It was a blissful Sunday evening in early October, and the night would begin with a question I've never had the chance to ask myself before: "So, what does one wear to a fall cannabis pairing dinner?"
I emerged in what can most accurately be described as "stoner business casual" and was on my way to meet the prearranged shuttle departing from Denver for Planet Bluegrass, a beautiful outdoor venue in the foothills of Lyons, Colorado.
Taking a seat on the far side of the shuttle's wrap-around leather bench, I was able to take in the faces of a unique few who, just moments earlier, had probably been the only other people in the entire world who found themselves asking the same question I had.
The answer to this ever-burning question gave way to a classy yet down-to-earth mix of sport coats and jeans, floral dresses and sun hats, sweaters, boots and even heels. It didn't take me long to see that just about every weed stigma that ever was was about to disappear into a cloud of smoke.
The eclectic array of humans sitting before me made well sure of that.
To my left was a writer, and on my right was a strategic account manager. Beyond him was an elementary school teacher, an entrepreneur, sales executive, business coach, yoga teacher and grandmother. And then, there was me. A girl who would find herself surrounded by some of the most inspiring and fun-loving people she would ever meet - all brought together by one shared love and a mission to change the culture and stigma of an industry that is no doubt changing the world for the better.
Of course, it all starts with one little seed. And in this case, that seed came in the form of one woman's unique vision.
"When creating Mason Jar Event Group," says founder Kendal Norris, "I saw a gap, both for the cannabis consumer and lifestyle cannabis brands. People want to come out of the cannabis closet, and we provide an accessible way for brands to present their innovations and align with foodie and yogi culture. We also provide the opportunity for consumers, newbies, and connoisseurs to experience the industry with a softer touch and celebrate with local communities."
This vision was about to fuse luxury and happy-go-lucky in a way this world has never seen.
During a brief stop at Headquarters Cannabis, guests were given their one-of-a-kind goodie bags, pre-purchased for $25, and complete with cannabis-friendly products such as an infused chapstick and bath soak from Mary Jane's Medicinals, as well as BlueKudu mint chocolate bar edibles and two bud strains courtesy of Headquarters - a sativa called "California Orange" and a darker hybrid dubbed "Black Cherry Soda" - that would be offered as course pairings later in the evening. (Other hosts included PAX, Stashbox, and 420 Science.)
We arrived to Planet Bluegrass just before sunset. With the sweet and elegant charm of a ranch-style wedding, we were met by glowing trees, a babbling brook, art installations curated by Boulder Creative Collection, and the musical stylings of Original Recipe. Each table was elegantly adorned with flowers, candles, glassware and one-hitter pipes for the guests to enjoy the thoughtfully paired cannabis selections that would accompany the wine and four-course, farm-to-table meal to come.
The delicious menu was carefully crafted and prepared by award-winning Chef Hosea Rosenberg of Blackbelly Market, and featured organic roasted squash soup with mini brie and apple grilled cheeses followed by a salad of roasted local brassicas with dates and bacon, all leading to the main course of roasted pork shoulder in a mole sauce.
Not your Grandma's munchies...
The true cherry on top of an all-around fabulous evening wasn't the grand finale of smoked chocolate brownie cake with mint ice cream (and the optional topping of shaved BlueKudu infused chocolate bars) - although it was a close second. But, nothing would compare to the group of bright and beaming souls that filled the night to the absolute brim with all-around bliss, endless laughter, and newfound friendship.
In a special, all-encompassing moment beneath the stars (that would later repeat itself again and again - and again), I came to the conclusion that this might be the industry's best kept secret: the hard-working and always-playing humans that lay at the heart of it all.
Of course, I'm not the first one to think so. When asked about her favorite part about working in the industry, Norris replied: "Clearly the people. There is passion around cannabis, everyone has their own story for how they came to find it and what it has done for them in their lives."
At the end of the day, despite a hurdle-filled industry, these are the people who know what it's all about: bringing people together, staying inspired, and basking in the endless love this world has to offer.
And no matter what happens, this is one flame far too warm to ever go out.