Sensi Magazine - Southern Colorado (August 2019)

SOUTHERN COLORADO

THE NEW NORMAL

T H E

H E A LT H + W E L L N E S S

I S S U E

The art of forest bathing HIDDEN DISEASES

How one plant is helping treat the untreatable.

{plus} TOP 8 REASONS TO GO BACK TO THE FAIR

8.2019

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

www.FaragosiFarms.com 719-846-2310 118 Sante Fe Trail, Trinidad, CO 81082

sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 3

4 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado

sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 5

6 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado

ISSUE 8 //VOLUME 3 //8.2019

FEATURES

SP EC IAL R EP OR T

36 Holding On to Hope

Cannabis offers a fresh alternative to those seeking treatment for autoimmune diseases.

16 HOME-GROWN HERITAGE Get to know Colorado’s heirloom grains

42

NATURE THERAPY Small steps to increase your well-being

every issue 09 Editor’s Note 11 The Buzz 16 TasteBuds

GRAINS OF TRUTH

26 LifeStyle

DIGITAL HEALTHCARE

32 AroundTown

FAIRLY AWESOME

42 TravelWell

THE ART OF SHINRIN-YOKU

50 HereWeGo

KICKED-UP CORN

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

sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 7

sensi magazine

EXECUTIVE FOLLOW US

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ISSUE 8 / VOLUME 3 / 8.2019

Ron Kolb ron@sensimag.com CEO, SENSI MEDIA GROUP

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Alex Martinez alex@sensimag.com CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

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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 CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

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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

8 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado

A D V I S O RY B O A R D 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 //

RECREATIONAL DISPENSARY

Greenhouse Payment Solutions // PAYMENT PROCESSING

Herbal Healing // COMPLIANCE Incredibles // WELLNESS

NATURAL HEALING I’m a magazine junkie,

editor’s

NOTE

I’ll admit it. And it was

while reading an issue of Health magazine that inspiration for this month’s special report struck. The article focused on how women are disproportionately affected by “invisible illnesses”— lyme, fibromyalgia, lupus, and other autoimmune disorders.

What it didn’t mention is that cannabis has shown to be an affective treatment for each of those. Robyn Griggs Lawrence explains why, highlighting the story of one woman whose lyme disease went undiagnosed for years until she discovered the healing power of the plant.

Nature heals—that’s the message you’ll find throughout this month’s issue. Health and Wellness is the theme, and it plays out in a piece on the growing forest bathing trend. Colorado is

Industrial Hemp Recycling //

the epicenter of the movement. Our mountains provide endless

Lux Leaf // EDUCATION

walk in the woods is good for your mind, body, and soul, if you

MMJ & HEMP WASTE MANAGEMENT

marQaha // SUBLINGUALS AND BEVERAGES Monte Fiore Farms //

RECREATIONAL CULTIVATION

Next Frontier Biosciences // BIOSCIENCES

opportunities to practice the Japanese art of nature therapy. A believe in that kind of thing.

And as the saying goes, a life without health is like a river without water. This summer, the water in our rivers is flowing stronger than it has in years, thanks to the runoff from an epic snowpack that blanketed the Rocky Mountain headwaters of the Colorado

NuVue // LIVE RESIN

River, which provides water to nearly 40 million people, flows

The PAT Pen // CO2 VAPE PEN

through 9 National Parks, and drives a $1.4 trillion economy.

Pyramid // DISTILLATES

As a different saying goes, when the well’s dry, we know the worth of water. (Abe Lincoln said that.) After years of drought

Sharp Solutions // TRANSPORTATION

that dropped the water in the southwestern US to alarmingly

Third Day Apothecary //

low levels, Lake Powell is up more than 50 feet this summer. The

MEDICAL CULTIVATION

Rocky Mountain runoff has made its way into canyon cracks and crevices that have been dry for decades. If you’ve been looking for the perfect late-season escape, consider heading south. If you’re looking for something to do around here, the Fair is always a good call.

Whatever you choose, make the most of your summer while it’s here.

To your health,

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

sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 9

10 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado

Feeling Drained?

Drink Up

Water is a key to your health and happiness. Just one

glass of water can boost your wellbeing, help you do all sorts of things: focus, ward off headaches, look glowy, feel energized, and more. But staying hydrated in Colorado isn’t an easy task. Not only is the high mountain air dryer than other states, there’s lower levels of oxygen, which means you breathe more rapidly and lose even more of that precious liquid in your body, according to the experts at Eldorado Natural Spring Water Company.

True, they are trying to sell you more water but their science checks out.

The age-old advice to drink eight cups of water a day isn’t totally accurate. Eight glasses a day would barely touch the constant thirst plaguing many Coloradan transplants, myself included. But it’s a good place to start. If you’re drinking constantly but still feeling parched, your body may not be retaining the liquid at a cellular level. Add some electrolytes to help your system absorb it more quickly. You don’t have to turn to a sugary sports drink for that, either. Coconut water is called “nature’s sport drink” for a reason. There are fizzy electrolyte tabs you can drop into your glass for an added boost; find them in the vitamin aisle. WebMD suggests you DIY your own enhanced beverage with just four ingredients: water, agave nectar, sea salt, and baking soda. Alternative option: 1:1 mix of citrus juice (for the potassium) and distilled water with pinches of salt and honey.

–Stephanie Wilson

Philip K. Dick Festival

Sterling, Aug. 9-11.

The revered science-fiction writer Philip K. Dick’s final resting place after his death in 1982 was in Ft. Morgan. The author of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, which begat the film Blade Runner, wrote many short stories and novels, often about what is real and what is not, and his stories and ideas have provided fodder for other films like Total Recall. Rest assured, the second-annual Philip K. Dick Festival is real, with fans and experts coming from near and far to celebrate this distinctive American writer with talks and panels about his legacy, rare books and memorabilia, an art exhibit and a tour of the author’s headstone at Riverside –Leland Rucker Cemetery. Aug. 9-11, Ft. Morgan, CO. All events are free. Details and schedules at PKD Festival Facebook page.

sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 11

Book Club

Sensi editors share what they’re reading this month.

Wordslut by Amanda Montell If you get off on etymology, this is the book for you.

The feminist guide to taking back the English language (published in May by Harper Wave) is a brash, enlightening, and wildly entertaining look at gendered language and the way it shapes us all.

Read this to learn about things like: the hidden sexism in your favorite insults and curse words, which Montell details in a chapter titled “slutty skank hoes and nasty dykes: a comprehensive list of gendered insults i hate (but also kind of love?)” You’ll also learn why talking with vocal fry and saying like are actually signs of linguistic savvy, and how speaking in a more gender-inclusive way is a very cool idea and how being a grammar snob is so very not. With countless examples, she details how language is constantly evolving. If you’re not trying to keep up, look down: your privilege is showing.

