{"id":2448136,"date":"2019-08-29T07:30:00","date_gmt":"2019-08-29T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/?p=311935"},"modified":"2019-08-29T07:30:00","modified_gmt":"2019-08-29T13:30:00","slug":"high-country-could-a-cannabis-lounge-at-jazz-aspen-labor-day-ever-happen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/high-country-could-a-cannabis-lounge-at-jazz-aspen-labor-day-ever-happen\/","title":{"rendered":"High Country: Could a cannabis lounge at Jazz Aspen Labor Day ever happen?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.6247422680412\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-311935-696\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Michael Rosati | PAX provided custom engraving for its vaporizer devices on-site.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>PAX provided custom engraving for its vaporizer devices on-site.<\/strong><br \/>Michael Rosati<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1.jpg\" alt=\"PAX provided custom engraving for its vaporizer devices on-site.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Michael Rosati | Flow Kana provided fresh fruit for DIY bong-making stations\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>Flow Kana provided fresh fruit for DIY bong-making stations<\/strong><br \/>Michael Rosati<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"Flow Kana provided fresh fruit for DIY bong-making stations\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Michael Rosati | The stairway to heaven aka Grass Lands.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>The stairway to heaven aka Grass Lands.<\/strong><br \/>Michael Rosati<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-2.jpg\" alt=\"The stairway to heaven aka Grass Lands.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Michael Rosati |\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p>Michael Rosati<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-3.jpg\" alt><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-4.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Michael Rosati | Outside Lands in San Francisco, held August 9-11 in San Francisco became the first-ever, major music festival to allow cannabis consumption and sales on-site.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Outside Lands in San Francisco, held August 9-11 in San Francisco became the first-ever, major music festival to allow cannabis consumption and sales on-site.<\/strong><br \/>Michael Rosati<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-4.jpg\" alt=\"Outside Lands in San Francisco, held August 9-11 in San Francisco became the first-ever, major music festival to allow cannabis consumption and sales on-site.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-5.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Michael Rosati |\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p>Michael Rosati<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-5.jpg\" alt><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-6-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-6.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Michael Rosati |\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p>Michael Rosati<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-6.jpg\" alt><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-7-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-7.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Michael Rosati |\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p>Michael Rosati<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-7.jpg\" alt><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-8-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-8.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Michael Rosati |\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p>Michael Rosati<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/highcountry-atw-082919-1-8.jpg\" alt><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/marijuana\/high-country-could-a-cannabis-lounge-at-jazz-aspen-labor-day-ever-happen\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/marijuana\/high-country-could-a-cannabis-lounge-at-jazz-aspen-labor-day-ever-happen\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\"><span class=\"Special Section:ATW:ATW_Body_Serif_Lead\">Earlier this month,<\/span> I was lucky to experience one of the legal cannabis industry\u2019s most historic moments yet: the first-ever consumption lounge and bazaar at a major music festival.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Outside Lands, held annually since 2008 in San Francisco\u2019s Golden Gate Park, first introduced <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Grass Lands (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sfoutsidelands.com\/experience\/grass-lands\/\" target=\"_blank\">Grass Lands<\/a> in 2018, but was unable to secure the permitting necessary to make it much more than a brand showcase. This year, and only 36 hours before the gates opened, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"promoters obtained the OK (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/lifestyle\/outside-lands-nabs-historic-permit-to-partake-sell-cannabis\" target=\"_blank\">promoters obtained the OK<\/a> from the <a href=\"https:\/\/officeofcannabis.sfgov.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"San Francisco Office of Cannabis (opens in a new tab)\">San Francisco Office of Cannabis<\/a>, granting Outside Lands a temporary permit to conduct adult-use sales and consumption on-site.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">After entering festival grounds on day one, I beelined it to Grass Lands, where I was greeted by a second round of security to check my ID (entry was restricted to concertgoers 21 or older). Located just past the Polo Field \u2014 home to main stage headliners from Childish Gambino to Paul Simon \u2014 and literally and figuratively on higher ground, I made my way up a long flight of stairs stamped with pot leaves and the words \u201cWelcome to Grass Lands.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Upon entering the sprawling, shaded area, I felt my eyes well up with tears and my arms covered in goosebumps. While people have been lighting up to live music <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/codeswitch\/2013\/07\/14\/201981025\/the-mysterious-history-of-marijuana\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"for a century (opens in a new tab)\">for a century<\/a>, it was in this moment where the fight for and progress of this movement was realized.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Secluded from swarms of the 200,000 attendees Outside Lands attracted over the weekend, Grass Lands was a utopia. It was a place intentionally free of alcohol, where close to 20 of California\u2019s leading cannabis companies could educate and connect with consumers. I picked up a pack of pre-rolls from Flow Kana and found some friends in one of three designated smoking sections within Grass Lands. After sharing a joint, I ventured back out into the madness of the mega-festival only to find myself yearning to return to its calmest spot. Those who attempted to return, but appeared too intoxicated, were turned away. Post-event, San Francisco officials reported that there were zero Grass Lands-related police calls.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">For one Colorado-based edibles company, Outside Lands was the perfect opportunity to mark its expansion into California.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cBeing part of something cutting-edge takes a lot of planning, which we worked on for the better part of the past year,\u201d says Binske Executive Vice President Alex Pasternack. \u201cOur brand is all about the celebration of life, art and breaking boundaries. We\u2019ll look back on Outside Lands 2019 in the same way people remember Woodstock \u2026 if you were there, you get it. Grass Lands was exceptional, the consumers were excited and engaged; it was history in the making.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Now three weeks later, on the eve of the 29th annual Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Experience, I can\u2019t help but wonder, could a cannabis consumption lounge ever happen at the pop music festival in Snowmass? Based on the town of Snowmass Village\u2019s contentious track record on marijuana overall, it\u2019s easy to just assume \u201cno.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">But with Town Council finally <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/high-q-secures-lease-for-pot-shop-in-snowmass-mall-next-up-is-license-and-review-process\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"giving the green light (opens in a new tab)\">giving the green light<\/a> to a dispensary (slated to open this winter on the second floor of the Snowmass Mall) and legalization progressing worldwide, it\u2019s inevitable the community will have to address the issue. Unlike Aspen Skiing Co., which has a clear reason for prohibiting cannabis due to its occupation of federal land, JAS takes over Town Park, owned by the town of Snowmass Village. Cannabis could be legally consumed here now. And JAS attendees have been consuming it illegally on-site since 1991 (or at least since my first time in 2008). But until there\u2019s a change in leadership, the reefer madness mentality will remain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">The town of Snowmass Village declined to comment, but it did provide the verbiage included in its event contracts, which states, \u201cIn order to preserve the desired image of Snowmass Village as an inclusive and exciting community and resort, particular scrutiny will be focused on sponsors, exhibitors, advertisers and vendors of tobacco products or tobacco paraphernalia; sex products or paraphernalia; cannabis related products, paraphernalia and\/or information. Snowmass Tourism reserves the right to, in Snowmass Tourism\u2019s sole discretion, refuse to permit any sponsor, exhibitor, advertiser or vendor to sponsor, exhibit, advertise, vend or otherwise participate in an event.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">One substance that doesn\u2019t seem to damage its \u201cdesired image\u201d (often self-described as \u201cfamily friendly\u201d), though? Alcohol. Snowmass Tourism presents three dedicated festivals for beer, wine and cider, where impaired parents can openly imbibe while pushing double-wide strollers around Base Village. But still, local officials have yet to acknowledge the many post-legalization reports proving weed is far safer and less addictive than booze, with many Americans ditching one for the other \u2014 which in turn could create calmer, more controlled crowds at large events.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Jazz Aspen Snowmass wasn\u2019t willing to talk about it, either. Fair enough, as the nonprofit is bound to the agreement in place until it\u2019s up for renegotiation in 2021. It\u2019s worth noting that five of JAS\u2019 25 sponsors this year are alcohol brands: Woody Creek Distillers, Larceny Bourbon, Corona Extra, Don Julio and Robert Mondavi. Do you know how many cannabis companies are willing to shell out even more dollars to participate in such a special celebration of music, ultimately supporting the organization\u2019s important year-round calendar and education initiatives? Oh, and beyond participation fees, Grass Lands generated over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfgate.com\/entertainment\/article\/Outside-Lands-Grass-Lands-total-marijuana-sold-14304264.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"$1 million in cannabis sales (opens in a new tab)\">$1 million in cannabis sales<\/a> for Outside Lands in three days.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">With Binske\u2019s products on-shelf in Aspen\u2019s dispensaries, Pasternack thinks an experiment like Grass Lands is what will eventually move the needle for long overdue, social-use initiatives locally and beyond.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">He adds, \u201cThe consumers and the economy have already carved out the future for cannabis and it\u2019s unstoppable now. Yes, I believe Colorado has made some progress, and it will only become more prevalent as the industry evolves. Remember, tourists visiting Aspen face the challenge of \u2018Where can I consume?\u2019 Think about it, they can\u2019t consume in their car, hotel or public sidewalks, so there is a real need for consumption-friendly options \u2014 especially at organized events.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">And after seeing the success at Grass Lands, I am more hopeful than ever that one day, I will attend a cannabis-permitted concert in my own backyard.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Shirttail\">Katie Shapiro lives in Snowmass Village. She can be reached at <a href=\"mailto:katie@katieshapiromedia.com\">katie@katieshapiromedia.com<\/a> and followed on Twitter @bykatieshapiro.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/marijuana\/high-country-could-a-cannabis-lounge-at-jazz-aspen-labor-day-ever-happen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PAX provided custom engraving for its vaporizer devices on-site.Michael Rosati Flow Kana provided fresh fruit for DIY bong-making stationsMichael Rosati The stairway to heaven aka Grass Lands.Michael Rosati Michael Rosati Outside Lands in San Francisco, held August 9-11 in San Francisco became the first-ever, major music festival to allow cannabis consumption and sales on-site.Michael Rosati [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2448136","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-25 22:17:08","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2448136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2448136"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2448136\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2448136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2448136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2448136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}