Let's talk about the Capital Cup. I didn't go. I was on vacation, staycation, whatever. More like Indica-tion. The Gentleman needed a few days to himself to meditate on the utter absurdity of human striving in the face of a cold, irrational cosmos, like fleas in a gale. Meaningless, we are lost and ultimately alone in the Void. Regret, desperation, alcohol. Plus, I didn't feel up to begging for a ticket. Hooray for Seasonal Affective Disorder! Right on time, as always. I should really move someplace sunny instead of hangin' round here and inevitably turning into a hermit every winter. But I can't, because Reasons. Whatever, you don't care. Turns out by all reports, having a ticket probably wouldn't have done me much good (I like to be fashionably late). A last minute venue change from Echostage to the much smaller Rose Bar caused considerable chaos, compounded when Rose Bar's security went off-script and started selling their own "upgraded VIP" to get folks- many of whom HAD tickets- inside the over-packed venue. Some people are awfully steamed about not getting in, some of whom travelled a great distance to be here for this event, and for good damn reason. If you pay your money to get in an event, you expect to get inside. I'm down with that. But it's also true that the event organizers have made it clear that they intend to make good to everyone that wasn't able to get in, with consideration towards upcoming events, make-up goodie bag giveaways, and refunds when warranted. And frankly, if you're coming from such a long ways to go to a large DC cannabis event that it is problematic for you to return, it was probably a bad idea. Not to blame the victim- you have every right to be mad- but if you follow my blog then you know that there is a Social Use Ban in place because the DC Mayor & Council only cares about our cannabis community inasmuch as they can make a profit off of us. No shame in the game, folks, they stuck their neck out once declaring Initiative 71 passed despite Congress' threats, got no money out of it, and decided against doing anything further for us right now. I get it. The point is, the Social Use Ban makes things awfully tricky. The folks putting on events out here are trailblazers. Unlike the awesome, state-legal environment of Colorado (soon to allow social use in Denver), our folks in DC don't have the support of big money that wants to see the events succeed. The opposite, I'd wager, but then, I'm a rather paranoid little garden gnome. Indeed, I'd allow that some event folks might not behave totally ethically- but everyone I've met is on the level. Which is exactly why, when I caught wind of the venue change, I did not post an advisory against my previous endorsement- High Society DC is good people. They said they'd still do everything they'd planned at Echostage and I took them at their word, though I did anticipate some trouble. Incidentally, you can read the official response from one of the event organizers, Jacob Martin, right here. Here's my take on the whole thing. First, it's an amazing accomplishment from a historical perspective that the event happened at all. Please remember that the Grower's Cup just a few short months ago was halted and forced into, like, an alley or something due to police shaking down the venue owners. Second, the lines outside show just how much demand there is for weed events here in DC, how much the DMV cannabis community wants to be legitimized by congregating at real venues (I dig the house parties, personally, but we want to be out in public in this amazing city just like everybody drinking). Seems to me it could be an alternative marijuana revenue stream for the city if it was incorporated into the law- licenses to allow consumption on premises and such. Third, I think this proves that the event scene must stay small and fractured to thrive in the current environment. It's probably not possible to pull off a really huge event in the current atmosphere of regulations- at least, not to everyone's satisfaction. Look, I've heard some people had a great time. Now, while your wrath may burn like a millenia-old Egyptian mutant Darwinist awoken from his sleeping chambers centuries premature, I strongly suggest that you target your righteous indignation at our city government's leadership. And Congress. Congress sucks, too. Tell them it's stupid that people are allowed to drink alcohol in public but cannabis users are still expected to cower indoors like so many housebroken kitty cats. Show up to protests and activist meetings. Demand your rights! Yelling at the organizers isn't going to change the ridiculous environment they are trying to operate under. You can yell at me if you'd like. I'm kind of a masochist, but more in the horrible self-destructive way than the fun one. So I doubt you'll enjoy it. I feel a lot better having said all that. But not as good as if I had some hash. Say, you don't have any fire hash, do you? I'm going to go get some, dammit, the darkness outside is letting the darkness inside again, y'know what I mean? Shout out to Cannabis Cup Concentrate winner DC 4 S.H.O (Solventless Hash Oil), I got to try some of his lovely, flavorful rosin, and runner up Phone Homie! FYI, if the lovely Elizabeth Croyden's article about the local comedy scene earlier this week whetted your laugh-etite, there's going to be a comedy show in DC this weekend you should definitely check out. The Laugh'n'Loud Dope Comedy Show is Sunday at Bliss Nightclub. Here's tickets. It's sponsored by CannabiSpa DC, which I had the opportunity to check out the other day and was greatly impressed with the professional, therapeutic. Y'all big money Tokers definitely need to check them out for the full DC weed experience. Our awesome friends at Capital Canna News launched a Kickstarter to get the funding together to finish the documentary Capital of Cannabis, chronicling the growth of legal marijuana in the District of Columbia. And throw a kickass premiere party, natch. Stephen Barber has been tirelessly filming the whirlwind of cannabis activity in the wake of Initiative 71's passage- here's your chance to support him and his vision. [embed]https://ksr-video.imgix.net/projects/2711375/video-723986-h264_high.mp4[/embed]   Finally- do you know that our BFF Chloe Sommers got to interview THE Tommy Chong the other day? Wow. I knew her career would skyrocket out west, but damn, that was Tiger Fast. The Chong's Choice marijuana brand just launched in Denver and she got to chat with one of America's favorite stoners for Ganjapreneur. I am soooo jelly! Make sure you follow Chloe on Instagram to keep up with all the awesome things she's doing! And don't mind the Gentleman, stuck here in DC, listening to sad songs of yearning on repeat in the dark, quietly sobbing into a takeout napkin...