Pubdate: Sat, 26 Apr 2014
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2014 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Steve Raabe, The Denver Post
Page: 17A

CHONG LENDS STONER CRED TO PUEBLO POT DISPENSARY

As if Colorado's weed-happy image needed a boost, it's getting one 
from a legendary stoner.

Tommy Chong has entered into a business deal to use his name and 
product endorsements at a Pueblo pot shop.

Chong garnered fame in the 1970s as half of the dazed-and-confused 
comedy duo Cheech & Chong.

Still consuming cannabis after decades of steady use, Chong said his 
interests now lie more in marijuana's purported medical benefits. He 
said he was recently tested free of prostate cancer after a 
self-treatment regimen of cannabis oils and dietary changes.

Chong, 75, said his partnership with Marisol Therapeutics in Pueblo 
involves "more or less using my name, my celebrity status, to bring 
attention to their products."

He said Marisol's owner, Mike Stetler, will develop a strain of 
marijuana and make products from it that will be sold under the 
"Tommy Chong" brand.

"He's got one of the best grow operations I've ever seen," Chong said 
in a telephone interview with The Denver Post. He resides in California.

Chong said the proprietary strain and products will contain high 
levels of cannabidiol, or CBD, a substance that proponents say can be 
effective in the treatment of several medical conditions.

"We've all gone through the recreational aspect of it," Chong said of 
marijuana. "But what's exciting to me is the medical side."

He has several other pot and hemp product endorsement deals outside 
of Colorado.

Chong made publicity appearances at Marisol Therapeutics in January 
after recreational sales became legal, and again on the eve of the 
4/20 pot celebrations last weekend.

Chong and an attorney for Marisol said that contrary to published 
reports, Chong has not invested in Marisol. Colorado law prohibits 
investments in marijuana enterprises by people who have not been 
state residents for at least two years.

"There's no money changing hands from Tommy to Marisol, so there's no 
investment," said Marisol attorney Sean McAllister. "Ultimately, it 
comes down to Tommy Chong endorsing (Marisol's) product."

Chong said he plans to sample and approve the products prior to his 
name being used.

"I'll be hanging out there a lot," he said. "Anything with my name on 
it, I'm a hands-on guy."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom