss. And make the world a better place, because sometimes, the law is wrong. Be right. And be happy. sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 21
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{newsfeed } by L E L A N D R U C K E R
CBD SPREADS ACROSS THE GREAT PLAINS Cannabidiol is the bomb in the Big Apple—and the Little Apple, too.
Cannabidiol is kicking serious ass. The New York Times ran a story in October about cannabidiol, or CBD, being all the high-end rage in the Big Apple and other large metropolitan areas. Today it’s considered a $350 million industry, with nowhere to go but up. Even Coca-Cola was briefly rumored to be showing interest in infusing CBD into its drinks. “With CBD popping up in nearly everything—bath bombs, ice cream, dog treats,” the Times story opines, “it is hard to overstate the speed at which CBD has moved from the Burning Man margins to the cultural center.” The Times doesn’t reference any city smaller than Austin, TX, but stores selling cannabidiol products are opening and operating all over the Midwest, too. In Kansas, a state that officially frowns on adult cannabis use for adults and is one of only four states left with no provision for medical marijuana, CBD stores are operating in Manhattan, Lawrence, Salina, and Wichita. I recently visited stores selling CBD products in Manhat-
affiliation, even if they have little grasp of what it is. More
tan, population 53,000. While it’s not that big a deal in the
than once, I heard references to “CBDs”—plural—as if
Little Apple, which is how the Kansas Manhattan brands
they were little creatures running around healing people.
itself, it’s gaining traction. Anywhere I went, people were
Cannabidiol, one of more than 100 chemical compounds
willing to talk about CBD, no matter the age or political
found in cannabis, is still officially illegal at the federal lev-
26 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
Kansas stores were raided and others closed down or eliminated CBD products from their shelves for a couple of days while the state clarified its position. This was caused by confusion over the terminology surrounding hemp and marijuana, two different plants within the Cannabis sativa family.
quiet professionalism unmatched service exceptional results
mention "sensi" for a special promotional rate el. The DEA, in its infinite wisdom, classified industrial hemp, which contains CBD, as a Schedule I drug, alongside marijuana, heroin, and methamphetamine, with “no known medical benefit and a high potential for abuse.� (Both of those assumptions, by the way, are inherently false in regards to hemp: The government knows it has medical benefits, and hemp has zero potential for abuse since nobody could get high from using it.)
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sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 27
Some restrictions were eased with the passage of the Agricultural Act of 2014, which legalized limited forms of hemp cultivation based around agricultural pilot programs and academic research. Some states, Colorado included, eased restrictions after its passage, and, in fact, our state grew more hemp last year than any other. And while some CBD shops have been raided, the federal government has made it clear it isn’t interested in arresting grandma for buying CBD tinctures or gummies to help her arthritis. After the attorney general, Derek Schmidt, wrote an opinion that claimed any marijuana product was illegal in Kansas, some Kansas stores were raided and others closed down or eliminated CBD products from their shelves for a couple of days while the state clarified its position. This was caused by confusion over the terminology surrounding hemp and marijuana, two different plants within the Cannabis sativa family. By definition, hemp is Cannabis sativa with no more than 0.3 percent THC. CBD doesn’t play into that definition; some strains contain no CBD at all, others have high CBD content. The cannabinoid is derived from both hemp and marijuana. In Kansas, only hemp-derived CBD is legal—but the caveat is that it must be derived from hemp that contains no THC whatsoever. CBD products in many states, including Colorado, don’t have this restriction. If you’re a believer in whole-plant healing or the entourage effect—the concept that the medicinal
“Back in January, we had an issue with the attorney general, and we voluntarily shut down long enough to figure out what was going on. ... He didn’t know the law, and two days later, he changed his mind. ... He didn’t have a foot to stand on.” —Brad Benco
benefits of the plant stem from all the cannabinoids working together, not isolated compounds and terpenes—these products probably won’t interest you. “Back in January, we had an issue with the attorney general, and we voluntarily shut down long enough to figure out what was going on,” says Brad Benco, manager at the American Shaman outlet in Manhattan’s Aggieville college district (the city is home to Kansas State University). The store is just down the street from On the Wildside, a venerable head shop that sells some CBD products. “He didn’t know the law, and two days later, he changed his mind. Our attorneys told us to go ahead and open. He didn’t have a foot to stand on.” Becky Yokiel is co-owner of Sacred Leaf, which opened a few months ago in a newer shopping center on the other end of town. She says owner Trevor Burdett, who also owns shops in Wichita and Houston and works with wholesalers 28 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
around the country, closed the Kansas stores while helping instruct Schmidt and state officials on the difference between hemp and marijuana. “They’re two different plants,” she explains. “Same family, but very different.” Kansas legislators agreed, and in April changed the definition of hemp. Given that restriction, all Kansas stores are serious about sourcing their products and educating customers about CBD, how it works, and what it can and cannot do. “I always tell people, whether you go with our company or not, when it comes to buying CBD, make sure that you get lab results for it,” says Yokiel. “When you look at China, they use hemp in their piping, and then they’ll extract the CBD from that same hemp that they’re using in the pipes that have chemicals in them and sell it to companies in America for super cheap.” She says that business is meeting expectations and the consumer base is growing. “I wasn’t sure how Manhattan, Kansas, would receive CBD because it’s such an agricultural community,” Yokiel admits. “But it’s been really good.” Customers tend to come from all age groups, but the clientele skews toward people middle aged and above. “Honestly, I would say the bulk of our clients are lower forties and up, with the majority of that, honestly, probably being retirement age,” says Benco. Clients are being referred to the shops from many sources, including chiropractors and massage therapists, Benco says. “I have people telling me their personal physicians are sending them in, and a handful of people are saying that their psychiatrists are sending them,” he says. “We also get some college-aged kids. Even, you know, people who say their therapist said they should check this out first. Medical people just want to have something more in their bags.” And though they might not be as hoity-toity as the CBD-Spiked Cocktails in the latest Goop catalog, Little Apple stores have something for everybody, including oils, tinctures, salves and bath products. “We have beard oil because when guys grow beards, they tend to forget that there are under layers,” Yokiel says. “So the CBD gets to the skin and will heal any irritation there.” She says that Burdett recently signed a contract to provide CBD for a water company down in Texas which will infuse cannabidiol into its water products, hoping to perhaps get ahead of Coca-Cola. The real hope for the immediate future is the update to the Industrial Farming Act of 2018, currently making its way through Congress to update the last one, which expires January 1. Part of that bill, proposed by Senate Majority Leader and Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, a state that stands to benefit seriously from hemp production, is to allow American farmers to once again grow hemp as an agricultural product. That would allow the stores to use locally sourced hemp. “Right now we’re just advocating for the Farm Bill to get passed, so at least our Kansas farmers could make some money off of this stuff,” says Yokiel. “And once it’s federally legal, this will all go away. We’ll get it regulated, and you’ll know what you’re getting.” sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 29
30 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
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{askangie } by A N G I E Mc C A R T N E Y
Where to Ask
email: ASKANGIE@SENSIMAG.COM Instagram: @SENSIMAGAZINE #ASKANGIE web: SENSIMAG.COM/ASKANGIE
LITTLE DIFFERENCES In the premiere Q&A installment of the Ask Angie column, Dr. Angie McCartney answers the very first query submitted by a Sensi reader, diving into the big differences one letter can make when it comes to cannabinoids.
“I have been hearing about both CBD and CBN. What’s the difference?” –Zatfig via SENSIMAG.COM/ASKANGIE
eryone knows because it’s the one that gets us high—that has been degraded by oxygenation and UV light exposure. CBN has only mild psychoactive effects but strong sedative and calming properties, and it’s being studied for many of the same ailments as CBD, things like pain and inflammation, seizures, and insomnia. (Cannabis testing facility Steep Labs found that 2.5 to 5 milligrams of CBN is similar to 5 to 10 milligrams of Diazepam.)
You mean, besides the fact that everyone’s talking about CBD these days, while most people have never heard of CBN? Both are cannabinoids, chemical compounds that act on special receptors in the human brain and body to shift neurological and physical pat-
CBN has only mild psychoactive effects but strong sedative and calming properties, and it’s being studied for many of the same ailments as CBD.
terns. More than 100 cannabinoids have been discovered, and they’re being studied as treatments for everything from pain and inflammation to muscle control and anxiety. Right now, non-psychoactive CBD—the most prevalent cannabinoid—is getting a lot of attention for its antianxiety, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving properties, and it’s widely available around the world. If you’ve ever smoked or eaten cannabis that’s been sitting around exposed to the air for a while and then fallen into a sleepy stupor, you’ve experienced CBN. This cannabinoid is actually a metabolite of THC—the cannabinoid ev32 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
A major difference between CBD and CBN is how they affect appetite. Studies on mice found that CBN causes significant chow intake, while CBD did the opposite. Whether you’re trying to lose weight or gain it, that’s another reason why it’s always good to know your weed’s cannabinoid content if you can. DR. ANGIE hosts Teaflix Tuesdays on Facebook (FB.COM/DRANGIEMCCARTNEY ), and has a live radio broadcast on the Pete Price Show out of Liverpool on Saturday nights (RADIOCITY.CO.UK ) and on Richard Oliff’s HFM Drive Show on Wednesday afternoons (HARBOROUGHFM.CO.UK ).
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 33
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{tastebuds } by J O H N L E H N D O R F F
CONDIMENT CRAVINGS Make holidays jollier with Colorado’s artisan relishes, preserves, hot sauces, spreads, and other spoonable pleasures. As a kid, I figured that everybody got condiments for
late-hazelnut spread, and certain friends of mine are reli-
Christmas. I expected to look among the gifts for the be-
gious about hot sauce. I get happy when I can discover the
ribboned, bottle-shaped wrapping under the tree or in my
secret cravings family and friends have for certain jellies,
stocking. I always had a major thing for wild blueberry pre-
sauces, relishes, pickles, dressings, and chutneys.
serves. To me, they were like blueberry pie in a jar. Spread on top of cream cheese on cinnamon raisin toast made a blueberry cheesecake sandwich for lunch.
Colorado: Condiment Country Colorado is now a rich source of not-shy condiments—
Knowing my predilection, my family gifted me with a jar of
sweet, savory, smoky, salty, fiery, and a few that are
wild— not domesticated!—blueberry preserves or jam ev-
downright sexy and real tastes of this place we call home.
ery December. It went well with my other pricey, sweet vice:
These artisan goodies always come with a personal tale.
Grade B dark Vermont maple syrup, a topping par excellence.
