Sensi Magazine - Southern Colorado (July 2019)

SOUTHERN COLORADO

THE NEW NORMAL

7.2019

IN LIVING COLOR NORTH FORK’S TIPI HAVEN

Just a hop, skip, and a Hipcamp away

SWEETEN THE POT

Digging into edibles

{plus} HIIGHTAIL IT TO JAMAICA

The mood-boosting power of houseplants

Trinidad's Friendliest Dispensary No Waiting Room Pet Friendly 33% Of Profits Go To Local Charities

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sensimag.com JULY 2019 3

4 JULY 2019 Southern Colorado

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6 JULY 2019 Southern Colorado

ISSUE 7 // VOLUME 3 // 7.2019

FEATURES SP EC IAL R EP OR T

32 Sexy Yogis and Time Travel A mosaic tapestry through one rip-roaring week in Jamaica.

40 The Year of the Edible

Experts expect infused food and drinks to rule the pot market in the 2020s.

IN LIVING COLOR You can always use more houseplants

32

WHAT A TRIP A colorful recap of Tmrw.Tday

16

every issue 9 Editor’s Note 11 The Buzz 16 LifeStyle

HOUSEPLANT HEAVEN

24 StarPowered

JULY HOROSCOPE

50 HereWeGo

GET GLOWING

Sensi magazine is published monthly by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2019 SENSI MEDIA GROUP LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

sensimag.com JULY 2019 7

sensi magazine

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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

You

EXECUTIVE FOLLOW US

LOVE

ISSUE 7 / VOLUME 3 / 7.2019

EDITORIAL Stephanie Wilson stephanie@sensimag.com EDITOR IN CHIEF

Leland Rucker leland.rucker@sensimag.com SENIOR EDITOR

John Lehndorff ediblecritic@sensimag.com DINING EDITOR

Robyn Griggs Lawrence, Dan McCarthy CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

(@# . COM)

REV: 52017

sensimagazine

Natural Plant Powered Products

A RT & D E S I G N Jamie Ezra Mark jamie@emagency.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Dispose

Rheya Tanner, Wendy Mak, Josh Clark em@sensimag.com sensimag

Responsibly.

Natha Campanella CONTRIBUTING WRITER

DESIGN & LAYOUT

BUSINESS & A D M I N I S T R AT I V E Kristan Toth kristan.toth@sensimag.com HEAD OF PEOPLE

Lacy Ayers lacy.ayers@sensimag.com Bo Olagbegi bo.olagbegi@sensimag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS

Amber Orvik amber.orvik@sensimag.com CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR

Andre Velez andre.velez@sensimag.com MARKETING DIRECTOR

Neil Willis neil.willis@sensimag.com PRODUCTION MANAGER

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

Colorado's 1st Hemp & Cannabis Fibrous Waste Management Company Licensed & Operating Since 2011 info@ihrecycling.com • (720) 432-1562 • www.ihrecycling.com 8 JULY 2019 Southern Colorado

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

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IT HOT Myself included.

editor’s

NOTE

In the most obvious sense, the

theme of this issue is what’s hot. Because during the height of Colorado summers, it’s hot. If you’re like me, you’ll want to maximize the time you get to feel it. Don’t forget to drink plenty of

The Daily Dose Radio Show // RADIO SHOW

water and get some sunlight. After all, you’re basically a house-

Faragosi Farms //

plant with more complicated emotions.

Greenhouse Payment Solutions //

your mood and purifying your environment. Our senior editor

RECREATIONAL DISPENSARY PAYMENT PROCESSING

Herbal Healing // COMPLIANCE

Houseplants have an impact on your emotions, elevating Leland points out a host of additional benefits of letting the outdoors into your home in the piece that digs into the reasons

Incredibles // WELLNESS

behind the surge in #plantlady lifestyles fueled by millennials.

Industrial Hemp Recycling //

Again, myself included. I just counted 38 plants growing in

MMJ & HEMP WASTE MANAGEMENT

my 800-square-foot apartment. I’d get more, but I’m out of

Lux Leaf // EDUCATION

surface space.

marQaha // SUBLINGUALS AND BEVERAGES Monte Fiore Farms //

RECREATIONAL CULTIVATION

Next Frontier Biosciences // BIOSCIENCES NuVue // LIVE RESIN The PAT Pen // CO2 VAPE PEN Pyramid // DISTILLATES Sharp Solutions // TRANSPORTATION Third Day Apothecary // MEDICAL CULTIVATION

This issue also includes a feature by Sensi Boston’s managing editor, Dan McCarthy, who we sent down to Jamaica for the Tmrw.Tday Culture Festival this spring. He brings back some stories worth sharing, exploring the deep-rooted connection between cannabis, music, and life on the island. It’s meant to spark a bit of travel inspiration.

This summer, get out there and explore all the state has to offer. There’s not enough space in this issue to go into all of the incredible things happening around the state this month, but you can find more in-depth coverage online at SENSIMAG.COM .

The site also includes articles and updates from all eight Sensi markets across the country, including Southern California, Emerald Triangle, Vegas, and Boston—with more on the way. That’s hotter than anything, in my book, but I’m biased. Go take a look and judge for yourself. Love to hear what you think.

In the meantime, get out there and enjoy the season for all it’s worth. Fall will be here before we know it.

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

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A Country Founded on Rebellion Against an Oppressive King This 4th of July, try not to burn anything down while playing with recreational explosives. Do, however, feel

Either, or: no matter. Freedom can now be heard reverberating a little louder from coast to coast.

free to “burn one” (read: smoke a joint) while playing

In 12 states, recreational cannabis became legal

with recreational cannabis. It’s your right—not your

with the stroke of a governor’s pen turning bill into

American right, mind you, but your right as an adult in

law—each signature an act of protest. A dozen rebel-

Colorado, where freedom rings loud.

lions against oppression in a country founded on re-

For some, it sounds like a siren call for progress. For

bellion against oppression. How ironic that progres-

others, a call to arms signaling Americans to start fight-

sive politics are what’s making America great again.

ing back against the War on Drugs the federal govern-

Ponder that while you watch fire bombs bursting in

ment has been waging on its own citizens for decades.

air this month.

–Stephanie Wilson sensimag.com JULY 2019 11

Gators

in the Clouds

Looking for something really different to do this

month? How about visiting a place where alligators thrive at 7,500 feet and getting your picture taken with one?

The Colorado Gators Reptile Park is the spot for that. Just 20 miles west of the Great Sand Dunes, the park sits on a thermal vent in the San Luis Valley that keeps the area and water warm, even during the cold, snowy winters.

The owners began as tilapia fish farmers, and the gators were brought in to eat the leftovers and garbage. Today, besides the tilapia farm, it’s a sanctuary and home to, besides the gators, unwanted exotic pets—crocs, cayman, emus, ostriches, rheas, pythons, anacondas, monitor lizards, geckos, iguanas, and tortoises of all sizes. Morris, an American alligator that has appeared in many television series and films—a sign in front says he once trashed a Cheers set—has his own pen. Kids can feed the gators, the tortoises, and fish, see how the tilapia farm works, and get that gator selfie. Check the website for information on alligator-wrestling and reptile-handling classes.

And don’t forget to spend some time in the Great Sand Dunes National Park or at the nearby UFO Watchtower on your way in or out.

–Leland Rucker

Colorado Gators Reptile Park // 9162 W CO Rd 9 N., Mosca, CO // COLORADOGATORS.COM .

Still Doing Nothing “Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.”—Sam Keen, author, professor, philosopher

There is nothing wrong with laying in the sun by the pool doing a whole lot of nothing. Maybe flipping through a magazine or engrossed in a book on a topic that’s as light and breezy as the day around you, or as deep as the water in Grand Lake—Colorado’s deepest body of water, fun fact.

Dermatologists surely disagree with me, to which I respond: life is short and it’s better with a tan. “Even shorter if you get skin cancer,” one might retort. So here’s the disclaimer: slather on some SPF 30 or higher and reapply regularly. If we lived by the ocean, we’d talk about some reef-friendly options you should try, but we’re more than a thousand miles from the any ocean where a coral reef could suffer from our sunscreen choice. So let’s get back to doing nothing.

It’s important to do a little bit of nothing sometimes, and there’s science to back up that claim. A review of research 12 JULY 2019 Southern Colorado

recently published by the Journal of American Medical Association concluded that a mindfulness meditation programs could help reduce anxiety, depression, and pain. And what is meditation really but sitting still and doing what looks like nothing at all? If anyone tries to give you flack for sunbathing this summer, just tell them you’re doing it for your mental health.

–SW

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To the Moon and Back

This month marks the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing. Neil Armstrong landed on July 20, 1969 at 20:17 UTC, which translates to 2:17 p.m. in the Centennial State. Set an alarm, and look up at the sky when it goes off. The moon won’t be visible (it sets at 9:14 a.m. in Colorado that day), but you know it’s out there. Orbiting, unexplored, as it shall remain until mankind makes a second giant leap.

In the meantime, the 50th anniversary of the first giant leap is the subject of a special-edition coffee table book by Taschen. Priced at $50, it makes a great gift.

–SW 14 JULY 2019 Southern Colorado

Listen to the Classics

While you lay by the pool looking like a celebrity, listen

to a classic novel read by a celebrity. Dive into one of these, available on Audible, where the first book is free for new subscribers. You’ll get one download a month for $14.95 if you don’t cancel before the 30-day trial is up.

–SW

Go Set a Watchman, written by Harper Lee, performed by Reese Witherspoon

The Things They Carried, written by Tim O’Brien, performed by Bryan Cranston

Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, performed by Jake Gyllenhaal

The Handmaid’s Tale, written by Margaret Atwood, performed by Claire Danes

Breakfast at Tiffany’s, written by Truman Capote, performed by Michael C. Hall

Breakfast of Champions, written by Kurt Vonnegut, performed by John Malkovich

sensimag.com JULY 2019 15

{lifestyle }

by L E L A N D R U C K E R

HOUSEPL ANT HEAVEN Houseplants are perennial favorites for apartment and condo dwellers.

In Daniel Suarez’s futuristic, soon-to-be-a-movie novel

than 11,000 plants in its offices and proudly claims that

Change Agent, set in 2045, all agriculture has been moved

anybody who works there is within sight lines of vegeta-

from outdoor fields into controlled environments in down-

tion, which improves productivity and well-being. College

town high-rises alongside where people live and work. That

students are among the biggest fans of houseplants, and

might still be science fiction, but it’s not that far off. After all,

though it might be considered a millennial trend, there’s

Denver voters two years ago approved requiring all new

no age limit on the ability to enjoy plants, and plenty of

large buildings to devote a portion of the roof to gardens.

reasons why you should think about having them.

Before all that happens, there are houseplants. As more

Maybe you’ve been hankering to snip off your own

people choose to live in those new, tall apartment build-

herbs for omelets, or you just want to break up the mo-

ings all over Denver, many are finding that adding house-

notony of rooms full of electronics and appliances. Like

plants is a great way to change up the living space. In this

companion animals, plants give us something to come

increasingly digital world of laptops, mobile phones, and

home to, something to look forward to, and a sense of ac-

Twitter, the busy millennials, college students, and nature

complishment as you nurture and watch a plant go

lovers are finding comfort in plants. “Millennials are huge

through the cycles of life.

on houseplants,” says Jennifer Williamson, green plant ex-

And the perfect plant is available for everyone from am-

pert at Sturtz & Copeland Florist and Greenhouse in Boul-

ateurs to those blessed with green thumbs. You can grow

der. “It’s kind of surprising. But they can brighten up a

jalapeños from seeds for your breakfast burritos or order a

home, or give your space that something extra.”

fiddle leaf fig online that’s already three feet tall and have it

Businesses today tout proximity to plants to lure employees. Etsy, a company in Brooklyn, NY, includes more 16 JULY 2019 Southern Colorado

delivered in a couple days. Relatively speaking, they’re a cheap hobby and not particularly time-consuming.

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There’s no age limit on the ability to enjoy plants, and plenty of reasons to have them.

Grow Some Green In Colorado, we spend more time outdoors than indoors.

There are at least a few reasons to bring a little of that goodness inside with you.

1. They give you a sense of accomplishment without having to do much. Being successful with plants means watching it and watering it occasionally, which can help you create a healthy routine. Watching the progress of a plant, as any home grower knows, is satisfying in itself. They’re safe, and they can’t bark or talk back.

2. They make you and your home smell better. The olfactory senses are our most powerful, and, let’s face it,

3. They help purify the air around you. I have always been skeptical of this claim, but there is validity to it. Plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, which is good, but opinions vary widely on how many plants you need to accomplish this feat in your home. NASA, which grows plants in the space station, recommends one plant per 100 square feet of space. Bayer, the pharmaceutical company, suggests at least 15 plants for every 1,800 square feet. You’ll have to make your own decision.

