When you start using marijuana, the first thing you realize is that it’s easy to tell when you’ve had enough. The feeling of being high is unmistakable. But figuring out your dosage for CBD products isn’t as easy. After all, there’s no THC and you won’t get high even if you take a large amount of the product throughout the day. So, how much CBD should you take? Here are a few simple tips from the budtenders at your favorite Denver dispensary.

Pay Attention to the Concentration
CBD products are available in different concentrations and that concentration will impact your dosage. Higher concentrations mean you can typically use less product to achieve the desired effect. Look at the label of the product and see how much CBD is in each serving. Lower concentrations may leave you wanting to use the product more often throughout the day. This is fine, but be sure to listen to your body and see how you feel after you take the product. 

How Are You Using It?
CBD products are available in tinctures, topical lotions and patches, edibles, and vapes, just to name a few. This allows you to fine-tune how your body receives the CBDs. But different products will require different dosages. For example, you may need to use a lotion more frequently than a vape pen because the CBDs reach your bloodstream differently. It largely depends on how you want to use the CBD and what you’re wanting to achieve. 

Start Low and Work Your Way Up
Most CBD products have a suggested dosage on the label and it’s a great place to start. Stick with that dosage for the first few uses and see how you feel. If you think the effects of the CBD are too mild, increase your dose slightly and reevaluate. Surprisingly, CBDs often work better with lower dosages. This means you’ll want to increase slowly and take the time to evaluate how you feel after each increase. It requires patience, but you’ll be able to find the right dose more easily if you’re willing to go slow. 

Know That Everyone is Different
Dosages will vary from person to person. This is because everyone processes CBD differently. And the more you use your products, the more you’ll understand how each one makes you feel. The suggested dosage on the label is just a guideline. It won’t work for everyone and you’ll need to figure out what works for you. By all means, ask for advice from friends, your budtender, and even the internet. But remember that the only way to know what dosage is right for you is to try it yourself. 

Get Started With CBDs
The only way to know how much you should take is to try a product for yourself. Start with the lowest dosage and gradually increase if needed. Once you figure out what works best for your body and your needs, you’ll be good to go. Still nervous about trying CBDs? Stop by our dispensary and let our budtenders help you find the best products for you.
 

Medical and recreational marijuana have been used in Colorado for a while now. In fact, more than 15 percent of the population admits to using cannabis at least occasionally. With so many people using, it’s given us a chance to see what’s popular, what people love, and what smokers look for time and time again. The answer: a joint. The humble joint is a convenient entry into the world of cannabis, but you don’t have to roll them yourself. Here are a few reasons to buy pre-rolled joints from your favorite weed shops in Denver.

Rolling Joints Is Hard
Though a joint may be the simplest smoking option, getting the perfect joint is far from easy. It takes practice and you will mess up a lot at the beginning. By buying pre-rolled joints from your favorite dispensary, you’ll spare yourself that frustration. Your joints will be perfect, the amount of pot inside is measured for consistency, and everything is prepared in a way that makes them super portable. 

Let’s You Try New Strains
Pre-rolled joints are available in different strains. When you buy marijuana, you’re stuck buying a certain amount at the counter. This makes it tough to experiment with different strains or to try new things consistently. With a pre-rolled joint, you’re able to sample new strains and see how you like them without committing to a bunch of bud. Nothing is worse than finding out that you’re not wild about the strain you buy only to discover that you bought too much. 

It Saves You Time
Sometimes, you just want to come home and light up. Packing a bowl, prepping your weed, or rolling a joint takes time. After a long day of work, that just won’t do. You need to relax, unwind, and take a deep breath to recover. With pre-rolled joints, the work is done for you. All you have to do is pick the show you want to watch, the food you want to eat, and locate your lighter. Once you’re settled, light up, toke up, and relax like you deserve. 

They’re Portable
Pre-rolled joints are packaged to make getting them home easy. You don’t have to worry about leakage or remember your rolling papers when you’re rushing out the door. Everything is inside, ready to light up. And if you’re planning on heading to a party or gathering, pre-rolled joints fit easily into your pocket. You don’t have to safely transport your bong or favorite glass pipe. As long as you have a lighter or a box of matches, you’re good to go.

At Altitude, our pre-rolled joints are sure to please. We take great pride in making sure every joint is tight, packed, and ready to go when you’re at the counter. Just ask your budtender and stock up on a classic that’s sure to give you the high you want without the hassle of preparing loose bud. And be sure to check out our loyalty rewards program. You’ll save money and have access to fantastic specials week after week. 
 

The Endocannabinoid System ECS is a biochemical communication system in the human body that regulates physiology, mood, and our everyday experience. The ECS was discovered in the 1990's by Dr. L.A. Matsuda during trials whose original goal was to understand how the intoxicating substances found in marijuana affected human physiology. What Matsuda's team discovered was a complex network of cannabinoid receptors structured with the cellular framework of both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Cannabinoid receptors are found numerous places through the body’s structure, and as such, they are crucial for optimal health. In fact, they play a significant role in regulating many bodily functions like motor control, pleasure, immune system function, pain, appetite and sleep.

The ECS’ primary function is to regulate how quickly neurotransmitters within the brain are being released, slowing them down or speeding them up as necessary in order to return to and maintain internal homeostasis after the body has endured a threat. There is preliminary scientific evidence to indicate that when these receptors are stimulated by cannabinoids, or CBD, our bodies system can communicate more effectively with themselves. This accelerated biophysical communication can help to relieve depression, lower intestinal inflammation, lower blood pressure and reduce fear and paranoia. 

While much remains to be learned about the ECS, there are a few basics that the scientific community largely agrees on. The ECS helps fine-tune the vital physiological functions in both humans and animals. The ECS is key in promoting homeostasis across a wide variety of key daily functions, notably sleep, appetite, pain, inflammation, memory, mood, and even sexual behavior. Presented in the most basic terms, the ECS helps modulate the regulation of homeostasis across all of the body’s major systems, ensuring that each of these disparate systems work in concert with one another.

How Does CBD Affect the ECS?

Despite the fact that research regarding the effects of phytocannabinoid cannabidiol, or CBD,  on the ECS, scientists have learned that the system recognizes and respond to cannabinoids from external sources. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH)  manipulating the endocannabinoid system by introducing external cannabinoids like CBD may play a role in treating a variety of medical ailments, from general aches and pains to acne, diabetes, schizophrenia, alcohol withdrawal and heart disease. As new research emerges and new clinical trials begin, we remain at the forefront of discovery regarding how CBD products can work with the ECS to help and heal. 

Questions about CBD and how it can benefit you? Contact Altitude today!
 

When you think of using cannabis, your first thought is likely smoking a joint or lighting up a bong. And while there’s nothing wrong with getting high—we think it’s great when you enjoy it responsibly—THC-heavy products from local weed shops in Denver aren’t your only option. In fact, you don’t have to get high at all to enjoy the health benefits of cannabis. That’s right…we’re talking about CBDs. You get the same benefits as marijuana just without the characteristic high. So how do you choose which one to take? Here are a few tips.

Think About Your Comfort Level
Some people are distinctly uncomfortable with the idea of using marijuana even if they’re intrigued by the health benefits. They just don’t like the idea of altering their mental state or feeling like they’re not in complete control of their experience. That’s okay and if you fit this description, ditch the marijuana products and reach for a CBD tincture, edible, or topical. But if you like the idea of relaxing with a high, pick up a strain with both THC and CBD. This will help you get the full entourage effect from the plant. 

Understand What You’re Trying to Achieve
Are you looking for a product that helps you unwind at the end of the day or are you looking for relief with pain and inflammation? Many people find that straight CBDs are ideal for promoting healthy and natural inflammatory responses, helping you feel better quickly. But others truly prefer the relaxing quality of THC. Think about why you’re using the products before you make your decision. If you’re okay with the idea of getting high, you can always use both CBD and THC products to get the fullest benefit.

Are You Wanting to Use on the Go?
Believe it or not, Colorado does punish you for driving high. It’s treated as a type of DUI and you can face fines, jail time, and even get your license revoked. If you’re planning on using products on the go, stick to CBDs. This way, you’ll be able to drive safely at all times. But if you’re planning on staying in for the night and aren’t worried about driving yourself somewhere, marijuana is a great option. Put on a movie, order a pizza, and settle in for an evening of fun and relaxation. Just remember, if you do need to go anywhere, use a ride-share company like Uber or Lyft or call a friend to pick you up. No one wants to deal with a DUI and all the consequences that come with it. 

No matter what you’re looking for, Altitude Dispensary is here to help. We’re proud to have high-quality CBD tinctures, edibles, patches, and topicals right alongside our marijuana products. If you’ve never used either before, our budtenders will give you the guidance you need to find the best product possible. Stop by one of our three locations today and check out our loyalty rewards program for added savings, discounts, and benefits. 
 

The state of Colorado legalized marijuana for medicinal recreational use in 2012.  While residents and visitors to the state may relish in the legality of marijuana use in Colorado, there are, in fact, many laws in place dictating its use —particularly when it comes to operating a motor vehicle. If you are under the influence of marijuana do not drive a motor vehicle.

Not only is it difficult to ascertain one’s own level of impairment when using marijuana, it is also crucial to remember that any amount of marijuana use puts you at risk of driving impaired. Driving while under the influence of any substance puts your life at risk as well as the lives of passengers and fellow drivers. 

Colorado law specifies that drivers with five nanograms of THC in their whole blood can be prosecuted for driving under the influence (DUI). THC is the chemical in marijuana that produces a “high.” Use of THC —whether eaten, smoked, or vaped — causes poor muscle coordination and delayed reaction times. Everyone from marijuana use advocates to law enforcement professionals strongly discourage the use of marijuana while operating machinery, including an automobile.

Although Colorado state law dictates a five nanogram minimum, it is crucial to understand that law enforcement officers have the right to base arrests on something called “observed impairment.” If the officer believes you to be too heavily under the influence of marijuana to be able to drive functionally, you will be subject to a DUI arrest.  The reason for this caveat in the law is because THC affects everyone differently. While five nanograms may no be enough to impair one individual’s ability to drive, as little as two nanograms may be enough to render another person completely unable to drive.

Unlike in many other states, Colorado law enforcement officials are trained to observe and detect marijuana impairment in drivers. Nearly every Colorado law enforcement officer receives professional training through a program called Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE). In addition, many law enforcement agencies across the state have specially trained Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) on staff that can detect impairment from a variety of substances, including marijuana.


In addition, passengers are not immune to the law when it comes to using marijuana in a moving vehicle. Many marijuana users are unclear on how the use of marijuana by a passenger can affect them as a driver. Marijuana is, in fact, included in Colorado’s open container law. This law stipulates that it is illegal to have marijuana in the passenger space of your vehicle if it is: a) in an open container, b) in a container with a broken seal, or c) if there is evidence marijuana has been consumed inside your vehicle. If you are operating a motor vehicle while other individuals inside it are using marijuana, you are still violating the law. It also be noted that is also against the law to consume marijuana on any public roadway in the state of Colorado. If you are a marijuana user who is considering getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle in greater Denver while under the influence, think again. The consequences are not only illegal —they can be deadly.