Dec 22nD–Dec 28th, 2022 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times State Licensed Dispensaries & Doctor Cer tifications 69 Afroman concert and a Super Bowl party back there.” The event came close to selling out its tickets for the anniversary event — 1,000 VIPs and 1,500 general admission, according to Cooley. By about 6 p.m., as the sun set, per the security guard’s assessment, a line of 250 people was waiting to get inside the afterparty. Inside, Douangvilay and his cannabud, Jenna, were waiting in line at the Arizona Organix booth for their chance to smoke Tenderoni #17 wax, which a dispensary budtender at the booth said tested at 70 percent THC at the Errl Cup in October. Douangvilay took a long drag from a glass rig, nearly cleared the wax, and then coughed a giant plume of smoke. “I’m a wax man,” he said. “That was a lot.” “As a kid, I got into a school bus accident and I got two slipped discs in my lower back.” He said he smokes wax, also known as dab or cannabis concentrate, to help alleviate his back pain. “I’d rather smoke cannabis instead of [taking] pharmaceuti- cals and get stuck on opioids.” Jenna took on the rig next. An attendant loaded it with more Tenderoni #17 wax, a 50/50 hybrid, then handed the bong to Jenna. She took a long drag, exhaled and coughed. Jenna, who has cerebral palsy, requested that Phoenix New Times used only her first name. “That was good,” she said. “Cannabis is still a substance, but it’s a better substance to lean yourself off of harder substances. I know that personally.” The two proceeded to try other samples at the venue. Mohave Reserve, Jeeter, Deep Stories, Sublime Brand, Nug Jewelz, Bud Bros, Make Veterans Great Again, Tom’s Palms, The Pharm, Item 9 Labs, and 22Red were some of the businesses providing free weed, swag, and pamphlets on their organizations. “22Red — it’s a brand from the guy from System of a Down [Shavo Odadjian],” Thomas Edwards said with a joint in one hand. “They are one of my favorite bands; I grew up on them.” He spun the 22Red roulette wheel and won a free pre-roll, stickers and a 22Red t-shirt. “I also just won a rolling tray at Movahe [Reserve] after I tossed some pennies into a jar, and if you get three or four pennies in, you get a t-shirt.” From Cannabis to Consumption Lounge Mohammed Abood parked his 2016 Lamborghini Huracán next to his booth at the show. “This event is something good because it helps give you free publicity and gets you on the map,” he said.” A stock trader by day, Abood and his business partner recently opened Top Shelf Exclusive Smoke Shop in Glendale. “We got some Cloud X, a lot of Cali brands, and some American glass [bongs and rigs]. We are not trying to bring cheap Chinese quality over here.” During the event, the Nice N Easy DJs played electronic music by the stage in the VIP area. Catered food included barbacoa enchiladas, hatch pork, spinach feta dishes, and pizza. Booths offered complimentary cannabis in different forms. Aeriz provided free bong hits; Hi-Klas and Verano provided free edibles, vape cartridges, and wax; and Sip hooked up their elixirs and cannabis-infused drinks. Lines formed outside each booth, and people smoked the pre-rolls they just copped as they walked around the large outdoor venue, various lounges, and Mohave Reserve pop-up tents. On the tables, folks chomped down on offerings from the food trucks parked inside the venue, including Big Mamma’s Desserts, MoLo’s Tacos, Ellean’s Kitchen and Goddess’s Garden. Nebula Nectars was pushing their cannabis-infused vanilla syrup. “We are making a medicated horchata hot choco- late; each one is 11 milligrams [of THC] and comes with a toasted marshmallow,” said Lauren Stewart, a brand ambassador for the local chef-made specialty infused syrup company. “We gave out over 200 at this point.” By about 8 p.m., a hip-hop concert took over the main stage in the VIP area. Elsewhere, a performer twirled a stick lit with fire on both sides. “The consumption lounge [approach] is going to be one of the biggest things to happen to Arizona Organix and the industry because it opens a lot of doors to brands and the community,” Cooley said. With the dispensary growing to about “three times its original square footage” since it opened in 2012, she added, it seems there will be another first with the opening of its concert and event venue steps away from the dispensary. | CANNABIS | The scene at the Arizona Organix birthday bash in Glendale. Mike Madriaga Blazin’ from p 67