“There are also plenty of folks—usually ones of some social privilege—who want to stop language from evolving at all costs,” Montell writes. “These are the grumps you may find dismissing gender-neutral language as ungrammatical, refusing to learn the difference between sex and gender, or lamenting the inability to throw around the word slut willy-nilly without being called sexist, like they could in the good ole days.”

Don’t be that person. Do use a person’s preferred pronouns. Don’t judge any woman whose speech pattern don’t make her sound like a middle-aged white man.

And sorry-not-sorry, don’t ever use #girlboss again, ok? It’s

Delta-v by Daniel Suarez

not a sparkling emblem of girl power, it’s not a good hash

Daniel Suarez is getting a solid reputation for sci-

tag; it’s a reinforcement of the implicit sexism in language.

ence-fiction thrillers set in the near future, much in the

“Words like mompreneur, SHE-EO, and girlboss illumi-

style of Michael Crichton. His latest, Delta-v, (published in April by Dutton Books) is set 20 years in the future,

nate the notion that entrepreneur and CEO are not actually gender-neutral terms but are tactically coded as male,” Montell

where a multibillionaire is intent on

writes. “They suggest that when a women

mining asteroids for precious minerals

endeavors in business, we can’t help but

and unimaginable wealth and sends a

cutesy-fy her title.”

crew out to Ryugu, a real asteroid that is

Whether you read Wordslut or not, I

currently being studied by Japan’s Hay-

implore you to share that message with

abusa2 spacecraft. Will the crew make

any self-proclaimed #girlboss in your

it back to earth with all that booty? Can

feeds. Unless they are a child, it’s time to

corporations take over the solar system

drop the girl qualifier and literally #boss

for their own benefit? You’ll have to read

up. Spread the word. Help take back the

the book for those answers.

English language.

12 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado

–LR

–SW

sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 13

Three Things We’re Looking Forward to This Month Latest and Greatest: Mission Ballroom Opens The new 60,000-square-foot concert space in RiNo opens Aug. 7 with the Lumineers, playing to a sold-out crowd who won the chance to buy tickets during a special lottery this spring.

Local Band Gone Big Time: OneRepublic with the Colorado Symphony at Red Rocks Some trivia for you: 1) The Grammy-winnging band formed in Colorado Springs in 2002. 2) Lead singer Ryan Tedder went to Colorado Springs Christian School; bandmate Zach Filkins was on his soccer team. 3) Tedder’s a proflic songwriter with crazy talents who’s written and produced songs with artists like Beyoncé (“Halo”), Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, Adele, and oh so many more. 4) Tickets to both—Aug. 25 and 26—are sold out but available from resellers and guaranteed to be worth it for any fan of pop music.

Golden Photo Op: Blooming Fields of Sunflowers All the rain this year has primed conditions for a prolific bloom of sunflowers on the fields by Denver International Airport this year. Farmers plant hefty crops of the camera-ready flowers, which usually bloom late this month—a photo op that attracts hordes of photographers. Head out early morning or early evening for your best golden-hour shots.

14 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado

–SW

sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 15

{tastebuds }

by J O H N L E H N D O R F F

GRAINS OF TRUTH Colorado’s heritage grain revival is making gluten sexy again.

16 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado

Once upon a time, wheat was the “staff of life,” a staple of diet. Literally, like, civilization resulted from grains. Since the recent keto, Atkins, paleo, and Whole30 anticarb campaigns, wheat—and its enabler, gluten—are now considered Darth Vader, Cruella DeVille, and Vlad Putin all rolled into one.

Humble carbs are viewed as addictive substances and associated with obesity, diabetes, arthritis, allergies, cancer, and digestive disorders, not mention the best-selling “wheat belly” and “grain brain.”

culprit behind our dietary woes.

FOOLING YOURSELF WITH 21-GRAIN BREAD This may be hard to digest, but Nanna Meyer wants you toss out virtually every grain product in your home…except maybe oatmeal, if it’s fresh, whole, and organic.

The associate professor in Health Sciences at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, is one of the

It scares me, frankly. Just pondering the possibility of

state’s foremost authorities on grain and health. Meyer

giving up wheat and gluten gives me the shaking hee-

doesn’t want you to stop eating wheat, bread, or grain

bie-jeebies so uncomfortable that even 100 milligrams of

products. She just wants you to cease ruining your body

CBD won’t touch it.

with all the refined crap. That directive especially applies

I heart wheat. I love a Hallelujah Chorus of grain-based joys, from croissants, flatbreads, and French boules to

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF NANNA MEYER

I also learned that wheat and gluten may not be the real

to any processed foods shilling themselves as whole grain, 9-grain, or 21-grain.

pancakes, crackers, and pizza. My toast with jam in the

“Get all of the industrial white four out—the pasta, all

morning is a spiritual experience. As a nationally known

breakfast cereals, all mixes,” Meyer says. “And then get

pie expert, my idea of a vacation road trip is traveling from

rid of the whole wheat Pop-Tarts and whole-grain pan-

bakery to panadería to boulangerie.

cake mix.”

However, as a man of a certain age with some nagging

That’s because the whole grains involved have been pro-

ailments, I am forced to consider the possibility that giving

cessed to within an inch of being inert. The flour—made

up wheat and gluten might significantly improve my qual-

whenever from wheat from wherever—has to be shelf-sta-

ity of life and general level of bliss.

ble, so it is by definition not fresh. “Even the cereals that look

I started talking to nerdy grain people across Colorado

‘healthy’ have nothing to do with real whole grains,” she says.

who are intent on changing the way we think about grain.

The solution is to replace them with whole organical-

Research led me to some incredibly tasty foods and bev-

ly grown grains that are freshly milled. (See “Find Fresh

erages made from local, ancient, and heirloom grains with

Colorado Grain Flour” on p. 47.) Sourdough bread—made

names like Red Fife, Blue Emmer, and White Sonora. The

from freshly milled ancient and heirloom whole grains—

later wheat variety was hugely popular in the 1700s and

is definitely on Meyer’s menu. “Once the flour gets fer-

1800s in North America and makes beautiful tortillas.

mented, it is much more digestible. It makes the nutrients

As was the case with craft beer and cannabis, Colorado

more available, and some people who have gut sensitiv-

is clearly leading the way. In Colorado Springs, the Sour-

ities can enjoy bread and other grain products,” she says.

dough Boulangerie uses a 350-year-old Italian sourdough

Nanna Meyer is no hippy-dippy granola aficionado. She

starter and organic Einkorn grain in its crusty artisan

founded the Sport Nutrition Graduate Program at UCCS.

loaves. At Safta, the acclaimed Israeli eatery in Denver,

An athlete herself, she says she saw the impact eating or-

wood-fired ovens produce fresh pita breads made with

ganic whole grains had on her own performance and that

heirloom flour. An Alamosa brewery offers farm-to-tap

of the Olympic athletes she has advised.

ale made only with wheat, yeast, water, and hops from

Celiac disease, an immune reaction to eating gluten,

one farm, and a rare 100-percent-wheat American whis-

affects only about 1 percent of healthy Americans, ac-

key is being distilled in Longmont.

cording to University of Chicago reports, although many

My research led me to another undeniable conclusion: I

are undiagnosed. Several million more of us have sworn

knew squat about wheat, grains, and gluten—especially

off gluten, but a study in the journal Digestion found that

that paper bag of white powder with the “flour” label sit-

86 percent of those who said they were gluten sensitive

ting in my pantry since Thanksgiving.

could actually tolerate it under the right circumstances. sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 17

18 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado

“Grains are the final frontier of the farm-to-table movement,” says Mona Esposito. The Boulder-based “Grain Lady” became a passionate whole-grain educator, advocate, and consultant while trying to bake the best possible bread for her family for 15 years. She has helped to spearhead the Colorado Grain Chain.

Find Fresh Colorado Heirloom Grain Flour Even at twice the price, heirloom wheat flour will still be the cheapest ingredient you use. Think of it like fresh herbs and tomatoes: buy it fresh and only as much as you’ll consume. Here’s where to find some.

FRONT RANGE: Besides Moxie Bread Co. and Dry Storage in Boulder, heirloom and native Colorado grain and flour is often available at farmers markets in Colorado.

GRAINS FROM THE PLAINS: This Limon grower offers wheat berries and fresh flour—Colorado Windy White, Rustic Red, and Turkey Red. GRAINSFROMTHEPLAINS.COM PASTIFICIO: The Boulder pasta maker sells the freshly milled heirloom flours they use for their pappardelle.

PASTIFICIOBOULDER.COM

ASPEN MOON FARM: The Hygeine farm produces organic Turkey Red and Red Fife wheat berries and flour. Also: Floriani red flint corn for polenta.

ASPENMOONFARM.COM

MILL IT YOURSELF: Aspen Moon Farm recommends the counter-top, blender-sized Mock Mill to make fresh flour. MOCKMILL.COM

“Think about coffee. There was a time when almost nobody thought about coffee and didn’t know where their ground coffee came from. People just haven’t made the connection with grains, yet,” Esposito says. She offers well-researched information about wheat, grains, and gluten for consumers at her website, THEGRAINLADY.COM .

DOWN ON THE FARM Meyer knows the farm side of this equation because she is married to Dan Hobbs, owner of the organic Hobbs Family Farm east of Pueblo near Avondale.

“In the late 1800s, there were more than 200 distinct varieties of grains grown in Colorado and New Mexico.

Now there is just a handful,” says Hobbs, who teaches at the Grain School. He is three years into testing 20 heirloom and ancient wheat, rye, and barley varieties. “We are trying to find the sweet spot in a variety between yield, nutrition needs, and water use to survive the dry years,” he says.

Hobbs says there are a lot of unanswered questions for Colorado farmers like him, such as whether you will pay more for heirloom grains the way you do for organic cantaloupes. The reality, he says, is that a well-marketed acre of Pueblo chilies can bring in $10,000, while even a pre-

“We don’t have all the answers yet,” Meyer says. “What we do know is that clearly our diets are deficient in fiber and other nutrients, and that overprocessed industrial wheat negatively affects our gut health.”

THE FINAL FRONTIER

mium, 50-bushel-an-acre price for wheat may only yield a farmer $3,000.

FARM-TO-LOAF TOAST AND GLUTEN-FREE WHISKEY Chef Kelly Whitaker has had a single-minded focus on

Meyer preaches “grain literacy” for everyone. She

milling his own whole grains since he first started cooking.

is the guiding force behind the Grain School at UCCS to

“Roller mills take all the nutrition out of grains as it grinds

build support for growing ancient and heritage grains in

them, and then nutrients have to be added back in to the

the Mountain States and has recently helped create a

flour. No wonder people feel better when they stop eating it.

new organization, the Colorado Grain Chain. The mem-

But our bodies are meant to consume grains,” Whitaker says.

bers include family businesses producing grain and grain

At Dry Storage, Whitaker’s new Boulder café and bak-

products from heritage, ancient, and locally adapted grain

ery, eight varieties of grain—including heirloom Rouge

including farmers, millers, bakers, brewers, distillers, and

de Bordeaux wheat and Ryman rye specifically grown for

nationally acclaimed chefs.

Whitaker—are milled into flour almost every day. Whitasensimag.com AUGUST 2019 19

Now Serving the

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20 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado

2,000,000

The number of acres in Colorado devoted to growing wheat.

That’s an area larger than the state of Delaware.

ker says they are used for pizza at his award-winning

high yield. Wroe’s wheat is grown at Arnusch Farms near

wood-fired Basta and for noodles for Denver’s Wolf’s Tai-

Keenesburg. “Heirloom varieties are more expensive, and

lor. At Dry Storage, he serves a flight of heirloom toast and

they are really finicky, but it’s worth it. Antero makes gor-

offers the varietal flours in reusable jars.

geous whiskey. It starts as a silky sweet clear moonshine,

Nearby in Longmont, 100 percent Colorado Antero Wheat Whiskey, one of the nation’s only single grain wheat whiskeys—is distilled by the singularly local Dry

and gradually mellows,” Wroe says. And, it is gluten-free, since the offending protein is distilled out.

Land Distillers. “We didn’t set out to use heirloom grain.

THE FARMER, THE CHEF, AND THE BAKER

We wanted a grain well-suited to Colorado, and it hap-

Eric and Jill Skokan own the 425-acre certified organ-

pened to be heirloom,” said Nels Wroe, co-founder of the

ic Black Cat Farm in Niwot that supplies CSA (Communi-

Longmont-based spirits company.

ty-Supported Agriculture) members, their Boulder Farm-

Antero wheat was developed by Colorado State University to be low water, low maintenance, and relatively

ers Market booth, and the two Boulder restaurants: Black Cat Farm Bistro and Bramble & Hare. sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 21

22 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado

Among the crops being cultivated this year are White So-

Other Colorado heirloom treats

nora, a Swiss rye that has been cultivated for 1,200 years,

GRAIN BOWLS, BREADS, AND BAKED GOODS: Clyde’s gastropub, open to the public at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs, features a “food next door” celebrating locally sourced meat, produce, cheese, and grains. UCCS.EDU/DININGSERVICES

from our pigs, English peas, and charred onions,” he says.

and ancient Khorasan wheat. “That’s the ancestor of durum wheat used for pasta, so we’ll make fettuccine served with simple things from the farm, like smoked guanciale “These grains can be delicious and at the same time feed the soil,” Skokan says. “It’s not often that you get to have your cake and eat it too and make the world a slightly

WHEATVERLY ALE: Made only with wheat, yeast, water, and hops grown at Colorado Farm Brewery in Alamosa. COFARMBEER.COM

better place over time. We can also revive forgotten foods.”