The recipe for the red bell pepper jelly bottled by Boulder’s
The people closest to me tend to have their own condi-
nationally acclaimed Frasca Food and Wine was passed
ment passions. My dad appreciated all sorts of mustards
down by the grandmother of chef and co-founder Lachlan
and pickles. My son has a devotion to Nutella choco-
Mackinnon-Patterson. Karami Japanese Salsa was creat-
36 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
“I sometimes think the act of bringing food is one of the basic roots of all relationships.” — Dalai Lama
ed by Japanese farmers in Colorado who substituted the seaweed in their favorite rice topper with a more available ingredient: roasted green chilies. Lots of jarred substances are lumped together under the “condiment” family, but for this spreadable gift guide, I focus on the ones you can spoon from the jar, crafted substances that transform plain ingredients into craveable events. They don’t necessarily need to be “put” on something to be enjoyed, as is the case with bottled oils, cooking sauces, marinades, soy sauces, and ketchup. (That said, Colorado makes a great ketchup: Elevation Organic Ketchup.) Your table may be humbly appointed the rest of the year, but come the end-of-year holidays, the special treats come out. From among the multitude of made-in-Colorado sauces, these are ones I’m happy to recommend. Use them for gifts, on meat and cheese platters at family gatherings, and as an easy, memorable dish to bring to holiday gatherings, not to mention a treat for you. Real Dill Caraway Garlic Dills, 32 oz. jar, $14.99, THEREALDILL.COM Bring genuine glee to the pickle lover on your list with these super-crunchy, handcrafted, European-style beauties that taste like the very essence of a good Jewish deli sandwich. Cukes are brined with copious amounts of fresh garlic, toasted caraway seeds, and whole fresh dill sprigs for loads of flavor. This Denver company also bottles a profoundly good Bloody Mary mix. Musso Farms Pueblo Chile Eggplant Caponata, 12 oz. jar, $7, MUSSOFARMSCHILEROOM.COM One of Colorado’s best-known growers of the signature Mirasol or Pueblo green chile also produces a fine example of caponata, the Sicilian-style relish/appetizer. This mouthful of umami and warmth comes from melding tomatoes, eggplant,
and roasted Pueblo chilies grown on the farm with green olives, capers, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. It is made to be spread on ciabatta bruschetta and served with a modest red wine. Picaflor Live Culture Srirawcha Hot Sauce, 5 oz. bottle, $7.99, PICAFLOR.CO If you care about probiotics, local agriculture, bees, and addictive condiments, Picaflor checks all the boxes, but don’t think of it as yet another hot sauce. This crimson liquid is found only in the refrigerator case with the other “alive” foods. Organic cayenne and Portugal peppers and garlic grown on the McCauley Family Farm near Longmont are blended with local honey and organic applesauce to make this smooth, balanced sauce. It’s certainly hot, but not threatening in terms of Scoville Units, and it punches up the flavor of everything it touches. Since vinegar isn’t involved, Picaflor has none of that acidic Tabasco harshness. The farm also bottles pickled vegetables and probiotic items including Farm Kraut. Muscat Fine Wine Jelly, 5 oz. jar, $5.50, PLUMDAISY.COM Denver’s under-the-radar, family-owned Spero Winery produces Italian-style varietal wines including a sip-able muscat. Colorado Mountain Jams takes this fruity dessert wine and crafts it into a pure and simple jelly. This is not your grandfather’s grape, but a pure jelly that injects some oomph into the old PB&J. It’s perfect on a meat and cheese board—especially with soft cheeses like MouCo Camembert. For a good time, warm some muscat wine jelly and spoon it over vanilla bean gelato. sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 37
CRAFT A COLORADO TASTING GIFT BASKET Putting together an all-Colorado food gift is pretty easy given the wealth of first-class treats available. Here are some suggestions for other foods you can add to favorite condiments: Start with a fine local cheese like Shepherd’s Halo from Larkspur’s Fruition Farms (FRUITIONFARMSCREAMERY.COM). Add a box of Denver-baked 34 Degrees Toasted Onion Crisps (34-DEGREES.COM). For a meaty inclusion, try dry cured pepperoni from Denver’s
Il
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(ILPORCELLINODENVER.COM).
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W W W.C H O O S E T H E L O V E .C O M 38 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
BE A CONDIMENT ARTISAN Caramelized Colorado Onion Relish • 4 tbsp olive oil • 2 Colorado yellow onions, thinly sliced Cholaca, 32 oz. wholesale bottle, $19.99, CHOLACA.COM
• 4 tbsp cider vinegar
It’s great that Boulder-made Cholaca is vegan, glu-
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
ten-free, dairy-free, sustainably sourced, and a nutri-
• ½ tsp thyme or sage
ent-rich superfood. However, the reason you’ll try it is that
• ½ tsp salt
it is incredibly tasty cacao sweetened with coconut sug-
• ¹⁄₃ tsp freshly ground black pepper
ar in liquid form—a chocolate bar with no unwrapping. If
• Optional: 2 tbsp roasted Colorado garlic.
you’ve enjoyed a chocolate porter or stout at a local brewery, chances are it was brewed with Cholaca, made from
Heat oil in a saucepan and add onions. Cook over
cocoa beans sourced from sustainable heirloom farms in
medium heat for about 15 minutes until onions are
Peru and Ecuador. Pick it up at retailers like Whole Foods
browned. Add thyme, vinegar, sugar, and pepper,
and Lucky’s Market, and try it in your morning coffee, as
and simmer over very low heat for 15 minutes.
hot sipping chocolate, in mole sauce for chicken, on waf-
Taste and tweak seasonings. Serve room tempera-
fles, and in shakes. I have also been known to do shots for a
ture, as warm spread on sandwiches or served
modest theobromine buzz in the morning.
with cheese and spooned onto roast turkey.
Frasca Red Pepper Jelly, 6 oz. jar, $7.63, FRASCAFOODANDWINE.COM
House, lime juice, vanilla bean, and sugar. You could top yo-
You know about Frasca Food and Wine, currently Colora-
gurt with a dollop or use it as a hip cocktail ingredient, but I
do’s most nationally acclaimed eatery? The award-winning
bet you’ll want to ingest this stuff directly from the container.
Italian restaurant focuses on impeccably sourced and prepared ingredients matched with stellar wines and service.
Farmhand Organics Pear (Not Apple) Sauce, 16 oz. jar,
However, nearly from its launch, Frasca has bottled a won-
$4.99, FARMHANDORGANICS.COM
derfully simple red bell pepper jelly inspired by a recipe from
It is unfortunate that a wonderful condiment, pear sauce,
chef/co-founder Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson’s grand-
has been largely reduced to a bland side dish/fruit for toddlers.
mother. Spoon this sweet and sour elixir over a block of
Silky sauces like this one from Farmhand Organics (former-
cream cheese, and you’ve got yourself a party dip. It makes
ly MM Local) made almost entirely from ripe pear varietals
a stellar alternative to cranberry sauce with leftover roast
is straight-from-the-jar classy with latkes, pan-
turkey, and it is yummy spread on leftover pizza crusts.
cakes, or as a sidekick for roast chicken or goose. Once you taste it, you’ll never opt for the apple
RedCamper Colorado Whiskey Peach Deliciousness,
equivalent again. This sauce solves the dilemma
9 oz. jar, $11.99, REDCAMPER.COM
for pear lovers voiced long ago by poet Ralph Wal-
This product is beyond simple preserves or jam, so Denver’s Red Camper Picnic Supply justifiably labels it “Deliciousness.” Handmade in small batches using Coral Star, Zee Lady, and other peach varieties from First Fruits Organic in Paonia, it’s enhanced with first-class bourbon from Laws Whiskey
do Emerson: “There are only 10 minutes in the life of a pear when it is perfect to eat.” JOHN LEHNDORFF is the former Dining Critic of the Rocky Mountain News. He hosts Radio Nibbles on KGNU: NEWS.KGNU.ORG/CATEGORY/RADIO-NIBBLES.
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 39
40 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
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sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 41
{aroundtown } by S T E P H A N I E W I L S O N
CULTURAL CALENDAR This month in and around the Mile High, there are a whole lot of high-brow happenings, and of course some more mainstream events that shouldn’t be missed.
42 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
There’s always a lot happening, as the holiday season kicks into full swing. Between the parties, the dinners, and all sorts of festivities, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the happenings. So rather than packing your already drenched schedule with more must-see activities than you can even think of handling, this month, we’re focusing our cultural calendar on two completely different kind of events—both of which showcase the breadth of possibilities of Colorado lifestyles. One remarkably cultured, one enticingly pop-cultured, both worth attending and neither having to do with the holidays. Nice mental breaks from the fa-la-la-la festivities inevitably bogging down your schedule this time of year.
Winter (Wonderbound) With Jesse Manley & His Band
December 11–20 // Tickets $60 // WONDERBOUND.COM
Wonderbound—Denver’s contemporary ballet company under the direction of Garrett Ammon and Dawn Fay—is all about collaborative artistic experiences that produce engaging showcases that touch upon the breadth of the human experience. The group started as Ballet Nouveau Colorado in 2007, presenting new choreography and dedicated to nurturing contemporary dance artists. The focus has evolved into its modern interpretations, which will be on display this month during performances of the new show, Winter. Here’s how they are describing it: “A romantic winter’s night takes an ominous turn as myth and dream become reality… or hallucination, in a tale that follows a bereft husband exploring the wilds to save his wife stolen by a magpie.” The original fable set to live music played by Jesse Manley & His Band is set to be a feast for all the senses, incorporating scents from Michelle Roark of Phia Lab, bites from local restaurants, projections by local artists, and select audience participation along the way. All performances are taking place in the Wonderbound Studios space on E. 40th Avenue at the confluence of the Elyria-Swansea, Clayton, and Cole neighborhoods. If you can’t swing any of the official performance times—you’ll find the full schedule on the wonderbound website—you should consider stopping by for one of the open rehearsals, grab a seat on one of the comfy couches, and watch the magic of raw performance come together on the stage in front of you. sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 43
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SnowCats Convention Cats. Art. Music.
Exdo Event Center // December 8–9 // SNOWCATSCONVENTION.COM
Right about meow, you need to stop what you’re doing and
Internet fame in the early part of this decade when her
recognize that the first-ever SnowCats Convention is coming
owner posted some photos of her on Tumblr, which made
to Denver this month. The two-day event is said to be “cele-
their way onto Reddit. In 2013, a documentary titled Lil Bub
brating the splendor of cats and the humans that love them.”
& Frienz hit the film festival circuit, introducing audiences
Taking aside that “that” should be “who” for the grammar
to the phenomenal world of famous cats. It won the Tri-
lovers out there, this is an exciting milestone for Colorado’s
beca Film Festival’s “Online Best Feature Film” category in
feline fanatics, who before now had to head out of state for
2013. Keyboard Cat, Nyan Cat, and that adorably perpetu-
the chance to meet some of the furry world’s five-star celebs.
ally pissed Grumpy Cat also make an appearance in the film.
Because those are apparently a real thing. Just ask
Along with Lil Bub, Colorado’s own Baloo The Adventure
Tardar Sauce, perhaps the world’s most famous feline bet-
Cat will be at the convention, as will Moshow the Cat Rap-
ter known as Grumpy Cat, who was made Internet famous
per from Oregon, Pet Vet Dr. Ruth McPete, feline behav-
by her owner back in 2012 and subsequently spawned a
ioral expert Dr. Lynn Bahr, and the two “Crazy Cat Ladies”
multimedia empire earning millions for said owner. One
behind the kitty wellness brand bearing that same name.
report put the cat’s earnings near the $100 million mark,
Why would you attend this convention? It’s a chance to
and that was a few book deals ago. Seriously. Before you get your hopes too far up, here’s some news that may make you grumpy: Grumpy Cat isn’t on the line-
meet Brandon Zavala, the creator of Cat Wine. Seriously: it’s a thing. The company bottles some surely lovely Pinot Meow, MosCATo, and Catbernet, and White Kittendal varietals.
up for the first-ever SnowCats Convention, which is going
Altogether, it’s part expo, part entertainment, and purely
down at Exdo Event Center December 8–9. Who is on the
cat-centric. If you catch cat fever while you’re there, you can
(Fe)Lineup? Lil Bub, the lil runt of her litter who also gained
adopt furry friends of your own right at the convention. sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 45
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{highprofile } by LELAND RUCKER, Photography by DANIELLE WEBSTER
50 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
HIGH-END-AT-
HOME MAKER
Chrissy Bellman of Levo had a moment of inspiration that led to a Keurig-looking device to infuse foods. Before the moment when everything changed, Chris-
“I just had a vision for exactly what you see now. In fact,
tina Bellman had always been independent. Motivated
the more I stay true to the exact thing that I had in my
from early childhood to succeed, she chose philosophy
head at that moment, I feel like the more it all works,” Bell-
and finance at college and was hell-bent on the latter. Al-
man explains. “I’ve been pulled in a million different direc-
ways looking for challenges, she studied abroad in Aus-
tions over the past couple of years. But I truly think that I
tralia and eastern Europe and was on a solid Wall Street
just allowed my mind to just be spontaneous for a second.
career track.
And I saw people struggling with the problem of making
And it was then, as she was finishing college, that she
oils in a kitchen.”
had the moment. It came and went in a flash, but never-
Intrigued, Bellman started researching the subject, and
theless, it persisted. “I like to say sometimes it was the
the idea for a machine that could do all these things start-
first spontaneous thing that I ever did, because I’ve always
ed to take shape in her mind, a machine that could have
been a very planned person, trying to optimize everything
unlimited uses for anyone who cooks. A cannabis user,
and adding value,” Bellman says during a recent interview in
she also realized the possibilities for reaching a growing
Denver. “But I think Levo really stopped me in my tracks and
legal market in the midst of embracing the concept of us-
made me question what I wanted to do with my career.”
ing cannabis oil to infuse foods.
Levo is a kitchen appliance Bellman invented that infus-
“I just thought in my mind, like, you know, this kind of
es and mixes and blends herbs and oils together so you
an invention straddles a few mainstream applications of
create your own recipes for anything from salad dressings
oil infusion,” she says. “And there’s the cannabis side, and
to salves, tinctures, and lotions. Oh, and cannabis concoc-
I looked at where the industry was going, and it just really
tions, too.
clicked in my head.”
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 51
䰀䔀吀匀 䌀䠀䔀䌀䬀 䔀䴀 伀唀吀Ⰰ
伀伀伀䠀䠀䠀⸀⸀⸀ 䰀伀伀䬀 䄀吀 䠀䤀䴀
䰀伀嘀䔀 䠀伀圀 䰀伀伀䬀匀 䜀伀伀䐀 䠀䔀 䤀匀
嘀䤀伀䰀䔀吀℀
䤀匀 吀䠀䄀吀 嘀䤀伀䰀䔀吀㼀
䠀䔀䔀䔀夀 䜀䤀刀䰀匀℀ 䴀䔀䔀吀 䴀夀 䌀刀䔀圀 刀䤀䜀䠀吀 䠀䔀刀䔀
Bellman grew up in Kinnelon, NJ, a small commuter town outside of NYC that was surprisingly rural, she says. Her parents were supportive of her and each other, and she watched as her father got his start in construction and house painting and moved into real estate. “He was a high-school dropout, and I’ve always considered him to be a very self-made person. I’ve watched him work so hard for our family.” Bellman soon realized that to create a machine like this, she would have to change the way she did things. “Everything else in my life, I would look at all the factors and create a very intricate plan and then stick to that plan, like I had blinders on. But with this, I was listening instead.” She continued to work full time, moonlighting on concepts, designs, and ideas for six years. She hired students to do CAD drawings, threw ideas at consultants, and sketched countless concepts. Her early prototypes, made from pieces of existing appliances, were, she admits, “ugly and scary—my first one was a water heater with a pineapple can with a hole in it.” The final epiphany to leave her job and go full time on Levo is familiar to many who work in the corporate world. “I would work on all these things that sound really fancy and cool,” she explains. “But I had an epiphany one night. I realized most of what I’m doing is taking informa52 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
tion from PDF documents and putting them into Excel.” After serious research to confirm her suspicions about the growing cannabis industry, she moved to Denver in January 2016 and found a particularly accommodating environment and support from restaurant owners and professionals with whom she consulted. Nine months later, the first Levo device was ready for lift off. A new Levo line has been released for the holidays this year, with more features and a new/vintage look. “There’s acrylic and the plastics, and it’s got that hard retro feel of old refrigerators and
Make It
appliances and things like that. And there’s much more functionality.” She says the device’s ideal custom-
Chef Brianna Gallo’s Cajun Sweet Potato Fries INGREDIENTS
• 2 large sweet potatoes • 3 tbsp LEVO flowerinfused coconut oil • 2 tbsp cajun seasoning • 1 tbsp salt
FOR THE SAUCE
• ½ cup vegan ranch dressing • 1 tbsp cajun seasoning • 1 tbsp hot sauce
er is someone who has multiple reasons to use it. “It’s for those who have a propensity for natural foods, likes controlling their ingredients, and cares about the quality of the ingredients that they use. When you buy premade stuff, you lose a lot of that control. So when you make it at home, you can literally pick each aspect of it and like fully customize it, whatever you want.” The website includes recipes and ideas from users. Bellman says it allows her to control her microdoses, and she makes body scrubs, tinctures, and topicals with oils
DIRECTIONS STEP 1: Peel potatoes and cut into fry shapes. STEP 2: Coat them with the infused coconut oil, and
place in a single layer on a baking tray. STEP 3: Transfer them to a preheated 450°F degree
oven, and cook for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway. STEP 4: Once cooked, allow to cool for 2–3 minutes,
then transfer to a bowl. Add your cajun seasoning and salt, and toss to coat all the fries. STEP 5: For the sauce, mix all the ingredients together
in a bowl.
made with Levo, while other staffers use it mostly while they’re cooking. “So it’s just kinda different strokes for different folks.” One of her passions is dogs. She has her own Weimaraner, and fosters dogs looking for homes. She’s been traveling on business lately, much of it in China, which hasn’t allowed that, but hoping to get back to it. At the same time, she’s now more in control and very hands-on about making Levo a better product. “I feel like a maker,” she says, “and it’s what I want to do. I want to make more products for this.”
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 53
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sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 57
{travelwell } by DAW N G A R C I A
WINTER IS COMING The Caribbean is calling your name.
There’s an island where crystal clear blue oceans flow,
In Puerto Plaza, the town square, you are surrounded
flavor ruminates through every street, spontaneous bach-
with activity and life. From a fake donkey dressed in color-
ata dancing happens the minute a beat sounds, fine cigars
ful necklaces being ridden by a man in a straw-brimmed
are rolled, rum from raw fermented sugar cane flows like
hat and a proper suit jacket, to men on stilts dressed in
water, and the sun shines in winter.
festive mythical garb, the sensory overload will perk you
The Dominican Republic, located in the eastern Carib-
right up. The beat of salsa and bachata call your hips to
bean, is a traveler’s paradise—especially in December.
move in a way you can’t deny, and the locals will invite you
Known as the DR, it’s one of my favorite countries to trav-
to dance. You can get fresh coconut water at a cart where
el to when the chilly winter weather creeps in. The air is
young men wield machetes to crack open young coconuts
warm and temperate, and winter weather as we know it is
with expert finesse or stop into the local ice cream shop
nonexistent. From the North to the South, the DR is plen-
for flavors made with fruit plucked from the nearby jungle. The cuisine in Sosúa spans a range of flavors that ad-
Santo Domingo and Puerto Plata (the South and the
here to the sustainable farming practices the DR is known
North) are vastly beautiful, but the central coast truly sat-
for. Using organically farmed plantains, chili peppers, egg-
isfies my desire for total tranquility. Sosúa, located on the
plants, mangoes, cucumbers, and avocados and fresh-
central coast and 25 kilometers away from the majestic
caught seafood, grass-fed beef, and delectable dairy from
Puerto Plata, is a Caribbean paraíso with the colors to
goat farms, local restaurants cook up some great cuisine.
match. The houses, architecture, beach shacks, and boats
Among them is El Toro Negro (ELTORONEGRO.CO ), located
are all painted shades of blues, pinks, corals, yellows, and
on a stretch of Playa Sosúa. Serving Mexican food with
greens. Everything is alive! Sosúa boasts vibrant influenc-
island undertones, this beachfront eatery isn’t fancy or
es from Spain, Cuba, and Africa.
overly hyped. It’s simple. My favorites are the Ceviche Es-
58 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
PHOTO COURTESY OF NICK ARGIRES
tiful in culture, gastronomy, and adventure.
tilo Veracruz and the Nachos al Carbon. Sosúa cuisine is
Armando Bermúdez & Co.C por A), the rum is sensational
best experienced by just exploring. Stop in at nearly any
and pure. Unlike most other rums, Dominican rums ex-
local restaurant, beach shack, or side-of-the-road bites,
emplify smoothness, thanks to an original and natural
and you won’t be disappointed.
process of distillation and aging in American white oak
In Sosúa, cigars and rum are the culmination of joy. Cu-
barrels.
rious how to handroll a fine cigar, I stepped into a shop
Heading just outside of Puerto Plaza toward my temporary
called Monseñor, where a man named Hector walked
home at the Ocean Villas Deluxe (OCEANVILLAGEDELUXE.COM), I
me through the small but legendary space with tobacco
made a stop at the local grocery store to pick up some food
leaves laid and stacked in perfect formation, old-school
and rum. This resort and spa consists of personalized lux-
metal-press machines with men at the helm assisting in
ury villas with stretches of ocean and mountains that en-
rolling, and a humidor. Cuban and Dominican cigars and
velop every sense of the word escape. I loaded my luggage
cigarillos were stacked neatly, arranged according to fla-
onto a golf cart and drove to my crisp white three-bed-
vor profiles and strength. I choose a medium-strength
room villa with rich accents, a private pool with sweep-
Dominican blend, and Hector showed me how to clip it
ing views of the ocean, and a private cabana. The master
properly, then it was time to light it up. It had notes of
bedroom has an outdoor shower and indoor bathtub. With
sweet vanilla and the welcome sting of fresh tobacco. Its
a fully stocked, state-of-the-art kitchen, including brand
sexy and seductive smell filled the air around me.
new appliances, a generous living area, and dining area,
At any given bar in the DR, you’ll find locally sourced
these villas are unlike anything else I’ve experienced. As
rum—and you should have some any chance you can.
