The CannaRoast of Audrey Hatfield

Last night's CannaRoast of Audrey Hatfield at the Speak Easy Vape Lounge in Colorado Springs was by far one of the best times to be had on a Friday night. Although you can go next door for a drink, the atmosphere and the crowd inside here are a little different. Many of us know each other but even the strangers smile widely as their eyes meet and greet each other without hesitation. It's an easy place to spark up a conversation, make a new friend, learn about the cannabis community, and of course inhale\exhale for those 21 years and up.

Entry, only two dollars at the door, and an intimate feeling of friends remains. True to Stoner form I arrive a full 1 ½ hours past doors opening and I haven't missed a thing. We arrive and are greeted by the ever charitable Ms. Audrey just outside the front entrance. As we said our hellos and hugged I realized just how excited I was, I bet she was nervous.

If you don't know Audrey Hatfield now, it won't take much for you to look her up. Check Facebook, her use of the social media website the subject of many a jibe throughout the CannaRoast. Ms. Hatfield is the fearless leader of C4CPR, the group determined to fight for and restore confidence to medical cannabis patients in the state of Colorado. You can thank her for never backing down to Dan May and for her endless efforts of patient’s rights education. Her opinion may be loud and her voice may be strong (both claims Audrey confirmed during her portion of the roast) but we couldn't ask for a better role model, friend, mother, sister, daughter, teacher, and advocate. My thanks go not only to Audrey but to the board of C4CPR who took the time to put together the jokes and roast her, as well as my gratitude to Speak Easy and Weed Pimps.

The crowd of the Speak Easy matches the laid back atmosphere, there are no overly enthusiastic drunken ‘I love yous’ being flung around the room, or stumbling hugs with greetings that are slurred. In fact, even our clapping and cheering is well within the range of respectful. If you do already know Audrey you understand why I had to go. What in the world were they going to say? I couldn't come up with any of my own jokes so I had to see for myself where they could go with this. I was not disappointed!

JDub, of Weed Pimps, was sure to state and reinstate his love of Audrey in attempt to clear himself for the aftermath. If you want to hear the jokes however you'll have to search for video footage.

Jaymen Johnson, of the Speak Easy says they will be trying to incorporate CannaRoast into their schedule on a quarterly basis. Voting ballots were cast and by a single vote JDub will get ‘vaped’ next. You can head down to 2508 East Bijou Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909 for more event information and I’m certain they’ll be happy to give you a tour.

Audrey was also the winner of a custom vaporizer which incorporated her likeness.

Even not getting started on time and having its typical, technical, Stoner difficulties, we were able to get home to the sitter by 10:30 PM. That's not to say that the Speak Easy is only a place for an old stick in the mud like me. The crowd always varies in age, from Twentysomethings into the 70s, yet somehow operates without a generation gap. With music, dance floor, good friends, good vibes, good herb and the whole night ahead of them I'm sure most of the crowd partied into the wee morning hours. The night included the nostalgic announcement of an after party at an all-night diner, but long gone are the days of 3 AM waffles for Sweet Mary Kane. Whether you roll deep or fly solo, puff grass or vape concentrates, have just arrived here on Earth or have lived many decades you'll find your space at the Speak Easy: ‘where everybody knows your strain.’