FOUR GRAIN STRAIGHT BOURBON: A.D. Laws Whiskey House in Denver distills a beautiful bourbon from Colorado-grown corn, wheat, rye, and barley.

and baked goods. “For too long, we have gotten our grain

Louisville’s Moxie Bread Co. uses 100 percent organic heirloom wheat milled daily onsite in all its artisan loaves and flour from unknown places,” says Moxie owner and

LAWSWHISKEYHOUSE.COM

James Beard Award nominee Andy Clark. “It’s grown and

FUSILLI: Pastaficio in Boulder makes pastas from house-milled emmer, red fife, and einkorn wheats.

all goes off to the same silo. I wanted to know the wheat

PASTIFICIOBOULDER.COM

WHOLE WHEAT SANDWICH LOAF from a home “cottage” baker using wild-caught yeast and local stone-ground grain milled to order by Wild Things Artisan Baked Goods in Thorton. WILDTHINGSABG.COM ANCIENT GRAIN LOAF: Nightingale Bread in Colorado Springs house-mills heirloom organic grains for their sourdough breads, pastries, and pizza.

NIGHTINGALEBREAD.COM

farmer just like I know the farmers who grow the vegetables my family eats.”

It’s not as easy as just switching brands of wheat, he explains. “You have to find a supply first or a farmer who will grow it. People think I’m nuts for using heirloom wheat and doing a long, slow fermentation.

“What we’re hoping is that we can start growing and using grains that humans can eat again.”

JOHN LEHNDORFF hosts Radio Nibbles on KGNU (88.5 FM, stream at KGNU.ORG ).

sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 23

A Trusted Voice of the Industry Every weekday J and Paul bring you the latest news and info on the cannabis industry locally and globally.

Tune in to hear from industry leaders and take advantage of The Daily Dose deals on our webpage.

Broadcast live on Gnarly 101.3 FM Monday-Friday, 6-7am and 6-7pm So... tune in to the only cannabis talk show on the radio in Southern Colorado to get the 411 on the 420!

For more information or to listen LIVE, visit our website www.TheDailyDoseTalkShow.com 24 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado

sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 25

{lifestyle }

by I S A B E L L A VA N D E R H E I D E N

DIGITAL HEALTH CARE: AN APP FOR EVERYTHING A writer gives health and wellness apps the college try.

In the last few years, health/fitness apps have been on

at home, despite the app having over 300,000,000 items

the rise, promising to help you lose weight, gain peace of

in its database. Weirdly, I did find some lesser-known

mind through iMeditation, or better connect with hikers or

items including a few of my favorite Emerald Triangle craft

bicyclists in your community. So, how successful are they?

beers. I was also surprised to learn that a Taco Bell Crunch

Utility is obviously dependent on the user, but are health

Wrap Supreme only has 530 calories! MyFitnessPal would

apps truly helpful in finding more motivation and mind-

be a great tool for someone trying to closely monitor their

fulness? While my friends with fancy Fitbits sang their

diet and learn more about the nutritional value of food,

praises, I—by no means a health nut—was skeptical, but

but I was eager to be free from my food diary by the end

I gave it the college try.

of the week.

Considering there are no less than 300,000 health apps

I also tried the meditation app, Calm. Being a hardworking

floating around the digital sphere, I wasn’t sure where to

gal (not to mention a Virgo), I find myself stressing over triv-

begin. Starting with two “classic” apps, MyFitnessPal and

ial things constantly, so learning how to meditate seemed

Calm, I committed myself to both for a week. Would I be-

like it might do my body good. When you sign up for Calm,

come a vegan, a yoga instructor, and a health app addict?

the app asks you to choose between a few things to focus

I had to know.

on, such as better sleep, meditation, or managing stress.

MyFitnessPal helps users track what they eat and cal-

When you open the app, a blue screen appears and tells you

orie consumption while monitoring activity level to help

to “take a deep breath” and fills your ears with the delicate

achieve weight loss goals. Each day you search through

sound of a babbling brook. From there, users choose from

a vast food database to track your meals for the day and,

a variety of recordings that guide them through meditation

God willing, stay within the boundaries of your suggested

or help them fall asleep to a story read by Matthew McCo-

caloric intake.

naughey (no joke). “Alright, alright, alright!”

The most challenging aspect of MyFitnessPal was re-

For me, the bedtime stories were most effective. I was

membering what I had eaten each day and taking time to

out after just a few minutes—but never got to finish any

enter it into my food diary. It was also challenging to iden-

of the stories. (Unfortunately, McConaughey’s number

tify foods comparable in nutrition to the meals I prepared

isn’t provided through the app, so I couldn’t text him to

26 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado

sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 27

More than anything, it seems that these apps are about motivating users rather than improving their health for them.

28 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado

find out what happened next.) While I enjoyed the guided meditations, it was difficult to sit through an entire session. I wondered if this was the point.

By the end of the week, I didn’t feel any different, and I certainly didn’t become a vegan yoga instructor. While I found myself more interested in my general well-being, I couldn’t connect enough with either app to actually change my eating patterns or manage my stress.

I asked my healthy friends about their experiences with apps. Many are runners or bicyclists, and they all talked about Strava, which utilizes your phone’s GPS to track your speed metrics as you move from Point A to Point B; when you’re done riding or running, you can look at a Strava-generated map detailing your route and performance metrics. You can also connect with other users to share trails and even initiate competitions.

My friend Mike D. uses Strava to track his running, biking, and swimming.

“For me, it’s been super helpful,” he says. “I think the main thing is rounding up.

If I’m running, and I see I’ve gone 3.7 miles—I can’t leave that hanging there. I’ll go around the block a few times until it’s a solid 4 miles.”

Strava’s social media component is a key motivational tool for Mike. “I wasn’t an athlete in school,” he says. “I was the opposite. So I’m always, always in favor of being supportive. Getting out the door is the hardest part, so if someone built a thing that helps hold me accountable, I’m all for it. Maybe it’s sort of like AA—some people need a sponsor.”

Dave Larson, an employee at Revolution Bikes in California’s Emerald Triangle region, says the app has motivated him to ride harder and longer. “You can see where your friends are riding, and it inspires you to check out new spots,” says Larson.

“Sometimes you’ll compete with them and be like, ‘Ahhh they took that trophy away, so I’ll go ride harder.’ Somebody else sets a goal, but I’m still working for myself.”

More than anything, it seems that these health/fitness apps are about motivating users rather than improving their health for them. Daily reminders to engage with the app are a polite little nudge to get your 10,000 steps in or to login to your food diary to report the shameful number of tacos you had for dinner last night. I can’t say any of the apps I tried worked for me, but learning how they have motivated other people was inspiring in itself.

sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 29

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30 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado

sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 31

{aroundtown }

by PA M E L A K I M B A L L

FAIRLY AWESOME A bunch of reasons you should go to the Colorado State Fair this year.

A late-summer tradition across this great nation, state and local fairs are a celebration of community. While there

and attractions designed to keep up with the times—and to keep you coming back every summer.

are a bunch of them happening this month all along the

Some of the first-time additions in 2019: the World

Front Range, there is one that rises above the rest that

Slopper Eating Championship competition, hosted by the

you don’t want to miss—even if you wrote it off years ago.

same group behind Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Here are some of the top reasons to put the annual Colora-

There’s also a new platform divers show, with performers

do State Fair & Rodeo in Pueblo on your calendar in 2019.

leaping from heights of 80 feet into pools below.

1. THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW

2. BUT IT NEVER REALLY CHANGES

Whether it’s your first time or you’re 50th, the fair keeps

The new and novel attractions are like the sprinkles

it fresh every year. New fun, new food, new attractions:

on ice cream. They are great enhancements, add a little

sprinkled through the fairgrounds are updated features

crunch and some visual flourish, but they aren’t why you

32 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado

4. THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE The annual celebration of Colorado agriculture has evolved over the years to an Americana juggernaut complete with concerts with headlining acts, carnival rides, rodeo events, motorsports, 4-H shows, food competitions, art exhibitions, craft markets, cultural celebrations, parades, pageants, lip-sync battles, dances, and so much more.

5. HOBBY COMPETITIONS If you collect dolls better than anyone else, the fair has a competition for you. If you think collecting dolls is kind of creepy but your pickled eggs are famous in your neighborhood association, earn bragging rights by winning the Pantry competition. Even if you collect pet rocks, there’s still a chance you’re a winner. Quilts, needle arts, poetry, floral arrangements, home brews, porcelain art: winners will be crowned.

6. FAIR FARE Fried dough. Turkey legs. Pickles on a stick. Deep-fried Snickers. And all the other deliciously good but definitely not good for you treats synonymous with ferris wheels.

7. MUSIC BRINGS THE PEOPLE TOGETHER Country. Alt rock. Southern rock. Spanish rock. High school bands. Mariachi groups. Tribute acts. Bluegrass fiddlers. And more. Whatever gets you moving, you’ll find a reason to groove on the lineup. The King of the Accordion Ramon Ayala kicks off all the shows on Aug. 23 and 38 Special wraps it all up on Sept. 2. FYI, you’ll need a special ticket for most of the headlining acts, including Beach Boys, Halestorm, Brett Young, and other big artists taking the stage at the Southwest Motors Events Center. order a cone. You order it because you like it, you’ve liked it since you were a little kid. During the summer, you like to treat yourself with two scoops in a sugar cone. It’s tradition. Just like the fair.

3. IT’S A HISTORY LESSON

8. CARNIVAL RIDES The ferris wheel is more than an amazing photo op for your Story. It’s known in some circles as one of the greatest inventions of all time. Riding it is daring, yet peaceful, and elevates you above the crowds. The timeless attraction is

Before Colorado was Colorado, the fair was the Fair. It

a metaphor for life itself: no matter how high we go, how

started in 1869, drawing about 2,000 people to Pueblo

far we travel, what we’ve seen from the top, we want to

that first year. It was still going when Colorado became a

end up right where we started. It’s an emblematic remind-

state six years later. During the subsequent 127 years, it’s

er there’s no place like home. Or maybe it just makes for a

only been canceled once: 1917, during WWII. Learn more

pretty picture. You get to decide what it means to you.

at exhibits showcasing details about the fair’s history.

The Colorado State Fair runs Aug. 23–Sept. 2. COLORADOSTATEFAIR.COM

sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 33

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SPECIAL REPORT

HOLDING ON TO HOPE Autoimmune diseases are hard to diagnose—and even harder to manage. But cannabis offers a fresh alternative to those seeking treatment for the untreatable. by R O BY N G R I G G S L AW R E N C E

Kate Phillips’ stomach hurt for years. IT GREW SO BLOATED SHE LOOKED

PREGNANT. AND NO ONE—NOT THE GASTROINTESTINAL SPECIALIST, THE NEUROLOGIST, THE FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE DOCTOR, THE NURSE PRACTITIONER SHE DROVE THREE HOURS EACH WAY TO SEE—COULD TELL HER WHY. Doctors prescribed her 41 different medications. One

that is more prevalent in New England than anywhere else

doctor said her illness was stress-induced, another told

in the world. Trouble is, she never got the flu-like symp-

her she had multiple sclerosis, and yet another said

toms or bullseye rash she’d been warned about. In her case,

she had cancer (which was terrifying). Phillips gave up

the spirochete bacteria from the tick that bit her attacked

dairy, gluten, and sugar and spent more than $100,000 on

the weakest part of her body—her stomach, which Phillips

medical specialists and snake oil doctors like the nurse

jokes was ruined by a classic Irish Catholic diet of boiled

practitioner, who put a coil on Phillips’ stomach to test

meat and starch while she was growing up in Boston.

for something that baffles her to this day.

“You’re just so desperate, so sick,” Phillips says. “You don’t care what you have to do.”

Suffering heart palpitations and seizures and no longer able to walk upstairs by herself, Phillips was forced to move in with her grandparents. When she was 21, a heart

“All those medical practitioners looked at my stomach as one little box. I became a symptom, not a person,” Phillips says. “That’s why, anyone with an autoimmune disease will tell you, it can take years to get a proper diagnosis.”

Cannabinoids and Inflammation

attack led her to the first of what she calls “Lyme-liter-

As many as 23.5 million Americans suffer from chronic

ate doctors” (LLMDs), who diagnosed her with postural

autoimmune disease, costing the nation about $100 billion

orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a circulation

every year, according to the National Institutes of Health.

condition, and Lyme carditis, a rare infection caused by

Often described as an attack on the self, autoimmune dis-

Lyme bacteria in the heart tissue. All those years, Phil-

ease is triggered when the body’s immune system mis-

lips had been suffering from undiagnosed Lyme disease.

takes healthy tissues for invaders, goes into overdrive, and

Growing up in the woods of Massachusetts, Phillips had

becomes inflamed. This can manifest as anything from

been constantly drilled to look out for the classic symp-

Lyme disease to lupus, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis,

toms of Lyme disease (named after Old Lyme, Connecticut,

rheumatoid arthritis, or Crohn’s disease—among some 80

where it was discovered), a tick-borne autoimmune illness

to 100 diseases that Health magazine describes as “invissensimag.com AUGUST 2019 37

38 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado

ible illnesses” because they’re difficult to diagnose. More

mental and emotional state. How can cannabis help them

prevalent among women, autoimmune disease is one of

transition to a space where they feel more compassion for

the top 10 causes of death for females up to 64 years old.

themselves and at peace with how their bodies are?”