I walked out onto my patio past the pool, I saw the sun
With three sugar cane distilleries (Barceló, Brugal, and J.
bidding farewell, lighting up the lush green grasslands and rocks with tinges of gold and amber. The sound of the crashing waves filled the air. I was eager to try Restaurant Maria, one of four restaurants and bars on site. After with a rum cocktail, I ordered the fried squid, churrasco salad, and churrasco angus in chimichurri sauce. The food here
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 59
was piquant and hearty in portion size. Breakfast the next
DUE NORTH
day was equally lovely, and I highly recommend giving the
While you’re in the area of Sosúa,
plátanos with grilled onion a try.
travel to Puerto Plata.
One of Sosúa’s splendors are its unique diving spots. The more frequented is Airport Wall, which is full of submarine walls and tunnels, the sunken vessel wreck of Zingara, the Coral Garden and Coral Wall—coral reefs, caverns, and mazes up and down a 50-foot wall 66 feet below sea level—and the Three Rocks Site. One of the most beautiful snorkeling sites is in Puerto Plata at Snorkel Cayo Arena. Located on Paradise Island, known prop-
S TAY Designed by architect Sarah Garcia, Casa Colonial (CASACOLONIALHOTEL.COM ) emanates elegance and thoughtfulness. Taking the history of the region into account and blending old world with new, Garcia created a luxurious resort that is infinitely open and charming. A full-service all-inclusive resort, Gran Ventana (GRANVENTANAHOTEL.COM ) is the sister property to Casa Colonial. I enjoyed a beautiful dinner on the sand while the sound of mild waves lapped against the shore in the peak of the evening summer heat. SEE The Teleferico Tour (TELEFERICOPUERTOPLATA.COM) takes you from the jungle floor to the highest point of the tree canopy. You can walk on marked paths, see species of plants and flowers, and marvel at the grandiose El Cristo Redentor statue.
60 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
erly as Cavo Paraíso, it has a sandbar miles offshore that’s
Sosúa’s history is as colorful as the region itself. It was
home to a coral islet. Surrounded by crystal clear turquoise
a place of refuge for the Jewish community during Nazi
waters and the warmth of the Dominican ocean, you’ll be
persecution. More than 700 colonists fled here from 1939
served rum and snacks that make snorkeling all the more
to 1945, boosting a thriving dairy and meat industry and
entertaining. Other nearby stops worth exploring are the
leaving a deep cultural mark on the area. You can learn
El Choco and Monkey Jungle National Parks.
more about that at the Jewish Community Museum in
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 61
Mirador Park. In addition, art plays a significant role in making sense of this Antillean island’s cultural influence. The DR is heavenly, from the smells of freshly poured rum and cut mango to the beautiful smiles on the faces of the locals. It’s an affordable way to get away, and when the rain, snow, and icy cold weather move in, there’s nothing quite like escaping to a little slice of heaven.
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THE WONDER OF
68 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
DO
OGS For many of us, life without animal companions would be a lesser life. by L E L A N D
RUCKER
I had a dog once that played music. REALLY. ANY TIME MY FRIEND GIL AND I GOT OUT OUR GUITARS, RICKY GRABBED A SQUEAKY TOY, PLANTED HIMSELF BETWEEN US, AND STARTED MAKING NOISE. HE HAD NO SENSE OF TIME OR RHYTHM—IT WAS PURE SKRONKING JAZZ—BUT THIS BELGIAN TERVUREN WAS INTO THE MUSIC. WHENEVER HE HEARD THE CHEERS THEME ON TV, HE BEGAN, UH, SINGING ALONG. WE HAVE MANY AUDIO TAPES, BUT ALAS, NO VIDEO OF HIM WHILE HE WAILED. HE WOULD BE A VIRAL SENSATION TODAY. It’s been more than 20 years since Ricky died, but I think
I was afraid of dogs as a child and grew up with the gen-
of him a lot. I think often about all the dogs that have
eral belief that non-human animals—we are all animals,
graced my life. No other canine has shown any degree of
after all—acted solely by instinct. The difference between
musical aptitude, though I have tried mightily. But each
humans and other animals, we were told, is that we hu-
one has been a good friend, and each has taught me some-
mans are sentient, conscious, emotional beings, and other
thing about myself. I couldn’t live without a dog. They are
animals aren’t. Animals belong to us, the reasoning went.
my companions, friends, and teachers.
Not being around them, I didn’t give it much thought until I
Humans, especially Americans, are animal crazy. Last
got my first dog at age 27. I’ve never been without one since.
year, according to Statista, a statistics portal for market data,
A big part of the disconnect about whether animals are
60 percent of US households included a dog, and 47 million
conscious beings is that they can’t tell us what or how
had a cat. That’s 80 to 90 million dogs, give or take a few mil-
they’re feeling or how intelligent they are in a language
lion. Many have both, and that doesn’t count the multitude
that, as smart as we are, we can understand. Their “intel-
of fish, rabbits, ferrets, iguanas, snakes, birds, guinea pigs,
ligence,” such as it is, might not resemble ours, but that
mice, hamsters, and other animals we keep. Maybe we’re
doesn’t mean it’s not there. It’s not hard to find Youtube
not all Leona Helmsley, the hotelier who left most of her in-
videos that show ravens and crows making complex deci-
heritance to Trouble, a Maltese who lived in luxury until she
sions to get food. Border collies have been trained to distin-
died at age 12, yet we managed to spend almost $70 billion
guish between hundreds of words. Watching the famous
on our companion animals last year, half of that on food and
video of Robin Williams and Koko the ape interacting, it’s
treats, and we’re on target to spend more this year.
hard not to suggest they are showing genuine empathy for sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 69
each other while rubbing each other’s bellies and laughing. We can put Go-Pros on their heads to see the world from their point of view, and the New York Times reported recently that a canine researcher is performing MRIs on dogs to try to see inside their brains, but there is still no way we can experience life as animals do. That’s a secret they keep to themselves, and it drives us crazy. When I once suggested to a researcher in Yellowstone it would be cool to be inside a coyote’s brain for five minutes, he replied that he would give anything for just one second inside there.
Dominion vs. Domination The way we look at animals has changed a lot, especially over the last 50 years, and we are finally coming to terms with animal sentience, or at least the concept that animals have feelings, too. The Biblical injunction comes early, in its first chapter. “And God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness,’” Genesis 1:26 reads. “And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” That one word in there—dominion—has proved problematic. What does dominion really mean? Does it mean we humans must exert control over all other creatures or be their caretakers? Marc Bekoff is an ethologist (someone
CBD 4 K9s CBD is all the rage these days—and not only for humans. More and more veterinarians are learning about this compound and are now suggesting it to their canine patients for pain relief, anxiety and behavior issues, and inflammation, especially in older dogs. A clinical study from Cornell released earlier this year suggests that CBD oil can help increase comfort for dogs with osteoarthritis. My local humane society now stocks CBD products, and my vet says she hasn’t found any real downsides, although she suggests talking with a doctor about medications the dog might already be taking before starting a CBD protocol. There are lots of choices, but one place to start might be Mary’s Whole Pet, a new farm-to-table line from Mary’s Medicinals and Elite Botanicals. All plants used for the oil are grown on an organic, chemical- and pesticide-free family farm in Colorado, and the list of products includes drops (in two potencies based on weight), capsules of different dosages, and a transdermal gel pen for fast-acting relief for dry skin, cracked nose or paws, or surface wounds. One warning: THC, the compound generally associated with the cannabis high, should never be given to dogs. Keep your edible products away from your canine companions. Because it’s federally illegal, no scientific tests have been done on dosage levels for animals. As suggested with humans, start low and go slow to find the right dose. And always remember that every animal is different; what works for some won’t work for others.
who studies the science of animal behavior) and researcher who has been working with animals his entire life. “A lot of this is driven from the view that as humans we are a superior species, and we are allowed to do what we want,” he says. “But dominion doesn’t mean domination.” Religion has played its role, he explains, in passages like the one above that claim only humans have souls. “Another reason is that if you distance yourself from other animals,” Bekoff says, “it allows you to do what you want.” This kind of detachment allows us to control animals, whether that means shooting them for trophies, keeping them in zoos, or producing them for research purposes. “In terms of industry, you can understand where people come from,” Bekoff says. Allowing that animals have feelings changes that dynamic considerably and begs even more questions. That humans are unique was accepted dogma for most of human history. Charles Jonkel, the recently deceased bear
until he graduated that he was able to pursue his real studies.
biologist, grew up poor but learned to trap and hunt at an
Bekoff has worked with and written books with Jane
early age as part of a subsistence family. When he went to
Goodall, perhaps the best-known ethologist for her work
school in the 1950s, bear biology was a relatively new field.
with apes. When they started writing about animal sen-
Jonkel already knew a thing or two about animal behavior,
tience, they ran into the same kind of resistance for ques-
but he also knew to keep his opinions about animal intelli-
tioning established beliefs. “For a long time, Jane and I were
gence and sensitivity to himself because, as he explained it,
kinda sideshows,” he admits. “We got heavily criticized for
that wouldn’t help get you a degree. In those days, he said,
talking about the emotional lives of animals. But I basically
you didn’t talk about that kind of stuff out loud, and it wasn’t
really believed in what I was doing and kept doing it.”
70 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
Bekoff’s view of dominion has more to do with stewardship than domination, based around the concept that hu-
instead of an owner suggests a different way to approach your responsibility toward your animal companions.
mans, the dominant species, are charged with taking care of
One of the best places to learn about dog behavior is
what we have. And though humans might consider them-
dog parks, the fastest growing segment of city parks
selves more intelligent than animals, we really have to try
these days. Most major US cities have at least one, and
and see things from the animal’s perspective. “It’s not how
they have become a kind of a cultural phenomenon. In his
smart an individual animal is, it’s what they feel,” Bekoff says.
new book, Canine Confidential: Why Dogs Do What They
“We’re all smart in some ways, but there are different types of
Do, Bekoff says dog parks are like rich petri dishes of dog
intelligence. Rats are really smart. Maybe not as smart as hu-
culture, working classrooms for human/canine under-
mans, but they have emotional lives just the same.”
standing and citizen science on the subject.
Companion Animals What does this have to do with the way we interact with our dogs? I scoffed originally when the city of Boulder, Colorado, changed the word “owner” to “guardian” in its ordinances almost two decades ago. It’s nothing more than a symbolic gesture, one of those “only in Boulder” things, I told myself, agreeing with a city attorney who at the time called it “social engineering.” I have since come to appreciate the distinction. Ownership, as noted above, suggests that you can do whatever the hell you want, and, at its worst leads to behavior that obliterates all distinctions and leads to atrocities like dog- or cockfighting. Thinking of yourself as a guardian
“LIFE IS VERY VIVID TO ANIMALS. IN MANY CASES, THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE.” —Carl Safina
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“They’re gold mines for learning about both dogs and
ter way to look at my dog. Rather than drag her away
people,” he writes. “Visits can serve as myth breakers or
when she wants to spend time sniffing at a certain spot
icebreakers. For hours on end, the interactions never stop:
or chastising her every time she gets into a scuffle, I try to
dogs are watching dogs, people are watching dogs, dogs
see it from her point of view.
are watching people, and people are watching one anoth-
It’s taken me a long time to realize that, if we just allow
er as they care for, play with, and try to manage their dogs.”
them, dogs can be our teachers and not just our pets. We
I’ve spent some time in dog parks in the last few years,
can learn a lot from them. I have had an exceptionally dif-
and Canine Confidential, which is written in a casual, con-
ficult time with my dogs’ deaths. But I have also come to
versational style, reinforces the things I’m learning and
realize that, hard as they are, those deaths are a reminder
pushes me to learn even more. “Life is very vivid to animals.
that life is precious and that grieving is a part of it, too. It’s
In many cases, they know who they are,” says Carl Safina,
their final lesson for us, and it’s a big one.
whose Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel is a
Though I’m still looking for another dog that can make
scientific and observational study of elephant, wolf, and
music like Ricky, I’ve learned that every dog is unique
whale interaction and societies. “They know who their friends are and who their rivals are. They have ambitions for higher status. They compete. Their lives follow the arc of a career, like ours do.” Thinking
about
and special in its own way. We have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go, and it can never come too quickly for Bekoff. “The bottom line,” he says, “is that if we’re
an-
imals in that context provides a much bet-
72 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
going to make change, we need to recognize sentience.”
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Not a Skier? What the heck can you do in the winter if you’re in Colorado and you don’t ski? Get off the beaten trails. by L E L A N D R U C K E R
76 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
When I first moved here, EVERYBODY WHO CALLED FROM BACK HOME
ASKED HOW THE SKIING WAS. YOU KNOW, IF YOU LIVE HERE, YOU MUST BE HANGING ON THE SLOPES EVERY WEEKEND. The fact is, skiing was never part of my decision to move to Colorado. Sure, I knew the state was known for it. But heading down a hill on a pair of skis at breakneck speeds wasn’t much of an attraction. Even watching a Warren Miller video, which for decades has lured millions to the Colorado slopes, looked more to me like a good excuse for something to go wrong than right. I did ski, once. It was a couple years after we moved here, and my godfather invited us to join them on his 60th birthday up in Breckinridge. I made it down some runs. Fell down a few times. Watched my godfather slowly follow me down without tumbling. The view was really nice. But just because your only real ski experience has been watching Lindsey Vonn win medals on television, that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to do during the winter months without having to buy a new outfit and fight I-70 traffic for a few hours to get to a slope somewhere between the Front Range and Utah.
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 77
78 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
The Most Natural of Hot Springs
Dashing Through on Snowshoes
There are many fine hot springs scattered throughout
Snowshoeing is a great way to enjoy the
the state. But easily my most memorable winter experience
outdoors while getting some serious ex-
happened at Mt. Princeton Hot Springs, west of Buena Vista
ercise and reaching places you might not
in the shadow of the Collegiate Peak range. The hot springs
otherwise. Colorado is particularly accom-
includes baths, concrete pools, massages and all the conve-
modating to snowshoeing, whether you’re
niences of a modern spa, but the most impressive thing is
just trying to get up to speed or looking for
the chance to sit in Chalk Creek, which flows through the
a serious adventure in the high country.
middle of the complex, in a natural hot springs.
A good place for the former is Hidden Valley. If you have
High water keep this area closed in the spring and sum-
lived here long enough, you might remember the Hidden
mer months, but during the winter season you can walk out
Valley Ski Area, which was established in 1941 and closed
to the edge of the creek, enter the warm water and then use
in 1992. If not, you should know it’s now a mecca for snow-
the rocks to control the flow of hot and cold water in your
shoers, sledders and tubers, and you can rent equipment
own private pool. It’s like all your winter fantasies rolled into
at the Hidden Valley Warming Hut or in nearby Estes
one. The day we did it, snowflakes were falling on our heads
Park. It’s a great place that can accommodate all levels.
and shoulders before they disappeared into the creek waters.
If you’re looking for something more strenuous and re-
The Collegiate Peaks are impressive from any direc-
mote, there are so many in Colorado that you could spend a
tion, but if you drive in from the east to Buena Vista on
lifetime trying them all. One of the most gorgeous is Abyss
Highway 285, don’t miss the mind-boggling vistas as you
Lake trail, which traverses a glacial ring between Mt. Evans
come down the hill into town. Buena Vista has an active
and Mt. Bierstadt. Walk through aspen groves and around
downtown area, and don’t miss the new South Main “old-
alpine lakes and rocky landslides beneath ancient, rugged
world” development down by the Arkansas River.
gray peaks in the Mt. Evans Wilderness.
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sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 79
E x p e r i e n c e o u r
t h e
a n c e s t o r s
i n t o
i t s a n d
80 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
M i l k y
d i d
w h e n
b r i g h t n e s s w o n d e r e d
W a y
a n d
w h a t
t h e
t h e y
w a y
l o o k e d
i m m e n s i t y i t
w a s .
The Real Night Sky If you’ve never tried it, going someplace remote and dark, far from any urban corridor to gaze at the night sky can be an intimidating, and life-changing experience. Winter’s crispness often makes it even more so. But you have to be willing to work for it. You have to stay up late or get up early to really get the full effect, but oh, is it worth the effort. The Milky Way, for instance, almost completely hidden now in our urban lightscape, can be experienced the way our ancestors did when they looked up into its brightness and immensity and wondered what it was. And once your eyes adjust to the darkness, you begin to see the hundreds of man-made satellites bringing us cable, communications, navigation and reconnaissance, scurrying in all directions and at all velocities across the sky. A couple of places to consider experiencing the enormity of it all are the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, one of the state’s wonders in its own right, with expansive sky views in stop-offs all along its rim. Another spectacular place is Chimney Rock National Monument, a towering rock precipice structure near Pagosa Springs that attracted native Pueblans, who built homes and farmed there. Today there is hemp growing in the fields below the monument, but views are spectacular from the parking lot or up nearer the rocks where the Pueblans lived. There are several upcoming solar events you could plan around. The Geminids are generally considered the best of the annual meteor showers, with up to 120 meteors per hour at its. The shower runs from December 7-17, and peaks on the night of the 13th and morning of the 14th. Best viewing, of course, is after midnight. The full moon comes Dec. 22 this month, which might hinder views of the Ursid mete-
Dogsledding at 10,000 Feet One big diversion from skiing is dogsledding. We’re not talking about the Iditarod here, no 900-mile slog from Anchorage to Nome. At Alpine Adventures Dogsledding you can enjoy the wonders of sledding literally at the top of Colorado. It’s located in Leadville, at 10,151 feet the highest incorporated city in the US. Rides last an hour and 20 minutes, with about an hour of that on the trails. Everything, of course, is dependent on how much snow there is on the ground at any given time, and owner Loren Priem says that group rides generally begin around the holidays, so check for availability. Accommodations for children and families are available, with tours departing any time between 8:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Kennel tours are available where you can visit with keepers and see how the 135 dogs are kept and learn their stories. At the end of each season, the company finds homes for dogs—you might even get one yourself. ALPINEADVENTURESDOGSLEDDING.COM // 719-486-9899
And, finally…
or shower, which peaks Dec. 21-22. And much
These are just a few winter activities in a state full of
of North America will be in the path of a total
them. Call me a wimp, but a major wintertime activity I
lunar eclipse on Jan. 21, when the moon passes
enjoy is just turning off the devices and curling up with a
through the Earth’s shadow and turns a rusty,
book or talking with friends, a glass of wine or spirits or
reddish color. And you’ll have to rise early, but
a bowl of Durban Poison at the ready, in the general area
on the next day, January 22, there is a conjunc-
of a large, crackling fire. Sometimes it’s not a bad idea to
tion of Venus and Jupiter, with the planets
sit back and remember how fortunate we are to be able
within 2.4 degrees of each other in the early
to live in a state with so many things to do. Have a great
morning sky in the east just before sunrise.
cold season, no matter what you wind up doing. sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 81
82 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 83
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K R AY- K R AY:
T H I S
P L A N T
H E A L S
Kratom shows promise in treating analgesia, inflammation, depression, anxiety, and opioid withdrawal. Of course, it’s being vilified. by R O BY N G R I G G S L AW R E N C E
Paul Bloom is an explorer. HIS BUSINESS TAKES HIM TO THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH, AND HE’S HAD A LIFELONG FASCINATION WITH NATURAL REMEDIES AND LIFE-ENHANCING BOTANICAL COMPOUNDS. SO, WHEN HE READ ABOUT
kratom, A MEDICINAL HERB NATIVE
TO SOUTHEAST ASIA THAT CAN PRODUCE A STIMULANT EFFECT AT LOWER DOSES AND RELAXING, EUPHORIC EFFECTS AT HIGHER DOSES, HE HAD TO GIVE IT A TRY. Bloom* found a young man selling kratom tea and
making it a Schedule 1 drug in 2017, though it back-
powder at a farmers’ market and bought some to try
tracked after a passionate campaign by kratom users
during his nightly sunset walk on the beach. He washed
(who call themselves kratomites) to keep it legal.
down a teaspoon of the powder with grapefruit juice, as
Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Tennessee, Vermont,
he’d been instructed to do, and sat down in the white
Wisconsin, the District of Columbia, Denver, San Diego,
sand to watch the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico. After
and Sarasota, Florida, have banned kratom. It’s avail-
about 45 minutes, euphoria and tranquility settled over
able at head shops in most other states and is readily
him. His shoulders relaxed, and his mental acuity sharp-
available online, though it is not to be sold for human
ened as a warm sense of wellbeing washed through his
consumption because it has not been through the Food
mind and body. He enjoyed the kratom’s effects for sev-
and Drug Administration’s extensive testing to ensure
eral hours, and when he returned home immediately
it’s safe.
embarked on an extensive research project to better understand this plant.
Bloom believes authorities are vilifying kratom because of “ignorance and fear of the unknown and a gen-
“Kratom seems like one of the safest botanicals I
eral knee-jerk reaction to any natural product that peo-
have run across,” Bloom concluded, but he had to wade
ple take a keen interest in because it may have euphoric
through a lot of scare-mongering headlines and propa-
effects.” Most kratomites agree that, like cannabis, kra-
ganda about the plant before he got there. A member of
tom is misunderstood and misrepresented in the media.
the coffee family, kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) has been
Some also take the cynical view that pharmaceutical
used in Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and
companies oppose it because it has the potential to re-
Thailand for centuries to manage pain and boost energy,
place opiates with a less expensive, safer, and cheaper
but is under siege in the United States and other coun-
alternative that is too easily accessible to develop into a
tries. The Drug Enforcement Administration considered
high-profit medicine.
