Sensi Magazine - Colorado - October 2020

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C O LO R A D O OCTOBER 2020

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Thank You! TO OUR INCREDIBLE FAMILY & COMMUNITY

FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO! TO OUR CUSTOMERS

I want to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU. I appreciate your support during these uncertain times while we work to keep our stores safe, clean, shelves stocked, and open. The Maggie’s Family has been humbled by the kindness you continue to show us, and more importantly, to each other.

TO OUR ASSOCIATES

I am astonished with your operational excellence and grateful for you, you are the real heroes in this story! Your commitment to Maggie’s Farm and our communities is absolutely inspiring. From our Support Staff to our Farmers and all of our Retail Associates working on the front lines, we couldn’t do what we do without you, THANK YOU. After 10 great years in business, we know we can get through any challenge together.

Bill Conkling & Your Maggie’s Farm Family

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COLORADO SENSI MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2020

sensimediagroup @sensimagazine @sensimag

FEATURES

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Are We Still Cool?

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Cannabis Glows Up

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Menver Style

Christina Pittagula and the Black Actors Guild challenge the concept of masculinity for men of color.

Curate your collection of classy accessories for your cannabis cart Don’t call the fashion police; the men of the Mile High City look just fine.

112 The Muse

Everybody swears by the ability of cannabis to influence creativity. But is it more than an illusion?

124 Breaking In

How to get a job in cannabis at a time like this

134 Parties for the People

COVID-19 makes serving cannabis dinners a little more challenging and a lot more meaningful.

ON THE COVER

Bar carts are out. But cannabis carts? So in, and with so many luxe brands to help you supplement yours.

PHOTO BY ALEX SILVA PHOTO EDITS BY JOSH CLARK

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EXECUTIVE

Ron Kolb Founder + CEO ron@sensimag.com Mike Mansbridge President Fran Heitkamp Chief Operating Officer Lou Ferris VP of Global Revenue Chris Foltz Director of Global Reach Laurie Zink Chief Marketing Director Jade Kolb Director of Project Management BRAND DEVELOPMENT

Ashley Couch Vice President, Legal and Business Affairs Rob Dial Vice President, Digital Marketing Kristan Toth Head of People Andre Velez Marketing Director andre.velez@sensimag.com Jodie Villanueava Recruiting Manager Graham Gerritsen Legal Ruel Hatcher Accounting Kisty Stephens Accounting Bookkeeper Jessica Martinez Executive Assistant

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Rob Ball Publisher Angelique Kiss Publisher NEVADA Abi Wright Publisher NEW ENGLAND Richard Guerra Publisher Jenna Scandone Associate Publisher MICHIGAN Jamie Cooper Publisher Ernie Butcher Associate Publisher Chelsea Carter Associate Publisher Kile Miller Associate Publisher Leah Stephens Associate Publisher Constance Taylor Associate Publisher NORCAL Nancy Birnbaum Publisher Sam De La Paz Associate Publisher PENNSYLVANIA Tyler Tarr Publisher FLORIDA Daniel Mitchell Publisher MARYLAND Tyler Tarr Publisher

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COLORADO Tyler Tarr Publisher tyler.tarr@sensimag.com Liana Cameris Associate Publisher liana.cameris@sensimag.com Amanda Patrizi Associate Publisher amanda.patrizi@sensimag.com Tuva Hank Associate Publisher tuva.hank@sensimag.com Nicholas Sheppard Associate Publisher nicholas.sheppard@sensimag.com

C O R P O R AT E A DV I S O RY B OA R D Dave Tran Business Development Douglas McKinnon Finance Charles Gillespie Technology Chuck Arnold Investor Relations 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

C ont inued DEPARTMENTS

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21 EDITOR’S NOTE 26 THE BUZZ

News, tips, and tidbits to keep you in the loop THE DAY THE MUSIC DROPS World Record Store Day 2020 WHAT’S GONNA WORK? Earn a certificate in Teamwork

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Skills from the University of Colorado BREAKING THE LAW Public douchebag David Lesh finally gets banned from forest service lands PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Get limited-edition artwork on Ripple dissolvables while you still can.

CALMING ON THE HORIZON How not to be overwhelmed ELBOW GREASE How to get paint off your nice things

38 THE LIFE

Contributing to your health and happiness 146

ELECTIONS Which states might change their cannabis legisltaion this year?

OUTDOORS Find Eastern Colorado’s plains and find your dreams on the way.

WELLNESS Mindfulness at the tip of your lungs HOROSCOPE What the stars hold for you

146 THE SCENE

Hot happenings and hip hangouts around town FASHION Four companies redefining hemp clothing for everyday wear TASTE BUDS The delicacy of powerhouse greens CALENDAR October’s live (and dead) events

180 THE END Patagonia offers a simple suggestion for how to deal with climate change deniers.

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FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA FAC E B O O K Like Sensi Media Group for the parties, topics, and happenings we’re obsessed with right now.

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TWITTER Follow @sensimag to stay up-to-date on the latest news from Sensi cities.

I N S TAG R A M @sensimagazine is home to exclusive photos and content.

Magazine published monthly

by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2020 Sensi Media Group. All rights reserved.

F

Stephanie Wilson Co-Founder + Editor in Chief stephanie.wilson@sensimag.com Doug Schnitzspahn Executive Editor doug.schnitzspahn@sensimag.com Robyn Griggs Lawrence Editor at Large Leland Rucker Senior Editor John Lehndorff Dining Editor Jake Browne, Cristy Brusoe, John Lehndorff, Mona Van Joseph Contributing Writers MANAGING EDITORS

Dawn Garcia Southern California Debbie Hall Nevada Nora Mounce NorCal Emilie-Noelle Provost New England Jenny Willden Pennsylvania

DESIGN/PRODUCTION

Jamie Ezra Mark Creative Director jamie@emagency.com Rheya Tanner Art Director Wendy Mak Designer Josh Clark Designer Neil Willis Production Director V I D E O

Jeremy Pape Head of Production John Gray Production Videographer

EDITOR’S NOTE

“Fight for the things you care about, but do it

in a way that will lead others to join you.” Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s inspiring words have been shared countless times since the world learned the icon had died on September 18. As I’m writing this, the news is still fresh and I’m still actively mourning our collective loss.

Even before she achieved celebrity status on the Supreme Court, Ginsburg successfully litigated against gender discrimination, making our lives today a reality. Take, for example, my life in 2020: I’m a single 39-year-old woman living alone in an apartment that I leased with no cosigner, writing this note on a computer I bought with my credit card to do work for a company I cofounded. If we were living in a pre-Ginsburg era, none of this would be possible, because I am not a man.

As a woman, I mourn our loss. As an American, I try to remain optimistic about our country’s future, although I’ll admit to moments when optimism seems like a quaint relic of the past. As the daughter of a fierce women’s rights activist who fought until the day she died to protect and advance the rights of women and other groups of people who have been treated as less-than by society and the government, I am ready to continue the fight.

My mom considered Justice Ginsburg her hero. Both women are my heroes, and I’m dedicating this issue to their memory, and to the memories of people who’ve battled or are battling the injustices of inequality, discrimination, and bias. I, along with Sensi, commit to being better advocates for and stronger allies to all marginalized groups. Not committing to actively working against inequality is not an option.

We must do what we can with what we have. At Sensi, we have a platform that allows us to reach audiences who trust us to inform and entertain, to shine our spotlight on people, places, and ideas that matter to all members of the community, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual identity, body type, or any other characteristic. We believe that publishing this magazine is a privilege that we must earn by amplifying the voices of people in our communities, including those most affected by the country’s racist War on Drugs.

We do so because we believe in what Justice Ginsburg once said: “Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.”

We must do what we can with what we have.

Stephanie Wilson @stephwilll O C TO B E R 2020

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And we acknowledge that. We are firm believers in the idea that the first step to fixing any problem, to spur any change is to admit there is a problem to begin with.

As media attention shifts away from the racial problems our society continues to face, it would be easy to sweep this under the rug, to not address it because the topic no longer trends nightly, despite the ongoing protests, despite the president inciting violence and blaming it on the opposing political party and candidate.

But there is no denying there is a problem—parts of our society are broken. We see it play out on video after iPhone video, news report after social media post: People in positions of authority and power murder black men and women without repercussion.

It’s a huge problem that we as a society must commit to changing. It is not going to be easy, and it is not going to be quick. But it won’t ever happen unless we take whatever steps we can now and continue to push forward, to push back, to create space and lift up the voices long silenced.

We must do what we can with what we have. We at Sensi have a platform, and we intend to use it to lift up and amplify the voices of the people who have been most adversely affected by the prohibition of cannabis and the ongoing, racist War on Drugs.

In Sensi’s culture and values statement, we outline the virtues we wanted to grow our company upon—humility, growth, giving spirit, fun-loving focus. It was not until this summer, after George Floyd and Breonna Taylor were murdered and the racial disparities in our so-

5-STEP COMMITMENT TO CHANGE 1. We want more team members of color, especially in leadership.

While we have always been an equal opportunity employer because we know that working with people from a wide variety of backgrounds makes us a stronger company, Sensi will be adding a diversity and inclusion-focused leader to our core team as soon as financially possible as part of a formalized commitment to creating a diverse environment.

2. Following the lead put forth by industry-leading publications like Cosmopolitan, we will ensure that the visual components of our content, the creators of our content, and the voices featured in our content, across all platforms, reflect the diverse and inclusive world we want to live in. This includes not just race but also gender identity, sexual orientation, body type, and ability.

3. We will continually audit our editorial content to ensure coverage is diverse and inclusive across the board—on covers and in articles. We will make a marked effort to highlight businesses and organizations led by people of color in stories we publish across all platforms.

4. We will develop a specific style guide to inform our writing about race, racism, and racial issues, as well as appropriative language— again following Cosmo’s lead.

5. We will be holding required diversity and inclusion training for all existing and new team members, with details in development.

ciety were in the spotlight, that our blinders lifted, and we saw that what we did not say in our company’s cultural outline is perhaps more important than what is in it.

Nowhere in the document do we discuss diversity or inclusion.

That was a mistake, and it is one we are changing now.

Diversity and Inclusion is now the eighth pillar of Sensi’s culture.

The specific language that will define it is currently being developed, but the gist of it is that Sensi is the sum of its communities, and we must represent the perspectives and reflect the experiences of the people within those communities.

It’s easy to write any company’s cultural pillars off as nothing more than corporate bullshit. But at Sensi, they are more than that—they guide us as we navigate business decisions both minor and major. To not have any mention of diversity and inclusion as part of our culture is a glaring omission that does not reflect our values. We commit to do better, and we will begin by formalizing our commitment.

These are not new tenets for Sensi; they are expanding on and formalizing our commitment to being stewards of the communities in which we operate—our homes. We can do better, and so we must. And we will.

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The Day the Music Drops In normal times, the annual Record Store Day in April brings vinyl-lovers together at independently owned record stores around the world to celebrate and honor the people who make up the milieu of the iconic shop—staff, customers, artists alike. It’s a party every year, with exclusive releases, surprise performances, and a general celebratory vibe.

But in 2020, April was cancelled and everyone in the world was grounded. Record Store Day didn’t go down as planned. But the beat plays on, even amid a global pandemic that put a halt to like every good thing this year, but it can evolve. Thus, Record Store Day is now “RSD Drops”, a scaled-back series of three social-distance-safe events centered around the release of the massive list of albums slated 26

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to debut with much fanfare last April.

A lot of the omg-I-need-that-record titles dropped back on Aug. 29, the first RSD Drops day. The album lineup for the second drop day on Sep. 26, included a standalone release of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Alternate Rumors,” a new collaboration between Brandi Carlile and Soundgarden, and an LP box set of “It Was All a Dream: The Notorious B.I.G. 1994–1999,” not to mention a rarities collection featuring remixes and B-Sides from Britney Spears’ “Oops! I Did It Again” album, the 25th anniversary collection of Coolio’s “Gangta’s Paradise,” and other gems. Mark your calendar for the next “RSD Drops” day on Oct. 24.

In Denver, Twist & Shout (twistandshout.com) is the city’s definitive spot for all things vinyl, and

that’s where you want to be on RSD Drops day. To actually be there, you’ve got to be one of the chosen few selected at random by the good people at the independent record store. To put your name in the running, visit the store or head to Twist & Shout’s website for details about entering the drawing online.

In Colorado Springs, The Leech Pit (leechpit.com) is participating in RSD Drops, as are two of the Independent Records & Video locations. The Pueblo Independent outpost is as well, as is Pueblo Records and Tapes (pueblorecordandtapes.com). You can find a complete list of all official Record Store Day participating locations in Colorado on the org’s website.

RSD Drop 3 / Oct. 24 / recordstoreday.com

PHOTO BY JOANNA NIX

The world is different in 2020–so why would you expect the annual Record Store Day to be normal?

CONTRIBUTORS

Cristy Brusoe, Doug Schnitzspahn, Robyn Griggs Lawrence, Stephanie Wilson

PHOTO CREDITS (FROM LEFT): FLAMINGO IMAGES, ADOBE STOCK / INSTAGRAM @DAVIDLESH

Teamwork Skills: Communicating Effectively in Groups Earn a certificate from the University of Colorado Boulder through Coursera, with free enrollment available through December 31.

Effective teamwork and group communication are essential for your professional and personal success. In this virtual course you will learn to make better decisions, be more creative and innovative, manage conflict and work with difficult group members, negotiate for preferred outcomes, improve group communication in virtual environments, develop a better overall understanding of human interaction, and work more effectively as a team. The goal is to help you understand these important dynamics of group communication and learn how to put them into practice to improve your overall teamwork. coursera.org

BY THE NUMBERS

$0

PUBLIC LANDS ENEMY NO. 1

What you’ll pay for a COVID-19 antibody test if you donate blood at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

4.2 HOURS Amount of time Colorado workers spent on their commute prior to the pandemic. That’s 9.5 percent of our work week gained back by working from home.

SOURCE: CoPilot

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PERCENT Year over year increase in average cannabis spending per user in the first three quarters of 2020.

SOURCE: New Frontier Data

David Lesh proudly cultivates his image as a douchebag. In the “meet the founder” video for his ski and snowboard apparel band, Virtika he rides a camel naked, shows off midgets in bikinis, and struts off his corporate jet with scantily clothed babes follow in his bespoke wake. Ha. Ha. And he gets a kick out of not just flaunting the law on public lands but also bragging about it on social media.

The federal government is not amused, however.

On June 12, Lesh, 35, posted an Instagram photo of himself on a log in the middle of Colorado’s Hanging Lake with the caption “testing out our new board shorts on the world’s most sacred log.” The lake is a popular, sensitive area where swimming is not allowed. The social media blowback was relentless: Incensed outdoorists posted all over Virtika’s feed, calling Lesh “scum” and his apparel “cheap.” The post was removed.

This all came before Lesh, a mediocre former pro skier, appeared in court on June 16 for riding his snowmobile illegally in a wilderness area off Colorado’s Independence Pass over bare ground last summer. Lesh also illegally rode his snowmobile at Keystone Resort during coronavirus closures and posted social media photos of riding in other closed areas. He reached a plea bargain with the court, which ordered him to pay $500 and perform 50 hours of community service. But the prosecutors filed a six-count inditement against Lesh last month, demanding “be restrained from going on Forest Service lands” for the duration of the federal case filed against him.” A new hearing on Oct. 2 will determine exactly how Lesh will be banned.

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THE BUZZ

NEWS FLASH DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC?

COOL COLLABORATION

COURTESY STILLWATER BRANDS

Time Warp

If you want to get your hands on a limited-edition bottle of fast-acting Ripple featuring the artwork of Denver expressionist Tony Ortega, you’d better act fast.

If you’ve spent any time in the Denver area, there’s a good chance you’ve encountered Ortega’s vibrant, colorful work; his pieces are featured in the collection at Denver Art Museum, Colorado Springs Art Center, and other prominent galleries; his murals adorn the walls of schools, health clinics, and community centers; his largescale works appear as art in public places around the city.

Ortega is a familiar and prominent figure in the city’s Chicano arts community—has been for decades, even receiving the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in 1999. His vibrant, colorful artworks merge abstraction, simplification, and realism, addressing the culture, history and experiences of the Chicano and Latinx communities. Hoping to contribute to a better understanding of cultural diversity, Ortega interweaves images from American and Mexican popular culture into his work, resulting in what he describes as “a multifaceted fiction that incorporates the traditions, history, and culture of Latinos.”

Ortega creates his pieces, “to foster opportunities for bending of meaning and the warping of time and place,”

and “to understand the mystery of life and human events,” according to his artist statement.

There are a lot of folks who would say that consuming cannabis has the same effect—it frees the mind allowing for new meaning to be found and for time and space to warp. That the plant was demonized and prohibited by the government last century is one of the great mysteries of human events.

So it’s rather fitting that Ortega teamed up with Stillwater Brands to create artwork for limited-edition bottles of the Colorado brand’s signature product, Ripple Dissolvables. The fast-acting water-soluble THC and CBD powder can turn anything into an infused edible with just a shake of a single-serve packet.

For the partnership, Ortega created three artworks in honor of Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), which is celebrated October 31 through November 2, and the limited-edition release is hitting shelves this month. Because Stillwater values being a locally involved brand that gives back to the Colorado community, the company is donating 5 percent of total sales from this partnership to Redline Contemporary Art Center.

In November, Oregon may become the first state in the US to legalize psilocybin—the hallucinogenic compound in psychedelic mushrooms—for therapeutic purposes. If voters pass ballot initiative Oregon Measure 109, Oregonians would gain safe, legal, regulated access to psilocybin-assisted therapy in licensed settings with trained facilitators, with no specific conditions needed to qualify for treatment.

To find Ripple products at a dispensary near you, visit stillwaterbrands.com.

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THE BUZZ

VOX POPULI

Question: How are you getting your culture fix while we’re all laying low?

AMANDA PATRIZI

CHUKWUDI AZUOGU

AMY WEBB

Associate Publisher @ Sensi Denver

Capitol Hill, Denver Cultivation support @ bio365

National Field Marketing Manager @ Evolab, Denver

___________________

___________________

___________________

My boyfriend Chase and I have gotten into watching Bob Ross and painting—it’s silly but we’ve had a ton of fun with it.

Learning about my Nigerian heritage. It’s something I never attempted to understand, but as I get older I become more intrigued with my roots.

I’ve been taking the time to learn about its history.

I’ve been treating everything like a grand adventure. Whether its a grocery store trip, a walk in the neighborhood, a good book, or a mini dance party in my car— adventure is a mindset.

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THE BUZZ

Feeling BILITIES Over Overwhelmed?

Same.

BY STEPHANIE WILSON, EDITOR IN CHIEF

1 ADD TO PLAYLIST: “Overwhelmed” by Royal & the Serpent. The catchy-as-hell beat gets ya grooving while the of-the-now lyrics get ya moving. This is an anthem of the times: “All of these faces / Who don’t know what space is / And crowds are shut down / I’m overstimulated…”

2 FACE IT: Emerald CBD + Adaptogens Deep Moisture Glow Oil by Herbivore ($48; herbivorebotanicals.com). The women behind the clean skincare brand are advocates for the legalization of cannabis, and they say their goal is “to enlighten and educate on the many wonders of cannabis for everything from chronic disease and pain management to its incredible skincare benefits.” $1 from every Emerald Deep Moisture Glow Oil sold goes to Americans for Safe Access, an organization that supports safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.

3 DRESSING DOWN: I don’t remember the last time I wore pants with a zipper, and my platform Converse are now considered a dress shoe. Will I ever wear heels to work again? Heel no!

4 FRESHEN UP: Some might consider fresh flowers a frivolous

PHOTO CREDIT: AMY SHAMBLEN, UNSPLASH

indulgence amid a pandemic that’s decimated my bank account, but I consider each stem an investment in self-care. Tip: Find a local wholesale florist open to the public for ridiculously low prices and an incredible selection. At Denver’s Associated Wholesale Florists (on Mississippi between Federal and Santa Fe), I picked up a few hydrangeas stems last week for $1.80 a pop.

When you're dealing with uncharted territory, it's normal to feel completely overwhelmed and unsure of how to pick yourself up. Life strategist and fitness expert Andrea Marcellus says that to combat feelings of being overwhelmed, you should try any of the following tips for a quick mental vacation: • Check off something on your to-do list for a dopamine hit.

• Nourish your body with food. Make beautiful, nutritious meals that transform a mundane menu into an act of self-care.

And when you indulge, skip the guilt and shame!

• Make time for exercise, even if you only have 15 minutes while your dinner cooks.

Be proud of what you accomplish, no matter how minor it may seem.

• Read the first page of any book on your shelf. Reading forces your brain to create mental pictures instead of worry.

• Compliment a stranger on social media.

Positive connections, even virtual ones, set off happy hormones in your brain.

“Nothing is worth more than laughter. It is strength to laugh and to abandon oneself, to be light.”

—Frida Kahlo, see Frida Kahlo’s artwork starting this month at Denver Art Museum. denverartmuseum.org for more info.

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THE BUZZ

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THE BUZZ

LIFE TIPS

CREATIVE CLEANUP Whether you’re deep into some home renovations or apartment therapy projects or learning some new creative hobbies, odds are that you will find yourself dealing with some paint stains on your clothing. And that’s totally ok: Paint away, add as much color to your life as you see fit. Color is life.

And some paint is for life. By design, paint is long-lasting and rich with color so it can tend to be a little trickier to remove than other stains that mar your otherwise favorite outfits. But fear not, we spoke with the experts behind Biz Stain & Odor Eliminator for a few tricks to help you get the paint out of your clothes with relative ease. Good luck, but even if it winds up being permanent, who cares? 2020 is a judgement-free era when we’re all allowed to be a bit of a mess, so keep slapping some paint onto whatever you’ve chosen to be your canvas.

WATER-BASED Water-based paint stains are simpler to get out of clothing. Easy to break down, these paints can come off in a few easy steps: 1) Scrape as much of the paint off as possible. If the paint stain is dried on, dab it with warm water to rehydrate the stain, making it easy to remove from the fibers.

2) Grab some Biz Stain Odor & Eliminator (bizstainfighter.com) for pretreat. Apply directly to the stain and let it work its magic for 15—20 minutes.

3) Follow the garment tag directions for washing.

You can also boost your detergent with the help of Biz Liquid Boosters.

4) Check to see if the stain is removed. If not, repeat steps 2 and 3.

OIL-BASED Oil-based paint is a little trickier to remove from clothing. Fabrics love to soak up grease and oils.

So there is an extra step in removing oil-based paint stains.

1) Scrape as much of the paint off as possible. If the paint is dried on, dab it with warm water to rehydrate it, making it easier to remove from the fibers.

2) Gently dab with paint thinner until the paint is gone.

3) Use Biz Stain Odor & Eliminator to pretreat the area. Let it work its magic for 15-20 minutes.

4) Follow the garment tag directions for washing.

You can also boost your detergent with the help of Biz Liquid Boosters.

5) Check to see if the stain is removed. If it not, repeat steps 2 and 3.

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Pot in the Polls

Cannabis legalization is on November ballots in five states this November. Here’s what you need to know before the election.

TEXT STEPHANIE WILSON

As of September 2020, 33 states have passed medical marijuana laws, and 11 states and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis for adult use. And according to New Fronteir Data, 98.6 percent of the US is living in a state with a legal cannabis market.

The last presidential election year was a banner one for cannabis legalization, as measures passed in eight out of the nine states with legalization on the ballot. This year looked as if it was going to put the final nails in the War on Drugs coffin, with voters casting ballots in favor of spreading legalization across the land.

Alas, the thing that spread across the land

this year was a pandemic. As a result, 2020 will be a big-ish year for cannabis legalization at the polls. It would have been bigger had COVID-19 not taken over the collective consciousness, forcing us all to drop whatever we were doing, go home, and stay there.

“Before the COVID-19 pandemic derailed legalization efforts in a handful of states, there were as many as 11 with momentum toward legalizing cannabis for adult use in 2020, with another 12 considering legalization for medical use,” explains Kacey Morrissey, senior director of industry analytics for cannabis industry authority New Frontier Data.

In November, voters in four states will be deciding whether to approve cannabis for adult (aka recreational) use: Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota.

Two states—Mississippi and South Dakota—are voting on medical marijuana legalization.

Just as every year that cannabis is on the ballot, this will be a year of firsts. South Dakota will be the first state to vote on recreational and medical marijuana in the same election. And if New Jersey’s legislation passes, it will be the first state in the Mid-Atlantic region to legalize cannabis for adult use.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s on America’s ballots.

Medical Mississippi

Initiative 65 and Alternative 65A, aka Medical Marijuana 2020 Amendment

Voting “either measure” is the same as voting “yes” on this amendment legalizing medical marijuana. To have a ballot count, however, voters in favor of “either measure” must then choose one.

Both amendments legalize medical marijuana in some capacity, but that capacity is the key difference between the two.

Under Initiative 65, patients with any of more than 20 debilitating conditions (Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease, PTSD, chronic pain, epilepsy and seizure conditions, and more) are eligible to become medical marijuana patients under a doctor’s supervision. Alternative 65A limits medical marijuana use to only the terminally ill.

South Dakota

South Dakota Initiated Measure 26, aka Medical Marijuana Initiative

A “yes” vote supports establishing a medical marijuana program in South Dakota for individuals with a debilitating medical condition as certified by a physician. Patients would be allowed to possess a maximum of 3 ounces of cannabis, and patients registered to cultivate marijuana at home could grow three plants at minimum, or another amount prescribed by a physician.

On Tuesday, November 3, we wear our stickers.

Didn’t vote? No sticker, so you can’t sit with us (even if it’s 6 feet away).

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THE LIFE

M A R K YO U R C A L E N D A R !

Election Day is TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3. Yes, we’re yelling. VOTE like your life depends on it—because now more than ever, it does.

Recreational Arizona

Arizona Proposition 207, aka The Marijuana Legalization Initiative

A “yes” vote indicates support for the ballot initiative creating an initiated state statute legalizing cannabis for adult use. The measure states: “In the interest of the efficient use of law enforcement resources, enhancing revenue for public purposes, and individual freedom, the responsible adult use of marijuana should be legal for persons 21 years of age or older, subject to state regulation, taxation, and local ordinance.”

Montana

Montana Constitutional Initiative 190, aka Montana Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act

A “yes” vote supports legalizing cannabis possession and use for adults age 21+. It requires the state Department of Revenue to license and regulate the cultivation, transportation, and sale of cannabis and cannabis products, and establishes a 20-percent tax on recreational cannabis sales; 10.5 percent would go to the state general fund, with the rest dedicated to accounts fo conservation programs, substance abuse treatment, veterans’ services, healthcare costs, and localities where marijuana is sold. And it allows a person currently serving a sentence for an act permitted

by I-190 to apply for resentencing or an expungement of the conviction. It also prohibits advertising of marijuana and related products.

New Jersey

Public Question 1, aka The Marijuana Legalization Amendment

PHOTO BY VASYL, ADOBE STOCK

A “yes” vote supports the state’s constitutional amendment to legalize the possession and use of marijuana for persons age 21 and older and legalize the cultivation, processing, and sale of retail marijuana. If this passes, New Jersey will be the first state in the Mid-Atlantic region to legalize cannabis for adult use.

South Dakota

Constitutional Amendment A, aka The Marijuana Legalization Initiative

A “yes” vote supports the constitutional amendment to legalize adult use of marijuana and require the South Dakota legislature to pass laws providing for the use of medical marijuana and the sale of hemp by April 1, 2022.

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THE LIFE OUTDOORS

Diary of Dust

Out on Eastern Colorado’s forgotten plains, you can find a quiet escape from the pandemic.

TEXT AND PHOTOS DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

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THE LIFE OUTDOORS

Here on the Front Range, we often act as if the eastern side of our state does not exist. It might as well be an ocean, or at least the great, still, salty Niobraran Sea that it was 100 million years ago. It’s distant. Our focus always turns west to those glamorous geologic newcomers, the still rising uplift of the Rocky Mountains rolling into this emptiness. We head to the mountains to find ourselves, to chase dreams, to tick off the accomplishment of standing atop the rocky sum-

mits. The eastern plains?

There’s nothing worth bringing you out here— it’s a place you drive through for hours at 90 m.p.h., a place of dust, a place where dreams die.

It’s certainly not where you go fishing if you are a trout bum and mountain snob like me. The east is muddy, dirty. It’s where a few freaks do battle with carp (aka giant goldfish) or spin-casters find bass or crappie with electronics, cruising manmade lakes on oversized boats.

But this pandemic has changed so much, and it

has shifted both my perspective on Colorado’s flat eastern lands and the fishing out here.

Despite feeling as if they remain untouched and unpopulated, the great American plains are one of our most devastated ecosystems.

The buffalo herds that roamed them and gave sustenance to Native cultures here were hunted both to stomp out the lifeblood of the indigenous people and as pure, callous sport. Lord St. George Gore killed over 2,000 buffalo, 1,600 elk,

and deer and 100 bears out here for fun and left their bodies to waste in the sun. We will never know the wonder of seeing passenger pigeons move across the prairie like a living cloud. Crop circles, corn, slaughterhouses, and the lingering effects of the Dust Bowl strangled off most of the native vegetation.

In fact, Aldo Leopold says that one of the only places where we can still find the grasses and wildflowers that once covered these lands is in graveyards.

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THE LIFE OUTDOORS

Past Is Present So why would I come out here? Boredom for one.

Being stuck in quarantine makes you rethink your own preconceptions. Crowds, for another; the mountains are teeming with people during the pandemic, with most trailheads so full you have to park along the roads. Also, I wanted to see if I could find something in nothing. Despite being gun shy of the emptiness of the plains, I have always been fascinated by grasslands, the way when you look at them myopically, you see a universe of small things at your feet, things you would not notice if you didn’t stop along the interstate.

There’s a lot out here if you look close. The

plains hold on to history, leave it exposed in ghost towns and dry geological formations. Hike to the Pawnee Buttes east of Fort Collins and you disappear into the prairie in a dry creek bed before you reach the two sedimentary towers, sentinels of the plains

made of the silt bottom of the Niobraran Sea in the Cretaceous past. Out near Calahan, the steeples of St. Michael’s and St. Mary’s stand in the emptiness as reminders of Eastern European immigrants who found something better here in this vast loneliness. Near

the Nebraska border, the Summit Springs Battlefield holds its silence, still witness to the indigenous people caught here and slaughtered in a nameless ravine.

The remains of the town of Dearfield give testament to the entire Black experience in this O C TO B E R 2020

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THE LIFE OUTDOORS

country. The town had been founded as a promise for Black Americans in 1910, a place where they could thrive outside the racism and limits they met elsewhere—and it bustled until the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl did it in, as they did so many other aspirants out here. Today, Dearfield is a ghost town, a few boarded-up buildings and a crumbling chimney. Some of the ruins have been covered in graffiti. One warning reads “Trap,” anoth-

er “COVID,” a starkly reminding me that this pandemic continues to disproportionately affect people of color in our still unjust society.

cast alongside twenty somethings who seem more interested in their vape pen than actually getting something on the line. My son tells me he likes it out here, it’s Muddy Waters more diverse–and it is, And the fishing? My son not just ethnically, but and don’t have to wander also as a reminder that very far east to find big our liberal mountain bass and a different vibe idyll is remote from most from that at the patrician of the country. creeks of the mountains.

The payoff comes in a As we tie on flies on a creature quite at home dock, an older man asks out here. In anothus if we have seen any er pond, where we can crappie. We find a spot at smell the nearby sewthe far end of a lake and age reclamation plant,

we wade up to our ankles in muck to gain a spot of high ground in the water where we can cast our flies uninhibited. My son tosses out a popper and there’s a response–the powerful tug of a big largemouth bass on his line. We work it in against the long light of afternoon in the golden grasslands and it feels right to be out here, to find a new relationship to lands that I once shunned, to find some kind of hope amid so many broken dreams.

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THE LIFE

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WELLNESS

Free Your Mind Breathwork is the latest trend to get people off of pharmaceuticals and in touch with their bodies.

PHOTO BY JOMKWAN7, ADOBE STOCK

TEXT JAKE BROWNE

“Since age six I had horrible chronic migraines,” Lindsay Balgooyen tells me. “I pretty much lived my entire life with a migraine.” Admittedly, I’m not expecting this.

My interest in the idea of breathwork started when I interviewed comedian and psychedelics expert Shane Mauss last year. He described to me an intense, mind-al-

tering experience, one that seemed more of a consciousness expansion than healing. Considering the impressive resume of substances he’s experimented with,

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“I grew up in Michigan in not exactly a progressive town and when O C TO B E R 2020

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THE LIFE WELLNESS

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I was 17 I had been on 50 different drugs,” Balgooyen says. “So I decided I was done with that.”

Working with medical cannabis patients for years, I’m used to hearing about chronic pain, but there’s something beneath her words that belies how much of

a struggle it was for her, how defining the experience was. Balgooyen’s journey overcoming the constant illness led her to seek a number of treatment options outside of traditional Western medicine, from acupuncture to physical therapy to massage. It

wasn’t until a 2015 trip to Southeast Asia that it all clicked, though.

While assisting at a yoga retreat in India, she had made plans to head to Thailand toward the end of her trip for a new type of modality she was previously unfamiliar with. “I did my first session and it

absolutely blew me away,” she says. “My entire body felt like it was paralyzed, I couldn’t move anything and just felt like my body was filled with cement.”

She notes that this isn’t uncommon, but one of the reasons guided sessions are recommended for beginners before branching out on their own. “My whole body was in pain.”

The process of circular breathing, she tells me, can lead to cramps and tightness, but she describes it as “energy moving” through your body and hitting “blockages” along the way. I’m a skeptic at heart, but it reminds me of a Tai Chi teacher I once had who would have us tense our muscles to lead the way to relaxation. Balogooyen says that once she worked through the pain in her first session, she experienced a release like nothing else she had felt before and was hooked.

“That day I found a month-long training and signed up for it. Within a week, my headaches went away completely.”

Returning home to Steamboat Springs, the transition was natural.

“There’s a ton of different healers up there and it’s a pretty spiritual town,” she says. Once a week, she’d bring together friends and people O C TO B E R 2020

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F U L L - S P E C T R U M F E U -L EL X- TS RP AE C C TT ER DU M L I V E X TI R A P LRI V EE - M UC T ME D R N E AM B I I U S M C PA N C A N N A B I S THE

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WELLNESS

who had heard the buzz for three hour sessions as part of a longer course, and soon students became apostles. “It just takes one session because it’s such a crazy, profound experience,” she says “It kind of becomes addicting.”

After another year of building through word of mouth in Steamboat, Balgooyen decided it was time to take the next big leap and work in Boulder, a liberal bastion of alternative medicine and a town where collaborators would be bountiful.

Soon, she was incorporating other modalities into

her practice, particularly sound healing. Having some experience with the chanting and music of kirtan vis-a-vis Deb Browne, my spiritually woke mom, I can start picturing us in a session together. “The sound alone is so powerful,” Balgooyen says, as I nod.

At festivals, it started with Nibumbu, a Neotribal band that has spent the last two-and-a-half years incorporating shamanic drumming into breathwork, creating an immersive experience.

Now, she’s teaming up with Brian Dickinson, founder of Sonic Al-

Practices like yoga have incorporated an intense focus on breathing for millenia, using the body to do the heavy lifting that substances couldn’t.

chemy, to bring similar concepts to smaller settings, with gongs, singing bowls, flutes, and “other trinkets” adding to the journey. “It starts off really relaxed, then it builds and gets pretty intense, then it starts to calm down and it gets very meditative,” she says.

I’m curious about what science has to say on the matter, though.

We take tens of thousands of breaths each day, so there has to be some study on how such a simple act can have such a profound effect.

Instead, Balgooyen directs me north, to the O C TO B E R 2020

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PHOTO BY YOLYA_ILYASOVA, ADOBE STOCK

WELLNESS

brain. “The beta brain state is similar to hypnosis, which allows you to pretty quickly drop into that deep meditative state right above sleep, that usually we’re just passing through really quickly while falling asleep. [Scientists] know that we have to be in

that beta state to access our subconscious mind, where we hold so many thoughts, and the beliefs that are running our lives, a lot of times not to our advantage.”

When I finally get the nerve to steer the conversation toward Mauss’ hallucinatory experi-

ence, it doesn’t come as a surprise to her. “It’s definitely common,” she says. “I’ve had a lot of people who have had a lot of experience with psychedelics who have said it’s much more profound.” How can that be possible, though?

I’ve been conditioned to

think of substances such as psilocybin and LSD as incredibly powerful. Balgooyen believes that, unlike an outside substance, your body is designed to do the work and can readily integrate that experience into its own framework. “If you have a cut, it naturally heals,” she says, sagely.

“We don’t have to think about it.”

That’s the breakthrough moment, the “Aha!” that ties it all together for me. Practices like yoga have incorporated an intense focus on breathing for millenia, using the body to do the heavy lifting that substances couldn’t. Not everyone had access to the hallucinogens that scientists are now increasingly focused on as alternative treatments for PTSD and addiction.

Balgooyen is busy, leaving for Bali the next morning, but she tells me about a busy summer that includes rafting and water therapy. “You wear a snorkel and face down while somebody holds you and it allows you to get even deeper,” she says. “Water is one of the highest vibrations we have access to and it also brings up a lot of stuff from the womb so it’s pretty cool.” Don’t be surprised if you see me there.

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THE LIFE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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

HOROSCOPE

OCTOBER HOROSCOPE What do the stars hold for you?

TEXT MONA VAN JOSEPH

SEPT. 23-OCT. 22

LIBRA

Doors opening are meant for you. Accept all invitations because they are leading you to the next step in something important. It’s time to create your network.

made an incorrect assumption about someone (or something), so it’s time to do your research and get the real story. Avoid those with stinking-thinking.

this vibration by choice, and it may be time to take care of that one thing to finally free yourself.

DEC. 22-JAN. 19

Recommit to personal discipline. It could be diet, exercise, avoiding negative people, reconnecting with spirit, going on a fast, or taking a class. Pick something to do every day in October.

CAPRICORN

Communicate and release SCORPIO your perceived failures this You can’t do what you want month. Recognize that they all by yourself right now. are actually lessons in disIt’s time to allow others to guise. It’s supposed to be a help you get what you want. month of freedom for you, Open most conversations and the last tether is these with, “I need your help,” and old issues. then be grateful that they can and will.

JAN. 20-FEB. 18 OCT. 23-NOV. 21

AQUARIUS

A long-standing situation SAGITTARIUS gets addressed this month.

Give people the benefit of You are tired of feeling the doubt this month. You’ve trapped or limited. You’re in NOV. 22-DEC. 21

FEB. 19-MAR. 20

PISCES

MAR. 21-APR. 19

ARIES

Be totally committed to your work. Whether that is to find a job or rededicate to a current one, this month is all about you being “all in.” You are the king or queen of cooperation this month.

APR. 20-MAY 20

TAURUS

LIBRA, ACCEPT ALL INVITATIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE LEADING YOU TO THE NEXT STEP IN SOMETHING IMPORTANT. IT’S TIME TO CREATE YOUR NETWORK.

Stay in control of your emotions because it’s time to reevaluate your relationships in an almost businesslike way. It may be time to cut your losses and let go of what’s not working.

MAY 21-JUNE 20

GEMINI

the people who don’t. Your connection with spirit will be stronger than ever and will send you signs to guide you.

JULY 23-AUG. 22

LEO

You are magic this month because spirit is guiding you toward the life you’ve always wanted. Look at every single human as though they are conspiring for you to be happy and successful.

All the crap you’ve been going through in 2020 will make a great screenplay.

But that will shift if you pre- AUG. 23-SEPT. 22 pare in October for forward VIRGO movement in November.

This will be your luckiest month of the year. While JUNE 21-JULY 22 that doesn’t necessarily CANCER mean you’ll win Megabucks, More than ever, you’re discov- it does mean your hard work ering your priorities, the peo- is about to yield some pretty ple who align with you, and amazing results.

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Are We Still Cool?

Christina Pittagula and the Black Actors Guild are tackling tough questions surrounding masculinity for men of color.

TEXT STEPHANIE WILSON

“Men of Grace” O C TO B E R 2020

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BAC KG R O U N D

The exhibition "Are We Still Cool?" was on display at Understudy in the Colorado Convention Center through September 12.

T

This summer, the Big Blue Bear peering into the quiet halls of the Colorado Convention Center in Denver encouraged passersby to also look inside and view “Are We Still Cool?,” an exhibition by 23-year-old artist Christina Pittagula presented by the Black Actors Guild. Comprised of portraits, collages, and essays, the thought-provoking and timely exhibition was featured in “fishbowl” style, released in three installments this summer and showcased by Understudy, an experimental art and culture incubator space operated, curated, and funded by the Denver Theatre District. Understudy provides a free, central, and innovative platform to artists and creative groups and hosts temporary installations in its 700-square-foot space within the

Colorado Convention Center. “Are We Still Cool?” was on display through September 15, and—good news if you missed it—art from the show is still for sale.