Traditional medical treatment for autoimmune diseases is generally heavy on long-term antibiotics, pain-

Opening the Book on the Crazy Stuff

killers, anti-inflammatories, anti-depressants, anti-sei-

Phillips, a Chinese herbal medicine practitioner and

zure drugs, and steroids, which suppress the immune

former wilderness medic, says her Lyme disease diagno-

system and slow down inflammation but are so hard on

sis prompted her to “open the book on all the crazy stuff.”

the body that they can only be taken for a short time.

Cannabis, with its ability to modulate immune and ner-

Functional medicine doctors take a more long-term, ho-

vous system function and decrease inflammation, was

listic approach, addressing diet, lifestyle, and emotional

a natural choice. She began juicing cannabis fan leaves

health in addition to physical symptoms—and more and

after reading about Dr. William Courtney, a California

more often, cannabis is part of the program.

physician who recommends daily consumption of raw cannabis flowers or juiced raw cannabis based on scientific evidence showing raw cannabis could have a reme-

Within weeks of beginning her cannabis treatment, Phillips felt clear-headed for the first time in years.

diating effect on autoimmune disorder.

Within weeks, she felt clear-headed for the first time in years. She moved on to more potent edibles and then concentrates, and with help from cannabis-friendly (or at least tolerant) doctors, she weaned herself off all her medications. In the process, she discovered her life’s mission. “I became a total nerd—I just wanted to know why cannabis was working,” says Phillips. “I have this lifelong, black-hole obsession with learning about cannabis.”

After a stint working with a medical marijuana dis-

Dr. Joseph Cohen, DO, medical director of Journey 2 Life

pensary in Steamboat, Colorado, Phillips returned to

and Holos Health in Boulder, Colorado, says autoimmune

Brookline, Massachusetts, to be with her family and got

diseases are tricky to diagnose because they’re difficult to

involved with the state’s cannabis industry while help-

differentiate and can be triggered by many things, includ-

ing launch a boutique dispensary. She now runs Silk

ing dietary factors (gluten is a massive trigger), environ-

Consulting, which assists Massachusetts cannabis re-

mental toxins, and stress. The key to treating them is to

tail operations with management staffing and employee

remove those triggers and heal the gut, because about 70

training, educational content, creation, and events.

percent of the immune system lies in the gastrointestinal

As part of her work, Phillips speaks to doctor groups at

tract, he says. Cohen is among a growing number of doctors

prestigious hospitals around the state about the benefits

who are finding the immunosuppressive, anti-inflamma-

of cannabis for autoimmune diseases—often because so

tory properties of cannabinoids helpful in treating autoim-

many patients are asking about it. “They’re very accepting,”

mune disease, and often prescribes treatments high in CBD.

she says of the physicians. “But they’re a small number of

“Autoimmune diseases are such a huge collection,”

people, and medication is all they understand. It’s hard for

says Selma Holden, MD, a family physician in southern Maine who integrates mindfulness, yoga, herbs, and other complementary techniques into her clinical rep-

them to quantify something that’s not synthesized.”

Big Pharma Steps In

ertoire. “But one common originator pathway is this pro-

That’s about to change. A handful of reputable, even pres-

cess of inflammation, and the speckled evidence we have

tigious, studies have found cannabinoids helpful in the

in limited clinical trials or pre-clinical animal studies is

treatment of autoimmune diseases, and the medical world

showing that administration of exogenous cannabinoids

is taking note. Cannabinoids have been found to slow de-

does seem to reduce the impacts of inflammation. “

generative effects in multiple sclerosis patients and reduce

Holden is intrigued by the generally accepted description

destructive immune response and inflammation in lupus

of autoimmune disease as the body attacking itself. “The

patients. In 2014, University of South Carolina researchers

question is,” Holden says, “why did the body start attacking

found that THC can affect DNA expression through epigen-

itself in the first place? There’s a piece to explore about their

etic pathways to suppress inflammation. This year, a team sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 39

40 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado

Cannabis can help some people transition to a space where they feel more compassionate for themselves—at peace with how their bodies are.

of Israeli researchers found medical cannabis to be “a safe

cannabinoid research and the man who discovered THC

and effective alternative for the treatment of fibromyalgia

and CBD. Feldmann says the company is following “tried-

symptoms” but cautioned, “Standardization of treatment

and-true pathways of developing medications that are

compounds and regimens are required.”

known to work”—namely, FDA approval, which entails ex-

Biopharma companies like Katexco Therapeutics and

tensive research and clinical trials—because that’s what

CannBioRex, which have spent years developing synthetic

the pharmaceutical industry has successfully done for

cannabidiol (CBD) therapeutics to treat inflammation and

six decades to ensure that compounds are safe and effec-

autoimmune disease, have been waiting for this moment.

tive before they’re released to the public.

As the political climate around cannabis relaxes and legal-

“The problem with medical marijuana as it is used

ization leads to greater acceptance, they’re preparing to put

today is that you’re guessing when you buy a product.

their synthetic CBD drugs through clinical trials—which

Many of the products you buy do not have the amount

Katexco CEO Jonathan Rothbard, a former Stanford Univer-

of cannabidiol they say they have,” Feldmann says.

sity professor, says “are the only way to prove the scientific

“That can be solved, but we are also prepared to tackle

viability of cannabinoid treatments to the FDA and the only

the elephant in the room, which is how much cannabi-

path by which medical cannabis will truly evolve.”

diol or other cannabinoid you actually need to get the

Every large pharmaceutical company is taking a good

maximum benefits for what condition. We are going to

look at cannabis, Rothbard told Forbes, and he expects

do proper, lengthy, and expensive clinical trials to make

many of them to launch their own clinical trials involv-

sure we know exactly what is the right amount to give

ing synthetic cannabinoids alongside Katexco, which is

for maximum benefit with minimum side effects for a

developing CBD-based therapies for autoimmune condi-

specific medical problem.”

tions including arthritis, Crohn’s disease, multiple scle-

Holden, for her part, is grateful for the costly and tedious

rosis, and irritable bowel syndrome. “While beverage

work these companies and others—including GW Phar-

and alcohol companies are joining the CBD bandwagon,

maceuticals, which recently released Epidiolex, a syn-

it makes sense that big pharma steps in, too,” he said.

thetic CBD-based seizure medication—are doing to satisfy

CannBioRex Pharma, which is exploring cannabinoid

the medical community’s skepticism about cannabis as

treatments for pain, arthritis, diabetes, and obesity, was

legitimate medicine, but she does not want to see canna-

co-founded by a powerhouse duo in the biopharma world:

bis regulated as a pharmaceutical rather than an herbal

Sir Marc Feldmann, an Oxford University professor who

medicine, because that would restrict people’s access to it.

won a prestigious Lasker Award for developing what is

“What I get worried about,” Holden says, “is when the

currently the best-selling class of drugs, the TNF inhibitors, including the anti-inflammatory drug Remicade; and Raphael Mechoulam, widely regarded as the godfather of

profit interests step in.”