86 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
*Name has been changed to protect Bloom from any legal repercussions that could stem from using this particular plant. We hate having to do this for a plant.
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 87
Kratom was blamed in a string of overdose deaths
IN LIMITED DOSES,
for stomach aches and di-
KRATOM BOOSTS
Since I started drinking a
a few years ago, and those headlines are what prompt-
E N E R G Y, C L A R I T Y, A N D
ed the DEA’s move to outlaw it. But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find that most of the victims had other substances, including synthetic opithey died and there were oth-
DOSES, IT’S MUCH
have cleared up. It feels like
AND PSYCHOACTIVE
As Murray A. Holcomb, MD, an acute care surgeon at Seton Healthcare Family Center in Round Rock, Texas, explained in Clinical Psychiatry
kratom powder every day, gastrointestinal issues that
WITH SEDATIVE
er underlying causes.
protein shake made with
FOCUS. AT LARGER MORE OPIATE-LIKE,
oids, in their systems when
arrhea. (I can attest to this.
had plagued me for years a miracle.) On the flip side of that, overuse or overdose can cause stomach upset and vomiting in some people. According to a 127-page
EFFECTS, EVEN
analysis by the drug policy
HALLUCINATIONS.
sociates, kratom’s effects are
News: “Kratom is a partial ag-
consulting group Pinney Asgenerally mild and caffeine stimulant-like at lower dos-
onist. It doesn’t make you euphorically high, it doesn’t make
ages. “Consumption does not typically interfere with work
you quit breathing, and you don’t really have any withdraw-
or social activities and commitments,” the group observed
al symptoms, and no one is going to overdose on a natural
in recommending kratom be regulated as a natural supple-
plant—because it will make them sick to their stomach.”
ment like St. John’s wort or valerian under the Food and Drug Administration’s Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. “There
“Remarkably Low Risk of Serious Adverse Effects”
appears to be remarkably low risk of serious adverse effects
Kratom leaves contain alkaloids, including mitragy-
from kratom consumption as compared to opioids and oth-
nine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, that scientists believe
er common drugs of abuse,” the group stated.
act as agonists at the human opioid receptor. Studies
Green, red, and white strains of the plant are available,
have found it can be helpful in treating analgesia, in-
and each offers slightly different effects. Those effects are
flammation, depression, anxiety, and opioid withdrawal.
also dose-dependent. In limited doses (1 to 3 grams), kratom
Like synthetic opioids, kratom also slows food’s move-
boosts energy, clarity, and focus—much like coffee. At larger
ment through the digestive tract, which is why it’s been
doses (10 to 25 grams), it is much more opiate-like, bringing
used in Thailand and Indonesia as a traditional remedy
on sedation and psychoactive effects, even hallucinations
S
T
R
A
I
N
S
R E D - V E I N strains—the most popular and widely available—are calming and sedating. W H I T E - V E I N strains are more stimulating and energizing. G R E E N - V E I N strains enhance focus and energy, but are a bit more subtle. P U R P L E usually refers to a blend of several strains, usually with all three colors. Most strains also indicate the name of the country or region where the strain originated. Some popular names are Bali, Malaysia, Indo, Thai, Sumatra, Borneo, and Maeng da. Much like cannabis, kratom’s many different strains have different effects on every individual, so experimenting is the best way to find the right one for you. Some generalities do apply. 88 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
are reported, though rarely. A typical dose is 1 to 8 grams. When you start to approach 10 grams, Joe Rogan explained in a recent podcast: “This will fuck you up, this stuff.” For Bloom, who has come to the conclusion that less
R
E
C
I
P
E
S
Miracle Kratom Protein Shake
is more with kratom, 1.5 to 2.5 grams swallowed in cap-
• 1–3 grams kratom powder (or preferred dose)
sules in the evening is just right. He doesn’t enjoy the
• 1/3 cup protein powder
taste of kratom and citrus juice in the “toss and wash”
• 1 cup frozen fruit(s) of choice
method many people use to ingest it, and he also finds
• 1 banana
dosing more accurate and predictable with capsules.
• 1 1/2 cup almond or coconut milk
“I think it’s important for everyone to do their own research and draw their own conclusions,” Bloom says. “A good place for people to start is on Reddit. People should spend a bunch of time on the message boards there, where they will learn from the best source of data—the
TO MAKE: Combine ingredients and blend until
smooth. (I mix mine in a Bilaca single-serve blender with Garden of Life raw organic protein powder and a kratom strain called Red Vein Borneo.)
people who actually use it.”
Kratom Tea
Extractions for Potency and Tripping
• 1–3 grams kratom powder (or preferred dose)
Kratom can also be blended into other food or brewed
• 1–2 cups boiling water
into tea. For more psychoactive effects, kratomites ex-
TO MAKE: Combine ingredients in small saucepan.
tract the alkaloids and partial mu opioid agonists using
Simmer gently over low heat for 30 minutes.
alcohol and/or heat, just like cannabis users extract can-
Strain into a cup using a fine mesh strainer. Can
nabinoids. Extracts are much more potent than pure raw
be drunk hot or cold.
powder, which generally delivers few if any psychoactive effects, and should be taken in much smaller doses.
W
ILD
You
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Natural Plant Powered Products (@# . COM)
REV: 52017
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 89
Many experts believe extracts are more addictive and suggest avoiding them, as Bloom does, because he prefers the natural product, literally ground leaves from the trees, usually harvested by small family businesses deep in the rainforests of southeast Asian countries. Although rare in the United States, some users in Thailand looking to get high make a kratom cocktail called a 4x100, a mixture of dried kratom leaves, cough syrup, Coca-Cola, and ice that’s popular there, where kratom has been illegal since 1943 (which has more to do with boosting opium taxes than anything else). Because these are often adulterated with things like tranquilizers, methamphet-
RESOURCES
amine, opiates, benzodiazepines, and even DEET mosqui-
Kratom is available online and at head shops in states where it’s legal, though quality varies drastically. It’s imperative you do your homework before investing. Debate about how to find the best, consistent kratom vendors rages online. Some people connect directly with farmers via social media, while others rely on retailers. Some of these retailers refer to kratom as an ingredient for candlemaking or some other guise because of the FDA restriction on human consumption.
to repellent (a required ingredient in many recipes), these cocktails have done a lot to contribute to kratom’s bad name, even though most users in the United States consume it in simple, natural, and safe powder and tea form. It’s up to everyone who benefits from kratom to fight back when the government and media make inaccurate statements and vilify the plant, Bloom says. “After doing your own research and getting comfortable that it is a good thing for you—and society at large—write your Congress members, spread the word, and correct misinformation out there whenever you can.”
90 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
The following sources have been around for some time and get decent reviews. DG Botanicals // DGBOTANICALS.COM
You must become a member to order from this site.
HerbalSalvation // HERBAL-SALVATION.COM The Ravens Apothecary // THERAVENSAPOTHECARY.COM Socal Herbal Remedies // SOCALHERBALREMEDIES.COM
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 91
92 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
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94 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 95
THE
96 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
JOY
OF GIVING
The 2018 Holiday Gift Guide for last-minute infusions of happiness
into your life—and the lives of those around you. by STEPHANIE WILSON
What is happiness? IT’S AN ELUSIVE CONCEPT THAT MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR
EVERYONE. IT’S A CULMINATION OF FACTORS, ONE THAT INCLUDES HEALTH, FRIENDS, LIVING A LIFE OF MEANING, SERVING THE GREATER GOOD, AND EXPERIENCING MOMENTS OF JOY. PERSONAL STRENGTH. HOPE. COMPASSION. LOVE. HAPPINESS IS ABOUT FINDING SATISFACTION WITH YOURSELF, YOUR PURSUITS, YOUR LIFE. Americans spend upwards of $11 billion a year pursuing
depleted—study after study has confirmed this basic truth,
our inalienable right of happiness. In those pursuits, some
backed by compelling data: giving is better than receiving.
universal factors have been uncovered: happiness begets
Giving to others is a part of holiday traditions from many
happiness. Being happy has a way of making those around
cultures, ranging from Christmas to Hanukkah to Kwanzaa.
you happy themselves. And in the national report about the
The Dalai Lama notes in his book Ethics of the New Millen-
happiest people in the US, Coloradans rank number 18.
nium that one’s personal happiness is directly dependent
The traditions of the holiday season can for some be a try-
on the happiness of others. Saint Francis Assisi noted, “For
ing time of year; for others, a chance to build community.
it is in giving that we receive.” There’s a Chinese saying that
One study published in the Journal of Environmental Psy-
goes, “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you
chology discovered that the act of putting up holiday deco-
want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness
rations outside your home signals to neighbors that you’re
for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a life-
accessible. That you’re joyful. Hell, that word—Joy—makes
time, help somebody.” Winston Churchill wrote “We make a
an appearance all over the place this month.
living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”
Because the holidays remind us to be joyful, to stop being
Whether your bank account is flush or you are financial-
so serious and to infuse our homes with whimsy, to light up
ly strapped, the act of giving is within reach. Time. Lavish
the night with colorful displays of tradition. To sing carols
presents. Grand gestures. Tokens of appreciation. What
with exuberance. To take our vacation days and use them
you have to give is ultimately as subjective as what happi-
to connect with our families, our neighbors. To indulge our-
ness means to you.
selves, to eat sweets and share dishes like grandma used to
So with that in mind, we’ve rounded up some giving op-
make. To dance with merriment. To bring a bit of nature into
tions for you to consider this holiday season, some pricey,
our living rooms, to decorate with flair. To focus on the little
some free, all all-but-guaranteed to have a positive impact
moments of wonder—the times that bring us together. To
on your baseline happiness levels. Because it’s not just
give to others.
about how much you give, it’s about how much love and
Giving creates a feedback loop of happiness. The act of
effort you put into the act of giving. So says science.
giving has a strong impact on your baseline happiness lev-
But because you’re busy—we’re all busy, aren’t we—we
els, and it’s built into the general culture of the holiday sea-
wanted to make it as easy as possible for you to make your
son. And while it can sometimes feel like an obligation—
list and check it twice, so we gathered ideas for some of
and gift-giving obligations can admittedly be a detractor
some of the best gifts of the season to consider picking up
from your joyful spirit, leaving us and our wallets feeling
for the people in your life. sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 97
L AY E R S O F L O V E
BEAUTY ON THE GO
Heart Quarter Zip-Up Pullover
Hair & Body Travel Set Le Labo, $55
Topshop Borg, $50
HELPING HAND
Star Lambskin Leather Gloves Nordstrom, $89
98 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
REBEL SMELLS
Purple Kush Scented Candle
Boy Smells, $29
LEAF LIFE MAGICAL WHIMSY
Unicorn Stuffed Animal Kid’s Twoodles, $28
LIL MAN, BIG STYLE
Boy’s Cheyanne II Waterproof Boot Sorel, $90
Tropical C Feather Strapback Chiefton Apparel, $34.99
Wholesale Handled. Serving Medical and Recreational Flower, Trim, and Concentrates
www.yoursourceco.com
720.370.3590
info@yoursourceco.com
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 99
TOP IT OFF
Bottle Stopper Aerin Danton, $95
SMELLS LIKE LOVE
Capri Blue Scented Jar Candle Anthropologie, $30
HEAD OF THE CLASS
Baker Boy Cap BP Houndstooth, $29
LIT UP
Blazer Big Shot Torch
Higher Standards, $90
100 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
LEGENDARY COLLECTOR
The Stan Lee Story TASCHEN Books, $1,500
WAT E R O F L I F E
Coco Rose Luxe Hydration Trio
Herbivore Botanicals, $39
WARM + FUZZY FEELINGS
Faux Fur Coat Avec Les Filles, $249
NOT BAD, JUST BOUGIE
Burning Rose Bougie Parfumée Byredo, $40
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 101
POM-POM PRETTY
Thermal Stitch Hat
Michael Kors, $58
SLICE OF STYLE
Agate Cheese Board
Anthropologie, $78
NOW HEAR THIS
Men’s Plattan ADV Wireless Bluetooth On-Ear Headphones Urbanears, $100
DRINK UP
Daphne Set of Four Stemless Wine Glasses American Atelier, $36
WOO-WOO WONDER
Himalayan Crystal Ball USB-Powered Lamp Urban Luxe, $21.99
OBJET D’ART
Brazed Spike Ball Decoration
Regina Andrew Design, $73 102 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
AIR OF JOY
Porcelain Essential Oil Diffuser Vitruvi, $119
LUSCIOUS LOOKS
Kiss Me Lip Balm
Karl Lagerfeld + Modelco, $115
FEED YOUR SOUL
TA K E I T TO T H E S T R E E T S
ROLLIN’ WITH THE HOMIES
Lagom, $29.99
Nike, Price Upon Request
id’s Ferrari, $99.99
The Swedish Art of Eating Harmoniously
Doernbecher Freestyle 2018
Classic Roller Skates
Time is Money Regardless of the health of your bank account, the act of volunteering can have a big impact on your overall health. In a review published in Applied Psychology:
Health and Well-Being, which looked at more than 20 previous literature reviews and more than 150 studies, the researchers came to one definitive conclusion: happiness can influence your health. And since other studies have reconfirmed the idea N AT U R E ’ S B O U N T Y
Decorative Tree & Pail
Nordstrom at Home, $19
that helping others is almost a surefire way to increase your happiness levels, selfishly consider giving your time to help others. For your own good. sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 103
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sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 105
BEAUTIFUL WHEN YOU MEET THE RIGHT HAIRDRESSER. LIFE IS MORE
Nice to meet you, my name is
Celia
Stylist + Makeup Artist @hairbycelia_z Celia@TheParlour.net 303.444.3747 TheParlour.net
106 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 107
COLORADO HEMP COMPANY
A Different Beat, but the Song Remains the Same A HEMP ENTREPRENEUR APPLIES LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE MUSIC INDUSTRY.
The way that Morris Beegle, founder and president of
new business partner Elizabeth Knight.
Colorado Hemp Company, looks at the cannabis indus-
They began selling hemp-based products—t-shirts,
try is one where the players have their business direction
backpacks, wallets, shoes—then added hemp paper and
scoped out. “We have the hemp side—that is, the Mitch
hemp-event production, which ramped the company
McConnell/farm bill/agriculture side,” he says. “And then
up to another level.
we have the medical/adult-use side. They are becoming
By 2014, with a core management of himself and two
quite intertwined now with big cannabis companies, like
others, Colorado Hemp Company put on its first expo
Canopy Growth (cannabis research and development
to a full house of 330 people with 20 vendors, a dozen
company) buying ebbu, and the crossover with CBD.”
speakers, Colorado-grown hemp beer, and live music.
He says that the hemp industry is fighting to make
Event productions are now the driving force of the busi-
sure that hemp-derived CBD nutritional and dietary sup-
ness, he says, with strategic partnerships being devel-
plement businesses have their own “swim lanes.”
oped in North America, Europe, the UK, and Asia.
“We have the pharmaceutical swim lane, the hemp
Colorado Hemp has produced five NoCo Hemp Expo
swim lane, and the adult-use/medical-swim lane,” Bee-
conferences in the Loveland/Fort Collins area, with the
gle says. “It’s about how we can all have our swim lanes,
next NoCo scheduled for a larger Denver facility in March
do what we want to do, and then making sure that the
2019. The company produces other annual events, in-
consumer wins in the end because they have choices.
cluding Hemp on the Slope, Hemp Harvest Party, the
They can go to their doctor or pharmacy, Whole Foods or
Southern Hemp Expo in Nashville, and the Hawaii Hemp
Vitamin Cottage, or their dispensary or caregiver to get
Conference in Honolulu. In conjunction with the event
what they want. It really is about offering a convenience
side of the business, they have developed an innovative
to the consumer to get their cannabinoid products.”
programming, education, advocacy, entertainment, and
Beegle knows what the consumer wants due to his
media companion with LETSTALKHEMP.COM.
background in the music industry as a producer, work-
“Coming from the music and entertainment industry,
ing in music distribution, copyright, licensing, produc-
we are always going to be doing events, programming,
tion, manufacturing, event promotion, and more. “Just
media, cool merchandise, paper, printing and packag-
a jack-of-all-trades, master of some,” he says about his
ing, innovative and fun stuff,” Beegle says. “We’re promot-
background in that industry.
ers of the plant, we’re promoters of the planet, we’re pro-
That all came to a halt around 2010 after peer-to-peer
moters of a democratized industry where communities
file-sharing networks initiated what would be the down-
and entrepreneurs from across the country and across
fall of physical media, and, in turn, put the crunch on the
the globe can participate. Our mission: #EndProhibition.”
music industry, effectively diminishing or entirely ending the business of major international retail music outlets like Tower Records, Musicland/Sam Goody, Transworld, and others. Beegle wasn’t really involved in the hemp or cannabis movement until around the time that Amendment 64 was introduced in Colorado. In early 2012 he founded Colorado Hemp Company with longtime friend and 108 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
For more information, visit:
COHEMPCO.COM
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 109
PYRAMID PENS
Pyramid Grows Beyond its Origins DEMAND DRIVES MORE PRODUCTION, EDIBLES ROLLOUT, AND EXPANSION INTO OTHER STATES.
The growth at Pyramid continues as the company
Berry says that Pyramid is currently applying to
seeks to find other products to offer beyond just its
produce products in Michigan, which would then be
popular vape pens, now available in more than 200
available sometime in the next six months. On the
dispensaries in Colorado.
East Coast, licensing deals are being considered in
Jake Berry, his Pyramid co-owner Coley Walsh, and
Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.
staff of 11 have produced a product line of vape pens,
About the legalization in Canada and the potential
with CO2-extracted strain-specific oil, since mid-2015.
for more business development there, he has mixed
That line will soon be joined by a group of edibles
feelings. “From my understanding, with the way it is
products. The demand for the company’s vape prod-
set up in Canada, it’s more about big business and
ucts in general has meant accelerating production
helping large conglomerates flourish,” Berry says. “It’s
over the last year. “We are no longer growing our own
very much like a big-business takeover, instead of the
cannabis,” Berry says. “We shut down our own grow
local grassroots sort of development where people can
because it’s actually cheaper to purchase marijuana.”
be trailblazers, make something from nothing, and
He says that Pyramid is now getting their cannabis
grow an industry.”
from multiple grow facilities in Colorado, with most coming from high-end indoor grows around Denver. “We produce so much oil that one grow can’t supply us with enough,” he says. In the meantime, Pyramid has finally launched its Burst flavored vape line after a year and a half of development. “We took that time because we wanted to make sure the product was up to our standards,” Berry says. “I sampled everything in the market for flavored vape products, and nothing made the case for a high-quality product.” The Burst line was created for consumers who want to taste something other than cannabis—for instance, pineapple limeade or wild cherry. “These are flavors that we infuse with THC to give you a flavored high,” Berry says. He says that, with Burst, Pyramid is going for consumers new to cannabis and who don’t necessarily like the flavor, as well as consumers who have been using e-vapes for a long time. Burst will soon be released as a disposable, in a cartridge, and as a Pax Era pod. 110 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
For more information, visit:
PYRAMIDPENS.COM
Get in touch: sales@ellementa.com | 303.918.8404 | ellementa.com
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GREENLINK MERCHANTS
Finding Financial Services Tricky for the Industry BAGS OF CASH? CUSTOMERS WANTING TO USE THEIR DEBIT CARDS? GREENLINK CAN HELP.
Any financial services consultant will tell you that
cannabis purchases with credit cards. “Does it work?
one of the trickiest businesses to work for is the can-
Sure,” Smith says, “but the underwriting bank eventu-
nabis industry. Banking has always been an issue,
ally finds out about it and cancels the accounts. To us,
and there will be no significant movement to change
it’s all about stability for dispensaries.”
how banking works in the cannabis industry until it is
This credit-card issue is “a hard one to lick,” because
de-scheduled as a Schedule I narcotic—considered as
all these schemes have a fundamental flaw, Smith
dangerous as heroin.
says, which tracks back to the federal government and
Until that day, it’s an illegal narcotic and has to be
the scheduling issue.
treated as such. Any bank or financial institution that
Greenlink Merchants’ nationwide team does a lot of
works in the industry risks losing its federal banking
point of sale (POS) integration for dispensaries—basi-
license and opening itself up to intense regulation.
cally back-end technology stuff—with the same focus
That’s why demonstrating transparency and going the
of allowing electronic deposits. “Take a POS company
distance to normalize a dispensary’s banking relation-
like Treez, for example,” Smith says. “We will integrate
ship is so critical.
our processing system into their software. We add
A few years ago, that’s who Jonny Smith, the finan-
value, because of our background in technology. We
cial guru at Greenlink Merchants, was targeting—with
know how to integrate cloud-based software to the
a primary focus on processing transactions for dispen-
dispensary store, which in turn makes for a smooth
saries and helping with banking connections. “We help
experience at the checkout. People know that we can
people in dispensaries move their money, whether it’s
do that, and they just come to us. We don’t have to
cash pickup, electronic deposits, or having a bank ac-
go to them. That’s how much in-demand this sort of
count itself,” Smith says.
financial service is.”
He says that, contrary to the general understanding, there are brick-and-mortar institutions that will do banking in certain states, mostly on the West Coast, and in Arizona and Florida. Smith says that debit cards, for the most part, are not an issue since they are “100 percent transparent.” Credit cards are a different story. “Basically, there are some ways around taking credit cards being explored, because right now, there is no way of doing that directly for this industry.” Other financial-service providers offer credit cards for cannabis purchases, but that won’t work in the long run. “There are new solutions to that issue every day, it seems,” Smith says. For instance, people are buying dedicated gift cards or using blockchain for 112 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
For more information, visit:
GREENLINKMERCHANTS.COM
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 113
EVOLUTIONZ CONSULTING
A Detour to Global Brand Development LEARNING TO MANAGE GROWTH CONSUMER RETENTION.
Denver-based EvolutionZ Consulting offers all sorts of
“The oil we produce is not cannabis-derived terpenes,”
basic business services to the cannabis industry, from
Seth Wiggins, vice president of business development
compliance to training, accounting to human resources,
for EvolutionZ, says. “The same terpenes found in can-
data analytics to documentation management.
nabis are also found in other botanicals. We can extract
But about two years ago, the company evolved into a brand-management firm after a manufacturer decided
those terpenes, formulate them into our secret recipe, and distribute them legally all over the country.”
to have EvolutionZ manage the growth and develop-
EvolutionZ has expanded The Clear line with a new
ment of its brand, a flavored distillate called The Clear
division on the hemp side, Clear CBD, where a consumer
as cartridges, syringes, and honey buckets—each creat-
can order from the website and get the CBD product
ed with naturally derived, steam-distilled terpenes from
shipped to their house.
food-grade plants.
Wiggins says, in an age of physically small dispensaries
EvolutionZ is the master licensor of The Clear brands,
with new brands coming along every day competing for
meaning that it is responsible for all operational, admin-
customer attention, The Clear earns its shelf space. “Once
istrative, and support; as well as the growth and develop-
I get the product into consumers’ hands, they come
ment of the brand on a global scale.
back as a repeat customer asking for our products,” he
Corporate headquarters is in the Denver Tech center,
says. “That allows us to work with and develop strategies
with an affiliate manufacturing laboratory in Colorado.
with our dispensary partners to enhance shelf space and
Sales support is provided from its call center for all rec-
grow the product line.”
reational legal states, and soon, more brands than just The Clear.
EvolutionZ operates a sort of franchise model (franchising is still not allowed in the cannabis industry), training
The EvolutionZ origination and account-management
and developing licensed manufacturing partners and
infrastructure handles introducing the product, coordi-
laboratories, and managing the brand from a national
nating samples and logistics from local labs to the dis-
platform to help with identity and consumer awareness
pensaries, who then place orders with phone agents to
that drives the traffic into those dispensary partners.
get products on the shelf.
Wiggins says that they have seen more than 400 per-
Evolutionz also manages and identifies other lab
cent growth in brand sales in Colorado and are in the
facilities that can produce The Clear to its strict quali-
process of expanding in the Nevada market. “The brand
ty standards of oil production, including helping get
is amazing. But I want to make sure we also mention
equipment needed for the production of the oils (that
that it’s the people in this organization who really make
can have a THC potency level of 95 percent) which are
it successful.”
then reintroduced into proprietary flavor formulas. The Clear flavors include blue raspberry, orange cream, lemon lime, and more—17 flavors in all—along with seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice. 114 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
For more information, visit:
EVOLUTIONZCONSULTING.COM and CLEARCONCENTRATES.COM
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 115
As the cannabis industry grows, so does the number of professionals within it, acting as incredible sources of insider info on the trends and issues driving the marketplace forward. The Sensi Advisory Board is comprised of select industry leaders in a variety of fields, from compliance and education to concentrates and cultivation. They are invited to share specialized insight in this dedicated section. This month, we hear from members in the Sports Nutrition and Topicals categories. FOR A FULL LIST OF ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS, SEE THE MASTHEAD ON PAGE 14.
NUTRITION: IT’S ABOUT BALANCE by W I L L C A R R , F O U N D E R O F W I L L P O W E R
source higher quality, natural ingredients, if I can. I pay attention to what I’m eating throughout the day. If I eat junk food for lunch, I’ll eat healthier options for dinner. Don’t stress about it, just do the best you can. Stress is definitely not healthy, so avoid it when possible. I try to look at my nutrition on a weekly basis. Did I eat healthy overall for the week? One or two days a week of eating foods that aren’t the healthiest, doesn’t mean we aren’t eating a healthy and balanced diet. A balanced and
Last month we talked about how balance within our
healthy diet is about finding what works for you. We’re
diet is key to living a life healthy, active, and happy. In a
all different. We come in all shapes and sizes with all
healthy diet, there is no such thing as never eat this and
kinds of likes and interests. Why would we expect that
always eat that. Our nutrition should work into the life-
to be any different when it comes to our diets and what
style we want to live, not dictate the way we have to live.
we should eat? There is no one size fits all approach to
For me, a balanced diet starts at the grocery store. I
healthy nutrition. You may not like the same kind of
know the food I put in my cart, I will eat. I also know
chips as I do, but you know what you enjoy, so go find
whatever food I don’t put in my cart, I won’t eat. So I buy
what works for you within your life.
organic fruits and vegetables. I buy high quality proteins
Next month, we’ll talk about New Year’s Resolutions
to cook for myself at home. I get nuts and trail mix for
and how to set realistic fitness goals you can achieve
when I’m on the go or hiking. I’ll usually also get a frozen
and actually maintain. We put way too much pressure on
pizza and a bag of sour cream and onion chips. If I eat
ourselves to eat perfectly, when there is no such thing.
the chips here and there throughout the week or all in
What we eat shouldn’t have to be a stressful topic. It
one sitting, either is ok, because I won’t have anymore
shouldn’t have to be difficult to live a life healthy, active,
until I go to the grocery store again.
and happy. Find a diet that matches your lifestyle and
That’s called balance. As we live busy lives, eating food at home isn’t always feasible. So how do we maintain this healthy, balanced diet when we’re on the move? It’s really no different. When eating out, I choose places that 116 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
you will have found a key to true happiness.
sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 117
The stigma of using marijuana is beginning to fade
SELF CARE: CANNABIS FOR WHOLE BODY WELLNESS Had it with boring workouts? Cannabis is a valuable fitness and recover tool. by D A H L I A M E R T E N S , C E O O F M A RY J A N E ’ S MEDICINALS I’ve long been a believer that cannabis products are the ideal complement to a lifestyle of health and wellness. Pro athletes are looking at cannabis as a valuable plantbased supplement to aid in their training regimes, so why shouldn’t the rest of us? These athletes are daily disproving the myth of the “lazy stoner” as they use CBD, THC and full-spectrum products to elevate their game in myriad ways. Judging from my own experience, not to mention conversations with hundreds of my customers, here are three areas where cannabis products are especially useful for people pursuing active lifestyles:
1. During Workouts When we engage in physical activity, our bodies put the “work” into workouts, from contracting muscles to pumping blood through our veins. Our body consumes glucose stored for just such a purpose, begs us to take in more oxygen and creates lactic acid—a prime cause of muscle soreness—if we don’t have enough oxygen to respond to the work we’re calling on our body to do. Cannabis can help our muscles relax for pre- and post-workout stretching, help reduce pain and act as a mood enhancer to keep us positively engaged in our workout, even when the going gets tough. This boosts the positive impact that increased blood flow is having on our brain cells, which give many people the “runner’s high” of feeling focused and alert. Cannabis is especially helpful for endurance events—long runs, bike rides or extended time in the pool or weight room. Using edibles like lozenges can be helpful in relieving physical pain and boredom, and propel the push to the finish line. 118 DECEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder
into history books as athletes get themselves into record books. Some elite athletes are even landing endorsements from cannabis companies.
2. Post-Workout Recovery Compounds in cannabis can aid the healing and recovery process that takes place after a workout. Cannabis brings the body back into balance, stimulating the body’s endocannabinoid system in its primary work of promoting homeostasis. After an intense session, cannabis can help calm the body and mind, bringing the heart rate back to normal and relaxing stressed muscles. As part of working out—especially strength training— our muscles develop small tears. As those tears heal and new tissue is created, this makes the muscles stronger. But in the meantime we experience soreness. Cannabis helps reduce the pain, and its healing properties help the body make repairs to muscles. The soothing effects of cannabis can also help athletes sleep well so their bodies have the best chance to rest and heal.
3. Dealing With Injuries When athletes of any fitness level experience an injury, cannabis can help with inflammation, pain and stress. Cannabis-infused topicals can be used directly on affected muscles, working in consort with the body’s endocannabinoid system to stimulate the body’s natural healing process. Other athletes find near-instantaneous pain relief from vaping or smoking cannabis products. Some utilize time-release capsules containing CBD and other cannabis compounds to provide relief throughout the day. A cannabis-infused epsom salt bath can also be a great way to relax and recover, easing sore muscles. For bicyclists, a dollop of cannabis-infused salve applied to a road burn can be a lifesaver for quick healing. Topicals and consumables can also relax muscles to get the most out of stretching and physical therapy. Mary Jane’s Medicinals makes an array of healthful options for people at all levels of fitness, from healing salves and massage oils to tincture and the ultra-relaxing Heavenly Hash Bath. If you live an active lifestyle, it’s definitely time to consider working cannabis into your next workout.
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PHOTOGRAPHY: LEE STONEHOUSE
SENSI NIGHT
What a wonderful way to watch the Midterm Election results roll in together with the cannabis community. Thank you Denver for the amazing turnout.
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What: Sensi Night Denver When: November 06, 2018 Where: EXDO Event Center
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{HereWeGo } by S T E P H A N I E W I L S O N
FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN Get lit at a higher altitude.
Fire art inspired by Burning Man lighting up the night and
7–9 is packed with lineup that showcases the nonprofit
warming up the cold dark days in the weeks before the
organization’s mission to be “an enduring, extraordinary,
start of winter in Colorado’s favorite mountain town. Do
interactive, sculptural, and performing fire arts event.” This
you need to know more than that to be enticed to attend?
year, the schedule includes spectacular and fantastical fire
Fine: This month, the Fire Festival comes back to the picturesque mountain cul-de-sac for the fourth year in a row.
art performers, art cars, workshops on everything from juggling to glass blowing, and nightly entertainment.
The annual happening debuted in January 2015 as a cele-
Some of it is free, but the biggest happening is the tick-
bration of community, art, and fire. The self-proclaimed goal:
eted Fire Ball on Saturday evening, a costumed revelry
bring the Burning Man ethos to Telluride along with the “larg-
that takes place at what’s billed as the nation’s highest
er-than-life fire art to the region to allow more people the
night club at the top of the gondola in the Great Room.
ability to see, interact with, and create this visual magic.”
Here, the “Fire on the Mountain” goes down, burning two
Fire art is part of the essential fabric of Burning Man, whether that’s part of a large-scale installation, mutant
wooden structures on display throughout the day in spectacular fashion.
vehicle, or incorporated into performance art. For the Telluride Fire Festival, dynamic art performances take place
What: Telluride Fire Festival
every night in the public plaza in Mountain Village and on
When: December 7–9, 2018
the town’s historic Main Street—and the majority of the
Where: Telluride, Colorado
happenings are free. This year, the weekend of December
More Info: telluridefestival.org
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Inspiring, spectacular, and fantastical fire art inspired by the culture of Burning Man come together with performers and art cars in Telluride every December.
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