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!

“Wild Women Don’t Get the Blues” by Lyle Lovett featuring Francine Reed on vocals. Lyle Lovett and his large band are amazing seasoned musicians who perform a wide range of musical styles. Francine Reed wails on this track. Listen up, ladies!

“Brick House” by Lionel Richie. Are you kidding me? I heard this song live at Red Rocks?! Bucket list! Sexy, sassy from the 1970s. Uh Uh Uh! This show was a standout early in the season thanks to Richie’s mastered performance skills and extensive catalog of hits.

“Black as Night” by Nahko and Medicine for the People. I saw this show at Arise Fesitval, an amazing conscious community festival. The energy and polyrhythms of Nahko remind me of early Michael Franti and Spearhead. I love the song’s promising lyrics and happy declaration of unguarded love. “I believe in the good things coming, coming coming…”

“Tall Boy” by Widespread Panic. I love jam bands, don’t you? What’s not to love in straight up rock n roll twisted with mind melding improv? This song always gets the boisterous WSP crowd in a feel good groove.

“Used to Get High” by John Butler Trio. Last time I saw JBT, the 2010 live album was being recorded at Red Rocks while I was selling Hemp I Scream! on the top plaza of the amphitheatre. JBT rocks a solid and smooth live groove, and it was good to see them again.

“Democrazy” by Congo Sanchez. Congo Sanchez and Flex Matthews are my new discovery this year from South Park Music Festival. I had a fun video assignment for The Cannabist on the Fourth of July holiday, asking people, “what are you smoking?” Of all the posted videos, the most viewed interview was Flex Matthews saying he wasn’t high on marijuana at all, he was high on music, good love vibrations, and adrenaline. Aww, yeah!

“Live Like A Warrior” by Matisyahu. At South Park Music Festival, Matisyahu played in a drizzling rain and had me mesmerized. I was so enchanted, I don’t remember if he played this exact song. Regardless, I love the expression of emotional bareness. The significance to me, is sometimes the struggles of living every day on the legal and social cannabis frontier is exciting, intense, exhausting and at times, frustrating. The message to me is live like a warrior, pick up the shattered pieces, and keep going…

“Puff the Magic Dragon” by Peter Yarrow. Pinch me! This nostalgic tune of youthful imagination is the most soothing of all lullabies. At Arise Festival, Peter Yarrow and his talented family played this song to an adorable cluster of costumed children onstage. There was not a dry eye in the room. Plus, this song has long been rumored to refer to marijuana.

“Fat Spliffs” by Slightly Stoopid. Though they are constant favorites in the cannabis scene, I forget how much I enjoy Slightly Stoopid. They are a great live band, energetic with a fun, ska, Caribbean flecked sound and lyrics about ganja appreciation.

“The Man in Me” by Bob Dylan. This Dylan song is part of the soundtrack of The Big Lebowski. Watching the Dude with a rowdier than usual movie crowd is an annual opportunity at Film on the Rocks. As a fun and inexpensive way to spend time at Red Rocks during the summer, there’s a dozen or so movies in the series.

“Get Up Stand Up” by Thievery Corporation. Thievery is a great group to see live. They are smooth and are so easy to dance to. The band backs a rotation of singers who change the band’s style with their voices. This homage to Bob Marley is easy and beautiful. At this summer’s Red Rocks show, I enjoyed seeing Hare Krishnas drumming and chanting before the show in the upper north lot.

“Such A Lovely Thing” by Devotchka. Denver based Devotchka is my favorite gypsy cabaret band. For the past two summers I’ve seen Devotchka play in an innovative form. The Colorado Symphony Orchestra pairs with popular touring musicians to create exciting new musical collaborations. When Devotchka plays with CSO, the orchestral sounds sweep the songs’ emotions to extraordinary dramatic heights. Love it!

