Sensi Magazine - Southern Colorado (December 2019) by Sensi Magazine

I SOUTHERN COLORADO D EC 2019

WELL CRAFTED

Pueblo artisans find their place on Etsy ›››

SLOPES & SOUNDS

Don’t miss these ski resort and concert venues

HAUTE HIGHS

Luxury markets embrace cannabis

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SOUTHERN COLORADO SENSI MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019

sensimediagroup @sensimagazine @sensimag

F E AT U R E S

24 30

Making It

Pueblo is finding its place by returning to the creative industries it was known for.

SPECIAL REPORT

Haute Highs

Luxury has gone to pot

Woke, Not Wasted

What is the sober-curious movement, and can sobriety really be fluid?

D E PA R T M E N T S

9 EDITOR’S NOTE 10 THE BUZZ News, tips, and tidbits

to keep you in the loop PIN IT 2020 trends as predicted by Pinterest HAVE A KAVA at Ohana Kava Bar. KYLO KEN Star Wars Barbie dolls are hitting the scene. NIKE NURSE New shoes specially designed for health care pros ’SHROOM ZOOM Cordyceps coffee adds more boost to your morning boost. SENSIBILITIES Our editor-in-chief’s hottest hits of the month

36 THE LIFE Contributing to your

health and happiness SNOW SOUNDS Here’s where to shred by day and rock out by night. HOROSCOPE What the stars hold for the end of 2019

42 THE SCENE Hot happenings and hip

hangouts around town CALENDAR Shop handmade for the holidays and eat burritos with wolves. SENSI NIGHT Recapping an elegant, elevated evening

ON THE COVER Sculptor Frank Nemick is part of a growing community of Pueblo artists and makers finding e-commerce success. PHOTO BY JEANETTE BAYSINGER / PHOTO EDITING BY JOSH CLARK

50 THE END

The 2010s are toast. Let’s go over the highlights, shall we?

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The Pat Pen CO2 Vape Pen

Dabble Extracts Medical Concentrates

Pyramid Distillates

The Daily Dose Radio Show Radio Show

Sharp Solutions Transportation

Faragosi Farms Recreational Dispensary

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Green Generation, Inc. CBD Pet Products Greenhouse Payment Solutions Payment Processing Herbal Healing Compliance

FACE BOOK Like Sensi Media Group for the parties, topics, and happenings weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re obsessed with right now.

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T W I T TER Follow @sensimag to stay up-to-date on the latest news from Sensi cities.

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I NSTAG RAM @sensimagazine is home to exclusive photos and content.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

EXECUTIVE Ron Kolb CEO ron@sensimag.com

Tae Darnell Co-Founder/VP of Business Development tae@sensimag.com Alex Martinez Co-Chief Operations Officer alex@sensimag.com

Mike Mansbridge Co-Chief Operations Officer mike@sensimag.com EDITORIAL

Stephanie Wilson Editor in Chief stephanie@sensimag.com

Doug Schnitzspahn Executive Editor doug.schnitzspahn@sensimag.com Leland Rucker Senior Editor leland.rucker@sensimag.com

Robyn Griggs Lawrence Editor at Large robyn.lawrence@sensimag.com Helen Olsson Copy Chief

Patty Malesh, Emilie-Noelle Provost, Lori Tobias, Mona Van Joseph Contributing Writers DESIGN Jamie Ezra Mark Creative Director jamie@emagency.com Rheya Tanner Art Director Wendy Mak Designer Kiara Lopez Designer Josh Clark Designer Jason Jones Designer em@sensimag.com PUBLISHING Liana Cameris Publisher liana.cameris@sensimag.com B U S I N E S S /A D M I N Kristan Toth Head of People kristan.toth@sensimag.com

Amber Orvik Director of Administration amber.orvik@sensimag.com Andre Velez Marketing Director andre.velez@sensimag.com

From the start, Sensi’s been all about

progression. Growth is one of the two founding pillars of our company culture; humility is the other. I will be the first to admit the redesigned magazine you’re reading right now is long overdue. This is the first major overhaul of the magazine since we published the first-ever Sensi magazine covering the Denver/ Boulder market in April 2016. Just one year later, our first Southern Colorado publication made its debut. Today, we’re making local lifestyle magazines fueled largely by cannabis industry advertisers in 12 cities coast-to-coast. The redesigned magazine and new branding you see here were about a year in the making. I jotted down my first notes on the subject last November while perusing old issues of Esquire magazine—the best of the best when under the editorial leadership of David Granger. He wrote about his title’s redesign in one of his editor’s notes: “The magazine is not an inevitability. It requires eternal vigilance. It needs to … make an argument for itself.” Elsewhere in my notebooks, I wrote down this Granger wisdom: “[a magazine] is at its best when it starts over, when it is reimagined by the people who make it in order to better address the lives of its readers.” So, that’s what we’re trying to do here. We glanced back to propel ourselves forward. We move onward, the only direction. And as author Jim Collins said (and I wrote down on a different page of that notebook): “[we] keep a clear distinction between what we stand for (which should never change) and how we do things (which should never stop evolving).” We stripped Sensi down to its core components and built it back up again with the reader experience in mind. With you in mind. I hope you like how it turned out.

That’s what we’re trying to do with this redesign. We glanced back to propel ourselves forward. We move onward, the only direction.

Neil Willis Production Manager neil.willis@sensimag.com Hector Irizarry Distribution distribution@sensimag.com M E D I A PA R T N E R S Marijuana Business Daily Minority Cannabis Business Association National Cannabis Industry Association Students for Sensible Drug Policy

Stephanie Wilson @stephwilll DECEM BER 2019

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CONTRIBUTORS

Robyn Griggs Lawrence, Emilie-Noelle Provost, Doug Schnitzspahn, Stephanie Wilson

THE

Stick a Pin In It More than 300 million people around the globe use Pinterest every month, according to the brand’s Seasonal Report, released in October: “People come to Pinterest to plan for all of the important moments in their life.” In the weeks leading up to the ball drop, there’s a spike in searches for all things related to New Year’s, as people plan outfits, nails, and resolutions. There are 183 million “New Year’s” pins saved every year. Around the 10 SOU T H ER N CO LORA DO

holidays, “winter outfits” rises to the top of the phrase search. “’Tis the season for holiday parties! Every year, people turn to Pinterest to plan for all those upcoming celebrations with family and friends.” In November, searches for rhinestone eye makeup were up 550 percent year over year. The holiday season was already in full swing in October, when pinners searching for outfits, hairstyles, and gifts starting back in June,

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Roar into the 2020s with these turn-of-the-decade trends. according to a report from the social media brand. What were people searching for? Long satin dresses, up 331 percent from last year. That’s got nothing on the black silk skirt, up 458 percent. Animal print, puffy sleeves, glitter dip nails: this is your season to sparkle. For dudes, leopard pants men’s outfit was up 250 percent, as was corduroy men’s shirts. Holiday party outfits are the best way to slip into fashion.

BLACKOUT POWER-UP

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PHOTO: H&M WOMENSWEAR HOLIDAY 2019 COLLECTION. HM.COM

COOL MINIMALISM may be your go-to look, but get festive with a decadent dose of glamour.

LOCAL COMPANY

BY THE NUMBERS

-50°F

Windchill the Pikeʼs Peak AdAmAn Club mountaineers may face during the clubʼs annual New Yearʼs Eve hike to the summit of Americaʼs Mountain to set off fireworks

20K

NUMBER OF CANNABIS PLANTS LOST

Kava Break

Find relaxation and euphoria at Ohana. Looking for a respite from the holiday madness? Ohana Kava Bar serves 25 varieties of kava—a beverage made from a root that promotes well-being and euphoria. Ohana means “family” in the South Pacific, and kava is traditionally offered there as a relaxing welcome drink. Typically served in a coconut shell, the thick brew is said to have anti-inflammatory and diuretic capabilities as well as alleviating anxiety, insomnia, and muscle pain. Ohana also offers kombucha and loose leaf tea at its two Colorado Springs locations, one downtown and one at Austin Bluffs and Academy. ohanakavabar.com

at Pueblo-based Los Sueños Farms in Octoberʼs early freeze, causing shortages throughout the state

$1,217 AVERAGE MONTHLY RENT in Colorado Springs—a record high.

Source: the Colorado Division of Housing and the Apartment Association of Southern Colorado

Number of square miles at Fishers Peak, Coloradoʼs newest state park, located south of Trinidad

STAR WARS BARBIE COLLECTIBLES

The force gets fashionable.

You can still get your hands on one of the most coveted holiday toys of 2019: The Star Wars x Barbie collaboration dolls. Inspired by original concept art from Star Wars: A New Hope, the timeless collectibles designed by Mattel’s Rob Best put a high-fashion twist on iconic characters. Princess Leia dons a stunning white gown with dramatic, floor-length sleeves, highlighted with a corset belt, necklace, and cuffs. The Darth Vader doll captures the character’s Sith armor silhouette in a shiny head-to-toe ensemble complete with emblematic black cape. The release of the collection, which also features R2D2, precedes the franchise’s latest film, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which hits theaters December 20. $100 for each collectible, barbie.mattel.com

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THE BUZZ

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

ON THE PULSE

Smokeless Fire Everybody loves a campfire—but it’s not always easy to have one. Fires take work to maintain, they can be tough on the natural surroundings, and they can be dangerous—not to mention how you always seem to be sitting directly in the line of that column of smoke. Forget about those problems: BioLite’s FirePit Climate Neutral Edition, which holds four logs or charcoal, is portable and smokeless. That means you can haul it out to any spot where you want to park your camper van or just set it up on the back porch on a chilly night. It converts into a grill as well, ideal for those skewer meals. You can adjust the flames by hand… but why? It’s far easier to do it via Bluetooth. The good vibes don’t end there either. BioLite is not only a carbon-neutral company, spending cash to offset any carbon it creates, its founder helped spearhead the nonprofit climateneutral.org, which helps other brands offset their carbon use. Ten percent of sales on this portable campfire go to that worthy cause. BioLite FirePit / $199 / bioliteenergy.com

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How many steps do you get during your work day? If youʼre a nurse at OHSU Doernbecher Childrenʼs Hospital in Portland, Oregon, youʼre getting 10,000 strides in one 12-hour shift, sitting for less than an hour in a typical workday. Nike is launching a new collection of shoes designed to care for the tired toes of caregivers like the nurses at OHSU, where product testing and medical-worker insights led to the design of the new Air Zoom Pulse, made with the challenges of medical workers in mind. Itʼs easy to get on and off, simple to clean, and has plenty of traction and cushioning. On December 7, six new versions of the shoe will drop on nike.com, each one designed by a pint-size patient, with all profits going back to the hospital. The ones shown here were designed by Desiree Castillo, who also lent her talents to one of the six shoes in the 2019 Doernbecher Freestyle Collection. The shoes are an annual tradition since 2004 that has raised $24 million for the hospital.

SENSIBILITIES WHAT MATTERS THIS MONTH BY STEPHANIE WILSON

1 GOT ANY VACATION DAYS LEFT IN 2019? Use them! Last year, 55 percent of American workers did not use all their vacation days, leaving a record 768 million days on the table. That’s about $65.5 billion worth of forfeited benefits. Don’t be a sad statistic.

______ 2 NEW RULE: Catching up on your emails during the holiday break is forbidden.

Emails breed emails, so every reply or forward you click sends that task to someone else who is either a) trying to enjoy their holiday break, or b) trying to clean out their inbox as well. No more. If it’s in your inbox on December 22, it stays there until January 2. Deal? Deal.

______ 3 I REPEAT: No tossing your forgotten/low priority to-dos on other people’s

plates when they are on vacay.

______ 4 IF YOU’RE RESOLVING TO CLEAN UP ANY BAD HABITS IN 2020, go all in on them in December. Really indulge your vices: have that second drink, dab, dance, swim in the chaos, make bad decisions. You’ll not only get it out of your system, you’ll be so over it come January 1.

______ 5 IF YOUR VICE IS CONSIDERING THE BOUNDARIES OF YOUR MEANS IMAGINARY (thanks Oscar Wilde), disregard the above advice. You can lose the holiday weight if you stop overeating, but credit card debt doesn’t work like that. It grows, no matter how much you believe Santa will take care of it.

______ 6 SMILE. The magazine you’re holding right now was made with a whole lot of enthu-

siasm by some talented magazine junkies who have been working on the details of this redesign for the last year. This debut is like our Oscars, and we hope you like it. I love it.

You made us suffer when we didn't have to." —Christine Gordon, Colorado cannabis refugee, to the state of Kansas for preventing her 8-year-old daughter with Dravet Syndrome from using medical marijuana, on KCTV News

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THE BUZZ

Grow Some Green FUNGAL JOLT Thinking about investing in cannabis stocks? Here’s what you need to know. Though cannabis stocks have taken a hit while the industry has experienced growing pains in the last quarter, cannabisrelated stocks of all kinds have exploded across the map over the last few years. Cannabis companies, which make products containing THC and CBD as well as hard goods from hemp, operate in a few basic categories. Some produce goods for the medicinal market, others for the adult-use market, and still others make products for both. Ancillary companies such as Denver-based Akerna, which provides supply chain technology for cannabis companies, offer products and services that support these businesses. The cannabis industry overall is experiencing minimal profit growth, according to an October 2019 Investor’s Business Daily report. Because the industry is new, producers must take on debt to establish themselves and expand. Some companies are also experiencing raw materials shortages, licensing issues, and distribution problems. According to Investor’s Business Daily, cannabis industry stocks are still worth watching. Once companies become established, they are expected to take market share away from the pharmaceutical, alcohol, and tobacco industries and develop a larger, more stable customer base. Keep your eye on cannabis industry news at marijuanastocks.com.

Historically, cordyceps mushrooms were grown on the backs of rare caterpillars that live in Tibet’s high mountain ranges. The fungus lays claims to providing everything from long life to a boost in male sexual prowess. Coffee is that jolt you can’t live without. Combine coffee and cordyceps mushrooms in this mix, and you get a morning drink that really gets you, um, pumping. The mix of the shrooms and the caffeine means you get that energy boost without feeling jittery. Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee $15 for 10 packets / us.foursigmatic.com

“TO ME, THE RELIANCE ON A SINGLE INDUSTRY, WHICH COULD SO EASILY CHANGE OVER THE COMING YEARS WITH THE EXPANSION OF LEGALIZATION LOCALLY AND NATIONWIDE, IS EXTREMELY RISKY.” —Ken Jaray, Manitou Springs Mayor, on his concern over the town getting about half its sales tax revenue from cannabis

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PUEBLO MAKES

Find and support networks of local makers, artists, and crafters. pueblomakes.com

Making It Pueblo is finding its place in the post-industrial world by returning to the cottage industries that once thrived in southern Colorado.

ueblo, Colorado, has been a crossroads for commerce since early settlers built El Pueblo Fort at the convergence of the Arkansas River and Fountain Creek in 1842. This geologically significant spot offers a bounty of natural resources, from sand to shale, that enterprising makers took full advantage of as the area developed. Colorado Fuel and Iron Company opened the first integrated steel mill west of the Mississippi on Pueblo’s south side in 1881 and dominated the town’s economy until the steel crash in the early 1980s caused a brutal economic depression and unemployment approaching 20 percent.

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Pueblo has struggled in the post-industrial world, but times are changing. Creatives and makers throughout southern Colorado are making their mark, forming collectives, providing education and mentoring, and nurturing the region’s traditional maker spirit. Pueblo is returning to the cottage industry economy that thrived here before it became a company town, and the maker community is leading the way. “Pueblo makes steel, but we also roast coffee, we design and make jewelry, we customize hot rods, and we paint murals,” Jane Fraser, a retired Colorado State University (CSU) engineering professor who founded the Pueblo

Makes community collective to support local makers, writes in Watertower Place magazine. “We have great manufacturing companies that make carbon disk brakes for aircraft, towers for wind turbines, rail products, traction chains, custom kitchen cabinets, fruit-handling equipment, highend GPS devices, bath and body products, and more. I sew.” Fraser grew up in a paper mill town in New Jersey and immediately felt at home when she moved to Pueblo 20 years ago. Now she tries never to go north of milepost 110 on I-25, and she’s one of Pueblo’s biggest cheerleaders. “So many people use the word real about Pueblo,” she says. She was also the

PHOTO BY JEAN GRASTON PHOTOGRAPHY

TEXT ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE

ENLIGHTENED COMMERCE: Katie Velarde sells chakra stone bracelets at glitterzen.etsy.com.

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“So many people use the word

‘ real ’

when talking about Pueblo.”

—Jane Fraser, Pueblo Makes founder

PHOTOS BY JEANETTE BAYSINGER

CHANGE OF SCENE: Sculptor Frank Nemick looks forward to moving into Watertower Place this winter.

driving force behind Pueblo winning a $40,000 Etsy Maker Cities grant to support creative entrepreneurship and local development while helping traditionally underrepresented groups participate in the creative economy. In partnership with Mastercard’s Center for Inclusive Growth, Etsy is also pro-

viding Maker Cities with training and ongoing cohort support from Recast City, a technical assistance firm focused on business development for the maker economy. Spearheaded by Southern Colorado Economic Development District (SCEDD) Executive Director Shelly Dunham, the Pueblo Makers

City Project is a consortium of local organizations and makers who provide training, technical assistance, and mentoring for local makers, particularly those with diverse abilities and limited economic means (many from the East Side). Fostering collaboration and community among Pueblo’s creatives, the Pueblo Makers Project includes a business accelerator for creatives, a community creative project that will culminate in a gallery show, and a web page connecting creatives to resources, opportunities, and one another. “This is going to make a huge difference,” says Pueblo native Katie Velarde, who has sold nearly 3,500 chakra stones and handmade bracelets through her Etsy store, Glitter Zen (glitterzen.etsy.com). “I’ve already helped about five people launch Etsy shops, and I can personally think of 15 to 20 more people who want to. There’s a huge group of artists and crafters in Pueblo who could earn extra income if they learned more about Etsy and how to launch a shop. Their hobby could become their business.” DECEM BER 2019

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Go further. Recover faster. ioVia™ offers the highest quality tinctures and True Transdermal creams in Colorado. Now with more product options and lower pricing. Ask for ioVia™ at your favorite dispensary, or visit us online at ioVia.org.

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Impactful Employer As part of the grant, Etsy gave members of the Pueblo Makers Project access to data that Southern Colorado Innovation Link manager and Pueblo native Mark Madic found fascinating. “There are 657 artists in the area that sell primarily on Etsy,” Madic says. “That’s an impactful number. Most of those artists have full-time employment from e-commerce as makers or creatives—so it’s one of the biggest employers in the area.” Southern Colorado makers are producing everything from handmade paper products to small-batch botanicals, with plenty of support from the community. The Pueblo Arts Alliance provides affordable studio, retail, and small-batch manufacturing space at 107 S. Grand. And the Creative Corridor focused around Pueblo’s historic city centers—Downtown Main Street, Union Avenue Historic District, and Mesa Junction— offers maker spaces in historic buildings where festivals and events such as First Fridays take place. At the Shoe Factory, Pueblo’s first member-supported, community-based art studio and gallery space, artists-in-residence provide education through local schools and organizations and invite the public to attend open studios and art walks. Steel City Art Works reps more than 40 regional artists. “As an overall trend, not just in Pueblo but in southern Colorado and across Custer, Huerfano, Fremont, and Pueblo counties, a lot of meaningful collaboration has happened,” Madic says.

DIGITAL GLOW: Glitter Zen has sold more than 3,500 stones and bracelets on Etsy.

“There’s a huge group of artists and crafters in Pueblo who could earn

extra income

if they learned more about Etsy and how to launch a shop. Their hobby could become their business.” —Katie Velarde, Glitter Zen

Perhaps the region’s most ambitious project to date is Watertower Place, a 250,000-squarefoot re-urbanist mixed-use development in the abandoned Alpha Beta meat-packing plant at 303 S. Santa Fe, offering residential, coworking, social gathering, and commercial space as well as fabrication, manufacturing, and makerspace entities. CSU opened a downtown satellite campus there, and plans call GREAT LENGTHS for three restaurants, a coffee In 1978, art students creatroaster, and a brewer. Developer ed the worldʼs longest mural, covering a three-mileand Pueblo native Ryan McWillong stretch of the levee liams is aiming for an urban waterway through downtown Pueblo. Over the paradise, with a cheesemaker, years, up to 1,000 artists a butcher, and gardens teeming contributed to the canwith bees from local hives on the vas, which was destroyed rooftop. Watertower Place hosts during a levee reconstruction project in 2014. an annual festival, artist-resiThe Pueblo Conservancy dency programs, art commisDistrict has put out a call sions, and pop-up installations for artists to paint a new and performances. levee mural. Sculptor and Pueblo native pueblolevee.org Frank Nemick plans to move into Watertower Place by the end of the year. “I’m really looking forward to getting in there with all the different artists and studios and living arrangements and businesses,” he says. “It’s going to be a nice community.” For Fraser, Watertower Place—where McWilliams’ team removed 1.5 million pounds of trash left by a homeless community before construction could begin—is a physical manifestation of the tremendous change taking place throughout Pueblo. “For so many years, it was sitting there as an eyesore,” she says. “Now to know it’s coming alive and great things are happening—just that physical change is fantastic.” DECEM BER 2019

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PHOTO VIA ALICE + OLIVIA AND KUSH QUEEN 24 SOU T H ER N COLORA DO

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HIGHS A

t the end of October, the Wall Street Journal ran an article titled “Cannabis Open Houses Are Putting the High in High-End Real Estate.” The trend piece by author Katherine Clarke revealed the emerging discovery being used by developers and real-estate agents to move luxe properties in communities where recreational cannabis is not just legal but widely accepted. It’s not unlike Los Angeles, where the rising industry is being hailed as an untapped source for buyers of high-priced homes. Throwing cannabis-related events—everything from elaborate seven-course pairing dinners with vapes in lieu of vino to live trimming classes—at multimillion-dollar properties on the market is garnering attention, building social buzz, and attracting buyers with money earned in, around, or on cannabis. Not everyone sees the genius behind the trend, however. Clarke spoke

SPECIAL REPORT

Luxury has gone to pot. TEXT LORI TOBIAS AND STEPHANIE WILSON

to one agent in New York, where recreational cannabis is still a pipe dream and old tropes live on about munchie-motivated stoners. “When I think about cannabis, I don’t think about buying an expensive house,” says Warburg Realty’s Jason Haber. “It’s not a call for action as much as a call for Doritos.” Someone should tell him friends don’t let friends make tired stoner jokes anymore. Especially ones implying cannabis consumers indulge their munchies with mindless consumption of unhealthy snacks when the reality is cannabis appeals to what The Economist dubs the “health-conscious inebriate,” citing a poll that 72 percent of American consumers thought cannabis was safer than alcohol. A 2018 The New Yorker headline declared cannabis to be a wellness industry in California where, in fact, a cannabinoid cousin of THC and CBD is starting to garner a whole lot of buzz.

Instead of stimulating appetites, THCV may suppress those hunger pangs. When 2021 is declared the year of THCV, you can say you heard it here first.

CONSUMPTION AND CONSUMERISM Cannabis has moved so far beyond the clichés of yore. Tie-dye tees, bell-bottom cords, dancing bear patches, plastic bongs, Ziploc baggies: these tired trends are so out of style, some have already circled back and left again. (Looking at you, tie-dye.) The stoner kids of yesterday are the cannabis entrepreneurs, enthusiasts, and connoisseurs of today. And as they’ve aged, their tastes in cannabis aged with them, like the fine wine they can now afford. Cannabis consumers have money to burn. And since we live in a capitalist society (an unjust one where people remain locked up for nonviolent drug charges in states that earn taxes off now-legal cannabis DECEM BER 2019

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF BARNEYS NEW YORK, INC.

The High End at Barneys New York in Beverly Hills

sales—that’s a whole layered story for a different day), money makes things happen. And what’s happening now is the emergence of a cannabis experience elevated to a higher level. If you were paying attention to the pop-culture cues over the decades, you would have seen the high-end highs coming. When cannabis prohibition began its slow-and-steady march to its forthcoming end, it emerged from the black market with an established following of consumers—loyal cannabis consumers with no brand loyalty, because cannabis brands didn’t exist. Dealers did, growers did, activists, advocates, and believers, too. But the concept of cannabis brands was all brand-new. With strict laws surrounding where the substance can be marketed,

sold, advertised, distributed, and more, establishing customer loyalty in this industry is more difficult than it would seem on the surface. What differentiates one edible brand from another, one vape pen from the next is complicated to discern for those who aren’t well versed in the modern verbiage or its meaning. (Full-spectrum distillate, live resin, 2:1 ratios, oh my!) This is where marketing and branding comes into play. And with marketing and branding comes the emergence of new market segments, including the ultra-luxury category. It is from within that category that future trends are likely to emerge. That’s how trends play out, as Miranda Priestly (played by Meryl Streep) explained to her new assistant in one iconic scene of The Devil Wears Prada. (If

“Expensive breeds expensive things. You wouldn’t have expensive cannabis if you didn’t have people who wanted to buy expensive cannabis.” —Karyn Wagner, Paradigm Cannabis Group

you haven’t seen it in a while, a quick refresher: “The color of the shirt you are wearing right now was determined years ago by high-end designers preparing their collections for fashion GOT MONEY TO BLOW? week runways.”) This Caleb Siemon Trickle-down trends Blown Art Glass are a hierarchical proWater Pipe will cess whereby individuals set you back with high status establish about $950. fashion trends, only to be imitated by lower-status individuals wearing cheaper versions of the same styles. “It’s always been a thing,” says Karyn Wagner, CEO of Paradigm Cannabis Group, a women-owned extraction company specializing in pre-rolls and extracts made from small-batch sun-grown flower. “There’s always been those products that are better than others. But now, with adult use, we have to be more brand-conscious. With DECEM BER 2019

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that, how do you distinguish yourself from someone else? Why is this better? What makes it better?”

PHOTOS (FROM TOP): KATHLEEN HARRISON, KIKOKO HIGH TEA / COURTESY OF BEBOE

SOME LIKE IT HAUTE With any luxury good, consumers want the assurance of quality and efficacy, Wagner says. But you can never underestimate the prestige that comes with a high price tag. “The moneyed class always loves expensive items,” she says. “This normalizes it in their world. It brings in folks who didn’t normally have the desire. It made it OK in their class. Expensive breeds expensive things. You wouldn’t have expensive cannabis if you didn’t have people who wanted to buy expensive cannabis.” Jenny Le Coq, president of Le Coq & Associates, a marketing and communications firm in San Francisco that represents Kikoko cannabis-infused botanical mints, points out that most people typically don’t seek out a cheap bottle of wine, but look for something fine, trustworthy, and familiar. They want to know the winery, its reputation, who recommends the vintage. “People are looking at wines today with a more discerning eye—how their grapes

With any luxury good, consumers want the assurance of quality and efficacy. Luxury doesn't always have to indicate price, but what it must indicate is quality.

are grown, for example,” Le Coq says. “People are looking at cannabis in the same way: with a discerning eye.” “Discerning” can add up to big money, for sure. Anecdotal stories abound in national media outlets, suggesting couples in Colorado will drop several bills on “cannagars” and other high-end party favors to celebrate weddings and anniversaries. At The High End, Barneys New York’s luxury cannabis lifestyle shop in Beverly Hills, shoppers can splurge on a $1,475 sterling silver bud grinder or a $950 water pipe. New York fashion brand Alice + Olivia partnered with luxury cannabis brand Kush Queen to debut a CBD wellness line earlier this year—bath bomb, body lotion, bubble bath with lavender. Alice + Olivia packaging features CEO Stacey Bendet’s signature “StaceFace” motif, with big sunglasses and a bold red lip. A timeless statement-making style that trendsetters of every era make their own while trendy types try to emulate the overall aesthetic. That’s just the way things work. To be fair, luxury doesn’t have to mean $$$$. What it must indicate, however, is quality. “Luxury is an assigned

label. It is typically assigned by marketers,” Le Coq says. “So, what do you want cannabis to be? As a consumer, how do you perceive luxury? The concept is really defined differently by every person. We want people to experience something that is luxurious. Not only the packaging is beautiful, the taste is beautiful, the place you are put into mentally is a nice, beautiful place.”

DECEM BER 2019

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lori Tobias is a lifelong journalist based on the Oregon Coast, where she lives with her husband, Chan, and two rescue pups, Luna and Monkey.

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WOKE, NOT WASTED They say they’re not alcoholics, and they’re certainly not anonymous. What is sober curious—and can sobriety really be fluid? TEXT ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE

drink badly, and I have a lot of fun doing it (when I remember). That’s a lethal combination, and when you throw in my unfortunate discovery of White Claw—I can drink as many as I want and never feel full!—I flamed out with alcohol last winter. On February 1, just as everyone else was celebrating the end of Dry January and just ahead of the Summer of the Claw, I swore off the seltzer. I figured I’d give myself one month (note: the year’s shortest) to reset. It wasn’t an easy 28 days, but when March 1 rolled around, I felt better than I’d felt in years. The

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chronic inflammation I had attributed to everything from gluten sensitivity to genetics was clearing. I saw the light, and there was no going back. I thought sobriety would be lonely, that every Saturday night would be Netflix. I forgot the Brett Kavanaugh generation isn’t in charge of culture anymore (thank God). Millennials and Gen Xers aren’t interested in swilling beer until they black out like we did in the ’80s. Sober is sexy—or, as hipsobriety.com sees it, “sobriety is the new black.” On Instagram, there are influencers such as @stylishlysober, @thesoberglow, and the darker @fucking_sober

and hashtags like #soberliving, #soberAF, and #sobercurious. Millie Gooch, who posts as @sobergirlsociety, encourages her nearly 60,000 followers with inspirational messages like “Mocks not cocks” and “Sobriety: a surefire way to improve your wellbeing and your Uber rating.” Just like that, I’m a cool kid—with a huge range of new options on Saturday night (and beyond). I’m exploring elixirs made with raw cacao, maca, and horny goat weed at Tonic Herban Lounge just a few blocks from my home in downtown Boulder (I can walk home after imbibing, and it amuses me that I don’t need to). I can

do yoga and shake it before dawn at a Daybreaker dance party (daybreaker.com) in Denver, one of 27 cities where the alcohol-free early morning rave pops up and invites people to “sweat, dance, and connect with ourselves in community.” I’m surely not alone in this realization that life is better without booze. Worldwide, alcohol consumption fell by 1.6 percent last year. Led by young people, heavy-hitting countries like Russia, Canada, Japan, and the UK are seeing drinking rates as well as tolerance toward intoxication decline. An international survey found that about a third of people wanted

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cus, Presence, and Deep Connection” is February 14–16, 2020, at Massachusetts’ renowned wellness retreat center Kripalu). Her take is that a lot of Americans might not have a “problem” with alcohol but see it as getting in the way of their healthy lifestyles. “We eat well. We exercise. We meditate,” the press release for Sober Curious states. “So, why do we… still drink?” Warrington wants to to reduce their alcohol APPS FOR THAT know why the only peointake because of everyple who don’t drink are Loosid: Digital platform for sober dating, destinations, and meetups Sober Grid: “The worldʼs most popular mobile sober community” thing from sexual regret the ones who can’t and Twenty-Four Hours a Day: Inspiration through daily meditations and embarrassment to asks, “What if I am just…a little bit addicted?” physical health. A 2018 Call me old school, survey found that nearly but a little bit addicted 40 percent of global consounds a lot like a little sumers want to drink less pushing more women, mi- As Sean Paul Mahoney norities, and poor people writes on The Fix, a web- bit pregnant. I worry that for health reasons. to the bottle, according to site about addiction and In the US, CNBC repeople who shouldn’t ports, 52 percent of adults a study published in JAMA recovery, “I didn’t get so- will take the advice of ber to be cool. I just got John Costa, who writes are trying to lower their al- Psychiatry. The national on twentytwowords.com cohol intake, and underage Institute for Alcohol Abuse sober to stop dying.” and Alcoholism reports drinking has steadily dethat being sober curiclined in the last 10 years. that 17 million adults in A LITTLE BIT ADDICTED? ous is like being bi-curiBut only 21 percent of US the US are alcohol de“Sober curious” became ous—you don’t always adults in a CivicScience pendent, and the Centers a thing after Harperhook up with people of poll said they had any for Disease Control and Collins released Ruby the same sex, and you interest in drinking less Prevention says one in Warrington’s Sober Cudon’t have to cut out or not at all, and most of six binge drink—defined rious: The Blissful Sleep, drinking forever. “Be those were 21- to 34-year- as drinking four or more Greater Focus, Limitless sober half the time,” he old, vegan-leaning flexitar- drinks over two hours or Presence, and Deep Conwrites, “and sauced the ians who practice yoga and until blood alcohol reaches nection Awaiting Us All on other half.” He’s joking, consume cannabis daily. 0.08—nearly once a week. the Other Side of Alcohol but those are dangerous Women, especially those For this White Claw guzin 2018. Warrington also words for me. That’s the in their 30s and 40s, are zler, that definition is, well, has a podcast, runs Club life I was living: sober by drinking more than ever. sobering. I called that hap- Söda NYC (featuring day + tanked by night = Booze still rules for py hour. sober events like Kundbalance. most Americans, and Giving up alcohol isn’t alini Disco), and stages Like all disorders (and “increased stress and dea hashtag for a lot of peo- events (“Sober Curious: pretty much everything moralization” is actually ple. It’s not even a choice. Choosing Sobriety for Fo- in our culture), alcohol DECEM BER 2019

SOBERING STUDIES

Alcohol accounts for nearly 1 in 10 deaths of people aged 15 to 49 and is the leading risk factor for disease and premature death. Source: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Binge drinking rates in states where cannabis is legal fell to 9 percent below the national average and 11 percent below non-legal states in 2016. Source: Cowen & Co.

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SPIRITS FOR NEXT-GEN PARTIERS The joke goes that nonalcoholic drinks are like listening to porn on the radio, but times have changed. Theyʼre the CBD of the alcohol world. Nonalcohol (NA) beverages are a bright spot in a declining alcohol market, and their sales are expected to grow 32 percent by 2022, according to a Bon Appetit report. Todayʼs creative, health-inducing craft beverages are a lot more than just alcohol-free.

BEER

Athletic IPA: Robust alcohol-free craft brew Heineken OO: The OGʼs first NA brew OʼDoulʼs: Anheuser-Buschʼs classic has new limited-edition meant-for-Instagram cans by local artists in New York, Chicago, and LA

WINE

Napa Hills: Blend of fruit-flavored water and VitaRes (antioxidant blend with resveratrol, red grape skin, and red wine extract) with as many antioxidants as red wine O.Vine: Grape-infused wine water with “the health benefits of the real thing”

use runs on a spectrum. I was at the end that spent hours upon hours researching whether drinking while on this antibiotic would really make me projectile vomit and scoffed at friends as they struggled through Dry January, Dry July, Sober September, and Sober October. I wasn’t interested in giving up drinking for any reason or any amount of time, until I had to give it up for life. Warrington, who sees reducing alcohol intake as another step in the wellness revolution, is at the other end of the spectrum—and she is aware of the difference between recovering from alcohol addiction and feeling better during yoga. I hope all of her fol-

lowers are, too, because the last thing most drinkers need is a loophole. I want to believe the trend Warrington is leading toward spirits-free activities and thoughtfulness about alcohol’s role in our culture—where every ritual, celebration, loss, entertainment, and even sporting event is cause for a drink—is not a trend but a movement. That we’ll look back at “mommyjuice” like we shake our heads at “mother’s little helper” pills from the ’60s and ’70s. The infrastructure to support sobriety is being built, and public opinion is turning. After centuries of going hard, America is getting woke, not wasted. Cheers to that.

SOBERING STUDIES

A British study of Dry January abstainers found that 82 percent felt a sense of achievement, 62 percent slept better, and 49 percent lost some weight.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robyn Griggs Lawrence is the author of the bestselling Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook and Pot in Pans: A History of Eating Cannabis.

SPIRITS

Curious Elixirs: Individually bottled alcohol-free craft cocktails High Rhode by Kin: “Euphorics” made from nootropics and adaptogens, including 5-HTP, rhodiola, and caffeine Ritual Whiskey: “As a veggie burger is to beef, or almond milk is to dairy, Ritual is an alternative to traditional whiskey” Seedlip Spice 94: Gin-like blend of Jamaican allspice berry, cardamom, and citrus peel Stryyk: “Zero-proof spirits,” including Not Vodka, Not Rum, and Not Gin Three Spirit: “Social elixir” made from yerba mate, lionʼs mane, damiana, and cacao

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THE

Shred and Listen

SOUNDING THE DEEP: Zach Pickett turns up the volume at Crested Butte.

You don’t have to wander far from the lifts to find incredible music venues at Colorado’s best resorts.

Colorado’s ski and snowboard resorts have a well-deserved reputation for rocking terrain and powder stashes for those in the know. But as mountain towns continue to evolve, they are bringing in the kind of musical happen-

ings you wouldn’t expect of ski areas, where some dude strumming James Taylor during après has been the tired norm. In fact, these resorts have venues that may just bring fans up to the mountains for more than the snow

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this winter. Here’s the inside scoop on where to find the goods on the slopes and music in the evening at three of our favorite Colorado resorts.

ski town that has insisted on bucking the system and staying weird now that corporate leviathan Vail Resorts has purchased Crested Butte Mountain Resort. But one Crested Butte thing is for sure: the Shred: There’s a lot terrain here serves of uncertainty in the plenty of thrills—

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with one hell of a view. The North Face T-Bar accesses chutes, drops, and stashes that have served as a proving ground for generations of extreme skiers. Up your personal game by threading your way through it. If you’re

seeking a healthy dose of steeps away from the Texan tourists and big-air wannabes, head to the far-off wonders of Teocalli 2 Bowl. These cliff bands and deep bowls require a short schuss to access, but prove well worth it for

PHOTO BY DAVE KOZLOWSKI/CBMR

TEXT DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

PLAN YOUR TRIP

PHOTOS BY TAYLOR AHEARN, CBMR (TOP) / NATHAN BILOW, CRESTED BUTTE CENTER FOR THE ARTS (BOTTOM)

Crested Butte: skicb.com Crested Butte Center for the Arts: crestedbuttearts.org

a chance at some untracked bliss. No worries, it’s not all extreme here. The resort replaced its Teocalli Lift with a quad chair, doubling its uphill capacity and offering quick access to beginner and intermediate terrain. And if you’ve caught the AT bug, Crested Butte’s uphill policy allows you (and your leashed dog) to skin or fat bike up the mountain before the lifts start turning and after they stop. During operating hours, you can skin up on designated routes (but no bikes or dogs). You’ll need an Uphill Use Ticket and be aware of dangers and ski area operations. The Red Lady chair accesses blues and greens with sweeping views of the snow-covered Elk Range across the valley from the eponymous butte. Listen: Crested Butte’s brand-new Center for the Arts facility breaks the mold for what a little mountain town can offer, not just in music but also with visual arts, film, and hands-on

TAKE A DEEP BREATH—AND DROP Youʼll find sweeping panoramas and plenty of thrills on the way down at Crested Butte.

workshops ranging from stained glass to cooking. Much thought and clever engineering went into the LEED-certified venue. It was built to reflect sound, with canted walls and curved ceiling panels that will make both audiophiles and architects drool. No more than 400 tickets ever go on sale for each show, and the house configuration can morph from a rollicking dance floor to a more intimate space, depending on the vibe of the artist. The new music venue has already drawn big names— the types of bands

Behold the beauty of Crested Butteʼs brand new music venue.

you’d find playing at Red Rocks. This season’s lineup includes Matisyahu (December 6), Leftover Salmon (December 27–28), and The Motet (January 3). Vail & Beaver Creek Shred: To ski or ride a place as big as Vail (5,289 skiable acres), you need a

plan. Powder days can be chaos, so choose a route that gives you a few warm-up runs in places like Game Creek Bowl as you make your way to the back side of the mountain for lunch in Blue Sky Basin. Make a few laps in Blue Sky before working your way back to the front.

And don’t ignore the front side, especially when the Back Bowls are skied out and crudded up. The Northwoods chair offers terrain that will please all levels of skiers and riders without the mad dash of the Back Bowls. Try to grab a few extended screamers on Riva Ridge and Prima DECEM BER 2019

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THE LIFE

PLAN YOUR TRIP

PHOTOS COURTESY VAIL MOUNTAIN (TOP LEFT) / COURTESY BEAVER CREEK RESORT (TOP RIGHT) / COURTESY VPAC (BOTTOM)

Vail: vail.com Beaver Creek: beavercreek.com Vilar Performing Arts Center: vilarpac.org

venue you’ve never heard of—and that’s a crime. Never mind that it’s centrally located just a short walk from the bottom of Beaver Creek’s Centennial Express lift (or a short Uber ride from Vail), the acoustics in this cozy 530-seat theater make ev-

DEEP THOUGHTS Seek powder stashes in Vailʼs trees (above) and escape the crowds at Beaver Creek (top right).

Cornice before they become a highway at the end of the day. Plus, the snow stays grippy on the shady north slopes when the mountain’s southern exposures get sloppy or, worse, frozen solid. Why does Beaver Creek stay so mellow when the crowds descend on Vail just down I-70? We have no idea— but it’s well worth hitting up Vail’s sister resort when you find the former’s

parking structures are jampacked. Plus, you’ll get treated to free platters of Beaver Creek’s signature freshly baked chocolate chip cookies at the base as well as sunblock in the lift line. Thanks to long, open, leg-burning runs and the legendary Birds of Prey World Cup course, Beaver Creek draws plenty of frontside racers but the off-piste goods here are just as tempting. If it’s

dumping, head to the black diamonds off the Grouse Mountain Express lift and the powder stashes in Royal Elk Glade. Meanwhile, beginners and intermediates will find plenty of terrain to keep them feeling confident in Bachelor Gulch and the Arrowhead Village section of the mountain. Listen: The Vilar Performing Arts Center (VPAC) is the best music

ery note ring clear and crisp without blowing your eardrums. This season at VPAC, enjoy classical-contemporary fusion with DSQ electric string quartet (January 9), classic rock with Three Dog Night (March 3), and festival-circuit fave Sam Bush (March 9). The lineup also includes spectacles like Cirque Mechanics 42FT (January 18) and showings of Warren Miller’s latest flick, Timeless (December 6–7).

DECEM BER 2019

TUNE IN: The crisp acoustics in the intimate VPAC will keep you coming back.

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THE LIFE HOROSCOPE

SAGITTARIUS, RECENT KUDOS FOR YOUR EFFORTS ARE ABOUT TO CREATE THE KIND OF PATH THAT ALLOWS YOU TO MOVE FORWARD.

DECEMBER HOROSCOPE What do the stars hold for you this month? TEXT MONA VAN JOSEPH

NOV. 22–DEC. 21

DEC. 22–JAN. 19

JAN. 20–FEB. 18

FEB. 19–MARCH 20

MARCH 21–APRIL 19

As much as you’d like to have your own thing (business, adventure, or item), it is not good timing right now. You’ve been a bit scattered lately. Recent kudos for your efforts are about to create the kind of path that allows you to move forward.

Admit it. You do your best stuff when you’re a little stressed. That energy has always allowed you to get into the moment and concentrate on a deep level. Instead of fighting the energy, decide to embrace it this month. It will be your gift of focus.

You’ve always been a bit of a risk-taker. These 31 days will be about doing what has not been done before, like making a casino a nonprofit entity with proceeds to benefit an organization near and dear to you.

As much as you may dread it, you will find more opportunities for joy, romance, and change when you participate in group activities. Accept all invitations. Give to charity and be in the public eye.

Reach deep within to see how creative you can be. Your inventive approach to holiday gatherings with friends will set the tone for 2020. Invent a new cocktail or start a unique holiday tradition.

SAGITTARIUS

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CAPRICORN

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AQUARIUS

PISCES

ARIES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mona Van Joseph has been an intuitive since 2002. She is an author, columnist, and host of Psychic View Radio. She created DiceWisdom.com, which also has a smartphone app. mona.vegas

someone presents one im- “Ninety percent of success pression, and you find out is showing up” is going to If your work has become differently, do not hesitate work wonders for you. dull, it’s time to add an ex- to 86 them out of your life. citing element to your cur- You should cull away any SEPT. 23–OCT. 22 rent activities or maybe dishonesty or intrigue now. dump them entirely and Someone unexpected do something new. You are JULY 23–AUG. 22 has nudged you along an artist in your work and into what you really want excellent at what you do. This is an anti-procrasti- to do. Make a total comIt’s time to enjoy it again. nation month. Do not hes- mitment to this very supitate to take care of things portive energy and perMAY 21–JUNE 20 you promised yourself mit yourself to be what you’d do at the beginning you’ve always known you Be a giver this month— of the year. Purge the old are. What happened by even if it seems that crap that’s building up accident has now turned you’ve been doing a lot of in your living space, and into a direction. that lately. Do not be stin- make space for the new. gy. If it’s the difference of OCT. 23–NOV. 21 a few dollars, spend the AUG. 23–SEPT. 22 extra. If someone needs You made amends recenta little more of your time, There’s the right way, the ly with your actions and be there for them. wrong way, and your way. probably solved some old Love your way, and presnagging issues through JUNE 21–JULY 22 ent it to activities that may your dreams. You’ll start to be a bit out of your comsee things get a little easier If it seems as though fort zone. New environfor you this month. We are you’re not getting the enments will bring you unex- drawn to what rewards us, tire story, you are correct. If pected success. The quote so keep allowing this gift. APRIL 20–MAY 20

TAURUS

LIBRA

LEO

GEMINI

VIRGO

SCORPIO

CANCER

VIRGO, EMBRACE YOUR WAY OF DOING THINGS, AND PRESENT IT TO ACTIVITIES THAT MAY BE OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE. DECEM BER 2019

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THE

Shop for handmade gifts, experience Handel’s Messiah, enjoy chocolate flights, and eat burritos with wolves. TEXT ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE

December could mean days and nights spent cozied up at home, away from winter’s chill—but not if you live in southern Colorado, where a robust community of creatives and adventurers will get you out and about. Whether you’re craving art, food, music, a community gathering, or all of the above, we’ve got you covered with this hand-picked list of events that are well-worth braving the elements for.

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First Friday at the Space Foundation Dec. 6 Space Foundation, Area 51, Colorado Springs scwcc.com

Network over breakfast with business professionals and entrepreneurs.

Holiday Food & Gift Festival Dec. 6–8 Norris Penrose Event Center, Colorado Springs hfgf.com

This popular show features arts, crafts, gourmet food, jewelry, and more.

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLORADO SPRINGS FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

On the Calendar

LEFT TOP: HOLIDAY CHOCOLATE FEST LEFT BOTTOM: FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS RIGHT TOP: COLLECTIVE GROOVE RIGHT BOTTOM: ROCK LEDGE RANCH

Festival of Lights Parade Dec. 7 Downtown Colorado Springs coloradospringsfestivaloflights.com

The 35th annual parade starts at 5:50 p.m.

Traditions Arts and Crafts Sale Dec. 7 La Veta Mercantile, La Veta Event info on Facebook

Local makers offer their wares to kick off the holiday season.

Rock Canyon Half Marathon Dec. 8 City Park, Pueblo bit.ly/2XrM8Su

This 13.1-mile race follows the Arkansas River and cuts through the heart of the city.

Holiday Chocolate late samples and Festival entertainment. Dec. 14 Colorado Springs Event Center, Colorado Springs bit.ly/37jazWF

This sweet event features more than 100,000 choco-

Rock Ledge Ranch Holiday Evening Dec. 14 Rock Ledge Ranch, Colorado Springs rockledgeranch.com

This special night and other holiday will have jingle-bell favorites will be wagon rides, oldfeatured. time music, and guided lantern Winter Wonderland tours.

with the Wolves The Springs Holiday Show Dec. 14–15 Colorado Springs Event Center, Colorado Springs

Catch up on the latest in home improvement, remodeling, design, and outdoor living at this free show.

Christmas Symphony Dec. 22 Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts, Colorado Springs csphilharmonic.org

Dec. 22 Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, Divide wolfeducation.org

Enjoy breakfast burritos with the wolves at a wolf sanctuary in Divide.

