In Colorado, we’re lucky enough to have recreational marijuana available for purchase at dispensaries in Denver and across the state. However, other states are not so fortunate and many of our friends and relatives still want to try marijuana. While you can’t bring cannabis across state lines when visiting friends and family for the holidays, you can still treat them to some of the benefits of cannabis by bringing CBD products as holiday gifts. Wondering how to get the best CBDs for your loved ones? Here are a few tips to help.

Skip the Online Stores

When you purchase CBDs online, you have no way of knowing if the product is as high-quality as the website claims. Instead of ordering off of a website, stop by your local dispensary. This way, you’ll know that every product you purchase was manufactured with the highest quality standards in mind. Best of all, you’ll have access to an experienced budtender to tell you what each product is like and what others have thought after using it in the past. 

Make Sure You Buy Hemp-Made CBDs

In Colorado, CBDs can be made from marijuana or hemp. Unfortunately, CBDs made from the marijuana plant, even if they have no THC, are still illegal in many states. Before you purchase a CBD tincture, vape pen, or edible, make sure the CBD is derived from hemp. This way, you won’t be breaking any laws when you cross state lines and your loved ones will be safe once they have them in their possession.

Pick Up a Variety of Items

Just like marijuana, CBD products are available in different forms. There are edibles, salves, tinctures, concentrates, and even pain patches to choose from. Rather than picking up a single type of product, consider bringing a selection. This way, your loved ones will be able to try different things and see which product works best for them. Remember, just because you love your vape pen doesn’t mean your aunt will want to enjoy the same product.

Choose Full Spectrum Products

Many CBD manufacturers sell products as pure CBD. While there may still be some benefits to using these products, they lack the full impact that full spectrum products have. Full spectrum CBDs provide other beneficial compounds, just not THC. These compounds create a more well-rounded product that may enhance the benefits of CBDs, making the product more effective. Since your loved ones can’t experience the joys of using cannabis containing THC, why not give them the closest thing possible?

Not sure where to start? Stop by Altitude Dispensary today. Our experienced budtenders are familiar with both THC and CBD products and can help you find the perfect gifts for your loved ones. Purchasing for friends in Colorado? Check out our full line of accessories to make their smoking experience as enjoyable as possible. The holidays are the perfect time to share your passion for weed with the ones you love. Join our Frequent Flower Miles program and save while stocking up on all those goodies to share with friends and family alike!

Marijuana has a reputation for making people feel lazy, tired, and otherwise unmotivated to live life to the fullest. This reputation is not only undeserved…it’s completely and utterly wrong! Sure, some smoke sessions will leave you wanting to do little more than binge-watch TV, but on the whole, cannabis can actually enhance and enrich your life. Here are a few ways that marijuana from your favorite Denver dispensary can help make your life more fun, interesting, and exciting.

Improves Creativity

For many people, smoking makes them want to be creative, boosting their inspiration and desire to make something new. While some see greater enhanced creativity when enjoying a sativa-dominant strain, it’s likely the relaxation you feel when you’re high that allows you to stop overthinking things and embrace your creative side. Regardless, you’re more likely feel more inspired to start making things when you’re high than you would prior to enjoying your favorite strain. Best of all, once you start, that inspiration may carry over long after your high fades away.

Makes You More Adventurous and Open to New Experiences

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut between work and regular social activities. However, there are so many fun and exciting things to do in Colorado, it’s a shame to waste the day sticking to the routine. Marijuana may just help you embrace your adventurous side. When you choose a strain that offers a more active high, you’ll feel more mentally prepared to try new things and actually enjoy the experience. Breaking out of your comfort zone can be challenging, but some of the feelings of anxiety associated with trying new things may just fade under the influence of cannabis.

Helps You Sleep

Sativa-dominant strains may make you more alert and awake, but Indica-dominant strains are believed to help you relax fully. This translates into better quality sleep and the ability to wake up feeling rested. While your individual experience may vary, sleeping better even if you only smoke occasionally, is something many people experience after enjoying their favorite cannabis products. Keep in mind, if you’re having a hard time getting to sleep or staying asleep, it never hurts to see your doctor. 

May Help Alleviate Stress

For many of the same reasons that cannabis helps with sleep, it also helps with stress reduction. Both sativa and indica-heavy strains help you relax and when you’re relaxed, your mind won’t be stuck running in that stress-induced loop of anxiety. The more relaxed you are, the more you’ll enjoy all those new adventures you’re going to go on!

Cannabis has long been associated with potential medical benefits, but that’s not all it’s good for. When enjoyed responsibly, it can enrich your life and make getting through routine tasks a bit more pleasant. 

No matter what type of cannabis products you love, we’ll help you find the perfect new strain to get you out and ready to live fully. Stop by one of our three locations and let our budtenders help you find the perfect strain for your new adventures. 

When we talk about cannabis, it’s often in terms of how much THC and CBD a strain has. Some strains have more THC while others may be CBD-dominant. The one you choose to purchase at Denver weed shops is largely a matter of personal preference. In fact, different strains may give you different types of highs—some you’ll love, but others you may find less than ideal. For many people, high concentrations of THC can lead to a more stressful or anxious high than strains that use CBD. Combining CBD oil with the high THC strains can help mellow out those highs. This process is known as the Entourage Effect. Here’s what you need to know about this fascinating process.

CBD and THC Both Stimulate Your Body 

In medical marijuana treatments, patients typically look for strains that incorporate both CBD and THC. This is because the whole plant is thought to be the most beneficial. Though both THC and CBD extracts or strains can have positive effects, they’re typically weaker than they would be when combined. 

When taken separately, CBD and THC extracts work in isolation. This means they may not be able to address or help the same issues as they would when combined. However, when they’re taken together either as combined concentrates or in a single strain with both, the CBD and THC work together in what is known as the Entourage Effect. The benefits of one are believed to enhance the other. Does this mean that taking straight THC or CBD products is bad? Not at all.

The Entourage Effect May Make the Cannabis More Effective 

Many holistic practitioners believe that using the entire plant offers a more effective and efficient treatment option. This is because the plant naturally has both THC and CBD in some concentrations. It’s the most natural form. 

The entire plant contains a combination of terpenes, flavonoids, and countless other compounds, many of which we’re still discovering and learning about. For many people, this is reason enough to opt for a strain of cannabis that provides both THC and CBD. The thought is that the Entourage Effect enhances the natural effects of both the THC and CBD, making each smoking, dabbing, vaping, or edible experience more complete and may even enhance the quality of the high you get. 

After all, if you’re chasing a true high, why not enjoy the entire plant? It’s no surprise that since both CBD and THC impact your body, indulging in them together will make the experience more pleasant. Not sure where to start? Speak with your budtender to find a strain that has both CBD and THC. These strains are available in everything from edibles to concentrates and tinctures. 

Ready to experience the Entourage Effect yourself? Stop by one of our three locations today and speak with our budtenders to find the right strain for your desired high. Want to save some green when replenishing your stash? Join our Frequent Flower Miles program. You’ll earn points on every purchase and receive special email offers reserved just for members! 
 

Sweet treats are everywhere around the holidays. Bowls of candy seem to appear on coworkers’ desks, seasonal treats greet you at the cash register in the grocery store, and even talk-shows feature holiday recipes everyone can enjoy—provided they’re not worried about the calorie-count. With so many temptations right at hand, it’s easy to satisfy your craving for munchies with foods that might just leave you feeling gross after your high from your favorite Denver dispensary products fade. Here are a few healthy ways to satisfy your sweet tooth without reaching for the nearest bag of candy.

Reach for Fresh Fruit

The best way to satisfy your sweet tooth is to snack on fresh fruit instead of processed treats and candy. Choose seasonal fruits like apples, pears, bananas, oranges, and even grapes. These are some of the sweeter fruits and, when sliced, make for the perfect quick snack to get you through the worst of your munchies. If you’re looking for a bit of an indulgent twist, pick up some caramel dip at the grocery store or spread a thin layer of your favorite nut butter on a few slices—we won’t tell if you won’t!

Stock Up on Dates

Dates are a type of fruit grown on palm trees and are commonly dried and used in baking to add sweetness without relying on processed sugar. But you don’t have to use them in a recipe. You can just snack on them whenever the craving strikes. Chop some dates before your smoke session and grab a handful as soon as you feel the craving for candy coming. You’ll get the same instant satisfaction that comes from indulging in sugary treats, but you’ll do it the all-natural way.

Sweet and Chocolatey Popcorn

Sure, popcorn may not be the healthiest way to satisfy your sweet tooth, but it’s still far better than chowing down on an entire pint of ice cream. To make this dish a success, pop a bag of plain popcorn (no butter or added salt) and pour it into a bowl. Then, melt your favorite chocolate in the microwave. Keep an eye on the chocolate to make sure it doesn’t burn. Once the chocolate is melted, use a spoon to drizzle it over the popcorn. Take care to drizzle rather than pour the chocolate over the kernels. Remember, a little goes a long way. You can also microwave a little peanut butter to add a whole new dimension of flavor to the mix!

Baked Apples

This treat is something you’ll want to make ahead of time, but it’s a great way to enjoy a touch of the holidays. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, wash the apple thoroughly and towel it dry.  Once the skin is dry, remove the apple core using a sharp paring knife or dedicated apple corer. Fill the hole with brown sugar, cinnamon, raisins, and any other dried fruit of your choice. Top the filling with a pat of butter and put the apple on a baking pan filled with ¼ inch of hot water. Bake for 30-45 minutes and let cool. To reheat the apples, warm them in a toaster oven for about 10 minutes or heat in the microwave for 30-60 seconds.

Satisfy your sweet tooth without indulging in fistfuls of holiday candy and take care of your munchies with these delicious treats! Just make sure you have enough weed on hand to get you through the holiday crunch. Stop by Altitude today and pick up a new strain!

 

The holidays are just around the corner and with all those parties, gifts, and events, it’s only natural that you’d want to start saving money. Unfortunately for many people, this means thinking twice before making a purchase at Denver marijuana dispensaries. Just because you’re looking to be frugal doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying your buzz. Here are a few tips to help you get high even on a shoestring budget.

Invest in a Grinder

Grinders are the easiest and most efficient way to prepare bud. When you break up bud by hand or use a knife, it’s not always broken up enough. This means the entire product won’t light evenly, leaving a lot of that wonderful flower unburned and wasted. Worse, you’ll end up using more bud than you need to. By investing in a grinder, you’ll be able to use less pot every time you pack a pipe, bong, or joint. Over time, it’ll save you money and stretch your stash. 

Replenish Your Stash as You Can

When you run out of pot and head to the dispensary, the prospect of stocking up can lead you to spend more money than you should. Instead, stay on top of your stash and replenish items as you can. If you avoid running out of weed, you’ll be less tempted to stock up on everything at once. 

Stop Buying New Glass

Nothing is more fun than trying out a new pipe or bong for the first time. When they’re properly designed, they allow new flavors to bloom with every bowl. However, glass can get pricy fast and if you’re sticking to a tight budget, buying new gear isn’t the best idea. Instead, make use of your existing glass. Clean it thoroughly and make it like-new or make your own pipe or bong using fresh fruit. 

Forget the Joint

Joints may be convenient, but they actually use far more pot than any other smoking method. When you light up a bong or pipe, the weed stops burning after a few seconds. However, when you light up a joint, the weed burns continuously unless you purposely extinguish it. That means you’re wasting pot every time you’re not actively inhaling. If you’re on a budget, pack your pipe or bong and forgo the joints. Remember, even rolling papers cost money and while quality glass costs more up-front, it’s typically a one-time purchase. 

Make Your Own Edibles

Edibles are a great way to get high, but buying pre-made edibles at the dispensary can get expensive pretty fast. And if you think you’re only limited to brownies…think again! Cannabis can be incorporated into almost any type of food as long as you have a bit of imagination and some skill in the kitchen. Whip up a batch of your favorite cookies or try some delicious savory recipes that will delight your taste buds and impress your friends (if you feel like sharing). 

Looking to stretch your weed budget even further? Stop by one of our three locations and sign up for our Frequent Flower Miles program. Members receive special discounts and rewards, helping you get the most out of a limited budget.