CANNABIS CROWN TO RETURN IN APRIL

ASPEN -- Medical marijuana users, mark your calendars: The Cannabis
Crown is coming back to Aspen.

Organizer Bobby Scurlock said he has locked in April 29-30, 2011, for
the second annual event, which will be based at The Sky Hotel. Last
April, the inaugural event was based at the Gant, but thousands of
attendees spilled into hotel rooms across the city.

Scurlock said he has yet to iron out all the details for next year's
version of the Cannabis Crown, a variation of Amsterdam's Cannabis
Cup. The event draws smokers, growers, providers and others in the
industry, as well as those interested in learning more about the
benefits of marijuana as a legal health remedy.

In addition to a contest to determine the most potent strain of the
drug, there will be live entertainment, VIP parties and other
offerings for medical marijuana license-holders and
non-cardholders.

"We've got a lot of stuff in the fire," said Scurlock, whose Crown
Productions is coordinating the effort along with High Country
Caregivers. "We're going to try to fill all the hotel rooms we can
during an off week."

Scurlock said some changes are in store for the 2011 Cannabis Crown.
"The first event was a huge learning experience for us," he said.

Last April's event included guest speakers and was partially designed
as an educational symposium. The upcoming event will be geared toward
promoting product quality while also offering some solid entertainment
options to participants, Scurlock said. MTV is expected to be in town
to produce a special on one of last year's entrants in the contest to
find the potent strain of marijuana.

Among the details to be ironed out are the locations for designated
smoking areas for registered patients -- places where the users won't
be hassled as they are sampling different strains of the drug.

"We're trying to follow the letter of the law. We don't want people
walking Aspen streets, smoking their medicine," Scurlock said.

Also at the 2011 Cannabis Crown, organizers plan to limit the number
of vendors with the goal of emphasizing quality over quantity.

"We are approaching the vendors who want to help patients, not those
who are out just to make a buck," said Scurlock.

This year's contest for the most potent strain will have two
categories: "sativa" and "indica," separating the different subsets of
the plant species. Each subset is said to produce a different effect
when ingested or smoked. Judging will be conducted using laboratory
methods to evaluate the "percentage of usable cannaboids," Scurlock
said. Deadline for entries is March 1.

Scurlock said the first Cannabis Crown drew between 2,800 and 3,200
attendees, and he's aiming for even higher numbers this year. "We're
going to try to stimulate the area as much as possible," he said.

And like last April's offering, local doctors will be on hand to
evaluate individuals seeking to become licensed patients. Would-be
patients must bring proof that they are Colorado residents along with
recent medical records.

"Golden tickets," which provide attendees with unlimited access to
Cannabis Crown events as well as samples of medical marijuana, will
cost $500. Last April, the tickets were $100. Only 100 golden tickets
will be available.

Scurlock said the 2011 event will be more organized than the first
one. More information will be forthcoming on the website
www.cannabiscrown.com .