It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and like a kid in a candy store the first time you walk through the doors at one of Colorado’s many recreational shops. With so many different options displayed in front of you, you might feel confused or curious about things you haven’t heard of -- especially concentrates. The best marijuana dispensary in Denver can help you understand different ways of consuming concentrates so you can figure out what might work best for you.

Unsure of what concentrates actually are? The term refers to any product created through an extraction process, where a solvent strips the compounds from the cannabis plant, leaving behind an ultra-concentrated mass with high levels of cannabinoids. Now that you know what they are, you can learn more about how to use them below.

Vaporizers

Known by many as one of the healthier methods of inhaling marijuana concentrates, vaporizing has grown in popular in the last few years. Vaporizers, especially the portable kind known as “vape pens” are sold at dispensaries around Denver, making it easy to get in on the hype. What makes vaporizers so popular? They are designed to heat THC to the perfect point for inhalation, meaning that you’re less likely to deal with unwanted toxins -- or waste too much of the concentrate.

Dabs

Dabbing is another method quickly gaining popularity in Colorado because of the ease of use, as well as the potent high delivered. Dabbing is made easy with attachments for water pipes or bongs that replace the bowl with something known as a “hash nail” or “skillet.” Much like vaporizers, dabbing generally burns the concentrate at a high enough temperature that you avoid the toxins and waste left behind from alternative methods. Dabbing often leads to an intense high, meaning that it’s recommended the most for people who are used to the effects of marijuana already.

Edibles

Edibles are one of the most accessible forms of concentrate available in marijuana dispensaries in Denver, though some might not agree that they should be on the list. You might already be familiar with one form -- cannabutter, often used when making “magic brownies” or other baked treats at home with your friends. What you might not know is that edibles come in all kinds of forms, from gummy bears to chocolate bars to lemon drops.

While this definitely makes them easier to consume, it also brings the potential of consuming too much at one time. Often times, newcomers to edibles can underestimate the impact they might have on them by not understanding the right dosage to start. Add to that the fact that it takes them longer than most other methods to kick in, and you might end up knocked out on the couch before you can really enjoy the full-body high.

If you’re nervous about how much you should start with, stop into Altitude Dispensary to chat with us so we can help you figure it out!

Tinctures

Tinctures are made using alcohol to extract cannabinoids, and generally come in small bottles like eye drops might come in. When you open the lid, you’ll find an attached dropper. Once you’re ready to try the tincture, you place just one or two drops underneath your tongue, and you’ll begin to feel the effects. While this method might not seem as social as dabbing or vaping, it’s known as an easy, highly effective option for those who might not be interested in water pipes, vaping, or buying any kind of extra equipment.

If you’re still confused after reading through this list, come to Altitude Dispensary. Our staff is knowledgable, friendly, and attentive, and we’ll jump at the opportunity to help you figure out the best use for your concentrates. With three locations around Denver, we can help you find just what your medication purposes call for. Find us online or call 303-343-0166 for more information.

This brave new world of legalization means Colorado is at the forefront of tax distribution. As Denver’s shops thrive―with almost $1 billion in revenue for 2015 and $135 million in taxes and fees―the question becomes, how do we effectively funnel this tax money into local communities? $35 million is already earmarked for school construction projects; other tax funds will go to social programs. The numbers are growing each year, and with them, the opportunity to create other helpful programs.

What does this mean for consumers? When you shop at a Denver dispensary like Altitude, you are effectively putting some of your money towards tax-funded scholarships and other school programs.

The First of its Kind
One innovative application of the marijuana tax is the establishment of a scholarship program for prospective college students. The Pueblo Hispanic Education Foundation is offering $1,000 scholarships to 25 students with funds generated from the legal sale of marijuana at local dispensaries. County planners project that as many as 400 students per year will get the scholarship from a fund of $3.5 million by 2020. The voter-approved measure in Pueblo County applies a 5 percent excise tax on marijuana growers, meaning this is the first time scholarships are funded entirely by cannabis tax money.

As the first such program of its kind, but almost certainly not the last, we get an indication of the possibilities that the regulated cannabis industry represents. Treating marijuana as a retail commodity, in a regulated industry, results in a more transparent and safe market. Pueblo County has blazed this particular trail, and it stands to reason that the rest of the state will follow suit, especially considering the sheer number of weed shops in Denver, Boulder, and the surrounding areas.

Striking a Balance
The students who receive these scholarships won’t be legally allowed to touch the substance that is funding their college tuition. It creates an odd dynamic, perhaps even a perilous contradiction: legislators are required to warn these students under 21 to stay away from marijuana while encouraging sales of the product to fund the program. Instead of being a source of great controversy, however, the Pueblo community, including lawmakers and growers, appear supportive of the program overall. The measure passed handily, with over 60 percent of voters in favor of it. Helping students succeed is the priority, more so than the source of funding.

A Bold Beginning
Marijuana tax revenue created by shopping at Denver area dispensaries has exceeded the cost of regulating the industry to such an extent that the field is wide open for disbursement opportunities. This is only the beginning for the beneficial use of marijuana tax revenues. We’re sure to see other creative and constructive programs implemented that are designed to help community projects. If the past two years are any indication, the weed industry will only continue to grow, providing a revenue stream whose limits remain boundless.

Come by Altitude Dispensary, your go-to dispensary in Denver, where our knowledgeable budtenders can help you find the right medical or recreational product to suit your needs. With three locations to choose from, it’s easy to contribute to an industry that’s finding new ways to give back to the community.

One of the joys of living in a state as pioneering as Colorado is the benefit from groundbreaking innovations for the consumption of our state’s favorite big green plant that legalization has encouraged. The abundance of options means your odds of finding a product that suits your needs is certain, though it can be difficult to stay current with the explosion of new trends.

Skyrocketing in popularity are cannabis concentrates, encapsulating a range of cannabis goods that can be vaporized, placed on the tongue, or rubbed right into the skin, from glassy wax or flavored tinctures to golden-hued oils. Any product procured through an extraction process, often entailing the use of a solvent such as butane, CO2, propane, ethanol, olive oil, etc., falls into the concentrate category. These forms tend to be much more potent than their whole plant counterparts, and are gaining a reputation for their enhanced medicinal properties.

These are the seven varieties you’re most likely to encounter in dispensaries in Denver:

Kief

Also known as pollen or dry sift, kief is the most basic concentrate, extracted with a sifting screen like those found in three-chambered grinders. The crystalline coatings on the plant, called trichomes, are separated from the rest of the dried plant through this grinding process.

Hash

Made from compressing the plant’s resin, hash is one of the oldest forms of cannabis concentrate. An ice water extraction and careful drying technique can be employed to produce hash; the highest-quality product will melt almost entirely while it vaporizes.

Hash Oil

Commonly extracted with butane, butane hash oil (or BHO) comes in a range of textures. Cannabinoids are stripped from the plant through extraction, leaving a sticky wax that can become dry and chunky (called “crumble”), or hard and clear (known as “shatter”). BHO is usually consumed through dabbing, or heating and smoking the wax.

CO2 Oil

Made possible by expensive botanical extractors that use pressure and carbon dioxide in a process called supercritical fluid extraction, CO2 oil is amber in color and is typically consumed through vape pens.

Whole-Plant Cannabis Oil

Also known as CBD Oil and RSO (Rick Simpson Oil), this concentrate can be consumed orally or placed directly on the skin. It’s a cannabis product currently playing a large role in cannabis’s acceptance for medicinal purposes. It’s made by soaking hemp in isopropyl alcohol, producing a tar-like substance.

Tinctures

A liquid concentrate, created through alcohol extraction, pulls out many of the plant’s beneficial cannabinoids for a simple, effective way to medicate without having to smoke.

Resin

Gaining traction in the cannabis community, resin is an extraction technique that uses heat and pressure to produce a resinous sap from the whole plant flowers, as well as refining hash and kief. The extraction method doesn’t use any solvents, so some believe the resulting product is cleaner in its simplicity.

Whichever concentrate strikes your fancy, you’ll be sure to find it at Altitude Dispensary, where our friendly and knowledgeable staff at three locations around Denver will help you find the perfect product to begin or continue your cannabis concentrate journey. Call (303) 756-8888 for more information.

As medical establishments and politicians slowly and reluctantly acknowledge the many benefits, families seeking treatment without the harsh and sometimes deadly side effects of modern pharmaceuticals are moving to Colorado. Here, they can secure effective medicine without breaking the law. Marijuana dispensaries in Denver assist those families in providing alternative solutions to ineffective and harsh pharmaceutical treatments.

Anecdotal evidence that medical marijuana, CBD oil in particular, treats many debilitating and even fatal conditions is mounting.

USA Today recounts the situation of a family who moved to Colorado when FDA-approved medicines failed to calm a 2-year-old child diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome, which cause as many as 400 seizures daily. The article states: “After researching her condition, the Burriesci family learned about a strain of marijuana called Charlotte’s Web that has been helping other kids with intractable seizures.” The deciding factor of Charlotte’s Web is its high CBD content and low THC levels. CBD is not psychoactive, so patients taking the treatment don’t get high.

The newspaper explains: “Cannabinoids work by hijacking normal brain circuitry. In other words, they are very similar to substances our own brains naturally make called endocannabinoids, which serve to quiet excessive activity, whether it’s in the immune system, the gut or the nervous system.”

Marijuana treatment for that little girl hasn’t cured her, but it has reduced the number and severity of her seizures. Other families see similar benefits. USA Today states that “Results like that are what have brought nearly 200 families to Colorado.” The Realm of Caring corroborates the influx of marijuana refugees to Colorado. The Realm of Caring is a strong proponent of cannabinoid therapies. They work with hospitals, doctors, and researchers; host informational classes to the public, offer financial assistance to clients, and engage in political activism to expand access to families in need.

Some call families such as this “marijuana refugees.” It recounts the story of 3-year-old Ezra who was affected by more than 300 seizures daily: “Doctors pumped him full of medicines, which along with the near-constant seizures left him in a catatonic state, sleeping 21 hours a day.  He went 4 months without crying.” Close to his second birthday, the boy’s family moved to Colorado for marijuana treatment. They specifically targeted the Charlotte’s Web strain because of its low THC and high CBD levels. They credit pot with reducing the boy’s seizures to fewer than 10 seizures daily and improving his quality of life.

Only one-third of children benefit from treatment with marijuana extract to calm seizures. The efficacy of medical marijuana varies by patient, but demand for low-THC, high-CBD marijuana is strong and growing. The preferred strain for treatment is a sativa-dominant strain, Charlotte’s Web, developed by the Stanley brothers in Colorado. Medical professionals warn that evidence of efficacy is inconclusive and marijuana’s reputation as a miracle cure shouldn’t be taken to heart. They also point out that no research has been performed that measures the long-term effects of medical marijuana on growing bodies and brains. However, parents caring for children suffering severe epilepsy and other debilitating conditions figure that the benefits outweigh the risks.

Anti-seizure medicine prescribed for children, particularly those with severe forms of epilepsy, comes with its own costs beyond the pocketbook. CNN reports that such medicines turn children practically catatonic, taking away the ability to speak and eat. Denver marijuana dispensaries offer cannabinoid extracts to treat pain, inflammation, epileptic seizures, and nausea. Leafly offers a list of CBD-rich strains.

If you or someone in your family is seeking relief from pain, inflammation, seizures, and nausea without the psychoactive effects, Altitude Dispensary offers CBD-rich products in sativa, indica, and hybrid varieties. Call (303) 756-8888 for more information.

Year 2016 is nearly half over, but events focusing on activism and legalization will continue through the end of the year. These events take place around the world; many offer workshops and educational information. These offer great opportunities for if you want to immerse yourself in the marijuana subculture, Denver marijuana dispensaries recommend attending a cannabis-related conference.

June

Cannabis Liberation Day, June 12-16, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. This event promotes itself as the “biggest cannabis and hemp event in The Netherlands,” which has a reputation of being very tolerant toward recreational use of marijuana. The event features speeches by well known Dutch activists and musical entertainment.

Cannabis World Congress & Expo, June 15-17, 2016, New York, NY. The third annual event focuses on doing business in one of the fastest growing industries in the USA. It caters to people who are employed in the cannabis industry, a current business owner, a private investor, or prospective business owner.

Cannabis Business Summit & Expo, June 20-22, 2016, Oakland, CA. This event advertises itself as “the only national event where you will have an opportunity to meet with policy makers and influencers as they converge with the leading trade association shaping the cannabis economy.” The event is attended by growers, dispensaries, and infused product manufacturers. It features over 30 sessions with more than 75 speakers.

July

Chalice California, July 9-10, 2016, San Bernadino, CA. This event strictly focuses on medical marijuana concentrates and extracts. To enter the compliant medication area, participants must have documentation ready. The event features bands, glass art, speakers, exhibits and an awards ceremony.

August

Seattle Hempfest, August 19-21, 2016, Seattle, WA. The 25th Annual Seattle Hempfest is the largest annual cannabis policy reform event in the world and promotes itself as “the most sophisticated and socially responsible cannabis rally in history, and perhaps the largest free speech event in the nation.” Political in essence, this event not only generates substantial revenue for Seattle, it also features six stages with speakers and musical entertainment, and 400 arts, crafts, food, and other vendors.

September

Boston Freedom Rally, September 26-27, 2016, Boston Common, Boston, MA. Organized by the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition, this purpose of this event twofold: to support legalization of cannabis in Massachusetts and to educate the public about marijuana. This is the world’s second largest gathering of cannabis supporters. What better place to exercise free speech and political activism than the home of the famous Boston Tea Party?

October

Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival, October 2-4, 2016, Madison, WI. This event will celebrate its 46th anniversary in 2016, showing that activism for cannabis legalization is nothing new and still needed. The event is organized by Madison Normal, “dedicated to promoting positive legal, social, and political change with information and action.” Even speakers include lawmakers, lawyers, and proponents for medical marijuana, as well as popular musical groups.

December

The Emerald Cup, December 10-11, 2016, Santa Rosa, CA. Not only does this convention feature speakers and entertainment, but it also hosts competitions for cannabis products. It promotes northern California as the destination for the best medicinal cannabis products in the world.

Don’t waste your precious vacation time lazing about the back yard. If you’re interested in legalization and use of marijuana products, then attend one or more of these upcoming events to learn more about the industry, the legal hurdles, and the science behind marijuana use--recreational and medical. You’ll have great time, enjoy some incredible music, and learn from experts in the industry and from legislative supporters.

The friendly and knowledgeable personnel at Altitude Dispensary, the best dispensary in Denver, can assist you with understanding the pros and cons of various marijuana applications and uses. Call (303) 756-8888 for more information.