2014 High Times 420 Cup, Denver

Soft Secrets
21 Apr 2014

The High Times Denver Cannabis Cup was held on the 19th and 20th of April, 2014.


The High Times Denver Cannabis Cup was held on the 19th and 20th of April, 2014.

The line to get in was huge... really huge

Cannabis consumption is legal for adults in Colorado, and much was consumed over the weekend.

After the doors opened on Saturday, it took a mere two-and-a-half hours of standing in line to enter. Over 37,000 folks showed up on opening day, and some estimates have placed the attending crowd at around 80,000. I have been to several High Times Cups, and to the best of my recollection, there has always been an issue of some sort with the queue early on opening day. My advice is to just accept it as part of the experience and make small talk with the folks around you in line. The fellow waiting behind me had weed, but no way to smoke it, so I gave him a pipe I had made that I happened to have in my pocket.

Spirits were not the only things that were high at the Cup

There was the line to get to different lines, depending upon your VIP status, and then there were lines for the Cannabis consumption wristband and goodie bags. I am not sure why they were not all stations along the same line, since my guess would be that most attendees intended on consuming Cannabis.

The event itself was similar to other trade shows, but with the addition of a copious amount of Cannabis. Most of the booths were from seed companies, dispensaries or glass artists, but there were a variety of other Cannabis and Cannabis accessory companies represented, as well. Tommy Chong was in attendance and signed my business card case for one of my favorite keepsakes from the weekend (the other keepsake I picked up was a Grubbycup herb grinder). Kyle Kushman, Mz. Jill and Ed Rosenthal were also on hand, greeting existing fans and making new ones.

A sudden downpour on Saturday afternoon dampened attendees - but not spirits - as folks huddled together under tents and waited out the rain.

There were rows upon rows of booths, with many giving out free

Body paint and pretty ladies abounded

joints or dabs for those with the patience to wait in line. The crowd was massive, but for the most part well-behaved. While I attended both days, for those not involved in the industry it seemed to me that a single day's attendance would be sufficient, as the second day was very similar to the first.

I regret to report that, again, there were individuals who over-consumed to the point of receiving medical attention. If one is not used to dabbing or strong smoke, then moderation is important, even in festive atmospheres.

There were twenty award categories, each with a first, second and third place for a total of sixty awards. Some of the more notable winners include Hitman Glass for Best Glass, White OG Solventless Wax for Best U.S. Non-Solvent Hash, Cookies and Cream for Best U.S. Hybrid, Ghost Train Haze for Best U.S. Sativa, and South Central LA for Best U.S. Indica. From my experience at the booths, the flowers were fair and some of the concentrates were excellent.

 

I gave the guy behind me this pipe to help pass our time in the queue

This grinder and autograph from Tommy Chong are my two favorite keepsakes from the 420 event

S
Soft Secrets