Roll ’em up, light ’em up, smoke ’em up, donate, fundraise. You can feel good about humming that little improvised Cypress Hill ditty this Friday, when the local cannabis community will be coming together to help fight fire with fire. And by that, we mean they’re throwing a badass fundraiser to help the firefighting efforts taking place in and around Durango.
The 416 Fire was started June 1, and has taken a huge toll on the area. While firefighters and first defenders are making headway, they still have a long road ahead of them. As of our print deadline (Monday, June 18), the 416 Fire had consumed 34,161 acres and was 30 percent contained. Thousands of people have been evacuated, and while many families are slowly being let back into their homes, there are still plenty of people displaced by the fire.
And, between the firefighting efforts and the hit to local tourism, the full economic impact won’t be clear until well after the fire has been put out. That isn’t expected to be until the end of July.
Those economic and social impacts are precisely why the cannabis community will be throwing “Fighting Fire With Fire,” a fundraiser to help the folks fighting, and those affected by, the fire.
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“We believe it is important to bring the community together, no matter the nature of our business,” Ben Peters, director of marketing and sales for Durango Cannabis Company, said. “The local cannabis community and supporters throughout Colorado are showing their united support for the firefighters, emergency services, and evacuees of the 416 Fire.”
Peters and the folks at Durango Cannabis Company have been spearheading the effort.
The Fighting Fire With Fire fundraiser will take place on June 22 at the Cannabis Discovery Center (965 Main Ave.). There will be food, music, an auction, cash bar, fundraising raffle, and pop-up merchandise for sale. The event will be open to the public, Peters said, and he’s encouraging everyone who can stop in to do so. You can bid on those badass silent auction items, throw your tickets in on some sweet raffles, or drop off donations and grab a drink or three, if that’s your jam.
“As a community, we can all agree that Durango is an incredibly unique and amazing mountain town to live in, with endless outdoor activity options all year round. Supporting those fighting to protect our ability to enjoy those activities is imperative,” Peters said.
All proceeds from Fighting Fire With Fire will go to the Durango Colorado 416 fire relief fund.
Angelica Leicht
