Pubdate: Wed, 29 Jul 2015
Source: Colorado Springs Independent (CO)
Column: CannaBiz
Copyright: 2015 Colorado Springs Independent
Contact:  http://www.csindy.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1536
Author: Griffin Swartzell

A LOCAL BONG-A-THON, MARIJUANA BANKING, AND MORE

Bong-a-Thon revision

The 32nd Colorado Invitational Bong-a-Thon has been moved out of the 
town of Stoner. Instead, the festival will be held around 21/2 hours 
south of Denver, with the specific location to be sent to invitees 
only. On July 6, the Montezuma Board of County Commissioners denied 
event organizer Chris Jetter's application for amplified sound and 
filed an injunction to stop the event altogether.

"We had a special use permit for a special event," says Board Vice 
President Larry Don Suckla. "It takes about one month to get one of 
those through. There wasn't enough time to get it through before that event."

Jetter reportedly has locked down a new location much closer to 
Colorado Springs. On Friday, look for music by Denver-based Horse and 
Colorado Springs-based Woodshed Red, plus stand-up from Chris Carlton 
and the 420 Comic Jeffery Patterson, and DJ sets from JRUSH and DJ 
Diablo. Saturday, expect Rude Punch and Zolopht, along with DJ sets 
from JRUSH, DJ Diablo, Blunt Radio, Kruza Kid and Los Marijuanos. 
Jetter says there will also be complimentary beer and dabs.

Cannabis banking advances

The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved banking access for 
medical and recreational marijuana businesses. The committee passed 
the 2016 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations 
bill with an amendment that bans the Treasury Department from using 
federal funds to punish banks that work with locally legal marijuana 
businesses. Now, the Senate will debate the bill before approving a 
version for House debate. Congress could push through a version of 
the bill before the Aug. 8 recess.

What happens if it passes? "Given that banking is the most 
conservative industry out there, I'm not sure that they're going to 
be rushing to market on it," says Mark Slaugh, CEO of iComply LLC, 
which helps marijuana companies with state regulations. "Where we've 
found more success is in local banks willing to take a risk and 
create the revenue stream for themselves while, at the same time, 
managing their compliance."

Keef crumbs

Mr. Nice Guy Private Cannabis Club has opened in a new, expanded 
location at 2519 Airport Road. "We were doing really well [in our old 
location], and our customers really liked it, but we found a 
different location," says budtender Jessica Aviles, "We have a stage, 
so we can hold more events. It's way more spacious."

Last Friday, the CDC released its findings in the 2014 death of Levy 
Thamba Pongi, a 19-year-old who died after jumping from a 
fourth-story balcony, having eaten a cookie infused with 65 mg of THC 
a few hours earlier. The CDC concluded that because it takes 1-2 
hours for edibles to take full effect, they must be clearly marked 
for dosage and communities must warn about risks of overconsumption of THC.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom