I’ve been working on an exciting consulting project on Sustainable Development. It has the potential to shift the developmental direction the cannabis industry is headed. This blog comes out of the conversations about sustainability with my client, Catherine Drumheller as we create a service pitch tailored to this business sector. Read the post and let’s continue the dynamic discussion, our future depends on it!
When new infrastructure is being built in developing nations, Sustainable Development principles are utilized for the progress. Sustainable Development (SD) is a programmatic approach applied to large and small projects to ensure successful implementation and effective continuity. Three principle elements: environmental resources, people and the economy are incorporated into the project planning. SD programs find integrated solutions for long term project success.
Cannabis businesses and the cannabis industry need to voluntarily integrate SD principles because long term success depends on creating continuous structures and principles, like environmental management, community engagement and relationship building into the economic development of this newly legalized industry.
For individual businesses, sustainability is a practical program with beneficial impacts for the company and the community it resides. The SD program creates metrics to measure and evaluate company performance. This program can be scaled small or large depending on budget and designed to flex and adapt over time. The program metrics examine relationships, employee needs, company diversity goals and community development. By being transparent with company goals, a sustainability program shows engagement and performance to employees and the business becomes a positive community partner.
The SD project model integrates the operational structure with efficiency while developing strong community ties for continued economic growth and success for the company.
Voluntary efforts like a company sustainability program normalizes cannabis business.
When most people think of sustainability, they think about energy usage. Colorado, in the first three years of legalized and regulated marijuana sales to adults, is experiencing a surge of energy consumption from indoor growing and the demands of the nascent market. Current business regulations for most counties in Colorado, except progressive thinking Boulder and Pueblo Counties, ban outdoor grows and greenhouses, which forces indoor only cultivation. High energy usage is a problem for all legalized marijuana states. Energy consumption will change when cannabis business regulations stop treating marijuana as a controlled substance and start treating it as an agriculture crop. The demand for energy is not sustainable and cannabis business and the industry has a responsibility to shape itself by evaluating and becoming a truly green economy.
As Colorado experiences the initial and subsequent cannabis industry regulations, there is an opportunity, through sustainable development, to evaluate the effectiveness and flaws of enacted policies. If a larger state wide, regional or industry program is developed, practical alternatives can be developed to avoid mistakes. If an analysis of industry performance isn’t done, problems will be exacerbated as more states and countries legalize marijuana and model the framework of Colorado regulations.
image from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org
Fortunately, steps toward evaluating current industry practices and providing sustainable alternatives is underway. City of Denver has created a Cannabis Sustainability Work Group that meets once a month to discuss environmental impacts and suggest best practices.
Catherine Drumheller is a member of the Cannabis Sustainability Work Group and President of Oak Services, a woman owned engineering, technical, and sustainable development service company. Oak Services is a network of environmental professionals who establish metrics, run performance evaluations, strategize for optimization, and provide technical solutions for businesses and organizations.
In addition to evaluating environmental impacts and suggest resource management strategies, Drumheller wants to see a holistic approach to sustainability. Drumheller says, “when environmental justice and social justice issues are decided separately the solutions are less effective.” It’s important to study the social and community issues in the new industry for long lasting development. Social evaluations include examining relationships, employee needs, racial disparity, social justice issues and community needs. By evaluating relationships, SD becomes a tool of transformation.
Catherine has a concern marijuana business regulations are creating a vice industry, which ultimately suppresses the industry potential. Marijuana business shouldn’t be primarily sidelined to poor neighborhoods or the outskirts of town. Let’s engage this issue through SD principles and change these relationships. “If we don’t evaluate now, inequality gets enshrined in the legal structure,” says Drumheller. With a developmental approach, relationships can be transformed between communities, other business sectors and marijuana companies.
In addition to integrating SD programs into individual businesses, Drumheller is in the preliminary stage of developing a sustainability think tank. The think tank will apply a programmatic approach and perform research to benefit the organization’s goals and provide integrated solutions to industry problems.
If Colorado is in the forefront as a testing ground for legalizing and regulating marijuana, cannabis businesses and the industry needs to examine its progress and adapt towards a green economy.
Contact me for more information about sustainable development programming for your cannabis business.
image from http://www.herinst.org/BusinessManagedDemocracy/environment/environmentalists/language.html
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Senator Beth Martinez Humenik
Our keynote speaker is Republican Senator Beth Martinez Humenik of Adams County. Senator Humenik is a freshman senator, and fourth generation Coloradan.
A former teacher for elementary schools and college students, Senator Humenik joins us as a freshly elected official getting her first legislative experience with marijuana law and regulation.
She serves on the Health and Human Services Committee and Local Government Committee.
Ms. AC Braddock
Ms. AC Braddock, a career entrepreneur, is currently CEO of Eden Labs in Seattle Washington. Ms. Braddock has guided and transformed the extraction technology company into the highly respected multi-million dollar company. Ms. Braddock is regarded as a thought leader in cannabis business and supports community organizations as a member of two of Washington’s Cannabis Business Women’s groups; WOW (Women of Weed) and the MJBA’s Women’s Alliance. Ms. Braddock is determined to create a new corporate structure in the emerging cannabis industry.
Mrs. Kristi Kelly
Mrs. Kristi Kelly is principal and founder of Good Meds Network, a medical marijuana company in the Denver area. Mrs. Kelly has founded several marijuana business organizations; served on state and local rulemaking committees and workgroups and has been a voice for the community as a business owner, association leader, and patient advocate. She is currently a board member of Marijuana Industry Group; a sustaining member of National Cannabis Industry Association; and founding board member of The Fourth Corner Credit Union, the world’s first marijuana financial institution.
Mrs. Kelly grew up under the influence of strong and empowered women. From this foundation, she has a developed an enduring passion for helping those in need and investing in areas that benefit women and children.
Ms. Diane Fornbacher, is founder of Ladybud Magazine, a lifestyle site for politically engaged women who enjoy cannabis. Ms. Fornbacher is co-founder of the NORML Women’s Alliance and recipient of the NORML Pauline Sabin Award in 2012, has contributed nearly 20 years of activism to local grassroots and national drug policy reform organizations. Her role as mother to two sons inspires her to create a more compassionate and sensible world for them.
Mrs. Christie Lunsford. Photo courtesy 5280 Magazine.
Mrs. Christie Lunsford is a Denver based cannabis business consultant, specializing in license applications and infused product business development. Since the beginning of her first cannabis company, she has encouraged women’s development in cannabis business. Mrs. Lunsford is a founding board member of the Women’s CannaBusiness Network (WCBN), Co Chair and MC for Mother’s High Tea in 2012 and founding member of Women Grow in 2014.
Ms. Susan Squibb
Ms. Susan Squibb, Cannabis Maven, is currently Director of Operations at Steep Hill Colorado.
She is a legalization advocate and hemp and marijuana business trailblazer since her days as a CU-Boulder student.
Ms. Squibb founded the event Mother’s High Tea in 2011, for the growing community of women in legalization and business.
Join us for Mother’s High Tea this year. Tickets are purchased on Eventbrite.
]]>Mother’s High Tea celebrates the accomplishments of women on the forefront of cannabis reform and business. The biennial event creates speaking opportunities for accomplished women to share their perspective on the changing cannabis times.
The 3rd Biennial Mother’s High Tea is May 14 from 2-5pm at the History Colorado Center in Denver. Join us for tea!
The first Mother’s High Tea began in 2011 as a community event featuring inspiring speakers around Mother’s Day for women and mothers in cannabis business.
In 2012, Mother’s High Tea was the launch of Women’s CannaBusiness Network, a project of the National Cannabis Industry Association, the women’s group that developed into Women Grow in 2014.
In 2015, with the generous sponsorship from a growing community of businesses, Mother’s High Tea continues making history with a beautiful venue, an expanding audience of women and an exciting program of speakers. Special thanks to Mary’s Medicinal’s, Julie’s Natural Edibles, MiNDFUL, Steep Hill, The Farm and Ideal 420 Soil.
Accomplished cannabis educator and entrepreneur, Mrs. Christie Lunsford is returning Master of Ceremonies, along with myself. This year’s speakers will be announced next week!
Children and well-dressed gentlemen are encouraged to attend! Event activities include a craft table, letter writing and photo booth.
We suggest buying tickets early as the event will most likely sell out. Purchase Eventbrite tickets here!
Join the community and like the Mother’s High Tea Facebook page!
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For those who love cannabis and love sex, the thought of combining the two is pretty titillating.
Note: elephantjournal.com
Enter Foria, a marijuana-based oil used before sex.
Foria, made from coconut oil, hash oil (and love), is marketed as a stimulating oil for women, to be directly applied to the lady’s business (if you know what I mean) as a pre-lubricant.
It’s advertised to naturally enhance a woman’s pleasure and heighten orgasms. That’s not all—the oil is also edible, gluten free, sugar free and vegan.
Originating in California last year, Foria is new to the recreational marijuana market in Colorado. This is a novel way to enjoy sex and marijuana. Oh my Goddess, I had to get my hands on a few bottles.
Continue reading at elephantjournal.com for the shagging details!
]]>I enjoy working in the cannabis science sector. From an overall perspective, my efforts are developing a business model in lab testing. My approach is to apply services marketing principles to the business of a production lab. The services are adapting to the needs of the clients as the industry evolves. My goals are to build integrity for lab testing and manage client expectations well.
My role at the Denver lab is Operations Director and I work with a team of scientists. On a typical day in the production lab, I am the liaison between clients and the science team. I schedule the sample flow, deliver reports, and manage the business side of the lab. The scientists prepare samples, run the instruments, analyze the data and create reports. Together we are building a production lab with the goals of providing consistent data with the fastest turnaround time possible for regulation tests.
The hallmark methodology of Steep Hill Halent is the 15 cannabinoid and 8 terpene method developed by Donald Land, a University of California at Davis chemistry professor. In addition to the research and development testing developed in Oakland, the Colorado lab offers local analytical services for businesses that require regulatory testing.
Currently we test cannabinoid potency, homogeneity for edibles, and residual solvent in concentrates. As the State rolls out more of the regulation testing program, the lab will offer microbial, pesticide, and heavy metal tests.
In our first year of business in Colorado, we occasionally host esteemed out of state guests looking for information and practical experience to help guide the development of marijuana testing programs in other states. Government officials and lawmakers tour the facility and ask questions regarding lab testing and implementing testing standards. The Steep Hill Halent of Colorado lab tour is included in a Ladybud recap article of fact finding tour by Pennsylvania state Senator, Daylin Leach to Colorado. It’s an honor to facilitate greater understanding and thoughtful conversation.
In my role as Operations Director, I enjoy the challenges being along the frontier of cannabis testing and analysis. Building a successful service model for lab testing is an exciting challenge in a increasingly competitive business sector. For lab and testing inquiries, I can be contacted at susan@steephilllab.com.
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The first three months into the end of marijuana prohibition in Colorado and I still can’t sleep at night. My nerves are pulsing with excitement. Now is an incredibly powerful time. Now always is, but this particular time feels extra special.
Marijuana legalization has been a long time coming, both in my lifetime and in American history. I can’t believe it, I’ve worked on changing laws to free a plant for 18 years of my life. And marijuana prohibition was federally put in place 77 years ago.
Colorado played a part in kicking off this lengthy prohibition. The first arrest under the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 happened in Colorado. This fact has inspired and motivated me to create change in Colorado and reverse a historical wrong. Colorado is now an epicenter for the end of marijuana prohibition.
The new reality of legalization is significant to me both as an activist and an entrepreneur. As an activist, since my years as an idealistic anthropology student at CU-Boulder, I’ve worked on changing laws and changing attitudes about cannabis and cannabis consumers. My goal is to free the plant.
I am also aware of the social ills created by marijuana prohibition laws in America. Why does the US have the highest incarceration rate in the world, in proportion to its population? What’s going on? Why are people going to jail? The highest percentage of people being imprisoned are nonviolent drug offenders. It’s important to not forget among the excitements of legalization, this significant problem of prohibition needs addressing.
To continue inspiring action all over the world, I want to share this feeling of legitimacy that has come with marijuana legalization. We are making a difference and the validation feels amazing! I want all cannabis activists and advocates to feel this expanding freedom as they change the marijuana laws in their states. The euphoric and liberating expressions on some people’s faces as they purchase cannabis in a safe and legal environment is priceless.
Legalization brings new and unexpected opportunities. Since the start of the year, I write a weekly marijuana advice column for The Denver Post. In Ask The Cannabist, I answer readers’ questions related to cannabis and appropriate cannabis use. The column isn’t an activist platform, it is an amazing opportunity to help the public navigate our changing social and legal landscape.
As a cannabis entrepreneur, I am busy developing and implementing new businesses and projects. I am utilizing my well-versed knowledge of uses, applications and markets for cannabis products from industrial hemp to medical marijuana and recreational marijuana.
I recently created two new companies to develop the cannabis market, promote quality products and further the professionalism and business integration of the fledgling cannabis industry.
As a business developer, I am creating cannabis marketing and social trends by writing freelance articles and product reviews. I share the coolest products in my website column, Consumer Confidential. I want to promote hemp products, lifestyle clothing and accessories, marijuana edibles, nonsmoking alternatives and cannabis culture and style.
I’m ready to go, are you? ~ Susan Squibb
Susan Squibb lives in Denver, Colorado. In addition to writing, Susan operates Kitchen Development Services, a consulting firm providing organizational services to infused product manufacturers. Susan also produces cannabis-themed social and marketing events through her business 4 & 20 Blackbirds. Follow her on Twitter @CannabisMaven.
]]>My best styling happened at the VIP Party. CiCi Dunn with Hemp Hoodlamb mandated edgy styling on the runway. I took the directive and put together this special look for the VIP Party. Special thanks to model and industry executive, AC Braddock for doing what I told her to do, it turned out epic!
Photos courtesy Tawnee Lynne Cowan Photography
Hemp Hoodlamb Pea Coat on the runway at VIP Party
Hemp Hoodlamb Pea Coat and House of Hoodlab Favela t-shirt.
Model’s own tights and boots.
Hemp Hoodlamb leaving a lasting impression on the runway.
You may have heard about the speakers, the massive smoke outs and other highlights of 2013′s Seattle Hempfests, but did you know there were daily fashion shows in the Hemposium Tent?
I co-produced the show, Fashion with a Passion for Freedom, with Hemposium Manager Pam Haley, featuring garments from established hemp clothing companies across the country and exciting pieces made by fresh design students at Seattle-based NY Fashion Academy.
Local fashion design students utilized bolts of hemp fabrics to create savvy garments for this first legal hemp fashion show in post I-502 Washington State. All participating clothing companies were founded in the 1990s and the well-constructed garments on the runway reflected the accrued experience in workmanship and clothing design.
The companies featured at the fashion show this year were excellent examples of eco-friendly organizations dedicated to environmental preservation with style.
Earth Creations,based in Bessemer, Alabama, creates casual and fashionable seasonal styles in hemp and organic cotton jersey. Dyed with locally-sourced natural clays, these garments are designed for mixing and matching for a variety of up-to-date looks.
Earth Creations’ runway offerings included a ruffled Lucca shrug in taupe, paired with a flounced Sydney dress and flared Arabesque skirt worn as a strapless dress.
A 3-Dragonfly printed tank, ruffle Capri leggings, and Lucca shrug in aqua blue made a comfortable casual outfit.
The hooded Sadie dress with decorative front button jacket looked good as a tunic with skinny jeans or as a short dress.
Earth Creations clothing is stylish casual wear for earth lovers of all ages.
Amsterdam hemp clothing company, Hemp Hoodlamb, and its North American flagship store, Hoodlab, showed off select women’s garments from HHL’s urban eco-friendly clothing line.
HHL’s outerwear included a signature winter coat from the Sea Shepherd line, a pea coat and summer jacket.
All outerwear is solidly constructed with hemp fabrics, double stitched at stress points, and reinforced with a hemp cellulose water and wind proofing treatment.
The HHL signature winter coats are lined in luxurious Satifur, an exclusive blend of hemp, recycled PET plastic and acrylic fur.
House of Hoodlab custom screen printed hemp and organic cotton t-shirts were paired with stylish herringbone-weave miniskirts and shorts with pleated front pockets. Hemp Hoodlamb’s clothing is perfect for people who appreciate an urban clothing style.
Dress by Earth Creations, bag by Dharma Bags
Photo by Josh Rettie
Dharma Bags from Taos Hemp Company are beautiful and utilitarian travel bags for women and men. The three styles of bags are sewn in Taos, New Mexico with premium woven hemp in gorgeous solid colors.
Practical for everyday use, Dharma Bags can hold a lot of life’s necessities. The wide shoulder strap comfortably distributes the full weight of the bag’s content. However functional, it is the simple and elegant beauty of Dharma Bags that inspires their everyday use.
Conscious Clothing, a green bridal boutique based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, stunned the audience with wedding couture.
The first gown, a corseted feathered top with peacock feathers and full skirt were made from a hemp and silk floral jacquard. A simple and elegant bias cut gown shimmered in hemp silk satin with a sheer chiffon train overlay.
Conscious Clothing green wedding couture. Photo by Susan Squibb.
The “Steam Punk” gown, made of hemp silk satin had an elaborate bottom ruffle around the full skirt. A raw edged organic cotton voile ruffle runs around the neck that draped down the back to create a very becoming dress.
In addition to bridal wear, Conscious Clothing will soon be launching an evening wear collection.
The future of hemp fashion was showcased by the designing talent at NY Fashion Academy. Four designers came up with innovative cannabis lifestyle clothing utilizing hemp fabrics from EnviroTextilesand HempTraders.
Erika Ray crafted unique hand dyed and hand painted hoodies from hemp and organic cotton for cozy cool street looks that heal the planet.
Malia Peoples, constructed an oversized smoking jacket, for local musician Boris Budd, with classic natural hemp fabric and accented cuffs.
Hand-dyed and painted hoodie by Erika Ray. Photo by Josh Rettie
Kiymbah Tytania designed couture men’s and women’s trim aprons with black hemp fabric and red pocket, ruffle and tie accents.
The attractive and practical aprons have handy pockets for holding trimming scissors, cell phones and rolling papers.
A wide pocket in the front of the men’s apron catches loose trim to roll up a doobie for break time!
Marcella Kelly presented the exquisite Seattle Colorfest collection.
Marcella made a dark green hemp and cotton jersey knit dress with black hemp silk yokes, side panels, accents, and a black hemp silk charmeuse corset belt.
The belt contained handy lifestyle stash pockets. A pair of his and hers High Society smoking jackets, made for Seattle Hempfest organizers, Vivian McPeak and Kanti Selig ,were constructed out of plum Hempcel fabric with black hemp silk charmeuse collars, cuffs and pocket welts. Specialty pockets on the inside hold legal cannabis and accouterment.
The most surprising outfit in the Colorfest collection was a bright coral jersey knit t-shirt dress with hemp silk collar paired with a yellow hemp silk pleated asymmetrical skirt with a grommet waistband. This lightweight and festive garment wowed the eco-fashionistas in the crowd.
]]>“From my experience working with volunteers at Seattle Hempfest for 13 years, Susan Squibb is in the top ten workers of the hundreds we encounter every year. I highly recommend her professionalism, follow-through, responsibility, organization, ideas and charms.”
The whole letter from Ms.Haley is below. It feels great to be recognized for something I enjoy doing. Event production is exciting. I love the thrill of preparing and executing an event plan.
To Whom it May Concern,
As a coordinator of the Hemposium at Seattle Hempfest one of several projects I created was a fashion show featuring local designers using at least 75% hemp in their garments. One of the Hemposium stages emcees; Don Wirtshafter is an internationally acclaimed hemp ambassador. He introduced me to the textile importers of good repute to work on this all volunteer project.
Understanding I had created a project that needed help Don introduced me to Susan. He knew she had the experience that would be a perfect fit to help make the project successful. Through emails we coordinated our roles and responsibilities so that when we arrived in Seattle the magic took off.
Susan made contacts with four companies negotiating sponsorships for their garments to be displayed in the fashion show. The companies sent the perfect number of outfits and accessories to fill in with the local designers. One company, Hemp HoodLamb has a local following that was ecstatic to see the warm furry coats arrive to Seattle. Another company, Conscious Creations makes beautiful hemp/charmeuse silk wedding, steam punk gowns that fit our lucky model like a second glamorous hempy skin.
Susan took the fashion show director role and managed the stage hands, models and designers fluidly with charms. Together we developed the Emcee’s descriptions of the garments, flow of designers and their models. Keeping all those people organized and having extreme fun takes a very special person. She orchestrated a fun fashion show for all involved. I encourage viewing of the photos to see the beauty of the weekend captured.
From my experience working with volunteers at Seattle Hempfest for 13 years, Susan Squibb is in the top ten workers of the hundreds we encounter every year. I highly recommend her professionalism, follow-through, responsibility, organization, ideas and charms.
Sincerely,
Pam Haley
Seattle Hempfest
Hemposium Coordinator, Speakers Crew,
Hemp Couture Fashion Show Producer
]]>This version includes a Best of Vendors coverage with unpublished event photos.I Lo
Seattle Hempfest is the largest cannabis event in the world. This year’s Hempfest was the first since the passage of I-502, Washington’s marijuana legalization law, and a quarter of a million people came to celebrate. During the third weekend of August, with hot and sunny weather, Hempfest occupied a mile and a half of Myrtle Edwards Park in downtown Seattle. Within the safety of Hempfest, people smoked, vaporized and consumed cannabis in public. Occasional cooling sea breezes wafted along the beautiful waterfront, joining the hovering cloud of freshly smoked marijuana. With a hundred bands and a hundred speakers entertaining and informing from six stages, and four hundred booths of vendors and nonprofits to visit, there was plenty to see and do at Seattle Hempfest this year.
Sit on the grass and smoke some grass.
The grass in Myrtle Edwards Park is a comfortable spot for a smoking sesh with friends. Hempfest’s crowd was reveling in public pot smoking as people with 4, 6 and 12 foot bongs sat toking up with a little help from their friends. Others were walking around flashing their newly purchased pieces. Stony and relatively subdued, the crowd enjoyed the surreal and liberating experience of not having to publicly hide their appreciation of cannabis.
Marijuana tshirt at Hempfest.
The waves of people walking were decked out in fancy and casual hemp and pot leaf fashions. Wearing a pot leaf or cannabis message T shirts, or pot leaf accessories, is practically ubiquitous in this scene (my personal favorite T shirt message was “This veteran is medicated for your protection.”) Other cannabis enthusiasts were decked out in bright necklaces, hats, sunglasses, scarves, socks, everything in their wardrobe adorned with pot leaves. Occasionally, someone was dressed in formal wear or fantasy fairy and animal costumes. Topless women sported pot leaf pasties and young families walked through the festival site with strollers.
Everlast jams onstage at Seattle Hempfest.
Boris and the Waterboarders protest with vicious humor at the Hemposium stage.
Samba music from Seeley Stage.
Listen to Music.
Area bands and musicians made up most of the musical entertainment at Seattle Hempfest. Bands played short sets and the genres were ever changing, going from reggae, to salsa, rock, punk, country rock, hip hop and electronica. Bellingham rockers Boris and the Waterboarders played songs of political protest and personal despair to the amused delight of the carefree crowd. Friday’s main stage afternoon acts were the Seattle Hempfest favorites, The Toyes, originators of song “Smoke Two Joints” and reggae groove house band, The Herbivores. Hempfest’s main stage featured nationally known acts Everlast and DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill. Hiphop rock fusion artist Everlast played to a crowd of “the most stoners I’ve ever seen in one place”. The mellow crowd pumped their fists and sang along with notable songs, I Get By”, “What Its Like” and a record scratching version of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues”.
Soft serve hemp ice cream served at Munchie Market
Corn on the cob dipped in hemp butter for Hempfest
Get the munchies and eat hemp food.
There were plenty of food options to satisfy the munchies of everyone at Hempfest. Make it hempy by sprinkling on a tablespoon of Hemp Hearts, or order hemp protein powder added to a fresh fruit smoothie. Food booths offered typical festival food hotdogs, bratwurst, burritos, and French fries and meals with a hemp twist with hemp burgers, corn on the cob dipped in hemp butter or hemp coffee.
For dessert, fresh mini donuts, or scoops of Ben & Jerry’s and Baskin Robbins were tasty dessert options. Make it hempy with a waffle cone of soft serve hemp ice cream from Munchie Market.
Another snack option was provided by the Seattle Police Foundation. Seattle Police were giving away snack bags of Nacho Cheese Doritos with an attached informational sticker at Hempfest. The stickers humorously explained the new regulations under I-502 with funny reminders of “Don’t give, sell or shotgun weed to anyone under 21” and encouraged the crowd to enjoy Hempfest and “listen to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon at a reasonable volume”. Warning, The chips are as delicious as they appear!
Seattle Hempfest attendees excited to get bags of Nacho Cheese Doritos from Seattle Police Department
The sticker attached to the Nacho Cheese Dorito given out by Seattle Police Department during Hempfest
Hemp fashion show
The daily fashion show was a Hemposium highlight. I co-produced Fashion with a Passion for Freedom featuring garments from established hemp clothing companies across the country and exciting pieces made by fresh design students at the Seattle based NY Fashion Academy., featuring stylish, well designed clothes from experienced hemp clothing companies. Hemp Hoodlamb, Earth Creations, Taos Hemp Company and Conscious Clothing shared the runway with innovative cannabis lifestyle garments created from four Seattle based NY Fashion Academy clothing designers. Premium hemp fabrics were shaped into trim aprons and high society smoking jackets with inside pockets for carrying a now legal stash. Other innovative outfits, like hand painted hoodies and boldly colored and delicate hemp silk garments are redefining hemp in eco-fashion.
The bustling marketplace at Seattle Hempfest featured 400 vendors selling the gear and equipment required to consume, grow and live a cannabis life. These are the best hemp and cannabis lifestyle clothing options currently available.
HempMania, a fair trade and eco-friendly company since 1997, makes durable hemp bags and wallets for men and women. The wide variety of back packs, purses, market totes, wallets and accessory bags are available in pleasing earth tone colors and black.
Hemp bags for all at Hemp Mania!
Seedless Clothing was set up with a bright green booth and stacks of street art savvy t-shirts, shoes, hats, hoodies, jackets, belts, jeans and stickers. Seedless, a California based cannabis lifestyle clothing company, with its sprouting leaf logo is worn by the cool kids.
Love Seedless design zippered jacket by Seedless Clothing Company
I love Pot Lifestyle Clothing makes bold signature “I love pot” screen-printed T shirts and other fresh designs. They also carry green teddy bears with hidden stash pockets.
Popular teddy bears from I Love Pot Lifestyle
Urb Age Designs, is owned by Urb Thrasher, hard rocking DJ on 420Radio.org. Urb Age Designs has a variety of Rasta inspired screen-printed T shirts, barware, a Frisbee and disc golf line, and other lifestyle products to show off your love of the herb.
Urbage Design, an activist run business.
Kill Your Culture has clever pop culture brandalism images on soft fabric t-shirts, hats, bong pads, pipe coasters, ipad cases, and stickers. The irreverent images are stony and dabbed out version of characters we know and love like Darth Vader, Captain Crunch, Urkle, Frankenstein, and Keebler Elves.
Pop culture brandalism from Kill Your Culture
Good Life Roots is a Los Angeles based artist collective. Artists create original screen-printed T shirts and decoupage art on wallets, flasks and purses. The Good Life Roots crew then heads out on its summer vending tour going to a medley of festivals and markets throughout the season.
Good Life Roots, an artist collective with a seasonal vending calendar across the country
Seattle Hempfest merchandise booth In addition to being a general store, event merchandise sales is a fundraiser for Seattle Hempfest to cover the event production costs. This year’s event image, to celebrate I-502, was Uncle Sam passing a blazing joint. This iconic image is available on cotton or hemp shirts, posters and magnets.
The Hemp History Roadshow for college campuses had its informational hemp tutorial, open for education, showing the many applications for hemp in foods, building materials, fashion, body care, home goods and sporting goods. Visitors could see hemp in raw fiber materials, plastic composites, hemp food, and hemp clothing. A small store of T shirt and hats and educational DVDs was on display in the hemp hut.
The Hemp Hut housed the Hemp History Roadshow display outside the Hemposium
Cannabis Culture
Seattle Hempfest had some notable cannabis culture on display. The cross country adventures of the painted psychedelic Further (original spelling “FURTHUR,”) bus driven by Neal Cassady, captained by Ken Kesey and boarded by psychedelic pioneers the Merry Pranksters was parked near Hempfest’s main stage. This hand painted magic bus is part of the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.
Furthur, at night Seattle Hempfest.
A fleet of Fishy Foods/ Label GMO foods/ art cars from Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps
Other art cars onsite was the Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps sponsored fleet of cars topped with giant fishy GMO frankenfoods. These fishy food cars came from WashingtonDC to Seattle for Hempfest to raise coast to coast awareness for labeling GMO foods and to educate voters on an upcoming GMO ballot issue in Washington.
Speakers, encourage, engage and inform the crowds in between band setups.
Here’s a list of the notable hemp speakers at this year’s Hempfest:
Hemp educator David Piller of Hemp History Roadshow
Authors Chris Conrad (Hemp: Lifeline of the Future), and Todd Dalloto (The Hemp Cookbook: From Seed to Shining Seed)
Hemp legislative advocates Steve Levine Director of Hemp Industries Association and Vote Hemp and Paul Stanford, Director of the Campaign for the Restoration and Regulation of Hemp.
Business owners David Bronner of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps and Adam Eidenger of Capitol Hemp.
Crowd favorites included legendary growers Jorge Cervantes and Ed Rosenthal and cannabis comedian Ngaio Bealum.
This year’s Seattle Hempfest was a liberating and fun experience, but beyond that, it was educational. For one magical weekend Seattle’s Myrtle Edwards park was alight with music, food, vendors, speakers, and endless opportunities to learn and appreciate the cannabis plant.
Seattle Hempfest 2013
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