Collective Groove Dec. 27 Stargazers Theatre & Event Center, Colorado Springs stargazerstheatre.com

With some of the area’s top horn players, this nineArcangelo Corelli’s piece funk-andChristmas Concerto, soul band rocks Handel’s Messiah, the house. DECEM BER 2019

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SENSI NIGHT SOUTHERN COLORADO WHERE: PUEBLO UNION DEPOT WHEN: NOVEMBER 7, 2019

sensimediagroup @sensimag @sensimagazine

THE SCENE HIGH SOCIETY

Networking on the Railroad At the historic railroad station in downtown Pueblo, happy people came together for Sensiʼs second-annual pre-holiday gathering. Sensi Nights give people a chance to connect IRL with the brands that appear on the pages of the magazine—to ask questions, to learn whatʼs new and whatʼs next, and to discover fresh favorites. All while surrounded by some pretty stellar humans who came out to share knowledge and to celebrate the start to the holiday season. Keep an eye on Sensiʼs social media for news about upcoming events.

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Be a Savvy CBD Shopper Try these six top tips for finding the product that’s just right for you.

safety and accuracy. Always ask the retailer or brand for testing results to ensure you’re getting the advertised CBD milligram content and no harmful residuals.

1. Review the test results Trustworthy companies test their CBD-infused products to ensure

2. Inquire where the hemp was grown Hemp is a hyper-accumulator (say what?), meaning it greatly absorbs pollutants like heavy metals and radioactive contaminants—you don’t

hether gift-giving or considering your 2020 health goals, here’s everything you need to know to ensure you’re getting the best bang for your buck when buying CBD products.

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want those toxins entering your body. Choose CBD products that use USA-grown hemp, preferably in states like Colorado, where the Department of Agriculture inspects for illegal pesticides and THC content. 3. Know the difference between CBD isolate and full-spectrum Full-spectrum refers to a whole plant extract, and scientists have

A DV I S O R Y B OA R D M E D I C A L LY C O R R E C T

found that the synergy of all-natural cannabinoids and compounds (called the “entourage effect”) create greater effectiveness than other formulas. However, if you’re undergoing drug testing or are concerned about any potential psychoactive effects, choose a product that uses CBD isolate. These are THC-free and won’t put your job in jeopardy. 4. Consider what you’re looking to achieve There are CBD products in gas stations and groceries, in everything from gummy bears to toothpaste. Consider your needs and each product’s perks. Fast-acting tinctures

suit various ailments, with shortterm, heightened effects; whereas long-lasting edibles promote all-day relief. Try a topical or bath soak for localized external issues. 5. Read the whole label You may be able to reduce your dose when using a CBD product that features other nutraceuticals, often made for specific effects. If you’re seeking insomnia relief, perhaps consider a CBD product infused with melatonin. Alternatively, be cautious not to waste money in purchasing a product infused with a nonsuitable nutraceutical like caffeine. Even with CBD, it won’t help you sleep.

6. Trust your gut Testimonies offer some validity, but don’t waste your time and money with brands that boast unfounded medical claims. If a product seems too good to be true, claiming to cure all your ailments and life’s problems, be aware they may be taking advantage of consumers’ vulnerability. There are dozens of other great brands that truly have your best interest in mind.

Category: Wellness Author: Abigail Nueve, Social Coordinator

The Sensi Advisory Board comprises select industry leaders in a variety of fields, from education to cultivation. They are invited to share specialized insight in this dedicated section. For a full list of board members, see page 8.

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P R O M O T I O N A L F E AT U R E FA R A G O S I FA R M S

Fair Trades from Faragosi Farms A cannabis shop that gives a third of its proceeds to charity? You don’t say!

s it possible to run a successful business while also being incredibly charitable? For Faragosi Farms, this isn’t a question anymore: it’s a day-to-day reality. Based in Trinidad, Faragosi Farms was founded specifically to help a community in need. After searching throughout Colorado, the company’s president, Craig Hixson, settled on the small Colorado border town. The company opened its doors in 2016 as one of the Original Five pot shops in the Trinidad area. Besides offering some of the finest, organically grown, pesticide-free buds in the state, Fargosi is focused on philanthropy. According to Jess Drummond, the director of communi-

cations and philanthropy at Faragosi, 33 percent of all proceeds go to local charitable foundations. “Essentially, our company’s philosophy is ‘sell pot; feed the hungry,’” says Drummond. “We support the local soup kitchen in Trinidad. Before us, they didn’t have a lot—we like to say they went from ramen to pork chops. We really try to help the community in any capacity, whether it be with local projects within the community or local charities.” Other organizations helped by Faragosi Farms include Disco’s Dogs, a foundation that trains service, companion, and therapy dogs for children on the autism spectrum. Faragosi also donates to No Kill Colorado, an animal shelter network that takes care of

homeless pets until they’re placed in loving homes. This is only a short list of the charitable efforts made at Faragosi. As far as its product is concerned, every strain available at Faragosi Farms, flower or otherwise, has been personally sampled and approved by its staff. Also, “We really it’s one of the few shops in the state that try to keeps oil-soaked, kief-caked buds called help the “caviar” in stock at all times. “We don’t have a waiting room, so community that enables us to provide exceptional in any and memorable one-on-one customer capacity, service and time to educate the public,” says Drummond. “We make sure every whether it be with person knows exactly what they’re buying and knows exactly how it will local affect them.” projects Shopping at Faragosi means quality within the cannabis and philanthropy. Whether community you’re passing through Trinidad or making it your final destination, check or local it out. Help Faragosi Farms continue to charities.” serve its community, while lifting spirits —Jess Drummond, in the process. Director of Communications & Philanthropy

Faragosi Farms Recreational Dispensary faragosifarms.com DECEM BER 2019

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THE END

THE 2010s ARE TOAST Here’s to the end of this issue. And here’s to the end of the decade. TEXT STEPHANIE WILSON

Three cheers to the end of the decade. And what a decade it was. We don’t like to dwell on the past, but as the saying goes (although who said it first is up for debate): It’s ok to look back at your past, just don’t stare. And you should definitely glimpse at this list we’ve compiled of random things that happened in the last 10 years. 2010: Justin Bieber is discovered on YouTube. 2011: “I’m tired of pretending I’m not special. I’m tired of pretending I’m not a total bitchin’ rock star from Mars” is said by Charlie Sheen, who also decribes himself as a warlock with tiger blood, on the Today show. 2012: The world does not end, as the Mayan calendar predicted. 2013: “Selfie,” “FOMO,” and “twerk” added to the Oxford online dictionary. 2014: Beyoncé’s sister Solange starts swinging at Jay-Z in an elevator after the Met Gala, inspiring the “Flawless Remix” lyrics “Of course, sometimes shit go down when it’s a billion dollars on an elevator.” 2015: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton is the hottest-selling ticket on Broadway. 2016: The US did not elect its first female president. 2017: #metoo enters the lexicon. 2018: Voter turnout in the midterm elections is the highest in a century. 2019: Two Fyre Festival documentaries drop the same week, and no one can get enough. Rumors of a series, a memoir, and more are still swirling. Now let’s get on with the 2020s already. The future so bright, we gotta wear shades.

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