Sensi Magazine-Denver/Boulder (September 2016)

D E N V E R // B O UL D E R

THE NEW NORMAL

09.2016

fall arts

PREVIEW

{ YOU H AV EN’T S C E NE I T A L L . }

zen cowgirl

HEMPTRESS:

got the

BRUNCHIES ?

TOP SPOTS AROUND TOWN

highly CANNABIS as

MUSE SPECIAL REPO RT

// WILD ABOUT DENVER + Urban Nature Centers

GE T YOUR BRUNCH ON

Guess what? IHOP did not make our list of top spots

14 contents.

FEATURES 40 ISSUE 5 VOLUME 1

30

Scene it All

36

Hemptress

09.2016

How Denver’s flourishing art scene embodies the American story

Fiber artist and clothing designer C.J. Jorgensen of Zen Cowgirl Studios turns simple stitches into extravagant works of wearable hemp art.

40

36

S P ECI A L F E AT UR E

The Muse

Everybody from Carl Sagan on down swears by the ability of cannabis to influence creativity.

Is there anything to it, or is it just an illusion?

SENSI SCENE

August’s Sensi Night

48

EVERY

ISSUE

8 Editor’s Note 10 Sensi Buzz 14 EdibleCritic B OMB SHELL

B R U NCHES

24 AroundTown

DENVER GONE WILD

4 8 Sensi Scene SENSI NIGHT Sensi Magazine is published monthly in Denver, CO,

by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2016 SENSI MEDIA GROUP LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

SE PT E MB E R 2016

www.sensimag.com

7

editor’s

NOTE

masthead.

THE CREATIVE

MUSE

sensi magazine

ISSUE 5

VOLUME 1 09.2016

EX ECUTI VE Ron Kolb, CEO, SENSI MEDIA GROUP

FOLLOW US

FOR OUR

fall arts AND entertainment EDITION, WE

OPTED TO EXPLORE THE CONCEPT OF CANNABIS AS A CREATIVE MUSE. IN THIS MONTH’S SPECIAL REPORT, OUR SENIOR EDITOR LELAND RUCKER DELVES INTO THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON THE SUBJECT AND THEN TALKS TO A NUMBER OF EXPERTS WHO HAVE BEEN PROPONENTS OF THE CREATIVE POWER OF THE PLANT IN

RON.KOLB @ SENSIMAG.COM

Tae Darnell, PRESIDENT, SENSI MEDIA GROUP TAE.DARNELL @ SENSIMAG.COM

Alex Martinez, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ALEX.MARTINEZ @ SENSIMAG.COM

Rob Feeman, CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER ROB.FEEMAN @ SENSIMAG.COM

Jesse Levine, V IC E

P R E S I D E N T, SA L E S

JESSE.LEVINE @ SENSIMAG.COM

THEIR VARIOUS FIELDS OF WORK.

Amber Orvik, CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR AMBER.ORVIK @ SENSIMAG.COM

I wish I could say that I am writing this editor’s note under the creative

sensimediagroup

influence of THC but instead I’m hopped up on caffeine—a different type of creative muse, one that people all around the world are legally allowed to enjoy. Consuming cannabis does not turn me into a wordsmith. For me, the elevating effects are best paired with hikes in the woods, with trips to museums and art galleries, with indulgent brunches at any of the mouthwatering spots around town.

E DI TORI AL Stephanie Wilson, EDITOR IN CHIEF

STEPHANIE.WILSON @ SENSIMAG.COM

Leland Rucker, SENIOR EDITOR

LELAND.RUCKER @ SENSIMAG.COM

John Lehndorff, FOOD EDITOR

EDIBLE.CRITIC @ SENSIMAG.COM

Randy Robinson CONTRIBUTING EDITOR /PHOTOGRAPHER RANDY.ROBINSON @ SENSIMAG.COM

So those are the topics you’ll find covered in this issue (props to our creative genius, Jennifer, who came up with the “Got the Brunchies?” tag-

sensimagazine

line on the cover), along with a profile of Colorado hemp artist and clothing designer C.J. Jorgensen. And we’re just covering the snow-capped peak of what’s on the arts and entertainment lineup this fall, both in Denver and beyond—from the season’s last shows out at Red Rocks to the premiere of High Maintenance on HBO on September 16. The web-showturned-HBO-series follows a Brooklyn-based pot dealer as he delivers to

Robyn Griggs Lawrence CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Christina Odette, EDITORIAL INTERN

CHRISTINA.ODET TE @ SENSIMAG.COM

ART

&

DE S IGN

Jennifer Tyson, DESIGN DIRECTOR

JENNIFER.TYSON @ SENSIMAG.COM

Stacey Jacobs, DESIGNER

STACEY.JACOBS @ SENSIMAG.COM

his many clients in NYC. While I’m happy to see another major network

sensimag

showcasing the normalcy of cannabis use, luckily, the shady delivery dude is not something we have to deal with out here in the land of the free.

Those of us in legal spots just have to make a trip to one of our neighborhood dispensaries to get the goods.

And in just two short months, citizens of a bunch more states may be

B U S I NE S S

& A DM I N IS T R AT I V E

Tyler Tarr, PUBLISHER

TYLER.TARR @ SENSIMAG.COM

Mark Basser, ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER MARK.BASSER @ SENSIMAG.COM

Alec Varipapa, BUSINESS ANALYST

ALEC.VARIPAPA @ SENSIMAG.COM

able to ditch their dealers, too. Next month, Sensi delves into the politics surrounding the November elections, offering our take on both the local and national issues surrounding legalization. You won’t want to miss it. And

The Bank Boss Tubes Cannabis Clean Cannabis Insurance Services Concentrate Supply Co. Contact High Communications Denver Custom Packaging EndoCanna

the-scenes reporting, you can always head to WWW.SENSIMAG.COM. As summer draws to a close here in town, the mountain peaks to our west are already getting dusted with snow. And while I can’t wait to get out on the slopes, there’s still plenty of summer activities still on my agenda. Now excuse me while I hit another hiking trail.

Happy reading!

Stephanie Wilson

ExtractCraft GreenHouse Payment Solutions High Society Jett Cannabis Kind Love Lab Society Loopr Lucid Mood marQaha Mighty Fast Herbal Infuser

Mountain High Suckers Neos Nichols Venture Group R x CBD Simply Pure Terrapin Care Station TinctureBelle Wana Brands

EDITOR IN CHIEF @ STEPHWILLL

M E D I A PA RT N E RS

8

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 201 6

National Cannabis Industry Association Students for a Sensible Drug Policy Women Grow

KIM SIDWELL © CANNABIS CAMERA

A DV I S O RY B OA R D

in the meantime, for more insight, news coverage, and in-depth, behind-

THE NE W N O R M A L

sensi

buzz

Elephants are disappearing from the wild. At the rate they’re be-

ing killed for ivory, they’ll be gone from Africa in a generation or two. Is there a way to help? Foster an orphan through the DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST PROGRAM , which rescues orphaned Kenyan ellies and reintroduces them into the wild. For $50 a year, you can keep an orphan in milk formula and hay, pay their dedicated keepers, and speed their journey back into the wild. Monthly updates keep you apprised of your orphan’s progress, and you’re helping educate others about animal conservation. It’s the perfect gift for anyone who appreciates wildlife. Visit WWW.SHELDRICKWILDLIFETRUST.ORG for more information.

– LEL AND RUCKER

SHOULD THIS PL ANT BE CALLED CANNABIS OR MARIJUA NA?

ask

LELAND

foster an

ELLIE

IS THERE A P R EF ER R ED TERM? C H R I ST I N A // ARVADA

KIM SIDWELL © CANNABIS CAMERA

Our curious cannabis expert, LEL AND RUCKER , answers your pot-related questions.

Whatcha call it?

Strictly from an etymological perspective, “cannabis” would be the preferred term. The word and usage has been traced back to Herodotus, who recorded cannabis use in The Histories, and is probably derived from the Greek word kannabis. The earliest known English usage dates to 1548, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. The botanical term was proposed in 1722 and its “elevating” properties first noted in 1848. Before the 20th century, cannabis was prominently listed as an ingredient in pharmaceutical medicines made by American companies.

The term marijuana came later. It comes from Mexican Spanish, originally marihuana, and its origins have been traced to the word mallihuan, which means prisoner, or to the Chinese ma ren hua, or “hemp seed flower,” depending on your source, probably in the 1890s. Marijuana came into usage here in the early 20th century, brought by immigrants during the Mexican War. Harry Anslinger, the anti-cannabis zealot who led American drug policy from the 1930s into the 1960s, institutionalized the word in the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act. Most laws, including the Controlled Substances Act, use the term “marijuana” (or “marihuana”), as do advocacy groups like NORML and the Marijuana Policy Project.

Dr. William Woodward of the American Medical Association explained the difference perfectly during hearings before the passage of the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act. “I use the word ‘cannabis’ in preference to the word ‘marijuana,’ because cannabis is the correct term for describing the plant and its products. The term ‘marijuana’ is a mongrel word that has crept into this country over the Mexican border and has no general meaning, except as it relates to the use of cannabis preparations for smoking. It is not recognized in medicine, and hardly recognized even in the Treasury Department.”

That said, you will probably find both words, along with some others terms, in Sensi at one time or another.

–LEL AND RUCKER 10

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 201 6

chocolate

HIGH Chocolate. We call it a guilty pleasure, but why? Chocolate, after all, contains flavonoids, which are super-healthy antioxidants. Flavonoids can instill a soothing sense of relaxation, which explains why we crave chocolate when we’re trying to chill out. With the INCREDIBLES BOULDER BAR, you can get your daily dose of handcrafted chocolate along with a mouthful of creamy-yet-crunchy toffee chunks.

Along with chocolatey flavonoids, each bar contains 100 mg THC, just to, y’know, nudge that chill factor up a few notches.

–RANDY ROBINSON

SE PT E MB E R 2016

www.sensimag.com

11

1 2

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 2016

{ ediblecritic }

by JOHN LEHNDORFF

BOMBSHELL BRUNCHES These top area brunch spots deliver different yolks for different folks.

“Here’s to the java flowing like lava out of the coffee pot.

Here’s to the eggs and bacon, here’s to the waffles unique, and here’s and here’s three rousing cheers for the best meal of the week!”

– LY R I C S F R O M

“SUNDAY MORNING BRE AKFAS T TIME”

BY COLE PORTER

Love is like a bomb, baby, come on get it on.

14

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 2016

Ahhhhh,

brunch.

Just saying the word “brunch” makes some of us sigh. At its best, weekend brunch is an elevating experience, a balm that recharges the batteries of folks who have been too damn busy all week. It’s not simply going out for food that’s a little bit breakfast and a little bit lunch. We give ourselves permission to indulge a little, to have a cocktail before noon. The week’s best meal demands you order Benedicts rather than egg white sandwiches, or huevos rancheros and menudo instead of dollar burritos.

Apparently, weekend brunch is not that big a deal in other cities, where people actually settle for IHOP. How unfortunate for the folks who live elsewhere! People in Denver and across Colorado are serious about their brunch, judging by the multitude of restaurants, bars, and tasting rooms dishing Saturday and Sunday fare.

As a certified brunch lover, I could have listed a hundred destinations worthy of a visit for various reasons. Instead, I’ve compiled some of my favorites that offer a range of only-in-Colorado experiences.

Worth a Drive :

K N I SH E S TO M E N U D O ZAIDY’S DELI DENVER // WWW.ZAIDYSDELI.COM

For substantial platters of knishes, latke Reubens, and egg creams.

SHINE RESTAURANT AND GATHERING PLACE BOULDER // WWW.SHINEBOULDER.COM

For sustainable vegan and Paleo fare in a yoga-friendly, like totally Boulder space.

DAVIES’ CHUCK WAGON DINER LAKEWOOD // WWW.DAVIESCHUCKWAGON.COM

{ 1 } DazzleJazz : Brunching on sun-splashed rooftops or street-side patios has its appeal, but when Sunday morning comes around, some of us crave a place that’s a little cooler, a tad darker, and a little easier on the ears. That refuge in Denver is DAZZLE , the famous Golden Triangle club that loosens its belt for a hugely popular Sunday jazz brunch buffet. In the main room, a good combo plays tunes perfect for the lively crowd— louder than just background music. This brunch is a sneaky way to plant the jazz bug

For a real diner brunch like the Bull Rider: chicken-fried steak, gravy, eggs, hash browns, and hot cakes.

WALNUT CAFÉ BOULDER // WWW.WALNUTCAFE.COM

For really good pie with your huevos rancheros.

in kids while they visit a station that has chocolate ganache to pour over their pan-

THE POST

cakes. The main brunch spread includes omelet and roast-carving stations, all the

L AFAYET TE // WWW.POSTBREWING.COM

breakfast favorites, plus pirogies, Dazzle’s stellar fried chicken, and mac and cheese.

You’ll find the appetizers, the desserts, and the all-important bottomless mimosa and Bloody Mary station in the bar. It’s worth noting: you’ll be encouraged to depart if you space out and hog a table more than 90 minutes.

930 L INCOLN STREET, DENVER // 303-839-5100 // WWW.DAZZLEJAZZ.COM

For stellar fried chicken and equally singular craft brew.

LOS C ARBONCITOS DENVER // WWW.LOSCARBONCITOSDENVER.COM

For fiery, chunky menudo and cerveza.

{ 2 } Carbon Beverage Café : In the Ballpark neighborhood, the hipster-friendly Carbon Beverage Café occupies a unique dual space with the well-named Habit Doughnut Dispensary. The former supplies a mouth-boggling brunch/lunch lineup featuring a huge sandwich stacked with three eggs,

C ARBON BEVERAGE CAFÉ

bacon, white cheddar, and truffle aioli on house brioche—plus pork street tacos and glu-

Did we leave out your go to brunch destination? Email your the bacon- or pepperoni-infused Wu Tang potato tots with Shaolin barbecue sauce. Wash favorite to it down with a taste from wall taps that pour cold-brewed coffee, wine, beer, and house- EDIBLE.CRITIC @ SENSIMAG.COM. ten-free fried chicken and waffles with honey butter. However, it’s worth coming just for

made sodas and aged cocktails.

Next door, Habit offers stellar brioche doughnuts middled with pastry cream and frosted, iced, and crowned with everything from peanut butter icing and clove-flavored glaze to potato chip streusel. Naturally, Habit also sells candy, cigarettes, and Tylenol.

1553 PL AT TE STREET, DENVER // 720-428-8565 // HABITCARBON.COM SE PT E MB E R 2016

www.sensimag.com

15

{ 3 } Lucile’s Creole Café : For 30 years, I’ve found myself awakening with a Louisiana accent at Lucile’s. I’ve stood in line forever at the tiny original Boulder location in an old Victorian house, and I’ve powdered my nose with sugar from a hot beignet at the Denver locations. The menu is a bon temps rouler

Pour some sugar on me.

Oh, in the name of love.

stronghold of gumbo, etouffée, grits, red beans and rice, sausage gravy, and Lucile’s famous praline waffles. I love the feel of the place, the good coffee, and the biscuit-friendly housemade apple butter and strawberry-rhubarb jam that’s on every table.

2124 14TH STREET, BOULDER // 303-442-4743 // WWW.LUCILES.COM 275 S. LOGAN STREET, DENVER // 303-282-6258 // WWW.LUCILES.COM

{ 4 } Snooze

SNOOZE E ATERY

Eater y :

Snooze was born in 2006 in Denver with a Jetsons-design spirit, a full bar, and a simple premise: why can’t you have brunch all day, every day? Dishes such as the pineapple upside down buttermilk pancakes with vanilla crème anglaise and cinnamon butter and the chilaquiles Benedict with roasted poblano hollandaise have allowed Snooze to spread to multiple locations throughout the metro region and beyond—and they all have long lines on weekends. And on most weekdays, too. The coolest Snooze of all is at Denver’s renovated Union Station, where it boasts a floor-toceiling mural and, on Saturdays, an excellent weekly farmers market right out front.

GREENBRIAR INN

1701 WYNKOOP STREET, DENVER // 303-825-3536 // WWW.SNOOZEEATERY.COM

{ 5 } Greenbriar Inn : Sometimes you just want to dress up a little, take a drive in the country, and get classy. The Greenbriar Inn is the destination to suggest when relatives visit and want a comfortable feast ranging from oysters on the half shell to carved beef to eggs Benedict, with lots of sparkling wine and mimosas to wash it all down. The flowerdecked grounds and gardens are ideal for strolling off that final plate of chocolatedipped berries, pastries, and bread pudding. Reservations are recommended.

8735 N. FOOTHILLS HIGHWAY, NORTH OF BOULDER // 303-440 -7979 // WWW.GREENBRIARINN.COM

{ 6 } Star Kitchen : Bring the whole family and a few friends when you descend on this dim sum temple on a noisy Saturday or Sunday morning, when stainless steel carts careen from table to table.

That way, you can taste multiple plates of tasty turnip cake with sausage, fried sesame balls, beef short ribs, congee with preserved duck egg, cold chicken feet, Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce, baked BBQ pork buns, and dozens of other more challenging preparations. It’s easy to order: Just point, but choose well. Once it’s on the table, it’s yours.

2917 W. MISSISSIPPI AVE., DENVER // 303-936-0089 // WWW.STARKITCHENSEAFOODDIMSUM.COM JOHN LEHNDORFF is the former Dining Critic at the Rocky Mountain News.

He hosts Radio Nibbles at 8:25 a.m. Thursdays on KGNU (88.5 FM, 1390 AM, WWW.KGNU.ORG ).

16

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 2016

do tell.

Did we leave out your go-to brunch desination?

Email your favorite to:

EDIBLECRITIC @ SENSIMAG.COM

SE PT E MB E R 2016

www.sensimag.com

15

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

Liquid Doses

AS THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY

by Skip Meador, Cofounder of marQaha

GROWS, SO DO T H E N U M B E R OF NICHE EXPER TS WITHIN IT.

C ANNABIS OFFERS THE BODY MANY MEDICINAL BENEFITS, DUE TO THE

FROM TOP-TIER DISPENSARIES

COMPLEXITY OF ITS COMPOSITION AND HOW ITS COMPOUNDS WORK TO-

A N D E X T R AC T I O N B R A N DS

G E T H E R . C A N N A B I N O I D S ( T HC , C B D , C B N , C B C , A N D C B G , F O R E X A M P L E )

TO E D I B L E M A K E R S A N D

INTERACT WITH CB1 AND CB2 RECEPTORS FOUND THROUGHOUT THE BODY.

PAC K AG I N G S P E C I A L I STS,

OTHER ELEMENTS, SUCH AS FL AVONOIDS AND A VARIETY OF TERPENES

T H E S E CO M PA N I E S A R E

LIKE MYRCENE, LIMONENE, AND PINENE, FURTHER THE BENEFITS OF CANNA-

INCREDIBLE SOURCES OF I N S I D E R I N FO A B O U T T H E T R E N DS A N D I SS U E S D R I V I N G THIS THRIVING MARKETPLACE FO RWA R D. S E N S I AS K E D T H E TO P L E A D E R S I N A VA R I E T Y O F S E C TO R S TO J O I N T H E S E N S I A DV I S O RY

BIS IN WAYS WE ARE JUST BEGINNING TO QUANTIFY AND APPRECIATE.

GASTROINTESTINAL ABSORPTION

The body can absorb the components of cannabis in many ways. When it’s ingested as a beverage or liquid, it’s primarily absorbed through the stomach and small intestines, parts of the gastrointestinal tract, and ultimately the liver. Most of the digestion and absorption takes place in the small intestine, between the stomach and the large intestine. Consuming cannabis in edible form allows the body to interact with the plant in ways not afforded by smoking or vaporizing.

For patients looking to cannabis for its medicinal effects, ingesting it may be the

B OA R D. THESE BOARD

preferred way to go. Consuming cannabis in edible form allows it to interact direct-

MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO

ly with internal organs, which may be preferable for people with Crohn’s disease,

I M PA RT S O M E O F T H E I R

irritable bowel syndrome, liver conditions, or certain other ailments. The effects of

I N D U ST RY K N OW L E D G E

gastrointestinal absorption typically last longer than smoking or vaping, too. A per-

WITH OUR READERS IN THIS

son looking to cannabis to help with insomnia may enjoy a better, longer night’s

D E D I C AT E D S E C T I O N, W H I C H

sleep with edibles.

A P P E A R S I N E AC H ISSUE. THIS MONTH, WE HEAR FROM THE MASTERMINDS

marQaha, Cannabis Insurance Services, A N D ExtractCraft .

AT

For a full list of our Advisory Board Members, turn to the masthead on page 8.

Beyond the standard defined medicinal uses of cannabis, more of today’s recreational users are also turning to the plant for its therapeutic benefits. The importance of accurate, measurable doses in liquid form is a key component of safe use on both the medical and recreational sides.

Many consumers, looking for a discrete alternative to smoking or vaping, prefer measured liquid doses. Because it’s not inhaled, a liquid dose can be tightly controlled and delivered in a method more traditionally associated with a pharmaceutical. It’s not as fast-acting as inhalation, but liquids are absorbed by the body faster than other forms of edibles, so the effects are typically felt in 30 to 45 minutes. Due to the time delay, consumers should start with a small dose of 1-10 mg of activated THC (the most common cannabinoid responsible for the euphoric effects).

Since all edibles companies are required by law to properly label, test, and dose their products, it is important for the consumer to read the instructions established by the manufacturer. The precision—and the ability to reliably repeat the effects based on the dose—is one of the many benefits of consuming cannabis in this form. If one is a regular user for medicinal or recreational purposes, it is vital to be able to rely on proper dosage to properly anticipate the effects throughout the period of usage.

18

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 2016

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

Protecting Your Green

by Stephani Day, Cannabis Insurance Services

EVERY BUSINESS NEEDS INSURANCE. THIS INCLUDES YOUR CANNABIS BUSINESS. THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE IS COVERAGE FOR BASICALLY ALL CANNABIS BUSINESSES ALREADY, AND AS NEW ONES POP UP, THE INSURANCE MARKET WILL CONTINUE TO GROW. IN FACT, THERE HASN’T BEEN ONE INSTANCE SO FAR WHEN I COULDN’T FIND COVERAGE FOR A CLIENT WHO WAS SEEKING TO COVER A CANNABIS BUSINESS. YES, THE INSURANCE CARRIERS ARE APPROACHING THE GREEN LANDSCAPE WITH CAUTION, BUT MORE AND MORE MARKETS ARE SLOWLY BECOMING AVAILABLE.

The cannabis world has access to pretty much the same coverages that any other type of business would: property, general liability, workers’ compensation, and now even product liability and crop coverage. There are guidelines a company has to follow to be eligible, but a successful operation will want to follow those anyway to mitigate the risks as much as possible.

Insurance has a bad rap in the cannabis industry, but that’s not because companies with proper coverage have had claims denied. Sure, there are plenty of court cases where a company has had claims denied by the preferred carrier, but that’s because cannabis is an excluded classification in the insurance. It’s actually pretty common for a company to buy insurance just so they feel covered, even though cannabis is excluded from the coverage in the event of a claim. Having an insurance agent who specializes in the industry can help you avoid this by ensuring you are getting the proper coverage. Because there’s no reason you should pay for an insurance policy just to say you have insurance when there are now other options (such as specialized cannabis insurance markets) available. In this industry, the products and underwriting guidelines are constantly changing. It is important to have an agent who keeps up with it all to guide you. Because the last thing you want in the event of a theft or a lawsuit is to find out you are not properly covered.

The Power of Extraction

by Colby Zeedyk, ExtractCraft, LLC

CANNABIS: IT’S NOW PERVASIVE THROUGHOUT AMERICAN CULTURE, APPEARING MORE AND MORE ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND DRIVING POLITICAL AGENDAS. CELEBRITIES ARE PROMOTING THEIR CONSUMPTION OF IT, MOVIES ARE CELEBRATING ITS USE, AND THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY IS EMBRACING ITS POTENTIAL . The healing power of cannabis can

no longer be denied, the truth is finally being set free. Everything from cancer to Parkinson’s to numerous other diseases and ailments are drawing intense interest for cannabis studies. The medical community still has much to learn about this amazing plant, but the future is bright.

Cannabis extracts, also known as concentrates, are where the plant’s true potential is waiting. Essential oil can be extracted from the plant matter, creating a concentrated form of its components that can be used in a variety of applications. For centuries, doctors have used botanical concentrates in medicine, with alcohol extraction being one of the oldest extraction methods.

To achieve this, the cannabis plant is soaked in grain alcohol (190 proof ethanol), which allows the liquid to collect the essential oils—the natural oils obtained by distillation that have the same characteristic fragrance of the botanical from which they are extracted. This extraction method creates an essential oil that can be consumed in a variety of ways, including as tinctures, culinary infusions, and smokeable forms. The plant’s flavor profiles are well preserved while the potency is increased immensely—one reason that concentrates are highly regarded within the cannabis community.

There are still many people out there who have yet to experience the true power and wonderful nature of the remarkable cannabis plant. Legalization efforts have managed to change the views of many former prohibitionists, but there is still a long road ahead. The study of all essential oils—not just cannabis—as medicine holds so much potential. We all should have the power to choose our own medicine, to control where and how it is created. At-home essential oil extraction using a simple, safe kitchen appliance can help make this a reality. If it’s right for you, make at-home extracts of cannabis and other essential oils a key component of your personal health journey.

20

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 2016

22

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 2016

SE PT E MB E R 2016

www.sensimag.com

23

{ aroundtown }

by ROB FEEMAN

It’s the silence that strikes you at first. Instead of hearing slamming car doors, thumping music coming from open windows, and the jarring sounds of construction in your booming neighborhood, you hear the wind in the trees, the rush of the river, the call of the birds. It feels as if you’re all alone in this place— it’s just you and nature. You are one with nature. And you needed this. But the truth is, civilization is just over the top of that ridge, or past that copse of trees, or around that bend in the river. Best of all, this seemingly isolated place is just a few minutes from where you live in the city. It’s close enough to visit after work or even during your lunch break.

Denver’s nature centers and natural parks are enviable open spaces in the midst of an urban landscape — per fect escapes where you can relish the cooler air of the changing season. These educational oases are also ideal escapes for parents who want to instill a love of the great outdoors in their impressionable offspring. Here are some of our fall favorites.

A RVADA DEN V ER AURORA LI TTLETON

24

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 2016

DENVER GONE WILD No time to head to the mountains to find some peace and quiet? No worries.

Local nature centers and parks offer plenty of open spaces right here in the city.

SOUTH PL AT TE PARK CARSON NATURE CENTER { Littleton } The northward-flowing South Platte River serves as the spine of this expansive 880-acre park and its associated nature center, one of the largest and best equipped in the region. The park, as well as five fishing lakes stocked with catfish, trout, and bass, was created in the wake of a 1965 flood, when the overflowing South Platte sent a wall of water a mile long cascading through the Littleton landscape. To prevent further floods, the Chatfield Dam was built, and the town established the surrounding area as a floodplain and public use area. The park now stretches 2.5 miles along the river, and serves as a natural habitat for more than 250 kinds of birds and 60 types of mammals. A system of trails (some paved, some not) winds through the space and connects to Denver’s larger trail system. The nature center offers exhibits, live animal displays, and a River Room, which features a 12-foot-long interactive river model guaranteed to entertain the kids.

AUDUBON CENTER AT CHATFIELD { Littleton } Birders take note: named an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society, the Audubon Center at Chatfield State Park shelters as many as 345 bird species throughout the year, and also provides a home to other types of wildlife (think: mule deer, raccoons, and more, oh my!). To encourage hands-on interaction with nature, this “outdoor classroom” is stocked with equipment like binoculars, aquatic sweep nets, and microscopes available for visitor use. It also offers a wide variety of programs and activities, including wetland walks and bird banding—plus the only owl and bluegrass festival in Colorado. The HOOTenanny 2016 takes place Saturday, September 24, and it’s sure to be a … hoot.

MAJESTIC VIEW COMMUNITY PARK { Arvada } Tucked into a quiet residential area, Majestic View more than lives up to its name. From numerous spots throughout the 80-acre park, you can look across the rolling landscape to the Front Range—and strategically placed benches allow you to settle in and relish the views. Of course, in fitness-crazed Denver, no one stays still for long (except in savasana, of course), and there are interpretive trails ripe for exploration, winding through wetland areas, past lakes, and through prairie grasses. The best part: the mountains are never far from sight. If you can take your eyes off the views, you just may spot some of the resident wildlife: coyotes, muskrats, rabbits, ducks, hawks, and vultures. There’s also a free nature center on site, offering a variety of science classes and programs.

BLUFF LAKE NATURE CENTER { Denver } This gem of a park encompasses 123 acres along the banks of Sand Creek and Bluff Lake, on the eastern edge of the former Stapleton airport. It’s actually because of that old airport that this place exists today: The land served as a “crash zone” at the end of the runways for 60 years. The undeveloped spot became an urban refuge for waterfowl, deer, fox, beavers, raptors, songbirds, and other types of wildlife. Today, Denver’s only nonprofit nature center features two miles of trails (the main one loops around a lake) that meander through a variety of habitats home to native plants. Its mission is big on education, as some 5,000 elementary-school students visit the space each year. You should visit, too, to check out the bird walks, fireside chats, and science speakers.

MORRISON NATURE CENTER AT STAR K RANCH { Aurora } Driving up to the Morrison Nature Center, you’re greeted by a herd of galloping horses, part of a public art display called the “Steel Stampede.” The 13 life-sized horse silhouettes, sculpted from stainless steel by Kentucky artist Douwe Blumberg, serve as a visual cue to the site’s wild nature. Previously a ranch belonging to the Stark family, this 200-acre preserve serves as a trailhead for the 13-milelong Sand Creek Regional Greenway Trail system, which connects the Platte River Greenway to the High Line Canal Trail.

Using those trails and others, it’s possible to hike, bike, or horseback ride through the eastern suburbs to Cherry Creek State Park, Quincy Reservoir in Aurora, and further points east, south, and west. The nature center houses a number of exhibits and educational displays, with a fireplace and cozy spots for the kids to settle and learn about nature.

SE PT E MB E R 2016

www.sensimag.com

25

P R O MOT ION A L F E AT URE

T E R R A P I N C A R E S TAT I O N

Beyond the Brand A S OW N E R O F T E R R A P I N C A R E ST AT I O N , C H R I S WO O D S H A S W I T N E S S E D A LOT O F C H A N G E S I N THE CO LO R A D O C A N N A B I S LANDSCAPE IN THE LAST SIX YEARS. THE E N T R E P R E N E U R —W H O O P E N E D H I S F I R ST M E D I C A L STO R E I N B O U L D E R I N J U N E O F 2010 THEN ADDED A RECREATIONAL STORE THERE PLUS TWO MORE IN AURORA—REC E N T LY OP E N E D TH E FIRST TERRA PIN C A RE STATION IN D ENVER AFTER PURCHASING D E N V E R RELIEF, THE CITY’S OLDEST MEDICAL DISPENSARY.

“There’s a lot of history there,” says Woods, who worked alongside Denver Relief owners Ean Seeb, Kayvan Khalatbari, and Nick Hice to help pass Amendment 64. “These are people I’ve known for six or seven years, and they run a good business.

They were the first medical dispensary to open in Denver.”

Woods feels this is a good opportunity to finally enter the Denver market. “We’ve tried to grow responsibly and organically. We have heard from people in Denver who want to go to our stores but found it inconvenient to go to Boulder or Aurora,” he says. So the new Denver spot is located in Baker, a booming neighborhood with lots of residential buildings, solid nighlife activity, a lot of foot traffic, and a good mix of restaurants and shops.

