What’s In a Name: Celebrating the Spring Equinox with Lightshade
March 20th represents a symbolic day for the planet, and for Lightshade—celebrate with us.
There are two equinoxes each year—in March and September—on these days, the sun’s rays shine directly on the equator and the length of day and night is nearly equal: 12 hours of day, 12 hours of night.
The spring equinox marks the moment our sun crosses the celestial equator—an illusory line-in-the-sky resting above the earth—from south to north. Since night and day are nearly the same length of time on this day, the world over, the event is referred to as the ‘equinox’, a Latin term which means literally, ‘equal night’.
“Spring has returned. The earth is like a child that knows poems.”—Rainer Maria Rilke
In Colorado, the equinox this year is scheduled to occur March 20th at 10:15 am MDT.
March 20 is a special day for Lightshade—not only is it the date of the Spring Equinox, on this day, the sun’s cycle mimics a critical stage in cannabis growth. During the cannabis growth process, a key point is when the light cycle is changed to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of shade—hence our name, Lightshade.
It is at this point, because of the change in light cycle, our plants begin to flower after vegetation. The degree of time each strain requires to flower can vary—in-general, this time frame typically falls between six and ten weeks.
After flowering, plants are harvested, dried and cured. The overall cannabis life-cycle takes roughly three months—from seed to harvest.
“Behold my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love!”—Sitting Bull
The Lightshade grow team takes pride in the process we’ve developed that gives you, our customer’s, high-quality, consistent flower.
The spring equinox is a day of balance between light and dark. Join Lightshade on March 20th and celebrate this day of balance with us, because the difference really is night and day. Mark the arrival of spring and our namesake, and find balance with specials crafted specifically for this day, including 3 grams of Lightshade strains for $20 (mix & match) and 3 Mary’s Medicinals Transdermal Patches for $20. We will also have live DJ’s at our Sheridan and 6th Avenue dispensaries, from 4-6pm.
“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’”—Robin Williams
Lightshade educates the public about safe driving
Keeping our community safe is one of the highest priorities at Lightshade. That’s why we are working with CDOT to educate the public and learn more about the impact of cannabis on people’s ability to drive. We want not only to educate consumers about the dangers of driving high, but we also want to make sure the conversation isn’t skewed.
Head over to the Denver Westword to read more about the CDOT campaign and how Lightshade is helping out.
Aurora Warms the Night - National Count Day
Today is national count day where the country takes and official count of people experiencing homelessness. Lightshade had 75 pizzas delivered to feed 250 people experiencing homelessness in Aurora. Lightshade was recently introduced to an organization called Aurora Warms the Night. “Aurora Warms the Night (AWTN) shelters those experiencing homelessness in the winter when temperatures reach 20 degrees or colder. Year round services include meals, warm clothing, hygiene items, transportation to shelter, laundry vouchers, bus passes, partner agency referrals, and advocacy.” They are doing amazing work in Aurora. Lightshade was notified about count day today and was informed that they see a higher volume than normal of people who come to their daytime drop-in center. This places a significant strain on their resources and it is difficult for them to serve everyone. We were honored to be able to jump in where they needed us most to provide some meals.
2018 Winter on the Rocks
Lightshade was proud to sponsor Icelantic's Winter on the Rocks again. This year's lineup was headlined by Rick Ross and Jauz. Check out some photos and videos from the event!
Giving Back to Our Community at The Gathering Place
LIGHTSHADE BUDTENDERS DO MORE THAN JUST EDUCATE AND SERVE CANNABIS—THEY SERVE A MEAN LUNCH TOO!
At Lightshade we are committed to being an active and responsible community partner. Over the last few years, as Lightshade has grown, we’ve taken steps to work with organizations in each local community who share our values, goals, and vision for a better world.
One such organization is The Gathering Place.
From The Gathering Place:
“Founded in 1986, the Gathering Place is the only daytime drop-in center in metropolitan Denver that serves women, their children, and transgender individuals who are experiencing poverty, many of whom are also experiencing homelessness. While we refer to those we serve as ‘members’, no fees are ever charged for programs or services.”
Members of the Lightshade team recently spent a day volunteering at The Gathering Place, preparing and serving lunch for over 150 of their members. Like any good hosts, our team picked up the tab and did the dishes after food service!
Lightshade’s Marketing Assistant and Social Media Coordinator, Chelsi Munce, beautifully summarized the overwhelming sense of purpose and gratitude felt by the team, after spending time volunteering at TGP, saying…
“The Gathering Place opened my eyes to how much help women living in poverty need, and the lengths TGP goes to accommodate those needs. The entire Lightshade crew was so happy to help out and make lunch for everyone! After experiencing a full tour of The Gathering Place, the Lightshade team was overcome with emotion at the generosity provided by this center and how much our contribution matters to the improvement of multiple women and children’s lives.”
At Lightshade, it is our belief that doing good feels great. We take pride in our commitment to give back to the community and hope that our efforts, and the efforts of our team, inspire others to follow suit. We created our Corporate Cannabis Social Responsibility program for this purpose—as a method to organize and institutionalize the Lightshade commitment to giving back.
Jump below for a handful of photos and a video from our day of giving at The Gathering Place. If you are interested in learning more about The Gathering Place, or would like to get involved with this outstanding organization, please visit the site below.
Lightshade Gives Back
Giving back to the community has always been important to Lightshade. As a part of our corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, we aim to limit our effects on the environment and remain active in our community.
Lightshade is in the process of testing high-efficiency LED lights and building a state-of-the-art greenhouse facility to reduce our carbon footprint. We continue to facilitate recycling programs at each retail location and in our cultivation facilities within compliance regulations. In addition, Lightshade uses organic-based pest control methods and makes their own organic nutrients, which are used in each cultivation facility. We maximize watering efficiencies by using capillary mats and as a result, very little water is wasted.
Although Lightshade works hard to help out the local community, some non-profit organizations are hesitant to work with cannabis-related businesses. Since cannabis is still illegal from a federal standpoint, some nonprofits are concerned about losing their 501c3 status or federal grant funding by working with cannabis industry partners. Additionally, some of the companies’ partners, board members or financial supporters may not look favorably on the cannabis industry.
Despite some hurdles, Lightshade is ahead of the industry in creating a CSR program that started in the fall of 2016. We have engaged our employees to form a CSR Team with representatives from each retail location and created a two-tier program to support hyper-local initiatives, as well as one or two larger corporate initiatives year-round. Lightshade’s current focus is to make an impact on combating hunger and homelessness.
Lightshade is working with Kind Colorado to determine the best fit for supporting local organizations such as volunteering at food banks, building urban gardens or working with veterans. Lightshade has supported The Gathering Place to provide funding and food and toiletry drives for homeless women and children. We are also sponsoring Manny’s SummerFest on May 20th, a fundraising event for Senior Support Services, which provides food and services for homeless seniors.
We greatly appreciate the continued business from so many loyal customers that help us in supporting our local community. Lightshade is building a corporate culture of giving back and creating a framework that provides our employees with opportunities to understand how important it is to give back to the communities that we serve. Stay tuned for more information on upcoming causes and how you can help make a difference!
Don’t Let a DUI Ruin Your High – Lightshade Rolls Out Partnership with CDOT
Lightshade is proud to be a part of the communities we serve – we’ve built a tight-knit and welcoming group of clients, fans and influencers that we consider to be our family. Safety is a big part of our commitment to our community and our industry, which is why we’re partnering with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to help educate and protect our consumers when it comes to driving high.
Lightshade and CDOT partner on Drive High, Get a DUI campaign
We believe it’s our responsibility to keep you happy, informed and safe (and, of course, out of jail). Not only that, but eyes are on Colorado as we blaze a new trail with the legalization of recreational marijuana, and we’re determined to set a positive example of the many social and economic benefits of cannabis to ensure the long-term viability of our industry. Through our partnership with CDOT and its Drive High, Get a DUI campaign, we’ll be focusing on education and outreach to increase awareness about the dangers and consequences of driving high.
If you didn’t already know, it’s illegal to drive under the influence of cannabis, and you can get a DUI, just like with alcohol. Last year, more than 17 percent of Colorado’s DUI arrests involved marijuana. Even if you have a prescription and use cannabis medicinally, the law and limits apply and can come with some pretty serious consequences – like jail time and loads of money.
We’ve heard from patrons who say, “I’m a better driver when I’m high,” so we think it’s important to point out the impacts marijuana has on you. Whether you eat, smoke, vape or dab, science confirms that consuming cannabis affects your reaction time, peripheral vision, and perception of time, distance and speed – some of the more critical skills needed to drive safely. When you’re high, it’s harder to respond quickly when something unexpected happens while driving – like if the car in front of you makes a sudden stop or a pedestrian steps out in front of you.
Working with our partners, our customers and the community, we hope to not only keep you safe, but also try to change the way people think about marijuana-impaired driving. If you’re going out drinking, it’s a no-brainer (we hope) that you’ll call a sober ride if you’ve had a few drinks. But there isn’t yet that same thought process when people know they’re going to be getting high. We encourage you to take advantage of Denver’s connectivity and plan ahead by using services like Lyft, Uber and public transportation when you’re high. Look for information in our stores, online and on social media as part of our partnership with CDOT, and thank you for consuming responsibly.
Lightshade Iliff Location Now Open
Lightshade is excited to announce that our newest Colorado recreational marijuana dispensary location is now open! The Lightshade Iliff location is one of the best marijuana dispensaries in the Denver metro, serving recreational customers ages 21+. Established in 2011, Lightshade continues to expand, with Iliff marking the sixth Lightshade dispensary in the Denver metro area.
Our newest location continues to uphold Lightshade’s reputation for growing the best quality genetics in Colorado. Our Iliff location—along with our other five Denver and Aurora marijuana dispensaries—offers a huge selection of marijuana products, including flower, edibles, concentrates, tinctures, topicals, merchandise and apparel.
Lightshade Iliff is conveniently located on the corner of East Iliff Avenue and South Buckley Road in Aurora, 18 miles from Denver International Airport (DIA) via the E470 Toll Road, 19 miles from downtown Denver and 1.5 – 2 hours from the major Colorado ski resorts, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Copper Mountain, Breckenridge and Winter Park. Lightshade Iliff has a large space to serve you the highest quality recreational marijuana and marijuana products. Visit today to see why Lightshade was voted #1 for the best dispensary bang for your buck in Westword Denver. The difference is night and day!
More Than Skin Deep
We see a wide variety of customers at Lightshade, and as one of many marijuana dispensaries in Denver, we work to tailor our business to each of their individual needs. Lightshade carries many forms of cannabis products, including topicals, which we suggest for a wide range of ailments. Our field auditor, Leah, describes the different forms and uses.
Topicals are seen in the form of lotions, salves, massage oils and transdermal patches. These products are a less traditional form of cannabis consumption due to the slow onset and minimal psychoactive effects, but they are a great option for medical users. Additionally, Lightshade suggests cannabis topical products for athletes and body builders who may suffer from arthritis, fibromyalgia, neuropathy and chronic pain. Some of the highly recommended topical brands we carry include Apothecanna, Mary’s Medicinals and Dixie.
Apothecanna
- Relieving Creme: Fast-acting, moisturizing lotion with anti-inflammatory properties provided by the combination of natural plant extracts including arnica, peppermint, juniper and CBD. Perfect for sore muscles, swollen joints and distressed, dry skin.
- Stimulating Creme: Warming body lotion with herbs such as ginger, capsaicin and calendula to provide a natural stimulating sensation. Great for use in the morning or before physical activity to increase blood flow and revive tired muscles.
Mary’s Medicinals
- Transdermal Patches: Available in a variety of Sativa, Indica, CBD, CBN, THC and 1:1 ratio of CBD and THC. When applied to suggested areas, the patch provides quick, discreet and accurate dosage for all day or night relief.
- Transdermal Gel Pens: Designed to pair with Mary’s Medicinals Transdermal Patches, the light gel is placed directly on the skin and gently rubbed in for pain relief.
Dixie
- Bath Soak: Formulated with rosemary, lavender and cedarwood, the soak is used to relieve muscle tension and soreness to provide deep relaxation.
- Relief Balm: Thick, salve consistency, meant to be massaged into affected area for 30-60 seconds. Perfect for acute muscle pain and targeted relief of sore joins and skin issues.
Check out our new product catalog to explore the marijuana strains, edibles, topicals, concentrates and merchandise we have available. Or be sure to drop by one of our soon-to-be six marijuana dispensary locations in Denver and Aurora where our knowledgeable staff can assist you in finding the best cannabis products for your specific needs.