Colorado Symphony Orchestra: Don't bring pot to our Red Rocks pot show

While the State of Colorado and the City of Denver are still refusing to use marijuana legalization for promotional purposes, lotsa operations with no direct ties to the pot industry have been much more receptive to the idea -- including Hotels.com, which touted increased Denver searches prior to 4/20, and ApartmentGuide.com, which links a bump in local rental inquiries to weed in a graphic on view below.

There are pitfalls to avoid when it comes to these efforts, however. Just ask the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, which had to clarify its release about "Classically Cannabis: The High Note Series" to let folks know they can't legally bring bud to Red Rocks.

As we've reported, Hotels.com announced that hotel searches for Denver were up 73 percent in the weeks preceding the April 20 festivities. The service also hints that Denver may move up from its 2013 ranking as the seventeenth most popular domestic destination for travelers due to the dank stuff in this illustration:

ApartmentGuide.com takes a similar tack in a new blog item entitled "Renters living the high life in Colorado and Washington."

"Our data tells us renters are flocking to two other states, best known for their mountains, their football teams and, well, their laws regarding, ahem, certain herbs," notes the piece, which is accompanied by a graphic showing that visits to the website in Colorado and Washington are increasing at a pace faster than all other states combined:

The Colorado Symphony Orchestra is embracing marijuana culture, too, via its new High Notes series -- three CSO benefit concerts to be held at the Space Gallery in the Santa Fe Arts District, followed by a Red Rocks show slated for September 13.

When the CSO first sent out the release, it noted that the events were "BYOC," as in "Bring Your Own Cannabis." But while smoking at Space is fine, lighting up at Red Rocks violates the state's public-smoking ban. Hence, a clarification to the original release was sent out featuring this caveat: "Please note that the consumption of cannabis at Red Rocks is prohibited by law."

Of course, concert-goers have been smoking pot at Red Rocks for generations. It's a tradition some might even call "classic."

Here's the CSO release about the High Notes series, including clarifications bolded in the second version:

Classically Cannabis: The High Note Series

Events launch May 23 at Space Gallery

April 29, 2014 -- Denver, CO -- The Colorado Symphony is pleased to announce Classically Cannabis: The High Note Series, benefiting the Colorado Symphony. Launching with three summer events at Space Gallery, located in the Santa Fe Arts District, Classically Cannabis: The High Note Series is a BYOC-friendly experience for music lovers, featuring performances by Colorado Symphony ensembles. The series is curated by Edible Events Co.

Classically Cannabis: The High Note Series is presented by Ideal 420 Soils, with additional support from The Farm of Boulder and Gaia Plant Based Medicine. In-kind sponsors include Three Tomatoes Catering and Vicente Sederberg. All proceeds benefit the Colorado Symphony.

CLASSICALLY CANNABIS: THE HIGH NOTE SERIES:

Friday, May 23, Pan American Highway Friday, July 18, Mississippi Blues Highway Friday, August 15, Summer Monsoon

Classically Cannabis: The High Note Series marks a growing partnership between the Colorado Symphony and the burgeoning cannabis industry in Colorado. The series will culminate with a Red Rocks concert on Saturday, September 13; details to be announced soon. Please note that the consumption of cannabis at Red Rocks is prohibited by law.

"This partnership is part of an overall effort to reach out to every segment of our community," says Jerome H. Kern, the Colorado Symphony's CEO and, with Mary Rossick Kern, co-chair of its Board of Trustees. "Like the Colorado Symphony, the cannabis industry is entrepreneurial, innovative and responsive to the people of Colorado. These businesses have expressed a willingness to support the Colorado Symphony's mission. Our doors are open to any legal, legitimate business that wants to help."

"This is the perfect partnership for Edible Events Co, Colorado's premier producer of cannabis-friendly events," says Jane West, founder of Jane West Productions, parent company of Edible Events Co. "I'm proud to be associated with an event that provides cannabis businesses an opportunity to support the local arts community. I look forward to producing many more fundraisers for the Colorado Symphony and other local organizations that the cannabis community can come together to support."

Tickets to Classically Cannabis go on sale Wednesday, April 30 at noon. Tickets are $75 each and include beer, wine and light bites from local food trucks. All events are BYOC -- except for the Red Rocks concert. Tickets are available at coloradosymphony.org. All events held at Space Gallery, 400 Santa Fe Boulevard. The Space Gallery events are being held on private property and are restricted to adults 21 years of age or older. No cannabis will be sold at these events and the ticket price is wholly unrelated to whether adults choose to use cannabis or not. Alternative modes of transportation are encouraged; ticket purchases will be provided with discounts for local transportation services.

Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.

More from our Marijuana archive circa April 14: "Marijuana: Denver hotel searches for 4/20 weekend up 73 percent."