“We want to engage in communities that want to engage our business,” Woods says. Whether standing up for issues like gay rights or homelessness, Woods has always felt that businesses need to support community values. “We’ve done a lot in Boulder, and there’s been some controversy around that. We really want to enrich the community we do business in. It’s only fair that successful businesses would give back and support the values of the community. We want to show

“

We’ve tried to

grow responsibly and organically.

”

CHRI S WO O DS // OWNER

that we’re part of the mainstream business community, and one of the best ways is to give back.”

Woods is planning to open a Terrapin Care Station in Eugene, Oregon, in the near future. And he’s excited about the possibilities of opening a medical grow operation, one of 25 being allowed, in his home state of Pennsylvania. “Who knows

if it will happen? But it would be really cool to come back to my home state and bring the business I cultivated in Colorado back to my Pennsylvania roots. Some towns along the Rust Belt have never recovered from steel mills leaving the state. That I could go back and be an employer and give good paying jobs and benefits—that makes me really happy.”

26

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 2016

P R O MOT ION A L F E AT URE

WA NA B R A N D S

Do You Wana?

OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE NUMBER OF EDIBLE COMPANIES IN COLORADO HAS GROWN FASTER THAN A ROW OF CANNABIS. NEW BRANDS ARE SPROUTING UP ALL THE TIME, AND THE MARKETPLACE IS GROWING LIKE A WEED—AND NOT THE GOOD KIND OF WEED. QUANTITY DOESN’T ALWAYS TRANSLATE TO QUALITY, AND WHEN QUALITY SUFFERS, SO DO THE CONSUMERS WHO WANT TAST Y TREATS INFUSED WITH ACCURATELY DOSED MEDICINE THAT’S RELIABLE AND SAFE. AND TASTY. DID WE MENTION IT NEEDS TO BE TASTY?

As the saying goes, there’s nothing like the original. And Wana Brands is one of Colorado’s original infused products manufacturers, making tasty delights in the Centennial State since 2010. The current lineup of Wana Brands offerings includes artisan, made-from-scratch edibles, concentrates, and medicinal products—including the most popular sour gummies in the state. That popularity has led to the Wana brand expanding into Oregon and now Nevada.

The reason for the popularity is apparent from just one taste. One of the founding principles at Wana is that consuming an edible should be a treat. With this in mind, the team at Wana Edibles has developed and refined recipes that highlight the flavors of the ingredients, not the medicine. Over at Wana Extracts, they have optimized the concentrate processing to retain as much of the terpenes and flavonoids in the cannabis plant as possible. The result: the hash and vape oil both smell and taste great.

Wana has found a nice niche in the edible marketplace—thanks in large part to its company mission, dedicated to providing both dispensaries and patients alike with professionalism, quality, consistency, and innovation. That consistency is the result of a lot of effort: Wana lab tests every batch of tincture it produces and adjusts the batches based on potency—some extra steps that have been in place since the company’s inception, long before it was the industry norm.

But it’s that last pillar of innovation that led to the latest Wana product category: Wana Medicinals. This branch is responsible for the only extended-release cannabis capsules on the market today, available in three THC-to-CBD ratios. The next generation in the evolution of the medical marijuana marketplace, WanaCapsxr are the result of a partnership between Wana Brands and Cannabics Pharmaceuticals, a USbased drug development company with a research and development division in Israel that developed the proprietary technology behind the formulation. Medical research of cannabis has been legal in Israel since 2008, so the joint venture allowed for the capsules to be tested on over 100 patients. The test subjects found the capsules to be effective at reducing pain, eliminating nausea, and improving sleep, appetite, and mood. And the extended-release formula helps ease the stress of patients who worry about re-dosing.

Those findings are certainly in line with Wana Brand’s mission to “Enhance Your Life.”

28

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 2016

–CHRISTINA ODET TE

SE PT E MB E R 2016

www.sensimag.com

29

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF WELLS // COURTESY OF DENVER ART MUSEUM

DENVER ART MUSEUM : Since its founding in 1893, DAM has amassed more than 70,000 works of art, one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of world art between Chicago and the West Coast.

30

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 2016

by R ANDY R OB INSON & R OB F EE M AN

J U S T T H R E E D E C A D E S AG O ,

Denver

DIDN’ T H AV E M U C H OF

AN ART SCENE. THE CIT Y HOSTED JUST THREE MAJOR GALLERIES WITH A SCANT FEW PROMINENT WORKS. DURING DENVER’S AESTHETIC DARK AGES, CRITICS CONSIDERED COLORADO SPRINGS AND BOULDER TO BE COLORADO’S CREATIVE HAVENS, NOT THE MILE HIGH CIT Y. Now, Denver is home to over a dozen world-famous

after it merged with its commercial competitor Au-

collections, and the city enjoys a spattering of nearly

raria, did it become the Denver that we know today.

a hundred smaller galleries. We own bragging rights

But even before James Denver, the area was gov-

to an art district that stretches halfway across town.

erned by Chief Little Raven of the Arapaho tribe. And

We’ve been crowned the queen of the art scene be-

before Chief Little Raven, the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arap-

tween Los Angeles and Chicago, and as our city con-

aho called these lands their own. Due to gold, silver, and

tinues to grow at an explosive rate, so too does our

other shiny things, settlers arranged sketchy treaties

artistic output.

with the American Indians. It took less than a decade

What you’re about to read is more than just a

for the settlers to usurp the land around the Platte River

handy guide to our city’s collections. It’s a map of

and Cherry Creek. After a series of bloody battles—and

our country’s history, and how Denver formed an in-

one particularly embarrassing massacre—the “pale

tegral part of our national identity. Right here, in our

faces” forced most of the Indians out of the Denver area.

bustling metro area, we serve as a time capsule, a

Those stories of pueblos, of ancient gods slumber-

glimpse into the story of America’s convoluted evo-

ing in the mountains, of early Native alliances with

lution through time—and space.

white men, of broken treaties, of mining towns and buffalo, can be found depicted in photos, sculptures,

T H E W ILD W E ST Denver proper was founded in 1858 by one James

paintings, and pottery at the M U S E U M OF WESTER N A RT {1727 TREMONT PL ACE, DENVER }.

W. Denver. It’s easy to forget, in all the rabid “Colorado native vs. non-native” bickering we hear today,

T H E I N D US T R I A L AG E { Ri No }

that the state’s capital was founded by a man from

The railways plowed through the plains. Claims

Kansas. It wasn’t always called “Denver,” either. As

were staked and left empty holes once stripped of their

a gold rush town, the city was first fittingly known

precious metals. So-called pioneers abandoned sa-

as “El Dorado,” then “ Denver City,” and only later,

loons and brothels almost as soon as they popped up.

SE PT E MB E R 2016

www.sensimag.com

31

At one point, Denver nearly became a ghost town.

But the robber barons saw potential in the young, dusty city. With heavy investment, the camp once known as El Dorado transformed into the Rocky Mountains’ cusp of manufacturing.

The American midwest’s most famous art district, RiNo, wasn’t always an arts district. Ironically, RiNo used to be Denver’s industrial district, where factory workers toiled under an 18-hour-day, 6-day workweek that crushed their dreams beneath the behemoth heels of steel and capital.

Alas, Denver’s most creative minds got the last laugh. Artists, after all, have a fairly twisted sense of humor, which you can see for yourself throughout RiNo. Several lavish studios here were once failed factories, warehouses, or depots. By preserving the area’s old, oppressive brick-and-aluminum architectures, these studios flip the proverbial bird at industry by forging cuttingedge works in the very places that once snuffed out higher aspirations. Check out BLU E SI LO ST U DIOS { 4701 NATIONAL WESTERN DRIVE }, DRY ICE FACTORY { 3300 WALNUT STREET }, I RON TON ST U DIOS { 3636 CHESTNUT PL ACE } to experi-

ence historic sites that house some rather ingenious creations.

Another thing RiNo is famous for: graffiti. The scourge of urban OCDs everywhere, graffiti is lauded as a high art form in RiNo rather than as a nuisance. The entire neighborhood sports the most dazzling examples of clever, insightful wall art to ever grace a back alley. From September 17-18,

SANTA FE TRAIL

In addition to the factories-turned-studios, Denver exhibits a number of small galleries dotted along Santa Fe, where rookie and veteran artists alike show off their newest and boldest creations. The days of immolated seamstresses are no more; today, tourists from around the world visit Santa Fe to share laughs as they critique art nouveau paintings over craft whiskeys and crystal glasses of merlot.

Santa Fe is also the spot for Denver’s First Friday celebrations, where the expansive roadway becomes a giant district-wide party of open galleries, wine tastings, and street performances to delight droves of bar-hopping art connoisseurs.

ROCK- N - ROLLING through the COLD WA R As the CIA pushed the abstract expressionists into the public eye (SEE PAGE 34 FOR MORE DETAILS) , little did they know that America would soon invent another earth-shattering cultural phenomenon: rock and roll. Born from black congregations in the South and on the East Coast, rock and roll would forever cement America’s place in music, art, youth, and pop culture history. Walk through the COLORADO MUSIC HALL OF FAME { 17900 TRADING POST ROAD, MORRISON }

event where Colorado’s best graffiti art-

at Red Rocks Amphitheatre to see memorabilia from legends such as The Beatles, U2, and, of course, John Denver. TH E

ists gather to paint the town red—along

FILLMORE AUDITORIUM {1510 NORTH CL ARKSON STREE T }

with every other color on the spectrum.

off Colfax, too, houses photos and memorabilia from worldfamous acts.

catch the Colorado Crush, a weekend

32

the

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 2016

1950s AB S T RAC T I ONS :

Still himself was a bit of an outsider. In 2011, Denver

C I A PAT R O NAG E DU R I NG

became the lucky city selected by Patricia Still,

T H E C OL D WA R

Clyfford’s widow, to house the entirety of Still’s col-

The age of industry led to blind nationalism. Blind nationalism led to two world wars. Ultimately, America and her allies emerged the victors, but not without a price. The atom bomb and the Iron Curtain ushered in a new period of fear-riddled angst.

Afraid that the US could lose a cultural war against the USSR, the CIA cooked up a plan. The plan would dethrone Paris as the artistic center of the West, making America the new king of the avant garde. By showing America’s freethinking spirit, by demonstrating our defiant will to expression, the US could defeat the PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF DENVER ART MUSEUM

communist ideology of mindless collectivism. To do this, the CIA would act as a covert patron to a new art movement of fringe thinkers: abstract expressionism.

The reason we know about guys like Jackson Pollock or Mark Rothko is because of this CIA arts program. This CIA project was so secret it never even got a cool name like “MK Ultra” or “Operation Nocturnal Emission.” This isn’t some cooky conspiracy theory hatched from the darkest recesses of Alex Jones’s dim mind, either. This is documented historical fact.

lection. The CLY F FOR D ST I L L M U SEU M { 1250 BANNOCK STR EE T } contains over 3,000 works from this

American icon, making it one of the world’s largest galleries devoted to a single artist.

Of all the collections on this list, Still’s requires inperson attendance. You can’t appreciate his paintings by looking at photos of them on the Internet.

Some of these canvases are huge; they were designed to loom over the audience. To truly experience them, sometimes you’ve got to crane your neck back.

Clyfford Still, however, wasn’t alone in this CIA patronage. The D E N V E R A RT M U SE U M {100 WEST 14TH AVENUE PARKWAY } is currently hosting “The Wom-

en of Abstract Expressionism” exhibit until September 2 5. The women in this exhibit, from Elaine de Kooning, to Deborah Remington, to Perle Fine, all benefited from this shadowy benevolence project.

Rarely do art historians discuss the contributions that female artists made to this Cold-War, spy-driven art movement, so catch it while you still can.

One beneficiary of this program was Clyfford Still.

Even among the weirdos of the abstract expressionists,

MODERN & CONTEMPORARY : Orion, 1988, by Deborah Butterfield, at Denver Art Museum.

The artist scavengers for old car parts to create her works.

She crafted Orion ’s muzzle and jaw from an old fender.

34

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 2016

1980s A ND BE YON D : T H E POS T M O D ER A After the insanity of the Cold War (supposedly) ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the nation— and the world—transitioned to a new era of artistic thought. Unfortunately, this era, known as the postmodern, sought to defy definition. Its focus on absurdity, cultural fusion, and intellectual play meant its characteristics were difficult to pin down.

The postmod era got its start in New York City. In Denver, located on the 16th Street Mall, sits the DI KEOU COLLECT ION { 1615 CALIFORNIA STREET, #515 }. This

gallery, founded by siblings Devon and Pany Dikeou, is probably the closest thing to New York’s po-mo scene this side of the Mississippi. The Dikeou Collection

PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAUL GARCIA // COURTESY OF CLYFFORD STILL MUSEUM

CLYFFORD STILL MUSEUM : The Still Museum collection, which contains roughly 95 percent of the artist’s pieces, includes about 3,125 works created between 1920 and 1980.

houses some of the most wonderfully cute yet capricious works that should tantalize everyone’s inner child—or perhaps make them cry a little. But it’s the good kind of crying, the kind you have when you realize everything society told you is a beautiful lie, and the truth turns out to be not ugly, but awfully hilarious.

19 60s - 1970s :

Pop art, classical art, religious art—none of it is sacred

T H E B U E L L T H E AT R E

at the Dikeou Collection, because absurdity, ultimate-

THE BUELL THEATRE {1350 CURTIS STREET }, a mon-

ly, is the only truly sacred thing in an absurd world.

ument of American stage performance, is probably

If you’re already downtown to check out the Dikeou

the most notable building seen from Speer Blvd. Its

Collection, you might as well walk a few blocks over

owners say it’s the largest art complex “under one

to the Denver Art Museum, the granddaddy of all art

roof,” but its history is as strange as anything else

collections in Colorado. In 2006, the additions of the

you’d expect in our state.

Duncan Complex and the Hamilton Building nearly

Before the Buell became Colorado’s Broadway, it

tripled the size of this already-gargantuan gallery.

was a sports stadium. Legend has it that a compet-

True to the spirit of postmodernism’s obsession with

ing basketball team once placed a hex on our state,

multiculturalism, the Denver Art Museum features

and if you’ve followed the Nuggets’s games, you might

nearly every type of artistic geo-something imagin-

buy in to that tale. The complex’s opening ceremo-

able: here, you’ll find pre-Columbian Native American

ny, back in the late 1960s, included a cleansing ritual

art, full suits of genuine Japanese samurai armor, im-

which, apparently, didn’t work.

mortal statues that once guarded Chinese palaces, oil

Out-of-towners may be surprised to learn that heavy

canvases of dancing bears, useless-but-eye-pleasing

metal gurus Led Zeppelin performed their first US

furniture, portraits of local figures, African masks, and

show here. Or that Spencer Haywood, Colorado’s first

photographs from a time when no one smiled for the

superstar athlete, made his name in this very build-

camera. If you’re bringing your family to the DAM,

ing. If you’re from Denver, then you probably already

there’s an entire section devoted to children.

know that the Buell Theatre showcases some of the

If you’re still hankering for a taste of the (post)

most talented performers in the US, whether it’s mu-

modern, keep the M USE U M O F C O N T E M P OR A RY

sicals, ballets, Cirque du Soleil, stand-up acts, or clas-

A RT { 1485 DELGANY STREET } at the top of your list. Al-

sic plays.

though its quality is most certainly on par with the

And if you happen to be wandering around before

DAM, the MCA specializes in modernity. There’s also

or after a show, the top level of the theater’s parking

activities for kids here, such as the Bubble Garden,

garage has some of the most breathtaking views of the

a miniverse constructed of plastic spheres made to

Denver downtown area. {Shhh, I didn’t tell you that.}

play on. Heck, adults could have a blast here, too.

SE PT E MB E R 2016

www.sensimag.com

35

h

emp

by ROBYN G R IG G S L AWRENCE

C . J. Jorgensen C R O C H E T S E V E RY C H A N C E S H E G E T S . T H E F I B E R A R TI S T A N D C L O T H I N G D E S I G N E R W O U L D C R O C H E T 24/7 I F S H E C O U L D . S O W H E N S H E

M O V E D F R O M B O U L D E R TO C O L O R A D O ’S W E S T E R N S L O P E W I T H H E R G O O D F R I E N D A N D B U S I N E S S PA R T N E R , B I L L H AY E S , A C O U P L E YE A R S AG O, S H E N AT U R A L LY B E G A N E X P L O R I N G N E A R BY T E X T I L E R E S O U R C E S. One day, she was given several skeins of a hemp-

es, often crocheting into the wee morning hours, while

wool blend (or bouclé) that had been sitting in the En-

she built a career as a hair stylist, ran a sweet shop in

viroTextiles warehouse in Grand Junction because no

Montana, and worked in sales.

one could work with its uneven texture. Always up for

“I’ve always gravitated to entrepreneurial things

a challenge, Jorgensen began experimenting with the

that give me freedom and independence,” Jorgensen

tedious yarn, creating projects and tearing them apart,

says, revealing the cowgirl attitude that inspired her

developing stitches to accommodate the thick-then-

studio’s name. “And I’ve always felt it’s important to

thin material. She fell in love with the yarn’s nubby

have some form of art in my life.”

texture and found ways to stitch it into elegant, flowing

Last year, shortly after Jorgensen began playing with

garments. Inspired by the blend, she also began play-

hemp, she was invited to be part of Elemental Rising

ing with smoother, more workable pure hemp. Jorgen-

Fashion Show in Paonia, Colorado. She had three months

sen now works almost exclusively with Cannabis sa-

to create eight items, and she set to work making dress-

tiva , and she’s carving out an edgy niche in wearable

es, ponchos, tops, and hats—all at the same time. When

art through her company, Zen Cowgirl Studios.

she couldn’t figure out where to go next with one piece,

“The more I work with hemp, the more I like it,”

she put it down and picked up another. As all eight

Jorgensen says. “ It shapes really nicely, and it moves

pieces sat in various stages of completion, she says,

and contours with the body. Hemp fiber is not as soft

“the garments took on a life of their own.” The resulting

because it’s not processed with any synthetic fibers,

collection of timelessly sexy dresses and versatile ac-

but it turns out really cool designs. It’s also surpris-

companiments pairs perfectly with boots and cowboy

ingly lightweight. You barely know you have it on.”

hats (Zen Cowgirl boasts some 30 different hat designs)

Inspired by her mother’s beautiful handknit sweat-

and could be worn to a rodeo or the opera. It was a huge

ers, Jorgensen taught herself how to crochet when

36

hit at the fashion show.

she was a teenager because she thought working

Though she creates and works from prototypes, ev-

with one crochet hook would be easier than handling

ery piece Jorgensen makes is one of a kind. She has

two needles. She immediately became obsessed with

a vision as she begins a project, but she may find new

the art and churned out sweaters, doilies, ponchos,

ways to play with stitches or the pattern as it comes

and blankets as gifts for her large family in George-

together. At her home studio at HCZG Ranch (so

town, Colorado. She continued to create original piec-

named for Hippies & Cowboys and Zen Cowgirl),

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 201 6

IN

G

D

I ES

ar

R

le b a

N E Z

s e n of

IR L G W CO

M E H

S T UD I O S t ur n s s im ple s

.

T R A P

titc

he

s

int

o

we

E GN

n or ge J .

J C.

F IB E R

ART

IS T

an

dC

LO

TH

tress

SE PT E MB E R 2016

www.sensimag.com

37

The newest Zen Cowgirl collection focuses on natural fibers made of hemp, wool, and flax.

hemp COMES

home

Hemp {Cannabis sativa }, one of humankind’s first domestically cultivated plants, has been used to make clothing since at least 8000 BC. One of the world’s strongest and most durable textile fibers, hemp is also one of the most sustainable. One acre of hemp produces as much fiber as two to three acres of cotton, and hemp can be grown without the herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides that cotton and other textiles require.

This miraculous plant—considered so valuable that it was used as legal tender in colonial America—fell victim to prohibition when reefer madness swept the United States. Though it contains less than 0.3 percent of the psychoactive cannabinoid THC, hemp was outlawed alongside its psychoactive cousin as part of the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937.

Most hemp sold in the United States today comes from China, Hungary, Thailand, Romania, Chile, and Canada. That may change as cannabis law reform sweeps the United States. Congress is considering legislation that would

“

exclude hemp from the legal definition of marijuana,

I’m passionate

A B O U T F I N D I N G W AY S T O H E L P PE OPLE I NCORPORAT E H E M P INTO

and several states—including Colorado—have legalized cultivation and research of industrial hemp. Colorado has 1,600 acres of hemp under cultivation.

T H E I R L I F E ST Y L E S. I ’ M E XC I T E D A B O U T B E I N G PA RT O F A W H O L E

new industry.

”

Jorgensen crochets custom hemp pieces and clothing for special occasions, crafting items such as christening gowns and wedding dresses.

“I’m passionate about finding ways to help people incorporate hemp into their lifestyles. I’m very excited about being part of a whole new industry,” Jorgensen says. “I want to make clothes for the rich and famous.”

38

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 2016

Visit WWW.ZENCOWGIRLSTUDIOS.COM to view the full collection of one of a kind designs.

m use SPECIAL

REPORT

by LEL AND R UC K E R

“Cannabis helps my creativity.” H O W M A N Y T I M E S H AV E I H E A R D T H I S OV E R T H E L AS T F O U R D EC A D E S? B I G T H I N K E R S L I K E C A R L SAG A N A N D STEVE JOBS ARE ON THE RECORD AS A SCIENTIST AND CEO, RESPECTIVELY, WHO

USED CANNABIS. MUSICIANS FROM LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND BILLIE HOLIDAY TO W I L L I E N E L S O N A N D N I C K I M I N A J S W E A R BY I T. I H AV E N E V E R S A I D THAT CANNABIS CAUSES ME TO BE CREATIVE, BUT I HAVE ARGUED, LIKE THE PAINTER ON SANJAY GUPTA’S FIRST CNN WEED SPECIAL, THAT “IT’S MY FAVO R I T E WAY TO W O R K.” But is there anything to this? Is there really a con-

ally done against time constraints, to mea-

nection between using cannabis and being creative,

sure “creativity.” One, for example, asked

and if so, what is it? Does it actually stimulate people to

the subject to name as many words as they

be more inspired, imaginative, inventive, or artistic?

could in 30 seconds. Though that might be an appro-

There are no easy answers, as is the case with

priate scientific way to approach it, I’m unsure that it

much we are still learning about cannabis. It is gen-

helps us understand anything about the process. And

erally believed and understood that cannabis and

some of the research seems biased. A 2012 study ad-

THC stimulate activity in the frontal lobe of the

mitted that little is known about how drugs affect the

brain, which is where dopamines (sensitive neurons

mind, but suggested that cannabis use might stimu-

generally associated with reward, attention span,

late the sections of the brain (i.e. the frontal lobe) that

and short-term memory) are located. Beyond that,

lead to divergent thinking. A different test two years

trying to even quantify creativity is a sticky wicket.

later denied those conclusions vehemently. “The im-

Psychology researchers can’t define it. Is creativity

proved creativity that they believe they experience

the end product of creative work, or is it reflected in

is an illusion,” Dr. Lorenza Colzato of the Institute of

the personality of the person?

Psychology at Leiden University said about his study.

More interesting is whether creativity might have

“If you want to overcome writer’s block or any other

something to do with the differences between con-

creative gap, lighting up a joint isn’t the best solution.

vergent thinking, which is the ability to follow logi-

Smoking several joints one after the other can even

cal steps to a conclusion, and divergent thinking,

be counterproductive to creative thinking.”

which centers around a less linear process to come up with answers.

Most research on the subject relies on tests, gener40

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 2016

Those methods don’t even hint at what’s going on when I write under the influence, especially since I’m never being asked to come up with as many

EVERYBODY from Carl Sagan on down swears by the ABILIT Y of C AN N A B I S to influence creativity.

Is there anything to it, or is it just an ILLUSION ?

SE PT E MB E R 2016

www.sensimag.com

41

words as I can to describe something in 30 seconds

that I often start doing things that I have never done

to test my creativity. And they do nothing to explain

before. I have ideas that take me beyond the things

why so many creative people still use cannabis to

I usually play —different melodies, rhythms, concepts,”

produce outstanding, innovative work.

he says. “I surprise myself. Sometimes, I think, ‘Where

So I began to talk to cannabis users to find out what

did that come from? Never played that before.’ And

they see as the link between cannabis and creativity.

that is the key word: Surprise. I am often able to cre-

Most find it hard to accurately describe their expe-

ate new shapes, patterns, something that did not

rience, but all mentioned some variation on the “di-

previously exist.”

vergent thinking” concept.

Everybody I talked with says is that cannabis makes

“I like a ton of input and jam it into my brain,” says

them see and think things in a different way. Sebas-

Sebastian Vidali, founder of Arcana, Inc, a cannabis-fo-

tian Marincolo is a neuroscientist who lives in Stutt-

cused brand development group. “Smoke allows an al-

gart, Germany, who has studied the positive potential

most Tony Stark thing, or that’s the way it feels, any-

of cannabis for the last decade. His most recent book,

way. It connects things together in a fluid way and

What Hashish Did to Walter Benjamin: Mind Altering

helps create a new picture. I feel less held back by other

Essays on Cannabis, looks into how cannabis was

factors. I’m always running multiple strains of thoughts,

used positively by historical figures like Sagan, Rudy-

and it feels to me that I can dive into one thread and

ard Kipling, and Miles Davis, among many others, and

make connections. It clears the noise in a way.”

tries to explain how judicious use of the marijuana

“It’s hard to explain, but it opens up the creative river,

high helped them and can help others.

gets those creative juices going,” says Patrick McGre-

Marincolo began looking into the connections be-

gor, a painter and muralist who works in a lot of differ-

tween cannabis and creativity while working on his

ent media. “I’ll be uninspired, take a lunch break, smoke

doctorate in philosophy and neuroscience. His room-

a little, and it’ll bring me back into the painting.”

mate was studying toxicity, and they began to re-

Neil Haverstick is a master at almost any stringed

search marijuana as it related to mind enhancement.

instrument. He says cannabis is more common than

They weren’t interested in the medical aspects.

you might imagine in the music biz. “I would say I’ve

“We started looking into how it can help cognitive en-

know many hundreds of musicians who smoke pot;

hancement of episodic memories,” Marincolo says.

in fact, I’ve only known a few that haven’t. Of course,

“People have reported, and I have experienced, an en-

I’ve also seen a lotta alcohol use, cigarette smoking,

hanced episodic memory—like for instance, you re-

and cocaine sniffing over the years in my field, but

member events from childhood in greater detail.”

fortunately, not much usage of heroin.”

Another fundamental element they found was a

He doesn’t really like playing live while elevated,

hyperfocus of attention. “Whatever you tend to be

but cannabis is an important part of his writing pro-

thinking about is more in focus,” Marincolo says. “Be-

cess. “When I start to play my guitar (or oud), I find

cause of that you have an intensification of experi-

mind acceleration M A N Y P E OPLE E X PE R I E NC E A

T H AT I S G E N E R A L LY A S S O C I AT E D W I T H

a slowdown I N T I M E P E R C E P T I O N.

42

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 2016

ence. Things seem to be more detailed and intense because you’re more focused and have the ability to imagine things. Imagination is crucial for creativity.

And it’s not just images, it’s also important for people who compose music or for a chef who is imagining a taste for a dessert.”

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

Dr. Sebastian Marincolo

WILL HOLD WORKSHOPS ABOUT THE CREATIVE, COGNITIVE, AND WELLNESSENHANCING EFFECTS OF CANNABIS AT THE SUMMIT RECREATIONAL RETREAT NEAR DENVER ON OC TOBER 1 & 2 AND OC TOBER 8 & 9. CALL 303.841.7050 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Marincolo also found that many users experience an enhancement of body perception. “Some describe how they can feel cold water going down their throats, or that they have better touch or sex experiences.”

Users report the ability to understand and connect better with the emotions and moods of friends, chil-

HI HER G learning Dive deep into the cannabis and creativity connection with these in-depth reads.

The Natural Mind: A New Way of Looking at Drugs and the Higher Consciousness { BY ANDREW WEIL } Weil’s groundbreaking 1972 work offered a different way to look at consciousness at the same time that cannabis was designated a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. Creativity & Beyond: Culture, Values and Change { BY R . P. WEINER } This penetrating look at how cultures throughout history have looked at creativity and consciousness was originally released in 2000.

What Hashish Did to Walter Benjamin : Mind-Altering Essays on Marijuana { BY DR. SEBASTIAN MARINCOLO } Marincolo’s 2015 series of essays looks at significant figures in history and their connection to cannabis.

dren, and partners. “They see patterns in the behavior of other people and understand them better.

There can be an enhancement of language understanding, to get into flow of other languages.”

have this knowledge.”

I think we’ll be waiting a long time for science to

Nobody I spoke with seemed to be of the opinion

catch up with the connection between cannabis and

that you just hit the bong, and boom, the creativity

creativity. Until then, Marincolo’s studies and my dis-

gong hits you in the head. “My conclusion is that I

cussions with other users make sense to me in ways

think there is abuse in countries with prohibition,

that traditional methods and research don’t.

where people have access only to poor quality, black-

First, of course, cannabis has to be decriminalized,

market product, and they can abuse it as a form of

legalized, and destigmatized throughout the coun-

escapism,” says Marincolo, who offers online class-

try and around the world. “It’s a cliché of sorts that

es that include hands-on advice for personal growth,

musicians use ‘drugs,’ but I don’t think of marijuana

introspection, and dealing with personal relation-

as a drug,” Haverstick says. “I believe it has many

ships and sex. The classes emphasize how strains,

useful properties, and now that it’s becoming legal-

terpenes, and ingestion methods can influence your

ized for both medical and recreational usage, we’re

creativity. “We all have different needs, and cannabis

starting to see just how helpful it can be in a wide

has a lot to offer—especially now that we are learning

variety of situations.”

about the cannabinoid system and how different terpenes have different chemical profiles. We need to

“We need to consider it as a tool,” Marincolo says.

“But only if you know how to use it.”

SE PT E MB E R 2016

www.sensimag.com

43

44

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 2016

46

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 2016

SE PT E MB E R 2016

www.sensimag.com

47

sensi

SCENE

Cervantes’ Masterpiece

SE N S I N IGH T SOCIAL

August 10, 2016

© DAN CURTIS

Reps from top cannabis brands manned booths on two floors

On a warm Wednesday evening in early August, quite the crowd came out to Five Points for the first Sensi Night Social. The fresh bimonthly event series called to cannabis industry insiders and elite, with tables manned by representatives from top-tier companies, a raffle with solid giveaways, live paintings, massage tables, and DJ Nikka T providing the tunes. Plus, the always awesome Loopr bus right out on the street provided an elevating getaway.

The next Sensi Night Social will be held in October. Keep an eye on the Sensi Mag Facebook page for details.

8 .10

– STEPHANIE WILSON

© DAN CURTIS

© DAN CURTIS

Katherine Grimm, Maureen McNamara, and guest

© RANDY ROBINSON

Sensi Publisher Tyler Tarr joins DJ Nikka T on stage to announce winners of the top-notch raffle

LucidMood CEO Charles Jones

Sensi Editor in Chief Stephanie Wilson, L​ ia Arntsen, and Erin Tarr

SENSI

© DAN CURTIS

Partygoers mingle on the sidewalk in front of Cervantes’

NIGHT

© RANDY ROBINSON

48

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 2016

50

www.sensimag.com

SE PT E MB E R 2016

1/3 PAGE 2.375” x 9.875”