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!
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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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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.
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Product review of the Incredibowl m420 Deluxe kit below. Click the link to read the review in The Daily Doobie.
http://issuu.com/dailydoobie/docs/tdd_i10issue
What, exactly, is the Incredibowl? It’s not a vaporizer, it’s a pipe, or, as the company website describes, a “smoke injection system” (patent pending) engineered to filter and cool smoke, thereby reducing tars and enabling a more pleasant smoking experience. The manufacturer, Boulder, Colorado’s Incredibowl Industries, has won 13 Cannabis Cup awards for their innovative pipes.
The Mycroft Sherlock pipe is for consumers who enjoy pipes, and want the technology of the Incredibowl. The Incredibowl m420 Deluxe has 2 pipes in one kit. The Deluxe model has an m420 Incredibowl, a clear glass Sherlock style pipe called the Mycroft, and replacement parts (always nice to have on hand when needed!). Constructed with high grade and sturdy components, Incredibowls are designed for long term durability. The carrying case is a military grade smell proof hard plastic case with two latches. The m420 tube is clear shatterproof polycarbonate. The external part of the Incredibowl itself is made with high grade aluminum, which acts as “unbreakable armor” for the glass bowl inside, kept in place by FDA-approved high temperature O rings. The small container comes with spare screens, 2 sizes of gaskets and a glass bowl. And the kit comes with instructions. So how many stoners does it take to assemble an Incredibowl m420 Mycroft pipe? I was determined to figure this out. In this instance, it took three people. One person to miss the first step not mentioned on the instructions, another person to make a bunch of phone calls and a feminine voice of experience to point out the obvious.
Granted, most customers are not concerned with ruining a fresh manicure assembling an Incredibowl. In my case, one foul slip and the smooth pale pink coating on my nails could be compromised. Regardless of these personal high stakes, I couldn’t assemble the Sherlock on my own. The instructions seemed easy enough, only three diagrams to follow. Initially, I was trying to put both pipes together, which didn’t fit together, and didn’t look like the diagrams at all. The result was a Sherlock that looked really happy to see me. After a couple of phone calls, I discovered that the first step is actually disassembling the m420. That means rolling up the silicon gasket sleeve, removing the bowl assembly from the m420 shaft, and then following the diagrams. Insert the bowl into the Sherlock opening, roll the silicone sleeve over the edge and adjust the seating for an airtight fit. Then add a screen to the bottom of the bowl. It took a couple of pulls and gasket adjustments to get a good draw. At last, with everything properly assembled, I was the happy one!
Smoking an Incredibowl is a very engineered experience. It’s not pipe smoking in the old fashioned sense. First, “You light the bowl and create suction establishing negative pressure that draws the hot smoke into the Incredibowl.” Second, “smoke spirals in the nozzle which causes it to cool, allowing the tars to get more solid and sticky. The cooled smoke passes through a screen leaving the tars behind.” Third, “the cool filtered smoke then expands into the Expansion Chamber. When the gases expand, they lose energy, causing them to cool.” What is the difference between clearing the carb of a regular pipe, and clearing the Expansion Chamber of an Incredibowl? Usually smokers lift the finger covering the carb hole and continue to draw air. With an Incredibowl, “you pull the Bowl/Armor, opening the annular Purge Carb. The negative pressure in the Expansion Chamber causes cool air to rush in through the geometrically arranged carb holes 360 degrees around the entire circumference of the piece. The rush of air cools the smoke one last time and pushes the cool smoke quickly and smoothly into your lungs.”
Tight gasket seals are the key to enjoying an Incredibowl. It works great. Using a bud of a homegrown caregiver variety called Preston, I enjoyed the cooler smoke. It was easier on the lungs, I didn’t cough, and nothing felt harsh. I appreciate the design and ingenuity of the Incredibowl. It’s a solid and sturdy piece of equipment. Tech loving cannabis smokers will love this pipe too.
For pipe smoking, it’s my preference to use colored glass. After repeated use, some of the crevices and nooks on most pipes are hard to clean and the colored glass ultimately gives the eye something else to look at than the resin buildup. I was hesitant to like the clear glass because I was concerned it wouldn’t age well. The design of the Mycroft is simple, it looks super easy to keep clean with an alcohol bath and a few cotton swabs.
Another good feature in the Deluxe kit is the adjustable foam interior of the hard shell carrying case. The foam barrier is adaptable and the case has room enough to put a vial of cannabis and a lighter in with Incredibowl.
In summation, I highly recommend the Incredibowl. This is a high tech product with an innovative and effective design.
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