Wanda James

In time for DNC, 8 Rivers comes to Lodo

Hot food, hot topics at 8 Rivers

The earls of sandwich

Ganjapreneurs are cashing in on Colorado's booming medical pot business

Wake-Up Call: Marijuana fuels the new rush to the Rockies

​One hundred and fifty years after the last rush to the Rockies, when gold was discovered back in 1859, a new rush is on. This time, adventurers are mining medical marijuana -- and business is smoking! Every day, I get a call from another acquaintance thinking of getting into the field or hea ... More >>

8 Rivers goes to pot -- in a good way

8 Rivers will offer marijuana cooking classes​Wanda James and Scott Durrah, the owners of 8 Rivers, just celebrated the end of their first year at 1550 Blake Street in LoDo, where they moved their restaurant after a successful run in the tiny spot at 3609 West 32nd Avenue that now holds Venue. ... More >>

Coloradans for Medical Marijuana Regulation plans to lobby lawmakers like the big boys

Medical marijuana is a growth industry from a lobbying perspective, too.​Earlier this week, we told you about a sophisticated pro-medical marijuana poll conducted by a new organization, Coloradans for Medical Marijuana Regulation. The survey's professionalism was no fluke. CMMR may be in its ... More >>

Medical marijuana players prepare to (figuratively) storm the Capitol

Brian Vicente.​If Colorado dispensaries seem a little empty tomorrow, that's because anyone who's anyone in the business will likely be at the University of Denver, where Sensible Colorado, a drug-reform advocacy group, will be holding a stakeholder's meeting from 1 to 4 p.m. at DU's Student F ... More >>

Tonight: Elvis Dumervil puts those long arms to use at 8 Rivers

​Elvis Dumervil, the Denver Broncos sacking machine who will be a starter in the 2010 Pro Bowl, puts those long arms to use from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at 8 Rivers, where he'll be bartending to help raise money for Open Door Youth Gang Alternatives, a group he's been working with for the past eig ... More >>

Restaurant workers: This marijuana dispensary feels your pain

​As the owners of 8 Rivers, their fourth restaurant, Wanda James and Scott Durrah know the food business. And as the owners of Apothecary of Colorado, the medical marijuana dispensary they opened in December at 1730 Blake Street, just two blocks from their restaurant at 1550 Blake, they know t ... More >>

Medical marijuana patients enjoy pot luck at 8 Rivers

​As the owners of 8 Rivers, their fourth restaurant, Wanda James and Scott Durrah know the food business. And as the owners of Apothecary of Colorado, the medical marijuana dispensary they opened in December at 1730 Blake Street, just two blocks from their restaurant at 1550 Blake, they know t ... More >>

Mile Highs and Lows: Apothecary of Colorado

Apothecary of Colorado occupies suite 420. Of course.​As Colorado's medical-marijuana industry grows, marijuana dispensaries of all types and sizes are proliferating around the state. Some resemble swanky bars or sterile dentist offices; others feel like a dope dealer's college dorm room. To h ... More >>

Marijuana TV Sam's Club = ChronicCareConnect.com

The ChronicCareConnect discount card.​The medical marijuana industry in Colorado has been booming since at least last year, with plenty of ganjapreneurs coming up with concepts intended to help them grab a piece of the pot profits. But despite the competition, Chad Bardon thinks he has a uniqu ... More >>

Marijuana and PTSD: Dispensary owner Wanda James reaches out to vets

Wanda James knows marijuana helps vets with PTSD.​Efforts to establish post-traumatic stress disorder as a condition treatable by medical marijuana fell short in the Colorado legislature last month. That was fine by the state's health department, which circulated a fact sheet among legislator ... More >>

Medical marijuana hearing sets up fight on the senate floor

Matt Brown sees more weed battles looming.​Yesterday morning, we previewed a senate committee hearing on House Bill 1284, which is intended to regulate the medical marijuana industry, with Sensible Colorado's Brian Vicente maintaining that he's ready to push a ballot initiative if the final re ... More >>

The Daily Show smokes Denver's pot scene -- and our weed critic

At last, critic William Breathes as seen in his natural habitat.​The Daily Show's long awaited dissection of Denver's medical marijuana industry finally reached the screen last night, and the results were smokin'. Along with the anticipated ganja gags (a pile of cheeseburgers makes a guest ap ... More >>

William Breathes on what you didn't see in The Daily Show's Denver weed story

Another look at William Breathes (that's actually editor Patty Calhoun's desk).​For the last few weeks I've been curious as to how The Daily Show would use the three-plus hours of footage they got with me last month. I was paraded around the Westword office in a gas mask bong, got to burn a b ... More >>

Wanda James's advice to critics of The Daily Show's Denver weed story: "Chill"

Wanda James gets licked on "The Daily Show."​The Daily Show's send-up of the Denver medical-marijuana scene earlier this week didn't thrill everyone in the MMJ community. Westword marijuana critic William Breathes, in a post about what viewers didn't see, noted reading "blogs and posts from f ... More >>

Medical marijuana advocacy group implodes on the cusp of victory

Photo by Michael RobertsBrett Barney and Josh Stanley say they haven't done anything wrong.​This week should have been a time to celebrate for the main players in Coloradans for Medical Marijuana Regulation. In recent months, the group has been an energetic and effective advocate for measures ... More >>

8 Rivers has a special student for Cooking With Cannabis: NBC

Scott Durrah with a favorite ingredient.​Every month, Scott Durrah, chef/owner of 8 Rivers at 1550 Blake Street, hosts a Cooking with Cannabis class at the restaurant, which is conveniently located just two blocks from Apothecary of Colorado, the dispensary he and his wife, Wanda James, opened ... More >>

Marijuana dispensary owner & vet Wanda James lauds new PTSD rules, calls for pot rescheduling

Wanda James.​Why has dispensary owner Wanda James so actively promoted medical marijuana use for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder? One reason: She and husband/partner Scott Durrah both served in the military. So she's thrilled that the Veterans Administration is loosening rules con ... More >>

Medical marijuana for vets: Veterans Health Administration still unenthusiastic about its use

Wanda James.​Last month in this space, dispensary owner and veteran Wanda James shared her excitement about the decision by the Veterans Health Administration to allow vets to use medical marijuana. But "excitement" isn't a word that leaps to mind after reading the VHA's directive on this poli ... More >>

Pot lobbying group National Cannabis Industry Assoc. first of its kind, stacked with CO players

Brian Vicente.​First there was Big Tobacco and Big Pharma. Now it's Big Pot's turn to flex its muscles. That's the idea behind the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), reportedly the first national trade group for the cannabis industry -- and one that's packed with familiar Colorado ... More >>

Marijuana USA: Does program mean CNBC stands for Cannabis News & Business Channel?

​Maybe you think Westword has gone pot-crazy, but the national network CNBC isn't too far behind. After Marijuana Inc., its 2009 report on the nation's underground weed business, became CNBC's most successful-ever original documentary, the channel quickly produced a second investigation: Marij ... More >>

This weekend: Cooking with cannabis

Scott Durrah with a favorite ingredient.​Chefs Scott Durrah (8 Rivers), Lauren Gennett and Rachel Wolpo will offer a series of cooking demonstrations for Simply Pure, the Colorado edibles company founded by Durrah and his wife, Wanda James, at KushCon II, which runs today through December 19 a ... More >>

Medical marijuana records found in alley: Did Apothecary of Colorado throw away forms?

A still from 9News' report.​In this state, patient medical marijuana records are protected by medical privacy rules and the state constitution. When patients fill out their MMJ applications, it's assumed they will be locked securely away, not even accessible by law enforcement. The last place ... More >>

Wanda James and Scott Durrah have a new edibles company

​When Scott Durrah and Wanda James sold their dispensary, Apothecary of Colorado, in July, they talked about opening a medical marijuana edibles company. Six months later, Simply Pure is in business.

Coloradans for Medical Marijuana Regulation folds: Betty Aldworth unable to restore its rep

Betty Aldworth.​Late 2009 saw the birth of Coloradans for Medical Marijuana Regulation, which set out to lobby the legislature regarding MMJ bills. But shortly after the May passage of HB 1284, the main regulatory measure, CMMR imploded, with various parties accusing each other of financial im ... More >>

Butane hash has hidden dangers, says edibles maker arguing against controversial solvent

Bubble hash.​Butane, used as a solvent in making hash, is among the more controversial substances for medical marijuana users. Experts like Westword medical marijuana reviewer William Breathes, believe butane extracts are safe when done properly. But Wanda James, co-owner of the cannabis edibl ... More >>

Reader: Butane hash is perfectly safe, and there's no evidence it's hurt anyone

Wanda James.​Simply Pure's Wanda James knew she was stirring a hornet's nest when she launched a campaign against butane hash, which she argues is potentially dangerous for people with compromised immune systems, among others. Our item attracted plenty of ire from butane defenders, as exemplif ... More >>

Medical marijuana: Jared Polis stars in National Cannabis Industry Association event (PHOTOS)

More pics below.​An event last night illustrates the growing power of the medical marijuana biz not just in Colorado, but nationwide. The stars of the show were Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, a new, Washington, D.C.-based lobbying organization, a ... More >>

Warren Edson, District 8 candidate, says he's 1st politician born of medical marijuana movement

Warren Edson.​The list of candidates hoping to win the District 8 City Council seat that opened up due to councilwoman Carla Madison's death is a long one -- more than twenty to date. Among the more noteworthy? Warren Edson, who's best known for his advocacy of medical marijuana. Although he s ... More >>

Yelp fight! 8 Rivers Cafe owner takes on the filter system

​Suspicious that Yelp was filtering reviews of 8 Rivers Cafe just because she and her husband, Scott Durrah, didn't advertise, Wanda James took her grievances to the Yelp discussion board. That's where she started a thread called "Yelp is fake and is destroying businesses that don't advertise ... More >>

More Yelp tiffs: The Yelp Elite takes on the Yelp elite

​Here in Denver, 8 Rivers Cafe owner Wanda James is getting lambasted by Yelpers who don't take kindly to her calling out Yelp for its questionable filter algorithm. And while she insists that she has no problem with the reviews -- and, therefore, no beef with the Yelpers themselves -- she's n ... More >>

Reader: Yelp is a "fake crock!"

Cassandra KotnickBob Marley watches over 8 Rivers Cafe​Wanda James, who owns 8 Rivers Cafe with her chef/husband, Scott Durrah, isn't the only entrepreneur upset with the Yelp review filter. A couple of other restaurateurs have weighed in on Laura Shunk's story about her campaign against Yelp, ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division rules for moving MMJ extreme, says Wanda James

Wanda James.​It's a crazy time for Wanda James, co-owner of Simply Pure Products, a medicated edibles company. Not only is she in the midst of introducing a bold new initiative -- Simply Home Cooking, for people who want to make their own edibles -- but she's readying for tomorrow, when Colora ... More >>

Marijuana legalization: Legalize 2012 objects to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act name

Tvert & Vicente.​The firestorm of invective at the Great Legalization Debate suggested that parties behind competing marijuana-reform measures for the 2012 ballot might not be exactly rooting for each other. More evidence: Legalize2012.com has created a guideline for reporters that objects to ... More >>

8 Rivers will dry up in LoDo this weekend

Anthony CameraScott Durrah and one of his favorite ingredients.​At the end of service on Saturday, October 29, 8 Rivers Modern Caribbean Restaurant will close the doors for good at 1550 Blake Street, its third location -- but not its last. After opening their first restaurant, the Jamaican C ... More >>

Jezebel's will take over former Squeaky Bean space

Rosa Linda's is getting a new neighbor.​When the Squeaky Bean abruptly left its spot at 3301 Tejon Street in June, it left a hole in fans' hearts -- and also in the hot, hot restaurant neighborhood of Highland. But now the corner space next to Rosa Linda's Mexican Cafe has a new tenant: Jezebe ... More >>

Reader: Jezebel's deal could cool down hot Highland restaurant scene

​The news that Wanda James and Scott Durrah, the owners of the just-shuttered 8 Rivers, will be opening Jezebel's, a new Southern restaurant, in the former home of the Squeaky Bean at 3301 Tejon Street, next to Rosa Linda's Mexican Restaurant, did not inspire the roll-out of the welcome wagon. ... More >>

Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act aims 160,000 signatures at 2012 ballot

​In July, the folks behind the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act of 2012 launched a petition drive to land the measure on the November 2012 ballot -- and at 11:30 p.m. today, they'll celebrate the effort at a press event before formally submitting nearly 160,000 signatures. Proponent Mason T ... More >>