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

sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 41

{travelwell }

by J E S S I C A R E I N U S

Let go of what you know about your health and hiking and surrender to the forest.

THE ART OF SHINRINYOKU 42 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado

Forest bathing, also known as shinrin-yoku, is the prac-

In Japan, the National Forest Agency has constructed

tice of using the forest as therapy for preventative health

over forty trails throughout the country that are exclu-

care and healing. Developed by the Japanese government

sively dedicated to forest bathing. The trails encourage

in the 1980s, shinrin-yoku is still used to improve physical

the public to experience the stress-relieving and calming

and mental well-being in Japan today.

qualities of shinrin-yoku, because the government under-

The general idea of forest bathing is to interact with the natural sights of the forest in a relaxing manner. Stopping

stands how important the mind and spirit connection are to the overall health of the country.

frequently to look at flora is encouraged, and wandering

Here in Colorado, the majestic Rocky Mountains rise to

aimlessly through the woods is exactly what shinrin-yoku,

form the backbone of the continent. The landscape is a

aka nature therapy, is all about.

complex mosaic of alpine peaks, valleys, shrublands, and

Forest bathing is more than a walk in the woods or up a

wide-open prairie grasslands. Colorado is in the southern

mountain trail. That’s hiking. Or it could be peak bagging.

part of the mountain range, which stretches 3,000 miles

One surefire way to tell the difference: check your bag. Is

from northern New Mexico to Alaska. Subalpine spruce-fir

there a piece of cardboard or a paper sign with the name

and bristlecone pines form significant forests at the tree

and elevation of a mountain on it written in Sharpie that

line in some areas. At lower elevations, lodgepole pine and

you plan on holding while posing for a photo at the sum-

aspen grow along the range, where forests of ponderosa

mit of said mountain? You may be peak bagging. If you

pine and cottonwood back up to pinyon-juniper woodlands.

plan on posting that photo to your “Summit Selfies” al-

It’s all crisscrossed by an unfathomable number of trails

bum: definitely peak bagging. Which, to be fair, is a form of

inviting you to dive in. A near-constant band of conifer for-

hiking. But it’s the opposite of forest bathing.

ests covering steep slopes and valleys from the tree line to

Another thing that is not the Japanese art known as

the foothills forms a sea of forest bathing immersion points.

forest bathing: bathing in a body of water in the forest in

As the shinrin-yoku spreads worldwide, forest bathing

any literal sense. Forest bathing is a bit of a hybrid be-

catching on locally. According to a 9 News report, more

tween hiking and meditating. It involves immersing in na-

people are trying it all over the country, where there are

ture with no destination in mind. Slowing down your mind

about 300 trained forest therapy guides to help get peo-

and your body to connect with the environment through

ple started. That number is trending up; the Association of

all five senses.

Nature and Forest Therapy is holding a multi-day forest

Allowing oneself to surrender to the flow of forest allows the mind to unwind, body to heal, and spirit to lift.

therapy immersion in September at YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, as well as an intensive week-long Forest

The many known effects of forest bathing include stress

Therapy Guide training at Shadowcliff Mountain Lodge

relief, mood elevation, hormone regulation, improved con-

near Grand Lake. There are more people interested than

centration, and boosted immunity. Researchers have even

slots available, and there is a waitlist for the training. The

noted a decrease in blood pressure for many patients who

organization wants to make it clear that they don’t train

use forest bathing as a therapeutic remedy. As the body

therapists; they train guides. “The forest itself is the ther-

begins to relax, the parasympathetic nerve pathways are

apist,” according to the literature.

stimulated, leading to a decrease in blood pressure. Anoth-

“On Forest Therapy walks, people have a wide range of

er benefit is the presence of compounds found in the forest

experiences, some of which they feel are significant, even

air, known as phytoncides (wood essential oils). Phytocides

profound. Guides are trained in the skills and perspectives

are produced to help plants and trees protect themselves

needed to be supportive witnesses of these experiences.”

from harmful insects and germs. When inhaled by humans,

A directory of trained guides is easily searchable on the

phytoncides provide beneficial and uplifting effects. Japa-

association’s website (NATUREANDFORESTTHERAPY.ORG ).

nese researchers have also discovered that when forest air

A search of Colorado leads you to information on guides

is inhaled, it increases the activity of white blood cells, or

like Minnie Kansman of Loveland, an author, travel consul-

leukocytes, the body’s natural immune defense system.

tant, and forest therapy guide. In September, she and her sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 43

44 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado

“Look deep into nature, and you will understand everything better.”

-Albert Einstein

husband are hosting a week-long excursion to Estes Park.

metro. The organization is by Leona Campbell, a Nature &

She describes the Rocky Mountain High Travel Adventure

Forest Therapy Guide who also trained at ANFT. She be-

as a combination of forest therapy, meditation, relaxation,

lieves Forest Therapy is best viewed as a practice rather

and guided hiking at your leisure.

than a one-off experience in the woods.

Other guides include Jaime Kopke of Golden, who’s web-

In Vail, the Nurtured By Nature Forest Therapy is led by

site (JAIMEKOPKE.COM ) invites you to “wander the woods

professional nature therapy guide Kayla Weber. Weber

and find yourself along the way.” On August 17, she’s

leads two- to three-hour tours during which the hike is

leading Forest Bathing with Evergreen Audubon at Alder-

rarely more than a mile. It’s slow going, sure, but the re-

fer/Three Sisters, a walk that concludes with a tea cere-

views are all glowing. A recent post reads: “Not only does

mony featuring tea made with local plants. In September,

Kayla lead you through a journey of connecting you to our

she’s offering a day-long Forest Bathing and Ephemeral

earth, she helps you reconnect with yourself. My experi-

Art Workshop at Buffalo Peaks Ranch’s Rocky Mountain

ences with her forest bathing knowledge and guidance

Land Library in Fairplay, an hour and 20 minutes west of

leave me feeling rejuvenated and humbled.”

Colorado Springs—a gorgeous drive that offers plenty of

Forest or nature therapy can be a private, individual

opportunities to stop and immerse in one of the state and

practice, enjoyed in a group setting, or perfect for a couple.

national forests so prevalent in the region.

