Sensi Magazine - Southern Colorado (December 2018)

SOUTHERN COLORADO

THE NEW NORMAL

NOT A

SKIER How to Make the Most of Mountain Winters

Power of Pets Happy Lil’ Companions

Pour It On

Colorado Condiments

{plus} Crazy Kratom Fire Fests And More!

12.2018

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sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 3

4 DECEMBER 2018 Southern Colorado

ISSUE 12 // VOLUME 2 // 12.2018

SNOW BUNNY? Blaze your own powdery trail

FEATURES

SP EC IAL R EP OR T

20 The Wonder of Dogs

For many of us, life without companion animals would be a lesser life.

26 Not a Skier?

What the heck can you do in Colorado if you don’t ski? Get off the beaten trails, of course.

34 Kray-Kray: This Plant Heals

Kratom shows promise in treating analgesia, inflammation, depression, anxiety, and opioid withdrawal. Of course, it’s being vilified.

20 IT’S (ANOTHER) PLANT Don’t condemn kratom

34

A VERY GOOD BOY If you see him, pet him

every issue 07 Editor’s Note 09 The Buzz 15 TasteBuds

CONDIMENT CRAVINGS

50 HereWeGo

FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN

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

sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 5

sensi magazine

INTRODUCING

ISSUE 12 VOLUME 2 12.2018 TM

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

sensimediagroup

EDITORIAL Stephanie Wilson stephanie@sensimag.com EDITOR IN CHIEF

Leland Rucker leland.rucker@sensimag.com SENIOR EDITOR

Robyn Griggs Lawrence CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

A RT & D E S I G N sensimagazine

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 Kevin Charapp kevin.charapp@sensimag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

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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

AVAILABLE IN THE FINEST DISPENSARIES IN COLORADO BEBOE.COM @BEBOEFAMILY

6 DECEMBER 2018 Southern Colorado

JOY TO THE A D V I S O RY B O A R D 1906 New Highs // CHOCOLATE Agricor Laboratories // TESTING LAB Blazy Susan, LLC // SMOKING ACCESSORIES Canyon Cultivation // MICRO DOSING Dabble Extracts // MEDICAL CONCENTRATES The Daily Dose Radio Show // RADIO SHOW Faragosi Farms //

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RECREATIONAL CULTIVATION

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CONSUMER EMPOWERMENT

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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.

Spread Joy.

Stephanie Wilson E D I TO R I N C H I E F SENSI MAGAZINE

sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 7

Staging a Bonding Experience Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical

At the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center this month,

ber from the show. The special add-on package is $30,

Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical is making its region-

and tickets to the actual show itself are additional, with

al premiere—and you’ll want to be there. The New York

standard seats starting at $20.

Times described it as “an exhilarating tale of empowerment, as told from the perspective of the most powerless group of all…little children.”

The Tony Award-winning musical inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl is described as a captivating masterpiece that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination, and the inspiring girl—a kindergartner with psychokinetic powers—who dreams of a better life, using her skills to outwit bullies.

The show is recommended for children age 6 and up, and it’s a wonderful way to bond with the little people in your life.

On select Saturdays, young emerging artists (age 6–13) can attend Musical Day Camps that entail a tour of the theater, hands-on experiences on the set, meet-andgreets with cast members—even learning a dance num8 DECEMBER 2018 Southern Colorado

–Stephanie Wilson

The show runs from December 6 through early January, with matinée and evening performances throughout the week. More details: CSFINEARTSCENTER.ORG

The Art of Gift-Giving Ornament Auction December 7, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m., Cottonwood Center for the Arts, Colorado Springs, COTTONWOODCENTERFORTHEARTS.COM

The second-annual Ornament Auction and Holiday Party brings together the local artistic community for a day of revelry and fundraising. It’s a silent auction, filled with copious opportunities to outbid your neighbors for the chance to take home some of the most intricate works of art to ever grace a tree. All the ornaments featured in the auction are donated by professional artists, with proceeds going to support the Cottonwood Cetner for the Arts throughout the upcoming year.

Own Your Own Art Sale & Holiday Exhibition All Month Long, The Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center, Pueblo, SDC-ARTS.ORG Give yourself some culture this month. The Sangre de Cristo Art Center is staging its annual “Own Your Own Art Sale & Holiday Exhibition” through December 29, and it’s the talk of the Pueblo art community. Featuring hundreds of items by wellknown local artists, the showcase includes paintings, jewelry, hand-woven creations, wooden sculptures, photography, and more—perfect gifts for the people on your list or for yourself. If you’re one to wait until the last minute to pick up presents, consider holding out until December 15, when the Super Saturday Sale slashes prices on all remaining items by 20 percent.

–SW HIGHER ED:

Happiness 101

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. sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 9

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 10 DECEMBER 2018 Southern Colorado

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

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12 DECEMBER 2018 Southern Colorado

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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-

14 DECEMBER 2018 Southern Colorado

“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 15

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

Porcellino

(ILPORCELLINODENVER.COM).

For a beverage, choose two Colorado wines that won the Colorado Governor’s Cup 2018: the 2016 Cabernet Franc from Denver’s Infinite Monkey Theorem (THEINFINITEMONKEYTHEOREM.COM) and a 2017 Riesling from Whitewater Hill Vineyards in Grand Junction (WHITEWATERHILL.COM).

For a sweet finale, go with handmade, perfectly crunchy peanut brittle from Patsy’s Candies in Colorado Springs (PATSYSCANDIES.COM)

or

intensely

rich

Helliemae’s Classic Espresso Caramels from Wheat Ridge (SALTCARAMELS.COM).

16 DECEMBER 2018 Southern Colorado

Cholaca, 32 oz. wholesale bottle, $19.99, CHOLACA.COM It’s great that Boulder-made Cholaca is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, sustainably sourced, and a nutrient-rich superfood.

However, the reason you’ll try it is that it is incredibly tasty cacao sweetened with coconut sugar in liquid form—a chocolate bar with no unwrapping. If you’ve enjoyed a chocolate porter or stout at a local brewery, chances are it was brewed with Cholaca, made from cocoa beans sourced from sustainable heirloom farms in Peru and Ecuador. Pick it up at retailers like Whole Foods and Lucky’s Market, and try it in your morning coffee, as hot sipping chocolate, in mole sauce for chicken, on waffles, and in shakes. I have also been known to do shots for a modest theobromine buzz in the morning.

Frasca Red Pepper Jelly, 6 oz. jar, $7.63, FRASCAFOODANDWINE.COM You know about Frasca Food and Wine, currently Colorado’s most nationally acclaimed eatery? The award-winning Italian restaurant focuses on impeccably sourced and prepared ingredients matched with stellar wines and service. However, nearly from its launch, Frasca has bottled a wonderfully simple red bell pepper jelly inspired by a recipe from chef/co-founder Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson’s grandmother. Spoon this sweet and sour elixir over a block of cream cheese, and you’ve got yourself a party dip. It makes a stellar alternative to cranberry sauce with leftover roast turkey, and it is yummy spread on leftover pizza crusts.

RedCamper Colorado Whiskey Peach Deliciousness, 9 oz. jar, $11.99, REDCAMPER.COM 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 House, lime juice, vanilla bean, and sugar. You could top yogurt with a dollop or use it as a hip cocktail ingredient, but I bet you’ll want to ingest this stuff directly from the container.

Farmhand Organics Pear (Not Apple) Sauce, 16 oz. jar, $4.99, FARMHANDORGANICS.COM It is unfortunate that a wonderful condiment, pear sauce, has been largely reduced to a bland side dish/fruit for toddlers. Silky sauces like this one from Farmhand Organics (formerly MM Local) made almost entirely from ripe pear varietals is straight-from-the-jar classy with latkes, pancakes, or as a sidekick for roast chicken or goose. Once you taste it, you’ll never opt for the apple equivalent again. This sauce solves the dilemma for pear lovers voiced long ago by poet Ralph Waldo 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 17

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THE WONDER OF

20 DECEMBER 2018 Southern Colorado

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 21

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.”

22 DECEMBER 2018 Southern Colorado

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 ri-

and special in its own way. We have come a long way, but we still have a long

vals are. They have ambitions for

way to go, and it can never

higher status. They compete.

come too quickly for Be-

Their lives follow the arc of

koff. “The bottom line,”

a career, like ours do.”

Thinking

about

he says, “is that if we’re an-

going to make change,

imals in that context

we need to recognize

provides a much bet-

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

26 DECEMBER 2018 Southern Colorado

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 27

28 DECEMBER 2018 Southern Colorado

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 29

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

30 DECEMBER 2018 Southern Colorado

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.

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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 31

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sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 33

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.

34 DECEMBER 2018 Southern Colorado

*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 35

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.

36 DECEMBER 2018 Southern Colorado

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.

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sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 37

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.”

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Whiteside, who started Industrial Hemp Recycling in 2011, says cannabis waste management has unusual issues that don’t apply to other agricultural product waste, such as whether or not there is THC in the waste material. “If you are creating any type of product that is for human or animal consumption from this waste, they don’t allow any THC,” he says. “So we have to put it into different industrial type of waste product categories.”

Doing cannabis waste management was not a big issue when Whiteside started, but it became more so when more states legalized both medical and recreational. “Then they started to see the effect of what critical mass means to the industry, and how much critical mass there is,” he says.

Industrial Hemp Recycling is the first and only company to register with the state of Colorado to do waste management and disposal, after a time of “jumping through a lot of hoops,” Whiteside says. After years of doing cannabis waste management work, Whiteside says that he has a good idea of what it would take on a municipal level for a whole county or a whole city to manage cannabis waste.

For example, in a place with a larger population, like New York, the cannabis waste stream could get out of control quickly, overloading trash cans and attracting transients who could create criminal activity issues.

“You really have to take a look at the safety and security 40 DECEMBER 2018 Southern Colorado

of where you dispose this stuff,” he says. “And you really have to dispose it responsibly because if you don’t, there are so many pitfalls.”

In Denver alone, there are 1,800 facilities dealing with large amounts of cannabis waste. “When there is a harvest, you are going to get 65 to 100 tons of waste a day,” he says. “You can fill up two box trucks and get over hundreds of thousands of pounds of waste, with each truck hitting 15 places a day. That multiplier puts you into a billion pounds a year for a city like Denver with a population of a million people.”

Industrial Hemp Recycling focuses its reclamation efforts on soil, renewable energy, and fuel. But in talking with others, he has found that people are interested in other uses for the reclaimed waste. In Los Angeles, they want textiles to provide blankets and socks for the homeless. People in Illinois want insulation materials for their barns. “It’s like Rumpelstiltskin,” he says. “You can turn it into any kind of gold that you want.”

He says he is working on licensing his process now, and constantly searching for new and different ways of handling cannabis waste management. “You have to have a bigger vision,” he says. “I got to eventually compete on a global level.”

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DAILY DOSE

Talking Cannabis and Filling in the Blanks “THE DAILY DOSE” LOOKS TO BE A VOICE FOR THE INDUSTRY.

When Paul Shideler “couldn’t buy a job” in finance,

The show Speers and Shideler created, The Daily

he “fell backward” into doing radio in 2008, with an

Dose Talk Radio Show, which today airs on 1040 AM,

hour-long morning talk show called Pros On Call, on

95.7 FM and 98.5 FM in Colorado Springs, began as

Cruisin’ Oldies (101.3 FM) in Colorado Springs, featur-

a one-hour live daily radio talk show but, after some

ing local professionals such as attorneys and others in

retooling, evolved to become a longer, live show on

a sort of infomercial program that is still running today.

Saturdays only from 8-10 a.m.

As the cannabis industry developed and his radio

Shideler says that he and Speers got involved with

show guests began talking about it, Shideler thought

local and state cannabis groups to make sure that they

about devoting more attention to cannabis to help

had solid facts about the industry, and checked and

educate the Colorado public. Then he met J. Speers,

vetted the information that they talk about. “That has

who was a guest on his radio show.

been the ticket for the show,” Shideler says. “We bring

He noticed that he and Speers had good on-air

information that people have never heard of—about

presence, and Speers presented the idea to Shideler

policies and the laws within the cannabis industry

that a talk show about cannabis would be in order.

both locally and worldwide. We talk about the health

Speers was one of the state’s cannabis pioneers. He

findings and research that is being done on cannabis.”

opened the second-ever medical marijuana dispen-

Shideler says that they do get listeners that chide

sary in Colorado Springs, after his work in the early

them for promoting cannabis as a gateway drug. “Hate

2000s as an advocate in the state legislature for med-

mail means that you are reaching people,” he says.

ical-marijuana rights for patients. “I support the indus-

“Those people are not listening and not understanding.”

try very intensely,” Speers, who still

They also get listeners who ask where

fights what he sees as the unfair

they can get cannabis. “That’s the craziest

regulatory structure for medical

thing we hear from call-in listeners.”

sales in the Springs, says. “I come

“The show is also a very powerful mar-

from deep roots. I’m not just a guy

keting tool,” Speers says. “It can evolve into

who likes radio.”

a multitude of things, like video produc-

When Shideler approached the

tion and online social media. So we don’t

station with the idea for a canna-

see it as having an expiration date. We see

bis talk show, managers were very

it as creating a voice for the industry.”

skittish about the concept. “I talked to the station owner about the show, and at first he didn’t like the idea,” Shideler says. “I told him that it wouldn’t be stoner talk, and he agreed to give me 30 days to see what he thought about it. After that he was OK with it.”

42 DECEMBER 2018 Southern Colorado

For more information, visit:

THEDAILYDOSERADIOSHOW.COM

sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 43

NEXT FRONTIER BIOSCIENCES

A Strong Brand is Just the Beginning NEXT FRONTIER FORMULATIONS AIMED AT BETTER-TASTING, FASTER-ACTING TINCTURES AND SUBLINGUALS.

Next Frontier Biosciences, a Denver-based cannabis biotech company, launched its Verra Wellness line of micromist tinctures and topical salves in December in Colorado, and will soon launch in California in partnership with BAS Research—California’s first licensed cannabis manufacturing company developing advanced science-driven cannabis oil and extraction services.

BAS offers its infused certification to select products that meet its criteria, adding a certification seal to the packaging to alert the consumer that it has passed the company’s rigorous testing.

In California, it’s even more complicated. “Because of the nature of California regulations, we are required to conduct compliance testing on the finished products, rather than the parent batches,” Marc Graboyes, president and CEO of NFB, says. “After BAS manufactures the finished products, they are then transferred to a distributor, who is required to submit them for testing before they can be released into commercial distribution.”

In his opinion, that doesn’t make sense. “Once the products are filled, there is no opportunity to remediate the parent batches if they fail potency testing,” he explains, “which means you have to scrap the entire batch if the potency is off by more than 10 percent.

I think that is a very inefficient, ill-advised regulatory framework because of the potential for significant waste, which doesn’t really do anything to promote consumer safety compared to testing at the parent-batch level.”

Graboyes says that NFB management can have common-sense discussions with regulators in Colorado on issues like this, but he is not sure that it’s possible to do that yet in California. “We recognize that they are looking out for public health and safety, but there are 44 DECEMBER 2018 Southern Colorado

a lot of unintended consequences with their regulatory scheme,” he says. “I think they will get it figured out.

The question is when.”

In the meantime, some of the current products being worked on are proprietary nano-emulsions, with the goal of developing fast-acting and great-tasting sprayable tinctures, sublingual strips, and tablets. “The current nano-emulsion products on the market don’t taste good,” Graboyes says. “Taste is extremely important for consumer trial, use, and adoption of any sublingual product. You can mask the taste in edibles better than you can in sublinguals and tinctures, which is why tinctures are currently an underperforming category.”

He says that NFB is working on a faster onset of action for the micromist tinctures. The company’s prototype nano-emulsions have an onset action of three to five minutes, while most other sublingual products have a usual onset time of around 20-30 minutes. “We are a group of real scientists conducting real science to develop the best-tasting and fastest-acting products on the market. We will look to commercialize those products in the next six to 12 months as we complete our formulation development.”

For more information, visit:

NEXTFRONTIERBIO.COM and VERRAWELLNESS.COM

sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 45

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 a member in the Sublinguals and Beverages category.

FOR A FULL LIST OF ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS, SEE THE MASTHEAD ON PAGE 7.

Beyond the standard defined medicinal uses of cannabis, more of today’s recreational users are also turning to the plant for its therapeutic benefits. The importance of accurate, measurable doses in liquid form is a key component of safe use on both the medical and recreational sides.

Many consumers, looking for a discrete alternative to smoking or vaping, prefer measured liquid doses.

Because it’s not inhaled, a liquid dosage can be tightly controlled and delivered in a method more traditionally associated with a pharmaceutical. It’s not as fast-acting as inhalation, but liquids are absorbed by the body faster than other forms of edibles, so the effects are typically felt in 30 to 45 minutes. Due to the time delay, consumers

LIQUID DOSES

by S K I P M E A D O R , C O - F O U N D E R O F M A R Q A H A

should start with a small dose of 1–10 mg of activated THC (the most common cannabinoid responsible for the euphoric effects).

Since all edibles companies are required by law to properly label, test, and dose their products, it is important for the consumer to read the instructions established

Cannabis offers the body many medicinal benefits, due

by the manufacturer. The precision of—and the ability to

to the complexity of its composition and how its com-

reliably repeat the effects based on the dosage—is one of

pounds work together. Cannabinoids (THC, CBD, CBN,

the many benefits of consuming cannabis in this form. If

CBC, and CBG, for example) interact with CB1 and CB2 re-

one is a regular user for medicinal or recreational purpos-

ceptors found throughout the body. Other elements, such

es, it is vital to be able to rely on proper dosing to properly

as flavonoids and a variety of terpenes like myrcene,

anticipate the effects throughout the period of usage.

limonene, and pinene, further the benefits of cannabis in ways we are just beginning to quantify and appreciate.

Gastrointestinal Absorption The body can absorb the components of cannabis in many ways. When it’s ingested as a beverage or liquid, it’s primarily absorbed through the stomach and small intestines, parts of the gastrointestinal tract, and ultimately the liver. Most of the digestion and absorption takes place in the small intestine, between the stomach and the large intestine. Consuming cannabis in edible form allows the body to interact with the plant in ways not afforded by smoking or vaporizing.

For patients looking to cannabis for its medicinal effects, ingesting it may be the preferred way to go. Consuming cannabis in edible form allows it to interact directly with internal organs, which may be preferable for people with Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, liver conditions, or certain other ailments. The effects of gastrointestinal absorption typically last longer than smoking or vaping, too. A person looking to cannabis to help with insomnia may enjoy a better, longer night’s sleep with edibles.

46 DECEMBER 2018 Southern Colorado

sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 47

SUBLINGUAL PRODUCTS

products. Tinctures can be measured with child-resis-

by T I M M C D O W E L L , C O - F O U N D E R O F MARQAHA

measured with a dose cup.

Sublingual and buccal applications of cannabis are convenient for most people and essential for those with certain medical conditions. Sublingual is Latin for “under the tongue,” while buccal refers to “in the cheek.”

Both offer quick absorption of cannabinoids into the bloodstream by diffusing through mucous membranes.

Sublingual products offer advantages over consumable edibles at times and are a great entry into cannabis medicine for first-time patients or those that prefer low doses of cannabinoids.

Tinctures, sprays and even non-carbonated liquids can be absorbed sublingually and through the buccal mucosal tissue. Compared to an edible, which is consumed and metabolized, sublingual onset is much quicker, more akin to smoking or vaporizing cannabis.

The effects of cannabis through sublingual application can usually be felt within 5-15 minutes, whereas cannabis edibles may take up to and over two hours for the full effects to be realized. This rapid onset allows for more precise dosing of cannabinoids.

Sublingual products are ideal for micro-dosing THC. Micro-dosing THC refers to fewer than 5 mg of THC at a time, where the patient will realize the full effects quickly due to the rapid onset. Both allow a patient to safely determine the proper dose of the specific cannabinoid desired. By quickly identifying the proper dose, a patient is able to develop a scheduled regimen of dosing and begin to properly interact with the cannabis product early on. Accurate test results of the cannabinoid profile for the product and clear instructions of use are essential to achieve accurate, consistent dosing.

48 DECEMBER 2018 Southern Colorado

Dosages can be closely controlled through sublingual tant droppers, preferably marked to show each .25 ml dose; sublingual sprays are formulated to achieve a measured microdose per spray; and liquids are accurately Another benefit of sublingual applications over consumed products is the effects felt by individual. Sublingual intake allows patients to gradually build up their dose and find their tolerance in a safer and more controllable schedule. Individuals have the potential to experience a much stronger effect when consuming cannabis edibles, hence the well-known phrase “Start Low, Go Slow.”

This increased effect is one reason why edibles have great medicinal qualities and provide relief from a wide range of symptoms. The stronger and longer lasting effects of edibles are due to metabolism in the liver. The liver transforms delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol into 11-hydroxy-delta-9-THC, which is more potent, crosses the blood-brain barrier more readily and is felt throughout the body for an extended period of time.

With accurate lab testing, proper packaging and labeling, sublingual products are a great solution for maintaining consistent, accurate dosing throughout the day and allowing patients an alternative to smoking or eating cannabis.

sensimag.com DECEMBER 2018 49

{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

50 DECEMBER 2018 Southern Colorado