Sensi Magazine - Southern Colorado (January 2018) by Sensi Magazine

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S P EC I A L R E P O R T

ISSUE 1 // VOLUME 2 // 1.2018

Higher Tech

How modern technology is changing the way people are getting high.

Children’s Books about Cannabis?

Finally, there is literature designed to make talking about cannabis with your kids easier.

Terpene and Turn On!

The mood-enhancing and medicinal possibilities rival those of THC and CBD.

every issue

2018

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NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

14 CrossRoads

IN THE F UTURE

18 AroundTown

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editor’s

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Here’s to the

New Year

FA C I N G F O R WA R D W I T H O U T G L A N C I N G

Under the Julian calendar, the new year starts in January,

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ﬁed transition, sported two heads. One looked backward, into the past,

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At Sensi, we’re documenting the New Normal, an epoch of culture where cannabis becomes an everyday part of life. In Colorado, the ﬁrst state to permit legal sales of cannabis to adults 21 and over, we stand at the forefront of a revolution. California, which just joined us as one of a handful of states with legal cannabis, may claim the largest market. Nevada, which went legal last July, may claim the most cannabis tourists. With another half dozen or so states poised to go legal this year, Colorado’s uniqueness in regard to cannabis may become diluted as the New Normal sweeps the nation. But in our state, we may always glide ahead of the curve in terms of innovation. We did get a head start, after all. The ﬁrst issue of Sensi for 2018 delves into the uncharted territories

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of cannabis. Inside, you’ll ﬁnd a new approach to educating families on

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cannabis safety and use—through the form of children’s books, a medi-

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um many may consider off-limits due to popular taboos. Author of The Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook, Robyn Griggs Lawrence, explores the world of terpenes, and how the newest breakthroughs in cannabis will likely focus on these little wonderful molecules. Our senior editor, Leland Rucker, speculates on how the cannabis scene may evolve in the coming months and years as our technologies improve with each new invention. Will the stories in this issue accurately foretell the coming trends for this amazing plant? Journalism is notorious for its volatility when it comes

M E D I A PA RT N E R S

to predicting the future, but like a stem bending to reach the sun, we can

National Cannabis Industry Association

only move in one direction now. And that direction is forward.

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MANAGING EDITOR

SENSI SOUTHERN COLORADO

sensimag.com JANUARY 2018 5

THE NE W N O R M A L

NORSE

sensi

buzz

Riding

Forget Columbus. THE FIRST EUROPEANS TO LAND IN THE AMERICAS WERE

VIKINGS. IN BRECKENRIDGE THIS MONTH, GET YOUR HORNED HELMS AND FURRY WINTERWEAR READY FOR A SCANDINAVIAN CELEBRATION RIGHT HERE IN THE ROCKIES.

From January 10 to 13, the ski and snowboarding town will merge the ancient past with contemporary pastimes at the Ullr Fest, named after the son of the Norse god Thor. Anticipate plenty of powdery games as skiers take a shot at breaking the world’s longest shot ski record. Or prove your warrior’s worth by diving into frigid waters during the Ullr Ice Plunge. Afterward, warm up by tossing the old Christmas tree (you held onto that, right?) into the festival’s roaring bonfire. At night, share a mug of mead (or a local microbrew) with friends and family for a comedy performance, the talent show—or a movie premiere, for the modern screen-gazing types. Last year, Ullr Fest brought in a horde of 12,000 partiers, and just as many, if not more, are expected this year. Just be sure to dress warm, and save the raves and yawps for the festival’s parade down Breckenridge’s Main Street. GOBRECK.COM

goodnight THE

6 Southern Colorado JA NUARY 2018 2018

DAYS

Winter

Dog sledding. It may conjure

up images of Alaska, of the tundra, and for those of us who’ve read it, Jack London’s White Fang. Fortunately, you don’t have to travel across Canada to get your mush on. Given all the frostpacked fields in Colorado, dog sledding can be had right here at home. You just have to know where to look. Durango Dog Ranch 2525 County Road 124 Hesperus (970) 259-0694

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Alpine Adventures Leadville (719) 486-9899

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The American West typically invokes scenes of cowboys, Native Americans, rustic rocky gullies, and cabins on golden plains. In reality, the West has always been many things to many different people, and perceptions of the Four Corners region are continuously shifting as time progresses. The Goodnight Invitational is actually two different art exhibitions under one roof. One is “Representing the West: A New Frontier Exhibition” and the other is the “Goodnight Barn Invitational Art Show.” Both exhibits explore the mythos of the West, and how legends ﬂuctuated as history unfolded.

DOG of

Both shows run from January 13 to March 4. Cowpokes and cowpoke enthusiasts may want to saunter on in February 2 (5-7 p.m.) for a special meet-and-greet reception with the artists, which include Jan Mapes, Kim Mackey, Mike Untiedt, Sonja Caywood, Colleen Bobinac, Tom Lockhart, and Rudle Mergelman. SANGRE DE CRISTO ARTS CENTER 210 N. Santa Fe Ave., Pueblo (719) 295-7200 SDC-ARTS.ORG

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Snow Caps Sled Dogs 6061 Tiger Rd. Breckenridge (970) 453-7855

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FUN TIP : At Snow Caps, you can adopt a sled dog once it reaches retirement age. EXTRA FUN TIP : Can’t bear the cold? Many of these same companies offer dog-sledding in the summer. Just ask them for more details.

– RANDY ROBINSON

SNOWTOGRAPHY

GOT A NEW CAMERA FOR CHRISTMAS? DYING TO TRY OUT THAT NEW LENS YOU GOT FOR A STEAL OVER THE HOLIDAYS? JANUARY PRESENTS PARTICULAR CONDITIONS FOR SNAPPING SOME CHARMING SHOTS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SNOW. SNOW PRESENTS SOME CHALLENGES, TOO. KEEP THESE TIPS IN MIND IF YOU VENTURE INTO A LANDSCAPE OF WHITE, CRUNCHY FLAKES.

{1} Keep extra batteries warm. Cold environments can drain batteries faster than usual, so store your spares close to your body. {2} Seemingly antithetical to tip #1, keep your camera cool. Avoid walking around with the camera under your jacket or coat. A warm camera means a warm lens, and warm lenses will fog up due to condensation. Keeping your gear cool (sans the spare batteries) will prevent frosty glass. {3} Watch your footprints. Nothing spoils a twinkling, diamondesque landscape like having a trail of soggy boot prints in the foreground. Mind your surroundings when treading through the snow. {4} Let in just a teeny bit more light. Because snow is white, and white reflects light, the camera’s internal light meter will likely be thrown off. Increasing exposure slightly or opening the aperture just a couple of additional stops should be enough to avoid the flat grays of a confused light meter. {5} Take advantage of composition. Snow-white scenes with no clear borders can look incredibly clean when the photo is mounted on a white board. Contrasting hot colors—like red—against the snow can cause a subject to pop right out of the image. Framing a snowy scene (think tree branches, or a shot taken through a gate or a fence) may make the most of the snowfall, which often lacks detail on most cameras.

EXPERIMENTAL

EXCURSIONS

SNOW CLOSURES RARELY HAPPEN IN COLORADO (COMPARED TO OTHER STATES IN OUR REGION). BUT WHEN THEY DO HAPPEN, AN ENTIRE DAY IS JUST LEFT OPEN TO DO A WHOLE LOT OF NOTHING. AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT IDLE HANDS ... WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE SOME ACTIVITIES FOR YOU TO TRY TO FILL THOSE CHILLY HOURS. THESE WILL ONLY WORK IF IT’S AT OR BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES (32 DEGREES F) OUTSIDE. {1} RAINBOW ICE GLOBES With some food dye, water, and a lot of balloons, you and the kids can make a trove of candy-colored orbs. Simply mix food dye with water, then fill up a balloon with the colored water. Switch up the colors between different balloons to end up with an array of garish globes. Balloons can be hung outside or set on the ground long enough to freeze through. Afterward, peel off the balloon casing and voila! Use them as outside decorations (probably a good idea to never bring any of these inside), markers for neighborhood games, or simply to show off. {2} GLASS BUBBLES Blowing bubbles in the cold leads to some interesting icy formations. Warm up some homemade or store-bought bubble soap, take it outside, and blow into the steely air. Ensure there’s no wind. To see the bubbles freeze into round pockets of prismatic ice, try to catch them on the bubble wand, on the back of the gloved hand, or on the tip of your own nose. {3} SNOW CANDY This one requires some adult supervision, since it requires a little cooking. Heat up a pot full of brown sugar and molasses until it hits about 240 degrees F, otherwise known as the soft-ball stage. (You’ll want a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature.) If outside has enough powder covering, pour the hot syrup right into the snow and give a few minutes to harden. Otherwise, ice and snow from outside can be brought indoors, and the syrup can be poured over in a bowl. Sweets are best eaten in moderation, so don’t overdo it.

sensimag.com JANUARY 2018 7

sensi

buzz

THE NE W N O R M A L

Cirque du Soleil’s fame reaches far and wide, having astonished audiences around the world for 33 years. Coordinating never-before-seen acrobatics routines with live theatrics and grand musical scores, Cirque du Soleil continues to bring sensational surprises that delight children and grown-ups alike. Coming to the Broadmoor World Arena January 31 to February 4, the circus makes history once again. This time, they’ll stage the entire show on ice, with aerial silks, dazzling lights, and graceful contortions executed entirely on skates. Crystal marks the first instance when Cirque du Soleil takes the ice. It may also be the last, so catch it while you can. Tickets start at $35.

Broadmoor World Arena 3185 Venetucci Blvd. Colorado Springs (719) 477-2100 CIRQUEDUSOLEIL.COM/CRYSTAL

8 Southern Colorado JA NUA RY 2018

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{newsfeed} by R A N DY R O B I N S O N

HIGHLY RESOLVED : NEW YEAR, NEW YOU! You’ve got a friend for this year’s favorite resolution.

It’s that time again: we put on a little thickness from all the turkey, mashed potatoes, candy canes,

for you, and prepare for a little experimentation until you find the best one.

and assorted chocolates we devoured over the holi-

The idea that cannabis can act as an exercise sup-

days. After recovering from the New Year’s Eve cham-

plement is gaining momentum. A series of active

pagne hangover, we’re making New Year’s resolutions

events known as the 420 Games seeks to dispel the

to shed the pounds and keep them off.

stigma of lazy “stoners” while promoting the healthy

This time we mean it.

and responsible use of cannabis. Jim McAlpine, found-

According to the University of Scranton’s “Statistic

er of 420 Games, says attendance tripled between 2015

Brain” research, most of us are just wishfully thinking.

and 2016. The series is slated to take place in six

“Lose weight” consistently ranks as the most popular

states in 2018.

resolution, and the fifth most popular is “staying fit

McAlpine may wholeheartedly support cannabis,

and healthy.” Yet only 8 percent of people stick to

but he cautions against treating it as a miracle sup-

their resolutions. There are a lot of reasons why most

plement. “I’m not of the mindset that it’s just some-

Americans fail to fulfill their New Year’s exercise reso-

thing everybody should do or that it’s good for every-

lutions. But a commitment to improving your life

body,” he says. “I think everybody should explore the

doesn’t have to be a pipe dream—with a little pot, it

possibility because for some people it doesn’t work.”

can become a pipe reality.

McAlpine notes some athletes may become “sedentary” from smoking pot, or that it could impair mo-

CANNABIS AS A MOTIVATOR Get that old, rehashed image of the lazy stoner out of your head. Believe it or not, cannabis can get a real go-getter up and running.

tor coordination. For these people, he advises avoiding cannabis before, during, or after workouts. Some people, however, may find cannabis inspires them to become physically active. For folks curious

Although cannabis can induce the dreaded couch-

about cannabis and exercise, he recommends micro-

lock effect, some strains can get you pretty wired. These

dosing, a method of ingesting small amounts of can-

strains are usually denoted as sativas, but many hy-

nabis in order to gauge an optimal dose.

brids and even some indicas provide a smoky shot of

The key to incorporating cannabis into an exercise

energy. Ask your budtender which strain may be right

regimen is “starting slow and small,” McAlpine adds.

sensimag.com JANUARY 2018 11

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“Start with 5 milligrams or less of an edible, or smoking or vaping a tiny bit and seeing how it affects you. Then you can slowly and gradually increase your intake.” The 420 Games is just one sporting endeavor teaming up with marijuana. McApline has joined forces with former NFL superstar Ricky Williams to open a cannabis gym in San Francisco, with sights set on opening in 2018. Williams’ gym will go beyond simply promoting cannabis as an athletic aid; it’ll allow lifters, trainers, and other sports enthusiasts to consume on site, too. RUNNER’S HIGH IS PERFECTLY NAMED Hardcore athletes experience something called the “runner’s high.” Marathon runners may be most familiar with this phenomenon, but weightlifters, swimmers, and

P aradoxically,

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cannabis appears to cause slimmer figures for the average person, athlete or otherwise. Although we’d think a plant that makes us hungry should automatically cause weight gain, that’s not usually the case. hikers know it, too. The runner’s high is a feeling of contentment and joy simultaneously dissociated from the pain caused by physical activity alongside an inner awareness of the body. Pain, strain, or exhaustion ebb away as the runner’s high takes effect. For decades, scientists thought runner’s high was caused by endorphins. Endorphins are natural brain chemicals that resemble morphine, one of the world’s most powerful painkillers. However, the endorphin hypothesis didn’t hold up to scrutiny, so scientists looked elsewhere for the source of runner’s high. In 2004, a research team at the University of Georgia found it: our bodies’ endocannabinoids (endo- meaning “inside” + cannabinoids), otherwise known as our “brain’s natural pot,” were partially responsible for runner’s high. The endocannabinoids produced in the brain behave much like the cannabinoids found in marijuana (e.g. THC and CBD). This may explain why the runner’s high quite literally feels like a high–because it is.

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12 Southern Colorado JA NUA RY 2018

Arne Dietrich is the psychologist who led the University of Georgia study. He says it’s true the endocannabinoid system activates while running, but it’s inaccurate to say our brain’s natural pot is solely responsible for the runner’s high effect. He credits a complex soup of neurochemicals, including serotonin, adrenaline, and dopamine, to the overall feeling. Additionally, Dietrich doesn’t see cannabis as a performance enhancer, per se.

“Marijuana has two strong effects that would interact with running,” he writes in an e-mail. “First, it is an analgesic. In running, it would mask pain, which is not necessarily a good thing. Second, marijuana is a sedative, not a stimulant. Given this, I cannot see much of a motivator potential.” CANNABIS FOR RECOVERY Any personal trainer will tell you that recovering from a workout is just as important as the workout itself—if not more important. Optimal healing and repair of a post-workout body are what gives athletes increased strength and endurance. Cannabis can reduce inflammation in muscles and joints, and as noted by Dietrich, it can dull pain, too. In terms of recovery, easing aches can make post-workout recovery much more bearable. A 2013 study in Nutrition & Metabolism concluded cannabis use after exercise can help the mind and body calm itself, leading to deeper, uninterrupted sleep. Good sleep, after all, is the key to recovery. CANNABIS FOR METABOLISM Marijuana can make us hungry. Ravenously hungry. This is a good thing for weight trainers, who need to slam down massive amounts of calories throughout the day. Some athletes, especially those with high metabolisms, may have trouble working up an appetite. With a little pot, they may find themselves scarfing down plenty of (hopefully high quality) calories with ease. Paradoxically, cannabis appears to cause slimmer figures for the average person, athlete or otherwise. Although one would think a plant that makes users hungry should automatically cause weight gain, that’s not usually the case. This was discovered in 2013 when researchers with the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University, and the University of Nebraska investigated pot smokers and obesity. They found pot smokers rocked smaller waistlines than non-users, had higher levels of HDL (“good cholesterol”), showed balance in blood sugar levels, and demonstrated improved insulin resistance. Although the researchers weren’t sure why this was the case, they suspected it had something to do with cannabis regulating insulin, the hormone responsible for breaking down the sugars we eat. Does this mean smoking a bowl between workouts will keep you looking leaner and slenderer than ever before? The verdict is out on that, but the data suggests it can’t hurt.

sensimag.com JANUARY 2018 13

{crossroads} by RICARDO BACA

RICARDO BACA is a veteran journalist and the founder and original editor-in-chief of The Cannabist. His content agency Grasslands works primarily with businesses and individuals in the cannabis and hemp industries on thought leadership and messaging via thoughtful and personalized content campaigns.

14 Southern Colorado JA NUA RY 2018

IN THE FUTURE, WE WILL HAVE ... Predicting the future of consumption habits. My friends who partook in the ’60s and ’70s have

We will have modular car

long waxed poetic about how things were back in the

services that serve weed.

day—the awkward Pineapple Express-like encounters

We’ll book the modular car of the future the same way

with drug dealers, the wildly varying levels of cannabis

we call a Lyft or Uber now, but there will be an option

quality, the everyday objects repurposed as smoking

to choose a 420-friendly self-driving ride, with the pod

apparati (apples, soda cans, foil-covered toilet paper

arriving well stocked with prerolls, edibles, and other

tubes), the ritual sifting of seeds and stems, and the

goodies, offering yet another welcome place for legal

stressful searches for a hassle-free place to burn one.

imbibing. With modular cars already in testing and

No doubt, today’s post-prohibition reality seems like

production, it’s only a matter of time before someone

the future my friends thought they would never know.

figures out that they can be individually tailored for pri-

But if this is our modern reality in 2018—where le-

vate, on-the-go toking.

gal marijuana is increasingly becoming the law of the land—what unpredictable cannabis future awaits us in

We will have add-ons at the juice bar. You want 10 milligrams of CBD in that PB Chocolate

2025 or 2030?

Love smoothie? No problem. How about a shot of limHERE ARE A FEW FANTASIES

onene? That’s a boost we can get behind. In the Jamba

IN MY CRYSTAL BALL :

Juice experience awaiting us around the corner, we see

We will have legitimate, peer-reviewed

a whole roster of mind-altering options—in addition to

research to better understand cannabis.

the straightforward additions that are just as healing as

In areas such as medicine, massage therapy, fitness,

the collagen, probiotics, and zinc currently on the menu.

and other health-oriented realms, the lack of concrete studies on cannabis’ effects on the body continues to

We will have prerolls in the hotel minibar.

stymie real progress. For instance, in the fitness scene

Sure, the mark-ups will be astronomical, but how

of the future, the performance-enhancing effects of

sweet will it be to settle into your hotel room after a

cannabis will be well established, resulting in custom-

long flight and light up (on your room’s patio) without

ized concoctions that have been dialed in to each ath-

having to WeedMaps the nearest dispensary? Very. In

lete’s needs, available right next to the water and the

our ideal vision, booking sites would already be offer-

protein bars. Meanwhile, a day at the spa would include

ing pot-smoking rooms as an option, so it would be a

consultations on the specific CBD oil or THC-infused

given that the goods would be waiting for you, conve-

lotion that could target sore muscles or arthritic joints.

niently next to the salted almonds and Snickers bar. sensimag.com sensimag.com JANUARY JANUARY 2018 2018 15

We will have actual restaurants

in the comfort and conviviality of their on-site smoking

catering to cannabis consumers.

spaces. Oh, and check out the view: fields fleshed out

The connection between THC (and other cannabinoids)

with rotund indica shrubs and towering sativa trees as

and our taste buds is well documented; it’s all about the

far as the eye can see.

release of hunger hormone ghrelin and the stop-I’m-satisfied hormone leptin, combined with the lighting up of

We will have marijuana-specific

the brain’s olfactory bulb and the increase in dopamine.

lounges in American airports.

And so it’s not all that far-fetched to fantasize about actu-

In the same way that a pre-flight drink is often a good

al restaurants offering fine-tuned food-and-weed pairing

idea, who wouldn’t appreciate the sedating effects of a

menus. And yes, we know these experiences exist in LA

solid indica-based edible taken just before a 14-hour

pop-ups and Boulder farm-to-table one-offs, but let’s

flight, or a quick smoke to take the edge off before

normalize this already and allow existing restaurants the ability to legally incorporate cannabis into their food and drink programs. We will have vineyard-like tasting rooms at open-to-the-public pot farms. Just as we can now swing by our favorite winery’s tasting room and pull up a stool at the counter to sample a few flights and nosh on a cheese board, cannabis farms one day will feature strain samples and snacks

16 Southern Colorado JA NUA RY 2018

It’s not all that far-fetched to fantasize about actual restaurants offering fine-tuned food-and-weed pairing menus.

spending five hours cross-country with a screaming

We will have AI devoted to assessing

baby? Because we’re dreaming big: These would be ded-

and serving cannabis products.

icated spaces separate from cigarette-smoking lounges

While some progress has been made in machine-rolled

and bars, with state-of-the-art air filters, entertainment

joints and computer programs that suss out the best

and snacks. Imagine how much better those long lay-

strains for specific medical conditions, the ideal AI-en-

overs would suddenly be, too, especially augmented

hanced cannabis experience would involve smartphone

by video game consoles, constantly streaming movies

software that accesses the same information you al-

and other fun distractions, along with Coaster Call-type

ready input on your phone’s health app—age, gender,

pagers pre-set for your flight’s boarding time.

height, weight. The AI’s biometrics would read your fingerprint and also your current state (high heart rate in-

We will have expanded

dicating anxiety, low metabolic rate) and then make rec-

experiential entertainment.

ommendations for the cannabis experience that would

Escape rooms have long been a regular go-to for folks

best address your current physical and headspace. The

looking to challenge their cannabis-enhanced (or -ad-

app would also interact with your vaporizer, auto-dos-

dled) brains, but that’s just the beginning. Picture adult

ing to ensure an exact and intentional serving size.

play-places packed with interactive amusements, from comfy couches sporting virtual-reality stations

Of course this is just a taste of what we’re dream-

to sensory-enhancing rooms à la Narnia—just open a

ing about. As fast as we can picture it, cannabis entre-

door and prepare to be blown away by the augment-

preneurs are looking for ways to make it happen—so

ed-reality activities, similar to the Pokemon Go phen-

here’s to a time very soon where our high hopes meet

om, but with pot and a safe spot in which to wander.

the real weed world.

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info@pyramidpens.com Instagram.com/pyramidpensusa sensimag.com JANUARY 2018 17

18 Southern Colorado JA NUA RY 2018

{ aroundtown} by R A N DY R O B I N S O N

SOAK UP THE SPRINGS The arrival of winter brings cold temperatures with it, and the dry Colorado air can instill chills all the way into one’s core. Luckily, the state holds its fair share of hot springs, natural wells of steaming, bubbly mineral water to thaw our bones and melt our minds. Although some of the science behind the many

of the springs’ heat, also known as climatic or thermal

health benefits of hot springs is still being worked out,

therapy, can loosen tight or knotted muscles while

some of it is confirmed. A soak in a hot spring differs

opening blood vessels, allowing additional oxygen to

from one in our home bathtub or Jacuzzi because of

reach nutrient-starved portions of the body. There’s

the dissolved minerals and ions found in the natural

some evidence that regular visits to hot springs may

wells. Calcium, zinc, sulfate, and magnesium are pres-

improve metabolism and lymphatic health, too.

ent in most hot springs.

The health benefits are just one reason why you

Those last two, magnesium and sulfate, are some-

should consider slipping into any one of the following

thing we’re all familiar with. Most of us know magne-

year-round hot springs locations this winter. We’ve

sium sulfate by another name: Epsom salt, the bath

selected some of our favorite steaming spots around

crystals that can soothe sore muscles and detoxify our

the state, so no matter where you may be, you can

body’s impurities from the inside out. The saturation

find a place to soak up the hydrological goodness.

sensimag.com sensimag.com JAN JANUARY UARY 2018 2018 19

DESERT REEF FLORENCE

and it likely goes further than that. Fortunately, for those

Desert Reef, which is located near the Royal Gorge

just one of the 23 pools located at The Springs. Oprah

Bridge and Park, describes itself as an oasis in the Col-

Winfrey, the Olympic Ski Team, and the Denver Bron-

orado desert. And this outdoor spring is located in the

cos have all made pit stops at this world-famous spa.

middle of nowhere, surrounded by only small hills and

165 HOT SPRINGS BOULEVARD // PAGOSAHOTSPRINGS.COM

who fear unfathomable deeps, the Great Pagosah is

sand or snow as far as the eye can see. If you want the hot springs experience without all the frills, crowds, or even a roof, Desert Reef should be at the top of your

TRIMBLE HOT SPRINGS DURANGO

list. It’s open in the winter, and nothing quite beats an

Trimble is the only hot springs in Animas Valley. If your

outside hot springs experience while surrounded by

destination is Durango, consider stopping in to the se-

fields of fluffy powder.

cret-garden-styled Community Pool, or, for the more

1194 COUNTY ROAD 110 // DESERTREEFHOTSPRING.COM

daring plungers, slide into the Half-Moon Pool, where temperatures can reach 110 degrees. Cat lovers may

THE SPRINGS RESORT & SPA PAGOSA SPRINGS

want to stay overnight in one of Trimble’s suites, where

About an hour west of Hooper, Colorado (the site of

of the rooms.

the Great Sand Dunes Park and the Gator Farm), you’ll

6475 CO ROAD 203 // TRIMBLEHOTSPRINGS.COM

the resident felines are known to meander in and out

find Pagosa Springs. This quaint tourist town offers nearby skiing, camping, hiking—and the world’s deep-

OURAY, COLORADO

est hot spring. According to the last measurement, the

Okay, so Ouray isn’t one particular hot spring, per se.

Great Pagosah Spring reaches at least 1,002 feet deep,

It’s an entire town just a few miles out of Telluride.

20 Southern Colorado JA NUA RY 2018

Ouray, however, hosts one of the largest concentra-

teepees, cabins, covered wagons, and even a station-

tions of hot springs in the state, so there are plenty of

ary train caboose. This gorgeous resort resides deep in

places to choose from. Wiesbaden Hot Springs, Twin

the Rocky Mountain forests, which gives it the feel of

Peaks Lodge, and Box Canyon Lodge are all within walk-

a sequestered, Edenic escape.

ing distance from one another. Consider a stay in Ouray

44200 COUNTY RD. #36 // STRAWBERRYHOTSPRINGS.COM

if you’ve got an itch to springs-hop this holiday season. OURAYCOLORADO.COM/HOT-SPRINGS

INDIAN HOT SPRINGS IDAHO SPRINGS

STRAWBERRY PARK STEAMBOAT SPRINGS

If you’re looking for a steamy affair that’s closer to the

Consistently ranked one of the best hot springs re-

hot springs are enclosed indoors, so when you step

sorts in the country, Strawberry Park isn’t just a warm

out of the water, you’ll remain warm and cozy. The In-

pool of rejuvenating water. It’s practically its own

dian Hot Springs is attached to a hotel, so it’s a prime

self-contained community, with lodging that includes

location to stay if you plan on skiing near Vail or Aspen.

Denver area, head over to Indian Hot Springs. These

sensimag.com JANUARY 2018 21

{travelwell} by STE PH A N I E W I L S O N

ELEVATED ESCAPES To paraphrase and revise Mark Twain, travel and cannabis are known to be fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness. It didn’t take long for Colorado to dethrone Amster-

vating product in Uruguay as it is in Colorado. But Uru-

dam as the king of the hill when it comes to cannabis

guayans are a generous set, and you won’t have too

tourism. Which makes sense on a number of levels:

hard a time finding a local to share the spoils of their

Amsterdam had been the Mecca for weed-seeking

legal home grow with you.

tourists from around the globe for the past half centu-

Start your visit in the metropolitan capital, Montevi-

ry. Smoking a spliff in one of the tolerant coffeeshops

deo. There, the MUSEO DEL CANNABIS is a showcase of

in the Dutch capital was a rite of passage for more than

the country’s strong democratic roots and a celebration

a generation of travelers, ultimately transitioning from

of its status as a vanguard of human rights and free-

cool to cliché, as so many things are wont to do.

doms. The museum, which opened in 2016, also pro-

As cannabis is decriminalized or legalized in some form in countries around the globe, the options for el-

motes the vision that cannabis is an economic driver that will allow Uruguay to develop new industries.

evating travel experiences grow exponentially. Put these

That’s something worth celebrating. And in Uru-

international hotspots on your itinerary of must-see

guay, the toniest place to raise a glass to newfound

places before they are discovered by the masses.

freedoms is PUNTA DEL ESTE, 80 miles east of the capital. The upscale resort town on the Atlantic coast calls

Montevideo // URUGUAY

to a jet-set crowd of global travelers, and you can rub

Sure, in 2014, Uruguay became the first country to

elbows with them at CASAPUEBLO, the “living-sculp-

fully legalize the cultivation, distribution, and consump-

ture” of a hotel that’s been called a manmade wonder

tion of cannabis. But don’t just go because cannabis is

of South America. The undulating property, crafted by

legal, go to immerse yourself in a culture so progressive

artist Carlos Páez Vilaró, hugs a cliff-fringed coastline

it inspired the government to reject the prevailing school

dotted with powdery golden beaches. Its terraces are

of thought held by every other country in the world—

where you want to be as the sun starts to set on a day

every other country in the world —when it did so.

spent hopping the sands of LA BARRA and shopping

Starting as soon as July, select Uruguayan pharmacies will begin selling cannabis for adult use—the last

the stalls that brim with handmade jewelry and hand-woven wool shawls in HIPPIE MARKET.

step in a three-year process for legalizing consumption. In the meantime, there are legal cannabis clubs

Barcelona // SPAIN

where registered members can go to consume. But to

Media outlets the world over are eager to declare

be a member, you have to be a citizen or long-term

Spain as the new go-to hot spot for travelers looking

resident, so it’s not as easy to get your hands on ele-

to soar. According to some decades-old Spanish laws

22 Southern Colorado JA NUA RY 2018

{6}

{1}

{ 5}

the

escapes CLOCK WISE FROM TOP RIGHT :

{ 1 } Casapueblo, located near Punta del Este, Uruguay { 2 } Interior detail of the Sagrada Família Cathedral, Barcelona { 3 } Sagrada Família

Cathedral, Barcelona

{ 4 } The Gothic Quarter, Barcelona { 5 } La Rambla, Barcelona { 6 } Traditional Apsara Dancers, Cambodia

{2}

{4 }

{3}

sensimag.com JANUARY 2018 23

But these discrete private smokers clubs aren’t marked with that recognizable green cross symbol that’s on the dispensary storefronts in Colorado. It takes some sleuthing to find them and a membership fee to gain entry to them. But once you do get in, you’ll be able to consume as much of the local cannabis as you want inside the club. Just don’t spend too much time there. In even the most unaltered state of mind, Barcelona is like walking through a dream. From the fabled modernista architecture to the twisting alleys of the GOTHIC QUARTER, from the carnival-like promenade of LA RAMBLA to the regarding cannabis, people are allowed to grow and

fantasy excesses of Gaudí’s SAGRADA FAMÍLIA, the

consume cannabis in private. Those same laws also

sun-drenched seaside city plays with your senses, all

have provisions that allow people to join together with

but demanding a visceral response. At the city’s myri-

others to form non-profit, member-only cannabis

ad museums, Barcelona’s enchanting influence is visi-

clubs. And recent estimates put the number of canna-

ble in works by artists like Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picas-

bis clubs in the country around 800, up from just 40 in

so, and Joan Miró.

2010 according to some reports. In the Catalan region, // CAMBODIA //

where Barcelona is the capital, some 400 cannabis clubs have sprung up in recent years.

Cambodia, a tropical Asian nation located near Viet-

increased e n e r gy

Uplifting & Euphoric

e l e va t e d alertness

Heightened Creativity

SATIVA

We’ve got the whole spectrum covered

INDICA

Sleep Aid

24 Southern Colorado JA NUA RY 2018

deep relaxation

Pain Relief

appetite stimulant

nam, is home to the Khmer people, one of the world’s

notable temples hold Apsara performances as well.

first empires. Cambodia boasts a long, rich history of

Cambodia also contains no shortage of awe-inspir-

cannabis use, too. Marijuana is largely decriminalized

ing Buddhist and Hindu temples. These intricate, com-

around the country, so it’s not too difficult to find

plex structures are some of the oldest religious build-

“happy smoke” if you’re willing to ask.

ings in the world, and they draw hundreds of thousands

One thing Cambodia features that most places

of visitors every year. Must-sees include ANGKOR WAT

don’t—and this includes evergreen Colorado—are

for pure grandiosity, ANGKOR THOM if you’d like to

“happy restaurants.” These restaurants, mainly located

stroll through an ancient city, and BAYON the “happy

in Sihanoukville, Siem Reap, and Phnom Penh, cook up

temple,” decorated with thousands of statues featur-

THC-infused edible dishes composed of local cuisines.

ing smiling faces.

“Happy stir fry,” “happy pizza,” “happy noodles”—they’re all over the place. You can even order cannabis as a garnish for your meal.

Buddha faces at Bayon Temple, Cambodia

After your THC-laden meal kicks in, check out Cambodia’s sites. The crème-de-la-crème of Cambodia’s world famous APSARA DANCERS can be found at special public events by the Royal Ballet. These dances include © MOLLOY KEITH

skilled contortionists in ornate golden garbs, with trippy movements guaranteed to stun even the most jaded Western minds. If you can’t catch the Royal Ballet, the NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CAMBODIA in Phnom Penh and

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Responsibly.

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26 Southern Colorado JA NUA RY 2018

V w AP w ove RW P ith n- E A se erfe out in v R w ns ct ev ap now ay e fo en or t o o f t r a h a i ze o f f en ra thl vi r t ers jo inin ete ng ha b y th g a s a to s t all ack at nd nd to ow pa n e e bi p s c k xt xe cy an yo s a bi rcis clis d t u t nd g m e, o ts w ake o g ho us r i e o ica an ho t ou t yo dies l l f in ike t o ur w es co t f bu it tiv ns ha yo zz h a al pic t e ur o . uo lev po n u s at c k ed et .

HIGHER GET TING LIFTED is nothing new; people have been doing it for basically ever. What’s changed with THE ADVENT OF

MODERN TECHNOLOGY is how they do it.

report T ( p he P i c f lo t u A X w re 3 er d an he VAP d re) O co d R nc oe I Z en s b E R t r ot at h es .

by LEL AND RUCKER

BAC K I N

TECH

S P EC I A L

the dark ages O F R I C H A R D N I XO N ’ S P R E S I D E N C Y, I D R OV E A N H O U R

T H R O U G H C H I C A G O S T R E E T S T O P I C K U P A F I V E - D O L L A R B A G O F, U H , S O M E T H I N G C O M BUSTIBLE. MY ONLY “ACCESSORIES” WERE A PACKAGE OF PAPERS, A BASIC CHEAP ROLLING M A C H I N E , A N D A C L I P T O H O L D T H E R OA C H W H E N I T S TA R T E D B U R N I N G M Y F I N G E R S . TO DAY, I C A N L EG A L LY B U Y J O I N T S W RA P P E D I N R O S E P E TA L S A N D 24 - C A RAT G O L D I N S T E A D O F Z I G - Z AG S . B A S I C P R E R O L L S , S O L D AT E V E RY D I S P E N S A RY, H AV E P R E T T Y M U C H F O R C E D M Y F O R C E P S A N D OT H E R R OAC H C L I P S I N TO R E T I R E M E N T. T H O U G H T H E R E W E R E A FEW HEAD SHOPS I COULD VISIT IN THE EARLY 70s, THERE WASN’T WHAT YOU WOULD CALL A CANNABIS CONSUMER CULTURE. MOST OF US WHO USED MARIJUANA WERE JUST TRYING TO KEEP OURSELVES IN PRODUCT AND REMAIN AS INCONSPICUOUS AS WE POSSIBLY COULD UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. WHEN BROWSING PRODUCTS AT THOSE HEAD SHOPS, WE WERE T H I N K I NG A N O N Y M I T Y, N O T S T YL E.

Consumers today have choices. There is THC-in-

mobile phone, that helps keep track of your home-

fused water, coffee, and tea, as well as THC-infused

grown plants remotely, and another that can monitor

bath soaps and sublingual and transdermal patches

your intake. Boxes arrive on your doorstep with the

to deliver cannabis in ways we old hippies couldn’t

latest in cool accessories. Can late-night drone deliv-

even have imagined. There are stealthy keychain

eries of your favorite strain, when you run out on a

pipes and disposable vape pens for cocktail parties.

lonely Sunday night, be that far off?

High-end glass-blown bongs and water pipes created

What’s up for cannabis users now and in the future?

by famous glass blowers can cost thousands of dol-

What can we expect as consumers become even more

lars. Vaporizers, using terpenes and flavors and new

erudite and demanding?

technology, deliver every taste imaginable. Dabs and

One thing all cannabis users, no matter what era

concentrates, once the province of only those will-

they come from, are looking for is discretion. Though

ing to use a blowtorch to get their buzz, are now con-

using it is legal for adults in eight states and Washing-

sumed through portable e-nails (no flame required)

ton, D.C. (and many of those states are supposed to reg-

and high-end appliances. There’s an app tied to your

ulate it like alcohol), no place has been able to figure out sensimag.com JANUARY 2018 27

how to allow adults to consume it publicly. This has led

The biggest advances coming to vaporizers are all

to a huge market for more appliances and conveyances

about temperature and dosage control. “Small, hand-

that don’t attract attention. And let’s face it, users that

held products don’t have any temperature control,”

have found ways to get around public consumption

says Jeremy Green of Hmbldt, a California company

laws for decades are not likely to change.

that makes precision vaporizers. “Most use a nichrome

Vaporizers have become extremely popular, for

wire wrapped around a wick or a ceramic. And when

two basic reasons. First, they create vapor instead

you inhale or give it power, it heats up as fast as it can.”

of smoke, which doesn’t leave the distinctive odor of

Green, who started working on vaporizers in 2013

cannabis in the area for the next few minutes. And

when they were being used to deliver tobacco, says,

they are an attractive alternative to smoking, which

“It’s really simple to make a vaporizer cartridge to do

many people, whether baby boomer or millennial,

tobacco, but much more difficult to make one that will vaporize cannabis, in my humble opinion.” Unlike longtime users (like me) who pay little or no

PAX 3 vaporizer is elegant, extremely easy to use, and it fits in a purse or handbag without screaming “this is a cannabis device.”

attention to dosage, today’s consumers want to know exactly what they’re getting and exactly the dose they’re getting, Green says. THC and other cannabinoids vaporize well only at certain temperatures, and Hmbldt is developing pharmaceutical-grade products that give consumers control over their intake via precision instruments and components. Go Fire is getting ready to release a vaporizer that draws on the Internet of Things, the technology that hooks vehicles and appliances to a network on the InHighThere! is the Tinder app for tokers. Free on iOS and Android, HighThere! lets you find others in your area to smoke and socialize with.

ternet. The idea is to allow © WEED SCALE 2.40

medical patients to get pre-

simply detest. And for everyone like me for whom

cise 2.5mg doses as well as being a portal for doctors to monitor patient success and collect data to help patients and doctors make corrections when necessary.

the perfume of cannabis is a big part of its attraction,

CEO Peter Calfee calls

there is someone out there who hates the odor and

it a “Yelp meets Fitbit” ap-

the concept of smoking from a bong or pipe.

proach, which will allow patients the advantage of

Check your local head shop, and you’ll find literally

consuming without fear as well as helping determine

dozens of models to choose from: table models that fill

what dosages and chemical profiles work for individu-

up plastic bags of vapor to pass around the room. Sim-

als. “Today, the doctor is almost as blind as the patient,”

ple pen models with heating units that engage when a

he says. “This will give patients access and track us-

user takes a pull. Luxury, app-connected devices that

age, the chemical profile and efficacy in real time to

turn basic bud into vapor. Today, options come in every

help find products best suited to a specific need.”

shape and size; some you simply dispose of when the

Speaking of the Internet of Things, that home-grow

product is gone. Others have refillable or replaceable

app mentioned above is taking advantage of the same

cartridges and rechargeable batteries.

technology. Created for idiots like me who don’t know

28 Southern Colorado JA NUA RY 2018

Showcase your dispensary with great photos and video! Indoor/Outdoor Grows Strains Products Headshots & Portraits Harvest Trimming Retail Space Events & Parties Blown Glass jacquelinecollinsphotography@gmail.com jcollinsphotography.smugmug.com @jackie_collins_photography sensimag.com JANUARY 2018 29

anything about plants or growing, Cloudponics’ GroBox technology allows you and the company to monitor plants remotely. “Five years ago, this would have been impossible,” says CPO Nicholas Ruiz. “It’s the perfect storm of technology for AI devices.” Ruiz says the company’s GroBox is fully contained and will soon include a camera inside the box and artificial-intelligence capabilities that will be able to detect nutrient deficiencies and correct them automatically, ensuring quality products. He says it’s especially appealing to seniors or anyone who gets a therapeutic benefit just from watching their plants and strains grow and mature. He says that the technology allows data to be gathered from all its users, which will ultimately employ AI to develop more data to keep track of every grow recipe and strain. “As more users sign on, we will improve.” The clothing that vaporizes is the brainchild of a Denver company, Vaprwear, which designs, creates and sells hoodies and backpacks that include pockets that hold vaporizers and hook up with a tube that delivers doses of whatever vapor you prefer. Beyond just hiding your use when

DISTILLATE

you’re in public, the clothing is a good item for athletes in training or medical patients who need a periodical dose of CBD, says CEO Tom Gruger. Gruger’s background is in sporting goods, and he explains that the

LIVE RESIN

company has found that users can be anyone from millennials to seniors, especially Coloradans interested in the outdoors, the arts, and music. Both hoodies and backpacks are designed for outdoor concertgoers and summer festival enthusiasts. “There’s the health aspect, and

ROYAL JELLY

the idea that you can’t smell it is huge,” says Gruger. “You’re wearing a hoodie and nobody knows.” He says there is a huge increase in the market for women, and the

TERP SAUCE (HTFSE)

company is responding with new styles of hoodies and backpacks as well as basewear for skiers and snowboarders. Ultimately, Gruger sees benefits for the basic technology beyond cannabis use, for instance, team uniforms with inhalers for athletes with asthma. And though the drone delivery might be a ways off, Canada and some

THCA CRYSTALS

states, like California, already have delivery service and apps to use those. Colorado representative Jonathan Singer’s bill to allow delivery faced significant opposition from law enforcement and other lawmakers and didn’t pass earlier this year. But the idea of people not driving to shops could Meanwhile, with this bounty of choices, there are worse things in life than having to go to a dispensary to pick up a quarter of Hell's Angel OG.

RMEXTRACTS.COM

INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK: @RMEXTRACTS 30 Southern Colorado JA NUA RY 2018

become more appealing over time.

sensimag.com JANUARY 2018 31

Children’s

BOOKS

about

Cannabis? by R A N D Y R O B IN S O N

AS THE

New Normal BECOMES COMMONPLACE IN AMERICAN HOMES, FAMILIES

MUST SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH THEIR KIDS ABOUT CANNABIS. THERE’S NO OTHER OPTION. THANKFULLY, WE NOW HAVE LITERATURE DESIGNED TO MAKE THAT TALK MUCH, MUCH EASIER.

Colorado’s OWN

Last year on April 20, Ellen DeGeneres kicked off the day’s episode of The Ellen Show with a nod to the

One series of these books is penned here in the

international pot holiday. “Hey, do you know what

Centennial State. Written by Juliette Benz and Kris

day it is? It’s 420,” she announced. The live studio au-

Morwood, Callie and Friends, LLC is a company they

dience erupted in a cacophony of applause. Some au-

founded with two educational children’s books al-

dience members in the front row could be seen cack-

ready under their belt. And they plan to churn out

ling uncontrollably.

many more.

“I can’t believe how many of you know what that

Morwood, who works as a consultant for the can-

is,” DeGeneres said, wide eyed. By ‘how many,’ she

nabis industry, came up with the idea after feeling

meant practically the entire audience.

unimpressed by other cannabis books geared toward

DeGeneres then introduced a book titled the Scratch

families. “The people I work with in the industry, they

and Sniff Book of Weed (which is, strangely enough,

don’t have a way to talk to their kids about cannabis,”

available on the odorless Kindle). She explained the

she says. “Instead of giving children the ‘Just Say No’

book made waves because, due to its juvenile nature,

and the scare tactics that we’ve been giving them for

critics charged the book of promoting cannabis to chil-

the past 80 years, it’s time to start giving them factu-

dren. She took a few whiffs of its cover, then quipped,

al information.”

“It smells like Martha Stewart’s purse, sort of.”

The first in the series is Callie Cannabis, which

After putting the scratch-and-sniff book away, De-

follows a leafy-haired child as she reviews ways to

Generes segued into a bit featuring popular children’s

safely store cannabis away from kids. The second,

books with a weedy twist. These faux tomes includ-

more in-depth book is Hana Hemp, where the Asiatic

ed The Little Engine That Couldn’t Get off the Couch,

Hana goes over the history and uses of hemp, the

The Very Very Very Very Very Hungry Caterpillar, and

non-elevating form of cannabis.

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, What Was I Talking About?

“It’s a good educational parenting tool,” says Benz, who doesn’t work in cannabis at all. She works in real

The clever titles made for some light-natured

estate. “For a kid to pick it up at six years old, they can

chuckles. However, there are a handful of children’s

read it, but do you want them reading it by them-

books that seriously deal with educating children on

selves? Probably not. You’re going to want an adult

cannabis, and they don’t play off the old stoner cli-

sitting there, too.”

chés like DeGeneres’s parodies.

32 Southern Colorado JA NUA RY 2018

Benz and Morwood have known each other for

OTHER EDUCATIONAL CHILDREN ’S BOOKS ABOU T CANNABIS MOMMY’S FUNNY MEDICINE by RUSSELL BARTH & CHRISTINE LOWE PUBLISHED IN 2003, MOMMY’S FUNNY MEDICINE IS CONSIDERED THE WORLD’S FIRST CHILDREN’S BOOK ON CANNABIS. IT’S TOLD THROUGH THE EYES OF A YOUNG GIRL WITNESSING HER ILL MOTHER MEDICATE WITH MARIJUANA.

IT’S JUST A PLANT by RICARDO CORTE PUBLISHED TWO YEARS AFTER THE FIRST CANNABIS CHILDREN’S BOOK, IT’S JUST A PL ANT FOLLOWS A GIRL NAMED JACKIE. AFTER THE SMELL OF BURNING REEFER LEADS HER TO HER PARENTS’ BEDROOM, MOM AND DAD SIT HER DOWN FOR A LESSON ON CANNABIS.

IF A PEACOCK FINDS A POT LEAF by MORGAN CARMAN PETER THE PEACOCK STROLLS THROUGH THE FOREST AND DISCOVERS A POT LEAF. A TUTORIAL ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA, LED BY A CAST OF MERRY WOODLAND CREATURES, ENSUES.

sensimag.com JANUARY 2018 33

years. Former neighbors, their children grew up to-

she believes the duo’s second outing may prove more

gether, so they both understand the obligation that

successful than the first. Unfortunately, like the

parents now have in the age of legalization.

Scratch and Sniff Book of Weed, some critics have

“It’s been voted into law by the people,” notes Benz, “and we’re going to have to deal with it.”

charged the authors of promoting cannabis use to children, something they vehemently deny.

Benz and Morwood both say creating Callie and Hana

“That’s a question I get often,” says Morwood. “Our

came with the typical challenges of writing, illustrat-

books certainly don’t say that cannabis is for every-

ing, revising, and printing books, but the family-friend-

one, and they certainly don’t say it’s for children—

ly nature of their series has met the most resistance

unless it’s for medical reasons. It’s like anything: we

not so much with marketing, but with distribution. Cal-

have to be open to talking to our kids about whatever

lie was accepted into several of Colorado’s dispensa-

it is: alcohol, cannabis, bullies, the internet. All those

ries, but local libraries wouldn’t accept the book.

things are things we have to cover as parents.”

Although the subject matter of Benz and Mor-

Morwood stresses the need for parents to sit down

wood’s books—cannabis—brings its own built-in hur-

with their children to discuss the realities of cannabis

dle, there’s another reason they’ve had difficulties

in the home. Edibles, for instance, have posed a prob-

getting their work into libraries: the Cataloging in

lem for some households in Colorado. A 2016 study in

Publication (CIP) system. Most books that end up in

the journal JAMA Pediatrics traced a spike in ER vis-

public libraries go through an established publish-

its from children 9 and younger who accidentally in-

ing house, and the review system for submitting

gested marijuana edibles. Roughly 2 out of every 1,000

books to libraries is much easier for publishing com-

calls made to poison-control centers involve young

panies. Publishers have already cultivated their rep-

children mistakenly eating a food item that contains

utations among the nation’s library system. Benz

THC, the component of cannabis that gets us high.

and Morwood self-published their books, so Callie

Inadvertently eating pot edibles happens some-

and Hana require individual submissions to every li-

times with adults, too. To remedy this, Colorado creat-

brary their books are sent to.

ed new regulations last year that require all infused

One prominent local library rejected Callie Canna-

food products to bear a stamp that reads “THC” in

bis because the library’s reviewers could not deter-

clear lettering. But this workaround doesn’t always

mine a clear classification for the book. Benz ex-

work for kids.

plains that the images were “easy,” as in the illustrations

“If you’re bringing in a brownie or a cookie or a piece

followed coloring and drawing styles found in many

of candy, and putting it on the table, your toddler doesn’t

children’s books. The words in Callie Cannabis, how-

know how to read ‘THC,’” says Morwood. “It doesn’t

ever, were “hard.”

matter how many warning labels we put on edibles. A

“There were too many words,” says Benz. “Too many big words. They said the book didn’t fit in children’s, but it didn’t fit in the adult’s sections, either.”

responsible parent needs to put it in a safe place.” Amendment 64 forged an exciting regulatory framework for commercializing cannabis, but it did not

That prompted Benz and Morwood to revamp Cal-

include any educational programs or tools for con-

lie Cannabis so it presented simpler language and an

sumers. This is why Morwood does not consider Cal-

easier-to-follow structure. The edition currently avail-

lie Cannabis or Hana Hemp to be children’s books.

able is the second reprinting; the original version

She insists these books are for educating anyone

has been discontinued, although copies can still be

and everyone in an inviting manner—which includes

found floating around on sites like Ebay or Amazon.

seniors and other adults who are new to marijuana

According to both women, Callie Cannabis has gar-

products. She prefers describing the Callie and

nered largely positive responses from those who’ve

Friends series as “family books,” meant for entire

read it. Benz says one parent reports their child, who

families to read and share together.

lives with epilepsy, goes to sleep each night with the

“We really need to normalize the conversation and

book. Benz also says Hana Hemp gets the most praise

take that stigma away,” says Morwood. “The only way to

at readings for groups oriented toward hemp, and

do that is by talking to our kids about this plant.”

34 Southern Colorado JA NUA RY 2018

sensimag.com JANUARY 2018 35

terpene &

turn on

by ROBYN GRIGGS L AWRENCE

36 Southern Colorado JA NUA RY 2018

The VOLATILE OILS in cannabis give it a lot more than aroma and flavor. TERPENES’ MOOD-ENHANCING and MEDICINAL POSSIBILITIES rival those of their more famous cannabinoid cousins, THC and CBD. The mighty MOLECULES are finally getting THE RESPECT they deserve.

YOU’RE A SAVVY CANNABIS CONSUMER. YOU KNOW YOUR

high-flying hazes

FROM YOUR COUCHLOCK KUSHES, YOUR THC FROM YOUR CBD, YOUR INDICA FROM YOUR SATIVA, YOUR MYRCENE FROM YOUR LIMONENE. Wait, what?

The Next CBD

The words myrcene and limonene aren’t being

Terpenes, highly volatile isoprene units that attract

tossed around in casual cannabis conversation—yet—

pollinators and repel predators in aromatic plants, dif-

but you’ll be hearing them from your favorite budtender

fuse easily into the air and act as pheromones, com-

soon, if you haven’t already. They’re two of the cannabis

municating signals to other plants and insects. Neth-

plant’s most prevalent terpenes, volatile essential oils

erlands Institute of Ecology researchers found that

that impart taste and aroma—and a lot more. Soporific

terpenes are “the most popular chemical medium on

myrcene, for example, causes the narcotic effects most

our planet to communicate through” and called them,

people attribute to indicas. Limonene lifts users’ moods

poetically, “the world’s most spoken language.”

in a way often ascribed to sativas. Terpenes turn everything you thought you knew about cannabis upside down. It turns out those sativa and indica labels, which

With as many as 260 different terpenes (and still counting), ganja has the richest and most robust patois of all plants. Even so, until very recently, the cannabis industry wasn’t speaking terpene.

are based on how cannabis plants grow (sativas tall

In the mad rush to elevate and enhance the pres-

and lanky, indicas short and dense), have absolutely

ence of THC and CBD in concentrates and distillates,

nothing to do with whether you’ll be watching info-

growers and extraction artists have largely ignored

mercials or cleaning closets after ingesting a particu-

and often destroyed terpenes during processing. (Ar-

lar strain. To understand that, you must do a complete

izona-based chef Payton Curry, owner of Flourish

biochemical assay, according to Dr. Ethan Russo, an

edibles, likens the rise of cannabinoid isolates to our

influential cannabis science pioneer who introduced

cultural passion for bleached flour and refined sugar.)

many in the cannabis community to the “entourage

As law reforms unravel research restrictions, sci-

effect,” the theory that cannabis’s many chemical

entists are beginning to prove terpenes’ value—and

components (including terpenes) work together like

companies are rushing to capture and capitalize. Ex-

a symphony to boost and complement its best-known

tracted and distilled terpenes, from both cannabis

cannabinoids, THC and CBD.

plants and non-cannabis plants, are the new darlings

Noel Palmer, chief scientist for Colorado-based

of wholesale and retail markets. At dispensaries and

Evolab, which sells a line of strain-specific cannabis

retail stores in legal states and online, you’ll find ev-

terpene oils, explains the entourage effect in terms of

erything from terpene concentrates and vaping liq-

Lego blocks. “Terpenes are the smallest Legos. With-

uids to terpene oils that can be used in cooking.

out them, you couldn’t have cannabinoids,” he says.

Edibles manufacturers and chefs are using ter-

“Terpenes are essentially the building blocks of can-

penes to enhance taste and effects and give food

nabinoids.”

otherworldly zest. “Terpenes add a flavor I’ve never sensimag.com JANUARY 2018 37

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experienced in 25 years of cooking,” says cannabis chef Randy Placeres of Aspen Culinary Solutions. “They’re going to change the culinary dynamic of cuisine and chefs all over the world.” Vaping companies are introducing consumers to terpenes at tasting parties. Brewers and distillers are giving their spirits a dank edge with pinene and myrcene. Heineken-owned Lagunitas Brewing and CannaCraft’s AbsoluteXtracts joined forces to create SuperCritical, a grassy terpene ale available only in California. Earth Mama vodka is infused with a “top secret” blend of terpenes to taste and smell like cannabis. “Terpenes,” Palmer says, “are definitely the next CBD.”

A Terpene is a TERPENE

Many of the terpenes found in cannabis are also in other aromatic plants. Mangoes are high in sedating myrcene, which

is likely the genesis of the idea that you’ll get higher if you eat them when you imbibe. Black peppers contain beta-caryophyl-

lene, which modulates THC’s psychoactive effects—and is the reason some people chew on peppercorns to fight anxiety and paranoia. Does it matter whether the terpenes you use were extracted from cannabis or cloves? That’s a big conversation starter right now, and you can find products made both ways. Cannabis-sourced terpenes are far more expensive, given the plant’s market value, and buyers need to beware of unscrupulous marketers who imply their products are extracted from the plant when they’re not. Colorado-based Evolab sources its terpenes from cannabis because it believes that gives its strain-specific oils the most authentic taste, says chief scientist Noel Palmer. When terpenes are used in isolation, he concedes, it doesn’t matter where they come from. “A chemical is a chemical,” Palmer says. “Limonene has a very absolute chemical formula, whether it was derived from lemon or cannabis. But the truth of the matter is, cannabis has more

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terpenes than we can keep track of, some at very low levels, and it’s the blend of flavors at high and low levels that give cannabis its taste.” Colorado-based Yofumo, which includes a component that applies terpenes to cannabis flowers and concentrates in its post-harvest management system for growers and extractors, takes a Dr. Frankenstein approach, mapping different strains’ naturally occurring terpene profiles through granular testing, then recreating and enhancing them using non-cannabis plants. “We can create flavor and aroma combinations henceforth unknown,” says Joe Edwards, head of the terpene development program at Yofumo, “and that’s where we’re pushing the technology.”

38 Southern Colorado JA NUA RY 2018

What’s Your Terpene? Ben Cassiday and Chris Campagna discovered terpenes a little over two years ago when they were running an online business that helped patients get medical cards in Oregon. Frustrated that they didn’t have accurate language to describe the effects of different strains, they hired a team of medical consultants who concluded that terpene content was the biggest indicator of a plant’s therapeutic value. Based on those findings, Cassiday and Campagna founded True Terpenes, which sells food-grade, strain-specific terpene formulas from non-cannabis feedstock for concentrates, edibles, and topicals. Cassiday’s personal mission is to teach cannabis consumers how to identify which of three predominant cannabis terpenes—beta-caryophyllene, myrcene or limonene—produces the most beneficial results

Dr. Brian Reid, chief scientist at Colorado-based Ebbu, has spent years STUDYING TERPENES and how they INTERACT WITH CANNABINOIDS to formulate Ebbu’s terpene and cannabinoid vape oils engineered to deliver CONSISTENT, PREDICTABLE user experiences. for them. As this knowledge trickles down from early adapters to mainstream consumers, he sees a whole new world of therapeutic and recreational possibilities opening up. “We were pre-baseline in 2017 for general consumer knowledge and product development, and 2018 brings us to the point where people are acting on data-driven results rather than assumptions,” Cassiday says. “The actual body of knowledge about cannabis terpenes is very small. We’ve been repackaging and citing the same three papers by Dr. Russo for years. I think we’re going to see an emergence of new researchers producing really good work as well as anecdotal results and consumers taking it upon themselves to identify which terpenes they enjoy and don’t enjoy.” Dr. Brian Reid, chief scientist at Colorado-based Ebbu, has spent years studying terpenes and how they interact with cannabinoids to formulate Ebbu’s terpene and cannabinoid vape oils engineered to deliver consistent, predictable user experiences. Reid says his team is “demonstrating that beyond just the wonderful aroma effects, terpenes do have specific pharmacology.” They’ve identified a collection of terpenes that increase THC’s potency and have evidence that certain terpenes reduce anxiety. “Brian has proven scientifically and qualitatively, through cell lines and cell studies and quantifiable data, that the entourage effect does exist,” says Dr. Andrew Chadeayne, Ebbu’s chief innovation officer. “Terpenes are psychoactive and synergistic. They modulate cannabinoids. That’s extraordinary.” sensimag.com JANUARY 2018 39

P R O MOT ION A L F E AT URE

SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

Industrial Hemp Recycling FOR EVERY PERFECTLY M A N I C U R E D BUD FOUND IN A DISPENSARY’S DISPL AY JARS, THERE’S PL ANT MAT TER THAT NEVER MAKES IT TO THE SHELVES : STEMS, FAN LEAVES, FAILED CLONES, AND SEED -BE ARING HERMAPHRODITES. According to Colorado state regulations, the

“After doing a lot of research, and finding canna-

cannabis industry’s “green waste” cannot be dis-

bis could be used for a lot of different things, I de-

carded like any other mundane detritus. It must be

cided if we could just recycle this stuff, we could help

rendered unusable and unrecognizable, typically

the Earth,” says Whiteside. “Cannabis is the medi-

by shredding the plant waste and mixing it with

cine for the Earth.”

equal parts cardboard.

Compost made from cannabis—whether mari-

Colorado’s cannabis market, however, continues

juana or hemp—has several beneﬁts. For one, it’s

to break sales records, which means dispensaries

biodegradable like any other compost, which re-

must produce more product than ever to keep up

duces the industry’s overall carbon footprint. Canna-

with demand. That demand means more waste,

bis compost also replenishes soil by reintroducing

too. Cultivators and retail stores could have their

nutrients such as nitrogen and other organic com-

employees devote precious work hours to process-

pounds back into the environment.

ing and disposing this plant waste.

Best of all, every pound of cannabis turned into

Or they could leave the dirty work to profession-

compost is a pound that’s not filling up America’s

als like Industrial Hemp Recycling, Colorado’s ﬁrst

landﬁlls. According to the US EPA, there has been a

and only waste disposal company devoted entirely

75 percent reduction in available landﬁll area since the

to the cannabis industry.

1970s, and overcrowded landﬁlls are known to con-

“The conversations that I have with people, everywhere, who are interested in legalizing cannabis

tribute to greenhouse gas production. Industrial Hemp Recycling has already com-

or starting hemp in their state, they’re always think-

posted 8 million pounds of dis-

ing of the front-end of their business,” says John

carded plant material. That’s

Whiteside, the founder and owner of Industrial

8 million pounds of waste

Hemp Recycling. “They never think of the back-

going to good use. As

end,” the excess product that can’t be sold, but

a wise proverb states:

can’t just be thrown away willy-nilly, either.

waste not, want not.

When Whiteside founded the company in 2011, the state’s dump sites and landﬁlls would not accept marijuana waste due to federal regulations. Today, Whiteside says, his crew properly diverts tens of thousands of pounds of excess plant material every month away from shrinking landﬁlls and toward the company’s farm in Bennett. There, the material is turned into compost. 40 Southern Colorado JA NUA RY 2018

sensimag.com JANUARY 2018 41

P R O M OT I O N A L F E AT U R E

ROCK Y M OU N TA I N E XT R AC TS

Extracts THIS ISN’T YOUR T YPIC AL CONCENTRATES COMPANY. THIS ONE IS FOUNDED A ND OPERAT ED BY A N E U R O L O G I S T, A ND IT’S CRE ATING EXTRACTS SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO POTENTIALLY T R E AT S P E C I F I C CO N D I T I O N S . Two years ago, cannabis concentrates sales sur-

Because Rocky Mountain Extracts is committed

passed edibles sales in Colorado. This newer form of

to crafting the most efficacious concentrates tailored

cannabis extraction presents patients with nearly pure

to specific medical conditions, the company started

products for dabbing or vaporization, composed al-

its engineering process from scratch.

most entirely of cannabinoids and terpenes, the com-

“It starts with the grow,” says Avery. “We have

pounds responsible for the plant’s purported health

popped over 3,600 seeds so far. The reason we start-

benefits. Concentrates have gained popularity due to

ed with seeds is because we wanted the best genet-

their flavor and potency, with THC levels between 50

ics possible for extraction.”

to 90 percent. Compare those amounts to what’s

Since the company’s first harvest, Rocky Moun-

found in flower, which maxes out around 30 percent

tain Extracts has narrowed down the initial 3,600

THC.

plants to 150 phenotypes kept in-house. Each of

Rocky Mountain Extracts, based in Pueblo, was

these plants is carefully analyzed by both human

founded by Dr. Malik Hasan, a neurologist who saw

observation and lab testing in order to record and

immense potential in cannabis for treating chronic

track the mothers’ cannabinoid and terpene profiles.

health problems such as pain, epilepsy, and post-traumatic stress.

During harvest, the plants are cryogenically frozen shortly after being cut down. The freezing step locks

“We sourced genetics that are high in resin pro-

in the terpenes, which would otherwise evaporate

duction but also have a great terpene profile,” says

from the plant material at room temperatures. Com-

Katharine Avery, the senior vice president of Rocky

bining CO2 and hydrocarbon methods to maximize

Mountain Extracts.

terpene retention, extractions can be blended ac-

Besides THC, concentrates are also known for

cording to their terpene content, generating novel

their rich terpene content. Terpenes are plant-based

live resins and distillates that would be impossible to

molecules that give cannabis its distinctive flavors

make from an individual plant alone.

and aromas, and they also influence its medicinal

Rocky Mountain Extracts plans to continue its

properties and the mood of the plant’s elevating ef-

push into unexplored extraction territory. Portions of

fects. A 2017 study in the journal Planta Medica found

all profits made from the company’s sales go toward

cannabis concentrates typically amplify terpene con-

medical cannabis research, to create higher quality

centrations anywhere from two to nine times higher

products for patients who rely on instant, reli-

than those found in cured buds.

able relief.

42 Southern Colorado JA NUARY 2018 2018

sensimag.com JANUARY 2018 43

SENSI N IGHT

sensi

SCENE

November 30th marked our first SENSI NIGHT gathering in Pueblo, where industry leaders, activists, enthusiasts, and connoisseurs gathered to share ideas, stories, or a simple drink and a puff. To celebrate in Colorado’s second largest city to embrace legal cannabis, we transformed the historic Union Depot railroad station into a holiday extravaganza, with over 50 businesses in attendance, live on-site painting with Ashley Hubeny, henna tattoos by Sri Pravallika Atluri of Bath Mantra, and a super funkalicious dance set from DJ Chris Diablo. If you missed this party, don’t despair. We will be back in Southern Colorado for another Sensi Night in February.

44 Southern Colorado JA NUA RY 2018

What: Sensi Night Where: Pueblo, CO When: November 30, 2017

sensimag.com JANUARY 2018 45

Ice climbing is one of America’s youngest sports, although it’s gained a steady foothold

{soCO} by RANDY R OBINSON

in Russia, Korea, Ireland, and Canada. Less than two decades-old as a competitive pursuit, the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation hopes to get it added to the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. That’s still four years away. Until then, Coloradans can join thousands of ice climb-

For one weekend, Southern Colorado hosts one of the coolest events of the new year.

January 18 to 21 for the annual Ouray Ice Festival. The three-day, three-night event takes place within the Uncompahgre Gorge, where frozen waterfalls cascade over the Rocky Mountains and into a box canyon, creating long, lingering walls of ice perfect for pick axes and spiked boots. The festival is geared toward professional climbers and amateurs alike. There will be plenty to eat to accompany the music and dance parties throughout the weekend, along with video presentations by seasoned climbers and over 100 “climbing clinics” to introduce newbies to the scene or to help experienced climbers hone their scale-game. Vendors will offer ice-climbing tools, and a silent auction will give visitors a chance at rare items. Saturday and Sunday mark the main events: ice climbing races for the most daring challengers. Visitors can take a break from the festival by moseying over to the nearby Box Canyon Waterfall & Park, located less than a half mile northwest of the ice park. Although the visitors center will be closed, the park’s trails—along with their enchanting views— are open year-round. Entrance to the festival is free for spectators. For anyone wanting instruction for equipment or techniques at the clinics, passes are now available at OURAYICEPARK.COM.

46 46 Southern SouthernColorado ColoradoJA JA NUA NUA RY RY2018 2018

ICE FESTIVAL

ing enthusiasts at the Ouray Ice Park from

sensimag.com JANUARY 2018 47

48 Southern Colorado JA NUA RY 2018

sensimag.com JANUARY 2018 C-3