Sometimes a slow silent walk through the trees is simply

On Airbnb, travelers looking for experiences along with lodging can sign up for the Forest Bathing Near Pikes Peak

the practice. Other times a technology-free forest stroll may be exactly what the body (and mind) needs most.

experience, offered every Saturday for up to 10 people at

The relationship between nature and humans is undeni-

SKOL Ranch in Florissant, Colorado—about halfway be-

ably real, ever present, and relatable, especially in the Em-

tween the Springs and Fairplay.

erald Triangle. As Albert Einstein once said, “Look deep into

Wind in Pines (WINDINPINESFORESTTHERAPY.COM), in the Denver area, offers public and private guided forest bathing walks along the Front Range and in the greater

nature, and then you will understand everything better.”

This article originally appeared in Sensi Emerald Triangle and has been updated for the Colorado editions by local editors.

sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 45

46 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado

GOFIRE

Taking The Guesswork Out Of Dosing GOFIRE FINDS A CONSISTENT WAY TO MEASURE CANNABIS OIL CONSUMPTION.

It might look like just another vape device, but the

Gofire is digging deeper into the science of the prod-

dosable, trackable inhaler from Denver-based Gofire

uct. The company just entered into its first clinical trial

Inc. represents a new way to consume cannabis that

with the University of Colorado, with first results expect-

many new-to-the market consumers, clinicians, doctors

ed this summer. “There are probably a half dozen other

and medical cannabis patients want and need to try.

researchers wanting to do studies that we are in discus-

It uses smart-chip technology on the cartridge to

sions with right now,” says Hodas. “And we got a cou-

identify all properties of the oil from the lab test pro-

ple of additional add-on, multiple-phase initial trials. So

grammed into the chip. When the cartridge goes into

from my perspective, that is one of the most significant

the device, an app pairs with the device that reads

opportunities that we have in front of us.”

those measurements. A consumer can dose it out in repeatable 2.5 milligram increments.

There is also a software platform that can be used for edibles, which uses the dose code or even the bar code

For more information, visit:

GOFIRE.CO

of the product. That bar code is entered into the platform, and the software then tracks usage and efficacy.

“This is a product that is really designed for the canna-curious, or even for bridging the gap for physician who are looking for a way to dose products and be able to have their patients take their cannabis medicine appropriately,” Joe Hodas, president and COO of Gofire, says.

The inhaler is helping patients who are either unsure or scared of cannabis, but have been told about the potential benefits, he says. “Our platform allows a physician to say, specifically, I want you to try 2.5 milligrams of xyz product twice a day, and then have a way to track and observe that patient’s usage.”

One area where Gofire is seeing some traction is on the clinical research side, “As you can imagine, as a clinical researcher, you don’t have a lot of ways from a cannabis perspective to make sure that the dose administered is the exact right dose, and that the consistency in the product is the same,” Hodas says. “So that is really a great opportunity for a product like ours to have an impact on the clinical research side.” sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 47

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MONTE FIORE

Hitting Their Stride YEARS OF STEADY GROWTH AND ATTENTION TO FARMING DETAILS ARE PAYING OFF BIG FOR MONTE FIORE FARMS MULTI-STATE OPERATION.

Developments at Monte Fiore Farms are coming fast and furious.

“That product is exploding across the state right now,” he says. “We are having an overwhelmingly posi-

The company has 512,000 square feet of greenhous-

tive response from consumers.” 3Js Hice Cream is in 20

es on its 54-acre site, growing 25 different strains, ac-

dispensaries now, and will be in another 15-20 in the

cording to Nicholas Perrino, Monte Farms CEO based

next few weeks.

in Golden, Colorado. “After two years in Colorado water

Monte Fiore Farms and its principals are also invest-

court, we received approval from the state as one of

ing in large-scale hemp cultivation and processing, he

the first marijuana businesses to achieve a decree for

says, with a 400-acre hemp farm featuring 980,000

the commercial irrigation and manufacturing of mari-

square feet of greenhouses, and a 25,000-square-foot

juana, yielding over 16 million gallons of consumptive

extraction facility being built now. “The hemp develop-

use water annually,” Perrino says. “That makes us sus-

ment really has changed our business,” he says. “Learn-

tainable and a true agribusiness.”

ing how to grow top-shelf flower without using any

The now vertically-integrated company launched its

pesticides has pushed our operations team to perform

first retail location, Provisions Dispensary, in January,

at the highest level of commercial agriculture,” Perrino

and has seen 65 percent or better growth in revenue

says. “Scaling into hemp with our platform is healthy

month over month at the retail location. Edibles man-

organic growth for our business.”

ufacturing is done on the farm, he says, and Monte

The group has also released its first line of hemp ge-

Farms has recently expanded its ice-cream production

netics, selling more than 800 pounds of seeds to be

by 500 percent under the brand 3Js Hice Cream.

planted in the 2019 farming season across the country. He expects $50 million-plus revenue from that operation by the first quarter of 2020.

They are also working on a single origin line of concentrates. “We are installing about $800,000 worth of processing equipment in our marijuana facility to accommodate the production of our value-based extracts, and plan to release the first line of concentrates in September,” he says.

In parallel with the Colorado expansion, Monte Fiore Farms is building 17 more acres of outdoor and greenhouse cannabis production in Oklahoma, and have applied in both Maryland and Utah to begin operating with local partners in those states.

For more information, visit:

420FARMCO.COM

sensimag.com AUGUST 2019 49

{HereWeGo }

by J O H N L E H N D O R F F

KICKED-UP CORN August is the juiciest month.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 ears sweet corn, shucked • 4 tbsp plain greek yogurt • 4 tbsp light mayonnaise • ¹⁄₄ cup grated cotija or parmesan cheese • ground red chile powder or chili powder mix, to taste • ¹⁄₄ cup cilantro, finely chopped • 1 lime, cut into wedges INSTRUCTIONS

Colorado’s sweaty summer culminates in an embar-

STEP 1: Grill sweet corn, rotating occassionally until cooked

rassment of sweet vegetables and fruits ripe for the

through with grill marks.

picking—including the state’s ask-for-by-name signa-

STEP 2: In small container, mix yogurt and mayonnaise

ture crop: Olathe sweet corn. Excellent corn is grown all

then spread over grilled corn.

over the state. Stop by the farmers’ market for enough

STEP 3: On each ear, sprinkle cheese and chile powder, fol-

ears on which to gorge, then spice up your late-summer

lowed by cilantro.

barbecues with this recipe for elote, the Mexican-style

STEP 4: Squeeze lime wedge over the whole thing and

street corn.

chomp away.

50 AUGUST 2019 Southern Colorado