The timely and powerful series tackles tough questions around masculinity for men of color.

“Most Black and brown men are raised with the idea that they cannot show emotion,” Pittagula writes in an article that accompanies the exhibition. “Or that if they do, it’s perceived as ‘gay’ and ‘weak.’ … Who made the rule that men of color have to be so hard all the time? That they just have to swallow their pain because they will be less of a man if they express it? When you look at what society tells [men of color] from the the age of five, it’s no wonder that they fear showing emotion.”

The young artist has seen this “I Love You” narrative play out time and again Top Image as she grew up with two brothers.

“Two beautiful Black men there to show me love—and to rough me up when it was needed,” she writes, describing the source of her fascination with what she saw as a hard “rule” that men of color feel they must follow: They must always be hard. “I’ve always found such beauty in the ways of a man of color. The swagger despite having the weight of the world on their backs. The sharp gaze of worried eyes as you enter a gentrified neighborhood. Despite all the odds, they have beauty and grace.”

Beauty and grace: soft qualities with feminine undertones in our modern lexicon, used almost exclusively to describe the characteristics and character of women.

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See the entire series, read the artist’s accompanying essays, and view the behind-the-scenes videos on blackactorsguild.org

She recognized these sort of soft qualities hidden within the hard exteriors of the men surrounding her as she grew up. The wonderment she felt about the dichotomy she witnessed was met by the creative curiosity that spurred her to study theater at the Denver School of the Arts, which is where she first connected with the Denver-based Black Actors Guild. She searched for art that depicted the full range of emotions Black and brown men experience. What she found, she says, is a lack of representation of men of color in art.

“Give men of color the space to feel their heavenly nature” “Are We Still Cool?” was the young artist’s attempt to change that. For the series, Pittagula teamed up with photographers Michael Board II and Nadiya Jack-

son for a photo and collage series depicting brown and Black men embracing their softer sides, finding inspiration in classical works like Michelangelo’s David.

The creative team provided space for 13 men of color, adorning them with flowers and homemade rose water, curating playlists of their favorite music to stream in the background, and continually offering sincere praise and positive affirmations, telling them that the Mona Lisa would blush in their presence.

“Would they realize how pretty they are if they saw themselves as a Michelangelo sculpture?” she wonders in the first essay of the three-part series. “What if they were presented as soft beings instead of the angry violent ones [depicted by the media]?

What happens when you give

men of color the space to feel their heavenly nature? When you give them the space to say ‘I love you’ with no judgement. Give them room to feel as pretty as a blooming orchid.”

“Are We Still Cool?” answered those questions with beautiful clarity. “Men of color have that same stereotype tagged onto them: thugs…often associated with fear or negativity. This project challenges those harsh stereotypes by putting these men in traditionally ‘feminine’ situations,” Pittagula explained in an interview with Westword.

In the portraits, the models all wear what Pittagula describes as a “hood uniform” of sorts—white tank tops and khakis. That stereotypically hard look is softened by lace du-rags, silk scarves, and jewel-encrusted grills throughout the

“Three of Hearts” Left Image

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“The time has come for men of color to be treated as

works of art. multi-part series. Part one features “Flower Boys” adorned in flowers and tulle. Part two is the “Pearl and Lace Boys,” with the models wearing lace du-rags and pearl necklaces with facial adornments.

For Part Three, a velvet backdrop softens the men’s regal poses inspired by classical artworks.

“I didn’t do anything but show them themselves.”

Pittagula explains that her interaction with the men during the shoot included a lot of love, admiration, and observation. “Taking the time to look at these men of color and appreciate them for each freckle, scar, tattoo, and hair

texture. The models made jokes.

Like a lot of jokes. They wanted to laugh and fill the crevices of unknown portrayal and intimate touches with men. Even still in this safe space, they were coping.”

She feels the laughter mask the feelings they had surrounding why it was imperative to do a shoot like this to begin with.

“Laughing to forget that when they leave the photoshoot, they must go back out into a world that demonizes them,” she explains.

“Just because I see them does not mean they are seen.”

The range of emotions experienced that day are on display in the exhibition’s accompanying

It’s time to raise them up and remind them of the godliness that they possess. To give them space to hug their homies.

To buy that motherfuckin’ bath bomb. To give them the space that has always been lacking.”

—Christina Pittagula in “Are We Still Cool? Part 1/3”

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Prints of these the striking photos and collages are available for purchase on the Black Actors Guild website. Prices start at $150. blackactorsguild.org

video series. During the shoots, the men were asked questions designed to expose vulnerability.

“How often do you tell your male friends, ‘I love you’?” “Do you know your love language?”

“When was the last time you felt beautiful?”

As the portraits, collages, and videos in “Are We Still Cool?” clearly showcase, these men are beautiful. The day of their shoots, Pittagula and her creative team made them feel beautiful, too.

Now that the images are out for the world to see, Pittugula says many of the models have told her,

“I want my two brown nephews to look at Botticelli and see themselves.

I want the black and brown men in my life to show unapologetic, tender love for each other.”

—Christina Pittagula in “Are We Still Cool? Part 1/3”

‘You made me look beautiful!’

“It’s funny,” she told Westword, “because I didn’t do anything but show them themselves.”

And she hopes that when other men of color see the photographs, they feel something, too: “If you are a man of color, I hope you feel seen.”

“I hope you buy yourself some plants and invest in a skin care routine. I hope you drink lots of water, hang some art, and dance to that shit that slaps,” she writes in the conclusion of the final essay. “And, yes, you’re still cool.”

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CANNABIS GLOWS UP It’s time to curate your collection of accessories for the next big home design trend: cannabis carts. Because bar carts are so 2020, and we are so over 2020.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BESITOS

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PHOTO BY ALEX SILVA, SUMMERLAND

D

ancing bears, tie-dye tapestries, bongs made in shop class…the once universal visuals that accompanied the stoner cliché seemed set in stone. But the cannabis aesthetic has evolved, and we’re oh so glad for the glow up.

It starts with the lingo. Marijuana (the term) and its many aliases—pot, weed, the devil’s lettuce—is out; cannabis is in. And cannabis is having a moment, rising from barely legal to essential status in a few years flat—and doing so

without ad campaigns touting its many proven health benefits due to government-mandated advertising restrictions. Along with that uptick, cannabis accessories have become must-have items for trendsetters.

What’s more, we predict that a curated collection of said accessories stylishly displayed on former bar carts—now transformed into smoking-hot cannabis carts—will be the must-have home decor item of 2021, hashtag #highdesign.

Summerland Ceramic Bongs

Be a trendsetter and start curating your collection now. To help you get started, we’ve rounded up some info and suggestions of top pieces from aesthetically minded brands that caught our eye, captured our attention, and earned spots on our own cannabis carts.

Read on for suggestions about how to make your own enviable hub for getting high.

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PHOTOS BY ALEX SILVA, SUMMERLAND

GLOW-UP NO. 1: SUMMERLAND Consider a Summerland (welcometosummer.land) bong for your cannabis cart’s bubbly centerpiece. This is no hunk of plastic stored under a dorm bed and plastered with dancing bear stickers. The California company offers premium bongs and pipes made by hand in small batches using only natural materials.

Aesthetically minded cannabis enthusiast Liam Kaczmar started Summerland to bring sustainable, artisan-made pipes, bongs, home goods, and hemp apparel to fill a gap he found while in the market

for a bong that would meet his sophisticated style-conscious standards. Finding only the tacky stuff of stereotypical stoner nightmares, Kaczmar decided to create the bong he sought on his own. Thus, Summerland was born.

Each of the brand’s sleek, minimal, monotone bongs and pipes appeal to the sophisticated smoker who’s as concerned with the quality of the cannabis as with the device out of which it’s consumed.

The ultimate result: Each handmade sculptural piece is a oneof-a-kind conversation starter.

All ceramic items are made using lead-free, food-safe glaze and natural ceramic clay, one of the old-

est building materials known to man. Available in glossy white or earth-toned matte colors in three shapes and styles, these design objects are worthy of display—if not on a dedicated smoking cart then at least on a mantel or coffee table. They also make beautiful vessels for fresh flowers.

How to decide which Summerland device is right for your cannabis cart? That depends on your design sensibilities. If your decor leans toward the classic, opt for the Chongo ($250), the brand’s original all-ceramic bong. The official product description calls the timeless piece “as familiar as a well-worn poncho keeping you warm at the bonfire.” If your decor leans more maximalist than Marie Condo, you’ll want to set sail on the Land Yacht ($225). The largest piece in the Summerland family, the bong’s sleek lines and roomy double chamber hold a lot of smoke—and look great doing it.

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Summerland Ceramic Pipe

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DON’T FORGET THE GARNISH Summerland’s Fruit Fantasy Apple Pipe ($85) is a witty nod to the creative desperation that’s led far too many cannabis-consuming youth to take hits out of an apple when more standard inorganic devices weren’t available.

PHOTOS BY ALEX SILVA, SUMMERLAND

The glossy white ceramic pipe is a big step up from that organic DIY version. If you’re not cannabis-cart-conspicuous about your consumption habits, you can let this juicy lil’ fruit sit stealthily on your bookcase disguised as an art object until the moment is right to take a bite.

Summerland Fruit Fantasy Apple Pipe

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF TETRA

GLOW-UP NO. 2: TETRA During the mid-century period, design luminaries such as Dieter Rams, Marianne Brandt, and Enzo Mari created iconic smoking accessories for the home. Tetra (shop-tetra.com) seeks to revive that tradition of beautiful and useful objects in a contemporary way, celebrating the new rituals of smoking through the lens of great design. The dispensary, retailer, and accessories brand offers beautifully designed smoking objects for “aesthetically minded people” and curates smoking accessories for the art collector.

In Tetra’s world, smoking is an antidote to the harried, tech-obsessed pace of modern life. These aren’t thumb-drive-esque vape pens that you hit as you hustle from meeting to meeting; these are objets d’art that demand you sit down, relax, and be present for your session. “Breathe deeply, disconnect, and enjoy the pleasure of cannabis, company, and conversation with smoking accessories created by the

world’s top designers and artists,” the marketing material suggests.

Take the Elbow Pipe ($70) designed by ceramicist Ninon Choplin of neenineen exclusively for Tetra. Paris-born, LA-based Choplin, who uses gender-neutral pronouns, is known for injecting a bit of whimsy into their designs. The Elbow is a chubby, tube-shaped

pipe that lets you watch as smoke billows inside it each time you puff.

It’s on the large side but it fits perfectly into one hand, with a carb and an upturned bowl on one side and a mouthpiece on the other.

Hand-cast in smooth porcelain, the discrete pebble-shaped Connector Pipe ($70) is a pleasure to hold in the palm. It’s deO C TO B E R 2020

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Devised by New York product designer Jamie Wolfond, the pipe showcases a bowl artfully pierced by a slender stem that encompassing both mouthpiece and its carb. It stands steadily on a flat surface; its proportions have been calibrated for pleasure and ease of use; and it lab-quality borosilicate glass does not conduct heat, making for a cooler, smoother smoke.

Tetra Balance Pipe

PHOTO COURTESY OF TETRA

signed by Miwak Junior, the side project of Chilean fine artist and master painter Sebastian Boher, who specializes in aquatic sculptures—fish homes, he calls them— as well as pipes.

The first pipe to be released under the Tetra brand, the Balance Pipe ($65) is also the first glass pipe to feature meticulously applied design considerations.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF SACKVILLE & CO.

GLOW-UP NO. 3: SACKVILLE & CO.

tional, giving “high art” a whole new meaning.

A new joint-rolling kit collaboBuild your smoking-hot bar by vis- ration between Wu-Tang Clan’s iting Sackville & Co.’s online shop GZA and Sackville pays homage to the “Liquid Swords” album on (sackville.co/shop/all). Drawing inits 25th anniversary while backing spiration from art, design, music, fashion, and contemporary culture, the effort to get cannabis prisSackville & Co. products use high- oners out of jail, with all profits end materials such as brushed gold going to The Last Prisoner Project (lastprisonerproject.org). finishes, marble, and ceramics to create chic-looking grinders, rolling papers, rolling trays, bonds, and other highly coveted accessories. Catering to design-forward consumers, Sackville has redefined the smoking experience for the modern female consumer, encouraging women to celebrate their relationship with cannabis—whether at a dinner party, concert, or alone in the bathtub—and to feel stylish and inspired while doing it.

Co-founders Hayley Dineen and Lana Van Brunt bonded over their shared frustration of being unable to find design-forward cannabis products to fit their personal lifestyle.

With years of experience in luxury product development, experiential marketing, and business development, the two cannabis-loving entrepreneurs felt it was time to not have to feel stigmas or hide evidence of their smoking habits. So they created a line of flaunt-worthy accessories suited to be display pieces rather than stashed in a drawer.

Sackville’s collection includes contemporary gold grinders, rolling papers, limited-edition rolling trays, bongs, and other chic smoking goods. The brand also introduced limited-run artist collaborations last holiday season—including teaming up with the women at Nice Paper to launch the perfect stash box—that are as beautiful as they are funcO C TO B E R 2020

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Sackville’s Gilded Grinder and (sold-out) Sackville x Maya Ceramics bong

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF SACKVILLE & CO.

Sackville’s Bubble Bag

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF BESITOS

GLOW-UP NO. 4: BESITOS The finishing touches of your cart collection come from Besito (besito.la), a vape company with exclusive 4/20 clothing and accessory launches dropping on the 4th of every month, all year long.

Some of the pieces are abso-fricken-lutely perfect options to add the “low” of the high/low decor look you’re going for. Our faves: an “I’m high, lol” chip clip and a tote bag emblazoned with Besito’s signature tag line: “more fuck yeah, less oh fuck.”

We dig the vibe. On its own, Besito’s profanity-laced message could come across as aggressive but don’t let that fool you: This brand is all about giving people giggly good times. You can tell from just one look at the LA-based brand’s creative campaigns, which

feature gender-neutral models, products, packaging, collaborations, creative campaigns, inclusive messaging, mission, and advocacy.

Besito is the brainchild Maggie Connors, a Stanford MBA branding pro who worked with the likes of Apple, Starbucks, and Pepsico before she transitioned into cannabis in 2017. Along with a massive amount of knowledge gleaned from years of mainstream corporate experience in brand management, Connors brings a bit of Cuban flair to the industry, and the combination of branding and culture is fueling Besito’s success.

Besito, which means “little kiss” in Spanish, is decidedly upscale but definitely not elegantly boring.

Quite the opposite, in fact. In an interview with VoyageLA, Connors explains she was inspired to launch Besito as a reflection of LA O C TO B E R 2020

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Over the last few months, Higher Grade has been fully operational as an essential cannabis business, but not without some changes. In order to keep our stores safe for employees and customers, we ask that everyone follow social distancing and mask guidelines at every location. We now utilize an online ordering platform, found on our website.

We’ve begun cultivating some new strains and have a few new names on both our Medical and Recreational menus. We added a Strain Library with detailed descriptions and beautiful photos of our core strains to our website, and will be adding to it regularly. As always, daily menus, specials pages, contact information, and more can be found on our website at highergradeco.com.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF BESITOS

Besito hexagonal vape pen

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF BESITOS

culture: diverse, colorful, sexy, and fun. “We wanted to bring sophisticated product design and a bright, colorful, fun aesthetic that was missing from cannabis,” she says.

Besito vapes are stylish (with an edge), a little bit funky, industrial, and sleek. The packaging is colorful and fun, the signature high social and giggly. The all-in-one pens are just as much a fashionable gender-neutral accessories as they are high-end delivery systems for mood-enhancing cannabis blends in yummy flavors. Not to mention the brand donates 1 percent of its proceeds to the Equity First Alliance, a nonprofit that’s working to repair the harm caused by the war on drugs. Basically, Besito is a whole mood itself—which is how Connors planned it from the start.

“Our brand ethos is who we are as a company,” Connors told Lonny. “Passionate about cannabis, diverse, inclusive, and fun.” From the products and the packaging to the brand advertising and social messaging, everything about the brand has an approachable, chill vibe. The Besito aesthetic exudes a laid-back attitude that connects with consumers, elevating the brand above the competition in a crowded marketplace.

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MENVER STYLE

Don’t call the fashion police: the men of the Mile High City look just fine.

TEXT JAKE BROWNE

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t’s one of those impossibly gorgeous fall days in Colorado and you reach in your drawer for something light to wear when you see that pair of gym shorts from high school staring back at you.

C’mon, man.

Across the Front Range, guys have earned the dubious distinction of treating their attire as an afterthought, even if they’re totally rocking that Patagonia jacket.

Even if you don’t live in “Menver” proper, the state tends to be dudeheavy, and you’re not standing out from the crowd by ignoring the fundamentals of a good wardrobe.

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JOE BROWNS AW20 MENSWEAR, COURTESY PR SHOTS

DRESS CODE: CASUAL “Denver doesn’t dress to impress, it dresses to regress,” says Brian Howie, creator of The Great Love Debates. Howie spends most of his year checking out everywhere from bars to barbershops of whatever city he finds himself, trying to break down the local dating scene through a series of off-the-cuff interviews. In 2017, he declared Denver the “Worst City for Dating.”

“We did a show right after that, and when I brought it up people cheered,” says Howie. “And I was like, ‘This is not a good thing!’” One element that stood out to him was the “lazy” nature of how men approached dating in particular. “Den-

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ver guys take it to a point where it’s like, ‘I don’t care, bro,’ and that’s fine that you’re not dressing to impress anybody. But at the same time, it still has to look like you tried, and women are extremely frustrated with that, especially on dates.”

The biggest dichotomy tends to be indoors vs outdoors, where he sees men make the most effort on the slopes or out for a hike. Once they step into a microbrewery, though, it all changes. “It looks like a junior high dance, where the women are all gathered together in the middle, and the guys are all standing around the edge of the bar, sipping their beers, and not engaging,” says Howie. “They’re dressing to blend in, not to be noticed.”

REDUCE, REUSE, UPCYCLE Breaking up can be hard to do, especially with that expensive pair of jeans that only has a tiny guac stain on them from last year that you can’t get out. According to fashion expert and reseller Amanda Kendrick, that’s where you have to start: paring down to basics. “I think the mistake is thinking, ‘I’m going to wear this one day,’” says the 15-year pro who has built a business out of helping people let go of rarely worn items.

How did we wind up here, staring at the vast sea of clothes that we barely wear? Kendrick blames the consumer culture of the 1990s and 2000s that pushed the concept of “more is more,” along with

the advent of cheaply made designs that weren’t found at a place with a “Mart” in the name. “Minimalism is the way of the future,” according to Kendrick.

In general, a good way to start shedding old duds is to see what it is you are wearing. Go through your closet and hang every piece of clothing in one direction; after you wear it, hang it back up the other way. “At the end of the season, anything that’s still facing the wrong way has to go,” says Kendrick. The process doesn’t have to be painful; it could even be the beneficial to your back account. Kendrick has made a lucrative side hustle using sites like Poshmark to make money off castoffs. “Even Plato’s Closet is O C TO B E R 2020

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great because they’ll give you cash and they’re desperate for men’s clothes,” she says.

JOE BROWNS AW20 MENSWEAR, COURTESY PR SHOTS

THROWBACK THREADS Rockmount Ranch Wear’s President Steve Weil’s family business has outfitted stars from Gene Simmons to John Legend for decades, and he isn’t eager to mess with success. “The sawtooth pockets and diamond snap is our core design, it’s like our Levis 501.

This is the longest-running shirt in America,” says Weil. Quintessentially Colorado, the flagship Rockmount store and museum in Denver’s LoDo district is more than a tourist trap: it’s a piece of the city’s fashion history.

It should come as no surprise, then, that Weil is unabashedly a “shirt guy” when it comes to building a strong closet. “The first thing I look at in the morning is, ‘What shirt am I going to wear?’ and then I go from there,” he says, building his look from the top down. “Shirts are what everybody sees first. They’re eye-height.” A style he sees around town that irks him? Dark shirts with ties. “I think it looks like some gangster from New Jersey,” he says with a laugh.

While Western wear may feel like something out of the 1950s, it’s being incorporated into modern styles and can be dressed up or down very easily. Weil sees the pieces as interchangeable, with denim, boots, and shirts working well together or on their own.

“That’s the beauty of the Western lifestyle: it’s for the individual to decide,” he says. “It’s not a uniform that some all-powerful social peer is telling you that you have to wear exactly this way.”

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DON’T FOLLOW TRENDS. SET THEM. Men of the Mile High: You’re so hot right now. While the style experts at publications like GQ and Esquire offer advice about how to pull off the biggest fall fashion trends of 2020, you’ve been effortlessly rocking this year’s hottest looks since whenever you moved here.

The Mile High City’s signature style is the height of fashion this fall. Trend reports in GQ, Esquire, and Vogue list look after look that could have been culled from the closet of pretty much every dude in Colorado: Vests, trailblazing boots, shearling, functional clothing, plaid shirts, chunky boots, wide-leg pants, v-neck sweaters, leather jackets, all-fleece everything, technical pants, weird cardigans, flannels, boots that look ready to scale a mountain, Patagonia sweaters, puffer jackets, gloves, head-to-toe denim, fisherman beanies, oh my.

If Autumn/Winter 2020 Menswear trends had a Derelicte-esque label, it’d be Coloradoan, and the men wearing it will be seen as really, really ridiculously good looking.

TOP IT OFF There’s no shortage of hipster barbers with beards so long they should be nicknamed “Colfax” here, but a strong hat game is still crucial on days you don’t want to bust out the pomade. Abstract made a name for itself as a millinery and streetwear shop that quickly outgrew its digs on South Broadway and moved to Santa Fe. Their manager and buyer Taylor Sandona practices what he preaches.

“I’ve worn a hat almost every day of my life since I was a kid,” says Sandona. “It’s the reason I like to keep one of the biggest hat selections in the city here at Abstract with over 130 hats at all times.”

Sandona tends to eschew seasonal styles, even if he notes that Denver fashion is “pretty simple” and that there’s “no shortage O C TO B E R 2020

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of flannel and denim out here.”

Instead, he encourages people to embrace their own style and wearing what they like. Outside of headwear, though? “You can never have too many hoodies!” he says.

Great finds can be found in the proverbial ashes, with thrifting becoming more popular and a number of consignment stores popping up with Macklemore-esque racks of your grandpa’s style.

“Vintage is continuing to grow, and it’s cool to see a lot of older styles coming back such as bomber jackets and things like that,” Sandona says.

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GET FIT When it comes to fashion faux pas in the scene, there’s one thing that our experts couldn’t repeat enough: enough with form-free fashions. If the pants you’re eying even have a hint of “Hammer,” don’t even think about plucking them from the bargain bin.

“I think men in Boulder and Denver tend to make the same fashion mi-take, which is that they don’t focus enough on fit,” says Daniel Armitage, cofounder of Armitage & McMillan, an upscale men’s boutique (now closed) in LoHi that opened in 2014.

“They tend to wear their clothes a little too big, whether it’s their pants, or shirt, or outerwear, their clothes always seem to be swallowing them alive.”

Not sure what qualifies as the “right fit”? Armitage recommends starting with whatever works with your body type, then focus on what makes you feel confident. And don’t be afraid to invest in quality, especially when it comes to denim. You can get O C TO B E R 2020

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years of wear out of one staple pair. “I think a guy can spend around $200 and have a pair of raw denim jeans that will last for years— they will be one of those pieces that wears in with you.”

Sure, $200 may sound like a lot upfront, but consider the cost per wear of jeans that you’ll wear for a decade plus compared to the cheaper pairs you’ve had to replace over the past few years.

Consider the price you’ll spend

on a good pair of jeans an investment in style that can carry you through the next decade rather than a frivolous fashion expense.

While distressed styles are a good look, jeans that come with holes in them aren’t likely to last as long as you’d like them to. Opt instead for a pair made with raw denim fabric, which is unwashed and untreated and actually conforms to how you wear it, picking up subtleties like where your

wallet or phone sits as long as it remains unwashed—up to three months if you can make it that long. When it comes to bottoms, however, he’s over the loungewear trend. “Guys of all ages and of all fashion leanings are breaking out fashion sweats and it just doesn’t work for me,” he says. Perhaps you can hold onto a pair for around the house, but remember: we’re decluttering this fall. Time to get back to the basics.

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Muse “Cannabis helps my creativity.”

How many times have I heard this over the last four decades?

Big thinkers like Carl Sagan and Steve Jobs are on the record as a scientist and CEO, respectively, who used cannabis. Musicians from Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday to Willie Nelson and Nicki Minaj swear by it. I have never said that cannabis causes me to be creative, but I have argued, like the painter on Sanjay Gupta’s first CNN Weed special, that “It's my favorite way to work.”

But is there anything to this?

Is there really a connection between using cannabis and being creative, and if so, what is it?

Does cannabis actually stimulate people to be more inspired, TEXT LELAND RUCKER imaginative, inventive or artistic?

There are no easy answers, as is the case with much we are still learning about cannabis. It is generally believed and understood

Everybody from Carl Sagan on down swears by the ability of cannabis to influence creativity. Is there anything to it, or is it just an illusion?

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that cannabis and THC stimulate activity in the frontal lobe of the brain, which is where dopamines (sensitive neurons generally associated with reward, attention span, and short-term memory) are located. Beyond that, trying to even quantify creativity is a sticky wicket. Psychology researchers can’t define it. Is creativity the end product of creative work, or is it reflected in the personality of the person?

More interesting is whether creativity might have something to do with the differences between convergent thinking, which is the ability to follow logO C TO B E R 2020

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ical steps to a conclusion, and divergent thinking, which centers around a less linear process to come up with answers.

Most research on the subject relies on tests, generally done against time constraints, to measure “creativity.” One, for example, asked the subject to name as many words as they could in 30 seconds. Though that might be an appropriate scientific way to approach it, I’m unsure that it helps us understand anything about the process. And some of the research seems biased. A 2012 study admitted that little is known about how drugs affect the mind, but suggested that cannabis use might stimulate the sections of the brain (i.e. the frontal lobe) that lead

to divergent thinking. A different test two years later denied those conclusions vehemently. “The improved creativity that they believe they experience is an illusion,” Dr. Lorenza Colzato of the Institute of Psychology at Leiden University said about his study. “If you want to overcome writer’s block or any other creative gap, lighting up a joint isn’t the best solution.

Smoking several joints one after the other can even be counterproductive to creative thinking.”

Those methods don’t even hint at what’s going on when I write under the influence, especially since I’m never being asked to come up with as many words as I can to describe something in 30 seconds to test my creativity. And

they do nothing to explain why so many creative people still use cannabis to produce outstanding, innovative work.

So I began to talk to cannabis users to find out what they see as the link between cannabis and creativity. Most find it hard to accurately describe their experience, but all mentioned some variation on the “divergent thinking” concept.

“I like a ton of input and jam it into my brain,” says Sebastian Vidali, founder of Arcana, Inc, a cannabis-focused brand development group. “Smoke allows an almost Tony Stark thing, or

READ MORE ABOUT IT The Natural Mind: A New Way of Looking at Drugs and the Higher Consciousness.

Andrew Weil’s groundbreaking 1972 work offered a different way to look at consciousness at the same time that cannabis was designated a Schedule 1 drug under the Controlled Substances Act.

“I like a ton of input and jamming it into my brain.”

—Sebastian Vidali, Arcana Inc.

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that’s the way it feels, anyway.

It connects things together in a fluid way and helps create a new picture. I feel less held back by other factors. I’m always running multiple strains of thoughts, and it feels to me that I can dive into one thread and make connections.

It clears the noise in a way.”

“It’s hard to explain, but it opens up the creative river, gets those creative juices going,” says Patrick McGregor, a painter and muralist who works in a lot of different media. “I’ll be uninspired, take a lunch break, smoke a little, and it’ll bring me back into the painting.”

Neil Haverstick is a master at almost any stringed instrument.

He says cannabis is more common than you might imagine in the music biz. “I would say I’ve know many hundreds of musicians that smoke pot; in fact, I’ve only known a few that haven’t.

Of course, I’ve also seen a lotta alcohol use, cigarette smoking, and cocaine sniffing over the years in my field, but fortunately, not much usage of heroin.” he says.

He doesn’t really like playing live while elevated, but cannabis is an important part of his writing process. “When I start to play my guitar (or oud), I find that I often start doing things that I have never done before.

I have ideas that take me beyond the things I usually play— different melodies, rhythms, concepts,” he says. “I surprise myself. Sometimes, I think, ‘where did that come from? Never played that before.’ And that is the key word: surprise. I am often able to create new shapes, patterns, something that did not previously exist.”

Everybody I talked with says cannabis makes them see and think things in a different way.

Sebastian Marincolo is a neuroscientist who lives in Stuttgart, Germany, and has studied the positive potential of cannabis for the last decade. His most recent book, What Hashish Did to Walter Benjamin: Mind Altering Essays on Cannabis, looks into how cannabis was used positively by historical figures like Sagan, Rudyard Kipling, and Miles Davis, among many others, and tries to explain how judicious use of the marijuana high helped them and can help others.

Marincolo began looking into the connections between cannabis and creativity while working on his doctorate in philosophy and neuroscience. His roommate was studying toxicity, and they began to research marijuana as it related to mind enhancement.

They weren’t interested in the medical aspects. “We started looking into how it can help cognitive enhancement of episodic memories,” Marincolo says.

“People have reported, and I have experienced, an enhanced episodic memory—like for instance, you remember events from childhood in greater detail.”

Another fundamental element they found was a hyperfocus of attention. “Whatever you tend to be thinking about is more in focus,” Marincolo says. “Because of that you have an intensification of experience. Things seem to be more detailed and intense because you’re more focused and have the ability to imagine things. Imagination is crucial for creativity. And it’s not just images, it’s also im-

“That’s the key word: surprise. I am often able to create new shapes, patterns, something that did not previously exist.”

—Neil Haverstick, Instrumentalist

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portant for people who compose music or for a chef who is imagining a taste for a dessert.”

He says that many people experience a mind acceleration that is generally associated with a slowdown in time perception. Haverstick mentioned “new shapes and patterns,” and Marincolo corroborated that musicians seem to be especially tuned to this. Using Miles Davis as an example, Marincolo says some artists “can see patterns and similarities between patterns and better understand musical patterns.”

Marincolo also found that many users experience an enhancement of body perception. “Some describe how they can feel cold water going down their throats,

or that they have better touch or sex experiences," says Marincolo.

Users report the ability to understand and connect better with the emotions and moods of friends, children, and partners. “They see patterns in the behavior of other people and understand them better. There can be an enhancement of language understanding, to get into flow of other languages.”

Nobody I spoke with seemed to be of the opinion that you just hit the bong, and boom, the creativity gong hits you in the head. “My conclusion is that I think there is abuse in countries with prohibition, where people have access only to poor quality, black-market product, and they can abuse it as a form of escapism,” says Marinco-

lo, who offers online classes that include hands-on advice for personal growth, introspection, and dealing with personal relationships and sex. The classes emphasize how strains, terpenes, and ingestion methods can influence your creativity. “We all have different needs, and cannabis has a lot to offer—especially now that we are learning about the cannabinoid system and how different terpenes have different chemical profiles.

We need to have this knowledge.”

I think we’ll be waiting a long time for science to catch up with the connection between cannabis and creativity. Until then, Marincolo’s studies and my discussions with other users make sense to me in ways that traditional methods and research don’t.

First, of course, cannabis has to be decriminalized, legalized, and de-stigmatized throughout the country and around the world.

“It’s a cliché of sorts that musicians use ‘drugs,’ but I don’t think of marijuana as a drug,” Haverstick says. “I believe it has many useful properties, and now that it’s becoming legalized for both medical and recreational usage, we’re starting to see just how helpful it can be in a wide variety of situations.”

“We need to consider it as a tool,” Marincolo says. “But only if you know how to use it.”

READ MORE ABOUT IT What Hashish Did To Walter Benjamin: Mind-Altering Essays on Marijuana.

Sebastian Marincolo’s 2015 series of essays looks at significant figures in history and their connection to cannabis.

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So, you want to get a job in the cannabis industry?

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OVID-19 has turned the cannabis job market on its head. Before the pandemic hit, employers were struggling to find and retain talent in the lightning-hot cannabis industry, which boasted one of the country’s fastest-growing job markets, with a job-creation rate of 110 percent from 2017 to 2020 and a median annual salary of $58,511 (11 percent higher than the national average), according to Forbes. Cannabis companies competed mightily for quality workers amid record low unemployment. In Canada, the shortage was so dire that companies were importing workers from the US (those were the days, eh?).

Then in March, it all came to a screeching halt. “For the first time in five years, we had zero job openings for a week,” says James Yagielo, CEO of HempStaff, which does hemp and cannabis recruiting and dispensary training.

For a moment, no one knew what would happen. Denver experienced the shortest prohibition in history when Mayor Michael Hancock closed dispensaries and stores, then opened them a few hours later after dangerous crowds swarmed, looking to stockpile reserves.

Unlike the travel and hospitality industries, cannabis bounced back in an extreme-V recovery as soon as it was deemed an essential business in most states where it’s legal. Sales have soared throughout the lockdown and beyond, and New Frontier Data predicts they could reach $13.1 billion by 2025.

By the end of April, Yagielo says, job listings were back up to about half of what they were pre-pandemic. After the Fourth of

July weekend, when people began to realize their federal unemployment benefits were about to run out, far more resumes than job listings began flooding in.

Recruiters say a lot of resumes are coming from people who have been ousted from jobs in other industries, people who might have considered cannabis too risky or controversial before but couldn’t help but notice that dispensaries and cannabis stores remained open—and quite busy—while the rest of the world shut down. Being deemed essential did a lot for the industry’s reputation.

“What COVID-19 has done, really, is address the stigma around cannabis on the broadest scale,” says Brian Sekandi, founder of Careers Cannabis, a smart-search platform that connects talent with companies in the global cannabis industry. “Everybody was confronted with the fact that cannabis is an essential business

across North America, and that really confronts the idea that cannabis is bad. It’s no longer this nasty underground industry.”

“When it was deemed an essential business, that was a big mindshift for a lot of people,” says Kyle Arfsten, client relation director for Kforce (kforce.com), which builds and manages technology, finance, and accounting teams for top employers, including cannabis companies, nationwide. “People who typically wouldn’t attempt to get into the industry are now open to the idea.”

TOP JOBS The highest-paying jobs in the cannabis industry are consultant (unlimited), COO and CFO ($125,000+), extraction technician ($75,000 to $125,000), grow master ($80,000 to $100,000), and edibles chef ($40,000+), according to Investopedia.

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All that means “a lot of people are trying to transition into the industry right now,” says JR Hindman, founder of Marijuana Resumes, which has been providing job seekers with resumes and cover letters coded for the industry since 2016. “They’re unemployed, sitting at home, and thinking, ‘what is my next move? Why not switch gears and pursue a career I never thought possible?’ These are weird times, so why not get weird with it?”

QUANTITY DRIVING QUALITY In July, HempStaff advertised a customer service job in Los Angeles. More than 1,600 people applied. “Companies are running into the issue where they have an abundance of people applying for jobs, and they have to sort through them,” says Arfsten.

“There is definitely an increase in the talent pool—like the old saying goes, quantity drives quality.”

In addition to all the newcomers from shuttered restaurants and retail hubs, the cannabis industry was already accumulating a stable of experienced workers laid off as the young industry went through some necessary reality checks in the months leading up to Covid.

After being out of work for upwards of six months, Yagielo says, these professionals are willing to take a pay cut if it means steady employment. He has seen master growers’ salaries drop from upwards of $100,000 to $80,000.

“I used to tell people it would take six to eight months to break into the industry,” Yagielo says.

“Now, who knows how long it’s going to be. We’re seeing people with industry experience take six to eight months to find a job.”

“EVEN THOUGH THERE’S TONS OF OPPORTUNITY IN CANNABIS, IT HASN’T BECOME EASIER TO GET IN.”

LEAN OPERATIONS Industry recruiting platform Vangst surveyed 39 US companies about their hiring intentions this year and found that 36% reduced headcount while another 33% used temporary employee furloughs in response to the pandemic.

SOURCE: 420 Intel

—Brian Sekandi, cofounder of Careers Cannabis

LOW AND SLOW Wildly uncertain economic times certainly aren’t helping job seekers right now, as a lot of companies take a more conservative approach and slow down on hiring until they have a better sense of what the future holds. “Unfortunately for individuals in this market, even though there’s tons of opportunity in cannabis, it hasn’t become easi-

er to get in,” says Sekandi.

On top of all the barriers to entry, the type of jobs available and how much they pay have both been diminished since the pandemic hit, Yagielo says. Budtending jobs, which pay between $12.50 and $18 an hour, are the most abundant and available. Budtending has been the most common way of breaking into the industry since the beO C TO B E R 2020

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ginning, but budtenders are more in demand than ever as cannabis retailers open their storefronts back up while maintaining curbside pickup and delivery (which became way too popular during lockdown to let go).

Reviews of budtending as a career starter are decidedly mixed.

It is, after all, a retail job. You have to be able to deal with the public and, sometimes, managers with dubious if not nefarious leadership skills. You may have to throw out a few people who refuse to wear masks in your store, but you’ll also get to be an ambassador for people who have never experienced cannabis before.

“The pay is shit, but the perks are great,” is how one Redditor recently summed it up. “I love getting

free samples all the time. Brands and growers are always kissing our asses with free stuff, and that makes the lousy pay worth it.”

“The folks who stand out in this environment are the ones who do a little bit extra, put in a little more effort,” says Sekandi. “Put yourself out there. Be willing to EXPERT ADVICE learn and listen. Engage without Standard advice for job seekers getting something in return. The in any industry is to get out and key is to get on people’s radars.” network, but as Hindman points Sekandi says his own network out, “it’s not like you can go out has exploded now that he is no and shake hands and kiss babies longer limited by physical boundthese days.” aries. He’s constantly online taking In this age of social distancing, classes and participating in Tech Hindman says, networking has Stars programs and conferences, shifted to LinkedIn and social mewhere he finds ample opportunity dia—so you better get savvy there. to meet and connect directly with Taking an online training or cerparticipants and speakers. tification is another way to meet “In chaos, the world becomes people (while also beefing up your flat,” he says. “I now have access resume), he adds. “People have to so many people who were just to start thinking outside the box if too busy pre-COVID-19. Today they want a career in this industry.” they’ll take the time.”

SCISSORS OUT Want to be a grower?

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PARTIES FOR THE PEOPLE COVID-19 makes serving cannabis dinners a little more challenging and a lot more meaningful.

TEXT ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE

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F

ebruary was an incredible month for my young business, Cannabis Kitchen Events, which provides private cannabis-infused dinners and cooking classes at people’s homes and short-term rentals in Denver. We catered our first wedding on February 22, and our up-

coming calendar was packed with bachelorette and birthday parties well into the summer. We were ready. It was go time.

And then, as we all know too well, it wasn’t. When we suspended operations in mid-March and postponed all events until further notice, I had no idea if we would ever serve Canna-Mango Mules again.

Would anyone be willing to invite

possible COVID-19 carriers into their homes or to gather around tables to share meals? Who would get on an airplane or rent an Airbnb?

We held out hope, taking the pause as an opportunity to refine and improve some of CK Events’ systems and develop stringent COVID-19 safety practices based on everything we could learn from Dr. Fauci, the City of Denver, and O C TO B E R 2020

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the State of Colorado (the most trusted sources we could find).

Food service is all about food safety, so we were already well-versed in handwashing and disinfecting, and we had plenty of boxes of gloves in our inventory. Adding masks to the equation was easy enough.

In June, as Colorado began to open back up, we had our first rescheduled event, a birthday party for 10 that was held on the patio of a private home. Soon we had another, and then another, as Colorado continued to flatten and decelerate the curve. Turns out a lot of people are more willing to eat a meal prepared for them in the safety of their own home than they are to venture out into a restaurant. By July, we were back to where we started— and then some.

People were ready to party. In a July 3 New York Times article, Harvard Medical School infectious disease epidemiologist Julia Marcus summed up how all of us were feeling when she said: “Why can’t the message be: ‘We understand you want to gather with friends. There are ways to do this safely.’ We’re just telling them not to gather. That doesn’t recognize basic human behavior and basic human needs.”

DEEP RESPONSIBILITY Catering has never been an easy business. Nurturing happy clients takes some physical and mental heavy lifting. But it’s worth every minute of the labor and stress when we get to watch diners sigh with pleasure as they enjoy a delicious, perfectly dosed meal and share some deep laughs with their favorite people. We get to help

“WE’RE JUST TELLING [PEOPLE] NOT TO GATHER. THAT DOESN’T RECOGNIZE BASIC HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND BASIC HUMAN NEEDS.” —Julia Marcus, Harvard Medical School infectious disease epidemiologist

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people create occasions they’ll never forget, experiences they may never have again. We take that responsibility seriously.

We sell our clients a lot more than a cannabis-infused meal. We sell them safety. When they sit down to dig into Grilled Colorado Tri-tip with Cannabis Chimichurri, they can be certain they will consume just the right amount of cannabis—never too much. We’re vigilant about this. And now, we’re just as vigilant about making sure none of our clients gets COVID-19.

Has it made things more difficult? For sure. We have to constantly monitor the staff for any symptoms or potential contacts with the virus and train everyone in the new COVID-19 protocol.

We have to be happy and never whine about cooking in masks (it’s harder for some of us than others).

Prepping and events take longer than they used to because of all the extra cleaning, and the exact ingredients we want aren’t always available. But we always make it work.

In the end, it makes us a better company. We communicate more than we did before, and we’re all genuinely concerned about each other’s health. We’ve learned to be more creative in the kitchen and with our menu planning.

Sometimes the substitutions we make for impossible-to-find ingredients are better than the original.

Most of all, after weeks off and facing the potential of never cooking for people again, we have a lot more appreciation for just getting to do what we do—make people happy.

The pandemic may have driven us into isolation, but cannabis is bringing us back together.

SAFETY DANCE

Throw a dinner party without becoming a super spreader by following these guidelines.

• If possible, hold your dinner outside. Indoor spaces have less ventilation, and it can be harder to keep people socially distanced.

• Have one designated server handle all serving utensils.

• Keep food covered when it’s not being served. Bring back those old-school cloches, the dome-shaped ceramic or glass covers for your serving dishes—easy to find at thrift stores.

• Give everyone their own straw that they can slip under their masks to sip.

• Keep the music down so people don’t have to shout, which expels more respiratory droplets.

• Serve beverages in open tubs of ice and segregate them by type so people don’t have to go rooting around for the bottle or can they want.

• Set up hand-washing stations for guests and staff.

• Disinfect all surfaces, including serving areas and guest tables, before, during, and after the event.

• Require all food preparers and servers to wear masks and gloves at all times and to change gloves frequently.

• How you handle mask-wearing in the privacy of your home is up to you, but make sure all your guests are on the same page.

For guests with underlying conditions, it’s just as important to know if masks won’t be required as it to know if they will.

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Hemp, Hemp,

These companies are redefining hemp clothing for everyday wear.

TEXT NIKKI NEU

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Many people don’t realize that the fashion industry can be, at times, incredibly wasteful and strenuous on the planet.

For a single t-shirt, the reach extends far beyond the garment. The cycle starts with the hundreds of gallons of water it takes to process the fabric, and includes

has been traced as far back as 8,000 BC in Mesopotamia and for the last 6,000 years in China. Up until recently, hemp clothing has been known to be a less-than-comfortable fabric with a stiff feel, a strong aroma, and an almost waxy residue. But, lately, a few

the (too often) unfair labor conditions it takes to make that shirt, the shipping and emissions to transport the shirt, and then, ultimately, the landfill waste to dispose of the shirt.

One of the earliest known plants used for textile, hemp fabric

companies have led the charge in revolutionizing this fabrication, refi ning the fibers and creating hemp-hybrid clothing mixed with cotton to derive a soft, wearable feel.

Hemp textile has several benefits, including naturally anti-bacterial

properties. When the fabric is worked correctly, the material is also breathable and soft— contrary to the popular belief that hemp fabric is scratchy. Part of this evolution is the process and methods by which the hemp is sourced and treated before creating the material to be worn.

non-hemp products but all sustainable—and approachable. Nash brings a luxury-feel product to market in ultra-soft hemp-cotton knit shirts, but without the luxury price tag. While designer men’s t-shirts can go for hundreds of dollars, Tact & Stone’s hemp tees cost $65, making it easy for

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Landon Nash, a founder of Los Angeles-based menswear clothing company Tact & Stone, is on a mission to change how customers buy fashion. The company has a variety of hemp and

ronmentally-conscious option into their wardrobe, while saving 84 gallons of water. With these advancements in fabrication, hemp can comfortably be worn as everyday wear, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, and even underwear.

Continued on p. 151

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ACCESSORIES Wendy Gelbart of ’80s Rocker Mom creates and designs jewelry using leather clothing, broken accessories, discarded beads, and vinyl album covers in her ’80s Rocker Mom jewelry line.

Accessories feature bold cuff bracelets; chunky statement pieces; festival-wear adorned with wood, beads, and feathers; funky earrings; and lots of skulls.

IG @80srockermom

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With one of the best over the IZE long sleeve fabrications we’ve felt, tee ($75) in gray for a Tact & Stone provides chic skater look. a clean, modern menswear line with a socialSeeker seeker.earth ly-conscious eye on the environment. Based in If you’re looking to Los Angeles, the compa- start adding hemp into ny prides itself on being your wardrobe, we’re all 100-percent sustainable about it! Embracing this and ethically conscious. versatile fabric, Seeker is The ultra-soft tees, a fashion-forward brand tanks, and shirts come with a modern monk vibe. in primary solid colors The clothes are young, (blue, black, gray, white) fresh, gender-neutral, and can be used as unand free-flowing. The dershirts or favorite tee. materials are cool, and the lines just funky.

Our picks: The IZE Our picks: The KimoHemp Tee in burgundy no in navy blue ($219; ($65; available in sizes available in sizes XS-XXL).

S-XL). This versatile This versatile woven hemp t-shirt can take you from morning workouts flax linen duster is the perfect all-seasons piece. to weekends under a Ladies, throw it on over chunky cardigan to the boardroom under a blaz- leggings and a tank for ever. We loved layering it eryday or dress it up with

a slip dress and strappy sandals for a night out.

Men, style it with skinny black jeans and your favorite tank and high tops.

Nomads Hemp Wear nomadshempwear.com

According to Lou Seguin, a founder and director of Nomads hemp wear based in Canada, the sustainable clothing business trend has never really kept up with the mainstream trends. His inspiration comes from living with the land, traveling, and going to festivals. His designs are about comfortable yet stylish clothes for real everyday life.

“The one thing we’ve learned over the couple of decades we have been designing our hemp wear

is that our customers like stretchy and low maintenance clothes. They want the latest cutting edge fabrics, even if it’s hemp. Hemp doesn’t mean you have to wear a potato bag,” says Seguin.

“Yoga is another segment where hemp clothes shine, especially now that people are more aware of microplastics’ pollution and health impact.”

With an easy, everyday look, Nomads has a variety of clothes for every day. The collection features soft, flowy oversized racerback tanks, sweaters that feel more like fine French terry than a cotton/ hemp blend, and a fitness line with breathable capri pants and hoodies. For a dressy-casual

SETPIECE Horse Trailer Hideout is an industrial country-chic horse trailer bar (along with other unique mobile bars). As a sustainable company, all of its products are fully compostable— including hay straw. Horse Trailer Hideout provides bar programs including craft cocktails, elevated wines, and beers influenced by local ingredients. horsetrailerhideout.com

Continued on p. 154

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LOCATION Wildhorse Golf Club features a beautifully landscaped golf course in a park setting with a pond, waterfall, and ducks in the heart of Henderson.

The Country Club at Wildhorse features a Grand Ballroom with an outdoor balcony overlooking the course, and an intimate setting with a gazebo and benches. golfwildhorse.com

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look, Nomads dresses and skirts are on-trend with sophisticated bias-cuts and available in a range of sizes, from XS-XL. Our picks: The Dreamweaver Tunic ($33; available in sizes XS-XL).

This tunic is super soft, available in a range of colors and sizes, flowy, breathable, and the perfect loungewear piece by itself or in layers for cooler months.

Wama Underwear wamaunderwear.com

Highlighting hemp’s softness and versatility, Wama features a selection of undergarments, including bras, panties, and boxer briefs. The line is for both women and men, and many of the items come in earth tones and cool dark slate colors.

As a bonus, the product pages tell you exactly how much water and electricity buying a Wama 2XL0. This bralette can Underwear item saves. go from yoga poses to a Our Picks: The Racgreat full-coverage operback Bralette, ($38, tion under those super available in sizes XSlow-cut maxi dresses.

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THE SCENE

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Shiso Cool

Fans insist powerhouse greens are meant for bigger things than smoothies.

TEXT JOHN LEHNDORFF

I was a green pea kind of kid. My Sicilian-American mama tried to transfer her love of salads, but my juvenile taste buds had to mature before I fully appreciated the mindblowing deliciousness of

greens. Now I love porky collards, creamy saag paneer, Chinese broccoli, Ethiopian gomen, cress salad, and dozens of other verdant variations.

The word “superfood” gets misapplied far too

often. Leafy greens deserve the kudos. They are low-calorie, nonfat, and high-fiber, as well as high in vitamin C, vitamin A, folate, manganese, and vitamin K. You literally cannot eat too

many greens every day.

Leafy greens, root vegetable tops, microgreens, and baby greens—including baby bok choy—may not be as sexy as artichokes and asparagus, but they are inexpensive O C TO B E R 2020

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Chef: Southwest category. She had worked at notable eateries like Denver’s Acorn before opening Annette.

Turns out Glover’s got a thing for roughage.

“I sure do love some greens,” she tells me, and her current menu provides delicious evidence for every course: from a butter lettuce salad with pickled wild onions to grilled asparagus with burrata and watercress to a bone-in pork chop with spaetzle and mustard greens.

The roots of her leafy affinity run deep. “I ate a lot of great salads growing up,” Glover says. “My grandmother did the braised greens with chicken stock and bacon, but I really didn’t start loving greens until I worked on a farm in ‘I sure do love some greens’ Vermont. The food was very seasonal and greens Chef Caroline Glover’s were the first fresh vegefirst job may have been table of the year.” at Chili’s, but she has Glover is now a devogathered nothing but tee. “I’m a glutton for simacclaim locally and nationally since opening ple sautéed greens with salt, extra virgin olive oil, Annette restaurant in Aurora’s Stanley Market- and a little lemon juice for acidity. Not everyone is place a little over a year into salad in the morning, ago. The eatery made Bon Appétit magazine’s but I am,” she says.

“Some of my favorites list of America’s 50 best new restaurants in 2017 are wild mustard greens which have a sharpand was a 2018 James er taste than regular Beard Award semifimustard greens. If you nalist (for Best New Restaurant), with Glover eat them when they are young and tender you nominated in the Best and one of the most nutrient-dense foods per calorie on the planet.

From curly endive to shiso, greens are essential ingredients in nearly every cuisine, but modern Americans have resisted their charms. Then, a former garnish called kale was “discovered” as a nutritional powerhouse, and field greens started to replace iceberg lettuce in salads. However, most of the greens seem to be disguised by bananas in viscous vegetal morning smoothies.

Better greens in a smoothie than no greens at all, but what a waste of flavor. Some leaves are delicate and buttery, others heartier and chewier in diverse flavors from minty, bitter, and sweet to tart and mustardy.

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LOREM IPSUM

THE SCENE

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TASTE BUDS

Better greens in a smoothie than no greens at all, but what a waste of flavor.

don’t have to blanch them first. They pair well with fatty things like whole roasted chicken.”

Yet she feels that her beloved greens are greatly misunderstood. “We definitely have customers who steer away from any green vegetables they don’t recognize,” she dismays. “I think some still have bad memories of the way greens were fi xed for them when they were kids.”

hued vegetables like Chinese broccoli, bok choy, and water spinach while living in Japan for four years.

Van Dyk was the first American chef to get a visa to work in Japan cooking American cuisine. “We showed them a lot of American regional dishes that we adjusted using local ingredients,” he says. “We made Southern-style soul food greens using chrysanthemum flower greens ‘At home, we grow shiso’ cooked with smoked Lyons-based chef James ham hocks.”

Van Dyk sharpened his While in Asia, Van Dyk appreciation for jadedeveloped a technique

called wok-charring that works especially well on thicker greens such as Chinese broccoli. First step: Blanch the vegetables in boiling water for about two minutes, then drying them off.

Next, he says, “I get the wok smoking hot— but it’s dry with no oil so it doesn’t smoke. You throw in a half a pound of greens and toss them around for three or four minutes until you get the desired char. Let them sit off the heat for about a minute and then drizzle with toasted sesame seed oil plus sea salt and

sesame seeds. It gives the greens a slightly smoky taste that I really love.”

No wok? Substitute with a seasoned castiron skillet.

Another signature technique for getting people to eat their veggies involves bacon. Cut it into small, thin strips, spread it across a baking pan, top with greens and bake it at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.

For more delicate ingredients, he takes a different approach: “With Chinese water spinach, I do a simple sauté with olive oil and garlic,” he says.

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At home, he and his wife Noriko grow just one herb: shiso, a cool relative of mint. Why this particular one? “Because it’s so perishable,” he says. “We chiffonade the greens and mix it with rice.” The couple served a shiso tempura with goat cheese at their acclaimed Gateway Cafe in Lyons.

Van Dyk invokes a cooks’ spirit of adventure with some advice: “Be brave at Asian supermarkets like H-Mart and Pacific Ocean Mercantile. Buy some greens you haven’t had before. Do a quick sauté of greens, add cooked rice topped with grilled fish and you are on your way to a great meal.”

‘The hippies were right all along’ While there are about 1,000 species of plants with edible leaves, not all of them are particularly tasty. Brigitte Mars has studied them and taught herbal nutrition and health for 50 years in Boulder.

She started studying herbalism when she was 15 years old, long before it was considered cool.

“It turns out the hippies were right all along,” Mars laughs. Today, she leads groups on foraging forays to find tasty wild greens including

“You get a lot more of the plant’s nutrients when you are eating something that was growing in the ground an hour before.”

