COLORADO – Around this time a month ago, dispensaries and cannabis vendors across the state began gearing up for the most anticipated event in the industry: the Cannabis Cup. Worthily potent harvests are finished up, dried and churned, and the absolute best of the best is packaged up and sent to multiple companies for entry and judging.
For the last five years, hosted in one of the first states to legalize medical and recreational marijuana, the HIGH TIMES Cannabis Cup has invited millions of dollars and thousands of people in establishing the leading vendors in the industry. The world’s leading marijuana trade show celebrates the world of ganja through competitions, instructional seminars, expositions, celebrity appearances, concerts and product showcases. Shortly after the cannabis-consuming public became accustomed to HIGH TIME’s largest annual show, Denver commissioners denied the Denver Mart a permit for the event, which was to be taken place this year on April 16-20.
Law enforcement officials presaged that too many individuals were sampling and consuming cannabis products openly. Thus, from a safety perspective, there were many voiced concerns about the “biggest ticketed marijuana parties in the world”. So, step two: an alternate venue. HIGH TIMES then considered moving the event to a venue in Pueblo, where time restrictions ultimately led back to step one. “What a shame that Adams County wouldn’t grant the permit. And we were on our way to getting a permit in Pueblo, but they have a 75-day waiting period. We can’t organize the proper event we want to with that short of time” Dan Skye, editor-in-chief of HIGH TIMES and prolific contributor to the 40-year magazine, discussed the matters of the event.
Dan Skye at the Amsterdam HIGH TIMES Cannabis Cup.
Skye helped to understand where the devastation resides in the cancellation of the Colorado Cannabis Cup. Customers? Vendors? The cannabis-consuming public? All of the above, according to the HIGH TIMES editor-in-chief. With a turnout of over 45,000 people at last year’s event, it’s no surprise the three-day 420 celebration was a great success. And with that turnout, the vendors were able to publicize their strains to the relevant public and in turn, generate a great amount of profit in their benefit. “So they don’t like [the cancellation] either. You know, it’s just – we’re trying to move the industry forward at all times. We should be able to have a trade show like anyone else in their industry. It’s just ridiculous”. With a strong and vocal anti-marijuana crowd in Colorado, despite its legality, those individuals are going to get their two cents in, and Skye explained that this is something they have to deal with in every venue; “The only [venue] we don’t, is in San Bernardino”, who, as Skye explained, has a history of putting on cannabis events and doing a great job in hosting them.
So, what really is the difference here geographically? With San Bernardino’s depressed economy, they may see the business side more clearly – thousands of people will be coming from around the country, utilizing the local restaurants, hotels, gas stations, etc. and contributing some economic growth for the city. “So that’s who’s losing out – the city. I mean, you bring 5,000 people who are going to spend that much money – it’s just ridiculous! I mean, that’s a lot of money – this represents millions of dollars” which of course, could have been spent in Colorado. While disappointed, Skye remains confident in the next steps, which he explains will simply be moving forward in the industry at all times.
Herbal Healing is a local Colorado dispensary who also understands the importance of progressing in the industry. They also happen to be the main event sponsor for the 2015 US Cannabis Cup, and, a proud owner of a first-place finish in the cup, taking the trophy for best Indica Flower for their strain Granddaddy Purp. Stephanie Mills, business manager at the local dispensary, explained that the cancellation of the cup didn’t affect the brand too much at all, in fact. What seemed to be the most disappointing factor, was that since the cup was not going to be held in Colorado, state and federal regulations prohibit crossing state lines with cannabis. Thus, Herbal Healing (and many Colorado brands) were unable to enter the California contest; disappointment would be the word to describe the cancelation from Mill’s’ perspective, but certainly not ruin.
Mill continued to inform the major differences between the Cannabis Cup and the Colorado Cup, which Herbal Healing will be entering this year. One of the largest difference is that the consumption and selling of cannabis will not be open to the public, so individuals won’t be sampling the vendor’s strains. “And honestly, because the HIGH TIMES Cannabis Cup is a national Cannabis Cup, it includes people from all over the US, where the Colorado Cup is only a local, statewide thing. So for us it’s not as much competition you know, as we don’t have any of the other states involved.”
Mill explained that at Herbal Healing, if the Cannabis Cup was still set to take place in Colorado, they would definitely have a lot more going on at the dispensary. Preparation for the cup includes more events, gearing up for larger booths, more advertisement and marketing, etc. “Since it’s a smaller only statewide cup, it’s not something that we’re going to put a ton of dollars into, so its definitely put our budget back at a much lower amount. So you know, maybe it’s a blessing in disguise in that kind of way.”
As Mills continued to speak on behalf of many Colorado dispensaries, she explained that the most devastation done with the canceling of the cup was to the public. Local dispensaries are still excited about the opportunity to showcase at the Colorado Cup – because for now, the local populace is what really matters to these brands, at least until the industry starts to expand and becomes legal on a federal level. “While it does suck and we do want it to be here, it’s not a total loss in any way and we’re still going to get a great benefit from the under paving of the local magazine.”
Thumbnail photo by @hightimesmagazine