Matador Network's Blog, page 2307

How wolves change rivers

If you’ve driven on a highway in a wooded area in the fall, chances are, you’ve seen the results of our almost-complete removal of apex predators from American ecosystems. By removing wolves and bears and cougars, we’ve basically insured that highways through all of Pennsylvania and Ohio are carpeted in deer roadkill. It’s gross.

We’ve long known that removing apex predators has disastrous consequences on the ecosystem, but in this video by Sustainable Man, narrated by environmental activist George Monbiot, we finally see how huge of an effect reintroducing wolves to an ecosystem (like Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming) can have: wolves can change the very course of the rivers.

Rivers aside, I’m all for reintroducing wolves to Ohio and the East Coast, if for nothing else, to get the damn deer carcasses out of the left-hand lane. [image error]

Feature photo: Steve Jurvetson

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Rabbit Island is adorable [vid]

I WONDER IF pigeons, or seagulls, were ever once regarded as “cute,” before their species over-population became a nuisance. I would hate to see these adorable rabbits befall the same fate as what NYC has deemed “rats with wings.” Those traveling to the Japanese island of Ōkunoshima (also known as Rabbit Island) can experience the same squealing excitement as portrayed by the visitor in this video, who made herself Queen of the Bunnies by tempting these huge, wild rodents with a bag of snacks.

You have a heart of stone if you don’t “awwwww!” at least once while watching this:

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KholoBC fights Pakistan's unjust law

THIS VIDEO by Pakistani rappers Adil Omar and Ali Gul Pir is, according to Omar’s Facebook page, the most viral video in Pakistan this week. Which is quite significant, considering that YouTube has been banned in the country since September 2012.

…‪#‎KholoBC‬ has reached 647,521 people on Facebook so far, with over 125,000 active clicks – 14k hits on Vimeo and 5k on YouTube, making it the most viral video in Pakistan so far this week. Let’s not stop there. We could make a difference. Keep pushing the video and keep using the #KholoBC hash-tag. State censorship should be fought, and to all in opposition of #KholoBC, or in favor of the YouTube ban, do us a favor and stay the f*ck off YouTube when it’s finally opened.

To learn more about the #KholoBC campaign — a protest against Pakistan’s censorship methods — check out this article on GlobalVoices.

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How to piss off your bookseller

Photo: Eneas De Troya

Author’s note: This post is inspired by a great little book called Manual Prático de Bons Modos em Livrarias (A Practical Guide to Good Bookstore Manners) by a Brazilian writer (and bookseller!) who goes by the nickname Hillé Puonto. Her awesome blog (in Portuguese) can be found here.

Be an asshole.

It almost goes without saying, right? But you’d be surprised how people treat those in retail. That’s why it’s never a superfluous reminder: Treat your bookseller like you’d like to be treated, talk to him/her like you’d talk to a guest in your house.

Now, apply that to life and, voilá, you’re a nicer person.

Have no idea what you’re looking for.

“I want a book…from that author…the title has ‘wind’ in it…or was it ‘hand’? I don’t know, but it was on TV last week, the author is a man, the cover is white…or maybe yellow.”

Can you imagine how many times a day a bookseller goes through this? Just google it and write down the name of the book or the author. Your local bookseller is not a mind reader.

Never accept a suggestion.

It’s pretty much like ladies and their wardrobes: surrounded by books, but nothing to read…. Readers, you know the drill: You’re looking for that great new book you’ve never heard of. Luckily for you, one of the bookseller’s main roles is to help a book find its reader. All you have to do is put your faith in them and go with their recommendation. They most often know what they’re talking about.

Interrupt a phone call.

Is your bookseller on the phone? Believe me, chances are the person on the other side of the line is a customer, not a BFF. Wait your turn. Same applies for when they’re helping another customer inside the store. Unless you’re on a mission to save the world from imminent destruction, you wait.

Mess with book placements.

Yes, the books are organized they way they are for a reason. Don’t meddle. And, by the way, if you’re a published writer and are considering discreetly moving your book somewhere so people can see it better…just don’t.

Pretend not to understand the ‘out of print’ thing.

You’re looking for a book. The bookseller has searched the system and returns saying, “sorry, we don’t have a copy in store and the title is out of print.” This means what it means — don’t make it difficult.

Try looking for used copies somewhere else, try the internet. Don’t expect the bookseller to solve the problem for you — that’s not what he/she does.

Expect the unreasonable.

It’s common for bookstores, especially in the US, to sell DVDs, toys, pens, gift cards, paper articles, etc, in addition to books. But when you want to buy a shoe, you go to a shoe store. Medicine? Pharmacy. Food? The deli. That brand new travel backpack? Luggage store. Books? That’s right, a bookstore!

Keep it simple, don’t expect Shakespeare and Co. to sell headphones. That’s what Amazon’s for.

Leave your children unattended.

They’ll be sold to the circus. Or given shots of espresso. [image error]

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5 tips for hosting an Oscar party

Photo: James Vaughan

FEW TELEVISION EVENTS capture international attention like the annual Academy Awards ceremony. It seems the whole world is enraptured on Oscar night, but that feeling of excitement — so fleeting — can be crushed painfully by a bad awards party.

For many years now, I’ve hosted or been a guest at awards parties that have ranged from jubilant to pleasant to downright weird and uncomfortable. And while I still have no say about who the Academy chooses to host each year (even so, I’m begging you, AMPAS: no more James Franco), I’ve learned a few things that every Oscar party host needs to know.

1. Know your shit.

For every deserved nomination, there’s someone or some movie that’s been snubbed, and you can bet one of your guests wants to talk about it. One of the most awkward situations that develops during the ceremony is when someone brings up another film…and no one knows what the hell they’re talking about.

You, the host, need to have your nominations-and-snubs list on hand to back that person up, or to keep yourself from falling behind. The more you’ve seen, the more valid your opinions become, too. It’s hard to see every nominated movie, but not too tough to read the articles that pour in for months leading up to the Oscars. Take 10 minutes before guests arrive to get caught up.

2. The party starts on the Red Carpet.

“When should I arrive?” “What time is the ceremony?” “How long does it last?” These questions are by far the most common that your Oscar party invitees will ask. People need to budget their time wisely, and some have multiple party-invites to juggle.

The safest bet is to shoot half an hour to an hour before the ceremony-proper with some food and drink; that way, you see your friends in and out before the ceremony, no one’s getting up just as the big opening number starts, and those more taken than others with the celebrities have a few moments of personal time.

Turn on any channel with coverage of the Red Carpet, and you’re set for the early birds and the stragglers.

3. Potluck or pizza – it’s all the same.

As the host, you’re going to be asked by each of your guests if they should bring something, and your inclination might be to say, “Maybe plates? Or nothing, no big deal.” This is a rookie mistake — just because they’re your guests doesn’t mean admission is free.

Feel comfortable asking for a little dish, just as long as that person can be relied on to arrive before the party gets going. And if you find most people are strapped for cash or are a bit lazy, don’t freak out — the best perk of being a host is that the guests will eat ANYTHING you put in front of them. No one minds a good pizza except the lactose-intolerants — and in that case, everyone can chip in for some Thai.

Just make sure you place that order well in advance of the ceremony, since there will probably be a few other Oscar parties in dire need of their Papa John’s fixes.

4. It’s only an “Oscar party” if everyone leaves as soon as they end.

Watching the Academy Awards is like playing a game of Monopoly with your family: seems like a good idea at first, things get a little boring but still pleasant midway, and everyone wants to kill everyone else by the end. Once that Best Picture award gets announced, you’ve got five minutes of great, excited discussion before things start to get rowdy.

If you can, calmly direct people towards dessert, a nice walk in the brisk night air, or full-on exile from your place. I find that asking someone at a potluck when they want their dishes back sends a clear signal: “GTFO, as it were, while I wash your salad bowl.”

5. Your mom’s going to call. Don’t ignore it – put it on speakerphone.

Even if your mom is hosting a party of her own, experience has shown me that she wants to hear what you thought about the winners as soon as they’ve won. Walking out of the room to answer, ignoring the call, or being too harsh with her are all embarrassing party fouls.

Don’t be afraid to answer it and give her a few thoughts on the latest Argo-level Academy screwup; after all, you’re the host of your own party, and that position comes with some authority. If you’re lucky, the call with mom will end with a few words of love, and the guests will admire your magnanimity, charm, and filial love.

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A winter weekend in Breckenridge, CO

BRECKENRIDGE IS ONE of several ski resorts that line Interstate 70 out of Denver. I confess to having skipped over it on previous occasions when I was headed west for a winter trip. But this old mining outpost, with a massive string of five skiable peaks and a historic downtown, continuously surprised me over a long weekend this past January.

Combining an average of 300 sunny days a year with a constant schedule of festivals and cultural events, Breckenridge offers a great mix of options for a winter weekend in one of the few remaining legit Colorado ski towns.

Brian’s trip was sponsored by GoBreck. All photos by author.

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After an easy flight from NYC and a quick shuttle from Denver International Airport to the condo, we made it just in time to catch a beautiful sunset fall on Bald Mountain.





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True to what they say, we got four bluebird days at Breck. And, unlike at a few nearby resorts, the mountain wasn't too crowded. This is the view from the Peak 8 SuperConnect, which zips from the base of Peak 9 to the top of Peak 8.





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Just a few weeks prior, Breckenridge had opened Peak 6, at the northernmost part of the range. This was the largest increase of any mountain anywhere over the past 10 years, adding 540 acres (a 23% increase) with plenty of intermediate alpine lines. Such a blast!




See more: Ullr Fest: Honoring the snow god in Breckenridge, CO




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Peak 6 also adds to the endless Rocky Mountain views I never tired of while at Breckenridge. This view always put a smile on my face.





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After two days on the mountain, Sunday was spent with a team of huskies, a sled, and our friendly guide, Charlie, at Good Times Adventures. It was the perfect way to explore the wilderness behind a team of true work dogs.





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Our guide didn’t wait long to get us on the sled. For the next hour, we traversed old mining roads, sped across frozen lakes, and had epic wipeouts as the dogs kept challenging us to lean hard around the corners.





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I was on the back of a snowmobile when not mushing the hounds. You don’t have to love dogs to appreciate their desire to work in harsh conditions. Our guide happily demonstrated that, with good training and plenty of affection, these guys really enjoy what they do.





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The town of Breckenridge has plenty to see and do. We spent every night eating well, hearing great music, and making friends. But on the last day we explored the many stores and shops on and off Main Street, stopping to appreciate the view from time to time.





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It seems like each month—even each week—Breckenridge has something to celebrate. We'd just missed Ullr Fest, but caught the International Snow Sculpture Championships, which took place in the middle of town. The 16 teams came from every corner of the world and had a few days to create frozen art out of a massive chunk of ice. The results were stunning!





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With the way the town is laid out, it can be difficult to get a good photograph of the mountain itself. We finally found a proper vantage point just east of Main Street, where Lincoln and Ridge Streets intersect—you can grab this view from the top floor of the parking garage. Another crystal clear day and a great end to a winter weekend in Breckenridge.

The post How to spend a perfect winter weekend in Breckenridge, CO appeared first on Matador Network.

Turks in Tulum: Best beach bash ever

Berlin’s Panorama Bar. Lollapalooza’s main stage set against Chicago’s skyline. The Mount Fuji Festival in Japan. In essence, they’re all musical experiences.

We usually rely on music and friends to have a good night, but a truly memorable party experience needs something else. It needs scenery.

Whoever survived the ’90s rave scene knows the feeling of stomping your feet on a dancefloor set within an amazing place. That’s the kind of experience the folks at Young Turks Records had in mind when they set up what might be the most amazing beach party ever. To celebrate a successful year for its crew, the label organized a New Year’s Eve rager at Tulum beach, on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

Young Turks co-owner Caius Pawson tells Dazed magazine:

A year before we were in north London for the New Year’s Eve. It was cold and wet, and we promised never to do it again. So we organized it pretty much all on January 2, 2013. It was a collaboration between the Mexicans and us. We wouldn’t have been able to get the permits or to find the venue without local people working on it.

That’s how experimental dance music artists Four Tet, John Talabot, and FKA twigs met singer/producer Grimes and duo The xx (who’d just finished up a long world tour) for the occasion. The result was a three-day bash on one of the world’s most gorgeous beaches.

Enjoy. [image error]

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5 jumpstarts to beat writer's block

Photo: Zach Dischner

I’ll never forget the woman. She was impeccably groomed, everything about her pulled together. She slumped back against the wall of the writing conference room in Phoenix, tears streaming down her face.

“Can you help me?” she said. “I’m blocked. Can you please tell me how I can find 15 minutes in my day to write?” A young guy next to her, his hair in road-dusty dreadlocks, nodded. “Me too. I’m supposedly on my big writing adventure and I’m so busy there’s no writing — and no adventure.”

I was teaching a workshop on Writing From Place — in a college classroom so far from real place that I’d resorted to setting a chunk of obsidian, a pine bough, and a glass of water in the center of our circle. “Imagine,” I’d said, “that you are in a place in which there are minerals and plants and weather. Start with the weather and write from what is around you.” The 50 or so students had written steadily.

I asked the group how many of them had the same question as the woman and the young guy. All but three hands went up. I knew in that moment that it was time to explore more deeply the bedrock for writing: As a writer is in relation to her or his life, a writer is in relation to their writing. I began working with students not on fire or syntax, but on their dammed-up lives.

Here are five ways to blast the block apart. They look easy — kind of the way a sneaky route up a low-angle rock face can look easy, or that bubble line sweeping by the big boulder on the Colorado looks easy. If you have the guts — or the desperation — to try one, you’ll find out the real meaning of adrenaline rush.

1. Set an alarm for 20 minutes. Write steadily for the entire time.

Use this as an opening: “I have a story to tell.” Your writing could look like this: I have a story to tell. No I don’t. Oh fuck. Nothing’s coming. I feel like an idiot. Why did I start this? Okay go back. I have a story to tell…about…nothing…about the time I fell in love in the middle of the worst blizzard in Northern Arizona…

This tactic works. One of the students in my writing circle wrote blah blah blah for three pages. A year later, she beat me in a national writing contest.

2. Sharpen your equipment.

“If the literature we are reading does not wake us, why then do we read it? A literary work must be an ice axe to break the sea frozen inside us.” – Franz Kafka

You hold the ice axe of your stories, your knowledge, your memories of beauty, rage, and hope in your hand. You hold the axe of your road time. Begin with this prompt: “I will break through.” Write for 20 minutes without stopping.

3. Do nothing.

One of the best series ever to air on television was Northern Exposure. And one of the best episodes was about doing nothing. In it, the Tlingit medical assistant, Marilyn Whirlwind, challenges the young greenhorn doctor, Joel, to sit and do nothing. He leans back at his desk. A millisecond later, the camera zooms in on his hand — tapping frantically on the arm of his chair. I’m Joel. You’re Joel. The world we live in taps on us constantly.

Do nothing for 10 minutes. Do nothing without any drugs in your system. Don’t meditate — that’s doing something. When the time is up, write for 10 minutes. You won’t need a prompt. Reward yourself by hanging out with Marilyn and Joel (not the finger-tapping episode, but just as valuable.):

4. I can’t believe the colors.

You’ll need specialized equipment for this game: a notebook and pen or pencil. Leave your computer and go out into the world for at least 20 minutes. Pay attention to every shade of red that you see. Once you have finished your exploration, write down each red that you can remember. Close your eyes. Run your finger down the page and stop. Use whatever color you have touched to begin your 20 minutes of free-writing.

My free-writing can look like this: Garnet ribbon of light above the western mountains. Wait, I used that image before. Stop thinking, Mary. Stop censoring yourself. Okay. I’m hungry. I want to play a video game. Okay. Garnet ribbon of light about the western mountains. Jake remembered how She always saw poetry in everything. She was still “She”, as though She were the only woman in the world.

5. Meet the ghosts.

Ghosts hover between any writer and their stories. I’ve never met a writer who wasn’t haunted. The ghosts may never go away, but to meet and name them is the first step in no longer being ruled by their presence. The ghosts can be a person, a judgment, an invasion of your private words, an expectation, a prediction. The ghosts are anyone or anything that moved in between you and your writing.

Most of our ghosts come from our childhoods — the parent with whom you could never get it right; a mean teacher; an older brother or sister who was the shining star; the parent who read your private diary; the English instructor who read your writing to the class as an example of how not to write; the family in which secrets were never told; the parent who meddled in not just your writing, but your hopes for your writing; the parent who mocked your dreams of writing.

Later in life, the ghosts surround us, seemingly not the childhood hauntings, but the editor who loses the manuscript, the seemingly endless array of rejection letters, the agents and editors who, buried under impossible workloads, take a year to get back to the writer. But our more contemporary ghosts are only echoes of the messages of our childhoods.

Set your alarm for 10 minutes. Close your eyes. Let your imagination drift into your first meeting with your ghosts. At first you may find nothing. Then, perhaps a shape will begin to form. Be patient. When the ghost’s outline is recognizable, introduce yourself. When the meeting time is up, write for 10 minutes. Note: I might have lied about this jumpstart — it’s not easy. [image error]

Check out MatadorU for an in-depth opportunity to learn all the beta on travel writing. I also post jumpstarts every week on my website.

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Powder for Powder, episode 1

This is episode 1 of a 5-part exclusive series, presented by Caldwell Collections and Matador Network. Learn more.

HITTING THE OPEN ROAD, loaded to the gills with gear, plans to live in a truck camper for two months — my brother and I knew this was a road trip of epic proportions that we didn’t want to let pass by, so we pulled the trigger and headed north to Alaska, with hopes of extending our winter as spring approached at home in Sun Valley, Idaho.

After finally committing to the trip, Yancy and I spent a week packing all the winter camping gear we could think of. We carefully put together a quiver of split boards, pow surfers, approach skis, and high-powered snowmobiles to prepare for any terrain conditions. Feeling equipped to tackle the Powder Highway, we blazed into Canada and pointed it towards Revelstoke, BC and the Monashee Mountains.

After a night in Nelson, we arrived in Revi for a few bluebird days following a 30-day storm cycle. Perfect timing to hit the Eagle Pass Heli operation during a scheduled photo shoot for Eddie Bauer/First Ascent. EPH lead guide Scott Newsome blew our minds wide open to what Canada had to offer for terrain options and snow conditions. Our First Ascent crew explored the high alpine zones by helicopter, capturing some amazing shots of our team. Scott runs a tight ship at Eagle Pass. With the motto “snowy days are the best days,” they can fly every day in whatever conditions.

Yancy and I couldn’t resist staying a few days longer to ride sleds above the Columbia River. The area turned out to have the deepest snow I’ve ever attempted to ride my submarine in; my 3.5ft snowmobile disappeared under the snow during each turn. Four feet of fresh powder was more than enough to get a real taste of British Columbia and the Monashees.

Words and photos by Wyatt Caldwell; video by Yancy Caldwell.

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BC powder
I scouted a fine place to launch off a cornice into a deep landing of BC powder. This photo was chosen for Eddie Bauer’s main snow ad campaign.





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Eagle Pass Heli
Scott Newsome of Eagle Pass Heliskiing says it will take years for him to set foot on all the unexplored terrain that lies within his permitted fly zone.





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Monashee pillowland
Our first glimpse of the Monashee Mountains and the winter wonderland of terrain that surrounds Revelstoke, BC.





Intermission





On the trail through the best ski country on earth: Stop 2, Revelstoke





Taking home on the road to follow the powder [VID]





Powder Highway road trip part 1: Storm riding in Fernie












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Drop zone
Scott bootpacks a trail to the drop zone just past an enormous cornice the size of a semi truck.





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Clear skies
Scott takes a minute to admire the view of his backyard, which has been socked in with storm clouds for the last 30 days.





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Monashee sunset
A classic Monashee sunset as the light hits the snow with that mango chutney glow.





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Sparkle
I love that golden moment when the fresh snowflakes lift off the trees and dance around in the light of approaching evening.





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Yancy on his sled
Deep turn after deep turn makes you forget you even have your snowboard strapped on the sled.





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River view
A windy logging road above the Columbia River quickly gave us access to the deep snow Revelstoke is famous for.





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Confluence
Yancy and I pause to appreciate the weather breaking for an evening view of the Columbia and the deepest snow I've ever ridden.

The post Powder for Powder, ep. 1: Monashee mission appeared first on Matador Network.

The business of bud in Alma, CO

Photo: Matthew Kenwrick

While budtender Mark “Buddy” Buddemeyer answers the phone, I check out the Dube Tubes, Zig Zag rolling papers, Cheech and Chong lighters, Clear Eyes drops, and other impulse-buy items near the register at Alma, Colorado’s High Country Healing II. A mason jar, which could be part of any county fair’s peach canning collection, holds buds of “Grape Ape,” the marijuana strain that took second place at the 2010 Aspen Cannabis Cup.

“If you’re going for recreational, you can’t buy clones, but if you’re medical, you can,” Buddy informs the caller.

Meanwhile, Bec Koop, another budtender, goes through the pot product line with an older white-haired customer in a North Face puffy jacket and a faded red beanie. He squints while checking out a particular offering.

“This is a fluffier bud,” Bec explains. “Your mind and body will be on the same pace.”

Eric Mills, a budtender and grower, sits in the back of the shop near a mini-fridge, eating a meal out of a red canvas Eddie Bauer lunchbox. Perched on his head is an LED “green” headlamp. Earlier, with a garden hose coiled over his shoulder, Eric had emerged from the growing room, which emanates a sort of Poltergeist “don’t-go-into-the-light” glow when the door is opened. Buddy had asked him to check the “ressie” levels (reservoir water levels of the soil-less growing containers).

The growing numbers

High Country Healing II (HCH2) grows more than 1,000 plants onsite for both the shop’s medical and recreational marijuana operations. Business has been steady with an average of 30-40 customers stopping in daily.

However, January 1, or “Green Wednesday,” the day when Colorado recreational marijuana shops opened, HCH2 saw more than 100 customers. While this was not the volume of people that Denver recreational shops experienced, with upwards of 400 customers and lines circling around city blocks in some cases, HCH2’s numbers are impressive, considering the population of Alma is under 300.

It’s high in Alma.

It’s hard not to read marijuana meaning into every store name, sign, and slogan in the small Colorado mountain town. A wooden sign that claims: “Historic Alma: North America’s HIGHEST incorporated town” greets you as you drive in (and “highest” really is displayed in all caps). Along the main drag, you’ll see “The Highest Boutique in America,” the “Highest Saloon in the USA,” and the local liquor store recommends that you “Grab some Buds.” Depending on the season, you may also see posters encouraging to you attend the 17th annual Festival in the Clouds.

For the most part, this language is inspired by the town’s elevation of 10,578 feet, but if any place is made for legitimate marijuana sales, it’s Alma. Rumored to be a tolerant place where aging hippies have been growing weed for years, the former mining town’s zip code is even 80420.

It’s legal and on video.

“It’s always been a green friendly town,” Buddy says when I ask him about Alma’s marijuana mystique. “It’s just always been some little secret.”

There are no secrets anymore, however, now that everything is legal and on video. At HCH2, strategically placed cameras film the budtenders daily. The footage, which is required of all recreational shops and medical dispensaries, is made accessible to Colorado’s Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) so agents can monitor activities.

“Everything is tracked on the computer all the time,” Buddy explains. “The security system is on par with the Vegas gaming industry.”

I hesitate to take pictures of HCH2’s products and décor, but Buddy is unfazed. A laid back, affable guy, he poses for a photo next to the vintage record player on which they play music from the vast vinyl collection shelved in the waiting room. At the moment, however, a relentless, hypnotic techno song thumps in the store’s speakers and has been playing for at least 10 minutes. Although I haven’t consumed anything, I feel like lying down on the waiting room’s red velvet loveseat, which looks like it came from a bordello’s Wild West yard sale.

“So, have you guys been featured in High Times?” I ask, seeing several copies displayed, and a poster recognizing the 25th anniversary of the High Times Amsterdam Cannabis Cup hanging on the wall.

“Yeah, actually we have,” Buddy nods.

“That’s cool. When I was working for a budget travel guide on Europe, updating the Netherlands chapter in Amsterdam, I actually met Aran, the ‘Cannabis King,’” I tell Buddy. “He was the High Times Cannabis Cup winner like four years in a row. Well, back in the mid-’90s.”

“Oh, Arjan?” he says.

“Yeah, Arjan, I mean. Yeah that’s his name.” I feel my face reddening.

Who is a typical cannabis customer?

The bell on the door interrupts the techno and my failed attempt at being cool. A young Gothish woman with short spiked black hair, heavy black eyeliner, and a matching leather jacket walks in the shop. She looks straight ahead at the counter. Buddy greets and cards her.

“I need to see your ID.”

“Good. How are you?” the Goth Girl begins and then shakes her head. “I mean, yeah, sure.”

Buddy laughs good-naturedly at her flustered mistake. Handing him her driver’s license, Goth Girl lightens up. While they talk about basic information, I scan the pot and hash options on the dry-erase board — among the menu items: “Buddha’s Sister,” “Blue Widow HP,” “Super Lemon Haze,” “OG Kush,” and “Train Wreck.”

Photo: Kent Kanouse

In particular, I look for “Black Afghani,” my old nemesis from a night out in Amsterdam in 1989. After taking way too many hits of the hi-grade hash, I tried to synchronize my heartbeat to a band’s drumbeats during a concert at the Melkweg, a popular music venue. After I passed out on the people in front of me, my less stoned and anxious college friends dragged me out into the Melkweg’s cement entryway and dumped water on my face.

Buddy sends Goth Girl to the back to chat with Bec, and I wonder how old he was in 1989 — probably in the same age range that motivated MED to require the new opaque childproof bud containers and packaging.

“What’s the average age of your customers?” I ask.

“A lot of them are actually a little bit older — like in their 30s to 60s,” Buddy says. Many people who come in to HCH2 tried marijuana 20 or 30 years ago and want to get reacquainted with it.

The stigma still stands.

“Are people nervous when they come in?” I ask, since I had to reassure myself earlier that it was okay to enter HCH2’s cheery yet conspicuous mustard yellow building. The side of the shop displays a medical caduceus, overlaying a green cross along with the claim, “Serving the Earth Since 2727 BC,” so it’s obvious, even to tourists blowing through town on Highway 9, exactly what your intentions are when entering. Perhaps to remind you that this shop is, indeed, legitimate, a large Colorado state flag stands near the front door.

“People come in here, and, like what I was saying, they haven’t smoked in 10 or 20 years. They’ll be 50-something and their kids are in their 30s and they’re like: ‘Well, we can’t tell the kids.’ I tell them, ‘Don’t be ashamed. Don’t prolong this bad image of pot.’”

It’s definitely a cultural stigma that still exists. Colorado law states that residents 21 and over with a government-issued ID can purchase up to an ounce of marijuana for recreational use (per day) from a licensed store and grow up to six plants for private use. Out-of-state customers are permitted to buy up to seven grams (per day). Despite all of this being completely legal, and that, according to an October 2013 Gallup poll, 58% of Americans approve of marijuana legalization, many people in the US still view using marijuana as taboo.

According to Eric, who’s originally from Missouri, growing pot is the same as farming. “It’s just another plant,” he says. At the same time, Eric tells me he’s been saved by the Lord Jesus Christ and maintains, “This is God’s medicine to me.”

No matter whose medicine or pleasure, pot requires strict labeling for recreational sales. Budtenders secure each plant with a bar-coded baby blue label, which is technically a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. The mandatory tags track and store electronic data about the plants (not the customer) that the retail shop and MED can access. MED refers to this system as the Marijuana Inventory Tracking Solution (mitsTM).

“The new inventory system is a challenge, but it’s helping to tighten up everything,” maintains Buddy. “It’s forcing you to do good business.”

Ultimately, “It’s no big deal.”

Good business is what the residents of Alma want, too. In fact, ever since Amendment 64 passed, community members, led by HCH2 owner Mark January, held regular town meetings to figure out how to manage the industry.

So far, even according to the Alma Police Department, it seems to be working well. The APD’s town administrator (who did not want to be identified) hasn’t noticed any problems. “We’ve just been treating [HCH2] like any other business in town,” she says. “It’s a retail business, and they’re operating within the guidelines. It’s no big deal.” [image error]

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