—Brigette Mars, Nutritionist

chickweed, blue mustard greens, and omega-3rich purslane. And she too grows shiso in her backyard.

“They say that eating greens is a discipline, not a side dish,” she says. “Greens give the body what it craves.

Most greens are high in beta-carotene, iron, magnesium, and protein, and the darker the green color, the more nutritious they are.”

She points out that if for anyone trying to eat locally, sustainably, and affordably, leafy greens are the best bet. “Rather than iceberg lettuce trucked in from California, look for locally grown greens—or plant them yourself. Greens so are easy to grow in kitchen windows or containers.”

She also says that by cutting down the time between the plant being harvested and consumed, you’re taking in more of the goodness.

“You get a lot more of the plant’s nutrients when you are eating something that was growing in the ground an hour before.”

She offers this tip that will allow the goodness to keep on giving: “When you harvest, don’t pull plants up by the roots. Trim off the leaves so that the plant can regrow.

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TOP:13TH FLOOR HAUNTED HOUSE

Cultural Calendar

There’s a lot to learn and a ton to love happening around Colorado this month. Here are some of the creative highlights.

PHOTO COURTESY OF 13TH FLOOR HAUNTED HOUSE

TEXT SENSI EDITORS

You don’t have to go anywhere at all to get a cultural fix in Colorado this month; virtual events and exhibitions abound.

But, good news for all the extroverts itching to end all Zooms and interact with humans IRL, there are slowly but surely more social-distance-safe physical gatherings taking place all along the Front Range, and if you’re up for it, take full advantage.

But first a warning: It’s 2020, so best to pencil any of these happenings into your calendar rather than Sharpie ’em.

Because if we’ve learned anything in 2020, it’s that change is inevitable. We suggest you just Embrace it, since embracing one another is a big ole “don’t” for the foreseeable future.

13th Floor Haunted House Throughout October 3400 E 52nd Ave., Denver 13thfloorhauntedhouse.com Tickets start at $24.99

Ranked as one of the Top 5 haunted houses in the U.S.

by USA Today, Denver’s scariest annual attraction is back this year.

Enjoy your travels through Dead End District, known for being a forgotten area filled with decay and filth.

Or visit the scary group’s other Denver haunt, the City of the Dead DriveIn Haunted House.

Info on both can be

found on the 13th Floor website. Due to limited capacity, tickets will sell out, so buy in advance.

If tickets are sold out online, they will not be available at the door.

Lost City Live Fridays, 4–7 p.m.

Lost City River North, Denver Free

Part of the hotspot’s Independent Music Recovery Showcase, this outdoor concert series, held on the patio stage, continues its popular run with a new fall series, O C TO B E R 2020

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LEFT: OUTDOOR YOGA BELOW: GHOST STORIES OF OLD MANITOU WALKING TOURS RIGHT: DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL (VIRTUAL ONLY)

classes at Civic Center Park at 6 p.m. MondayThursdays. Sign up at the link above to reserve your mat space; registration is required, as are masks. Meet at the Great Lawn on west side of park near 14th and Bannock, just south of the McNichols building.

Ghost Stories of Old Manitou Walking Tours

PHOTO CREDITS (FROM TOP): COURTESY THE RIVER / COURTESY THE MANITOU SPRINGS HERITAGE CENTER

Oct. 9. 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 Heritage Center, Manitou Springs Advance Tickets: $15 | Day of Tour Tickets: $18

The Manitou Springs Heritage Center, along with their friends at THEATREdART, provide these evening tours that are thoughtfully scripted and brilliantly presented including a Friday night Happy Hour Residency. Starting on October 2 and running each Friday night throughout the month, Denver-native singer-songwriter Kaitlyn Williams takes the stage for an intimate night of music. For the free

Friday, tables are offered on a first come, first-serve basis. On Saturday evenings, Lost City hosts ticketed shows highlighting a rotating calendar of local musicians.

Enjoy the Denver fall evenings on the cozy patio, complete with heat

to provide a fun, family experience.

Tours are approximately 45 minutes and depart every 15 minutes starting at 5:30 p.m. and ending at 8:30 p.m.

Advance tickets recommended; tours typically sell out.

Guided Sitting Meditation: Embracing Uncertainty

DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL (VIRTUAL ONLY) The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival needs your help this year as the organization struggles to stay afloat. The nonprofit hopes to raise $20,000 during the festival’s 20th year, aka 2020. Which lends itself well to the hashtag #20in2020. Use it to show your support.

Oct. 13, 6 p.m.

Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver $18, $15 member

To embrace uncertainty is to embrace life. Uncertainty often brings myriad emotions trepidation, anger, doubt, fear. This meditation will encourage embracing uncertainty, allowing room for wonder and acceptance of all that is.

lamps, hot beverages, and safe social distancing.

Outdoor Yoga Through Oct. 15, Mondays– Thursdays, 6 p.m.

Civic Center Park, Denver weseektheriver.com/schedule Drop-In Class: $10 | Free on Tuesdays

Join The River for outdoor yoga O C TO B E R 2020

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THE SCENE CALENDAR

LEFT: RBG: ROCKY MOUNTAIN WOMEN’S FILM DRIVE-IN CINEMA BELOW: ROOFTOP DINNER CONCERT WITH SOUL SCHOOL BAND RIGHT: COLFAX MARATHON

Rooftop Dinner Concert with Soul School Band

PHOTO CREDITS (FROM LEFT): COURTESY RMWFILM / COURTESY BONANNO CONCEPTS

Oct. 11, 7 p.m.

Larimer Uprooted, Denver Tickets: $55 bonannoconcepts.com

Live on Larimer & Bonanno Concepts present Dinner and a Concert. The VIP ticket gains entry to a socially distanced rooftop party with live music, a reusable picnic tote full of Bonanno Concept eats and breathtaking views. Preorder cocktails, wine and other beverages to enhance your experience or grab them from the rooftop bar the day of the show

Socially Distant Culture Club Oct. 14, 5 p.m.

Virtual msudenver.edu/cva/events

Denver Metro’s Center for Visual Art’s uploaded its signature Culture Club, and the virtual meetups invite everyone to join on a digital art adven-

ture. The super fun art happy hour that gets creative types together to explore techniques, and they are perfect for anyone who’s been thinking about taking an art class, searching for inspiration for a project, or just wanting to try something new.

RBG: Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Drive-In Cinema Oct. 16, 6:15 p.m.

Former Gazette Building, Colorado Springs artsoctober.com Tickets: $25 per vehicle

On Friday, October 16, Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Drive-In Cinema is

screening RGB, the Oscar-nominated documentary that provides a look at the life of the late Supreme Court Justice, liberal hero, and pop-culture icon. the at the former Gazette Building just east of downtown Colorado Springs. It’s one of the few in-person events happening as part of Arts Month 2020. In a typical year, there would be over 300 arts & cultural events happening across the Pikes Peak region, but, you know, there’s that pandemic thing happening. There’s still a lot going on during Arts Month this year, but many of this year’s events and activities have moved online. You can see the whole lineup, virtual and otherwise, on the Arts Month website.

COLFAX MARATHON While it typically has fit folks hitting the streets of Denver every fall, the Denver Colfax Marathon Race Weekend and Celebration has been moved to May 2021.

Great American Beer Festival Oct. 16–17 Virtual greatamericanbeerfestival.com GABF Passports: $20

The country’s preeminent beer festival and competition is doing the pandemic pivot for its 2020 event.

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LEFT: GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL BELOW: DENVER FILM FESTIVAL RIGHT: DENVER ZOMBIE CRAWL

PHOTO CREDITS (FROM TOP): COURTESY CREDITBREWERSASSOCIATION / COURTESY REBECCA TODD

DENVER ZOMBIE CRAWL The undead were supposed to gather in Denver for the 15th-annual zombie crawl this year, but alas: COVID-19.

Originally scheduled for September 24–26 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, to an immersive online experience this month. With something for every beer lover or beer-curious viewer, GABF’s online programming features nine, 30-minute sessions with some of the best known and rising stars in brewing. The sessions will cover a variety of topics and include tips and tricks to enhance beer knowledge and enjoyment; lager lore and sudsy stories from craft beer luminaries; profiles of breweries and individuals that are transforming their communities

one beer at a time; and flavor fusions through beer and food pairings to tantalize the taste buds. Along with access to the online content, the GABF passports include access to limitedaccess brewery deals at more than a thousand breweries from all 50 states.

Denver Film Festival Oct. 22–Nov. 8 Virtual denverfilm.org All-Access Pass: $200 | $225 Non-Members

Despite the circumstances each year brings one thing is constant: The Denver Film Festival brings the best of storytelling from around the world to

you. Now in its 43rd year, the Denver Film Festival is committed to delivering that quintessential DFF experience of cinematic storytelling and the people behind it. This year, DFF is hosting the Festival on its new virtual platform, bringing Official Selections, exclusive filmmaker conver-

sations, bonus content, special guests, and more, to homes across all of Colorado. Worth noting: there are a select number of films that have restrictions related to date, time, and number of viewers. A majority of the festival program will be geographically restricted to the state of Colorado.

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these states, dispensaries have been deemed essential businesses during the pandemic. This rapidly growing industry has generated millions of

PHOTO BY ALEFRON, ADOBE STOCK

Cannabis For Justice

dollars in revenue this year alone.

Yet some 40,000 people are currently sitting behind bars for non-violent marijuana-related “crimes” prosecuted under this country’s failed War on Drugs. And a disproportionate number of these prisoners are Black.

It is crucial for the legal cannabis industry to unite in righting this egregious wrong. This has never been clearer than after the murder of George Floyd, when we at Wana Brands—like so many others—felt newly awakened to the injustices that Black Americans have been living with all of their lives. We recognized that we had a lot of work to do, not just to fight systemic racism, but to under-

A DV I S O RY B OA R D WA N A B R A N D S

I truly believe that cannabis is a source of good in the world.

It helps people manage pain, find community, and broaden their horizons. stand our own role in it. So as a first step, we launched an internet resource for cannabis companies that, like ours, want to learn, grow, and take action.

The new website, CannabisForJustice.com, compiles materials for those seeking to understand and promote anti-racism in the cannabis industry. It includes essential readings, podcasts, and films about systemic racism in general, corporate resources on everything from education and training to recruiting and hiring, and information on how companies can ally themselves with social justice organizations. There is also an option for visitors to submit additional materials they’ve found helpful, with

—Nancy Whiteman, CEO of Wana Brands

the hope that the site will become a living, changing resource with multiple contributors across the industry.

CannabisForJustice.com is not a Wana-branded website, because Wana is not the authority on racial justice.

Rather, it’s an effort to provide other companies and individuals a starting point for the anti-racist journey we are

ourselves are still very much on. It’s also a way for us to document our own decision-making, and to hold ourselves accountable. Because while Wana’s workforce demographics match or slightly exceed our home city’s benchmarks for diversity, the bar for racial inclusivity in Boulder is low. We want to hold ourselves to a higher standard.

The move from awareness to action doesn’t happen all at once—it’s an ongoing, multi-faceted process. One initiative Wana is especially passionate about is our partnership with The Last Prisoner Project, a nonprofit coalition of cannabis industry professionals working to free all remaining cannabis prisoners, expunge their criminal records, and help them reintegrate into safe and fulfilling lives. But we are also working internally to build social equity across our hiring practices, employee benefits and training, and existing corporate social responsibility program. A complete list of the steps we’re currently taking is published in the “About” section of CannabisForJustice.com.

I truly believe that cannabis is a source of good in the world. It helps people manage pain, find community, and broaden their horizons. We who are profiting from its legalization have a responsibility to correct the injustices that a racist system has imposed upon this wonderful, dynamic industry.

If you’re ready to join this fight and you’re not sure where to start, I hope our website can help.

For more information and ways to take action, visit CannabisForJustice.com.

Category: Edibles Author: Nancy Whiteman, CEO of Wana Brands

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 20.

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Truth in the Tag

Patagonia has a suggestion for how to deal with climate change deniers.

TEXT DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

Resources: “I find it disingenuous that after unethically using taxpayers’ resources to call us liars, you would ask me to testify in front of a committee for a matter already decided by the administration and applauded by the Utah delegation just a week ago.”

The brand is a leader in sustainability, organic cotton, regenerative agriculture, and fair work policies, with benefits like sitters on site for working moms. Chouinard has seen activism as essential to the brand since he went into business, and in 2002 he co-founded 1%

for the Planet, a nonprofit whose members give 1 percent of sales back to the environment. And in 2012 Patagonia became the first B Corp, or Benefit Corporation, in California, rearranging its corporate charter so it is legally directed to put social and environmental good over profits.

Patagonia has also been savvy about truly disruptive ways to shift the dominant paradigm and in this ugly election season, with so much at stake, the brand made us nod in agreement with a pointed message to take action

against climate deniers on the back tag of its 2020 Men’s and Women’s Road to Regenerative Organic Stand-Up shorts: “Vote the Assholes Out.” “Yvon Chouinard has been saying ‘vote the assholes out’ for several years and it refers to politicians from any party who deny or disregard the climate crisis and ignore science, not because they aren’t aware of it, but because their pockets are lined with money from oil and gas interests,” says Patagonia’s Tessa Byers. We have one month. Let’s listen to Yvon and do it.

COURTESY PATAGONIA

As a company, Patagonia has a reputation for mixing it up in politics. Founded by legendary climber and author of Let My People Go Surfing, Yvon Chouinard, the brand has pushed the Outdoor Retailer trade show to move from Utah to Colorado because the Beehive State’s insisted on passing laws degenerating public lands. When President Trump made the unprecedented move of shrinking national monuments and Chouinard was called to testify, the fervent environmentalist refused, telling the House Committee on National

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