4. They might boost your immune system. A 2009 study on the US National Library of Medicine website suggests that even ornamental plants helped better pa-

there are plenty of household odors that linger and lurk

tient outcomes in hospital settings. Another one by the

in rooms and corners. Plants just smell good, earthy,

Agricultural University of Norway indicated that adding

and fresh, and they permeate the areas where they re-

plants indoors can reduce your chance of developing a

side. Which would you rather smell: the remnants of

cold, sore throat, or dry cough. I’m going to stick with

last night’s overcooked dinner or a forest of plants?

the flu shot for that, but who’s to say?

18 JULY 2019 Southern Colorado

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S T O H RO B GUMMIE

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5. They can make you smarter. This notion comes mostly from a 2011 Scientific American article that suggests having plants can boost your attention span and make you more productive. Looking at computer screens, which is what most of us do all day, can drive you batty after awhile. The study’s authors admit the findings are too inconsistent to draw conclusions, but, really, is it possible that plants could make you dumber?

Pick a Plant, Any Plant When it comes to selection, it’s really up to you. There’s something for everybody. If you’re interested in better air, Williamson suggests two plants that she says “work harder than others to purify.” One is the peace lily (or spathiphyllum), a low-maintenance plant with beautiful white flowers. The other is the snake plant, or sansevieria trifasciata, sometimes known as mother-in-law’s tongue or viper’s bowstring hemp, which she says “thrives on neglect.” It also smells lusciously fragrant. sensimag.com JULY 2019 19

Speaking of succulents, that’s a whole category of plants that store water in their stems or leaves and includes most cacti, aloe vera, jade, zebra, and panda plants. Succulents are especially popular in Colorado since they hoard water and need little maintenance, and there are thousands of species to choose from.

Your imagination is the only limit.

Perhaps the epitome of the craze these days is air plants. These are plants that don’t need anything, even soil. If you’re a person with a “black thumb,” this is your chance to prove yourself wrong. All you have to do is let them let them sit in water for a couple of hours or spray them with mist every now and then.

They come in all colors, shapes and sizes, and there are all kinds of plastic and glass containers or vases to hold them. Your imagination is the only limit.

Before you buy more plants than will fit on your outdoor patio, consider a couple of things: First, you don’t have to be a fanatic to have fun with plants, or create a jungle in your apartment for effect. Second, do some research. Don’t buy a cactus if you’re planning a rain forest. And third, make sure they are placed correctly. Each plant has its own specific needs.

So what are you waiting for? Air plants start at about a dollar, and most plants are reasonably priced. “Plants can lighten up rooms,” says Williamson.

“And bring back the comfort of home.”

20 JULY 2019 Southern Colorado

House(plant) Hunters A few local places to begin your search.

Start on the Web

The first place to bookmark for gardening information in the Southern Rockies is Pikes Peak Urban Gardens (PPUGARDENS.COM ), which contains a plethora of material about the intricacies of gardening in the Rocky Mountains. Another more nationwide resource is the American Community Gardening Association (COMMUNITYGARDEN.ORG ).

Rick’s Garden Center

Colorado Springs // 1827 West Uintah St. // RICKSGARDEN.COM

Rick’s prides itself on having a sizable, ever-changing stock of trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, fruits, and veggies, with a staff that goes out of its way to make sure you get the right plant for your space. It also carries a large supply of containers, soils, and nutrients—everything you need to maintain your plants.

Good Earth Garden Center

Colorado Springs // 1330 N Walnut St. // (719) 473-3399

Good Earth is known for its more than 200 types of tomato plants, so put this on your calendar for next spring. Meanwhile, visit this pleasant location with an ever-changing supply of hanging plants, annuals and perennials, and garden art for the most picky of planters.

Way to Grow

Colorado Springs // 4940 Northpark Dr. // (719) 602-3000 // WAYTOGROW.NET

This popular center, which has seven outlets along the Front Range, offers organic and hydroponic gardeners the equipment they need to build local agriculture, including a large supply of lighting, nutrients, irrigation, and accessories. It also supports nonprofit companies that give local food to local people.

Fox’s Lawn and Garden Supplies

Pueblo 329 S Santa Fe Ave. (719) 542-1872 FOXSGARDENSUPPLY.COM

Dating back to 1952, this venerable family-owned store boasts “if it goes in a garden, we have it in abundance.” It doesn’t disappoint, with a knowledgeable staff at hand to solve any horticultural conundrum you can come up with.

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{starpowered }

by N AT H A C A M PA N E L L A

JULY

HOROSCOPES CANCER

June 22–July 22

Your love life takes center stage this month, but it’s not about romance— it’s all about you. What do you love? What do you love to do? When you blow out your birthday candles, what are you wishing for? This is your month, Cancer. Grant your own wishes, even if on a small scale. If you dream of traveling the world but can’t afford to go anywhere but the office, head to the library and get lost in a book. Indulge yourself, focus on you, let your life sparkle.

LEO

July 23–Aug 22

You thrive on being praised for your amazingness; feeling invisible is rough. This month, the spotlight isn’t on you, but the choice is yours: you can sulk or you can handle it. I suggest you handle it. You don’t need constant outside validation; you are vibrant and amazing even when there’s not someone telling you so. Find ways to inspire yourself—even if that means a career change.

24 JULY 2019 Southern Colorado

VIRGO

Aug 23–Sept 22

Take off your rose-colored glasses and assess the health of your love life. You may be tempted to distract yourself with other people’s problems. Try to keep the focus on you: how do you feel about loving, about being loved?

Now is a good time to ask, because this month, you’re feeling the love. People are naturally drawn to you. But by what, exactly? Now is a good time to figure it out. Being self-aware of your assets and attributes gives you insight that benefits all your relationships.

There’s a system to the process, and Virgos love a good system. Have fun with it.

LIBRA

Sept 23–Oct 22

You’ll be challenged to discount the feelings of others this month, especially when it comes to your career. If you disagree with someone at work, don’t just acquiesce to keep the peace. Talk it through. Practice authen-

tic communication, and your relationships will benefit.

Changes are imminent, and the more you can foster a dialogue with your partner, the more exciting those changes will feel.

SCORPIO

Oct 23–Nov 21

Focus on your health this month. Kickstart healthy habits, and kick bad habits

to the curb. You’ll have support in this area, especially if you’re willing to make adjustments. This also goes for financial health. If you’d like to make more money (or simply spend less), get educated on how to make that happen. You are not powerless against your circumstance, and you don’t need to go into debt to make positive changes. Listen to podcasts, read articles from trusted sources, seek advice from people who’ve achieved success. Elevate yourself.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov 22–Dec 21

Cancer, your love life takes center stage this month, but it’s not about romance—it’s all about you.

You don’t have to struggle for control of the room very often. You’re naturally adept at getting people to follow and believe in the things you do most of the time. Not this month—and that’s good for you. Bringing negative patterns to your attention gives you a chance to shift them.

Seeing your defense mechanisms for what they are will help you build better relationships all around, especially in your family and love life.

CAPRICORN

Dec 22–Jan 19

This month is a good time to focus on emotions. Yes, you need respect, and you put great importance on the concept of success. But not

Aquarius, you’re primed to wake up from the proverbial slumber of unconsciousness.

Open your eyes and see what needs to change before you’re bored to death.

everyone can subsist on rigidity and obligations; your partners need to be comforted more—and so do you.

This month, you’ll be wellequipped to learn how to build your emotional intelligence.

Seek out ways to view people through a more thoughtful lens, and acknowledge that tender emotions do exist.

AQUARIUS

Jan 20–Feb 18

This is a month of necessary liberation—at home, at work, and deep within. You’re primed to wake up from the proverbial slumber of unconsciousness. Open your eyes and see what needs to change before you’re bored to death. Just don’t act like you alone can shake things up. Reach out, engage in

conversations, commit to being understood and to being understanding of other viewpoints. Your sense of individuality is coming back, stronger and clearer than ever before.

PISCES

Feb 19–Mar 20

Multi-layered Pisces, you need a reality check this month. Dive into work, focus on cleaning up your desk and completing mundane tasks that need to get done. Monotony will keep you grounded, and creative outlets will help you stay connected to yourself.

ARIES

Mar 21–Apr 19

This month, you’ll be navigating career ups and downs.

Adjustments are in order at work, and this is a great time to implement changes both large and small. Or to seek out something new entirely.

You’ll need your emotional stamina to help you decide the best course of action.

Spend quality time with people you love to help maintain a sense of equilibrium.

TAURUS

Apr 20–May 20

You’ll be lucky in your relationships this month. Take advantage and hone your communication skills. Learn new ways to talk about your feelings. Make it your mission to explore new things, gathering wisdom and gaining fresh perspective. This is a powerful time for you, so take advantage of it by

broadening your mind every chance you get.

GEMINI

May 21–June 21

This is a good month to focus on your financial health and future. Build your savings.

Don’t let yourself get distracted by your natural impulse to seek out excitement.

Save those dollars. Apply the same discipline to your physical health as well. Building wealth is more than an accumulation of money; it’s about protecting your future.

Some say astrology is a science, some say it’s an art. NATHA CAMPANELLA

( @NATHA_CAMPANELLA_ASTROLOGY on Insta) calls it both. Natha is a professional astrologer specializing in evolutionary astrology. When she’s not working, you can find her writing for online publications and conducting interviews on her podcast Star Narratives.

NATHACAMPANELLA.COM

sensimag.com JULY 2019 25

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sensimag.com JULY 2019 27

SPEC IAL REPORT

SEXY YOGIS, TIME TRAVEL +CANNABIS FARMS A mosaic tapestry through one rip-roaring week in Jamaica for the multicultural Tmrw.Tday festival.

by DA N Mc C A R T H Y

28 JULY 2019 Southern Colorado

It’s an unusually cold Boston morning. DEADLINE LOOMS, AND THE USUAL WRITERLY PROCESS OF MINE HAS BEGUN. IT INVOLVES A LOT OF MANIC, CALVES-ON-FIRE PACING, DISTANT GAZES FOR AWKWARD PERIODS OF TIME, MADE EVEN MORE AWKWARD BY MY DOING SO IN THE MORNING UNIFORM OF THE HOME OFFICE WORKER (SWEATPANTS HANGING OFF BACKSIDE, NO SHIRT, STOMACH OUT) WHILE STANDING IN FULL VIEW OF THE TRIANGULAR CITY PARK ACROSS FROM MY HOUSE. MY APOLOGIES TO THE PARENTS ON PLAYDATES. IT WAS EARLY. Sporadic thoughts give way to immersive recall, a

of Amazonian mushroom-dosed chocolates through the

must for the task at hand. Because in spite of a mish-

night courtesy of my hospitable hosts? Was I in front of my

mash of G-Doc notes and wildly unorganized voice re-

hotel when I was alone on a beach chair under a single over-

cordings on my phone, many of which apparently were

head safety light at 3 a.m. at the end of the night? Yes, that

conducted in the hour of the wolf, making chronological

I remember. And, being awash in bliss while listening to

or even structural sense of what happened is a bit of a

bootleg Miles Davis recordings and, thanks to the handling

blur. Call it island time. Or call it the Fog of Gnar.

by the couple with deep knowledge of psychedelic and can-

Or just call it a week in Jamaica for a cannonball

nabis science inre: dosing and effect, was in no threat of the

right smack into the heart of the Tmrw.Tday Festival

stuff turning on me until my 8th grade Algebra teacher can

(TMRWTDAY.COM ). As a multi-focus, multicultural well-

visibly be observed riding trumpet-wielding sand serpents

ness, music, art, and dance hootenanny, one can imag-

from under my lounger and right up my shorts. That can be

ine the difficulty in distilling the experience, especial-

a risk sometimes. But no, it was just a nice ride.

ly when it happens to be the first sojourn down to Irie country in 20 years for your humble servant here. But with enough mental jujitsu, I’m able to untangle the tapestry of the week, presented here in a journalistic mosaic; a sort of impressionistic take on a traditional dispatch from paradise. It’s starting to come into focus...

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TMRW.TDAY FESTIVAL. PURPLE GLASSES PHOTO BY DAN McCARTHY

Where I Gwan Here, Exactly?

Speaking of Rides Meeting Peter Oppermann for the first time, a catalogue-model-handsome life coach and meditation teacher leading a multiday series of guided audio inner-space meditations and lectures, you first catch the loose-jawed Berlin accent you’d expect, if not want, from someone promising to take your consciousness from a state of 3D to 5D.

Geographical backdrops are the first images dissolving

His lecture and involvement in the week’s agenda, as most

into frame. Montego Bay, Orange Hill, and greater West-

aspects of the range of yoga classes, mindfulness workouts,

moreland. And there was at least one minor panic attack

lectures, and personal manifestos (there were more than a

after being handed the keys to a new comrade’s rental car

few...but that was the energy there) came from Tmrw.Tday

at sundown; a cheery experiment in left-side road driv-

retreat founder Andrew Christoforou and his wife Stacy Irie

ing to find the area’s lone ATM still dispensing money

Soul. The couple attended LA-based Oppermann’s five day

in order to avoid a humid 40 minute walk along Norman

workshop in Oaxaca, Mexico on NYE2018. Following that,

Manley Boulevard—the main drag flanking the heavenly

they took his online incubator, which, Christoforou said,

(if tourist-plagued) Seven Mile Beach just north of down-

transformed the couple in a deep way. So much so that this

town Negril. That one’s hard to forget.

very festival itself is the end result of Christoforou and com-

Putting it all together requires more digging in the men-

pany applying Oppermann’s cosmic tutelage.

tal dust pile: Where was I heaving myself off of a perilous

“It was life changing,” Christoforou told the packed sec-

spring water cave naturally carved into the earth, with the

ond floor of the glimmering expansion and reconstruction

turquoise water and the specter of death at every leap?

of the Woodstock Beach bar and resort, where the festival

Where was that house in the cliffs I joined a small, crew

kept its home base for the week. A few more words, and

of colorful strangers led by a husband-and-wife team of

Oppermann took the wheel.

plant-medicine scientists for guided psychedelic social

“It’s a true honor for me, since I teach about living the life

hours? And where was the private rental they had for the

of one’s future self. I feel spending time here in this mo-

week, where I tagged along to after the magic mushroom

ment with all you beautiful beings is the manifestation of

ceremony, snacking on conch fritters and Red Stripe Lite (I

this idea of living the life of your future self,” Oppermann

try to watch calories during any controlled research-based

crooned into the microphone. And it was about there I

psychedelic journey) eventually having a good 3–4 grams

turned off the recorder, stretched out on my mat, and realsensimag.com JULY 2019 29

30 JULY 2019 Southern Colorado

PHOTO (TOP) COURTESY OF TMRW.TDAY FESTIVAL AND (BOTTOM) BY DAN McCARTHY

ized any traditional reportorial work for this one was going

a strange grin mashed across my mug. Then I saw a stray

to be futile. Just go with the flow.

puppy on the beach, a floofy German shepherd mutt al-

That flow involved Bluetooth headphones serenaded

ways in eyeshot of its momma. I played with it while no-

by Oppermann’s dulcet Germanic tones, instructing the

ticing a catamaran of fully naked middle-aged people ca-

room to follow him along on a journey to the other side of

reen by as tourists laughed and hid the eyes of the young.

reality (in your mind): “You are traveling through dimen-

Hard to knock any of this so far, even if my cold, dead

sions now. … Deep in the universe. … Past space and time.

Northeasterner heart of sarcastic and cynical darkness

… There is a yellow liquid waterfall of light to let in your

errs that way by default. Puppies, nudist hedonism, and

mind. … Expand your DNA…”

time travel, people. Get up with it.

I sat up when it was over, blinked a few times, and had

Oh, and weed. Of course. I had already procured a healthy stockpile of Tangie flower, some other strain via three stalks of cured outdoor cannabis from a local farm wrapped in tinfoil, and a small stack of ganja cookies—one batch sourced from a local with a movie-villain scar running down his right eye, which was dead and glared at me when I refused a larger order. He couldn’t understand why I was good with five 100 milligram cookies for the day.

Did the cookies melt into one globulous mass in my backpack as I humped around the beach all day in the sun? Yes. Did I often chomp chunks out of it like a sugary softball smeared in dark chocolate visible through the cheap cellophane encasement? You bet your chakras I did. But that was just the start of a week spent dancing the day away through fields of guerilla ganja grows, at one point being instructed to bite the head-lettuce of a five-foot stalk of flower at the behest of my local Rassensimag.com JULY 2019 31

32 JULY 2019 Southern Colorado

duo charming the room, closed by an early morning DJled dancefest with enough sweaty sexy yogis and other acrobatic searchers to make any rotund writer reconsider his choice of a Rocket Pop-print cabana shirt (roughly a size too small, thanks winter) as the night’s swagfest.

No matter. I spent the evening in the company of steam, and later with Marcus “Bubbleman” Richardson (BUBBLEMANBRAND.COM), an OG name in the global hemp game from Canada. For those who know him, he needs no introduction. For those who don’t, consider: Bubble Hash.

Have you had it? Good. His is better. And that makes sense, considering he pioneered the art of it, invented his own bags for production (which is how the stuff first came to the island over 20 years ago, according to Richardson). As an industry expert and social media sensation, his general name-recognition ranks in the cannabis cultural cannon alongside names like Frenchy Cannoli and Steve DeAngelo, depending on who you’re talking cannabis cultural cannon with. In other words: Best. Bubble Hash. Ever. A few blasts ta guide: “Git’cha nootreents ’ere, mon. Awl natch’rail.

Health. Life. Jah, Raaaastafari.” (Ed note: It tasted like cit-

and I could bite a tiger.

The collective steam-meet with Bubbleman gave way to a

rus, earth, and sharp peppercorn salad)

weeklong orbit around each other. At times, it was just meet-

Steam Team

art bazaar on the ground floor below the open-air classroom

Kevin

Campbell,

owner

of

Steam

ing up at Woodstock for lectures or scouring the clothing and Team

JA

(STEAMTEAMJA.COM ), embodies the archetype of a youthful and driven Rasta carving a life and sustainable career

area upstairs. Other times, I was hopping in Bubbleman’s rental to follow Campbell down backcountry roads and Orange Hill’s government-maintained roadways. Not for the

for himself on his native soil in the days of legal green.

Tall and broad, his dense beard and dark eyes frame a face outlined in a lion’s mane of long dreadlocks. And he’s always at the ready to provide hearty blasts of steam via the coconut-and-bamboo clay bowl steam chalices he makes and sells and has by his side at all times. (Call it the original vaporizer.) Torched coconut shell charcoals sit atop a handmade clay bowl, with whole raw flower placed below the small, quarter-sized clay separator. Water from the base is heated as the coals are torched, and the activated flower in the bowl steams off all the cannabinoids drawn through the bamboo mouthpiece for a super mellow, terpene-rich blast of the local crop. The charcoal burns clean and natural and is hot enough to throw a fresh dab on to really spice up your session.

PHOTOS BY DAN McCARTHY

My first steam with Campbell was the night Christoforou and his team led a platoon of festival partiers to local hotspot Pushart. A hot-people ensemble to be sure, the evening was heavy with Canadians while peppered with people from all over the US, South America, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Australia. What started as a raucous getting-to-know you evening over Rasta Pasta and quality hash joints eventually gave way to a live acoustic sensimag.com JULY 2019 33

34 JULY 2019 Southern Colorado

faint of heart. (Thankfully, I’m from Boston, and maniacal

illegal in Jamaica until 2015 (yes, really), legalization has

driving and horrid roadways are par for life’s course in these

opened the floodgates for the green gold rush on the island.

parts.) At times, we were just putting along rural dirt roads

With the threat of outside entities moving in and taking

and sharp turns; others, we were careening at high speeds,

over the emerging legal cannabis market from native farmers,

narrowly missing car-destroying potholes large enough to

the time to be politically cognizant of the changing laws and

swallow a SmartCar whole hog, squinting in disbelief as the

regulations of Jamaica’s cannabis industry has never been

locals sit and stand at the road’s edge being peppered with

more prescient. For Waba, he’s applied to legally sell his crops,

old asphalt and yelling at livestock scurrying into the road,

but the local governing board has yet to approve it, so it’s a hur-

apparently unworried about their own mortality as we flash

ry-up-and-wait game. Even if they do get the nod, the cost of

by in a cloud of dust and likely damage to the car’s structural

getting licensed to grow and transport product is more than

integrity. This is the island. This is Jamaica.

the average annual salary of a Jamaican. High cost of entry,

That one afternoon of rally-car driving brought us to Waba

the maw of bureaucratic red tape, and big money muscling

Clayton’s Farm, where natural-wonder swimming attrac-

in on seasoned farmers in the weed world: sound familiar?

tion The Blue Hole sits at the base of Waba’s hilltop Xanadu,

Should the governing board simply reject Waba’s application

built in the 1940s, with a finished rooftop lined with pots of

flat-out, all that fire flower and the smiling crew at the farm

cannabis plants overlooking the crystalline ocean glisten-

will be either back on the black market, or simply pushed out.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TMRW.TDAY FESTIVAL

ing in the distance.

“I would have to stop, because I’m a business person, you

Its energy is one of a refuge and haven of authentic Rasta

know?” Waba told VICE. “I’d have to go do something else.

life, communal living, and general survival at the hands of

But what about the other person who can’t [do something

random tourists there for an Instagram-perfect attraction.

else]? Ganja is not just a drug. It’s a spiritual thing that’s sent

Or, a walkthrough and sampling of the outdoor cannabis of

here to help poorer-class people. Without ganja, I don’t know

shocking quality, enough to cause any weed snob to recon-

what this community would be.”

sider their side of the indoor-vs-outdoor argument.

A couple days later, the Steam Team led us to a second

Speaking to VICE News (which filmed a segment at Waba’s

farm in Jamaica’s Westmoreland Parish—larger, more ex-

farm recently), Waba laid out the perilous nature of being a

pansive, and harder to get to. That day required a hearty hike

celebrated local farmer with the kind of growing skills built

deep into the island fauna, past secluded pig farms manned

over a lifetime of labor in the dawn of national (and inter-

by a father and his sons trying to stay under governmental

national) cannabis legalization. Considering weed was still

radar while continuing to let ganja provide for their family.

sensimag.com JULY 2019 35

36 JULY 2019 Southern Colorado

PHOTO COURTESY OF TMRW.TDAY FESTIVAL

“If you like this, there’s five other fields in the distance, all bigger than this one,” Campbell told me. His optics regularly involve wearing a Bluetooth earpiece and keeping a bass-thumping outdoor speaker blasting local music hanging from his backpack, all while never being without his traditional coconut steam chalice. He serves as a ripe representation of local Jamaicans adapting and maintaining ancient traditions passed down from the elders while also keeping a foot in the present day by turning the blossoming tourist green scene into a viable business. “Fresh koosh in

da boosh,” he says passing me the pipe. “Smell dis hookah it keep ya hydrated mon, steam it mon, life steam.”

About those chalices: I wound up buying three of them and had them shipped to me in Boston. The parcel arrived from the Jamaican post office, much to the confusion of my girlfriend who peered in as I unboxed a bunch of small empty coconuts, some bamboo rods, and a bag of charcoal tightly wrapped in brown packing paper. Let me know if you’d like to try it. Bring a torch. Mine’s dead.

Rooms and Board If you ever find your way to Negril, Jamaica, here’s a free tip: Hang out at Seven Mile Beach, but stay in the cliffs. Both areas have their pros; neither, that I could tell, really have their cons—save for the fact the 15-minute shore walk between Tmrw.Tday HQ at Woodstock and my resort at the Coco Le Palm was half spent turning down everything from candy to petrified wooden penis carvings to local psychedelics (“Don’t eat the black mushrooms,” everyone told me), to jewelry, joints, flower, and other inroads to mysterious sources of fun. Everyone had a line, and everyone was a salesperson. That’s the game. Just gotta play it.

But then came Tensing Pen (TENSINGPEN.COM ), an otherworldly privately owned resort of grass-roofed bungalows and rock-cliff-connecting foot bridges stretched between points on the cliffs impossible not to leap off of into the Caribbean Sea below. Once settled in the area, you start to understand why a woman I met on an afternoon of meandering along the West End said those who know know to hit the cliffs versus the beach. I ran into her after the rains started and I popped into a spot called Xtabi for refreshment and new set of views. Earlier in the week, I had bummed a pack of Cheyenne Silver cigarettes off her at the festival where she was working the

and the sheer bacchanal of daily life that it was. And it still is, if you know where to find it.

I wasn’t there to find it (that day). No, I was too busy enjoying the cove views from my chalet at Tensing Pen, which overlooked a portion of limestone cliffs where a set of stairs had been carved into the ancient stone, likely by someone during the island’s colonization by the British and the Spanish in the 17th or 18th century.

“Nobody knows who put that there or when,” said Anne-Marie Petros, part of the husband-and-wife team who own the resort. Their two Rhodesian Ridgeback doggos patrol the grounds for pets and food and company as two dogs living better than 99 percent of the world’s population do. One afternoon while enjoying the sun, I met a Dubai-based real estate and government contract high roller in his 30s staying at Tensing. When first arrived and saw the property, he tried to purchase the entire resort on the spot. “They told me no, they didn’t want to sell,” he said to me after I filmed him jumping off the cliff into the stunning water, demonstrating my Boomerang skills for Instagram. “So instead I’m buying the one next door.”

For the sake of just how insane that is, in a Tony Stark sort of display of sheer liquid wealth extravagance, I hope that was true.

Wellness, Fashion, Friends, Smoothies

check-in desk. With a touch of a history lesson, most-

It wasn’t all a big party. Well, okay, it felt like that, but be-

ly about a class of Americans and Canadians who have

tween the local jewlery makers, Steam Team’s corner booth

been frequenting Negril as a cultural hippie-haven after

(everyone was steaming all day), and the eco-conscious

the San Francisco 1960s dream of peace, love, and Flow-

fashion, garments for sale as a platform for immigrants and

er Power died at the hands of American Exceptionalism,

senior communities to put their lifelong family skills and

she regaled me with stories of the “old days” on the cliffs,

generational production know-how by indigenous people sensimag.com JULY 2019 37

38 JULY 2019 Southern Colorado

PHOTO COURTESY OF TMRW.TDAY FESTIVAL

and their traditions, Tmrw.Tday was a true melting pot of

that in the end leaves you feeling better than when you ar-

island solace, commerce, and storytelling.

rived. For Andrew and Stacy and their realized dream of a

There were also a multitude of speeches by wellness entrepreneurs. I was fond of the talk by Shane Griffin, a

festival (which returns next year, so get it on your calendars now if this appeals to you), that result is all that matters.

hospitality and bar industry veteran with enough sto-

And no matter if your entry point is cannabis, psyche-

ries of wanton debauchery and madness at the hands

delics, Burning Man-style spiritualism and mysticism, ag-

of drug and drink, which lead him to eventually reform

nostic-based energy chakra touting this and that, or just

his life, get well, and launch the Vitamin Patch Club

some good old steamin’ and dreamin’, however you get to

(@VITAMINPATCHCLUB )—essentially high-absorbing trans-

the place most were at by the time we were at the closing

dermal vitamin patches. I can say that after a few days of sun

night party, then who cares? Good vibes, good energy, good

and rum, those things felt like a lifesaver.

living, good people.

Downstairs from the lectures, there was always avail-

That final night party went down at a jaw-droppingly

able water, farm-to-table vegan food options, and invigo-

beautiful private (and for rent!) compound called Llant-

rating health shakes made slowly (very slowly) using lo-

rissant Beachcliff Villa (BEACHCLIFF.COM ), owned by a de-

cal island fruits. All of which were easily enhanced with

lightful, silver-maned septuagenarian and pharmaceutical

CBD found all over the festival at Woodstock, including

company CEO, currently at work on getting his synthetic

a stand-alone CBD café right in the middle of the beach,

cannabinoid-based medicine to create HIV quiescence

courtesy of Cafe (IAMCAFE.COM ).

(read: silencing the thing that makes HIV deadly) to clini-

Memories Fade But Wisdom Lingers

cal trials. We talked for a long time after sunset: about his time on the island, about meeting new people at multicul-

That week in May at the festival was one of sensory over-

tural festivals, about simply not being a shit person. We

load. Honestly I don’t even have the energy to get it all right,

talked about his work, about cannabis as medicine. And we

but for that matter I don’t want to, at least for this one. No,

talked about how—in spite of the world changing at a rapid

this story is really about the takeaway—whatever one got

clip, faster than ever before—if we focus on the right things

from the festival, the orbiting pathways to higher living and

(cannabis legalization, for one), we have a chance to create a

more engaged existing (not hard to do living in paradise for

better, healthier, more just world than the one we’re living in.

a week on someone else’s dime, by the way) and anything

Now that, I remember.

sensimag.com JULY 2019 39

As innovation in cannabis-infusion takes great leaps, most experts expect infused food and drinks to rule the pot market in the 2020s.

by R O BY N G R I G G S L AW R E N C E

YEAR OF THE

EDIBLE 40 JULY 2019 Southern Colorado

Fed by the best minds IN RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION IN CANNABISINFUSED FOOD AND BEVERAGES IS ENTERING A NEW ERA. BIG AG AND BIG FOOD ARE CIRCLING, DIPPING THEIR TOES IN, READY TO POUNCE AS SOON AS THE US GOVERNMENT LEGALIZES CANNABIS—A MATTER OF WHEN, NOT IF, THAT MANY BELIEVE COULD COME AS SOON AS THIS YEAR OR NEXT. Anheuser-Busch, Molson Coors Brewing Co., Mooseh-

effects. They’ve found a way to make fat-soluble cannabi-

ead, Coca-Cola, Diageo (maker of Smirnoff and Baileys),

noids into water-soluble powders and liquids so that in-

and Mondelēz International (maker of Oreos) have all

fusing anything is a simple matter of adding and stirring.

announced they’re looking into CBD- and THC-infused

And that’s just the beginning. Late last year, the Human

(mostly CBD) food and beverages. CVS and Walgreens

Genome Project, which provides source information for

are planning to sell CBD products in some states. Scotts

gene farming that transforms commercially and thera-

Miracle-Gro is buying up cannabis cultivation companies

peutically valuable segments of the human genetic code

and making moves into genetically modifying cannabis,

into agricultural products, mapped the cannabis genome,

while Monsanto—consistently voted the world’s most evil

opening the door to an even more sophisticated level of

corporation—was one of the first companies to establish

research on par with other economically lucrative crops.

offices in Uruguay after that country legalized adult use.

Citing a study showing that consumers don’t have any

Scientists who honed their skills at the world’s top food

problems with corporations considering cannabis-in-

and pharmaceutical corporations and research institu-

fused products, Nancy Whiteman, CEO of Colorado’s

tions have put their minds to the plant, figuring out how

leading edibles maker Wana Brands, told Paul Barron of

to break cannabis down to its components and put it back

The Barron Report podcast, “My working assumption is

together again to create consistent, measured, predictable

that every major company is looking at this.”

sensimag.com JULY 2019 41

42 JULY 2019 Southern Colorado

Everyone does appear to be eyeing the edibles market,

Mainstream food growers and producers are making

especially since The Arcview Group published a head-

moves. British Columbia-based Village Farms—one of the

line-grabbing report predicting edibles sales would qua-

largest producers, marketers, and distributors of green-

druple in the US and Canada, to $4.1 billion, and global sales

house-grown produce in North America—has already

would reach $32 billion by 2022. They can’t help but notice

converted a large portion of its vegetable greenhouses to

that consumers are gobbling up newly legal CBD-infused ev-

cannabis, and Newstrike Brands is partnering with food

erything—including food and drinks—pushing predictions

company Neal Brothers to produce cannabis edibles.

that CBD sales in the US will hit $22 billion (up from $262 million in 2016) in 2022, according to the New York Times.

Edibles Winning in California

They also like what they see in edible consumer de-

Cannabis legalization in the world’s fifth-largest econ-

mographics. Primarily female with post-secondary ed-

omy and largest legal cannabis market has gotten off to

ucation and high incomes, these shoppers buy edibles

a rocky start as high taxes have forced far too many Cal-

the same way they do groceries, looking for items that

ifornians to hang onto their black-market dealers, but

satisfy their food preferences, tolerances, and flavor

that hasn’t stopped analysts from predicting that $5.1

profiles, according to research firm High Yield Insights.

billion of cannabis edibles would be sold in the state—ri-

These consumers like edibles because they’re discreet

valing the beer market—this year.

and offer longer, more intense highs and better pain and

“While the cultivation and concentrates markets are

anxiety relief than smoking, according to an RTI Interna-

getting most of the buzz, it’s the edibles market that rep-

tional study of cannabis users in legal states.

resents one of the strongest sectors for growth in the can-

Cannabis is taking its rightful place as an established

nabis space,” Investing News reports. “This market sector

and valuable functional food ingredient, and we haven’t

is driven in large part by new users and those focused on

seen anything yet. Sylvan Charlebois, dean of the Fac-

health and wellness who want a smoke-free cannabis ex-

ulty of Management and professor of agri-food distri-

perience. There are signs this consumer segment is al-

bution and policy at Dalhousie University, predicts that

ready flooding into the California cannabis market.”

within 10 years, 5 to 7 percent of all food sold in Canada will contain cannabis.

A number of events and evolutions have converged so that more and more of us will be snacking on CBD-infused gummies and sipping mocktails microdosed with THC in the 2020s.

Canada Opens Up Edibles Market Though Canada’s population pales in comparison to the US’s, the country of 30 million people is the first G-7 nation to legalize, and it’s attracting a lot of attention. The Canadian government kicked the complex undertaking of designing a regulatory system for edibles down the road until this month, and earlier this year it held a two-month public consultation period to help craft those regulations, which were expected to impose tight limitations on potency and packaging. Ignoring consumers’ clear preference for gummies (which make up a quarter of the edibles market in the US), Health Canada is promoting healthier edible options such as cannabis-infused kombucha and protein drinks.

Marijuana Policy Group co-founder Miles Light told

CBC News that edibles and non-flower products are the ultimate end-game for cannabis companies in Canada

A number of events and evolutions have converged so that more and more of us will be snacking on CBD-infused gummies and sipping mocktails microdosed with THC in the 2020s

because food is a friendlier niche for new, smaller companies than cannabis production, which is already dominated by a handful of mega-producers. sensimag.com JULY 2019 43

44 JULY 2019 Southern Colorado

“People will never trust products that don’t deliver consistent experiences. We can take the plant components apart and put them back together, literally at will, to drive those experiences.”

—Jon Cooper, Ebbu

Better Eating Through Chemistry?

ing oils, and brewers such as Heineken-owned Lagunitas

A couple years ago, Jon Cooper, CEO of Colorado-based

are giving beer a dank edge by adding common cannabis

cannabis research company Ebbu—which industry gi-

terpenes pinene and myrcene. Terpenes were among the

ant Canopy Growth Corporation acquired last year as

most studied compounds last year, Analytical Cannabis

part of its efforts to build a collection of patented, stan-

reports, and that research is now shaping the industry

dardized products that deliver specific outcomes—told

as companies like Steep Hill Laboratories establish data-

me that trust, control, responsibility, and safety would be

bases of terpenes and their usefulness for growers.

the cannabis industry’s defining message as it evolved.

Synthetics—CBD and THC created in a lab from organic

“People will never trust products that don’t deliver con-

hosts such as yeast, sugar, or petroleum-based chemicals—

sistent experiences,” he said. “Big companies coming

will also play a big role. Hyasynth Bio, a Montreal-based

into this space will have no choice but to achieve that.”

startup recently acquired by Organigram Holdings, plans to

His prediction is proving to be prescient, and you can ex-

produce thousands of kilograms of CBD powder made from

pect to see more and more edibles designed to promote spe-

yeast for pharmaceuticals and packaged goods within two

cific effects such as relaxation, focus, energy, stress-relief,

years. (Organigram is investing heavily in edibles innova-

and sleep on cannabis store shelves. “We can take the plant

tion, including a $15 million fully automated production line

components apart and put them back together, literally at

that can produce 4 million kilograms of chocolate cannabis

will, to drive experiences,” Scott Riefler, vice president of sci-

edibles per year using advanced engineering and robotics.)

ence for cannabinoid company Tarukino, marveled during a “Smart Kitchen Summit” podcast sponsored by The Spoon.

David Kideckel, managing director and senior equity research analyst at investment firm AltaCorp Capital, told

Tarukino, Ebbu, and several other companies have de-

The Growth Op that the ability to make cannabinoids in

veloped processing techniques that emulsify cannabi-

bulk in a lab allows for more consistency in the produc-

noids into nano-size particles that dissolve into water and

tion of all cannabinoids and will open up a whole world

mix more easily into blood. These water-soluble concen-

beyond THC and CBD. “As soon as cannabis is descheduled

trates are game changers, making it a breeze for food and

as a controlled substance on a federal level in the United

beverage manufacturers to infuse products with dose- and

States, you’re going to start seeing research dollars pouring

effect-specific formulations of cannabinoids and terpenes.

in from Big Pharma and CPG [consumer packaged goods]

Terpenes are a big factor here, and they’ve become all

companies,” he predicts. “They’re going to work on figuring

the rage—expect to see more and more of them. Dispensaries and retail stores offer everything from terpene concentrates and vaping liquids to terpene-infused cook-

out the potential of every cannabinoid in the plant.”

ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE is the author of the best-selling Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook and the newly released Pot in Pans: A History of Eating Cannabis.

sensimag.com JULY 2019 45

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sensimag.com JULY 2019 47

48 JULY 2019 Southern Colorado

sensimag.com JULY 2019 49

{HereWeGo }

by S T E P H A N I E W I L S O N

North Fork Tipi Haven

Book via HIPCAMP.COM // Starting at $50 per night

GET GLOWING An artistic retreat on the Western Slope.

It’s summer in Colorado. The mountains are calling, and you must go. John Muir said so.

But sometimes you just don’t want to go, because going means pitching a tent in the middle of a forest somewhere far away from a bathroom or a wine store. So don’t. Instead, go to hipcamp.com and book a stay at North Fork Tipi Haven in Colorado’s wine country, a region abundant with organic farms and orchards. Spend a weekend touring vineyards and organic cherry and hops farms or hiking the wildflower-lined trails in the nearby national forests and state parks.

Or you could just check in at the camp and check out for a little while. There is a calm stillness to the haven, a 22acre property that will one day include an artist residency, yurts, and short-term housing options. But for now, it has four tipis lining an open field, facing east to capitalize on the expansive views of Mt. Lamborn and Mt. Gunnison.

You can catch the mountain’s morning glow up from the comfort of your bed, snuggled in a fluffy blanket rather than zipped in a sleeping bag. And then you can use the composting toilet to relieve yourself (no shovel required) before heading to boil water for coffee in the outdoor kitchen.

It’s not exactly glamping but it’s not camping either. It’s a magical spot somewhere in between, and it’s calling. You should go.

50 JULY 2019 Southern Colorado