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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The organized execution of the event (which seemed so easy) took 5 months of diligent and focused effort to produce. The many successes of this year’s event were possible because of the contributions and dedication from the talented women who comprised the 2015 Mother’s High Tea Committee. Meet nine other brilliant women of cannabis business and legalization in Colorado.
Mrs. Christie Lunsford, Co-Chair. Christie Lunsford returns to Mother’s High Tea Committee as Co-Chair and Event Master of Ceremonies. Christie, a skilled professional speaker, is a pivotal figure in the Colorado cannabis business community. I first met Christie in 2010 at early meetings of an (now defunct) infused product manufacturing group. (This was before the first wave of marijuana business legislation.) In the verbal fray of chaotic and charged meetings, Christie would be a voice guiding the discordant group to decisions and offering practical solutions to contribute to the goals of the developing group.
Mrs. Christie Lunsford. Photo courtesy of 5280 Magazine.
In our introductory conversations, Christie described herself as an advocate. Not a recreational consumer herself, Christie advocates for medicinal cannabis via infused topical and oral (sublingual) products blended with other synergistic and therapeutic herbs. Among Christie’s early industry accomplishments was her role as marketing and media manager for Dixie Elixir & Edibles. Christie formulated the therapeutic hemp and marijuana products for the botanical line of Dixie products. She also linked the mainstreaming company to the grassroots medical marijuana community and was a pioneer in professionalizing the Denver cannabis community.
Christie has a long legacy of mentoring women and fostering the community within cannabis business and medical circles. She was an organizer and facilitator of a regularly scheduled women’s networking breakfast, a founding board member of the Women’s CannaBusiness Network (WCBN) created in 2012. As WCBN changed and developed into Women Grow, Christie was a founding member and even was the keynote speaker at the first meeting in 2014. Many women in the community, myself included, have been encouraged by Christie.
For Mother’s High Tea, Christie developed, sparked and rolled out the Facebook historical women and tea photo campaign to create and reinforce the classy feel of the event. In production, Christie primarily served as advisor. In her performance as MC, her thoughtful tribute to the members of the audience who had dedicated five or more years of service to cannabis legalization was heartfelt and memorable.
2015 Mother’s High Tea MCs and Speakers, L to R.
Ms. Susan Squibb, Mrs. Kristi Kelly, Senator Beth Martinez Humenick, Mrs. Christie Lunsford, and Ms. AC Braddock. (Not pictured, Ms. Diane Fornbacher) Photo courtesy CliquePics.
Currently, Christie’s professional advice and development services are sought after by investors and emerging cannabis companies across the country looking to gain a knowledgeable edge in license application process and by startup companies working on cannabis product development. In addition to her consulting company, Christie is a health and wellness writer for Ladybud.com, a hemp education writer for The Hemp Connoisseur and THC Radio co-host.
Publishers of The Hemp Connoisseur: Mr. David Maddalena and Mrs. Christianna Brown. Christianna holds the primary event graphic she designed for Mother’s High Tea. Photo courtesy Cannabis Camera.
Mrs. Christianna Brown, Graphic Design Chair. Christianna is a tour de force at The Hemp Connoisseur, the Denver based cannabis culture magazine. As Publisher, Art Director and Graphic Designer, Christianna photographs and designs the monthly covers and designs the content layouts. She also directs sales and marketing. Christianna additionally consults and designs compliance labels for cannabis packaging. For Mother’s High Tea, Christianna set the elegant tone for the event by designing the graphics for Mother’s High Tea. She created images for the Facebook page, designed the beautiful postcard invitations, monthly advertisements, 11 X 17 posters, event program and round event stickers for the craft table.
Ms. Caren Kershner and Ms. Sara Conrad.
Photo courtesy Cannabis Camera.
Ms. Sara Conrad: Social Media Chair. Sara Conrad, comes to the cannabis community from a career background in technology. She became an active volunteer in the cannabis community during the Amendment 64 campaign and currently is a booster for NORML, National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) and Marijuana Business Association (MJBA). Sara is a social media strategist and adept at social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, Google +, Pinterest Tumbler, Instagram and Facebook– (of course). For Mother’s High Tea, Sara focused on frequent posting, tweeting and sharing Mother’s High Tea on social media to increase presence and drive awareness (and ticket sales). Sara added value to the event promotions by interacting with the sponsoring companies.
Ms. Susan Squibb and Mrs. CiCi Dunn. Photo Courtesy of Cannabis Camera.
Mrs. CiCi Dunn, Ticket Chair. CiCi joins the Colorado cannabis community by way of Amsterdam, where she has been an integral part of the well-established hemp clothing store, Hemp Works and notable hemp clothing company, Hemp Hoodlamb (HHL). CiCi established the North American hub for HHL with the innovative art and lifestyle concept store, Hoodlab. Additionally, CiCi has significant production management experience from producing the yearly fashion show at the Amsterdam High Times Cannabis Cup. For Mother’s High Tea, CiCi was in charge of guest services, managing ticket sales, organizing guest name tags and directed the check in table.
Miss Miss Kara Janowsky. Photo courtesy of Kara.
Miss Kara Janowski, Volunteer Chair. Kara, an enthusiastic, kind and ambitious college graduate, has proven leadership skills developed from CU Boulder chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy and as Boulder Chapter organizer of Women Grow. Kara additionally is an established event volunteer for NCIA and The ArcView Group. Post graduation, Kara is developing her career in cannabis business and is set to develop and accomplish her goals. For Mother’s High Tea, Kara developed the day of production time schedule and coordinated volunteers at the event.
Ms. Caren Kershner and Ms. Sara Conrad. Photo courtesy Cannabis Camera
Ms. Caren Kershner, Craft Chair. Caren is the Executive Director of the Colorado Industrial Hemp Coalition. Caren is a familiar face to the residents of the San Luis Valley and she smartly utilizes her local educational authority as a retired science and art teacher to advocate for hemp agriculture in the valley. For Mother’s High Tea, she is a dedicated, helpful and kind contributor. Caren developed the multiple activities at the art table, including the tea time word search and coloring pages. Caren contributed a letter to the letter writing table for New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez regarding recent hemp legislation she vetoed from the widely supportive state legislature.
Ms. Jill Lamoureux.
Photo courtesy LinkedIn.
Ms. Jill Lamoureux, Letter Writing Chair. Jill Lamoureux began in the cannabis community as owner of the first licensed dispensary and grow in Boulder County. In the initial development of cannabis business in Colorado, Jill served on the first state task force for the development of regulations. Currently Jill is a legislative liaison and regulatory consultant with development accomplishments with Americans for Safe Access, Denver Relief Consulting and Carbon Bond Holdings. For Mother’s High Tea, Jill, coordinated the event letters written to federal, state and local representatives by the Mother’s High Tea Committee and assembled guests. The purpose of the letter writing table is to continue and foster communication with elected officials on the various topics related to legislative reform. Jill coordinated the event letter writing efforts from notable nonprofit organizations, SSDP and Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) and brought in the inspiration voice of recent DU Economics graduate, Caitlin McKennie for the rousing letter to President Obama. Jill, excitingly was unable to attend Mother’s High Tea this year because she accepted a great opportunity to consult in Israel!
Ms. Belita Nelson speaking at launch of Womens Marijuana Movement, 2010. Photo Courtesy of SAFER.
Ms. Belita Nelson, Speaker Chair. Belita, a former drug warrior (a debate coach for DEA!) has experienced catastrophes of the Drug War first hand and now advocates for cannabis legal reform as a lobbyist in Colorado. Belita’s heart felt speech helped the launch of Women’ s Marijuana Movement in 2010. In her home state of Texas, Belita ran her own large scale event production company. For Mother’s High Tea, Belita with her Republican party contacts, persuaded and confirmed our surprising keynote speaker, Senator Beth Martinez Humenik.
Miss Katie O Block, Ms. Sara Conrad and Ms. Susan Squibb. (Mother’s High Tea selfie)
Miss Katie O Block, Sponsorship Chair. Katie, a relative newcomer to the cannabis community, is full of fresh energy as Marketing Director for Surna, an efficiency engineering company for cannabis grows. Katie was effective and professional at communicating and coordinating the event sponsors prior to the event. She is a fantastic young talent!
These are the amazing women that contributed to the many successes of this year’s Mother High Tea. Everyone, of course, did more than what is specifically featured here, their efforts are significant and appreciated. A toast to the 2015 Mother’s High Tea Committee!
Mother’s High Tea 2015. Photo courtesy Cannabis Camera.
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!
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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!
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We spoke with Susan Squibb, new marijuana advice columnist of The Denver Post, on the eve of Colorado legalizing the recreational use of the drug.
Tell us about your new job as the marijuana advice columnist with The Denver Post.
It’s a freelance position, starting in January. For the past year, I have been writing a marijuana manners column, “Ask Lady Cannabis,” for The Hemp Connoisseur.
What are your major duties in this role?
I will write a weekly column answering questions related to marijuana use, appropriate social use and changing cannabis laws and regulations. The challenge is keeping current with the social reality and the local ordinances that are guiding this societal transition from marijuana consumption being an illegal activity to being legally recognized.
What kind of training and background best prepares someone considering a career in legal cannabis?
The legal cannabis world has an increasing number of career opportunities. Now that the largest cash crop in America is legal, every profession is needed. Lawyers are needed to know the intricate laws and regulations and guide businesses in compliance. Service industries for building warehouse production, kitchens and dispensaries. HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and security systems are in high demand. Horticulture specialists, soil and hydroponic growers, crews of trimmers are needed to process the flowers. Chemists and lab techs are needed in emerging lab-testing facilities. Sales and marketing positions are needed, and I expect to see agricultural markets and commodities trading, and industrial Hemp develop in the next few years.
Read the rest of the interview at the link below,
http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/12/31/denver-posts-first-marijuana-advice-columnist/
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In its 22nd year, Seattle Hempfest is the largest cannabis event in the world, with a quarter million happy and blissed out people attending the protestival, one part festival and one part protest. Seattle Hempfest, which is free and open to the public. It is one of the most inspiring experiences a cannabis activist and enthusiast can experience. It’s a mile and a half long celebration of cannabis culture and a festival where people can safely consume marijuana publicly and enjoy a beautiful day in the park, with entertainment, a vibrant marketplace, food and food for thought.
The recent passage of Washington’s marijuana legalization law, I-502, had voters and cannabis enthusiasts ready for a public celebratory toke at Seattle Hempfest this year. Although it is still illegal to publicly smoke marijuana in Washington, within the safety of Seattle Hempfest, people smoked, vaporized and consumed cannabis. With great enthusiasm, people took hits from four and six foot bongs, and socialized with circles of friends or friendly strangers while passing around enormous joints. The overall effect was a peaceful and happy crowd. Seattle Hempfest is an event where people can safely consume marijuana publicly without fear of arrest and prosecution. As trivializing as this act may be perceived, public marijuana smoking is a form of protest.
The nonviolent protest is the heart of Seattle Hempfest. The roots of Seattle Hempfest began in 1991 as the Washington Hemp Expo. Five hundred people turned out to the event organized by the Seattle Peace Heathens Community Action Group. The Seattle Peace Heathens were a voluntary group of alternative cultural advocates who produced and promoted peace and social justice community projects. The Washington Hemp Expo touched a nerve in the community and the event grew exponentially every year.
By 1994, the growth of the event, now called Seattle Hempfest, was raising the attention and concern of local government and law enforcement, which had been turning a blind eye to the unpatrolled event. With the help of the ACLU, Seattle Hempfest was identified as a legitimate political rally, and not a “pot party” as detractors wanted to categorize it. Seattle Hempfest had a counter- cultural flamboyance, but was professionally savvy in negotiations with local agencies.
