In April, Denver’s Colorado Symphony announced a series of concerts titled “Classically Cannabis: The High Note Series,” which would be a bring-your-own-cannabis event at a local art gallery designed to stir up interest for the classical music scene with a younger and more diverse crowd.
Following the Symphony’s announcement, however, the Denver city attorney warned the Symphony that their event may be in violation of Amendment 64 (the reason for Colorado’s legalized recreational weed market), under which public consumption of marijuana is still illegal. Specifically, the letter stated that Amendment 64’s “immunity from prosecution under state and local laws granted for adult possession and consumption does not extend to smoking ‘openly and publicly or in a manner that endangers others.'”
The Symphony has since modified the structure of the series, which will now be an invite-only occasion. Here are the event’s final modifications:
· The Colorado Symphony has removed public information about Classically Cannabis from its website and agreed to refund all ticket purchases through May 12, 2014.
· Classically Cannabis will now be available by invitation only. Events will be limited to a closed list of VIP guests managed by Edible Events Co. No reservations or requests for invitations to the events will be accepted from the general public.
· In consultation with Mr. Martinez, the Colorado Symphony has also determined that it no longer needs the two special events permits it had previously applied for from the City of Denver because of the events’ private nature. Therefore, the Colorado Symphony is in the process of withdrawing the permit applications.
Originally, the concert series was open to the public ages 21 and over and would have cost $75 regardless of whether you planned on consuming marijuana or not. Now, however, it is a strictly private event and is therefore acceptable by the city’s standards. City attorney Scott Martinez said in a brief statement, “We are pleased the (symphony) revisited planned events and worked to come into compliance with state and city laws.”
The Symphony’s cannabis industry partner throughout the series is Edible Events Co., whose responsibilities include organizing the event and bringing in marijuana companies to sponsor the event. Current cannabis industry sponsors are Ideal 420 Soils, The Farm of Boulder, Gaia Plant Based Medicine, and Wellspring Collective. No cannabis products are to be sold at the event, but refreshments such as food and beverages will be available.
The first concert in the series is scheduled for May 23, featuring the symphony’s brass ensemble. Further programs have not yet been established for the other concerts, which are scheduled for July 18 and August 15.
It’s expected that the Classically Cannabis series will raise up to $200,000 for the Colorado Symphony. A recent Denver Post poll also shows that more than 65% of its readers approve of the Symphony’s partnership with the cannabis industry.
According to the Symphony’s blog,
“From the beginning, our goal has been to support fundraising for the Colorado Symphony and to reach out to a culturally diverse audience,” says Jerome H. Kern, Colorado Symphony CEO and Co-Chair of its Board of Trustees. “We’re pleased to present these events in a way that will allow us to pursue these goals and move forward with the business of operating the Colorado Symphony.”
Sources:
https://www.cpr.org/news/story/colorado-symphony-move-forward-marijuana-themed-concerts
https://www.coloradosymphony.org/Events/Classically-Cannabis
Photo Credit: University of Denver
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