Dispensaries in Denver are starting to offer an incredibly wide range of products to their customers. As soon as you step in and speak with a budtender, you’re presented with edibles, bud, vapes, concentrates, and even beverages. The list is ever-growing and ever-improving. However, if you suffer from Celiac disease, shopping for marijuana is harder than just simply picking a product and deciding whether or not you like it. Here are a few tips to help make the most out of your trip to the dispensary while significantly reducing your risk of exposure to gluten, wheat, and other irritants that could trigger a flare-up.

Talk to The Budtender

The best resource at any dispensary is the budtender behind the counter. They know their products like the back of their hand. Tell them about any food allergies you might have, the specific ingredients you need to avoid (wheat, gluten, rye, etc.), and ask for their help in finding the best products for your needs. Selecting a cannabis product will be more challenging if you have more than one food sensitivity or autoimmune trigger, but it can be done and you can still enjoy the many medically proven benefits of marijuana.

Double Check The Ingredients List

If you’re exploring your options for edibles, take the time to read through each ingredients label, even if the budtender thinks it’s gluten free. Remember, you’re far more familiar with the terms and ingredients to watch for than they are. The industry is getting better at labeling and making note of products that are truly gluten free, but you can never be too cautious. As a general rule, most hard candies, gummies, and plain chocolate bars are typically safe, though they may be manufactured on shared equipment.

When In Doubt, Stick With Bud

If you’re truly worried about gluten, even in trace amounts from shared equipment, your best bet is to stick with bud. Since the bud available at your local dispensaries is just grown and dried, there’s minimal risk of gluten being introduced to the flower. Similarly, most concentrates, waxes, shatter, and pre-rolled joints should be safe.

Avoid Flavored Rolling Papers

Yes, flavored papers really do exist. While they do alter the flavor the smoke you inhale, there’s always a chance that the flavorings may have wheat or gluten ingredients. Plain papers are typically free of gluten and other contaminants. However, if you’ve had reactions to rolling papers in the past, you may want to stick with glass. You’ll get a superior smoking experience and reduce your impact on the environment as an added bonus.

Celiac disease doesn’t have to keep you from enjoying cannabis, smoking, or that relaxing high after a long day at work. It just means you need to be a bit more cautious and selective when searching for the right products. At Altitude Dispensary, we want to help. Our budtenders will go through all of your options with you so you can feel confident in the products you choose. Stop by one of our three locations today.

Summer is the time for vacations and that means millions of people will be flocking to DIA to catch a flight out of town. Though vacations are fun, traveling can be stressful, even if you don’t suffer from anxiety. Using pot from the best dispensary in Denver may help you relax when taken before heading to the airport. But that leaves many stoners with a tough decision: what to do at DIA when you’re stoned to pass the time? Here are a few fantastic distractions that are sure to make the wait for your vacation far more enjoyable while allowing you to embrace the wonderful euphoria of a great strain of weed.

Check Out the Shops

Nothing passes the time like browsing at brightly colored knickknacks and souvenirs and if you’re visiting friends out-of-state, you may want to pick up a couple items as gifts. If you’re feeling ambitious, stop by one of the newsstands or bookstores and pick up a new novel to distract you from your anxiety on your flight. You can always lose yourself in a good book for a few hours!

Grab a Bite to Eat

There are dozens of food stands spread throughout the airport. Satisfy your sweet tooth by indulging in a milkshake from your favorite fast food chain or keep it healthy by munching on a salad. You’ll have the luxury of choosing between grab and go snacks or a sit-down restaurant if you have the time. Even when you’re stoned, feeling like you’re just out for a bite of lunch can help alleviate anxiety and calm your nerves.

Look At Art

Unlike many of our nation’s airports that feature boring advertisements on the walls, Denver International Airport is home to an extensive art collection that’s almost ever-changing. Browse the changing exhibits at the Jeppesen Terminal. As you walk through the B gates, inspect the floor for 21st century artifacts just beneath your feet. If you’re flying out of one of the C gates, spend some time admiring the indoor garden at the core of the terminal right above the train doors.

Admire the View

Luckily, the gates at DIA are filled with large picture windows and nothing is more relaxing than admiring the view of Denver from the comfort of a climate-controlled room. And watching the planes land safely may help you relax before your flight. Take a seat close to your gate and enjoy the view out the window. If you need a change of scenery, simply move a few gates down and look at things from a new perspective.

If you’re looking to get high before your flight and stay that way while in the air, your best bet is to enjoy some edibles before you leave your house. Stop by Altitude Dispensary and pick up some delicious treats that are sure to get you high while satisfying your craving for something sweet. Check out our current menu and swing by one of our three convenient Denver locations today.

Recreational marijuana has been legally available in weed shops in Denver for years now. While that means you can legally purchase your favorite strain at any time, it also means you’re free to grow a few choice plants in the comfort of your own home. Even if you’re an experienced smoker and have used marijuana for decades, growing may be something you’ve never explored. Unlike growing tomatoes in the garden, weed takes a bit more finesse and effort. Here’s what you need to do to start growing your own pet pot plant.

Set Up The Right Environment

Growing outside is not always the best idea. After all, your neighbors, landlord, and onlookers might take offense. Worse, thieves might just steal your plant right out of the garden. Find a large pot that can accommodate your growing cannabis plant. If you’re on a budget, you can use a 5-gallon bucket with holes drilled in the bottom for ventilation and drainage. Then, you’ll need to select a good potting soil. Any standard potting soil will work well, especially as you’re starting out.

Once you have your pot established, you’ll need to control the light the plant is exposed to. New plants need around 12 hours of consistent light in order to keep the plant from blooming. When plants are young, they produce very few buds. In order to produce a quality yield, they’ll need to grow larger. For at least a few weeks, let the plant grow under light so it can get large enough to support the buds you’re looking to harvest.

Trick the Plant Into Blooming

Once your plant has grown to an appropriate size, you’ll need to trigger its bloom cycle. To do this, the plant needs to be exposed to 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of dark each day. This means you’ll want to keep your plant in a room where light is easy to control. Set up a grow lamp on a timer and set it for the recommended 12 hours. Once the timer cycle is over, the light will turn off, giving the pot plant the trigger it needs to start producing blooms.

Consider using blackout curtains to completely block out light and encourage the plant to produce buds. Remember, any amount of light introduced to the space during the required 12 hours of darkness can confuse your plant. The end result is unsuitable bud at best or a poor harvest at worst.  

Growing your own marijuana can be a great side project for summer, but the number of plants allowed in most residential settings may not be enough to give you all the weed you need to relax. If you find your stores dwindling, stop by one of Altitude Dispensary’s three locations and pick up some fresh locally-grown weed to satisfy your craving. Not sure what you want? Our budtenders are happy to help you find your new favorite way to get high. Check out our selection online and see the difference that quality can make in your next high.  

Summer is the season of barbecues and outdoor parties. While all that fun and activity is a great way to enjoy being social, it’s important that you stay safe while doing it. Colorado police frequently set up large DUI checkpoints throughout the Denver metro area, especially around major holidays. While you may know that driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal, you may not be aware of just how serious driving while high can be. Your trusted Denver dispensary want to help you be prepared for the summer months. Here’s what you need to know about driving under the influence of weed and a few easy ways to get home safe after passing the bong around the barbecue.

Marijuana Can Earn You a DUI

Though there are no roadside sobriety tests to determine how high a person is behind the wheel, the police can and will pull you over if you appear to be driving stoned. The most common signs they look for are erratic behavior, weaving, driving well below the speed limit, and anything else that makes you seem out of control of the vehicle. Though the state-mandated limit to charge you with a DUI is 5 nanograms of THC in the bloodstream, that amount is only the minimum threshold for charging you with the crime. If you’re driving with less THC in your system, but are still seen to be reckless behind the wheel, the cops will pull you over.

If you’re pulled over and the officer determines that you’re under the influence, they will expect you to take a blood test to determine whether or not you were over the legal limit. If you refuse, you may end up having your license suspended or being forced to attend DUI awareness classes.

How You Can Avoid a Ticket

The easiest way to eliminate your risk of getting a DUI is to avoid getting behind the wheel high in the first place. If you’re planning on going to a party where you’ll light up a joint or want to get high before going to a stressful family reunion, have a plan to get there and back safely. Use a rideshare service like Lyft or Uber. This way, you’ll be able to enjoy the party high and get home safely without worrying about being charged with a DUI.

If you’re looking to save money, ask a friend to be the designated driver for the night. Though they won’t be able to enjoy the strain you bring with you at that time, they will make sure you get home safely. To keep things fair, you can alternate designated driver duties throughout the summer, sparing the worry over those pesky DUI checkpoints that pop up out of nowhere.

Staying safe and avoiding a marijuana-related DUI doesn’t mean you need to abstain. It just means you need to be cautious about when you use your favorite weed. If you plan on taking your favorite pipe and bud with you to the next barbecue, make sure you have the right carrying cases to protect your gear. Stop by Altitude Dispensary today and pick up a new case and carry your weed in style.

 
Concentrates are becoming an increasingly popular product at many Denver marijuana dispensaries. However, since they’re still a relatively new product for many smokers, there’s still a lot of confusion surrounding how long the products will last in your stash. While concentrates will eventually go bad, losing their potency and changing consistency, there are a few things that speed up that degradation process. Here’s what you need to know so you can better preserve your stash and keep those concentrates in top condition as long as possible.
 

Exposure to Air Causes Loss of Potency

You’ve likely heard that storing any type of pot product in an airtight container will extend its life and the same holds true for concentrates of all varieties. Storing concentrates in parchment paper is fine if you plan on using them within a few days. However, the parchment paper allows air to reach the concentrate, causing it to lose potency and oxidize. When left exposed to oxygen for an extended time, you’ll be left with a concentrate that barely carries any amount of high. Instead, transfer your concentrate immediately. This will extend its life significantly.

 
Light Alters the Structure

When you purchase shatter, you expect a glass-like amber sheet. However, when that concentrate is exposed to light, the UV rays cause the molecular structure to break down, leaving you with a pile of what looks like amber-colored sugar. While the concentrates can still be used in this stage, they’re less far less potent. If you have to keep your shatter in a clear container, make sure it’s kept out of direct sunlight. Storing it in a closet, dresser drawer, and even the refrigerator can offer enough protection to extend the life of the shatter.
 

Heat Makes Things Murky

Though light and heat often go together, they impact shatter in different ways. When stored in a warm cabinet or kept close to computers and electronics, the shatter will start to get murky or cloudy. While this does not mean the concentrate is bad and cannot be used, it does mean that it’s losing potency quickly. You’ll still get high, but the high will be far less powerful and the benefits of the cannabis will likely have degraded significantly. If your house is particularly warm, especially during Denver’s often hot summers, it’s best to store the shatter in your freezer. Just make sure you wrap the concentrate in parchment paper to absorb moisture and seal it in a freezer-safe bag.
 
When stored properly, concentrates will last up to several months without breaking down or losing potency. While proper storage is key, it’s far easier to simply buy an amount you know you’ll use quickly. This way, you’ll avoid the dreaded potency loss and always have a concentrate that’s well worth the smoking. Stop by one of Altitude Dispensary’s three locations today and refresh your stash with new and potent concentrates today. Our budtenders will help you find a shatter that will exceed your expectations and give you the high you deserve.