Pubdate: Wed, 13 Aug 2014
Source: Colorado Springs Independent (CO)
Column: Cannabiz
Copyright: 2014 Colorado Springs Independent
Contact:  http://www.csindy.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1536
Author: Bryce Crawford

PARTY WITH BEST MEDS, OR VIBRANT HEALTH CLINIC, AND MORE

THC trophy time

The socially minded Club 710 will celebrate its fourth annual Best 
Meds contest at 9 p.m. this Thursday, Aug. 14, at Peak 31 (the old 
Union Station, 2419 N. Union Blvd., 321/626-9469). Over the last few 
months, some 200 volunteer judges have critiqued unlabeled packages 
of both medical and recreational bud and concentrate, looking for the 
best sativa, indica, hybrid, kush and oil. Now comes the party, where 
vendors like Silver Surfer Vaporizer and The Ganja Group will mix 
with contestants and fans.

"This contest is always very competitive," says organizer Robert 
Tillery. "Canna Caregivers was the original [champion]. They, like, 
swept the first year, and they came back and swept the second year, 
so they've sponsored every year since. Mountain Med Club came in last 
year and won the sativa trophy with their only entry, so they're 
back. And this year we also had two newcomers: Rocky Road [Remedies] 
and High Country Healing."

Entry is 21 and up; tickets are $5.

A Vibrant party

Vibrant Health Clinic (627 N. Weber St., vibranthealthclinic.com ) is 
also celebrating its fourth year, in addition to a move to a new 
location, with a fundraiser for the Cerebral Palsy Association of 
Colorado Springs from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 17.

"It should be a fun afternoon," writes owner Jessica Hogan via email, 
noting the live music, raffles and caricature paintings, as well as a 
physician Q-and-A at 2:30 p.m. "We are also raising money at the same 
time for [CPACS] because we have many children with Cerebral Palsy 
who are using cannabis and we want to do something to give back to 
our community. ...

"The event is totally free, and everyone gets 2 free raffle tickets 
just for showing up!"

Use down, fear up

Preliminary results from the 2013 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey show 
that teen cannabis use is down, with 20 percent of responding 
high-schoolers saying they had used marijuana in the preceding 30 
days, as opposed to 22 percent in 2011. On the other hand, the 
percentage of those polled "who perceived a moderate or great risk 
from marijuana use declined from 58 percent in 2011 to 54 percent in 
2013," says a release from the Colorado Department of Public Health 
and Environment.

It's in this environment that the state is launching a new 
anti-marijuana advertising campaign aimed at teenagers. Called "Don't 
Be a Lab Rat," the effort, which includes human-sized rat cages being 
placed around Denver, hopes to scare youth from using pot through the 
idea that its consequences are relatively untested, reports the 
Denver Post. Costing around $2 million, ads will feature text like: 
"Volunteers needed. Must have a developing brain. Must smoke weed. 
Must not be concerned about schizophrenia."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom