Pubdate: Wed, 01 Aug 2012
Source: Colorado Springs Independent (CO)
Copyright: 2012 Colorado Springs Independent
Contact:  http://www.csindy.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1536
Author: Bryce Crawford

Art and MMJ

Paintbrush and Pipe

The Colorado Springs Medical Cannabis Council is always out there, 
advocating on behalf of medical marijuana and the people who need it. 
You can't always catch it in the act, though, so it will be nice for 
the community to see a little more of the organization at its Aug. 4 
fundraiser The Cannabis Canvas.

With tickets running from $10 to $15, the event at Marmalade at 
Smokebrush (219 W. Colorado Ave., #210, smokebrush.org) will feature 
live music from the Hopeful Heroines, spoken word from Poetry 719, a 
speed-painting demo from Douglas Rouse, and an auction featuring a 
variety of cannabis-themed artwork, including custom pieces from 
acclaimed local painter Phil Lear.

It's a perfect blend of arts and activism, says Council membership 
director Mark Slaugh.

"I feel like we have a lot of creative people that oftentimes live in 
a place that can be a little more reserved at moments, to say the 
least," he says. "I thought it was a great opportunity to bring out 
this great talent and this great community of artists that we have to 
portray what that word - 'marijuana' - really means in society."

Slaugh says that so far, he's seen pieces including a Native 
American-inspired redstone pipe, traditional pottery and sculpture. 
If the Canvas is a success, it could become an annual event.

"I think we've got amazing artists, and to get their support on this 
issue - you know, it's not easy to ask anybody, 'Hey, why don't you 
paint a controversial subject and hope this turns out for the best?'" 
Slaugh says with a laugh. "You know, we'll have to certainly see what 
angles these folks took on the art, and I'm really excited to get it 
into the hands of those people that ... wanna have a very unique piece."

Keef crumbs

* The number of people registered with the Colorado Department of 
Public Health and Environment to use marijuana as medicine continues 
to rise, albeit slowly. Numbers provided by the department show that, 
as of the end of May, 98,910 Coloradans possessed red cards. This is 
the sixth consecutive month the figure has increased.

* Last week, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed a ban on 
MMJ dispensaries, though it did create an exception for certain 
existing centers, reports the Los Angeles Times. "[Councilor Paul] 
Krekorian noted that exceptions to the 'hard ban' will allow 
small-scale growing at homes with three or fewer 'qualified 
patients,' as well as permitting medical marijuana at hospices and 
licensed clinics or home-health agencies," writes the paper. There 
are currently roughly 850 dispensaries in that city.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom