Newcomers to can be easily confused by the many varieties of types, and the methods that can be used when it comes to consuming them. Although it’s only one species of plant in particular (Cannabis Sativa), marijuana comes in three distinct varieties: Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica, which are common, and Cannabis Ruderalis, which is rare. There are many hybrid crosses between the Sativa and Indica varieties producing over 100 strains of cannabinoid plants. So much from which to choose can overwhelm anyone new to marijuana. Denver marijuana dispensaries can help customers select the best strains for their needs.

Not all marijuana is equal, and effects vary according to many factors, not the least of which is growing conditions, amount used, strain of cannabis, method of consumption, biochemistry, and the user’s overall health. According to Americans for Safe Access, the therapeutic effects differ by strain.

Sativas are primarily noted for:

• Stimulating/energizing
• Increased sense of well-being, focus, and creativity
• Reduction in depression, elevation of mood
• Relief of headaches, migraines, and nausea
• Increase in appetite.

Indica strains are noted for the following effects:

• Relaxation, reduction of stress
• Relief of muscle spasms
• Reduction of pain, inflammation, headaches, and migraines
• As a sleep aid
• Reduction in nausea, stimulation of appetite
• Reduction of intraocular pressure
• Reduction in frequency of seizures

The purpose for consumption--recreational or medical--determines the suitability of a particular strain, with Indica-dominant strains being preferred for medical use.

If the idea of smoking weed discourages use of a potentially helpful herb, then consider other methods of consumption. It’s important to remember that the effects of eaten cannabis may be more pronounced than other methods of consumption, but the effects may be delayed. Evidence of cannabis use may remain present in urine for months after a single use.

Topical application. Considered the safest method of application, rubbing in an ointment or lotion into the skin may relieve pain, but will not produce psychoactive effects.

Vaporizers. Considered the safest way to inhale cannabinoids because there is no smoke to clog up your lungs, vaporizers also mitigate that distinct fragrance of burning weed and deliver similar, nearly immediate effects as smoking.

Edibles. Effects of eaten cannabis may vary, but typically take effect later and last longer than ingestion through smoking or vaporizers. Careful experimentation is advised to determine the proper dosage and the product type that works best for you. Denver dispensaries advise beginning with no more than two drops of cannabis oil and gradually increasing dosage until the desired effect is achieved.

Because the effects of different varieties and strains and methods of application can vary significantly, it’s best to keep a detailed log of treatment. Record when you take, the amount you take, the strain, the type of product, percentage of active chemicals, method of consumption, effects good and bad, and how quickly you noticed the effects.

Like any natural product, changes in weather and plant variations affect the end product. Altitude Dispensary recommends that once you find what best suits your needs, you purchase consistently from that source to maintain consistency in quality and effectiveness. The best dispensary in Denver has three locations offering pure Indica and Sativa varieties, hybrids, edibles, drinks, extracts, and topicals. Call (303) 756-8888 for more information.

The very term strikes fear: Alzheimer’s disease. Who doesn’t fear the snowballing degradation of memory and lucidity? Causes for Alzheimer’s disease are varied and not always well understood, just as treatments have been slow in coming with none actually able actually reverse the damage caused by the disease. Medical marijuana in Denver offers hope for effective treatment.

A 2006, pre-clinical study by L. M. Eubanks, et. al. projects that cases of Alzheimer’s disease would triple within the next 50 years. Their report, published in 2014 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology, concluded that “Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), competitively inhibits the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) as well as prevents AChE-induced amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) aggregation, the key pathological marker of Alzheimer's disease.”

They concluded that “THC is a considerably more effective inhibitor of AChE-induced Aβ deposition than the approved drugs for Alzheimer's disease treatment, donepezil and tacrine, which reduced Aβ aggregation by only 22% and 7%, respectively, at twice the concentration used in our studies.”

In their March 21st blog, Alzheimers.net noted another study conducted by researchers at Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, Netherlands. Researchers studied 50 subjects, including a control group, on the effect, if any, of marijuana to relieve the symptoms of dementia caused by Alzheimer’s: agitation, aggression, apathy and delusions.  They concluded that oral THC of 4.5mg daily showed no benefit in the treatment of dementia-related nueropsy chiatric systems. That means their study found no difference between the treatment group and the control group, except to note that test subjects easily tolerated the doses given. That report was published, in May 2015, by Neurology®.

Another study, conducted by Assaf Shelef, et. al. at the Abaranel Mental Health Center and Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, both in Tel Aviv, Israel, and published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology in February 2016, concluded that medical cannabis oil provided significant decreases in “delusions, agitation/aggression, irritability, apathy, sleep and caregiver distress” and offered “a safe and promising treatment option” for Alzheimer’s patients. (Link: http://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad150915)

Personal testimonies provide anecdotal support for the use of medical marijuana in treating Alzheimer’s related dementia. P. Vaugn states that she has been using cannabis oil to treat her own diagnosed onset of the disease: “My [n]eurologist has been very pleased with how I am doing and [I will] continue unless it stops being helpfull (sic).”

Many people discount claims of the addictive properties of cannabis, stating that, although it is not physically addictive, it is mentally addictive. Caregivers for elderly Alzheimer’s patients take a practical view addition. One reader on Alzheimers.net writes of her 80-year old mother’s suffering: “[W]e are not concerned about potential long-term effects or addiction. At her age, the immediate challenges of managing this disease take priority.”

A quick internet search shows that the average life expectancy for an Alzheimer’s patient is eight to 10 years, which is a long time to spend caring for a loved one with decreasing mental capacity and rising dementia.

Research continues to show the promise of medical marijuana as a natural, effective, easily ingested, and well tolerated option that treats Alzheimer’s disease, even though it has not been shown to halt or reverse the brain damage the disease causes. Altitude Dispensary, with three convenient locations in Aurora and Denver, offers a variety of marijuana products available for consumption that may be incorporated into the caring and palliative treatment program for patients suffering from dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease.

Whether you are a Colorado resident or visitor from another state, it is interesting how to learn how medicinal and recreational laws came to be - Take a walk through history with us!

• Illegalization: Colorado is a state associated with the legalization of marijuana, but it always wasn’t that way. Possession and consumption of cannabis became illegal in the state in March 1917. At this time, it became illegal to grow, consume or sell the drug. In fact, one of the reasons it became illegal was to hurt Mexico as it was suspected that Mexican general Pancho Villa was using cannabis to fund his army. It would stay this way for about 80 years before changes to the law would be made. View the original bill from 1917 on the Westword website. 
• The Beginning of Legalization: Medical marijuana became legal for people to use privately in 2000 after over half of voters in the state voted to legalize the use. Once this law was put into place, with a written prescription by their doctor, people could obtain cannabis from dispensaries in Denver and all over the state for conditions such as cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, seizures, nausea and more. They were allowed to have up to two ounces of medicinal marijuana and it was also made legal to grow up to six plants, with three that were allowed to be flowering.  
• The Change to Recreational Legalization: Recreational marijuana became legal 12 years after medicinal. So in November 2012, it became legal for those 21 and older to grow up to six plants in a locked space. The same rules applied as medicinal and only three plans could be flowering at one time. For Colorado residents that did not want to grow plants and wanted to purchase at a Denver dispensary, they became allowed to possess one ounce of marijuana at one time. For non-residents, they are allowed to purchase up to a quarter of an ounce of cannabis at one time. All consumption must be done privately and not in public spaces.  
• Colorado Economic Growth: Since the legalization of medicinal and recreational marijuana, the economic growth has helped the state. With over $70 million coming in just one year, the tax money has been able to be used for schools, flood rehabilitation and many other areas. It has also been one of the states to help reduce marijuana trafficking over the United States and Mexican border, which also has reduced drug cartel violence.
• Transportation: Those who purchase medicinal or recreational marijuana are allowed to have it in their cars. It is to be placed in a closed container and cannot cross any of the state’s borders. It is also illegal to drive a car under the influence. Consequences are similar to alcohol, and anyone with five nanograms or more of delta 9-THC in their blood can be arrested.  

If you are to have a great experience with a dispensary in Denver, visit us at Altitude the Dispensary! If you are new to recreational marijuana, be sure to read our article on How to Buy and Enjoy in Denver.

While medicinal hemp oils may be legal in 50 U.S. states, you still need to have a medical card to purchase them in Colorado, even though you can easily purchase tinctures and natural supplements online without a card. It can take quite a bit of research to figure out your best course of action. We can fill you in on some much needed information to guide you through the details.

Get to Know the Facts
The purchase of marijuana in Denver can be confusing – even to residents. It can be even more confusing when you separate marijuana into the categories of recreational and medicinal. A quick reference for the novice:  Recreational marijuana contains THC, which is psychoactive – meaning it contains the ingredient that can get you "high." Hemp has little THC and may contain one or more of several medicinal ingredients – meaning it might benefit you medicinally, but it won't get you high. See Americans for Safe Access' article, Guide to Using Medical Cannabis, for specific information about the different medicinal aspects of cannabis.

What Qualifies as Medicinal Use?
Licensed retail marijuana stores in Denver may sell retail marijuana to those over 21 years of age, but medical marijuana requires a state red card, which can only be obtained by Colorado residents with a recommendation from a doctor that a patient suffers from a debilitating medical condition that may benefit from medical marijuana. Medical marijuana patients can obtain marijuana from a licensed center, a primary caregiver, or self grow. For more information about medical marijuana, please visit the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment.

While state medical marijuana laws are well intentioned, many of them are extremely exclusive as to what illnesses may qualify patients for use, and limit production of medical marijuana plants to a handful of licensed facilities. The laws have drawn both praise and criticism from different groups. Many groups feel that the laws are inadequate, because they are so limiting. Many of the laws limit use to only a handful of patients that are on a very short list of approved conditions and in some cases, exclusively for epilepsy.

Many states have now passed laws legalizing the production of plants bearing cannabidiol for medicinal use, these laws may take many months, if not years, to be implemented while the details are ironed out as to who will produce the plants and products for distribution in each of these states. Many patients in states that have enacted these laws are frustrated, because they think they have no way to access medical marijuana/hemp oils, in most cases assuming that the medicinal oils have to be extracted from illicit marijuana plants. 

The irony is that cannabidiol is already legal to be sold in the form of CBD hemp products used in the manufacturing of nutritional supplements and has been for some time now. But many people in states that either do not qualify for the CBD programs, or are waiting for the laws to take effect, remain unaware that it is currently possible to legally buy CBD hemp oil products.

What Does it Mean for Residents?
What does this mean for you if you want to purchase marijuana? This means that if you are not a Colorado resident, you may legally purchase products at Altitude Dispensary without a medical marijuana card. If you are a Colorado resident, you can also purchase recreational marijuana without a medical card. However, if you live in Colorado and want to purchase medical marijuana, in person and at a medicinal only dispensary, you will need to get your medical marijuana card.

With three locations of marijuana dispensaries across Denver and Aurora, you can find a location near you. Learn more about the types of products featured, our specials, and even order online to have your order ready for you through our newest dispensary in Aurora. Contact us for more information and to take advantage of our experienced, knowledgeable staff at Altitude.

Source: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/marijuanainfodenver/residents-visitors, http://cbdmarijuanaoil.com/

If you are traveling to Denver and are interested in taking advantage of the recent legalization, you will want to know the policies before you get there. Get familiar with Colorado rules and regulations and don't assume residents and visitors have the same policies.

Weed shops in Denver will be familiar, of course, with legal policies, but if you are traveling to – or through – Denver and plan to purchase or use marijuana, you will want to make sure you are familiar with the cannabis policy of Colorado.

Folks who live in places where marijuana is not legal, tend to think that everyone in Denver is walking down the street smoking or vaping – the assumption being two-fold:  1. That everyone in Colorado uses weed because it's legal, and 2. That all those users are consuming in public. Colorado residents find these assumptions quite humorous.

We find these assumptions amusing because while the legalization of marijuana may have put the subject in the media, it hasn't put it in the public much more than it was before legalization – the main reason being that it is actually illegal to consume marijuana in public in Colorado.

Visitors (and even some residents) may not know that the rules for retail marijuana use within the city of Denver state that marijuana is not for public consumption. This includes but is not limited to areas accessible to the public such as transportation facilities, schools, amusement/sporting/music venues, parks, playgrounds, sidewalks, roads and outdoor and rooftop cafes.

It is also illegal to smoke at indoor-but-public locations like bars, restaurants and common areas in buildings. You can't even consume marijuana in or around the licensed store where you will purchase your weed.

Another law you will want to be familiar with is the one that states that all users and purchasers of weed must be 21 or older. Still one more law that's really important:  Colorado residents 21 and older can purchase and possess up to 1 ounce of retail marijuana at a time, while non-residents can only purchase up to ¼ ounce at a time. 

It is illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana and it can result in a DUI, just like alcohol. Anyone with 5 nanograms or more of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (known as THC) per milliliter in whole blood (CRS 42-4-1301) while driving can be arrested for DUI. The consequences of a DUI are dependent on the driver, but they can include fines, jail time and a revoked license, none of which are ever fun – especially if you are from out of town.

However, while it is illegal for drivers and front-seat passengers to use marijuana in taxis and limousines in Denver, if the taxi or limousine operator allows for it, marijuana may be consumed in the rear passenger area only. So plan to use taxis or rent a limo to get around.

What are the consequences if you violate marijuana laws? Penalties range from a fine to a possible jail or prison sentence. Colorado State Statutes and Denver Revised Municipal Code spell out the specific penalties for various violations.

At Altitude Dispensary, the best dispensary in Denver, you will find helpful, experienced staff to guide you in your purchase of medical and recreational marijuana. Contact us before venturing to Denver to get up-to-date information about your rights and responsibilities where marijuana consumption in Denver is concerned.

Source: http://www.northjersey.com/news/schensul-marijuana-tourism-is-big-business-in-colorado-1.1676655, http://www.edgewaterco.com/index.asp?SEC=38436C56-EA59-499B-9765-AD1311CFAE24&DE=CF03E891-EE7E-4002-8974-C8D94646E435&Type=B_BASIC, https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/marijuanainfodenver/residents-visitors