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.
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!
]]>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.
]]>Click here to read the February issue of THC.
In Good Taste
With Colorado legalization, cannabis events are attracting more people of all ages and incomes. In this emerging market are the new private monthly events with changing culinary and party themes by Jane West’s company, Edible Events, at Space Gallery.
Edible Events premiered with an End of Prohibition event in late January that featured gourmet munchies in a posh venue. West, a former corporate event organizer, said the inspiration for her inaugural event came from a pleasurable dining experience. She shared an edible cannabis treat before a delicious meal at Old Major. She had an uncommonly relaxing evening without paying for it with a hangover the next day. Fast forward to this gallery setting, a 420-friendly upscale event.
Jill Gomez, a Denver area resident is “super tickled” that marijuana is legal. “I’m a baby boomer. I’d rather have my children smoke than drink,” she said. The event was “BYOC,” or Bring Your Own Cannabis. Attendees used vaporizers and nibbled edibles in the gallery. Guests could smoke in comfort inside a Sunset limo bus parked in front.
Wendy, 67, a Colorado resident, has never been a smoker of cannabis. Only recently, when she tried an edible, did she come to appreciate the relaxation cannabis can bring. With a smile and a slight fit of giggles, she remarked how much she enjoyed meeting others “on the bus.” The limo was stocked with chocolates and soft drinks to satisfy immediate munchies.
Jeff, who lives in Denver and Milwaukee, said he enjoyed the event because, “I like smoking with people my own age.” Aside from the smoking limo, there were three spaces to explore; two galleries with food stations, and a loft area with couches and crafts for drawing and Connect 4 games for fun. DJ Desire was spinning dance tunes, favorites including Robin Thicke‘s “Blurred Lines” and an early 1980s Michael Jackson hit or two. Gorgeous flower and feather arrangements in shades of blues added consistent natural beauty to all the separate spaces.
The guests largely were baby boomers, fashionably dressed women of all ages and dapper looking young men. Candy, 59, a daily cannabis consumer from Kansas, remarked she felt refreshingly different for not needing to hide her appreciation for cannabis. CynDee, 63, another Kansan, was having a wonderful time. She used to smoke cannabis in her younger days, but no longer consumes because of employment drug screening. “Legalization needed to happen,” she said. Her favorite part of the event was “all the people I’ve met.”
Food was catered by Three Tomatoes Catering, who provided a thoughtful and flavorful menu that included mouth watering poblano quesadilla, peppered beef skewers, pulled bourbon braised short rib sandwiches, and much more. Drinks included red and white wine, local craft beer and custom event drinks, an Old Fashioned and a Fresh Apple and Ginger Elixir.
Jon, 54, from Seattle, was enjoying sour diesel, flo and golden goat cannabis strains. He would like to see similar events with delicious food in his hometown.
None of the cuisine was infused with cannabis. That might change in the future. Edible Events is working with Melissa Parks, a Le Cordon Bleu graduate, to create an epicurean line of infused sweets. “I was against the industry for a long time,” said Parks. After evaluating her promising business relationship with Organalabs, Parks is now ready to develop her passion for food chemistry into a successful cannabis industry business.
With top quality food to complement the upscale cannabis experience, Edible Events puts together a winning combination.
Christie, Genifer and Susan having fun in the photobooth, January debut of Edible Events.
Christie, Genifer and Susan having fun in the photobooth, January debut of Edible Events.
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!
]]>Links to my historical event coverage below and more photos from 3D.
New Years Eve End of Prohibition Party! http://issuu.com/thcmag/docs/january2014_issue13/41?e=0
First Sale at 3D http://issuu.com/thcmag/docs/january2014_issue13/53?e=0
Photos courtesy The Hemp Connoisseur
Mason, Betty and Brian at the start of the press conference.
Sean smelling the Bubba Kush.
Toni helps Sean select his strain.
An edible, a Dixie Elixir & Edibles truffle, is part of the historic first purchase.
Sean paying cash. Sean’s Mom is beside him, recording with her smartphone.
Sean smiles as his purchase is put in the bag AKA exit packaging.
“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”, the Neil Armstrong of marijuana.
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.
]]>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/
]]>10) Denver Kush Club passed out custom screenprinted Bic Lighters. Nice, DKC! Most dispensaries usually give away cheap lighters that don’t reliably work, but y’know, you can’t really complain about free schwag, right? It’s nice Denver Kush Club puts their name on a quality lighter that people will want to keep.
9) I liked Big Buddha Seeds giant Buddhist Temple in the recreational area of the Cup. Their free schwag bags said “Peace and Love” and added a calming element to the jam packed walkways. Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha.
8) Medicine Man for the Willy Wonka themed promotion. I am childhood fan of the original Roald Dahl story, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the 1971 film adaptation of this mad, reclusive genius candy maker, Willie Wonka. I love the 2005 Johnny Depp film version too. Although, the use of Willie Wonka, to promote marijuana products is not new, Medicine Man did a solid job incorporating the elements together into a memorable promotion. Orange skinned, green wigged and white costumed Oompa Loompas were walking around the Cup passing out golden tickets. Golden tickets were also part of print and online advertisements. Willy Wonka was a tall, well costumed man, who walked around the event site smiling maniacally and offering free puffs of vaporized marijuana from a colorful plastic squeeze bottle. Who can do this? The Medicine Man. The Medicine Man can. ( all together now) “The candy man can cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good. And the world tastes good cause the candy man thinks it should!”
7) Essential Extracts budtender, Ms. Gabby. Essential Extracts shared a booth with Pink House. Essential Extracts take the high road and make water based hash from methods learned from Amsterdam hash legend, Mila Jansen. Gabby had great style. She had a great combination of street savvy fashion style and professional smarts.
6) The Dixie Elixir and Edibles booth. My years of vending had me recognize the Dixie booth had one of the best locations of the whole Cup.The Dixie booth was nicely situated inside along one of the main traffic arteries of the event. Dixie presented a very professional and sophisticated product line that advances the concept of cannabis wellness and medicine to larger audiences in Colorado and around the country.
5) The couches and street art made chilling in the alley way between buildings a more sophisticated experience.
4) Wonder Woman tank tops from Green Man Cannabis. A jay smoking Wonder Woman strolls across the front of pastel yellow tank tops. 
3) Hanging at the SAFER / NCIA booth with the Amendment 64 crew at 4:20 on 4/20!
2) The Free Massage chair at Riverrock.
1) The Incredibles milk chocolate and peanut butter fountains with fresh fruit skewers. I’m glad each dip was a modest 5mg dose because I wouldn’t and couldn’t stop dipping the assorted bananas, strawberries, pretzels,and cake squares into the most magnificent hash chocolate and peanut butter hash fondue fountains I could ever dream of.
