D E N V E R // B O UL D E R
T H E NE W NORM AL
10.2016
Welcome to ...
CHEESMAN
PARK
where you just had a lovely first-date picnic on top of
2 , 000 DEA D
PEOPLE
fall
take your favorite outdoor workout IN
FITNESS COLORADO’S
Sugar Rush:
VOTE Y ES ON 300!
COOL CANDY MAKERS CHOCOLATE SHOPS
the
SPECIAL ELECTION
REPORT
legalization
LANDSCAPE
How state cannabis initiatives are shaping up for November
22
AROUND TOWN
contents. 32 Take Your Outdoor Workout In
ISSUE 6 VOLUME 1
FEATURES 32
10.2016
SMOKE the
S P ECI A L E L EC T I O N R E PORT
Vote: The Legalization Landscape
State cannabis initiatives are sowing the seeds of change for November.
40
Heartstrings: The Shadow Healer
44
Denver’s Hometown Haunt
Every medical marijuana patient in Colorado can have a caregiver grow cannabis plants for them. But caregivers can do a lot more than just garden.
You’ve probably strolled through this park. You may have walked your dog there. You may have even brought your kids there to play. And scattered beneath the verdant lawns lie thousands of corpses, some of them over two centuries old.
© RANDY © RANDY ROBINSON ROBINSON
20
EDIBLE CRITIC Radiantly Raw Chocolate in Manitou Springs
40 EVERY ISSUE 9 Editor’s Note 1 0 Sensi Buzz 16 Perspectives
SOCIAL USE
2 2 Around Town
INDOOR FITNESS
© KIM LONG
2 0 Edible Critic CANDY LAND
Sensi Magazine is published monthly in Denver, CO, by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2016 SENSI MEDIA GROUP LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
OCTOB E R 2 01 6
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mast sensi magazine
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EDITOR @ LELAND.RUCKER SENSIMAG.COM
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EDITOR
EDIBLE.CRITIC @ SENSIMAG.COM
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8
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OCTOB E R 201 6
#JACOBSSTRONG
head. ISSUE 6 VOLUME 1 10.2016
A DV I SORY B OA R D
editor’s
BOO!
WELC OME TO THE P O L I T IC S I SS U E.
NOTE
5700 Consulting // CONSULTING Boss Tubes // GL ASS
IT’S A SCARY TIME OF YEAR.
Election season . THIS UP-
Cannabis Clean // CLEANING
COMING ELECTION KEEPS FINDING NEW WAYS TO MAKE US
Cannabis Insurance Services // INSURANCE
SHUDDER, AND THE FEAR STARTS AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET
Concentrate Supply Co. //
AND TRICKLES ALL THE WAY DOWN.
RECREATIONAL CONCENTRATES
But this election also gives us hope. There are a number of states with
Contact High Communications //
marijuana initiatives on the ballot—including five voting on recreational
PUBLIC RELATIONS
use. Two of those states are even on the East Coast. Leland Rucker, our
Cohen Medical Centers // MEDICAL CENTERS
senior editor, delves into all the nitty-gritty nationwide details during this
Denver Custom Packaging // PACKAGING
month’s special feature. And because there’s also a local election going
EndoCanna // MEDICAL CONCENTRATES ExtractCraft // AT-HOME EXTRACTION
on, we compiled a list of cannabis-friendly candidates on local Denver and Boulder ballots as well. Even closer to home is the social use initiative, which I know a lot of
GreenHouse Payment Solutions //
people find particularly scary. “I don’t want to go to a bar where people
PAYMENT PROCESSING
are just smoking pot all around me!” is one common complaint I’ve heard
High Society // HEAD SHOP
others say in opposition to the bill. We put together a handy little info-
Jett Cannabis // CO2 EXTRACTION
graphic that details why we think you should vote Yes on 300, which you
Kind Love // CULTIVATION Lab Society // L AB EQUIPMENT
can find in this issue as well as on our Facebook page. Please: share away if you think we should start regulating cannabis like we do alcohol. Most people see nothing wrong with public consumption of alcohol, but
Loopr // LUXURY MOBILE CONSUMPTION
the stigma about consuming cannabis in public (or even consuming it in
Lucid Mood // TERPENES
private and heading out into public) still exists. Even as an editor of a pro-can-
marQaha // SUBLINGUALS/SPRAYS Mighty Fast Herbal Infuser // HOME EDIBLE MACHINE
Mountain High Suckers // CBD EDIBLES
nabis magazine, writing about the first time I ever smoked pot scares me a little. But the saying goes that life begins at the end of your comfort zone, so I am going to do it anyway. The story is rather appropriate for this issue in particular. Because the first time I got high, I went to a haunted house. A big ole
Neos // BHO VAPE PENS
legit haunted house, one where the actors are free to follow you around
Purple Monkey // TEAS
and scare the bejesus out of you, kinda like the ones contributing editor
Rx CBD // CBD PET TREATS Simply Pure // MEDICAL DISPENSARY Terrapin Care Station //
Randy Robinson rounds up for us on p. 48. I was in high school, and my friends and I went down some cul-de-sac and hid in the woods while we smoked a joint. The subsequent visit to the haunted house was one of the most intense hours of my life. There was one room we entered that had a
RECREATIONAL DISPENSARY
coffin in the middle of it. Suddenly the lights go out. We scream, and then
The Clinic: The Bank Genetics // GENETICS
we hear the hinges of the coffin start to creak open. My friends and I hud-
Wana Brands // EDIBLES
M E DI A PA RT N E RS National Cannabis Industry Association Students for a Sensible Drug Policy
dled together in a corner, curled on top of each other for protection, laughing and crying and deeply feeling every moment of this experience. I can’t recommend getting elevated and going to a haunted house this month more. I don’t, however, recommend you are in an elevated state when you head to the polls in November.
Happy voting!
Women Grow
Stephanie Wilson
EDITOR IN CHIEF @ STEPHWILLL
OCTOB E R 2 01 6
KIM SIDWELL © CANNABIS CAMERA
TinctureBelle // TOPICALS
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9
THE NE W N O R M A L
sensi
buzz
EDIBLE REVIEW
{ Sarah’s Medicated Teas } Stir the nature-loving, mountain-wandering yogi
ask
LELAND
This month, Sensi Senior Editor Leland Rucker doesn’t have a question to answer, he just has something important to say
within you. The best way to greet autumn is by cozying up to a warm cup of tea. SARAH’S MEDICATED TEAS ( WWW.SARAHSTEAS.COM ) contain
loose-leaf teas, spices, and fine hash kief for a well-rounded, whole-plant experience. That’s because all teas provide polyphenols, little molecules known for fighting aging, boosting the immune system, and staving off the winter blues. Every
Our curious cannabis expert,
LEL AND RUCKER , answers your
pot-related questions.
bag of Sarah’s contains all organic teas and spic-
Halloween Hype
es, and the bags themselves are made from com-
Hey, television stations in Denver. And print
postable hemp. To slip in to the spirit of the sea-
media outlets, too. And the police department. You know who you are. Please don’t spend this month trying to scare the be-
son, we recommend the Orange Cinnamon or Chamomile teas.
jesus out of everybody by making us be-
–R ANDY ROBINSON
lieve that cannabis users are plotting Machiavellian ways to poison the city’s children by giving out cannabis-laced sweet treats this Halloween. Like the urban legend that’s been around since everybody’s childhood about devious individuals who slip razor blades into fruit or candy for unsuspecting trick-or-treaters, this isn’t true, either. Never mind that Denver police have never reported a case of cannabis-tainted candy. Or that cannabis users are no more likely to commit a crime than someone who doesn’t consume. Largely because of concern over edibles, Colorado changed its packaging laws, which means that every edible sold now is stamped with a THC warning, so everyone can tell if it’s a cannabis-infused product or just a piece of regular candy. Nobody wants children to get edibles meant for adults, but kids are far more likely to be poisoned by pharmaceutical drugs than cannabis. News editors: When somebody hauls this one out of the trash, throw it back in. Do a story on something that actually is a problem rather than creating one that isn’t. End of rant.
–LEL AND RUCKER
High Fashion for Your Pup Looking for the impeccable gift for those friends or relatives who have everything? Bet their favorite pampered pooch isn’t decked out in a cannabis-leaf dog collar and matching leash. We found ours, made by Buckle-Down, at the Dog Savvy pet supply and boutique (1402 Larimer Street) in Denver’s Larimer Square, where the manager said they were really popular these days. We’ve seen a Bob Marley-branded version, and another with a 420 design. Your hounds will be howling with delight. –LEL AND RUCKER 10
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OCTOB E R 201 6
Buckle-Down’s super swag and cannabis-friendly dog collars and leashes
OCTOB E R 2 01 6
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OCTOB E R 201 6
{ perspectives }
W HAT IS IT ?
by R ANDY R O B IN S ON
SOCIAL USE
HOW DOES IT WORK ?
What you need to know about the Neighborhood Supported Social Use Initiative { NSSIU }
WHY DO W E NEED IT ?
WHY IS IT A GOOD THING ?
W HAT ABOUT THE CLEAN INDOOR AIR ACT ?
W HAT ABOUT THE KIDS AND THE SMELL?
HOW CAN I HELP ?
16
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“Some people don’t drink, and some people don’t smoke. Our bill offers mutual territory to hang out and be social.” OCTOB E R 201 6
— Kayvan Khalatbari // NSSUI Campaign Organizer and Founding Partner for Denver Relief
The Neighborhood Supported Social Use Initiative (NSSUI) will allow cannabis use for adults 21+ at Denver’s specially approved nightclubs, bars, and other private venues.
Licensed businesses can apply for a permit. The permit can last for one night to one year. Permits are incredibly flexible, and every permit will be tailored to a particular business and its community.
Legalization in Colorado only addressed personal use of cannabis at a private residence. Cannabis use on other private properties, such as businesses, was never addressed. Legalization was supposed to regulate marijuana like alcohol, but currently cannabis use in Denver is not allowed anywhere outside of a home, marijuana club, or mobile domicile (such as a parked bus or RV).
The NSSUI will give adults spaces and opportunities to enjoy cannabis in social settings. Tourists and residents alike will have safe, easily accessible places to smoke or vaporize with their friends.
The NSSUI respects that smoking indoors is banned in Colorado, whether it’s tobacco or marijuana. Cannabis smoking will only be allowed outdoors, away from public view. Vaporizing may be done indoors.
To receive a permit, businesses must be at least 1,000 feet from a school, playground, or other areas where children congregate. Local neighborhood organizations can negotiate or even block permits if cannabis use becomes a nuisance. In fact, all permit specifics must be agreed upon by neighborhood organizations and businesses.
Vote YES on 300 for the Neighborhood Supported Social Use Initiative this November 8 at the polls. IF YOU AREN’ T REGISTERED TO VOTE, G E T O N I T.
OCTOB E R 2 01 6
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{ ediblecritic } by JOHN LEHNDORFF
SUGAR RUSH! Skip the Snickers and find bliss at Colorado’s cool candy makers and chocolate shops. I’m someone who is well acquainted with the “munchies.” However, that condition didn’t just appear out of the blue the
You can buy cherry lollipops, vanilla caramels, and ribbon can-
day I smoked my first joint. I was born with the munchies;
dy from HAMMOND’S C ANDIES at tons of shops and super-
cannabis just made me better at it. Even in college, I knew
markets, but then you miss the real fun. When you are in the
that the munchies were a lot more nuanced than the raven-
right mood, the tour at the north Denver factory is magical.
ous hunger for junk food portrayed in so many films.
The free, 30-minute excursions involve some food science
I freely admit to mindlessly ingesting quantities of ice
and lots of cool machinery that pulls, twists, and shapes sug-
cream, fudge, and M&Ms during a sitting over the years. How-
ar into some amazingly colorful shapes. You’ll be infused with
ever, I’ve experienced elevated moments of culinary and sen-
sugar and led to the gift shop where you can restock your
sory bliss much more often. The science now indicates what I
stash of jalapeño lime peanut brittle and Mitchell Sweets
always suspected: ingesting THC allows us to smell and taste
caramel marshmallows. Better yet, rent Hammond’s party
more acutely, and that prompts our food lust. Whether we
room in the middle of the factory and celebrate surrounded
gravitate toward a sea-salted 70 percent dark chocolate goji
by friends and thousands of pounds of candy.
truffle or a Laffy Taffy is a matter of personal taste and what’s available. Some say women like candy more than salt-centric men. I say candy love crosses all gender lines. Candy is easy to find. Sugar bliss is much harder to lo-
18
{ 1 } Getting funky in the candy factory
HAMMOND’S C ANDIES // 5735 N. WASHINGTON ST., DENVER, CO 303-333-5588 // WWW.HAMMONDSCANDIES.COM
{ 2 } Somewhere over the Rain - Blo
cate. For me, it is walking into a real candy store and being
ASSORTED GOODS is so cool it really should charge admission.
enveloped in a fudgy, creamy, nutty, fruity, sugary, buttery,
Folks wander into the tiny shop from Louisville’s nearby eat-
guilt-infused aroma. The colors of the jelly beans, lollipops,
eries and bars and get lost among the space toys, comic
salt water taffy, and confections from across the globe are
books, and dozens of jars filled with nostalgic candies from
positively psychedelic. Plus, you always find yourself sur-
across the globe. At the store, one tween girl, debating the
rounded by smiling, happy people.
tartness of various nasty sweets, says to her friends, “Oh …
A whole lot of almond toffee, Colorado’s signature confection,
my … gosh, Warheads are s-o-o-o-o sour. I ate the whole
gets made in Colorado, along with some unfortunate min-
thing.” For the truly competitive, there is the World’s Most
ing-themed rock candy and “nuggets.” The Centennial State
Sour Candy. “I don’t recommend it,” says co-owner James
is famous for candy, from the Golden-born Jolly Rancher to Du-
Kwan, a candy geek who has stocked up on Curly Wurly (a.k.a.
rango’s Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. As Halloween com-
the Marathon Bar), Chuckles, and Rain-Blo bubble gum. For
mences the season of sugary holidays, we offer a shopping guide
more sophisticated tastes: excellent fudge and truffles from
to some favorite independent, artisan chocolate shops, candy
Roberta’s Chocolates in Denver. Avoid the Dill Pickle hard can-
makers, and just plain quirky candy dispensaries in Colorado.
dy. It’s weird and not especially sour. Don’t ask how I know.
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OCTOB E R 201 6
ASSORTED GOODS // 706 FRONT ST., LOUISVILLE, CO 303-526-8811 // WWW.ASSORTEDGOODS.COM
where to
be a
kid in a
candy factory Candy tours are available year-round at Denver’s Hammond’s Candies ( WWW.HAMMONDSCANDIES.COM ). Tours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. No reservations required. During the summer, Patsy’s Candies ( WWW.PATSYSCANDIES.COM) in Colorado Springs also leads tours. Candy making is on view through wall-to-wall windows at Patsy’s and at Enstrom Candy ( WWW.ENSTROM.COM) in Grand Junction. Check with the stores to pick a time when you can see the copper caldrons, chocolaterobing machines, and old caramel-wrapping contraptions in action.
OCTOB E R 2 01 6
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{ 3 } It’s all in the butter, baby
{ 5 } Good chocolate that’s good for you
Caramels are simple—just sugar, butter, and cream—but
Can chocolates that are raw, organic, and free of gluten,
they are devilishly difficult to make without resorting to
dairy, refined sugar, soy, GMOs, and anything processed
processed additives. Ellen Daehnick does it the right way at
be genuinely tasty? If the candy is from R ADI ANT LY R AW
HELLIMAE’S in Wheat Ridge. These little deeply caramelized
CHOCOL ATE , they will be, and not just “tasty for a healthy
pillows of pleasure come in flavors from chai and vanilla to
candy.” Raw cacao powder is combined with coconut oil and
espresso and Whiskey Love Bomb with smoked salt. Until
honey to make chocolate that barely hits your mouth be-
recently, you could only find Hellimae’s at other retailers, but
fore it melts into satisfying goodness. The dozens of vari-
now her shop is open along with Post Oak Hall, a take-out
eties are flavored and filled with short lists of ingredients
joint next door dishing eclectic Houstonite fare, including
like the Salty Heart with organic vanilla and sea salt and the
po’boys with chow chow, kolaches, and her sigh-worthy ice-
Elvis Style Cup with raw almond and cashew butters and
box-fresh banana pudding with dark caramel sauce.
banana. Note: these chocolates are only barely sweet by nor-
HELLIMAE’S // 6195 W. 44TH AVE., WHEAT RIDGE, CO 303-474-4537 // WWW.SALTCARAMELS.COM
mal candy standards and need to be refrigerated. R ADIANTLY RAW CHOCOL ATE // 116 CANON AVE., MANITOU SPRINGS, CO; 3312 AUSTIN BLUFFS PKWY., COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 719-749-6176 // WWW.RADIANTLYRAWKITCHEN.COM
{ 6 } Here’s candy for The Shining There is a candy store almost every block in Estes Park, but consider stopping at SUNNY JIM’S HOMEMADE COUNTRY CANDIES on your way there to relive The Shining. The faded road-
side attraction, operated by feisty flood survivor Ida Suppes, includes one room full of knickknacks and trinkets that time
JOHN LEHNDORFF writes the Nibbles column for the Boulder Weekly and is the former Chief Judge at the National Pie Championships. He is the host of Radio Nibbles Thursdays on KGNU. Podcasts available at: ( NEWS.KGNU.ORG )
forgot, as well as ice cream, and another packed with seldom-seen, old-time candies such as black licorice caramels, cashew brittle, cherry cordials, horehound drops, and banana taffy. Perhaps you need some pecan divinity for the long drive up the steep, dark canyon to The Stanley? Get it here.
{ 4 } Fudge that will get your goat It’s always fudge time at the UGLY GOAT MILK CO. in Keenes-
{ 7 } A store like a box of chocolates
burg, populated by guinea fowl, geese, cows, two farmers,
If you find yourself heading toward Telluride to ski or the
and lots of friendly goats. Most of the goat’s milk goes in the
Black Canyon of the Gunnison to hike, be sure to also run the
creamery’s award-winning chèvre, feta, ricotta, and soft-rip-
chocolate gauntlet at Montrose’s RUSSELL STOVER FACTORY
ened Ugly Ash cheeses. However, some is always saved for
OUTL E T. The warehouse store has a Custom Build-A-Box
owner Michael Amen’s family recipe for chocolate walnut
counter that allows you to choose from dozens of pieces, so
fudge. No, it doesn’t taste or smell “goat-y.” The bestseller is a
there are no duds in your collection. The real reason to visit
profoundly creamy confection that melts like a comforter on
is that this is the final destination for seasonal candy that
your taste buds. The fudge is available at Denver shops New
never fills someone’s Easter basket or Christmas stocking.
World Cheese, Wine and Whey, and Il Porcellino Salumi, and
Especially sad are the aisles of heart-shaped chocolate box-
at the farm—wear boots and visit the website for directions.
es, but they are a real bargain. The 48-ounce Assorted Bloop-
UGLY GOAT MILK CO. // 16420 C AVANAUGH RD., KEENESBURG, CO 303-870-3785 // WWW.UGLYGOATCO.COM
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SUNNY JIM’S HOMEMADE COUNTRY C ANDIES 5431 W. HIGHWAY 34, LOVEL AND, CO // 970-667-5075
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OCTOB E R 201 6
ers box of less-than-perfect chocolates is right out of Forrest Gump. It doesn’t come with a flavor map. RUSSELL STOVER FAC TORY OUTLET // 2185 STOVER AVE., MONTROSE, CO // 970-249-6681 // WWW.RUSSELLSTOVER.COM
{ aroundtown } by CHRISTINA ODET TE
OUTSIDE : IN Your brand of summertime fitness doesn’t have to end just because the weather outdoors is less cooperative this time of year. Here in Colorado, our favorite outdoor activities can be found inside. Colorado is consistently listed as one of the fittest states in
dering facility in the United States. Bouldering is a bit different
America, and it’s easy to understand why: an active lifestyle is
from rock climbing, as the climbers aren’t roped in. So the
embedded in our state’s culture year-round. During the
12,000-square-foot facility features six, 16-foot-tall walls
summer months, we are cycling up winding mountain roads
surrounded by padded floors—each wall carved by hand to
and climbing some impressive Rocky Mountain peaks. On
resemble some of the world’s top climbing areas, such as Yo-
golf courses across the state, we swing for the hills and watch
semite and Fontainebleau. Climbers ascend the walls following
our balls fly farther in the thin air. And the more adventurous
aesthetic patterns and unique features in the rocks, but the
among us are known to enjoy short free-falls from even high-
point of bouldering is to fall. And this isn’t the type of free-fall
er elevations. Just because the weather is cooling and winter
you imagine when someone tumbles off a jungle gym. It’s a
is on the way doesn’t mean our favorite outdoor pursuits
fall with style. This flair for catching air is demonstrated by park-
need to be put on hold for the next few months. There are a
our professionals in one of The Spot’s many evening workshops
number of hot spots around town where you can take your
and climbing-specific workouts, which start nightly at 7 p.m.
favorite outdoor workout in. Here’s a roundup of some of our
For those who don’t identify as an adrenaline junkie, a rope wall
favorite places to stir your competitive nature this winter.
is available, and there’s also a shorter, rotating tread wall where you can practice strength and endurance. Community is the heart of this space, so consider enjoying a beer and socializing with fellow climbers at the 4:30 p.m. happy hour. (There’s no climbing after drinking, though.) In January, the Slacktopia event will create the ultimate adult playground. Suspended lengths of flat webbing tensioned between two anchors will be rigged like crazy. Test your confidence and balance as you walk across the varying slackline heights. Just know that you don’t have to be as good as professional climber Daniel Woods to practice at The Spot—but you may just see him there. If you love to TEE UP and SWING , try:
D ’ L A NC E G O L F
22
If you are into BOULDERING, try:
14 Inverness Drive East #120A, Englewood, CO 80112
THE SP OT B OULDERING GY M
WWW.DL ANCEGOLF.COM
3240 Prairie Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
Always 72 degrees, never any wind or bugs. D’Lance is an
WWW.THESPOTGYM.COM
indoor golf facility with all the perks of a tech-savvy world. At
Located in Boulder, The Spot opened as the first indoor boul-
the Englewood spot, four hitting bays are rigged with com-
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OCTOB E R 201 6
OCTOB E R 2 01 6
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23
puter simulator software called Track Man—the same one
workout with 30 minutes of cycling and 30 minutes of func-
used on PGA tours. It tracks and analyzes everything from
tional training with TRX Suspension Trainers. Check the web-
the golfer’s swing to the ball’s launch, angle, and spin rate, all
site for the class schedule, and make sure you sign up, be-
to help players perfect their strokes. One bay even has a vid-
cause space is limited.
eo device that allows the golfer to play back their swing and compare and contrast it to professionals. Every membership comes with a 24-hour access code to the facility, so you can tune up your swing day or night. Suffice it to say, golfers who practice at D’Lance this winter will gain a greater insight into the nuances of their golf game—and maybe even cut a few strokes from their score by spring.
If you are an ADRENALINE JUNKIE , try:
iFLY 9230 Park Meadows Drive, Lone Tree, CO 80124 WWW.IFLYWORLD.COM
If you are a ROAD WARRIOR , try:
A little extra something is usually never a bad thing, and when
E P I C RY DE
that thing is the extra time, it is typically a great thing. In Colo-
2823 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80205
rado, the average free-fall for skydivers is 45 seconds due to
WWW.EPICRYDE.COM
our high base elevation. At iFly, Colorado’s only indoor skydiv-
In the heart of RiNo, Epic Ryde is about pushing yourself to
ing facility, flyers can experience the sensation of skydiving for
your limit to find your own new level of extreme. The indoor
two whole minutes—and do it twice. The facility is simple, but
cycling and TRX fitness facility has some awesome new
the experience is impressive. On the second floor of the two-
Matrix IC7 bikes that will make you gasp—for air that is. The
story building stands a large vertical tunnel, where four giant
bikes’ cutting-edge technology becomes your own personal
turbine fans combine power to push a heck of a lot of wind
coach. To get situated, show up at Epic Ryde at least 20 min-
outward and down the building’s side columns. The wind is
utes before your first class to take the “watt test,” which
redirected back underneath the tunnel, where a geared-up
customizes your bike to fit your needs. Each bike has a col-
flier stands, waiting to be elevated. Slats beneath the fliers’
or-coded display that shows varying levels of difficulty, ad-
feet are used to control the direction of the wind current.
justable to each individual rider. During the watt test, you race
Manipulating the air flow allows the iFly experts to dictate the
in each colored zone for three minutes, which determines
intensity of the flying experience. This level of control makes it
your strength in each area. From there, a number will be
a family-friendly activity for different ages and abilities. There
generated that will tailor the bike to your own ability, and
are four different skill levels, each one with a different tech-
you’ll be ready to start one of the killer classes, set to cus-
nique to master. Level one is for the basics of belly flying. Work
tom playlists and led by knowledgeable instructors-slash-
your way up to level four, and you will be articulating advanced
drill sergeants. (We’re partial to Lori and Caleb’s classes.) In-
moves like “head down”—flying upside down. Making your way
sider tip: Try the Epic Mix class, which breaks up the hour
up the ranks is fun and easy with participation in leagues, kid clubs, ladies night, and all-ability flights.
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OCTOB E R 201 6
OCTOB E R 2 01 6
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P R O MOT ION A L F E AT URE
J E T T C A N NA B I S
Quality Soars with Jett J E T T C A N N A B I S, A COLORADO-BASED CO2 CONCENTRATE MANUFACTURER THAT’S KNOWN FOR ITS TOP-OF-THE-LINE VAPE PENS, IS ALL ABOUT QUALITY. QUALITY OIL CARTRIDGES AND PURE CO2 ESSENTIAL OIL. QUALITY EXTRACTION METHODS. AND QUALITY HARDWARE COMPONENTS. WHICH ALTOGETHER LEAD TO ONE HECK OF A QUALITY PRODUCT.
No where is this more apparent than with the Pure product line—essential oils made entirely from the cannabis plant. Hence the moniker: with a product as pure as can be, the name needed to reflect that. In the Pure line, there are no additives, no PG, PeG, MCT, or any other outside terpenes sometimes found in other cannabis oils. Nothing in the Pure line is removed or reintroduced. It’s just a strain-specific oil, guaranteed to be the strain listed on the package. It comes in a wick-less ceramic-coil cartridge or applicator, allowing for a smooth taste with every pull or puff. Jett takes a craft, small-batch approach to extraction methods. To ensure top quality and proper flavors, the team begins their processing methods with hand-picked cannabis material that’s individually sourced and thoroughly inspected. Once the starting material is broken down into the ideal consistency for a sustained flow rate and large surface area, it’s loaded into Jett’s state-of-the-art Waters SFE machine—that’s a supercritical fluid extraction machine, for those not fluent in the industry lingo. JET T TAKES A CRAF T, SMALL- BATCH APPROACH TO E X T RAC T I O N M E T H O DS . TO E N S U R E TO P Q UA L I T Y A N D P R O P E R F L AVO R S , T H E T E A M B E G I N S T H E I R PROCESSING METHODS WITH HAND-PICKED CANN A B I S M AT E R I A L T H AT ’ S I N D I V I D UA L LY S O U R C E D A N D T H O R O U G H LY I N S P E C T E D .
Jett then takes a low-and-slow processing style, which protects the desired terpene flavor molecules, ultimately providing a robust taste with every puff. Then comes the three-step winterization stage, which takes about 72 hours to complete. This low-temperature purging process removes every trace of undesirable plant fats and waxes while preserving the terpenes that the team worked so hard to keep throughout the rest of the process. Thanks to these efforts, there’s no need to distill or to reintroduce terpenes to Jett’s oil, as anywhere from 5 to 15 percent of the delicious source terpenes are still there, depending on the strain. For the consumption of this quality oil, quality hardware components are necessary. So Jett’s team focused on crafting and producing some of the best technology on the market for its vape pens. Because of the ceramic coil cartridges, Jett doesn’t have to use a less viscous oil or fear wick burn. In the cannabis industry, as in every industry, the definition of quality is subjective. For Jett, the dedication to creating a quality product starts at the very first step and continues through to the production of the final product. And it’s because of this dedication to quality that consumers know that with the Jett VP1.0 vape pen, they will be getting a consistent puff at a consistent temperature with every pull. 26
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P R O MOT ION A L F E AT URE
C A N NA B I S I NS U R A NC E S E RV IC E S
Giving Insurance a Better Rap LIKE SO MANY THINGS IN THE EMERGING CANNABIS COMMERCE, THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY IS PLAYING CATCH UP. THE NEED FOR INSURANCE IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE APPARENT, AND CANNABIS COMPANIES ARE SCRAMBLING TO COME UP WITH THE RIGHT COVERAGE FOR A PRODUCT THAT IS LEGAL IN COLORADO YET STILL ILLEGAL UNDER FEDERAL LAW. Which makes it all the more essential to find an insurance agent who can help you find coverage that will protect your business. “Just like the entire industry, insurance products are new and changing constantly, so it is important to have a knowledgeable agent to help you,” says Stefani Day, chief operating officer of Cannabis Insurance Services. “It’s different than normal business insurance, and it saves a lot of headache in the future if you know what coverage you have and have someone there to help clean up the mess.” Day proposed the idea of creating an agency that specializes in just cannabis insurance to CIS president Brad Colling. “I am a huge advocate of the cause,” Day says, “and though I haven’t had any medical conditions or real personal success stories of how cannabis has helped me live a better life, I believe in human rights and holistic healing. I want the industry to succeed and thrive, and though my profession might not be the most sexy or have the best rep, it is definitely necessary.” Cannabis Insurance has come a long way in the last year, especially in delivering products that specifically fit the industry. “Not only are we working with the cannabis industry in offering them protection,” Day says. “But we are also working with the carriers to design products that are fair to everyone.” earlier this year, under the umbrella of the C.I.S. Insurance Group, which has a long history working with property and casualty insurance. “Brad and I both have been doing insurance for years and know how important it is for a
STEFANI DAY
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER C ANNABIS INSURANCE SERVICES
business to have. Cannabis is a legitimate business and needs just as much protection as any other business.” C A N N A B I S I N S U R A N C E H AS CO M E A LO N G WAY I N T H E LAST YEAR, ES P ECIALLY I N DEL I V E R I N G P R O D U C T S T H AT S P E C I F I C A L LY F I T T H E I N D U ST RY. CIS offers pretty much the same products for the cannabis industry as it would for any other, including general liability, workers' compensation, and building and contents coverage. “We also have products to protect crops, recalls, product liabilities, equipment breakdowns, or cyber liability,” Day says. Their client base runs the gamut. “We have dispensaries, grow houses, bud trimmers, delivery and transportation businesses, manufacturers, lessors/property owners, and doctors.” When insurance giant Lloyd’s of London stopped covering cannabis businesses in summer of 2015, it left many companies stranded, and it left an opening for new carriers to come in and develop better products. “Insurance in the industry has a bad rap and I want to change that,” says Day. “We work for the clients to help them find the best coverage to fit their needs. Brad has the experience and I have the passion, so together we are a great team.”
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© JOHN GRAY
Colling and Day started Cannabis Insurance Services
S P E C I A L A D V I S O R Y B OA R D S E C T I O N
Class-Specific Edibles AS THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY
by Wana Brands
GROWS, SO DO T H E N U M B E R OF NICHE EXPER TS WITHIN IT.
AS CANNABIS CONSUMERS’ TASTES REFINE, CANNABIS COMPANIES
FROM TOP-TIER DISPENSARIES
ARE INNOVATING TO ADDRESS CUSTOMERS’ DESIRES. TODAY, IN MORE
AND EXTRACTION BRANDS TO
MATURE CANNABIS MARKETS, CLASS-SPECIFIC OPTIONS ARE GROW-
E D I B L E M A K E R S A ND PAC K-
ING MORE POPUL AR. CONSUMERS ARE NOW INSPECTING VARIETIES
AGING S P E C I A L I STS, T H E S E
SUCH A S INDICA, SATIVA, AND HYBRID, AND THEIR DIFFERING
CO M PA N I E S A R E I N C R E D I B L E
MORPHOLOGY, EFFECTS, FLOWERING TIME, YIELDS, GEOGRAPHICAL
S O U R C E S O F I N S I D E R I N FO
ORIGINS, AND FL AVORS BEFORE MAKING A CANNABIS PURCHASE.
ABOUT THE TRENDS AND ISSUES
Consumers focus on specific cannabis classes when they want to achieve a
DRIVING THIS THRIVING MAR-
specific effect or are looking to treat certain ailments. They want to choose
KETPLACE FO RWA R D. SENSI
the type of cannabis that best fits their needs. Indica tends to relieve anxiety,
ASKED THE TOP LEADERS IN A
insomnia, pain, and muscle spasms. Sativa has been known to provide relief
VARIETY OF SECTORS TO J O I N
from depression, ADD, fatigue, and mood disorders. Hybrids involve mixing
T H E S E N S I A DV I S O RY BOARD. SOME OF THESE MEMBERS A R E INVITED TO I M PA RT S O M E O F THEIR INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE WITH OUR READERS IN THIS D E D I C AT E D S E C T I O N, W H I C H APPEARS IN EACH ISSUE. THIS MONTH, WE HEAR FROM THE
genetics from different genetic locations, and can treat various symptoms. In addition to treating symptoms, recreational customers can dial in their cannabis purchase to get the effects they desire. Looking for a burst of energy to get you motivated? Try a sativa edible. Interested in winding down and relaxing for the evening? It’s time to enjoy the indica option. Want to experience that all-consuming and enjoyable feeling of a hybrid strain? Select the hybrid choice. What has led to the emergence of the new type-specific edible options? Co-
MASTERMINDS AT Wana Brands,
founder and co-owner of Wana Brands Nancy Whiteman explains: “Cannabis
OUR BOARD MEMBER IN
customers are developing a more sophisticated and refined palate.” Which is
THE E D I B L E S C AT E G O RY.
why Wana Brands just released new Class-Specific Gummies in three different varieties: sativa, indica, and hybrid, all offered in a mix of yummy fruit flavors.
For a full list of our Advisory Board Members, turn to the masthead on page 9.
30
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OCTOB E R 201 6
Because, as Whiteman says, “Consumers want a product that tastes delicious while achieving a specific experience.”
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31
vote the
LEGALIZATION
landscape
State Cannabis Initiatives are Sowing the Seeds of Change for November 32
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OCTOB E R 201 6
SPECIAL ELECTION
REPORT
by LEL AND R UC K E R
C AL IFORNIA is leading the way as more states decide whether to treat cannabis like alcohol this UPCOMING ELEC TION.
A R E C O R D N U M B E R O F S TAT E M E AS U R E S AS K I NG
voters
TO A P P R O V E
C A N N A B I S L E G A L I Z AT I O N A N D R E G U L AT I O N H AV E Q U A L I F I E D F O R T H E B A L L O T N E X T M O N T H. F I V E S TAT E S A R E C O N S I D E R I N G W H E T H E R TO A L L O W R E C R E AT I O N A L A D U LT U S E , A N D AT L E A S T T W O O T H E R S A R E S E E K I N G A P P R O V A L F O R M E D I C A L C A N N A B I S IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER. NONE ARE GUARANTEED A VIC TORY, BUT SHOULD ALL PASS, IT WOULD BE A SIGNIFICA NT B O O S T I N T H E E F F O R T T O E N D T HE C A N N A B I S P O R T I O N OF T H E I N H U M A N E WA R O N D R U G S T H E US H A S W AG E D A G A I N S T M I L L I O N S OF IT S O W N C I T I Z E N S W I T H T H E I R O W N TA X M O N E Y O V E R T H E L A S T 50 Y E A R S . “One in five states will be able to go to the polls and
the first to approve medical marijuana with the
vote for some level of legalization,” says Paul Ar-
Compassionate Use Act of 1996. Proposition 19, pro-
mentano, deputy director of NOR M L, the nation’s
posed in November 2010, would have made posses-
oldest organization advocating for cannabis reform.
sion and cultivation legal for adults, but it was de-
“It’s important to emphasize that there are an un-
feated 53.6 percent to 46.5 percent.
precedented number of state initiatives. It’s a signif-
Now, six years later, Proposition 64, the Adult Use
icant evolution and maturation of our issue and the
of Marijuana Act, is on the ballot in California. It is
way advocates campaign for marijuana reform.”
being backed by a coalition of state and national or-
Armentano notes that it is also another indication
ganizations and leaders. Let’s Get It Right CA is the
of the current disconnect between the views of con-
big local group, but Governor Gavin Newsom, the
stituents and their elected officials. “It’s not the way
ACLU, NAACP, Drug Policy Alliance, Students for
the democratic process is supposed to work. When
Sensible Drug Policy, NORML, and Marijuana Policy
there’s a change in opinion, they [ legislators] should
Project are all pushing the initiative. Tech entrepre-
be reflecting on and making that change,” he says.
neur Sean Parker has donated at least $2.5 million
“But they aren’t, and people are taking it into their
to the cause. Groups opposing the recreational mea-
own hands.”
sure include Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana
The five states considering commercial legalization are Arizona, Nevada, Massachusetts, Maine,
and the California Police Chiefs Association. “It’s one of the largest states in the country, and it’s
and California. The Golden State is the biggest ques-
also a very diverse state geographically, politically,
tion mark. California has a long history with the
and demographically,” says Mason Tvert of the Mari-
plant. It decriminalized possession in 1975 and was
juana Policy Project. The passage of Proposition 64,
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33
P ROP OS IT ION 64 Tvert says, “would reinforce the current sense that people are feeling, that the nation is ready to move beyond marijuana prohibition.” Proposition 64 would allow adults to possess an ounce of flower and eight grams of concentrate and to grow up to six plants, and it
would allow adults to possess an ounce of flower and eight grams of concentrate, to grow up to six plants, and would allow the state to license and tax sales.
would allow the state to license and tax sales. Counties
and municipalities would have the ability to limit or ban commercial marijuana operations, as well as set local tax rates. There is no specific provision for public consumption, but there are restrictions on marketing to minors and allowances for resentencing and the expunging of records for prior marijuana convictions. The initial taxes would include a 15 percent state
sition 64 would more than
excise tax on retail sales, and cultivation taxes of $9.25
triple the number of Americans
per ounce of flower and $2.75 per ounce of trim/leaves.
with legal access to cannabis to 57
Backers estimate $1 billion annually in state tax rev-
million, or 17 percent of 322 million
enue, a big number until you realize that it’s a minis-
Americans, in spite of it being illegal fed-
cule portion of the state’s $252 billion budget.
erally and internationally.
The demographic implications could be staggering.
34
The passage of Propo-
The legislative numbers could come into play,
The combined populations of Oregon, Washington,
too. California has 53 members in the US House of Rep-
Alaska, Colorado, and the District of Columbia, where
resentatives, and if the measure passed, many of them
recreational use is already legal, total about 17.8 mil-
would then have legal industry constituents in their dis-
lion. There are 39.5 million people in California alone.
tricts, which might make them more eager to join the
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OCTOB E R 201 6
bipartisan movement to improve banking and tax laws currently caught up in one committee or another. In Washington, the House has been the most active on the cannabis front during the last few years, and at present cannabis reformation bills generally draw bipartisan support, with member votes in the low to mid 200s. Fifty-three more seats could add considerable clout to efforts to get things going in the House. Moving cannabis out of Schedule I will require a congressional vote, and it’s more likely to happen if the House were to fall to Democrats. With the Senate up for grabs, who knows? In looking at a map of legalized states, it’s easy to see how heavily it skews to the West. That’s why initiatives in Massachusetts and Maine are being carefully watched by advocates and prohibitionists alike. In Maine, voters are being asked to legalize recreational marijuana and regulate it like alcohol. The measure is supported by the Legalize Maine group as well as all national legalization organizations. Both Governor Paul LePage and Attorney General Janet Mills have come out against the initiative, as has Smart Approaches to Marijuana. Petitioners submitted more than enough signatures to make the ballot, but the Maine secretary of state invalidated more than half of those. That led to a lawsuit by petitioners, and a court overruled the state, which meant that the measure qualified for the ballot
Your
LO CA L E L EC T IO N
GUI DE for PRO - CA NNABIS
CANDIDATES Who supports Colorado’s legal marijuana
market? Check the list below to find out if your favorite candidate is on board. C OLORA DO US SENAT E RAC E Michael Bennet {Democrat} – incumbent
on April 27. Though structurally similar to the others,
Lily Tang Williams {Libertarian}
this one would provide for licensed social clubs that
Arn Menconi {Green}
will be allowed to sell cannabis. Massachusetts had approved replacing criminal penalties on adult possession in 2008 and legalized medical cannabis four years later. On the upcoming ballot, Question 4 would make it legal for adults to possess up to 10 ounces of cannabis at home and 1 ounce in public. State Governor Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh are campaigning against the ini-
Bill Hammons {Unity} Dan Chapin {Independent}
C O L OR A D O US H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S Diana DeGette {Democrat} – District 1 – incumbent Darrell Dinges {Libertarian} – District 1
tiative, while former Governor Bill Weld and many
Jared Polis {Democrat} – District 2 – incumbent
state senators and representatives are backing it.
Nicholas Morse {Republican} – District 2
Polls are equally divided for and against passage in both states. “The Northeast has been historically progressive in marijuana reform, but there is yet a state to take a step in that direction,” Armentano says. “It’s im-
Richard Longstreth {Libertarian} – District 2 Cliff Willmeng {Green} – District 2 Mike Coffman {Republican} – District 6 – incumbent
portant that Maine or Massachusetts move forward
Norm Olsen {Libertarian} – District 6
beyond decriminalization and into actual regulation.”
Robert Lee Worthey {Green} – District 6
Two other western states, Arizona and Nevada, are also seeking recreational legalization. Arizona’s measure has an interesting history. Though there are 36
by RANDY ROBINSON
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OCTOB E R 201 6
Ed Perlmutter {Democrat} – District 7 – incumbent Martin Buchanan {Libertarian} – District 7
almost 100,000 medical cardholders in the state, can-
Both allow patients with certain medical conditions
nabis has not been decriminalized, which means that
to purchase cannabis but differ in rules and regula-
if you don’t have a card, you can be sentenced to sev-
tions such as whether patients could grow their own.
eral months in jail for simple possession. Early last
Tvert says that no matter what happens, it will be
year, Representative Mark Cardenas introduced Bill
a victory for the legalization movement. “Whether
2007, which he argued would legalize cannabis and
they all win or lose, they are victorious in moving this
get the state legislature ahead of the issue instead of
issue forward,” he says. “Every time a state considers
having to deal retroactively with the passage of a bal-
this, more people are getting involved. Look at Colo-
lot measure this year. He found no support among his
rado. In 2006, we knew we would lose, but it furthered
colleagues, and the state now faces Proposition 205.
the dialogue. If an initiative were to repeal Colorado
A second legalization initiative did not get the required
or Oregon laws, that would be a setback.”
number of signatures to make the ballot, and its backers filed a failed lawsuit over ballot language.
Armentano says that many are arguing that 2016 is different from past presidential elections because
Nevada passed medical marijuana in 2000, and this
neither major party candidate is well liked. But, he
year’s Question 2, which qualified in late 2014, seeks to
says, it will be won the old-fashioned way. “Ultimate-
legalize and regulate the sale of cannabis for adults.
ly this is going to shake out like any. It will come
One interesting difference is that in order to qualify to
down to voter turnout, to getting the message out
grow your own plants in Nevada, you would have to live
and getting people to the polls.”
at least 25 miles from a licensed dispensary. Tax revenue would be earmarked to support K-12 education.
Both Tvert and Armentano feel we’ve already passed the tipping point. “We’re well over 50 percent support
Interestingly, the alcohol industry supports the
regardless of what poll. That’s been the case for sever-
Nevada measure but opposes the Arizona one. Ne-
al years,” Armentano says. “The disagreement isn’t
vada’s includes demands for a distributor between
with concept, it’s in the details. Moving forward, it’s
growers and retailers, and the early licenses for those
going to come down to finding a consensus on how we
positions can go to licensed liquor distributors. The
regulate the best tax rate, the best regulations. That’s
industry has responded by vocally and financially
going to be an evolving process.”
supporting the legalization effort. In Arizona, liquor interests are giving money to groups fighting the legalization measure.
M E D IC A L I N I T I AT I V E S At present, 196 million Americans, or 61 percent of us, now live in states where medical marijuana is legal in some way, and polls continue to indicate that about 8 of 10 Americans say cannabis should be available to medical patients. Still, only two more states have ballot measures: Florida and Arkansas. Medical initiatives in Montana and Missouri failed to get enough signatures to make the ballot. In Florida, a large East Coast state, Amendment 2 would allow higher-potency strains for patients and expand the short list of illnesses for which cannabis can be prescribed. A similar initiative two years ago got 57 percent of the popular vote but still fell short of the 60 percent required to pass in the state. Most polls are showing higher numbers of voters ready to vote “yes” this time around, although it is opposed by the Florida Medical Association. In Arkansas, two similar but competing proposed constitutional amendments have made the ballot. 38
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M AY 2016
S M O K E the
PHOTOGRAPHY © RANDY ROBINSON
Every MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENT in Colorado can have a caregiver grow cannabis plants for them. But CAREGIVERS can do a lot more than just garden.
Mark Pedersen
WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE LEAD BELT OF MISSOURI. AT 60
YEARS O L D , H E ’ S R AT H E R S P RY. H I S G L O W I N G S M I L E S , H I S C O N F I D E N T G E S T U R E S , H I S PA S S I O N AT E S P E E C H W O U L D N E V E R I N D I C AT E H E S U F F E R S F R O M W H AT D O C TO R S D I AG N O S E D AS F I B R O M YA LG I A WITH S EVERE MIGRAINES. P E D E R S E N S AY S H E K N O W S T H E C A U S E O F H I S I L L N E S S : E X P O S U R E T O H E AV Y M E TA L P O L L U T I O N W H I L E GROWING UP IN HIS HOMETOWN OF HERCUL ANEUM, MO.
Nearly a decade’s worth of Pedersen’s patient testimonial videos can be found on the “cannabis patient network” YouTube channel. 40
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OCTOB E R 201 6
the SHADOW
HEALER by RANDY ROBINSON
caregiver
Like all fibro patients, Pedersen experiences in-
PRIVILEGES
tense, chronic pain in his muscles and joints. He suffers from fatigue and insomnia. His digestive system can go haywire at a moment’s notice, an issue that was worsened by years of pharmaceutical treatments. The dolor in his gut can lead to an extreme loss of appetite, weight loss, and exhaustion. Without cannabis, his migraines can become so intense that he can undergo seizures—seizures which can affect his short-term memories.
All medical patients in Colorado can have a caregiver grow plants for them. But caregivers can do a lot more than just garden. Because many medical marijuana patients are disabled, caregivers can
“My memories were still there, but the connec-
purchase and transport cannabis on behalf of their
tions were damaged,” Pedersen says. Contrary to
patients. They can create infused products such as
myths that cannabis consumers have poor cognition
edibles, capsules, tinctures, or oil. Caregivers are re-
and memory recall, Pedersen says cannabis not only helped restore his memory, but it continues to help him focus, too. “One of the most amazing things about cannabis is the clarity of thought, being able to
sponsible for educating their patients on the proper ways to consume the medicine, as well as gauging which methods work best for the patient.
think again. Being able to remember a person’s name or situation, or import-
the country who also claimed can-
ant things, like birthdates.”
nabis restored their quality of life.
By acting directly on Peders-
Determined to shift the culture,
en’s endocannabinoid system,
Pedersen set out with a video
cannabis alleviates all of these
camera. In 2006, he began re-
symptoms. This plant helps
cording patient testimonials
him, like many others, to live a
from people who lived with
normal life.
Crohn’s, cancer, AIDS, arthritis,
Pedersen first learned that
anorexia, multiple sclerosis,
cannabis could help him in the
PTSD, and a vast array of other
late 1990s while browsing an online
crippling diseases. These videos
forum. Although he had experimented with marijuana when he was younger, he didn’t always think of it as medicine. With time, he learned about other people around
were meant to show that cannabis could C ANNABIS OIL Pure cannabis oil is a thick, syrupy liquid with the consistency of honey.
help with more than just nausea or glaucoma. With the help of activists, patients, and scientists, he eventually cofounded the Cannabis
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41
Patients Network Institute with author Regina Nelson. The nonprofit gathers patient stories to share with others, and educates the public on the medical potential of cannabis through public events and benevolent
HEAVY METAL
& fibro
outreach programs. Today, Pedersen no longer wields a video camera to share patient testimonials. Vice, CNN, and other
Although researchers still don’t know the exact caus-
mainstream media outlets have picked up where he
es of fibromyalgia, studies show fibro and metal al-
left off over a year ago. Now, he’s solely focused on getting medicine to others, namely patients dying of Stage IV cancers, children, and the poor.
W H AT IS A C A R E G I V E R ? Colorado’s Amendment 20 defines a caregiver as
lergies go hand-in-hand. Exposure to heavy metals may exacerbate inflammation, which leads to the pain, soreness, fatigue, and mental fogginess characteristic of the condition. The main culprits are nickel, mercury, lead, and cadmium.
anyone ( besides a patient’s physician) who is an adult responsible for helping that patient manage their
minal illnesses or extremely debilitating conditions
debilitating condition. In the medical cannabis world,
require high amounts of cannabinoids. Unfortunate-
caregivers are usually people who grow plants and
ly, most dispensaries can’t meet this need, and pa-
make infused products for their patients. But not ev-
tients continue to rely on caregivers such as Peder-
ery caregiver grows.
sen to make this life-restoring medicine by hand.
Instead of growing cannabis for his patients, Ped-
Although Pedersen is registered as a caregiver
ersen makes cannabis oil. To make this oil, he steeps
with the state, he doesn’t call himself a caregiver.
the plant material in ethanol (the kind of alcohol we
Rather, he considers himself a cook. That’s because
drink, specifically Everclear). This process pulls me-
he sees cannabis as a super food. Some patients
dicinal compounds like terpenes and cannabinoids
prefer to avoid cannabis’s trademark “high,” espe-
out of the plant matter. After soaking, the alcohol is
cially patients who require a constant, round-the-
removed, and what’s left is a thick, syrupy oil that
clock intake of cannabinoids. And Pedersen is just
can be infused into cooking oils, transferred to gel
the man for that job; part of his mission is educating
caps, or taken by teaspoon.
others on how to take their cannabis in a way that
This oil is the most potent form of cannabis extract. Just one gram of oil, the size of a gum ball, holds
“We need to introduce cannabis as part of our diet,
around 1,000 mg of THC. Compare that to Colorado’s
not just as a supplement,” Pedersen says. “Socrates
strongest prepackaged medical edibles, which only
once said, ‘Let your food be your medicine and your
contain up to 300 mg THC. Although concentrated
medicine be your food.’ Cannabis is a food, and we
oil may not be ideal for most patients, those with ter-
need to start talking about it as such.”
CANNABIS
as a superfood This plant is packed with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, complete proteins, antioxidants, terpenes, and, of course, cannabinoids. Cannabis is also gluten- and dairy-free, and easy to digest on sensitive stomachs.
42
mitigates the plant’s elevating effects.
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by R ANDY R OB IN S ON
denver’s Home YO U’ V E P R OBA B LY S T R O L L E D T H R O U G H T H I S PA R K. YO U M AY H AV E WA L K E D YO U R D O G
T H E R E . YOU M AY H AV E E V E N B R O U G H T YO U R K I D S T H E R E TO P L AY. A N D S C AT T E R E D BENEATH THE VERDANT L AWNS L IE THOUSANDS OF CORPSES, SOME OF THEM OVER TWO C E N T U R I E S O L D. IN THE 1870s, D E N V E R RESIDENTS CALLED IT CIT Y CEMETERY. BEFORE T H AT, P E O P L E C A L L E D I T T H E O L D B O N E YA R D. E V E N F U R T H E R B A C K , I T WA S S I M P LY K N O W N A S T H E B U R I A L G R O U N D S ATO P M O U N T P R O S P E C T. TO D AY, I T ’S K N O W N A S
Cheesman Park .
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tow n haunts. People who’ve lived near Cheesman Park, by and
which used to sit on the corner of 13th Street across
large, never experience anything out of the ordinary.
from the park. His rent was incredibly low, because,
Yet, since the 1800s, Denverites have reported see-
as he told Rocky Mountain News in 1986, “no one
ing apparitions wearing outdated clothing, spotting
else wanted to live there.”
orbs in photographs, and feeling cold spots in the area on otherwise warm, sunny days.
According to legend, Hunter heard odd noises and recalled furniture moving by invisible hands. Lights
Perhaps the most well-known of these reports comes
randomly appeared where there should be none. One
from author Russell Hunter. Hunter claimed that, in
day, while investigating the home, he discovered a
1968, he lived at the Henry Treat Rogers Mansion ,
secret entrance to the mansion’s attic. There, he found
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journals, photos, and other belongings of the family
Per the city’s request, the federal government gave
who used to live there, a family with a crippled child
Denver permission to transform the cemetery into a
they shunned out of embarrassment. This boy, ap-
park. That meant the bodies needed to be moved. In
parently, was rather fond of a toy red rubber ball. Hunt-
1893, the city contracted local undertaker E.P. Mc-
er said that he, and nearly three dozen other people,
Govern to transfer the bodies to a new cemetery.
witnessed the mysterious red ball bouncing down the house’s staircase on numerous occasions.
The city offered him $1.90 per casket he transferred, which was a rather generous payout at that
The bouncing red ball would eventually become a
time. He devised a scheme to move the bodies in
mythic image, first seen in the 1980 horror film The
Coffins made for children, which cost much less than
Changeling, which Hunter wrote. The bouncing red
adult coffins. In addition to smaller caskets, he also
ball has since been copied, parodied, and reimagined
took “liberties” with the limbs. By chopping up the
several times by other filmmakers around the world.
bodies, he could divide a single skeleton among three
Hunter’s haunt experience, however, didn’t end
—sometimes four— tiny coffins. In the end, McGovern’s greed got the best of him.
with the ball.
Of course, when the task involves thousands upon
A Histor y of the Haunt
thousands of bodies, that work becomes impossible
Cheesman Park’s history is equal parts myth and
for one man. McGovern fell behind schedule. Grave
historical fact. Supposedly, the first man buried here
robbers and vandals left the remnants of his efforts
was lynched from the park’s “Hangman’s Tree” after
strewn about Mount Prospect. A newspaper of the
he was found guilty of murdering his brother. Both
time, the Denver Republican, pegged the cemetery’s
brothers were dumped into the same grave. These
desecration as “The Work of Ghouls!,” and McGovern’s
two became the first of many ruffians, thieves, and
contract was terminated before he could finish the job.
vagabonds laid to rest at Mount Prospect. Decades
With little time left to complete the park’s construc-
later, the cemetery grew overcrowded with the corps-
tion, the city went ahead as planned. They cleared the
es of disgraced men. The community eventually lost
tombstones, even though bodies remained at what
interest in caring for paupers’ final resting places.
would soon become Cheesman Park. The city planted
By 1890, the cemetery had all but fallen apart. No one maintained the grounds. Old holes remained un-
shrubs and trees to cover the old grave sites, and Denver soon forgot about the ruined cemetery.
covered from grave robberies. Tombstones crumbled,
The dead, on the other hand, did not forget. Con-
leaving unmarked rocks over anonymous plots. Den-
servative estimates say there are still at least two thou-
ver’s residents called for a cleanup.
sand bodies strewn underneath Cheesman Park.
CHEESMAN MEMORIAL DENVER, CO // CIRCA 1911 The memorial, built in memory of prominent businessman Walter Scott Cheesman, is a designated Denver Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
C O N S E RVAT I V E E S T I M AT E S S AY T H E R E A R E S T I L L AT L E A S T T W O T HO U SA N D B O D I E S S T R E W N U N D E R N E AT H C H E E S M A N PA R K . 46
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haunted
THEME PARKS
For those who prefer … a more theatrical experience.
Maybe you’re looking for a fright-filled night minus the dust and gloom you’d find at a historical site. Luckily, October is the month for haunted theme parks. Tora Dornan, a professional haunt actor who performs as the twisted clown Lollyrot, gave Sensi some inside info on the best haunted parks in our state. This guide looks at the smaller haunts, as Dornan says the larger enterprises “tend to not be as personal. The actors usually have to follow scripts, so you’re kind of rushed through.” Want something a little more intimate, something a little more tailored to your troupe’s demographic? Here’s a short list of Dornan’s suggested visits.
If You’re Scared of Clowns …
SIFTING through facts and fiction For most of us, ghost stories like Cheesman’s are simple entertainments. We tell them to trigger chills in our audience, to instill a feeling of ominous creep because, let’s face it, it’s fun. Tom Noel, a Colorado historian, gives guided tours of the former City Cemetery from the Denver Botanic Gardens. For him, these ghost stories entice Coloradans to learn more about their home. “It gets students interested in history,” he says. “It teaches people to look into the past, to figure out what was there earlier.” That Noel starts these tours from the gardens is fitting, too. Legend has it that construction workers uncovered coffins while renovating the gardens a few decades ago. Hollywood dramatized this macabre discovery as the “coffin bursting” scene in 1982’s
Check out the FRIGHT MARE COMPOUND (10798 Yukon Street) in Westminster. Dornan says: “It has a most excellent clown attraction called The House of Darkness that I personally consider to be the best clown/carnival themed place that I’ve been to.”
Poltergeist, where corpses from an old Indian burial
WWW.THEFRIGHTMARECOMPOUND.COM
City Cemetery used to be a ritual site for Native Amer-
If You’re Scared of Zombies (or Waiting in Lines) …
crafty storytellers may tell you. In fact, Noel believes
Then head over to CIT Y OF THE DE AD (7007 E. 88th Avenue) in Henderson. Dornan says: “City of the Dead does a 100 percent teardown and setup every year, which is very impressive. They focus on the zombies, and the haunt is a journey through a re-created post-apocalyptic city. Rather than a standard queue, they have an entire setup with carnival games and activities. They even serve alcohol there.”
ground reemerged to terrorize the living. Of course, in the real world, no such coffin launches actually took place. There’s also no evidence that icans before the settlers took over, despite what some no one reports ghostly activity anymore because most residents aren’t aware that Cheesman used to be a cemetery. And there we see the real power of a frightening tale: the dividing line between otherworldly and pro-
WWW.CITYOF THEDEADHAUNT.COM
fane dissolves, like a disembodied whisper shadow-
If You Like Surprises (or Donating to a Good Cause) …
doesn’t matter in the end, only our primal desire for
Then the HAUNTED MINES (225 North Gate Boulevard) in Colorado Springs might be your spot. Of course, every haunted park works by surprise (that’s how we get scared), but the Haunted Mines takes it a step further. They never reveal the details of any particular year’s haunt, which could, quite literally, include anything. Dornan says: “It’s more personal than the others. The actors don’t have to remain in scenes. Getting followed was pretty common. When I was working there, we had this guy freaking out that a ‘little girl’ was following him everywhere. She’d pop up in a scene, and he would beg the actors that were actually supposed to be there to make her leave him alone. She’d just giggle and disappear and show up in the next scene.” You can enjoy a good spook and help a local museum. WWW.HAUNTEDMINES.ORG
Tora Dornan AS
lolly rot
PROFESSIONAL HAUNT ACTOR 48
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ing a mother’s voice. What’s true and what isn’t something—anything—to persist after the night takes our eyes. Distinguishing fact from fiction, ultimately, is a vain enterprise with any ghost story. Even one as massive as Cheesman’s.
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