Seattle Hempfest has expanded from a one day event to three days. The crowd attendance has grown from 15,000 people to 250,000 people. All of this growth would not be possible without the planning and consistent effort of dedicated volunteers who have met the increasing logistical demands and more complex permit requirements with the city government. Over the weekend of Seattle Hempfest, the number of volunteers swells to over a thousand as all event activities are coordinated to keep everything running smooth and safe 24 hours a day.
Volunteer Powered Seattle Hempfest.
“There is no nation like donation”
This year, Seattle Police Department received praise and chuckles for handing out Nacho Cheese Doritos to people attending Hempfest. Affixed to the snack bags were informational and joke riddled stickers advising the festivalgoers some of the new marijuana regulations with I-502. Among the text was “This sticker is not a lawyer and cannot provide you with legal advice.” And “The contents of this package are as delicious as they appear”.
One key part of visualizing the annual political protest message of Seattle Hempfest is the event poster. Past images evoke and depict messages of peace, hemp agriculture, and awareness of nonviolent prisoners, public education, and idyllic scenes of future possibility. Poster images have captured the fundamental messages of political protest at Seattle Hempfest. This year’s poster uses a popular image for the federal government: the iconic Uncle Sam is passing a lighted joint in front of a glowing Emerald City. “I want YOU at the Seattle Hempfest” is what the headline reads.
Marijuana legalization has not been the only political destination for Seattle Hempfest. Previous years, a single protest message was crafted and presented to bring attention to different issues related to marijuana prohibition. To demonstrate marijuana reform has made a significant progressive step but has not reached its destination three protest messages were emphasized this year.
The first Seattle Hempfest protest platform is “eliminate marijuana from the Federal Schedule.” As you may know, the Federal Schedule is the federal drug policy that lists marijuana as a controlled substance and having no current medical use in treatment. Schedule 1 substances are legally defined as highly addictive and have the most restrictive laws regarding use, possession and distribution. Seattle Hempfest recommends going beyond moving marijuana from its current schedule status, and moving it completely out of the Federal Schedule. The reasoning for this is the two most widely consumed drugs, recreational alcohol and tobacco are both exempt from Federal Scheduling. Marijuana with its relative history of safety should also be exempt.
The second protest platform is “harm reduction.” Harm reduction measures usually includes efforts to change the impact in society of mass incarceration for nonviolent drug offenders and related injustices. Seattle Hempfest is shifting harm reduction to a personal level with a series of health pamphlets called, Cannabis Gut Checks. These pamphlets share information on recent scientific studies relating to topics of health and safety of cannabis use and depression, driving, health, lungs, memory, mental health, pregnancy and teens. The pamphlets candidly discuss the risks of cannabis use and provide the reader with additional resources for information.
The third protest platform is “voter power.” To harness the right in our representative democracy, Seattle Hempfest encourages voter registration. The Hempfest Voter Registration team members walk the festival with clipboards and knowledgably answer questions and help register Washington state voters. They assist voters with changes of address, register newly eligible voters who are turning eighteen, and field questions regarding the eligibility of convicted felons, who have recently been restored the right to vote in Washington.
Voter Registration at Seattle Hempfest
Political protest happens all day from the stages, the shouts of call and response engage the crowd as HEMP is repeatedly spelled out with a “give me an H, give me an E” In between band sets, notable luminaries from Washington, Oregon, California and Vancouver give encouraging, engaging and informative speeches.
Speakers include Seattle and Washington elected officials, activists, legislative advocates, lawyers, doctors, patients, writers, growers, and directors of national drug reform organizations. A longtime Seattle Hempfest favorite is Elvy Musikka, a medical marijuana patient, who since 1988 has received 300 joints a month from the Federal IND program.
Seattle Hempfest is an amazing and inspiring event for cannabis activists and enthusiasts. It is a focused cannabis reform rally, a gigantic celebration of culture and music, and a weekend where people are free to consume marijuana safely in public and enjoy a beautiful day on a waterfront park with a lot of smiling people. Seattle Hempfest is the largest cannabis event in the world and at its heart is the belief nonviolent protest can create positive change. You’ve got to see it to believe it.
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Dear Lady Cannabis, I am a CO resident and my red card is expiring towards the end of the year. Is there any benefit to renewing my red card, or should I just buy from the new marijuana retail stores starting at the beginning of next year? Medical Muggles
Dear Medical Muggles, The adage “it is better to be safe than sorry” are words of wisdom for your situation. If you receive health benefits from cannabis, don’t be in a rush to leave the medical registry. The rules and regulations for recreational centers are being discussed and decided right now. The specific differences between the two markets will be seen after January 1.
There are several benefits to renewing your state issued medical marijuana card. One benefit is continued access to edibles and flower strains you have come to rely on in your favorite dispensaries.
Knowing the product costs and tax rates for your medical cannabis purchases is another benefit to maintaining your medical card. In recreational centers, the product prices might be higher to capitalize on the newly legal market. Also, the tax rate for recreational cannabis has yet to be determined which is a big point of contention, among supporters of Amendment 64. The upcoming ballot issue AA sets the excise and tax rates for cannabis and includes a 15% excise tax and a 10% special sales tax plus local taxes.
With these important factors to be determined, the best choice is to visit your doctor and get your annual recommendation. Be content knowing you have the right to medical marijuana and have good access to it. This is a hard won right for patients.
Dear Lady Cannabis, If you are traveling, and both places are legal pot states, what can or what should you bring with you? Traveling Toker
Dear Traveling Toker, Although Colorado and Washington are the only two legal pot states at this time, packing cannabis safely for travel is an important skill to have for any responsible adult living within the twenty medical cannabis states. Careful packing practices will ensure successful traveling.
In terms of what to bring with you, for any length of travel trip, pack only a sensible amount of cannabis for personal use. Pack clean paraphernalia and place separate from the cannabis.
If you are traveling by airplane, rest assured the federal Transportation Security Agency, has bigger concerns for airport safety than the cannabis they find in the carry-on luggage of travelers. The agents are screening for bombs, not buds. If you are a medical patient in state that allows medical marijuana, place your issued card or relevant documentation with your cannabis. Keep your travel supply of cannabis simple, clean and contained. You and your supply of cannabis for personal use should have no problems on your flight.
When driving, one doesn’t have the same packing restrictions for vehicle travel as airline travel. The general rules still apply, pack a personal amount of cannabis and store clean paraphernalia in a separate place. Keep cannabis stowed away, ideally in the trunk of the vehicle. Careful packing eliminates the plant aroma.
Responsible use means not driving and smoking cannabis. This is not appropriate and can lead to expensive legal problems, among other serious predicaments, if stopped by a police officer or state trooper and cited for intoxicated driving. Be sensible, have your cannabis items packed. This prevents police from finding a reason or probable cause to further delay your travel plans. Be responsible, unpack and partake when you no longer need to drive for the day. Enjoy your upcoming trip.
Dear Lady Cannabis, What do I do when an acquaintance smokes around me and I don’t like the smell? Super Lungs
Dear Super Lungs, Second hand smoke is a sensitive subject. Fortunately, cannabis smoke is not as toxic or dangerous as second hand tobacco smoke. Any kind of smoke can be an uncomfortable irritant. Anti-smoking tobacco laws and ordinances have been shaping and refining public spaces where cigarette smoking is acceptable since 1995. Additional public service announcements have refined our awareness to tobacco smoking in private spaces.
What is the best practice for cannabis smoke? This depends on the environment. Ultimately, cannabis smoking needs to happen in spaces where it’s permissible to smoke.
If you are bothered by cannabis smoke, you need to talk to your acquaintance and find a reasonable solution that works for both of you. Ask yourself what are the circumstances around the smoking? What aspect of the smoking is bothering you? What is the frequency, does this happen every time you see this person or on occasion? If the cannabis smoking is a social activity, your acquaintance is socializing in a way you don’t prefer. Suggest some nonsmoking cannabis alternatives, like a table top vaporizer, something that maintains the social aspect of the circle but won’t irritate your air space. If you don’t want to be involved with the smoke circle at all, schedule a different activity to do with your friend at a different time of the day.
The smoking may not be happening at your friend’s home, but in your home, instead. Maybe your acquaintance is a roommate who is disturbing you with smoking in your shared living space. Whatever the situation, create time to have a conversation. Discuss the specific problem and find solutions that will be comfortable and mindful for the both of you. Remember to express appreciation with aspects of your acquaintance you enjoy and the parts of your relationship that are working well to balance out the conversation.
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Dear Lady Cannabis, Which is more effective glycerin tincture or alcohol-based tincture? I have heard that alcohol is better but it burns the underside of my tongue and is far less pleasant. Thank you ever so, Lady D
Dear Lady D, Thank you for your question. I agree the burn of alcohol tinctures can be very unpleasant. I suggest diluting the dropper of tincture in two or three ounces of water or tea.
Alcohol tinctures are more effective than glycerin ones, up to ten times more effective. Alcohol makes stronger medicinal cannabis tinctures because it is better at breaking down the cannabinoids in the plant material than glycerin. Glycerin tincture is primarily an alcohol free option for patients sensitive to alcohol. Denver based certified herbalist, Ms. Pendleton, suggests exploring different manufacturers or batches of alcohol tinctures because production methods vary and the taste of a different alcohol tincture might be better than the unpleasant one you’ve experienced. Even though glycerin tincture is less potent, it is more palatable and that might be the better choice for you.
Dear Lady Cannabis, I’m a Denver local and attend shows at Red Rocks Amphitheatre every summer for the past 20 years. I appreciate how relatively relaxed security has been in regards to pot smoking in the venue. Pot smoking has been tolerated. This summer, as I sit at my reserved seat before a show, smoking a doobie, I was asked by security to take it out to the smoking section with the cigarette smokers. I’ve known other concertgoers have this same experience. What is going on? Didn’t we legalize it? Show Stoner
Dear Show Stoner, Red Rocks is an enjoyable concert venue, isn’t it? I have been to the Colorado Symphony concerts this summer and each performance was memorable and delightful. It does seem ironic to pass cannabis legalization in Colorado and now cannabis smokers are being asked to smoke outside the seating area at Red Rocks.
Security largely turns a blind eye to cannabis smoking because ticketholders who are high ultimately make their jobs easier with a laid back and more manageable crowd. This is in contrast to the rowdy and inappropriate behavior regularly exhibited by the “one too many” alcohol drinkers at the show. Cannabis is such a popular recreational choice at Red Rocks; it is simply not possible to stop everyone from smoking cannabis.
In your situation, timing might be the issue. If there is a performance happening onstage, generally, security won’t hassle you. If you are lighting up soon after the doors open and the security staff is standing around in broad daylight looking for something to do, you’ll probably be asked to move to the smoking section. As our society is shifting to cannabis being a legally recognized recreational drug, the guidelines of acceptable use will change. Smoking cannabis is still smoking and over the years, cigarette smoking has been relegated to the periphery and contained in smoking sections. We will have to see if public cannabis smoking receives the same treatment. At your next concert at Red Rocks, as you enjoy the view from your seats before the show, you might use a portable vaporizer that won’t interfere with your neighbor’s air space or perhaps you can enjoy a classic pot brownie.
Dear Lady Cannabis, I was hanging out in a smoking circle. I borrowed a lighter to spark a bowl. I passed the lighter with the bowl and my friend said the lighter is supposed to be returned to him, the owner, immediately. Did I commit a faux pas? Lighter Larry
Dear Lighter Larry, Oh dear, your friend is sour from one too many of his lighters being accidently pocketed by a stony someone in the smoking circle. No you didn’t commit a faux pas. Since you are smoking out of a bowl, the lighter is passed with the bowl for each person to spark the bowl. If you are smoking a joint, it makes sense to promptly return the lighter to your friend. Losing lighters is a common nuisance, so look out for yourself and others and keep matches or a lighter on hand. You’ll be prepared and your friend will be more comfortable.
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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/
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