DE N V E R // B OULDER
THE NEW NORMAL
road
TRIP Revisiting the
5.2018
the
TRAVEL
ISSUE
American Classic
HIDING OUT IN COLORADO
WHY ARE THERE STILL SO FEW PL ACES TO CONSUME LEGALLY?
I’m
here
Now What
The Island of Jamaica is Changing with the Times
SK INN Y DIPPING // ASPEN IDE A S CO TR A IN LIFE // BREATH THERAPY + More
C2 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
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2 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
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6 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
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8 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
contents. ISSUE 5 // VOLUME 3 // 05.2018
64
SHELL OUT! Buying cannabis has never been easier in Jamaica.
FEATURES
56
SPECIAL REPORT
Wanted: A Place to Gather
Cannabis is legal in more states than ever. If only there were venues to use it.
64
Island Retreat
Robyn Griggs Lawrence finds everything she needs for her party in Jamaica.
70
America the Beautiful The classic American road trip, revisited in
2018, from Colorado to D.C. and back again.
78
Free Your Mind Can advanced breathing techniques lead
to physical and emotional healing?
84
The Kids Are All Right! SSDP Executive Director Betty Aldworth talks
about her life in activism and cannabis.
92
What’s the Big Idea? Great minds think differently at the Aspen
Ideas Festival this June.
1 00
Laid Bare At the Orvis Hot Springs in Ouray, Colorado,
clothing and bashfulness are optional.
84 BET TY ALDWORTH After helping pass Amendment 64, now she works on passing the torch.
EVERY ISSUE 12 Editor’s Note 16 The Buzz 24 CrossRoads
CANNABIS AND TOURISM
30 TasteBuds
EATING
38 AroundTown DIY ART 46 TravelWell COLORADO
T R A INS
126 {SoCO}
THERE WILL GLOBALLY BE MUD
Sensi Denver/Boulder is published monthly by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2018 SENSI MEDIA GROUP LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
sensimag.com M AY 2018 9
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editor’s
NOTE
The Whole Plant Experience
need to
GET AWAY ?
There is nothing patently wrong with Colorado spring. Mosquitos don’t ruin our cool evenings that follow the dry heat. Outdoor venues from Red Rocks to Mishawaka give us gor geous backdrops for our revelry. And for a few months, the state will actually look green. It’s right around the corner, and I’m already planning my getaway. I miss the water. I’ve tried, Colorado, but I miss the east coast beaches of my childhood, from the chilly waters of Cape Cod to my grand parents’ inlet condo south of the Outer Banks. I’ve tried tub ing — see my recommendations in the Sensi Buzz section — and had a season pass to Elitch Gardens for years, but it’s the one thing I can’t recreate here. It’s a fair trade for everything this great state has to offer. That doesn’t stop me from miss ing deep blue waters. In this getaway issue, we have Patricia Cameron getting away for a road trip in a story that reminds me of my single mom moving us across the country so many years ago. It’s a touching piece from a talented writer, and I’m proud that you’ll read it here. For those looking to get outside of themselves, I have a look at the psychedelic experience of ... breathing. Yes, people are al tering consciousness through inhaling and exhaling, but there’s also an element of healing I didn’t expect. Finally, John Lehndorff looks at getting away while staying in state with the best ethnic food spots here in Colorado. From Honduras to Haiti, he has you covered. Safe travels, friends, even if you don’t make it a mile.
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THE NE W N O R M A L
the
buzz
ALL THAT
float There’s plenty of L A Z Y R IVERS TO HIT OUTSIDE of the water parks Snow tubing is gaining in popularity among those who are terrified of breaking their everything on the mountain, but what do you do when that all melts? Ride that same
The Five Points JAZZ FESTIVAL is back this month The artistic heritage of Denver Colorado is undeniable—the city served as the backdrop for such pivotal works as Jack Kerouac’s On the Road and the music halls still echo with the sounds of jazz legends like Duke Ellington. To celebrate the rich cultural legacy of the city, the annual Five Points Jazz Festival returns to East Denver on May 19, 2018. Starting with a parade at 11:00 a.m., Welton Street will be transformed into an openair jazz venue and vendor marketplace that serves as ground zero for the party. Often referred to as “The Harlem of the West,” this portion of Denver came to prominence in the mid-20th century as a hub for both African American culture and jazz music. Some 80 years later, Coloradans and visitors alike can relive the fluid beats and complex rhythms of such jazz greats as Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, and Nat King Cole as they adorn the streets and music halls of Denver. Jazz music has long represented ideals of originality and progressiveness, serving as an artistic outlet for generations of African Americans and counterculture thinkers. The forward-looking mindset of Denver in 2018 compliments this jazz attitude well: it’s fun, it’s fluid, and it seems to defy all the rules. For the Five Points Jazz Festival, which had 50,000 attendees in 2017, this attitude means a wholesale immersion in everything jazz, with street festivities that include a number of openair stages in the historic business district. To complement the music taking place directly at Welton Street, venues such as Cervantes, The Roxy, and 715 Club feature jazz performances at various times throughout the day. The organizers of the Five Points Jazz Festival put together an exciting line-up of artists sourced primarily from the greater Denver area. For local artists, Hazel Miller, The Isaac Points Jakarta Band, Leon and the Revival, and William and the Romantics are some of the most notable acts. Coming from out-of-town are such acts as Vancouver B.C.’s Maria Ho Quintet with Richie Cole. For Denver residents and beyond, the month of May brings with it the promise of impending summertime bliss – why not welcome the season with festive infusions of music, culture, and history? The Five Points Jazz Festival offers these experiences in spades, while setting forth to honor the rich cultural heritage of both Denver and jazz music. —KENT GRUETZMACHER 16 Denver //Boulder MAY M AY 2018
liquid, now in its liquid state, as there are an abundance of creeks and rivers that offer some chill floats in Colorado. Much less expensive than kayaking or rafting, a cheap tube can run you under $10 and give you a full day of enter tainment. For those in the Denver area not looking for a full day excursion, check out Golden’s Clear Creek. Park downtown, grab a quick Uber down the road (or walk) to the end of 10th street. This trip can be one of the more punishing trips when the water is low, known for busting a butt or two on the rocks, so this is a float best saved for higher water levels. That being said, you’re never in danger of hitting any rap ids that are too aggressive, and popping out in the heart of Golden to grab a bite or a brew means it’s a pretty solid day. This advice also doubles for Boulder Creek, although you’ll stop whenever you feel like it and walk back instead of shut tling. The people watching isn’t half bad, as college kids have a habit of making terrible decisions around there. Easier still is what the locals call “Freelitch Gardens” or the man-made rapids outside of REI. Built into the Platte River, it’s a quick shot that feels more like a waterslide than a lazy river, but that can be perfect for a day that’s hot enough where a fast dunk feels great. Just make sure to keep your mouth closed, as it’s known for not being the cleanest water around. If you’re looking to make a day of it, the San Juan River at Pagosa Springs is ideal for those looking for an alternately lazy and adventurous float. The scenic hour-long round trip is recommended for stronger swimmers, but there aren’t any class five rapids involved, so no need to stress. Instead of investing in a tube you’re going to ditch in the garage as soon as you get home, Pagosa Outside Adventures has a day rental for $29 that includes shuttle service to keep you in the water for as long as you can hang. Other top stops include the Yampa River in Steamboat Springs, the Animas River in Durango, and the Cache La Poudre River outside of Fort Collins. No matter what, don’t forget your sunscreen and a group of friends. —JAKE BROWNE
sensimag.com M AY 2018 17
the
THE NE W N O R M A L
Our curious cannabis expert, LEL AND RUCKER.
buzz
Drug Testing Cannabis
L E L A N D ’S S E N S I B I L I T I E S
FOR
IN
DECLINE I’ve never suffered the ignominy of having to piss in a cup for a job, but I know people who have. And it’s always struck me as odd that applicants are weeded out, so to speak, just because THC is detected in their system. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not in favor of employees being impaired on the job or a danger to others. But all drug tests provide is a number. Vforge, a Denver company that manufactures aluminum for wheelchairs, motorcycles, and aircraft has replaced drug testing with AlertMeter, which measures cognitive alertness with a 60-second visual test when employees arrive and that was created in conjunction with the National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety and the National Institutes of Health. Programs like AlertMeter are aiding in the slow decline of pre-employment drug tests, long a requirement for many jobs. Excellence Health Inc., a Las Vegas-based healthcare company with 6,000 employees, no longer drug tests people on the pharmaceutical side of its business. Earlier this year, AutoNation announced it would no longer refuse job applicants who tested positive for weed. Even the US Army has “lowered” its standards and is now forgiving past cannabis use. As more states legalize, more people will fail drug tests. Should we be surprised? And with unemployment hovering around 4 percent, the cost of drug testing to companies is making much less sense than ever before. As the tech world found out long ago, by not testing for cannabis, employers are now able to choose among the brightest and most productive candidates. Eliminating people solely for THC in their system doesn’t show anything except that the person might have used cannabis sometime in the last six weeks. Nothing more. There are corporations staying the course. Restaurant Brands International Inc., which owns Burger King, is still down with its drug tests, and Ford Motor Co. has announced it still treats cannabis use as federally illegal and cause for dismissal. In #THENEWNORMAL, it’s their loss. 18 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
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{crossroads} by RICARDO BACA
24 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
WHERE IN THE WORLD Exploring the grittier, more rewarding side of cannabis tourism. Want to know how spoiled we are in Free America?
as the local handle for hash and nod yeah, and a few
Here’s how spoiled: When we think of cannabis tour-
minutes later you’re passed a hand-rolled cigarette
ism, we think of bud-and-breakfasts in century-old
with the waxy charas spread generously throughout.
Victorian homes, guided garden tours via swank limo
The familiar sting immediately hits the back of your
buses, and Friday nights spent learning the intricacies
throat upon your first inhale, but the aftertaste is as
of rolling both sushi and joints—before consuming
unique as the subcontinent itself. Your new friends tell
said sushi and joints.
you about the Himalayan tradition of charas, and you
Not a bad vacation. But as many of us know, mari-
rub your hands together as they make a similar hand
juana tourism throughout most of the world is less
gesture, mimicking the ancient hash-making technique.
glam and more glum.
The modified cigarette makes one more round before
Sometimes we need to check our state-legal privilege at the door and remind ourselves how lucky we are
you and your new friends head back inside for more tea, maybe a few beers and a more elevated conversation.
to be alive right now in these sky-high times (Hamilton
Not a bad vacation, right?
reference intended, weed pun definitely not). Most of
Or maybe you’re reading a book inside a canal-side
the world still lacks access to safe cannabis products, a
coffeeshop in Amsterdam when a young couple asks
regulated retail environment, and sensible drug laws, and
if they can share your table. They’re sharing their stash
so the concept of cannabis tourism takes on an entirely
from home, a far superior product to the dried-out gar-
different meaning in Morocco, India, and even the Neth-
bage you just bought from the counter, and an hour
erlands—all legitimate cannabis heritage communities.
later you’re following them back to their flat, which is
Though let me tell you: This grittier, more dangerous
home to a surprisingly sophisticated 10-plant grow.
side of cannabis tourism is infinitely more rewarding
They pour you a glass of wine before the tour, and
than its counterparts in Free America, hot-boxed limo
when they open the door you squint your eyes to let
bus be damned.
them adjust. When you ask them why their flower is so
Imagine with me: You’re in a trendy Mumbai bar chat-
much better than the coffeeshop’s, they tell you that,
ting up some locals over chais when one of them asks,
while the Dutch government tolerates limited retail
“Would you like some charas?” You recognize the word
sales and permitted use, it is still illegal to cultivate sensimag.com M AY 2018 25
cannabis in the Netherlands, a policy regulators are con-
came in Chefchaouen, when I approached the hotel desk
templating changing. An intense chicken-and-egg con-
after a big rush of check-ins and carefully introduced
versation follows before they bid you a lovely evening
myself to the clerk:
by pointing out the nearest tram line and sending you
“I’m a journalist. I am not looking to buy drugs. I am
on your way with a week’s worth of homegrown herb.
looking to see these fields of cannabis and talk to a lo-
Totally not a bad vacation.
cal villager about the hash-making process and the im-
As someone who loves to travel I must add: I am not
portance of the cannabis trade for he and his family.”
recommending you break local laws while traveling.
The desk clerk, who appeared to be no older than 14,
Many of us have seen Brokedown Palace and read Mid-
looked at me assuredly and said, “Yes, sir. So you want
night Express, and we all know how this scenario some-
to hike to the waterfall. I would be happy to arrange a
times tragically ends.
guide for you and your wife, sir.”
But I am telling you to live a little—and if your part-
I was mystified. Did he understand what I said?
ner were to ever forward you an article about hiking
Surely he did. I said the word cannabis like three times,
among massive valleys of cannabis plants in the Rif
and I pointed up the mountainside while making hand
Mountains above Chefchaouen, Morocco, a month be-
motions that somehow were meant to convey entire
fore you’re actually traveling to Chefchaouen, Morocco,
vistas of African-grown cannabis.
then you pack your boots and start doing your research, immediately. And this is where the story gets personal. While friends of mine had these experiences in Mumbai and Amsterdam, my real-world cannabis tourism experience
26 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
“You do understand what I’m hoping to see?” I asked the kind boy. “I do, sir,” he said sweetly. “And I think you will like this hike to the waterfall very much.” I will never forget what happened that next day. Be-
BUT I AM TELLING YOU TO LIVE A LITTLE— AND IF YOUR PARTNER WERE TO EVER FORWARD YOU AN ARTICLE ABOUT HIKING AMONG MASSIVE VALLEYS OF CANNABIS PLANTS IN THE RIF MOUNTAINS ABOVE CHEFCHAOUEN, MOROCCO, A MONTH BEFORE YOU’RE ACTUALLY TRAVELING TO CHEFCHAOUEN, MOROCCO, THEN YOU PACK YOUR BOOTS AND START DOING YOUR RESEARCH, IMMEDIATELY.
tween the tiresome, 8.5-mile hike and our indefatiga-
with my life. Writing about cannabis, writing about drug
ble guide, the unsinkable people we met along the way,
policy. Traveling to foreign lands, and incorporating my
and the humble family we drank tea and made hash
passion for this substance into my trip’s itinerary, cher-
with at our destination, the unparalleled views and the
ishing that off-the-beaten-path experience over the
compelling cultural and political discussions, that spe-
out-of-the-box commodities of the 420-legal world
cial day lives on in technicolor in my memory.
and recognizing that we still have a long way to go be-
As for the rest of that magical Moroccan day? I’m
fore this plant is fully understood the world over.
saving it for my memoir. Though I will add that that remarkable waterfall-less hike told me I was on the right life path. This was exactly what I was supposed to be doing
RIC ARDO BACA is a veteran journalist, thought leader, and founder of The Cannabist. His content agency Grasslands works primarily with businesses and individuals in the cannabis and hemp industries on thought leadership, publicity, and marketing projects via thoughtful, personalized content campaigns.
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28 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
sensimag.com M AY 2018 29
{tastebuds} by JOHN LEHNDORFF
LOCAL DEPARTURES No visa needed to encounter a United Nations of flavors in Denver I know some pretty fearless people in Boulder and
Recently, a long list of peoples and nations have
Denver. They climb cliffs without ropes, run triathlons,
been banned, insulted, or otherwise maligned by the
and ride their bikes across the desert without blinking.
current administration. Immigrants and refugees have
But ask them to dine on Korean fish soup or Egyptian
been made to feel unwelcome. I’m not here to dwell on
koshari in an ungentrified Aurora strip mall, and they get
divisive tweets and rhetoric about immigration. I only
anxious and noncommital. They suggest “pizza” instead.
want to whet your appetite for the worldly cuisines
I think it’s an unspoken fear of “the other,” the immi-
thriving in your neighborhood that belie Denver’s white
grant restaurateurs who look different, have heavy ac-
bread-and-beef reputation. Take the whole family on an
cents and serve food outside the usual comfort zone.
excursion tonight for some Haitian, Sudanese, Hondu-
I get it. I’ve spent decades seeking out the Denver
ran, or Iranian delicacies. Breaking bread (or tortillas,
area’s most obscure ethnic eateries, and I still get un-
pitas, or bao) with a community is the unpreachy way
comfortable every time I walk into a new spot. It’s the
to nurture tolerance, not to mention taste buds.
awkward moments figuring out what to order and hoping to pronounce it right. Also, since I’m often the only large white guy in the room, I attract a lot of stares.
{ Mexico to Syria to Denver } The cooks in the kitchen at Comal Heritage Food In-
I ask questions, despite language issues. I point to
cubator on a recent Thursday were originally from Mex-
interesting dishes on other folks’ plates. At these tiny,
ico, Ethiopia, and Syria. Their specials included tinga roja,
family-run places, food and service often run on a more
shredded chicken in chipotle-lime salsa, and chile-pow-
leisurely schedule, but when the soup-filled dumplings
ered puerco con salsa roja. Besides good refried beans
or jerk chicken do arrive, the bliss ensues. By then I’m
and rice, entrees came with warm corn tortillas the
chatting with the cooks and everybody’s having a great
ladies made throughout lunch and then also fried for
time. Every global cuisine I’ve visited has two things in
corn chips served with salsa.
common: Some stewed chicken dish and a deep belief in hospitality and feeding strangers at the door. 30 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
Part of the nonprofit Focus Points Family Resource Center, the 18-month-old Comal helps immigrant and
SHAKSHOUKA : A Sudanese comfort food that works day or night.
sensimag.com M AY 2018 31
refugee women in the Elyria-Swansea and Globev-
Leiry Annoni, who co-owns the restaurant with her
ille neighborhoods learn to run a food business.
sister, Cardina Martinez. Annoni imports coffee beans
“They are all wonderful home cooks. We let them do their thing in the kitchen,” said executive chef Tim Bender. Mexican fare is served Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, Syrian
grown near their hometown, El Progreso, Honduras. According to Martinez, Longmont was the perfect place to open a year ago. The city’s growing Mexican and Central American community stages Colorado’s largest Day of the Dead celebration every year.
cooks dish their favorites. Thursday
Mexican dishes range from carnitas quesadillas to
evening there is a traditional Ethiopian
pastor-style tortas. I had the Honduran tajadas plate
coffee service complete with roasting the
loaded with plantains, avocado, steak, refried red beans,
beans and burning incense. A Comal popup at
crumbled white cheese, crema, and corn or flour tortillas.
Denver’s new Zeppelin Station food hall offers addi-
Don’t miss the griddled pupusas (filled with beans,
tional training and tasting space.
cheese, and pork) from the border area near El Salvador.
“They learn everything: ordering, scheduling, food
Café Copan
cost. I’m a combination instructor, mentor, and ther-
1515 MAIN ST. // LONGMONT
apist. The Syrian ladies have told me some horrifying
MYCAFECOPAN.COM
stories about hiding in their basements while bombs were falling,” Bender said.
{ Israel }
The Syrian menu starts with “the smoothest hum-
Growing up as a Palestinian Israeli in the city of Acre,
mus ever,” according to Bender, plus baba ganoush,
Manal Jarrar became a dancer in a culture where wom-
kisir (wheat salad), yalangi (rice-stuffed grape leaves),
en did not do ballet. After Jarrar and her husband, Saib,
and roasted lamb with tomato-steamed bulgur and
moved to the US in 1988, she taught dance before
fresh pita. Comal was featured on the recent Colorado- centered season of “Top Chef.”
Comal 3455 RINGSBY COURT // DENVER FACEBOOK.COM/COMALKITCHEN
{ Sudan } It’s worth visiting here just to meet Mekki Idris, the always smiling Sudan-born owner, and enjoy a cup of coffee with his sugar-dusted pastries. The bright little eatery dishes a Middle Eastern-meets-Africa menu. I especially like the comfy shakshouka: eggs poached in tomato sauce, with a refreshing hibiscus drink.
Sudan Cafe and Khairat Injera Bakery 10375 E. ILIFF AVE. // DENVER
{ Honduras } The compelling aroma of dark-roasted Honduran coffee grabs your attention at the door of Copan Café. The beans for this mellow, nuanced brew are imported by
32 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
SYRIAN HUMMUS : Renowned for its smooth texture.
sensimag.com M AY 2018 33
deciding to share the food she grew up on. When you
{ Iran }
stop at Arabesque, a quiet block off Boulder’s Downtown
I order the same dishes every time I stop by Hassan Solei-
Mall, it’s not hard to see the prima ballerina in her as she
mani’s homey Persian diner. I start with mirza ghasemi, a
tells customers what to order while serving her chicken
baked dip with eggplant, garlic, tomatoes, and eggs that
shawarma, parsley tabbouleh, and baklava and pouring
you scoop up with pita. The finale is aromatic zereshk po-
milky chai. I’d visit just for Arabic cardamom coffee —
loe and morgh: bone-in chicken stewed with saffron, cur-
served black, with baklava on the patio.
rants, and onions over basmati rice. Weekends call for fall-
Arabesque
apart lamb shank.
1634 WALNUT ST. // BOULDER
Darya Persian Restaurant
ARABESQUEBOULDER.COM
10890 E. DARTMOUTH AVE. // AURORA
{ Ethiopia }
RESTAURANTDARYA.COM
It’s safe to say that Tsehay Hailu has introduced more
{ Haiti }
people to the joy of Ethiopian food than anyone in Colora-
It’s not a fancy or fast place but this tiny operation dish-
do history over three decades at Ras Kassa’s, now in La-
es full-flavored Haitian and Caribbean specialties in-
fayette. This is intimate, communal dining where you grab
cluding curry goat, oxtail, fried plantains and jerk chick-
bites of lamb stew, sautéed beef, sweet potatoes, greens,
en sandwiches.
and other savory dishes from the one plate on the table
A Taste of Haiti
using pieces of the tart, spongy injera bread that also
2622 WELTON ST. // DENVER
lines the platter. My favorite taste is berbere-spiced doro wat, a bone-in chicken stew with a hard-boiled egg. If
{ Egypt }
you ask, Hailu will pop an injera-wrapped bite in your
Colorado first Egyptian eatery is named after the na-
mouth, a traditional Ethiopian gesture of hospitality.
tional dish, a combination of macaroni, rice, lentils, gar-
Ras Kassa’s
banzos, fried onions, and tomato sauce. Also on Ahmed
Ethiopian Restaurant
Abostate’s minimal menu: The Hawawshi sandwich
802 S. PUBLIC ROAD // LAFAYET TE RASKASSAS.COM
filled with ground beef, onions and peppers.
Koshari Time 1155 SOUTH HAVANA ST. // AURORA
34 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
sensimag.com M AY 2018 35
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{aroundtown} by CORY CASCIATO
LOOKING FOR THE WEIRD SIDE OF ART? Join the Cabal. Sometimes the hardest part of being a DIY art gallery is deciding if you really deserve the label. “Well, I think we try to embody the DIY spirit, or at least I do,” muses Mar Williams of Cabal Gallery. “There’s
“I think we’re going for something more relatable and human,” Williams explains. “We’re a contemporary art gallery, but we’re also lowbrow in our aesthetic. We like the art we like.”
three of us that are the main collaborators or co-con-
“My concert posters can come off pretty squishy,
spirators, whatever you want to call us here, and we just
with guts and boobies and this kind of thing, but then
sort of bring our own values to the space, which all sort
I’ll do a whole series of just Western pen-and-ink stuff,”
of fall in line with the DIY ethic. It’s sort of in that punk
adds Cabal cofounder Joshua Finley. “Whatever it is we
rock space.”
want to do, we want to have the freedom to do it.”
A look around the place certainly offers plenty of sup-
That sense of freedom is at the heart of what Cabal
port for the DIY hypothesis, or at least the punk rock
is trying to accomplish. While each of the three princi-
attitude. While the layout is pretty traditional for a gal-
pal partners has their own artistic approach and tastes,
lery space, the art you’ll typically find on the walls is any-
the focus is on allowing everyone — resident artists
thing but. One week might find a variety of weird robot
and guests alike — the latitude to create and show the
art — strange mechanized kinetic sculptures and more,
work that speaks to them, regardless of commercial
inspired by the intersection of technology and human-
appeal or acceptability within the mainstream art world.
ity — of the sort favored by Cabal co-conspirator Cor-
“I had to Google what contemporary art was. I was
rina Espinosa, and a few weeks later those same walls
like, ‘Okay, I guess that’s what we’re doing,’” Williams
could just as easily be covered in thrift store kitsch
says. “I don’t have an arts education, and I kind of like it
— think velvet paintings of Jesus or folksy wannabe
that way because then I just get to point at things and
Norman Rockwell knockoffs — reimagined as scenes
go, ‘That’s fucking awesome!’ and they don’t have to
of unimaginable carnage straight out of a direct-to-
be a formally trained artist or know what the lingo is or
DVD horror flick.
have a fucking artist’s statement to come show here.”
38 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
sensimag.com M AY 2018 39
© COURTESY OF CABAL GALLERY
© CORRINA ESPINOSA / COURTESY OF CABAL GALLERY
Finley is similarly self-taught but Cabal’s third principal, Corrina Espinosa, does have that arts education — and MFA in her case — but it doesn’t stop her from fitting into the weird, grungy vibe of the place, not to mention bringing a unique set of skills and insight to the venture. “It’s neat that Corrina does [have an arts education]. It’s like the yin and yang, you know?” says Finley. “She’s just as goofy and horrible as the rest of us. It’s just that she has a piece of paper! But it’s neat you know? She can put in all sorts of great ideas that the school stuff taught her. Then we’re able to go, ‘Oh yeah, that’s a pretty good idea!’” Since getting off the ground a little more than three years ago, Cabal has shown the work of dozens of artists, covering everything from exhibitions of art on skateboards to shows requiring the use of 3D glasses, not to mention a handful of rock bands and a few uncategorizable events. Unlike a traditional art gallery, Cabal isn’t focused primarily — or even much at all — on catching the next rising star of the art world so much as they are in exposing the art of the kind of people whose art too often goes unseen. “One thing we’ve always done that’s really cool is we give people a shot,” Finley declares. “We’ve had numerous shows that are open call — the first 25, 30 people that enter, no matter what level they’re at, get in. That’s a really beautiful and fascinating thing for a lot of people, and it’s kind of rare in the gallery world. We tend to focus on the communal and positive aspect of it.” Williams agrees, adding, “One thing we do differently that puts us in that [DIY] world is we’re not very concerned with business. We’re concerned with having this space where we work together and make things we want to make and then support a community in making the things 40 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
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© COURTESY OF CABAL GALLERY © COURTESY OF CABAL GALLERY
ABOVE : Cabal’s approach to independent art often features exhibits that touch on women, minorities, and the LGBTQ experience. AT LEFT : Between shows at the gallery, this piece is the only one left hanging on a near wall.
they want to make and then show the stuff. We don’t have lofty goals. We don’t really want to grow; we want to be exactly what we are.” In addition to open call shows, Cabal opens their space for all kinds of people within the community. Every Friday they open the doors from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. to anyone who wants to come in and work on any art, from 3D modeling to old school sculpture. They also allow unaffiliated groups to use the space for exhibitions of work of all kind. It all fits into a vision of an art space that is focused on, and open to, the larger community that surrounds it. “It is hard to explain what it is exactly what we’re doing, or what our quote-unquote ‘mission statement’ would be,” Finley says. “It’s ultimately just doing what we believe in, and it does end up being really fucking good for the community. People get to share and show and come and see art that they wouldn’t see in a lot of the other parts of the city.” 42 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
“THE WAY I THINK ABOUT THIS PL ACE IS LIKE, WE HAVE AN AM A Z I NG T H I N G FOR WHATEVER PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE H AVE I T AND IF IT GOES AWAY, IT GOES AWAY. ” — MAR WILLIAMS // CABAL GALLERY
Of course, there’s still room to build shows around issues that are personally important to them. “I’ve personally been pretty shaken up about the state of things and how the trans community is being treated,” Williams says. “As a queer, trans artist, I’m trying to do more with that. Cabal is more of like a platform for people who are underrepresented in the community, being able to do shit.” Unlike some of the art spaces that have been targeted by the city since the Ghost Ship tragedy in Oakland, or priced out of their space, Cabal has largely been left alone. They credit this to an excellent relationship with their landlords, a low-key approach, and a little luck. “We’re just three artists in a building with a storefront. No one lives here. There’s not piles of artists making individual rooms, you know?” Finley explains. “I can’t speak for any other DIY spaces — I can’t say what they are—but I read about the Oakland thing and we’re far, far from that. We’re way more an actual gallery than just a DIY space.” Still, both Finley and Williams acknowledge that the very nature of such an independent, freeform art space is inherently ephemeral. They know all too well that they’re one developer’s offer to their landlord or one unfortunate neighborhood incident away from having to pack it all up and move along, but they manage to stay refreshingly philosophical on the prospect. “The way I think about this place is like, we have an amazing thing for whatever period of time that we have it and if it goes away, it goes away. I don’t think anything we’re doing is going to be the catalysts for that. I think growth is happening on this block and someone will [eventually] find a reason to shut whatever down because we’re the broke weirdos. We’re easy to run out.” “Until then, we’ll keep making this part of the city fun and colorful and a little rowdy,” Finley interjects. “That’s the power of the DIY space, right?” Williams asks. “Do the thing that you’re doing, and if it goes away, you move on to the next thing. It’s very fluid. You can’t have a DIY space be around forever because then it becomes an established space. Eventually, it goes away.” sensimag.com M AY 2018 43
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44 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
sensimag.com M AY 2018 45
{travelwell} by AMANDA EK
AT { TRACK } T IONS
If you feel like doing some exploring by Light Rail, check out these popular Denver metro area tourist attractions, with accompanying lines: 1 6 T H S T R E E T M A L L // DENVER L INES : C, D, H STOP : 16th & California E L I T C H G A R D E N S // DENVER L INES : C, E, W STOP : Pepsi Center & Elitch Gardens P A R K M E A D O W S M A L L // LONE TREE L INES : E, F STOP : County Line ASPEN GROVE S H O P P I N G C E N T E R // LIT TLE TON L INES : C, D STOP : Littleton/Mineral
46 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
AMANDA EK is the editor-in-chief of Denver’s Suspect Press literary magazine, and she’s a member of the Knife Brothers writing group, a small collective of short fiction writers. You can find her work in Suspect Press, Birdy, Jersey Devil Press, and at YUBIKWETES.WORDPRESS.COM where she writes creative nonfiction vignettes.
{CHOO} SE YOUR PATH A state shaped by the rails that cross it, there’s plenty to see on Colorado trains.
In the 1800s, railroads made Denver the biggest city
affordability of cars. By 1951, all streetcar lines were
between Chicago and San Francisco. With the start of the
eliminated, and the Denver Tramway transitioned to an
Gold Rush came the increased need for transportation,
all-bus and trolley coach operation, but even the elec-
along with the risk of losing Colorado as a Territory. Col-
tric trolley coaches were taken out of service by 1955.
oradans began moving to Wyoming to be near the rail-
Today cars are by far the most popular mode of
road lines in order to send their gold to mints back east
transportation across the country, but Colorado is still
for smelting, until the remaining Denver citizens decided
home to a variety of rail lines, including historic narrow
to build their railroad—the Denver Pacific, which met up
gauge railroads, the Light Rail, Amtrak, and the ski train.
with the Union Pacific in Cheyenne, Wyoming. In 1872, two years after the railroad’s completion, the
R O YA L G O R G E
Denver Horse Railroad Company built the first public
R O U T E R A I L R OA D
transit line in Denver. By 1890, the city’s population went
Since 1879, The Royal Gorge Route Railroad has been
from 4,700 people to 106,000, so that transit line con-
considered one of America’s top train rides, showcasing
struction became a competitive business, with some
breathtaking scenery amidst 1,000-foot granite cliffs as
companies ripping up others’ rails to build their own.
it travels through the Royal Gorge, along the Arkansas
This led to new routes, including cable cars, steam en-
River and under the looming Royal Gorge Bridge—one
gine streetcars, and an electric streetcar powered by
of the world’s highest suspension bridges. In 1905, Pres-
overhead wires. After a recession, expansion picked up
ident Teddy Roosevelt described the train ride as “the
again in the 20th Century, only to see the increased
trip that bankrupts the English language”. sensimag.com M AY 2018 47 47
Riders can sit comfortably inside a cabin, or watch for
W I N T E R PA R K E X P R E S S
wildlife, such as Bighorn sheep and eagles, from one of
Since 1940, between January and March, Coloradans have
the open-air cars. Aside from the scenic views, the Royal
been able to take the Winter Park Express ski train from
Gorge Route Railroad has a top-rated onboard restau-
Denver’s Union Station into Winter Park Resort, and step
rant that sources local Colorado ingredients to serve
off the platform to the nearest ski lift a mere 100 feet
three-course dinners complete with white linen table set-
away. The ski train—a double-decker Amtrak Superlin-
tings, attracting over 100,000 people each year for the
er— combines the area’s rich skiing and railroad history
quality food and sightseeing. You can access the train in
as it climbs toward the Rocky Mountains, providing views
Cañon City, Colorado—a two-hour drive south from
of the Flatirons above Boulder and through the remains
Denver or 45-minutes southwest of Colorado Springs—
of the area’s pioneering past. Along the journey, you’ll
where the route both starts and ends.
pass through 31 tunnels, many of them built by hand in remote areas, the longest being the Moffat Tunnel at 6.2
GEORGETOWN LO OP RAILROAD
miles that cuts through the Continental Divide. Since the rails from Denver International Airport con-
The Georgetown Loop Railroad offers views of the
nect up with Union Station, it’s possible to touch down
mountains, set in a locale to make travelers feel like
from anywhere in the world and ride the rails to the
they’ve stepped back in time to when mining was a
slopes of Winter Park Resort. Tickets can be purchased
way of life and outlaws littered the land.
directly through Amtrak. And if you’re interested in vis-
Located on I-70 about 45 miles west of Denver, the Georgetown Loop Railroad was one of Colorado’s first
iting Winter Park Resort during the week, you can take the Amtrak California Zephyr to Fraser, Colorado.
visitor attractions, completed in 18 84 as a three-foot narrow gauge railroad that was considered an engi-
AMTRAK
neering marvel for its time. In 1973, the Colorado Histor-
Though Amtrak may not have the same historical ap-
ical Society began restoring the railroad as part of its
peal as other railways, routes still offer scenic views
978-acre Georgetown Loop Historic Mining & Railroad
with comfort and convenience for a high-speed tour
Park. The loop connects the mining towns of George-
through the Rocky Mountains.
town and Silver Plume, only two miles apart, cork-
Colorado is host to two Amtrak lines, the California
screwing up 600 feet on four bridges through a steep,
Zephyr and the Southwest Chief. The California Zephyr
narrow canyon. The loop includes bonus tracks, where
starts in Chicago and ends in San Francisco, with six
passengers can choose to disembark to tour the historic
stops in Colorado between Fort Morgan, Denver and
Lebanon Silver Mine at the halfway point of the trip.
Grand Junction. The Southwest Chief travels through the
UNION STATION // DENVER Restaurant pop-ups have made this a destination of its own.
48 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
southeast corner of Colorado, providing access to classic American Southwest landscapes and attractions such as Bent’s Old Fort and Koshare Indian Kiva and Museum. This line starts in Chicago and ends in Los Angeles, with stops in Colorado at Trinidad, La Junta, and Lamar. RTD LIGHT RAIL One of the most fun ways to get around the Denver metro area is via Light Rail, as downtown Denver attractions are a short hop from the suburbs on all six light rail lines. RTD, or the Regional Transportation District, was created in 1969 by the Colorado General Assembly to connect Coloradans across cities like Golden, Thornton, Boulder, and south to Lone Tree with relative efficiency and minor inconvenience. RTD maintains that their mission is to serve the public and meet public transit needs by providing safe, clean, reliable, courteous, accessible, and cost-effective service throughout the District (which consists of eight Colorado counties). In spring 2016, the train to the plane (University of Colorado A Line) was finished, offering direct access to and from the Denver International Airport, relieving residents and visitors alike of the high cost of taxi services and parking lot fees. COLORADO TRAIN MUSEUMS AND HOBBY SHOPS For the railroad history buffs and hobbyists, Colorado is also home to over a dozen railroad museums and model train shops. Traveling by car? Check out the Gunnison Pioneer and Train Museum, the Pueblo Railway Museum, the Ridgway Railroad Museum—where each September they participate in the Ouray County Railroad Days, or the Colorado Model Railroad Museum in Greeley—whose mission it is to promote model railroading, its history, and to create a family-friendly attraction in the greater Greeley and Northern Colorado region through education and tourism. If traveling by Light Rail, you can visit the Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver or the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden. And if you’re inspired to construct your model trains, head to Caboose in Lakewood or Colpar’s Hobby Town USA in Aurora for a wide selection of train sets. sensimag.com M AY 2018 49
50 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
sensimag.com M AY 2018 51
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CANNABIS is a social drug. Why are there so FEW PLACES to use it in PUBLIC?
56 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
S P E C I A L
R E P O R T
WANTED :
A PLACE TO
GATHER by LELAND RUCKER
ALTHOUGH SOME STATES NOW LET ANY ADULT PURCHASE MARIJUANA FOR RECREATIONAL OR MEDICAL USE, ONLY ONE ALLOWS THAT PERSON TO CONSUME IT LEGALLY IN A PUBL I C SETTING SUCH AS A COFFEE SHOP OR BAR. FOR MANY, ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM OUT OF STATE, THAT CAN BE A DAUNTING PROSPECT. SAY YOU’VE JUST BOUGHT AN EIGHTH OUNCE OF DURBAN POISON, PERHAPS YOUR FIRST LEGAL CANNABIS PURCHASE EVER, AND YOU’RE DYING TO KNOW IF IT’S AS GOOD AS IT SMELLS. NOW, WHERE CAN YOU
In Denver, you could join a private tour bus that stops at dispensaries, glass-blowing demonstrations and grow
FIRE IT UP?
ington, you’re pretty much out of luck— all have laws against social clubs or lounges.
houses. Or you could join a private club, where you can
In states where cannabis is legal, you’ll need to do
bring and use your own product, or book a cannabis-in-
your own research if you expect to find the limited
fused dinner at a local farm. In California, where medi-
number of activities to enhance your experience in
cal marijuana has been legal for more than two de-
public. Tourist bureaus are not allowed to advertise
cades, there are already a few private clubs in select
cannabis businesses to states where it’s not legal, and
cities that allow cannabis use, as well as occasional
there aren’t a lot of websites with solid information.
cannabis-infused dinners, wine-and-cannabis pair-
(SEE SIDEBAR ON THE NEXT PAGE FOR SOME GOOD ONES.)
ings and Puff Pass and Paint classes.
The longtime prohibition on marijuana has taught
“It’s important for people to have a safe space to con-
millions of Americans who use it to be discrete in pub-
sume, says Heidi Keyes, who is based in Oakland but
lic. Today you have the option of pulling on a vaporiz-
owns and operates Puff Pass & Paint classes that mix
er, which reduces the odor of smoke, or consuming
cannabis and art in several states. “If they’re buying it
edibles or tinctures when you’re in public. Still, the
legally, they should be able to consume it legally in a
advantages to allowing places for people to consume
place where they don’t have to hide it.”
are considerable.
In some legal states, there are few options. Keyes
Public houses were essential elements in the transi-
operates a Puff Pass & Paint class in Portland, and a
tion after the US reversed alcohol prohibition in 1933,
group called Tokeativity holds events for women
and today everyone expects to be able to go to bars and
around Oregon. If you’re in Alaska, Nevada, or Wash-
taverns to consume. Designated cannabis lounges or sensimag.com M AY 2018 57
clubs would help alleviate a nuisance many cities would
Pass classes that mix cannabis with activities pottery
rather not face: giving people tickets for discretely using
and needlepoint (Puff Pass Pottery and Puff Pass Pin-
a legal substance in parks and outside hotels and other
cushion), and the Mason Jar Event Group offers sea-
public buildings, which just seems wrong. It would also
sonal dinners that pair cannabis with a fine dining
shift some of the responsibility for keeping people from
experience.
over consuming on the establishments where it is consumed, just as is done with alcohol.
In 2016 Denver residents voted to allow consumption lounges and businesses. The requirements for
“There are not many places for someone to go and
an establishment to get a license are extensive and
use these products and enjoy them in a setting that’s
restrictive— perhaps the toughest being that the
similar to your own life,” says Susannah Grossman,
club must have the support of some local community
spokeswoman for Utopia All Natural Wellness Space
organization. At this writing, only one business, the
and Lounge, a cannabis spa now in the application
Coffee Joint, located next to a dispensary in an in-
process for a Denver city license. “We’re trying to put
dustrial district, has been given a license to operate,
something that’s familiar in a new context.”
while the Utopia spa awaits approval.
Tourists aren’t the only ones who might need a place
There are a few private, members-only clubs in the
to enjoy cannabis outside their own home. Many peo-
cities of Denver and Colorado Springs. The owners of
ple live in federally subsidized public housing, which
Tetra-9 Private Lounge and Garden, instead of applying for a club permit, opened Feb. 22 in Den-
FO R M O RE
ver for special events and private parties that allow smoking, vaping, and dabbing. Pa-
INFORMATION
trons must be 21, and anyone can sign up for
BOOKMARK THESE SITES TO BEGIN YOUR RESEARCH
there is the International Church of Canna-
The best place to start is POTGUIDE.COM, which includes generally
members who use cannabis as a sacrament.
memberships beginning at $10 a month.And bis, based in an old Protestant church building in Denver, which today claims about 500
current information about cannabis-friendly lounges, lodging, tours, and
Bills to allow some kind of social con-
dispensaries around the country. Also helpful is CANNABISTOURS.COM .
sumption statewide have been introduced—
Find more about Puff Pass Paint classes at PUFFPASSANDPAINT.COM, and Mason Jar pairing events at MASONJAREVENTGROUP.COM. The International Church of Cannabis website is ELEVATIONISTS.ORG . In California, start with POTGUIDE.COM and CANNABISTOURS.COM . Women’s cannabis events in Portland are listed at TOKEATIVITY.COM. H A PP Y H U NT I NG.
and ultimately rejected— in every Colorado state legislative session since 2014. A bipartisan bill in the current session would allow “tasting rooms,” with limited consumption and purchases, in already-operating dispensaries around the state. In California, after medical marijuana was legalized in 1996, lounges attached to dispen-
prohibits all cannabis use, or rent a place that doesn’t
saries where people can consume thrived in a legal
allow smoking. Parents who don’t want their children
gray area before Proposition 64 was passed in 2016,
exposed could use a place to get away. And let’s face it,
legalizing adult use of marijuana in the state. Prop 64
cannabis is a social drug. Sometimes you might want
left it to individual cities to allow or disallow con-
to go out and enjoy a few tokes and some conversa-
sumption spaces. San Francisco is quickly moving
tion. This is a plant that practically begs to be shared.
ahead with plans to license all its existing lounges
Enterprising entrepreneurs in Denver found an ear-
and open more, and several other cities, including
ly loophole that allows buses, as long as the driver is
Palm Springs, Cathedral City, and West Hollywood, are
sealed off in the cab, to roam the city with consuming
hard at work getting rules in place.
customers. Today there is a thriving Denver tour-bus
“One of the things we did was look at that void
industry, including Loopr, Cannabis Tours, and My 420
where there wasn’t a consumption space to use prod-
Tours, that ferry people around city streets while they
uct if you’re a renter or a parent who doesn’t want to
sample dabs, new strains, vaporizers, and all the lat-
consume at home who needs a safe place, like bars,
est in smoking accessories. Keyes has added Puff
like we do with alcohol,” says Jackie Rocco, business
58 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
sensimag.com M AY 2018 59
development director of West Hollywood. She says the
year, legislators and the governor panicked and de-
city has been talking with lawmakers in other legal
cided on a wait-and-see approach. “They’re regrouping
states and getting feedback from as many points of
but have stated that they wouldn’t do anything until
view as possible, including law enforcement, and that
next year,” he says.
public safety is the main priority.
A similar thing happened in Massachusetts, which
West Hollywood is accepting applications for a to-
is set to open the first retail stores July 1. The state’s
tal of 16 licenses, and Rocco anticipates that the city
Cannabis Control Commission originally suggested a
could allow consumption clubs by the end of the year,
plan that would have allowed consumption lounges
although she says it’s more realistic that they will be-
under two licenses, one for cannabis businesses and
gin opening in spring 2019. “We stress that we want
a second for restaurants, theaters, and yoga studios.
operators to see this as part of our community and to
But after resistance from Gov. Charlie Baker, Attor-
dispel the myth that it’s something seedy,” she says.
ney General Maura Healey, and some key legislators,
Keyes, who is also a partner in the CannabisTours.
the commission backtracked. Though it began tak-
com cannabis tourism agency, has added a Wine and
ing applications last month and promises to revisit the issue after stores open, the state essentially punted on the topic until next year.
PUBLIC HOUSES were essential
“We shouldn’t be treating social consump-
elements in THE TRANSITION after
tion like it’s not happening,” says Jeremiah McKinnon, a board advisor for the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance. “The chair-
alcohol PROHIBITION was reversed.
man of the commission has said if we have
Today, EVERYONE EXPECTS to be
regulated alcohol, he doesn’t know why we
able to go to B A R S and TAV E RNS .
even though they did vote against it, have
can’t do it with cannabis. The commissioners, a commitment that when social consumption does become available, not to leave it
Weed tour in the Bay area and an Oaktown Essential
open-ended.”
Cannabis tour in Oakland. Sea of Green Events hosts
Though bars and taverns proliferate almost every-
tours and private events around the San Francisco
where in the country, many legislators are still anx-
area that include infused-dining and a “deep dive”
ious about marijuana use and driving. “All these peo-
visit to a cannabis extraction facility. If you’re visit-
ple tell me that they’re scared about the driving,”
ing California wine country, which is also now can-
says Shanel Lindsay, a Boston-based lawyer and pa-
nabis country, you can find an occasional event that
tient advocate. “There’s the stigma and the fact that
allows you to nibble on gourmet food while hitting the
there isn’t a test to tell whether you are inebriated—
water pipe. Look for more of these kinds of infused,
which is a recipe for fear mongering.”
fine-dining pairings as legalization rolls out.
People are still being ticketed for public consump-
Why have legislators been so reluctant to move for-
tion in legal states, and minorities arrested and fined
ward? Nevada state Senator Tick Segerblom, who sup-
at a higher rate than whites. But police in most mu-
ported legalization and lounges, says it’s because pol-
nicipalities tend to treat public consumption on the
iticians are afraid. “It’s the strangest thing. Nobody is
streets as low-priority offenses. “It’s easier to just look
willing to step up and say, ‘Wait a minute, we have
the other way and realize it’s happening and ignore
bars,’” Segerblom explains. “People want them. It’s
it,” says Segerblom.
crazy to be selling this and getting tax revenue from it,
Will Luzier, a member of the Marijuana Policy Proj-
and we tell tourists that there’s no place you can use it,
ect who worked on the Massachusetts legalization
and you can’t take it home with you.”
effort, says that we’re still in the early stages of legal-
There seemed to be strong support last year for
ization, and after eight decades of anti-cannabis pro-
lounges after stores opened July 1 in Nevada, but Se-
paganda and fear, states will eventually work their
gerblom says that after Attorney General Jeff Sessions
way through this important issue. “I think once it be-
rescinded the Obama-era directive that suggested a
comes it become a little more normalized and part of
federal, hands-off approach to legal states early this
daily life, thrse ideas will fade into history.”
60 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
sensimag.com M AY 2018 61
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EVERYTHING you need for your party.
64 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
island
retreat
by ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE
BEFORE I VISITED
Jamaica THE FIRST TIME, ON A PRESS TRIP WITH THE TOURISM
BOARD IN 2011, MY FRIENDS TOLD ME HOW IT WOULD GO. AT SOME POINT BETWEEN LANDING AT
THE AIRPORT IN MONTEGO BAY AND CHECKING INTO MY ROOM AT THE RITZ-CARLTON, THEY ASSURED ME, A DRIVER OR BELLMAN WOULD ASK IF I HAD EVERYTHING I NEEDED FOR MY PARTY, AND THAT’S HOW I COULD PROCURE SOME GANJA. (IT’S NOT LIKE CANNABIS WAS A HUGE NOVELTY FOR ME, COMING FROM COLORADO, BUT THERE’S SOMETHING SUPER ENTICING ABOUT GETTING A TASTE OF THE PLANT THE ISLAND IS FAMOUS FOR ON THE ISLAND IT’S FAMOUS FOR.) The thing we all forgot to account for (maybe be-
cannabis farms. No one, ever, asked about my party.
cause we were from Colorado and used to its thriving
That’s for the best, of course. It’s a bad idea, and cer-
medical marijuana marketplace) was the undeniable
tainly not professional, to break the law of the country
fact that cannabis was still illegal in Jamaica— and
that’s hosting you on a trip you could never in a mil-
definitely not something the tourism board was high-
lion years afford—even if ganja is an essential part of
lighting on this particular spa tour. My press group,
many (most?) Jamaican tourists’ experiences. I didn’t
made up of writers for health and wellness magazines
need it, anyway. Getting hot rock massages while lis-
and websites, never met any Rastas or toured any
tening to ocean waves crash on the cliffs and eating
sensimag.com M AY 2018 65
fresh papaya every morning while looking out at turquoise Caribbean water provided plenty of elevation for mind, body, and soul. I went home refreshed and cleansed, and joked with my friends about my tolerance break in Jamaica. In 2015, the Jamaican government decriminalized cannabis, legalized medical marijuana, and made it legal for Jamaicans to grow five plants per household. Qualified medical marijuana patients from anywhere in the world can buy and use cannabis in Jamaica, and possession of less than two ounces will get tourists and locals a ticket instead of a jail sentence and a criminal record. Jamaica is creating a global hub for medical cannabis and research, and cannabis-centered health and wellness tourism is a key spoke, one that Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett called “a very important part of the economic future of Jamaica.” The government is eager to grab its rightful share of the $494 billion cannabis tourism market, and tourism officials think they can capitalize on a “vibe and culture” that places like Colorado can’t offer.
That sounds like a party. I went back to Jamaica late last year, on my own, pretty sure I’d find everything I needed.
A COUN T Y FAIR, WITH RASTAS AND ITAL FOOD In Negril, there’s a giddiness. Everyone from cab drivers to business owners to growers talks about what a difference decriminalization has made for them. It’s a huge deal, especially for locals who can no longer lose the right to ever leave the island again over a possession charge. No more roadside extortion. No more crop eradication. For expats, no more threat of deportation because of a spliff. 66 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
sensimag.com M AY 2018 67
Ganja isn’t technically legal, but plenty of enterprising people are getting away with treating it that way. It’s been a mere two years since the law changed, and a few gray areas in the legal and regulatory structure remain. The nascent Jamaican cannabis industry feels like the wild Wild West, a lot like Colorado and California in the early days. People are building businesses first and asking permission second—largely because licensing fees are out of reach for small farmers and businesses—and no one seems too terribly concerned. “They want $2,500 American,” the Wake and Bake Café owner told me, and laughed, when I asked if she was planning to go through the regulatory process. “Do you know how many brownies I would have to sell to make that?” I found the same attitude among the cheerful people selling cannabis-infused brownies, gummies, cakes, muffins, and pies alongside booths offering huge bouquets of cannabis branches and massive balls of hash at Rastafari Rootzfest, an annual reggae festival and ganja market held in December on Long Beach in Negril. A government-sanctioned event where everyone has a pass to freely consume cannabis in public (which is, believe it or not, still illegal), Rootzfest had a reassuringly homespun feel to it, like a county fair with Rastas and Ital food. Ital food is another cultural gem that falls squarely into the health and wellness zeitgeist Jamaica’s looking to represent—one I never learned about during my press tour in 2011. Based on their spiritual belief that the body is a temple and must be kept clean and pure, Rastafarians have been eating seasonally and locally as a matter of principle and wisdom for decades, long before Michael Pollan told his disciples to eat real food. The Ital (based on the word vital) diet excludes salt, meat, dairy, eggs, preservatives, colorings, flavorings, and anything artificial, opting instead for fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs—including ganja, a holy herb considered key to understanding the self, the universe, and God. At Rootzfest, I went full joy on the Ital food, washing downing a plate of curried vegetable chunks with carrot, lime, and ginger juice as I soaked up the afternoon sun and listened to a speaker talk about all the cash grabs, from sugar to coffee to tourism, that have gone down in Jamaica’s history. “That’s not going to happen this time,” the speaker said of cannabis. “We’re smart enough now to prevent that exploitation.” This party just got started. Jamaica, I’ll be back. 68 Denver //Boulder A MPAY RIL 2018 2018
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M AY 2018 69
America 1995
Interstate 25 South
Growing up in a military family, I lived a life of ex-
Back in the 70s and 80s, before the prices of a
ploration that many Americans never experience. My
plane ticket were cheaper than the gas to drive, four-
mother, like all service members, was stationed all
wheeled family treks across the US were at an all-
over the country: Fort Jackson in South Carolina, Fort
time high. Road-outings lost popularity between the
Hood in Texas, and Maryland, which was always our
90s and 2000s in favor of flight-destination vacations,
home base. Whenever we transferred from one base
but the “Great American Road Trip” has undergone a
to the next, my mother preferred the road trip as her
renaissance in the last decade. And even though sta-
method of travel. I became accustomed to long drives,
tistics show a half-century-long decrease in both traf-
open highways, and nothing to stare at but the coun-
fic fatality rates and violent crime, the open roads felt
try flying past my window at 80 miles per hour.
much safer during my childhood.
So when she told me, once again, that we were re-
Now embarking on a road trip of our own, the first
locating, I felt none of the dread that I felt during pre-
thing my son and I noticed upon leaving Colorado was
vious moves. Moving had become second nature. This
the sheer lack of Subarus. It’s just as fun to play “Can
time, we were headed far from the east coast to Colo-
You Spot the Subaru?” out-of-state as it is in-state,
rado, a place no one in our family had ever seen, let
though the sightings are rarer.
alone lived in. As a young girl, I never realized just how
Although I had navigation app on my phone, it
difficult the undertaking was for my mother, a young,
took a few days to get oriented with it. My mother, on
single woman with a small child in tow.
the other hand, relied on the same road atlas for years.
70 Denver //Boulder M MAY AY 2018 2018
the Beautiful by PATRICIA CAMERON
THE
GREAT AMERICAN
ROAD TRIP
MAY BE MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN EVER BEFORE
I’m part of the generation that grew up straddling the
as, the views on either side of the car stretched as far
technological boom, not quite a millennial, not quite
as we could see. We were officially out of the world of
a Gen Xer. Prior to our trip, I sat down with my son and
cliffs and mountain passes. In Colorado Springs es-
traced our route, explaining to him what everything
pecially, the mountains serve as a directional prompt,
meant along the way. He belongs to the tech-savvy
but in Texas I could only mark my position using the
Generation Z, and the paper map confused him—at first.
compass in my dashboard.
Fast forward a few hours. When we entered New
My mother’s side of the family still calls Texas their
Mexico, my son and I screamed the state’s name at
home. Descendants of slaves from Tennessee, they
the top of our lungs. When we stopped, he rushed to
made their way to Texas once they were free. This ver-
get a picture of the welcome sign. It was the first state
sion of Texas wasn’t the gun-slinging, possibly-seced-
line we crossed, the first of seventeen (eighteen, if
ing version much of the nation imagined. This ver-
you count D.C.). I felt a sudden weight press on me as
sion was red dirt, fire ants, bare feet, and barbecue.
I realized I was taking my son on a long trip far away
Our destination in Texas was Dallas, where we would
from the familiarity of El Paso County, that this time
stay a night with my best friend. Like a mind reader,
I was the single mother with a small child in tow.
she met us at the door with hugs and chopped beef
Texas
brisket. Once our tummies got filled, we hopped into her SUV to cruise to downtown Dallas. Our first stop
We uneventfully passed through the Land of En-
in the heart of Texas’s third most populous city wasn’t
chantment on our way to the Lone Star State. In Tex-
Dealey Plaza or the World Aquarium. It was a drivesensimag.com sensimag.com MAY M AY 2018 2018 71
through daiquiri garage, and I was shocked to discover that, in Fort Worth, you can drive with unsealed alcohol in your car. (El Paso County would clutch their pearls if they ever found out.) With my fifteen-dollar “Cactus Juice” packing five shots of tequila, I stared at the downtown Dallas skyline utterly wonderstruck. The combination of alcohol and my bladder led to pulling over at the most immediate gas station, and to my surprise, AT&T Stadium sat across the street. There I was, in my hiking sandals, tipsy, staring at the home of the Dallas Cowboys. So I did what any Broncos fan would do. I let out a loud, drunken, “Boooo!”
Louisiana The following day, we continued east. Texas’s desiccated ground gradually gave way to green, with trees densely lining the highway’s medians and shoulders. The moment we crossed into Louisiana, the earth
transformed into dank swamps and marshes full of swaying grass. As we approached Baton Rouge, we drove over the Horace Wilkinson Bridge, a nearly mile-long stretch suspended 175 feet above the Mississippi River. My son tried to talk me through my nausea. “Don’t look over the sides, mom! You’ll be okay!” Then, moments after we cleared the bridge, he added, “Phew, I almost puked, too.” 72 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
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Soon we found ourselves on the main stretch, Interstate 10, and New Orleans lit up in front of us. We had only one day and two nights to experience the real New Orleans, and the countdown was on.
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GPS guided us right into Tremé. My son and I discussed our whirlwind plans while we walked up the wide steps to our guest room. Even though it was still 70 degrees outside, I turned on the air conditioner next to the balcony, opened the white French doors, and stepped out-
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side. Music blared from a party across the street. The next day, my son and I decided to take a tour of Southern history—at Dehestran Plantation. We strolled beneath towering oaks draped in Spanish moss that weighed the branches down. I could imagine the slaves that lived here over a century ago, staring up at the big house from the heat of the auxiliary kitchen, clanging heavy pots, the sound of workers chanting a melody together and laughter escaping from children who did not yet know their chores were forced servitude. A cold draft wrapped around us when we stepped inside the slave quarters. It was certainly disconcerting, and I wasn’t sure if that chilly gust came from the trapped spirits listed on the wall’s slave manifest or from the creeping dusk. At the plantation, it was easy to see the glorified South depicted in books like Gone with the Wind. I caught the setting sun bleeding through dangling moss and felt the serenity I imagined Scarlett O’Hara once felt.
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74 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
But in that moment, I also imagined that same tree as my ancestors’ gallows. I felt guilty for experiencing the beauty in something so terribly marred by the past. Our historical dichotomy is much more nuanced than black and white, heritage versus hate. Speechless, we returned to our lodging at Tremé.
PHOTOGRAPHS © PATRICIA CAMERON
The next morning’s breakfast came courtesy of a 24-hour New Orleans staple: Morning Café in City Park.
my life as dotted landmarks on the Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow Lines.
The minimalist menu included coffee and beignets,
A 40-degree day in Washington D.C. is nothing like
otherwise known as French donuts. In Nawlins, ev-
40 degrees in Colorado. I had forgotten about the
eryone was “baby,” a heavily accented colloquialism I
bone-chilling winds of a humid winter. I lowered my
frequently overheard throughout the bustling bistro.
head to shield my face from the nipping breeze and al-
After breakfast, it was time to hit the road again.
most missed the stunning 555-foot obelisk looming
As I looked in my rearview to say goodbye to New
overhead. A tribute to the first president of the United
Orleans, I could see my son’s smile covered in the white
States, the Washington Monument stood tall despite
powdered sugar. Mardi Gras beads hung from the same
the 2011 Virginia earthquake. It’s the world’s tallest obe-
mirror. With Louisiana disappearing behind me, At-
lisk, the world’s tallest stone structure–and the tall-
lanta was on my mind. After getting some rest in the
est structure in D.C. by law.
Big Peach, we would set off toward the nation’s capital.
Washington, D.C.
As false dichotomies go, our country’s current political climate is the most damning, something I saw embodied in the Washington Monument. The differ-
The District of Columbia, Maryland’s Prince George
ences between the red states and blue states seem
and Montgomery Counties, and northern Virginia make
obvious on a map, but on the ground, they aren’t so eas-
up a region the locals call “The DMV.” Like every oth-
ily identifiable. I had driven along the nation’s south-
er metro area I visited, it harbored a self-contained cul-
ernmost route, and even though I expected to encoun-
ture. Distinct food, music, and speech patterns all com-
ter Southern stereotypes along the way, all I found
bined to form a rich, sensual history. I grew up on
were strangers willing to help, fellow travelers full of
Maryland blue crab buried in Old Bay seasoning, go-
excitement for their journeys and comradeship. Now
go bands, cicadas, and the rush of the wind that pre-
here I was in D.C., where most of our political turmoil
ceded approaching underground transit trains. Many
puts theory to practice, and I was reminded of those
of my memories centered around those various Met-
invisible divisions we built between each other. Re-
ro stations: Naylor Road, or junior year at George Wash-
publicans and Democrats were as phantasmal as the
ington University, or Gallery Place. Brief excerpts of
state lines we can cross but could never literally see. sensimag.com M AY 2018 75
Returning Home There are 1600 miles between D.C. and Colorado. We drove to the
PHOTOGRAPHS © PATRICIA CAMERON
mountains of West Virginia and western Maryland. A snowstorm hov-
ered above us the entire stretch of the Pittsburgh turnpike into Ohio. Long days of driving are tough on the body, with 10- to 14-hour days of steering, braking, and accelerating between each destination. My shoulders and arms ached from gripping the wheel along switchbacks on the turnpike. To distract ourselves, my son and I turned the car into a theater. LEGO Ninjago or Wonder Woman played through the speakers while my son watched on his 12” iPad. He peeled mandarin oranges when I got hungry at the wheel, and he checked the map and GPS to give updates. With my eyes glued to the road, he could catch things I couldn’t see, and more often than not, he pointed out some of the most bizarre and hilarious objects zipping past us. And laughing is some of the best medicine for any road-weary body.
1995, Redux It was night when my mother and I arrived at her final duty station. I pressed my face as hard as I could against the window, looking toward the west, where I expected to see ginormous mountains. I anticipated snow-capped peaks even though we were deep into the summer months, but I would have to wait to see until the Front Range greeted us in the morning. It would be 23 years later when my son and I rolled in from our own cross-country journey. Shrouded in a similar darkness, we still knew we had made it home. 76 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
sensimag.com M AY 2018 77
your mind
“SINCE AGE SIX I HAD HORRIBLE
chronic M I G R A I N E S ,” L I N D S A Y B A L G O O Y E N
T E L L S M E . “ I P R E T T Y M U C H L I V E D M Y E N T I R E L I F E W I T H A M I G R A I N E .”
A D M I T T E D L Y, I ’ M N O T E X P E C T I N G T H I S . M Y I N T E R E S T I N T H E I D E A O F B R E A T H W O R K S T A R T E D WHEN I INTERVIEWED COMEDIAN AND PSYCHEDELICS EXPERT SHANE MAUSS L AST YEAR. HE DESCRIBED TO ME AN INTENSE, MIND -ALTERING EXPERIENCE, ONE THAT SEEMED MORE AT CONSCIOUSNESS EXPANSION RATHER THAN HEALING. CONSIDERING HIS OWN IMPRESSIVE RESUME OF SUBSTANCES HE’S EXPERIMENTED WITH, I TOOK STOCK IN HIS WORDS, BUT NEVER CONSIDERED THE CUR ATIVE PROPERTIES OF MY OWN BREATHING. “I grew up in Michigan in not exactly a progressive
body was filled with cement.” She notes that this isn’t
town and when I was 17 I had been on 50 different
uncommon, but one of the reasons guided sessions
drugs,” she says. “So I decided I was done with that.”
are recommended for beginners before branching out
Working with medical cannabis patients for years,
on their own. “My whole body was in pain.”
I’m used to hearing about chronic pain, but there’s some-
The process of circular breathing, she tells me, can
thing beneath her words that belies how much of a
lead to cramps and tightness, but describes it as “ener-
struggle it was for her. How defining the experience
gy moving” through your body and hitting “blockages”
was. Balgooyen’s journey overcoming the constant ill-
along the way. I’m a skeptic at heart, but it reminds me
ness lead her to seek a number of treatment options
of a Tai Chi teacher I once had that would have us
outside of traditional Western medicine, from acupunc-
tense our muscles to lead the way to relaxation. Bal
ture to physical therapy to massage. It wasn’t until a
ogooyen says that once she worked through the pain
2015 trip to Southeast Asia that it all clicked, though.
in her first session, she experienced a release like
Assisting a yoga retreat in India, she had made
nothing else she had experienced and was hooked.
plans to head to Thailand toward the end of her trip for
“That day I found a month-long training and signed
a new type of modality she was previously unfamiliar
up for it. Within a week of the training my headaches
with. “I did my first session and it absolutely blew me
went away completely.”
away,” she says. “My entire body felt like it was para-
Returning home to Steamboat Springs, the transi-
lyzed, I couldn’t move anything and just felt like my
tion was natural. “There’s a ton of different healers up
78 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
BREATHWORK is the L ATEST TREND to get people off of pharmaceuticals and IN TOUCH with their bodies. by JAKE BROWNE
there and it’s a pretty spiritual town,” she says. Once a week, she’d bring together friends and people 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. 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 Neo-Tribal
yoga PRACTICES LIKE YOGA HAVE INCORPORATED AN INTENSE FOCUS ON BREATHING FOR MILLENIA, USING THE BODY TO DO THE HE AV Y LIF TING THAT SUBSTANCES COULDN’T. come as a surprise to her. “It’s definitely common,” she
piece band that has spent the last two and a half years
says. “I’ve had a lot of people that have had a lot of ex-
incorporating shamanic drumming into breathwork,
perience with psychedelics that have said it’s much
creating an immersive experience. Now, she’s team-
more profound.” How can that be possible, though? I’ve
ing up with Brian Dickinson, founder of Sonic Alche-
been conditioned to think of substances like psilocybin
my, to bring similar concepts to smaller settings, with
and LSD as incredibly powerful. She believes that unlike
gongs, singing bowls, flutes, and “other trinkets” adding
an outside substance, your body is designed to do the
to the journey. “It starts off really relaxed, then it builds
work and can readily integrate that experience into its
and gets pretty intense, then it starts to calm down and
own framework. “If you have a cut, it naturally heals,”
it gets very meditative.”
she says, sagely. “We don’t have to think about it.”
I’m curious about what science has to say on the
That’s the breakthrough moment, the “Aha!” that
matter, though. We take tens of thousands of breaths
ties it all together for me. Practices like yoga have in-
a today, so there has to be some study on how such a
corporated an intense focus on breathing for millenia,
simple act can have such a profound effect. Instead,
using the body to do the heavy lifting that substances
she directs me north, to the brain. “The beta brain state
couldn’t. Not everyone had access to the hallucino-
is similar to hypnosis, which allows you to pretty quick-
gens that scientists are now increasingly focused on
ly drop into that deep meditative state right above
as alternative treatments for PTSD and addiction.
sleep, that usually we’re just passing through really
Balgooyen is busy, leaving for Bali the next morn-
quickly while falling asleep. [Scientists] know that we
ing, but she tells me about a busy summer that in-
have to be in that beta state for us to access our sub-
cludes rafting and water therapy. “You wear a snorkel
conscious mind where we hold so many thoughts, the
and face down while somebody holds you and it al-
beliefs that are running our lives, a lot of times not to
lows you to get even deeper,” she says. “Water is one
our advantage.”
of the highest vibrations we have access to and it also
When I finally get the nerve to steer the conversation toward Mauss’ hallucinatory experience, it doesn’t
80 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
brings up a lot of stuff from the womb so it’s pretty cool.” Don’t be surprised if you see me there.
sensimag.com M AY 2018 81
82 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
sensimag.com M AY 2018 83
S D I K E TH
L L A ARE UCKER by LE LA N D R N E VA N S E M Ó photography by
FOR BET T Y ALDWORTH, IT’S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT
activism . SHE’S SPENT ALMOS T
HER ENTIRE LIFE IN THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR, INCLUDING A S TINT AS A HIGHLY VISIBLE
S P O K E S W O M A N F O R C O L O R A D O ’ S A M E N D M E N T 6 4 C A M P A I G N . A N D A S D I R E C TO R O F S T U D E N T S F O R A S E N S I B L E D R U G P O L I C Y ( S S D P ), A N O N P R O F I T D E D I C A T E D TO G I V I N G Y O U N G AC T I V I S T S T H E TO O L S T H E Y N E E D T O M A K E A C H A N G E , S HE H A S B E E N A B L E TO M E R G E H E R P A S S I O N F O R Y O U T H A C T I V I S M W I T H C A N N A B I S L E G A L I Z AT I O N. Youth activism bubbled up early in young Betty Al-
she explains during a recent interview at the SSDP of-
dworth. Born in Chicago, she grew up in a small town
fices. “I think that one of the things that makes me ef-
in the Utah desert outside Las Vegas. Her father, a line-
fective as a communicator,” she says, “is that I can speak
man for the telephone company and an activist whose
to people whose central organizing principle is around
Easter tradition was to hunt Easter eggs in the morning
cannabis, and I can also speak to folks who are afraid of
and head out to the Utah test site to protest nuclear
cannabis and engage in those conversations in ways
weapons in the afternoon. By the early ‘90s, her moth-
that are authentic.”
er would drive her into town so that she could participate in letter-writing campaigns against apartheid.
By the early 90s, apartheid had fallen in South Africa, and the US and Russia signed nuclear-disarma-
At the same time, she was learning to navigate small-
ment treaties. “I had been involved in movements that
town life and its diverse social groups. “I would say
created enormous social change,” she says. “And that
incendiary things and alienate people and then figure
got me hooked on the idea of changing the world and
out like, oh, next time I should try a different approach,”
convinced me that I could play a role in it. I think that
84 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
For B E T T Y A L D W O R T H, d n o n p ro f it s a n a c a n n a b is a re . W AY O F L IF E
sensimag.com M AY 2018 85
there’s something really powerful about being involved in those sorts of movements when you’re young and envisioning a different kind of future.” She lived with her father for a while in California’s Sierra Nevada, where she finished high school, worked as a wildlife research assistant and spent a couple of years at tiny Deep Springs College before moving here in 1995. “Denver was an obvious choice,” she explains. “I wanted an urban environment and mountains.” She started out waiting tables and taking college courses with intentions to become an elementary school teacher, a profession she quickly realized wasn’t her thing. She took positions as a volunteer leadership specialist at the Children’s Museum of Denver and at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. And she led the volunteer program at Project Angel Heart, an organization that delivers home-cooked meals to people living with life-threatening illnesses. In between jobs in 2009, she was asked to do construction and demolition work for Full Spectrum Laboratories, the state’s first independent cannabis testing facility. “So I showed up the first day, and he started telling me about what he was up to, and I started identifying gaps. I ended that day as vice president of community outreach and business development.” That was the year when the Obama administration said it wouldn’t interfere with states that legalized cannabis, and when it all began to come together for Aldworth. “I knew sort of conceptually that the Drug War was fucked up. Like 92 percent of Americans know that. Right?” And she also knew that harm reduction was the better approach to problematic drug use and that a judgment-free environment was a better place to work with people with a substance abuse disorder. “I became impassioned, and I started to really understand how incredibly important it was that we end cannabis prohibition.” She had some experience organizing cannabis advocates for appearances at the state capital when she found herself talking with Steve Fox at an Amendment 64 volunteer celebration. She offered 10 hours a week of her time, but the campaign was looking for more, and she became advocacy director and spokesperson of the campaign. She says the campaign was emotionally and physically exhausting, and that she never worked harder than in the months leading up to the election. “I’ve never done anything as intense. You’ve got one shot— one shot — and you’re going to spend five million dollars, and if you slip, it could cost you everything, and then you have to wait two or four years to go back at it again — if you even get that chance to continue.” Fortunately, the campaign was a success, and Aldworth was tapped to become deputy director for National Cannabis Industry Association, where she stayed for a year before applying for the SSDP directorship. Under her leadership, the student organization has doubled its presence on US campuses and in 29 countries. “Fundamentally, we’re trying to give students a vehicle to build the world that they envision.” SSDP, she says, connects students with the broader drug policy reform movement, she says, trains them how to make a change, coaches them to develop solid strate-
START MAKING SENSE s s dp.org 86 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
gies, and gives them talking points and resources. “All of those things are part of the spectrum of services that we provide,” she explains. “But really, it’s about training people to become their own best advocates when it comes to changing drug laws.” Her cannabis use these days is limited mostly as medicine. “I am absolutely bananas about cannabis topicals. I have a degenerative spinal disorder, and they are critical for keeping me up and moving,” she says. “I also use a high CBD oil before I go to bed because it helps me sleep, and I wake up without nearly as many aches and pains. It’s made a tremendous difference in the way that I feel.”
sensimag.com M AY 2018 87
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PROPERTY OF THE ASPEN INSTITUTE © DAN BAYER
Walter Isaacson, President and CEO of the Aspen Institute.
The festival attracts thinkers from across the globe to discuss what’s next.
92 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
PROPERTY OF THE ASPEN INSTITUTE © DAN BAYER
The ASPEN IDEAS FESTIVAL gathers the world’s TOP LEADERS to discuss the ISSUES that MAT TER.
2018
WHAT’S THE
T by IF F AN ERO E RG YB N
E ACH YEAR, AND FOR
DAYS AT A TIME , M A N Y C O L O R A D A N S W I L L
LEAVE THEIR WORRIES BEHIND AND DRIFT IN AND OUT, FREE AND WILLING, INTO ALTERED
S T A T E S O F C O N S C I O U S N E S S . F E S T I V A L S E A S O N I S U P O N U S. A N D W H I L E S O M E O F T H E S E FESTIVALS ARE DESIGNED TO MAKE US FORGET ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON, OTHERS INVITE U S T O TA K E A C L O S E R L O O K. T H I S S U M M E R T H E A S P E N I D E AS F E S T I V A L W I L L R E T U R N TO COLORADO AS ONE OF THE L ARGEST CONGREGATIONS OF EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS. With the immaculate setting of Aspen as the back-
Steve Jobs. Telling the stories of pioneers has been a
drop, a sizeable gathering occurs each year where the
centralized theme of his career. In a passage from his
world’s brightest minds hold in-depth discussions con-
book, The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Genius-
cerning the issues that matter most in today’s world.
es, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution , Isaacson
From June 21 through June 30, the festival will take
writes, “Innovation requires having at least three things:
over the town, hosting more than 3,000 attendees and
a great idea, the engineering talent to execute it, and the
over 400 speakers. With coffee in hand, attendees will
business savvy (plus deal making moxie) to turn it into
make their way through the Aspen Meadows Resort
a professional product.”
and The Aspen Institute campus to participate in an unforgettable educational experience.
Isaacson and The Aspen Institute’s keen interest in innovation is the driving force behind the Aspen
In 2005, Walter Isaacson, CEO of The Aspen Institute,
Ideas Festival. The Aspen Institute labels itself a
founded the Aspen Ideas Festival. Isaacson pushed for
“nonpartisan forum for values-based leadership and
an outdoor forum where the open exchange of ideas
the exchange of ideas,” which some have labeled a
could support a global platform for innovative discus-
“think tank.” The Aspen Ideas Festival is a reflection
sion. And when Isaacson and the institute soon real-
of that “think tank,” and though its seminars are
ized that their Aspen campus would be the perfect
reaching a wider audience through actual attendance
gathering place for this forum the rest was history.
of the festival, people can also view festival seminars
Isaacson is the best selling author of multiple works,
online thanks to their partnership with The Atlantic.
but perhaps is best known for writing the biography
But at the urging of festival organizers, people should sensimag.com M AY 2018 93
COLORADO'S LEADING ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BRAND ZERO CARBON FOOTPRINT
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get out of their zip codes and attend the festival to have face-to-face interactions. One of the goals of the festival is to create an opportunity for connection, remembering that great ideas sometimes need multiple people to see them through. “What differentiates us from similar festivals is the outdoor venue,” says Pherabe Kolb, director of communications. “There’s something about the beautiful Colorado landscape, the Rocky Mountains in the background and surrounding meadows that really creates an open and welcoming atmosphere where people can breathe and take the time to really listen and learn.” Kolb and her team get to leave their offices in Washington, D.C. and attend the festival and they certainly don’t take it for granted. The time they spend in one of Colorado’s loveliest mountain towns is a kind of tranquility that city dwellers can revel in. Each year the festival organizers handpick the speakers that will attend. Some well-known speakers who have presented at the festival include Jane Good-
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all, Madeline Albright, Toni Morrison, and Joe Biden. In 2010, Bill Gates attended the festival and spoke to audience members about retiring from Microsoft and how since then he has been devoting his time to some critical issues. He suggested there be a “fundamental rearrangements of the U.S. economy…technical solutions…[and] climate justice.” Former President Bill Clinton was also a speaker when he took the stage in 2007. When asked if his administration did enough to prevent 9/11, he admitted to being criticized for his obsession over the threat of Osama bin Laden. Clinton stated, “We dealt with [bin Laden] four of five days a week, every week, for the last four years I was president …
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We tried to mount a CIA operative to take him out; they couldn’t do it.” Topics vary from year to year as festival organizers plan all the speakers and events around a broad range of tracks. This year’s upcoming tracks include PostAmerican World Order, Globalization Revisited, The
Music, Health, and Well-Being: Jon Batiste has become a festival regular in Aspen.
Human in the Tech World, just to name a few. “ They really run the gamut,” Kolb says, “from politics and policy, arts and culture, to science, the environment, and literature.” Spotlight Health continues to be the festival’s opening track. This year’s tracks include Health in Our Communities, Renewing Our Health Through the Natural World and The Cutting Edge of Medicine and Science. These tracks offer insight into some groundbreaking discoveries in the field of health. Perhaps the paramount concern is healthcare reform. This year Seema Verma, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service, will address some of these concerns. Verma has been a key player in the Trump administration’s repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Despite becoming a controversial figure lately, Verma will play a pivotal role in what replaces the ACA. Her thoughts will likely give an in-depth analysis of the changes developing in our healthcare system. Attendees can hear what she has to say during the festival’s Spotlight Health segment. The Aspen Ideas Festival is a festival for big ideas. In true festival fashion, attendees can choose from multiple sessions and with so many options, picking only one could get challenging. “It’s easy to gravitate towards the issues we are constantly reading about,” Kolb says. “Attend a session on an issue you know nothing about.” For more information: WWW.ASPENIDEAS.ORG 96 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
PROPERTY OF THE ASPEN INSTITUTE © DAN BAYER
Genius of Animals, The Art of Language and Staying
sensimag.com M AY 2018 97
98 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
sensimag.com M AY 2018 99
The HOT SPRINGS at Orvis WELCOMES EVERYONE of every body type, confident or OTHERWISE.
laid bare by PATRICIA CAMERON
100 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
PUBLIC
nudity IS ILLEGAL IN COLORADO, AS IT IS PRET TY MUCH EVERYWHERE ELSE IN
AMERICA. UNLIKE SOME OTHER COUNTRIES, WE OBSESSIVELY CONCEAL THE NAKED BODY, RESTRICTING IT PRIMARILY TO THE PRIVACY OF OUR HOMES. EVEN IN LOCKER ROOMS, WE SHY OUR EYES AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER WHILE MAKING THE SMALLEST SMALL TALK WE CAN.
Which is why I decided to get naked with a bunch of strangers deep in the Rocky Mountains.
stay. In my case, I called ahead and reserved a camp site. (Are you surprised?)
In Ridgeway, about a five-hour drive southwest of
I wouldn’t consider myself shy, but this was my
Colorado Springs, I found Orvis Hot Springs. Tucked
first time at a clothing-optional hot spring. Over the
away nine miles north of Colorado’s “Little Switzer-
winter, my body had morphed from a hard and lean
land”—Ouray—Orvis’s waters are naturally hot and
form to a conglomerate of pillowy half-moons set atop
treated by nothing but Mother Earth herself. Best of
a stack of curves. I took a deep breath and disrobed.
all, the springs at Orvis are clothing-optional at all
Yet as I unwrapped, I felt comfortable here. The other
hours, year-round.
guests looked at me, but their gazes felt like acknowl-
Orvis’s hotel rooms can be found on the top floor of its lodge, but they book fast. While standing in line at
edgement, like familiar greetings rather than objectifications or judgments.
check-in, the woman in front of me explained how
I slid into the mineral waters, and, naturally, peeked
she books her rooms for the season at the beginning
at my company. The stream streamed like thick clouds
of the year. If you aren’t as prepared as her, you can
over everyone, but I could still identify their physiques:
still call ahead and reserve a room or camping site,
a cyclist, a hiker, a climber, a runner.
but only if space is available. In the event you forget to
If you’ve lived in Colorado long enough, chances
reserve something, Orvis doles out first-come, first-
are if you don’t religiously follow an active lifestyle,
served camping sites to guests on the day of their
you’ve probably flirted with it. It’s hard not to. There’s
sensimag.com M AY 2018 101
a reason Colorado ranks as one of the healthiest places to live. Unlike the rest of the US, the land here commands engagement. Spend enough time traipsing the trails, and Colorado will carve your body out of its rock. You know what I’m talking about. Like the runner who blew past you at the park, carrying the distinct definition of each quadricep under taut skin. Or the cyclist you caught stopping alongside you at an intersection. Have you ever seen their calves? Their soleus and gastrocnemius muscles are shaped like stones after years of repeated tension and Epsom salt baths. After soaking for a half hour, I crawled out of the water, practically thirsting for cooler temperatures. I found the outdoor cold-plunge and sat in it until I began to shiver. My muscles involuntarily contracted to warm my body, just as excess heat would cause them to elongate and relax. Hot muscles are partially why many Orvis’s guests were just returning from a long day of riding or skiing in the mountains. Natural spring water, of course, also contains minerals with natural healing properties, something this area’s original inhabitants— the Utes—figured out long ago. By the time I crawled into my tent, it was nearly two in the morning. I tried to sleep, but, restless, I got up and returned to the springs. This time, I went to one of the two private tubs in the main lodge. At this hour, the staff had already lowered the lights to con-
I SLID INTO THE MINERAL WATERS, AND, NATURALLY, PEEKED AT MY COMPANY. THE STREAM STREAMED L IKE THICK C L O U D S OVER E V E R YONE , BUT I COULD STILL IDENTIF Y THEIR PHYSIQUES : A CYCLIST, A HIKER, A CLIMBER, A RUNNER. serve electricity. I almost got the space pitch-black by shutting the private tub’s wooden window. Fumbling half-blind, I submerged myself and floated on my back. In the darkness and relative weightlessness, it felt like I was free-falling. If I allowed my head to sink beneath the water just enough to cover my ears, I could mute any sounds and truly enjoy the lack of stimuli. Psychologists might say I achieved sensory deprivation,
102 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018 102
sensimag.com M AY 2018 103
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Steam forms on a brisk Colorado morning. a state that could induce visions under more controlled conditions. That Orvis stays open 24 hours is probably its greatest gift. If you’re squeamish, you can always wait until the wee hours of the morning to dip into the hot waters in your birthday suit. If you’re totally comfortable in your skin, you can hit the springs during the usual business hours. Conversations were easy here, and everyone had a story to share. Had I known the resort would be empty in the wee hours of the morning, I may not have revealed my naked body to a pool packed with people on my first outing. But I’m glad I did.
104 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
sensimag.com M AY 2018 105
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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
L IGH TSHA DE
Categorizing Mood LIGHTSHADE HELPS BALANCE YOUR DAY WITH NEW CANNABIS CATEGORIES It wasn’t so long ago that “choice” wasn’t a part of the cannabis conversation. You got what you got. Cannabis legalization introduced us to sativas and indicas, and a dizzying array of strain names. Howev er, all that choice didn’t make choosing any easier.
The Rest strains are strong indicas commonly used for sleep, migraine relief, and decreasing stress. Bubba Fett and Grandaddy Purps are ideal for deep relaxation, reducing chronic pain, and letting you fall asleep. Once we find a strain that’s perfect for hiking on a
Lightshade recently created a new way of catego
Sunday or binge-watching Game of Thrones, we want
rizing the strains the company grows. “We can pro
to buy the exact same strain again. “The only strains
vide the best strain for a particular activity and time
we include in these categories are the ones we grow
of day,” explains Joanne Madrid, marketing manager for Lightshade, which operates eight recreational and medical dispensaries in Denver and Aurora. “The four categories — Enliven, Inspire, Calm and Rest— reflect the strains’ physical and mental effects and the activities that they support,” she says. The Enliven strains, including Durban Poison and Red Headed Stranger, are used for euphoria and fo cus. These high-energy strains support daytime ac tivities, physical tasks, and lively conversations. “These are strong sativas. The terpenes also boost energy and support the feeling that you can get things done,” Madrid says. Lightshade’s Inspire strains, such as Orange Heri juana and Sour Diesel, are commonly used for cre
ourselves,” Madrid says. “The important thing is to
ative activities, finding bliss, and sparking appetites.
provide a consistent experience. No matter which dis
“These are balanced hybrids, so you can be task-ori
pensary you visit, Orange Herijuana will have the same
ented without being ‘spacey’, as you might with a
general effect every time.”
pure indica.” This mellower energy supports activities
The new cannabis categories were designed to
like walking, yoga, and going out to dinner, she says.
answer the needs of Lightshade’s customers and pa
Lightshade’s Calm hybrids, whether White Dawg
tients. Lightshade dispensaries and employees also
or Blueberry Headband, are ideal when you need to
try to help meet some basic needs of local residents
slow yourself down, but aren’t quite ready to sleep.
facing poverty and homelessness through active so
“Calm strains are used to help potentially reduce anx
cial responsibility programming.
iety, ease muscle spasms, or relieve pain,” Madrid says. These after-work strains are made for meditation and favorite winding-down activities.
108 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
For more information: LIGHTSHADE.COM
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sensimag.com M AY 2018 109
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
AUS PICIOUS OW L
Staying Ahead of the Curve AUSPICIOUS OWL’S WISE, DATA-BASED RESEARCH PREDICTS A CBD BOOM Cannabis has been legal in Colorado since 2014, but in some ways, the business of cannabis in the
cannabis industry about market research is like pulling teeth,” he says.
state is still in its infancy, according to a clinical psy
“They want an immediate return on their invest
chologist who conducts market research in the in
ment. A lot of cannabis companies are opening
dustry.
with zero cash on hand. They need to invest in the
“We are all about bringing data and academic
long term. If they put more resources in upfront,
rigor to a business that has been laissez-faire about
they will have a firmer foundation to build on,”
the facts since it began,” says Nick Browning, who
Browning says.
launched Auspicious Owl in Denver a year ago.
Auspicious Owl helps business owners see what
Auspicious Owl is a firm that conducts research
their market wants. “We have a laser focus on
for dispensaries, edibles makers, and hemp-related
which products and brands consumers prefer -
companies in Colorado and elsewhere. The com
and why,” he says.
pany does consumer and employee research, con
Colorado is clearly on the cutting edge. “I’ve talk
ducts online surveys, focus groups, one-on-one in
ed to a lot of people — from farmers to company
terviews, and phone and email surveys.
CEOs. We’re about to experience a CBD boom in
“This is a level deeper than just being a consul
Colorado like we’ve never seen before,” he says.
tant. For instance, Auspicious Owl did some work
At this point, surveys show that only a small per
for a company planning to make CBD edibles for
centage of Colorado dispensary customers are
athletes. We did research on identifying the target
coming in to inquire about CBD products. “It is
market and branding preferences of consumers,”
clear there is still a huge, untapped customer base
Browning says.
of folks who don’t know about CBD products. They
“The CBD market is getting huge, and it will get
don’t know they can get relief from swelling and
much bigger once the federal government legalizes
pain without that high feeling. Eventually, CBD will
hemp. Instead of blindly throwing ideas against the
be a standard treatment option in mainstream
wall, we have actual numbers to reference,” he says.
medicine,” Browning says.
According to Browning, it has been challenging convincing cannabis business owners that they
For more information:
need market research. “Talking to people in the
AUSPICIOUSOWL.COM
110 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
sensimag.com M AY 2018 111
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
K AV I A R
Finding a Balance KAVIAR CRAFTS A HAPPY MEDIUM BETWEEN FLOWER AND CONCENTRATE In one corner you have traditional smokers, who
Kaviar’s lab tests every batch of oil that is made to
prefer to enjoy cannabis the way they always have, in
ensure consistency. The recipe is adjusted based on
a bowl or a joint. Sometimes they also appreciate the
potency so that users enjoy a consistent experience
intensity of vaping. On the other side are folks who
from purchase to purchase.
love concentrates, dabbing, and all the equipment that comes with it. Sometimes they miss the simple pleasure of a good smoke. It doesn’t have to be one or the other, according to Denver-based Kaviar. “We fill the void between smok ing traditional flower and smoking concentrates,” says Kali Mutty, marketing director of Kaviar. To reach what Mutty calls “a happy medium,” Ka viar infuses top-quality cannabis flowers with highgrade hash oil and then coats them twice in kief, the finely sifted cannabis trichomes loaded with THC. The result is Kaviar Moon Rocks, a gourmet experi ence that produces smooth, potent smoke. With a potency ranging from 50 to 60 percent THC, the Moon Rocks effect is felt almost immedi ately with a cerebral rush that gives way to long-last ing mind and body relaxation. Kaviar Cones take the messy, sticky work out of roll ing a potent joint. Each cone contains 1.5 grams of
Available at more than 100 recreational and med
Kaviar Moon Rocks with potency from 30 to 40 per
ical dispensaries in Colorado, from Denver to Para
cent THC. “We grind our Moon Rocks and pre-roll
chute and Gunnison to Colorado Springs, including
cones that are fitted with a reusable glass tip. It’s a
Ascend Cannabis, Doobie Sisters, High Country
more sanitary way to hit on a passed joint,” Mutty says.
Healing, The Kind Room, and Trenchtown Cannabis.
Both Moon Rocks and Cones are available in dis
Kaviar’s general manager, Moe Atieh, points out that
tinct sativa, hybrid, and indica varieties. “For example,
the company focuses on hand-crafting two premium
the sativa includes sativa flowers, sativa-derived hash
products. “At Kaviar, we only produce Moon Rocks and
oil, and kief collected from dried sativa flowers,” Mut
infused Cones,” he says, “allowing us to keep an ex
ty says. In most cases, the three components come
tremely close eye on quality and consistency.”
from the same sativa strain. Each package of Moon Rocks or Cones is marked with the specific strains used to create them.
112 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
THE ROOT OF IT ALL
Back to their Roots JOINING FORCES WITH AYURVEDIC MEDICINE FOR POT ENT NEW REMED I E S There is nothing new about using cannabis to treat common ailments. It has been old school for centuries. Ayurvedic treatments have been revered for even longer.
muscles and joints, which provides soothing aro matherapy as it warms on the skin. The Root of It All’s sublingual drops contain nat ural CO2 cannabis extracts with supporting Ayurve
The innovation behind The Root of It All Essential
dic essential oils minus the alcohol, propylene gly
Remedies is bringing together the best of both
col, or glycerin found in some other products. The
traditions in four targeted varieties of sublingual
spices and herbs give the four products bright cu
essential oils — Go, Slow, Stop, and Unwind— and
linary flavors with no “off ” aftertaste.
Rewind topical ointment.
Go features a single sativa strain with a high THC
“Each remedy has a unique formula with differ
content plus cardamom, ginger, and rosemary for
ent ratios of THC and CBD combined with Ayurve
an energy boost. “Go is good for any outdoor activ ities or if you are heading out for the night,” Jung gren says. Slow is designed to help when you have been going too fast. A 1:1 ratio of THC to CBD from an in dica strain balanced with cooling Ayurvedic basil, fennel, and orange relaxes the body and mind. Slow supports evening activities that call for mental clar ity such as reading. At day’s end, The Root of It All’s Stop remedy eases you into a deep sleep by relieving a mind that won’t turn off and a body that aches. A 3:1 THC to CBD ratio from a single indica strain joins
dic ingredients traditionally used to treat the con
forces with the sleep-inducing herbs chamomile,
dition,” says Kurt Junggren, vice president of sales
lavender, and valerian root. Unwind is designed to
for Denver-based TR Concentrates, which makes
rejuvenate after a stressful day or a hard exercise
Root of It All Essential Remedies.
session with a sativa strain working with an Ayurve
Rewind, a CBD-heavy topical ointment, is the
dic power trio: Turmeric, black pepper, and clove.
company’s most popular product. “We’ve heard so
“Unwind has a high CBD content with less THC so
many stories, so many amazing testimonials from
you can enjoy body relief,” Junggren says.
people who have found relief from back and body
The Root of It All’s Essential Remedies are sold at
pain. They like it because it provides localized re
more than 120 recreational shops in Colorado and
lief without fogginess,” he says.
will be available in medical dispensaries later this year.
Rewind’s 1: 3 ratio of THC to CBD works syner gistically with the combination of turmeric, black
For more information:
pepper, and clove oil to be absorbed rapidly into
ROOTUSA.COM
114 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
Funk! We Have That
(719) 465-2407 • www.kingscanna.biz 2132 E Bijou St Suite # 114 • Colorado Springs, CO 80909 sensimag.com M AY 2018 115
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
PAT P E N
Game Down Pat VAPE PENS ARE EVERY WHERE. WHICH ONE TO PICK? PUEBLO’S PAT PEN COMBINES QUALITY, VALUE, SAFETY — AND TASTE. Walk into any dispensary, and you’ll discover a
don’t have to empty their wallet to receive a quality
wide selection of various vape pens and cartridges.
vape pen. Every Pat Pen cartridge is filled with dis
To the uninitiated, these products may all seem
tilled CO2 cannabis oil, that is why Pat Pen prides
the same: plug and puff.
themselves on the purity of the product the con
Pat Pen is a little different.
sumer receives.
Other vape pen products stick to the basics. The
Pat Pen vape products demonstrate top-tier qual
brass-tacks of basics. And these basic cartridges
ity by using only “full spectrum” oils. Full spectrum is another term for “whole plant,” meaning the com plete cannabinoid and terpene profile of the flower carries through to the vape cartridge. Cannabinoids such as CBD work with THC for a well-rounded, bal anced effect on mood as well as medicinal applica tion. Terpenes, the little compounds that give can nabis its characteristic flavors and aromas, boast several purported health benefits, too. In other words, Pat Pen’s cartridges are as close to vaping cured buds as it gets. How does Pat Pen pull this off? The oils in the company’s pens are made with CO2, the cleanest and safest method for cannabis extractions. Each
will pretty much only deliver THC along with filler
Pat Pen vape pen is strain specific. Furthermore, noth
oil such as polyethylene glycol, otherwise known as
ing else goes into Pat Pen’s cartridges other than
PEG or vegetable glycerin.
the CO2 oils and terpenes. With cartridges packed
“We like to keep the full spectrum,” says Pat Leon
with 300 mg or 600 mg of pure cannabinoids, of
ard, one of the cofounders of Pat Pen. “We really
fered at the same price as pens that provide much
think our products should be at the highest quality
less, why vape anything else?
at a fair and reasonable price.” The Pat Pen vape cartridges have a reputation of the best cannabis oil on the market and customers
116 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
“No vegetable glycerin, no coconut oil, no cut,” Leonard says. “It’s a tasty cartridge. That’s what sets it apart.”
sensimag.com M AY 2018 117
S P E C I A L A DV I S ORY BOA R D S E C T ION
AS THE CANNA B I S I ND U S TR Y G R OW S, SO DO T H E N UM BE R OF N I CH E E X P E R T S W I T H I N IT. FROM TOP-TIER DISPENSARIES AND EXTRACTION BRANDS TO EDIBLE MAKERS AND MARKETING SPECIALISTS, THESE COMPANIES ARE INCREDIBLE SOURCES OF INSIDER INFO ABOUT THE TRENDS AND ISSUES DRIVING THIS THRIVING MARKETPLACE FORWARD. THE SENSI ADVISORY BOARD IS COMPRISED OF LE ADERS FROM A VARIETY OF FIELDS WITHIN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY. EACH ISSUE, ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS SHARE SOME OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH OUR READERS IN THIS DEDICATED SECTION. THIS MONTH, WE H E A R F R O M E X P E RTS AT WA N A B R A N D S AND N A N O S P H E R E . For a full list of Advisory Board Members, turn to the masthead on page 12.
The Elevated Athlete by Nancy Whiteman, Owner and CEO, Wana Brands WHETHER YOU ARE AN ASPIRING AMATEUR OR PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE, PASSION FOR SPORTS CAN BE STRENUOUS BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT CERTAIN STRAINS OF CANNABIS ACT AS ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AGENTS, REDUCE STRESS AND IMPROVE SLEEP QUALITY. THESE ARE JUST A FEW REASONS WHY MORE ATHLETES ARE CHOOSING TO UTILIZE MARIJUANA AS A HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE TO PAINKILLERS AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. As cannabis becomes more mainstream, an increasing number of people—including athletes—are educating themselves on the health benefits of the herb and incorporating it into their wellness regimen. From NFL players to swimmers, more athletes are turning to cannabis as a natural alternative for pain management, relaxation, decreasing anxiety, and improving their overall well-being. Many athletes, especially those in endurance sports, also find that marijuana keeps them focused and allows them to enjoy the moment, rather than concentrating on their discomfort or how long they may have to go in a race. These athletes are finding that the effects they experience from cannabis are complementary to their training and recovery, rather than inhibiting them. Flavie Dokken, a long distance runner based in Boulder, CO, is one of those athletes. Flavie has found that she can enhance her overall athletic experience by adding cannabis into her workout routine. “It’s both challenging and thrilling to be a long distance runner. I am always testing my limits to see how far I can push my body and mind,” Flavie says. “One of the ways I am able to keep pushing myself each day is by using cannabis to relieve pain and to help me unwind after training.” To meet athletes’ needs, the cannabis industry has 118 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
been developing innovative delivery methods that are suitable for athletes. These products include edibles, capsules, and topicals. Indica strains and strains rich in CBD help athletes recover physically and mentally. Products that contain these components may help with pain relief and relaxation. Many also find that cannabis works to calm nerves before or after a competition. Flavie and other courageous athletes are examples of how cannabis is helping to improve their training and allowing them to enjoy their sport to the fullest extent. Flavie is dedicated to sharing the benefits she receives from cannabis as an athlete so that others can learn about the different ways marijuana can elevate their athletic experience.
sensimag.com M AY 2018 119
S P E C I A L A DV I S ORY BOA R D S E C T ION
Taking Topicals to the Next Level with Essential Oils by Dr. Richard Clark Kaufman, Chief Science Officer THE MOST COMMON WAYS TO GET CANNABIS INTO SYSTEMIC CIRCULATION — INCLUDING EDIBLES, OILS, SMOKING AND VAPING — ARE HINDERED BY PROBLEMS SUCH AS LOW BIOAVAILABILITY, HIGH DOSAGE REQUIREMENTS, AND EXCESSIVE ADVERSE EFFECTS.
Biotech experts are entering the cannabis industry to
have significantly delayed onset action making dosing
develop groundbreaking delivery systems. One example
difficult. Delivery system products emerging on the
is a new patent-pending method of nano-sizing active
market provide precision-metered doses. These tech-
ingredients so they can enter systemic circulation for im-
nologies deliver a standardized amount of cannabis
proved efficacy of a range of products from pharma-
and can be relied upon for the same result every time.
ceuticals to nutraceuticals. In the cannabis industry, this revolutionary technology eliminates the need for in-
{ 3} Increase bioavailability and effectiveness
gestion or inhalation. Cannabis molecules can now be
Bioavailability for ingested cannabis products is only six
nano-encapsulated and passed through the skin or the
percent and for inhalation, methods can be as low as
mucosa in minutes to treat pain, inflammation, and anx-
two percent. With standardized delivery systems having
iety. Here are three ways that advanced delivery sys-
greater bioavailability, cannabis is transported directly
tems can improve the cannabis experience:
into the bloodstream, increasing the bioactivity of cannabinoids sixfold.
{ 1} Stop waiting around for relief Oral absorption and inhalation of THC is slow and un-
Together, these unique advantages make novel de-
predictable, with peak blood concentration occurring
livery systems—such as nano-encapsulation—the next
after 1.5 hours. Advanced delivery systems allow for
-generation answer to cannabis’ most common com-
faster onset of actions within minutes, compared to an
plications. Those seeking to discover new methods of
hour or more with standard ingested cannabis extracts.
getting the benefits of cannabis might find scientifically-proven delivery systems to be the innovation that
{ 2 } End uncertain dosing Mainstream methods of ingestion and consumption
120 Denver //Boulder M AY 2018
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sensimag.com M AY 2018 125
{soCO} by JAKE BROWNE
THERE WILL BE
The thaw is on, with the mountains shedding their gorgeous white tops and creating the type of soupy earth that your freshest kicks have shoe nightmares about. Fear not! Despite the conditions, there’s tons of mirth to be found in our mountain towns during the offseason. First, you’re guaranteed to have your run of the show while still bringing tourist dollars to the locals that depend on anything to keep them going when the ski trips end. It’s also an ideal time to pick their brains on what to see in the area and head there without having to fight the crowds. Second, the mud isn’t always your enemy. Going off-road and coming out a little dirty doesn’t equal worse for the wear, and you may even earn some non-street cred. Lastly, rumor has it the stuff is good for your skin? Okay, maybe pass on a backwoods facial, but getting muddy probably has emotional benefits. It’s fun being a kid again.
Taking advantage of Colorado’s dirty days
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