Classically Cannabis: By Invitation Only

Written by Laurie Niles
Published: May 13, 2014 at 9:39 PM [UTC]

The Colorado Symphony is backtracking a bit and announced today that its concert series called "Classical Cannabis," in partnership with the Colorado cannabis industry, was actually meant to be a series of private fundraising events all along.

Here is the full content of the press release they sent today:

May 13, 2014 -- Denver, CO – After consultation with the City of Denver as well as our legal advisers, the Colorado Symphony announces that Classically Cannabis will launch with a private fundraising event on Friday, May 23. Additional private fundraising events in the series are scheduled for July 18 and Aug. 15 and will follow the same guidelines.

Beginning with an announcement on April 28, the Colorado Symphony intended all Classically Cannabis to be private fundraising events. When the Colorado Symphony learned of the City of Denver’s concerns about the perceived public nature of the event series, and following widespread media coverage generated by the events, we contacted the Denver City Attorney seeking clarification and a modified approach to be in compliance with the City’s interpretation of the laws.

After consultation with City Attorney Scott Martinez, the Colorado Symphony has made the following modifications to clarify Classically Cannabis’ structure as a private event:

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.

“From the beginning, our goals have 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.”

BACKGROUND: CLASSICALLY CANNABIS

Classically Cannabis marks a new partnership between the Colorado Symphony and the industry that supports legal cannabis in Colorado, which is expected to contribute more than $67 million in tax revenue to the State of Colorado in 2014. Culminating with a public concert at Red Rocks on Saturday, Sept. 13, Classically Cannabis is projected to generate nearly $200,000 for the Colorado Symphony.

In a recent Denver Post opinion poll, more than 65 percent of readers said they approve of the Colorado Symphony’s partnership with the legal cannabis industry.

Classically Cannabis events are similar in structure to private fundraising events held by the Colorado Symphony throughout the year. Events will feature musical performances from Colorado Symphony chamber ensembles as well as food and beverages. Held at Space Gallery, 400 Santa Fe Boulevard, the series is sponsored by Ideal 420 Soils, with additional support from The Farm of Boulder, Gaia Plant Based Medicine and Wellspring Collective. In-kind sponsors include Three Tomatoes Catering and Vicente Sederberg LLC. All proceeds benefit the Colorado Symphony.

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