“Just One Drink” by Jack White. Jack White is one of my favorite musicians in all his myriad of forms. I love to hear him at Red Rocks. This song perfectly captures a frustrating side of dating and looking for love. The lyrics express the blues of the classic conundrum, “I love you, honey why don’t you love me?”

“If I had My Way” by Bethany Yarrow and Rufus. Discovering the energy and passion of Bethany Yarrow at Arise Music Festival was a musical highlight of my summer. I admire her voice, as a performer and activist cultivated by growing up at environmental, peace and human justice rallies alongside her famous father. Also known as “Samson and Delilah” to Deadheads, this song is a fresh and soulful version of a familiar favorite.

“Suzy Lee” by The White Stripes. Jack White sang this during his rainy Red Rocks gig and I can’t help thinking that he sang this song for me. Ahhh!

“I’m Alright” (Theme from CaddyShack) by Kenny Loggins. Kicking off the Film on the Rocks series this summer was Caddyshack. The charms of the dancing gopher and the high jinx of the golf caddies at the country club pool is nostalgic comedic gold.

“Magic Dance” by David Bowie. Labyrinth, another Film on the Rocks movie was unexpected fun because during the movie, every time David Bowie’s goblin kingly “package” was on screen, the crowd would roar with enthusiasm. Family jewels, Woo!

“Genius Of Love” by Tom Tom Club. Start Making Sense was a summertime fundraiser for Students for Sensible Drug Policy hosted by National Cannabis Industry Association. The late summer event screened the Talking Head concert film, “Stop Making Sense”. This fantastic pop song, with opening lyrics asking “what are you going to do when you get out of jail?” subtly underscored the importance of drug policy reform. (Really, it’s about the dance groove!)

“Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham! Dave Chappelle got this 80’s pop song stuck in my head at his birthday comedy show at Red Rocks. Thanks, Dave! With several Wham songs played during the DJ sets, I am led to believe Dave Chappelle is a big Wham! fan. True or not, this song was stuck in my head days afterward. I laughed so much at the show. I admit, it was easier to chat about Wham! songs afterward than retell any of the pussy juice jokes that had me tittering in my seat!

“You Are” by Lionel Ritchie. I forgot how much I loved this uplifting love song! Lionel Ritchie is a master at his craft; his Red Rocks show was amazing.

“Who am I (What’s My Name)?” by Snoop Dogg. Checking out the cannabis scene for The Cannabist, I saw Snoop at Red Rocks for 4/20 for the Snoop Dogg Wellness Retreat. The crowd was stoned and completely into the jams. This was a rejuvenating way to spend Easter this year!

“Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes. Jack White’s alluring blend of musical styles and spare light show has converted me to a soldier in his Seven Nation Army. This song was a unifying moment with me and everyone around waving our hands in the air in ritualistic rock n roll devotion.

“Not A Crime” by Gogol Bordello. To me, this song reminds me of an anti-prohibition attitude. “Drop the charges! In the old time, it was not a crime.” Gogol Bordello played this song at Riot Fest in Denver and to be honest, I went totally apeshit in the mosh pit when they played this song.

“You Don’t Know How It Feels” by Tom Petty. Tom Petty played this song at my last show of the Red Rocks summer season. “Let’s get to the point. Let’s roll another joint. You don’t know how it feels to be me.” The lyrics, to me, express the differences I feel working in the frontier of a freshly legalized business compared to normal society.

“Climb To Safety” by Widespread Panic. The good advice in this live jam is a good way to end this summer’s music mix.

OMG. Cannabis sex lube, it exists!

Between two photos of the “personal lubricant experimental test batch” bottles recently posted on Facebook and Instagram, Colorado manufacturer, Apothecanna, was flooded with a hundred sales inquiries for the personal lube.  This is a hot product, everybody wants some!

But cannabis sex lube doesn’t really exist in the commercial world.  This is a research and development test batch made for kicks and giggles, and the company has no plans of releasing it as a product. There is no way to order it, not in the adult recreational market and not as a medical marijuana patient.  It’s not for sale and this product review is one big tease.

In a chat with James Kennedy, Apothecanna owner, I learned the sex lube recipe is an adaptation of Apothecanna’s popular Lip Buzz, medicated lip balm available in the Colorado medical marijuana market.  Both the personal lube and Lip Buzz contain the same botanical oils and essential oils of cannabis flowers, organic peppermint, organic tea tree, organic rosemary, grapefruit, and ylang ylang. This means the signature smell, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties are the same, making these cosmetic pharmaceuticals or “cosmeceuticals”.

Cannabis flower oil, as a topical ingredient, doesn’t induce a high or have any kind of psychoactive effects. Instead, it stimulates blood flow. Mmm, interesting! Rounding out the list of ingredients is a base of blended gels from flax seeds and aloe and a small amount of silicone.

That’s fascinating and all, but how was the whoopee?  Here’s the method to the sexy madness:  I scored two sample bottles.  I enlisted two horny and vocal volunteers, with their sex partners to kick it with the lube.   I promised not to use their names (high five, thanks for banging!).  Then, like a freaky voyeur/social scientist, I made them fill out a questionnaire asking questions about their knowledge of lubes and natural products and the in-and-out details of their sex experiences with the cannabis lube.  I even asked about ladies squirting with a big O.

The first couple swears by lube. Although new to warming lubes, these lovers have seasoned knowledge of lubes and natural lubes. The natural and organic formulation was a big attraction.

Although my first female tester was initially hesitant to introduce the essential oils to her mucous membranes (that’s the cooter to some readers), she eventually went for it, and it did not irritate the sensitive tissues around her hoo hoo.

“Overall, the cannabis lube had good liquid cohesion, staying where you wanted it to. I liked the globby texture – it stayed slippery without getting sticky,” she reported. “It absorbs into the skin, which is not great for glide.  (But) it didn’t dry sticky on the skin and the scent… the scent of the cannabis lube lingers, you’d remember your lover long into the day.”

The second couple has used natural products, but never a natural lube. No stranger to conventional warming gels, the couple reported “the cannabis seems to add a nice stimulating effect.”  Although not a fan of the “sliminess,” the smell of the lube was enjoyed and the couple had a lot of fun with their first shared experience with sex lube.

The warming or numbing sensation of the lube made for some fun applications during sex for both couples.  The first couple enjoyed “awesome foreplay” and the lube made a “great orgasm chaser”.   For the second couple, performing anal sex was the best part.  Doink!

Multiple orgasms were achieved by both couples.  Everyone had enthusiastic fun with the cannabis sex lube and would like to sample more. Sad to say, neither woman achieved a squirting orgasm, but if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!

Heaven can be found in a chocolate bar. Many people experience transcendental bliss through eating chocolate and I have experienced such bliss eating an Incredibles Boulder Bar.

Boulder Bars are delicious, consistent and properly dosed.  Available at various dispensaries throughout Colorado, the bars contain cannabis infused milk chocolate with toffee and almond pieces.

Each Boulder Bar contains 100 mg of activated THC.  The bar is considered one serving size, so the consumer has to do the math to know the approximate dosage for smaller portions.  With the bar scored in 12 squares, three chocolate squares provide 25 mg.

Note: It’s best to start off slowly if you aren’t familiar with the effects of edibles.  Based on experience, I rarely eat an entire edible at one sitting unless it is late at night.  I prefer to consume 25-50mg at a time.

Sometimes I eat small amounts of medicated chocolate periodically through the day, a very portable and private way to medicate. I carry it along with me and have a piece or two every few hours for a functional level of consistent pain relief. Before a recent photo shoot, I ate two Strawberry Crunch squares to calm my nerves.  The infused chocolate helped me relax.  The effects were long lasting too. Being discreet is one advantage to edibles, because smelling like marijuana smoke may not be advantageous in certain situations.

Another night on the town, I was at a show at the Ogden Theater. I ate half a Boulder Bar and put the rest into a pocket in my jeans.  At the concert, I most enjoyed the feeling of wellbeing I got after eating the bar. I felt free to enjoy the music and performance onstage and experienced such a feeling of peace – I loved it.

Unfortunately, I forgot about the rest of the bar in my pocket until after the show. When I opened the bag, it was a melted mess.  No need to fret, the chocolate was easy to recover.  I placed the bar and wrapper in the fridge and after chilling for a few minutes,  I peeled apart the package seams, and the chocolate was solid again. The dosing squares were lost but the chocolate was fine.

The Boulder Bar is just one of many infused chocolate Incredibles creations made by Medically Correct. Incredibles come in different dosages of THC and flavors. The dosage per bar ranges from 100 mg to 300mg of activated THC from hash oil.  The different flavors of most bars are based in white chocolate or milk chocolate and additional flavors. I like the use of organic fruit in the bars.

Sealed in a silver Mylar bag, each bag has a colorful and professional front label and an information dense back label.  The back label on each bar has a production lot number, bar code, expiration date, list of ingredients, nutrition facts, company information, website and social media contacts. Also listed is a disclosure of hash extractions and legal product disclaimer.

Incredibles’ Peanut Budda Buddha Bar is a 200 mg bar with white chocolate, peanut butter, and pretzels.  The Monkey Bar has organic bananas and walnuts and coconut in milk chocolate and 100 mg THC. The singular dark chocolate bar is the Fire Berry with 300 mg THC, raspberries and habanero peppers. White chocolate Incredibles bars, like the Strawberry Crunch Bar with flax crispies and organic strawberries, are good bars, effectively dosed and taste good overall.

There is some room for Incredibles to raise the bar on infused chocolates.  Bigger chunks of ingredients would make a more artisan chocolate bar. Both the Monkey Bar and the Peanut Budda Buddha Bar would be even more delicious with larger chunks to better distinguish the flavors. The Peanut Budda Buddha is a great tasting bar, but the pretzels chunks were very homogenous. Adding larger chunks would alter the dosage per piece, but it would add to a more enjoyable chocolate eating experience.

Aside from my opinion on the size of flavor chunks, Incredibles infused chocolate bars are simply amazing.  I thoroughly enjoy eating them and feeling grateful and happy.

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

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.

I’m an enthusiastic consumer and product tester of hemp and marijuana products.  This column showcases  the best of what I see and sample in the marketplace.

Do you eat hemp? You should. Hemp seed is a superfood, it contains all necessary macronutrients, complete protein and healthy polyunsaturated fats.  Hemp seed meat tastes simple, sweet and nutty.  Thankfully, getting the amazing health benefits of hemp is so easy with shelled hemp seeds.

Shelled hemp seed is one of the best innovations in hemp food. There are several brands of shelled hemp seeds, all of comparable and consistent high quality. I like them all, but I like the warmth of Hemp Hearts as a product name. So I tend to buy Hemp Hearts.  Who loves you?

Hemp loves you!

Hemp Hearts makes eating healthier plain and easy. My standard recipe for instant health food is fix whatever I’m eating and then right before serving,  I sprinkle some Hemp Hearts on the  dish.  With  3 tablespoons sprinkled on top,  a  boost of 10 grams of complete protein and  11 grams of  polyunsaturated Omega oils, in the perfect 3 to 1 ratio, gets added to the meal. Simple and easy.  For more hemp nutritional information, go here.

A remedial reminder: You cannot get high from eating hemp food. You cannot eat hemp and test positive for THC.   Any sensation of being high or stoned is purely a placebo effect. It’s fun to pretend though.

Hemp Hearts are made by Manitoba Harvest.   Manitoba Harvest, was founded in 1998, with the goals to educate consumers and manufacture the highest quality hemp foods.   Their ethics and social responsibility are part of the company structure. For example, one of Manitoba Harvest’s company commitments is to use organic and non-gmo food sources. You can be happy knowing your consumer purchasing power is supporting a conscious company and industrial hemp agriculture in North America.

So, start eating hemp regularly.    Hemp Hearts are available in health food stores and vitamin and supplement stores. Go to  http://www.manitobaharvest.com/ for more  information or to order your own Hemp Hearts.

10) Orpheo & the Wrench The Grassroots Stage offered more musical variety than the two other stages, which were primarily dance whomp and wub wub wub DJs. Orpheo & the Wrench, a Denver based acoustic duo, played an enjoyable set and the most surprising part was their homespun spoof of “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” telling a tale of the Devil going to Denver and getting smoked out. I was squealing with laughter.

Caps by Visual Fiber

8) Green Man Cannabis Denver dispensary, Green Man Cannabis, has colorful and appealing T-shirts and stickers. Their booth was a fun stop in the vendor row. You could try to win a T-shirt of your choice in a modified corn hole game. You could yuck it up and have your picture taken with a bong smoking Jack Herer stand-in. The free “got THC?” temporary tattoos were a fun alternative to stickers.

In the Jack Herer cutout, smokin’ a bong!

7) Mahatma/Strainwise Mahatma, a Denver concentrate company, and Strainwise, a family of dispensaries, had a sleek, professional and comfortable booth in a spacious 10 x 20 tent. The booth was open and provided shade and a space to chill. Their booth had a tall dab bar, black leather couch and love seat, and a large urn of medicated iced tea. The 6 Million Dollar Man was comically posed with Mahatma’s 2013 Cannabis Cup for Best Concentrate on the dab bar.

The 6 Million Dollar Man posed with Mahatma’s 2013 Cannabis Cup for Best Concentrate on the dab bar.

6) Sohiyo Sohiyo, a California-based clothing and merchandise company, will outfit you in dab culture coolness. Sohiyo had lightweight and eco-friendly bamboo sunglasses and bold Brandalism Stickers and T-shirts, among other items.

Sustainable bamboo sunglasses by Sohiyo.

5) The Green Team The do-good Green Team from Denver Relief walked the event site and kept the grounds clean to ensure cannabis events have a positive impact in the community by keeping things green and clean.

The Green Team, keepin’ it clean!

4) Grassroots California Grassroots California encouraged audience participation with a painted hat competition. 12 contestants entered the painted hat competition to win $710 in cash, $710 Grassroots gift card and limited edition hats with the winning design.

Grassroots California’s audience participation competition hats.

3) Collaborative street art mural Local artists Berk, Plaant and Sypages, painted the white side of an RV bus over the two-day event into a 710 Cup race car scene with the mascot driver winning the race and the other characters celebrating victory with a flaming torch and dab. The plaid cat is just stone cold chillin’.

2) Hitman Glass Hitman Glass, maker of rigs and pipes, has taken Brandalism and run with it. Brandalism is common in dab culture and Hitman Glass turns dozens of recognizable cartoons and product mascots into Hitman Glass advertisements. Ready for an epic guerilla marketing campaign, stickers, T-shirts and hats of the Monopoly Man, Popeye, Toucan Sam, Calvin and Hobbes, Garfield, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Felix the Cat, Tom and Jerry, Pacman and dozens of other familiar characters hold a dab rig and covertly advertise the underground world of dabbing and Hitman Glass.

Hitman Glass “Brandalism”

1) Mila Jansen, the Queen of Marijuana. Mila Jansen, an inspiring woman and a cannabis pioneer, was onsite as a keynote speaker and an international judge for the solvent-less hash competition. She was presented with the Female Industry Achievement Award, by her most prolific student, Nikka T. of Essential Extracts. To find out more about her life and achievements, watch her film, Mila’s Journey, a recent documentary that explores several decades of Mila’s life, including her role in couture fashion, her life in India, the development of her cannabis career, and the lifestyle choices she made being a mother of four children.

Mila Jansen, circa 1960s

This article was originally written for LadyBud.  http://www.ladybud.com/